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If you remember back to the start of March, I told you that when my sons were little, they were amused by the lion/lamb monikers that were attached to the start and end of March. Here it’s been lamb/lamb, but I hear a storm is blowing in tomorrow, and that is no April Fools' joke.
Kristin Hannah and I sat together at a luncheon that she was speaking at this week, and it was brilliant fun. We do not think we have seen each other in person since the launch of THE GREAT ALONE in 2018. While I did interview her for THE FOUR WINDS, it was remote. We did a top-line catch-up with each other before she took to the stage with Christina Baker Kline and talked not only about THE FOUR WINDS, but also about her writing process and the trajectory of her career. Kristin's first editor was there, and it was fun to hear stories about the early days of her career. It was a full house and a very receptive audience!
I am thrilled to announce that Kristin will be our special guest for April’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group program, and she is excited to talk about THE FOUR WINDS, a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now available in paperback. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 26th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up for it here.
If you have a question for Kristin and would like to ask it on camera (which also would mean spending time with Kristin backstage in our virtual green room before the show starts), please email me with the subject line "Kristin" by noon ET on the 26th. 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. I am so looking forward to this!
On Wednesday night, we hosted our latest “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event. Allison Pataki joined us to discuss her most recent novel, THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST, a Bets On pick that is now in paperback.
Allison talked about what drew her to write about Marjorie Merriweather Post and how she decided which aspects of Marjorie’s life to share. She also explained how her work as an on-air journalist helped her as she was both researching and discussing the book. The conversation was brisk and fun, and the audience questions were fabulous. Allison also previewed her next novel, AMERICAN MUSE, which centers on the life of Margaret Fuller, whose circle included Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne (who based Hester Prynne on her), Louisa May Alcott and Edgar Allan Poe. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Lisa Scottoline. Her second historical novel, LOYALTY, released this week (following 2021’s ETERNAL) and will be a Bets On selection. Lisa has written an emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily.
We covered plenty of ground in the interview, including Lisa’s trip to Sicily that inspired the characters and the settings. Before heading there, she had done a lot of research on Italy and the Mafia’s presence in Sicily, but her travels gave her the opportunity to situate her characters and bring them to the page for readers. We also discussed the book’s structure and why it was done that way. Edoardo Ballerini narrates the audiobook, and Lisa explained why she feels he is so right for this book. Plus, she shared what the novel’s original title was and how it changed. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
Our reviewer Jana Siciliano devoured the book and has this to say in her rave review: “With the backdrop of Sicily, the groves of fruit, the beautiful coastline and the fantastic cuisine, LOYALTY concocts a thrilling premise that lassos various storylines and pulls them into a tight-knit, compelling novel that you won’t be able to put down…. LOYALTY is an unforgettable piece of historical fiction. It’s exciting and moving, and these characters will soon become like family to each reader. An A+++ reading experience.” I could not agree with Jana more! Be sure to check out my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
Since November, Lisa has hosted a terrific series of online events leading up to the book’s publication where she shared short videos that she shot in Sicily, all of which inspired LOYALTY. Readers can now view those, along with her commentary and an interactive map of the actual locations mentioned in the book, here. This map is the perfect way to enhance your reading experience and learn about the inspiration and research behind LOYALTY. Visit Lisa’s website for much more about the book, and be sure to check out her book tour schedule, which includes both in-person and virtual events.
Our Authors On The Web Contest Has Been Extended
For those of you who haven’t yet entered our Authors On The Web contest, which was to have ended today, we have extended the deadline for your entries. All you have to do is fill out this form by Friday, April 14th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win the aforementioned THE FOUR WINDS and LOYALTY, along with THE LIES I TELL by Julie Clark and THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda.
Calling All Book Groups! Win a Copy of THE FOUR WINDS for You and Your Fellow Members
THE FOUR WINDS is also the prize book in our current “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com. If you would like to win up to 12 paperback copies for your book group, be sure to fill out the form on this page by THIS Wednesday, April 5th at noon ET.
