Apostle's Cove by William Kent Krueger

APOSTLE’S COVE by William Kent Krueger (This Tender Land and Fox Creek) is book 21 in his excellent series which features lawman Cork O’Connor of the Boundary Waters area in rural Minnesota. This tale transports readers twenty-five years into the past with one of Cork’s first murder investigations as Sheriff. At that time, Cork had misgivings about the resolution to a brutal murder that involved an Ojibwe man named Axel Boshey. Once again, Krueger explores a crime of passion, substance abuse, and the prejudices against Indigenous peoples. Because it is telling a story from long ago, APOSTLE’S COVE could work as a stand-alone (the publisher calls it “the perfect entry point for anyone who might be new to the series”). The first half of this novel is set firmly in the past, but the case is revived in the modern day during the second half when Cork’s son gets involved through an Innocence Project like effort. Was the wrong person sent to prison? Is the killer still at large? The conclusion is full of evil and felt a bit rushed, but it’s balanced by the wisdom of tribal elder Henry Meloux and Cork’s persistence in solving a suspenseful mystery (as Cork says, “Truth is a tricky critter. Not always what it seems.”). 

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans is a truly wonderful debut novel, one of the best books of the year so far. The main character, named Sybil Van Antwerp, is in her 70s and readers meet her as well as friends and family members through a series of letters, Sybil’s preferred way of communicating. A former lawyer and clerk for a well-known judge, Sybil writes to and receives letter from her dear friend Rosalie, her ex-husband, her brother Felix, her two grown children (another died at age 8), those involved in her law work, the young son of a former work colleague, her neighbor, and inspirational writers like Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Secrets and traumas gradually peel back and Sybil increasingly sets herself new challenges while also joining others in reflecting on the past: “You are right about what you said - we are thirty in our hearts, before all the disappointment, all the ways it turned out to be so much more painful than we thought it would be, but then again, it has also been magic.” Kirkus describes this intriguing novel brilliantly: “Evans has created a brusque and quirky yet endearing main character with no shortage of opinions and advice for others but who fails to excavate the knotty difficulties of her own life.”  Highly recommended for all, including book groups.

Another favorite quote: it seems you're the only person on this earth who knows me and knowing you are there is a comfort. Has been a comfort, a great comfort, and I will miss that. The things only you knew -- who else will keep my memories … when you are gone?

A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith

A CASE OF MICE AND MURDER by Sally Smith is book one in The Trials of Gabriel Ward mystery series (a second book is coming in November). This story is truly charming and delightful; it is set in the Temple area, a tradition-bound center of London's legal world (the year is 1901). Smith introduces readers to an unassuming and unwilling sleuth, Gabriel Ward, a well-regarded barrister but a recluse who finds himself investigating a judge’s death while being drawn into the problems of the lower classes, including a scullery maid and a homeless man. Gabriel Ward also has a challenging task of defending a publisher against a young woman who claims to have authored the best-selling Millie the Temple Church Mouse. And, all the while he must skirt the politics as rival lawyers jostle to succeed the murdered judge. In her promising debut, Smith interweaves the storylines, builds suspense, and develops affection for her characters, especially Sir Gabriel who says he “just tried to remember all that I knew from my books and to apply psychology to the facts; It is the only way I can think of to be a detective.”

The Ride by Kostya Kennedy

THE RIDE by Kostya Kennedy is subtitled “Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America,” but this book encompasses so much more. Kennedy, an award-winning author, writes about the others (William Dawes, Samuel Prescott, possibly Sybil Ludington) who rode that night and about the other rides which Revere undertook on behalf of the Sons of Liberty. This text is full of fascinating facts and additional insight into Revere’s character and motivation. For example, he describes Revere’s life as an adolescent and the friendships formed then (one of Revere’s sons is named for fellow Patriot Joseph Warren). Another interesting tangent is the discussion of the portrait by John Singleton Copley, saying “You step away from the portrait and you come back to it, and you recognize something of the irreverent. You get the strong feeling that Paul Revere is up to something.”. THE RIDE (which includes an extensive bibliography) received a starred review from Booklist and praise from other reviews like Library Journal (“An important book for readers seeking a deeper understanding of a crucial moment in American history. It will captivate history scholars, students, and enthusiasts from start to finish”). Definitely worth a read and reflection on America’s founding values.

