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Readers...Sooooo Many Readers!
Last Saturday was such a fabulous day at the Morristown Festival of Books, despite the rain that rolled in during the afternoon. It was wonderful to see so many readers gathered to hear about and talk about books. During one panel, I asked how many in the audience were in book groups, and I think two-thirds of the attendees raised their hands. Yes, there were many compadre readers to chat with, so even if you were there alone, the conversation was brisk --- and fun.
Here is a gallery of photos that I hope capture the terrific talent that we had there and the enthusiasm that was contagious.
We then raced to catch a great session with the three Ws --- Beatriz Williams, Karen White and Lauren Willig --- on how they started writing together and so much more. Years ago, I was asked to moderate an event that they did at HarperCollins. I got one question in and then decided to just sit back and watch them talk. They were such fun chatting about their latest joint book, THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER, and their solo titles.
I stopped by to see Bruce Holsinger, the author of CULPABILITY, before he started his session. I was happy to catch him just in time!
After seeing Bruce, we ran into two dogs we know on the street (Lisa Scottoline's Eve and Francesca Serritella's Bobby), who were being shepherded by Laura Leonard, who works with both of them. Amusingly, because of the way I was holding my umbrella, I saw the dogs before Laura!
Then it was on to see Lisa (THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA) and Francesca (FULL BLOOM) in a standing-room-only session. They clearly had the crowd in the palm of their hands!
The day ended with Jake Tapper talking about his new nonfiction book, RACE AGAINST TERROR, with Maggie Haberman. This closing session was held at the Mayo Performing Arts Center, where we had seen Rick Atkinson the night before discuss his second book about the American Revolution, THE FATE OF THE DAY. Both events were so well done.
Thanks to Tom Donadio and Francesca Smith for joining me, and to Beverley Wilson and Annmarie Puleio for being a part of our festival team!
It was not just our team having a great time. I met many of our readers during the festival, but alas I did not snap photos. To those who said hello, thank you!
During the week, I received this note from Cindy, who is one of our readers: “I just wanted to send out a thank you. After hearing you speak about the Morristown Festival of Books, I decided to take a ride last weekend from upstate NY (Syracuse) and check out the festival. I'm so glad I did. After years of missing BookExpo, it was great to be around fellow readers and authors, and add books to my list. After hearing me talk about it, I'm sure I'll be bringing along some more friends next year. Thank you for all that you and your team do. My TBR list grows every month, and I'm completely ok with that.”
I love that Cindy came from as far as Syracuse! We also met some of our readers from Pennsylvania, as well as many from New Jersey and New York.
We already are thinking about next year!
Many thanks to all of you who have answered our Reader Survey so far. We really appreciate it! If you have not taken it yet, you have until next Friday, October 24th at noon ET to do so. We’re awarding three readers who finish it a $50 gift card to the bookstore of their choice, while five others will be selected to win a book from Bookreporter's shelves. If you have friends who are readers, may we ask that you share the survey with them?
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, October 22nd at 8pm ET.
Our guest will be Paula Hawkins, and she will be talking about her most recent thriller, THE BLUE HOUR. This instant New York Times bestseller and “Good Morning America” Book Club pick is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection that is now available in paperback.
If you have a question for Paula, please email it to me using the subject line “Paula” 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 Paula 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 Paula in our virtual green room before the program starts.
Paula was a great “Bookreporter Talks To” guest when THE BLUE HOUR came out in hardcover, and I am looking forward to her talking to our readers. Tell your friends who are thriller fans!
We will be hosting our 14 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating event on Friday, November 7th at 1pm ET. If you are a bookseller, librarian or book group leader, and would be interested in attending this event, please email me using the subject line “Speed Dating.” In your note, tell me a bit about yourself and what you do with book groups. This is a “trade only” event, but we will be sharing the publisher videos, PowerPoint slides and other materials with you later in November.
We hosted October’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event last week. I talked about 37 books releasing between now and November 4th, plus three from December and 10 from January 2026, 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, November 12th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on books releasing between November 11th and January 6th, as well as some titles from February 2026, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up.
Our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight is back. This time, we’re featuring CALDER STRONG, the fifth installment in Janet Dailey’s Calder Brand series, and giving away copies in a special contest.
