August 9, 2013

Well, this Jersey Girl is in the Hamptons for the weekend. For those not from the NY metro area, the Hamptons are the stretch of beaches east of New York City where the New Yorkers head to on weekends to play. Tom and the boys have been out here a lot through the years, but I have not been “out East” since Cory was a baby. We’re visiting our dear friend Moe, who the boys fondly call “Uncle Moe.” This will be our first trip out since Moe’s lovely wife, Shirley, passed away last fall. On the past trips that I ventured on, Tom would race his BMW at Bridgehampton Race Track (sold a while back, and I think it is now a golf course and homes), or he and the boys would sail with Moe. Shirley and I shopped, read and chatted. We always stopped by The Barefoot Contessa to pick up dips and other great specialty items from Ina Garten’s store that was open out there. Every time I watch “The Barefoot Contessa” on Food Network or read one of her cookbooks, I remember those fun adventures.

During the week, I saw on Nelson DeMille's website that tomorrow night he is an Honorary co-Chair and also is signing at the "Authors Night" event to benefit the Easthampton Public Library. The evening opens with a cocktail party and author signing at Gardiner Farm in Easthampton, and then the evening rolls on with private-hosted dinners with the authors as honored guests. The timing works for me to attend the cocktail portion of the evening, where authors will include Robert Caro, Susan Isaacs, Barbara Goldsmith, Kitty Kelley and Robert Massie.

And in what can only be considered "it's a small world," Thomas Maier, who graduated with me from Fordham in 1978, will be there signing his book, MASTERS OF SEX, which is the basis for the Showtime series starting on September 29th about Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson. Talk about being in the right place at the right time...so nice to be able to attend this event! For any of you "out east" this weekend, tickets are still available at the door, and details are available here. I will try to grab some photos!

Last weekend, our neighborhood barbecue was a great success. The rain stopped and the skies cleared as I was out buying corn at our local farmer’s market. All morning I had been plotting how to rig tents or move the party indoors, both of which would have not been what I wanted to do, so “whew” on that one! Dale, one of our neighbors, is a big reader. Over dinner she was talking about THE EXECUTION OF NOA P. SINGLETON, and while giving nothing away, she mentioned how she wanted to talk about how it ended with someone; she had not seen that ending coming. I realized I had not finished it…one of the books that was languishing on my “to be finished” pile. Soooo Sunday, I sat in a lounge chair and did just that…and then called Dale to talk about it. I also promised her a list of more books I thought she might enjoy.

By the way, I still am wondering what the neighbors are thinking of me after I shared copies of A RELIABLE WIFE with them two years ago as part of World Book Night. Just as I dropped off the last copy, Greg read the note that I had written to accompany each book where I went on and on about how much I loved it. He asked, “Do you remember how much sex there was in that book?” I, of course, did not! This did not come up as a topic Saturday night, but it did lend to some great storytelling as I shared Greg’s comment over cocktails.

I have had a hectic week, one that makes me ask, “Is this summer?” Among other non-joys this week, Nikki, who is the person who organizes us like a dream and traffics a large amount of the content on Bookreporter.com, is on jury duty and is seated on a trial that may last until August 16th! I am all for doing civic duty, but this is a real test for a small company. I feel like we are on trial as well. So I needed a book each evening that would slip me into the story of some characters I knew so I could unwind. Something light and fun. Thus I picked up the third installment of Jane Porter’s The Brennan Sisters series, THE GOOD WIFE, which will be in stores on September 3rd and got exactly the kind of read that I was craving! I feel like I know these people, and it was just what I needed. I was not in the mood to read any NEW characters this week. Settling in with the Brennans was perfect…and I finished it early Thursday morning when I should have been packing.

One of the books that I have been telling you about for weeks now, THE SILENT WIFE, was written up in the New York Times as a sleeper hit of the summer. I LOVE when we share early intel with you like this! In other news this week, we learned that Elmore Leonard has suffered a stroke, but as I write this, the family is very optimistic. We all, like you, wish him well.

