July 22, 2005

One World, Reading Together

This week J.K. Rowling managed to keep millions of children --- and a fair number of adults --- glued to HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE. Around our house my older son said "I finished it" on Sunday, while my younger son uttered the same words on Monday. I think there should be a special award for an author who can get that many people reading, simultaneously. Also, I thought of all the kids who saw midnight for the first time in their lives last Saturday morning, not on New Year's Eve, but in a bookstore! Nice milestone.
 
We posted our review of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE by Shannon Maughan on Monday. Shannon is an old friend to The Book Report Network. For many years, she was the Editor of our Kidsreads.com website. I cannot think of anyone who was more suited to write this review for us. I write about Shannon's experience in a bookstore in Pennsylvania in my blog.

I love when books are made into movies. I always try to have the book read first, and then love seeing how the story unfolds on the screen. In the next few weeks Lifetime Television will be airing two movies that you may enjoy. The first is based on THE DIVE FROM CLAUSEN'S PIER by Ann Packer. This will air Monday, July 25th. It's the story of a young woman whose fiance is tragically injured in a beach accident. Then BEACH GIRLS, based on the book by Luanne Rice, airs in a special five-week event starting on Sunday, July 31st. It's the story of girls who were inseparable at the beach when they were in their teens, and what happens to them as adults as they reunite after one of them has died. Luanne has spent time on the set of Beach Girls. Read her blog to see her comments on this experience.

This week's beach bag title is the new Sophie Kinsella book, THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS. Kinsella always makes me laugh and this new book does not disappoint! For the record, my older son reads Kinsella as he says it gives him insight into how girls think. This does make me laugh even more. But think how much truth is spoken in fiction!

Karin Slaughter is our latest Suspense/Thriller author. I have had the pleasure of meeting Slaughter on numerous occasions and even heard her speak a few times at mystery/thriller events. She writes what I call gritty fiction in her Grant County series, which is set in Georgia. In FAITHLESS, which will be in stores on August 30th, a victim was buried alive in the Georgia woods -- then killed in a horrifying fashion. When Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver stumble upon the body, both become consumed with finding out who killed the pretty, impeccably dressed young woman. And for Sara and Jeffrey, a harrowing journey begins, one that will test their own turbulent relationship and draw dozens of lives into the case. Want to be one of our 20 advance readers of this book? Then send a note with your name and mailing address to SuspenseThriller@bookreporter.com by Friday, August 5th.

One more Suspense/Thriller note: This week Jack Kerley, author of THE DEATH COLLECTORS, answers reader questions.

Equally exciting news as we announce our latest Mystery Mayhem author, Margaret Coel. Like Tony Hillerman? Then you will want to read Margaret Coel. EYE OF THE WOLF is the latest title in her Wind River Reservation series and it will be on sale on September 6th. Coel writes with great accuracy about the Arapaho Indians and she captures the true beauty of the west. EYE OF THE WOLF finds Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden and Father John O'Malley in the crossfire of a 19th century conflict brutally resurrected into the 21st century. Want to be one of our 20 advance readers of EYE OF THE WOLF? Then send a note with your name and mailing address to Mystery@bookreporter.com by Friday, August 5th.

My plan for the weekend is very simple. Floating and reading. The weather has been so brutal that I think exerting myself much more would be unhealthy. I think if I read fast enough the flipping pages will create a breeze. Pour yourself a cold one and do the same wherever you are.

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

CAPE PERDIDO by Marcia Muller

CAPE PERDIDO by Marcia Muller (Mystery)
Reviewed by Roz Shea
Marcia Muller, bestselling author of the acclaimed series starring San Francisco P.I. Sharon McCone, returns to the remote northern California coast of POINT DECEPTION and CYANIDE WELLS with a riveting mystery that explores the dark heart of a small town, where passion --- and murder --- runs as deep as the river that flows through it.

For more about Marcia Muller, go to MarciaMuller.com

Click here to read an excerpt and a review of CAPE PERDIDO.

Beach Bag Of Books: Spotlight on THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS by Sophie Kinsella and Weekly Beach Bag Giveaway

Whether your "beach" is on sand, your backyard deck or a grassy meadow in the country, the summer months mean it's time for "beach reading." Bookreporter.com is celebrating the lazy days of summer reading with a special feature, Bookreporter.com Beach Bag of Books.

Every week from May 20th through August 19th a different title will be featured with a review and author interview, as well as a contest prize --- a beach bag stocked with that book, plus summertime essentials that tie in to its theme. Five FABULOUS beach bags will be given away each week, as well as five copies of the book to additional winners.

Click here to read more about Bookreporter.com's Beach Bag of Books feature.

Our Latest Suspense/Thriller Author: Karin Slaughter, Author of FAITHLESS

Karin Slaughter, whose newest title FAITHLESS is on sale August 30th, is the latest author spotlighted in our Suspense/Thriller Feature. Karin Slaughter is the internationally bestselling author of BLINDSIGHTED, KISSCUT, A FAINT COLD FEAR, and INDELIBLE.

