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Gearing Up for 2022...But First,
Some Terrific Upcoming Events!
I loved the extra hour last weekend, which I did spend 24 ways --- and it was really nice not to have to drag myself out of bed on Monday in the dark!
I finally got a head start on my January 2022 reading with two books that I am enjoying. First up is OLGA DIES DREAMING by Xochitl Gonzalez, which is both smart and fun...and yes, if you recognize the title, it's because it's a current contest book (more on that later). I am loving Olga’s adventures as a wedding planner and her zest for life. I liked it so much that when I had an appointment the other morning, I brought it with me so I could read while I waited. But when I came home, I could not find it. I called the office where I had been, twice, and I searched the car again.
It was one of those frantic moments where I needed to know what was going to happen next in a book, and I was not going to be able to wait until its January 4th release date. I finally broke down and asked the publisher to send me another copy. Then this afternoon, I moved a book that was on the floor next to my desk. Beneath it was Olga, and I literally screamed with joy!
For those wondering how to say the author’s first name, it’s So-Cheel. You’re welcome. When friends had children with unusual names and they would explain their inspiration for them, I would think one thing: they are not going to have a bicycle license plate. Well, I guess kids with names like Blue and Apple inspired someone to make customizable license plates for kids.
I have been hearing raves about THE MAID by Nita Prose, also coming on January 4th, from many different camps, and I see why. It’s a thriller about a maid in an exclusive hotel who clearly is on the spectrum. She has definite literal thoughts about everything. And she takes her job very, very seriously. So when she finds Mr. Black, who has been a longtime guest of the hotel, dead in his bed, lots of drama is going to ensue. This seriously would have been a one-sit read if I did not have a really full schedule this week. I am looking forward to finishing it!
Speaking of “finishing the book,” Melanie, who edits our Word of Mouth feature, asked us to remind readers that in order to be eligible to win the contest, you must have finished the book that you are writing about!
Points to those in my book group about reading: We ALL had read the book when we got together last night to discuss THE SOUND OF GRAVEL by Ruth Wariner, which we all loved. I love this group, and I loved our discussion!
Our “10 ½ Annual” Book Group Speed Dating Event
Today we hosted our “10 ½ Annual” Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book group leaders. Representatives from 17 publishers presented books releasing this winter and spring that they think will be perfect for book groups to discuss. We will have the video of the event, along with various leavebehind materials, available over the next few weeks. As I said, 2022 is already shaping up to be another wonderful year for bibliophiles, and when you view this presentation, you will see why!
We are so excited to announce a very special “Bookaccino Live” event that will take place on Wednesday, December 8th at 8pm ET. As part of our ongoing 25th anniversary celebration, we will be talking to some of our longtime reviewers about their favorite books of 2021. Our guest list includes Sarah Rachel Egelman, Megan Elliott, Pauline Finch, Harvey Freedenberg, Rebecca Munro, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol, Ray Palen, Norah Piehl, Stuart Shiffman and Jana Siciliano. You may remember that we hosted a similar event in August 2020, which was so much fun, so we are really looking forward to doing this again! If you would like to attend and see some of the faces behind the reviews, click here to sign up.
November’s “Bookaccino Live” Preview Event
On Wednesday, we held our last “Bookaccino Live” afternoon event of 2021, where I talked about 19 books releasing between now and the end of the year, along with 16 from January and February, that I wanted to get on your radar. The presentation will be up on our YouTube channel next week, and we will share the link to the video in next Friday's newsletter. In the meantime, you can see a list of all the titles that I talked about here.
We will host our first “Bookaccino Live” afternoon event of 2022 on Wednesday, January 12th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on books releasing from January 4th to February 1st, with a look ahead to March. Click here to sign up. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Edgar Award winner Alison Gaylin, whose newly released thriller is THE COLLECTIVE. Camille, who tragically lost her daughter, is approached by a woman who says, “I know who you are. I know how you feel.” From there, she senses a kinship with the people in the collective. But are they truly avenging angels, or are they monsters? Alison shares how she researched this grim topic, including her view of the dark web. She also talks about monsters, both real and imagined, and ramping up the tension, confessing to scaring herself a few times as she wrote. The ending is one that I did not see coming. Did Alison? Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast to find out!
Ray Palen reviews the book this week and says, "Gaylin has penned a terrific psychological thriller that pulls at our heartstrings and plays to one of our basest instincts --- the desire for revenge against our enemies. THE COLLECTIVE runs forward at a furious pace, and readers will find it impossible not to relate to Camille and everything she is going through during this intense narrative."
