July 12, 2013

Our garden this year is looking spectacular. I am deadheading, chasing away Japanese beetles and continually arranging pots to keep plants happy. With the latter, I feel like I am doing seating at a fine restaurant! Plants that are re-budding are moved out of eye zone and back into prominent slots when they are ready to show off. Tom is watering between rainstorms. Above is a photo of a moonflower, which comes out at night, whereas the morning glories come out by day; they are potted in the same pot. I have had a wicked time growing these from seeds in past years, thus opted for plants this year, and bam, there is a flower! And there was a second last night. Sometimes, it’s the little things.

Hot and humid weather meant the long weekend was prime for reading, so a book a day kept me entertained. I finished --- and loved --- THE SILENT WIFE, which I talked about last week. Since I have talked it up ALL week, I will add it to the Bookreporter.com Bets On feature next week. Next up, I read ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes, and I see why this was a HUGE hit in hardcover (it will be in paperback on July 30th). I loved the premise, the setup, the characters and the setting. It’s full of emotion without becoming too precious or sweet. This descriptive line sums it up well: “What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?” I will be playing “catch-up” Bets On with it at the end of the month.

I love authors with range, meaning that they are not one-note ponies telling the same story over and over. Victoria Lustbader is just that kind of an author. After reading her upcoming APPROACHING THE SPEED OF LIGHT, which will be in stores on August 13th, I wrote her and said, “If you were a musician, I would see you playing different instruments so you were able to create your own orchestra. You do such great things with words and the scenarios that you create. And this is such a different direction for you from STONE CREEK, but once again you nailed everything about it --- characters, plot, theme, scene and pacing. I felt myself in each location; they were so well drawn, and I saw the characters.” Victoria writes great damaged characters with redeeming moments to create a story that is edgy and compelling, with a heart --- a really nice combination. I started reading it on Sunday afternoon and found myself unable to put it down until I had to sleep. Then I savored the conclusion. Victoria worked on it for five years!

In it, Jody seems like most young men finding their way in their 20s. He appears to have it all --- job, friends, women in his life. But there’s another side of Jody, and we learn that he’s been scarred physically and emotionally by his childhood. There’s a troika of women here, all of whom see only the best in Jody, but is it enough to keep him on the path to happiness? I enjoy watching AMC’s "The Killing," which has a lot of dark moments that are interspersed with redemptive ones. There are moments when a smile is exchanged or a look is held or a joke of familiarity is imparted, and we see another side or depth to the characters. I felt the same way reading APPROACHING THE SPEED OF LIGHT, though it has even more moments of light. And joy. It’s part of our Summer Reading feature, and I will be making it a Bets On. Expect to hear more about it here!

Last night, I was at the ThrillerFest opening cocktail party as well as one hosted by publishing friends at St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books. This conference has been dubbed “Summer Camp for Thriller Writers,” and oh does it have treats in store. Featured guests include Anne Rice, who will be interviewed by her son, Christopher Rice; Michael Palmer will be interviewed by his son, Daniel (nice theme going there), and Michael Connelly and T. Jefferson Parker all are featured guests. I already have had quick conversations with many author friends (Linwood Barclay, Mark Sullivan Keith Raffel, Wendy Corsi Staub, Kate White and Steve Berry, among them), and I look forward to more meaningful ones over the weekend. More on this next week!

And now to this week’s update….

This week marks the release of Chris Bohjalian’s new novel, THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS, which opens in 1943 and introduces us to the Rosatis. This Italian family of noble lineage believes that the walls of their ancient villa will keep them safe from the war raging across Europe. But when two soldiers arrive at the villa, their bucolic tranquility is shattered. Twelve years later, Serafina Bettini, an investigator with the Florence police department, is assigned to a gruesome new case --- a serial killer targeting the Rosatis, murdering the remnants of the family one-by-one in cold blood. She finds herself digging into a past that involves both the victims and her own tragic history.

Ray Palen raves about the book in his review: “There are not many authors working today who handle secrets and complex relationships as deftly as Chris Bohjalian, and THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS is rife with both. This is a terrific read that will transport both long-time fans and newcomers back in time to one of the most turbulent periods in Italian history.” Check out all of his praise in his review here.

