ALIENS BOUGHT THE EARTH, and only an unlikely trio from England can help get it back. Clever, timely space adventure with more than a hint of Douglas Adams is a lot of fun. B PLUS

HOW TO BUY A PLANET: FRESH AND FAST-PACED SCI-FI COMEDY SATIRE – 'TOTALLY MESMERISING' (OXFORD DAILY INFO REVIEW)
Squirrel &amp
2020

THE BRILLIANCE OF JAMES BALDWIN illuminates this kaleidoscopic look at his uneasy relationship with the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, and with America itself, as Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. ties Baldwin’s moment insightfully to ours. A MINUS

BEGIN AGAIN
Crown
2020

MURDERER, CANNIBAL, FEMME FATALE: Dorothy Daniels, protagonist of this elegant, thoughtful thriller, is each of these; but above all, she’s a fascinating monster the equal of Nabokov’s Humbert Humbert. A MINUS

A CERTAIN HUNGER
Unnamed Press
2020

A MISSING WOMAN REAPPEARS after five years’ absence, but an FBI agent has a feeling that all’s not as it seems. Tense thriller with some surprising twists. B PLUS

NOT DEAD YET (EVA RAE THOMAS MYSTERY BOOK 7)
BUOY MEDIA
2020

A FREELANCE HENCHWOMAN, COLLATERAL damage from a superhero attack on her temporary villain boss, vows a data-driven revenge. Both a witty riff on superhero conventions and a genuinely engrossing thriller. B PLUS

HENCH
William Morrow
2020

INGENIOUS, WITTY FANTASY set in a vividly captured world of magic, bandits, and a secret war has memorable characters. If you’ve ever wanted a marvelous wuxia tale with subtle Malaysian touches, this is for you! B PLUS

THE ORDER OF THE PURE MOON REFLECTED IN WATER
Tordotcom
2020

AN UNEXPECTED OPERA CAREER launches in midlife for a Michigan car salesman. Sharp, funny, yet warm-hearted novel about a talented, unsophisticated man finding his way in the European music world. B PLUS

OPERALAND
BookBaby
2020

AN ALIEN/HUMAN CONTACT turns into an unexpected bond against a stream of dangers. Thoughtful science fiction thriller with high-energy action. B PLUS

AXIOM'S END
St. Martin's Press
2020

HISTORY AND HATE REIMAGINED in a world where the Ku Klux Klan’s anger and violence have summoned powerful monsters, and a Black resistance fights them with African magic. Strong, evocative horror. A MINUS

RING SHOUT
Tordotcom
2020

CHARMING, TWISTY MYSTERY takes the “retired sleuth cozy” trope to the next level: marvelous characters, a satisfying plot, lovely Kentish local color. A MINUS

THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB
Pamela Dorman Books
2020