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Once I finish this newsletter opener, my last official editorial task of the year will be done. Whew! There’s still a lot to do on the business side, but this is the 49th time that I have greeted you in 2022, and the last for the year, which has been a terrific one. We hosted 11 “Bookaccino Live” preview events and seven “Bookaccino Live” Book Group programs, in addition to our reviewer event last week, and conducted 33 author interviews. I’m already making a list of people to interview next year, and I have a pile of books lined up for holiday reading.
This is the time of year for wish lists --- and I have a few things on my wish list to ask of you. We love what we do, and we would like to grow our audience even more. So first, may we ask that you share this newsletter with friends who you think would enjoy it? There’s a forward button at the bottom of the page, or you could just forward it yourself. Second, talk to your friends about things you love on the site and encourage them to check it out. Third, if you could answer our poll about how much you read this year (more on that later), it would be great since our advertisers are always asking us about our readers and their reading habits. Lastly, if you would like to support our efforts to grow, perhaps you can donate to our GoFundMe drive. Thank you in advance for whichever of these ways you can partner to support us!
Before we turn the page on 2022, we have a number of year-end features that we’re so excited to share with you in this newsletter.
Our BIG Year-End Giveaway
First up is our 12th annual End-of-the-Year Contest, where one Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 40(!) of my Bookreporter.com Bets On picks from 2022, while eight other winners will receive a selection of five of these titles.
Some of the books you may win include BULLY MARKET: My Story of Money and Misogyny at Goldman Sachs by Jamie Fiore Higgins, CARRIE SOTO IS BACK by Taylor Jenkins Reid, DAISY DARKER by Alice Feeney, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus (the Barnes & Noble Book of the Year), THE LIFEGUARDS by Amanda Eyre Ward, MEANT TO BE by Emily Giffin, and SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX by Lisa Unger. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, January 6th at noon ET.
If you would like to know more about these books, be sure to check out this video and podcast where I talk about each of my 40 picks. For humor, I shot this video in two parts with books stacked next to me each time. I was taking a book from one chair, talking about it, and then passing it to a table on the other side. Shockingly the books on the table only tipped over once! It was such fun for me to share some quick notes about each of these books and why they were special to me. And I was very honest in my commentary, including one that I started twice --- but do note that it became one of my favorites of the year.
Our Reviewers Choose Their Favorite Books of the Year
Next up are our Reviewer Picks, one of our most anticipated features of the year. Which books stood out the most to our reviewers in 2022? You can check out their fiction and nonfiction favorites here. See which of their selections you agree or disagree with --- and which titles you may want to add to your 2023 reading lists.
As many of you know, 11 of these reviewers --- Kate Ayers, Sarah Rachel Egelman, Megan Elliott, Harvey Freedenberg, Pamela Kramer, Bronwyn Miller, Rebecca Munro, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol, Ray Palen, Norah Piehl and Stuart Shiffman --- appeared on Zoom last week to talk about their top three books of the year. In case you missed this special “Bookaccino Live” event, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here. We also put together a blog post about the program where we include picks from Ron Kaplan and Jana Siciliano, who were unable to join us, along with the covers of all the books that our reviewers selected.
“Best Of” 2022 Lists
For more highlights from 2022, click here for a number of “Best Of” lists that we’ve compiled from around the web --- including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, People, Entertainment Weekly and Oprah Magazine.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our final THREE poll questions of the year, we want to know how many print books and e-books you’ve read in 2022, along with how many audiobooks you’ve listened to. Click here to cast your votes.
Our previous poll asked if you will be giving books as gifts this holiday season. 72% of you are planning to give hardcovers or paperbacks, while 23% intend to give a gift card that will allow the recipient to buy a print book, e-book or audiobook. Click here for all the results.
