The Lost Symbol
Author:  Dan Brown
Publisher:Anchor Books, a division of Random House
Publish Date: 2010
Pages: 639
ISBN No.: 978-1-4000-7914-8
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Sub Genre: Science Fiction
Reader’s Annotation:
A kidnapping, a severed hand, and a grotesquely tattooed man all add up to another Dan Brown thriller this time set in Washington, DC.
Summary: 
Robert Langdon arrives in Washington, DC  to give a lecture at the request of his old mentor, Peter Solomon, a longstanding Mason and noted philanthropist.  When he arrives at the U.S. Capitol for his lecture, he learns that Peter has been kidnapped and he finds his severed hand mounted on a wooden base, fingers pointing skyward to the Rotunda ceiling fresco of George Washington dressed in white robes ascending to heaven that has been left as a clue. Langdon investigates a plethora of other clues and there is an arch villain known as Mal'akh, a steroid-swollen, dreadfully tattooed, muscle-bodied madman, who is seeking the lost wisdom of the ages so he can rule the world. Joining Langdon in his search is Peter's younger sister, Kathleen, who has been conducting experiments in a secret museum and also offers a bit of a romantic interest. As Robert and Kathleen plunge headlong into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets the book in usual Brown fashion roars to an exciting conclusion.
Evaluation:  
The Lost Symbol keeps the reader interested and on the edge of their seat but it takes too long to reach the exciting conclusion after reading a whopping 639 pages.
Why I Would Include It:
Dan Brown has set this new thriller not in some far-off exotic locale, but right here in our nation's capitol which provides an exciting backdrop for those of us fascinated with Washington DC and its many landmarks.
Rating: 4

Murder in the Marais
Author:  Cara Black
Publisher: Soho Press
Publish Date: 1999
Pages:  354
ISBN No.: 978-1-56947-212-5
Genre:  Mystery/Crime
Sub Genre: Detective
Reader’s Annotation:
A standout first novel introduces the projected series of mysteries set in Paris in which we meet dauntless private investigator Aimee Leduc.
Summary:
In Cara Black's first installment in this series we are introduced to Aimee Leduc, a Parisian private investigator, who has always vowed to stick with what she loves and does best, computer investigation. Criminal cases  are not for her, especially since her father, the late police detective, was killed in the line of duty. It is 1993 and the French prime ministerial candidate is about to sign a treaty with Germany that will severely restrict immigrations, reminiscent of the Vichy laws.  Aimee is approached an elderly man, Soli Hect, to decipher a fifty-year-old encrypted photograph and place it in the hands of Lili Stein, a woman in his synagogue.  Upon arriving at the client's house in the Marais, the historic Jewish quarter of Paris, she finds the old woman strangled to death with a swastika carved on her forehead.with a top-secret decoding job on behalf of a woman in his synagogue, Aimee unwittingly takes on more than she was expecting. With the able assistance of her partner, Rene, a dwarf, with amazing computer hacking skills, Aimée sets out to solve this horrendous crime, but finds herself in an increasingly dangerous web of ancient secrets and buried war crime.
Evaluation:
When I discovered this series I thought what a find!  The reader can travel , exploring the sights and sounds of Paris and at the same time enjoy a good mystery.  Murder in the Marais is an excellent start to the series and sets the tone for the continuing saga of Aimee Leduc and her partner Rene. 
Why I Would Include It:
I would include this book and recommend the entire series for it is not only a great mystery read but gives the reader some insight into the different arrondisements in Paris.  This book is not a hard read but easy to get into and the characters are likable plus who could resist the backdrop of Paris. 
Rating: 4
Read Alikes:  A few in the Aimee Leduc series includes the following:
Murder in Belleville, Murder in the Sentier, Murder in the Bastille, and Murder in Clichy.

