February 21, 2025

February 21, 2025

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Life in the Country

The other morning, I went to drop off some books for contest winners at our local post office. As I pulled up, I saw a flock of geese squawking their way around the place. They were making a lot of noise. This is right up there with the morning that someone had to get the sheep out of the road so I could go to work. I love these moments of small-town Americana. I wonder if I could get the geese to bring the books to the post office for me. Now that would be perfect!

My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Marie Benedict about her new novel, THE QUEENS OF CRIME, which we reviewed last week and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.

Marie read classic women’s mysteries at a young age, as she was introduced to them by her aunt. Her love for the genre influenced this book, as well as her earlier work, THE MYSTERY OF MRS. CHRISTIE. She discusses the case that the five female crime writers in the novel set out to unravel, explains why a case like this might have taken long to solve, and talks more about the legendary Detection Club.

Marie also shares what she is working on now and notes a future collaboration, once again, with Victoria Christopher Murray. 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.

This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which will take place on Wednesday, February 26th at 8pm ET.

Our guest will be Lisa Wingate, and she will be talking about her USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller, SHELTERWOOD, which is newly released in paperback. This Bets On pick traces the story of children abandoned by the law and the battle to see justice done.

You can register for the event by clicking here. If you have a question for Lisa, please email it to me using the subject line “Shelterwood” by Wednesday at noon ET. Be sure to also include your name, city and state, and indicate if you’d like to be on camera during the event so you can ask Lisa the question yourself, or if you’d prefer me to ask it for you. Those who appear on camera will be able to chat with Lisa in our virtual green room before the program starts.

Our Latest Monthly Contest on Reading Group Guides is Live!
SHELTERWOOD is our current “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” prize title on ReadingGroupGuides.com. One book group will win up to 12 copies of the book. To enter, all you need to do is fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, March 12th at noon ET.

In Anne Tyler’s latest novel, THREE DAYS IN JUNE, a socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding. As with so many of Tyler’s books, this story is told with deep sensitivity and a tart sense of humor, and is full of the joys and heartbreaks of love, marriage and family life.

According to Jane T. Krebs in her review, “Those of us who have read Tyler’s work will feel like we already know Gail and some of the observations going through her mind. She holds herself back, and her interior commentary on the specifics of memory and what is happening contrasts with her calm, measured actions…. Gail's story is beautifully told, showing quiet passion and acknowledging what her world has become and how she arrived there.”

I am listening to THREE DAYS IN JUNE now, which is narrated by J. Smith-Cameron. I love hearing the dynamics, as misguided as they are, unwind.

Jojo Moyes’ new novel, WE ALL LIVE HERE, centers on Lila Kennedy, the recently separated-because-her-husband-had-an-affair mother to two wayward daughters. With a career in freefall, she finds herself living with both her stepfather and her biological father, the latter of whom abandoned her when she was a child for the star-studded glimmer of Hollywood.

Norah Piehl has our review and says, “Moyes adeptly brings together so many different primary and secondary characters and plot strands…that reading the book feels, in a way, like navigating Lila's own life: complicated, messy and difficult to pin down, but also filled with elements of humor, joy and discovery…. WE ALL LIVE HERE is an ode to a different kind of family --- one that is unexpected and impossible to contain, but in the end is something to embrace with all your heart.”

In honor of the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live,” which NBC celebrated last Sunday night with a 3 ½ hour extravaganza, Susan Morrison has penned the definitive biography of the show’s creator and executive producer, Lorne Michaels. Drawn from hundreds of interviews, LORNE will introduce you to him, in full, for the first time.

It seems only fitting that Harvey Freedenberg, a longtime “SNL” viewer who vividly remembers watching the premiere episode on October 11, 1975, cover this book for us. In his review, he calls it “a biography that’s both enlightening and entertaining” and goes on to say, “Morrison dutifully chronicles the many ups and fewer downs of ‘SNL’ over its 50-year run… Loyal fans all have their view of the show’s golden age, and while it would be impossible over the course of more than 900 episodes not to produce his share of duds, Michaels has been the consistent, usually unflappable, presence who ensures that overall standard remains high.”

