Winter is approaching and there’s not much better than curling up with a good book. The Library has plenty of new materials ready for you to check out (or put on hold) to keep you reading through the winter. Here are some of the new titles coming to The Library in December.
Looking forward to a movie night or prefer your novels in graphic form? Check out dcls.org/lists to see more genres and formats!
Fiction
Pandemic by Robin Cook
New York Times-bestselling author Robin Cook takes on the cutting-edge world of gene-modification in this pulse-pounding new medical thriller.
When an unidentified, seemingly healthy young woman collapses suddenly on the New York City subway and dies upon reaching the hospital, her case is an eerie reminder for veteran medical examiner Jack Stapleton of the 1918 flu pandemic. Jack autopsies the woman within hours of her demise and discovers some striking anomalies: first, that she has had a heart transplant, and second, that, against all odds, her DNA matches that of the transplanted heart.
Although the facts don’t add up to influenza, Jack must race against the clock to identify the woman and determine what kind of virus could wreak such havoc. Nothing makes sense until his investigation leads him into the fascinating realm of CRISPR/CAS9, a gene-editing biotechnology that’s captured the imagination of the medical community… and the attention of its most unethical members.
Siege of Stone by Terry Goodkind
Set in the world of the Sword of Truth saga, the ramifications of Terry Goodkind’s Shroud of Eternity extend throughout the Old World as familiar allies, dangerous magic, and creatures of twisted sorcery work at cross purposes to save or destroy Ildakar in Siege of Stone.
Nicci knows the battle won’t remain in the city; if she can’t stop this threat, two invincible armies will sweep across the Old World and destroy D’Hara itself.
The Enemy of my Enemy by W.E.B. Griffin
Special agent James Cronley Jr. finds that fighting both ex-Nazis and the Soviet NKGB can lead to strange bedfellows.
A month ago, Cronley captured two notorious Nazi war criminals, but not without leaving some dead bodies and outraged Austrian police in his wake. He’s been lying low ever since, but that little vacation is about to end. has broken the criminals out of jail, and he must track them down again.
But there’s more to it… Evidence has surfaced that in the war’s last gasps, Heinrich Himmler had stashed away a fortune to build a secret religion dedicated to Himmler and creating the Fourth Reich. That money is still out there in the hands of Odessa, and that infamous organization seems to have acquired a surprising and troubling ally.
Cronley is fast finding out that the phrase “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” can mean a lot of different things, and it’s not always clear who he can trust and who is out to kill him.
Broken Ground by Val McDermid
In McDermid’s Broken Ground, cold case detective Karen Pirie faces her hardest challenge yet.
Six feet under in a Highland peat bog lies Alice Somerville’s inheritance, buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But when Alice finally uncovers it, she finds an unwanted surprise – a body with a bullet hole between the eyes.
Meanwhile, DCI Pirie is called in to unravel a case where nothing is quite as it seems. And as she gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear that not everyone shares her desire for justice. Or even the idea of what justice is.
Deep War by David Poyer
After the United States suffers a devastating nuclear attack, Admiral Dan Lenson leads an allied force assigned to turn the tide of war in the Pacific, using precisely targeted missiles and high-tech weapons systems.
But as the campaign begins, the entire Allied military and defense network is compromised by Jade Emperor, a powerful Chinese artificial intelligence system that seems to anticipate and counter every move.
While Dan tries to salvage the battle plan, his wife, Blair, helps coordinate strategy in Washington, DC, Marine sergeant Hector Ramos fights in an invasion of Taiwan, and Navy SEAL master chief Teddy Oberg begins a journey into central China on a mission that may be the only way to save the U.S. from destruction and defeat.
Verses for the Dead by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
After an overhaul of leadership at the FBI’s New York field office, A. X. L. Pendergast is abruptly forced to accept an unthinkable condition of continued employment – the famously rogue agent must now work with a partner.
He and his new teammate, junior agent Coldmoon, are assigned to Miami Beach, where a rash of killings by a bloodthirsty psychopath are distinguished by a confounding M.O.: cutting out the hearts of his victims and leaving them – along with cryptic handwritten letters – at local gravestones, unconnected save in one bizarre way… all belonged to women who committed suicide.
As he digs deeper, he realizes the brutal new crimes may be just the tip of the iceberg – a conspiracy of death that reaches back decades.