Authors Blog About Their Favorite Bookish Holiday Memories
Our 15th annual Holiday Author Blog series came to a close this week. Many thanks to this year’s participants for sharing with us their memories of giving or receiving books during the holidays: Mary Dixie Carter (THE PHOTOGRAPHER), J.T. Ellison (IT’S ONE OF US), Allegra Goodman (SAM), Pam Jenoff (CODE NAME SAPPHIRE), Jonathan Kellerman (UNNATURAL HISTORY: An Alex Delaware Novel), Chloe Melas (LUCK OF THE DRAW: My Story of the Air War in Europe), and Laura Munson (WILLA’S GROVE). These are lovely pieces, and we so appreciate these authors for taking time out of their busy schedules to do some reminiscing for us.
Books You Want to Wrap and Unwrap
If you are still looking for last-minute gift ideas, may we suggest you take a look at this year’s Holiday Cheer feature? These are books that are perfect for holiday giving --- and you may even want to include some of them on your "to me/from me" list.
Jane Smiley, the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning and bestselling author of A THOUSAND ACRES, is back with her latest novel, A DANGEROUS BUSINESS. In this rollicking murder mystery, set in Gold Rush California, two young prostitutes follow a trail of missing girls.
Amy Gwiazdowski has our review and calls the book “a quick read with some compelling relationships that build throughout the novel” and goes on to say, “What I enjoyed most about the story was the glimpse of life in the American west through the eyes of the women. While the opportunities were limited, the women were not, and I appreciated how Jane Smiley imbued each with a little feminist spark that made you want to root for them right through to the end.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE LIGHT PIRATE by Lily Brooks-Dalton: One of this year’s Holiday Cheer titles, this hopeful, sweeping story of survival and resilience spans one extraordinary woman’s lifetime as she navigates the uncertainty, brutality and arresting beauty of a rapidly changing world. As we mentioned in last week's newsletter, this book is December's #1 Indie Next pick and “Good Morning America” Book Club selection.
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THE QUEEN: Her Life by Andrew Morton: Another Holiday Cheer title, this in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch explores the influence that Queen Elizabeth had on both Britain and the rest of the world for much of the last century.
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FLIGHT by Lynn Steger Strong: Henry, Kate and Martin have converged with their spouses on Henry’s house in upstate New York. This is the first Christmas that the three siblings are spending without their mother. As tensions rise, the whole group is forced to come together when a local mother and daughter need help.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, January 6th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win two January 3rd releases: the aforementioned SAM by Allegra Goodman and THE VILLA by Rachel Hawkins, both of which we plan to review in the next newsletter.
In our End-of-the-Year Contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com, we’re giving readers the opportunity to share their favorite book that they read with their group and their favorite book that they read outside their group in 2022.
One Grand Prize winner will be awarded six novels releasing in 2023 that we think will make for terrific book group discussions: the aforementioned CODE NAME SAPPHIRE by Pam Jenoff, HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano, THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson, LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline, THE MITFORD AFFAIR by Marie Benedict, and MOONRISE OVER NEW JESSUP by Jamila Minnicks.
To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, January 11th at noon ET. We will share our reader-compiled "Best Of" list with you in the ReadingGroupGuides newsletter scheduled to go out later that week.
Also on ReadingGroupGuides.com, we encourage book clubs to enter our “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest. Our latest prize book is THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY by debut novelist (and professional violinist) Brendan Slocumb, which is now in paperback. This beautifully rendered and complex novel, with a fast-paced mystery at its heart, was a “Good Morning America” Book Club pick when it released in hardcover in February and a Bets On selection.
Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the rise --- undeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world --- when a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfather’s heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world.
Three groups will win up to 12 paperback copies of THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, January 11th at noon ET.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Gina wrote this about our evening with the reviewers: “That was fantastic! I love everything about Bookaccino, and my fantasy life is to work with you! Merry Christmas!”
Elizabeth wrote this about our reviewer event and their suggestions: “Not one list included DEMON COPPERHEAD, HORSE, THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT or ALL THE BROKEN PLACES. Wow. Just wow. What a disappointment.” I responded that they were asked to pick just three, and we hoped that she shared her favorites on Word of Mouth.
