UnCovered Reviews | Atlantic County Library System

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

Tue, 05/30/2023 - 9:54am

UnCovered Review by Collette Jones, Egg Harbor City Branch Manager

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: THE OSAGE MURDERS AND THE BIRTH OF THE FBI by David Grann is a riveting true story of greed, serial murder, and racial injustice that exposes an extremely disturbing episode of American history. In the early 1920s, the Osage people of Oklahoma were the richest people per capita in the world, thanks to the oil that was discovered beneath their land. But their newfound wealth made them a target for white criminals, who would stop at nothing to steal their land and their money. Over a period of two decades, dozens of Osage were murdered in a series of brutal killings that came to be known as the Reign of Terror. The killers were never brought to justice, and the Osage Nation was left devastated.

In KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, Grann tells the story of this horrific crime spree and its aftermath. He draws on extensive research, including interviews with descendants of the victims, to paint a vivid portrait of this dark chapter in American history. Grann’s writing is both gripping and informative. He does an excellent job of weaving together the complex details of the case with the personal stories of the victims and their families. As a result, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON is not only a compelling read, but also an important work of historical documentation. In addition to its historical significance, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON also offers a timely commentary on the issue of racial injustice. The Osage were victims of a hate crime, and their story is a reminder that racism still exists in America today. It is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, crime, or the legacy of racism in the United States.

The Osage were a wealthy tribe who had oil reserves on their land, and they were targeted by white men who wanted to steal their money. The murders were carried out in a variety of ways, including poisoning, shooting, and arson. Grann also provides a detailed account of the history of the Osage and the oil industry in Oklahoma. One of the most striking things about the book is the way Grann humanizes the victims. He tells their stories in detail, and he shows how their lives were changed forever by the murders. The victims were not just statistics; they were real people with families and friends who loved them. Grann also does a good job of showing how the murders affected the Osage community as a whole. The community was traumatized by the violence, and it took many years for them to recover. The perpetrators of the murders are also given a fair hearing in KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. Grann does not try to make excuses for their crimes, but he does try to understand why they did what they did. He shows how the perpetrators were motivated by greed and racism, and he explores the social and economic factors that contributed to the violence.

Finally, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON is a story about the FBI. The bureau was still in its early days when it was called in to investigate the Osage murders, and it was a major test of its capabilities. The FBI eventually solved the case, and its success helped to establish the bureau as a major law enforcement agency. The movie release is due out this year directed by Martin Scorsese.

It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth

Mon, 05/22/2023 - 10:23am

UnCovered Review by Marina Smolens, ACLS Brigantine Branch

IT’S LONELY AT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH is an autobiographical graphic novel by Zoe Thorogood. It follows a six-month period in the comic author’s life when she’s at the darkest point in a depressive episode. As heartbreaking and raw as it is, it is equally funny and potentially enlightening for those who do not understand what depression is like. Her use of visual art to help tell her story was an emotionally engaging and, as strange as it is to say, fun way to explore such a dark topic. This piece of art feels generous – it lends the reader a view into the mind of someone who experiences depression and suicidal ideation that is balanced by humor, wit, beauty, and ultimately, hope.

It breaks the fourth wall quite a bit, and never takes itself too seriously. It doesn’t claim to have any answers. It’s just one woman’s struggle with depression, but it may help someone somewhere who has had similar experiences, or who knows someone who has. This book isn’t only an exploration of depression, though; it’s also about creativity, expression, relationships, and what art is even for. It’s a book that will stick with you for a long time.

It is important to note these trigger warnings (TWs): depression, suicide, self-harm.

DELICIOUS MONSTERS

Wed, 05/10/2023 - 11:36am

Uncovered review by Collette Jones, ACLS Egg Harbor City Branch, Manager

DELICIOUS MONSTERS by Liselle Sambury is a haunted house novel that tackles generational abuse and the silencing of black women to protect those in power. The story follows Brittney and Jayden, two college students who create an internet series about the supernatural under the umbrella of Torte, a media company. They decide to investigate the “Miracle Mansion,” which promises transformation for some but death for others.

