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Happy Easter and Happy Passover!
It’s ALMOST Beginning to Feel Like Spring!
Well, it looks like March is riding out with a lamb kind of energy. I almost can feel spring in the air. Last weekend, I was ready for a pop of color around the house. So I picked up two stunning blue hydrangea plants for the house and one for the office, as well as a gardenia plant. Just looking at them is making me smile.
Last weekend, I was lucky enough to get my hands on Linwood Barclay’s upcoming book, A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS, which will be in stores on July 24th. In it, Paul, a college professor, has been a witness to a terrible crime that has him suffering from PTSD. His wife brings home an Underwood typewriter as a present, hoping that seeing it will encourage him to share his thoughts on the tragedy that has befallen him and help him move on. Soon Paul starts hearing the typewriter typing downstairs during the night, and left for him are terse messages that only increase his angst.
A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS is brisk, and there is one big action point that will give you pause and then a few more rapid fire ones at the end that keep the story ramping up until the very last page. Linwood’s description of the Underwood typewriter made me long for the old cast iron one that I typed merrily along on for many years as a kid. I loved it! And I loved this book, which definitely will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. To me, it's Linwood's best book!
On Monday, Karen White, the author of the upcoming DREAMS OF FALLING (releasing June 5th) and THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT (now in paperback), came by the office. Greg and I had such fun talking books, authors, publishing and life with her. You can see a photo of the two of us above. We love author visits!
On Tuesday night, my friend Beverley, Rebecca from our staff and I went to Random House’s “Big Ideas Night," where the guest for the evening was Tara Westover, whose book EDUCATED was an instant New York Times bestseller and a Bets On pick. She was interviewed by Amy Chua, author of BATTLE HYMN OF THE TIGER MOTHER and the recently published POLITICAL TRIBES: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations. The room was packed, and clearly many had read EDUCATED and had insightful questions for Tara. The Random House team taped the event for Facebook Live, and you can watch it here. Tara was a thoughtful speaker. I was impressed to hear the amount of self-evaluation she put into her writing, as well as how carefully she wanted to vet it to ensure that her perspective was clear on various portions of it. It was a really lovely evening.
We have 15 reviews to share with you this week. Among them are THE DISAPPEARED by C. J. Box, which finds Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett having to contend with two lethal cases; THE PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES, Elizabeth George’s latest novel featuring Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, who are forced to confront the past as they try to solve a crime that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of a quiet, historic medieval town in England; Jacqueline Winspear’s TO DIE BUT ONCE, in which psychologist-turned-sleuth Maisie Dobbs investigates the disappearance of a young apprentice working on a hush-hush government contract during World War II; and TANGERINE by Christine Mangan, a debut psychological thriller that already has been optioned for film by George Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures, with Scarlett Johansson set to star.
Last week, we featured our review of EVERY NOTE PLAYED and an interview with its author, Lisa Genova. All of Lisa’s previous books, including her beloved debut, STILL ALICE, have been Bets On picks --- and her latest is no exception. Click here for my commentary.
The audio version of EVERY NOTE PLAYED, read by Dennis Boutsikaris and Dagmara Dominczyk, is one of the prizes in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest, along with J.A. Jance's DUEL TO THE DEATH: An Ali Reynolds Mystery, read by Karen Ziemba. Let us know what audiobooks you’ve finished listening to, and you’ll have a chance to win both these audio titles. The contest ends this Monday, April 2nd at noon ET, so the time to submit your entries is now!
In this week’s Spring Preview contests, we gave away THE BRIGHTEST SUN by Adrienne Benson, DEAD GIRL RUNNING by Christina Dodd, THE LITTLE FRENCH BISTRO by Nina George, and PROVIDENCE by Caroline Kepnes. Next week’s prizes will be AMERICAN BY DAY by Derek B. Miller, BEFORE I LET YOU GO by Kelly Rimmer, CAN’T HELP MYSELF: Lessons & Confessions from a Modern Advice Columnist by Meredith Goldstein, and OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES by Abbi Waxman. The first contest of the week will go live on Monday, April 2nd at noon ET.
