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Audiobook listening is on the rise. While for years the success of a book was calculated by its print sales, now the trifecta of print, e-book and audio all are tallied to talk about a book’s success. Audiobooks were the subject of one of the panels at the London Book Fair this week. In a piece in Shelf Awareness, an industry newsletter, I saw this research that was interesting:
“Michelle Cobb, executive director of the Audio Publishers Association, outlined the U.S. audio market, the biggest audio market in the world. There's been double-digit revenue growth for 11 years in a row, and now a majority (53%) of American adults have listened to at least one audiobook. Audiobooks account for about 11% of the U.S. book market, roughly the same as e-books. Cobb said cannibalization is not a problem. Some 17% of people take in books only in audio format, and about a quarter of library patrons borrow only audiobooks.”
I am listening to THE WIVES by Simone Gorrindo now. When an author writes a memoir, I enjoy hearing it in their own words. I would love to hear how you have adapted audiobook listening in your own lives. Drop me a note with the subject line “Audio.”
Last weekend, I finished AFTER ANNIE by Anna Quindlen (I am hoping to interview her in a couple of weeks), and it made me think a lot about who is left behind when someone dies and how they cope (or don’t). And perhaps keeping with a theme, I read GRIEF IS FOR PEOPLE by Sloane Crosley. One of Sloane’s closest friends was her former boss, Russell Perreault, who sadly died by suicide in July 2019. Tom Donadio and I knew Russell for more than a decade, and we were completely shocked by the news when we heard it. Just hours before he killed himself, Russell had posted a photo of some flowers by the barn of his country house noting how pretty they were.
Sloane walks readers through the trajectory of her knowing him, which began when Russell hired her to work at Vintage Books. After she left the publisher, their professional contact turned into a deep friendship that lasted for many years. She talks about not just their time together, but also what it is like today when she thinks about how he might look at a situation, whether with humor, despair or some other note of Russell-like poignancy. While the question of why he died like that is not answered, and perhaps that is what Sloane wanted most, the book reminds us how people shape us --- and what life becomes once they are gone.
Important note to our subscribers using AOL and Yahoo: Please note that when we send emails reminding readers about Zoom events and sharing leave behinds --- and when we send links to videos and podcasts after events --- those going to AOL and Yahoo subscribers often bounce back. Last Saturday, I saw dozens of the emails that I sent on Friday come back. We have all the correct protocols in place for sending mail; the IT team has been busy. Yet this still happens. The same is true for our newsletters. Often on our end it shows that it made it to you, but something happens within AOL or Yahoo that prevents the emails from getting through. So if you have another email address that you can use --- let’s say a Gmail address --- consider signing up for events using that address and to have this newsletter come to you at that address as well.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Tamron Hall, the Emmy Award-winning host and executive producer of the syndicated talk show “Tamron Hall” and the bestselling author of the Jordan Manning series. She joined me to discuss her latest thriller, WATCH WHERE THEY HIDE.
Tamron shares the genesis of the plot for this second book in the series (following AS THE WICKED WATCH) and why it is set in 2009. She also talks about how she crafts her story, her writing process, and the realism that she brings to the table about how a broadcast journalist works. And yes, she explains how she came up with her character’s name. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
According to our reviewer Ray Palen, “WATCH WHERE THEY HIDE plays out more like a detective novel than one featuring a crime journalist --- and that is due to the efforts of Jordan Manning to elevate any case she sinks her teeth into. Tamron Hall shows veteran skill in plotting this tale. She keeps the clues coming and readers guessing right up to the eye-opening revelations during the highly satisfying finale.”
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for our Spring Preview evening event, which will take place THIS Wednesday, March 20th at 8pm ET.
I will be presenting a number of books releasing this spring that we think you will enjoy reading over the next few months. You can register for the program by clicking here. And be sure to share the signup link with others who may be interested in attending. We have a fabulous lineup of titles in various genres, and I look forward to sharing them all with you!
