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On Tuesday, I learned the very sad news that Nelson DeMille passed away. He had been fighting esophageal cancer for about nine months. When I saw a note in my inbox on Tuesday night from his children, Lauren and Alex, I literally yelled “No!’ so loudly that my husband came in from the other room to see what had happened.
Over the past few days, I have been trying to remember which of his books I read first. I am not sure which of his 23 novels it was! Was it THE GOLD COAST or PLUM ISLAND or THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER? I truly cannot recall. I do know that when I read one of his books, I was going to be enjoying a smartly written thriller that would make me think. It often would have Nelson’s wry humor laced in, especially with any of his eight John Corey books, the last being THE MAZE, which came out in 2022.
Kate Ayers, who reviewed many of Nelson's books for us, shared these thoughts about him: “I first encountered Nelson DeMille’s writing over 30 years ago with THE GOLD COAST. He made me blush, but he also made me laugh, think, smile and see the world a whole new way. No other author measured up to him after that. I never met him but grew to know him through his wonderfully irreverent and intelligent characters, all of whom must have been as fun for him to write as they were for us readers. The literary world --- indeed the entire world --- has lost a man of great talent, humor, honor and integrity. RIP, Nelson. Your biggest fan, Kate Ayers.”
Nelson wrote longhand on legal pads, and his assistants knew how to translate his handwriting to the typed page. He frequently shared that he was a complete technophobe, and I remember being shocked the first time he texted me. I was sure that someone was impersonating him until I read the note, which had his irreverent and humorous style.
His newsletters were as legendary as his books. His signature humor found its way into every paragraph. You always felt that he was having a conversation with you!
Nelson's book launch parties always were big events, and they were such fun. A few times they were held at The Union League Club, where gentlemen wore jackets (the invite reminded people of this), and it truly was a swell soirée. One time, when he and Linda Stasi had books releasing at the same time, Linda hosted a pre-publication media luncheon with Nelson at Rao’s, the legendary Italian restaurant in East Harlem where you “need access” to get a table. And when their books came out, he threw their launch party at The Yale Club, where the room was filled with publishing folks, media, family and a whole lot of friends.
He also wrote two books with his son, Alex DeMille: THE DESERTER and BLOOD LINES. In Alex, he finally had found a co-author with whom he enjoyed collaborating. And he loved that the two of them spent time together on tour. In 2019, they stopped by our office for an interview about THE DESERTER that you can watch or listen to.
Beyond being a great writer, Nelson was a wonderful friend. On Wednesday morning, I found myself going through old emails from him where we would catch up not only on books, but also on each other’s families, and banter about publishing and the state of the world. When I would write Nelson a note, it would turn into a day or so of correspondence as one email would always bring a second, and then a third and a fourth. I am going to miss those as much as his books!
As his children noted in a post on Facebook, “True to form, he faced his illness with courage, grace and good humor. He was the kind of person who filled a room with his presence. His warmth, generosity and kindness touched everyone who knew him, and will leave as much of a lasting legacy as his novels.”
I can attest to this. One night, I was giving a talk at the Garden City Public Library. When I got there, I was given a huge arrangement of flowers from Nelson and his wife, Sandy, as he could not make it to the event that night. Yes, he was known as a great writer, but beyond that, he was a great human being.
Over the past few days, friends have shared so many stories about how he touched their lives. One said that he paid for three years of her college education, which led to her start in publishing. Another said that reading his books guided her path to go into publishing. And yet another remembered a publishing dinner where he not only was a graceful guest, he followed up afterwards with a personal note.
Nelson lost his wife to non-smoker’s lung cancer in 2018 at the young age of 54. They were a terrific couple. Sandy would both laugh at his jokes and try to keep him in line --- with “try” being the operative word. Harlan Coben had a great line the other day writing about Nelson’s passing: “Go find Sandy.”
A proud Vietnam War veteran, he often spoke of his experience in the war and valued the friendships he made with his fellow soldiers. He also marveled that Vietnam is now a popular tourist destination; he just remembered looking forward to getting out of there alive.
People have asked how they can honor Nelson. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made to Disabled American Veterans. I thought of another way to honor him so his literary legacy continues. Think of your favorite Nelson DeMille book. Buy it and gift it to a friend who you think might enjoy it. I would love to hear that people continue to discover his work and that his characters live on with a new group of readers.
