EBookClubs

Read Books & Download eBooks Full Online

EBookClubs

Read Books & Download eBooks Full Online

Book The Trouble with Midnight

    Book Details:
  • Author : Sue Ann Jaffarian
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2014-07-08
  • ISBN : 0738743984
  • Pages : 735 pages

Download or read book The Trouble with Midnight written by Sue Ann Jaffarian and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2014-07-08 with total page 735 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What do a plus-sized paralegal, an assistant librarian, and a struggling ski-resort owner have in common? They all have an uncanny talent for getting caught up in solving mysteries. This collection of three first-in-a-series mystery novels is full of trouble . . . in all the right ways. Too Big to Miss Sue Ann Jaffarian Book 1 of the Odelia Grey Mysteries Plus-size paralegal Odelia Grey struggles with her relationships, her crazy family, and her crazier boss. And then there’s her knack for being in close proximity to dead people . . . “I’d love to spend more time with Odelia, a plus-size fat liberationist with a handsome, wheelchair-bound lover.”—The New York Times May Day Jess Lourey Book 1 of the Murder-By-Month Mysteries A hip, humorous, and gripping account of small-town murder, this novel features Mira James, an assistant librarian and aspiring sleuth who can’t seem to stop finding dead bodies in her new home of Battle Lake, Minnesota. “Hilarious, fast-paced, and madcap.”—Booklist (starred review) Tainted Mountain Shannon Baker Book 1 of the Nora Abbott Mysteries Nora Abbott’s recent court victory to save her ski resort should mean good times are ahead. But when her husband’s sudden death becomes an opportunity for an energy tycoon to launch a hostile takeover, Nora is caught in a clash between big business and native culture. “As mysterious and beautiful as the Arizona landscape in which it’s set.”—William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author

Book Ink

    Ink

    Book Details:
  • Author : Alice Broadway
  • Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
  • Release : 2018-01-02
  • ISBN : 1338197002
  • Pages : 263 pages

Download or read book Ink written by Alice Broadway and published by Scholastic Inc.. This book was released on 2018-01-02 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A deliciously dark, gorgeously written YA mystery that'll prickle your skin . . . and leave a permanent mark. There are no secrets in Saintstone.From the second you're born, every achievement, every failing, every significant moment are all immortalized on your skin. There are honorable marks that let people know you're trustworthy. And shameful tattoos that announce you as a traitor. After her father dies, Leora finds solace in the fact that his skin tells a wonderful story. That is, until she glimpses a mark on the back of his neck . . . the symbol of the worst crime a person can commit in Saintstone. Leora knows it has to be a mistake, but before she can do anything about it, the horrifying secret gets out, jeopardizing her father's legacy . . . and Leora's life.In her startlingly prescient debut, Alice Broadway shines a light on the dangerous lengths we go to make our world feel orderly--even when the truth refuses to stay within the lines. This rich, lyrical fantasy with echoes of Orwell is unlike anything you've ever read, a tale guaranteed to get under your skin . . .

Book Midnight Ink

    Book Details:
  • Author : Carrie Ann Ryan
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 2013-11-19
  • ISBN : 9781623220778
  • Pages : 552 pages

Download or read book Midnight Ink written by Carrie Ann Ryan and published by . This book was released on 2013-11-19 with total page 552 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One tattoo shop in one infamous city sets the stage for eight brand new stories about resolutions, kink, love and ink. Let the good times roll!

Book 19 Souls

    Book Details:
  • Author : J.D. Allen
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2018-02-08
  • ISBN : 0738754501
  • Pages : 270 pages

