#26, The Iron Sickle, by Martin Limon

A nice mystery set in South Korea in the 1970's. The partners Sueno and Bascom are tracking down a mysterious man killing Americans with an iron sickle. Why is he doing this, and where will he strike next? A fast-moving pace and a satisfying ending.

#25, Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Even seemingly small transgressions can have far-reaching consequences. The intertwined relationships of two families are insightfully portrayed, and the repercussions of tensions and problems (the "little fires" of the title, I presume) erupt in unexpected ways.

#24, Saints for All Occassions, by J. J. Courtney Sullivan

The story of two sisters who emigrated from Ireland in the 1950's has some very strong evocations of family life and the hardship and promises of leaving one's homeland. The only part that grated on me was the description of kindly Benedictine nuns in the '70's advising young women to 'protect themselves' when having sex, not that this may not have happened, but we were clearly meant to applaud the enlightened view of the compassionate nuns and decry the rigidity of the heartless male hierarchy. All in all, a pleasant read.