If you would like to share your own thoughts about Nelson and his work, please email me using the subject line “Nelson.” We will share your comments in next week's newsletter.
This is a huge loss on so many levels, and our deepest sympathy goes out to his children: Lauren, Alex and James. He loved a good bottle of Scotch, so raise a glass and toast him wherever you are with whatever your favorite beverage is. A legend has left the room.
This is your last newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which will take place next Tuesday, September 24th at 8pm ET.
Our guest will be Shelley Read, and she will be talking about her international bestseller, GO AS A RIVER, which is a Bookreporter.com Bets On title. I am so looking forward to this special evening event!
If you have a question for Shelley, please email it to me using the subject line “Shelley” by Tuesday at noon ET. Be sure to also include your name, city and state, and indicate if you’d like to be on camera during the event so you can ask Shelley the question yourself, or if you’d prefer me to ask it for you. Those who appear on camera will be able to chat with Shelley in our virtual green room before the program starts.
On Wednesday night, we hosted a special “Bookaccino Live” Fall Preview evening program. I presented 55 books that are either out now or soon to be released this fall that we think you will enjoy reading over the next few months. Included are fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction. Click here to watch the presentation and here to see a list of the titles that I talked about. We will be doing a Winter Preview evening program in January!
Laura Dave’s new novel, THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM, is October's #1 Indie Next pick and will be a Bets On selection. In it, estranged siblings discover that their father has been keeping a secret for over 50 years, one that may have been fatal. “With Laura Dave's trademark combination of soulful suspense and evocative family drama,” the publisher touts, “THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM is a riveting page-turner with a heartbreaking final twist that you will never see coming.”
In her review, Rebecca Munro calls the book “an intriguing mystery” and “a crystalline, razor-sharp character study of a man as seen through his children’s lives.” She goes on to say, “THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM is captivating and twisty, but it is also emotionally resonant and deeply tender. In unpacking the complicated, tightly packed life of Liam Noone, Dave asks the painful, almost unanswerable question: How well can you ever really know someone, and what does it mean to bear witness to someone’s life?”
Don’t miss my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Laura in next week’s newsletter, followed by my Bets On commentary in two weeks.
Fall Reading Contest Update
We gave away THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM in this week’s Fall Reading contest. Next week’s prize book will be THIS GIRL'S A KILLER by Emma C. Wells, a debut thriller releasing on October 29th that revolves around Cordelia Black, who the publisher describes as “a best friend, a businesswoman and, in her spare time, a killer of bad men.” The contest will be up on Tuesday, September 24th at noon ET.
In a departure from his popular Thursday Murder Club novels, Richard Osman kicks off a brand-new mystery series with the release of WE SOLVE MURDERS. Here, he introduces readers to a detective duo who appear to be mismatched. Steve is a retired detective who would much rather be at home with his cat than dodging bullets. Amy is his daughter-in-law, a close-protection officer, and is apt to punch first and ask questions later.
Kate Ayers has our review and says, “Solving the murders with Steve and Amy --- with Rosie thrown in for extra fun --- is high entertainment, not to mention a jolly good mystery. Richard Osman has a new hit series on his hands. Of course, we hope he doesn’t forget about Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim of the Thursday Murder Club. But I, for one, want to see a lot more of this crime-solving duo.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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CONNIE: Iconic trailblazer and legendary journalist Connie Chung delves into her storied career as the first Asian woman to break into an overwhelmingly white, male-dominated television news industry.
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ENTITLEMENT: Taut, unsettling and alive to the seductive distortions of money, Rumaan Alam’s new novel confidently considers questions about need and worth, race and privilege, philanthropy and generosity, passion and obsession.
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THE WILDES: Louis Bayard brings Oscar Wilde’s wife, Constance, and their two sons out from the shadows of history and creates a vivid and poignant story of secrets, loss and love. According to the publisher, “THE WILDES could almost have been created by Oscar Wilde himself.”
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty, which we reviewed last week, is my latest Bets On pick. Click here for my commentary. I look forward to seeing Liane in conversation with Ann Napolitano tomorrow (Saturday) at an event hosted by BookTowne in Manasquan, NJ. I hope to see some of you there!
