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Wow, this has been one great week, with lots of wonderful author experiences.
On Monday night, I had the pleasure of interviewing Marie Benedict about THE QUEENS OF CRIME (an upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On pick) at the Brielle Public Library. To give those of you who have not attended a book event a look at the excitement behind the scenes, above you can see Marie and me before we headed on stage; me with Peter Albertelli, the owner of BookTowne in Manasquan, NJ, the bookseller for the event; and Marie as she's getting ready to sign books. She loved how they had the books all lined up!
We covered a lot of ground in our conversation. I loved seeing how many audience members had read the five female crime writers who are the characters in the book: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. Thanks to my friends Annmarie, Resa and Dale for joining me at this program.
We have our review of THE QUEENS OF CRIME this week from Rebecca Munro, who has this to say about it: “[Benedict] crafts characters who live and breathe on the page --- employing their known histories, but also her own fictional flair --- to make every discovery, every clue and every red herring feel as immediate and real as the very book in your hands.... Equal parts historical fiction and compelling whodunit, THE QUEENS OF CRIME is Marie Benedict at her best, a lively takedown of the patriarchy backed by real-world examples and true grit.”
I will be seeing Marie again next Thursday when I interview her for a “Bookreporter Talks To” segment, where we will delve much more deeply into the book and her writing process. Be on the lookout for that, along with my Bets On commentary, later this month.
Yesterday afternoon, I caught up with Kristin Hannah, which is always a treat. It had been a long time since we had the opportunity to get together. She was in town doing media for the 10th Anniversary Edition of THE NIGHTINGALE. More on that in a minute.
We then headed over to Adriana Trigiani's home where Adriana's publisher was hosting a pre-launch party for THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO, which is coming out on July 8th. Kristin surprised Adriana by being there, which was such fun. It was one of those big parties that used to happen all the time, but now are rare. Adriana really knows how to bring people together and make a fun event. Her grandmother was the inspiration for the story, and it is set both in a beach town in New Jersey and back in Italy. I am looking forward to reading it.
Above you can see me with Kristin, Adriana, and Louisa Ermelino from Publishers Weekly.
As I alluded to, this month marks the 10th anniversary of the original publication of THE NIGHTINGALE, the #1 New York Times bestseller and Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year. The book tells the stories of two sisters, each of whom embarks on her own dangerous path toward survival, love and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France.
In honor of this milestone, a stunning deluxe limited edition of the book will release this Tuesday, February 18th. It features a hardcover jacket with foil and embossing, gorgeous designed edges, a ribbon bookmark, exclusive four-color endpapers, and a decorative, gold foil stamp on the front case.
Kristin will be in Culver City on Tuesday and Santa Barbara on Thursday to celebrate this very special release. And YES, signed books will be available! Find out all the details about these events by clicking on the preceding links. In the meantime, be sure to check out this video where an excited Kristin talks about the 10th anniversary edition, which she had received in the mail that day.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Joseph Finder, whose new book, THE OLIGARCH’S DAUGHTER, we reviewed a couple of weeks ago and will be a Bets On pick. In this breakneck thriller, a young hedge funder falls for an attractive woman he meets at a party who turns out to be the daughter of a Russian oligarch.
Joe talks about writing the novel’s two time frames and how the awareness of what oligarchs are has become a lot more timely in the past few years. He did some wilderness training for part of the book and then jumped at the chance to learn more about superyachts that are owned by the uber-wealthy. Joe explains the process of building his characters and what drives them. He also shares what’s next for him. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event on Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 31 books releasing between now and March 4th, plus 13 from April, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, March 12th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between March 11th and April 1st, in addition to a few from May, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those who join us live 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.
THE MEDICI RETURN is the latest installment in Steve Berry’s wildly popular Cotton Malone series, which is now in development as a streaming series. In this new adventure, Cotton is on the hunt for a forgotten 16th-century Pledge of Christ, a sworn promise made by Pope Julius II that evidences a monetary debt owed by the Vatican. It is still valid after five centuries and is now worth in the trillions of dollars.
