Thank you to the many readers who wrote last weekend to share their raves about our new newsletter format, especially embracing that it is so easy to read on mobile. I was pleasantly surprised to see that, though I had been led to believe otherwise, it read perfectly on my Samsung phone! You can see some of those comments in the News & Pop Culture section below.
Last Saturday, I met up with Anna Knapp, who was one of our original hosts when we had a chat room in our early days on AOL, at a terrific yarn shop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. (After 16 years of Catholic school, when one says, “I am going to Bethlehem,” it’s hard not to think about a manger and a star, especially when going there the day after the Epiphany.) They had a group of chairs and couches in a sunny window area where we had a great afternoon of catching up, talking life, knitting, cooking and books. At one point we asked the woman beside us a question, and from there we joined a broader conversation with the entire group of women knitting there, many of whom were waiting for their daughters and granddaughters who were in a knitting class.
Conversation morphed from knitting to books at one point, with a lively chat about what people were reading. One of the women had been to BookCon, and she shared stories from that experience. (Later, her daughter was in awe that I actually knew Raina Telgemeier, her favorite author.) We talked a lot about how much “screen time” they allowed their children to have and what they were reading. It was a really enjoyable afternoon, first walking the aisles with Anna yarn shopping and catching up about the other Bookaccino hosts, and then broadening the conversation much the same way that we did when typing to readers in the early days online. We still marvel at how those early days on AOL brought together a far-flung group of readers from across the country and bonded them with lifelong friendships. And from there we grew the hundreds of thousands of readers we now have today from one keystroke after another.
Last Friday night, a box arrived from Kathy Jund, one of our readers from Southern California, which included the slippers and hand-painted bottle seen above, both of which are in my signature colors. I am known for walking barefoot around the house and then complaining that my feet are cold. Last weekend when the temps were frigid, I sat reading and watching football with my feet propped up wearing these. Perfect timing. Love, love, love them!
I have been reading SETTING FREE THE KITES by Alex George, which will be in stores on February 21st. Alex’s debut novel, A GOOD AMERICAN, was one of my 2012 Bets On selections, and I have been eagerly awaiting this book, which I am loving. It’s a moving story, set in Maine, beginning in 1976 with a friendship between two boys, Robert Carter and Nathan Tilly, that starts when they are in eighth grade. I am not far in, but I can see that there is a story behind the story unfolding, and it is going to bring challenges to both of them. I am so looking forward to reading more.
Yesterday, the temperatures soared to spring-like highs, and I headed to Maialino in the Gramercy Park Hotel for a media luncheon for Douglas Brunt, whose book, TROPHY SON, will be out on May 30th. The novel looks at the tennis world through the eyes of a prodigy who is coached by his tennis-obsessed father. It’s the story of not just tennis, but also the broader picture of our achievement-obsessed society. After Douglas spoke about the book, the conversation quickly morphed into what it is like to raise children in a world where sports and academics have wrought specialized coaches and drill practices to encourage success. Everyone at the table had stories, and it was a really interesting discussion. I look forward to reading the book and the conversation that it is sure to provoke.
Now to this week’s update...
THE GIRL BEFORE by JP Delaney, which releases on January 24th, is the latest featured title in our Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. She ends up at One Folgate Street. The space is intended to transform its occupant --- and it does. After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street, she is instantly drawn to the space --- and to its aloof but seductive creator. Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant, a woman similar to her in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror as the girl before.
We have 25 copies of THE GIRL BEFORE to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. Be sure to enter by Thursday, January 26th at noon ET. I read a manuscript of this debut psychological thriller last summer, and I immediately knew it would be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. You can read my commentary in the February 3rd newsletter. Besides the page-turning story, I loved the concept of the house that is at One Folgate Street!
Chris Bohjalian, the author of such bestsellers as THE GUEST ROOM, THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS and THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS, adds to his impressive bibliography with his latest novel, THE SLEEPWALKER. When Annalee Ahlberg, a sleepwalker, goes missing, her children fear the worst. Although it seems certain that she’s dead, Detective Gavin Rikert continues to remain in contact with the Ahlbergs. Annalee’s daughter, Lianna, finds herself drawn to Gavin, but is left to wonder why he knows so much about Annalee, why Annalee left her bed only when her father was away, and the location of her body (that is, if she really did die while sleepwalking).
