 Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman
Harper Collins, released June 17, 2025 What a delight! Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman is a huggable mystery. One of those books where the main character, Muriel Blossom, reminds you of someone you know and love like your mother, grandmother, older neighbor, or yourself. Muriel, a widower and recent lottery winner, decides to take a bucket list Parision river cruise with her life long friend, Elinor. Possibly because of Muriel’s age (68), plumpness, and overall compassionate demeanor, she becomes a dupe within a crime. But, as the story unfolds, we learn that Muriel is much smarter than anyone thinks. I had a lot of fun with this book. Laura Lippman is a seasoned mystery/detective writer with numerous awards and it shows. It is a heist turned into a murder mystery wrapped up in 270 pages. Muriel Blossom proved to be a great travel companion with her warmth, humor and wit. Mrs. Blossom hinted at being bitten by the travel bug. Yes, more Muriel Blossom adventures please. The pacing was great and I often found myself laughing out loud. This book is a perfect book club read with themes such as aging, identity and second chances. But, this is also a fun cozy read - go ahead, allow yourself the indulgence of traveling with Mrs. Blossom. I give it five out of five stars. Thank you Harper Collins for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Robin Munson, Adult Programming & Grant Specialist Librarian Download this book with your SPL card on eBook or audiobook.
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 Colored Television by Danzy Senna
Riverhead Books, released September 3, 2024 By Robin Munson In Colored Television by Danzy Senna, Jane, a Professor at a small Los Angeles College, wrote her first critically reviewed, but not a top seller, novel ten years ago and is hoping to finish her second novel, get tenure, and secure a life changing book deal. Jane, with her husband Lenny and their two children have bounced from apartment to apartment and house sitting for a wealthy friend in order to navigate the expensive Los Angeles housing market. Unfortunately the stress of the families dire financial situation causes Jane to go to plan B (writing for television) as plan A (selling her novel for millions of dollars) has crashed and burned. Jane lies to Lenny (he believes television is not a pure artistic form) about working with television producer Hampton Ford to make a biracial comedy sitcom. Of course, one lie leads to another and then another until the monster is no longer sustainable. I really loved this novel. Although it was difficult to watch Jane go down her destructive path in search of her ideal bourgeois life for her family, her journey, no doubt, made her stronger and more grounded in the end. The humor that Senna brings to the pages was a bonus (she meets her husband at a party based on a psychic’s vague description of her future love) and the character development throughout the novel is spot on. This book is a perfect book club read with themes such as balancing artistic integrity and financial security, the erasure of biracial people, and what makes a person truly happy. I give it five out of five stars. Thank you Riverhead Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Colored Television is available for ebook and audiobook download.  Let me start with a confession: I usually avoid series. The thought of investing in six, seven, or OMG ten volumes of anything makes me feel like I'm being roped into a cult. So when I picked up Dungeon Crawler Carl, I wasn’t expecting to get hooked. I was expecting a few laughs, maybe some dumb fun. What I got was an obsessive, page-devouring spiral of pure joy, horror, and unhinged delight.
This book, this series, is absurd, brilliant, and bananas in all the best ways. Imagine if The Hunger Games got drunk with The Running Man, invited a sentient cat with a gambling addiction, and then all of them were thrown into a sadistic alien reality show dungeon designed by someone who clearly has beef with humanity. That’s the vibe. Carl is our reluctant hero, snatched from a crumbling Earth in his boxers and thrust into a dungeon where survival is livestreamed for galactic entertainment. His companion, Princess Donut, a bedazzled, talking Persian cat with the charisma of a diva and the bloodlust of a warlord, might just be one of the best-written characters in genre fiction, full stop. The tone whiplashes between comedy, gore, heart, and sheer insanity in a way that somehow works. Dinniman writes like he’s in on the joke but still deeply committed to telling a real story underneath the chaos. And, he does. The world-building is endlessly creative and unrelenting. There’s no time to catch your breath, just as you're getting used to one deranged monster or trap, the next level hits harder. It’s funny, horrifying, emotionally sincere, and yes, addictive. I devoured these books. Plural. Me. The stand-alone-book-preferring heathen. If you’re tired of Sci-fi/Fantasy/Dystopia that takes itself too seriously, or if you want to read something where the stakes are real, the satire is sharp, and the cat has better dialogue than most human protagonists, start crawling. Just don’t expect to stop. Oh, and sadness. Book Eight isn't out until this fall. Get Dungeon Crawler Carl at the library. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  The United States of Absurdity is an absolutely ridiculous, yet strangely informative, deep dive into some of the most bizarre moments in American history. Written by Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, the comedic duo behind The Dollop (one of my favorite podcasts), this book brings their signature mix of humor and historical research to the page in a way that makes you laugh, cringe, and question how half of these events even happened.
The book is packed with short, punchy chapters covering everything from disastrous medical experiments to inexplicably bad decisions by U.S. politicians, all presented in a way that makes history feel less like a dry lecture and more like a fever dream. The writing is snappy, irreverent, and full of the kind of banter that fans of The Dollop will immediately recognize. Some standout moments include the story of Elmer McCurdy, the outlaw whose mummified body ended up as a carnival attraction, and the absolutely deranged antics of medical quack John Brinkley, who made a fortune implanting goat testicles into men as a cure for impotence. There’s also a healthy dose of absurd sports stories, mind-boggling government missteps, and the kind of historical figures who make Florida Man look like an amateur. My personal favorite was the story of Major League pitcher Rube Waddell. If you like your history unfiltered, hilarious, and just a little bit horrifying, The United States of Absurdity is a must-read. It’s perfect for fans of weird trivia, dark humor, and anyone who enjoys learning about the most ridiculous corners of American history. Reserve the book at the library! Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  Redshirts by John Scalzi is a riot! This absurdly funny, meta sci-fi adventure is about a bunch of low-ranking space crew members who realize they're basically cannon fodder. I'm serious, they die a lot. As they try to figure out what's going on, they stumble on this completely bananas truth about their universe.
It's a quick, fun read with tons of witty jokes, crazy plot twists, and a lot of affection for (and playful jabs at) old-school sci-fi. Ever wonder why those random background characters always bite the dust in space? This book totally gets you. Sound like your jam? Reserve it at the library here or download the eBook with your SPL card here. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian |
The SPL StaffWe work here at the library, and we’re into all kinds of books! How Do I Get These Books?See our Quickstart Guides page for information on how to use the online catalog and how to get eBooks and audiobooks for your specific device. You can also contact us there if you need more help!
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