According to Ray Palen in his review, “THE MEDICI RETURN provides much to feast on when it comes to action and historical context. And, of course, adding Cotton Malone to the mix makes for one great reading experience. Berry’s typical lengthy Writer’s Note at the end of the novel is quite the treat for history buffs. It is so nice to marvel at his fertile imagination and tireless drive to discover new stories set in the arena of global history, which is the perfect impetus to explore them via his first-rate fiction.”
Gregg Hurwitz is back with NEMESIS, the 10th entry in his New York Times bestselling Orphan X series. In this explosive new novel, Evan Smoak --- having lived his life by the assassin’s Ten Commandments --- finds himself at odds with his oldest friend in the world. Here, principles are in conflict with honor, no rules hold --- and no one may get out alive.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “The final act is unrelenting and makes the first two-thirds of the novel seem like a walk in the park by comparison. I found the denouement to be satisfying and even a tad heart-wrenching. It is good to see characters like Evan --- who calls to mind other lone-wolf protagonists like Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Brad Thor's Scot Harvath, and Reed Farrel Coleman's Nick Ryan --- actually exhibit their human side. That distinction makes NEMESIS a truly memorable read.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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VICTORIAN PSYCHO: Virginia Feito, the acclaimed author of MRS. MARCH, has penned the riveting tale of a bloodthirsty governess who learns the true meaning of vengeance. Brimming with sardonic wit and culminating in a shocking conclusion, the book is this month’s #1 Indie Next pick.
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THE BUSINESS TRIP: In Jessie Garcia’s debut psychological thriller, which we’ve been spotlighting in our Winter Reading feature, two women who don’t know each other but are on the same plane go missing after texting their friends the same exact messages about the same man. What exactly is going on here?
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GLIFF: From a Scottish word meaning a transient moment, a shock, a faint glimpse, GLIFF explores how and why we endeavor to make a mark on the world. In this genre-bending story, Ali Smith shows us why our humanity, our individual complexities, matter more than ever.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
GOOD DIRT by Charmaine Wilkerson, which we reviewed a couple of weeks ago, is my latest Bets On selection. Click here to see why I’m betting you’ll love this book just as much as I did. I look forward to interviewing Charmaine soon!
Winter Reading Contest Update
In this week’s Winter Reading contest, the prize was the aforementioned THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict. We wrap up these contests next week by giving away FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston, a Reese's Book Club pick and a Bets On selection that is now in paperback. The contest will be up on Tuesday, February 18th at noon ET.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, February 28th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 by Lisa Unger and MEMORIAL DAYS: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
A couple of weeks ago, in an essay for Publishers Weekly, Simon & Schuster publisher Sean Manning announced that the publishing house no longer will require authors to obtain blurbs for their books. For those who may not know, blurbs are brief quotes from authors and influencers that appear on the front or back of a book.
Since this has been such a hot topic in the publishing world, we want to know what YOU think about blurbs. Do they have any influence over whether or not you buy or read a book? Be sure to weigh in by answering our latest poll by Friday, February 28th at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we wanted to know which of the films based on books that are up for an Academy Award (in any category) you have seen or are planning to see. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
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Conclave, based on CONCLAVE by Robert Harris (50%)
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Wicked, based on WICKED: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire (42%)
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Nickel Boys, based on THE NICKEL BOYS by Colson Whitehead (36%)
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A Complete Unknown, based on DYLAN GOES ELECTRIC!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties, by Elijah Wald (30%)
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Emilia Pérez, based on ÉCOUTE by Boris Razon (19%)
This year’s Savannah Book Festival took place on February 6-9 in Savannah, Georgia. Nancy Bader, a long-time Bookreporter reader, was there and provided coverage of the festivities with the help of her friend, Allison Smith, who attended Anna Quindlen's opening address and Sebastian Junger's keynote address. Click here for their report. Many thanks to both of them for sharing their thoughts with us!
Southern indie booksellers and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance have announced the winners of this year’s Southern Book Prize. They are REDNECKS by Taylor Brown (Fiction), THE MANGO TREE: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony, by Annabelle Tometich (Nonfiction), and NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS by Meredith Adamo (Children’s & YA). Winning authors receive a donation in their name to the charity or nonprofit of their choice.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Here's a nice note from Linda: “I love listening to Carol talk with authors, and together they inspire me to keep writing and to keep reading! An added benefit of the 'Bookreporter Talks To' and 'Bookaccino Live' recordings is that the conversations take my mind off the treadmill, which winter has again forced me to use. I now live in Minnesota, and winter's snow and ice underfoot often halt my morning habit of outdoor walks. I made it through most of January this year, but now my dog and I are sad to be stuck indoors. I at least have y'all! Thank you for your thoughtful and important work!”
“Manhunt” on Apple TV+: This series is about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the shooting of Abraham Lincoln. We are seven episodes in, and we are enjoying it. My husband has a lot of respect for Lincoln, and he is providing helpful sidebar comments.
“Sweet Magnolias” on Netflix: Yes, this is soft fun...and there are some nights when that is just what one needs. I already am on episode eight!
I am reading SEEKING SHELTER by Jeff Hobbs. I was a huge fan of his first nonfiction work, THE SHORT AND TRAGIC LIFE OF ROBERT PEACE. In his latest book, Jeff is following a mother as she works to secure housing for her family in the Los Angeles area. His attention to detail as he outlines her dilemma is making this a compelling read.
I am listening to Jonathan Evison's THE HEART OF WINTER, which is narrated by Kimberly Farr. It is a heart-tugging story about an older couple grappling with the grave illness of the wife, as well as a look back at their lives together.
Valentine's Day around our house is always low-key. Last night, I realized that I had not made plans for our annual Valentine's Day cake in the heart-shaped pan with whipped cream and raspberries. So I raced to buy ingredients this morning. About an hour ago, we remembered where the heart-shaped pan is! Every year I cannot remember where the pan is, so last year I put it in what we call our “holiday attic” and then forgot about it. We do the same thing with the candles for the windows every Christmas; we always forget where they are. So we will have cake tomorrow! Traditions cannot be broken.
I am looking forward to the upcoming long weekend. These days I feel like every month needs a long weekend!
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 QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Bessie Carter
London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second-class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment. As they embark on their own investigation, the Queens of Crime discover that they’re stronger together. But soon the killer targets Dorothy Sayers herself, threatening to expose a dark secret in her past that she would do anything to keep hidden. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- 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 our review.
THE QUEENS OF CRIME will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's Bets On commentary and her "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Marie Benedict later this month.
Featured Review: THE MEDICI RETURN by Steve Berry
THE MEDICI RETURN: A Cotton Malone Novel by Steve Berry (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Cotton Malone is on the hunt for a forgotten 16th-century Pledge of Christ --- a sworn promise made by Pope Julius II that evidences a monetary debt owed by the Vatican, still valid after five centuries --- now worth in the trillions of dollars. But collecting that debt centers on what happened to the famed Medici of Florence --- a family that history says died out, without heirs, centuries ago. Who will become the next prime minister of Italy, and who will be the next pope? Finding answers proves difficult until Cotton realizes that everything hinges on when, and if, the Medici return. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: NEMESIS by Gregg Hurwitz
NEMESIS: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Evan Smoak is a highly trained former government assassin who has survived for years by keeping his circle to a few trusted confidants and a strict code he calls “The Ten Commandments.” Tommy Stojack might be Evan's best friend in the world. He is a gifted gunsmith who has created much of Evan's own weapons and combat gear. But now he apparently has crossed one of Evan's hardest lines, and their argument explodes into open warfare. Now Evan has no choice but to track and face down his only friend. In the meantime, Tommy has left town in order to honor his own promise to help a dead friend's son. While Tommy is fighting to save the son with everything he’s got, Evan arrives with vengeance in mind. But as deadly as the former Orphan X is, there is an even more dangerous threat about to arrive on the scene. Will any of them get out alive? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
GOOD DIRT by Charmaine Wilkerson
GOOD DIRT by Charmaine Wilkerson (Fiction)
I was a huge fan of Charmaine Wilkerson’s first novel, BLACK CAKE. So when I heard that she had a new book coming out, I was looking forward to reading it. I am happy to share that GOOD DIRT is another powerful work of fiction that spans generations. Charmaine has a beautiful way of telling a family story, filling it with emotion and history.