According to reviewer Kate Ayers, “Chris Bohjalian has pacing down to a brilliant science, which is never more evident than in his latest chilling novel. Once again, he feeds his readers the story just slowly enough to keep us hungry for more…. Bohjalian has pulled off a remarkable feat with THE SLEEPWALKER, which no reader of intelligent mysteries will want to miss.”
We’re awarding the audio versions of THE GIRL BEFORE (read by Emilia Fox and Finty Williams, with Lisa Aagaard Knudsen) and THE SLEEPWALKER (read by Cady McClain and Grace Experience) to the winners of this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. All you have to do is send us your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll have a chance to win both these audio prizes. The deadline for your entries is Wednesday, February 1st at noon ET.
According to debut novelist Lindsey Lee Johnson, the American high school is THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE ON EARTH. Abigail enters into an inappropriate relationship with a teacher. Dave takes desperate measures to live up to his parents’ lofty expectations. Emma balances rigorous dance rehearsals with wild weekends. Damon returns from a stint at rehab determined to prove he’s a changed man. And Calista, once part of the popular crowd, chooses to become a hippie outcast. Their English teacher, a young lady named Molly Nicoll, strives to connect with them and her other students. But she fails to understand the middle school tragedy that played out online and has continued to reverberate in different ways for all of them.
Norah Piehl has our review and says, “Lindsey Lee Johnson, who has tutored and taught writing to teenagers in Marin County, clearly knows and understands their world, and portrays their lives with empathy and even fondness, while at the same time pointing out their privilege and occasional petty dramas…. Johnson offers a nuanced and at times heartwrenching look at high school’s promises and (more often) perils.” I will have my Bets On commentary about it next week. What’s interesting is that, while we think high school is so different today, there are many of the same types of people and not-so-fun experiences. But now they are augmented by social media and instant connections. I'm glad I'm not in high school now!
Peter Swanson follows up THE GIRL WITH A CLOCK FOR A HEART and THE KIND WORTH KILLING with his newest stand-alone novel of psychological suspense, HER EVERY FEAR. Kate Priddy has always been a bit neurotic, experiencing momentary bouts of anxiety that exploded into full-blown panic attacks after an ex-boyfriend abducted and almost killed her. When Corbin Dell, a distant cousin in Boston, suggests the two temporarily swap apartments, Kate agrees, hoping that a change of scenery will help turn her life around. But soon after arriving at Corbin’s apartment, Kate makes a shocking discovery: his next-door neighbor has been murdered, and a man claiming to be the dead woman’s old boyfriend insists that Corbin is responsible. When Kate reaches out to her cousin, he proclaims his innocence, but then she comes across disturbing objects hidden in the apartment and accidentally learns that Corbin is not where he says he is.
Joe Hartlaub has this to say in his review: “Those readers who are tired of encountering the scenario in which the damsel in distress is rescued by a prince will find much to love here, given how Swanson puts a unique corkscrew on that plot device. Furthermore, his trademark ability to create slow-building suspense that becomes full in the last third of the book is on proud display here.” HER EVERY FEAR will be another Bets On pick; you can see my comments on it in next week’s newsletter. Swanson definitely is one to watch.
Also, HER EVERY FEAR is one of the books we’re giving away in our Word of Mouth contest; the other is Gregg Hurwitz’s latest Orphan X thriller, THE NOWHERE MAN (yet another future Bets On pick). Let us know by Friday, January 20th at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll be in the running to win both titles. And for those wondering, 2017 is shaping up to be a really great year for readers.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include IN THE GREAT GREEN ROOM, Amy Gary’s fascinating biography of Margaret Wise Brown, the author of such beloved children’s classics as GOODNIGHT MOON and THE RUNAWAY BUNNY; RING OF FIRE, Brad Taylor’s latest fast-paced, gripping thriller featuring Taskforce operators Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill; and THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE by Katherine Arden, a debut historical fantasy that should appeal especially to readers of Naomi Novik’s UPROOTED and Erin Morgenstern’s THE NIGHT CIRCUS.