Download or read book 19 Souls written by J.D. Allen and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2018-02-08 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "That wonderful and rare combination of high-speed suspense and complex, richly drawn characters will keep you on the edge of your seat."—Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author Her bloody finger left a translucent smear on the phone screen as she glanced through the list of private investigators in Vegas. Her stained nail came to rest on Sin City Investigations. Jim Bean would serve her well. Private investigator Jim Bean is a straightforward, to-the-point man. He likes his cases to follow suit. But when his latest client, Sophie Evers, asks him to find her brother Daniel, Jim has no idea how complicated his life is about to become. As he falls deep into a manipulative game of cat and mouse, Jim uncovers the horrible truth about Sophie. Now he must set things right before her plan leads to the loss of innocent souls . . . even more than it already has. Praise: "19 Souls is one terrific read. With a great plot, engaging characters, and a crackling voice, this book has everything. I dare you to put it down after you start reading."—John Gilstrap, New York Times bestselling author "The setup is so good, and the characters so hard to look away from...All in all, a fine thriller."—Booklist "Twisty, authentic, and constantly surprising! JD Allen nails her debut with this top-notch thriller—it's gritty, smart and irresistible."—Hank Phillippi Ryan, nationally bestselling author "Overall, a must read for thriller fans and perhaps the best PI story we have read this year so far."—Mystery Tribune "Her plotting and pacing will keep you up long after Proust and Henry James have rocked you to sleep. Stay tuned for a series that promises many, many more troubled dreams."—Kirkus Reviews "Bean's inner and outer dialogue is quick, snappy, and authentic to the profession. The pace is earnest, as leads, tips, and information eventually congeal into answers; final pages are highly suspenseful and dramatic. 19 Souls introduces a memorable PI, grappling with a past he's not reconciled to."—Foreword Reviews "This is an unflinchingly gritty tale, wonderfully written and wholly satisfying."—Bolo Books

Book Weycombe

    Book Details:
  • Author : G.M. Malliet
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2017-10-08
  • ISBN : 0738754951
  • Pages : 291 pages

Download or read book Weycombe written by G.M. Malliet and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2017-10-08 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To those on the outside, Weycombe is perfect. For those on the inside, the cost of perfection is deadly. Living in the gated, wealthy village of Weycombe with her titled English husband is a fantasy come true for American Jillian White. But the murder of a local estate agent mars the so-pretty surface of her life and home. Worried about a killer on the loose, Jill tries to piece together clues hidden in the many versions of truth she hears from her suspicious neighbors. As Jill plunges deep into the investigation, her own suspicions grow into a warped web of lies and treachery. From award-winning author G.M. Malliet comes a gripping psychological tale of murder and deception in which few can be trusted and nothing is as perfect as it seems. Praise: "Weycombe is a well written mystery with lots of suspense and an interesting plot with twists and turns."—ParrySound.com

Book Murder at Midnight

    Book Details:
  • Author : C.S. Challinor
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2014-08-08
  • ISBN : 0738740020
  • Pages : 144 pages

Download or read book Murder at Midnight written by C.S. Challinor and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2014-08-08 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When barrister Rex Graves and his fiancée Helen d'Arcy host a New Year's Eve party at Gleneagle Lodge, friends and colleagues alike enjoy the evening with drinks flowing freely. Despite the oncoming storm, unlucky number of guests, and argument over long-lost treasure, Rex has high hopes that it will be a memorable and murder-free night of celebration. But as the clock strikes midnight and the power goes out, Ken and Catriona Fraser are found dead. Suspecting they were murdered for money or revenge, Rex starts to investigate. Will his formidable intellect and detection skills be enough to uncover the culprit? Praise: "A classic country-house mystery, with modern day twists and turns adding to the fun."—Booklist "What could be better for Agatha Christie whodunit fans than an old-fashioned, Scottish country house murder on New Year's Eve?"—Mystery Scene "Murder at Midnight will delight all cozy and Agatha Christie fans. C.S. creates devilishly complex characters keeping the reader on edge until the final page...C.S.'s best work to date."—Suspense Magazine

Book Last Call

    Book Details:
  • Author : Paula Matter
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2018-07-08
  • ISBN : 0738757926
  • Pages : 247 pages

Download or read book Last Call written by Paula Matter and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2018-07-08 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On a bad day at work, bartender Maggie Lewis would love to kill a customer or two. On a very bad day, she's accused of doing just that. Suspended from her job at a Florida VFW after being set up for the murder of Korean war veteran Jack Hoffman, Maggie has no intention of letting herself be framed. And since the police have yet to arrest anybody for the last major crime in town—the murder of Maggie's husband—she's sure they won't try too hard this time, either. So Maggie must produce enough evidence to clear her name, get her job back, and find the killer before she ends up behind the wrong kind of bars. All in a day's work for a bartender who can't hold her beer, her tongue, or her temper. Praise: "A heroine who's not only feisty, but sometimes downright funny as well."—Kirkus Reviews "Raise your glass to Paula Matter for creating Maggie, a positively intoxicating bartender in North DeSoto, Florida."—Nancy Martin, author of the Blackbird Sisters Mysteries "You will love Paula Matter's delightful debut mystery. Her misfit heroine will win your heart and keep you guessing."—Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder on Union Square "Fans of Terry Shames, Bill Crider, and Steven F. Havill will want to get to know Maggie."—Booklist "Matter sprinkles in lots of clues, some of which appear to be laying the ground for Maggie's next outing. Curious readers will look forward to her further adventures."—Publishers Weekly "Smart, funny. You'll want to run a tab."—Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author of You'll Never Know, Dear "[Maggie] will break your heart and have you laughing out loud!"—Annette Dashofy, USA Today bestselling author of the Zoe Chambers Mysteries

