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Loving the Spring/Summer-like Weather!
The weather in the New York area has been amazingly spring-like this week; it was 73 as I walked into the office just now. I do not remember a February with a string of weather like this. The year Greg was born, there was one really warm day in February. I remember bundling him up to take him for a walk and then realizing if I was in shorts, why was he wearing a snowsuit? He was squalling to tell me that this was not a great idea. Funny early days of being a mom moment!
And for another amusing story... Last Monday I was at a local yarn shop, The Yarn Attic, getting some advice on projects that had me stumped (I counted the stitches wrong, so no wonder the pattern was not working) and picking up some knitting needles. As I was checking out, I told the saleswoman my name so she could look me up in the computer. The woman behind me said, "You are Florence Fitzgerald's daughter-in-law." I turned and said "yes," then searched my memory for having met her. It ends up she knows me from the Bookreporter newsletter! She recognized me and tied it together with my being in a yarn shop since I talk about my yarn adventures a lot. Loved it! Mary Jane, if you are reading, that was a lot of fun.
Speaking of running into readers, I have been booking speaking engagements at some libraries and women’s groups in the New York Tri-State area. If you are interested in having me at your library or event, reach out and I can check my calendar for availability. I am making repeat visits to a couple of locations. You can see where I am going to be here, with more dates to be solidified and added in the next few weeks.
I have been spending a lot of time reading manuscripts for fall/winter titles, which is fun, but I am looking forward to turning my attention back to more current books in the weeks ahead. Last night I started MARKED FOR REVENGE by Emelie Schepp, which releases on Tuesday. I loved her first book, MARKED FOR LIFE; this is the second book in a trilogy. Readers may remember that I met Emelie last May when she was in the city. I was very impressed with her, as well as her writing.
Last night on my drive home, I rattled off a list of vacation reading suggestions for my friend, Annie. She and one of her friends who will be joining her on her trip already have a plan to read Liane Moriarty’s BIG LITTLE LIES and talk about it. They missed it when it originally came out. I love that they are doing a vacation book discussion à deux. I have more about the HBO show based on the book later in this newsletter
Now to this week’s update...
Christina Baker Kline has established herself as a masterful storyteller with her earlier work, most notably her bestseller ORPHAN TRAIN, which was a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Now, in her new novel, A PIECE OF THE WORLD, she illuminates another part of American history that has been largely untold. Christina Olson’s entire world was her family’s remote farm in the small town of Cushing, Maine. Born in the home her family had lived in for generations, and increasingly incapacitated by illness, Christina seemed destined for a small life. Instead, for more than 20 years, she was host and inspiration for the artist Andrew Wyeth, and became the subject of one of the best known American paintings of the 20th century.
According to reviewer Bronwyn Miller, “Kline breathes life and breadth into Wyeth’s stirring but one-dimensional image, offering readers a keenly observed fictional chronicle of one woman’s ‘mutinous body,’ her desire to conquer it, and the one man who had the sensitivity to truly see her.” We have some additional content for A PIECE OF THE WORLD, courtesy of the author herself, including an audio interview and a Facebook Live video. Also, here’s a wonderful piece about the time that Christina and her family picnicked at the site of her book.
We’re giving away the audio version of A PIECE OF THE WORLD, along with Faye Kellerman’s BONE BOX: A Decker/Lazarus Novel, in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Let us know by Wednesday, March 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve finished listening to for a chance to win both these audio titles.
Sally Hepworth is known for her thoughtful, touching fiction. Her new novel, THE MOTHER’S PROMISE, is about the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters. All their lives, Alice Stanhope and her daughter, Zoe, have been a family of two. Zoe has always struggled with social anxiety, and her mother has been her constant protector. Their team of two works --- that is, until Alice gets sick. Desperate to find stability for Zoe, Alice reaches out to two women who become her only hope: Kate, a nurse, and Sonja, a social worker. As the four of them come together, a chain of events is set into motion, and all must confront their sharpest fears and secrets.
Our very own Rebecca Munro has our review and says, "In the world of literature, it is an author’s job not only to take his or her readers on wild adventures through their imaginations, but also to make their writing deeply personal. Some authors struggle with this balance, but others, like Sally Hepworth, make even the most complicated situations feel as though they are happening to the reader. Her talent knows no bounds, and I cannot wait to see where she turns her focus next."
