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July 15, 2016

Bookreporter.com Newsletter July 15, 2016
Breezing Through Summer Reading
When we left off last Friday, I was headed back to ThrillerFest. I caught a panel with Linwood Barclay, Andrew Gross, John Lescroart, Walter Mosley, Daniel Palmer and Kate White, where they talked about writing both series and stand-alone books. Later I learned a lot about penning legal thrillers. I confess to a lack of knowledge about how different the legal system is structured in cities and states across the country. Getting the details right in a book is as important as getting the gun details correct. At that panel I met Larry D. Thompson, whose DARK MONEY was featured on the site earlier this year. Surreptitious meetings are what these conferences are about. I grabbed tea with Keith Raffel (who was right that I would not like jasmine tea), and he had me read two pages of his next book. The last line had me saying “More!” He’s polishing the manuscript now.

I caught up with Tess Gerritsen at the Random House party, and she shared that she was making a cameo appearance on "Rizzoli & Isles" as herself on last Monday night’s episode. She nailed her performance talking to Maura about writing. It was such fun to hear her talk about being on the set. For the record, she did not get to keep the gorgeous red dress that she was wearing; it gets archived at the studio. So many fun meetings. I've been telling you that I am crazy about THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR; above you can see a photo of me with Shari Lapena (who is next to me) and her agent, Helen Heller.

ThrillerFest culminated, as it does every year, with the super-polished and always-entertaining Thriller Awards banquet, held at the Grand Hyatt here in Manhattan. I was unable to attend this year, but Tom Donadio, our Editorial Director, went in my place, and he had a blast. Daniel Palmer and Brad Parks' literary rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was hilarious and spot-on (Palmer transformed from a writer of so-called "real literature" into a genre writer); John Lescroart, author of the Dismas Hardy thriller series, received the 2016 Silver Bullet Award for his humanitarian work; and Heather Graham, who has written more than 200(!) novels and novellas since the start of her career in 1982, was honored as this year’s ThrillerMaster, which is ThrillerFest’s lifetime achievement award.

Here are the winners in the six main categories: THE FIFTH GOSPEL by Ian Caldwell (Best Hardcover Novel), BULL MOUNTAIN by Brian Panowich (Best First Novel), AGAINST ALL ENEMIES by John Gilstrap (Best Paperback Original Novel), “Gun Accident: An Investigation” from THE DOLL-MASTER AND OTHER TALES OF TERROR by Joyce Carol Oates (Best Short Story), PRETENDING TO BE ERICA by Michelle Painchaud (Best Young Adult Novel) and THE PRISONER’S GOLD by Chris Kuzneski (Best eBook Original Novel). Tom had the pleasure of meeting John Gilstrap and congratulating him on his very first Thriller Award (he was nominated twice before, so third time really was the charm for him). We recently ran an interview that our reviewer Dean Murphy did with John about his latest Jonathan Grave thriller, FRIENDLY FIRE. He told Tom that he enjoyed answering Dean’s questions because they really made him think, which he appreciated very much. We LOVE hearing feedback like this. Many thanks to Dean (and John, of course) for making this interview happen.

When I worked at Mademoiselle, the Barbizon Hotel was legendary as our Guest Editors stayed there. Thus, when THE DOLLHOUSE by Fiona Davis came across my desk, I was eager to read it. The history of the hotel is woven into a modern-day story. When the hotel was converted into high-end condos, a limited number of apartments were allocated for longtime residents. A story about one of these fictitious tenants forms one of the narratives in the book. The other is a modern-day woman at a crossroads in her life. How their stories intertwine includes a mystery. This is one of our Summer Reading contest books; it releases on August 23rd and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.

On Wednesday night, there was a cocktail soiree for three Random House authors with fall books coming out. I raved to Jodi Picoult about her upcoming SMALL GREAT THINGS, which will be in stores on October 11th. I have talked about this book here before, and I am looking forward to the Random House Open House next Friday. Each attendee was sent a copy, and the plan is to have informal book group-style discussions about it. Julia Baird has written a book called VICTORIA: THE QUEEN: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire, which releases on November 29th. She was in town from Australia and shared the intense background study that she did on Victoria, including time in the Royal Archives, with such enthusiasm and passion that I look forward to reading it. Yes, her accent was swoon-worthy as well. Trevor Noah talked about his memoir, BORN A CRIME, which will release on November 15th. It's a coming-of-age story about growing up in South Africa. He was refreshing to talk to; we chatted about the media, how the news is skewed these days and how trivial facts fill our days. During his formal remarks, he noted that 20 years ago he was wishing for a proper toilet in his home, and today the wrong cut of his suit will make the news. So true.

Now to this week’s update…

New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva delivers another spellbinding international thriller with THE BLACK WIDOW. Gabriel Allon, the art restorer, spy and assassin, is poised to become the chief of Israel’s secret intelligence service. But on the eve of his promotion, ISIS detonates a massive bomb in Paris, and a desperate French government wants Gabriel to take out the man responsible before he can strike again. This electrifying thriller showcases Silva’s consummate skill and brilliant imagination, and will appeal to his longtime fans and newcomers alike.

According to reviewer Roz Shea, "From the devastating beginning in Paris to the terrifying end in Washington, D.C., THE BLACK WIDOW holds us in its grip --- a thriller that any fan will devour from cover to cover." You can see Daniel on the "Today" show talking about the book here.

We’re awarding THE BLACK WIDOW, along with THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware (an upcoming Bets On pick that we’ll review next week), to the winners of our Word of Mouth contest. Let us know by Friday, July 22nd at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you just might win both novels.

Wendy Walker has worked as an attorney specializing in family law, and ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN is her debut thriller. She seems to have pulled from some of her expertise, asking painful, provocative questions about memory and trauma. Teenager Jenny Kramer is brutally raped and tortured at a party. Her parents make the decision to administer a controversial drug that keeps her from remembering the event. Though she can’t remember the details, the emotional memories stay with Jenny, untethered and tormenting her. Meanwhile, her father becomes obsessed with finding her attacker, and her mother struggles with shattering denial.

Sarah Rachel Egelman has our review and calls ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN "a thought-provoking page turner that signals a bright future ahead for this talented, first-time thriller writer." ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN is a Bets On selection; you can read why I chose it in next week’s newsletter.

We’re awarding the audio version of ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN (read by Dylan Baker), in addition to Cathleen Schine’s THEY MAY NOT MEAN TO, BUT THEY DO (read by Cynthia Darlow), in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Let us know by Monday, August 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve finished listening to, and you’ll be in the running to win both audio prizes.

In Ben H. WintersUNDERGROUND AIRLINES, we’re set in the present day and everything is the same --- except that Lincoln was shot before abolishing slavery. A young black man calling himself Victor has struck a bargain with the law, working as a bounty hunter. In this version of America, slavery continues in four states called "the Hard Four." Victor suppresses his memories of his childhood on a plantation, and works to infiltrate an abolitionist movement called the Underground Airlines. Victor believes himself to be a good man doing bad work, repressing guilt and memories in exchange for the freedom he has worked so hard to earn. But he soon discovers horrifying secrets at the core of the country's arrangement with the Hard Four, secrets the government will preserve at any cost.

According to reviewer Ray Palen, “Ben H. Winters has written a profoundly unique novel that at times is a thriller but more frequently is a great piece of literary fiction…. UNDERGROUND AIRLINES comes at a very important and volatile time in U.S. history, when groups like Black Lives Matter are trying to make some of the same statements Winters is visiting through the theme of speculative historical fiction.”

Susan Mallery’s DAUGHTERS OF THE BRIDE is the latest title to be featured in our New Release Spotlight. The Watson sisters couldn’t be more different: Courtney the misfit, Sienna the free spirit, Rachel the cynic. However, they are bonded by the loss of their father in their childhood and their love for their mother. At their mother’s wedding, each daughter faces her own emotional conflicts about love and family. Mallery’s tender, insightful writing makes this romp a charming and rewarding read.

ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, Caroline Angell’s wise and mesmerizing debut novel, is our new Paperback Spotlight title. Charlotte is a gifted musician who has spent her life working towards her promising career. When she confronts a shocking career betrayal, she ends up taking a babysitting job with the McLeans, a glamorous Upper East Side Manhattan family. At first, the nanny gig is just a way of tiding herself over until she has figured out her next move. But, as it turns out, Charlotte has a natural affinity for children and becomes as deeply fond of the two little boys as they are of her. When an unthinkable tragedy strikes the McLeans, Charlotte is not the only one who realizes that she's the key to holding little George and Matty's world together. Suddenly she finds herself with an impossible choice between her lifelong dreams and the torn-apart family she has come to love.

You’ll have a chance to win DAUGHTERS OF THE BRIDE and ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, along with BEN-HUR: A Tale of the Christ by Carol Wallace (which is being published to coincide with the August 19th film release of Ben-Hur) and the aforementioned THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware, in next week’s Summer Reading contests, the first of which kicks off on Monday, July 18th at noon ET. This week’s prize books were the aforementioned ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN by Wendy Walker; CLEAR TO LIFT by Anne A. Wilson; SOBER STICK FIGURE: A Memoir by Amber Tozer; and STRANGER, FATHER, BELOVED by Taylor Larsen.

Other books we’re reviewing this week include I'VE GOT SAND IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES, another collection of warm and witty stories from the mother-daughter duo of Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella that are sure to strike a chord with every woman; YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT, comedian Jessi Klein’s relentlessly funny yet poignant take on a variety of topics she has experienced along her strange journey to womanhood and beyond; and JULIAN FELLOWES'S BELGRAVIA, which, according to our reviewer, Lorraine W. Shanley, is “a fast-paced novel set in Victorian England that has every human foible and emotion on display.”

Our poll continues to ask you to identify the format of the book you’re currently reading. Is it a hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback, audiobook or eBook? We realize you may be juggling more than one book at the same time, so you’ll be able to select multiple formats upon answering the question.

News and Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

Andrea wrote with this question: "I was just wondering, do you know if authors have a say in who reads their audiobooks?" Many authors do have a say in who reads their audiobooks; for some it is contractual. They receive sample recordings. Others are not involved in any part of the process. Some, you will note, have the same readers for every book.

Lovely note from Francesca: "You are an amazing reader! You have the gift of intelligence, the talent to write well and the spirit of connection to all who read your newsletter. I am so grateful for all the time and effort you invest in communicating your book reporter summaries. Thank you for all you do!" Blushing here!

Outdoor Reading Lamps: Earlier this year, I shared that my husband is designing and building outdoor reading lights. Margy, one of our readers in Milwaukee, bought two, and you can see a picture of one on her front porch above. She loves it --- both the unique design and the light it casts, which is ideal for outdoor reading. Trust that there are no lights like this out there; we know, we looked for them for years until my husband, Tom, designed one for me a few years ago! So lovely to read outside at night. Interested in one? Drop me a note, and I will connect you with Tom. Thanks, Margy, for the photo and the rave!

Race: Every year as I watch the Olympics, I hear about Jesse Owens. Watching this film filled in a lot of the pieces for me. Very well done.

"Blacklist": For years, people have been telling me I would like this. They are right. Two episodes in and I am hooked; three seasons to watch.

Inspiration for THE NIGHTINGALE: Saw this from Kristin Hannah: “Here's an interesting story about Andree de Jongh, a young Belgian woman who created one of the escape routes for downed airmen during WWII. Hers is one of the many heroic stories that inspired me to write THE NIGHTINGALE." Our company also builds websites, and we recently launched a new one for Kristin, which has a lot of terrific back story matter. You can see here.

Pokémon GO and Bookstores: Just in case you are wondering, I will not be playing Pokémon GO, though the boys explained it to me over dinner the other night. Greg has geocached for years and says this is similar to Ingress. I cached one time. John Maher, a former Book Report Network staffer, is now at Publishers Weekly, and he penned this piece about how bookstores are getting traffic from it. Librarian friends are reporting the same thing. Now if they can pick up books to read for extra points, I will be really happy. And then stop “going” to read them!

Flavored Seltzers: After I declared my love for Spindrift Seltzer last week, Rebecca brought me LaCroix to sample (beautiful cans; in fact, I think if filled with sand or something heavy, they would make beautiful bookends), but the flavors were not crisp enough for me. She also brought me Hint, which I think has too much flavor in it. It was more like sparkling peach juice. Nicole sent Elderberry from a company called Found Beverage, which was exotically special.

Jury Duty: Four members of our staff of six have been called for jury duty between this week and the second week in September; one served last year! Tom was on a trial this week, which luckily lasted only three days. May the rest of us share in his luck. I think I read too many thrillers and crime novels to be a good juror; I would be looking for the plot twist!

This week, I whipped through a very early galley of a novel that is not publishing until May 2017. I know…a lifetime from now. It’s THE IMPROBABLE FLIGHT OF GINNY MOON by Benjamin Ludwig. The narrator is a young teen who is autistic, and I already added it to my “Carol's 2016 Reads” list with its on-sale date, as well as a future Bets On, so I can remind you about it next year.

I have a quiet weekend on tap as a friend had to cancel dinner tomorrow night due to a work project. I'm planning to make gazpacho, a summer favorite, and I have all the ingredients ready. I started reading Amor Towles' A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW, which will be out September 6th. He wrote RULES OF CIVILITY, which was a Bets On selection. Also, pressed into my hands at ThrillerFest was THE GIRL BEFORE by J. P. Delaney, which is coming in January 2017. Reading the back cover, I am intrigued. Of course, there are a host of “current” titles that I want to read as well.

For our readers in South Jersey, I am going to be speaking about books at the Women's Civic Club of Stone Harbor, which is located at 12 96th Street, Stone Harbor or 96th & The Beach on Monday night at 7pm. The event is open to all! I will be talking summer books, as well as some upcoming fall titles. My friend, Beverley, has a house in the area, so she will be joining me.

Read on, and have a great week.

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review: THE BLACK WIDOW by Daniel Silva --- a Gabriel Allon Thriller
THE BLACK WIDOW by Daniel Silva (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by George Guidall
Art restorer, spy and assassin Gabriel Allon is poised to become the chief of Israel’s secret intelligence service. But on the eve of his promotion, events conspire to lure him into the field for one final operation. ISIS has detonated a massive bomb in the Marais district of Paris, and a desperate French government wants Gabriel to eliminate the man responsible before he can strike again. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
 
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN by Wendy Walker --- a Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN by Wendy Walker (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Dylan Baker
In the small, affluent town of Fairview, Connecticut, everything seems picture perfect. Until one night when young Jenny Kramer is attacked at a local party. In the hours immediately after, she is given a controversial drug to medically erase her memory of the violent assault. But in the weeks and months that follow, as she heals from her physical wounds, and with no factual recall of the attack, Jenny struggles with her raging emotional memory. As they seek help for their daughter, the fault lines within Tom and Charlotte's marriage and their close-knit community emerge from the shadows where they have been hidden for years. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read Carol Fitzgerald's commentary about the book in the July 22nd newsletter.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
 
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: UNDERGROUND AIRLINES by Ben H. Winters
UNDERGROUND AIRLINES by Ben H. Winters (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by William DeMeritt
A gifted young black man calling himself Victor has struck a bargain with federal law enforcement, working as a bounty hunter for the US Marshall Service. In this version of America, slavery continues in four states called "the Hard Four." On the trail of a runaway known as Jackdaw, Victor works to infiltrate the local cell of an abolitionist movement called the Underground Airlines. He believes himself to be a good man doing bad work, unwilling to give up the freedom he has worked so hard to earn. But in pursuing Jackdaw, Victor discovers secrets at the core of the country's arrangement with the Hard Four, secrets the government will preserve at any cost. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read the review.
New Release Spotlight: DAUGHTERS OF THE BRIDE by Susan Mallery
DAUGHTERS OF THE BRIDE by Susan Mallery (Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Tanya Eby
With Joy, Love and a Little Trepidation, Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You to the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year: Their Mother's.

Courtney
~ The Misfit ~
As the awkward one, Courtney Watson may not be as together as her sisters, but she excels at one thing --- keeping secrets, including her white-hot affair with a sexy music producer. Planning Mom's wedding exposes her startling hidden life, changing her family's view of her --- and how she views herself --- forever.

Sienna
~ The Free Spirit ~
When Sienna's boyfriend proposes --- in front of her mom and sisters, for crying out loud --- he takes her by surprise. She already has two broken engagements under her belt. Should she say "I do" even if she's not sure she does?

Rachel
~ The Cynic ~
Rachel thought love would last forever…right up until her divorce. As Mom's wedding day draws near and her ex begs for a second chance, she's forced to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about why her marriage failed, and decide if she'll let pride stand in the way of her own happily-ever-after.

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to watch the book trailer.
-Click here to read Susan Mallery's bio.
-Visit Susan Mallery's official website and Instagram.
-Connect with Susan Mallery on Facebook and Twitter.

