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I went into the year with four bookshelves organized for 2026 by month, ready to stay on top of all of the books that I wanted to read. But one month in, I already am behind. That said, I have enjoyed what I have read --- and there are some titles that I am interested in reading after going through this newsletter.
I feel that in this industry we talk a lot about books before they come out, but when they hit the shelves for readers to read them, the conversation dies down. I want to keep it going. Do others of you feel that way?
Also, I want to see more books move the old-fashioned way --- by word of mouth. We still can do it; see both THE CORRESPONDENT and THEO OF GOLDEN last year. What books can that happen with again this year? It takes us all talking about the books we love!
With that in mind, we have been brainstorming a number of new programs and events. We want to deliver more ways for you to meet authors and hear about books. Yes, more than what we already deliver!
I love doing live virtual events where I present books to readers. It especially is exciting when I am sharing authors and books I assume readers know --- and realize they are not yet on their radar. We are conceptualizing growing our outreach to readers.
I love when books and our events inspire readers. Bonnie, who was at our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group program with THEO OF GOLDEN author Allen Levi, took a road trip to Columbus, Georgia, last week.
As she wrote, “Dan and I decided to eat lunch at Fountain City Coffee. I had so much fun looking at the portraits on the walls and enjoying the incredible coffee and sandwiches. I felt as though I walked into Allen Levi’s novel. After that, we went to Columbus Bound Bookshop, where I was able to purchase a hardcover edition of the book. Not signed, unfortunately, but I wanted one I can share with friends. Maybe I can find a signed copy in the future. It was an incredible visit to a wonderful place.”
Above you can see Bonnie at the bookshop (with book in hand) and a picture of the coffee shop that served as the inspiration for THEO OF GOLDEN.
You Will Not Want to Miss Our Next Winter Reading Contest!
I am happy to announce that we've added THEO OF GOLDEN to our Winter Reading feature. The 24-hour contest will be up on Tuesday, February 10th at noon ET. If you’ve read it, I encourage you to watch or listen to our book group event. We talked about so many different aspects of the book, and Allen answered a number of questions from enthusiastic readers.
Reminder to Sign Up for Our
February “Bookaccino Live” Book Preview Event
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for February’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, February 11th at 2pm ET.
The focus will be on titles releasing between February 10th and March 3rd, along with a few from the first half of April, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those who join us live will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Ashley Elston, whose new book, ANATOMY OF AN ALIBI, is a New York Times bestseller and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Ashley reveals that she rewrote the book three times, changing structure, timeline and point of view. She shares the character she began with, and how the others evolved, as well as what stayed the same from the very start.
Ashley was thinking about the Murdaugh family murders and how technology can help with an alibi as much as it can hurt it. She confirms that she is under contract for a new book and updates us on what is happening with the film/TV development deal for her 2024 novel, FIRST LIE WINS. Click here to watch the interview or here to listen to the podcast.
Mary Kubica’s new thriller, IT’S NOT HER, is about a woman who finds her brother and sister-in-law murdered in their next-door vacation cottage, her niece inexplicably missing, and her nephew asleep and unharmed in his bed. She must do everything in her power to find out what happened and locate her niece as she pieces together her family’s whereabouts.
Pamela Kramer has this to say in her review: “In addition to an intriguing plot and several people who might be guilty, Kubica creates the perfect amount of tension. The alternating narratives are extremely effective and add to the intensity of the story. We realize that both narrators are slightly unreliable as they each have their own internal doubts and insecurities. Kubica also presents a twist after the shocking resolution that I am sure no one will guess.”
I pulled this one from my shelf last night after first hearing about it in November. See what I mean about finding a book?
Wendy Walker's newly released thriller, BLADE, was this week's Winter Reading prize book and will be a Bets On pick. Ana Robbins was an Olympic star in the making --- until tragedy forced her to leave that world behind. She is now a successful defense attorney. But when her former coach turns up dead, Ana returns to the skating facility where it all began to defend the young skater accused of the crime.
