January 10, 2020

January 10, 2020

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Latest Update on Our GoFundMe Campaign

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 $31,700 of our $50,000 goal. Seven donations came in just this week. 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:

Barbara: "I love everything about Bookreporter --- the newsletters, the giveaways, the reviews, the recommendations! I've seen Carol interview authors, and she always does an amazing job. Thanks for everything you do for readers."

Connie: "I enjoy the newsletters and have really enjoyed the books I have won in the contests."

You can read more about our plans and donate here. If you would rather donate via check, our address is:

The Book Report, Inc.
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Thank you again for your consideration and your donation.

  Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview and podcast is with William Kent Krueger, whose current bestseller is THIS TENDER LAND, which released in September and was a Bets On pick.
Click on the photo above for the video and here for the podcast.

Carol recently read Allison Pataki's upcoming book, THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE:
A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire,
which is on sale February 11th and will be a Bets On pick.

Over the break, Carol read HOLLYWOOD PARK, a memoir by Mikel Jollett.
It will be a Bets On pick shortly after its May 5th publication.

Liz Moore (LONG BRIGHT RIVER) and Allison Pataki (THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE)
stopped by the office this week to talk about their latest books.
We will post Liz's interview on January 15th and Allison's interview on February 12th.

Carol talks about this week's Bookreporter update in our latest promo video.

Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, It’s Back to Work We Go!

Well, after a couple of weeks of holiday festivities where I knew my days of the week by the time of day that I went to yoga class, we are back to our usual routine. I feel like this week has been at least two weeks long as it’s been so very busy. But with all good things! We are off to a rip-roaring start to the year. 

Last weekend, before I headed back to the office, I completely organized my “work” bookshelves at the house. All the books that I had hoped to read in 2019, but did not have time to get to, were moved to a hallway bookshelf; there are three shelves of these gems that I will get to at some point. Upcoming galleys were organized by month and tagged on their spines, and are neatly shelved on five shelves. The rest of the shelves are old favorites that I love, or older books that I would love to have a chance to read.

Whew, I am so very happy to have this long-term project done. I still have 20 boxes of files that I brought home when we moved our office 2 1/2 years ago, but I have told myself I will do a box a week. Um, let’s see how that goes. For the moment, I am feeling bookshelf joy!

I was happy to come back and interview two authors this week…and to share a previously taped interview with a third author.

First, I loved LONG BRIGHT RIVER by Liz Moore and was so happy that she was in town for her tour and was able to come by to be interviewed on Tuesday. We talked about her inspiration for the book, the origin of the title, the opioid crisis and lots more. We will be bringing you this interview next Wednesday. It’s my first Bookreporter Bets On title for the year, and I will share my commentary about why I loved it next week.

Here’s how the publisher sums up this intriguing novel, which is this month's “Good Morning America” Book Club pick: “Two sisters travel the same streets, though their lives couldn't be more different. Then one of them goes missing.” The book alternates its present-day mystery with the story of the once-inseparable sisters' childhood and adolescence. Norah Piehl has our review and says, "Moore delivers plenty of twists and turns in what proves to be a truly suspenseful mystery plot, but ultimately it’s the relationship between the sisters --- not to mention Mickey’s evolving self-awareness about what she wants for herself and her young son --- that will keep readers on the edge of their seat."

In a book group? If so, you can click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com. Which reminds me, there is one more thing to note about this book. Elisabeth Egan recently started writing for the New York Times. She previously had been Glamour’s book editor and is the author of a novel, A WINDOW OPENS, which was a Bets On selection in 2015. She has a new monthly column in the Times called “Group Text,” where she spotlights a book that she thinks is book club discussion worthy. Her first selection is LONG BRIGHT RIVER, and you can see why she picked it here.

Allison Pataki visited yesterday, and I interviewed her about her upcoming historical novel, THE QUEEN’S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire, a future Bets On pick that will be in stores on February 11th. Now I confess that I never thought I would love a book where the protagonist was the one-time lover of Napoleon and went on to become the queen of Sweden. I never hearkened to this particular time period, perhaps due to too many quizzes and tests in high school and college that made history into a series of facts, and not a lot of fun. Well, those attitudes were rapidly changed after reading THE QUEEN’S FORTUNE; I was equally impressed with Allison’s eye for detail as I was with her beautiful prose. She had me completely caught up in the story of Desiree Clary --- and the crazy, wild world that surrounded Napoleon. We will post our interview on February 12th.