 
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
New Paperback Spotlight: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD by Caroline Angell
ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD by Caroline Angell (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
For fans of Jojo Moyes and Jonathan Tropper, ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD is an unforgettable debut about a young woman's choice between the future she's always imagined and the people she's come to love.


Charlotte, a gifted and superbly trained young musician, has been blindsided by a shocking betrayal in her promising career when she takes a babysitting job with the McLeans, a glamorous Upper East Side Manhattan family. At first, the nanny gig is just a way of tiding herself over until she has licked her wounds and figured out her next move as a composer in New York. But, as it turns out, Charlotte is naturally good with children and becomes as deeply fond of the two little boys as they are of her.

When an unthinkable tragedy leaves the McLeans bereft, Charlotte is not the only one who realizes that she's the key to holding little George and Matty's world together. Suddenly, in addition to life's usual puzzles, such as sorting out which suitor is her best match, she finds herself with an impossible choice between her life-long dreams and the torn-apart family she's come to love.

-Click here to read Caroline Angell's bio.
-Click here to visit Caroline Angell's official website.
-Click here to connect with Caroline Angell on Twitter.

Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
Featured Review: I'VE GOT SAND IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella
I'VE GOT SAND IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella (Humor/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella
Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella are back with another collection of warm and witty stories that will strike a chord with every woman. This six-book series is among the best reviewed humor books published today and has been compared to the late greats Erma Bombeck and Nora Ephron. This seventh volume will not disappoint as it hits the humorous and poignant note that fans have come to expect from the beloved mother-daughter duo. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT by Jessi Klein
YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT by Jessi Klein (Humor/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Jessi Klein
In YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT, comedian Jessi Klein offers a relentlessly funny yet poignant take on a variety of topics she has experienced along her strange journey to womanhood and beyond. These include her "transformation from Pippi Longstocking-esque tomboy to are-you-a-lesbian-or-what tom man," attempting to find watchable porn, and identifying the difference between being called "ma'am" and "miss." Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: JULIAN FELLOWES'S BELGRAVIA by Julian Fellowes
JULIAN FELLOWES'S BELGRAVIA by Julian Fellowes (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Juliet Stevenson
JULIAN FELLOWES’S BELGRAVIA is the story of a secret --- a secret that unravels behind the porticoed doors of London's grandest postcode. Set in the 1840s when the upper echelons of society began to rub shoulders with the emerging industrial nouveau riche, BELGRAVIA is peopled by a rich cast of characters. But the story begins on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. At the Duchess of Richmond's now-legendary ball, one family's life will change forever. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through August 25th, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, July 18th at noon ET.

This year's featured titles include:

Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our featured titles.
More Reviews This Week
AMONG THE WICKED: A Kate Burkholder Novel by Linda Castillo (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen McInerney
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called upon by the sheriff's department in rural, upstate New York to assist on a developing situation that involves a reclusive Amish settlement and the death of a young girl. Unable to penetrate the wall of silence between the Amish and "English" communities, the sheriff asks Kate to travel to New York, pose as an Amish woman and infiltrate the community. In the coming days, she will unearth a world built on secrets, a series of shocking crimes, and herself, alone...trapped in a fight for her life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE INNOCENTS: A Quinn Colson Novel by Ace Atkins (Thriller)
Audiobook available, narrated by Macleod Andrews
When a former high school cheerleader is found walking a back road completely engulfed in flames, the entire state of Mississippi focuses on Tibbehah county, wanting answers. The light soon shines on several people: the girl’s father, a worthless drunk; a pair of teenage thugs with grand ambitions to control north Mississippi; and a red-headed truck stop madam who has her own problems. As Quinn Colson and acting Sheriff Lillie Virgil uncover old secrets and new lies, the entire town turns against them, and they learn that the most dangerous enemies may be the ones you trust most. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE HEAVENLY TABLE by Donald Ray Pollock (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kirby Heyborne
It is 1917, in that sliver of border land that divides Georgia from Alabama. Dispossessed farmer Pearl Jewett ekes out a hardscrabble existence with his three young sons: Cane, Cob and Chimney. Several hundred miles away in southern Ohio, a farmer by the name of Ellsworth Fiddler lives with his son, Eddie, and his wife, Eula. After Ellsworth is swindled out of his family's entire fortune, his life is put on a surprising, unforgettable and violent trajectory that will directly lead him to cross paths with the Jewetts. No good can come of it. Or can it? Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

