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From left to right: Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of DAISY JONES & THE SIX (on sale March 5th); Erin Lee Carr, author of ALL THAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND: A Memoir (on sale April 30th); Joanne Ramos, author of THE FARM (on sale May 7th); and Carol
The Hour We Have Been Waiting for is Here!
I have been waiting for the extra hour that we are getting this weekend since we gave it up last March for Daylight Saving Time. While I will be sorry to see it getting dark earlier in the evening, I find myself dragging in October, and I am ready to get the extra hour back. So Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year; I love thinking about how to spend my extra hour.
This year, I have special plans for the extra hour. I will be in White Plains, NY, at the White Plains Public Library for an event at 2pm where I will be presenting “What Should We Read Next? An Event for Book Groups and Other Passionate Readers.” I tweaked the presentation with our amazing intern, Ana Couto, all day on Tuesday. If any of you are in the area, I would love to see you there...and if you do come by, please be sure to say hi.
On Monday night, I went to the kickoff party for the 10th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards. It was a fun evening seeing colleagues from Goodreads and various publishers. Some authors were in town as well, including Paula McLain, who I got to have a nice catch-up chat with. Also, I finally got to meet Lisa Wingate, the author of BEFORE WE WERE YOURS. Sadly, I only got a few minutes to chat with her as I was racing to the airport to pick up Greg. (I managed to get there just as he walked out of the terminal, which earned me some Mother of the Year points.) The first round of voting has opened, so be sure to head here to select your favorites.
Most mornings our commute into the city takes two hours. As we crawl toward the Lincoln Tunnel, I keep seeing a billboard for Audible, so the other day I had Greg take a photo of it for me so I could share it with you (you can see it above). Talk about prime placement to remind people to subscribe to Audible to listen to audiobooks while commuting. Seriously, people have lots of time to read that billboard on the way towards the tunnel. The other night at the Goodreads party, which was co-sponsored by Audible, it was fun to meet the executive from Audible who bought that placement. He was very amused that I had the photo on my phone.
Yesterday, the Random House Publishing Group hosted a luncheon for four of their authors who have books coming out in 2019. You can see me with three of them above:
Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of DAISY JONES & THE SIX (on sale March 5th); Erin Lee Carr, author of ALL THAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND: A Memoir (on sale April 30th); and Joanne Ramos, author of THE FARM (on sale May 7th). Ali Wong, author of DEAR GIRLS: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, and Advice for Living Your Best Life (on sale September 3rd), dashed out before I had a chance to snag a photo with her.
I already have read Taylor’s book, which I wrote about in an earlier newsletter and noted will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. It’s the story of a '70s rock and roll band that breaks up one night, leaving the public to wonder what happened that night to Daisy Jones and the band. We had great fun talking about bands we love and the music business. She wrote all the lyrics for the songs that the band in her book performs, and they are in the back of the book. And Reese Witherspoon is adapting it for a series on Amazon. Fun!
I am looking forward to the other three books as well. Erin’s book is a memoir about losing her dad, David Carr, the brilliant New York Times columnist, who died suddenly in 2015. She shared some poignant memories of her conversations with him the night he died. Joanne’s novel is about a group of young women who are recruited to carry children as surrogates; the people for whom they are surrogating are all extremely wealthy (think hedge fund managers), so the moms-to-be are very pampered. But there is another side to this as well. Ali’s book is chock full of advice; we talked about the things she would want her daughters to know. It was a lovely outing on a gorgeous day that felt more like summer than fall.
This week, I finished FREEFALL by Jessica Barry, which will be in stores on January 8th. It opens with a plane crash; a young woman is presumed dead but has survived. What is she running from? And who is chasing her? Written in brisk alternate chapters between her point of view and her mother’s, it tells the sinister reason why someone wanted her dead. You feel the clock ticking behind her as she races towards the one place where she knows she will be safe.
Now I am reading THE AGE OF LIGHT by Whitney Scharer, which is a novel about Lee Miller, a well-known Vogue model, who became a renowned photographer and journalist. Man Ray, the Surrealist painter, was in awe of her, and Lee convinced him to teach her about photography instead of just being his muse. Whitney's prose is beautiful, and I am looking forward to finishing it. Next up to listen to is THE LIBRARY BOOK by Susan Orlean (we are featuring our review of the hardcover and a Q&A with Susan this week). I heard her interviewed on the New York Times podcast, and I immediately wanted to listen to it.
