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Happy Halloween, and Here Comes an Extra Hour!
Happy Halloween! We have enough candy here for MANY children to show up in costume. But in reality, if we have more than a dozen kids here, it will be a surprise. As my husband was loading up on plain and peanut M&Ms, I told him that he was way overstocking our Halloween goodies. He then walked towards the Twix bars and more before I headed him off. He was going for more variety for the children. I told him we still have the stash of M&Ms that I hid after Halloween LAST year.
We have two young children who are neighbors, and I picked up copies of HALLOWEEN BUGS by David A. Carter for them. I love the Bugs books; they are my go-to pop-up book series.
And yes, one of my favorite weekends of the year is on tap as we turn the clocks back an hour. Once again, I have 24 different ways to spend this extra hour! Yes, I will lament when it gets dark at 5pm, or even earlier, but I love a weekend with an extra hour!
Once again, we had a really busy week.
I had such fun interviewing Alex DeMille on Tuesday night at Barnes & Noble on the Upper West Side. I so enjoyed the opportunity to hear more about the writing of THE TIN MEN, which is the last book that he wrote with his father, Nelson DeMille, who passed away last September. Nelson was a self-proclaimed Luddite, so I was surprised to hear that it was his idea to write a book featuring AI, not Alex’s. Alex shared so much in our conversation that I asked him to reprise it with me for a “Bookreporter Talks To” interview in the next couple of weeks.
We are featuring a rave review of THE TIN MEN from Kate Ayers, who has this to say: “THE TIN MEN is a grim look into the future of warfare, which I hope never comes to fruition. The robots in this novel terrify me to my core…. [This book] is Nelson’s final gift to us. But what a wonderful gift it is. I hope that Alex will continue to follow in his father’s footsteps. Sure, he has some big shoes to fill, but I am confident he will succeed.”
On Wednesday night, Tom, Francesca and I had a wonderful time at a book preview event that was held at the offices of The Book Group literary agency on behalf of the publisher, The Dial Press.
In STRANGERS: A Memoir of Marriage (on sale January 13th), Belle Burden shares the story of the undoing of her marriage after her husband announced in late March 2020 (one week into their COVID lockdown at their home on Martha’s Vineyard) that he no longer wanted to be married to her and had no desire to co-parent their children.
I got an advance copy of the audiobook, which Belle narrates, and I am listening to it now. The raw emotion in it makes it addicting to listen to.
As I mentioned last week, Paula Hawkins joined us recently for October’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event to discuss her thriller, THE BLUE HOUR, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. Readers asked questions before and during the program, and we covered a lot of ground, including the meaning of the book’s title.
Paula shares her love of art and how much she enjoys visiting museums as she travels. THE BLUE HOUR got its start when she was on a vacation; she saw a remote island and thought about what could happen in a place like that. Paula explains how she creates her characters and their backstories. And yes, she talks about what those blue lights at the end of the novel might mean. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
Louise Penny is back with the 20th mystery in her bestselling Armand Gamache series, THE BLACK WOLF. Several weeks ago, the Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Québec and his team uncovered and stopped a domestic terrorist attack in Montréal, arresting the person behind it: the Black Wolf. But in a sickening turn of events, Gamache has realized that plot, as horrific as it was, was just the beginning.
Pamela Kramer has our review and says, “This gripping novel is both engrossing and frightening, as Penny takes us on a journey of ‘what could be’…. The writing is exquisite --- the staccato alternating action, violence, humor, evil, and then, finally, the peacefulness of the town of Three Pines, which all fans of this series long to visit or even move to. Described by Penny as a ‘state of mind,’ it’s a place filled with decency and acceptance, integrity and courage. Despite the bitter winter cold, I'd move there in a heartbeat.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On selections are HEART THE LOVER by Lily King (which my book group will be reading next) and PLEASE DON’T LIE by Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt. Click on each of the titles for my commentary.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We’re giving away NASH FALLS by David Baldacci (which kicks off a brand-new series) and QUEEN ESTHER by John Irving in our new Word of Mouth contest. Let us know by Friday, November 14th 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
Last week, Barnes & Noble revealed the 14 finalists for their 2025 Best Book of the Year. We’re curious to see which of these books, if any, you would pick as your favorites. Click here to let us know in our latest poll, and we’ll give you the results on Friday, November 14th, the day after B&N announces their Book of the Year.
