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In Like a Lamb...and I Am Not a Robot
You know the expression “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”? Or vice versa. Years ago, my boys laughed when I told them that I wanted us to have a lamb/lamb month. Well, part one came true, as it came in like a lamb after we finally saw a few inches of snow on the last day of February. We shall see how the month ends.
Bookreporter is protected from spambots and other ridiculous things that try to hack websites by something called Imperva. If you go to the site and see a message that asks you to click "I am not a robot," just know that this is the software being extra cautious. Yes, it's mind-numbing to have to do this, and at least it does not happen all the time. But we know you are not robots, so if you could click to tell the software this, that would be great. And we are going to try to make this happen a lot less. Smarter minds than mine somewhere out in cyberspace need to figure that one out. We know it is annoying, and I apologize in advance.
For years I would participate in book festivals and other bookish events, including library programs. While many of those moved to virtual in Spring 2020, I now am scheduling some live appearances. The first one this year will be on Saturday, March 18th at the Mountainside Public Library in Mountainside, NJ at 2pm, where I will be talking about Spring titles. This is open to the public, and you can read more about it here. On Tuesday, March 21st, I will be doing a virtual presentation of Spring titles as a Reader’s Advisory for Nassau County librarians. This is not open to the public, but if you are a librarian working in a district and would be interested in a presentation like this, let me know. This can be done virtually anywhere in the country.
I am thrilled to share that Bookreporter is a sponsor of the inaugural Hamptons Whodunit, aka the Hamptons Mystery & Crime Festival, which will take place April 13-16 in the Village of East Hampton, NY. I will be hosting three panels there and am looking forward to the entire event. Their lineup is terrific, including panels with Honorary Chairs Alafair Burke and A. J. Finn; Guests of Honor Michael Connelly, Lisa Jewell and Anthony Horowitz --- and a whole host of other authors, including Megan Abbott, Alison Gaylin, Greer Hendricks, Clare Mackintosh, Wanda M. Morris, Liz Nugent, Nita Prose, Riley Sager, John Searles and Alex Segura. Click here for more information about the festival, including the schedule, programming and how to purchase your tickets.
I am just about finalizing a couple of events for June and will talk about them soon.
On Wednesday night, we hosted our latest “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which we had to reschedule from February 22nd due to sound issues on Zoom. Happily, everything went smoothly this time as Fiona Davis joined us to discuss her most recent novel, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, which is now available in paperback.
Fiona talked about her decision to set the book at the Frick Museum and shared some terrific photos that gave readers background on her characters and research process. She discussed her other work, including what has drawn her to select particular buildings to feature, and the expert she speaks with before she begins a project and consults with along the way. She also explained how her acting career has inspired her writing. The conversation was lively and included what is next for Fiona, THE SPECTACULAR, which takes place at Radio City Music Hall. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
I am happy to announce that Allison Pataki will be our next “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 29th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up for it here. We will be talking about Allison’s novel from last year, THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST, a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now in paperback and is our current “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” prize book on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Just as we did on Wednesday night, there will be a two-part Q&A session after I talk to Allison. For the first part, those who are asking a question “on camera” will be featured. This includes spending time with Allison backstage in our virtual green room before the show starts. If you would like to ask your question "live on screen" this way, please email me with the subject line "Marjorie" by noon ET on the 29th. 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.
We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter.
First up is Shelley Read, who joined me for a deep-dive conversation about her highly anticipated debut novel, GO AS A RIVER, and the history behind it. This heartbreaking coming-of-age story of a resilient young woman whose life is changed forever by one chance encounter is perfect for readers of GREAT CIRCLE, THE FOUR WINDS and WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING.
I have spent a lot of time in the Gunnison Valley of Colorado that Shelley writes about, so this book felt very personal to me. Shelley, a fifth-generation Coloradan, shares the background on how she came to write the novel --- and why it took until she was in her 50s to finish it. We also talk about her love of the outdoors and how that found its way into so much of her prose. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. GO AS A RIVER will be a Bets On pick (don't miss my commentary later this month; for now, know that I LOVE this book) and would be perfect for book group discussions.
