The Windy City Saga, Books 2 & 3

Shadows of the White City and Drawn by the Current
Fiction by Jocelyn Green

https://www.barnesandnoble.com  https://www.barnesandnoble.com

I read the first book in this trilogy (Veiled in Smoke) a while ago, and these books continue the story. All three books were good!

The first book was set during the Great Chicago Fire, and I liked how the author skipped ahead in time for the next two books to other significant events in Chicago’s history. The second book was during the World’s Fair and the third involved the Eastland tragedy, which l had never heard of. It was all interesting. 

The Reaping

 Fiction by Jess Louery

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This the second book by this author featuring cold case detective Evangeline "Van" Reed and investigator Harry Steinbeck and it is as creepily exciting as the first. (see below for #1)

This case takes the duo to a small insular town in rural Minnesota called Alku, where everybody is related to everybody else and the main industry is a secure mental hospital for the criminally insane. Like I said, creepy....

This was an exciting story with some surprises and good characters. The conclusion did stretch plausibility a bit, but not too much. 

I also read by this author: The Taken Ones

The Suicide House

 Fiction by Charlie Donlea

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

There's an elite high school in Indiana called Westmont Prep, where parents who can pay for it send their high-achieving (or problem) kids. The school boasts a 100% university graduation rate, and prides itself on excellence and discipline. But there's a secret society inside the student body that the school administration pretends not to see, and one night an initiation in the nearby forest gets out of hand. Two students end up dead and a teacher is accused of murder. 

But there are many who don't think the teacher was guilty. One year later a true-crime podcaster tries to find out what really happened in the woods at Westmont Prep.

This was an exciting mystery, but just a little over-the-top in believability. I did like the characters.

I also read recently by this author: Don't Believe It

The Thicket

 Fiction by Noelle Ihli

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

The Thicket is a Halloween attraction in an Iowa cornfield; they have a corn maze, carnival rides, and "haunted" cabins. But what happens if a real-life killer uses the haunted area as his hunting ground?

This is an exciting story that's basically a horror movie in book form.

 I also read by this author: Ask for Andrea

Slow Dance

 Fiction by Rainbow Rowell

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

In 2006, Shiloh goes to her friend Mikey's second wedding. She didn't go to his first one, because it was all the way in New York, but this one is right here in Omaha. She hasn't seen Mikey much since they graduated from high school almost fifteen years ago, because she's not good at keeping up with people. But she goes to the wedding, and she dresses up, although she'd not admitting to herself that who she really wants to see is Cary. Cary is the boy she hasn't seen or spoken to since she was nineteen, but she has never stopped thinking of him.

This was a truly lovely romance story. Rainbow Rowell writes the most realistic characters and the best dialogue. I recommend this book!

I also read recently by this author: If The Fates Allow

The Current

 Fiction by Tim Johnston

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Audrey and Caroline, a pair of college girls, go on a road trip and end up in some trouble in rural Iowa. What happens to them there is an unwelcome reminder of another tragedy in the past of Audrey’s small hometown, where her daddy is the longtime sheriff and has just retired for medical reasons. Audrey’s father is spurred to investigate, and more trouble follows. 

This was a strange story. There were interesting and believable characters, and the mystery of the past does finally get solved. albeit in a convoluted way. I'd say this was a good book but not great. 

There's Someone Inside Your House

Fiction by Stephanie Perkins

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

There's a killer stalking students at the local high school in rural Nebraska. This book starts fast and stays interesting.

This story was exciting and I liked the characters. I didn't love the ending; it seemed like the killer's motives were too weak. Still, it was a good story.

The Overnight Guest

 Fiction by Heather Gudenkauf

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Twenty years ago on a farm in Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Doyle were murdered in their bedroom at midnight. No killer was ever charged. In the present day, true crime writer Wylie Lark comes to stay at that same farmhouse to finish working on her book, hoping to shed some light on the mystery. Then there is a blizzard, and even more unexpected things happen!

This was an exciting story with several surprises.

I also read by this author: Not A Sound

Some Luck

Fiction by Jane Smiley

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

This novel follows an Iowa farming family through the years 1920-1953. It's a great set of  portraits of several diverse characters, even including some convincing bits from the points of view of babies and children, which is unusual.

It's a really good "family-saga" type of book.