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I think I have asked this before, but I am asking again. January and July each have 31 days. So can someone explain to me again why January feels like a year and July feels like a day? I feel like I ask this question every summer! And I am not sure the 31 days of August will feel like they go by any more slowly, but I plan to make the most of them. In the New York City area, it is looking like a picture-perfect weekend ahead with temps in the 80s, sun and no humidity. The weather trifecta!
I have been on a reading roll. I have been listening to parts of books while reading other parts. I wish that a print/audiobook bundle was a way to sell books. I know it would not be economically feasible, but to be able to continue a story wherever I want to be reading is such a great option.
This has been one of the busiest summers for books coming out. A couple of years ago, I would be reading ahead by this point and looking at fall titles. Now I am reading Shari Lapena’s new book, SHE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING, which I am loving. It came out this week, and we are reviewing it (more on that later). I still have some July titles I want to read --- and it’s August. And so it goes!
On Wednesday night, J. Courtney Sullivan joined us for our latest “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event to discuss her novel, THE CLIFFS, a Reese’s Book Club pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now available in paperback.
Courtney talks about the various themes and characters in the book and what inspired her to write about a Victorian house that sits on a foreboding cliff overlooking the ocean. THE CLIFFS delves into Maine’s complicated history with Native Americans, and she addresses this important subject with us. Courtney also humorously explains why her elevator pitch for the book has changed since its hardcover release last year, and she lets us know what she’s currently working on. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
Our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group program will resume in September, and we will announce our guest in the weeks to come.
Looking for Guest Ideas from YOU!
We know how much you love our book group events. Do you have an author in mind who you would like to see as one of our guests? We are looking for a well-known author whose book has strong book group appeal. His or her book should be either a bestseller in hardcover or coming in paperback by the month of the event. Be sure to send your ideas to Carol@bookreporter.com with the subject line “Events.”
When a beloved wife and mother disappears, a luxurious condo building transforms into a potential crime scene, and the investigation begins. Can the detectives locate her before it's too late? Find out for yourself in Shari Lapena’s gripping new novel, the aforementioned SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING.
According to Bronwyn Miller in her review, “Shari Lapena is back and in fine form with this propulsive thriller that will have you furiously turning pages as you race to the end…. Along with being the ‘Queen of Domestic Suspense,’ Lapena is a maven at the one-weekend read. Her ninth thriller sits comfortably alongside earlier titles like THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR and SOMEONE WE KNOW. Perfect to toss into your beach bag or dive into if you’re in a reading rut, this dynamic novel will remind you exactly why we love thrillers like this in the first place.”
I completely concur with Bronwyn’s reaction to Shari’s work. I love this line from Ruth Ware about Shari’s writing: “No one does suburban paranoia like Shari Lapena.”
Megan Miranda’s latest psychological thriller, YOU BELONG HERE, pulled me in from the first page. During Beckett Bowery’s senior year of college, two local men lost their lives. Her roommate went on the run and was never seen again. Now, two decades later, her daughter, Delilah, secretly applies to Wyatt College and earns a full scholarship. Deep down, Beckett knows that Wyatt Valley has a long memory, and the past isn’t the only dangerous thing in town.
Rebecca Munro has our review and says, “Megan Miranda writes an edgy, fast-paced thriller that is full of well-placed puzzle pieces, plenty of red herrings, and an atmospheric sense of time and place. She makes excellent use of the small-town college trope to craft not just a riveting, provocative mystery, but also a searingly smart character study full of the trappings of wealth and privilege, legacy and reputation, that exposes the nuances of class divides.”
I can tell you that Megan packs so much into this book. And her writing in the first person gives it a real edgy vibe.
We also are featuring reviews of these two books:
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UNDER THE STARS: When a daughter and her famous mother return to Winthrop Island to confront their complicated past, they discover a secret trove of paintings that connect them to a mysterious woman who vanished on a luxury steamship two centuries earlier.
Pamela Kramer has this to say in her review of Beatriz Williams’ latest book: “You will never forget these three women. You may not like them all, but you will respect some of the choices they make in this heartfelt, beautifully conceived novel.”
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THE IDAHO FOUR: The murders of four innocent college students attending the University of Idaho left us all with so many questions. Now, after more than 300 interviews, James Patterson and prize-winning journalist Vicky Ward finally have some answers.
Our reviewer Philip Zozzaro says, “Lingering questions about the crime, including the motive, prove enigmatic. Still, THE IDAHO FOUR is a necessary and unputdownable read that is as intriguing as it is heartrending.”