Two of fall’s biggest books released this week. Stephen King’s ELEVATION is about a man whose mysterious affliction brings a small town together, and in DARK SACRED NIGHT by Michael Connelly, Harry Bosch teams up with LAPD detective Renée Ballard to solve the murder of a young girl. Reviewer Sarah Rachel Egelman calls ELEVATION “a quick and easy read, quite gripping and provocative, challenging readers to ask big questions and to rethink happy endings.” According to Joe Hartlaub, DARK SACRED NIGHT is “a fast-paced read that is filled to the brim with Connelly’s well-researched procedural nuggets” and “a pivotal work in the series that longtime readers should not miss.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include THE RAIN WATCHER, the first new novel in four years from the bestselling author of SARAH’S KEY, Tatiana de Rosnay; Kathy Wang’s debut novel, FAMILY TRUST, this month’s Pennie's Pick at Costco and an upcoming Bets On title (check out my commentary in next week’s newsletter); and UNEASY LIES THE CROWN, Tasha Alexander’s 13th Lady Emily mystery and the first to be set in the Edwardian Era (click here to read a blog post from Tasha where she talks about the shift in time periods).
A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL by Jean Thompson, which we reviewed last week, is my latest Bets On pick. Click here to find out why I’m betting you’ll love it.
Our Books on Screen feature has been updated for November. This month’s offerings include the feature films The Girl in the Spider's Web, The Grinch and Boy Erased; the season four premiere of "Outlander" on Starz (which airs this Sunday the 4th), along with the debut of two miniseries --- HBO's "My Brilliant Friend" and AMC's "The Little Drummer Girl"; and the DVD releases of Crazy Rich Asians, Bel Canto, The Children Act and Juliet, Naked.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win LONG ROAD TO MERCY: An Atlee Pine Thriller by David Baldacci and PAST TENSE: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child. Be sure to enter by Friday, November 16th at noon ET.
This month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest is now up and running. Let us know by Monday, December 3rd at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll have a chance to win the audio versions of Louise Penny's KINGDOM OF THE BLIND: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, read by Robert Bathurst, and Barbara Taylor Bradford's MASTER OF HIS FATE, read by Joan Walker.
Our new poll asks which of 20 fiction titles releasing this month (the current Word of Mouth and Sounding Off on Audio prize books are among them) you are planning to read, if any. Click here to let us know.
In our previous poll, we wanted to know if you use cookbooks when you’re preparing meals. 51% of you sometimes do, while 34% are always using old favorites, and seeking out new ones either all the time or occasionally. Click here for the full results.
Our reader Nancy Sharko was at the Texas Book Festival last weekend and was kind enough to share her experiences with us in this blog post, where she focuses on three panels she attended that featured such authors as Chloe Benjamin, Sarah Smarsh, Casey Gerald, Tommy Orange and R.O. Kwon. Many thanks to Nancy for her insightful reporting, which was so appreciated!
The November pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times “Now Read This” book club is A SEPARATION by Katie Kitamura (I interviewed Katie last year at the Morristown Festival of Books, so this is such fun). This psychological thriller about a woman who tries to locate her missing estranged husband in Greece was named a best book of 2017 by The New York Times, NPR, Huffington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle and The Guardian, to name just a few; it was terrific. Click here for more info on this latest pick.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Debi wrote, ”I look forward to receiving your newsletter each Friday. It is so informative and interesting. I live vicariously through you and all the events you attend! Just wanted to send a thanks out to Jill (a reader) for suggesting that you put captions directly underneath the pictures. It helps so much for those of us who are not as flexible to scroll forward and backward to match things up (me)! I had actually been thinking of suggesting this for a while. Thanks to Jill for doing so. My book group had the honor of reading a book in advance of its publication through you by Lisa Scottoline. We had a lot of fun discussing it. Thanks again for all the hard work you put into the newsletter --- it is very apparent and much appreciated by us bibliophiles!”
