Innholdsfortegnelse for Booklist, Vol. 121, No. 17/18, May 2025 i Booklist

Many of us enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and true crime because these enigmatic or hard-core genres offer a safe space to explore the darker aspects of humanity. These books also offer an escape from the realities of daily life as well as mind-bending puzzles and illumination of the complexities of the justice system, all avidly explored by adventurous readers. With all that in mind, we’re excited about the May issue of Booklist and its blockbuster Spotlight on Mysteries & Thrillers and Focus on True Crime. Be sure to check out Donna Seaman’s interview with celebrated crime-fiction writer Michael Connelly (p.46), Biz Hyzy’s Jane Austen-Inspired Mysteries (p.54), Julia Smith’s Kid Detectives (p.108), and New Mysteries and Thrillers on Audio (p.114). As always, there’s more here than the spotlight and you’ll also find…

These ten stellar debuts, reviewed from May 1, 2024, through April 1 & 15, 2025, introduce antiheroes to root for, lament societal failings, explore haunted locales and psyches, and spotlight ten crime fiction writers to watch. Bright and Tender Dark. By Joanna Pearson. Bloomsbury, $28.99 (9781639732890). Pearson’s smart, assured debut is set in the college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where the brutal murder of a bright young student in 1999 still haunts her former roommate two decades later. Coram House. By Bailey Seybolt. Atria, $28.99 (9781668057001). Part gothic novel set in a creepy Vermont orphanage and part investigative-reporting procedural, Seybolt’s absorbing blend of true crime with fiction will both disturb and fascinate readers. The Library Thief. By Kuchenga Shenjé. Hanover Square, $29.99 (9781335909695). In Victorian London, a bookbinder…

In Japan, the detective novel, or suiri shōsetsu (推理小説), is incredibly popular, with a history of fan-favorite characters and authors. The popularity of the genre means that it has a powerful influence on other media and formats such as film, television, video games, and—naturally—manga. Whether they are twists on the stories of familiar gumshoes, tales of deductive reasoning in fantastical settings, kid detectives, or simply set in a variety of historical settings, detectives and the tropes of the detective genre are all over manga. Here are just a few great titles featuring detective work.  Case Closed. By Gosho Aoyama. Art by the author. VIZ Media. Gr. 9–12. Also known as Detective Conan, this super-long-running series about a teenage sleuth who’s been transformed into a kid detective is a media powerhouse…

Reviewed in Booklist between May 1, 2024, and April 1, 2025, these top 10 MG and YA mysteries are marked by representation that is diverse in age, race, culture, and ability. —Ronny Khuri Benny on the Case. By Wesley King. 2025. 288p. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman (9781665937696). Gr. 3–6. Friends Benny and Salma harness their love of true-crime podcasts as they endeavor to solve a string of thefts at a retirement home. Cream Buns and Crime: Tips, Tricks, and Tales from the Detective Society. By Robin Stevens. 2024. 288p. Simon & Schuster (9781665919463). Gr. 4–7. This compilation from supersleuths Daisy and Hazel helps young readers become detectives by sharing resources containing story, instructions, and history on the topic. A Darker Mischief. By Derek Milman. 2024. 384p. Scholastic (9781339009933). Gr. 9–12.…

The Sound and the Fury. By William Faulkner. Read by a full cast. 2025. 9.5hr. Blackstone, DD (9798212633314). In 1929, with the publication of Faulkner’s saga of a crumbling aristocratic family, modernism hit American literature with inner monologues, stream of consciousness, and jumbled chronology. Four different voices and their unique perspectives await the listener. Shaun Taylor-Corbett, reading Benjy, is the crucial voice, the invitation. There is a gentle quiver to his tone, emphasizing the music of Benjy’s tale, with metaphorical messages reappearing refrain-like. Quentin’s section, read by Edoardo Ballerini, contains elements of a stage monologue with well-arched phrasing, where the narration moves effortlessly between impersonations of other characters, self-observation, and a deeply tormented, passionate reflection on values and honor. Justin’s monologue, narrated by Bronson Pinchot, introduces society at large, and…

The Shore Road Mystery.  By Franklin W. Dixon. Read by Hayden Bishop. 2025. 4hr. Dreamscape, DD (9781666698428). Gr. 3–6. Uh-oh. Bayport is experiencing a rash of car thefts! As cars disappear from the popular Shore Road area, the police scramble unsuccessfully to find the thieves. Luckily, Bayport is the home of the intrepid Hardy Boys, brothers Frank and Joe. When the authorities focus suspicion on their classmate and his father, our young sleuths make it their business to track down the real culprits, leading to some heart-thumping situations. Bishop delivers a balanced performance using good character differentiation, retaining an old-fashioned quality while offering comical moments, particularly through the secondary characters. Frank and Joe are voiced in a slightly younger manner than in previous audio versions, making this production appealing to…