In our previous poll, we listed 30 titles releasing in paperback in October and asked which of them, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
October’s Reading Group Guides Update
As you know from last week’s newsletter, there is a LOT happening on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
We have our 25th Anniversary Feature, which includes a BIG contest highlighting 25 of the biggest book group reads since 2000, and our book group survey, where we’re giving those who answer it the chance to win a gift card to the bookstore of their choice.
We also posted 12 new discussion guides in October, including TWICE by Mitch Albom, JOYRIDE by Susan Orlean, WRECK by Catherine Newman (which we plan to review next week), and the aforementioned THE BLACK WOLF, HEART THE LOVER and A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF.
This Year's Bookreporter Reader Survey
Thanks to all of you who participated in our 2025 Reader Survey. It was a very busy week, so I have not had time to review all of the data. But from what I looked at so far, we really appreciate your taking the time to respond. We will be picking winners from those who completed the survey, and we will announce them next week!
A reminder that we will be hosting our 14 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating event next 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.” 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 later this month.
This week, we learned the incredibly sad news that C. W. Gortner passed away last Saturday at the age of 61. Gortner was the internationally acclaimed and bestselling author of 16 historical novels, many of which we reviewed, including MADEMOISELLE CHANEL, THE QUEEN'S VOW, THE LAST QUEEN, THE VATICAN PRINCESS and MARLENE.
I came across this heartfelt Facebook message from fellow historical fiction author Margaret George:
“On Saturday the world lost a vibrant, witty, caring person, Christopher Gortner, a dear friend of mine. The world of literature lost a brilliant author of many historical fiction books, who wrote under C. W. Gortner. He had many more planned that now we will never see, but he left behind many others. He mentored many new writers, but he was in a younger generation than I, and he knew me because his father had liked my novels! So in a way I became his mentor, but he didn't need much mentoring, he was such a natural talent. Christopher, we all miss you --- you were a vital presence in the historical fiction world, a deep and caring friend to so many, and that includes the animal world as you were a passionate animal activist as well.”
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: We got this lovely note from Marcie, who wrote us after receiving our Fall Reading Wrap-up newsletter yesterday: “I love all your newsletters and subscribe to them. I run two book clubs, and a lot of what we read comes from your newsletter. I eagerly await them each week. Thank you for all the work you do.”
“American Prince: JFK Jr.” on HBO Max: I had meant to watch this four-part series earlier, but somehow I missed it. It makes me wonder what would have happened to JFK Jr. if he had lived. Would he have gone into politics? And as I watched, I was surprised that Jackie Kennedy died at just 64; it felt like she was so much older at the time. When I was working in midtown, I saw JFK Jr. one day as I was walking back from lunch. He was at a newsstand looking at a headline. I cannot remember if I said “Hi, John” or thought better of that!
“Unbelievable” on Netflix: This was “a 2019 limited crime drama series...based on a true story about a young woman who reports being raped, is accused of lying, and how two female detectives later investigate a string of similar rapes.” It is very interesting to see how this is tied together and how the first victim’s life spins out of control after what happens to her.
I finished listening to NOBODY’S GIRL, which is the story of Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and being trafficked by him. Read this, and you will be mighty happy that the Royal Family removed the titles from Prince Andrew, as well as their statement about it yesterday. I am so sorry that Virginia was not alive to see this happen. Her suicide earlier this year is all the more tragic when you hear that this moment of justice is finally done to him.
I am reading LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton, which is such fun and has me thinking about mixing up some cocktails. The book is out on Tuesday and is set at the famous hotel where a young woman named Cinnamon is forced to confront her troubled past as she looks into the story of the hotel’s first female bartender, whose history has gone missing. It has a really nice beat to it. I have never said that about a book before! I am looking forward to Brisa's book launch party on Monday night, where the dress code is cocktail attire. I love a party with a dress code.
