The windows are open, and the air conditioners are off. This really feels nice! Inhale. Exhale.
On Monday, it will be 22 years since The Book Report Network (TBRN) launched with one site on AOL. I am so grateful to our readers who subscribe to this newsletter and those who visit our websites, giving us the opportunity to do what we do, discovering books and authors to share with you. Through the years we have a built a network of readers, as much as we have built a network of websites. I love hearing from you and am happy that so many of you have become friends. Our staff is “lean and mean (well, actually they are really nice, but you get what I am saying here), and I am grateful to them for all their hard work week in and week out. Tom, Nicole, Rebecca, Greg and Jenni bring their best game to the table, and all strive to get every detail right every single week. I am so proud to work with them.
Our reviewers are stellar. You may not know this, but they select the books that they want to read; we do not assign. Thus, when you see a review here, know that our reviewer chose to read that book and review it for you. Publishers, authors and agents help support us, and we are so appreciative of that support.
Before this, I worked at Condé Nast where I was very caught up in the world of fashion. So when a book came across my desk this week, about someone who treasured fashion from the streets, it made me smile as I felt my two career worlds colliding. It’s called POLKA DOT PARADE: A Book About Bill Cunningham. Bill was passionate about fashion, and every day he hopped on his bicycle and traveled the city shooting photos of people wearing clothes that struck his eye. He often did not see the people, but rather the clothes. His photo columns in the New York Times were brilliant. Everyone wanted to see what he was talking about. This book is stylish and fun; it brings Bill to life whether you knew him or not. The illustrations by Masha D’yans are stunning, and the prose by Deborah Blumenthal completely captures the specialness of Bill. There is an exhibit running now at the New-York Historical Society that looks at his life and his work. It’s open until September 9th. One of our former staffers, Alex, works there. I want to try to get to see it.
Funny story: I had a free summer before I started TBRN and tried to fill those days with experiences for which I had not had time before. One was taking a Wilton cake decorating class. On the day it was scheduled, I ended up in a meeting to discuss starting TBRN. Whenever I struggle to frost a cake, I laugh. I really needed that class, but I will take what I do week in and week out, instead of a perfect cake, any day of the week.
For our anniversary this year, we wanted to do something special to note it. Remember our reader, Virginia, whose home was destroyed in the Thomas Fire in California last year? Many of you asked what you could to do help her replace her book and recipe collection. She is now settled in a good temporary home, as they wait to rebuild, and finally feels comfortable enough to think about replacing these books. We have asked her to set up a Wish List on Amazon, and also with her local indie bookseller. So stay tuned in the next newsletter for more information about how you can help her rebuild her library.
Next week is one of the three weeks of the year where we do not publish an update. It gives our Editorial Director, Tom Donadio, and me a chance to take time off and kick it back a notch. I have some scattered plans that I am looking forward to, but I am hoping that most of the week will be spent floating and reading. I have a huge stack of books that I cannot wait to dive into. Also, I found my old straw cowboy hat and picked up two pairs of sunglass readers (you know I will lose one), so I am set for the week (you can see them above). And before you ask, yes, that is waterproof sunblock!
Right now I am reading LAKE SUCCESS by Gary Shteyngart (in stores September 4th) It’s smart and so well done. In it, hedge-fund manager Barry Cohen is coping --- well, actually he is not coping well at all --- with an SEC investigation and his three-year-old son’s diagnosis of autism. So what does he do? He jumps on a Greyhound bus to track down his college sweetheart, leaving behind his wife, Seema, who is smart and wise (there is a difference). It is very, very funny, and I look forward to finishing it. There is a terrific piece about the home where Gary gets away from it all and where he wrote this book. You can see it here. Also, here is a really fun promo video for the book starring Gary and Ben Stiller.
Next up will be THE GLASS OCEAN by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White (in stores September 4th); the three authors call themselves Team W. They co-wrote this book and have made a pact not to share who has written which part. Reading this is prep for the event on Wednesday, October 17th at 6:30pm, where I will be at the HarperCollins offices moderating a panel featuring Team W about their collaborative novel. Attendees will be able to mingle with the authors, receive a signed copy of THE GLASS OCEAN, advance copies of Lauren’s THE SUMMER COUNTRY and Beatriz’s THE GOLDEN HOUR (both of which aren’t releasing until next summer), and so much more. Click here for all the details and to purchase your tickets.
I am happy to share that I will be moderating two sessions at the Morristown Festival of Books on Saturday, October 13th. In one, I will be interviewing Fiona Davis (THE MASTERPIECE) and Kate Quinn (THE ALICE NETWORK). And for the second, I will interview Kate Morton (THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER) and Diane Chamberlain (THE DREAM DAUGHTER). I am hoping to see many of you there. A list of all the authors who are appearing is here.
I still have Diane’s book to read; some of our readers shared that they have advance copies and gave it raves. My reading pile is full of so many books that I crave reading, and I am glad I have the week ahead to do this.
Our latest New Release Spotlight title is DESOLATION MOUNTAIN, the latest in William Kent Krueger’s long-running Cork O’Connor series. In this 17th installment, Cork and his son, Stephen, work together to uncover the truth behind the tragic plane crash of a senator on Desolation Mountain and the mysterious disappearances of several first responders. The scope and consequences of this unthinkable tragedy go far beyond what Cork or Stephen could ever have imagined.
According to reviewer Joe Hartlaub, “[Krueger's] prose continues to mirror and echo the beauty of Minnesota’s wilderness and the soul of the people who reside there in a lifestyle that hardly can be considered easy. Followers of the series will want to put this one on their must-read list.”
THE 7½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE is the latest title to be featured in our Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. Here’s the unique premise of Stuart Turton’s debut mystery: Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others. Although the book doesn’t release until September 18th, we’re giving 50 of you the chance to win a copy and give us your feedback on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, September 6th at noon ET. I am looking forward to reading this; it’s been getting praise as being really clever.
Earlier this summer, I raved about VOX by Christina Dalcher…and I am happy to report that the book is now in stores for all of you to experience. This much-buzzed-about debut novel is set in a United States where women are only allowed to speak 100 words per day (as opposed to the 16,000 words that the average person speaks). The ramifications of this word ban are devastating for the female population, as women are unable to hold jobs and girls are no longer taught to read or write. Dr. Jean McClellan is determined to reclaim her voice and will do whatever it takes to protect herself and her daughter.
Sarah Rachel Egelman has our review and says, “In the tradition of some great classic and contemporary dystopian fiction, VOX marries the plausible with the terrifying.... The gift in this novel is a set of provocative questions about power and gender, silence and voice, and the courage and risk it takes to speak out and make change.” VOX will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick; be sure to read my commentary in the September 7th newsletter.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include two notable thrillers: PIECES OF HER by Karin Slaughter, which poses an intriguing question: What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all?; and Hank Phillippi Ryan’s TRUST ME (releasing on Tuesday, August 28th), in which an alliance between an accused killer and a grieving journalist leads to a dangerous cat and mouse game. The latter will be a Bets On selection; trust me, it’s terrific.
We also are reviewing two titles that you may remember were selected as BookExpo Buzz books and whose authors I interviewed at BookExpo in June. The first is OHIO by debut novelist Stephen Markley, which centers on four former classmates who return to their small northeastern Ohio town for a reunion; each has a mission, and all are haunted by the ghosts of their shared histories. We’re featuring an insightful Q&A with Stephen, which you can take a look at here. The second title is SMALL ANIMALS, which was inspired by Kim Brooks’ split-second decision to leave her four-year-old son in the car while she ran into a store. The harrowing aftermath would lead her to investigate the broader role that America’s culture of fear plays in parenthood.
Last week, we reviewed the debut novel MAKE ME EVEN AND I’LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN and interviewed its author, Jerrold Fine. This week, I’m pleased to share my Bets On commentary on the book, which our reviewer, Bronwyn Miller, calls “an enjoyable and appealing coming-of-age story, even if you possess scant knowledge of the stock market and its world.”
This year’s Summer Reading contests wrapped up this week with our final four giveaways: THE DEVOTED by Blair Hurley, THE DINNER LIST by Rebecca Serle (an upcoming Bets On pick), and the aforementioned DESOLATION MOUNTAIN and VOX. Congratulations to the winners of all 50(!) of this year’s giveaways, and many thanks to all who entered throughout the summer!
Our next series of 24-hour giveaways will be our Fall Preview contests, which kick off on Tuesday, September 11th (the feature will go live on the 7th and run until October 19th). Once again, we will be sending dedicated newsletters on the days when there are contests. If you would like to sign up to receive these email alerts, all you have to do is click here and subscribe to the Fall Preview newsletter.
The aforementioned DESOLATION MOUNTAIN and TRUST ME are our latest Word of Mouth prize books. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read for your chance to win both these novels; please do so by Friday, September 7th at noon ET.
This also is your last newsletter reminder to enter our Sounding Off on Audio contest, where the prize books are Linda Castillo's A GATHERING OF SECRETS, read by Kathleen McInerney, and I SEE LIFE THROUGH ROSÉ-COLORED GLASSES, written and read by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella. Let us know by Tuesday, September 4th at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win both these audio titles.