Sue wrote, “My book group has an annual Christmas party where we each bring a dish to share. It must have appeared as a food in any book of our choice. Always fun to see the creative array! Would be so interested in learning what recipe choices others might make. Brought Mississippi Mud Bars from KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST by J. Ryan Stradal. They were yummy! My immediate first idea was to do Green Eggs and Ham, but another enterprising soul beat me to the punch! Have not decided what to bring yet for this feast.” So to our readers, please chime in with ideas.
Katherine wrote this about the Chicken Marbella references in the newsletter: "Ah, yes, a staple of years gone by. All that brown sugar! Once I made it in France without a recipe on hand, I'd done it so often. Loved that it got mentioned so often in this week's newsletter."
"House of Cards": The new --- and final --- season kicks off on Netflix today. I am ready!
"Escape at Dannemora": I previewed all seven episodes of this limited series from Showtime, which begins airing on November 18th. While many of us remember this incredible 2015 prison escape, the series delves deep into the characters and the prison setting that allowed it to unfold. Patricia Arquette is fabulous in her role as Tilly, the prison worker who helped to aid and abet the two prisoners who escaped.
Yotam Ottolenghi: As promised, here’s a link to his appearance on "CBS This Morning" last Saturday. Also, Nicole told me he has a podcast, "Simple Pleasures," which you can listen to here.
We did not get many trick-or-treaters, but Tom bought lots of candy, so I am eating many peanut M&Ms. Those snack-sized packages are too hard to resist; I am doing quality control, making sure that they each have the same number of pieces inside. How many? Hmmmm let me grab another bag to figure it out.
My sister-in-law Katie is in town from Florida, so we are going to my mother-in-law’s house for dinner on Saturday night. I still have a garage filled with the plants that were on the patio; I need to go through them to see what to winter over in the house. I need a greenhouse! I still am enjoying yoga classes; the studio in town is terrific, and I try to get there 4-5 times a week. I layered in Pilates both at a studio and online. I am loving the balance that exercise brings to my life, and I feel great.
One last thing: As you probably have noted, we do not talk about politics here on Bookreporter.com. One exception: I urge all of our readers to vote on Tuesday. Note that on Wednesday, the regularly scheduled commercials on TV will return and “no one will approve this message.”
Read on, and have a great week…enjoying the extra hour perhaps with a book!
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: ELEVATION by Stephen King
ELEVATION by Stephen King (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Stephen King
Although Scott Carey doesn’t look any different, he’s been steadily losing weight. There are a couple of other odd things, too. He weighs the same in his clothes and out of them, no matter how heavy they are. Scott doesn’t want to be poked and prodded. He mostly just wants someone else to know, and he trusts Doctor Bob Ellis. In the small town of Castle Rock, Scott is engaged in a low-grade --- but escalating --- battle with the lesbians next door whose dog regularly drops his business on Scott’s lawn. They are trying to launch a new restaurant, but the people of Castle Rock want no part of a gay married couple. When Scott finally understands the prejudices they face --- including his own --- he tries to help. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: DARK SACRED NIGHT
by Michael Connelly
DARK SACRED NIGHT: A Ballard and Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christine Lakin and Titus Welliver
Detective Renée Ballard is working the night beat and returns to Hollywood Station to find a stranger rifling through old file cabinets. The intruder is retired detective Harry Bosch, working a cold case that has gotten under his skin. Ballard can't let him go through department records, but when he leaves, she looks into the case herself and feels a deep tug of empathy and anger. The murder, unsolved, was of 15-year-old Daisy Clayton, a runaway on the streets of Hollywood who was brutally killed. Now Ballard joins forces with Bosch to find out what happened to Daisy, and to finally bring her killer to justice. But this new partnership is put to the test when the case takes an unexpected and dangerous turn. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
An Interview with Susan Orlean,
Author of THE LIBRARY BOOK
In her latest work of nonfiction, THE LIBRARY BOOK, journalist and author Susan Orlean turns her keen powers of observation and narrative gifts to the overlooked, underreported saga of the 1986 fire that ravaged the Los Angeles Public Library. In this interview, Orlean talks about how the book evolved as she researched and wrote it, and what drew her to this story in the first place; explains how technology complements a library; expresses her surprise and amazement when she learned about some of the day-to-day situations that librarians face these days; and ponders the future of the local library and its changing role in the community.
