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I had a new reason for not exercising on Sunday. I was all set to head out for a walk when Tom told me that a black bear had just been spotted on the route that I would be taking. He, the bear that is, had turned from the main road off to one of the side roads leading to our house. All I could picture was me walking along listening to an audiobook and never realizing that the bear was behind me. So I returned to the couch and read a book. I think this was a valid excuse not to exercise, right?
My baguette baking experience went well, as you can see from the picture above. I am not close to becoming a prized French baker, but I am grasping the technique. This weekend, I am going to try a new baguette recipe from Food52 that was recommended by my friend, Wendy. On Saturday night, we had our friend, Cathy, over for dinner. Along with a beef tenderloin, I made a fennel/quinoa salad from Yotam Ottolenghi’s PLENTY cookbook (see above), green salad with red onion and sumac dressing from the NOPI cookbook, and lovely asparagus for which I used this recipe, minus the garlic. It’s my new favorite way to eat asparagus. I learned that Ottolenghi will have a new cookbook coming in October called SIMPLE, with recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less.
I finished listening to ALTERNATE SIDE and loved it. Anna Quindlen captured a slice of New York life while at the same time looking inward at a marriage. I still am enjoying Chrissy Metz’s THIS IS ME: Loving the Person You Are Today; it is honest and gives one good food for thought. She is a terrific narrator, just as I expected she would be. I am looking forward to listening more this weekend; may the bear have found a new place to walk!
On Monday night, I joined the Long Hill Book Club for their first meeting, where we discussed SMALL GREAT THINGS by Jodi Picoult. You can read more about me and the group in the ReadingGroupGuides.com newsletter here, including a photo of us. They loved your suggestions for what a Working Mothers of Young Kids book club should be reading. Next up for them will be ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman, which was highly suggested by many of you. When we discussed SMALL GREAT THINGS, I suggested that they watch “The Chi” on Showtime for another look at race through the eyes of a group of characters in South Central Chicago. They recommended that I watch “Seven Seconds” on Netflix; that night I came home and watched the first episode and saw why they were noting it in reference to Jodi’s book. In it, a Jersey City cop hits an African American child who is riding a bicycle. Other officers cover it up. Episode one drew me in; I will watch more!
Our Editorial Director, Tom Donadio, and I headed over to Random House today for a day-long event featuring authors and spring/summer/fall selections from their corporate library team. Among the authors we heard speak about their upcoming books were Judy Blundell, a prolific YA author whose first novel for adults, THE HIGH SEASON, releases on May 22nd, and Miriam Parker, a longtime publisher friend of ours whose debut novel, THE SHORTEST WAY HOME, will be in stores on July 31st. We will have much more on these titles, and many others we heard about today, in the weeks and months to come.
Lisa Scottoline is back with her latest domestic thriller, AFTER ANNA. Dr. Noah Alderman has remarried Maggie Ippolitti, who unexpectedly gets another chance to be a mother to the child she thought she had lost forever: her only daughter, Anna. But events take a heartbreaking turn when Anna is killed, and Noah goes on trial for the murder. A devastated Maggie must face the realization that the man she loves is responsible for such a heinous crime. In the wake of this unthinkable tragedy, new information drives Maggie to search for the truth, leading her to discover something darker than she ever could have imagined.
Amie Taylor has our review and calls AFTER ANNA “a top-notch story of suspense written by a master of the genre. Unwilling to turn us loose (not even for a moment) after she quickly snags our attention early on, Lisa Scottoline holds us in her clutches right up until the last page is turned, the final question is answered, and a sigh of relief is breathed.” I read AFTER ANNA last weekend and agree with Amie’s commentary. At one point, I was reading and thought I knew where the story was headed, and then I saw how many pages were left and settled in to see what Lisa was going to do to ramp up my afternoon reading; I was not disappointed.
As we announced in last week’s newsletter, we have a BIG contest going on right now at ReadingGroupGuides.com. We’re giving 10 book groups the chance to win six digital copies of AFTER ANNA, which is read by Mozhan Marno and Jeremy Bobb, and share their comments on it. We also are awarding 40 listeners a physical copy of the audiobook. All the contest details can here found here, and the deadline for your entries is Wednesday, May 2nd at noon ET. Also, be sure to listen to a clip from the audiobook here.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include CIRCE, the much-anticipated follow-up to Madeline Miller’s 2012 debut novel, THE SONG OF ACHILLES (winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction); THE CUTTING EDGE by Jeffery Deaver, in which Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs return to New York City to confront a killer terrorizing couples at their happiest --- and most vulnerable; and I’VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU, a stand-alone thriller from Mary Higgins Clark about a terrible crime where all signs point to one suspect --- but if he's innocent as he claims, it means the murderer is still out there.