Longtime readers know how much we love William Kent Krueger at Bookreporter. When he was in town in December, we recorded an interview with him where we chatted briskly about THIS TENDER LAND, ORDINARY GRACE and his Cork O’Connor series. If you did not have a chance to catch Kent on tour, I think you will enjoy our discussion. Click here to watch the interview and here to listen to the podcast. I do wish we could have done it while traveling down a river!

While I was on vacation, I read HOLLYWOOD PARK by Mikel Jollett. Wow, what a memoir! As a young child, Mikel was in what started as a commune in California that later devolved into a cult called the Church of Synanon. I confess to being riveted to the behavior that happens in a group like this. The book opens with Mikel’s childlike voice as he describes what surrounds him, and while he looks in wonder, we look in horror. After his mother takes him from the kids-only camp to bring them to a better life, he rapidly sees how sheltered and dysfunctional his life has been. His dad is a recovering addict; his mother is clinically depressed, hopelessly narcissistic and hugely lost. He and his older brother trip, stumble and fend for themselves for most of their early years. And then Mikel pulls himself up and points his life in a new direction, later graduating from Stanford.

The writing is fabulous; it's starkly raw, while at the same time polished and compelling. So much love and so much dysfunction infuse the story. Mikel rose above a lot. Hollywood Park, for those who do not recognize it, was the thoroughbred horse track in Inglewood, California, that Mikel visited often with his dad.

Mikel is the frontman for an indie band called The Airborne Toxic Event. I gave a listen to some of their music last week, and it’s terrific. For the record, do not expect me to ever remember the name of the band.

HOLLYWOOD PARK will be a Bets On selection when it comes out on May 5th. I am going to see Mikel at a media luncheon next week, and then again in Baltimore at Winter Institute, the American Booksellers Association’s conference. He will be performing there, as his band's new album, Hollywood Park, releases on May 8th.

In addition to the aforementioned LONG BRIGHT RIVER, we have reviews of two other books that have been getting plenty of buzz leading up to their publication. First up is DEAR EDWARD, which is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection, Jenna Bush Hager’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick, and a LibraryReads Top Pick. In Ann Napolitano’s latest novel, a 12-year-old boy struggles with the worst kind of fame --- as the sole survivor of a notorious plane crash. Our reviewer Norah Piehl calls the book “simultaneously suspenseful, elegiac and deeply emotionally effective, as the reader’s sympathies are drawn not only toward Edward, the survivor, but also to all those who will not be so lucky.”

B&N will be selling a special Exclusive Book Club Edition of DEAR EDWARD, along with hosting a free Book Club Night to discuss it, in stores across the country on Tuesday, February 4th at 7pm local time. Click here to sign up for the event.

Kiley Reid’s novel, SUCH A FUN AGE, is this month’s Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick and #1 Indie Next pick. This much-anticipated debut, which you may remember was one of last year’s Book Expo Buzz books, revolves around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both. According to our reviewer, Sarah Rachel Egelman, “Reid gives readers much to ponder as they move along with her characters through charged conversations and difficult, even dangerous, situations. I highly recommend this smart and compelling novel.” You can check out the discussion guide here.

Other books we’re reviewing this week include LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict, which focuses on one of the people who had the most influence during World War I and World War II: Clementine Churchill (click here for the discussion guide); TREASON, the latest installment in Stuart Woods’ thriller/adventure series starring Stone Barrington, who this time takes on a scheming rebel; and GOOD GIRLS LIE, a new psychological thriller from J.T. Ellison that examines the tenuous bonds of friendship, the power of lies, and the desperate lengths people will go to in order to protect their secrets.

Our Winter Reading feature is back for a sixth year! On select days through Friday, February 21st at noon ET, we will be hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter (or a recently published title that we would like to get into your hands now) and giving five lucky readers a chance to win it. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here. Our preview email with all the books to be featured will go out on Tuesday to those who have opted into the Winter Reading newsletter, and our first contest will go live on Wednesday at noon ET. Week one’s prize books will be THE LAST ROMANTICS by Tara Conklin (a Bets On selection that releases in paperback on Tuesday) and THE MAGICAL LANGUAGE OF OTHERS: A Memoir by E. J. Koh (which is now in stores).

