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Latest Update on Our GoFundMe Campaign
to Expand The Book Report Network:
$29,605 Raised --- Let's Get to $30,000!
Thank you to those of you who already have donated to our GoFundMe campaign. So far we have raised $29,605 of our $50,000 goal, with online donations and checks. We are sooooo close to $30,000; help us get there!
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 couple of messages we received recently:
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Mary Beth Keane was a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” Thursday night.
Her latest novel, ASK AGAIN, YES, is this year’s “Tonight Show” Summer Reads pick
and a Bets On selection. You can watch the interview by clicking on the image above.
Our latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview features Marjan Kamali, whose new novel,
THE STATIONERY SHOP, is a Bets On pick and one of Carol's favorite books of the year.
Click on the image above to see the interview.
Carol is reading and enjoying THE DESERTER by Nelson DeMille and his son, Alex DeMille.
It is the first in a trilogy and releases on October 22nd.
Carol is having fun listening to Katherine Center's THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE,
read by Therese Plummer, which is now available.
Carol previews next week's Summer Reading contests, our final four giveaways of the year.
Carol loves these pink hibiscus plants. The flowers last approximately 24 hours, but they are stunning.
It’s been a super busy week. Yesterday was National Relaxation Day; let’s just say that I did not observe, except for the hour or so when I was in yoga class. For the record, who thinks of these random holidays? I missed Book Lovers Day last week. No one told me in advance. I have enough trouble remembering the holidays that there are cards for, let alone the ones that there are memes for.
Last night, I stayed up to watch Mary Beth Keane on "The Tonight Show." As you may remember, her book ASK AGAIN, YES is the "Tonight Show" Summer Reads pick. But, hey, before Jimmy Fallon announced the news, I had shared that it was one of my favorite books of 2019 and a Bets On selection. I loved seeing her talk about it with Jimmy. I snagged the photo of the two of them above from her publisher, Scribner, and you can see the interview here in case you went to sleep early...you know, in honor of National Relaxation Day!
I am happy to share our latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Marjan Kamali, who is the author of THE STATIONERY SHOP. This is another favorite book of 2019 and a Bets On pick as well. Marjan and I met for the first time the day of this interview, but we meandered from topic to topic like we had known each other forever. I learned so much about Iran in the 1950s, which is at the heart of this story. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with her, and I hope you enjoy watching the interview. Those who I have recommended this book to have been calling and writing to tell me how special they found it to be.
In a book group? Here I share a video where I talk about what we are bringing you this month on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
By the way, we now have a plan that we will be posting videos about what to expect each Friday in the "On Sale This Week" newsletter on Tuesdays, as well as on Facebook and YouTube. If you are not subscribed to our "On Sale This Week" newsletter, you can sign up here.
As part of our expansion of The Book Report Network, we are excited about launching our new "Bookreporter Talks To" podcast, where we will be interviewing authors about their latest books. We are at the point where we are selecting logo art for the podcast. See below where there are three color selections for you to weigh in on!
Last week, I mentioned that I wanted to know how Megan Goldin, who wrote about Wall Street in THE ESCAPE ROOM, knew it so well as she was an overseas correspondent, and not connected to the financial world --- and now lives in Australia. I reached out to her, and she shared this:
“Well, when I lived in Singapore, there were a couple of investment banks in my office buildings and quite a lot of bankers living in my apartment complex. I have to admit that I am a bit of a people watcher and conversation listener in elevators, so I absorbed quite a lot from those interactions. In addition, I read whatever I could about that world and then went onto investment banker and Wall Street broker forums and social media feeds and trawled through thousands of conversations and comments until I had a pretty good sense of what their life was like. In addition, I have friends who worked at banks. Over the years they used to tell me about the office politics, especially all the fun and games around bonus time. So that helped too. I quite enjoy going out of my comfort zone when I write and immersing myself in unfamiliar worlds, which is why I enjoyed writing THE ESCAPE ROOM.”
I love when I can reach out to an author and get my questions answered like that! I know this book was trending on Word of Mouth a few weeks ago, so any of you with the same question, there is your answer!