THE LIBRARY BOOK by Susan Orlean (Social History)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Orlean
On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual false alarm. The fire was disastrous: It reached 2,000 degrees and burned for more than seven hours. By the time it was extinguished, it had consumed 400,000 books and damaged 700,000 more. Investigators descended on the scene, but over 30 years later, the mystery remains: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library --- and if so, who? Award-winning journalist Susan Orlean investigates this legendary fire to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
Click here to read the interview.
Featured Review: LEADERSHIP IN TURBULENT TIMES
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
LEADERSHIP IN TURBULENT TIMES by Doris Kearns Goodwin (History/Politics)
Audiobook available; read by Beau Bridges, David Morse, Jay O. Sanders and Richard Thomas
Are leaders born or made? Where does ambition come from? How does adversity affect the growth of leadership? Does the leader make the times, or do the times make the leader? In LEADERSHIP IN TURBULENT TIMES, Doris Kearns Goodwin draws upon the four presidents she has studied most closely --- Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson (in civil rights) --- to show how they recognized leadership qualities within themselves and were recognized as leaders by others. By looking back to their first entries into public life, we encounter them at a time when their paths were filled with confusion, fear and hope. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE RAIN WATCHER
by Tatiana de Rosnay
THE RAIN WATCHER by Tatiana de Rosnay (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Simon Vance
Linden Malegarde has come home to Paris from the United States. It has been years since the whole family was all together. Now the Malegarde family is gathering for Paul, Linden’s father’s 70th birthday. Each member of the Malegarde family is on edge, holding their breath, afraid that one wrong move will shatter their delicate harmony. Their hidden fears and secrets slowly unravel as the City of Light undergoes a stunning natural disaster, and the Seine bursts its banks and floods the city. All members of the family will have to fight to keep their unity against tragic circumstances. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL by Jean Thompson
A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL by Jean Thompson (Fiction)
A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL by Jean Thompson follows three generations of women in the Wise family --- Evelyn, Laura and Grace --- who live in a small Midwestern college town. They navigate their lives trailing emotional baggage from generation to generation. I love how the story unwrapped and their messy imperfect lives slid together. There are choices made and not made --- and each has consequences.
When the story opens, Evelyn, the oldest Wise woman, is dying. Laura, her daughter, is in her 50s and is taking care of her. As she does this, she measures her life against her mom’s and sees how much is left wanting. And Grace, the youngest Wise woman, already is an adult, following this same path. None of these women seem to have a feeling of satisfaction; there is so much longing for another life and moments lost. They all appear to be waiting for something, which rarely comes. There are snippets of joy, but they never feel sustainable. As a reader, I was completely wrapped up in their stories from the first chapter, which is largely due to Thompson’s brilliant prose.
When I wrote on social media that I was reading this book, two friends chimed in that they loved Thompson’s collection of short stories, WHO DO YOU LOVE. I love how they were so well-versed on this author, who was new to me. For the record, this is not the easiest title to remember, so you may want to ask for the latest Jean Thompson book when you want to read it.
For book groups, this would make for a great discussion. There is a lot here to chew on.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here for more books we're betting you'll love.
November's Books on Screen Feature
Bookreporter.com's Latest Blog Post:
Tasha Alexander on Shifting Time Periods
in Her Lady Emily Series
After writing 12 novels set in the Victorian Era, Tasha Alexander shifts to the Edwardian Age in the latest installment of her Lady Emily mystery series, UNEASY LIES THE CROWN. Here, Lady Emily and her husband Colin must stop a serial killer whose sights may be set on the new king, Edward VII. In her blog post, Tasha talks about changing time periods and the challenges it posed; as she says, “[A]fter spending most of my adult life researching Victorian England, the period is as comfortable to me as a much-loved cashmere sweater: cozy, familiar and reassuring.” She also sheds some light on Edward VII’s reign and explains some of the key differences between the Victorians and Edwardians.
UNEASY LIES THE CROWN: A Lady Emily Mystery by Tasha Alexander (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Bianca Amato
The year is 1901, and the death of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch has sent the entire British Empire into mourning. But for Lady Emily and her dashing husband, Colin Hargreaves, the grieving is cut short as another death takes center stage. A body has been found in the Tower of London, posed to look like the murdered medieval king Henry VI. When a second dead man turns up in London's exclusive Berkeley Square, his mutilated remains staged to evoke the violent demise of Edward II, it becomes evident that the mastermind behind the crimes plans to strike again. With the killer leaving a trail of dead kings in his wake, will Edward be the next victim? Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
Click here to read Tasha Alexander's blog post.