The mansion was inherited by Grace Odlin, who moved there with her daughter Daisy, after a difficult breakup. The house quickly becomes a successful Airbnb, but strange occurrences and the haunted house’s ghosts cause Daisy’s mental health to deteriorate, leading to a series of assaults and deaths. A decade later, Brittney and her mother have a strained relationship, and Brittn

DELICIOUS MONSTERS is a bone-chilling novel that masterfully constructs flawed, hurting characters trying to find redemption. The book is nearly impossible to put down, and the author’s depictions of the characters as eminently relatable people make them easy to care about. The story balances moments of levity to prevent the horrors of Miracle Mansion from overwhelming the reader, but it still manages to shake your soul. The novel is perfect for fans of THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and SADIE and is a mind-bending psychological thriller that navigates the treacherous past of a mysterious mansion ten years apart.

Educated

Mon, 05/01/2023 - 9:48am

unCovered review by Lisa Michel, ACLS Mays Landing Branch

There is a fantastic book I would love to recommend to anyone interested. It is called EDUCATED by Tara Westover. It is a biography of a woman who grew up in the mountains with a survivalist family that did not believe in government, hospitals, or anything that the mountain or God didn’t provide. She and her many siblings did not have traditional education or really much of an education at all. Her parents were extremists in their thinking and pushed those beliefs on their children. This book is about one woman’s life. She was raised in a rough and brutal environment during childhood with her parent’s values ingrained into her. She was introduced to society off the mountain in her early adulthood. Seeing the contrast in lifestyles, as well as the learning curve to adjust from one to the other was fascinating. Also, this book touches a lot on mental health and the extreme effects it can have on families, especially when it is undiagnosed and untreated. This book is a coming-of-age book that really had my emotions all over the place. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good book.

Meadowlands & The Wild Iris

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 12:08pm

UnCovered review by Marina Smolens, ACLS Brigantine Branch

To celebrate National Poetry Month, I decided it necessary to revisit a favorite of mine: Louise Glück. Glück is one of America’s greatest contemporary poets. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2020 and held the position of U.S. Poet Laureate from 2003 to 2004.

What first made me fall in love with Glück was her collection titled THE WILD IRIS – a collection that combines the reverence of nature with the existentialism of humans. She is known for “her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal.

MEADOWLANDS, the next book in her body of work published five years after THE WILD IRIS, certainly holds true to this statement. She utilized a retelling of the Odyssey to explore the breakdown of a marriage. It shows the true power of storytelling; how the ancient can be projected onto the modern, and how there is still so much there for us in today’s world that lies within these old stories. Myths uncover people’s truths, and Glück has harnessed their power in a contemporary rendering to help establish the universality in her work, gaining her favor in many of our hearts and on many of our shelves. Be sure to check them out from one of ours!

Uzumaki

Mon, 03/13/2023 - 10:03am

UnCovered review by Samantha LeRoy, ACLS Mays Landing Branch

There’s a reason Junji Ito is considered the king of horror manga and nowhere clearer is this proven than in UZUMAKI.

Perhaps Ito’s most famous and recognizable work, UZUMAKI chronicles the horrific downfall of Kurouzu-cho, a small, somewhat isolated town in Japan sandwiched between the mountains and the sea. What brings down this community? A serial killer? A demon? A spiral. The town is cursed by the shape. Some characters become entranced and obsessed with the shape, some develop horrible, debilitating phobias. Some turn into literal spirals themselves (amongst many other things)! On the surface, this seems like a pretty silly concept for a book, but Junji Ito’s writing and artwork forces the reader to take it seriously. Each chapter is a story in itself and with each story the book gets more and more disturbing and grotesque until the entire town and all its inhabitants succumb to the horror. Ito’s art style is as striking and dark as his imagination, but its captivating all the same. The body horror in this book will make you cringe in discomfort, but it’s rendered in such stunning detail you can’t look away. Chapter 8: the Snail literally made my jaw drop in shock, and one panel in chapter 11 scared me so much, I had to cover it with my own hand. Each story never ends the way you think it will, which keeps up the momentum of the book and makes you more excited for each chapter.

If you’re a horror fan and maybe are wanting to take a break from American horror, UZUMAKI is required reading.

