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Celebrating 25 Years of Bookreporter
Twenty-five years ago today, the first screen of Bookreporter went live when we were on AOL and known as The Book Report. On one hand, it is hard to believe that much time has passed; it feels like a moment ago. But then we look back on all we have done, and it feels like a lifetime. Instead of just one day of celebrating, we have decided to spend some time over the next few months taking a walk down memory lane. I am so looking forward to this. Let's get the party started with a quick video toast to you from me. (Confession: I am not drinking champagne, as I am not a fan of that. The substitute bubbly beverage is ginger beer!)
I want to give a big thank you to the team that keeps the train running here, starting with Tom Donadio, our Editorial Director. While my name signs this newsletter, and I am the face of Bookreporter, Tom is the one who assigns and edits all of our reviews. He never misses a beat...and I mean never. He came to us as an intern back in 2002, and he's had a steady hand on the keyboard here ever since. We talk shorthand to each other --- and if I start a sentence, he usually intuits where I am headed. And if I slip up on spelling or punctuation, he’s on it like my high school English teacher. Weigh in and thank him at tom@bookreporter.com.
Austin Ruh wears two hats. He produces all of our video and podcast content, with a steady eye on what looks and sounds best when we are recording, and he is one wicked editor. He has great ideas for getting more eyeballs watching and ears listening to these interviews. He also runs tech for our “Bookaccino Live” events, where he handles questions deftly as “the voice of God.” For his second role, he works with me to pull together all the ads and promo features that help support us to run the site.
Our reviewers nail their commentary week after week, and I love seeing what they have to share with us. I have gone on to read so many books after checking out their reviews. Thank you to all of them. We will be hearing more from them in the weeks to come.
Lisa Hickman oversees all of our contests and stays on top of getting prizes to our winners. Melanie Steinberg edits our Word of Mouth feature, ensuring that when you write to gush about a book, you have the author's name and the book title spelled correctly. Amanda Book --- and that is her name --- runs our social media and designs the stunning art that you see on our Instagram page.
On the other side of our business --- AuthorsOnTheWeb.com --- Jennifer Lai is our designer, Greg Fitzgerald is our Project Manager, and Victoria Kariolic is our producer. We have designed and built more than 400 author websites, and we currently maintain sites for more than 100 authors. Jennifer also designed our 25th Anniversary logo, which we love!
And now to this week's update...
We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you this week. First up is William Kent Krueger, whose latest novel, LIGHTNING STRIKE, is a prequel to his award-winning Cork O’Connor series. Perfect for readers of ORDINARY GRACE and THIS TENDER LAND, this upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On pick tells the story of 12-year-old Cork in his hometown of Aurora, Minnesota. When Cork stumbles upon a dead body, he begins his first foray into detective work. His father, who is the sheriff of Aurora, needs to confirm that the man died by suicide, as all the evidence seems to suggest. But Cork takes matters into his own hands to find out what secrets have gone awry.
Kent explains why he decided to write this prequel, which serves as an entry point for those new to the series (it reads like a stand-alone) and provides a backstory for longtime readers. He also talks about some of the oft-forgotten history of Minnesota that appears in the novel --- including the repercussions of the Indian Relocation Act of 1956 --- as well as his research, his inspirations and a hint of what's next. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Our reviewer Joe Hartlaub calls LIGHTNING STRIKE “one of Krueger’s best and strongest works to date” and “a multifaceted mystery at its core but is essentially a vibrant coming-of-age novel.” He goes on to say, “Instead of forming scars, the wounds of the past are often still raw and open, and Krueger shows rather than tells why with a subtle but unflinching touch. One can only hope that LIGHTNING STRIKE will be just the first of many forays into Cork O’Connor’s past.” Find out why I’m betting that fans of the series and newcomers alike will love this book in the September 10th newsletter.
Word of Mouth Reminder
LIGHTNING STRIKE is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes, along with A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins (more on the latter in a bit). Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles. Please do so by Friday, September 10th at noon ET.