We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event on Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 30 books releasing between now and April 2nd, plus 12 from the first half of May, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview event will take place on Wednesday, April 10th at 2pm ET. I will present titles releasing between April 9th and April 30th, in addition to a few from the second half of May, plus June, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
This week, we kicked off a new contest for LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE, Terah Shelton Harris’ second novel, following last year’s debut, ONE SUMMER IN SAVANNAH. Erica Bauermeister, the New York Times bestselling author of NO TWO PERSONS, calls the book “[a] big, beautiful, devastating, and ultimately hopeful novel about family dysfunction and the true cost of heir property.”
“Heir property” is a form of ownership that began during the Reconstruction when many Black people did not have access to the legal system and began to pass on land to their heirs without a legal will. The Department of Agriculture recognizes heir property as the leading cause of involuntary land loss among Black families. Without a clear title, it only takes one family member with interest in the land to spark a sale. This, painfully, is what happens to the siblings in LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE and what sets the stage for an emotional and poignant family drama about intergenerational trauma and the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children.
In anticipation of the book’s May 14th release, we’re awarding a copy to 25 readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, March 29th at noon ET.
Side note here: I have heard Terah talk about this book twice during pre-publication events. She is so interesting...and so is the topic!
Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons the rest of the world has forgotten. But in Lisa Gardner’s new thriller, STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE, even she could not have anticipated this latest request --- to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE simply bristles with suspense and clever plot twists as danger lurks around nearly every corner of this remote setting. It is impossible to look away from the action, even though you want to shout at Frankie not to trust anyone when she begins to confide in some of the strangers around her. I cannot remember having more fun reading a Lisa Gardner book than I had with this one.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE GREAT DIVIDE: As we reported last week, Cristina Henríquez’s latest novel is a “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick for March. The book revolves around the construction of the Panama Canal, casting light on the unsung people who lived, loved and labored there.
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HELP WANTED: This eagerly anticipated follow-up to Adelle Waldman’s 2013 debut novel, THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P., is a humane and darkly comic workplace caper that shines a light on the odds that low-wage workers are up against in today’s economy.
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MONA OF THE MANOR: Set in the early 1990s, this long-awaited 10th and final novel in Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City series follows the adventures of Mona Ramsey, now the widowed Lady of a glorious old manor in Britain’s golden Cotswolds, and her fabulous adopted son Wilfred, as they come to the aid of an American visitor with a troubling secret.
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MURDER AT LA VILLETTE: Parisian private investigator Aimée Leduc has been framed for the murder of her daughter’s father. Now she is on the lam and must find the real killer to clear her name in this 21st installment of Cara Black’s New York Times bestselling mystery series.
Spring Preview Contest Update
In this week’s 24-hour Spring Preview contest, we gave away FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE by Elle Cosimano. Next week’s prize book will be Allison Pataki’s new historical novel, FINDING MARGARET FULLER. The contest will be up at noon ET on the day of its release, Tuesday, March 19th.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, March 29th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle and THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS by Chris Bohjalian. We will review both books in next week’s newsletter.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our new poll asks which of 30 paperback fiction titles releasing in January you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes by Friday, March 29th at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we listed 30 fiction titles that are being published this month for the first time and asked which of them, if any, you are looking forward to reading. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Linda wrote about winning END OF STORY by A. J. Finn, with this funny story about his last book, THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW: “I was at Barnes & Noble and went to pay for the books when I saw the above book on display behind the sales clerk. I said to add THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, and he thought I meant a woman was looking in the window. He turned his head around so fast it’s a wonder he didn’t get whiplash. When I explained it was the book, we both laughed. I thought that was an excellent book and was so glad to be a winner of his new book, END OF STORY. Thank you.”
Jan wrote, “I am a huge fan of Bookreporter.com and a lifetime public library addict. A quick note about the Oscars: My younger sister, Diane Warren, is nominated for the 15th time for Best Original Song for the movie Flamin' Hot. So wish Diane good luck since she has never won yet. But she does have an honorary Oscar! I totally love all you do for us book people!!!” Sadly, Diane lost to Billie Eilish, but I have to say that just being nominated is brilliant!
“Apples Never Fall” on Peacock: I tripped onto this series last night. I had read the novel when it first came out. It was not my favorite of Liane Moriarty’s books. In fact, I forgot the plot, but I caught up quickly watching it. I am not sure how I feel about it. I think the one thing I am seeing as I watch it is that the four kids seem to bear no family resemblance to each other. Annette Bening plays the mother; after seemingly being nowhere for a while, between Nyad, this show and Oscars night, I feel like she is everywhere now. Oh, and for those wondering, the show was shot in Australia, not West Palm Beach.
