April Recommended Reads
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Ah, May. That month when the flowers begin to sprout, the sun begins to linger and the mud in Vermont (hopefully) begins to dry. I’d argue it’s the best month of the year, but then again, I may be biased — it is my birthday month, after all.
I’m hoping to add some new books to my library in honor of this auspicious day, but in the interim, I’ve been ticking quite a few titles off my list. Here are the best books I read in April:
The Need
By Helen Phillips
★★★★★
Ever since the birth of Molly’s second child, something has felt not quite right. She could swear she hears footsteps and the rustle of movements late at night when she’s home alone with the kids. And then there are the strange objects turning up at the paleontological dig site where she works: A Coca-Cola bottle inexplicably printed with the wrong font. A toy soldier sporting a monkey’s tail. A Bible that worships a feminine God. One night, Molly’s fears materialize in the form of an intruder mysteriously shrouded by a paper mache deer mask. The masked stranger knows far more about her and her family than they have a right to, and Molly is soon plunged into a dizzying downward spiral that will make her question everything she believes about life, love and motherhood.
Though The Need starts off much like a straight thriller, it quickly expands to incorporate elements of horror, sci-fi and speculative fiction. I absolutely devoured it with a palpable uneasiness in the pit of my stomach all the while. With crisp, biting prose, haunting imagery and Phillips’ use of short chapters — sometimes not even a full page long — is incredibly effective for heightening the suspense and the sometimes dream-like quality of the book. The reading experience is at times unsettling, disorienting and maddening, especially as it hurtles toward its mystifying ending.
Local Woman Missing
By Mary Kubica
★★★★
Eleven years ago, a doula named Meredith Dickey turned up dead of an apparent suicide and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, disappeared without a trace. Meredith’s death never quite made sense to her friends and family, especially since she was found just days after police recovered the body of another local woman, Shelby Tebow. Now, Delilah has shockingly resurfaced after escaping from captors who held her in a dank, lightless cellar for more than a decade. Will Delilah’s reappearance finally provide the missing link to make sense of what happened to Meredith all those years ago?
This book excels at navigating the twists and turns readers have come to expect from modern-day thrillers. And if you think you know where the story is going after the first few chapters, you’re probably wrong. With multiple perspectives told across multiple timelines, the book deftly weaves breadcrumbs of information that lead to a conclusion you likely won’t see coming. In particular, the characters in Local Woman Missing are devastatingly human, with their flaws on full display as they make the dangerous choices that ultimately lead to their demise.
Dial A for Aunties
By Jesse Q. Sutanto
★★★★½
Until now, Meddelin Chan’s biggest worry has been finding a way to extricate herself from the family business without upsetting her mother or her three aunties. But when a bad blind date takes a turn for the worst and ends up dead, worry #1 becomes figuring out how to hide the body. There’s just one hiccup — Meddy and her aunties are booked to work their biggest job yet for an opulent Chinese-Indonesian wedding at a swanky island resort. Hijinks and harebrained schemes ensue as Meddy tries to juggle subterfuge, meddling aunties, a demanding wedding party and the sudden reappearance of her “one that got away.”
Despite the death at the center of the story, this book is just. plain. fun. The characters are funny, vibrant and distinct, and Sutanto has crafted a tenderly complex family dynamic between Meddy and her aunties. One of the most compelling aspects of the story is the window it provides into Chinese-Indonesian culture and traditions, from the Chans’ Sunday dim sum dates to the unique wedding ceremonies and customs. It’s also got a romantic subplot that is sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. I’d especially recommend this read for cozy mystery readers and writers — it’s a good example of how to infuse a mystery or crime plot with humor and heartfelt moments.
What were your favorite reads this month? Reach out and let me know! I’ll be back in about a month with my next round of recommended titles.
Happy reading,
Meg
