|
I feel like December is flying by, and I am not keeping up! As I sit in our family room writing this newsletter, I see holiday decorations that I unpacked from their bins, but have yet to be placed around the house. Amaryllis plants that I am giving as gifts are lined up in the kitchen, waiting to be boxed up. I have some presents ordered, but confess that I have the “to me/from me” category more covered than any other. I did find the plastic container with the candles that go in the windows --- the one that I put in a place that I would not forget and then promptly forgot where that was. I cannot wait to put these in the windows and turn on the timers. And yes, that last line was riddled with sarcasm. I never get the timers right, so this is a job that I delegate to the menfolk here.
What we have been on top of is…books. And this week we bring you lots of book news.
On Wednesday night, we hosted a very special and FUN “Bookaccino Live” event. As part of Bookreporter's 25th anniversary celebration, 10 of our longtime reviewers --- Sarah Rachel Egelman, Megan Elliott, Pauline Finch, Harvey Freedenberg, Bronwyn Miller, Rebecca Munro, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol, Ray Palen, Norah Piehl and Stuart Shiffman --- talked about their three favorite books of 2021. Their selections cover a wide variety of genres, and there may be a few titles here that you didn’t have on your radar that you will want to check out.
Please note that Jana Siciliano, who was to be our 11th reviewer guest, was not able to join us due to illness. She did submit notes about her three selections, and we were planning to read them towards the end of the program. But as the event ran a bit longer that we had anticipated, we turned her comments into a blog post, which you can check out here.
If you missed the event, click here to watch the full presentation and here to listen to the podcast. We have timestamped the video, so if you would like to hear from a specific reviewer, you easily can do that! Also, a list of all the featured titles (including Jana’s picks) are here. Above you can see me with Tom Donadio, our Editorial Director, and all 10 reviewers as we appeared on Zoom, “Brady Bunch”-style.
We’re “Betting” You’ll Love This Contest!
There’s plenty of time to enter our End-of-the-Year Contest, which we launched last week. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 44(!) of my Bookreporter.com Bets On picks from 2021, while 11 other winners will receive a selection of four of these titles.
Here are just a few of the books you could win: APPLES NEVER FALL by Liane Moriarty, THE CHILDREN’S BLIZZARD by Melanie Benjamin, THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah, THE LAST GREEN VALLEY by Mark Sullivan, MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS by Joshua Henkin, THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz, and SPARKS LIKE STARS by Nadia Hashimi. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, January 7th at noon ET.
Announcing This Year’s Holiday Author Blogs: Stories About Giving & Receiving
Our Holiday Author Blogs are back for a 14th year! Once again, authors are sharing their favorite bookish holiday memories with us.
We kicked off the series today with Diane Chamberlain (THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET). Next week, be on the lookout for contributions from Kimberly Belle (MY DARLING HUSBAND), Xochitl Gonzalez (OLGA DIES DREAMING), Julia Kelly (THE LAST DANCE OF THE DEBUTANTE), and Jacquelyn Mitchard (THE GOOD SON).
Holiday Cheer Update
Our Holiday Cheer contests wrapped up this week with our final giveaway: SHADOWS OF SWANFORD ABBEY by Julie Klassen. Thank you to all who participated in our 10 contests, and congratulations to the winners!
Note that our next series of 24-hour contests will be our Winter Reading feature, which kicks off on Friday, January 14th. A Special Preview newsletter will be sent on Tuesday, January 18th, and our first contest is scheduled to go up the following day. You can sign up here to receive the Winter Reading newsletter.
After a five-year hiatus, Dr. Kay Scarpetta returns for the 25th time in Patricia Cornwell’s latest thriller, AUTOPSY. Here, the chief medical examiner hunts those responsible for two wildly divergent and chilling murders. Ray Palen has our review and says, "AUTOPSY is quite a unique entry in Cornwell’s series as Scarpetta is facing a killer who seems to know her intimately. As such, the revelation of the guilty party will shock readers when they realize just how close this individual is to her. As the series continues to evolve, I am curious to see where Scarpetta’s new job takes her next."
