Biblio files: Book reviews by Ruth Freeman

"The Chalk Girl" is the new Carol O'Connell novel featuring Mallory, the enigmatic NYPD detective who has anchored this series. It's been five years since we last read about Mallory, and she continues to draw us in as she uses her prodigious brain and computer skills to solve a bizarre series of crimes. Her partners are there to humanize her rather robotic approach. O'Connell is on the razor's edge of making Mallory almost too extreme, let's hope she draws back a bit before her heroine seems like a cartoon.

It's always fun to review local talent and "Caseus," the cookbook from the New Haven fromagerie and bistro of that name, is certainly deserving of the attention. The photographs are mouth-watering and the authors' cheese expertise is a nice addition to the wonderful recipes. The lamb kabobs with lemon quinoa and goat cheese tzatziki is a favorite. We guarantee you will find something to make within these pages.

"The Leopard," by Jo Nesbo, continues the saga of Harry Hole, the now very weary Oslo detective who has chased down his share of macabre serial killers and is exhausted -- physically and spiritually. He will have no rest in this book either, as an increasingly gruesome series of murders bedevils the small squad he has been convinced to join. The writing is the draw here; Nesbo is a brilliant wordsmith. A strong sense of place makes the Oslo setting a star.

The new Michael Robotham mystery is called "Bleed for Me." A murdered detective, a blood-covered daughter, and the possibility of an arch villain preying on young girls makes for a lively read. There is not a new plot twist, but lots of edgy dialogue and a real understanding of the parent/child dynamic makes this book different. O'Loughlin is the psychologist afflicted with Parkinson's Disease, who is called on to try and determine where the truth lies.

"The Journal of Best Practices," by David Finch, is potentially enlightening for all of us trying to communicate within relationships, not just those diagnosed with Asperger's like the author. His marriage failing, he begins the challenging process of course correction. As he and his wife grow to understand the limitations of Asperger's, they work to strengthen personality traits that are positive. This is a brave book, with lots of good humor throughout, as well.

"The Girl in the Blue Beret," by Bobbie Ann Mason, is a fantastic book. She has based the plot on the actual escape of her WWII pilot father-in-law, who was shot down in France and taken to safety by the resistance chain that operated throughout Belgium, France and Spain. Marshall Stone is the pilot in the novel, newly retired from a commercial flying career and trying to find the people who saved his life decades earlier. He is a fully realized, imperfect character struggling to understand the past in an effort to create a way forward now that he is no longer a pilot.

"A Train in Winter," by Caroline Moorehead, is the true story of a group of women in the French Resistance. Their ring is betrayed and they are shipped off to Dancy, then Auschwitz. As many books as you may have read about the concentration camps, it is always amazing to rediscover the heroism of the inmates and the tragic circumstances of their captivity. These intrepid women help each other through the endless deprivations and torture. It's very inspiring to hear their stories.

"Elizabeth the Queen," by Sally Bledell Smith, is one of a number of biographies out in time for the Queen's jubilee celebration. It's an overview of the 60-year British monarchy. Elizabeth never planned to play out her entire adult life as a reigning monarch, but the early death of her father catapulted the young bride onto the throne. Without sensationalizing, Bledell does a good job of covering the ups and downs of her reign.

The new Penelope Lively book, "How it all Began," starts with the tantalizing premise of the ripple effect of a single event, in this case the mugging of Charlotte. Lively is a very fine writer and such a pleasure to read. The book does not strain for coincidences, and the underlying humor makes this book a joy. Full of insightful commentary on reading, aging and thoughtful reflections on our connections, or lack therof, this is a highly recommended read.

We have lots of good books for "Downton Abbey" fans who have gotten interested in WWI. "The World in Winter," by Carol Lee, "Birdsong," by Sebastian Faulks, "In Pale Battalions," by Robert Goddard, and of course "All Quiet on the Western Front," by Erich Remarque, all increase a reader's understanding of the war, while providing very involving reads. Charles Todd has written a new Inspector Rutledge mystery, "The Confession," which is guaranteed to cement his place as a chronicler of the war's aftermath. The Maisie Dobbs series, by Jacqueline Winspeare, is another window into post-war life in the UK.

Ruth Freeman is the reader adviser for the

Rowayton Library.