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Thanks to Our Donors, We've Raised Over $31,000!
Thank you to those of you who already have donated to our GoFundMe campaign. We have two of our objectives in place with our "Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts, where we have interviewed more than 15 authors. So far, with online donations and checks that have been sent to our office, we have raised $31,405 of our $50,000 goal. Now it's on to getting our website redesigned to be mobile-responsive and updated. And you can help us with this next big step!
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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Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview and podcast is with Whitney Scharer,
whose debut novel, THE AGE OF LIGHT, is a Bets On pick that is now available in paperback.
Click on the photo above for the video and here for the podcast.
Carol is currently reading THE JETSETTERS by Amanda Eyre Ward (on sale February 4th)
and is listening to Carly Simon's TOUCHED BY THE SUN, read by Elizabeth McGovern.
Plus, her copy of the revised and updated JOY OF COOKING has arrived just in time for the holidays.
Last weekend, Carol put up her Christmas tree in the kitchen, which is where
she and her family seem to spend most of their time in the house.
Our reader Jen had a wonderful idea for her daughter's baby shower. She wrote, “These unique baby shower favors were made with love for my daughter. @ACustomCookie uploaded the images I sent, expertly printed them on icing sheets, with food coloring, and sent them across the country so that I could finish the homemade cookies.... The theme was children's books, and each guest was asked to write a message on the front of a favorite children's book instead of a card."
For her birthday, Carol was gifted the truffles that you see above. It's a collection of 21 “cosmic inspired” truffles that are “infused with Moldavite crystal energy and angelic vibrational frequencies.”
Well, this has been one very hectic week. First, thanks to our readers who sent me birthday wishes. I am very behind on replying, but so very grateful to all who wrote. The celebrating began Friday with a wonderful box of truffles from my friend Danielle that has been such fun to enjoy. It’s a really tasty collection of 21 “cosmic inspired” truffles that are “infused with Moldavite crystal energy and angelic vibrational frequencies.” Each truffle is paired with a detailed story about the accompanying zodiac sign and is “infused with vibrations from the Earth.” It’s totally woo-woo and completely fun, as well as delicious. Cory, Sam, Tom and I did a tasting ceremony last weekend; Greg is allergic to tree nuts, so there were no arguments about who was going to eat Aquarius!
On Sunday, I got an email that the internet was down at the office. I did not give it much thought and assumed it would be up by Monday morning. Optimistic me. It ends up there had been a fire in a manhole, and the internet cables for many blocks on our avenue in the city had been fried. It took until the end of the day Tuesday for everything to be fixed. So, during one of our busiest weeks of the year, everyone was working from home hitting deadlines. I am grateful to our amazing staff that this update has been accomplished!
Jani, one of our readers, gave me a great suggestion for candles for the windows. There are some that turn themselves on from dusk to dawn. We ordered them for the hard-to-reach windows. One is in the bedroom. I went to sleep one night with it in the window and thought it looked really pretty. Cue 4am when it looked like a lighthouse beacon flashing in the night! I am the kind of person who needs absolute darkness to sleep (even a full moon like last night can be challenging), so the candle was paraded out of the room like the Olympic torch. New solution to come! Jani also told me about some candles that you can program to be eight hours on and 16 off. I am going to seek out those.
In the midst of all of this madness, I saw that one of our readers had a great idea for her daughter’s baby shower (you can see the photo above). Jen wrote, “These unique baby shower favors were made with love for my daughter. @ACustomCookie uploaded the images I sent, expertly printed them on icing sheets, with food coloring, and sent them across the country so that I could finish the homemade cookies.” She went on to say, “Of course, 'Love You Forever' is not only an iconic classic but also your colors! The theme was children's books, and each guest was asked to write a message on the front of a favorite children's book instead of a card. A book is a gift you can open again and again.” I LOVE this idea!
Our latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview and podcast is with Whitney Scharer. We had a wonderful time discussing her debut novel, THE AGE OF LIGHT, a Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. It tells the story of renowned photographer Lee Miller and her transformations as a model, artist and inventor. I talked to Whitney about the iconic stories for which Lee is known, the inspiration that artists can find in the life that Lee led, and some of Whitney's own adventures. You can watch the video here and listen to the podcast here. And be sure to check out these links: our review, my Bets On commentary and the book group discussion guide.