Before Clare Mackintosh became the internationally bestselling author of I LET YOU GO, she spent 12 years on the police force in England, which may influence the thrilling psychological suspense of her novels. Her new book is I SEE YOU. Every morning and evening, Zoe Walker takes the same route to the train station and occupies her favorite seat in the car, never suspecting that someone is watching her. While glancing through her local paper one night, Zoe sees her own face staring back at her. Other women begin appearing in the same ad, and Zoe realizes they’ve become the victims of increasingly violent crimes. With the help of a determined cop, she uncovers the ad’s twisted purpose, the discovery of which turns her paranoia into full-blown terror.
Raves Katherine B. Weissman in her review: “[A]s smart, shivery entertainment that will keep you up way past bedtime, with an ending that will knock your socks off, I SEE YOU is a humdinger. And if you’re a commuter, it might make you think about changing your daily route.” I loved this one and cannot wait to see what she writes next.
THE MOTHER’S PROMISE and I SEE YOU are our latest Word of Mouth prize titles. Let us know by Friday, March 3rd at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll be in the running to win both novels.
Also, please note that A PIECE OF THE WORLD, THE MOTHER’S PROMISE and I SEE YOU are all upcoming Bets On titles. You can read my commentary on all three in next week’s newsletter.
Pam Jenoff delivers a powerful novel of two incredible women and their harrowing experiences in a traveling circus during World War II in THE ORPHAN’S TALE. Sixteen-year-old Noa has been cast out in disgrace. When she discovers a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp, she is reminded of her own child, whom she couldn’t save. In a moment that will change the course of her life, she snatches one of the babies and flees. Noa finds refuge with a German circus, but she must learn the flying trapeze act so she can blend in undetected. Noa and the lead aerialist, Astrid, soon forge a powerful bond. But as tensions rise, Noa and Astrid must decide whether their friendship is enough to save them --- or if the secrets that burn between them will destroy everything.
Reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski calls THE ORPHAN’S TALE “a very emotional story, and with the war raging and ever present in the background, every choice for these characters is gut-wrenching…. Pam Jenoff's story is full of wonderful moments that keep you reading and hopeful that, no matter what happens, life can still surprise and endure.”
We’re kicking off our latest Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight with NEVER LET YOU GO by Chevy Stevens, which releases on March 14th. Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped an abusive relationship, taking her young daughter with her in the night. Her ex-husband, Andrew, was sent to jail, and Lindsey started over with a new life. When Andrew is finally released from prison, Lindsey believes she has cut all ties and left the past behind her. But she gets the sense that someone is watching her. Her new boyfriend is threatened. Her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex-husband, even though he claims he’s a different person. But has he really changed? We’re giving 25 readers the chance to win a copy of the book and give us their feedback on it. All you have to do is fill out this form by Thursday, March 9th at noon ET.
I loved this book, and it made me think more of Chevy’s first novel, STILL MISSING, which is when I became a fan of hers, than her last couple. It's sharp, and it has some brilliant twists in it. It's her strongest book in a while, and it will be a Bets On selection.
Our special contests for QUICKSAND by Malin Persson Giolito (another future Bets On selection) and THE BEST OF ADAM SHARP by Graeme Simsion continue from last week. We’re giving away 25 copies of each. Click on the book titles to go directly to the contest info; the deadline for both contests is Thursday, March 2nd at noon ET.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include THE REFUGEES by Viet Thanh Nguyen, a collection of stories written over a period of 20 years, exploring questions of immigration, identity, love and family; SETTING FREE THE KITES by Alex George, a powerful story of two friends and the unintended consequences of friendship, loss and hope; and HIGH NOON by Glenn Frankel, the story behind the classic movie High Noon and the toxic political climate in which it was created.
We’ve updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, books we've recently featured on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience. This month’s titles are SILVER STARS: A Front Lines Novel by Michael Grant, THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET by Stephanie Morrill, and WAIT FOR ME by Caroline Leech.
Our latest poll question, “In what year was the book that you’re currently reading published,” is inspired by a special feature and contest we’re planning to launch soon about books that are destined to endure. Stay tuned! In the meantime, click here to vote in the poll.