In Michael Connelly’s latest thriller, THE DARK HOURS, LAPD detective Renée Ballard must join forces with Harry Bosch to find justice in a city scarred by fear and social unrest after a methodical killer strikes on New Year’s Eve. According to Ray Palen, the book "is a different animal from anything Connelly has previously written. The pandemic, which unfortunately still exists in our world, has posed a great quandary to authors. Do they deal with the elephant in the room and write about it, or do they completely ignore it and give their readers an escape from their day-to-day worries? Connelly has chosen the former, and it plays well.... THE DARK HOURS is an outstanding book for loyal readers of Connelly’s work and viewers of Amazon Prime’s sorely missed 'Bosch' series."
Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winning author Louise Erdrich is back with her much-talked-about new novel, THE SENTENCE. A small independent bookstore is haunted for a year by Flora, the store's most annoying customer. Tookie, who is now selling books after years of incarceration, must solve the mystery. Our reviewer Norah Piehl has this to say about the book: “Despite the novel’s grappling with heavy topics like pandemics, protests and politics, THE SENTENCE --- particularly Tookie’s singular narrative voice --- is at times sneakily funny. But it’s also thoughtful and truly insightful, as Tookie and other characters contend with cultural appropriation, personal and cultural histories, and the parallel stories of Black and Indigenous people’s brutalization at the hands of the police.”
Word of Mouth Reminder
THE DARK HOURS and THE SENTENCE are our current Word of Mouth prizes. Submit your comments about the books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles. Be sure to enter by Friday, November 19th at noon ET.
Announcing This Year’s Holiday Cheer Feature
'Tis the season for our Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature! This year’s giveaways will kick off at noon ET on select days in November and December, and run for just 24 hours, so you will have to check the site to see what is being featured. As always, we will be sending our Holiday Cheer newsletter on the days when there are contests. Click here to sign up for these email alerts. Our preview email with all the books to be featured will go out on Monday, November 15th to those who have opted into the Holiday Cheer newsletter, and our first contest will go live the following day at noon ET. Week one’s prize books will be DEAR SANTA by Debbie Macomber, READY, SET, COOK: How to Make Good Food with What's On Hand (No Fancy Skills, Fancy Equipment, or Fancy Budget Required) by Dawn Perry (I am working on building the pantry supplies noted in this book and am making lots of notes), and THE WISH by Nicholas Sparks.
Don’t Forget to Enter Our Special Contest
You have until next Friday, November 19th at noon ET to enter our contest for the aforementioned OLGA DIES DREAMING by debut novelist Xochitl Gonzalez. We’re giving 25 readers the chance to win an advance copy of the book, which releases on January 4th. According to Rumaan Alam, author of LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, "The extraordinary accomplishment of OLGA DIES DREAMING is in how a familiar-enough tale --- a woman seeking love, happiness, and fulfillment in the big city --- slowly reveals itself to be something else altogether. It’s a book about a New York that isn’t always celebrated, the one that belongs to immigrant communities; about money, class, and political power; about one vividly-imagined family and the very idea of the American Dream."
“In Case You Missed” Our Feature Last Week…
We are continuing to spotlight our latest “In Case You Missed Them…and a Look Ahead” feature. Here we are sharing three thrillers by Heather Gudenkauf that you may have missed --- NOT A SOUND, BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND and THIS IS HOW I LIED --- and getting her next book on your radar, THE OVERNIGHT GUEST, which will be in stores on January 25th. Scroll further down the newsletter for more information about these titles and links that should be of interest to you.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bookreporter.com Bets On pick is EVERYTHING WE DIDN’T SAY by Nicole Baart. Click here for my commentary. If you missed my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Nicole from last week, you can watch it here and listen to the podcast here.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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ONCE UPON A WARDROBE: Here’s what Patti Callahan has to say about her new work of historical fiction: “I bet you’ve wondered where your very favorite tales began. How they started. Their origin story, as it were. And that’s what I wondered about Narnia. As young George Devonshire asks in this novel, ‘Where did Narnia come from?’ With that in mind, I set out to find some answers.”
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OVER MY DEAD BODY: At the heart of three investigations in Jeffrey Archer’s latest rollercoaster ride of a thriller are Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick, a rising star of the Metropolitan Police force, and ex-undercover agent Ross Hogan, who is brought in from the cold.
