After graduating from Brown University, Pam spent many years in high tech, moving from Washington, D.C. to L.A. and finally to Silicon Valley to work for Fairchild, a start-up, and Novell. She landed at Kepler's Books, at last merging her high-tech acumen with her passion for literature. She managed the event program at Kepler's from 2005-2014 and has been instrumental in developing the literary and cultural programs used by KLF today.
Oh my gosh, I loved this wonderful story about a hard-scrabble woman and her animal companions who trekked over 4000 miles, from Maine to California, in the mid-1950s, relying on only each other and the kindness of strangers. It really brought back memories of "the old days" and how different everything was back then!. ~Pam
Oh, wow! Who knew that USC was the largest employer in L.A. and that its top administrators had a hold over both local police departments and the Los Angeles Times top brass. This book is a marvel of investigative journalism, and Paul Pringle and associaties uncovered not one, but two, major scandals at the university. If you liked Bad Blood, you'll love this! ~Pam
A wonderful, heartwarming tale about a very clever octopus, Marcellus, a young man trying to find out who his father is, and a retirement age woman dealing wih the loss of her husband and son. I loved it!
If you liked "Red Notice", you'll love this. ~Pam
Through Inti Flynn, who leads a team of biologists to reintroduce 14 wolves into the wild Scottish Highlands, McConaghy illuminates the hard-fought battle to save them from extinction and shows how they fit in to the total plant-life balance. I loved this as much as her wonderful debut, Migrations. --Pam
Even if you don't love basketball, you'll be enthralled by this story about a South Sudanese boy who gets selected to go to the U.S. to try for a team. Totally different from Grisham's legal thrillers, I loved it. --Pam
A lovely, lovely story about Veronica, a curmudgeonly 85-year-old, who finds family and friendship in, of all places, a penguin research station in Anarctica. It's funny, sad and hopeful, and I couldn't put it down!
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Madison Kelly, a La Jolla PI, is hired to find a missing local journalist. As she follows the woman's trail, Madison begins to realize that the case involves way more than a missing person, but rather a string of murders and insurance fraud. A thrill ride from beginning to end, interspersed with the beauty of the San Diego coast. I couldn't put this down! --Pam
Through a mutual friend, Martha, a CBS Sunday Morning newscaster and dog lover, meets a woman who is dying of cancer and needs a home for her dog, Harry. Martha’s own dog, Minnie, is the same breed, bull terrier. Martha didn’t just take Harry and move on with life. Instead, she met Carol, Harry’s owner, and built a friendship with her throughout her last days. This book is the most poignant story of friendship, love and loss, and how animals help us heal. And, yes, I cried. ~Pam
Kristin Hannah just keeps getting better and better. This book blew me away. 1930’s Texas, the dust bowl, the stock market crash, and for the farmers across The Great Plains, came burning winds that destroyed everything in their path. Elsa Martinelli is an incredible woman. She struggles so much through the book but doesn’t let anything keep her from fighting for a better life for her family. ~Pam
Henderson has combined her passion for science and the wilderness with a thriller plotline. This is a perfect package of compelling fiction: the creepiness of an abandoned ski resort, the stunning wilderness of Montana, a smart scientist trying to save endangered animals, the gorgeous wolverines who are beautiful, shy, fierce and loving to each other, and an historic small town providing a colourful lineup of potential villains. Highly recommend! ~Pam
Knives Out meets Agatha Christie meets corporate ski retreat. Nine tech startup execs arrive at a beautiful, isolated French chalet for a week of skiing, bonding, and meetings to determine the future of the company. After getting snowed in they start disappearing one by one... A great thriller to read while sitting by a cozy fire with a cup of cocoa. -Pam
Four feisty residents of an upscale retirement community in the English countryside are always looking for excitement. They meet every week to try to solve cold cases, so when an actual murder occurs on their doorstep, they insinuate themselves into the police investigation. Full of twists and turns, this story is a lot of fun and very clever! -Pam
Jane comes from a very dysfunctional family, but she's made a once-in-a-lifetime friend, Marnie. She also has found a true love, Jonathan. When Jonathan tragically dies after being hit by a car, Marnie becomes Jane's obsession. Very chilling page-turner that I couldn't put down.
This book was so much fun, and I don't even have kids about to go off to college. A mom and her daughter go with a group to tour East Coast universities, and I laughed out loud at parts of it. You'll love it! --Pam
A heartwarming story about a lonely and traumatized donkey who is nursed back to life and purpose by a large and varied group of both people and farm animals.
This book is also educational as Chris has included a lot of information about Amish life, female ultra-marathoners, the history of the Leadville race, and burro racing. I loved it! --Pam
I’ve loved everything by Jane Harper, but this is the best yet. Two brothers meet at the remote fence line separating their cattle ranches in the lonely Australian outback. Their third brother lies dead at their feet. What really happened to him? The death, though, is only the background; the family and their relationships, past misdeeds and abuses, are at the forefront. A story that even those who do not read mysteries will enjoy. A setting that is beautifully described and prose where not a word is wasted. --Pam
A daughter lost to drugs and parents desperate to find her. Add in the murders of step-brothers who’ve never met. One of Coben’s best ever! It kept me guessing right up until the very end. --Pam
I picked this book up in the Capetown Airport Bookstore on the way to a safari camp in Botswana...a lifetime dream of mine. This true story focuses on Anthony’s taking in a herd of "rogue" wild elephants, the adventures that ensued, and the incredible connections Lawrence formed with them as they learned to trust him. This book was so touching and beautiful, it deeply enriched my trip to Africa! --Pam
The author of The Soul of an Octopus writes a beautiful memoir in thirteen creatures that had me crying and smiling and will delight all animal lovers! --
I couldn’t put this down. Two teenagers, on the trip of their life to Thailand, are found dead in a fire. A reporter’s son, who’s been in Thailand for two years, is connected somehow. Told in three different voices - one of the girls, the reporter, and a police detective - this novel kept me guessing until the end! --Pam
Even if you never plan to go near Budapest, you have to read this book! It’s not just a tale about the brutality of the Holocaust. It's also a story of survival and love and the heroic measures people will take to protect their families. Beautiful and heart-wrenching. One of my all-time favorite novels! --Pam
Not only was I mesmerized by Jimmy’s life as a Navy SEAL and his years of surgeries and rehab after he was shot, I am blown away by his honesty and by what he is accomplishing now for service dogs and wounded vets. You’ve got to read this book! --Pam
Two women in Afghanistan--one an educated Pakistani, the other an American aid worker--come together in Kabul at an NGO that helps Afghan women recover from the Taliban years. Dependent upon their husbands, their loyalties, and their wits, the two grow to form a strong bond. Yet behind the friendship are betrayals that will change their lives forever. This was great reading! ~Pam
Filled with vivid detail from retired FBI Special Agent Jan Fedarcyk, Fidelity is both a thrilling, authentic look into the workings of the FBI and the gripping story of one woman’s fight to honor both love and duty. I loved this! --Pam