THE LAST ROMANTICS is just of the books we’re featuring in this month’s New in Paperback roundups. Others include paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as David Baldacci (ONE GOOD DEED), James Lee Burke (THE NEW IBERIA BLUES: A Dave Robicheaux Novel), C. J. Box (WOLF PACK: A Joe Pickett Novel), and T.C. Boyle (OUTSIDE LOOKING IN); nonfiction titles, such as MAID: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land (a Bets On pick), THE FIRST CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, and WORKING by Robert A. Caro; and paperback originals like CLEANING THE GOLD: A Jack Reacher and Will Trent Short Story by Karin Slaughter and Lee Child, THE RIVER MURDERS by James Patterson and James O. Born (which we review this week), and FACETS OF DEATH: A Detective Kubu Mystery by Michael Stanley (we have our review this week, along with a sharp essay from the author about Nordic noir).

We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. January’s roundup includes the feature films Just Mercy, The Informer, The Turning and The Rhythm Section; the series premieres of “Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector” on NBC and "The Outsider" on HBO, along with the first season of "The Stranger" on Netflix, the season five premiere of "The Magicians" on Syfy, and the season one finale of "Truth Be Told" on Apple TV+; and the DVD releases of Britt-Marie Was Here, Motherless Brooklyn, Joker and The Addams Family.

January 7th marked the release of new novels by Tasha Alexander and Andrew Grant. IN THE SHADOW OF VESUVIUS is Tasha’s latest Lady Emily mystery, and TOO CLOSE TO HOME is the second installment in Andrew’s series featuring intelligence agent-turned-courthouse janitor Paul McGrath. What makes this news so special is that Tasha and Andrew are married, and this is the first time in their 10 years of marriage that their books have released on the same day. Tasha and Andrew were kind enough to share their thoughts on this unique publication news, along with their experiences living in Wyoming (after years in Chicago), in this spirited conversation between them.

Side note here: Andrew Grant is the brother of James Grant, otherwise known as Lee Child. Lee lives in the same area in Wyoming, which does look amazing; we featured this New York Times article about him there a few months ago. 

Our first poll of the year asks about your reading goals in 2020. How many print books and e-books are you planning to read this year? And how many audiobooks do you think you will listen to? Click here to let us know.

In our previous poll, we asked how many books you read in 2019. 17% of you read more than 100 print books; in fact, 44% of you read 51 print books or more. 66% of you read e-books, while 39% listened to audiobooks (12 of you listened to more than 100 audiobooks, and 41 would like to start listening to audiobooks this year). Click here for the full results.

We’re awarding the audio versions of the previously mentioned LONG BRIGHT RIVER, read by Allyson Ryan, and Joseph Finder's HOUSE ON FIRE, read by Holter Graham, in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to by Monday, February 3rd at noon ET for your chance to win both these audio titles. If you would prefer digital audio to discs, just let us know!

We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, January 24th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins (an upcoming Bets On selection and the #1 Indie Next pick for February) and A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA by Isabel Allende, both of which we’ll be reviewing shortly after their January 21st releases.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

Kathryn wrote, "I loved your year-end review. I could watch and listen while I did needlepoint! Which made me think of a woman in one book group I’m in who is sight-limited. She comes with her dog each time and then checks out the books on CDs as she can’t see to read. She’s a great contributor to the discussions because she picks up the nuances that we sighted people often miss. I am thinking of how to get your podcasts/reviews out to the blind. More need to know about this feature! They are missing a weekly gem! Thank you for all you do!" I need to think about this! 

Susan wrote, "In all my years of reading you, I cannot recall one bad review of a book from you. How do you handle a book you didn't care for? There have had to be a few. No one likes everything. Do you find your focus on the good helpful to your readers' thinking that someone has to like it? I, on the other hand, appreciate a heads up when a book is a big stinker. What do you suggest I do to find a balanced view?"