I am reading THE DESERTER by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille. This is the first book that the father/son duo has written together, and I am enjoying it enormously. It’s set in Venezuela, and since I know very little about that part of the world beyond the headlines in the news, I feel like I am getting a real education about a place where there has been so much strife in the last decade. Their two new characters, Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, are terrific, and I am happy to learn that this is the first of a trilogy featuring them. Here is a piece about Nelson and Alex writing together.
I am listening to THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE by Katherine Center, which is read by Therese Plummer. Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter. She is used to running to danger, but right now she is in a place where she is less than comfortable. Yes, she is still a firefighter, but she is not with the crew she loves in Austin, Texas. Instead, she is taking care of her mom in Massachusetts, the mom who left her on her birthday when she was a teen. Her new fire company is nothing like the guys she left in Texas, but there is a rookie and...well, let’s just say, when she sees him, the sparks she sees have nothing to do with fire. It’s a fun listen.
Téa Obreht’s highly anticipated new novel, INLAND, is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection. It’s been eight years since the release of Obreht’s award-winning debut, the international bestseller THE TIGER’S WIFE. Now she’s back with a story that subverts and reimagines the myths of the American West. In the lawless, drought-ridden lands of the Arizona Territory in 1893, an unexpected relationship forms between a frontierswoman awaiting the return of the men in her life and a former outlaw who is haunted by ghosts --- lost souls who want something from him.
Sarah Rachel Egelman has our review and calls it "a masterful novel, drawing on the grand traditions of the western genre and expressing universal emotions. And yet, Obreht delivers a unique tale full of surprises, elegance and artistry." We also have the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com, which you can check out here. For all of those who think writing is easy, read this piece by Téa, titled "'I Put 1,400 Pages in the Trash.' THE TIGER'S WIFE Author Téa Obreht on Killing Two Books to Create Her New Novel."
Barnes & Noble will be selling a special Exclusive Book Club Edition of INLAND, along with hosting a free Book Club Night to discuss it, in stores across the country on Tuesday, September 10th at 7pm local time. Click here to sign up for the event.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include C. J. Box’s new thriller, THE BITTERROOTS, which marks the return of former sheriff’s investigator Cassie Dewell in a novel of loyalty, lies and lethal retribution; THE DEARLY BELOVED, Cara Wall’s debut that follows two couples through decades of love and friendship, jealousy and understanding, forgiveness and commitment --- all set against the backdrop of turbulent changes facing New York City and their church’s congregation (this will be a Bets On pick; see why in next week’s newsletter); THE WOMEN OF THE COPPER COUNTRY, a historical novel from Mary Doria Russell about “America’s Joan of Arc” Annie Clements, the courageous woman who started a rebellion by leading a strike against the largest copper mining company in the world; and THE SWALLOWS by Lisa Lutz, in which a teacher at a New England prep school ignites a gender war with deadly consequences.
Our Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest for William Kent Krueger’s new stand-alone effort, THIS TENDER LAND, continues for one more week. Fans of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, BEFORE WE WERE YOURS and ORPHAN TRAIN will want to check out this wonderful, atmospheric novel about four orphans on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression. This soon-to-be Bets On selection (which will be the #1 Indie Next pick for September) doesn’t release until September 3rd, but we have 35 copies to give away to those who would like to read and comment on the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 22nd at noon ET.
Please note: Due to a technical glitch, we did not receive any contest entries for THIS TENDER LAND from Thursday, August 8th through the morning of Monday, August 12th. So if you submitted an entry during that time, may we ask that you resubmit your entry? We would not want you to miss out on this opportunity, and we apologize for the inconvenience!
My three latest Bets On picks are THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware; the audio version of Richard Russo’s CHANCES ARE…, read by Fred Sanders; and the aforementioned THE ESCAPE ROOM by Megan Goldin. Click on each of the titles for my commentary.