Our poll continues to ask if you listen to digital audiobooks (as opposed to books on discs). Click here to cast your votes. Reading the answers to these poll questions help us plan our coverage, so do weigh in!
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Darlene won a copy of DESOLATION MOUNTAIN in our Summer Reading contest and clearly is excited about it: “Awesome, thank you so much! I am looking forward to reading this book. I definitely will post a comment on Word of Mouth and will review it on Goodreads. Thank you, thank you!”
"The Affair": Excellent season finale; actually the last three episodes were amazing. Now I need to ponder where the show goes next year as this felt like one really satisfying wrap to things. Seriously, how does one reboot this?
“Class Divide”: Excellent documentary on HBO that looks at the gentrification in the neighborhood of West Chelsea in New York City. It’s so well done.
ORPHAN TRAIN Update: My book club met on Monday night, and I learned something that I had missed as we discussed ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline. One of our group leaders, Tara, asked how we felt about the extra chapter that had been added to the book. I had read the book before it came out, and this was not in there, and others had read different versions --- none the same as Tara. And one woman had listened to it on audio. It ends up that after the book was released, Christina heard the same question from readers in email and when she met with book clubs. It involved a key decision one of her protagonists makes in the book. Christina longed “to write a scene in which she clarifies Vivian’s motivations.” These new insights and feelings appear here, as well as in newer editions.
Book Festivals: Labor Day weekend brings the National Book Festival in Washington, DC and the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, GA. If you are attending either, let us know if you would like to answer a list of questions so we can share these events with our other readers. For a list of upcoming book festivals, click here.
It was a fun week as Son 2B was in town, and Son 2A also came by, to hang out with Cory and meet his girlfriend, Sam. It was nice to have the gang back together. For the first time in 25 years, I have no one heading back to school in our house, which is really nice. Sam is going back, and it’s been fun hearing her decorating plans for her new apartment. Greg is in Maine for a few days to tour some lighthouses with friends this weekend. Tom has a golf tournament on both Saturday and Sunday. I have signed myself up for more yoga classes. I have been to four so far and have really enjoyed them. I still barely know my left side from my right. Actually I do, but nine times out of 10 I do the exact opposite of the rest of the room. Luckily they have their eyes closed! That said, I feel a lot more relaxed doing yoga and look forward to keeping this up.
I am off to find my tube to float in and my headphones for doing laps. And in between all this relaxing, there will be lots of cooking and entertaining, and weed pulling. The weeds are taller than the black-eyed Susans, which is saying something. And shhhhh, the hibiscus is blooming. I outsmarted the squirrel by putting the pot with the hibiscus in it in the middle of a number of other pots. One point for me! See the photo above.
Read on, and we will see you in TWO weeks.
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!
New Release Spotlight: DESOLATION MOUNTAIN
by William Kent Krueger
DESOLATION MOUNTAIN by William Kent Krueger (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by David Chandler
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
To Stephen O’Connor, Hamlet’s dour observation is more than just words. All his life, he has had visions of tragedies to come. When he experiences the vision of a great bird shot from the sky, he knows something terrible is about to happen. The crash of a private plane on Desolation Mountain in a remote part of the Iron Lake Reservation, which kills a United States senator and most of her family, confirms Stephen’s worst fears.
Stephen joins his father, Cork O’Connor and a few Ojibwe men from the nearby Iron Lake reservation to sift through the smoldering wreckage when the FBI arrives and quickly assumes control of the situation. What seems like the end of the O’Connors’ involvement is, however, only the beginning of a harrowing journey to understand the truth behind the Senator’s death. As he initiates his own probe, Cork O’Connor stumbles upon a familiar face in Bo Thorson, a private security consultant whose unnamed clients have hired him to look quietly into the cause of the crash. The men agree to join forces in their investigation, but soon Cork begins to wonder if Thorson’s loyalties lie elsewhere.
In that far north Minnesota County, which is overrun with agents of the FBI, NTSB, DoD and even members of a right-wing militia, all of whom have their own agendas, Cork, Stephen and Bo attempt to navigate a perilous course. Roadblocked by lies from the highest levels of government, uncertain who to trust, and facing growing threats the deeper they dig for answers, the three men finally understand that to get to the truth, they will have to face the great menace, a beast of true evil lurking in the woods --- a beast with a murderous intent of unimaginable scale.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read William Kent Krueger’s bio.
- Click here to visit William Kent Krueger’s website.
- Connect with William Kent Krueger on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Announcing Our Latest Debut Suspense/Thriller
Author Spotlight & Contest:
THE 7½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE
by Stuart Turton
We have 50 copies of THE 7½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton --- a mystery of such unexpected creativity it will leave readers guessing until the very last page --- to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on September 18th, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, September 6th at noon ET.