We’ve updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, books we've recently reviewed on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience. This month’s titles are ORPHAN MONSTER SPY by Matt Killeen, TYLER JOHNSON WAS HERE by Jay Coles, and HAMILTON AND PEGGY!: A Revolutionary Friendship by L. M. Elliott.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Our current prize books are THE CUTTING EDGE: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver and I’VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU by Mary Higgins Clark. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these thrillers. The deadline is Friday, April 13th at noon ET.
Our new poll asks which of 20 books releasing in April you are planning to read, if any. Let us know by clicking here.
In our previous poll, we were curious about which paperbacks releasing in March you had read or were planning to read. Your top pick? CAMINO ISLAND by John Grisham, with 45% of the vote. Rounding out the top five are THE LYING GAME by Ruth Ware (33%), THE STARS ARE FIRE by Anita Shreve (32%), THE RADIUM GIRLS: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women, by Kate Moore (31%), and THE CHILD by Fiona Barton (31%). Click here for all the results.
As we were getting ready to send this newsletter, we learned the very sad news that Anita Shreve died of cancer on Thursday at the age of 71. The author of 19 novels, Shreve penned numerous bestsellers, including THE PILOT'S WIFE (an Oprah's Book Club pick) and THE WEIGHT OF WATER, both of which were made into movies. Her most recent book, THE STARS ARE FIRE, released in paperback this week. Jordan Pavlin, her editor, had this to say: "Anita's writing has touched the lives of millions of readers around the world, and she did some of her most elegant, rich, and unforgettable work in the last years of her life. Her body of work is extraordinary, and her books will continue to be read for generations.”
We also were saddened to hear the news that Philip Kerr passed away this week from bladder cancer at the age of 62. Kerr was the award-winning author of the Bernie Gunther series of historical thrillers, the latest of which, GREEKS BEARING GIFTS, releases on Tuesday. You may also know him as the author of the young adult fantasy series Children of the Lamp, which he wrote under the pen name P.B. Kerr. Just before he died, Kerr completed his 14th Bernie Gunther novel, METROPOLIS, which will be published next year.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Laura wrote, ”Oh Goodie! Goodie! Goodie! I won and received the audiobook CD of THE GREAT ALONE in the mail and have already started listening on my daily commute. It’s really good so far. Thank you; what a great surprise. Love your newsletters."
Speaking of the aforementioned Amy Chua and her tiger mom instincts, I thought you might enjoy this piece by her daughter about what it was like being raised by a tiger mom. Thanks to Jen who shared this with me.
My Book Events: I am going to be doing a number of book and author events over the next few months, and I finally took the time to post them all here. I hope to see many of you at them!
Samsung S9 Commercial: The Samsung commercials for the S9 are so annoying. I have an S8 Note and am a huge fan of these Android phones, but when I hear that song playing, I want to hurl something at the TV. It's the most annoying commercial "in the whole wide world."
"The Americans": The opening of this last season worked so well the other night. A lot was laid out briskly; I want to watch it again.
"Trust": I started watching this show about the Gettys. Somehow I failed to note their eccentricities before now, but I am catching up fast.
Today is our anniversary. It's been 36 years since I met Tom in Crested Butte, Colorado, and 33 since we were married. We’re hoping to take part of the afternoon off today to spend time together, and we plan to grab dinner out. Instead of going somewhere fancy, I got the idea to hit a small family-owned Italian place in a town nearby where they have meatballs that I love. It’s perfect. Our first date on March 30th was at a place called Bacchanale in Crested Butte, which was a fun Italian place where the eggplant fra diavolo is one we have replicated here at the house many times. It closed a year or so ago and has reopened with the same name, but not the same menu. We rarely go out because we both love to cook. While anniversaries and birthdays can mean a special place, somehow this just feels like fun! Maybe it’s also because we have a lot of holiday cooking on tap!
On Saturday there will be basketball. Tom and I are rooting for Loyola-Chicago. Our pick for the final two would be Loyola-Chicago and Kansas. Why? Well, it ends up that a couple of the players on the Loyola team are from Overland Park, Kansas.
