This time of year is perfect for sitting by the fire with hot tea and a good book. This month is full of stories that will take you on adventures without ever having to leave the warmth of your home! Starting off we have thrillers from Ace Atkins and Brett Battles that will leave you breathless. Next, a moving historical fiction novel set in World War Two France by Cara Black. And last but certainly not least, a snapshot into the mystery of Marylin Monroe’s life by James Patterson and Imogen Edwards-Jones at the cusp of her 100th birthday. Print your December Coming Soon List, circle your favorites, and let our librarians handle your holds. And don’t forget—our digital collections are available 24/7 on Libby and Hoopla!
Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
In order to claim her late aunt’s house, Selena must flee her past in the city with only her dog and a few dollars to her name. The desert town of Quartz Creek has a certain beauty to it, but Selena cannot shake the sense that she is being watched. Gods and spirits linger outside her house, and while her neighbor tells her they only have positive intentions, Selena feels something deeper. She finds her late aunt's journals and discovers her new home is really the haunting grounds of an ancient god known as “Snake-Eater,” with whom her aunt made a promise that has yet to be fulfilled. Selena will now face the consequences of unpaid debts. Available 12/1
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe by James Patterson & Imogen Edwards-Jones
In life, the global and cultural icon Marilyn Monroe captured the attention of the entire world. And in death she is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. In the months before her death she was polishing an unfinished script; In the weeks before her death she was photographed in Santa Monica; In the days before her death she was a guest at Frank Sinatra's party in the Celebrity Room at the Cal Neva Lodge; and then in the hours before her death she is seen fighting with US Attorney General Bobby Kennedy and his brother-in-law Peter Lawford. And now in 2026, we celebrate her 100th birthday without her. In this novel by James Patterson and Imogen Edwards-Jone, they explore the question of what really happened to the movie star in her final days. Available 12/1
Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Ace Atkins
In 1985, “The Year of the Spy,” 14 year old Peter Bennett becomes convinced that his mom’s new boyfriend, Gary, is really a Russian spy. Gary’s not in the phone book, has a strange unidentifiable European accent, and keeps a gun in the glove box of his convertible. Peter’s suspicions only deepen when a woman in his mother’s government run lab is murdered. Peter has no choice but to team up with a has-been pulp writer and his drag performer buddy. However, they draw the attention of a Russian hitman who may or may not be Gary. At the same time, FBI agent Slyvia Weaver uncovers a network of spies operating in Atlanta, unaware that her work is being undermined by a corrupt colleague. As Ronald Reagan and Soviet general secretary Mikhail Gorbachev near a crucial nuclear summit, the events in Atlanta may change the course of the Cold War and Peter’s freshman year. Available 12/2
Stuart Woods’ Blown Away by Brett Battles
In Brett Battle’s newest installment, former CIA operative Teddy Fay is back for another Hollywood adventure. Teddy Fay heads the Palm Springs to meet up with Peter and Hattie Barrington for a relaxing vacation. But that is all thrown out the window when he attends a famous actor’s birthday and witnesses two women fighting, only for one of those women to turn up dead the next day. When Teddy investigates the murder he uncovers a network centered around gaining control of a cutting-edge energy company. If Teddy Fay doesn’t move fast, power can go into the wrong hands and people’s lives can be at risk. Available 12/2
Huguette by Cara Black
In World War Two France, seventeen year old Huguette Faure is pregnant, alone, and hunted by her father’s enemies. Thanks to a kind-hearted police officer, Claude Leduc, Huguette finds work with a famous film director. As her smaller roles develop, Huguette sees an opportunity to break free from her past and live a better life. In this moving historical fiction, Cara Black depicts an accurate representation of post World War Two France. Available 12/2
Sharpe’s Storm by Bernard Cornwell
The year is 1813 and the war against Napoleon rages across Europe. France is a battlefield and winter shows mercy on its soldiers. Amid the chaos, Major Richard Sharpe and his men must brace themselves to face the fiercest French army ever encountered. They know there is only one way out and it will be bloody but they need Sharpe in order to succeed. Available 12/2
Dead Ringer by Chris Hauty
Chris Hauty, beloved for his thrillers, is back with a riveting standalone novel that explores what may have happened during John F. Kennedy’s assasination. Jumping to the present day, a former, disgraced secret service agent teams up with a Jesuit professor to delve deep into the mystery of what really happened on November 22, 1963. Little do they know the cabal is still alive and they may face the same fate as JFK. Will they have enough time to solve the murder? Or will they be a blip in history, forgotten? Available 12/2
Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Brandon Sanderson, comes a new short fiction collection including a never before seen novella “Moment Zero.” From detective thrillers to high-tech fantasy, Tailored Realities is full of gripping reads and stunning illustrations you won’t want to put down. Available 12/9
The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick
Greta Perks, a former Maple Gold coffee commercial star whose personal and professional life has become unraveled, discovers a magical coffee shop that will grant her wishes. She longs for the perfect life displayed in her old commercials. Next thing she knows she wakes up in the make believe town of Mapleville and given the opportunity for a fresh start, Greta is determined not to waste it. But can life really be like a coffee commercial? And how will Greta choose between her perfect life and her real one? Available 12/9
In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams
Madison Walker left Rome, Kentucky, determined to make it in the culinary world. But after years in New York she is left unsuccessful. It is not in her plan to come home, until she comes across a job offer for the head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant in her hometown. The only catch is the opportunity comes from James Huxley, owner of Huxley Farm, her brother’s best friend. James has loved Madison quietly for a long time and he will go out of his comfort zone to make her dreams come true. Madison and James must launch a restaurant in a short amount of time while keeping their relationship professional. They both have to face their biggest insecurities and choose between love or their dreams. Available 12/30