AUBURN — Some new acquisitions for January at the Auburn Public Library have been announced.

Fiction

“To Have and to Kill: a Wedding Cake Mystery,” Mary Jane Clark. This first in a new series introduces 27-year-old down-on-her-luck former soap actress Piper Donovan, who has returned to Hillswood, N.J., to work in the family bakery. Piper is helping to prepare the wedding cake for her friend and soap super star Glenna Brooks when the cyanide murder of Glenna’s co-star threatens to derail the whole affair.

“The Sentry,” Robert Crais. Former cop/mercenary Joe Pike and his partner Elvis Cole work on a case to break up the gang shakedown of a sandwich shop. Refugee shop owner Dru Rayne is not as innocent as she seems, and the tough job negotiating a truce leads to a thrilling caper.

“Red Garden,” Alice Hoffman. 200 years of history in the rural town of Blackwell, Massachusetts comes to life in a series of linked stories reaching from colonial days to the present. Hallie Brady creates the first garden in the town’s unusual red soil and against the backdrop of generations, the likes of Johnny Appleseed and Emily Dickenson pass through.

“Damage,” John Lescroat. Homicide detective Abe Glitsky returns to work with newly appointed San Francisco District Attorney Wes Farrell to help nail convicted rapist and murderer Ro Curtlee. Curlee has been granted a new trial due to his wealthy family’s influence.

Nonfiction

“Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption,” Laura Hillenbrand. The author of Seabiscuit provides an account of the epic battle of wills between a remarkable American POW and the notorious sadist who was his jailer.

“Decoded,” Jay-Z. He’s no ordinary rapper, and this unique blend of art, poetry, and reflection is no ordinary memoir. But it does provide glimpses into how the former Shawn Carter escaped the projects to become a global media superstar.

“Cleopatra: A Life,” Stacy Schiff. Cleopatra rose to become a major power player in a world violently dominated by men, but the nature of her achievements has been obscured over the ages by myth and slander. This biography sets the record straight.

“I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections,” Nora Ephron. Ephron still feels bad about her neck, but she feels even worse about her memory. But  the sharp wit in which she couches the wisdom she can recall remains undiminished.

“At Home: A Short History of Private Life,” Bill Bryson. Bryson applies his skills as a travel writer to a unique subject: the houses people call home (in his case, a rural British parsonage) and the forgotten domestic history that gave them shape.

“Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1,” Mark Twain. The multifaceted nature of Twain’s genius and personality are on display in this kaleidoscopic memoir, now published in full for the first time, at his direction, 100 years after his death.

Teens

“Freefall,” Scott Mindi. Seth McCoy picks up his best friend for a party but never suspects that he would see his friend dead of alcohol poisoning that same night. Seth decides to turn his life around for the better and then he meets Rosetta, a beautiful girl who has problems of her own.

“Dead Girl in Love,” Linda Joy Singleton. Amber is a Temp Lifer — with the help of her (dead) grandmother, she is able to step into the lives (and body) of people who need her help. Her new assignment is Alyce, who just happens to be Amber’s best friend.

“Instructions”, written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Charles Vess. You will leave your home and travel through a fantasy land full of instructions you must follow. Some are easy to follow, some scary and some make sense. At the end of the story you will end up where everyone else does.

“Karma Bites,” Stacy Kramer. Fanny’s life is changed when she finds her grandmother’s old recipe box. At first, the magical box helps Fanny in many ways, but she soon discovers that messing with the universe can be bad karma.

Children’s

“Masters of Disaster,” Gary Paulsen. Henry is convinced that he and his friends, Riley and Reed, are the most boring 12-year-olds on the planet. In an attempt to liven things up, the boys undertake a series of over-the-top adventures. Exploding science experiments, breaking world records, bull riding, and solving a 100-year-old murder are a few of the adventures chronicled in the book. Best for kids in grades four through six.

“Forge,” Laurie Halse Anderson. Anderson follows the story of Curzon in this sequel to her award winning book, “Chains.” The novel follows Curzon as he joins the Patriots at the battle of Saratoga. Not only must Curzon fight the British, he must also fight for his personal freedom. Ages 10 years and up.

“Stanley’s Little Sister,” Linda Bailey. For cat and dog lovers alike, the picture book follows Stanley the dog’s attempts to befriend his new “sister,” Fluffy the cat. The book presents a dog’s eye view of the world. Best for children age 3 to 6.

“Will it be a Baby Brother?,” Eve Bunting. Will the new baby be a boy? That is what a young boy awaiting the arrival of his new sibling believes he wants more than anything. But when Mom and Dad come home with his new baby sister, he realizes she is just perfect. A read for children expecting the arrival of a new sibling. Best for children age 2 to 6.

“Don’t Want to Go!,” Shirley Hughes. Mom is sick with the flu and Dad has to work. Who will take care of Lily? Shirley Hughes captures the moods of preschooler, Lily, who must be taken to the sitters for the day. Best for children age 2 to 6.