|
Books Fit! Easiest Shopping There Is!
I am thoroughly enjoying THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY by Brendan Slocumb. The protagonist plays the violin and shares the challenges of being Black in the concert world. He is playing a violin that was stashed in his grandmother's attic. Now it's been found to be a prized Stradivarius, and its ownership is being questioned. When his great-great grandfather took possession of it, he was a slave. And now, right before the biggest competition of his life, the violin is stolen. Our last office was across from Carnegie Hall, and there were a number of instrument repair shops in the neighborhood, so it is interesting to read more background on being a concert player and the care and tuning of instruments. I am interviewing Brendan next week, and I want to know lots more about his career as a musician, as well as being a writer.
My reading for this weekend and next week is already lined up. THE GOLDEN COUPLE by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, which releases on Tuesday, is first. A couple is seeking marriage counseling, but along the way they find an unorthodox therapist, and suddenly there’s more than a marriage at stake. I was at an event where Greer and Sarah spoke about their writing style and how they work collaboratively. I am curious to know how this process might have changed during the last two COVID years.
Then I will read HER LAST AFFAIR by John Searles, which will be on sale March 22nd. From the description, there are three very different characters, and I am really interested to see how their stories intersect or fuel one another. I have known John for years. He worked for Cosmopolitan in the Hearst Tower, and that building was a block from our office, so we would have dishy chit-chats on the street when we ran into each other. I am planning to interview him in a couple of weeks, which will be such fun. And we will try to include some dish!
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Jacquelyn Mitchard, whose new novel is THE GOOD SON. Stefan was just 17 when he was sent to prison for the murder of his girlfriend. Upon his release three years later, his mother watches the community turn against him as she grapples with her own son committing such an unthinkable crime.
Jacquelyn talked to me about the struggles characters face when up against impossible emotions and why she wrote the book in the first person. She said she had the first two sentences from the start; as I told her, they’re a great “cold open.” We also reminisced about THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN, which was her debut novel and Oprah’s inaugural Book Club pick. This was more than 25 years ago in 1996, the same year that The Book Report Network launched. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Oh, and I did send her my bran muffin recipe.
Rebecca Serle follows up THE DINNER LIST and IN FIVE YEARS with her third novel for adults, ONE ITALIAN SUMMER, which is March’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. This time, Serle explores the powerful bond between mother and daughter in a story set on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.
According to our reviewer Norah Piehl, the book “will compel readers to reconsider their own relationships while evaluating how they relate to the people in their own lives, and how they consider themselves and others both as complex individuals and as acting within communities and families.” On Tuesday, April 5th at 3pm ET, Barnes & Noble will welcome Serle for a live virtual event to discuss the book. Click here to sign up. For a historic note, Rebecca was our last in-office interview in 2020!
Rosie Walsh, who wrote the instant New York Times bestseller GHOSTED, is back with her second novel, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, which is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. Walsh told “GMA,” “I have written a heartbreaking emotional thriller about Emma and Leo --- who might seem like the happiest couple you’ve ever met, but there’s one problem with that…and that is Emma is not who she says she is and Leo is days away from finding out.”
Norah Piehl has our review and says, “In addition to being a propulsive suspense novel, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE explores important questions about trust, betrayal, mental illness, trauma, and when (if ever) it’s acceptable to hold things back from one’s spouse. Walsh doesn’t tie up every loose end...but readers nevertheless will come away from the book both satisfied and reassured about the power of forgiveness and the resilience of love.”
Reese’s Book Club pick for March is THE CLUB by Ellery Lloyd (the pseudonym for the husband-and-wife writing team of Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos). Reese proclaims, “What a wiiiild read! Are you ready for the roller coaster ride that is THE CLUB? Our March pick is a beautifully written, densely plotted thriller that takes place at a private club off the coast of England. Read about a luxurious, celeb-only island during a weekend of partying and mystery.”
Here’s what our reviewer Rebecca Munro has to say about the book: “Perfect for readers of twisty novels and star-studded casts, THE CLUB is a glitzy, glamorous thriller with a dark and deadly mystery at its heart. If you’re ready for an escape from domestic suspense, plan your next trip to Island Home.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
“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 two thrillers by Tarryn Fisher that you may have missed --- THE WIVES and THE WRONG FAMILY --- and getting her next book on your radar, AN HONEST LIE, which will be in stores on April 26th. Scroll further down the newsletter for more information about these titles and links that should be of interest to you.