Love is in the air! We’ve brought back our Valentine’s Day contest for a 12th year. We’re giving five readers the opportunity to win eight love-themed books, along with some delicious chocolates. All you have to do is enter by Tuesday, February 14th (that’s right, Valentine’s Day!) at noon ET for your chance to win this taste-tempting prize package.
In next Friday’s newsletter, we will announce the titles in this year’s Winter Reading feature. On select days from January 24th through February 23rd, we will be hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter and giving five readers a chance to win it. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Congratulations to Michelle from Omaha, NE, who is the Grand Prize Winner in our End-of-the-Year Contest! She has won all 40 of my Bets On titles from 2016; I look forward to hearing if she enjoyed them as much as I did. Eight other winners will receive a selection of five of these books; click here to see if you are one of them!
On ReadingGroupGuides.com, we’re giving 35 book groups the chance to win 10 copies of BEING MORTAL: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande and share their comments on it. This #1 New York Times bestseller, which released in 2014, was named Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, The New York Times Book Review, NPR and the Chicago Tribune. Gawande is a practicing surgeon, and here he addresses the most challenging aspect of his profession: how medicine can improve not only life but also the process of its ending. Be sure to enter by Wednesday, February 8th at noon ET. This is one very thought-provoking book, especially poignant as we make huge medical advances, but at what cost to the patient.
And please take a look at all the other ReadingGroupGuides.com contests that are going on right now. As you can see, we have plenty of opportunities for you and your book group to read and discuss some fabulous fiction and nonfiction titles.
Our poll continues to ask if you received books or book gift cards over the holidays. Click here to let us know!
A reminder that “Victoria,” a seven-part Masterpiece series based on the book of the same name by Daisy Goodwin (who also created and wrote the series), will premiere on Sunday in the old “Downton Abbey” time slot. Visit their official website for all the info on this highly anticipated program, including the official trailer and a Q&A with the cast and Daisy herself. Looking for more reading about Victoria? Julia Baird’s biography, VICTORIA: THE QUEEN, is another great read.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: From Susan: “Happy New Year! Just wanted to let you know I like the new look of the newsletter. It is easy to read and very sleek-looking. Nice job!! Of course I always look forward to Friday evenings when I can get all the latest news on new book releases and decide which ones to put on my list...which keeps growing every week. Thank you and your staff for putting such a great newsletter together every week. I'm never disappointed!
Mimi said, “I love your yarn stash! I thought I had a lot. When I first saw the picture, I thought you had taken it at a yarn store! I look forward to your newsletter every week along with the ReadingGroupGuides one. Our book club is currently reading THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED. With snow coming tomorrow in Windsor, CT, it will be a good day to snuggle in and read and knit!
Jennifer shared a recipe for a slow-cooker beef dish, which sounds great: "Did you see this new recipe? I was impressed after I tried it out and thought you might enjoy it as well.” Oranges and beef…definitely sounds worth trying.
Janie wrote, “Thank you and your staff for your informative newsletter. I have gotten out of the Historical Fiction rut and have been led by you to expand to other genres. I wish my yarn stash looked like yours, but I have 4 UNFINISHED knit or crochet projects that I aim to complete this year, and they are kept in the back of my closet! Just wanted you to know that what you do is appreciated.” Um Janie, there are MANY unfinished projects around here. I think I spy seven beautifully bagged with the yarn to complete them!
Eve shared, “So much easier to read on my mobile phone. Well done!” Pattie chimed in and said, “I like the new format. It's easier to read.”
Gloria changed her routine to read it: “I love the new newsletter format! It looks all grown-up and very stylish. I changed my routine to read the newsletter Friday night instead of my Saturday morning ritual with my first cup of coffee. Couldn't wait to see it. Keep up the great work. You are tireless!”
Marilyn writes, “I love your newsletter and look forward to reading about new books to be published, and enjoy the doings of your family. I have recently been reading all the newsletters that I had saved since I suffered a concussion in July, also injuring one of my eyes, and was ordered not to do any reading of any kind. At first I also was not allowed to listen to books on CD, but was given the okay for that in October. I've always preferred to hold the books I am reading, but it saved my sanity to listen to 12 of them this past year...listening 10 minutes at a time at first! My dear husband has made several trips to the library to keep me supplied as I am not allowed to drive yet. So from now on, I will be paying more attention to the audiobooks section of your delightful newsletters. Thank you for all of them.” We will keep the suggestions coming...and readers, help her out by posting your audiobook selections on Sounding Off on Audio.