Thanks for the opportunity to answer this question. There are books that I read and do not enjoy. I choose not to write about them. One reason is that I do not consider myself to be the arbiter of taste for everyone. There are books that people have loved that I could not finish. There are books I think are terrific that others do not appreciate. I feel that reading is a very personal experience. For our reviews, there are books that we have not covered in the last year because our reviewers did not like them. I do not feel there is something wonderful about bashing a book. We do encourage criticism within our reviews, of things that do not work for our reviewers. I think there is enough negativity about books out there on social media, and I just choose that we are not part of it. If you want to see varied reviews, there are places like Goodreads where you can do that. But again, you will need to find people whose taste matches yours. 

For Those Who Knit and Crochet: Donations are needed for the Australian bushfires. Click here for all the info.

"Grace and Frankie": It will be back on Netflix on January 15th. Click here for the trailer. Note: This is one of the few programs with “episodes” that my husband will watch!

Lisa Scottoline’s weekly column: Lisa writes a weekly humorous column, which is witty and sharp. Here’s the latest to give you a taste of how much fun these are.

"My Name is Lucy Barton": My friend, Beverley, who is a huge fan of Elizabeth Strout's MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON, saw the Broadway adaptation last night, which is still in previews. She said, “In a word, Laura Linney is flawless. Her performance was amazing; the book was brought to life.”

The audiobook edition of the play will be published on February 4th. Linney recorded her performance of this haunting, dramatic monologue in studio, so theater lovers will be able to experience it for years to come. Strout remembers seeing her for the first time: “When Laura stood up and did this and began to act it out, it became something different. It was lovely and amazing.”

20__: I read this in a few places. When writing a check, or signing any documents in this decade, be very careful to make it 2020. If not, there is a chance for some nefarious person to change your date to something earlier in the century, which could have consequences. Think of your signing a contract on 1/10/2020 and having it be 1/10/2000 just because you did not fill in all four digits.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: I FINALLY watched this last Friday night. I am not a huge Quentin Tarantino fan, though I did admire Pulp Fiction, but this movie was terrific. And to be terribly sexist here, a friend said Brad Pitt sans a shirt is never a bad thing, and I do agree.

"Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching": There is a great documentary about Bill Belichick and Nick Saban currently running on HBO. I had no idea how much their professional careers have collided. For the record, around our house, we are neither Patriots nor Alabama fans, and I still loved this.

Academy Award Nominations: These will be announced on Monday morning. I am looking forward to seeing how closely they mirror the Golden Globes. 

I am months behind on thank you notes for our fundraiser and soooooo many other emails. If I have not responded to you, please be patient. It’s been a super crazy last few months. I WILL catch up. For those who snail mail a check, please include your email address so I may respond more quickly.

Neighbors are coming over for homemade pizza tomorrow night. Beyond that, there is nothing on the agenda. I suppose I should take down all the Christmas decorations, but they look so lovely that I am not racing to do that. The dishes and glasses are put away. That is a start. I have a stack of reading to do before Winter Institute, and I have two interviews to prep for. It’s also supposed to be…66(!) degrees this weekend. As my mom would say, “Here come the germs.”

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: DEAR EDWARD by Ann Napolitano
January’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Selection
and Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna"
Today Show Book Club Pick

DEAR EDWARD by Ann Napolitano (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
One summer morning, 12-year-old Edward Adler, his beloved older brother, his parents and 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark headed for Los Angeles. Halfway across the country, the plane crashes. Edward is the sole survivor. His story captures the attention of the nation, yet he struggles to find a place in a world without his family. But then he makes an unexpected discovery --- one that will lead him to the answers of some of life’s most profound questions: When you’ve lost everything, how do you find the strength to put one foot in front of the other? How do you learn to feel safe again? How do you find meaning in your life? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Visit the Barnes & Noble Book Club page and sign up for their free Book Club Night to discuss the book on February 4th at 7pm local time.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: LONG BRIGHT RIVER by Liz Moore
January’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
and an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Selection

LONG BRIGHT RIVER by Liz Moore (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Allyson Ryan
In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two once-inseparable sisters find themselves at odds. One, Kacey, lives on the streets in the vise of addiction. The other, Mickey, walks those same blocks on her police beat. They don't speak anymore, but Mickey never stops worrying about her sibling. Then Kacey disappears, suddenly, at the same time that a mysterious string of murders begins in Mickey's district, and Mickey becomes dangerously obsessed with finding the culprit --- and her sister --- before it's too late. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.