And for those of you who may have missed it, Chris curated a “Doomed Lovers” bookshelf to celebrate the release of THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS. You can see it here.

Also out this week is THE CURIOSITY by Stephen P. Kiernan. Stephen happens to be good friends with Chris, and (as discussed in last week’s newsletter) Chris even gave Stephen an idea that solved a plot issue in his book. So it’s only fitting that their books released on the same day! In THE CURIOSITY, Dr. Kate Philo and her scientific exploration team make a breathtaking discovery in the Arctic: the body of a man buried deep in the ice. The egocentric and paranoid Erastus Carthage orders that the frozen man be reanimated. As the man begins to regain his memories, the team learns that he’s a judge, and the last thing he remembers is falling overboard into the Arctic Ocean in 1906. When news of the project and Jeremiah Rice breaks, it ignites a media firestorm and protests by religious fundamentalists.

Norah Piehl has our review and says, “The obvious parallels with cryogenics…help add to the book’s relevance and potential for fruitful discussion not only for its literary merits but also for its insights into bioethical questions, human subject research, and scientific and journalistic integrity. THE CURIOSITY is a rich novel of science that never forgets its heart and soul.”

The book’s publisher, William Morrow, has coordinated a contest in which readers can enter for a chance to win a guest appearance by Stephen to discuss THE CURIOSITY with their group. The grand prize also includes a copy of the book for all the book club members, as well as a Cabot Cheddar Cheese Gift Basket full of goodies to sample as the winners talk with Stephen. There are also prizes for the runners-up! Click here to read all the details. The deadline for your entries is Tuesday, July 16th at 11:59pm ET. By the way, the “mouse” in me loves this contest; I truly love cheese.

THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH by Elaine Hussey is the newest book we’re featuring in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight. Betty Jewel Hughes was once the hottest black jazz singer in Memphis. But when she finds herself pregnant and alone, she gives up her dream of being a star to raise her beautiful daughter, Billie, in Shakerag, Mississippi. Now, 10 years later, in 1955, Betty Jewel is dying of cancer and looking for someone to care for Billie when she's gone. With no one she can count on, Betty Jewel does the unthinkable: she takes out a want ad seeking a loving mother for her daughter. We have 35 copies of the book, which releases on July 30th, to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, July 25th at noon ET.

EYE FOR AN EYE is one of the titles we’ve been featuring in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. The book is now in stores, and we have our review for you this week. Joe Hartlaub has this to say about the latest Dewey Andreas novel from Ben Coes: “You will want to take a stress test before reading EYE FOR AN EYE. There are any number of suspenseful scenes between the covers, including one that may have you thinking twice before ever getting on a freeway again. And then there is the ending. I read the last two paragraphs several times just to see what I was missing.” We also have a very insightful interview that Joe conducted with Ben, which you can read here.

The other Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight title we’ve been featuring is PLEASE DON’T TELL, a heartstopping stand-alone novel (now in stores) from Elizabeth Adler that has so many twists and turns that you’ll be left guessing right up until the end. She has been known for her romance writing, but is stepping out in a new direction here. Here is reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski’s take on the book: “While romance isn’t a genre I tend to follow much, I do enjoy it in stories like PLEASE DON’T TELL. I like my suspense slightly messy and overwhelming --- in a good way, of course. Messy lives are more interesting lives for characters, and that adds to the story for me. Let’s face it, I like yelling at the characters not to open the front door!” Amy also chatted with Elizabeth, and you can read the interview here.

Our previous Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight title, LETTERS FROM SKYE, released this week, and we have our review of this atmospheric debut novel from Jessica Brockmole. According to Norah Piehl, “Surprisingly, given that the novel is written entirely in the form of letters, Brockmole manages to convey budding romance, suspense and genuine character development --- no mean feat when her only canvas is the letters her characters themselves write.” We also have an interview with Jessica that Norah conducted, and you can read that Q&A here.

LETTERS FROM SKYE is just one of three titles I’m naming as Bets On picks this week. The other two are SWEET SALT AIR by Barbara Delinsky and WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD by Susan Crandall, which we’ve reviewed in recent weeks. See why I’m betting you’ll love all these books!

