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Last week, I was doing a quick errand and decided not to carry my pocketbook. Instead I tossed my driver’s license in a small leather wallet that I have and headed out the door. I came back, and the last time we saw the wallet was on the counter in the kitchen. I am 99% sure that I picked it off from there to bring it upstairs, but I have yet to find it. I literally took all of the books off my “to be read” bookshelves wondering if I carried it upstairs when I was moving books and it got caught between some. Tom even combed through the garbage, earning him yet another “Husband of the Year” award. I am sure that it’s some place crazy, like on a shelf in the freezer. I ordered a duplicate license. As soon as it comes in the mail, I am sure I will find the wallet. That is the way life works!
Speaking of lost and not found, for those of you using Apple Mail, take note. We routinely send out invites to our evening “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events and the leavebehinds for our “Bookaccino Live” monthly preview programs, as well as reminders when the videos and podcasts of these events are ready, from my email address, Carol@bookreporter.com. We also alert contest winners when they have won a prize. They come from my email address or from TBRNCoordinator@gmail.com. Apple Mail has been blocking all emails from these addresses. We cannot even send them one by one.
So, if you are using Apple Mail, which includes icloud.com, me.com and mac.com, this newsletter should get to you as the URL has been whitelisted. But over the last couple of weeks, it has become an issue. We recommend that you note to allow email from the two addresses noted above. The leave-behinds for the “Bookaccino Live” events are here, and we will try to add them there an hour before the event. Invites and links to the videos and podcasts from our events are in our newsletters, but you will not get this information from us in advance unless the email block can be solved!
I am reading THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE by Rachel Beanland. I loved her debut novel, FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER, which was a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. I am about 100 pages into this one, and I am loving it even more.
Here are some basics about the plot. In Richmond, Virginia, in 1811, a fire breaks out at the theater in town on the night after Christmas. It is crowded beyond what any fire laws would permit as this is the height of the social season. This is the time of year for leisure and parties before gentlemen farmers head back to their tobacco farms and cotton fields. The Charleston-based Placide & Green Company is in town performing. The theater goes up in flames, and lives are lost and changed in a matter of minutes. The events that day, and how they play out, are told through the eyes of four characters. The book is based on a true event, and I am thoroughly enjoying this as a work of historical fiction.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Sadeqa Johnson, whose new book, THE HOUSE OF EVE, is her second work of historical fiction and a Bets On title. This daring, beautiful and redemptive novel explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.
Sadeqa explains that the inspiration for the book came from her family history. She also discusses character development and which character came to her first. Unlike her previous novel, YELLOW WIFE, she had lots of contemporary history to delve into as she was conducting her research, including foods, rituals and, yes, fashion. Then there was the statistic that between 1945 and 1973, 1.5 million women in the United States lost children to forced adoption, and what that might mean. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
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, March 29th at 8pm ET.
Our guest will be Allison Pataki, and we will be talking about her most recent novel, THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST, a Bets On pick that is now in paperback. This national bestseller is an epic reimagining of the remarkable life of Marjorie Merriweather Post, the American heiress and trailblazing leader of the 20th century. Our Bookreporter reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski calls the book “lavish, exciting and sometimes heartbreaking, but Pataki brings you around each time, and you’re eager to tag along for the ride that was Marjorie Post’s life.”
You can register for the event by clicking here. If you would like to ask Allison 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 “Marjorie” 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.
Jacqueline Winspear takes a break from her popular Maisie Dobbs series to pen a new stand-alone novel, THE WHITE LADY. Set in post-WWII Britain in 1947, the book follows the coming of age and maturity of former wartime operative Elinor White --- a veteran of two wars and a trained killer who is very protective of her anonymity --- when she is drawn back into the world of menace she has been desperate to leave behind.
According to our reviewer Pamela Kramer, “The writing is lovely, and while most of the novel revolves around action and dialogue, there are some beautiful metaphors…. While THE WHITE LADY is filled with the horrors of two world wars, the people here are inspiring. It's both thrilling and humbling to read about the unsung heroes, ordinary villagers and even children (like Elinor and her sister) who risked their lives to do the right thing.”
In her new novel, EARTH’S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE, Elizabeth Berg tells the story of two young people growing up in Mason, Missouri, and how a shy young man named Arthur Moses becomes the wise and compassionate person readers loved in THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV.
