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In this newsletter, you will find books releasing the weeks of October 14th and October 21st that we think will be of interest to Bookreporter.com readers, along with Bonus News, where we call out a contest, feature or review that we want to let you know about so you have it on your radar.
This week, we are calling attention to our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com. Three book groups will win up to 12 copies of THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon, a national bestseller that releases in paperback on November 5th. The deadline for your entries is Wednesday, November 13th at noon ET.
Carol Fitzgerald's latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Jean Hanff Korelitz, whose new book, THE SEQUEL, is the aptly titled follow-up to THE PLOT and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
Anna, the widow of Jacob Finch Bonner, is enjoying the riches of being a literary widow and has written a debut novel called The Afterword. But, ah, Anna has a secret to hide. Jean shares the fun she had layering wry humor into the book, as well as how she satirizes the publishing industry in juicy detail. Yes, there is film news talk, as well as what’s next for Jean.
Don't Miss Mary Kay's Upcoming Holiday Release!
Releasing on October 29th is HOLIDAY HIDEAWAY, a short story from Mary Kay that will be available exclusively on Amazon as an e-book and audiobook. This charming holiday romance is about a newly single thirtysomething whose unauthorized vacation rental turns into a hilarious game of hide-and-seek when the new owner unexpectedly shows up.
Thanks to all of you who have answered our Reader Survey so far. We very much appreciate it! We have been jumping in periodically and looking at your replies. We love “getting to know all about you,” which is spurring ideas for future growth. If you have not taken the survey yet, you have until THIS Friday, October 18th at noon ET to do so. Those who complete the survey can be eligible to win a bookish prize!
Last Wednesday, we hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event. Carol talked about 42 books releasing between now and November 5th (including 11 holiday-themed titles), along with six from December, that we wanted to get on your radar.
Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview event will take place on Wednesday, November 13th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between November 12th and the end of the year, in addition to a few from January and February, that we think will appeal to you. Those who join us live will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
This Week's Bonus News:
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest
on ReadingGroupGuides.com
Enter to Win Up to 12 Paperback Copies of
THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" feature on ReadingGroupGuides.com, 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 up to 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Note: To be eligible to win, let us know the title of the book that YOUR book group is CURRENTLY reading, NOT the title we are giving away.
THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon (Historical Mystery)
Maine, 1789: The Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice. Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine the cause of death. As the local midwife and healer, Martha is good at keeping secrets. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, every murder and debacle that unfolds in the town of Hallowell. In that diary she also documented the details of an alleged rape that occurred four months earlier. Now, one of the men accused of that heinous attack has been found dead in the ice. While Martha is certain she knows what happened the night of the assault, she suspects that the two crimes are linked. Over the course of one long, hard winter, Martha’s diary lands at the center of the scandal and threatens to tear both her family and her community apart.
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are five upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Wednesday, October 16th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Ron Block and Kristy Woodson Harvey will talk to Marybeth Mayhew Whalen about her new novel, EVERY MOMENT SINCE. A small Southern town. An ordinary Saturday night. A little boy disappears without a trace.
Thursday, October 17th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's presents Louis Bayard as he discusses his new book, THE WILDES: A Novel in Five Acts, with Benjamin Dreyer. In this singularly powerful novel, Bayard brings Oscar Wilde’s wife and two sons out from the shadows of history and creates a vivid and poignant story of secrets, loss and love.
Thursday, October 17th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lev AC Rosen will talk about his latest novel, ROUGH PAGES, which is set in atmospheric 1950s San Francisco and asks: Who is allowed to tell their own stories, and how far would you go to seek out the truth?
Monday, October 21st at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Robert Dugoni will talk about his latest thriller, BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. A master manipulator accused of murder. An attorney sworn to defend her. Keera Duggan returns in Dugoni's riveting novel of suspense.
Tuesday, October 22nd at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado about their thriller, FATAL INTRUSION, which kicks off a propulsive new series. As a wave of murders grips Southern California, an unlikely pair must untangle the mysterious patterns of an elusive killer.
On Sale the Week of October 14th in Hardcover
October 15th
AMERICAN RAPTURE by CJ Leede (Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction/Horror)
A virus is spreading across America, transforming the infected and making them feral with lust. Sophie, a good Catholic girl, must traverse the hellscape of the midwest to try to find her family while the world around her burns. Along the way she discovers there are far worse fates than dying a virgin. The end times are coming.
Tor Nightfire | 9781250857927
THE ANCIENTS by John Larison (Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction)
A young boy and his older sisters find themselves suddenly and utterly alone, orphaned in an abandoned fishing village. They set out across a breathtaking yet treacherous wilderness in search of the last of their people. Down the coast, raiders deliver the children's mother, along with the rest of their human cargo, to the last port city of a waning empire. Determined to reunite with her family, she plots her escape --- while her fellow captives plan open revolt. At the center of power in this crumbling city, a young scholar inherits his father's business and position of privilege, along with the burden of his debts. As the empire's elite prepare to flee to new utopia across the sea, he must decide where his allegiance lies. With a rapidly changing climate shifting the sands beneath their feet, these three paths converge in a struggle for the future of humanity.
Viking | 9780593831168
BLOOD TEST: A Comedy by Charles Baxter (Fiction/Humor)
Brock Hobson, an insurance salesman and Sunday-school teacher, finds his equilibrium disturbed by the results of a predictive blood test. From his good-as-gold, gentle girlfriend to the macho subcontractor guy his ex-wife left him for, not to mention his well-raised teenage kids, now exploring sex and sexuality, the secondary characters in Brock's life all contribute meaningfully to the drama, as increasing challenges to his sense of self and purpose crash over him. The final battle --- no spoilers, but there is one --- couldn't be more delightful, as BLOOD TEST reminds us to choose the best people to love, accept the ones we love even if we didn’t choose them, and love them all well.
Pantheon | 9780593700853
A CHRISTMAS DUET by Debbie Macomber (Romance)
Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of becoming a professional songwriter, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of spending Christmas with her family and dodging her mother’s meddling questions about her love life. When Hailey’s close friend offers her the use of her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo holiday retreat, she finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in the small town of Podunk, Oregon, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin has been invaded by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the son of the town’s main store proprietor --- and a former musician to boot --- is more than willing to help.
