Staff Picks

After a stunning and violent betrayal by a member of her own team, talented and beautiful FBI agent Kendra Donovan travels to England to carry out a plan for justice and revenge.

Before she can complete her plan she is mysteriously whisked back in time to an English country estate in 1815 where there is a serial killer on the loose. This genre mash-up was a quick and satisfying read. Think Downton Abbey meets Jack the Ripper with a modern day female detective thrown in the mix, and a hint of romance. 

With questions from Kendra’s own time left unanswered, it seems ripe for a sequel. I recommend A Murder in Time to fans of time travel and historical mysteries.


Kim Tomblin
Collection Development Librarian

Staff Picks

Shopgirl by Steve Martin

Funnyman Steve Martin reveals his softer side in a novel that offers insight into the daily life of a West Coast twenty-something, artistic wannabee and Neiman Marcus “Shopgirl”.

I really enjoyed this slim and quiet novel where even the minor characters feel true to life. Equal parts romance and anti-romance, insight and humor, Shopgirl chronicles the love life of Mirabelle, her paramours and one particularly memorable romantic rival.

At only 130 pages it’s a bit of brain candy that literary fiction lovers as well as fans of HBO’s Sex and The City will enjoy.  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Staff Picks: THE 14th COLONY by Steve Berry

Though fiction, each of Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone books revolve around a historical event. The 14th Colony is no exception.

Steve Berry’s latest book has his protagonist Cotton Malone back on the job. The title gives us a clue as to one of the directions the book will take, but there is more to uncover as old Cold War issues heat up.

Is there really a set of briefcase sized nuclear weapons surviving from the Cold War and hidden in the U.S.? Could these weapons still be activated and used in a modern day retaliation by ex-KGB Agents bearing a grudge?

The timing couldn’t be worse for all of these events to be coming up as the inauguration of a new president is days away. Suddenly the issues of presidential succession are not as straight forward as we have always thought.

One of my favorite parts in reading a Steve Berry book is the author notes that follow the story. They tell us exactly which parts of the book are fact, which are fiction, and which are unknown but rumored to be true. Reading about Mr. Berry’s research and findings about unlikely events can be as disturbing and fascinating as the main story.

Log into the library catalog (with your full library barcode number and PIN) to reserve The 14th Colony in print, eBook, CD audiobook, or eAudiobook.


Lola Nichols
Information Specialist
Sharon Forks Library