This Month’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups are now available for March. We’re featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as Sandra Brown (BLIND TIGER), Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney (GOOD COMPANY), Jeffery Deaver (THE FINAL TWIST: A Colter Shaw Novel), Lauren Willig (BAND OF SISTERS), and Hank Phillippi Ryan (HER PERFECT LIFE); nonfiction titles, including THE BEAUTY OF LIVING TWICE by Sharon Stone and HOLLYWOOD PARK by Mikel Jollett; and paperback originals like MY DARLING HUSBAND by Kimberly Belle and DOUBLEBLIND: A Georgia Davis Novel of Suspense by Libby Fischer Hellmann.
Revisiting Three “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews
Out in paperback this week are THE PARIS LIBRARY by Janet Skeslien Charles, THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth, and WHO IS MAUD DIXON? by Alexandra Andrews, all three of which were Bets On picks. I talked to Janet, Sally and Alexandra when their books came out in hardcover, so if you’d like to check out these interviews, you can watch the videos or listen to the podcasts using these links:
Books on Screen Offerings for March
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. March’s roundup includes the series premieres of "Pachinko" and "The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" on Apple TV+, along with Netflix's "Pieces of Her" and "Midnight at the Pera Palace"; the season premieres of "Outlander" on Starz and "Bridgerton" on Netflix; the films Deep Water, The Unbreakable Boy and Mothering Sunday; the continuation of HBO's "My Brilliant Friend" and ABC's "Big Sky"; and the DVD releases of Redeeming Love, A Journal for Jordan, Nightmare Alley and Marry Me.
Spring Preview Update
Our Spring Preview contests kicked off this week with our first two prize books: THE CATCH by Alison Fairbrother and JOAN: A Novel of Joan of Arc by Katherine J. Chen. We will announce more Spring Preview giveaways later this month.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, March 18th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win the aforementioned THE GOLDEN COUPLE by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen and THE LIGHTNING ROD: A Zig & Nola Novel by Brad Meltzer. We will feature reviews of both in next week’s newsletter.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 30 fiction titles releasing this month, and we’re asking you which, if any, you’re planning to read. Click here to let us know.
In our previous poll, we were curious about the subscription services that you may or may not use. Your top two preferences are Netflix (74%) and Amazon Prime (70%), followed by basic cable (48%), HBO Max (38%) and Hulu (36%). Click here for all the results.
It was announced this week that GROUNDSKEEPING by Lee Cole is March’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. In this debut novel, two very different people navigate the entanglements of class, identity and coming of age in an America coming apart at the seams. Jenna says, “It’s a story about love and identity and where we are from. It is about what makes us a family. I feel like it will lead to a lot of important conversation about what brings us together and what divides us."
For more March selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
This is your last Bookreporter newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, March 9th at 2pm ET. I will talk about titles releasing between March 8th and April 5th, along with a few from May, that I would like to get on your radar. Click here to register. 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. Looking forward to “seeing you” there.
This week we learned the sad news that Robert Hicks passed away at the age of 71 due to complications from bladder cancer. Hicks was best known as the author of THE WIDOW OF THE SOUTH, which was one of the most talked-about books of 2005. He followed up that blockbuster debut with two more historical novels: A SEPARATE COUNTRY and THE ORPHAN MOTHER. Read more about his fascinating life and legacy in this tribute piece from the New York Times.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Sharon wrote, “How surprised and excited I was to receive your email telling me I had won a copy of SHADOWS OF BERLIN by David R. Gillham. As a fan of historical fiction, this is the perfect prize for me. You can be sure I will be sharing this news with my book group and reading friends. I have also passed on Bookreporter to friends. Saturday mornings are special for me as I spend time with Bookreporter each week. Thanks for all you and your staff do to keep us apprised of books and authors!! Now I look forward to receiving SHADOWS OF BERLIN.” Thanks for your kind words about the newsletter; they mean a lot to us. I was at an event last night where I got to hear David talk about his book, and I am looking forward to interviewing him when it comes out.