In between way, way too much holiday prep, I am enjoying reading THE JETSETTERS by Amanda Eyre Ward, which releases on February 4th. Don’t you love that cover? And I am listening to TOUCHED BY THE SUN: My Friendship with Jackie by Carly Simon, narrated by Elizabeth McGovern. It has made my crazy commute, which gets even nuttier over the holidays, a lot more pleasant! My copy of the updated JOY OF COOKING arrived this week. I am trying to decide what to cook first. Anyone have the new book and have a suggestion?
Among this week’s reviews are TWISTED TWENTY-SIX by Janet Evanovich, which poses the question: How far will Stephanie Plum go to protect the one person who means the most to her?; GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER, the co-winner of this year’s Man Booker Prize (with Margaret Atwood’s THE TESTAMENTS), whose author, Bernardine Evaristo, is the first black woman to receive this highest literary honor in the English language; GENESIS, a new medical thriller from Robin Cook, who takes on the ripped-from-the-headlines topic of harnessing DNA from ancestry websites to catch a killer; and THE WICKED REDHEAD, the sequel to Beatriz Williams’ 2017 novel, THE WICKED CITY, another Jazz Age tale of rumrunners, double crosses and true love. We posted a discussion guide of THE WICKED REDHEAD on ReadingGroupGuides.com, which you can take a look at here. And if you missed my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Beatriz, click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
There’s plenty of time to enter our End-of-the-Year Contest, which we launched last week. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 52(!) of my Bets On picks from 2019, while 13 other winners will receive a selection of four of these titles. Here are just a few of the books you could win: THE LAST HOUSE GUEST by Megan Miranda, LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly, MISTRESS OF THE RITZ by Melanie Benjamin, OUT OF THE DARK: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz, and THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, January 6th at noon ET. Reminder: Please enter just once; we will be tossing all duplicate entries before we select winners!
I am happy to announce that our Holiday Author Blogs are back for a 12th year! Once again, authors are sharing their favorite bookish holiday memories with us. So far, we’ve heard from Karen White (THE CHRISTMAS SPIRITS ON TRADD STREET), Kim Michele Richardson (THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK), Wendy Wax (MY EX-BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING), and Sarah McCoy (MARILLA OF GREEN GABLES). Next week, be on the lookout for pieces from Alena Dillon (MERCY HOUSE), Marjan Kamali (THE STATIONERY SHOP), Jean Kwok (SEARCHING FOR SYLVIE LEE), and Liz Moore (LONG BRIGHT RIVER). I love these very thoughtful pieces and thank the authors for their brilliant contributions.
Our Holiday Cheer contests wrapped up this week with our final two giveaways: THE GLITTERING HOUR by Iona Grey (which we review this week) and the aforementioned THE STATIONERY SHOP by Marjan Kamali (a Bets On pick). Many thanks to all of you who participated in these contests, and congratulations to the winners!
Note that our next series of 24-hour contests will be our Winter Reading feature, which kicks off on Friday, January 10th. A Special Preview newsletter will be sent on Monday, January 13th, and our first contest is scheduled to go up the following day. You can sign up for the Winter Reading newsletter here.
On ReadingGroupGuides.com, we’re giving readers the opportunity to share their favorite book that they read with their group this year and their favorite book that they read outside their group. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded six novels releasing in 2020: AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins, A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD by Therese Anne Fowler, LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict, the aforementioned LONG BRIGHT RIVER by Liz Moore, THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire by Allison Pataki, and SAINT X by Alexis Schaitkin. I loved them all, and I think each would make for a terrific book group discussion. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, February 3rd at noon ET. We will share our reader-compiled "Best Of" list with you in early February.