After eating more Halloween candy than I will want to admit tonight, I am looking forward to a quiet weekend where I have assembled a list of things to do with my extra hour --- like making mushroom soup and chili, stuffing the poblano chilis that I roasted, which are in the back fridge, and finishing putting away all things summer. Of course, I would make a much longer list for this precious hour, but I do not want my husband to say his usual line, which is something like, “You have no idea how much time things actually take!” I do, but I just have large expectations.
Last weekend, I created a darkroom in a room that we rarely use in the house, where I trimmed back last year’s amaryllis plants and watered them well. We will see if this is enough hibernation for them to come back. I have been growing and gifting these plants for nearly a decade, and I have yet to try this. I just buy new ones every year. But friends who I have given them to swear they will come back if I do this. We shall see.
Enjoy the Halloween candy around your house. Oh, and while we are not political on this website, if there is an election in your town on Tuesday, go out and vote. That is the only word you will hear from us on politics: Vote!
Have a great week…and an extra hour!
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review: THE TIN MEN
by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille
THE TIN MEN by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor team up for their toughest assignment yet as they are dispatched to Camp Hayden to investigate the death of Major Roger Ames, the chief scientist in charge of the top-secret war games being conducted between a platoon of Army Rangers and a fleet of “lethal autonomous weapons.” Brodie and Taylor must untangle the complex web of alliances, animosities and secret agendas among the men and women of the isolated facility. In a place cut off from the world and exposed to the harsh desert elements, everyone is a suspect. Brodie and Taylor must uncover layers of deception to find the hidden hand behind the murder of Major Ames, and the real purpose of the activities at Camp Hayden and its terrifying arsenal of next-generation weapons. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE BLACK WOLF by Louise Penny
THE BLACK WOLF by Louise Penny (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Jean Brassard
Several weeks ago, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team uncovered and stopped a domestic terrorist attack in Montréal, arresting the person behind it. A man they called the Black Wolf. But their relief is short-lived. In a sickening turn of events, Armand has realized that plot was just the beginning. Perhaps even a deliberate misdirection. One he fell into. Something deeper and darker, more damaging, is planned. Did he in fact arrest the Black Wolf, or are they still out there? Armand is appalled to think that his mistake has allowed their conspiracy to grow, to gather supporters. To spread lies, manufacture enemies, and feed hatred and division. Still recovering from wounds received in stopping the first attack, Armand is confined to the village of Three Pines, leading a covert investigation from there. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- 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:
THE LAND OF SWEET FOREVER by Harper Lee
THE LAND OF SWEET FOREVER: Stories and Essays by Harper Lee
(Short Stories/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Ellen Burstyn and Hillary Huber
THE LAND OF SWEET FOREVER combines Harper Lee’s early short fiction and later nonfiction in a volume that offers an unprecedented look at the development of her inimitable voice. Covering territory from the Alabama schoolyards of Lee’s youth to the luncheonettes and movie houses of midcentury Manhattan, the book invites still-vital conversations about politics, equality, travel, love, fiction, art, the American South, and what it means to lead an engaged and creative life. This collection comes with an introduction by Casey Cep, Lee’s appointed biographer, which provides illuminating background for our reading of these stories and connects them both to Lee’s life and to her two novels, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and GO SET A WATCHMAN. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
HEART THE LOVER by Lily King and PLEASE DON’T LIE by Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt
HEART THE LOVER by Lily King (Fiction)
HEART THE LOVER by Lily King is the kind of book that you can devour in a sitting. You almost have to do that as it is a truly compulsive read with a lot of heart and soul. It is written in the first person by a narrator who is not named until the very last page. Do not read that page now. Stay here with me.
