Tag fiction

A deep purple background shows a plant and fountain pen, with the four words of the title interlaced in light yellow.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs

Kristen B. 1 Comment
A deep purple background shows a plant and fountain pen, with the four words of the title interlaced in light yellow.

by Kristen B.

There seems to be a trend these days that recognizes the inherent magic of books. I mean, what’s more magical than a book? A bound set of white paper pages, set with solid black type that absolutely transports you via your imagination. Maybe you’re sleuthing for clues to solve a crime? Maybe you’ve stepped through the back of a wardrobe into a snowy woods? (still waiting for this to happen, honestly) Maybe you’re falling in love with your worst enemy from high school? So many books, so little time!

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs takes the magic of books one step further, giving us spell books and the scribes who write them. It’s an entirely enthralling concept in a debut novel that reads as part family saga and part thriller, with a bit of romance thrown in to keep things fun. The three alternating POV main characters are desperately trying to figure out what’s going on in their world, and I enjoyed putting together the pieces with them.

The book opens with Esther loving her life and falling in love at the scientific station in Antarctica. She moves every year, trying to stay hidden from the people who killed her mother. Only this time, she likes the work and she has a girlfriend, and she’s literally at the far end of the earth. What could go wrong? Then, a new batch of researchers arrives and bad things start to happen, like people disappearing on the ice fields. She notices that mirror magic seems to have found its way into the dormitories. Esther knows about magic but is immune to it. She flees, terrified by an attempt on her life and anonymous notes that reach her through a mirror at the station.

Joanna, Ester’s half sister, lives a completely home-bound life in New England, as compared to Esther’s constant movement. She has an obsessive routine that protects the books her father collected throughout his life, books that led to her parents’ divorce and an almost complete estrangement with her mother. Joanna can perform the spells in their family’s magical library to maintain the protective wards on the estate. Before events get underway, Joanna found her father dead in the front yard, bleeding from one finger into one of the spell books. Her personality and life seem as opposite from Esther’s as possible, but the sisters miss each other terribly.

Nicholas is the poor, little, rich kid that no one feels terribly sorry for – until you do. He seemingly has an enchanted life of parties, limos, bodyguards, and a huge family estate in the English countryside. Nick is one of the last known living Scribes, a person who can write spells. There’s a catch, though – a scribe has to use their own blood as the ink. It turns out that Nick’s guardian and mentor is not (surprise surprise) an entirely ethical person, despite family ties. Uncle Richard has some fairly classic failings. When Nick runs away with his grumpy bodyguard Collins, they meet Esther on her way out from Antarctica. This coincidence has been carefully engineered – but I don’t want to give away more than that. Also, Collins is one of the best side characters ever, along with Nicholas’ dog Sir Kiwi.

From there on, it’s a flat out race to save the three protagonists, foil nefarious plans, and make magic accessible again. I don’t want to spoil any of many plot twists and turns, some of which are well telegraphed and others are more surprising. The interlocking story lines take a while to resolve, but I loved every word of discovering hidden libraries, teasing out the meaning of long-lost spells, and unraveling family secrets. The conclusion is satisfying, if a little rushed after the prolonged setup. I would love to read more about these characters in the future.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs is available in print, e-book, and e-audiobook.

Kristen B. is a devoted bookworm lucky enough to work as the graphic designer for HCLS. She likes to read, stitch, dance, and watch baseball (but not all at the same time).

Big 3D type lettering with orange pull out rest against a pink wall and an orange floor. A line drawing of an office cube rests below, with legs sticking out, half hidden by a cube wall.

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue 

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Big 3D type lettering with orange pull out rest against a pink wall and an orange floor. A line drawing of an office cube rests below, with legs sticking out, half hidden by a cube wall.

by Piyali C.

It is always exciting for me to read a fabulous story written by a debut author. Natalie Sue has done a tremendous job in her first novel, I Hope This Finds You Well, to drive home the point that everyone around us has a unique story, fighting their own individual battles. As humans, we need to recognize that fact and show others some grace. But that is not always easy. 