And speaking of A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, please keep in mind our special audiobook contest on ReadingGroupGuides for Therese Anne Fowler’s upcoming novel, which releases on March 10th and will be a Bets On pick. Fifty readers will win up to 12 advance digital copies of the audiobook, read by Adenrele Ojo, for their book group. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, January 2nd at noon ET. You can check out the discussion guide here and listen to a clip from the audiobook here.
Our current Word of Mouth prizes are CRISS CROSS by James Patterson and JUST WATCH ME by Jeff Lindsay. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, December 20th at noon ET, and you’ll have a chance to win both these thrillers.
Let us know about the audiobooks you’ve listened to in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest, and you’ll be in the running to win the audio versions of Michael Crichton and Daniel H. Wilson’s THE ANDROMEDA EVOLUTION, read by Julia Whelan, and Bernard Cornwell’s SWORD OF KINGS, read by Matt Bates. Be sure to enter by Thursday, January 2nd at noon ET.
Our poll continues to ask if you’re planning to give books as gifts this holiday season. Click here to let us know!
On Tuesday, the winners of the 11th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards were announced in 20 categories. Among them are the aforementioned THE TESTAMENTS by Margaret Atwood (Fiction), which received the highest total number of votes in any category (98,291); THE SILENT PATIENT by Alex Michaelides (Mystery & Thriller); DAISY JONES & THE SIX (Historical Fiction); THE INSTITUTE by Stephen King (Horror); THE FIVE: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper (History & Biography); and WILL MY CAT EAT MY EYEBALLS?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death by Caitlin Doughty (Science & Technology). Click here for all the winners.
News & Pop Culture:
Reader Mail:
Helen, who won copies of THE CONFESSION CLUB and A MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT in our Word of Mouth contest, wrote, “Carol, thanks so much. I'm looking forward to reading and sharing with my book club. Happy Holidays!"
Mary, who won a contest, wrote,” Thank you so much for the book! I’ve been entering your contests for years, but this is the first time I’ve won. What a nice Christmas surprise!”
Kat won A MRS. MIRACLE CHRISTMAS in our Holiday Cheer contest and wrote, "How exciting, thanks ever so much! I can hardly wait for it to arrive. Thanks so much.”
Here are some of December’s recently announced book club picks:
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Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine: Denise Mina’s latest thriller, CONVICTION, which we reviewed this summer.
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Jenna Bush Hager’s “Today” show book club, #ReadWithJenna: Margaret Renkl’s essay collection, LATE MIGRATIONS: A Natural History of Love and Loss.
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"Good Morning America's" "Cover to Cover": CHILDREN OF VIRTUE AND VENGEANCE, the sequel to Tomi Adeyemi's YA debut, CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE, the first book in her Legacy of Orïsha trilogy.
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Target Book Club: FINDING DOROTHY by Elizabeth Letts, which is now available in paperback. We reviewed the book earlier this year when it came out in hardcover.
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Costco's Pennie’s Pick: THE AMBASSADOR'S DAUGHTER by Pam Jenoff, which we reviewed when it originally released in 2013.
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PBS NewsHour-New York Times “Now Read This”: CIRCE by Madeline Miller, a #1 New York Times bestseller that appeared on countless “Best of the Year” lists in 2018. Click here for our review.
Marriage Story: It’s nominated for a number of Golden Globes. I thought it had great moments, but it was uneven. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are strong in their roles, but I feel like they could have been better if they went off script and were a bit more natural. I know that sounds crazy, but their chemistry was that good.
"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel": I am three episodes in; it’s fun, but I think this season could be sharper. I am not dashing to finish the season. I inhaled season one, but felt the start of season two was a disappointment that then rallied. Hoping that happens here, too!
Morning Brew Tip: My favorite biz newsletter covering Wall Street to Silicon Valley had this on “Tech Tip Tuesday: When you send someone an iMessage with the airline and flight number (DL2371), it becomes a hyperlink they can use to check on the status of your flight. It apparently works for USPS tracking numbers, too.” This can come in handy this time of year. I have to see if something like that will work on Android.
"The Stranger": This miniseries based on Harlan Coben's novel of the same name is coming to Netflix on January 30th.
