March 2, 2018

March 2, 2018

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March: And In Roars the Lion!

Years ago, I wrote in a March newsletter that I was hoping it would be a “lamb/lamb” month. The boys got a kick out of it. Well, this year we have a lion of a start to the month. You have to love a nor’easter, right? Seriously, I find weather drama to be such a drag.

I was in the city today for a publisher preview; these are such fun as Tom, our Editorial Director (as opposed to Tom, my husband...and yes, it does get confusing), and I get to sit and plan editorial coverage as we hear about upcoming books. Then I raced downtown to tape the intros for an award program that is going to air later this month. Luckily there were hair/makeup people on board there to tame the rainy hair look. Too bad I had to go back into the weather to come home; I need my hair to go into “shellac mode” in weather like this.

Yesterday, Margaret George, the author of THE CONFESSIONS OF YOUNG NERO, which is coming out in paperback on March 20th, and the upcoming sequel, THE SPLENDOR BEFORE THE DARK (November 6th), stopped by the office. We had a fun chat about Nero, the subject of both books (his story is big enough for two books), who she is enamored with. Sometimes, after spending time with a subject, an author is ready to move on, but Margaret is so looking forward to sharing more with readers about Nero in the second book. Note that I wore orange to match her fiery orange cover (I did plan this), though I coveted the stunning turquoise necklace that she was wearing, which was a gift from her daughter and granddaughter from the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Amusingly, I was wearing a bracelet that I later realized I had bought there years ago.

As many readers know, Greg has been playing the sport of curling since the last Winter Olympics. Thus he was thrilled when the United States beat all odds and won the gold last week in the wee hours of Saturday. Yesterday the curling team was in the city doing a meet and greet in Bryant Park, and Greg went down to spend some time with them. You can see him with the team above. He also got to hold one of the medals, which he reported are very heavy. I love that he got to have this experience. One for the memory books!

I always am on the hunt for great book- and author-themed stories to share with you.

A few weeks ago, Fiona Davis, author of THE DOLLHOUSE and THE ADDRESS (both of which were Bookreporter.com Bets On picks), posted photos on her Facebook page of a book group that had traveled to New York to meet her in person.

I immediately reached out to ask her to write a piece for us about the Boston book club named Club RED (which is short for “Read, Eat, Drink"), who spoke with her last fall and had a lively discussion of her work. They reunited in January when the group, led by Christine Powers, took a day trip to New York City to tour various locations from Fiona’s books. These sites included the Barbizon Hotel (from THE DOLLHOUSE), the Dakota (from THE ADDRESS), and Grand Central Terminal, the setting for her third novel, THE MASTERPIECE, which releases in August. According to Fiona, “We had an absolute blast and I’m honored by their enthusiasm and support. I don’t think I stopped laughing the entire time!” Read much more about their experiences and see photos from the tour in Fiona’s blog post. Many thanks to Fiona for taking the time to share these fun memories with us.

THE HUSH is the latest title we’re featuring in our New Release Spotlight. The author, John Hart, is a Bookreporter.com favorite, and we’re thrilled to see that he’s revisiting the world of his 2009 novel, THE LAST CHILD, which won him his second consecutive Edgar Award (the first was for DOWN RIVER in 2008). It’s been 10 years since the events that changed Johnny Merrimon’s life and rocked his hometown to the core. Since then, Johnny has fought to maintain his privacy, but books have been written of his exploits. Living alone on 6,000 acres of once-sacred land, Johnny’s only connection to normal life is his old friend, Jack. But Jack sees danger in the wild places Johnny calls home.

Joe Hartlaub, who has reviewed all of John Hart’s books for us, has this to say about THE HUSH: “Hart gives us a complex tale --- which bounces back and forth between the present and the 1800s --- that begins simply enough but is constructed incrementally so that readers…never get lost. And be warned: there are parts of it that are as quietly frightening as anything you might read this year. But you will love every word, regardless of whether or not you are a fan of things that go bump (and rend and tear and claw) in the night.” I dare you to read the opening chapters of this book and not get drawn in.

Other books we’re reviewing this week include TIME PIECES, John Banville’s memoir that focuses on his recollections, experiences and imaginings of Dublin; CHICAGO, the first novel in more than two decades for David Mamet, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of The Untouchables and Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright of "Glengarry Glen Ross"; and ONE GOAL by Amy Bass, which tells the inspiring story of a high school soccer team that united Somali refugees and multi-generation Mainers in their quest for state --- and ultimately national --- glory.

Lisa Scottoline’s bestselling thriller from last year, ONE PERFECT LIE, is now available in paperback, and we’re currently featuring it in our Paperback Spotlight. The book’s title refers to Chris Brennan, who appears perfect (at least on paper). He's applying for a job as a high school government teacher, he's ready to step in as an assistant baseball coach, and his references are impeccable. But everything about him is a lie. We then are introduced to a number of other characters, all of whom will be impacted in one way or another by this enigmatic individual --- Susan Sematov and her son, Raz, a high school pitcher who has his eye on the major leagues; Heather Larkin, a single mother who fears that her basketball-playing son Jordan is being negatively influenced by one of his teammates; and Mindy Kostis, a surgeon’s wife who has no idea that her husband and her son, Evan, are keeping secrets from her that might destroy them all. We also featured ONE PERFECT LIE when it released in hardcover; click here to read our review.

EDUCATED by Tara Westover and ROSIE COLORED GLASSES by Brianna Wolfson, both of which we featured in last week’s newsletter, are my latest Bets On picks. Click on each of the titles for my commentary.

Our Books on Screen feature has been updated for March. Feature films include A Wrinkle in Time, Ready Player One, The Leisure Seeker and Red Sparrow; on the small screen will be the series premieres of "Rise" on NBC and "The Terror" on AMC, along with the series finale of "The Alienist" on TNT; and among this month’s DVD releases are Call Me by Your Name, The Disaster Artist and The Man Who Invented Christmas.

This is your last newsletter reminder to enter our BIG contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com for THE GREAT ALONE, Kristin Hannah’s latest #1 New York Times bestseller. Ten book groups will win up to six digital or physical copies of the audiobook, which is read by Julia Whelan, and share their comments on it. We also are awarding 40 listeners a physical copy of the audiobook. Be sure to enter here by Thursday, March 8th at noon ET.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Submit your comments about the books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll have a chance to win THE ESCAPE ARTIST by Brad Meltzer and LET ME LIE by Clare Mackintosh. The deadline for your entries is Friday, March 16th at noon ET.

In this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest, we’re giving away the audio versions of J.A. Jance's DUEL TO THE DEATH: An Ali Reynolds Mystery, read by Karen Ziemba, and Lisa Genova's EVERY NOTE PLAYED, read by Dennis Boutsikaris and Dagmara Dominczyk (the latter will be a Bets On pick). Let us know by Monday, April 2nd at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win both these audio titles.

For our new poll question, we’ve listed 20 fiction titles releasing this month (including all four of our current Word of Mouth and Sounding Off on Audio prize books), and we’re asking you which ones, if any, you are planning to read. Click here to let us know!

Our previous poll asked in what genre was the last book you read, and in what genre was the last audiobook you listened to. The top three genres were the same for both questions: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Fiction and Historical Fiction. Click here for all the results.

We were saddened to hear the news of Penny Vincenzi’s passing this week at the age of 78. Vincenzi was one of the UK’s best-loved and most popular authors. She wrote 17 novels, including the #1 bestsellers THE BEST OF TIMES and AN ABSOLUTE SCANDAL, and two short story collections. Seven million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. She wrote juicy, fun books. We share a photo of her above. 

March’s pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times book club “Now Read This” is EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid, which appeared on numerous “Best Books of the Year” lists last year, was a finalist for both the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Awards, and is now available in paperback. I have not read it yet, but that will be rectified soon!

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

Gretchen wrote, “I was finishing up reading HOW TO STOP TIME by Matt Haig, which was recommended by Deborah Harkness, author of THE DISCOVERY OF WITCHES), when I received the package with Anna Quindlen's ALTERNATE SIDE as a winner in the Winter Reading contest. What a wonderful surprise! Cooler temperatures for this weekend sounds like good reading weather.”

Beth agreed with me about the Olympics: “I had the same reaction to the Olympics this year as you did. I think the biggest disappointment for me was watching most of the Olympic figure skaters falling at least once during their programs. I was watching amateur hour, so I lost interest.”

Eric Clapton: Watched the documentary about him called “Life in 12 Bars” on Showtime the other night. Really enjoyed it.

Oscars: I am looking forward to them on Sunday night. I do not have a favorite picture that I am betting on. And yes, I am excited to see the dresses.

Many of you have written with suggestions for the Young Moms Book Club that we asked about last week. Here's what they're looking for: “We are a group of working moms of young kids (mostly). We have a love of reading, but not a lot of time to do it (and we’re tired most of the time!). So it needs to be something that isn’t too heavy, but has some depth to it for discussion.” In case you have an idea of what they should read, shoot me a note at Carol@bookreporter.com with the subject line “Young Moms Book Club.”

Quiet weekend on tap. Cory has midterms next week, so he came home for dinner during the week and is now pretending that he is at a school “far, far away.” Tom is headed to BMW Instructor School for the day on Saturday. Greg is planning to rebuild the transfer case for his Land Rover; I have no idea what that means, but I know he and Tom will discuss it endlessly.

I got a copy of KNEADLESSLY SIMPLE: Fabulous, Fuss-Free, No-Knead Breads by Nancy Baggett, and I am plotting my next bread recipe. I so wish that bread did not have evil carbs. I will eat salads with my bread.

Beyond that, I have been enjoying Beatriz Williams’ THE SUMMER WIVES. It's an atmospherically rich story. The stunning weather on Wednesday meant I took a five-mile walk in the park with my friend, Kim. Instead of going to lunch, we walk in the park. FINALLY the weather was lovely enough to enjoy this, at least for the day, and I realized how much I have been lurking on the couch all winter. Heads up that the clocks change next weekend, so it soon will be goodbye darkness in the early evening, but the mornings are going to be one super drag. So sleep well this week to prep for "Daylight Saving Jetlag" next weekend!

I bought new reading glasses the other day in bright turquoise, instead of the ones in the five-pack at Costco. For the record, I never lose the ones in the five-pack; I give these a week to get lost somewhere.

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!

New Release Spotlight: THE HUSH by John Hart

THE HUSH by John Hart (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jeremy Bobb
Set in the world of his most beloved novel, THE LAST CHILD (“A magnificent creation.” --- The Washington Post), John Hart delivers a stunning vision of a secret world, rarely seen.

It’s been 10 years since the events that changed Johnny Merrimon’s life and rocked his hometown to the core. Since then, Johnny has fought to maintain his privacy, but books have been written of his exploits; he has fans, groupies. Living alone in the wilderness beyond town, Johnny’s only connection to normal life is his old friend, Jack. They’re not boys anymore, but the bonds remain. What they shared. What they lost.

But Jack sees danger in the wild places Johnny calls home; he senses darkness and hunger, an intractable intent. Johnny will discuss none of it, but there are the things he knows, the things he can do. A lesser friend might accept such abilities as a gift, but Jack has felt what moves in the swamp: the cold of it, the unspeakable fear.

Building on the world first seen in THE LAST CHILD, THE HUSH is more than an exploration of friendship, persistence and forgotten power. It takes the reader to unexpected places, and reminds us all why John Hart is the author of five consecutive New York Times bestsellers.

- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read John Hart’s bio.
- Click here to visit John Hart’s website.
- Connect with John Hart on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.

New Paperback Spotlight:
ONE PERFECT LIE by Lisa Scottoline

ONE PERFECT LIE by Lisa Scottoline (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by George Newbern
On paper, Chris Brennan looks perfect. He's applying for a job as a high school government teacher, he's ready to step in as an assistant baseball coach and his references are impeccable.

But everything about Chris Brennan is a lie.

Susan Sematov is proud of her son Raz, a high school pitcher so athletically talented that he's being recruited for a full-ride scholarship to a Division I college, with a future in major-league baseball. But Raz’s father died only a few months ago, leaving her son in a vulnerable place where any new father figure might influence him for good, or evil.

Heather Larkin is a struggling single mother who lives for her son Jordan's baseball games. But Jordan is shy, and Heather fears he is being lured down a dark path by one of his teammates, a young man from an affluent family whose fun-loving manner might possibly conceal his violent plans.

Mindy Kostis succumbs to the pressure of being a surgeon's wife by filling her days with social events and too many gin and tonics. But she doesn’t know that her husband and her son, Evan, are keeping secrets from her --- secrets that might destroy all of them.

At the center of all of them is Chris Brennan. Why is he there? What does he want? And what is he willing to do to get it?

- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Lisa Scottoline’s bio.
- Visit Lisa Scottoline’s website and YouTube channel.
- Connect with Lisa Scottoline on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.

Featured Review: TIME PIECES by John Banville

TIME PIECES: A Dublin Memoir written by John Banville, photographs by Paul Joyce (Memoir)
Born and bred in a small town a train ride away from Dublin, John Banville saw the city as a place of enchantment when he was a child, a birthday treat, the place where his beloved, eccentric aunt lived. And though, when he came of age and took up residence there, and the city became a frequent backdrop for his dissatisfactions, it remained in some part of his memory as fascinating as it had been to his seven-year-old self. And as he guides us around the city, delighting in its cultural, architectural, political and social history, he interweaves the memories that are attached to particular places and moments. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

Featured Review: CHICAGO by David Mamet

CHICAGO by David Mamet (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jim Frangione
Mike Hodge --- veteran of the Great War, big shot of the Chicago Tribune, medium fry --- probably shouldn’t have fallen in love with Annie Walsh. Then again, maybe the man who killed Annie Walsh should have known better than to trifle with Mike Hodge. Mixing some of his most brilliant fictional creations with actual figures of the era and exploring questions of honor, deceit, revenge and devotion, CHICAGO --- David Mamet’s first novel in more than two decades --- is a book that combines spectacular elegance of craft with a kinetic wallop as fierce as the February wind gusting off Lake Michigan. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

Bookreporter.com Bets On: EDUCATED by Tara Westover and ROSIE COLORED GLASSES by Brianna Wolfson

EDUCATED: A Memoir by Tara Westover (Memoir)
EDUCATED by Tara Westover is a brilliant memoir by a young woman who grew up living off the grid with her Mormon family in Idaho. No school. No doctors. And not even a birth certificate to note the date of her birth. Most everyday ways that we live our lives are viewed as "outside" and "wrong."

As you can imagine, Tara’s family lives a tough life. They bear witness to devastating accidents, and instead of seeking traditional medical care, her father allows her mother to treat them with healing herbs. These are used for typical scrapes and scratches, as well as horrific burns from gasoline explosions. For months, her mother cowers in the basement as she recovers from what clearly was a concussion. There is familial abuse, which is tragically ignored.

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

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on EDUCATED.

ROSIE COLORED GLASSES by Brianna Wolfson (Fiction)
In ROSIE COLORED GLASSES by Brianna Wolfson, Rosie is the fun mother. With her daughter, Willow, she will play dress-up; a party with a candy fest in the middle of the night is not untypical. Rex is less impulsive. He is the serious parent. While Rex loves Rosie, their lives collide too much to stay together. After the divorce, the children bounce between the two parents. Rex is a traditional dad, while Rosie’s behavior becomes more and more erratic.

Readers see that something is not normal here. Rosie is bipolar, and she is unraveling. What does Willow see? Does she still wear the rose-colored glasses, or is she ready to understand her mother for who she is?

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on ROSIE COLORED GLASSES.

Featured Review: ONE GOAL by Amy Bass

ONE GOAL: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together by Amy Bass (Sports/Sociology)
When thousands of Somali refugees resettled in Lewiston, Maine, a struggling, overwhelmingly white town, longtime residents grew uneasy. Then the mayor wrote a letter asking Somalis to stop coming, which became a national story. While scandal threatened to subsume the town, its high school's soccer coach integrated Somali kids onto his team, and their passion began to heal old wounds. Taking readers behind the tumult of this controversial team --- and onto the pitch where the teammates vied to become state champions and achieved a vital sense of understanding --- ONE GOAL is a timely story about overcoming the prejudices that divide us. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

Featured Review: A DEATH IN LIVE OAK
by James Grippando

A DEATH IN LIVE OAK: A Jack Swyteck Novel by James Grippando (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jonathan Davis
When the body of Jamal Cousin, president of the preeminent black fraternity at Florida's flagship university, is discovered hogtied in the Stygian water swamps of the Suwanee River Valley, the death sets off a firestorm that threatens to rage out of control when a fellow student, Mark Towson, the president of a prominent white fraternity, is accused of the crime. Contending with rising political tensions, racial unrest and a sensational media, Townson’s defense attorney, Jack Swyteck, knows that the stakes could not be higher. The evidence against his client, which includes a threatening text message referencing "strange fruit" on the river, seems overwhelming. Then Jack gets a break that could turn the case. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

Bookreporter.com’s Latest Blog Post:
“A Boston Book Club Invades Historic New York”
by Fiona Davis

Click here to read Fiona Davis' blog post
about her experiences with Club RED in NYC.

March’s Books on Screen Feature

Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of March’s offerings, please click here.
 

In Theaters

The Leisure Seeker
Release Date: March 9th (limited)
Based on: THE LEISURE SEEKER by Michael Zadoorian

A Wrinkle in Time
Release Date: March 9th (wide)
Based on: A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L'Engle

Ready Player One
Release Date: March 29th (wide)
Based on: READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline

On TV

"Rise"
Air Dates: Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT on NBC; Series Premiere on March 13th
Based on: DRAMA HIGH: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater, by Michael Sokolove

"The Terror"
Air Dates: Mondays at 9pm ET/PT on AMC; Series Premiere on March 26th
Based on: THE TERROR by Dan Simmons

"The Alienist" (10-episode series)
Air Dates: Mondays at 9pm ET/PT on TNT; Series Finale on March 26th
Based on: THE ALIENIST by Caleb Carr

On DVD

The Man Who Invented Christmas
DVD Release Date: March 6th
Based on: THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits, by Les Standiford

Call Me by Your Name
DVD Release Date: March 13th
Based on: CALL ME BY YOUR NAME by André Aciman

The Disaster Artist
DVD Release Date: March 13th
Based on: THE DISASTER ARTIST: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made, by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell

More Reviews This Week

FIFTY FIFTY by James Patterson and Candice Fox (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Federay Holmes
Sam Blue stands accused of the brutal murders of three young students. Only one person believes he is innocent: his sister, Detective Harriet Blue. And she's determined to prove it. But Harry's outburst at her brother's trial earns her a reassignment --- to the outback. With no choice but to leave Sam's case alone, she relocates to Last Chance Valley, where a diary found on the roadside outlines a shocking plan: the massacre of the entire town. And the first killing, shortly after Harry's arrival, suggests the clock is already ticking. Meanwhile, back in Sydney, a young woman holds the key to crack Sam's case wide open. If only she could escape the madman holding her hostage. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

DON’T CALL ME PRINCESS: Essays on Girls, Women, Sex, and Life by Peggy Orenstein (Social Science/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Peggy Orenstein
Named one of the “40 women who changed the media business in the last 40 years” by Columbia Journalism Review, Peggy Orenstein is one of the most prominent, unflinching feminist voices of our time. In DON’T CALL ME PRINCESS, Orenstein’s most resonant and important essays are available for the first time in collected form, updated with both an original introduction and personal reflections on each piece. Her takes on reproductive justice, the infertility industry, tensions between working and stay-at-home moms, pink ribbon fear-mongering and the complications of girl culture are not merely timeless --- they have become more urgent in our contemporary political climate. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