Wendy wrote this about my interview with Charmaine Wilkerson: “I look forward to watching the video. One of my book clubs is reading BLACK CAKE for our January meeting. I’ll be sure to tell everyone in the group about your interview with the author.” We love this --- the opportunity to share authors with our readers. And Debbie said, “Thanks so much. I didn't want to watch it because I chose it as my January book club pick and haven't read it yet. Thanks for sending the video to me!”
Janice, the Grand Prize winner in last year's End-of-the-Year Contest, weighed in and said, “Seeing all those wonderful titles in your year-end contest makes it very hard to not press the link to enter. But that feels much too brazen after winning it last year. I have continued to enter other contests mainly because I want to support Bookreporter and all the great work you do to bring more books to readers!
“I am still making my way through my winnings from last year, and once again want to say how grateful I am to have won. It is still almost incomprehensible to me to have been given such a gift! And my friends and fellow book club members have benefited as well. They are always eager to see what I am bringing to give them!
“I love seeing Joe Hartlaub's reviews once again on Bookreporter. I have missed having his succinct summations. He makes THE PASSENGER and STELLA MARIS sound greatly enticing, and I have added them to my long list of future pleasures. But you do still have so many fantastic reviewers on your staff. I really enjoyed hearing about their favorite reads for this year last Tuesday night. I had been looking forward to that reviewer event for several weeks and was not disappointed. Like most other listeners, I added quite a few books to my list due to the enthusiasm the reviewer expressed for that title! Thanks once again to you and all your staff for the wonderful and important work you do.” Notes like this really make us all smile, so thanks for writing, Janice. I loved hearing from you again!”
Jill wrote, “I just donated again to the GoFundMe page. I really enjoy all your activities and want you to keep going. I was thinking, like the podcasts I listen to, wouldn’t it be nice to have a sponsor for the Bookaccino events? They could say a few words before the event, etc. I can imagine that vendors of bookish things would love to have an ad on your weekly newsletter, etc. Just a thought.
“You guys are so good. I listened to the reviewer Zoom event (I could not make the live Zoom that evening), and it was great. I agree that two times a year would be great. Maybe two books each time per reviewer. There is a lot of open space when the two of you are on screen. Maybe next time a photo of the book as the reviewers are not great at showing the books on screen.
“I was also thinking maybe add some more “Bookreporter Talks To” author interviews by having either a reviewer interview the author or even one of your passionate followers. Also, the interviews could be a half hour, which might make it easier prep. A little bit about the book, author, inspiration, interesting things that happened during the writing process, cover questions, and that would cover a half hour. Enjoy the holidays! You are a big smile in my life as I am a reader of 52+ books a year!”
Let me try to answer all of these ideas here as they are ones that we have considered. First, thank you for donating; it is so, so appreciated! We would love to find a sponsor. It’s very interesting as the podcasts are stagnant, so if you are talking about a product, it needs to be something that will endure for years, as in a BIG brand, and they want big audiences. We are running ads on YouTube, but it’s not a lot of revenue --- yet. Featuring covers on the screen during the reviewer event would be brilliant, BUT Zoom tech does not work that way. I do have another idea for this for next year --- and we do want to try to do this event twice a year. As for the author interviews, we always go on longer than we planned; the conversation is just such fun! For the moment, we are keeping these in-house as there is tech involved that can be pesky. And thanks from all of us for the holiday wishes.
“The White Lotus” on HBO: No spoilers, but what an ending! I think I would have written an alternate!
“Fleishman Is in Trouble” on Hulu: I still have to watch the episode that dropped last night, and then there are two left. Fun series!
“Harry & Meghan” on Netflix: This was on in the background tonight as I wrote and answered emails. The jury is still out on this one.
“1923” on Paramount+: This series kicks off Sunday night. We are ready to watch this latest from Taylor Sheridan.
