The SEKnFind Newsletter May 2025

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
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Happy Reading!

New Fiction

A town with half the lights on : a novel
by Page Getz

“For readers of J. Ryan Stradal and The Music of Bees (with a dash of FX’s The Bear) comes a quirky and refreshing epistolary novel about family of culture-shocked Brooklynites transplanted to Goodnight, Kansas and their fight for their unexpected lifeline: the legendary May Day Diner. Welcome to Goodnight, Kansas. Population: Many Kansans, three New Yorkers, and one chance to save the place they love most.”

The retirement plan : a novel
by Sue Hincenbergs

Three best friends turn to murder to collect on their husbands’ life insurance policies, but the husbands have a plan of their own.

The other people : a novel
by C. B. Everett

Ten strangers awaken in a locked, eerie house with no memory of their arrival, tasked with solving a young woman’s disappearance while evading a relentless killer and uncovering the truth about their connection to the deadly game.

Run for the hills : a novel
by Kevin Wilson

Madeline Hill and her mom have lived alone on their farm in Coalfield, Tennessee, since her dad left; one day Reuben Hill pulls up in a PT Cruiser and announces she’s his half-sister, and he wants Mad to join him for a crazy road trip to find their father and half siblings.

The float test : a novel
by Lynn Steger Strong

“The Kenner siblings are at odds. Jenn is a harried mom struggling under the weight of family obligations. Fred is a novelist who can’t write, maybe because she’s lost faith in storytelling itself. Jude is a recovering corporate lawyer with her own story to tell, and a grudge against her former favorite sister, Fred. George, the baby, is estranged from his wife and harboring both a secret about his former employer and an ill-advised crush on one of his sisters’ friends. Gathered after a major loss, each sibling needs the others more than ever–if only they could trust each other”

Summer in the city
by Alex Aster

When 27-year-old screenwriter Elle returns to New York City and runs into polar opposite Parker Warren, a hookup from two years ago, she realizes he’s her twisted muse, so when he needs a fake relationship during his company’s acquisition, they agree to spend the summer together

The lamb : a novel
by Lucy Rose

In their secluded forest cottage, Margot and her mother welcome“strays,” lost travelers whom Mama feeds and ultimately consumes, but when a striking stranger named Eden arrives during a snowstorm, Margot must confront her family’s dark practices and assert her own desires.

Lightfall
by Ed Crocker

Discovering a conspiracy surrounding the death of the ruler’s son in vampire city First Light, palace maid Sam blackmails her way into a better class and better blood, joining with rebel maids, a sorcerer lacking in magic but skilled in deduction, a werewolf assassin and a countess who knows the city’s secrets.

Grave empire
by Richard Swan

As a mysterious plague spreads and war looms, Ambassador Renata Rainer must seek answers from practitioners of the arcane arts to prevent an ancient prophecy, the Great Silence, from bringing the Empire to ruin. Original. 20,000 first printing.

Fever beach : a novel
by Carl Hiaasen

A dim-witted Proud Boys reject becomes entangled in a bizarre web of corruption and intrigue involving a hitchhiker, a con artist, an eccentric millionaire and a power-hungry politician in the new novel by the best-selling author of Bad Monkey.

The silversmith’s puzzle
by Nev March

Captain Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana Framji return to India as they investigate a murder amidst colonial Bombay’s complex hierarchy.

The country under heaven : a novel
by Frederic S. Durbin

“Set in the 1880s, the story follows Ovid Vesper, a former Union soldier who has been having enigmatic visions after surviving one of the Civil War’s most gruesome battles, the Battle of Antietam. As he travels across the country following those visions,he finds himself in stranger and increasingly more dangerous encounters with other worlds hidden in the spaces of his own mind, not to mention the dangers of the Wild West. Ovid brings his steady calm and compassion as he helps the people of a broken country, rapidly changing but, like himself, still reeling and wounded from the war. He assists with matters of all sorts, from odd jobs around the house, to guiding children back to their own universe, to hunting down unnatural creatures that stalk the night–all the while seeking his own personal resolution and peace from his visions. Ovid’s epic journey across the American West with a surprising cast of characters blends elements of the classic Western with historical fantasy in a way like no other”

New Audiobooks

My friends : a novel
by Fredrik Backman

“Most people don’t even notice them-three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.”

Shield of Sparrows
by Devney Perry

Long ago, the gods unleashed monsters upon the five kingdoms of Calandra to remind us that humans are insignificant. I didn’t need a deity to remind me I was powerless. Being a princess had never been more than a performance. Until the day a prince walked into my father’s throne room and ruined my life. The day I married a stranger, signed a magical treaty in blood, and set off across the continent to the most treacherous kingdom in all the realm.

