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I am a huge fan of amaryllis plants. I gift dozens of bulbs at the holidays, and this year I potted eight for myself. Some white blooms looked spectacular in my office, but the plant got large, and I failed to stake it in time. Thus the stem broke. I cut all of the flowers that had burst and put them in a vase...turquoise, of course. So I can still enjoy them. I also bought some bulbs with new colored flowers this year, including a lemon yellow that looks really pretty. And there is an orange one blooming in the family room. It's really nice to have brilliant color around at this time of year!
Since the boys were old enough to sit in a restaurant in a high chair, Friday night dinner around here has been pizza --- bring in, go out or make our own. When we go out for it, we love to go to Lombardi Pizza Co., a local place that started out as a food truck at Rutgers. They make wood-fire pizzas in imaginative combos, like with dried cherries and honey on them. And they have names for their pizzas, like Bianca, Ellie and Zoe. Tom and I always mess up the names when we order, and even if the wrong thing comes, we like it. Then there are usually two pieces left over from two small pies. We bring them home, so the following week we can throw them out when we forget to eat them. Last week, there was one piece left; we decided to save the cardboard and left it there!
Other pizza variations will include takeout from a different place and making our own. Oh, and Lombardi's reminds me of another favorite place for pizza, Secret Stash Pizza in Crested Butte, Colorado, where we first had imaginative pizzas. Yes, Friday night is pizza night!
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Hank Phillippi Ryan, whose new thriller, THE HOUSE GUEST, is a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Hank offers insight into her characters, Alyssa and Bree, and explains how she created the cat-and-mouse game in which they find themselves. As she wrote she upped the stakes, and we discuss how the last 25% of the book is full of one twist after another. And yes, how did she do that? Hank is a multi-Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and also is known as a superb interviewer of mystery and thriller authors. I joke that it was a challenge to interview her as I have admired her moderating many an event and panel. We also talk about something that Hank does whenever she reads a book, a habit that readers definitely will have an opinion about. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
We’re featuring our review of THE HOUSE GUEST from Pamela Kramer, who has this to say: “Readers must be careful about possible whiplash from the twists and turns that come up. Some confirm what we've smugly suspected as we see where the novel is taking us, feeling certain that we know who is really not who they say they are. But then Ryan pulls aside the curtain, and we see what lies behind it --- at least at that moment, which isn't a guarantee that what we are looking at isn't a masterful manipulation while the truth is something else after all. Whiplash, indeed…. The ending is absolutely and unexpectedly perfect.” If you missed my Bets On commentary from last week, you can take a look at it here.
Wrapping Up Winter Reading --- and a Look Ahead to Spring Preview
THE HOUSE GUEST was our final Winter Reading prize book this week. Congratulations to the winners of our five contests, and many thanks to all who entered! Our next series of 24-hour giveaways will be our Spring Preview contests, which kick off the week of February 27th (the feature will go live next Friday). If you would like to receive a special newsletter announcing each day’s Spring Preview title, all you have to do is sign up here.
This is your last Bookreporter newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which will take place next Wednesday, February 22nd at 8pm ET.
Our guest will be Fiona Davis, and we will be talking about her most recent novel, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, which is now in paperback. This tantalizing novel is about the secrets, betrayal and murder within one of New York City's most impressive Gilded Age mansions. Our Bookreporter reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski says, “If you like a little family drama and a mystery tossed together with a smattering of art history, this is a lovely book to keep you company for a weekend.”
You can register for the event by clicking here. If you would like to ask Fiona a question on camera during the event and chat with her in our virtual green room before the event, please email me with your question using the subject line “Magnolia” by Wednesday at noon ET. Be sure to include your name, city and state, as well as your question. If you do not want to appear on camera but still would like to ask a question, please note that you want to be off camera, and share your question --- adding your name, city and state.
Don’t Miss “February of Forge” on February 23rd!