Ring in the holiday season with Mary Kay Andrews, whose new novella, THE SANTA SUIT, celebrates the magic of Christmas and second chances. According to our reviewer Pamela Kramer, “Mary Kay Andrews has written a novella that showcases what she does best: giving readers a story with a soupçon of mystery, a pinch of romance and plenty of southern charm.... For those in need of a sweet holiday treat, THE SANTA SUIT is like a sugar cookie sprinkled with extra sugar, rather than the more complex summer novels that MKA pens. Think a dense chocolate cake.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
December’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups are now available for December. We’re featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as Martha Hall Kelly (SUNFLOWER SISTERS, which is our latest “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest book on ReadingGroupGuides.com), J. D. Robb (FORGOTTEN IN DEATH), Gregg Hurwitz (PRODIGAL SON), and Wendy Walker (DON'T LOOK FOR ME); nonfiction titles, including NO TIME LIKE THE FUTURE: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox and WILD THING: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix by Philip Norman; and paperback originals like LUCKY by Marissa Stapley and BOY UNDERGROUND by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
LUCKY is this month’s Reese’s Book Club pick. For more December selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
Remember to Enter Our Word of Mouth Contest and Vote in Our Poll!
Submit your comments about the books you’ve read in our Word of Mouth contest, and you’ll have the chance to win THE MIDNIGHT LOCK: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver and WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult. Be sure to enter by Friday, December 17th at noon ET.
Our poll continues to ask if you’re planning to give books as gifts this holiday season. Click here to let us know!
The winners of the 13th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards were announced in 17 categories yesterday. Among them are BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney (Fiction), THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave (Mystery & Thriller), MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Historical Fiction), PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry (Romance), PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir (Science Fiction), BROKEN (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson (Humor), THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED by John Green (Nonfiction), CRYING IN H MART by Michelle Zauner (Memoir & Autobiography), and EMPIRE OF PAIN by Patrick Radden Keefe (History & Biography). Click here for all the winners.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Barbara wrote this about Wednesday’s event with our reviewers: “I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed last evening’s event! I love everything you do for us. People cannot believe I know so much about books and their writers, and I tell them it’s from your newsletter and podcasts. After last night’s session, I ordered OUR TEAM for my sports-loving son, FIGHT NIGHT for my daughter-in-law, THE TREES for my husband, and QUEENS OF THE CRUSADES for my history-loving self. I’ll be there as much as I can. A huge thanks to you and your reviewers. Oh, I was knitting while watching!!!”
Nancy wrote, “It was a most informative program last night. Thanks for having it. It surely is a great deal of work to put together. Kudos to Tom and you.”
Joan wrote about winning VERITY in one of our Holiday Cheer contests: “Thank you so much, and I look forward to receiving and reading VERITY. I am a retired bookseller with even more time to read now! Your Friday newsletter is a delightful addition to my inbox. The reviews are so helpful in making a meaningful list, especially with the holidays approaching. I can specify what books I wish for under the tree! Happy Holidays to you and your family, Carol. Wishing you the best books to read in 2022.”
A number of readers wrote to wish me a Happy Birthday, which was really lovely. Here is one note from Jeanne: “I want to wish you a very special Happy Birthday on Tuesday filled with laughter and joy. Being able to have dinner with your boys will make it extra special, especially with your husband having to be out of town. Wow! I am totally blown away by Bookreporter’s very generous End-of-the-Year Contest! Thank you so much for doing this.” Thanks for the wishes, and everyone, please enter the contest. Enter just once, but do enter! I have 88 books stacked in my office to be given away, and I look forward to getting that space back!
It's a Wonderful Life: This holiday classic is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Read more about that here.
Passing on Netflix: I watched this film, and it was so well done. It’s adapted from the book PASSING by Nella Larsen, which was first published in April 1929. I love the way it was shot, with so much in black and white.
The Power of the Dog on Netflix. This movie, based on the 1967 book of the same name by Thomas Savage, was so well done. There were such subtle things that were done with cinematography that really enhanced the storytelling.
"And Just Like That..." on HBO Max: This is the new season of "Sex and the City," though it does not have the same spark. It feels contrived, like it is trying too hard. I am two episodes in. Yes, there are some bright moments, but it lacks an edge and feels like a contrivance of itself. I will see what happens with future episodes.
Last Friday, "Good Morning America's" Buzz Pick segment looked at [words] Bookstore in Maplewood, NJ. I loved seeing this. Ellen and Jonah Zimiles are so passionate about what they do. The store has a mission to offer opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. Their son is autistic, and seeing his challenges motivated them to develop these ways for people to work and have a safe space in which to grow. I have been to this store, and I love the way it is curated. Their mission makes a trip there that much more meaningful.