I got lots of decorating done last weekend, including putting up a tree in the kitchen, because the reality is that we spend more time in the kitchen than any place else. And even when we entertain, everyone seems to gather there. In more holiday news, I have managed to lose the turquoise tinsel tree. I put it away in March in a really safe place; now if only I could remember where that is!
We have friends coming to dinner tomorrow night, so all the Christmas dishes are out. I still have done zero shopping. I have some knitting projects to do for holidays gifts. The kitchen floor has amaryllis plants growing in pots. Baking for the team at my parking garage is this weekend; next weekend for family and friends.
I am sure everyone is finding themselves with similar holiday lists. I am vowing to enjoy myself and stay in the moment. Next Friday, I’ll let you know how that works out for me. Let me know how you are staying calm and bright this holiday season!
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping --- including your holiday 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: TWISTED TWENTY-SIX
by Janet Evanovich
TWISTED TWENTY-SIX: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Lorelei King
Grandma Mazur has decided to get married again --- this time to a local gangster named Jimmy Rosolli. If Stephanie has her doubts about this marriage, she doesn't have to worry for long, because the groom drops dead of a heart attack 45 minutes after saying "I do." A sad day for Grandma Mazur turns into something far more dangerous when Jimmy's former "business partners" are convinced that his new widow is keeping the keys to a financial windfall all to herself. But the one thing these wise guys didn't count on was the widow's bounty hunter granddaughter, who will do anything to save her. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER by Bernardine Evaristo
Co-winner of the 2019 Man Booker Prize
GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER by Bernardine Evaristo (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Anna-Maria Nabirye
Bernardine Evaristo is the winner of the 2019 Booker Prize and the first black woman to receive this highest literary honor in the English language. GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER is a magnificent portrayal of the intersections of identity, and a moving and hopeful story of an interconnected group of Black British women that paints a vivid portrait of the state of contemporary Britain and looks back to the legacy of Britain’s colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean. From a nonbinary social media influencer to a 93-year-old woman living on a farm in Northern England, these unforgettable characters also intersect in shared aspects of their identities, from age to race to sexuality to class. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE WICKED REDHEAD by Beatriz Williams
THE WICKED REDHEAD: A Wicked City Novel by Beatriz Williams (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Dara Rosenberg and Julie McKay
It’s 1924, and Ginger Kelly has fled south to safety in the company of disgraced Prohibition agent Oliver Anson Marshall and her newly orphaned young sister, Patsy. But then Marshall is reinstated to the agency with suspicious haste and put to work patrolling for rumrunners on the high seas, from which he promptly disappears. Gin hurries north to rescue him, only to be trapped in an agonizing moral quandary by Marshall’s desperate mother. It’s 1998, and Ella Dommerich has finally settled into her new life in Greenwich Village, inside the same apartment where a certain redheaded flapper lived long ago. Ella is eager to piece together the history of the mysterious Gin Kelly, whose only physical trace is a series of rare vintage photograph cards for which she modeled before she disappeared. Reviewed by Rebecca Wasniak.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Beatriz Williams.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read our review.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win Our End-of-the-Year Celebration,
Featuring All 52 "Bets On" Titles from 2019
We are thrilled to announce a very special contest featuring Carol Fitzgerald’s Bookreporter.com Bets On picks from 2019. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 52 books, while 13 other winners will receive a selection of four of these titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, January 6th at noon ET.
Here are this year's Bookreporter.com Bets On titles:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's Holiday Author Blogs:
Authors Write About Their Favorite Holiday Memories
of Giving or Receiving Books
This week marks the return of our Holiday Author Blogs, which we’ve brought back for a 12th consecutive year. From now through December 20th, we will feature a new blog post from an author each weekday talking about the books that she has given and/or received during the holidays.
So far, we have heard from Karen White (THE CHRISTMAS SPIRITS ON TRADD STREET), Kim Michele Richardson (THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK), Wendy Wax (MY EX-BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING), and Sarah McCoy (MARILLA OF GREEN GABLES).
