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I shocked myself yesterday and told my husband that we should close the pool. Usually, I approach the pool closing with great regret and pleas for a delay on it. But I realize that a big old storm is going to be tearing through here this weekend, and with the trees dropping leaves, I would see myself doing more skimming than swimming or floating.
Last weekend, for my “last float,” I read THE VANISHING FAMILY: Love, Fate, and the Quest to End Dementia by Robert Kolker, which releases on Tuesday and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. It’s another terrific work of nonfiction by Bob. You may remember him as the author of HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD: Inside the Mind of an American Family. The vanishing family that he follows here can choose to test to see if they have the gene that will develop frontotemporal dementia (FTD) or if they have been spared. Each family member carries a 50/50 chance. Bob is such a brilliant storyteller. Readers come to know the family members and their challenges, with and without the disease, and he distills the science of FTD in a way that is approachable.
I am interested in hearing how Bob came to know this family, as well as how he chose this as a topic. There is so much happening in the world of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and he outlines the challenges when it comes to drug development, as well as the huge strides forward. I am going to be interviewing Bob at the Morristown Festival of Books on October 10th, and I also plan to chat with him for “Bookreporter Talks To”. And read on for an opportunity to win a copy of the book.
Since I think we will be hunkered down for most of the weekend with the wind and the rain expected to arrive, I am lining up books --- two of which are by writers named John.
HOLLYWOOD, ENDING, which released this week, is YA author John Green's first novel for adults. I like the premise, which has two young actors cast in a biopic called Andy Warhol Never Gets Old. It’s the opportunity that they both have been waiting for. The movie is a huge success, and with it their lives end up being very public, which means that they need to “confront the private cost of a public life.” I have so many thoughts about celebrity culture, social media and how lives are documented today. I know that getting John as a guest for “Bookreporter Talks To” will be a “tough get” as he is on a mega-tour. Be sure to check out this terrific interview that he did for B&N's “Poured Over” podcast.
Here’s a fun factoid for you: “John Green is the new Guinness World Records title holder for the most tip-in sheets signed by an author with 875,557 tip-in sheets signed. Green was presented with a Guinness World Records certificate to celebrate this record-breaking achievement at an event on September 22 at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY while on tour in support of his new novel, HOLLYWOOD, ENDING…. Green has long been passionate about making signed copies of his books available to his readers. In addition to signing 100,000 tip-in sheets for the first printing of HOLLYWOOD, ENDING, he previously signed large quantities of the first printings for his books EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS, THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED, TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN and THE FAULT IN OUR STARS.”
A second factoid: John dedicated the book to Elyse Marshall Pfeiffer, his publicist at Penguin Random House's Dutton Books. She was there for him for so much of his success and the anxiety that accompanied that. I love this!
Releasing on October 6th, FORTUNE AND GLASS is written by a media colleague who I think I have known for as long as Bookreporter has been around. John Mutter was with Publishers Weekly when I met him. He went on to found Shelf Awareness, which is a daily newsletter for the trade --- booksellers and librarians.
FORTUNE AND GLASS is billed as “a philosophical spy novel and literary love story about private choices, secret resistance, and the cost of staying human inside a system determined to erase individuality.” I am about halfway through it, and it is different from any other book that I have read about Germany in the ‘30s and ‘40s. It is hard writing something fresh about this time period, but John has accomplished that. It feels like the writing of a much more mature novelist. You know the saying that reading will make you a better writer? John’s reading through the years clearly had a good influence on him.
Rudi is a Foreign Ministry official who has decided not to join the National Socialist German Workers' Party. His good friend, Hans, who has embraced Hitler and all that he represents, is part of the Gestapo and cannot understand why Rudi is not enamored with this group as well. Both men have been involved at times with a woman named Sara, who is the daughter of a Jewish doctor. After a deep relationship with Sara comes to an end, Rudi marries a German woman who heads to the Baltic island of Rügen with their children. Sara comes back into Rudi’s life as the war is raging; just when he thinks he has gotten her to a safe place, she returns. Through Rudi’s eyes, we see someone who is radically opposed to the Nazis and all they represent, and the risks one can take to stand up for their values.
Instead of a story of war with battles and fighting, FORTUNE AND GLASS is a tale of survival by wits and conquering the enemy with weapons that are not guns. I would love to schedule an interview with John.
Join Us on Tuesday for Our “Bookaccino Live”
Book Group Event with Lisa See!
I am looking forward to Tuesday night when our September “Bookaccino Live” Book Group guest will be Lisa See. She will discuss her latest novel, DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN AND MOON, an instant New York Times bestseller and a Bets On selection.
Lisa is a very good friend, and this program is bound to be a lot of fun and quite interesting. I ordered the tea kit from the Bana Tea Company that she recommended. It just arrived, and I plan to enjoy sipping tea during the event.
After I open the conversation with Lisa, we will give readers the chance to share a question for her on screen. We have special sign-in directions for these attendees, and they will get to chat with Lisa in our “backstage green room” before the program starts. Then we will turn to questions that have been dropped into Zoom’s Q&A feature. Click here to sign up.