Norah Piehl has our review and says, “Readers will enjoy becoming reacquainted not only with Arthur but with the town of Mason, which is populated with colorful secondary characters whose stories are revealed gradually. Berg's fiction is always charmingly old-fashioned but never saccharine.... Those who have read THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV will especially appreciate seeing the ways in which Berg plants the seeds of Arthur's older self in this more youthful version.”
Word of Mouth Reminder
EARTH’S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE is one of the prizes in our current Word of Mouth contest; the other is HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls, which we will review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles. Please do so by Friday, March 31st at noon ET.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY: Sarah Penner follows up her bestseller, THE LOST APOTHECARY, with a spellbinding tale about two daring women who hunt for truth and justice in the perilous art of conjuring the dead.
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COLLATERAL DAMAGE: Our longtime reviewer Roz Shea has come out of retirement to cover this latest entry in J.A. Jance’s Ali Reynolds series. This time, Ali and High Noon Enterprises face the dangerous consequences of one man’s desperate search for revenge.
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VICTORY CITY: Booker Prize–winning and internationally bestselling author Salman Rushdie has penned the epic tale of a woman who breathes a fantastical empire into existence, only to be consumed by it over the centuries.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My two latest Bets On selections are PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson (this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick) and ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay. Click on each of the titles for my commentary.
Spring Preview Update
In this week’s Spring Preview contests, we gave away LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline (a future Bets On selection) and the paperback edition of THE SHOP ON ROYAL STREET by Karen White. Next week’s prize book will be Megan Miranda’s upcoming thriller, THE ONLY SURVIVORS, which will be in stores on April 11th. The contest will kick off on Tuesday, March 28th at noon ET, the same day that LOYALTY releases. I look forward to talking to Lisa on Monday and sharing my conversation with her in next week’s newsletter, along with our review.
A Very Special Contest That You Don't Want to Miss
We also are giving away LOYALTY and THE ONLY SURVIVORS in this month's Authors On The Web contest, along with THE LIES I TELL by Julie Clark and THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah. If you would like to be one of five readers who will win all four of these titles, be sure to fill out this form by Friday, March 31st at noon ET.
For those of you who don't know, Authors On The Web is the division of our company that builds websites for authors. From time to time, we will spotlight our Authors On The Web authors who have books coming out in a certain month, and giving you the opportunity to follow them on social media and sign up for their newsletters --- and, of course, win copies of their books!
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask about your social media habits. Which platforms do you regularly use, and which do you use to talk about or note the books that you’re reading? Click here to let us know.
The winners of the National Book Critics Circle Awards were presented last night during a ceremony at the New School in New York City. They included BLISS MONTAGE: Stories by Ling Ma (Fiction), THE METHOD: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act, by Isaac Butler (Nonfiction), STAY TRUE: A Memoir, by Hua Hsu (Autobiography), and G-MAN: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, by Beverly Gage (Biography). Click here for the complete list of winners.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Doloris from Roanoke, VA, wrote and shared this: “Quick note: If publishers ask, yes, your page sells books. I have an indie bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and check your list every week for upcoming releases. I always find things I had missed in my other research. SEA OF TRANQUILITY is out in paper next week! Thanks for the good work.”
Judy wrote this about winning THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN in a previous contest: “Thank you so much. I’m thrilled to be a winner --- the first time after many, many entries. I’m currently on a trip, but I will look forward to receiving and reading the book when I return to CT in two weeks.”
“Daisy Jones & The Six” on Amazon Prime Video: We finished watching this last night, and we really enjoyed it. I am trying to remember if it tracks the same as the book at the end. It does not really matter; the book and the series are different things. I liked both of them.
“Your Honor” on Showtime: Season two wrapped really well. There was good closure on all open threads.
“Waco: American Apocalypse” on Netflix: I watched all three episodes the other night. I was working on email at the same time, but at one point I heard a voice that I recognized --- Christopher Whitcomb. Chris had been on the FBI Hostage Rescue team and wrote a book called COLD ZERO about his experiences there, as well as a couple of novels. I know that Waco had a huge impact on him, and hearing him talk about it all these years later, I see that it still is something that he grapples with.
“Succession” on HBO: Yes, it's back Sunday night if you did not know that already after reading any entertainment columns. I cannot wait to see what Logan Roy and his merry brood have ready for us. I do love that there is a hierarchy about which private plane you can take and which car you get into when you land. Plus, there is never any luggage in sight.
“Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” Trailer: You can see a long trailer here. It’s streaming May 4th on Netflix.
