March 15, 2019

March 15, 2019

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Carol's recent reads include SUNSET BEACH by Mary Kay Andrews (on sale May 7th),
THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger (on sale September 3rd),
and BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND by Heather Gudenkauf (on sale April 16th).

Lisa See stopped by the office this week while on tour for her latest book,
THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN, which is now available and is a Bets On pick.

Carol's husband, Tom, made Pappardelle with Rose Harissa,
a recipe from their "go-to" cookbook, OTTOLENGHI: SIMPLE.

Carol's last amaryllis almost is in full bloom.

I Got a Lot Done in the Hour-Less Week

“Beware the Ides of March!” – Shakespeare

You know how many books start with a quote? I thought I would tap that and start this newsletter with a quote.

We are not even three months into the new year, and already I have enjoyed so many books that have been published. Today I am going to share three more that are upcoming.

On my trip to Tucson, I read a bound manuscript of THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger, which is on sale September 3rd. Like ORDINARY GRACE, Kent's bestselling 2013 book, this again is a brilliant stand-alone and a departure from his Cork O’Connor series. THIS TENDER LAND is atmospheric like WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, and sparks thoughts of BEFORE WE WERE YOURS and ORPHAN TRAIN. While the bayou is the setting for CRAWDADS, here we have an orphan and his friends meandering down the mighty rivers of the Midwest to escape Lincoln School in Minnesota where they were mistreated.

Their travels are reminiscent of Huck Finn, giving readers a real sense of the land and the water, as well as the camaraderie. They start at the Gilead River in Minnesota and then make their way to the Mississippi, hitting small towns as well as cities along the way, each of which is in the throes of the Great Depression. As this adventure continues, Odie and his traveling companions --- Albert, Mose and Emmy --- bond into their own version of a family as they navigate both the rivers and their own troubled lives. It will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.

I have been a fan of Heather Gudenkauf since THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE, thus I was so happy that she slipped me a copy of BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND, which will be in stores on April 16th. In it, Cora Landry is 12 years old and enjoying a sleepover with her friends, Violet and Jordyn, when they decide to leave the safety of home to visit an abandoned rail yard. What started out as a lark becomes anything but, as hours later Cora is found on the tracks, covered in blood and close to death. What happened to her? There’s a lot to look at here, including the pressure of being a teen, the fragility of friendship and the vulnerability that these girls face. It also looks at the role that their parents play. Who knows what, and who is hiding what? It is well-plotted and unwraps really nicely. It would be great for a book group discussion among mothers and daughters. It also has the same edgy vibe that I felt reading Lisa Scottoline’s SOMEONE KNOWS, which releases on April 9th.

With a fire finally burning in the fireplace last Sunday, I read SUNSET BEACH by Mary Kay Andrews, because there is no better way to chase away winter blues than to think summer with MKA. SUNSET BEACH is set in Florida where Drue Campbell has moved back to the house left to her by her mother; “a ramshackle beach bungalow with a missing roof in the once-sleepy town of Sunset Beach.” Drue’s dad has been off the scene for years, but he wanders into her mother’s funeral and offers her a job at his ambulance-chasing law firm. She takes it reluctantly. Very reluctantly. But while on the job, she turns up not one but two mysteries that she must unravel. You’ll have to wait until May 7th to see what happens next, but be assured that MKA knows how to spin plots as well as she knows how to fluff up a house! 

Lisa See stopped by the office for a visit yesterday as she was in the city on tour for THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN. Tonight I am planning to attend her event at the Indigo store in Short Hills, NJ. We had a great catch-up; she had never been to our office before, so it was really nice for her to get to meet the team. She was wearing a super smashing outfit sparking my Conde Nast fashion gene to swoon over her skirt and fabulous yellow scarf. THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN, as well as Taylor Jenkins Reid's DAISY JONES & THE SIX, both of which we reviewed last week, are my latest Bets On picks. Click on each of the titles for my commentaries.

We’ve now opened up registration for ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 8th Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event, which will take place on Friday, May 31st from 1pm to 2:50pm at Book Expo in New York. Representatives from more than a dozen publishers will be there to talk about various selections from their fall/winter lists in a speed-dating format. A number of galleys will be available to give away, and ideas for enhancing book group discussions will be shared. To register, all you have to do is fill out this form by Monday, May 20th at noon ET, but please note that you have to be registered for Book Expo in order to attend. Read on for more details later in this newsletter. If you are not attending Book Expo, do keep in mind that, as always, we will share these presentations after the event.