I also had the pleasure of chatting with William Kent Krueger about his novella, THE LEVEE, which is available in audio format only. The bestselling author of ORDINARY GRACE and THIS TENDER LAND tells the powerful, captivating story of a family, a storm, a complicated rescue and the true cost of survival.
Kent shares the history of this story, as well as the decision to produce it as an audio original. We also talk about the narrator, JD Jackson, and how his performance really brought the story to life. Kent’s books are known for their strong characters, and he discusses the importance of character development. The audiobook includes an author’s note read by Kent and a preview of his next novel, THE RIVER WE REMEMBER (on sale September 5th), which he mentions in the interview. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
According to our reviewer Ray Palen, “[Jackson’s] naturally raspy way of speaking lends itself perfectly to the source material. To me, his voice is an accurate representation of someone who lived during this time and place, providing immediate credibility to Jackson as a narrator and a trusted guide to the suspense and terror that he helps bring to life in this well-crafted novella.”
Today we kicked off a new contest for Nancy Horan’s upcoming book, THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN, which Therese Anne Fowler calls “top-quality literary time-travel, and the trip is well worth taking.” This marks Horan’s first novel in nine years, following her New York Times bestsellers LOVING FRANK and UNDER THE WIDE AND STARRY SKY.
This sweeping work of historical fiction tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s ascendance from rumpled lawyer to U.S. President to the Great Emancipator through the eyes of a young asylum-seeker who arrives in Lincoln’s home of Springfield, IL from Madeira, Portugal by way of Trinidad. THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN deftly addresses the roots of racism, colorism and classism in America culminating in an eyewitness account of the Springfield race riot of 1908.
In anticipation of the book’s June 6th release, we’re awarding an advance copy to 25 readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, March 17th at noon ET.
Rebecca Makkai, author of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist THE GREAT BELIEVERS, is back with her much-talked-about new novel. Set at a New Hampshire boarding school, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU follows professor and podcaster Bodie Kane as she returns to her old boarding school and is pulled back into the investigation of the murder of her former roommate. As she reflects upon her teenage years spent as an outsider at the elite Granby School, new details in the case begin to emerge. Bodie wonders if, back in 1995, she knew something that might have held the key to solving the crime.
Katherine B. Weissman has our review and says that the book “reads like a dream, combining the suspenseful allure of a whodunit with the visual dazzle of a film.” She goes on to say, “Most thrillers conclude with definitive answers; I prefer the ambiguity and complexity of I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. It’s a passionate cross-examination of the way we live now.” I am delving into this one now. I just want to curl up on the couch and read it in one fell swoop instead of reading it in bits and bites like I have all week!
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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NEVER NEVER: Colleen Hoover joins forces with fellow bestselling author Tarryn Fisher to create a gripping, twisty and romantic mystery. According to the publisher, the complete Never Never series --- now available in one volume --- “will leave readers breathless and believing in the power of love.”
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STORM WATCH: Joe Pickett investigates a mysterious death at a secret remote high-tech facility in this 23rd installment of C. J. Box’s thriller series starring the Wyoming game warden. Joe soon finds that his investigation has brought attention from federal agents, extreme environmentalists and the governor.
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THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE: In 1940s and ’50s America, an invisible killer is on the loose: polio. No one’s life is untouched by this disease that kills or paralyzes its victims, particularly children. The man who can find a cure will be seen as a god. Enter Dr. Dorothy Hortsmann, whose remarkable story is retold in Lynn Cullen’s riveting new novel.
Spring Preview Update
This year’s series of 24-hour Spring Preview contests will launch this Tuesday, March 7th at noon ET. The first two prize books will be THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL by Julia Kelly (which releases that day) and THE LIES I TELL by Julie Clark (which will be available in paperback that day).
