March 26, 2021

March 26, 2021

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Springtime Reading

Quick Note: We are trying something new this week in the newsletter, breaking up the opener text with photos instead of putting them on top with captions. We thought it might make the reading experience more interesting. Let me know what you think!

Last weekend, my husband Tom was reading WE BEGIN AT THE END by Chris Whitaker, this month's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick, and I was shadowing him as he read. I did not want to give anything away, but I was so eager to see his reaction to it. I kept asking, "What's happening now?" I was so happy that he enjoyed it as much as I did! He agrees with me that it was so well done and different. We spent a lot of time talking about it. It was fun to be able to do that!

This morning, we learned the sad news that Larry McMurtry passed away yesterday at the age of 84 due to congestive heart failure. McMurtry penned more than 30 novels --- most notably THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT and the Pulitzer Prize-winning LONESOME DOVE --- as well as numerous works of nonfiction, including essay collections, histories and memoirs. In 2006, McMurtry won an Academy Award for the screenplay of Brokeback Mountain with cowriter Diana Ossana, and in 2014, he was awarded the National Humanities Medal for his body of work. Read much more about his life and his amazing career in this piece from the New York Times. We will bring you our own tribute in next week's newsletter.

Later in the day, we learned even more sad news in the literary world: Beloved children's author Beverly Cleary passed away yesterday at the age of 104. Her characters --- including Henry Huggins, Beezus and Ramona Quimby, Ellen Tebbits and Otis Spofford, as well as Ribsy, Socks and Ralph S. Mouse --- have delighted children for generations.

Cleary’s first book, HENRY HUGGINS, was published in 1950, immediately setting a standard for realistic children’s fiction. She also has inspired countless authors, including Judy Blume, to deal with the real issues in young readers’ lives. Her books brought me sooooooo many wonderful hours of reading! Her publisher HarperCollins issued this heartfelt statement about her passing and the legacy she leaves behind. In 2016, Cleary appeared on "Today" to celebrate her 100th birthday. In the interview, where she talked about this incredible milestone, she said, "Well, I didn't do it on purpose!"

On Tuesday night, Lisa Scottoline and her daughter, Francesca Serritella, hosted a really fun launch party for ETERNAL, Lisa's first work of historical fiction (and an upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On selection), on Facebook Live; above you can see a photo that I snapped on my phone from the event. Since November, Lisa has hosted a terrific series of online events leading up to the launch where she shared videos that she shot in Italy, all of which inspired the book.

Readers can now view those, along with her commentary and an interactive map that lends more information about locations in the book, to make it a more immersive experience. All can be found on her website, and the schedule for her virtual book tour is here.

We are featuring our rave review of ETERNAL this week from Jana Siciliano, who says, “The characters are so beautifully fleshed out that you feel as if you are reading someone’s family memoir… Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro share a stage that is swift and ever-changing, which makes ETERNAL a truly outstanding work of historical fiction…. Scottoline should be congratulated for taking on such a despicable yet compelling topic and turning it into a searing, thoughtful and emotional story that will thrill her dedicated readers and newcomers alike.” We also posted the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter. And I look forward to interviewing Lisa soon!

Rescheduled Event Date! Sometimes life gets in the way of plans. On Wednesday, Kim Michele Richardson, author of THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK, broke the news that she would not be able to join us for the “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event that was to take place last night due to a dental emergency. Thus we have decided to reschedule the event for Thursday, April 22nd at 8pm ET. If you already signed up for the session, there is no need to do so again. If you haven’t and would be interested in attending, you can register here. Also, if you have a question for Kim Michele that you would like to ask on camera, please send me an email with the subject line “Question for Kim Michele.”

This all seems to have turned out for the best, as Kim Michele emailed me last night (just minutes before the event would have started) to say that tornadoes were moving into her area and they were going to be under a tornado watch until 3am. We look forward to having a healthy Kim Michele join us on April 22nd when hopefully there will be no storms on the horizon!

My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Alexandra Andrews, whose debut novel, WHO IS MAUD DIXON?, is a Bets On selection. Florence Darrow is just starting out her career at a book publisher, hoping to eventually make it as a successful author. In the publishing world, Mississippi Foxtrot by Maud Dixon is one of the hottest books on the market. The identity of Maud is unknown, as she only publishes under her pseudonym. After a fall from grace at the publishing house, Florence becomes Maud’s assistant and is sworn to secrecy about her identity. From there, the plot takes on many twists and turns, culminating in a research trip to Morocco for Maud’s next book, at which point readers will be turning pages quickly to see what happens next. Alexandra talked to me about her career decisions that inspired the book, along with her writing process, which included changes that unfolded over the course of developing the story. But don’t worry, we give nothing away! Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.

