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Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Allison Pataki,
whose new novel, THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE, is now in stores and will be a Bets On pick.
Click on the photo above for the video and here for the podcast.
Last weekend, Carol read THE OTHER MRS. by Mary Kubica (on sale Tuesday), which will be a
Bets On pick, as well as ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS by Jami Attenberg
and THE CRIME OF BEING by Alice Lichtenstein.
She is looking forward to interviewing Jami and Alice at the Tucson Festival of Books in March.
Carol will be making her traditional heart-shaped cake with whipped cream frosting
and raspberries this weekend, similar to the one you see above, which was from last year.
Last weekend, she baked the sourdough bread that you see above.
Although it had a great rise and a perfect crust, the inside was too dense.
Carol talks about this week's Bookreporter update in our latest promo video.
A belated Happy Birthday to Tom Donadio, our intrepid Editorial Director, who finished another circle around the sun yesterday. Every review, every piece of copy on the site and every newsletter is meticulously looked at and edited by Tom. He has amazing relationships with our reviewers, most of whom we never have met in person. He juggles and rejuggles and is just unflappable. He does not miss a beat...EVER!
For those of you who would like to wish him a Happy Birthday, his email is Tom@bookreporter.com. He was under the weather for part of this week, and so was I, so we each hunkered down at home instead of at the office. We will celebrate next week with pizza and Entenmann's cake! I am on week three of my cold, and this is really super boring. I am counting on the three-day weekend to kill all germs.
I did get a lot of reading done last weekend, including THE OTHER MRS. by Mary Kubica, which is coming out on Tuesday (we will have our review next Friday). I was in the mood for a great thriller, and it did not disappoint! It’s set in a small town in Maine where Sadie and Will Foust have relocated from Chicago. Soon after they move in, their neighbor, Morgan Baines, is found dead. What happened to her? From there, the story whips you in one direction and another, but I did not see the ending coming. Actually, there was a lot more that I did not see coming. It is so well done. And yes, it will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
I am moderating five panels at the Tucson Festival of Books, so there has been a bit of a reading marathon going on to prep. I actually have a spreadsheet made of the events and my status on reading and developing questions. Over last weekend, I read both THE CRIME OF BEING by Alice Lichtenstein and ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS by Jami Attenberg. These panels are themed, and I am trying to sculpt author questions up against them, which is both challenging and fun. I have five more books to read, and notes for questions are coming together. I know some of you mentioned that you are planning to be in Tucson and wanted to know my schedule. You can find that here. I also am doing an event in Baldwin, New York, on March 5th, and I hope to see many of you there.
This weekend, there are book festivals in both Savannah and on Amelia Island. If any of you are attending and would like to share notes with us, let me know. We have a terrific piece from Fiona Davis, who joined 19 other authors and over 150 readers aboard the Queen Mary ocean liner in Long Beach, CA for the first ever Super Book Weekend, hosted by Adventures by the Book. I loved reading about it! And yes, I have been on that ship with Greg and Cory; Cory and I still remember every moment of the four hours we spent with Greg and a friend in the engine room.
Now to this week’s update.
Allison Pataki’s new historical novel, THE QUEEN’S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire, is now in stores and will be my third Bets On pick of the year. It tells the story of Desiree Clary, the extraordinary woman who captured Napoleon’s heart, created a dynasty and changed the course of history. Recently I had the pleasure of chatting with Allison for our latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview. In addition to talking in-depth about the book, we discussed women at the forefront of history, Allison's research in Paris, and the ways in which her personal life has affected her historical storytelling over the years. It was such a fascinating conversation, and I already am looking forward to the next time our paths cross. Click here to watch the interview and here to listen to the podcast.
Amy Gwiazdowski has our review and says, “Desiree’s story is beautifully told by Allison Pataki, who immerses us in a love story so full of drama and heartbreak that we feel it on every page. I do have a soft spot for historical fiction, especially when it takes place at a French court, and this book did not disappoint --- from the setting to the characters, I was hooked from the start. THE QUEEN’S FORTUNE is lavish and wonderful, dreadfully sad at times, and just a fabulous tale to be lost in for hours.” I echo Amy’s sentiments; don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter. In the meantime, click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
THE QUEEN’S FORTUNE is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes, along with THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE by Abi Daré, which is this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick (we will have our review next week). Let us know by Friday, February 21st at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these novels.