HANG THE MOON is the highly anticipated new book from Jeannette Walls, who wrote the memoir THE GLASS CASTLE and the novels THE SILVER STAR and HALF BROKE HORSES. This time, she tells the fictionalized story of a young woman who is navigating a world where legal and illegal don’t always match right and wrong. But Sallie Kincaid discovers her own path and triumphs.
According to our reviewer Rebecca Munro, “HANG THE MOON succeeds on so many levels that it feels impossible to mention them all, but Walls’ construction and styling of her female characters is at the top of the list.... Walls fills in the spaces between her shining, unforgettable characters and her immersive setting with eternal, timely questions about right and wrong, morality, family, and what it means to show up for your community.”
HANG THE MOON is April’s pick for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites. On Wednesday, April 26th at 1pm ET, members of the S&S team will talk to Jeannette about her book. You can RSVP by clicking here.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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OLD BABES IN THE WOOD: Margaret Atwood’s collection of 15 stories --- some of which have appeared in The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine --- looks deeply into the heart of family relationships, marriage, loss and memory, and what it means to spend a life together.
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HER DEADLY GAME: 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 Robert Dugoni, who many of you know as the author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle.
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TWO WARS AND A WEDDING: Lauren Willig’s latest novel is a dramatic coming-of-age story with a dual timeline and a single heroine --- a bold and adventuring young woman who finds herself caught up in two very different wars on both sides of the Atlantic.
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SO SHALL YOU REAP: In this 32nd installment of Donna Leon’s mystery series, a connection to Commissario Guido Brunetti’s own youthful past helps solve a mysterious murder.
Spring Preview Update
In this week’s Spring Preview contests, we gave away the aforementioned THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda, which releases on April 11th. Next week’s prize book will be TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY by Linwood Barclay. The contest will kick off on Tuesday, April 4th at noon ET, the same day the book comes out in paperback.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with John Searles
Out in paperback this week is HER LAST AFFAIR by John Searles, a tense and atmospheric novel of love lost and found again. I talked to John 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, April 14th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win HOMECOMING by Kate Morton and THE SOULMATE by Sally Hepworth. We will feature our reviews of both titles over the next couple of weeks.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 30 fiction titles releasing in April, and we’re asking you which, if any, you’re planning to read. Click here to let us know.
Our previous poll asked about your social media habits. Here are the results:
Which of the following social media platforms do you use on a regular basis?
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Facebook (67%)
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Instagram (36%)
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Twitter (12%)
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TikTok (4%)
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None of these (25%)
On which of the following social media platforms do you talk about or note the books that you are reading?
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Facebook (42%)
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Instagram (14%)
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Twitter (4%)
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TikTok (0%)
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None of these (52%)
THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave, a #1 New York Times bestseller and a Reese’s Book Club pick, released in paperback earlier this month. This Bets On selection is a gripping mystery about a woman who thinks she has found the love of her life --- until he disappears. On April 14th, the book will be adapted as a seven-episode limited series on Apple TV+ starring Jennifer Garner. The first two episodes will be available on the 14th, with the remaining five releasing every Friday until the finale on May 19th. Click here to watch the official trailer.
I am so looking forward to this series after interviewing Laura and talking about it when the book first came out. She and her husband, Josh Singer, wrote the script together. Josh won an Oscar for writing Spotlight. I remember watching that awards ceremony and loved seeing Laura in the audience.
On Tuesday night, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced the Audie Award winners at the 28th Audie Awards Gala, which was hosted by writer, comedian, television host and actress Michelle Buteau. Viola Davis’ FINDING ME was named the 2023 Audiobook of the Year, Rosamund Pike won Best Female Narrator for THE EYE OF THE WORLD by Robert Jordan, and Seth Numrich was awarded Best Male Narrator for FAIRY TALE by Stephen King.