In Luanne Rice’s latest novel, THE LEMON ORCHARD, we see that Julia’s life has been turned upside down by her daughter’s death. While she expects to find nothing more than peace and solitude as she house-sits, she finds herself drawn to the handsome man who oversees the lemon orchard. Roberto reveals to Julia the heartbreaking story of his own loss --- yet, unlike Julia, his daughter was lost but never found. Despite the odds, he cannot bear to give up hope. Reviewer Amie Taylor calls THE LEMON ORCHARD “an intensely touching book that immediately transports the reader from wherever they are to the balmy California coast. It's almost possible to feel the Santa Ana winds, smell the lemons and experience the spray of the ocean in the breeze. The characters of Julia and Roberto are mesmerizing as we learn what makes them tick throughout the chapters.” Read more about the book in this interview with Luanne.

By the way, on Facebook, Luanne posts some of the most stunning photos from the California coast. "Like" her there to see what I mean!

Elin Hilderbrand is back with her 12th novel, BEAUTIFUL DAY, and we have our review this week. The Carmichaels and the Grahams have gathered on Nantucket for a wedding. Plans are being made according to the wishes of the bride's late mother, who left behind The Notebook: specific instructions for every detail of her youngest daughter's future nuptials. Everything should be falling into place for the beautiful event --- but in reality, things are far from perfect. Reviewer Jennifer Romanello has this to say: "Elin Hilderbrand is a master of the 'summer beach read.' Her characters are likable and fairly complex, and she is a wonderful storyteller. As in all her novels, BEAUTIFUL DAY pays homage to her love for and deep connection to the island of Nantucket."

I had the pleasure of meeting Elin a few weeks ago at a publisher luncheon. We talked years ago as we have a mutual friend when she was publishing THE BLUE BISTRO, which I loved. She was introduced as being someone really sunny on even the cloudiest days, and meeting her I see why. I have not read BEAUTIFUL DAY yet, but it’s on my stack just from hearing her talk about it.

Also in stores this week is CLOSE MY EYES, Sophie McKenzie’s debut adult novel that we previewed back in October in our “Sneak Peek: An Early Look at an Upcoming Book” feature. When Geniver Loxley lost her daughter at birth, her world stopped turning. But then a stranger shows up on their doorstep, telling Gen that Beth is still out there somewhere, alive and waiting to be found. As Gen delves into the darkest parts of her past, she starts to realize that finding the answers might open the door to something even worse. Joe Hartlaub has our review of this riveting psychological thriller and says, "CLOSE MY EYES is a wild night’s ride that will have you up reading into the wee hours, and then fishing around in your spouse’s locked filing cabinet. Be careful what you look for."

I read this book in manuscript last summer on the first day of my vacation; it’s very edgy and twisty. As soon as I closed it, I wrote the publisher to tell them how gripping it was!

Our Summer Reading contests are back after a brief Independence Day hiatus. This week, we gave away the aforementioned WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD by Susan Crandall and SIGNED copies of LADIES’ NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews. Next week, our prize books will be BIG GIRL PANTIES by Stephanie Evanovich and THE RED BOOK by Deborah Copaken Kogan. If you’d like to be alerted as soon as our contests go live, then be sure to click here and sign up for our Summer Reading newsletter.

Let us know what books you’ve read in our Word of Mouth feature, and you could be one of five lucky readers to win THREE books. Our prize books over the next two weeks will be THE ENGLISH GIRL by Daniel Silva, HUNTING EVE: An Eve Duncan Novel by Iris Johansen and LIGHT OF THE WORLD: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke. All you have to do is fill out the form on this page by Friday, July 26th at noon ET for your chance to win these fabulous novels.

A reminder: All 13 episodes of "Orange Is the New Black" from "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan, based on the book of the same name by Piper Kerman, were released simultaneously on Thursday --- and the series already has been picked up for a second season. It’s edgy as you would expect from Kohan and for mature audiences for sure, but to me it’s a riveting view inside a women’s prison. Let’s just say I always have said I do not look good in orange, and watching this I really need to stay out of prison!

Back to talking to thriller authors for me. Watching them, I see life as one big plot twist!

Have a great week and read on….

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to see Chris Bohjalian’s “Doomed Lovers” bookshelf.

