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When we left off last week, I was trying to figure out how to spend the extra hour that Standard Time brought. I confess that I slept. Then I spent a whirlwind couple of hours cooking, making a double helping of butternut squash soup, as well as pumpkin muffins. And I roasted a batch of poblano chili peppers. I am not sure where this fever to cook and bake came from! Did I feel like November meant that it was time to gear up for the holidays with kitchen time?
The week was busy as we prepared for our Book Group Speed Dating event, which was held for booksellers, librarians and book group leaders today. Francesca did a brilliant job of putting together the video for this program. And we had everything uploaded to run by Wednesday! We look forward to sharing the video and materials from the program with you in the weeks to come.
We have another big update for you this week, so here we go!
My latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Paula Hawkins, who talks about her new novel, THE BLUE HOUR, which we reviewed last week. This upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On title is November’s "Good Morning America" Book Club pick and People magazine’s Book of the Week. According to the publisher, the book “recalls the sophisticated suspense of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith.”
Paula discusses her inspiration for the novel’s setting, which came to her when she was on vacation, as well as her love of art. The characters and the way they move in and out of each other’s lives is key to the storylines, and she explains how their roles changed as the book went on. Paula also shares where the title came from and what she loves about the cover. 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 is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for our final “Bookaccino Live” book preview event of 2024, which will take place on Wednesday, November 13th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between November 12th and the end of the year, in addition to a few from January and February, that we would like to tell you about. Click here to register. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
Agatha Christie meets "Murder, She Wrote" in THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER, a witty locked room mystery and literary satire by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White (aka Team W). Set against the backdrop of Castle Kinloch --- a sweeping Gothic structure looming over a secluded island in the Scottish Highlands --- the book opens with the demise of literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley in a case that is as mysterious as it is shocking.
Kate Ayers has our review and says, “Of course, in a story with a drafty castle, there has to be at least one hidden passageway, a secret poison garden and a nearby perilous cliff dropping off to a roiling sea, which is all set during a frigid snowstorm. THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER is not only a puzzling murder mystery but also a romance, a tale of friendship and a bit of a satire. It is not to be taken too seriously, but seriously enough to enjoy over several hours of entertaining reading.”
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER is one of our Word of Mouth prizes, along with LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger, which is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick and my latest Bets On selection. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, November 15th at noon ET, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles. And for those who missed my interview with Susan last week, be sure to check out the video or podcast.
A great writer knows when to deliver a juicy plot twist. But for one author, the biggest twist of all is her own murder. In J.T. Ellison’s new thriller, A VERY BAD THING, Columbia Jones is at the pinnacle of her career. But her past threatens to destroy everything she has --- and everyone she knows.
According to Ray Palen in his rave review, “A VERY BAD THING features J.T. Ellison at her most bewitching. It is a lengthy novel that demands to be consumed in a single sitting. There are no red herrings here; instead, we have one clue and revelation after another that leads to a memorable finale. The suspense and tension surrounding what will be revealed at the reading of the will become nearly unbearable, which is exactly what Ellison wants in this exceedingly brilliant novel.”
We also are featuring reviews of these two books:
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WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR: In this unique memoir, Stanley Tucci records 12 months of eating --- in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself. I am almost finished listening to the audiobook, which I have enjoyed. I am up to the November entries, which is really fun!
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DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF: Multi-award-winning and USA Today bestselling crime writer Lou Berney returns to his critically acclaimed thriller series starring former mob wheelman Shake Bouchon. This time, Shake finds himself dragged into a high-stakes hostage rescue, among the mighty temples and shadowy underground of Cambodia.
This Year’s “What to Give, What to Get” Guide
Now that Halloween is behind us, we can shift our attention to the holidays, which will be here before you know it. In our “What to Give, What to Get” feature, we are spotlighting three books that we think are “reader perfect” suggestions for holiday giving and getting: the aforementioned THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins, along with EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET by Benjamin Stevenson and THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT DUNDER MIFFLIN by Brian Baumgartner and Ben Silverman.
A Gripping Tale of Murder and Deceit
We continue to feature Sharon Virts and her new historical novel, THE GRAYS OF TRUTH, in our Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight. The book also will be a Bets On pick, and we will share my interview with Sharon in next week’s newsletter.
