May's Books

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is suffering from migraines and other side effects from her brain aneurism. She’s in North Carolina where the new medical examiner is cutting her out of all new cases. Dr. Heavner, the new ME, holds a press conference with a local conspiracy talk show host, and reveals details of the latest case that were not to be made public. A body was found with most of its face, hands and internal organs lost to wild hogs. Tempe is irate, and investigates unofficially, with the help of detective Skinny Slidell. The investigation leads to long ago government mind control experiments, possible human trafficking, child pornography, real estate investment scams, and suspects with multiple identities. Tempe is a complex and interesting character, and this long running series hasn’t lost any of its gritty, realistic portrayal of her crime solving career.

Murder Off the Page by Con Lehane
Christmas Caramel Murder by Joanne Fluke
Doomed by Chuck Palahnuik
Banana Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
The Eyes Have It by Philip K. Dick
Twelve Desserts of Christmas by Joanne Fluke
Nightmare on Elf Street by Laura Levine
Christmas Thief by Leslie Meier
A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
The Trouble with Mister Darcy by Sharon Lathan
Depth of Winter by Craig Johnson
The Royals by James Patterson
Long Range by C.J. Box
Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
The Christmas Mystery by James Patterson
An Owl Too Many by Charlotte MacLeod
Death in the English Countryside by Sara Rosett

Girl Waits with Gun

Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart

In this historical mystery set in 1914 we meet the Kopp sisters who live in the country on an isolated road. The eldest sister, six foot tall Constance is the practical one and head of the family. When a factory owner crashes into their horse and buggy on Main Street, Constance presents him with an invoice for the damages. He responds by having his thugs throw bricks through their windows, shooting and threatening the youngest sister, teenaged Fleurette. Sister Norma trains homing pigeons to carry messages.

Local law enforcement and judges are intimidated by the factory owner, but the local sheriff agrees to help them to collect their damages. There are death threats and Constance befriends a factory worker who had a child by the factory owner, who had the child kidnapped. Constance is fearless, or perhaps foolhardy. This story is based on real events and real people. First book in a series.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Barkley Cove is a small town on the North Carolina Coast. In 1969 handsome local man Chase Andrews is found dead in the marsh and the locals suspect the “marsh girl” Kya Clark. Kya is only a child when she is deserted by first her mother and then her father. Her older brothers and sisters have all scattered. She has attended school for only one day, and when she discovers her parents aren’t coming back, she supports herself by selling clams and fish.

One day a friend of her brother spots her fishing and eventually she learns to tust him. He teaches her how to read and he shares her interest in biology. Did Kya kill chase? The locals don’t know what to make of her, and opinions are divided about her innocence.

The author has been compared to Barbara Kingsolver, and previously published nonfiction books about her work as a wildlife scientist in Africa.