We are hosting Easter here, and my parents will be joining us, as well as my niece, Sara, and son 2A, Josh. I have been organizing the menu and tweaking it all week. There will be jelly beans on the table (definitely black ones for me!) and lots of flowers. Happy Easter and Happy Passover to our readers who are celebrating.
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review: THE DISAPPEARED by C. J. Box
THE DISAPPEARED: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, narrated by David Chandler
A prominent female British executive never came home from the high-end guest ranch she was visiting, and the British Embassy is pressing hard. Joe Pickett knows that happens sometimes. But no sign of her months after she vanished? That suggests something else. At the same time, Joe's friend Nate Romanowski has asked him to intervene with the feds on behalf of falconers who can no longer hunt with eagles, even though their permits are in order. Who is blocking the falconers and why? The more Joe investigates both cases, the more someone wants him to go away. Is it because of the missing woman or because he's become Nate's advocate? Or are they somehow connected? 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: THE PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES
by Elizabeth George
THE PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES: A Lynley Novel by Elizabeth George (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Simon Vance
The cozy, bucolic town of Ludlow is stunned when one of its most revered and respected citizens --- Ian Druitt, the local deacon --- is accused of a serious crime. Then, while in police custody, Ian is found dead. Did he kill himself? Or was he murdered? When Barbara Havers is sent to Ludlow to investigate the chain of events that led to Ian's death, all the evidence points to suicide. But Barbara can't shake the feeling that she's missing something. She decides to take a closer look at the seemingly ordinary inhabitants of Ludlow --- mainly elderly retirees and college students --- and discovers that almost everyone in town has something to hide. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: TO DIE BUT ONCE
by Jacqueline Winspear
TO DIE BUT ONCE: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Orlagh Cassidy
During the months following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, Maisie Dobbs investigates the disappearance of a young apprentice working on a hush-hush government contract. As news of the plight of thousands of soldiers stranded on the beaches of France is gradually revealed to the general public, another young man beloved by Maisie makes a terrible decision that will change his life forever. Maisie’s investigation leads her from the countryside of rural Hampshire to the web of wartime opportunism exploited by one of the London underworld’s most powerful men. Yet when a final confrontation approaches, she must acknowledge the potential cost to her future --- and the risk of destroying a dream she wants very much to become reality. Reviewed by Jennifer McCord.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
EVERY NOTE PLAYED by Lisa Genova
EVERY NOTE PLAYED by Lisa Genova (Fiction)
More than two decades ago, a friend told me that his dad had ALS. I still remember his abject sadness as he described how his father was losing functionality. Then, a couple of years ago, our friend, Peter, was diagnosed. He was living in Florida at the time, and my husband and I thought we would fly down to see him in April. It was a well-laid plan, but he passed away in March, stunning both of us. Also, a couple of years ago, I read UNTIL I SAY GOOD-BYE: My Year of Living with Joy, a memoir by Susan Spencer-Wendel, who had ALS and was determined to live every day. That, too, was a Bets On selection.
All this to say that when I read Lisa Genova’s latest novel, which looks at the world of ALS, I was not coming to the subject of this book as a novice. That said, I knew that in Lisa’s hands, it would be deftly crafted and addressed. And indeed it was.
In EVERY NOTE PLAYED, Richard is a classical concert pianist. Music, travel, playing the piano and the adoration of the audiences who flock to see him fuel his life. Thus, when the illness begins to manifest with his losing feeling in his arms, it’s a crushing blow. He tries to hide what’s going on, but as the disease advances rapidly, this plan fails.
He’s also been through a bitter divorce. Richard is one really self-centered narcissist, and his relationships are frosty and fraught. But as his body begins to fail him, he realizes that he needs round-the-clock help, and the person who is there for him is his ex-wife, Karina, who also was a pianist.
While she explores the ravaging illness that ALS is, Lisa also provides a look into the world of jazz and classical music. I learned a lot about the world of music, and saw the toll that travel and attention can take on two people in even the best of times. It is a really well-written story of a man and a woman that took me inside their marriage and explored what tore it apart for them before the disease ravaged their world as they know it. The strain is everywhere, and while they try to keep this all at bay for their daughter, their world is just too fragile and brittle for that to occur.
