September 27, 2024

September 27, 2024

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A Whirlwind Week!

Last Saturday, I went to Manasquan, NJ with Annmarie Puleio for an event with Liane Moriarty, who talked about her new novel, HERE ONE MOMENT. It was lovely to finally meet Liane after reading --- and enjoying --- many of her books. She was interviewed by Ann Napolitano, who asked great questions and kept the conversation going. I asked Liane how she kept all of her characters straight. I assumed she was plotting, but she said she wrote more stream of consciousness. Given the book's wide cast, this was very impressive! It was nice to see so many enthusiastic readers lined up to meet her, especially since the weather was amazing and we were at the beach. You can see me with Liane and Annmarie above.

On Monday, my husband and I headed out to Long Island for Nelson DeMille’s funeral and a reception afterwards. The funeral was beautiful with a wonderful sermon given by a Monsignor who was a close friend of Nelson’s. Years ago, Nelson asked him which book was his favorite. He admitted that he had never read one of Nelson's novels; he only read nonfiction. Nelson was surprised but took it in stride. Fast forward a couple of years, and he and Nelson were leaving an event together. Seemingly out of nowhere, Nelson said to him, “Read THE CATHEDRAL.” That was so Nelson; he always remembered the details.

At the reception, his three children --- Lauren, Alex and James --- each gave a eulogy. One was better than the next; they each did a brilliant job of capturing their dad. I am hoping that those are shared somewhere at some point. Trust that there was not a dry eye in the house when they were being read!

We heard from a number of readers who shared their thoughts on Nelson and his work. Click here to read their comments. We also turned my tribute to Nelson into a blog, so if you missed last week’s newsletter, be sure to take a look at what I said about him here.

On Wednesday, I was in New York City with Tom (Editorial Director Tom as opposed to Husband Tom) for a lunch with three authors from Avid Reader Press and then a cocktail soirée with four authors from Crown Publishing. All the books, which release early next year, sound amazing. Click on the links below for more info on these titles. I am looking forward to finishing my October reading so I can read ahead for 2025!

• DEEP CUTS by Holly Brickley
• THE ENGLISH PROBLEM by Beena Kamlani
• A GORGEOUS EXCITEMENT by Cynthia Weiner
• LUCKY NIGHT by Eliza Kennedy
• THE MANOR OF DREAMS by Christina Li
• TOO SOON by Betty Shamieh
• WE WOULD NEVER by Tova Mirvis

My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Laura Dave, whose new novel, THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM, we reviewed last week and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. It also is an instant New York Times bestseller!

At the heart of this story is a secret that has been hidden for years --- one that may have caused the death of Liam Noone, a successful hotel magnate. Nora, his daughter from one of his marriages, is convinced by Sam, his son from another marriage, to join together to see if his death was accidental or something more sinister.

Laura talks about Liam’s unique hotel properties and what inspired them, and how research finds its way into her work. She also shares her writing schedule and how she manages her day, as well as the song she had on repeat as she wrote, which is something she always does.

This is Laura's second thriller. Her first, THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME, was adapted by Laura and her husband into a series for Apple TV+. She talks about future screenwriting projects, as well as the book that readers can look forward to next year. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. And don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.

This Month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group Event
On Tuesday night, Shelley Read joined our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group program to talk about her international bestseller, GO AS A RIVER. We had a great discussion about the book, and attendees asked some terrific questions both on and off camera. The event will be up on our YouTube channel and available as a podcast on Monday, and we will share those links with you in next week’s newsletter.

I am so happy to announce that Amanda Peters will be next month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest. The event will be held on Tuesday, October 29th at 8pm ET, and you can sign up here for it. We will talk about her national bestseller, THE BERRY PICKERS, which was a Bets On pick when it came out last year and will release in paperback on the day of the event. A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a mystery that will haunt the survivors, unravel a family, and remain unsolved for nearly 50 years.

