My LINKcat AccountWow! What a difference a week makes. Last week we had (knock wood) our last snow storms of the season and now, suddenly spring has arrived. The extended, 10-day forecast doesn’t have a snowflake in it. In fact, overnight lows look to be above freezing as well. The warmer weather and angle of the sun have made the snow disappear nearly as quickly as it arrive. This past Saturday, I participated in the annual Midwest Crane Count (which I’ve been doing since 1994). This is the first time that I can remember where the crane count was postponed due to weather. We had a weekend storm coming in on14th of April with winds and mixed precipitation. Columbia County --where I count-- decided to delay the count for a week and hope the weather was better. And indeed it was. It was a partly cloudy morning, crisp (32 degrees), with a beautiful sunrise smearing oranges and reds and pinks across the horizon. Those poor robins, who only days before had been huddling under fruit trees and bird feeders and next to houses for warmth, were everywhere. They were in great voice telling all the other birds to “cheer up, cheer up” and there were lots of other birds -- probably delayed here while waiting to make their flights further north. Juncoes, grackles, plovers, flickers, red-wing blackbirds were still in loose flocks fueling up. Yes, I did see cranes too. I had two different sites this year and had 7 on one and 17 on another and a bald eagle hunting over the intersection of a couple of drainage ditches, a kingfisher hunting over the same ditches, and an osprey sitting in a tree singing (Do osprey sing? The vocalizations were very melodic for a raptor if you ask me). All of this wildlife experienced before 7:30 a.m. when the count was over. Now that the crane count is over, can spring be far behind? I hope not! In the meantime, if you’re not spending every minute outside below you will find a list of some of the new books that have arrived at the library recently. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
“Visionary Women: How Rachel Carson, Jane Jacobs, Jane Goodall, and Alice Waters Changed Our World” by Andrea Barnet. Discusses four influential women we thought we knew well—Jane Jacobs, Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall and Alice Waters—and how they spearheaded the modern progressive movement. By the author of “All-Night Party”.
“Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America” by Michael Isikoff & David Corn. Explains how Vladimir Putin and Russia hacked an American election as part of a covert operation to subvert the United States' democracy and help Donald Trump win the presidency.
“How Luck Happens: Using the Science of Luck to Transform Work, Love, and Life” by Janice Kaplan & Barnaby Marsh. The best-selling author of The Gratitude Diaries and an Oxford Rhodes Scholar examine the science that is popularly regarded as luck to reveal how celebrities achieved their stardom and how everyday people can use strategic techniques to tip the scales in favor of their relationships, career, health and family life.
New Fiction
“The Affliction, No.2 (Maggie Detwiler and Hope Babbin)” by Beth Gutcheon. When a talkative teacher is murdered during the tensions of an evaluation to see if Rye Manor School will remain open, retired school head Maggie Detweiler is joined by madcap socialite friend Hope to identify a killer among multiple suspects, in a sequel to “Death at Breakfast”.
“Black and White, No. 27 (Amos Walker)” by Loren Estleman. A first crossover novel stars fan-favorite private investigator Amos Walker and hit man Peter Macklin, who struggle to protect Macklin's estranged wife from a murderous killer who may or may not be Peter's own son. By the Shamus Award-winning author of “The Lioness Is the Hunter”.
“The Echo Killing, No.1 (Harper McClain)” by Christi Daugherty. When a murder that eerily resembles a 15-year-old cold case rocks Savannah, crime reporter Harper McClain risks everything to find the identity of a calculating killer. A first adult novel by the author of the “Night School” series.
“The Punishment She Deserves, No. 20(Inspector Lynley)” by Elizabeth George. Inspector Thomas Lynley of Scotland Yard and the pugnacious but loyal detective sergeant Barbara Havers tackle one of the most sinister murder cases they have ever encountered. By the Agatha Award-winning author of “A Banquet of Consequences”.
“The Purloined Puzzle, No.19 (Puzzle Lady)” by Parnell Hall. Agreeing to help an obnoxious teen solve a puzzle, amateur sleuth and crossword impresario Cora Felton discovers a blood-stained knife in the puzzle's place before a body is discovered in the middle of Main Street, a case that is further complicated by her ex-husband's real-estate scam. By the co-author of the “Teddy Fay” series.
“Red Alert, No.5 (NYPD Red)” by James Patterson & Marshall Karp. When a fundraiser involving New York's wealthy elite is targeted by a fatal blast, detectives Zack Jordan and Kylie MacDonald discover a link between the bombing and the murder of a high-profile woman filmmaker before realizing that the bombers may be among the A-list guests they were hired to protect.
“To Die But Once, No. 14 (Maisie Dobbs)” by Jacqueline Winspear. Investigating the disappearance of an apprentice craftsman who had been working on a secret government contract, Maisie Dobbs discovers suspicious links to the London underworld and another boy close to her heart. By the best-selling author of “In This Grave Hour”.
“Accidental Heroes” by Danielle Steel. A decorated former Air Force pilot, a pregnant flight attendant and a dedicated TSA agent find their fates colliding with those of other fellow passengers who must fight for their lives during a fateful flight from New York to San Francisco. By the best-selling author of “The Mistress”.
“Sweet Vengeance” by Fern Michaels. Wrongly accused of murdering her husband and children, an innocent woman endures 10 years in prison before a technicality prompts a new trial that she prepares for by retreating to a small tropical island to gather information that she hopes will lead to her exoneration. By the best-selling author of the Sisterhood series.