Books on Screen Offerings for March
We’ve updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. March’s roundup includes the series premieres of Amazon Prime Video's "Daisy Jones & the Six" (more on this later) and "The Power," MGM+'s "A Spy Among Friends" and Netflix's "The Night Agent"; the season two premiere of "Perry Mason" on HBO; the season one finales of "Dear Edward" and "Truth Be Told" on Apple TV+; the films The Magician’s Elephant, Children of the Corn and The Lost King; and the DVD releases of A Man Called Otto and Women Talking.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Gilly Macmillan
Out in paperback this week is THE LONG WEEKEND by Gilly Macmillan, a Bets On pick about a group of women who travel to the most remote place in England for a weekend escape, only to discover a startling note that one of their husbands will be killed before they return home. I talked to Gilly about the book last March 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.
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 17th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay and HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano. I look forward to interviewing William soon!
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 weigh in.
In our previous poll, we wanted to know if you attend live author events (not virtual ones). Here’s the breakdown of the results:
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8% - Yes, all of the time.
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25% - Yes, some of the time.
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33% - I have done this a few times.
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9% - I did this once.
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8% - No, this does not interest me.
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18% - Authors do not tour in my area.
When we see that 27% of you have only done this once or that authors do not tour in your area, and another 33% have done this a few times, we are so glad that we are continuing to bring you virtual author programming! While we started this during the pandemic, we quickly realized that we wanted to continue doing this as everyone cannot get to meet authors in person.
This is your last Bookreporter newsletter reminder to sign up for our upcoming “Bookaccino Live” preview event, which will take place THIS Wednesday, March 8th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between March 7th and April 4th, in addition to 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.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Beth wrote, “I’ve been meaning to tell you that I received my Word of Mouth prizes, EXILES and THE SHARDS. Thank you so much! I’m reading EXILES now, and I can already tell it is another winner for Jane Harper. It’s the best kind of book --- it’s good right from page one. I’ll be sure to review it is soon as I finish reading it.”
We got a couple of notes right after our evening event with Fiona Davis. Mary Lou wrote, “Thanks so much for a delightful interview.” And Myra wrote, “It was a wonderful session this evening. Thank you for being you and bringing these interesting events with our favorite authors. And thanks to Tom, too.” Since then, we have heard from many more readers!
“Daisy Jones & the Six” on Amazon Prime Video: We watched the first three episodes last night, and it’s really terrific. It’s going to be tough to wait a week for another episode. It’s not exactly like the book, but then again, what adaptation ever is? But it definitely has the same spirit and vibe as the book. GREAT casting and terrific music. You feel like you are there.
“Abbott Elementary” on ABC: How did I miss this show when it first came out? I flew through season one on Hulu and now am on season two weekly on ABC.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on Netflix: I FINALLY watched this. I confess that I liked Knives Out better, but this was pretty good.
“Murder in Big Horn” on Showtime: I started watching this documentary the other night after reading a piece about true crime shows to watch. It is so well done.
“1923” on Paramount+: A great season finale. I am looking forward to what’s next and connecting more dots on the Dutton family tree.
A New Book from the Creator of “Calvin and Hobbes” is Coming!: Bill Watterson has a new book releasing in October. Titled THE MYSTERIES, it's being described as a “fable for grown-ups.” Click here to read more. My son Cory will be all over this one!
Linwood Barclay and His Train Room: I loved seeing this piece on Linwood Barclay and his train setup. He often posts about this on his author Facebook page.
We have no weekend plans, and I am just fine with that. I still have a bunch of things to organize from last weekend that I did not have a chance to do. And there are sooooo many books that I want to read. This week has been absolutely crazy, and I seriously want to kick it back a notch! As for my cooking plans, it’s homemade pizza tonight, and over the weekend I want to do some stuffed poblanos.