Jane wrote, “I just wanted to give my thanks for Word of Mouth for my wins of Jeffery Deaver’s THE MIDNIGHT LOCK and Jodi Picoult’s WISH YOU WERE HERE. I have been entering Word of Mouth for years, and this is the first time I’ve won. I was extra excited because I love Jodi’s books and wanted to read this since I heard it came out. I don’t buy books, so it was an incredible win. Extra kudos to Carol for giving me a galley copy and her staff for following up with the publisher since I never received the copy from the publisher after six weeks. Due to Carol’s staff and their diligence, I finally received the hard copy soon thereafter.” It was my pleasure. I am glad we figured out why the book was missing and that you got to enjoy it!
Jeanne wrote, “One quick question: I am trying to enter the Spring Preview contest and have tried a few times. Nothing happens when I click on Submit. Is this because I’m already on the list from last year? I definitely don’t want to miss entering. Thank you. As always, Bookreporter is awesome and hands down the best, most interesting and informative newsletter out there. As soon as I see it in my email, I can’t wait to open and read it.” Yes, if you already have signed up for the newsletter, you will not be able to sign up again. And thanks for your kind words about the newsletter.
“Pieces of Her” on Netflix: This aforementioned series is based on Karin Slaughter’s 2018 book of the same name, and it stars Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote. It drops today, and I am planning to check it out.
“1883” on Paramount+: The first season ended last weekend; we loved it. They held nothing back to show the story authentically. I think it is one of the best shows out there. Taylor Sheridan, the creator, is the IT guy right now. He is prepping a new show, “1932,” as well as continuing “Yellowstone” and “Mayor of Kingstown.”
“The Gilded Age” on HBO: While the same things that annoyed me about this show during week one still do, I think I am watching for the costumes and setting. They are amazing. And I still think contrasting it to “1883” is really interesting --- what happened on the trek west compared to what was happening in New York City.
“Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber” on Showtime: Yep, it has exactly the bro culture that I expected to see from a series about Travis Kalanick, the co-founder and former CEO of Uber. We are in the early days of their startup in episode one, and the seeds of where they head are already there.
Greg drove up to Maine last night with his friend, Pete, who teaches photography classes. They learned that the night sky was going to be perfect for taking photos of the Milky Way behind the Nubble lighthouse. Youth! I love the way he seizes the moment. I wonder where he got that from? And he made it back here this morning to work!
My sister-in-law, Katie, is going to be visiting from Florida this weekend. Her birthday was this week, and we plan to keep the celebrating going. Tom is quizzing her daughters about birthday cake ideas. I think we are going to go with key lime pie!
I also am looking for dresses for a number of weddings that we have been invited to. I truly loathe shopping, and dress shopping is not easy these days. There is little stock in the stores; I look online, and I order. And the house here has become the dressing room. The other day, one dress arrived, and it had enough extra material to make a flower girl dress from it. This is all very amusing when it is not completely frustrating. The latter prevails more often than not.
I also have all kinds of plant and seed catalogs coming into the house. I am at the folding-down-pages stage right now, not the ordering stage yet. There are steps I take when it comes to catalogs. I first fold down and then have to look three times before I will consider a purchase. I do a lot of unfolding.
Which brings me back to the headline of this newsletter --- books fit! They are the easiest shopping there is, especially once you have found a book, or two, or three that interest you when reading the newsletter and our reviews!
Get extra sleep this week, as next weekend we are turning the clocks ahead. Yes, it’s that time of year again. Prepare yourselves with extra sleep now!