“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” on FX: The finale aired this week. I truly think that this could have been about two episodes shorter and it would have been better. But okay, we got to close down Le Cote Basque in the finale. And am I the only one who thinks that Babe Paley’s grave might have been a bit grander?
Allison Pataki: Allison was on “Today” talking about her latest novel, the aforementioned FINDING MARGARET FULLER, and other great works of female authors for Women’s History Month. You can watch the segment here.
Paul Simon: Paul was on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” last night. Click here to watch the interview. On Sunday night, part one of the docuseries “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon” will premiere on MGM+. Here’s the trailer. Part two runs next Sunday. I feel like watching this will be like watching a film of his life up against mine as I have been a passionate Paul Simon fan since the age of 13. When he did his farewell tour, there was a montage that ran at the beginning, and I remembered where I was for all those moments when I saw the photos.
For the past eight years, there has been a project in the works in Kansas City to create the country’s first and only immersive museum of children’s literature. I remember a lot of discussion about this in its early days when I was on the board of Every Child a Reader. It’s called The Rabbit hOle, and it finally opened its doors on March 12th. You can read more about it here.
My amaryllis plants still are blooming. Here's one of what I think are the last flowers to emerge. With Easter early this year, I feel like the white amaryllis that is ready to push forth in the kitchen is going to overlap with the Easter lilies. It was so warm this week that some plants started sprouting in the new perennial garden. It’s time to start picking up the branches and twigs that have fallen and start to take stock of what needs to be done in the garden this year. We planted so many perennials last year, and I am hoping that since we had a relatively mild winter, they all will return!
I have no formal weekend plans, which is actually quite nice. I think we have enough firewood for a couple of more fires. There will be our traditional corned beef and cabbage on Sunday. I know that this is not true Irish cuisine, but considering that I am 100% Italian and Tom is about 25% Irish, we will go with the imposter meal.
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!
Featured Review: STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE
by Lisa Gardner
STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE by Lisa Gardner (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning. Despite the media’s chronicling of her childhood spent with a violent father, no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led 18 men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats. Twelve years ago, Pierson’s five-year-old sister, Leilani, went missing in Hawaii, and the main suspect was Pierson’s ex-boyfriend. Now, with only three weeks left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on her sister’s whereabouts. Frankie Elkin takes on Pierson’s request to find Leilani on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: WATCH WHERE THEY HIDE
by Tamron Hall
WATCH WHERE THEY HIDE: A Jordan Manning Novel by Tamron Hall
(Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Dalian
After dropping her child off at preschool, Marla Hancock disappears. She recently had left her verbally abusive husband and moved in with her sister, Shelly, who simply can’t believe that her sister would ever willingly vanish without her children. But with limited support from the town’s police department or media resources, Shelly fears that Marla’s disappearance won’t get the attention it deserves. So, several weeks after filing a missing person’s report, she reaches out to TV journalist Jordan Manning for help. Jordan has gained a reputation as a “fixer” with a vigilante edge, but she still feels pressure to prove herself as a young Black professional. Her search for Marla twists and turns in ways she never could have imagined, illuminating scandals and secrets that place her own life in grave danger. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Tamron Hall.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read our review.
New Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of
LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE by Terah Shelton Harris, Releasing May 14th
LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE by Terah Shelton Harris is an explosive and emotional story of four siblings --- each fighting his or her own personal battle --- who return home in the wake of their father's death in order to save their family's home from being sold out from under them.
We have 25 copies of LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on May 14th. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, March 29th at noon ET.
LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE by Terah Shelton Harris (Fiction)
"Don't let the white man take the house."
These are the last words King Solomon says to his son before he dies. Now all four Solomon siblings must return to North Carolina to save the Kingdom, their ancestral home and 200 acres of land, from a development company that has their sights set on turning the valuable waterfront property into a luxury resort.
