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Great Reading As I Floated!
It was so steamy this week. I felt like we lived in the Deep South. I am waiting for Spanish moss to start growing. The dinner plate hibiscus are in full bloom, as you can see above. It’s been sheer bliss swimming at night; the upside to a hot summer is that the pool water is 85 degrees. On Wednesday night, I was paddling around the lighted pool, and the pool light went out. My first thought: Tom and the boys are playing a trick on me. My second thought: Wow, someone finally remembered to turn the lights off and hit the pool light too. Then I realized that the pool light bulb burned out. Cory has an idea that we can get one that turns the pool colors; I just want to see the other end when I am kicking around!
Last weekend was a great reading and floating weekend. I started by reading GHOSTED by Rosie Walsh, an instant New York Times bestseller that’s been getting some terrific buzz. I loved it and agreed with Liane Moriarty’s blurb: “I absolutely loved this book and didn't want it to end." It’s my latest Bookreporter.com Bets On selection; read on to see why I’m betting you’ll love it.
Next up, I read NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney, which will be in stores on October 9th. I literally read it in a day as it was what I call a propulsive read. The events in Dallas in November 1963 easily could have happened the way Lou plots them out. The country was so mob-run in those days; their reach was everywhere. In this story, Frank Guidry is a loyal lieutenant to a New Orleans crime boss. The problem: he knows too much. Thus he is on the run. And as he tries to run to save his life, he comes across a woman named Charlotte who is traveling with her two little girls trying to save what she can of her own life as well. They lend something soft and innocent to the story next to the toughness of the other thread. It will be a Bets On selection; I cannot wait for you all to read it. And I am usually not one who kvells over promotional materials that are sent with a book, but in this case, the package was clever and terrific. You can see a glimpse of it above.
The week was not just about reading, but also about a bookish adventure. On Tuesday, my son Greg, my friend Beverley and I all went on a tour of Grand Central Terminal to celebrate the launch of THE MASTERPIECE by Fiona Davis. In THE DOLLHOUSE, THE ADDRESS and now THE MASTERPIECE, Fiona has written strong works of historical fiction, always set in an iconic New York City location and against two time periods. She links her protagonists together, giving readers a rich reading experience that immerses them in the history of the property. THE MASTERPIECE is set at Grand Central Terminal, which was the reason for our trip there. The tour was led by Amy Hausmann, Senior Curator and Deputy Director of Collections & Exhibitions at the New York Transit Museum, with Fiona sharing information about locations where scenes from her book took place. You can see a photo of me with Fiona above, as well as one where I was trying to mime the woman on the cover of the book. I was missing gloves and her sassy stance.
We are happy to share our rave review of the book from Leah DeCesare, who says, “The Grand Central School of Art (who knew there had been a gallery and school in Grand Central Terminal?) comes alive with Davis’ retelling. Her characters are real and three-dimensional, and her writing is so graceful. I am looking forward to my next trip into the city --- through the terminal, of course --- to see it with new eyes. Full of mystery, controversy and history, THE MASTERPIECE is on my list of favorites for this year and beyond.” Fiona’s two previous books were Bets On picks, and her latest will be no exception. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
Shari Lapena, the bestselling author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR and A STRANGER IN THE HOUSE, is back with her third psychological thriller, AN UNWANTED GUEST. It's winter in the Catskills, and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing weekend away. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity --- and all contact with the outside world --- the guests settle in for the long haul. Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead. It appears to be an accident, but when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Something --- or someone --- is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm.
According to reviewer Ray Palen, “AN UNWANTED GUEST is very much a modern-day telling of a classic Agatha Christie plotline that is masterfully designed. Lapena knows and respects this type of murder mystery, and the end result is a novel that demands to be read in one sitting --- preferably not while you are staying at a quaint little inn or a bed and breakfast in the midst of a winter snowfall!” I personally loved reading this winter-set story on a hot summer day. Here is an interview with Shari where she talks about how her own fixer-upper inspired the book.
