Neshama’s Choices for July 22

The titles and links below will direct you to print copies when available.  Click on the title to see all available formats, including recorded versions and eBooks. 

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Orbital by Samantha Harvey

A spaceship goes round and round our planet, gathering scientific data. The crew of six share their experiences with us, some rapturous but more often quotidian: the constant awareness of close proximity, the weirdness of physical stressors, and ever-present thoughts of home. For instance, Chie’s mother has died in Japan, but she can only mourn her from afar.  There are two Russian cosmonauts on the ship who have their own quarters, a reflection of our divided world below.  Each participant has specific skills and qualities that fill and balance the needs of the group. So for readers, it’s an amazing opportunity to experience outer (and inner) space from the comfort of home.

The Searcher by Tana French

American ex-pat Cal ends up in Ardnakelty, a small town in Ireland after his marriage goes sour and his long stint as a Chicago policeman has become wearisome. Turns out that no matter how remote, the same ills afflict villagers there and he’s pulled into a crime scene. Brendan, a young man, got involved with the wrong people and disappeared.  Brendan’s androgynous teenage sister Trey enlists Cal to find out what happened, and he discovers the intricacies of village relationships and secrets, as well as working as an investigator without institutional infrastructure. The denizens of Ardnakelty first view Cal with curiosity and suspicion, but eventually draw him in with nights in the pub and suggestions of possible wives and dogs. A great mix of milieu and character development.  (Note: I listened to the sequel, The Hunter, first but wanted the back story and then read this.  In the ear, the richness of the brogue and the music of the language really comes through.)

The Wager by David Grann

Subtitled A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder.  I don’t often read such historical accounts, but a friend recommended it highly, so I took to the tumultuous seas with Grann and went on a journey fascinating on the page but utterly harrowing in real life. An ill-considered voyage launched by the English to capture a treasure-laden Spanish galleon went rapidly awry. The ship capsized and the crew members who survived (barely) had to subsist on an utterly inhospitable island for a long spell. The journey was plagued from the start with outbreaks of typhus, attacks of scurvy, and ill-trained crew members, many of who’d been press-ganged into service. The captain was hell-bent on somehow fulfilling his mission which is why the mutiny occurred. Grann provides fascinating details of life aboard a ship, including the origin of many nautical terms.

Mrs Pargeter's Patio by Simon Brett

I wanted a light-hearted, relaxing read so returned to this entertaining British mystery writer to see what his protagonist was up to now. She’s part of a series I’ve dipped into over the years. Mrs Pargeter’s husband, who had a sterling reputation in the underworld of crime, has passed. During renovations of her house, a body is discovered under her patio. She uses her many connections to find out who it was and how it got there.  One of the fun aspects of the book is the characters’ nicknames like Chippie, Handbag, and Truffler, all related to their exploits. Another is the elegance, reticence, and wit of Mrs Pargeter as she negotiates with those talented criminals who are loyal to their dear departed colleague. If you haven’t yet discovered the joys of Brett, you’re in for a treat.