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New Fiction

Little Fortress

Little Fortress

by Laisha Rosnau

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Honey

Honey

A Novel

by Brenda Brooks

 

“Brooks has delivered a meaty, insightful, and at times funny story of star crossed lovers (think Rebel Without a Cause). Her writing is exceptiona …

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Paper Houses

Paper Houses

by Dominique Fortier
translated by Rhonda Mullins

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Of Vengeance

Of Vengeance

by J.D. Kurtness
translated by Pablo Strauss

A chilling justification of a life of violence, as nonchalant as it is grim.

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Butterflies, Zebras, Moonbeams

Butterflies, Zebras, Moonbeams

by Ceilidh Michelle

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An Ocean of Minutes

An Ocean of Minutes

by Thea Lim

Shortlisted for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize
Longlisted for the 2019 CBC Canada Reads
A Chatelaine "18 Buzzy Books Everyone Will Be Talking About …

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Different Beasts

Different Beasts

by J.R. McConvey

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Even That Wildest Hope

Even That Wildest Hope

by Seyward Goodhand

Goodhand creates new worlds out of pure energy, then splits them apart to reveal our wounded planet, our all too recognizable selves: ludicrously dang …

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Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian)

Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian)

by Hazel Jane Plante

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October

October

by Michael Rowe

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The Girl Who Stole Everything

The Girl Who Stole Everything

by Norman Ravvin

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The Oracle of Cumae

The Oracle of Cumae

by Melissa Hardy

The Oracle of Cumae is entertaining and full of surprises. It’s a novel that relishes in poking fun at itself and its characters.

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Whipped

Whipped

An Arthur Beauchamp Novel

by William Deverell

 

“Whipped is vintage Deverell: sardonic yet humane, with a cast of complicated characters, seemingly effortless storytelling, and more than a touch …

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Thirty Shadow Birds

Thirty Shadow Birds

by Fereshteh Molavi

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Mary Cyr

Mary Cyr

by David Adams Richards

A Globe and Mail Best Book of 2018

"Mary Cyr is a marvellously readable saga. . . . If you're a fan of Ruth Rendell's Barbara Vine books where characte …

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The Tender Birds

The Tender Birds

by Carole Giangrande

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The Inquirer

The Inquirer

by Jaclyn Dawn

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Set-Point

Set-Point

by Fawn Parker

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The Fellowship

The Fellowship

by Rachel Manley

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Call Down the Thunder

Call Down the Thunder

A Crime Novel

by Dietrich Kalteis

 

“Kalteis does a brilliant job of planting us in this particular time and place . . . Even at its darkest, the story is lifted by a light, engaging …

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Broken Man on a Halifax Pier

Broken Man on a Halifax Pier

by Lesley Choyce

One of Canada’s finest storytellers, Lesley Choyce’s, latest — Broken Man on a Halifax Pier — is warm, witty and wise … an engaging and ente …

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A Grandmother Named Love

A Grandmother Named Love

by A. S. Compton

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Lake on the Mountain

Lake on the Mountain

A Dan Sharp Mystery

by Jeffrey Round

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Cheap Thrills

Cheap Thrills

by David Kloepfer

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Please Stand By

Please Stand By

by Carolyn Bennett

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Return to Spinner's Inlet

Return to Spinner's Inlet

Stories

by Don Hunter

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The Envy of Paradise

The Envy of Paradise

by Jocelyn Cullity

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We All Will Be Received

We All Will Be Received

by Leslie Vryenhoek

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Bone Black

Bone Black

by Carol Rose GoldenEagle

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An Irish Country Cottage

An Irish Country Cottage

An Irish Country Novel

by Patrick Taylor

"Patrick Taylor has become probably the most popular Irish-Canadian writer of all time." —The Globe and Mail

“Gentle humor, deeply emotional storie …

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The Beleaguered

The Beleaguered

by Lynne Golding

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The Shape of Family

The Shape of Family

A Novel

by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

“Shilpi Somaya Gowda is as adept at crafting disparate, fully realized worlds…as she is at creating compelling characters.”

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Borderline

Borderline

by Marie-Sissi LaBreche
translated by Melissa Bull

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Blue Bear Woman

Blue Bear Woman

by Virginia Pesemapeo Bordeleau
translated by Christelle Morelli & Ouriou Susan

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Dirty Birds

Dirty Birds

by Morgan Murray

“Canadians rejoice! Our Vonnegut has finally arrived! Morgan Murray’s debut is a great, brawling, sprawling, muscular glory of a story. Funny, dar …

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The Grey Zone

The Grey Zone

A Jack Taggart Mystery

by Don Easton

Easton, a former undercover cop with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, fills the Taggart books the kind of precise, accurate detail that gives the se …

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A Harsh and Private Beauty

A Harsh and Private Beauty

by Kate Kelly

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Fireweed and Bracken

Fireweed and Bracken

by Jennifer Coffey

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Careless Love

Careless Love

by Peter Robinson

“Peter Robinson writes the kind of mysteries they don’t write anymore: smart, civilized whodunits that are intellectually challenging, emotionally …

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Fire Trap

Fire Trap

A T.J. Peterson Mystery

by Bob Kroll

 

Kroll's hard-boiled prose feels satisfyingly retro.” — Kirkus Reviews

 

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Except the Dying

Except the Dying

by Maureen Jennings

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Heroine

Heroine

by Gail Scott

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Kaidenberg's Best Sons

Kaidenberg's Best Sons

A Novel in Stories

by Jason Heit

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Many Rivers to Cross

Many Rivers to Cross

by Peter Robinson

Praise for Peter Robinson and Careless Love:

