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Reading the Night Away...and News About Our Next “Bookaccino Live” Book Group Event
Over the last week or so, I have had insomnia. When one cannot sleep, the best thing to do is to read! So here’s how I spent my nights. First up was NANNY DEAREST by Flora Collins, which is out on November 30th. Flora is a debut novelist who nails one really creepy thriller about Sue Keller, a young woman who connects with her childhood nanny, Annie, after 20 years. Her memories are warm until she digs deeper and learns what really happened in the house two decades ago. For some reason, I kept thinking of Elizabeth Brundage’s ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR as I read it. It was edgy right to the end.
Next up was EVERYTHING WE DIDN’T SAY by Nicole Baart, a novel releasing on November 2nd that has been getting a lot of buzz. Juniper Baker is back in town. Ostensibly she’s there to help a friend who has taken ill and to work with her at the local library. But coming back for Juniper means she needs to confront just a few things. First, there’s the teenage daughter she left behind --- the one who's been raised by her mother and stepmother. And then there are the neighbors nearby who were brutally murdered about the time she took off. Her younger brother was the lead suspect in that murder. So now she is back and has a chance to make a lot of things right. But before she does, there will be a whole lot that needs to come undone. The prose is tight, and the ending is so well done. It will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick, and I am looking forward to interviewing Nicole.
THE COLLECTIVE by Alison Gaylin, also out on November 2nd, made for more edgy nighttime reading. Here's the premise: Just how far will a grieving mother go to right a tragic wrong? Camille Gardner lost her daughter five years ago, and she is angry and obsessed with the young man who she holds responsible. She lashes out one day, which gets her on the radar of a dark group called the collective, which is made up of women bent on avenging the loss of their loved ones with highly coordinated revenge killings. What does this kind of rage do to Camille? And more than that, just who are these women with whom she has aligned herself? I raced through the last 30 pages, not sure where this one was going to end up. It had two quick turns that I did not see coming. I am looking forward to interviewing Alison about the idea behind this book!
Austin Ruh, our media producer, joined me to talk to Sarah Ruhl about her memoir, SMILE: The Story of a Face, for our latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview. Sarah is a playwright, essayist and poet, as well as a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and a Tony Award nominee. Austin is a huge admirer of her playwriting, so I was happy that he was on board to discuss this aspect of her work.
SMILE is the story of Sarah’s decade-long journey with Bell's palsy, as well as her experiences as a mother and an artist. After surviving a high-risk pregnancy, half of her face is left paralyzed. She is told that most patients recover within a few days, but her face doesn't go back to normal. Her life is roses to the public, with a play opening on Broadway and her family growing, but she struggles with happiness, both in what others can see on her face and what she reflects on internally.
In the interview, Sarah discusses how people feel emotion, especially how external expressions have the power to control our own feelings. She also talks about her writing, how her story grew into a memoir, how certain writing projects are handled differently, and what she's working on next. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Austin and I are already talking about doing a few more projects together.
Sarah Rachel Egelman reviewed SMILE for us this week and calls it a “fascinating and moving ‘story of a face’ that both masks and reveals a depth of feeling. Ruhl is an honest storyteller who is unafraid to share the intimate and the humorous particulars of her life with Bell’s palsy. In the end, the book transcends this diagnosis and becomes a rumination on the wisdom found in literature and in friendship, the force of religious belief and spiritual seeking, the magic of long-lasting romantic love, the fragile, powerful joy of motherhood, and the importance of being kind and loving to oneself.”
You’ve been asking, and I am happy to share that we have our next "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event lined up for Tuesday, November 16th at 8pm ET. Our author guest will be Jim DeFede, whose book, THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN, is one of my all-time favorite books. In fact, when people ask me for a quick reading recommendation, this is one of the top books that I always mention!
THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN details what happened in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001 when 38 planes bound for the United States were grounded there when U.S. airspace was closed. The story of how this small community came together to host their thousands of unexpected international guests is truly extraordinary. The timing for this event --- and this story --- is perfect as we get ready for Thanksgiving the following week. I first read the book in 2002, and I am happy to share that Jim has written a new afterword for the latest edition where he catches us up on what the people we met two decades ago are doing now.
