Dear Great Book Guru, Now that we coming to the last weeks of summer, I realize I have not reached my goal of reading ten books by August 31- I’m one short. At the Sea Cliff Civic Association’s Gatsby Great Gala at Foster’s this week, people were talking about a debut novel – a courtroom drama of sorts but more a study of sibling interactions. Thoughts? Gatsby Gala Guest Dear Gatsby Gala Guest, HOLLOW SPACES by Victor Suthammanont is the book for you! The novel opens with John Lo waiting for the jury to come back with a verdict on murder charge. John is the only Asian American partner in a prestigious New York City law firm, and there is strong evidence to believe racism is playing a part in the case. We very quickly learn he is acquitted and then are transported thirty years forward. His daughter, Brennan, and son, Hunter, who were young children at the time of the trial, are meeting for the first time in four years. Brennan has followed her father’s career path and is on partner track at another law firm and Hunter is a war time journalist who travels the world. Brennan has always believed her father was unfairly accused while Hunter is sure he was guilty of the murder. This has caused the siblings to be estranged, and it is only their mother’s ill health that brings them together now. As they reminisce about the past, they begin to see how traumatized they have been by that long ago jury decision. They decide they must join together to fill in those “hollow spaces” and learn the truth. Highly recommended!

 Dear Great Book Guru, I’m sitting on my porch this evening looking out over my neighbor’s beautiful garden (really…who needs a water view) finishing up a great book you recommended a few weeks ago - Robert Baird’s THE NIMBUS, but as always, I’m looking for my next read - a psychological mystery if possible.  Lover of Porches

Dear Lover of Porches, I have the perfect book for you - Megan Abbot’s latest: EL DORADO DRIVE. The streets in mythical El Dorado were paved with gold and the residents of this Detroit suburb where the novel is set saw their golden lives destroyed when the American car industry crashed in the early 2000’s.  Highly paid executives, lawyers, and engineers found their careers abruptly ended and their fortunes decimated. Families had to adjust to the new reality, and the women of El Dorado Drive join together to find a way out of this financial abyss…or so they think. The story focuses on the Bishop sisters - Pam, Debra, and Harper – and their involvement with the Wheel - a play on the collapsing auto industry. But the Wheel is basically a pyramid scheme. The sisters and their friends pledge $5000 each with a “gift” to be bestowed on a lucky woman each week. Of course, this works only as new members can be found. Starting out as women supporting women during hard times, the plan quickly deteriorates into a “Lord of the Flies” scenario. As we learn the stories of these desperate women, our sympathy grows even though we know there are no streets of gold in their futures - highly recommended!   

Dear Great Book Guru, I was at Matt’s Deli (formerly Arata’s) having a delicious breakfast with friends when the discussion turned to books. We were swapping recent favorites when someone mentioned a new book about twins, time travel, and multiple endings - sort of like the Choose Your Own Adventure novel series.  Have you heard of it? Lover of Matt’s Deli

Dear Lover of Matt’s Deli, I am a huge fan of Matt’s too! THE CATCH by Yrsa Daley-Ward is an interesting mix of all the elements you mention and more. The story opens in the present with Clara, a celebrity author, recounting the huge success of her latest novel, EVIDENCE. The next chapter introduces us to her twin sister, Dempsey, who is struggling as a data entry clerk living in a shabby London apartment. We learn the women were orphaned as infants when their mother drowned herself in the Thames River thirty years ago. Adopted into two very different families – Clara to a wealthy, upper class couple and Dempsey to a mean-spirited difficult city councilor - the women have been estranged for many years.  On the day of their thirtieth birthday, Clara sees a woman she insists is their mother shoplifting a Rolex watch. Even more bizarrely, the woman looks about thirty years old. Clara rushes to share this information with Dempsey who is skeptical at best.  Soon the woman, named Serena, has insinuated herself into their lives and things become more and more sinister. Along the way, we meet a myriad of colorful characters from the past and present as the sisters struggle to find out who Serena is and what happened thirty years ago.  A puzzling but compelling read… recommended.