It is worth noting that this is Harvey’s 400th review for Bookreporter, which is quite an impressive milestone in its own right! We are so grateful to him for sharing his thoughts on literally hundreds of books with us. I definitely want to read LORNE, especially after the 50th anniversary celebration events.

Other books we’re reviewing this week include:

• A DRAGON OF BLACK GLASS: The third and penultimate book in James Rollins’ Moonfall series, following THE STARLESS CROWN and THE CRADLE OF ICE, is a tale of relentless adventure and the struggle for survival in a harsh world that hangs by a thread.
   
• BLOOD TIES: Jo Nesbø, the modern master of Nordic suspense who is best known for his Harry Hole mysteries, has written an explosive novel about a community in crisis and two brothers on the verge of losing everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve.
   
• THE DRESSMAKERS OF LONDON: Julia Kelly returns with a heartfelt new novel about estranged sisters who inherit their late mother’s dress shop in World War II London. Through letters, they begin to confront old wounds, new loves, and the weight of family legacy in order to forge new beginnings.
   
• WE WOULD NEVER: In her latest novel, which is inspired by a true story, Tova Mirvis maps the extremes to which a family will go in order to protect their own. I attended a publisher lunch back in September where Tova was one of the author guests, so it's great to see her book now in stores.

Wrapping Up Winter Reading --- and Looking Ahead to Spring Reading
Our Winter Reading contests came to a close this week with our final giveaway, FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston. Congratulations to the winners of our eight contests, and many thanks to all who entered!

Our next series of 24-hour giveaways will be our Spring Reading contests. The feature will go live next Friday, February 28th, and our first giveaway will kick off the week of March 3rd. If you would like to receive a newsletter announcing each day’s Spring Reading title, click here to sign up for these contest alerts.

Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
Remember to submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win our current Word of Mouth prizes: CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 by Lisa Unger (which we will review next week) and MEMORIAL DAYS: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks. The deadline for your entries is Friday, February 28th at noon ET.

Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask about blurbs and whether or not they have any influence over your purchasing or reading a book. Be sure to let us know what you think about this by Friday, February 28th at noon ET.

Oprah’s latest Book Club pick is DREAM STATE by Eric Puchner, which released this week. Here’s how Oprah describes the book:

“Set in the days before a summer wedding at a lake house in Montana, the relationship between Cece and Charlie --- the bride and groom-to-be --- is tested after his best friend, Garrett, who’s officiating the upcoming nuptials, meets Cece. What happens next not only changes the trajectory of their lives, but also the lives of the next generation.

“Spanning 50 years, DREAM STATE is an exquisite examination of the important relationships we have in our lives --- love, marriage, friendship, and how life can turn out so differently than we expected. We promise you: it’s the kind of book you won’t want to put down written by an award-winning author who is truly a master storyteller.”

Oprah recently talked to Eric Puchner about DREAM STATE and its themes of time, family, addiction and climate change in front of a live audience at the Starbucks Reserve store in New York's Empire State Building. You can watch their conversation here on Oprah’s YouTube channel.

Featured Review: THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler

THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by J. Smith-Cameron
Gail Baines is having a bad day. To start, she loses her job --- or quits, depending on whom you ask. Tomorrow her daughter, Debbie, is getting married, and she hasn’t even been invited to the spa day organized by the mother of the groom. Then, Gail’s ex-husband, Max, arrives unannounced on her doorstep, carrying a cat, without a place to stay and without even a suit. But the true crisis lands when Debbie shares with her parents a secret she has just learned about her husband to be. It will not only throw the wedding into question but also stir up Gail and Max’s past. Reviewed by Jane T. Krebs.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: WE ALL LIVE HERE by Jojo Moyes

