The working bookstore for the reading class.

Staff Favorites

Where the Craydads Sing, Delia Owens

Rumors of the "Marsh Girl" living in the swamps of North Carolina have forever haunted the small town of Barkley Cove. When the town's golden boy, Chase Andrews, is found dead, Kya Clark, the so-called "Marsh Girl", immediately becomes the primary suspect. Unfortunately, Kya is not at all what she seems. As a kind and intelligent girl, she has managed to survive on her own for years. Yearning for love, Kya befriends local inhabitants and ultimately finds two men intrigued by her wild beauty. When the unthinkable happens, Kya depends on the marsh to protect her.

Where the Crawdads Sing is a book with memorable characters that you cheer for and will stick with you long after the book is over. While on the surface it may seem disturbing, there is a feel-good quality that made it a pleasure to read. I truly enjoyed this book and finished it in two days! Tatum Fichthorn

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock , Imogen Hermes Gowar

In 1785, a London merchant anxiously awaits the return of his trading vessel. Hoping for a ship laden with riches from the Far East, he is aghast when his captain finally appears with the news that he has sold Jonah’s ship in exchange for something more precious - a mermaid! Jonah is stunned—the object is brown and wizened, as small as an infant, with vicious teeth and claws, and a torso that ends in the tail of a fish. It is also dead.

What follows is a delicious, bawdy tale, an adventure and a love story that completely captures the imagination. In her unique voice, the author explores the dreams we make and the dreams we chase and the dreams that can betray us. A great story! Robin Harvey

Red, White, Blue, Lea Carpenter

Red, White, Blue is an intricate, fiercely intelligent and beautifully written novel that explores the murky world of the CIA and the moral minefields that face those who work in secret to protect the country. In brief chapters the story of Noel, brilliant, charming and one-time spy, unfolds through the alternating voices of Anna, his daughter, and an unnamed protégé. Piece by piece, Carpenter brilliantly assembles a complex story of divided loyalties, broken promises, and the struggle to find meaning and love in a compromised world. An amazing book! Sheila Daley