Sue shared, "I read the newsletter on my iPad and love the new look. It's so much crisper and easier to read. Thanks for the continued improvements that make an already fantastic newsletter even better!”
Bright Lights: Loved the documentary about Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds so much that I watched it a second time. Truly wonderful, though I wish they had been alive to do promotions and appearances for it. Have to imagine their riff about themselves.
11.22.63: Finished watching this last weekend, and I highly recommend it. I had not read the book, but Tom had and he felt it was a very faithful adaptation.
"Homeland": New season kicks off on Sunday night. I have not previewed it, but those who have are giving it raves. Next up!
Lemony Snicket,: The adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events makes its debut today as a Netflix series. The author of the books, Daniel Handler, wrote five of the eight episodes in the first season (I always like when authors are this involved with a project), which are adaptations of the first four titles in A Series of Unfortunate Events. There will be a quiz on this, but you got it all right?
The NCAA National Championship: Confession that I fell asleep during the National Championship on Monday night (I was wiped out), and the DVR failed to get the very exciting ending (not sure when that technology will be made smarter to run long when the show runs longer than planned). BUT I was able to find it on ESPN On Demand, and though I knew the ending (yeah, Clemson), it still was exciting to watch.
Latest BORN TO RUN Update; I Think #3: On disc 10 (yes, listening on CD; there are 16 discs) of Bruce Springsteen's BORN TO RUN. This continues to be one of the most interesting autobiographies that I have listened to, and I have a deeper appreciation of him as an artist. The backstory of his and the band's success --- the tough days, the time spent to get his work to something he is proud of and the toll it took on him both physically and emotionally (which is so clear), his quest for perfection, and, even more, the way he insists on giving it all to the fans during a concert and what he receives back from them --- makes this highly recommended.
Friday the 13th: Just saying. And the Wolf Moon was full last night. Just saying again.
Greg is headed to Newport, Rhode Island, with the New England Lighthouse Lovers for their annual Hot Chocolate event, where they will be touring a number of lighthouses --- his first event as president of the organization. Cory has one last free weekend before classes start up on Tuesday.
This will be a quiet weekend for me, as there is lots of reading to do (I feel like it is finals time) before the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute in Minneapolis in two weeks. In preparation for that, I have a new down coat and have six rows knitted for a hat; I think I better crank up the pace on the latter.
At lunch yesterday, I had carrots with pistachios and tracked down a recipe, so I will be making those this weekend, as well as a salad with lemon dressing and dates; I had the latter at another lunch this week. Oh, and a three-day weekend is a good time to think about putting the rest of the Christmas decorations away. Love them, so sigh!
As we celebrate this three-day weekend, take time to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his many important contributions. So much history to ponder there. Read on, and have a great week!
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review: THE SLEEPWALKER by Chris Bohjalian
THE SLEEPWALKER by Chris Bohjalian (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Cady McClain and Grace Experience
When Annalee Ahlberg goes missing, her children fear the worst. Annalee is a sleepwalker whose affliction manifests in ways both bizarre and devastating. When the police discover a small swatch of fabric, a nightshirt, ripped and hanging from a tree branch, it seems certain Annalee is dead, but Detective Gavin Rikert continues to call and stop by the Ahlbergs' Victorian home. As daughter Lianna peels back the layers of mystery surrounding Annalee's disappearance, she finds herself drawn to Gavin, but she must ask herself: Why does the detective know so much about her mother? Why did Annalee leave her bed only when her father was away? And if she really died while sleepwalking, where was the body? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
New Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight & Contest: THE GIRL BEFORE by JP Delaney --- a Bookreporter.com Bets On Selection
THE GIRL BEFORE by JP Delaney is an enthralling psychological thriller that spins one woman’s seemingly good fortune, and another woman’s mysterious fate, through a kaleidoscope of duplicity, death and deception. To celebrate its January 24th release, we have 25 copies to give away to readers who would like to read the book and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, January 26th at noon ET.
THE GIRL BEFORE by JP Delaney (Psychological Thriller)
Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control. The space is intended to transform its occupant --- and it does. After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street, she is instantly drawn to the space --- and to its aloof but seductive creator. Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant, a woman similar to her in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror as the girl before.
