6 New Books We Recommend This Week

Our recommended books this week tilt heavily toward investigations and exposés — they include a study of the wellness industry, an account of Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, a skeptical history of capitalism and a look at Russia’s private armies. But we also make room for an amiable road trip novel (Kevin Wilson’s “Run for the Hills”) and a German mystery in which the detectives are a flock of curious sheep. Happy reading. — Gregory Cowles

Big Bad Wool

by Leonie Swann

Swann’s exceedingly delightful Sheep Detective series began with “Three Bags Full” (published in 2005 and reissued earlier this year), in which an intrepid flock tries to figure out who killed their shepherd. This follow-up finds the sheep wintering next to a French château, which sounds idyllic, but the disappearance of other sheep, the mounting deaths of deer and, eventually, a human, strike fear in the hearts of the flock, who are worried they or their new shepherd may be next. How the sheep discover the culprit will enchant readers who hisse close attention. Read our review.