Coming in May: My Top 5 Picks

May is a busy month in the publishing world. A lot of great authors are putting out new releases just in time for beach weather. Here's a sneak preview of the top five releases I am most looking forward to:

1. "Pygmy", Chuck Palahniuk (May 5)
Fans of Palahniuk know that this is one author who will never be accused of playing it safe. His books don't just toe the line, they stomp it out and draw a new one. "Pygmy" is no exception, telling the story of a 13-year old unnamed terrorist who is planning a large-scale attack disguised as a science project and dubbed "Operation Havoc." In the same horrific and satirical tradition as "Fight Club," readers will find themselves unable to put this book down.

2. "Wicked Prey", John Sandford (May 12)
For twenty years, John Sandford has been shocking and thrilling readers with some of the most entertaining crime fiction ever penned. The Republican National Convention is coming to St. Paul, and Detective Lucas Davenport is supposed to be keeping everyone safe. However, a young man with a sniper rifle, a petty thief out for revenge, and a crew of professional stickup men are making his job difficult, to say the least. This book is full of colorful characters and unexpected thrills, which are classic to Sandford's writing style.

3. "Brimstone", Robert Parker (May 5)
This follow up to the New York Times bestseller "Apaloosa" (which, by the way, is now a movie starring Viggo Mortensen and Renee Zellweger) takes us back to the Old West, where Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch set off from the town of Resolution in search of Allie French, the woman who stole Virgil's heart. However, once he finds her, Virgil realizes that he must find a way to come to terms with Allie's past if they ever hope to have a future. As Allie seeks redemption, the boys find themselves in a new town, once again trying to keep the peace as violence turns to murder. Full of action, this is a must-read for any western lover.

4. "Dead and Gone", Charlaine Harris (May 5)
It's hard not to love telepath, bartender, and amateur detective Sookie Stackhouse. She lives in a world filled with werewolves and vampire reality tv-shows, and deals with the constant chatter of human's thoughts in her mind. When the body of a were-panther turns up, Sookie decides to try and determine who was responsible. However, she may have bigger problems, as a secret race of beings more dangerous than vampires and werewolves threatens the town of Bon Temps. Harris delivers another winner that is equal parts charming and absorbing.

5. "The Scarecrow," Michael Connelly (May 26)
I usually have to read Michael Connelly's books all in one sitting, because I can't bear to prolong the suspense. "The Scarecrow" proves to be no exception. Jack McEvoy is one of the latest victims of the Los Angeles Times budget cuts. Before he goes, he decides to write one last crime story. What starts as routine becomes life-threatening and intense as Jack realizes that the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime. Extend your Memorial Day vacation by a day, and let yourself get lost in this riveting story.

If you're interested in placing any of these books on hold, please call your local library branch, or click on the linked titles above to be directed to our library catalog. For a more complete listing of upcoming releases, please stop by any library. Happy reading!

-Jenn C.