Among our 14 reviews this week is Linwood Barclay’s new thriller, A TAP ON THE WINDOW. One night, a girl drenched in rain taps on private investigator Cal Weaver’s car window and asks for a ride. She’s the same age as Scott, his teenage son who died in a tragic accident, and maybe she can help Cal find the dealer who sold his son the drugs that killed him. After a brief stop at a roadside diner, he senses that something is not right with the girl or the situation. Before he knows it, Cal is drawn into a nightmare of pain and suspicion. Reviewer Joe Hartlaub has this to say about the book: “While Barclay mines some familiar territory here, he finds an entirely new way to explore it while bringing his always deft touch and penchant for surprises along for a tour that will have you holding your breath as the proceedings are brought to a conclusion.” Greg grabbed an advance reading copy as soon as it came into the office and loved it. I have it way high up on my stack to read!

We have a new contest to tell you about this week. 25 readers will have the opportunity to win an advance copy of THE STRANGER YOU KNOW by Andrea Kane, which releases on September 24th. A Forensic Instincts team must race to uncover the identity of a serial killer before his ever-tightening circle of death closes in on Casey Woods --- the ultimate target. As the stalker methodically moves in on his prey, his actions make one thing clear: he knows everything about Casey. The killer's blood trail of death shows that each victim has a unique connection to Casey, who realizes that this psychopath won't stop until he makes sure she's dead. If you’d like to enter the giveaway, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 22nd at noon ET. We will have more on this chilling new psychological thriller as the September release date draws closer. Trust that this one has tension that ramps and ramps up.

The Author Spotlight contests that we launched last week are continuing for one more week. In our Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight is William Kent Krueger, whose upcoming novel, TAMARACK COUNTY, is the 13th installment in his Cork O’Connor mystery series. When the private investigator begins to detect a startling pattern of ominous incidents throughout Tamarack County --- including one involving his own son --- Cork becomes well aware that someone is spinning a deadly web. At the center is a murder more than 20 years old for which an innocent man may have been convicted. We have 25 copies of the book, which releases on August 20th, to give away to those who would like to read it and share their comments about it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 15th at noon ET. Kent never disappoints, and TAMARACK COUNTY is no exception. This has been quite a year for him as ORDINARY GRACE, his brilliant stand-alone novel, released in March.

Our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight features Gregg Hurwitz, whose latest adrenaline-filled thriller is TELL NO LIES. Daniel Brasher finds an envelope intended for someone else with a note that says “admit what you’ve done or you will bleed for it. you have 'til november 15 at midnite.” The deadline has already passed, and the person to whom the envelope was addressed was brutally murdered. But this first warning is only the beginning, as a series of anonymous threats puts Daniel --- and everyone he loves --- in the path of a relentless killer. If you’d like to be one of 25 readers who will win a copy of the book and share their comments about it, then please fill out this form by Thursday, August 15th at noon ET. This is my favorite Gregg Hurwitz book thus far; it has the right blend of emotion and character development to make it what I call a “thriller with a soul.”

LOOKAWAY, LOOKAWAY by Wilton Barnhardt is the latest title to be featured in our Southern Writers Author Spotlight. Jerene Jarvis Johnston and her husband, Duke, are exemplars of Charlotte, North Carolina’s high society. Jerene tries her best to preserve the family's legacy, Duke’s fragile honor, and what's left of the dwindling family fortune. She will stop at nothing to keep what she has. But is it too much to ask for a little cooperation from her heedless family? We have 25 copies of the book to give away to those who would like to read it and share their comments about it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 15th at noon ET. LOOKAWAY, LOOKAWAY is everything you expect from a big southern novel and more. It’s the author’s first book since 1999, so his fans have much to look forward to when it releases on August 20th.