Steve Berry’s latest Cotton Malone thriller, THE MALTA EXCHANGE, involves the Knights of Malta, the papal conclave and lost documents that could change history. Our reviewer Ray Palen calls it “a real treat for fans of the stellar Cotton Malone series, as well as a top-notch historical puzzler for those who have not yet experienced Berry's favorite character."

You may remember a few weeks ago that I talked about listening to and enjoying the audiobook of Isaac Mizrahi’s memoir, I.M. Jesse Kornbluth, who co-founded Bookreporter.com with me, was kind enough to share his review with us, which originally ran on his site, HeadButler.com. Here’s a preview: “I find almost every memoir is too long, and I.M. is no exception. You may not notice. Isaac Mizrahi is compelling --- his wit is both sharp and self-deprecating, he’s read everything and seen everything, he can share a cultural reference that makes his point, and he has energy to burn. And because his big personality covers a well of self-doubt, he is very, very eager to please.” I finally finished listening yesterday, and I just wanted more. Can I ask for a sequel to a memoir? And I still want to know why Anna Wintour no longer reaches out to Isaac.

Other books we’re reviewing this week include WOLF PACK by C. J. Box, in which Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett encounters bad behavior on his own turf --- only to have the FBI and the DOJ ask him to stand down; HOUSE ON FIRE, Bonnie Kistler’s new novel about a blended family in crisis after a drunk driving accident leaves the daughter of one parent dead --- and the son of the other parent charged with manslaughter; and ME FOR YOU, the latest from GOOD GRIEF author Lolly Winston, which asks the question: How soon is too soon to fall in love again? HOUSE ON FIRE will be a Bets On selection; find out why in next week’s newsletter.

Meanwhile, ME FOR YOU is this month’s pick for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites program. It was just announced this week that S&S will host a Facebook Live Book Club chat on Thursday, March 28th at 5pm ET where the book will be discussed. We encourage you to join the conversation with your comments about the book and interact with your fellow readers. S&S is also hosting a sweepstakes where one winner will be awarded 12 copies of ME FOR YOU for their book group. Be sure to enter by 11:59pm ET on Sunday, March 31st. Click here for all the details.

Our special contest for Martha Hall Kelly’s upcoming novel, LOST ROSES (a future Bets On pick), continues for one more week. Martha’s debut, LILAC GIRLS, introduced the real-life heroine Caroline Ferriday. Set a generation earlier and also inspired by true events, her latest features Caroline’s mother, Eliza, and follows three equally indomitable women from St. Petersburg to Paris under the shadow of World War I. We’re giving 25 readers the opportunity to read the book, which releases on April 9th, and share their feedback on it with us. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, March 21st at noon ET.

As promised, this year’s series of 24-hour Spring Preview contests will kick off on Tuesday, March 19th at noon ET. Our first two prize books will be LAWN BOY by Jonathan Evison and A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF HEAVEN by Mathangi Subramanian. You can take a look at all of our featured titles here.

As we announced in last week’s newsletter, we have a BIG contest going on right now at ReadingGroupGuides.com. We’re giving 10 book groups the chance to win six digital copies of the audiobook edition of THE MOMENT OF LIFT: How Empowering Women Changes the World, which is read by its author, Melinda Gates (co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), and share their comments on it. We also are awarding 40 listeners a physical copy of the audiobook. All the contest details can here found here, and the deadline for your entries is Wednesday, April 3rd at noon ET. One of my close friends worked with Melinda at the Foundation and thought so highly of her. I am looking forward to listening to this book!

For our latest poll, we’ve listed 20 fiction titles releasing this month and we’re asking you which, if any, you’re planning to read. Click here to let us know.

Our previous poll asked how often you use Goodreads to help make decisions on what to read. Here’s the breakdown: A few times a month (25%), A few times a week (24%), Less than once a month (19%), and Every day (13%). Another 13% of you are not interested in Goodreads, while 5% do not use it but would be interested in doing so.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, March 29th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win BLOOD OATH by Linda Fairstein and RUN AWAY by Harlan Coben.

There’s still plenty of time to enter this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll have a chance to win the audio versions of Greg Iles’ CEMETERY ROAD, read by Scott Brick, and James Rollins’ CRUCIBLE, read by Christian Baskous. The deadline for your submissions is Monday, April 1st at noon ET.