ZERO DAY by Ezekiel Boone (Apocalyptic Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by George Newbern
The only thing more terrifying than millions of spiders is the realization that those spiders work as one. But among the government, there is dissent: Do we try to kill all of the spiders, or do we gamble on Professor Guyer’s theory that we need to kill only the queens? For President Stephanie Pilgrim, it’s an easy answer. She’s gone as far as she can --- more than two dozen American cities hit with tactical nukes --- and the only answer is to believe in Professor Guyer. Unfortunately, Ben Broussard and the military men who follow him don’t agree, and Pilgrim, Guyer and the loyal members of the government have to flee, leaving the question: What’s more dangerous, the spiders or ourselves? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD written by Mario Vargas Llosa, translated by Edith Grossman (Thriller)
One day, Enrique, a high-profile businessman, receives a visit from Rolando Garro, the editor of a notorious magazine that specializes in salacious exposés. Garro presents Enrique with lewd pictures from an old business trip and demands that he invest in the magazine. Enrique refuses, and the next day the pictures are on the front page. Meanwhile, Enrique’s wife is in the midst of a passionate and secret affair with the wife of Enrique’s lawyer and best friend. When Garro shows up murdered, the two couples are thrown into a whirlwind of navigating Peru’s unspoken laws and customs, while the staff of the magazine embarks on their greatest exposé yet. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

IN THE ENEMY’S HOUSE: The Secret Saga of the FBI Agent and the Code Breaker Who Caught the Russian Spies by Howard Blum (History)
Audiobook available, read by David Colacci
In 1946, genius linguist and codebreaker Meredith Gardner discovered that the KGB was running an extensive network of strategically placed spies inside the United States, whose goal was to infiltrate American intelligence and steal the nation’s military and atomic secrets. Over the course of the next decade, he and young FBI supervisor Bob Lamphere worked together on Venona, a top-secret mission to uncover the Soviet agents and protect the Holy Grail of Cold War espionage --- the atomic bomb. But they began to suspect that a mole buried deep in the American intelligence community was feeding Moscow Center information on Venona. They raced to unmask the traitor and prevent the Soviets from fulfilling Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s threat: "We shall bury you!" Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

WOMAN LAST SEEN IN HER THIRTIES by Camille Pagán (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Amy McFadden
At 53, Maggie Harris has a good marriage and two mostly happy children. Perpetually anxious, she’s also accumulated a list of semi-reasonable fears. But never once did she worry that her husband of nearly 30 years would leave her. On the day Adam walks out the door, everything that makes Maggie secure goes with him. Only then does she realize that while she’s been busy caring for everyone else, she’s become invisible to the world --- and to herself. Maggie cautiously begins to rebuild her life with a trip to Rome, a new career and even a rebound romance. But when a fresh crisis strikes and an uncertain future looms, she must decide: How much will she risk to remain the woman she’s just become? Reviewed by Leah DeCesare (www.leahdecesare.com).

KILL THE ANGEL by Sandrone Dazieri (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
In Rome, a high-speed train hurtles into the city’s main station with a carriage full of dead bodies, the macabre discovery of which falls to Deputy Police Commissioner Colomba Caselli. Subsequently, the police receive a claim of responsibility and the threat of more murders to come. But neither Caselli nor her eccentrically brilliant ally, Dante Torre, are yet ready to buy the terrorist link. Not for the first time, Dante’s bizarre childhood, during which he was kept confined for years in a concrete silo, enables him to see what others miss --- in this case, to connect with a kindred spirit of sorts, a woman named Giltine who experienced an equally bizarre childhood from which she emerged damaged, lethal and full of murderous intent. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.

THINGS TO DO WHEN IT’S RAINING by Marissa Stapley (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Caroline Slaughter
Mae Summers has it all: a loving fiancé, Peter, a job at the flourishing company he owns, and a beautiful New York City apartment. But Mae’s life shatters when she wakes up one morning to discover Peter gone and the company in shambles. There’s only one place for Mae to go: home to Alexandria Bay, where she was raised by her grandparents. And not all is right in Alex Bay, either: Mae finds her grandmother struggling with dementia, separated from Mae’s grandfather thanks to a terrible secret she never meant to reveal. She also finds Gabe, her childhood best friend who became the love of her young life --- now a handsome if brooding adult, working through a private trauma that still haunts him. Reviewed by Dunja Bonacci Skenderović.

- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.