My second interview is with Ash Davidson, whose debut novel, DAMNATION SPRING, is a Bets On pick. Set in a northern California town in the late ‘70s, the book tells the very human story of a family torn apart by the underlying effects of environmental destruction. Rich and his family have been longtime loggers in this area, and he sees an opportunity for a fortune to be made by buying a tract of forest to harvest. He keeps this purchase quiet, not even sharing it with his wife, Colleen. She recently lost a child, a stillbirth after a number of miscarriages, and as a midwife she is also seeing miscarriages across the community. A longtime friend of Colleen’s comes to the area and points out that the herbicides the logging company uses are infiltrating their water supply, and may be causing issues not only with the wildlife, but with the people as well.
Ash talks about the decade she spent writing DAMNATION SPRING and how the plot changed over time. We also discuss the development of the characters and how their stories were very much a reality for people living in that part of the country. There is a lot here for a book group discussion. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
According to our reviewer Sarah Rachel Egelman, “Davidson’s story is compelling from the start, but her writing grows more natural and easy even as the tale becomes more dramatic and taut. The possibility for violence and heartbreak is on every page. Yet the tender hearts of the characters are never eclipsed by plot devices, resulting in a well-balanced, affecting and provocative novel.” If you missed my Bets On commentary from last week, you can check it out here.
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache returns to Three Pines in Louise Penny's latest mystery, THE MADNESS OF CROWDS. Professor Abigail Robinson will be giving a lecture at a nearby university, and Gamache is asked to provide security for it. Shockingly, he discovers an agenda so repulsive that he begs the university to cancel the lecture. Roz Shea has our review and calls it “perhaps Penny’s most powerful novel as it explores the psychological and emotionally charged national and international conundrums of the post-pandemic world.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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ALL IN: Billie Jean King’s much-anticipated autobiography encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice.
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THE GUIDE: A young man escaping his own grief is hired by an elite fishing lodge in Colorado, where he uncovers a plot of shocking menace, in Peter Heller’s latest thriller.
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THE GUILT TRIP: In Sandie Jones’ new psychological thriller, which is August’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick, jumping to conclusions can become the difference between life and death. On Tuesday, September 14th at 3pm ET, Sandie will be discussing THE GUILT TRIP with Clare Mackintosh during a virtual B&N Book Club event. Click here to sign up.
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DARK ROADS: When Hailey McBride discovers that her uncle, a police sergeant, has a dark secret that threatens her life, she fakes her disappearance on the infamous Cold Creek Highway, where women have been murdered or gone missing for decades. But in Chevy Stevens’ latest thriller, the truth behind her disappearance may soon be revealed.
We’re Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On pick is THE LAST MONA LISA by Jonathan Santlofer, which we reviewed in last week’s newsletter. Click here for my commentary. If you missed my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Jonathan, you can watch it here and listen to the podcast here. People have been writing to share that it is amusing!
Wrapping Up Our Summer Reading Contests --- and a Look Ahead to Fall Preview
All summer long, we have been sharing some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading feature. While our series of 24-hour contests have ended, we encourage you to take a look at our featured titles for some sizzling end-of-summer reading ideas.
Our Fall Preview feature will be kicking off on Friday, September 10th, with a Special Preview newsletter on Monday, September 13th and our first contest on Tuesday, September 14th. You can sign up here for the Fall Preview newsletter.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll!
In celebration of our 25th anniversary, we continue to ask how long you’ve been a reader of Bookreporter. Click here to let us know!
