Author: Beth

Start a New Mystery Series

- Beth Leave a comment

While most mystery series do not have to be read in order, many mystery readers prefer to start at the beginning and follow the main characters through the growth of their mystery solving skills. Below you will find a few newer titles that are number one in a forthcoming mystery series, owned by the Davenport Public Library at the time of this writing. Descriptions are provided by the publisher.

Knife Skills by Wendy Church, The Shadows of Chicago series. Sagarine Pfister is a great cook but has been blacklisted by almost every restaurant in Chicago. When she finds the head chef of a below-average restaurant dead in a walk-in freezer, the owner, Russian gang boss Anatoly Morzov, offers her the head chef job. While the Chicago PD searches for a killer, the FBI pressures Sagarine to inform on the gang. As Sagarine becomes more deeply involved with the gang and one of Morzov’s lieutenants, the FBI’s demands put her at increased risk of discovery. She has to make a decision about where her loyalties lie as she finds herself running for her life.

Murder by cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom-Courage, A Golden Girls cozy mystery. When Dorothy’s obnoxious date is found dead in a hotel freezer, it not only ruins a gorgeous cheesecake but threatens the elaborate St. Olaf-themed wedding Rose is hosting.

 

 

 

 

Midnight Streets by Phil Lecomber, A Piccadilly noir novel. When Cockney private detective George Harley saves a young girl’s life on a dark London night in 1929, he doesn’t realize it marks the beginning of an investigation which will change his life forever. The incendiary novel which inspired the girl’s abduction also seems to be linked to a series of grisly murders that are taking place on Harley’s patch. Set during the Golden Age of Crime Fiction, Harley’s world is a far cry from the country house of an Agatha Christie whodunnit.

 

Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd, Nora Breen investigates. The first in a cozy mystery series about a former nun who searches for answers in a small seaside town after her pen pal mysteriously disappears. Haunted by a line in her friend’s letter, Nora Breen asks to be released from her vows and arrives at Gulls Nest, a charming hotel in Gore-on-Sea in Kent. A seaside town, a place of fresh air and relaxed constraints, is the perfect place for a new start. Nora hides her identity and pries into the lives of her fellow guests. But when a series of bizarre murders rattles the occupants of Gulls Nest it’s time to ask if a dark past can ever really be left behind.

The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes, Expectant detectives. The Expectant Detectives is first in a delightful new mystery series following a group of pregnant women who meet at a prenatal class and team up to solve the murder of someone in their village.

 

 

 

 

I Only Read Murder by Ian Ferguson & Will Ferguson, Miranda Abbott mystery. Miranda Abbott, once known for the crime-solving, karate-chopping church pastor she played on network television, has hit hard times. She’s facing ruin when a mysterious postcard arrives, summoning her to Happy Rock, a small town in the Pacific Northwest. In dire straits, she signs up for an amateur production at the Happy Rock Little Theater. On opening night, one of the actors is murdered, live, in front of the audience. Now everyone is under a cloud of suspicion, including the town doctor, the high school drama teacher, an oil-stained car mechanic, an elderly gentleman who may have been in the CIA — and Miranda herself. Clearly, the only way to solve this mystery is for Miranda to summon her skills as television’s Pastor Fran.

Every Time I go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack, The vacation mysteries. All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next in her Vacation Mysteries series — is that too much to ask? Clearly, because when an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life Eleanor’s enlisted to help solve the case. Contending with literary rivals, rabid fans, a stalker, and even her ex, Oliver, theories are bandied about, and rivalries, rifts, and broken hearts are revealed.

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

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The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka is a slow-paced, meditative but short book about what happens when a routine is thrown off course for a woman experiencing dementia.

In the first half of the book, Alice takes comfort in her daily lap swimming. The other swimmers around her keep an eye on Alice as they follow their own routines. Through simple vignettes of the swimmers, readers get a sense of the community, culture and norms of this secluded, underground swimming pool. One day, a crack appears at the bottom of the pool. As the crack changes and grows, the swimmers become increasingly alarmed, except Alice who continues in her routine. Finally, the crack causes the pool to shut down and the swimmers disperse, most never to cross paths again.

The second half of the book focuses solely on Alice and how her dementia gets rapidly worse without the daily lap swimming. She is moved into a nursing home. Her memories of her childhood and early parenthood become as real to her as the present. Alice’s daughter is ready to form a bond just as her health declines.

This is not the book for readers looking for a compelling, character-driven story. It does, however, provoke a range of emotions, from regret to reconciliation, and yes, even moments of humor. I would recommend The Swimmers to anyone who is looking for a short read that never falls short on metaphor, imagery and beautiful prose.