There will be a two-part Q&A session after I talk to Amanda. For the first part, those who are asking a question on camera will be featured. This includes spending time with Amanda backstage in our virtual green room before the show starts. If you would like to ask your question "live on screen" this way, please email me with the subject line "Amanda" by noon ET on October 29th. Be sure to include your name, city and state, as well as your question. If you do not want to appear on camera but still would like to ask a question, please note that you want to be off camera, and share your question --- adding your name, city and state.

This week, we kicked off a new contest for THE GRAYS OF TRUTH, Sharon Virts’ third novel, following MASQUE OF HONOR and VEIL OF DOUBT. This gripping tale of murder and deceit is inspired by true events involving one of Baltimore’s most powerful families.

Here’s the premise: In Reconstruction-era Baltimore, members of the city’s elite keep turning up dead. When Jane Gray Wharton’s husband, Ned, dies unexpectedly while staying overnight at his brother’s home, Jane has no reason to question the circumstances of his death. But on a visit to the same house a few weeks later, both Jane and her daughter fall gravely ill, and Jane begins to suspect foul play. Though a trained chemist and former nurse, Jane is haunted by a history of delusion, loss and institutionalization. As the unexpected and devastating deaths begin to multiply, Jane’s grip on reality starts to slip.

In anticipation of the book’s October 29th publication, we’re awarding an advance copy to 25 readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, October 11th at noon ET. We also have added THE GRAYS OF TRUTH to our Fall Reading feature. We will give away five copies of the book the week it releases.

INTERMEZZO is Sally Rooney’s newly released novel about grief, love and family --- but especially love. Two grieving brothers and the people they love experience a new interlude --- a period of desire, despair and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.

Harvey Freedenberg has our review and calls the book “a densely woven, multilayered family drama that’s every bit as psychologically astute as its predecessors while mining a new and deeper vein of human relationships.” He goes on to say, “INTERMEZZO feels as timeless as a classic 19th-century novel and as contemporary as the latest cultural trend. After the publication of only four novels, it would be foolish to suggest that Sally Rooney has already reached some sort of career peak. What the book does signal is that readers can depend on her to produce thoughtful, satisfying fiction for many years to come.”

Four lives are drawn together in Richard Powers’ new novel, PLAYGROUND. Set in the world’s largest ocean, the book explores that last wild place we have yet to colonize in a still-unfolding oceanic game.

Harvey has this to say in his review: “Whether the topic is AI, the plight of our oceans in a warming world, or the challenges facing inhabitants of developing regions who disproportionately shoulder the burdens of global capitalism, PLAYGROUND bears all the evidence of a writer who has reflected deeply on these issues. At the same time, as he considers timeless human dilemmas like ambition, friendship and loyalty, he brings to bear the skills of a mature novelist to present them in the thoughtful way that only the medium of fiction can provide. One couldn’t ask for more from a novel.”

Other books we’re reviewing this week include:

• THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS: A fearless woman who is raised in the forest fights against a group of powerful men in Dean Koontz’s new novel about good versus evil, the enduring nature of myth and the power of love.
   
• A REASON TO SEE YOU AGAIN: Jami Attenberg’s latest novel follows 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.
   
• EDEN UNDONE: Using never-before-published archives, Abbott Kahler has penned an incredible true story of murder, romance and a fateful search for utopia in the Galápagos, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the march to World War II.

I’m Betting You’ll Love…
Tami Hoag’s long-awaited new thriller, BAD LIAR, is my latest Bets On selection. Click here to find out why I’m betting you’ll love this book just as much as I did.

Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
BAD LIAR is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes; the other is THE SEQUEL by Jean Hanff Korelitz, an upcoming Bets On pick that we will review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles. Please do so by Friday, October 4th at noon ET.

Fall Reading Contest Update
We gave away THIS GIRL’S A KILLER by Emma C. Wells in this week’s Fall Reading contest. Next week’s prize book will be LIBBY LOST AND FOUND by Stephanie Booth, which releases on October 15th. This debut novel is about the stories we tell ourselves and the chapters of our lives we regret. Most importantly, it's about the endings we write for ourselves. The contest will be up on Tuesday, October 1st at noon ET.

Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 30 titles releasing in paperback this month you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, October 4th at noon ET.