You can sign up for the event by clicking here. If you have a question for Jim that you would like to ask on camera during the event, please send me an email with the subject line “Question for Jim DeFede.” And for those who may not know, the book served as the inspiration for the smash hit musical “Come From Away.” I am not a huge fan of live theater, but this was a show that I always wanted to see. If the pandemic had not hit when it did, I was going to get tickets to see it live. The show is currently streaming on Apple TV+, and I have watched it twice.
I hope you will join us as we talk to Jim about his inspiration for writing the story of the people of Gander --- and how he went about researching this very special book.
As promised, our October “Bookaccino Live” afternoon event is now available on our YouTube channel. Click here to see me present 31 books releasing between now and November 2nd, along with a couple of December titles, that I think will appeal to you. And if you want to sign up for our November 10th event, here’s the link!
Are you a bookseller, librarian or book club leader who runs a number of book groups? If so, here’s news for you. We are hosting our 10 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event on Friday, November 12th from 1-3pm ET. This is what is known as a “trade only” event, so if you fit the above criteria and have not yet been invited, drop me a note at Carol@bookreporter.com and tell me more about you.
John Grisham is back with his latest legal thriller, THE JUDGE’S LIST, which finds investigator Lacy Stoltz following the trail of a serial killer and closing in on a shocking suspect --- a sitting judge. Stuart Shiffman has our review and says, “Grisham pulls you deeply into his story. You cheer for the good people and worry about them, while you loathe the villains. Along the way, he shares a great deal of intriguing information about serial killers and the dark web. Hopefully, some of what he offers is more speculation than fact. THE JUDGE’S LIST is a brilliant thriller that grabs your attention early. Lacy Stoltz appears to be at a crossroads in her career. Whether or not she stays on the job, I hope that John Grisham has another case for her to solve. It will be interesting to see what happens.”
We also are featuring our review of STATE OF TERROR, the much-talked-about international thriller written by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny. According to Roz Shea, “You’re in for a nonstop rollercoaster of a read with STATE OF TERROR. The pairing of one of the world’s most popular mystery authors with a former First Lady, US Senator and Secretary of State is the political thrill-ride feast of the year…. Hillary Rodham Clinton brings her personal, in-the-room observations during some of America’s darkest moments, adding heart-pounding, breathtaking reality to the white-knuckle events. Louise Penny showcases her inimitable mystery plotting skills, pacing and droll wit, with a tip of the hat to Three Pines fans. This winning combination elevates STATE OF TERROR far beyond a typical political thriller, making it one of my most memorable reads of 2021.”
Other books we're reviewing this week include:
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OH WILLIAM!: Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout explores the mysteries of marriage and the secrets we keep, as a former couple reckons with where they’ve come from --- and what they’ve left behind.
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CROSSROADS: With the action largely unfolding over the course of a single winter day, Jonathan Franzen’s latest novel is the story of a Midwestern family at a pivotal moment of moral crisis.
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FIGHT NIGHT: Miriam Toews’ new novel is a love letter to mothers and grandmothers, and to all the women who are still fighting --- painfully, ferociously --- for a way to live on their own terms.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
Let us know by Friday, November 5th at noon ET what books you’ve read in our Word of Mouth contest, and you’ll be in the running to win BETTER OFF DEAD by Lee Child and Andrew Child and GOING THERE by Katie Couric, both of which will be in stores on Tuesday. We plan to feature our reviews of both over the next couple of weeks.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our new poll asks which of 30 titles releasing this month you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know.
In our previous poll, we asked about your level of interest in reading pandemic-themed novels. For 70% of you, it would depend on either the plot of the book or the author, 24% are not interested in reading these books, 22% would read them now, 12% aren’t ready yet but may be open to reading them at a later time, and 8% would just like to skip timelines of 2020 and 2021 for books.
We were saddened to learn that acclaimed children’s book illustrator Jerry Pinkney passed away on Wednesday at the age of 81 following a brief illness. Pinkney, who illustrated more than 100 books, has the rare distinction of being the recipient of five Caldecott Honors and the winner of the 2010 Caldecott Medal for THE LION AND THE MOUSE. He won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award five times and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor four times. He also received several major lifetime achievement awards and was the first children’s book illustrator elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Click here to read Publishers Weekly’s tribute to him. I have a signed galley of THE LION AND THE MOUSE, and one day at a lunch I was treated not only to watching him draw, but also to hear him talk about telling a story through art.