At 24, Joseph Dollarhide is struggling to find his place as the future head of his ranching family. His childhood friend, Chase Calder, has inherited the rival Calder operation, and longstanding battles over water and grass continue. But there’s yet another weight on Joseph’s shoulders. Years ago, he abandoned his teenage love, Annabeth, to court glamorous Lucy Merriweather, a seductive trickster. The affair, of course, imploded, and Annabeth went on to marry a farmer and have two children. But now Joseph has spotted Annabeth and her family in town…and he has no doubt that her oldest child is his.
We’re awarding 25 readers a copy of CALDER STRONG, which is set in 1929 Blue Moon, Montana, and is perfect for fans of “Yellowstone” who crave western familial sagas. (You can count me in that group!) To enter, all you have to do is fill out this form by Friday, October 31st at noon ET.
Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben have teamed up for the highly anticipated release of GONE BEFORE GOODBYE. This future Bets On selection tells the unforgettable story of a woman trapped in a deadly conspiracy --- where uncovering the truth could cost her everything.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “If we have learned anything from Coben’s fiction, it’s that nothing is as it appears to be. This has never been more on display than it is in GONE BEFORE GOODBYE, where the constant shift in plot makes it nearly impossible for readers to predict what will happen next or how the story will end…. Witherspoon and Coben do an admirable job of never taking their foot off the gas, resulting in a thriller that is exhaustingly satisfying.”
Find out why I’m betting you’ll love this book in the weeks to come. I do want to find an interview where they talk about how they wrote together!
As we mentioned in last week’s newsletter, Lily King’s latest novel, HEART THE LOVER, is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection and #1 Indie Next pick. This upcoming Bets On title is a deeply moving love story that celebrates literature, forgiveness and the transformative bonds that shape our lives.
According to Eileen Zimmerman Nicol in her review, “Lily King’s style is somewhat spare, presenting vivid details and leaving us to draw our own conclusions. In Part I, I was especially drawn in by the relatable, realistic and often funny presentation of college life in the 1990s…. If you crave a book that will transport you to another world and play your heartstrings like a lute, pick up HEART THE LOVER.”
Don’t miss my interview with Lily in next week’s newsletter (I loved our conversation!), followed by my Bets On commentary in the October 31st newsletter.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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BOLEYN TRAITOR: In this dazzling historical novel of ambition, betrayal and survival in the court of Henry VIII, Philippa Gregory shines a spotlight on the untold story of Jane Boleyn, peeling back the myths to reveal a complex portrait of a woman who dared to survive at any cost.
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SHADOW TICKET: Thomas Pynchon’s first novel since 2013’s BLEEDING EDGE is set during the Great Depression and follows a private investigator in Milwaukee on a mission that ultimately takes him to Hungary amidst political and criminal intrigue.
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THE LONELINESS OF SONIA AND SUNNY: In Kiran Desai’s epic of love and family, India and America, tradition and modernity --- which has been shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize --- the fates of two young people intersect and diverge across continents and years.
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THE HITCHHIKERS: The open road beckons. A chance for them to reconnect. Then they make a fatal mistake. According to the publisher, Chevy Stevens’ latest thriller --- her first since 2021's DARK ROADS --- is “[a] chilling, twist-laden ride to the final page…that will break your heart as well as hold you in suspense.”
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My two latest Bets On picks are PICTURES OF HIM by Clare Leslie Hall and THE BREAK-IN by Katherine Faulkner. Click on each of the titles for my Bets On commentary.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We’re giving away THE TIN MEN by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille and THE WIDOW by John Grisham in our new Word of Mouth contest. Let us know by Friday, October 31st at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our new poll asks which of 30 paperbacks releasing in October you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes by Friday, October 31st at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we listed 35 titles that are being published this month for the first time and asked which of them, if any, you are looking forward to reading. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
It was announced this week that Oprah’s Book Club pick for October is A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF, Megha Majumdar’s second novel (following A BURNING) and a National Book Award finalist.
Oprah says, “It’s a story set in her own hometown of Kolkata, India. It’s about a mother and her two-year-old daughter, where they’re trying to get provisions to come to the United States of America to join her husband, who’s teaching at a university, and all that comes with that. And another young man whom she encounters who also is just trying to stay alive and survive, at a time when the whole town has been affected by multiple changes that cause a lot of people to live in a sense of desperation.