It was announced this week that Oprah has selected THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DU BOIS by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers as her next book club pick. This debut novel chronicles the journey of one American family, from the centuries of the colonial slave trade through the Civil War to our own tumultuous era. Oprah said, “I was enraptured by the story of this modern Black family, and how author Honorée Fanonne Jeffers interweaves the larger fabric of historical trauma with that family’s ancestral tale --- of tragedy, triumph, and also of the legacy of hidden abuse. But this is Ailey’s story, too, and through her we are offered new learnings about colorism, aspiration, the role of matriarchy, and what it is to be a woman who’s ‘not to be trifled with.’ She’s a heroine for the ages.” Click here for more of Oprah's thoughts on the book. Her conversation with Honorée will stream on Apple TV+ starting September 24th, and we look forward to featuring our review of the book in the weeks to come.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Bobbie wrote, “I won THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE by Kelly Mustian a while back and just finished it up. I just want to clarify that it kept getting put on the back burner because of this newsletter. You give us so much good feedback that there are a number of books I want to read, so I reserve them on Libby and they all became available when I received this book. So I have finally finished it up and really enjoyed it. Ada and Matilda have much different lives, but the book intertwines them so well that they form a bond that will hold them together forever. There was a bit of suspense that kept me interested, and I really liked how it worked out in the end.”
Our remote tech team shares this tip, which I never knew: “Did you know that if you hold down the windows and period keys on your keyboard on both a PC and a Mac, you will bring up the emoji menu?” I rarely, if ever, use emojis, but I still found this fun.
Trailer for "Maid" on Netflix: This limited series adaptation of Stephanie Land's bestselling memoir is coming on October 1st. You can see the trailer here.
"Grace and Frankie" on Netflix: I was underwhelmed by the four recent episodes. We did not laugh once.
"Nine Perfect Strangers" on Hulu: I did not finish the book but have watched all four available episodes of the series, and it is better. But I am not enamored with Nicole Kidman, who is now starring in her umpteenth series. Her face looks frozen, and the quasi-Russian accent that she is using here is making me crazy.
Sequel to Downton Abbey: Downton Abbey 2, whose official title is now Downton Abbey: A New Era, is due to open globally starting March 18, 2022. Mark your calendars.
For when you want a fun, mindless challenge! Type the alphabet challenge here! I saw this mentioned in the Morning Brew newsletter. My fastest time was 9.08 seconds.
When we left off last week, I had just started the aforementioned A SLOW FIRE BURNING, which releases on Tuesday. I plunked myself down last weekend and finished it posthaste. While I enjoyed THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, I was not as huge a fan of Paula Hawkins’ sophomore title, INTO THE WATER. To me, my favorite book of the three is A SLOW FIRE BURNING. It is a measured thriller that weaves you in more than a few directions. Who murdered Daniel? There are lots of choices here. And each seems oh-so-plausible. I will pick that person as the murderer, or that one, or...well, you get the picture. It is also a look at privilege and class as one suspect with neither suffers greatly for lacking those things. It will be a Bets On selection, and we will review it in our next newsletter.
I just started IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK and look forward to reading more of it. I will be interviewing Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström in September. We also lined up an interview with Naomi Hirahara about CLARK AND DIVISION for the first week in September.
We are taking next week off. I have no specific plans, which is really nice after months when all I did was follow a schedule and a “to-do” list. I am sure that there will be lots of reading and floating. I have a huge stack of books that I want to read. Check back on September 10th to see how many I get through!
Oh, and while our plans for a website redesign were derailed by lots of other must-do things we had to tackle during the pandemic, we want to get started on that in the next few months. Thus, if you are so inclined, may we ask that you consider supporting our fundraiser? We've already done a lot with our video/podcast series and other programming, but we have some much-needed design and production ideas waiting in the wings. Thank you in advance.
Read on, and have a great TWO weeks. See you in September!
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:
LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by David Chandler
Aurora is a small town nestled in the ancient forest alongside the shores of Minnesota’s Iron Lake. In the summer of 1963, it is the whole world to 12-year-old Cork O’Connor, its rhythms as familiar as his own heartbeat. But when Cork stumbles upon the body of a man he revered hanging from a tree in an abandoned logging camp, it is the first in a series of events that will cause him to question everything he took for granted about his hometown, his family and himself. Cork’s father, Liam O’Connor, is Aurora’s sheriff, and it is his job to confirm that the man’s death was the result of suicide, as all the evidence suggests. In the shadow of his father’s official investigation, Cork begins to look for answers on his own. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- 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 William Kent Krueger.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Visit William Kent Krueger's website and see his schedule of upcoming virtual events.
