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Last weekend was the perfect summer weekend for reading --- it was sunny, not humid and not broiling hot. I had declared it a weekend of reading. I started with EVERYONE HERE IS LYING by Shari Lapena. I have coined Shari “The Queen of the One-Sit Read.” Once I start reading one of her books, I do not stop until the last page has been turned. And that is exactly what I did. I moved from the reading chair in what we have dubbed the “Cleopatra” reading tent (which is turquoise, of course) to the side of the pool where I could stand and read when I was not floating and reading. Shari completely delivered --- again. More on the book below as we are reviewing it this week!
On Sunday, I turned to my “book group homework”: THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND by Elin Hilderbrand. I started reading it in the pool with my floating chair and kicked my way around as I fantasized being along on Nantucket with Elin and my own four friends. At one point, I grabbed my flippers to motor around a bit faster (I now have flipper tan lines). About five-and-a-half hours later, my husband, who had joined me outside to read after the conclusion of the British Open, asked if I was planning to get out of the pool at any point. I told him I had about 50 pages left. He understood.
Meanwhile, he was happily reading an advance copy of Douglas Brunt’s upcoming nonfiction title, THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL; it will be out on September 19th. I have enjoyed Doug’s fiction in the past, and Tom (my husband, Tom, as opposed to our Editorial Director, Tom) is giving this one a thumbs-up. I am looking forward to reading it!
This week, we kicked off a special contest for THE RIVER WE REMEMBER, a stand-alone novel by William Kent Krueger that releases on September 5th.
On Memorial Day, as the people of Jewel, Minnesota, gather to remember and honor the sacrifice of so many sons in the wars of the past, the half-clothed body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. Investigation of the murder falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service. Even before Dern has the results of the autopsy, vicious rumors begin to circulate that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who recently has returned to Jewel with a Japanese wife. As suspicions and accusations mount and the town teeters on the edge of more violence, Dern struggles not only to find the truth of Quinn’s murder but also to put to rest the demons from his own past.
We have 25 advance copies of THE RIVER WE REMEMBER to give away to those who would like to read the book, and we have a twist on our giveaway here. We are looking for those who can read the book by Friday, September 8th and submit a question for me to ask Kent for an interview that will be going up shortly after the book’s publication. To enter, please fill out this form by next Friday, August 4th at noon ET.
Alli Frank and Asha Youmans return to “Bookreporter Talks To” to share their thoughts on their latest book, THE BETTER HALF, which is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. They talk about what they brought to their protagonist, Nina Morgan Clarke, who is the first Black female head of the very tony Royal-Hawkins School. Nina quickly learns that, along with being in charge of student life, she must manage a board and lots of parental expectations.
Alli shares that she knew this would not be a job for her, though she thought she wanted that role in her past life as an educator. Asha comes from a mixed marriage and points out that she had her sons turn to her father and brother about living as young Black men in America today. Both Alli and Asha are clearly loving the second half of their lives! This was the first book that they wrote in different places, as opposed to being in the same room, and they explain how they were able to do that so well (though when together they do have their writing pajamas). The humor that they write also lives off the page, making this another fun conversation! Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
The aforementioned EVERYONE HERE IS LYING is a thrilling new domestic suspense novel from Shari Lapena, whose previous bestsellers include THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR, SOMEONE WE KNOW and NOT A HAPPY FAMILY. William Wooler is supposed to be a family man, but in reality he’s been having an affair. When he comes home one afternoon to find his nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, he loses his temper. Hours later, Avery’s family declares her missing. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery's neighbors become increasingly unhinged. Who took Avery, and why?
According to our reviewer Bronwyn Miller, Shari “draws you in right away, keeping you guessing and the pages turning, and the pace doesn’t relent until the end. Lapena is the queen of domestic suspense, a sort of literary David Lynch, daring to peer behind the beautiful suburban facades to the seedy underbelly beneath…. If you’re looking to cure a reading slump or craving a riveting read in which you can lose yourself over a weekend, EVERYONE HERE IS LYING is for you.” This will be a Bets On pick…and I just scheduled an interview with Shari coming up in the next couple of weeks.
