The heat’s still on in many parts of the northern hemisphere, mocking the pumpkins and Halloween decorations already demanding seasonal attention. The world had to say a tearful good-bye to Dolly Parton, and AI is delivering as many questions and concerns as answers. In this in-between, helter-skelter time, it’s good there are great books out there to deliver respite and distraction. None of the books I’m discussing today avoids day-to-day realities, but each one offers a chance to think about them from different perspectives, and each one delivers a satisfying conclusion.
FURY IN DEATH, by the inimitable J.D. Robb, is the latest triumph in this long-running series. Detective Eve Dallas is after a violent killer (okay, no big surprise there!), but this murderer seems determined to inflict near unimaginable damage to the bodies of the men he’s killing, even after they’re dead. What could inspire such fury? As Dallas and her beloved “consultant,” Roarke, ricochet from one crime scene to the next, her understanding of the killer’s motives deepens, along with her compassion. The suspect’s hatred is personal and fueled by a demand for revenge, but that hatred was born of villainy perpetrated by international conglomerates and dirty politicians, all motivated by conscience-less greed. Dallas, as always, defends her belief that society must abide by legal mechanisms for justice, but the dénouement in this sixty-third volume is extraordinarily moving (and yes, I was crying my eyes out). Many of our beloved acquaintances make an appearance: Mavis is planning a huge party while about to give birth to her second child, Galahad, the cat, is doing his best to abscond with the breakfast bacon, and Jenkinson’s neckties are still driving Eve mad. I loved every minute, and I’m already counting the days until Ms. Robb’s next release in February.
HERO NEXT DOOR, by Kait Nolan, also takes on contemporary issues as the author returns us to the beloved fictional town of Gibson Hollow, still trying to recuperate from the devastation wrought by (the sadly, not at all fictional) Hurricane Helene in 2024. The townspeople have spent the subsequent years working together, but in this third of a projected four-part series, a newcomer arrives, all the way from New Zealand. But Swayze’s an American-born southern girl, through and through, now seeking anonymous refuge after a career meltdown brought about by a social media hurricane. It’s an issue we might not have experienced personally but one we all know exists. The affordable house Swayze’s rented sight-unseen burns up the night she arrives due to faulty wiring, but thank goodness, devastatingly handsome (and unattached!) firefighter Coulter arrives quickly to save her. He’s single, but he’s a Gibson of Gibson Hollow, complete with a huge extended and loving family as well as a daughter he shares with his best friend, now happily married to the woman she loves. Sound confusing? It won’t be for long because the marvelous characters that populate this series constantly do something so rare in our modern world: they communicate. They also sing and dance, and the musical, “Mamma Mia,” that the town puts on as a fund raiser, helps bring about a joyful resolution to the remaining thorn keeping Swayze and Coulter apart – her secret career humiliation. Here, too, I’m eagerly awaiting the next volume!
Shame on me for starting this next book with snooty reservations because JUDGE STONE, by Viola Davis and James Patterson, not only rips its plotline from contemporary headlines (an Alabama doctor is on trial for performing an illegal abortion on a 13-year-old girl), but does so with enormous compassion and a generous, well-delivered rendering of the wide spectrum of passions surrounding this hot-bed subject. Each of the characters, from the judge, to the young and no-longer-pregnant girl, to the blood-thirsty outsiders who flock to the town determined to make the trial a world-wide phenomenon, is given a chance to reveal their motivations, convictions, and ability (or lack thereof) to consider alternative points-of-view. I was fortunate to listen to the audiobook, perfectly narrated by Viola Davis herself, but I immediately purchased a print copy for my keeper shelf.
Does anyone reading NOT know a family whose life has been changed by a child or relative on the autism spectrum? Or not know of a young person trying to juggle insane educational expenses, patch-work employment gigs, and too-high housing costs? Throw in our complicated lack of affordable, competent elder-care, and you’ll understand why the characters in BREATHING UNDER WATER, by Jacqueline Friedland, are quite literally, struggling to catch a breath. The book is timely, but you’ll have to read (or listen to it) to benefit from the truly beautiful story it tells. Berry’s a mother to two almost adult sons, one of them still trying to learn to function in a world made overwhelming by his autism. She’s endeavoring to handle a demanding career and a husband seemingly drowning in his own mid-life crisis while worrying constantly about her sons. McKenna is trying to care for her dementia-suffering grandmother while facing financial tsunamis and a demanding swimming regimen—her only hope of maintaining a college scholarship. These disparate characters come together through a series of seemingly random occurrences, but the story overall is a truly beautiful celebration of resilience and found family.
My own SECOND WHISPER touches on ripped-from-the-headline events, but its characters - Amanda, Keith, and a few supportive voices from beyond—will captivate your attention and ultimately fill your heart with joy. About Meg Napier
About Meg Napier
Meg's friends during her high school years all expected her romance novels to hit the shelves decades ago, but she foolishly allowed "serious pursuits" to get in her way. Now that her beloved children can feed, clothe, and most importantly, support themselves, she's free to turn her attention to her first passion - putting words to paper that capture your attention and make your heart sing in quiet joy. Her stories tell most frequently of second chances--in life, love, and sometimes even at rediscovering a soul-mate from a previous life.
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