Victoria Horst

C. W. Gortner, the author of “The Vatican Princess” has now written “The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna.” Maria Feodorovna is the mother of Russia’s last czar and this story follows the Danish princess as she is vetted by Queen Victoria as a possible wife for her a member of her extended family to her exile after the Bolshevik Revolution.

Thrity Umrigar has written a sequel to her bestselling novel “The Space Between Us.” “The Secrets Between Us,” set in Mumbai, continues the story of Bhima, a poor and illiterate woman who had worked for the Dubash family for more than 20 years, becoming a close friend and confidante of Sera Dubash. Without warning she is fired and Bhima must find a new way to support herself and her grandchild Maya. Eventually she meets Parvati, a harsh old woman with whom she forms a tentative business partnership. As they work out their business relationship, they develop a deep and abiding friendship.

If you are a money lender who is unable to collect your loans, you probably will not be in business for very long. Miryem is learning this the hard way. Her father’s incompetence has impoverished the family and Miryem is forced to take over the family business. She has a talent for collections, so good in fact that she attracts the interest of the king of the Staryk who sets her a seemingly impossible task. “Spinning Silver” is by Naomi Novik.

If Lee Child says it is a good novel, it probably is. “Safe Houses” is written by Dan Fesperman. Two women, Helen Abell and her daughter Anna, race against time and shadowy people at the highest levels of a secret governmental agency to save Helen’s life. Because, it seems, Helen knows too much to be allowed to live.

There’s a new Daisy Dalrymple mystery! “Corpse at the Crystal Palace” is another charming outing with Daisy – this time to the Crystal Palace, the cast-iron and plate-glass structure originally built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. This is April of 1928 and Daisy has company she must entertain. What could be better than a visit to the Crystal Palace? Of course there is a corpse and a mystery to be solved. The Daisy Dalrymple series is written by Carola Dunn.

Almost everyone has heard of Colony Collapse Disorder, that horrible affliction of honey bee colonies that causes what seems to be perfectly healthy bee yards to become ghost towns seemingly overnight. What people may not know is there are hundreds of species of bees in the world and many of them are not doing well either. Thor Hanson explores the bee world you may not have known existed in his latest book “Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees.”

How would you hide a murder? Well, it seems that in 1849 John White Webster decided the best place to hide a murder was in the dissection room of the Harvard Medical College. Paul Collins has written “Blood and Ivy: The 1849 Murder that Scandalized Harvard,” a true crime expose of a 19th century Boston crime investigation and the following trial that is still discussed as a landmark case today.

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha assured the parents of her small patients that the water in their Flint, Michigan community was fine – the state had tested and passed numerous samples. But then, she began collecting evidence the water was far from fine and began her crusade, with the help of a small army of researches, activists, parents and community leaders. “What The Eyes Don’t See” is the story of how Dr. Mona and her team fought for justice for Flint.

Did You Know?

 A few factoids for August.

You can register to vote at the library. You need to register before Oct. 9 to vote in the Nov. 6 election. Even if you think you are registered, it never hurts to check and make sure. You can check here https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do, or come to the library and we can help you check your status.

Your library card expires every two years and we will be glad to update it for you for free at that time. If any of your information changes between updates, we would be glad to add the new information to your record. Having an email address you check on your library record allows us to send you word as soon as your hold arrives in the building. It also automatically will send you a notice reminding you your books are coming due – three days before it actually happens. We can also teach you how to access your library account anywhere you have access to the internet. You can put books on hold, renew items and check due dates at home in your pajamas, if you would like.

The next Library Foundation Fundraiser will be Sept. 13. The Swinging Medallions will be back, so you probably need to start practicing your dance steps now. Interested in sponsoring the event? Ask at the library. Tickets will be available to purchase in the next few weeks.