|
Latest Update on Our GoFundMe Campaign
to Expand The Book Report Network
Thank you to those of you who already have donated to our GoFundMe campaign. So far we have raised over $23,800 (47.6%) of our $50,000 goal, with online donations and checks!
In addition to your contributions, we are loving the comments that have been shared with donations about how you enjoy this newsletter and Bookreporter.com. Here are a few from this week:
Eileen: "Very helpful and vital site for librarians and book lovers."
Susan: "I have enjoyed The Book Report for many years. Keep up the great work!"
And from another reader named Susan: "I donate because this is a great site for information on books new and interesting. I share it with my book group as we select new books to read."
If you have not donated yet, may we ask that you consider it? Any level of donation that you would be comfortable with is sincerely appreciated. You can read more about our plans and donate here. If you would rather donate via check, our address is:
The Book Report, Inc.
850 Seventh Avenue - Suite 901
New York, NY 10019
Thank you again for your consideration and your donation.
Last weekend, Carol read MY EX-BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING by Wendy Wax (who is pictured above).
It will be a Bets On pick shortly after its May 14th release.
On Monday, Carol and her book group had a Skype chat with Martha Hall Kelly about her upcoming book, LOST ROSES (on sale April 9th), and LILAC GIRLS, which was their favorite book of 2018.
Then on Wednesday, Carol joined Abby Zidle and Brita Lundberg for a Facebook Live Book Club chat, where they discussed EVERY NOTE PLAYED by Lisa Genova, which is now available in paperback.
Also on Wednesday, Carol attended a media lunch where Sarah Blake was
one of the featured authors. Her upcoming novel, THE GUEST BOOK (on sale May 7th),
is already one of Carol's favorite books of 2019.
On Friday, Carol explored Tucson with her friend, Anne Spieth, formerly of Macmillan Publishers.
They stopped at BIrdhouse Yarns, and Carol picked up the yarn that is pictured above.
Carol and Anne had lunch at Roma Imports, an Italian specialty store that was voted
"Best Specialty Store" by readers of the Arizona Daily Star. Anne's mother-in-law owns the store.
It is so nice to be in Tucson; I think the last time I was here I was 14 years old. I am happy to share that after a few weeks of typing "Tucson," I have perfected not typing it first as "Tuscon"! I walked out of the airport terminal, and it was 71 degrees. I was the person wearing the down vest and two scarves; call it a force of habit.
I had a lovely dinner last night with Therese Anne Fowler, the author of A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN and Z. One of the nicest parts about traveling is being able to meet up with far-flung folks who you may not otherwise see, and Therese and I did a three-plus-hour catchup at Café Poca Cosa. Longtime readers know that I love to cook and rarely dine out, so when I travel I always am looking for amazing meals --- and we found one here, along with a brilliant spicy margarita.
This morning, I caught up with Linda Johnson, one of our longtime readers, who is in town for the Tucson Festival of Books. We talked books and life. She told me about Booktopia, a fabulous book and author meetup put on by Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT in early May; this year, it is Friday, May 3rd and Saturday, May 4th. You can read more about it and see the author lineup here.
I am hoping to meet up with other Bookreporter readers throughout the weekend!
Today I spent the day with Anne Spieth, who I had known when she was working in library marketing at a publishing company in New York. She's relocated back to her hometown of Tucson, and we spent a few hours together exploring the city. We went shopping at Birdhouse Yarns, where I found the gorgeous yarns shown above that will be lovely reminders of my time in Tucson. These colors reminded me of the palette here in Tucson. We also stopped by Bookmans, and for a real treat ate at Roma Imports, a fabulous Italian store/casual dining spot, which is owned by Anne's mother-in-law. I loved the chance to catch up with her and get this boots-on-the-ground look at the city.
Even before leaving for Tucson, this was a mega book/author week for me! On Sunday, I did a presentation of 55 new and upcoming books at the Bernardsville Public Library in Bernardsville, NJ. It was really energizing to speak with a group of enthusiastic readers, many of whom were taking notes. I hope that some of them will become Bookreporter newsletter readers.
On Monday night, my book group was lucky enough to Skype with Martha Hall Kelly, and we discussed both her upcoming book, LOST ROSES, which will be in stores on April 9th, and LILAC GIRLS, which was our group’s favorite book of the year last year. During our conversation, Martha took us back to her early days of discovering the story of Caroline Ferriday when she visited the Bellamy-Ferriday House. She walked us through her writing and researching right up until the project that she is working on now, a book about the Civil War, which will be yet another prequel featuring a Ferriday relative. Kudos to Tara in our group who beamed the Skype image of Martha onto the television in the firehouse where we meet.
