Add these recent and upcoming releases from Inland Northwest poets and writers to your summer (and beyond) reading list

MURDER RUNS IN THE FAMILY
BY TAMARA BERRY

You might know her as romance author Lucy Gilmore, but her alter ego, Tamara Berry, has cooked up a cozy mystery that's perfect for those looking for a summertime sleuthing adventure. Murder Runs in the Family follows main character Amber Winslow as she leaves her life in Seattle and tries to clear the name of her estranged, eccentric grandmother, who is accused of murdering another resident of her Arizona retirement community. It's exceedingly funny — with a pet tortoise at the center of the plot, how could it not be? — but also hits on themes of found family, friendship and belonging.


WHISKEY REBEL
BY JEFFREY DUNN

Set in the rugged landscape of Washington state's high desert, author Jeffrey Dunn's newest work of fiction is a story about identity, friendship and freedom. Whiskey Rebel centers on Iraq War veteran Punxie Tawney, who teams up with fellow drifter Hamilton Chance to pursue Chance's desire to fulfill his ancestor's dream: distilling a tax-free whiskey. On their journey across Central Washington, the two meet a crew of characters battling their own problems, each teaching them a lesson along the way.



FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
BY JESSICA JAMES

An angsty, second-chance romance set to the backdrop of a rock band reunion? Sign me up! Revolving around the reunion of a band called the Glitter Bats, two of the former bandmates are thrown back into each other's lives and enter a fake dating scheme for publicity before the reunion show. For One Night Only is local author Jessica James' debut novel, and it's packed with every sweet and spicy trope you can think of: childhood friends, enemies to lovers, found family and more. The band returns in the sequel For Our Next Song in January 2026, when secondary characters Jane and Keely will have their time in the spotlight.


SINKHOLE AND OTHER INEXPLICABLE VOIDS
BY LEYNA KROW

In Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids, Krow weaves an ornate tapestry of tales beginning with "The Twin," in which a family of four's life is upended when the youngest boy, Jace, suddenly gains a twin in his crib overnight. Half of the stories in Sinkhole follow this family, consisting of matriarch Jenna, father Troy, daughter Ruby, and the twin boys Jace and Nicholas. "The Twin" sets the tone for the rest of the collection, a potpourri of stories mostly set in and around Spokane. It's familiar, but just unsettling enough to ignite a funny feeling in the reader's stomach.


PENNIES
BY LORA SENF

Spokanite Lora Senf's Blight Harbor series is a master class in approachable scary stories for kids. The Clackity, Senf's first foray into middle grade horror, was such a hit that she wrote two sequels, The Nighthouse Keeper and The Loneliest Place. Now, the upcoming fall 2025 release of Pennies serves as a prequel, taking place 100 years before the happenings in The Clackity. Four best friends are set to have the summer of their lives, but when they find a door in the forest floor that leads to an alternate universe, their ultimate summer takes a turn for the worse.


SO FAR GONE
BY JESS WALTER

Jess Walter is back with another Pacific Northwest-set novel, this time about a reclusive journalist who is suddenly thrown into a rescue mission to save his kidnapped grandchildren. Beginning just a few weeks after the 2016 election and spanning several years into our present moment, Walter enhances readers' capacity for empathy by taking them on a journey through the heartland of Christian nationalism and commenting on how we got to the political climate of 2025. Look for this one on shelves in June.



THE SERIOUS WORLD
BY LAURA READ

Voted best local poet by Inlander readers in our 2024 Best Of poll, Laura Read's newest poetry collection is unlike any other she's released thus far. Hitting shelves in October, The Serious World finds Read reaching back into history to talk with Sylvia Plath and other historical figures who have written about their suffering. Through a collection of poems in the form of letters, Read attempts to make sense of what it's like to be alive and suffering in the present moment.




QUINNELOPE AND THE UNICORN UTOPIA
BY HF BROWNFIELD AND KAYLA COOMBS

The third installment in the vibrant, kid-geared graphic novel series, Quinnelope is sure to be an adventure when it hits shelves in July. With colorful and fun illustrations by Spokanite HF Brownfield, Quinnelope (a pink, blob-shaped queen) and her friends encounter pirate prawns, dangerous sea creatures and more on their quest to prove that unicorns are really real! Even if you're not a kid, this adorable series will grab your attention and fill your heart with glee. ♦

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Tuesdays, 3-7 p.m. Continues through July 29
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Madison Pearson

Madison Pearson is the Inlander’s Listings Editor and Digital Lead, managing the publication’s calendar of events, website and social media pages. She serves as editor of the annual Summer Camps Guide and regularly contributes to the Inlander's Arts & Culture and Music sections. Madison is a lifelong resident...