THE 7½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton (Historical Mystery/Thriller)
At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed. Again. She’s been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend. But nothing and no one are quite what they seem.
Deeply atmospheric and ingeniously plotted, THE 7½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE is the most inventive debut of the year that twists together a mystery of such unexpected creativity it will leave readers guessing until the very last page.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Stuart Turton’s bio.
- Click here to connect with Stuart Turton on Twitter.
Click here to read more in our Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight
and enter the contest.
Featured Review: PIECES OF HER by Karin Slaughter
PIECES OF HER by Karin Slaughter (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen Early
Andrea knows everything about her mother, Laura. She knows she’s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle; she knows she’s never wanted anything more than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life. But all that changes when a trip to the mall explodes into violence, and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura. Because it turns out that before Laura was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly 30 years she’s been hiding from her previous identity, lying low in the hope that no one would ever find her. But now she’s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: VOX by Christina Dalcher
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
VOX by Christina Dalcher (Dystopian Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than 100 words per day, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial. This can't happen here. Not in America. Not to her. Soon women are not permitted to hold jobs. Girls are not taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke 16,000 words each day, but now women have only 100 to make themselves heard. For herself, her daughter and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
VOX will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don’t miss Carol’s commentary in the September 7th newsletter.
An Interview with Stephen Markley, Author of OHIO
Stephen Markley’s debut novel, OHIO, takes place in a small town in northeastern Ohio, which has been ravaged by the Great Recession, an opioid crisis, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. One summer night in 2013, four former classmates converge on their hometown, each with a mission, all haunted by the ghosts of their shared histories. In this interview, Markley talks about his inspiration for the book and the research that went into it; how he crafted his characters’ individual voices, created their backstories and decided how their lives would intersect; the ways in which his work as a screenwriter and journalist has informed his fiction; and the enormous role that Toni Morrison’s novel SULA played in his decision to structure the story the way he did.
OHIO by Stephen Markley (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Corey Brill, Caitlin Davies, Gibson Frazier, Jayme Mattler, Joy Osmanski and Jonathan Todd Ross
On one fateful summer night in 2013, four former classmates converge on the rust belt town where they grew up, each of them with a mission, all of them haunted by regrets, secrets and lost loves. There’s Bill Ashcraft, an alcoholic, drug-abusing activist, whose fruitless ambitions have taken him from Cambodia to Zuccotti Park to New Orleans, and now back to “The Cane” with a mysterious package strapped to the underside of his truck; Stacey Moore, a doctoral candidate reluctantly confronting the mother of her former lover; Dan Eaton, a shy veteran of three tours in Iraq, home for a dinner date with the high school sweetheart he’s tried to forget; and the beautiful, fragile Tina Ross, whose rendezvous with the captain of the football team triggers the novel’s shocking climax. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
Click here to read the interview.
Featured Review: SMALL ANIMALS by Kim Brooks
SMALL ANIMALS: Parenthood in the Age of Fear by Kim Brooks (Memoir/Sociology)
Audiobook available, read by Kim Brooks
One morning, Kim Brooks made a split-second decision to leave her four-year-old son in the car while she ran into a store. What happened would consume the next several years of her life and spur her to investigate the broader role America’s culture of fear plays in parenthood. In SMALL ANIMALS, Brooks asks: Of all the emotions inherent in parenting, is there any more universal or profound than fear? Why have our notions of what it means to be a good parent changed so radically? In what ways do these changes impact the lives of parents, children and the structure of society at large? And what, in the end, does the rise of fearful parenting tell us about ourselves? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: TRUST ME by Hank Phillippi Ryan
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
Releasing August 28th
TRUST ME by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
An accused killer insists she's innocent of a heinous murder. A grieving journalist surfaces from the wreckage of her shattered life. Their unlikely alliance leads to a dangerous cat and mouse game that will leave you breathless. Who can you trust when you can't trust yourself? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
TRUST ME will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don’t miss Carol’s commentary in the September 7th newsletter.
Bookreporter.com Bets On: MAKE ME EVEN
AND I’LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN by Jerrold Fine
MAKE ME EVEN AND I'LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN by Jerrold Fine (Fiction)
MAKE ME EVEN AND I’LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN by hedge fund pioneer Jerrold Fine is a coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s and ’70s that has a lot of heart and soul. I love the voice of the book’s protagonist, Rogers Stout. He’s a Midwest guy who finds his way to Wharton and then to Wall Street after an internship in Cincinnati. Along the way, he does not forget his values or his roots as he begins to play the financial game. At the start, he’s playing poker at an invite-only game; he learned poker at Sunday night suppers with his dad, but at this table the stakes are a lot higher. The way he plays and strategizes, he takes on the energy of a poker game in Molly’s Game, albeit in a cool, calculated way. Rogers is in control and ready to run the table, with nerves of steel.