Lethal operative Scot Harvath is dispatched to avenge the killing of American citizens abroad in Brad Thor’s pulse-pounding new thriller, DEAD FALL. In the war-ravaged borderlands of Ukraine, a Russian mercenary unit has gone rogue. Simultaneously, a team of Russian soldiers has been dispatched by the Kremlin to loot truckloads of art and priceless cultural treasures hidden away in churches, museums and private homes. When multiple American aid workers are killed, America’s top spy is sent in to settle the score. But will he be able to find the men in question and stop them before they can kill again?
Ray Palen has our review and says, “No one in the business does political thrillers quite like Thor…. There are few fictional characters I would rely on more if I were in trouble than Scot Harvath. If I ever needed assistance on a global scale, he would be the first name on my list to have my back when the situation gets too hot. DEAD FALL is an important, intensely brutal and exciting read that is not to be missed.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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SOMEBODY’S FOOL: Richard Russo, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of EMPIRE FALLS, returns to North Bath, in upstate New York, and to the characters who captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers in his beloved bestsellers NOBODY'S FOOL and EVERYBODY'S FOOL.
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PROM MOM: New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman tells the story of Amber Glass, who is desperately trying to get away from her tabloid past but is compulsively drawn back to the city of her youth and the prom date who destroyed everything she was reaching for. Five readers won a copy of PROM MOM this week in our final Summer Reading contest of the year.
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STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND: Liz Nugent, the internationally bestselling author of LYING IN WAIT, returns with a wickedly dark, twisted and brilliantly observed new novel about an enigmatic woman confronting her unknown past. As I mentioned last week, this will be a Bets On selection…and I look forward to interviewing Liz next week!
An Interview with the Author of THE BLOCK PARTY
Another upcoming Bets On title is THE BLOCK PARTY, which we reviewed last week. Its author, Jamie Day, is a pseudonym, so I arranged a written interview with Jamie instead of a “Bookreporter Talks To” video and podcast. We cover lots of ground here, including Jamie’s inspiration for the novel, the unique way the story is told, the one character Jamie enjoyed writing the most, a subplot that involved DNA testing, and future writing plans. Click here to read the interview, and don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, August 11th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell and TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett, both of which we will be reviewing over the next couple of weeks.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’re curious about the format of the book you’re currently reading. Is it a hardcover, paperback, audiobook or e-book? Click here to let us know! We realize you may be reading more than one book right now, so we made it a “Check all that apply” type of question.
In our previous poll, we listed 35 fiction titles that are releasing this month and asked which of them, if any, you are looking forward to reading. Here are your top five picks: EVERYONE HERE IS LYING by Shari Lapena (34%), THE BLOCK PARTY by Jamie Day (26%), HELLO STRANGER by Katherine Center (25%), CROOK MANIFESTO by Colson Whitehead (22%), and HER, TOO by Bonnie Kistler (21%). Click here for all the results.
On Tuesday evening, Ann Napolitano appeared at the Ramsey Free Public Library in Ramsey, NJ to talk about her latest novel, HELLO BEAUTIFUL, a New York Times bestseller and Oprah's 100th book club pick. Nancy Sharko, one of our readers, attended the event and submitted this terrific piece where she talks about some of the insights that Napolitano shared with the audience. Many thanks to Nancy for this very thorough report!
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Linda wrote about “The Bear” and my comment that I think my husband and I should call each other 'chef' as we cook: “I just told my husband the same thing. He doesn't cook, but as he pointed out, neither does Richie. We love this show. I want to watch both seasons again because now I know I missed stuff. Except S2 E6. That was INtense!” I agree about that episode! My husband has not watched this series; I can “repeat” watch it with him. By the way, the show hit one billion minutes viewed in a week. Crazy numbers!
“The Lincoln Lawyer” on Netflix: We finished the first part of season two, which had a cliffhanger. Luckily episodes 6-10 drop next Thursday, August 3rd.