The finalists for the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes have been announced, and you can see them all here. The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on April 21st, the evening before the L.A. Times Festival of Books begins on the campus of the University of Southern California.
Longtime Bookreporter.com reader Nancy Bader attended last weekend’s Savannah Book Festival, which is now in its 10th year, and you can see her report on the event here. Many thanks to Nancy for sharing her experiences with us! I truly hope to attend this Festival at some point; somehow I always seem to have something going on during Presidents' Day weekend!
In anticipation of Sunday’s Oscars telecast, I would like to point out that four of the nine best picture nominations --- Arrival, Fences, Hidden Figures and Lion --- are based on books or are book-related. Click here for a complete list of the book-to-screen adaptations that are being represented in all the categories. We have seen all the films except Lion and Fences; I will see if they are available this weekend.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Lee wrote, “I have entered the contest for the above book because I'm interested to see if it is similar to a book I read a number of years ago, RADIUM HALOS: A Novel about the Radium Dial Painters by Shelley Stout. The book was a 3rd edition printed in 2009. Do you know if they are about the same painters?” I got this answer from the publisher: “Both books feature the painters, but RADIUM HALOS is a historical fiction novel (with fictional characters), while THE RADIUM GIRLS is nonfiction.
Kathryn wrote last week to share, “I have just read your newsletter and noted the mention of Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Café series. Coincidentally, you may not have heard that Stuart died this week; here is the coverage from CBC --- he was one of 'theirs.'"
I heard from a number of readers about my upcoming interview with Isabel Allende. Laura wrote, “I have read many of Isabel Allende’s books. If you have not read it already, then I would highly recommend DAUGHTER OF FORTUNE. It was the first of her books that I read and is my favorite. I listened to it on cassette tape (what does that say about how long I have enjoyed audiobooks?). It was read by Blair Brown, and it was wonderful. First, it was historical fiction (my fave), and second, the characters are so well-written and there is such diversity: English, Chilean and Chinese. I couldn’t imagine how it would all come together, but it did. It is full of adventure and wonderful plot twists. I actually own it on CD now and have listened to it multiple times. My book club recently read THE JAPANESE LOVER, and we all enjoyed it very much.
Debbie shared, “I have read most of Allende's books and love them all. THE JAPANESE LOVER was one of my favorites, but it was very different from her other books. Most of her books have a South/Central American flavor, while THE JAPANESE LOVER does not. My question to her would be, ‘Why did you decide to write a book about an entirely different culture, and why Japanese?’ Also, I would like to know why spirituality, in many ways, plays such an important part in her novels. Have a great weekend, and thanks for your amazing weekly newsletter!”
Judie noted, “I have read most of her books, but my VERY favorite is ZORRO. I have read my copy twice and lent it many times. I was a fan of the TV show 'Zorro' as a kid and loved the novel filling in the background. I love the character of Zorro even more thanks to Isabel Allende's perfect rendering of the story.”
“Big Little Lies” Programming Note: I watched last week, and now I want to move to the beach; the outdoor living depicted is amazing. Note that with the Oscars airing on Sunday night, HBO has announced that the upcoming episode of this series, scheduled to debut Sunday, will be available to stream early exclusively via HBO NOW and HBO GO, in addition to HBO On Demand and affiliate portals, starting today.
The Dressmaker: The Amazon Studios Original Film based on Rosalie Ham’s popular 2000 novel, THE DRESSMAKER, premieres on Amazon Prime Video on March 2nd.
“This Is Us”: This week’s episode had some brilliant writing; it’s so sharp that it reads like a book. One line after the other this week was poetically quotable.
The Accountant: Watched it…and liked it; perfect vehicle for Ben Affleck.
Never Go Back: I know, I know, there are many who do not like Tom Cruise in the Reacher role. We still enjoyed it via Netflix. Lee Child dished on his cameo here. Not going to watch it? Well, you can see Lee’s cameo here.
Not Going to Watch “The Good Fight”: Went to watch “The Good Fight” On Demand after missing the show on Sunday night. Not there. So let me get this right. I have a ridiculously high Optimum/Cablevision/whatever they call themselves now bill that I pay to see what I want when I want it, but cannot get this On Demand. And I am now supposed to pay more for CBS All Access? Will not happen!
