June 10, 2011

Yesterday, when the temperatures were close to 100, I was trying to channel snow and the cold of winter. No luck. Instead, I turned to the freezer section. We shop at a food store that has a terrific selection of premium ice cream and sorbets. I found two Pure Gourmet flavors, Mojito and Pear Ginger, that are fabulous. Check 'em out here. It's tough to find sorbets that capture the flavor of lime well, but the Mojito one has just the right blend of lime and mint. And the pear ginger flavors blend well, too. They really are the perfect treat on a hot day!

As you know, I am a fan of buying local, thus on my recent landscaping project, I shopped at three local nurseries, each of which had a different selection. I was in Costco a few weeks ago and was unable to resist a three-pack of three gorgeous purple plants. I bought them, but alas they already have been moved to an area that I cannot view easily, which I have dubbed the plant hospital. I think I was getting a message about my shopping choice!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of reading THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT by Joseph Monningerspan> (pre-order from IndieBound or Amazon), which will be in stores on October 11th. You may remember Monninger as the author of ETERNAL ON THE WATER. His upcoming book opens with two brothers rescuing a girl who’s fallen through the ice while skating in a rural New England town. Monninger writes brilliantly about nature with vivid descriptions, giving you a strong sense of place as you are reading. The three children become fast friends, and two of them gravitate towards each other in a sensitive and lovely love story. When a tragedy ensues right before their wedding, the story sets a new course. Keep your eyes on this one! It will be published in trade paperback.

Those of you who have your doubts about the lure of eBooks, be sure to read this piece I found called "5 Reasons Why E-Books Aren't There Yet".

For those of you who enjoy eBooks or who want to explore eBooks to see what all the excitement is about, take note that Unbridled Books is selling 25 of its titles in eBook format for just 25 cents through Saturday, June 11th. You can download titles through any IndieBound-affiliated store that sells Google eBooks. This is such a bargain --- and temptation --- to discover some new authors from an innovative independent publisher. You can get more information about Unbridled Books, its authors, and this deal by visiting www.UnbridledBooks.com.

Last week, I told you all I was hooked on AMC’s latest show, “The Killing”. The program is getting into its final couple of episodes, and I cannot wait to see how the season-long investigation ends and find out who killed Rosie Larsen. If you haven’t seen it, you’ll want to check it out on repeats or when the DVDs become available. Fellow fans will be glad to know that David Hewson has been tabbed to write the novelizations of the series. He’ll keep the casework coming for detective Sarah Lund (Sarah Linden on the AMC show). Hewson is best known for his series featuring Rome-based detective Nic Costa. He has a loyal following here in the US, but is quite popular in Europe, particularly in Scandinavia. “The Killing” was created and originally aired in Denmark, but is becoming a hit all over the world. I’m glad it’s expanding into the book world!

We have three new spotlights launching on the site this week. THE SOLDIER’S WIFE by Margaret Leroy is now being featured in our One to Watch Author Spotlight. Fans of THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows will want to explore this book, which again is set on the island of Guernsey during World War II. Here a housewife finds herself falling for one of the German occupation soldiers as her husband is away on the front lines. I read it a couple of months ago and closed it saying, "This will be a Bets On selection." The honesty and power of the story moved me. We have 20 copies for readers who enter here by Friday, June 17th at noon ET. THE SOLDIER'S WIFE is in stores June 28th and will be released as a trade paperback. Take note if you’re in a book club!

We’re staying in Europe for THE BELLS by Richard Harvell, which is our latest Paperback Spotlight title. THE BELLS follows the life of fictional opera soprano Moses Froben from his childhood in a remote Swiss village in the Alps to his budding career in bustling, vibrant Vienna during the 18th century. There’s a rich story here about an unlikely rise to stardom and also darker side to such success. Some of the things Moses must endure and overcome will stay with you. We have 20 paperback copies to give away to readers who enter here by Friday, June 17th at noon ET. THE BELLS will be in stores June 28th.

SUNSET BRIDGE by Emilie Richards is our latest Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight title, and brings us back stateside. It follows a group of friends struggling in life and love, but leaning on one another for support. Sounds like the perfect beach book, doesn't it? We have 20 copies for readers who enter here by Friday, June 17th at noon ET. SUNSET BRIDGE will be in stores June 28th.

We have our review of SUMMER RENTAL by Mary Kay Andrews, which is a perfect beach read. We’ve been featuring it in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight for the past few weeks, and now it’s in stores. Jamie Layton has our review and says, “Once again Mary Kay Andrews is at the top of her game and undoubtedly will be at the top of the season’s reading lists with SUMMER RENTAL, a great novel about life, love and girlfriends set on the popular Outer Banks of North Carolina." She also interviews Mary Kay, which you can read here. Jamie was the perfect reviewer for this book as she manages Duck's Cottage, a book shop on the Outer Banks where SUMMER RENTAL was set. You'll want to read Mary Kay's reply to the last interview question where Jamie asks her to stop by for a visit!

Mary Kay is one of my favorite authors to follow on Facebook. To see what I mean, "like" her here. She also has a new website with recipes and junking tips, as well as book talk, that you can visit at MaryKayAndrews.com. SUMMER RENTAL is also a featured title in our Summer Reading Contests and Features this week, which you can learn more about here or below in this newsletter.

We also have our review of Robert Dugoni’s MURDER ONE, which was released earlier this week and is currently being featured in a few places on Bookreporter.com, including our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. Joe Hartlaub has our review of this latest David Sloane legal thriller and says, “Whether you prefer your fiction to be driven by character or by plot, Robert Dugoni serves up ample portions of both, to make this by far his strongest book to date.”

MURDER ONE is also a part of our annual Father’s Day Contest and Feature, which you can check out here. The contest ends Monday, June 13th at noon ET, so enter here/span> to win one of five book-stuffed backpacks. There are six more titles in each backpack, including Karl Marlantes's bestselling, award-winning MATTERHORN, which is one of my husband's favorite books. Check out all our featured titles here and enter here. Also included in the backpack are a red-striped beach towel and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. Our Father’s Day Blog Series/span> kicked off Monday with a great piece (and photo) from Robert, which you can read here. You can also check out original pieces from William Kent Krueger, Mark Sellers Jr. and Amanda Hodgkinson. I’m really looking forward to reading today's piece from Wilbur Smith, and the ones from Nancy Thayer and Mary Doria Russell this weekend. Keep up with the whole series here.

Another new release and review to note this week is STATE OF WONDER by Ann Patchett, the author of the bestsellers BEL CANTO and RUN. This time Ann takes readers into the depths of the Amazon as a pharmaceutical researcher goes looking for clues about her colleague’s strange death. Reviewer Norah Piehl says, “It's probably impossible to avoid making comparisons between Ann Patchett's new novel STATE OF WONDER and Joseph Conrad's classic novella 'Heart of Darkness,' so I'm not even going to try. The bones of the stories are the same: a young protégé heads into the heart of the jungle, charged with finding a powerful, elusive figure whose activities seem vaguely menacing and whose ties to civilization appear to have been severed on purpose. The mood, the cast of characters, and the nature of what our intrepid outsider finds in the rainforest are deeply different, however --- and that's part of the point.”

THE WAVE: In Search of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean by Susan Casey also tackles nature, and was one of my Bets On picks from 2010. Susan dives into the culture and science of big waves and the surfers who risk life and limb to ride them. I’ve always been curious about thrill seekers on the mountains or in the ocean, and what inspires them to charge into danger, so THE WAVE immediately caught my attention. But I also got to learn the science behind waves and the ocean, which was so fascinating and presented in an easy-to-understand manner. THE WAVE is now in paperback and will give new meaning to the term “beach read.” We interview a book group on ReadingGroupGuides.com about their experience reading THE WAVE, which you can read here.

Norah Piehl also reviews SISTER by Rosamund Lupton and says, "Rosamund Lupton's debut novel is a winner, as worth reading for its psychological intensity as it is for its mystery plot, not to mention the genuinely surprising twist near the end." I am almost finished with this one and have really, really enjoyed it.

One book that's been making the rounds in our office is THE TWO DEATHS OF DANIEL HAYES by Marcus Sakey. My son Greg read it in less than a day and wouldn't stop raving about it, and Stephen in our office is also a big fan. Reviewer Joe Hartlaub says, "This book is a cat and mouse thriller, full of surprises that keep coming right up to the last page and will keep you up reading all night." He's a really talented writer doing some interesting things in the mystery and crime genre.