THE SIDE-BY-SIDE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and THE INTERACTIVE CONSTITUTION

Mon, 03/06/2023 - 9:40am

Uncovered Review by Stephanie Baker, ACLS IT

Did you know James Holzhauer had a secret weapon? Kid’s books. To the delight of public libraries everywhere, the Jeopardy super-player credited the Children’s Section at his local branch in preparing him for his 32 regular season wins and victory in the 2019 Tournament of Champions. This was exciting to me because, not only do I work in a public library, I too suggest juvenile non-fiction titles for anyone of any age wanting to learn a little something. I’ve found that biographies, histories, and how-to’s written for younger audiences tend to stick to the basics, are less biased, faster to read, and, best of all, colorful and fun.

Following my own counsel, I recently checked out THE SIDE-BY-SIDE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and THE INTERACTIVE CONSTITUTION: EXPLORE THE CONSTITUTION WITH FLAPS, WHEELS, COLOR-CHANGING WORDS, AND MORE both by David Miles, the latter co-authored with his wife Stephanie and illustrated by Albert Pinilla. Whether you are looking for an introduction or a refresher, these titles provide clear and concise facts on arguably the two most important documents of our Democracy. Miles’ approach is to outline the historical events and context behind them in basic language to show how they helped shape our Country and Government all while delivering “Jeopardy” worthy tidbits.

So, when it comes to juvenile non-fiction, I, and James, suggest you go “all in.”

Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology

Tue, 02/21/2023 - 10:10am

UnCovered review by Matt DiBella, ACLS Director

CHIP WAR: THE FIGHT FOR THE WORLD’S MOST CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY is an inside look at one of the most internationally sought after technology in the modern world. This book provides the history and background on how scientists developed one of the most influential pieces of technology by switching from vacuum tubes to placing tiny transistors on a silicon wafer. From there the growth of microprocessors has grown exponentially along with their impact on our daily lives. Today microprocessors can be found in PCs, cellphones, automobiles, and refrigerators. Over the past three years, their design and production has played an even bigger role in politics and international relations. Author Chris Miller provides a full view into the science, production, business, and politics that goes into designing and producing one of the most valuable pieces of technology in the modern world.

A Heart That works

Mon, 02/06/2023 - 9:05am

UnCovered review by Stephanie Baker, ACLS IT

Having worked in a comedy club for a number of years, I got to know many comedians personally. So, if you ask me if I think one is qualified to write a story about love and loss, I can confidently say “Absolutely and probably more than most.” With their unique perspective of looking at the world, their ability to weave together what a lot of us see but fail to really notice, and their gift of communication, good comedians cut right to it with their observations.

In A HEART THAT WORKS, Rob Delaney recounts the 2.5 years between the birth, diagnosis, and death of his son, Henry. Delaney’s story encompasses his family’s experiences in between the “between,” in the before, and in the after of Henry’s battle with brain cancer. He depicts the good and the bad; to not share all of it would be a disservice to himself, to Henry, and to his readers. He exposes his anger, his annoyance, his grief, yes, but also communicates Henry’s strength and light as well as the love, grace, joy, and bits of humor found in even some of the worst days. Brutal and raw are common adjectives that have been used to describe this book, and they are not wrong. His emotions are guttural and his honesty is unapologetic; he doesn’t hold back.

At its core, A HEART THAT WORKS is a letter of thanks, love, and permission. Thanks to the friends, family, and caregivers, who were there for Delaney’s son and his family, love to his wife Leah and their 4 boys, but, most of all, permission to himself and to others to deal with their own unique tragedy as only they can. He gives no answers or advice, just his truth.

In the midst of his family trauma, Delaney reads Joan Didion’s A YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING and remarks on how it made him feel less alone. If he can take any solace in his heartache, whether it was his goal when he set out to write this memoir or not, maybe it’s that his reflections, experiences, and this book, will do the same for someone else.

The Fourth Monkey

Mon, 01/30/2023 - 9:11am

unCovered Review by Debbie Brahmi, Librarian, ACLS Pleasantville Branch

First of all, J.D. Barker is no relation to Clive Barker (I checked!) but if you enjoy a “horrific” read now and then, pick up THE FOURTH MONKEY. Even though this book is basically a crime story, classic cop vs. serial killer, be prepared for graphic violence and a deep dive into the mind of a seriously evil human being. This is an intense, dark, and disturbing story, not everyone’s cup of tea.

