 When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy is one of those stories that sneaks up behind you, taps you on the shoulder, and then proceeds to tear open your ribcage, not just for the horror, but for the feelings hiding underneath it.
It starts with Jess, a down-on-her-luck actress working nights at a diner, who finds a terrified little boy outside her apartment. Then his father shows up. Then a monstrous, snarling something follows them, then before you can even take a breath, you’re neck-deep in blood, grief, and metaphor. Cassidy writes like he’s exorcising trauma of his own. The book has that raw, desperate energy where you can tell the author is saying something real under all the gore. I mean, yeah. It's a horror novel. There are claws, there’s a wolf-thing, there are moments you’ll physically cringe, but it’s also about broken people trying to do the right thing when they don’t even know what that is anymore. Jess isn’t a perfect protagonist by a long shot. She makes choices that make you want to scream at the page. But she feels real. Exhausted. Angry. Trying to hold it together while the universe kicks her. And that’s what makes the whole thing even better. The monsters are terrifying, sure, but the human parts hurt more. There’s a stretch in the middle that feels like running downhill too fast, you’re not sure if you’re still in control, but you can’t stop. By the end, I was overcome with with dread and weird compassion for everyone involved. It’s bloody, it’s tender, it’s messed up. And I loved it. If you like horror that feels personal and uncomfortably human, if you want to be wrecked a little, When the Wolf Comes Home delivers. Maybe don’t read it right before bed unless you want to dream in teeth and regret. 5 out of 5 existential howls. Check out the book at the library or download the eBook with your SPL card. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian
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 Stephen King’s Never Flinch is like catching up with an old friend who’s tougher now, wearier, but still unmistakably herself. Holly Gibney is back, sharper and more grounded than ever, and the story wastes no time throwing her into the fire.
Detective Izzy Jaynes is chasing a chilling letter promising the deaths of “thirteen innocents and one guilty,” and she brings in Holly to help. At the same time, Holly’s guarding a feminist activist being stalked by a radicalized creep. It starts as two stories, but in true King fashion, the threads tighten into one deadly knot. Holly shines here, not just as an investigator, but as a person coming fully into her own. She’s still awkward and kind, but there’s more steel in her now, more control. The pacing is sharp, the tension constant, and while some dialogue stumbles (yes, she still says “poopy”), the emotional beats land hard. She's by far my favorite character that Stephen King has dreamed up. You could read this as a standalone, but it hits deeper if you’ve walked the whole path with Holly. Never Flinch doesn’t reinvent the genre, it just shows how far a character can go when the writing never lets her flinch. Check out the book at the library, or download the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  So here’s the deal with The Passage: it looks like just another vampire apocalypse story, but it’s really not. Cronin takes that whole “government experiment gone wrong” thing, cranks it up, and suddenly the world’s overrun by these horrifying “virals” that are basically vampires on steroids. The book starts in our world, spirals into chaos, and then BAM! We’re a hundred years in the future with the scattered leftovers of humanity trying to survive behind walls and flickering lights.
What surprised me is how big this book feels. It’s not just jump scares and monster attacks (though there are plenty). It’s more like The Stand meets The Road. It’s about family, community, sacrifice, and that tiny little ember of hope people keep dragging forward even when everything is telling them to give up. Amy, the mysterious girl at the heart of it all, is less a character sometimes and more like a beacon, quiet, unsettling, but central to everything. If you’re into survival horror with a literary edge, this is it. It’s grim, it’s scary, it’s occasionally hopeful, and it lingers with you. Honestly, it feels less like reading a vampire novel and more like being dropped into a myth that spans generations. Get the book at the library or download the audiobook or eBook. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  Sam DuChamp is the author of spy thrillers that sell, but he's no Tom Clancy. He invents a new character, Quichotte, an aging representative of a pharmaceutical company obsessed with reality TV. He has fallen in love with the host of a young daytime TV show and is convinced that she will feel the same. He even imagines a son, Sancho, into existence, and they climb into Quichotte's beat-up car, heading toward New York City on a surreal journey to meet his future bride without knowing that she has secrets of her own. The narrative switches between Sam and Quichotte, who are more alike than not, showing that Sam is using his character to work out his own demons. Or perhaps, where does fiction end and reality begin?
I loved this book. LOVED. Reserve the book here or download the audiobook with your SPL card here. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  Allen Eskens’ The Quiet Librarian is one of those books you just can’t put down. Think The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah with a tiny sprinkle of John Wick.
