The Best New True Crime Stories by Mitzi Szereto, 249 pages

 A collection of non-fiction accounts by international writers and experts on small town true crime shows readers that the real monsters aren’t hiding in the woods, they’re inside our towns.

Small towns aren’t always what they seem. We’ve been told nothing bad happens in small towns. You can leave your doors unlocked, and your windows wide open. We picture peaceful hamlets with a strong sense of community, and everyone knows each other. But what if this wholesome idyllic image doesn’t always square with reality? Small towns might look and feel safe, but statistics show this isn’t really true.

Tiny town, big crime. Whether in Truman Capote’s detailed murder of the Clutter family or Ted Bundy’s small-town charm, criminals have always roamed rural America and towns worldwide. Featuring murder stories, criminal case studies, and more, The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns contains all-new accounts from writers of true crime, crime journalism, and crime fiction. And these entries are not based on a true story―they are true stories. Edited by acclaimed author and anthologist Mitzi Szereto, the stories in this volume span the globe. Discover how unsolved murders, kidnapping, shooting sprees, violent robbery, and other bad things can and do happen in small towns all over the world.

The Black Death by Philip Ziegler, 249 pages

Philip Ziegler follows the course of the black plague as it swept from Asia into Italy and then into the rest of Europe.

When first published in 1969, this study was described by the Guardian as …as exciting and readable an account as you could wish." This new edition of the major study on the subject is illustrated by over seventy contemporary black and white illustrations and eight pages of color.

A series of natural disasters in the furthest reaches of the Orient during the third of the fourteenth century heralded what was, for the population of Europe, the most devastating period of death and destruction in its history. By the autumn of 1347 the Black Death had reached the shores of the eastern Mediterranean, and the years that followed were to witness a horrifying and apparently relentless epidemic.

One third of England's population died between the years 1347 and 1350, and over one thousand villages were deserted, never to be repopulated. In towns and cities the cemeteries were unable to provide space for all the dead, and violence and crime spiraled. Travel became dangerous and interruption of food and other supplies across the country added hunger and deprivation to the problems of people already overwhelmed by the threat of the vilest of deaths.

In the countryside the population was halved in places, and as land became plentiful, landowners' profits fell and the government tried in vain to fix labourers' wages and prices, peasant unrest accelerated and the manorial system disintegrated, culminating eventually in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.

Throughout Europe whole societies were disrupted; racial tensions built as a direct result of the plague, and persecution of Jews began in earnest throughout the continent. The social and economic consequences of the period were to reach far into the following century. 

March of Crime by Jess Lourey, 249 pages

I

da Gilbertson of the Battle Lake Senior Sunset nursing home has a new hobby: crafting life-sized dolls and displaying them around town. Budding PI Mira James finds the dolls creepy enough on their own, but when she’s forced to sit next to one and discovers a human corpse under the hat and wig, it becomes personal. Police Chief Gary Wohnt is all too eager to pin the blame on Mira. So when her sleuthing gives him the perfect excuse to lock her up, it’s up to Mayor Kennie Rogers and Mrs. Berns to help her out. Racing against the clock, Mira must unmask the murderer before she either becomes a jailbird or the next dolled up victim.

The Secret of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien, 249 pages

Ever since last summer, Mrs. Frisby has been worried about Timothy, her younger son. Timothy has had pneumonia-he almost died-and now he is too frail and weak to be moved. But if the Frisbys don't move immediately, they'll all be killed!
Mrs. Frisby is frantic. Then she hears about the wonderful Rats of NIMH-rats who are strong, smart, able to do almost anything. They've escaped from the lab at NIMH. They can save the Frisbys. But will they?

Superheroes Anonymous by Lexie Dunne, 249 pages

I was able to buy this as an ebook for $0.99 and it sounded intriguing. What happens if you turn into the personal hostage girl for a local superhero?

Dead in the Water by Carola Dunn, 249 pages

This series is outstanding but this wasn't my favorite in the series so far. It had a LOT of terms for rowing that I just wasn't familiar with. But still really entertaining. I can't wait until Daisy and her policeman get married.

Requiem For A Mezzo by Carola Dunn, 249 pages

Since I've finished all the Phryne Fisher books, the Daisy Dalrymple books have become my go to treat. Lots of fun and the author does a great job of bringing 1920s England alive.

Grimm's Last Fairy Tale by Haydn Middleton, 249 pages

I love the Grimm fairy tales, especially the history and darkness behind them. So I was excited to pick up this fictional look at the life of Jacob Grimm. But this was kind of convoluted, jumping between time periods in his life and never really seemed to gel into an enjoyable read.

Queen of the Flowers by Kerry Greenwood, 249 pages

I always enjoy the ones that have Miss Phryne's daughters in them.

Emmanuelle by Emmanuelle Arsan, 249 pages

I've heard about this book, but never read it. I wanted to see what all the hoopla was but I wasn't impressed at all. There was way too much child-related sexuality to make it at all enjoyable. Ugghh.

SVU Home for Christmas by Laurie John, 249 pages

You can tell this is a slightly more adult Sweet Valley since they use shinola and the b word.