Five picks for January

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.

Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin (fiction) – This delightful tale centers around nonagenarian Eddie Winston who stays busy by volunteering at a charity shop in Birmingham, UK, where he sorts through the donations that arrive to the shop, occasionally selecting sentimental items to take home in case the owners return for their items. When 24-year-old Bella visits the shop to donate her recently deceased boyfriend’s belongings, the two strike up a touching friendship. Once Bella learns that Eddie has never been kissed, she sets out to change that by aiding him in signing up for a senior dating app and serving as his wingman. The relationship between Bella and Eddie is so endearing, and I loved that Cronin flipped the standard generational roles so that Bella was the one dealing with the loss of a loved one and Eddie was looking for his first kiss. Eddie has cemented his spot as one of my favorite fictional characters, and readers will be wishing they had an Eddie in their life. Chock full of humor and beautiful characters, Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love is a gem from start to finish. This one will appeal to those of all ages who like stories about found family and finding community as well as the importance of human connection.

Head Cases by John McMahon (mystery/thriller) – The Patterns and Recognition team (“PAR”) at the FBI, derogatorily referred to as the Head Cases by other FBI agents, is hunting a killer who is slowly murdering other serial killers and leaving clues and riddles for the PAR team to decipher. Their intelligent leader, Gardner Camden, is neurodivergent and often struggles to effectively interact with others. The unit is composed of outcast agents, all misfits who have been assigned there because something they worked on previously went sideways, but each is also incredibly bright. The quirky characters are well crafted, the mystery is a puzzler, and the twists and turns are so engaging. And while the focus is on finding the killer, McMahon does a wonderful job weaving in details about the characters’ personal lives and what makes them tick. This is the start to a new series, and I am already excited for book two. Head Cases is a good fit for people who like intelligent mysteries with unique protagonists.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (historical fiction) – In each of her books, Fiona Davis selects an iconic building in New York City as the setting, and The Stolen Queen takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This fast-paced dual timeline tale is set in 1936 Egypt where Charlotte Cross is participating in an archaeological dig. While there she discovers historical artifacts connected to an ancient female pharaoh, but when tragedy strikes, she leaves Egypt, planning never to return. In 1978 Manhattan, Charlotte is the associated curator of the Department of Egyptian Artifacts at the Met, tasked with working on the Met Gala, where things go awry when one of the museum’s most valuable pieces goes missing. Teaming up with Annie, a personal assistant to Diana Vreeland who is chairing the gala, Charlotte realizes she must return to the one place she swore she never would. Davis tackles numerous timely topics including how women have been marginalized in history, the importance of reclaiming their contributions, and the repatriation of stolen or looted artifacts and the issues that result. The behind-the-scenes glimpses into the Met’s operations and collections is fascinating, and the strong sense of place for both Egypt and the museum will transport the reader to both locales. Historical fiction fans and art lovers will thoroughly enjoy this one.

The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren (historical fiction) – Narrated in the first person, The Unexpected Diva is a fictionalized account of the life of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, a Black opera singer in pre-Civil War America. Raised in the safety of Pennsylvania’s Quaker community, her life drastically changes when her white adoptive mother dies and her family disputes Eliza’s inheritance and wins. Her extraordinary three-octave voice allows her to defy societal norms to pursue her dream of becoming a professional opera singer, gaining acclaim as “the Black Swan” in the United States and Europe. While the book’s main focus is Eliza’s story, it also depicts what it was like for Black citizens in pre-Civil War America, regardless of where they lived. Black patrons were often not allowed to attend Eliza’s concerts even in the North and, when they could, protestors were out in full force. Slave traders came from the southern states to trap slaves or other Black people who had fled the south – anyone who was Black (even free Blacks) could be grabbed by these traders and sold to plantations. Choosing to tell the story from Eliza’s perspective was effective, making the story feel deeply personal and allowing readers to glimpse how Eliza perceived her success and travails. This book will appeal to anyone who likes to learn about someone forgotten by history as well as those who love to be transported to another time period.

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange (fiction) – The queen of compelling family dramas returns with her best novel yet, a story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Several years earlier, Kyle McCray fled his hometown of Potsdam, New York leaving his ex-wife and father behind. When his father suffers a stroke, Kyle reluctantly returns to help, but dreads his homecoming after abandoning his family and the town. As the story toggles between the past and the present, Kyle’s life with his wife Casey unfolds in both timelines. While home he also gets drawn into coaching the middle-school hockey team, and these scenes in the story are standouts. Lange’s relatable, everyday characters who struggle to make their way in the world will resonate with readers who will see themselves in the people she writes. The themes of grief, mental health, relationships, aging, and community that are woven throughout the book are evergreen and relevant to everyone. Have tissues ready, because What Happened to the McCrays? is a tear-jerker at times. It will be a great fit for fans of family dramas and compelling stories. 

Editor’s note: Book reviewer Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column. She hosts an award-winning book podcast entitled Thoughts from a Page Podcast www.thoughtsfromapage.com, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfrompage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.