Another new release this week is MERCY HOUSE, Alena Dillon’s debut novel. Inside a century-old row house in Brooklyn, renegade Sister Evelyn and her fellow nuns preside over a safe haven for the abused and abandoned. Little daunts Evelyn, until she receives word that Mercy House will be investigated by Bishop Hawkins, a man with whom she shares a dark history. In order to protect everything they’ve built, the nuns must conceal many of their methods, which are forbidden by the Catholic Church. Evelyn will go to great lengths to defend all that she loves --- confronting a gang member, defying the church, challenging her own beliefs and facing her past.
Our reviewer Rebecca Munro has this to say about the book: "Written with heart, compassion and incredibly strong prose, MERCY HOUSE is an impressive first novel from a promising talent. Dillon has a long career ahead of her." We also are featuring the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com, which you can take a look at here. You may remember that in November I moderated a Book Club Girl “Night Out” event with Alena and Susan Wiggs. Click here to watch the interview, which was such fun to conduct.
We gave away THE QUEEN’S FORTUNE and MERCY HOUSE in this week’s Winter Reading contests. Our final Winter Reading prize book will be SAINT X by Alexis Schaitkin, an upcoming Bets On pick that we will review next week. And I am interviewing Alexis on Tuesday, so we will have that for you as well. The contest will be announced on Tuesday, February 18th at noon ET.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include Randy Wayne White’s SALT RIVER, in which the sins of the past come back to haunt Doc Ford and his old friend Tomlinson; A DIVIDED LOYALTY by Charles Todd, which finds Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge assigned to one of the most baffling investigations of his career --- a cold murder case with an unidentified victim and a cold trail with few clues to follow; Deepa Anappara’s debut novel, DJINN PATROL ON THE PURPLE LINE, which revolves around three friends venturing into the most dangerous corners of a sprawling Indian city to find their missing classmate; and HI FIVE, which marks the return of Joe Ide’s PI protagonist IQ, who must piece together a Newport Beach murder with an eyewitness who has multiple personalities.
Congratulations to the five winners of this year’s Valentine’s Day contest! They received all five of our love-themed books: THE END OF THE DAY by Bill Clegg (an upcoming Bets On title), THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW by Tracey Garvis Graves (a Bets On pick from last year), GROWN UPS by Emma Jane Unsworth, POSTSCRIPT by Cecelia Ahern, and THE WOMEN IN BLACK by Madeleine St John. Those who entered had the option of responding to the question “Who is your all-time literary crush?” You can see your top 10 “Literary Loves and Lusts” here.
Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to in our Sounding Off on Audio contest, and you’ll be in the running to win the audio versions of J. D. Robb's GOLDEN IN DEATH, read by Susan Ericksen, and Steve Berry's THE WARSAW PROTOCOL, read by Scott Brick. Please enter by Monday, March 2nd at noon ET. Reviews of the print editions of both will be coming soon!
Our poll continues to ask which of 20 paperbacks releasing in February you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes!
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Pam wrote, “Carol, I am so excited to be a winner of your Word of Mouth contest! I received my books over the weekend. They are both high up on my TBR list. AMERICAN DIRT is interesting to me because of all the buzz, good and bad. I heard Isabel Allende speak at a Simon & Schuster event a few years back and really enjoyed her speech. I think you interviewed a different author at that same event. It’s too bad they haven’t done another event like that since. Anyway, I read one of her books soon afterward and was looking forward to A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA. It’s always a pleasant surprise to get books in the mail!"
Lori wrote this about winning JFK AND MARY MEYER: A Love Story by Jesse Kornbluth in a Winter Reading contest: “Awesome, thank you so much!”
Lee Child Gets the Royal Treatment: The Jack Reacher author was honored by Prince Charles at the Buckingham Palace investitures today. He has been made a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for services to literature.