Featured Review: INTERMEZZO by Sally Rooney

INTERMEZZO by Sally Rooney (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Éanna Hardwicke
Aside from the fact that they are brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek seem to have little in common. Peter is a Dublin lawyer in his 30s. In the wake of their father’s death, he’s medicating himself to sleep and struggling to manage his relationships with two very different women --- his enduring first love, Sylvia, and Naomi, a college student for whom life is one long joke. Ivan is a 22-year-old competitive chess player. In the early weeks of his bereavement, he meets Margaret, an older woman emerging from her own turbulent past, and their lives become rapidly and intensely intertwined. For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude --- a period of desire, despair and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: PLAYGROUND by Richard Powers

PLAYGROUND by Richard Powers (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Edoardo Ballerini, Robin Siegerman, Eunice Wong, Pun Bandhu, Krys Janae and Kevin R. Free
Twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world’s first aqualungs. Ina Aroita grows up on naval bases across the Pacific with art as her only home. Two polar opposites at an elite Chicago high school bond over a 3,000-year-old board game; Rafi Young will get lost in literature, while Todd Keane’s work will lead to a startling AI breakthrough. They meet on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia, whose deposits of phosphorus once helped to feed the world. Now the tiny atoll has been chosen for humanity’s next adventure: a plan to send floating, autonomous cities out onto the open sea. But first, the island’s residents must vote to greenlight the project or turn the seasteaders away. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

New Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts, Releasing on October 29th

Inspired by true events involving one of Baltimore’s most powerful families, THE GRAYS OF TRUTH is the story of one woman’s quest for answers in her fight for redemption --- and to save the man she loves. We have 25 advance copies of Sharon Virts' new novel to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on October 29th. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, October 11th at noon ET.

THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts (Historical Mystery)
In Reconstruction-era Baltimore, members of the city’s elite keep turning up dead. Below the polished surface of high society, there are illicit affairs, jilted lovers, financial hardships and countless motives for murder. When Jane Gray Wharton’s husband, Ned, dies unexpectedly while overnighting at his brother’s home, Jane has no reason to question the circumstances of his death. But on a visit to the same house a few weeks later, both Jane and her daughter fall gravely ill, and Jane begins to suspect foul play.

Though a trained chemist and former nurse, Jane is haunted by a history of delusion, loss and institutionalization. As the unexpected and devastating deaths begin to multiply, Jane’s grip on reality starts to slip. When a respected army officer falls terribly ill after visiting the Whartons’ Baltimore home, Jane’s greatest fears become all too real. The time has come to act. But who will believe her? And can she even trust her own mind?

- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Sharon Virts' bio.
- Click here to visit Sharon Virts' website.
- Connect with Sharon Virts on Facebook and Instagram.

Click here to enter the contest.

Bookreporter.com Bets On: BAD LIAR by Tami Hoag

BAD LIAR by Tami Hoag (Mystery/Thriller)
I cannot remember the last Tami Hoag novel that I read. It’s been a while since Tami has had a new book out; she had been dealing with some health issues. But she is back and definitely still has her sharp writing chops. I thoroughly enjoyed BAD LIAR, which is set in Louisiana, and you can feel the humidity coming off the swamp as the book opens. There’s a man’s body at the dead end of a quiet road. His face has been shot off, and his hands have been blasted off, which will make recognizing him tough. And that’s just the start of the day for sheriff’s detective Nick Fourcade.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- 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:
THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS by Dean Koontz

THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS by Dean Koontz (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Raised in the wilderness by her late great-uncle, Vida is a young woman with an almost preternatural affinity for nature, especially for the wolves that also call the forested mountains home. Formed by hard experience, by love and loss, and by the prophecies of a fortune teller, Vida just wants peace. If only nearby Kettleton County didn’t cast such a dark shadow. It’s where Jose Nochelobo, the love of Vida’s life and a cherished local hero, died in a tragic accident. That’s the official story, but Vida has reasons to doubt it. The truth can’t be contained for long. Nor can the hungry men of power in Kettleton who want something too: that Vida, like Jose, disappear forever. One by one they come for her, prepared to do anything to see their plans through to their evil end. Vida is no less prepared for them. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review:
A REASON TO SEE YOU AGAIN by Jami Attenberg