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away FEARED by Lisa Scottoline, THE LAST HOUSE GUEST by Megan Miranda (this month’s Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick), THE OYSTERVILLE SEWING CIRCLE by Susan Wiggs, and THE WINEMAKER'S WIFE by Kristin Harmel. These contests wrap up next week with our final four giveaways: DEAD SILENCE: A Foundlings Novel by Wendy Corsi Staub, the aforementioned THE DEARLY BELOVED by Cara Wall, PRETTY GUILTY WOMEN by Gina LaManna, and TIDELANDS by Philippa Gregory. The first contest of the week will go live on Monday, August 19th at noon ET.
Over on ReadingGroupGuides.com, we’re giving away 12 paperback copies of THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM to three book groups in our latest “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest. Marie Benedict’s novel, which was a Bets On pick earlier this year, revolves around screen star Hedy Lamarr, who you may not know was also a scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication. To enter the contest, please fill out the form on this page by Monday, September 9th at noon ET. Also, be sure to check out our review, my Bets On commentary and the discussion guide.
Our poll continues to ask which of 25 fiction titles releasing in August you are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes. I love seeing what you are excited about. I peek in at the results a few times a day.
Our current Word of Mouth prizes are THE LAST WIDOW by Karin Slaughter and OLD BONES by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, both of which we’re reviewing next week. Let us know by Friday, August 23rd at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win these highly anticipated thrillers.
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 be in the running to win the audio versions of Laura Lippman's LADY IN THE LAKE, read by Susan Bennett, and Daniel Silva's THE NEW GIRL, read by George Guidall. Please do so by Tuesday, September 3rd at noon ET.
The nominees for this year’s Anthony Awards were announced yesterday. Among them are NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney (Best Novel), a Bets On pick; MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Best First Novel); and IF I DIE TONIGHT by Alison Gaylin (Best Paperback Original Novel). Click here for all the finalists. The winners will be announced on November 2nd at the 50th annual Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Linda wrote this about NEVER HAVE I EVER: “Thank you so much for my copy! I just finished it, and it was a fabulous read! Will post! I have followed Bookreporter since it was a new newsletter on AOL! Love you all.” Linda, thank YOU for being a longtime reader.
Pat won THE GOLDEN HOUR and SUMMER OF ’69 in our Word of Mouth contest. She shared, "I was thrilled to win those two novels. There is a check donation and a thank you in the mail. Thank you so very much.” Thank YOU, Pat!
Susi wrote this about my gazpacho recipe: “The only thing missing from the pitcher of gazpacho was the vodka and a celery stick stirrer.”
J.D. Salinger Goes Digital: For years, the estate of J.D. Salinger would not allow his work to be made into e-books. They now joined the digital revolution.
Where Libraries are the Tourist Attractions: "In the past few years dozens have opened across the world, resembling nothing like the book-depot versions from the past." Read this very interesting article here.
How to Read 200 Books a Year: Okay, 500 pages a day may be a lot for many people, but 200 books in a year would be really cool!
The Little Women movie will be out at Christmas: You can see the trailer here. Meryl Streep and Laura Dern are in it; I feel like "Big Little Lies" does Little Women.
"The Crown" Season 3: The third season will release on November 17th with a new cast. Watch the trailer here.
The Color Palette for 2020: The colors work with turquoise.
"Mindhunter" Season 2: It's back on Netflix tonight, and I'm ready to watch.
David Bowie: Finding Fame: This film is now available on Showtime; I want to watch this too.
Last weekend, we made this pasta recipe with eggplant called Pasta alla Norma...and yes, it’s from Ottolenghi. We actually made it twice this week.
I love the pink hibiscus plants that you see above. The flowers last just 24 hours or so, but they are stunning. Real showstoppers. I think this is the fourth year that these have bloomed.
On Monday night, I am hosting one of the book groups that I belong to here at the house; we are going to be discussing ORDINARY GRACE, William Kent Krueger’s previous stand-alone. I had raved about THIS TENDER LAND, and they wanted to read the book they already could get their hands on. I hope the weather is nice so we can sit outside. It may be so hot that we do book club IN the pool! It will be another weekend of weeding. Some of the flowers are starting to fade, and others are just coming into their own. I am most worried about mosquitoes; it’s been so wet and humid this summer that I feel like we live in the swampland.