A Dangerous Idea by Debbie Levy

A DANGEROUS IDEA by Debbie Levy is subtitled “The Scopes Trial, The Original Fight over Science in Schools” and has been mentioned on this blog previously. It covers a very relevant topic, not only due to the centenary nature of the events it describes, but also because of the contemporary debates related to science (e.g., vaccine efficacy) and book banning. Levy, a best-selling writer of books for young people, vividly transports readers to the 1920s through her words and visuals like images of the high school textbook, Civic Biology, that helped spark the lawsuit from ACLU. She begins by describing how local leaders in Dayton, Ohio encouraged the trial so as to promote visits and spur the local economy. Of course, she also focuses on the backgrounds of the two prominent lawyers, William Jennings Bryan (multiple times Presidential candidate) and Clarence Darrow, and on the trial, its media coverage, and the religious fervor – once again, so many parallels to today. Levy spoke about the book with School Library Journal, saying “What made this book fun to write—and I hope will make it fun to read and maybe to teach, or at least to talk about—is it’s full of surprises.” One I spotted: the court case began with a prayer at the invitation of the presiding judge. A DANGEROUS IDEA received multiple starred reviews, including ones from Booklist, Horn Book, School Library Journal and Shelf Awareness. The text is extensively researched - Levy includes a helpful timeline, source notes, and selected bibliography; together they comprise roughly twenty percent of the text. Interested readers (especially middle and high school students) may also want to read a fictionalized account related to the Scopes Trial featured in Monkey Town (2006) from Ronald Kidd. Some adult titles include the play (later a movie) Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and recent non-fiction Keeping the Faith by Brenda Wineapple.  

The Note by Alafair Burke

THE NOTE by Alafair Burke is a dark, suspenseful mystery which merited a LibraryReads selection for January 2025. Three friends, May, Kelsey, and Lauren are at the center of the story. Each has been previously involved in a scandal. Half-Chinese, half-white lawyer May became known as “Asian DA Karen” after a viral video. Kelsey (white, wealthy, and spoiled) is infamous as a murder suspect due to the shooting death of her husband. And Lauren, a gifted Black musician, has struggled for professional recognition after her long-standing affair with a married donor was made public. Suddenly there is another disappearance during their Hamptons vacation reunion, and they are increasingly under suspicion by the local police. Their friendship comes under strain while Burke supplies numerous twists that keep the pace hopping and readers guessing about more than one murder.   

Erasing History by Jason Stanley

ERASING HISTORY by Jason Stanley is subtitled “How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future” and we have certainly heard the term fascist quite frequently in this election cycle. According to the publisher, Stanley, the Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, “exposes the true danger of the authoritarian right’s attacks on education, identifies their key tactics and funders, and traces their intellectual roots.” Stanley points to the importance of multiple perspectives and says that “erasing history helps authoritarians because doing so allows them to represent it as a single story, a single perspective.” He is apparently not the only one to feel this way; one of the most chilling quotes is from Vladimir Putin: “Wars are won by teachers.” Stanley writes movingly and convincingly:

“Today we are unquestionably returning to something like the era of the Red Scare. Right-wing activists and politicians are targeting educators at all levels for their supposedly leftist ideologies, with the goal of suppressing any teaching that challenges racial hierarchy or patriarchy.”  And

“By removing the history of uprisings against the current status quo from the curriculum (or never allowing that history to be taught in the first place), authoritarians leave students with the impression that the status quo has never been -- and cannot be -- challenged.”

