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As a part of the Silsbee Bee's mission to promote cross-county unity and to celebrate our local libraries, we are thrilled to announce that all four of the county's local libraries have joined with the BEE for a book of the month article each week.
April
Silsbee Public Library's Book of the Month
Cathy Johnson silsbeelibrary@gmail.com The Silsbee Bee SILSBEE – Holmes, Marple & Poe: A Holmes, Margaret & Poe Mystery by James Patterson and Brian Sitts Brendan Holmes—The Brain: Identifies suspects via deduction and logic. Margaret Marple—The Eyes: Possesses powers of observation too often underestimated. Auguste Poe—The Muscle: Chases down every lead no matter how dangerous or dark. In this thrilling story of crime and corruption from the world’s #1 bestselling author, three detectives keep their identities secret, and NYPD’s Det. Helene Grey is on a mission to unmask them—no matter who gets killed along the way. The agency’s daring methodology and headline-making solves attract the attention of NYPD Detective Helene Grey. Her solo investigation into her three unknowable competitors rivals the best mysteries of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Edgar Allan Poe. A fun read with a spin on famous sleuths, this intriguing novel is full of twists and turns, keeping you guessing. Just when you think you have it figured out, you don’t! The characters blend together beautifully and add a touch of humor, giving the readers a new, refreshing take beyond your average mystery. Patterson and Sitts combined their creative writing genius and gave us an unlikely trio of private detectives that work well together and have us searching the book shelves for the next novel in this hopefully very long series. Holmes, Marple & Poe: A Holmes, Margaret & Poe Mystery by James Patterson and Brian Sitts, along with many other amazing books are available at the Silsbee Public Library on 295 N 4th St, with hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week.
Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee KOUNTZE – Kountze Public Library’s Book of the Month is This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum, a fast-paced thriller that blends dark humor, friendship and mystery in a story built around survival, both literal and emotional. The novel follows Benny Abbott and Joy Moore, best friends and co-hosts of one of the world’s most popular podcasts, where each episode explores real-life stories of people surviving impossible situations. Known for their chemistry and ability to find humor in even the bleakest circumstances, the pair have built a devoted audience and a growing media empire, carefully managed behind the scenes by Joy’s husband, Xander. Their success is built on storytelling, but their next story becomes dangerously real. When Benny arrives at Joy and Xander’s home one morning to record, he finds signs of a struggle, shattered glass and an empty house. With no clear explanation for their disappearance, suspicion quickly falls on Benny, turning him from storyteller into suspect. As law enforcement closes in, Benny begins his own search for answers, determined to uncover what really happened to the people closest to him. The only clue is an unfinished draft of Joy’s memoir, a deeply personal account that may hold the key to the mystery. As Benny pieces together fragments of Joy’s past and their shared history, he is forced to question what he thought he knew about friendship, trust and the stories people choose to tell. At its core, This Story Might Save Your Life explores the blurred line between truth and narrative. Crum examines how people construct meaning from trauma, and how survival can take many forms, physical, emotional and psychological. Themes of loyalty, identity and perception run throughout, keeping readers engaged as the mystery unfolds. With sharp pacing and a contemporary voice, Crum delivers a suspenseful and thought-provoking novel that will appeal to fans of character-driven thrillers and modern mysteries rooted in relationships. The book is available this month at the Kountze Public Library, located at 800 S. Redwood in Kountze.
Kountze Public Library's Book of the Month
Amanda Rodriguez reporter@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee LUMBERTON – Amanda recently read Homebound by Toby Adkins, who is a local author and donated signed copies to the library. In Homebound, a southeast Texan goes on a quest to rescue his daughter from Sam Houston State University after it was locked down due to a sudden, mysterious event that renders all electronics useless. Familiar towns and references made the book easy to connect with, and the plot truly keeps you wanting to find out what happens next. The surprising twist in the epilogue makes the reader eager for book two. 8.4/10 Jessica recommends The King’s Ransom by Janet Evanovich is the second in the Recovery Agent series. Gabriela Rose is a recovery agent extraordinaire, she can find anything. Her ex-husband calls her asking for help for his cousin who finds himself in a lot of trouble. Harley, the cousin, was urged by his board of directors to insure some of the words mort priceless artifacts, when they start being stolen. He has no way to prove he didn’t do this alone and is facing big consequences. Gabriela with her ex and his cousin work together to find the originals before it is too late. This book is written with Evanovich’s quick witted humor. Jess loves how the author makes you laugh while reading. Highly recommend reading the first one called Recovery Agent but it is not necessary. Jess recommends this book to anyone who loves quirky characters and laughing while you read. Jess gives is book a 9/10. LPL has this book in Regular and Large print, as well as on Libby in e-book and audiobook. The LPL is open Monday thru Friday from 10 am until 6 pm and Saturdays from 10 am until 1 pm. We will host a Spring Book Sale on Thursday, April 23, Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25 during regular operating hours inside the library's community room. Everyone is invited to attend.
Lumberton Public Library's Book of the Month
March
Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee SOUR LAKE – Alma M. Carpenter Public Library’s Book of the Month is This Isn’t About Us by Allegra Goodman, a richly layered family drama that captures the humor, tension and enduring bonds within a modern American family. The novel centers on sisters Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein, whose close relationship is fractured following the death of their beloved sister. What begins as a minor misunderstanding over something as simple as an apple cake spirals into a prolonged silence, stretching years and reshaping the dynamics of their entire family. As time passes, the rift becomes less about the original disagreement and more about pride, grief and unresolved emotions. Around them, life continues to unfold. Their children navigate divorces, careers, relationships and the challenges of raising families of their own, often reluctant to intervene in a conflict that feels both deeply personal and increasingly entrenched. Meanwhile, a new generation grows up on the periphery of a feud they scarcely understand, yet inevitably inherit in some form. At its heart, This Isn’t About Us explores the complexity of familial love—how it can endure even in silence, and how misunderstandings can echo across decades. Goodman examines the weight of expectations, the passage of time and the subtle ways relationships evolve, fracture and, sometimes, heal. With sharp observation and understated humor, Goodman delivers a compelling portrait of family life, offering readers a story that is both intimate and expansive. The novel will resonate with those who appreciate character-driven narratives and thoughtful explorations of the ties that bind across generations. Readers can find This Isn't About Us and many more titles at Alma M. Carpenter Public Library, located at 300 S. Ann St. in Sour Lake. The library is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed on weekends.
Alma M. Carpenter Public Library's Book of the Month