Book All Signs Point to Murder

    Book Details:
  • Author : Connie di Marco
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2017-08-08
  • ISBN : 0738751782
  • Pages : 270 pages

Download or read book All Signs Point to Murder written by Connie di Marco and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2017-08-08 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The stars predict a wedding-day disaster, but San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti never expected murder. Julia Bonatti is alarmed by the astrological signs looming over Geneva Leary's wedding day, but nobody asked Julia's opinion and being a bridesmaid means supporting the bride no matter what. Even with the foreboding Moon-Mars-Pluto lineup in the heavens, no one's prepared for the catastrophes that strike: a no-show sister, a passed-out wedding planner, and a lethal shooting in the dead of night. With anger and grief threatening to tear the Leary family apart, Julia is determined to understand how such a terrible tragedy could have occurred. As she digs deeper into the family's secrets, her astrological insights lead her to some rather unexpected conclusions. Praise: "Di Marco crafts an intricate, twisting plot and layers on the astrological details that fans of psychic mysteries so enjoy."—Booklist

Book As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles

Download or read book As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles written by Leslie Budewitz and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2018-06-08 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Budewitz's finely drawn characters, sharp ear for dialogue, and well-paced puzzle make Jewel Bay a destination for every cozy fan."—Kirkus Reviews "Clean-as-a-whistle dialogue, endearing characters, and a solid plot make this cozy a winner."—Publishers Weekly "Cozy readers will relish the small-town,Christmastime frame accompanying details of frenzied wedding planning and running a family food business. And, of course, recipes, too."—Booklist Erin is one smart cookie, but can she keep the holiday spirit—and herself—alive till Christmas? In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy's Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily has turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin. When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he's been robbed, fingers point to Merrily—until she's found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer—and keep herself in one piece—in time for a special Christmas Eve? Includes delicious recipes! Praise for the Food Lovers' Village Mysteries: "A lighthearted and amusing story with the added bonus of several yummy recipes."—Mystery Scene "Treble at the Jam Fest has all the necessary elements to satisfy cozy mystery lovers: likeable, believable characters, a fast-moving plot, and a logical ending. Great fun!"—Suspense Magazine "A pleasing read with a thoughtful heroine, a plethora of red herrings, and some foodie tips."—Kirkus Reviews "A delicious mystery as richly constructed as the layers of a buttery pastry. Wine, enchiladas, and song make for a gourmet treat in the coziest town in Montana!"—Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries "Leslie is a fellow foodie who loves a good mystery and it shows in this delightful tale!"—Cleo Coyle, New York Times bestselling author of the Coffeehouse Mysteries "Music, food, scenery, and a cast of appealing characters weave together in perfect harmony in Leslie Budewitz's latest book."—Sheila Connolly, author of the Orchard Mysteries and the County Cork Mysteries

Book Hollywood Homicide

    Book Details:
  • Author : Kellye Garrett
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2017-08-08
  • ISBN : 0738753009
  • Pages : 263 pages

Download or read book Hollywood Homicide written by Kellye Garrett and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2017-08-08 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the 2018 Anthony Award for Best First Novel Winner of the 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel Also a Lefty Award Winner and a Barry Award-Nominated Title The Surprise Hit of the Season! Actress Dayna Anderson's Deadly New Role: Homicide Detective Dayna Anderson doesn't set out to solve a murder. All the semifamous, mega-broke actress wants is to help her parents keep their house. So after witnessing a deadly hit-and-run, she pursues the fifteen grand reward. But Dayna soon finds herself doing a full-on investigation, wanting more than just money—she wants justice for the victim. She chases down leads at paparazzi hot spots, celeb homes, and movie premieres, loving every second of it—until someone tries to kill her. And there are no second takes in real life. Praise: "[A] winning first novel and series launch...Garrett writes with humor and insight about the Hollywood scene. Readers will look forward to Day's further adventures."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A smart, sassy debut, introducing an appealing protagonist with amusing friends."—Library Journal (starred review) and Debut of the Month "Veteran TV writer Garrett uses her Cold Case experience to inform her debut, which sets up more than one charming character and isn't afraid to go cynical on all things LA."—Kirkus Reviews "Funny, lively characters populate this new Detective by Day series...this will be an entertaining entry into the amateur sleuth genre."—RT Book Reviews "Fun, smart, endearingly flawed, and impressively determined, Dayna Anderson is a heroine readers will fall in love with...I relished every unexpected twist and turn of this highly entertaining mystery!"—Kyra Davis, New York Times bestselling author

