Nevermore: 18 Acres, The Inquisitor, 13th Tribe and more

Nicolle Wallace has years of Washington experience both as a political commentator and as White House communications director under George W. Bush. She puts this experience to good use in Eighteen Acres, a novel about the first woman president.  Charlotte Kramer is considering a run for a second term when a close friend makes a terrible error in judgment which threatens national security and Charlotte’s husband’s affair with a reporter is revealed. The book was characterized as a fun read, but without a lot of serious political insights.

Another first novel is The Inquisitor by Mark Allen Smith which features an interrogator known only as Geiger, a man who specializes in getting information out of even the most taciturn of subjects.  Geiger’s methods are mostly psychological rather than physical but his goal is to get information no matter the physical, emotional or mental cost to the interrogated.  Then a client brings in a twelve year old boy to be questioned, and soon both their lives are at risk. Our reviewer found this to be a thrilling page- turner of a book. 

The Thirteenth Tribe  by Robert Liparulo is a fantasy thriller which pits a former Army Ranger against a band of immortals who were once a part of the twelve tribes of Israel, but who were cursed for worshipping a pagan idol.  They hope to earn God’s forgiveness by executing sinners, and unless Jagger Baird can stop them, they’re going to wipe out millions.

Another one of our readers is making his way through all of Terry Prachett’s writing.  Currently he’s working on the Discworld series, which features golems, werewolves, dwarves and other fantastical creatures in a long running, extremely funny series that provides some of the best social satire around. A favorite character is Death, who rides a pale horse named Binky.  Death likes humans, even if he doesn’t quite understand them—not even his granddaughter, Susan, a no-nonsense teacher who has had to substitute for her grandfather on occasion.

Although The Woman Who Wasn’t There by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Guglielmo sounds as if it would be fiction, it’s the true story of Tania Head, a woman whose story of escaping from the 96^th floor of the South Tower made her a champion for those who had been injured or had lost loved ones.  She helped found the “World Trade Center Survivors’ Network,” spoke tirelessly on behalf of survivors, and inspired many with her quiet courage.  There was only one problem: Tania wasn’t even in the U.S. when the attacks occurred. One reviewer said that this read like a thriller.

Daniel Woodrell isn’t yet a household name, but our reviewer thinks that should change.  Woodrell is the author of Tomato Red, a fine example of what Woodrell calls “country noir.”  His stories are dark, violent, and utterly unforgettable.  Most of his books are set in the Missouri Ozarks.  His best known book is probably Winter’s Bone which was made into an award-winning film.  It tells the story of sixteen year old Ree Dolly, trying to take care of her two younger brothers and ill mother.  Things take a turn for the worse when Ree discovers that her father used the house as collateral to get out of jail, and unless he shows up in court, the family will be homeless so Ree sets out to find him.  Booklist describes the writing as “spare but evocative” and that the story is told with “stunning realism.”

The Nevermore Book Club meets every Tuesday at 11:00 AM.  We talk about what we're currently reading, listen to recommendations from others and enjoy doughnuts from the Blackbird Bakery!