“I have to say this was one great read, because Megha Majumdar is wise beyond her years, and she’s able to bring in cultural conflicts and interweave the way people live and relate to each other in such a way that leaves us spellbound. And she does it in just a little over 200 pages!”
A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF sparked a lively and thoughtful conversation among readers at a Starbucks coffeehouse in New York City. Click here for Oprah’s discussion with Megha. We plan to feature our review of the book in next week’s newsletter.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Sherri wrote, “I just have to say thank you for another great newsletter, and that olive green dress on you is a perfect color for you. You look radiant.
I do enjoy most of your recommendations. Have a great weekend. We are still able to swim here outside, and I’m so very grateful for that. When you mention your swim, it helps keep me inspired to get in the pool daily. It’s the easiest way to get my exercise and it’s fun.” I got so many compliments on the olive dress. Maybe olive is the new turquoise! And I am in the pool six days a week if I can, so keep hitting the water.
Mary wrote, “In your annual Reader Survey, I’d really like to see a category above 100 books read per year. So far, I’m at 170 this year and will reach 200 by the end of the year. So categories of 150 and 200 would be appropriate. Please consider expanding the choices!” I keep telling people that we have super readers. Mary, you confirm this. We will change the categories in the future.
Marilyn wrote, “I read every word of every newsletter, and today I am especially thankful that I do. I am one-third through Beth Macy's PAPER GIRL and just watched her interview with Anna Quindlen on Book Passage. I would never have found this if you had not mentioned it. So thank you. Sorry to say I don't think this book will get the attention it deserves.” Thank you! We really appreciate when we know readers have connected with a book because they heard it from us!
The Woman in Cabin 10 on Netflix: I really enjoyed this movie. It was nice to watch a film instead of a series. It is worth noting how few locations there were here. Studios love to make movies like this as they save budget by not having to shoot at too many places.
“Victoria Beckham” on Netflix: I appreciated this look at another side of Victoria Beckham. I confess that I knew nothing about her fashion line. It shows what happens on the back end of creating both a fashion line and a show. Afterwards I read up on Victoria’s eating habits, which she is very strict about.
My Father, the BTK Killer on Netflix: I still remember the day when it was announced that the BTK Killer was caught. I had no idea what anyone was talking about, but those in the areas knew it well. I could not imagine the terrible position his daughter was put into. What a gripping story.
The Lost Bus on Apple TV+: This film starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera was inspired by the real-life survival story of a school bus driver who rescued 22 children during the 2018 Camp Fire in California. Some of you may remember this as one of our readers lost her home in the wildfire, and many of you sent her books when it was rebuilt. This captures so very well how dangerous one of these fires can be.
“The Diplomat” Season 3 on Netflix: I am glad I watched the refresher from Season 2. There were lots of twists already in the first two episodes of the season. I was working while I was watching, so I have to go back and look at some details.
“Tracker” on CBS: The new season kicks off on Sunday night. I will be watching!
I am reading WRECK by Catherine Newman, which is coming out on October 28th. It features the same characters we came to know from Catherine's previous novel, SANDWICH. Right behind that is the aforementioned THE TIN MEN by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille, so I can prepare for my interview with Alex on October 28th at 7pm at Barnes & Noble on the Upper West Side.
I am listening to BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan, which is narrated by Michael Crouch. It is such an interesting story. It begins in 1945 in Bonhomie, Ohio, and follows the interconnected lives of two couples: Cal and Becky Jenkins, and Margaret and Felix Salt. Seeing how the times and the people have changed is so well done.
The weather is supposed to be gorgeous this weekend. We have some new little children in the neighborhood, so I am going to do some Halloween decorating. Tom already has the skeleton sitting on the front porch in a turquoise chair. Also, I am late doing this, but I am going to trim the leaves off the amaryllis plants that we have from last year and place them in a dark room to see if they generate more flowers. We shall see how this goes.
There are lots of fall chores to be done, which we may or may not get to. I am drying some of the flowers that were so gorgeous this summer. Off to find the pumpkins!