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 LEVEE written by
William Kent Krueger, read by JD Jackson
THE LEVEE: An Audio Novella written by William Kent Krueger and read by JD Jackson, with an author's note read by William Kent Krueger (Historical Fiction)
It’s 1927, and the most devastating flood in American history has swelled the Mississippi River to a width of 80 miles. In an attempt to save a family trapped by the rising water, four men in a tiny rowboat battle the treacherous flow. Three are convicts, on loan from the local prison and pressed into service. The fourth, the leader of the team, is driven by his own hidden motives. But to their surprise upon arrival at Ballymore, an ancestral home protected by a high, circular levee, not everyone in the family feels the need to be saved. As the threat from the flood increases and time ticks away, the crew and the family must decide on a course of action, and a desperate plan is hatched to save the weakening levee and all it was built to protect. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to listen to an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with William Kent Krueger.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit William Kent Krueger's website.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU
by Rebecca Makkai
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan and JD Jackson
A successful film professor and podcaster, Bodie Kane is content to forget her past --- the family tragedy that marred her adolescence, her four largely miserable years at a New Hampshire boarding school, and the murder of her former roommate, Thalia Keith, in the spring of their senior year. Though the circumstances surrounding Thalia’s death and the conviction of the school’s athletic trainer, Omar Evans, are hotly debated online, Bodie prefers --- needs --- to let sleeping dogs lie. But when the Granby School invites her back to teach a course, Bodie is inexorably drawn to the case and its increasingly apparent flaws. In their rush to convict Omar, did the school and the police overlook other suspects? Is the real killer still out there? Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
- 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.
New Special Contest:
Enter to Win an Advance Copy of
THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN by Nancy Horan,
Releasing June 6th
Nancy Horan, who wrote the New York Times bestseller LOVING FRANK, returns with THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN, a sweeping historical novel that tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's ascendance from rumpled lawyer to U.S. president to the Great Emancipator through the eyes of a young asylum-seeker who arrives in Lincoln's home of Springfield from Madeira, Portugal. The book doesn't release until June 6th, but we have 25 advance copies to give away to readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, March 17th at noon ET.
THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN by Nancy Horan (Historical Fiction)
Showing intelligence beyond society's expectations, 14-year-old Ana Ferreira lands a job in the Lincoln household assisting Mary Lincoln with their boys and with the hostess duties borne by the wife of a rising political star. Ana bears witness to the evolution of Lincoln's views on equality and the Union and observes in full complexity the psyche and pain of his bold, polarizing wife, Mary.
Along with her African American friend Cal, Ana encounters the presence of the underground railroad in town and experiences personally how slavery is tearing apart her adopted country. Culminating in an eyewitness account of the little-known Springfield race riot of 1908, THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN takes readers on a journey through the historic changes that reshaped America and that continue to reverberate today.
- Click here to read Nancy Horan's bio.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review: NEVER NEVER
by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher
NEVER NEVER by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher (Romantic Suspense/Mystery)
Charlie Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They've been in love since the age of 14. But as of this morning, they are complete strangers. Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love...every memory has vanished. Now Charlie and Silas must work together to uncover the truth about what happened to them and why. But the more they learn about the couple they used to be, the more they question why they were ever together to begin with. Forgetting is terrifying, but remembering may be worse. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: STORM WATCH by C. J. Box
STORM WATCH: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by David Chandler
When a prominent University of Wyoming professor goes missing, authorities are stumped. That is, until Joe Pickett makes two surprising discoveries. First, he finds the professor’s vehicle parked on a remote mountainside. Then he finds the professor’s frozen and mutilated body. When he attempts to learn more, his investigation is obstructed by federal agents, extremists and Governor Colter Allen. Nate Romanowski is rebuilding his falconry company --- and financing this through crypto mining with the assistance of Geronimo Jones. He’s then approached by a shadowy group of local militant activists who demand that Wyoming join other western states and secede from the Union. They ask Nate to throw in with them, but he’s wary. Should he trust them, or is he being set up? Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE by Lynn Cullen
THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE by Lynn Cullen (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
In 1940s and ’50s America, polio is as dreaded as the atomic bomb. Some of the world’s best minds are engaged in the race to find a vaccine. The man who succeeds will be a god. But Dorothy Horstmann is not focused on beating her colleagues to the vaccine. She just wants the world to have a cure. Applying the same determination that lifted her from a humble background as the daughter of immigrants, to becoming a doctor, she hunts down the monster where it lurks: in the blood. This discovery of hers, and an error by a competitor, catapults her closest colleague to a lead in the race. When his chance to win comes on a worldwide scale, she is asked to sink or validate his vaccine --- and to decide what is forgivable, and how much should be sacrificed, in pursuit of the cure. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- 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.