Raspberry Soufflés: One of the joys of a long weekend is cooking. I made raspberry souffles (see them above) for my mother-in-law’s birthday dinner. Before you ask, here’s the recipe, originally from THE SILVER PALATE GOOD TIMES COOKBOOK (aka the red one).
The guest room is just about done, and not a moment too soon, as my sister-in-law Katie arrives on Wednesday night for a visit! You can see the bookshelf that Tom built above, which is stocked with reading material for guests. It's not completely curated, but there are a lot of books that I loved there…and, as a result, much book nostalgia as I filled the shelves.
I have a quiet weekend on tap. By the way, I think three-day weekends should happen once a month; two days is just not enough for everything I want to do and also to have time for relaxing. While the weather has been great, I miss having a fire in the fireplace. Amusingly we still have the wreath that Katie gave us hanging on the wall; typically it would have been tossed into a fire by now. It's funny seeing it still hanging, but she may think we are crazy when she sees it 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:
A PIECE OF THE WORLD by Christina Baker Kline
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
A PIECE OF THE WORLD by Christina Baker Kline (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, performed by Polly Stone
To Christina Olson, the entire world was her family’s remote farm in the small coastal town of Cushing, Maine. Born in the home her family had lived in for generations, and increasingly incapacitated by illness, Christina seemed destined for a small life. Instead, for more than 20 years, she was host and inspiration for the artist Andrew Wyeth, and became the subject of one of the best known American paintings of the 20th century. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
A PIECE OF THE WORLD will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read Carol's commentary in the March 3rd newsletter.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to listen to Christina Baker Kline talk about the book.
- Click here to see a Facebook Live video with Christina Baker Kline.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE ORPHAN’S TALE by Pam Jenoff
THE ORPHAN’S TALE by Pam Jenoff (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, performed by Jennifer Wydra and Kyla Garcia
After discovering a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp, 16-year-old Noa is reminded of the child who was taken from her. And in a moment that will change the course of her life, she snatches one of the babies and flees into the snowy night. Noa finds refuge with a German circus, but she must learn the flying trapeze act so she can blend in undetected, spurning the resentment of the lead aerialist, Astrid. At first rivals, Noa and Astrid soon forge a powerful bond. But as the facade that protects them proves increasingly tenuous, Noa and Astrid must decide whether their friendship is enough to save one another --- or if the secrets that burn between them will destroy everything. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
New Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight & Contest:
NEVER LET YOU GO by Chevy Stevens
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
We have 25 copies of NEVER LET YOU GO by Chevy Stevens --- a chilling, twisting thriller that crackles with suspense as it explores the darkest heart of love and obsession --- to give away to readers who would like to read the book, which releases on March 14th, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, March 9th at noon ET.
NEVER LET YOU GO by Chevy Stevens (Psychological Thriller)
Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped into the night with her young daughter and left an abusive relationship. Her ex-husband, Andrew, was sent to jail, and Lindsey started over with a new life.
Now, Lindsey is older and wiser, with her own business and a teenage daughter who needs her more than ever. When Andrew is finally released from prison, Lindsey believes she has cut all ties and left the past behind her. But she gets the sense that someone is watching her, tracking her every move. Her new boyfriend is threatened. Her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex-husband, even though he claims he’s a different person. But has he really changed? Is the one who wants her dead closer to home than she thought?
With NEVER LET YOU GO, Chevy Stevens delivers a chilling, twisting thriller that crackles with suspense as it explores the darkest heart of love and obsession.
NEVER LET YOU GO will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read Carol's commentary in the March 24th newsletter.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Chevy Stevens’ bio.
- Click here to visit Chevy Stevens’ website.
- Connect with Chevy Stevens on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight
and enter the contest.
Special Contest: Win an Advance Copy of
QUICKSAND by Malin Persson Giolito
We are celebrating the March 7th release of QUICKSAND by Malin Persson Giolito --- an incisive courtroom thriller and a drama that raises questions about the nature of love, the disastrous side effects of guilt, and the function of justice --- 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, March 2nd at noon ET.
QUICKSAND written by Malin Persson Giolito, translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles (Legal Thriller)
A mass shooting has taken place at a prep school in Stockholm’s wealthiest suburb. Maja Norberg is 18 years old and on trial for her involvement in the massacre where her boyfriend and best friend were killed. When the novel opens, Maja has spent nine excruciating months in jail awaiting trial. Now the time has come for her to enter the courtroom. But how did Maja, the good girl next door who was popular and excelled at school, become the most hated teenager in the country? What did Maja do? Or is it what she didn’t do that brought her here?
