This month’s choices:
Fiction
The Tainted Cup
By Robert Jackson Bennett
The fantasy genre should be my thing. I’m a big fan of its cousin, science fiction, and I appreciate the complex task of world-building that fantasy often relies on.
And yet—it’s never been my thing. I’ve spoken on panels at conventions more than once with the current king of fantasy, Brandon Sanderson—he was a very nice guy—but even that did not give me the bug.
So it was a little out of my comfort zone when I took on Robert Jackson Bennett’s “The Tainted Cup.” And, for the sake of full disclosure, I only picked it up because the description said it combined fantasy with a “Holmes and Watson” murder mystery. Oh, and supposedly the first murder was caused by a tree sprouting out of a man’s body.
You don’t see that everyday.
I read it.
I loved it. In fact, I’ll be reading the sequel, which just dropped.
Yes, “The Tainted Cup” is fantasy. Yes, it’s also a murder mystery. And yes, if you enjoy either of those, you’ll probably love this clever tale that introduces you to a world you’ll want to read about again and again.
More importantly, you’ll love the characters: Ana Dolabra, the eccentric (to say the least) investigator, and her trusty assistant, Dinios (Din) Kol.
Highly recommended. Find your copy here.
Non-Fiction
True crime has exploded in popularity over the last ten years, and with fascinating books like this, you can see why.
For years, California was terrorized by a rapist and murdered who, at first, was identified by multiple nicknames—mostly because people didn’t know it was the same killer.
Crime journalist Michelle McNamara decided it was time to track down this guy and expose him, once and for all. She coined the name that most of us know today: The Golden State Killer.
Reporting on her website, TrueCrimeDiary.com, McNamara scoured police reports and interviewed some of the victims. Even she admitted that this case was an obsession for her.
And all the hard work paid off. Sadly, however, she didn’t get to see justice served during her lifetime. McNamara died in 2016, two years before the killer was finally identified, tried, and sent to prison.
The book won numerous awards and was the basis of the acclaimed six-part documentary on HBO.
If you’ve thought about dipping your toe into true crime, this New York Times bestseller would be a terrific place to start.
Find your copy here.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
By Michelle McNamara
Last Month’s Picks
The Road
By Cormac McCarthey
A father, a son, and a post-apocalyptic world that will mesmerize you.
The Anthropocene Reviewed
By John Green
You may have enjoyed his fiction, but Green’s fun and fascinating review of the real world is delightful.
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Happy reading!