Nothing helps to warm up a chilly winter day quite like getting lost in a good book. You can transport yourself to a balmy, far-off destination, find yourself wandering around a new world entirely devoid of seasons or embrace the brisk and intrinsic coolness of the winter and uncover a mystery in a damp and haunted castle.
As I turned my mind toward new literary voyages to take this winter, I asked my friends at The Village Bookseller to assist me in my journey. As always, their recommendations, as well as one of my own, are sure to help provide an excellent starting point from which to dream away the cold.
Classic Whodunnit
“The Twist of a Knife” by Anthony Horowitz
The best-selling mystery author returns, this time writing himself in as the protagonist-turned-suspect-turned-detective, in this fictional tale of murder and revenge. An acerbic theatre critic turns up dead after writing a scathing review on the opening night of Horowitz’s latest play. Horowitz must stay a step ahead of the detectives on the case to clear his name and find the real killer. This is the fourth installment of the “Hawthorne and Horowitz” mystery series.
Revered Writer
“The Last Chairlift” by John Irving
Renowned author of such books as “The World According to Garp” and “Cider House Rules” returns with his first novel in seven years. The book follows Adam born in 1941 to a famed downhill skier, who grows up with more questions than answers about his family and his mother’s past. Adam travels back to Aspen and the Hotel Jerome where he was conceived, in the hopes of uncovering the missing pieces of his past. There, he encounters the occasional ghost who helps illuminate his family history. Though a touch long, Irving fans will enjoy the familiarity.
Romance and Discovery
“The Three Loves of Sebastian Cooper” by Zoe Folbigg
Sebastian (Seb) Cooper is dead. Gathered at his funeral are three unique women mourning his loss— the mother of his children, the woman he left her for and his most recent, and last, lover. Only one of these woman knew the truth and truly held his heart. The story explores Seb’s complicated past relationships, his connections with each woman and the forces that can bring people together and tear them apart in the search for happily ever after.
Dystopian Adventure
“Our Missing Hearts” by Celeste Ng
Bestselling author of the well-known Reese- Witherspoon-touted, “Little Fires Everywhere” returns with the story of Bird, the child of Chinese immigrants. Born in a time of fear and distrust, especially of Asian Americans, Bird’s mother, a published poet, disappears after having written a poem that is considered subversive and unpatriotic. Armed with limited understanding of why his mother went missing and a single cryptic clue, Bird begins a journey to locate her at last.
By Sherry Whiting