All the Bright Places: This movie based on the book by Jennifer Niven is coming to Netflix on February 28th. You can see the trailer here.
An Interview with Celeste Ng: In this New York Times piece, the author of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE talks about the book and the upcoming Hulu series on which it is based.
"Bosch": Update on the Amazon Prime series. Season six will release later this year. The seventh and final season has been picked up and will run in 2021; it will be drawn from the novels THE CONCRETE BLONDE and THE BURNING ROOM.
"Homeland": The eighth and final season just started. I previewed four episodes last weekend. 1 and 2 were slow, but 3 and 4 are terrific. Now I have to wait for 5!
My neighborhood book group met this week, and we discussed AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins. Everyone loved it, and we had a great dialogue about it. They thought it was a page-turner that was well-written and enlightening about the migrant crisis. They would highly recommend it to others. They actually felt that Jeanine’s focus gave her an opportunity to tell the story in a unique way. Since she is not a victim or an insider, she was able to offer a 360-degree look at the story told from many perspectives. They also saw how danger was apparent at every turn --- and how the way she told the story enhanced for readers how unsafe the entire world was for these people on their journey; at any moment you did not know who to trust. It was a very good discussion.
On ReadingGroupGuides.com, 10 book clubs won copies of AMERICAN DIRT with the proviso that they share their feedback by February 28th. We have heard from six of the groups to date, and you can read their comments here. I am thrilled to see their commentary; we love hearing from our readers. AMERICAN DIRT is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection, the #1 Indie Next pick and Oprah's latest book club pick. B&N will be selling a special Exclusive Book Club Edition of the novel, along with hosting a free Book Club Night to discuss it, in stores across the country on Tuesday, March 10th at 7pm local time. Click here to sign up. On March 6th, Oprah will be airing her series about AMERICAN DIRT on Apple TV+. Part of it was being taped yesterday in Tucson.
Greg is headed to Maine for Land Rover Winter Romp. Tonight we are going to our friend Cathy's house for a Valentine's Day party. That is such a great idea since going to a restaurant on Valentine's Day is not up my alley. Tomorrow I will make our traditional heart-shaped cake with whipped cream frosting and raspberries; the cake pictured above was from last year. It’s yet another holiday tradition. I am loving the idea of having a three-day weekend in front of me. Last weekend, I baked sourdough bread, which had a great rise and a perfect crust, but the inside was too dense. I have some ideas to try to perfect this.
Sending you all lots of love on Valentine’s Day. May Cupid shoot a book your way.
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review:
THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE by Allison Pataki
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire by Allison Pataki (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Justine Eyre
As the French Revolution ravages the country, Desiree Clary is faced with the life-altering truth that the world she has known and loved is gone, and it’s fallen on her to save her family from the guillotine. A chance encounter with Napoleon Bonaparte, the ambitious and charismatic young military prodigy, provides her answer. When her beloved sister Julie marries his brother Joseph, Desiree and Napoleon’s futures become irrevocably linked. Quickly entering into their own passionate, dizzying courtship that leads to a secret engagement, they vow to meet in the capital once his career has been secured. But her newly laid plans with Napoleon turn to sudden heartbreak, thanks to the rising star of Parisian society, Josephine de Beauharnais. Once again, Desiree’s life is turned on its head. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Allison Pataki.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read our review.
THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review: MERCY HOUSE by Alena Dillon
MERCY HOUSE by Alena Dillon (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Dawn Harvey, Catherine Ho, Scarlette Hayes, Eboni Flowers, Caitlin Kelly and Bahni Turpin
Inside a century-old row house in Brooklyn, renegade Sister Evelyn and her fellow nuns preside over a safe haven for the abused and abandoned. Gruff and indomitable on the surface, warm and wry underneath, little daunts Evelyn, until she receives word that Mercy House will be investigated by Bishop Hawkins, a man with whom she shares a dark history. In order to protect everything they’ve built, the nuns must conceal many of their methods, which are forbidden by the Catholic Church. Evelyn will go to great lengths to defend all that she loves. She confronts a gang member, defies the church, challenges her own beliefs and faces her past. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SALT RIVER by Randy Wayne White
SALT RIVER: A Doc Ford Novel by Randy Wayne White (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by George Guidall
Marine biologist and former government agent Doc Ford is sure he's beyond the point of being surprised by his longtime pal Tomlinson's madcap tales of his misspent youth. But he's stunned anew when avowed bachelor Tomlinson reveals that as a younger man strapped for cash, he'd unwittingly fathered multiple children via for-profit sperm bank donations. Thanks to genealogy websites, Tomlinson's now-grown offspring have tracked him down, seeking answers about their roots --- but Doc quickly grows suspicious that one of them might be planning something far more nefarious than a family reunion. With recent history on his mind, Doc is unsurprised when his own dicey past is called into question. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for February
Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads, as well as the Target Book Club title and Pennie's Pick for Costco. We also feature a number of other prominent picks, including Oprah’s Book Club, the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club, Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, the PBS NewsHour-New York Times “Now Read This” Book Club, and Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites.
Below is a preview of February's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks." For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here.
Indie Next
#1 Pick: AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins
WEATHER by Jenny Offill
AUTHOR IN CHIEF: The Untold Story of Our Presidents and the Books They Wrote, by Craig Fehrman
A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA by Isabel Allende
WHEN WE WERE VIKINGS by Andrew David MacDonald
LibraryReads
LibraryReads Top Pick: THE AUTHENTICITY PROJECT by Clare Pooley
THE BEAR by Andrew Krivak
THE GIRL IN WHITE GLOVES: A Novel of Grace Kelly by Kerri Maher
GOLDEN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
MERCY HOUSE by Alena Dillon
Target Book Club
LIGHTS ALL NIGHT LONG by Lydia Fitzpatrick
Pennie's Pick (Costco)
THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK by Kim Michele Richardson
Barnes & Noble Book Club
AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins
Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club
THE SCENT KEEPER by Erica Bauermeister
Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club
THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE by Abi Daré
PBS NewsHour-New York Times “Now Read This” Book Club
AMERICAN PRISON: A Reporter's Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment, by Shane Bauer
Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites
THE STATIONERY SHOP by Marjan Kamali
Featured Review: A DIVIDED LOYALTY by Charles Todd
A DIVIDED LOYALTY: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Simon Prebble
Chief Inspector Brian Leslie is sent to Avebury, a village set inside a great prehistoric stone circle not far from Stonehenge. A young woman has been murdered next to a mysterious, hooded, figure-like stone, but no one recognizes her --- or admits to it. Despite a thorough investigation, it appears that her killer has simply vanished. Asked to take a second look at Leslie’s inquiry, Ian Rutledge also finds very little to go on in Avebury, slowly widening his search beyond the village --- only to discover that unlikely (possibly even unreliable) clues are pointing him toward an impossible solution, one that will draw the wrath of the Yard down on him, and very likely see him dismissed if he pursues it. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
DJINN PATROL ON THE PURPLE LINE
by Deepa Anappara
DJINN PATROL ON THE PURPLE LINE by Deepa Anappara (Mystery/Suspense)
Audiobook available; read by Indira Varma, Himesh Patel and Antonio Aakeel
Nine-year-old Jai drools outside sweet shops, watches too many reality police shows, and considers himself to be smarter than his friends Pari (though she gets the best grades) and Faiz (though Faiz has an actual job). When a classmate goes missing, Jai decides to use the crime-solving skills he has picked up from TV to find him. He asks Pari and Faiz to be his assistants, and together they draw up lists of people to interview and places to visit. But what begins as a game turns sinister as other children start disappearing from their neighborhood. Jai, Pari and Faiz have to confront terrified parents, an indifferent police force and rumors of soul-snatching djinns. As the disappearances edge ever closer to home, the lives of Jai and his friends will never be the same again. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: HI FIVE by Joe Ide
HI FIVE: An IQ Novel by Joe Ide (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Zeno Robinson
