Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Sometimes escapism is the only way to tolerate real life, and Gig Harbor author Matt Dinniman’s absurdist fantasy featuring accidental hero Carl delivers in spades. Carl is a 27-year-old Coast Guard veteran from Seattle who broke up recently with his live-in girlfriend when he discovered she was cheating on … Read more
Endling by Maria Reva Jan. 30’s news of a temporary ceasefire and the possible admittance of Ukraine into the European Union is a necessary reminder that the Russian War on Ukraine continues, despite significant domestic and international distractions. Maria Reva’s novel “Endling” takes us back to February 2022, when Russia first launched its full-scale invasion, … Read more
Tilt by Emma Pattee As our neighbors in Sumas and Everson can attest, nature is a powerful force that can completely upend lives: destroying homes, threatening personal safety and straining mental health to the limit. Debut author Emma Pattee imagines life after a major earthquake — when “the Big One” hits Portland — something that … Read more
In Good Health: Uncomplicated, Allergen-aware Recipes for a Nourished Life by Rachel Riggs If you’ve been piling on the glazed ham and mashed potatoes this holiday season, or leaning into latkes, or washing everything down with egg nog and a side of gingerbread, you may be craving something a little healthier. Rachel Riggs’ cookbook, “In … Read more
Busted by Dan Gemeinhart The cover of children’s book author Dan Gemeinhart’s latest book for middle grade readers, “Busted,” shows a boy, a girl, an old man and a hairless cat in a classic car being chased by a cop car while dollar bills fly out the window. That alone should be enough to entice even … Read more
Elita by Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum While “Nordic Noir” crime fiction has been a well-established genre since the 1990s (think of authors such as Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbø, Peter Høeg, and Stieg Larsson) Lynnwood author Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum gives it a local spin as “Northwest Noir,” which describes her first novel, “Elita.” Set in the winter … Read more
No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall Seattle-area author Kate Alice Marshall’s latest thriller is a grisly, twisty summertime treat for readers who like to keep guessing and can handle a little gore. Like she does in “What Lies in the Woods,” her first novel for adults, Marshall centers three women. This time, they’re sisters, … Read more
Supersonic by Thomas Kohnstamm A born-and-raised Seattleite, author Thomas Kohnstamm nails the Seattle ethos in his sprawling, funny and deeply human third novel, “Supersonic.” Shuttling between the late 1800s, the 1970s and 2014, “Supersonic” looks at the various inhabitants of a hillside community overlooking Seattle: the cynics, dreamers, schemers, strivers, bumblers, industrialists and idealists among them. … Read more
The Wives: A Memoir by Simone Gorrindo According to the U.S. Department of Defense, there are currently 2 million uniformed military personnel in the United States with 2.6 million family members. Journalist Simone Gorrindo shines a light on one subset of these military families: army wives. Her nonfiction account provides a portrait of the women … Read more
Big in Sweden by Sally Franson Paulie Johannson is a lovable hot mess. She’s 35, going through the motions at an unrewarding job as a college admissions coach in Minneapolis, wondering if her sweet but slightly dull computer programmer boyfriend Declan is “the one,” and nearly resigned to the fact that an exciting career as a … Read more