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In the Stacks is a weekly newspaper column by librarian Kathy Ward that highlights parts of the Juneau Public Library's collection by topic. You can browse these columns by date or by topic.

“Shadow of the Hegemon,” by Orson Scott Card, read by a cast.
If you’ve read “Ender’s Game” and wonder what happened after the Bugger War, dive into this follow-up. Petra and Bean have returned to Earth with other soldiers from the war and are welcomed back into their families with varying degrees of success. Peter, though, has plans for the returned children, and soon it becomes clear that he isn’t the only one. (unabridged)

“Last Refuge of Scoundrels,” by Paul Lussier, read by George Guidall.
This tongue-in-cheek novel of the American fight for independence has been compared to Dickens. In this twisted history, the American Revolution is made possible by a patriotic prostitute and her lover (an aide to General Washington), who start some guerrilla warfare with the help of washerwomen and cooks. (unabridged)

“Motherless Brooklyn,” by Jonathan Lethem, read by Frank Muller.
Unfortunately, Lionel Essrog has Tourette’s Syndrome; fortunately, he was picked by Frank Minna to join his “family” as an orphaned teen. Now Lionel is a detective of sorts and a performer of odd jobs in Minna’s business, along with the other boys from the Home. When his boss and father-figure is stabbed to death, Lionel goes on a quest to find the killer. (unabridged)

“Eye of the Needle,” by Ken Follett, read by Graeme Malcolm.
As the Allies prepare an elaborate ruse to divert Hitler’s attention in the weeks before D-Day, one German agent discovers the truth. As Faber races across England towards his homeland, he is followed by a British Military Intelligence Officer who will risk everything to stop him. (unabridged)

“Harm Done,” by Ruth Rendell, read by Davina Porter.
A convicted pedophile is released from prison into a low-income housing complex and residents are enraged. Two young women disappear from the area, each returning after a few days, each with no memory of where she was. And Inspector Wexford is sent in to investigate … (unabridged)

“Cuba Libre,” by Elmore Leonard, read by George Guidall.
Ben Tyler stands on unlikely high moral ground: he is a bank robber who only steals from people who owe him money but refuse to pay. When he runs into Charlie Burke, a horse buyer, the two team up to bring horses, guns, and money into Cuba. High adventure, romance, and American history combine to create a witty and compelling story set at the beginning of the Spanish-American War. (unabridged)

“The Vendetta Defense,” by Lisa Scottoline, read by Barbara Rosenblat.
When lawyer Judy Carrier lands a spectacular defense case, the last thing she wants to hear from her client is a confession. Yes, Pigeon Tony says, he murdered Angelo Coluzzi, but only after Angelo raped and murdered Tony’s wife, destroyed Tony’s children, and threatened his grandson’s life. Isn’t there a defense strategy that Judy can use? And the Vendetta Defense is born. (unabridged)

“The First Eagle,” and “Hunting Badger,” by Tony Hillerman, read by George Guidall.
Two back-to-back mysteries featuring Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police. In “Eagle,” when a young Hopi man is found standing over the bleeding corpse of a police officer, Chee knows exactly what’s happened. So does Leaphorn, but neither of their ideas match what the FBI thinks is going on. In “Badger,” the two get a second chance at the cop killers from “Badger” when a casino on the Ute reservation is robbed. The thieves are believed to be hiding in the same area as the murderers - can Chee and Leaphorn bridge the gap between police forces to nap the criminals this time? (unabridged)

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