December 8, 2023

December 8, 2023

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Snow Flurries!

Yesterday morning, I woke up to snow flurries drifting down from the sky. That was a perfect way for me to start my annual 27th birthday celebration.

For about a year, I have been eyeing up something called an Aeroski, which is a piece of exercise equipment that simulates skiing. It even comes with VR goggles. Well, it was on some super sale over Thanksgiving, and the post-turkey coma meant that, yes, I ordered it. It’s pretty cool to work out on...and, no, I am not donning ski clothes to use it. I have 30 days to see if I like it, so let’s see how this goes.

In the video, the woman who is working out on it is not holding on and in fact is working out with hand weights. I, on the other hand, have a death grip on the bar like the grip on my poles at the top of a black ski run. And I still am using the bar, not the ski pole attachment. The goal is to listen to audiobooks as I do this while I read email on the recumbent bike.

First row: Carol Fitzgerald, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol, Tom Donadio, Kate Ayers
Second row: Stuart Shiffman, Harvey Freedenberg, Pamela Kramer, Norah Piehl
Third row: Ray Palen, Rebecca Munro

On Wednesday night, we hosted our year-end “Bookaccino Live” event featuring eight Bookreporter reviewers: Kate Ayers, Harvey Freedenberg, Pamela Kramer, Rebecca Munro, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol, Ray Palen, Norah Piehl and Stuart Shiffman. Each of them talked about their three favorite books of 2023. Their selections cover a wide variety of genres, and there may be a few titles you haven’t heard of that you will want to check out.

Click here to watch the event or here to listen to the podcast. A list of all the books that were presented, along with their covers, can be found here.

Pictured above is me with our Editorial Director, Tom Donadio, and all eight reviewers as we appeared on Zoom “Brady Bunch”-style.

Tom and I had a blast with the reviewers, and we loved hearing about the books that most excited them this year. Taking a peek at the chat throughout the program, those in attendance agreed…and many said their TBR lists would be getting much longer after listening to these presentations.

We are so lucky to have such a vibrant book community. We had more than 300 attendees, and they came from 31 states, DC and Canada. To those of you who attended live, thank you. To all others, enjoy the video or the podcast!

Last Thursday night, we hosted our final “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event of 2023. Our guest was Dani Shapiro, and she talked about her novel, SIGNAL FIRES, a Bets On pick that recently released in paperback.

Bookreporter readers loved SIGNAL FIRES and were quick to ask questions about the characters, who drive this story. Dani had put the book away a while ago, and when she came back to it, it was with fresh eyes and a new perspective. She shares why she pivoted in time to tell the story and how the accident that opens the novel radiated through the lives of the Wilf family in very different ways. She also explains why Waldo stole a piece of her heart, as well as that of readers.

People from 22 states, DC and Canada were part of the audience. As a result, there was a question about the city of Roseville, Michigan, being mentioned in the book as a reader lived close to there. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.

Announcing Our BIG End-of-the-Year Contest
Drum roll please... I am thrilled to announce the start of our 13th Annual End-of-the-Year Contest! One very lucky Grand Prize winner will be awarded all 44 of my Bets On picks from this year, while 11 other winners will receive four of these titles. Note that I picked my final selections this week as October to December had some really terrific books to share.

Among the books you can win are ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME by William Landay, THE HOUSE OF LINCOLN by Nancy Horan, LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN by Lisa See, THE MITFORD AFFAIR by Marie Benedict, THE RIVER WE REMEMBER by William Kent Krueger, THE SPY COAST by Tess Gerritsen, and THINGS I WISH I TOLD MY MOTHER by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, January 12th at noon ET.

I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My three latest Bets On selections are THE MYSTERY GUEST: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose, THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis, and THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan. Click on each of the titles for my commentary. We will feature my “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews with Nita, Fiona and Gilly in next week's newsletter.

Also next week, you can read my commentaries for the final four Bets On picks of 2023: ABSOLUTION by Alice McDermott, THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters, CLASS: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education by Stephanie Land, and THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner. I have been reading and listening furiously to bring you these. Next week, we also will share a video where I talk about all of this year's Bets On selections.

Patricia Cornwell is back with the latest installment in her Kay Scarpetta series. In UNNATURAL DEATH, the chief medical examiner finds herself in a Northern Virginia wilderness examining the remains of two campers wanted by federal law enforcement.

