Nevermore: Black Cake, Masters of Bow Street, Profiles in Ignorance, Framed

 

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson caught the attention of one of our Nevermore readers.  This debut novel tells the story of a Caribbean American family from several different viewpoints, spanning decades as a family discovers that what they thought they knew may not be true. Our reviewer said this not her usual fare, but she’s finding it a fascinating book.

Five Stars, FE

A lengthy historical novel was up next.  While he was better known for his mystery novels, John Creasey also wrote The Masters of Bow Street, a fictionalized version of the founding of Scotland Yard by a group known as the “Bow Street Runners.”  Our reader liked the book a lot, and was disappointed to find his mysteries tended to be much shorter.  (Note:  Creasey wrote under many, many, many different pseudonyms, including J.J. Marric, Gordon Ashe, Tex Riley (westerns), and Margaret Cooke (romances).  Wikipedia says he wrote more than 600 books under 28 different names.)

Five Stars WJ

Praise was also given to Profiles in Ignorance by Andy Borowitz, a political satirist who examines what he calls the “three stages of ignorance:  ridicule, acceptance, and celebrating.” He uses various politicians to illustrate the various stages.  Our reader thought it was an important and thoughtful book, even as it used humor to make its point.

Five Stars DC

Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey is, as the subtitle suggests, stories of innocent people who were nonetheless convicted.  The stories recount not only the investigations and trials, but also what happens to the people afterwards. Our reader was moved by the terrible things those people had to endure, and how their lives were upended even after exoneration.

Five Stars, NH

 

Other five star books:

Fleeing France: A WWII Novel of Sacrifice and Rescue in the French Ambulance Service by Alan Hlad

Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People by Nemonte Nenquimo

The English Chemist: The Story of Rosalind Franklin: A Novel by Jessica Mills

A Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Hard Times:  An Oral History of the Great Depression by Studs Terkel

The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake

 

Four Star Books

A Northern Light in Provence by Elizabeth Birkelund

Heartbeat Library by Laura Imai Messina

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

Secrets to the Grave by Tami Hoag