The story follows Hana Babic, a quiet, mousy, unassuming librarian in Minnesota with a dark, complicated past. When her best friend is murdered, Hana suddenly finds herself responsible for a young boy and pulled into a web of danger tied to a life she thought she’d left behind. Back during the Bosnian War, she was a teenage resistance fighter known as the Night Mora, a figure who became something of a boogeyman to the oppressing army. She buried that part of herself long ago, but now it’s all bubbling back up as she tries to protect the boy and figure out what really happened to her friend. What really makes this book stand out is Hana. She’s complex, brave, and haunted in a way that feels totally real. Watching her shift from someone who just wants to stay invisible to someone who has no choice but to face her past is both powerful and heartbreaking. Eskens does a fantastic job weaving together past and present, showing how trauma leaves its mark, but also how strength and healing can grow from it. The writing is sharp, the pace is spot-on, and the emotional moments really land. If you’re into stories about hidden identities, strong women, and a bit of mystery with real emotional weight, The Quiet Librarian is 100% worth the read. Reserve the book at the library here. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  It's 1348, and the Black Plague is decimating Europe. In France, a disgraced knight rescues a girl from a grim fate among the dead. She claims the plague is just the beginning; Lucifer and his fallen angels are preparing to wage war on Earth. She's headed to Avignon (where the Pope resided at the time) because destiny calls. The knight is intrigued. Will he join her and act as her protector? They also pick up a drunken priest along the way. The girl herself… is she delusional, or is she truly a voice of God?
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman is fantastic. It's a rich blend of fantasy, heavy on religious symbolism, with a touch of horror and historical fiction. It crosses genres so effectively, and I highly recommend it. Click here to reserve the audiobook for download with your library card. Prefer a physical copy? Ask us to interlibrary loan one! Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  Cho Nam-joo’s Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is a simple yet powerful book that hits hard. It follows Kim Jiyoung, an ordinary woman in South Korea, as she slowly unravels under the weight of everyday sexism. One day, she starts speaking in the voices of other women, her mother, a former coworker, almost as if she’s lost herself completely. From there, the novel takes us through her life, showing all the ways society has pushed her down, from childhood to marriage and motherhood.
The writing is straightforward, even a little detached at times, but that makes the story feel even more real. There’s no big, dramatic moment, just a lifetime of small injustices that build up. What makes it even more unsettling is how normal it all seems. Jiyoung’s experiences aren’t unique to her; they’re just the way things are for so many women, in Korea and beyond. The last part of the book, told from her psychiatrist’s perspective, is especially chilling. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say it makes it clear that nothing has really changed. This is one of those books that stays with you. It’s a quick read, but it packs a punch, making you think about all the invisible ways women are expected to sacrifice, adjust, and endure. If you’re interested in feminism, social issues, or just want a book that makes you feel something, this one is worth picking up. Get the book at the library or download the eBook with your SPL card.  American War by Omar El Akkad was hard. This was a messed-up, dystopian take on another US Civil War brought on by climate change. It's about a girl, Sarat, growing up in the middle of it all, and how all the violence and loss turns her into a rebel.
This book is dark and gripping though, and it feels all too real. El Akkad mixes war, politics, and what happens to people in a way that just punches you in the gut. Definitely not a beach read, but if you're into those dystopian stories that make you think way too much about what could actually happen, you should check it out. Reserve the hard copy at the library, or the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  Sharon M. Draper’s Blended is a powerful and relatable story about identity, family, and figuring out where you fit in. The book follows 11-year-old Isabella, whose parents are divorced, her dad is Black, her mom is white—and she feels like she’s constantly switching between two worlds. As she moves between their homes, their expectations, and even their cultures, she struggles to figure out who she really is.
Draper does an amazing job capturing what it’s like to be a middle schooler dealing with family changes and big questions about race and identity. The story is easy to read but doesn’t shy away from tough topics, including racism and feeling torn between two sides of yourself. There’s even a shocking and emotional moment involving police violence that makes this book especially relevant. Despite its important themes, Blended has been banned in some schools for addressing race, privilege, and police brutality. However, these are exactly the kinds of conversations that make the book so valuable. Draper handles these issues with honesty and sensitivity, making Blended a must-read for young readers and adults alike. Reserve the book at the library or download the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those books that sticks with you. Set in the 1930s South, it’s told through the eyes of Scout Finch, a curious, sharp kid growing up with her brother Jem and their dad, Atticus. When Atticus, a lawyer, defends a Black man falsely accused of a crime, Scout starts to see the ugly side of the world, racism, injustice, and the way people refuse to do what’s right. Harper Lee’s writing is simple but powerful, making big themes like racism, morality, and empathy easy to connect with. At its core, it’s about growing up and realizing the world isn’t always fair, but that standing up for what’s right still matters. The book has been banned and challenged in some schools for its discussions of race, language, and tough topics. Some people think it’s too controversial, but others see it as an important read for understanding history and injustice. Whether you’re reading it for the first time or coming back to it, To Kill a Mockingbird is a book that makes you think, feel, and see things a little differently. Reserve the novel in regular or Large Print. Or, download the eBook or audiobook narrated by Sissy Spacek. We also have the classic movie starring Gregory Peck available on DVD for checkout. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian   The Poet X is a powerful story told in verse about Xiomara, a Dominican-American teen who finds her voice through poetry. Caught between her strict religious upbringing and her need for self-expression, she pours her thoughts into her notebook, using poetry to figure out who she really is.