The narrator starts her story in her senior year of college. Two brilliant students in her 17th-Century Lit class invite her into their world, where intellectual curiosity is keen, and they love banter and late-night card games. They nickname her Jordan, and that is how we think of her throughout the book. They are living in an off-campus house that their professor has vacated while he is on sabbatical. It’s a smart and elegant home, nothing like the single-bed cold dorm room in which Jordan is used to living.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lily King.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on HEART THE LOVER.
PLEASE DON'T LIE by Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt (Psychological Thriller)
I have known Christina Baker Kline's work for a while now. I am sure that many of you are familiar with her historical novel, ORPHAN TRAIN. So it was interesting to see that her latest book, PLEASE DON’T LIE, is a thriller that she wrote with Anne Burt. And what a thriller it is!
Two years ago, Hayley Stone lost her parents in a tragic fire. Then her sister, Jenna, overdosed and died, leaving her alone but very well-off financially. Her new husband, Brandon, sees what this is doing to her. So he recommends that they get away and begin a new life together.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on PLEASE DON'T LIE.
Celebrate 25 Years of ReadingGroupGuides.com with Us! Enter to Win 25 of the Most Discussed Books
of the Past Quarter Century --- and Check Out
Our Special Anniversary Feature
In 2000, we founded ReadingGroupGuides.com with the idea that readers would be able to conveniently find discussion guides for many of the books that they wanted, as well as information of interest to book groups.
Join us in celebrating this milestone by entering our 25th Anniversary Contest!
We have selected some of the most-read book group titles of the past 25 years for this contest. It was tough to narrow our choices down to 25, just one from each year. But after lots of discussion, we developed the list on this page.
One winner will receive all 25 books. Five others will win five of these books. If you have read one --- or many --- of these books, our prize will give you the opportunity to share the books with others in your group!
- Click here to see all the prize books and access their discussion guides by clicking on the covers.
Click here to enter the contest by Monday, December 1st at noon ET.
Click here for our special 25th Anniversary Feature, which includes
the Most Requested Guides of 2024 and 2025, tips for book groups, and more.
Featured Review: DEAD AND ALIVE by Zadie Smith
DEAD AND ALIVE: Essays by Zadie Smith (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Zadie Smith
In this eagerly awaited collection, Zadie Smith brings her unique skills as an essayist to bear on a range of subjects that have captured her attention in recent years. She takes an exhilaratingly close look at artists Toyin Ojih Odutola, Kara Walker and Celia Paul. She invites us along to the movies, to see and to think about Tár, and to New York to reflect on the spontaneous moments that connect us. She takes us on a walk down Kilburn High Road in her beloved North West London and welcomes us to mourn with her the passing of writers Joan Didion, Martin Amis, Hilary Mantel, Philip Roth and Toni Morrison. She considers changes of government on both sides of the Atlantic --- and the meaning of "the commons" in all our lives. Reviewed by Jane T. Krebs.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF by Megha Majumdar
Oprah’s Latest Book Club Pick
A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF by Megha Majumdar (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Leela Tapryal, Sid Sagar, Rajib Bhattacharya, Soneela Nankani, Reena Dutt, Shawn K. Jain and Mayuri Bhandari
In a near-future Kolkata beset by flooding and famine, Ma, her two-year-old daughter, and her elderly father are just days from leaving the collapsing city behind to join Ma’s husband in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After procuring long-awaited visas from the consulate, they pack their bags for the flight to America. But in the morning they awaken to discover that Ma’s purse, containing their treasured immigration documents, has been stolen. Set over the course of one week, A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF tells two stories: the story of Ma’s frantic search for the thief while keeping hunger at bay during a worsening food shortage; and the story of Boomba, the thief, whose desperation to care for his family drives him to commit a series of escalating crimes whose consequences he cannot fathom. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to see why the book is Oprah's latest Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
WRITING CREATIVITY AND SOUL by Sue Monk Kidd
WRITING CREATIVITY AND SOUL by Sue Monk Kidd (Memoir/Self-Help)
Audiobook available, read by Jane Oppenheimer and Ann Kidd Taylor
When Sue Monk Kidd was in high school, a home economics teacher wrote a list of potential occupations for women on the blackboard: teacher, nurse, librarian, secretary. “Writer” was nowhere to be found. On that day, Kidd shut the door on her writerly aspirations and would not revisit the topic until many years later when she announced to her husband and two children that she was going to become a writer. And so began her journey into the mysteries and methods of the writerly life. In WRITING CREATIVITY AND SOUL, Sue Monk Kidd pulls from her own life and the lives of other writers --- including Virginia Woolf, Maya Angelou and Harper Lee --- to provide a map for anyone who has ever felt lost as a writer. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Historical Fiction Author Spotlight:
CALDER STRONG by Janet Dailey
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 read Janet Dailey's bio.
