This Month in Adult Books: March 2024

Reading recommendations for adults
March 13, 2024
Featured Title
Book cover with a dark blue background and illustrations of different plants and the title, “A Short Walk Through a Wild World” written in white text over the center of the cover.A Short Walk Through A Wild World by Douglas Westerbeke
In 1885 Paris, nine year old Aubry Tourvel falls ill at the dinner table and the only cure is constant movement. She can stay in no place longer than 3 days or visit the same place twice. So begins the journey of a lifetime, traveling the world, discovering both joy and heartbreak. From Paris to Vladivostok, to the peaks of the Himalayas, across oceans, and into caverns of extensive hidden libraries, It’s a journey of incredible loneliness, a search for meaning, full of improbable friendships and amazing wonders. It’s a great choice for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or The Life of Pi or anyone who enjoys a great story.
 


What's New This Month
Cozy mystery readers have a treat coming this April with How To Solve Your Own Murder, a debut from Kristen Perrin. In 1965, a fortune teller predicts Frances will be murdered and sure enough she is—decades later. She leaves a will stating the first person to solve her murder will inherit her very wealthy estate. Coming from a more experienced author is What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan in which a young woman vanishes on a trip with her boyfriend—the one she intended to break up with. The resulting media storm risks obscuring the truth of what actually happened.
 
Nonfiction readers and basketball fans will want to check out Hanif Abdurraqib’s There’s Always This Year, an exploration of the game which has played such an important role in his his life. Booklist calls it “a galvanic drive through the intricacies of family, community, belief, and dreams.” The Wives by Simone Gorrindo is a debut memoir about the good, the bad and the ugly of being a military spouse. It’s a beautifully written look at found family.  
What's Hot This Month
Would you like your reading to explore strange new worlds? Check out these great space operas!  
What We Are Reading
Book cover with a photo of a house with a light on in the window with the title, "Murder in the Family" written in white text across the top of the cover.Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter
This book jumps on a couple of recent trends—telling stories through documents or transcripts and the popularity of true crime podcasts and documentaries. Here we have the transcripts, behind the scenes emails, voicemails, and texts from those involved in a multi-episode true crime documentary examining a sensational unsolved murder from 20 years ago. Everyone involved has a connection to the case—the director was the stepson of the victim, a panelist was an investigating officer, another a journalist covering the case, to share a few examples. They’ve come together to reinvestigate everything and hopefully crack the case. But remember, this is television, so there’s not just an investigation--there’s got to be drama! Indeed, almost every episode/chapter ends on a shocking cliffhanger. It’s a very enjoyable adventure of a read that will have you gasping in delight at several of the reveals. At the same time, it is a very self-aware book that skewers the true crime and thriller genre. Definitely a solid choice for anyone who reads either, and of course, mystery readers too.
 
 
For More Reading Suggestions: