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Planting Season is Upon Us
There are authors whose work I love as they capture a time and place in history for me that I might never explore. My reading of Lisa See’s books started with SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN. For those of you who read it, who immediately googled “bound feet”? I know; that is what Lisa does. She brings a culture that you know nothing about to you --- and from there, you can see it vividly.
Lisa is back with a new book set in China in the 15th century. In LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN, we come to know Tan Yunxian, who was hailed as a woman physician. Lisa was planning to write another book, but once the pandemic hit, she realized that research travel was off the calendar. Instead, as she was perusing her bookshelf in her office, she saw a book by Tan. And from there, she headed down the rabbit hole to research this period of history and the role of Tan and women during this time. She has written a complete page-turner of a book; I am completely caught up in the story, and I look forward to seeing how it unfolds. It will be out on June 6th.
Next, I am planning to read BEWARE THE WOMAN, Megan Abbott's latest thriller, which releases on May 30th and was just announced to have a movie deal. Megan’s books are known to have lots of unexpected twists. Let’s see if I finally can guess one! It takes place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and has been touted as a cross between Rebecca and Rosemary’s Baby. I will keep the lights on for this one.
Last Friday, we hosted our 12th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians, book club leaders and bloggers. Representatives from 10 publishers presented more than 55 titles perfect for book groups that will be published between now and November. You can watch the event here. Please note that we have timestamped the video, so if you would like to hear from a specific publisher, you easily can do that!
If you would like to know more about the books, click here to access a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title, along with a sheet to take notes.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Alice Elliott Dark. She talked about her book, FELLOWSHIP POINT, which took 20 years to write. Newly released in paperback, it was one of my favorite books of 2022 and, of course, was a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. I read it more slowly than usual, enjoying both the story and the brilliant use of language.
Alice shares how the characters evolved and points out that one of them had a central role until she saw the story was headed in a different direction. The development of the friendship between Agnes and Polly was one that felt very natural to her, with its ebbs and flows. And the secrets that they kept from each other only enhanced them as characters. The plot has at its core a piece of land that has been held by family members for centuries, and what should happen to it as this generation passes. Agnes wants it to be held by a land trust, but can that prevail?
Alice also talks about her current project, where she is picking up with the characters who readers came to know in her story, “In the Gloaming,” which first appeared in The New Yorker in 1993 and inspired two memorable film adaptations. The discussion is brisk, and from it listeners will come to see why Alice is so beloved --- and why we want the next book in less than 20 years. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. I am going to watch one of the versions of In the Gloaming on HBO, which also was Christopher Reeve’s directorial debut back in 1997.
Linwood Barclay is back with another twisty, fast-paced thriller. In THE LIE MAKER, which will be a Bets On selection, a man desperately tries to track down his father --- who was taken into witness protection years ago --- before his enemies can get to him.
Ray Palen has our review and calls the book “easily one of the best thrillers of 2023.” He says, “I admit that I did correctly guess one of the big reveals, but I was far from nailing every trick that Barclay had in store for me. THE LIE MAKER is the perfect title for this brilliant work. Not only does it depict the new role that Jack has taken on, it shines a light on someone whose entire life is built on lies and falsehoods, where discovering who he really is might come at a cost he is not prepared to make.” I look forward to chatting with Linwood on Monday, and we will bring you the interview in next week’s newsletter. My Bets On commentary will appear in the June 2nd newsletter.
Summer Reading Update
We gave away THE LIE MAKER in this week’s Summer Reading contest. Next week’s prize will be THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews. The giveaway for it will be up on Tuesday, May 23rd, the same day that it releases in paperback.
A BIG Contest for Dads!
You also will have an opportunity to win THE LIE MAKER in our Father’s Day contest, which we’ve brought back for an 18th year. As we’ve done for the past 17 years, we’re giving away fiction and nonfiction titles that we think dads will love. Five lucky readers will win all six of our prize books for themselves or their dad. In addition to THE LIE MAKER, winners will be awarded I WILL FIND YOU by Harlan Coben, KING: A Life by Jonathan Eig, LAWS OF WRATH: A Martyr Maker Novel by Eriq La Salle, THE NAZI CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, and SIMPLY LIES by David Baldacci. Be sure to enter here by Friday, June 16th at noon ET.
