Two new books have me hooked. They’re both rife with mystery and intrigue. Only one is fiction.

Fiction first: “The Night Circus,” by Erin Morgenstern is stylish and clever – a perfect read for autumn and a thorough escape from dullness. It will transport you to a world perfumed with wood smoke and caramel apples and peopled with elegant eccentrics.

The “Night Circus” of the title appears without notice on the outskirts of towns large and small, beguiling the evenings of nearby residents for a time and then leaving as unexpectedly as it came. Magicians enthrall the public, while forming an intricate pattern of alliance, competition and romance behind the scenes.

This debut novel is beautifully drawn, full of haunting shadows and unexpectedly dazzling twists. Pour yourself a hot cup of cider and give your fall evenings over to this enchanting book. You can watch a trailer here.

"Destiny of the Republic," by Candice Millard is not fiction, but reads like it is. This new history from the author of “The River of Doubt:  Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey” is as gripping as its subject is grim.

The story of President James Garfield and assassin Charles Guiteau, “Destiny of the Republic” explores a world far different from our own, when both presidents and madmen had an unquestioning belief in their destiny and the white house was as accessible to the public as the local train station. Though we know how the story ends, Millard keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout. A bit more here.

Click on the links to connect to the library catalog and reserve your copy of the title of your choice. Both will make the autumn evenings fly.