“Shrinking” on Apple TV+: The season finale is tonight. It already has been renewed for a second season.
“Dear Edward” on Apple TV+: Tonight is the final episode of the season. It has been really well done.
Last weekend was lots of basketball, and as I was writing this newsletter on Thursday night, there were two terrific games. I will be watching more over the weekend. Sadly there are no more NJ teams in the hunt for the Final Four as Princeton lost to Creighton tonight.
Cory came over and made pizza from scratch for us last night. He is engineering his technique, which is so Cory. He does not just cook; he works to get the crust right as much as he does his designs at work. He’s always trying new things, and among his friends he’s known for his cooking. He has a party planned for Saturday night with wings and hot sauces. He is serving milk with them to cut the heat. He really makes me laugh.
This week, I felt like I was the mother bird handing out worms to everyone. There were lots of asks, and I was doing double-time for the answers. All good things, but many in a week. Keeping the metaphor up, I needed more egg sitting time…with a book.
We are going to my dad’s house on Saturday night, and we already are thinking about what to cook for him. Dinner and basketball --- a great combo. Layer in books, knitting and the hot tub on Sunday, and it’s a nicely balanced weekend. Note that there is nothing in there about the attic that I swore I was going to tackle, or the two closets in my office that need some reorganizing. I think I need a “Clone of Carol” to take on those tasks. Maybe she also can find my wallet.
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!
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Featured Review:
THE WHITE LADY by Jacqueline Winspear
THE WHITE LADY by Jacqueline Winspear (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Orlagh Cassidy
A reluctant ex-spy with demons of her own, Elinor White finds herself facing down one of the most dangerous organized crime gangs in post-WWII London, ultimately exposing corruption from Scotland Yard to the highest levels of government. “Miss White," as Elinor is known, lives in a village in rural Kent, England, and to her fellow villagers seems something of an enigma. It will take Susie, the child of a young farmworker, Jim Mackie and his wife, Rose, to break through Miss White's icy demeanor. When the powerful Mackie crime family demands a return of their prodigal son for an important job, Elinor assumes the task of protecting her neighbors. Yet in her quest to uncover the truth behind the family’s pursuit of Jim, Elinor unwittingly sets out on a treacherous path. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
EARTH’S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE
by Elizabeth Berg
EARTH'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE by Elizabeth Berg (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Elizabeth Berg
Nola McCollum is the most desirable girl in Arthur’s class, and he is thrilled when they become friends. But Arthur wants far more than friendship. Unfortunately, Nola has a crush on the wrong Moses --- Arthur’s older brother, Frank, who is busy pursuing his own love interest and avoiding the boys’ father, a war veteran with a drinking problem and a penchant for starting fights. When a sudden tragedy rocks the family’s world, Arthur struggles to come to terms with his grief. In the end, it is nature that helps him to understand how to go on, beyond loss, and create a life of forgiveness and empathy. But what can he do about Nola, who seems confused about what she wants in life, and only half aware of the one who loves her most? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY
by Sarah Penner
THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY by Sarah Penner (Gothic Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Irwin and Alex Wyndham
1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike. Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister’s death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. But soon they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson and
ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay
PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson (Fiction)
PINEAPPLE STREET arrived just when I needed what I call an “escape book.” I had heard Jenny Jackson talk about this one at a publisher preview, and I knew her name as she edits a wide range of bestselling authors: Emily St. John Mandel, Kevin Kwan, Erin Morgenstern, Lauren Fox, J. Courtney Sullivan, Chris Bohjalian and Gabrielle Zevin, to name a few. So she knows her way around publishing, but this time she delivers from the other side of the desk.
The book is set in Brooklyn Heights in a tony section where the streets are named Pineapple, Orange and Cranberry. This is a neighborhood fact that I never knew --- fruit streets in Brooklyn. The Stockton family is old-money and super connected. The matriarch and patriarch spend time rushing from one event to the next, including tennis, galas and benefits.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on PINEAPPLE STREET.
ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
I remember reading DEFENDING JACOB in 2012 and being blown away by its ending. So when I saw that William Landay had a new book coming out, I was excited. Clearly our readers were as well; in a recent poll, ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME was the March fiction title that they most wanted to read. I really enjoyed it.
This time, Landay is publishing in a very different landscape. While I would classify DEFENDING JACOB as a legal thriller, I see ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME as a crime novel. We are living in a time when true crime stories are all over the media landscape. As I was reading this one, the Murdaugh trial was going on, and I kept thinking about how much can be hidden.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with William Landay.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME.
