The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti

I was pleasantly surprised by this gothic story about a one-handed boy named Ren, who is raised in a Catholic orphanage and adopted by a con artist mere months before his caretakers planned to consign him to the army. Although the monks question why anyone would want to adopt a boy with only one hand, Ren's savior, Benjamin Nab, weaves a convincing tale about Ren being his long lost brother who lost his hand when their family was attacked by indians. Benjamin saved him and placed the infant at the orphanage gates before heading off avenge their slaughtered family, which explains why it's only now that Benjamin has been able to return for the boy. The story isn't true - Benjamin is a con artist, after all - but the monks believe him and Ren's adventures with a dark world of schemes, ruthless mousetrap-manufacturing barons, chimney-dwelling dwarves and black-market doctors begins. He learns to lie and swindle with the best of them, yet never loses sight of his innate goodness, which reveals itself in untimely prayers and even a desire to save the soul of a murder unearthed during a grave digging expedition. Overall this 19th century New England tale is an unexpected and enchanting tale of gothic adventure.

One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell

I loved HBO's adaptation of "Sex and the City", but until now I had never read a book by Candace Bushnell. After reading "One Fifth Avenue" I wish I hadn't waited so long. She's a gifted writer, seamlessly blending vibrant characters and an engaging storyline with social critique. One fifth avenue is the address of an exclusive New York City building, and each of the characters in this story has a particular relationship with it. Lola Fabrikant, a recent college graduate who's greatest desire is having money and hobnobbing with the famous, believes living in the building will bring her one step closer to fame, while Philip Oakland, a Pulitzer prize winning author, has lived in the building his entire life and takes his privileged lifestyle for granted. Then there is Mindy Gooch, who lives in what used to be one fifth's servants quarters - it was the best she and her husband could afford, but she never stops envying the wealth of other residents and wishing she too could live a life of luxury. She has a particularly explosive relationship with Paul Rice, a hedge fund manager who recently came into money and harbors a tremendous sense of entitlement, despite his wife's best efforts to reign him in. Altogether the characters in this book are richly complex - they challenge you to question your own beliefs about money, fame and what it means to live a meaningful life in a materialistic society.

The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss

"The Whiskey Rebels" is one of those rare historical novels that plunges readers deep into its chosen era and fills the imagination with characters that leap off the page. Set in post-revolutionary America (late 1700's) David Liss tells a tale of intrigue, politics and unrequited love through the eyes of two characters: Joan Maycott and Ethan Saunders. Joan is an intelligent, headstrong woman who transforms before our eyes from a doe-eyed teenager who dreams of writing novels, to an iron-backed revolutionary obsessed with revenge. Along the way her path crosses with that of Ethan Saunders, a disgraced officer who once served as General Washington's most valuable spy. After being falsely accused of treason Ethan's military career came to an end, and he spent the next several years wallowing in drink, women, and sorrow over the knowledge that his one-time fiancée married another man. When Joan and Ethan finally meet their mutual passion and disparate loyalties draw them into a plot that could ruin the nation. Based on the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 and incorporating characters such as Alexander Hamilton, William Duer and Aaron Burr, the novel does a marvelous job of weaving fiction and history. I found myself walking a little faster on my way to the train, so eager was I to dive back into the story during my daily commute.

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

I can hardly believe I?m saying this, but Philippa Gregory?s newest novel, ?The Other Queen,? was a tremendous disappointment. Partly this is because the main character, Mary Queen of Scots, is difficult to connect with. By page 150 her only contribution to the story - aside from a brief and unsuccessful escape attempt - is a series of journal entries about her distaste for nearly everyone, her own divinity, and how unfair her situation is. She is not a sympathetic character or even someone you hope will prevail in the end. The novel covers Mary?s long imprisonment in England, brought about by a rebellion of the Scottish nobles. She flees to England but is quickly placed in custody because, as the Catholic queen believed by many to be the legitimate heir to England?s throne, she is too dangerous to set free. (Read the rest of this review...)