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Why I Read More During the Summer!
I think I figured out why I read more during the summer. I am outside where there is less to pick up, organize, clean up or otherwise move around. Yes, I will shift flowers around or come up with ideas on how to better enjoy entertaining. But for the most part, I am happy to just float or stand in the pool with a book, or hibernate in the “Cleopatra” tent. Life is just a tad easier.
Now, this does not mean that my reading pile is any smaller. If anything, this summer has been an embarrassment of riches of great books to read. And I already have advance copies of fall and even January books that I am dying to read. I am trying very hard to keep up; I know I never will get ahead!
So what is on my reading list for the weekend? I am halfway through LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger, which will be out on October 29th (I know, I am reading ahead here), and am looking forward to reading more. This is a very compelling story about three generations of strong-willed women, unknowingly shaped by the secrets buried in their family’s past.
I love that I have an advance copy of T.J. Newman’s WORST CASE SCENARIO, which releases on August 13th, as her two previous books --- FALLING and DROWNING --- were Bookreporter.com Bets On selections. And I am happy to share that WORST CASE SCENARIO has been added to our Summer Reading feature, so keep your eyes out for that 24-hour contest in August.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Caro Carver, whose newly released thriller, BAD TOURISTS, we reviewed last week and will be a Bets On pick. For those who may not know, Caro has written thrillers and mysteries as C.J. Cooke.
Caro's inspiration for the book came from a trip to the Maldives. It seems like an idyllic setting, but one where a lot more nefarious things might happen. Caro talks about her three characters, who are bound together by a past event, and why she chose a “divorce trip” as the reason for all of them to get away. She also explains how another couple on vacation at the resort was incorporated into her storytelling.
Caro shares a lot about her writing process for the book, as well as what’s next for her. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
Gabriel Allon returns in A DEATH IN CORNWALL, the 24th installment in Daniel Silva’s New York Times bestselling series. The art restorer and legendary spy is at a London reception celebrating the return of a stolen self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. But when an old friend seeks his help with a baffling murder investigation, Gabriel finds himself pursuing a powerful and dangerous new adversary.
Lorraine W. Shanley has our review and says, “[L]ongtime readers will notice that Gabriel has evolved into a multidimensional character. While able to stay one step ahead of a swarm of antagonists, he has a solid reputation in the art world and a real affection and appreciation for his many friends there, as well as for his faithful allies and, of course, his family. Similarly, Silva effortlessly juggles a series of plot twists while homing in on a range of serious topics…”
In the wake of tragedy, a group of friends makes a pact that will cause them to reunite a decade later and embark upon a life-changing adventure together in Emily Giffin’s latest novel, THE SUMMER PACT. In this tender portrayal of grief, love and hope, Giffin asks: When things fall apart, who will be at our sides, helping us pick up the pieces?
In her review, Norah Piehl calls the book “a great vacation read, filled with descriptions of wonderful food, fashion, breathtaking landscapes and, eventually, romance. It has just enough serious topics --- ranging from infidelity to suicide to alcoholism --- to lend its situations and characters heft and substance, and to make their eventual happy endings that much harder-won.” I read this book last Saturday, and I agree that so much happens. Stories of long friendships always interest me.
In HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams, a Bets On title that we featured in the last newsletter, two women --- separated by decades and continents, and united by an exotic family heirloom --- reclaim secrets and lost loves. This timeless and bittersweet novel takes readers on an unforgettable journey of heartbreak and redemption, from the revolutionary fires of midcentury Egypt to the moneyed beaches of contemporary New England.
Amy Gwiazdowski has this to say in her review: “HUSBANDS & LOVERS is a book that doesn’t leave you even after you put it down. I was drawn back to these characters as I needed to know what would happen, how they would react, and, in some cases, how they would heal and find their footing again. I was so invested that I reread the last few pages several times, wanting more words to magically appear and for the novel to continue.” I am so pleased that Amy enjoyed this one as much as I did! I look forward to interviewing Beatriz on Tuesday.
