The Cartographers
I love when a book has an intriguing plot and teaches me something new. I knew little to nothing about cartography and was fascinated as I read The Cartographers by Peng Shepard. In a way, it reminded me of The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb in the sense that it is a mystery plotline centered around a complex art form. With a dash of magical realism, I was swept away in the world of maps and hidden worlds. I really enjoyed this one!
Synopsis: Nell Young has followed in her father's cartographer footsteps who is a legend in the field. After a falling out, Nell goes years without speaking to her father, until he is found dead in his New York Public Library office. Nell finds an old, what she thought was forgotten map, in his possession that leads her to the truth behind his death.
Thief River Falls
A thriller about an author set in northern Minnesota? Sign me up! Thief River Falls had everything I love about a good psychological thriller: atmospheric setting, creepy book turned reality plotline, an unpredictable twist and midwest setting to boot! I'm usually not a "story within a story" kind of girl, but Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman did it for me.
Synopsis: Lisa Power is the bestselling author of Thief River Falls, named after her rural Minnesota hometown. One evening, Lisa finds a lost boy at her doorstep who seems to be running from someone dangerous. Lisa becomes obsessed with keeping the boy safe and away from danger. She soon finds herself living out the plotline of her bestselling novel.
The Attic Child
I read The Attic Child by Lola Jaye back in January, but my review was lost in the shuffle during the Harper Collins strike. I am actually surprised I haven't seen more of this book around because it was really good and gave us lots to talk about in the buddy read I participated in. The story is told from two perspectives with dual timelines, but both stories center around the same attic where both characters endured intense trauma. The writing is beautiful and the stories weave into each other in a way that leaves you breathless. There are some trigger warnings with this one including racism, slavery, abuse, etc.
Synopsis: Two children trapped in the same attic, almost a century apart, are bound by their shared secret. In the early 1900s, a young boy is taken from his mother in their African homeland to live with an English explorer and re-named Celestine. As years pass, he pines for his family and resents the man who took him away, until that man dies and he finds himself in a life of slavery, banished to the dark attic. In 1974, Lowra finds herself trapped in the same attic by her horrible stepmother and uncovers messages carved in the walls and hidden by Celestine.
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