Sarah’s Key
Author:  Tatiana de Rosnay
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publish Date: 2007
Pages: 293
ISBN No.: 978-0-312-37084-8Genre:  Historical Fiction
Sub Genre:
Reader’s Annotation:
A mesmerizing portrait of France under occupation and the  overwhelming
consequences of a little girl's best intentions.
Summary:

It is July 1942 in Paris and the French police during the Vel' d'Hiv roundup forcefully arrest a ten year-old Parisian girl, Sarah Staryzynski, and her Jewish parents along with thousands of other Jewish families, holding them outside of Paris prior to shippping them off to Auschwitz.  Thinking that she will be back within a few hours and in plenty of time, she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment for his safety.  Fast forward to May 2002 and in Paris the  impending 60th anniversary of the Vel' d'Hiv is about to get underway when journalist, Julia Jarmond is asked to writer an article about this black day in France's past.  Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that link her to Sarah.  Julia finds herself drawn to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible time in the Vel' d'Hiv, to the camps and beyond.  As she probes into the past, she discovers a personal connection with this same  apartment formerly occupied by a family member.  She begins to re-evaluate her marriage and her life.
Evaluation:
I loved this book when I first read it a couple of years ago.  It was a real page turner for me and I could not have been happier when our Historical Fiction Group selected it for the book discussion.  As a student of history, I gravitate towards any book of a historical nature but especially this one as I have a personal connection with time in history and the Holocaust.
Why I Would Include It: 
This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in history and especially this period.  It is also an important book for there are those people who may have little knowledge of the Vel 'd'Hiv and its connection to the Holocaust.
Rating: 5

 Fall from Grace

Author:  Richard North Patterson

Publisher: Scribner, a division of Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: 2012
Pages: 278
ISBN No.: 978-1-4516-1705-4
Genre: Crime
Sub Genre: Legal Thriller
Reader’s Annotation:
The mysterious, violent death of a prominent New England patriarch exposes a nest of dark family secret.
Summary:
Adam Blaine arrives in Martha Vineyard's for the funeral of his estranged father, Ben Blaine, a famous and charismatic writer who has served as  patriarch of his clan.  The deceased has left behind a string of secret legal  and financial arrangements, not to mention an emotionally distraught widow and strangely aloof mistress, a beautiful television actress who once had a drug problem.  Ben had many mistresses during his 40 year marriage, however, at the time of his death, has left his 12 million dollar estate to his actress girlfriend. A one million dollar bequest was also given to Adam's old girlfriend, Jenny, an aspiring writer who lives on the Island. As soon as Adam arrives, he is thrust into the search for his father's killer. Using his training as a CIA operative, Blaine skillfully seeks to find the truth of his father's death, even if it means exposing one or more of his own family members as the killer and discovering secrets about himself that he was never supposed to know.  While there was no love between Adam and his father he finds himself sifting through the evidence to determine whether Ben Blaine's death was a fall from a cliff, an accident, suicide or murder. He must also find a way to help his disinherited mother and brother, while keeping one step ahead of the police, who are attempting to build a case against a family member. 
Evaluation:
In my opinion Richard North Patterson, a former trial lawyer, has written some terrific courtroom novels which I always enjoyed reading but then he veered away from the courtroom into war related genres which I did not care for and did not think were his forte.    His latter books became disappointing and unreadable. This book is an interesting psychological drama, however, it does not have any courtroom scenes, which is where Patterson as a writer stands out.
Why I Would Include It:
Any Richard North Patterson aficionado will enjoy this latest book and in general I think it would appeal to most mystery and crime readers and is not offensive to those who may want to avoid anything that is gory or bloody.
Rating: 5
Read Alikes:
Degree of Guilt by Richard North Patterson
Eyes of a Child by Richard North Patterson
In the Name of Honor by Richard North Paterson
The Litigators by John Grisham
The Firm by John Grisham

Unbroken
Author:  Lauren Hillenbrand
Publisher: Random House
Publish Date: 2010
Pages: 496
ISBN No.:  978-0-679-60375-7
Genre: Non Fiction,  Biography
Sub Genre: History
Reader’s Annotation:  
An inspiring true story of a man who lived through a series of catastrophes almost too incredible to believe.
Summary:
The enthralling and often grim story of Louie Zamperini, an Olympic runner during the 1930s, flew B-24s during WWII. Imprisoned by the Japanese, he endured a captivity harsh even by Japanese standards and was a physical and mental wreck at the end of the war. He was saved by the influence of Billy Graham, who inspired him to turn his life around, and afterward devoted himself to evangelical speeches and founding boys’ camps. Still alive at 93, Zamperini now works with those Japanese individuals and groups who accept responsibility for Japanese mistreatment of POWs and desire to see Japan and the U.S. reconciled. He submitted to 75 interviews with the author as well as contributing a large mass of personal records.
Evaluation: 
I truly enjoyed Unbroken and prior to this class I had given it as gifts so I decided to see why it was so popular and was not disappointed.  While this book is not for the faint of heart for it is very graphic and details the horrific beatings and mistreatment of the POW's, I marvel at their tenacity and will to survive and return home.  Excellent book and I would highly recommend it. 
Why I Would Include It:  
A lot of people read non fiction i.e. biographies and their popularity is evidenced by the fact that this book has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for 68 weeks. It would seem that there would be a demand for this book and as a reader's advisory librarian I would like to be informed of non fiction books in order to satisfy patrons' requests.  
Rating: 5