We’ve posted our New in Paperback roundups for August. Among this month’s notable titles are THE RACKETEER by John Grisham, THE PANTHER by Nelson DeMille, THE LAST MAN (the final novel Vince Flynn completed before his death in June), BONES ARE FOREVER by Kathy Reichs, FATHER NIGHT: A McClure/Carson Novel by Eric Van Lustbader and BRAIN ON FIRE: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan. Click here for much more.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest up and running. Let us know what books you’ve read, along with your comments about them, and you’ll be entered to win three upcoming releases: AFTER HER by Joyce Maynard (loved this), LET ME GO: An Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell Novel by Chelsea Cain (packed for the weekend), and ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM by Debbie Macomber (terrific second book in the series). We’ll be sharing reviews of all three of these books over the next couple of weeks.

Just a reminder that our Fall Preview contests will be launching this month and continue through Thursday, September 19th. Plus, we will have a new feature this fall called "Fall Showcase," which will give you even more ways to win throughout the fall. Sign up for the Bookreporter.com Fall Preview newsletter here now! If you cannot get that to work, please write us at info@bookreporter.com with the subject line “Sign me up for the Fall newsletters!” We have LOTS planned for fall, and we can’t wait to tell you all about the books you WILL want to read.

Over on 20SomethingReads.com, time is running out to win one of 15 copies of THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P., Adelle Waldman's much-talked-about debut novel. Our Grand Prize, which will be awarded to ONE winner, includes a copy of the book, along with a 20SomethingReads.com "Breakup Package.” To enter to win the Grand Prize, readers share their own best/worst/funniest breakup story. The Grand Prize winner's breakup story will be featured in our NATHANIEL P. dating blog series, along with 5-10 of the juiciest/most intriguing stories at the conclusion of the contest. Click here for all the details; the deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 14th at noon ET. And be sure to share this with all the twentysomethings who you know! We want to hear LOTS of stories, because everyone has one!

We were saddened to hear the news yesterday that bestselling author Barbara Mertz has passed away at the age of 85. Readers know her best for the many mystery and suspense novels she wrote under her two pseudonyms: Elizabeth Peters (whose popular series featured a daring Victorian archaeologist named Amelia Peabody) and Barbara Michaels. She also wrote nonfiction books about ancient Egypt under her own name. If you're a fan of these genres, do yourself a favor and explore her enormous backlist of titles.

On the bus ride out (luxury bus with power at every seat and Wi-Fi), I read the aforementioned LET ME GO, the new Chelsea Cain book, which will be in stores on Tuesday. I love Archie and Gretchen, and I am not sure what that says about me. If you have read Chelsea’s books, you know what I mean!

I am out for just the weekend, with lots on the agenda. But also packed to read is THE GRAVITY OF BIRDS by Tracy Guzeman, which came out this week. It’s one of a list of 22 debut titles coming this fall that the Indie Booksellers flagged as notable. You can see their entire list here. I was reminded I wanted to read it when I read our “On Sale This Week” newsletter on Tuesday. If you are not subscribed to that, you want to be. Click here to do so.

Here’s the copy about it that grabbed me: “Sisters Natalie and Alice Kessler were close, until adolescence wrenched them apart. During their family’s summer holiday at the lake, Alice falls under the thrall of a struggling young painter, Thomas Bayber, in whom she finds a kindred spirit. Decades later, Bayber unveils a never-before-seen work --- a provocative painting depicting the young Thomas, Natalie and Alice --- that he would like to sell. However, the artist requires that they first locate Natalie and Alice, who seem to have vanished.”

Also packed is Jojo Moyes’s new one, THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND, which comes out on August 20th. Jojo is the author of ME BEFORE YOU, which I raved about last week and selected as a Bets On pick!

I watched a great documentary on HBO the other night called “Casting By,” which takes a look at Marion Dougherty, the legendary casting director, as well as others who followed her. It’s a terrific look behind the movies seeing why certain actors were tapped for roles. She had an eye for the right look for a character much the same way an editor has a way with working with an author on words on a page. Well worth seeing as there is a lot of film history there.