We love sharing events that look interesting! The day after Fiona’s event --- Thursday, February 23rd --- Forge Books will be presenting their third annual virtual convention, February of Forge. Two events will be happening that day featuring a total of 15 authors: At 1pm will be “Your Book Club TBR,” moderated by Forge Executive Editor Kristin Sevick, and at 8pm ET will be “Murder, They Wrote,” moderated by the aforementioned Hank Phillippi Ryan and Rita Woods. Scroll further down the newsletter for all the details, including author lineups for each event and a link to register.
Evan Smoak (aka The Nowhere Man) returns in THE LAST ORPHAN, Gregg Hurwitz’s newly released Orphan X thriller. Thanks to one little mistake, the President has Evan in her control and offers him a deal --- eliminate a rich, powerful man she says is too dangerous to live, and she'll let Evan survive. But when Evan left the Orphan Program, he swore to only use his skills against those who really deserve it. Now he has to decide what's more important --- his principles or his life.
Ray Palen calls Evan Smoak “one of the most unique characters I have ever encountered in a book.” He goes on to say, “[Evan's decision] may not align with the President’s wishes and has the potential to make him a bigger threat to the government than he has ever been before. Over the course of eight books, Gregg Hurwitz has never taken his foot off the gas pedal. THE LAST ORPHAN continues his trend of complex thrills with an engaging protagonist.” Quick note: I checked with Gregg’s editor, and this is NOT the last of the Orphan X books. Many readers have asked about that. Oh, and I still have a big crush on Evan Smoak!
Just over a decade ago, Harold Fry set off on a 600-mile walk to save a friend. But the story doesn’t end there. Now his wife, Maureen, has her own pilgrimage to make in the appropriately titled MAUREEN, Rachel Joyce’s finale to a trilogy that began with THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY and continued in THE LOVE SONG OF MISS QUEENIE HENNESSY.
According to our reviewer Kate Ayers, “THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY and THE LOVE SONG OF MISS QUEENIE HENNESSY are two novels unlike anything ever written. Poignant, funny, sad, touching and absurd, they also are stunningly beautiful, heartbreaking and heart-clutching. With MAUREEN to round out Joyce’s trilogy, these special books will bring to their readers a rush of comfort and peace when the circle is complete.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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DON’T FEAR THE REAPER: On December 12, 2019, Jade Daniels returns to the rural lake town of Proofrock the same day as convicted Indigenous serial killer Dark Mill South escapes into town to complete his revenge killings, in this much-anticipated sequel to Stephen Graham Jones’ MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW.
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A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS: Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ follows up her acclaimed debut novel, STAY WITH ME, with a dazzling story of modern Nigeria and two families caught in the riptides of wealth, power, romantic obsession and political corruption.
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BIG SWISS: A national bestseller, Jen Beagin’s new novel is about a sex therapist’s transcriptionist who falls in love with a client while listening to her sessions. When they accidentally meet in real life, an explosive affair ensues.
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ON THE SAVAGE SIDE: Six women have gone missing in Tiffany McDaniel's new book. Inspired by the unsolved murders of the Chillicothe Six, this harrowing novel from the internationally bestselling author of BETTY tells the story of two sisters, both of whom could be the next victims.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Bonnie Kistler
Out in paperback this week is THE CAGE by Bonnie Kistler, a Bets On pick about two professional women --- colleagues at an international fashion conglomerate --- who enter an elevator together...but only one is alive when they reach the ground floor. I talked to Bonnie about the book last February when it released in hardcover, so if you missed the interview or would like to take another look at it, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here. Bonnie has a new book coming on July 4th, HER, TOO, and I cannot wait to read it.
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 3rd at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai and IT’S ONE OF US by J.T. Ellison. I had so much fun chatting with J.T. on Wednesday; don’t miss the interview in next week’s newsletter, along with our review.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we want to know if you attend live author events (we’re not talking virtual ones here). Click here to weigh in.
