The full title of today's selection by Maureen Callahan is American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century. It can sometimes be difficult to find true crime that is not discussing someone that we have already heard plenty about. What Callahan has done is painstakingly researched one of the most careful - and frightening - serial killers in America that most of us have never heard of.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction/true crime book that explores the life and crimes of Israel Keyes, a man who confessed to looking up to men such as Ted Kraczynski, Ted Bundy, H.H. Holmes, and Timothy McVeigh. Only when 18 year-old Samantha Koenig went missing in early 2012 did Keyes finally show up on US law enforcement's radar. Samantha went missing from her job in Anchorage, Alaska, and with only a surveillance tape to go on, it was hard for local police and detectives to find out where she had disappeared to. But after writing and sending a ransom note, and also after making a few key mistakes on his escape through the lower 48 states, law enforcement had their guy. Of course, what they would discover was that the disappearance of Samantha Koenig was only one in a long string of horrible crimes. Keyes would end up having some of the usual serial killer traits - possibly abuse by a parent, escalating cruelty to animals, didn't make many close friends - but what made him different was just how good he was at what he did. So good in fact, that he has managed to keep the FBI guessing.
My Verdict: Like most true crime books, this one is more than a little unnerving. Anyone could have been a victim of Keyes, as he seemingly chose at random. It is clear that Callahan wanted to portray just how meticulous Keyes was when was committing his crimes. His intense ability to focus and stay on his toes also served him well when dealing with the authorities. It is clear that Callahan did her research, and I applaud her for focusing on someone many do not know about. However, there was something about the structure of the book that was off-putting, often making me feel as if something were out of balance. Granted, that could be attributed to Keyes as the subject, as he was good at making those around him feel the same way. It could be a natural result of hearing his story, often in his own words. He was good at maintaining control, and perhaps was even successful through the pages of someone else's book.
Favorite Moment: Whenever the incompetence of law enforcement when dealing with someone like Keyes was openly acknowledged, which was often, because they messed up a great deal.
Recommended Reading: I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara is another wonderful true crime book that thoroughly follows a serial killer not many know about.
Thanks again to the Cloud Library. I do prefer physical books, but being able to pull out my phone and enjoy a new historical fiction release at almost any time is not a bad deal. This is how I was able to read The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung, which I had been hearing marvelous things about since its release in early June.
The Situation: Katherine is different, in more ways than one. Growing up in 1940s and 1950s Michigan, she did not know any other half-Chinese children, and had grown accustomed to the stares she and her mother received. That is until her mother left her and her father, without a word, and without a goodbye. But something else that gained the attention from those around her was her aptitude and obvious love for numbers. Katherine's love of mathematics will not only form her life and relationships in college and in her future career, but it will also lead her to answers (and more questions) about her parents, and an old notebook, filled with mysterious mathematical equations, that her father gave her when she was younger.
The Problem: From the outset, if people are not judging Katherine for her heritage, then they are more than ready to dismiss her because she is a woman. And after an incident during her undergraduate years when a male colleague takes credit for her work, Katherine is sure to always be on guard against anyone who would take advantage of her, or think her to be at all inferior to her counterparts. Resolved to working harder than anyone else, her efforts lead to an invitation to continue working and studying in Germany. Armed with precious information she obtained from her father regarding her mother, and his time in the military during World War II, Katherine goes on an adventure to learn as much as she can about who she is, and the old notebook she carries with her. What she learns will change everything she knew about her family and herself.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set mostly in 1940s, 50s, and 60s America. As a girl who grew up with a white father and a Chinese mother in middle America, Katherine was always set apart and identified as different. And when she shows real skill with numbers, it is no question that she is not like other girls. A theme that consistently comes up in the book is how women were (and still are) often dismissed, despite their clear ability to contribute to whichever field they have chosen. In Katherine's case, that field happens to be the heavily male-dominated one of mathematics, and her father is always quick to tell her how difficult it will be for her to receive a job once she is done with graduate school. Another theme that came up even more is the wreckage left behind by World War II, and the attitudes that continued to persist. While living in Germany, Katherine must reconcile what she sees and the people she meets with the atrocities that occurred and the people who died. Did the people who continue to prosper in Germany benefit from the Jews who perished? How is Katherine's own history linked to what she sees? And what does any of it have to do with her mysterious notebook? Using the examples of famous mathematicians of the past (some real, some made up), Katherine will set her own course for the future, while learning about her past.
