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May 10, 2013

Bookreporter.com Newsletter May 10, 2013
Happy Mother’s Day!

I often am juggling more than one book, and I pride myself on keeping all the storylines right, but the other day something amusing happened. I am reading both IS THIS TOMORROW by Caroline Leavitt, which is just out this week, and MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND by Matthew Dicks, which came out in paperback this week. Both were next to my bed, and I plucked one to do some early morning reading. I was trying to figure out what had happened to Jimmy since all of a sudden Max and Budo were in the book. I quickly figured out that Max and Budo were in MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND and Jimmy was in IS THIS TOMORROW, and I had the opposite book of what I thought I was reading in hand. Imagine me half asleep and looking forward to reading, and instead trying to figure out how a plot twist happened that changed an entire storyline and set the book in a totally different era. When I figured out what I had done, it was pretty funny.

I am terrible at remembering book titles and author names. I often do what I call “title or author fusion” making up my own titles; trust that I have two staffers read this newsletter before it goes out to confirm that those are correct. But I have never mixed up plots and characters before!

IS THIS TOMORROW is set in 1956 (and I am loving the period details). Ava Lark rents a house with her 12-year-old son, Lewis, in a desirable Boston suburb. Lewis misses his absent father, befriending the only other fatherless kids: Jimmy and Rose. One afternoon, Jimmy goes missing. Years later, when Lewis and Rose reunite to untangle the final pieces of the tragic puzzle, they must decide: Should you tell the truth even if it hurts those you love, or should some secrets remain buried? We look forward to sharing our review with you in next week’s newsletter, and I look forward to reading the rest of the book this weekend so I can continue to enjoy Caroline’s latest work.

In MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND, Budo is eight-year-old Max Delaney’s imaginary friend. Max is somewhere on the autism spectrum, and this has him confronting challenges each day that Budo helps him get through as Budo loves and protects Max from the things that “go bump during the day” and scare him. But Budo worries about the day when Max will stop needing and believing in him; when that happens, Budo will disappear. It’s making me think of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME as I read it, and it’s one of those books that I am surprised that I did not read when it published in hardcover last year. So well done --- and we have the reading group guide available this month on ReadingGroupGuides.com.

By the way, if you are in a book group, we updated ReadingGroupGuides.com this month, and there are so many wonderful selections out there for you to enjoy, as well as five contests where you can win books for your groups.

Through the years, there has been a lot of debate about whether some books look more like “girl books” or “boy books” when they are judged by their covers. Just as many authors use their initials to not give away their own sex (J.K., E.L. and C.S. come immediately to mind when I think about this), often cover treatments will skew whether a title is “for women” or “for men.” I read a terrific piece by Maureen Johnson in the Huffington Post this week that explored this subject and features some titles “re-jacketed” to give them a different look and author name. Take a look and see what those changes did to your initial impression of the book.

I got a nice note from Shelly from Homewood, Illinois, that shared a sentiment we hear from our readers again and again. It said, in part: “Most of the books that I have read and loved are because I first saw them in your newsletter. You make me look like a genius when I recommend books to my friends that they've never heard of (ie THE HELP.) Thanks for helping me find such great books.” Here’s to all of you who share what you see on Bookreporter.com with your friends. As I often say, you are uber readers! Oh, and Shelly shared a rave for THE GLASS WIVES that will be in stores next Tuesday.

Listen up...literally! As most of you know, today marks the release of The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton --- the media blitz about this with ads and promos has been huge. To celebrate, we’ve enlisted the help of AudioFile Magazine to create a bookshelf of 20 great Gatsby and Jazz Age-related audiobooks. The shelf is divided into four categories --- “The Gatsby in Many Voices,” “More Fitzgerald,” “Jazz Age History & Culture” and “Contemporary Writers on The Jazz Age” --- so there’s truly something for everyone in this collection. All the reviews in this feature have been done by AudioFile, which is giving us the chance to share audio works with you and to give you an opportunity to explore a format that we typically do not share on the site. Let us know what you think!