This was a really busy but fun week. I had wonderful birthday dinners with both of the boys on Monday and Tuesday nights. Each selected a great restaurant, and it was lovely to have quality one-on-one time with them. Cory organized his department’s holiday party, and it was a huge success. He knows from me that it is all about getting the details right. It was great to talk to him when it was over and to hear how well it was received. When Greg made a reservation for Tuesday night, he told them it was my birthday, but cautioned them that there would be no singing. So wise!
Wednesday night was our evening with the reviewers, and last night I met with my book group. We had a great discussion about GOING THERE by Katie Couric, and next month we are reading TASTE: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci. I love this group as the discussion about the book always lends new perspectives, and the conversation about life is always fun. They all have young kids, and I love hearing stories about what they are up to!
Tom flies back tonight, and we are having dinner on Saturday night with friends who are bringing in a private chef to cook dinner, which should be fun. I am vowing to get this house organized for the holidays because it’s almost time to hunker down and bake some cookies, which is not happening until the decorating is done. That statement alone may get me some help around the house with the candles in the windows. Like I said, I never do the timers right.
There will be one more newsletter next week before we go on break for a couple of weeks. But no worries, we have a few things up our sleeves to make that issue special.
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: AUTOPSY by Patricia Cornwell
AUTOPSY: A Scarpetta Novel by Patricia Cornwell (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Ericksen
Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has come almost full circle, returning to Virginia as the chief medical examiner, the state where she launched her storied career. Just weeks on the job, she’s called to a scene by railroad tracks where a woman’s body has been shockingly displayed, her throat cut down to the spine. At the same time, a catastrophe occurs in a top-secret laboratory in outer space, endangering at least two scientists aboard. Appointed to the highly classified Doomsday Commission that specializes in sensitive national security cases, Scarpetta is summoned to the White House and tasked with finding out exactly what happened. But even as she works the first potential crime scene in space remotely, an apparent serial killer strikes again very close to home. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE SANTA SUIT by Mary Kay Andrews
THE SANTA SUIT by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen McInerney
When newly divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love, but Ivy didn't bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk that it's a full-time job sorting through all of it. At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit --- beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it's from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit Mary Kay Andrews' website.
Click here to read our review.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win Our End-of-the-Year Celebration,
Featuring All 44 "Bets On" Titles from 2021
We are thrilled to announce our End-of-the-Year Contest featuring Carol Fitzgerald’s Bookreporter.com Bets On picks from 2021. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 44 books, while 11 other readers will receive a selection of four of these titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, January 7th at noon ET.
Here are this year's Bookreporter.com Bets On titles:
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review:
BRIGHT BURNING THINGS by Lisa Harding
December’s “Read with Jenna”
Today Show Book Club Pick
BRIGHT BURNING THINGS by Lisa Harding (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Lisa Harding
Sonya used to perform on stage. But somewhere along the way, the stage lights she lived for dimmed to black. In their absence came darkness --- blackouts, empty cupboards, hazy nights she could not remember. Haunted by her failed career and lingering trauma from her childhood, Sonya fell deep into an alcoholic abyss. What kept her from losing herself completely was her son, Tommy. But her love for Tommy rivaled her love for the bottle. Addiction amplified her fear of losing her child; every maternal misstep compelled her to drink. Tommy’s precious life was in her shaky hands. Eventually Sonya was forced to make a choice. Give up drinking or lose Tommy --- forever. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE BALLERINAS
by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
THE BALLERINAS by Rachel Kapelke-Dale (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ell Potter
Thirteen years ago, Delphine abandoned her prestigious soloist spot at the Paris Opera Ballet for a new life in St. Petersburg– --- taking with her a secret that could upend the lives of her best friends, fellow dancers Lindsay and Margaux. Now 36 years old, Delphine has returned to her former home and to the legendary Palais Garnier Opera House to choreograph the ballet that will kickstart the next phase of her career --- and, she hopes, finally make things right with her former friends. But Delphine quickly discovers that things have changed while she's been away...and some secrets can't stay buried forever. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's Holiday Author Blogs:
Authors Write About Their Favorite Holiday Memories
of Giving or Receiving Books
This week marks the return of our Holiday Author Blogs, which we have brought back for a 14th consecutive year. From now through December 16th, we will feature a new blog post from an author each weekday talking about the books that they have given and/or received during the holidays.
We kicked off the feature this week with Diane Chamberlain (THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET). Still to come are contributions from Kimberly Belle (MY DARLING HUSBAND), Xochitl Gonzalez (OLGA DIES DREAMING), Julia Kelly (THE LAST DANCE OF THE DEBUTANTE), and Jacquelyn Mitchard (THE GOOD SON).
