- strong female lead characters
- other worlds
- unpredictable endings
- lyrical writing styles
- mysteries
By Libba Bray
YA F B RAY Gemma Do #1
After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, sixteen-year-old Gemma returns to England, after many years in India, to attend a finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world. The book involves a mysterious world with unpredictable characters and the series has been listed as having an unpredictable ending as well. Definitely involves adventures in other worlds as well as time. The main character is a strong female lead and is involved in just enough romance to be intriguing.
By Vanessa Diffenbaugh
F DIFFENBA
Like Jamie Ford’s, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, this is an adult novel written for the enjoyment of young adults as well. This book weaves past and present, creating a portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past. It is listed as a psychological fiction book and has elements of surprise and is written with a lyrical style.
By Rex Stout
MYSTERY STOUT
Rex Stout writes intricate plots with character driven mysteries. A motley gang of gentlemanly ne'er-do-wells hangs about in the lobby of Manhattan's Lamartine Hotel, casting ardor-filled glances at beauteous Miss Lila Williams and regaling each other with tales of their impressive -- and mostly fictional -- exploits. “Stout transports readers back to a time when the world seemed more innocent, a man's good name was a valuable asset, and happily-ever-after was a reasonable goal ” (Booklist).