He has values that have come from his strong relationship with his dad. Rogers’ mom passed away when he was young, and while there is a void for her not being in his life, he and his dad are close. So when he chooses not to pursue a career in the medical profession like his dad, it’s a heavy decision. He packs his energy and smarts off to Wharton, where he has professors who challenge him and make him think. At the same time, he is looking out at the broader world and seeing how he is going to be a part of it. While still in school, he watches the real estate scene that is part of the early days of the casino trade in Atlantic City. He sees what the opening of a casino there is going to mean to the area, and tracks this to be part of its opening stock play. He dogs the workers on the scene trying to get a feel for the place --- what it’s going to be and how it’s going to perform. As a result, he snares a tidy profit before he even gets out of school.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to see advance readers' comments.
- Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
An Interview with Doug Burgess,
Author of FOGLAND POINT
Doug Burgess, a professor of history at Yeshiva University in New York City, has written his first novel, FOGLAND POINT. Burgess' protagonist, David Hazard, gets so much more than he bargains for when he returns to his hometown of Little Compton (the foggy New England village "on the wrong side" of Narragansett Bay where he grew up) following the murder of his grandmother’s next-door neighbor. In this interview, Burgess talks about his inspiration for his debut work of fiction, why he decided to cast David as a trans man, how he researched the book’s Rhode Island backdrop, and the mystery authors who were his chief influences growing up.
FOGLAND POINT by Doug Burgess (Mystery)
When sudden tragedy brings David Hazard back to Little Compton to care for his grandmother during her struggle with dementia, he discovers that her fragile memories may hold the key to a bizarre mystery half a century old --- and perhaps to the sudden and brutal murder right next door. Once Chief of Police Billy Dyer names her as a witness, Grandma Maggie's recollections become vital. But can they be trusted, especially in a town where everyone has a secret, including David himself? The investigation stalls. Then eccentric millionaire Marcus Rhinegold's yacht disappears into the fog, bodies begin to wash ashore, and Maggie's stories come vividly to life, setting off a chain of events both horrifying and hauntingly familiar. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
Click here to read the interview.
An Interview with Judy Clemens,
Author of BEYOND THE GRAVE
BEYOND THE GRAVE is the fifth installment in Judy Clemens’ Grim Reaper mystery series, which revolves around the travels and travails of Casey Maldonado in the wake of the tragic deaths of her husband and young son. Her constant companion is Death and follows her everywhere she goes. This time, she escapes to the quiet village of Armstrong, but soon finds herself surrounded by all kinds of trouble. In this interview, Clemens discusses her very personal reason for creating a mystery series with a supernatural twist; reveals her literary inspirations for Casey, who is a master of the Eastern fighting arts; explains why she decided to use the character of the Grim Reaper as occasional comic relief; and talks about the differences in her approach to writing this series and her Stella Crown mysteries, the latter of which features no paranormal aspects.
BEYOND THE GRAVE: A Grim Reaper Mystery by Judy Clemens (Mystery)
Casey Maldonado is haunted by the deaths of her husband and young son. She hopes traveling through the vast reaches of Idaho will offer peace. Instead, she fights off three drunken locals before escaping to a quiet town where she wants to heal from her injuries and constant sorrow. Her traveling companion, invisible to all but Casey, is Death, wearing a series of disguises and offering expert commentary on her difficulties. Unfortunately, the village of Armstrong carries its own darkness. Casey finds a job and a comfortable guest room with the proprietor of the small general store, Vern, and his ill wife, Dottie. Death keeps a close watch on Casey. She's surrounded by trouble.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently have three contests running on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Win 12 Copies of SUNBURN by Laura Lippman for Your Group
In SUNBURN, a stand-alone novel of psychological suspense from Laura Lippman, two people are locked in a passionate yet uncompromising game of cat and mouse. But instead of rules, this game has dark secrets, forbidden desires, inevitable betrayals --- and cold-blooded murder. We are giving three groups the chance to win 12 copies of the book, which is now available in paperback, in our special contest. Enter here by Monday, September 10th at noon ET.