We are pleased to announce our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest for LOVE AND RUIN by Paula McLain. Her 2011 bestseller, THE PARIS WIFE (a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick), was a fictional account of the love affair between Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. In her latest novel, she turns her attention to Hemingway’s passionate, stormy marriage to his third wife, Martha Gellhorn, who would become one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century. The book doesn’t release until May 1st, but we’re giving 25 readers the opportunity to win an advance copy and give us their feedback on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, April 26th at noon ET.
I am happy to share that LOVE AND RUIN will be a Bets On selection; you can see my comments in the May 11th newsletter, following our review of the book and interview with Paula on the 4th. By the way, I think this book is even better than THE PARIS WIFE, which set a really high bar. I cannot wait to see what you think when you read it!
Our latest New Release Spotlight title is THE DEVIL’S REWARD by Emmanuelle de Villepin, which we gave away advance copies of in our Sneak Peek contest back in January. Eighty-six-year-old Christiane lives alone in a large apartment in the heart of Paris. Apparently her vibrant sense of humor doesn’t run in her immediate family, as her daughter, Catherine, is sullen and uptight, full of resentment toward her unfaithful Milanese husband. After discovering yet another affair, Catherine takes refuge in Paris at her mother’s home, accompanied by her own daughter, Luna. Christiane uses all of her freethinking charm in an effort to change Catherine’s rigid, self-pitying attitude. THE DEVIL’S REWARD will be in stores May 1st, so we plan to feature our review in the newsletter that week. I had the pleasure of meeting Emmanuelle at Winter Institute, and she is such a delight. She's the kind of person you would love to spend the afternoon chatting and dishing with. Her character, Christiane, has her same energy and love of life.
Our Mother's Day contest is back for a 13th year! Once again, we’re featuring a number of fiction and nonfiction titles that we think moms will love. Over the next four weeks, readers will have the chance to win one of our five prize packages, which includes all 15 books to treat yourself or your mom. The deadline for your entries is Monday, May 14th at noon ET. Click here to take a look at our featured titles and enter to win.
We gave away the aforementioned AFTER ANNA and THE CUTTING EDGE in this week’s Spring Preview contests. Our final Spring Preview prize book will be WELL, THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist by Franchesca Ramsey. That contest will go live next Thursday, April 19th at noon ET.
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 20 paperback reprints that are available this month. We would like to know which of them, if any, you already have read or are hoping to read. Click here to cast your votes.
Our previous poll asked which of 20 titles releasing for the first time this month you are planning to read. Here are your top five: the aforementioned AFTER ANNA by Lisa Scottoline (43%), THE FALLEN by David Baldacci (35%), TWISTED PREY: A Lucas Davenport Novel, by John Sandford (23%), THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell (22%), and the aforementioned I’VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU by Mary Higgins Clark (22%). Click here for all the results.
Two of these anticipated titles, THE FALLEN and THEN SHE WAS GONE, are our latest Word of Mouth prizes. Let us know by Friday, April 27th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both thrillers.
Please also keep in mind this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest, where you’ll have the opportunity to win the audio versions of Sally Hepworth's THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR, read by Barrie Kreinik, and Alice Feeney's SOMETIMES I LIE, read by Stephanie Racine (both of which are Bets On picks). All you have to do is submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to for your chance to win these prizes. Be sure to enter by Tuesday, May 1st at noon ET.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Sue wrote, “I have read and re-read your newsletter to try to figure out what the picture on the right might be. Curious minds want to know.” It was the baguette pan, which I failed to call out in a bigger way. You can see two of the three baguettes that I made above.
Lee wrote asking for places to donate knitting needles: “Know you are a knitter, as I am, and wondered if you know or could find out where I could donate needles. I have been knitting for many years and have accumulated a number of needles that I no longer need. Have also inherited some. They are almost all circular needles, with the stiff connector. They will unwind in hot water and could be used for teaching beginners. I would be willing to ship them anywhere they could be useful. Thanks for any information you can forward.” I suggested a local senior center, or checking in with a library that may have a knitting program. I also recommended that she explore these folks. Other ideas, let me know!