A REASON TO SEE YOU AGAIN by Jami Attenberg (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Stacey Glemboski
The women of the Cohen family are in crisis. Triggered by the death of their patriarch, Rudy, the glue that held them all together, everyone’s lives soon take a dramatic turn. Shelly, the younger of the two Cohen sisters, runs off to the West Coast to immerse herself in the emerging (and lucrative) world of technology. Her sister, Nancy, gets married at the age of 21 to a traveling salesman with a shadowy lifestyle, while their mother, Frieda, hurls herself into a boozy, troubled existence in Miami, trying to forget the past even as it haunts her. But they each learn in different ways that running from the past can’t save you --- and then must make life-altering decisions about what they want their family to be and what they need to move forward. Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: EDEN UNDONE by Abbott Kahler

EDEN UNDONE: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II by Abbott Kahler (True Crime/History)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
At the height of the Great Depression, Los Angeles oil mogul George Allan Hancock and his crew of Smithsonian scientists came upon a gruesome scene: two bodies, mummified by the searing heat, on the shore of a remote Galápagos island. For the past four years, Hancock and other American elites had traveled the South Seas to collect specimens for scientific research. On one trip to the Galápagos, Hancock was surprised to discover an equally exotic group of humans: European exiles who had fled political and economic unrest, hoping to create a utopian paradise. One was so devoted to a life of isolation that he’d had his teeth extracted and replaced with a set of steel dentures. As Hancock and his fellow American explorers would witness, paradise had turned into chaos. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.

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

Click here to read our review.

Bookreporter.com's 14th Annual
Fall Reading Contests and Feature

What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com

More Reviews This Week

PRECIPICE by Robert Harris (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Samuel West
In 1914 London, 26-year-old Venetia Stanley --- aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless --- is part of a fast group of upper-crust bohemians and socialites known as “The Coterie.” She’s also engaged in a clandestine love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state. As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer with Scotland Yard is assigned to investigate a leak of top-secret documents. Suddenly, what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that could topple the British government --- and will alter the course of political history. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

AN EYE FOR AN EYE by Jeffrey Archer (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by George Blagden
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. Two deaths. Continents apart. No obvious connection. So why are they both at the center of a master criminal's plot for revenge? And can Scotland Yard's elite squad uncover the truth before it's too late? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

AMERICA FIRST: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War by H. W. Brands (History)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Bramhall
Hitler's invasion of Poland launched a momentous period of decision-making for the United States. With fascism rampant abroad, should America take responsibility for its defeat? For Charles Lindbergh, saying no to another world war only 20 years after the first was the obvious answer. Lindbergh had become famous and adored around the world after his historic first flight over the Atlantic. In the years since, he had emerged as a vocal critic of American involvement overseas, rallying Americans against foreign war as the leading spokesman for the America First Committee. While Hitler advanced across Europe and threatened the British Isles, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt struggled to turn the tide of public opinion. Aided by secret British disinformation efforts in America, he readied the country for war. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL by Stephanie Wrobel (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Crouch, Gail Shalan and Helen Lloyd
Alfred Smettle is not your average Hitchcock fan. He is the founder, owner and manager of The Hitchcock Hotel, a sprawling Victorian house in the White Mountains dedicated to the Master of Suspense. There, Alfred offers his guests round-the-clock film screenings, movie props and memorabilia in every room, plus an aviary with 50 crows. To celebrate the hotel’s first anniversary, he invites his former best friends from his college Film Club for a reunion. He hasn’t spoken to any of them in 16 years, not after what happened. But who better than them to appreciate Alfred’s creation? And to help him finish it. After all, no Hitchcock set is complete without a body. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE EMPUSIUM: A Health Resort Horror Story written by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Historical/Gothic Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Antonia Lloyd-Jones and Natasha Soudek
September 1913. A young Pole suffering from tuberculosis arrives at Wilhelm Opitz’s Guesthouse for Gentlemen in the village of Görbersdorf, a health resort in the Silesian mountains. Every evening the residents gather to imbibe the hallucinogenic local liqueur and debate the great issues of the day: Monarchy or democracy? Do devils exist? Are women born inferior? War or peace? Meanwhile, disturbing things are happening in the guesthouse and the surrounding hills. Someone --- or something --- seems to be watching, attempting to infiltrate this cloistered world. Little does the newcomer realize, as he tries to unravel both the truths within himself and the mystery of the sinister forces beyond, that they have already chosen their next target. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

