Channeling the atmosphere of Chekhov and the transcendence of Our Town, Patchett weaves a lyrical tale where the past haunts the present. As Lara reveals her story to her three grown daughters, they edge toward reconciliation with what came before, and acceptance of all they share. ~ Reviewed by Mike Hare
Harsh takedown of the NYPD from one of its own. Raymond exposes the department's fixation on targeting minorities for minor infractions, forcing patrols to shortchange their roles deterring crime. By bravely challenging the institution's deeply hierarchical and bureaucratic culture, he is helping to remodel it into something more just. ~ Reviewed by Mike Hare
Widely varied stories exploring the fissures of contemporary life. Sindu expertly blends realistic, supernatural, gothic, and dreamlike elements to depict believable, often flawed people hovering on the cusp of disaster. ~ Reviewed by Mike Hare
A half dozen past, current, and future presidents crossed paths in the boisterous, unpredictable campaign of 1920. The United States, scarred by World War I, was entering uncharted social, political, and technological seas, and this lively account shows how those presidents adapted to the fierce currents. ~ Reviewed by Mike Hare
The outwardly sedate life of a late 20th Century Tokyo housewife is but a misleading veneer: inwardly her mind and imagination churn at warp speed. This imaginative novel zigs and zags and zooms unpredictably, uncannily, and uninhibitedly. ~ Reviewed by Mike Hare