In our previous poll, we listed 30 fiction titles that are releasing this month and asked which of them, if any, you are looking forward to reading. Here are your top five picks: SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES by Jojo Moyes (40%), THE HOUSE GUEST by Hank Phillippi Ryan (31%), THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson (29%), IT'S ONE OF US by J.T. Ellison (20%), and STORM WATCH: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box (16%). Click here for all the results.
It was announced this week that Oprah’s latest Book Club pick is BITTERSWEET: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole, a #1 New York Times bestseller that released last year. In her bestselling phenomenon QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, Susan Cain urged our society to cultivate space for the undervalued, indispensable introverts among us, thereby revealing an untapped power hidden in plain sight. Now she employs the same mix of research, storytelling and memoir to explore why we experience sorrow and longing, and how embracing the bittersweetness at the heart of life is the true path to creativity, connection and transcendence.
Oprah says, “This book has the power to transform the way you see your life and even the world. I have started to look at my own life in the world differently.” Susan Cain writes, “If we realize that all humans know --- or will know --- loss and suffering, we can turn toward each other. We're never going to love or even like the bad things that happen to us, but the more we see it all as part of life, the more we can get to the richest form of happiness we can possibly know.”
Be sure to join Oprah, Susan Cain and four Oprah's Book Club readers for a special discussion of the book and its themes on Thursday, March 9th at 7pm ET on OprahDaily.com.
News & Pop Culture:
Nigella's Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: I had found this cookie recipe, and Cory made them on Super Bowl Sunday. They were terrific! We used Ghirardelli dark chocolate.
“Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” on Netflix: This limited series, a prequel to “Bridgerton”, drops on May 4th. You can see the trailer here.
“Ted Lasso” on Apple TV+: The third season premieres on March 15th. Click here for the trailer.
“The 12th Victim” on Showtime: This four-part docuseries sounds interesting. It’s about the 1958 Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate murder case, in which the teenage couple was charged and convicted of brutally killing 11 victims at random. Told through a stylistic blend of archival and recreated footage, and countless film and television series inspired by the killings, “The 12th Victim” reexamines Fugate’s guilty verdict through a modern lens. She was 14 years old at the time of the killings. It questions the media and the judicial system’s treatment of her, despite her self-proclaimed innocence. The series premieres tonight, with episodes airing weekly.
TV Adaptations of Ann Rule’s Books on Lifetime: I love true crime, so I am looking forward to A House on Fire, based on Ann Rule's BITTER HARVEST, which is already streaming on Lifetime. Next up is A Rose For Her Grave: The Randy Roth Story, based on the book of the same name, which airs this Saturday. Then, 12 Desperate Hours, based on the collection LAST CHANCE, LAST DANCE, will premiere on February 25th.
“Full Swing” on Netflix: Netflix's latest sports documentary series, which focuses on men's professional golf, is now available, just weeks after its tennis-focused series, “Break Point”, debuted. And yes, this is a show I can watch with Tom! I am his viewing concierge.
For fans of “The White Lotus“: Here is an extended version of the theme song.
Your Place or Mine on Netflix: I promised to share my thoughts on this. It’s a total rom-com, BUT there are many publishing moments in it…and books. Do note that these views of publishing are pure fantasy; none of the publishing process happens like that. So this is an escape. Reese Witherspoon clearly loves books, though. And, um, Ashton Kutcher has aged well. You can laugh. I am!
The pace here has been pretty fast and furious. While I have a number of “house projects” lined up, I think reading in front of the fire (spring was in the air here all week, but winter is back for the weekend) quickly will beat those out. I am just about finished with GO AS A RIVER by Shelley Read (on sale February 28th), which is such a beautifully written book set in 1940s Colorado. I do not want it to end. I am looking forward to interviewing Shelley. And I also started WEYWARD by Emilia Hart, which releases on March 7th, and already the three storylines have captivated me. Oh, and you will not believe this, but THE MAGNOLIA PALACE is the ONLY book of Fiona Davis’ that I have not read. So I have my pre-event reading assignment all ready to go. It’s like being back in college!
