Paradiso 17: A Novel by Hannah Lillith Assadi (Knopf). Reviewed by Mike Maggio. “In many ways, the novel, while telling the story of the author’s father, relates the broader story of the Palestinian diaspora: the displacement, the state of being dispossessed, the sense of alienation, the absence of roots. It’s as if the plight of the Palestinians has been condensed into a single individual whose life mirrors the suffering of all his compatriots. And, yet, Paradiso 17 is by no means an allegory, nor does it attempt to make a point. Rather, it follows a narrative construct that stands on its own with characters who are well developed and a plot that is keenly rendered.”

London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday). Reviewed by Mariko Hewer. “If the narrative seemed suspect, the police were equally unhelpful. They declined to share significant details of their investigation with the Brettlers, and what they did make available gave the grieving parents more cause for worry: It seemed the case was being bungled — or worse, intentionally sidelined. Rachelle and Matthew soon realized they’d have to do their own legwork and uncover their own answers. It’s largely their journey that Keefe, a friend of the Brettlers, chronicles so meticulously in London Falling. Fans of rigorous reporting, multilayered true-crime stories, and portraits of families in crisis will find something to love in this tour de force.”

Alaska Literary Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry, edited by Marybeth Holleman, Nancy Lord, and Shaelene Grace Moler (Skipstone). Reviewed by Tara Campbell. “The most immediately striking feature of the guide is its full-color format, showing the artwork off to its greatest advantage. The imagery accompanying each entry is vibrant and precise in depicting the state’s diverse regions and lifeforms (except for a tiny blip in which a halibut is rendered with its eyes on the left instead of the right). The work of 20 different artists has been curated for an overall effect of warmth and fullness. The visuals alone are worth the price of the book.”

The Shock of the Light: A Novel by Lori Inglis Hall (Pamela Dorman Books). Reviewed by D.A. Spruzen. “Compellingly presented and beautifully written, The Shock of the Light is a story of heroism, the barbaric toll of war, and the unbreakable bond of twins. It mines the uplifting spirit of love and redemption that can arise amid extreme circumstances. This meticulously researched book is at once informative and engaging. Theo and Tessa will linger in the reader’s memory long after the last page has been turned.”

Sisters in Yellow: A Novel by Mieko Kawakami; translated by Laurel Taylor and Hitomi Yoshio (Knopf). Reviewed by Madeleine de Visé. “Mieko Kawakami’s Sisters in Yellow is one of those novels that raise their audience for slaughter. I lay still as a corpse after I finished it, both hands clasped to my copy as I considered the life I was leaving behind: the story’s still-beating heart. At over 400 pages, it is neither Kawakami’s longest novel nor her most disturbing, yet I found myself gasping for air between one wrenching scene and the next. Tension radiates from the page like oppressive heat, forcing the reader’s nose to the grindstone alongside Hana, the narrator, who never seems to catch a break.”

The Keeper: A Novel by Tana French (Viking). Reviewed by Bob Duffy. “French has written 10 successful novels, the first five of which fall squarely in the realm of character-driven crime fiction. The more recent — including this series — involve crimes or serious transgressions that demand unraveling. But they also bristle with the deepened attention to character portrayal more often associated with literary fiction. Most prominent on this measure: French’s interest in and insight into her characters’ psychology go beyond the immediate exigencies of plot progression that motor the standard whodunit.”

Those Who Are About to Die: A Day in the Life of a Roman Gladiator by Harry Sidebottom (Knopf). Reviewed by Peggy Kurkowski. “From the rousing to the ribald, Sidebottom hews closely to ancient Greek and Latin sources and, like a seasoned codebreaker, unlocks long-ago texts to bring their wit, grit, and humanity to his narrative. The level of scholarship is impressive and multifarious: from eyewitness accounts and tombstone inscriptions to sculptures, frescoes, and excavated mosaic pieces, Sidebottom explains what is happening in a given image or inscription in a direct yet playful way that’s easy for contemporary readers to absorb and enjoy.”

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