Fatal Embrace

Author:  Aris Whittier

Publisher: Five Star Trade
Publish Date: 2004
Pages: 273
ISBN No.: 978-1594141782
Genre: Romance
Sub Genre: Western, Mystery
Reader’s Annotation:
A serial killer raping and strangling women and a passionate romance are combined in this novel set in the contemporary west.  
Summary:
A high-spirited horse trainer, Jessica Stanson, stumbles across the perfect job on one of the most elite ranches in Montana. However, her boss, ex- detective Michael Carven poses a problem for he acts like he doesn't want her there. Jessica is determined to break through Carven's shell to get inside the man and prove herself to him on the ranch but she has taken on more than she bargained for.  A troubled man, Michael Carven, has left a difficult past behind him, and now works at the job of his dreams, raising horses under the Montana sky. Knowing that the past will catch up with him, it does sooner rather than later.  Nestled deep in the mountains of nearby Riverside, a small town, a wave of violence has hit, as a cunning serial killer preys on the population. While he struggles against it, Michael finds himself both drawn into the case and becoming attracted to his independent new trainer. To make the situation more complicated with a killer on the loose, his two worlds collide when Jessica becomes the only material witness in the case. Before it is over, Michael and Jessica will put everything they know and hold dear on the line to catch a vicious, cunning killer and to protect each other as well.
Evaluation: T
his was a better book that I expected it to be and I would recommend it.  It kept me interested and turning the pages.  It is one of those books that I was sorry to see end.  I really got to like the characters and was happy they finally got it together.
Why I Would Include It: 
If a reader likes a flavor of the west, horses, mystery and romance then this is the book.  It is a page turner and keeps the reader interested.
Rating: 4

The Constant Princess

Author:  Philipa Gregory

Publisher: Touchstone, a division of Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: 2005
Pages: 393
ISBN No.: 978-0-7432-7248-3
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub Genre: Romance
Reader’s Annotation:
The story of Katherine of Aragon and Henry VIII is a portrayal of splendor, intrigue, and betrayal as played out in the Tudor Court in the late fifteen century.
Summary:
The book is a first-person account of the life of Katherine of Aragon, wife of Henry VIII of England.  As the youngest daughter to the Spanish monarchs and crusaders King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Catalina, (Katherine's Spanish name) Princess of Wales and Spain, was promised to the English Prince Arthur when she was three. She leaves Spain at 15 to fulfill  her destiny as queen of England, where she finds true love with Arthur and they plot the future of their kingdom together. Arthur dies young, however, leaving Catalina a widow and ineligible for the throne.Before his death, he makes his wife promise that she will marry his younger brother Henry in order to become queen, have children and rule as they had planned.  This will only be successful as long as Catalina must denies that Arthur was ever her lover. Catalina uses all her feminine wiles to reclaim her rightful title.
Evaluation:
This fictionalized account was very well researched and beautifully written. The reader gets a glimpse into Catalina and her fiercely loyal personality. She was the daughter of two of history's most powerful monarchs and was a warrior queen herself.  This book makes one wonder how different our world would be today if only Arthur had lived, or if Katherine had a son who lived, or if Henry had been faithful to her. Of course, these are all what-ifs and a question as to how the past 500 years of Tudor impacted moments of European history remains.  The brutality and cruelty of this period of history is also a fascinating counterpoint to Katherine's piety and the pageantry of her reign.
Why I Would Include It:
I love anything "Tudor" and this Philippa Gregory is I think her best.  There have not been many books, to my knowledge, written about Katherine of Aragon and her story gives us a different perspective and another royal to become acquainted with.
Rating: 5
Read Alikes:  Other Philippa Gregory books for your reading pleasure: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Other Queen, The Virgin's Lover, and The Queen's Fool.

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