While fighting to save the Kingdom, the siblings also must save themselves from the secrets they've been holding onto. Junior, the oldest son and married to his wife for 11 years, is secretly in love with another man. Second son Mance can't control his temper, which has landed him in prison more than once. CeCe, the oldest daughter and a lawyer in New York City, has embezzled thousands of dollars from her firm's clients. Youngest daughter Tokey wonders why she doesn't seem to fit into this family, which has left an aching hole in her heart that she tries to fill in harmful ways.
As the Solomons come together to fight for the Kingdom, each of their façades begins to crumble and collide in unexpected ways.
- Click here to read Terah Shelton Harris' bio.
- Click here to visit Terah Shelton Harris' website.
- Connect with Terah Shelton Harris on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review:
THE GREAT DIVIDE by Cristina Henríquez
A “Read with Jenna” Today Show
Book Club Pick for March
THE GREAT DIVIDE by Cristina Henríquez (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Robin Miles
It is said that the Panama Canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. For Francisco, a local fisherman who resents the foreign powers clamoring for a slice of his country, nothing is more upsetting than the decision of his son, Omar, to work as a digger in the excavation zone. Ada Bunting is a bold 16-year-old from Barbados who arrives in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work. When she sees Omar, who has collapsed after a grueling shift, she is the only one who rushes to his aid. John Oswald has dedicated his life to scientific research and has journeyed to Panama with the goal of eliminating malaria. But his wife, Marian, has fallen ill herself, and when he witnesses Ada’s bravery and compassion, he hires her on the spot as a caregiver. This fateful decision sets in motion a sweeping tale of ambition, loyalty and sacrifice. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to see why the book is a "Read with Jenna" pick for this month.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: HELP WANTED by Adelle Waldman
HELP WANTED by Adelle Waldman (Fiction)
Every day at 3:55 a.m., members of Team Movement clock in for their shift at big-box store Town Square in a small upstate New York town. Under the eyes of a self-absorbed and barely competent boss, they empty the day’s truck of merchandise, stock the shelves, and scatter before the store opens and customers arrive. Their lives follow a familiar if grueling routine, but their real problem is that Town Square doesn’t schedule them for enough hours --- most of them are barely getting by, even while working second or third jobs. When store manager Big Will announces he is leaving, the members of Movement spot an opportunity. If they play their cards right, one of them just might land a management job, with all the stability and possibility for advancement that that implies. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: MONA OF THE MANOR
by Armistead Maupin
MONA OF THE MANOR: A Tales of the City Novel by Armistead Maupin (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mara Wilson
When Mona Ramsey married Lord Teddy Roughton to secure his visa --- allowing him to remain in San Francisco to fulfill his wildest dreams --- she never imagined that by age 48, she would be the sole owner of Easley House, Teddy’s grand, romantic country manor in the UK. She also didn't imagine that she’d need to open the manor’s doors to paying guests to afford the electric bill and repair the leaking roof. Yet somehow, she and her young friend, Wilfred --- whom guests assume is serving as Easley’s charming-but-clumsy butler --- and the loopy old gardener, Mr. Hargis, are making it work. This delicate equilibrium is upended when Americans Rhonda and Ernie Blaylock arrive for a weekend vacation at Easley, and Wilfred stumbles onto their terrible secret. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: MURDER AT LA VILLETTE by Cara Black
MURDER AT LA VILLETTE: An Aimée Leduc Investigation Set in Paris by Cara Black (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Carine Montbertrand
Parisian private investigator Aimée Leduc doesn’t know that her life is about to be upended. Her ex, Melac, has been hounding her to move their daughter, Chloé, to Brittany. Aimée has stopped answering his calls, which is why she doesn’t know he’s waiting for her by the Bassin de la Villette as she leaves a client’s office late one night. When she finds him, he has just been stabbed by an assailant, who knocks Aimée unconscious and plants the bloody knife in her hands. Now Aimée is in police custody, debilitated by a concussion, with overwhelming evidence pointing to her as Melac’s killer. In an attempt to figure out who the real culprit is, she goes deep into the underbelly of Paris’s 19th arrondissement, where she rubs shoulders with biker gangs, paranoid journalists, grieving parents and frustratingly tight-lipped ex-cops on her hunt for justice. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 13th Annual
Spring Preview Contests and Feature
Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases.
Our 13th annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through mid-April. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win.