I agree with Philip. I could not put this book down. I know the timing of its publication was to have coincided with the the start of the trial, but the trial never happened as a guilty plea was entered. There is still so much we do not know. And I feel for the families of the victims as they deserved answers.
LIKENESS by Samsun Knight is the latest book we’re featuring in our New Release Spotlight. On a summer evening in the 1990s, Anne learns that one of her husband’s lovers is expecting his child, only a few weeks after learning that she too is pregnant. Meanwhile, Sandy, the lover, works to find her own path forward through her surprise pregnancy. Searching through diaries, grocery lists and seances with the dead, she tries to remember just enough of her original sense of direction to make her own way home. The setup here sounds so intriguing!
Summer Reading Contest Update
In this week’s Summer Reading contest, we gave away the aforementioned YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda. Our next two prizes will be THE LOCKED WARD by Sarah Pekkanen and FULL BLOOM by Francesca Serritella. These contests will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, August 5th and Wednesday, August 6th.
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
We also are giving away FULL BLOOM in our Word of Mouth contest, along with YOU BELONG HERE. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles. Be sure to enter by Friday, August 8th at noon ET.
Books on Screen Offerings for August
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. August’s roundup includes the films The Thursday Murder Club, My Oxford Year and Night Always Comes on Netflix, the Providence Falls trilogy on Hallmark, The Map That Leads to You on Prime Video, and She Rides Shotgun in theaters; the conclusion of "And Just Like That..." on HBO Max and "The Institute" on MGM+; the series premieres of "Outlander: Blood of My Blood" on STARZ and "The Terminal List: Dark Wolf" on Prime Video; the season premieres of "The Marlow Murder Club" on PBS "Masterpiece" and "My Life with the Walter Boys" on Netflix; and the DVD/Blu-ray releases of The King of Kings and How to Train Your Dragon.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of my Bets On picks that are now or soon will be in paperback you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, August 8th at noon ET.
The longlist for this year’s Booker Prize has been announced. Among the 13 books, referred to as the “Booker Dozen,” are AUDITION by Katie Kitamura, ENDLING by Maria Reva, FLASHLIGHT by Susan Choi, FLESH by David Szalay, and THE SOUTH by Tash Aw. Click here for the complete list. The shortlist of six books will be revealed on September 23rd, followed by the announcement of the winner on November 10th.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Linda wrote a while back: “Since you began 'Bookaccino Live', I have listened monthly and have read and enjoyed so many of your suggestions. I wanted to share with you a photo of my bookmark collection that my granddaughter put together for me. Thank you, Carol, and also to Tom for making readers happy!”
Barb wrote about winning Karen White's THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER in a Summer Reading contest: “WOO HOO!!! I am SO EXCITED to read this! Thank you for the opportunity!”
Nancy wrote, “Carol, I totally agree that high school required reading will turn off students from enjoying reading. And I too have felt that way for years. Give the kids something they can relate to that is fun to read. Surely there is something out there that can replace DON QUIXOTE or FATHERS AND SONS. Maybe THE OUTSIDERS by S. E. Hinton? I realize the banned book folks have gone crazy, but if kids are forced to read deadly dull stuff in school, why would they even think about looking for something that might relate to them?
“As a side note, I used to help sort books for a local book sale. When other sorters would question what books to put in the Literature box, I would tell them that a particular book went in that box if the author was dead and it was boring. PS. I love Bookreporter!”
Debbie wrote, “Thank you so much for William Kent Kruger’s SPIRIT CROSSING that I won in the Summer Reading contest! I’m looking forward to reading it! My Saturday mornings begin with these newsletters, and my Tuesday nights end with the 'On Sale This Week' newsletter. Thanks again.”
“Billy Joel: And So It Goes” on HBO Max: We saw parts one and two last week. I always have admired Susan Lacy’s work on documentaries, and this one again was excellent. I confess that I am not the biggest Billy Joel fan, but I have a lot more respect for his work after watching this.
Rolling Stone shared this news: “The Piano Man dropped a massive 155-song companion album on digital services featuring unreleased recordings and more. Never-before-heard music from Joel’s archives are peppered throughout the five-hour HBO documentary, from his early days with Long Island rockers the Hassles to his orchestral and instrumental works. The seven-hour And So It Goes, a 'musical companion' to the documentary, features dozens of unreleased live recordings and demo versions.”