Cristiana is the daughter of the biggest arms dealers on the West Coast, Angus Byrne. She's also the sole witness and number one suspect in the murder of her boyfriend, found dead in her Newport Beach boutique. Isaiah Quintabe is coerced into taking the case to prove her innocence. If he can't, Angus will harm the brilliant PI's new girlfriend, ending her career. The catch: Christiana has multiple personalities. Five radically different ones. Among them, a naïve, beautiful shopkeeper, an obnoxious drummer in a rock band, and a wanton seductress. Isaiah's dilemma: no one personality saw the entire incident. To find out what really happened the night of the murder, Isaiah must piece together clues from each of the personalities --- before the cops catch up. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's Sixth Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature
Our Winter Reading Contests and Feature have returned for a sixth year! On select days through February 19th at noon ET, 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 final prize book will be announced on Tuesday, February 18th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
"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:
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Linwood Barclay (ELEVATOR PITCH) Video | Podcast
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Patti Callahan (BECOMING MRS. LEWIS) Video | Podcast
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Fiona Davis (THE CHELSEA GIRLS) Video | Podcast
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Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille (THE DESERTER) Video | Podcast
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Sally Hepworth (THE MOTHER-IN-LAW) Video | Podcast
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Marjan Kamali (THE STATIONERY SHOP) Video | Podcast
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Mary Beth Keane (ASK AGAIN, YES) Video | Podcast
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Raymond Khoury (EMPIRE OF LIES) Video | Podcast
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Jesse Kornbluth (JFK AND MARY MEYER: A Love Story) Video | Podcast
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William Kent Krueger (THIS TENDER LAND) Video | Podcast
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Jean Kwok (SEARCHING FOR SYLVIE LEE) Video | Podcast
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Shari Lapena (SOMEONE WE KNOW) Video | Podcast
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Gilly Macmillan (THE NANNY) Video | Podcast
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Liz Moore (LONG BRIGHT RIVER) Video | Podcast
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Heather Morris (THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ; CILKA'S JOURNEY) Video | Podcast
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Allison Pataki (THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire) Video | Podcast NEW!
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Whitney Scharer (THE AGE OF LIGHT) Video | Podcast
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Cara Wall (THE DEARLY BELOVED) Video | Podcast
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Sheila Weller (CARRIE FISHER: A Life on the Edge) Video | Podcast
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Karen White (THE CHRISTMAS SPIRITS ON TRADD STREET; ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE) Video | Podcast
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Beatriz Williams (THE GOLDEN HOUR; THE WICKED REDHEAD; ALL THE WAYS WE SAID GOODBYE) Video | Podcast
Upcoming interviews include:
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Marie Benedict (LADY CLEMENTINE)
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Therese Anne Fowler (A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD)
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Luanne Rice (LAST DAY)
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Alexis Schaitkin (SAINT X)
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Amanda Eyre Ward (THE JETSETTERS)
Watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews and listen to our podcasts.
RACE AGAINST TIME: A Reporter Reopens the Unsolved Murder Cases of the Civil Rights Era by Jerry Mitchell (True Crime/Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Jerry Mitchell
On June 21, 1964, more than 20 Klansmen murdered three civil rights workers. The killings, in what would become known as the “Mississippi Burning” case, were among the most brazen acts of violence during the civil rights movement. And even though the killers’ identities, including the sheriff’s deputy, were an open secret, no one was charged with murder in the months and years that followed. It took 41 years before the mastermind was brought to trial and finally convicted for the three innocent lives he took. Investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell takes readers on the twisting, pulse-racing road that led to the reopening of four of the most infamous killings from the days of the civil rights movement, decades after the fact. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
AMERICAN SHERLOCK: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by Kate Winkler Dawson (True Crime/Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Winkler Dawson
Known as the "American Sherlock Holmes," Edward Oscar Heinrich was one of America's greatest --- and first --- forensic scientists, with an uncanny knack for finding clues, establishing evidence, and deducing answers with a skill that seemed almost supernatural. Heinrich was one of the nation's first expert witnesses, working in a time when the turmoil of Prohibition led to sensationalized crime reporting and only a small, systematic study of evidence. However, with his brilliance, and commanding presence in both the courtroom and at crime scenes, Heinrich spearheaded the invention of a myriad of new forensic tools that police still use today. His work, though not without its serious --- some would say fatal --- flaws, changed the course of American criminal investigation. Reviewed by Cindy Burnett.
