The Rake/ Mary Jo Putney / 352 pgs

I saw this book recommended on Twitter and after checking out the blurb, decided to give it a try. I struck gold. This is a rich, intense story that is all about the redemption of the titular rake, Reggie Davenport and while Reggie receives encouragement and nudges from those around him, his redemption comes from within and it doesn't come easily, both of which I appreciated.

Reggie's had a tough life--family wiped out when he was 8, raised by an uncaring uncle--and to make things worse for himself, he's made some really bad decisions. Now in his late 30s, he's an alcoholic with few friends and no family. Except a distant cousin reaches out to him and gives him an estate (for a good reason). When Reggie arrives at said estate he discovers the steward is a female named Alys Weston and she's done an awesome job of running the estate. Alys also has a secret and it deeply affects her reaction to Reggie. There is a lot of plot going on in this story, not least of which is Reggie's alcoholism, which is not glossed over and is treated in a realistic manner. I give Ms. Putney kudos for taking this direction. Reggie's road to sobriety is a long one and while his actions often frustrated me I was glad that he wasn't magically cured by a relationship with Alys. And that relationship is a fabulous one. Reggie is a man who appreciates intelligence and hard work, whether it comes from a man or woman. The romance between Reggie and Alys is wonderful, though I will admit there was a time or two when I wanted to knock their heads together.

I discovered halfway through this book that it's an older title, from 2001, but nonetheless I highly recommend it.

Trick of the Light/ Louise Penny/ 339pages

A Trick of the Light is the seventh book in the Inspector Gamache series written by Louise Penny.  Inspector Gamache is back on the job following injuries that took place between books five and six.  He and others from Three Pines are celebrating Clara's solo showing of her artwork.  The mood takes a sudden plunge when a body is discovered in Clara's garden.  First, the inspector must determine who the victim is and then who committed the crime.  There are many interesting twists and turns along the way with a heavy inclusion of Alcoholics Anonymous and the art world of Montreal.  Fans of Inspector Gamache will enjoy this tale as well as those who like cozy mysteries.  For more information and read a likes check out the SCCCLD website

Girl on the Train/ Paula Hawkins/ 323 pages

The Girl on the Train is a debut novel for reporter Paula Hawkins.  Rachel rides the train into London on a daily basis.  At one stop she has created a fantasy couple that she watches daily.  Just a few houses away is Rachel's former house, now inhabited by Tom and Anna and their baby girl.  One day Rachel sees something that does not fit with her fantasy and the next day Megan, the female half of the fantasy couple, disappears.  Who hurt Megan?  Did she leave on her own, was it Scott, her husband?  Or did Rachel have something to do with it?  Drinking and blackouts hinder Rachel as she tries to solve the riddle.  This book would appeal to readers of 'Gone Girl' and similar psycho-dramas.  For more information see the SCCCLD website.

The Girl on the Train/ Paula Hawkins/325

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning, fantasizing about the cozy suburban houses with their perfect couples all happy and content, nestled along the track. One morning she sees something and knows she has to tell the police. This story is told from three different female point of views, their lives all precariously entwined. Rachel is an alcoholic that binges and blackout. She has lost her job, her husband and has serious self esteem issues.  Rachel is the "girl on the train" pretending to commute daily to London. Some readers have compared this title to Gone Girl, both trying to portray a dark side to domestic life, both have twisty suspenseful plots. 

Doctor Sleep / Stephen King / 531 pages

This sequel to The Shining lives up to its predecessor and all the horror it created.  Little Danny from The Shining is now an adult and an alcoholic.  He still sees spirits and other signs that enable him to sense a person's imminent death.  Danny's enemies in this volume are even worse than the ghosts who convinced his dad to try to murder his family; they are monsters who inhale the essence of kids with the shining to survive.  These monsters look like any other elderly people travelling the country in their RVs. This is a classic Stephen King and will be enjoyed by his fans.