AN UNWANTED GUEST is one of our current Word of Mouth prize books; the other is TAILSPIN by Sandra Brown, which we plan to review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read for your chance to win both these thrillers. The deadline for your submissions is Friday, August 17th at noon ET.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include THE THIRD HOTEL, Laura van den Berg’s surreal, mystifying story of psychological reflection and metaphysical mystery, in which a widow tries to come to terms with her husband’s death --- and the truth about their marriage; FLY GIRLS by Keith O’Brien, the untold story of five women who fought to compete against men in the high-stakes national air races of the 1920s and ’30s --- and won (this is the latest Pennie’s Pick for Costco); and Catherine Steadman’s debut psychological thriller, SOMETHING IN THE WATER, in which a shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple.
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away the aforementioned THE MASTERPIECE, along with EMMA IN THE NIGHT by Wendy Walker, which is now in paperback and was a Bets On pick when it released in hardcover last year, and LITTLE GIRL LOST by Wendy Corsi Staub, which we review in next week’s newsletter. Next week’s prizes will be AN ACCIDENTAL CORPSE by Helen A. Harrison; MAKE ME EVEN AND I'LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN by Jerrold Fine, our current Fiction Author Spotlight title (don’t miss our review and author interview in next week’s newsletter!); and THE STOLEN MARRIAGE by Diane Chamberlain. The first contest of the week will go live on Monday, August 13th at noon ET.
EMMA IN THE NIGHT and THE STOLEN MARRIAGE are just two of the titles we’re featuring in our New in Paperback roundups, which have been updated for August. We also have paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as Dean Koontz (THE CROOKED STAIRCASE), Alexander McCall Smith (A DISTANT VIEW OF EVERYTHING), and Kyle Mills (Vince Flynn’s ENEMY OF THE STATE); nonfiction titles, including THE RED BANDANNA: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. by Tom Rinaldi and MORNINGSTAR: Growing Up with Books by Ann Hood; and paperback originals like A LIGHT SO LOVELY: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L'Engle, Author of A Wrinkle in Time by Sarah Arthur, THE DAISY CHILDREN by Sofia Grant, and UNDER A DARK SKY by Lori Rader-Day --- all three of which we're currently featuring on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
On average, how often do you see movies in theaters? That continues to be our latest poll question; cast your votes by clicking here.
Be sure to participate in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest for your chance to win the audio versions of Linda Castillo's A GATHERING OF SECRETS, read by Kathleen McInerney, and I SEE LIFE THROUGH ROSÉ-COLORED GLASSES, written and read by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella. Let us know the audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win both these audio titles. Please do so by Tuesday, September 4th at noon ET.
On Wednesday night, Melanie, who edits Word of Mouth and Sounding Off on Audio, enjoyed the book group event at the Barnes & Noble near her home where CLOCK DANCE was discussed. This was part of the nationwide Barnes & Noble Book Club program held at stores across the country. As she shared, “There were about 25-30 people there; it was a nice group. There was one man in attendance, and the rest were women. The store manager said last time there were 17 people at their first book club event (this was the second), and he was happy to see more this time. I noted that the start time of 7pm instead of the previous event’s 6pm timing lends itself to better attendance. A leader led the discussion, and as always, there were tangential threads of discussion as well. The store was very gracious and gave us vouchers for the cafe for a cup of coffee and a cookie. At the end of the discussion, the next book club selection was announced. It’s AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING by Hank Green. This news was going out on Thursday, so we were the first to know. It was very pleasant.”
In AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING, a twenty-something named April May is surprised to discover a giant sculpture on her way home from work in midtown Manhattan. Delighted by the sheer size and craftsmanship of the Transformer-like creation, she takes a video of it --- and immediately goes viral when news spreads that similar statues have popped up in major cities across the world. Now April must figure out what the statues --- which have come to be known as the “Carls” --- are doing here and what they want from us. While this book may initially seem like a very millennial-influenced sci-fi romp, Green also explores themes like fame, gender, crowd behavior and how social media moves the needle on our culture.
At a party in May, our very own Rebecca Munro had the pleasure of meeting Hank Green, who explained that he was inspired by books such as DUNE, characters like Harry Bosch and, of course, his own experience with YouTube (he’s one half of the “Vlogbrothers” YouTube channel, along with his brother, bestselling YA author John Green) to write this book, which he says is “about a group of friends who accidentally become the most important people in the world. Or, at least, they would like you to think it was an accident.” You can see a statue of Carl at BookExpo in the photo above.
