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It’s been another “compressed” week as this newsletter was written early. Today I am at the Random House Open House event with Nicole and Rebecca from our staff. We are looking forward to a lineup of authors that includes Alan Alda, Jessica Seinfeld, Nancy Thayer, Sally Bedell Smith, Colum McCann, Susannah Meadows, Lynne Olson, Sarah Jio, Mandy Berman and Dr. Terry Wahls. We look forward to seeing many of our readers there, and we will have a report on this for you next week.
Early Wednesday morning I finished the last two books for the Author Buzz interviews that I am doing at BookExpo. In THE IMMORTALISTS by Chloe Benjamin (coming January 9, 2018), four children visit a fortune teller who tells each of them the date they will die. And from this news their lives are shaped. This made me think what life would be like if we knew this info about ourselves. What would we do differently? THE WORLD OF TOMORROW by Brendan Mathews (coming September 5th) is a fast-paced story that takes place over a week in New York in 1939. There are three brothers who find themselves tied up in a caper, which has them racing around the city doing various nefarious deeds while also trying to save one another. I loved visualizing the city during those days just before the start of World War II.
With my BookExpo reading homework done (I still need to work on interview questions for these authors), I have moved back to the stack of books that have been calling my name. First up is THE ADDRESS by Fiona Davis, which is set in The Dakota, the iconic luxury apartment building in New York. (You may recall that John Lennon was shot outside The Dakota where he and Yoko Ono had an apartment.) As she did in her last book, THE DOLLHOUSE, where she looked at the history of the Barbizon Hotel, there are characters from two time periods. It’s fun reading, and I love the period details!
Dennis Lehane is back with a new thriller, SINCE WE FELL. Rachel Childs is a former journalist who suffered a mental breakdown on the air. Although she now lives as a virtual shut-in, she is enjoying life with her husband. But then a chance encounter one rainy afternoon changes everything for Rachel, who must find the strength within herself to conquer unimaginable fears and mind-altering truths.
Joe Hartlaub has our review and says, “SINCE WE FELL has something for everyone: vociferous readers, folks who haven’t cracked the binding on a book in years, thriller aficionados, romance readers, everyone” and calls it “unquestionably one of Lehane’s most striking books, which, considering his body of work, is really saying something.” I am looking forward to reading it, especially after checking out Joe’s review!
We’re awarding the audio version of SINCE WE FELL, performed by Julia Whelan, along with Dorothea Benton Frank's SAME BEACH, NEXT YEAR, performed by Bernadette Dunne, in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Let us know by Thursday, June 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you could win both these audio titles.
Jo Nesbø brings back Inspector Harry Hole in his latest US release, THE THIRST. A serial killer is targeting his victims on Tinder, and the chief of police wants Harry to investigate. But Harry is no longer with the force. His last case endangered the lives of his loved ones, and he vowed never to return to that life. Still, there’s something about these murders that catches his attention, and he goes back on his promise, determined to catch the figure who haunts him, the monster who got away.
According to Joe Hartlaub, “THE THIRST is a long book but does not read like one. It is more like a short story that you hope will never end, though end it does, with an unresolved plot thread that promises more novels to come from Nesbø, as well as the whisper of the possibility that Harry’s peace of mind and life have an approaching sell-by date.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include ALL BY MYSELF, ALONE, the latest mystery from the “Queen of Suspense,” Mary Higgins Clark, in which a glamorous cruise on a luxurious ocean liner turns deadly; ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman, the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine who realizes that the only way to survive is to open your heart; and MOCKINGBIRD SONGS, a fascinating collection of letters between Harper Lee and one of her closest friends, Dr. Wayne Flynt.
BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark Sullivan, THE RADIUM GIRLS: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore, and GINNY MOON by Benjamin Ludwig are my three latest Bookreporter.com Bets On selections. Click on each of the titles to see why I’m betting you’ll love these books.