The Swimmers is available from the Davenport Public Library in regular print and large print as of this writing.

Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su

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In Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su, 23-year-old Vi has dropped out of college and is working a dead-end job as a front desk attendant at a hotel. She was dumped by her boyfriend six months ago and just can’t seem to get over it.

Things start to change when she finds, and takes home, a gelatinous blob she finds next to a garbage can. From Vi’s couch, this blob starts to absorb bits of cereal and junk food. It develops beady black eyes. Then blinking eyelids. It turns out it is a living, maybe alien creature. It starts to obey Vi’s commands to move, stay and grow an arm. From there, Vi continues to play sorcerer and develops it into a good-looking, if socially clueless, boyfriend named Bob.

Sounds like a change for the better, right? You’d be wrong. Instead of growing together to be an on-the-town couple, Vi holds the Bob hostage, limiting who and when he interacts with any other living creature. But by now, Bob has developed a curiosity about the world and the people in it. He breaks out of Vi’s apartment and complicates her life significantly.

Readers may find Vi’s embodiment of ennui frustrating. She gets in her own way on almost every desire to be social with her coworkers or (human) romantic interests, re-enroll in college, or look for any type of more fulfilling job. Vi likes the idea of a boyfriend but puts no effort into being in a couple with Bob beyond her apartment walls. Even the perfect boyfriend she has developed from a blob outgrows her in a matter of weeks.

Supporting characters from co-workers to parents fill in some other gaps about Vi and why she is the way she is. If you are up to suspending your belief in reality, the story will make you reflect on loving and letting go and what it means to be a young adult in the 2020s.

High-quality learning through library-provided Great Courses

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Aimed at lifelong learners, The Great Courses is a series of college-level courses designed to deliver high-quality learning experiences outside of a lecture hall. Through audio and video, and with supplemental print materials, you can pursue lifelong learning and personal enrichment in science, history, literature, religion, and more, with no tests or homework.

Here is just a sampling of Great Courses available through the Davenport Public Library on DVD or streaming through Kanopy.

How to plan for the perfect retirement — (on DVD and Kanopy) — Learn how to secure your financial future and create the retirement lifestyle of your dreams with practical advice for planners of any age and income level. Professor Dana Anspach of Sensible Money, LLC will be your step-by-step guide to help you create the future you want. No matter how old you are or how far along in your working life, it’s never too early or too late to develop a plan that works for you.

Fighting Misinformation: Digital Media Literacy — (on DVD and Kanopy) — The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) has teamed up with The Great Courses to lead you step by step through the history, evolution, science, and impact of misinformation, and to arm you with the very skills needed to defuse the threat of misinformation media and become a more savvy media consumer. Learn how to reduce the threat of misinformation from local, national, and international sources and ensure the validity of the information you share.

When everything fails: surviving any disaster — (on DVD and Kanopy) — Living through a disaster is not a question of if, it’s a question of when. This course offers a practical guide for protecting the individual, their family, and their community. Taught by Professor Stephen Owen of Radford University, these fourteen fast-paced lectures will arm viewers with information for planning ahead so they can prepare for the effects of a disaster or catastrophe.

America’s long struggle against slavery — (on DVD and Kanopy) — Survey the history of the American anti-slavery movement, from the dawn of the transatlantic slave trade during the late 15th century to the end of Reconstruction in 1877 and beyond. Professor Richard Bell’s 30 eye-opening episodes give you an up-close view of a venal institution and the people who fought against it, and who often paid for their courage with their lives.

New nonfiction titles in large print

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Large print readers of nonfiction will find inspiration, connection and nuance in these titles recently added to the collection.

Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed by Dashka Slater. When a high school student started a private Instagram account that used racist and sexist memes to make his friends laugh, he thought of it as “edgy” humor. Then a few other kids found out about the account. Pretty soon, everyone knew. Ultimately no one in the small town of Albany, California, was safe from the repercussions of the account’s discovery. In the end, no one was laughing. And everyone was left asking: Where does accountability end for online speech that harms? And what does accountability even mean?

 

American Heroes by James Patterson. U.S. soldiers who served in overseas conflicts — from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan — share true stories of the actions that earned them some of America’s most distinguished military medals, up to and including the Medal of Honor. They never acted alone, but always in the spirit of camaraderie, patriotism, and for the good of our beloved country. There has never been a better time for all of us to think about duty, sacrifice, and what it means to be an American hero.