We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next contest will be up on Tuesday, March 19th at noon ET. The prize book will be FINDING MARGARET FULLER by Allison Pataki, an epic imagining of the life of Margaret Fuller --- America’s forgotten leading lady and the central figure of a movement that defined a nation.
This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
THE EXTINCTION OF IRENA REY by Jennifer Croft (Literary Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Lanessa Tremblett
Eight translators arrive at a house in a primeval Polish forest on the border of Belarus. It belongs to the world-renowned author Irena Rey, and they are there to translate her magnum opus, Gray Eminence. But within days of their arrival, Irena disappears without a trace. The translators, who hail from eight different countries but share the same reverence for their beloved author, begin to investigate where she may have gone while proceeding with work on her masterpiece. They explore this ancient wooded refuge with its intoxicating slime molds and lichens and study her exotic belongings and layered texts for clues. But doing so reveals secrets --- and deceptions --- of Irena Rey's that they are utterly unprepared for. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
PIGLET by Lottie Hazell (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rebekah Hinds
An up-and-coming cookbook editor at a London publishing house, Piglet has lovely, loyal friends and a handsome fiancé, Kit. One of the many things Kit loves about Piglet is the delicious, unfathomably elaborate meals she’s always cooking. But when Kit confesses a horrible betrayal two weeks before they’re set to be married, Piglet finds herself suddenly…hungry. The couple decides to move forward with the wedding as planned, but as it nears and Piglet balances family expectations, pressure at work and her quest to make the perfect cake, she finds herself increasingly unsettled, behaving in ways even she can’t explain. By the day of her wedding, Piglet is undone but is also ready to look beyond the lies we sometimes tell ourselves to get by. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
A GOOD BAD BOY: Luke Perry and How a Generation Grew Up by Margaret Wappler (Biography)
Audiobook available; read by Jennifer Jill Araya and George Newbern, with Margaret Wappler
Best known for playing loner rebel Dylan McKay on “Beverly Hills 90210,” Luke Perry was 52 years old when he died of a stroke in 2019. There have been other deaths of ’90s stars, but this one hit different. Gen X was reminded of their own inescapable mortality and robbed of an exciting career resurgence for one of their most cherished icons --- with recent roles in the hit series “Riverdale” and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood bringing him renewed attention and acclaim. Only upon his death, as stories poured out online about his authenticity and kindness, did it become clear how little was known about the exceedingly humble actor and how deeply he impacted popular culture. In A GOOD BAD BOY, Margaret Wappler attempts to understand who Perry was and why he was unique among his Hollywood peers. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
DEVOUT: A Memoir of Doubt by Anna Gazmarian (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Rachel LeBlang
In this revelatory memoir, Anna Gazmarian tells the story of how her evangelical upbringing in North Carolina failed to help her understand the mental health diagnosis she received, and the work she had to do to find proper medical treatment while also maintaining her faith. When Anna is diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011, she’s faced with a conundrum. While the diagnosis provides clarity about her manic and depressive episodes, she must confront the stigma that her evangelical community attaches to her condition. Over the course of 10 years, we follow Anna on her journey to reframe her understanding of mental health to expand the limits of what her religious practice can offer. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
A STEP PAST DARKNESS by Vera Kurian (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jeena Yi
There’s something sinister under the surface of the idyllic, suburban town of Wesley Falls, and it’s not just the abandoned coal mine that lies beneath it. The summer of 1995 kicks off with a party in the mine where six high school students witness a horrifying crime that changes the course of their lives. When they realize that they can’t trust anyone but each other, they begin to investigate what happened on their own. As tensions escalate in town to a breaking point, the six make a vow of silence, bury all their evidence, and promise to never contact each other again. But 20 years later, Jia calls them all back to Wesley Falls. Maddy has been murdered, and they are the only ones who can uncover why. But to end things, they have to return to the mine one last time. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
BIG TIME by Ben H. Winters (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Eva Kaminsky