And don’t forget to take a look at books written during the same decade as GATSBY in our “20 Books from the '20s: Reading Beyond Gatsby” bookshelf. I keep running the signature closing line of THE GREAT GATSBY through my head (the one inscribed on his and Zelda’s tombstone) --- "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" --- as I think of all things Gatsby. If you see the movie, let me know what you think; I am debating whether or not to see it!

John le Carre is back with A DELICATE TRUTH, his latest espionage thriller and first novel in three years. In 2008, a counter-terrorist operation was mounted by an ambitious Foreign Office Minister, so secret even the Minister’s personal secretary, Toby Bell, was not cleared for it. In 2011, a disgraced Special Forces Soldier delivers a message from the dead. Was Operation Wildlife the success it was cracked up to be --- or a ruthlessly covered-up human tragedy? Toby might have the answer, and he must choose between his conscience and his duty. Roz Shea has our review and praises le Carre as an author who “relies on nuance, complex plots and sophisticated mind games, creating edge-of-your-seat suspense without the bells and whistles.”

BUNKER HILL: A City, a Siege, a Revolution is Nathaniel Philbrick’s riveting account of the Boston battle that ignited the American Revolution. He finds new characters, and new facets to familiar ones. The real work of choreographing rebellion falls to a 33-year-old physician named Joseph Warren, who emerges as the on-the-ground leader of the Patriot cause and is fated to die at Bunker Hill. Reviewer Curtis Edmonds says, “Anyone wanting to understand or learn more about the early days of the Revolutionary War in New England will find BUNKER HILL to be an invaluable guide. Philbrick’s patient explication of the revolutionary philosophy and the colonial-era technology is couched in lucid, memorable prose.”

One of the most talked-about debut novels of the year so far is Anthony Marra’s A CONSTELLATION OF VITAL PHENOMENA; it’s a #1 Indie Next selection for May. Eight-year-old Havaa watches as Russian soldiers abduct her father, accusing him of aiding Chechen rebels. She and her friend, Akhmed, seek refuge at the abandoned hospital where the sole remaining doctor, Sonja Rabina, treats the wounded while mourning her missing sister. Over the course of five extraordinary days, Sonja's world will shift on its axis and reveal the intricate pattern of connections that weave together the pasts of these three unlikely companions and unexpectedly decides their fate. According to reviewer Jennifer Romanello, "A CONSTELLATION OF VITAL PHENOMENA is a spectacular debut novel about endurance and resilience amidst the insanity of war." I have this one on my reading pile!

This week, we have our review of THE INQUISITOR’S WIFE, Jeanne Kalogridis’s new historical novel, which we featured last week in our Paperback Spotlight. The book follows Marisol Garcia, a young converso, as she navigates the Inquisition in renaissance Spain. When her father is arrested and tortured, Marisol must choose between her love for her father and her duty to her people, and make dangerous alliances, including one with the ruthless queen herself. Reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski says, “If you’re a fan of Kalogridis, as I am, this is a book to curl up with. If you’re a fan of historical fiction and like a setting that’s sad and terrible on one hand yet fascinating on another, give it a try. Kalogridis works a bit of her fiction magic on the Inquisition.” Be sure to read an interview with Kalogridis, who addresses some common misconceptions about Queen Isabella, who wasn’t as meek or mousey as you might believe.

THE ONE-WAY BRIDGE, Cathie Pelletier’s long-awaited 10th novel and her first in six years, is a continuation of her Mattagash series, which started in 1997 with THE FUNERAL MAKERS. Mattagash is the last town in the middle of the northern Maine wilderness. Its citizens are fiercely proud, yet this simple town connected by a single one-way bridge (I love the way drivers yield to one another on this bridge) is anything but tranquil. While neighbors bicker publicly over trivialities, they privately struggle to navigate deeper issues --- scandals, loss, failed ambitions, the scars of war...and a mysterious dead body in the woods. What was interesting about THE ONE-WAY BRIDGE was its distinctive voice and the spirit of Mattagash; as I read it, I kept thinking about the way I thought about the distinctive voices of the citizens in the movie Fargo. Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum has this to say in her review: “[Pelletier] has a perfect pitch for dialogue, and readers might think she carved out the words and people with a scalpel. Fans and newcomers alike will find THE ONE-WAY BRIDGE a delight.”