 

 

Comfort is an Old Barn: Stories from the Heart of Maine by Amy Calder. Amy Calder is an award-winning newspaper reporter and columnist, covering city government and everything from murders and car crashes to fires and drug busts. Since 2009, Calder has written a weekly human-interest column, “Reporting Aside,” which appears in both the Waterville Sentinel and the Kennebec Journal. Comfort Is an Old Barn is a curated collection of those columns, which include sketches of the colorful characters, quirky animals she has encountered, and special moments, as well as personal stories that make living in Maine special.

 

 

Lucy Burdette’s Kitchen: Recipes and Stories from the Key West Food Critic Mysteries. The Key West Food Critic series is known for its dastardly deaths, creative clues, and mouth-watering mysteries. Now, for the first time, all the recipes featured in the series are gathered in a collection. Recipes include: Lucy Burdette’s One Bowl Chocolate Cake, Sam’s Cornbread Sausage Stuffing, Scarlett O’Hara Cupcakes, Chef Edel’s Cheesy Polenta, Hayley Snow’s Shrimp Salad, and many more.

 

 

 

The Wives: A Memoir by Simone Gorrindo. When her new husband joins an elite Army unit, Simone Gorrindo is uprooted from New York City and dropped into Columbus, Georgia. With her husband frequently deployed, Simone is left to find her place in this new world, alone — until she meets the wives. Gorrindo gives us an intimate look into the inner lives of a remarkable group of women and a tender, unflinching portrait of a marriage. A love story, an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, and a bracing tour of the intractable divisions that plague our country today, The Wives offers a rare and powerful gift: a hopeful stitch in the fabric of a torn America.

Adult sibling relationships in fiction

- Beth Leave a comment

I’ve noticed a publishing trend of plots that revolve around the relationship between siblings as adults. Sometimes they share a tragic event in childhood that shape who they are as adults. More often the plot revolves around renegotiating relationships as adults, taking care of aging parents, and who gets the inheritance. Here are just a few examples of books that explore adult sibling relationships. Descriptions from the publishers. These titles are owned in RiverShare at the time this is post is published.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay: One afternoon in 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin comes home from school to find her mother missing. So begins a mystery that will span a lifetime.  Investigators suspect Jane’s husband, but no evidence is found linking him to a crime. Jane’s three children are left to be raised by the man who may have murdered their mother. Two decades later, the remains of Jane Larkin are found. The investigation in awakened. The children, now grown, are forced to choose sides. With their father or against him? Guilty or innocent? And what happens if they are wrong? Available in regular print and large print.

 

The Liz Taylor Ring by Brenda Janowitz: In 1978, Lizzie Morgan and Ritchie Schneider embark on a whirlwind romance on the bright beaches and glamorous yachts of Long Island. Over the years, their relationship has its share of ups and downs, including a nine-month hiatus that ends with a stunning eleven-carat ring—one that looks just like the diamond Richard Burton gifted Liz Taylor after their own separation. Decades later, when the lost ring unexpectedly resurfaces, the Schneiders’ three children gather under one roof for the first time in years, eager to get their hands on this beloved, expensive reminder of their departed parents. But determining the fate of the heirloom is no simple task, unearthing old wounds and heartaches the siblings can’t ignore. They’ll have to decide whether to move forward as a family or let the ring break them once and for all. Available in regular print and audiobook on CD.

The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney: It is a warm, funny, and acutely perceptive debut novel about four adult siblings and the fate of the shared inheritance that has shaped their choices and their lives. Years of simmering tensions finally reach a breaking point after an ensuing accident endangers the Plumbs’ joint trust fund, which they are months away from finally receiving. The Plumb siblings have been counting on the money to solve a number of self-inflicted problems. Brought together as never before, Leo, Melody, Jack, and Beatrice must grapple with old resentments, present-day truths, and the significant emotional and financial toll of the accident, as well as finally acknowledge the choices they have made in their own lives. Available in regular print, large print, audiobook on CD, and ebook.

Books to help you discuss tough topics with kids

- Beth Leave a comment

Sometimes when caregivers face a difficult topic they need to discuss with a child, the grownup doesn’t know where to start. They are afraid of saying the wrong thing but can make the situation worse by saying nothing at all.

The following are picture books in our Literacy and Learning Collection, meant for caregivers and children to read together. These books also offer additional guidance for caregivers.

From My Head to My Toes by Aly Raisman gently introduces young readers to the topics of consent and bodily autonomy in a positive way.