THE GIRL BEFORE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read Carol's commentary in the February 3rd newsletter.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit the book's official website.
- Click here to read JP Delaney's bio.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review: THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE ON EARTH by Lindsey Lee Johnson --- a Bookreporter.com Bets On Selection
THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE ON EARTH by Lindsey Lee Johnson (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
The wealthy enclaves north of San Francisco are not the paradise they appear to be, and nobody knows this better than the students of a local high school. Despite being raised with all the opportunities money can buy, these vulnerable kids are navigating a treacherous adolescence in which every action, every rumor and every feeling is potentially postable, shareable and viral. Lindsey Lee Johnson’s kaleidoscopic narrative exposes at every turn the real human beings beneath the high school stereotypes. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE ON EARTH will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read Carol's commentary in the January 20th newsletter.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: HER EVERY FEAR by
Peter Swanson --- a Bookreporter.com Bets On Selection
HER EVERY FEAR by Peter Swanson (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, performed by Eva Kaminsky
Growing up, Kate Priddy was always a bit neurotic, experiencing momentary bouts of anxiety that exploded into full-blown panic attacks after an ex-boyfriend kidnapped her and nearly ended her life. When Corbin Dell, a distant cousin in Boston, suggests the two temporarily swap apartments, Kate, an art student in London, agrees, hoping that time away in a new place will help her overcome the recent wreckage of her life. But soon after her arrival at Corbin’s grand apartment on Beacon Hill, Kate makes a shocking discovery: his next-door neighbor, a young woman named Audrey Marshall, has been murdered. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
HER EVERY FEAR will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read Carol's commentary in the January 20th newsletter.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: IN THE GREAT GREEN ROOM
by Amy Gary
IN THE GREAT GREEN ROOM: The Brilliant and Bold Life of Margaret Wise Brown by Amy Gary (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Bernadette Dunne
The extraordinary life of the woman behind the beloved children’s classics GOODNIGHT MOON and THE RUNAWAY BUNNY comes alive in Amy Gary’s biography of Margaret Wise Brown. Margaret’s books have sold millions of copies all over the world, but few people know that she was at the center of a children’s book publishing revolution. Her whimsy and imagination fueled a steady stream of stories, book ideas, songs and poems, and she was renowned for her prolific writing and business savvy, as well as her stunning beauty and endless thirst for adventure. Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE
by Katherine Arden
THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE by Katherine Arden (Historical Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen Gati
In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, a stranger with piercing blue eyes presents a new father with a gift --- a precious jewel on a delicate chain, intended for his young daughter. Uncertain of its meaning, Pytor hides the gift away and Vasya grows up a wild, willful girl, to the chagrin of her family. But when mysterious forces threaten the happiness of their village, Vasya discovers that, armed only with the necklace, she may be the only one who can keep the darkness at bay. Reviewed by Carly Silver.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's 12th Annual Valentine's Day Contest: Enter to Win Books and Sweet Treats for Yourself or Your Valentine!
Valentine's Day is only a few heartbeats away. We can't think of a better way to celebrate this special day than to cuddle up with your loved one...and a good book, of course!
We're giving readers the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Valentine's Day prize packages, which includes one copy of each of our featured titles and some delicious chocolates. Enter between now and Tuesday, February 14th at noon ET for your opportunity to be a lucky (and beloved!) winner.
If you're feeling frisky, share with us your all-time book character crush. Don't be shy, we all got 'em! We'll post the top 10 literary loves and lusts --- along with the five winners --- right after Valentine's Day.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Special Contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Win 10 Copies of BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande for Your Book Group and Share Comments from Your Group
BEING MORTAL, Dr. Atul Gawande's meditation on death, modern medicine and what matters most in the end, was a #1 New York Times bestseller when it released in 2014. It was named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, The New York Times Book Review, NPR and the Chicago Tribune. Now we are giving 35 groups the chance to win 10 copies of the book and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, February 8th at noon ET.
We ask that winners read, discuss and provide feedback on the book by Friday, April 28th, so please enter only if you are able to commit to that deadline with your group.