In his review, Ray Palen says the book is “brilliant and refreshing” and “once again shows why Patricia Cornwell has the reputation she has earned for these tremendous novels. The ending is a shocker and raises the bar for a long-running series that has proven you still can surprise and thrill your loyal readers.”

THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon is December’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. This gripping historical mystery is inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

According to Pamela Kramer, “THE FROZEN RIVER is a lovely work of fiction. Lawhon’s research was extensive, so we know we are seeing the reality of life in 1789 Maine.... A book club would have myriad topics to discuss after reading this thoughtful novel about a time when the health care of women was often better left entirely to women themselves.”

As I mentioned earlier, Katherine Faulkner's latest book, THE OTHER MOTHERS, will be a Bets On pick, just like her debut novel, GREENWICH PARK, was last year. This fresh and deftly paced thriller is about murder, class and motherhood in an exclusive London community.

Norah Piehl has our review and says, “The tension and suspense ratchet up slowly but surely, with nearly every chapter in the book’s second half containing some new and unexpected revelation…. [I]t’s unlikely that anyone will turn the last page without being truly taken aback by at least one plot twist.” Find out why I’m betting you’ll love this book in next week’s newsletter. I hope to interview Katherine in the new year! 

Word of Mouth Reminder
We’re awarding THE FROZEN RIVER and THE OTHER MOTHERS to the winners of our Word of Mouth contest. You have until Friday, December 15th at noon ET to submit your comments about the books you’ve read for your chance to win both these titles.

Announcing This Year’s Holiday Author Blogs: Stories About Giving & Receiving
Our Holiday Author Blogs are back for a 16th year! Six authors who have books coming out in early 2024 are sharing their favorite bookish holiday memories with us.

We kick off the series with Laurie Frankel, whose fifth novel, FAMILY FAMILY, releases on January 23rd. Click here to read her piece. Next week, we look forward to hearing from Ashley Elston (FIRST LIE WINS), Armando Lucas Correa (THE SILENCE IN HER EYES), Freida McFadden (THE TEACHER), Allison Pataki (FINDING MARGARET FULLER), and Jonathan Santlofer (THE LOST VAN GOGH).

Holiday Cheer Update
Our final Holiday Cheer prize book is the aforementioned THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters. The contest will be up for just 24 hours starting on Tuesday, December 12th at noon ET, so be sure to enter for your chance to win one of five copies of this much-talked-about debut novel. I so enjoyed THE BERRY PICKERS, which was the top pick from November's “Bookaccino Live” book preview event --- the book that our attendees most wanted to read from the 44 titles I presented.

December’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups are now available for December. We’re featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling fiction authors as Alafair Burke (WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN NOW?), J. D. Robb (PAYBACK IN DEATH), James Patterson and Mike Lupica (THE HOUSE OF WOLVES), and Ashley Flowers (ALL GOOD PEOPLE HERE); nonfiction titles, including QUEENS OF THE AGE OF CHIVALRY: England's Medieval Queens, Book Three by Alison Weir and DIAMONDS AND DEADLINES: A Tale of Greed, Deceit, and a Female Tycoon in New York City’s Gilded Age by Betsy Prioleau (one of the titles in our “What to Give, What to Get” Holiday Gift Guide); and paperback originals like A DIFFERENT KIND OF GONE by Catherine Ryan Hyde and RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART by Jo Segura (this month’s Top LibraryReads Pick).

Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask if you’re planning to give books as gifts this holiday season. Click here to let us know!

Reese’s Book Club pick for this month is BEFORE WE WERE INNOCENT by Ella Berman, which is now available in paperback. Here’s what Reese says about it: “How about a captivating thriller for the holidays?... Three high school friends on a summer vacation in a gorgeous villa in Greece. What could possibly go wrong? This compulsive thriller reads like true crime and had me guessing until the very end.”

For more December selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here. Please note that there are no December picks for the Barnes & Noble Book Club or Simon & Schuster’s “Book Club Favorites.”

New Special Contest:
Enter to Win Our End-of-the-Year Celebration,
Featuring All 44 "Bets On" Titles from 2023

Click here to enter the contest.