"Happy Valley": I enjoyed season one of this British mystery and am into season two; those who liked "Broadchurch" or "Collateral," I recommend it.
Indie Bookstore Day: April 28th is the day to celebrate your local indie store. Many across the country will be celebrating with special events. This year’s ambassador is Celeste Ng, the author of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE.
Local Yarn Store Day: April 21st is Local Yarn Store Day. I am mulling checking out a new store; will see if that happens. In New Jersey next weekend, there will be the New Jersey Wool Walk.
Last weekend, I had a great time at The Yarn Attic, getting advice on a few projects and picking up some yarn to make a sweater coat. Those in the New York area can thank me for this. I bought the yarn for the sweater, and I see a forecast for tomorrow in the 70s. I think I influenced the weather. You are welcome!
Tom is headed to the track to teach the BMW Instructors driving course this weekend, Greg is continuing to work on his truck in preparation for his trip to California, and Cory will be home Sunday night to celebrate Tom’s birthday, which actually is Monday. I will be scheming on a menu and plan to reprise the chocolate cake that I made for his mom's birthday! I also will try to ration my watching of "Bosch" as it returned with a new season on Amazon Prime yesterday. Last time I just blitzed it; I will work on self-control, but no promises.
It’s Friday the 13th, but I feel lucky to have you as readers. AND I am filled with joy that Mercury moves out of retrograde this Sunday at 5:21am ET.
The weather is supposed to be stunning tomorrow, so I am hoping the bear walked to another town so I can get a nice walk in. I also plan to tackle some more of cleaning out my office! Of course, I also may just collapse on a couch on the deck and read, which sounds like a lot of fun. And since I am not into Yabba Dabba Doo, it’s safer, too!
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: AFTER ANNA by Lisa Scottoline
AFTER ANNA by Lisa Scottoline (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mozhan Marno and Jeremy Bobb
Dr. Noah Alderman has remarried a wonderful woman, Maggie Ippolitti. Despite her longing for the daughter she hasn’t seen since she was a baby, Maggie is happy too, and she’s even more overjoyed when she unexpectedly gets another chance to be a mother to the child she thought she'd lost forever: her only daughter, Anna. But events take a heartbreaking turn when Anna is murdered, and Noah is accused and tried for the heinous crime. Maggie must face not only the devastation of losing her daughter, but the realization that Anna's murder may have been at the hands of a husband she loves. In the wake of this tragedy, new information drives Maggie to search for the truth, leading her to discover something darker than she ever could have imagined. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to enter our ReadingGroupGuides.com contest for your chance to win the audio version of the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: CIRCE by Madeline Miller
CIRCE by Madeline Miller (Mythological Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Perdita Weeks
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child who possesses the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. Reviewed by Benny Regalbuto.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
New Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest:
LOVE AND RUIN by Paula McLain
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
Paula McLain's latest novel, LOVE AND RUIN, is the story of Ernest Hemingway's passionate, stormy marriage to Martha Gellhorn --- a fiercely independent, ambitious young woman who would become one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century. We have 25 advance copies to give away to readers who would like to read the book, which releases on May 1st, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, April 26th at noon ET.
LOVE AND RUIN by Paula McLain (Historical Fiction)
In 1937, 28-year-old Martha Gellhorn travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in the devastating conflict. It’s the adventure she’s been looking for and her chance to prove herself a worthy journalist in a field dominated by men. But she also finds herself unexpectedly --- and uncontrollably --- falling in love with Hemingway, a man on his way to becoming a legend.
In the shadow of the impending Second World War, and set against the turbulent backdrops of Madrid and Cuba, Martha and Ernest’s relationship and their professional careers ignite. But when Ernest publishes the biggest literary success of his career, FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, they are no longer equals, and Martha must make a choice: surrender to the confining demands of being a famous man’s wife, or risk losing Ernest by forging a path as her own woman and writer. It is a dilemma that could force her to break his heart, and hers.
Heralded by Ann Patchett as “the new star of historical fiction,” Paula McLain brings Gellhorn’s story richly to life and captures her as a heroine for the ages: a woman who will risk absolutely everything to find her own voice.