WE ALL LIVE HERE by Jojo Moyes (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jenna Coleman
Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Her career is in freefall, and her love life is…complicated. So when Lila’s real dad --- a man she barely has seen since he ran off to Hollywood 35 years ago --- suddenly appears on her doorstep, it feels like the final straw. But it turns out that even the family you thought you could never forgive might have something to teach you: about love, and what it actually means to be family. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: LORNE by Susan Morrison

LORNE: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Kristen DiMercurio
Over the 50 years that Lorne Michaels has been at the helm of “Saturday Night Live,” he has become a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys --- and, essentially, a mystery. Generations of writers and performers have spent their lives trying to figure him out, by turns demonizing and lionizing him. LORNE will introduce you to him, in full, for the first time. With unprecedented access to Michaels and the entire “SNL” apparatus, Susan Morrison takes readers behind the curtain for the lively, up-and-down, definitive story of how Michaels created and maintained the institution that changed comedy forever. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

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

Click here to read our review.

"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com
Enter to Win Up to 12 Copies of
SHELTERWOOD by Lisa Wingate for Your Group

In our latest "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com, one lucky reader will win up to 12 copies of SHELTERWOOD by Lisa Wingate for their book group.

A USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller that is now available in paperback, this sweeping novel --- which was a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick when it came out in hardcover last year --- is inspired by the untold history of women pioneers who fought to protect children caught in the storm of land barons hungry for power and oil wealth.

To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, March 12th at noon ET.

SHELTERWOOD by Lisa Wingate (Historical Fiction)
1990. Law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell arrives at Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to raise her son. But no sooner has Valerie reported for duty than a teenage hiker goes missing, and the long-hidden burial site of three children is discovered in a cave. Val’s quest to uncover the truth wins an ally among the Choctaw Nation’s Tribal Police but soon collides with the deadly legacy of the land itself.

1909. Eleven-year-old Olive Radley knows that her stepfather is a threat to the two Choctaw girls boarded in their home. When the older girl disappears, Ollie flees, taking six-year-old Nessa with her. Together they begin a perilous journey to the remote Winding Stair Mountains, the territory of outlaws, treasure hunters and desperate men. Along the way, they form an unlikely band with other children struggling to get by on their own.

- 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 Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lisa Wingate.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.

Click here to enter the contest.

Click here to sign up for our "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event
with Lisa Wingate on Wednesday, February 26th at 8pm ET.

Featured Review:
A DRAGON OF BLACK GLASS by James Rollins

A DRAGON OF BLACK GLASS by James Rollins (Fantasy/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Nicola Barber
With the apocalyptic threat of moonfall looming ever closer, Nyx and her allies must venture into the eternally sunblasted lands to search for an ancient weapon buried untold millennia ago. All the while, enemies close upon her flanks, and a greater danger lurks ahead. For beneath a desert turned to glass, hidden from the scorching heat, life thrives --- both wondrous and monstrous. But a more fearsome menace lies even deeper, where an ancient army has been seeded to protect a secret from any who dare seek it out. Can Nyx truly trust those at her side? Or even herself? For while her gifts grow ever stronger, so does the danger of losing herself to a dark madness. Worst yet, the same afflicts Bashaliia, her winged and bonded brother. Elsewhere, a looming war explodes across the Crown, forging new alliances and greater enmities, as lands around the globe are drawn into fiery conflict. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: BLOOD TIES by Jo Nesbø

BLOOD TIES written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson (Noir Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Euan Morton
By all accounts, Carl and Roy Opgard are doing quite well for themselves. Or at least they’re doing as well as can be expected in a small town like Os. Carl manages the area’s swanky and successful spa and hotel, while Roy runs a nearby gas station and harbors grand plans to build it out into an entire amusement park, complete with a roller coaster. But when news breaks about a new highway to be built nearby, bypassing Os and leaving the town cutoff and isolated, it’s clear that something has to be done…even if the methods are bound to be dirty. Fortunately, Carl and Roy have experience with just that kind of work. Meanwhile, the town sheriff has gotten his hands on new technology that will enable him to take a deeper look at a slate of unsolved murders from years past --- including that of his own father. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review:
THE DRESSMAKERS OF LONDON by Julia Kelly