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Jean Kwok
Out in paperback this week is THE LEFTOVER WOMAN by Jean Kwok, an evocative family drama and a riveting mystery about the ferocious pull of motherhood for two very different women. I talked to Jean about the book, which is a Bets On selection, last October when it released in hardcover. So if you missed the discussion or would like to check it out again, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
A Q&A with Irene Daria, Ph.D. about Her Eye-Opening Memoir
This week, we share a fascinating interview with Dr. Irene Daria, a cognitive developmental psychologist who did not listen when her five-year-old son, Eric, told her that he was not being taught how to read in school. When he got her to realize that he was right, Daria begins a perplexing but ultimately empowering journey to save his academic life. She finds herself pitted against well-intentioned teachers and administrators she would have loved to trust if only they weren’t so misinformed. Click here to read much more about the inspiration behind the writing of Daria’s newly released memoir, I DIDN’T BELIEVE HIM.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, October 4th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win BAD LIAR by Tami Hoag (in stores Tuesday) and THE SEQUEL by Jean Hanff Korelitz (which releases on October 1st). Both will be Bets On picks. I enjoyed talking to Jean this week about THE SEQUEL, which is her highly anticipated follow-up to THE PLOT. We will share my interview with her next month.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our new poll asks which of 30 paperback titles releasing in September you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes by Friday, October 4th 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.
The shortlist for this year’s Booker Prize was announced this week. The six titles are JAMES by Percival Everett, ORBITAL by Samantha Harvey, CREATION LAKE by Rachel Kushner, HELD by Anne Michaels, THE SAFEKEEP by Yael van der Wouden, and STONE YARD DEVOTIONAL by Charlotte Wood. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London on November 12th. It also will be livestreamed on the Booker Prizes’ YouTube and Instagram channels.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
I received notes from readers addressing my complaint about the woman in my aqua exercise class who reads pirated books. Here are three of them:
Linda wrote, “It makes me sad that the woman in your exercise class does not see that what she does is theft, and disrespectful of hardworking authors. Your points are well said, and true for all arts, I think. I have chosen not to buy too many books (long story involving a flood in my home years ago), but I use my library at least weekly. And when I visit bookstores, which I love, I always find a book to buy! I want to support both the authors and booksellers. I hope you can find a way to open that woman's eyes. Thanks for all you do for book writers and readers!”
Jenny wrote, “As an avid reader and Library Page, I was struck by the fact that someone was bragging to you about using pirate book sites. I would urge everyone to please use your local library! Your library will do everything possible to get you whatever you need or want. There's absolutely no need to use pirate sites. It's just crappy! Thanks so much for everything you guys do at Bookreporter.com. I really appreciate you all.”
Sherry wrote, “I always enjoy the anecdotes, as well as your book reviews. I always use our local libraries, which are excellent, as I am on Social Security and don’t have an extra income. My daughter is an avid reader and does buy books all the time!!! Your newsletters are so full of information and enjoyable as well. Fortunately, we have been able to use our apartment pool all summer, and I thoroughly enjoy 'jogging or walking' in the pool. It’s great exercise. Hopefully our weather will cooperate for a few weeks more. Thank you for all that you do.”
Tom (that is husband Tom, not Editorial Director Tom) and I are watching “Emperor of Ocean Park” on MGM+. It’s based on the book of the same name by Stephen L. Carter. We are enjoying it three episodes in. Oh, I thought I was going to have to sign up for MGM+ again having canceled it after I watched a two-part piece about Paul Simon on the network. But the channel bounced right on, making me realize that I REALLY have to check what streaming services I am signed up for these days.
I also watched Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes on Max and really enjoyed it. Ah, the stars of yesterday, where celebrity felt a lot grander than it does today. I loved watching how her style changed throughout the years.
And okay, I do admit this week to watching “Emily in Paris” and “Selling Sunset”, both on Netflix. On the latter, they have a funeral. I was wondering who died as I saw coming attractions. I decided to look, and let’s just say I could not believe it!
Tomorrow will be Liane Moriarty’s event. On Sunday, we are celebrating my dad’s 95th birthday here at the house. My sister and her family will be here, as well as mine. As I mentioned in an earlier newsletter, for Father’s Day we bought my dad cards with questions on them called Tales. I want to film him answering these questions. I am looking forward to him as a star of the day.
Fall comes in on Sunday. Next week, I will be the one outside gluing the leaves back on the trees.