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
HUSBANDS & LOVERS is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes; the other is THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan, which also will be a Bets On selection. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, July 26th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win these titles. Trust me, you will enjoy both of them.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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SAME AS IT EVER WAS: Claire Lombardo follows up her debut, THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD, with another brilliantly observed family drama in which the enduring, hard-won affection of a long marriage faces imminent derailment from events both past and present.
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ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY: With the recent passing of their father, the Bishop sisters have come to Maine to claim their family-owned hotel, the Precipice. But with a hurricane looming and each of the sisters harboring dangerous secrets, there's murder in the air --- and not everyone who checks into the Precipice will be checking out. I loved Jamie Day’s debut, THE BLOCK PARTY, and I want to read this one!
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I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER: Stephen Graham Jones has penned a classic slasher story with a twist --- perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Grady Hendrix. Here he explores the Texas he grew up in and the unfairness of being on the outside from the perspective of a killer writing his own autobiography.
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BREAKING THE DARK: Lisa Jewell launches the Marvel Crime series of thriller books for adults with an original story starring private detective Jessica Jones. The series will continue with original novels featuring fan-favorite characters like Luke Cage, written by S. A. Cosby, and Daredevil, written by Alex Segura.
Summer Reading Contest Update
We gave away the aforementioned BAD TOURISTS by Caro Carver in this week’s Summer Reading contest. Next week’s prize book will be the aforementioned THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali, which is our current Fiction Author Spotlight title and will be a Bets On pick. The giveaway will go live on Tuesday, July 23rd at noon ET. If you missed my interview with Marjan, be sure to watch or listen to it.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 30 titles releasing this month you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, July 26th at noon ET.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Jan wrote with a good question: “I really enjoy your 'Bookaccino Live' events. Is it possible when you announce these events via your newsletter to state if there will be spoilers during the author interview? Sometimes I like to listen to the author talks but have not yet read the book. I understand this may not be possible since questions around the story may come up. Just wondering.”
Here are the answers. Our “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews and our “Bookaccino Live” book preview events are both spoiler free. For our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events, there are spoilers, and this is noted with the signup information. For these events, we typically focus on books that have been out for a while to give enough people a chance to read them.
Liz Moore Talking About THE GOD OF THE WOODS: Here is a good interview with Liz on NPR, and here is a piece by Maureen Corrigan about summer fiction crime and suspense books.
The New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century: I still need to go through this list and see how many of these books I have read --- and how many I still have on my “to be read” pile.
“Owning Manhattan” on Netflix: Okay, this is just like all of the other real estate shows out there; I think I have watched them all while I answer email or knit. They are a lot more scripted than people might think, but the apartment that is selling in the penthouse in the Central Park Tower, the world's tallest residential building, intrigued me and is just crazy: “The Sky House duplex apartment spans the 127th and 128th floors of the 1,550-foot-tall building. It has 11,535 square feet, eight bedrooms, nine full bathrooms, and one powder room, with views of Manhattan and Central Park.” Seriously crazy!
Books on Screen Series to Check Out: “Emperor of Ocean Park”, based on the book by Stephen L. Carter, is on MGM+. “Lady in the Lake”, based on the book by Laura Lippman, is on Apple TV+. I look forward to delving into both.
The humidity finally has lifted. What a brutal couple of weeks this has been! Even pouring rain two nights this week did not help the situation. It just seemed to make things more humid. Maybe next week we can resume the weeding, building gardens and mulching tasks that were put on hold.
The large hibiscus flowers finally have bloomed (behind schedule), but they are spectacular and well worth waiting for. Each blossom only lasts about 24 hours, but they are stunning!
We have 12 more pounds of peaches arriving from Georgia tomorrow. Between peaches and blueberries, we have had a very fruitful summer <pun intended>. Cory and Kaltrina are coming on Sunday. You know there will be peaches and blueberries on the menu.