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: GONE BEFORE GOODBYE
by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben (Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Chris Pine, Kiff VandenHeuvel, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Peter Ganim, Saskia Maarleveld and James Fouhey
Upside down after a devastating series of tragedies leads to her medical license being revoked, Army combat surgeon Maggie McCabe has lost her purpose, but not her nerve or her passion. At her lowest point, she is thrown a lifeline by a former colleague, an elite plastic surgeon whose anonymous clientele demand the best care money can buy, as well as absolute discretion. Halfway across the globe, one of the world’s most mysterious men requires unconventional medical assistance. Desperate, and one of the few surgeons in the world skilled enough to take this job, Maggie enters his realm of unspeakable opulence and fulfills her end of the agreement. But when the patient suddenly disappears while still under her care, Maggie must become a fugitive herself --- or she will be the next one who is GONE BEFORE GOODBYE. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
GONE BEFORE GOODBYE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in an upcoming newsletter.
Featured Review: HEART THE LOVER by Lily King
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
HEART THE LOVER by Lily King (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Rebecca Lowman
In the fall of her senior year of college, our narrator meets two star students from her 17th-Century Lit class: Sam and Yash. The boys invite her into their intoxicating world of academic fervor, rapid-fire banter and raucous card games. They nickname her Jordan, and she quickly discovers the pleasures of friendship, love and her own intellectual ambition. But youthful passion is unpredictable, and soon she finds herself at the center of a charged and intricate triangle. As graduation comes and goes, choices made will alter these three lives forever. Decades later, the vulnerable days of Jordan's youth seem comfortably behind her. But when a surprise visit and unexpected news bring the past crashing into the present, she returns to a world she left behind and must confront the decisions and deceptions of her younger self. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
HEART THE LOVER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lily King
in next week's newsletter, followed by her Bets On commentary
in the October 31st newsletter.
New Historical Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of
CALDER STRONG by Janet Dailey
1929, Blue Moon, Montana. A rugged new generation is taking the helm of the cattle town’s most infamous and powerful families. But even as the future burns bright, old rivalries, heartbreaks, buried secrets and ranching feuds still loom as large as the western sky in a tale perfect for fans of “Yellowstone.”
We have 25 copies of CALDER STRONG by Janet Dailey, which is now in stores, to give away to those who would like to read the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, October 31st at noon ET.
CALDER STRONG by Janet Dailey (Historical Romance)
At 24, Joseph Dollarhide is struggling to find his place as the future head of his ranching family. His father, Blake, may have been disabled in an accident, but he’s as domineering as ever. Joseph’s childhood friend, Chase Calder, has inherited the rival Calder operation, and for both young men, longstanding battles over water and grass continue. But there’s yet another weight on Joseph’s shoulders.
Years ago, Joseph abandoned his teenage love, Annabeth, to court glamorous Lucy Merriweather, a seductive trickster. The affair, of course, imploded, and Annabeth went on to marry a farmer, Silas Mosby, and have two children. But now Joseph has spotted Annabeth and her family in town...and he has no doubt that her oldest, a boy, is his.
Joseph’s love for Annabeth never died --- and Annabeth, too, still has feelings for him, though they’re tainted by anger. Learning that Silas is involved in a bootlegging ring leaves Joseph troubled. His natural father, Mason Dollarhide, is a reformed bootlegger, but the two have long been estranged, and Joseph won’t ask his advice.
Meanwhile, Joseph feels pressed to start his own family. The town’s sweet new schoolteacher seems a perfect match. But as the strain of long-standing feuds persist and Lucy reappears, flush with stolen money and armed with blackmail, Joseph and some others in Blue Moon will find out just how strong they really are.
- Click here to visit Janet Dailey's website.
Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight
and enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
PICTURES OF HIM by Clare Leslie Hall
and THE BREAK-IN by Katherine Faulkner
PICTURES OF HIM by Clare Leslie Hall (Fiction)
I loved Clare Leslie Hall’s BROKEN COUNTRY, so I was eager to read her two earlier books, both of which had not been published in the States until late August and late September. I wrote about DAYS YOU WERE MINE, her second book, earlier this month. Now I turn my attention to PICTURES OF HIM, her debut novel.
As it opens, Catherine is mute. Something happened that has rendered her speechless, and readers are set on a journey to her life 15 years ago, four months before, and now. It is told only in the voices of Catherine and Lucian.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on PICTURES OF HIM.