Our latest New Release Spotlight title is SUNFLOWER SISTERS, which will be in stores on Tuesday and wraps up Martha Hall Kelly’s trilogy of novels featuring Caroline Ferriday’s family. This prequel to LOST ROSES (which, in turn, is a prequel to LILAC GIRLS) tells the story of Caroline’s ancestor Georgeanna Woolsey, a Union nurse during the Civil War whose calling leads her to cross paths with Jemma, a young enslaved girl who is sold off and conscripted into the army, and Anne-May Wilson, a Southern plantation mistress whose husband enlists. Inspired by true accounts, the novel provides a vivid, detailed look at the Civil War experience --- from the barbaric and inhumane plantations, to a war-torn New York City, to the horrors of the battlefield. It’s a sweeping story of women caught in a country on the brink of collapse, in a society grappling with nationalism and unthinkable racial cruelty. We will feature our review of the book in next week’s newsletter.

SUNFLOWER SISTERS is one of next week’s prizes in our Spring Preview contests; the others are WHAT’S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster (this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick) and THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore (which releases on June 22nd). The first contest of the week will go live on Monday, March 29th at noon ET.

We gave away ETERNAL in this week’s Spring Preview contest, but if you weren’t one of our five winners, you still have a chance to win the book in our Word of Mouth contest --- along with SUNFLOWER SISTERS. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these highly anticipated historical novels. Please do so by Friday, April 2nd at noon ET.

In THE OTHER EMILY, Dean Koontz takes readers on a twisting journey of lost love, impossible second chances and terrifying promises. Emily Carlino vanished after her car broke down and was presumed to be the victim of a serial killer, though her remains were never found. Ten years later, novelist David Thorne --- who is still devastated over losing the love of his life --- meets Maddison Sutton, who eerily reminds him of Emily in every way. Could she in fact be Emily? Or is she just an irresistible dead ringer? Either way, the ultimate question remains: What game is she playing?

Ray Palen has our review and calls THE OTHER EMILY "a relentless page-turner of the highest order as readers will be eager to learn what is really behind the unbelievable events that seem to be transpiring. Koontz knows that he has crafted a finale that will shock and satisfy audiences worldwide in much the same way that he has been doing throughout his illustrious career."

Other books we’re reviewing this week include THE CONSEQUENCES OF FEAR by Jacqueline Winspear, which revolves around Maisie Dobbs’ investigation of a possible murder that threatens devastating repercussions for Britain's war efforts as Europe buckles under Nazi occupation; DOUBLE JEOPARDY, the 57th installment in Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington series, in which an old family matter that has unexpectedly resurfaced forces Stone to decamp to the craggy shores of Maine to address the issue head-on; Peter Swanson’s latest psychological thriller, EVERY VOW YOU BREAK, in which a bride’s dream honeymoon turns into a nightmare when a man with whom she’s had a regrettable one-night stand shows up; and Steven Pressfield’s first novel of the ancient world in 13 years, A MAN AT ARMS, which centers on a reluctant hero, the Roman Empire, and the rise of a new faith.

SPARKS LIKE STARS by Nadia Hashimi is my latest Bets On pick. Find out why I’m betting you’ll love this book here. I look forward to interviewing Nadia on Tuesday; we will share the video and podcast with you in next week’s newsletter.

Our poll continues to ask which of 23 paperbacks releasing this month you have read or are planning to read. Let us know your choices here.

The winners of the National Book Critics Circle Awards were presented last night during an online ceremony. They included HAMNET: A Novel of the Plague by Maggie O’Farrell (Fiction), MINOR FEELINGS: An Asian American Reckoning, by Cathy Park Hong (Autobiography), STRANGER IN THE SHOGUN'S CITY: A Japanese Woman and Her World, by Amy Stanley (Biography), and LUSTER by Raven Leilani (The John Leonard Award for Best First Book). Click here for the complete list of winners.