Grace Berney is a mid-level bureaucrat in the Food and Drug Administration, a woman who once brimmed with purpose but somehow turned into a middle-aged single mom with a dull government job and a melancholy sense that life has passed her by. Until the night a strange photo comes across her desk, of a young woman in a hospital bed who has been subjected to a mysterious procedure. Against orders and against common sense, Grace sets out to bring the girl to safety, and finds herself risking her job, her future and her life on whether or not she can find the missing girl before an obsessive and violent mercenary who’s also looking. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
HYPNOTIZED BY LOVE by Sariah Wilson (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Stevi Incremona
Hypnotist Savannah Sinclair is known for helping clients overcome their deep-rooted issues. But her nontraditional approach also attracts plenty of skeptics --- including her high school nemesis and rival, Mason Beckett, who just so happens to be the boy who broke her heart. Mason’s life hasn’t gone according to plan, and the only gig he can land is writing a scathing exposé of his hometown hypnotist, Savannah. But in order to write an authentic article, he has to be a willing participant. Hypnosis is the last thing he expected. When a fire alarm interrupts their session, Mason walks out into the real world entranced and sporting a sunny disposition. Hypnotized Mason reveals things he’s never told a soul and leads Savannah on a frantic chase to keep him safe. He likes his new self. The problem is, so does Savannah. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
NO BETTER TIME: A Novel of the Spirited Women of the Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory Battalion by Sheila Williams (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Janina Edwards
In the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Dorothy Thom joins the Women’s Army Corps. Women from all levels of society work together to navigate a military segregated by race and gender. In early 1945, Dorothy and 800 African American WACs cross the turbulent North Atlantic to their post in England. Their orders are to process the mail sent to GIs from their loved ones back home. They arrive to find mail stockpiled for over two years in warehouses and airplane hangars. Many pieces are in poor condition, and the names are illegible. In England and France, the WACs traverse a landscape of unimagined possibilities. With their outlooks changed forever, they return to the United States as the catalysts for change in America and build lives that transcend anything their ancestors ever dreamed of. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
SHOULDER: a memoir by Moya Hession-Aiken (Memoir)
Growing up a headstrong Irish Catholic girl in a notoriously tough housing estate in Northern England, Moya Hession-Aiken has just one goal --- to live a rich, creative life in America. SHOULDER tells the story of the riotous and hilarious path from her boisterous but warm family back home to her education in London and her escape to New York in the 1980s, where she finds everything she’s looking for --- exciting jobs in the fashion industry and later at MTV --- but where she also meets the man of her dreams, only to lose him to cancer following the birth of their son. Told in a voice that is equal parts Alan Bennett and Frank McCourt, this is a story about the thrill of taking chances and the unbearable pain of loss, as well as a profound meditation on what it takes to survive and what it means to care for others. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on March 18th and 19th
Below are some notable titles releasing on March 18th and 19th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of March 18th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
March 18th
THE #1 LAWYER by James Patterson and Nancy Allen (Legal Thriller)
Biloxi’s best criminal defense attorney has never lost a case. Then his client’s beautiful wife is murdered, and America’s #1 lawyer suddenly becomes its #1 suspect.
March 19th
THE BLACK BOX: Writing the Race by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
(Literary Criticism/History)
Distilled over many years from Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s legendary Harvard introductory course in African American Studies, THE BLACK BOX is the story of Black self-definition in America through the prism of the writers who have led the way.
THE DIVORCÉES by Rowan Beaird (Historical Fiction)
Set in the glamorous, dizzying world of 1950s Reno, where housewives and movie stars rubbed shoulders at gin-soaked casinos, THE DIVORCÉES is a riveting page-turner and a dazzling exploration of female friendship, desire and freedom.
EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle (Romance)
From the New York Times bestselling author of IN FIVE YEARS and ONE ITALIAN SUMMER comes a love story that will define a generation. Being single is like playing the lottery. There’s always the chance that with one piece of paper you could win it all.
FINDING MARGARET FULLER by Allison Pataki (Historical Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST comes an epic imagining of the life of Margaret Fuller, America’s forgotten leading lady and the central figure of a movement that defined a nation.
GOOD HALF GONE by Tarryn Fisher (Psychological Thriller)
Iris Walsh saw her twin sister, Piper, get kidnapped as a teen. So why does no one believe her? Now an adult, Iris wants one thing: proof. And if the police still won’t help, she’ll just have to find it her own way.