The Four Monkey Killer has been terrorizing the people of Chicago for five years until his body is found at the scene of an accident. It appears the deceased has thrown himself into the path of a bus. The body holds several clues as to the identity of the killer, including a diary, which Det. Sam Porter hopes will help him and his team unravel the mystery and find the last missing victim before she dies.

Meanwhile, Sam Porter is battling a few demons of his own…

Barker’s fast-paced writing style keeps you interested from the very beginning. This is a book you will literally not want to put down. Fans of SE7EN and THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS will thoroughly enjoy THE FOURTH MONKEY, and the thrills keep coming in the 4MK sequels THE FIFTH TO DIE and THE SIXTH WICKED CHILD.

A Wealth of Pigeons

Tue, 01/17/2023 - 1:54pm

UnCovered review by Beth Bliss, ACLS Brigantine Branch Manager

There have been some amazing author-illustrator teams in the canon of great literature. Think Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake, A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard, C.S. Lewis & Pauline Baynes, J.R.R. Tolkein & Pauline Baynes – the list goes on and on.

Those venerated partnerships now have rivals in the delightful author/illustrator team of Steve Martin (yes; that Steve Martin – the comedian) and Harry Bliss.

Martin and Bliss (no relation; what a pity) have been lauded for their latest book NUMBER ONE IS WALKING: MY LIFE IN THE MOVIES AND OTHER DIVERSIONS, which is currently in great demand. Their earlier work, A WEALTH OF PIGEONS (c.2020), however, should not be overlooked. This unpaginated but hefty banquet of black-and-white cartoons is pithy, snarky, and ironic.

The concept of cartoons for grownups isn’t new – think Charles Addams, Berkeley Breathed, Garry Trudeau, and others – but this collection feels fresh, contemporary, and most definitely skewed towards adults. Sharp, funny, accessible; this is one you shouldn’t miss.

The Last Campaign: Sherman, Geronimo and the War for America

Mon, 01/09/2023 - 9:59am

unCovered review by Frank Tomasello, ACLS Mays Landing Branch

The treatment of Native Americans has been a contentious subject since well before the founding of the United States as a nation. In THE LAST CAMPAIGN: SHERMAN, GERONIMO AND THE WAR FOR AMERICA, author H. W. Brands approaches the subject objectively and makes clear that it is more complex than is often portrayed. He points out early on that all peoples who ever occupied North America came as immigrants and many of the Native Americans encountered by the first Europeans in America had engaged in forcibly displacing prior inhabitants. In fact, Geronimo himself had been at war with Mexicans who had killed most of his family long before he gave any thought to the Americans.

This sad chapter of American history can be distilled down to a clash of completely incompatible lifestyles. The Native Americans lived a highly efficient but nomadic lifestyle, while white society was developing a technological and urban society. Brands points out that one is not necessarily superior to the other but each has its own merits. Although atrocities certainly occurred on both sides, the policy of the United States never embraced genocide of the Native population as is popularly thought.

The development of the West had to wait for the outcome of the Civil War and the long Reconstruction afterward so the clash of lifestyles didn’t come in earnest until that time. US policy toward the Natives was thus fashioned by men who had just destroyed the corrupt Southern aristocracy lifestyle and saw the “containment” of the Natives to reservations as less drastic than what happened to the South, opening the West to its inevitable development. On the other hand, the Natives were firm in the belief that the land had been given to them by God and to relinquish any of it was a betrayal of their God. To the Natives, it was all or nothing. To the white population, the reservation system was a fair compromise, especially given that a sizeable portion of the Native population seemingly embraced white society once exposed to it. In the end, technology and the sheer number of white settlers overwhelmed the Natives. Some chose to fight to the death; some accepted the inevitable and tried to assimilate into white culture.

Though the title of the book mysteriously singles out Sherman and Geronimo, neither make up a significant part of the book, which examines several tribal leaders as well as American politicians and Army officials. Brands does a good job in presenting a controversial topic in a fair and objective and highly readable manner. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about this subject.