Announcing Our Mother’s Day Contest Winners
Congratulations to the winners of our Mother’s Day contest! Five lucky readers --- Emily D. from Martinsville, IN; Gail S. from La Luz, NM; Gerri M. from Palos Heights, IL; Norma M. from Virginia Beach, VA; and Susan C. from Aiken, SC --- will receive all 12 of our featured titles. I will be mailing the books to these lucky readers next week!
White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences. Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American. YELLOWFACE is the much-talked-about new novel from R.F. Kuang, the award-winning author of the Poppy War trilogy and BABEL: An Arcane History, and it also will be a Bets On pick.
According to our reviewer Norah Piehl, “This vicious roman à clef offers a searing insiders’ indictment of the contemporary publishing environment, told through the eyes of a young writer who is willing to cross some pretty murky ethical lines for her 'art'... YELLOWFACE is one of those novels that will make all readers think twice about the ways in which they engage with literary culture and how that culture is created and manipulated.” Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in the June 2nd newsletter.
Word of Mouth Reminder
We’re awarding YELLOWFACE to the winners of our Word of Mouth contest, along with THE SENATOR’S WIFE by Liv Constantine, which releases on Tuesday. 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, May 26th at noon ET.
Emma Cline follows up her debut novel, THE GIRLS, and her story collection, DADDY, with THE GUEST, which begins as summer is coming to a close on the East End of Long Island. After a misstep at a dinner party, the older man Alex has been staying with kicks her out. Propelled by desperation and a mutable sense of morality, she spends the week leading up to Labor Day moving from one place to the next, a cipher leaving destruction in her wake.
Norah Piehl says, “Cline gives the impression that there are countless young women like Alex making their shadowy way through this rarefied realm of wealth and privilege. As she describes it, they serve as 'a sort of inert piece of social furniture --- only her presence was required, the general size and shape of a young woman.' Both very little and too much are expected of Alex and those like her --- and in the end, readers are left to draw their own conclusions about what her future holds.”
A woman receives a bewildering inheritance that may have something to do with her past in BETWEEN TWO STRANGERS, a twisty and addictive psychological thriller from Kate White. Struggling artist Skyler Moore wonders if the inheritance is meant to be a message of some kind, but she can’t imagine what it might be.
Ray Palen has our review and has this to say: “I confess that I have not read any of Kate White’s prior books, but I was so taken by BETWEEN TWO STRANGERS that I will seek to remedy this oversight by exploring her extensive backlist. This is a high-caliber thriller that satisfies on every level and is just begging to be adapted into a miniseries.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 35 titles releasing in paperback this month you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Mary Lou wrote, “Just want to make two comments this week. I love your 'Bookaccino Live' events and am especially fond of your humorous asides. You are a terrific host. Also, I can't remember the last time I've enjoyed a book as much as I did HOMECOMING by Kate Morton. I watched your interview as well. The book just captured my imagination. It was beautifully written and had both excellent character development and such an intriguing plot line --- or, should I say, lines. I am usually in the camp of not enjoying reading books more than once, but I am definitely going to read that one again.” I completely agree about wanting to reread it!
Marilyn wrote, “I am so excited about winning a copy of THE HOUSE ON PRYTANIA. Thank you so much. I look forward to reading it. I finished reading Kate Morton’s new book, HOMECOMING, which is on your Summer Reading contest list, earlier in the week. So good.” Another vote for HOMECOMING! And enjoy THE HOUSE ON PRYTANIA!
Bonnie wrote this about winning THE LIE MAKER in our Summer Reading contest: “Thank you very much for the good news. THE LIE MAKER sounds like a very exciting book, and I look forward to reading it.”
“Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss” on Peacock: Last night, I watched the first episode of this series that is based on the book THE GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS by Eric Weiner. The premiere was set in Iceland, which I loved; it made me want to travel there. I just learned that Eric is running Bliss Tours, with the first trip to Iceland from October 15th-21st. After watching this episode, you have no idea how much I would love to go on this trip. Oh, and I am one of the few people who never watched “The Office” where Rainn Wilson played Dwight. Others will recognize him!