If you would like to ask Lisa a question, please fill out this form by Tuesday at noon ET. Be sure to include your name, city, state, email address and phone number, as well as your question. And indicate if you would like to be on camera or off.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Jonathan Santlofer, whose new thriller, TEN PERFECT GUESTS, will be a Bets On pick.
Jonathan describes the book as a classic whodunit featuring 10 characters brought to an isolated island for a memorial, with an inheritance at stake. He wanted to use all classic tropes --- locked room, large cast, hidden motives --- without a detective figure. He explains that managing so many distinct characters was more difficult than anticipated, requiring a character chart and careful differentiation so readers would not need to look back.
The novel is written in the third-person omniscient perspective, allowing access to all characters' inner thoughts, with the final section shifting to the killer's point of view — which expanded unexpectedly to 35 pages. Jonathan also discusses his next project, the third book in his art-thriller series, which he is working on now.
Click here to watch the interview or here to listen to the podcast. Don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis is the latest book we’re featuring in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. An upcoming Bets On title, this fascinating thriller is set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand.
We have our review of the book this week from Ray Palen, who has this to say about it: “THE MUNICH AFFAIR is a wild ride across familiar territory, but it feels brand-new in the hands of Patterson and Ellis. The fact that the book is being released at a time when antisemitic feelings seem to be on the rise globally makes the reading experience extra chilling, but also important and necessary for all of us to absorb and understand. I do not know if the authors’ intention was to remind us that history often repeats itself, but it certainly was a message I took away from this intense work.”
Be sure to check out my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter. In the meantime, here are comments we received from three readers who won a copy of THE MUNICH AFFAIR in a contest we ran last month. Clearly they loved the book just as much as Ray and I did!
Sam F. from Veneta, OR: “THE MUNICH AFFAIR is a masterpiece. I've never read such an intense, heart-pounding prologue in my life. And what follows is a grand adventure, mostly revolving around Detective Thomas Bauer, that takes us through the rise and collapse of Nazi Germany.”
Joyce T. from Parma, OH: “I really enjoyed THE MUNICH AFFAIR. Historical fiction is an interesting genre. It always makes me want to go back to my history books and review them to see what part of the novel was fiction and what was fact. This was very suspenseful and kept me reading well past my bedtime.”
Linda C. from Kennebunk, ME: “The plot held me from beginning to end. The three main characters --- a detective, a journalist and a professor --- led me on a journey of emotional ups and downs. The time period was described well. It’s not always easy to read about Hitler and Germany, but it’s important that we do. I enjoyed every page of this book, which would be perfect for book clubs to discuss.”
MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL is the first fully authorized novel featuring Agatha Christie’s iconic detective, Miss Marple, in 50(!) years. Set at a luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps in 1950, Lucy Foley’s novel strands a glamorous cast of guests inside during a violent snowstorm after a murder disguised as an accident. As secrets emerge and tensions rise, Miss Marple must rely on her trademark powers of observation and understanding of human nature to uncover the truth.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “When Lucy Foley had the opportunity to contribute a short story to the collection MARPLE, which paid tribute to Agatha Christie’s beloved amateur sleuth, Miss Jane Marple, it must have made quite an impression on her.... MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL is such fun and a treat for fans of Agatha Christie and Miss Marple. I have a sneaking suspicion that this will not be the last time we see Lucy Foley try her hand at a Miss Marple novel.”
Sadly, Gloria Steinem passed away just three weeks before the publication of AN UNEXPECTED LIFE. In her final memoir, Steinem offers a candid, inspiring portrait of her early life and journey as an activist, while looking ahead to the next chapters of the fight for equality. Here we are given a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of feminism’s most enduring voices.
In her review, Roberta O’Hara calls AN UNEXPECTED LIFE “a retrospective with hope for the future” and goes on to say, “I started reading this book before Steinem passed away. What started as a delicious dive into her latest essays instead became a private reverie --- a celebration of who she was, how she ignited feminism, and how, ultimately, she changed the world. I hope others will read it in the same way.”
Please note that Steinem narrated her memoir (along with Julianne Moore, DeLanna Studi, Lily Tomlin and Lena Dunham), which I think will lead to a very interesting reader experience. I plan to listen to it. There is also a piece called “Yes to the Unknown: A Night with Gloria Steinem” that you can listen to as an Audible Original, which was recorded at Audible's Minetta Lane Theatre.
Chloe Benjamin, the New York Times bestselling author of THE IMMORTALISTS, returns with an intimate yet epic love story --- and a sweeping odyssey of scientific discovery. UNDER STORY, which is this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club selection and Barnes & Noble Book Club pick, invites us to consider the promise of this life, what might lie beyond it, and how far we would go for more time with the people we love.