Bookreporter.com's 12th 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 12th 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 through mid-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.
Our first prize book will be announced on Tuesday, March 7th at noon ET.
This year's contest titles include:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
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
Children of the Corn
Release Date: March 3rd (limited release in theaters)
Based on: The short story "Children of the Corn" by Stephen King
The Magician’s Elephant
Release Date: March 17th on Netflix
Based on: THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT by Kate DiCamillo
Series Premieres
"Daisy Jones & the Six" (10-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Fridays on Amazon Prime Video; Series Premiere on March 3rd (the first three episodes will be available)
Based on: DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid
"A Spy Among Friends" (6-episode limited series)
Air Dates: Sundays at 10pm ET/PT on MGM+; Series Premiere on March 12th
Based on: A SPY AMONG FRIENDS: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre
"The Night Agent"
Release Date: March 23rd on Netflix (Season One)
Based on: THE NIGHT AGENT by Matthew Quirk
"The Big Door Prize"
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Apple TV+; Series Premiere on March 29th (the first three episodes will be available)
Based on: THE BIG DOOR PRIZE by M.O. Walsh
"The Power"
Release Dates: Fridays on Amazon Prime Video; Series Premiere on March 31st (the first three episodes will be available)
Based on: THE POWER by Naomi Alderman
Season Premiere
"Perry Mason"
Air Dates: Mondays at 9pm ET/PT on HBO; Season Two Premiere on March 6th
Based on: Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason novels and stories
Season Finale
"Dear Edward"
Release Dates: Fridays on Apple TV+; Season One Finale on March 24th
Based on: DEAR EDWARD by Ann Napolitano
On DVD
Women Talking
DVD Release Date: March 7th
Based on: WOMEN TALKING by Miriam Toews
A Man Called Otto
DVD Release Date: March 14th
Based on: A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman
A DAY OF FALLEN NIGHT: A Roots of Chaos Novel by Samantha Shannon (Fantasy)
Audiobook available; read by Ellie Kendrick, Sheila Atim, Thoren Ferguson, Hanako Footman and Saara El-Arifi
Tunuva Melim is a sister of the Priory. For 50 years, she has trained to slay wyrms. But none have appeared since the Nameless One, and the younger generation is starting to question the Priory's purpose. To the north, in the Queendom of Inys, Sabran the Ambitious has married the new King of Hróth, narrowly saving both realms from ruin. Their daughter, Glorian, trails in their shadow --- exactly where she wants to be. The dragons of the East have slept for centuries. Dumai has spent her life in a Seiikinese mountain temple, trying to wake the gods from their long slumber. Now someone from her mother's past is coming to upend her fate. When the Dreadmount erupts, bringing with it an age of terror and violence, these women must find the strength to protect humankind from a devastating threat. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE MALTESE IGUANA by Tim Dorsey (Mystery/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Oliver Wyman
After a long and arduous COVID-19 quarantine, Serge A. Storms is fully vaccinated and ready to hit the road. Along with his condo neighbors, he cooks up a wild plan to celebrate in true Serge fashion: each week, they rent a shuttle van and head out for funky Florida road trips and some serious revelry. Meanwhile, a CIA revenge operation down in Honduras goes very, very wrong. The local liaison hired to help with the mission is the only witness to the disaster, and the CIA quickly sets a black ops contractor on his trail to eliminate him. Forced to flee his home country, the witness lands in Miami with a new identity and passport. But the CIA is still on his tail, pushing him further and further south to the Florida Keys, where he runs into Serge’s convoy. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
LYING BESIDE YOU: A Cyrus Haven Novel by Michael Robotham (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joe Jameson
As a boy, Cyrus Haven survived a family massacre and slowly pieced his life back together. Now, after almost 20 years, his brother is applying to be released from a secure psychiatric hospital --- and Cyrus is expected to forgive Elias and welcome him home. Cyrus is now a successful psychologist, working with the police, and sharing his house with Evie Cormac, a damaged and gifted teenager who can tell when someone is lying. When a man is murdered and his daughter disappears, Cyrus is called in to help piece together Maya Kirk’s last hours. Police believe she was drugged and driven away from the same bar where Evie is working. A second victim is soon taken, and Evie is the only person who glimpsed the man behind the wheel. But only two people believe her. One is Cyrus. The other is the killer. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI by Shannon Chakraborty (Historical Fantasy/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Lameece Issaq and Amin El Gamal