THE DRESSMAKERS OF LONDON by Julia Kelly (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Shiromi Arserio
Isabelle Shelton has always found comfort in the predictable world of her mother’s dressmaking shop, Mrs. Shelton’s Fashions, while her sister, Sylvia, turned her back on the family years ago to marry a wealthy doctor whom Izzie detests. When their mother dies unexpectedly, the sisters are stunned to find they’ve jointly inherited the family business. Izzie is determined to buy Sylvia out, but when she’s conscripted into the WAAF, she’s forced to seek Sylvia’s help to keep the shop open. Realizing this could be her one chance at reconciliation with her sister, Sylvia is determined to save Mrs. Shelton’s Fashions from closure --- and financial ruin. Through letters, the sisters begin to confront old wounds, new loves, and the weight of family legacy in order to forge new beginnings. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: WE WOULD NEVER by Tova Mirvis

WE WOULD NEVER by Tova Mirvis (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rachel F. Hirsch
No one appears more surprised than Hailey Gelman when she comes under suspicion for the murder of her soon-to-be ex-husband, Jonah. The months leading up to Jonah’s death have been fraught, including a bitter separation and a messy custody battle over their young daughter, Maya. When Hailey files a motion to relocate to Florida, Jonah retaliates, and the divorce begins to spiral dangerously out of control. Sherry, Hailey’s mother, will stop at almost nothing to keep Jonah from getting what he wants. Nate, Hailey’s impetuous and protective older brother, can’t stand to see his little sister suffer. And Solomon, the patriarch, is keeping a secret that threatens the stability and security Sherry has worked so hard to maintain. Soon, they are forced to reckon with who they are as individuals and as a family, and just how far they will go for each other. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

More Reviews This Week

PARANOIA: A Michael Bennett Thriller by James Patterson and James O. Born (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Peter Giles, Will Collyer and Kiff VandenHeuvel
At every death scene, NYPD Detective Michael Bennett says a prayer over the victim. But recently, too many of the departed have been fellow cops. “I want you to look at these deaths on special assignment,” NYPD Inspector Celeste Cantor says. “Report only to me.” Bennett excels as a solo investigator. But he's chasing a killer who feeds on isolation...and paranoia. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

BONDED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Ericksen
His passport read Giovanni Rossi. But decades ago, during the Urban Wars, he was part of a small, secret organization called The Twelve. Responding to an urgent summons from an old compatriot, he landed in New York and eased into the waiting car. And died within minutes. The Rossi case is frustrating to Lieutenant Eve Dallas. But when she finds a connection to the Urban Wars of the 2020s, she thinks that Summerset --- the man who had rescued her husband from the Dublin streets --- may know something from his stint as a medic in Europe back then. As Summerset eventually reveals, he himself was one of The Twelve. It’s not a part of his past he likes to revisit. But now he must --- not only to assist Eve’s investigation, but because a cryptic message from the killer has boasted that others of The Twelve have also died. Reviewed by Jennifer McCord.

JANE AUSTEN'S BOOKSHELF: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend by Rebecca Romney (Literary Criticism)
Audiobook available, read by Rebecca Romney
Long before she was a rare book dealer, Rebecca Romney was a devoted reader of Jane Austen. She loved that Austen’s books took the lives of women seriously, explored relationships with wit and confidence, and always allowed for the possibility of a happy ending. She read and reread them, often wishing Austen wrote just one more. JANE AUSTEN’S BOOKSHELF investigates the disappearance of Austen’s heroes --- women writers who were erased from the Western canon --- to reveal who they were, what they meant to Austen, and how they were forgotten. Each chapter profiles a different writer and recounts Romney’s experience reading them, finding rare copies of their works, and drawing on connections between their words and Austen’s. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