Ballantine Books | 9780593725337
DOGS AND MONSTERS: Stories by Mark Haddon (Fiction/Short Stories)
Greek myths have fascinated people for millennia, seeing in them lessons about fate and hubris and the contingency of existence. Mark Haddon digs into the heart of these ancient fables and sees them anew. These tales cover a vast range, from the mythic to the domestic, from ancient Greece to the present day, from stories about love to stories about cruelty, from battlefields to bed and breakfasts, from dogs in space to doors between worlds --- all of them bound together by a profound sympathy and an understanding of how human beings act, think and feel when pushed to the very edge.
Doubleday | 9780385550864
DON'T BE A STRANGER by Susan Minot (Fiction)
Ivy Cooper is 52 years old when Ansel Fleming first walks into her life. Twenty years her junior, a musician newly released from prison on a minor drug charge, Ansel’s beguiling good looks and quiet intensity instantly seduce her. Despite the gulf between their ages and experience, the physical chemistry between them is overpowering. Over the heady weeks and months that follow, Ivy finds her life bifurcated by his presence. On the surface she is a responsible mother, managing the demands of friends, an ex-husband and home. But emotionally, psychologically and sexually, she is consumed by desire and increasingly alive only in the stolen moments-out-of-time, with Ansel in her bed.
Knopf | 9780593802441
FRAMED: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey (True Crime)
John Grisham is known worldwide for his bestselling novels, but it’s his real-life passion for justice that led to his work with Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries, the first organization dedicated to exonerating innocent people who have been wrongly convicted. Together they offer an inside look at the many injustices in our criminal justice system. A fundamental principle of our legal system is a presumption of innocence, but once someone has been found guilty, there is very little room to prove doubt. These 10 true stories shed light on Americans who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty parties remained free.
Doubleday | 9780385550444
THE GREAT HIPPOPOTAMUS HOTEL: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (25) by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
In the rolling hills just outside Gaborone, surrounded by a grove of acacia trees, lies The Great Hippopotamus Hotel. With spacious rooms overlooking the Botswanan countryside and a fine and loyal staff, the hotel has served as a refuge to weary travelers for many years. But a sudden string of misfortunes threatens to ruin the hotel’s reputation. Food poisoning befalls an unlucky diner, laundry mysteriously disappears from the drying line, and a scorpion stings one of the guests. It appears that something foul is afoot. Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are on the case to find out who could be responsible for these unfortunate events. The answer at first seems clear, especially when they find out that Violet Sephotho is involved. But as they dig deeper, they realize that the solution is not as simple as it initially seems.
Pantheon | 9780593701768
JANUARIES: Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal by Olivie Blake
(Fantasy & Romance/Short Stories)
Once upon a time in a land far, far away, a wish-granting spirit rapidly approaches burnout. Meanwhile, a banished fairy answers a Craigslist ad, a Victorian orphan navigates an occult situationship, and a multiverse assassin contemplates the one who got away. With both iconic fan-favorite stories and entirely original pieces, JANUARIES features modified fairy tales, contemporary heists, absurdist poetry, and at least one set of actual wedding vows. Escape the slow trudge of mortality by diving into these enchanting new worlds with a master of imagination.
Tordotcom | 9781250330680
LIBBY LOST AND FOUND by Stephanie Booth (Fiction)
Meet Libby Weeks, author of the mega-bestselling fantasy series The Falling Children --- written as "F.T. Goldhero" to maintain her privacy. When the last manuscript is already months overdue to her publisher and rabid fans around the world are growing impatient, Libby is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Already suffering from crippling anxiety, Libby's symptoms quickly accelerate. After she forgets her dog at the park one day --- then almost discloses her identity to the journalist who finds him --- Libby has to admit it: she needs help finishing the last book. Desperately, she turns to 11-year-old superfan Peanut Bixton, who knows the books even better than she does but harbors her own dark secrets. Tensions mount as Libby's dementia deepens --- until both Peanut and Libby swirl into an inevitable but bone-shocking conclusion.
Sourcebooks Landmark | 9781728278506
MAMA: A Queer Black Woman’s Story of a Family Lost and Found by Nikkya Hargrove (Memoir)
When her mother --- addicted to cocaine and just out of prison --- had a son and then died only a few months later, Nikkya Hargrove was faced with an impossible choice. Although she had just graduated from college, she decided to fight for custody of her half brother, Jonathan. Nikkya vividly recounts how she is subjected to preconceived notions that she, a Black queer young woman, cannot be given such responsibility. Her honest portrayal of the shame she feels accepting food stamps, her family’s reaction to her coming out, and the joy she experiences when she meets the woman who will become her wife reveal her sheer determination. And whether she’s clashing with Jonathan’s biological father or battling for Jonathan’s education rights after he’s diagnosed with ADHD and autism, this is a woman who won’t give up.
Algonquin Books | 9781643751580
THE MAN IN BLACK: And Other Stories by Elly Griffiths (Mystery & Thriller/Short Stories)
Elly Griffiths has always written short stories to experiment with different voices and genres, as well as to explore what some of her fictional creations such as Ruth Galloway, Harbinder Kaur and Max Mephisto might have done outside of the novels. THE MAN IN BLACK gathers these bite-sized tales all together in one splendid volume. There are ghost stories, cozy mysteries, tales of psychological suspense, and poignant vignettes of love and loss.
Mariner Books | 9780063289338
MIDNIGHT AND BLUE: An Inspector Rebus Novel by Ian Rankin (Mystery)
A convict is brutally murdered in his locked cell deep in the heart of Scotland’s most infamous prison. Sleeping in a cell across the floor lies John Rebus, the equally notorious detective. Stripped of his badge and estranged from his police family, he is now fighting for his own life --- protected by an old nemesis but always one wrong move away from the shank. As new allies and old enemies circle, and the days and nights bleed into each other, even this legendary figure struggles to keep his head. They say old habits die hard, though. The death stirs Rebus’ deductive --- and manipulative --- impulses, setting off a domino-chain of scheming criminals, corrupt prison guards, and perhaps only one or two good souls who may see it all through. But how do you find a killer in a place full of them?
