COMPLEX THRILLER, third in a series, brings together forensic science and Irish legend in a compelling mystery. B PLUS

FALSE MERMAID
Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
2010

IMPRESSIVE RESEARCH, clear writing bring the Wild West tale of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid into vivid focus. SOLID B

TO HELL ON A FAST HORSE: BILLY THE KID, PAT GARRETT, AND THE EPIC CHASE TO JUSTICE IN THE OLD WEST
William Morrow
2010

FASCINATING LOOK at the history of scientists’ search for extra-terrestrial life by a SETI Project insider. SOLID B

THE EERIE SILENCE: RENEWING OUR SEARCH FOR ALIEN INTELLIGENCE
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
2010

TAUT, COMPELLING CRIME caper novel is also a complex character study of a young man marked by tragedy. A MINUS

THE LOCK ARTIST
St. Martin’s Press
2010

SURREAL NEAR-FUTURE tale of genetic manipulation has a vivid protagonist, strong writing, but lacks coherence. SOLID B

THE COLONY
Soft Skull Press
2010

COMPLEX, THOUGHTFUL, beautifully written memoir of a woman’s personal experience and family history of cancer. B PLUS

EATING POMEGRANATES: A MEMOIR OF MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, AND THE BRCA GENE
Scribner
2010

SKILLFULLY CRAFTED gangster soap opera has lots of twists and turns, compelling if over-the-top characters. SOLID B

SNAPPED: A NOVEL
St. Martin’s Press
2010

PITCH-PERFECT TALE of a teenage boy discovering his nerdy best friend’s weird superpowers is funny, sad, real. A MINUS

THE BOY WHO COULDN’T SLEEP AND NEVER HAD TO
Vintage Books USA
2010

BRUTALLY HONEST novel examines a Russian emigre teen’s tough life in Germany. Newly translated Euro-bestseller. B PLUS

BROKEN GLASS PARK
Europa Editions
2010

SELF-DISCOVERY THROUGH TANGO is at the heart of this memoir, but the best stuff here is the dance history. SOLID B

HOLD ME TIGHT AND TANGO ME HOME
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
2010