Author: O'Connor, Joseph, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: F OCONNOR Format: Books Summary: In German-occupied Rome during World War II, as diplomats, refugees and escaped Allied prisoners flee for protection into Vatican City, a small band of unlikely friends led by a courageous Irish priest risk everything, including their lives, to help those seeking refuge. "September 1943: German forces occupy Rome. Gestapo boss Obersturmbannführer Paul Hauptmann rules with terror. Hunger is widespread. Rumors fester. The war's outcome is far from certain. Diplomats, refugees, and escaped Allied prisoners flee for protection into Vatican City, at one fifth of a square mile the world's smallest state, a neutral, independent country within Rome. A small band of unlikely friends led by a courageous Irish priest is drawn into deadly danger as they seek to help those seeking refuge."--
Author: Nkrumah, Nyaneba, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: F NKRUMAH Format: Books Summary: Resonant with the emotional urgency of Alice Walker's classic Meridian and the poignant charm of Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, a gripping debut novel of female power and vulnerability, race, and class that explores the unlikely friendship between a precocious Black girl and a mysterious white woman in a small Mississippi town in the early 1980s. Set in 1982, in rural, racially divided Ricksville, Mississippi, Wade in the Water tells the story of Ella, a Black, unloved, precocious eleven-year-old, and Ms. St. James, a mysterious white woman from Princeton who appears in Ella's community to carry out some research. Soon, Ms. St. James befriends Ella, who is willing to risk everything to keep her new friend in a town that does not want her there. The relationship between Ella and Ms. St. James, at times loving and funny and other times tense and cautious, becomes more fraught and complex as Ella unwittingly pushes at Ms. St. James's carefully constructed boundaries that guard a complicated past, and dangerous secrets that could have devastating consequences. Told in two voices, Ella's and Ms. St. James's, and set around richly developed characters, this riveting, compelling coming of age story will keep readers entranced until the last shocking revelation.
Author: Shetty, Jay, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: 152.41 Format: Books Summary: "Instead of presenting love as an ethereal concept or a collection of cliches, Jay Shetty lays out specific, actionable steps to help you develop the skills to practice and nurture love better than ever before. He shares insights on how to win or lose together, how to define love, and why you don't break in a break-up. Inspired by Vedic wisdom and modern science, he tackles the entire relationship cycle, from first dates to moving in together to breaking up and starting over. And he shows us how to avoid falling for false promises and unfulfilling partners"--
Author: Kara, Siddharth, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: 338.2 Format: Books Summary: "An unflinching investigation reveals the human rights abuses behind the Congo's cobalt mining operation-and the moral implications that affect us all. Cobalt Red is the searing, first-ever exposé of the immense toll taken on the people and environment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by cobalt mining, as told through the testimonies of the Congolese people themselves. Activist and researcher Siddharth Kara has traveled deep into cobalt territory to document the testimonies of the people living, working, and dying for cobalt. To uncover the truth about brutal mining practices, Kara investigated militia-controlled mining areas, traced the supply chain of child-mined cobalt from toxic pit to consumer-facing tech giants, and gathered shocking testimonies of people who endure immense suffering and even die mining cobalt. Cobalt is an essential component to every lithium-ion rechargeable battery made today, the batteries that power our smartphones, tablets, laptops, and electric vehicles. More than 70 percent of the world's supply of cobalt is mined in the Congo, often by peasants and children in sub-human conditions. Billions of people in the world cannot conduct their daily lives without participating in a human rights and environmental catastrophe in the Congo. In this stark and crucial book, Kara argues that we must all care about what is happening in the Congo-because we are all implicated"--
Author: Connelly, Matthew James, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: 352.379 Format: Books Summary: "A captivating study of US state secrecy that examines how officials use it to hoard power and prevent meaningful public oversight The United States was founded on the promise of a transparent government, but time and again we have abandoned the ideals of our open republic. In recent history, we have permitted ourselves to engage in costly wars, opened ourselves to preventable attacks, and ceded unaccountable power to officials both elected and unelected. Secrecy may now be an integral policy to preserving the American way of life, but its true costs have gone unacknowledged for too long. Using the latest techniques in data science, historian Matthew Connelly analyzes the millions of state documents both accessible to the public and still under review to unearth not only what the government does not want us to know, but what it says about the very authority we bequeath to our leaders. By culling this research and carefully studying a series of pivotal moments in recent history from Pearl Harbor to drone strikes, Connelly sheds light on the drivers of state secrecy--especially consolidating power or hiding incompetence--and how the classification of documents has become untenable. What results is an astonishing study of power: of the greed that develops out of its possession, of the negligence that it protects, and of what we lose as citizens when it remains unchecked. A crucial examination of the self-defeating nature of secrecy and the dire state of our nation's archives, The Declassification Engine is a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving the past so that we may secure our future"--
Author: Palmer, Chris (Chris M.), author. Published: 2023 Call Number: 791.45 Format: Books Summary: This cultural history of the beloved nineties sitcom that launched Will Smith's career offers never-before-told stories based on exclusive interviews with the show's cast, creators, writers, and crew who all helped redefine America's understanding of race, sex, parenthood, and class.
