A BRUTAL CHILDHOOD OBSERVED in a thoughtful memoir from screenwriter Gloria Norris. Tough, powerful read. B PLUS

KOOKOOLAND
Regan Arts
2016

THE SHADOW OF TWO WORLD WARS brings two strangers, both British Army veterans, together in an unusual bond. B PLUS

WHERE MY HEART USED TO BEAT
Henry Holt & Company
2016

A SUPERVILLAIN WITH A CONSCIENCE? Sharp SFF thriller set in a “Teslaverse” where costumed heroes are real. A MINUS

DIRE : SEED
Andrew Seiple
2016

A YOUNG MAN’S ADDICTIONS—to drugs, alcohol, sex, self-dramatization—presented in an unsettling memoir. SOLID B

THE GILDED RAZOR
Gallery Books
2016

CARRIE BROWNSTEIN’S MEMOIR shines when portraying the odd camaraderie of life on the indie-rock road. SOLID B

HUNGER MAKES ME A MODERN GIRL: A MEMOIR
Riverhead Books
2015

LIVELY QUEST FANTASY set in a colorful world of elves, dwarves, sea serpents, and plenty of magic. SOLID B

MELEENA’S ADVENTURES: TREASURE OF THE UMBRUNNA
NewLink Publishing
2016

DARK ENGLISH THRILLER has a spooky sense of place and atmosphere, lots of action, a fierce protagonist. B PLUS

THE CROOKED HOUSE: A NOVEL
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
2016

ON SCAMS AND CON ARTISTS, and a look at what research psychology says about why we fall for them. Smart! B PLUS

THE CONFIDENCE GAME: WHY WE FALL FOR IT… EVERY TIME
Penguin Group USA
2016

A SPUNKY SENIOR SLEUTH becomes her mobile home park’s detective, gets caught up in nefarious doings. Comic! SOLID B

MOBILE HOME MURDER
Shannon Maguire
2016

TOUCHING, CLEAR-EYED MEMOIR juxtaposes tales from childhood with the story of a pregnancy that ended sadly. B PLUS

POOR YOUR SOUL
Soho Press
2016