Mulholland Books | 9780316473859
THE MORE THE TERRIER: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is relieved to be headed back to Paterson, New Jersey, after a week-long family vacation in the Adirondacks. He's ready to put the holly jolly season way behind him and settle in at home with his three dogs. But when they finally arrive, there is an extra dog eagerly awaiting them, as well as one anxious dog sitter. When the dog showed up on the doorstep a few days ago, the sitter knew Andy would know what to do. Indeed, Andy recognizes Murphy, who the Carpenters fostered before the dog went home with BJ Bremer and his mother. When Andy goes to take Murphy back to the Bremers, instead of the happy reunion he expects, he finds BJ's mother in tears. It turns out Murphy ran off…after BJ was arrested for murder. The case isn’t as simple as Andy thought it would be, with BJ suspected of killing one of his professors.
Minotaur Books | 9781250324542
POLOSTAN: Volume One of Bomb Light by Neal Stephenson (Historical Thriller)
The first installment in Neal Stephenson’s Bomb Light cycle, POLOSTAN follows the early life of the enigmatic Dawn Rae Bjornberg. Born in the American West to a clan of cowboy anarchists, Dawn is raised in Leningrad after the Russian Revolution by her Russian father, a party line Leninist who re-christens her Aurora. She spends her early years in Russia but then grows up as a teenager in Montana, before being drawn into gunrunning and revolution in the streets of Washington, D.C., during the depths of the Great Depression. When a surprising revelation about her past puts her in the crosshairs of U.S. authorities, Dawn returns to Russia, where she is groomed as a spy by the organization that later becomes the KGB.
William Morrow | 9780062334497
SONNY BOY: A Memoir by Al Pacino (Memoir)
SONNY BOY is the memoir of a man who has nothing left to fear and nothing left to hide. All the great roles, the essential collaborations and the important relationships are given their full due, as is the vexed marriage between creativity and commerce at the highest levels. The book’s golden thread, however, is the spirit of love and purpose. Love can fail you, and you can be defeated in your ambitions --- the same lights that shine bright can also dim. But Al Pacino was lucky enough to fall deeply in love with a craft before he had the foggiest idea of any of its earthly rewards, and he never fell out of love. That has made all the difference.
Penguin Press | 9780593655115
THE WAITING: A Ballard and Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly (Thriller)
Renée Ballard and the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit get a hot shot DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet 20 years ago. His father was the Pillowcase Rapist, responsible for a five-year reign of terror in the City of Angels. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles. Meanwhile, Ballard’s badge, gun and ID are stolen. She works the burglary alone, but her mission draws her into unexpected danger. So she knocks on the door of Harry Bosch. At the same time, Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit: Bosch’s daughter, Maddie, now a patrol officer. But Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city’s library of lost souls --- a case that may be the most iconic in the city’s history.
Little, Brown and Company | 9780316563796
WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR: (and related thoughts) by Stanley Tucci (Memoir)
Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci’s life: from stracciatella soup served in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce cooked between scene rehearsals and costume fittings, to homemade pizza eaten with his children before bedtime. Now, in WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR, Tucci records 12 months of eating --- in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself. Ranging from the mouth-wateringly memorable to the comfortingly domestic and to the infuriatingly inedible, the meals memorialized in this diary are a prism for him to reflect on the ways his life, and his family, are constantly evolving. Through food he marks --- and mourns --- the passing of time, the loss of loved ones, and steels himself for what is to come.
Gallery Books | 9781668055687
A WOMAN UNDERGROUND: A Cameron Winter Mystery by Andrew Klavan (Hard-boiled Mystery)
Cameron Winter is troubled in heart and mind. He’s plagued by memories of his time as a government operative investigating a notorious Turkish sex trafficker. The fact that the mission was left unfinished still haunts him and threatens to tear him apart. In the midst of his painful soul-searching, Winter crosses paths with an ex-flame --- his first love --- and the chance encounter ignites a passion he thought was long lost. But just as soon as she wanders back into Winter’s life, the woman vanishes, leaving Winter scrambling to track her down. His pursuit takes him deep into a world rent by partisan violence, where extremists clash and Winter sides with no one. As he faces his most dangerous case yet, victory might simply mean getting out alive.
Mysterious Press | 9781613165539
On Sale the Week of October 14th in Paperback
October 15th
BEHIND YOU by Mike Omer (Psychological Thriller)
Paperback Original
Seventeen-year-old Theodora Briggs left home in the dead of night after a brutal crime shattered her life. Thirteen years later, she’s made a name for herself as Gemma: beautician, wife and mother. But the trauma still lingers. And then one day, it’s more than just a phantom pain. Gemma is suddenly accosted by stranger after stranger, all of whom seem to know the truth about her. They confront her with her real name and ominous allusions to the tragedy that drove her out of town. When her family begins to have their own strange episodes, Gemma is rattled. There’s no one left to trust but herself --- except Gemma can’t even remember what happened that night. Accusations and danger lurk around every corner, and Gemma is not sure where to turn.
Thomas & Mercer | 9781662509391
CRACKS BENEATH THE SURFACE: A Jhonni Laurent Mystery by Mary Ann Miller (Mystery)
Paperback Original
Spring has sprung, and Easter festivities are underway in Field’s Crossing, Indiana. The annual egg hunt is a huge success, thanks in no small part to Lisa DuVal, the owner of Big Al’s Diner, who dyed all of the eggs. But when Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers Lisa’s body in her catering van later that day, the happy holiday quickly sours, and Laurent begins a murder investigation. All are shocked at the reading of the will when it’s revealed that the diner will be inherited by Lisa’s best friend --- not by her daughter, which raises Laurent’s suspicions. While working to find the killer, Laurent uncovers some unsightly secrets that Lisa’s family had been concealing. Could they be involved in something shady? When another body is discovered, Laurent must work quickly to determine how the two crimes connect --- and who could be behind it all.
Oceanview Publishing | 9781608095391
THE DEAD TAKE THE A TRAIN by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey (Dark Fantasy/Horror)
Julie is a coked-up, burnt-out 30-year-old whose only retirement plan is dying early. She’s been trying to establish herself in the NYC magic scene, and she’ll work the most gruesome gigs, exorcize the nastiest demons, and make deals with the cruelest gods to claw her way to the top. But nothing can prepare her for the toughest job yet: when her best friend, Sarah, shows up at her door in need of help. Keeping Sarah safe becomes top priority. Julie is desperate for a quick fix to break the dead-end grind and save her friend. But her power grab sets off a deadly chain of events that puts Sarah --- and the entire world --- directly in the path of annihilation.