My Body Safety Rules by Jayneen Sanders teaches children with disability about body safety and consent and provides them with essential skills to recognize unsafe situations. Using age-appropriate language and illustrations, this book addresses the needs and challenges often faced by children with disability, helping them to understand their rights in regard to their body and personal space.

The idea of parents taking a break from or ending their relationship is scary and sad for children of all ages. If My Parents Are Divorced by Dagmar Geisler shows how different families can deal with a separation and which insecurities may arise in the minds of children.

Having a family member diagnosed with cancer can be scary and confusing for children. Cancer doesn’t just affect those who have it, but their family and friends as well. Momma Has Cancer by Phi Thach will take your child through journeys of pain and disease but also strength and encouragement.

What Does Grief Feel Like? by Korie Leigh shares the many ways people can grieve when a loved one dies and validates children’s unique grief experiences. Open-ended questions throughout the book invite children to share what they are thinking, feeling, and going through.

The Literacy and Learning Collection carries even more titles to help guide you through parenting in unusual and challenging circumstances. Items cover topics in mind, body, health and sex education, neurodivergent learners, and healing from trauma, abuse and violence.

See some 2025 Oscar-nominated films using your library

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The 97th Academy Awards airs on Sunday, March 2, and your library has some of the nominees available on DVD and Blu-ray. Place a hold on the movies you want to see and start your own Oscar-viewing marathon today!

Alien: Romulus. Nominated for Visual Effects

 

 

 

The Apprentice. Nominated for Actor in a leading role (Sebastian Stan) and Actor in a supporting role (Jeremy Strong)

 

 

 

Conclave. Nominated for Best Picture; Actor in a leading role (Ralph Fiennes); Actress in supporting role (Isabella Rossellini); Writing (adapted Screenplay); and other nominations. Here’s a link to the book the movie is based on, “Conclave” by Robert Harris.

 

 

Dune: Part Two. Nominated for Best Picture; Cinematography; and other nominations

 

 

 

Gladiator II. Nominated for Costume Design

 

 

 

Inside Out 2. Nominated for Animated Feature Film

 

 

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Nominated for Visual Effects

 

 

Nosferatu. Nominated for Cinematography; and other nominations

An Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature, “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” is available on DVD or streaming through Kanopy.

 

 

The Substance. Nominated for Best Picture; Actress in a leading role (Demi Moore); Directing; and Writing (original Screenplay)

Wicked. Nominated for Best Picture; Actress in a leading role (Cynthia Erivo); Actress in a supporting role (Ariana Grande); and other nominations

 

 

The Wild Robot. Nominated for Animated Feature Film. You can also read the book “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown that inspired the movie.

 

Check out these books by local authors

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Dozens of titles were added to our Local Authors collection in 2024. These are books written by authors born or living in Scott County, Iowa, or Rock Island County, Illinois. In most cases, the items were donated to the Davenport Public Library by the authors themselves. Here are just some of the newest Local Author items available for checkout.

Fiction and genre fiction

Poetry

 

Nonfiction

Teens

Kids

If you are a Quad Cities-based author, whether traditionally published or self-published, please consider donating a copy of your book to our Local Authors collection so that it can be checked out and enjoyed by our patrons. Email Beth Paul at bpaul@davenportlibrary.com for details about making the donation.

That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones

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When Amanda Jones spoke out against censorship at a public library board meeting in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, she became the target of two local bloggers. They produced memes and other social media posts with targets on her head and called her a groomer and pedophile. Soon after, her personal information and work address were publicized, and she started receiving death threats. Jones decided to fight back. She filed defamation and harassment lawsuits against the men.

That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones goes beyond describing the legal battle between Jones and the two men. If you’re just dipping your toe into anti-censorship work and need to learn about the foundational arguments around intellectual freedom, this is the book for you. If you are interested in why more books are being challenged in public libraries and public schools, this book explains the motivation behind those challenges. Finally, if you are interested in a manifesto from a librarian on the front line, defending her student’s right to read freely and the public’s right to see themselves represented at their library, you will enjoy this book.

One caveat, the book does get repetitive. I read this as an ebook and there were times I thought I accidently scrolled back to a previous chapter. Instead, it was Jones making the same point as in a previous chapter, just in a slightly different way. The book does describe the lawsuits, dismissals and appeals, but it is not the focus of the book. Also, there is not a satisfactory ending to the legal battle because the appeals are ongoing. However, there is inspiration in knowing that Jones is a leader in advocating for inclusivity and representation in all libraries.

That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones is available in regular print and large print at the time of this writing.