On Monday night, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced the Audie Award winners at the 26th Audie Awards Gala, which took place virtually and was hosted by actor and audiobook narrator John Leguizamo. Susanna Clarke’s PIRANESI, read by Chiwetel Ejiofor, was named the 2021 Audiobook of the Year. Other winners included Kiley Reid’s SUCH A FUN AGE, read by Nicole Lewis (Fiction); Michael Connelly’s FAIR WARNING, read by Peter Giles and Zach Villa (Mystery); and Jon Meacham’s HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON: John Lewis and the Power of Hope, read by JD Jackson (History/Biography). Click here to see all the winners and here to watch the ceremony.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

Lee wrote, “Your newsletter reminded me that I had not written to thank you for the copy of MASQUE OF HONOR by Sharon Virts. I do not read as quickly as you do, so I haven’t read it yet, but it is so nice to receive a new hardcover book that I get to keep and not have to return in 24 days. Thank you for making my day!”

Feef wrote, “I am thrilled to be a recipient of the new book, OF WOMEN AND SALT. I see that the release date is March 30th, which ironically is my birthday. What a gift! I look forward to reading this interesting multigenerational saga."

Puzzles: I know that many of you love doing puzzles. So I am happy to share this link from Murder By The Book, where the store owner, McKenna Jordan, has "devoted so much time and energy to keeping them in stock, finding beautiful new varieties and, especially, tracking down book-themed ones. Bonus: they also make great gifts!" And it's a great way to support an indie store! 

Felt-like Planters: A few of you wrote asking about the planters that I shared last week. They are made by the company Haxnicks, and they are called Vigoroot.

Audrey on Netflix: A lovely documentary about Audrey Hepburn.

"Genius: Aretha" on National Geographic: I want to watch this one.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 on Netflix: This film is well done, but I'm not sure it's Oscar-worthy!

Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal on Netflix: I still find it so crazy what people were willing to spend to get their kids into elite schools.

"Hemingway" on PBS: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick explore Hemingway and his enduring influence in this three-part, six-hour series that airs on April 5th, 6th and 7th.

Tom and I are celebrating our 36th anniversary on Tuesday. It's our second anniversary under the spell of COVID-19, so we have not made any plans! For Valentine's Day he bought me the adorable poster that you see above. We met on a ski slope in Crested Butte, so this is just so perfect. The last line, in case you cannot read it, is "It was me. The End." I had the frame custom-made, and it really is perfect. Now I need to figure out where to hang "this story."

I have no serious weekend plans, but I am hoping to get some time to putter in the garden. I started cleanup last weekend. We still are harboring lettuce in the kitchen. I think we need to get to about April 5th before we bring it outside.

And I am working on an Easter menu! To all of you celebrating Passover, we send you our good wishes!

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: ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell and Edoardo Ballerini
Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro grow up as the best of friends despite their differences. Elisabetta is a feisty beauty who dreams of becoming a novelist; Marco the brash and athletic son in a family of professional cyclists; and Sandro a Jewish mathematics prodigy, kindhearted and thoughtful, the son of a lawyer and a doctor. Their friendship blossoms to love, with both Sandro and Marco hoping to win Elisabetta's heart. But in the autumn of 1937, all of that begins to change as Mussolini asserts his power, aligning Italy's Fascists with Hitler's Nazis and altering the very laws that govern Rome. In time, everything that the three hold dear --- their families, their homes and their connection to one another --- is tested in ways they never could have imagined. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to visit Lisa Scottoline's website.
- Click here for Lisa Scottoline's virtual book tour schedule.

Click here to read our review.

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

Featured Review: THE OTHER EMILY by Dean Koontz

THE OTHER EMILY by Dean Koontz (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by MacLeod Andrews
A decade ago, Emily Carlino vanished after her car broke down on a California highway. She was presumed to be one of serial killer Ronny Lee Jessup’s victims whose remains were never found. Writer David Thorne still hasn’t recovered from losing the love of his life, or from the guilt of not being there to save her. He then meets the beguiling and playful Maddison Sutton, who is keenly aware of all he has lost. But what really takes his breath away is that everything about Maddison is just like Emily. As the fantastic becomes credible, David’s obsession grows, Maddison’s mysterious past deepens --- and terror escalates. Is she Emily? Or an irresistible dead ringer? Either way, the ultimate question is the same: What game is she playing? Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

New Release Spotlight:
SUNFLOWER SISTERS by Martha Hall Kelly
On Sale March 30th

SUNFLOWER SISTERS by Martha Hall Kelly (Historical Fiction)
Martha Hall Kelly’s million-copy bestseller LILAC GIRLS introduced readers to Caroline Ferriday. Now, in SUNFLOWER SISTERS, Kelly tells the story of Ferriday’s ancestor Georgeanna Woolsey, a Union nurse during the Civil War whose calling leads her to cross paths with Jemma, a young enslaved girl who is sold off and conscripted into the army, and Anne-May Wilson, a Southern plantation mistress whose husband enlists.