Tor Nightfire | 9781250789303
THE FAVORITES by Rosemary Hennigan (Psychological Thriller)
Most students would kill to be selected for the prestigious Law and Literature course at Franklin University. But for Jessie Mooney, admittance into this campus inner circle is about more than social cachet and access to distinguished alumni. It’s her chance to get close to charismatic professor Jay Crane. Since the moment she discovered their secret relationship, Jessie has been convinced that Crane is to blame for the events leading to her sister’s death. Between off-campus parties and intense classroom debates, she carefully plots her every move with one goal in mind --- to earn the coveted position as Crane’s “favorite.” But when she finally gains his trust, attracting the other students’ envy and suspicion, the truth becomes darkly twisted. Is it justice Jessie craves, or revenge? And what does she stand to lose if she gets her way?
Graydon House | 9781525809866
GEORGE HARRISON: The Reluctant Beatle by Philip Norman (Music/Biography)
Despite being hailed as one of the best guitarists of his era, George Harrison, particularly in his early decades, battled feelings of inferiority. He was often the butt of jokes from his bandmates owing to his lower-class background and, typically, was allowed to contribute only one or two songs per Beatles album out of the dozens he wrote. Now, acclaimed Beatles biographer Philip Norman examines Harrison through the lens of his numerous self-contradictions. This rich biography captures him at his most multifaceted: devoted friend, loyal son, master guitar player, brilliant songwriter, cocaine addict, serial philanderer, global philanthropist, student of Indian mysticism, self-deprecating comedian, and, ultimately, iconic artist and man beloved by millions.
Scribner | 9781982195878
MANDATORY REPORTING: A Dublin Mystery by Jenny Wilson O'Raghallaigh (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Paperback Original
Jonah’s study abroad year in Dublin isn’t going as planned. Instead of the engineering program he requested, the only option available to him is a course in psychology. Rather than the predictable world of numbers, he is forced into the complicated and unpredictable world of human emotions and actions. In therapy with an enigmatic doctor, fumbling to acclimate to a new country, and plunged into the quicksand of family mental health alongside a beautiful but troubled clinic supervisor, Jonah begins to unravel. How can he help others navigate the murky depths of family trauma when he’s still fighting to survive his own? And then someone dies. Did he reveal too much to his therapist? Has his work at the clinic enraged a violent father? As the Irish police begin to investigate, is Jonah now the prime suspect?
Seventh Street Books | 9781645060871
MR. TEXAS by Lawrence Wright (Fiction/Humor)
Sonny Lamb is an affable, if floundering, rancher with the unfortunate habit of becoming a punchline in his Texas hometown. But when a fire breaks out at a neighbor’s farm, Sonny bolts to the farm where his heroic actions make the evening news. A handsomely dressed lobbyist arrives at his ranch door and asks if he’d like to run for his West Texas district’s seat in the state legislature. Though Sonny has zero experience and doesn’t consider himself political at all, the fate of his ranch --- and perhaps his marriage to the lovely “cowgirl” Lola --- hangs in the balance. As he navigates life in politics, Sonny must learn the ropes, weighing his own ethics and environmental concerns against the pressures of veteran politicians, savvy lobbyists and his own party.
Vintage | 9780593685525
ONE WOMAN SHOW by Christine Coulson (Historical Fiction)
Christine Coulson spent 25 years writing for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her final project was to write wall labels for the museum’s new British Galleries. During that time, she dreamt of using The Met’s strict label format to describe people as intricate works of art. The result is this bullet of a novel that imagines a privileged 20th-century woman as an artifact --- an object prized, collected and critiqued. ONE WOMAN SHOW revolves around the life of Kitty Whitaker as she is defined by her potential for display and moved from collection to collection through multiple marriages. Coulson precisely distills each stage of this sprawling life, every brief snapshot in time a wry reflection on womanhood, ownership, value and power.
Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster | 9781668027790
PRINCESS OF DUNE by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (Science Fiction/Space Opera)
Raised in the Imperial court and born to be a political bargaining chip, Irulan was sent at an early age to be trained as a Bene Gesserit Sister. Now of marriageable age, Princess Irulan sees the machinations of the many factions vying for power and is determined to become much more than a pawn to be moved about on anyone’s gameboard. Meanwhile, on Arrakis, Chani is trained in the Fremen mystical ways by an ancient Reverend Mother. Brought up to believe in her father’s ecological dream of a green Arrakis, she follows Liet around to Imperial testing stations, surviving the many hazards of desert life. Chani soon learns the harsh cost of Fremen dreams and obligations under the oppressive boot heel of the long Harkonnen occupation.
Tor Books | 9781250906298
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EIGHT by Nalini Singh (Mystery/Thriller)
They met when they were teenagers. Now they’re adults, and time has been kind to some and unkind to others --- none more so than to Bea, the one they lost nine long years ago. They’ve gathered to reminisce at Bea’s family’s estate, a once-glorious mansion straight out of a gothic novel. Best friends, old flames, secret enemies and new lovers are all under one roof. But when the weather turns and they’re snowed in at the edge of eternity, there’s nowhere left to hide from their shared history. As the walls close in, the pretense of normality gives way to long-buried grief, bitterness and rage. Underneath it all, there’s the nagging feeling that Bea’s shocking death wasn’t what it was claimed to be. And before the weekend is through, the truth will be unleashed --- no matter the cost.
Berkley | 9780593549780
THE TIME KEEPERS by Alyson Richman (Historical Fiction)
Paperback Original
Two women from different worlds, Grace and Anh, are indelibly changed when a runaway boy is found on a street in their small Long Island town. Brought together by the love of this child displaced by war, the women find friendship and healing from their own painful pasts when their lives intersect with a mysterious wounded Vietnam vet. The vet, Jack, works at the Golden Hours, a watch store that mends timepieces --- and might even mend damaged souls. Inspired by the true story of a Vietnamese refugee who entrusted the dramatic account of her escape from Vietnam to the author, and also that of a wounded veteran, Alyson Richman sheds light on those whose lives were forever impacted by the devastation of that war.