Author: Patterson, James, 1947- author. Swierczynski, Duane, author. Schweigart, Bill, author. Hogben, Margaret, author. Patterson, James, 1947- 3 days to live. Published: 2023 Call Number: LP F PATTERSO Format: Large print Summary: "The people closest to you can be your most dangerous enemies in this heart-pounding collection of 3 brand-new thrillers from the master of suspense. 3 Days to Live: A CIA-agent bride is on her European honeymoon when she and her husband are poisoned--leaving her seventy-two hours to take revenge (with Duane Swierczynski). Women and Children First: When a deal goes bad on a tech executive in Washington, DC, he turns an order to kill his family into a chance to relive his military glory days (with Bill Schweigart). The Housekeepers: A Los Angeles doctor trusts her two housekeepers, but when she's murdered in a botched attempt to steal drugs, the pair of grifters vie to control their former employer's estate--facing off against the Russian mob (with Julie Margaret Hogben)"--
Author: Johansen, Iris, author. Johansen, Roy, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: LP F JOHANSEN Format: Large print Summary: Investigator Kendra Michaels is drawn into the FBI's case against a prolific serial killer who is about to reveal the location of his numerous victims. After scoring a plea deal in a high-profile murder trial, serial killer James Michael Barrett leads a grim parade of law enforcement officers to the body of his last victim. At the alleged burial site, the officers swing their shovels down and are met with a strange metallic sound they weren't expecting. In a blink, a terrific explosion rocks the woods, killing Barrett and most of the officers instantly. The detonation is only the beginning of a shocking case for FBI consultant Kendra Michaels--a string of heinous murders in the style of the very-dead Barrett mysteriously continue, and it becomes clear that he may not have been working alone. As the crimes accelerate, Kendra reluctantly accepts help from college student Tricia Walton, the only survivor of Barrett's attacks. But the killer has a terrifying plan that Kendra and her team are only beginning to understand.
Author: Rouda, Kaira Sturdivant, 1963- author. Published: 2023 2022 Call Number: LP F ROUDA Format: Large print Summary: "Jody Asher had a plan. Her charismatic husband, Martin, would be a political icon. She, the charming wife, would fuel his success. For fifteen congressional terms, they were the golden couple on the Hill. Life was good. Until he wasn't. Martin's secret affair with a young staffer doesn't bother Jody personally. But professionally? It's a legacy killer. Soon a reporter gets word of this scandal in the making, and Martin's indiscretions threaten to ruin everything Jody has accomplished. When Martin suddenly dies, it's a chance to change the narrative--but the reporter won't let go of his lead. As the balance of power shifts in the Asher house and on the Hill, it's time for Jody to take control. And there's nothing the ruthless widow won't do to secure the future she's entitled to. Even if she has a secret of her own"--
Author: Lawson, Michael, 1948- author. Published: 2023 Call Number: F LAWSON Format: Books Summary: "The latest thriller from Edgar and Barry Award finalist Mike Lawson starring his beloved "troubleshooter" Joe DeMarco. Joe DeMarco likes to call himself a troubleshooter. It sounds better than "bagman" or "fixer." With more than a decade of problem solving under his belt on behalf of John Mahoney, the Speaker of the House, DeMarco has seen his fair share of dangerous situations. When Andie Moore, a twenty-three-year-old working in the DOJ's Inspector General's Office, is murdered in cold blood in Florida's Everglades, it falls on DeMarco to get to the bottom of things. Paired with Emma, an enigmatic, retired ex-spy with seemingly endless connections in the military and intelligence communities, they venture south to the scene of Andie's murder: Alligator Alley. DeMarco and Emma waste no time in identifying two suspects-a pair of crooked, near-retirement FBI agents named McIntyre and McGruder. But as they keep digging, it becomes clear that these FBI agents weren't acting alone, and that this goes much deeper than just the murder of an innocent twenty-three-year-old woman"--
Author: Patterson, James, 1947- author. Eversmann, Matt, author. Mooney, Chris, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: 363.2 Format: Large print Summary: "Straight from the mean streets, Walk the Blue Line is a first-person account of the days and nights of America's brave cops"--Dust jacket flap. Police officers share their experiences while protecting, serving, and defending people and communities, showcasing the courage, anger, and joy that can be found. Protect: These men and women are our eyes. Our ears. Our protectors. Those who wear a badge, doing their best to help people. Serve: These cops serve their communities. They serve their country. They're in the business of saving lives--even at the risk of their own. Defend: These patrol officers and K9 handlers, sheriffs and detectives, reveal what it's really like to wear the uniform, to carry the weight of the responsibility they've been given. This is a calling. This is the job.