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LIGHTNING DOWN: A World War II Story of Survival: On August 13, 1944, Joe Moser set off on his 44th combat mission over occupied France. Soon, he would join almost 170 other Allied airmen as prisoners in Buchenwald, one of the most notorious and deadly of Nazi concentration camps. Tom Clavin's latest book tells this largely untold and riveting true story
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THE LEAST OF US: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth: In this follow-up to his National Book Critics Circle Award-winning book DREAMLAND, Sam Quinones explores the terrifying next stages of the opioid epidemic and the quiet yet ardent stories of community repair. After watching both "American Rust" and "Dopesick", I really want to read this book.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask about your reading style. Are you a fast reader, a slow one, somewhere in between, or does it depend on factors such as the book itself, your schedule or your mood? Click here to let us know!
Readers everywhere are invited to the exclusively digital National Book Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, November 17th at 7pm ET. The free ceremony will be hosted by stand-up comedian, actress and bestselling author Phoebe Robinson. Tom Donadio and I are both attending and hope that you do too! Click here to RSVP. I am not planning to wear black tie here!
Now I confess that this is a pairing I did not envision --- Paul Simon and Malcolm Gladwell --- but I thoroughly enjoyed previewing the upcoming five-hour audiobook biography, MIRACLE AND WONDER: Conversations with Paul Simon, featuring Paul in conversation with both Gladwell and New York Times journalist Bruce Headlam, which will be available on Tuesday from Gladwell’s Pushkin Industries. Gladwell is a longtime fan of Paul’s, and he takes listeners on a brilliant musical journey as they discuss Paul's songwriting. It opens with a very funny story about Paul meeting a young girl near the Amazon River. Wry moments like this weave their way through the chapters, including what Paul’s mother had to say about Art Garfunkel’s voice as opposed to Paul’s. They talk about the creation of so many of the iconic sounds in the songs that we have come to hum. And yes, some new music is teased.
Paul does not suffer fools well. And it’s clear that he respected Gladwell. In a statement about the audiobook, he said, “Over my career, I must have given hundreds of interviews on various projects, but speaking and collaborating with Malcolm on this was especially enjoyable.” Gladwell and Headlam recorded more than 30 hours of interviews over nine sessions with Paul, including at his homes in both Hawaii and Connecticut. I probably have listened to hundreds of interviews with Paul through the years, but when I finished listening to an advance copy of this audiobook, I found myself with some new insight into the songs that were the soundtrack of my life. I give Gladwell high marks for both the terrific direction of the interviews and how this audio storytelling came together. As you listen, you really feel like you are in the room. It’s available for download on Tuesday here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Sheila wrote, “Thank you so much for the copy of DEAR WIFE by Kimberly Belle. I have read her before and am looking forward to reading it once I finish my current book. It will be kind of a novel experience, no pun intended (well, maybe a little bit), as I have been reading e-books exclusively to cut down on the clutter a voracious reader accumulates.
Honoring THE FOUR WINDS: Book of the Month has named THE FOUR WINDS, Kristin Hannah's Depression-era historical fiction tale (and a Bets On pick), as their Best Book of the Year. Kristin says, "To think that my novel is not just a Book of the Month selection but to know that the members loved it well enough to make it the Book of the Year is a great honor. I never dreamed that my career would soar to these levels, and feel an incredible sense of gratitude." Click here for more of Kristin's thoughts on the book and this special honor.
"Adele One Night Only" on CBS: On Sunday night at 8:30pm ET, Adele will be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in a two-hour special that will tease her new album, 30, which is coming out on November 19th. You can see a teaser for it here. Yes, once again, Adele will be saving the music business this November! The last time was at 25!
"Yellowstone" on Paramount Network: A great two-hour record-breaking kickoff last Sunday night. I loved that “the chopper” made its way into the dialogue in the first few minutes. And yes, when one lies bleeding on the ground, remember to write the license plate number and the make and model of the car that hit you in blood on the ground. Impressive! And the commercials were interesting too; they definitely had an outdoorsy hunter kind of feel, which I am sure had a few people in the metro northeast scratching their heads.
BUT Adele means that the DVR will be whirring to capture "Yellowstone" and "Succession" while we watch her special. Talk about a night that will make those chasing ratings want to scream. And the show in the 8:30 hour means that it butts into more than one program. Is November ratings month? Is this even a thing anymore?
“American Rust” on Showtime: This may have had one of the worst season endings. And if it is not renewed to tie things up, the director and writers did a real disservice to the viewers. Is that blunt enough?
I had lots of fun shopping at the farmers' market last weekend. We bought beet ravioli from Nicola’s Pasta Fresca, which Tom made with a butter asparagus sauce. And I made a spinach salad with some amazing watermelon radishes. Please keep in mind that Nicola's now delivers to 16 states.