“Black Doves” on Netflix: I enjoyed this. It's shorter than most series, which means that we could binge it in a few nights. If I watch with my husband, it's an episode or two a night. If left on my own, I have less self-control!
The weather this weekend looks stellar. We invited a few couples to come over for dinner tomorrow night. It’s hard to believe that we are having our first dinner party of the summer on August 2nd! I joked with my husband that now we will need to make up for lost time on entertaining. That said, I am going to be relishing reading time as well. My stack is calling my name. Actually, I feel like it is tall enough to shout at me.
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:
SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING by Shari Lapena
SHE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING by Shari Lapena (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden, who is working from home that day, has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment, her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall. Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out. How can she have disappeared from her own home? And did she even leave the building at all? Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda
YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
Beckett Bowery never thought she’d return to Wyatt Valley, a picturesque college town in the Virginia mountains steeped in tradition. Her roots there were strong: Beckett’s parents taught at the college, and she never even imagined studying anywhere else --- until a tragedy her senior year ended with two local men dead, and her roommate on the run, never to be seen again. For the last two decades, Beckett has done her best to keep her distance. Then her daughter, Delilah, secretly applies to Wyatt College and earns a full scholarship, and Beckett can only hope that her lingering fears are unfounded. But deep down, she knows that Wyatt Valley has a long memory, and the past isn’t the only dangerous thing in town. 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 visit Megan Miranda's website.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: UNDER THE STARS by Beatriz Williams
UNDER THE STARS by Beatriz Williams (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Helen Laser, Xe Sands, Johnathan McClain, Rachel F. Hirsch, Adam Verner and Will Damron
Audrey Fisher has struggled all her life to emerge from the shadow of her famous mother by forging a career as a world-class chef. Meredith Fisher’s glamorous screen persona disguises the trauma of the tragic accident that haunts her dreams. She has one last chance to sober up and salvage her big comeback. And where else but discreet, moneyed Winthrop Island can a famous actress spend the summer without the intrusion of other people? Until Audrey discovers an old wooden chest among the belongings of her estranged bartender father, and the astonishing contents draw the women deep into Winthrop’s past and its many secrets. How did a trove of paintings from one of America’s greatest artists wind up in the cellar of the Mohegan Inn? And who is the mysterious woman portrayed on every canvas? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE IDAHO FOUR by James Patterson and Vicky Ward
THE IDAHO FOUR: An American Tragedy by James Patterson and Vicky Ward (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Elisabeth Rodgers
The murders of four innocent college students attending the University of Idaho left us all with so many questions. Now, after more than 300 interviews, James Patterson and prize-winning journalist Vicky Ward finally have some answers. We know what it was like to live in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022, the day of the cold-blooded killings. We know what the local police and FBI did right. And what they did wrong. We’ve learned so much about the four heartbroken families --- the Mogens, Goncalveses, Kernodles and Chapins. And we have the backstory for Bryan Kohberger --- brilliant grad student, loner, apparent incel. Now you are the jury. The evidence is in. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
New Release Spotlight: LIKENESS by Samsun Knight
LIKENESS by Samsun Knight (Fiction)
On a summer evening in the 1990s, Anne learns that one of her husband’s lovers is expecting his child, only a few weeks after learning that she too is pregnant. He tells her casually, as if it’s just another colorful story about his day. And the tenuous understanding between them --- the careful balance of privacy and flexibility that has sustained their open marriage to date --- is shattered.
Meanwhile, Sandy, the lover, works to find her own path forward through her surprise pregnancy and all the million tiny miracles and catastrophes that she now must navigate, often entirely on her own. Searching through diaries, grocery lists and seances with the dead, Sandy tries to remember just enough of her original sense of direction to make her own way home.
- Click here to read Samsun Knight's bio.