- Click here to visit Janet Dailey's website.
Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight.
Don't miss our review of CALDER STRONG in an upcoming newsletter.
What’s New on ReadingGroupGuides.com
THE LAST DEATH OF THE YEAR: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery by Sophie Hannah (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt
New Year’s Eve, 1932. Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool arrive on the tiny Greek island of Lamperos to celebrate the holiday with what turns out to be a rather odd community of locals living in a dilapidated house. A dark sense of foreboding overshadows the beautiful island getaway when the guests play a New Year’s Resolutions game after dinner, and one written resolution gleefully threatens to perform “the last and first death of the year.” Hours later, one of the home’s residents is found dead on the terrace. In light of the shocking murder, Poirot reveals to Catchpool the real reason he’s brought him to the island --- the life of another community member has been threatened. Now both men resolve to ensure that the first murder will be the last. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
PHOTOGRAPH by Brian Freeman (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Shannon Wells is a private investigator who helps women with nowhere else to go. Last year, a woman named Faith Selby came to Shannon with a strange request: Find out who I really am. Shannon soon discovered that Faith was hiding a whole other life, but was unable to penetrate the web of mystery the woman had built around her past. Now Faith is dead. The only clue to who she was and why she was murdered is an old photograph of a little girl in the rain outside a Midwestern motel. The hunt for answers takes Shannon from the hot beaches of Florida to a remote small town in Michigan as she peels away layer after layer of a shocking cold case that has rippled violently into the present. With each secret she uncovers, the danger around her grows --- and forces Shannon to confront the demons hiding in her own past. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE EVERLASTING by Alix E. Harrow (Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Moira Quirk and Sid Sagar
Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion’s greatest hero: the orphaned girl who became a knight, who died for queen and country. Her legend lives on in songs and stories, in children’s books and recruiting posters. But her life as it truly happened has been forgotten. Centuries later, Owen Mallory --- failed soldier, struggling scholar --- falls in love with the tale of Una Everlasting. Her story takes him to war, to the archives --- and then into the past itself. Una and Owen are tangled together in time, bound to retell the same story over and over again, no matter what it costs. But that story always ends the same way. If they want to rewrite Una’s legend --- if they want to tell a different story --- they’ll have to rewrite history itself. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
EXILES by Mason Coile (Science Fiction/Mystery & Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Ashley Morton
The human crew sent to prepare the first colony on Mars arrives to find the new base half-destroyed and the three robots sent to set it up in disarray. The machines have formed alliances, chosen their own names, and picked up some disturbing beliefs. Each must be interrogated. But one of them is missing. In this barren, hostile landscape where even machines have nightmares, the astronauts will need to examine all the stories --- especially their own --- to get to the truth. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
LINCOLN'S GHOST: Houdini's War on Spiritualism and the Dark Conspiracy Against the American Presidency by Brad Ricca (History)
Audiobook available, read by James Lurie
During a séance in 1924, Harry Houdini --- the greatest entertainer in the world --- was cursed by a vengeful spirit, who said his days were numbered. Houdini laughed. He believed talking to the dead was impossible. By 1926, Houdini was dead. This is the untold story of the last performance of Harry Houdini, who --- inspired by his hero, Abraham Lincoln --- devotes himself full-time to a personal crusade against Spiritualism, the practice of speaking to the dead. In a spellbinding journey across Jazz Age America, haunted by the aftermath of the Great War and a deadly pandemic, Houdini encounters modern-day haunted houses, warlocks and monsters, and uncovers a shocking conspiracy that stretches all the way to the American presidency --- and to the House of Houdini itself. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