Malin Persson Giolito has written a perceptive portrayal of a young woman and a blistering indictment of a society that is coming apart. A work of great literary sensibility, QUICKSAND touches on class, money, emigration, and the games one plays with oneself when parents are no longer attuned to the struggles of their children.
QUICKSAND will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read Carol's commentary in the March 17th newsletter.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Malin Persson Giolito's bio.
- Click here to connect with Malin Persson Giolito on Facebook.
- Click here to visit Malin Persson Giolito's Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Special Contest: Win an Advance Copy of
THE BEST OF ADAM SHARP by Graeme Simsion
We are celebrating the May 2nd release of THE BEST OF ADAM SHARP by Graeme Simsion --- in which one man looks back on his past and decides if having a second chance is worth the risk --- 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, March 2nd at noon ET.
THE BEST OF ADAM SHARP by Graeme Simsion (Fiction/Humor)
Two decades ago, Adam Sharp’s piano playing led him into a passionate relationship with Angelina Brown, an intelligent and strong-willed actress. They had a chance at something more --- but Adam didn’t take it.
Now, on the cusp of turning 50, Adam likes his life. He’s happy with his partner Claire, he excels in music trivia at quiz night at the local pub, he looks after his mother, and he does the occasional consulting job in IT. But he can never quite shake off his nostalgia for what might have been.
And then, out of nowhere, from the other side of the world, Angelina gets in touch. What does she want? Does Adam dare to live dangerously?
Set to the soundtrack of our lives, THE BEST OF ADAM SHARP follows along with emotion and humor as one man looks back on his past and decides if having a second chance is worth the risk.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Graeme Simsion's bio.
- Connect with Graeme Simsion on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review:
THE MOTHER’S PROMISE by Sally Hepworth
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE MOTHER'S PROMISE by Sally Hepworth (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
All their lives, Alice Stanhope and her daughter, Zoe, have been a family of two. Zoe has always struggled with crippling social anxiety, and her mother has been her constant and fierce protector. With no family to speak of, and the identity of Zoe’s father shrouded in mystery, their team of two works until it doesn’t. Until Alice gets sick and needs to fight for her life. Desperate to find stability for Zoe, Alice reaches out to two women who are practically strangers, but who are her only hope: Kate, a nurse, and Sonja, a social worker. As the four of them come together, they must confront their sharpest fears and secrets about abandonment, abuse, estrangement and the deepest longing for family. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE MOTHER’S PROMISE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read Carol's commentary in the March 3rd newsletter.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: I SEE YOU by Clare Mackintosh
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
I SEE YOU by Clare Mackintosh (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Rachel Atkins
Every morning and evening, Zoe Walker takes the same route to the train station, waits at a certain place on the platform, and finds her favorite spot in the car, never suspecting that someone is watching her. During her commute home one night, while glancing through her local paper, Zoe sees her own face staring back at her --- a grainy photo along with a phone number and a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com. Other women begin appearing in the same ad, and Zoe realizes they’ve become the victims of increasingly violent crimes --- including murder. With the help of a determined cop, she uncovers the ad’s twisted purpose and is sure that someone close to her has set her up as the next target. Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
I SEE YOU will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Read Carol's commentary in the March 3rd newsletter.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
Here are the contests currently running on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Win 12 Copies of GLORY OVER EVERYTHING by Kathleen Grissom for Your Group
GLORY OVER EVERYTHING by Kathleen Grissom, the author of the beloved book club favorite THE KITCHEN HOUSE, is a heart-racing story about a man’s treacherous journey through the twists and turns of the Underground Railroad on a mission to save the boy he swore to protect. We are celebrating its recent paperback release by giving three groups the chance to win 12 copies of the book. Enter here by Thursday, March 23rd at noon ET.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?": Win 12 Copies of BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE by Fredrik Backman for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month" contest, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Our current prize book is BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE, Fredrik Backman's irresistible novel about finding love and second chances in the most unlikely of places. Enter here by Wednesday, March 8th at noon ET.