My Verdict: This is a touching and well-written story about a woman who is desperate to find out who she really is, while also making her own mark on the world of mathematics that she loves so much. Her life is a mystery, its own math problem that she wants more than anything to solve. The story is never boring, though often confusing, especially as different characters tell different pieces of the story, and it is easy to get the time lines mixed up, as well as the ever-growing branches in Katherine's family tree. But I think even those who are not so interested in math will enjoy unraveling the mystery and going with Katherine on her journey. And while there is plenty of focus on WWII, it is not so much that it overtakes the story. It is simply an event that has a long reach, whose effects are difficult to outrun.
Favorite Moment: When Katherine tells the story of a boy in one of her undergraduate math classes who dismissed her because she is female, only to end up failing the class himself at the end of the semester.
Favorite Character: Katherine's friend Henry, whom she meets while in Germany and is roommates with for a time, is smart, funny, independent, and has a love for folk and fairy tales from all cultures.
Favorite Quote: "Forget princes. Forget men. Let's never get married. Let's stay single and free forever, and do what we want. Let's be heroes or villains, but never the princess. Or if we have to marry, let's be like the girl in Bluebeard, who marries the villain with all the dead wives in the basement, and then kills him in self-defense and inherits all his wealth." - Henry after a discussion about fairy tales.
Recommended Reading: Both Lilac Girls and Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly are fantastic stories centered on women in World War II.
It is the final round of voting for the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards, which means in just a few short weeks, readers will have made it known which books have been their favorites across 20 categories.
The selections have gone from 20 to 10 in each area, which means there will be more than a few favorites that will not be available for final consideration. Time to find out which DSNs are still in the running, and which ones have sadly been left behind.
While all five of the DSNs that were originally nominated for the Best Fiction Category have managed to hold on, not every novel from Best Historical Fiction has been so lucky. I am certainly surprised to see that Martha Hall Kelly's Lost Roses did not make it through to the final round, though that does not change my vote as Daisy Jones & The Six is still going strong.
Blake Crouch's Recursion is also still holding on in the Best Science Fiction category. Unfortunately, Tressie McMillan Cottom's Thick has been removed from Best Nonfiction, and Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman's Sounds Like Titanic is no longer in the running for Best Memoir & Autobiography, though I cannot quite bring myself to vote for Maid for Stephanie Land.
All is well in the Best Graphic Novel section, and I am interested to see if the graphic novel version of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale will prevail. I will still be voting for Rainbow Rowell's Pumpkinheads, but either book has a chance of taking the top prize. There are no changes for the DSNs in Best Debut Novel, but the same cannot be said for my favorite category, Best Young Adult Fiction. It seems Internment by Samira Ahmed did not receive enough votes to advance, which is a shame but this is an incredible book. Sure, there are five other DSNs still going strong, two of which are from YA Fest, but still.
And as a surprise to no one, Stephanie Garber's Finale still has a chance to win for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction. Though it received my vote in the previous rounds, I must switch now that I have read Neal Shusterman's The Toll, the conclusion to his Arc of a Scythe series. Yes, it is just that good.
The final round of voting will receive more time than the previous ones, as it will close Monday, December 2, allowing for a full two weeks. The winners will be announced Tuesday, December 10, so be sure to get in your final votes and support those novels that are still standing strong.
The last book in Neal Shusterman's Arc of a Scythe series is probably one of the most anticipated books of the year. At last it is time for The Toll, the book that will answer the question of what happened to Rowan and Citra, what has Scythe Faraday found, and what could the Thunderhead possibly have in store for the humanity it loves so much. And for those who are not caught up on the previous books, either Scythe or Thunderhead, please be aware that there will be spoilers everywhere.