THIS IS THE ONLY KINGDOM by Jaquira Díaz (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Almarie Guerra
When Maricarmen meets Rey el Cantante, the beloved small-time Robin Hood and local musician on the rise, she begins to envision a life beyond the tight-knit community of el Caserío, Puerto Rico. But breaking free proves more difficult than she imagined, and she soon finds herself struggling to make a home for herself; Rey; his young brother, Tito; and, eventually, their daughter, Nena. Until one fateful day changes everything. Fifteen years later, Maricarmen and Nena find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation as the community that once rallied to support Rey turns against them. Now Nena, a teenager haunted by loss and betrayal and exploring her sexual identity, must learn to fight for herself and her family in a world not always welcoming. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE WHISTLER by Nick Medina (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett
Henry Hotard was on the verge of fame, gaining a following and traction with his eerie ghost-hunting videos. Then his dreams came to a screeching halt. Now, he's learning to navigate a new life in a wheelchair, back on the reservation where he grew up. And he’s being haunted. His girlfriend, Jade, insists he just needs time to adjust to his new reality as a quadriplegic, that it’s his traumatized mind playing tricks on him, but Henry knows better. As the specter haunting him creeps closer each night, Henry battles to find a way to endure, to rid himself of the horror stalking him. Worried that this dread might plague him forever, he realizes the only way to exile his phantom is by confronting his troubled past and going back to the events that led to his injury. It all started when he whistled at night. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on November 4th
Below are some notable titles releasing on November 4th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of November 3rd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BITTER HONEY by Lolá Ákínmádé (Fiction)
Spanning four decades and three continents, BITTER HONEY is a story about a mother and daughter divided by long-buried secrets, struggling to understand each other as they forge their own paths.
BOOK OF LIVES: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood (Memoir)
How does one of the greatest storytellers of our time write her own life? BOOK OF LIVES is the long-awaited memoir from the author of THE HANDMAID'S TALE and THE TESTAMENT, one of our most lauded and influential cultural figures.
BREAD OF ANGELS: A Memoir by Patti Smith (Memoir)
The most intimate of Patti Smith’s memoirs, BREAD OF ANGELS takes us through her teenage years where the first glimmers of art and romance take hold. Arthur Rimbaud and Bob Dylan emerge as creative role models as she begins to write poetry and then lyrics.
THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER by Richard Paul Evans (Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Christmas classic THE CHRISTMAS BOX and the #1 Netflix movie The Noel Diary comes a powerful and thought-provoking holiday story about love, loss and the mysterious workings of heaven.
THE ELEVENTH HOUR: A Quintet of Stories by Salman Rushdie (Fiction/Short Stories)
From internationally renowned, award-winning author Salman Rushdie comes a spellbinding exploration of life, death and what comes into focus at the proverbial 11th hour of life.
LADIES IN WAITING: Jane Austen's Unsung Characters by Adriana Trigiani, Sarah MacLean, Eloisa James, Elinor Lipman, Audrey Bellezza, Karen Dukess, Emily Harding, Nikki Payne and Diana Quincy (Fiction)
Celebrate Jane Austen’s classic novels with this short story anthology starring forgotten characters as they experience their own happy endings.
THE LADY ON ESPLANADE: A Royal Street Novel by Karen White (Mystery)
People and secrets from the past threaten to disrupt Nola Trenholm’s new life in New Orleans in the third installment of the Royal Street series by New York Times bestselling author Karen White.
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton (Historical Fiction)
Set amongst the glittering backdrop of London's iconic Savoy hotel, a young woman is forced to confront her troubled past as she uncovers the story of the hotel’s first female bartender who has been erased from the history books.
OTHERWISE ENGAGED by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
OTHERWISE ENGAGED is a twisty, tender and wise look at how secrets can transform the powerful --- and sometimes problematic --- bond between mothers and daughters.