The following guides are now available:
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
THE REFUGEES by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Viet Thanh Nguyen
In THE REFUGEES, Viet Thanh Nguyen gives voice to lives led between two worlds: the adopted homeland and the country of birth. From a young Vietnamese refugee who suffers profound culture shock when he comes to live with two gay men in San Francisco, to a woman whose husband is suffering from dementia and starts to confuse her for a former lover, to a girl living in Ho Chi Minh City whose older half-sister comes back from America having seemingly accomplished everything she never will, these stories are a captivating testament to the dreams and hardships of immigration. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
HIGH NOON: The Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic by Glenn Frankel (History)
Audiobook available, read by Allan Robertson
It's one of the most revered movies of Hollywood's golden era. Starring screen legend Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly in her first significant film role, High Noon achieved instant box-office and critical success. Yet what has been often overlooked is that the movie was made during the height of the Hollywood blacklist, a time of political inquisition and personal betrayal. In the middle of the film shoot, screenwriter Carl Foreman was forced to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities about his former membership in the Communist Party. Examined in light of Foreman's testimony, High Noon's emphasis on courage and loyalty takes on deeper meaning and importance. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.
MOST DANGEROUS PLACE: A Jack Swyteck Novel by James Grippando (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, performed by Jonathan Davis
In MOST DANGEROUS PLACE, Jack Swyteck takes on a new client tied to his past. It begins at the airport, where Jack is waiting to meet his old high school buddy, Keith Ingraham, a high-powered banker based in Hong Kong, coming to Miami for his young daughter’s surgery. But their long-awaited reunion is abruptly derailed when the police arrest Keith’s wife, Isabelle, in the terminal, accusing her of conspiring to kill the man who raped her in college. Jack quickly agrees to represent Isa, but soon discovers that to see justice done, he must separate truth from lies --- an undertaking that proves more complicated than the seasoned attorney expects. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
A DIVIDED SPY by Charles Cumming (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jot Davies
Thomas Kell thought he was done with spying. A former MI6 officer, he devoted his life to the Service, but it has left him with nothing but grief and a simmering anger against the Kremlin. Then Kell is offered an unexpected chance at revenge. Taking the law into his own hands, he embarks on a mission to recruit a top Russian spy who is in possession of a terrifying secret. As Kell tracks his man from Moscow to London, he finds himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, in which it becomes increasingly difficult to know who is playing whom. As the mission reaches its boiling point, the threat of a catastrophic terrorist attack looms over Britain. Kell is faced with an impossible choice: loyalty to MI6, or to his own conscience? Reviewed by Roz Shea.
THE WORLD TO COME: Stories by Jim Shepard (Fiction/Short Stories)
These 10 stories ring with voices belonging to --- among others --- English Arctic explorers in one of history's most nightmarish expeditions, a young contemporary American negotiating the shockingly underreported hazards of our crude-oil trains, 18th-century French balloonists inventing manned flight, and two mid-19th-century housewives trying to forge a connection despite their isolation on the frontier of settlement. In each case, the personal is the political as these characters face everything from the emotional pitfalls of everyday life to historic catastrophes on a global scale. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
THE DIME by Kathleen Kent (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Cynthia Farrell
Dallas, Texas is not for the faint of heart. Good thing for Betty Rhyzyk she's from a family of take-no-prisoners Brooklyn police detectives. But her Big Apple wisdom will only get her so far when she relocates to The Big D, where Mexican drug cartels and cult leaders, deadbeat skells and society wives all battle for sunbaked turf. Betty is as tough as the best of them, but she's deeply shaken when her first investigation goes sideways. Battling a group of unruly subordinates, a persistent stalker, a formidable criminal organization, and an unsupportive girlfriend, the unbreakable Detective Betty Rhyzyk may be reaching her limit. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
SETTING FREE THE KITES by Alex George (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Ari Fliakos
For Robert Carter, life in his coastal Maine hometown is comfortably predictable. But in 1976, on his first day of eighth grade, he meets Nathan Tilly, who changes everything. Nathan is confident, fearless, impetuous --- and fascinated by kites and flying. Robert and Nathan’s budding friendship is forged in the crucible of two family tragedies, and as the boys struggle to come to terms with loss, they take summer jobs at the local rundown amusement park. It’s there that Nathan’s boundless capacity for optimism threatens to overwhelm them both, and where they learn some harsh truths about family, desire and revenge. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
