The July 2004 Book Sense Picks -- Independent Bookseller Recommendations

THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (Putnam, $25.95, 0399151850) "This novel had me from the first sentence: 'The telephone rang, and she knew she was going to die.' The story of Teresa Mendoza and her indomitable will to survive in a man's world is nothing short of amazing. Even if you think you don't like novels about Mexican drug dealers, give this one a try. You'll be happily surprised." --Susan M. Taylor, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, MA Also a Penguin Audiobook (Unabridged Cassette, 0142800708)

THE SUMMER GUEST: A Novel, by Justin Cronin (Dial, $24, 0385335814) "I just loved this sprawling yet intimate book about a dying man's final wish. The strong, sympathetic characters, compelling story line, and magnificent setting are rendered in language precise and poetic. This summer, I'll want all my customers to savor this special treat." --Kathi Kirby, Powell's City of Books, Portland, OR

THE PRESERVATIONIST: A Novel, by David Maine (St. Martin's, $23.95, 0312328478) "Listening to Sunday school stories as a child, all the people seemed larger than life, almost as if they were superheroes. David Maine expertly deconstructs this particular image of Noah (or Noe) by portraying a man with immense faith in God but significant doubts about his ability to follow that faith. An absolutely original and fascinating debut novel." --Mike James, Haversack Books & Gifts, Marietta, GA Also a Highbridge Audio (Abridged CD, 1565118715)

SLEEPING WITH SCHUBERT: A Novel, by Bonnie Marson (Random House, $21.95, 1400060419) "Bonnie Marson's lighthearted story of creative possession is balanced with deeper questions about personal identity and the true nature of relationships. Sleeping With Schubert is what smart chicks will read at the beach this summer!" --Stesha Brandon, University Book Store, Seattle, WA Also a Random House Audio (Abridged CD, 0739311891)

ANGELS CREST: A Novel, by Leslie Schwartz (Doubleday, $23.95, 038551185X) "When a young boy becomes lost in the woods, a town rallies around the father whose impulsive action brings him unbearable grief. Set in a mountainous area of California and full of unforgettable characters, Schwartz's emotionally powerful novel is resonant with insight and grace, and the story remains with its reader long after the last page." --Katrina Denza, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC

COAL RUN, by Tawni O'Dell (Viking, $24.95, 067089995X) "Coal Run sings with believable characters; the grim, gritty reality of the life of a coal miner; and essential human truths. A stunning, "can't-put-it-down" read from the author of Back Roads." --Gee Gee Rosell, Buxton Village Books, Buxton, NC Also a Penguin Audiobook (Unabridged CD, 0142800511

MR. DARCY TAKES A WIFE: Pride and Prejudice Continues, by Linda Berdoll (Sourcebooks Landmark, $16.95, paper 1402202733) "This sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic, and is laced throughout with sensuality and intrigue. Reader beware, though, this isn't your mother's Austen!" --Elyse Landgraf, Little Professor BookCenter, Oshkosh, WI

MULTIPLE CHOICE: A Novel, by Claire Cook (Viking, $23.95, 0670033308) "Claire Cook has created another fun read. This time we fall in love with March Monroe, an everyday woman who is struggling with the questions many middle-aged women ask: 'Is this where I thought I would be at this point in my life?' and 'How did I get here?' She struggles to balance her life as mother and new student, and we get to see the humorous side effects" --Lisa Fabiano, Hearts & Stars Bookshop, Canton, MA

THIS IS NOT CIVILIZATION: A Novel, by Robert Rosenberg (Houghton Mifflin, $24, 0618386017) "The lives of four people of different cultures converge in Turkey when a devastating earthquake takes place. This deeply moving novel explores the relationship between America and indigenous peoples." --Barbara MacDonald, Great Northern Bookstore, Oscoda, MI

FOUR SOULS: A Novel, by Louise Erdrich (HarperCollins, $23.95, 0066209757) "Erdrich's latest novel tracks the circular paths that interweave the lives of her characters. Told in several voices, representing the communal aspect of tribal storytelling and culture, Four Souls explains how each character learns to balance independence with community. By far her finest yet." --Benay Blend, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM Also a HarperAudio (Unabridged CD, 0060757612)