Click here to read our review.
LIGHTNING STRIKE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in the September 10th newsletter.
Featured Review:
THE MADNESS OF CROWDS by Louise Penny
THE MADNESS OF CROWDS by Louise Penny (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Bathurst
Professor Abigail Robinson will be giving a lecture at a nearby university, and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is asked to provide security for it. He discovers an agenda so repulsive that he begs the university to cancel the lecture. They refuse, citing academic freedom, and accuse Gamache of censorship and intellectual cowardice. Before long, Professor Robinson’s views start seeping into conversations so that truth and fact, reality and delusion, are so confused it’s nearly impossible to tell them apart. When a murder is committed, it falls to Gamache, his second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir and their team to investigate the crime, as well as this extraordinary popular delusion. And the madness of crowds. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
DAMNATION SPRING by Ash Davidson
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
DAMNATION SPRING by Ash Davidson (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by CJ Wilson, Rebecca Lowman, Mark Sanderlin and Candace Thaxton
For generations, Rich Gundersen’s family has chopped a livelihood out of the redwood forest along California’s rugged coast. Now Rich and his wife, Colleen, are raising their own young son near Damnation Grove, a swath of ancient redwoods on which Rich’s employer, Sanderson Timber Co., plans to make a killing. In 1977, with most of the forest cleared or protected, a grove like Damnation --- and beyond it 24-7 Ridge --- is a logger’s dream. So when the opportunity arises to buy 24-7 Ridge, Rich grabs it. Colleen has lost several pregnancies. And she isn’t alone. As a midwife, Colleen has seen it with her own eyes. For decades, the herbicides the logging company uses were considered harmless. But what if these miscarriages aren’t isolated strokes of bad luck? Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Ash Davidson.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: ALL IN by Billie Jean King
ALL IN: An Autobiography by Billie Jean King, with Johnette Howard and Maryanne Vollers (Autobiography)
Audiobook available, read by Billie Jean King
In this spirited account, Billie Jean King details her life's journey to find her true self. She recounts her groundbreaking tennis career --- six years as the top-ranked woman in the world, 20 Wimbledon championships, 39 grand slam titles, and her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs in the famous "Battle of the Sexes." She poignantly recalls the cultural backdrop of those years and the profound impact on her worldview from the women's movement, the assassinations and anti-war protests of the 1960s, the civil rights movement and, eventually, the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE LAST MONA LISA by Jonathan Santlofer
THE LAST MONA LISA by Jonathan Santlofer (Thriller)
THE LAST MONA LISA is Jonathan Santlofer’s first novel with a historical setting. It explores the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, giving readers a backstage look at what happened with the painting and the thief behind it all. With forgeries popping up in its wake, the ensuing years became a mystery for the art world. Where is the real painting? And what if the Mona Lisa that ended up in the Louvre has been a replica all along? Luke Perrone, a descendant of the thief, tries to sort out what happened and ends up deep in the underworld of art forgery.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Jonathan Santlofer.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
Featured Review: THE GUIDE by Peter Heller
THE GUIDE by Peter Heller (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Deakins
Kingfisher Lodge is known by locals as "Billionaire's Mile" and is locked behind a heavy gate. Sandwiched between barbed wire and a meadow with a sign that reads "Don't Get Shot!" the resort boasts boutique fishing at its finest. Safe from viruses that have plagued America for years, Kingfisher offers a respite for wealthy clients. Now it also promises a second chance for Jack, a return to normalcy after a young life filled with loss. When he is assigned to guide a well-known singer, his only job is to rig her line, carry her gear, and steer her to the best trout he can find. But then a human scream pierces the night, and Jack soon realizes that this idyllic fishing lodge may be merely a cover for a far more sinister operation. 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: THE GUILT TRIP by Sandie Jones
August’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
THE GUILT TRIP by Sandie Jones (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Clare Corbett