Speaking of shopping: Supply chain issues really are a problem. I highly recommend that you think about books you want to give for the holidays --- and buy them now. I did some online shopping for unique kitchen items and some clothing this week, and the short supplies were very evident. Things were sold out and on back order. Shop early, folks. And yes, remember back in March 2020 when supply chain was not part of the lexicon? ‘
With getting a jump on holiday shopping in mind, last Saturday I did my amaryllis shopping. I love giving these plants as gifts. I went to the store armed with my list of who I wanted to give them to, and then I spent over an hour deciding who was getting what. I made notes, then swapped things out, and it was just a blast. I also definitely made a huge dent in the garden center’s supply.
My younger son, Cory, was in Nashville this week, which brought back an early TBRN memory. Back in the fall of 1995, Jesse Kornbluth, who founded the company with me, was in Nashville. He visited Hatch Show Print, and while he was there they designed the original logo for The Book Report, which was a wood cut. Talk about a total random thought! Cory is making his way back up north through the Shenandoah National Park, and I think he gets back on Tuesday. Humorously he was in Nashville the night of the Country Music Awards and did not even realize it until that afternoon!
I have no weekend plans except another trip to the farmers' market and trying to get the house in shape for the holidays. Being back inside has me seeing a number of big and little projects that we need to tackle. I am making a list. When I walk in the room with that list, Tom and Greg roll their eyes and flee.
Oh, and lots and lots of reading. And I am planning my reading lineup for 2022. I have so many galleys here that I am ready to enjoy!
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 DARK HOURS by Michael Connelly
THE DARK HOURS: A Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin
There’s chaos in Hollywood at the end of the New Year’s Eve countdown. Working her graveyard shift, LAPD detective Renée Ballard waits out the traditional rain of lead as hundreds of revelers shoot their guns into the air. Only minutes after midnight, Ballard is called to a scene where a hardworking auto shop owner has been fatally hit by a bullet in the middle of a crowded street party. Ballard quickly concludes that the deadly bullet could not have fallen from the sky and that it is linked to another unsolved murder --- a case at one time worked by Detective Harry Bosch. At the same time, Ballard hunts a fiendish pair of serial rapists, the Midnight Men, who have been terrorizing women and leaving no trace. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE SENTENCE by Louise Erdrich
THE SENTENCE by Louise Erdrich (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Louise Erdrich
Louise Erdrich's latest novel, THE SENTENCE, asks what we owe to the living, the dead, to the reader and to the book. A small independent bookstore in Minneapolis is haunted from November 2019 to November 2020 by the store's most annoying customer. Flora dies on All Souls' Day, but she simply won't leave the store. Tookie, who has landed a job selling books after years of incarceration that she survived by reading "with murderous attention," must solve the mystery of this haunting while at the same time trying to understand all that occurs in Minneapolis during a year of grief, astonishment, isolation and furious reckoning. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: ONCE UPON A WARDROBE
by Patti Callahan
ONCE UPON A WARDROBE by Patti Callahan (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Fiona Hardingham
Megs Devonshire is brilliant with numbers and equations, on a scholarship at Oxford, and dreams of solving the greatest mysteries of physics. She prefers the dependability of facts --- except for one: the younger brother she loves with all her heart doesn’t have long to live. When George becomes captivated by THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE and begs her to find out where Narnia came from, there’s no way she can refuse. Despite her timidity about approaching the famous author, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with the Oxford don and his own brother, imploring them for answers. Why won’t Mr. Lewis just tell her plainly what George wants to know? The answer will reveal to Meg many truths that science and math cannot. Reviewed by Cindy Burnett.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's
Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature
At Bookreporter.com, we kick off the holiday season in style with our Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature. As our gift to you, on select days in November and December, we are spotlighting a book and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it. You have to visit the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter the 24-hour contest. As always, we are sending our special Holiday Cheer newsletter on the days when there are contests. Click here to sign up for these email alerts.
Our first prize book will be announced on Tuesday, November 16th at noon ET.
This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win an Advance Copy of
OLGA DIES DREAMING by Xochitl Gonzalez,
Releasing January 4th
In Xochitl Gonzalez's debut novel, OLGA DIES DREAMING, a status-driven wedding planner grapples with her social ambitions, absent mother and Puerto Rican roots --- all in the wake of Hurricane Maria. We have 25 advance copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on January 4th. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, November 19th at noon ET.