In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin
Rebus’ retirement is disrupted once again when skeletal remains are identified as a private investigator who went missing over a decade earlier. The remains, found in a rusted car in the East Lothian woods, quickly turn into a cold case murder investigation. Rebus’ old friend, Siobhan Clarke is assigned to the case, but neither of them could have predicted what buried secrets the investigation will uncover.
Rebus remembers the original case – a shady land deal – all too well. After the investigation stalled, the family of the missing man accused the police of a cover-up. As Clarke and her team investigate the cold case murder, she soon learns a different side of her mentor, a side he would prefer to keep in the past.
The Three Secret Cities by Matthew Reilly
The thrilling new novel featuring Jack West, Jr. from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Matthew Reilly!
When Jack West, Jr. won the Great Games, he threw the four legendary kingdoms into turmoil. Now these dark forces are coming after Jack…in ruthless fashion.
With the end of all things rapidly approaching, Jack must find the Three Secret Cities, three incredible lost cities of legend. It’s an impossible task by any reckoning, but Jack must do it while he is being hunted…by the greatest hunters in history.
Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts
They look like an everyday family living an ordinary life. But beyond the edges of this peaceful farm, unimaginable forces of light and dark have been unleashed.
Fallon Swift, approaching her 13th birthday, barely knows the world that existed before – the city where her parents lived, now in ruins and reclaimed by nature since the Doom sickened and killed billions. Traveling anywhere is dangerous, as vicious gangs of Raiders and fanatics called Purity Warriors search for their next victim. Those like Fallon, in possession of gifts, are hunted… and the time is coming when her true nature, her identity as The One, can no longer be hidden.
In a mysterious shelter in the forest, her training is about to begin under the guidance of Mallick, whose skills have been honed over centuries. She will learn the old ways of healing, study and spar, encounter faeries and elves and shifters, and find powers within herself she never imagined. When the time is right, she will take up the sword and fight. Until she grows into the woman she was born to be, the world outside will never be whole again.
Legion: Lies of the Beholder by Brandon Sanderson
A genius of unrivaled aptitude, Stephen can learn any new skill, vocation, or art in a matter of hours. However, to contain all of this, his mind creates hallucinatory people – Stephen called them aspects – to hold and manifest the information. Wherever he goes, he is joined by a team of imaginary experts to give advice, interpretation, and explanation. He uses them to solve problems… for a price.
His brain is getting a little crowded and the aspects have a tendency of taking on lives of their own. When a company hires him to recover stolen property, Stephen finds himself in an adventure crossing oceans and fighting terrorists. What he discovers may upend the foundation of three major world religions – and, perhaps, give him a vital clue into the true nature of his aspects.
A Delicate Touch by Stuart Woods
When an old acquaintance reaches out to Stone Barrington requesting assistance, the job seems easy enough. She needs an expert in an esoteric field, someone with both the knowledge and careful dexterity to solve a puzzle. But the solution to one small problem blows the lid open on a bigger scandal that goes back decades… one that involves several prominent New Yorkers who would prefer the past stay buried.
With this explosive information in-hand, Stone Barrington is caught between a rock and a hard place, his only options are to play it safe to the detriment of others or to see justice done and risk fatal exposure. But when it comes to Stone Barrington, danger is usually just around the corner… so he may as well throw caution to the wind.
Nonfiction
This Is Cuba: An American Journalist Under Castro’s Shadow by David Ariosto
Fidel Castro is dead. Donald Trump was elected president. And to most outsiders, the fate of Cuba has never seemed more uncertain. Yet those who look close enough may recognize that signs of the next revolution are etched in plain view.
This is Cuba is a true story that begins in the summer of 2009 when a young American photojournalist is offered the chance of a lifetime – a two-year assignment in Havana.
For David Ariosto, the island is an intriguing new world, unmoored from the one he left behind. From neighboring military coups, suspected honey traps, salty spooks, and desperate migrants to dissidents, doctors, and Havana’s empty shelves, Ariosto uncovers the island’s subtle absurdities, its Cold War mystique, and the hopes of a people in the throes of transition.
Life in Cuba is indeed changing, as satellite dishes and internet hotspots dot the landscape and more Americans want in. The old sentries on both sides of the Florida Straits remain at their posts, fists clenched and guarding against the specter of a Cold War that never quite ended. And now, a crisis is brewing.
Ariosto looks at Cuba from the inside-out over the course of nine years, attempting to expose clues for what’s in store for the island as it undergoes its biggest change in more than half a century.
