A Study in Sherlock

A Study in Sherlock: Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon
by various authors, edited by Laurie King [823.08 Kin]

This series of short stories by various authors is a fun read. All stories are inspired by the Holmes Canon. Some very loosely, while others it helps to have read many of the original Doyle stories to solve the current mystery you are reading. A must read for any Sherlock Holmes fan. -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[ Publisher's official A Study in Sherlock web site ] | [ official Laurie R. King web site ]

Check out the libraries' extensive Sherlock Holmes booklist on BookGuide
 
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Giant George: Life With the World's Biggest Dog

Giant George: Life With the World's Biggest Dog
by Dave Nasser [636.73 Nas]

Dave and his wife adopted a Great Dane runt. George ended up being named the Guinness biggest dog in the world AND the biggest dog ever. This is their story of raising and living with such a big and loving dog. You learn not only George's story, but the Nasser family story and how George was a comfort in times of stress. If you love biographies and/or dogs, you must read this book! -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library
 
[ official Giant George web site ]
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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

The Debt

The Debt

[DVD Debt]

Mossad agents, a Nazi war criminal, and the plot to bring him to justice. This espionage thriller will keep you thoroughly focused as we learn the past is never truly gone. -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library


[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official The Debt web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The House of Silk

House of Silk
by Anthony Horowitz

If you are a fan of Conan Doyle, this book holds true to his style. And - wow! - what a mystery. Holmes and Watson take you on a trail where seemingly unrelated things actually are related and the House of Silk is a place where no one wants to find themselves. -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[Also available in downloadable audio format.]

[ official Anthony Horowitz / House of Silk web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Northanger Abbey

Northanger Abbey
by Jane Austen [DVD Northanger]

This movie is an unbelievably funny story by Jane Austen. It is apparent Jane Austen had quite a bit of fun writing this tale mocking gothic fiction. I laughed out loud in places. A must see! -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[Also available in print, 1992 movie production formats.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Northanger Abbey web site from PBS ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Wicked Appetite

Wicked Appetite
by Janet Evanovich

Readers of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum may be familiar with character "Diesel" from the "Between the Numbers" series. In this new series, Diesel is the main character, paired with Lizzy, a cupcake baker who wants nothing more than to be left alone so she can bake. Sadly, that just isn't going to be. This book is true Evanovich -- laugh out loud hilarious while gorging on fried chicken, cupcakes and a monkey in tow. -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[Also available in book-on-cd, and Large Print formats.]

[ official Wicked Appetite page on the official Janet Evanovich web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

A State of Mind

A State of Mind
by Daniel Gordon [DVD 796.44 Gor]

This fascinating documentary is some of the first film footage from within North Korea in 50 years. This film introduces us to two girls (ages 11 & 13) who after school each day practice gymnastics for 6 hours, outside, on the cement. Their goal is to be in the "mass games" showcasing thousands of gymnastics performing in synchronized movements in a display of unity and love for "The General" and their country. By getting to know these two girls and following them in their daily lives we get to know what life is like in North Korea and how the Korean War played a huge role in how North Koreans live and think. This is a must see! -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official A State of Mind web site ]
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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Crimes by Moonlight

Crimes by Moonlight
by the Mystery Writers of America [813.08 Mys]

I love anthologies. They are a great way to find new authors or try out new genres. This compilation of short stories is written by members of the Mystery Writers of America all trying their hand at the paranormal genre. It includes ghosts, vampires, and -- well -- the simply odd. Charlaine Harris is great as always, but I also found new (to me) authors Margaret Maron, S.W. Hubbard, and Lou Kemp to be very enjoyable. Give it a try! -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library


[ official Mystery Writers of America web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Shakespeare's Counselor

Shakespeare's Counselor
by Charlaine Harris

Lily Bard finds herself in a twisted case of stalking and murder after joining a support group for rape victims. Harris doesn't disappoint in this final(?) installation in the series. [If you enjoy this, you may also like Grave Secret, also by Harris.] -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[ Lily Bard page on the official Charlaine Harris web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Shakespeare's Landlord

Shakespeare's Landlord

by Charlaine Harris

In this first book in the series, house cleaner and loner Lily Bard works to clear her name when she becomes a suspect in a murder. Not only do we learn who the real killer is, but we learn about Lily's past as well and what dark secret brought her to Shakespeare. Fans of Harris' other series will find yet another winner in the Lily Bard series. -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[ official Charlaine Harris web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Swimming Without a Net

Swimming Without a Net

by MaryJanice Davidson

Fans of Davidson's "Undead" series will find the same romantic humor in her "Fred the mermaid" series. This second book in the series finds Fred still torn between two men -- one human and one merman. She also for the first time meets thousands of other mer-people and the royal family who oversees them. Read to the final climatic end where the mer-people decide whether or not make their existence known to the world's human "bipeds." -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[ official Mermaid series page on the official MaryJanice Davidson web site ]

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Ten (or more) new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.