Jolene had a life altering experience in high school. As a result of that incident and the ramifications of it in society and in her head, she is stuck in her life. She is 33, stagnant in a confining job as an administrative assistant in a big corporation called Supershops. She lives in a decrepit apartment after finally moving out of her parents’ house. She drinks too much, lives a lonely life, and evades the intrusive texts of her Persian mother.

As we meet Jolene at the beginning of the story, it is hard to like her. Her petty coworkers are trying to back stab each other to climb the corporate ladder and, most importantly, to avoid the layoffs that are looming over them. Jolene’s way of coping with the nastiness at her workplace is writing unsavory comments about her colleagues in her official emails to them but changing the text color to white. When she forgets to change the color of the font in one of her emails to another administrative assistant, Caitlin, Jolene is called to HR for an intervention.

She must take mandatory training under a new HR guy, 33-year-old Cliff. Although Cliff is helpful and pleasant, Jolene does not trust him since he is part of the enemy, a.k.a management. As part of the training, IT must change some settings in Jolene’s computer, which backfires. Jolene finds to her surprise that she has access to all her coworkers’ work emails and chats. Through her prying, Jolene can see what changes are coming in the organization and what her coworkers think about her. This unexpected glimpse into private conversations gives Jolene a chance to maneuver her own actions to position herself to get the next promotion over her fellow administrative assistant.

It also gives her access to the secrets that her coworkers harbor. The correspondence of her coworkers reveals to her the challenges that all her coworkers struggle with in their personal lives. Cliff, the HR guy and Jolene become friends, but can they be more than that as there is definitely a conflict of interest in their respective roles? 

The story is full of humor and observations of basic human nature. It is also full of love, loneliness, mental health challenges, eccentricities of people who surround us, the push and pull of second-generation immigrant experiences, and above all the human connections that free from our past. 

I Hope this Finds You Well by Natalie Sue is available in Howard County Library System in print, e-book, and e-audiobook formats.

Piyali is an instructor and research specialist at HCLS Miller Branch, where she facilitates two book discussion groups: Light But Not Fluffy and Global Reads. She keeps the hope alive that someday she will reach the bottom of her to-read list.

The book cover shows someone in blue jeans and a blue hoodie riding a red lawn mower across a vast expanse of lawn towards trees and a large building. The rider's back is to the viewer as if moving in the opposite direction.

Groundskeeping by Lee Cole

Kristen B. Leave a comment
The book cover shows someone in blue jeans and a blue hoodie riding a red lawn mower across a vast expanse of lawn towards trees and a large building. The rider's back is to the viewer as if moving in the opposite direction.

by Kristen B.

Books on Tap (an HCLS book discussion group) recently discussed Groundskeeping, seemingly an ideal title for book clubs: well written, timely, and with just enough spaces in the story to poke at. This debut novel by Lee Cole takes place at small liberal arts college in western Kentucky in 2016. The heart of the story revolves around a coming-of-age journey for Owen Callahan, a rather fatalistic young man with dreams of becoming a writer. After he graduated from a local state college, Owen ended up in Colorado, living out of his car, working odd jobs, and doing drugs. In the manner of a prodigal son, he swallowed his pride at age 28 and moved home into his grandfather’s basement. When we meet him, he has taken a job on the groundskeeping crew at the local college, which pays for creative writing classes.

As the book opens, Owen is lurking in the corner at a friend’s party as the new semester begins. He strikes up a conversation with an attractive young woman, who claims to come from a country that no longer exists. Alma provides the other half of the story’s equation, as the child of Bosnian Muslims who fled to the States when Yugoslavia fell apart. She grew up in northern Virginia, an Ivy League-educated over-achiever who became a published author fairly quickly. She has won a year-long fellowship at Ashby College, where she’s teaching workshops and polishing a volume of poetry.

The attraction that begins at the party blossoms into a true romance, with all the requisite drama and confusion. Owen and Alma are an “opposites attract” couple in almost every sense. He’s wholly from Kentucky and wants nothing more than to make his way out into the world, both physically and professionally. She has all the advantages-economic status, education, literary success, and a path forward, but her family’s history is rooted in trauma and tragedy. Given these fundamental differences, Owen and Alma have the capacity to both hurt and heal each other to staggering degrees.

