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At Winter Institute, Jeanine Cummins talked about her latest novel, AMERICAN DIRT,
which is Oprah's new book club pick and an upcoming Bets On selection.
Carol is looking forward to interviewing Jeanine on March 14th at the Tucson Book Festival.
Photo Credit: Luisa Smith
On Tuesday night, Carol had the pleasure of meeting musician Mikel Jollett at Winter Institute and seeing him perform. His memoir, HOLLYWOOD PARK, releases on May 5th and will be a Bets On pick.
Above you can see Mikel performing songs from his album of the same name, which comes out on May 8th. Footage from Hollywood Park, the thoroughbred horse track in Inglewood, California, was played during his performance. This was a nice touch as Mikel visited there often with his dad.
You also can see him above with Luisa Smith from Book Passage, who shared this photo with us.
During Winter Institute, Carol attended a dinner that Simon & Schuster hosted at Woodberry Kitchen. There, she met five of their authors who have books releasing this year. They are (from left to right):
Janet Skeslien Charles (THE PARIS LIBRARY), Kirkland Hamill (FILTHY BEASTS: A Memoir),
Robin Wasserman (MOTHER DAUGHTER WIDOW WIFE), Emma Jane Unsworth (GROWN UPS),
and Becky Mandelbaum (THE BRIGHT SIDE SANCTUARY FOR ANIMALS).
Photo Credit: Wendy Sheanin
Carol took a tour of the Penguin Random House fulfillment center in Westminster, MD.
She had a wonderful time as they tracked books from the moment they arrive there from various printers to the sorting of them into bins throughout the plant for eventual shipping.
Above is a 70-foot crane; there were people on top selecting books.
Photo Credit: Luisa Smith
Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview and podcast is with Bookreporter co-founder
Jesse Kornbluth, whose new novel, JFK AND MARY MEYER: A Love Story, released this week.
We will be giving away five copies of the book in an upcoming Winter Reading contest.
Click on the photo above for the video and here for the podcast.
Carol talks about this week's Bookreporter update in our latest promo video.
What a great week it’s been at the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute in Baltimore. This annual gathering of booksellers, publishers and authors is one of my favorite events of the year. It’s been a whirlwind of author talks, industry-focused panels and serendipitous meetings in hallways and at dinners with so many colleagues and authors.
On Tuesday afternoon, I took a tour of the Penguin Random House fulfillment center in Westminster, MD. We tracked palettes of books from the moment they arrive there from various printers to the sorting of them into bins throughout the plant for eventual shipping. It was an active site as we toured; many forklifts and other vehicles were on the floor as we walked some 5,000+ steps through the multiple buildings where the books move through a highly technical system. The computerized system for tracking each of these shipments and titles ensure that books can be found and “picked” for shipment. Above is a photo from a 70-foot crane where, yes, there were people on top selecting books. Two people from each tour group made the ride to the top to experience this. There was one area dedicated to shipping out books for promotional and marketing mailings. I was looking to see if there were any addressed to us! Books go through a lot of steps before they get to you.
After the annual welcome party, which was a nice time to catch up with booksellers and publishing friends, there was a very special evening event where Mikel Jollett --- whose memoir, HOLLYWOOD PARK (releasing May 5th), I wrote about a couple of weeks ago --- performed a reading and select songs from his upcoming album of the same name. The program was so moving as he shared stories about his dad --- and the very special meaning that Hollywood Park had to the two of them. I want to see him perform the full tour in May. While I already loved the book, I found myself even more vested in it after his performance.
You can see Mikel above both performing and with my friend, Luisa Smith, a prominent bookseller from Book Passage in Corte Madera, California. Luisa shared some photos with me for this newsletter, which I so appreciated. She has a great eye for taking photos.
