The Cat Who Blew the Whistle by Lilian Jackson, Braun, 311 pages

 Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese sleuths, Koko and Yum Yum, investigate the disappearance of a wealthy railroad buff--and alleged multimillion-dollar embezzler--a case that becomes complicated by red herrings, a tragic train wreck, and murder at a railroad tavern.

Exit the Milkman by Charlotte MacLeod, 311 pages

 Prof. Jim Feldster will do anything for his cows and his students of dairy management. . . and anything to avoid an evening at home with his bossy, house-proud wife, Mirelle. But on his way to a meeting of the Scarlet Runners, he disappears. Where is Professor Feldster? What dark secrets could possibly be lurking behind his life of grain supplements and electric milking machines?

White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland, 311 pages

 Our favorite white trash zombie, Angel Crawford, has enough problems of her own, what with dealing with her alcoholic, deadbeat dad, issues with her not-quite boyfriend, the zombie mafia, industrial espionage and evil corporations. Oh, and it’s raining, and won’t let up.

But things get even crazier when a zombie movie starts filming in town, and Angel begins to suspect that it’s not just the plot of the movie that's rotten. Soon she's fighting her way through mud, blood, bullets and intrigue, even as zombies, both real and fake, prowl the streets.

Angel’s been through more than her share of crap, but this time she’s in way over her head. She’ll need plenty of brainpower to fit all the pieces—and body parts—together in order to save herself, her town, and quite possibly the human race.

In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer, 311 pages

 A clever, tender, and romantic novel for readers of Christina Lauren, Jasmine Guillory, and Sophie Cousens, this laugh-out-loud debut is a perceptive reminder that fate can have a sense of humor, and that love can happen…In a New York Minute.

Franny Doyle is having the worst day. She’s been laid off from her (admittedly mediocre) job, the subway doors ripped her favorite silk dress to ruins, and now she’s flashed her unmentionables to half of lower Manhattan. On the plus side, a dashing stranger came to her rescue with his (Gucci!) suit jacket. On the not-so-plus side, he can’t get away from her fast enough.

Worse yet? Someone posted their (entirely not) meet-cute online. Suddenly Franny and her knight-in-couture, Hayes Montgomery III, are the newest social media sensation, and all of New York is shipping #SubwayQTs.

Only Franny and Hayes couldn’t be a more disastrous match. She’s fanciful, talkative, and creative. He’s serious, shy, and all about numbers. Luckily, in a city of eight million people, they never have to meet again. Yet somehow, Hayes and Franny keep running into each other—and much to their surprise, they enjoy each other’s company. A lot. But when Franny’s whole world is turned upside down (again!), can she find the courage to trust in herself and finally have the life—and love—she’s always wanted?

Backstage at the Strips by Mort Walker, 311 pages

 “I think comic strips are an important element in our society. Besides just being a source of entertainment, they comment on our lives, they contain philosophy and political comment and often help children learn to read. They are a wonderful way to study history.”—Mort Walker

Backstage at the Strips is a compilation of Walker's obvious passion for this truly American art form and the business that runs it. He invites us in to show us the process and the history behind it. We also get to meet the funny people that draw the comics we dearly love to read, the fans that make them so popular and man that gives us this delightful glimpse.

Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters, 311 pages

 The 1895-96 season promises to be an exceptional one for Amelia Peabody, her dashing Egyptologist husband, Radcliffe Emerson, and their precocious (some might say rambunctious) eight-year-old son, Ramses. The long-denied permission to dig at the pyramids of Dahshoor has finally been granted, and the much-coveted burial chamber of the Black Pyramid is now theirs for the exploring.

Before the young family exchanges the relative comfort of Cairo for the more rudimentary quarters near the excavation site, they engage a young Englishman, Donald Fraser, as a tutor and companion for Ramses, and Amelia takes a wayward young woman, Enid Debenham, under her protective wing.

But there is danger and deception in the wind that blows across the hot Egyptian sands. A brazen kidnapping attempt, a gruesome murder, and an expedition subsequently cursed by misfortune and death—all serve to alert Amelia to the likely presence of her arch nemesis, the "Master Criminal," notorious looter of the living and the dead. But it is far more than ill-gotten riches that motivate the man known as Sethos. The evil genius has a score to settle with the meddling lady archaeologist who has sworn to deliver him to justice . . . and he's got her dead-on in his sights.