Our reader Denise Neary had the opportunity to chat with the Mayor of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Jud Ashman, about the Gaithersburg Book Festival, which he founded back in 2009. (When I was in Tucson, Therese Anne Fowler was telling me how much she loves this event.) The 10th Annual Festival will take place on May 18th, and Denise will report back to us about her experiences there. Many thanks to Denise for coordinating this interview!

The winners of the National Book Critics Circle Awards were announced yesterday. They include MILKMAN by Anna Burns (Fiction) and FEEL FREE: Essays by Zadie Smith (Criticism). Click here for the complete list of winners.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

I am happy to share that the reader who I met when I was in Tucson, but whose name I could not recall, has been identified. It’s Jane Poliakoff, and we added her to our Tucson photo gallery here. Thank you also to Jane for her very generous donation to our fundraiser.

Janis wrote, “I have enjoyed receiving this newsletter for several years! I love the input/info on so many different books. Of course, it makes my TBR list just grow and grow! I especially enjoy when you go to a book festival (like this month) and report back on all the authors, books and happenings! Is there a list of all the festivals around the country? I would love to attend one and have never seen one in my city (Salt Lake City, UT) but would be more than willing to travel to one. I think attending one would be a fabulous opportunity. I would love to see a calendar of events for a year or so out so plans could be made.” We do indeed have a Book Festivals list here.

Delia Owens on "CBS Sunday Morning": The author of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING will be talking about her bestselling novel on this Sunday's program.

Free Solo: Whoa...what a brilliant documentary about Alex Honnold climbing El Capitan in Yosemite without any ropes or support.

"This Is Us": I was a real fan of seasons one and two, but this third season has been very lackluster to me. I used to feel like it unfolded like a book, but it really needs a sharp edit this year.

"Billions": New season premieres on Sunday night; I watched the first four episodes, and they are terrific.

Leaving Neverland: I watched the first episode and found it believable, and I have been urged to watch part two.

"Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes": I am not sure what it says about me that I am interested in serial killers, so this four-part series on Netflix was really interesting.

I have no plans for the weekend, except a decision of whether to make, or buy, corned beef to make corned beef sandwiches. I know, really deep thoughts here. I also saw a recipe for Corned Beef Tacos, which Tom and the boys think sounds crazy. I still want to try making tacos from scratch; it may be a Sunday night adventure. Last weekend, Tom whipped up this Pappardelle with Rose Harissa recipe, which was so good that he repeated it during the week. It’s from our “go-to” cookbook, OTTOLENGHI: SIMPLE. BTW, I loathe capers, so he left them out.

Last weekend, when we finally had a fire in the fireplace, Sam, who has been dating Cory for a year, said, “Wow, a fire. I never saw the fireplace there.” I think I will try to do another this weekend. Our last amaryllis almost is in full bloom, though I do see one more trumpet ready to explode. And I think the white plant has another trumpet to pop, as well. I am loving that these still are blooming. I started a new knitting pattern called Easy Goes It for the fabulous Malabrigo yarn that I bought in Tucson. I just got it cast on and a few rows done. I already have made some adjustments to the pattern; I know, what else is new?

I owe tons of thank-you notes for our fundraiser. I promise to catch up next week!

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 MALTA EXCHANGE by Steve Berry

THE MALTA EXCHANGE by Steve Berry (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone is at Lake Como, Italy, on the trail of legendary letters between Winston Churchill and Benito Mussolini that disappeared in 1945 and could rewrite history. But someone else seems to be after the same letters, and when Malone obtains then loses them, he’s plunged into a hunt that draws the attention of the legendary Knights of Malta. They are now a global humanitarian organization, but within their ranks lurks trouble --- the Secreti --- an ancient sect intent on affecting the coming papal conclave. With the help of Magellan Billet agent Luke Daniels, Malone races the rogue cardinal, the knights, the Secreti and the clock to find what has been lost for centuries. 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: WOLF PACK by C. J. Box

WOLF PACK: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by David Chandler
Joe Pickett has come to learn that a drone is killing wildlife --- and it belongs to a mysterious and wealthy man whose son is dating Joe's own daughter, Lucy. When Joe tries to lay down the rules for the drone operator, he's asked by the FBI and the DOJ to stand down, which only makes him more suspicious. Meanwhile, bodies are piling up in and around Joe's district in shocking numbers. He begins to fear that a pack of four vicious killers working on behalf of the Sinaloa cartel known as the Wolf Pack has arrived. Their target seems to be the mystery man and everyone --- including Joe, Nate and others --- who is associated with him. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