We’ve posted our New in Paperback roundups for May. Among the highlights are BRING UP THE BODIES by Hilary Mantel, TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas, LIVE BY NIGHT by Dennis Lehane (which won the Edgar Award last week), TRICKSTER’S POINT by William Kent Krueger, ONE LAST THING BEFORE I GO by Jonathan Tropper and SLOUCHING TOWARD ADULTHOOD: How to Let Go So Your Kids Can Grow Up by Sally Koslow.

Congratulations to the winners of our Mother’s Day Contest! Click here to see if you were one of the lucky five who will receive nine books and some wonderful goodies to treat your mom. Still stuck on what to get her for Mother’s Day? Take a look at our book suggestions here.

We’ve been posting some wonderful pieces this week for our Mother’s Day Author Blog series. To date, we’ve heard from Lee Woodruff, Ellen Sussman, Christina Baker Kline, Kristopher Jansma, Kimberly McCreight and Drusilla Campbell. This year’s blogs will wrap up on Sunday with Patti Callahan Henry, who credits her mom with turning her from a spellbound reader to a confident storyteller. Many thanks to all the authors who took time out of their busy schedules to participate! And many thanks to our Editorial Director, Tom Donadio, who reached out to these authors to ask them to contribute on top of his other weekly tasks.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest running this week. Let us know the books that you’ve read by Friday, May 24th at noon ET, and you’ll be entered to win three major releases: AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED by Khaled Hosseini (I finished reading this during the week, and it’s truly Khaled’s best; I look forward to hearing him speak at ALA in June in Chicago), INFERNO by Dan Brown (which releases Tuesday; Greg and I are going to his one U.S. appearance at Lincoln Center next Wednesday) and THE REDEEMER by Jo Nesbo (Greg is a huge fan and is chomping at the bit to read this one).

The winners of this year’s Agatha Awards were announced last weekend at the Malice Domestic Conference. Best Novel went to THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY by Louise Penny, and BOOKS TO DIE FOR: The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels edited by John Connolly and Declan Burke won for Best Nonfiction. Click here for all the winners.

Speaking of awards, Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention, has announced the Anthony Award nominees for 2013. Among the finalists are GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn and THE OTHER WOMAN by Hank Phillippi Ryan for Best Novel; THE EXPATS by Chris Pavone for Best First Novel; and Alison Gaylin’s AND SHE WAS for Best Paperback Original. Click here for all the nominees. The winners will be chosen by the full-time members of Bouchercon XLIV in Albany from September 19-22.

Here’s wishing all the moms out there a very Happy Mother’s Day filled with moments of being feted. Carol Story, my friend and a fellow knitter, found this fabulous knitting needle holder in just the right colors (teal and copper) for my office at home where I keep my yarn. It’s on my Mother’s Day wish list! My mom and my mother-in-law are joining us for dinner on Sunday.

The weather has been so cool that it has planting of annuals on hold here as so many nights have been in the 40s, which is just too cold for planting. This season I am vowing to not overbuy as I get overly enthused in the garden center. I am making a spreadsheet with the sizes and colors of the dozens of pots that I already own, and I am going to plan from there. WHY do I know that somehow I will be buying more pots as plants call my name?

We lost six 75’ pine trees in Superstorm Sandy, and thus there is a gaping hole that needs some filling. I have fallen in love with some really interesting fencing concepts made of twigs and/or bamboo that I keep emailing to my husband. I am sure he is less amused as I have received no replies. He often says that my imagination and the concept of how long things take to build is not realistic. Ah, if only construction could be like reading a book; I then would have the fence, outdoor bar, pool house and garden shed that I envision...and lighting at the end of the driveway!

Read on….