Click here to read our review.

LONG BRIGHT RIVER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.

Featured Review: SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid
January’s Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine
Book Club Pick

SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Nicole Lewis
Alix Chamberlain is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, and a bystander films everything. At 25, Emira is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix's past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other. 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.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict

LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Elizabeth Sastre
In 1909, Clementine steps off a train with her new husband, Winston. An angry woman emerges from the crowd to attack, shoving him in the direction of an oncoming train. Just before he stumbles, Clementine grabs him by his suit jacket. This will not be the last time Clementine Churchill will save her husband. LADY CLEMENTINE is the ferocious story of the ambitious woman beside Winston Churchill, the story of a partner who did not flinch through the sweeping darkness of war, and who would not surrender either to expectations or to enemies. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.

Click here to read our review.

Announcing Bookreporter.com's Sixth Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature

At Bookreporter.com, we are kicking off 2020 with our sixth annual Winter Reading Contests and Feature. On select days in January and February, we are hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter (or a recently published title that we would like to get into your hands now) and giving five lucky readers a chance to win it. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

Our first prize book will be announced on Wednesday, January 15th at noon ET.

This year's featured titles are:

• ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE: A Novel of the Ritz Paris by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White
• INHERITANCE by Evelyn Toynton
• THE LAST ROMANTICS by Tara Conklin
• LIFE IS A 4-LETTER WORD: Laughing and Learning Through 40 Life Lessons by Dr. David A. Levy
• A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA by Isabel Allende
• THE MAGICAL LANGUAGE OF OTHERS: A Memoir by E. J. Koh
• MERCY HOUSE by Alena Dillon
• THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire by Allison Pataki
• SAINT X by Alexis Schaitkin
• THE SCENT KEEPER by Erica Bauermeister
• WHEN WE WERE VIKINGS by Andrew David MacDonald

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

January’s New in Paperback Roundups

January's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes ONE GOOD DEED, a fast-paced historical thriller from David Baldacci, who introduces readers to Aloysius Archer, a WWII veteran forced to investigate a small-town murder --- or risk returning to prison; THE NEW IBERIA BLUES by James Lee Burke, in which the shocking death of a young woman leads Detective Dave Robicheaux into the dark corners of Hollywood, the mafia and the backwoods of Louisiana; OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, a provocative novel from T.C. Boyle that explores the first scientific and recreational forays into LSD and its mind-altering possibilities; and THE DAUGHTER'S TALE by Armando Lucas Correa, an unforgettable family saga that explores a hidden piece of World War II history and the lengths a mother will go to protect her children.

Among our nonfiction highlights are MAID, Stephanie Land's memoir about working as a maid, a beautiful and gritty exploration of poverty in America; CAMELOT'S END by Jon Ward, the captivating story of Ted Kennedy's 1980 campaign for president against the incumbent Jimmy Carter, told in full for the first time; THE SOURCE OF SELF-REGARD, a rich gathering of Toni Morrison's essays, speeches and meditations on society, culture and art, spanning four decades; and THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, a remarkably intimate and insightful memoir that chronicles what it’s like to live in today’s world as a fat man, from acclaimed journalist Tommy Tomlinson, who, as he neared the age of 50, weighed 460 pounds and decided he had to change his life.

See what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
January 6th, January 13th, January 20th and January 27th.

January’s Books on Screen Feature

Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of January's offerings, please click here.
 

In Theaters

The Informer
Release Date: January 10th (limited)
Based on: THREE SECONDS by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström

Just Mercy
Release Date: January 10th (wide)
Based on: JUST MERCY: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

The Turning
Release Date: January 24th (wide)
Based on: THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Henry James
 

On TV

“Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector”
Air Dates: Fridays at 8pm ET/PT on NBC; Series Premiere on January 10th
Based on: THE BONE COLLECTOR by Jeffery Deaver

"The Outsider" (10-episode miniseries)
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on HBO; The first two episodes premiere on January 12th
Based on: THE OUTSIDER by Stephen King

“The Magicians”
Air Dates: Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT on Syfy; Season Five Premiere on January 15th
Based on: THE MAGICIANS by Lev Grossman