Ready for a weekend of exploring, relaxing and, of course, reading! Here’s hoping you find a book you love by reading on….

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

A TAP ON THE WINDOW by Linwood Barclay (Thriller)
One night, a girl drenched in rain taps on private investigator Cal Weaver’s car window and asks for a ride. She’s the same age as Scott, his teenage son who died in a tragic accident, and maybe she can help Cal find the dealer who sold his son the drugs that killed him. After a brief stop at a roadside diner, Cal senses that something is not right with the girl or the situation. Before he knows it, Cal is drawn into a nightmare of pain and suspicion. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

MISTRESS by James Patterson and David Ellis (Thriller)
Unable to control his racing thoughts, Ben is consumed by his obsessions --- especially Diana Hotchkiss, who Ben knows he can never have. When Diana is found dead outside her apartment, his infatuation drives him on a hunt to find out what happened to the love of his life. Ben soon discovers that the woman he pined for was hiding a shocking double life. And now someone is out to stop Ben from uncovering the truth about Diana's illicit affairs. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

We are celebrating the September 24th release of THE STRANGER YOU KNOW by Andrea Kane with a special contest that will give 25 readers the opportunity to win an advance copy of the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 22nd at noon ET.

THE STRANGER YOU KNOW: A Forensic Instincts Novel by Andrea Kane (Thriller)
College-age girls with long red hair. Brutally murdered, they're posed like victims in a film noir. Each crime scene is eerily similar to the twisted fantasy of a serial offender now serving 30 years to life --- a criminal brought to justice with the help of Forensic Instincts.

But the similarities are more than one psychopath's desire to outdo another. As more red-haired victims are added to the body count, it becomes clear that each one has been chosen because of a unique connection to Casey --- a connection that grows closer and closer to her.

Now the Forensic Instincts team must race to uncover the identity of a serial killer before his ever-tightening circle of death closes in on Casey as the ultimate target. As the stalker methodically moves in on his prey, his actions make one thing clear: he knows everything about Casey. And Casey realizes that this psychopath won't stop until he makes sure she's dead.
 

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Andrea Kane’s bio.
-Click here to visit Andrea Kane’s official website.
-Connect with Andrea Kane on Facebook and Twitter.

We have 25 copies of TAMARACK COUNTY by William Kent Krueger, which releases on August 20th, 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, August 15th at noon ET.

TAMARACK COUNTY by William Kent Krueger (Mystery/Thriller)
Tamarack County, Minnesota, the gateway to the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Within its borders lie a million acres of deep forest, a thousand crystal clear lakes, and a few quiet towns. This is the place that, for most of his life, sheriff-turned-private investigator Cork O’Connor has called home.

As a blizzard swells just days before Christmas, the car belonging to the wife of a retired local judge is discovered abandoned on a rural road. After days without any leads, the search-and-rescue team, assisted by O’Connor, has little hope of finding her alive, if at all.

Early on, Cork notices small details about the woman’s disappearance that tell a disturbing story. And when the beloved pet dog of a friend is found decapitated, he begins to detect a startling pattern of ominous incidents throughout the area. Then Cork’s son is nearly killed, and he knows this is no trick of his imagination. Someone is spinning a deadly web in Tamarack County. At the center is a murder more than 20 years old for which an innocent man may have been convicted.

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

We have 25 copies of TELL NO LIES by Gregg Hurwitz, which releases on August 20th, 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, August 15th at noon ET.

TELL NO LIES by Gregg Hurwitz (Thriller)
Daniel Brasher has always been something of a disappointment to his old-money aristocratic San Francisco mother. Daniel left his high-paying job as a money manager to marry his community organizer wife and work at a job he loves, leading group counseling sessions with recently paroled ex-cons. Now he’s ready to move on and start a private practice.