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

Now in Stores: A DELICATE TRUTH by John le Carré

A DELICATE TRUTH by John le Carré (Thriller)
In 2008, a counter-terrorist operation was mounted by an ambitious Foreign Office Minister, so secret even the Minister’s personal secretary, Toby Bell, was not cleared for it. In 2011, a disgraced Special Forces Soldier delivers a message from the dead. Was Operation Wildlife the success it was cracked up to be --- or a ruthlessly covered-up human tragedy? Toby might have the answer, and he must choose between his conscience and his duty. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

 

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: BUNKER HILL by Nathaniel Philbrick

BUNKER HILL: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick (History)
Nathaniel Philbrick brings a fresh perspective to the story of the Boston battle that ignited the American Revolution. He finds new characters, and new facets to familiar ones. The real work of choreographing rebellion falls to a 33-year-old physician named Joseph Warren, who emerges as the on-the-ground leader of the Patriot cause and is fated to die at Bunker Hill. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: A CONSTELLATION OF VITAL PHENOMENA by Anthony Marra

A CONSTELLATION OF VITAL PHENOMENA by Anthony Marra (Fiction)
Eight-year-old Havaa watches as Russian soldiers abduct her father, accusing him of aiding Chechen rebels. She and her friend, Akhmed, seek refuge at the abandoned hospital where the sole remaining doctor, Sonja Rabina, treats the wounded while mourning her missing sister. Over the course of five extraordinary days, Sonja's world will shift on its axis and reveal the intricate pattern of connections that weave together the pasts of these three unlikely companions and unexpectedly decides their fate. Reviewed by Jennifer Romanello.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read a review.
Bookreporter.com’s Latest Bookshelf: Listening to the Twenties: Celebrating the Gatsby Era with 20 Audiobooks
Listen up! (See what we did there? No? You will.) The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton is now in theaters. The movie media blitz has been inescapable these past couple of months, so to help you navigate all things Gatsby (well, at least all things that are books you can listen to), we’ve enlisted the help of AudioFile Magazine to create a bookshelf of 20 Great Gatsby and Jazz Age-related audiobooks.

The shelf is divided into four categories --- “The Gatsby in Many Voices,” “More Fitzgerald,” “Jazz Age History & Culture” and “Contemporary Writers on The Jazz Age” --- so no matter what you’re into, you’ll find something you can enjoy. And if you’re a Hollywood fanatic, you’ll be happy to hear some familiar voices, including Tim Robbins, Robert Sean Leonard, and everyone’s favorite movie star mom, Blythe Danner.

All the reviews in this feature have been contributed by AudioFile, which gives us the chance to share audio works with you --- and gives you the opportunity to explore a format that we typically do not present on the site.

 
Click here for our "Listening to the Twenties" bookshelf.
An Interview with Jeanne Kalogridis, Author of THE INQUISITOR’S WIFE

THE INQUISITOR’S WIFE, Jeanne Kalogridis’s most recent work of historical fiction, follows Marisol Garcia, a young converso, as she navigates the Inquisition in renaissance Spain. When her father is arrested and tortured, Marisol must choose between her love for him and her duty to her people, and make dangerous alliances, including one with the ruthless queen herself. In this interview, Kalogridis addresses some common misconceptions about Queen Isabella, who wasn’t as meek or mousey as you might believe. She also talks about the ever-prevalent politics of identity, describes some of the snares of writing historical fiction --- including “research rapture” --- and shares a few enticing details about her next novel.

THE INQUISITOR'S WIFE: A Novel of Renaissance Spain by Jeanne Kalogridis (Historical Fiction)
In Spain, the Inquisition is targeting conversos, Christians of Jewish descent, who practice Judaism secretly in their homes. Marisol Garcia, a young conversa, is hurriedly wed to Gabriel, a civil lawyer working for the Inquisition, in hopes that he will protect her. But she still yearns for the childhood love who abandoned her four years earlier and is shocked when he reappears suddenly at her wedding. When her father is arrested and tortured, Marisol finds herself caught between her love for him and her desire to save the lives of her people. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-
Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.

-Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.

Click here to read the interview.
Now in Stores: THE ONE-WAY BRIDGE by Cathie Pelletier

THE ONE-WAY BRIDGE by Cathie Pelletier (Fiction)
Welcome to Mattagash, the last town in the middle of the northern Maine wilderness. Its citizens are fiercely proud, yet this simple town connected by a single one-way bridge is anything but tranquil. While neighbors bicker publicly over trivialities such as offensive mailbox designs and gossip about suspicious newcomers, they privately struggle to navigate deeper issues --- scandals, loss, failed ambitions, the scars of war...and a mysterious dead body in the woods. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.

Click here to read a review.
May’s New in Paperback Roundups

May’s New in Paperback roundups include the following highlights:

BRING UP THE BODIES
by Hilary Mantel
(Fiction)
Anne Boleyn has failed to give Henry a son, and her sharp intelligence and audacity will alienate his old friends and the noble families of England. When the discarded Katherine dies in exile from the court, Anne stands starkly exposed, the focus of gossip and malice. At a word from Henry, Thomas Cromwell is ready to bring her down.


TRUE SISTERS
by Sandra Dallas
(Historical Fiction)
TRUE SISTERS tells the story of four women, brought together on the harrowing journey of the Martin Handcart Company, and united by the promises of prosperity and salvation in a new land. Through the ties of female friendships and the strength born from suffering, each one tests the boundaries of her faith and learns the real meaning of survival along the way.

TRICKSTER'S POINT
by William Kent Krueger
(Mystery/Thriller)
The unsinkable Cork O’Connor is sitting in the shadow of a towering monolith known as Trickster’s Point, deep in the Minnesota wilderness. Beside him is the first Native American governor-elect, Jubal Little, who is slowly dying with an arrow through his heart. Although the men have been bow hunting, this is no accident. The arrow in the governor’s heart belongs to Cork, who becomes the primary suspect in the murder.


ONE LAST THING BEFORE I GO
by Jonathan Tropper
(Fiction)

Drew Silver is 44, divorced, and living alone at the Versailles, an apartment complex off the interstate and home mainly to divorced men. His ex-wife is about to marry a respected surgeon. His 18-year-old daughter, headed to Princeton in the fall, is pregnant. And now a heart ailment forces Silver to begin to take life seriously before it prematurely ends.

TO THE LAST BREATH: A Memoir of Going to Extremes
by Francis Slakey
(Memoir)

Before Georgetown physics professor Francis Slakey set out to climb the highest mountain on every continent and surf every ocean, he had shut himself off from other people. But as his journey veered dangerously off course, everything about him began to change. TO THE LAST BREATH depicts the quest that leads Slakey around the globe, almost takes his life, challenges his fiercely held beliefs, and opens his heart.

THE INNOCENTS
by Francesca Segal
(Fiction)
Adam Newman has been dating Rachel Gilbert since they were both 16, and now they are finally planning to marry. But as the vast machinery of the wedding gathers momentum, Adam feels the first faint touches of claustrophobia. And when Rachel’s younger cousin moves home, Adam starts questioning everything, suddenly torn between security and exhilaration, tradition and independence.


-Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of May 6th, May 13th, May 20th and May 27th.

Bookreporter.com's Mother’s Day Feature and Author Blogs

Mother’s Day Feature
Mother's Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. Why not brighten her special day with some great books? May 12th is just around the corner, so we encourage you to take a look at our recommended titles below. With books that are moving, uplifting, humorous and informative, look no further than Bookreporter.com for the perfect gift for Mom.

This year's featured Mother's Day titles are:

-Click here to see the winners of our Mother's Day contest, who let us know their favorite book that their mom read to them.

 

Mother’s Day Author Blogs
We’ve been posting some wonderful pieces this week for our Mother’s Day Author Blog series. To date, we’ve heard from Lee Woodruff, Ellen Sussman, Christina Baker Kline, Kristopher Jansma, Kimberly McCreight and Drusilla Campbell. This year’s blogs will wrap up on Mother's Day with Patti Callahan Henry, who credits her mom with turning her from a spellbound reader to a confident storyteller. Many thanks to all the authors who took time out of their busy schedules to participate!