Book The Final Vow

    Book Details:
  • Author : Amanda Flower
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2017-05-08
  • ISBN : 0738751839
  • Pages : 223 pages

Download or read book The Final Vow written by Amanda Flower and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2017-05-08 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Summer weddings at Barton Farm's picturesque church were standard procedure for museum director Kelsey Cambridge—until the Cherry Foundation, which supports the museum, ordered Kelsey to host her ex-husband's wedding on Farm grounds. Ambitious wedding planner Vianna Pine is determined to make the bride's Civil War-themed wedding perfect. But each time Vianna's vision threatens the integrity and safety of the Farm, Kelsey has to intervene. And when she finds Vianna's dead body at the foot of the church steps, everyone's plans fall apart. With both the wedding and Barton Farm at risk of being permanently shut down, Kelsey has to work hard to save her own happily ever after. Praise: "Flower's third features less history, more romance, and a stronger mystery than its predecessors."—Kirkus Reviews "A solid mystery."—Akron Beacon Journal

Book Under the Shadows

    Book Details:
  • Author : Gwen Florio
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2018-03-08
  • ISBN : 0738753947
  • Pages : 285 pages

Download or read book Under the Shadows written by Gwen Florio and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2018-03-08 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Florio's flawed, complex, compelling heroine faces challenges that are both gut-wrenchingly difficult and all too common today...Far above the crowd."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Grief has nearly consumed journalist Lola Wicks, but her latest assignment leads to a darkness she may never escape. Lola Wicks is in bad shape—a family tragedy has nearly broken her in a way that her years reporting from war zones never did. Her friends, alarmed by signs that Lola is in the grip of a destructive addiction, hope that a freelance assignment will get her back on her feet. Only the threat of having her child removed persuades Lola to head to Salt Lake City to work on a puff piece about overseas adoptions. But the assignment takes a dark turn when the teenager at the center of her story lands in jail facing a murder charge. Setting out to prove the youth's innocence takes Lola to her own dark place, and she's not sure if she'll ever be able to find her way back. Praise for the Lola Wicks Mysteries: "Compelling, realistically flawed characters and a timely story line...make this one of Florio's hardest-hitting mysteries yet."—Library Journal (starred review) "A gutsy series."—The New York Times "Florio captures the culture and poverty on reservations still suffering from greed and mismanagement in a ripped-from-the-headlines story with a shocking ending."—Kirkus Reviews

Book March of Crime

    Book Details:
  • Author : Jess Lourey
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2017-09-08
  • ISBN : 0738753351
  • Pages : 208 pages

Download or read book March of Crime written by Jess Lourey and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2017-09-08 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Dolled-Up Disaster Ida Gilbertson of the Battle Lake Senior Sunset nursing home has a new hobby: crafting life-sized dolls and displaying them around town. Budding PI Mira James finds the dolls creepy enough on their own, but when she's forced to sit next to one and discovers a human corpse under the hat and wig, it becomes personal. Police Chief Gary Wohnt is all too eager to pin the blame on Mira. So when her sleuthing gives him the perfect excuse to lock her up, it's up to Mayor Kennie Rogers and Mrs. Berns to help her out. Racing against the clock, Mira must unmask the murderer before she either becomes a jailbird or the next dolled-up victim. Praise: "Earthy language, quirky suspects, and much related tomfoolery for those who like their comic mayhem painted in broad strokes."—Kirkus Reviews

Book Upstaged by Murder

    Book Details:
  • Author : C.S. Challinor
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2018-07-08
  • ISBN : 0738756687
  • Pages : 182 pages

