PUBLIC HEALTH VISIONARY Paul Farmer’s wrenching look at Haiti’s progress, challenges since 2010’s earthquake.

ULTRASTYLISH CAPER SET in Venice finds a gentleman thief-turned-novelist protagonist in a twisted conspiracy.

CORRUPTION, TURF WARS in the Edinburgh police brought to life; Ian Rankin’s gutsy, gritty panache is inimitable.

WELL-CRAFTED REGENCY COZY mystery, complete with an Austenesque plucky, bookish spinster sleuth. Quality fun.

INTRICATE COMPLEXITY IS both a bug and a feature in Neal Stephenson’s latest techno-thriller magnum opus.

WRY LOOK AT GENETICS researchers’ appeal to our yen to know more about our family histories and health future.

CHANNELING HUNTER S. THOMPSON for a Lovecraftian retelling of Nixon’s second victory? An idea so crazy it works!

INSIDE CUBA TODAY with a pioneering dissident blogger; insightful and moving prose in unobtrusive translation.

A THOUGHTFUL INVESTIGATION into the mythology of the chupacabra provides context for the legend’s how and why.

STEAMPUNK AND THE TALL TALES of the 19th century American frontier combine in a clever Twain-like picaresque.