Greg is off to Michigan for the week where he is going to be taking a nighttime photography class shooting lighthouses. He calls Michigan “The Promised Land” as it’s the most lighthouse-populous state in America, with 116. He has been to over half the 715-ish lighthouses in America, but in his words, “I am severely lacking in Western Great Lakes.” I love his traveling spirit. Cory is headed to the beach with Sam for the weekend. My parents are joining us here for dinner tomorrow night.
I am looking forward to finishing THE DESERTER and plucking another book from my ever-growing pile! And yes, there will be yoga. For humor, I bought myself soft yoga blocks as I am hoping to do yoga here at the house if I can find a program that I like to do online (suggestions, anyone?). Of course, they are turquoise!
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!
Help Us Select Our
"Bookreporter Talks To" Podcast Logo Art
As part of our expansion of The Book Report Network, we are excited about launching our new "Bookreporter Talks To" podcast, where we will be interviewing authors about their latest books.
We are at the point where we are selecting logo art for the podcast. Above are three color selections for you to weigh in on.
Vote here to let us know which you like best!
Feedback is welcome until Thursday, August 22nd at noon ET.
Featured Review: INLAND by Téa Obreht
August’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Selection
INLAND by Téa Obreht (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Anna Chlumsky and Edoardo Ballerini, with Euan Morton
In the lawless, drought-ridden lands of the Arizona Territory in 1893, two extraordinary lives collide. Nora is an unflinching frontierswoman awaiting the return of the men in her life --- her husband, who has gone in search of water for the parched household, and her elder sons, who have vanished after an explosive argument. Nora is biding her time with her youngest son, who is convinced that a mysterious beast is stalking the land around their home. Lurie is a former outlaw and a man haunted by ghosts. He sees lost souls who want something from him, and he finds reprieve from their longing in an unexpected relationship that inspires a momentous expedition across the West. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Visit the Barnes & Noble Book Club page and sign up for their free Book Club Night to discuss INLAND.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE BITTERROOTS by C. J. Box
THE BITTERROOTS by C. J. Box (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christina Delaine
Former sheriff’s investigator Cassie Dewell is asked by a friend to help exonerate a man accused of assaulting a young woman from an influential family. Against her own better judgment, Cassie agrees. But out by the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana, twisted family loyalty runs as deep as the ties to the land, and there's always something more to the story. The Kleinsassers have ruled this part of Montana for decades, and the Iron Cross Ranch is their stronghold. They want to see Blake Kleinsasser, the black sheep of the family, put away forever for the assault. As Cassie attempts to uncover the truth, she must fight against a family whose roots are tangled and deadly --- as well as the ghosts of her own past that threaten to bring her down. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE DEARLY BELOVED by Cara Wall
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE DEARLY BELOVED by Cara Wall (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kathy Keane
Charles is destined to succeed his father as an esteemed professor of history at Harvard, until an unorthodox lecture about faith leads him to ministry. How, then, can he fall in love with Lily after she tells him with certainty that she will never believe in God? James, the youngest son in a hardscrabble Chicago family, spent much of his youth angry at his alcoholic father and avoiding his anxious mother. Nan grew up in Mississippi, the devout and beloved daughter of a minister and a debutante. James' escape from his desperate circumstances leads him to Nan, and, despite his skepticism of hope in all its forms, her gentle, constant faith changes the course of his life. In THE DEARLY BELOVED, we follow these two couples through decades of love and friendship, jealousy and understanding, forgiveness and commitment. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
THE DEARLY BELOVED will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest:
THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
We have 35 copies of THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger --- a magnificent novel about four orphans on a life-changing odyssey during the early years of the Great Depression --- to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on September 3rd, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, August 22nd at noon ET.
Please note: Due to a technical glitch, we did not receive any contest entries for THIS TENDER LAND from Thursday, August 8th through the morning of Monday, August 12th. So if you submitted an entry during that time, may we ask that you resubmit your entry? We would not want you to miss out on this opportunity, and we apologize for the inconvenience!
THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger (Historical Fiction)
1932, Minnesota. The Lincoln School is a pitiless place where hundreds of Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. It is also home to an orphan named Odie O’Banion, a lively boy whose exploits earn him the superintendent’s wrath. Forced to flee, he and his brother Albert, their best friend Mose, and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi and a place to call their own.
Over the course of one unforgettable summer, these four orphans will journey into the unknown and cross paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds. With the feel of a modern classic, THIS TENDER LAND is an enthralling, big-hearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams and makes us whole.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read William Kent Krueger’s bio.
- Click here to visit William Kent Krueger’s website.
- Connect with William Kent Krueger on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
Featured Review:
THE WOMEN OF THE COPPER COUNTRY
by Mary Doria Russell
THE WOMEN OF THE COPPER COUNTRY by Mary Doria Russell (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
In July 1913, 25-year-old Annie Clements had seen enough of the world to know that it was unfair. She’s spent her whole life in the copper-mining town of Calumet, Michigan, where men risk their lives for meager salaries --- and had barely enough to put food on the table and clothes on their backs. The women labor in the houses of the elite, and send their husbands and sons deep underground each day, dreading the fateful call of the company man telling them their loved ones aren’t coming home. When Annie decides to stand up for herself, and the entire town of Calumet, nearly everyone believes she may have taken on more than she is prepared to handle. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE SWALLOWS by Lisa Lutz
THE SWALLOWS by Lisa Lutz (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Abby Elliott, Lisa Flanagan, Ari Fliakos and Michael Crouch, with Johnny Heller reading The Announcements
When Alexandra Witt joins the faculty at Stonebridge Academy, she’s hoping to put a painful past behind her. Then one of her creative writing assignments generates some disturbing responses from students. Before long, Alex is immersed in an investigation of the students atop the school’s social hierarchy --- and their connection to something called the Darkroom. She soon inspires the girls who’ve started to question the school’s “boys will be boys” attitude and incites a resistance. But just as the movement is gaining momentum, Alex attracts the attention of an unknown enemy who knows a little too much about her --- and what brought her to Stonebridge in the first place. Reviewed by Cindy Burnett.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE TURN OF THE KEY, CHANCES ARE… Audiobook
and THE ESCAPE ROOM
THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware (Psychological Thriller)
I thoroughly enjoyed THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware. When it opens, we know that a young woman is in jail, being held for having caused the death of a child. The story is told in her words as she seeks justice in her case. There is no reason for her to have committed this act, and, in fact, there is every reason for her not to have. And throughout these pages, Ruth will unfold a very solid case as to just what really happened.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE TURN OF THE KEY.
CHANCES ARE... (Audiobook) by Richard Russo (Fiction)
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Richard Russo’s CHANCES ARE..., read by Fred Sanders, via my Bluetooth headphones. This was the perfect thing to do as I worked my way through the endless weeding of our garden, and then later I enjoyed listening in the pool while floating. In it, three men who were college friends in the '60s gather on Martha’s Vineyard. One is now a commercial real estate broker, another a small press publisher, and the third an aging musician. They are reminiscing about life, including the disappearance of a woman on this island back in 1971 right after their graduation. What did happen to Jacy Rockafellow?
- Click here to read more about the audiobook.
- Click here to read a review of the print edition.
- Click here to read an excerpt from the print edition.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on CHANCES ARE...
THE ESCAPE ROOM by Megan Goldin (Psychological Thriller)
I started listening to THE ESCAPE ROOM by Megan Goldin on CD while I was running around town doing errands. I came home and plucked a copy of the galley from my shelf (my other choice was to play the CDs over our outdoor speaker system, and I could not see my music-loving husband going for that), and spent a lovely afternoon in the pool reading this fast-paced story. Before I knew it, I was 200 pages in and wrapped up reading it that same night.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE ESCAPE ROOM.
Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading
Contests and Feature
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through August 23rd, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, August 19th at noon ET.
This year’s prize books are:
Click here to read all the contest details.