DESPERATION ROAD by Michael Farris Smith (Gothic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Robin Bloodworth
Russell Gaines’ 11-year sentence is now up, and he believes his debt has been paid. But when he returns home, he soon discovers that revenge lives and breathes all around him. On the same day that Russell is released from prison, a woman named Maben and her young daughter trudge along the side of the interstate under the punishing summer sun. Desperate and exhausted, the pair spend their last dollar on a room for the night, a night that ends with Maben running through the darkness holding a pistol, and a dead deputy sprawled in the middle of the road. With the dawn, destinies collide, and Russell is forced to decide whose life he will save --- his own or those of the woman and child. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
AUGUST SNOW by Stephen Mack Jones (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, narrated by Mirron Willis
August Snow joined the police force only to be drummed out by a conspiracy of corrupt cops and politicians. It’s not long before he’s summoned to the palatial Grosse Pointe Estates, home of business magnate Eleanore Paget. Powerful and manipulative, Paget wants August to investigate the increasingly unusual happenings at her private wealth management bank. But detective work is no longer August’s beat, and he declines. A day later, Paget is dead of an apparent suicide --- which August isn’t buying for a minute. What begins as an inquiry into Eleanore Paget’s death soon drags August into a rat’s nest of Detroit’s most dangerous criminals, from corporate embezzlers to tattooed mercenaries. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE SKIN ABOVE MY KNEE: A Memoir by Marcia Butler (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Marcia Butler
Music was everything for Marcia Butler. Growing up in an emotionally desolate home with an abusive father and a distant mother, she devoted herself to the discipline and rigor of the oboe, and quickly became a young prodigy on the rise in New York City's competitive music scene. But haunted by troubling childhood memories while balancing the challenges of a busy life as a working musician, Marcia succumbed to dangerous men, drugs and self-destruction. In her darkest moments, she asked the hardest question of all: Could music truly save her life? THE SKIN ABOVE MY KNEE is the story of a woman finding strength in her creative gifts and artistic destiny. Reviewed by Bianca Ambrosio.
THE DEVIL CREPT IN by Ania Ahlborn (Mystery/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Eric Michael Summerer
Young Jude Brighton has been missing for three days, and while the search for him is in full swing in the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon, the locals are starting to lose hope. Stevie Clark knows what each ticking moment may mean for his cousin, Jude. There was Max Larsen, a young boy who was found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes…and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. For Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth may be too horrifying to imagine. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE NIGHTWALKER written by Sebastian Fitzek, translated by Jaime Lee Searle (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Glenister
As a young man, Leon Nader suffered from insomnia. As a sleepwalker, he even turned to violence during his nocturnal excursions and had psychiatric treatment for his condition. Eventually, he was convinced he had been cured --- but one day, years later, Leon's wife disappears from their apartment under mysterious circumstances. Could it be that his illness has broken out again? In order to find out how he behaves in his sleep, Leon fits a movement-activated camera to his forehead --- and when he looks at the video the next morning, he makes a discovery that bursts the borders of his imagination. His nocturnal personality goes through a door that is totally unknown to him and descends into the darkness. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 28th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 28th 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 February 27th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BANANA CREAM PIE MURDER: A Hannah Swensen Mystery by Joanne Fluke (Mystery)
After an extravagant honeymoon, Hannah is eager to settle down into a domestic daydream. But when her mother’s neighbor is murdered in the condo downstairs, the daydream becomes a nightmare. Victoria Bascomb had been active in the theater community during her brief appearance in town…and made throngs of enemies along the way. Solving this crime --- and living to tell about it --- might prove trickier than mixing up the ultimate banana cream pie.
BONE BOX: A Decker/Lazarus Novel by Faye Kellerman (Mystery)
When Rina Decker stumbles upon human remains once buried deep beneath the forest grounds, she calls her husband, who works for the police. As Decker and his partner, Tyler McAdams, further investigate, they realize that they’re most likely dealing with a missing student from the nearby Five Colleges of Upstate, where Rina works. Decker, McAdams and Rina race to protect their community from a psychopathic killer on the hunt for a fresh victim.