Our team is getting together “in person” on Monday for lunch and celebrating the season. I am very much looking forward to this time to kick it back a big notch and catch up with each other. We’re going to one of my favorite restaurants and then back to my house for dessert. (A reminder to me to clean my office this weekend!)
While I will be thanking them individually on Monday, I wanted to take a moment now to give a big shout-out to Tom Donadio, our Editorial Director. This site would not be what it is without his attention to every detail. If you would like to thank him on your own and wish him a Happy Holiday, drop him a note at Tom@bookreporter.com. He has been with us for 20 years, and during that time we have talked through so many ideas (and yes, he does tell me when an idea is not a good one!). I am lucky to have someone who will banter around something that starts with, “So, I was thinking that this might be fun.” I know how busy he is, so the way he immediately jumps on calls or Slack with me is so very, very appreciated! May HE have a really well-deserved break!
We have such a very, very small team here, but are they ever mighty!
Cory is talking about coming over on Saturday to bake Christmas cookies with me before heading to dinner with my dad, his brother and his cousins. I have a couple of more batches of cookies to make, though I did the lion’s share of baking last weekend.
The amaryllis bulbs are still in planters on the counter. I THOUGHT I ordered boxes from Staples to ship them; they still were in my cart!!!
We are going to plan our “Seven Fishes Our Way” for Christmas Eve, which, yes, will involve at least two fishes done as sushi. Christmas breakfast will be our traditional eggnog French toast, plus the selection of bacon, Taylor ham or Canadian bacon that each person wants; I love the latter. Christmas dinner, which had been a rather quiet affair with just my parents for the last umpteen years, is swelling to a list of 10 this year as my sister and her family will be in town. We will be doing our traditional prime rib, and my husband keeps asking how many are coming so he can plan how many ribs to get. It’s made for a pretty amusing discussion. The other big question: “When are we putting the board on the table?” This is the board to expand the table. The answer: After breakfast!
I still have shopping to do as no one in my family is forthcoming with wish lists. I started a scarf for Cory’s girlfriend twice now after reminding myself that, no, making cables is not a lot of fun. So I am on the pattern hunt. And since I really need to challenge myself, I bought yarn to make her a hat, too! I knit this woolly wreath in a day. Now I just need to sew it onto the frame. They said to just “whip stitch it” when I was in the class. Like I know what that is. Hello, YouTube videos.
Greg is leaving to go camping in Death Valley the day after Christmas. From there, he plans to head to Houston, followed by a dream trip that he has long been planning to Chile and then the Falkland Islands. On the islands he will be taking photos of penguins and driving Land Rovers, and he will be writing about it. He’s back the third week in January, so he is furiously packing for multiple locations. I hear that the camping luggage is being shipped. Life with Greg is never dull!
As for me, I will be vacationing in front of the fireplace when I am not in the hot tub. I am hoping that it snows at least one time when I hit the hot tub, which will bring up my favorite memories of being in Colorado. And I will watch college football!
Oh, and while we’re gone, Mercury will go retrograde on the 29th. And you know what that means. I actually feel like this week I was in early retrograde!
We’re leaving you with lots to read and watch, on purpose. Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa --- and a VERY Happy New Year. Read on, and have a great THREE weeks.
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!
Special Contest:
Enter to Win Our End-of-the-Year Celebration,
Featuring All 40 "Bets On" Titles from 2022
We are thrilled to announce our End-of-the-Year Contest featuring Carol Fitzgerald’s Bookreporter.com Bets On picks from 2022. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 40 books, while eight other readers will receive a selection of five of these titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, January 6th at noon ET.
Here are this year's Bets On titles:
Our Year-End Video and Podcast!
In this video and podcast, Carol talks about all 40 of this year's Bets On selections and why these books resonated with her so much.
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter Reviewers Choose
Their Favorite Books of 2022
We've asked our reviewers to provide us with a list of their favorite books from 2022. Included is a mix of fiction and nonfiction titles, all published this year.