Georgeanna “Georgey” Woolsey isn’t meant for the world of lavish parties and the demure attitudes of women of her stature. So when war ignites the nation, Georgey follows her passion for nursing during a time when doctors considered women on the battlefront a bother. In proving them wrong, she and her sister Eliza venture from New York to Washington, D.C., to Gettysburg and witness the unparalleled horrors of slavery as they become involved in the war effort.

In the South, Jemma is enslaved on the Peeler Plantation in Maryland, where she lives with her mother and father. Her sister, Patience, is enslaved on the plantation next door, and both live in fear of LeBaron, an abusive overseer who tracks their every move. When Jemma is sold by the cruel plantation mistress Anne-May at the same time the Union army comes through, she sees a chance to finally escape --- but only by abandoning the family she loves.

Anne-May is left behind to run Peeler Plantation when her husband joins the Union army and her cherished brother enlists with the Confederates. In charge of the household, she uses the opportunity to follow her own ambitions and is drawn into a secret Southern network of spies, finally exposing herself to the fate she deserves.

- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Martha Hall Kelly's bio.
- Visit Martha Hall Kelly's website and blog.
- Connect with Martha Hall Kelly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.

Don't miss our review of SUNFLOWER SISTERS in next week's newsletter.

Featured Review:
THE CONSEQUENCES OF FEAR
by Jacqueline Winspear

THE CONSEQUENCES OF FEAR: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Orlagh Cassidy
While on a delivery, young Freddie Hackett, a message runner for a government office, witnesses an argument that ends in murder. When he arrives at the delivery address, he’s shocked to come face to face with the killer. Dismissed by the police when he attempts to report the crime, Freddie goes in search of a woman he once met when delivering a message: Maisie Dobbs. While Maisie wants to help the boy, she must maintain extreme caution: she’s working secretly for the Special Operations Executive, assessing candidates for crucial work with the French resistance. Her two worlds collide when she spots the killer in a place she least expects. She soon realizes she’s been pulled into the orbit of a man who has his own reasons to kill --- reasons that go back to the last war. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: DOUBLE JEOPARDY by Stuart Woods

DOUBLE JEOPARDY: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Tony Roberts
Stone Barrington is settling in for a stretch in New York when he receives news that demands immediate action. An old family matter has unexpectedly resurfaced, and Stone must decamp to the craggy shores of Maine to address the issue head-on. There, Stone finds that a dual-pronged threat is hiding in plain sight among the stately houses and exclusive coastal clubs, and the incursion isn't easily rebuffed. These enemies have friends in high places, funds to spare, and a score to settle with Stone...and only the cleverest plot will draw them out into the open. From luxuriously renovated homes to the choppy ocean waters, the pursuit can only lead to an explosive end. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Bookreporter.com Bets On:
SPARKS LIKE STARS by Nadia Hashimi

SPARKS LIKE STARS by Nadia Hashimi (Fiction)
I have been a huge fan of Nadia Hashimi’s earlier books, so I was very excited to read her latest, SPARKS LIKE STARS.

The novel opens in 1978. Sitara Zamani is a 10-year-old Afghan girl living a privileged life in Kabul. Her family is warm and loving. There was sadness in the past, as they lost a daughter before Sitara was born, but these days she lives a happy and carefree life with her mother, father and younger brother.

However, their peaceful existence is upended when a coup takes place, and in one terrifying evening, Sitara's entire family is slain.She is squired away by one of the attackers and left in the hands of an American foreign government worker who assumes the role of getting her to safety.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.

Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview
with Nadia Hashimi in next week's newsletter.

Bookreporter.com's 10th Annual
Spring Preview Contests and Feature

Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our 10th annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through April 23rd at noon ET. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, March 29th at noon ET.