Click here to read Bookreporter.com's 2021 Holiday Author Blogs.
Bookreporter.com's Holiday Cheer Feature:
Books You Want to Wrap and Unwrap
At Bookreporter.com, we've been celebrating the holiday season in style with our Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature. As our gift to you, we've been spotlighting a book and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it.
Although the contests have ended, we encourage you to take a look at this year's featured titles. These are books you'll want to read during the holidays --- and throughout the new year as well!
This year's featured titles are:
- Click here to see the winners of this year's Holiday Cheer contests.
Click here to see our Holiday Cheer feature.
December’s New in Paperback Roundups
December's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes SUNFLOWER SISTERS, the final installment in Martha Hall Kelly’s trilogy of novels about Caroline Ferriday’s family, following LILAC GIRLS and LOST ROSES; FORGOTTEN IN DEATH, J. D. Robb's 53rd In Death mystery starring homicide detective Eve Dallas, who sifts through the wreckage of the past to find a killer; PRODIGAL SON, the sixth installment in Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X series featuring Evan Smoak, who, despite being forced into retirement, gets an urgent request for help from someone he didn't even suspect existed; Wendy Walker's DON'T LOOK FOR ME, a compelling and emotionally powerful novel about a daughter's desperate search to find her mother before it's too late; and YELLOW WIFE by Sadeqa Johnson, the harrowing story of an enslaved woman who is forced to barter love and freedom while living in the most infamous slave jail in Virginia.
Among our nonfiction highlights are NO TIME LIKE THE FUTURE, actor and advocate Michael J. Fox's moving account of resilience, hope, fear and mortality, and how these things resonate in our lives; MOZART, acclaimed composer and biographer Jan Swafford's definitive biography of one of the most lauded musical geniuses in history, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; WILD THING, Philip Norman's vivid reconstruction of Jimi Hendrix’s remarkable career, from playing segregated clubs on the Chitlin’ Circuit to achieving stardom in Swinging London; and DOMINION, the fifth volume of Peter Ackroyd’s masterful History of England, which begins in 1815 as national glory following the Battle of Waterloo gives way to a post-war depression and ends with the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
December 6th, December 13th, December 20th and December 27th.
SHARPE'S ASSASSIN by Bernard Cornwell (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rupert Farley
Bernard Cornwell's iconic hero, Richard Sharpe, is dispatched to a new battleground: the maze of Paris streets, where lines blur between friend and foe. And in search of a spy, he will have to defeat a lethal assassin determined to kill his target...or die trying. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
THE CHURCHILL SISTERS: The Extraordinary Lives of Winston and Clementine's Daughters by Rachel Trethewey (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Juliet Stevenson
Bright, attractive and well-connected, in any other family the Churchill girls --- Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary --- would have shone. But they were not in another family, they were Churchills, and neither they nor anyone else could ever forget it. From their father --- “the greatest Englishman” --- to their brother, golden boy Randolph, to their eccentric and exciting cousins, the Mitford Girls, they were surrounded by a clan of larger-than-life characters that often saw them overlooked. While Marigold died too young to achieve her potential, the other daughters lived lives full of passion, drama and tragedy. This intimate saga sheds light on the complex dynamics of family set against the backdrop of a tumultuous century. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
THE CAT WHO SAVED BOOKS written by Sosuke Natsukawa, translated by Louise Heal Kawai (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kevin Shen
Bookish high school student Rintaro Natsuki is about to close the secondhand bookstore he inherited from his beloved bookworm grandfather. Then, a talking cat appears with an unusual request. The feline asks for --- or rather, demands --- the teenager’s help in saving books with him. The world is full of lonely books left unread and unloved, and the cat and Rintaro must liberate them from their neglectful owners. Their mission sends this odd couple on an amazing journey, where they enter different mazes to set books free. It all culminates in one final, unforgettable challenge --- the last maze that awaits leads Rintaro down a realm only the bravest dare enter. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
A LITTLE HOPE by Ethan Joella (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett
In the small city of Wharton, Connecticut, lives are beginning to unravel. A husband betrays his wife. A son struggles with addiction. A widow misses her late spouse. At the heart of these interlinking stories is one couple: Freddie and Greg Tyler. Greg has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a brutal form of cancer. He intends to handle this the way he has faced everything else: through grit and determination. But can Greg successfully overcome his illness? How will Freddie and their daughter cope if he doesn’t? How do the other residents of Wharton learn to live with loss and find happiness again? Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
MURDER UNDER HER SKIN: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery by Stephen Spotswood (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Kirsten Potter
Someone has put a blade in the back of the Amazing Tattooed Woman, and Willowjean “Will” Parker’s former knife-throwing mentor has been stitched up for the crime. To uncover the truth, Will and her boss, world-famous detective Lillian Pentecost, travel south to the circus where they find a snakepit of old grudges, small-town crime and secrets worth killing for. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