Rachel and Jack. Paige and Noah. Will and Ali. Five friends who’ve known each other for years. And Ali, Will’s new fiancée. The three couples travel to Portugal for Ali and Will’s destination wedding. Arriving at the gorgeous clifftop villa, the weekend away is a chance to relax and get to know Ali a little better. A newcomer to their group, she seems perfectly nice, and Will seems happy after years of bad choices. But when Rachel discovers a shocking secret about Ali, everything changes. As the wedding weekend unfolds, the secrets each of them holds begin to spill, and friendships and marriages threaten to unravel. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
» On Tuesday, September 14th at 3pm ET, Sandie Jones will discuss THE GUILT TRIP with Clare Mackintosh during a B&N Book Club virtual event. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: DARK ROADS by Chevy Stevens
DARK ROADS by Chevy Stevens (Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Angela Dawe, Brittany Pressley and Isabella Star LaBlanc
For decades, young women traveling the Cold Creek Highway have gone missing. And no killer or abductor who has stalked the highway has ever been brought to justice. One day, teenager Hailey McBride vanishes into the mountainous terrain, hoping everyone will believe she’s left town. Rumors spread that she was taken by the highway killer. One year later, Beth Chevalier arrives in Cold Creek, where her sister Amber lived --- and was murdered. Estranged from her parents and seeking closure, Beth takes a waitressing job at the local diner, desperate to understand what happened to her and why. But Beth’s search for answers puts a target on her back --- and threatens to reveal the truth behind Hailey’s disappearance. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
THIS WILL ALL BE OVER SOON: A Memoir by Cecily Strong (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Cecily Strong
Cecily Strong had a special bond with her cousin, Owen. And so she was devastated when, in early 2020, he passed away at age 30 from the brain cancer glioblastoma. Before Strong could attempt to process her grief, another tragedy struck: the coronavirus pandemic. Following a few harrowing weeks in the virus epicenter of New York City, Strong relocated to an isolated house in the woods upstate. Here, trying to make sense of Owen’s death and the upended world, she spent much of the ensuing months writing. The result is THIS WILL ALL BE OVER SOON --- a raw, unflinching memoir about loss, love, laughter and hope. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
VELVET WAS THE NIGHT by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Noir Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Gisela Chípe
1970s, Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger. Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman --- and journeying deeper into Leonora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents. Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Leonora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE BARCELONA COMPLEX: Lionel Messi and the Making --- and Unmaking --- of the World's Greatest Soccer Club by Simon Kuper (Sports/History)
Audiobook available, read by Steve West
FC Barcelona is not just the world’s highest grossing sports club, it is simply one of the most influential organizations on the planet. It has more in common with multinational megacompanies like Netflix or small nation-states than it does with most soccer teams. No wonder its motto is “More than a club.” But it was not always so. In the past three decades, Barcelona went from a regional team to a global powerhouse, becoming a model of sustained excellence and beautiful soccer, and a consistent winner of championships. Simon Kuper unravels exactly how this transformation took place, paying special attention to the club’s two biggest stars, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi, who is arguably the greatest soccer player of all time. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
ISN’T IT BROMANTIC? by Lyssa Kay Adams (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Andrew Eiden
As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, Elena Konnikova escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States. Vlad thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience, but it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love --- and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
SHE WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING by Sarah Adlakha (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
When 39-year-old Maria Forssmann wakes up in her 17-year-old body, she doesn’t know how she got there. All she does know is that she has to get back: to her home in Bienville, Mississippi, to her job as a successful psychiatrist and, most importantly, to her husband, daughters and unborn son. But she also knows that, in only a few weeks, a devastating tragedy will strike her husband, a tragedy that will lead to their meeting each other. Can she change time and still keep what it’s given her? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