HAS ANYONE SEEN CHARLOTTE SALTER? by Nicci French (Psychological Thriller)
This nerve-tingling and atmospheric thriller from master of suspense Nicci French is about two families shattered by tragedy and the secrets that have been waiting decades to be revealed.
I PROMISE IT WON’T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS: 18 Assurances on Grief by Clare Mackintosh (Memoir)
New York Times and internationally bestselling mystery author Clare Mackintosh makes her nonfiction debut with this deeply felt memoir of unfathomable loss and infinite hope.
JAMES by Percival Everett (Historical Fiction)
Told from the enslaved Jim's point of view, this brilliant, action-packed reimagining of ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN is both harrowing and ferociously funny.
THE MORNINGSIDE by Téa Obreht (Fiction)
From the critically beloved, New York Times bestselling author of THE TIGER'S WIFE and INLAND comes a sweeping novel of mothers and daughters, displacement and belonging, and wondrous tales of a world both fallen and new.
THE MYSTERY WRITER by Sulari Gentill (Literary Thriller/Mystery)
From 2023 Edgar Award nominee and bestselling author Sulari Gentill comes a literary thriller about an aspiring writer who meets and falls in love with her literary idol --- only to find him murdered the day after she gave him her manuscript to read.
THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS by Chris Bohjalian (Thriller)
A Princess Diana impersonator and her estranged sister find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of money and murder in this twisting tale of organized crime, cryptocurrency and family secrets on the Las Vegas strip.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Heather Gudenkauf, Anna Quindlen, Simone St. James
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.
Monday, March 18th at 7pm ET: Murder By The Book: Simone St. James will talk to Mystery and Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about her terrifying new novel, MURDER ROAD, in which a young couple find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road.
Monday, March 18th at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Heather Gudenkauf will talk to Mystery and Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about her latest twisty thriller, EVERYONE IS WATCHING, in which a mysterious high-stakes game proves life-threatening.
Wednesday, March 20th 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 Anna Quindlen about her latest novel, AFTER ANNIE.
Wednesday, March 20th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Spring Preview Event: Carol Fitzgerald will talk about a number of books releasing this spring that we think you will enjoy reading over the next few months.
Thursday, March 21st at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Heather Gudenkauf, Mary Kubica and Lisa Unger will talk about their highly anticipated new thrillers: Heather's EVERYONE IS WATCHING, Mary's SHE'S NOT SORRY, and Lisa's THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B.
"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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Tamron Hall (WATCH WHERE THEY HIDE: A Jordan Manning Novel) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll:
March Paperback Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in paperback in March have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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48 CLUES INTO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MY SISTER by Joyce Carol Oates
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COUNTDOWN by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
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CROW MARY by Kathleen Grissom
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THE CURATOR by Owen King
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DARK ANGEL: A Letty Davenport Novel, by John Sandford
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EARTH’S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE by Elizabeth Berg
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GOOD DOG, BAD COP: A K Team Novel, by David Rosenfelt
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HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls
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HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry
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IT’S ONE OF US by J.T. Ellison
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OLD BABES IN THE WOOD: Stories, by Margaret Atwood
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ONCE WE WERE HOME by Jennifer Rosner
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ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL by Susan Meissner
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THE ONLY SURVIVORS by Megan Miranda
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OUT OF NOWHERE by Sandra Brown
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PALAZZO by Danielle Steel
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THE PERFUMIST OF PARIS by Alka Joshi
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PICTURE IN THE SAND by Peter Blauner
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PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson
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A RELATIVE MURDER: A Medlar Mystery, by Jude Deveraux
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ROBERT B. PARKER’S BAD INFLUENCE: A Sunny Randall Novel, by Alison Gaylin
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ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld
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THE SENATOR’S WIFE by Liv Constantine
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SO SHALL YOU REAP: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery, by Donna Leon
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THE SOULMATE by Sally Hepworth
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THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS by Kristy Woodson Harvey
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THE TRACKERS by Charles Frazier
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TWO WARS AND A WEDDING by Lauren Willig
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THE WHITE LADY by Jacqueline Winspear
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ZERO DAYS by Ruth Ware
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, March 29th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from March 15th to March 29th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle and THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS by Chris Bohjalian.
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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