Union Square & Co. | 9781454953234
TOXIC PREY: A Lucas and Letty Davenport Novel by John Sandford (Mystery/Thriller)
Gaia is dying. That, at least, is what Dr. Lionel Scott believes. A renowned expert in tropical and infectious diseases, Scott has witnessed the devastating impact of illness and turmoil at critical scale. Society as it exists is untenable and is the direct link to Earth’s death spiral; population levels are out of control, and people have allowed disarray and disorder to run rampant. While most are concerned about deadly disease, Scott knows that it is truly humanity itself that will destroy Gaia. When he disappears without a trace, Letty Davenport is tasked with tracking down any and all leads. As the web around Scott becomes more tangled, Letty calls in her father, Lucas, to help her lead a group of specialists to find Scott as soon as possible. It quickly becomes a race to find him before the virus he created becomes the perfect weapon.
G.P. Putnam’s Sons | 9780593714515
’TWAS THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is at the Tara Foundation’s annual Christmas party. The dog rescue organization has always been his true calling, and this is one holiday tradition he can get behind because every dog that’s come through the rescue --- and their families --- are invited to celebrate. This year’s party is no exception. But before the stockings can be hung by the chimney with care, homicide detectives ruin the evening. Derek Moore, one of the foundation’s best foster volunteers, is arrested for murder. Andy discovers that Derek --- whose real name is Bobby --- is in the witness protection program after giving evidence against his former gang. The police believe Bobby murdered a member, but Bobby swears to Andy he didn’t do this.
Minotaur Books | 9781250828866
THE YEAR'S BEST DARK FANTASY AND HORROR, Volume 5 edited by Paula Guran (Dark Fantasy/Horror Anthology)
Paperback Original
This outstanding annual exploration of the year’s best dark fiction journeys into the shadows delivers 19 tales of the haunted, weirdly surreal, evil incarnate, frightening futures and much more. The fifth volume of The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror includes metaphysical masterpieces from some of today's finest writers of the fantastique. Much like the paranormal, some things need to be experienced to be believed, so delve into these pages and take a delightfully disturbing stroll into the fears that stir us all.
Pyr | 9781645060925
On Sale the Week of October 21st in Hardcover
October 21st
AMERICAN HEROES by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann, with Tim Malloy (Biography)
U.S. soldiers who served in overseas conflicts --- from World War II, Korea and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan --- share true stories of the actions that earned them some of America’s most distinguished military medals, up to and including the Medal of Honor. They never acted alone, but always in the spirit of camaraderie, patriotism and for the good of our beloved country. There has never been a better time for all of us to think about duty, sacrifice and what it means to be an American hero.
Little, Brown and Company | 9780316407205
October 22nd
ABSOLUTION: A Southern Reach Novel by Jeff VanderMeer (Speculative Fiction)
When the Southern Reach trilogy was first published a decade ago, it was an instant sensation. Each volume climbed the bestseller list; awards were won; the books made the rare transition from paperback original to hardcover; the movie adaptation became a cult classic. And yet, for Jeff VanderMeer, there was never full closure to the story of Area X. There were a few mysteries that had gone unsolved, some key points of view never aired. There were stories left to tell. Structured in three parts, each recounting a new expedition, ABSOLUTION is a brilliant, beautiful and ever-terrifying plunge into unique and fertile literary territory. There are some long-awaited answers here, to be sure, but also more questions and profound new surprises.
MCD | 9780374616595
BANDIT HEAVEN: The Hole-in-the-Wall Gangs and the Final Chapter of the Wild West by Tom Clavin (History)
Robbers Roost, Brown’s Hole and Hole-in-the-Wall were three hideouts that collectively were known to outlaws as “Bandit Heaven.” During the 1880s and ‘90s, these remote locations in Wyoming and Utah harbored hundreds of train and bank robbers, horse and cattle thieves, the occasional killer, and anyone else with a price on his head. Tom Clavin's BANDIT HEAVEN is the entertaining story of these tumultuous times and the colorful characters who rode the Outlaw Trail through the frigid mountain passes and throat-parching deserts that connected the three hideouts --- well-guarded enclaves that no sensible lawman would enter.
St. Martin's Press | 9781250282408
CHRISTMAS CRIMES AT THE MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP edited by Otto Penzler (Mystery/Short Stories)
For most of its 45-year history, The Mysterious Bookshop --- the oldest mystery specialty bookstore in the world --- has commissioned an original short story as a holiday gift for its customers. Written exclusively for the store and never published elsewhere, the stories were given as a holiday gift to its customers as a thank you for their business, handed out or mailed between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. The prompt for the story requires three elements: that it be set at Christmastime, that it involve a crime of some kind, or the suspicion of one, and that it be set at least partially in the bookstore. And from these loose structural guidelines, diverse tales took flight. The dozen tales included in this volume are among the finest to be produced in this annual tradition, sure to charm any reader looking for a holiday-themed escape.
Mysterious Press | 9781613165720
DISTURBING THE BONES by Andrew Davis and Jeff Biggers (Political Thriller)
Chicago detective Randall Jenkins has not been back home to the historic Civil Rights hotspot of Cairo, Illinois, since the disappearance of his mother, a well-known journalist, several decades ago. That all changes the day Dr. Molly Moore, an ambitious young archaeologist in the national spotlight for her groundbreaking high-tech discoveries, uncovers a set of strange bones at a huge 12,000-year-old site at a highway construction project. With retired military general and contractor William Alexander breathing down her neck to cover up the dig, Molly and Randall soon find themselves in the middle of a wild military conspiracy. The detective and archaeologist’s entwined family mysteries suddenly thrust them into the central position as the only people who can ensure the safety of the ongoing Chicago global peace summit.
Melville House | 9781685891459
EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET: A Festive Mystery by Benjamin Stevenson (Mystery)
My name’s Ernest Cunningham. I used to be a fan of reading Golden Age murder mysteries, until I found myself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones. I’d hoped this Christmas that any self-respecting murderer would kick their feet up and take it easy over the holidays. I was wrong. So here I am, backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. My suspects are all professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection. My clues are even more abstract: A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there. A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens. And an Advent calendar. If I can see through the illusions, I know I can solve it. After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn’t it?
Mariner Books | 9780063412866
A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY: The Biography of Randy Newman by Robert Hilburn (Biography)
Randy Newman is widely hailed as one of America’s all-time greatest songwriters, equally skilled in the sophisticated melodies and lyrics of the Gershwin-Porter era and the cultural commentary of his own generation, with Bob Dylan and Paul Simon among his most ardent admirers. While tens of millions around the world can hum “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” his disarming centerpiece for Toy Story, most of them would be astonished to learn that the heart of Newman’s legacy is in the dozens of brilliant songs that detail the injustices, from racism to class inequality, that have contributed to the division of our nation. In A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY, veteran music journalist Robert Hilburn presents the definitive portrait of an American legend.