“Succession” on HBO: The penultimate episode is this weekend, and I often have found with my favorite series that the second-to-last episode can be a lot better than the finale. Let’s see about this one; at least part of it is set at Logan’s funeral.
Killers of the Flower Moon: This film is coming to the screen this fall. Here’s the trailer. This is a signal to make a date to read the book before then!
Cue the Theme Song; I Know You Know It: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One releases on July 12th. Here’s the trailer.
“Selling Sunset” Season Six on Netflix: I know it’s mindless, but it’s mindless fun with big houses and dopey romances. And ridiculous clothes.
Planting is on the agenda for the weekend as we bought a lot at the nursery last weekend...or should I say nurseries, as we went to three. I have something of a vision of what we are doing this year, but I still am noodling that around. I am banning myself from buying pansies that droop by mid-summer. I am trying to go for more simple yet special. But my husband is not buying this for a second. Some of the perennials did not come back, so I am trying to figure out what to replace them with. We also are extending a patio and putting in some stairs, which is about all my head can be wrapped around right now. This stone or that stone, and neither matches the 11-year-old stone exactly. Who knew it was not “open stock?” Oh right, I skipped that with my china and crystal too!
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: THE LIE MAKER by Linwood Barclay
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Pick
THE LIE MAKER by Linwood Barclay (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Johnathan McClain and Graham Halstead
Your dad’s not a good person. Your dad killed people, son. These are some of the last words that Jack Givins’ father spoke to him before he was whisked away by witness protection, leaving Jack and his mother to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives as best they could. Years later, Jack is a talented but struggling author. So when the U.S. Marshals approach him with a lucrative opportunity, he’s in no position to turn them down. They’re recruiting writers like Jack to create false histories for people in witness protection. Jack soon realizes this may be a chance to find his dad. But Jack’s father hasn’t made contact with his handlers recently, and they have no idea where he is. He could be in serious danger, and Jack may be the only one who can find him. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to visit Linwood Barclay's website.
Click here to read our review.
THE LIE MAKER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in the June 2nd newsletter.
Featured Review: YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Pick
YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Helen Laser
Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But while Athena is a literary darling, June is literally nobody. When June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I. So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song --- complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
YELLOWFACE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in the June 2nd newsletter.
Featured Review: THE GUEST by Emma Cline
THE GUEST by Emma Cline (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Carlotta Brentan
Summer is coming to a close on the East End of Long Island, and Alex is no longer welcome. A misstep at a dinner party, and the older man she’s been staying with dismisses her with a ride to the train station and a ticket back to the city. With few resources and a waterlogged phone, but gifted with an ability to navigate the desires of others, Alex stays on Long Island and drifts like a ghost through the hedged lanes, gated driveways and sun-blasted dunes of a rarefied world that is, at first, closed to her. Propelled by desperation and a mutable sense of morality, she spends the week leading up to Labor Day moving from one place to the next, a cipher leaving destruction in her wake. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's 18th Annual
Father's Day Contest: Best Books for Dad
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? In our 18th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have a selection of books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a copy of each of our six featured titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, June 16th at noon ET.