Win 12 Copies of THE DAISY CHILDREN by Sofia Grant for Your Group
We are celebrating the release of THE DAISY CHILDREN --- Sofia Grant’s new novel about a young woman who peels back the layers of her family’s history and discovers a tragedy in the past that explains so much of the present --- with a special contest that will give three groups an opportunity to win 12 copies of the book, which is now in stores. Enter here by Monday, September 10th at noon ET.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win 12 Copies of NEED TO KNOW by Karen Cleveland for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month" contest, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group.
This month's prize book is the paperback edition of Karen Cleveland's debut thriller, NEED TO KNOW, in which a high-powered CIA analyst makes a shocking discovery about her husband that leads her to question everything she believes. This New York Times bestseller was a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick when it released in hardcover earlier this year, and film rights have been sold to Universal Pictures for Charlize Theron. Enter here by Monday, September 10th at noon ET.
Here are our latest featured guides:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
DEAD MAN RUNNING: An Alex McKnight Novel by Steve Hamilton (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Nick Sullivan
On the Mediterranean Sea, a vacationer logs on to the security-camera feed from his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. Rewinding through the feed, he sees an intruder. When he shifts to the bedroom camera, he sees the dead body. Martin T. Livermore is the key suspect in the abduction and murder of at least five women, but he's never been this sloppy before. When the FBI finally catches him in Scottsdale, he declares he'll only talk to one person: Alex McKnight. Livermore means nothing to McKnight, but it soon becomes clear that McKnight means something to Livermore...and that Livermore's capture was only the beginning of an elaborate, twisted plot with McKnight at the center. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
MEG, JO, BETH, AMY: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Anne Boyd Rioux (Literary Criticism)
Audiobook available, read by Kimberly Farr
Soon after its publication, LITTLE WOMEN became an enormous bestseller and one of America’s favorite novels. Its popularity quickly spread throughout the world, and the book has become an international classic. When Anne Boyd Rioux read the novel in her 20s, she had a powerful reaction to the story. Through teaching the book, she has seen the same effect on many others. In MEG, JO, BETH, AMY, Rioux recounts how Louisa May Alcott came to write LITTLE WOMEN, drawing inspiration for it from her own life. Rioux also examines why this tale of family and community ties, set while the Civil War tore America apart, has resonated through later wars, the Depression, and times of changing opportunities for women. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
SWIFT VENGEANCE by T. Jefferson Parker (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Will Damron
Returning hero and private investigator Roland Ford is on the trail of a mysterious killer who is beheading CIA drone operators and leaving puzzling clues at each crime scene. His troubled friend, Lindsay Rakes, is afraid for her own life and the life of her son after a fellow flight crew member is killed in brutal fashion. Even more terrifying is the odd note the killer left behind: "Welcome to Caliphornia. This is not the last." Ford strikes an uneasy alliance with San Diego-based FBI agent Joan Taucher, who is haunted by what she sees as the Bureau's failure to catch the 9/11 terrorists. As the killer strikes again, Ford and Taucher dash into the fray, each desperate for their own reasons. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
THE AIR YOU BREATHE by Frances de Pontes Peebles (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rebecca Mozo
Nine-year-old orphaned Dores is working in the kitchen of a sugar plantation in 1930s Brazil when in walks a girl who changes everything. Graça, the spoiled daughter of a wealthy sugar baron, is clever, well fed, pretty and thrillingly ill-behaved. Born to wildly different worlds, Dores and Graça quickly bond over music. One has a voice like a songbird; the other feels melodies in her soul and composes lyrics to match. Music will become their shared passion, the source of their partnership and their rivalry, and the only way out of the life to which each was born. But only one of the two is destined to be a star. Their intimate, volatile bond will determine each of their fortunes --- and haunt their memories. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
ARTHUR ASHE: A Life by Raymond Arsenault (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Desean Terry
Raymond Arsenault chronicles tennis superstar Arthur Ashe’s rise to stardom on the court. But much of the book explores his off-court career as a human rights activist, philanthropist, broadcaster, writer, businessman and celebrity. In the 1970s and ’80s, Ashe gained renown as an advocate for sportsmanship, education, racial equality and the elimination of apartheid in South Africa. But from 1979 on, he was forced to deal with a serious heart condition that led to multiple surgeries and blood transfusions, one of which left him HIV-positive. Five years after being diagnosed with AIDS, Ashe passed away at the age of 49, leaving an inspiring legacy of dignity, integrity and active citizenship. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
BONE ON BONE by Julia Keller (Mystery)
After a three-year prison sentence, Bell Elkins is back in Acker's Gap. And she finds herself in the white-hot center of a complicated and deadly case --- even as she comes to terms with one last, devastating secret of her own. A prominent local family has fallen victim to the same sickness that infects the whole region: drug addiction. With mother against father, child against parent, and tensions that lead inexorably to tragedy, they are trapped in a grim, hopeless struggle with nowhere to turn. Teamed up with former Deputy Jake Oakes, who battles his own demons as he adjusts to life as a paraplegic, and aided by the new prosecutor, Rhonda Lovejoy, Bell tackles a case as poignant as it is perilous, as heartbreaking as it is challenging. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SAVE YOURSELF by JM Holmes (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Damien Christopher
Bound together by shared experience but pulled apart by their changing fortunes, four young friends coming of age in the postindustrial enclave of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, struggle to liberate themselves from the legacies left to them as black men in America. JM Holmes’ debut follows a decade in the lives of Dub, Rolls, Rye and Gio as they each grapple with the complexity of their family histories, the newfound power of sex and drugs, and the ferocity of their desires. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
FOUR FUNERALS AND MAYBE A WEDDING: A Royal Spyness Mystery by Rhys Bowen (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Jasmine Blackborow
In the days leading up to her wedding to Darcy O'Mara, Lady Georgiana Rannoch takes on the responsibilities of a grand estate, but proving she can run a household just may be the death of her in this new Royal Spyness Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of ON HER MAJESTY’S FRIGHTFULLY SECRET SERVICE. Reviewed by Carly Silver.