Other winners included Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan’s MAD HONEY, read by Carrie Coon and Key Taw (Fiction); Don Winslow’s THE HERON, read by Ed Harris (Mystery); Katherine Faulkner’s GREENWICH PARK, read by Laura Kirman (Thriller/Suspense); and David Sedaris’ HAPPY-GO-LUCKY (Humor). Click here to see all the winners and here to watch the ceremony.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Karen wrote, “After entering every contest for the last nine years, I was thrilled to get an email telling me that I won a copy of THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah. I was starting to think I was jinxed! This book has been on my list for a while, so I am happy that I will now be motivated to read it. Thank you so much for the book. I enjoy Bookreporter so much. And that is why my list is so long. I put books I find on the weekly roundup on my list, but unlike Carol, I sometimes don't find enough time to keep up. Keep up the great work for all the readers. It is one of the best places to find reviews and what is coming out next.” Um…I am way, way behind on reading. I am currently about a week ahead of publication dates for every book I am reading!
Betsy wrote and sent a picture of her cactus: “I LOLed at your story about your plants blooming out of season. This is my Thanksgiving cactus. It must think we’re living in Australia. Your story this week about not being able to find your driver’s license hit home, too. My best friend used her credit card to place an order. She left it on her kitchen counter and came back an hour later to put it away. POOF! Gone. One of her cats obviously used it as a toy. That was six days ago and counting. She cannot find it anywhere, and her house isn’t large at all. Keep up the good work. I look forward to all of your emails!” I am laughing. This IS going to show up in the craziest of places!
Eileen wrote, “Thank you and everyone at Bookreporter for sending me REEF ROAD by Deborah Goodrich Royce. When I received it, I put it with my TBR books so I didn’t get to it until last week. I’m so glad I didn’t wait any longer to start this book. It is soooo good! I haven’t read her other books, but I certainly intend to now because this one is so delicious. Thank you again!”
Wanda wrote, “I have been receiving your Bookreporter newsletter for many years (too many to remember) and enjoy reading about your sons. This week, as I read about Cory and his pizza making, I also make my own pizza. I don’t know how he makes his crust, but I have found using bread flour makes a wonderful crust. I learned how to make pizza from my Italian grandmother but started using bread flour about five years ago. We like it much better than regular flour. Good luck to Cory perfecting his pizza!!” Wanda, thank you! Great advice. I shared it with Cory.
Ann is one of our Spring Preview contest winners and wrote, “Wow! What a nice surprise. Thank you. I’m looking forward to reading THE ONLY SURVIVORS.”
Linda wrote, “Just thank you --- sanity in a crazy world!” Thanks, Linda. We aim for this!
“The Night Agent” on Netflix: The other night I started watching this series, based on the book by Matthew Quirk, with no knowledge of the plot in advance. It’s terrific. It is #1 on Netflix and has been scoring all kinds of records. Season two already has been ordered. But here’s an interesting behind-the-scenes piece on how it almost was not made.
“Emergency: NYC” on Netflix: I confess that I wish I had medical aptitude, which I do not. I was terrible in science. This show gets you inside the emergency rooms of New York City hospitals. I also learned that critical patients may be helicoptered from one hospital to the next in order to save the time of sitting in traffic. They address how the pandemic has had an impact on people’s health, as they were apt to forego typical doctor appointments and screenings. And problems are now compounded.
Nice wraps for the first seasons of “Shrinking” and “Dear Edward”. Also, I could rewatch “Daisy Jones & the Six”; I just loved it.
Basketball this weekend! I am pulling for UConn to go all the way. I wish that the first games were paired differently. Tom and I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary last night, and 41 years since we met in Crested Butte, Colorado. We went to dinner at Ninety Acres, which always has a fabulous menu. We rarely go out to dinner, except for pizza, as we typically find restaurants lacking since we love to cook. This one never disappoints. We get lots of inspiration just reading the menu. And for the first time, we tried the chef’s tasting menu, which was terrific. We now are plotting the Easter dinner menu as we are hosting here. Bring on the bunny plates!