We also have a roundup of the latest golf books, which I figure will give me ideas for gifts for my husband. Yes, he reads about golf as well as playing golf and watching golf! Wonder if they whisper on the golf audiobooks like they do on TV. And trust me folks, if you thinking watching golf is slow, try listening to it on XM/Sirius Radio, which has happened to me a few times when we were in the car. Talk about a lullaby!

Also, a congratulations is in order for Téa Obreht, whose novel THE TIGER'S WIFE just won the Orange Prize. She can now add award winner to her résumé along with New York Times bestseller. Oh, and she's only 25!

This is the 75th Anniversary of GONE WITH THE WIND, and here is a wonderful piece about it and Margaret Mitchell's writing home.

I hope you’ll vote in our poll asking, “What percentage of the books you read are nonfiction?” and “What types of nonfiction books would you like to see featured more on Bookreporter.com?” We’re curious to know what readers want to see more of on Bookreporter.com as we work on our redesign, which is coming along nicely. We are moving more than 6,000 reviews and a ton of interviews, which is quite a process. And please share the poll with a friend or two if you can, as the more feedback we have, the better.

On a sad note, author Lilian Jackson Braun died last weekend at the age of 97. She was the beloved author of The Cat Who series that had fans of all ages. There were 29 books in the series, and Lilian had just started THE CAT WHO SMELLED SMOKE before taking ill. There are no plans to have someone else complete it at this time. You can read more about her life and books here. She’ll be missed by mystery lovers everywhere.

On the video front, last night I watched a DVD of Mao's Last Dancer based on the book by Li Cunxin. It's a well-done story about a Chinese national dancer who wants to live in America after he does a stint with a ballet in Houston. It illustrates the sharp differences between the cultures as well as one young man's confusion as he moves between two worlds.

Another quiet weekend is on tap, though there will be cause for celebration on Sunday as my knitting gal pals celebrate a milestone birthday for our friend Nan, who is 85 years young. Nan and the other women are huge readers, so when we get together, there always is a lively book chat going on as the needles click away. I am enjoying these quiet weekends before my travel schedule gears back up.

In two weeks I am headed to New Orleans (where the heat and humidity in New York pale in comparison) for the American Library Association's Annual Conference where our GraphicNovelReporter.com website will be co-sponsoring a $20,000+ Great Graphic Novel Library Giveaway, where one lucky librarian will win a library of more than 750 books as well as furniture, shelving and fixtures for his or her library. I am so looking forward to this trip, where I am making a list of bookstores that I want to visit.

Here's to a great week of reading...

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

 

Robert Dugoni is a writer turned lawyer turned writer, whose series featuring attorney David Sloane has earned him awards and critical praise. Bookreporter.com’s Joe Hartlaub spoke with Dugoni about his much-loved protagonist, who returns in the just-released fourth installment, MURDER ONE, and how he has been guiding his story and development through many plot twists. Dugoni also discusses how his experience in the courtroom serves as a basis for his legal thrillers, why his hometown of Seattle works best as the setting, and how he began the series that would result in so many accolades.

MURDER ONE by Robert Dugoni (Legal Thriller)
After the devastating murder of his wife, attorney David Sloane has returned to Seattle. He reconnects with Barclay Reid, opposing counsel in his most prominent case. Barclay is struggling to cope with the death of her teenage daughter from a drug overdose. When she’s accused of murdering a drug trafficker she blamed for the overdose, Sloane is not only her potential romantic interest, but her chosen defender, in his first criminal case. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read a review of MURDER ONE.
-Click here to read an excerpt from MURDER ONE.
-Click here to read critical praise for MURDER ONE.
-Click here to read Robert Dugoni’s bio.
-Click here to see Robert Dugoni’s backlist.
-Visit Robert Dugoni’s official website, www.RobertDugoni.com.
 

STATE OF WONDER by Ann Patchett (Fiction)
Dr. Marina Singh, a research scientist with a Minnesota pharmaceutical company, is sent to Brazil to track down her former mentor, who seems to have disappeared in the Amazon while working on what is destined to be a valuable new drug. Marina embarks on an odyssey into the insect-infested jungle in hopes of finding her mentor, as well as answers to questions about another friend's death, the state of her company's future, and her own past. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to see the reading group guide for STATE OF WONDER.
 