- Click here to visit Samsun Knight's website.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Bookreporter.com's 21st Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through mid-August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
August’s Books on Screen Feature
Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs/Blu-rays that are based on books. For a complete list of August's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
My Oxford Year
Release Date: Friday, August 1st on Netflix
Based on: MY OXFORD YEAR by Julia Whelan
She Rides Shotgun
Release Date: Friday, August 1st (limited release in theaters)
Based on: SHE RIDES SHOTGUN by Jordan Harper
Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime
Air Date: Saturday, August 2nd at 8pm ET/PT on Hallmark
Based on: CHANCE OF A LIFETIME: A Providence Falls Novel by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets
Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise
Air Date: Saturday, August 9th at 8pm ET/PT on Hallmark
Based on: AN IMPOSSIBLE PROMISE: A Providence Falls Novel by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets
Providence Falls: Thief of Fate
Air Date: Saturday, August 16th at 8pm ET/PT on Hallmark
Based on: THIEF OF FATE: A Providence Falls Novel by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets
The Thursday Murder Club
Release Date: Thursday, August 28th on Netflix
Based on: THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB by Richard Osman
Series Premieres
"Outlander: Blood of My Blood"
Air Dates: Fridays at 8pm ET/PT on STARZ; Series Premiere on August 8th (the first two episodes will air)
Based on: The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
"The Terminal List: Dark Wolf"
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Prime Video; Series Premiere on August 27th (the first three episodes of Season 1 will be available)
Based on: Characters from THE TERMINAL LIST by Jack Carr
Season Premiere
"The Marlow Murder Club"
Air Dates: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on PBS "Masterpiece"; Season 2 Premiere on August 24th
Based on: THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB by Robert Thorogood
Series Finales
"And Just Like That..."
Release Dates: Thursdays on HBO Max; Series Finale on August 14th
Based on: SEX AND THE CITY by Candace Bushnell
"The Institute" (8-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Sundays on MGM+; Series Finale on August 24th
Based on: THE INSTITUTE by Stephen King
Season Finale
"The Buccaneers"
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Apple TV+; Season 2 Finale on August 6th
Based on: The unfinished novel of the same name by Edith Wharton
On DVD and Blu-ray
How to Train Your Dragon
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: Tuesday, August 12th
Based on: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON by Cressida Cowell
The King of Kings
Blu-ray Release Date: Tuesday, August 26th
Based on: THE LIFE OF OUR LORD by Charles Dickens
What’s New on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.
GUESS AGAIN by Charlie Donlea (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Vivienne Leheny
Ten years ago, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community. A highly publicized search followed, but her body was never found. Ethan Hall, a former renegade detective turned ER doctor, left law enforcement to escape the horrors of the kid crime division. But on the 10th anniversary of Callie’s disappearance, his former partner, Pete Kramer, makes a desperate request. Pete is the veteran detective who originally investigated the case. Now he’s dying, and he needs Ethan to return to the haunting work he left behind --- and solve what happened to Callie, once and for all. It turns out there is much more to the nightmare of Callie’s disappearance than Ethan imagined, including a connection with his own dark past…and secrets that are still worth killing for. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE ESCAPE by Brian Freeman (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Jason Bourne is on a boat in the Mediterranean moonlight with his lover, Johanna. He’s happy for the first time in years. Then in the next instant, he finds himself floating on wreckage as fire and smoke choke the sky. Johanna is gone. And Bourne finds the darkness of lost memory closing around his mind again. As he did once before, Bourne must piece together the fragments of who he is, even as assassins hunt him across Europe. He teams up with his spy chief, Shadow, who reveals the shocking secret that Bourne’s surrogate father --- David Abbott, the founder of Treadstone --- is alive and missing. Together they must find Abbott before his enemies do. But Shadow is a master of manipulation who won’t hesitate to betray Bourne to get what she wants. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE CARPOOL DETECTIVES: A True Story of Four Moms, Two Bodies, and One Mysterious Cold Case by Chuck Hogan (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Gabra Zackman
Marissa, Jeannie, Samira and Nicole are beginning to grapple with their own identities. As their children become more independent, they struggle to find purpose. But when they meet at a bowling night fundraiser for their kids’ school, they discover a shared interest in true crime that crystalizes around a mysterious double homicide that took place in their hometown a decade earlier. A couple in their 60s vanished overnight from their home and mysteriously shuttered their family business, leaving millions of dollars unaccounted for. Initially believed to have absconded with the money, they went from suspects to victims when their bodies were discovered in their car at the bottom of a steep ravine. And then the case turned cold. But what if the moms could solve it? What if they could bring a killer to justice and give closure to a grieving family? Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE BOYS IN THE LIGHT: An Extraordinary World War II Story of Survival, Faith, and Brotherhood by Nina Willner (History)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Bramhall