GINNY MOON is one of the books we’re giving away next week in our Summer Reading contests, which kick off on Tuesday, May 16th. On select days through August 24th, we will be hosting a series of 24-hour contests and on each of the contest days awarding five readers a book that we think is a great summer read. You will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, along with a Summer Reading Preview newsletter on Monday. Click here to sign up for these dedicated newsletters. In addition to GINNY MOON, next week we’ll be giving away ALMOST MISSED YOU by Jessica Strawser and THE WINTER FORTRESS: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb.
A big round of clapping and appreciation to Nicole Sherman on our staff who pulled together all the content for the Summer Reading promotion, as well as for the Mother's Day contest. She is a complete organizational marvel; her attention to detail enables us to share these daily contest promotions with you. There is A LOT involved on the back end to make these contests and promotions work!
Many thanks to Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Dinitia Smith, Lisa Ko and Wendy Walker for contributing lovely pieces for this year’s Mother’s Day Author Blogs. Click here to read their heartfelt reflections on their mothers and (in the case of Wendy) their own experiences as mothers. I loved each and every one of them.
Chitra’s and Dinitia’s novels, BEFORE WE VISIT THE GODDESS and THE HONEYMOON, respectively, are two of the books we’re giving away in the aforementioned Mother’s Day contest, where five readers each will be awarded all 13 of our featured titles and some mom-themed treats. You only have until this Monday, May 15th at noon ET to enter; to do so, please fill out this form. Another of the prize books is JACKIE'S GIRL: My Life with the Kennedy Family by Kathy McKeon, a coming-of-age memoir by a young woman who spent 13 years as Jackie Kennedy’s personal assistant and occasional nanny. We have a review of it this week that you can read here, and be sure to watch this exclusive interview with Kathy on "Today."
The commute on Wednesday was horrendous, and I was grateful to have JACKIE’S GIRL with me on audio so I could think about something beyond the sea of red lights in front of me. As Kathy describes her family’s tough life in Ireland (10 of them shared a toothbrush), I am contrasting that with the life of luxury that she lived at 1040 Fifth Avenue with Jackie. There are lots of intimate details about Jackie’s world, and I am enjoying hearing about them. She truly was an icon.
Are you a fast reader, a slow one, or somewhere in the middle? That’s the subject of our latest poll question, as we’re curious about your reading style. Click here to let us know. As you all may guess, I am a fast reader!
Our previous poll asked where you talk about books online. Here’s a partial breakdown of the results: Goodreads (48%), your personal Facebook page (22%), Amazon (18%) and a group Facebook page (16%). Click here for the full results, including the answers readers gave in the “Other” category.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, May 26th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win DRAGON TEETH, a recently discovered novel from the late Michael Crichton, and TESTIMONY by Scott Turow.
Poisoned Pen Press, an independent publisher of mystery novels (some of which we have featured on the site in recent months), celebrated their 20th anniversary at the Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Sunday. Among the attendees were two debut Poisoned Pen Press authors who were signing their May releases: Thomas Kies with RANDOM ROAD and Annie Hogsett with TOO LUCKY TO LIVE. (We have Q&As with both these authors this week, along with a review of RANDOM ROAD; click on the author names for their interviews.) Also present was Tammy Kaehler, who signed the fifth in her Kate Reilly racing series, KISS THE BRICKS.
Other attendees included Fred Ramsay, Donis Casey, James Sallis and Meg Dobson, all on hand to sign the recently published anthology BOUND BY MYSTERY, an original collection edited by PPPress associate publisher Diane DiBiase. The day also featured interviews with former PPPress authors Dana Stabenow and the aforementioned James Sallis, who discussed their respective writing approaches with Barbara Peters, executive editor of the Press. I have not been to the Poisoned Pen bookstore; it’s on my bookstore bucket list.
