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I am reading ONE GOOD THING by Georgia Hunter. Set in Italy during World War II, it's the story of two young Jewish women, Lili and Esti, and Esti’s son, Theo. They are trying to survive and stay one step ahead of the Nazis, Mussolini’s racial laws, and everyone else who cannot be trusted.
Georgia’s parents met in Italy in the ‘70s. They both were Americans and lived there for 17 years, and Georgia went back there to visit often. She wanted to write about Italy during World War II as it has not been explored as much as other places in Europe and Japan. I agree with her, though I am thinking of Mark Sullivan’s BENEATH A SCARLET SKY as I am reading it. I am looking forward to interviewing Georgia in a couple of weeks. I, like many of you, enjoyed Georgia's WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES --- both the book and the series adaptation on Apple TV+.
I just finished listening to MEMORIAL DAYS. Geraldine Brooks narrates it, and the story slides between recounting the death of her husband, Tony Horwitz, reflecting on her life with him, and her visit to a remote island off the coast of Australia as she allows herself time to mourn and grieve. It’s very poignant and moving. You think about the fragility of life and how it can change in an instant. You realize that all the dreams and plans in the world do not matter when your partner is gone quickly. It also makes you think about all of the things that one spouse does, while the other is focused on other things. When one is gone, how much do you know about the other half?
I finished reading THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman last weekend (I mentioned it in last week’s newsletter), and it is so well done. I confess to not knowing enough about what happened in Europe after World War II ended. For starters, I had no idea that Vienna was divided into four sectors, each controlled by one of the Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union, with the First District (the city center) being patrolled by all four. Also, I knew that rebuilding would take a long time, but I did not know about the fear that was still such a huge part of the culture, and the shortage of food and necessities took so long to overcome.
THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Mark your calendars now for August 19th, which is when the book releases.
I was thrilled to chat with Clare Leslie Hall for my latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview as I loved her novel, BROKEN COUNTRY, which we reviewed last week. This New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller is the Reese’s Book Club pick and Barnes & Noble Book Club selection for March, as well as an upcoming Bets On title.
Clare explains the early inspiration for the novel and shares that she worked on it for four years, coming back to it again and again. She discusses the layers of the story while being careful not to reveal any spoilers. The setting is such a big part of the book, as well as the characters, and she notes that the farms near her home played a role in the storytelling.
Right before this interview, Clare learned that BROKEN COUNTRY had hit the Sunday Times list (the New York Times news would come the next day), and she clearly was glowing from that! Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
BROKEN COUNTRY is one of the prizes in our latest Word of Mouth contest, along with THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry, which we will review next week. Let us know by Friday, March 28th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for our “Bookaccino Live” Spring Preview evening event, which we will be hosting on Wednesday, March 19th at 8pm ET.
I will be presenting a number of books releasing this spring that we think you will enjoy reading over the next few months. You can register for the program by clicking here. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.
As we do with all of our “Bookaccino Live” book preview events, 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.
We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event on Wednesday. I talked about 29 books releasing between now and April 1st, plus 13 from May, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview event will take place on Wednesday, April 9th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between April 8th and May 6th, in addition to a few from June, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up.
THE JACKAL’S MISTRESS is the latest novel from Chris Bohjalian, who has written such acclaimed historical fiction as HOUR OF THE WITCH and THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS. In this Civil War love story, which is inspired by a real-life friendship across enemy lines, the wife of a missing Confederate soldier discovers a wounded Yankee officer and must decide what she’s willing to risk for the life of a stranger.
In his review, Ray Palen raves, “Not since SKELETONS AT THE FEAST has [Bohjalian] depicted the harsh realities of war and the impact on those affected by it like he does in THE JACKAL’S MISTRESS.” He calls the book “easily one of the most powerful novels I have read in a long time” and adds, “THE JACKAL’S MISTRESS is an unforgettable read that cements Bohjalian’s placement on the literary Mount Rushmore of American writers and should appeal to readers of all genres.”
Karen Russell --- a Pulitzer Prize finalist, a MacArthur Fellowship recipient, and the bestselling author of SWAMPLANDIA! --- is back with a gripping Dust Bowl epic about five characters whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages their small Nebraskan town. THE ANTIDOTE challenges readers with a vision of what might have been --- and what still could be.