Hachette Books | 9780306834691
IN TOO DEEP: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Thriller)
Jack Reacher wakes up alone, in the dark, handcuffed to a makeshift bed. His right arm has suffered some major damage. His few possessions are gone. He has no memory of getting there. The last thing Reacher can recall is the car in which he hitched a ride getting run off the road. The driver was killed. His captors assume Reacher was the driver’s accomplice and patch up his wounds as they plan to make him talk. A plan that will backfire spectacularly.
Delacorte Press | 9780593725801
KARLA'S CHOICE: A John le Carré Novel by Nick Harkaway (Historical Thriller)
It is spring in 1963, and George Smiley has left the Circus. With the wreckage of the West’s spy war against the Soviets strewn across Europe, he has eyes only for a more peaceful life. And indeed, with his marriage more secure than ever, there is a rumor that Smiley might almost be happy. But Control has other plans. A Russian agent has defected in the most unusual of circumstances, and the man he was sent to kill in London is nowhere to be found. Smiley reluctantly agrees to one last simple task: interview Susanna, a Hungarian émigré and employee of the missing man, and sniff out a lead. But in his absence, the shadows of Moscow have lengthened. Smiley soon finds himself entangled in a perilous mystery that will define the battles to come and set him on a collision course with the greatest enemy he will ever make.
Viking | 9780593833490
LIFEFORM by Jenny Slate (Humor/Essays)
Jenny Slate was a human mammal who sniffed the air every morning hoping to find another person to love who would love her, and then we are pleased to report that she did fall in love, but also she was rabid with fear of losing this love because of past injury. And then what happened was that she became a wild-pregnant-mammal-thing, and then she exploded herself by having a whole baby blast through her vagina. Herein lies an account of this journey, told in five phases --- Single, True Love, Pregnancy, Baby and Ongoing --- through luminous, laugh-out-loud funny essays that take the form of letters to a doctor, dreams of a stork, fantasy therapy sessions, gossip between raccoons, excerpts from an imaginary olden timey play, obituaries, theories about post-partum hair loss, graduation speeches and more.
Little, Brown and Company | 9780316263931
MY GOOD BRIGHT WOLF: A Memoir by Sarah Moss (Memoir)
A girl must watch her figure but never be vain. She must be intelligent but never a know-it-all. She must be ambitious, if she is clever, but not in a way that shows. She must cook and sew and make do and mend. She must know (but never say) that these skills are, in some fundamental way, flawed and frivolous --- feminine. Girls must stay small, even as they grow. Women must show restraint. And yet. In books, in the landscape of imagination, a girl can run free. Here, with MY GOOD BRIGHT WOLF, Sarah Moss takes on these rules, these lessons from the fables of girlhood, and uses them to fearlessly investigate the nature of memory, the lure of self-control, the impact of privilege, scarcity, parents and love.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux | 9780374614638
ROMAN YEAR: A Memoir by André Aciman (Memoir)
In ROMAN YEAR, André Aciman captures the period of his adolescence that began when he and his family first set foot in Rome, after being expelled from Egypt. Though Aciman’s family had been well-off in Alexandria, all vestiges of their status vanished when they fled, and the author, his younger brother and his deaf mother moved into a rented apartment in Rome’s Via Clelia. Though dejected, Aciman’s mother and brother found their way into life in Rome, while Aciman, still unmoored, burrowed into his bedroom to read one book after the other. The world of novels eventually allowed him to open up to the city and, through them, discover the beating heart of the Eternal City. Aciman’s time in Rome did not last long before he and his family moved across the ocean, but by the time they did, he was leaving behind a city he loved.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux | 9780374613389
UNLEASHED by Boris Johnson (Memoir)
In UNLEASHED, Boris Johnson, the Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, takes readers through all the big decisions during his time in power and why he took them. The challenges and crises, how they were resolved --- or not --- and how he nearly died from COVID; riots; crime; the London Olympics; and so much more. Johnson writes about his role in Brexit and the constitutional sea-change in British politics in 2019 with his landslide election victory. Underlying everything in the book is Johnson's belief that the UK is an extraordinary country and should have an exceptional future.
Harper | 9780063387263
On Sale the Week of October 21st in Paperback
October 22nd
BEING HENRY: The Fonz…and Beyond by Henry Winkler (Memoir)
Henry Winkler, who was launched into prominence as “The Fonz” in “Happy Days,” has transcended the role that made him who he is. In this achingly vulnerable memoir, Henry shares the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you. Since the glorious era of “Happy Days” fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as “Arrested Development,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Barry,” where he’s been revealed as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as The Fonz, he could hardly find work.
Celadon Books | 9781250888150
BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT by Robert Dugoni (Legal Thriller)
Paperback Original
When Jenna Bernstein, the disgraced wunderkind CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her. Keera is more than a master chess player who brings her intuitive moves into court --- she’s Jenna’s childhood friend. But considering their history, Keera knows that where Jenna goes, trouble follows. With only circumstantial evidence against Jenna, Keera is willing to bury any trepidation she might have to defend a woman she believes to be innocent this time. As the investigation gets underway and disturbing questions arise, Keera puts her trust in a client who swears that she's telling nothing but the truth. If this is all just another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.
Thomas & Mercer | 9781662500220
CATCH YOU LATER by Jessica Strawser (Fiction)
Paperback Original
If Lark and Mikki didn’t have each other, they’d have nothing in this miserable town. So the best friends stick together, working night shift at the highway travel stop, going nowhere fast. Until a stranger drops in, heading for Florida, and Mikki impulsively leaves with him, never to be seen again. Eight years later, Lark is finally getting her life back together for the sake of her young daughter and Mikki’s lovably prickly grandma, who no longer can care for herself. People have almost stopped blaming Lark for Mikki’s disappearance, and she’s engaged to the nicest guy on highway patrol. But when the stranger who drove off with Mikki reappears looking for her, nobody knows what to believe. As the search reignites, Lark fights to find out whether Mikki is really missing or doesn’t want to be found.