On Wednesday morning, Jeanine Cummins, the author of AMERICAN DIRT --- which is one of the first big novels of 2020 and may end up being the most talked-about book of the entire year --- was interviewed by Javier Ramirez from Madison Street Books in Chicago, Illinois, whose bookstore is scheduled to open in the spring. Jeanine shared that she wrote this book over seven years, tossing two original drafts. During the time that she wrote, she spent time in Mexico and along the border doing research. She also experienced the gut-wrenching grief of losing her father suddenly, emotions that she knows found their way onto the pages. I am looking forward to interviewing her in Tucson at the Tucson Festival of Books on March 14th.
In AMERICAN DIRT, Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco, where she runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. Even though she knows they’ll never sell, Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store. And then one day, a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy. Unbeknownst to Lydia, Javier (note: not related to the bookseller referenced above) is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same. Forced to flee, Lydia and Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence.
Earlier this week, Oprah announced that AMERICAN DIRT would be her latest book club pick; shortly after that, Barnes & Noble revealed that it would be their February book club selection. Blurbed by the likes of Stephen King, John Grisham, Ann Patchett and Kristin Hannah, it also is a LibraryReads pick for this month, a #1 Indie Next pick for next month, and my second Bookreporter.com Bets On pick of the year. Oprah describes the book as “a heart-wrenching page-turner, and you won’t be able to put it down.” Both Oprah and Jeanine appeared on “CBS This Morning” Tuesday for the big announcement, which you can take a look at here, and Oprah’s interview with Jeanine will premiere March 6th exclusively on Apple TV+.
Our reviewer, Norah Piehl, has this to say about the book: “AMERICAN DIRT, which reads much like a thriller --- complete with a truly heart-pounding opening chapter --- undoubtedly will prompt many to consider the immigration crisis in a new and more urgent way, especially given its high-profile coverage. Even better would be if the novel not only sparks conversations about these issues but also leads readers to dive deeper into the questions about which she writes.”
I agree with Norah; it’s a book that I will be thinking about for a long time to come. As you may recall, I read AMERICAN DIRT back in June and immediately knew it would be a Bets On pick. Don’t miss my commentary in next week’s newsletter. In the meantime, be sure to check out the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
On Wednesday evening, I had a lovely time at a dinner that Simon & Schuster threw for their authors at a fabulous venue called Woodberry Kitchen. Janet Skeslien Charles, Kirkland Hamill, Becky Mandelbaum, Emma Jane Unsworth and Robin Wasserman all shared their latest titles, which you can see above. Hearing authors talk about their work is always wonderful; I have been reading these books, but they are coming alive to me even more after hearing from them.
We also are reviewing A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA, Isabel Allende’s latest novel, which spans decades and crosses continents as it follows two young people as they flee the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in search of a place to call home. I was sorry to be traveling this week and unable to interview Isabel, but I was happy to find this interview where she talks to Elaine Petrocelli from Book Passage (Isabel’s local bookseller) about the book.
Other reviews this week include AGENCY, the highly anticipated follow-up to William Gibson’s 2014 novel, THE PERIPHERAL, a science fiction thriller heavily influenced by our most current events; HOUSE ON FIRE, the fourth entry in Joseph Finder’s series starring private investigator Nick Heller, who infiltrates a powerful wealthy family hiding something sinister; and MANY RIVERS TO CROSS by Peter Robinson, in which Detective Superintendent Alan Banks must find the truth about a murder with possible racial overtones --- and save a friend from ruin.
We are awarding the audio version of HOUSE ON FIRE (read by Holter Graham), along with Liz Moore’s LONG BRIGHT RIVER (read by Allyson Ryan), 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, and you’ll have a chance to win both these audio titles.
We are happy to bring you a very special "Bookreporter Talks To" video/podcast this week, as I interview Bookreporter's co-founder, Jesse Kornbluth, about his new novel, JFK AND MARY MEYER: A Love Story, which we will review next week and will give away in an upcoming Winter Reading contest. We also share a lot about the early days of The Book Report Network. Click here to watch the interview and here to listen to the podcast. This was a really fun trip down memory lane!