The Situation: It seems the impossible, and the awful, has happened, and Scythe Robert Goddard has been named High Blade over MidMerica. Naturally, one of his first orders of business is to be the be rid of the quota all scythes must adhere to, so those who do not wish to kill so many no longer have to. Of course, those that wish to kill more may do so to their heart's content. Soon it is even allowed for them to focus on certain people groups, such as those pesky Tonists, who have lately become more and more vocal against the Scythes. If Goddard could be rid of their leader, the one who claims to be the only person to whom the Thunderhead still speaks, then perhaps that would be enough to gather all of the scythe regions of the world under his power. It would be another victory to add to the sinking of Endura, and being rid of both Scythe Anastasia and Scythe Lucifer. Finally, the ultimate control he has always wanted may soon be his.
The Problem: While Goddard seems unstoppable, there are certainly plenty of people the world over trying their hardest to do so. There are plenty of scythes that refuse to join him, even ignoring his decree not to dig up the treasure that was on the now sunken Endura. And the Thunderhead may not be able to meddle in Scythe business and stop Goddard directly, and it still is not speaking to the many it has marked 'unsavory,' but it still has Greyson Tolliver, and that will have to be enough. With Greyson now seen as the leader of the Tonists, he holds enough power to carry out crucial instructions that may allow the Thunderhead to save humanity. A key factor in that plan is what Scythe Faraday has discovered out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in a place that most do not know even existed, including the Thunderhead. Now this place must be made known, though only to a few. It may be the only way to save humanity from itself, and stop Goddard before it is too late.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel, and the third and final installment in Shusterman's Arc of a Scythe trilogy. Though the events of this book jump across timelines and continents, going from person to person as chapters - and sometimes sections within chapters - change, the ultimate conclusion takes place more than three years after the events of Thunderhead. We last saw Citra and Rowan sink to the bottom of the sea, as Scythe Goddard made his getaway. Now Goddard has the title and power he has always wanted; our heroes are lost; Greyson is the only person the Thunderhead will speak to, and Scythe Faraday is on his way out to the middle of the ocean. In Thunderhead, readers got a glimpse into the complex inner workings of the system that governs this world. Now we get to see it attempt to make itself even more perfect, more aware, and more able to relate to humans. It has already succeeded in being more than just another artificial intelligence; now we see it struggle to become something closer to human. In The Toll, readers also learn more about the founders, the end of the mortal age, and exactly why sending humans to begin colonies in space never quite worked.
My Verdict: This book is over 600 pages long, so the first instinct of many may be to say that it could have been broken up into two novels. Perhaps that is true, but I think it works best the way it is, and that keeping it as an epic conclusion allows it to be the most effective. For one, there is a lot going on here. There is the jumping across stories, characters, and timelines, as well the sheer amount of stuff humanity is going through. Yes, it was sometimes confusing, but it was rarely overwhelming. And the desire to know what happens and how everything will play out is enough to keep the reader turning the page, accepting that everything will be sufficiently explained in due time, and it is. It is an ending that reaches back, past the first book, and reconciles a part of the story that happened before the events in Scythe, and ties them to this hectic future. What is evident is the level of care and passion Shusterman holds for his story, and he has made his best effort in presenting a wonderful story to his faithful readers.
Favorite Moment: I am Texan through and through, so any mention of that charter state standing against Scythe Robert Goddard made my heart happy.
Favorite Character: There are many to choose from here. There is the newcomer Jeri, a gender fluid Malagasy whose loyalty to both Citra and Greyson will prove useful through to the end. Then of course there is Scythe Faraday, who is always noble and honorable, though in this book he does go through some things. And then there is also Scythe Morrison, who is certainly not a great scythe, or even a great person, but his decision to assist Greyson proves to be a fantastic new direction for his life.
Recommended Reading: Well this will certainly be a hard act to follow. I suppose I will suggest the Rosewater series by Tade Thompson. Definitely not young adult, and definitely more science fiction than fantasy, but it still deals with the idea of being able to heal from any illness, and what it means to take that for granted without much thought as to what that may mean for humanity.
And just like that, we're already at the semifinal round for the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards. Time to find out which books got added, as if choosing just one from each category was not already hard enough.