LOVE AND RUIN will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Don’t miss Carol’s commentary in the May 11th newsletter.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Paula McLain’s bio.
- Click here to visit Paula McLain’s website.
- Connect with Paula McLain on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight
and enter the contest.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's 13th Annual
Mother's Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love
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 for yourself or the special lady in your life in our 13th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Monday, May 14th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes 15 great fiction and nonfiction titles we think moms will love.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
New Release Spotlight:
THE DEVIL’S REWARD by Emmanuelle de Villepin
Available May 1st
THE DEVIL'S REWARD written by Emmanuelle de Villepin, translated by C. Jon Delogu (Fiction)
Three generations of women untangle a complex family story that encompasses the First and Second World Wars, revealing unexpected lessons about marriage and fidelity.
Christiane, 86 years old with a vibrant sense of humor, lives alone in a large apartment in the heart of Paris. Her daughter, Catherine, is her total opposite: sullen and uptight, filled with resentment toward her unfaithful Milanese husband. After discovering yet another affair, Catherine takes refuge in Paris at her mother’s home, accompanied by her own daughter, Luna. Christiane --- who, in spite of occasional dalliances on both sides, lived a beautiful love story with her late husband --- uses all of her freethinking charm in an effort to change Catherine’s rigid, self-pitying attitude.
As the women air their opposing views, Luna discovers by chance that her great-grandfather had met the philosopher Rudolf Steiner, the subject of the thesis she is in the middle of writing. Seeing Luna’s avid curiosity, Christiane takes the opportunity to tell the story of her family, which spans the 20th century. Memories resurface, and past events are reconstructed, shedding a new light on the present.
With a keen, lighthearted wit, THE DEVIL'S REWARD shows that life is complicated and often painful, but when conventional morals are imperative, it becomes unbearable.
- Click here to read Emmanuelle de Villepin’s bio.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Featured Review: I’VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU
by Mary Higgins Clark
I’VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU by Mary Higgins Clark (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
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? Kerry’s older sister Aline, a 28-year-old guidance counselor, is determined to assist the Prosecutor's Office in learning the truth. She does not realize that now she is putting her own life in danger. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE CUTTING EDGE by Jeffery Deaver
THE CUTTING EDGE: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
In the early hours of a quiet, weekend morning in Manhattan's Diamond District, a brutal triple murder shocks the city. Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs quickly take the case. As more crimes follow, it becomes clear that the killer's target is not gems, but engaged couples themselves. The Promisor vows to take the lives of men and women during their most precious moments --- midway through the purchase of an engagement ring, after a meeting with a wedding planner, trying on the perfect gown for a day that will never come. Soon the Promisor makes a dangerous mistake: leaving behind an innocent witness, Vimal Lahori, a talented young diamond cutter who can help Rhyme and Sachs blow the lid off the case. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
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 final prize book will be announced on Thursday, April 19th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
An Interview with Tina Whittle,
Author of NECESSARY ENDS
Tina Whittle is the author of a series of Atlanta-based mysteries featuring intrepid gun shop owner Tai Randolph and her corporate security agent partner, Trey Seaver. In this interview, Whittle discusses the challenges of writing a series and how she researched the details about filmmaking that are central to the sixth and latest installment, NECESSARY ENDS. She also explains why she chooses not to outline her novels and feels more comfortable as a “dyed-in-the-wool pantser,” making up the plot by the seat of her pants, and reveals some of her primary writing influences.
NECESSARY ENDS: A Tai Randolph Mystery by Tina Whittle (Mystery)
It was the crime that rocked Atlanta --- actress Jessica Talbot shot dead in her mansion and her husband, movie producer Nick Talbot, accused of the murder. The case seemed open and shut...until a dirty cop's secret forced prosecutors to set Talbot free. Now, four years later, someone wants Talbot dead, and the evidence points to the man most convinced of Talbot's guilt --- Tai Randolph’s lover, Trey Seaver. Talbot offers an irresistible deal: he'll keep Trey's name off the suspect list if Trey agrees to a one-on-one interview. Caught between his drive for justice and his need for security, Trey does the unexpected --- he asks Tai to help him investigate.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
THE OVERSTORY by Richard Powers (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Suzanne Toren
An Air Force loadmaster in the Vietnam War is shot out of the sky, then saved by falling into a banyan. An artist inherits a hundred years of photographic portraits, all of the same doomed American chestnut. A hard-partying undergraduate in the late 1980s electrocutes herself, dies, and is sent back into life by creatures of air and light. A hearing- and speech-impaired scientist discovers that trees are communicating with one another. These four, and five other strangers --- each summoned in different ways by trees --- are brought together in a last and violent stand to save the continent’s few remaining acres of virgin forest. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
LOOK ALIVE OUT THERE: Essays by Sloane Crosley (Essays/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Sloane Crosley
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. And as her subjects become more serious, her essays deliver not just laughs but lasting emotional heft and insight. Reviewed by Catherine Rubino.