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:
THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM by Laura Dave
October’s #1 Indie Next Pick
and an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM by Laura Dave (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
Liam Noone was many things to many people. To the public, he was an exacting, self-made hotel magnate fleeing his past. To his three ex-wives, he was a loving albeit distant family man who kept his finances flush and his families carefully separated. To Nora, he was a father who often loved her from afar --- notably a cliffside cottage perched on the California coast from which he fell to his death. The authorities rule the death accidental, but Nora and her estranged brother, Sam, have other ideas. As Nora and Sam form an uneasy alliance to unravel the mystery, they start putting together the pieces of their father's past --- and uncover a family secret that changes everything. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's interview with Laura Dave in next week's newsletter, followed by her Bets On commentary in the October 4th newsletter.
Featured Review:
WE SOLVE MURDERS by Richard Osman
WE SOLVE MURDERS by Richard Osman (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Nicola Walker
Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He still does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him at home. His days of adventure are over. Adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s job now. Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. Working in private security, every day is dangerous. She’s currently on a remote island protecting mega-bestselling author Rosie D’Antonio, until a dead body and a bag of money mean trouble in paradise. So she sends an SOS to the only person she trusts. As a thrilling race around the world begins, can Amy and Steve outrun and outsmart a killer? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty
HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty (Fiction)
I read all 501(!) pages of HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty in a day. Needless to say, I loved it. I stayed up way too late reading one night and was up way too early the next morning to finish it. I think I still was working the story through as I slept!
In it, passengers are on edge when their flight from Hobart, Australia, to Sydney is delayed. But real mayhem breaks out when a woman makes her way through the plane identifying travelers with a prediction of how they will die and at what age. People are not sure what this means, but then the prediction for one of them comes true, and it goes viral. From there, readers get to track the lives of five of the passengers as they wonder what happened to others on that flight.
- 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 Bets On commentary.
Featured Review: CONNIE by Connie Chung
CONNIE: A Memoir by Connie Chung (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Connie Chung
Connie Chung is a pioneer. In 1969 at the age of 23, this once-shy daughter of Chinese parents took her first job at a local TV station in her hometown of Washington, D.C. and soon thereafter began working at CBS News as a correspondent. Profoundly influenced by her family’s cultural traditions, yet growing up completely Americanized in the United States, Chung describes her career as an Asian woman in a white male-centered world. Chung pulls no punches as she provides a behind-the-scenes tour of her singular life. From showdowns with powerful men in and out of the newsroom to the stories behind some of her career-defining reporting and the unwavering support of her husband, Maury Povich, nothing is off-limits in this sharp, witty and definitive memoir --- good, bad or ugly. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: ENTITLEMENT by Rumaan Alam
ENTITLEMENT by Rumaan Alam (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Nicole Lewis
Brooke wants. She isn’t in need, but there are things she wants. A sense of purpose, for instance. She wants to make a difference in the world, to impress her mother along the way, to spend time with friends and secure her independence. Her job assisting an octogenarian billionaire in his quest to give away a vast fortune could help her achieve many of these goals. It may inspire new desires as well: proximity to wealth turns out to be nothing less than transformative. What is money, really, but a kind of belief? Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE WILDES by Louis Bayard
THE WILDES: A Novel in Five Acts by Louis Bayard (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Elisabeth Rodgers, Damian Lynch and P.J. Ochlan
In September 1892, Oscar Wilde and his family have retreated to the idyllic Norfolk countryside for a holiday. His wife, Constance, has every reason to be happy: two beautiful sons, her own work as an advocate for feminist causes, and a delightfully charming and affectionate husband and father to her children, who also happens to be the most sought-after author in England. But with the arrival of an unexpected houseguest, the aristocratic young poet Lord Alfred Douglas, Constance gradually --- and then all at once --- comes to see that her husband’s heart is elsewhere and that the growing intensity between the two men threatens the whole foundation of their lives. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 14th Annual
Fall Reading Contests and Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. In our Fall Reading Contests and Feature, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about this fall.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through October, 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, September 24th at noon ET. The prize book will be THIS GIRL'S A KILLER by Emma C. Wells, a bright and biting thriller following Cordelia Black --- a best friend, a businesswoman and, in her spare time, a killer of bad men.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
An Interview with Irene Daria, Ph.D.,
Author of I DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM
Irene Daria is a cognitive developmental psychologist who specializes in teaching children how to read, including those of Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, and Tom Brady and Bridget Moynahan. At the time of her memoir, I DIDN’T BELIEVE HIM, she was thrilled that her son had been accepted to one of the most esteemed public schools in Manhattan. Believing that he was on the path to a venerable education, she did not listen when her five-year-old told her that he --- like millions of other children --- was not being taught how to read in school. An entire, very painful school year passed before Eric got her to realize he was right. Follow along as Daria begins a perplexing but ultimately empowering journey to save his academic life, which she talks about in this insightful and eye-opening interview.