Featured Review: I.M. by Isaac Mizrahi

I.M.: A Memoir by Isaac Mizrahi (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Isaac Mizrahi
Isaac Mizrahi offers a poignant, candid and touching look back on his life so far. Growing up gay in a sheltered Syrian Jewish Orthodox family, Isaac had unique talents that ultimately drew him into fashion and later into celebrity circles that read like a who’s who of the 20th and 21st centuries: Richard Avedon, Audrey Hepburn, Anna Wintour, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey, to name only a few. In I.M., Isaac delves into his lifelong battles with weight, insomnia and depression. He tells what it was like to be an out gay man in a homophobic age and to witness the ravaging effects of the AIDS epidemic. Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth for HeadButler.com.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

Special Contest: Enter to Win an Advance Copy of
LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly --- a Bookreporter.com Bets On Title --- and Share Your Comments on It

The runaway bestseller LILAC GIRLS introduced the real-life heroine Caroline Ferriday. LOST ROSES, set a generation earlier and also inspired by true events, features Caroline's mother, Eliza, and follows three equally indomitable women from St. Petersburg to Paris under the shadow of World War I. We have 25 advance copies of Martha Hall Kelly's upcoming novel to give away to readers who would like to preview the book, which releases on April 9th, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, March 21st at noon ET.

LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly (Historical Fiction)
It is 1914, and the world has been on the brink of war so many times, many New Yorkers treat the subject with only passing interest. Eliza Ferriday is thrilled to be traveling to St. Petersburg with Sofya Streshnayva, a cousin of the Romanovs. The two met years ago one summer in Paris and became close confidantes. Now Eliza embarks on the trip of a lifetime, home with Sofya to see the splendors of Russia.

But when Austria declares war on Serbia and Russia's imperial dynasty begins to fall, Eliza escapes back to America, while Sofya and her family flee to their country estate. In need of domestic help, they hire the local fortuneteller's daughter, Varinka, unknowingly bringing intense danger into their household.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Eliza is doing her part to help the White Russian families find safety as they escape the revolution. But when Sofya's letters suddenly stop coming, she fears the worst for her best friend.

From the turbulent streets of St. Petersburg to the avenues of Paris and the society of fallen Russian émigrés who live there, the lives of Eliza, Sofya and Varinka will intersect in profound ways, taking readers on a breathtaking ride through a momentous time in history.

- Click here to read Martha Hall Kelly's bio.
- Visit Martha Hall Kelly's website and blog.
- Connect with Martha Hall Kelly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Click here to enter the contest.

Featured Review: HOUSE ON FIRE by Bonnie Kistler
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

HOUSE ON FIRE by Bonnie Kistler (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
Divorce lawyer Leigh Huyett knows all too well that most second marriages are doomed to fail. But five years in, she and Pete Conley have a perfectly blended family of her children and his. To celebrate their anniversary, they grab some precious moments of alone time and leave Pete’s son Kip, a high school senior, in charge of Leigh’s 14-year-old daughter Chrissy at their home. Driving back on a rainy Friday night, their cell phones start ringing. After a raucous party celebrating his college acceptance to Duke and his upcoming birthday, Kip was arrested for drunk driving after his truck crashed into a tree. And he wasn’t alone --- Chrissy was with him. Twelve hours later, Chrissy is dead and Kip is charged with manslaughter. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read the review.

HOUSE ON FIRE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.

Featured Review: ME FOR YOU by Lolly Winston
Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites Pick for March

ME FOR YOU by Lolly Winston (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell and George Newbern
Ten months after the untimely death of his beloved wife, 54-year-old Rudy is still not sure how to move on from the defining tragedy of his life. But his new job is helping. After being downsized from his finance position, Rudy began working as the piano player at Nordstrom. Sasha, the Hungarian men’s watch clerk who is finally divorcing her no-good husband, finds time to join him at the bench every now and then. Just when Rudy and Sasha’s relationship begins to deepen, the police come to the store with an update about Rudy’s wife’s death --- a coworker has confessed to her murder --- but Rudy’s actions are suspicious enough to warrant a second look at him, too. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for details on Simon & Schuster's Facebook Live Book Club chat about the book.
- Click here to enter Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites Sweepstakes for a chance to win 12 copies of the book.