News & Pop Culture
And the Winner Is…: This week I read this: "A popular Spanish author who goes by the pen name Carmen Mola was awarded the 1 million euro Planeta prize in literature. But when her name was called out during a ceremony on Friday, three men --- TV script writers --- revealed themselves as the actual authors behind Mola’s novels." One cannot make this stuff up!
A Clock for Book Lovers: Sean Doorly, our first employee, found this really cool clock that is perfect for readers.
“Succession” on HBO: I love the way the planes are always at the ready, and we never see them carry luggage. My friend Wendy said that no one even carries a pocketbook. I also love clandestine calling from one family member to another from the planes. I trust none of these people.
Roadrunner on Apple TV+: This is a terrific documentary about Anthony Bourdain where you get a 360 view of his life.
“Dopesick” on Hulu: I watched the first four available episodes. It’s based on Beth Macy's book, DOPESICK: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America, and is a quick primer in the insane way that OxyContin became an epidemic. I confess that I prefer when an entire series is available instead of waiting for episodes. It’s just easier to delve into the story that way.
WeWork Documentary on Hulu: The ego and egomaniacal attitude of WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann was truly crazy to watch. And as a coda, Morning Brew had this to say about their stock offering yesterday: “What a long, strange trip it’s been. Just over two years after its first attempt to IPO shattered into a million documentaries, WeWork went public yesterday via SPAC. This deal valued the company at $9 billion; WeWork was worth $47 billion in 2019.” After 18 months of social distancing, it was so strange to watch their big gatherings and people on top of each other in co-working spaces in this piece. We have moved to a different model of living so quickly.
Being the Ricardos on Amazon Prime Video: I am a longtime Lucille Ball fan. So here’s a special teaser from Being the Ricardos, which will be in theaters December 10th and on Prime Video December 21st. It stars Nicole Kidman. Note who you do not see in the entire trailer. Nicole. Seriously. My friend Beverley noted this. I read a piece on Edie Falco this week about her time on "The Sopranos," as well as on "Nurse Jackie." She had a humorous line about Nicole Kidman, saying something along the lines of Kidman needing to take a vacation, ostensibly so that other women can get some roles.
Tomorrow morning I am planning to watch the Hachette Book Group Brunch from here at the house with my friend, Annmarie. She is bringing bagels and cream cheese, which I have been craving. Now I have to figure out how to connect my laptop to the television so we can watch on a big screen. HDMI cord to the rescue!
I have no other weekend plans, though I am hoping to get some more garden work done as so much is still in bloom. But I know that no matter how warm it is this time of year, the cold swoops back in right after Halloween. It'll be jacket time again, and the plants will fade quickly. I brought in a huge batch of celosia to dry. The end of the summer was wet and humid; it really affected the celosia, and it sagged. So I clipped everything, and now it’s headed to dry so I can make some arrangements. It also is a gorgeous cut flower.
It’s also time to think about trying some new recipes. There will be cookbook perusing over the weekend. Last weekend, we made some really terrific tequila Mexican shrimp wraps, for which we made up the recipe. We will do this again. I also made a great batch of bran muffins, and the recipe that I made up a few years ago will be happening again!
And I have a couple of 2021 books lined up to finish before I dive into a shelf of 2022 ones. I am at the point where I need to start organizing upcoming reads by month. I already am plotting who to interview early next year!
Tom, Austin and I are cooking up some year-end programming for December. Included will be an evening with our reviewers talking about their favorite books of 2021 --- and a few more surprises. Stay tuned for more news on these events!