NEW YORK, MY VILLAGE by Uwem Akpan (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Elnathan John
From a suspiciously cheap Hell’s Kitchen walk-up, Nigerian editor and winner of a Toni Morrison Publishing Fellowship Ekong Udousoro is about to learn the ins and outs of the publishing industry from its incandescent epicenter. While his sophisticated colleagues meet him with kindness and hospitality, he is soon exposed to a colder, ruthlessly commercial underbelly, not the least of which is a bedrock of white cultural superiority and racist assumptions about Africa, its peoples and, worst of all, its food. Reckoning with the recent history of the devastating and brutal Biafran War, in which his people were a minority of a minority caught up in the mutual slaughter of majority tribes, Ekong’s life in New York becomes a saga of unanticipated strife. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
WE WERE MADE FOR THESE TIMES: Ten Lessons on Moving Through Change, Loss, and Disruption by Kaira Jewel Lingo (Self-Help/Spirituality)
We all go through times when it feels like the ground is being pulled out from under us. What we relied on as steady and solid may change or even appear to vanish. In this era of global disruption, threats to our individual, social and planetary safety abound, and at times life can feel overwhelming. Not only are loss and separation painful, but even positive changes can cause great stress. In WE WERE MADE FOR THESE TIMES, the extraordinary mindfulness teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo imparts accessible advice on navigating difficult times of transition, drawing on Buddhist teachings on impermanence to help you establish equanimity and resilience. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
VALENTINE'S WAY: My Adventurous Life and Times by Bobby Valentine and Peter Golenbock (Sports/Memoir)
From his first year in Rookie ball, when Tommy Lasorda ordered him to send a letter to the Dodgers’ starting shortstop informing him that he should retire early to make way for the young phenom, to appearing in disguise in the Mets’ dugout following an ejection, Bobby Valentine was a lightning rod for mischievous controversy, grabbing headlines wherever he went. Mavericks are seldom welcomed to upset the status quo, and Major League Baseball was no exception. In astonishing detail, Bobby Valentine reflects on the many remarkable moments that comprised his playing and managerial careers. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
AT FIRST LIGHT by Barbara Nickless (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Tim Campbell
On the muddy banks of the Calumet River, a body has been found posed next to a series of mysterious glyphs and bearing wounds from a ritualistic slaying. Chicago detective Addie Bisset knows only one man who can decipher the message left by the killer: her friend, Dr. Evan Wilding. A brilliant forensic semiotician, Evan decodes the etchings as Viking Age runes. They suggest either human sacrifice or righteous punishment. But to what god? And for what sins? Only one thing is clear from the disturbing runic riddles: there are more victims to come. As Evan races to determine the identity of the Viking Poet, he and Addie uncover the killer’s most terrifying secret yet: the motive. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE THREE WINTER TERRORS by James Lovegrove (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Dennis Kleinman
1889. The First Terror. At a boys’ prep school in the Kent marshes, a pupil is found drowned in a pond. Could this be the fulfilment of a witch’s curse from over 200 years earlier? 1890. The Second Terror. A wealthy man dies of a heart attack at his London townhouse. Was he really frightened to death by ghosts? 1894. The Third Terror. A body is discovered in the dark woods near a Surrey country manor, hideously ravaged. Is the culprit a cannibal, as the evidence suggests? These three chilling and strangely linked crimes test Sherlock Holmes’ deductive powers, and his scepticism about the supernatural, to the limit. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE HUSH by Sara Foster (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Tamala Shelton and Cathi Ogden
Lainey’s friend, Ellis, is missing. And she’s not the only one. In the six months since the first case of a terrifying new epidemic --- when a healthy baby wouldn’t take a breath at birth --- the country has been thrown into turmoil. The government has passed sweeping new laws to monitor all citizens. And several young pregnant women have vanished without a trace. As a midwife, Lainey’s mum, Emma, is determined to be there for those who need her. But when 17-year-old Lainey finds herself in trouble, this dangerous new world becomes very real. The one person who might help is Emma’s estranged mother, but reaching out to her will put them all in jeopardy. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
PAY OR PLAY: A Charlie Waldo Novel by Howard Michael Gould (Mystery/Thriller)
Paying a harsh self-imposed penance for a terrible misstep on a case, former LAPD superstar detective Charlie Waldo lives a life of punishing minimalism deep within the woods. However, his PI girlfriend, Lorena, keeps drawing him back to civilization. When old adversary Don Q strongarms Waldo into investigating the seemingly mundane death of a vagrant, Lorena agrees he can work under her PI license on one condition: that he help with a high-maintenance celebrity client, wildly popular courtroom TV star Judge Ida Mudge, whose new mega-deal makes her a perfect target for blackmail. Reopening the coldest of cases, a decades-old fraternity death, Waldo begins to wonder if the judge is, in fact, a murderer --- and if he’ll stay alive long enough to find out. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on December 14th
Below are some notable titles releasing on December 14th 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 December 13th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
COUNT TO THREE by T.R. Ragan (Thriller)
For a private investigator on the trail of a missing girl, every second counts in this gripping thriller by New York Times bestselling author T.R. Ragan.