News & Pop Culture:
Reader Mail:
Jude wrote this wonderful thought to ponder about my mom’s birthday. In the crazy world of today, I think it’s something to take to heart on more than birthdays: “A wish for Mom's birthday. Look at all the people around the table as you eat your celebration dinner. One by one, look for yourself in them. Because you were born, you made their life possible. Smile as often as you can, it will lift all their spirits to know they are important enough to you that their efforts brought you happiness. Have a wonderful birthday.”
Lyanne wrote this: "Happy Birthday to your mom. Have fun at dinner. You two sound like bookends. Thanks for the early newsletter. It's a wonder how you and your staff can pack so much into the newsletter, especially in a whirlwind short week. I appreciate all the information and news you share with us weekly. The newsletter finishes each week on a positive note for me. It surely helps me keep my nose in a book, my favorite place to be. Started INTO THE WATER by Paula Hawkins this morning...can barely put it down.”
Lion: Finally watched Lion and I see why so many people said it was their favorite film of last year. I will think about it for a long time. And it has a brilliant soundtrack; the music punctuated it perfectly.
"Billions": Brilliant season finale on Showtime. Trying to think what happens next.
"13 Reasons Why": Announced this week that they are doing a second season, which I do not understand. I feel like it and "Big Little Lies" worked perfectly as one season. Netflix releases what will be in Season Two here.
At last week’s Penguin Random House Open Book event, there was a cocktail made with tequila, Cointreau, lime and ginger beer called The Libration, named for Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress. It was excellent, so I made it Saturday night and served it with stuffed poblano chilis and tequila chicken from a recipe that I made up as we had a Seis de Mayo celebration. The recipe is from Merrily Grashin’s WOMEN’S LIBATION!: Cocktails to Celebrate a Woman's Right to Booze, a cocktail book that raises a toast to feminist heroes, pairing them with recipes. It goes on sale October 17th.
We are celebrating Mother’s Day with my mom on Saturday night, and then Tom and the boys are celebrating me on Sunday. We came up with this idea a few years ago, and it makes it fun for all of us! Cory has finished up the semester, so he will be around. It has been so cold that I have not given one thought to opening the pool. Maybe next weekend! When you have the heat on in the house, the pool is not top of mind. My wetsuit works in 50-degree water, but with nights in the 40s, I should have gotten the next grade warmer one!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who are our readers. And from me, a special hug to anyone who is spending this holiday without their mom, especially those who are experiencing this for the first time.
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: SINCE WE FELL by Dennis Lehane
SINCE WE FELL by Dennis Lehane (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, performed by Julia Whelan
SINCE WE FELL follows Rachel Childs, a former journalist who, after an on-air mental breakdown, now lives as a virtual shut-in. In all other respects, however, she enjoys an ideal life with an ideal husband. Until a chance encounter on a rainy afternoon causes that ideal life to fray. As does Rachel’s marriage. As does Rachel herself. Sucked into a conspiracy thick with deception, violence and possibly madness, Rachel must find the strength within herself to conquer unimaginable fears and mind-altering truths. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE THIRST by Jo Nesbø
THE THIRST : A Harry Hole Novel by Jo Nesbø (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by John Lee
The murder victim is a self-declared Tinder addict. Two days later, there’s a second murder: a woman of the same age, a Tinder user, an eerily similar scene. The chief of police knows there’s only one man for this case. But Harry Hole is no longer with the force. He promised the woman he loves --- and himself --- that he’d never go back: not after his last case, which put the people closest to him in grave danger. But there’s something about these murders that catches his attention, something in the details that the investigators have missed. Now, despite his promises, despite everything he risks, Harry throws himself back into the hunt for a figure who haunts him, the monster who got away. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: JACKIE'S GIRL by Kathy McKeon
JACKIE'S GIRL: My Life with the Kennedy Family by Kathy McKeon (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Aedin Moloney
In 1964, Kathy McKeon was just 19 years old and newly arrived from Ireland when she was hired as the personal assistant to former first lady Jackie Kennedy. The next 13 years of her life were spent in Jackie's service, during which she not only played a crucial role in raising young Caroline and John Jr., but also had a front-row seat to some of the 20th century’s most significant events. Because she was always at Jackie’s side, Rose Kennedy deemed her “Jackie’s girl.” Kathy was there during Jackie and Aristotle Onassis’ courtship and marriage and Robert Kennedy’s assassination, dutifully supporting Jackie and the children during these tumultuous times in history. Reviewed by Carole Turner.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS
COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman
ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cathleen McCarron
Eleanor Oliphant struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: MOCKINGBIRD SONGS by Wayne Flynt
MOCKINGBIRD SONGS: My Friendship with Harper Lee by Wayne Flynt (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Rosemary Benson and Mike Ortego
The violent racism of the American South drove Wayne Flynt away from his home state of Alabama, but the publication of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Harper Lee’s classic novel about courage, community and equality, inspired him to return in the early 1960s and craft a career documenting and teaching Alabama history. His writing resonated with many Alabamians, in particular three sisters: Louise, Alice and Nelle Harper Lee. Beginning with their first meeting in 1983, a mutual respect and affection for the state’s history and literature matured into a deep friendship between two families who can trace their roots there back more than five generations. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On: BENEATH A SCARLET SKY, THE RADIUM GIRLS and GINNY MOON
BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark Sullivan (Historical Fiction)
I love when an author tries something different, and it becomes the best thing he has written. Ten years ago, Mark Sullivan told me that he had heard about a man in Italy and wanted to write his story. I was told little about him, except that he was a hero from World War II with a big story to tell. But from the excitement that came over Mark’s face every time he talked about the book, I knew it was going to be something very special. I had read all of Mark’s thrillers and loved them. BENEATH A SCARLET SKY is historical fiction, but it has the pitch-perfect thriller pacing that I have loved in his previous work.
- Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an interview with Mark Sullivan.
- Click here to visit Mark Sullivan's website.
THE RADIUM GIRLS: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore (Biography/History)
There is a true pleasure that comes from reading narrative nonfiction when a writer brings her subject brilliantly to life. Kate Moore does this with THE RADIUM GIRLS: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women, and the subtitle’s pun is intended. Kate explores the lives of the women who worked in the radium-dial factories where they labored painting the dials of watches. These jobs were much-coveted as these ladies were seen as craftswomen, and their skill was highly paid, at a time when good-paying jobs for women were scarce.
- Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
GINNY MOON by Benjamin Ludwig (Fiction)
GINNY MOON by Benjamin Ludwig is a book that is going to grab at your heartstrings and not let them go. Ginny is a feisty 14-year-old girl, who, after some time in a series of foster homes, has been adopted by a loving couple. She has a great life, enjoying school, basketball and her friends. And her Forever Mom and her Forever Dad are there to keep her safe, as well as happy. But for all the perfectness of this life, Ginny misses her birth mom, Gloria, and the life she had with her. She’s fierce about trying to get back to her mother and the Baby Doll she left behind.
- Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here for more books we're betting you'll love.
Bookreporter.com's Mother's Day Contest
and Author Blogs
2017 Mother's Day Author Blogs
Our Mother's Day Author Blogs are back for an eighth year! We are excited to be sharing pieces from authors who discuss how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers, along with their own experiences as mothers and their views on motherhood. This year's contributors are Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Dinitia Smith, Lisa Ko and Wendy Walker.
Click here to read this year's Mother's Day Author Blogs.
Bookreporter.com's 12th Annual Mother's Day Contest
Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. To celebrate, we're giving you the opportunity to win books and goodies for you or the special lady in your life in our 12th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Monday, May 15th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes the books listed here, along with some delightful mom-themed treats.
Click here to enter the contest.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We will be hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through August 24th, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our first prize book will be announced on Tuesday, May 16th at noon ET.
Click here to read all the contest details
and see the prize books being awarded in May, June, July and August.