Lake Union Publishing | 9781662510236
IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME: A Memoir by John Stamos (Memoir)
If you would have told a young John Stamos flipping burgers at his dad’s fast-food joint that one day he’d be a household name and that, at the height of his success, he’d be living alone, divorced, with no kids, high on a cocktail of forgetting, he might’ve asked, “You want fries with that?” John burst onto the scene in “General Hospital,” propelling him into the teen idol stratosphere, a place that’s often a point of no return. But he beat the odds and over the past four decades has proved himself to be one of his generation’s most successful and beloved actors. Whether showing off his comedic chops on “Full House” or his dramatic skills on “ER,” pushing the boundaries on Broadway or living out his youthful dreams as an honorary Beach Boy, John has surprised everyone, most of all himself.
Holt Paperbacks | 9781250891006
JOHNNY-BOY by A.F. Carter (Mystery/Thriller)
Paperback Original
Johnny-Boy is a killer. He lives for the thrill of the hunt, the stalking of human prey. Fittingly, he works as a hitman but always finds time for extracurricular activity on the side. When a new assignment sends him to Baxter, a depressed Rust Belt town experiencing a chaotic upheaval at the dawn of a new economic beginning, Johnny-Boy plans to keep things professional. But when he realizes that the streets are awash with drug activity, small-time mobsters, and loads of transitory laborers in town to construct a new car plant, Johnny-Boy sees an opportunity to have a little fun while he’s there. The work of cleaning up a town of lowlifes and criminals is a never-ending slog for Delia Mariola, Chief of Detectives. But when a young teenager --- nearly the same age as her own son --- is found tortured to death, the stakes suddenly feel higher than ever.
Mysterious Press | 9781613165805
LOST & HOUND by Rita Mae Brown (Mystery)
Fox hunting season is “Sister” Jane Arnold’s favorite time of year. The Jefferson Hunt Club is organizing a fundraising drive to help with the upkeep of their beloved hunting grounds. But the festive season is interrupted by the appearance of a dead body, tied to a chair and placed directly in the path of an early-season hunt. The intentional placement makes it clear that someone is sending a message. Then, one huntsman’s valuable stamp collection is stolen, and they discover the victim was also a stamp collector. Sister suspects a connection, which is confirmed when just one stamp is found taped to the garage door of her friend and treasurer of the hunt club, Ronnie Haslip. Could Ronnie have been involved in either the murder or the theft, or has he been marked as the next victim?
Ballantine Books | 9780593357590
THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan (Psychological Thriller)
Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple --- until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight. Soon they’ve moved into a custom-built state-of-the-art Glass Barn on the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire. They have fancy cars, expensive hobbies and an exclusive lifestyle they never could have imagined. But this dream world quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool. Was Tom’s death a tragic accident, or was it something worse? There’s a nice young couple who live in the Manor itself along with their middle-aged housekeeper who has the Coach House. And an old friend of Tom’s from school has turned up to help Nicole get through her grief. But big money can bring big problems and big threats. Is Nicole's life in danger as well?
William Morrow Paperbacks | 9780063074392
THE MISSING WITNESS: A Quinn & Costa Novel by Allison Brennan
(Mystery/Thriller)
Detective Kara Quinn is back in Los Angeles to testify against a notorious human trafficker. But when the accused is shot in broad daylight, the chaotic scene of the crime turns up few reliable bystanders. And one witness --- a whistleblower who might be the key to everything --- has disappeared. After another person close to the case is killed, it’s clear that anyone who knows too much is in danger, and tracking down the witness becomes a matter of life and death. But as explosive secrets surface within the LAPD and FBI, Kara questions everything she thought she knew about the case, her colleagues and the life she left behind months ago. Now with FBI special agent Matt Costa’s help, she must race to find the missing witness and get to the bottom of the avalanche of conspiracies that has rocked LA to its core…before it's too late.
Mira | 9780778310587
NEVER TOO LATE by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
Kezia Cooper Hobson, who is recently widowed, arrives in New York from San Francisco. Determined to make a fresh start, she has just completed the sale of her Pacific Heights home, not to mention her husband’s venture capital firm. As Kezia settles into her new apartment, she meets her movie-star next-door neighbor, Sam Stewart, whose terrace borders hers. Just a couple of weeks after she arrives, however, a devastating crisis strikes New York City. Kezia and Sam find themselves connecting over their strong impulse to help those in need. As they share a life-changing experience of volunteering, a bond is sparked and a friendship is formed. Kezia’s daughters are taken aback by their mother’s new friendship but are more focused on their own love lives than hers.
Dell | 9780593498422
THE NEW NATURALS by Gabriel Bump (Fiction)
An abandoned restaurant on a hill off the highway in Western Massachusetts doesn't look like much. But to Rio, a young Black woman bereft after the loss of her newborn child, this hill becomes more than a safe haven --- it becomes a place to start over. She convinces her husband to help her construct a society underground, somewhere everyone can feel safe, loved and accepted. Soon their utopia begins to take shape and attracts the unhoused, the disillusioned and the spiritually lost. But no matter how much these people all yearn for a sanctuary from the existential dread of life above the surface, what happens if this new society can't actually work?
Algonquin Books | 9781643755335
THE NIGHT ISLAND by Jayne Ann Krentz (Romantic Suspense)
Bonded by a night none of them can remember, Talia March, Pallas Llewellyn and Amelia Rivers are dedicated to uncovering the mystery of what really happened to them months ago --- an experience that amplified innate psychic abilities in each of them. The women suspect they were test subjects years earlier. All they have to do is find the list of others who took that same test. When Talia follows up on a lead from Phoebe, a fan of the trio’s podcast, she discovers that the informant has vanished. Talia isn’t the only one looking for Phoebe. Luke Rand, a hunted and haunted man who is chasing the same list that Talia is after, also shows up at the meeting place, and they are instantly suspicious of each other. But when a killer begins to stalk them, they realize they have to join forces to find Phoebe and the list.
Berkley | 9780593639863
PIG YEARS by Ellyn Gaydos (Nature/Memoir)
As a farmer in Upstate New York and Vermont, Ellyn Gaydos lives on the knife edge between loss and gain. Her debut memoir draws us into this precarious world, conjuring with stark simplicity the lifeblood of the farm. Joy and tragedy are frequent bedfellows. Fields go barren and animals meet their end too soon, but then their bodies become food in a time-old human ritual. Seasonal hands are ground down by the hard work, but new relationships are formed, love blossoms and Gaydos yearns to become a mother. As winter’s dark descends, PIG YEARS draws us into a violent and gorgeous world where pigs are star-bright symbols of hope and beauty surfaces in the furrows, the sow, even in the slaughter.