Ebby Freeman is at the heart of the book. As a young girl, she witnessed her brother being killed in a home invasion, but she holds back from revealing everything she saw that day. For years, she is looked upon as “the poor Freeman girl,” and what happened to her is whispered about. Ebby already stands out as the stunningly beautiful Black woman in her affluent, all-white neighborhood. All this history makes the pain of being left at the altar on the day of her wedding at her family home that much sadder. She stumbles through life for a while before jetting off to France to get away from it all. But even there Ebby’s past follows her.
- 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.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview
with Charmaine Wilkerson in an upcoming newsletter.
Featured Review: VICTORIAN PSYCHO by Virginia Feito
February’s #1 Indie Next Pick
VICTORIAN PSYCHO by Virginia Feito (Gothic Horror/Dark Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Anna Burnett
Grim Wolds, England: Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect governess. She’ll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But long, listless days spent within the estate’s dreary confines come with an intimate knowledge of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family. Mr. Pounds can’t keep his eyes off Winifred’s chest, and Mrs. Pounds takes a sickly pleasure in punishing Winifred for her husband’s wandering gaze. Compounded with her disdain for the entitled Pounds children, Winifred finds herself struggling at every turn to stifle the violent compulsions of her past. Patience. Winifred must have patience, for Christmas is coming, and she has very special gifts planned for the dear souls of Ensor House. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE BUSINESS TRIP by Jessie Garcia
THE BUSINESS TRIP by Jessie Garcia (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by a full cast
Stephanie and Jasmine have nothing and everything in common. The two women don’t know each other but are on the same plane. Stephanie is on a business trip, and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. After a few days, they text their friends the same exact messages about the same man --- the messages becoming stranger and more erratic. And then the two women vanish. The texts go silent, the red flags go up, and the panic sets in. When Stephanie and Jasmine are each declared missing and in danger, it begs the questions: Who is Trent McCarthy? What did he do to these women --- or what did they do to him? Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
- 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 our review.
Featured Review: GLIFF by Ali Smith
GLIFF by Ali Smith (Metaphysical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Eliot Sumner
An uncertain near-future. A story of new boundaries drawn between people daily. A not-very brave new world. Add two children. And a horse. From a Scottish word meaning a transient moment, a shock, a faint glimpse, GLIFF explores how and why we endeavor to make a mark on the world. In a time when western industry wants to reduce us to algorithms and data --- something easily categorizable and predictable --- Ali Smith shows us why our humanity, our individual complexities, matter more than ever. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 10th Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature
Our Winter Reading contests have returned for a 10th year! On select days through February 19th, we are hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our final Winter Reading contest will be up on Tuesday, February 18th at noon ET. The prize book will be FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston, a Reese's Book Club pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now available in paperback.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
A KILLING COLD by Kate Alice Marshall (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Karissa Vacker
When Theodora Scott met Connor, a member of the powerful Dalton family, she fell in love in an instant. Six months later, he’s brought her to Idlewood, his family’s isolated winter retreat, to win over his skeptical relatives. Theo has tried to ignore the threatening messages on her phone, but she can’t ignore the footprints in the snow outside the cabin window or the strange sense of familiarity she has about this place. Then, in a disused cabin, Theo finds something impossible: a photo of herself as a child. A photo taken at Idlewood. Theo has almost no recollection of her earliest years, but now she begins to piece together the fragments of her memories. Someone here has a shocking secret that they will do anything to keep hidden, and Theo is in terrible danger. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE LAMB by Lucy Rose (Gothic Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Emma Rydal
Margot and Mama have lived by the forest ever since Margot can remember. When Margot is not at school, they spend quiet days together in their cottage, waiting for strangers to knock on their door. Strays, Mama calls them. People who have strayed too far from the road. Mama loves the strays. She feeds them wine and keeps them warm. Then she satisfies her burning appetite by picking apart their bodies. But Mama’s want is stronger than her hunger sometimes. And when a beautiful, white-toothed stray named Eden turns up in the heart of a snowstorm, Margot must confront the shifting dynamics of her family, untangle her own desires, and make her bid for freedom. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MIRA by Sonali Dev (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Soneela Nankani