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 JUDGE’S LIST by John Grisham
THE JUDGE'S LIST by John Grisham (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Mary-Louise Parker, with an introduction read by John Grisham
Lacy Stoltz meets a mysterious woman who is so frightened she uses a number of aliases. Jeri Crosby’s father was murdered 20 years earlier in a case that remains unsolved. But Jeri has a suspect whom she has become obsessed with and has stalked for two decades. Along the way, she has discovered other victims. He is the most cunning of all serial killers. He knows forensics, police procedure and, most important, the law. He is a judge who is under Lacy’s jurisdiction. He has a list, with the names of his victims and targets, all unsuspecting people unlucky enough to have crossed his path and wronged him in some way. How can Lacy pursue him without becoming the next name on his list? Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: STATE OF TERROR
by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny
STATE OF TERROR by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joan Allen
What begins as a series of apparent terrorist attacks on the United States is revealed to be the beginning of an international chess game involving the volatile and Byzantine politics of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran; the race to develop nuclear weapons in the region; the Russian mob; a burgeoning rogue terrorist organization; and an American government set back on its heels in the international arena. As the horrifying scale of the threat becomes clear, Secretary of State Ellen Adams and her team realize it has been carefully planned to take advantage of four years of an American government out of touch with international affairs, out of practice with diplomacy, and out of power in the places where it counts the most. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: OH WILLIAM! by Elizabeth Strout
OH WILLIAM! by Elizabeth Strout (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kimberly Farr
Lucy Barton is a writer, but her ex-husband, William, remains a hard man to read. William, she confesses, has always been a mystery to me. Another mystery is why the two have remained connected after all these years. They just are. So Lucy is both surprised and not surprised when William asks her to join him on a trip to investigate a recently uncovered family secret --- one of those secrets that rearrange everything we think we know about the people closest to us. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: CROSSROADS by Jonathan Franzen
CROSSROADS by Jonathan Franzen (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by David Pittu
It’s December 23, 1971, and heavy weather is forecast for Chicago. Russ Hildebrandt, the associate pastor of a liberal suburban church, is on the brink of breaking free of a marriage he finds joyless --- unless his wife, Marion, who has her own secret life, beats him to it. Their eldest child, Clem, is coming home from college on fire with moral absolutism, having taken an action that will shatter his father. Clem’s sister, Becky, long the social queen of her high-school class, has sharply veered into the counterculture, while their brilliant younger brother Perry, who’s been selling drugs to seventh graders, has resolved to be a better person. Each of the Hildebrandts seeks a freedom that each of the others threatens to complicate. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SMILE by Sarah Ruhl
SMILE: The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Ruhl
With a play opening on Broadway, and every reason to smile, Sarah Ruhl has just survived a high-risk pregnancy when she discovers the left side of her face is completely paralyzed. She is assured that 90 percent of Bell’s palsy patients see spontaneous improvement and experience a full recovery. Like Ruhl’s own mother. But Sarah is in the unlucky 10 percent. And for a woman, wife, mother and artist working in theater, the paralysis and the disconnect between the interior and exterior bring significant and specific challenges. So Ruhl begins an intense decade-long search for a cure while simultaneously grappling with the reality of her new face --- one that, while recognizably her own, is incapable of accurately communicating feelings or intentions. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Sarah Ruhl.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: FIGHT NIGHT by Miriam Toews
FIGHT NIGHT by Miriam Toews (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Miriam Toews and Georgia Toews
Swiv's Grandma, Elvira, has been fighting all her life. From her upbringing in a strict religious community, she has fought those who wanted to take away her joy, her independence and her spirit. She has fought to make peace with her loved ones when they have chosen to leave her. And now, even as her health fails, Grandma is fighting for her family: for her daughter, partnerless and in the third term of a pregnancy; and for her granddaughter Swiv, a spirited nine-year-old who has been suspended from school. Cramped together in their Toronto home, on the precipice of extraordinary change, Grandma and Swiv undertake a vital new project, setting out to explain their lives in letters they will never send. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 11th Annual
Fall Preview Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. While our series of 24-hour Fall Preview contests have ended, we encourage you to take a look at our featured titles. These are just some of the outstanding books that we know people will be talking about over the next few months.
This year's featured titles are:
» Click here to see the winners of this year's Fall Preview Contests.
