Based on a historical incident, this is the story of what happens to a war-ravaged Mexican border town when Dr John Romulus Brinkley - rich because of his goat-gland operation to cure male impotence - chooses it as the location for a radio tower to advertise his services. New prosperity brings a lot of changes to Corazon de la Fuente, not all of them good...  Hough creates a book full of memorable characters.  It was a 2012 Governor General's Award nominee.

The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code by Sam Kean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This history of the study of genetics up to the mapping of the human genome is a very interesting read. Written in an entertaining style, even a non-science person like myself could understand the issues and enjoy this book.