Journalism & Publishing Somebody Told Me…: One Man’s Unexpected Journey Down the Rabbit Hole of Lies, Trolls, and Conspiracies.  By Danny Wallace. June 2025. 320p. Prometheus, paper, $24.95 (9781493090792); e-book (9781493090808). 001.98. One of the most troubling recent trends is the proliferation of disinformation along with a commensurate rise in the percentage of the population that believes it. Wallace (Yes Man, 2005) has taken a hard look at the phenomenon, its negative impact on society and politics, and the harm it does to people caught up in an ever more pervasive web of conspiracy theories, deception, and fear-mongering. He examines different aspects of the phenomenon, such as media disinformation, social-media trolls, incels, and adult-onset paranoia. He gives examples of how families are torn apart by belief in negative falsehoods. Importantly,…

General Fiction The Accidental Favorite. By Fran Littlewood. June 2025. 320p. Holt, $29.99 (9781250857118); e-book (9781250857125). A British family gathers for matriarch Vivienne’s seventieth birthday in an all-glass house in the countryside. When a tree falls, Patrick, Vivienne’s husband and father to Alex, Nancy, and Eva, rushes to save only one of his daughters. Everyone is fine, but his actions set off a series of events that threaten to unravel this successful family. Alex is struggling with her surprise third baby and getting little help from her husband. Wealthy Eva, who is treating the family to this vacation, is hiding the fact that she married her annoying boyfriend, meaning his odious son is now part of the family. And Nancy is dealing with professional troubles while her beloved daughter is…

Booklist caught up with Michael Connelly as Nightshade, his fortieth book, was poised for release, preceded by a starred Booklist review. With a new protagonist, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell, who has been banished to a lowly posting in an intriguing setting, Nightshade launches a new series. Seaman: Your novels are propelled by justice-seekers. Who or what inspired Stilwell, your newest police detective? Connelly: It was more like the place was the inspiration this time. I had heard a number of years ago that the island of Catalina, which is part of Los Angeles County and is under the Sheriff’s Department’s authority in terms of law enforcement, had one detective. I thought, well, that’s a pretty interesting setup. So that was the starting point. As for my justice-seekers, for…

Older Readers Generation Queer: Stories of Youth Organizers, Artists, and Educators. By Kimm Topping. Illus. by Anshika Khullar. May 2025. 240p. Lee & Low/Tu, $22.95 (9781643795201). Gr. 7–12. 306.76. In this combination manual, educational material, and inspirational piece, Topping assembles in one place all the information queer youth may need. Generation Queer includes extensive histories of queer movements in conjunction with intersectional struggles and alongside time lines of important events for activism. On every page, Topping expresses hope for queer youth and LGBTQIA+ rights movements, supporting young readers by reminding them that they are not alone and giving them concrete methods to become involved with the queer community and learn self-compassion. Notably, Topping includes interviews with queer organizers, artists, and educators, elaborating on the narrative perspective to present readers with…

Older Readers All-Nighter.  By Cecilia Vinesse. May 2025. 384p. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, $19.99 (9780063285927). Gr. 8–12. Seniors Autumn Povitsky and Tara Esposito are sworn enemies. Ever since a failed attempt by Autumn to welcome newcomer Tara to the all-girls school by way of stumbling through their anti-smoking policy, the two have antagonized each other nonstop. Valedictorian Autumn has a penchant for rules and ruling the school with an iron fist, and Tara is a certified bad girl determined to fill her time with pranks and noncompliant mischief. But fate is fickle, and Autumn needs Tara’s help breaking the rules by attaining a student ID for the local college so she can see her crush read poetry at 2 a.m. What could go wrong? Not too much, but just enough as the…

This month’s hot list feels nonfiction heavy, with memoirs and histories to suit a variety of readers, but fiction is still representing with strong entries from favorite authors. The Academy. By Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham. Little, Brown, $30 (9780316567855). Sep. Hilderbrand’s first post-Nantucket novel, written with her daughter, follows a year in the life of the students and staff at a tony New England prep school, where gossip and secrets reign. The Black Wolf. By Louise Penny. Minotaur, $30 (9781250328175). Oct. The twentieth Chief Inspector Gamache mystery finds our hero laid up with injuries received while stopping an attack by a terrorist called the Black Wolf—but amidst growing conspiracies, he’s not sure if he caught the right person. Girl Warrior: A Coming of Age Handbook. By Joy Harjo. Norton,…