I am beyond thrilled that Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom has been added to the Best Nonfiction category. I will be giving it my vote as this book deserves more attention than it has received.
Unfortunately, it is the only DSN that received enough write-in votes to be included, which means that all books that will be considered for a 2019 award have been chosen, and no more will be added. I suppose that is good news for the existing competition, which was already going to be tight given the books readers have to choose from. 2019 has been a stellar year as far as the quality of books that were published, let alone the sheer volume.
The semifinal round will remain open for voting through Sunday, November 17, with the final round opening the following Tuesday, November 19. Remember, in the final round, the number of books in each category gets cut by half, so make your voice heard so your favorites make it through.
After nearly eight years of writing for this blog, it is natural that I would have a still growing list of authors whose new releases I always get excited about. One of those authors is definitely Ruta Sepetys, and I am beyond excited to talk about her newest novel, The Fountains of Silence. Sepetys writes historical fiction for young adult readers, and this time she is tackling life in Spain under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
The Situation: It is 1957 in Madrid, Spain, and 18 year-old Daniel Matheson has joined his father and mother on a trip from their home in Dallas, Texas. Daniel loves photography, and is rarely seen without his camera. But as the son of an oil tycoon, there is considerable pressure for him to join the family business. While his father conducts business, and his mother plays the cheery socialite, Daniel is free to take pictures, and also get to know the pretty maid that has been assigned to his family at the hotel. Ana is funny, smart, good at her job, and also mysterious and careful. Daniel desires to take pictures of the real Madrid, and Ana is the perfect person to show it to him. But if Daniel is to stay out of trouble, he is going to have to take a cue from Ana and be careful, because in General Francisco Franco's regime, you never know who is watching.
The Problem: As Daniel and Ana get closer, there are many forces seemingly doing their best to keep them apart. On Daniel's side, he has his family, who would prefer he stay tied to a girl back in Texas as that relationship looks perfect, if only on paper. It also does not help that Mr. Matheson is less than supportive of Daniel's photography. For Ana, spending too much time with a hotel guest could mean termination, and she desperately needs this job. While Daniel may want for nothing, Ana knows only hard work and sacrifice, as do her brother, sister, and brother-in-law. Even her cousin works tirelessly as a volunteer in the local orphanage, which may hold more secrets than anyone can imagine. Franco's regime requires cooperation and obedience, and the punishment is severe for those who do not comply. Daniel must decide what pictures to take, and what part he wants to play in exposing the secrets of Madrid, while Ana holds onto secrets of her own.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult and historical fiction novel set mostly in Madrid, Spain in 1957. After the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco would rule over Spain for 36 years. This book takes place during his reign, and during a period when the U.S. was attempting to navigate a relationship with a country whose are ideals are incredibly different from its own. Daniel's family stays at the Castellana Hilton in Madrid, which was a real hotel, and is where he meets Ana, who works as a maid. This hotel will serve as the central meeting place for most of the characters, with other key events and actions taking place in and around Madrid. Sepetys became interested in the Spanish Civil War and the postwar period after reading an article about the hundreds of thousands of babies that were stolen under Franco's rule. Just as Ana and Daniel have their secrets - along with almost every other character in the novel - so does the country of Spain, and secrets only stay hidden if those involved decide to remain silent.
My Verdict: I fear I do not have adequate words to describe just how beautiful this book is. Sepetys is a crossover novelist for a reason. I may be an adult whose favorite genre is young adult, but I feel like many adults, and not just fans of historical fiction, will enjoy this book. The main characters may be teenagers, and yes, they do silly and foolish things as a result, but really, so do adults. And the adults in this book are not exactly shining examples of how people should act. These characters act like people attempting to operate in an atmosphere of secrecy, caution, and mistrust. There is a constant and often heavy suggestion of a threatening presence in 1957 Spain. Inside of the beautiful and grand hotel, and amidst the lovely Spanish people, architecture, and scenery, there is clear and near-constant turmoil that Franco would rather have his people smile through, while keeping their mouths shut. The threat feels real, as do the relationships, and the reality of the situation is given its proper attention. The drama is present, but not oppresive, and the tension keeps the reader interested and intrigued.