Lisa is brilliant in educating me about complicated neurological diseases, and here, once again, she struck just the right chord (pun intended) in the course of delivering a very strong story. EVERY NOTE PLAYED would make for a wonderful discussion for book groups.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an interview with Lisa Genova.
Click here for more books we're betting you'll love.
Featured Review: TANGERINE by Christine Mangan
TANGERINE by Christine Mangan (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik and Erin Mallon
The last person Alice Shipley expected to see since arriving in Tangier with her new husband was Lucy Mason. After the accident at Bennington, the two friends haven’t spoken in over a year. But there Lucy was, trying to make things right. Alice has not adjusted to life in Morocco, too afraid to venture out into the bustling medinas and oppressive heat. Lucy helps Alice emerge from her flat and explore the country. But soon a familiar feeling starts to overtake Alice --- she feels controlled and stifled by Lucy at every turn. Then Alice’s husband, John, goes missing, and Alice starts to question everything around her: her relationship with her enigmatic friend, her decision to ever come to Tangier, and her very own state of mind. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: I WAS ANASTASIA by Ariel Lawhon
I WAS ANASTASIA by Ariel Lawhon (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jane Collingwood and Sian Thomas
Russia, July 17, 1918: Under direct orders from Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik secret police force Anastasia Romanov, along with the entire imperial family, into a damp basement in Siberia where they face a merciless firing squad. None survive. At least that is what the executioners have always claimed. Germany, February 17, 1920: A young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia Romanov is pulled from a canal in Berlin and claims to be the Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia. Her detractors are convinced that she is only after the immense Romanov fortune. As rumors begin to circulate through European society that the youngest Romanov daughter has survived the massacre, old enemies and new threats are awakened. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Fiction Author Spotlight:
WE OWN THE SKY by Luke Allnutt
WE OWN THE SKY by Luke Allnutt (Fiction)
Rob Coates feels like he’s won the lottery of life. There is Anna, his incredible wife, their London town house and, most precious of all, Jack, their son, who makes every day an extraordinary adventure. But when a devastating illness befalls his family, Rob’s world begins to unravel. Suddenly finding himself alone, Rob seeks solace in photographing the skyscrapers and clifftops he and Jack used to visit. And just when it seems that all hope is lost, Rob embarks on the most unforgettable of journeys to find his way back to life, and forgiveness.
WE OWN THE SKY is a tender, heartrending, but ultimately life-affirming novel that will resonate deeply with anyone who has suffered loss or experienced great love. With stunning eloquence and acumen, Luke Allnutt has penned a soaring debut and a true testament to the power of love, showing how even the most thoroughly broken heart can learn to beat again.
WE OWN THE SKY releases on April 3rd. Don't miss our review of the book and our interview with Luke Allnutt in next week's newsletter.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Luke Allnutt’s bio.
- Click here to visit Luke Allnutt’s website.
- Click here to connect with Luke Allnutt on Twitter.
- Click here to see the 30 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight.
Bookreporter.com's Seventh Annual
Spring Preview Contests and Feature
Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our seventh annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through April 20th. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, April 2nd at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
RED ALERT: An NYPD Red Mystery by James Patterson and Marshall Karp (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
The richest of New York's rich gather at the Pierre's Cotillion Room to raise money for those less fortunate. The mayor --- with Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald of the elite NYPD Red task force providing security --- is on hand to applaud the Silver Bullet Foundation's new plan for public housing. A fatal blast rocks the room, stirring up horrifying memories of 9/11. Is the explosion an act of terrorism --- or a homicide? A big-name female filmmaker is the next to die, in a desolate corner of New York City. The crimes keep escalating, and the perpetrators may be among the A-list New Yorkers NYPD Red was formed to protect. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
HARRY: Life, Loss, and Love by Katie Nicholl (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Charlotte Parry
Britain's leading expert on the young royals offers an in-depth look at the wayward prince turned national treasure. Katie Nicholl sheds new light on growing up royal, Harry's relationship with his mother, his troubled youth and early adulthood, and how his military service in Afghanistan inspired him to create his legacy, the Invictus Games. HARRY features interviews with friends, those who have worked with the prince, and former Palace aides. Nicholl explores Harry's relationship with his family, in particular the Queen, his father, stepmother and brother, and reveals his secret "second family" in Botswana. Reviewed by Carole Turner.