BEING MORTAL: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande (Medicine)
Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Nursing homes, preoccupied with safety, pin patients into railed beds and wheelchairs. Hospitals isolate the dying, checking for vital signs long after the goals of cure have become moot. Doctors, committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that in the end extend suffering. Atul Gawande, a practicing surgeon, addresses his profession's ultimate limitation, arguing that quality of life is the desired goal for patients and families.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to enter the contest.
An Interview with Donis Casey,
Author of THE RETURN OF THE RAVEN MOCKER
Donis Casey is the author of nine Alafair Tucker mysteries, an award-winning series set in Oklahoma during the booming 1910s that features the sleuthing mother of 10 children. Her latest entry in the series, THE RETURN OF THE RAVEN MOCKER, has Alafair exploring an odd death during the influenza pandemic of 1918. In this interview, Casey reveals how she goes about her meticulous historical research and the challenges of writing a series versus stand-alone novels, as well as some fascinating numbers and backstory on the terrible epidemic the world was facing in the early 20th century.
THE RETURN OF THE RAVEN MOCKER: An Alafair Tucker Mystery by Donis Casey (Historical Mystery)
Alafair Tucker’s daughter, Alice, and son-in-law, Walter Kelley, have both come down with the flu, and Alafair has moved into town to care for them. One autumn afternoon, Alice’s neighbor, Nola Thomason, and her son Lewis suddenly and unexpectedly succumb. Yet there is something about the way the pair died that causes Alafair to suspect their deaths were due to poison rather than to influenza. The epidemic is so overwhelming that it is many days before the only doctor left in town can confirm Alafair’s suspicions. The only witness to their deaths, 12-year-old Dorothy Thomason, a special friend of Alafair’s daughter, Sophronia, is so traumatized that she is rendered mute. Were Nola and her son murdered? If so, why?
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
More Reviews This Week
RING OF FIRE: A Pike Logan Thriller by Brad Taylor (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Henry Strozier and Rich Orlow
A former Delta Force commander, author Brad Taylor has lived in the world about which he writes, and his novels have tackled very real and current threats ranging from ISIS to Chechen terrorists to Boko Haram. In his latest action-packed thriller, RING OF FIRE, a chilling terrorist plot is about to unfold in the United States --- one involving simultaneous attacks across multiple locations in America --- and it’ll be up to Pike Logan, Jennifer Cahill and the Taskforce to prevent the threat from becoming a terrifying reality. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
LUCKY BOY by Shanthi Sekaran (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Soneela Nankani and Roxana Ortega
Eighteen-year-old Solimar Castro-Valdez embarks on a perilous journey across the Mexican border. She arrives in Berkeley, California weeks later, dazed by a lost first love and pregnant, but discovers that her son, Ignacio, can become her touchstone. Meanwhile, Kavya Reddy has created a beautiful life in Berkeley, but can’t get pregnant. When Soli is placed in immigrant detention and Ignacio comes under Kavya’s care, Kavya finally gets to be the singing, storytelling kind of mother she dreamed of being. But she builds her love on a fault line, her heart wrapped around someone else’s child. Ignacio is steeped in love, but his destiny and that of his two mothers teeters between two worlds as Soli fights to get back to him. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
CURTAIN OF DEATH: A Clandestine Operations Novel by W. E. B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV (Historical Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Alexander Cendese
January 1946: Two WACs leave an officers’ club in Munich, and four Soviet NKGB agents kidnap them at knifepoint in the parking lot and shove them in the back of an ambulance. That is the agents’ first mistake, and their last. One of the WACs, a blond woman improbably named Claudette Colbert, works for the new Directorate of Central Intelligence, and three of the men end up dead and the fourth wounded. The “incident,” however, will send shock waves rippling up and down the line and have major repercussions not only for her, but for her boss, James Cronley, Chief DCI-Europe, and for everybody involved in their still-evolving enterprise. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