Featured Review: UNNATURAL DEATH
by Patricia Cornwell

UNNATURAL DEATH: A Scarpetta Novel by Patricia Cornwell (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds herself in a Northern Virginia wilderness examining the remains of two campers wanted by federal law enforcement. The victims have been savaged beyond recognition, and other evidence is terrifying and baffling, including a larger-than-life footprint. After one of the most frightening body retrievals of her career, Scarpetta must discover who would commit murders this savage, and why. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon
December’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick

THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Jane Oppenheimer and Ariel Lawhon
Maine, 1789: The Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice. Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine the cause of death. As the local midwife and healer, Martha is good at keeping secrets. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, every murder and debacle that unfolds in the town of Hallowell. In that diary she also documented the details of an alleged rape that occurred four months earlier. Now, one of the men accused of that heinous attack has been found dead in the ice. While Martha is certain she knows what happened the night of the assault, she suspects that the two crimes are linked. Over the course of one long, hard winter, Martha’s diary lands at the center of the scandal and threatens to tear both her family and her community apart. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review:
THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title

THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Louise Brealey and Dakota Blue Richards
When a young nanny is found dead under mysterious circumstances, new mom Tash is intrigued. She has been searching for a story to launch her career as a freelance journalist. But she also has been searching for new friends to help her navigate motherhood. She sees them at her son’s new playgroup. The other mothers. A group of sleek, sophisticated women. When the mothers welcome her into their circle, Tash discovers the kind of life she has always dreamt of and is quickly swept up into their wealthy world. But when another young woman is found dead, it’s clear there’s much more to the community than meets the eye. Are these women really her friends? Or is there another, more dangerous reason that she has been so quickly accepted into their exclusive world? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

THE OTHER MOTHERS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.

Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE MYSTERY GUEST by Nita Prose,
THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis
and THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan

THE MYSTERY GUEST: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose (Mystery)
THE MAID was such a terrific debut, and I was wondering if Nita Prose could either match it or top it with THE MYSTERY GUEST. I am very pleased to say that she did. Once again, we have Molly the maid, who I came to love in the first book. She now is the Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. When the book opens, mystery author J. D. Grimthorpe has come to the hotel to make an announcement. But at the start of the program, he takes a drink of tea, collapses and dies. From there the mystery unfolds.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE MYSTERY GUEST.
 

THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis (Historical Fiction)
When I heard that Fiona Davis had written a book set at Radio City Music Hall, I decided to hold off on reading it until November when the Christmas Spectacular kicked off there. Pun intended. I am glad I did. THE SPECTACULAR opens in 1956 when 19-year-old Marion Brooks seizes an opportunity and auditions for the Rockettes. And she is selected. Her father, Simon, is furious. He had plans for her --- she would marry her boyfriend, Nathaniel, and they would continue to live in Bronxville. Instead, she moves into a rooming house with other Rockettes and theater folks and embarks on a grueling yet invigorating schedule to perfect the tightly choreographed routines.

- 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 on ReadingGroupGuides.com.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE SPECTACULAR.
 

THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan (Psychological Thriller)
I first read Gilly Macmillan when she wrote THE NANNY and have looked forward to each of her books since then. With THE MANOR HOUSE, she once again does not disappoint. Here we have a young couple who has won the lottery; I know many of us have dreamed of this. Nicole and Tom move into The Glass Barn, with state-of-the-art features and a design that is the envy of a lot of people. They have cool cars, and we know that their lives feel very grand. This is set up very early. But by page five, Tom is found dead in their swimming pool.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE MANOR HOUSE.

Bookreporter.com's 16th Annual Holiday Author Blogs:
Authors Write About Their Favorite Holiday Memories
of Giving or Receiving Books

We have brought back our Holiday Author Blogs for a 16th year. From now through Friday, December 15th, we will feature a new blog post from an author each weekday talking about the books that they have given and/or received during the holidays.

Bookreporter.com's Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature

Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.

Bookreporter.com’s “What to Give, What to Get” Guide:
“Reader Perfect” Suggestions
for Holiday Giving and Getting

We at Bookreporter.com know that readers crave ideas for gift-giving --- and getting --- at the holidays. With this in mind, we're offering a "What to Give, What to Get" Guide with "Reader Perfect" suggestions. We have book ideas for everyone on your holiday list. And while you're looking for gifts for others, may we suggest you jot down notes for books YOU want? Let the shopping begin!