Barnes & Noble will sell a special book club edition of AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING with an exclusive essay about the book by Hank, as well as a reading group guide when the book publishes on September 25th. Also, B&N will host its third free "Book Club Night" to discuss the novel in all of its stores on Wednesday, October 24th at 7pm.
In other book club-related news, the August pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times “Now Read This” book club is WHAT IT MEANS WHEN A MAN FALLS FROM THE SKY. This debut collection of short stories from Lesley Nneka Arimah, which released in paperback earlier this year, won the 2017 Kirkus Prize and the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award. Click here for more info on the pick and here for our review.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Rebecca wrote this about winning a copy of NEED TO KNOW in one of our Summer Reading contests: “Thank you so much for providing your contests. This is a chance to read a debut novel that may hook me on Karen Cleveland's novels, as I hope she will publish many more books."
Nancy from Boston wrote, “Just finished reading this week’s informative newsletter. FYI, a friend recommended RED NOTICE by Bill Browder. I am almost finished with it. It is excellent, frightening and scary. Another friend also read it, and her son knows the author. I was by a restaurant's outside seating area here in Boston and noticed a patron reading it too. She had just picked it up at the airport. She was enjoying it too. I also can recommend to you INTO THE RAGING SEA by Rachel Slade about the sinking of the El Faro. It, too, was a good read. Am not sure if it was mentioned on Bookreporter. Ordered THE INCENDIARIES yesterday. Looks interesting. Will be attending the B&N Book Club for Anne Tyler’s new book. I liked it, and found it interesting and better than her last work, A SPOOL OF BLUE THREAD. Have read most of her works. Am a big Red Sox fan, so back to my game versus those darn Yankees. Keep up the good work.”
Linda also wrote about RED NOTICE: “I read RED NOTICE by Bill Browder quite a while ago. I think you will find it very timely since it involves Mr. Browder's dealings with the Russian government. While Mr. Browder was working in Russia, he hired a Russian lawyer who ended up being arrested on false charges and was subsequently killed while in prison. This is only one of the wrongs that Browder has been fighting against. Because of this experience, he was able to get Congress to pass the Magnitsky Act. It's a law to punish Russian human rights violators, which was signed into law in 2012.”
Drama Over a Little Free Library: A family in NJ was forced to move their Little Free Library.
"The Affair": Last week had many terrific moments, and a game-changer for a character. Ends up the star wanted off the show, so they shot all the scenes featuring this person up front. Interesting when a star can change the trajectory for a show. Same thing is happening with the character of Rick on "The Walking Dead." That is something that does not happen in books; characters do not ask to be written out!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: It starts airing on Netflix today. I found myself feverishly checking what time it would be available last night. I was hoping for midnight, but it seems Netflix runs on Pacific time for dropping releases. One learns something every day! I watched a half hour of it this morning before work pulled me away. Cannot wait to finish it. Who else will be watching?
Linwood Barclay: For those who could not see him on tour, you can watch this video of his Poisoned Pen appearance on Facebook Live. A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS is number one for a second week on the Globe and Mail Canadian fiction bestseller list!
For my Long Island friends, my last event of the summer will be at the Levittown Public Library this coming Wednesday, August 15th at 7pm. I hope to see many of you there. These events have been a lot of fun for me --- and I have gotten great feedback from attendees. Many say they heard about books that were not on their radar. Social media is great, but there is nothing like face to face!
Figs are in season, and last weekend I made a terrific fig, burrata and prosciutto salad. The recipe is here; I used fig balsamic vinegar. Also, I have been doing burrata with tomatoes and basil with blackberry balsamic, to which I am addicted.
I am reading the aforementioned AN ACCIDENTAL CORPSE by Helen A. Harrison, which is just out in stores and will be a Summer Reading selection next week. I am a huge fan of Jackson Pollock’s work. He died on the night of August 11, 1956, in the East Hampton hamlet of Springs, when he crashed his Oldsmobile into a tree while his wife, Lee Krasner, was abroad. He was well-known to be an alcoholic. Also killed was the passenger in the car, 24-year-old Edith Metzger; his mistress, Ruth Kligman, another painter, survived. Here is a story that strikes a real chord with the period, as Helen weaves a mystery to look into whether Metzger was already dead before the crash. Was she murdered? In her book, a couple from the NYPD police force is vacationing in the area, so Detective Juanita Diaz and her husband, Captain Brian Fitzgerald of the NYPD, are drawn in to investigate. Helen is the director of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in East Hampton, so she knows her subject well. It’s a really fun read. I know…a murderously fun read. There is an interview with Helen here.
