Renee McManus

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

As a mystery lover there is no better author than the queen of mystery herself, Agatha Christie. Death on the Nile sees our storied hero Hercule Poirot on a steamer trip down the famous river, . . . read more »

An Honest Man by Michael Koryta

Two small Islands off mid-coast Maine, the home to lobstermen and boat builders for generations, are now like so many small communities, dying in the aftermath of the closing of the lobster fisheries in the . . . read more »

Call the Canaries Home by Laura Barrow

Three sisters, estranged in the aftermath of the disappearance of their four-year-old sister, Georgia, the twin of the youngest sister, return to the back-water Louisiana home of their grandmother for a weekend. The plan for the weekend is . . . read more »

Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne

When Cecelia Ellis moves in with her estranged grandmother, who also happens to be a famous mystery writer, she never expects her life to take such a dramatic turn, but when the homecoming queen is . . . read more »

Swamp Story by Dave Barry

Anyone familiar with Dave Barry’s writing will appreciate the laugh out loud antics in this latest book. Jesse and her baby daughter are trapped in a life Jesse never imagined. Living in a tiny cabin . . . read more »

This is Our Rainbow edited by Katherine Locke & Nicole Mellby

This is Our Rainbow is the first middle grade anthology of LGBTQIA+ short stories! This collection highlights proud queer stories through tales of pirates, zombies, witches, historical fiction, and so much more! One of my . . . read more »

Disaster at the Bar Harbor Ferry by Mac Smith

History meets tragedy in this true tale of the harrowing events of the worst maritime disaster in Maine history. Sunday August 6th, 1899 began as any normal day with the bustle of travelers to the . . . read more »

Teach Her a Lesson by Kate Flora

Six years into her beloved career teaching high school English, Alexis Jordan is accused of a sexual relationship with 16-year-old Evan, a star soccer and lacrosse player. The evidence against Alexis mounts until she is . . . read more »

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Now a major motion picture, News of the World is the story of two lives brought together by chance, but forever connected. These lives are those of Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a retired printer who . . . read more »

AAPI Heritage Month

The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The library has curated an all-ages book list that spotlights AAPI voices. Click on each title to request through Minerva. Adult This . . . read more »

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

I absolutely adored Stuart Turton’s novel The Devil and the Dark Water for many many reasons, not the least of which is the amazing plot twists that lead to a truly shocking finale. After recommendations . . . read more »

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace is the perfect hockey-romance to celebrate love, friendship, and so much more. I gave this book a five out of five star rating! Not only did I love the main couple, . . . read more »

The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

If you’re in the mood for international travel, historical artifacts, suspense, survival, and a bit of romance, The Lady Rogue may well be your perfect match. In the year 1937, protagonist Theodora is on a . . . read more »

The Poacher’s Son by Paul Doiron

This is the first book in the very popular Mike Bowditch, Maine Game Warden series of mysteries by Camden, Maine author Paul Doiron. The son of divorced parents who had little to do with his . . . read more »

Gardening Book List

As the snow melts and each day gets a bit longer our thoughts have turned to planning out this year’s garden. Are you looking to try a new growing method, or experiment with container gardening? . . . read more »

When we Were the Kennedys by Monica Wood

Monica Wood’s heartfelt, and at times touching memoir relates the story of how her childhood in a mill town in Maine is forever changed by the sudden loss of her father. When her father, the . . . read more »

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince is the first book in The Folk of the Air trilogy. We meet twin sisters Jude and Taryn Duarte as they are whisked away into the High Court of Faerie. Ten years . . . read more »

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I will preface this by saying that I do not normally choose to read self-help, though perhaps I should, but when I heard about Rubin’s book I knew I had to read it. Not only . . . read more »

The Daughter of the Pirate King

If you happen to be searching for a swashbuckling YA adventure to sweep you away, then look no further! Alosa, the daughter of the much-feared pirate king, has been ordered by her father to find . . . read more »

Read to ME Book List

The library is the perfect spot to complete the Read to ME Challenge! The Read to ME Challenge was created by the Maine Department of Education to support early literacy and strengthen a child’s love . . . read more »

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

“Enter the players. There were seven of us then, seven bright young things with wide precious futures ahead of us. Until that year, we saw no further than the book in front of our faces.” . . . read more »

I Work at a Public Library by Gina Sheridan

If asked to give their idea of what a public library is, most people would probably say a quiet sanctuary of higher learning, but sometimes that is far from the truth. Between accidents, slip-ups, gossip, . . . read more »

Celebrating Activists

Adult Non-Fiction The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. by Martin Luther King Jr.Just Mercy: a Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan StevensonThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca SklootMountains Beyond Mountains: The . . . read more »

Staff Picks