Our featured titles are:

• BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS by Mary Kay Andrews
• DIAMONDS AND DEADLINES: A Tale of Greed, Deceit, and a Female Tycoon in New York City’s Gilded Age by Betsy Prioleau
• MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT by Nina Simon
• THE PIONEER WOMAN COOKS ― DINNER'S READY!: 112 Fast and Fabulous Recipes for Slightly Impatient Home Cooks by Ree Drummond
• THE ROARING DAYS OF ZORA LILY by Noelle Salazar
• THE SISTERS OF SEA VIEW: On Devonshire Shores, Book 1 by Julie Klassen
• THE WISHING BRIDGE by Viola Shipman

Click here to see our "What to Give, What to Get" Guide.

December’s New in Paperback Roundups

December's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN NOW? by Alafair Burke, the highly anticipated follow-up to Mary Higgins Clark’s iconic novel, WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN?, featuring the children of Nancy Harmon facing peril once again as adults; THE HOUSE OF WOLVES, an unforgettable family drama from James Patterson and Mike Lupica, in which Jenny Wolf’s murdered father leaves her in charge of a billion-dollar empire --- and a family more ruthless than the Roys ("Succession") and Duttons ("Yellowstone"); Paul Harding's THIS OTHER EDEN, a spellbinding novel inspired by the true story of Malaga Island, an isolated island off the coast of Maine that became one of the first racially integrated towns in the Northeast; and NO ONE LEFT TO COME LOOKING FOR YOU by Sam Lipsyte, a page-turning suspense novel that also serves as a love letter to a bygone era of New York City where young artists could still afford to chase their dreams.

Among our nonfiction highlights are QUEENS OF THE AGE OF CHIVALRY, Alison Weir's epic narrative that chronicles the five vividly rendered queens of the Plantagenet kings who ruled England between 1299 and 1399; WEIGHTLESS, a poignant and ruthlessly honest journey through cultural expectations of size, race and gender --- and toward a brighter future --- from journalist, editor and pop-culture critic Evette Dionne; DIAMONDS AND DEADLINES by Betsy Prioleau, the first major biography of the glamorous and scandalous Miriam Leslie, titan of publishing and an unsung hero of women’s suffrage; and A LIFE IN LIGHT, Mary Pipher's memoir in essays reflecting on radiance, resilience and the constantly changing nature of reality.

Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
December 4th, December 11th, December 18th and December 25th.

More Reviews This Week

THE PATH TO PARADISE: A Francis Ford Coppola Story by Sam Wasson (Biography/Performing Arts)
Audiobook available, read by Timothy Andrés Pabon
Francis Ford Coppola is one of the great American dreamers, and his most magnificent dream is American Zoetrope, the production company he founded in San Francisco years before his gargantuan success, when he was only 30. Through Zoetrope’s experimental, communal utopia, Coppola attempted to reimagine the entire pursuit of moviemaking. Now, more than 50 years later, despite myriad setbacks, the visionary filmmaker’s dream persists, most notably in the production of his decades-in-the-making film and the culmination of his utopian ideals, Megalopolis. Granted total and unprecedented access to Coppola’s archives, conducting hundreds of interviews with the artist and those who have worked closely with him, Sam Wasson weaves together an extraordinary portrait. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS: A Novel of the Nutcracker by Erika Johansen (Dark Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Grace Gray
Light and dark. This is the cursed birthright placed upon Clara and Natasha by their godfather, Drosselmeyer. Charming Clara grows into a life of beauty and ease, while Natasha is relegated to her sister’s shadow. But Natasha seizes the opportunity for revenge one Christmas Eve, when Drosselmeyer arrives at the family gala with the Nutcracker, an enchanted gift that offers entry into an alternate world: the Kingdom of Sweets. Following Clara into the glittering land of snow and sugar, Natasha discovers a source of power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy. But as Natasha uncovers the truth about a dark destiny crafted long before her birth, she must reckon with forces both earthly and magical, human and diabolical, and decide to which world she truly belongs. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