Interviews with Debut Novelists
Thomas Kies and Annie Hogsett
Thomas Kies, Author of RANDOM ROAD: A Geneva Chase Mystery
Thomas Kies has worked for newspapers and magazines, primarily in New England and New York, for a number of years. His debut novel, RANDOM ROAD, kicks off his mystery series starring veteran reporter Geneva Chase, who is battling alcoholism and bad choices but has a chance to redeem herself by covering a horrific story: the murders of six people, all of whom were found naked and hacked to pieces. In this interview, Kies talks about the key event that led him to pursue his dream of becoming a published author, an important decision he made in the early stages of preparing the book’s first draft, and the challenges of writing from the point of view of a female protagonist.
RANDOM ROAD: A Geneva Chase Mystery by Thomas Kies (Mystery)
It's a crime scene worthy of Hieronymus Bosch, so shocking and so senseless it challenges the local law and intrigues veteran reporter Geneva Chase, whose career may be dying alongside that of her small town newspaper. For Geneva, battling alcoholism and bad choices, writing this story is the last chance to redeem herself. But ink still flows thick in her veins, and her story on Sheffield's unlikely killing field is the Sheffield Post's lead. She's also tracking community connections, watching a hit-and-run case disappear through a large donation, interviewing dangerous suspects, visiting a swingers club, joining cops for a burglary bust, and taking a guided tour to spot history's underwater ghost. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
Click here to read the interview.
Annie Hogsett, Author of TOO LUCKY TO LIVE:
A Somebody's Bound to Wind Up Dead Mystery
Annie Hogsett enjoyed a long career as an advertising copywriter, and now is ready to embark on a new journey as a published author. Her debut novel, TOO LUCKY TO LIVE, introduces readers to Allie Harper, a lonely and broke divorce-survivor who gets much more than she bargained for when she meets and falls in love with Thomas Bennington III, a blind man who has just bought a MondoMegaJackpot ticket. In this interview, Hogsett talks about the moment when she realized she wanted to write books for a living, the mystery writer whose work she admires the most, and why she will want to continue hanging out with Allie for many more books to come.
TOO LUCKY TO LIVE: A Somebody's Bound to Wind Up Dead Mystery by Annie Hogsett (Mystery)
Allie Harper has a chance encounter with Thomas Bennington III, a blind man who has just bought a MondoMegaJackpot ticket. Later that night, Tom hears the numbers announced. He's won. And he's less than thrilled. PhD Tom had gambled on the odds of losing to prove a point to Rune, a kid from the projects he has befriended, that only losers buy lottery tickets. Instead, Rune, who had helped pick the numbers, will share Tom's jackpot. Allie and Tom grasp two things: one, they're hot for each other, and two, the ticket is a hot target, and now so are they. Once the Mondo ball drops, it's game on with killers and kidnappers as players.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
ALL BY MYSELF, ALONE by Mary Higgins Clark (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jan Maxwell
Fleeing a disastrous and humiliating arrest of her husband-to-be on the eve of their wedding, Celia Kilbride, a gems and jewelry expert, hopes to escape from public attention by lecturing on a brand-new cruise ship --- the Queen Charlotte. On board she meets 86-year-old Lady Emily Haywood, “Lady Em,” as she is known throughout the world. Immensely wealthy, Lady Em is the owner of a priceless emerald necklace that she intends to leave to the Smithsonian after the cruise. Three days out to sea Lady Em is found dead, and the necklace is missing. Celia sets out to find the killer, not realizing that she has put herself in mortal danger before the ship reaches its final destination. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
LOVE AND TROUBLE: A Midlife Reckoning by Claire Dederer (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Claire Dederer
Claire Dederer is a happily married mother of two when she suddenly finds herself totally despondent and, simultaneously, suffering through a kind of erotic reawakening. LOVE AND TROUBLE shifts between her present experience as a middle-aged mom in the grip of mysterious new hungers and herself as a teenager --- when she last experienced life with such heightened sensitivity and longing. She exposes herself utterly, and in doing so captures something universal about the experience of being a woman, a daughter, a wife. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