I finished listening to THE OTHER WOMAN by Sandie Jones, which had a good twist at the end. The narrator, Clare Corbett, did a great job with all of the voices; they were very distinct. All I can say is "Pammie!"
I am now listening to A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler, which is coming out on October 16th. Her audio publisher has created early copies, and I am enjoying listening to the audiobook, which is narrated by Barrie Kreinik. This work of historical fiction tells the story of Alva Vanderbilt and her illustrious family. It seemed fitting to be listening to this after hearing about Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal while I was on the tour there. The deep divide between the very wealthy and the poor is pronounced in this story.
Speaking of the Hamptons, this Saturday is the annual East Hampton Authors Night, which benefits the East Hampton Public Library. If you are in the area, you should check it out. They have a brilliant lineup of authors, including Lee Child and A. J. Finn, as well as Helen A. Harrison. You can get ticket information here.
My parents celebrated their 64th(!) anniversary this week! I am so happy that they were able to celebrate together; they still are so much in love!
Neither Greg nor Cory has identified a clear plan for the weekend. We are having our friend TK and his girlfriend, Laura, over for dinner on Saturday. If the weather holds up, the rest of the weekend will be spent floating. I need to savor every moment of summer that is left! If it rains, as the forecast suggests, there will be couch reading.
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: AN UNWANTED GUEST by Shari Lapena
AN UNWANTED GUEST by Shari Lapena (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
It's winter in the Catskills, and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing weekend away. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity --- and all contact with the outside world --- the guests settle in for the long haul. Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead --- it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something --- or someone --- is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE MASTERPIECE by Fiona Davis
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE MASTERPIECE by Fiona Davis (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
For Clara Darden, Grand Central Terminal is the stepping stone to her future. It is 1928, and she is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. But Clara and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression. Nearly 50 years later, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Recently divorced, Virginia has just accepted a job in the information booth to support herself and her college-age daughter. But when Virginia discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, she embarks on a quest to find the artist, drawing her deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931. Reviewed by Leah DeCesare (www.leahdecesare.com).
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
THE MASTERPIECE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don’t miss Carol’s commentary in next week’s newsletter.
Bookreporter.com Bets On: GHOSTED by Rosie Walsh
GHOSTED by Rosie Walsh (Fiction)
GHOSTED by Rosie Walsh is the kind of book that you want to have time to just sit, read and enjoy. While I was reading it, there were many times that I had to control myself from flipping to see how it ended. On one level, it begins as an often-told story of girl meets boy, they fall for one another, boy disappears and girl wonders why.
Sarah meets Eddie; they click and clearly have strong feelings for one another. I guess one could say it’s love. It’s definitely mutual. Eddie is heading for a long-planned vacation, and promises to call and to meet up again. But when he does not call, or otherwise get in touch, Sarah is perplexed. She cannot believe she read this relationship wrong.
Sarah’s friends tell her to forget him, but she needs to know more. She reaches out via social media, and others are troubled by his absence as well.
To share more is hard without giving the story away, but let’s just say that one comes to understand why things unfolded as they did.
Rosie’s dialogue is well-done --- smart, not sophomoric. And she builds so well the tension that Sarah feels, right through the reveal. Grab a copy of the book; you’ll see what I mean. And I love the title. The term “ghosted” has become part of the vernacular. Here it is dead-on.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here for more books we’re betting you’ll love.
Fiction Author Spotlight:
MAKE ME EVEN AND I'LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN
by Jerrold Fine
MAKE ME EVEN AND I'LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN by Jerrold Fine (Fiction)
Drawing from his own experiences in the turbulent '70s and '80s, hedge fund pioneer Jerrold Fine blends a heartfelt story of a young man fiercely intent on achieving independence with a fascinating insider’s look at the perks and pitfalls of a high-stakes life in the world of financial markets in his debut novel.