Favorite Moment: When Ana's brother Rafa gives an account of the tragic death of a close friend. It is a sad story, but it is beautifully told both because of Rafa's grief and the language used.
Favorite Character: Daniel's mentor Ben is a hot mess of a person, but he is good at his job, and is unending in his support of his young friend. I also like Miguel, the owner of a shop in Spain who develops all of Daniel's pictures.
Recommended Reading: I first fell in love with Sepetys' writing while reading her debut novel, Between Shades of Gray. I also recommend The Age of Disenchantments by Aaron Shulman, a nonfiction account of Spanish life under Franco.
It's here! One of the three reasons November is my second favorite month of the year has arrived. Readers everywhere have a chance to vote for their favorite books in the opening round of the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards. The competition is always fierce, and possibly more exciting, there is ample opportunity to discover more books and authors.
Naturally, I am always itching to see which DSNs made the cut. Each category only has 15 choices, which means there will certainly be a few favorites that are overlooked. So let's do this!
We jump right into the heat of it with the Best Fiction category, and wow, is this immeditaely difficult. So many DSNs to choose from: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, Normal People by Sally Rooney, Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (future DSN post), Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, and of course, The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. I have a strong feeling Atwood is going to take this one, and I am one who believes she should. The Testaments will certainly get my vote.
The next category is also a big one with four DSNs making an appearance in Best Historical Fiction. And choosing between The Huntress by Kate Quinn, Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly, The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, and Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is not easy. Honestly, if any of these won it would be well-deserved. I will give my vote to Daisy Jones & The Six, but I am sure The Nickel Boys will make a strong showing.
Only one DSN made it into the Best Science Fiction category, and it is Recursion by Blake Crouch (future DSN post). Time travel becomes a reality, though a dangerous one, and a powerful villain emerges that must be stopped, or it may result in the end of the world. What interested me in Crouch's novel was his approach to a common science fiction theme, something I am sure resonated with other readers as well.
For the category of Best Nonfiction, there is Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark, and American Predator (future DSN post) by Maureen Callahan, which both deal with true crime in some amount. Kilgariff and Hardstark are the hosts of the popular true crime podcast, My Favorite Murder, though their book is more memoir. American Predator follows the capture and investigation of a serial killer that many have never heard of, though his crimes are just as horrific as those that have become household names. Of the two, I will choose Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered, if only because of the humorous aspect.
Maid by Stephanie Lane and Sounds Like Titanic by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman have both been nominated for Best Memoir & Autobiography. Both are honest and informative, though Hindman's story is the kind that is almost too weird to believe. When I initially picked it up, I thought it was fiction, because the premise was that crazy. That alone makes me want to vote for it.
I can usually manage to pick one graphic novel at some point during the year that ends up being nominated for the Best Graphic Novels & Comics category. This year there are two to choose from, and they are both strong contenders. Both The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and Renée Nault, and Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks are great graphic novels. With that being said, I am choosing Pumpkinheads because it is just that delightful.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, and Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, both from the Best Fiction category, are up for consideration for Best Debut Novel. While Vuong's novel is more heartfelt, Queenie is both funny and endearing as it follows a young British Jamaican woman who is, quite honestly, a hot mess. But the humor is there, and it gets my vote.
And then there is Best Young Adult Fiction, always and forever my favorite category. And to choose from, I have Internment by Samira Ahmed, The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen, The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys (future DSN post), With the Fire in High by Elizabeth Acevedo, On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, and Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus. That's right, six YA books to choose from, and I can only pick one. Out of all of the YA books I have read this year, Thomas' On the Come Up still stands out among them all. I am sure it was difficult to adequately follow up the runaway train that was The Hate U Give, but I think Thomas did it.
Today, The Toll, Neal Shusterman's third installment in The Arc of the Scythe series, comes out. If I had a chance to read it before the voting for these awards began, then there would be two books for me to choose from in the Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction category. But since I have not picked up my copy yet, I will go ahead and vote for Finale by Stephanie Garber, which is the final entry in her Caraval series, and my personal favorite of all three books.