Author: Kellerman, Jonathan, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: F KELLERMA Format: Books Summary: "Los Angeles is a city of stark contrast, the palaces of the affluent coexisting uneasily with the hellholes of the mad and the needy. It is that shadow world and the violence it breeds that draw brilliant psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis into an unsettling case of altruism gone wrong. On a superficially lovely morning a woman shows up for work with her usual enthusiasm. She's the newly hired personal assistant to a handsome, wealthy photographer and is ready to greet her boss with coffee and good cheer. Instead, she finds him slumped in bed, shot to death. The victim had recently received rave media attention for his latest project: images of homeless people in their personal "dream" situations, elaborately costumed and enacting unfulfilled fantasies. There are some, however, who view the whole thing as nothing more than crass exploitation, citing token payments and the victim's avoidance of any long-term relationships with his subjects. Has disgruntlement blossomed into homicidal rage? Or do the roots of violence reach down to the victim's family-a clan, sired by an elusive billionaire, that is bizarre in its own right? Then new murders arise, and Alex and Milo begin peeling back layer after layer of intrigue and complexity, culminating in one of the deadliest threats they've ever faced"--
Author: Engberg, Katrine, 1975- author. Chace, Tara, translator. Published: 2023 Call Number: F ENGBERG Format: Books Summary: While staying in Bornholm for the winter, Jeppe Kørner is drawn into a sinister mystery rooted in the past when an investigation into a severed corpse in Copenhagen leads Anette Werner to this seemingly peaceful refuge, and together they must unravel the island's secrets to stop a brutal killer. Jeppe Kørner, on leave from the police force and nursing a broken heart, has taken refuge on the island of Bornholm for the winter. Also on the island is Esther de Laurenti, a writer working on a biography on a female anthropologist with a mysterious past and coming to terms with her own crushing sense of loneliness in the wake of a dear friend's death. When Jeppe lends a helping hand at the island's local sawmill, he begins to realize that the island may not be the peaceful refuge it appears to be. Back in Copenhagen, Anette Werner is tasked with leading the investigation into a severed corpse discovered on a downtown playground. As she follows the strange trail of clues, they all seem to lead back to Bornholm. With an innocent offer to check out a lead, Jeppe unwittingly finds himself in the crosshairs of a sinister mystery rooted in the past, forcing him to team up with Anette and Esther to unravel the island's secrets before it's too late. With her signature "unforgettable characters and brilliant plot twists" (Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Katrine Engberg weaves a satisfying and white-knuckled finale to her Korner and Werner series that is a modern classic of Scandinavian noir.
Author: Oliver, Katie, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: PB OLIVER Format: Books Summary: "Phaedra Brighton is on the case when an innocent murder-mystery weekend turns into the real deal, in the newest Jane Austen Tea Society mystery. Phaedra Brighton has her life all figured out--she has a profession she enjoys, a wonderful (if exasperating) cat, and a cozy carriage house on the grounds of her aunt's inn. She needs no Captain Wentworth to sweep her off her feet (though, she would not mind a Mr. Darcy). But when Aunt Wendy decides she is selling Laurel Springs Inn, Phaedra faces losing her beloved home. In a last-ditch attempt to drum up more business, Phaedra convinces Wendy to host an immersive Persuasion-themed murder-mystery weekend. It is a foolproof plan to draw attention to the establishment in the hopes of saving it. Until make-believe becomes reality and one of the participants winds up dead. With more suspects than she knows what to do with, Phaedra finds herself on the hunt for a killer once again. But with time running out, Phaedra quickly realizes that with this investigation, there will be no second chances"--Back cover.
Author: Hilliard, M. E., author. Published: 2023 Call Number: F HILLIARD Format: Books Summary: When the widely disliked chair of the library board of trustees and a local professor turn up dead, Greer Hogan, a librarian-turned-sleuth who has an uncanny knack for deduction, starts digging and stumbles upon a cache of decades-old secrets that could rock the town to its core.