Hidden Nature
by Nora Roberts

“Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world. After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance. She may be down, but she’s not out. So, when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. And the abductions keep happening. Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case and she’s willing to risk her life again if that’s what it takes to stop the horror.”

New Nonfiction

Reading for Our Lives : The Urgency of Early Literacy and the Action Plan to Help Your Child
by Maya Payne Smart

“Today’s children face intense pressure to meet rising academic standards and prepare for future careers, but most fall dangerously short. Early struggles with language and literacy often snowball into lasting disadvantages. Millions of U.S. kids don’t learn to read well in elementary school, driving low adult literacy rates and threatening the nation’s economic productivity, public health, and social equity. In Reading for Our Lives, journalist Maya Payne Smart shows that the literacy crisis starts at home. Reading for Our Lives delivers a clear call to action and a path forward for families, schools, and communities to beat the literacy crisis together.”

Mysteries of the national parks : 35 stories of baffling disappearances, unexplained phenomena, and more
by Mike Bezemek

“For outdoor adventurers, national parks lovers, and fans of fascinating true stories, MYSTERIES OF THE NATIONAL PARKS is a collection of 40 fascinating tales from America’s national parks, including disappearances, mysterious happenings, and supernatural presences”

No more tears : the dark story of Johnson & Johnson
by Gardiner Harris

In this blistering exposé, an award-winning investigative journalist uncovers reams of evidence showing decades of Johnson & Johnson’s deceitful and dangerous corporate practices that have threatened the lives of millions.

The Apothecary’s Garden : The Science and Mythology of Medicinal Plants
by Emma Wayland

“A curious history of plants that heal, ‘The apothecary’s garden’ explores the science and mythology of over 60 species–from soothing hops, chamomile and valerian to immunity-boosting turmeric, meadowsweet and turkey tail mushroom. Featuring botanical illustrations from the archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and weird and wonderful remedies and images from medical archives, this is a fascinating exploration of nature’s pharmacy”

How to break up with your phone
by Catherine Price

A practical hands-on plan for readers looking to create a healthy relationship with their cellphone provides information on identifying goals and priorities and being more mindful with phone use

Baking across America : a vintage recipe road trip
by B. Dylan Hollis

“From the deserts of the Southwest to the shining Atlantic Coast, the USA is as sweet as it gets. In this tour de food, B. Dylan Hollis takes you on a delicious road trip to taste everything from the coffee-crazed creations of the Pacific Northwest to the larger-than-life sheet cakes of Texas. You’ll be hitting the pavement in vintage style as you journey with Dylan through the culture capitals of America to savor the very best bakes the nation has to offer. His retro recipes span the decades from the 1900s to the 2000s and feature famous (and forgotten) desserts from every state. With his signature wry humor, Dylan explores the US and uncovers the history of nostalgic local favorites, including Boston Cream Pie on the cobbled streets of Beantown, Beignets in the sultry heat of jazzy New Orleans, and Date Cream scooped up poolside in Palm Springs”

Meditative drawing : learn to draw mandalas and other patterns that foster calm and creativity
by Lizzie Snow

“Meditative Drawing shows step by step how to create mesmerizing mandalas and other nature-inspired designs while reducing stress and increasing creativity”

The book of alchemy : a creative practice for an inspired life
by Suleika Jaouad

Explores the transformative power of journaling, blending the author’s insights with essays and prompts from 100 writers, artists, and thinkers, offering guidance to navigate life’s challenges, embrace creativity, and uncover deeper self-awareness through themes of beginnings, love, loss, and renewal. Illustrations.

The art spy : the extraordinary untold tale of WWII resistance hero Rose Valland
by Michelle Young

A saga set in Paris during World War II uncovers how an unlikely heroine infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the world’s most treasured masterpieces.

Snafu : the definitive guide to history’s greatest screwups
by Ed Helms

“History contains a plethora of insane screwups-otherwise known as SNAFUs. Coined during World War I, SNAFU is an acronym that stands for Situation Normal: All F*cked Up. In other words, “things are pretty screwed up, but aren’t they always?” Spanning from the 1950’s to the 2000’s, Ed Helms steps in as unofficial history teacher for a deep dive into each decade’s craziest SNAFUs. From planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the weather, this book will unpack the incredibly ironic decision-making and hilariously terrifying aftermath of America’s biggest mishaps. Filled with sharp humor and lively illustrations, SNAFU is a wild ride through time that not only entertains but offers fresh insights that just might prevent history from repeating itself again and again”

Even more reading suggestions

NextReads Sneak Peek
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