The Cartographers

 The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

What a riveting story...if you're open to a bit of magical realism. At the first sign of it I was inclined to roll my eyes, but once I reminded myself that I read fiction because I want to experience different realities and stretch my imagination, I settled in to enjoy the story. And then I had a hard time putting it down. 

Nell Young, cartographer, was fired from her job at the New York Public Library by her own father after they disagreed on the value of some old maps. Seven years later, when her father is found dead in his office, Nell finds one of those maps hidden in his locked desk drawer and sets out to discover why it was significant to him. What she uncovers is beyond anything she could have imagined - a stunning family secret, a conspiracy of silence that threatens to become dangerous, and an empty town that exists in defiance of the laws of physics. 

I was drawn to this book by the promise of maps and libraries, but with its unusual plot and mounting tension it was even better than I expected. Good reading.    

Angel Landing

Angel Landing by Alice Hoffman

Natalie is a therapist whose lawyer boyfriend, Carter, heads up an environmental group opposed to a nearby nuclear power plant, the same power plant recently damaged by a small explosion that put it out of commission.

Michael, an employee of the plant, walks into Natalie's office soon afterwards and confesses to having deliberately caused the explosion, albeit not for environmental or political reasons. 

Things get complicated when Natalie begins to fall for Michael, risking her career and her relationship with Carter. Carter agrees to defend Michael, remaining oblivious to Natalie's feelings. 

An interesting premise, but I found the characters unrelatable, even unlikable. Finishing it only to see how it ended, I'd give it a 2 out of 5.