We have 20 advanced reading copies of FAITHLESS to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please send your name and mailing address to SuspenseThriller@bookreporter.com by Friday, August 5th, 2005.

More about FAITHLESS:
The victim was buried alive in the Georgia woods-then killed in a horrifying fashion. When Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver stumble upon the body, both become consumed with finding out who killed the pretty, impeccably dressed young woman. And for Sara and Jeffrey, a harrowing journey begins, one that will test their own turbulent relationship and draw dozens of lives into the case.

Lena Adams is one of them. A Grant County detective for years, she has her own reasons for being drawn to this case and a fierce drive to see justice done. For these three people, who have each seen the darkest side of human nature, the body of the murdered girl is but the first in a series of shocking and sordid revelations.

Now, as Jeffrey and Sara narrow the field of suspects, they must confront their own doubts and indiscretions, while Lena Adams sees herself reflected in the frightened eyes of a battered woman who may be the key figure in the case. As Faithless builds to a stunning and unforgettable climax, Karin Slaughter masterfully brings together strands of interlocking lives, family secrets, and hidden passions with one astounding truth: the identity of a killer who is more evil and dangerous than anyone could have guessed.

Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight: Stephen J. Cannell, Author of COLD HIT

Stephen J. Cannell, whose newest title COLD HIT is on sale August 15th, is the latest author spotlighted in our Suspense/Thriller Feature. You may recognize this Emmy-Winning television writer as Bookreporter.com has featured his titles: VERTICAL COFFIN, HOLLYWOOD TOUGH, and THE TIN COLLECTORS.

New This Week:
-See our Advance Copy Winners of COLD HIT here.

Previous Weeks:
-Read Fast Facts about Stephen J. Cannell.
-Read Critical Praise for Stephen J. Cannell.

Read more about COLD HIT here:
Detective Shane Scully suspects that the regional boss of the Department of Homeland Security is thwarting a major murder investigation. But why?

Robert Allen Virtue can act without oversight or accountability. There's no way to question him; there's no way to way to check up on him; there's no way to find out if he's exceeding his authority. Virtually at will, he can bug anyone he considers a threat to national security, take over criminal investigations, and jail cops. Even if he is breaking the law, there's no way to know it. There's nothing to rely on but his integrity. His professional commitment. His good name. Virtue.

That may be a very big mistake.

Shane and his partner are investigating "the Fingertip Killer," a serial murderer preying on homeless Vietnam vets in Los Angeles. But there's a problem: Robert Allen Virtue wants him taken off it.

To solve the cop's murder, and possibly the Fingertip case, Scully must go behind the powerful bureaucrat's back and deep undercover -- where he will begin unraveling a deadly far-reaching conspiracy that threatens to destroy everything he loves: his career, his freedom, and his family.

Our Latest Mystery Mayhem Author: Margaret Coel, Author of EYE OF THE WOLF

Mystery Mayhem: Jacqueline Winspear, Author of PARDONABLE LIES

Click here to read more about Jacqueline Winspear and PARDONABLE LIES.

Mystery Mayhem: Mary Jane Clark, Author of DANCING IN THE DARK

Click here to read more about Mary Jane Clark and DANCING IN THE DARK.

A Tasty Summer Cocktail: BLOODY MARY by J.A. Konrath --- And A Special Contest

BLOODY MARY: A Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mystery by J.A. Konrath (Mystery)
Reviewed by Bernadette Davis
The second installment in J.A. Konrath's intoxicating mystery series finds Lt. Jack Daniels struggling to repair her train wreck of a personal life while tracking down and convicting one of the scariest serial killers in recent memory --- a killer for whom getting caught is only the beginning.

To celebrate the latest release in J.A. Konrath's Jack Daniels series --- BLOODY MARY --- Bookreporter.com is sponsoring a Cocktail Contest. One Grand Prize winner will receive a swanky, two-tone burgundy and black travel bar with a combination lock and gift box. The unfolding, multi-sectioned bar is 12.00 inches x 5.50 inches x 13.50 inches, holds three bottles (not included) and consists of four metal cups, a serving tray, a 3/4 x 11 oz. jigger and a wood handle bottle opener, a signed copy of BLOODY MARY, as well as a copy of WHISKEY SOUR. 10 runners up each will receive signed copies of BLOODY MARY. The contest runs from July 2, 2005 at 9AM EDT through July 31, 2005 at 11:59PM EDT.

To enter, here's what to do.

1) Read an excerpt of the book here.
2) Tell us what you think about the book.
3) Let us know your favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktail!
4) Give us your name and mailing address (snail mail)

Send all of this to Contests@bookreporter.com by July 31st at 11:59PM.

Winners will be chosen in a random drawing from all correct responses received.

Read more details here.
 

Click here to read more about J.A. Konrath and BLOODY MARY.