THE PERFECT HOSTS by Heather Gudenkauf (Domestic Thriller)
A couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly, and everyone is a suspect, in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of THE OVERNIGHT GUEST.
QUEEN ESTHER by John Irving (Historical Fiction)
After 40 years, John Irving returns to the world of THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, revisiting the orphanage in St. Cloud’s, Maine, where Dr. Wilbur Larch takes in Esther --- a Viennese-born Jew whose life is shaped by antisemitism.
WE DID OK, KID: A Memoir by Anthony Hopkins (Memoir)
Academy Award–winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins delves into his illustrious film and theater career, difficult childhood, and path to sobriety in his honest, moving and long-awaited memoir.
WHERE HE LEFT ME by Nicole Baart (Psychological Thriller)
From Nicole Baart, the bestselling author of EVERYTHING WE DIDN'T SAY, comes a twisty, atmospheric novel about a newlywed whose husband disappears, leaving her isolated in Washington State’s North Cascades.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: John Irving, Lily King, Alex DeMille
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are six upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Sunday, November 2nd at 6pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Jesse Kellerman will talk about COYOTE HILLS, the latest Clay Edison thriller that he wrote with his father, Jonathan Kellerman. As Clay digs deeper into the death of a wealthy couple's son, he uncovers a horrifying tangle of betrayal and lies.
Monday, November 3rd at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome internationally bestselling author Eva Jurczyk for a live virtual discussion of 6:40 TO MONTREAL, a claustrophobic, deceivingly bloody thriller, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Eva will be in conversation with the bestselling author of IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE, Ashley Winstead.
Tuesday, November 4th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Lily King for a live virtual event to discuss their October B&N Book Club pick, HEART THE LOVER. This deeply moving love story celebrates literature, forgiveness and the transformative bonds that shape our lives.
Tuesday, November 4th at 7:30pm ET: Barnes & Noble and 92nd Street Y: Barnes & Noble partners with the 92nd Street Y to present John Irving, in conversation with Jean Hanff Korelitz, as they discuss his long-awaited new novel, QUEEN ESTHER, which is a return to the world of his beloved bestseller, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES.
Wednesday, November 5th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with David Baldacci about NASH FALLS, the first installment in his series featuring Walter Nash, whose life is turned completely upside down when he is recruited by the FBI to help bring down a global crime network.
Wednesday, November 5th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Alex DeMille will talk about THE TIN MEN, the final novel that he wrote with his father, the late Nelson DeMille. At a top-secret Army training facility in the Mojave Desert, Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor plunge into a deadly web of military intrigue, AI technology and robot soldiers as they unravel the shocking murder of a senior scientist.
"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 recently include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Alex DeMille (THE TIN MEN)
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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:
The Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Finalists
Barnes & Noble has announced the 14 finalists for their 2025 Book of the Year. Which of these books, if any, would you pick as the B&N Book of the Year? Please check all that apply.
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THE ARTIST AND THE FEAST by Lucy Steeds
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BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan
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GOOD THINGS: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love, by Samin Nosrat
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GROWING HOME by Beth Ferry
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I AM REBEL by Ross Montgomery
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KATABASIS by R. F. Kuang
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KING OF ASHES by S. A. Cosby
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THE LET THEM THEORY: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About, by Mel Robbins and Sawyer Robbins
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MONA'S EYES by Thomas Schlesser
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MOTHER MARY COMES TO ME by Arundhati Roy
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PUZZLE MANIA!: Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More! by The New York Times Games, edited by Joel Fagliano
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SUNRISE ON THE REAPING: A Hunger Games Novel, by Suzanne Collins
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THERE ARE NO SILLY QUESTIONS: More than 200 Weird and Wacky Questions, Expertly Answered! by Mike Rampton
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THIS WAY UP: When Maps Go Wrong (And Why It Matters) by Map Men
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, November 14th 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 31st to November 14th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of NASH FALLS by David Baldacci and QUEEN ESTHER by John Irving.
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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