FEVER DREAM written by Samanta Schweblin, translated by Megan McDowell (Literary Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
A young woman named Amanda lies dying in a rural hospital clinic. A boy named David sits beside her. She’s not his mother. He's not her child. Together, they tell a haunting story of broken souls, toxins, and the power and desperation of family. FEVER DREAM is a nightmare come to life, a ghost story for the real world, a love story and a cautionary tale. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
THE DARK ROOM by Jonathan Moore (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by David Colacci
Gavin Cain, an SFPD homicide inspector, is in the middle of an exhumation when his phone rings. San Francisco’s mayor is being blackmailed and has ordered Cain back to the city; a helicopter is on its way. The casket, and Cain’s cold-case investigation, must wait. At City Hall, the mayor shows Cain four photographs he’s received: the first, an unforgettable blonde; the second, pills and handcuffs on a nightstand; the third, the woman drinking from a flask; and last, the woman naked, unconscious and shackled to a bed. The accompanying letter is straightforward: worse revelations are on the way unless the mayor takes his own life first. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
NICOTINE written by Gregor Hens, translated by Jen Calleja (Memoir)
Written with the passion of an obsessive, NICOTINE addresses a lifelong addiction, from the thrill of the first drag to the perennial last last cigarette. Reflecting on his experiences as a smoker from a young age, Gregor Hens investigates the irreversible effects of nicotine on thought and patterns of behavior. He extends the conversation with other smokers to meditations on Mark Twain and Italo Svevo, the nature of habit, and the validity of hypnosis. With comic insight and meticulous precision, Hens deconstructs every facet of dependency, offering a brilliant analysis of the psychopathology of addiction. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
LITTLE HEAVEN by Nick Cutter (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Corey Brill
A trio of mismatched mercenaries is hired by a young woman for a deceptively simple task: check in on her nephew, who may have been taken against his will to a remote New Mexico backwoods settlement called Little Heaven. Shortly after they arrive, things begin to turn ominous. Stirrings in the woods and over the treetops --- the brooding shape of a monolith known as the Black Rock casts its terrible pall. Paranoia and distrust grip the settlement. The escape routes are gradually cut off as events spiral towards madness. The remaining occupants are forced to take a stand and fight back, but whatever has cast its dark eye on Little Heaven is now marshaling its powers...and it wants them all. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE MIDNIGHT COOL by Lydia Peelle (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, performed by Don Hagen
A middle-aged Irish immigrant, Billy has a gift for illusion --- making damaged objects look new. His companion, Charles, the smooth-tongued teenage son of a prostitute, is a natural salesman, just like the mythical father he’s never met. Longtime horse traders and partners, they’ve recently turned their talents to trading mules. But in the summer of 1916, these seasoned grifters skilled in the art of the underhanded deal have just been swindled themselves. They’re saddled with the one thing they may not be able to unload: a gorgeous, murderous black mare named The Midnight Cool. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
DOCTOROW: Collected Stories by E. L. Doctorow (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by John Rubinstein, Jesse Bernstein and Joshua Swanson
These 15 stories, written from the 1960s to the early 21st century --- and selected, revised and placed in order by the author himself shortly before he died in 2015 --- are a testament to the genius of E. L. Doctorow. In “A House on the Plains,” a mother has a plan for financial independence, which may include murder. “Jolene: A Life” follows a teenager who escapes her home for Hollywood on a perilous quest for success. “Heist,” the account of an Episcopal priest coping with a crisis of faith, was expanded into the bestseller CITY OF GOD. “The Water Works,” about the underbelly of 1870s New York, grew into a brilliant novel. “Liner Notes: The Songs of Billy Bathgate” is a corollary to the renowned novel and includes Doctorow’s revisions. Reviewed by Frederick Lloyd.