The Desk Set

The Desk Set
[DVD Desk]

Fifty years later this film is still relevant with staff fearing they are about to lose their jobs to a "mechanical brain" (computer). Katherine Hepburn is a comedic genius to Spencer Tracy's straight man. This romantic comedy classic will have the whole family laughing. -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[ Internet Movie Database page for this film ]

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Ten (or more) new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.

Delicatessen

Delicatessen

directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet

This movie has been referred to as both a twisted black comedy and post-apocalyptic horror. The 1991 French film portrays a world where food (and sometimes running water) is scarce. The local currency is comprised of various grains. And, the postman carries a gun to protect himself from muggers. The butcher/landlord who runs the Delicatessen has an agreement with his tenants whereby they don't "squeal" about where he gets the meat from which is sold in his shop and he guarantees not to make them the cut of the day. Things take an interesting turn when the butcher's daughter falls for his newest selection to stock his shelves and aligns herself with the vegetable-eaters to save him. If you like dark comedy - this movie is for you! -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[ Internet Movie Database page for Delicatessen ]

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Ten new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.

Staff Recommendation - From Dead to Worse

From Dead to Worse
by Charlaine Harris

With destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina still adversely affecting Louisiana residents, including the supernatural community, telepath Sookie Stackhouse discovers family she never knew she had and once again risks her life for both the Were and Vampire communities. This latest series installment (published in May 2008) further cements Sookie's relationship with the supernatural community - every one and every thing from witches to werepanthers to fairies to vampires - as the Were community prepares for going public as vampires did years earlier. With a surprising yet pleasing ending, this one is hard to put down! -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[ Chapter One of From Dead to Worse on the official Charlaine Harris web site ]

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Ten new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.

Staff Recommendation - Mummy Dearest

Mummy Dearest

by Jona Hess

A fun, new read for Hess' fans! Claire Malloy and "her" police officer begin this book on their honeymoon in Egypt. Daughter Caron and her friend Inez are in tow to keep Claire occupied while Peter is off doing secret police work. What begins as an investigation into a terrorist group leads to black market antiquities and murder and of course a little bit of meddling by Claire! Readers of Hess' previous works will enjoy the fun new setting of Luxor, Egypt. This book was written after Hess spent a vacation in Egypt with Amelia Peabody series author Dr. Barbara Mertz (aka Elizabeth Peters). -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library

[Also available in Large Print format.][ Publisher's Claire Malloy series page ]

Have you read this one? What did you think?

Ten new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.

Staff Recommendation - Nightshade

Nightshade

by Susan Wittig Albert

With this book, Wittig Albert brings us another suspenseful installment in the China Bayles series. Herb store owner, China Bayles, continues reluctantly to investigate her late father's suspected murder. This time her husband, affectionally known as McQuaid, takes a more active role in the investigation - even getting some chapters told from his point of view. This book brings to a conclusion the story of China's father begun three books back in Bleeding Hearts. A must read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, books set in Texas, or cooking or gardening-themed stories. -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Libary

[ official China Bayles page on the official Susan Wittig Albert web site ]

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Ten new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.

Staff Recommendation - Many Bloody Returns

Many Bloody Returns

edited by Charlaine Harris

Looking for a new paranormal author? Want to start reading vampire or wizard books but not sure you can commit to an entire 240 page novel? Many Bloody Returns is for you! This anthology of new works by 14 authors will introduce you to the new as well as the tried and true of the genre. This series of short stories combines two seemingly unrelated, or very closely related, topics - life (birthdays) and death (vampires). Each story combines the living dead with a birthday celebration of some kind. To name just a few, you can read about Katherine's life-changing event at her 55th birthday, Sookie's invitiation to Vlad Tepes' birthday celebration at Fangtasia, or a fake medium in Victorian days who gets his just reward. Bwa-ha-ha!

Have you read this one? What did you think?

Ten new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.

New BookGuide Reviewer Profile Available - Jodene G.

We've posted another new Reviewer Profile on the BookGuide site -- this time for Jodene G., the Branch Supervisor at the Walt Branch in Southwest Lincoln. You can see her profile responses at:

http://www.lincolnlibraries.org/depts/bookguide/profiles/jg-profile.htm

and view previous Reviewer Profiles -- look for the bold link after individual reviewers' names -- at :

http://www.lincolnlibraries.org/depts/bookguide/srec/staffrec-indexbyname.htm

Staff Recommendation - An Ice Cold Grave

An Ice Cold Grave

by Charlaine Harris

Harper Connelly returns in this third book using her "gift" of finding dead bodies to help solve crimes. In "an ice cold grave" she encounters her first serial killer. Her quest to bring the 8 teenage boys' killer to justice puts her own life in danger. This newest mystery by Harris will have your heart pounding through the final pages as you wonder if Harper will survive for a fourth book! -- reviewed by Jodene G. -- Bess Dodson Walt Branch Library

[ official Charlaine Harris web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think?

Ten new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.