After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean’s most notorious pirates, Amina al-Sirafi has survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family. But when she’s tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she’s offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade’s kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family’s future forever? It seems like such an obvious choice that it must be God’s will. Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there’s more to this job, and the girl’s disappearance, than she was led to believe. Reviewed by Eleni Karavoussianis.
DON'T THINK, DEAR: On Loving and Leaving Ballet by Alice Robb (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Alice Robb
Growing up, Alice Robb dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer. But by age 15, she had to face the reality that she would never meet the impossibly high standards of the hyper-competitive ballet world. After she quit, she tried to avoid ballet --- only to realize, years later, that she was still haunted by the lessons she had absorbed in the mirror-lined studios of Lincoln Center, and that they had served her well in the wider world. The traits ballet takes to an extreme --- stoicism, silence, submission --- are valued in girls and women everywhere. Profound, nuanced and passionately researched, DON’T THINK, DEAR is Robb’s excavation of her adolescent years as a dancer and an exploration of how those days informed her life for years to come. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
JAMIE MacGILLIVRAY: The Renegade's Journey by John Sayles (Historical Thriller/Adventure)
It begins in the highlands of Scotland in 1746, at the Battle of Culloden, the last desperate stand of the Stuart “pretender” to the throne of the Three Kingdoms, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and his rabidly loyal supporters. Vanquished with his comrades by the forces of the Hanoverian (and Protestant) British crown, the novel’s eponymous hero, Jamie MacGillivray, narrowly escapes a roadside execution only to be recaptured by the victors and shipped to Marshalsea Prison, where he cheats the hangman a second time before being sentenced to transportation and indentured servitude in colonial America "for the term of his natural life." His travels are paralleled by those of Jenny Ferguson, a poor village girl swept up on false charges by the English and also sent in chains to the New World. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read an interview with John Sayles.
THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR by Kristina Forest (Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Keylor Leigh and Malik Rashad
Lily Greene has always felt inadequate compared to the rest of her accomplished family, who strive for Black excellence. She dreams of becoming a children’s books editor, but she’s been frustratingly stuck in the nonfiction division for years. Lily finds escapism in her correspondences with her favorite fantasy author, which turns into a tentative friendship and possibly something else she won’t let herself entertain --- until he ghosts her without a word. Months later, Lily is determined to get a hold of her life, starting with finding a date to her sister’s wedding. And the perfect person to help her is Nick Brown, her charming, attractive new neighbor, who she feels drawn to for reasons she can’t explain. But little does she know that Nick is an author --- her favorite fantasy author. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
MADAME RESTELL: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist by Jennifer Wright (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Mara Wilson
An industrious immigrant who built her business from the ground up, Madame Restell was a self-taught surgeon on the cutting edge of healthcare in pre-Gilded Age New York. Her bustling “boarding house” provided birth control, abortions and medical assistance to thousands of women --- rich and poor alike. Unfortunately for Madame Restell, her rise to the top of her field coincided with a campaign to curtail women’s power by restricting their access to both healthcare and careers of their own. By unraveling the misogynistic and misleading lies that put women’s lives in jeopardy, Jennifer Wright simultaneously restores Restell to her rightful place in history and obliterates the faulty reasoning underlying the very foundation of what has since been dubbed the “pro-life” movement. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