Rogers Stout has the gambler’s gifts --- a titanic brain, an uncanny ability to read people, and a risk-taker’s daring. As an apathetic high school student who loves baseball but lacks a 90-mph fastball, he knows that the game does not begin until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. But his life needs direction.
Everything changes the summer he is invited into the boisterous environment of an investment bank’s trading room, and to a gambling hall dive where he immediately wins big at poker, capturing the attention of his co-workers with his card-playing skills. Intrigued by trading markets, Rogers’ intellectual curiosity takes him to Wharton and then Wall Street, where he faces challenges as an outsider who thinks and acts differently from the white-shoe establishment. With his intuition and prowess, he’s ready to rewrite the rules and tackle markets with a flair that leaves his employers flabbergasted.
Rogers senses opportunity and willingly accepts the challenge that awaits him. He leans heavily on his gut instincts and the unusual cadre of friendships he cultivates, but learns the hard way to be alert to the perils that await him. He longs to prove himself and achieve his goals, yet is torn between the thrill of trading and investing, and pursuing a higher purpose in life. And through it all, he still feels the loss of his mother, who died when he was too young to remember her --- an open wound that refuses to heal.
As Rogers plays his career hand, life plays another. Should he follow the temptress Elsbeth and her ravishing beauty, or Charlotte, his high-spirited first love?
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to see advance readers' comments.
- Click here to read Jerrold Fine's bio.
- Click here to visit Jerrold Fine's website.
Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight.
Don't miss our review, author interview and discussion guide
in next week's newsletter, followed by Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary in the August 24th newsletter.
Featured Review: THE THIRD HOTEL
by Laura van den Berg
THE THIRD HOTEL by Laura van den Berg (Metaphysical Mystery)
Shortly after Clare arrives in Havana, Cuba, to attend the annual Festival of New Latin American Cinema, she finds her husband, Richard, standing outside a museum. He’s wearing a white linen suit she’s never seen before, and he’s supposed to be dead. Grief-stricken and baffled, Clare tails Richard, a horror film scholar, through the newly tourist-filled streets of Havana, clocking his every move. As the distinction between reality and fantasy blurs, Clare finds grounding in memories of her childhood in Florida and of her marriage to Richard, revealing her role in his death and reappearance along the way. 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: FLY GIRLS by Keith O'Brien
FLY GIRLS: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by Keith O'Brien (History)
Audiobook available, read by Erin Bennett
Between the world wars, no sport was more popular, or more dangerous, than airplane racing. Thousands of fans flocked to multi-day events, and cities vied with one another to host them. The pilots themselves were hailed as dashing heroes who cheerfully stared death in the face. Well, the men were hailed. Female pilots were more often ridiculed than praised for what the press portrayed as silly efforts to horn in on a manly, and deadly, pursuit. FLY GIRLS recounts how a cadre of women banded together to break the original glass ceiling: the entrenched prejudice that conspired to keep them out of the sky. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
August's New in Paperback Roundups
August's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes Dean Koontz's THE CROOKED STAIRCASE, in which Jane Hawk (who captivated readers in THE SILENT CORNER and THE WHISPERING ROOM) faces the fight of her life, against the threat of a lifetime; A DISTANT VIEW OF EVERYTHING, the 11th installment in Alexander McCall Smith's series featuring Isabel Dalhousie, who is called upon to navigate complex social situations both at home and in her community; and EMMA IN THE NIGHT, Wendy Walker's second psychological thriller (following ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN), which revolves around the mysterious disappearance of two sisters and the shocking return of one of them three years later.
Among our nonfiction highlights are MY OWN WORDS, a collection of writings and speeches from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who discusses such wide-ranging topics as gender equality, the workways of the Supreme Court, being Jewish, law and lawyers in opera, and the value of looking beyond US shores when interpreting the US Constitution; MORNINGSTAR, a memoir about the magic and inspiration of books from beloved author Ann Hood; and Tom Rinaldi's THE RED BANDANNA, which recounts the incredible story of Welles Crowther, whose actions on 9/11 offer a lasting lesson on character, calling and courage.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
August 6th, August 13th, August 20th and August 27th.
Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading
Contests and Feature
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through August 24th. You will need to check the site to see the featured prize book(s) 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, August 13th at noon ET.
This year’s prize books include:
- Click here to see the winners of our Summer Reading Contests.