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:
ONE ITALIAN SUMMER by Rebecca Serle
March’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
ONE ITALIAN SUMMER by Rebecca Serle (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Graham
When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: to Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone. But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. And then Carol appears --- in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned and 30 years old. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. Soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young lady who does not yet have a clue. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
» On Tuesday, April 5th at 3pm ET, Barnes & Noble will welcome Rebecca Serle for a live virtual event to discuss the book. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Featured Review: THE LOVE OF MY LIFE by Rosie Walsh March’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE by Rosie Walsh (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Imogen Church and Theo Solomon
Emma loves her husband, Leo, and their young daughter, Ruby. But almost everything she's told them about herself is a lie. And she might just have gotten away with it if it weren’t for her husband’s job. Leo is an obituary writer; Emma is a well-known marine biologist. When she suffers a serious illness, Leo copes by doing what he knows best --- researching and writing about his wife’s life. But as he starts to unravel the truth, he discovers the woman he loves doesn’t really exist. Even her name isn’t real. When the very darkest moments of Emma’s past finally emerge, she must somehow prove to Leo that she really is the woman he always thought she was. But first, she must tell him about the other love of her life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE CLUB by Ellery Lloyd
Reese’s Book Club Pick for March
THE CLUB by Ellery Lloyd (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Tamaryn Payne
The Home Group is a glamorous collection of celebrity members' clubs dotted across the globe, where the rich and famous can party hard and then crash out in its five-star suites. The most spectacular of all is Island Home, a closely guarded, ultraluxurious resort just off the English coast. But behind the scenes, tensions are at a breaking point: the ambitious and expensive project has pushed the Home Group's CEO and his long-suffering team to their absolute limits. All of them have something to hide --- and that's before the beautiful people with their own ugly secrets even set foot on the island. As tempers fray and behavior worsens, as things get more sinister by the hour and the body count piles up, some of Island Home’s members will begin to wish they’d never made the guest list. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's Reese's Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com’s "In Case You Missed Them…and a Look Ahead" Spotlight, Featuring Tarryn Fisher'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 three psychological thrillers by Tarryn Fisher: the previously released THE WIVES and THE WRONG FAMILY, and the forthcoming AN HONEST LIE, which will be in stores on April 26th.
THE WIVES: Imagine that your husband has two other wives. You’ve never met the other wives, and none of you know each other. One day, you find a scrap of paper in his pocket --- an appointment reminder for a woman named Hannah, and you just know it’s another of the wives. You thought you were fine with your arrangement, but you can’t help yourself: you track her down, and, under false pretenses, you strike up a friendship. Hannah has no idea who you really are.
THE WRONG FAMILY: Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch. Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore. Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel.
AN HONEST LIE: Lorraine --- “Rainy” --- lives at the top of Tiger Mountain. Remote, moody, cloistered in pine trees and fog, it’s a sanctuary, a new life. She can hide from the disturbing past she wants to forget. If she’s allowed to. When Rainy reluctantly agrees to a girls’ weekend in Vegas, she’s prepared for an exhausting parade of shots and slot machines. But after a wild night, her friend Braithe doesn’t come back to the hotel room. And then Rainy gets the text message, sent from Braithe’s phone: someone has her.
Click here to read more in our
"In Case You Missed Them...and a Look Ahead" feature.
Featured Review: THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES
by Jennifer E. Smith
THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES by Jennifer E. Smith (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mae Whitman
Right after the sudden death of her mother and just before the launch of her high-stakes sophomore album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing, her career suddenly in jeopardy --- the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always predicted. Months later, Greta reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their 40th anniversary. It could be their last chance to heal old wounds in the wake of shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian, onboard to lecture about THE CALL OF THE WILD, who is struggling with a major upheaval in his own life. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE SWIMMERS by Julie Otsuka
THE SWIMMERS by Julie Otsuka (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Traci Kato-Kiriyama
The swimmers are unknown to one another except through their private routines and the solace each takes in their morning or afternoon laps. But when a crack appears at the bottom of the pool, they are cast out into an unforgiving world without comfort or relief. One of these swimmers is Alice, who is slowly losing her memory. For Alice, the pool was a final stand against the darkness of her encroaching dementia. Without the fellowship of other swimmers and the routine of her daily laps, she is plunged into dislocation and chaos, swept into memories of her childhood and the Japanese American incarceration camp in which she spent the war. Alice's estranged daughter, reentering her mother's life too late, witnesses her stark and devastating decline. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: CHASING HISTORY by Carl Bernstein
CHASING HISTORY: A Kid in the Newsroom by Carl Bernstein (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Petkoff
In 1960, Carl Bernstein was just a 16-year-old at considerable risk of failing to graduate high school. Inquisitive, self-taught --- and, yes, truant --- Bernstein landed a job as a copyboy at the Evening Star, the afternoon paper in Washington. By 19, he was a reporter there. In CHASING HISTORY: A Kid in the Newsroom, Bernstein recalls the origins of his storied journalistic career as he chronicles the Kennedy era, the swelling civil rights movement, and a slew of grisly crimes. He spins a buoyant, frenetic account of educating himself in what Bob Woodward describes as “the genius of perpetual engagement.” Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 11th Annual
Spring Preview Contests and Feature
Spring is in the air (or will be very soon)! We’ve already caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our 11th annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days in March and April. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.
