New this week

The latest additions to The Library's collection

In the stacks

The Library’s collection is just shy of 100 books! But, we have no new entries to report this week. Things tend to slow down a bit in summer, and many writers are taking some time to work on new projects. If you have a book, comic, or story/poetry collection—or know of one on another Substack that you’d like to share—send it our way!

In the meantime, please enjoy an extra featured book from the archive below…

Buy Indie

In addition to connecting indie authors currently publishing on Substack with a wider audience, we’d like to provide a resource for readers who want to support indie writers everywhere they shop for books.

If you’re on Substack and an indie author (i.e. you either self-publish or work with an indie press), the Buy Indie section is the place to list any books you may have published outside of Substack.

Can readers buy from your author website? Do you have a link to your favorite online bookseller? Provide us that link, some details about your book, and we’ll help get the word out!

From the Archive

Featuring a different, randomly selected book every week

The Book of Answers | Darrow Woods | Classic Mystery (N) (I) (F)

The Book of Answers is the first in a series of mysteries in the life of Rev. Thomas Book. Tom’s a bit stuck in his life, two years into grieving the death of his wife, Carrie. He's the assistant pastor in the church where he'd once been the student minister. Circumstances serve to get him unstuck, in almost every part of his life, when dead bodies appear in all the wrong places. He gets drawn into the investigation, with help of his snarky best friend, who is also the local funeral director, a mysterious, not-as-retired as he appears former undercover cop, and what could be the church ghost. Along the way he's almost killed, makes friends with a cadaver dog, and takes baby steps towards romance with the dog's handler. The Book of Answers was nominated for a Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence. The author, Darrow Woods, is a member of Sisters in Crime, and Crime Writers of Canada, and writes a substack newsletter called reluctant sleuth. He is also working on the sequel to The Book of Answers, and the another series involving retired journalists who can't stay away from a good, or bad story. 

Franck's Wild Ride | Edward Pearlman | Historical Fiction (N) (I) (F)

An unintended joyride alters the life of a wild young man and his conservative friend, drawing them into a foreclosure scam on an old New England house, revelations about the Underground Railway from North Carolina, and intimacies they did not foresee. “I savored this sparkling first novel, laughing out loud as I read each night. Franck is undeniably impulsive and even brash, but his earnest determination to sort out a mess he has helped create is refreshingly endearing, never exasperating, as he steadfastly offends foes and charms strangers.” – K.C., Maine. "This wild ride is a timely legal thriller told in a relaxed, honest tone...The characters are loveably flawed and likeable – you'll enjoy spending time with them.” – Philip Reed, award-winning author.

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