-Click here to read our Mother's Day Author Blogs.

Featured Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight: THE APPLE ORCHARD by Susan Wiggs

THE APPLE ORCHARD by Susan Wiggs (Romance)
Tess Delaney makes a living restoring stolen treasures to their rightful owners --- people like Annelise Winther, who refuses to sell her long-gone mother's beloved necklace, despite Tess's advice. To Annelise, the jewel's value is in its memories.

But Tess's own history is filled with gaps: a father she never met, a mother who spent more time traveling than with her daughter. So Tess is shocked when she discovers the grandfather she never knew is in a coma --- and that she has been named in his will to inherit half of Bella Vista, a hundred-acre apple orchard in the magical Sonoma town called Archangel.

The rest is willed to Isabel Johansen, a half sister she's never heard of.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-
Click here to read a review.
-
Click here to read an excerpt.

-Click here to read our interview.
-
Click here to read Susan Wiggs’s bio.
-
Click here to visit Susan Wiggs’s official website.
-Connect with Susan Wiggs on
Facebook and Twitter.

 
Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight.
Featured Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight: A SPEAR OF SUMMER GRASS by Deanna Raybourn

A SPEAR OF SUMMER GRASS by Deanna Raybourn (Historical Romance)
The daughter of a scandalous mother, Delilah Drummond is already notorious, even among Paris society. But her latest scandal is big enough to make even her oft-married mother blanch. Delilah is exiled to Kenya and her favorite stepfather's savanna manor house until gossip subsides.

Fairlight is the crumbling, sun-bleached skeleton of a faded African dream, a world where dissolute expats are bolstered by gin and jazz records, cigarettes and safaris. As mistress of this wasted estate, Delilah falls into the decadent pleasures of society.

Against the frivolity of her peers, Ryder White stands in sharp contrast. As foreign to Delilah as Africa, Ryder becomes her guide to the complex beauty of this unknown world. Giraffes, buffalo, lions and elephants roam the shores of Lake Wanyama amid swirls of red dust. Here, life is lush and teeming --- yet fleeting and often cheap.

-
Click here to read more about the book.
-
Click here to read a review.
-
Click here to read an excerpt.
-
Click here to read critical praise.
-
Click here to watch the book trailer.

-Click here to read our interview.
-
Click here to read Deanna Raybourn’s bio.
-Visit Deanna Raybourn’s
official website and blog.
-Connect with Deanna Raybourn on
Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight.
Featured Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight: SLEEPING IN EDEN by Nicole Baart
SLEEPING IN EDEN by Nicole Baart (Fiction)
On a chilly morning in the Northwest Iowa town of Blackhawk, Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the vacationing coroner on a seemingly open-and-shut suicide case. His own life is crumbling around him, but when he unearths the body of a woman buried in the barn floor beneath the hanging corpse, he realizes this terrible discovery could change everything...

Years before Lucas ever set foot in Blackhawk, Meg Painter met Dylan Reid. It was the summer before high school and the two quickly became inseparable. Although Meg's older neighbor, Jess, was the safe choice, she couldn't let go of Dylan no matter how hard she tried.

Caught in a web of jealousy and deceit that spiraled out of control, Meg's choices in the past ultimately collide with Lucas's discovery in the present, weaving together a taut story of unspoken secrets and the raw, complex passions of innocence lost.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Nicole Baart’s bio.
-Click here to visit Nicole Baart’s official website.
-Connect with Nicole Baart on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight.
This Week’s Reviews

SILKEN PREY by John Sandford (Thriller)
Lucas Davenport is investigating a case when the trail leads to the disappearance of a Minnesota political fixer, then --- very troublingly --- to the Minneapolis police department, then --- most troublingly of all --- to a woman who could give Machiavelli lessons. She has very definite ideas about the way the world should work, and the money, ruthlessness and sheer will to make it happen. No matter who gets in the way. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