A LITTLE LESS BROKEN: How an Autism Diagnosis Finally Made Me Whole by Marian Schembari (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Marian Schembari
Marian Schembari was 34 years old when she learned she was autistic. By then, she'd spent decades hiding her tics and shutting down in public, wondering why she couldn't just act like everyone else. Therapists told her she had Tourette's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sensory processing disorder, social anxiety and recurrent depression. They prescribed breathing techniques and gratitude journaling. Nothing helped. It wasn't until years later that she finally learned the truth: she wasn't weird or deficient or moody or sensitive or broken. She was autistic. In this deeply personal and researched memoir, Schembari's journey takes her from the mountains of New Zealand to the tech offices of San Francisco, from her first love to her first child, all with unflinching honesty and good humor. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

I'M STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT THIS BLACK BOX OF DOOM by Jason Pargin (Thriller/Dark Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Ari Fliakos
Outside Los Angeles, a driver pulls up to find a young woman sitting on a large black box. She offers him $200,000 cash to transport her and that box across the country, to Washington, DC. But there are rules: He cannot look inside the box. He cannot ask questions. He cannot tell anyone. They must leave immediately. He must leave all trackable devices behind. As these eccentric misfits hit the road, rumors spread on social media that the box is part of a carefully orchestrated terror attack intended to plunge the USA into civil war. The truth promises to be even stranger and may change how you see the world. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.

DEATH AND THE VISITORS: A Mary Shelley Mystery by Heather Redmond (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Siobhan Waring
1814, London: Foreign diplomats are descending on London in advance of the Congress of Vienna meetings to formulate a new peace plan for Europe following Napoleon’s downfall. Mary and Jane’s father, political philosopher William Godwin, is hosting a gathering with an advance party of Russian royal staff. Following their visit, Jane overhears her father reassuring his pushiest creditor that the Russians have pledged diamonds to support his publishing venture, the Juvenile Library, relieving his financial burden. But when Godwin is told the man who promised the diamonds was pulled from the River Thames, his dire financial problems are further complicated by the suspicion that the family may have been involved in the murder. Stepsisters Mary and Jane resolve to find the real killer to clear the family name. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on
September 30th and October 1st

Below are some notable titles releasing on September 30th and October 1st that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of September 30th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

September 30th

LIES HE TOLD ME by James Patterson and David Ellis (Thriller)
An attorney and a mother of two discovers her husband’s secret life --- and it might cost them all their lives.

October 1st

BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS: A Memoir by Ina Garten (Memoir)
In her long-awaited memoir, Ina Garten --- aka the Barefoot Contessa, author of 13 bestselling cookbooks, beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation and cultural icon --- shares her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table.

THE BOYFRIEND by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
A dark story about obsession and the things we'll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest.

THE DROWNED by John Banville (Historical Mystery)
From the renowned Booker Prize winner and nationally bestselling author of SNOW comes a richly atmospheric new mystery about a woman’s sudden disappearance in a small coastal town in Ireland, where nothing is as it seems.

THE FABLED EARTH by Kimberly Brock (Historical Fiction)
Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide in this sweeping story inspired by the little-known history of Cumberland Island when a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape.

THE GREAT WHEN: A Long London Novel by Alan Moore (Historical Fantasy)
From the New York Times bestselling author and legendary storyteller Alan Moore comes the first book in an enthralling new fantasy series about murder, magic and madness in post-WWII London.

I'LL BE WAITING by Kelley Armstrong (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
From New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a spellbinding new tale of supernatural horror involving a haunted house, seances, lost loved ones and a sinister spirit out for blood.