THE QUIET LIBRARIAN by Allen Eskens (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ilvana Muratovic
Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia --- until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend --- the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head. Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE LIFE OF HEROD THE GREAT written by Zora Neale Hurston, edited by Deborah G. Plant (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Blair Underwood and Robin Miles
In the 1950s, as a continuation of MOSES, MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, Zora Neale Hurston penned a historical novel about one of the most infamous figures in the Bible, Herod the Great. In Hurston’s retelling, Herod is not the wicked ruler of the New Testament who is charged with the “slaughter of the innocents,” but a forerunner of Christ --- a beloved king who enriched Jewish culture and brought prosperity and peace to Judea. An intimate of both Marc Antony and Julius Caesar, the Judean king lived during the first-century BCE, in a time of war and imperial expansion that was rife with political assassinations and bribery, as the old world gave way to the new. Portraying Herod within this vivid and dynamic world of antiquity, little known to modern readers, Hurston’s unfinished manuscript brings this complex, compelling and misunderstood leader fully into focus. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.

NESTING by Roisín O'Donnell (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Louisa Harland
Grabbing an armful of clothes off the clothesline, Ciara Fay straps her two young daughters into her car and drives away. All she knows for certain is that home is no longer safe. On the surface, she has a perfect life. Her husband, Ryan, is a good provider, and they have another baby on the way. But he also monitors Ciara's every move, flies into unpredictable rages where he convinces her she can do nothing right, and has isolated her from work, friends and her beloved family. With no job and no support, Ciara struggles to provide a sense of normalcy for her little girls. Facing a broken housing system, they move into a hotel room on a floor reserved for women like her. Ryan, meanwhile, wages a relentless campaign to win her back, and Ciara wavers. He never hit her, after all. And don't the girls need a stable home? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

PARIS UNDERCOVER: A Wartime Story of Courage, Friendship, and Betrayal by Matthew Goodman (History)
Audiobook available, read by Kristi Burns
During the Nazi occupation, Etta Shiber and Kate Bonnefous --- an American widow and an English divorcée --- find themselves unexpectedly plunged into the whirlwind of history. With the help of a French country priest and others, they set out to rescue British and French soldiers trapped behind enemy lines --- some of whom they daringly smuggle through Nazi checkpoints hidden inside the trunk of their car. Ultimately the Gestapo captures them both. After 18 months in prison, Etta is returned to the United States in a prisoner exchange. Back home, hoping to bring attention to her friend’s bravery, she publishes a memoir about their work, which becomes a publishing sensation. Meanwhile, Kate spends the rest of the war in a Nazi prison, entirely unaware of the book that has been written about her --- and the deeds that have been claimed in her name. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.

DON DRYSDALE: UP AND IN: The Life of a Dodgers Legend by Mark Whicker (Sports/Biography)
Larger than life. In the history of American sports, rare is the athlete who fits that description better than Don Drysdale. On the mound, the towering 6-foot-5 righthander intimidated National League hitters for more than a decade, amassing career totals of 209 wins, 2,486 strikeouts…and hitting 154 batters, a stat he led the major leagues in four times. Off the field, Drysdale’s personality dominated every room he walked into. With a smile as immense as the sun, his contemporaries included Frank Sinatra and Howard Cosell. In UP AND IN, longtime Orange County Register sportswriter Mark Whicker takes readers on a remarkable journey through Drysdale’s life and career. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).

SWEET NOTHINGS: Confessions of a Candy Lover by Sarah Perry (Humor/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Perry
A taxonomy of sweetness, a rhapsody of artificial flavors, and a multi-faceted theory of pleasure, SWEET NOTHINGS is made up of 100 illustrated micro essays organized by candy color, from the red of Pop Rocks to the purple Jelly Bonbon in the Whitman’s Sampler. Each entry is a meditation on taste and texture, a memory unlocked. Everyone’s favorites --- and least favorites --- are carefully considered, including Snickers and Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Cups, as well as the beloved Good n’ Plenty and Werther’s Originals. An expert guide and exquisite writer, Sarah Perry asks such pressing questions as: Twizzlers or Red Vines? Why are Mentos eaters so maniacally happy? And in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, how could Edmund sell out his siblings for, of all things, Turkish delight? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 25th

Below are some notable titles releasing on February 25th 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 24th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

BACK AFTER THIS by Linda Holmes (Romantic Comedy)
From the New York Times bestselling author of EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER and FLYING SOLO, a podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating. But will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?