Click here to read the review.

Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN by Lisa See
and DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid

THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN by Lisa See (Historical Fiction)
Lisa See is known for her books that are set in China, where she has shared with her readers many ancient traditions. With THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMAN, she has turned her focus to the Korean island of Jeju, where women dive for fish to both feed their families and sell, engaging in challenging physical work while men stay home with the children. I love the way Lisa can bring a world that I know little about into brilliant focus as she takes readers through seven decades beginning in 1938. Thinking of how much happened in Korea during that time period, I was astounded by how much I did not know. I found myself fascinated by the resiliency of the women who she writes about as they conquer so many challenges. Their courage under adversity was something to be admired.

- 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 visit Lisa See's website.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN.

DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Fiction)
DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid is such a fun --- and uniquely written --- novel about an iconic 1970s band and their oh-so-very hot lead singer, finally telling the tale of why the band broke up. It’s fiction, but people have been speculating on what band this could be based on; a few rumblings I have heard from librarian pals is that Daisy could have been inspired by Stevie Nicks. While many books these days are told chapter by chapter by different narrators, here we have the story told paragraph by paragraph from the points of view of the six band members and Daisy, giving it the feel of an oral history, or a piece written by a really sharp music reporter.

- 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 more of Carol's commentary on DAISY JONES & THE SIX.

Bookreporter.com's Eighth Annual
Spring Preview Contests and Feature

Spring is in the air (or will be very soon)! We’ve already caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our eighth annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through April 26th. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.

Our first prize book will be announced on Tuesday, March 19th at noon ET.

This year's featured titles include:

• ALL WE EVER WANTED by Emily Giffin
• DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• THE FARM by Joanne Ramos
• THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW by Tracey Garvis Graves
• I KNOW WHO YOU ARE by Alice Feeney
• LAWN BOY by Jonathan Evison
• MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
• THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth
• NANAVILLE: Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen
• A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF HEAVEN by Mathangi Subramanian
• ROAR by Cecelia Ahern
• THE SUMMER COTTAGE by Viola Shipman

Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.

Announcing ReadingGroupGuides.com's
8th Annual Book Expo Speed Dating Event:
"Great Book Group Titles for Fall/Winter 2019"

On Friday, May 31st from 1:00pm to 2:50pm at Book Expo in New York, ReadingGroupGuides.com will host its 8th Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event.

Representatives from more than a dozen publishers will be in attendance to share selections and book group news from their publishing houses in a speed-dating format designed to give booksellers, librarians and book group leaders an inside look at what book groups will want to know for fall and winter. Galley giveaways and ideas for enhancing book group discussions will be part of this event.

Advance signup is required by Monday, May 20th at noon ET. Seating will be assigned. Fill out this form to sign up. Once you do so, you will see a note that you have registered.

Please note: To attend this event, you must be registered to attend Book Expo on May 31st and have a badge. If you are not, click here to register.

More Reviews This Week

THE FIRST LADY by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Deborah McBride
Sally Grissom is a top secret service agent in charge of the Presidential Protection team. She knows that something is amiss when she is summoned to a private meeting with the President and his Chief of Staff without any witnesses. But she couldn't have predicted that she'd be forced to take on an investigation surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the First Lady --- with strict orders to keep it a secret. The First Lady's absence comes in the wake of the scandalous, public revelation of the president's affair, so at first it seems as though she is simply cutting off all contact. What begins as an innocent respite quickly reveals itself as a twisted case when the White House receives a ransom note along with the First Lady's finger. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE WALL by John Lanchester (Dystopian Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Will Poulter
Ravaged by the Change, an island nation in a time very much like our own has built the Wall --- an enormous concrete barrier around its entire coastline. Joseph Kavanagh, a new Defender, has one task: to protect his section of the Wall from the Others, the desperate souls who are trapped amid the rising seas outside and are a constant threat. Failure will result in death or a fate perhaps worse: being put to sea and made an Other himself. Beset by cold, loneliness and fear, Kavanagh tries to fulfill his duties to his demanding Captain and Sergeant, even as he grows closer to his fellow Defenders. A dark part of him wonders if it would be interesting if something did happen, if they came, if he had to fight for his life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE PERFECT ALIBI by Phillip Margolin (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Therese Plummer
A young woman accuses a prominent local college athlete of rape, which leads to a conviction with the help of indisputable DNA evidence. Not long after, there's another rape and the DNA test shows that the same person committed both rapes. Now, the convicted athlete is granted a new trial and bail. Shortly thereafter, his original lawyer disappears and his law partner is murdered. Robin Lockwood is representing the victim of the first rape for her civil lawsuit against her rapist, who is now convinced that the rapist is stalking her and trying to intimidate her. At the same time, another client is up on a murder charge --- one that should be dismissed as self-defense --- but the D.A. trying the case is determined to bring it to trial. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