Mira Salvi has the perfect life --- a job she loves, a fiancé everyone adores, and the secure future she’s always imagined for herself. She hasn’t a thing to complain about, not even when she has to go on her engagement trip to New York alone. While playing tourist in the city, Mira chances upon a lost ring, and her social media post to locate its owner goes viral. With everyone trying to claim the ring, only one person seems to want to find its owner as badly as Mira does: journalist Krish Hale. Brooding and arrogant, he will do anything to get to write this story. As Krish and Mira reluctantly join forces and jump into the adventure of tracing the ring back to where it belongs, Mira begins to wonder if she is in the right place in her own life. Maybe, like the owner of the lost ring, her happy ending hasn’t been written yet. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
TRACK HER DOWN by Melinda Leigh (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christina Traister
A teenager returns home from work and finds her parents shot to death in their bed. Responding to the call, Sheriff Bree Taggert realizes the crime wasn’t a burglary gone wrong. The couple was executed. The sole survivor: their traumatized teenage daughter, Claire Mason. Bree teams up with investigator Matt Flynn to work the case, but together they uncover more questions than answers. When Claire is stalked at the park, it’s clear the killer isn’t finished --- and she’s the next target. As Bree and Matt sift through the past --- suspect by suspect --- a tangled web of deception emerges, and the truth becomes harder to see. Because the victims’ entire lives were a lie. And the only way to protect the vulnerable girl is to unravel her parents’ secrets. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
IDLE GROUNDS by Krystelle Bamford (Fiction/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Robyn Holdaway
Lingering at the edge of a family party, a troop of cousins loses track of the youngest child among them. With their parents preoccupied with bickering about decades-old crises, the children decide they must set out to investigate themselves --- to the rickety chicken coop, the barn and its two troublesome horses, and into the woods that once comprised their late grandmother’s property. The more the children search, and the deeper they walk, the more threatening the woods become and the more lost they are, caught between their aunt’s home in the present day, their parents’ childhood home just through the trees, and the memory of the house their grandmother grew up in. Soon, what began as a quest for answers gives way to a journey that undermines everything they’ve been told about who they are, where they came from and what they deserve. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE WOLF TREE by Laura McCluskey (Gothic Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Kirsty Cox
Eilean Eadar is a barren, windswept rock best known for the unsolved mystery of the three lighthouse keepers who vanished back in 1919. But when a young man is found dead at the base of that same lighthouse, two detective inspectors are sent from Glasgow to investigate. Georgina “George” Lennox is happy to be back from leave after a devastating accident. That is, until she meets the hostile islanders and their enigmatic priest, who seem determined to thwart their investigation. George’s partner, Richie, just wants to close the case and head home to his family. But he hasn’t heard the wolves howling or seen the dark figures at their window at night. He’s too busy watching George as if waiting for her to break. With the dark secrets of the island swirling around them, George and Richie must decide who to trust and what to believe as they spin closer to the terrible truth. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE LAST ROOM ON THE LEFT by Leah Konen (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Karissa Vacker, Erin Bennett and Julie Webster
Kerry’s life is in shambles. Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal --- the one that was supposed to change everything --- is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It's the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh. But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
A TIME FOR REFLECTION: The Parallel Legacies of Baseball Icons Willie McCovey and Billy Williams by Jason Cannon (Sports/Biography)
Professional baseball has featured a bevy of superstars over the past century and a half, but only a few of them have impacted their sport and cities as deeply as Willie McCovey and Billy Williams. Born just a handful of miles apart in 1938, they grew up in and around one of the sport’s true cradles, Mobile, Alabama, on their way to producing two iconic careers in Major League Baseball. In A TIME FOR REFLECTION, Jason Cannon examines these two legends of the game. Overcoming the heinous racism of the Jim Crow South as part of the second generation of African American major leaguers who followed in the footsteps of Jackie Robinson, they became two of baseball’s all-time greatest players. Off the field, they took impactful stands for racial progress that continue to resonate today. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 18th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 18th 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 February 17th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
COLD AS HELL: A Haven's Rock Novel by Kelley Armstrong (Mystery)
New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Haven’s Rock in COLD AS HELL as Casey Duncan hunts down a dangerous killer during a deadly blizzard.