I'LL BE YOUR BLUE SKY by Marisa de los Santos (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Angela Dawe and Erin Bennett
On the weekend of her wedding, Clare Hobbes meets an elderly woman named Edith Herron. During the course of a single conversation, Edith gives Clare 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. Though the former guest house has been empty for years, Clare feels a deep connection to Edith inside its walls. As she peels back the layers of Edith’s life, Clare discovers a story of dark secrets, passionate love, heartbreaking sacrifice and incredible courage. She also makes startling discoveries about herself: where she’s come from, where she’s going, and what --- and who --- she loves. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
JACKRABBIT SMILE: A Hap and Leonard Novel by Joe R. Lansdale (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christopher Ryan Grant
Hap is celebrating his wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Brett (who is also Hap and Leonard's boss), when their backyard barbecue is interrupted by a couple of Pentecostal white supremacists. Judith Mulhaney's daughter, Jackrabbit, has been missing for five years. Well, she's been missing from them for five years, but she's been missing from everybody, including the local no-goods who ran with her, for a few months. Despite their misgivings about Judith and her son, Hap and Leonard take the case. It isn't long until they find themselves mixed up in a revivalist cult that believes Jesus will return flanked by an army of lizard-men --- solving a murder to boot. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
PATRIOT NUMBER ONE: American Dreams in Chinatown by Lauren Hilgers (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Angela Lin
In 2014, in a snow-covered house in Flushing, Queens, a village revolutionary from Southern China considered his options. Zhuang Liehong was the son of a fisherman, the former owner of a small tea shop, and the spark that had sent his village into an uproar --- pitting residents against a corrupt local government. Under the alias Patriot Number One, he had stoked a series of pro-democracy protests, hoping to change his home for the better. Instead, sensing an impending crackdown, Zhuang and his wife, Little Yan, left their infant son with relatives and traveled to America. With few contacts and only a shaky grasp of English, they had to start from scratch. Reviewed by John Bentlyewski.
THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR by Tessa Gratton (Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Reading
The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. The king’s three daughters know the realm’s only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted. Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war --- but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
THE OTHER MOTHER by Carol Goodman (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Nicol Zanzarella
When Daphne Marist and her infant daughter, Chloe, pull up the gravel drive to the home of Daphne’s new employer, it feels like they’ve entered a whole new world. Daphne secured the live-in position using an assumed name and fake credentials, telling no one that she’s on the run from a controlling husband who has threatened to take her daughter away. When Daphne is diagnosed with Post Partum Mood Disorder, her downward spiral feels unstoppable --- until she meets Laurel Hobbes, who also has a daughter named Chloe. They immediately form an intense friendship, revealing secrets to one another they thought they’d never share. But Daphne realizes only too late that being friends with Laurel will come at a very shocking price. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE BALCONY by Jane Delury (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
Set in a small village near Paris, THE BALCONY follows the inhabitants of a single estate --- including a manor and a servants' cottage --- over the course of several generations, from the Belle Époque to the present day, introducing us to a fascinating cast of characters. A young American au pair develops a crush on her brilliant employer. An ex-courtesan shocks the servants, a Jewish couple in hiding from the Gestapo attract the curiosity of the neighbors, and a housewife begins an affair while renovating her downstairs. Rich and poor, young and old, powerful and persecuted, all of these people are seeking something: meaning, love, a new beginning or merely survival. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
CATASTROPHE: And Other Stories by Dino Buzzati (Fiction/Short Stories)
