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Kristina's Reviews

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rubert Holmes

As a fan of quirky mysteries, I was unsure how Murder Your Employer by Robert Holmes would stack up. I mean Holmes is the man behind the viral “Pina Colada” song so it should be at least catchy. Filled with murder and mayhem, you follow three students at McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts where each student has a thesis to accomplish—to get away with murder. Filled with witty humor, Holmes knows how to turn a phrase and keep things rolling. If you enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club series, this book is for you. —Kristina

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Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide By Rupert Holmes Cover Image
$28.00
ISBN: 9781451648218
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster - February 21st, 2023

Written by Katherine Applegate Illustrated by Charles Santoso

Written in verse and inspired by a true story—much like Katherine Applegate’s earlier The One and Only IvanOdder weaves together the science of sea otter life with the marine animal rehabilitation efforts of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This heartwarming tale will instill empathy and keep nature-loving readers engaged and inspired. Living so close to the aquarium, one can’t help but feel an instant connection to this story.

—KRISTINA

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Odder By Katherine Applegate, Charles Santoso (Illustrator) Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781250147424
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Feiwel & Friends - September 20th, 2022

Plant Coach: The Beginner’s Guide to Caring for Plants and the Planet by Nick Cutsumpas

“They will not look perfect 100 percent all the time…. Yellow leaves happen.” The perfectionist in me appreciates Nick Cutsumpas’s reassuring words in his debut plant guide, Plant Coach. This book is more than just “how to keep your plants alive, one method fits all”; it is filled with the kind of encouragement that all plant parents need. Part guide, part ode to sustainability, and an excellent part of any plant lover’s library. 
—KRISTINA

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Plant Coach: The Beginner's Guide to Caring for Plants and the Planet By Nick Cutsumpas Cover Image
$24.99
ISBN: 9781419758638
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Abrams Image - October 18th, 2022

Bloom: Flowering Plants for Indoors and Balconies by Lauren Camilleri & Sophia Kaplan

You don’t need a yard to have an inspired collection of blooming plants; just look to Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan, the creative plant geniuses behind the interior design nursery Leaf Supply. Bloom is their beautifully styled plant guide, celebrating flowering plants that grow happily indoors and on small balconies. The tips and tricks on growing and the styling ideas will inspire even the most novice green thumb.
—KRISTINA 

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Bloom: Flowering Plants for Indoors and Balconies By Lauren Camilleri, Sophia Kaplan Cover Image
$40.00
ISBN: 9781922417855
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Smith Street Books - October 4th, 2022

Life Is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way by Kieran Setiya

In Life is Hard, Kieran Setiya puts truth and reality on the table: There is no cure for the human condition. Endless happiness and living your best life are unrealistic. With relatable anecdotes, humor, and bite-sized portions of philosophy, readers will feel seen and understood as Setiya navigates topics like failure, grief, and loneliness. This is not a step-by-step guide but an opportunity to reexamine your own life from a different perspective.

—KRISTINA

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Life Is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way By Kieran Setiya Cover Image
$27.00
ISBN: 9780593538210
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Riverhead Books - October 4th, 2022

Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World by Karen Armstrong

“Recycling and political protests are not enough,” Karen Armstrong urges in her new book Sacred Nature. Instead of delving into another technological way to stave off climate change, Armstrong explores humanity's broken bond with the natural world. Each chapter examines different ancient philosophies and their reverence for the natural world and how reconnecting with the sacredness of nature will drive our society to view nature not as a separate entity, but as something that is entirely within us.

—KRISTINA

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Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World By Karen Armstrong Cover Image
$28.00
ISBN: 9780593319437
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Knopf - September 6th, 2022

The Wild Year by Kristyna Baczynski

If you are the type of person who goes on nature hikes only to stop and examine the different types of plants along the way, then this book is for you. The Wild Year melds together plant information, folklore, and foraging into one colorful and beautifully illustrated travel companion. Author Kristyna Baczynski is also a comic book artist and her drawings add a lighthearted and fun element to this guide. A great gift for yourself or the nature lovers in your life.

—KRISTINA

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The Wild Year: A Field Guide for Exploring Nature All Around Us By Kristyna Baczynski Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780593538364
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: TarcherPerigee - October 11th, 2022

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries by Agatha Christie & Twelve Other Authors

As a lover of Agatha Christie books, it is hard to imagine anyone, let alone twelve different authors, stepping into her shoes to write of the timeless character Jane Marple. However, the curse of the ensemble cast does not apply here. Some stories feel more modern in tone, but the key components remain—Jane Marple’s matter-of-fact attitude and last-minute reveals in this book would make Agatha Christie herself proud. There is only one Queen of Crime, but Marple brings Christie’s legacy to life.
—KRISTINA
 

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

If you are looking for a book that scores high for originality, this is your book. Sunyi Dean’s debut novel, The Book Eaters, is a morally complex contemporary gothic fantasy novel that feels like a fresh twist on the vampire story. The chapters alternate between Devon’s past and present life highlighting generational trauma and the driving forces that push people to do the unimaginable. Dean’s storytelling will leave you questioning—what truly defines a monster? —Kristina

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The Book Eaters By Sunyi Dean Cover Image
$26.99
ISBN: 9781250810182
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Tor Books - August 2nd, 2022

A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Myers

Take the atmospheric details of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and mix it with a cast of character personalities from a Jane Austen novel and what do you get? A satisfyingly creepy, Victorian era gothic mystery that is—A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Myers. Myers creates a riveting page turner with enough plot twists that keep you guessing till the end. A perfect read for the autumn months ahead. —Kristina

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A Dreadful Splendor: A Novel By B.R. Myers Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9780063209831
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: William Morrow Paperbacks - August 23rd, 2022

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