For those of you who are fans of Martha, you may be interested to know that on Tuesday, April 9th, Random House is hosting "A Special Evening with Martha Hall Kelly" at their offices in New York City. Click here for all the details and to purchase tickets. I am planning to be there!
On Wednesday, I went to a really fun media lunch featuring four authors/books from Flatiron Books, who toplined their upcoming books to us. Included was Sarah Blake, who discussed THE GUEST BOOK (coming May 7th), which already is one of my favorite books of 2019! You can see a photo of us above. Also I am looking forward to reading FOUR FRIENDS: Promising Lives Cut Short by William D. Cohan, BITCOIN BILLIONAIRES: A True Story of Genius, Betrayal, and Redemption by Ben Mezrich, and BIRTHDAY by Meredith Russo. All four authors gave great presentations!
Then I dashed over to the Simon & Schuster offices to do a Facebook Live Book Club chat, where we discussed EVERY NOTE PLAYED by Lisa Genova. We touched on so many points that were made in the book, and Lisa chimed in via the comments section on Facebook. Click here for the full discussion, along with comments from Lisa and her fans. At the end of the chat, it was revealed that March's pick will be ME FOR YOU by Lolly Winston. Lolly's GOOD GRIEF was one of my favorite books when it published 15 years ago!
Last weekend, I was tired of the cold, dank winter and decided I needed a summer-themed read. So I picked up a copy of MY EX-BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING by Wendy Wax (on sale May 14th), which immediately got me thinking summer thoughts. Most of the book is set on the Outer Banks, which was where our family vacationed for summers from 2001 to 2013, as well as for Christmas holidays and spring breaks. I loved all the details of what makes the place so special. She really captured so many of the great places to visit --- and dine. The plot revolves around a wedding dress that has been in the family for generations. Complicating the story are two former best friends who had a falling-out years ago. Right before their planned move to New York, one got cold feet and stayed in North Carolina. The other became a bestselling novelist, but was the work that started her career her own? Layer in an upcoming wedding, and you have a terrific story here.
For those who love stories about book publishing, Wendy has some fabulous nuggets tucked into her prose that will give readers some "inside baseball" intel about the world of books and authors. It will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection when it comes out! Also, Wendy has a new website that was built by our Authors On the Web division of the company, which you can see here.
I have been getting emails asking about our 8th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event at Book Expo in New York. It will take place on Friday, May 31st from 1:00pm to 2:50pm. We will open registration in the next week or two.
Now to this week’s update…
In stores this week is THE BORDER, the highly anticipated conclusion to Don Winslow’s Cartel trilogy, which began with THE POWER OF THE DOG and continued with THE CARTEL. Joe Hartlaub has our review and says, “THE BORDER is written in the memory of the 43 college students who disappeared following the still-unsolved 2014 mass kidnapping that took place in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico. Winslow offers a possible, credible and, yes, horrific explanation as to what occurred… Winslow’s powerful and unflinching descriptions will keep you up at night --- reading, thinking and wondering how we got to this point, and the dirty work that needs to be done to change things.” Winslow recently appeared on “CBS Sunday Morning” to talk about the book; click here to watch the interview.
Kate Quinn follows up her New York Times bestseller and book club favorite THE ALICE NETWORK with another fascinating and discussion-worthy historical novel. THE HUNTRESS, which released this week, is about a battle-haunted English journalist and a Russian female bomber pilot who join forces to track the Huntress, a Nazi war criminal gone to ground in America. Our reviewer Rebecca Wasniak advises, “Be sure to set aside a good chunk of time before opening THE HUNTRESS because you definitely won't want to abort/bail on this powerful, moving account of the aftermath of war before zeroing in on the dramatically satisfying conclusion.” I am reading this now --- and it’s brilliant. I am sure it will be a Bets On selection.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include THE LOST GIRLS OF PARIS by Pam Jenoff, a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered on three women and a ring of female secret agents during World War II; DANNEMORA, in which former corrections officer Charles A. Gardner tells from an insider’s point of view what transpired in June 2015, when two convicted murderers broke out of the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, launching the most extensive manhunt in state history; and nine-time New York Emmy Award-winning journalist Mary Calvi’s debut, DEAR GEORGE, DEAR MARY, a novel about heiress Mary Philipse's relationship with George Washington, based on historical accounts, letters and personal journals. Mary wrote a fascinating piece for us about her research for the book, which you can take a look at here.
