The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I'm always reluctant to start a book that everyone raves about. My expectations were very high. But this one was worth the great reviews. It takes place in the 60's in Mississippi, and the characters are so real you feel you know them all. The racial issues of this time and place are handled so well by the author. I really loved this book. - June

The Likeness by Tana French

It's all about the characters. The plot is a bit bizarre, but if you overlook some of the coincidences and focus in on the interaction between the characters, this is a great book. It takes place in Ireland, and the central character is a female cop who goes undercover to solve a murder. She has to take on the life of the murder victim to do this, and it's fascinating to hear how she manages to do this. Recommend this one! - June