Our Valentine’s Day contest is back for a 15th consecutive year! Five of you will win five recently published or soon-to-be-released titles for yourself or that special someone in your life: THE END OF THE DAY by Bill Clegg, THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW by Tracey Garvis Graves (a Bets On pick that is now in paperback), GROWN UPS by the aforementioned Emma Jane Unsworth, POSTSCRIPT by Cecelia Ahern, and THE WOMEN IN BLACK by Madeleine St John. All you have to do is enter here by Thursday, February 13th at noon ET for your chance to win these irresistible love-themed books.
Please note: We will be giving away advance copies of GROWN UPS and THE END OF THE DAY, as their release dates are May 12th and June 2nd, respectively. So winners will be able to get a sneak peek at these books before anyone else does. How cool is that!
In this week’s Winter Reading contests, we gave away the aforementioned A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA by Isabel Allende, in addition to INHERITANCE by Evelyn Toynton and LIFE IS A 4-LETTER WORD: Laughing and Learning Through 40 Life Lessons by Dr. David A. Levy. Next week’s prizes will be ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE: A Novel of the Ritz Paris by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White (which we reviewed last week) and WHEN WE WERE VIKINGS by Andrew David MacDonald (which we will feature and review in next week’s newsletter). The first contest of the week will go live on Monday, January 27th at noon ET.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, February 7th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win WHEN YOU SEE ME by Lisa Gardner and INTO THE FIRE: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (I am enjoying the latter on audio), both of which we plan to review next week.
Our new poll asks which of 25 newly released or upcoming fiction titles you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes. We love to see what you are reading!
Our previous poll asked about your reading goals for 2020. 14% of you are planning to read more than 100(!) print books this year, while 23% would like to read between 1 and 10 e-books, and 22% plan to listen to 1-10 audiobooks. Click here for all the results.
Mystery Writers of America (MWA) has announced the nominees for the Edgar Allan Poe Awards, which honors the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and television published or produced in 2019. Among the finalists are GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL by Michael Robotham (Best Novel), THE SECRETS WE KEPT by Lara Prescott (Best First Novel by an American Author), and AMERICAN PREDATOR: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan (Best Fact Crime). Click here for the full list. The awards will be presented to the winners at MWA's 74th Gala Banquet on April 30th at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Victoria wrote. “Thank you, Carol, for the exceptional podcasts! Your questions are inspired and answer the questions I would put to the authors. I especially loved, loved those podcasts with William Kent Krueger (THIS TENDER LAND --- the top book of 2019, in my estimation) and Cara Wall (THE DEARLY BELOVED --- another top pick). I am sending a check this week to support your podcasts, etc."
Wendy wrote, “I was very interested in your YouTube interview with Liz Moore. The opioid crisis has hit my home of Winnipeg as well, and I’m always trying to get more information. I will certainly be wanting to read her book when it is available from my library (there is a long hold list for four copies, so it will be a while). I was watching your video, but my dog was quite anxious to find his newest toy. My husband said he looked everywhere and couldn’t find it, so I had to give it a woman’s look. I put the video on full screen on my small laptop and walked around the house checking all the spots. As I was doing so, it occurred to me that doing this for future videos would mean I could get steps in while still watching content, so I plan to do that for any future interviews that I want to watch. I love the fact that you spend lots of time interviewing the authors, but it is a long time to sit in one place. So I thought I would pass that on as a tip for other people in the same situation. And yes, I did find the dog’s toy in a spot where my husband claimed he had already looked."
Nancy wrote, "Loved your interview with Liz Moore! I’ve read all her previous books and just picked up LONG BRIGHT RIVER from the library, so it was good timing. The last book I read before this was an ARC of THE SWEENEY SISTERS by Lian Dolan, but I’m sure Liz Moore’s book is a much heavier sister story. I enjoyed your book program in Bernardsville last year and hope you’ll have a repeat performance (but I’ve also recommended you and your program to the Morristown library). Good luck with your reading and upcoming events!"
Linda said, "A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year, Carol, family and friends. What a marvelous Christmas surprise to find Jamie Oliver's latest cookbook in my mailbox. I look forward to reading the text and trying some of the recipes in my home kitchen. Many thanks for this generous gift that will endure long past the holiday season. Happy reading, indeed!"
