Land of Shadows (Rachel Howzell Hall)

This is a good, solid example of a gritty police-procedural murder mystery. The protagonist is a tough homicide detective, a black woman who grew up in the Jungle, a low-income high-crime area she now polices. A new murder has elements that remind her of her own sister's murder many years before, and she becomes obsessed with not only solving this murder, but showing that the same man is responsible for both. There are some flaws, but it is a good first effort and indicates some promise for the future of the series.

Einstein: His Life and Universe (Walter Isaacson)

A fascinating look at Einstein's life. Isaacson seems to have done impeccable research and presents his portrait of Einstein with balance but also with obvious admiration for the amazing man he was. I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to learn more about this important character who shaped much of modern life. Isaacson even manages to give a clear overview of the basics of Einstein's science and his thinking about quantum mechanics, with no math and nothing too intimidating. It's not a detailed picture, of course, but enough to get an understanding of what was going on in that wonderful mind. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.