LONG LIVE THE TRIBE OF FATHERLESS GIRLS: A Memoir by T Kira Madden (Memoir)
Acclaimed literary essayist T Kira Madden's debut memoir is about coming of age and reckoning with desire as a queer, biracial teenager amidst the fierce contradictions of Boca Raton, Florida, a place where she found cult-like privilege, shocking racial disparities, rampant white-collar crime, and powerfully destructive standards of beauty hiding in plain sight. As a child, Madden lived a life of extravagance, but under the surface was a wild instability. The only child of parents continually battling drug and alcohol addictions, Madden confronted her environment alone. Facing a culture of assault and objectification, she found lifelines in the desperately loving friendships of fatherless girls. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

TOMORROW THERE WILL BE SUN by Dana Reinhardt (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kirsten Potter
Two families arrive in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Jenna has organized the trip to celebrate her husband's 50th birthday. However, as the families settle into their vacation routines, their best friends suddenly seem like annoying strangers, and even Jenna's reliable husband, Peter, is sharing clandestine phone calls with someone. But who? Jenna's teenage daughter, Clem, is spending an awful lot of time with Malcolm, whose questionable rep got him expelled from school. Jenna's dream of the ultimate celebration begins to crack and eventually crumbles completely, leaving her wondering whom she can trust, and whether her privileged life is about to be changed forever. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.

THE LAST ACT by Brad Parks (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Graham Halstead
Tommy Jump is an out-of-work stage actor approached by the FBI with the role of a lifetime: Go undercover at a federal prison, impersonate a convicted felon, and befriend a fellow inmate --- a disgraced banker named Mitchell Dupree, who knows the location of documents that can be used to bring down a ruthless drug cartel…if only he’d tell the FBI where they are. Using a false name and backstory, Tommy enters the low-security prison and begins the process of befriending Dupree. But he soon realizes he’s underestimated the enormity of his task and the terrifying reach of the cartel. The FBI isn’t the only one looking for the documents, and if Tommy doesn’t play his role to perfection, it just may be his last act. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE DEVIL ASPECT by Craig Russell (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt
Prague, 1935: Psychiatrist Viktor Kosárek arrives at the infamous Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane, which houses the country's six most treacherous killers --- known to the staff as The Woodcutter, The Clown, The Glass Collector, The Vegetarian, The Sciomancer and The Demon. Viktor hopes to use a new medical technique to prove that these patients share a common archetype of evil, a phenomenon known as The Devil Aspect. Meanwhile, fear grips the city as a phantom serial killer (dubbed Leather Apron in the newspapers) emerges in the dark alleys. Police investigator Lukas Smolak turns to the doctors at Hrad Orlu for their expertise with the psychotic criminal mind, though he worries that Leather Apron might have some connection to the six inmates in the asylum. Reviewed by Rachel McConnell.

THE LIEUTENANT’S NURSE by Sara Ackerman (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Ezzo
November, 1941. Newly enlisted as an Army Corps nurse, Eva Cassidy is stunned by the splendor she experiences aboard the steamship SS Lurline --- and even more so by Lt. Clark Spencer, a man she is drawn to but who clearly has secrets of his own. But Eva’s past, and the future she’s trying to create, means that she’s not free to follow her heart. Clark is a navy intelligence officer, and he warns her that the United States won’t be able to hold off joining the war for long, but nothing can prepare them for the surprise attack that will change the world they know. Amid the chaos and heartbreak, Eva will have to decide whom to trust and how far she will go to protect those she loves. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

THE NIGHT SWIMMERS by Peter Rock (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Graham Halstead
Beneath the surface of Lake Michigan, there are vast systems: crosscutting currents, sudden drop-offs, depths of absolute darkness, shipwrecked bodies, hidden places. Peter Rock’s autobiographical novel begins in the ’90s on the Door Peninsula of Wisconsin. The narrator, a recent college graduate, and a young widow, Mrs. Abel, swim together at night, making their way across miles of open water. The nature of these night swims, and of his relationship to Mrs. Abel, becomes increasingly mysterious to the narrator as the summer passes, until the night that Mrs. Abel disappears. Twenty years later, the narrator tries to understand those months, his forgotten obsessions and dreams, and looks for clues to the fate of Mrs. Abel. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.