A wide variety of supporting characters make the spaces and situations believable. Owen’s family sheds light on the disaffected rural Americans who became Trump supporters in the pivotal 2016 election. His uncle rages against opportunities lost while addicted to pain killers. His co-workers at the college provide another set of perspectives, and Alma’s family demonstrates how immigration (in something close to a refugee situation) can be a mixed blessing.

Cole’s language offers a constant recursive flow of Owen learning how to write and how to love, as he journals about the details of his days and discusses writing assignments. Combined with the richness of the characters, this is a more discuss-able book than is immediately apparent. In many ways, the setting is the third main character of the book. The hills, rivers, flea markets, bars, towns, and even the jargon and accents of western Kentucky give the novel a veritable grounding – a ground to keep, indeed.

Groundskeeping by Lee Cole is available in print, e-book, and e-audiobook.

Kristen B. is a devoted bookworm lucky enough to work as the graphic designer for HCLS. She likes to read, stitch, dance, and watch baseball (but not all at the same time).

The cover's background looks like a transparency screen. It features a large, furry tabby cat on its back, with goggles around it's neck. A black splotch reads, You will all be cats!

Night of the Living Cat by Hawkman 

Robyn E. Leave a comment
The cover's background looks like a transparency screen. It features a large, furry tabby cat on its back, with goggles around it's neck. A black splotch reads, You will all be cats!

by Robyn E.

As soon as I saw the cover, a captivatingly adorable kitty belly-up with goggles slung around his neck, I knew this manga was for me. Night of the Living Cat (also known as Nyaight of the Living Cat) combines the post-apocalyptic zombie pandemic genre with the fun ridiculousness of horror B-movies.  

It starts with a mysterious explosion at a cat food factory. Since then, the human population has been slowly declining, while the cat population has been increasing. A virus is discovered that is transmitted through physical contact with an infected cat. If an unfortunate human contracts this virus, there is one main symptom: they are fully transformed into a cat. Which means that if one should wish to survive as a human, their previous life as a friend to feline-kind is over. There can be no petting, no ear scritches, not even a little boop on the nose. A world where cats are both revered and feared – how paw-sitively dreadful! (My apologies, I could not help myself.) 

Kunagi is a man with a mysterious past and a tough determination to survive. He can’t remember who he is or anything about his past, but he possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of all facts pertaining to cats. Kaoru, who was previously the co-owner of a cat café, is quick-witted and resilient. She is the person who found Kunagi wandering the streets in his amnesiac state and took him in. They and a group of other survivors join together to defend themselves against the hordes of cats that have taken over the city. As cat lovers, they naturally take great pains to ensure that any cat whose path they cross does not get hurt, to comedic effect. Catnip or a toy mouse on a string might be used to lure or distract, but to use a water spray bottle to frighten them can instill over-the-top anguish in some of the more cat-sensitive characters. Some of the cats seem to have special powers, such as super intelligence and siren-like caterwauling that beckons surrounding cats to gather in clusters (clowders, even!). These talents are likely carried over from their previous human lives. 

The art style, courtesy of artist Mecha-Roots, is fantastic. The action sequences are artistically treated seriously, balanced with the levity of the cuddly creatures from which they are defending themselves. The realistic illustrations display the gamut of cat breeds in fluffy detail, from Norwegian Forest cat to Devon Rex. I love how newly transformed cats are often depicted with a distinguishing physical characteristic or clothing accessory from their previous human forms: cats with cool sunglasses, spiked collars, and little baseball caps.  

Sprinkled with (sometimes) plot-relevant cat facts and care tips, along with the occasional reference to horror/sci-fi movies and meme culture, Night of the Living Cat is perfect for the cat-lover who enjoys post-apocalyptic theming and wants something that’s just plain fun. Some might feel that there’s an over-reliance on one main joke (downfall by CUTE KITTIES), but it’s one I’m coming back for time and time again. 

