by Doug Dorst

 Get ready for some local action as we follow the story of Michael Mercer, a rookie cop for the Colma Police Department.  The twenty-nine year old man was floundering around in go nowhere jobs until he finally finds his calling as a Police Officer.  He feels very comfortable because he can go by "The Book" as an officer.  He has a long time relationship with Fiona, a nurse 13 years his senior, that is going nowhere.  Michael just can't commit! Things change for Michael when he discovers a near dead teenager in Greenlawn Cemetary who had been bound and gagged.  The teen, Jude DiMaio,  the son of a famous San Francisco movie director, claims he doesn't remember a thing about the incident or the people who did this to him.  Michael takes an interest in the boy and the DiMaio parents take an interest in Michael since he saved their son's life.  Meanwhile, back in the cemetary, a band of ruthless ghosts are tormenting other more peaceful spirits who inhabit the cemetary.  The ghosts are based on real-life people who are buried in Greenlawn such as aviator Lincoln Beachey and notorious criminal Doc Barker.  Michael is one of the two police officers capable of seeing the ghosts.  However, Officer Featherstone was killed by the ghosts and Michael is on his own in ridding the cemetary of these shady (pun intended) guys.  Jude's situation worsens as he becomes more involved with drug users and Michael once again saves the boy's life.  I really enjoyed this book.  A bit of a mystery and a bit of a fantasy, this book is also a funny and insightful story of the coming of age of both Michael and Jude.  Dorst has created some memorable interesting characters and, of course, the local angle is a lot of fun

Catherine Ryan Hyde's latest book, Chasing Windmills is a novel that appeals to teens and adults.  The story centers on two young New Yorkers who are both living in fear. Sebastian is 17 years old and lives with his controlling father who tries to keep him safe from the world by barely allowing him to leave their apartment except to go jogging. He has never seen a movie or even eaten a hot dog from a street vendor.  He has little memory of his mother who died when he was very young. Sebastian manages to leave the apartment at night while his father is deeply sleeping after popping a pill.  He meets 22 year old Maria on the subway and finds a soul mate. Maria has two young children by her abusive boyfriend, Carl.  She is riding the subway aimlessly so Carl will think she is at work though she had been recently laid off.  Sebastian and Maria gain courage through their friendship and, with the help of her sister and his only and unlikely friend, Delilah, break away from the abusive relationships.  They travel to the Mojave Desert with her toddler daughter to Sebastian's grandmother's home. Maria left her son behind with Carl, who is attached to the boy.  She soon realizes the depth of her mistake and returns with the help of two strong women to take custody of her son. The hundreds of "windmills" on Tehachapi Pass are the comforting early childhood memories of Sebastian's visit to his grandmother with his lone gone mother. They become a symbol of the joy life can hold. The two break free of their trapped lives and manage to find genuine love and friendship between themselves and the others who help them on their journey of discovery.  The novel references the parallel stories of “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story” as the two star-crossed lovers move toward “somewhere” better.  The author's simple prose and believable, interesting characters form a novel that rings true.

Margo Harrington, the lead character in Hellenga’s 1994 novel, Sixteen Pleasures, is a book conservator who came to Florence after the 1966 floods. She is now in her late fifties and has established a life in Florence. Margo faces the unusual experience of seeing her life turned into a motion picture. Her memoir, “Sixteen Pleasures”, told of her affair with an older Italian scholar and her discovery of a Renaissance book of erotic poetry. It is now being made into a film in her own neighborhood. Unknown to Margo, the producer has plans to make her intricate story into a popularized romantic comedy. The director, Michael, is terminally ill and is determined to produce a masterpiece.

The leading actress, 29-year old Miranda, is surprised and annoyed that the older Italian leading actor, a notorious ladies man, is not interested in her but in an older woman, Michael’s wife.

Okay, this sounds very soap opera-ish but it is a step above a trivia romance and a lot of fun to read. We learn a great deal about Italian life, movies, art and food. Also, The Italian Lover  has some very witty moments. So for lovers of all things Italian, what’s not to like?