Avocaderia: Avocado Recipes for a Healthier, Happier Life by Alessandro Biggi, Francesco Brachetti, and Alberto Gramigni (Photography by Henry Hargreaves)
New York City’s buzzy all-avocado bar, Avocaderia, became an overnight success and instant global destination when it opened in early 2017 to a flurry of media attention and lines out the door. Avo-lovers come from all over the city – and the world – to sample the restaurant’s healthy and unique eats that are as beautiful as they are tasty.
For restaurateurs Alessandro Biggi, Francesco Brachetti, and Alberto Gramigni, the avocado isn’t just a superfood packed with nutrients and heart-healthy fat – it’s a versatile ingredient that gets people excited about eating well. Now readers can bring the Avocaderia experience home, whether it’s to make one of the restaurant’s signature dishes or to try their hand at inventive new offerings.
With flavor inspiration from around the world, this book offers super-delicious, clean-eating dishes that will take you beyond toast and guacamole to satisfy every craving.
Influenza: The hundred Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History by Dr. Jeremy Brown
While influenza is now often thought of as a common and mild disease, it still kills over 30,000 people in the US each year. Dr. Jeremy Brown, currently Director of Emergency Care Research at the National Institutes of Health, expounds on the flu’s deadly past to solve the mysteries that could protect us from the next outbreak. In Influenza, he talks with leading epidemiologists, policy makers, and the researcher who first sequenced the genetic building blocks of the original 1918 virus to offer both a comprehensive history and a roadmap for understanding what’s to come.
Dr. Brown digs into the discovery and resurrection of the flu virus in the frozen victims of the 1918 epidemic, as well as the bizarre remedies that once treated the disease. Influenza also breaks down the current dialogue surrounding the disease, explaining the controversy over vaccinations, antiviral drugs like Tamiflu, and the federal government’s role in preparing for pandemic outbreaks.
Never Grow Up by Jackie Chan
Everyone knows Jackie Chan. Whether it’s from Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, The Karate Kid, or Kung Fu Panda, Jackie is admired by generations of moviegoers for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and mind-bending stunts. In 2016—after fifty-six years in the industry, over 200 films, and many broken bones—he received an honorary Academy Award for his lifetime achievement in film. But at 64 years-old, Jackie is just getting started.
In Never Grow Up, the global superstar reflects on his early life, including his childhood at the China Drama Academy, his big breaks and setbacks in Hong Kong and Hollywood, his numerous brushes with death, and his life as a husband and father.
Jackie has never shied away from his mistakes. Since The Young Master in 1980, Jackie’s films have ended with a bloopers reel in which he stumbles over his lines, misses his mark, or crashes to the ground in a stunt gone south. In Never Grow Up, Jackie applies the same spirit of openness to his life, proving time and time again why he’s beloved the world over: he’s honest, funny, kind, brave beyond reckoning and—after all this time—still young at heart.
Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages by Gaston Dorren
English is the world language, except that most of the world doesn’t speak it – only one in five people does. Dorren calculates that to speak fluently with half of the world’s 7.4 billion people in their mother tongues, you would need to know no fewer than twenty languages.
He sets out to explore these top twenty world languages, which range from the familiar – French and Spanish – to the surprising – Malay, Swahili, and Bengali. Babel whisks the reader on a delightful journey to every continent of the world, tracing how these world languages rose to greatness while others fell away and showing how speakers today handle the foibles of their mother tongues.
Whether showcasing tongue-tying phonetics, elegant but complicated writing scripts, or mind-bending quirks of grammar, Babel vividly illustrates that mother tongues are like nations – each has its own customs and beliefs that seem as self-evident to those born into it as they are surprising to the outside world.
Witty, fascinating and utterly compelling, Babel will change the way you look at and listen to the world and how it speaks.
The Annotated Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant, edited with an introduction by Elizabeth S. Samet
One hundred and thirty-three years after its publication by Mark Twain, Elizabeth Samet has annotated this lavish edition of Grant’s landmark memoir and expands the Civil War backdrop against which this monumental American life is typically read.
No previous edition combines such a sweep of historical and cultural contexts with the literary authority that Samet, an English professor obsessed with Grant for decades, brings to the table.
This edition also breaks new ground in its attack on the “Lost Cause” revisionism that still distorts our national conversation about the legacy of the Civil War. Never has Grant’s transformation from tanner’s son to military leader been more insightfully and passionately explained than in this timely edition, appearing on the 150th anniversary of Grant’s 1868 presidential election.