OLGA DIES DREAMING by Xochitl Gonzalez (Fiction)
It's 2017, and Olga and her brother, Pedro “Prieto” Acevedo, are boldfaced names in their hometown of New York. Prieto is a popular congressman representing their gentrifying Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn, while Olga is the tony wedding planner for Manhattan’s power brokers.
Despite their alluring public lives, behind closed doors things are far less rosy. Sure, Olga can orchestrate the love stories of the one percent, but she can’t seem to find her own...until she meets Matteo, who forces her to confront the effects of long-held family secrets.
Olga and Prieto’s mother, Blanca, a Young Lord turned radical, abandoned her children to advance a militant political cause, leaving them to be raised by their grandmother. Now, with the winds of hurricane season, Blanca has come barreling back into their lives.
Set against the backdrop of New York City in the months surrounding the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico’s history, Xochitl Gonzalez’s OLGA DIES DREAMING is a story that examines political corruption, familial strife and the very notion of the American dream --- all while asking what it really means to weather a storm.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Xochitl Gonzalez's bio.
- Click here to visit Xochitl Gonzalez's website.
- Connect with Xochitl Gonzalez on Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Spotlight Feature: Bookreporter.com’s
"In Case You Missed Them…and a Look Ahead"
Featuring Heather Gudenkauf’s Books
Sometimes you hear about a book and just do not have time to read it. Other times, you have missed hearing about a book, and we would like to tell you about it. We do not want you to miss books that we think you will enjoy! In this feature, we are sharing books that you might not have read, and we also are getting the author’s next book on your radar. So then you never will need to say, “I missed them!”
In our latest "In Case You Missed Them...and a Look Ahead" feature, we are spotlighting four psychological thrillers by Heather Gudenkauf: the previously released NOT A SOUND, BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND and THIS IS HOW I LIED, and the forthcoming THE OVERNIGHT GUEST, which will be in stores on January 25th. Click here to read more about these titles and for links to reviews and excerpts.
NOT A SOUND: When a tragic accident leaves nurse Amelia Winn deaf, she spirals into a depression that ultimately causes her to lose everything that matters. Now, two years later and with the help of her hearing dog, she is finally getting back on her feet. But when she discovers the body of a fellow nurse in the dense bush by the river, deep in the woods near her cabin, she is plunged into a disturbing mystery that could shatter the carefully reconstructed pieces of her life all over again.
BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND: For 12-year-old Cora Landry and her friends, Violet and Jordyn, it was supposed to be an ordinary sleepover --- movies and Ouija and talking about boys. But when they decide to sneak out to go to the abandoned rail yard on the outskirts of town, little do they know that their innocent games will have dangerous consequences. Later that night, Cora is discovered on the tracks, bloody and clinging to life, her friends nowhere to be found. Soon their small rural town is thrust into a maelstrom.
THIS IS HOW I LIED: Twenty-five years ago, the body of 16-year-old Eve Knox was found in the caves near her home in small-town Grotto, Iowa --- discovered by her best friend, Maggie, and her sister, Nola. There were a handful of suspects, including her boyfriend, Nick, but without sufficient evidence the case ultimately went cold. For decades Maggie was haunted by Eve’s death and that horrible night. Now a detective in Grotto, and seven months pregnant, she is thrust back into the past when a new piece of evidence surfaces and the case is reopened.
THE OVERNIGHT GUEST: True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn’t mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she’s retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace. As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls --- haunted by secrets of her own.
Click here to read more in our
"In Case You Missed Them...and a Look Ahead" feature.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
EVERYTHING WE DIDN’T SAY by Nicole Baart
EVERYTHING WE DIDN’T SAY by Nicole Baart (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
In EVERYTHING WE DIDN’T SAY, Nicole Baart has penned a slow-burn thriller set in a small Iowa town.
Juniper Baker is back. 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. Then there are the neighbors nearby who were brutally murdered around the time she took off. Her younger brother was the lead suspect.
So now Juniper 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. Also, the stakes are high as there is a true-crime podcaster who is on the trail of the story of the murders --- and once again they have a laser point on her brother.
Told in two timeframes and two voices, the prose is tight while it slow burns, and the ending is so well done --- and quite a surprise.