"The Stranger"
Release Date: January 30th on Netflix (Season One)
Based on: THE STRANGER by Harlan Coben

On DVD

Britt-Marie Was Here
DVD Release Date: January 14th
Based on: BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE by Fredrik Backman

Motherless Brooklyn
DVD Release Date: January 28th
Based on: MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN by Jonathan Lethem

Bookreporter.com Blog Post:
Tasha Alexander and Andrew Grant Talk About
Their Latest Books, Living in Wyoming and More

Authors Tasha Alexander and Andrew Grant have been married since 2010. At no point during these 10 years have their books come out on the same day. Until now, that is. January 7th saw the releases of IN THE SHADOW OF VESUVIUS, Tasha’s latest Lady Emily mystery, and TOO CLOSE TO HOME, the second installment in Andrew’s series featuring intelligence agent-turned-courthouse janitor Paul McGrath. In this fun and informative conversation, Tasha and Andrew talk about relocating from Chicago to Wyoming, and explain how their new environment (with its “sense of space and isolation --- combined with stunning landscapes and amazing wildlife”) has enriched every aspect of their lives, especially their writing careers.

IN THE SHADOW OF VESUVIUS: A Lady Emily Mystery by Tasha Alexander (Historical Mystery)
Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, have accompanied her dear friend, Ivy Brandon, on a trip to Pompeii. When they uncover a corpse and the police dismiss the murder as the work of local gangsters, Emily launches an investigation of her own. She seems to be aided by the archaeologists excavating the ruins, but each of them has secrets. The sudden appearance of a beautiful young woman who claims a shocking relationship to the Hargreaves family throws Emily’s investigation off-course. And as she struggles to face an unsettling truth about Colin’s past, it becomes clear that someone else wants her off the case --- for good. How far below the surface can Emily dig before she risks burying herself along with the truth?

- Click here to read more about the book.

TOO CLOSE TO HOME by Andrew Grant (Mystery/Thriller)
An intelligence agent-turned-courthouse janitor, Paul McGrath notices everything and everyone --- but no one notices him. It’s the perfect cover for the justice he seeks for both his father and the people who’ve been wronged by a corrupt system. At the courthouse, he stumbles on the case of Len Hendrie, a small businessman who’s been accused of torching a venture capitalist’s mansion. Though Hendrie admits starting the fire, McGrath learns how the VC has preyed on average Joes to benefit himself --- and his extensive wine collection. He can’t resist looking deeper into this financial predator and soon finds himself in a gray area between his avenging moral compass and the limits of the law.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read a conversation between Tasha Alexander and Andrew Grant.

 "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:

• Linwood Barclay (ELEVATOR PITCH) Video | Podcast
• Patti Callahan (BECOMING MRS. LEWIS) Video | Podcast
• Fiona Davis (THE CHELSEA GIRLS) Video | Podcast
• Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille (THE DESERTER) Video | Podcast
• Sally Hepworth (THE MOTHER-IN-LAW) Video | Podcast
• Marjan Kamali (THE STATIONERY SHOP) Video | Podcast
• Mary Beth Keane (ASK AGAIN, YES) Video | Podcast
• Raymond Khoury (EMPIRE OF LIES) Video | Podcast
• William Kent Krueger (THIS TENDER LAND) Video | Podcast NEW!
• Jean Kwok (SEARCHING FOR SYLVIE LEE) Video | Podcast
• Shari Lapena (SOMEONE WE KNOW) Video | Podcast
• Gilly Macmillan (THE NANNY) Video | Podcast
• Heather Morris (THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ; CILKA'S JOURNEY) Video | Podcast
• Whitney Scharer (THE AGE OF LIGHT) Video | Podcast
• Cara Wall (THE DEARLY BELOVED) Video | Podcast
• Sheila Weller (CARRIE FISHER: A Life on the Edge) Video | Podcast
• Karen White (THE CHRISTMAS SPIRITS ON TRADD STREET; ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE) Video | Podcast
• Beatriz Williams (THE GOLDEN HOUR; THE WICKED REDHEAD; ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Liz Moore (LONG BRIGHT RIVER)
• Allison Pataki (THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire)

Watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews and listen to our podcasts.