Are U Ok?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health by Kati Morton
Everyone struggles with mental health issues from time to time, but the greatest level of misunderstanding comes from knowing the difference between mental health and mental illness, figuring out whether we need professional help and, if so, how to find it.
From finding the best therapist to navigating harmful and toxic relationships and everything in between, licensed marriage and family therapist and YouTube sensation Kati Morton clarifies and de-stigmatizes the struggles so many of us go through and encourages readers to reach out for help.
What are the red flags of a mental health issue? How do you go about making a first therapy appointment? How do you know if your therapist is a good fit for you? What are the best ways of talking about mental health with your family, friends and colleagues? There are so many questions and concerns. Are U Ok? informs and reminds us that we can get through the difficult times and we are never alone.
Congo Stories: Battling Five Centuries of Exploitation and Greed by John Prendergast & Fidel Bafilemba (Photography by Ryan Gosling)
John Prendergast co-writes a compelling book with Fidel Bafilemba revealing the way in which the people and resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo have been used throughout the last five centuries to build, develop, advance, and safeguard the United States and Europe. Congo Stories highlights the devastating price Congo has paid for that support.
The people of Congo are fighting back against a tidal wave of international exploitation and governmental oppression to make things better for their nation, their neighborhoods, and their families. They are risking their lives to resist and alter the status quo. And now, finally, there are human rights movements led by young people in the United States and Europe building solidarity with Congolese change-makers in support of dignity, justice, and equality for the Congolese people. As a result, the way the world deal with Congo is finally changing.
Congo Stories provides windows into the history, the people, the challenges, the possibilities, and the movements that could change the course of Congo’s destiny.
Where Did You Go?: A Life-Changing Journey to Connect with Those We’ve Lost by Christina Rasmussen
Christina Rasmussen, acclaimed grief educator, has helped countless people break out of the “waiting room” of grief and rebuild their lives through both her “life reentry” program and her respected book Second Firsts. Yet, she discovered that even as her students rebuild their lives and thrive again, many are left with the same burning questions: What happens when we die? Are we capable of connecting to those who have passed on?
Christina wrestled with these spiritual questions after losing her thirty-five-year-old husband to cancer. As a professional grounded in science, she was a skeptic who shied away from the conventional mystical, supernatural, and religious descriptions of the afterlife – but her loss, pain, and deep need to understand drove her to find answers about what really happens after we die.
With Where Did You Go? Christina reveals we can connect with our loved ones who have passed on and teaches us how to harness that power, so we can say the unsaid, discover peace in our own lives, and see a world in which we will all continue to exist beyond death.
Fiercely honest and practical, Where Did You Go? bridges the gap between the metaphysical and the measurable, changing the way we grieve, the way we live, and how we define our potential—in this life, and the hereafter.
We Do: Saying Yes to a Relationship of Depth, True Connection, and Enduring Love by Stan Tatkin
Committing fully to a loving partnership can be one of the most beautiful and fulfilling experiences you’ll ever have. Yet as anyone in a long-term relationship will tell you, it can also be one of the most challenging. Almost half of all first marriages end in divorce, and chances go down from there. So how do you beat the odds?
In We Do, Tatkin provides a groundbreaking guide for couples. You’ll figure out whether you and your partner are right for each other in the long term, and if so, give your relationship a strong foundation so you can enjoy a secure and lasting love.
Readers will learn to create a shared vision in their relationship, prevent problems before they occur, understand how to work with the psychological and biological influences in their relationship, reflect on healthy and unhealthy dialogue, learn to handle conflict and how to build a loving relationship that drives growth as individuals and as a couple.
Danielle Walker’s Eat What You Love: Everyday Comfort Food You Crave: Gluten Free, Dairy-Free, and Paleo Recipes by Danielle Walker
Beloved food blogger and New York Times best-selling author Danielle Walker is back with 125 recipes for comforting weeknight meals. This is the food you want to eat every day, made healthful and delicious with Danielle’s proven techniques for removing allergens without sacrificing flavor.
As a mother of three, Danielle knows how to get meals on the table quickly and easily. Featuring hearty dishes to start the day, on-the-go items for lunch, satisfying salads and sides, and healthy re-creations of comfort food classics, this collection of essential, allergen-free recipes will become the most-used cookbook on your shelf.
With meal plans and grocery lists, dozens of sheet-pan suppers and one-pot dishes, and an entire chapter devoted to make-ahead and freezer-friendly meals, following a grain-free and paleo diet just got a little easier.
This article was Authored by Christina Zeiders