This year's prize books are:
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 12th Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event: Great Books for Book Groups
Featured Review:
BETWEEN TWO STRANGERS by Kate White
BETWEEN TWO STRANGERS by Kate White (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Scott
Struggling artist Skyler Moore is flabbergasted when she receives a suspicious phone call from a lawyer she’s never met regarding a “private matter.” It turns out she’s the recipient of a large inheritance, a life-changing sum that will allow her to realize her long-held dream of becoming a mother. But who was her benefactor, Christopher Whaley? The late man’s name means nothing to Skyler, and she has no idea why he would leave her such an enormous bequest. Looking into his background, Skyler finally realizes they met once at a hotel bar and shared a one-night stand. But they never exchanged numbers, or even last names, and that was over a decade ago. She wonders if the inheritance is meant to be a message of some kind, but she can’t imagine what it might be. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: HONEY, BABY, MINE
by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd
HONEY, BABY, MINE: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life, Death, Love (and Banana Pudding) by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd
Laura Dern and Diane Ladd always had a close relationship, but the stakes were raised when Diane developed a sudden life-threatening illness. Diane’s doctor prescribed long walks to build back her lung capacity. The exertion was challenging, and Laura soon learned that the best way to distract her mom was to get her talking and telling stories. Their conversations along the way began to break down the traditional barriers between mothers and daughters. They discussed the most personal topics: love, sex, marriage, divorce, art, ambition and legacy. In HONEY, BABY, MINE, Laura and Diane share these conversations, as well as reflections and anecdotes, taking readers on an intimate tour of their lives. Complementing these candid exchanges, they have included photos, family recipes and other mementos. Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: QUIETLY HOSTILE by Samantha Irby
QUIETLY HOSTILE: Essays by Samantha Irby (Humor/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Samantha Irby
Samantha Irby’s career has taken her to new heights. She dodges calls from Hollywood and flop sweats on the red carpet at premieres (well, one premiere). But nothing is ever as it seems online, where she can crop out all the ugly parts. Irby got a lot of weird emails about Carrie Bradshaw, and not only is there diarrhea to avoid, but now --- anaphylactic shock. She is turned away from restaurants for being inappropriately dressed and looks for the best ways to cope, i.e., reveling in the offerings of QVC and adopting a deranged pandemic dog. QUIETLY HOSTILE makes light as Irby takes us on another outrageously funny tour of all the gory details that make up the true portrait of a life behind the screenshotted depression memes. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE NIGERWIFE by Vanessa Walters
May's “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
THE NIGERWIFE by Vanessa Walters (Literary Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Dami Olukoya and Debra Michaels
Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a handsome husband; a palatial house in the heart of glittering Lagos, Nigeria; and a glamorous group of friends. She left gloomy London and a troubled family past behind for sunny, moneyed Lagos, becoming part of the Nigerwives --- a community of foreign women married to Nigerian men. But when Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her auntie Claudine decides to take matters into her own hands. Armed with only a cell phone and a plane ticket to Nigeria, she digs into her niece’s life and uncovers a hidden side filled with dark secrets, isolation and even violence. But the more she discovers about Nicole, the more Claudine’s own buried history threatens to come to light. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- 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 our review.
Bookreporter.com's 19th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through mid-August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, May 23rd at noon ET.
This year’s featured titles include:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
FEHERTY: The Remarkably Funny and Tragic Journey of Golf's David Feherty by John Feinstein (Sports/Biography)
Audiobook available, read by John Feinstein
John Feinstein, who has spent four decades finding intriguing sports characters and narratives and turning them into classic books, chronicles the life and career of David Feherty. The two have known each other for years, beginning with Feinstein’s work on A GOOD WALK SPOILED, which was researched and written at a time when Feherty was an excellent player who won five times in Europe and was on the '91 Ryder Cup team, but also was a functioning alcoholic. In retirement from the game, Feherty has sobered up, while his golf world persona has only grown in stature. Feherty is now a grand ambassador for golf, a man who is feted by US Presidents and respected by every big name in the game. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
THE LAST WORD by Taylor Adams (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Carlotta Brentan and Jim Meskimen
Emma Carpenter lives in isolation with her golden retriever, Laika, house-sitting an old beachfront home on the rainy Washington coast. Her only human contact is her enigmatic old neighbor, Deek, and (via text) the house’s owner, Jules. One day, she reads a poorly written --- but gruesome --- horror novel by H. G. Kane and posts a one-star review that drags her into an online argument with none other than the author himself. Soon after, disturbing incidents start to occur at night. To Emma, this can’t just be a coincidence. Could he be stalking her? When Emma digs into Kane’s life and work, she learns that he has published 16 other novels, all similarly sadistic tales of stalking and murder. But who is he? How did he find her? And what else is he capable of? Reviewed by Christine Irvin.