FRANKLIN & WASHINGTON: The Founding Partnership by Edward J. Larson (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Andrew Tell
Theirs was a three-decade-long bond that, more than any other pairing, would forge the United States. Benjamin Franklin, an abolitionist freethinker from the urban north, and George Washington, a slaveholding general from the agrarian south, were the indispensable authors of American independence and the two key partners in the attempt to craft a more perfect union at the Constitutional Convention. Yet their teamwork has been little remarked upon in the centuries since. Illuminating Franklin and Washington’s relationship with striking new detail and energy, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward J. Larson shows that theirs was truly an intimate working friendship that amplified the talents of each for collective advancement of the American project. Reviewed by Harvey Fredeenberg.
THIEF RIVER FALLS by Brian Freeman (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
The author of a bestselling thriller called Thief River Falls, Lisa Power is secluded in her remote house as she struggles with the loss of her entire family: a series of tragedies she calls the “Dark Star.” Then a nameless runaway boy shows up at her door with a terrifying story: he’s just escaped death after witnessing a brutal murder --- a crime the police want to cover up. Obsessed with the boy’s safety, Lisa resolves to expose this crime, but powerful men in Thief River Falls are desperate to get the boy back, and now they want her too. Still under the strange, unforgiving threat of the Dark Star, Lisa must find a way to save them both, or they’ll become the victims of another shocking tragedy she can’t foresee. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
UPRIGHT WOMEN WANTED by Sarah Gailey (Science Fiction/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Romy Nordlinger
Esther is a stowaway. She’s hidden herself away in the Librarian’s book wagon in an attempt to escape the marriage her father has arranged for her --- a marriage to the man who was previously engaged to her best friend. Her best friend who she was in love with. Her best friend who was just executed for possession of resistance propaganda. The future American Southwest is full of bandits, fascists and queer librarian spies on horseback trying to do the right thing. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
THE BURN by Kathleen Kent (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christie Moreau
Betty Rhyzyk’s wounds are still fresh from an encounter with an apocalyptic cult known as The Family. She's back at work as a narcotics detective, but something isn't right --- at work, where someone has been assassinating confidential informants, or at home, where she struggles to connect with her loving wife, Jackie. To make matters worse, Betty's partner seems to be increasingly dependent on the prescription painkillers he was prescribed for the injuries he sustained rescuing her. Betty decides to go rogue, investigating her own department and chasing down phantom sightings of the cult leader who took her hostage. The chase will lead her to the dark heart of a drug cartel terrorizing Dallas, and straight to the crooked cops who plan to profit from it all. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE ABSOLUTION by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lucy Paterson
The police find out about the crime the way everyone does: on Snapchat. The video shows a terrified young woman begging for forgiveness. When her body is found, it is marked with a number “2”. Detective Huldar joins the investigation, bringing child psychologist Freyja on board to help question the murdered teenager's friends. Soon, they uncover that Stella was far from the angel people claim, but who could have hated her enough to kill? Then another teenager goes missing, more clips are sent to social media, and the body with a “3” is found. Freyja and Huldar can agree on two things at least: the truth is far from simple. The killer is not done yet. And is there an undiscovered body carrying the number “1” out there? Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
ONE DAY YOU’LL BURN by Joseph Schneider (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Neil Shah
A body so badly burned that it could be mistaken for a movie prop...except for the smell. That's not something the LAPD finds lying on the street every day. And when Detective Tully Jarsdel is called to the scene, it's clear to him that something about the placement of the corpse is intentional, even ritualistic. Jarsdel's former career in academia finally seems to be coming in handy. But nothing Jarsdel learned in school can prepare him for the deep evil behind this case, which appears to be as hopeless as it is violent. As Jarsdel and his partner, Morales, attempt to uncover the motive behind the horrendous crime, they find themselves dragged into the underbelly of a city notorious for chewing up and spitting out anyone dumb enough to turn their back on survival. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 18th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 18th 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 February 17th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE DARK CORNERS OF THE NIGHT: An UNSUB Novel by Meg Gardiner (Psychological Thriller)
He appears in the darkness like a ghost, made of shadows and fear --- the Midnight Man. He comes for the parents but leaves the children alive, tiny witnesses to unspeakable horror. FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin Hendrix has come to Los Angeles to assist in the Midnight Man investigation and do what she does best --- hunt a serial killer.