Replete with edge-of-the-seat suspense and scrupulous archaeological and historical detail, all delivered in Amelia Peabody's unique, wry voice, Lion in the Valley is a classic installment in Elizabeth Peters's beloved mystery-adventure series. 

Pekoe Most Poison by Laura Childs, 311 pages

When Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is invited by Doreen Briggs, one of Charleston’s most prominent hostesses, to a “Rat Tea,” she is understandably intrigued.  As servers dressed in rodent costumes and wearing white gloves offer elegant finger sandwiches and fine teas, Theo learns these parties date back to early twentieth-century Charleston, where the cream of society would sponsor so-called rat teas to promote city rodent control and better public health.
 
But this party goes from odd to chaotic when a fire starts at one of the tables and Doreen’s entrepreneur husband suddenly goes into convulsions and drops dead. Has his favorite orange pekoe tea been poisoned? Theo smells a rat.
 
The distraught Doreen soon engages Theo to pursue a discreet inquiry into who might have murdered her husband. As Theo and her tea sommelier review the guest list for suspects, they soon find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse...

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, 311 pages

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now...

White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland, 311 pages

Our favorite white trash zombie, Angel Crawford, has enough problems of her own, what with dealing with her alcoholic, deadbeat dad, issues with her not-quite boyfriend, the zombie mafia, industrial espionage and evil corporations. Oh, and it’s raining, and won’t let up.

But things get even crazier when a zombie movie starts filming in town, and Angel begins to suspect that it’s not just the plot of the movie that's rotten. Soon she's fighting her way through mud, blood, bullets and intrigue, even as zombies, both real and fake, prowl the streets.

Angel’s been through more than her share of crap, but this time she’s in way over her head. She’ll need plenty of brainpower to fit all the pieces—and body parts—together in order to save herself, her town, and quite possibly the human race.

Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey, 311 pages

Her name was Killashandra Ree. And after ten grueling years of musical training, she was still without prospects. Until she heard of the mysterious Heptite Guild who could provide careers, security, and wealth beyond imagining. The problem was, few people who landed on Ballybran ever left. But to Killashandra the risks were acceptable....

Masterminds, Criminal Destiny by Gordon Korman, 311 pages

The clones of Project Osiris are free-but they're being hunted...
After their narrow escape from their "perfect" hometown, Eli, Tori, Amber, and Malik are finally in the real world and determined to expose the leaders of Serenity. They decide to track down Tamara Dunleavy, the mysterious billionaire and founder of Project Osiris. Evading capture by breaking laws and sneaking into houses, hotels, buses, and cars-are they becoming the criminals they were destined to be?
What they learn will change everything, leading them straight back into the Plastic Works and the heart of the experiment in order to uncover the deadly criminals they're cloned from-and any evidence that will convince the outside world to believe the truth. But the outside world isn't exactly what they expected-strangers just aren't unfriendly, they're dangerous. And the wrong move could send them right back into the arms of Dr. Hammerstrom- and trapped in Serenity for good.
On a breakneck journey from Jackson Hole to a maximum security prison, Eli, Tori, Amber, and Malik willl stop at nothing to take Project Osiris down.

A Catered Tea Party by Isis Crawford, 311 pages

I'm just not as big a fan of these sister detectives, but I'll still probably pick them up. I definitely know who will be the victim in the next book.

The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell, 311 pages

A very dark book featuring 2 sisters who must figure out a way to survive in Glasgow, Scotland, without attracting the attention of the authorities after their abusive and neglectful parents die. This was a very heart-wrenching read at times.

The Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz, 311 pages

My family wanted to watch the Descendants movie and I told them I couldn't until I read the book. This was actually really good. Imagine all the villains are packed away on a magic free island. What would it be like growing up as their children? I can't wait to see the movie and then read more in the series.

White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland, 311 pages

This is one of my new favorite series. I love how utter mind candy these books are. One of the best takes on the zombie genre.

The Fig Eater by Jody Shields, 311 pages

The latest book club book. I would not have picked this one up on my own, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I finished the book almost as confused as when I started it.

The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle by Catherine Webb, 311 pages

I came across this book in the teen department. It was a fun mystery, very unusual.

The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen, 311 pages

I've become a big fan of these series because it's funny, intriguing, well-written and just plain fun to read.