THE BOYS IN THE LIGHT follows the parallel journeys of Company D and Eddie Willner, the author’s father, as they are caught up on two sides of World War II. At 16, Eddie Willner was among the millions of European Jews rounded up by Hitler’s Nazis. He was forced into slave labor alongside his father and his best friend, Mike, and spent the next three years of his life surviving the death camps. Meanwhile, in the United States, boys only a few years older than Eddie were joining the army and heading toward their own precarious futures. A company of 3rd Armored Division tankers, led by 23-year-old Elmer Hovland, quickly became battle-hardened and weary, constantly questioning whether the war was worth it. They got their answer when two emaciated boys stepped out of the woods with their tattooed arms raised. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
AN ORAL HISTORY OF ATLANTIS: Stories by Ed Park (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Cindy Cheung, Raphael Corkhill, Pete Cross, Arthur Morey, Lee Osorio, Gabrielle De Cuir, Raymond J. Lee, Shannon Tyo and Jamie K. Brown
In “Machine City” a college student’s chance role in a friend’s movie blurs the line between his character and his true self. (Is he a robot?) In “Slide to Unlock” a man comes to terms with his life via the passwords he struggles to remember in extremis. (What’s his mom’s name backward?) And in “Weird Menace” a director and faded movie star gab about science fiction, bad costume choices and lost loves on a commentary track for a B-film from the ’80s that neither remembers all that well. In Ed Park’s utterly original collection, characters bemoan their fleeting youth, focus on their breathing, meet cute, break up, write book reviews, translate ancient glyphs, bid on stuff online, whale watch, and once in a while find solace in the sublime. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
THE GOOD LIAR by Denise Mina (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lois Chimimba
A year ago, a father and his fiancée were brutally murdered in their opulent London townhouse, sparking the most high-profile murder investigation in recent history. Blood spatter expert Doctor Claudia O’Sheil’s evidence put the killer behind bars --- or so everyone believes. But since the trial, Claudia has learned a horrific truth: her evidence and her testimony were wrong. And someone she knows made sure of it. Now, as she takes the stage to give a career-defining speech before London’s elite, Claudia faces a devastating choice. Protect her children and her career with her continued complicity, or blow the whole conspiracy apart and reveal the truth: not only is the real murderer still out there, but they’re in the audience. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
WRITERS AND LIARS by Carol Goodman (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Kirsten Potter
Fifteen years ago, Maia Gold attended a prestigious --- and very exclusive --- writers retreat hosted by billionaire Argos Alexander on the Greek island of Eris. But something dark happened on that island, a betrayal that has hung over her ever since. Now, Maia has been invited to return to Eris, and she’s not the only one from that first retreat who’s been invited back. Almost all of the writers from 15 years before have returned to Eris, bringing unresolved resentments with them. The guests soon learn that their illustrious host is absent, though he has left instructions for them to participate in a contest. Whoever can write the most suspenseful mystery while on the island will win a fortune and literary acclaim. But when the guests gather in the morning to share their first chapters, they find Argos Alexander dead. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
IT WAS HER HOUSE FIRST by Cherie Priest (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available; read by Kristen DiMercurio, Cindy Kay and Mark Bramhall
Silent film star Venita Rost's malevolent spirit lurks spider-like in her cliffside mansion, a once-beautiful home that's claimed countless unlucky souls. Snared in her terrible web, Inspector Bartholomew Sloan --- her eternal nemesis --- watches her wreak havoc in helpless horror. Now the house has yet another new owner. This time it's Ronnie Mitchell, a grieving woman who buys the run-down place sight unseen. She arrives armed with an unexpected inheritance, a strong background in renovation, and a blissful ignorance regarding the house's blood-soaked history. In the shadows, unseen eyes watch. Then, a man comes knocking. He brings wild stories and a thinly veiled jealousy, as well as a secret connection to the house that can only lead to violence. Venita's fury awakens, and a deadly game unfolds. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE SILVER STATE by Gabriel Urza (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Timothy Andrés Pabon
When a young mother, Anna Weston, is brutally murdered and her body is found near Reno’s infamous silver mines, law school graduate Santi Elcano and his mentor in the public defender’s office, C.J., are tasked with defending Michael Atwood, a man arrested for Anna's murder on scant physical evidence. Eight years later, a shocking letter from Atwood --- now on death row --- forces Santi to reexamine his role in the case. At the time, public obsession with Anna’s disappearance and intense pressure on the police to make an arrest led to a rushed trial. As they investigated the case, Santi and C.J. became increasingly convinced they were defending an innocent man. Now, a horrific discovery leads Santi to reconsider everything he once believed, and all that it has cost him. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 5th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 5th 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 August 4th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
DEPARTURE 37 by Scott Carson (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Horror meets coming-of-age in this thrilling novel in which forgotten Cold War mysteries make a terrifying reappearance, from a writer Stephen King has called “a master.”