An Interview with Steven Axelrod,
Author of NANTUCKET COUNTERFEIT
NANTUCKET COUNTERFEIT, Steven Axelrod’s fifth Henry Kennis mystery, takes readers into the closed, gossip-riddled, backstabbing world of Nantucket's community theater. In this interview, Axelrod talks about his inspiration for making his protagonist a police chief who writes poetry on the side; details his writing process, explaining why he tends to outline his novels while at the same time being a “pantser” (writing by the seat of his pants); and discusses why there is no shortage of plot concepts to come up with as it relates to Nantucket, despite its tiny size.
NANTUCKET COUNTERFEIT: A Henry Kennis Mystery by Steven Axelrod (Mystery)
Horst Refn, the widely disliked and resented Artistic Director of the Nantucket Theater Lab, has been found stuffed into the meat freezer in his basement. Most of the actors, all the technical crew, and quite a few of the Theater Lab Board members, whom Refn was scamming and blackmailing, are suspects in his murder. The island's police chief, Henry Kennis, has to pick his way through a social minefield as he searches for the killer. At the same time, his daughter's new boyfriend, football star Hector Cruz, has been accused of sexting her. Carrie knows the offending pictures didn't come from him, so Henry probes into the family secrets of Hector's father, a firebrand agitprop playwright, who happens to be a prime suspect in Refn's murder.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
An Interview with Mary Reed, Co-Author
(with Eric Mayer) of AN EMPIRE FOR RAVENS
ONE FOR SORROW, which kicked off Mary Reed and Eric Mayer’s John the Lord Chamberlain historical mystery series, was the very first novel published by Poisoned Pen Press back in 1999. Two decades later, the husband-wife writing duo is still going strong, with the 12th installment, AN EMPIRE FOR RAVENS, now in stores. In this interview, Mary explains how she and Eric managed to connect with the Press all those years ago, the amount of research that goes into recreating the world of Byzantium in the sixth century, and the fascinating inner workings of their collaboration process.
AN EMPIRE FOR RAVENS: A John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer (Historical Mystery)
Emperor Justinian's former Lord Chamberlain, John, gets a letter from his longtime comrade, Felix. For years a Captain of the Excubitors at the court in Constantinople, Felix has achieved his ambition to become a General when Justinian sends him to serve under General Diogenes in fighting for Rome against the besieging Goths. John's covert entrance into Rome is ambushed, driving him deep into ancient catacombs before he exits into the heart of the city. Arrested and brought before Diogenes, John learns that Felix is missing. Then a young woman servant, also missing, is found dead. John has many mysteries to solve before Diogenes' courier to Justinian can return and prompt John's immediate execution.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
WELL-READ BLACK GIRL: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves edited by Glory Edim (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Glory Edim
Remember that moment when you first encountered a character who seemed to be written just for you? That feeling of belonging remains with readers the rest of their lives --- but not everyone regularly sees themselves in the pages of a book. Glory Edim brings together original essays by some of our best black women writers to shine a light on how important it is that we all have the opportunity to find ourselves in literature. Whether it’s learning about the complexities of femalehood from Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison, finding a new type of love in THE COLOR PURPLE, or using mythology to craft an alternative black future, the subjects of each essay remind us why we turn to books in times of both struggle and relaxation. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
FAMILY TRUST by Kathy Wang (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Joy Osmanski
Meet Stanley Huang: father, husband, ex-husband, man of unpredictable tastes and temper, aficionado of all-inclusive vacations and bargain luxury goods, newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For years, Stanley has claimed that he’s worth a small fortune. But the time is now coming when the details of his estate will finally be revealed, and Stanley’s family is nervous. As his death approaches, the Huangs are faced with unexpected challenges that upend them and eventually lead them to discover what they value most. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
FAMILY TRUST will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Don’t miss Carol’s commentary in next week’s newsletter.
