For women going places

Happy Fourth of July weekend! If you're going to be relaxing by the pool or at the beach this holiday, here are a few more books we recommend reading. This time, we're talking mysteries ... and cookbooks!

Mysteries 

One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming - The latest in a strong and satisfying series about a female Episcopalian priest and a police chief in a small town in upstate New York. The priest has just returned from serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan as helicopter pilot and is trying to deal with the nightmares of war when another veteran is murdered. Don't just stop with this one - the whole series is highly recommended!

Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny - The darling of Canada has won just about every major mystery award for this brilliant tale of heartbreak and hope. Inspector Gamache is the man you want on your murder case - thoughtful, relentless and reassuring. Booklist's Bill Ott says "From the tangled history of Quebec to the crippling reality of grief to the nuances of friendship, Penny hits every note perfectly in what is one of the most elaborately constructed mysteries in years."

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz - If you're looking for a book that will keep you entertained from the first page - this is the one. Enter the world of the Spellmans - an incredibly nontraditional family of private detectives in San Francisco. The family spends more time investigating each other than real cases and their paranoia leads to lots of laughs!

The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton - A smart thriller that will keep you turning pages. Mike Smith is a "boxman." He can open any kind of lock without a combination or key. This talent of course lands him in some nefarious company. What makes this story stand-out is that Mike can't speak. He lost his voice after a tragic event that you will spend the whole novel wanting to find out why.

Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson - Set in rural Wyoming, Sheriff Walt Longmire takes on the case of a severed thumb that leads to murder. Johnson has a way with setting and character that draws you in and makes you feel like you're dealing with snowstorms and heart-pumping situations. Publishers Weekly says Walt "will remind readers that a big city isn't necessary for a compelling crime story and enduring hero."

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson - A stunning combination of literary novel and detective fiction. Private detective Jackson Brodie navigates several cases in London that you're sure will never intertwine but amazingly do. His character has the typical private dick qualities - down and out but street smart with a heart of gold. You will pull for him, yet laugh at his amazingly bad luck. This is the first in the series and they only get better. 

I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman - Edgar-winner Lippman delves into psychological suspense with this engrossing novel about a woman whose buried past comes back to haunt her when she receives a letter from death row. Lippman superbly masters bouncing between the present and a long ago summer to keep you riveted.


And if you're looking for something to cook up besides suspense this summer, here are some suggestions.


Cookbooks

Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson - Independent, popular blogger Swanson gives easy, healthy recipes.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer - One of Publishers Weekly's most anticipated cookbooks of the year (but you might need an ice cream maker).

My Father's Daughter by Gwenyth Paltrow - This cookbook is chock-full of delicious, easy recipes if you're willing to look past (or perhaps laugh at) her often lofty prose.   

So enjoy your summer - hopefully with a good book!


See you on the road,

Road Reporters Vicki Zwart and Maia Gillet

Labels: Kate Atkinson, Laura Lippman, Louise Penny, Steve Hamilton, summer reading

We hope you enjoyed our fiction book suggestions. Now, we're ready to offer some recommendations for non-fiction fans. And we want to hear yours too so please leave recommendations and reviews in the comments!

Non-Fiction and Travel:

BossyPants by Tina Fey - The writer, actress and comedian shares her thoughts on (and jokes about) balancing career, kids and comedy. It's laugh-out loud funny. The audiobook is particularly recommended. Fey reads it herself - definitely not to be missed!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - The story of how one woman's cancer cells turned medical research on its ear. A fascinating read that doesn't bore you at all with medical jargon - you want to keep turning the pages to find out more about Henrietta, her descendants and her cells. 

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls - The author describes her bizarre childhood where she and her family were constantly on the move and dealing with mental illness. It's hard not to be touched by Walls' amazing resilience in the face of constant hardship. There's a reason it's been on the NY Times bestseller list for 224 weeks.

Likeable Social Media by David Kerpen - If you're looking to brush up on your social media skills, this may be the book for you. Kerpen, who is the CEO of Likeable Media,  talks about how to build a community and provides specific strategies for improving your brand.

Just Kids by Patti Smith - This memoir won the National Book Award. In it, rocker Smith delves into her life in New York in the 60's with the late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.  

A Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman - Wanderlust for Europe this summer? Maybe this will help ease it - it's an easy read about a young woman's romp through Europe.

Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart - One of the first two girls to work on Tiffany's sales floor (as a page, mind you), Hart recalls the summer of 1945 with elegant fondness.

The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz - A contemporary cousin to Julia Child's My Life in France, Lebovitz shares his trials and tribulations of living in a new land. He learns the etiquette of the French language (Cafe creme, not cafe au lait, which has strange implications), and starts to bribe the natives with food. It also calls to mind the equally amusing expat in Paris memoir, French Lessons by Peter Mayle.

The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them by Elif Batuman - A memoir that tells the adventures of women in love with literature.

My Double Life: Memoirs of a Naturalist by Frances Hamerstrom - the biography of wildlife biologist Frances Hamerstrom, who with her husband Frederick spent years in Wisconsin working to save the prairie chicken. The Buffalo News says "Like James Herriot's stories, these are filled with humor and wonderful characters, the best of whom is the author herself." Also recommended by Flashlight Worthy.

Pink Boots and a Machete: My Journey from NFL Cheerleader to National Geographic Explorer by Mireya Mayor - For something completely different, check out this autobiography that some critics say is for the reality TV generation. Mayor left the football field sidelines to explore some of the most remote places on earth. Most reviewers on Amazon said it was a definite page turner - filled with the tales of a strong female role model.

And wait there's more ... look for another post, this time talking mysteries and cookbooks!?

Remember to leave us your recommendations and reviews in the comments.

See you on the road ... reading a good book we hope!

Road Reporters Vicki Zwart and Maia Gillet

Labels: Jeanette Walls, Mireya Mayor, summer reading, Tina Fey