This year's featured titles are:

• AFTERSHOCKS: A Memoir by Nadia Owusu
• ASTRID SEES ALL by Natalie Standiford
• THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB by Wendy Wax
• THE DROWNING KIND by Jennifer McMahon
• ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline
• THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth
• THE HENNA ARTIST by Alka Joshi
• THE KITCHEN FRONT by Jennifer Ryan
• MOTHER MAY I by Joshilyn Jackson
• OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW by Beatriz Williams
• PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir
• RHAPSODY by Mitchell James Kaplan
• RUBY FALLS by Deborah Goodrich Royce
• SPARKS LIKE STARS by Nadia Hashimi
• SUNFLOWER SISTERS by Martha Hall Kelly
• UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY by Kristy Woodson Harvey
• WE BEGIN AT THE END by Chris Whitaker
• WHAT'S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster
• WHO IS MAUD DIXON? by Alexandra Andrews
• WILLA'S GROVE by Laura Munson
• THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore
• YOU BELONG HERE NOW by Dianna Rostad

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

What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com

We currently have one contest running on ReadingGroupGuides.com:

"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Win 12 Copies of WHO IS MAUD DIXON? by Alexandra Andrews 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 WHO IS MAUD DIXON? by Alexandra Andrews, a taut, twisty and character-driven psychological thriller about a famous novelist and a small-town striver locked in a struggle for fortune and fame. Enter here by Wednesday, April 7th at noon ET.

Here are our latest featured guides:

• BAND OF SISTERS by Lauren Willig
• ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline
• HOW BEAUTIFUL WE WERE by Imbolo Mbue
• INFINITE COUNTRY by Patricia Engel
• THE KITCHEN FRONT by Jennifer Ryan
• KLARA AND THE SUN by Kazuo Ishiguro
• THE LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner
• THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS by Susan Meissner
• SURVIVING SAVANNAH by Patti Callahan
• WE BEGIN AT THE END by Chris Whitaker
• WHAT'S MINE AND YOURS by Naima Coster
• WHO IS MAUD DIXON? by Alexandra Andrews
• THE WINDSOR KNOT by SJ Bennett

Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:

• BECOMING by Michelle Obama
• THE BOOK OF LONGINGS by Sue Monk Kidd
• THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE by Abi Daré
• A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD by Therese Anne Fowler
• HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
• IN FIVE YEARS by Rebecca Serle
• THE NIGHT WATCHMAN by Louise Erdrich
• VALENTINE by Elizabeth Wetmore

Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.

From left to right: Martha Hall Kelly, Sharon Stone, Gabriela Garcia

Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

As so many book and author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register.

Saturday, March 27th at 2pm ET: The Fab Four of Historical Fiction: A Virtual Adventure: The Beatles may have been the Fab Four of music, but Patti Callahan, Sadeqa Johnson, Martha Hall Kelly and Kate Quinn are definitely a Fab Four of historical fiction. Celebrate International Women’s Month with Adventures by the Book as Patti, Sadeqa, Martha and Kate share the stories behind their new novels.

Saturday, March 27th at 7pm ET: Book Passage: Lisa Scottoline will be in conversation with Lisa See about her first work of historical fiction, ETERNAL.

Tuesday, March 30th at 6pm ET: Adriana Ink: In the latest episode of her weekly Facebook Live show, "Adriana Ink," Adriana Trigiani will talk to Lisa Scottoline about ETERNAL.

Tuesday, March 30th at 7pm ET: Books & Books: Books & Books and Miami Book Fair present "An Evening with Gabriela Garcia." Garcia will talk about her debut novel, OF WOMEN AND SALT.

Tuesday, March 30th at 7pm ET: RWR Presents Martha Hall Kelly and SUNFLOWER SISTERS!: Join Robin Kall of "Reading With Robin" for a lively and bookish conversation with Martha Hall Kelly, whose new historical novel is SUNFLOWER SISTERS.

Wednesday, March 31st at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: B&N welcomes renowned actress Sharon Stone for a live virtual event to discuss her memoir, THE BEAUTY OF LIVING TWICE. She will be in conversation with Jess Cagle, an entertainment journalist and the former Editor in Chief of People Magazine.

Wednesday, March 31st at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe --- will talk to Stephanie Dray and Kate Quinn about their latest historical novels, THE WOMEN OF CHATEAU LAFAYETTE and THE ROSE CODE.

