Read Alike: The Wettest County in the World

Shia LaBeouf's new movie, Lawless, is scheduled for release next week. The story tells of three brothers who make their living in the violent world of Prohibition era bootlegging. The plot is based on the Depression era ancestors of author Matt Bondurant. Mr. Bondurant used their story in his suspenseful 2008 novel, The Wettest County in the World.

When you add in the recent excitement around Western inspired novels, many of which have been adapted to the big screen in recent years, you wind up with today's list of reading suggestions.

For more on the Prohibition and the rise of organized crime during the Depression, check out Boardwalk Empire: the birth, high times, and corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson (974.985 JOH). This nonfiction title about the rise of Atlantic City and the powerful men behind the city served as the basis for the HBO drama of the same name.

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
Mr. McCarthy is not a cheerful author. His menacing novels delve into the dark sides of humanity and our propensities for violence. He's known for setting his stories in the Southwest, whether in the lawless past, or the lawless future. No Country for Old Men is the story of Llewelyn Moss, who gets himself caught up in the violence of drug trafficking in the '80s. The 2007 film adaptation starring Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin received the Academy Award for Best Picture.

True Grit by Charles Portis
In his career, Mr. Portis has been both a journalist and a novelist. In fact his second novel, True Grit, was originally serialized in The Saturday Evening Post. This engaging, suspenseful novel takes its cues from the Western genre, but creates something unique. A dialog-rich story told from the perspective of 14 year-old Mattie Ross, and her quest for revenge on the man who killed her father and the not quite upstanding men who join her in her quest. This novel has seen multiple film adaptations, from the 1969 version with John Wayne to the 2010 version, which also stars Josh Brolin.

Doc by Mary Doria Russell
Ms. Russell's most recent novel is, like her earlier works, richly detailed and character-driven, as she plays with genre conventions. Ms. Russell is known for experimenting with genre, often combining science fiction elements with historical settings. Doc is the story of the infamous Doc Holliday and how he came to meet up with Wyatt Earp in Dodge City, Kansas, though not the infamous shootout at the OK Corral. While there is no movie adaption for this title yet, rumor has it there might be an HBO series in the works.

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Mr. deWitt's second novel, The Sisters Brothers, has garnered quite a bit of positive attention, including winning The Morning News' 2012 Tournament of Books. It's a gritty and darkly comic novel of the California Gold Rush. Eli and Charlie Sisters, brothers and hired guns of fearsome reputation, are on a mission to kill Hermann Kermit Warm. Eli, the narrator, begins to question their violent life. While there is no movie yet, John C. Reilly's production company has purchased the film rights.


Readers who enjoy stories about living on the wrong side of the law in a lawless land should also check out Joyce Saricks' recent Booklist column on books with a Western inspiration. It's a creative field, whether you prefer something historical or fantastic, violent or less so. Which was your favorite, Deadwood or Firefly?

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson

Over the summer there was a television show called Longmire on A&E.  When I saw the previews I though it looked intriguing and if I’m totally honest I decided to watch it because Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck, Battlestar Galactica) was one of the main cast members.  She has been connected to a few shows after BSG ended but they didn’t make it past the first season.  The first episode didn’t wow me but I gave it a second chance.  I’m hooked and now that the season is over I thought I should read at least one of the books the series is based on.  The Longmire series by Craig Johnson starts with The Cold Dish and follows Walt Longmire, the Sheriff of the fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming.  This is a police procedural but the pacing is much slower than a police procedural that takes place in a big city.  It is easy to imagine that the daily life of Walt Longmire described in the book is exactly what life is like for a county sheriff in Wyoming. 

At the beginning of The Cold Dish, Walt is introduced to us as an aging sheriff nearing retirement.  He spends his days staring out his office window, looking over an old case file and drinking away his nights.  He is a widower and his daughter, a lawyer, lives out East.  When he gets a call from a couple of hard drinking ranchers (apparently they are never sober) who swear they found a body on their land, Walt passes the call off to one of his deputies.  Walt is a good sheriff, but Walt doesn’t really want to work too hard these days. A few years ago Walt investigated the gang rape of a young Cheyenne girl.  The four boys involved didn’t get the punishment they deserved and this is the case that haunts Walt to this day.  As a result there is a lot of tension between Walt and those who live on the reservation.  The dead body Walt did not want to investigate turns out to be one of the boys who participated in the gang rape.  Now Walt is torn between seriously investigating the murder and saying “good riddance to bad trash”.  Walt’s best friend is Henry Standing Bear, owner of the Red Pony bar, Vietnam vet (as is Walt) and well-respected member of the Cheyenne Nation.  Due to the strained relationship between Walt and the tribal police, Henry’s help is essential to Walt’s investigation. Henry also serves another purpose in the book. He has taken it upon himself to get Walt out of the depression he has been in since the death of his wife.  Henry and Walt's daughter conspire to get Walt in shape and start dating.

As with any TV show based on a book there are differences.  The cast members never seem to fit the physical description of the written characters.  Also, some of the character names have been changed but that certainly did not detract from my enjoyment of both the book and the show.  What the book provides is character development and background information that the show was not able to delve into in its short, 10 episode season.  Normally when a TV show is based on a book the first episode is taken from the book plot.  Longmire waited until the last episode of the season to air a plot similar to The Cold Dish.  I enjoyed both the TV show and the book but keep in mind if you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is not the series for you.  

~Amy, Adult Services

Spotlight: Political Mysteries

With the excitement of this week's visits to Iowa by Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, and current President Barack Obama, there's no denying that the election is in full swing. The national conventions are coming soon too. The Republicans will convene in Florida from August 27th through the 30th. The Democrats will gather in North Carolina from September 4th through the 6th.

Carnegie-Stout has books for anyone who wants to learn more about the candidates. You can browse those lists in our catalog by clicking the link of your choosing:
Governor Mitt Romney
President Barack Obama

In poking around Presidential trivia recently, I discovered an interesting fact, not one, but two children of former Presidents had successful careers as mystery novelists: Elliott Roosevelt, son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Margaret Truman, daughter of President Harry S. Truman.

Both authors make use of their special connection to Washington politics to craft their mysteries, using real political figures and recognizable landmarks. Nor are they the only authors to mix politics and murder to craft a suspenseful tale.

Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt
Mr. Roosevelt's mother, Eleanor Roosevelt, acts as the sleuth in his historical mystery series. His writing isn't overly violent, and readers will enjoy the historical details. Despite being set during the Depression and WWII, there is an optimism to this series, which starts with Murder and the First Lady.

Margaret Truman
Ms. Truman used a more contemporary Washington D.C. as the setting for her suspenseful mystery novels. Although characters make reappearances, readers can explore her books in any order. She keeps much of the violence off of the page, and provides readers with a twisting plot that will keep you guessing.

State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy
Ms. Hyzy is the author of several cozy mystery series filled with colorful characters. Her amateur sleuths tend to have interesting day jobs, but none so interesting as Olivia Paras, White House chef. The series starts with State of the Onion, Olivia is under enough stress as she competes for a promotion to Executive Chef before she stumbles into a plot to kill the President.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Mr. Carr's historical mysteries are somewhat more violent than the other authors on today's list, but readers who enjoy a fast-paced plot and a literary flare should give him a try. The Alienist, his atmospheric third novel, is set in 1896 New York City, and Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt is working to catch a serial killer.



James Lehrer, journalist, anchor, and author of fiction and nonfiction alike, and subject of a few Staff Reviews, penned a series of novels with a political bent early in his career. These witty books follow "One-eyed Mack" from teenager through to life as Oklahoma's lieutenant governor.


Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!