BIG Reacher News: It was announced this week that Lee Child is going to be turning over the writing of the Jack Reacher series to his brother, Andrew Grant. One proviso: Andrew will need to write under the pen name "Andrew Child" (Lee’s real name is James Grant). You can read the full story here.
Trailer for "The Stranger": The series based on the book by Harlan Coben debuts on Netflix next Thursday the 30th. You can see the trailer here.
Trailer for "Little Fires Everywhere": This miniseries based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller is set to premiere March 18th on Hulu; it stars Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. Click here for the trailer.
Most Checked-Out Books at the New York Public Library: There was a great story about the most checked-out books at NYPL in the past 125 years. And here’s an interesting story about why GOODNIGHT MOON was shunned by one of their librarians.
I headed to Philadelphia this afternoon for the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting. Stacy Price from Foreword Reviews also was heading up to Philly; she lives in Adelaide, Australia, and I offered her a ride instead of taking the train. We had such fun chatting about the business on the way up. Nice way to make a new friend!
Tonight and tomorrow, I want to walk the aisles at this show and again see some publishers and new books, and also hear some authors speaking at various events. It’s really nice to have these two shows scheduled back to back and in a way that I can be at both.
On Sunday we are celebrating Cory’s 25th birthday, and on Tuesday we are celebrating Greg’s 30th. I am still 27; it's amazing how life works like that. I see lots of chocolate cake in my future. I look forward to unpacking the books that I have picked up here and labeling them onto my shelves in the new system that I came up with. And I also am looking forward to getting some SLEEP!
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: AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins
Oprah’s Latest Book Club Pick,
February’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Selection,
and an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Yareli Arizmendi
Lydia Quixano Perez runs a bookstore in the Mexican city of Acapulco until one violent day changes everything. Forced to flee, Lydia and her eight-year-old son, Luca, find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, Lydia and Luca ride la bestia --- trains that make their way north toward the United States, which is the only place they might feel safe. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to? 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 Oprah's latest book club selection.
Click here to read our review.
AMERICAN DIRT will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review: A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA
by Isabel Allende
A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA by Isabel Allende (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
In the late 1930s, civil war grips Spain. When General Franco and his Fascists succeed in overthrowing the government, hundreds of thousands are forced to flee in a treacherous journey over the mountains to the French border. Among them is Roser, a pregnant young widow, who finds her life intertwined with that of Victor Dalmau, an army doctor and the brother of her deceased love. In order to survive, the two must unite in a marriage neither of them desires. Together with 2,000 other refugees, they embark on the SS Winnipeg, a ship chartered by the poet Pablo Neruda, to Chile. As unlikely partners, they embrace exile as the rest of Europe erupts in world war. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: AGENCY by William Gibson
AGENCY by William Gibson (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lorelei King
Verity Jane, gifted app whisperer, takes a job as the beta tester for a new product: a digital assistant, accessed through a pair of ordinary-looking glasses. “Eunice,” the disarmingly human AI in the glasses, manifests a face, a fragmentary past and a canny grasp of combat strategy. Meanwhile, a century ahead in London, Wilf Netherton works amid plutocrats and plunderers, survivors of the slow and steady apocalypse known as the jackpot. His boss, the enigmatic Ainsley Lowbeer, can look into alternate pasts and nudge their ultimate directions. Verity and Eunice are her current project. Wilf can see what Verity and Eunice can’t: their own version of the jackpot, just around the corner, and the roles they both may play in it. Reviewed by Austin Ruh.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's
15th Annual Valentine's Day Contest:
Enter to Win Books for Yourself or Your Valentine!
Valentine's Day is only a few heartbeats away. We can't think of a better way to celebrate this special day than to cuddle up with your loved one...and a good book, of course!
We're giving five readers the chance to win five love-themed books. Be sure to enter between now and Thursday, February 13th at noon ET for your opportunity to be a lucky (and beloved!) winner.