Among their top picks are TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus, DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver, LUCY BY THE SEA by Elizabeth Strout, SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel, LIBERATION DAY: Stories by George Saunders, THE DIAMOND EYE by Kate Quinn, HER LAST AFFAIR by John Searles, THE SONG OF THE CELL: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human by Siddhartha Mukherjee, and LOST & FOUND: Reflections on Grief, Gratitude, and Happiness by Katherine Schulz.
Take a moment to peruse these varied lists of titles and see if you agree with any of their selections!
Click here to see our reviewer picks for 2022.
Featured Review:
A DANGEROUS BUSINESS by Jane Smiley
A DANGEROUS BUSINESS by Jane Smiley (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Therese Plummer
Monterey, 1851. Ever since her husband was killed in a bar fight, Eliza Ripple has been working in a brothel. It seems like a better life, at least at first. The madam, Mrs. Parks, is kind, the men are (relatively) well behaved, and Eliza has attained what few women have: financial security. But when the dead bodies of young women start appearing outside of town, a darkness descends that she can't resist confronting. Side by side with her friend, Jean, and inspired by her reading --- especially by Edgar Allan Poe’s detective, Dupin --- Eliza pieces together an array of clues to try to catch the killer, all the while juggling clients who begin to seem more and more suspicious. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE LIGHT PIRATE by Lily Brooks-Dalton
December’s #1 Indie Next Pick
and “Good Morning America” Book Club Selection
THE LIGHT PIRATE by Lily Brooks-Dalton (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rosemary Benson
As devastating weather patterns and rising sea levels wreak gradual havoc on Florida’s infrastructure, a powerful hurricane approaches a small town on the southeastern coast. Kirby Lowe, an electrical line worker; his pregnant wife, Frida; and their two sons prepare for the worst. When the boys go missing just before the hurricane hits, Kirby heads out into the high winds in search of them. Left alone, Frida goes into premature labor and gives birth to an unusual child, Wanda, whom she names after the catastrophic storm that ushers her into a society closer to collapse than ever before. As Florida continues to unravel, Wanda grows. She loses family, gains community, and seeks adventure, love and purpose in a place remade by nature. 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 "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE QUEEN by Andrew Morton
THE QUEEN: Her Life by Andrew Morton (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Judy Bennett
Painfully shy, Elizabeth Windsor’s personality was well suited to her youthful ambition of living quietly in the country, raising a family, and caring for her dogs and horses. But when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated, she became heir to the throne --- embarking on a journey that would test her as a woman and queen. In THE QUEEN, renowned biographer Andrew Morton takes an in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch, exploring the influence that Queen Elizabeth had on both Britain and the rest of the world for much of the last century. From leading a nation struggling to restore itself after the devastation of the second World War to navigating the divisive political landscape of the present day, Queen Elizabeth was a reluctant but resolute queen. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: FLIGHT by Lynn Steger Strong
FLIGHT by Lynn Steger Strong (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Andi Arndt
It’s December 22nd, and siblings Henry, Kate and Martin have converged with their spouses on Henry’s house in upstate New York. This is the first Christmas the siblings are without their mother, the first not at their mother’s Florida house. Over the course of the next three days, old resentments and instabilities arise as the siblings, with a gaggle of children afoot, attempt to perform familiar rituals, while also trying to decide what to do with their mother’s house, their sole inheritance. As tensions rise, the whole group is forced to come together unexpectedly when a local mother and daughter need help. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's Holiday Author Blogs:
Authors Write About Their Favorite Holiday Memories
of Giving or Receiving Books
Our Holiday Author Blogs have returned for a 15th consecutive year! Seven authors shared with us some wonderful memories about giving or receiving books during the holidays.
As always, we appreciate all the authors who took the time to participate in this annual feature.
Click here to read Bookreporter.com's 2022 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.