THE OPHELIA CUT by John Lescroart (Thriller)
District Attorney Dismas Hardy returns to defend his brother-in-law, Moses McGuire, who has been accused of murdering the man who raped his daughter. McGuire has fallen off the wagon, and his stay in prison could expose some old and dangerous secrets. Hardy struggles to defend McGuire against mounting evidence --- until he sees a new way forward that might just save them all. But at what price? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

ROBERT B. PARKER’S WONDERLAND: A Spenser Novel by Ace Atkins (Mystery)
A heavy-handed developer is trying to buy up Henry Cimoli's condo on Revere Beach and sends thugs to move the process along. Soon Spenser and his apprentice find a trail leading to a mysterious and beautiful woman, and plans to turn to a chunk of land north of Boston into a sprawling casino. Bitter rivals emerge, alliances turn, and the uglier pieces of the Boston political machine look to put an end to Spenser's investigation. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

WAITING TO BE HEARD: A Memoir by Amanda Knox (Memoir)
When Amanda Knox left Seattle to study in Perugia, Italy, she was full of anticipation at the prospect of meeting Italian men, learning the language, and living in a centuries-old city teeming with other students. However, she had no idea that what seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime would turn into a living nightmare that continues to haunt her to this day. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

MURDER AS A FINE ART by David Morrell (Historical Thriller)
Thomas De Quincey, infamous for his memoir Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, is the major suspect in a series of ferocious mass murders identical to ones that terrorized London 43 years earlier. The blueprint for the killings seems to be De Quincey's essay "On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts." Desperate to clear his name but crippled by opium addiction, De Quincey is aided by his devoted daughter Emily and a pair of determined Scotland Yard detectives. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

MONTARO CAINE by Sidney Poitier (Science Fiction/Thriller)
A baby is born with a coin in her hand. An orphan crafts a mysterious wooden object. The CEO of a large corporation finds himself under extraordinary pressure at work and at home. And on a remote hilltop on a Caribbean island, a medicine man seems to understand the meaning of all these events and to hold the key to the future. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

FROZEN IN TIME: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff (History)
On November 5, 1942, a US cargo plane slammed into the Greenland Ice Cap. Four days later, the B-17 assigned to the search-and-rescue mission became lost in a blinding storm and also crashed. Miraculously, all nine men on board survived, and the US military launched a daring rescue operation. But after picking up one man, the Grumman Duck amphibious plane flew into a severe storm and vanished. FROZEN IN TIME tells the story of these crashes and the fate of the survivors. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

AS I KNEW HIM: My Dad, Rod Serling by Anne Serling (Memoir)
To Anne Serling, the imposing figure the public saw hosting "The Twilight Zone" each week was not the father she knew. Her fun-loving dad was her best friend, her playmate, and her confidant. She coped with his unexpected death by talking to his friends, poring over old correspondence, and recording her childhood memories. Now she shares personal photos, revealing letters, and beautifully rendered scenes of his childhood, war years, and their family’s time together. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

THE BABYLON RITE by Tom Knox (Thriller/Adventure)
From Templar Knights to Mexican drug cartels and everywhere in between, young journalist Adam Blackwood digs into the mysterious death of the world’s foremost Templar historian and unearths an ancient evil that threatens to consume both him and all those around him. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

LIFETIME by Liza Marklund (Mystery)
Police officer Nina Hoffman finds her fellow officer David Lindholm naked on his bed with bullets through his head and stomach. His traumatized wife, Julia, rambles on about a woman entering the house, killing David and running off with her son, but all the evidence seems to point in Julia’s direction. Annika Bengtzon covers the case and is drawn in headfirst when she sees that Julia is about to be falsely charged.

Contests Running on Other Sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com

We have a number of contests currently running on our other sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com. Please take a look at them below, and enter for your chance to win some fabulous books!

