United States of Oligarchy by Casey Michel

UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY by Casey Michel is subtitled “How America's Wealthiest Ally with Dictators, Weaken the U.S., and Destroy Democracy.” Michel (American Kleptocracy and Foreign Agents) is a financial expert and has written extensively about related crimes (e.g., tax evasion, money laundering). Recently described in Foreign Affairs journal as “a blistering account,” his latest text is accessible, but fairly academic in tone and centers on the ways in which national security and democracy are being threatened both by very wealthy Americans and foreign influences from places like Russia, China, and the Middle East. I was surprised at the extent to which he calls out rich and powerful people like Elon Musk and Jared Kushner, for example. Even the Afterward is chilling. Writing about “Just how monstrous American wealth inequality has become in recent decades -- and how it's now surpassed anything the country has ever known,” Michel cites statistics meant to shock: (“First year the 400 richest Americans paid a lower tax rate than the bottom 50% of Americans: 2018”) and outlines recommendations (e.g., more enforcement of existing laws or enacting new taxes on the ultra-wealthy) to halt or curb these practices. He goes on to point out that this as a global phenomenon, “infecting even places like Britain (where the top 1 percent owned 21.3% of the country's total wealth), France (27.2%), and Germany (27.6%). UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“Readers will be outraged by the egregiousness of it all.”). The text is extensively researched with over a thousand footnotes.

Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connelly

DEATH AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN by Lucy Connelly is part of a Scottish Isle series about a new doctor, Emilia McRoy, who has moved to Scotland where she puts her former emergency room skills to work helping patients and solving police cases. This was the first that I had read, and I felt that the characters needed more introduction. Their relationships became clearer as the story went on, of course. But one, Abigail, who is the assistant in the medical practice is definitely too good to be true … always ready with the scans, tests, and support, willing to work all hours, and not asserting herself in personal or professional settings. The mystery involved two deaths (one in a haunted house; another of someone “scared to death”) which was interesting and provided some twists with a hint of romance. Connelly also includes facts about witches and Scottish history (e.g., scientist Mary Sommerville). Overall, DEATH AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN is a quick, light, cozy read, with a fun, festive theme and I hope that the quality of editing improves with future additions to the series.

When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston

A LibraryReads selection for August, WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE by Anna Johnston (The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife) is the story of an older man, named Griff, who was a Michelin star chef but now lives (according to the author) in “the most negligent nursing home imaginable.” That low quality of care was a big obstacle for me when I started reading about Griff, his estranged sister, Lisa, and his partner, Beau. The author jumps around in time and shares stories from the childhood of Griff and Lisa, (thirteen years apart in age with different fathers) as well as from their adult lives. WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE is very cleverly written (“odd that we fear ageing, forgetting how lucky we are to even get the chance”). Booklist says, “Johnston thoughtfully explores grief, loneliness, aging, and sibling relationships while leavening with warmth and humor.” Indeed, Johnston comments movingly on “the invisibility cloak of age and dementia,” while also promoting laughter with some madcap adventures. I found myself coming to care for the characters more and more and particularly enjoyed the last third of the book as conflicts were resolved and reconciliations occurred. One more quote: “What matters – what lasts – is how you love people. How you treat them when no one’s watching. That’s the only legacy worth leaving.”

The Castle in the Glen by Rhys Bowen

THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN is the latest stand-alone historical mystery by Rhys Bowen, bestselling author of more than sixty novels. This is the story of a famous mystery writer, Iris Blackburn, who was recently diagnosed with dementia and needs to find a co-writer to help finish her latest work, the prequel to her best-selling Inspector Melrose series. She offers the opportunity to Emma Callander, a young writer living in London, but from Australia. Emma is hesitant at first but quickly becomes enthralled by the author’s book within a book about the drowning death of the daughter of a laird and her male companion. The draft chapters describe fictional Melrose’s first solo case and he, too, is concerned about solving the puzzle, especially since the main suspect, a rival suitor, has disappeared. To help writing and revising, Emma is given a trip to Glascow and the Isle of Skye and there she begins to learn some troubling facts and is threatened while also starting a romance. The pace picks up and readers will likely predict some of the ending Bowen has crafted, but she includes numerous twists and surprises, so they are unlikely to foretell them all. The unique geography and environment on Skye is vividly described in this entertaining combination of suspense and historical fiction.