EXPECTING TO DIE: A Selena Alvarez/Regan Pescoli Novel by Lisa Jackson (Thriller)
Detective Regan Pescoli is counting the days until her maternity leave. Exhausted and emotional, the last thing she needs is another suspected serial killer. Especially when her daughter, Bianca, is swept up in the media storm. When a reality show arrives in town, the chaos only makes it harder for Pescoli and her partner, Selena Alvarez, to distinguish rumor from truth.
IF I COULD TELL YOU by Elizabeth Wilhide (Historical Fiction)
England, 1939: Julia Compton has a handsome husband, a young son she adores and a housekeeper who takes care of her comfortable home. Then, a film crew arrives in town. She falls in love, to devastating consequence. Penniless, ripped from her son, and completely unequipped to fend for herself, she finds herself adrift in wartime London with her lover, documentary filmmaker Dougie Birdsall. As the German invasion looms, Julia faces a choice --- succumb to fate, or forge a new identity in the midst of war.
MARKED FOR REVENGE by Emelie Schepp (Thriller)
When a Thai girl overdoses smuggling drugs, the trail points to Danillo, the one criminal who public prosecutor Jana Berzelius most wants to destroy. Meanwhile, the police zero in on the elusive head of the Swedish narcotics trade. Berzelius craves to know his identity, even as she tracks Danillo. She knows she must kill him before he can reveal her secrets. As she prepares for the fight of her life, Berzelius discovers an even more explosive and insidious betrayal.
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
After her breakup with a longtime boyfriend, Zoe Saldivar is more than just single, she’s alone. She works from home, and her best friend Jen is busy with her new baby. Zoe realizes she needs to stop living in isolation --- which becomes complicated. Her first new friend is Jen's widowed mom, Pam. She starts having feelings for Jen's brother. And meanwhile, Pam is being seduced by Zoe's own father. Zoe is beginning to think that "alone" doesn't sound so bad after all.
RIPPER: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert by Patricia Cornwell (True Crime)
Walter Sickert made a name for himself as a painter in Victorian London. But the ghoulish nature of his art --- as well as extensive evidence --- points to another name: Jack the Ripper. Patricia Cornwell has collected never-before-seen archival material and applied cutting-edge forensic science to open an old crime to new scrutiny. This new edition has been revised and expanded to include eight new chapters, detailed maps and hundreds of images that bring the sinister case to life.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Young Adult Books You Want to Read
Here are this month's books we featured on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience:
SILVER STARS: A Front Lines Novel by Michael Grant (Historical Fiction)
The summer of 1943, World War II. With heavy memories of combat, Frangie, Rainy, Rio and the rest of the American army are moving on to their next target: the Italian island of Sicily. The women won’t conquer Italy alone. They are not heroes for fighting alongside their brothers --- they are soldiers. But Frangie, Rainy, Rio and the millions of brave females fighting for their country have become a symbol in the fight for equality. They will brave terrible conditions in an endless siege; they will fight to find themselves on the front lines of WWII; and they will come face-to-face with the brutality of war until they win or die.
THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET by Stephanie Morrill (Historical Mystery)
When her best friend vanishes without so much as a good-bye, 18-year-old Piper Sail takes on the role of amateur sleuth in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. Given that Piper’s tendency has always been to butt heads with high-society’s expectations of her, it’s no surprise that she doesn’t give a second thought to searching for answers to Lydia’s abduction from their privileged neighborhood. As Piper discovers that those answers might stem from the corruption strangling 1924 Chicago --- and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood --- she must decide if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of the truth.
WAIT FOR ME by Caroline Leech (Historical Romance)
It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores and rationing, knitting Red Cross scarves, and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for their country? But as Lorna reluctantly spends time with Paul, she feels herself changing. The more she learns about him, the more she sees the boy behind the soldier. With tensions rising all around them, Lorna must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice before the end of the war determines their fate.
Click here for more young adult books we recommend you read.
Our Latest Poll: When Was the Book That You Are Currently Reading Published?
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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 February 17th to March 3rd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of I SEE YOU by Clare Mackintosh and THE MOTHER'S PROMISE by Sally Hepworth.
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.
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 February 1st to March 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Faye Kellerman's BONE BOX: A Decker/Lazarus Novel, performed by Richard Ferrone, and Christina Baker Kline's A PIECE OF THE WORLD, performed by Polly Stone.
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.
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