Click here to learn more about our featured titles.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
CAPOTE'S WOMEN: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era by Laurence Leamer (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Carrington MacDuffie
Barbara "Babe" Paley, Gloria Guinness, Marella Agnelli, Slim Hayward, Pamela Churchill, C. Z. Guest, Lee Radziwill --- they were the toast of midcentury New York, each beautiful and distinguished in her own way. These women captivated and enchanted Truman Capote --- and at times, they infuriated him as well. He befriended them, received their deepest confidences, and ingratiated himself into their lives. Then, in one fell swoop, he betrayed them in the most surprising and shocking way possible. Laurence Leamer delves into the years following the acclaimed publication of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S in 1958 and IN COLD BLOOD in 1966, when Capote struggled with a crippling case of writer's block. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
IT'S A WONDERFUL WOOF: A Chet & Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Jim Frangione
Bernie is in the holiday spirit and refers a potential client to Victor Klovsky, a fellow private eye. But when Victor doesn’t show up at his mom’s to light the Hanukkah candles, she hires Chet and Bernie to find him. They soon discover that Victor’s client has also vanished. The trail leads to the ruins of a mission called Nuestra Señora de los Saguaros, dating back to the earliest Spanish explorers. Some very dangerous people are interested in the old mission. Does some dusty archive hold the secret of a previously unknown art treasure, possibly buried for centuries? What does the Flight into Egypt --- when Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus fled Herod --- have to do with saguaros, the Sonoran desert cactus? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
OSCAR WILDE: A Life by Matthew Sturgis (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Jot Davies
Drawing on material that has come to light in the past 30 years, including newly discovered letters, documents, first draft notebooks, and the full transcript of the libel trial, Matthew Sturgis meticulously portrays the key events and influences that shaped Oscar Wilde's life, returning the man "to his times, and to the facts," giving us his own experience as he experienced it. Here, fully and richly portrayed, is Wilde's Irish childhood; his years at Oxford and arrival in London; his 10-year marriage to Constance Lloyd, who unwittingly welcomed young men into the household who became Oscar's lovers; his development as a playwright; and, in later years, his irresistible pull toward another --- double --- life, and the tragic story of his fall that sent him to prison for two years of hard labor. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
AN ELDERLY LADY MUST NOT BE CROSSED: Stories written by Helene Tursten, translated by Marlaine Delargy (Dark Humor/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Ann Richardson
Just when things have finally cooled down for 88-year-old Maud after the disturbing discovery of a dead body in her apartment in Gothenburg, a couple of detectives return to her doorstep. Though Maud dodges their questions with the skill of an Olympic gymnast a fifth of her age, she wonders if suspicion has fallen on her. The truth is, ever since Maud was a girl, death has seemed to follow her. In these six interlocking stories, memories of unfortunate incidents from Maud’s past keep bubbling to the surface. Meanwhile, certain Problems in the present require immediate attention. Luckily, Maud is no stranger to taking matters into her own hands, even if it means she has to get a little blood on them in the process. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
LITANI by Jess Lourey (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Morris
In the summer of ’84, 14-year-old Frankie Jubilee is shuttled off to Litani, Minnesota, to live with her estranged mother, a county prosecutor she barely knows. From the start, Frankie senses something uneasy going on in the small town. The locals whisper about The Game, and her mother warns her to stay out of the woods and away from adults. When a bullying gang of girls invites Frankie to The Game, she accepts, determined to find out what’s really going on in Litani. She’s not the only one becoming paranoid. Hysteria burns through the community. Dark secrets emerge. And Frankie fears that, even in the bright light of day, she might be living among monsters. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
JUST THIEVES by Gregory Galloway (Thriller)
Rick and Frank are recovering addicts and accomplished house thieves. They do not steal randomly --- they steal according to order, hired by a mysterious handler. The jobs run routinely until they’re tasked with taking a seemingly worthless trophy: an object that generates interest and obsession out of proportion to its apparent value. Just as the robbery is completed, the two are involved in a freak car accident that sets off a chain of events, and Frank disappears with the trophy. As Rick tries to find Frank, he is forced to confront his past, upending both his livelihood and his sense of reality. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
- Click here to read an interview with Gregory Galloway.