We’ve updated our Books on Screen feature for March. This month’s roundup includes the feature films The Aftermath, Five Feet Apart and Out of Blue; the Netflix releases of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and The Dirt, along with the season two premiere of "American Gods" on Starz and the season one finale of FOX's "The Passage"; and the DVD releases of If Beale Street Could Talk, Beautiful Boy and Mary Poppins Returns.
How often do you use Goodreads to help make decisions on what to read? That’s our latest poll question; let us know what you do by clicking here.
In our previous poll, we wanted to know how far in advance of a book’s publication you want to hear about it to influence your buying or borrowing it. 31% of you want to know as soon as the book's publication is announced, while 26% would like to be made aware one month in advance. We also were curious to see how you would respond to that same question if the book was written by a favorite author of yours. In that scenario, 47% of you want to know as soon as the book’s publication is announced, while 18% would like to be made aware one month in advance. Click here for all the results.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, March 15th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN by Lisa See and THE MALTA EXCHANGE by Steve Berry, both of which we’ll be reviewing over the next couple of weeks. Melanie has informed me that my Bets On selection, THE GOWN, is trending on Word of Mouth. Nice to see!
March’s Sounding Off on Audio contest is now live. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to for your chance to win the audio editions of Greg Iles’ CEMETERY ROAD, read by Scott Brick, and James Rollins’ CRUCIBLE, read by Christian Baskous. The deadline for your entries is Monday, April 1st at noon ET.
The March pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times “Now Read This” book club is THE POWER by Naomi Alderman, which is their first science fiction selection. This national bestseller and winner of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction is now available in paperback. Check out our review here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Jami wrote this about tamales: “Try these! Got some as a gift for Christmas --- they were excellent. My grandmother was Mexican and made delicious tamales --- these were close!<g>"
Oscars: I enjoyed the show. I did not miss a host or dumb tricks like delivering candy or pizza! Swooned over the Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper duet.
The Wife: Finally got to see it on the first leg of my trip yesterday, and it was terrific. I see why people were talking about Glenn Close’s performance all awards season. Book lovers will enjoy it!
Roma: Watched it last weekend, and while it is beautifully shot, it never had the feel of a big film to me. It felt like a great indie or art film, or a great foreign film. And trust me, it was not just because I was watching it on Netflix.
I am hoping to see The Favourite on the flight back, if I am booked on the right aircraft. Greg has the 411 on the planes. To me, they are the small 2-1 seat ones I loathe, the 2-2 ones I tolerate, the 3-3 ones that are not special, but are okay, and the 2-3-2 ones that I really like. Yesterday, though, I was seated up front, and when I headed toward the restrooms in the back, there were sooooo many people...and thoughts of one of those crazy films where something happens on a crowded plane was rolling through my head.
I fly back early on Monday, again via Houston. Amusingly Cory is flying through Houston on a business trip on Monday, but later in the day. I was joking that we might pass in the airport. Greg is photographing lighthouses along the Texas coast for the next few days. His photos are amazing, and I look forward to seeing these!
I hope to see readers here in Tucson. Please do not hesitate to introduce yourselves! Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review: THE BORDER by Don Winslow
THE BORDER by Don Winslow (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ray Porter
Art Keller’s obsession to defeat the world’s most powerful, wealthy and lethal kingpin --- the godfather of the Sinaloa Cartel, Adán Barrera --- has left him bloody and scarred, and cost him the people he loves. Now Keller is elevated to the highest ranks of the DEA, only to find that in destroying one monster he has created 30 more that are wreaking even more chaos and suffering in his beloved Mexico. But Barrera’s final legacy is the heroin epidemic scourging America. Throwing himself into the gap to stem the deadly flow, Keller finds himself surrounded by men who want to kill him and an incoming administration that’s in bed with the very drug traffickers Keller is trying to bring down. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE HUNTRESS by Kate Quinn
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE HUNTRESS by Kate Quinn (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, Nina Markova risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress. Transformed by the horrors he witnessed, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. Yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it. Reviewed by Rebecca Wasniak.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
THE HUNTRESS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Carol's commentary will be coming soon!