SOMETHING WONDERFUL: Stories by Jo Lloyd (Fiction/Short Stories)
Whether seeking knowledge, riches or a better life, the characters in this debut collection are united by a quest for lasting value, as they ask how we should treat our world, our work, our selves, and each other in both past and present. A vainglorious mine owner dreams of harnessing all of nature to the machinery of commerce. Two women hunt rare butterflies in a pre-First World War landscape already experiencing the first bites of biodiversity loss. A young man tracks down the father who abandoned him inside a festival exhibit. A rural Welsh community is fascinated and angered by glimpses of its invisible, wealthy neighbors. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
THE BRONX ZOOM: Inside the New York Yankees' Most Bizarre Season by Brian Hoch (Sports)
The New York Yankees are unprecedented. With more than twice as many World Series titles as their closest competitor, the most MVPs and the most Hall of Fame inductees, there's never been anything quite like the franchise's storied history. Then the 2020 season took place, and the greatest team in American sports found out what "unprecedented" really means. THE BRONX ZOOM provides an intimate and engaging look behind the scenes of a year unlike any other. Veteran reporter Bryan Hoch guides readers through dizzying twists and turns as the Yankees navigate a season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, historic movements for equality and social justice, and a bitterly contested presidential election. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
GETAWAY by Zoje Stage (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Pressley
Imogen and Beck, two sisters who couldn't be more different, have been friends with Tilda since high school. Once inseparable, over two decades the women have grown apart. But after Imogen survives a traumatic attack, Beck suggests they all reunite to hike deep into the Grand Canyon’s backcountry. A week away, secluded in nature…surely it’s just what they need. But as the terrain grows tougher, tensions from their shared past bubble up. And when supplies begin to disappear, it becomes clear that secrets aren’t the only thing they’re being stalked by. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE KILLING LOOK by J.D. Rhoades (Historical Thriller)
Civil War veteran L.D. Cade arrives in 1870s San Francisco, seeking his fortune and a place to end his restless wandering. A job as bodyguard to a flashy real estate speculator seems like just the opportunity he’s been looking for. But beneath the glitter and glamour of Gilded Age San Francisco lie festering greed, corruption and intolerance. It’s a dangerous place for an honest man, even one who’s as good with a gun as Cade. As he makes his way between the decadent chaos of the notorious Barbary Coast, the luxurious mansions of Russian Hill, and the secretive societies of Chinatown, Cade will face vicious and sadistic enemies, find allies in unexpected places, and encounter a pair of enigmatic women who will change his life forever. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 31st,
September 2nd and September 7th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 31st, September 2nd and September 7th 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 weeks of August 30th and September 6th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
August 31st
MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW by Stephen Graham Jones (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
In her quickly gentrifying rural lake town, Jade sees recent events that only her encyclopedic knowledge of horror films could have prepared her for in this latest novel from the Jordan Peele of horror literature, Stephen Graham Jones.
POISON FOR BREAKFAST by Lemony Snicket (Fiction/Dark Humor)
POISON FOR BREAKFAST is a new stand-alone adventure --- appropriate for all ages --- by Lemony Snicket, one of the 21st century’s most beloved authors.
THE RIVIERA HOUSE by Natasha Lester (Historical Fiction)
Perfect for fans of THE ROSE CODE, THE RIVIERA HOUSE is a lush and engrossing novel of one woman’s quest to keep Nazis from stealing priceless art during WWII.
A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins (Mystery/Thriller)
With the same propulsion that captivated millions of readers worldwide in THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN and INTO THE WATER, Paula Hawkins unfurls a gripping, twisting story of deceit, murder and revenge.
YOU CAN RUN by Karen Cleveland (Thriller)
A CIA analyst makes a split-second decision that endangers her country but saves her son --- and now she must team up with an investigative journalist she’s not sure she can trust.