Click here to read all the contest details
and see the prize books being awarded in May, June, July and August.
An Interview with Michael Brandman,
Author of ONE ON ONE
ONE ON ONE is the second book in Michael Brandman’s mystery series featuring Sheriff Buddy Steel, following MISSING PERSONS in 2017. In this latest installment, Buddy is investigating the brutal murder of a prominent high school sports coach while also trying to thwart the individuals responsible for the graffiti that is defacing both pubic and private property. In this interview, Brandman talks about the key contributions of his editors in helping to make him a stronger novelist; how his approach to writing these novels differs from how he tackled the Jesse Stone series, which he took over from his friend, the late Robert B. Parker; discusses the storyline of the 10th Jesse Stone made-for-TV movie, on which he is collaborating with Tom Selleck and is currently a work in progress; and reveals which actors he would love to see cast as Buddy Steel in a potential film or television adaptation.
ONE ON ONE: A Buddy Steel Mystery by Michael Brandman (Mystery)
The brutal murder of a prominent Freedom High School sports coach leads Buddy Steel into a clandestine universe of sexual deception, play parties, unwitting athletes, over-privileged youths, treacherous bullies and shocking malfeasance. At the same time, a sudden scourge of graffiti is disfiguring both public and private property, despoiling the beauty and serenity of Freedom's unassuming landscape. Outraged, and knowing he has few legal weapons to wield, Buddy is forced to find new and challenging ways to thwart the street artist, or artists, responsible. Buddy's plate is soon full and the stakes are enormous as he sets about bringing resolution to a glut of seemingly irresolute occurrences.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
SOMETHING IN THE WATER by Catherine Steadman (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Catherine Steadman
Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, and Mark is a handsome investment banker with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand and each other. Then, while scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water. Suddenly the newlyweds must make a dangerous choice: to speak out or to protect their secret. After all, if no one else knows, who would be hurt? Their decision will trigger a devastating chain of events. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
IF YOU LEAVE ME by Crystal Hana Kim (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Greta Jung and Keong Sim
When the communist-backed army from the north invades her home, 16-year-old Haemi Lee, along with her widowed mother and ailing brother, is forced to flee to a refugee camp along the coast. For a few hours each night, she escapes her family’s makeshift home and tragic circumstances with her childhood friend, Kyunghwan. Focused on finishing school, Kyunghwan doesn’t realize that his older and wealthier cousin, Jisoo, has his sights set on the beautiful and spirited Haemi --- and is determined to marry her before joining the fight. But as Haemi becomes a wife and then a mother, her decision to forsake the boy she always loved for the security of her family sets off a dramatic saga that will have profound effects for generations to come. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
THE QUIET SIDE OF PASSION: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Davina Porter
Isabel Dalhousie and her husband, Jamie, hire a new au pair, and Isabel brings on an intelligent assistant editor to share her workload. Both women, though, have romantic entanglements that threaten to interfere with their work, and Isabel must decide how best to navigate this tricky domestic situation. Meanwhile, Isabel makes the acquaintance of Patricia, the mother of her son Charlie’s friend Basil. She tries to be supportive, especially given that Patricia is raising her son on her own, without the help of his father, a well-known Edinburgh organist also named Basil. But when Isabel sees Patricia in the company of an unscrupulous man, she begins to rethink her assumptions. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
THE WASHINGTON DECREE by Jussi Adler-Olsen (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jason Culp
Democratic Senator Bruce Jansen has been elected president of the United States. For 14-year-old Dorothy "Doggie" Rogers, Jansen's election is a personal victory: a job in the White House, proof to her Republican father that she was right to support Jansen, and the rise of an intelligent, clear-headed leader with her same ideals. But the triumph is short-lived: Jansen's pregnant wife is assassinated on election night, and the alleged mastermind behind the shooting is none other than Doggie's own father. When Jansen ascends to the White House, he is a changed man, determined to end gun violence by any means necessary. With the country in chaos, Doggie finds herself fighting for the life of her father, who just may be innocent. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