I am off to see Lisa Scottoline in Northvale tonight at Books & Greetings. I love it when authors tour in New Jersey so I easily can see them.
We are aiming to be in your mailboxes earlier than usual next Friday so the staff can duck out early for the holiday. Happy Passover to those who are celebrating this week. I have been hearing about a matzo shortage in Florida. What will we be short on next?
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!
Quick Tech Note: Bookreporter is protected from spam bots 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 doesn't 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.
Featured Review: LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
LOYALTY by Lisa Scottoline (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
Franco Fiorvanti is a handsome lemon grower toiling on the estate of a baron. When the baron asks him to kidnap a little boy named Dante, Franco makes a decision that will change his life --- and even the history of Sicily --- forever. Gaetano Catalano is an idealistic young lawyer who is a member of the Beati Paoli, a real-life secret society of aristocrats who investigate crime in Palermo. Gaetano sets out to find the boy and punish the kidnapper, but his mission leads him to a darker place than he had ever imagined. Meanwhile, Mafalda Pancari is a new mother rejoicing at the birth of her daughter, Lucia, when disaster strikes. And Alfredo D’Antonio is a reclusive goatherd under constant threat of being discovered as a Jew. These characters will collide as LOYALTY twists and turns to its monumental showdown. 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 for "Behind the Book" resources to enhance your reading experience, including an interactive map of Sicily that includes photos and videos.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lisa Scottoline.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Lisa Scottoline's website.
- Connect with Lisa Scottoline on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- Click here for Lisa Scottoline's book tour schedule.
Click here to read our review.
LOYALTY will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review: HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls
Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites Pick for April
HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jeannette Walls
Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother, who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out. Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
» HANG THE MOON is April's pick for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites. On Wednesday, April 26th at 1pm ET, members of the S&S team will talk to Jeannette Walls about the book. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: OLD BABES IN THE WOOD
by Margaret Atwood
OLD BABES IN THE WOOD: Stories by Margaret Atwood (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Linda Lavin, Dan Stevens, Kimberly Farr, Rebecca Lowman, Bahni Turpin, Dawn Harvey and Allan Corduner
Margaret Atwood’s collection of 15 stories --- some of which have appeared in The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine --- looks deeply into the heart of family relationships, marriage, loss and memory, and what it means to spend a life together. The two intrepid sisters of the title story grapple with loss and memory on a perfect summer evening; “Impatient Griselda” explores alienation and miscommunication with a fresh twist on a folkloric classic; and “My Evil Mother” touches on the fantastical, examining a mother-daughter relationship in which the mother purports to be a witch. At the heart of the collection are seven stories that follow a married couple across the decades, the moments big and small that make up a long life of uncommon love --- and what comes after. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: HER DEADLY GAME by Robert Dugoni
HER DEADLY GAME by Robert Dugoni (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. For the competitive former chess prodigy, returning to her family’s failing criminal defense law firm to work for her father is the best shot she has to restore the family’s reputation, her relationship with her father, and her career. Keera’s chance to play in the big leagues comes when she’s retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife. The prosecutor happens to be Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former lover, who’s eager to destroy her in court on her first homicide defense. As Keera and her team follow the evidence, they uncover a complicated and deadly game that’s more than Keera bargained for. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
TWO WARS AND A WEDDING by Lauren Willig
TWO WARS AND A WEDDING by Lauren Willig (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Lisa Flanagan