Author: Ryan, Hank Phillippi, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: F RYAN Format: Books Summary: "The House Guest is another diabolical cat-and-mouse thriller from USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan-but which character is the cat, and which character is the mouse? After every divorce, one spouse gets all the friends. What does the other one get? If they're smart, they get the benefits. Alyssa Macallan is terrified when she's dumped by her wealthy and powerful husband. With a devastating divorce looming, she begins to suspect her toxic and manipulative soon-to-be-ex is scheming to ruin her-leaving her alone and penniless. And when the FBI shows up at her door, Alyssa knows she really needs a friend. And then she gets one. A seductive new friend, one who's running from a dangerous relationship of her own. Alyssa offers Bree Lorrance the safety of her guest house, and the two become confidantes. Then Bree makes a heart-stoppingly tempting offer. Maybe Alyssa and Bree can solve each others' problems. But no one is what they seem. And the fates and fortunes of these two women twist and turn until the shocking truth emerges: You can't always get what you want. But sometimes you get what you deserve"--
Author: Crombie, Deborah, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: F CROMBIE Format: Books Summary: "Trainee doctor Sasha Johnson hurries through the crowd in London's historic Russell Square. Someone jostles her as they brush past. A moment later, Sasha stumbles, then collapses. When detectives Duncan Kincaid and Doug Cullen are called to the scene, they discover that she's been stabbed. Kincaid immediately calls his detective wife, Gemma Jones, who is on the task force for knife crimes. Along with Gemma's partner, the team works to unravel the case. When the killer strikes again, even friendships are put on the line to find them before panic spreads across London" --
Author: McKinlay, Jenn, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: PB MCKINLAY Format: Books Summary: It's wedding season and Viv's longtime frenemy Piper May is getting married. She convinces Viv and Scarlett to take on the job of designing the headpieces for her wedding of the year. The well-to-do bride and her entourage are delighted to have Viv and Scarlett as their famous hat designer guests, but the hat-making pair are really just looking forward to a getaway at a castle in Sussex. It is to be a weekend full of events, culminating in the big ceremony. Unfortunately, on the first night of the festivities, the groom is found murdered, and the joyous holiday becomes the stuff of nightmares as no one is allowed to leave the castle until the investigation is complete. Although Scarlett assures Harrison Wentworth, her fiancé, that she and Viv will stay out of harms way, circumstances force them to step in when a secret affair between the deceased groom and a bridesmaid comes to light, and the murderer takes another life. Scarlett and Viv vow to unveil the killer's identity before the wedding adds another to its death toll.
Author: Patterson, James, 1947- author. Eversmann, Matt, author. Mooney, Chris, author. Published: 2023 Call Number: 363.2092 Format: Books Summary: "Straight from the mean streets, Walk the Blue Line is a first-person account of the days and nights of America's brave cops"-- Police officers share their experiences while protecting, serving, and defending people and communities, showcasing the courage, anger, and joy that can be found. Protect: These men and women are our eyes. Our ears. Our protectors. Those who wear a badge, doing their best to help people. Serve: These cops serve their communities. They serve their country. They're in the business of saving lives--even at the risk of their own. Defend: These patrol officers and K9 handlers, sheriffs and detectives, reveal what it's really like to wear the uniform, to carry the weight of the responsibility they've been given. This is a calling. This is the job.
Author: Bagby, Meredith E., author. Published: 2023 Call Number: 629.45 BAGBY Format: Books Summary: "The never-before-told story of the barrier-breaking NASA class of 1978, which for the first time consisted of a diverse crew of women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and more, and their triumphs and tragedies working on the newly launched space shuttle program, with the exclusive cooperation of five astronauts"-- "The never-before-told story of NASA's 1978 astronaut class, which included the first American women, the first African Americans, the first Asian American, and the first gay person to fly to space. With the exclusive participation of the astronauts who were there, this is the thrilling, behind-the-scenes saga of a new generation that transformed space exploration. The story of NASA's Astronaut Class 8, or "The F*cking New Guys," as their military predecessors nicknamed them, is an unprecedented look at these extraordinary explorers who broke barriers and blasted through glass ceilings. Egos clashed, ambitions flared, and romances bloomed as the New Guys competed with one another and navigated the cutthroat internal politics at NASA for a chance to rocket to the stars. Marking a departure from the iconic military test pilots who had dominated the space program since its inception, the New Guys arrived at the dawn of a new era of space flight. Teardrop-shaped space capsules from Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo gave way to the space shuttle, a revolutionary space plane capable of launching like a rocket, hauling cargo like a truck, and landing back on Earth like an airliner. They mastered this new machine from its dangerous first test flights to its greatest achievements: launching hundreds of satellites, building the International Space Station, and deploying the Hubble Space Telescope. The New Guys depicts these charismatic young astronauts and the exuberant social and scientific progress of the space shuttle program against the efforts of NASA officials who struggled to meet America's military demands and commercial aspirations. When NASA was pressured to fly more often and at greater risk, lives were lost in the program's two biggest disasters: Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2003). Caught in the crosshairs of this battle are the shuttle astronauts who gave their lives in those catastrophes, and who gave their lives' work pursuing a more equitable future in space for all humankind. Through it all they became friends, rivals, lovers, and ultimately, family.