Featured Review:
THE LOST GIRLS OF PARIS by Pam Jenoff
THE LOST GIRLS OF PARIS by Pam Jenoff (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Elizabeth Knowelden, Henrietta Meire and Candace Thaxton
One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs --- each of a different woman. She soon learns that the suitcase belonged to Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home. Setting out to learn the truth behind these women, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com’s Latest Blog Post:
“The Heiress Wronged by History” by Mary Calvi,
Author of DEAR GEORGE, DEAR MARY
Mary Calvi spent years wondering about the heiress who lived in the grand manor in her hometown of Yonkers, New York. Curiosity propelled her to do extensive research that spanned several years. What she uncovered stunned even her, a New York City anchor and reporter, and winner of nine New York Emmy awards. DEAR GEORGE, DEAR MARY, her debut novel, is based on historical accounts, letters and personal journals. In this blog post, written exclusively for Bookreporter.com, Calvi talks about the day she finally learned if her theory was correct --- that Mary Philipse, the richest belle in Colonial America and George Washington’s first love, was wrongfully convicted of treason during the American Revolution.
DEAR GEORGE, DEAR MARY: A Novel of George Washington's First Love by Mary Calvi (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Marisa Calin and Raphael Corkhill
Did unrequited love spark a flame that ignited a cause that became the American Revolution? Never before has this story about George Washington been told. Crafted from hundreds of letters, witness accounts and journal entries, DEAR GEORGE, DEAR MARY explores George’s relationship with his first love, New York heiress Mary Philipse, the richest belle in Colonial America. Dramatic portraits of the two main characters unveil a Washington on the precipice of greatness, using the very words he spoke and wrote, and his ravishing love, whose outward beauty and refinement disguise a complex inner struggle. Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read Mary Calvi's blog post.
Featured Review: DANNEMORA by Charles A. Gardner
DANNEMORA: Two Escaped Killers, Three Weeks of Terror, and the Largest Manhunt Ever in New York State by Charles A. Gardner (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Jonathan Yen
In June 2015, two vicious convicted murderers broke out of the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, in New York’s North Country, launching the most extensive manhunt in state history. Aided by prison employee Joyce Mitchell, double murderer Richard Matt and cop-killer David Sweat slipped out of their cells. For three weeks, the residents of local communities were virtual prisoners in their own homes as law enforcement from across the nation swept the rural wilderness near the Canadian border. Charles A. Gardner --- a lifelong resident of the community and a former corrections officer who began his training at Clinton --- tells the whole story from an insider's point of view. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE NEXT TO DIE by Sophie Hannah
THE NEXT TO DIE by Sophie Hannah (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Barrie
A psychopath the police have dubbed “Billy Dead Mates” is targeting pairs of best friends, and killing them one by one. Before they die, each victim is given a small white book. For months, detectives have failed to catch Billy, or figure out what the white books symbolize and why the killer leaves them behind. Then a woman, scared by what she’s seen on the news, comes forward. What she reveals shocks the investigators and adds another troubling layer to an already complex case. Stand-up comedian Kim Tribbeck has one of Billy’s peculiar little books. A stranger gave it to her at a gig she did last year. Was the stranger Billy, and is he targeting her --- or is it something more nefarious? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE BOOK OF DELIGHTS by Ross Gay
THE BOOK OF DELIGHTS: Essays by Ross Gay (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Ross Gay
Ross Gay’s THE BOOK OF DELIGHTS is a genre-defying book of essays --- some as short as a paragraph, some as long as five pages --- that records the small joys that occurred in one year, from birthday to birthday, and that we often overlook in our busy lives. His is a meditation on delight that takes a clear-eyed view of the complexities, even the terrors, in his life, including living in America as a black man; the ecological and psychic violence of our consumer culture; and the loss of those he loves. More than any other subject, though, Gay celebrates the beauty of the natural world --- his garden, the flowers in the sidewalk, the birds, the bees, the mushrooms and the trees. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight:
BEAUTIFUL BAD by Annie Ward
BEAUTIFUL BAD by Annie Ward (Psychological Thriller)
Maddie and Ian's love story began with a chance encounter at a party overseas; he was serving in the British army, and she was a travel writer visiting her best friend, Jo. Now almost two decades later, married with a beautiful son, Charlie, they are living the perfect suburban life in Middle America. But when a camping accident leaves Maddie badly scarred, she begins attending writing therapy, where she gradually reveals her fears about Ian's PTSD; her concerns for the safety of their young son; and the couple’s tangled and tumultuous past with Jo.