“Robinson is prolific, but with each book he manages to ring the changes.”—The Guardian

“Careless L …

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Monstrous Affections

Monstrous Affections

by David Nickle

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Read and Buried

Read and Buried

A Lighthouse Library Mystery

by Eva Gates

Praise for Read and Buried:
"Historical injustices combine with a touch of romance and codebreaking in a neatly packaged cozy."
—Kirkus Reviews
"De …

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We All Fall Down

We All Fall Down

by Daniel Kalla

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Rites of Passage

Rites of Passage

by Michel Tremblay
translated by Linda Gaboriau

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Viaticum

Viaticum

by Natelle Fitzgerald

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Symphony No. 3

Symphony No. 3

by Chris Eaton

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Room for One More

Room for One More

by Monique Polak

"In 1942, 12-year-old Rosetta Wolfson lives with her Jewish family in Montreal, far away from the war in
Europe. The Wolfsons take in Isaac Guttman, …

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The Shimmer

The Shimmer

by Carsten Stroud

"Carsten Stroud is a world-class storyteller... He effortlessly combines hard-nosed cops, mafia dons, and supernatural events with convincing ease. Th …

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The Place

The Place

by Gary Collins

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Little Fortress
Honey
Paper Houses
Of Vengeance
Butterflies, Zebras, Moonbeams
An Ocean of Minutes
Different Beasts
Even That Wildest Hope
Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian)
October
The Girl Who Stole Everything
The Oracle of Cumae
Whipped
Thirty Shadow Birds
Mary Cyr
The Tender Birds
The Inquirer
Set-Point
The Fellowship
Call Down the Thunder
Broken Man on a Halifax Pier
A Grandmother Named Love
Lake on the Mountain
Cheap Thrills
Please Stand By
Return to Spinner's Inlet
The Envy of Paradise
We All Will Be Received
Bone Black
An Irish Country Cottage
The Beleaguered
The Shape of Family
Borderline
Blue Bear Woman
Dirty Birds
The Grey Zone
A Harsh and Private Beauty
Fireweed and Bracken
Careless Love
Fire Trap
Except the Dying
Heroine
Kaidenberg's Best Sons
Many Rivers to Cross
Monstrous Affections
Read and Buried
We All Fall Down
Rites of Passage
Viaticum
Symphony No. 3
Room for One More
The Shimmer
The Place
see all

On the Blog

Logo Words in the Woods

Your Fall 2019 Literary Festival Guide

By 49th Shelf Staff

Summer might be approaching its end, but literary festival season is just beginning! Find out what's happening near you, or even farther afield—because literary festivals make for good road trips. Just saying.

Book Cover Honey

Why Can't I Let You Go?

By Brenda Brooks

The author of Honey, a dark story of obsession, suggests books she just can't quit. 

7 Books to Promote Leadership Skills in Your Students

7 Books to Promote Leadership Skills in Your Students

By Allison Hall

A wise principal once told me that whoever is doing the work, is doing the learning. Wouldn’t it be beneficial for students to take on some of these tasks? I’ve decided to put ownership back into …

Book Cover Tawaw

Food Writing: From My Bookshelves and Browser

By Jennifer Cockrall-King

A jumping-off list for a larger discussion of authors and thinkers who inspire us to think more deeply about the food we eat, cook, and share.

The Recommend for Fall 2019: RomComs, Mysteries, Shoe Sellers, and Icons of CanLit

The Recommend for Fall 2019: RomComs, Mysteries, Shoe Sellers, and Icons of CanLit

By Kiley Turner

This week we're pleased to present the picks of writers Ian Colford (A Dark House and Other Stories), Ariela Freedman (A Joy to Be Hidden), Farah Heron (The Chai Factor), Sky Curtis (Traps), Heidi L.M …

Book Cover Set-Point

The Edges of Identity

By Fawn Parker

8 books dealing with issues of identity, sexuality, and mental health. 

more from the blog

Popular Lists

The Next Gone Girl

Left The Couple Next Door Beware That Girl One Hit Wonders Still Mine Captive The Devil You Know Lady Oracle See Jane Run Suspicion The Silent Wife So Much Love
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QWF Literary Awards Shortlists

A Joy To Be Hidden Teardown, The I'll Never Tell Birds that Stay nîtisânak Seeker We Were Like Everyone Else Magnetic Equator Obits. I Am a Body of Land The Organist The Ghost Garden
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2019 Governor General's Literary Award Finalists

Eye Five Wives Late Breaking The Innocents The Student How to Avoid Huge Ships Holy Wild The Grand River Watershed TREATY # 1 Hour Photo Thanks for Giving Other Side of the Game
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6 books to read this Halloween

I'm Thinking of Ending Things The Witches of New York Through the Woods The Underwater Welder The Troop The Saturday Night Ghost Club
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Notes from a Children's Librarian

By Julie Booker

Our resident children's librarian columnist chooses books by theme for kids of all ages

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Shelf Talkers

By Rob Wiersema

Indie booksellers from coast to coast tell us the books they can't stop recommending to their customers

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The Chat

By Trevor Corkum

Great writers from across the country sit down with us to talk about their books, and the stories behind them

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The Recommend

By Kiley Turner

Authors and avid readers in the know love up their favourite Canadian reads

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On Our Radar

By Kerry Clare

We spotlight books generating buzz all over the web, and beyond

 

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