The series is ongoing, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store. What’s the connection between the explosion at the cat food factory and the ensuing cat pandemic? Who was Kunagi really before that fateful day? And will humanity ever get to feel the warm purr of a cat ever again? A deserved anime adaptation is also reportedly coming out in 2025 at the time of this writing. 

HCLS owns Night of the Living Cat volume 1 and volume 2 in print, geared towards teens and adults. 

Robyn is a Customer Service Specialist at the East Columbia Branch. She enjoys various media that paint a surreal or dark atmosphere, animation, drawing, cats, and anything related to Finland, especially Moomin. 

Two people dance at the bottom of a sweeping staircase, she's in a fancy dress with her hair up and he's in shirtsleeves, vest, and trousers.

Marry Me by Midnight by Felicia Grossman

Angie Engles Leave a comment
Two people dance at the bottom of a sweeping staircase, she's in a fancy dress with her hair up and he's in shirtsleeves, vest, and trousers.

by Angie E

Felicia Grossman’s Marry Me By Midnight intertwines romance with Jewish heritage in 1830s London. Isabelle Lira, the belle of the London Jewish community, faces a challenging situation after her father’s unexpected death. She must find a suitable husband to assure her family’s business and standing. 

The powerful Berab brothers, her father’s business partners, see her marriage as a danger to their livelihood. Isabelle’s desire to take over her father’s business clashes with social norms that limit women’s roles, especially Jewish women. To help her search for a husband, Isabelle hosts a series of festivals and events centered around Jewish holidays. Her goal is to meet eligible Jewish men and find someone with secrets and a background she can exploit for her independence. 

Enter Aaron Ellenberg, a synagogue caretaker with no family or wealth, perfect for Isabelle’s schemes. She employs Aaron as a spy, instructing him to learn about her potential suitors. However, unexpected attraction and risks await them both as they navigate love, secrets, and societal expectations. 

Marry Me By Midnight embraces its Judaic roots. The novel provides a fascinating glimpse into the 19th-century Jewish community in London. It portrays a passionate and daring romance while weaving in mystery and intrigue. The author captures Jewish London as a world-within-a-world, adjacent to but distinct from the English upper classes of that time. The dynamics of the Judaic community come alive, making this book a must-read for historical fiction and romance enthusiasts who long for more Jewish characters at the heart of the story. 

This title is available in print.

Angie is an Instructor & Research Specialist at Central Branch and is a co-facilitator for Reads of Acceptance, HCLS’ first LGBTQ-focused book club. Her ideal day is reading in her cozy armchair, with her cat Henry next to her.

White letter appears above and within wavy strands of green and deep blue glass.

The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier 

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White letter appears above and within wavy strands of green and deep blue glass.

by Piyali C.

The story begins in 1486 on the island of Murano, where glass blowers create their masterpieces in relative quiet, separated from bustling and chaotic Venice by a body of water. Orsola Rosso is the eldest daughter in a family of esteemed glass blowers. Although she is interested in creating art with glass, she is relegated to household chores because women are not allowed to be in the maestros’ studios. The exception to this rule is Maria Barovier, a historical glass maker in Murano in the 15th century. Maria makes a brief appearance in Tracy Chevalier’s story as an inspiration to our young protagonist and as a woman who lends a hand to Orsola to help her fulfill her dream. With Maria’s encouragement, young Orsola learns to make glass beads from a woman in the Barovier family.

Except for her mother, Laura, Orsola must keep her skill a secret – particularly from her moody older brother Marco as he cannot tolerate Orsola’s ambition. The Glassmaker is a story about Orsola’s ascent as an established artist of glass beads, if not a maestro, during a time when women were expected to keep house, have and raise children, and support the men at work by sweeping up their broken glass. But Orsola and the other women in the Rosso family defy patriarchy in their own ways, like women have done through the centuries despite the shackles that men have tried to foist upon them. 

This book displays Chevalier’s magical ability to conjure up Murano and Venice through her descriptions. She truly transports her readers to the chaos of Venice as it undergoes changes through the centuries and relatively tranquil Murano where glassmakers create their art far away from the traders and merchants of Venice. Orsola’s growth from a young girl to a strong woman with an acute sense of business is a pleasure to witness. The depth and fullness of the characters make them come alive in the readers’ minds. But all these we have come to expect from Chevalier, a maestra in her own craft. What fascinated me most was how Chevalier manipulates time to tell her story.