THE MESSAGE by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Social Science/Essays)
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME journeys to three resonant sites of conflict to explore how the stories we tell --- and the ones we don’t --- shape our realities.

THE MIGHTY RED by Louise Erdrich (Fiction)
In this stunning novel, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich tells a story of love, natural forces, spiritual yearnings and the tragic impact of uncontrollable circumstances on ordinary people’s lives.

THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY: A Maid Novella by Nita Prose (Mystery)
Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve in this heartwarming novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MAID and THE MYSTERY GUEST.

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
Susan Mallery returns with the joyful and utterly irresistible story of a mother who couldn't love her kids more but hopes that, just this once, they please don't come home for Christmas.

REVENGE OF THE TIPPING POINT: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell (Psychology/Social Science)
Twenty-five years after the publication of his groundbreaking first book, Malcolm Gladwell returns with a brand-new volume that reframes the lessons of THE TIPPING POINT in a startling and revealing light.

THE SEQUEL by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Psychological Thriller)
With her signature wit and sardonic humor, Jean Hanff Korelitz gives readers an antihero to root for while illuminating and satirizing the world of publishing in this deliciously fun and suspenseful read, the eagerly awaited follow-up to THE PLOT.

SHRED SISTERS by Betsy Lerner (Fiction)
From Betsy Lerner, the celebrated author of THE BRIDGE LADIES, comes a wry and riveting debut novel about family, mental illness and a hard-won path between two sisters.

SOCIETY OF LIES by Lauren Ling Brown (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
A decade after graduating, Maya Banks has returned to Princeton for her college reunion and her little sister Naomi’s commencement. But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya's worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead.

A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS by Ann Liang (Historical Fantasy/Romance)
Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is an epic novel steeped in myth about womanhood, war, sacrifice and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.

TRIANGLE by Danielle Steel (Romantic Suspense)
A Paris gallery owner finds herself in danger when a mysterious man begins leaving her messages in #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel’s thrilling new novel.

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

From left to right: Lee Child, Danzy Senna, Ian Rankin

  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.

Tuesday, October 1st at 2pm ET: Book Passage: Lee Child will be in conversation with Michael Connelly about his latest book, SAFE ENOUGH, a collection of 20 intriguing, thrilling and rapid-fire crime stories that are sure to please new and longtime fans of Child and to illuminate a side of his work unknown to Jack Reacher devotees.

Tuesday, October 1st at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Danzy Senna for a live virtual event to discuss COLORED TELEVISION, September's B&N Book Club pick. Danzy will be in conversation with Lexie Smyth, B&N's Fiction Category Manager, and Miwa Messer, the host and Executive Producer of B&N's “Poured Over” podcast.

Tuesday, October 1st at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's presents Madeline Martin as she discusses her new book, THE BOOKLOVER'S LIBRARY, with Rachel McMillan. This heartwarming story is about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of books that bring them together.

Wednesday, October 2nd 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 Jean Hanff Korelitz about her new thriller, THE SEQUEL, which is the eagerly awaited follow-up to her 2021 novel, THE PLOT.

Thursday, October 3rd at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Ian Rankin will talk about his 25th Rebus novel, MIDNIGHT AND BLUE. John Rebus spent his life as a cop putting Edinburgh's most deadly criminals behind bars. Now having been convicted of a homicide, he's joined them.

 "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:

• Laura Dave (THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed this year include:

• Caro Carver (BAD TOURISTS) Video | Podcast
• Marjan Kamali (THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN) Video | Podcast
• Genevieve Kingston (DID I EVER TELL YOU?: A Memoir) Video | Podcast
• Amy Neff (THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST) Video | Podcast
• T.J. Newman (WORST CASE SCENARIO) Video | Podcast
• Ruth Reichl (THE PARIS NOVEL) Video | Podcast
• Dawn Tripp (JACKIE) Video | Podcast
• Chris Whitaker (ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK) Video | Podcast
• Beatriz Williams (HUSBANDS & LOVERS) Video | Podcast
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