Rebecca Munro has our review and says, “Bolstered by razor-sharp analyses of childhood and trauma psychology and the ways that abuse can have long-lasting effects, the book’s premise is every bit as knife-sharp as the skates it glides on. Its dual narrative is punctuated by court transcripts that give us hints of what’s to come, but even the savviest thriller reader will never guess the twists that Walker has in store. Each of them are more explosive, farther-reaching and psychologically cutting than the last.”
We will share my interview with Wendy in next week’s newsletter, followed by my Bets On commentary in two weeks. Wendy drew on her own experience of training to be a skater in Colorado when she was 13-16. To be clear, there was no murder where she trained. But her competitive spirit and the loneliness of being far from home was very much with her.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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WOLF HOUR: Jo Nesbø’s latest thriller (translated by Robert Ferguson) is an immersive, propulsive novel in which a detective and a crime writer conduct parallel investigations, six years apart, into a series of puzzling murders.
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NOTHING RANDOM: Gayle Feldman’s impressively researched book tells the story of legendary Random House founder Bennett Cerf, whose seemingly charmed life afforded him a front-row seat to literary and cultural history in the making.
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ALL THE LITTLE HOUSES: May Cobb, the beloved author of THE HUNTING WIVES (now a hit Netflix series), is back with a deliciously wicked thriller about mean girls, mean moms, and the secrets inside all the little houses.
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IN HER DEFENSE: As a sensational celebrity libel trial unfolds, a young woman at the periphery secretly wields the power to make or break the case. But with her own hidden past, will she dare to speak up? Find out in Philippa Malicka’s debut novel, which is this month’s Reese’s Book Club pick. I want to read this one!
February’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for February are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as Lisa Scottoline (THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA), Daniel Silva (AN INSIDE JOB), Jojo Moyes (WE ALL LIVE HERE), Curtis Sittenfeld (SHOW DON’T TELL), Lisa Unger (CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10), Elle Cosimano (FINLAY DONOVAN DIGS HER OWN GRAVE), and Tracey Lange (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS?); nonfiction titles, including SEEKING SHELTER: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America by Jeff Hobbs and CLEAVAGE: Men, Women, and the Space Between Us by Jennifer Finney Boylan; and paperback originals like WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS by Kaira Rouda and WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS GROW by Terah Shelton Harris.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Victoria Christopher Murray
Out in paperback this week is HARLEM RHAPSODY by Victoria Christopher Murray, a Bets On selection that tells the extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance. I talked to Victoria about the book last May after its hardcover release. So if you missed the discussion or would like to check it out again, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
Books on Screen Offerings for February
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. February’s roundup includes the season premieres of “The Last Thing He Told Me” on Apple TV+, “The Lincoln Lawyer” and the second part of “Bridgerton” on Netflix, “Cross” on Prime Video, and “Dark Winds” on AMC; the series premieres of FX's “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” and Prime Video's “56 Days”; the season finales of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” on HBO Max and “The Night Manager” on Prime Video; the theatrical releases of Crime 101, Dracula, “Wuthering Heights”, Cold Storage and Midwinter Break; the continuation of ABC's “Will Trent” and Hallmark's “When Calls the Heart”; and the DVD/Blu-ray releases of Regretting You and Nuremberg.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
Let us know by Friday, February 20th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson (an upcoming Bets On pick) and THIS IS NOT ABOUT US by Allegra Goodman, both of which release on Tuesday, in our latest Word of Mouth contest.
In KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN, one American woman’s vision in post-WWII Germany will tie together three people in an unexpected way. THIS IS NOT ABOUT US is a kaleidoscopic portrait of a modern American family --- steadfast, complicated, begrudging and loving. Don’t miss my interview with Sadeqa later this month.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 35 fiction titles releasing this month, and we’re asking you which, if any, you’re looking forward to reading. Click here to let us know by Friday, February 20th at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we listed 12 of my Bets On picks that are now or soon will be in paperback, and we asked which of these you have read or plan to read. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
February’s “Read with Jenna” Book Club pick is ONE & ONLY, Maurene Goo’s adult debut that tells the story of a woman thrown a curveball by fate and the family secret that will make her question everything. Jenna says that this is “the perfect book for February. Not only is February the month of love, and this is a romance, but it's also one of the shortest months of the year --- and this book flies. You'll open it and you'll read it in one sitting.”