GOD SAVE BENEDICT ARNOLD: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man by Jack Kelly (History)
Audiobook available, read by Jim Seybert
Benedict Arnold committed treason. For more than two centuries, that’s all that most Americans have known about him. Yet Arnold was much more than a turncoat --- his achievements during the early years of the Revolutionary War defined him as the most successful soldier of the era. GOD SAVE BENEDICT ARNOLD tells the gripping story of Arnold’s rush of audacious feats --- his capture of Fort Ticonderoga, his Maine mountain expedition to attack Quebec, the famous artillery brawl at Valcour Island, the turning-point battle at Saratoga --- that laid the groundwork for our independence. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

NIGHT OWL: A Trasker Thriller by Andrew Mayne (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by James Anderson Foster
After three decades in counterintelligence, Brad Trasker is retired, disillusioned and dealing with a tragic loss. Spy games are behind him until he attends the launch of a next-generation aircraft. When the project of innovative aerospace CEO Kylie Connor explodes on the tarmac --- nearly killing her in the process --- Trasker is pulled back into the line of fire. The mystery of the sabotage quickly deepens. All of Kylie’s data has been wiped from the server. One of her engineers has disappeared. A seed investor has died in a suspicious car accident. And a cold-blooded murder raises the stakes even higher. To discover who’s pulling the strings behind a dangerous conspiracy, Trasker needs to find a motive. Corporate espionage, revenge or something he can’t yet see? Reviewed by Ray Palen.

FIVE BAD DEEDS by Caz Frear (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Beth Eyre and Chris Harper
Teacher, mother, wife and all-around good citizen Ellen Walsh is juggling nonstop commitments --- from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse. Amidst the chaos, an ominous note arrives in the mail, declaring: People have to learn there are consequences, Ellen. And I’m going to teach you that lesson. Right under your nose. Why would someone send her this? Ellen has no clue. But someone blames her for all the bad they’ve experienced. Could the five bad deeds that come to haunt Ellen explain why things have gone so horribly wrong? As she races to discover who’s set on destroying her reputation and her future, Ellen continues to receive increasingly threatening messages…each one hitting closer to everything she cherishes. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

SONGS ON ENDLESS REPEAT: Essays and Outtakes by Anthony Veasna So (Essays/Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Keong Sim
The late Anthony Veasna So’s debut story collection, AFTERPARTIES, was a landmark publication. And he was equally known for his comic, soulful essays, published in n+1, The New Yorker and The Millions. SONGS ON ENDLESS REPEAT gathers those essays together, along with previously unpublished fiction. Written with razor-sharp wit and an unflinching eye, the essays examine his youth in California, the lives of his refugee parents, his intimate friendships, loss, pop culture and more. And in linked fiction following three Cambodian American cousins who stand to inherit their late aunt’s illegitimate loan-sharking business, So explores community, grief and longing with inimitable humor and depth. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

MEET THE BENEDETTOS by Katie Cotugno (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Therese Plummer
A few years after a reality TV show skyrocketed the Benedettos to pop-culture fame, the five twentysomething sisters are nearly broke and living together in their parents’ crumbling McMansion. Lilly, the sensible second-eldest sister, is all too aware that her family is viewed as a spectacle, but she’s focused on holding herself and her family together. The Benedettos’ fortunes finally appear to be brightening when Charlie Bingley, the dashing star of Captain Fantastic, moves into their Los Angeles neighborhood with his friend, Will Darcy, in tow. It isn’t long before Charlie falls for the warm and lovely eldest sister, June. Lilly has no such luck: the arrogant and judgmental Will Darcy, a man plagued by his own private demons, seems ready to clash with her at every turn --- yet the two can’t seem to stay away from each other. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

HERE IN THE DARK by Alexis Soloski (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Laura Benanti
A former actress, Vivian Parry now works as the junior theater critic at a major Manhattan magazine. Her nights are spent beyond the lights, in a reserved seat, giving herself over to the shows she loves. By day, she savages them. Angling for a promotion, she reluctantly agrees to an interview, a conversation that reveals secrets she thought she had long since buried. Then her interviewer disappears, and she learns --- from his devastated fiancée --- that she was the last person to have seen him alive. When the police refuse to investigate, Vivian does what she promised herself she would never do again: she plays a part. Assuming the role of amateur detective, she turns her critical gaze toward an unsanitary private eye, a sketchy internet startup, a threatening financier, fake blood and one very real corpse. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

