Submitted by Leslie Nienaber, of www.apprissretail.com

Leslie is a digital marketer and content writer with a love for books across many genres, including historical fiction, dark comedy and dystopia.


Reader Advisory is a series in which community and business leaders and our staff offer their top 5 books on any topic. To contribute, e-mail [email protected].

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

One of the scariest books I've read in a while! This was such a fun book to read, and Buehlman has a great imagination and way with words. I cried at the end!

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

One of the most beautiful books, and certainly one I plan on re-reading. The story is unique and is all about facing our pasts.

The Ghost Map: the Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic by Steven Johnson

You'll never take clean water for granted again after learning about how several key Londoners discovered the cause of the great cholera epidemic.

The Only Girl in the World by Maude Julien

Everyone finds an inner strength through even the worst situations. I loved this memoir because, while Julien had a terrible childhood, she survived it and ended up helping others

From Here to Eternity – Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty

Do you ever wonder why people are afraid of death in western society? Doughty travels around the world to explain how other cultures view death, as well as their rituals, in her ongoing battle to move away from a hands-off approach to the end of life and towards something that brings closure.