Fiction:

“The Empty Glass,” by J.I. Baker. In the early hours of August 5, 1962 Los Angeles County deputy coroner Ben Fitzgerald arrives at the home of the world’s most famous actress who is dead in bed still clutching her phone. He discovers Marilyn’s diary,“The Book of Secrets,” in which she describes her doomed love affair with a powerful man she calls “The General.” Ben soon becomes a target of the powerful people trying to cover up the death.

“Close Your Eyes,” by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen. Music therapist Kendra Michaels is in high demand by law enforcement agencies from across the country for her acute powers of observation and analysis. Blind for the first 20 years of her life, she remains able to detect subtle changes in sound, smell and touch. Manipulative FBI agent Adam Lynch enlists Kendra to help reveal the fate of her ex, agent Robert Stedler, who is missing and may have become the victim of a serial killer.

“Fireproof,” by Alex Kava. Special agent Maggie O’Dell returns in a gripping action-packed thriller as she leads the search for a supposed serial arsonist who is lighting up Washington, D.C. Maggie discovers a calculating and controlled criminal behind the fires.

“Criminal,” a novel by Karin Slaughter. Will Trent, a star agent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, is passed over by his supervisor Amanda Wagner on the prime case of a missing college student. Will doesn’t understand why but the answer lies buried 40 years before, the same year he was born and the same year that Amanda joined the Atlanta Police Department. Now the case that launched Amanda’s career has come back to life and it is tied to the mystery of Will’s origins.

“Black List,” a thriller by Brad Thor. Somewhere deeply buried in the United States government is a list of names only the president and a secret team of advisers get to see. Once on the list, your name doesn’t come off until you are dead. Someone has just added counterterrorist Scot Harvath’s name and he must evade the team dispatched to kill him until he can determine who has targeted him. The fate of America from a planned terrorist attack hangs in the balance.

Nonfiction:

“Island Practice: Cobblestone Rash, Underground Tom, and Other Adventures of a Nantucket Doctor,” by Pam Belluck. Belluck, a writer for the New York Times, introduces Dr. Timothy Lepore, an eccentric jack-of-all-trades practicing in Nantucket. Filled with Lepore’s remarkable cases and his unique methods (e.g., if a patient tries to leave the hospital against medical advice, he “just takes their pants away”) the book is a riot.

“Bunch of Amateurs: A Search for the American Character,” by Jack Hitt. Tinkerers will delight in this entertaining story of those who fiddle in the garage in pursuit of a new product. Journalist Jack Hitt provides a guide through the sometimes-consequential, sometimes-zany realm of amateurs, including one trying to splice a fish’s glow-in-the-dark gene into common yogurt. A fun read.

“Price of Inequality: How Today’s Divided Society Endangers Our Future,” by Joseph Stiglitz. The top 1 percent of Americans control 40 percent of the nation’s wealth. Economist Joseph E. Stiglitz argues that moneyed interests compound their wealth by stifling true capitalism and have made America the most unequal advanced industrial country while crippling growth. A compelling and believable argument.

“Slouching Toward Adulthood: Observations from the Not-so-empty Nest,” by Sally Koslow. Millions of American parents sit down to dinner, wondering why fully grown children are joining them. Journalist Sally Koslow uses humor and honest self-reflection to give voice to the issues of prolonged dependency. A hopeful book for all parents wondering when their kids will take the leap.

“Buried in the Sky: The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2’s Deadliest Day,” by Peter Zuckerman. At once a gripping, white-knuckled adventure and a rich exploration of Sherpa customs and culture, “Buried in the Sky” re-creates one of the most dramatic catastrophes on K2 from a new perspective. The Sherpa people are an ethnic group in eastern Nepal who have been the guides for most Himalayan expeditions.

Young adult:

“The Witch and the Wizard: The Fire,” by James Patterson. Whit and Wisty Allgood have sacrificed everything to lead the resistance against the merciless totalitarian regime that governs their world. Its supreme leader, The One Who Is The One, has banned everything they hold dear: books, music, art, and imagination. Wisty knows that the time has finally come for her to face The One. But her fight and her fire only channel more power to this already invincible being. In this stunning climax of the epic Witch & Wizard series, the stakes have never been higher-and the consequences will change everything.

“A Confusion of Princes,” by Garth Nix. You’d think being a prince in a vast intergalactic empire would be about as good as it gets, particularly when princes are faster, smarter and stronger than normal humans. But it isn’t as great as it sounds. Every prince wants to become emperor, and the surest way to do so is to kill, dishonor, or sideline any potential competitor. There are rules, but as Khemri discovers, rules can be bent and even broken. Soon Khemri is drawn into the hidden workings of the empire and dispatched on a secret mission. In the ruins of space battle he meets a young woman called Raine, who challenges his view of the empire, of princes, and of himself.

“Hemlock,” by Kathleen Peacock. Lupine syndrome — also known as the werewolf virus — is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control. Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

“Until I Die,” by Amy Plum. I wish there was only today, just right now, and no forever. It seems fitting that I fell in love in Paris, the most beautiful city in the world. And if I pretend, I can almost believe that my life is normal and everyone I care about is safe. But as long as I’m with Vincent, “normal” doesn’t exist. Gorgeous, charming, and witty, he’s everything you could ask for in a boyfriend – except mortality.

“Havoc,” by Chris Wooding. Seth finally managed to escape the terrifying comic book world of Malice, but he left his best friend Kady there. Now he must go back and rescue her. But can he find a way back in? Kady has her own worries. She’s trying to reach Havoc, a group of rebel kids plotting to destroy Tall Jake, the evil ruler of Malice. But somebody is watching the comic and can see what everyone is up to. Is there no way to escape?

Childrens:

“Daisy Dawson on the Farm,” by Steve Voake. With the hot summer weather, the animals on the farm are getting grumpy. Luckily or them Daisy Dawson is on the job. Daisy with her gift for talking to animals is able to save the day and restore harmony to the farm. Another charming entry into this popular beginning chapter book series for first- through third-graders.

“Who was Elvis Presley?,” by Geoff Edgers. Another entry in the popular biography series for children “Who was..?? From his humble beginnings in Tupelo, Miss., this book introduces children to the life and times of Elvis Presley. From gospel music to blue suede shoes and the advent of rock and roll, Elvis changed the face of music in America. Black and white illustrations add to the appeal of this interesting biography of the King of Rock and Roll. Grades 3 though 6.

“Bink & Gollie: Two for One,” by Kate Dicamillio. Bink and Gollie are back for another fun-filled adventure, this time at the state fair. These two intrepid best friends must work together as they explore the wonders of the state fair. Colorful illustrations by Tony Fucile add to the fun of this book for newly independent readers. Grades 1-2

“Bon Appetit! The delicious Life of Julia Child,” by Jessie Hartland. This quirky, picture book biography captures the essence of the indomitable chef Julia Child for children. A great introductory biography and also a fun read. The book is filled with humorous details about one of the most famous and vibrant chefs in modern times. This book is written for children in grades 2 through 6 but it will appeal to anyone interested in the life of Julia Child.

“Cinderella Smith: the More the Merrier,” by Stephanie Barden. Cinderella and her best friend Erin are busy studying for the class spelling bee. So what if “vexylent” – a combination of very and excellent isn’t a word. The winner of the bee gets to choose the theme for the class party. Young readers will enjoy Cinderella’s efforts to win the spelling bee and deal with a bit of classroom meanness. Ages 8-12.