Who hasn’t wanted to murder an ex --- figuratively, at least? In Leodora Darlington’s debut thriller, THE EXES, which is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick, a woman’s seemingly perfect romantic life is on the verge of collapse as she uncovers a hidden history surfacing dark secrets that have deadly consequences. We plan to feature our review of the book in next week’s newsletter.
Zorah Sharaf could do no wrong. Zorah Sharaf brought shame upon her family. What’s the truth? It depends on who you ask. GOOD PEOPLE by debut novelist Patmeena Sabit is February’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. Like a literary game of ping-pong, it compels readers to reconsider what might have happened even on the previous page.
For more February selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here. Please note that Oprah will announce her book club pick later this month.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Allyson wrote about our Allen Levi event: “Carol, you are a wonderful moderator! I loved every minute of it! This book was a joy, and the interview was so enlightening.”
Amy wrote, “I have received this newsletter for years --- and I just want to thank you for all the hard work that goes into this…and for the great books you have recommended!”
“Shrinking” on Apple TV+: This series has some very clever writing.
“The Lincoln Lawyer” on Netflix: As you saw in our Books on Screen feature, the fourth season is now streaming. We do love the characters.
I was near Rockefeller Center this week, so I snapped a photo of the Olympic rings outside NBC Studios. We are ready for the Opening Ceremony tonight and lots of viewing during the week. I am hoping that Lindsey Vonn can race well in the downhill. I pulled her memoir, RISE: My Story, off a shelf here. It is hard to believe that she is competing at 41!
I am rooting for Seattle in the Super Bowl. The game is a great excuse to eat pigs in a blanket, chili and other party foods. We will be watching here at the house with our friend, Cathy, who is staying with us. The game calls for a party whether it's with a crowd or not!
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: IT’S NOT HER by Mary Kubica
IT'S NOT HER by Mary Kubica (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Jennifer Jill Araya, Brittany Pressley and Gary Tiedemann
Courtney Gray’s peaceful vacation turns into a nightmare when she discovers her brother and sister-in-law dead in their lakeside cottage. Her niece, Reese, is missing. Her nephew, Wyatt, is asleep upstairs --- unharmed. As police swarm the quiet resort, dark truths about Courtney’s family --- and the town itself --- begin to surface. Is Reese a victim...or the killer? With everyone hiding something, Courtney races to uncover the terrible mystery. But the closer she gets, the harder it is to know who --- or what --- to trust. 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: BLADE by Wendy Walker
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
BLADE by Wendy Walker (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
Ana Robbins was an Olympic star in the making --- until tragedy forced her to leave that world behind. At the age of 16, she gave up her dream and never looked back. Fourteen years later, she’s a successful defense attorney, revered for her work with minors. But when her former coach turns up dead, Ana lands right back where it all began, and abruptly ended: The Palace, a world-renowned skating facility nestled high in the mountains of Colorado. Ana returns to The Palace to defend the young skater accused of the brutal crime. Despite her claims of innocence, all evidence points squarely at Grace Montgomery’s guilt. But Ana’s investigation dredges up childhood memories of her own, triggering the fear that permeates this place where she once lived and trained far from home as an “Orphan.” Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to visit Wendy Walker's website.
Click here to read our review.
BLADE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's interview with Wendy Walker in next week's newsletter, followed by her Bets On commentary in the February 20th newsletter.