CREATIVE TYPES AND OTHER STORIES by Tom Bissell (Fiction/Short Stories)
From the bestselling coauthor of THE DISASTER ARTIST and “one of America's best and most interesting writers" (Stephen King) comes a new collection of stories that range from laugh-out-loud funny to disturbingly dark --- unflinching portraits of women and men struggling to bridge the gap between art and life.
IT'S GETTING DARK: Stories written by Peter Stamm, translated by Michael Hofmann (Fiction/Short Stories)
This new story collection from “one of Europe’s most exciting writers” (New York Times Book Review) deftly evokes and explores the shifts that occur when the world grows dark.
JANE AUSTEN'S LOST LETTERS: A Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery by Jane K. Cleland (Mystery)
Jane K. Cleland returns with JANE AUSTEN'S LOST LETTERS, the 14th installment in her beloved Josie Prescott Antiques series, set on the rugged New Hampshire coast.
THE LOVE CON by Seressia Glass (Romantic Comedy)
He’s cosplaying as her boyfriend, but their feelings for each other are real in this romantic comedy from Seressia Glass.
SILENT PARADE: A Detective Galileo Novel by Keigo Higashino (Mystery)
Detective Galileo, Keigo Higashino’s best-loved character from THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, returns in SILENT PARADE, a complex and challenging mystery --- several murders, decades apart, with no solid evidence.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Colleen Hoover, Sam Quinones, Stephen Spotswood
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.
Tuesday, December 14th at 2pm ET: Murder By The Book: Stephen Spotswood will be in conversation with Alan Bradley about his new Pentecost and Parker mystery, MURDER UNDER HER SKIN.
Wednesday, December 15th at 7pm ET: Books & Books: Books & Books and Miami Book Fair present a virtual event with Siri Hustvedt, who will discuss her new essay collection, MOTHERS, FATHERS, AND OTHERS, with Sara Ruhl.
Wednesday, December 15th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": Join the "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- for their special Christmas show!
Wednesday, December 15th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Matt Coyle will be in conversation with Maegan Beaumont about his new Rick Cahill novel, LAST REDEMPTION.
Wednesday, December 15th at 8pm ET: Belmont Books: Belmont Books, Murder By The Book and Grand Central Publishing invite you to join Colleen Hoover as she discusses her book, VERITY, with fellow bestselling author Tarryn Fisher.
Wednesday, December 15th at 10pm ET: Mysterious Galaxy: Mysterious Galaxy presents a virtual event with Shea Ernshaw, author of A HISTORY OF WILD PLACES, who will be in conversation with Erika Swyler.
Thursday, December 16th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Sam Quinones as he launches his new book, THE LEAST OF US: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth, in conversation with Sherri Walker Hobson.
"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:
-
Xochitl Gonzalez (OLGA DIES DREAMING)
-
James Rollins (THE STARLESS CROWN)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Giving Books for the Holidays
Are you planning to give books as gifts this holiday season? Please check all that apply.
-
I am planning to give print books (hardcovers and/or paperbacks).
-
I am planning to give e-books.
-
I am planning to give audiobooks.
-
I am planning to give a gift card that will allow the recipient to buy a print book, e-book or audiobook.
-
I am not planning to give any books or book gift cards this year.
-
I am not sure what I am doing.
-
Other (Please specify)
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, December 17th 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 December 3rd to December 17th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE MIDNIGHT LOCK: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver and WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult.
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.
|
