Tippecanoe's February Fiction Picks
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Alice is a scientist studying elephant grief, living at an elephant sanctuary with her husband and daughter. One night, tragic circumstances leave a woman dead, and Alice missing. Years later her daughter Jenna sets out to determine what happened, with the help of a private investigator and a once-famous psychic. Picoult deftly unspools the story, teasing through flashbacks and building suspense to an unexpected conclusion. Jennifer H.
Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
The eighth book in the Outlander series continues the story of Claire and Jamie, now in 1778 Philadelphia in the midst of a revolution, including run-ins with historical figures like Benedict Arnold and General Washington. A blend of drama, romance, history and action, with a bit of magic, the series is at heart a complex family drama. This installment revitalizes the series and leaves the reader awaiting the next tome. Jennifer H.
The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore
Poe and Shakespeare converge in this follow-up to Moore’s Fool (2009). King Lear’s fool, Pocket, travels to Venice—only to be drugged, walled-up, and left to die like Poe’s Fortunato in The Cask of Amontillado. But he escapes, and with only his scathing wit and the help of several of Shakespeare’s characters exacts his revenge in this hilarious mash-up of Othello and The Merchant of Venice. You don’t need to brush up your Shakespeare to enjoy this literary romp! Chris G.
Bryant & May and the Bleeding Heart: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery by Christopher Fowler
The eleventh book is this series provides an ingeniously tangled set of cases for London’s most dysfunctional and unorthodox police unit, whose remit is to deal with crimes that might cause national scandal or undermine public morale. In this case, curmudgeonly detective Arthur Bryant looks into the disappearance of the ravens from the Tower of London, which legend says foretells the fall of England, while his urbane partner John May investigates a modern recurrence of grave-robbing. Laced with humor and human interest, this is a riveting police procedural set against a fascinating backdrop of arcane London history and lore. Chris G.
Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Georgie, a successful television writer, struggles to balance her family and career. Her husband Neal has had enough when she cancels their Christmas plans. He takes their children and heads to Nebraska without her. With her marriage in shambles Georgie uses a vintage yellow phone to communicate to her college sweetheart who is now her husband. The “Landline” becomes a way for Georgie to discover the reasons for her troubling marriage. Sue G.