Featured Review: WOLF HOUR by Jo Nesbø
WOLF HOUR written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Euan Morton
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016. When a small-time criminal and gun dealer is shot down in the street, all signs point to Tomas Gomez, a quiet man with a mysterious past --- and deep connections to a notorious gang --- who has seemingly vanished into thin air. Other murders soon follow. Meanwhile, Bob Oz, a down-and-out suspended police officer, becomes fascinated by the case: he is obsessed with the notion of hunting down a serial killer who only he can understand. Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2022. An enigmatic Norwegian man with ties to Minneapolis --- a self-described crime writer --- has traveled to the United States to research the Gomez case, in the hopes of writing a book about it. But as his investigation progresses, the writer’s seemingly neutral position reveals itself to be more complicated than the reader is initially led to believe. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: NOTHING RANDOM by Gayle Feldman
NOTHING RANDOM: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built by Gayle Feldman (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Lisa Flanagan
At midcentury, everyone knew Bennett Cerf: the witty, beloved, middle-aged panelist on “What’s My Line?” whom TV brought into America’s homes each week. But they didn’t know that the handsome, driven, paradoxical young man of the 1920s had vowed to become a great publisher and, a decade later, was. By then, he’d signed Eugene O’Neill, Gertrude Stein and William Faulkner, and had fought the landmark censorship case that gave Americans the freedom to read James Joyce’s ULYSSES. Using interviews with more than 200 individuals, deeply researched archival material, and letters from private collections not previously available, NOTHING RANDOM brings Bennett Cerf to vibrant life, drawing book lovers into his world, finally laying open the page on a quintessential American original. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: ALL THE LITTLE HOUSES by May Cobb
ALL THE LITTLE HOUSES by May Cobb (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Malin Akerman, Allyson Ryan, Alexandra Hunter and James Fouhey
It's the mid-1980s in the tiny town of Longview, Texas. Nellie Anderson, the beautiful daughter of the Anderson family dynasty, has burst onto the scene. She always gets what she wants. What she can't get for herself… well, that's what her mother is for. Because Charleigh Anderson --- blond, beautiful and ruthlessly cunning --- remembers all too well having to claw her way to the top. When she was coming of age on the poor side of East Texas, she was a loser and an outcast, humiliated and shunned by the in-crowd, whose approval she'd so desperately thirsted for. When a prairie-kissed family moves to town --- all trad wife, woodworking dad, wholesome daughter vibes --- Charleigh's entire self-made social empire threatens to crumble. Who will be left standing when the dust settles? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- 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: IN HER DEFENSE by Philippa Malicka
Reese’s Book Club Pick for February
IN HER DEFENSE by Philippa Malicka (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Anna Popplewell
The whole country has been riveted by the trial: Beloved TV star and national treasure Anna Finbow, standing in court, accusing her daughter’s therapist, Jean Guest, of brainwashing her daughter, Mary, for her own financial gain. Jean insists that Mary’s traumatic memories arise from her upbringing and her time studying at a prestigious art school in Rome --- wounds only Jean’s therapy can heal. But as the trial unfolds, it’s Augusta “Gus” Bird, Anna’s former employee --- a seemingly insignificant bystander, a nobody --- who holds the key to unraveling the tangled web of lies and deceit. What really happened to Mary in Rome? And if her memories can’t be trusted, how will they ever uncover the truth behind her estrangement? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- 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 this month's Reese's Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 11th Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature
Our Winter Reading contests have returned for an 11th year! On select days through mid- February, we are hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next contest will be up on Tuesday, February 10th at noon ET. The prize book will be THEO OF GOLDEN, Allen Levi's New York Times bestselling debut novel, which is about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
February’s New in Paperback Roundups
February's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline, a riveting psychological thriller in which a young widow inherits a mysterious Tuscan estate and finds herself thrust into a dangerous conspiracy; Daniel Silva's AN INSIDE JOB, a dazzling tale of murder, greed and corruption in which art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon must solve the perfect crime; WE ALL LIVE HERE by Jojo Moyes, a fresh, contemporary story of a woman and her unruly blended family; CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10, a twisty thriller from Lisa Unger in which an extreme game of hide-and-seek turns deadly; and HARLEM RHAPSODY by Victoria Christopher Murray, the extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance.
Among our nonfiction highlights are SEEKING SHELTER, in which Jeff Hobbs follows a single mother of six in Los Angeles who courageously struggles to keep her family together and her children in school amid the devastating housing crisis; LORNE by Susan Morrison, the definitive biography of Lorne Michaels, the man behind America’s most beloved comedy show, “Saturday Night Live”; CLEAVAGE, in which Jennifer Finney Boylan examines the divisions --- as well as the common ground --- between the genders and reflects on her own experiences as a transgender American; and Casey Sherman's BLOOD IN THE WATER, a gripping contemporary true crime narrative for everyone who was fascinated by the Murdaugh murders, and for anyone compelled by the intersection between money, power and family.