THE GRAYS OF TRUTH has gotten rave reviews from numerous bestselling authors. Mark Sullivan has this to say: “Inspired by a true story and meticulously researched, the underbelly of high society Reconstruction Era Baltimore is brought brilliantly to life in Sharon Virts’ atmospheric and deeply absorbing murder mystery… I loved it!” And Susan Meissner calls the book “[a] vivid and compelling tale that is equal parts murder mystery and well-researched historical fiction. Devotees of true crime featuring heroines who refuse to give up, you’re in for a well-crafted ride!”
November’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for November are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such authors as Steve Berry (THE ATLAS MANUEVER), Ann Napolitano (HELLO BEAUTIFUL), Rachel Hawkins (THE HEIRESS), Clare Mackintosh (A GAME OF LIES), and Armando Lucas Correa (THE SILENCE IN HER EYES); nonfiction titles, including GREENLIGHTS by Matthew McConaughey and NEVER GIVE UP: A Prairie Family's Story by Tom Brokaw; and paperback originals like SHELL GAMES by Bonnie Kistler and ROLLING TOWARD CLEAR SKIES by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Out in paperback this week is THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon, which is our current “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” prize book on ReadingGroupGuides.com. If you are in a book group, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, November 13th at noon ET, and you’ll have a chance to win up to 12 paperback copies of the book for you and your group members.
And please keep in mind our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event with Ariel Lawhon on Tuesday, December 3rd at 8pm ET, where we will be talking about THE FROZEN RIVER. Click here for all the details and to sign up.
This Month’s Books on Screen Offerings
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. November’s roundup includes the series premieres of "Cross" on Prime Video, "The Day of the Jackal" on Peacock, "Dune: Prophecy" on HBO, and "FX's Say Nothing" on Hulu; the season premieres of STARZ's "Outlander" and Apple TV+'s "Silo"; the series finales of "My Brilliant Friend" on HBO, "Three Women" on STARZ, and "Disclaimer" on Apple TV+; the season finale of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol" on AMC; the films Wicked and Small Things Like These in theaters, as well as Debbie Macomber's Joyful Mrs. Miracle on Hallmark Channel; and the DVD releases of It Ends with Us and Someone Like You.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of the 13 finalists for Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year you would pick as your favorites of 2024. Be sure to let us know by Friday, November 15th at noon ET, and in the next newsletter we’ll give you the results of the poll and announce the B&N Book of the Year.
Nemonte Nenquimo’s WE WILL BE JAGUARS is Reese’s Book Club pick for November. Reese calls the book “an unforgettable memoir about fighting for your home and your heart. WE WILL BE JAGUARS follows the life of internationally acclaimed activist Nemonte Nenquimo and her journey to protect her people and indigenous lands, alongside her husband and writing partner Mitch Anderson. I was so moved by this story.”
This month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick is THIS MOTHERLESS LAND by Nikki May, which Jenna calls a “beautiful” reimagining of Jane Austen’s MANSFIELD PARK. She goes on to say, “My grandmother Barbara was a huge fan of Jane Austen. Even after she couldn’t see well enough to read, we would listen to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE together. When I read Jane Austen, I think of her.”
For more November selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Sandy from New Cumberland, PA wrote, “Thank you, Carol, for the book I received from the Fall Reading contest, LIBBY LOST AND FOUND. It was quite interesting to read and not my usual type of genre. I did email the publisher to share my thanks and thoughts, too.”
Laura wrote, “I know your feelings about not giving bad reviews, and I wholeheartedly agree and admire that philosophy, but I was curious about your book club. Having recently had a meeting where we liked the author's writing style and how the book was structured, we struggled to say anything nice about the story and characters itself. The story was too predictable, and the characters did some things that left us scratching our heads (though in our case, we were quite verbal about it). I wondered if you bring your philosophy to your book club or let it go if you didn't like the book. Thanks for everything y'all do. I enjoy my Saturday mornings with the newsletter, 'Bookaccino Live' and author talks very much.”
In my book group we are very honest, myself included, though we also are respectful of each other. In this case, we all have read the book, or in some cases at least attempted to read it. There have been books that I loved and others in the group did not, and vice versa. In the past five-plus years, it’s been fun to see who has loved what! I already see a debate coming for our discussion of Chris Whitaker's ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK on Tuesday night.
Also, I got a lovely email from a librarian: “My name is Jay Dela Cruz, and I am a Queens Public Library manager. I lead the Seaside Book Club where we watch your author interview videos projected on a screen and print the book discussion guides when available for the book that we are discussing. Bookreporter has been a tremendous resource for my book club and is always our choice for book discussion materials. I also use your book listings when purchasing titles to add to our library collection for our library patrons. Seaside Book Club truly appreciates you and your crew for all your hard work presenting books and promoting the love of reading to everyone.”