Margaret Leroy's debut historical novel, THE SOLDIER'S WIFE, traces the relationship of a housewife and a Nazi soldier during the final days of World War II on the British island of Guernsey.

We have 20 copies of THE SOLDIER'S WIFE, which will be in stores June 28th, to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, June 17th at noon ET.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE SOLDIER'S WIFE.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE SOLDIER'S WIFE.
-Click here to read Margaret Leroy's bio.
-Click here to see Margaret Leroy's backlist.
-Visit Margaret Leroy's official website, www.MargaretLeroy.com.

More about THE SOLDIER'S WIFE:
As World War II draws closer and closer to Guernsey, Vivienne de la Mare knows that there will be sacrifices to be made. Not just for herself, but for her two young daughters and for her mother-in-law, for whom she cares while her husband is away fighting. What she does not expect is that she will fall in love with one of the enigmatic German soldiers who take up residence in the house next door to her home. As their relationship intensifies, so do the pressures on Vivienne. Food and resources grow scant, and the restrictions placed upon the residents of the island grow with each passing week. Though Vivienne knows the perils of her love affair with Gunther, she believes that she can keep their relationship --- and her family --- safe. But when she becomes aware of the full brutality of the Occupation, she must decide if she is willing to risk her personal happiness for the life of a stranger.
 

A group of women form an unlikely friendship as they search for love and happiness along the Florida coast in Emilie Richards's latest novel, SUNSET BRIDGE.

We have 20 copies of SUNSET BRIDGE, which will be in stores June 28th, to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, June 17th at noon ET.

-Click here to read an excerpt from SUNSET BRIDGE.
-Click here to read critical praise for SUNSET BRIDGE.
-Click here to read Emilie Richards’s bio.
-Visit Emilie Richards’s official website, www.EmilieRichards.com.

More about SUNSET BRIDGE:
Former socialite Tracy Deloche has nothing to her name but five ramshackle beach cottages and the unlikely friendships she's formed with her tenants. Wanda, wise waitress turned popular pie-shop owner. Janya, the young Indian wife whose arranged marriage surprises her every day. Alice, a widow raising her complex tween-age granddaughter. And Maggie, Wanda's daughter, a former Miami cop with a love life as complicated as Tracy's own. The new man in Tracy's life hasn't mentioned love or commitment --- and Tracy has just discovered she's pregnant. Janya longs to be a mother --- and suddenly has two young siblings in her care. Maggie helps out at Wanda's Wonderful Pies…but is the kitchen big enough for both Gray women? And Alice may lose her beloved granddaughter to someone no one expected. As a tropical storm brews, the wind carries surprises and secrets over the bridge to Happiness Key. Now, more than ever, five friends will discover just how much they need one another.
 

Richard Harvell's debut novel, THE BELLS, follows the life of Moses Froben, from his childhood in a rustic Swiss village to his rise to stardom on Austria's opera scene during the 18th century.

To celebrate the June 28th paperback release of THE BELLS, we are giving 20 readers the chance to win a copy of the book. All you have to do is fill out this form by Friday, June 17th at noon ET.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE BELLS.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE BELLS.
-Click here to read Richard Harvell’s bio.
-Visit Richard Harvell’s official website, www.RichardHarvell.com.

More about THE BELLS:
Born in a belfry high in the Swiss Alps, Moses Froben and his deaf and mute mother ring the beautiful church bells each day. The townspeople assume Moses is also deaf, but shaped by the glorious music of the bells, he actually possesses a singular sense of hearing that makes him privy to any number of sins --- and puts him in grave danger. Moses finds refuge in a monastery’s choir and becomes its star singer, but he falls under the power of a man who will do anything to preserve Moses’s angelic voice forever. In this letter to his son, Moses recounts his life as a novice monk, the power and beauty of the music he loves, and a story of forbidden love.
 

In Joseph Finder's much-anticipated new novel, BURIED SECRETS, "private spy" Nick Heller returns to track down the missing daughter of a wealthy financier whose business dealings have made him a lot of enemies.