I now am reading and really enjoying THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN by Tracey Lange. I read WE ARE THE BRENNANS last year, and I look forward to interviewing Tracey in a couple of weeks. This week, I scheduled a number of authors for interviews; I love when my calendar fills in like this, and I have a couple more to get on the books for August.
Our niece, Glynis, is here for a visit. She recently moved to New York City where she starts a job soon. Tom has booked tee times for the two of them. Looking at the forecast for a hazy humid summer weekend, I have more poolside and in-pool reading scheduled. Cory was going to join us, but he and his girlfriend, Kaltrina, will be doing the Barbie/Oppenheimer double feature. I knew Barbie was popular, but I admit I was surprised to see how far ahead she is from Oppenheimer at the box office.
We are woefully behind on movie viewing. Tom plays in a golf league, and many of their matches are on Wednesdays; I am partial to the half-price tickets on Tuesday nights. We will swing this at some point. I still want to see the Mission: Impossible movie. Right now, I feel like finding movie time for us is its own version of Mission: Impossible.
Enjoy this last July weekend. Summer is flying by. I need it to sloooooow down.
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
New Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Advance Copies of
THE RIVER WE REMEMBER by William Kent Krueger, Releasing September 5th
We are giving 25 readers the chance to win an advance copy of William Kent Krueger’s latest stand-alone novel, THE RIVER WE REMEMBER, which releases on September 5th. In 1958, a small Minnesota town is rocked by the murder of its most powerful citizen, pouring fresh fuel on old grievances. Winners also will have the opportunity to submit questions for Kent for a future interview. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, August 4th at noon ET.
THE RIVER WE REMEMBER by William Kent Krueger (Historical Mystery)
On Memorial Day, as the people of Jewel, Minnesota, gather to remember and honor the sacrifice of so many sons in the wars of the past, the half-clothed body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast.
Investigation of the murder falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service. Even before Dern has the results of the autopsy, vicious rumors begin to circulate that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who recently has returned to Jewel with a Japanese wife. As suspicions and accusations mount and the town teeters on the edge of more violence, Dern struggles not only to find the truth of Quinn’s murder but also to put to rest the demons from his own past.
Caught up in the torrent of anger that sweeps through Jewel are a war widow and her adolescent son, the intrepid publisher of the local newspaper, an aging deputy and a crusading female lawyer, all of whom struggle with their own tragic histories and harbor secrets that Quinn’s death threatens to expose.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read William Kent Krueger's bio.
- Click here to visit William Kent Krueger's website.
- Connect with William Kent Krueger on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Featured Review:
EVERYONE HERE IS LYING by Shari Lapena
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
EVERYONE HERE IS LYING by Shari Lapena (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he’s been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper. Hours later, Avery’s family declares her missing. Suddenly the neighborhood doesn’t feel so safe. And William isn’t the only one on his street who’s hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery's neighbors become increasingly unhinged. Who took Avery Wooler? Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
EVERYONE HERE IS LYING will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in an upcoming newsletter.
Featured Review: DEAD FALL by Brad Thor
DEAD FALL by Brad Thor (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Armand Schultz
In the war-ravaged borderlands of Ukraine, a Russian mercenary unit has gone rogue. Its members are the most criminally violent, psychologically dangerous combatants to ever set foot upon the modern battlefield. As they move from village to village, committing horrific war crimes, they meet little resistance as all able-bodied men are off fighting the war. Simultaneously, a team of Russian soldiers has been dispatched by the Kremlin to loot truckloads of art and priceless cultural treasures hidden away in a host of churches, museums and private homes. When multiple American aid workers are killed, America’s top spy is sent in to settle the score. But in a country so vast, will Scot Harvath be able to find the men in question and, more importantly, stop them before they can kill again? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Our Interview with Jamie Day,
Author of THE BLOCK PARTY
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
In Jamie Day’s THE BLOCK PARTY, an upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On pick, the residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal. On the night of the annual summer block party, there has been a murder. But who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold. In this interview conducted by Carol Fitzgerald, the president and co-founder of The Book Report Network, Jamie talks about the inspiration for the book, the decision to take readers back to what happened the year prior to the block party, why the story is told from two characters’ points of view, the creation of an online message board that appears in the novel, and what readers can anticipate from Jamie next.