September 1896: An aspiring archaeologist, Smith College graduate Betsy Hayes travels to Athens, desperate to break into the male-dominated field of excavation. But when a simmering conflict between Greece and Turkey erupts into open warfare, Betsy throws herself into the conflict as a nurse, not knowing that the decision will change her life forever --- and cause a deep and painful rift with her oldest friend, Ava. June 1898: Betsy has sworn off war nursing --- but when she gets word that her estranged friend Ava is headed to Cuba with Clara Barton and the Red Cross to patch up the wounded in the Spanish-American War, Betsy determines to stop her the only way she knows how: by joining in her place. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SO SHALL YOU REAP by Donna Leon
SO SHALL YOU REAP: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by David Colacci
On a cold November evening, Guido Brunetti and Paola are up late when a call from his colleague Ispettore Vianello arrives, alerting the Commissario that a hand has been seen in one of Venice’s canals. The body is soon found, and Brunetti is assigned to investigate the murder of an undocumented Sri Lankan immigrant. As the investigation expands, Brunetti, Vianello, Commissario Griffoni and Signora Elettra each assemble pieces of a puzzle --- random information about real estate and land use, books, university friendships --- that appear to have little in common. Until Brunetti stumbles over something that transports him back to his own student days, causing him to reflect on lost ideals and the errors of youth, on Italian politics and history, and on the accidents that sometimes lead to revelation. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Last Chance to Enter ReadingGroupGuides.com’s
“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?" feature, 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. Note: To be eligible to win, let us know the title of the book that YOUR book group is CURRENTLY reading, NOT the title we are giving away.
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. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, April 5th at noon ET.
THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction)
Texas, 1921. The Great War is over, the bounty of the land is plentiful, and America is on the brink of a new and optimistic era. But for Elsa Wolcott, deemed too old to marry in a time when marriage is a woman’s only option, the future seems bleak. Until the night she meets Rafe Martinelli and decides to change the direction of her life. By 1934, millions are out of work, and drought has devastated the Great Plains. Everything on the Martinelli farm is dying, including Elsa’s tenuous marriage; each day is a desperate battle against nature and a fight to keep her children alive. In this uncertain and perilous time, Elsa --- like so many of her neighbors --- must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves, or leave it behind and go west, to California, in search of a better life for her family.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to visit Kristin Hannah's website.
- Connect with Kristin Hannah on Facebook and Instagram.
- Click here to sign up for our "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event with Kristin Hannah on Wednesday, April 26th at 8pm ET.
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, April 4th at noon ET.
This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
COMMUNITY BOARD by Tara Conklin (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kristen Sieh
Darcy Clipper has returned home to Murbridge, Massachusetts, after her life takes an unwelcome left turn. Murbridge, Darcy is convinced, will welcome her home and provide a safe space in which she can nurse her wounds and harbor grudges, both real and imagined. But Murbridge, like so much else Darcy thought to be fixed and immutable, has changed. And while Darcy’s first instinct might be to hole herself up in her childhood bedroom, it is human nature to do two things: seek out meaningful human connection and respond to anonymous internet postings. As Murbridge begins to take shape around Darcy, both online and in person, Darcy will consider the most fundamental of American questions: What can she ask of her community? And what does she owe it in return? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
NIGHT FLIGHT TO PARIS: A Kate Rees WWII Novel by Cara Black (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Elisabeth Rodgers
October 1942: It’s been two years since Kate Rees was sent to Paris on a British Secret Service mission to assassinate Hitler. Since then, she has left spycraft behind to take a training job as a sharpshooting instructor in the Scottish Highlands. But her quiet life is violently disrupted when Colonel Stepney, her former handler, drags her back into the fray for a risky three-pronged mission in Paris. Each task is more dangerous than the next: Deliver a package of forbidden biological material. Assassinate a high-ranking German operative whose knowledge of invasion plans could turn the tide of the war against the Allies. Rescue a British agent who once saved Kate’s life --- and get out. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES by T. Kingfisher (Gothic Horror/Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Mary Robinette Kowal
