Newcomer

Details. Tokyo detective Kyoichiro Kaga claims a well-earned place among the great fictional detectives. In the second novel titled, Newcomer, in this series by Keigo Higoshiro, Kaga has been assigned to a new precinct. Even before he’s assigned his first case, Kaga walks through the neighborhood getting to know people and places, constantly noticing things. Thanks to the details that Kaga pays attention to, he unravels the secrets that solve a murder case. Fans of character-based crime fiction are those readers most likely to enjoy this novel and this series. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Newcomer from amazon.com.

Out of Many Faiths: Religious Diversity and the American Promise

Minorities. Eboo Patel offers readers a robust defense of religious diversity in his book titled, Out of Many Faiths: Religious Diversity and the American Promise. Following Patel’s argument, there are commentaries on the subject by others. This book is part of a series called, Our Compelling Interests. Patel describes his view of what the American promise is, and how minorities enhance the common good. Diversity is a great strength in the life of our country, and religious diversity is of special value. If you believe that the United States is a Judeo-Christian nation, you should read this book and reflect on what our future should be like. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Out of Many Faiths from amazon.com.

The Turn of the Key

Story. My prescription for you on the next cold and windy night is to pour a few fingers of a fine single malt for yourself and sit in a comfortable chair with a copy of Ruth Ware’s novel titled, The Turn of the Key. Ware eases us into the story of Rowan Caine written in the form of Rowan’s letter to her attorney from prison where she awaits trial for murder. The action builds slowly, so sip at leisure. Once the action builds, you will soon forget there is a beverage at your side. Ware uses the whole gothic toolbox for this novel: a remote setting in the Scottish Highlands, a young woman accepting a lucrative job as a nanny, loads of red herrings, spooky settings, superstitions and ghosts, and a bit of romance. While the early exposition might seem plodding, seeds are planted, and the second half of the novel races toward an exciting end well before your glass of scotch is consumed. The setting at Heatherbrae House blends the horrors of smart home technology with a house that was the place for tragedy in the past. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The Turn of the Key from amazon.com.

America's Dark Theologian: The Religious Imagination of Stephen King

Questions. Any Stephen King fan who has noted the religious imagery and themes in his writing should consider reading Douglas Cowen’s book titled, America’s Dark Theologian. Cowan explores all the core questions that King raises in his writing. This invitation to questioning is prevalent throughout King’s writing, and he is always skeptical about those who purport to have the answers to life’s big questions. Readers who may not know why we love horror may come away from this book with greater understanding. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase America’s Dark Theologian from amazon.com.

The Adults

Foibles. Parts of my funny bones were tickled in just the right ways by Caroline Hulse’s debut novel titled, The Adults. Matt and Claire are the divorced parents of seven-year-old Scarlett, and they decide that the best Christmas holiday for Scarlett would be to spend it with both her parents and their current partners, Alex with Matt and Patrick with Claire, at a resort called Happy Forest. What could possibly go wrong when the exes come together with their significant others? They are all adults. One thing happens early in the novel: someone is shot with an arrow. That’s not in the Christmas spirit. The sixth member of the holiday party is Scarlett’s invisible big purple rabbit, Posey, whose opinions fill Scarlett’s head. The foibles of these individuals bring the characters to life, but their predicament can often seem slapstick. Readers looking for some humorous distraction should consider reading this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Adults from amazon.com.

The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington

Spies. In a pause from writing fiction, prolific novelist Brad Meltzer paired up with researcher Josh Mensch to write an engaging work of non-fiction titled, The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington. Meltzer takes us to New York during the American Revolution and the shifting loyalties between those supporting the English monarchy and those in revolt for independence. While Washington tries to train and equip a ragtag group of soldiers into a fighting force, there are active plans to take out Washington himself. Plenty of historians have written about what a close-run thing the Revolutionary War was. Meltzer adds this book as another easy read that describes true stories of that era that will enlighten and entertain readers. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The First Conspiracy from amazon.com.

Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America

Window. Journalist James Poniewozik, television critic for The New York Times, tells two stories in his book titled, Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America. The first story flows from job as TV critic: he relates the role of television in American life and how it has evolved from the beginning of the medium to the present. The second story involves using television as a window into gaining a deeper understanding of Donald Trump. Poniewozik projects how television helped form the character of Trump through what he watched as a child, to his self-promotion as a businessman, through his fame via The Apprentice, and then on to politics through Fox News. I found that Poniewozik described the evolution of television with insight, and he uses his observations of the changes in television over decades as one way to explain increased polarization among Americans and to offer a view about how television made Donald Trump. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase Audience of One from amazon.com.