September 2nd
THE NATURE OF MIDDLE-EARTH written by J. R. R. Tolkien, edited by Carl F. Hostetter (Fantasy/Adventure)
This is the first-ever publication of J. R. R. Tolkien’s final writings on Middle-earth, covering a wide range of subjects and perfect for those who have read and enjoyed THE SILMARILLION, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, UNFINISHED TALES and The History of Middle-earth, and want to learn more about Tolkien’s magnificent world.
September 7th
BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney (Fiction)
Alice meets Felix and asks him if he’d like to travel to Rome with her. In Dublin, her best friend, Eileen, is getting over a break-up, and slips back into flirting with Simon, a man she has known since childhood. Alice, Felix, Eileen, and Simon are still young --- but life is catching up with them.
BROTHERS ON THREE: A True Story of Family, Resistance, and Hope on a Reservation in Montana by Abe Streep (Biography)
From journalist Abe Streep comes the story of coming-of-age on a reservation in the American West and a team uniting a community.
COUNTDOWN BIN LADEN: The Untold Story of the 247-Day Hunt to Bring the Mastermind of 9/11 to Justice by Chris Wallace with Mitch Weiss (History)
Following Chris Wallace’s #1 national bestseller, COUNTDOWN 1945, is a deeply reported, revelatory and thrillingly told account of the final months of the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN by Ronald H. Balson (Legal Thriller)
DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN is critically acclaimed author Ronald H. Balson's thrilling take on a modern-day courtroom drama, and a masterful rendition of Denmark’s wartime heroics.
FOREVER YOUNG: A Memoir by Hayley Mills (Memoir)
Iconic actress Hayley Mills shares personal memories from her storied childhood, growing up in a famous acting family and becoming a Disney child star, trying to grow up in a world that wanted her to stay forever young.
FORGOTTEN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery/Thriller)
In this latest installment of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas sifts through the wreckage of the past to find a killer.
FRIENDS LIKE THESE by Kimberly McCreight (Psychological Thriller)
In this relentlessly twisty literary thriller from New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight, a desperate intervention brings together a group of college friends 10 years after graduation --- a reunion marked by lies, betrayal and murder.
THE GREAT GLORIOUS GODDAMN OF IT ALL by Josh Ritter (Fiction/Magical Realism)
From singer-songwriter Josh Ritter comes a lyrical, sweeping novel about a young boy's coming-of-age during the last days of the lumberjacks.
HIGH STAKES by Iris Johansen (Thriller)
All bets are off as #1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen introduces gambler Logan Tanner, a man with a secret past that’s about to come back to haunt him.
IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström (Fiction)
IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK is a fast-paced, richly nuanced yet accessible contemporary novel that touches on important social issues of racism, classism, fetishization and tokenism, and what it means to be a Black woman navigating a white-dominated society.
THE MAGICIAN by Colm Tóibín (Historical Fiction)
From one of today’s most brilliant and beloved novelists comes a dazzling, epic family saga set across a half-century spanning World War I, the rise of Hitler, World War II and the Cold War.
MATRIX by Lauren Groff (Historical Fiction)
Lauren Groff’s new novel, her first since FATES AND FURIES, is a defiant and timely exploration of the raw power of female creativity in a corrupted world.
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED by Lisa Jewell (Psychological Thriller)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THEN SHE WAS GONE and THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS comes another riveting work of psychological suspense about a web of people whose lives are forever changed in the wake of a young couple’s disappearance.
ROBERT B. PARKER’S STONE’S THROW: A Jesse Stone Novel by Mike Lupica (Mystery)
Paradise is rocked by the mayor's untimely death in this latest novel starring police chief Jesse Stone.
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS by Alice Feeney (Psychological Thriller)
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS is the latest exciting domestic thriller from the queen of the killer twist, New York Times bestselling author Alice Feeney.
