Sunrise by Téa Obreht

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 
Another one of those stories where you don't know what's coming. If you like suspense, historical fiction, and a nail-biter, you'll enjoy the town of Sunrise, where mysteries of 100 years ago live on. When you survive a plane crash, have no idea how to take care of yourself, and your cellphone is hurled at a bear, what comes next?

This is one for a long commute or a plane trip, as long as you know you'll spend a few extra hours reading instead of sleeping.

A Novel

By 

Sunrise by Susan May Warren

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 

When the heroine plunges into the Alaskan wilderness, it's up to an old friend to find her. Echo is determined to rescue a fellow researcher, but can Dodge reach her in time to save her life?

Suspenseful, romantic, descriptive of Alaska ... this is one to keep you reading to the last chapter. 

The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung

★★★★★  Louise Penny is one of my favorite authors. This book, the first I've read apart from the Inspector Gamache series (which I love), was a shock from start to finish. The imagination, understanding of American and Chinese culture and politics, and the thriller storyline captured me.

Because I don't have the context of Chinese names and places, I had to pay attention beyond a casual read. Once I understood who was what or where, the story came alive. I was gripped until the end.

Definitely recommended if you lean toward complex characters, mystery and suspense, culture, or modern politics. Any of those interests make it a must-read.