MAD, BAD, DANGEROUS TO KNOW: The Fathers of Wilde, Yeats and Joyce by Colm Tóibín (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín begins MAD, BAD, DANGEROUS TO KNOW with a walk through the Dublin streets where he went to university and where three Irish literary giants also came of age. Oscar Wilde, writing about his relationship with his father, William Wilde, stated: “Whenever there is hatred between two people there is bond or brotherhood of some kind…you loathed each other not because you were so different but because you were so alike.” W.B. Yeats wrote of his father, painter John Butler Yeats: “It is this infirmity of will which has prevented him from finishing his pictures. The qualities I think necessary to success in art or life seemed to him egotism.” John Stanislaus Joyce, James’ father, was widely loved, garrulous, a singer and drinker with a volatile temper, who drove his son from Ireland. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
THE PROPOSAL by Jasmine Guillory (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Janina Edwards
When freelance writer Nikole Paterson goes to a Dodgers game with her actor boyfriend, the last thing she expects is a scoreboard proposal. Saying no isn't the hard part --- they've only been dating for five months. The hard part is having to face a stadium full of disappointed fans. At the game with his sister, Carlos Ibarra comes to Nik's rescue and rushes her away from a camera crew. He's even there for her when the video goes viral and Nik's social media blows up --- in a bad way. Nik knows that in the wilds of LA, a handsome doctor like Carlos can't be looking for anything serious, so she embarks on an epic rebound with him. But when their glorified hookups start breaking the rules, one of them has to be smart enough to put on the brakes. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
PULSE by Michael Harvey (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Chris Andrew Ciulla
In a small apartment in Boston, 16-year-old Daniel Fitzsimmons is listening to his landlord describe a seemingly insane theory about invisible pulses of light and energy that can be harnessed by the human mind. He longs to laugh with his brother Harry about it, but Harry doesn’t know he’s there. None of that matters, though, because the next night Harry, a Harvard football star, is murdered in an alley. Detectives “Bark” Jones and Tommy Dillon are assigned to the case. The veteran partners thought they’d seen it all, but they are stunned when Daniel wanders into the crime scene. Even stranger, Daniel claims to have known the details of his brother’s murder before it ever happened. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
THE CRAFTSMAN by Sharon Bolton (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Nathalie Buscombe
Florence Lovelady's career was made when she convicted coffin-maker Larry Grassbrook of a series of child murders 30 years ago in a small village in Lancashire. Like something out of a nightmare, the victims were buried alive. Florence was able to solve the mystery and get a confession out of Larry before more children were murdered, and he spent the rest of his life in prison. But now, decades later, he's dead, and events from the past start to repeat themselves. Is someone copying the original murders? Or did she get it wrong all those years ago? When her own son goes missing under similar circumstances, the case not only gets reopened...it gets personal. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE SPITE GAME by Anna Snoekstra (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Anthea Greco
Mercilessly bullied in high school, Ava knows she needs to put the past behind her and move on, but she can’t until she’s exacted precise, catastrophic revenge on the people who hurt her the most. First, she watches Saanvi, who has it all together on the surface. But everyone does bad things when they think no one is watching, and Ava only wants what’s fair --- to destroy Saanvi’s life the way her own was destroyed. Next, she watches Cass. She’s there as Cass tries on wedding dresses, picks out a cake and betrays her fiancé. She’s the reason Cass’ entire future comes crashing down. Finally, Ava watches Mel, who was always the ringleader. But one tiny slip-up and Ava realizes the truth: Mel knows she’s being watched, and she’s ready to play Ava’s games to the bitter end. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE BLOOD ROAD: A Logan McRae Novel by Stuart MacBride (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Steve Worsley
Logan McRae’s personal history is hardly squeaky clean, but now that he works for Professional Standards, he’s policing his fellow officers. When Detective Inspector Bell turns up dead in the driver’s seat of a crashed car, it’s a shock to everyone. Because Bell died two years ago, and they buried him. Or so they thought. As an investigation is launched into Bell’s stabbing, Logan digs into his past. Where has he been all this time? Why did he disappear? And what’s so important that he felt the need to come back from the dead? But the deeper Logan digs, the more bones he uncovers --- and there are people out there who will kill to keep those skeletons buried. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on November 5th and 6th
Below are some notable titles releasing on November 5th and 6th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of November 5th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
November 5th
PAST TENSE: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child (Thriller)
Family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher in this electrifying thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child.