THE BREAK-IN by Katherine Faulkner (Domestic Thriller)
Katherine Faulkner writes such twisty domestic thrillers. I loved GREENWICH PARK and THE OTHER MOTHERS, so I was eager to read THE BREAK-IN, which takes the genre to a whole new level.
On a July evening, Alice Rathbone is hosting her friends, Yas and Stella, at her house as she has accepted a new job as an art restorer. Each of them has a young daughter, and the girls are playing in a room with Becca, the nanny whom Alice employs. This quiet evening is interrupted when a young man who is not in possession of all of his faculties bursts through the basement door and asks, “Where is he?” He lashes out at Alice, calling her a liar, reaches for a kitchen knife, and heads to the room where the children are.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE BREAK-IN.
Featured Review: BOLEYN TRAITOR by Philippa Gregory
BOLEYN TRAITOR by Philippa Gregory (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Gemma Whelan
Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens. For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SHADOW TICKET by Thomas Pynchon
SHADOW TICKET by Thomas Pynchon (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
Milwaukee, 1932. The Great Depression is going full blast, the repeal of Prohibition is just around the corner, Al Capone is in the federal pen, and the private investigation business shifts from labor-management relations to the more domestic kind. Hicks McTaggart, a onetime strikebreaker turned private eye, thinks he’s found job security until he gets sent out on what should be a routine case: locating and bringing back the heiress of a Wisconsin cheese fortune who’s taken a mind to go wandering. Before he knows it, he’s been shanghaied onto a transoceanic liner, eventually ending up in Hungary. By the time Hicks catches up with the runaway heiress, he will find himself entangled with Nazis, Soviet agents, British counterspies, swing musicians, practitioners of the paranormal, outlaw motorcyclists, and the troubles that come with each of them. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE LONELINESS OF SONIA AND SUNNY
by Kiran Desai
THE LONELINESS OF SONIA AND SUNNY by Kiran Desai (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Sneha Mathan
When Sonia and Sunny first glimpse each other on an overnight train, they are immediately captivated yet also embarrassed by the fact that their grandparents had once tried to matchmake them, a clumsy meddling that served only to drive Sonia and Sunny apart. Sonia, an aspiring novelist who recently completed her studies in the snowy mountains of Vermont, has returned to her family in India. She fears that she is haunted by a dark spell cast by an artist to whom she had once turned for intimacy and inspiration. Sunny, a struggling journalist resettled in New York City, is attempting to flee his imperious mother and the violence of his warring clan. Uncertain of their future, Sonia and Sunny embark on a search for happiness together as they confront the many alienations of our modern world. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE HITCHHIKERS by Chevy Stevens
THE HITCHHIKERS by Chevy Stevens (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lindsey Dorcus and Moniqua Plante
It’s the summer of 1976, and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy. They’ve planned the trip perfectly and taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction and madness behind them. Now Alice and Tom are trapped, prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes: In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
RED CITY by Marie Lu (Urban Fantasy/Adventure)
Audiobook available; read by André Santana, Eunice Wong, Natalie Naudus and Sid Sagar
Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation. An exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates that market it to the world’s elites in the form of sand, a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves: more beautiful, more charismatic, simply more. Among the gleaming skyscrapers and rolling foothills of Angel City, alchemy is controlled by two rival syndicates. For years, Grand Central and Lumines have been balanced on a razor’s edge between polite negotiation and outright violence. But when two childhood friends step into that delicate equation, the city --- and the paths of their lives --- will be irrevocably transformed. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
AND TO ALL A GOOD BITE: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Grover Gardner
Two years ago, a gas leak in an office building led to a tragic explosion that killed seven people. Jeff Wheeler was there to pick up his girlfriend and ran into the building to help. All he heard was the barking of a dog, Rufus, and was able to save him. Initially, Rufus went to the Tara Foundation since his owner had died in the accident. But Andy Carpenter met Jeff and allowed him to adopt Rufus. Since then, Jeff and Rufus have formed an unbreakable bond. The accident never sat right with Jeff. He believed that one of the building’s owners was responsible for the tragedy. Now that owner has been murdered, and Jeff is arrested for the crime. Rufus is left with Jeff's sister, who begs Andy to take the case. Andy remembered Jeff's tremendous bravery, and with the lingering Christmas spirit, he decides to help reunite the two. Reviewed by Jack Kramer.