THE DNA OF YOU AND ME by Andrea Rothman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Tavia Gilbert
How does smell work? Specifically, how do olfactory sensory neurons reach their targets in the brain, where smell is processed? Justin McKinnon has hired Emily Apell to study that question. What Justin hasn’t told Emily is that two other scientists in the lab, Aeden and Allegra, are working on a very similar topic, and their findings may compete with her research. To Emily’s great surprise, her rational mind is unsettled by Aeden. As they shift from competitors to colleagues, and then to something more, Emily allows herself to see a future in which she doesn’t end up alone. But when Aeden decides to leave the lab, it becomes clear to Emily that she must make a choice: follow her research or follow her heart. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

WHILE YOU SLEEP by Stephanie Merritt (Gothic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Caitlin Thorburn
On a remote Scottish island, the McBride house stands guard over its secrets. A century ago, a young widow and her son died mysteriously there. Just last year, a local boy, visiting for a dare, disappeared without a trace. For Zoe Adams, newly arrived from America, the house offers a refuge from her failing marriage. But her peaceful retreat is disrupted by strange and disturbing events: nighttime intrusions, unknown voices, a constant sense of being watched. The locals want her to believe that these incidents are echoes of the McBrides’ dark past. Zoe is convinced the danger is closer at hand, and all too real. But can she uncover the truth before she is silenced? Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on March 19th

Below are some notable titles releasing on March 19th 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 18th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

CELTIC EMPIRE: A Dirk Pitt Novel by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler (Thriller/Adventure)
Clive Cussler sends his intrepid heroes Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino on their wildest, boldest mission into the ancient world, unlocking extraordinary secrets and solving hideous crimes.

THE ELEPHANT OF SURPRISE: A Hap and Leonard Novel by Joe R. Lansdale (Thriller)
On a chase that blows even the East Texas swampgrass back, odd-couple P.I.s Hap and Leonard must save a woman whose had her tongue nearly cut out and vanquish her foes, before the foes get them first.

THE FIFTH DOCTRINE by Karen Robards (Thriller)
With her back against the wall, everything’s on the line for Bianca St. Ives. She’s either going to save the world --- or die trying.

INSPECTION by Josh Malerman (Psychological Thriller)
Boys are being trained at one school for geniuses, girls at another. Neither knows the other exists --- until now.

THE LAST YEAR OF THE WAR by Susan Meissner (Historical Fiction)
From the acclaimed author of SECRETS OF A CHARMED LIFE and AS BRIGHT AS HEAVEN comes a novel about a German American teenager whose life changes forever when her immigrant family is sent to an internment camp during World War II.

MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE by Siri Hustvedt (Fiction)
A provocative, exuberant novel about time, memory, desire and the imagination, MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE tells the story of a young Midwestern woman’s first year in New York City in the late 1970s and her obsession with her mysterious neighbor, Lucy Brite.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: The New Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 Years Old written by Hendrik Groen, translated by Hester Velmans (Fiction)
In the acclaimed follow-up to the number-one international bestseller THE SECRET DIARY OF HENDRIK GROEN, everyone's favorite curmudgeon is back and as funny and charming as ever with the newest adventures of the Old-But-Not-Dead Club.

THE PARADE by Dave Eggers (Fiction)
From the bestselling author of THE MONK OF MOKHA and THE CIRCLE comes a taut, suspenseful story of two foreigners' role in a nation's fragile peace.

QUEENIE by Candice Carty-Williams (Fiction)
BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY meets AMERICANAH in this disarmingly honest, boldly political and truly inclusive novel that will speak to anyone who has gone looking for love and found something very different in its place.

RADICALIZED by Cory Doctorow (Science Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Cory Doctorow, RADICALIZED is four urgent sci-fi novellas of America's present and future within one book.

RUN AWAY by Harlan Coben (Thriller)
A perfect family is shattered in RUN AWAY, the new thriller from the master of domestic suspense, Harlan Coben.

Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.

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You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!

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