LOVE BETRAYAL MURDER by Adam Mitzner (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Brian Hutchison, Bronson Pinchot and Elizabeth Evans
Matthew Brooks and Vanessa Lyons are a perfect love match, both attorneys at a powerful New York City law firm. But there’s a hitch: Matt just made partner, and Vanessa is coming up for partner next year. And Vanessa’s husband, the profligate Bradley Lyons, has his suspicions. Vanessa is assigned to the biggest case at the firm, the one that will determine her future. Unfortunately, Matt has been working the case for years, leaving him no choice but to supervise his lover in violation of firm policy. When Vanessa is denied her partnership, she can only assume that her affair with Matt was the reason. Then, on a crowded Manhattan street corner, a knife flashes in the midday sun, leaving behind a scene of horror. But with so many having been betrayed, will the murderer be brought to justice? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE ENCHANTED HACIENDA by J.C. Cervantes (Fiction/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Frankie Corzo
When Harlow Estrada is abruptly fired from her dream job and her boyfriend proves to be a jerk, her world turns upside down. She flees New York City to the one place she can always call home --- the enchanted Hacienda Estrada. The Estrada family farm in Mexico houses an abundance of charmed flowers cultivated by Harlow’s mother, sisters, aunt and cousins. By harnessing the magic in these flowers, they can heal hearts, erase memories and interpret dreams. But not Harlow. So when her mother and aunt give her a special task involving the family’s magic, she panics. How can she rise to the occasion when she is magicless? But maybe it’s not magic she’s missing, but belief in herself. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
LIFE AND OTHER LOVE SONGS by Anissa Gray (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Dominic Hoffman, Karen Murray and Nicole Lewis
It’s a warm, bright October afternoon, and Ozro Armstead walks out into the brilliant sunshine on his 37th birthday. At home, his wife Deborah and daughter Trinity prepare a surprise celebration; down the street, his brother waves as Oz heads back to his office after having lunch together. But he won’t make it to the party or even to his briefcase back at his desk. He's about to disappear. In the days, months and years to follow, Deborah and Trinity look backward and forward as they piece together the life of the man they love, but whom they come to realize they might never have truly known. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
LIQUID SHADES OF BLUE by James Polkinghorn (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Garry Messick
When hungover ex-lawyer and Key West bar owner Jack Girard groggily wakes up one morning, he’s greeted by a beautiful woman lying next to him and a shrill, ringing telephone. Seeing the call is from his father, Claude “The Duke” Girard, he answers. Within seconds, Jack learns that his mother is dead in an apparent suicide, so he hits the road, heading back to his childhood home in Miami to face his tyrannical father. The death of his mother brings up haunting memories from his past --- memories of his brother Bobby’s suicide when they were in college together. But things grow more complicated when The Duke suggests that his estranged wife’s alleged suicide may have been a murder. As Jack begins to uncover the truth about his mother’s death, he finds himself in imminent danger. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 23rd
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 23rd 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 May 22nd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BAD SUMMER PEOPLE by Emma Rosenblum (Fiction/Satire)
Emma Rosenblum's BAD SUMMER PEOPLE is a whip-smart, propulsive debut about infidelity, backstabbing and murderous intrigue, set against an exclusive summer haven on Fire Island.
HALCYON by Elliot Ackerman (Fiction)
Set in an alternate version of America’s recent past, this chilling novel is about two self-made men confronting a world that seems to be moving on without them.
IDENTITY by Nora Roberts (Romantic Suspense)
This terrifying new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts is about one man's ice-cold malice and one woman's fight to reclaim her life.
THE LOCK-UP by John Banville (Historical Mystery)
Booker Prize winner John Banville’s most ambitious crime novel yet brings two detectives together to solve a globe-spanning mystery.
THE POISONER'S RING: A Rip Through Time Novel by Kelley Armstrong (Historical Mystery/Thriller)
A modern-day homicide detective is working as an undertaker's assistant in Victorian Scotland when a serial poisoner attacks the men of Edinburgh and leaves their widows under suspicion.
ROGUE JUSTICE by Stacey Abrams (Legal Thriller)
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of WHILE JUSTICE SLEEPS returns with another riveting and intricately plotted thriller, in which a blackmailed federal judge, a secret court and a brazen murder may lead to an unprecedented national crisis.
