Novel Ideas Book Group

Judge Stone: a novel DB136049

Authors: Davis, Viola, Patterson, James

Reading Time: 11 hours, 22 minutes

Read by: Viola Davis

Subjects: Suspense Fiction, Legal Fiction, Women

“In Judge Mary Stone’s courtroom, a person has to take a stand. In Union Springs, Alabama (population 3,314), Judge Mary Stone is a local celebrity. Born a farmer’s daughter in a town where dogwoods bloom every spring and churches rise on every street corner, Judge Mary Stone holds her courtroom to the highest standard in the land. Do the right thing, or don’t do it at all. Then she draws the biggest case Alabama has ever seen. Criminally, it’s open-and-shut. Ethically, there is no middle ground. Essentially, it’s a choice between life and death. As she fights to determine the wisest course, Judge Stone will make history-or die trying.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

New York, NY : Hachette Book Group, 2026.

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The Ursulina DBC27483

Author: Freeman, Brian

Reading Time: 10 hours, 52 minutes

Production: Minnesota State Services for the Blind, Communication Center

Read by: Karen Ray

Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories, Suspense Fiction

Deputy Rebecca Colder’s dark journey to reveal the truth about the Ursulina ultimately leads to an excruciating choice that will change her life forever. Adult. Strong language.

Ashland, OR : Blackstone Publishing, 2022. ©2022

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The forget-me-not library DB133321

Author: Webber, Heather S.

Reading Time: 11 hours, 48 minutes

Read by: Hallie Ricardo, Stephanie Willis

Subjects: Human Relations, Fantasy Fiction

“A detour. A chance encounter. Two women who alter the pages of each other’s story. Juliet Nightingale is lucky to be alive. Months after a freak accident involving lightning, she’s fully recovered but is left feeling that something is missing from her life. Something big. Impulsively, she decides to take a solo summer road trip, hoping that the journey will lead her down a path that will help her discover exactly what it is that she’s searching for. Newly single mom Tallulah Byrd Mayfield is hanging by a thread after her neat, tidy world was completely undone when her husband decided that their marriage was over. In the aftermath of the breakup, she and her two daughters move in with her eighty-year-old grandfather. Tallulah starts a new job at the Forget-Me-Not Library, where old, treasured memories can be found within the books — and where Lu must learn to adapt to the many changes thrown her way. When a road detour leads Juliet to Forget-Me-Not, Alabama, and straight into Tallulah’s life, the two women soon discover there’s magic in between the pages of where you’ve been and where you still need to go. And that happiness, even when lost, can always be found again.” — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

New York : Macmillan, 2025.

This book can be found on Bookshare at the below link:

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The deep, deep snow DB103386

Author: Freeman, Brian

Reading Time: 10 hours, 8 minutes

Read by: Laura Hatch

Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories, Suspense Fiction

When ten-year-old Jeremiah Sloan disappears, leaving behind his bicycle on a lonely road, Deputy Shelby Lake is assigned to the case. She discovers everyone around Jeremiah–including herself–is keeping secrets. Shelby worries as the case goes cold. But when a clue appears, the darkest lies come to light. Strong language and some violence. 2020.

Ashland : Blackstone Publishing, 2020.

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Hidden nature DB129760

Author: Roberts, Nora

Reading Time: 14 hours, 57 minutes

Read by: January LaVoy

Subjects: Romantic Suspense, Mystery and Detective Stories

“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. Men and women, old and young – the missing seem to have nothing in common. 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.”– Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

New York : Macmillan, 2025.

This book can be found on Bookshare at the below link:

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This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:

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When the stars go dark DB102900

Author: McLain, Paula

Reading Time: 11 hours, 31 minutes

Read by: Marin Ireland

Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories, Suspense Fiction

When tragedy strikes seasoned missing persons detective Anna Hart’s personal life, she flees to the northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. But when she arrives, it’s to find out a local teenager is missing and the circumstances are reminiscent of a murder in Anna’s childhood. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

New York : Random House Audio, 2021.

Host: Randi Shelton

E-Mail: [email protected]

This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:

https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5068256?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUxldCUyQml0JTJCc25vdw

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Let it snow: a novel DB121508

Author: Thayer, Nancy

Reading Time: 6 hours, 3 minutes

Read by: Allison, Kristin

Subjects: Family, Holidays, Romance

“Christina Antonioni is preparing for the holidays at her Nantucket toy shop, unpacking last-minute shipments and decorating for her loyal Christmas shoppers. But when her Scrooge of a landlord, Oscar Bittlesman, raises her rent, it seems nearly impossible for Christina to continue business on the wharf. Even so, Christina hopes there is a warm heart underneath Oscar’s steely exterior. When she bonds with Wink, his sweet, young granddaughter who frequents the shop, it becomes clear that perhaps he isn’t so cold after all. And with the help of Wink’s uncle, who happens to be a charming and very handsome bachelor, this may be the best Christmas any of them could have ever imagined. Nancy Thayer’s enchanting Nantucket setting provides the perfect backdrop for this holiday love story.”– OCLC. Some strong language.

New York : Ballantine Books, [2019]

Host: Randi Shelton

E-Mail: [email protected]

This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:

https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6414224?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUxhc3QlMkJUd2lsaWdodCUyQmluJTJCUGFyaXMlMkI

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Last twilight in Paris DB127477

Author: Jenoff, Pam

Reading Time: 10 hours, 35 minutes

Read by: Maarleveld, Saskia, Plummer, Thérèse

Subjects: Historical Fiction, General Fiction

“London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before, when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe–and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war. Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan–a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France. Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny’s death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours.”– From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

New York : Harlequin Audio, 2025.

Host: Randi Shelton

E-Mail: [email protected]

This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:

https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6569392?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPXdoZXJlJTJCdGhlJTJCcmVkJTJCZmVybiUyQmdyb3dz

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Where the red fern grows: the story of two dogs and a boy DB32449

Author: Rawls, Wilson

Reading Time: 7 hours, 11 minutes

Read by: David Palmer

Subject: Animals and Wildlife

Ten-year-old Billy, a country boy in the Ozarks, wants a pair of coonhounds so badly that he works hard for two years to pay for them. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1961.

Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1987, c1961.

Host: Randi Shelton

E-Mail: [email protected]

This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:

https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6577346?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPW91ciUyQmxpdHRsZSUyQnNlY3JldA

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Our little secret DB126128

Author: Jackson, Lisa

Reading Time: 15 hours, 4 minutes

Read by: Cavallero, Gabriella

Subjects: Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction

“Brooke Harmon is ready to end her brief affair. Gideon Ross is charming and sexy, but he’s not worth throwing away everything she holds dear. So she breaks it off, hoping Gideon will understand. He doesn’t. Gideon insists that he and Brooke are meant to be together. Finally, he backs off, but not before issuing a promise: he’ll never let her go. Little more than a year later, Brooke wants to believe it’s all behind her. Her family has survived intact. Gideon has vanished. But the fear hasn’t disappeared. Brooke can’t tell how much of it is paranoia, and how much is justified, but she’s worried. And maybe she’s right to be. Because Gideon is a man who keeps his promises…” — Amazon.com Violence, strong language and some descriptions of sex.

New York, NY : Kensington Books, 2024.

Host: Randi Shelton

E-Mail: [email protected]