Featured Review: COLLATERAL DAMAGE by J.A. Jance
COLLATERAL DAMAGE: An Ali Reynolds Mystery by J.A. Jance (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Karen Ziemba
After spending 20 years behind bars, Frank Muñoz, a disgraced former cop, is out on parole and focused on just one thing: revenge. For Ali Reynolds, the first Christmas without her father is riddled with grief and uncertainty. And with her husband and founding partner of High Noon Enterprises, B. Simpson, preoccupied by an upcoming New Year’s trip to London, she is ready for a break. But when Stu Ramey barges into her home with grave news about a suspicious accident on the highway to Phoenix involving B.’s car, things reach a breaking point. At the hospital, a groggy, post-op B. insists that Ali take his place at a ransomware conference in London as troubles brimming around High Noon come to light. Who would go to such lengths to cut the tech company from the picture? Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: VICTORY CITY by Salman Rushdie
VICTORY CITY by Salman Rushdie (Historical Fantasy/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Sid Sagar
In the wake of an unimportant battle between two long-forgotten kingdoms in 14th-century southern India, a nine-year-old girl has a divine encounter that will change the course of history. After witnessing the death of her mother, the grief-stricken Pampa Kampana becomes a vessel for her namesake, the goddess Pampa, who begins to speak out of the girl’s mouth. Granting her powers beyond Pampa Kampana’s comprehension, the goddess tells her that she will be instrumental in the rise of a great city called Bisnaga --- “victory city” --- the wonder of the world. Over the next 250 years, Pampa Kampana’s life becomes deeply interwoven with Bisnaga’s, from its literal sowing from a bag of magic seeds to its tragic ruination in the most human of ways: the hubris of those in power. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 12th Annual
Spring Preview Contests and Feature
Spring is in the air! We’ve 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 next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, March 28th at noon ET.
This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
What's New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently have the following contest running on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Win Up to 12 Paperback Copies of THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah 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 FOUR WINDS, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. This #1 New York Times bestseller by Kristin Hannah is a powerful American epic about love, heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression --- a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, millions were out of work, and even the land seemed to have turned against them. Enter here by Wednesday, April 5th 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.
COUNTDOWN by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ellen Archer
Agent Amy Cornwall excels at working from the shadows --- until a botched field operation reveals dark dealings between her bosses and an informant. And a hidden plot by a terrorist genius that could kill thousands of Americans. Among them: her husband and daughter. She has to go dark. The Division wants to erase her. And they know every detail about her identity, her history and her family. Agent Cornwall’s countdown has begun. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE DONUT LEGION by Joe R. Lansdale (Mystery/Dark Humor)
Audiobook available; read by Kasey Lansdale, Finlay Stevenson, January LaVoy, Marc Vietor, Greg Littlefield and Brad Sanders
Charlie Garner’s ex-wife, Meg, has been missing for over a week. Neighbors claim she’s running from bill collectors, but Charlie suspects something more sinister is afoot. Meg was last seen working at the local donut shop, a business run by a shadow group most refer to as “The Saucer People” --- a space-age, evangelist cult who believe their compound to be the site of an extraterrestrial Second Coming. Along with his brother, Felix, and journalist Amelia “Scrappy” Moon, Charlie uncovers strange and frightening details about the compound (read: a massive, doomsday storehouse of weapons, a leashed chimpanzee!) When the body of their key informer is found dead with his arms ripped out of their sockets, Charlie knows he’s in danger but remains dogged in his quest to rescue Meg. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
RED LONDON by Alma Katsu (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mozhan Marno and Fiona Hardingham
After her role in taking down a well-placed mole inside the CIA, Agent Lyndsey Duncan arrives in London fully focused on her newest Russian asset, deadly war criminal Dmitri Tarasenko. That is until her MI6 counterpart, Davis Ranford, personally calls for her help. Following a suspicious attack on Russian oligarch Mikhail Rotenberg's property in a tony part of London, Davis needs Lyndsey to cozy up to the billionaire's aristocratic British wife, Emily Rotenberg. But before Lyndsey can cover much ground with her newfound friend, the CIA unveils a perturbing connection between Mikhail and Russia's geopolitical past, one that could upend the world order and jeopardize Lyndsey's longtime allegiance to the Agency. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE GOLDEN SPOON by Jessa Maxwell (Mystery)
Audiobook available; read by Andrea Emmes, Andy Garcia-Ruse, Graham Halstead, Kitty Hendrix, Kamran Khan, Jackie Sanders, André Santana and Emily Tremaine