Featured Review: THE COLLECTIVE by Alison Gaylin
THE COLLECTIVE by Alison Gaylin (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Vivienne Leheny
Camille Gardener is a grieving --- and angry --- mother who, five years after her daughter’s death, is still obsessed with the privileged young man she believes to be responsible. When her rash actions draw the attention of a secret group of women --- the collective --- Camille is drawn into a dark web where these mothers share their wildly different stories of loss, as well as their desire for justice in a world where privilege denies accountability. Fueled by mutual rage, the collective members devise and act out retribution fantasies via precise, anonymous, highly coordinated revenge killings. As Camille struggles to comprehend whether this is a role-playing exercise or a terrifying reality, she must decide if these women are truly avenging angels or monsters. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Alison Gaylin.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: OVER MY DEAD BODY by Jeffrey Archer
OVER MY DEAD BODY by Jeffrey Archer (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by George Blagden
In London, the Metropolitan Police set up a new Unsolved Murders Unit --- a cold case squad --- to catch the criminals nobody else can. In Geneva, millionaire art collector Miles Faulkner --- convicted of forgery and theft --- was pronounced dead two months ago. So why is his unscrupulous lawyer still representing a dead client? On a luxury liner en route to New York, the battle for power within a wealthy dynasty is about to turn to murder. And at the heart of all three investigations are Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick, rising star of the department, and ex-undercover agent Ross Hogan, brought in from the cold. But can they catch the killers before it’s too late? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
LIGHTNING DOWN: A World War II Story of Survival by Tom Clavin (History)
Audiobook available, read by George Newbern
On August 13, 1944, Joe Moser set off on his 44th combat mission over occupied France. Soon, he would join almost 170 other Allied airmen as prisoners in Buchenwald, one of the most notorious and deadly of Nazi concentration camps. Tom Clavin's LIGHTNING DOWN tells this largely untold and riveting true story. Moser was just 22 years old, a farm boy from Washington State who fell in love with flying. During the War he realized his dream of piloting a P-38 Lightning, one of the most effective weapons the Army Air Corps had against the powerful German Luftwaffe. But on that hot August morning, he had to bail out of his damaged, burning plane. Captured immediately, Moser’s journey into hell began. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
THE LEAST OF US: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth by Sam Quinones (Social Science)
Audiobook available, read by Tom Jordan
Sam Quinones traveled from Mexico to main streets across the US to create DREAMLAND, a groundbreaking portrait of the opioid epidemic. As the nation struggled to put back the pieces, Quinones was among the first to see the dangers that lay ahead. In fentanyl, traffickers landed a painkiller a hundred times more powerful than morphine, causing tens of thousands of deaths. At the same time, Mexican traffickers made methamphetamine cheaper and more potent than ever, creating swaths of mental illness and a surge in homelessness across the United States. Quinones hit the road to investigate these new threats, discovering how addiction is exacerbated by consumer-product corporations. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE APOLLO MURDERS by Chris Hadfield (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ray Porter
NASA is about to launch Apollo 18. While the mission has been billed as a scientific one, flight controller Kazimieras "Kaz" Zemeckis knows there is a darker objective. Intelligence has discovered a secret Soviet space station spying on America, and Apollo 18 may be the only chance to stop it. But even as Kaz races to keep the NASA crew one step ahead of their Russian rivals, a deadly accident reveals that not everyone involved is quite who they were thought to be. With political stakes stretched to the breaking point, the White House and the Kremlin can only watch as their astronauts collide on the lunar surface, far beyond the reach of law or rescue. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
COMFORT ME WITH APPLES by Catherynne M. Valente (Domestic Thriller/Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Karis Campbell
Sophia was made for him. Her perfect husband. She can feel it in her bones. He is perfect. Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Everything is perfect. It's just that he's away so much. So often. He works so hard. She misses him. And he misses her. He says he does, so it must be true. He is the perfect husband, and everything is perfect. But sometimes Sophia wonders about things. Strange things. Dark things. The look on her husband's face when he comes back from a long business trip. The questions he will not answer. The locked basement she is never allowed to enter. And whenever she asks the neighbors, they can't quite meet her gaze. But everything is perfect. Isn't it? Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
THE RETURN OF THE PHARAOH: From the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D. by Nicholas Meyer (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by David Robb
