On the shelves - Dec. 18

The books listed below are now available for checkout at the Clovis-Carver Public Library. The library is open to the public, but patrons can still visit the online catalog at cloviscarverpl.booksys.net/opac/ccpl or call 575-769-7840 to request a specific item for curbside pickup.

“Live, Local, and Dead: A Vermont Radio Mystery” by Nikki Knight. In a fit of anger, radio DJ Jaye Jordan blows a snowman’s head off with a Revolutionary War-style musket. But the corpse that tumbles out is all too human. Jaye thought life would be quieter when she left New York City and bought a tiny Vermont radio station. But now, Edwin Anger — the ranting and raving radio talk show host who Jaye recently fired — lies dead in the snow. And the Edwin Anger fans who protested his dismissal are sure she killed him.

“Paperback Jack” by Loren D. Estleman. 1946. Fresh from the War in Europe, writer Jacob Heppleman discovers a changed world back home. The pulp magazines he used to write for are dying, replaced by a revolutionary new publishing racket: paperback novels. Although scorned by the critics, the tawdry drugstore novels sell like hotcakes. As “Jack Holly,” Jacob finds success as the author of scandalously bestselling crime novels. He prides himself on the authenticity of his work, however, which means picking the brains of some less than reputable characters, including an Irish gangster who wants a cut of the profits – or else. Meanwhile, as Hollywood comes calling, the entire industry also comes under fire from censorious politicians out to tame the paperback jungle in the name of public morality. Targeted by both Congress and the Mob, Jay may end up the victim of his own success – unless he can write his way to a happier ending.

“The Wolf and the Woodsman” by Ava Reid. In her forest-veiled pagan village, Évike is the only woman without power, making her an outcast clearly abandoned by the gods. The villagers blame her corrupted bloodline. When soldiers arrive from the Holy Order of Woodsmen to claim a pagan girl for the king’s blood sacrifice, Évike is betrayed by her fellow villagers and surrendered. But when monsters attack the Woodsmen and their captive en route, slaughtering everyone but Évike and the cold, one-eyed captain, they have no choice but to rely on each other. Except he’s no ordinary Woodsman—he’s the disgraced prince, Gáspár Bárány, whose father needs pagan magic to consolidate his power. Gáspár fears that his cruelly zealous brother plans to seize the throne and instigate a violent reign that would damn the pagans and the Yehuli alike. As the son of a reviled foreign queen, Gáspár understands what it’s like to be an outcast, and he and Évike make a tenuous pact to stop his brother.

“Creative Demons and How to Slay Them” by Richard Holman. If you have ever embarked on a creative endeavor then there’s a good chance that at some point during your journey you will have been paralyzed by the demons of self-doubt, fear of failure, or just lack of inspiration. Enter Creative Demons and How to Slay Them, where you will learn how to banish your mind-forged monsters, no matter how grotesque or scary they may seem to be.

“Ma Barker: America’s Most Wanted Mother” by Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss. Was Arizona Donnie Clark, AKA Kate “Ma” Barker the mastermind behind the Barker gang terrorizing the Midwest during the early years of the great Depression? Or was she a terrible mother who urged her sons to criminal behavior for her own financial gain? Or does the truth lie somewhere in between. This lively retelling of the legend of Ma Barker and her boys is full of action, intrigue, and the answers to mysteries that have lingered for more than 70 years.

“Cacti and Succulents Handbook” by Gideon F. Smith. There are over 10,000 species of succulents worldwide, of which cacti are but one family. This user-friendly handbook is your guide to the selection and cultivation of these diverse and fascinating plants! Appealing to both the novice and experienced gardener, “Cacti and Succulents Handbook, Expanded 2nd Edition” provides comprehensive information on more than 300 common (and uncommon) species and varieties, including their ideal locations, natural habitats, and care and feeding needs.

— Summaries provided library staff