Every summer for the past 10 years, six awestruck bakers have descended on the grounds of Grafton, the leafy and imposing Vermont estate that is not only the filming site for “Bake Week” but also the childhood home of the show’s famous host, celebrated baker Betsy Martin. The author of numerous bestselling cookbooks and hailed as “America’s Grandmother,” Betsy Martin isn’t as warm off-screen as on, though no one needs to know that but her. She has always demanded perfection and gotten it with a smile, but this year something is off. As the baking competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, it’s merely sabotage --- sugar replaced with salt, a burner turned to high --- but when a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
ONCE UPON A TOME: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller by Oliver Darkshire (Memoir)
Some years ago, Oliver Darkshire stepped into the hushed interior of Henry Sotheran Ltd to apply for a job. Allured by the smell of old books and the temptation of a management-approved afternoon nap, Darkshire was soon unteetering stacks of first editions and placating the store’s resident ghost (the late Mr. Sotheran, hit by a tram). A novice in this ancient, potentially haunted establishment, Darkshire describes Sotheran’s brushes with history (Dickens, the Titanic), its joyous disorganization, and the unspoken rules of its gleefully old-fashioned staff. As Darkshire gains confidence and experience, he shares trivia about ancient editions and explores the strange space that books occupy in our lives --- where old books often have strong sentimental value, but rarely a commercial one. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
THE FOXGLOVE KING by Hannah Whitten (Dark Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Emily Ellet
When Lore was 13, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the 10 years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city. Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die. Reviewed by Eleni Karavoussianis.
SEA CASTLE by Andrew Mayne (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Susannah Jones
When a young woman washes ashore on a Fort Lauderdale beach, Sloan McPherson of the Underwater Investigation Unit is called in to consult. For answers she reaches out to Gwen Wylder. The Miami homicide detective is notorious for being manipulative, bitter, a tyrant to her peers and wicked smart. And she demands something in return from Sloan: fresh insight into seemingly unrelated cold-case murders and disappearances --- and a possible serial killer trolling the Florida coast. As loose ends of the old files begin to come together, another woman disappears. Sloan and Gwen are certain she’s the newest link in a deadly chain. They are determined to track her down before she dies, but they soon find themselves in uncharted waters. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
LOVE AND OTHER FLIGHT DELAYS by Denise Williams (Romantic Comedy)
Love takes flight in a collection of sexy, fun novellas all set at the airport. The Love Connection: An airport pet groomer meets her frequent-flier crush and finds herself in a fake-dating situation with a professional risk assessor who moonlights as a romance author. The Missed Connection: Two strangers share a romantic night only to discover months later that they're professional rivals about to embark on an extended business trip together in this grumpy-meets-sunshine romance. The Sweetest Connection: Two best friends have one week to return a lost love letter found in a candy store at the airport --- and work up the courage to confess the deep feelings between them --- before one of them leaves the country. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE LAST BEEKEEPER by Julie Carrick Dalton (Post-Apocalyptic Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Dylan Moore
It’s been more than a decade since the world has come undone, and Sasha Severn has returned to her childhood home to find the mythic research that her father, the infamous Last Beekeeper, hid before he was incarcerated. There, Sasha is confronted with a group of squatters who have claimed the quiet, idyllic farm as a way to escape the horrific conditions of state housing. While she feels threatened by their presence at first, the friends soon become her newfound family. But just as she settles into her new life, Sasha witnesses the impossible. She sees a honeybee, presumed extinct. People who claim to see bees are ridiculed and silenced for reasons Sasha doesn't understand, but she can't shake the feeling that this impossible bee is connected to her father's missing research. Reviewed by Sam Johnson.
BONES UNDER THE ICE: A Jhonni Laurent Mystery by Mary Ann Miller (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Christine Bernhardt
Two days after a blizzard hits Field’s Crossing, Indiana, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers the frozen body of a high school senior under a 15-foot pile of snow and ice. Just as the investigation gets underway, Jhonni’s opponent for sheriff from four years ago wages a bitter reelection battle to oust her. Then Jhonni finds another body, and further complications arise when a century-old feud between two families reaches its breaking point. Soon, a slew of newspaper articles causes the Indiana State Election Board to doubt her credibility. Jhonni must fight to maintain her reputation, keep the small farming community together, and find the murderer at large --- all while demons from her own past threaten to crush her. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on March 28th
Below are some notable titles releasing on March 28th 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 27th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
A DEATH IN DENMARK: The First Gabriel Præst Novel by Amulya Malladi (Mystery)
Meet Gabriel Præst, an ex-Copenhagen cop (who dresses with panache), jazz aficionado and relentless pursuer of truth as he explores Denmark’s Nazi-collaborator past and anti-Muslim present in a page-turning Nordic murder mystery with a cosmopolitan vibe.
HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls (Historical Fiction)
From Jeannette Walls, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE GLASS CASTLE, comes a riveting new novel about an indomitable young woman in Virginia during Prohibition.
HER DEADLY GAME by Robert Dugoni (Legal Thriller)
A defense attorney is prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master’s deadly match? Find out in this twisting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.
LONE WOMEN by Victor LaValle (Historical Thriller/Supernatural Horror)
Blue skies, empty land --- and enough wide-open space to hide a horrifying secret. A woman with a past, a mysterious trunk, a town on the edge of nowhere, and a bracing new vision of the American West.
LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline (Historical Fiction)
#1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline presents LOYALTY, an emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice, set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily.
THE PERFUMIST OF PARIS by Alka Joshi (Historical Fiction)
This final chapter in Alka Joshi’s New York Times bestselling Jaipur trilogy takes readers to 1970s Paris, where Radha’s budding career as a perfumer must compete with the demands of her family and the secrets of her past.
WHITE CAT, BLACK DOG: Stories by Kelly Link (Fiction/Short Stories)
Kelly Link, one of today’s finest short story writers and the bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist GET IN TROUBLE, has penned seven ingeniously reinvented fairy tales that play out with astonishing consequences in the modern world.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Lisa Scottoline, Robert Dugoni, Allison Pataki
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.
Sunday, March 26th at 2pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lisa Scottoline will talk about her new work of historical fiction, LOYALTY, with moderator Hank Phillippi Ryan. Scottoline has penned an emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice, set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily.
Sunday, March 26th at 7:30pm ET: “Lisa Live!”: Lisa Scottoline will host the final episode of her “Talking LOYALTY” video series with a “Virtual Publication Celebration Event” on her Facebook page. LOYALTY is her latest historical novel and releases on March 28th. Click here for her book tour schedule, which includes both in-person and virtual events.
Monday, March 27th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Harlan Coben will talk about his new thriller, I WILL FIND YOU. Five years ago, an innocent man began a life sentence for murdering his own son. Today he found out his son is still alive.
Monday, March 27th at 7pm ET: Murder By The Book: Robert Dugoni will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about his new book, HER DEADLY GAME. In this twisting novel of suspense, a defense attorney is prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master’s deadly match?
Monday, March 27th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Sally Hepworth will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about her new book, THE SOULMATE. Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal and the secrets that push us to the edge.
Tuesday, March 28th at 1pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Julia Kelly and Armando Lucas Correa will join members of the Simon & Schuster team to discuss their latest novels, Kelly's THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL and Correa's THE NIGHT TRAVELERS, which are March's picks for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Wednesday, March 29th at 7pm ET: Avon Free Public Library: Join Avon Free Public Library for a conversation with Ann Napolitano to celebrate the release of her new novel, HELLO BEAUTIFUL, which is Oprah’s 100th Book Club pick. The discussion will be moderated by Tina Panik, Avon's Reference & Adult Services Manager.
Wednesday, March 29th 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 Lisa Scottoline and Robert Dugoni about their latest novels: Scottoline's LOYALTY and Dugoni's HER DEADLY GAME.
Wednesday, March 29th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Allison Pataki about her novel, THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST, which is now in paperback. Allison 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 Allison a question on camera, please send Carol an email with the subject line “Marjorie” by Wednesday the 29th 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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Rachel Beanland (THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE)
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Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo (THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER)
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Lisa Scottoline (LOYALTY)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Your Social Media Preferences
Which of the following social media platforms do you use on a regular basis? Please check all that apply.
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Facebook
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Instagram
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TikTok
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Twitter
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None of these
On which of the following social media platforms do you talk about or note the books that you are reading? Please check all that apply.
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Facebook
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Instagram
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TikTok
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Twitter
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None of these
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, March 31st 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 17th to March 31st at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of EARTH'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE by Elizabeth Berg and HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls.
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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