In 1910, Dr. John Watson travels to Egypt with his wife, Juliet. Her tuberculosis has returned, and her doctor recommends a stay at a sanitarium in a dry climate. But while his wife undergoes treatment, Dr. Watson bumps into an old friend --- Sherlock Holmes. An English Duke with a penchant for Egyptology has disappeared, leading to enquiries from his wife and the Home Office. Holmes has discovered that the missing duke has indeed vanished from his lavish rooms in Cairo and that he was on the trail of a previous undiscovered and unopened tomb. With the help of Howard Carter, Holmes and Watson are on the trail of something much bigger, more important and more sinister than an errant lord. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
BURNTCOAT by Sarah Hall (Dystopian Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Louise Brealey
In an unnamed British city, a deadly global virus is spreading, and like everyone else, the celebrated sculptor Edith Harkness retreats inside. She isolates herself in her immense studio, Burntcoat, with Halit, the lover she barely knows. As life outside changes irreparably, inside Burntcoat, Edith and Halit find themselves changed as well: by the histories and responsibilities each carries and bears, by the fears and dangers of the world outside, and by the progressions of their new relationship. And Burntcoat will be transformed, too, into a new and feverish world, a place in which Edith comes to an understanding of how we survive the impossible --- and what is left after we have. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
NEVER FALL FOR YOUR FIANCÉE by Virginia Heath (Historical Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Shane East and Shakira Shute
The last thing Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, ever wants is a wife. Unfortunately for him, his mother is determined to find him one. So Hugh invents a fake fiancée to keep her matchmaking ways at bay. But when Hugh learns that she is on a ship bound for England, he realizes his ruse is about to implode. Until he collides with a beautiful woman. Minerva Merriwell has had to struggle to support herself and her two younger sisters ever since their feckless father abandoned them. So when Hugh asks Minerva to pose as his fiancée while his mother is visiting, she knows that the offer is too good to pass up. Once Minerva and her sisters arrive at Hugh's estate, of course nothing goes according to his meticulous plan. Reviewed by John Vena.
STAR MOTHER by Charlie N. Holmberg (Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Khristine Hvam
When a star dies, a new one must be born. The Sun God chooses the village of Endwever to provide a mortal womb. The birthing of a star is always fatal for the mother, and Ceris Wenden sacrifices herself to secure her family’s honor. But after her star child is born, Ceris does what no other star mother has: she survives. When Ceris returns to Endwever, it’s not nine months later --- it’s 700 years later. Inexplicably displaced in time, Ceris is determined to seek out her descendants. Being a woman traveling alone brings its own challenges, until Ceris encounters a mysterious --- and desperate --- godling. Ristriel is the only being who can guide Ceris safely to her destination. Now, as Ceris traverses realms both mortal and beyond, her journey truly begins. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
IN ANOTHER LIGHT by A. J. Banner (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Vaneh Assadourian
Three years ago, mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman lost her husband in a tragic accident. No longer the hopeful wife and mother she once was, Phoebe is disappearing into her grief and into the quietude of her job --- restoring to the dead the illusion of life. Then the body of a woman named Pauline Steele arrives in the mortuary, and for Phoebe, everything changes. Pauline is unmistakably Phoebe’s mirror image and bears an alarmingly familiar tattoo. Even more startling is that among Pauline’s effects is a faded photograph of Phoebe. Aided by an eccentric colleague, her curiosity sparked, Phoebe investigates her doppelgänger’s life and death --- and uncovers surprising clues to a shared past. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on November 16th
Below are some notable titles releasing on November 16th 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 November 15th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE CARTOGRAPHER'S SECRET by Tea Cooper (Historical Mystery)
A gripping historical mystery for fans of Kate Morton and Natasha Lester’s THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS, THE CARTOGRAPHER'S SECRET follows a young woman’s quest to heal a family rift as she becomes entangled in one of Australia’s greatest historical puzzles.
THE CHRISTMAS BOOKSHOP by Jenny Colgan (Fiction)
Perfect for the holidays, THE CHRISTMAS BOOKSHOP is a brand-new heartwarming Christmas novel from the beloved New York Times bestselling author of THE BOOKSHOP ON THE CORNER and CHRISTMAS AT THE ISLAND HOTEL.
CLIVE CUSSLER'S THE DEVIL'S SEA: A Dirk Pitt Novel by Dirk Cussler (Thriller/Adventure)
Fearless adventurer Dirk Pitt must unravel a historical mystery of epic importance in the latest novel in the beloved New York Times bestselling series created by the “grand master of adventure” Clive Cussler.
EVEN GREATER MISTAKES: Stories by Charlie Jane Anders (Science Fiction/Short Stories)
In her short story collection, EVEN GREATER MISTAKES, Charlie Jane Anders upends genre clichés and revitalizes classic tropes with heartfelt and pants-wettingly funny social commentary.
THE EVERY by Dave Eggers (Dystopian Thriller)
When the world’s largest search engine/social media company, the Circle, merges with the planet’s dominant e-commerce site, it creates the richest and most dangerous --- and, oddly enough, most beloved --- monopoly ever known: the Every.