Sarah Rachel Egelman has our review and calls the book “compelling, thoughtful, provocative and entertaining.” She goes on to say, “All the main characters get their own POV chapters, and each voice is distinct and well crafted. Their individual backstories are just as interesting as the drama that unfolds in the story’s present. This is a heartfelt, sometimes astonishing, and often wondrous novel of family, memory, responsibility, redemption and hope.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE GIRL FROM GREENWICH STREET: Based on the true story of a famous trial, Lauren Willig’s new novel is "Law and Order: 1800," as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr investigate the shocking murder of a young woman who everyone --- and no one --- seemed to know.
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COUNT MY LIES: Sophie Stava’s debut novel, which is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick, centers on a compulsive liar whose little white lies allow her to enter into the life and comfort of a wealthy married couple who are harboring much darker secrets themselves.
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THE WOMEN ON PLATFORM TWO: In 1970s Dublin, all forms of contraception are strictly forbidden. But an intrepid group of women will risk everything to change that in Laura Anthony’s sweeping, timely novel inspired by a remarkable and little-known true story.
Spring Reading Contest Update
We gave away THE WOMEN ON PLATFORM TWO in this week’s Spring Reading contest. Next week’s prize will be DAUGHTER OF MINE by Megan Miranda, which was a Bets On selection when it published in hardcover last April. The contest will go live at noon ET on the day of the book’s paperback release, Tuesday, March 18th.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On pick is SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America. It’s written by Jeff Hobbs, who many of you know as the bestselling author of THE SHORT AND TRAGIC LIFE OF ROBERT PEACE. Click here for my commentary. I recently had a fascinating conversation with Jeff about SEEKING SHELTER. We will feature my interview with him in next week’s newsletter.
You have until Friday, March 21st at noon ET to enter our special contest for MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival by Brenda Coffee and be one of our 25 winners who will receive an advance copy of the book, which releases on May 20th, and give us their feedback on it.
According to Lee Woodruff, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller IN AN INSTANT: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing, “MAYA BLUE reads like a Netflix series. Brenda Coffee’s compelling memoir reminds us of the importance of seizing our power.” And Laura Whitfield, author of UNTETHERED: Faith, Failure, and Finding Solid Ground, says, “Coffee rises to show us what it means to be resilient, to fight for one’s survival. You won’t be able to put this one down.”
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our new poll asks which of 35 paperback titles releasing in March you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes by Friday, March 28th at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we listed 35 titles that are being published this month for the first time and asked which of them, if any, you are looking forward to reading. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
Oprah’s latest Book Club pick is THE TELL by Amy Griffin, which released this week. Here’s how Oprah describes the book:
“It's an extraordinary memoir by an author who ran literally from the dirt roads where she grew up in Texas to the streets of New York City in search of perfection as a wife, as a mother, as a highly successful businesswoman. But what she did not realize was that she was running from something that she had buried many years ago.
“And then one night, her young daughter tells her, 'Mom, you're really nice. You're here with us, but you're actually not here.' And then she starts to embark on this incredible journey that leads to the discovery of a childhood secret.
“I was just floored when I read Amy's story. What she discovered about herself, about her past, made me recognize how powerful the desire to forget and also how powerful the desire to remember is, and how your life can change when you reconcile the two.”
Oprah recently talked to Amy about THE TELL and its themes of recovery, reconciliation and reinvention in front of a live audience at a Starbucks café in Chicago. You can watch their conversation here on Oprah’s YouTube channel.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Elizabeth wrote about winning CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 and the aforementioned MEMORIAL DAYS in our Word of Mouth contest: “Thank you so much! I'm excited to be a part of Bookreporter's tribe. I'm looking forward to reading the books and then passing them on to my book club members.”
“Long Bright River” on Peacock: I loved the book. So I watched the first episode of the series last night, and it is well done. For those who need a refresher, check out our review of the book and my interview with Liz Moore. Liz was both the co-writer and co-producer on the series. There are differences, but the show is working for me so far.
“Reacher” on Prime Video: This is not my favorite season of the series. I feel like it is really choppy, and now the cop with the bad Boston accent is making me crazy.