She urges the readers to skim a rock in the water that connects Murano to Venice. As the rock lightly touches the water and gets ready to skim to the next part, time advances fast, sometimes 70 to 100 years while Orsola’s age and those who matter to her advance only 4 or 5 or 7 years. As the rock touches the water again, Chevalier pauses to tell the story of Orsola and her family, and their lived in experience during that historical era. Then the rock skips again and we take off with it, fast forwarding several decades or even centuries.

This way, Chevalier makes her protagonist live through plague, wars, domination of Murano, heartbreak, creative triumphs and finally, in modern times, Covid. As we skim through centuries, we are mesmerized by Orsola’s growth, her strength and the strength of the women who surround her, pull her up, support her, and chart their own paths with sheer determination. As we fall in love with Orsola, we cannot help but fall in love with Murano as Chevalier gently glides us through the calles, lagoons, markets, and gondolas. We seek to return to its quiet lifestyle after a rambunctious rendezvous with Venice along with Orsola when she goes there to meet with merchants to sell her beads. 

I did not wish for the book to end. But like all good things, this story also ended filling my heart with love and my head with images of Venice and Murano through centuries. 

The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier is available in print, large print, e-book, and e-audiobook formats. 

Piyali is an instructor and research specialist at HCLS Miller Branch, where she facilitates two book discussion groups: Light But Not Fluffy and Global Reads. She keeps the hope alive that someday she will reach the bottom of her to-read list.

The lettering appears large and wavy against a deep teal background. There's a set of manacles in grey at the bottom.

Affinity by Sarah Waters

Angie Engles 1 Comment
The lettering appears large and wavy against a deep teal background. There's a set of manacles in grey at the bottom.

by Angie E.

I doubt I can do Affinity justice with a traditional review, although I’ll certainly try. Sarah Waters broke my heart by writing this book, and I went through several tissues, basically just ugly crying all over the place. My heart also skipped several beats as I journeyed through the twists and turns the novel took. 

Affinity transports readers to 1870s Victorian England, weaving together elements of gothic mystery, psychological exploration, and heart-wrenching drama. Margaret Prior, an unmarried woman from an upper-class family, grapples with inner demons. She’s recovering from her father’s death and a subsequent suicide attempt. Despite being almost 30, she feels powerless living at home with her over-involved mother. 

Seeking consolation and purpose, Margaret becomes a “Lady Visitor” at  Millbank Prison, one of Victorian London’s grimmest jails. Her goal is to guide and support the female prisoners. During her visits, Margaret encounters Selina Dawes, a mysterious and infamous medium of spirits. Selina has been imprisoned for two years, accused of causing the death of the wealthy woman she lived with. 

The relationship between the two women evolves, blurring the boundaries between friendship, desire, and the inexplicable. Is Selina a fraud or a genius? And can Margaret find redemption through their connection? The novel’s spooky atmosphere and psychological tension keep readers mesmerized until the very end. 

If you crave a blend of historical richness, mystery, and heartache, Affinity is a must-read. Whether you’re drawn to magic, tragedy, or forbidden connections, this novel will leave an indelible mark on your heart. 

Affinity by Sarah Waters is available in print and e-book.

Angie is an Instructor & Research Specialist at Central Branch and is a co-facilitator for Reads of Acceptance, HCLS’ first LGBTQ-focused book club. Her ideal day is reading in her cozy armchair, with her cat Henry next to her.

The book cover shows a corridor in a prison cell, with overhead lights casting a green glow on the concrete floor.

Freida McFadden Keeps Readers Guessing

brittanychapterchats Leave a comment
The book cover shows an eerie house in the dark woods, with light shining from a front window and a tree in the foreground.

By Brittany M.

