POET/CULTURAL CRITIC Wayne Koestenbaum’s meditations on the Big Idea of “humiliation” are quirky, fascinating.

COMPLEX, WELL-CONSTRUCTED SUSPENSE novel has plenty of chills and an interesting, troubled heroine. Spooky!

APOSTATE FROM THE US’s Christian Right Frank Schaeffer looks at his childhood’s mixed messages on sex, love.

TROUBLED ADULTS WITH childhood secrets are center stage in Laura Lippman’s latest, but Baltimore is the star.

VETERAN MYTH INVESTIGATOR Joe Nickell looks into many legends of supernatural critters with wit and insight.

MAGIC ON LONG ISLAND? Yes, and mythology too, in YA star Melissa de la Cruz’s engrossing debut for adults. SOLID B

WITCHES OF EAST END (BEAUCHAMP FAMILY SERIES #1)
Hyperion
2011

MAGIC ON LONG ISLAND?  Yes, and mythology too,  in YA star Melissa de la Cruz’s engrossing debut for adults.

FASCINATING TRUE CRIME story of an 1874 kidnapping–the first recorded kidnap for ransom in the US. Chilling!

CHARMING ENGLISH VILLAGE cozy mystery, first in a series featuring a stage magician-turned vicar as sleuth.

‘GONZO’ JOURNALISM-FLAVORED, engaging true crime tale of the 40-year investigation of skyjacker D. B. Cooper.