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10 Books You Need To Read In March 2018
From a true crime thriller to Maria Shriver's inspirational pick-me-up, these are the must-reads everyone's going to be talking about.
You know what they say about March — it comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. We don't know yet if this will be true for 2018, but we do know of some fantastic books you should read between now and the end of the month. We've put together a list of the 10 page-turners that belong on your March reading list — a mix of picks from Patch staff and Amazon editors.
Included in the lineup is a true crime "genre-buster," riveting historical fiction, a must-read from Maria Shriver and so much more. If you like reading, you're bound to love at least one of these books. Enjoy!
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#1: Neighborly: A Novel by Ellie Monago
Kat and Doug thought they found they found the perfect suburban town where they would happily raise their young daughter. But shortly after moving in, Kat receives the first of many menacing notes outside her home. The tone of these messages escalates quickly and preys on Kat's deep insecurities about her past. She becomes increasingly paranoid and fearful for her family's safety. This suspense-driven thriller is a page-turner in every sense of the word.
#2: White Rose, Black Forest by Eoin Dempsey
World War II claimed German dissenter Franka Gerber's father and brother, and it has almost taken away her will to live. But when she discovers an unconscious airman outside her her family's isolated cabin, she takes him in and tries to keep him from dying — despite the enemy army's uniform he's wearing. Eventually, Franka learns the airman isn't who she thought he was. She finds herself in a race against time to unveil his true identity — all while Nazi police are hunting them both down. Can Franka trust this man she saved? This historical thriller combines the harsh realities of war with a compelling story that's nearly impossible to put down.
#3: Silent Victim by Caroline Mitchell
Emma is a wife and mother with a big secret: She's been hiding the dead body of the teacher who seduced her back when she was a teenager. When her husband scores a promotion at work and they buy a bigger house, Emma has to remove what's left of the body before they can move. However, when she goes to dig up the remains in the garden, the body is gone. She confesses her big secret to her husband, but as he soon learns, Emma's past is filled with more skeletons than he ever could have imagined.
#4: I've Been Thinking... Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life by Maria Shriver
For anyone looking for inspiration or encouragement, this is the book for you. In it, Maria Shriver shares quotes, prayers and reflections intended to get readers thinking, feeling and laughing their way to a happier and more meaningful life. Deepak Chopra describes it as "Thought-provoking, spirited, a deep and personal message to help one discover a meaningful and joyful life."
#5: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
Michelle McNamara was a true crime journalist obsessed with discovering the identity of the elusive serial rapist and murderer who terrorized California women for more than a decade. McNamara dug deep into this case, doing offline and online research in her passionate quest to seek justice for these victims. Tragically, she died in the midst of her investigation, but the book she was writing could still unmask the Golden State Killer. Stephen King calls "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" a "brilliant genre-buster," adding, "It's propulsive, can’t-stop-now reading, which makes it all too easy to ignore the clean and focused writing...I loved this book."
#6: Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress by Steven Pinker
It might feel like the world is falling apart, but according to scientist and public intellectual Steven Pinker, things are actually improving on this big blue planet. In "Enlightenment Now," Pinker urges readers to look at the data about life, health, prosperity, safety and peace rather than believe the hype. It's a compelling and surprisingly uplifting read, and it's no wonder Bill Gates describes it as, "My new favorite book of all time."
#7: Girls Burn Brighter: A Novel by Shobha Rao
Poornima is intrigued when she meets Savitha, a joyful, independent-minded girl seemingly unbound by the societal constraints of their Indian village. The ambitious young women become fast friends, and when a shocking act of cruelty drives Savitha away, Poornima is determined to find her. In her search for her friend, Poornima explores some of the darkest corners of India's underworld and eventually ends up at an apartment complex in Seattle. "Girls Burn Brighter" alternates between Poornima and Savitha's perspectives and hooks the reader with its compelling tale of friendship and resilience.
#8: Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire L. Evans
The world knows all about the "alpha nerds and brogrammers," but female visionaries have also paved the way for new technology at every step of the way. In "Broad Band," these revolutionary women finally get their due, and their stories are both awesome and inspiring.
#9: The Italian Teacher A Novel by Tom Rachman
Pinch is the son of Bear, a great painter who abandoned his family for a life of cavorting freely through Rome. Pinch is desperate to earn his father's attention, and tries being a painter himself and even writing Bear's biography. Eventually, though, a disillusioned Pinch settles into a job as an Italian teacher in London. It's only after his father's death that he decides the way to secure to his father's legacy is to make his own mark on the world.
#10: Crimson Lake: A Novel by Candice Fox
Sydney detective Ted Conkaffey was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just after he pulled up to a bus stop, an Austrian girl standing there went mysteriously missing. He's accused but not convicted of a brutal abduction, but even though the law says he's not guilty, the general public doesn't seem to agree. He flees north to the croc-infested wetlands of Crimson Lake, where he hopes to keep a low profile. His lawyer introduces him to a private investigator there who is herself a convicted murderer. Ted isn't so sure about her past, but he agrees to join her in the investigation into the missing girl.
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