February’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 February's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Crime 101
Release Date: Friday, February 13th (wide release in theaters)
Based on: The novella "Crime 101" from BROKEN by Don Winslow
“Wuthering Heights”
Release Date: Friday, February 13th (wide release in theaters)
Based on: WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Brontë
Series Premieres
"The Museum of Innocence" (9-episode limited series)
Release Date: Friday, February 13th on Netflix (all episodes of the series will be available)
Based on: THE MUSEUM OF INNOCENCE by Orhan Pamuk
"56 Days"
Release Date: Wednesday, February 18th on Prime Video (all episodes of Season 1 will be available)
Based on: 56 DAYS by Catherine Ryan Howard
Season Premieres
"The Lincoln Lawyer"
Release Date: Thursday, February 5th on Netflix (all episodes of Season 4 are available)
Based on: THE LAW OF INNOCENCE: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel by Michael Connelly
"Cross"
Release Dates: Wednesdays on Prime Video; Season 2 Premiere on February 11th (the first three episodes of the season will be available)
Based on: The Alex Cross series by James Patterson
"The Night Agent"
Release Date: Thursday, February 19th on Netflix (all episodes of Season 3 will be available)
Based on: THE NIGHT AGENT by Matthew Quirk
"The Last Thing He Told Me"
Release Dates: Fridays on Apple TV+; Season 2 Premiere on February 20th
Based on: THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave
"Bridgerton"
Release Date: Thursday, February 26th on Netflix (Season 4, Volume 2)
Based on: AN OFFER FROM A GENTLEMAN by Julia Quinn
Season Finales
"Tell Me Lies"
Release Dates: Tuesdays on Hulu; Season 3 Finale on February 17th
Based on: TELL ME LIES by Carola Lovering
"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"
Release Dates: Sundays on HBO Max; Season 1 Finale on February 22nd
Based on: The Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas by George R. R. Martin
On DVD/Blu-ray
Regretting You
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: Tuesday, February 17th
Based on: REGRETTING YOU by Colleen Hoover
Click here to see our Books on Screen feature for February.
Our Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for February
Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads. We also feature a number of other prominent selections, including the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, the PBS Books Readers Club, the "Read with Jenna" Book Club, Reese's Book Club, and the Target Book Club.
Below is a preview of February's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks." For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here.
Indie Next
#1 Pick: VIGIL by George Saunders
ERADICATION: A Fable by Jonathan Miles
CRUX by Gabriel Tallent
MY HUSBAND'S WIFE by Alice Feeney
OPERATION BOUNCE HOUSE by Matt Dinniman
LibraryReads
Top Pick: OPERATION BOUNCE HOUSE by Matt Dinniman
HER LAST BREATH by Taylor Adams
CLEOPATRA by Saara El-Arifi
THIS IS NOT ABOUT US by Allegra Goodman
KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson
Barnes & Noble Book Club
GOOD PEOPLE by Patmeena Sabit
"Good Morning America" Book Club
THE EXES by Leodora Darlington
Oprah's Book Club
To be announced later this month
PBS Books Readers Club
In this special episode of the PBS Books Readers Club, hosts Princess Weekes and Lauren Smith recommend their favorite Black History Month reads. The episode is now available on the PBS Books YouTube channel and will air as a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, February 25th at 8pm ET.
"Read with Jenna" Book Club
ONE & ONLY by Maurene Goo
Reese's Book Club
IN HER DEFENSE by Philippa Malicka
Target Book Club
THE INHERITANCE by Trisha Sakhlecha
Click here for February's Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks.
STOLEN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Ericksen
A blow to the head with a block of amethyst has left multibillionaire Nathan Barrister dead --- while nearby, a vault, its door ajar, sits filled with priceless paintings, jewelry and other treasures. Lieutenant Eve Dallas’ husband, Roarke, recognizes at least two stolen pieces among the hoard. The crime scene suggests a burglar caught in the act. But only one item seems to be missing. Then it’s revealed that the vault had actually belonged to the victim’s late father --- and no one in the household knew it was there until a recent remodeling project exposed it. To protect the family name and business, they explain to Eve, they’d been looking for a way to return the ill-gotten gains anonymously and avoid the police. But now the police are all over their elegant house and have a bigger, bloodier mystery to solve. Reviewed by Jennifer McCord.