I’m pretty good at figuring out where a plot is headed before it ends. Whether it’s something I expected to happen or an unexpected twist, I keep it to myself. I’m not one of those people who spoils the journey through the storyline for other readers. When a book ends exactly the way I knew it would, I feel a satisfied smile spread across my face, and on the inside exclaim, “Ah ha! I knew it!”, then I move on from that author. But when my brain is spinning, my mouth drops in shock, and all I can think is “I did NOT see that coming,” I’m hooked and eagerly awaiting the author’s next book.  

There is one author who keeps me guessing every time. After reading a few of her books, I still can’t figure out where she is going with the story, but I’m always glad to have read it to the end for the shocking twist. That author’s name is Freida McFadden and her books fly off the shelves at Howard County Library System.

The book cover shows a brown eye looking through a keyhole.

The first McFadden book I read was The Housemaid. A young woman in desperate need of a job starts working for an affluent family. The perfect facade starts to crumble and fade the longer she is employed, ending in a shocking conclusion.

The book cover shows a corridor in a prison cell, with overhead lights casting a green glow on the concrete floor.

The second book I read was The Inmate. The heroine of the novel has a chilling past that haunts her on and off the job. While trying to piece together the puzzle of her past I found myself trying to guess the villain to no avail. The book had so many twists at the end that I had to go back and re-read the last few chapters to make sure I did not miss anything.  

By the time I got my hands on One by One, I considered myself a solid McFadden fan who would be sure to guess the plot this time. It turns out I got too confident in my plot prediction skills and found myself wrapped up in so many twists and turns in this book that it’s my favorite one by her yet. 

If you’re looking for something unpredictable, entertaining and hard to put down, a Freida McFadden book is the perfect choice. HCLS has several titles from the thrilling author, so no matter which one you choose, you’re in for a nail-biting time up until the very end. 

The Housemaid is available from HCLS in print in English, Korean, and Spanish.

The Inmate is available in print and as an e-audiobook.

One by One is available in print and as an e-audiobook.

Brittany is a Customer Service Specialist at the Miller Branch who loves writing, reading, and all things stationery. Her other hobbies include playing video games, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family.

The book cover has the title in brightly colored letters, with a cardboard carton in the foreground featuring the words "A Novel."

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

madammommy Leave a comment
The book cover has the title in brightly colored letters, with a cardboard carton in the foreground featuring the words "A Novel."

By Piyali C.

One of the reasons I love to read is because I am interested in learning about the lived experiences of people around me. Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman gives a vivid, insightful look into the lives of the rank-and-file employees of the Team Movement department of a large corporation – a department store chain called TownSquare. The team receives goods and stocks shelves from 4 to 8 am, when the store opens for customers.

The store manager, Big Will, has been promoted, and the much-desired position of store manager in a small, upstate town in New York will soon be vacant. Meredith, the logistics manager who oversees the Movement department, is almost certain that she will get the job. But the workers under her despise her leadership and are not fond of her as a person. The small group of employees, who are colleagues but not friends, form a plan to position Meredith in a way that will help them. The plan is hatched by Val, a socially conscious woman, married to her wife and mother to their young son. While Val floats the idea and sells it in a way that she professes will help the team, she has very selfish reasons to reposition Meredith.

As their plan progresses, the colleagues slowly learn about each other’s lives and the unique battle each is fighting. Poverty and the constant struggle to stay afloat leave little room to look around and care for others. But this conspiracy to influence the hiring of the store manager by low-level employees who hardly have any influence over anything, including their own lives, brings them closer. They start caring.

The repercussions of this plan and the corporation’s decision to cut costs by manipulating the staff’s hours touch the lives of all the characters. The characters come from all walks of life and belong to different races and ethnicities. One common thread that ties them together is poverty and lack of opportunity. Race gives a slight edge to some over others. Opportunities are rare; when one arises, a whole lot of these people start to dream of a slightly better existence for themselves and their loved ones. 

I did not expect to get so invested in this book. It takes a nosedive into the intricacies of big corporations, their manipulation and control of their employees, and the words they use to avoid turnover. Employees know that they are being exploited, but their options are limited, as many of them are one paycheck away from starvation and food stamps. The callousness of large corporations towards people who have worked for them for years is truly anger-provoking. While I didn’t love the characters, I came to care for them. I understood their apathy. What struck me most was how authentically Adelle Waldman etched each character. They are not perfect and (as I mentioned before) not even always very likeable, but there lies the authenticity of them. They are us – real, flawed, kind, bitter, sometimes petty, and sometimes loving.  