That makes 23 DSNs that Goodreads saw fit to consider the best of the best. The opening round of voting closes Sunday, November 10, with the semifinal round opening the following Tuesday, November 12. If the rounds operate the same as they have in years past, then there will be five more books added to each category for the next round of voting, so there will be even more competition, and more difficult decisions to be made.
So it is time to get voting, and I cannot wait to see which titles endure to the end.
It was just earlier this year that I covered the first two books in Tade Thompson's The Wormwood Trilogy, and now, seven months later, I have had the opportunity to read the third and final book, The Rosewater Redemption. Readers have the chance to find out what happens to Kaaro, Aminat, Femi, and of course, the alien species that has come to call the city of Rosewater home.
The Situation: After the insurrection, the city of Rosewater has become an even more chaotic place than it was before. Even though humans can be healed at a much quicker pace, chaos reigns, destruction and crime are constant, and not everyone is okay with the alien presence, which now calls itself Koriko. As real motives are uncovered, alliances seem to shift hourly, and no one is safe. Even the mayor's own household is not in agreement, as Jack Jacques is holding strong to the deal he made with the aliens, while his wife is openly challenging what they are doing. Some are convinced that Koriko, and by extension Wormwood, must be stopped, while others worship her as a god. The only thing that is clear is that something is coming, something big. And while Kaaro continues to declare that he is retired, he certainly still has a place in the conflict, as his skills are far too valuable for him to sit on the sidelines.
The Problem: The presence of an alien species is not the only issue Rosewater has to contend with. It also seems that Nigeria is not too keen on allowing Rosewater to be independent for long. The president enlists the help of one of Rosewater's best, but like everyone in the story, their alliance is questionable. Deals that were made in the past mean nothing, and those that appear to be on the same side may not actually be. Even Aminat, who works for the mayor on paper, is not sure what side she is really on, and what the repercussions of her current work, or the deal with the aliens, could be. As the city continues to unravel, and the already thin semblance of peace falls apart, the aliens' true intentions are revealed. Rosewater will need every resource it has to survive what is coming. Unfortunately, those resources do not get along, cannot agree, and may not even be powerful enough.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction book that closes out The Wormwood Trilogy, which began with Rosewater in 2016. What began as a city that sprung up around an seemingly benevolent alien presence, has become a nightmarish landscape full of chaos and crime. Fortunately, those that get hurt are instantly healed, and those that die are almost instantly brought back to life by Koriko. Naturally, the people of Rosewater are split on how they feel about their loved ones being brought back to life, especially if that means a completely different species inhabits the body. If this were the first book, the reader would almost exclusively be following Kaaro and how he is handling all of this. In the second book there was more focus on Aminat, Kaaro's lover. Now the mythical, though very real Oyin Da, or 'Bicycle Girl,' tells the story, though she insists she is the wrong person to do so. From her, the reader learns from the beginning that Rosewater is no more, and then the story jumps from person to person, group to group, as we learn how everything ended.
My Verdict: This is a hell of a way to end an already intense but fun experience. The story up to this point was already a crazy ride; this third entry becomes something else entirely. There are spots where things got confusing, especially as it could be hard to keep track of who is supposed to be aligned with who, and why they aren't aligned with someone else, or why they betrayed this other person who they were aligned with...it can be a lot to follow. But ultimately, Thompson brings it all together to the explosive conclusion. Oyin Da may protest having to be the one to tell the story, but she is the one that saw it all. Plus, having her tell the story gives a better picture of who she is. Questions from the previous books are answered, relationships are tested, and motives become clear, all to the backdrop of the fun but ugly mess that is the city of Rosewater.
Favorite Moment: When handwritten notebooks with important information are presented, with the defense that at least they cannot be hacked.
Favorite Character: I never thought I would say this, but Bad Fish ends up being my favorite. He may be trouble, but he is also smart and useful.
Recommended Reading: I am going back to the recommendation I made with the first book, which is the Binti series by Nnedi Okorafor.
The full title of today's selection by Maureen Callahan is American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century. It can sometimes be difficult to find true crime that is not discussing someone that we have already heard plenty about. What Callahan has done is painstakingly researched one of the most careful - and frightening - serial killers in America that most of us have never heard of.