THE SENATOR'S WIFE by Liv Constantine (Psychological Thriller)
A D.C. philanthropist suspects that her seemingly perfect employee is secretly plotting to steal her husband, her reputation --- even her life --- in this seductive novel of psychological suspense from the internationally bestselling author of THE LAST MRS. PARRISH.
SUMMER STAGE by Meg Mitchell Moore (Fiction)
From the bestselling author of VACATIONLAND comes a spirited summer page-turner following a family of actors grappling with fame, scandal and ambition --- perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand.
THE WOLVES COME AT NIGHT: A Taylor Jackson Novel by J.T. Ellison (Thriller)
A detective on the brink. An assassin out for revenge. A desperate mother racing against the clock. Taylor Jackson is back. And you've never seen her quite like this.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Liv Constantine, J.T. Ellison
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are five upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Sunday, May 21st at 7pm ET: The Back Room: Join authors Liv Constantine, Robyn Gigl, Harini Nagendra and Lisa Scottoline for an evening of great conversation! The event will start with a short introduction to each author. The audience will then be divided into four breakout rooms where they will remain for the rest of the program while the authors visit each room in turn.
Monday, May 22nd at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Liv Constantine (the pen name for sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine) will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about their new book, THE SENATOR'S WIFE, a seductive novel of psychological suspense.
Tuesday, May 23rd at 1pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Patti Callahan Henry will join members of the Simon & Schuster team to discuss her latest novel, THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA, which is May's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Wednesday, May 24th 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 Kate Morton and Lee Smith about their latest novels: Kate's HOMECOMING and Lee's SILVER ALERT. Appearing on the Aftershow will be Susan Meissner, whose new book is ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL.
Wednesday, May 24th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: J.T. Ellison will talk about THE WOLVES COME AT NIGHT, the latest installment in her series starring Lt. Taylor Jackson. This time, Taylor will be brought face to face with a deadly assassin who wants nothing more than to finish what they started.
"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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Linwood Barclay (THE LIE MAKER)
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Nancy Horan (THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: May Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in paperback in May have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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BLACK DOG: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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BULLY MARKET: My Story of Money and Misogyny at Goldman Sachs, by Jamie Fiore Higgins
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ENDLESS SUMMER: Stories from Days That Last Forever, by Elin Hilderbrand
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EVERY CLOAK ROLLED IN BLOOD by James Lee Burke
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FELLOWSHIP POINT by Alice Elliott Dark
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FOX CREEK by William Kent Krueger
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HAPPY-GO-LUCKY by David Sedaris
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HAVEN by Emma Donoghue
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HELLTOWN: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod, by Casey Sherman
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THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews
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IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS by Therese Anne Fowler
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JAMES PATTERSON BY JAMES PATTERSON: The Stories of My Life, by James Patterson
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THE LIONESS by Chris Bohjalian
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LIVID: A Scarpetta Novel, by Patricia Cornwell
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THE LOST SUMMERS OF NEWPORT by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White
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THE MANY DAUGHTERS OF AFONG MOY by Jamie Ford
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THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig
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MUSTIQUE ISLAND by Sarah McCoy
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NIGHTWORK by Nora Roberts
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OUT OF THE CORNER: A Memoir, by Jennifer Grey
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OVERBOARD: A V.I. Warshawski Novel, by Sara Paretsky
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PROPERTIES OF THIRST by Marianne Wiggins
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RACING THE LIGHT: An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, by Robert Crais
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THE SHORE by Katie Runde
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SHRINES OF GAIETY by Kate Atkinson
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SISTER STARDUST by Jane Green
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SUGAR AND SALT by Susan Wiggs
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THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK by Jennifer Hillier
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THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub
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TREASURE STATE: A Cassie Dewell Novel, by C. J. Box
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TRUST by Hernan Diaz
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TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON by Chris Pavone
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VACATIONLAND by Meg Mitchell Moore
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WITH A MIND TO KILL: A James Bond Novel, by Anthony Horowitz
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WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME by Gillian McAllister
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None of these
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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 May 12th to May 26th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE SENATOR'S WIFE by Liv Constantine and YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang.
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.
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