BATTLE MOUNTAIN: A Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box (Mystery/Thriller)
Outlaw falconer Nate Romanowski is off the grid and out for revenge in this riveting new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author C. J. Box.

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 by Lisa Unger (Psychological Thriller)
An extreme game of hide-and-seek turns deadly in this riveting new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.

CRUSH by Ada Calhoun (Romance)
When a husband asks his wife to consider what might be missing from their marriage, what follows surprises them both --- sex, heartbreak and heart rekindling, and a rediscovered sense of all that is possible.

DEEP CUTS by Holly Brickley (Fiction)
Moving from Brooklyn bars to San Francisco dance floors, DEEP CUTS examines the nature of talent, obsession, belonging and, above all, our need to be heard.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS by Gillian McAllister (Domestic Thriller)
FAMOUS LAST WORDS is an addictive thriller about a new mother’s world upended when her husband commits a terrifying crime. How well does she truly know the man she loves? And what danger does she face if her entire life has been built on a lie?

SHOW DON'T TELL: Stories by Curtis Sittenfeld (Fiction/Short Stories)
This funny, fiercely intelligent and moving collection explores marriage, friendship, fame and artistic ambition --- including a story that revisits the main character from Curtis Sittenfeld’s iconic novel, PREP.

SWORDHEART by T. Kingfisher (Fantasy/Romance)
The delightful charm of The Princess Bride meets the delicious bodyguard romance of FROM BLOOD AND ASH in this cozy fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling author T. Kingfisher.

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

From left to right: Lisa Wingate, C. J. Box, Tova Mirvis

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, February 25th at 11:30am ET: The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center: The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center welcomes Tova Mirvis, who will talk about her latest novel, WE WOULD NEVER. This riveting literary page-turner maps the extremes to which a family will go in order to protect their own.

Tuesday, February 25th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Get ready for a killer conversation with Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist and fiction writer Linda Hurtado Bond as she gives Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda the inside scoop on her latest gasp-fest,  ALL THE CAPTIVE GIRLS.

Wednesday, February 26th at 3pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Gillian McAllister will talk about her latest book, FAMOUS LAST WORDS, an addictive thriller that finds a new mother’s world upended when her husband commits a terrifying crime.

Wednesday, February 26th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with C. J. Box about BATTLE MOUNTAIN, the 25th installment in his Joe Pickett series, which finds outlaw falconer Nate Romanowski off the grid and out for revenge.

Wednesday, February 26th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Lisa Wingate about her novel, SHELTERWOOD, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. Lisa also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience.

 "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:

• Marie Benedict (THE QUEENS OF CRIME) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Fiona Davis (THE STOLEN QUEEN) Video | Podcast
• Joseph Finder (THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER) Video | Podcast
• Lisa Genova (MORE OR LESS MADDY) Video | Podcast
• Paula Hawkins (THE BLUE HOUR) Video | Podcast
• Michelle Horton (DEAR SISTER: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds) Video | Podcast
• Jean Hanff Korelitz (THE SEQUEL) Video | Podcast
• Tracey Lange (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS?) Video | Podcast
• Susan Rieger (LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER) Video | Podcast
• Scott Turow (PRESUMED GUILTY) Video | Podcast
• Sharon Virts (THE GRAYS OF TRUTH) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Charmaine Wilkerson (GOOD DIRT)

Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.

Our Latest Poll: Book Blurbs

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!

Click here to enter the contest.

Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com

Reviews | Features | Bookreporter.com Bets On | Upcoming Bets On
Contests | Poll | Word of Mouth | Coming Soon
  On Sale This Week | New in Paperback | Books on Screen
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