Dear Great Book Guru, We were in Brooklyn recently and visited a great new book store Liz’s Book Bar, in Carroll Gardens.  Some of the customers were talking about a new book written by the owner of the store.  They were very enthusiastic, but I didn’t hear the title of the book.  Any idea? Brooklyn Bookstore Fan

Dear Brooklyn Bookstore Fan, I have been to Liz’s Book Bar too ( Liz is the owner’s grandmother) and read  Maura Cheeks’s debut novel ACTS OF FORGIVENESS.  Set in the near future, the nation is just about to pass the Forgiveness Act - a federal reparations bill by which Black families would be able to claim up to $175,000 if they could prove their ancestors were enslaved. Willie Revel is sure she can gather the necessary documentation but quickly finds there are many obstacles in her way.  The money would be a terrific boon to her and her young daughter as she struggles to save the family construction business from bankruptcy.  Her parents and siblings are not as eager as she is to delve into the past.  Her mother is adopted and uneasy about what might be discovered about her past. Her father is wary of government involvement and is fearful his past business deals could complicate the process. Meanwhile Willie’s young daughter – a scholarship student at an elite private school - dreads the attention her mother’s quest might bring.  The more Willie researches the past, the more she realizes how complicated both history and family can be.  A compelling read and highly recommended!

 Dear Great Book Guru, I am a great fan of Sea Cliff author Michael Sears and his novels with their colorful New York City and Long Island  backdrops. I’m hoping he has a new one in the works …. or possibly out already?    Mystery Maven

Dear Mystery Maven, You are in luck… LOVE THE STRANGER, Michael Sears’ latest book is out, and it is another spectacular take on life in New York City, especially the neighborhoods of Queens - from Hollis to Howard Beach to Astoria - “the most ethnically diverse urban area” in the world. Sears tells the story from the perspective of Ted Molloy, an attorney working to right the wrongs of a society that is brutal and opportunistic. He had been a partner in a high-end Manhattan law firm but his battle with real estate mogul Ronald Reisner brought that to an end. Reisner is known for his neighborhood destroying developments and his latest is a towering giant in Corona that would uproot a huge swath of immigrant families.  Stop the Spike is Molloy and his girl friend Kenzie’s attempt to save the neighborhood.  Aided by a collection of colorful employees and friends, the two encounter massive corruption on many levels. The plight of recent immigrants who are being victimized by unscrupulous attorneys is an intriguing subplot. Mohammed, a Yemini cab driver, Lester - Ted’s felon-turned-partner, the Collins Guards - an armed quasi military security force, all add to the richness of the story.  While there is no absence of mystery and violence, it is the character development and political messaging that make this novel stand out. Highly recommended!