-Click here to read a second excerpt from BURIED SECRETS.
-Click here to read critical praise for BURIED SECRETS.
-Click here to read Joseph Finder's bio.
-Click here to see Joseph Finder's backlist.
-Visit Joseph Finder's official website, www.JosephFinder.com.
-Click here to see the 20 winners selected to read and comment on BURIED SECRETS.

More about BURIED SECRETS:
Nick Heller, "private spy," has returned to his old home town of Boston to set up his own shop. There he’s urgently summoned by an old family friend. Hedge fund titan Marshall Marcus desperately needs Nick’s help. His teenaged daughter, Alexa, has just been kidnapped. Her abduction was clearly a sophisticated professional job, done with extraordinary precision. Alexa, whom Nick has known since she was young, is now buried alive, held prisoner in an underground crypt, a camera trained on her, her suffering streaming live over the Internet. She’s been left with a limited supply of food and water, and if her father doesn’t meet the demands of her shadowy kidnappers, she’ll die. And as Nick begins to probe, he discovers that all is not quite right with Marshall Marcus’s business. He’s being investigated by the FBI, he has a lot of shady investors, his fund is in danger, and now he has a lot of powerful enemies who may have the motivation to go after Marcus’s daughter. But to find out who’s holding Alexa Marcus hostage, Nick has to find out why.
 

Deanna Raybourn's THE DARK ENQUIRY finds Lady Julia Grey investigating a strange case with a family connection that leads down a dark path filled with supernatural intrigue and black magic.

-Click here to read a second excerpt from THE DARK ENQUIRY.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE DARK ENQUIRY.
-Click here to read Deanna Raybourn's bio.
-Click here to see Deanna Raybourn's backlist.
-Visit Deanna Raybourn's official website, www.DeannaRaybourn.com.
-Click here to see the 20 winners selected to read and comment on THE DARK ENQUIRY.

More about THE DARK ENQUIRY:
Partners now in marriage and in trade, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned from abroad to set up housekeeping in London. But merging their respective collections of gadgets, pets and servants leaves little room for the harried newlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane's private enquiry business. Among the more unlikely clients: Julia's very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane to secrecy about his case. Not about to be left out of anything concerning her beloved --- if eccentric --- family, spirited Julia soon picks up the trail of the investigation. It leads to the exclusive Ghost Club, where the alluring Madame Séraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall. From this eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of dark deeds, whose tendrils crush reputations and throttle trust.
 

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and inspired us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? From May 27th through June 13th, readers will have the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Father’s Day Backpacks. Each hunter green backpack is filled with a copy of our seven featured titles, keeping dad busy through the rest of the year. Also included are a red-striped beach towel and a pack of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.

Our featured Father’s Day titles are:

-THE COUNCIL OF DADS: A Story of Family, Friendship & Learning How to Live by Bruce Feiler
-THE DELTA SOLUTION: An International Thriller by Patrick Robinson
-FORCED TO KILL (Audible Audio Edition) written by Andrew Peterson, narrated by Dick Hill
-MATTERHORN: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes
-MURDER ONEspan> by Robert Dugoni
-OPERATION MINCEMEAT: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory by Ben MacIntyre
-TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST: One Man’s Year of Almost Living Truthfully Could Change Your Life. No Lie. by Phil Callaway
 

We’ll be celebrating Father’s Day for the next week with some of our author friends in our Father’s Day blog series. We’re sharing a variety of pieces --- both entertaining and emotional ---- from a diverse list of authors through Father’s Day. Similar to our Mother’s Day Month blog series, our Father’s Day series serves to celebrate dad, and our contributors have done that with equal parts of wit and wisdom.

Among our featured authors are Steve Berry, Wilbur Smith, Karin Slaughter, Gregg Hurwitz and Mary Doria Russell.

We suggest you bookmark this page or set up an RSS feed so you can read these pieces every day!
 

Summer is upon us! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Features. We will be spotlighting a different title or two on select days from Tuesday, May 31st through Wednesday, July 27th, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book(s) and enter. Some days may even feature special bonus prizes, including beach items, a beach tote stocked with goodies, and additional books. We also will be sending a special daily newsletter to announce the day's title(s), which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, June 13th at noon ET.