2022 "Best Of" Lists from Around the Web
This is the time of year when “Best Of” lists are everywhere. These annual roundups always seem to spark lively discussions among readers as they reflect on their favorite books of the year. Although we at Bookreporter.com don’t have a “Best Of” list of our own, we’ve compiled a number of them for you here.
See which of your top picks appear on these lists and which titles you feel should've been included but weren't. Perhaps you’ll even find some books to add to your reading list as we head into the new year!
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently have two contests running on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Special Contest: Share Your Favorite Books of 2022 --- and Enter to Win SIX Great Book Group Titles Coming Out in 2023!
This is the time of year when we start seeing “Best Books of the Year” lists. We would like you and your book group to help us compile ours! Click here to share both your favorite book that you read with your group and your favorite book that you read outside your group this year by Wednesday, January 11th at noon ET.
One Grand Prize winner will be awarded SIX great book group titles releasing in 2023: CODE NAME SAPPHIRE by Pam Jenoff, HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano, THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson, LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline, THE MITFORD AFFAIR by Marie Benedict, and MOONRISE OVER NEW JESSUP by Jamila Minnicks.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Win Up to 12 Paperback Copies of THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY by Brendan Slocumb for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month" contest, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win up to 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group.
Our latest prize book is THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY by Brendan Slocumb, a "Good Morning America" Book Club pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now available in paperback. Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the rise --- undeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world --- when a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfather’s heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world. Enter here by Wednesday, January 11th at noon ET.
Here are our latest featured guides:
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
BLEEDING HEART YARD by Elly Griffiths (Mystery)
Audiobook available; read by Nina Wadia, Candida Gubbins and Jane Collingwood
When Cassie Fitzgerald was at school in the late ’90s, she and her friends killed a fellow student. Almost 20 years later, Cassie is a happily married mother who loves her job --- as a police officer. She closely guards the secret she has all but erased from her memory. One day, her husband finally persuades her to go to a school reunion. But then, shockingly, one of her old friends, Garfield Rice, is found dead in the school bathroom, supposedly from a drug overdose. Garfield was an eminent --- and controversial --- MP, and the investigation is high profile. The trouble is, Cassie can’t shake the feeling that one of them has killed again. Is Cassie right, or was Garfield murdered by one of his political cronies? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE WIDOW by Kaira Rouda (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Donna Postel, George Newbern and Nancy Wu
Jody Asher had a plan. Her charismatic husband, Martin, would be a political icon. For 15 congressional terms, they were the golden couple on the Hill. Life was good. Until it wasn’t. Martin’s secret affair with a young staffer doesn’t bother Jody personally, but professionally it’s a legacy killer. Soon a reporter gets word of this scandal in the making, and Martin’s indiscretions threaten to ruin everything Jody has accomplished. When Martin suddenly dies, it’s a chance to change the narrative --- but the reporter won’t let go of his lead. As the balance of power shifts in the Asher house and on the Hill, it’s time for Jody to take control. There’s nothing the ruthless widow won’t do to secure the future she’s entitled to. Even if she has a secret of her own. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
BRYANT & MAY: PECULIAR LONDON by Christopher Fowler (Mystery)
It’s getting late. I want to share my knowledge of London with you, if I can remember any of it. So says Arthur Bryant. He and John May are the nation’s oldest serving detectives. Who better to reveal its secrets? Why does this rainy, cold, gray city capture so many imaginations? Could its very unreliability hold the key to its longevity? The detectives are joined by their boss, Raymond Land, and some of their most disreputable friends. Each character gives us a short tour of odd buildings, odder characters, lost venues, forgotten disasters, confusing routes, dubious gossip, illicit pleasures and hidden pubs. They make all sorts of connections --- and show us why it’s almost impossible to separate fact from fiction in London. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