If you're feeling frisky, share with us your all-time book character crush. Don't be shy, we all got 'em! We'll post the top 10 literary loves and lusts --- along with the five winners --- shortly after the contest ends.
This year's featured Valentine’s Day titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
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 next prize book will be announced on Monday, January 27th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Featured Review: HOUSE ON FIRE by Joseph Finder
HOUSE ON FIRE by Joseph Finder (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Holter Graham
Nick Heller is at the top of his game when he receives some devastating news: his old army buddy, Sean, has died of an overdose. Sean, who once saved Nick’s life, got addicted to opioids after returning home wounded from war. Then at Sean’s funeral, a stranger approaches Nick with a job. The woman is the daughter of a pharmaceutical kingpin worth billions. Now she wants to become a whistleblower, exposing her father and his company for burying evidence that its biggest money-maker was dangerously addictive. It was a lie that killed hundreds of thousands of people, including Sean. All Nick has to do is find the document that proves the family knew the drug’s dangers. But Nick soon realizes that the sins of the patriarch are just the beginning. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: MANY RIVERS TO CROSS
by Peter Robinson
MANY RIVERS TO CROSS: A DCI Banks Novel by Peter Robinson (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Simon Prebble
In Eastvale, a young Middle Eastern boy is found dead. Detective Superintendent Alan Banks and his team know they must tread carefully to solve this sensitive case. But tensions rise when they learn that the victim was stabbed somewhere else and dumped. Who is the boy, and where did he come from? Then, in a decayed area of Eastvale scheduled for redevelopment, a heroin addict is found dead. Was this just another tragic overdose or something darker? Just when he needs to be his sharpest, the seasoned detective finds himself distracted by a close friend’s increasingly precarious situation. He needs a break --- and gets one when he finds a connection to a real estate developer that could be key to finding the truth. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently have two 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, February 5th at noon ET.
Most Requested Guides of 2019
We took a look at all of the guides that you accessed last year, and from there we pulled together a list of the top 30 titles. The most popular guide of 2019 was no surprise: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens, the #1 New York Times bestseller and a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick. We love seeing which books resonated the most with you and your group! Click here for the most requested guides of 2019.
Here are our latest featured guides:
Please note that this title, for which we already had the guide when it appeared in hardcover, is now available in paperback:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
"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:
-
Allison Pataki (THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire)
-
Amanda Eyre Ward (THE JETSETTERS)
Watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews and listen to our podcasts.
THE THIRD RAINBOW GIRL: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia by Emma Copley Eisenberg (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Emma Copley Eisenberg
On June 25, 1980 in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, two middle-class outsiders named Vicki Durian and Nancy Santomero were murdered in an isolated clearing. They were hitchhiking to a festival known as the Rainbow Gathering but never arrived; they traveled with a third woman who lived. Thriteen years later, a local farmer was convicted, only to be released when a known serial killer and diagnosed schizophrenic, Joseph Paul Franklin, claimed responsibility. Emma Copley Eisenberg follows the threads of this crime through the complex history of Appalachia, forming a searing and wide-ranging portrait of America --- its divisions of gender and class, and of its violence. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
FIGHT OF THE CENTURY: Writers Reflect on 100 Years of Landmark ACLU Cases edited by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by an all-star cast
The American Civil Liberties Union began as a small group of idealists and visionaries, including Helen Keller and Jane Addams. A century after its founding, the ACLU remains the nation’s premier defender of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. In collaboration with the ACLU, prize-winning authors Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman have curated an anthology of essays about landmark cases in the ACLU’s 100-year history. In FIGHT OF THE CENTURY, bestselling and award-winning authors --- including Michael Cunningham, Jennifer Egan, Dave Eggers, Ann Patchett, Salman Rushdie and Elizabeth Strout --- present unique literary takes on historic decisions like Brown v. Board of Education, the Scopes trial, Roe v. Wade and more. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