THE BALLAD OF LAUREL SPRINGS by Janet Beard (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Jennifer Jill Araya, Andi Arndt, Robin Eller, Angel Pean, Candace Thaxton, Megan Tusing and Nancy Wu
Ten-year-old Grace is in search of a subject for her fifth-grade history project when she learns that her four times-great grandfather once stabbed his lover to death. His grisly act was memorialized in a murder ballad, her aunt tells her, so it must be true. But the lessons of that revelation --- to be careful of men, and desire --- are not just Grace’s to learn. Her family’s tangled past is part of a dark legacy in which the lives of generations of women are affected by the violence immortalized in folksongs like “Knoxville Girl” and “Pretty Polly,” reminding them always to know their place --- or risk the wages of sin. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
SLEEPLESS by Romy Hausmann (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Lucy Paterson, Michael Fenner and Heather Long
It's been years since Nadja Kulka was convicted of a cruel crime. After being released from prison, she's wanted nothing more than to live a normal life: nice flat, steady job, even a few friends. But when one of those friends, Laura von Hoven --- free-spirited beauty and wife of Nadja's boss --- kills her lover and begs Nadja for her help, Nadja can't seem to refuse. The two women make for a remote house in the woods, the perfect place to bury a body. But their plan quickly falls apart, and Nadja finds herself outplayed, a pawn in a bizarre game in which she is both the perfect victim and the perfect murderer. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 26th
Below are some notable titles releasing on October 26th 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 October 25th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
AS THE WICKED WATCH: The First Jordan Manning Novel by Tamron Hall (Mystery/Thriller)
The first in a thrilling new series from Emmy Award-winning TV host and journalist Tamron Hall, AS THE WICKED WATCH follows a reporter as she unravels the disturbing mystery around the deaths of two Black girls --- the work of a serial killer terrorizing Chicago.
BAGGAGE: Tales from a Fully Packed Life by Alan Cumming (Memoir)
From Alan Cumming: "Ironically maybe, much of BAGGAGE chronicles my life in Hollywood and how, since I recovered from a nervous breakdown at 28, work has repeatedly whisked me away from personal calamities to sets and stages around the world."
BETTER OFF DEAD: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Thriller)
Jack Reacher goes where he wants, when he wants. That morning he was heading west, walking under the merciless desert sun --- until he comes upon a curious scene. A Jeep has crashed into the only tree for miles around. A woman is slumped over the wheel. Dead? No, nothing is what it seems.
BURNING BOY: The Life and Work of Stephen Crane by Paul Auster (Biography)
With BURNING BOY, Paul Auster tells the extraordinary story of Stephen Crane, best known as the author of THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE, who transformed American literature through an avalanche of original short stories, novellas, poems, journalism and war reportage before his life was cut short by tuberculosis at age 28.
CHRISTMAS IN PEACHTREE BLUFF by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Fiction)
In the newest installment of New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey’s Peachtree Bluff series, three generations of the Murphy women must come together when a hurricane threatens to destroy their hometown --- and the holiday season in the process.
DOWN THE HATCH: An Agatha Raisin Mystery by M. C. Beaton with R.W. Green (Mystery)
Beloved New York Times bestselling author M. C. Beaton's cranky, crafty Agatha Raisin --- the star of her own hit TV series --- is back on the case again in DOWN THE HATCH.
GOING THERE by Katie Couric (Memoir)
For more than 40 years, Katie Couric has been an iconic presence in the media world. In her brutally honest, hilarious and heartbreaking memoir, she reveals what was going on behind the scenes of her sometimes tumultuous personal and professional life --- a story she’s never shared, until now.
THE MEMOIRS OF STOCKHOLM SVEN by Nathaniel Ian Miller (Historical Fiction)
One man banishes himself to a solitary life in the Arctic Circle, and is saved by good friends, a loyal dog and a surprise visit that changes everything.
THE NAMELESS ONES by John Connolly (Supernatural Thriller)
From the international and instant New York Times bestselling author of THE DIRTY SOUTH, the white-knuckled Charlie Parker series returns with this heart-pounding race to hunt down the deadliest of war criminals.
RENEGADES: Born in the USA by Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen (Social Science/Popular Culture)
Two longtime friends share an intimate and urgent conversation about life, music and their enduring love of America, with all its challenges and contradictions, in this stunningly produced expansion of their groundbreaking "Higher Ground" podcast, featuring more than 350 photographs, exclusive bonus content and never-before-seen archival material.
THE SECRET OF SNOW by Viola Shipman (Fiction)
The forecast is calling for a reluctant homecoming and regrettable decisions with a strong chance of romance in Viola Shipman's latest novel, THE SECRET OF SNOW.
THE UNHEARD by Nicci French (Psychological Thriller)
In this new heart-pounding stand-alone from the internationally bestselling author that People calls “razor sharp,” a single mother suspects her young daughter has witnessed a horrible crime when she draws a disturbing picture --- but the deadly path to unravel the truth could cost her everything.