Sam Montgomery is excited for a rare extended visit with his mother and looking forward to nights with just the two of them, drinking boxed wine and watching murder mystery shows. But stepping inside, she quickly realizes that home isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the warm, cluttered charm her mom is known for; now the walls are painted a sterile white. Her mom jumps at the smallest noises and looks over her shoulder even when she’s the only person in the room. And when Sam steps out back to clear her head, she finds a jar of teeth hidden beneath the magazine-worthy rose bushes, and vultures are circling the garden from above. To find out what has her mom so frightened in her own home, Sam will go digging for the truth. But some secrets are better left buried. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
SEA CHANGE by Gina Chung (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jeena Yi
Ro is stuck. She's just entered her 30s, she's estranged from her mother, and her boyfriend has just left her to join a mission to Mars. Her days are spent dragging herself to her menial job at the aquarium, and her nights are spent drinking sharktinis (Mountain Dew and copious amounts of gin, plus a hint of jalapeño). With her best friend pulling away to focus on her upcoming wedding, Ro's only companion is Dolores, a giant Pacific octopus who also happens to be her last remaining link to her father, a marine biologist who disappeared while on an expedition when Ro was a teenager. When Dolores is sold to a wealthy investor intent on moving her to a private aquarium, Ro finds herself on the precipice of self-destruction. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
SCORCHED GRACE: A Sister Holiday Mystery by Margot Douaihy (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Mara Wilson
When Saint Sebastian’s School becomes the target of a shocking arson spree, the Sisters of the Sublime Blood and their surrounding New Orleans community are thrust into chaos. Patience is a virtue, but punk rocker turned nun Sister Holiday isn’t satisfied to just wait around for officials to return her home and sanctuary to its former peace, instead deciding to unveil the mysterious attacker herself. Her investigation leads her down a twisty path of suspicion and secrets, turning her against colleagues, students and even fellow Sisters along the way. And to piece together the clues of this high-stakes mystery, she must at last reckon with the sins of her own past. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
MONSTRILIO by Gerardo Sámano Córdova (Literary Horror)
Grieving mother Magos cuts out a piece of her deceased 11-year-old son Santiago’s lung. Acting on fierce maternal instinct and the dubious logic of an old folktale, she nurtures the lung until it gains sentience, growing into the carnivorous little Monstrilio she keeps hidden within the walls of her family’s decaying Mexico City estate. Eventually, Monstrilio begins to resemble the Santiago he once was, but his innate impulses --- though curbed by his biological and chosen family’s communal care --- threaten to destroy this fragile second chance at life. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
MARVELOUS by Molly Greeley (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Ell Potter
1547: Pedro Gonzales, a young boy living on the island of Tenerife, understands that he is different from the other children in his village. He is mercilessly ridiculed for the hair covering his body from head to toe. When he is kidnapped off the beach near his home, he finds himself delivered by a slave broker into the dangerous and glamorous world of France’s royal court. Catherine de’ Medici is fascinated by Pedro and determined to find him a bride. Catherine Raffelin is a beautiful 17-year-old girl whose merchant father has fallen on hard times and offers up his daughter to Queen Catherine. The queen will pay his debts, and his daughter will marry Pedro. Catherine must learn to navigate this strange new world and the unusual man who is now her husband. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
NOT SO PERFECT STRANGERS by L.S. Stratton (Domestic Thriller)
Tasha Jenkins has finally found the courage to leave her abusive husband. Taking her teenage son with her, Tasha checks into a hotel the night before their flight out of D.C. But escaping isn’t so easy, and Tasha soon finds herself driving back to her own personal hell. As she is leaving, a white woman pounds on her car window, begging to be let in. Behind the woman, an angry man is in pursuit. Tasha makes a split-second decision that will alter the course of her life: she lets her in and takes off. She and Madison Gingell may have very different everyday realities, but what they have in common is marriages they need out of. The two women want to help each other, but they have very different ideas of what that means. They are on a collision course that will end in the case files of the D.C. MPD homicide unit. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on April 4th
Below are some notable titles releasing on April 4th 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 April 3rd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
CAMP ZERO by Michelle Min Sterling (Dystopian/Science Fiction)
In a near-future northern settlement, the fates of a young woman, a professor and a mysterious collective of climate researchers collide in this mesmerizing and transportive debut.