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: A DEATH IN CORNWALL by Daniel Silva
A DEATH IN CORNWALL by Daniel Silva (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
Art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon has slipped quietly into London to attend a reception at the Courtauld Gallery celebrating the return of a stolen self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. But when an old friend from the Devon and Cornwall Police seeks his help with a baffling murder investigation, he finds himself pursuing a powerful and dangerous new adversary. The victim is Charlotte Blake, a celebrated professor of art history from Oxford who spends her weekends in the same seaside village where Gabriel once lived under an assumed identity. Her murder appears to be the work of a diabolical serial killer who has been terrorizing the Cornish countryside. But there are a number of telltale inconsistencies, including a missing mobile phone. And then there is the mysterious three-letter cypher she left behind on a notepad in her study. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE SUMMER PACT by Emily Giffin
THE SUMMER PACT by Emily Giffin (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Karissa Vacker, Alex McKenna and JD Jackson
Four freshmen arrive at college from completely different worlds: Lainey, a California party girl with a flair for drama; Tyson, a brilliant scholar and an aspiring lawyer from Washington, D.C.; Summer, an ambitious, recruited athlete from the Midwest; and Hannah, a mild-mannered southerner. Soon after arriving on campus, they strike up a conversation in their shared dorm. As their college years fly by, the four become inseparable. But as graduation nears, their lives are forever changed after a desperate act leads to tragic consequences. They make a pact, promising to always be there for one another. Ten years later, Hannah is anticipating what should be one of the happiest moments of her life when everything is suddenly turned upside down. Calling on her closest friends, it soon becomes clear that they are all facing their own crossroads. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Helen Laser and Caroline Hewitt
New England, 2022. Three years ago, single mother Mallory Dunne’s 10-year-old son, Sam, suffered acute poisoning from a toxic death cap mushroom. Now, searching for a donor kidney, Mallory is forced to confront two harrowing secrets from her past: her mother’s adoption and her romance with her childhood best friend, Monk Adams, which was cut short by a devastating betrayal. Cairo, 1951. Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth has married a wealthy British diplomat with a coveted posting in glamorous Cairo. But a fateful encounter with the enigmatic manager of a hotel bristling with spies leads to a passionate affair that will reawaken Hannah’s longing for everything she once lost. As revolution simmers in the Egyptian streets, a pregnant Hannah finds herself snared in a game of intrigue between two men --- and an act of sacrifice that will echo down the generations. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
Click here to read our review.
Fiction Author Spotlight:
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mozhan Navabi and Nikki Massoud
In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams of a friend to alleviate her isolation.
Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind, passionate girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions for becoming “lion women.”
But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives.
Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Marjan Kamali.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to read Marjan Kamali's bio.
- Click here to visit Marjan Kamali's website.
- Connect with Marjan Kamali on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight.
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review: SAME AS IT EVER WAS
by Claire Lombardo
SAME AS IT EVER WAS by Claire Lombardo (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Emily Rankin
After a youth marked by upheaval and emotional turbulence, Julia Ames has found herself on the placid plateau of mid-life. But Julia has never navigated the world with the equanimity of her current privileged class. Having nearly derailed herself several times, making desperate bids for the kind of connection that always felt inaccessible to her, at age 57 she finally feels that she has a firm handle on things. Julia is unprepared, though, for what comes next: a surprise announcement from her straight-arrow son, an impending separation from her spikey teenage daughter, and a seductive resurgence of the past, all of which threaten to draw her back into the patterns that previously had kept her on a razor’s edge. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- 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: ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Jamie Day
ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Jamie Day (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
The Precipice is a legendary, family-owned hotel on the rocky coast of Maine. With the recent passing of their father, the Bishop sisters --- Iris, Vicki and Faith --- have come for the weekend to claim it. But with a hurricane looming and each of the Bishop sisters harboring dangerous secrets, there's murder in the air --- and not everyone who checks into the Precipice will be checking out. Each sister wants what is rightfully hers, and in the mix is the Precipe’s 19-year-old chambermaid, Charley Kelley, who is smart, resilient, older than her years and in desperate straits. The arrival of the Bishop sisters could spell disaster for Charley. Will they close the hotel? Fire her? Discover her habit of pilfering from guests? Or, even worse, learn that she's using a guest room to hide a woman on the run? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER
by Stephen Graham Jones
I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER by Stephen Graham Jones (Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available; read by Michael Crouch, with acknowledgments read by Stephen Graham Jones
1989, Lamesa, Texas. A small west Texas town driven by oil and cotton --- and a place where everyone knows everyone else’s business. So it goes for 17-year-old Tolly Driver, a good kid with more potential than application, who is about to be cursed to kill for revenge. Here Stephen Graham Jones explores the Texas he grew up in, the unfairness of being on the outside, through the slasher horror he lives but from the perspective of the killer, Tolly, writing his own autobiography. Find yourself rooting for a killer in this summer teen movie of a novel gone full blood-curdling tragic. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: BREAKING THE DARK by Lisa Jewell
BREAKING THE DARK: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel by Lisa Jewell (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Helen Laser
Jessica Jones is a retired superhero turned private investigator. One morning, a distraught Amber Randall comes into her office. She is adamant that something happened to her teenage twins while they were visiting their father in the UK. The twins don’t act like themselves, and they now have flawless skin, have lost their distinctive tics and habits, and keep talking about a girl named Belle. Traveling to a small village in the British countryside, Jessica meets the mysterious Belle, who lives a curiously isolated life in an old farmhouse with a strange woman who claims to be her guardian. Can this unworldly teenager really be responsible for the Randall twins’ new personas? Why does the strange little village of Barton Wallop seem to harbor dark energies and mysteries in its tight-knit community? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 20th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through early August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next contest will be up on Tuesday, July 23rd at noon ET. The prize book will be THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali. Set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran, this heartfelt, epic new novel of friendship, betrayal and redemption will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
CONFESSIONS OF THE DEAD by James Patterson and J. D. Barker (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by a full cast
Hollows Bend, New Hampshire, is a picture-perfect New England town where weekend tourists flock to see fall leaves and eat breakfast at the Stairway Diner. The crime rate --- zero --- is a point of pride for Sheriff Ellie Pritchett. The day the stranger shows up is when the trouble starts. The sheriff and her deputy investigate the mysterious teenage girl. None of the locals can place her. She can’t --- or won’t --- answer any questions. She won’t even tell them her name. While the girl is in protective custody, the officers are called to multiple crime scenes leading them closer and closer to a lake outside of town that doesn’t appear on any map. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE SPELLSHOP by Sarah Beth Durst (Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Caitlin Davies
As a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, Kiela and her assistant, Caz --- a magically sentient spider plant --- have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers a nosy neighbor who keeps showing up to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home. In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have --- jam --- and her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries. She risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much-needed secret spellshop. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE SHADOW by Brian Freeman (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
It's been over a decade since Nash Rollins recruited a brilliant and talented, but disaffected, young man named David Webb to join Treadstone. Webb became the agent known as Cain --- and later took on the identity of Jason Bourne. That violent winter --- which included Cain’s first mission for Treadstone --- was also a story of betrayal in ways that David never knew. So after the injury that erased Bourne’s whole life, Nash lied about the circumstances of David’s recruitment to Treadstone. He was afraid that learning the truth might drive Bourne out of the agency forever. But now, when Bourne meets a woman who recognizes him as David Webb, the secrets of those days begin to come out --- and Bourne is forced to confront the dangerous ghosts of a past he doesn’t even remember. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE GENIUS OF JUDY: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us by Rachelle Bergstein (Biography/Popular Culture)
Audiobook available, read by Mia Barron
Judy Blume’s books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century? In THE GENIUS OF JUDY, her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular children with genuine thoughts and problems. But behind those deceptively simple tales, she explored the pillars of the growing women’s rights movement, in which girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, fulfilling relationships and even sexual pleasure. Blume wasn’t trying to be a revolutionary --- she just wanted to tell honest stories --- but in doing so, she created a cohesive, culture-altering vision of modern adolescence. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE GARDEN AGAINST TIME: In Search of a Common Paradise by Olivia Laing (Memoir/Nature)