Our office is closed on Monday in honor of Presidents' Day. I am now contemplating making a cherry pie. I know this is not historically true, but any excuse to bake I go for!
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review: THE LAST ORPHAN by Gregg Hurwitz
THE LAST ORPHAN: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
As a child, Evan Smoak was raised and trained as an off-the-books assassin for the government as part of the Orphan program. When he broke with the program, he remade himself as The Nowhere Man, dedicated to helping the most desperate in their times of trouble, and found himself slowly back on the government's radar. But Orphan X has always been several steps ahead of his pursuers. Until he makes one little mistake. Now the President has him in her control and offers Evan a deal --- eliminate a rich, powerful man she says is too dangerous to live, and she'll let Evan survive. But when Evan left the Program, he swore to only use his skills against those who really deserve it. Now he has to decide what's more important --- his principles or his life. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE HOUSE GUEST by Hank Phillippi Ryan
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE HOUSE GUEST by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Stephanie Willing
Alyssa Macallan is terrified when she’s dumped by her wealthy and powerful husband. With a devastating divorce looming, she begins to suspect her toxic and manipulative soon-to-be-ex is scheming to ruin her --- leaving her alone and penniless. And when the FBI shows up at her door, Alyssa knows she really needs a friend. And then she gets one. A seductive new friend, one who’s running from a dangerous relationship of her own. Alyssa offers Bree Lorrance the safety of her guest house, and the two become confidantes. Then Bree makes a heart-stoppingly tempting offer. Maybe Alyssa and Bree can solve each other's problems. But no one is what they seem. And the fates and fortunes of these two women twist and turn until the shocking truth emerges. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Hank Phillippi Ryan.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: MAUREEN by Rachel Joyce
MAUREEN: A Harold Fry Novel by Rachel Joyce (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Penelope Wilton
Maureen and Harold Fry have settled into a quiet life, but when an unexpected message from the North disturbs their peaceful equilibrium, Maureen realizes that it’s now her turn to make a journey. But she is not like her affable, easygoing husband. By turns outspoken, then vulnerable, she struggles to form bonds with the people she meets --- and the landscape she crosses has radically changed. Maureen has no sense of what she will find at the end of the road. All she knows is that she has to get there. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Coming Thursday, February 23rd: February of Forge
Two Virtual Events You Will Not Want to Miss!
Forge Books is so excited to bring readers their third annual virtual convention, February of Forge! Featuring two events with 15 authors combined, both panels will run on Thursday, February 23rd on Crowdcast.
The author lineup for their "Your Book Club TBR" panel includes Carol Dunbar (A WINTER'S RIME), Julie Carrick Dalton (THE LAST BEEKEEPER), Spencer Quinn (UP ON THE WOOF TOP), Milena Michiko Flašar (MR KATO PLAYS FAMILY), Lee Geum-yi (CAN'T I GO INSTEAD), and Lev AC Rosen (THE BELL IN THE FOG).
The "Murder, They Wrote" event includes moderators Hank Phillippi Ryan (THE HOUSE GUEST) and Rita Woods (THE LAST DREAMWALKER), and features authors Lev AC Rosen (THE BELL IN THE FOG), T. Jefferson Parker (THE RESCUE), Zac Topping (ROGUE SEQUENCE), Aggie Blum Thompson (SUCH A LOVELY FAMILY), T.R. Hendricks (THE INSTRUCTOR), Ward Larsen (DEEP FAKE), Matt Goldman (A GOOD FAMILY), and John Teschner (VALLEY OF REFUGE).
Fans will be able to meet and interact with new and favorite authors and get some great ideas for their TBR piles and book clubs for 2023! Plus, the killer "Murder, They Wrote" panel will have everyone dying to join!
Click here to register and save your spot
for either, or both, of these exciting events.
