Somerville Public Library Blog

The Director’s Author Series continues with two events this week.

On Wednesday, November 7:00th at 7:00 p.m., join us at the Central Library as we welcome author and investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan who will discuss her latest mystery thriller, The Other Woman.

A former US Senate staffer and political campaign aide, Hank Phillippi Ryan is the investigative reporter for Boston’s NBC affiliate, and has won twenty-seven Emmys and ten Edward R. Murrow awards. A bestselling author of four mystery novels, Ryan has won the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She’s on the national board of directors of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

Book Description: Jane Ryland was a rising star in television news…until she refused to reveal a source and lost everything. Now a disgraced newspaper reporter, Jane isn’t content to work on her assigned puff pieces, and finds herself tracking down a candidate’s secret mistress just days before a pivotal Senate election.

Detective Jake Brogan is investigating a possible serial killer. Twice, bodies of unidentified women have been found by a bridge, and Jake is plagued by a media swarm beginning to buzz about a “bridge killer” hunting the young women of Boston. As the body count rises and election looms closer, it becomes clear to Jane and Jake that their cases are connected…and that they may be facing a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to silence a scandal.

Dirty politics, dirty tricks, and a barrage of final twists, The Other Woman is the first in an explosive new series by Hank Phillippi Ryan. Seduction, betrayal, and murder – it’ll take a lot more than votes to win this election.

Then on Thursday, November 8th at 7:00 p.m., the West Branch will host an evening with Clea Simon, author of the Theda Krakow, Dulcie Schwartz, and Pru Marlowe mysteries. Clea has also written three nonfiction books and her essays and short stories have appeared in a number of anthologies as well as The New York Times, The Boston Phoenix, and such magazines as American Prospect, Ms., and Salon.com. She lives in a 100-year-old house in Somerville with her husband, Jon S. Garelick (also a writer), and their cat, Musetta.

Book Description: Clea’s latest mystery is Cats Can’t Shoot. When Pru Marlowe gets the report of a cat shooting, she’s horrified. Animal cruelty is the one thing this tough-girl behaviorist won’t abide. When she gets to the scene, though, and finds a man dead – and his white Persian only slightly singed, she knows something else is afoot. Could the pampered pet have set off the rare dueling pistol? Or is the Persian being set up as a cat’s paw in a deadly game? That’s what Pru and her tabby sidekick Wallis must find out in Cats Can’t Shoot.

We hope that you’ll be able to join us for one or both of these Meet, Mingle, Read events!

It’s far too easy to take the spaces & buildings familiar to us for granted, to let their distinctiveness disappear due to the deadening power of habit. SPL friend Max Rottersman has created this panorama of the West Branch that showed me anew what a lovely, cozy place it is:

Library staff arrived at the West Branch last week to find their front fence adorned with colorful knitted “fence tips.” The lively decor was part of the Nave Gallery’s Wrap Around Project, which celebrates and supports the work of the Somerville Homeless Coalition. For more information about the project, click here.

Users of the West Branch know that the children’s room has been closed for a face lift in recent weeks. However, the end is in sight! Pipes and walls have been repaired, walls have been painted, and the lower level of the room has been re-carpeted. Movers are scheduled to put the furniture and books back in place next week.

Although the children’s space will continue to be a work in progress — with some new furniture and a few other updates coming later — it should be open for business soon. Here’s a sneak peek at the spruced-up children’s room. (You’ll never see it so empty again!)

Repairs are proceeding at the West Branch Children’s Room.  Pipes are being replaced and the walls are being fixed. Re-painting and re-carpeting to follow.

Stay tuned….

Come to the Main Library, April 5th from 6-7 pm. Meet with staff and volunteers to generate ideas about fundraising possibilities for the West Branch Children’s Room.

Originally to be held at the West Branch, but since the Children’s Room is closed for repairs, the meeting will now be held at the Main Library.

Students from the Boston Architectural College recently shared plans they’ve created and so far the staff is intrigued by some of the ideas they’ve come up with.

Please come and bring your thoughts and enthusiasm for the West Branch Children’s Room.