“1923” on Paramount+: The second season is coming together well. I do wonder how much longer we have to wait for everyone to get to Montana.
“The White Lotus” on Max: This season still needs to pick up the pace. And did anyone else catch that the father had his phone at a meal before he went to ask the concierge to retrieve it for him from the bag where the phones were stored away? And will the wife survive without her Alprazolam? I love that she calls it by the generic name for Xanax!
September 5 on Apple TV+: This is a well-done film about the 1972 murders of the Jewish athletes and coaches at the Munich Olympics by eight members of the Palestinian militant organization Black September. It shows the chaos happening at a broadcast center that was set up to air sports, not a horrific tragedy, as well as the misinformation that mucked up the reporting. It was the first-ever live broadcast of a tragedy like this. Sadly, we have seen many more.
Mercury is retrograde until April 6th. Longtime readers know what that means. Hold on everyone.
We finally cleaned the laundry room last weekend. Among the things stored on the top of the fridge was a lunch box of Cory’s. Cory is now 30 and probably last carried a lunch box when he was 12. I know that the attic has at least three boxes that have not been opened since we moved here 35 years ago. I think about tackling that, but then I convince myself that reading on the couch sounds like a lot more fun --- and it's work-related. Maybe I will begin with something basic in the attic, like stacking the various pieces of luggage that I am 99% sure no one will carry again. That will be a good start to the process. Or I can just gaze at the laundry room and think about a new color to paint it. Note: *I* will not be painting it. I still have not lived down the time that I used a half-gallon of paint to paint a closet. And it was not a walk-in closet!
A quiet weekend is on tap. We will be making corned beef and cabbage, which I know is not truly Irish cuisine. But I am 100% Italian, and Husband Tom is about a quarter Irish, so I think we can veer off the authentic track. I saw that Calandra's, a noted Italian bakery in New Jersey, has Irish soda bread. I have to try this. Tom thinks it is some kind of heresy. We shall see. I am going to yoga tomorrow and have convinced Tom to do a class as well. I am hoping it goes well!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! And enjoy this last week of winter, which flew by for me. Am I the only one who thinks that?
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
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!
Featured Review:
THE JACKAL’S MISTRESS by Chris Bohjalian
THE JACKAL'S MISTRESS by Chris Bohjalian (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Marni Penning
Virginia, 1864. Libby Steadman’s husband has been away for so long that she can barely conjure his voice in her dreams. While she longs for him in the night, fearing him dead in a Union prison camp, her days are spent running a gristmill with her teenage niece, a hired hand and his wife. It’s an uneasy life in the Shenandoah Valley, and Libby awakens every morning expecting to see her land a battlefield. And then she finds a gravely injured Union officer left for dead in a neighbor’s house. Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade is her enemy --- but he’s also a human being, and Libby must make a terrible decision: Does she leave him to die alone? Or does she risk treason and try to nurse him back to health? And if she succeeds, does she try to secretly bring him across Union lines, where she might negotiate a trade for news of her own husband? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE ANTIDOTE by Karen Russell
THE ANTIDOTE by Karen Russell (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Sophie Amoss, Mark Bramhall, Shayna Small, Jon Orsini, Natasha Soudek and James Riding In
THE ANTIDOTE opens on Black Sunday, as a historic dust storm ravages the fictional town of Uz, Nebraska. But Uz is already collapsing --- not just under the weight of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl drought but beneath its own violent histories. Karen Russell’s novel follows a "Prairie Witch,” whose body serves as a bank vault for people's memories and secrets; a Polish wheat farmer who learns how quickly a hoarded blessing can become a curse; his orphan niece, a basketball star and witch’s apprentice in furious flight from her grief; a voluble scarecrow; and a New Deal photographer whose time-traveling camera threatens to reveal both the town’s secrets and its fate. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Advance Copies of
MAYA BLUE by Brenda Coffee
and Share Your Comments on It
MAYA BLUE by Brenda Coffee is a searingly honest and unforgettable memoir that challenges women to rethink everything they know about survival, resilience and finding their voice.
We have 25 advance copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on May 20th, and share their comments on it. All winners must be prepared to provide their feedback by Monday, May 12th.
To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, March 21st at noon ET.
MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival by Brenda Coffee (Memoir)
At 21, Brenda Coffee surrendered herself to her marriage and became a woman who would do almost anything her charismatic and powerful older husband, Philip Ray, wanted. Regardless of whether it was dangerous, adventurous, sexual or illegal, she wanted to be the one woman he couldn’t live without.
Brenda and Philip’s life together was a fairy tale until it wasn’t. Until Philip, the founder of two high-profile, groundbreaking public companies, began making real cocaine in their basement and became addicted. Until the Big Six tobacco companies threatened their lives for creating the first smokeless cigarette --- Brenda coined the terms vape and vaping --- and brutal Guatemalan military commandos forced her into the jungle at gunpoint.
A suspenseful, fast-paced memoir that reads like a thriller, MAYA BLUE will strike a chord with those who have lost their voice or had trouble finding their power. It will resonate with those who live with an addict or have grieved the loss of a spouse. But above all, it is an inspiring reminder that as long as you never surrender your voice and always keep your wits about you, you can survive almost anything.
- Click here to read Brenda Coffee's bio.
- Visit Brenda Coffee's website and her popular Brenda's Blog.
- Connect with Brenda Coffee on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
SEEKING SHELTER by Jeff Hobbs
SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America by Jeff Hobbs (Biography/Social Science)
Jeff Hobbs has been on my radar since I first interviewed him 11 years ago about THE SHORT AND TRAGIC LIFE OF ROBERT PEACE, a book that I have thought about again and again. So when I saw SEEKING SHELTER, I knew I wanted to read it. For 2025, I have been looking for one book each month about a social issue to read and discuss.
With the way Jeff tells a story, I get invested in the characters and what happens in their lives. Homelessness in America, especially in large cities like Los Angeles, is a huge issue. Home instability abounds, and many live one paycheck away from losing their home. In SEEKING SHELTER, readers get to know Evelyn, a mother of five (soon to be six) who has moved to LA to chase a dream of a better education for her children. It’s 2018 when we meet her. Shortly afterwards, she leaves her abusive husband and is working full time as a waitress. But she still cannot afford housing of her own or navigate government assistance.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview
with Jeff Hobbs in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review:
THE GIRL FROM GREENWICH STREET
by Lauren Willig
THE GIRL FROM GREENWICH STREET: A Novel of Hamilton, Burr, and America's First Murder Trial by Lauren Willig (Historical Mystery/Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jane Oppenheimer
Just before Christmas 1799, Elma Sands slips out of her Quaker cousin’s boarding house --- and doesn’t come home. Her body is eventually found in the Manhattan Well. Handbills circulate around the city accusing a carpenter named Levi Weeks of seducing and murdering Elma. But privately, quietly, Levi’s wealthy brother calls in a special favor. Aaron Burr’s legal practice can’t finance both his expensive tastes and his ambition to win the 1800 New York elections. To defend Levi Weeks is a double win: a hefty fee plus a chance to grab headlines. Alexander Hamilton has his own political aspirations; he isn’t going to let Burr monopolize the public’s attention. If Burr is defending Levi Weeks, then Hamilton will too. As the trial and the election draw near, Burr and Hamilton race against time to save a man’s life --- and destroy each other. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: COUNT MY LIES by Sophie Stava
March’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
COUNT MY LIES by Sophie Stava (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Andrew Eiden, Devon Sorvari and Emily Tremaine
Sloane Caraway is a liar. Harmless lies, mostly, to make her self-proclaimed sad little life a bit more interesting. So when Sloane sees a young girl in tears at a park one afternoon, she can’t help herself. She tells the girl’s (very attractive) dad that she’s a nurse and helps him pull a bee stinger from the girl’s foot. With this lie, and chance encounter, Sloane becomes the nanny for the wealthy and privileged Jay and Violet Lockhart. They’re the perfect New York couple, with a brownstone, a daughter in private school, and summers on Block Island. But maybe Sloane isn’t the only one lying, and all that’s picture-perfect harbors a much more dangerous truth. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE WOMEN ON PLATFORM TWO
by Laura Anthony
THE WOMEN ON PLATFORM TWO by Laura Anthony (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Jessica Regan, Shakira Shute and Maeve Smyth
Dublin, 1969: Maura has just married Dr. Christy Davenport, and they look forward to growing their family. But as her husband’s vicious temper emerges, Maura worries that her home might never be safe for a child. Meanwhile, her close friend Bernie, a mother of three, learns the devastating news that if she conceives again, her health complications could prove fatal. Dublin, 2023: A close call makes Saoirse realize that she may never want to be a mother. Little does she know that only a few decades ago, a group of women made this option possible for her. And she’s about to meet one of them. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com’s 14th Annual
Spring Reading Contests and Feature
Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases.