Human Raised by Dana Suskind

HUMAN RAISED by Dana Suskind should be on your reading list. It is on several others, including an appearance as the notable non-fiction choice on the LibraryReads July 2026 selections and on the Next Big Idea Club’s summary of July 2026 Must Read Books. Suskind, an MD who writes extensively and is a professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Chicago, focuses this new book on “Nurturing Connection, Curiosity, & Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI.” In chapters with titles like “The Human Edge,” “How Parents Build a Child’s Brain,” or “Robots in the Classroom,” she makes several very compelling and interesting arguments. For example, Suskind writes, “I believe that the relationship between child development and artificial intelligence is one of the most critical and overlooked challenges of our time, one that has the potential to transform childhood, family structures, and ultimately nothing less than our future as a species. And it's up to us as parents and caregivers to decide how these intelligent tools will shape our children's lives.” I found her sharing of Hinton’s comments on embedding maternal instincts in AI models to be quite thought-provoking. And, like many of us, she expressed  concerns about the pervasiveness of AI, asking, “Will a primarily or entirely human-raised childhood be a luxury experience, like a farm-raised diet?” Parents, grandparents, caregivers and educators will find much to consider and discuss in HUMAN RAISED. This book is not anti-technology; rather Suskind is encouraging us to act and to shape the future; she eloquently points out, “In Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, … the birds that no longer sang weren't the tragedy. They were …. a warning that something essential was dying. I hear a similar warning now in a different kind of silence: the eerie, algorithm-induced quiet of children transfixed by technology.” Suskind stresses four guiding principles (HOPE) for raising children alongside AI:  Human connection is irreplaceable; Own your imperfections; Protect the early years; and Enhance—don’t replace—connection. Highly recommended.

The Whole30 Fast & Easy Cookbook Revised

THE WHOLE30 FAST & EASY COOKBOOK REVISED by Melissa Urban is beautifully illustrated and filled with a variety of delicious recipes grouped by cooking method (e.g., sheet pan, slow-cooker). This updates the New York Times 2017 bestseller edition with 35 new recipes. As the title promises, they generally can be prepared fairly quickly and are not overly complicated; plus, they use ingredients from a variety of cultures. A couple of examples include Cashew-Crusted Chicken and Wilted Kale Salad, Harissa Turkey Loaves with Tomato-Ginger Gravy and Cumin-Roasted Carrots, or Slow-Cooker Shakshuka with Artichoke Hearts. This cookbook is worth a look BUT a great deal of space is devoted to explaining the Whole30 movement and encouraging readers to limit (or eliminate) consumption of many foodstuffs in a manner consistent with that program. Honestly, that aspect felt too complicated for me, but I do look forward to trying some of the recipes which Melissa Urban suggests.

The Chase by Felix Francis

THE CHASE by Felix Francis continues in the tradition of the excellent horse racing mysteries by Dick Francis. In this case, his son, Felix, shares a tale about almost fifty-year-old Fabian Tulley who runs an art gallery. The paintings and sculptures he buys and sells are generally related to the racing world and horses; plus, Tulley’s father is a trainer with horses in major races, so he is definitely involved in that world. Easing into retirement does not look likely for Tulley when an unpleasant client very publicly accuses him of knowingly selling a forged painting. Troubles compound when more paintings are vandalized and Tulley is physically attacked. To me, THE CHASE is stronger (and closer in style to an original Dick Francis novel) than Francis’ previous offerings largely because of the way he shares Tulley’s musings and suppositions with the reader. THE CHASE received a starred review from Booklist (“It’s fascinating to follow his [Francis’] hero into art galleries and auctions as well as the stable and racetrack.”) and is scheduled to be published on September 8.