THE CURIOSITY by Stephen P. Kiernan (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Dr. Kate Philo and her scientific exploration team make a breathtaking discovery in the Arctic: the body of a man buried deep in the ice. Remarkably, the frozen man is brought back to the lab and successfully reanimated. Kate and the man, who turns out to be Judge Jeremiah Rice, grow closer. But the clock is ticking and Jeremiah’s new life is slipping away...and all too soon, Kate must decide how far she is willing to go to protect the man she has come to love. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to enter a contest for your chance to win a visit with Stephen P. Kiernan for your book club, along with copies of the book and a Cabot Cheddar Cheese gift basket.

We have 35 copies of THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH by Elaine Hussey, which releases on July 30th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, July 25th at noon ET.

THE SWEETEST HALLELUJAH by Elaine Hussey (Historical Fiction)
Betty Jewel Hughes was once the hottest black jazz singer in Memphis. But when she finds herself pregnant and alone, she gives up her dream of being a star to raise her beautiful daughter, Billie, in Shakerag, Mississippi. Now, 10 years later, in 1955, Betty Jewel is dying of cancer and looking for someone to care for Billie when she's gone. With no one she can count on, Betty Jewel does the unthinkable: she takes out a want ad seeking a loving mother for her daughter.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, recently widowed Cassie Malone is an outspoken housewife insulated by her wealth and privileged white society. Working part-time at a newspaper, she is drawn to Betty Jewel through her mysterious ad. With racial tension in the South brewing, the women forge a bond as deep as it is forbidden. But neither woman could have imagined the gifts they would find in each other, and in the sweet young girl they both love with all their hearts.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Elaine Hussey’s bio.
-Click here to visit Elaine Hussey’s official website.
-Connect with Elaine Hussey on Facebook and Twitter.

Critically acclaimed author Ben Coes returns with his latest Dewey Andreas novel, EYE FOR AN EYE. When Dewey uncovers the identity of a mole embedded at a high level in Israel’s Mossad, it triggers a larger, more dangerous plot. Bookreporter.com’s Joe Hartlaub talks to Coes about the inextricable relationship between political fiction and real-life politics. A former White House speechwriter, Coes has a wealth of insider knowledge, and shares his anxiety about the future of international relations --- especially considering the superstate into which China is developing itself. He also talks about the recent Snowden scandal, and what it means as far as the government's ability to become Big Brother in the future. But while the political frontier may seem grim, Coes's enthusiasm for writing fiction is boundless, and he reveals how he makes his characters and stories come to life.

EYE FOR AN EYE: A Dewey Andreas Novel by Ben Coes (Thriller)
When Dewey Andreas uncovers the identity of a mole embedded at a high level in Israel’s Mossad, it triggers a larger, more dangerous plot. The mole was the most important asset of Chinese Intelligence, and Fao Bhang, head of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), responds to the discovery and brutal elimination of the mole, by immediately placing a kill order on the man responsible --- Dewey Andreas. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Ben Coes’s bio.
-Connect with Ben Coes on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 50 winners who were selected to read and comment on the book.
-Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.

Elizabeth Adler, the internationally bestselling author of over 25 novels, returns with her newest thriller, PLEASE DON’T TELL. When a blood-soaked stranger shows up on her doorstep one stormy night, Fen Dexter’s quiet life is not only interrupted, but potentially put in grave danger. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Amy Gwiazdowski, Adler talks about how important the settings of her novels are --- and how traveling is her favorite kind of research! She also tells Amy why “likable” characters make the best protagonists, which of the delicious recipes from her books are pulled from real life, the perfect number of dinner party guests, and all the books in her to-read pile.

PLEASE DON’T TELL by Elizabeth Adler (Thriller)
Fen Dexter’s quiet life on the idyllic California coast is interrupted one stormy night when a blood-covered man shows up on her doorstep, claiming to have had a car accident. He tells her that he is on his way to San Francisco to help the police solve the murder of his fiancé. Who is this mysterious stranger? What does he want with Fen and her family? And will they live long enough to uncover the truth? Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Elizabeth Adler’s bio.
-Click here to connect with Elizabeth Adler on Facebook.
-Click here to see the 25 winners who were selected to read and comment on the book.
-Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.

