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Air date: Feb. 16, 2025
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JESSICA:
Hi, this is Jessica Russell. I’m the assistant director of collection services at Sno-Isle Libraries. And welcome to Book Buzz.
Today's two reading recommendations are a mystery set in San Francisco and a romantic comedy set in Kansas City.
First, we’re going to hear from collection services librarian Lorraine, for a thrilling story of buried secrets. Take it away, Lorraine.
LORRAINE:
“Back to the Garden” by Laurie R. King is for people who like suspenseful mysteries with women detectives, cold criminal cases, missing people, and maybe even a serial killer who was never located.
Inspector Raquel Laing, who works with the San Francisco PD Cold Case Unit, is called to examine the remains of a long-buried body which was found on the Gardener Estate, a grand mansion with sweeping grounds long owned by an influential California family. Laing believes that the victim may be one of the young women murdered in the Bay Area in the 1970s by a serial killer known as the Highwayman.
The estate, long the home of a wealthy, upper class robber baron of the American West evolved into a 1970s counterculture commune by his descendants. As Laing digs into the estate’s archives looking for evidence of the Highwayman’s presence, what she finds there begins to take on a dark reality of its own. Laing, dubbed “the Sherlock Holmes of San Francisco” by her colleagues “for her uncanny ability to put together unrelated facts” leads the reader through unexpected twists to a surprising resolution.
This title is a standalone departure from King’s New York Times best-selling "Mary Russell and Sherlock Holms” series. I recommend anything written by Laurie R. King, and this intricately plotted mystery is excellent.
JESSICA:
Thanks, Lorraine! I’m definitely on board for a female Sherlock Holmes-type detective.
Next, let’s hear about a humorous Native American love story from Lois, librarian at the Snohomish Library. Go ahead, Lois
LOIS:
“The Truth According to Ember” by Danica Nava is a witty and heartfelt romantic comedy about Ember Lee Cardinal, a Chickasaw woman living in Oklahoma City.
Ember has had her resumé rejected 37 times! So, on her next application, she decides to fudge a few details, landing her the job. Ember thrives in her new accounting position. Better yet, she catches the eye of her attractive Native colleague, Danuwoa. Their chemistry is undeniable, and sparks fly as they begin a workplace romance. Sure, there’s a no-dating policy at their company. But what’s one more lie?
Everything is going great for Ember until she and Danuwoa get caught together on a work trip. The colleague who discovers their relationship manipulates Ember with blackmail, leading her deeper into a series of lies. Ember must decide whether to double down or come clean, possibly losing everything, including Danuwoa.
This debut novel is the first traditionally published romance novel by a Native author with Native protagonists. This book is funny but successfully integrates tough topics like racism and complex family dynamics. I also loved the clever banter between the romantic leads and found myself rooting for Ember throughout the story.
For a humorous and swoony read you won't want to put down, check out “The Truth According to Ember.”
JESSICA:
Thanks, Lois! It’s great to hear how humor and romance can be woven into relevant complex topics.
Our recommendations this week are: “Back to the Garden” by Laurie R. King and “The Truth According to Ember” by Danica Nava.
Join us next time, when we’ll explore more great reading recommendations — interesting books you can find at your favorite local bookstore or at your local library.
Until then, I’m Jessica Russell from Sno-Isle Libraries.
Thanks for joining us for Book Buzz on KSER.
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