But before he leaves, he finds an envelope in his department mailbox --- one intended for someone else that was placed in his slot by accident. Inside it is an unsigned piece of paper, a note that says only “admit what you’ve done or you will bleed for it. you have 'til november 15 at midnite.” The deadline has already passed and the person to whom the envelope was addressed was brutally murdered. But this first warning is only the beginning.

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

We have 25 copies of LOOKAWAY, LOOKAWAY by Wilton Barnhardt, which releases on August 20th, 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, August 15th at noon ET.

LOOKAWAY, LOOKAWAY by Wilton Barnhardt (Fiction)
Jerene Jarvis Johnston and her husband, Duke, are exemplars of Charlotte, North Carolina’s high society, where old Southern money --- and older Southern secrets --- meet the new wealth of bankers, boom-era speculators, and carpetbagging social climbers. Steely and implacable, Jerene presides over her family’s legacy of paintings at the Mint Museum; Duke, the one-time college golden boy and descendant of a Confederate general, whose promising political career was mysteriously short-circuited, has settled into a comfortable semi-senescence as a Civil War re-enactor. Jerene’s brother, Gaston, is an infamously dissolute bestselling historical novelist who has never managed to begin his long-dreamed-of literary masterpiece, while their sister, Dillard, is a prisoner of unfortunate life decisions that have made her a near-recluse.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Wilton Barnhardt’s bio.

August’s New in Paperback roundups include the following highlights:

THE RACKETEER by John Grisham (Legal Thriller)
Given the importance of what they do, the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered. Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five. Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise?

THE PANTHER by Nelson DeMille (Thriller)
Anti-Terrorist Task Force agent John Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, have been posted in one of the most dangerous places in the Middle East to track down a high-ranking Al Qaeda operative called The Panther. John and Kate don't know the entirety of their mission, but they know there is more to it than meets the eye.

THE LAST MAN by Vince Flynn (Thriller)
Joe Rickman, head of CIA clandestine operations in Afghanistan, has been kidnapped and his four bodyguards executed in cold blood. But Mitch Rapp wonders if something even more sinister is afoot. Irene Kennedy, director of the CIA, has dispatched him to Afghanistan to find Rickman at all costs. Rapp, however, isn’t the only one looking for Rickman. It quickly becomes apparent that the FBI is less concerned with finding Rickman than placing the blame on Rapp.

BONES ARE FOREVER by Kathy Reichs (Thriller)
Temperance Brennan has been asked to examine the corpses of three dead babies in Montreal, while her long-time flame, Detective Ryan, is investigating the infants’ mother. When the woman flees to Edmonton, the investigation is joined by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police sergeant with whom Tempe had an ill-advised fling over a decade earlier. The dissonant team heads to a remote diamond-mining city to pursue an ever more sinister trail.

WINTER OF THE WORLD: Book Two of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett (Historical Fiction)
WINTER OF THE WORLD picks up right where FALL OF GIANTS left off, as its five interrelated families --- American, German, Russian, English and Welsh --- enter a time of enormous social, political and economic turmoil, beginning with the rise of the Third Reich, through the Spanish Civil War and the great dramas of World War II, up to the explosions of the American and Soviet atomic bombs.

BRAIN ON FIRE: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan (Memoir)
BRAIN ON FIRE is the powerful account of Susannah Cahalan’s struggle to recapture her identity and to rediscover herself among the fragments left behind. Using all her considerable journalistic skills --- and building from hospital records and surveillance video, interviews with family and friends, and excerpts from the deeply moving journal her father kept during her illness --- she pieces together the story of a “lost month” of her life.

-Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of August 5th, August 12th, August 19th and August 26th.

MANSON: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn (Biography/True Crime)
After more than 40 years, Charles Manson continues to mystify and fascinate us. One of the most notorious criminals in American history, Manson and members of his mostly female commune killed nine people, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate. Now, drawing on new information, bestselling author Jeff Guinn tells the definitive story of how this ordinary delinquent became a murderer. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

-Click here to read more about the book.