Audiobook available, read by Olivia Laing
In 2020, Olivia Laing began to restore an 18th-century walled garden in Suffolk, an overgrown Eden of unusual plants. The work brought to light a crucial question for our age: Who gets to live in paradise, and how can we share it while there’s still time? Moving between real and imagined gardens, from Milton’s PARADISE LOST to John Clare’s enclosure elegies, from a wartime sanctuary in Italy to a grotesque aristocratic pleasure ground funded by slavery, Laing interrogates the sometimes shocking cost of making paradise on earth. But the story of the garden doesn’t always enact larger patterns of privilege and exclusion. It’s also a place of rebel outposts and communal dreams. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
THE UPTOWN LOCAL: Joy, Death, and Joan Didion: A Memoir by Cory Leadbeater (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Charlie Thurston
As an aspiring novelist in his early 20s, Cory Leadbeater was presented with an opportunity to work for a well-known writer whose identity was kept confidential. Since the tumultuous days of childhood, Cory had sought refuge from the rougher parts of life in the pages of books. Suddenly, he found himself the personal assistant to a titan of literature: Joan Didion. In the nine years that followed, Cory shared Joan’s rarefied world, transformed not only by her blazing intellect but also by her generous friendship and mentorship. But secretly, Cory was spiraling. He reeled from the death of a close friend. He spent his weekends at a federal prison visiting his father, who was serving time for fraud. He struggled day after day to write the novel that would validate him as a real writer. And meanwhile, the forces of addiction and depression loomed large. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
THE ASTROLOGY HOUSE by Carinn Jade (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by a full cast
Margot has been working 80-hour weeks as a newly minted partner at her law firm. She’s disconnected from her brother, Adam, the only family she has left. And she’s still not pregnant after years of trying. Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat promises rest, relaxation and wisdom for Margot and her friends. With Instagram-worthy views and nightly astrology readings, this getaway should be nothing but idyllic fun. For Adam, it’s the perfect opportunity to rekindle the romance that fuels his writing. But his wife, Aimee, hides the darkness of her past with a beautiful social media feed. Their friend, Farah, is a successful doctor who cannot admit that she’s losing control. Yet no one holds a greater secret than their astrologer host, Rini. She has a plan for all of her guests, and one of them won’t be leaving Stars Harbor alive. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
WHEN CICADAS CRY by Caroline Cleveland (Legal Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Adam Barr
A white woman has been bludgeoned to death with an altar cross in a rural church on Cicada Road in Walterboro, South Carolina. Sam Jenkins, a Black man, is found covered in blood, kneeling over the body. In a state already roiling with racial tension, this is not only a murder case, but a powder keg. Two young women are murdered on quiet Edisto Beach, an hour southeast of Walterboro, and the killer disappears without a trace. Thirty-four years later, the mystery remains unsolved. Could there be a connection to Stander's case? Stander takes on Jenkins' defense, but he's up against a formidable solicitor with powerful allies. Worse, his client is hiding a bombshell secret. When Addie Stone reopens the cold case, she discovers more long-buried secrets in this small town. Would someone kill again to keep them? Reviewed by Jack Kramer.
EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE: A Close-Notice of Life and Consciousness by Tim Garvin (Religion & Spirituality/Science)
Science and religion study the same phenomenon --- the cosmos itself --- but an impenetrable barrier seems to separate them. Author Tim Garvin removes that barrier and offers a resonant handshake. Instead of sitting across from each other in opposition, scientists and seekers can sit at a table made round by wonder. As EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE dives into the nature of knowing and existence, it reveals a mutuality in humankind unimagined by theology or biology, a mutuality in the nature of being itself. From there, it develops an explanation of existence by employing the thought and insight of the inner world's two most penetrating cartographers, Aurobindo Ghose and Meher Baba, whose work and a close-notice of life itself reveal the deep purpose of creation. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on July 23rd
Below are some notable titles releasing on July 23rd that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of July 22nd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE BEST LIES by David Ellis (Thriller)
Bestselling and award-winning author David Ellis delivers a fast-paced, twisty thriller that will surprise readers at every turn.
THE BOOK OF ELSEWHERE by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville
(Science Fiction/Adventure)
Inspired by the world of the BRZRKR comic books, this mind-blowing epic from Keanu Reeves and China Miéville is unlike anything these two genre-bending pioneers have created before.