Featured Review: DON’T FEAR THE REAPER
by Stephen Graham Jones
DON'T FEAR THE REAPER by Stephen Graham Jones (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available; read by Isabella Star LaBlanc, Jane Levy, Alexis Floyd and a full cast
Four years after her tumultuous senior year, Jade Daniels is released from prison right before Christmas when her conviction is overturned. But life beyond bars takes a dangerous turn as soon as she returns to Proofrock, Idaho. Convicted serial killer Dark Mill South, seeking revenge for 38 Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes from his prison transfer due to a blizzard, just outside of Proofrock. Dark Mill South’s Reunion Tour began on December 12, 2019, a Thursday. Thirty-six hours and 20 bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS
by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Babajide Oyekunle and Ore Apampa
Eniola is tall for his age, a boy who looks like a man. Because his father has lost his job, Eniola spends his days running errands for the local tailor, collecting newspapers, begging when he must and dreaming of a big future. Wuraola is a golden girl, the perfect child of a wealthy family. Now an exhausted young doctor in her first year of practice, she is beloved by Kunle, the volatile son of an ascendant politician. When a local politician takes an interest in Eniola and sudden violence shatters a family party, Wuraola's and Eniola’s lives become intertwined. In A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ shines her light on Nigeria, the gaping divide between the haves and the have-nots, and the shared humanity that lives in between. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: BIG SWISS by Jen Beagin
BIG SWISS by Jen Beagin (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available; read by Rebecca Lowman, Carlotta Brentan, Stephen Graybill, Joy Osmanski and Matt Pittenger
Greta lives with her friend, Sabine, in an ancient Dutch farmhouse in Hudson, New York. The house, built in 1737, is unrenovated, uninsulated and full of bees. Greta spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a sex coach who calls himself Om. She becomes infatuated with his newest client, a repressed married woman she affectionately refers to as Big Swiss. They both have dark histories, but Big Swiss chooses to remain unattached to her suffering while Greta continues to be tortured by her past. One day, Greta recognizes Big Swiss’ voice at the dog park. In a panic, she introduces herself with a fake name, and they quickly become enmeshed. Although Big Swiss is unaware of Greta’s true identity, Greta has never been more herself with anyone. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
ON THE SAVAGE SIDE by Tiffany McDaniel
ON THE SAVAGE SIDE by Tiffany McDaniel (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Catherine Taber
Arcade and Daffodil are twins born one minute apart. With their fiery red hair and thirst for escape, they form an unbreakable bond nurtured by their grandmother’s stories. Together, they disappear into their imaginations and forge a world all their own. But what the two sisters can’t escape are the generational ghosts that haunt their family. Growing up in the shadow of their rural Ohio town, the sisters cling tightly to one another. Years later, Arcade wrestles with the memories of her early life, just as a local woman is discovered drowned in the river. Soon, more bodies are found. As her friends disappear around her, Arcade is forced to reckon with the past while the killer circles closer. Reviewed by Sam Johnson.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
THE SUN WALKS DOWN by Fiona McFarlane (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Emma Jones
In September 1883, a small town in the South Australian outback huddles under strange, vivid sunsets. Six-year-old Denny Wallace has gone missing during a dust storm, and the entire community is caught up in the search for him. As they scour the desert and mountains for the lost child, the residents of Fairly --- newlyweds, farmers, mothers, indigenous trackers, cameleers, children, artists, schoolteachers, widows, maids and policemen --- confront their relationships, both with one another and with the landscape they inhabit. The colonial Australia of THE SUN WALKS DOWN is noisy with opinions, arguments, longings and terrors. It's haunted by many gods --- the sun among them, rising and falling on each day in which Denny could be found, or lost forever. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
THE CRITIC'S DAUGHTER: A Memoir by Priscilla Gilman (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Priscilla Gilman
Growing up on the Upper West Side of New York City in the 1970s, in an apartment filled with dazzling literary and artistic characters, Priscilla Gilman worshiped her brilliant, adoring and mercurial father --- the writer, theater critic and Yale School of Drama professor Richard Gilman. But when Priscilla was 10 years old, her mother, renowned literary agent Lynn Nesbit, abruptly announced that she was ending the marriage. The resulting cascade of disturbing revelations --- about her parents’ hollow marriage, her father’s double life and tortured sexual identity --- fundamentally changed Priscilla’s perception of her father, as she attempted to protect him from the depression that had long shadowed him. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