DEATH OF A SMUGGLER: A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery by M. C. Beaton with R.W. Green (Mystery)
A murder, a missing man and his newest constable’s secret past are all that’s standing in the way of Sergeant Hamish Macbeth's relaxing winter.
A DRAGON OF BLACK GLASS by James Rollins (Fantasy/Adventure)
The third and penultimate book in the New York Times bestselling Moonfall series from thriller-master James Rollins, A DRAGON OF BLACK GLASS is a tale of relentless adventure and the struggle for survival in a harsh world that hangs by a thread.
DREAM STATE by Eric Puchner (Fiction)
Written with humor, precision and enormous heart, both a love letter and an elegy to the American West, DREAM STATE is a thrillingly ambitious ode to the power of friendship, the weird weather of marriage, and the beauty of impermanence.
THE DRESSMAKERS OF LONDON by Julia Kelly (Historical Fiction)
The author of THE LOST ENGLISH GIRL returns with a heartfelt new novel about estranged sisters who inherit their late mother’s dress shop in World War II London.
JANE AUSTEN'S BOOKSHELF: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend by Rebecca Romney (Literary Criticism)
Rebecca Romney, a rare book dealer and guest star of the hit show "Pawn Stars," has penned a page-turning literary adventure that introduces readers to the women writers who inspired Jane Austen --- and investigates why their books have disappeared from our shelves.
LORNE: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison (Biography)
LORNE is a deeply reported, wildly entertaining account of a man singularly obsessed with the show that would define his life and have a profound impact on American culture.
MIDNIGHT BLACK: A Gray Man Novel by Mark Greaney (Thriller)
With his lover imprisoned in a Russian gulag, the Gray Man will stop at nothing to free her in this latest entry in Mark Greaney's #1 New York Times bestselling series.
PICKS AND SHOVELS: A Martin Hench Novel by Cory Doctorow
(Science Fiction/Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Cory Doctorow returns to the world of Red Team Blues to bring us the origin story of Martin Hench and the most powerful new tool for crime ever invented: the personal computer.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Stephen Spotswood, Pam Jenoff, Deon Meyer
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are three upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Wednesday, February 19th at 1pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Deon Meyer will talk about LEO, the latest entry in his #1 internationally bestselling series. Decorated detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido must put their careers on the line to find the link between three seemingly unrelated homicides.
Wednesday, February 19th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Pam Jenoff about LAST TWILIGHT IN PARIS, a riveting novel of love and survival about a Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery.
Thursday, February 20th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Stephen Spotswood will talk about DEAD IN THE FRAME, the most dramatic installment yet in his Pentecost and Parker series. This time, Will scrambles to solve a shocking murder before Lillian takes the fall for the crime.
"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 include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Marie Benedict (THE QUEENS OF CRIME)
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Charmaine Wilkerson (GOOD DIRT)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Book Blurbs
Do you look at blurbs (brief quotes from authors and influencers) when considering buying or reading a book? Please check all that apply.
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I always look at blurbs to determine whether or not to buy a book.
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I sometimes look at blurbs to determine whether or not to buy a book.
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I do not look at blurbs to determine whether or not to buy a book.
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I always look at blurbs to determine whether or not to read a book.
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I sometimes look at blurbs to determine whether or not to read a book.
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I do not look at blurbs to determine whether or not to read a book.
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I am not sure how I feel.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 28th 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 February 14th to February 28th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 by Lisa Unger and MEMORIAL DAYS: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks.
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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