THE LAST SISTER by Kendra Elliot (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell and Mikael Naramore
Emily Mills’ father was murdered 20 years ago, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, says she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed. Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night --- until an eerily similar murder brings it all back. It also brings FBI special agent Zander Wells to the Oregon logging town. As eager as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past. When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants unearthed. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
A GOOD MAN by Ani Katz (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Deakins
Thomas Martin was a devoted family man who had all the trappings of an enviable life: a beautiful wife and daughter, a well-appointed home on Long Island's north shore, a job at a prestigious Manhattan advertising firm. He was also a devoted son and brother, shielding the women in his orbit from the everyday brutalities of the world. But what happens when Thomas’ fragile ego is rocked? After committing a horrific deed --- that he can never undo --- Thomas grapples with his sense of self. Sometimes he casts himself as a victim and, at other times, a monster. All he ever did was try to be a good man, but maybe if he tells his version of the story, he might uncover how and why things unraveled so horribly. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
UNSPEAKABLE THINGS by Jess Lourey (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Caitlin Kelly
Cassie McDowell’s life in 1980s Minnesota seems perfectly wholesome. She lives on a farm, loves school and has a crush on the nicest boy in class. Yes, there are her parents’ strange parties and their parade of deviant guests, but she’s grown accustomed to them. All that changes when someone comes hunting in Lilydale. One by one, local boys go missing. One by one, they return changed --- violent, moody and withdrawn. What happened to them becomes the stuff of shocking rumors. The accusations of who’s responsible grow just as wild, and dangerous town secrets start to surface. Then Cassie’s own sister undergoes the dark change. If she is to survive, Cassie must find her way in an adult world where every sin is justified, and only the truth is unforgivable. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE SEEP by Chana Porter (Speculative Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Shakina Nayfack
Trina Goldberg-Oneka is a 50-year-old trans woman whose life is irreversibly altered in the wake of a gentle --- but nonetheless world-changing --- invasion by an alien entity called The Seep. Through The Seep, everything is connected. Capitalism falls, hierarchies and barriers are broken down; if something can be imagined, it is possible. Trina and her wife, Deeba, live blissfully under The Seep’s utopian influence --- until Deeba begins to imagine what it might be like to be reborn as a baby, which will give her the chance at an even better life. Using Seeptech to make this dream a reality, Deeba moves on to a new existence, leaving Trina devastated. Heartbroken and deep into an alcoholic binge, Trina follows a lost boy she encounters, embarking on an unexpected quest. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
DEEP STATE by Chris Hauty (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Marin Ireland
Recently elected President Richard Monroe is at the center of an increasingly polarized Washington, DC. Never has the partisan drama been so tense or the paranoia so rampant. In the midst of contentious political turf wars, the White House chief of staff is found dead in his house. A tenacious intern discovers a single, ominous clue that suggests he died from something other than natural causes, and that a wide-ranging conspiracy is running beneath the surface of everyday events. Allies are exposed as enemies, once-dependable authorities fall under suspicion, and no one seems to be who they say they are. The unthinkable is happening. The Deep State is real. Who will die to keep its secrets, and who will kill to uncover the truth? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE ADVENTURE OF THE PECULIAR PROTOCOLS: Adapted from the Journals of John H. Watson, M.D. by Nicholas Meyer (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by David Robb
January 1905: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson are summoned by Holmes' brother, Mycroft, to undertake a clandestine investigation. An agent of the British Secret Service has been found floating in the Thames, carrying a manuscript smuggled into England at the cost of her life. The pages purport to be the minutes of a meeting of a secret group intent on nothing less than taking over the world. Based on real events, the adventure takes the famed duo --- in the company of a bewitching woman --- aboard the Orient Express from Paris into the heart of Tsarist Russia, where Holmes and Watson attempt to trace the origins of this explosive document. On their heels are desperate men of unknown allegiance, determined to prevent them from achieving their task. Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth for HeadButler.com.