Our 14th annual Spring Reading Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through April 18th. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win.
We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next contest will be up on Tuesday, March 18th at noon ET. The prize book will be DAUGHTER OF MINE by Megan Miranda, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that releases in paperback on Tuesday. Her father was the town detective. Her mother its most notorious criminal. Now the secrets of Mirror Lake are coming to the surface...and changing everything.
This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
DON'T TELL ME HOW TO DIE by Marshall Karp (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of 43, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday. My mother also died at 43. I was 17, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine and my sister’s. I am not letting that happen to my family. I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie. You’re probably thinking that I’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants”? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
WE TELL OURSELVES STORIES: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine by Alissa Wilkinson (Cultural Biography)
Joan Didion opened THE WHITE ALBUM (1979) with what would become one of the most iconic lines in American literature: “We tell ourselves stories in order to live.” Today, this phrase is deployed inspirationally, printed on T-shirts and posters, used as a battle cry for artists and writers. In truth, Didion was describing something much less rosy: our human tendency to manufacture delusions that might ward away our anxieties when society seems to spin off its axis. Nowhere was this collective hallucination more effectively crafted than in Hollywood. In this riveting cultural biography, New York Times film critic Alissa Wilkinson examines Joan Didion’s influence through the lens of American mythmaking. Reviewed by Jane T. Krebs.
ROSE OF JERICHO by Alex Grecian (Historical Fantasy/Supernatural Horror)
Audiobook available, read by John Pirhalla
Something wicked is going on in the village of Ascension. A mother wasting away from cancer is suddenly up and about. A boy trampled by a milk cart walks away from the accident. A hanged man can still speak, broken neck and all. The dead are not dying. When Rabbit and Sadie Grace accompany their friend, Rose, to Ascension to help take care of her ailing cousin, they immediately notice that their new house, Bethany Hall, is occupied by dozens of ghosts. And something is waiting for them in the attic. The villagers of Ascension are unwelcoming and wary of their weird visitors. As the three women attempt to find out what’s happening in the town, they must be careful not to be found out. But a much larger --- and more dangerous --- force is galloping straight for them. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE VANISHING KIND by Alice Henderson (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Eva Kaminsky
When wildlife biologist Alex Carter is tasked with locating jaguars on a vast desert preserve in New Mexico, she is ecstatic. While jaguars once roamed throughout the Southwest, they are now endangered, and Alex hopes that some of the sleek and elusive creatures have found their way to the protected sanctuary. Meanwhile, an archaeological team is excavating the gravesite of a 16th-century Spanish conquistador on a neighboring piece of land. While learning about their discoveries, Alex encounters a dangerous group of anti-immigrant vigilantes roaming the area, threatening the team and demanding they leave. And when the militants learn of Alex’s mission, they become bent on stopping her. And then there are the strange holes that keep appearing on the preserve. Who is digging them, and what are they looking for? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
WHITE KING by Juan Gómez-Jurado (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Antonia Scott has an unusually gifted forensic mind, whose ability to reconstruct crimes and solve baffling murders is legendary. She’s the linchpin of a top-secret project, Red Queen, created to work across borders and behind the scenes to solve the most devious and dangerous crimes. But the Red Queen project is under attack on all fronts. The mysterious Mr. White has been weaving a web around Antonia for a very long time. Jon Gutierrez, Antonia’s protector and the only person she trusts, has been kidnapped. Antonia’s husband has been killed, and her remaining family is in hiding. With Jon’s life at stake, Mr. White gives her a seemingly innocuous challenge: solve three crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice. The only way to keep Jon alive is to play Mr. White’s game. But can even Antonia win a game when she can only see part of the board? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
GODDESS COMPLEX by Sanjena Sathian (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rukhmani K. Desai