I DIDN’T BELIEVE HIM by Irene Daria, Ph.D. (Memoir)
Although I DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM is about a disturbing topic, it is a joy to read. Its pages overflow with the tenderness and love a mother has for her child and the trust a child has that his mother will make everything right. In addition to sharing her personal story, Irene Daria takes you behind closed doors at a top-rated school to witness how flawed teaching methods are causing millions of kids to struggle with reading. You will see how a child's struggles in school affect the entire family. In an entertaining whodunit way, you will learn about the horrifying history of reading instruction in our country and the absurd way reading is currently being taught in many schools.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
VINCE FLYNN CAPTURE OR KILL: A Mitch Rapp Novel by Don Bentley (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Steven Weber
April 2011: On a remote mountaintop overlooking the remains of the Iranian nuclear weapons program, Azad Ashani witnesses a Quds Force demonstration of a capability meant to upend America’s war in the Middle East. Ashani, director of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security, recognizes the demonstration’s true significance and the nation-ending conflict it will provoke. Alone, Ashani stands no chance of preventing this rush to madness. But with the help of one man, he just might. In Washington, DC, CIA director Irene Kennedy briefs the president that the operational window to kill or capture Osama bin Laden at his recently discovered compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, is rapidly closing. But before he’ll authorize a commando raid on Pakistani soil, the president demands irrefutable proof of bin Laden’s presence. Proof he trusts just one man to provide. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
BREAK EVERY RULE by Brian Freeman (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Tommy Miller is a man with deadly skills, hiding in Florida under a false identity. After being set up on an overseas mission, he's on the run from terrorists --- and from the government that betrayed him. So when his wife and daughter are violently abducted, it seems his ghosts are finally catching up with him. But Tommy isn't the only one with secrets. His wife has been concealing her own dangerous past. With a hotshot police detective, Lindy Jax, close on his trail, Tommy follows a twisted path that brings him face to face with ruthless enemies. His search for answers soon puts him on the wrong side of the law --- hunted by the police and pursued by men who want him dead. Worst of all, if he hopes to save his wife and daughter, he must become the man he once was --- a killer operating from the deepest shadows. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
I DREAMED OF FALLING by Julia Dahl (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Jennifer Blom and Shahjehan Khan
Roman Grady is the sole reporter for the local newspaper in a tiny Hudson Valley town --- a town so small that every store opening and DUI is considered newsworthy. But when Roman's longtime girlfriend, Ashley, the mother of his four-year-old son, is found dead, he realizes he had no idea what was really going on in her life. And when he starts asking questions, he’s not prepared for the answers. What was Ashley doing at the cliffside home of her troubled ex-girlfriend? How did no one in a house full of people see what happened to her? And why does it seem like everyone in town suddenly has something to hide? As Roman and his mother dig into Ashley’s last few months, the truths they uncover threaten to expose painful secrets. The kind of secrets that can get you killed. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
DEATH AT THE SANATORIUM by Ragnar Jónasson (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sam Woolf
1983: At a former sanatorium in the north of Iceland that is now a hospital ward, an old nurse, Yrsa, is found murdered. Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir and her boss, Sverrir, are sent to investigate her death. There, they discover five suspects. Less than a week after the murder, the chief physician is also found dead, having apparently fallen from a balcony. Sverrir rules his death a suicide and assumes that he was guilty of the murder as well. The case is closed. 2012: Almost 30 years later, Helgi Reykdal, a young police officer, is writing his thesis on the 1983 murders in the north. As Helgi delves deeper into the past, he decides to try to meet with the original suspects. But soon he finds silence and suspicion at every turn as he tries to finally solve the mystery from years before. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
WILLIAM by Mason Coile (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Honey St. Dennis
Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career. He’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William. No one knows about William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily. When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house --- the smartest of smart homes --- Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover that the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
COWPUPPY: An Unexpected Friendship and a Scientist’s Journey into the Secret World of Cows by Gregory Berns (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Derek Dysart
When Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns and his wife decided to venture into sustainable farming in rural Georgia, they knew that cows were a key part of a successful operation. But that was where his knowledge of cattle ended. As Berns and his small herd of three miniature zebus acclimated to each other and Berns received a crash course in being a cattleman, he turned his powers of scientific observation and innovation on his new charges. This wasn’t the first time he’d studied animals through the lens of neuroscience. Years earlier, Berns had applied his knowledge to man’s best friend, resulting in two books and important advances in how we understand dogs’ thoughts and emotions. Now it was time to see what he --- and all of us --- could discover about the interior worlds of cows. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
BRIGHT I BURN by Molly Aitken (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Avena Mansergh-Wallace
Alice, the daughter of a wealthy innkeeper in Kilkenny, grows up watching her mother wither under the constraints of family responsibilities --- and she vows that she will never suffer the same fate. In time, she discovers she has a flair for making money and takes her father's flourishing business to new heights. But as her riches and stature grow, so too do rumors about her private life. By the time she marries her fourth husband --- the three earlier are dead --- a storm of local gossip and resentment culminates in a life-threatening accusation. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
IN A LEAGUE OF HER OWN by Kaia Alderson (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Shayna Small
An ambitious Harlem woman’s husband upends her social climbing when he buys a Negro Leagues baseball team and appoints her as the team’s business manager. Overnight, Effa Manley goes from 125th Street’s civil rights champion to an interloper in the boys’ club that is professional baseball. Navigating her way through gentlemen’s agreement contracts, the very public flirtatious antics of superstar Satchel Paige, and a sports world that would much rather see this woman back in her “place” at home, Effa ultimately whips her team, the Newark Eagles, into the Negro Leagues Champions of 1946. But how long will she get to enjoy the fruits of her success before Major League Baseball tears it all apart? Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
BITTER IS THE HEART by Mina Hardy (Domestic Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Hallie Bee Bard
Tamar Glass fled an abusive mother when she was 18 to find a better life elsewhere. She has lived in freedom from Ruth for decades until one night she wakes to find her now-elderly mother standing over her bed, disoriented and confused. When Tamar reluctantly takes in her mother, strange events start happening inside her home. Tamar learns that Ruth has been kicked out of her assisted living home, and other facilities refuse to house her and endanger their own residents. Tamar has spent years suppressing her childhood trauma, but it comes rushing back with each strange event in her home. As Tamar copes with their disturbing past, which her mother stubbornly refuses to admit to, she can’t shake the feeling that there’s something worse than her mother lurking in the shadows. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on September 24th
Below are some notable titles releasing on September 24th 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 September 23rd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
AMERICA FIRST: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War by H. W. Brands (History)
Bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist H. W. Brands narrates the fierce debate over America's role in the world in the runup to World War II through its two most important figures: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who advocated intervention, and his isolationist nemesis, aviator and popular hero Charles Lindbergh.
BAD LIAR by Tami Hoag (Mystery/Thriller)
Masterful #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag is back with a riveting, emotionally powerful new thriller. Old jealousies and fresh deceits, family loyalties gone wrong, and love turned sour all lay a twisting trail that leads deep into the Louisiana swamp, endangering all who cross the path of a bad liar.
COUNTING MIRACLES by Nicholas Sparks (Fiction)
From the acclaimed author of THE LONGEST RIDE and THE NOTEBOOK comes an emotional, powerful novel about wondering if we can change --- or even make our peace with --- the path we’ve taken.
EDEN UNDONE: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II by Abbott Kahler (True Crime/History)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE GHOSTS OF EDEN PARK comes an incredible true story of murder, romance and a fateful search for utopia in the Galápagos.
AN EYE FOR AN EYE by Jeffrey Archer (Mystery/Thriller)
In one of the most luxurious cities on earth, a billion-dollar deal is about to go badly wrong. A lavish night out is about to end in murder. And the British government is about to be plunged into crisis. Lord Hartley, the latest in a line of peers going back over 200 years, lies dying. But his will triggers an inheritance with explosive consequences.
THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS by Dean Koontz (Thriller)
A fearless woman, raised in the forest, fights against a group of powerful men in a novel about good versus evil, the enduring nature of myth and the power of love by #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.
THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL by Stephanie Wrobel (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
A Hitchcock fanatic with an agenda invites old friends for a weekend stay at his secluded themed hotel in this fiendishly clever, suspenseful new novel from the internationally bestselling author of DARLING ROSE GOLD.
INTERMEZZO by Sally Rooney (Fiction)
INTERMEZZO is an exquisitely moving story about grief, love and family --- but especially love --- from the global phenomenon Sally Rooney.
PLAYGROUND by Richard Powers (Fiction)
Four lives are drawn together in a sweeping, panoramic new novel from Richard Powers, showcasing the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of THE OVERSTORY at the height of his skills.
QUEEN MACBETH by Val McDermid (Historical Thriller)
Shakespeare created the myth of the Macbeths as indefensible murderous conspirators. But now internationally bestselling author Val McDermid drags the truth out of the shadows, exposing the patriarchal prejudices of history.
A REASON TO SEE YOU AGAIN by Jami Attenberg (Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Jami Attenberg comes a dazzling novel of family, following a troubled mother and her two daughters over 40 years and through a swiftly changing American landscape as they seek lives they can fully claim as their own.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Shelley Read, Liane Moriarty, Danielle Trussoni
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, September 23rd at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome internationally bestselling author Stephanie Wrobel for a live virtual discussion of her suspenseful new novel, THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Stephanie will be in conversation with the author of BLOOD SISTERS, Vanessa Lillie.
Tuesday, September 24th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Shelley Read about her international bestseller, GO AS A RIVER, which is a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Shelley also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience.
Tuesday, September 24th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Danielle Trussoni about her new novel, THE PUZZLE BOX, in which the world’s greatest puzzle master has 24 hours to solve the most dangerous mystery of his life...or die trying.
Wednesday, September 25th 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 Liane Moriarty about her new novel, HERE ONE MOMENT. This brilliantly constructed tale looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world.
Friday, September 27th at 1pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Joël Dicker will talk to special guest host Hank Phillippi Ryan about his new novel, THE ALASKA SANDERS AFFAIR, which is set both before and after the events of his phenomenal worldwide bestseller, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR.
"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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Laura Dave (THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM)
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Jean Hanff Korelitz (THE SEQUEL)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll:
September Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in paperback in September have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ABOMINATIONS: Selected Essays from a Career of Courting Self-Destruction, by Lionel Shriver
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ALEX CROSS MUST DIE by James Patterson
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AMAZING GRACE ADAMS by Fran Littlewood
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THE ARMOR OF LIGHT by Ken Follett
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ASTOR: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune, by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe
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BROOKLYN CRIME NOVEL by Jonathan Lethem
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CHENNEVILLE: A Novel of Murder, Loss, and Vengeance, by Paulette Jiles
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CLASS: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education, by Stephanie Land
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CODE RED: A Mitch Rapp Novel, by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills
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COLEMAN HILL by Kim Coleman Foote
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DARK RIDE by Lou Berney
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THE DEADLINE: Essays, by Jill Lepore
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THE EDGE: A 6:20 Man Thriller, by David Baldacci
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THE FRAUD by Zadie Smith
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FROM A FAR AND LOVELY COUNTRY: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (24) by Alexander McCall Smith
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GOOD BAD GIRL by Alice Feeney
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HOLLY by Stephen King
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THE LEFTOVER WOMAN by Jean Kwok
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LET US DESCEND by Jesmyn Ward
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MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT by Nina Simon
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THE MUSEUM OF FAILURES by Thrity Umrigar
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THE NIGHT HOUSE written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Neil Smith
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NOT FOREVER, BUT FOR NOW by Chuck Palahniuk
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PAST LYING: A Karen Pirie Novel, by Val McDermid
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SCATTERSHOT: Life, Music, Elton, and Me, by Bernie Taupin
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THE TRAITOR AMONG US: An Elena Standish Novel, by Anne Perry
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WANDERING THROUGH LIFE: A Memoir, by Donna Leon
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WHILE YOU WERE OUT: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence, by Meg Kissinger
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THE WITCH OF MARACOOR by Gregory Maguire
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ZERO-SUM: Stories, by Joyce Carol Oates
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 4th 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 September 20th to October 4th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BAD LIAR by Tami Hoag and THE SEQUEL by Jean Hanff Korelitz.
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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