THE BLOCK PARTY by Jamie Day (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Megan Tusing and Suzy Jackson
The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other. On the night of the annual summer block party, there has been a murder. But who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold --- discovering that the real danger lies within their own block. Nothing, and no one, is ever as it seems. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- 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 read our interview.
THE BLOCK PARTY will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review: SOMEBODY’S FOOL by Richard Russo
SOMEBODY'S FOOL by Richard Russo (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Bramhall
Ten years after the death of the magnetic Donald “Sully” Sullivan, the town of North Bath is going through a major transition as it is annexed by its much wealthier neighbor, Schuyler Springs. Peter, Sully’s son, is still grappling with his father’s tremendous legacy as well as his relationship to his own son, Thomas, wondering if he has been all that different a father than Sully was to him. Meanwhile, the towns’ newly consolidated police department falls into the hands of Charice Bond, after the resignation of Doug Raymer, the former North Bath police chief and Charice’s ex-lover. When a decomposing body turns up in the abandoned hotel situated between the two towns, Charice and Raymer are drawn together again and forced to address their complicated attraction to one another. 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: PROM MOM by Laura Lippman
PROM MOM by Laura Lippman (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Andi Arndt
Amber Glass has spent her entire adult life putting as much distance as possible between her and her hometown of Baltimore, where she fears she will be forever known as “Prom Mom” --- the girl who allegedly killed her baby on the night of the prom after her date, Joe Simpson, abandoned her to pursue the girl he really liked. But when circumstances bring Amber back to the city, she realizes she can have a second chance --- as long as she stays away from Joe, who is now married. The problem is, Amber can’t stay away from Joe. And Joe finds that it’s increasingly hard for him to ignore Amber. Against the surreal backdrop of 2020 and early 2021, the two are slowly drawn to each other and eventually cross the line they’ve been trying not to cross. And then Joe asks Amber to help him do the unthinkable. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND by Liz Nugent
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND by Liz Nugent (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Jessica Regan, Stephen Hogan and Sara Lynam
Reclusive Sally Diamond causes outrage by trying to incinerate her dead father. Now she’s the center of attention, not only from the hungry media and police detectives, but also a sinister voice from a past she does not remember. As she begins to discover the horrors of her early childhood, Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends, big decisions, and learning that people don’t always mean what they say. But who is the man observing Sally from the other side of the world, and why does he call her Mary? And why does her new neighbor seem to be obsessed with her? Sally’s trust issues are about to be severely challenged. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in an upcoming newsletter.
Bookreporter.com's 19th Annual
Summer Reading Feature
All summer long, we at Bookreporter.com have been sharing some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Feature. While our series of 24-hour contests have ended, we encourage you to take a look at our featured titles for some sizzling summer reading ideas.
This year’s featured titles are:
- Click here to see the winners of this year's Summer Reading contests.
Click here to learn more about our featured titles.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
OBSESSED: A Michael Bennett Psychological Thriller by James Patterson and James O. Born (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joshua Kane
A killer is obsessed with Detective Michael Bennett’s oldest daughter. Michael Bennett is obsessed with keeping his family safe. New York City is obsessed with cracking the killer’s code. You will be obsessed with James Patterson and James O. Born’s startling psychological thriller. Obsessed. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
KALA by Colin Walsh (Literary Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Frank Blake, Moe Dunford and Seána Kerslake
In the seaside town of Kinlough, three old friends are thrown together for the first time in years. Helen, Jo and Mush were part of an original group of six inseparable teenagers in the summer of 2003, with motherless, reckless Kala Lanann as their group’s white-hot center. Soon after that summer’s peak, Kala disappeared without a trace. Now it’s 15 years later. Helen has reluctantly returned to Ireland for her father’s wedding; Joe is a world-famous musician, newly back in town; and Mush has never left, too scared to venture beyond the counter of his mother’s café. But human remains have been discovered in the woods. Two more girls have gone missing. And as past and present begin to collide, the estranged friends are forced to confront their own complicity in the events that led to Kala’s disappearance. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
MRS. PLANSKY'S REVENGE by Spencer Quinn (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Petrea Burchard
Mrs. Loretta Plansky, a recent widow in her 70s, is settling into retirement in Florida while dealing with her 98-year-old father and fielding requests for money from her beloved children and grandchildren. One night, Mrs. Plansky is startled awake by a phone call from a voice claiming to be her grandson, Will, who desperately needs $10,000 to get out of a jam. By morning, she has lost everything. Law enforcement announces that her life savings have vanished, and it’s hopeless to find the scammers behind the heist. First humiliated, then furious, Mrs. Plansky refuses to be just another victim. In a courageous bid for justice, she follows her only clue on a whirlwind adventure to a small village in Romania to get her money and her dignity back --- and perhaps find a new lease on life, too. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer and Jack Kramer.