Still to come are contributions from Alena Dillon (MERCY HOUSE), Marjan Kamali (THE STATIONERY SHOP), Jean Kwok (SEARCHING FOR SYLVIE LEE), and Liz Moore (LONG BRIGHT RIVER).
Click here to read Bookreporter.com's 2019 Holiday Author Blogs.
Bookreporter.com's Holiday Cheer Feature:
Books You Want to Wrap and Unwrap
At Bookreporter.com, we've been celebrating the holiday season in style with our Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature. As our gift to you, we've been spotlighting a book and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it.
Although the contests have ended, we encourage you to take a look at this year's featured titles. These are books you'll want to read during the holidays --- and throughout the year as well!
- Click here to see the winners of this year's Holiday Cheer contests.
Click here to see our Holiday Cheer feature.
Featured Review: GENESIS by Robin Cook
GENESIS by Robin Cook (Medical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by George Guidall
When the body of social worker Kera Jacobsen shows up on Chief New York City Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery's autopsy table, at first it appears she was the victim of a drug overdose. But Kera's family and friends swear she never touched drugs. And although Kera was 10 weeks pregnant, nobody seems to know who the father was --- or whether he holds the key to Kera's final moments alive. As a medical emergency temporarily sidelines Laurie, her new pathology resident, Dr. Aria Nichols, turns to a controversial new technique: using genealogic DNA databases to track down those who don't want to be found. But when Kera's closest friend and fellow social worker is murdered, the need for answers becomes even more urgent. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: IF YOU TELL by Gregg Olsen
IF YOU TELL: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Karen Peakes
After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now. For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
In late August, we launched “Bookreporter Talks To,” a video and podcast series where we deliver a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, I have moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal --- to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
By the way, this follows a long history of The Book Report Network delivering compelling programming to readers. Back in 1997, the company hosted the first online interview with John Grisham, which started a tradition of ongoing interviews with authors.
Authors interviewed to date include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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William Kent Krueger (THIS TENDER LAND)
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Cara Wall (THE DEARLY BELOVED)
Watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews and listen to our podcasts.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently have three contests running on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Special Contest: Share Your Favorite Books of 2019 --- and Enter to Win Six Great Book Group Titles Coming Out in 2020!
This is the time of year when everyone is posting “Best Books of the Year” lists. We would like you and your book group to help us compile ours! Click here to share both your favorite book that you read with your group this year and your favorite book that you read outside your group by Monday, February 3rd at noon ET. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded six great book group titles releasing in 2020: AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins, A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD by Therese Anne Fowler, LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict, LONG BRIGHT RIVER by Liz Moore, THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire by Allison Pataki, and SAINT X by Alexis Schaitkin.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Win 12 Copies of HOUSE ON FIRE by Bonnie Kistler for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month" contest, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Our latest prize book is HOUSE ON FIRE by Bonnie Kistler, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. This tightly wound and suspenseful novel is 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. Enter here by Wednesday, January 8th at noon ET.
Special Contest: Win Up to 12 Advance Digital Copies of the Audiobook Edition of Therese Anne Fowler's A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD for Your Group
ReadingGroupGuides.com is proud to host a very special audiobook contest for A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD by Therese Anne Fowler, an upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that examines the American dream through the lens of two families living side by side in an idyllic neighborhood, and the one summer that changes their lives irrevocably. Fifty book groups will win up to 12 advance digital copies of the audiobook, which is read by Adenrele Ojo and releases on March 10th. Enter here by Thursday, January 2nd at noon ET.