CORONATION YEAR by Jennifer Robson (Historical Mystery/Romance)
The USA Today bestselling author of THE GOWN returns with another enthralling and royal-adjacent historical novel --- as the lives of three very different residents of London’s historic Blue Lion hotel converge in a potentially explosive climax on the day of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation.
CURSED BREAD by Sophie Mackintosh (Historical Mystery)
From the Booker Prize–nominated author of THE WATER CURE comes an elegant and hypnotic new novel of obsession that centers on the real unsolved mystery of the 1951 mass poisoning of a French village.
DIRTY LAUNDRY by Disha Bose (Fiction)
In this dazzling debut novel, Disha Bose revolutionizes age-old ideas of love and deceit. What ensues is the delicious unspooling of a group of women desperate to preserve themselves.
A FEVER IN THE HEARTLAND: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan (History)
This historical thriller by Pulitzer and National Book Award-winning author Timothy Egan tells the riveting story of the Ku Klux Klan's rise to power in the 1920s, the cunning con man who drove that rise and the woman who stopped them.
FOLLOW ME TO HELL: McNelly's Texas Rangers and the Rise of Frontier Justice by Tom Clavin (History)
Tom Clavin's FOLLOW ME TO HELL is the explosive true story of how legendary Ranger Leander McNelly and his men brought justice to a lawless Texan frontier.
HOMECOMING by Kate Morton (Mystery)
The highly anticipated new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of THE CLOCKMAKER'S DAUGHTER, HOMECOMING begins with a shocking crime, the effects of which echo across continents and generations.
THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE by Rachel Beanland (Historical Fiction)
The author of FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER returns with a masterful work of historical fiction about an incendiary tragedy that shocked a young nation and tore apart a community in a single night --- told from the perspectives of four people whose actions during the inferno changed the course of history.
A LIVING REMEDY: A Memoir by Nicole Chung (Memoir)
From the bestselling author of ALL YOU CAN EVER KNOW comes a searing memoir of class, inequality and grief --- a daughter’s search to understand the lives her adoptive parents led, the life she forged as an adult and the lives she’s lost.
ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE TREADSTONE RENDITION by Joshua Hood (Thriller/Adventure)
The final days of the American presence in Afghanistan bring Adam Hayes a summons he can't ignore in this latest electrifying thriller from the world of Robert Ludlum.
ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld (Fiction/Humor)
A comedy writer thinks she has sworn off love, until a dreamy pop star flips the script on all her assumptions. ROMANTIC COMEDY is a hilarious, observant and deeply tender novel from the New York Times bestselling author of ELIGIBLE, RODHAM and PREP.
THE SOULMATE by Sally Hepworth (Domestic Thriller)
Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal and the secrets that push us to the edge in Sally Hepworth's THE SOULMATE.
TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA by Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy/Adventure)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us deeper into the Cosmere universe with a rollicking, riveting tale that will appeal to fans of THE PRINCESS BRIDE.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Lisa Scottoline, Curtis Sittenfeld, Kate Morton
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, April 3rd at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Sarah Penner and Susan Stokes-Chapman will talk about their latest historical novels: Sarah's THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY and Susan's PANDORA.
Monday, April 3rd at 7pm ET: Gramercy Books: Join #1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline as she launches her latest historical novel, LOYALTY, an emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice, set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily.
Tuesday, April 4th at 3pm ET: "Adriana Ink": In this latest episode of her weekly Facebook Live show, "Adriana Ink," Adriana Trigiani will chat with Lisa Scottoline about Lisa's much-talked-about second work of historical fiction, LOYALTY.