SOUNDS OF THE NEW DEAL: The Federal Music Project in the West by Peter Gough (Music/History)
At its peak, the Federal Music Project (FMP) employed nearly 16,000 people who reached millions of Americans through performances, composing, teaching, and folksong collection and transcription. In SOUNDS OF THE NEW DEAL, Peter Gough explores how the FMP's activities in the West shaped a new national appreciation for the diversity of American musical expression. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on March 6th

Below are some notable titles releasing on March 6th 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 March 5th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS by Elizabeth J. Church (Historical Fiction)
When she was eight years old, Lily Decker somehow survived the auto accident that killed her parents and sister, but neither her emotionally distant aunt nor her all-too-attentive uncle could ease her grief. Dancing proves to be Lily’s only solace, and eventually she receives a “scholarship” to a local dance academy --- courtesy of a mysterious benefactor.

AS YOU WISH by Jude Deveraux (Romance)
Three women --- 60-year-old Olivia; Kathy, who is in her 40s; and twentysomething Elise --- have wound up at the summerhouse in Summer Hill, Virginia, for separate reasons, but it’s not long before they begin to open up about their regrets, their wishes and their dreams. And when they’re presented with the opportunity of a lifetime, all three discover what can happen when dreams really do come true.

THE BAG OF TRICKS AFFAIR: A Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery by Bill Pronzini (Historical Mystery)
When a case leaves Sabina Carpenter the only witness to a murder, the family of the culprit vows to stop at nothing to keep her silent. The threat leaves John Quincannon deeply concerned for Sabina’s safety. When Sabina’s life is put in danger, John must rush to save her while grappling with the terrifying realization of exactly how much she means to him.

THE DEVIL AND THE RIVER by R.J. Ellory (Historical Mystery/Thriller)
One evening in 1954, 16-year-old Nancy Denton walked into the woods and was never seen again. Two decades later, Sheriff John Gaines witnesses a harrowing discovery: A young woman has been unearthed from the riverbank, her body perfectly preserved, yet she bears evidence of a brutal ritualistic killing. Nancy has come home at last, but her return does not bring closure to her family, or to the citizens of Whytesburg.

THE ESCAPE ARTIST by Brad Meltzer (Thriller)
Her body was found on a plane that mysteriously fell from the sky as it left a secret military base in the Alaskan wilderness. Her commanding officer verifies she's dead. The US government confirms it. But Jim "Zig" Zigarowski has just found out the truth: Nola is still alive. And on the run.

THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR by Sally Hepworth (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Few of Essie’s friends know her secret shame: that in a moment of maternal despair, she once walked away from her newborn. When a new woman named Isabelle moves in next door to Essie, she is an immediate object of curiosity in the neighborhood. As the two women grow closer, it starts to become clear that Isabelle’s choice of neighborhood was no accident. And that her presence threatens to bring shocking secrets to light.

I'LL BE YOUR BLUE SKY by Marisa de los Santos (Fiction)
On the weekend of her wedding, Clare Hobbes meets an elderly woman named Edith Herron, who gives her the courage to break off her engagement to her overly possessive fiancé. Three weeks later, Clare learns that Edith has died and has given her another gift: Blue Sky House. As she peels back the layers of Edith’s life, Clare discovers a story of dark secrets, passionate love, heartbreaking sacrifice and incredible courage.

THE KREMLIN CONSPIRACY by Joel C. Rosenberg (Political Thriller)
A czar is rising in the Kremlin, a Russian president feverishly consolidating power, silencing his opposition, and plotting a brazen and lightning-fast military strike that could rupture the NATO alliance and bring Washington and Moscow to the brink of nuclear war. But in his blind spot is former U.S. Secret Service agent Marcus Ryker, trained to protect but ready to kill to save his country.

THE THIRD VICTIM by Phillip Margolin (Legal Thriller)
A battered and bound woman tells a horrific story about being kidnapped and tortured. She identifies the house where she was held captive, and the owner, Alex Mason --- a prominent local attorney --- is arrested. Regina Barrister, a legendary criminal defense attorney, has a secret, one that threatens her skill, her reputation and, most of all, her clients. And she’s agreed to take on the seemingly impossible task of defending Alex Mason.

UNMASKED: A Memoir by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Memoir)
One of the most successful and distinguished artists of our time, Andrew Lloyd Webber has reigned over the musical theatre world for nearly five decades. In UNMASKED, the revered, award-winning composer takes stock of his achievements, the twists of fate and circumstance that brought him both success and disappointment, and the passions that inspire and sustain him.

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