THE HAUNTING OF PAYNES HOLLOW by Kelley Armstrong
(Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by EJ Lavery
When Samantha Payne’s grandfather dies, she figures she won’t even get a mention in the will. After all, she hasn’t seen him in 14 years, not since her father took his own life after being accused of murdering a child at their lakefront cottage. Her grandfather always insisted that her father was innocent, despite Sam having caught him burying the child’s body. But when she does attend the reading of the will at the behest of her aunt, she discovers that her grandfather left her the very valuable lakefront property where the family cottage sits. There’s one catch: Sam needs to stay in the cottage for a month. To finally face the fact that she was wrong and her father was innocent, in her grandfather's words. When her aunt goes missing a couple of days into their stay, Sam begins to question everything again. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
WHAT STALKS THE DEEP by T. Kingfisher (Gothic Horror/Dark Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Avi Roque
Alex Easton does not want to visit America. They particularly do not want to visit an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia with a reputation for being haunted. But when their old friend, Dr. Denton, summons them to help find his lost cousin --- who went missing in that very mine --- well, sometimes a sworn soldier has to do what a sworn soldier has to do. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE UNVEILING by Quan Barry (Literary Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Janina Edwards
Striker isn’t entirely sure she should be on this luxury Antarctic cruise. A Black film scout, her mission is to photograph potential locations for a big-budget movie about Ernest Shackleton’s doomed expedition. Along the way, she finds amusement in the behavior of both the native wildlife and the group of wealthy, mostly white tourists who have chosen to spend Christmas on the Weddell Sea. But when a kayaking excursion goes horribly wrong, Striker and a group of survivors become stranded on a remote island along the Antarctic Peninsula, a desolate setting complete with boiling geothermal vents and vicious birds. As the polar ice thaws in the unseasonable warmth, the group’s secrets, prejudices and inner demons will also emerge, including revelations from Striker’s past that could irrevocably shatter her world. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
PICK A COLOR by Souvankham Thammavongsa (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Zoe Doyle
Ning is a retired boxer, but to the customers who visit her nail salon, she is just another worker named Susan. However, beneath this superficial veneer, Ning is a woman of rigorous intellect and profound complexity. A woman enthralled by the intricacy and rhythms of her work, but also haunted by memories of paths not taken and opportunities lost. A woman navigating the complex power dynamics among her fellow Susans, whose greatest fears and desires lie just behind the gossip they exchange. As the day's work grinds on, the friction between Ning's two identities --- as anonymous manicurist and brilliant observer of her own circumstances --- will gather electric and crackling force, and at last demand a reckoning with the way the world of privilege looks at a woman like Ning. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
ALIAS O. HENRY by Ben Yagoda (Historical Fiction)
O. Henry, born William Sidney Porter, arrived in New York City fresh from the Ohio Penitentiary, where he had served three-and-a-half years for embezzlement. The American magazine had just reached its pinnacle as an enterprise, and the short story was the most popular medium in entertainment. Porter was in the city to write. From his cell, he already had sold a number of stories to big magazines, and within five years of arriving in Manhattan, he would become the most successful fiction writer in the country. But he never --- never --- said anything about his prison experience, or, indeed, anything about his past life. Anything true, that is. In life as well as on the page, Porter was a yarn-spinner of the highest order. In this twisting tale, Ben Yagoda uses the novelist’s art to get at the truth that lay behind Porter’s reticence, and in doing so, he presents an iridescent portrait of New York at the time. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 21st
Below are some notable titles releasing on October 21st 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 October 20th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
A CHRISTMAS WITNESS: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Novella by Charles Todd (Historical Mystery)
Inspector Ian Rutledge investigates a possible attempted murder in this seasonal mystery novella from New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd.
A FERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS by Debbie Macomber (Romance)
A delayed ferry boat brings people together in the best of ways during the holiday season in this enchanting Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.
FINDING MY WAY: A Memoir by Malala Yousafzai (Memoir)
Thrust onto the public stage at 15 years old after the Taliban’s brutal attack on her life, Malala Yousafzai quickly became an international icon known for bravery and resilience. But away from the cameras and crowds, she spent years struggling to find her place in an unfamiliar world.
