A “Skinny Dip” infused with a hilarious dose of danger

Jamaican pot, attempted murder, lies, sex and blackmail. Carl Hiaasen’s “Skinny Dip” covers all of this and more, offering a perfect combination of high comedy and subtle social commentary.

“Psychic Junkie” is habit-forming

Addiction is no laughing matter. In the case of Sarah Lassez’s “Psychic Junkie” however, it is nothing short of hilarious. “Psychic Junkie” is Lassez’s own memoir of her addiction to tarot cards and psychic readings.

“Water for Elephants” is an enchanting adventure

For the characters of Sara Gruen’s “Water for Elephants,” life in the circus is both the promised escape from seemingly insurmountable problems and the source of equally difficult, though more bizarre, predicaments.