Download or read book Upstaged by Murder written by C.S. Challinor and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2018-07-08 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Challinor, who often modernizes and repurposes golden-age mystery ploys, this time takes the further step of recruiting the stars of those classic novels to help solve the case."—Kirkus Reviews "Fans—and there are many—will be shouting, 'Bravo!'"—Booklist A flawless murder is performed on stage, but it's no act Rex Graves and his new wife, Helen, attend the opening night of a play in which five famous literary sleuths of a bygone era are invited to Pinegrove Hall to solve the mystery of a missing heirloom. When the heroine meets with a sinister end, the audience applauds, unaware that the real drama has only just begun. As a Scottish barrister and private detective, Rex is called upon to help discover who among the cast and crew staged the death of the beautiful young actress. But this challenging mystery has unexpected complications waiting in the wings, and Rex must use all his skills to unmask the true culprit. Praise for the Rex Graves Mysteries: "Satisfying...Smooth prose will keep cozy fans turning the pages."—Publishers Weekly "Nicely mixes procedural detail and village charm and will appeal to fans of Deborah Crombie and Anne Cleeland."—Booklist "C.S. creates devilishly complex characters, keeping the reader on edge until the final page."—Suspense Magazine

Book Cherry Scones   Broken Bones

Download or read book Cherry Scones Broken Bones written by Darci Hannah and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2019-06-08 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the Cherry Orchard Inn, "Cherry scones to die for" turns out to be all too true Tainted by a recent murder, the Cherry Orchard Inn is struggling to attract guests—until celebrated portrait painter Silvia Lumiere books a room for the summer. Whitney Bloom, the inn's new manager, can't believe her good luck. Between her scrumptious cherry scones and the painter's remarkable talent, the inn swiftly becomes the center of the Cherry Cove art scene. However, all is not the bowl of cherries it appears. There's a rotten core in the portrait painter that only Whitney and her friends can see. And just as Whitney's baking skills and patience are pushed to their limits, another death occurs at the inn. With all fingers pointing at her, Whitney realizes it will take all her cherry-tastic talents to bake her way out of this one. Includes recipes!

Book House  Tree  Person

    Book Details:
  • Author : Catriona McPherson
  • Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
  • Release : 2017-09-08
  • ISBN : 0738753068
  • Pages : 272 pages

Download or read book House Tree Person written by Catriona McPherson and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2017-09-08 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "An unnerving and suspenseful novel, House. Tree. Person. is McPherson's best yet."—Karin Slaughter, New York Times and international bestselling author The body found in a muddy grave across the street is just the latest horror threatening to tear Ali McGovern's life apart seam by seam. She knows Angelo, her brooding teenage son, is keeping secrets. She fears he's in danger, too. But her new job at the psychiatric hospital, the job her husband pushed her into, is using up everything she's got every day. She can try to ignore the sounds that surely can't really be there. And she can try to trust the doctors, who can't be as dark as they seem. But can Ali hold herself, her life, and her family together without getting blood on her hands? Praise: "McPherson is a master of creating psychological tension and doubts about the motives of her characters...The clever way McPherson reveals each hint of the truth makes this a one-sitting read."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "McPherson keeps the suspense level high."—Publishers Weekly "[An] intricate, deeply claustrophobic story."—Entertainment Weekly in an "A" review "A body unearthed by rains on the abbey grounds further pulls Ali's family into the dark mystery...and draws Ali to the brink of her own sanity. This is Scottish author McPherson's sixth stand-alone novel. She's been a finalist for both the Agatha Christie and Mary Higgins Clark award. No wonder."—Star Tribune

Book The Question of the Felonious Friend

Download or read book The Question of the Felonious Friend written by E. J. Copperman and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2016-09-08 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Is Richard Handy really my friend?" It's been one year, two weeks, and three days since Samuel Hoenig opened the doors of Questions Answered. The personality traits of his Asperger's Syndrome help him maintain objectivity—a critical component of his business's continuing success. But when Tyler Clayton, a young man who also has Asperger's, asks if a store clerk is truly his friend, Samuel, for the first time, can't bear to give an objective answer. It's a dicey situation that only gets worse when one of the key players ends up dead. Resolving to do the right thing, Samuel, with help from his associate Ms. Washburn, wades into the murky waters of friendship, and the answer he finds may be a revelation to himself most of all. Praise: "The investigation is entertaining, but the cleverness of this book is its treatment of the personality disorder, which manages to be funny and at the same time accurate and respectful."—Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine "Samuel Hoenig...takes on a real puzzler in Copperman and Cohen's winning third Asperger's mystery."—Publishers Weekly "The ways of the neurotypical continue to perplex this unusual protagonist, much to the delight of readers of all cognitive stripes."—Kirkus Reviews