KING SORROW by Joe Hill (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill comes a chilling tale of modern-world dangers, dark academia, and the unexpected consequences of revenge as six friends dabble in the occult and are tragically, horrifyingly successful…calling forth an evil entity that demands regular human sacrifice.
THE LAND OF SWEET FOREVER: Stories and Essays by Harper Lee
(Short Stories/Essays)
From one of America’s most beloved authors comes a posthumous collection of newly discovered short stories and previously published essays and magazine pieces, offering a fresh perspective on the remarkable literary mind of Harper Lee.
THE PROVING GROUND: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel by Michael Connelly (Legal Thriller)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly, the Lincoln Lawyer is back with a case against an AI company whose product may have been responsible for the murder of a young girl.
THE WIDOW by John Grisham (Legal Thriller/Mystery)
#1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham is the acclaimed master of the legal thriller. Now, he’s back with his first-ever whodunit, even more suspenseful than his courtroom dramas, as a small-time lawyer accused of murder races to find the real killer to clear his name.
WRITING CREATIVITY AND SOUL by Sue Monk Kidd (Memoir/Self-Help)
From the bestselling author of THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES and THE BOOK OF LONGINGS comes an intimate work on the mysteries, frustrations and triumphs of being a writer, and an instructive guide to awakening the soul.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Catherine Newman, Paula Hawkins, Nicole Baart
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.
Tuesday, October 21st at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Nicole Baart about her latest book, WHERE HE LEFT ME. This twisty, atmospheric novel is about a newlywed whose husband disappears, leaving her isolated in Washington State’s North Cascades.
Wednesday, October 22nd at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Catherine Newman about her new book, WRECK. Full of laughter and heart, this wonderful novel is about marriage, family, and what happens when life doesn’t go as planned.
Wednesday, October 22nd at 8pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Paula Hawkins about her thriller, THE BLUE HOUR, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. Paula 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 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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Lily King (HEART THE LOVER)
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Vicky Nguyen (BOAT BABY: A Memoir)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: October Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in paperback in October have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ABSOLUTION: A Southern Reach Novel, by Jeff VanderMeer
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AMERICAN HEROES by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann, with Tim Malloy
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BANDIT HEAVEN: The Hole-in-the-Wall Gangs and the Final Chapter of the Wild West, by Tom Clavin
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BLOOD MOON by Sandra Brown
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DOGS AND MONSTERS: Stories, by Mark Haddon
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DON'T BE A STRANGER by Susan Minot
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THE DROWNED by John Banville
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I’LL BE WAITING by Kelley Armstrong
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AN INSIGNIFICANT CASE by Phillip Margolin
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JOHN LEWIS: A Life, by David Greenberg
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KARLA’S CHOICE: A Novel of John le Carré's Circus, by Nick Harkaway
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LETHAL PREY: A Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers Novel, by John Sandford
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LIES HE TOLD ME by James Patterson and David Ellis
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LIFEFORM by Jenny Slate
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MAGIC SEASON: A Son's Story, by Wade Rouse
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THE MORE THE TERRIER: An Andy Carpenter Mystery, by David Rosenfelt
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NEVER SAY NEVER by Danielle Steel
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PRECIPICE by Robert Harris
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ROBERT B. PARKER'S HOT PROPERTY: A Spenser Novel, by Mike Lupica
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ROMAN YEAR: A Memoir, by André Aciman
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SAFE ENOUGH: And Other Stories, by Lee Child
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SEE HOW THEY HIDE: A Quinn & Costa Thriller, by Allison Brennan
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SHATTERING DAWN by Jayne Ann Krentz
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SHOCK INDUCTION by Chuck Palahniuk
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THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME by Ashley Winstead
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TIME WILL TELL by Rita Mae Brown
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TO DIE FOR: A 6:20 Man Thriller, by David Baldacci
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WAR by Bob Woodward
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WE THREE QUEENS: A Royal Spyness Mystery, by Rhys Bowen
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A WOMAN UNDERGROUND: A Cameron Winter Mystery, by Andrew Klavan
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 31st 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 October 17th to October 31st at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE TIN MEN by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille and THE WIDOW by John Grisham.
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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