Wednesday, March 31st at 7pm ET: The Mark Twain House & Museum: In this latest edition of the "Mark My Words" series, Lisa Scottoline will be in conversation with iHeartMedia’s Renee DiNino about her first historical novel, ETERNAL.

Wednesday, March 31st at 8pm ET: Book Passage: Martha Hall Kelly will talk about her new novel, SUNFLOWER SISTERS, with USA Today bestselling author Meg Donohue.

Thursday, April 1st at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Lisa Scottoline about her latest book, ETERNAL.

Thursday, April 1st at 7pm ET: An Unlikely Story Bookstore & Café: Martha Hall Kelly will share her stunning new work of historical fiction, SUNFLOWER SISTERS, as she will be in conversation with Pam Jenoff, whose upcoming novel is THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR.

Thursday, April 1st at 7pm ET: Word Up Community Bookshop: Join Word Up for a reading and discussion about Gabriela Garcia's first novel, OF WOMEN AND SALT, featuring fellow author Roxane Gay. There will be a DJ set before the event and a Q&A after the discussion.

 "Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts

“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has 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 is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)

Here is our latest interview:

• Alexandra Andrews (WHO IS MAUD DIXON?) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Ashley Audrain (THE PUSH) Video | Podcast
• Melanie Benjamin (THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD) Video | Podcast
• Alex Berenson (THE POWER COUPLE) Video | Podcast
• Elizabeth Berg (I'LL BE SEEING YOU: A Memoir) Video | Podcast
• Janet Skeslien Charles (THE PARIS LIBRARY) Video | Podcast
• Lisa Gardner (BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED) Video | Podcast
• Jane Harper (THE SURVIVORS) Video | Podcast
• Sadeqa Johnson (YELLOW WIFE) Video | Podcast
• Sue Miller (MONOGAMY) Video | Podcast
• Aimee Molloy (GOODNIGHT BEAUTIFUL) Video | Podcast
• Liese O'Halloran Schwarz (WHAT COULD BE SAVED) Video | Podcast
• Sharon Virts (MASQUE OF HONOR: A Historical Novel of the American South)
  Video | Podcast
• Chris Whitaker (WE BEGIN AT THE END) Video | Podcast
• Jacqueline Winspear (THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE LAUGHING: A Memoir) Video | Podcast
• Susie Yang (WHITE IVY) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Gabriela Garcia (OF WOMEN AND SALT)
• Nadia Hashimi (SPARKS LIKE STARS)
• Dianna Rostad (YOU BELONG HERE NOW)
• Lisa Scottoline (ETERNAL)

Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.

More Reviews This Week

EVERY VOW YOU BREAK by Peter Swanson (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Karissa Vacker
Abigail Baskin never thought she’d fall in love with a millionaire. Then she met Bruce Lamb, a stable, level-headed, kind guy. But right before the wedding, Abigail has a drunken one-night stand on her bachelorette weekend. She puts the incident out of her mind and now believes she wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life. Then the mysterious stranger suddenly appears --- and Abigail’s future life and happiness are turned upside down. He insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something much, much more --- and he’s tracked her down to prove it. To make the situation worse, Abigail sees a terrified woman in the night shadows, and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss…including her perfect new husband. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

A MAN AT ARMS by Steven Pressfield (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by George Guidall
Jerusalem and the Sinai desert, first century AD. In the turbulent aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus, officers of the Roman Empire acquire intelligence of a pilgrim bearing an incendiary letter from a religious fanatic to insurrectionists in Corinth. The content of this letter could bring down the empire. The Romans hire a former legionary, the solitary man-at-arms, Telamon of Arcadia, to intercept the letter and capture its courier. Telamon operates by a dark code all his own, with no room for noble causes or lofty beliefs. But once he overtakes the courier, something happens that neither he nor the empire could have predicted. Reviewed by John Vena.

