A BRAND-NEW BED-AND-BREAKFAST has a bit of a ghost problem. And then a bit of a murder problem. Cute paranormal mystery with a touch of romance and a quaint Maine setting. SOLID B

THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: MURDER AND BREAKFAST (A CANINE CASPER COZY MYSTERY—BOOK 1)
Sophie Love
2020

A FIERCE LITTLE GHOST from the old Black Brooklyn community of Weeksville finds the right people to hear her story: a librarian haunted by her own sister’s early death and a young widower. Sweet novel about history, love, and loss. SOLID B

UNSEEN CITY
Red Hen Press
2020

AN IMPOSSIBLY OLD ALIEN artifact discovered on a hardscrabble mining planet threatened by space bandits. Intriguing far-future science fiction, a bit rough around the edges. SOLID B

THE MINES OF SIRRIA-FIVE
Austin Macauley
2020

QUIRKY NEAR-FUTURE SF takes today’s nonstop social media and corporate control to the next level. Satirical dystopia with touch of Douglas Adams. SOLID B

ALWAYS GREENER (THE GENERAL BUZZ BOOK 1)
Uproar Books
2020

LOVELY, IMPRESSIONISTIC MEMOIR of a rich, complicated life, tied together by thoughtful recollections of food (and some appetizing recipes!). SOLID B

EVERYTHING IS UNDER CONTROL
Farrar
2020

RUNNING FROM ABSENCE TO ABSENCE, a woman reflects on emptiness and past pain in a series of hotel rooms. Dreamlike stream of consciousness, elegant prose. SOLID B

STRANGE HOTEL
Farrar
2020

A FORGOTTEN SERIAL KILLER—a Massachusetts nurse with a fondness for poison—vividly evoked in a well-researched book. SOLID B

AMERICA’S FIRST FEMALE SERIAL KILLER: JANE TOPPAN AND THE MAKING OF A MONSTER
Mango Publishing
2020

A HARROWING TRUE CRIME tale, reported with deep compassion for the victim and other injured parties. Frightening, all too human cruelty explored. SOLID B

A TANGLED WEB
Citadel
2020

THE WAVE OF KIDNAPPINGS IN THE 1930s US, vividly revisited in an engaging, hard-boiled style. Shocking to see how far beyond the Lindbergh baby case this stretched. SOLID B

THE KIDNAP YEARS
Sourcebooks
2020

INTERSTELLAR JOURNALISTS UNCOVER an enormous financial scam spanning Earth and all of space. Clever far-future science fiction with comic touches. SOLID B

FREELANCE ON THE GALACTIC TUNNEL NETWORK (EARTHCENT AUXILIARIES BOOK 1)
Foner Books
2020