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THE ALICE BEHIND WONDERLAND, by Simon Winchester

March 31, 2011

POETIC, CHARMING LITTLE reverie on the most famous photograph by “Lewis Carroll” of his girl-muse Alice Liddell.

Grade: B PLUS

THE ALICE BEHIND WONDERLAND
Oxford University Press
2011

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FOURTH DAY, by Zoƫ Sharp

March 30, 2011

TENSE, COMPLEX THRILLER, the 8th to feature elite security agent Charlie Fox, finds her taking on a deadly cult.

Grade: B PLUS

FOURTH DAY
Pegasus
2011

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THE LAST BROTHER, by Nathacha Appanah

March 29, 2011

LUMINOUS MEDITATION on love and loss, war and peace, traces friendship of a Mauritian boy and a Holocaust exile.

Grade: B PLUS

The Last Brother
Graywolf Press
2010

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A LONELY DEATH, by Charles Todd

March 28, 2011

THE PAST IS PRESENT in an atmospheric mystery featuring an English detective literally haunted by World War I.

Grade: SOLID B

A LONELY DEATH
HarperCollins
2011

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THE HOUSE OF DISCARDED DREAMS, by Ekaterina Sedia

March 27, 2011

GRACEFUL, ADAGIO PROSE and a memorable heroine in this tale of a young scientist’s Alice-in-Wonderland life.

Grade: B PLUS

THE HOUSE OF DISCARDED DREAMS
Prime
2010

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ANTIQUES KNOCK-OFF, by Barbara Allan

March 26, 2011

CHARMING COZY MYSTERY, fifth in a series for mother/daughter antiquer sleuths. Complex plot, cute characters.

Grade: B PLUS

ANTIQUES KNOCK-OFF
Kensington
2011

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THE METROPOLIS CASE, by Matthew Gallaway

March 25, 2011

THE GREAT AMERICAN Opera Novel is sprawling, sensual, erudite, campy, and not for everyone–just like opera!

Grade: B PLUS

THE METROPOLIS CASE
Crown
2010

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THE KENKEN KILLINGS, by Parnell Hall

March 24, 2011

THE DELIGHTFULLY CANTANKEROUS Puzzle Lady is back in her 12th mystery. Lots of fun, as ever, and a strong plot.

Grade: B PLUS

THE KENKEN KILLINGS
St. Martin's/Minotaur
2011

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FALLING APART IN ONE PIECE, by Stacy Morrison

March 23, 2011

CANDID, UPBEAT MEMOIR of divorce from a women’s magazine editor surprised by her husband’s choice to leave.

Grade: SOLID B

FALLING APART IN ONE PIECE: ONE OPTIMIST'S JOURNEY THROUGH THE HELL OF DIVORCE
Simon and Schuster
2010

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WORLD’S GREATEST SLEUTH, by Steve Hockensmith

March 22, 2011

YEE-HAW! THE HOLMES on the Range boys vs. rival detectives at Chicago’s 1893 Exposition. Lots of thrills here!

Grade: A MINUS

WORLD'S GREATEST SLEUTH! A HOLMES ON THE RANGE MYSTERY
St. Martin's/Minotaur
2011

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