In CATASTROPHE, renowned Italian short story writer Dino Buzzati brings vividly to life the slow and quietly terrifying collapse of our known, everyday world. From “The Epidemic,” which traces the gradual effects of a “state influenza” that targets those who disagree with the government, to “The Collapse of Baliverna,” where a man puzzles over whether a misstep on his part caused the collapse of a building, Buzzati’s surreal, unsettling tales reckon with the struggle that lies beneath everyday interactions, the sometimes perverse workings of human emotions and desires, and describe the small steps we take as individuals and as a society in our march toward catastrophe. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
THEY ALL FALL DOWN by Tammy Cohen (Psychological Thriller)
Hannah had a perfect life in London until she did something shocking that landed her in a high-risk psychiatric unit. Since Hannah has been admitted, two women have died, including Charlie, one of her closest friends in the institution. She is convinced there’s a serial killer picking off the patients one by one, passing their deaths off as suicides. But why? And who will believe her? At first, Hannah’s mother Corinne assumes her outlandish claims about a killer in the unit are just another manifestation of her psychological condition, but as she starts to uncover strange inconsistencies surrounding the unit's charismatic director, Dr. Roberts, she begins to wonder if her daughter might have stumbled upon the truth. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on April 3rd
Below are some notable titles releasing on April 3rd 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 April 2nd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL LIES by Peter Swanson (Psychological Thriller)
Harry Ackerson’s father has died, and the police think it’s suicide. A devastated Harry returns to his father’s home, where he meets a mysterious young woman named Grace McGowan, who takes an interest in him. The sensual Alice also grows closer to him. Harry becomes disoriented by a growing fear that both women are hiding dangerous --- even deadly --- secrets…and that neither one is telling the truth.
CAVE OF BONES: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel by Anne Hillerman (Mystery)
When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to speak at a character-building program for at-risk teens, she discovers chaos. Annie, a young participant on a solo experience, stumbled upon a human skeleton. Meanwhile, the instructor who went out into the wilds to find the missing girl is nowhere to be found. His disappearance mirrors a long-ago search that may be connected to a case in which the legendary Joe Leaphorn played a crucial role.
THE FEMALE PERSUASION by Meg Wolitzer (Fiction)
Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman when she meets the woman she hopes will change her life. Faith Frank has been a central pillar of the women's movement for decades, a figure who inspires others to influence the world. Upon hearing Faith speak for the first time, Greer feels her inner world light up. And then, astonishingly, Faith invites Greer to make something out of that sense of purpose, leading Greer down the most exciting path of her life.
GREEKS BEARING GIFTS: A Bernie Gunther Novel by Philip Kerr (Historical Thriller)
An old friend of Bernie Gunther encourages him to take a job as a claims adjuster in a major German insurance company with a client in Athens, Greece. Bernie begins to investigate a claim by Siegfried Witzel, a brutish former Wehrmacht soldier who served in Greece during the war. Witzel's claimed losses are large and may be the stolen spoils of Greek Jews deported to Auschwitz. But when Bernie tries to confront Witzel, he finds that someone else has gotten to him first, leaving a corpse in his place.
I’VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU by Mary Higgins Clark (Mystery/Thriller)
After a party when her parents are away, 18-year-old Kerry Dowling is found fully dressed at the bottom of the family pool. The immediate suspect is her boyfriend, who had a bitter argument with her at the party. Then there is a 20-year-old neighbor who was angry because she didn’t invite him to the party. Or is there someone else who has not yet been seen on the radar?
THE KNOWLEDGE: A Richard Jury Mystery by Martha Grimes (Mystery)
In the backseat of Robbie Parsons’ cab is a man with a gun in his hand --- a man who brazenly committed a crime in front of the Artemis Club, a rarefied art gallery-cum-casino, then jumped in and ordered Parsons to drive. As the criminal eventually escapes to Nairobi, Detective Superintendent Richard Jury soon enlists his whole gang of merry characters to contend with a case that takes a number of unexpected turns.
LAWN BOY by Jonathan Evison (Fiction)
For Mike Muñoz, a young Chicano living in Washington State, life has been a whole lot of waiting for something to happen. Not too many years out of high school and still doing menial work --- and just fired from his latest gig as a lawn boy on a landscaping crew --- he knows that he has to be the one to shake things up if he’s ever going to change his life. But how?