Vintage | 9780593312612
RUMOR OF EVIL by Gary Braver (Mystery/Thriller)
Detectives Kirk Lucian and Mandy Wing are charged with investigating a reported suicide of a Cambridge woman in her backyard. After further investigation, the hanging appears staged. Once Kirk and Mandy’s suspicions are confirmed, they make a list of suspects. Clues begin to connect the recent murder to the decades-old mysterious death of a beautiful 16-year-old Romany exchange student who perished when a treehouse she was sleeping in caught fire. The girl, Vadima Lupescu, had done “odd” things among her American peers that stirred up prejudices and suspicions, leading to her brutal death --- and cover-up. As Kirk and Mandy investigate the bizarre rumors --- that Vadima had “gypsy powers” and put curses on those around her --- they discover a cauldron of dark secrets.
Oceanview Publishing | 9781608096299
RUN by Blake Crouch (Science Fiction/Apocalyptic Thriller)
Paperback Original
Five days ago, the epidemic of rage began. Four days ago, the rash of senseless murders swept the nation. Three days ago, the president addressed the country and begged for peace --- even as the murders increased tenfold. Two days ago, the killers began to mobilize. One day ago, the power went out. And tonight, the killers are reading the names of those to be killed over the Emergency Broadcast System. Jack Colclough is listening over the battery-powered radio on his kitchen table in Albuquerque, and he just heard his name. People are coming to his house to kill him, his wife, his daughter and his son. He has no idea what’s happening, or why, but the time for questions is long past. His only chance is to run.
Ballantine Books | 9780593874790
THE SECRET WAR OF JULIA CHILD by Diana R. Chambers (Historical Fiction)
Paperback Original
Single, 6’2” and 30 years old, Julia McWilliams took a job working for America's first espionage agency, years before cooking or Paris entered the picture. THE SECRET WAR OF JULIA CHILD traces Julia's transformation from ambitious Pasadena blue blood to Washington, DC file clerk, to head of General "Wild Bill" Donovan's secret File Registry as part of the Office of Strategic Services. The wartime journey takes her to South Asia's remote front lines of then-Ceylon, India and China, where she finds purpose, adventure, self-knowledge --- and love with mapmaker Paul Child. The spotlight has rarely shone on this fascinating period of time in the life of Julia Child, and this lyrical story allows us to explore the unlikely world of a woman in a World War II spy station who has no idea of the impact she'll eventually impart.
Sourcebooks Landmark | 9781464219047
SISTERS UNDER THE RISING SUN by Heather Morris (Historical Fiction)
In the midst of World War II, English musician Norah Chambers places her eight-year-old daughter, Sally, on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army. Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Singapore falls to the Japanese, she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia. After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Norah and Nesta are captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. These sisters in arms fight side by side every day, discovering in themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness and determination.
St. Martin’s Griffin | 9781250320575
THE SIX: The Extraordinary Story of the Grit and Daring of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush (History)
When NASA sent astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s, the agency excluded women from the corps, arguing that only military test pilots --- a group then made up exclusively of men --- had the right stuff. Eventually, though, NASA recognized its blunder and opened the application process to a wider array of hopefuls, regardless of race or gender. From a candidate pool of 8,000, six elite women were selected in 1978: Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Anna Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid and Rhea Seddon. In THE SIX, acclaimed journalist Loren Grush shows these brilliant and courageous women enduring claustrophobic --- and sometimes deeply sexist --- media attention, undergoing rigorous survival training, and preparing for years to take multi-million-dollar payloads into orbit.
Scribner | 9781982172817
SPARE by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex (Memoir)
It was one of the most searing images of the 20th century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow --- and horror. As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling --- and how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last. A landmark publication, SPARE is full of insight, revelation, self-examination and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.
Random House Trade Paperbacks | 9780593593820
TOM CLANCY COMMAND AND CONTROL: A Jack Ryan Novel by Marc Cameron (Thriller/Adventure)
For a century, the Panama Canal has served as the path between the seas. Control of this vital waterway is the difference between free trade and chaos in world markets. So when Panamanian President Rafael Botero asks for a show of support against the socialist opposition, his old friend, President Jack Ryan, can’t turn down an invitation to visit the country. But what seems like an ordinary opportunity to preach the values of democracy quickly turns into a nightmare when a full-blown coup d’état erupts. One of the main forces behind the coup is the ruthless criminal organization known as the Camarilla. They’ve had their tentacles deep inside the plot to overthrow the government. All of their hard work has just presented them with an unexpected opportunity they can’t resist --- the chance to kill the President.
Berkley | 9780593422861
UP ON THE WOOF TOP: A Chet & Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn (Mystery)
Chet the dog and his human partner, Bernie Little, find themselves high in the mountains this holiday season to help Dame Ariadne Carlisle, a renowned author of bestselling Christmas mysteries, find Rudy, her lead reindeer and good luck charm, who has gone missing. At Kringle Ranch, Dame Ariadne’s expansive mountain spread, Chet discovers that he is not fond of reindeer. But the case turns out to be about much more than reindeer after Dame Ariadne’s personal assistant takes a long fall into Devil’s Purse, a deep mountain gorge. When our duo discovers that someone very close to Dame Ariadne was murdered in that same spot decades earlier, they start looking into that long-ago unsolved crime. But as they reach into the past, the past is also reaching out for them.
Forge Books | 9781250843326
THE WATCHMAKER’S HAND: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver (Thriller)
When a New York City construction crane mysteriously collapses, causing mass destruction and injury, forensic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and detective Amelia Sachs are on the case. A political group claims responsibility for the sabotage and threatens another attack in 24 hours, unless its demands are met. Then a clue reveals to Rhyme that his nemesis, known as the Watchmaker, has come to town to fulfill his promise of murdering the criminalist. Now Rhyme and Sachs have to dodge his brilliant scheme to destroy them both, while racing against time to stop the construction site terrorists. With New York in a panic, Rhyme and his team must unravel a handful of plots as tightly wound as a timepiece --- before more cranes fall, raining down death and destruction from above.
G.P. Putnam’s Sons | 9780593422137
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