From the Balkans to England, Iraq to Manhattan, and finally to an ordinary family home in Kansas, 16 years of love and fear, adventure and suspicion culminate in The Day of the Killing, when a frantic 911 call summons the police to the scene of a shocking crime.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit the book's website.
- Click here to read Annie Ward's bio.
- Connect with Annie Ward on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- Click here to see the 25 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
Click here to read more in our Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
Don't miss our review of the book and interview
with the author in next week's newsletter.
March’s Books on Screen Feature
THE CHEF by James Patterson with Max DiLallo (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Micheal Ziants
In the Carnival days leading up Mardi Gras, Detective Caleb Rooney comes under investigation for a murder he is accused of committing in the line of duty --- as a Major Crimes detective for the New Orleans Police Department. Has his sideline at the Killer Chef food truck given him a taste for murder? While fighting the charges against him, Rooney makes a pair of unthinkable discoveries. His beloved city is under threat of attack. And these would-be terrorists may be local. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE by Samantha Shannon (Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Liyah Summers
The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction --- but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
THE CARE AND FEEDING OF RAVENOUSLY HUNGRY GIRLS by Anissa Gray (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by January LaVoy, Adenrele Ojo, Bahni Turpin and Dominic Hoffman
The Butler family has had their share of trials --- as sisters Althea, Viola and Lillian can attest --- but nothing prepared them for the literal trial that will upend their lives. Althea, the eldest sister and substitute matriarch, is a force to be reckoned with, and her younger sisters have alternately appreciated and chafed at her strong will. They are as stunned as the rest of the small community when she and her husband, Proctor, are arrested, and in a heartbeat the family goes from one of the most respected in town to utter disgrace. As Althea awaits her fate, Lillian and Viola must come together in the house they grew up in to care for their sister’s teenage daughters. Reviewed by Dunja Bonacci Skenderović.
THE WARTIME SISTERS by Lynda Cohen Loigman (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Emily Lawrence
Two estranged sisters, raised in Brooklyn and each burdened with her own shocking secret, are reunited at the Springfield Armory in the early days of WWII. While one sister lives in relative ease on the bucolic Armory campus as an officer’s wife, the other arrives as a war widow and takes a position in the Armory factories as a “soldier of production.” Resentment festers between the two, and secrets are shattered when a mysterious figure from the past reemerges in their lives. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
VACUUM IN THE DARK by Jen Beagin (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Jayme Mattler
Mona is 26 and cleans houses for a living in Taos, New Mexico. Her boyfriend, Dark, happens to be married to one of her clients. But Dark and his wife aren’t the only complicated clients on Mona’s roster. There’s also the Hungarian artist couple who --- with her addiction to painkillers and his lingering stares --- reminds Mona of troubling aspects of her childhood, and some of the underlying reasons her life had to be restarted in the first place. As she tries to get over the heartache of her affair and the older pains of her youth, Mona winds up on an eccentric, moving journey of self-discovery that takes her back to her beginnings where she attempts to unlock the key to having a sense of home in the future. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
HUNTING GAME written by Helene Tursten, translated by Paul Norlen (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Stina Nielsen
Embla Nyström has been plagued by chronic nightmares and racing thoughts ever since she can remember. She has learned to channel most of her anxious energy into her position as Detective Inspector in the mobile unit in Gothenburg, Sweden, and into sports. A talented hunter and prize-winning Nordic welterweight, she is glad to be taking a vacation from her high-stress job to attend the annual moose hunt with her family and friends. But a string of unsettling incidents culminate in the disappearance of two hunters. Embla takes charge of the search, and they soon find one of the missing men floating face down in the nearby lake. With the help of local reinforcements, Embla delves into the dark pasts of her fellow hunters in search of a killer. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
MOTHER COUNTRY by Irina Reyn (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen Gati
Nadia's daily life in south Brooklyn is filled with small indignities. As a senior home attendant, she is always in danger of being fired; as a part-time nanny, she is forced to navigate the demands of her spoiled charge and the preschooler's insecure mother; and as an ethnic Russian, she finds herself feuding with western Ukrainian immigrants who think she is a traitor. The war back home is always at the forefront of her reality. Nadia internalizes notions of "union" all around her, but the one reunion she has been waiting six years for --- with her beloved daughter --- is being eternally delayed by the Department of Homeland Security. When Nadia finds out that her daughter has lost access to the medicine she needs to survive, she takes matters into her own hands. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
BLOOD FOR BLOOD by Victoria Selman (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Karen Cass
Rush hour, London. A packed commuter train is torn apart in a collision. Picking through the carnage, ex-special forces profiler Ziba MacKenzie helps a dying woman who passes on a cryptic message: He did it. You have to tell someone. When a corpse is found bearing the gruesome signature of a serial killer dormant for 25 years, Ziba is pulled into the hunt for the perpetrator. As the body count rises, it becomes clear he’s on a new spree. But what’s brought the London Lacerator back after such a long hiatus? And does his sudden return have anything to do with the woman on the train? Ziba scrambles to profile the killer in the hope of predicting his next move. But time is running out. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on March 5th
Below are some notable titles releasing on March 5th 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 March 4th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
AUNTIE POLDI AND THE VINEYARDS OF ETNA written by Mario Giordano, translated by John Brownjohn (Cozy Mystery)
When Auntie Poldi finds a body in a vineyard, she sets out to solve another murder --- with the Mafia nipping at her heels.