THE GOOD PILOT PETER WOODHOUSE by Alexander McCall Smith (Historical Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, narrated by David Rintoul
Val Eliot, a young woman working on an English farm during World War II, meets Mike, a U.S. Air Force pilot stationed nearby. When Val rescues a Border Collie named Peter Woodhouse, who is being mistreated by his owner, she realizes the dog would actually be safer with Mike. And so Peter Woodhouse finds a new home on the air force base, and Val finds herself falling in love. Peter Woodhouse becomes Dog First Class, a canine mascot on the base who boldly accompanies the officers on their missions, and Val becomes Mike’s fiancée. But then a disaster jeopardizes the future of them all, and Peter Woodhouse brings Ubi, a German corporal, into their orbit, sparking a friendship that comes with great risk but carries with it the richest of rewards. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
BEFORE I LET YOU GO by Kelly Rimmer (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Vanessa Johansson and Amy Landon
Annie is a drug addict and a thief, and is in trouble again. Her sister Lexie has always helped her, but this time, she’s not just strung out --- she’s pregnant and in premature labor. If she goes to the hospital, she’ll lose custody of her baby and maybe even go to prison. But the alternative is unthinkable. As the weeks unfold, Lexie finds herself caring for her fragile newborn niece while her carefully ordered life is collapsing around her. She’s in danger of losing her job, and her fiancé only has so much patience for Annie’s drama. In court-ordered rehab, Annie attempts to halt her downward spiral by confronting long-buried secrets from the sisters’ childhoods, ghosts that Lexie doesn’t want to face. Reviewed by Bianca Ambrosio.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
PARIS BY THE BOOK by Liam Callanan (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kim Bubbs
When eccentric novelist Robert Eady abruptly vanishes, he leaves behind his wife, Leah, their daughters, and, hidden in an unexpected spot, plane tickets to Paris. Hoping to uncover clues --- and her husband --- Leah sets off for France with her girls. Upon their arrival, she discovers an unfinished manuscript, one Robert had been writing without her knowledge…and that he had set in Paris. The Eady women follow the path of the manuscript to a small, floundering English-language bookstore whose weary proprietor is eager to sell. But a series of startling discoveries forces Leah to consider that she may not be ready for what solving this mystery might do to her family --- and the Paris she thought she knew. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.
EISENHOWER VS. WARREN: The Battle for Civil Rights and Liberties by James F. Simon (History)
The bitter feud between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Chief Justice Earl Warren framed the tumultuous future of the modern civil rights movement. Eisenhower was a gradualist who wanted to coax white Americans in the South into eventually accepting integration, while Warren, author of the Supreme Court’s historic unanimous opinion in Brown v. Board of Education, demanded immediate action to dismantle the segregation of the public school system. In EISENHOWSER VS. WARREN, James F. Simon examines the years of strife between them that led Eisenhower to say that his biggest mistake as president was appointing that “dumb son of a bitch Earl Warren.” Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
UNBURY CAROL by Josh Malerman (Horror/Western)
Audiobook available, read by Dan John Miller
Carol Evers is a woman with a dark secret. She has died many times, but her deaths are not final: They are comas, a waking slumber indistinguishable from death, each lasting days. Only two people know of Carol’s eerie condition. One is her husband, Dwight, who married Carol for her fortune, and --- when she lapses into another coma --- plots to seize it by proclaiming her dead and quickly burying her…alive. The other is her lost love, the infamous outlaw James Moxie. When word of Carol’s dreadful fate reaches him, Moxie rides the Trail again to save his beloved from an early, unnatural grave. And all the while, Carol fights to free herself from the crippling darkness that binds her. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
COUNTRY DARK by Chris Offutt (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Nick Sullivan
Tucker, a young veteran, returns from the Korean War to work for a bootlegger. He falls in love and starts a family, and while the Tuckers don’t have much, they have the love of their home and each other. But when his family is threatened, Tucker is pushed into violence, which changes everything. COUNTRY DARK is the story of people living off the land and by their wits in a backwoods Kentucky world of shine-runners and laborers whose social codes are every bit as nuanced as the British aristocracy. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE GOOD LIAR by Catherine McKenzie (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Teri Clark Linden, Kate Rudd, Whitney Dykhouse and JD Jackson
When an explosion rips apart a Chicago building, the lives of three women are forever altered. A year later, Cecily is in mourning. She was supposed to be in the building that day. Instead, she stood on the street and witnessed it going down, with her husband and best friend inside. Kate fled the disaster and is hoping that her past won’t catch up with her. And Franny, a young woman in search of her birth mother, watched the horror unfold on the morning news, knowing that the woman she was so desperate to reconnect with was in the building. As its anniversary dominates the media, the memories of that terrifying morning become dangerous triggers. All these women are guarding important secrets. Just how far will they go to keep them? Reviewed by Leah DeCesare (www.leahdecesare.com).