Sanjana Satyananda is trying to recover her life. It’s been a year since she walked out on her husband, a struggling actor named Killian, at a commune in India, after a disagreement about whether to have children. Now, Sanjana is struggling to resurrect her busted anthropology dissertation and crashing at her annoyingly perfect sister’s while her well-adjusted peers obsess over marriages, mortgages and motherhood. Sanjana needs to move forward --- and finalize her divorce ASAP. There’s just one problem: Killian is missing. As Sanjana tries to track him down, she’s bombarded with unnerving calls from women seeking her advice on pregnancy and fertility. Soon, Sanjana comes face to face with what her life might have been if she’d chosen parenthood. And the road not taken turns out to be wilder, stranger and more tempting than she imagined. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
YOU DESERVE TO KNOW by Aggie Blum Thompson (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Alex Picard
Neighbors Gwen, Aimee and Lisa share more than playdates and coffee mornings on their tranquil street in East Bethesda. They confide their deepest secrets, navigate the challenges of motherhood together, and provide a support system that seems unbreakable. But when Gwen’s husband is found murdered after one of their weekly Friday night dinners, the peaceful quiet of their cul-de-sac shatters. As the police investigate, the veneer of friendship begins to crack, revealing hidden tensions, clandestine affairs, and long-buried jealousies among the three women. With suspicions mounting and the neighborhood gripped by fear, Gwen, Aimee and Lisa must confront the chilling truth about their husbands, and the sinister undercurrents in their own friendship. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
GUMSHOE AFTER MIDNIGHT: A Mortimer Angel Mystery by Rob Leininger (Mystery)
Mortimer Angel --- call him Mort --- is on a case in northern Nevada when he comes across a girl being kidnapped. He saves her, then finds himself embroiled in a whirlwind of death and violence as he tries to keep one step ahead of a succession of thugs trying to grab the girl again. It's another typically dangerous and bawdy case for Mort as layers upon layers of complications unfold that could end up killing him and the girl he saved. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on March 17th and 18th
Below are some notable titles releasing on March 17th and 18th 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 available the week of March 17th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
March 17th
THE WRITER by James Patterson and J.D. Barker (Thriller)
NYPD Detective Declan Shaw gets a call: How fast can you get to the Beresford building on Central Park West? In the tower apartment, Shaw finds a woman waiting for him. She’s covered in blood. A body is lying dead on the floor of the luxurious living room. Only one person knows the ending to this story. Is it the victim or the killer?
March 18th
BEACH VIBES by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes an unforgettable beach read about love, secrets, betrayal, and the family we’re born into --- and the one we choose for ourselves.
THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER by Stephen Graham Jones
(Historical Fantasy/Horror)
A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor, is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow. THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER is told in transcribed interviews by a Blackfeet named Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits.
IF YOU WERE MY DAUGHTER: A Memoir of Healing an Unmothered Heart by Marianne Richmond (Memoir)
From bestselling children's author Marianne Richmond comes a powerful memoir about overcoming a mother's emotional neglect and finding the courage to reclaim the story of your life.
THE LOVE WE FOUND by Jill Santopolo (Fiction)
This long-awaited follow-up to the Reese’s Book Club pick and New York Times bestselling global phenomenon THE LIGHT WE LOST is a thrilling love story about the roles that fate and choice play in shaping a life.
A MAP TO PARADISE by Susan Meissner (Historical Fiction)
It’s 1956 in Malibu, California, and something is not right at the Blankenship home on Paradise Circle. Award-winning, agoraphobic screenwriter Elwood Blankenship has seemingly disappeared from his house. Three women with little in common suddenly find themselves thrust together to cover up a harrowing secret.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: SNOWY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early (Mystery)
In a nod to Rear Window, this latest entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series finds Jessica Fletcher coping with an injury that leaves her homebound --- and a murder just outside her window.
O SINNERS! by Nicole Cuffy (Fiction)
In this searing novel that sweeps from present-day California to the Vietnam War and back, a grieving young man is drawn into the orbit of a charismatic cult leader who forces him to reconsider why people give up control --- and what it takes, ultimately, to find one’s place in the world.