BEAUTIFUL BAD by Annie Ward (Psychological Thriller)
Annie Ward's debut thriller is a twisted novel about a devoted wife, a loving husband and a chilling crime that will stun even the cleverest readers.
BEFORE SHE KNEW HIM by Peter Swanson (Psychological Thriller)
A young suburban wife with a history of psychological instability has fears about her new neighbor that could lead them both to murder.
CEMETERY ROAD by Greg Iles (Thriller)
Greg Iles, author of the Natchez Burning trilogy, returns with an electrifying tale of friendship, betrayal and shattering secrets that threaten to destroy a small Mississippi town.
DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Fiction)
DAISY JONES & THE SIX is a gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.
ERA OF IGNITION: Coming of Age in a Time of Rage and Revolution by Amber Tamblyn (Social Science/Memoir)
ERA OF IGNITION is a passionate and deeply personal exploration of feminism during divisive times by actor, filmmaker and activist Amber Tamblyn.
GINGERBREAD by Helen Oyeyemi (Fiction)
Influenced by the mysterious place gingerbread holds in classic children's stories, Helen Oyeyemi invites readers into a delightful tale of a surprising family legacy, in which the inheritance is a recipe.
THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN by Lisa See (Historical Fiction)
A classic Lisa See story --- one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them --- THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN introduces readers to the fierce and unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.
MADAME FOURCADE'S SECRET WAR: The Daring Young Woman Who Led France's Largest Spy Network Against Hitler by Lynne Olson (Biography)
The bestselling author of CITIZENS OF LONDON and LAST HOPE ISLAND tells the little-known true story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the woman who headed the largest spy network in occupied France during World War II.
THE MALTA EXCHANGE by Steve Berry (Thriller)
A deadly race for the Vatican’s oldest secret fuels Steve Berry’s latest Cotton Malone thriller, which involves the Knights of Malta, papal conclave and lost documents that could change history.
OUTER ORDER, INNER CALM: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness by Gretchen Rubin (Self-Help/Personal Growth)
With a sense of fun, and a clear idea of what's realistic for most people, Gretchen Rubin suggests dozens of manageable steps for creating a more serene, orderly environment --- one that helps us to create the lives we want.
THE PERFECT ALIBI by Phillip Margolin (Legal Thriller)
In this new legal thriller starring Robin Lockwood, the young lawyer has to mastermind two impossible cases, trying to find the hidden truth that links the two of them.
SILENT NIGHT by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
A shocking accident. A little girl struggling to survive. And the childless aunt who transforms her own world to help her. Danielle Steel’s latest novel is a deeply moving story of resilience and hope.
UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon (Mystery)
With an urgent case to solve, Guido Brunetti reluctantly untangles the long-hidden mystery in the life of a close family friend that ultimately led to murder --- a resolution that brings him way more pain than satisfaction.
THE WALL by John Lanchester (Dystopian Fiction)
THE WALL blends the most compelling issues of our time --- rising waters, rising fear, rising political division --- into a suspenseful story of love, trust and survival.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: How Frequently Do You Use Goodreads?
How often do you use Goodreads to help make decisions on what to read?
-
Every day
-
A few times a week
-
A few times a month
-
Less than once a month
-
I do not use Goodreads but would be interested in doing so.
-
I am not interested in Goodreads.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, March 15th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from March 1st to March 15th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN by Lisa See and THE MALTA EXCHANGE by Steve Berry.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What
You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from March 1st to April 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Greg Iles' CEMETERY ROAD, read by Scott Brick, and James Rollins' CRUCIBLE, read by Christian Baskous.
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.
|