Notes like this really make my day, and I am quick to share them with the team. It means a lot that what we do is enjoyed in so many ways.
“Shrinking” on Apple TV+: Season two has started, and Husband Tom and I are enjoying it a lot. Once again, we wish that Apple TV+ dropped all the episodes at once. Seriously, all episodes of a streaming show should be able to be watched one after the other. It is a reason I embrace it more than network television.
“The Lincoln Lawyer” on Netflix: We enjoyed the third season. And it has a great ending. I may have to read the next book in the series so I can see what happens next.
“Yellowstone” on Paramount Network and CBS: It is back Sunday night at 8pm ET/PT on Paramount Network and 10pm ET/PT on CBS, and we are ready for it. There is no Kevin Costner, so we want to see how they handle that. We are not sure how the last six episodes will play out.
We have had so little rain here that outdoor charcoal and word-burning fires have been banned; the chance of wildfires is that high. The house plants still are in the garage; I am vowing this weekend to get them cleaned up (dead leaves removed) and inside. My amaryllis shopping was a huge success. The folks at the garden center always laugh at the way I can spend an hour or so with my gift spreadsheet, trying to figure out who gets which bulb. There were some new varieties this year. I now need to get to Trader Joe’s for the amaryllis that grows in glass. Maybe it is because Thanksgiving is so late this year (the latest it can be) that I am feeling this huge need to get ready for Christmas!
My niece is coming to spend the weekend, which will be fun. She spent Thanksgiving with us last year, but this year she is heading home to Florida. Tom made a golf tee time for them tomorrow but could only get an afternoon time. I told him that I am fairly sure they will be finishing in the dark.
Maybe by the end of the weekend, the clock in my car will be changed. They had not changed the one in the pool area at the health club, and each morning I have found myself thinking, Is it really that late?
I am just about finished with a baby blanket for a friend’s child (he was one of our early interns), and then I am vowing to make something for me. My next project is from Purl Soho, and I am ready to get started on it!
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 AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER
by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White
THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White (Mystery)
Audiobook available; read by Angus King, Saskia Maarleveld, Brittany Pressley and Lisa Flanagan
There’s been a sensational murder at historic Castle Kinloch, a gothic fantasy of grey granite on a remote island in the Highlands of Scotland. Literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley has been found dead --- under bizarre circumstances --- in the castle tower’s book-lined study. Years ago, Presley purchased the castle as a showpiece for his brand and to lure paying guests with a taste for writerly glamour. Now it seems that the castle has done him in…or, possibly, one of the castle’s guests has. Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh, a local with no love for literary Americans, finds himself with the unenviable task of extracting statements from three American lady novelists. Why did these authors really come to Castle Kinloch? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: A VERY BAD THING by J.T. Ellison
A VERY BAD THING by J.T. Ellison (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
With a number of hit titles and a highly anticipated movie tie-in, celebrated novelist Columbia Jones is at the top of her game. Fans around the world adore her. But on the final night of her latest book tour, one face in the crowd makes the author collapse. And by the next morning, she’s lying dead in a pool of blood. Columbia’s death shocks the world and leaves Darian, her daughter and publicist, reeling. The police have nothing to go on --- at first. But then details emerge, pointing to the author’s illicit past. It turns out many people had motive to kill Columbia. And with a hungry reporter and frustrated cop on the trail, her secrets won’t stay buried long. But how many lives will they shatter as the truth comes out? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger
November’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger (Fiction)
Mothers! They are the subject of Susan Rieger’s terrific novel, LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER. Here we get a look at three generations of mothers.
Lila Pereira is the first mother we meet in a section called “Lila.” She has spent her life in the limelight as the renowned executive editor of The Washington Globe. She’s been a rather absentee mother --- the kind who bore three daughters and seems to drop in and out of their lives, there when summoned but perhaps in body only and ready to zip off to another program or event. For the steadying force in their lives, her children rely on their father, Joe. He nurtures them and is their main rudder.
- 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 watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Susan Rieger.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Announcing Bookreporter.com’s
“What to Give, What to Get” Guide:
“Reader Perfect” Suggestions
for Holiday Giving and Getting
We at Bookreporter.com know that readers crave ideas for gift-giving --- and getting --- at the holidays. With this in mind, we are offering a "What to Give, What to Get" Guide with three "Reader Perfect" suggestions.
THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins (Psychological Thriller)
This masterful novel, as page-turning as it is unsettling, recalls the sophisticated suspense of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith and cements Paula Hawkins’ place among the very best of our most nuanced and stylish storytellers.
EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET: A Festive Mystery by Benjamin Stevenson (Mystery)
Unwrap all the Christmas staples in Benjamin Stevenson's new Ernest Cunningham mystery: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly Advent calendar of clues. If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT DUNDER MIFFLIN written by Brian Baumgartner and Ben Silverman, illustrated by Maël Gourmelen (Fiction/Humor)
Spend “The Night Before Christmas” at Dunder Mifflin in this hilarious and timeless illustrated retelling of the beloved poem, featuring a visit from Michael Scott as Santa and narrated by Kevin Malone (author Brian Baumgartner).
Click here to see our "What to Give, What to Get" Guide.
Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight:
THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
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?
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.
- 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 Sharon Virts' bio.
- Click here to visit Sharon Virts' website.
- Connect with Sharon Virts on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight.
THE GRAYS OF TRUTH will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Sharon Virts in
next week's newsletter, followed by her Bets On commentary in two weeks.
Featured Review:
WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR by Stanley Tucci
WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR: (and related thoughts) by Stanley Tucci (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Stanley Tucci
Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci’s life: from stracciatella soup served in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce cooked between scene rehearsals and costume fittings, to homemade pizza eaten with his children before bedtime. Now, in WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR, Tucci records 12 months of eating --- in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself. Ranging from the mouth-wateringly memorable to the comfortingly domestic and to the infuriatingly inedible, the meals memorialized in this diary are a prism for him to reflect on the ways his life, and his family, are constantly evolving. Through food he marks --- and mourns --- the passing of time, the loss of loved ones, and steels himself for what is to come. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF by Lou Berney
DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF by Lou Berney (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Johnathan McClain
During his years as a wheelman for the Armenian mob in Los Angeles, Shake Bouchon didn’t think of himself as the settling-down type. But now he’s happily married to Gina, the love of his life --- and former adversary --- in Indiana, of all places. The great thing about Bloomington, for two people with checkered pasts, is that everyone is nice and no one knows them. Until the day a brutal Armenian thug shows up in his backyard. He demands that Shake help him find his missing mob boss, Alexandra “Lexy” Ilandryan, who also happens to be Shake’s ex-girlfriend. Shake reluctantly agrees to travel to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where Lexy was last seen. Once there, he finds himself tangled in an underworld of Cambodian gangsters, mob politics and opportunistic expats, where the stakes aren’t clear and everyone is looking to score. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
November’s New in Paperback Roundups
November's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes THE ATLAS MANEUVER by Steve Berry, a Cotton Malone adventure in which the retired Justice Department operative unravels a mystery from World War II involving a legendary lost treasure known as Yamashita’s Gold; HELLO BEAUTIFUL, a poignant and engrossing family story from Ann Napolitano that asks: Can love make a broken person whole?; Ariel Lawhon's THE FROZEN RIVER, a gripping mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history; and THE HEIRESS, a twisted Gothic suspense from Rachel Hawkins about an infamous heiress and the complicated inheritance she left behind.
Among our nonfiction highlights are GREENLIGHTS, the life-changing memoir that has inspired millions of readers through Matthew McConaughey's unflinching honesty, unconventional wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction; NEVER GIVE UP, a moving story from Tom Brokaw that chronicles the values and lessons he absorbed from his parents and other people who worked hard to build lives on the prairie during the first half of the 20th century ; and Sam Wasson's THE PATH TO PARADISE, the definitive account of Academy Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-long dream to reinvent American filmmaking, if not the entire world, through his production company, American Zoetrope.