THE PARIS EXPRESS by Emma Donoghue (Historical Fiction)
Emma Donoghue, the nationally bestselling author of ROOM, returns with a sweeping historical novel about an infamous 1895 disaster at the Paris Montparnasse train station.
THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry (Historical Fiction)
Inspired by a true literary mystery, the New York Times bestselling author of the mesmerizing THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA returns with the sweeping story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter’s search for them both.
THE SUMMER GUESTS by Tess Gerritsen (Thriller)
From New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen comes a chilling follow-up to THE SPY COAST, plunging the Martini Club into the search for a missing teen --- with a startling connection to their own pasts.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Katy Hays, Emma Donoghue, Lauren Willig
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.
Tuesday, March 18th at 7pm ET: Tewksbury Public Library: In this installment of “Author Hour in Massachusetts,” Lauren Willig will discuss her new historical mystery, THE GIRL FROM GREENWICH STREET: A Novel of Hamilton, Burr, and America's First Murder Trial.
Wednesday, March 19th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Natasha Pulley will talk about her new book, THE HYMN TO DIONYSUS, a timely reimagining of the story of Dionysus --- Greek god of ecstasy, revelry and ruin --- and a captivating queer love story.
Wednesday, March 19th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Emma Donoghue about her latest book, THE PARIS EXPRESS, a sweeping historical novel about an infamous 1895 disaster at the Paris Montparnasse train station.
Wednesday, March 19th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Spring Preview Event: Carol Fitzgerald will talk about a number of books releasing this spring that we think you will enjoy reading over the next few months. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.
Wednesday, March 19th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Katy Hays will talk about her latest novel, SALTWATER, an electrifying thriller about an opulent family retreat to Italy that’s shattered by the resurfacing of a decades-old crime.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers long-form, in-depth author interviews. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here is our latest interview:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Jeff Hobbs (SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America)
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Georgia Hunter (ONE GOOD THING)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: March Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in paperback in March have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ANITA DE MONTE LAUGHS LAST by Xochitl Gonzalez
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THE BIRD HOTEL by Joyce Maynard
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THE BLACK BOX: Writing the Race, by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
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THE BLUES BROTHERS: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic, by Daniel de Visé
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BREAKING THE DARK: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel, by Lisa Jewell
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BURN BOOK: A Tech Love Story, by Kara Swisher
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CAMINO GHOSTS by John Grisham
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CLOSE TO DEATH by Anthony Horowitz
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DARLING GIRLS by Sally Hepworth
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DAUGHTER OF MINE by Megan Miranda
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THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo
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FELINE FATALE: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery, by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
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FINDING MARGARET FULLER by Allison Pataki
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THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB by Robyn Carr
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THE FURY by Alex Michaelides
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GHOST DOGS: On Killers and Kin, by Andre Dubus III
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GLORIOUS EXPLOITS by Ferdia Lennon
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A GOOD BAD BOY: Luke Perry and How a Generation Grew Up, by Margaret Wappler
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THE HAZELBOURNE LADIES MOTORCYCLE AND FLYING CLUB by Helen Simonson
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THE HUSBANDS by Holly Gramazio
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THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Stuart Turton
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LEAVING by Roxana Robinson
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LION & LAMB by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski
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LUCKY by Jane Smiley
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MONA OF THE MANOR: A Tales of the City Novel, by Armistead Maupin
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THE MORNINGSIDE by Téa Obreht
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THE MUSEUM OF LOST QUILTS: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel, by Jennifer Chiaverini
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ONE PERFECT COUPLE by Ruth Ware
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PARASOL AGAINST THE AXE by Helen Oyeyemi
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RED SIDE STORY: A Shades of Grey Novel, by Jasper Fforde
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THE RESCUE by T. Jefferson Parker
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THE SUMMER WE STARTED OVER by Nancy Thayer
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THE UPTOWN LOCAL: Joy, Death, and Joan Didion: A Memoir, by Cory Leadbeater
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A VERY PRIVATE SCHOOL: A Memoir, by Charles Spencer
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THE WIVES: A Memoir, by Simone Gorrindo
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, March 28th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from March 14th to March 28th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall and THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry.
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.
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