POND by Claire-Louise Bennett (Fiction)
Claire-Louise Bennett’s debut captures the interior reality of its unnamed protagonist, a young woman living a singular and mostly solitary existence on the outskirts of a small coastal village. Sidestepping the usual conventions of narrative, the novel focuses on the details of a young woman’s daily experience --- rendered sometimes in story-length, story-like stretches of narrative, sometimes in fragments no longer than a page, but always suffused with the hypersaturated, almost synesthetic intensity of the physical world that we remember from childhood. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

WEAR AND TEAR: The Threads of My Life by Tracy Tynan (Memoir)
Tracy Peacock Tynan grew up in London in the 1950s and '60s, privy to her parents’ glamorous parties and famous friends. When Tracy started writing about her life, she found that clothing was the focus of many of her stories. She recalls her father’s dandy attire and her mother’s Pucci dresses, as well as her parents’ rancorous marriage and divorce, her father’s prodigious talents and celebrity lifestyle, and her mother’s lifelong struggle with addiction. Relationships, marriage, children, stepchildren, blended families, her parent’s decline and deaths, and her work as a costume designer are all recounted with the special joy that can only come from finding the perfect outfit. Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth for HeadButler.com.

CHILDREN OF EARTH AND SKY by Guy Gavriel Kay (Historical Fantasy)
Audiobook available, narrated by Simon Vance
In CHILDREN OF EARTH AND SKY, Guy Gavriel Kay evokes a world inspired by the conflicts and dramas of Renaissance Europe. Against this tumultuous backdrop, the lives of men and women unfold on the borderlands --- where empires and faiths collide. A woman with dreams of vengeance, a wealthy merchant’s son, a young artist, a spy posing as a doctor’s wife, and a boy seeking to rise in the ranks of the army. As their lives entwine, their fates --- and those of many others --- will hang in the balance, when a khalif from the east sends out his massive army to take the great fortress that is the gateway to the western world. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.

THE TRAP written by Melanie Raabe, translated from the German by Imogen Taylor (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Julie Teal
For 11 years, bestselling author Linda Conrads has mystified fans by never setting foot outside her home. Haunted by the unsolved murder of her younger sister and the face of the man she saw fleeing the scene, Linda's hermit existence helps her cope with debilitating anxiety. But the sanctity of her oasis is shattered when she sees her sister's murderer on television. Hobbled by years of isolation, Linda resolves to use the plot of her next novel to lay an irresistible trap for the man. As the plan is set in motion and the past comes rushing back, Linda's memories --- and her very sanity --- are called into question. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

THE KINGDOM written by Fuminori Nakamura, translated from the Japanese by Kalau Almony (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Michi Barall
Yurika is a freelancer in the Tokyo underworld. She poses as a prostitute, carefully targeting potential johns, selecting powerful and high-profile men. When she is alone with them, she drugs them and takes incriminating photos to sell for blackmail purposes. She operates alone and lives a private, solitary life, doing her best to lock away painful memories. But when a figure from Yurika’s past resurfaces, she realizes there is someone out there who knows all her secrets. There are whispers of a crime lord named Kizaki, and Yurika finds herself trapped in a game of cat and mouse. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

PARADISE LODGE by Nina Stibbe (Fiction/Humor)
After succeeding in her quest to help her unconventional mother find a new "man at the helm," 15-year-old Lizzie Vogel simply wants to be a normal teenager. Just when it looks as if things have settled down, her mother goes and has another baby. On top of that, Lizzie's best friend has deserted her for the punk craze, which Lizzie finds too exhausting to commit to herself. But Lizzie soon gets more commitment than she bargained for when she takes a job as a junior nurse at Paradise Lodge, a ramshackle refuge for the elderly that has seen better days. When Paradise Lodge faces a crisis in the form of a rival nursing home, Lizzie must find a way to save her job before she loses the only place she's ever felt she belongs. Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.