Here are our latest featured guides:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
BRYANT & MAY: THE LONELY HOUR: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery by Christopher Fowler (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Tim Goodman
When a man is found hanging upside down inside a willow tree on Hampstead Heath, surrounded by a baffling assortment of occult objects, the Peculiar Crimes Unit is called in to investigate. Was this a botched satanic ritual pulled off by bored teenagers, a gang initiation, or the work of a mastermind with grander intentions? Bryant and May set off in search of answers. When another body is pulled from the river at dawn, it becomes clear that a killer lurks in the night. To catch him, the PCU switches to graveyard shifts, but the team still comes up short. As they explore a night city where the normal rules do not apply, they’re drawn deeper into a case that involves murder, arson, kidnapping, blackmail, loneliness and bats. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE GLITTERING HOUR by Iona Grey (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Imogen Church
Selina Lennox is a Bright Young Thing. Her life is a whirl of parties and drinking, pursued by the press and staying on just the right side of scandal, all while running from the life her parents would choose for her. Lawrence Weston is a penniless painter who stumbles into Selina's orbit one night and can never let her go, even while knowing someone of her stature could never end up with someone of his. Except Selina falls hard for Lawrence, envisioning a life of true happiness. But when tragedy strikes, Selina finds herself choosing what's safe over what's right. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
THE BROKEN ROAD: George Wallace and a Daughter's Journey to Reconciliation by Peggy Wallace Kennedy with Justice H. Mark Kennedy (Memoir)
Former governor of Alabama and presidential candidate George Wallace was notorious for his hateful rhetoric and political stunts. At the end of his life, he came to renounce his views, although he could never attempt to fully repair the damage he caused. But after her own political awakening, his daughter, Peggy Wallace Kennedy, dedicated her life to spreading the new Wallace message --- one of peace and compassion. In her new memoir, Peggy looks back on the politics of her youth and attempts to reconcile her adored father with the man who coined the phrase “Segregation now. Segregation tomorrow. Segregation forever.” Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: A TIME FOR MURDER by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Laural Merlington
Young Jessica Fletcher's life couldn't be more ordinary. She teaches at the local high school while she and her loving husband, Frank, are raising their nephew, Grady, together. But when the beloved principal dies under mysterious circumstances, Jessica knows something is off and, for the very first time, investigates a death. Present-day Jessica returns to high school for a colleague's retirement party and has fun seeing familiar faces. That is, until the colleague winds up dead --- and his death has mysterious links to Jessica's very first murder case. With nothing but her own instincts to guide her, Jessica embarks on a quest to find out what really happened all those years ago and who's behind these murders. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
SIDNEY LUMET: A Life by Maura Spiegel (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Mulligan
Acclaimed as the ultimate New York movie director, Sidney Lumet began his astonishing five-decades-long directing career with the now classic 12 Angry Men, followed by such landmark films as Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon and Network. His remarkably varied output included award-winning adaptations of plays by Anton Chekhov, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and Eugene O’Neill, whose Long Day’s Journey into Night featured Katharine Hepburn and Ralph Richardson in their most devastating performances. With the help of exclusive interviews with family, colleagues and friends, author Maura Spiegel provides a vibrant portrait of the life and work of this extraordinary director whose influence is felt through generations. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT by Burt Solomon (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Paul Heitsch
Theodore Roosevelt had been president for less than a year when on a tour in New England his horse-drawn carriage was broadsided by an electric trolley. TR was thrown clear, but his Secret Service bodyguard was killed instantly. The trolley’s motorman pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the matter was quietly put to rest. But was it an accident or an assassination attempt…and would there be another “accident” soon? THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT casts this event in a darker light. John Hay, the Secretary of State, finds himself in pursuit of a would-be assassin, investigating the motives of TR’s many enemies, including political rivals and the industrial trusts. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
Our Latest Poll: Giving Books for the Holidays
Are you planning to give books as gifts this holiday season? Please check all that apply.
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Yes, I am planning to give print books (hardcovers and/or paperbacks).
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Yes, I am planning to give e-books.
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Yes, I am planning to give audiobooks.
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Yes, I am planning to give a gift card that will allow the recipient to buy a print book, e-book or audiobook.
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No, I am not planning to give any books or book gift cards this year.
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I am not sure what I am doing.
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Other (Please specify)
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, December 20th 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 December 6th to December 20th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of CRISS CROSS by James Patterson and JUST WATCH ME by Jeff Lindsay.
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 December 2nd to January 2nd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Michael Crichton and Daniel H. Wilson’s THE ANDROMEDA EVOLUTION, read by Julia Whelan, and Bernard Cornwell’s SWORD OF KINGS, read by Matt Bates.
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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