See the prize books that were awarded in May, June and July,
and that will be awarded in August.
What's New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
LABYRINTH by Catherine Coulter (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Tim Campbell and Saskia Maarleveld
Agent Sherlock is driving in downtown Washington when her Volvo is suddenly T-boned at an intersection. As her car spins out of control, a man’s body slams against her windshield. No one knows yet who he is or where he is because he ran away. From DNA, they discover his name is Justice Cummings and he’s a CIA analyst at Langley. Meanwhile, Special Agent Griffin Hammersmith rescues a kidnapped woman claiming her captor had probably murdered three missing teenage girls. However, the man she accuses is the local sheriff’s nephew and a member of a very powerful family. When the sheriff arrests Griffin and the rescued woman, he calls Savich for help. Together they have to weave their way through a labyrinth of lies to find the truth of a terrible secret. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD written by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Literary Mystery/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Beata Pozniak
In a remote Polish village, Janina devotes the dark winter days to studying astrology, translating the poetry of William Blake, and taking care of the summer homes of wealthy Warsaw residents. Her reputation as a crank and a recluse is amplified by her not-so-secret preference for the company of animals over humans. Then a neighbor, Big Foot, turns up dead. Soon other bodies are discovered, in increasingly strange circumstances. As suspicions mount, Janina inserts herself into the investigation, certain that she knows whodunit. If only anyone would pay her mind. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THIRTEEN by Steve Cavanagh (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Adam Sims
It’s the murder trial of the century. And Joshua Kane has killed to get the best seat in the house --- and to be sure the wrong man goes down for the crime. Because this time, the killer isn’t on trial. He’s on the jury. But there’s someone on his tail. Former-conman-turned-criminal-defense-attorney Eddie Flynn doesn’t believe that his movie-star client killed two people. He suspects that the real killer is closer than they think. But who would guess just how close? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
HUNTER'S MOON: A Novel in Stories by Philip Caputo (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Alex Hyde-White
HUNTER’S MOON is set in Michigan’s wild, starkly beautiful Upper Peninsula, where a cast of recurring characters move into and out of each other’s lives --- building friendships, facing loss, confronting violence, trying to bury the past or seeking to unearth it. Once-a-year lovers, old high-school buddies on a hunting trip, a college professor and his wayward son, a middle-aged man and his grief-stricken father, come together, break apart and, if they’re fortunate, find a way forward. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.
ALL THE FLOWERS IN PARIS by Sarah Jio (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Kim Bubbs, Saskia Maarleveld, Mark Deakins and Cassandra Morris
When Caroline wakes up in a Paris hospital with no memory of her past, she’s confused to learn that for years she’s lived a sad, reclusive life in a sprawling apartment on the rue Cler. A budding friendship with the chef of a charming nearby restaurant takes her mind off her foggy past, as does a startling mystery from decades prior. In Nazi-occupied Paris, a young widow named Céline is trying to build a new life for her daughter. Then a ruthless German officer discovers her Jewish ancestry, and Céline is forced to play a dangerous game to secure the safety of her loved ones. When Caroline discovers Céline’s letters tucked away in a closet, she realizes that her apartment harbors dark secrets --- and that she may have more in common with Céline than she ever could have imagined. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
LOST YOU by Haylen Beck (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Abby Craden
Libby and her son, Ethan, are on a much-needed vacation. But in a moment of inattention, Ethan wanders into an elevator before Libby can reach him. When the elevator stops and the doors open, Ethan is gone. Hotel security scours the building and finds no trace of him, but when CCTV footage is found of an adult finding the child wandering alone and leading him away by the hand, the police are called in. The search intensifies, a lost child case turning into a possible abduction. Hours later, a child is seen with a woman stepping through an emergency exit. Libby and the police track the woman down and corner her, but she refuses to release Ethan. Asked who she is, the woman replies: "I'm his mother." Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE WHISPERER: An Inspector Sejer Mystery by Karin Fossum (Mystery)
Ragna Riegel is a soft-spoken woman of routines. She must have order in her life, and she does, until one day she finds a letter in her mailbox with her name on the envelope and a clear threat written in block capitals on the sheet inside. With the arrival of the letter, and eventually others like it, Ragna’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel into a nightmare. Threatened by an unknown enemy, paranoid and unable to sleep, her isolation becomes all the more extreme. Ragna’s distress does culminate in a death, but she is the perpetrator rather than the victim. THE WHISPERER shifts between Inspector Sejer’s interrogation of Ragna and the shocking events that led up to her arrest. Sejer thinks it is an open-and-shut case. But is it? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