YOUR TABLE IS READY: Tales of a New York City Maître D' by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina
From his early career serving theater stars like Tennessee Williams and Dustin Hoffman at La Rousse right through to the last pre-pandemic-shutdown full houses at Le Coucou, Michel Cecchi-Azzolina has seen it all. In YOUR TABLE IS READY, he breaks down how restaurants really run (and don’t), and how the economics work for owners and overworked staff alike. The professionals who gravitate to the business are a special, tougher breed, practiced in dealing with the demanding patrons and with each other, in a very distinctive ecosystem that’s somewhere between a George Orwell “down and out in…” dungeon and a sleek showman’s smoke-and-mirrors palace. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
THE INGENUE by Rachel Kapelke-Dale (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Stephanie Willis
When former piano prodigy Saskia Kreis returns home to Milwaukee after her mother's unexpected death, she expects to inherit the family estate, the Elf House. But with the discovery that her mother's will bequeathed the Elf House to a man with whom Saskia shares a complicated history, she is forced to reexamine her own past --- and the romantic relationship that changed the course of her life --- for answers. Can she find a way to claim her heritage while keeping her secrets buried, or will the fallout from digging too deep destroy her? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE KILLING GOD: The Great God's War by Stephen R. Donaldson (Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
The kingdoms of Belleger and Amika had been fighting for generations. But then they learned of a terrible threat moving through them to destroy the Last Repository, an immense hidden library. To face this greater enemy, King Bifalt of Belleger and Queen Estie of Amika allied their lands and prepared for war. Now the time of preparation is over. Black ships and sorcery test the cannon that defend the Bay of Lights. Treachery and betrayal threaten the kingdoms. The priests of the Great God Rile sow dissent. And Estie rides for the Last Repository, desperate to enlist the help of their Magisters --- and to understand the nature of her own magical gift. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
BLOOD, FIRE & GOLD: The Story of Elizabeth I & Catherine de Medici by Estelle Paranque (History)
Audiobook available, read by Anna Wilson-Jones
Sixteenth-century Europe was a hostile world dominated by court politics and patriarchal structures. Yet, against all odds, two women rose to power: Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici. One a young Virgin Queen who ruled her kingdom alone, and the other a more experienced and clandestine leader who used her children to shape the dynasties of Europe, much has been written about these shrewd and strategic sovereigns. But though their individual legacies have been heavily scrutinized, nothing has been said of their complicated relationship --- 30 years of camaraderie, competition and conflict that forever changed the face of Europe. In BLOOD, FIRE & GOLD, historian Estelle Paranque offers a new way of looking at two of history's most powerful women: through the eyes of the other. Reviewed by John Vena.
ROSES, IN THE MOUTH OF A LION by Bushra Rehman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Bushra Rehman
Razia Mirza grows up amid the wild grape vines and backyard sunflowers of Corona, Queens, with her best friend, Saima, by her side. When a family rift drives the girls apart, Razia’s heart is broken. She finds solace in Taslima, a new girl in her close-knit Pakistani-American community. But when Razia is accepted to Stuyvesant, a prestigious high school in Manhattan, the gulf between the person she is and the daughter her parents want her to be widens. At Stuyvesant, Razia meets Angela and is attracted to her in a way that blossoms into a new understanding. When their relationship is discovered by an Aunty in the community, Razia must choose between her family and her own future. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE LABYRINTH: Becoming a Gay Father in China by Peter Rupert Lighte (Memoir)
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE LABYRINTH chronicles the true story of a gay Jewish scholar of China caught in the crosshairs of the very history he has studied. Suddenly ensnared in Hong Kong's handover back to China in 1997, Peter Lighte, intent on adopting a Chinese baby, navigates his way through daunting bureaucracy and unforeseen drama --- and prevails, likely becoming Hong Kong's first adoptive gay father. A second daughter soon follows, a story no less fraught, convincing him that purposeful synchronicity can thrash anything in the way of love. Reviewed by Roberta O’Hara.
