On the shelves — Nov. 1

The following books are available for checkout at:

Clovis-Carver Public Library

“Capital Dames: The Civil War and the Women of Washington 1848-1868,” by Cokie Roberts introduces the resilient and remarkable women who chronicled their experiences as nurses, supply organizers, relief workers and journalists in the nation's capital during the four-year conflict that determined the future of the United States.

“The Tree Rings' Tale: Understanding Our Changing Climate,” by John Fleck combines classic climatology with oceanography, meteorology, geology, archaeology and even astronomy to address the important guiding principle of climate variability. Hands-on activities, using some of the same processes scientists use, help readers unravel more about how our world works.

“The Favored Daughter,” The biography of Fawzia Koofi reveals how abuse, murders of close family and exploitative regimes drive her to become an activist for Afghani women's and children's rights, and how one person making strong and right choices every day can bring change.

“Lash Up,” by Larry Bond involves Ray McConnell, an engineer at the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems command, races to design, build, and launch an armed spacecraft capable of knocking space weapons out of the sky in response to China's attack on American GPS satellites.

“Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase,” by Louise Walters. Roberta, a lonely young woman, has a habit of keeping odds and ends. Discovering a letter inside a suitcase of old books, she finds hints of a dark secret that completely upturns her once confident understanding of her family history.

“Wildfire in His Arms,” by Johanna Lindsey chronicles the passionate tale of Degan Grant, a dangerous gunfighter running from his past, who must hunt down a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at bay, all while escorting a beautiful and spirited outlaw to her hanging.

Portales Public Library

“Depraved Heart,” by Patricia Cornwell

Dr. Kay Scarpetta loves her niece Lucy Farenelli as if she were her own daughter and raised her herself. When she receives an alarming alert on her phone in the midst of working on a crime scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Scarpetta is shocked to see a video that includes surveillance film of Lucy taken nearly twenty years ago when Lucy was at the FBI Academy from a camera planted in her room. The clip and various others soon to follow lead Scarpetta to learn terrible secrets about her beloved, brilliant niece and leave her unable to decide what to do or who to tell. As the video evidence involving dangerous legal situations piles up against Lucy, Scarpetta knows that she can't tell either her partner, Pete Marinon, or her husband, FBI agent Benton Wesley, and least of all Lucy, until she has all the facts and figures out who is sending her the footage and what to do with it. When the FBI finds out, investigators immediately begin building a case against Lucy that could end up sending her to prison for the rest of her life. Scarpetta suspects the real culprit who planted the camera and sent her the videos is none other than her old nemesis, Carrie Grethen.

“Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer,” by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase — cousin to Percy Jackson's girlfriend Annabeth Chase — has been living on the streets in Boston for two years hiding from his family and the police after his mother was killed in a mysterious fire, in which he swears he saw wolves. Now on his 16th birthday, Magnus learns that his rich and eccentric Uncle Randolph, whom his mother warned him to stay away from, is looking for him. Randolph is claiming that Magnus's life is in danger, and that his only hope is to retrieve an ancient Norse sword that is buried deep in the wreckage of a Viking ship under one of Boston's rivers. Randolph claims the Norse myths are true and that Magnus is the son of a god, but as soon as they find the sword, they are attacked by a fire giant on a bridge, surrounded by innocent civilians. Trying to protect the civilians, Magnus attempts to fight the giant with the sword but dies and is taken to the Hotel Valhala by his own personal Valkyrie named Sam, in reward for his brave deed. As it turns out, Magnus is in fact the son of a Norse god, and he has been chosen to fight in Odin's army to prevent Ragnarok and protect the Nine Worlds from utter destruction. Magnus may have died, but his story is just beginning.

“Corrupted,” by Lisa Scottoline

Thirteen years ago, 12-year-old Jason Lefkavick gets in trouble at school for getting in a fight with bully Richie Grusini in the cafeteria. The school principal's strict regime of anti-violence — regardless of if it is self-defense — sent Jason to court as punishment. Defense Attorney Bennie Rosato was hired to help Jason but couldn’t free him. Jason was sent to juvenile prison, spending the rest of his teen years in and out of the system. Bennie has always regretted not being able to save Jason from what she believed was a drastic conviction for a child, especially because Jason's adult life has not been much better than his childhood. When Jason is arrested for allegedly murdering his old bully Richie, she feels obligated to defend him once again. Jason claims that he is innocent, and although Bennie can't decide whether or not to believe him, she feels responsible for the course his life has taken. Although she doesn't take murder cases anymore, she makes an exception for Jason, despite knowing that she will have to relive the darkest part of her life in order to find the truth.

— Summaries by library staff