HER PRETTY FACE by Robyn Harding (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Rebekkah Ross, Cassandra Campbell and Kirby Heyborne Frances Metcalfe is struggling to stay afloat. A stay-at-home mom whose troubled son is her full-time job, she thought that the day he got accepted into the elite Forrester Academy would be the day she started living her life. Overweight, insecure and lonely, she is desperate to fit into Forrester’s world. But after a disturbing incident at the school leads the other children and their families to ostracize the Metcalfes, she feels more alone than ever before. Until she meets Kate Randolph. As the two bond over their disdain of the Forrester snobs and the fierce love they have for their sons, a startling secret threatens to tear them apart. Because one of these women is not who she seems. Her real name is Amber Kunik. And she’s a murderer. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
BAD MAN by Dathan Auerbach (Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Lincoln Hoppe
Eric disappeared when he was three years old. Ben looked away for only a second at the grocery store, but that was all it took. His brother was gone. Five years later, Ben still looks for Eric. Now 20 and desperate for work, he takes a night stock job at the only place that will have him: the store that blinked Eric out of existence. He can feel that there's something wrong there. With the people. With his boss. With the graffitied baler that shudders and moans and beckons. There's something wrong with the air itself. He knows he's in the right place now. That the store has much to tell him. So he keeps searching, but misses the most important message of all: That he should have stopped looking. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THREE THINGS ABOUT ELSIE by Joanna Cannon (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Paula Wilcox
There are three things you should know about Elsie. The first thing is that she’s my best friend. The second is that she always knows what to say to make me feel better. And the third thing…might take a bit more explaining. Eighty-four-year-old Florence has fallen in her flat at Cherry Tree Home for the Elderly. As she waits to be rescued, she thinks about her friend Elsie and wonders if a terrible secret from their past is about to come to light. If the charming new resident is who he claims to be, why does he look exactly like a man who died 60 years ago? Reviewed by Carole Turner.
THE BUCKET LIST by Georgia Clark (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Ezzo
Twenty-five-year-old Lacey Whitman is blindsided when she’s diagnosed with the BCRA1 gene mutation: the “breast cancer” gene. Her high hereditary risk forces a decision: increased surveillance or the more radical step of a preventative double mastectomy. Small-town Lacey is not so in touch with her sexuality: she doesn’t want to sacrifice her breasts before she’s had the chance to give them their heyday. To help her make her choice, she (and her friends) creates a “boob bucket list”: everything she wants do with and for her boobs before a possible surgery. This kicks off a year of sensual exploration and sexual entertainment for the quick-witted Lacey Whitman. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
MAEVE IN AMERICA: Essays by a Girl from Somewhere Else by Maeve Higgins (Humor/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Maeve Higgins
Maeve Higgins was a bestselling memoirist and comedian in her native Ireland when, at the grand old age of 31, she left the only home she’d ever known in search of something more. Like many women in their early 30s, she both was and was not the adult she wanted to be. At once smart, curious and humane, MAEVE IN AMERICA is the story of how Maeve found herself --- literally and figuratively --- in New York City. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE DISTANCE HOME by Paula Saunders (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rebecca Lowman
René shares a home, a family and a passion for dance with her older brother, Leon. Yet for all they have in common, their lives are on remarkably different paths. In contrast to René, a born spitfire, Leon is a gentle soul. As the years pass, René and Leon’s parents fight with increasing frequency --- and ferocity. Their father spends more time on the road, his sporadic homecomings both yearned for and dreaded by the children. And as René and Leon grow up, they grow apart. They grasp whatever they can to stay afloat as René works to save herself, crossing the border into a larger, more hopeful world, while Leon embarks on a path of despair and self-destruction. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
OPEN ME by Lisa Locascio (Fiction)
Roxana Olsen has always dreamed of going to Paris, and after high school graduation finally plans to travel there on a study abroad program. But a logistical mix-up brings Roxana to Copenhagen instead, where she is picked up at the airport by Søren, a 28-year-old guide who is meant to be her steward. Instantly drawn to one another, Roxana and Søren’s relationship turns romantic, and when he asks Roxana to accompany him to a small coastal town for the rest of the summer, she doesn’t hesitate to accept. But as their relationship deepens, Søren’s temperament darkens, and Roxana finds herself increasingly drawn to a local outsider, Zlatan, whom she learns is a Muslim refugee from the Bosnian War. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
BIBLIOMYSTERIES: Volume Two: Stories of Crime in the World of Books and Bookstores edited by Otto Penzler (Mystery/Short Stories)