A sweeping story told in letters, spanning two continents and two world wars, Jessica Brockmole’s atmospheric debut novel, LETTERS FROM SKYE, captures the indelible ways that people fall in love, and celebrates the power of the written word to stir the heart. The author herself spent several years living in Scotland, so she's no stranger to the joys and pitfalls of epistolary communication. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Norah Piehl, Brockmole talks about the setting that inspired the story --- and all the tricks she used to do its visceral beauty justice. She also reveals that, initially at least, the novel was an exercise in "voice," and how Elspeth, David and Margaret's voices took on lives of their own, as well as how the story might be different (or not!) if the characters had email access.

LETTERS FROM SKYE by Jessica Brockmole (Historical Fiction)
When was the last time you wrote a letter? Not an email or a Facebook message, but an actual handwritten letter sent through the mail? If it's been a while, then LETTERS FROM SKYE might just convince you to put pen to paper again. Jessica Brockmole's debut novel, an epistolary romance that spans several decades and two world wars, is a testament to the power of love to overcome great adversity. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to see why we’re betting you’ll love this book.
-Click here to watch the book trailer.
-Click here to read Jessica Brockmole’s bio.
-Click here to visit Jessica Brockmole’s official website.
-Connect with Jessica Brockmole on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 25 winners who were selected to read and comment on the book.
-Click here to read more in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight.

New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice returns with her newest novel, THE LEMON ORCHARD, a love story about two people from seemingly different worlds who share a heartbreaking connection. The book deals frankly with the friction between citizens and immigrants along the U.S.-Mexico border. In this interview, Rice shares how she was able to find empathy for both sides of the conflict and humanize a very polarizing issue --- including visits to the border and getting to know families with firsthand experience of it. She also talks about her fascination with anthropology --- the way people naturally move toward a better life --- as well as the danger of black-and-white thinking and the importance of compassion.

THE LEMON ORCHARD by Luanne Rice (Romance)
Julia’s life has been turned upside down by her daughter’s death. While she expects to find nothing more than peace and solitude as she house-sits, she finds herself drawn to the handsome man who oversees the lemon orchard. Roberto reveals to Julia the heartbreaking story of his own loss --- yet, unlike Julia, his daughter was lost but never found. Despite the odds, he cannot bear to give up hope. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.

I WEAR THE BLACK HAT: Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined) by Chuck Klosterman (Popular Culture/Essays)
In I WEAR THE BLACK HAT, Chuck Klosterman questions the modern understanding of villainy. What was so Machiavellian about Machiavelli? Why don’t we see Bernhard Goetz the same way we see Batman? Who is more worthy of our vitriol --- Bill Clinton or Don Henley? What was O. J. Simpson’s second-worst decision? And why is Klosterman still haunted by some kid he knew for one week in 1985? Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

-Click here to read more about the book.

CLOSE MY EYES by Sophie McKenzie (Psychological Thriller)
When Geniver Loxley lost her daughter at birth, her world stopped turning. But then a stranger shows up on their doorstep, telling Gen that Beth is still out there somewhere, alive and waiting to be found. As Gen delves into the darkest parts of her past, she starts to realize that finding the answers might open the door to something even worse. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.

Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We will be spotlighting a different title on select days from now through July 31st, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter. We also will be sending a special daily newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

This year's featured titles include:

• APPROACHING THE SPEED OF LIGHT by Victoria Lustbader
• BIG GIRL PANTIES by Stephanie Evanovich
• THE ESKIMO HUNTS IN MIAMI by Stefan Kanfer
• THE EXPATS by Chris Pavone
• GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
• THE INNOCENTS by Francesca Segal
• IS THIS TOMORROW by Caroline Leavitt
• LADIES' NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews
• MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND by Matthew Dicks
• THE PANTHER by Nelson DeMille
• PASTORS' WIVES by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen
• READY TO DIE: A Selena Alvarez/Regan Pescoli Novel by Lisa Jackson
• THE RED BOOK by Deborah Copaken Kogan
• SEA CHANGE by S.M. Wheeler
• SISTERLAND by Curtis Sittenfeld
• SOMETHING WICKED by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush
• SUTTON by J.R. Moehringer
• TELL ME by Lisa Jackson
• THOSE WE LOVE MOST by Lee Woodruff
• WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD by Susan Crandall
• WISP OF A THING by Alex Bledsoe

Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, July 16th at noon ET. Our featured titles will be BIG GIRL PANTIES by Stephanie Evanovich and THE RED BOOK by Deborah Copaken Kogan.