More Reviews This Week

TREASON: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Tony Roberts
Upon returning to New York City after a whirlwind British excursion, Stone Barrington is notified of a delicate situation within the country's administration. A close friend requires his expertise and subtlety to eradicate a destructive presence in a classified agency --- only it soon becomes clear that this renegade was sent by a rival Stone has encountered before. From the City of Light to the rocky Maine coastline, Stone will need to summon all his wit and daring to halt the audacious plots threatening to reveal confidential intel, and catch the evasive traitor at last. This enemy may be equipped with unlimited resources and devious schemes, but if Stone remains vigilant, justice may finally prevail. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.

THE RIVER MURDERS by James Patterson and James O. Born (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Greg Baglia
THE RIVER MURDERS contains three exciting thrillers. 1) “Hidden”: After being rejected from the Navy SEALs, Mitchum becomes his small town's unofficial private eye. But his investigation skills are put to the test when he must find his missing teenage cousin --- and uncovers a government conspiracy in the process. 2) “Malicious”: Mitchum’s brother has been charged with murder. Nathaniel swears he didn't kill anyone, but word on the street is that he was involved with the victim's wife. Now, Mitchum will break every rule to expose the truth. 3) “Malevolent”: One by one, Mitchum’s loved ones have become victims of carefully staged attacks. There's only one way to stop the ruthless mastermind intent on destroying everyone around him --- to go on the most dangerous hunt of his life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

A SMALL TOWN by Thomas Perry (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christina Delaine
Twelve conspirators meticulously plan to throw open all the gates to the prison that contains them, so that more than a thousand convicts may escape and pour into the nearby small town. The newly freed prisoners rape, murder and destroy the town. An immense search ensues, but the 12 who plotted it all get away. After two years, all efforts by the local and federal police agencies have been in vain. Leah Hawkins, a former star basketball player and resident good cop, is placed on sabbatical so that she can tour the country learning advanced police procedures. The sabbatical is merely a ruse, however, as her real job is to track the infamous 12 and kill them. Soon, the surviving fugitives realize what she is up to, and a race to kill or be killed ensues. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

NAKED CAME THE FLORIDA MAN by Tim Dorsey (Mystery/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Oliver Wyman
With his best bro Colman riding shotgun, Serge A. Storms hits the highway in his ’69 gold Plymouth Satellite, putting pedal to the metal on a grand tour of the past. Beginning in Key West, the sunshine boys’ odyssey includes a forgotten mass grave in Palm Beach county holding the remains of African Americans killed by the Great Hurricane of 1928, and the resting place of one world-famous television dolphin (RIP Flipper) from the 1960s. But one deadland --- a haunted old sugar field --- holds more than just the bones of those who’ve passed. For years, local children have whispered about a boogeyman hiding among the stalks. Could it be the same maniac known as Naked Florida man who’s been raising hell all over the place? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

GOOD GIRLS LIE by J.T. Ellison (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Fiona Hardingham
The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, The Goode School accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond. But a stranger has come to Goode, and this ivy has turned poisonous. In a world where appearances are everything, as long as students pretend to follow the rules, no one questions the cruelties of the secret societies or the dubious behavior of the privileged young women who expect to get away with murder. But when a popular student is found dead, the truth cannot be ignored. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE WIVES by Tarryn Fisher (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Fortgang
Thursday’s husband, Seth, has two other wives. She’s never met them, and she doesn’t know anything about them. She agreed to this unusual arrangement because she’s so crazy about him. But one day, she finds something. Something that tells a very different --- and horrifying --- story about the man she married. What follows is one of the most twisted, shocking thrillers you’ll ever read. You’ll have to grab a copy to find out why. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

THE PLAYGROUND by Jane Shemilt (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Elizabeth Knowelden
Over the course of a long, hot summer in London, the lives of three very different married couples collide when their children join the same tutoring circle, resulting in illicit relationships, shocking violence and unimaginable fallout. As the weeks go by, the couples become very close. Resentments flare. An affair begins. No one sees the five children at their secret games or realize how much their family dynamics are changing until tragedy strikes. The story twists and then twists again while the three families desperately search for answers. It’s only as they begin to unravel the truth of what happened over the summer that they realize evil has crept quietly into their world. But has this knowledge come too late? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

