March 9

Over spring break, some lucky folks might be sitting on a beach. Others might be wishing that they were. Here are books to take on the plane and read while you relax – or read at home while you relax with fewer demands on your time! There is something for everyone in this grouping of our latest fiction.

Angel Time by Anne Rice (813.54 R36ak): There are metaphysical overtones to this novel, where Rice returns to her world of angels and assassins. Toby O’Dare is a contract killer without a soul, living under aliases and taking orders from “The Right Man.” A seraph gives him a chance to save rather than destroy lives, returning him to 13th century England to discover the truth of the disappearance of children and the accusations of ritual murder against Jews. Rice is the author of 29 books, mostly concerning vampires, angels, and witches.

The City & The City by China Mieville (823.914 M586): This is a thriller set in a city unlike any other – real or imagined. A routine murder case in the city of Beszel, sort of in Europe, leads Inspector Tyador Borlu to another metropolis on Earth, a border crossing in the neighboring city of Ul Qoma. Joining detective Qussim Dhatt, they become involved in an underworld of nationalists intent on destroying Beszel and unificationists who would like to join the two cities into one. This is a murder mystery with metaphysical and artistic overtones, with shades of Kafka and Phillip K. Dick. Not for everyone, if you like the existential, you will probably enjoy this one. Mieville is the author of other books which have won awards from in fantasy and science fiction categories.

The Finishing Touches by Hester Browne (823.92 B816): A fading English finishing school is about to get a 21st century makeover. Business trained Betsy Phillimore, an abandoned orphan who was brought up by the head of the Academy, now returns to save it from financial ruin that results from the oldfashioned curriculum. Now she wants to teach the girls modern essentials – cell phone etiquette, how to eat sushi properly, how to deal with credit cards, even how to negotiate pre-nuptial agreements. Along with this is the challenge of now wanting to find out who her parents were and why she was abandoned. Browne is a bestselling author who lives in London, having majored in English at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Marine One by James W. Huston (813.54 H9694w): “The president rushes across the South Lawn through a pounding thunderstorm to Marine One to fly to Camp David late at night. His advisers plead with him not to fly, but he insists. He has arranged a meeting that only three people in his administration know about. After fighting its way through the brutal thunderstorm, Marine One crashes into a ravine in Maryland, killing all aboard.” Blame is sent in all directions. There is political intrigue, courtroom drama, and lots of action as Mike Nolan, a former Marine and current trial lawyer works to discover what happened and why. Huston is a bestselling author of six thrillers. He served as a naval flight officer on F-14s and is currently a trial lawyer involved in high-profile cases. He lives in San Diego.

Related web sites Browne: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/hester-browne

The information is provided by the authors and publishers of the works listed and compiled by Karen Chobot, Library Director.