Acevedo’s writing is raw and emotional, making Xiomara’s journey feel real and relatable. The book has been banned in some schools because it talks about sexuality, religion, and standing up for yourself, but that just makes it even more worth reading for adults and youth alike. If you love stories about finding your voice and pushing back against expectations, this one’s for you. Reserve it at the library or get the audiobook with your SPL card. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  True Grit by Charles Portis isn't just your typical Western; it's a fantastic story of revenge, but also surprisingly funny and touching. Told from the point of view of the super-independent 14-year-old Mattie Ross, it's all about her going after the guy who killed her dad. She hires Rooster Cogburn, a tough, one-eyed US Marshal, and their unlikely team-up is what makes the book so great. Portis's writing is a joy to read, really witty and descriptive. Sure, it's a revenge story, but the characters, especially Mattie (she's amazing!) and the wonderfully grumpy Rooster, are what make this book unforgettable. True Grit is a timeless story about courage, determination, and how complicated justice can be, and it's told brilliantly. I'm not usually into Westerns, but I loved this one. Highly recommend!
Reserve the library book (also in Large Print) or use your SPL card for the audiobook. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  After 30 years in prison for causing a child's death, Vincent King is finally released. He went to jail at 15, turned in by his best friend, Walk, who’s now the local chief of police. Walk keeps an eye on Vincent’s ex-girlfriend, Star, a struggling drug addict, and her kids: 13-year-old Duchess, who’s had to grow up too fast to care for her little brother, Robin.
They all still live in the same small California town where it all started. Then, a body is found. Secrets unravel, tensions rise, and the big question looms: who did it? We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is an emotional rollercoaster of a crime thriller with so much heart. It’s got a gripping plot, but what really stands out are the unforgettable characters, especially Duchess, the tough-as-nails, complex girl the story revolves around. The writing is beautiful, full of raw emotion and small-town drama, with twists that keep you hooked. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful all at once, a truly memorable read. If you love character-driven stories with a side of suspense, don’t miss this one! It may be my favorite book ever. We have it available to reserve, plus Large Print and Audio CD copies for checkout. How about a downloadable audiobook or ebook? No, really. Read it. Please. Then come and tell me what you thought. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  In 1975, a 13-year-old girl from a wealthy family vanishes from a summer camp. Oddly, her older brother disappeared from the same camp 14 years earlier. To make things even stranger, her parents own the camp.
This story dives into class divides—the wealthy camp owners, their privileged friends, and their children who attend, contrasted with the local workers hired to maintain the camp and its grounds. It’s a tale of power, privilege, and the secrets that simmer beneath the surface. This was such a gripping, eerie read. The mix of mystery and atmosphere totally pulls you in, and the creepy, woodsy vibes blows you away. The story keeps you guessing, and the characters feel so real. If you’re into dark, twisty tales with a lot of feels, this is your book. Aimee, IT Librarian Interested in this book? Click here to reserve it in the catalog! We even have it in Large Print! Use your SPL card to reserve the eBook or audiobook.  Wu Zetian is, without a doubt, awesome. She is one of my favorite heroines. From the first pages, she drew me in and kept me guessing what she was going to do, and every time she blew me away with her attitude and flair. The novel’s twists and turns were (for me) unpredictable—and that’s a hard feat. That, mixed with Xiran’s stellar descriptions and worldbuilding, had me hooked for DAYS after I read it. There are themes of feminism, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are prominent in the writing. The first time I read it was in 2021. I have been patiently waiting for three years for the sequel, and I’m excited to say that for Christmas this year, I finally got a publication date, AND the second book. Keep a lookout for Heavenly Tyrant for a chance to see where Zeitan’s story goes after this excellent read.
Mariah Wills, Library Clerk Interested in this book? Click here to reserve it in the catalog! Digital copies are available with your SPL card. Click here for eBook and click here for the audiobook. |
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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