THE HIGHWAY by C. J. Box (Mystery/Thriller)
Two sisters set out across a remote stretch of Montana road, and it is the last time anyone hears from them again. Cody Hoyt, who has just lost his job as police investigator, begins the drive south to the girls’ last known location. Meanwhile, his former rookie partner, Cassie Dewell, discovers that Gracie and Danielle Sullivan aren’t the first girls who have disappeared in this area. This majestic landscape is the hunting ground for a killer whose viciousness is outmatched only by his intelligence. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.

THE LAST WITNESS: A Badge of Honor Novel by W. E. B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV (Thriller/Adventure)
Russian girls are being smuggled in to work in the sex trade, and now some of them are dying or just disappearing. On top of this, teenage girls are being lured from foster homes. The lone living witness has gone into hiding, with everybody --- the Russians, the cartels, some of Philadelphia’s most powerful politicians --- all looking for her. It’s up to homicide detective Matt Payne to find her --- and hope he gets to her first. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

BOMBSHELL: An FBI Thriller by Catherine Coulter (Thriller)
FBI Special Agent Griffin Hammersmith has been recruited by Dillon Savich to join his unit in Washington, D.C. But first he has to deal with his sister, Delsey, who has been found after a wild party naked, unconscious, and covered with blood that isn't hers. At the same time, Savich and Sherlock have their hands full investigating the murder of the grandson of the former head of the Federal Reserve Bank. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

BLUE PLATE SPECIAL: An Autobiography of My Appetites by Kate Christensen (Memoir)
In the tradition of M. F. K. Fisher, Laurie Colwin and Ruth Reichl, BLUE PLATE SPECIAL is a narrative in which food --- eating it, cooking it, reflecting on it --- becomes the vehicle for unpacking a life. Kate Christensen explores her history of hunger --- not just for food, but for love and confidence and a sense of belonging --- with a profound honesty, starting with her unorthodox childhood in 1960s Berkeley as the daughter of a mercurial legal activist who ruled the house with his fists. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.

THE GHOST BRIDE by Yangsze Choo (Supernatural/Historical Mystery)
Li Lan lives in 19th-century Malaysia, where she is pressured to marry the recently expired Lim Tian Ching --- her only chance at a good marriage. As a "ghost bride," she would be part of a wealthy, powerful family. But when Lim begins to visit her in her dreams, she knows that the marriage would be her worst nightmare. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

THE WIDOW’S STRIKE: A Pike Logan Thriller by Brad Taylor (Thriller)
In the fourth installment of Brad Taylor’s bestselling thriller series, the Taskforce --- led by Pike Logan and his partner, Jennifer Cahill --- must stop a suicide bomber intent on triggering a global epidemic. THE WIDOW'S STRIKE ties together government-sanctioned terrorist activities, nefarious multinational conglomerates, and frighteningly plausible science. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

JUSTICE FOR SARA by Erica Spindler (Thriller)
A jury found Katherine McCall not guilty of her sister’s murder. Not everyone agreed with the decision, and Kat’s only choice was to go into hiding. But she carried a dark secret with her, one that made her worry she might actually have had something to do with Sara’s death. Now, 10 years later, Kat receives a chilling anonymous letter that makes the past impossible to ignore. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.