HALF HIS AGE by Jennette McCurdy (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jennette McCurdy
Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry. Forceful. Hurting. Perceptive. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all: Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher with the wife and the kid and the mortgage and the bills, with the dead dreams and the atrophied looks and the growing paunch. She doesn’t know why she wants him. Is it his passion? His life experience? The fact that he knows books and films and things that she doesn’t? Or is it purer than that, rooted in their unlikely connection, their kindred spirits, the similar filter with which they each take in the world around them? Or, perhaps, it’s just enough that he sees her when no one else does. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE REVENGE by Brian Freeman (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Shadow --- the head of Treadstone --- has found evidence of massive Chinese espionage activity in the U.S. The spy running the operations is a shadowy American known only by the codename Bai Ze. No one knows who he is, but when Shadow consults the Files --- the hacked AI database she stole from the Chinese --- she discovers that Jason Bourne encountered Bai Ze during an operation eight years earlier. The trouble is, Bourne doesn’t remember him. As Bourne hunts for the elusive spy, he meets a reporter named Laney Reese, who shares his strange affliction: eight years ago, Laney lost her entire memory, too. Bourne is convinced that whatever happened to both of them is at the heart of the Chinese espionage operation. With Laney at his side, Bourne follows a zigzagging trail of clues to a quirky billionaire and his ex-wife, both of whom may have ties to Bai Ze. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE METHOD by Matthew Quirk (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Christine Lakin
Actress Anna Vaughn is fearless --- on screen, at least. She likes to believe she is as tough as her characters, but off-camera she leads a far quieter life. When her best friend Natalie, her rock, disappears after a night out with a mysterious new man, the signs point to foul play and a circle of spies operating in Manhattan. Anna must use all the tricks she’s learned for her roles to hunt for her missing friend. She crosses paths with Kevin Matthews, an FBI agent on the same trail, tracking a string of killings and disappearances and a powerful clique of oligarchs. With Matthews as her handler, she has only days to prepare for the greatest performance of her life --- going undercover. As the killers close in, her only chance for survival is to become as lethal as the characters she once played. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
BLACK DAHLIA: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood by William J. Mann (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Bower
The brutal murder of Elizabeth Short --- better known as the Black Dahlia --- in 1947 has been in the public consciousness for nearly 80 years, yet no serious study of the crime has ever been published. Short has been mischaracterized as a wayward sex worker or vagabond, and --- like the seductive femme fatales of film noir --- responsible for and perhaps deserving of her fate. William J. Mann, however, is interested in the truth. His extensive research reveals her as a young woman with curiosity and drive, who leveraged what little agency postwar society gave her to explore the world, defying draconian postwar gender expectations to settle down, marry and have children. It’s time to reexamine the woman who became known as the Black Dahlia. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
DISCIPLINE by Larissa Pham (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Quyen Ngo
Christine is on tour for her novel, a revenge fantasy based on a real-life relationship gone bad with an older professor 10 years prior. Now on the road, she’s seeking answers --- about how to live a good life and what it means to make art --- through intimate conversations with strangers, past lovers and friends. But when the antagonist of her novel --- her old painting professor --- reaches out in a series of sly communiques after years of silence to tell her that he’s read her book, Christine must reckon with what it means to lose the reins of a narrative she wrote precisely to maintain control. When her professor invites her to join him at his house, on a remote island off the coast of Maine, their encounter threatens to change the very foundations of her life as she’s imagined it. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE FLACK by Brad Parks (Thriller)
Curt Hinton and Angel Reddish are former college roommates turned lifelong best friends who always have each other’s backs. So when Angel offers Curt the chance to leave his job at a failing newspaper and take a lucrative position as head of corporate communications at Balco, the Bay Area Logistics Company, Curt takes the leap. But on Curt’s first day at Balco, he learns that Angel was killed the night before during a carjacking. Tasked with writing a press release about the crime, Curt quickly discovers that the carjacking wasn’t random --- it was a targeted attack by professional killers. As Curt is drawn into the mystery of his best friend’s death, he discovers that there are many possible suspects --- and there’s a lot more danger swirling around his new employer than he ever could have imagined. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