BIG LAW by Ron Liebman (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by L. J. Ganser
As a young partner at Dunn & Sullivan, one of New York’s most prestigious law firms, Carney Blake has represented dozens of high-profile clients. But being a pawn of Big Law often means defending the corporate dirt bags of the world --- the spillers, the drillers and the killers. When Carney is suddenly asked by his firm’s chairman to represent the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit --- and not, as usual, the corporate bad guys --- he warily accepts. As Carney digs deeper into the case, he uncovers corruption and maliciously orchestrated schemes that go straight to the top of Dunn & Sullivan --- along with the true motives behind his placement on the case. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
THE LAST GOOD HEIST: The Inside Story of The Biggest Single Payday in the Criminal History of the Northeast by Tim White, Randall Richard and Wayne Worcester (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Eric Martin
On August 14, 1975, eight daring thieves ransacked 148 massive safe-deposit boxes at a secret bank used by organized crime, La Cosa Nostra, and its associates in Providence, Rhode Island. The crooks fled with duffel bags crammed full of cash, gold, silver, stamps, coins, jewels and high-end jewelry. The true value of the loot has always been kept secret, partly because it was ill-gotten to begin with, and partly because there was plenty of incentive to keep its true worth out of the limelight. The heist was bold enough and big enough to rock the underworld to its core, and it left La Cosa Nostra in the region awash in turmoil. THE LAST GOOD HEIST is the inside story of the robbery and its aftermath. Reviewed by Rob Bentlyewski.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on January 16th and 17th
Below are some notable titles releasing on January 16th and 17th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks releasing the week of January 16th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
January 16th
NEVER NEVER by James Patterson and Candice Fox (Thriller)
Harry Blue is the top Sex Crimes investigator in her department, but even she didn't see this coming: her own brother arrested for the grisly murders of three beautiful young women. Looking into a seemingly simple missing persons case, Harry has been assigned to a new "partner." But is he actually meant to be a watchdog?
January 17th
HOMESICK FOR ANOTHER WORLD: Stories by Ottessa Moshfegh (Fiction/Short Stories)
HOMESICK FOR ANOTHER WORLD is a master class in the varieties of self-deception across the gamut of individuals representing the human condition. But part of the unique quality of Ottessa Moshfegh’s voice is the way the grotesque and the outrageous are infused with tenderness and compassion.
LILLIAN BOXFISH TAKES A WALK by Kathleen Rooney (Fiction)
On a walk that takes her over 10 miles around New York City, 85-year-old Lillian meets bartenders, bodega clerks, security guards, criminals, children, parents and parents-to-be, while reviewing a life of excitement and adversity, passion and heartbreak, illuminating all the ways New York has changed --- and has not.
LITTLE DEATHS by Emma Flint (Historical Mystery)
In 1965, single mother Ruth Malone wakes to discover that her two small children, Frankie Jr. and Cindy, have gone missing. Eventually both are found dead, and all fingers immediately point to her. Did Ruth violently kill her own children, is she a victim of circumstance --- or is there something more sinister at play?
MY LIFE, MY LOVE, MY LEGACY by Coretta Scott King, as told to The Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds (Memoir)
The life story of Coretta Scott King --- the wife of Martin Luther King Jr., founder of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), and singular 20th-century American civil and human rights activist --- is told fully for the first time, toward the end of her life, to Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds.
THE NOWHERE MAN: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (Thriller)
When Evan Smoak broke with the Orphan program, he used everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man. But the new head of the program is using all of his assets to track down and eliminate him. This time, though, the attack comes from a different angle, and Evan is caught unaware.
THE RISING by Heather Graham and Jon Land (Thriller)
Football hero Alex Chin’s future looks bright. His tutor, Samantha Dixon, is preparing to graduate high school at the top of her class. When a football accident lands Alex in the hospital, his world is turned upside down. His doctor is murdered, followed by his parents. Death seems to follow him wherever he goes, and now it's after him.
TRANSIT by Rachel Cusk (Fiction)
In the wake of her family’s collapse, a writer and her two young sons move to London. The process of this upheaval is the catalyst for a number of transitions as she endeavors to construct a new reality for herself and her children. In the city, she is made to confront aspects of living that she has avoided until now.
THE WICKED CITY by Beatriz Williams (Fiction)
Bestselling author Beatriz Williams brings together two generations of women inside a Greenwich Village apartment --- a flapper hiding an extraordinary past, and a modern-day Manhattanite forced to start her life anew.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Did You Get Bookish Holiday Gifts?
Did you receive books or book gift cards over the holidays?
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I received books.
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I received book gift cards.
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I received both books and book gift cards.
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I received neither books nor book gift cards.
Click here to vote in the poll.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're
Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from January 6th to January 20th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of HER EVERY FEAR by Peter Swanson and THE NOWHERE MAN: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Click here to enter the contest.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from January 3rd to February 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of JP Delaney's THE GIRL BEFORE, read by Emilia Fox and Finty Williams, with Lisa Aagaard Knudsen, and Chris Bohjalian's THE SLEEPWALKER, read by Cady McClain and Grace Experience.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Click here to enter the contest.
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