THE CRANE HUSBAND by Kelly Barnhill (Fantasy/Horror)
A 15-year-old is the backbone of her small Midwestern family, budgeting the household finances and raising her younger brother while her mom, a talented artist, weaves beautiful tapestries. For six years, it’s been just the three of them --- her mom has brought home guests at times, but none have ever stayed. Yet when her mom brings home a six-foot-tall crane with a menacing air, the girl is powerless to prevent her mom letting the intruder into her heart and her children’s lives. Utterly enchanted and numb to his sharp edges, her mom abandons the world around her to weave the masterpiece the crane demands. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE BLOOD OF PATRIOTS AND TRAITORS: A Max Geller Spy Thriller by James A. Scott (Thriller)
Former CIA Russia expert Max Geller is recovering from an intense mission while lying low in Australia, enjoying his sudden wealth in the company of his new girlfriend, Vanessa. But his beachy bliss is short-lived when he is ambushed by the CIA. He soon learns that Vanessa is being used as blackmail by his former CIA boss, Rodney, to convince him to go to Moscow. His mission is to smuggle out a defector with knowledge of a secret Kremlin war plan. Max is wanted by the Russians, so the defector could be bait to lure him into the hands of his old enemy, FSB Colonel Zabluda. When Max is spotted in Moscow, Zabluda launches a manhunt, pursuing him and the defector across country lines. Max and the defector race to evade countless attacks and attempts at capture as they escape to the United States. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on March 7th
Below are some notable titles releasing on March 7th 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 6th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
A tale about family --- family secrets and vengeance, but also family love --- ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME masterfully grapples with a primal question: When does loyalty reach its limit?
THE CURATOR by Owen King (Historical Fantasy)
From New York Times bestselling author Owen King comes a Dickensian fantasy of illusion and charm where cats are revered as religious figures, thieves are noble, scholars are revolutionaries, and conjurers are the most wonderful criminals you can imagine.
IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn (Historical Fiction)
IN MEMORIAM is a haunting, virtuosic debut novel about two young men who fall in love during World War I.
THE KIND WORTH SAVING by Peter Swanson (Mystery/Thriller)
In this spectacularly devious novel by New York Times bestselling author Peter Swanson, a private eye starts to follow a possibly adulterous husband, but little does he know that the twisted trail will lead back to the woman who hired him.
LESSONS AT THE SCHOOL BY THE SEA: The Third School by the Sea Novel by Jenny Colgan (Fiction)
The summer holiday brings new passion and new challenges in this enchanting third installment of Jenny Colgan’s utterly delightful School by the Sea series, set at a girls’ boarding school in Cornwall.
THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY by Sarah Penner (Gothic Historical Mystery)
From the author of the sensational bestseller THE LOST APOTHECARY comes a spellbinding tale about two daring women who hunt for truth and justice in the perilous art of conjuring the dead.
THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL by Julia Kelly (Historical Fiction)
The acclaimed author of the “sweeping and beautifully written novel” (Woman’s World) THE LIGHT OVER LONDON weaves an epic saga of love, motherhood and betrayal set against World War II.
NIGHT FLIGHT TO PARIS: A Kate Rees WWII Novel by Cara Black (Historical Fiction)
It is once again up to American markswoman Kate Rees to take the shot that just might win --- or lose --- World War II in this follow-up to the national bestseller THREE HOURS IN PARIS.
OLD BABES IN THE WOOD: Stories by Margaret Atwood (Fiction/Short Stories)
This dazzling collection of short stories from the internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of THE HANDMAID'S TALE and THE TESTAMENTS looks deeply into the heart of family relationships, marriage, loss and memory, and what it means to spend a life together.
PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson (Fiction)
A deliciously funny, sharply observed debut of family, love and class, this zeitgeisty novel follows three women in one wealthy Brooklyn clan.
