This Week’s Literary Picks from Your Local Library

A snowy Saturday is the perfect time to settle down with a new book. But if you’re not sure what to read next, why not check out this week’s suggestions from the staff at the ?

This week’s adult recommendations were written by public services assistant Rachel Vaughn. The children’s book recommendation was written by Public Services Assistant II, Karen Schmidt, of the Children’s Department.

Happy reading!

For adults:

The Veil of Gold by Kim Wilkins

When Rosa finds a golden statue of a bear behind a wall of an old family house in St. Petersburg, she knows that it is much more than buried treasure. In an effort to get rid of the statue, she enlists the help of her former lover and friend, historian Daniel St. Clare. When Daniel sets out to research the relic, he unknowingly crosses over into Skazki, the world of story, and disappears from the world he knows. Rosa must now save him from this fantastical world and face her fears. Award-winning author Wilkins blends Russian history and lore in this contemporary fantasy novel.

The Red Door by Charles Todd

Charles Todd, the pen name of a mother and son writing team, adds another page-turner to this post WWI mystery series. In the summer of 1920 in Lancashire, England, a woman is found beaten to death behind the red door of her home. Two years earlier, her husband served and never returned from the Great War. Seemingly unrelated and more than 200 miles away in London, a man mysteriously disappears and then reappears without explanation. Enter Ian Rutledge: WWI veteran turned Scotland Yard detective and star sleuth of this series. Rutledge is investigating these cases and must find the link that will solve them both. Although this book is the 12th installment of a series, it can hold its own as a stand-alone read.

And for kids:

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis by Barbara O’Connor

One boring summer in Fayette, South Carolina, 10-year-old Popeye finds a silver motor home stuck up to its wheels in mud. Inside, five kids are wrestling on the pull-down bunk and eating jelly sandwiches and potato chips. Up until then, the most interesting thing that ever happened to Popeye was getting his eye shot out by his uncle and learning new vocabulary words from his grandmother. When Popeye hooks up with the oldest boy, the conniving Elvis, he begins to see adventures all around him. When small, perfect boats made out of Yoo-Hoo cartons appear in a little backyard stream, Popeye and Elvis follow clues like “four and twenty blackbirds” to “where dead dogs live.” (For ages 8-12)

Summaries are based in part from information in the library's catalogue.