MIAMI MIDNIGHT: A Pete Fernandez Mystery by Alex Segura (Hard-boiled Mystery)
A year has passed since Pete Fernandez’s latest, closest brush with death. After months of recovery, the newly sober Pete has managed to rebuild his life, contentedly running a small Miami bookstore and steering clear of the dangers of private-eye work. So when an aging Cuban mobster asks Pete to find out who killed his drug-addicted, jazz pianist son and to locate his missing daughter-in-law, Pete balks. Until another victim suggests that the murder of the gangster’s son may be connected to the people who nearly ended Pete’s life, while revealing an unexpected, dangerous truth about the death of the Miami PI's own mother. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 20th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 20th 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 August 19th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE COLD WAY HOME by Julia Keller (Mystery)
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Julia Keller welcomes readers back to West Virginia, where her lyrical and moving stories of the people of her native state have unfolded since A KILLING IN THE HILLS, the acclaimed first novel in the series.
THE LAST WIDOW by Karin Slaughter (Mystery/Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter brings back Will Trent and Sara Linton in this superb and timely thriller full of devious twists, disturbing secrets and shocking surprises you won’t see coming.
THE MURDER LIST by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
THE MURDER LIST is a new stand-alone suspense novel in the tradition of Lisa Scottoline and B. A. Paris from award-winning author and reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan.
OLD BONES by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Thriller)
#1 bestselling authors Preston & Child bring the true story of the ill-fated Donner Party to new life in a thrilling blend of archaeology, history, murder and suspense.
TIDELANDS by Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory turns from the glamour of the royal courts to tell the story of an ordinary woman, Alinor, who cannot bear to conform to the life that lies before her.
THE WAREHOUSE by Rob Hart (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Set in the confines of a corporate panopticon that’s at once brilliantly imagined and terrifyingly real, THE WAREHOUSE is a near-future thriller about what happens when Big Brother meets Big Business --- and who will pay the ultimate price.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: August Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in August are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO by Christy Lefteri
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A BETTER MAN: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, by Louise Penny
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THE BIRTHDAY GIRL by Melissa de la Cruz
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THE BITTERROOTS by C. J. Box
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BOTTLE GROVE by Daniel Handler
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CONTRABAND: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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A DANGEROUS MAN: An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, by Robert Crais
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THE DEARLY BELOVED by Cara Wall
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INLAND by Téa Obreht
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THE INN by James Patterson and Candice Fox
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IS THERE STILL SEX IN THE CITY? by Candace Bushnell
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THE LAST GOOD GUY by T. Jefferson Parker
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THE LAST WIDOW by Karin Slaughter
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THE MURDER LIST by Hank Phillippi Ryan
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OLD BONES by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
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OUTFOX by Sandra Brown
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THE OYSTERVILLE SEWING CIRCLE by Susan Wiggs
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THE PERFECT WIFE by JP Delaney
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THE SWALLOWS by Lisa Lutz
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TIDELANDS by Philippa Gregory
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THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware
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THE WARNING by James Patterson with Robison Wells
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THE WHISPER MAN by Alex North
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THE WINEMAKER'S WIFE by Kristin Harmel
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THE WOMEN OF THE COPPER COUNTRY by Mary Doria Russell
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, August 23rd at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from August 9th to August 23rd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE LAST WIDOW by Karin Slaughter and OLD BONES by Douglas Preston and Lincoln 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 August 1st to September 3rd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Laura Lippman's LADY IN THE LAKE, read by Susan Bennett, and Daniel Silva's THE NEW GIRL, read by George Guidall.
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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