-Click here to see this year's featured titles.
-Click here to receive our special newsletter announcing each day’s prize book.
 

SISTER by Rosamund Lupton (Psychological Thriller)
When Bee learns that her sister, Tess, is missing, she expects to have to give her the usual bossy big sister lecture. But then Tess is found dead, apparently by her own hand. Bee is certain that Tess didn’t commit suicide. As she gives her statement to the lead investigator, her story reveals a predator who got away with murder --- and an obsession that may cost Bee her life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE RIDGE by Michael Koryta (Thriller)
In an isolated stretch of eastern Kentucky stands a lighthouse that illuminates nothing but woods. For years the lighthouse has been considered no more than a local landmark --- until its builder is found dead at the top of the light. For deputy sheriff Kevin Kimble, the death is disturbing and personal. Somehow it suggests a connection between the lighthouse and the most terrifying moment of his life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE RANGER: A Quinn Colson Novel by Ace Atkins (Thriller)
Northeast Mississippi: hill country, rugged, and notorious for outlaws since the Civil War, where killings are as commonplace as in the Old West. To Quinn Colson, it's home, but not the home he left when he went to Afghanistan. Now an Army Ranger, he returns to a place overrun by corruption and finds his uncle, the county sheriff, dead --- a suicide, he's told, but others whisper murder. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

BEST STAGED PLANS by Claire Cook (Fiction)
As a professional home stager, Sandy Sullivan is an expert at transforming cluttered rooms into attractive houses ready for sale. If only reinventing her life were as easy as choosing the perfect paint! She's eager to put her family's Boston home on the market, to downsize, and to simplify. But she must first deal with her foot-dragging husband and her grown son, who has moved back home after college to inhabit the basement "bat cave." Reviewed by Marge Fletcher.

OUTRAGE by Robert K. Tanenbaum (Legal Thriller)
Months after a brutal double homicide in uptown Manhattan shocks the city, sensational newspaper headlines herald the arrest and indictment of Felix Acevedo. But downtown, in the district attorney’s office, Butch Karp is seething. Damned by a coerced confession and a frenzied media bent on lynching him, Acevedo sits in jail while a vicious killer stalks the city. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.

THE TWO DEATHS OF DANIEL HAYES by Marcus Sakey (Thriller)
A man wakes up naked and cold, half-drowned on an abandoned beach. The only sign of life for miles is an empty BMW. Inside the car he finds clothes that fit perfectly, shoes for his tattered feet, a Rolex, and a bank envelope stuffed with cash and an auto registration in the name of Daniel Hayes. None of it is familiar. Is he Daniel Hayes, and if so, why doesn't he remember? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

AN ACCIDENTAL SPORTSWRITER: A Memoir by Robert Lipsyte (Memoir)
Growing up, Robert Lipsyte was the smart-aleck fat kid, the bully magnet who went to the library instead of the ballpark. As the perpetual outsider, even into adulthood, Lipsyte's alienation from Jock Culture made him a rarity in the press box: the sportswriter who wasn't a sports fan. Going beyond the usual memoir, Lipsyte has written "a memory loop, a circular search for lost or forgotten pieces in the puzzle of a life." Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE by R.J. Ellory (Thriller)
Washington, embroiled in the mid-term elections, did not want to hear about serial killings. But when the newspapers reported a fourth murder, when they gave the killer a name and details of his horrendous crimes, there were few people who could ignore it. Detective Robert Miller is assigned to the case and rapidly uncovers a complication --- the victims do not officially exist. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

THE WEDDING WRITER by Susan Schneider (Fiction)
Bridal magazines may be all white roses and soft focus, but the story behind the veil is by no means picture-perfect. From a wedding-biz insider, here is a sharp, scrumptious novel about four editors trying to find their own happily-ever-afters. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.

HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL by D.P. Lyle (Psychological Thriller)
Forensic criminalist Dub Walker is once again called upon when an old friend enlists his help in finding her daughter. When the bodies of two young women show up in a shallow grave, one of whom is the daughter, Dub is back to work. Soon other bodies start turning up --- each victim has undergone multiple, highly technical surgical procedures requiring extremely sophisticated equipment. To catch a killer, Dub has to put himself in their place. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.