BOGIE & BACALL: The Surprising True Story of Hollywood's Greatest Love Affair by William J. Mann (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Todd McLaren
In BOGIE & BACALL, William J. Mann offers a deep and comprehensive look at Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, and the unlikely love they shared. Mann details their early years --- Bogart’s effete upbringing in New York City; Bacall’s rise as a model and actress. He paints a vivid portrait of their courtship and 12-year marriage: the fights, the reconciliations, the children, the affairs, Bogie’s illness and Bacall’s steadfastness until his death. He offers a sympathetic yet clear-eyed portrait of Bacall’s life after Bogie, exploring her relationships with Frank Sinatra and Jason Robards, who would become her second husband, and the identity crisis she faced. Surpassing previous biographies, Mann digs deep into the celebrities’ personal lives and considers their relationship from surprising angles. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
BEHOLD THE MONSTER: Confronting America's Most Prolific Serial Killer by Jillian Lauren (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Nikki Zakocs
Jillian Lauren had no idea what she was getting into when she wrote her first letter to prolific serial killer Samuel Little. All she knew was her research had led her to believe he was good for far more murders than the three for which he had been convicted. While the two exchanged dozens of letters and embarked on hundreds of hours of interviews, Lauren gained the trust of a monster. After maintaining his innocence for decades, Little confessed to the murders of 93 women. How could one man evade justice, manipulating the system for over four decades? More than a deep dive into Little's actions, Lauren's riveting and emotional accounts reveal the women who were lost to cold files, giving his victims a chance to have their stories heard for the first time. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU by Laura Sims (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Carlotta Brentan and Maggi-Meg Reed
No one knows Margo’s real name. Her colleagues and patrons at a small-town public library only know her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality and charm. They have no reason to suspect that she is, in fact, a former nurse with a trail of countless premature deaths in her wake. She has turned a new page, so to speak, and the library is her sanctuary, a place to quell old urges. That is, at least, until Patricia, a recent graduate and failed novelist, joins the library staff. Patricia quickly notices Margo’s subtly sinister edge and watches her carefully. When a patron’s death in the library bathroom gives her a hint of Margo’s mysterious past, Patricia can’t resist digging deeper --- even as this new fixation becomes all-consuming. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
OWNER OF A LONELY HEART: A Memoir by Beth Nguyen (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Beth Nguyen
At the end of the Vietnam War, when Beth Nguyen was eight months old, she and her father, sister, grandmother and uncles fled Saigon for America. Beth’s mother stayed --- or was left --- behind, and they did not meet again until Beth was 19. Over the course of her adult life, she and her mother have spent less than 24 hours together. OWNER OF A LONELY HEART is a memoir about parenthood, absence and the condition of being a refugee: the story of Beth’s relationship with her mother. Framed by a handful of visits over the course of many years --- sometimes brief, sometimes interrupted, sometimes with her mother alone and sometimes with her sister --- Beth tells a coming-of-age story that spans her own Midwestern childhood, her first meeting with her mother, and becoming a parent herself. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE BONES OF THE STORY by Carol Goodman (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Elisabeth Rodgers
It’s been 25 years since the shocking disappearance of a female student and the distinguished Creative Writing professor who died while searching for her. Now, the president of Briarwood College is bringing together faculty, donors and alumni to honor the victims from all those years ago. Guests gather on the vacant campus for the commemorative event. But as a storm descends, people begin to depart, leaving a group of alumni who were the last ones taught by the esteemed professor. Recriminations and old rivalries flare as they recall the writing projects they shared as classmates. When an alumna dies in a shockingly similar way to the story she wrote, and then another succumbs to a similar fate, they realize that someone has decided at long last to avenge the crimes of the past. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