WOMAN NO. 17 by Edan Lepucki (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell and Phoebe Strole
High in the Hollywood Hills, writer Lady Daniels has decided to take a break from her husband. Left alone with her children, she’s going to need a hand taking care of her young son if she’s ever going to finish her memoir. In response to a Craigslist ad, S arrives, a magnetic young artist who will live in the secluded guest house out back, care for Lady’s toddler, Devin, and keep a watchful eye on her teenage son, Seth. S performs her day job beautifully, quickly drawing the entire family into her orbit and becoming a confidante for Lady. But in the heat of the summer, S’s connection to Lady’s older son takes a disturbing, and possibly destructive, turn. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE BAKER'S SECRET by Stephen P. Kiernan (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, performed by Cassandra Campbell
On June 5, 1944, as dawn rises over a small town on the Normandy coast of France, Emmanuelle is making the bread that has sustained her fellow villagers in the dark days since the Germans invaded her country. Each day, Emma receives an extra ration of flour to bake a dozen baguettes for the occupying troops. And each day, she mixes that precious flour with ground straw to create enough dough for two extra loaves --- contraband bread she shares with the hungry villagers. But her gift to the village is more than these few crusty loaves. Emma gives the people a taste of hope --- the faith that one day the Allies will arrive to save them. Reviewed by Sarah Jackman.
MARATHON by Brian Freeman (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joe Barrett
Tens of thousands of people crowd into Duluth for the city's biggest annual event: the Duluth Marathon. But in a terrifying echo of the Boston bombing, there is an explosion along the race course, leaving many people dead and injured. Within minutes, Jonathan Stride, Serena Dial and Maggie Bei are at work with the FBI to find the terrorists behind the tragedy. One spectator remembers being jostled by a young man with a backpack not far from the bomb site. He spots a Muslim man in a tourist's photo of the event and is convinced that this was the individual who bumped into him in the crowd. But are the answers behind the bombing more complex than anyone realizes? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE MARRIAGE BUREAU: The True Story of How Two Matchmakers Arranged Love in Wartime London by Penrose Halson (History)
Audiobook available, performed by Jane Copland
In the spring of 1939, with the Second World War looming, two determined 24-year-olds, Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver, decided to open a marriage bureau. They found a tiny office on London’s Bond Street and set about the delicate business of matchmaking. Drawing on the bureau’s extensive archives, Penrose Halson --- who many years later found herself the proprietor of the bureau --- tells their story, and those of their clients. From shop girls to debutantes, widowers to war veterans, clients came in search of security, social acceptance or simply love. And thanks to the meticulous organization and astute intuition of the Bureau’s matchmakers, most found what they were looking for. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
D'ARC by Robert Repino (Science Fiction/Post-Apocalyptic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Bronson Pinchot
In the aftermath of the War With No Name, the Colony has been defeated, its queen lies dead, and the world left behind will never be the same. In her madness, the queen used a strange technology to uplift the surface animals, turning dogs and cats, bats and bears, pigs and wolves into intelligent, highly evolved creatures who rise up and kill their oppressors. And now, after years of bloodshed, these sentient beasts must learn to live alongside their sworn enemies --- humans. Far removed from this newly emerging civilization, a housecat turned war hero named Mort(e) lives a quiet life with the love he thought he had lost, a dog named Sheba. But before long, the chaos that they escaped comes crashing in around them. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE ASHES OF LONDON by Andrew Taylor (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, performed by Leighton Pugh