Please note: We will announce more Spring Preview contests later this month.
This year's featured titles include:
Click here to learn more about our featured titles.
March’s New in Paperback Roundups
March's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes BLIND TIGER by Sandra Brown, a rousing and suspenseful novel set in the year 1920, when Prohibition is the new law of the land --- but murder, mayhem, lust and greed are already institutions in the Moonshine Capital of Texas; Janet Skeslien Charles' THE PARIS LIBRARY, an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family and the power of literature to bring us together, inspired by the real-life heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War II; Lauren Willig's BAND OF SISTERS, a sweeping novel based on a true story about a group of young women from Smith College who risk their lives in France at the height of World War I; and WHO IS MAUD DIXON? by Alexandra Andrews, a taut, twisty and character-driven psychological thriller about a famous novelist and a small-town striver locked in a struggle for fortune and fame.
Among our nonfiction highlights are THE BEAUTY OF LIVING TWICE, Sharon Stone's intimate and candid memoir that chronicles her efforts to rebuild her life after a massive stroke cost her not only her health, but also her career, family, fortune and global fame; HOLLYWOOD PARK, a remarkable memoir of the tumultuous life of Mikel Jollett, who was born into one of the country’s most infamous cults and subjected to a childhood filled with poverty, addiction and emotional abuse; BLOOD AND TREASURE by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, the explosive true saga of the legendary figure Daniel Boone and the bloody struggle for America's frontier; and Olivia Campbell's WOMEN IN WHITE COATS, the remarkable story of three Victorian women who broke down barriers in the medical field to become the first female doctors, revolutionizing the way women receive health care.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
February 28th, March 7th, March 14th, March 21st and March 28th.
March’s Books on Screen Feature
Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of March's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Deep Water
Release Date: March 18th on Hulu
Based on: DEEP WATER by Patricia Highsmith
The Unbreakable Boy
Release Date: March 18th in theaters (wide release)
Based on: THE UNBREAKABLE BOY: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love, by Scott Michael LeRette with Susy Flory
Series Premieres
"Pieces of Her"
Release Date: March 4th on Netflix (Season One)
Based on: PIECES OF HER by Karin Slaughter
"The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" (6-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Fridays on Apple TV+; the first two episodes will be available on March 11th
Based on: THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GREY by Walter Mosley
"Pachinko"
Release Dates: Fridays on Apple TV+; the first three episodes will be available on March 25th
Based on: PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee
Season Premieres
"Outlander"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on Starz; Season Six Premiere on March 6th
Based on: A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES by Diana Gabaldon
"Bridgerton"
Release Date: March 25th on Netflix (Season Two)
Based on: The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn
On DVD
A Journal for Jordan
DVD Release Date: March 8th
Based on: A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN: A Story of Love and Honor, by Dana Canedy
Redeeming Love
DVD Release Date: March 8th
Based on: REDEEMING LOVE by Francine Rivers
THE BOOKS OF JACOB written by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Jennifer Croft (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Allen Lewis Rickman and Gilli Messer
In the mid-18th century, as new ideas --- and a new unrest --- begin to sweep the Continent, a young Jew of mysterious origins arrives in a village in Poland. Visited by what seem to be ecstatic experiences, Jacob Frank casts a charismatic spell that attracts an increasingly fervent following. In the decade to come, Frank will traverse the Hapsburg and Ottoman empires with throngs of disciples in his thrall as he reinvents himself again and again, converts to Islam and then Catholicism, is pilloried as a heretic and revered as the Messiah, and wreaks havoc on the conventional order, Jewish and Christian alike, with scandalous rumors of his sect’s secret rituals and the spread of his increasingly iconoclastic beliefs. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE PARADOX HOTEL by Rob Hart (Technothriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Emily Woo Zeller
January Cole’s job just got a whole lot harder. Not that running security at the Paradox was ever really easy. Nothing is simple at a hotel where the ultra-wealthy tourists arrive costumed for a dozen different time periods, all eagerly waiting to catch their “flights” to the past. Or where proximity to the timeport makes the clocks run backward on occasion --- and, rumor has it, allows ghosts to stroll the halls. None of that compares to the corpse in room 526. The one that seems to be both there and not there. The one that somehow only January can see. On top of that, some very important new guests have just checked in. The U.S. government is about to privatize time-travel technology --- and the world’s most powerful people are on hand to stake their claims. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
GIRL IN ICE by Erica Ferencik (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Vivienne Leheny
