In Tim Johnston’s Descent, the Rocky Mountains have cast their spell over the Courtlands, who are taking a family vacation before their daughter leaves for college. But when Caitlin disappears during an early morning run with her brother, Sean, the mountains become as terrifying as they are majestic.

In Aline Ohanesian’s book, Orhan inherits a decades-old business when his brilliant and eccentric grandfather Kemal is found dead. But Kemal has left the family estate to a stranger thousands of miles away. Intent on righting this wrong, Orhan unearths a story of the Armenian Genocide that, if told, has the power to undo the legacy upon which Orhan’s family is built.

In The Miracle Girl by Andrew Roe, the crowds keep coming to the small house on Shaker Street. More and more every day it seems. They come to see eight-year-old Anabelle Vincent, the little girl who should have died but didn’t, who lies in a coma-like state, unable to move or speak. They come because a visitor experienced what seemed like a miracle caused by Anabelle. Word spread. There were more visitors, more miracles. Anabelle’s story has been picked up by television and the Internet, and the visitors believe--devoutly, desperately. But is this the divine at work or something else?  This impressive debut novel is ultimately about how becoming a believer--in something, anything, even if you don t understand it--can sustain you.  (Algonquin Books)