HIDDEN: A Novel, by Paul Jaskunas (Free Press, $23, 0743257480) "This story of a traumatized woman's search for the truth about the man who assaulted her is the sort of novel you enter like falling into a troubled dream while laying in a partially curtained room on a hot summer afternoon. The writing is lyrical and believable, yet the overall effect is shimmering and mysterious." --Laura Hansen, Bookin' It, Little Falls, MN

WHEN RED IS BLACK, by Qiu Xiaolong (Soho Press, $25, 1569473692) "Qui Xiaolong writes a gem of a mystery series, giving us an intriguing look at police work in modern Shanghai. This time, Inspector Chen Cao takes a vacation to translate a proposal for one of China's nouveau riche businessmen, leaving assistant Detective Yu to lead the investigation into the murder of a dissident writer." --George Rishel, The Sly Fox, Virden, IL

THE GHOST WRITER, by John Harwood (Harcourt, $25, 0151010749) "A mystery within a mystery, with a story that was written years ago by the relative of a young child. After discovering a hidden manuscript in his mother's room, Gerard Freeman has to find out about her past. He finds his answers, but your hair will stand on end as he does so!" --Rita Ryan, Armchair Books, Pendleton, OR

MISDEMEANOR MAN: A Novel, by Dylan Schaffer (Bloomsbury, $23.95, 1582344604) "Gordon Seegerman is the most unambitious public defender you've ever met (his only real passion is Barry Manilow). As Seegerman's latest case gets bigger and more mysterious, he is forced to do something he swore he'd never resort to: actual casework. Misdemeanor Man is amusing, cynical, and thoroughly entertaining." --Megan Scott O'Bryan, Scott's Bookstore, Mount Vernon, WA

MONGO: Adventures in Trash, by Ted Botha (Bloomsbury, $23.95, 1582344523) "For those of us who are secret scavengers, here is a fascinating account of our modern-day urban hunter-gatherer tribes. Their motivations, life choices, habits, and -- for some --various psychoses determine their levels of success in adapting to invisible existence on the streets." --Megan Wolfer, Table Mesa Gifts & Books, Boulder, CO

MORTAL LOVE: A Novel, by Elizabeth Hand (Morrow, $24.95, 0061051705) "Told in two time periods -- Victorian London and contemporary New York -- the story hinges on a mysterious woman who influences artists in both London and New York. The suspense builds as Hand explores the connection between art, madness, and the supernatural -- and what happens when they intersect." --Deb Wehmeier, Garden District Book Shop, New Orleans, LA

SABBATH CREEK: A Novel, by Judson Mitcham (University of Georgia, $22.95, 0820325775) "A book that dazzles in its simplicity and economy of language, Sabbath Creek is an emotional tour de force. Mitcham compresses several lives into an almost poetic narrative, giving us glimpses of brilliance in these short vignettes, the total of which is one stunning novel." --Susan Townley, Viva Bookstore, San Antonio, TX

SKINNY DIP: A Novel, by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf, $25.95, 0375411089) "On a cruise to celebrate their second wedding anniversary, Chaz Perrone threw his wife overboard. She managed to survive the fall, and, thanks to a bale of marijuana floating by, was saved. When rescued, Joey Perrone doesn't think of police, but of revenge. In the end, justice prevails -- that is, Hiaasen's brand of justice, which means something fiendishly clever." --Barbara Hoagland, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT Also a Random House Audio Abridged CD, 0739312995)

LET ME GO, by Helga Schneider (Walker, $19, 0802714358) "Helga Schneider's Let Me Go is an incredibly brave account of her meeting with her estranged mother, who had abandoned her family to join the SS and, ultimately, become a guard at Auschwitz-Birkenau. No fiction comes close to showing evil like this short book does. All the women in the Schneider's story are permanently bound into the reader's memory." --Mary Ann Steele, Mary Ann's Mostly Books, Benson, AZ