NEW

Extreme Prey, by John Sandford

The 26th book in John Sandford’s Prey series gives a bit of a shout-out to Iowa. Lead character Lucas Davenport, no longer with the Minnesota BCA, joins a presidential campaign staff. As we all know, if you want to be president, you have to come to Iowa. So the staff heads for the Hawkeye State, but then learns of a man devoted to assassinating the candidate.

Sandford is one of the greatest suspense writers active today, as is apparent in Extreme Prey. He excellently capitalizes on the election cycle currently on everyone’s mind — some critics even described the governor in the novel as a “Hillary Clinton-like figure” — to set the perfect mood for the novel.

CITY OF LITERATURE

The Cities That Built The Bible, by Robert Cargill

Call it magic, God, energy, the spirit, or whatever else you like, but there will be something in the air when Robert Cargill gives a lecture and reading at noon on May 15 at the First Presbyterian Church, 2701 Rochester. Cargill, a University of Iowa assistant professor of classics and religious studies, traveled to many of the cities mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments, looking to understand their significance, both then and now.

Cargill hosted National Geographic’s “Writing the Dead Sea Scrolls” and has been in many other documentaries, giving him a slightly more conversational tone than would be expected with such historical writing. It’s fascinating to see how much Cargill is able to uncover, how delicately he reveals and examines each city, each new piece of information.

REDISCOVERED

Too Much Happiness, by Alice Munro

Move Too Much Happiness to the top of your summer reading list, if it isn’t already there. A collection of short stories, it’s perfect for reading before a nap in a hammock or in the half-hour between eating and swimming.

Munro weaves intricate, compelling tales with understated prose. She has a fascinating way of passing time in her stories, revealing glimpses of years down the road and memories long past without jarring the reader. Her work takes genuinely surprising turns, raising unanswerable questions and touching on heavy topics. She never shies away from topics but embraces them fully, refusing to quit until they’re tucked neatly away in the pages of her work. Trust me, her stories will keep your mind plenty busy over the break from classes.