THE GENIUS OF WOMEN: From Overlooked to Changing the World by Janice Kaplan (Gender Studies/Personal Growth)
We tell girls that they can be anything, so why do 90 percent of Americans believe that geniuses are almost always men? New York Times bestselling journalist Janice Kaplan explores the powerful forces that have rigged the system --- and celebrates the women geniuses past and present who have triumphed anyway.
THE HOLDOUT by Graham Moore (Legal Thriller)
From the Academy Award–winning screenwriter of The Imitation Game and bestselling author of THE LAST DAYS OF NIGHT comes THE HOLDOUT. One juror changed the verdict. What if she was wrong?
THE LAST PASSENGER: A Charles Lenox Mystery by Charles Finch (Historical Mystery)
Written in Charles Finch’s unmistakably witty and graceful voice, THE LAST PASSENGER is a cunning, thrilling and deeply satisfying conclusion to this trilogy of prequels to his bestselling Charles Lenox series.
THE MAN IN THE RED COAT by Julian Barnes (History)
From the Man Booker Prize-winning author of THE SENSE OF AN ENDING comes a rich, witty, revelatory tour of Belle Époque Paris, via the remarkable life story of the pioneering surgeon, Samuel Pozzi.
ONE MINUTE OUT: A Gray Man Novel by Mark Greaney (Thriller)
From Mark Greaney, the New York Times bestselling author of MISSION CRITICAL and a co-author of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels, comes another high-stakes thriller featuring the world's most dangerous assassin: the Gray Man.
THE OTHER MRS. by Mary Kubica (Psychological Thriller)
Propulsive and addictive, and perfect for fans of “You,” THE OTHER MRS. is the twisty new psychological thriller from Mary Kubica, the New York Times bestselling author of THE GOOD GIRL.
THE ROCK BLASTER written by Henning Mankell, translated by George Goulding (Fiction)
Henning Mankell's first novel, never before released in English, explores the reflections of a working class man who has struggled against the constraints of his station for his entire life.
SAINT X by Alexis Schaitkin (Psychological Thriller)
Hailed as a “marvel of a book” and “brilliant and unflinching,” Alexis Schaitkin’s stunning debut, SAINT X, is a haunting portrait of grief, obsession and the bond between two sisters never truly given the chance to know one another.
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Our Latest Poll: February Paperbacks to Anticipate
Which of the following books releasing in paperback in February have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF by Marlon James
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THE BORDER by Don Winslow
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DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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A DANGEROUS MAN: An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, by Robert Crais
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I.M.: A Memoir, by Isaac Mizrahi
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NEON PREY: A Lucas Davenport Novel, by John Sandford
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THE NEW GIRL by Daniel Silva
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THE NIGHT WINDOW: A Jane Hawk Novel, by Dean Koontz
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NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney
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OUTFOX by Sandra Brown
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THE PARIS DIVERSION by Chris Pavone
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RESISTANCE WOMEN by Jennifer Chiaverini
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THE SCENT KEEPER by Erica Bauermeister
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SEPARATE: The Story of Plessy v. Ferguson, and America's Journey from Slavery to Segregation, by Steve Luxenberg
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SMOKESCREEN by Iris Johansen
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THE STATIONERY SHOP by Marjan Kamali
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SUMMER OF ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
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TIDELANDS by Philippa Gregory
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UNSOLVED by James Patterson and David Ellis
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WINDOW ON THE BAY by Debbie Macomber
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 21st at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
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 February 3rd to March 2nd at noon ET, one lucky reader will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of J. D. Robb's GOLDEN IN DEATH, read by Susan Ericksen, and Steve Berry's THE WARSAW PROTOCOL, read by Scott Brick.
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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