Student researchers will find much to ponder here, particularly about how education, knowledge, and critical thinking skills provide the foundation for democracy, agency, and self-rule. Unlike those who blame the “enemy within,” Stanley stresses the importance of educators and investigative journalists. Those concerned with the future of democracy will find this text to be very informative. Approximately fifteen percent of ERASING HISTORY is devoted to notes and an index.

Beyond the Big Lie by Bill Adair

BEYOND THE BIG LIE is a new book by Bill Adair, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, creator of PolitiFact, and professor at Duke University. He subtitles the text: “The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy.” Although Publishers Weekly referred to some content as “overly partisan,” Adair clearly believes in the importance of being truthful with the electorate and outlines numerous examples of being less than truthful in a dozen chapters. The text is very accessible, and he frequently refers to input from his college students. One example is in the chapter called “Lying Hall of Fame” where students nominated candidates like Big Tobacco, Exxon, Rupert Murdoch, Roger Ailes, and numerous politicians from both parties as part of a research project. Adair points out that political lying “crippled our discourse and made it impossible for us to have a serious discussion on the vital issues of our day -- the climate crisis, public health, or the future of Social Security and Medicare.” Adair also chronicles the evolution of Mike Pence, a personal friend and neighbor of his when Pence first served in Congress. In that chapter, Adair notes that “attitudes have changed” and also quotes from an interview with Anthony Fauci: “there is no shame in lying now. There is no shame in developing your own alternative facts -- untruth, conspiracy, lies have become normalized.” A final chapter explores “How Can We Stop the Lying?” and Adair argues “research suggests there is fertile ground for a citizen movement to hold politicians accountable for lying, …. I believe politicians will respond if enough people speak up.” Sigh, people need models – AARP has published candidate responses to their questions with no fact-checking at all (“We allowed the candidates to present their views and positions without commenting on the accuracy of their claims.”) BEYOND THE BIG LIE is an intriguing, if disturbing, read. Roughly twenty percent is devoted to Notes, a list of Sources (from over four years of interviews), a Selected Bibliography, and an Index.  

Our Nation at Risk edited by Zelizer and Greenberg

With political conventions this summer and roughly three months until a national election, scholars will find it worth taking a look at OUR NATION AT RISK edited by Julian E. Zelizer (Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University) and Karen J. Greenberg (Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law). Their text, encompassing sixteen chapters, explores “Election Integrity as a National Security Issue.” In addition to New York Times Columnist Thomas Edsall and former Senator Russ Feingold, contributors include professors based at Catholic University of America, Cornell, MIT, NYU, Stanford, UCLA, UT Austin, and Vanderbilt. Plus, representatives of organizations like American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Enterprise Institute and American Constitution Society. OUR NATION AT RISK has an academic, legal tone, referring often to pertinent court cases and full of footnotes. For example, the chapter titled “Presidential Power and Federal Elections” notes “the absence of lawful authority alone does not guarantee that a president will not attempt to use his office to interfere with an election” and concludes that “the viability of the legal limits on the president's involvement in elections depends greatly on the willingness of those within his [or her] administration to observe and then force them.” Other selections explore equally timely topics like foreign election interference, disinformation, role of Congress and the Supreme Court, and the right to vote.

What You Leave Behind by Wanda M. Morris

WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND by Wanda M. Morris (Anywhere You Run) centers on Deena Woods, a 39 year-old who recently lost her mother, her lawyering career, and her marriage. She is back in her hometown of Brunswick, Georgia and underemployed when she comes across some disturbing questions about local real estate transactions. Like her earlier novel, Morris explores systemic racism in an objective and powerful way. Deena is in danger, but gradually puts herself in a position where she can be a strong activist and have an impact.  WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND received a starred review from Booklist (“Not to be missed”), was a LibraryReads selection for June, and was recommended as one of “5 mystery novels for late-summer reading” by The Washington Post. Readers are sure to learn from and to enjoy this diverting read.