Valerie “Val” Chesterfield is a linguist trained in the most esoteric of disciplines: dead Nordic languages. Despite her successful career, she leads a sheltered life and languishes in the shadow of her twin brother, Andy, an accomplished climate scientist stationed on a remote island off Greenland’s barren coast. But Andy is gone: a victim of suicide, having willfully ventured unprotected into 50 degree below zero weather. Val suspects foul play. When Wyatt, Andy’s fellow researcher in the Arctic, discovers a scientific impossibility --- a young girl frozen in the ice who thaws out alive, speaking a language no one understands --- Val is his first call. Under the auspices of helping Wyatt interpret the girl’s speech, Val journeys to the Arctic to solve the mystery of her brother’s death. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
TELL ME AN ENDING by Jo Harkin (Dystopian/Science Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Tania Rodrigues
TELL ME AN ENDING follows four characters grappling with the question of what to remember --- and what they hoped to forget forever. Finn, an Irish architect living in the Arizona desert, begins to suspect his charming wife of having an affair. Mei, a troubled grad school dropout in Kuala Lumpur, wonders why she remembers a city she’s never visited. William, a former police inspector in England, struggles with PTSD, the breakdown of his marriage and his own secret family history. Oscar, a handsome young man with almost no memories at all, travels the world in a constant state of fear. Into these characters' lives comes Noor, an emotionally closed-off psychologist at the memory removal clinic in London, who begins to suspect her glamorous boss Louise of serious wrongdoing. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
WISH YOU WERE GONE by Kieran Scott (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Madeleine Maby, Erin deWard, Soneela Nankani, Rachanee Lumayno, Ali Andre Ali and Cary Hite
Emma Walsh has finally worked up the courage to confront her husband, James, about his drinking. But he never shows up to meet her as planned. His body lies crumpled amidst the wreckage of his flashy car, which has been smashed to its final resting place halfway through the back wall of their suburban house’s garage. In the aftermath of the fatal crash, Emma and her teenage children begin to embrace life without James’ looming, volcanic presence. It turns out that her husband’s legacy as an upstanding business owner and family man shines only because so many people, for so long, were so willing to keep his secrets --- secrets that twist into new and unexpected shapes as the mysterious details of his last day of life begin to come to light. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
WHEN WE LOST OUR HEADS by Heather O'Neill (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jeanna Phillips
Charismatic Marie Antoine is the daughter of the richest man in 19th-century Montreal. She has everything she wants, except for a best friend --- until clever, scheming Sadie Arnett moves to the neighborhood. Immediately united by their passion and intensity, Marie and Sadie attract and repel each other in ways that thrill them both. Their games soon become tinged with risk, even violence. Forced to separate by the adults around them, they spend years engaged in acts of alternating innocence and depravity. And when a singular event brings them back together, the dizzying effects will upend the city. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE DAY HE LEFT: A Violent Crime Investigations Team Mystery by Frederick Weisel (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Laura Jennings
Annie has fallen out of the habit of listening to her husband. She and Paul have been married for a long time; it's easy to nod as he drones on. That becomes a problem, of course, when Paul disappears and the police have questions. Was Paul having issues at work? Is there any reason to think he might harm himself? Annie doesn't know. But someone does. An unsettling photo found amongst Paul's things turns the investigation toward his job as a middle school teacher and a troubled girl who is hiding secrets of her own. But what exactly happened to Paul on the day he left for work and never made it to the classroom? Is his disappearance related to a local heroin trafficking operation? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE WAY FROM HERE by Jane Cockram (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Brigid Lohrey
Growing up, the Anderson sisters could not have been more different. Susie had an adventurous life, while Camilla --- Mills --- followed a safer path. When Susie suddenly dies, Mills falls apart. Until she receives a bundle of mysterious letters from her estranged sister to be read in the case of her death. Each letter instructs her to visit a place special to Susie, both to spread her ashes but also to uncover some truths Susie has long kept hidden from her family. Their mother Margaret has secrets of her own. When living in Swinging Sixties London, she too made a decision about her life that not only haunts her, but will reverberate through the generations. One family, three very different women. What choices and secrets connect them? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on March 7th and 8th
Below are some notable titles releasing on March 7th and 8th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of March 7th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
March 7th
RUN, ROSE, RUN by Dolly Parton and James Patterson (Thriller)
From America’s most beloved superstar and its greatest storyteller comes a thriller about a young singer-songwriter on the rise and on the run, and determined to do whatever it takes to survive.