NIGHT CANDY: A Colleen Hayes Mystery by Max Tomlinson (Mystery)
In a tragic turn of events, ex-con PI Colleen Hayes’ daughter, Pam, has lost her baby. Meanwhile, a serial killer given the name “Night Candy” is targeting sex workers, both male and female. The situation doesn’t improve when Colleen’s friend and ally --- SFPD Inspector Owens --- is arrested for the murder of his ex-wife, who was found burned in a fire the same night the pair had tried to rekindle their love. Could Owens have really done what they say? Even Colleen has her doubts. But there are people depending on her: Owens, who needs help finding his ex-wife’s real killer, and a trio of sex workers Colleen keeps her eye on --- especially with Night Candy on the loose. Then, one of the three girls is next to disappear. If anything is to test Colleen’s resolve, December 1979 seems to be it. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
SINNERS OF STARLIGHT CITY by Anika Scott (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Carlotta Brentan
It’s the worst year of the Great Depression, and the Chicago World’s Fair becomes a symbol of the good that’s yet to come. As the mysterious Madame Mystique, Rosa Mancuso mixes magic with a dose of bare skin burlesque, bringing customers to the home of the Fair’s carnival rides and spectacles. Rosa doesn’t perform for fame, though. She has come from Mussolini’s Italy to America, where she’s plotting her revenge for the murders of her family. The perpetrator will soon arrive at the World’s Fair via a celebrated Italian air fleet, and Rosa is determined to be prepared. But when her estranged cousin, Mina, comes to her desperate for help, with a dangerous mobster close on her heels, Rosa agrees to protect Mina and her new baby, born across the color line. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
TIME WILL BREAK THE WORLD by Aaron Jacobs (Literary Thriller)
On the second to last day of summer school in 1984, Calvin and Jason Schott hijack a school bus carrying 19 students, an unthinkable act of violence that devastates the community of Brookwood. Thirty years later, Brenda and Emily Mashburn --- twin sisters and survivors of the ordeal --- are forced to relive the kidnapping as they film a documentary about the event in an attempt to thwart Calvin's looming parole hearing. Meanwhile, Jason fights for his brother's release, hoping that a reunited family can finally bring peace to their elderly mother and ease the guilt he feels over his role in the kidnapping. The result is a feud between the two families, with neither side willing to back down. Reviewed by Rachael Stark.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 1st
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 1st 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 July 31st, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE BONE HACKER: A Temperance Brennan Novel by Kathy Reichs (Mystery/Thriller)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with her 22nd high-stakes thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan who, following a series of bizarre disappearances on the islands of Turks and Caicos, enters a sinister labyrinth in which a new technology may wreak worldwide havoc.
THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN by Tracey Lange (Fiction)
From Tracey Lange, the New York Times bestselling author of WE ARE THE BRENNANS, comes THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN: a story about fierce family loyalty, good intentions gone awry, and the consequences of improbable love.
EVERGREEN: A Japantown Mystery by Naomi Hirahara (Historical Mystery)
A Japanese American nurse's aide navigates the dangers of post-WWII and post-Manzanar life as she attempts to find justice for a broken family in this follow-up to the Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning CLARK AND DIVISION.
FAMILY LORE by Elizabeth Acevedo (Fiction)
From the bestselling, National Book Award–winning author Elizabeth Acevedo comes her first novel for adults, the story of one Dominican-American family told through the voices of its women as they await a gathering that will forever change their lives.
GONE TONIGHT by Sarah Pekkanen (Domestic Thriller)
When Ruth Sterling's desperate quest to keep her daughter, Catherine, by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.