WHERE THEY WAIT by Scott Carson (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
WHERE THEY WAIT is a new supernatural novel about a sinister mindfulness app with fatal consequences from the New York Times bestselling author of the “grips from the first page” (Stephen King) thriller THE CHILL.
THE WICKED WIDOW: A Wicked City Novel by Beatriz Williams (Historical Romance)
What ugly secrets lurk in the opulent enclaves --- and bank accounts --- of America’s richest families? And can two determined women from two different generations thwart the murderous legacy of the demon liquor?
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Andrew Child & Lee Child, Tamron Hall
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.
Sunday, October 24th at 1pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Anthony Horowitz as he discusses his new book, A LINE TO KILL --- his third literary whodunit featuring intrepid detectives Hawthorne and Horowitz --- with Peter Swanson.
Monday, October 25th at 9pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lee Child and Andrew Child will discuss their new Jack Reacher thriller, BETTER OFF DEAD.
Tuesday, October 26th at 7pm ET: Harvard Book Store: Harvard Book Store's virtual event series and Mass Humanities welcome Susan Orlean for a discussion of her latest book, ON ANIMALS. She will be joined in conversation by acclaimed author Mary Roach.
Wednesday, October 27th at 4pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Emmy Award-winning TV host and journalist Tamron Hall for a live, virtual event to celebrate the release of the first in a thrilling new series, AS THE WICKED WATCH, as part of the B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Tamron will be in conversation with bestselling author Alafair Burke.
Wednesday, October 27th 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 Richard Paul Evans, whose upcoming novel is THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE.
Wednesday, October 27th at 7pm ET: McLean & Eakin Booksellers: Join McLean & Eakin Booksellers, in partnership with Books & Company and Boswell Book Company, for a free virtual event with Viola Shipman and Susan Mallery. They will discuss their new books, THE SECRET OF SNOW and THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING GUEST.
Wednesday, October 27th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Tamron Hall as she discusses her new book, AS THE WICKED WATCH: The First Jordan Manning Novel, with Laura Dave.
Thursday, October 28th at 8:30pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's, in partnership with Penguin Random House, will host Lee Child and Andrew Child as they discuss their new Jack Reacher novel, BETTER OFF DEAD, with moderator Jake Tapper.
Friday, October 29th at 10am ET: Buxton Books: Join Buxton Books and Karen White virtually to celebrate the final book in her Tradd Street series, THE ATTIC ON QUEEN STREET.
"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:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Nicole Baart (EVERYTHING WE DIDN'T SAY)
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Alison Gaylin (THE COLLECTIVE)
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Viola Shipman (THE SECRET OF SNOW)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: October Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in October have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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AS THE WICKED WATCH: The First Jordan Manning Novel, by Tamron Hall
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BETTER OFF DEAD: A Jack Reacher Novel, by Lee Child and Andrew Child
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THE BOOK OF MAGIC by Alice Hoffman
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THE BOYS: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family, by Ron Howard and Clint Howard
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A CARNIVAL OF SNACKERY: Diaries (2003-2020) by David Sedaris
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CROSSROADS by Jonathan Franzen
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DEAR SANTA by Debbie Macomber
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THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE by Caitlin Starling
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FIGHT NIGHT by Miriam Toews
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FOUL PLAY: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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GOING THERE by Katie Couric
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THE JEALOUSY MAN AND OTHER STORIES written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson
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THE JUDGE'S LIST by John Grisham
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LAST GIRL GHOSTED by Lisa Unger
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THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Amor Towles
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A LINE TO KILL by Anthony Horowitz
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OH WILLIAM! by Elizabeth Strout
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ON ANIMALS by Susan Orlean
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ONCE UPON A WARDROBE by Patti Callahan
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OVER MY DEAD BODY by Jeffrey Archer
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THE PARTY CRASHER by Sophie Kinsella
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SANKOFA by Chibundu Onuzo
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THE SECRET OF SNOW by Viola Shipman
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SILVERVIEW by John le Carré
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SMILE: The Story of a Face, by Sarah Ruhl
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STATE OF TERROR by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny
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TASTE: My Life Through Food, by Stanley Tucci
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THREE SISTERS by Heather Morris
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WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
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THE WICKED WIDOW: A Wicked City Novel, by Beatriz Williams
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, November 5th 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 October 22nd to November 5th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BETTER OFF DEAD: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child and GOING THERE by Katie Couric.
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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