These top 10 reference books were reviewed in Booklist between May 15, 2024, and April 1, 2025, and represent useful resources for libraries of all sizes, covering conspiracy theories, the Constitution, world cinema, the birds and the bees, and two excellent works on astronomy. Conspiracy Theories: A Reference Handbook. By Jeffrey B. Webb. 2024. Bloomsbury Academic, $75 (9781440877704). This handbook, suitable for academics, college students, and other serious readers, takes a reasoned look at why conspiracy theories are so powerfully virulent, why they persist, and how they infect America’s political and social landscape. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. By Miles McMullan and others. 2025. Pelagic, $29.99 (9781784275426). A convenient, highly visual guide with identification notes placed side-by-side with high-impact illustrations, this will suit intrepid adventurers and armchair-birders…

The most skilled, suspenseful, and overall memorable mysteries and thrillers reviewed in Booklist over the past year confront dangers ranging from matters of the heart to global conflict, all with addictive suspense and superlative writing. All This and More. By Peng Shepherd. Morrow, $30 (9780063278974). Shepherd’s speculative thriller combines a fascinating cast of characters with a can’t-miss idea—a reality show that allows contestants to try out different versions of their lives. Bad Liar. By Tami Hoag. Dutton, $30 (9781101985434). Hoag perfectly captures the dark, steamy atmosphere of the Louisiana bayous and the claustrophobia of small-town life in this five-star read with a sucker-punch ending. Beautiful Ugly. By Alice Feeney. Flatiron, $28.99 (9781250337788). Feeney mixes gothic atmosphere on a remote Scottish island with two possibly unreliable narrators, a woman who may…

Adult Brain Damage. By Shintaro Kago. Art by the author. Tr. by Zack Davisson. July 2025. 200p. Fantagraphics, $29.99 (9798875000935). 741.5. Brain Damage is a work of horror as art; the quartet of tales within plumb the depths of psychological and visceral terror with deftness and a touch of humor as only Kago can. In this collection of four tales, a group of young women must evade a crazed killer bent on creating a gruesome four-panel manga, a health worker is tasked with keeping the undead peaceful until each accepts their death, a family’s aging and perverted patriarch’s encroaching dementia becomes a life-threatening crisis for an entire town, and a series of bizarre deaths involving used cars sets off a quest to unearth what is happening. Kago’s work is at…

Though Generation Queer (reviewed on p.72) is their first foray into young adult nonfiction, Kimm Topping is an expert in the field of LGBTQ+ history and advocacy. Noted as “a storyteller at heart,” Topping takes their robust skill set in history, art, education, and writing to new heights in this compilation of biographies of (and manifesto to) young LGBTQ+ people. I was delighted to chat with Topping about their inspiration, motivation, and aspirations for this work. Kelly Ferreira: While there are some recognizable names, there aren’t many high-profile people in the book. Was there anyone whom you created a biography for who ultimately didn’t make it into the book? How did you find your biography subjects? Kimm Topping: I appreciate that you noticed this because it was actually very intentional.…

Dream On. By Shannon Hale. Art by Marcela Cespedes and Lark Pien. Roaring Brook, $22.99 (9781250843067). Gr. 3–6. Aug. Cassie, tired of sharing a room with her siblings, thinks winning a sweepstakes is the answer to her problems in this inaugural title in a new middle-grade comics series from best-selling, beloved Hale. Family Feast! By Carole Boston Weatherford. Illus. by Frank Morrison. Crown, $18.99 (9780593898291). PreS–Gr. 3. Sept. With a bowing shelf of awards between them, Weatherford and Morrison join forces for this lively, lyrical story of a family working together to prepare a delicious meal for a crowd. The House of Quiet. By Kiersten White. Delacorte, $19.99 (9780593806579). Gr. 9–12. Sept. Best-selling White’s eerie latest follows Birdie, who’s determined to follow her sister to the unsettling House of Quiet,…

Adult Audio Cults like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America. By Jane Borden. Read by the author. 2025. 11hr. Simon & Schuster Audio, DD (9781797188430). From the earliest Pilgrims to the latest presidential election, cult-like ideologies have played an unexpected role in shaping American history. Borden’s dissection of the topic is a gripping and immersive listen made even more compelling by her own narration. She delivers a raw and authentic performance as both author and narrator, bringing depth and emotional weight to this historical examination of how apocalyptic beliefs have altered American culture. The book delves into the evolution of American theology and suggests that doomsday ideology, rooted in Puritan beliefs, has become ingrained in the nation’s identity. Each cult presented comes with a captivating account of its origins, beliefs,…

It’s always big news when a new narrator takes over a beloved audio series. Listeners of Tarquin Hall’s Vish Puri mysteries have quite a treat in store with Vikas Adam now narrating for India’s “most private detective” in The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck. Adam spoke with Booklist about this new project.  Booth: Taking on the narration of a beloved series must have been a challenge! How did you prepare for this role? Adam: It was definitely daunting because the absolutely brilliant Sam Dastor, for whom I have such great respect, established these characters. If I were to try to replicate what he had done, it would affect my connection with the words, so it was a matter of listening to what he had done, then trying to incorporate…