KIND OF CRUEL by Sophie Hannah (Psychological Thriller)
Amber Hewerdine suffers from chronic insomnia and, as a last resort, decides to visit a hypnotherapist. Under hypnosis, she hears herself saying “Kind, cruel, kind of cruel,” words that awaken a vague memory. Two hours later, Amber is arrested for the brutal murder of a woman she’s never heard of, and the only way she can clear her name is by remembering exactly where she has seen those words. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE DYING HOURS: A Tom Thorne Novel by Mark Billingham (Mystery)
Tom Thorne becomes convinced that a spate of suicides among the elderly in London are something more sinister. His concerns are dismissed by the Murder Squad he was once part of and he is forced to investigate alone. Now, unable to trust anybody, Thorne risks losing those closest to him as well as endangering those being targeted by a killer unlike any he has hunted before. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

SANDRINE'S CASE by Thomas H. Cook (Mystery/Thriller)
Samuel Madison always wondered what Sandrine saw in him. On the surface, their relationship and marriage seemed perfectly tranquil. But then one night, Sandrine is found dead in their bed and Samuel is accused of her murder. As the truth about their often tumultuous relationship comes to light, Samuel must face a town and media convinced of his guilt, a daughter whose faith in her father has been shaken to its core, and astonishing revelations about his wife that make him fall in love with her for a second time. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE BOOK OF SECRETS by Elizabeth Joy Arnold (Fiction)
After more than 20 years of marriage, Chloe comes home one night to find that her husband, Nate, is gone. All he has left behind is a cryptic note explaining that he has returned to their childhood town, a place Chloe never wants to see again. While trying to reach Nate, Chloe stumbles upon a notebook tucked inside his antique copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Written in code, the pages contain long-buried secrets from their past, and clues to why he went home after all these years. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

We have a number of contests currently running on our other sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com. Please take a look at them below, and enter for your chance to win some fabulous books!

ReadingGroupGuides.com

ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes
We are celebrating the paperback release of ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes --- a heartbreakingly romantic novel that brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now available in paperback, for their group. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 5th at noon ET.

ALL GOOD THINGS by Sarah Turnbull
We are celebrating the upcoming release of ALL GOOD THINGS --- Sarah Turnbull’s follow-up memoir to ALMOST FRENCH, in which she explores a new paradise: Tahiti --- with a special contest. 45 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which will be in stores on September 12th, for their group. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 5th at noon ET.
 

"What Are You Reading?" Monthly Contest Feature
Let us know what your group is reading in August, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is NW, Zadie Smith’s tragicomic novel that follows four Londoners as they try to make adult lives outside of Caldwell, the council estate of their childhood. We have 12 copies of the book, which will be available in paperback on August 27th, to give away to three groups. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 5th at noon ET.

20SomethingReads.com

THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. by Adelle Waldman

We are celebrating the release of THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. by Adelle Waldman with a special contest that will give 15 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book. Our Grand Prize, which will be awarded to ONE winner, includes a copy of the book along with a 20SomethingReads.com "Breakup Package.” To enter to win the Grand Prize, share your best/worst funniest breakup story. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 14th at noon ET.

Teenreads.com

Back-to-School Book Bag Giveaway
Even though summer is winding down and a deep-seated dread may be beginning to settle in your stomach, Teenreads.com has something for you to celebrate the back-to-school season. In our brand new Back-to-School Book Bag Giveaway, you'll have the chance to win a bunch of books in a school bag! Between now and Monday, September 9th, teens can enter to win a prize package with books to perk you up this fall.
 

Kidsreads.com

HOME SWEET HORROR: Scary Tales, Book One by James Preller
To celebrate the release of HOME SWEET HORROR, we have a special contest that will give five readers the opportunity to win a copy of this first book in James Preller’s Scary Tales series. The deadline for entries is Monday, August 12th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

CHIVALRY: The Quest for a Personal Code of Honor in an Unjust World by Zach Hunter
We are celebrating the release of CHIVALRY by Zach Hunter with a special contest that will give 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book, which challenges young men and women to develop their own personal code that will prepare them to defend others and live with civility and integrity. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 15th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com’s Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, five readers will receive a copy of SMALL TOWN GIRL by Ann H. Gabhart. How long can two people stand on the brink of love without plunging in headfirst? Find out in this follow-up to ANGEL SISTER, which marks the return of Kate Merritt, this time all grown up. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 15th at noon ET.