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH: A Robin Lockwood Novel by Phillip Margolin (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Therese Plummer
Joe Lattimore, homeless and trying desperately to provide for his young family, agrees to fight in a no-holds-barred illegal bout, only to have his opponent die. Lattimore now finds himself at the mercy of the fight's organizers, who blackmail him into burglarizing a house. However, when he breaks in, he finds a murdered woman on the floor, and the police have received an anonymous tip naming him the murderer. Robin Lockwood, an increasingly prominent young attorney and former MMA fighter, agrees to take on his defense. The murdered woman's husband, Judge Anthony Carasco, has an alibi, and Lattimore's fingerprints are discovered at the scene. But Lockwood is convinced that her client has been framed. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS by Elly Griffiths (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Nina Wadia
The death of a 90-year-old woman with a heart condition should not be suspicious. Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur certainly sees nothing out of the ordinary when Peggy’s caretaker, Natalka, begins to recount Peggy Smith’s passing. But Natalka had a reason to be at the police station. While clearing out Peggy’s flat, she noticed an unusual number of crime novels, all dedicated to Peggy. And each psychological thriller included a mysterious postscript: PS: for PS. When a gunman breaks into the flat to steal a book and its author is found dead shortly thereafter, Detective Kaur begins to think that perhaps there is no such thing as an unsuspicious death after all. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE LOST VILLAGE written by Camilla Sten, translated by Alexandra Fleming (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Angela Dawe
Documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt has been obsessed with the vanishing residents of the old mining town, dubbed “The Lost Village,” since she was a little girl. In 1959, her grandmother’s entire family disappeared in this mysterious tragedy. Ever since, the unanswered questions surrounding the only two people who were left --- a woman stoned to death in the town center and an abandoned newborn --- have plagued her. She’s gathered a small crew of friends in the remote village to make a film about what really happened. Not long after they’ve set up camp, mysterious things begin to happen. Equipment is destroyed. People go missing. As doubt breeds fear and their very minds begin to crack, one thing becomes startlingly clear to Alice: They are not alone. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

EVERY LAST FEAR by Alex Finlay (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Cady McClain and Jon Lindstrom
Matt Pine’s mom, dad, little brother and sister have been found dead from an apparent gas leak while vacationing in Mexico. The local police claim it was an accident, but the FBI and State Department seem far less certain. Matt’s older brother, Danny --- currently serving a life sentence for the murder of his teenage girlfriend, Charlotte --- was the subject of a viral true crime documentary suggesting that Danny was wrongfully convicted. But the night Charlotte was killed, Matt saw something that makes him believe his brother is guilty. As the deaths in Mexico appear increasingly suspicious and connected to Danny’s case, Matt must unearth the truth behind the crime that sent his brother to prison, forcing him to confront his every last fear. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS by Constance Sayers (Historical Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Emily Lawrence
Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder. It's the only world Cecile Cabot knows until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate affair that could cost her everything. Virginia, 2004: Lara Barnes is on top of the world, until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. When her desperate search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother’s journals, Lara is swept into a story of a dark circus and ill-fated love. Soon secrets about Lara’s family history begin to come to light, revealing a curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations. A curse that might be tied to her fiancé’s mysterious disappearance. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

VERA by Carol Edgarian (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kathe Mazur
Vera Johnson is the uncommonly resourceful 15-year-old illegitimate daughter of Rose, the notorious proprietor of San Francisco’s most legendary bordello and ally to the city’s corrupt politicians. Vera has grown up straddling two worlds --- the madam’s alluring sphere, replete with tickets to the opera, surly henchmen and scant morality, and the violent, debt-ridden domestic life of the family paid to raise her. On the morning of the great quake, Vera’s worlds collide. As the shattered city burns and looters vie with the injured, orphaned and starving, Vera and her guileless sister, Pie, are cast adrift. Vera disregards societal norms and prejudices and begins to imagine a new kind of life. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

REALITY AND OTHER STORIES by John Lanchester (Supernatural Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Richard Armitage, Antony Boyle, Emilia Fox and Hugh Quarsie
In 2017, inspired in part by Henry James’ THE TURN OF THE SCREW, the acclaimed English novelist John Lanchester published a ghost story in The New Yorker. "Signal," an eerie story of contemporary life and the perils of technology, was a sensation among readers --- and since then Lanchester has written several more. REALITY AND OTHER STORIES gathers the best of these, taking readers to an uncanny world familiar to fans of “The Twilight Zone” or “Black Mirror.” Household gizmos with a mind of their own. Mysterious cell phone calls from unknown numbers. Reality TV shows and the creeping suspicion that none of this is real. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

CLOUDMAKER by Malcolm Brooks (Historical Fiction)
The summer of 1937 will be a turning point for 14-year-old Houston “Huck” Finn. When he and a friend find a dead body in a local creek, with a rare Lindbergh flight watch on its wrist, it seems like a sign. Huck is building his own airplane. That summer also marks the arrival of his cousin Annelise, sent to live with the family under mysterious circumstances. It turns out she has had flying lessons --- another sign. As Huck’s airplane takes shape, so does his burgeoning understanding of the world, including the battle over worldliness vs. godliness that has split Annelise from her family and, in a quieter way, divides Huck’s family. Meanwhile, there’s the matter of the watch, which the dead man’s cohort of bank robbers would very much like back. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.