November 6th
A CHRISTMAS REVELATION by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
An orphan boy investigates a woman’s kidnapping --- and discovers there’s more at stake than a disappearance.
THE COLORS OF ALL THE CATTLE: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (19) by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
In this latest installment of the beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Precious Ramotswe finds herself running for office --- much to her dismay.
THE FERAL DETECTIVE by Jonathan Lethem (Mystery)
Jonathan Lethem’s first detective novel since MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN, THE FERAL DETECTIVE is a singular achievement by one of our greatest writers.
FOREVER AND A DAY: A James Bond Novel by Anthony Horowitz (Thriller)
A spy is dead. A legend is born. This is how it all began. FOREVER AND A DAY is the explosive prequel to CASINO ROYALE.
HEADS YOU WIN by Jeffrey Archer (Fiction)
With a final twist that will shock even his most ardent fans, this is Jeffrey Archer’s most ambitious and creative work since KANE AND ABEL.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: MANUSCRIPT FOR MURDER by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land (Mystery)
Jessica Fletcher investigates a mysterious manuscript with deadly consequences in the latest entry of this USA Today bestselling series.
NINE PERFECT STRANGERS by Liane Moriarty (Fiction)
Could 10 days at a health resort really change you forever? In Liane Moriarty’s latest page-turner, nine perfect strangers are about to find out.
THE NOEL STRANGER by Richard Paul Evans (Fiction)
This powerful new holiday novel from Richard Paul Evans explores the true power of the season, redemption and the freedom that comes from forgiveness.
SEA OF GREED: A Novel from the NUMA Files by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown (Thriller/Adventure)
The world's oil supply is vanishing, the stock market is plummeting, and the key to saving the future seems to be a baffling historical mystery. Can the NUMA crew crack it in time?
THE SPLENDOR BEFORE THE DARK: A Novel of the Emperor Nero by Margaret George (Historical Fiction)
Margaret George, author of THE CONFESSIONS OF YOUNG NERO, weaves a web of politics and passion, as ancient Rome's most infamous emperor cements his place in history.
YOU DON'T OWN ME by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke (Mystery/Thriller)
Television producer Laurie Moran will stop at nothing to solve the murder of a celebrity doctor --- even as she finds herself in grave danger as a mysterious stalker plots his next move.
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Our Latest Poll: November Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in November do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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BEAUCHAMP HALL by Danielle Steel
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A CHRISTMAS REVELATION by Anne Perry
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THE COLORS OF ALL THE CATTLE: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (19) by Alexander McCall Smith
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THE FERAL DETECTIVE by Jonathan Lethem
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FIRE & BLOOD: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones (A Targaryen History) by George R. R. Martin
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FOREVER AND A DAY: A James Bond Novel, by Anthony Horowitz
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HAZARDS OF TIME TRAVEL by Joyce Carol Oates
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HEADS YOU WIN by Jeffrey Archer
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KINGDOM OF THE BLIND: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, by Louise Penny
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LONG ROAD TO MERCY: An Atlee Pine Thriller, by David Baldacci
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LOOK ALIVE TWENTY-FIVE: A Stephanie Plum Novel, by Janet Evanovich
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MASTER OF HIS FATE by Barbara Taylor Bradford
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NIGHT OF MIRACLES by Elizabeth Berg
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NINE PERFECT STRANGERS by Liane Moriarty
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PAST TENSE: A Jack Reacher Novel, by Lee Child
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ROBERT B. PARKER'S BLOOD FEUD: A Sunny Randall Novel, by Mike Lupica
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THE SPLENDOR BEFORE THE DARK: A Novel of the Emperor Nero, by Margaret George
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TARGET: ALEX CROSS by James Patterson
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TONY'S WIFE by Adriana Trigiani
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YOU DON'T OWN ME by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
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None of these
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, November 16th 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 November 2nd to November 16th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of LONG ROAD TO MERCY: An Atlee Pine Thriller by David Baldacci and PAST TENSE: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child.
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 November 1st to December 3rd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Louise Penny's KINGDOM OF THE BLIND: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, read by Robert Bathurst, and Barbara Taylor Bradford's MASTER OF HIS FATE, read by Joan Walker.
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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