Finch is a corporate drone whose life falls into ruin after he’s laid off from his job at an artificial plant company. After responding to a vague and mysterious job offer he receives in his SPAM email folder, he visits the home of Mr. Crane, an eccentric and enigmatic billionaire who makes him an offer he simply can’t refuse. So begins a dramatic change in all aspects of Finch’s lifestyle and personal philosophies. I don’t want to reveal more about the plot because part of what makes this book so wonderful is how the story unfolds. This is a strange novel and a thought-provoking allegory that would make a fantastic book club pick.

In his follow-up to “Gone, Baby, Gone” Lehane proves once again that he is the master of the ‘new noir.’ After a 12-year hiatus, Kenzie and Gennaro are again searching for the missing Amanda McCready, now 16 years old. It’s not necessary to have read “Gone, Baby, Gone” to really enjoy this mystery/thriller.

Sherlock Holmes meets Harriet the Spy in Flavia de Luce, the 11-year-old, poison-obsessed chemistry whiz who narrates these novels. Flavia exhibits stunning amateur detective skills, solving murder mysteries with her keen eye for detail. These books are light and fun, but still smart and witty, all much like Flavia herself. Great reads!

I am certainly not an aficionado of the genre, but I can’t argue with the Washington Post when they say that she is “America’s funniest science writer.” In her most recent exploration, Roach takes on all things space. She’s infinitely inquisitive, asking (and answering) all the questions you might not have considered with regard to space travel. Great for fans of Roach’s work, or as an introduction to an awesome writer.

In a post-apocalyptic world, the United States has dissolved into 12 districts all ruled by the tyrannical and opulent Capitol. Every year, each district has to send two teenage tributes to compete in the Hunger Games, a televised, elaborate fight to the death. 16-year-old Katniss, the novel’s heroine, offers to take her 12-year-old sister’s place in the games and is thrust into a fight to stay alive that goes well beyond the limits of the Hunger Games arena. These smash-hit books are fast-paced, dramatic and compelling. For teens and adults alike; if you think you’re too old to get into a young adult trilogy, think again!

If you missed taking Ethics 101 in college, this book can serve as your crash course. Sandel, who teaches government at Harvard, offers a basic survey of the major schools of ethical thought while exploring contemporary, hot-button topics as examples. No, I probably wouldn’t choose this as my next beach read, but Sandel presents this material in an accessible way that makes for an interesting and enjoyable read.