March 8th
BOOTH by Karen Joy Fowler (Historical Fiction)
From the Man Booker finalist and bestselling author of WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES comes an epic and intimate novel about the family behind one of the most infamous figures in American history: John Wilkes Booth.
THE CHASE by Candice Fox (Thriller)
THE CHASE is a modern The Fugitive with characters only #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author Candice Fox can write.
THE DARKEST PLACE: A Robin Lockwood Novel by Phillip Margolin (Legal Thriller)
Defense attorney Robin Lockwood faces an unimaginable personal disaster and her greatest professional challenge in New York Times bestselling author Phillip Margolin's new legal thriller.
THE DICKENS BOY by Thomas Keneally (Historical Fiction)
The award-winning author of modern classics such as SCHINDLER'S LIST and NAPOLEON'S LAST ISLAND is at his triumphant best with this vibrant and engaging novel about the adventures of Charles Dickens’ son in the Australian Outback during the 1860s.
DOUBLEBLIND: A Georgia Davis Novel of Suspense by Libby Fischer Hellmann (Mystery/Thriller)
With little work during the pandemic, Chicago PI Georgia Davis agrees to help the best friend of fellow sleuth Ellie Foreman. Susan Siler’s aunt died suddenly after her COVID booster, and Susan’s distraught mother wants the death investigated.
THE GOLDEN COUPLE by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (Psychological Thriller)
THE GOLDEN COUPLE is the next electrifying novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
HIGH STAKES by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
In this captivating novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, five successful women play for high stakes in their careers at a boutique literary and talent agency.
IN LOVE: A Memoir of Love and Loss by Amy Bloom (Memoir)
This powerful memoir by New York Times bestselling author Amy Bloom is an illuminating story of two people whose love leads them to find a courageous way to part --- and of a woman’s struggle to go forward in the face of loss.
THE LAST CONFESSIONS OF SYLVIA P. by Lee Kravetz (Historical Fiction/Literary Mystery)
Blending past and present, and told through three unique interwoven narratives that build on one another, this daring and brilliant debut novel reimagines a chapter in the life of Sylvia Plath, telling the story behind the creation of her classic semi-autobiographical novel, THE BELL JAR.
THE LIGHTNING ROD: A Zig & Nola Novel by Brad Meltzer (Thriller)
Mortician “Zig” Zigarowski and artist Nola Brown are back in this hugely entertaining, highly anticipated follow-up to Brad Meltzer’s #1 New York Times bestselling thriller, THE ESCAPE ARTIST.
MY DARLING HUSBAND by Kimberly Belle (Psychological Thriller)
The bestselling author of DEAR WIFE and THE MARRIAGE LIE, Kimberly Belle returns with her most heart-pounding thriller to date, as a masked home invader reveals the cracks in a marriage.
SHADOWS REEL: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box (Mystery/Thriller)
Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett and his wife, Marybeth, make separate discoveries that put the Pickett family in a pair of killers’ crosshairs in this thrilling new novel in C. J. Box’s bestselling series.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Brad Meltzer, Sarah Pekkanen, Greer Hendricks
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, March 6th at 6pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Brad Meltzer will discuss his new thriller, THE LIGHTNING ROD, the second installment in his series starring mortician “Zig” Zigarowski and artist Nola Brown.
Sunday, March 6th at 7:30pm ET: American Booksellers Association: Join Dolly Parton and James Patterson for the exclusive RUN, ROSE, RUN Virtual Book Launch live on YouTube. You can purchase your ticket(s) from any of the participating independent bookstores, which you can find here.
Monday, March 7th at 7pm ET: Murder By The Book: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen will talk about their next electrifying novel, THE GOLDEN COUPLE, with Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello.
