Sirius Fiction
Insights into some of the new books at the library.
Published: 7/6/2026
Written by: Sarah Nathe
The Dog Days of summer have been warm this year. Not as hot and humid and they are in much of the rest of the country, but doggier than usual. Add to the meteorological extremes the grim situations in many parts of the world, and this troubling period could really get a thinking person down. But the Mendocino Community Library has the perfect remedy for anyone seeking a little relief from the heaviness: escape into new fiction, mysteries, and even non-fiction.
“Little Wonder” by Sophie Chen Keller transports the reader to Northeastern China, where Song, a lowly food delivery worker, and her son, River, a young piano prodigy, travel to Beijing so he can study with a famous teacher. In the chaos of Beijing Railway Station on the busiest day of the year, she loses her grip on River’s hand and must begin a years-long search through modern Beijing to find him.
In a detour from her mystery novels, Ayelet Waldman journeys back to nineteenth century England for “A Perfect Hand,” a richly drawn and amusing tale of love and subterfuge between a lady’s maid and her clandestine lover. Alice Lockey, daughter of a tenant farmer, has raised herself to a comparatively lofty status at Alderwick Park. When a visitor’s valet catches her eye, she begins to understand the realities of her position.
The title of Colm Tóibín’s new story collection, “The News from Dublin,” promises a tour of old stomping grounds, and reconnection with earlier characters, but the news is not from Dublin. The stories explore what it means, and how it feels, to live removed from home, from loved ones, from the past. Grief and moral complications abound in the nine tales that travel from Argentina to Barcelona to a boarding school in County Wexford.
Similar themes can be found in “The Top of the World,” by Ethan Joella, as it follows Maggie Bishop, just graduated from high school and grappling with the death of her older brother, Chip, who left home mysteriously last summer after being diagnosed with a fatal disease. Maggie’s search for him and for answers leads her to a mountaintop resort in the Poconos, where she learns about her brother’s final days and connects with the people whose lives he touched.
Daniel Mason’s new novel, “Country People,” is much lighter. It centers on Miles Krzelewski, a devoted husband and father who is 12 years behind on his PhD in Russian folktales, and his wife Kate, an accomplished academic. When she accepts a visiting professorship at a prestigious Vermont college, the family moves from California to the remote village of Greensbury. Vermont. Instead of finishing his dissertation, Miles gets immersed in the eccentric community and its quirky characters. Mendonesians will chuckle with recognition.
This one is completely, shockingly different, but worth reading. “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump” will suck readers right out of their summer reveries. By Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan, it is a detailed, behind-the-scenes account of Donald Trump’s second presidency, one marked by risk-taking, instinct-driven decisions, and expanded executive power. Trump’s prior legal challenges, convictions, and four years of political exile made him more vengeful and audacious, his pathology enabled by the sycophants around him.
At a time like this we need some of the very spirit that is celebrated in “Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution,” by Denise Kernan. History has always celebrated the Founding Fathers, yet we rarely hear of the women who kept the colonies running and liberty alive. On the battlefield and the printing press, from the plantations to the pulpit, these women fought, spied, published, preached, and organized.
After those two books, mysteries and perfect crime novels offer alternative realities. With
“Cool Machine” Colson Whitehead completes his Harlem Trilogy. In 1981, New York City is emerging from financial ruin and decline, and up in Harlem, successful business owner/master fence Ray Carney’s beloved wife Elizabeth can’t get a loan for her new travel agency. Carney gambles on one last heist, and finds himself entangled with a legendary criminal mastermind.
If you root for Carney, you might be in the mood to root for Jill and Ted in Shari Lapena’s “Getting Away with Murder.” When Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved New York brownstone and cushy lifestyle? The death of one wealthy family member—from whom they stand to inherit millions—could solve all their problems.
The upright among us can resist an “Invitation to Murder,” but Carol Floriani’s debut mystery will have us all wondering who didn’t. Lacey Langdon’s party planning business is threatened when the body of a town councilman is found at its opening ceremony. She is caught up in the investigation when remnants of a family tragedy resurface. Her family!
The 16th and final installment in Paul Doiron’s Mike Bowditch Mysteries series, “Storm Tide” is set in the rugged Maine wilderness and blends procedural investigation with personal danger. Game warden Bowditch must deal with two related murders—of vicious criminals who escaped justice. Who is now orchestrating their executions?