ReadingGroupGuides.com

THE INQUISITOR’S WIFE by Jeanne Kalogridis
We are celebrating the release of THE INQUISITOR’S WIFE by Jeanne Kalogridis --- a tale of love, loss and treachery set during the perilous days of the Spanish Inquisition --- with a special contest. Five readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 4th at noon ET.
 

THE ONE-WAY BRIDGE by Cathie Pelletier
We are celebrating the release of THE ONE-WAY BRIDGE by Cathie Pelletier --- an unforgettable portrait of loneliness, family, community, and the kinds of changes we make for love --- with a special contest. Three readers will have the opportunity to each win 12 copies of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 4th at noon ET.
 

THE FATE OF MERCY ALBAN by Wendy Webb
We are celebrating the release of THE FATE OF MERCY ALBAN by Wendy Webb --- a modern take on a gothic ghost story with long-buried family secrets bubbling to the surface --- with a special contest. Three book groups will win a chat with Wendy (by phone, via Skype, or in person) and 12 copies of THE FATE OF MERCY ALBAN, while 25 other groups will win one copy of the book. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 4th at noon ET.
 

SHADOW OF NIGHT by Deborah Harkness
We are celebrating the May 28th
paperback release of SHADOW OF NIGHT --- the much-anticipated sequel to Deborah Harkness’s debut novel, A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES --- with an exciting contest. One book group will win a Skype chat with Deborah and copies of SHADOW OF NIGHT, while five other groups will win copies of the book. All Skype chats must be scheduled between June 2nd and June 8th. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, May 22nd at noon ET.

“What Are You Reading?” Monthly Contest Feature
Let us know what your group is reading in May, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is BEAUTIFUL RUINS by Jess Walter, a story of flawed yet fascinating people navigating the rocky shores of their lives while clinging to their improbable dreams. We have 12 copies of the book, which is now available in paperback, to give away to three groups. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 4th at noon ET.
 

Kidsreads.com

THE 39 CLUES: THE CAHILL VAULT, Book Two: SPYMASTERS by Clifford Riley
To celebrate the release of Clifford Riley's SPYMASTERS, the second volume in The 39 Clues: The Cahill Files series --- which features three stories previously published exclusively as eBook shorts --- we're running a special contest that will give 25 readers the opportunity to win a copy of these adventures through time. The deadline for entries is Monday, July 1st at noon ET.

KID PICKERS by Mike Wolfe with Lily Sprengelmeyer
To celebrate the release of KID PICKERS: How to Turn Junk into Treasure --- in which Mike Wolfe, the star of the hit show "American Pickers," shares his love of treasure-hunting with kids --- we’re running a
special contest that will give five readers the opportunity to win a copy of this fun, tip-filled, how-to book. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, May 14th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

THE GUARDIAN: Home to Hickory Hollow, Book 3 by Beverly Lewis
We are celebrating the release of THE GUARDIAN with a special contest that will give 50 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this third installment in Beverly Lewis's Home to Hickory Hollow series. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, May 14th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com's Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, one reader will received a signed copy of TAYLOR'S GIFT: A Courageous Story of Giving Life and Renewing Hope. Todd and Tara Storch tragically lost their 13-year-old daughter in a skiing accident; their decision to donate Taylor's organs would help save the lives of five desperate people who were anxiously awaiting a miracle. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, May 14th at noon ET.

Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Could Win THREE Books!

Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from May 10th to May 24th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED by Khaled Hosseini, INFERNO by Dan Brown, and THE REDEEMER by Jo Nesbø.

To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines,
click here.

Please note:
You must enter your full address, using correct capitalization and filling in all fields if you would like to be eligible to win a prize.

One more important note: We realize that many times, your opinion of a book will change as you get further along into the story. Thus, to ensure that your comments and ratings accurately reflect your entire reading experience, we ask that you finish reading the book before you submit your comments about it.


-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
 

Click here to enter the contest.

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Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: www.20SomethingReads.com, www.Teenreads.com, www.Kidsreads.com, www.ReadingGroupGuides.com, www.GraphicNovelReporter.com, www.FaithfulReader.com and www.AuthorsOnTheWeb.com.

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