THE RECIPE BOX by Sandra Lee (Fiction)
THE RECIPE BOX is the story of Grace D’Angelo, a woman at her wit’s end trying to create a life from broken pieces. She’s just divorced her high school sweetheart, Brian, and is trying to make a new life for herself as a single working mom in LA. Her 14-year old daughter, Emma, is resentful about being uprooted from Chicago to LA and reeling from the divorce. She’s skipping school, hanging with the wrong crowd, and all in all giving Grace a very hard time. On top of all that, Grace’s best friend Leeza is at the heartbreaking end stages of breast cancer back in their hometown of New London, Wisconsin.

Grace is barely holding it together, but when Leeza dies, it is a bittersweet wake-up call that you don’t get a second chance at life. Grace is determined to get her life back on track and help Emma do so as well.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Sandra Lee’s bio.
-Click here to see the 25 winners who were selected to read and comment on the book.

BEAUTIFUL DAY by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
The Carmichaels and the Grahams have gathered on Nantucket for a wedding. Plans are being made according to the wishes of the bride's late mother, who left behind The Notebook: specific instructions for every detail of her youngest daughter's future nuptials. Everything should be falling into place for the beautiful event --- but in reality, things are far from perfect. Reviewed by Jennifer Romanello.

THE ARRIVALS by Melissa Marr (Fantasy/Adventure)
Chloe walks into a bar and blows five years of sobriety. When she wakes, she finds herself in an unfamiliar world, The Wasteland. She discovers that people from all times and places have also arrived there, including a brother and sister from the Wild West, a prohibition bootlegger, a one-time hippie, a mentally unbalanced 1950s housewife, and a former carnival artist. None know why they arrived there --- or if there is a way out of a world populated by monsters and filled with corruption. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

VISITATION STREET by Ivy Pochoda (Mystery)
It’s summertime in Red Hook, Brooklyn, a blue-collar dockside neighborhood. June and Val, two 15-year-olds, take a raft out onto the bay at night to see what they can see. And then they disappear. Only Val will survive, washed ashore and semi-conscious in the weeds. This shocking event will echo through the lives of a diverse cast of Red Hook residents. Val contends with the shadow of her missing friend and a truth she buries deep inside. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

FIVE STAR BILLIONAIRE by Tash Aw (Fiction)
Phoebe is a factory girl who has come to Shanghai with the promise of a job. Gary is a country boy turned pop star who is spinning out of control. Justin is in Shanghai to expand his family’s real estate empire. He has long harbored a crush on Yinghui, who has reinvented herself as a successful Shanghai businesswoman. Yinghui is about to make a deal with Walter Chao, the five star billionaire of the novel, who has a hand in the lives of each of the characters. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

THE ROAD TO BURGUNDY: The Unlikely Story of an American Making Wine and a New Life in France by Ray Walker (Memoir)
Native Californian Ray Walker was studying to become a securities representative at Merrill Lynch but found the work unfulfilling. He had a wife and, soon, a baby daughter, and felt he needed to be responsible and live the corporate life. But Ray had a dream: to make Burgundy wine in France. THE ROAD TO BURGUNDY is Walker’s charming account of the stumbles and serendipity that led to his transformation from corporate drone to vigneron. Reviewed by Michael Magras.

CHILDREN OF THE JACARANDA TREE by Sahar Delijani (Fiction)
Set in post-revolutionary Iran from 1983 to 2011, Sahar Delijani’s debut novel follows a group of mothers, fathers, children and lovers --- some related by blood, others brought together by the tide of history that washes over their lives. Finally, years later, it is the next generation that is left with the burden of the past and their country’s tenuous future as a new wave of protest and political strife begins. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.

EVIL AND THE MASK by Fuminori Nakamura (Thriller)
In Fumihiro Kuki’s wealthy family, it’s tradition that a patriarch, when reaching the end of his life, will beget one last child to dedicate to causing misery in a world that cannot be controlled or saved. Eleven-year-old Fumihiro will be specially educated to learn to create as much destruction and unhappiness in the world around him as a single person can. But as his education progresses, he begins to question his father's mandate. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.