THE MISSING AMERICAN: The First Emma Djan Investigation by Kwei Quartey (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Robin Miles
When her dreams of rising through the Accra police ranks crash around her, 26-year-old Emma Djan is unsure what will become of her career. Through a sympathetic former colleague, she gets an interview with a private detective agency that takes on cases of missing persons, theft and infidelity. Meanwhile, Gordon Tilson, a middle-aged widower in Washington, DC, has found solace in an online community after his wife’s passing. Through the support group, he’s even met a young Ghanaian widow he’s come to care about. When her sister gets into a car accident, he sends her thousands of dollars to cover the hospital bill --- to the horror of his only son, Derek. Then Gordon decides to surprise his new love by paying her a visit --- and disappears. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on January 28th
Below are some notable titles releasing on January 28th 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 27th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
CLEANING THE GOLD: A Jack Reacher and Will Trent Short Story by Karin Slaughter and Lee Child (Thriller)
From New York Times bestselling authors Karin Slaughter and Lee Child comes this electrifying short story featuring their iconic characters Will Trent and Jack Reacher.
HI FIVE: An IQ Novel by Joe Ide (Mystery)
One woman. Five personalities. Private investigator IQ is back to piece together a Newport Beach murder with an eyewitness who gives "people person" a whole new meaning.
HIGHFIRE by Eoin Colfer (Fantasy/Humor)
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series comes a hilarious and high-octane adult novel about a vodka-drinking, Flashdance-loving dragon who lives an isolated life in the bayous of Louisiana --- and the raucous adventures that ensue when he crosses paths with a 15-year-old troublemaker on the run from a crooked sheriff.
INTO THE FIRE: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (Thriller)
The New York Times bestselling Orphan X series returns. Just when Evan Smoak thinks he's done, his deadliest job yet pulls him back INTO THE FIRE.
WHEN WE WERE VIKINGS by Andrew David MacDonald (Fiction)
WHEN WE WERE VIKINGS is an uplifting debut about an unlikely heroine whose journey will leave you wanting to embark on a quest of your own…because, after all, we are all legends of our own making.
WHEN YOU SEE ME by Lisa Gardner (Mystery/Thriller)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner unites three of her most beloved characters --- Detective D. D. Warren, Flora Dane and Kimberly Quincy --- in a twisty new thriller, as they investigate a mysterious murder from the past...which points to a dangerous and chilling present-day crime.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Current and Upcoming
Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following recently released or upcoming fiction titles have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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AGENCY by William Gibson
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ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE: A Novel of the Ritz Paris, by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White
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AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins
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THE BIG LIE: A Jack Swyteck Novel, by James Grippando
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BLINDSIDE: A Detective Michael Bennett Thriller, by James Patterson and James O. Born
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CLEANING THE GOLD: A Jack Reacher and Will Trent Short Story, by Karin Slaughter and Lee Child
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CROOKED RIVER: A Pendergast Novel, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
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DEAR EDWARD by Ann Napolitano
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A DIVIDED LOYALTY: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery, by Charles Todd
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GOLDEN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
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HOUSE ON FIRE by Joseph Finder
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INTO THE FIRE: An Orphan X Novel, by Gregg Hurwitz
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JFK AND MARY MEYER: A Love Story, by Jesse Kornbluth
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LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict
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LONG BRIGHT RIVER by Liz Moore
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A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA by Isabel Allende
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THE MUSEUM OF DESIRE: An Alex Delaware Novel, by Jonathan Kellerman
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PERFECT LITTLE CHILDREN by Sophie Hannah
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THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire, by Allison Pataki
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SAINT X by Alexis Schaitkin
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TREASON: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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TROUBLE IS WHAT I DO by Walter Mosley
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THE WARSAW PROTOCOL by Steve Berry
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WHEN WE WERE VIKINGS by Andrew David MacDonald
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WHEN YOU SEE ME by Lisa Gardner
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 7th 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 January 24th to February 7th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of WHEN YOU SEE ME by Lisa Gardner and INTO THE FIRE: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz.
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 January 6th to February 3rd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Liz Moore's LONG BRIGHT RIVER, read by Allyson Ryan, and Joseph Finder's HOUSE ON FIRE, read by Holter Graham.
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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