THE JOY AND LIGHT BUS COMPANY: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (22) by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
In this latest installment in the beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe is tempted to put the brakes on a business venture before it even gets rolling.
THE LAST SHADOW by Orson Scott Card (Science Fiction)
Orson Scott Card's THE LAST SHADOW is the long-awaited conclusion to both the original Ender series and the Ender's Shadow series, as the children of Ender and Bean solve the great problem of the Ender Universe --- the deadly virus they call the descolada, which is incurable and will kill all of humanity if it is allowed to escape from Lusitania.
MERCY: An Atlee Pine Thriller by David Baldacci (Thriller)
FBI agent Atlee Pine’s harrowing search for her long-lost sister, Mercy, reaches a boiling point in this breakneck thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.
THE PLEDGE by Kathleen Kent (Mystery/Thriller)
In this "instantly cinematic and completely compelling" thriller (Hank Phillippi Ryan), Detective Betty Rhyzyk has only two weeks to take down her deadliest rival --- this time for good.
RAISE A FIST, TAKE A KNEE: Race and the Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports by John Feinstein (Sports/Sociology)
Based on dozens of shocking interviews with some of the most influential names in sports, this is the urgent and revelatory examination of racial inequality in professional athletics that America has been waiting for.
TERMINATION SHOCK by Neal Stephenson (Science Fiction/Technothriller)
From Neal Stephenson comes a sweeping, prescient new thriller that transports readers to a near-future world in which the greenhouse effect has inexorably resulted in a whirling-dervish troposphere of superstorms, rising sea levels, global flooding, merciless heat waves, and virulent, deadly pandemics.
TOM CLANCY CHAIN OF COMMAND: A Jack Ryan Novel by Marc Cameron (Thriller/Adventure)
The United States has stared down many threats with President Jack Ryan at the helm. But what if he’s not there when we need him? That’s the question facing a nation in the most shocking entry in Tom Clancy's #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: David Baldacci, Kathleen Kent, Ken Follett
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.
Monday, November 15th at 9pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Dirk Cussler will talk about the latest entry in the Dirk Pitt series, CLIVE CUSSLER'S THE DEVIL'S SEA, in which our fearless adventurer must unravel a historical mystery of epic importance.
Tuesday, November 16th at 2pm ET: Murder By The Book: Murder By The Book is teaming up with Parnassus, Book People and King’s English to host a virtual event with Ken Follett, who will discuss his new thriller, NEVER.
Tuesday, November 16th at 3pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: David Baldacci will discuss his latest Atlee Pine thriller, MERCY, in which the FBI agent's harrowing search for her long-lost sister reaches a boiling point.
Tuesday, November 16th at 4pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Barnes & Noble welcomes Naomi Krupitsky for a live, virtual event to discuss THE FAMILY, this month's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club pick, with Jenna Bush Hager.
Tuesday, November 16th at 7pm ET: Reads & Company Bookshop: Reads & Company is thrilled to welcome H. W. Brands to celebrate the release of his new book, OUR FIRST CIVIL WAR: Patriots and Loyalists in the American Revolution.
Tuesday, November 16th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Jim DeFede about his book, THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN. Jim also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience. If you have a question for Jim that you would like to ask on camera, please send Carol an email with the subject line “Question for Jim DeFede.”
Wednesday, November 17th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": For their special Thanksgiving show, the "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to chef, restaurateur, author and television host Vivian Howard.
Wednesday, November 17th at 7:30pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Richard Paul Evans will discuss his new novel, THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE, another heartwarming story of secrets, heartbreak, forgiveness and the true meaning of Christmas.
Thursday, November 18th at 9pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Susan Orlean as she discusses her new book, ON ANIMALS, with Sarah Z. Sleeper.
Friday, November 19th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Novel Suspects presents Kathleen Kent in conversation with Hank Phillippi Ryan about her new thriller, THE PLEDGE, in which Detective Betty Rhyzyk has only two weeks to take down her deadliest rival --- this time for good.
"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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Xochitl Gonzalez (OLGA DIES DREAMING)
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James Rollins (THE STARLESS CROWN)
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Karen White (THE ATTIC ON QUEEN STREET)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: What Type of Reader Are You?
Which of the following best describes the type of reader you are? Please check all that apply.
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I am a fast reader.
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I am a slow reader.
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I am neither fast nor slow; I am somewhere in between.
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It depends on the book.
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It depends on my schedule.
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It depends on my mood.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, November 19th 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 November 5th to November 19th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE DARK HOURS: A Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly and THE SENTENCE by Louise Erdrich.
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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