Waldman dedicates this book to all retail workers, and I believe those of us who have worked in retail and those who are curious to know how it is to work for big corporations will find it thought-provoking. 

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman is available in print and e-book formats. This novel is also featured in our Adult Summer Reading 2024: Fiction (Relationships) booklist. 

Piyali is an instructor and research specialist at HCLS Miller Branch, where she facilitates two book discussion groups: Light But Not Fluffy and Global Reads. She keeps the hope alive that someday she will reach the bottom of her to-read list.

The book cover depicts wisps of smoke and flame against an orange-yellow background, bordered by clouds and a blue sky above.

Hunted by Abir Mukherjee

madammommy 1 Comment
The book cover depicts wisps of smoke and flame against an orange-yellow background, bordered by clouds and a blue sky above.

By Piyali C.

Before I delve into the review of Hunted, I want to let everyone know that I am writing this review under protest. Why, you ask? I have nothing against the book. It was a great thriller, and I am even writing a review for it. My protest is against the author’s decision to leave us with a cliffhanger in his Wyndham and Banerjee series, the last book of which is The Shadows of Men. I was counting days…no, years, for the next one in the series to come out. I was stalking the author’s Instagram profile. Then I saw that he was publishing a stand-alone – Hunted. I will read anything that Abir Mukherjee writes, so of course I got on the holds queue right away and read the book in exactly two sittings. By the way, if you love historical mysteries, you can check out A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee, the first book in the Wyndham and Banerjee Series. 

Based in the fractured landscape of American politics, Hunted is a fast-paced thriller that had me glued to the pages, so much so that I forgot to look up to enjoy the beauty of the crashing waves in front of me. Yes, I read this book at the beach. 

There has been an explosion in a mall in L.A, and the Sons of Caliphate has claimed responsibility for the carnage. While checking the grainy CCTV footage of mall security, FBI Special Agent Shreya Mistry spots the scared face of a young girl, Yasmin Malik, who had supposedly planted the bomb. Through intuition and clever deduction, she is just one step behind the culprits who have threatened to cause further mayhem as the country is gripped by election fervor. A right-wing candidate is in a tight race against the Democratic vice president, who is running for the presidency of the United States.

Is it really the work of some militant Islamic jihadist group who wants to tip the balance? From the first evidence, it certainly looks that way. Forces within the Bureau want Shreya to back off from this particular case, since Shreya endangers her life repeatedly in her pursuit of the perpetrators. But, is that the only reason that higher-ups want her off this case? Shreya Mistry, on the other hand, feels like she must work doubly hard to prove her worth in a male-dominated agency, being a woman as well as a person of South Asian origin.

A father in London finds out that his 18-year-old daughter has joined the Sons of Caliphate. A mother in the United States also fears that her son is part of this militant group. Neither of them can believe that their children are cunning or cruel enough to pull off this horrible crime. They feel their children are victims themselves, kidnapped by the group. These two parents come together, determined to find their children and take them home. Will they be too late? 

The thriller is certainly a roller coaster ride and definitely a page turner. Like Mukherjee’s other mysteries in my beloved Sam Wyndham Series, social issues are as important to the plot as the mystery. We read about gender inequality, racism, Islamophobia, and other pertinent social issues that are present in our world. The one critique that I have is that the characters lack depth, unlike the characters in his other books. But then again, Mukherjee has set the bar high for his fans. The action and the suspense make up for the less than realistic characters, though. If you are looking for a fast-paced, crisp, suspenseful thriller, look no further.

I grudgingly admit this was an interesting stand-alone, but bring back Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee, sir. We are waiting!

Hunted by Abir Mukherjee is available in print format. 

Piyali is an instructor and research specialist at HCLS Miller Branch, where she facilitates Light But Not Fluffy and co-facilitates Global Reads. She keeps the hope alive that someday she will reach the bottom of her to-read list.