A SINISTER REVENGE: A Veronica Speedwell Mystery by Deanna Raybourn (Historical Mystery)
Veronica Speedwell must find and stop a devious killer when a group of old friends is targeted for death in this new adventure from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.
THE SISTER EFFECT by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
Beloved bestselling author Susan Mallery brings readers an emotional, witty and heartfelt story that explores the nuances of a broken family’s complex emotions as they strive to become whole in this uplifting story of human frailty and resilience.
WEYWARD by Emilia Hart (Historical Fiction/Magical Realism)
Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's WEYWARD is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.
WORTHY OPPONENTS by Danielle Steel (Romance)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel comes a powerful novel about a woman running her family’s luxury department store and the wealthy investor who threatens to take it over.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Emilia Hart, Owen King, Peter Swanson
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, March 6th 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, March 7th at 3pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick’s, in partnership with Book Carnival, Novel Neighbor, and Roundabout Books & Cafe, will host Emilia Hart as she discusses her debut novel, WEYWARD, with Abigail Dean. Hart has penned an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.
Tuesday, March 7th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Deanna Raybourn will talk about her latest mystery, A SINISTER REVENGE, in which natural historian Veronica Speedwell must find and stop a devious killer when a group of old friends is targeted for death.
Wednesday, March 8th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between March 7th and April 4th, along with a few from May, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, March 8th 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 Jennifer Rosner and Julia Kelly about their latest historical novels, Rosner's ONCE WE WERE HOME and Kelly's THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL.
Wednesday, March 8th at 9pm ET: Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore: Owen King will be in conversation with Tom Bissell about his new novel, THE CURATOR. In this Dickensian fantasy of illusion and charm, cats are revered as religious figures, thieves are noble, scholars are revolutionaries, and conjurers are the most wonderful criminals you can imagine.
Thursday, March 9th at 6pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Peter Swanson will talk about his latest thriller, THE KIND WORTH SAVING, in which a private eye starts to follow a possibly adulterous husband --- but little does he know that the twisted trail will lead back to the woman who hired him.
Thursday, March 9th at 8pm ET: Blue Willow Bookshop: Join Alice Winn in celebration of her book, IN MEMORIAM, a haunting, virtuosic debut novel about two young men who fall in love during World War I.
"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 are our latest interviews:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Sadeqa Johnson (THE HOUSE OF EVE)
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William Landay (ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME)
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Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo (THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER)
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 do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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48 CLUES INTO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MY SISTER by Joyce Carol Oates
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ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay
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COLLATERAL DAMAGE by J.A. Jance
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COUNTDOWN by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
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THE CURATOR by Owen King
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A DEATH IN DENMARK: The First Gabriel Præst Novel, by Amulya Malladi
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DUST CHILD by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
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EARTH'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE by Elizabeth Berg
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GOOD DOG, BAD COP: A K Team Novel, by David Rosenfelt
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HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls
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HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano
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HER DEADLY GAME by Robert Dugoni
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I WILL FIND YOU by Harlan Coben
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IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn
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THE KIND WORTH SAVING by Peter Swanson
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THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY by Sarah Penner
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THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL by Julia Kelly
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LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline
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OLD BABES IN THE WOOD: Stories, by Margaret Atwood
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ONCE WE WERE HOME by Jennifer Rosner
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THE PERFUMIST OF PARIS by Alka Joshi
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PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson
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RED LONDON by Alma Katsu
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A SINISTER REVENGE: A Veronica Speedwell Mystery, by Deanna Raybourn
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THE SISTER EFFECT by Susan Mallery
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SO SHALL YOU REAP: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery, by Donna Leon
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TWO WARS AND A WEDDING by Lauren Willig
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WEYWARD by Emilia Hart
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THE WHITE LADY by Jacqueline Winspear
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WOLF TRAP by Connor Sullivan
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, March 17th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from March 3rd to March 17th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay and HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano.
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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