THE DEVOURERS by Indra Das (Dark Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Meera Simhan
College professor Alok encounters a mysterious stranger with a bizarre confession and an extraordinary story. Tantalized by the man’s unfinished tale, Alok will do anything to hear its completion. So he agrees, at the stranger’s behest, to transcribe a collection of battered notebooks, weathered parchments and once-living skins. From these documents spills the chronicle of a race of people at once more than human yet kin to beasts, ruled by instincts and desires blood-deep and ages-old. With every passing chapter of beauty and brutality, Alok’s interest in the stranger grows and evolves into something darker and more urgent. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

DEATH ON THE SAPPHIRE: A Lady Frances Ffolkes Mystery by R. J. Koreto (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Justine Eyre
When Major Colcombe, a family friend and war veteran, dies under mysterious circumstances, Lady Frances Ffolkes discovers that he was working on a manuscript about South Africa’s bloody Boer War, which reportedly revealed a scandalous mistake that cost many innocent lives. Now, it’s up to Frances and her loyal lady's maid, June Mallow, to track down the missing manuscript and bring the killer to justice. Despite kerfuffles with Scotland Yard and the British Secret Service, Frances never backs down and finds herself in several very unfortunate positions --- and one very fortunate love triangle. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
Next Week's Notables: Noteworthy Books Releasing on July 19th
Below are some notable titles releasing on July 19th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks releasing the week of July 18th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

THE CASTLE OF KINGS written by Oliver Pötzch, translated by Anthea Bell (Historical Thriller)
In the midst of the German Peasants’ War in 1524, Agnes, the daughter of an overlord, and Mathis, her childhood friend with lower birth status, are forced to go on the run together after a rogue knight attacks her.

FALLING: A Love Story by Jane Green (Romance)
Emma Montague moves to the picturesque waterfront town of Westport, Connecticut to confront what it is she really wants in life. She rents a dilapidated cottage from Dominic, a local handyman. Dominic is unlike any man she has ever known. As time goes on, they become friends --- and slowly much more --- until fate intervenes in the most shocking of ways.

GUILTY MINDS by Joseph Finder (Thriller)
The chief justice of the Supreme Court is about to be defamed by a powerful gossip website that claims they have an exposé involving a young woman prepared to tell the world her salacious tale. Intelligence operative Nick Heller has 48 hours to disprove the story, but then the girl is found dead. Nick resolves to find the mastermind behind the conspiracy.

THE HOPEFULS by Jennifer Close (Fiction)
When Beth arrives in DC, she hates everything about it. But then she and her husband, Matt, meet a charismatic White House staffer named Jimmy, and his wife, Ashleigh, and the four become inseparable. But as Jimmy’s star rises higher and higher, their friendship is threatened by jealousy, competition and rumors.

NIGHT AND DAY: An Eve Duncan Novel by Iris Johansen (Thriller)
Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan risked it all to protect Cara Delaney from the enemies who want her dead, but then Eve becomes their next target. When Cara is taken, Eve must hunt down the very people who want to kill her in order to save the young girl.

OUTFOXED: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
Defense lawyer Andy Carpenter has been involved in a county prison program where inmates help train rescued dogs to make them more adoptable. One of the prisoners, Brian Atkins, has 18 months left for fraud when he uses the dog he’s been training, Boomer, to make an ingenious escape. The next day, the man on whose testimony Brian was convicted is found murdered. Brian is caught and arrested, though he forcefully protests his innocence.

WHITE BONE by Ridley Pearson (Thriller)
When ex-military contractor John Knox receives a text from partner Grace Chu warning that she fears her cover may have been blown while on assignment, he must convince her overseas handlers of the threat and then attempt to retrace her well-hidden steps. In his pursuit of Grace, Knox finds himself pitted against the most savage and suicidal fighters in the world.

THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware (Mystery/Thriller)
Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has been assigned a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. At first, her stay is nothing but pleasant, but then she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for --- and so the ship sails on as if nothing happened.

 
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Book Formats
What is the format of the book you are currently reading? Please check as many as apply, as we know many of you may be reading more than one book.

  • Hardcover
  • Trade paperback
  • Mass market paperback
  • Digital audiobook
  • Audiobook on disc
  • eBook
  • I am not reading any books right now.
Click here to vote in the poll.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from July 8th to July 22nd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE BLACK WIDOW by Daniel Silva and THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware.

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 rules and guidelines, click here.

-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
 
Click here to enter the contest.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from July 1st to August 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Wendy Walker’s ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN, read by Dylan Baker, and Cathleen Schine's THEY MAY NOT MEAN TO, BUT THEY DO, read by Cynthia Darlow.

To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, 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.

-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
 
Click here to enter the contest.

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