While away these torpid dog day afternoons with these, and many other, new books from the library. The Mendocino Community Library is open four days a week: Monday from 10 to 5; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10-2. Visit our web page (https://www.mendocinocommunitylibrary.org/) to learn about becoming a member or to find any item in our collection. Follow our new Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MendoCommunityLibrary
Written by: Sarah Nathe
The Dog Days of summer have been warm this year. Not as hot and humid and they are in much of the rest of the country, but doggier than usual. Add to the meteorological extremes the grim situations in many parts of the world, and this troubling period could really get a thinking person down. But the Mendocino Community Library has the perfect remedy for anyone seeking a little relief from the heaviness: escape into new fiction, mysteries, and even non-fiction.
“Little Wonder” by Sophie Chen Keller transports the reader to Northeastern China, where Song, a lowly food delivery worker, and her son, River, a young piano prodigy, travel to Beijing so he can study with a famous teacher. In the chaos of Beijing Railway Station on the busiest day of the year, she loses her grip on River’s hand and must begin a years-long search through modern Beijing to find him.
In a detour from her mystery novels, Ayelet Waldman journeys back to nineteenth century England for “A Perfect Hand,” a richly drawn and amusing tale of love and subterfuge between a lady’s maid and her clandestine lover. Alice Lockey, daughter of a tenant farmer, has raised herself to a comparatively lofty status at Alderwick Park. When a visitor’s valet catches her eye, she begins to understand the realities of her position.
The title of Colm Tóibín’s new story collection, “The News from Dublin,” promises a tour of old stomping grounds, and reconnection with earlier characters, but the news is not from Dublin. The stories explore what it means, and how it feels, to live removed from home, from loved ones, from the past. Grief and moral complications abound in the nine tales that travel from Argentina to Barcelona to a boarding school in County Wexford.
Similar themes can be found in “The Top of the World,” by Ethan Joella, as it follows Maggie Bishop, just graduated from high school and grappling with the death of her older brother, Chip, who left home mysteriously last summer after being diagnosed with a fatal disease. Maggie’s search for him and for answers leads her to a mountaintop resort in the Poconos, where she learns about her brother’s final days and connects with the people whose lives he touched.
Daniel Mason’s new novel, “Country People,” is much lighter. It centers on Miles Krzelewski, a devoted husband and father who is 12 years behind on his PhD in Russian folktales, and his wife Kate, an accomplished academic. When she accepts a visiting professorship at a prestigious Vermont college, the family moves from California to the remote village of Greensbury. Vermont. Instead of finishing his dissertation, Miles gets immersed in the eccentric community and its quirky characters. Mendonesians will chuckle with recognition.
This one is completely, shockingly different, but worth reading. “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump” will suck readers right out of their summer reveries. By Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan, it is a detailed, behind-the-scenes account of Donald Trump’s second presidency, one marked by risk-taking, instinct-driven decisions, and expanded executive power. Trump’s prior legal challenges, convictions, and four years of political exile made him more vengeful and audacious, his pathology enabled by the sycophants around him.
At a time like this we need some of the very spirit that is celebrated in “Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution,” by Denise Kernan. History has always celebrated the Founding Fathers, yet we rarely hear of the women who kept the colonies running and liberty alive. On the battlefield and the printing press, from the plantations to the pulpit, these women fought, spied, published, preached, and organized.
After those two books, mysteries and perfect crime novels offer alternative realities. With
“Cool Machine” Colson Whitehead completes his Harlem Trilogy. In 1981, New York City is emerging from financial ruin and decline, and up in Harlem, successful business owner/master fence Ray Carney’s beloved wife Elizabeth can’t get a loan for her new travel agency. Carney gambles on one last heist, and finds himself entangled with a legendary criminal mastermind.
If you root for Carney, you might be in the mood to root for Jill and Ted in Shari Lapena’s “Getting Away with Murder.” When Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved New York brownstone and cushy lifestyle? The death of one wealthy family member—from whom they stand to inherit millions—could solve all their problems.
The upright among us can resist an “Invitation to Murder,” but Carol Floriani’s debut mystery will have us all wondering who didn’t. Lacey Langdon’s party planning business is threatened when the body of a town councilman is found at its opening ceremony. She is caught up in the investigation when remnants of a family tragedy resurface. Her family!
The 16th and final installment in Paul Doiron’s Mike Bowditch Mysteries series, “Storm Tide” is set in the rugged Maine wilderness and blends procedural investigation with personal danger. Game warden Bowditch must deal with two related murders—of vicious criminals who escaped justice. Who is now orchestrating their executions?
While away these torpid dog day afternoons with these, and many other, new books from the library. The Mendocino Community Library is open four days a week: Monday from 10 to 5; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10-2. Visit our web page (https://www.mendocinocommunitylibrary.org/) to learn about becoming a member or to find any item in our collection. Follow our new Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MendoCommunityLibrary