Between the Covers

Choosing a good summer read can be daunting, with so many bestsellers to choose from. Biscayne Times enlisted help from some local literary experts, and they were thrilled to share their recommendations.

Oline Cogdill, mystery fiction reviewer for various publications and longtime Los Angeles Times Book Prize judge; Lissette Mendez, Miami Book Fair executive director; and Melody Santiago Cummings and Caroline Cabrera, co-directors of O, Miami, all carved time out of their busy schedules to wax poetic about what they have read and will be reading during the hot summer months.

OLINE COGDILL

Oline Cogdill

Oline Cogdill spends her days reviewing books, specifically mystery fiction for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale/Tribune Publishing Wire, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness. She is also a judge for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the mystery/thriller category and is the winner of Mystery Writers of America’s Raven Award. Cogdill also penned an essay on reviewing in the Anthony, Agatha, and Barry Award-winning book “How to Write a Mystery” co-edited by Lee Child and Laurie R. King. All five authors on Cogdill’s list have been nominated for every mystery writing award there is. “They are all very good stylists at showing us who people are,” she said.

“Fever Beach” by Carl Hiaasen

“Hiaasen is one of the finest social critics we have now,” said Cogdill. “In this novel, Hiaasen sharpens his satirical wit, and this book hits the ground running.” The story revolves around a white supremacist. “He’s so dumb that the Proud Boys kicked him out and the Oathkeepers will have nothing to do with him,” said Cogdill. “They think he is stupid and incompetent. He could not get into a terrorist group if he tried.” In true Hiaasen style, the story targets developers and stupid people, but also explores concerns about the environment.

“Nightshade” by Michael Connelly

“Michael is probably the most consistent mystery writer to this day,” said Cogdill. “This book is a very satisfying series launch where Connelly introduces a new character who goes only by Stillwell.” The setting is Santa Catalina Island. “Stillwell is investigating the death of a young woman whose body was found in the harbor. The story itself is about finding contentment and where you belong in this life,” said Cogdill.

“Murder Takes a Vacation” by Laura Lippman

Lippman’s latest is a solid story that mixes a light amateur sleuth story with a hard-edged plot. The main protagonist, Baltimore widow Muriel Blossom, was featured in Lippman’s previous novels as assistant to private detective Tess Monaghan but in this novel, she takes center stage. “Muriel finds a winning lottery ticket in a parking lot and fulfills her lifelong dream of taking a cruise to Paris which she plans with her best friend,” said Cogdill. Naturally, murder ensues.

“El Dorado Drive” by Megan Abbott

In this story about scams that target women, three sisters from Detroit fall for a pyramid-type scheme where they prey on cash-strapped women. “It looks at their relationship and into betrayal and trust,” said Cogdill. “Abbott approaches the subject in a vastly unique way.”

“King of Ashes” by S.A. Cosby

This novel is about Atlanta finance manager Roman Carruthers, the eldest of two brothers, who returns to Virginia after his father falls into a coma following a car accident, which is believed to be linked to Roman’s younger drug-dealing brother.

“All the main characters are Black,” said Cogdill, and this book looks at family ties, racism, as well as the struggles of poor rural and ethnic families.”

LISSETTE MENDEZ

Lissette Mendez

Books have always been part of Lissette Mendez’s life, since becoming an avid reader at an early age to her career where she served as director of programs for the Miami Book Fair from 2014 until 2023 when she became executive director of the annual event that takes place every November at the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus.

“These are all books that I’m looking forward to reading,” said Mendez, whose picks include older books and summer releases.

“Old School Indian,” by Aaron John Curtis

Curtis, who is a Miami-based writer and is Indigenous tells a semi-autobiographical story of life on the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe reservation. “I am always interested in reading books about diverse cultures than mine,” said Mendez. “In the past 20 years there have been several wonderful books about Native Americans and Indigenous peoples.”

“The Namaste Club,” by Asha Elias

Elias, who is also from Miami, sets her story on the Treasure Coast, where wealthy Miami women attend a yoga retreat led by a Shakti, an Instagram influencer. “I know it is going to be a fun read, and I love books that examine the lives of people that live very differently than me. That is the theme of 99% of the books I read. I can certainly enjoy someone covering this with such wit.”

“Autocorrect: Stories” by Etgar Keret

Mendez describes Keret as one of her favorite writers. “He’s Israeli and is funny, insightful, and one of those writers that is hard to pin down. He injects extra humanity into his characters.” Keret’s latest book is a collection of dark and comedic short stories featuring a reality show contestant from another dimension, an elderly widow who outwits AI, and other characters who deal with relationships, technology, and other relatable situations.

“The Books of Jacob” by Olga Tokarczuk

Mendez has had this 912-pager on her desk for a while. Published in 2014 and set in the 18th century, it tells the historic tale of religious leader Jacob Frank and the indelible mark he left during his travels as he reinvented himself into different personas of different faiths. “I love that it is very well imagined and incredibly detailed. It shows what life was like in rural Eastern Europe and because my maternal grandparents came from Eastern Europe it is a way to view what life was like for my ancestors.”

“Crush” by Ada Calhoun

Released in 2024, the story focuses on women in their 40s who are dissatisfied with their married life and looking to fill that void. “I love the way the author tackles this theme. She uses religious, romantic literature and philosophy to explore the theme. I loved it and by the third read I felt it was a deep read masquerading as a midlife romp.”

MELODY SANTIAGO CUMMINGS AND CAROLINE CABRERA

Melody Santiago Cummings and Caroline Cabrera

As executive director and artistic director of O, Miami (respectively), Cummings and Cabrera and the O, Miami team put together the annual O, Miami Poetry Festival every April in honor of National Poetry Month. However, their work continues year-round with educational programming including writing workshops and storytelling, plus their thriving publishing arm of the organization.

“If you're looking to find your next summer read, visit the Bookleggers stacks, said Cummings, referring to the location in the Bakehouse Art Complex. You’ll surely leave with an armful of free books”

“Florida Poems” by Campbell McGrath

“Like heavy humidity and fogged lenses, “Florida Poems” shows up in my summers without fail,” said Cummings. This slim poetry collection from 2003 is filled with dreamy lyricism and vivid Floridiana, from allegorical cloud-dwellers to poetic meditations on consumption, both cultural and literal. She recommends it to anyone here – or moving away – as a way to remember or brace for Florida in all its surrealism.

“Are You Happy?” By Lori Ostlund

“Personally, I gravitate toward poetry collections and short stories in the summer,” said Cummings. “With travel, childcare, and a divided attention span, these forms meet me where I am, and are perfect for poolside reading.” Ostlund’s latest collection contains nine stories about class, desire, identity, as well as the specter of violence that looms daily over women and the LGBTQ+ community.

“The Antidote” by Karen Russell

“I have been waiting for another novel from Karen Russell since “Swamplandia!” said Cabrera. “She marries a playful and imaginative sensibility about the world with masterful placemaking, all while telling timely and plot-packed stories.”

Although Russell is a Miami native, this story takes place in Uz, Nebraska, and involves a devastating dust storm and how it affects the town’s residents and their secrets.

“The Naming Song” by Jedediah Berry

“Jedediah Berry’s work is steeped in all that’s riveting about genre fiction – mystery, sci-fi, the post-apocalyptic – but with the sentence-level craftsmanship of a literary writer,” said Cabrera. The book chronicles a world surrounded by borders and run by four committees and one committee member’s desperate search for a long-lost sister. “It is a book about language that delivers with gorgeous prose.”

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