The Great Fire rages through London, consuming everything in its path. Even the impregnable cathedral of St. Paul’s is engulfed in flames and reduced to ruins. Among the crowds watching its destruction is James Marwood, son of a traitor and reluctant government informer. In the aftermath of the fire, the body of a man is discovered in the ashes of St. Paul’s. There is a stab wound to his neck, and his thumbs have been tied behind his back. Marwood hunts the killer through London’s devastated streets where before too long a second murder is uncovered. At a time of dangerous internal dissent, Marwood’s investigation will lead him into treacherous waters --- and across the path of a determined and vengeful young woman. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ALICE AND THE ASSASSIN: An Alice Roosevelt Mystery by R. J. Koreto (Historical Mystery)
In 1902 New York, Alice Roosevelt, the bright, passionate and wildly unconventional daughter of newly sworn-in President Theodore Roosevelt, is placed under the supervision of Secret Service Agent Joseph St. Clair, ex-cowboy and veteran of the Rough Riders. St. Clair quickly learns that half his job is helping Alice roll cigarettes and escorting her to bookies, but matters grow even more difficult when Alice takes it upon herself to investigate a recent political killing --- the assassination of former president William McKinley. Concerned for her father's safety, Alice seeks explanations for the many unanswered questions about the avowed anarchist responsible for McKinley's death. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 16th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 16th 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 May 15th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ARE YOU ANYBODY?: A Memoir by Jeffrey Tambor (Memoir)
ARE YOU ANYBODY? is Jeffrey Tambor's chance to discuss his creative process and immense accomplishments from a life lived onscreen.
CHUCK KLOSTERMAN X: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st Century by Chuck Klosterman (Popular Culture/Essays)
Cultural critic Chuck Klosterman compiles and contextualizes the best of his articles and essays from the past decade, accompanied by fresh introductions and new footnotes throughout.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY: A Biography by Mary V. Dearborn (Biography)
Here is the first full biography of Ernest Hemingway in more than 15 years, the first to draw upon a wide array of never-before-used material, and the first written by a woman.
FULL WOLF MOON by Lincoln Child (Thriller)
Lincoln Child is back with a new thriller that follows the trail of a killer who cannot exist and features Jeremy Logan, the renowned investigator of the supernatural and fantastic.
NEW BOY by Tracy Chevalier (Fiction)
The tragedy of Othello is transposed to a 1970s suburban Washington schoolyard, where kids fall in and out of love with each other before lunchtime, and practice a casual racism picked up from their parents and teachers.
NO MIDDLE NAME: The Complete Collected Jack Reacher Short Stories by Lee Child (Thriller/Short Stories)
Get ready for the ultimate Jack Reacher experience: a thrilling new novella and 11 previously published stories, together for the first time in one pulse-pounding collection.
PAPI: My Story by David Ortiz with Michael Holley (Sports/Memoir)
Looking back at the end of his legendary career, David “Big Papi” Ortiz opens up fully for the first time about his last two decades in baseball.
RISE AND SHINE, BENEDICT STONE by Phaedra Patrick (Fiction)
RISE AND SHINE, BENEDICT STONE is a luminous reminder of the unbreakable bonds of family, and shows that having someone to embrace life with is always better than standing on your own.
SAME BEACH, NEXT YEAR by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
Dorothea Benton Frank returns to her magical Lowcountry of South Carolina in this bewitching story of marriage, love, family and friendship that is infused with her warm and engaging earthy humor and generous heart.
TESTIMONY by Scott Turow (Legal Thriller)
The bestselling author of IDENTICAL, INNOCENT and PRESUMED INNOCENT returns with a page-turning legal thriller about an American prosecutor's investigation of a refugee camp's mystifying disappearance.
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Our Latest Poll: What Type of Reader Are You?
Which of the following best describes the type of reader you are? Please check all that apply.
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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 May 12th to May 26th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of DRAGON TEETH by Michael Crichton and TESTIMONY by Scott Turow.
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 May 1st to June 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Dorothea Benton Frank's SAME BEACH, NEXT YEAR, performed by Bernadette Dunne, and Dennis Lehane's SINCE WE FELL, performed by Julia Whelan.
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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