Tuesday, April 4th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Rajasree Variyar for a live book club event to discuss THE DAUGHTERS OF MADURAI, March's B&N Book Club pick. She will be in conversation with Shannon DeVito, the Director of Category Management at B&N, and Miwa Messer, B&N’s Editorial Director.
Tuesday, April 4th at 4pm ET: Book Passage: Lisa Scottoline will discuss her new novel, LOYALTY, with Luisa Smith, who is the Buying Director of Book Passage and Editor in Chief of Scarlet, an imprint of Mysterious Press.
Tuesday, April 4th at 7pm ET: RJ Julia Booksellers & Brome Lake Books: RJ Julia Booksellers and Brome Lake Books, along with Mariner Books and Simon & Schuster Canada, are proud to present the North American launch of HOMECOMING by Kate Morton. Kate will be in conversation with Patti Callahan Henry, whose upcoming novel is THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEE.
Wednesday, April 5th at 4pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Sophie Mackintosh as she discusses her new book, CURSED BREAD, with Jeniffer Thompson. This elegant and hypnotic novel of obsession centers on the real unsolved mystery of the 1951 mass poisoning of a French village.
Wednesday, April 5th at 6pm ET: Random House: Live from New York, it’s...the launch of ROMANTIC COMEDY! Join Random House as Curtis Sittenfeld launches her new novel. In conversation with author and actress Robinne Lee, Sittenfeld will share her inspirations for the book and her takes on the social rituals of romance and gender relations in the modern age.
Wednesday, April 5th at 8pm ET: Novel & McNally Robinson Booksellers: Novel and McNally Robinson Booksellers, along with Mariner Books and Simon & Schuster Canada, are excited to celebrate the release of HOMECOMING by Kate Morton. This live virtual event will feature Kate in conversation with Novel's own Jill Naylor discussing her much-anticipated new novel.
Thursday, April 6th at 7pm ET: Politics & Prose Bookstore: Join Politics & Prose as Alka Joshi will discuss the last book in her Jaipur trilogy, THE PERFUMIST OF PARIS. In 1970s Paris, Radha’s budding career as a perfumer must compete with the demands of her family and the secrets of her past.
"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)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: April Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in April do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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CAMP ZERO by Michelle Min Sterling
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CITY OF DREAMS by Don Winslow
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CORONATION YEAR by Jennifer Robson
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CURSED BREAD by Sophie Mackintosh
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DARK ANGEL: A Letty Davenport Novel, by John Sandford
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DIRTY LAUNDRY by Disha Bose
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THE ENGIMA OF GARLIC: A 44 Scotland Street Novel, by Alexander McCall Smith
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FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU: A Joe Goldberg Novel, by Caroline Kepnes
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THE FOURTH ENEMY: A Daniel Pitt Novel, by Anne Perry
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THE GIFTS by Liz Hyder
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THE GOLDEN DOVES by Martha Hall Kelly
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HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry
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HOMECOMING by Kate Morton
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THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE by Rachel Beanland
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MY HEART WILL FIND YOU by Jude Deveraux
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ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL by Susan Meissner
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THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda
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THE RESCUE by T. Jefferson Parker
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ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld
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SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE LAKESIDE SUPPER CLUB by J. Ryan Stradal
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SIMPLY LIES by David Baldacci
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SMALL MERCIES by Dennis Lehane
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THE SOULMATE by Sally Hepworth
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STANDING IN THE SHADOWS: A DCI Banks Novel, by Peter Robinson
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SYMPHONY OF SECRETS by Brendan Slocumb
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THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo
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THE TRACKERS by Charles Frazier
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WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN NOW? by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
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WHERE COYOTES HOWL by Sandra Dallas
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WITH MY LITTLE EYE by Joshilyn Jackson
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, April 14th 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 read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from March 31st to April 14th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of HOMECOMING by Kate Morton and THE SOULMATE by Sally Hepworth.
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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