THE NEW NEIGHBORS by Simon Lelic (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Adam Newington and Gemma Whelan
Londoners Jack and Syd found their dream home: lots of space, a great location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it. Everything is exactly what they hoped for when they move in --- except Jack makes a disturbing discovery in the attic, and Syd begins to wonder about the girl next door. And they each keep the other in the dark. Which is a mistake. Because someone has just been killed outside their back door, and now the police are watching them. This is their chance to prove they're innocent --- or to get away with murder. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
GLIMPSE by Jonathan Maberry (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Emma Galvin
Rain Thomas is a young woman trying to rebuild her life after years of drug addiction and abuse. Ten years ago, at age 16, she gave up her baby after the father, her first love, died in Iraq. Now, three years clean and on the way to a job interview, Rain borrows a pair of reading glasses from an old lady on a Brooklyn train. The lenses are cracked, and through the crack she catches a glimpse of a little boy running and screaming. The boy looks so much like Rain’s dead lover --- like their son must look now. But how does a recovering junkie fight supernatural monsters? And how far will one woman go to save her lost son? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE COINCIDENCE MAKERS by Yoav Blum (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Fred Berman
What if the drink you just spilled, the train you just missed, or the lottery ticket you just found was not just a random occurrence? What if it’s all part of a bigger plan? What if there’s no such thing as a chance encounter? What if there are people we don’t know determining our destiny? And what if they are even planning the fate of the world? Enter the Coincidence Makers --- Guy, Emily and Eric --- three seemingly ordinary people who work for a secret organization devoted to creating and carrying out coincidences. When an assignment of the highest level is slipped under Guy’s door one night, he knows it will be the most difficult and dangerous coincidence he’s ever had to fulfill. Reviewed by Sarah Jackman.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
THE BURIAL PLACE by Larry Enmon (Mystery/Thriller)
When the 19-year-old daughter of the mayor of Dallas suddenly goes missing at the height of election season, the Chief of Police has a potential political firestorm on his hands. He assigns senior detectives Rob Soliz and Frank Pierce to investigate quickly and quietly. The girl’s family thinks she’s out on an irresponsible lark, but things start to escalate quickly when Rob and Frank find a mysterious Bible in her car with the word Wormwood highlighted beneath Revelation. As the detectives follow a trail that leads them deep into the woods of rural East Texas, they discover other girls have been kidnapped --- all young blond women --- and find evidence that suggests some of them may still be alive. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on April 17th
Below are some notable titles releasing on April 17th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks releasing the week of April 16th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BAD MEN AND WICKED WOMEN by Eric Jerome Dickey (Romantic Suspense)
As a low-level enforcer in Los Angeles, Ken Swift knows danger. His life is far from perfect, and it becomes all the more complicated when his troubled daughter resurfaces on the same day as a major job. Margaux needs $50,000 immediately, and she isn't above blackmailing Ken to get it. Meanwhile, Ken's latest contract spirals quickly out of control, and he finds it is not only his daughter looking to seek revenge.