JUST ANOTHER MISSING PERSON by Gillian McAllister (Domestic Thriller)
From the author of the Reese’s Book Club Pick and the New York Times bestseller WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME comes a new heart-stopping thriller in which a missing-person case unravels deeper, darker secrets that lead a detective to an impossible moral choice.
LAS MADRES by Esmeralda Santiago (Fiction)
From the award-winning, bestselling author of WHEN I WAS PUERTO RICAN comes a powerful novel of family, race, faith, sex and disaster that moves between Puerto Rico and the Bronx, revealing the lives and loves of five women and the secret that binds them together.
OUT OF NOWHERE by Sandra Brown (Romantic Suspense)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with a fast-paced, emotional thriller where the lives of a young mother and a high-rolling consultant collide under devastating circumstances --- culminating in a desperate manhunt that will change their futures forever.
PULLING THE CHARIOT OF THE SUN: A Memoir of a Kidnapping by Shane McCrae (Memoir)
PULLING THE CHARIOT OF THE SUN is an unforgettable memoir by an award-winning poet about being kidnapped from his Black father and raised by his white supremacist grandparents.
THE SECOND MURDERER: A Philip Marlowe Novel by Denise Mina (Hard-boiled Mystery)
Philip Marlowe is on the hunt for a missing heiress --- and up against a rival PI --- in this smart and atmospheric authorized mystery from acclaimed crime writer Denise Mina, the first woman to recreate Raymond Chandler’s infamous detective.
THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW by David Joy (Noir Mystery)
From award-winning writer David Joy comes a searing new novel about the cracks that form in a small North Carolina community and the evils that unfurl from its center.
TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett (Fiction)
In this beautiful and moving novel about family, love and growing up, Ann Patchett once again proves herself to be one of America’s finest writers.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Sandra Brown, Naomi Hirahara, Kathy Reichs
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are six upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Sunday, July 30th at 8pm ET: The Lineup from Soho Crime: Historical Crime Fiction from Around the World: Join authors Katharine Beutner (KILLINGLY), Naomi Hirahara (EVERGREEN), Sujata Massey (THE MISTRESS OF BHATIA HOUSE) and Nilima Rao (A DISAPPEARANCE IN FIJI) for a live conversation about historical mysteries moderated by New York Times bestselling author Cara Black.
Monday, July 31st at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome #1 New York Times bestselling authors Sandra Brown and Kathy Reichs for a live virtual discussion of Brown's OUT OF NOWHERE and Reichs' THE BONE HACKER as part of the B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. The conversation will be moderated by the USA Today bestselling author of THE HOUSE GUEST, Hank Phillippi Ryan.
Monday, July 31st at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: David Joy will talk about his latest work of fiction, THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, a searing new novel about the cracks that form in a small North Carolina community and the evils that unfurl from its center.
Tuesday, August 1st at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Denise Mina will talk about her new novel, THE SECOND MURDERER, a smart and atmospheric mystery that finds Philip Marlowe on the hunt for a missing heiress --- and up against a rival PI. It is worth noting that Denise Mina is the first woman to recreate Raymond Chandler’s infamous detective.
Wednesday, August 2nd at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Danielle Valentine for a live virtual discussion of DELICATE CONDITION as part of the B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Danielle will be in conversation with the author of THE LAST HOUSEWIFE, Ashley Winstead.
Wednesday, August 2nd at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Award-winning, internationally bestselling crime writer Catherine Ryan Howard will talk about her latest thriller, THE TRAP, an unsettling mystery inspired by a series of still-unsolved disappearances in Ireland in the '90s, wherein one young woman risks everything to catch a faceless killer.
"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:
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Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (THE BETTER HALF) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Tracey Lange (THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN)
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Shari Lapena (EVERYONE HERE IS LYING)
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Liz Nugent (STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Book Formats
What is the format of the book you are currently reading? Please check all that apply, as we know many of you may be reading more than one book.
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Hardcover
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Trade paperback
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Mass market paperback
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E-book
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Digital audiobook
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Audiobook on disc
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I am not reading any books right now.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, August 11th 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 July 28th to August 11th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell and TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett.
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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