Memoirist Charles Homar finds the girl of his dreams only to lose her near their wedding date to her obsession in finding the great sea monster, the Kraken. Charles takes it pretty hard and embarks on an adventure to win Gillian back. Only he gets tossed in jail, takes up with a friend of a friend in pursuit of the Sasquatch, recovers from a nasty bump on the head during a UFO encounter, only to be befriended by steroid-pumping Lothario and then find himself back at home attending the funeral of his cantankerous and distant father. It’s a whirlwind of events and Giraldi keeps it coming with rapid-fire dialogue and snarky witticisms. This is “man literature” for those who like their humor dark and action fast, and who can also enjoy classic man references in a modern setting. This is Giraldi's debut novel and is for fan's of Kurt Vonnegut, among others.
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Ariel Kafka is one of two Jewish policemen in Finland and the only one in Helsinki's Violent Crimes Unit. Two men are killed and then more bodies are found. Is there a connection between the victims, is it a terrorist act or specific targets in the Jewish/Arab communities? The investigation starts to get a little too close to Kafka's own personal contacts-- is there a tie to his family somehow?
This is the fifth book in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series (also known as Game of Thrones on HBO). Although Martin is drawing the series out as slowly as possible it's impossible to put down his epic tomes. It's full of amazing characters and infuriating plot twists (in a good way) in a vividly imagined world like no other. Even those who think they don't like fantasy will be able to become completely absorbed in this compelling series. The downside, though is that Martin typically takes many years to produce each volume and two more are anticipated to complete the series.
Two victims with no obvious connection to one another have been found killed in a similar fashion. It's up to Detective Inspector Christian Tell and his detectives to figure out the connection. Add in a witness who may unwittingly have some information that may be useful to the investigation but also has personal ties to Tell.
This earlier novel from dramedy expert, Tropper, is worth the trip. Doug Parker's wife, Hailey, died in an airplane accident over a year ago and he is trying to figure out how to move on. He's not working, drinking more, is having an affair, and hasn't changed a thing about the house since the accident. Plus he has to decide whether to take a more active role in his 16 year old stepson's life. And his family is trying to be supportive but they have their own problems, too. There are lots of funny moments and, as you would guess, lots of heartbreaking moments. Told in the first person (with a fair amount of expletives), this book is recommended to those who enjoy tumultuous family stories. And check out Tropper's latest, Once Last Thing Before I Go.
The body of a loner is found hanging from a tree. Is it a ritualistic killing, revenge for an unsolved crime, or a prank gone too far? Detective Inspector Malin Fors and her co-workers are on the case.
A Hungarian teenager makes his way to Denmark with a mystery item taken from an old Soviet-run hospital. Nina Borg is called to check on the health of some Hungarian refugee children who are living in an abandoned building. Nina soon finds herself sick and caught in a deadly game of black market dealing.
This wonderful book by the former frontman of the Talking Heads is a comprehensive look at how and why music is made. Byrne talks from experience as a recording artist (both with the Heads and as a solo artist) and as a fan of music. Not taking any sides in regards to styles, he speaks with intelligence and conviction about classical music, traditional forms, and jazz, as well as more popular forms, such as rock n' roll. Byrne also talks convincingly about old and new formats of music and their effect on the music that was created to fit these formats. This book is a must read for any music afficionado, whether you're a fan of the Talking Heads or not.
This is a story about an orphan with a knack for picking out flowers for others- and for pushing away those trying to get close to her. Victoria Jones has been through the foster care system (and then some) but she receives her best chance at being part of a family with Elizabeth. But Victoria can't let a good thing last, especially when it comes to Elizabeth's sister, who lives on a neighboring flower farm. Years later, Victoria turns 18 and begins life on her own, working at a flower shop and finds herself running into people from her past. This story touches strongly on themes of family, love, and abandonment, and is, not surprisingly, a tear-jerker towards the end. Written in the everyday speech of a surly but surprisingly reflective teen, this is a great read.
Carl Morck and his assistant Assad receive a mysterious file in Department Q. A brother and sister were killed 30 years ago, a confession was made but was he the only killer. The suspects are life-long boarding school friends, some very prominent in Danish society, but the key to solving the crime is to find Kimmie, who has seemingly vanished from sight.