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A Dash of History with Your Mysteries: Even Though I Knew the End by CL Polk, Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen, and Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murders by Aliette De Bodard

9 Nov

Even Though I Knew the End
by CL Polk
I had previously read and enjoyed CL Polk’s novel about witches The Midnight Bargain so was curious to check out their latest novel, Even Though I Knew the End. Even Though I Knew the End is a supernatural noir which takes inspiration from The Great Gatsby and is set in an alternative Chicago in the early 20th century where magic and demons are real and deals at the crossroads bring your heart’s desire for the cost of your soul. The supernatural elements are cleverly integrated and the sweet Sapphic romance as well as a story of reunited siblings was fast paced. If anything, it was over a bit too quickly for my taste, I wanted more of the charming characters and their adventures. It also had probably one of my favorite fictional demons. Lucky for you no soul selling required, you can check out a copy from the library.

Peril in Paris
by Rhys Bowen
Peril in Paris, on the other hand, is a good choice for those looking for a historic mystery with less fantasy of the supernatural variety and a bit more humor. I wasn’t sure now that Georgina was married and pregnant with her first child if some of the adventure in the Royal Spyness might be lacking, but Peril in Paris cured any worries I’ve had. Although I’m always a fan of the capers of the poor yet aristocratic Georgina, this novel was one of my favorites with Georgie encountering such historic figures as Coco Chanel and Gertrude Stein when she visits her friend Belinda in France and assists her husband on a secret mission for Britain. Of course there is also a murder mystery to be solved. Rhys Bowen does a brilliant job of weaving together history, humor, romance, and mystery. Fans of cozy mysteries even those not typically interested in historic settings will be delighted. I received an early copy of Peril in Paris and Even Though I Knew the End for review from Netgalley. Hoboken Public Library patrons can borrow them using the Libby App from eBCCLS.

Dragons, Feasts, and Murders
by Aliette De Bodard
Another quick fantasy/mystery read, the novella, Dragons, Feasts, and Murders is the first in the Dragons and Blades series which spun off from the Dominion of the Fallen Trilogy. During Lunar New Year, the dragon prince, Thuan takes his husband Asmodeus, a fallen angel, home to spend time with family, however, the revelries are interrupted by a murder that Asmodeus can’t resist attempting to solve. The setting is an alternate history Vietnamese inspired kingdom at the bottom of the Seine River in post-apocalyptic Paris where characters have an aquatic creature side to their humanoid appearance, which is depicted in as intriguingly original a way as it sounds. You can also borrow the second in De Bodard’s series Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances from Hoopla.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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A Cross Country Trek Filled with Richly Imagined Settings, Fascinating Characters and Diverse Themes: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

20 Jul

If you are fond of the absorbing and adventurous novels of John Steinbeck or William Faulkner, I
highly recommend The Lincoln Highway by the New York Times bestselling author Amor
Towles, whose style is reminiscent of both of these classic authors.

Set in the 1950s, this mischievous, wise and wildly entertaining novel follows four boys who set
out to travel the country in search of a fresh start, three of them have just been
released from a juvenile work farm. Emmett and Billy want to find their mother in San Francisco
who left them when they were young, and Duchess and Woolly are on a hunt for a stashed wad
of cash in upstate New York. Sometimes their dreams are aligned, but often they are not. In other
words, adventure ensues that involves train hopping and car stealing and with that comes the
inevitability of trouble sparked from both good and bad intentions. Each of these young men is
chasing his dreams, but their past, whether violent or sad, are never far behind.

Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view, these quirky yet endearing
characters draw us into their action-packed and compulsive hijinks as they travel throughout the
U.S. on the Lincoln Highway or I-80 and experience encounters filled with digressions, magic
tricks, sorry sagas, retributions, and the messy business of balancing accounts. Each character’s
back story is parceled out along the exciting journey and we develop feelings for them as they
relay the hardships they have endured as well as the joys.

Each character seems to provide a lesson for the others to learn. Billy, Emmett’s 8-year-old
brother, who seems to be wise beyond his years, is full of historical facts that he gained from
repeatedly reading “Professor Abernathe’s Compendium of Heroes, Adventurers…” He even has
the good fortune of meeting the wise Professor in his New York City office who autographs his
earmarked copy of the book. Woolly has been damaged by the untimely death of his father in
WWII, but possesses an unsurpassed kindness and childlike quality. Duchess is the rogue of the
group who grew up in an orphanage and has many old scores to settle along the journey. And
Emmett, the protagonist, is the level-headed and practical one who had the misfortune of serving
15 months in a juvenile work farm for involuntary manslaughter.

This multi-layered, propulsive novel is very satisfying and intriguing as the adventures unfold
during the cross country trek filled with an array of new and richly imagined settings, fascinating
characters, and diverse themes.

Written by:
Ethan Galvin
Information and Digital Services Librarian

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