OUR SHARE OF NIGHT written by Mariana Enriquez, translated by Megan McDowell (Gothic Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Frankie Corzo
A young father and son set out on a road trip, devastated by the death of the wife and mother they both loved. United in grief, the pair travel to her ancestral home, where they must confront the terrifying legacy she has bequeathed: a family called the Order that commits unspeakable acts in search of immortality. For Gaspar, the son, this maniacal cult is his destiny. As the Order tries to pull him into their evil, he and his father take flight, attempting to outrun a powerful clan that will do anything to ensure its own survival. But how far will Gaspar’s father go to protect his child? And can anyone escape their fate? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
CITY UNDER ONE ROOF by Iris Yamashita (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Aspen Vincent, Shannon Tyo and Anna Caputo
When a local teenager discovers a severed hand and foot washed up on the shore of the small town of Point Mettier, Alaska, Cara Kennedy is on the case. A detective from Anchorage, she has her own motives for investigating the possible murder in this isolated place, which can be accessed only by a tunnel. After a blizzard causes the tunnel to close indefinitely, Cara is stuck among the odd and suspicious residents of the town --- all 205 of whom live in the same high-rise building and are as icy as the weather. Cara teams up with Point Mettier police officer Joe Barkowski, but before long the investigation is upended by fearsome gang members from a nearby native village. Haunted by her past, Cara soon discovers that everyone in this town has something to hide. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
SHIP WRECKED by Olivia Dade (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Kelsey Navarro
Maria’s one-night-stand --- the thick-thighed, sexy Viking of a man she left without a word or a note --- just reappeared. Apparently, Peter is her surly “Gods of the Gates” co-star, and they’re about to spend the next six years filming on a desolate Irish island together. She still wants him…but he now wants nothing to do with her. Peter knows this role could finally transform him from a forgettable character actor into a leading man. He also knows a failed relationship with Maria could poison the set. Given time, maybe they can be cooperative colleagues or friends, but not lovers again. No matter how much he aches for her. For years, they don’t touch off-camera. But on their last night of filming, their mutual restraint finally shatters, and all their pent-up desire explodes into renewed passion. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
EVERY MISSING GIRL: A Kendall Beck Thriller by Leanne Kale Sparks (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Erin DeWard
The stunning landscape of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains are among our greatest natural treasures. But there are deadly secrets lurking in the craggy heights, and FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck and Denver Homicide Detective Adam Taylor team up to investigate a kidnapping. When Taylor’s niece, Frankie, suddenly vanishes at a local hockey rink, it’s clear that there’s a predator on the loose --- and now, the case has turned personal. One discovery after another leads Beck and Taylor closer to the truth, as they close in on the devastating truth about the fates of the missing girls --- and the many who came before them. Will they be able to find Frankie before it’s too late? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 21st
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 21st 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 February 20th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ARCH-CONSPIRATOR by Veronica Roth (Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction)
In this gripping and atmospheric reimagining of Antigone, #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth reaches back to the root of legend and delivers a world of tomorrow both timeless and unexpected.
BURNER: A Gray Man Novel by Mark Greaney (Thriller)
Court Gentry is caught between the Russian mafia and the CIA in this latest electrifying thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling Gray Man series.
EVERY MAN A KING: A King Oliver Novel by Walter Mosley (Mystery)
In this highly anticipated sequel from Edgar Award-winning author Walter Mosley, Joe King Oliver is entangled in a dangerous case when he's asked to investigate whether a white nationalist is being unjustly set up.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai (Fiction)
In I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, award-winning author Rebecca Makkai has crafted her most irresistible novel yet: a stirring investigation into collective memory and a deeply felt examination of one woman’s reckoning with her past, with a transfixing mystery at its heart.