Daughter of Darkness

Tue, 12/20/2022 - 9:39am

UnCovered review by Elizabeth Sausto, ACLS Galloway Branch

Terry Brooks’ DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS was much more emotional than I thought it would be when I turned the first page. Picking up two years after CHILD OF LIGHT left off, Auris is now fully integrated into her life in Viridian Deep as one of the Fae and deeply invested to a life with her lover, Harrow. Her peaceful life is suddenly shattered when a mysterious creature attacks and steals Harrow’s inish- his very soul- and demands that Auris bring him a dragon for any hope of restoring it. As Harrow falls into a comatose state, Auris goes on a dangerous journey to save the love of her life and discovers more about her mysterious past in the process.

This novel was a very worthy follow-up to CHILD OF LIGHT. Along with a very useful map included in the very beginning, the book introduced compelling new characters and magical species. The fact that Auris had very little time to complete her quest before Harrow’s demise also added some tension that made the book almost impossible to put down.

However, DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS suffered from many of the same problems as its predecessor. The narrator, Auris, repeats herself much too often, which made the story a bit tiring at times. I also longed for a more in-depth look into the culture and history of the magical creatures introduced in this novel, but I believe Brooks fell short in this regard. Lastly, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. There were many elements to the ending that I think should have been covered in two chapters instead of just one.

Despite its flaws, I still enjoyed reading DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS and thoroughly hope that Brooks delivers more of Auris’ journey of self-discovery in the near future.

A MAN OF IRON: THE TURBULENT LIFE AND IMPROBABLE PRESIDENCY OF GROVER CLEVELAND

Tue, 12/13/2022 - 11:34am

unCovered review by Frank Tomasello, ACLS Mays Landing Branch

Grover Cleveland served as the 22nd and 24th President of the United States and today is generally remembered for that fact alone. Yet, sadly, there is much to the life and career of this remarkable man.

Grover Cleveland was born the fifth of nine children, in Caldwell, New Jersey, to a Congregationalist Minister. He dropped out of school at age 16 when his father died and he needed to support his family. Through family connections, he worked as a clerk in a law office and became a lawyer through a sort of apprenticeship. As a lawyer, Cleveland developed a reputation for unscrupulous honesty and 18-to 20-hour workdays. Most of his earnings went to support his family (including funding the college education denied him for one of his sisters). As one can imagine, this left no time for social life (not to mention the development of social skills), and Cleveland remained a bachelor until age 49 when he became the first President to be married in the White House. Difficult to believe is the fact that Cleveland’s political career, before being elected President, spanned a mere three years (Sheriff of Erie County, Mayor of Buffalo, and Governor of New York). The fact that Cleveland served non-consecutive terms is due to the inherent quirks of the Electoral College as he won the popular vote in three consecutive elections. The debate over the shortcomings of the Electoral College is still hotly debated today.

Elected as President based upon his reputation for honesty, he found that same quality and a strict constructionist policy towards the Constitution (along with the aforementioned lack of social skills), as a constant source of friction with Congress and his own political party. Fortunately, his marriage to Frances Folsom seemed to have mellowed him and his second term was marked by a somewhat more willingness to compromise. Despite the fact of severe economic depression and a growing trend away from conservatism and towards progressivism in his second term, Cleveland’s legacy has been consigned to the dustbin of history. He surely deserves better and there are lessons for the present in the life and Presidency of Grover Cleveland as well.

This book, by Troy Senik, was interesting and readable. My only criticism is the author’s overuse of obscure vocabulary as though his target audience is a Ph.D. committee on the English language and not the average historian.

If We Were Villains

Mon, 12/05/2022 - 11:17am

unCovered review by Marina Smolens, ACLS Brigantine Branch

IF WE WERE VILLAINS by M. L. Rio brings you into the world of seven thespians in their senior year at the Dellecher Shakespeare conservatory – and where there’s Shakespeare, you can be sure there is obsession, violence, romance, and death to follow. The conservatory is no exception. The story starts with Oliver Marks, one of the seven thespian students, as he is being released from prison after serving ten years for a crime he may or may not have committed. Joseph Colborne, the former lead detective on the case, has a feeling he didn’t get the full story. Oliver agrees to tell him everything now so long as no one can get in any more trouble for it. And so, with this agreement in place, we are transported back in time, ten years earlier, to the fall semester of 1997. From there, we meet the rest of the cast, and watch as their passions, furies, and secrets lead to their unraveling. Even if you think you know how it’s going to end, it sucker-punches you and leaves you breathless. An absolute win for dark academia.

Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders

Mon, 11/28/2022 - 9:43am

UnCovered review by Beth Bliss, ACLS Brigantine Branch Manager

As unusual as it might seem to recommend an encyclopedic book for casual reading, the venerable series ATLAS OBSCURA: AN EXPLORER’S GUIDE TO THE WORLD’S HIDDEN WONDERS offers a wealth of information about curiosities ranging from the sublime (such as the Japanese artist and illustrator Hayao Miyazaki’s anime that spawned passionate followings in both the Eastern world and the Western), to the bizarre, to the grotesque (“necropants,” anyone?) There are even some regional connections in this book, such as Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum.

With fold-out maps and a plethora of colorful plates, this book has something for all. There’s even an edition for the younger set! You might want to alert your children to THE ATLAS OBSCURA EXPLORER’S GUIDE FOR THE WORLD’S MOST ADVENTUROUS KID.

Dolphin Junction

Mon, 11/21/2022 - 10:22am

UnCovered review by Pam Saunders, ACLS Librarian

Mick Herron has been hailed as the successor to John Le Carré for his modern spy thrillers, and his long-running Slow Horses espionage series, focused on has-been MI-5 operatives and has recently been made into a popular television series. His mastery is not limited to novels, though, and his short fiction has been collected for the first time in the recently released DOLPHIN JUNCTION. The eleven stories include six stand-alone tales, four featuring a husband-and-wife private eye team named Joe and Zoe, and a tale from the past of the leader of the SLOW HORSES.

Herron is a master of dialogue, whether actual or internal, and the dialogue in all these stories is witty, wryly humorous, sardonic, and clever. He is also a master of plot, and try as one might to solve the mystery in each tale, Herron always serves up a plot twist or two that almost no reader will anticipate. Several of the plots cross over into the horror genre in ways reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe at his spookiest.

Perhaps the most hauntingly memorable selection is “Dolphin Junction,” where the narrator is neither reliable nor totally forthcoming. It starts simply enough, with a man who seems to be a loving husband who believes his wife has been abducted, but who cannot convince the police to investigate. As he investigates on his own, Herron leads the reader down a path of assumptions that results in a major case of literary whiplash as the truth is at last revealed.

For those who are already fans of the SLOW HORSES, learning a bit about Jackson Lamb’s days as a “joe” in the field in Cold War Berlin and the reappearance of brilliant archivist Molly Doran is the real draw of this collection. The cagey and clever banter between the two, often studded with double-entendre, will elicit a smile at the same time it often forces one to re-read passages to get the hidden joke. Herron lets the reader in on just enough spy craft to make the story seem plausible, without turning the tale into a primer on “How to Be a Spook.” And as he usually does, Herron confronts the reader with the moral ambiguity that lies at the heart of espionage and the individuals caught up in its practice.

And just in time for the holiday season, there is “The Usual Santas,” a tale in which the addition of an extra mall Santa to the usual eight leads to a philosophical conversation in their Christmas Eve breakroom celebration and wind-down. Who or what is the real Santa and how does any Santa handle the conflict between what he represents and the commercialism that the mall where the eight work represents. The ending features yet another about-face, leading to a humorously satisfying ending.

These short reads do not demand an ongoing commitment, making them perfect to read one at a time during a hectic time of year when a longer work with a complex plot and many characters might not suit. For those readers not yet familiar with the Slow Horses series, you have that to look forward to in the new year.

The Boys from Biloxi

Mon, 11/14/2022 - 9:22am

UnCovered Review by Collette Jones, ACLS Egg Harbor City Branch

The folklore, legend, and vice crime of the Gulf Coast and Biloxi will draw you into this story with twists and turns. The plot will make you think about who is the good character twice over. This is a classic tale. Two lifelong friends, best friends, Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco, whose lives intersect on many occasions. The story goes back through Mississippi pre-World War II through to the 1980’s, when casino gambling ends the controlled vice in the Deep South in and around Biloxi, Mississippi.

