Which Nancy Bush Books Explore Themes Of Family And Identity?

I’m a librarian and we see kids check out Nancy Bush’s 'Jane Kelly' mysteries a lot, especially 'Candy Apple Red' and 'Electric Blue.' They’re technically adult paperback originals, but the covers are bright, the protagonist is a young-ish dogwalker turned accidental detective, and the tone is light with a bit of romance. It’s a great bridge for teens who’ve outgrown middle-grade cozies but find some adult procedurals too grim. That said, I’d hesitate to call her work 'for young readers' in the traditional sense. She’s best known for romantic suspense aimed at adults, often cowriting with her sister. If a young reader loves fast-paced plots and doesn’t mind some romantic subplots, the Jane Kelly series is the place to start. Just be aware the content is more PG-13 than G.

I find her publication schedule a bit inconsistent lately. The last major release was 'The Secret of the Stones' in 2023, part of the Wicked series co-written with other authors. For 2024, her website and publisher listings don't show a new solo novel announced yet. She might have a novella in an upcoming multi-author romance anthology, which she's done before. Given her focus seems to be on those collaborative 'Wicked' books lately, I'm not holding my breath for a new standalone thriller this year. I wish she'd return to the Jane Kelly mysteries—that series ended too abruptly. Checking the Kensington Books site every few months is probably the best move, but I'm setting my expectations for maybe a fall or holiday-themed novella, not a full-length book.

Getting signed copies from Nancy Bush is a bit of a moving target lately. For years, her official website had an autographed book section, but that seems to have gone quiet. Now, the most reliable spots are likely independent mystery bookshops that host virtual events with her. Places like The Poisoned Pen Bookstore or Murder By The Book often have signed stock leftover from such events, and they list them online. I'd set up an alert for her name on their sites. You can also occasionally find them on AbeBooks or eBay, but be prepared for a serious markup from resellers, and verifying the signature's authenticity is always a gamble. Honestly, your best chance might be just following her on social media for announcements about new releases or charity events where she sometimes offers signed copies directly. That’s how I snagged my signed 'Blind Spot'.

The 'Half Bad' trilogy by Sally Green sits on my shelf looking deceptively simple. At its surface, it's a dark YA fantasy about Nathan, a boy born from a White Witch mother and a Black Witch father, living in a violently segregated magical society. But the core of it, the part that stuck with me for weeks after finishing, is how it treats the idea of family as this painful, unavoidable inheritance you have to sort through yourself. Nathan's entire identity is a crime to the Council that rules the witches. He's hunted for what he is, not who he is, and a huge chunk of the first book is him literally in a cage, being told his father is a monster. The exploration isn't about finding a happy family; it's about untangling the truth of your lineage from the propaganda and trauma surrounding it. What Green does so well is show how identity gets forged in opposition and in secret. Nathan's taught to hate his father, but his own developing powers and the abuse he suffers push him to seek out the very source of that hated bloodline. The journey becomes about reclaiming the parts of himself the world calls evil. The family theme extends to his complicated relationship with his half-siblings, Marcus and Mercury too. It’s never clean or comforting. Your family can be your greatest danger and your only clue to understanding yourself. The books argue, pretty bleakly sometimes, that identity is a fight you have to win against everyone, sometimes even against the people you came from.