THE ELIZAS by Sara Shepard (Psychological Thriller)
When debut novelist Eliza Fontaine is found at the bottom of a hotel pool, her family at first assumes that it’s just another failed suicide attempt. But Eliza swears she was pushed, and her rescuer is the only witness. Desperate to find out who attacked her, Eliza takes it upon herself to investigate. But as the publication date for her novel draws closer, Eliza finds more questions than answers.
THE FALLEN by David Baldacci (Thriller)
Something sinister is going on in Baronville. The rust belt town has seen four bizarre murders in the space of two weeks. Cryptic clues left at the scenes have the police stumped. Amos Decker and his FBI colleague, Alex Jamison, are in Baronville visiting Alex's sister and her family. Decker has only been there a few hours when he stumbles on a horrific double murder scene. Then the next killing hits sickeningly close to home.
THE FIRST FAMILY by Michael Palmer and Daniel Palmer (Medical Thriller)
President Geoffrey Hilliard’s 16-year-old son, Cam, experiences extreme fatigue, moodiness and an uncharacteristic violent outburst. Secret Service agent Karen Ray is convinced that Cam’s issues are serious --- serious enough to summon her physician ex-husband, Lee Blackwood, for a second opinion. As Lee and Karen race for a cure to Cam’s mysterious and deadly disease, they begin to uncover betrayals that breach the highest levels of national security.
A HIGHER LOYALTY: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey (Memoir)
In A HIGHER LOYALTY, former FBI director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader.
KILLING TOWN: The Lost First Mike Hammer Thriller by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins (Hard-boiled Mystery/Thriller)
Mike Hammer steals a ride on a train upstate to Killington. But he is welcomed by a nasty surprise: he is accused by police of raping and murdering a young woman near the freight yards. Only a beautiful blonde, Melba Charles --- daughter of powerful Senator Charles --- might possibly save him...if he pays the price. But why would Melba help save a man she has never met? And, more to the point, where is the real murderer?
NOIR by Christopher Moore (Historical Fiction/Satire)
It’s not every afternoon that an enigmatic, comely blonde named Stilton (like the cheese) walks into the scruffy gin joint where Sammy "Two Toes" Tiffin tends bar. It’s love at first sight, but before Sammy can make his move, an Air Force general named Remy arrives with some urgent business. Meanwhile, a suspicious flying object has been spotted, followed by a mysterious plane crash in a distant patch of desert in New Mexico that goes by the name Roswell.
THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell (Psychological Thriller)
It’s been 10 years since Laurel Mack’s daughter, Ellie, disappeared. One day, Laurel met an unexpectedly charming man in a café, and their flirtation quickly develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters --- and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away. Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions about Ellie's disappearance begin to haunt Laurel anew.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: April Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following books releasing in paperback this month have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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THE AMERICAN SPIRIT: Who We Are and What We Stand For, by David McCullough
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THE COLOR OF FEAR: A Sharon McCone Mystery, by Marcia Muller
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COME SUNDOWN by Nora Roberts
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GOLDEN PREY: A Lucas Davenport Novel, by John Sandford
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THE GOOD DAUGHTER by Karin Slaughter
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HOURGLASS: Time, Memory, Marriage, by Dani Shapiro
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I KNOW A SECRET: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel, by Tess Gerritsen
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KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, by David Grann
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MAP OF THE HEART by Susan Wiggs
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THE MARRIAGE PACT by Michelle Richmond
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THE MIDNIGHT LINE: A Jack Reacher Novel, by Lee Child
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MURDER ON THE SERPENTINE: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel, by Anne Perry
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THE PEOPLE VS. ALEX CROSS by James Patterson
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THE RISE AND FALL OF D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland
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THE ROAD TO JONESTOWN: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple, by Jeff Guinn
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THE RULES DO NOT APPLY: A Memoir, by Ariel Levy
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SAME BEACH, NEXT YEAR by Dorothea Benton Frank
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SECRETS OF THE TULIP SISTERS by Susan Mallery
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THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE by Lisa See
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TRAJECTORY: Stories, by Richard Russo
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None of these
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, April 27th 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 April 13th to April 27th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE FALLEN by David Baldacci and THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell.
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 April 2nd to May 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Sally Hepworth's THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR, read by Barrie Kreinik, and Alice Feeney's SOMETIMES I LIE, read by Stephanie Racine.
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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