THE QUIET NEIGHBOR by J.D. Barker and Adam Roach (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Morgan Hallett
Cynthia Burrows thought she'd built the perfect life --- successful law career, loving husband, beautiful daughter. But when 18-year-old Tori vanishes without a trace, Cynthia's carefully constructed world begins to crumble. The school says Tori was excused by family. Security footage shows her leaving with an older man. And the boy she was supposed to date? His name sends chills down Cynthia's spine --- Alexander Beaufort. That's impossible. Alexander Beaufort is the serial killer who destroyed Cynthia's childhood, murdered her best friend, and forced her into witness protection 20 years ago. He's supposed to be locked away forever. But someone is playing a deadly game, leaving clues that drag Cynthia back to her darkest memories. With only three days to find her daughter, she must confront the monster from her past and the shocking secrets Tori has been hiding. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
MASS MOTHERING by Sarah Bruni (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by E.J. Lavery
A. is an amateur translator. Adrift and burdened by debt following a medical trauma, she makes rent caring for a young boy who is not and could never be her own. Her nights are spent on the dance floor, chasing spontaneous connection. There, she encounters N., who shares her numbed state and sometimes her bed. Among N.’s meager possessions, A. comes across a slim book about an unnamed foreign town of disappearing boys. The book, Field Notes, documents the stories of a community of mothers who assemble to mourn their missing sons together. When a near-assault stuns A. out of her inertia, she takes off for the city where Field Notes was written in search of its author and the end of the story. But A.’s digging leads her instead to the traces of a murdered poet, a mysterious woman whose legacy will intersect unexpectedly and pivotally with A.’s own life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE WATER LIES by Amy Meyerson (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Courtney Patterson and Natalie Duke
Heavily pregnant with her second child, Tessa Irons has enough on her mind without her toddler throwing tantrums at the local coffee shop. The boy is inconsolable, shouting “Gigi!” to a woman Tessa has never seen before --- and never will again. The next morning, the woman’s body is dredged up from the canal outside the Ironses’ posh Venice Beach home, and Tessa’s gut tells her it’s no coincidence. Barb Geller refuses to believe that her daughter’s death was just some drunken accident. She heads to California for answers, where she crosses paths with Tessa. Together they hunt for the truth, certain they’ll find a connection between their children. But the police don’t believe them. Tessa and Barb only have each other, their intuition, and the creeping sense of danger that grows with every shocking revelation. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 9th and 10th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 9th and 10th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of February 9th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
February 9th
CROSS AND SAMPSON: An Alex Cross and John Sampson Thriller by James Patterson and Brian Sitts (Thriller)
In this latest thriller from James Patterson and Brian Sitts, detective partners Alex Cross and John Sampson are called to separate locations to investigate a pair of serious crimes.
February 10th
ANTIHERO: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz (Thriller)
Evan Smoak takes on his most complex mission yet --- one where he not only has to protect but also avenge, and find a way to balance vengeance with mercy.
A BETTER LIFE by Lionel Shriver (Fiction)
In a provocative novel addressing contemporary immigration by the sharply observant Lionel Shriver, a New York family takes in a Honduran migrant --- who may or may not be the innocent paragon she claims to be.
COLD ZERO by Brad Thor, with Ward Larsen (Political Thriller)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor and USA Today bestselling author Ward Larsen comes a heart-pounding thriller of survival, espionage and global brinkmanship, where the frozen Arctic becomes the deadliest battlefield on Earth.
DEATH OF A GROOM: A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery by M. C. Beaton, with R.W. Green (Mystery)
Sergeant Hamish Macbeth returns to protect his sleepy Scottish village of Lochdubh in the latest mystery in M.C. Beaton’s beloved New York Times bestselling series.
THE HADACOL BOOGIE: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke (Thriller)
Dave Robicheaux, James Lee Burke’s iconic detective, returns to investigate the death of an unidentified woman, pulling him into a vortex of corruption and violence in the Louisiana bayou.
KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson (Historical Fiction)
In this new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of THE HOUSE OF EVE, one American woman’s vision in post-WWII Germany will tie together three people in an unexpected way.
ROBERT B. PARKER'S BIG SHOT: A Jesse Stone Novel by Christopher Farnsworth (Mystery)
Police Chief Jesse Stone finds himself in the crosshairs of a rich hedge fund manager dead set on making Paradise Jesse’s personal hell in this latest installment of Robert B. Parker’s beloved series.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT US by Allegra Goodman (Fiction)
THIS IS NOT ABOUT US is a kaleidoscopic portrait of a modern American family --- steadfast, complicated, begrudging and loving --- from the bestselling author of ISOLA.
WORLD'S EDGE: A Mosaic Novel by James Sallis (Dystopian/Science Fiction)
WORLD'S EDGE is a compelling call for compassion and resilience in the maw of social dissolution from literary legend James Sallis, the master of many genres and the Nebula, Edgar and Shamus–nominated author of DRIVE.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Omid Scobie & Robin Benway, John Sayles
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.
Monday, February 9th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: John Sayles will talk about his new book, CRUCIBLE, a complex and sweeping historical novel about Henry Ford --- the Elon Musk of his day --- and his attempt to rule not only an automotive empire but the rambunctious city of Detroit.
Wednesday, February 11th at 2pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Preview Afternoon Event: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between February 10th and March 3rd, along with a few from the first half of April, that we would like to get on your radar. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.
Wednesday, February 11th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Omid Scobie and Robin Benway about their highly anticipated novel, ROYAL SPIN. This irresistibly entertaining story is about a young American woman who takes a job at Buckingham Palace, where she finds herself tangled in a royal mess she might not be able to spin her way out of.
"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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Sadeqa Johnson (KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN)
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Wendy Walker (BLADE)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: February Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in February have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ANTIHERO: An Orphan X Novel, by Gregg Hurwitz
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THE ASTRAL LIBRARY by Kate Quinn
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BEST BOY by Deborah Goodrich Royce
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A BETTER LIFE by Lionel Shriver
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BLADE by Wendy Walker
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BRAWLER: Stories, by Lauren Groff
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COLD ZERO by Brad Thor, with Ward Larsen
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CROSS AND SAMPSON: An Alex Cross and John Sampson Thriller, by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
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THE CROSSROADS: A Joe Pickett Novel, by C. J. Box
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CROWN CITY: A Japantown Mystery, by Naomi Hirahara
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THE DEVIL'S BIBLE: A Cotton Malone Novel, by Steve Berry
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DOUBLE TROUBLE by Joyce Carol Oates, writing as Rosamond Smith
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THE EXES by Leodora Darlington
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FAMILY DRAMA by Rebecca Fallon
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GOOD PEOPLE by Patmeena Sabit
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THE HADACOL BOOGIE: A Dave Robicheaux Novel, by James Lee Burke
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IMPOSTOR: An Alexander Gregory Thriller, by LJ Ross
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IN HER DEFENSE by Philippa Malicka
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IT'S NOT HER by Mary Kubica
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JIGSAW: An Alex Delaware Novel, by Jonathan Kellerman
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KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson
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KIN by Tayari Jones
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MORE THAN ENOUGH by Anna Quindlen
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ONE & ONLY by Maurene Goo
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ROBERT B. PARKER'S BIG SHOT: A Jesse Stone Novel, by Christopher Farnsworth
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SO OLD, SO YOUNG by Grant Ginder
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STOLEN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
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A STUDY IN SECRETS: A Redacted Man Mystery, by Jeffrey Siger
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THIS IS NOT ABOUT US by Allegra Goodman
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TRUST NO ONE by James Rollins
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WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS by Kaira Rouda
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WHEN I KILL YOU by B. A. Paris
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WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS GROW by Terah Shelton Harris
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WOLF HOUR written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson
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WORLD'S EDGE: A Mosaic Novel, by James Sallis
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 20th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from February 6th to February 20th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson and THIS IS NOT ABOUT US by Allegra Goodman.
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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