GLORY DAYS: Stories by Simon Rich (Fiction/Short Stories)
High-stakes and heartfelt, GLORY DAYS is a hilarious and powerful collection of stories about millennials entering the abyss of middle age.
A HUNGER TO KILL: A Serial Killer, a Determined Detective, and the Quest for a Confession That Changed a Small Town Forever by Kim Mager with Lisa Pulitzer (True Crime)
In this fascinating and profoundly chilling account, Detective Kim Mager, a real-life version of Clarice Starling, reveals how she closed in on --- and broke --- one of Ohio’s most infamous serial killers.
NICKED by M. T. Anderson (Historical Fantasy)
From the award-winning and bestselling author of FEED comes a raucous and slyly funny adult fiction debut. Based on a bizarre but true quest to steal the mystical corpse of a long-dead saint, NICKED is a fantastical, genre-defying and delightfully queer historical romp.
THE WRONG HANDS: The New Detective Miller Novel by Mark Billingham
(Mystery/Thriller)
THE WRONG HANDS is the second rip-roaring mystery from multi-award-winning international bestselling author Mark Billingham starring Detective Declan Miller, who is unique, unconventional and criminally underestimated.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Chris Whitaker, Rachelle Bergstein, Dean Jobb
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are four upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Tuesday, July 23rd at 3pm ET: A Special "Read with Jenna" Virtual Book Club Event: Join "Read with Jenna" for an afternoon of conversation, connection and community with Chris Whitaker, the author of ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK. The event will feature an intimate chat, followed by an interactive Q&A, as well as breakout rooms where book club members can share their own perspectives on the book.
Tuesday, July 23rd at 7pm ET: Ashland Public Library: Ashland Public Library is thrilled to be chatting with Rachelle Bergstein, whose book, THE GENIUS OF JUDY: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us, is about one of our very favorite literacy warriors and an author with whom so many of us grew up.
Wednesday, July 24th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to Emily Giffin about her new novel, THE SUMMER PACT, a tender portrayal of grief, love and hope.
Wednesday, July 24th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Dean Jobb will talk about his new book, A GENTLEMAN AND A THIEF, with special guest host David Grann. This captivating true-crime caper is about Arthur Barry, who pulled off the most audacious and lucrative jewel heists of the Jazz Age.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here is our latest interview:
Other authors we've interviewed this year include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Amy Neff (THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST)
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Beatriz Williams (HUSBANDS & LOVERS)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: July Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in July have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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BAD TOURISTS by Caro Carver
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THE BLACK BIRD ORACLE by Deborah Harkness
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BOSS LADY by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans
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BREAKING THE DARK: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel, by Lisa Jewell
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THE BRIAR CLUB by Kate Quinn
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THE BRIGHT SWORD: A Novel of King Arthur, by Lev Grossman
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THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan
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THE CONDITIONS OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel, by Alexander McCall Smith
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THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff
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A DEATH IN CORNWALL by Daniel Silva
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DESPERATION REEF by T. Jefferson Parker
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THE GENIUS OF JUDY: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us, by Rachelle Bergstein
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THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore
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HARD TO KILL: A Jane Smith Thriller, by James Patterson and Mike Lupica
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THE HEART IN WINTER by Kevin Barry
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I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER by Stephen Graham Jones
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JFK JR.: An Intimate Oral Biography, by RoseMarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil
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LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER by Kimberly McCreight
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THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali
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LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
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LOOK IN THE MIRROR by Catherine Steadman
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MEET ME AT THE STARLIGHT by Rachel Hauck
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NICKED by M.T. Anderson
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ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Jamie Day
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ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE SHADOW by Brian Freeman
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SLOW DANCE by Rainbow Rowell
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SUGAR ON THE BONES: A Hap and Leonard Novel, by Joe R. Lansdale
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THE SUMMER PACT by Emily Giffin
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TIGER, TIGER: His Life, As It’s Never Been Told Before, by James Patterson
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WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? by Shari Lapena
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, July 26th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- 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 12th to July 26th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan and HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams.
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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