Every month there are dozens of new books released, and it can be difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff. As 18th century essayist Arthur Schopenhauer said, "you can never read bad literature too little, nor good literature too much." This month's brief reviews are intended to invite into the literary world every kind of reader—from those who pick up a book for entertainment alone to those who are looking for an epiphany between the pages. You'll find these books, and many more, at Books & Crannies in Middleburg. Edgar-winning author David Liss (in 2000 he won Best First Novel for "A Conspiracy of Paper") has written a thriller. In "The Ethical Assassin," a 17-year-old comes face-to-face with a killer who has just committed a double murder in a South Florida trailer park. How young Lem Altick navigates this perilous path is a tale that is simultaneously suspenseful, hilarious, and touching. In the process, big questions are asked about greed, corruption and the future of our environment.

Perhaps the perfect St. Patrick's Day book has at last arrived—Edward Rutherford's "The Rebels of Ireland." It follows his first installment ("The Princes of Ireland"), but if you haven't read that one, be assured this book can stand alone. It covers the Irish revolt of 1534 through the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922. That's a lot of turf to cover, and Rutherford infuses this monumental tale with everything we'd expect from a book about Ireland—battles, romance, political intrigue, and much more. As fans of "The Da Vinci Code" wait anxiously for the movie to come out, Steve Barry's "The Templar Legacy" may provide welcomed diversion. This is a thriller built around the legend of the Knights Templar, that mysterious and powerful group that was supposedly obliterated in the 14th century—but not before hiding a huge treasure. This is an adventure that includes all manner of puzzles within puzzles, and it will keep readers on edge to the very end. "The Tenth Circle" is the newest Jodi Piccoult novel, and like her other works, it is an intense, serious and emotional examination of family life, from the point of view of a father whose child endures a horrific experience. His reaction to that event brings back a part of himself he thought was long buried. The civilized veneer of his life slowly cracks, and it is clear that if he is to save his child, he must first save himself. The novel also asks—and attempts to answer—that universal question: Are we destined to repeat the mistakes of the past?

Monsters

"The Harmony Silk Factory," a first novel by Malaysian writer Tash Aw, tells the story of Johnny Lim from three different perspectives, although all have in common the frightening uncertainty of Malaysia in the 1940s. Is Johnny an evil monster or a man who lives in fear of the unknown? Is he a hero who fought the Japanese or is he a drug kingpin who murders at will? As we discover just who Johnny Lim is, we also experience the exotic, rich and colorful atmosphere of this pivotal time in Asia, as World War II ends, communism takes hold and the economic transformation of the region begins. If you enjoyed "The Birth of Venus," then you will also be seduced by author Sarah Dunant's latest, "In the Company of the Courtesan." As usual, Dunant does her homework, and her evocation of Renaissance Italy is vivid, exciting and, at times, terrifying. Once again, the heroine of the novel is a woman before her time, who has learned how to exploit men's weaknesses to her advantage. Her helpmate is a dwarf whose voice provides the novel's narration. He's smart, pragmatic and as strong and formidable a protector of his mistress as any full-sized warrior. As in her previous book, Dunant gets the details right, from her depiction of the sack of Rome in 1527 to Venice with all it's charm, beauty, corruption and hedonism. Young Readers

For younger readers, we suggest "Vin Fiz" by Clive Cussler, best known for his Dirk Pitt thrillers. He's written a magical tale about twins who receive the gift of an enchanted box that can transform any toy into a life-sized version. "A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children" by Caroline Kennedy, and "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein are also winners. Sometimes the classics are simply the best choice.

For young adult readers, you also can't go wrong with Carl Hiassen, whose two young adult books, "Hoot" and "Flush" are just what you would expect from a writer who is passionate about the environment but also outrageously funny and wise. The "Traveling Pants" series from Ann Brashares (there are now three in the series) are well-written books with a powerful—but never condescending—message for girls at any age. Looking ahead, later in April we expect Alexander McCall Smith's newest No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency adventure, "Blue Shoes and Happiness." The new Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum book, "Twelve Sharp," will be out in June. In "A Death in Belmont," (release date: April 18) Sebastian Junger (author of "The Perfect Storm") considers a murder case that occurred at the same time in 1963 and in the same area as the Boston Strangler's famous crime spree, but led to the conviction of another man. He asks, with his usual precision and insight, if perhaps the wrong man was convicted. April is the cruellest month, wrote T.S. Eliot, but we think all you need is a good book in your hands, one that will fire your imagination, touch your heart or give you a peek into a world beyond your own fields.