Monday, March 7th at 7:30pm ET: “Lisa Live”: Join Lisa Scottoline for her “Lisa Live” Facebook events every Monday night from March 7th through March 28th for fun-filled insider info on the inspiration and research for her upcoming novel, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BENNETTS, culminating in champagne-popping on the night before publication to celebrate.
Monday, March 7th at 10pm ET: Third Place Books:Third Place Books is proud to partner with Elliott Bay Book Company and Village Books to present Karen Joy Fowler for a virtual presentation of her new novel, BOOTH. She will be joined in conversation by Jess Walter, the bestselling author of THE COLD MILLIONS.
Tuesday, March 8th at 11:30am ET: Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center: Lisa Scottoline will join Temple Emanu-El upon the releases of the paperback edition of her first work of historical fiction, ETERNAL, and her upcoming thriller, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BENNETTS.
Tuesday, March 8th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Barnes & Noble will host a virtual discussion for their February Book Club selection, THE FAMILY CHAO, featuring Lan Samantha Chang.
Tuesday, March 8th at 8pm ET: Politics and Prose: Join P&P Live! with Sarah Pekkanen as she discusses her new thriller (co-written with Greer Hendricks), THE GOLDEN COUPLE, with John Searles.
Wednesday, March 9th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between March 8th and April 5th, along with a few from May, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, March 9th at 3pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Sarah Weinman will discuss her new book, SCOUNDREL: How a Convicted Murderer Persuaded the Women Who Loved Him, the Conservative Establishment, and the Courts to Set Him Free.
Wednesday, March 9th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to historical fiction writers Lisa Barr (WOMAN ON FIRE) and Erika Robuck (SISTERS OF NIGHT AND FOG).
Thursday, March 10th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Brendan Slocumb will discuss his debut novel, THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY (February's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick), with special guest host Tess Gerritsen.
Friday, March 11th at 8pm ET: Boswell Book Company: Boswell presents an evening with Man Booker finalist Karen Joy Fowler, who will be in conversation with Wisconsin-based author Jane Hamilton about her latest work of fiction, BOOTH.
"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:
-
Kimberly Belle (MY DARLING HUSBAND)
-
Allison Pataki (THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST)
-
John Searles (HER LAST AFFAIR)
-
Brendan Slocumb (THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: March Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in March are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
-
BOOTH by Karen Joy Fowler
-
THE CLUB by Ellery Lloyd
-
THE DIAMOND EYE by Kate Quinn
-
DOUBLEBLIND: A Georgia Davis Novel of Suspense, by Libby Fischer Hellmann
-
FRENCH BRAID by Anne Tyler
-
GIVE UNTO OTHERS: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery, by Donna Leon
-
THE GOLDEN COUPLE by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
-
GROUNDSKEEPING by Lee Cole
-
HER LAST AFFAIR by John Searles
-
THE LIGHTNING ROD: A Zig & Nola Novel, by Brad Meltzer
-
THE LONG WEEKEND by Gilly Macmillan
-
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE by Rosie Walsh
-
THE MATCH by Harlan Coben
-
THE MISSING PIECE by John Lescroart
-
MY DARLING HUSBAND by Kimberly Belle
-
OCEAN STATE by Stewart O'Nan
-
ONE ITALIAN SUMMER by Rebecca Serle
-
PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING by Melissa Fu
-
THE RECOVERY AGENT by Janet Evanovich
-
A RELATIVE MURDER: A Medlar Mystery, by Jude Deveraux
-
RUN, ROSE, RUN by Dolly Parton and James Patterson
-
A SAFE HOUSE: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
-
SHADOWS REEL: A Joe Pickett Novel, by C. J. Box
-
THE SHOP ON ROYAL STREET by Karen White
-
THE SUMMER GETAWAY by Susan Mallery
-
A SUNLIT WEAPON: A Maisie Dobbs Novel, by Jacqueline Winspear
-
THE TOBACCO WIVES by Adele Myers
-
THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES by Jennifer E. Smith
-
THE WEDDING VEIL by Kristy Woodson Harvey
-
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BENNETTS by Lisa Scottoline
-
None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, March 18th 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 March 4th to March 18th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE GOLDEN COUPLE by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen and THE LIGHTNING ROD: A Zig & Nola Novel by Brad Meltzer.
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.
|