Biloxi is known for its beaches, seafood industry, and charm but this story tells about corruption on the side of the law and underneath of it. The reality of organized crime, corrupt politicians and police, crusader judges and attorneys as well as many other situations get these two friends setup in a final conflict in a Mississippi court room. The lives they live, and their different chosen paths, will make you aware of the Dixie Mafia as we trace their immigrant roots and the occupations of their fathers to seedy corruption plaguing both these kids from the Coast. John Grisham has written bestsellers many times. THE BOYS FROM BILOXI shows his love of the Deep South and reveals a side of Gulf Coast history through the art of storytelling that only a good writer can do. Showcasing these lifelong friendships allows the reader to know the characters and feel like everyone lives in the same town. The story lets the reader walk in their shoes.

Would you make the same decisions as they?

If you were the prosecutor’s son or the son of the underworld Boss, would that change your circumstance helping you to bring out the light of the truth that is so heavy to bear it could cost you your life?

Sorcery of Thorns

Wed, 11/09/2022 - 9:56am

UnCovered review by Marina Smolens, ACLS Brigantine Branch

Elisabeth Scrivener knew for sure of two things: that sorcery was evil, and that, more than anything, she wanted to become a warden for the Great Libraries of Austermeer. But after someone began sabotaging the libraries and turning grimoires into Maleficts (demonic manifestations of damaged grimoires), and her life as she knew it was turned upside down, she had to team up with a demon and a sorcerer, her previously sworn enemies, to make things right again. She learned the world was not as black and white as she had thought, and all of her beliefs and aspirations were thrown into question.

Although SORCERY OF THORNS by Margaret Rogerson is encased in the structure of a young adult fantasy novel set in a Victorian time period, and it brings about all the joy and wonder that the genre has to offer, it feels much more nuanced than that. It evokes reflection on contemporary issues but does so in a subtle way that does not distract from the demon-slaying or the spell-casting magic. As with any great story, it feels timeless and relevant, despite being set in a completely fictional world hundreds of years ago.

The book was fast-paced, genuinely never slow or boring. I couldn’t wait to return to it whenever life asked of me to do things other than to read it. I fell in love with all of the characters and the world that the author had built. It was a classic good vs. evil tale with fantasy and magic and a bit of romance, but with the strangely optimistic reminder that good and evil can, and do, coexist, inside the world, and inside ourselves, and that we must always be open to shifting our perspectives, allowing the pre-existing narratives to change. It seems the only real evil in this story is the inability to empathize, change, and adapt. Redemption is possible, even for monsters.

Verity

Mon, 10/31/2022 - 9:34am

UnCovered review by Collette Jones, ACLS Egg Harbor City Branch Manager

Self-published in 2018, VERITY is a psychological thriller that follows the journey of writer Lowen Ashleigh as she travels to Vermont to work as the new co-writer for a popular series of books written by the renowned author Verity Crawford. Written from the perspectives of both Verity and Lowen, VERITY explores violence, trauma, and truth. This storyline is a romantic, suspenseful, thriller filled with chilling details and fascinating sick twisted turns. Disturbing, horrifying, and unsettling at times to read through nonetheless, your attention to see what happens next will consume you as a reader. It is a well-written story in the first person narrative that plays with genres and is a bit creepy; definitely manipulatively and psychotic. The story is unsettling and clearly involves a lot of secrets: death of a loved one, abuse, gory details. It is uninhibited and can be described as an immersive reading experience. I was pushed past my comfort zone of reading this just as a romance novel. The book has emotional trigger moments. While reading the statements and story you can feel yourself responding to the events being described as terrifying while understanding love is in bloom.

In VERITY, Lowen is a writer who is offered the opportunity to complete the last three novels of a bestselling book series because the author, Verity Crawford, is unable to do so for medical reasons. When Lowen moves into the Crawford house to go over Verity’s notes, she sees that Verity has been left largely unresponsive after a car accident. She also learns that Verity’s two twin daughters died in the months before the accident. Lowen soon finds herself attracted to Jeremy, Verity’s husband, and she also discovers an autobiographical manuscript written by Verity, which contains dark secrets about Verity’s life. The unraveling of this story is chilling. This is not a usual romance novel like Colleen Hoover captures.

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