November’s Books on Screen Feature
Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of November's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Wicked
Release Date: November 22nd (wide release in theaters)
Based on: WICKED by Gregory Maguire
Series Premieres
"Cross"
Release Date: November 14th on Prime Video (all episodes of Season 1 will be available)
Based on: The Alex Cross series by James Patterson
"The Day of the Jackal" (10-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Thursdays on Peacock; Series Premiere on November 14th (the first five episodes will be available)
Based on: THE DAY OF THE JACKAL by Frederick Forsyth
BANDIT HEAVEN: The Hole-in-the-Wall Gangs and the Final Chapter of the Wild West by Tom Clavin (History)
Audiobook available, read by Johnny Heller
Robbers Roost, Brown’s Hole and Hole-in-the-Wall were three hideouts that collectively were known to outlaws as “Bandit Heaven.” During the 1880s and ‘90s, these remote locations in Wyoming and Utah harbored hundreds of train and bank robbers, horse and cattle thieves, the occasional killer, and anyone else with a price on his head. Tom Clavin's BANDIT HEAVEN is the entertaining story of these tumultuous times and the colorful characters who rode the Outlaw Trail through the frigid mountain passes and throat-parching deserts that connected the three hideouts --- well-guarded enclaves that no sensible lawman would enter. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
FLINT KILL CREEK: Stories of Mystery and Suspense by Joyce Carol Oates (Mystery & Thriller/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Kelli Tager
These new, recent and reformulated stories by Joyce Carol Oates, collected here for the first time, showcase a wide range of crime fiction and psychological suspense. A young, insecure woman finds her relationship changing as she grows more and more dependent on a man who likes to take her on long walks beside a dangerously roaring creek. Another woman, nervous around men, not quite knowing how to act when paid a compliment, becomes flustered when a doctor suggests they go out for coffee, or possibly a drink. She finally decides that she will join him when he suggests they meet at his home. A man is so forgetful that his wife panics and yells into his phone, asking where their daughter has gone. A woman resents that a colleague has achieved greater success and thinks she ought to do something about it. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE BOUNDARIES WE CROSS by Brad Parks (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joe Knezevich and Teralyn Davis
Charles Bliss, a teacher at an elite Connecticut boarding school, has been accused of engaging in a romantic relationship with a student. The student behind the accusation, Hayley Goodloe, is the daughter of a state senator, the granddaughter of an ex-governor, and an heiress to a massive fortune. But Charles has long prided himself on keeping proper boundaries with his students. He insists he would never cross the line. Or would he? Hayley’s diary makes it clear she had strong feelings for her teacher. Was it just an unrequited schoolgirl crush? Or was it something more? When Hayley disappears under suspicious circumstances, a daunting pile of evidence points to Charles as the chief suspect. Charles swears he’s being framed. And it soon becomes apparent there’s only one way he can clear his name. Find her. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
A FIRE IN THE SKY by Sophie Jordan (Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available; read by Karen Cass, Fiona Hardingham, Joe Jameson and Will Watt
Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous, especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard, though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship. When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind. The wedding night begins with unexpected passion --- and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
DEATH STAKE: A Trasker Thriller by Andrew Mayne (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by James Anderson Foster
Retired intelligence operative Brad Trasker heads security at a remote aerospace facility when there’s a major breach. A photo of their top-secret AI-designed hydrogen engine has surfaced online. Trasker’s investigation into who did it soon leads to a start-up in Bangkok, where its three software developers have disappeared, along with nearly a million dollars in investment money. Following their tracks, Trasker hits a dead end. The start-up’s HQ is a padlocked crime scene. No one --- not the cagey locals, the mobbed-up gangs or the Royal Thai Police --- is keen on answering Trasker’s questions. But their message is clear: get out of Bangkok or die. Hunted by assassins, Trasker is drawn into the same complex high-tech underworld of cryptocurrency, digital espionage and betrayal that swallowed up the runaway coders. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE FABLED EARTH by Kimberly Brock (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
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. Faced with a changing world, two timelines and the perspectives of three women intersect where a folktale meets the truth to reveal what Cumberland Island has hidden all along. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
LEAVE THE GIRLS BEHIND by Jacqueline Bublitz (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Stephanie Cannon
Ruth-Ann Baker is a college dropout, a bartender --- and an amateur detective who just can’t stay away from true crime. Nineteen years ago, her childhood friend was murdered by suspected serial killer Ethan Oswald. Still tormented by the case, Ruth can’t help but think of the long-dead Oswald when another young girl goes missing from the same town. And when she uncovers startling new evidence that suggests Oswald did not act alone, she is determined to find his deadly partner in crime. Embarking on a global investigation, Ruth becomes close to three very different women --- one of whom just might hold the key to what happened to the missing girl. And her childhood friend, all those years ago. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
MURDER TOWN by Shelley Burr (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jacquie Brennan
Gemma Guillory has lived in the Australian Outback enclave of Rainier her entire life. Her once charming town is now remembered for one reason and one reason only: three innocent people died there at the hands of a serial killer. The last stop on the Rainier Ripper’s trail of deaths 15 years ago was her picturesque little tea shop. She knows that the consequences of catching the Ripper still haunt her policeman husband and their marriage to this day, and some of her neighbors are desperate enough to welcome a dark tourism company keen to cash in on Rainier’s notoriety as the “Murder Town.” When the tour guide is killed by a Ripper copycat on Gemma’s doorstep, the unease that has lurked quietly in the original killer’s wake explodes into the light, and Gemma is drawn into the investigation. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on November 12th
Below are some notable titles releasing on November 12th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of November 11th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE ANCIENT EIGHT: College Football’s Ivy League and the Game They Play Today by John Feinstein (Sports)
The history of the Ivy League dates back to 1869 when Princeton played the first college football game against Rutgers. THE ANCIENT EIGHT explores Ivy League football today as they compete amidst a rapidly changing collegiate sports world.
