Books for summer reading: Recommendations from NPR staff members
In the world of crime fiction, S. A. Cosby's "King of Ashes" stands out as a dark, suspenseful tale that masterfully blends a personal family saga with a gritty crime thriller. The story centres around Roman Carruthers, a Black wealth management professional who returns to his hometown in Virginia after his younger brother Dante incurs a dangerous debt with a violent drug gang known as the Black Baron Boys.
Recommended by Barrie Hardymon, a senior editor at Investigations, and Melissa Gray, WEEKEND EDITION senior producer, "King of Ashes" presents a compelling narrative about a family pulled into violence and desperation in a corrupt Southern town. Roman, initially using his business acumen to resolve the crisis, quickly learns that the gang operates with ruthless violence, pulling him and his family into a downward spiral of danger and moral compromise.
The novel delves deep into the Carruthers family dynamics, particularly Roman's tense relationship with his weak-willed brother Dante, who mismanages a large amount of heroin and ecstasy borrowed from the gang, leading to their father's serious injury in a hit-and-run. Roman's sister Neveah and the siblings are also haunted by the disappearance of their mother years earlier, a mystery that shapes their emotional lives.
"King of Ashes" is praised for its well-crafted characters who inhabit morally grey areas, and for its intense, suspenseful narrative. The writing vividly portrays the struggle of returning home to face past traumas and present threats, as well as the transformation of Roman from a slick professional to someone capable of cold-blooded action to protect his family.
The story spins and spins to a violent, dark, and ultimately satisfying conclusion. Along the way, Cosby namesdrops rural Virginia place names, including Mathews and Gloucester, adding authenticity to the setting.
For those seeking a different kind of narrative, Katie Kitamura's "Audition" offers a psychological thriller and an inventive exercise in storytelling. The novel begins in 1989, when a group of East German refugees are amassing on the border, bringing back unpleasant memories for the villagers of Darkenbloom, an Austrian village on the border of Hungary featured in Eva Menasse's "Darkenbloom", another novel recommended by Barrie Hardymon.
In contrast, "Animal Instinct" by Amy Shearn, recommended by Sarah Handel, takes a different tone. The story is set in the summer and has a spicy narrative, following Rachel, a woman stuck inside her Brooklyn apartment at the start of the COVID-19 shutdowns. Rachel craves everything from flirting to full-on sex after her divorce, and starts to think about creating the perfect AI partner who would always say just the right thing.
Each of these novels offers a unique and engaging reading experience, taking readers on a journey through morally complex characters, suspenseful narratives, and intriguing settings. Whether you're drawn to the gritty noir of "King of Ashes" or the psychological thriller of "Audition", or the summery spice of "Animal Instinct", there's a compelling story waiting to be discovered.
In the realm of literature, one can explore diverse and captivating narratives, such as "King of Ashes" that delves into the lifestyle of a family entangled in a crime saga set in Virginia, or Katie Kitamura's "Audition" offering a psychological thriller and an insight into the fashion-and-beauty of the 1980s. For those preferring a lighter tone, "Animal Instinct" by Amy Shearn sets themes of books and entertainment in the summery setting of COVID-19 shutdowns, focusing on the story of a woman seeking companionship in unconventional ways. These books, recommended by various critics such as Barrie Hardymon and Melissa Gray, promise an engaging and unforgettable reading journey.