THREE GIRLS FROM BRONZEVILLE: A Uniquely American Memoir of Race, Fate, and Sisterhood by Dawn Turner (Memoir)
This piercing memoir is about three Black girls from the storied Bronzeville section of Chicago that offers a penetrating exploration of race, opportunity, friendship, sisterhood, and the powerful forces at work that allow some to flourish...and others to falter.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Bookreporter.com's 17th Annual Summer Reading Feature
All summer long, we at Bookreporter.com have been sharing some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Feature. While our series of 24-hour contests have ended, we encourage you to take a look at our featured titles for some sizzling summer reading ideas.
This year’s featured titles are:
Click here to learn more about our featured titles.
Bookreporter.com’s 2021 Virtual Vacation Reads:
Books Set in Getaway Locations
Bookreporter has a way for you to virtually travel with our list of books set in vacation locales. Escape to idyllic spots like Nantucket, Cape Cod, Malibu, the Catskills, Charleston and Palm Beach --- along with many others --- in our 2021 Virtual Vacation Reads feature. Pick your book(s) to embark on the summer vacation you've been dreaming of. You’ll only have to figure out how to send postcards!
Please note: For your convenience, we have organized these books both by location and alphabetically by title. We also have included links to indie bookstores that are at or near each of these locations, so you can pay them a virtual visit as well! May we suggest that you buy these books from them?
Click here to see our 2021 Virtual Vacation Reads feature.
From left to right: Mike Lupica, Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins
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, August 28th at 2pm ET: Murder By The Book: Paula Hawkins will be in conversation with Lee Child about her new thriller, A SLOW FIRE BURNING, a gripping, twisting story of deceit, murder and revenge.
Tuesday, August 31st at 12pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: AJ Pearce will join members of the Simon & Schuster team for a Facebook Live Book Club chat about YOURS CHEERFULLY, which is August's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Wednesday, September 1st 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 Megan Abbott (THE TURNOUT) and Laura Lippman (DREAM GIRL).
Wednesday, September 1st at 8pm ET: Valley Bookseller: Valley Bookseller's Totally Criminal Cocktail Hour event will feature William Kent Krueger in celebration of his new Cork O'Connor mystery, LIGHTNING STRIKE.
Thursday, September 2nd at 8pm ET: Boswell and Books & Company: Boswell and Books & Company present a joint virtual event with William Kent Krueger, author of LIGHTNING STRIKE.
Friday, September 3rd at 8:30pm ET: Excelsior Bay Books: Join Excelsior Bay Books for an online visit from William Kent Krueger, who will talk about his latest surefire bestseller, LIGHTNING STRIKE.
Tuesday, September 7th at 4:30pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lisa Jewell will discuss her new novel, THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED, another riveting work of psychological suspense about a beautiful young couple’s disappearance on a gorgeous summer night, and the mother who will never give up trying to find them.
Wednesday, September 8th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Lisa Jewell will talk about her latest psychological thriller, THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.
Wednesday, September 8th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Mike Lupica will discuss his latest Jesse Stone mystery, ROBERT B. PARKER'S STONE'S THROW, with special guest host Harlan Coben.
Wednesday, September 8th at 8pm ET: Politics and Prose Bookstore: Join P&P Live! to discuss Colm Tóibín's new novel, THE MAGICIAN, as part of their Irish Voices series.
Wednesday, September 8th at 8pm ET: Raven Book Store: William Kent Krueger will return to the Raven virtual stage for a thrilling discussion of his new Cork O'Connor novel, LIGHTNING STRIKE.
Thursday, September 9th at 3pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Alice Feeney will discuss ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, the latest exciting domestic thriller from the queen of the killer twist.
"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 are our latest interviews:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström (IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK)
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Naomi Hirahara (CLARK AND DIVISION)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: How Long Have You Been
Reading Bookreporter.com?
How long have you been a Bookreporter.com reader?
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Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, September 10th 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 August 20th to September 10th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger and A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins.
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.
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