APRIL STORM by Leila Meacham (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
A seemingly perfect suburban housewife is being pursued by a private detective --- and hunted by a murderer --- in this riveting, much-anticipated posthumous novel from the beloved author of ROSES and DRAGONFLY.
CLIVE CUSSLER DESOLATION CODE: A Novel from the NUMA Files by Graham Brown (Thriller/Adventure)
Kurt Austin and the NUMA crew face swarms of deadly bio-hacked sea locusts, a runaway AI system and a sinister cult in this latest installment of the #1 New York Times bestselling series created by the “grand master of adventure,” Clive Cussler.
DIDION & BABITZ by Lili Anolik (Biography)
Joan Didion is revealed at last in this outrageously provocative and profoundly moving new work on the mutual attractions --- and mutual antagonisms --- of Didion and her fellow literary titan, Eve Babitz.
LAZARUS MAN by Richard Price (Fiction)
In this electrifying novel, Richard Price, the author of CLOCKERS and a writer on "The Wire," gives us a razor-sharp anatomy of an ever-changing Harlem.
ROLLING TOWARD CLEAR SKIES by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
A foster mother must contend with the emotional turmoil of her new blended family in a heartfelt novel of hope and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
TO DIE FOR: A 6:20 Man Thriller by David Baldacci (Thriller)
The 6:20 Man returns in David Baldacci's TO DIE FOR. This time, he has been sent to the Pacific Northwest to aid in a complicated FBI case --- and he’s about to come face to face with his nemesis, the girl on the train.
VANISHING TREASURES: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures by Katherine Rundell (Nature/Essays)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Katherine Rundell comes a “rare and magical book” (Bill Bryson) that reckons with the vanishing wonders of our natural world.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Kaira Rouda, David Baldacci, Louise Erdrich
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, November 11th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome multi-award-winning and USA Today bestselling crime writer Lou Berney for a live virtual discussion of DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF as part of their Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Lou will be in conversation with the award-winning author of ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS, Wanda M. Morris.
Tuesday, November 12th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Louise Erdrich for a live virtual event to discuss THE MIGHTY RED, October's B&N Book Club pick. Louise will be in conversation with Lexie Smyth, B&N's Fiction Category Manager, and Jenna Seery, B&N's Associate Producer of Digital Content.
Tuesday, November 12th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle and Heather Gudenkauf will talk to their fellow Killer Author Club member, Kaira Rouda, about her new thriller, WHAT THE NANNY SAW, a completely gripping and unputdownable read with a killer twist that will have you turning pages deep into the night.
Wednesday, November 13th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Preview: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between November 12th and the end of the year, along with a few from January and February, that we would like to get on your radar. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.
Wednesday, November 13th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with David Baldacci about his new thriller, TO DIE FOR. This time, the 6:20 Man is sent to the Pacific Northwest to aid in a complicated FBI case --- and he’s about to come face to face with his nemesis, the girl on the train.
"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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Sharon Virts (THE GRAYS OF TRUTH)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll:
The Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Finalists
Barnes & Noble has announced the 13 finalists for their 2024 Book of the Year. Which of these books, if any, would you pick as the B&N Book of the Year? Please check all that apply.
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THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES written and illustrated by Amy Tan
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THE DICTIONARY STORY written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
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THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore
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IMMINENT: Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs, by Luis Elizondo
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IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES written by Katherine Rundell, illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie
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INTERMEZZO by Sally Rooney
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JAMES by Percival Everett
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REVENGE OF THE TIPPING POINT: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering, by Malcolm Gladwell
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SWIFT RIVER by Essie Chambers
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TAYLOR SWIFT STYLE: Fashion Through the Eras, by Sarah Chapelle
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THERE'S ALWAYS THIS YEAR: On Basketball and Ascension, by Hanif Abdurraqib
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WHY I COOK by Tom Colicchio
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THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, November 15th 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 November 1st to November 15th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White and LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger.
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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