From last week's Book Sense bestseller lists, available at BookSense.com, here are the recommended titles, which are also Book Sense Picks:
Hardcover
The Savage Garden by Mark Mills (Putnam, $24.95, 9780399153532/0399153535). "This intelligent mystery belongs at the top of the class, as it stretches your knowledge in horticulture, the classics, WWII, Italy, and even (or perhaps especially) Machiavelli. In the novel, mysteries are intertwined like garden vines, and the fun comes in watching the appealing characters intellectually unwind their stories."--Jeanne Regentin, Between the Covers, Harbor Springs, Mich.
Empire of Blue Water: Captain Morgan's Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe That Ended the Outlaws' Bloody Reign by Stephan Talty (Crown, $24.95, 9780307236609/0307236609). "If you like Johnny Depp, and if pirates are your thing, this account of real-life 17th-century buccaneer Henry Morgan is for you. After accepting a privateer's commission from the British, Morgan's target was Spanish silver as he challenged the Spanish empire."--Betty Jo Harris, Windows a bookshop, Monroe, La.
Paperback
Devils in the Sugar Shop by Timothy Schaffert (Unbridled, $14.95, 9781932961331/193296133X). "Tim Schaffert has done it again. This novel, set in the Old Market section of Omaha, features zany characters, ranging from a teacher of erotic writing workshops to a woman who sells 'marital aids' at neighborhood Sugar Parties. You'll be surprised to find out what goes on in the suburbs, especially on Sugar Party night. This is a delightful, funny book."--Andra Tracy, Out Word Bound, Indianapolis, Ind.
For Ages 4 to 8
Houndsley and Catina by James Howe, illustrated by Marie-Louis Gay (Candlewick, $14.99, 9780763624040/0763624047). "Catina wants to be a writer, and Houndsley wants to win a cooking contest. Each discovers that it is best to love what you do, and that being a friend is better than being famous. Not since Frog and Toad have we met such a wise, endearing twosome, and the whimsical illustrations perfectly enhance each page. I loved this book and its sequel, Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise."--Carol Moyer, Quail Ridge Books & Music, Raleigh, N.C.