The Bookies Bookstore suggests books on pups, murder and politics

Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from book stores across Colorado. This week, the staff from The Bookies Bookstore in Denver recommends meditations on dogs, a deadly tourist trap and teenagers in political power.

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From the publisher: Beloved authors celebrate the life-changing bond with their canine companions in this heartwarming essay collection edited by New York Times bestselling author and lifelong dog lover Alice Hoffman. Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to share their life with a dog knows the experience is both profound and transformative. Here, in this charming collection of essays, 14 celebrated authors share unforgettable tales of the dogs who left their pawprints on their hearts.

With contributions from Isabel Allende, Chris Bohjalian, Bonnie Garmus, Roxane Gay, Emily Henry, Ann Leary, Tova Mirvis, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Strout, Amy Tan, Adriana Trigiani, Nick Trout, Paul Yoon, and Laura Zigman, “The Best Dog in the World” captures the full range of the canine-human connection, from the joy of welcoming a new puppy to the heartache of saying goodbye to a beloved friend.

From Judy, bookseller: A heartwarming collection of stories about beloved dogs and their quirky personalities. Written by many of your favorite authors, I’ve been listening to the audio book which is narrated by two narrators who really bring the stories to life. If you are or ever were a dog owner, make sure to keep a box of tissues close at hand!

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From the publisher: Cape Carnage is a seaside town of colorful houses, quirky shops, and an unusually high body count. With tourists comes trouble, and Harper Starling won’t let anyone ruin her picture-perfect home. A skilled gardener with killer instincts, Harper protects her sanctuary — and her aging mentor with a fading memory — at any cost. Troublesome tourists don’t check out of Carnage. They compost beneath Harper’s award-winning flowerbeds.

But Nolan Rhodes isn’t your average tourist. Devilishly handsome, disarmingly charming, and skilled with a blade, Nolan is relentless in the pursuit of revenge. On every anniversary of the hit-and-run accident that fractured his life, Nolan slays another target. And he’s saved the best for last: the undeniably beautiful Harper Starling. The problem? Harper isn’t the monster he expected. And she won’t go down without a fight.

When an amateur true crime investigator comes to Cape Carnage on the trail of a long-lost serial killer, Harper and Nolan strike an uneasy truce. If Nolan helps Harper protect her town, she’ll keep quiet about his hunting habits . . . for now. But their alliance soon spirals into obsession, one that threatens to shatter every secret in Carnage — including their fragile love.

From Krystal, events coordinator: Now out in paperback, “Tourist Season” is book #1 in The Seasons of Carnage trilogy and can be described as a seaside rom com with murder vibes. It is full of the dark humor, wit, and questionable choices readers have come to love from Brynne Weaver, and even has a cameo mention of our favorite characters in Butcher and Blackbird. It is not for the squeamish, but will have you chuckling, shaking your head, and excited to jump right into the sequel, which releases in June. 

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From the publisher: America is on the brink of collapse, and the youth have lost all faith in their leaders. As a pivotal election approaches, Benton Young, a high school senior trying to impress a girl, impulsively uploads a video, daring everyone to interfere with the vote and write him in for President. The video explodes online, igniting election chaos and a national revolt, until the Supreme Court intervenes to put Benton in the White House. Galvanized by Benton’s rise, more global youth take to the streets, and more governments fall, until eight of the world’s most powerful nations are led by teenagers.

When these young leaders convene at their first summit in Sweden, they face the monumental task of setting a new course for history. But the first night, their unity is shattered when a leader is murdered in cold blood . . . and Benton is the only suspect. Hunted by enemies young and old, he must untangle a deadly web of secrets, betrayal, and power plays—while the future of the world hangs in the balance.

From Krista, store manager: Have you ever crushed on someone so hard you got elected President?

While this book may be marketed to teens, it’s every bit as readable as an adult. Sometimes the story hits too close to home, envisioning how the world would actually respond to teenagers in power, but it presents a hopeful future for anyone longing for revolution. And don’t worry, the politics don’t get too overwhelming as a murder investigation turns everything on its head making for a thrilling book from beginning to end.

Type of Story: Review

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