LOOK ALIVE OUT THERE: Essays by Sloane Crosley (Essays/Humor)
Fans of I WAS TOLD THERE’D BE CAKE and HOW DID YOU GET THIS NUMBER know Sloane Crosley's life as a series of relatable but madcap misadventures. In LOOK ALIVE OUT THERE, whether it's scaling active volcanoes, crashing shivas, playing herself on “Gossip Girl,” befriending swingers, or squinting down the barrel of the fertility gun, Crosley continues to rise to the occasion with unmatchable nerve and electric one-liners.
VARINA by Charles Frazier (Historical Fiction)
Her marriage prospects limited, teenage Varina Howell agrees to wed the much-older widower Jefferson Davis, with whom she expects the secure life of a Mississippi landowner. Davis instead pursues a career in politics and is eventually appointed president of the Confederacy, placing Varina at the white-hot center of one of the darkest moments in American history --- culpable regardless of her intentions.
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 reviewed on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience:
ORPHAN MONSTER SPY by Matt Killeen (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
After her mother is shot at a checkpoint, 15-year-old Sarah meets a mysterious man with an ambiguous accent, a suspiciously bare apartment and a lockbox full of weapons. He's part of the secret resistance against the Third Reich, and he needs Sarah to hide in plain sight at a school for the daughters of top Nazi brass, posing as one of them. If she can befriend the daughter of a key scientist and get invited to her house, she might be able to steal the blueprints to a bomb that could destroy the cities of Western Europe. Nothing could prepare Sarah for her cutthroat schoolmates, and soon she finds herself in a battle for survival unlike any she'd ever imagined.
TYLER JOHNSON WAS HERE by Jay Coles (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by JaQwan J. Kelly
When Marvin Johnson's twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid. The next day, Tyler has gone missing, and it's up to Marvin to find him. But when Tyler is found dead, a video leaked online tells an even more chilling story: Tyler has been shot and killed by a police officer. Terrified as his mother unravels and mourning a brother who is now a hashtag, Marvin must learn what justice and freedom really mean.
HAMILTON AND PEGGY!: A Revolutionary Friendship by L. M. Elliott (Historical Fiction)
Peggy Schuyler has always felt like she’s existed in the shadows of her beloved sisters: the fiery, intelligent Angelica and beautiful, sweet Eliza. But it’s in the throes of a chaotic war that Peggy finds herself a central figure amid Loyalists and Patriots, spies and traitors, friends and family. When a flirtatious aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton, writes to Peggy asking for her help in wooing the earnest Eliza, Peggy finds herself unable to deny such an impassioned plea. A fast friendship forms between the two, but Alexander is caught in the same war as her father, and the danger to all their lives is real. Everything is a battlefield --- from the frontlines to their carefully coded letters --- but will Peggy’s bravery and intelligence be enough to keep them all safe?
Click here for more young adult books we recommend you read.
Our Latest Poll: April Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following books releasing in April are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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THE 17th SUSPECT by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
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AFTER ANNA by Lisa Scottoline
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THE CUTTING EDGE: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel, by Jeffery Deaver
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THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAM HELL by Robert Dugoni
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THE FALLEN by David Baldacci
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THE FEMALE PERSUASION by Meg Wolitzer
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THE GOOD PILOT PETER WOODHOUSE by Alexander McCall Smith
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A HIGHER LOYALTY: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, by James Comey
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I'VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU by Mary Higgins Clark
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THE KNOWLEDGE: A Richard Jury Mystery, by Martha Grimes
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LOOK ALIVE OUT THERE: Essays, by Sloane Crosley
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MACBETH by Jo Nesbø
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PROPERTY: Stories Between Two Novellas, by Lionel Shriver
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SHATTERED MIRROR: An Eve Duncan Novel, by Iris Johansen
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SHOOT FIRST: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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THE SIXTH DAY: A Brit in the FBI Thriller, by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison
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THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell
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TWENTY-ONE DAYS: A Daniel Pitt Novel, by Anne Perry
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TWISTED PREY: A Lucas Davenport Novel, by John Sandford
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YOU THINK IT, I'LL SAY IT: Stories, by Curtis Sittenfeld
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None of these
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, April 13th at noon ET.
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 March 30th to April 13th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE CUTTING EDGE: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver and I'VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU by Mary Higgins Clark.
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 March 1st to April 2nd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win 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.
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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