DEATH WRITES: An Inishowen Mystery by Andrea Carter (Mystery)
Preparations are underway for Glenfest, Glendara’s literary festival. Phyllis Kettle, the local bookshop owner, is especially pleased to have persuaded Gavin Featherstone, the local bestselling recluse writer, to take part. The festival begins, and an eager crowd awaits Featherstone’s appearance on stage. He is unexpectedly engaging, but when he stands to read from his new book, he stumbles and keels over on the platform. Solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keeffe discovers that she holds Featherstone’s will at the office, drafted by her predecessor. Soon, she’s drawn into a complicated legal wrangle over the man’s estate involving his family and the assistant who lived with him. But nothing can be resolved yet, as a killer cannot inherit from their victim --- and Gavin Featherstone’s death was a murder. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

DREAMING OF WATER by A. J. Banner (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mirai
Astrid Johansen swore she would never return to Heron Bay, Washington. In that idyllic coastal town, her little sister, Nina, drowned in a reflecting pool under Astrid’s watch 17 years ago. Though guilt has kept her away, Astrid can’t ignore her aunt Maude’s urgent plea to come back. Maude claims to have found a letter that will change everything about the past. When Astrid arrives in Heron Bay, she finds Maude unconscious, perhaps the victim of an attack. As Maude lingers in a coma, Astrid uncovers alarming evidence that Nina’s drowning that tragic night was no accident. The ensuing investigation leads her down a trail of dark memories, lies and betrayals that will shatter her perception of everyone she thought she knew --- even herself. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on December 12th

Below are some notable titles releasing on December 12th 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 December 11th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

THE FINAL CURTAIN written by Keigo Higashino, translated by Giles Murray (Mystery)
From Keigo Higashino, the acclaimed author of MALICE and NEWCOMER, a confounding murder in Tokyo is connected to the mystery of the disappearance and death of Detective Kyoichiro Kaga's own mother.

HOW TO DRAW A NOVEL by Martín Solares (Literary Criticism/Essays)
From the acclaimed author of THE BLACK MINUTES and DON'T SEND FLOWERS, HOW TO DRAW A NOVEL is an ingenious and visually stimulating exploration of narrative and craft from master storyteller and former publisher Martín Solares.

NO WAY OUT: A DI Adam Fawley Thriller by Cara Hunter (Mystery/Thriller)
From Cara Hunter, author of the New York Times bestseller MURDER IN THE FAMILY, comes book three of her DI Adam Fawley series, one of Britain’s most enduringly popular and mega-selling crime series. Fawley investigates a ghastly house fire on Christmas Day and launches an investigation that shocks a community.

Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.

From left to right: Caz Frear, Tracy Clark

Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

Here are three upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.

Monday, December 11th at 3:30pm ET: Murder By The Book: Caz Frear will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about her new novel, FIVE BAD DEEDS, a gripping tale of revenge, loyalty and the secrets hidden between the walls of the most beautiful home in town.

Monday, December 11th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Tracy Clark will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about the second book in her Detective Harriet Foster thriller series, FALL. This time, Tracy weaves a twisted journey into the underbelly of Chicago as Harriet and her team work to unmask a serial killer stalking the city’s aldermen.

Wednesday, December 13th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": Join the "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- for a special Christmas show.

 "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:

• Douglas Brunt (THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Ashley Audrain (THE WHISPERS) Video | Podcast
• Melanie Benjamin (CALIFORNIA GOLDEN) Video | Podcast
• Tess Gerritsen (THE SPY COAST) Video | Podcast
• Naomi Hirahara (EVERGREEN: A Japantown Mystery) Video | Podcast
• Angie Kim (HAPPINESS FALLS) Video | Podcast
• Jessica Knoll (BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN) Video | Podcast
• William Kent Krueger (THE RIVER WE REMEMBER) Video | Podcast
• Jean Kwok (THE LEFTOVER WOMAN) Video | Podcast
• Tracey Lange (THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN) Video | Podcast
• Shari Lapena (EVERYONE HERE IS LYING) Video | Podcast
• Liz Nugent (STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND) Video | Podcast
• Sarah Pekkanen (GONE TONIGHT) Video | Podcast
• John Sargent (TURNING PAGES: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Publisher)
  Video | Podcast
• Thrity Umrigar (THE MUSEUM OF FAILURES) Video | Podcast
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