Not since I read Chris Bohjalian's novel The Midwife have I found such a moving historical fiction story about midwifery as The Last Midwife.  Dallas does not intend for the theme of her latest novel to be about midwifery, but rather about a woman in 1880s Colorado who is a midwife and understands the ways of mountain-bred folk. Gracy Brookens is the only midwife in a small Colorado mining town where the women of Swandyke each trust and depend on her to see them through their pregnancy and the birth of their child.  But everything changes when a newborn is found dead and the evidence points to Gracy as the murderer.  Who is the mother of this baby?  Is she Edna Halleck, as her husband Jonas claims, or their fifteen-year-old daughter Josie?  And just as importantly, who is the father of the dead child?  A mystery builds surrounding the birth and death of the baby; the birth of which Gracy did not assist and her claim that the baby was alive and well following her visit with the mother two days following the delivery.  As Gracy faces trial for the murder, her friends begin taking sides and she must decide whether it's worth everything to prove her innocence.  Also there are the dark secrets Gracy has been keeping that would cost her a high price if revealed.  The Last Midwife is a story that will capture your heart; a story of family, community, and the secrets that can destroy and unite these mountain people.  (St. Martin's Press, $25.99)

How many of you remember the syndicated newspaper column "Dear Abby"?  Well, Koontz is offering advice for the furry and forlorn through the voice of his Golden Retriever, Anna.  Long suspected that dogs are smarter than humans, Anna proves it's true in this hilariously entertaining book when she answers letters from many tail-wagging canines asking for her advice to help solve their problems.  Photographs by Vincent Remini make this a must to put on your list for yourself or as a present to a special person for the coming holidays. (Warner, $14.99) 

Waterloo, Iowa, 1905.  Amazing Arden is the most famed female illusionist in the world; maybe the only one currently in existence.  One of her incredible tricks is sawing a man in half, disappearing in a cloud of smoke and then having him appear whole again on stage.  Then one night it is more than an act; it becomes murder when a body is discovered beneath the stage.  The victim is thought to be Arden's husband.  When she is captured by Victor Holt, a young police officer who had been in the show's audience, he decides to listen to her story before turning her over to the authorities, a story which begins in 1892 Philadelphia where 12-year-old Arden, then Ada Bates, is being raised by her wealthy grandparents. Throughout that night in 1905, Victor listens to Arden tell of her dashed dreams and then of her fortuitous luck eventually rising to the number one spot on stage in a magic show.  Is this a believable story Victor is hearing or is it just another magician's lie?  Or will he be convinced of Arden's innocence as she claims?  A mesmerizing tale of secrets, betrayal, and suspense that kept me guessing until the very end.  I highly recommend this for fans of Water for Elephants and The Night Circus.(Sourcebooks, $14.99)