This Week's Reviews and Features

UNTIL I FIND YOU by John Irving (Fiction)
Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller
John Irving revisits the theme of longing for an absent parent in his eleventh novel, which spans 25 years in the life of nomadic actor Jack Burns as he searches for his father --- a church organist addicted to being tattooed --- and ultimately finds himself.  

On Bookreporter.com, you'll find an interview with John Irving where he talks about the fascinating worlds of tattooing and Hollywood, which are both recreated in UNTIL I FIND YOU. The acclaimed author of THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP and THE CIDER HOUSE RULES touches briefly on parallels between his own childhood and that of his protagonist, Jack Burns, and shares with readers a particular moment in the novel that resonates with him in a special way.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN by Cormac McCarthy (Fiction)
Reviewed by Rob Cline
National Book Award winner Cormac McCarthy's first novel in seven years is part blood and guts, and part social commentary, as a sheriff is determined to put an end to a bloody feud involving misappropriated drug money that has resulted in countless deaths.

THE INTERRUPTION OF EVERYTHING by Terry McMillan (Fiction)
Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton
Marilyn Grimes fears that her life is going nowhere. Instead of pursuing a career, she gave up her ambitions to cater to her husband, her three children, her mother and mother-in-law, plus she has spent an endless amount of time worrying about her troubled adopted sister. Marilyn is now ready to find a niche of her own, tired of being the one who has to take care of everybody else.

ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE MOSCOW VECTOR by Patrick Larkin (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
A series of government officials around the world are coming down with a mysterious, fast-acting virus that has a 100% fatality rate. These deaths are somehow related to the increasing militarism from the new Russian government, headed by President Victor Dudarev. With few clues and precious little time, Lt. Col. Jon Smith and Covert-One must unravel this diabolical plot and find the mysterious figure who stands at the center of it all.

LOCKED DOORS by Blake Crouch (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Seven years ago, suspense novelist Andrew Thomas's life was shattered when he was framed for a series of murders. Wanted by the FBI, he had no choice but to flee and create a new identity. Culminating in the spooky and secluded Outer Banks of North Carolina, the paths of Andrew Thomas, a psychotic named Luther Kite, and a young female detective collide.

THE BURNING GIRL by Mark Billingham (Mystery)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Detective Inspector Tom Thorne is investigating a series of murders in which an 'X' is carved into the backs of the victims, all of whom had ties to a gangster named Billy Ryan. These killings slowly begin to intersect with an old case that Thorne is helping his friend Carol Chamberlain investigate, involving a schoolgirl who was lit on fire twenty years earlier.

PALLADIAN DAYS: Finding a New Life in a Venetian Country House by Sally Gable with Carl I. Gable (Nonfiction/Travel)
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
What Sally Gable thought she wanted was a summer house in New Hampshire, but what she found and learned to love was a new life in a beautiful and celebrated Palladian villa in the countryside outside Venice. In PALLADIAN DAYS, Sally shares the joys and frustrations of owning a home considered one of the ten most influential buildings in the world.

THE GREATEST MAN IN CEDAR HOLE by Stephanie Doyon (Fiction)
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
Written with a wry humor, this cross-section of small town life follows two boys into manhood, journeying with them through their years of school, marriage, and building a family as they unwittingly compete to become the greatest man in Cedar Hole.   

COVER THE BUTTER by Carrie Kabak (Fiction)
Reviewed by Pauline Finch
Kate Cadogan is a forty-something woman who has spent her life trying to please her husband, her son, her mother and her father without a moment's thought to her own needs. She salvages her mundane and soul-destroying life when she discovers the meaning of the spiral journey --- the ability to loop back into the past and learn from it while moving forward to self-fulfillment.

THE WASHINGTONIENNE by Jessica Cutler (Fiction)
Reviewed by Amie Taylor
A sexy Washington intern posts her sexual and social adventures on a personal web log meant only for the eyes of her closest friends --- but all hell breaks loose when what was intended to remain private becomes very public.

FIELD OF BLOOD by Denise Mina (Suspense)
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Eighteen-year-old aspiring journalist Paddy Meehan suffers from the twin demons of low self-esteem and high ambition in FIELD OF BLOOD, a hard-boiled suspense novel about journalism, sexism, and murder in 1980s Glasgow.

ALEC GUINNESS: The Authorised Biography by Piers Paul Read (Biography)
Reviewed by Ron Kaplan
After Alec Guinness's death in August 2000, his widow asked Piers Paul Read, who had been a friend of her husband, to write his authorised biography. Given full cooperation by the Guinness family and free access to Sir Alec's papers, including his private and unpublished diaries, Read has written an enjoyable and perceptive account of an intriguing and complex man.

Click here to read this week's reviews and features.

Bookreporter.com Blog

What do you love most about the Harry Potter Series?

Please note: Our question of the week will update July 29th.

Answer the Question of the Week here.

Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.

This week we have some great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of CRUSADER'S CROSS by James Lee Burke and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN by Cormac McCarthy. Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on July 29th.