Noteworthy Books Releasing on
December 27th and January 3rd
Below are some notable titles releasing on December 27th and January 3rd that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. A list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the weeks of December 19th, December 26th and January 2nd can be found in the December 20th “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
December 27th
THE LIPSTICK BUREAU by Michelle Gable (Historical Fiction)
Inspired by a real-life female spy, THE LIPSTICK BUREAU is a World War II-set novel about a woman challenging convention and boundaries to help win a war, no matter the cost.
MS. DEMEANOR by Elinor Lipman (Fiction/Humor)
From one of America’s most beloved contemporary novelists comes a delicious and witty story about love under house arrest.
January 3rd
THE BLACKHOUSE by Carole Johnstone (Gothic Thriller)
From the author of MIRRORLAND comes a richly atmospheric thriller set on an isolated Scottish island where nothing is as it seems and shocking twists lie around every corner.
CODE 6 by James Grippando (Psychological Thriller)
Harper Lee Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author James Grippando returns with a bold new thriller that asks at what price do we open our lives to Big Data.
LOVE, CLANCY: Diary of a Good Dog by W. Bruce Cameron (Fiction)
From W. Bruce Cameron, the internationally bestselling author of A DOG’S PURPOSE and A DOG’S WAY HOME, comes LOVE, CLANCY, a deeply moving story with a brand-new cast of characters, including one very good dog.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: DEATH ON THE EMERALD ISLE by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran (Mystery)
A trip to Northern Ireland becomes unexpectedly grim for Jessica Fletcher in this new entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series.
SAM by Allegra Goodman (Fiction)
What happens to a girl’s sense of joy and belonging --- to her belief in herself --- as she becomes a woman? This unforgettable portrait of coming-of-age offers subtle yet powerful reflections on class, parenthood, addiction, lust and the irrepressible power of dreams.
SLEEP NO MORE by Jayne Ann Krentz (Romantic Suspense)
New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz returns with the first novel of the Lost Night Files, an exciting new romantic suspense trilogy about a night that changed three women forever --- but that none of them can remember.
THE VILLA by Rachel Hawkins (Gothic Thriller)
From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set at an Italian villa with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.
WITHOUT A TRACE by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
What would happen if you were given a chance to walk away from everything in your life and start over with a blank slate, and you had a split second to decide? In WITHOUT A TRACE, Danielle Steel tells an irresistible story of the risks two people are willing to take in exchange for a chance at the life they’ve always wanted.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Jayne Ann Krentz, Lisa Scottoline, Carole Johnstone
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
As many book and author events are still 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.
Every Monday night at 7:30pm ET: “Lisa Live!”: Join Lisa Scottoline every Monday night as she hosts her weekly “Talking LOYALTY” video series and Facebook Live events leading up to the publication of her historical novel, LOYALTY, on March 28, 2023. And be sure to enter the LOYALTY Pre-order Sweepstakes!
Tuesday, January 3rd at 3pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Carole Johnstone will talk about her new novel, THE BLACKHOUSE, a richly atmospheric thriller set on an isolated Scottish island where nothing is as it seems and shocking twists lie around every corner.
Wednesday, January 4th 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 Mary Kubica about her new psychological thriller, JUST THE NICEST COUPLE.
Wednesday, January 4th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Jayne Ann Krentz will talk to Deanna Raybourn about her latest novel, SLEEP NO MORE, the opening entry in the Lost Night Files, an exciting new romantic suspense trilogy about a night that changed three women forever --- but that none of them can remember.
"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:
-
Dani Shapiro (SIGNAL FIRES)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Looking Back on Your 2022 Reading
How many print books did you read in 2022?
How many e-books did you read in 2022?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-75
76-100
More than 100
None
I’m not sure.
How many audiobooks did you listen to in 2022?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-75
76-100
More than 100
None
I’m not sure.
I didn’t listen to any audiobooks in 2022, but I would like to start in 2023.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, January 6th 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 16th to January 6th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of SAM by Allegra Goodman and THE VILLA by Rachel Hawkins.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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