YOU'LL THANK ME FOR THIS by Nina Siegal (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Tavia Gilbert
Twelve-year old Karin is blindfolded and dropped into the Hoge Veluwe National Forest with three other children. With nothing but a few basic supplies and emergency food, the children are tasked with working together to navigate one of the Netherlands' most beautiful and wild locations and return to where their families are anxiously waiting. Karin quickly finds herself at odds with two of the older teens, and suddenly looks up to see that the other children have vanished. As Karin struggles against the elements to find her way back, she soon realizes that something far more sinister lurks in the woods. While Karin fights for survival, and Grace hastens to find her daughter, the night culminates in the reveal of a deadly secret --- and a shocking confrontation --- that will push each of them to her edge. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

WHAT STORIES ARE YOU LIVING?: Discover Your Archetypes - Transform Your Life! by Carol S. Pearson (Psychology/Personal Growth)
Renowned archetype expert Carol S. Pearson guides you through the journey of discovering and understanding the archetypes active in your life. These universal themes may be invisible to you now, but through this book you will learn how they inspire the behaviors and relationships that drive your life story. As you become conscious of your archetypal potential, you can cultivate the hero or heroine within you by living your stories consciously, in your own unique way. WHAT STORIES ARE YOU LIVING? provides a roadmap for achieving deeper self-understanding, and includes clear steps for reshaping your life stories, awakening your authenticity, and finding meaning, direction and purpose. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on March 29th and 30th

Below are some notable titles releasing on March 29th and 30th 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 March 29th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

March 29th

THE RED BOOK: A Black Book Thriller by James Patterson and David Ellis (Thriller)
When a drive-by shooting on Chicago's west side turns political, Detective Billy Harney leads the way to a quick solve. But his instincts --- his father was once chief of detectives, and his twin sister, Patti, is also on the force --- run deep. As a population hungry for justice threatens to riot, he realizes that the three known victims are hardly the only casualties.

March 30th

THE BEAUTY OF LIVING TWICE by Sharon Stone (Memoir)
She was one of the most renowned actresses in the world --- until a massive stroke cost her not only her health, but her career, family, fortune and global fame. In THE BEAUTY OF LIVING TWICE, Sharon Stone chronicles her efforts to rebuild her life, and the slow road back to wholeness and health.

ELIZABETH & MARGARET: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters by Andrew Morton (Biography)
Perfect for fans of "The Crown," this captivating biography from New York Times bestselling author Andrew Morton follows Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret as they navigate life in the royal spotlight.

OF WOMEN AND SALT by Gabriela Garcia (Fiction)
This sweeping, masterful debut is about a daughter's fateful choice, a mother motivated by her own past, and a family legacy that begins in Cuba before either of them were born.

THE PATH TO SUNSHINE COVE by RaeAnne Thayne (Fiction)
With the emotional pull of Debbie Macomber, Barbara Delinsky and Susan Wiggs, RaeAnne Thayne brings readers an uplifting, brand new story told with her trademark charm and heart.

SUNFLOWER SISTERS by Martha Hall Kelly (Historical Fiction)
Martha Hall Kelly’s million-copy bestseller LILAC GIRLS introduced readers to Caroline Ferriday. Now, in SUNFLOWER SISTERS, Kelly tells the story of Ferriday’s ancestor Georgeanna Woolsey, a Union nurse during the Civil War whose calling leads her to cross paths with Jemma, a young enslaved girl who is sold off and conscripted into the army, and Anne-May Wilson, a Southern plantation mistress whose husband enlists.

TELL NO LIES by Allison Brennan (Mystery/Thriller)
The unsolved murder of a young activist leads to the discovery of much darker crimes in New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan’s latest compelling thriller to feature the young, edgy detective Kara Quinn and the loner FBI agent Matt Costa. This time they work to uncover possible ties to a high-stakes cartel in the Southwest desert.

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

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