THE DEVIL REACHED TOWARD THE SKY: An Oral History of the Making and Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb by Garrett M. Graff (Oral History)
On the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, Garrett M. Graff delivers an epic narrative of the atomic bomb’s creation and deployment, woven from the voices of hundreds of scientists, generals, soldiers and civilians.
A DOG IN GEORGIA by Lauren Grodstein (Fiction)
In this beautiful story of connection and self-reflection, a missing dog in Georgia sets Amy Webb on an adventure away from her tumultuous marriage and lack-luster personal life and towards a journey of self-discovery and joy.
FULL BLOOM by Francesca Serritella (Fiction)
A woman's life is forever changed by a mysterious perfume in this stunning novel about ambition and untapped desire from the New York Times bestselling author of GHOSTS OF HARVARD.
JENNY COOPER HAS A SECRET by Joy Fielding (Psychological Thriller)
In this riveting psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of ALL THE WRONG PLACES, a dementia patient reveals a deadly secret --- and one woman must decide whether or not to believe her.
THE LOCKED WARD by Sarah Pekkanen (Psychological Thriller)
Nothing is as it seems in Sarah Pekkanen’s THE LOCKED WARD, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood --- and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.
THE MAGICIAN OF TIGER CASTLE by Louis Sachar (Historical Fantasy)
The beloved author of HOLES presents his first adult novel, a modern fantasy classic of forbidden love, a crumbling kingdom, and the unexpected magic all around us.
MRS. ENDICOTT’S SPLENDID ADVENTURE by Rhys Bowen (Historical Fiction)
Blindsided by betrayal in pre-WWII England, a woman charts a daring new course in this captivating tale of resilience, friendship and new love.
MY OTHER HEART by Emma Nanami Strenner (Fiction)
A missing child, two girls in search of their true identities. MY OTHER HEART is a stunning novel of mothers, daughters and best friends.
PEOPLE LIKE US by Jason Mott (Fiction)
PEOPLE LIKE US is Jason Mott’s electric new novel. It is not memoir, yet it has deeply personal connections to Jason’s life. And while rooted in reality, it explodes with dreamlike experiences that pull a reader in and don’t let go.
SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S WEDDINGS written by David Levithan, with songs by Jens Lekman (Romantic Comedy)
From award-winning, bestselling author David Levithan and beloved, acclaimed singer-songwriter Jens Lekman comes a charming, tender novel about an unlucky-in-love wedding singer trying to find the right words to save his relationship.
THIS HERE IS LOVE by Princess Joy L. Perry (Historical Fiction)
Three people --- two enslaved, one indentured --- live beside each other, fighting and sometimes failing to be more than their pasts say they should be.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Rhys Bowen, Charlie Donlea, Laura Dickerman
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are four upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, August 4th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Rhys Bowen will talk about her new novel, MRS. ENDICOTT'S SPLENDID ADVENTURE. Blindsided by betrayal in pre-WWII England, a woman charts a daring new course in this captivating tale of resilience, friendship and new love.
Tuesday, August 5th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Daniel G. Miller for a live virtual discussion of his spine-tingling new suspense/thriller, THE RED LETTER, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Daniel will be in conversation with the bestselling author of THE ONE, John Marrs.
Wednesday, August 6th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Charlie Donlea for a live virtual discussion of his twisty new novel of psychological suspense, GUESS AGAIN, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Charlie will be in conversation with the New York Times bestselling author of SHE'S NOT SORRY, Mary Kubica.
Wednesday, August 6th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Morgan Pager and Laura Dickerman about their outstanding debut novels: Morgan's THE ART OF VANISHING and Laura's HOT DESK.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers long-form, in-depth author interviews. 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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Steve Berry (THE LIST)
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Francesca Serritella (FULL BLOOM)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Which of Carol’s
"Bets On" Selections Appeal to You the Most?
We have listed 12 of Carol’s Bookreporter.com Bets On picks that are now or soon to be in paperback. Which of these books have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker
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BAD LIAR by Tami Hoag
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BAD TOURISTS by Caro Carver
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THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan
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THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff
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GO AS A RIVER by Shelley Read
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HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty
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JACKIE by Dawn Tripp
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THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali
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SPIRIT CROSSING by William Kent Krueger
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SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews
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WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? by Shari Lapena
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, August 8th 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 July 25th to August 8th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of FULL BLOOM by Francesca Serritella and YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda.
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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