THE BOY ON THE BEACH: My Family's Escape from Syria and Our Hope for a New Home by Tima Kurdi (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Soneela Nankani
THE BOY ON THE BEACH is an intimate and poignant memoir about the family of Alan Kurdi --- the young Syrian boy who became the global emblem for the desperate plight of millions of Syrian refugees --- and of the many extraordinary journeys the Kurdis have taken, spanning countries and continents. Alan’s body washed up on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea on September 2, 2015, and overnight, the political became personal, as the world awoke to the reality of the Syrian refugee crisis. Tima Kurdi first saw the shocking photo of her nephew in her home in Vancouver, Canada. But Tima did not need a photo to understand the truth --- she and her family had already been living it. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
READ ME by Leo Benedictus (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mathew Baynton
READ ME holds a sinister mirror up to the ways in which we observe, judge and influence people. Leo Benedictus' prose draws readers into the dark, manipulative mind of a serial stalker as he targets women across London, escalating his efforts until he settles on Frances --- a bright young professional whose career is set to take off --- whose life he proceeds to unravel from the inside, out. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
THE LONG-LOST LOVE LETTERS OF DOC HOLLIDAY by David Corbett (Legal Thriller)
Lisa Balamaro is an ambitious arts lawyer with a secret crush on her most intriguing client: former rodeo rider and reformed art forger Tuck Mercer. In his newfound role as an expert in Old West artifacts, Tuck gains possession of the supposedly destroyed correspondence between Doc Holliday and his cousin and childhood sweetheart, Mattie. Given the unlikelihood the letters can ever be fully authenticated, Tuck retains Lisa on behalf of the letters' owner, Rayella Vargas, to sell them on the black market. But the buyer Tuck finds, a duplicitous judge from the Tombstone area, has other, far more menacing ideas. As Lisa works feverishly to make things right, Rayella secretly enlists her ex-marine boyfriend in a daring scheme of her own. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
Noteworthy Books Releasing on
August 28th, August 30th and September 4th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 28th, August 30th and September 4th 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 August 27th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here. In the August 28th edition of the "On Sale This Week" newsletter, you will find more hardcovers and paperbacks that will be available the week of September 3rd.
August 28th
THE MYSTERY OF THREE QUARTERS: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Sophie Hannah (Historical Mystery)
The world’s most beloved detective, Hercule Poirot --- the legendary star of Agatha Christie’s MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS and, most recently, THE MONOGRAM MURDERS and CLOSED CASKET --- returns in a diabolically clever mystery set in the London of 1930.
TEAR ME APART by J.T. Ellison (Thriller)
The follow-up to her critically acclaimed LIE TO ME, J.T. Ellison’s TEAR ME APART is the powerful story of a mother willing to do anything to protect her daughter even as their carefully constructed world unravels around them.
TRUST ME by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
An accused killer insists she's innocent of a heinous murder. A grieving journalist surfaces from the wreckage of her shattered life. Their unlikely alliance leads to a dangerous cat and mouse game that will leave you breathless. Who can you trust when you can't trust yourself?
WALKING SHADOWS: A Decker/Lazarus Novel by Faye Kellerman (Mystery)
Detective Peter Decker and his wife, Rina Lazarus, risk life and limb to solve a pair of brutal murders that may be tied to a crime from more than 20 years ago.