If you like mysteries and you like books, what could be better than combining both worlds, with mysteries set against a background involving books? This collection of crime for bibliophiles includes stories about rare books, bookshops, libraries, manuscripts, magical books, collectors --- in short, the wonderful universe that makes this precious object we all love so important and priceless. Whether your taste is for the traditional mystery, something a little more hard-boiled, or the bizarre and humorous tale, you will find exactly your cup of tea in this collection of 15 stories by the most distinguished mystery writers working today. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
BLOOD HIGHWAY by Gina Wohlsdorf (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Amy McFadden
Seventeen-year-old Rainy Cain’s life is upended by the sudden appearance of her father, Sam, who she thought was long dead, but instead had been in prison for his part in an armored truck robbery gone murderously wrong. Now escaped and on the run, he kidnaps Rainy, who he is convinced knows where the money from the robbery is hidden. Accompanied by a henchman with secret motives of his own, they set off on a cross-country dash to Big Sur, where Sam suspects his late wife stashed the cash. On their heels is a Minneapolis cop intent on bringing Rainy safely home. What does Rainy really know --- and what is she willing to sacrifice in order to live? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 13th and 14th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 13th and 14th 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 August 13th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
August 13th
TEXAS RANGER by James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle (Western/Thriller)
Texas Ranger Rory Yates arrives in his hometown to find a horrifying crime scene and a scathing accusation: he is named a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife, Anne. In search of the killer, Yates plunges into the inferno of the most twisted and violent minds he's ever encountered, vowing to never surrender.
August 14th
THE BREAKERS: A Sharon McCone Mystery by Marcia Muller (Mystery)
Private investigator Sharon McCone’s former neighbors ask her to check on their daughter, Chelle, who hasn't been answering their calls for weeks. Sharon arranges to visit the building Chelle had been living in and rehabbing in southwest San Francisco. Lurking behind a divider screen is a ghastly art gallery: portraits and caricatures of mass murderers, long ago and recent. What was Chelle doing in this chamber of horrors? And where is she now?
FEARED by Lisa Scottoline (Legal Thriller)
When three men announce that they are suing the Rosato & DiNunzio law firm for reverse sex discrimination --- claiming that they were not hired because they were men --- Mary DiNunzio and Bennie Rosato are outraged. To make matters worse, their one male employee, John Foxman, intends to resign, claiming that there is some truth to this case.
MAKE ME EVEN AND I'LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN by Jerrold Fine (Fiction)
As an apathetic high school student who loves baseball but lacks a 90-mph fastball, Rogers Stout knows that the game does not begin until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. But his life needs direction. Everything changes the summer he is invited into the boisterous environment of an investment bank’s trading room, and to a gambling hall dive where he immediately wins big at poker, capturing the attention of his co-workers.
SCARFACE AND THE UNTOUCHABLE: Al Capone, Eliot Ness, and the Battle for Chicago by Max Allan Collins and A. Brad Schwartz (True Crime)
A Mystery Writers of America “Grand Master” --- author of the gangster classic ROAD TO PERDITION, long-time "Dick Tracy" writer and multiple Shamus Award winner --- teams up with an acclaimed rising young historian in this riveting, myth-shattering dual portrait of Al Capone, America’s most notorious gangster, and Eliot Ness, the legendary Prohibition agent whose extraordinary investigative work crippled his organization.
THE SHAKESPEARE REQUIREMENT by Julie Schumacher (Fiction/Satire)
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune keep hitting beleaguered English professor Jason Fitger right between the eyes in this eagerly awaited sequel to the Thurber Prize-winning DEAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Your Trips to the Movies
On average, how often do you see movies in theaters?
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More than once a week
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Once a week
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A few times a month
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Twice a month
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Once a month
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Every few months
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Once or twice a year
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I do not see movies in theaters.
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It varies, depending on what is playing.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, August 17th 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 August 3rd to August 17th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of TAILSPIN by Sandra Brown and AN UNWANTED GUEST by Shari Lapena.
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 August 1st to September 4th at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Linda Castillo's A GATHERING OF SECRETS, read by Kathleen McInerney, and I SEE LIFE THROUGH ROSÉ-COLORED GLASSES, written and read by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella.
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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