St Louis County Library

Dexter Morgan, America's favorite "good guy serial killer" returns in his fifth book. This time, he is spotted early on in his "hobby" and must deal with being seen as well as raising a family and doing his job for the police department. He juggles all of this while trying to keep what he calls his "Dark Passenger" as secret. Jeff Lindsay keeps the continuity flowing by weaving in references to his previous four Dexter novels. A good story and it keeps the reader excited for Dexter's next adventure.

--Michael B., Jamestown Bluffs Branch

Looking for a a gritty, historical police procedural full of highwaymen and hangings? Then check out "The Gallows Thief." The author, Bernard Cornwell, provides a full complement of eccentric characters while the CDbook's narrator, Sean Barrett, brings them to life.  

Rider Sandman is a former soldier and a hero of Waterloo. Due to a family scandal, he scrounges for employment. Given the opportunity to investigate a case for the Home Secretary, Sandman has too much integrity to confirm a corrupt conviction. Intending to find the real culprit, he questions both lowly servants and distinguished gentlemen. Sandman takes some wrong turns, proving he's human while still being a champion of truth and justice. He's assisted by an 'actress' named Sally and a veteran, Sgt. Berrigan, who are both cagey and well-versed in the seedy side of England.

The U.K. isn't known for food or dentistry, but when it comes to miniseries they set the standard. Political thrillers "State of Play" and "The State Within" stand out for acting and action.

"State of Play" was remade as a feature film in the U.S. Though the political drama is the same, the British version's additional storyline adds punch and is better cast. John Simm plays investigative reporter, Cal McCaffrey, whose college friend, Stephen Collins, is a politician. Collins comes under scrutiny for an alleged affair. Because of McCaffery's relationship with Collins, his newspaper expects exclusive information. The situation intensifies when McCaffrey investigates a shooting and unearths a briefcase that pits the paper against the police for withholding evidence. John Simm's performance is full of agonizing decisions as his profession and friendships are in conflict.

With the recent release of Martin Scorsese's film, "Hugo," based on Brian Selznick's Caldecott Award winning novel "The Invention of Hugo Cabret,"  in theaters and generating Oscar buzz, some may wish to delve deeper into the movie's rich cinematic history, accessible via the SLCL database page. The story centers around an orphaned boy living in a Paris train station and the relationship he forms with the station's toy shop owner and goddaughter. What some viewers may not realize is that "Hugo" pays homage to the life and works of real life French filmmaker Georges Méliès. Méliès, who began his career as a professional magician, went on to become one of the great silent filmmakers, creating over 500 films, many of which were applauded for their special effects.