IT'S ONE OF US by J.T. Ellison (Psychological Thriller)
Everybody lies. Even the ones you think you know best of all. This twisting, emotionally layered thriller explores the lies we tell to keep a marriage together --- or break each other apart.
THE LAST KINGDOM by Steve Berry (Thriller)
From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry comes the latest Cotton Malone adventure, in which the discovery of a lost historical document challenges the global might of the United States.
MURDER AT HAVEN'S ROCK by Kelley Armstrong (Mystery)
New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton novels had one of the most unique towns in crime fiction. MURDER AT HAVEN'S ROCK is a spinoff, a fresh start...with a few new dangers that threaten everything before it even begins.
SCORCHED GRACE: A Sister Holiday Mystery by Margot Douaihy (Mystery)
Sister Holiday, a chain-smoking, heavily tattooed, queer nun, puts her amateur sleuthing skills to the test in this “unique and confident” debut crime novel (Gillian Flynn).
WE SHOULD NOT BE FRIENDS: The Story of a Friendship by Will Schwalbe (Memoir)
From the bestselling author of THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB comes a warm, funny, irresistible book that follows an improbable and life-changing college friendship over the course of 40 years.
THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE by Lynn Cullen (Historical Fiction)
From the bestselling author of MRS. POE comes a riveting novel based on the true story of the woman who stopped a pandemic.
THE WRITING RETREAT by Julia Bartz (Psychological Thriller)
THE PLOT meets PLEASE JOIN US in this psychological suspense debut about a young author at an exclusive writer’s retreat that descends into a nightmare.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Sadeqa Johnson, Rupert Holmes, Fiona Davis
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.
Monday, February 20th 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 28th. And be sure to enter the LOYALTY Pre-order Sweepstakes!
Tuesday, February 21st at 3pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Harriet Tyce will talk to Alex Michaelides about her new thriller, IT ENDS AT MIDNIGHT, which is about a party that spirals into murder when one guest's plan to right old wrongs ends in blood.
Tuesday, February 21st at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: J.T. Ellison will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about her new novel, IT'S ONE OF US, a twisting, emotionally layered thriller that explores the lies we tell to keep a marriage together --- or break each other apart.
Wednesday, February 22nd at 2pm ET: Anderson's Bookshop and Midtown Scholar Bookstore: Join Anderson's Bookshop in partnership with Midtown Scholar for a virtual event with Jojo Moyes to celebrate the release of her new book, SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES. She will be in conversation with fellow New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell.
Wednesday, February 22nd at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Rupert Holmes for a live virtual discussion of his new book, MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER, as part of the B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Rupert will be in conversation with actor Neil Patrick Harris.
Wednesday, February 22nd 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 Sadeqa Johnson about THE HOUSE OF EVE (Reese's Book Club pick for February) and Lynn Cullen about THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE.
Wednesday, February 22nd at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Fiona Davis about her novel, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, which is now in paperback. Fiona also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience. If you would like to be one of our featured audience guests and ask Fiona a question on camera, please send Carol an email with the subject line “Magnolia” by Wednesday the 22nd at noon ET.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here is our latest interview:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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J.T. Ellison (IT'S ONE OF US)
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Sadeqa Johnson (THE HOUSE OF EVE)
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Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo (THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER)
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Shelley Read (GO AS A RIVER)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Attending Live Author Events
Do you attend live author events? (We're not talking virtual ones here.)
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Yes, all of the time.
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Yes, some of the time.
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I have done this a few times.
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I did this once.
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No, this does not interest me.
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Authors do not tour in my area.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, March 3rd 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 February 17th to March 3rd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai and IT'S ONE OF US by J.T. Ellison.
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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