WE ALL LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS by Joanne Proulx (Psychological Thriller)
One frigid winter night, Mia and Michael Slate's comfortable world dissolves in an instant when they discover that their best friend has cheated them out of their life savings. At the same time, their teenage son passes out in the snow at a party --- a mistake the consequences of which will shatter not just their family, but an entire community.
August 30th
THE FALL OF GONDOLIN written by J. R. R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien and illustrated by Alan Lee (Fantasy)
In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, THE FALL OF GONDOLIN was “the first real story of this imaginary world.” Together with BEREN AND LUTHIEN and THE CHILDREN OF HURIN, he regarded it as one of the three “Great Tales” of the Elder Days.
September 4th
THE CLASS: A Life-Changing Teacher, His World-Changing Kids, and the Most Inventive Classroom in America by Heather Won Tesoriero (Science/Education)
THE CLASS documents an unforgettable year in the life of a visionary high school science teacher and his award-winning students, as they try to get into college, land a date for the prom…and possibly change the world.
DEPTH OF WINTER: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson (Mystery)
An international hit man and the head of one of the most vicious drug cartels in Mexico has kidnapped Walt Longmire's beloved daughter, Cady, to auction her off to his worst enemies. Walt heads into the 110-degree heat of the Northern Mexican desert alone, one man against an army.
EVERY DAY IS EXTRA by John Kerry (Memoir)
John Kerry tells the story of his remarkable American life --- from son of a diplomat to decorated Vietnam veteran, five-term United States senator, 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, and Secretary of State for four years --- in this revealing memoir by a witness to some of the most important events of our recent history.
FIELD OF BONES: A Brady Novel of Suspense by J. A. Jance (Mystery/Thriller)
Sheriff Joanna Brady’s best intentions to stay on maternity leave take a hit when a serial homicide case rocks Cochise County, dragging her into a far-reaching investigation to bring down a relentless killer.
THE GLASS OCEAN by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White (Historical Mystery)
From the New York Times bestselling authors of THE FORGOTTEN ROOM comes a captivating historical mystery, infused with romance, that links the lives of three women across a century --- two deep in the past, one in the present --- to the doomed passenger liner, RMS Lusitania.
IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS by Danielle Steel (Historical Fiction)
Danielle Steel tells the story of two World War II concentration camp survivors, the life they build together, and the son who faces struggles of his own as a first-generation American determined to be his own person and achieve success.
JOHN WOMAN by Walter Mosley (Fiction)
This convention-defying novel recounts the transformation of an unassuming boy named Cornelius Jones into John Woman, an unconventional history professor --- while the legacy of a hideous crime lurks in the shadows.
LAKE SUCCESS by Gary Shteyngart (Fiction/Humor)
Narcissistic, hilariously self-deluded, and divorced from the real world as most of us know it, hedge-fund manager Barry Cohen oversees $2.4 billion in assets. Deeply stressed by an SEC investigation and by his three-year-old son’s diagnosis of autism, he flees New York on a Greyhound bus in search of a simpler, more romantic life with his old college sweetheart.
LEVERAGE IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery/Thriller)
Lieutenant Eve Dallas puzzles over a bizarre suicide bombing in a Wall Street office building in LEVERAGE IN DEATH, the 47th installment in J. D. Robb’s In Death series.
THE MAN WHO CAME UPTOWN by George Pelecanos (Hard-boiled Thriller)
In George Pelecanos’ latest hard-boiled thriller, an ex-offender must choose between the man who got him out and the woman who showed him another path.
SUNRISE HIGHWAY by Peter Blauner (Thriller)
From Peter Blauner, the writer Dennis Lehane calls "one of the most consistently bracing and interesting voices in American crime literature," comes a new thriller about a lone young cop on the trail of a powerful killer determined not just to stop her, but to make her pay.
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT by Mary Kubica (Psychological Thriller)
Jessie Sloane is on the path to rebuilding her life, renting a new apartment and applying for college. But when the college informs her that her social security number has raised a red flag, Jessie discovers a shocking detail that causes her to doubt everything she’s ever known.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Digital Audiobooks
Do you listen to digital audiobooks?
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Yes, all of the time
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Yes, some of the time; other times I listen to physical audiobooks (discs)
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No, I prefer physical audiobooks (discs).
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No, but I would be interested in exploring this
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No, I do not listen to audiobooks.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, September 7th at noon ET.
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 August 17th to September 7th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of DESOLATION MOUNTAIN by William Kent Krueger and TRUST ME by Hank Phillippi Ryan.
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.
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 August 1st to September 4th at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Linda Castillo's A GATHERING OF SECRETS, read by Kathleen McInerney, and I SEE LIFE THROUGH ROSÉ-COLORED GLASSES, written and read by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella.
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.
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