LIFE ISN’T EVERYTHING: Mike Nichols, as Remembered by 150 of His Closest Friends by Ash Carter and Sam Kashner (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Suzanne Toren
The work of Mike Nichols pervades American cultural consciousness --- from The Graduate and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to Angels in America, The Birdcage, Working Girl and Primary Colors, not to mention his string of hit plays, including Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple. If that weren’t enough, he was also one half of the timelessly funny duo Nichols & May, as well as a founding member of the original improv troupe. Most fans, however, know very little of the person behind it all. Here, for the first time, Ash Carter and Sam Kashner offer an intimate look behind the scenes of Nichols' life, as told by the stars, moguls, playwrights, producers, comics and crew members who stayed loyal to Nichols for years. Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth for HeadButler.com.

FACETS OF DEATH: A Detective Kubu Mystery by Michael Stanley (Mystery)
David “Kubu” Bengu's keen mind and famous persistence have seen him rise in the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department. But how did he get his start? His resentful new colleagues are suspicious of a detective who has entered the CID straight from university, skipping the usual beat cop phase. Shortly after he joins the CID, the richest diamond mine in the world is robbed of 100,000 carats of diamonds in transit. Police immediately suspect an inside job, but there is no evidence of who it could be. When the robbers are killed execution-style in South Africa and the diamonds are still missing, suspicion focuses on a witch doctor and his son. Does "Kubu" have the skill and the integrity to engineer an international trap and catch those responsible? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

- Click here to read Michael Stanley's blog post about Nordic noir.

Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on January 13th and 14th

Below are some notable titles releasing on January 13th and 14th 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 January 13th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

January 13th

LOST by James Patterson and James O. Born (Thriller)
Detective Tom Moon and his multi-talented team face off against an international crime ring looking to seize control of America's most vibrant city, Miami.

January 14th

ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE: A Novel of the Ritz Paris by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White (Historical Fiction)
The New York Times bestselling authors of THE GLASS OCEAN and THE FORGOTTEN ROOM return with a glorious historical adventure that moves from the dark days of two World Wars to the turbulent years of the 1960s, in which three women with bruised hearts find refuge at Paris’s legendary Ritz hotel.

BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN by Diane Chamberlain (Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Diane Chamberlain comes an irresistible new novel in BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN.

A LONGER FALL by Charlaine Harris (Fantasy/Thriller)
In this second installment of the Gunnie Rose series, Lizbeth is hired onto a new crew, transporting a crate into Dixie, the self-exiled southeast territory of the former United States. What the crate contains is something so powerful that forces from across three territories want to possess it.

MANY RIVERS TO CROSS: A DCI Banks Novel by Peter Robinson (Mystery/Thriller)
Peter Robinson, the acclaimed author of the bestselling series Stephen King calls “the best now on the market,” returns with a gripping, emotionally charged mystery in which the revered detective Alan Banks must find the truth about a murder with possible racial overtones --- and save a friend from ruin.

THE RABBIT HUNTER written by Lars Kepler, translated by Neil Smith (Mystery/Thriller)
A masked stranger stands in the shadows. He watches his victim through the window. He will kill him slowly --- make him pay. Soon the Rabbit Hunter has claimed another three victims. This predator will stop at nothing to reap his ultimate revenge. It’s up to Joona Linna and Saga Bauer to untangle one of the most complex cases of their career.

THE SECRET GUESTS by Benjamin Black (Historical Fiction)
As London endures nightly German bombings, Britain’s secret service whisks the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret from England, seeking safety for the young royals on an old estate in Ireland.

UNCANNY VALLEY: A Memoir by Anna Wiener (Memoir)
Part coming-of-age-story, part portrait of an already bygone era, Anna Wiener’s memoir is a rare first-person glimpse into high-flying, reckless startup culture at a time of unchecked ambition, unregulated surveillance, wild fortune and accelerating political power.

THE WHISPERS OF WAR by Julia Kelly (Historical Fiction)
The start of World War II looms over three friends who struggle to remain loyal as one of them is threatened with internment by the British government.

THE WILD ONE: A Peter Ash Novel by Nick Petrie (Thriller)
War veteran Peter Ash tracks a murderer and his criminal family through the most forbidding and stark landscape he has ever encountered.

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

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Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, January 24th at noon ET.

Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!

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You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!

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