Bringing home a new stack of library books every week or so is almost as good as a bookstore splurge. The upside is I don't have to find homes for them on my shelves (I keep them in one of my handy library bookbags, which I dig into every so often), and they fit perfectly in with my budget--free. The downside, of course, are those dreaded due dates. I'll need to make quick work of a couple of these books anyway.
In the Shadow of Gotham, Stefanie Pintoff - I often come in on a series with the second or third book and not the first so am playing catch up. There are just too many good mystery writers out there right now. This is set in NYC in 1905 and won the Mystery Writers of America 'First Crime Novel Award'. Her second is already out.
Faithful Place, Tana French - I'm racing through The Likeness in anticipation of reading Tana French's new book. I had hoped to finish it before this was released, so I'll be racing through this one as well unless I want to get back in line and become #56 of something at the library!
Maid of Murder, Amanda Flower -Okay, so this is going to sound strange, but does anyone look at who publishes a book? I always peruse my new library books, taking note of all the small details. This book was published by Gale, which I know from work as a publisher of reference books. I had no idea they also published fiction, which is cool of course. The only thing is the paper is sort of heavy and extremely white. It has this reference book feel to it as well. No matter--the sleuth is a librarian, so I had to borrow it.
The Dogs of Rome, Conor Fitzgerald - I found this one via Elaine. A mystery set in Rome sounds perfect, and it's a first novel even. The Chief Inspector of this story is American born, so I'm interested to see how that happened.
Peacock Spring, Rumer Godden - And I decided to read this one after being inspired by Nicola's Rumer Godden posts. And I still have the first volume of her autobiography checked out from the library, too. Perfect reading companions?
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the New Woman, Sam Wasson - I had to fan out my books so you could see the cover of this one. I really need to read Breakfast at Tiffany's again. And see the movie again. This book is about the making of the movie. New York City in 1961--doesn't it sound elegant. Of course Audrey Hepburn just seems to me like the epitome of elegance.