According to Sarah Rachel Egelman in her review, UNDER STORY is “a beautiful, tender and strange book, full of all kinds of love and many kinds of loss. Benjamin’s characters are so fully human, even when the world they occupy seems utterly alien. Readers willing to suspend disbelief will find much to enjoy and contemplate in this bold and imaginative novel.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK: In Clare Mackintosh’s latest thriller, a woman races home to catch her fiancé cheating --- only to discover he has been brutally murdered. What follows is a haunting yet relentlessly tense story that culminates in a shocking final reveal.
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TRUE NORTH: For more than half a century, Paul Theroux has traveled the globe and chronicled its far corners with curiosity, wit and an unflinching eye. With his 12th travel book, he turns that eye to a country that has long been his quiet neighbor: Canada.
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REDWOOD: Ben Macintyre, the bestselling author of THE SPY AND THE TRAITOR, has penned the ultimate true-life Cold War thriller: the untold story of a Russian double agent with a desperate secret --- and the key to stopping a nuclear apocalypse.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On pick is THE BIRTHING TREE by Amanda Peters, which we reviewed earlier this month. Click here for my commentary. I had a wonderful conversation with Amanda this week. We will feature the interview in next week’s newsletter.
Fall Reading Contest Update
We gave away WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LORI LOVELY? by Sarah McCoy in this week’s Fall Reading contest. Our next prize book will be COME CLOSER: Childhood Wounds, Adult Love, and the Secrets of Emotional Intimacy by Dr. Galit Atlas, which reveals how our childhood wounds hold the key to understanding our adult relationships. The contest will up at noon ET on the day of its release, Tuesday, September 29th.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
Let us know by Friday, October 9th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win AMERICAN HAGWON by Min Jin Lee and the aforementioned THE VANISHING FAMILY by Robert Kolker in our new Word of Mouth contest.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our latest poll includes 20 notable nonfiction titles releasing in September and October. We want to know which ones, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes.
In our previous poll, we listed 35 fiction 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.
The shortlist for this year’s Booker Prize was announced this week. The six titles are THE END OF EVERYTHING by M. John Harrison, THE DISAPPEARERS by Marlon James, BLACK BAG by Luke Kennard, MAY WE FEED THE KING by Rebecca Perry, THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY by Elizabeth Strout, and JOHN OF JOHN by Douglas Stuart. The announcement of the winning book will take place on November 9th at a ceremony in London.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Carla wrote, “I was delighted to win a copy of THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA! Our book club (The Susan Kaplansky Book Club of United Hebrew in St. Louis) is discussing this in a few months, so I am eager to read it.”
Deb wrote about winning a copy of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LORI LOVELY? in our Fall Reading contest: “Thank you! This email made my day. I'm excited to get the book and read it. Thank you for all you do to keep people reading. I'll try to send a photo and review. This year our neighborhood book group, Novel Women, celebrates 30 years of discussing books. Not only have we enjoyed hundreds of books, it's turned into a supportive group of friends who step in when help is needed.” I love this, and I know that feeling.
I have a busy week ahead. I have book group on Monday night. We are going to discuss CITY OF WIDOWS, and Nadia Hashimi will join us via Zoom. I loved interviewing Nadia, and I am looking forward to my book group getting to meet her.
Tuesday night will be the aforementioned event with Lisa See. On Wednesday, I am attending a publishing conference in New York City and then will zip back to New Jersey for an event in Montclair, where Min Jin Lee will be discussing the aforementioned AMERICAN HAGWON. If you are there, please say hello!
“Brothers” on Apple TV: I needed something light and fun. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson lend lots of humor.
“Lioness” on Paramount+: This show built to a crescendo season ending.
For those who are planning to attend the Morristown Festival of Books, or contemplating it, here is the schedule. I will be moderating three panels and attending others. It’s a terrific lineup. Friday night of that weekend is their Keynote program, which is the only ticketed event and is already sold out. Malcolm Gladwell will be talking about his latest book, THE AMERICAN WAY OF KILLING: The Invention of an Epidemic, which gets to the heart of America’s gun violence crisis.
I am off to snag the amaryllis plants that need to go into hiding so they will bloom in November or December. I also will be ordering even more planters since I have an idea to put them all in 6” square pots on one table instead of all different ones. My go-to place for this is Root & Vessel.
If you are in the path of the various storms that are brewing, stay safe. For all others, spend some time outside just enjoying life.
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 Bookshop/IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
New Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight &
Featured Review: THE MUNICH AFFAIR
by James Patterson and David Ellis
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sam Claflin and Lorelei King
Spanning a century, this suspenseful thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling authors James Patterson and David Ellis is set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand.
A determined detective, Thomas Bauer, obsessively pursues Hitler --- putting Bauer’s Jewish wife and children in grave danger.
A courageous journalist, Fritz Gerlich, writes story after story detailing the murder --- making Gerlich a target for Hitler’s Gestapo.
An American professor, Eleanor Robbins, picks up the trail of evidence from present-day Neo-Nazis guarding the Führer’s long-held secrets to the death.
“THE MUNICH AFFAIR is a master class in tension and a perfect historical thriller.”
― Martha Hall Kelly
“This World War II-era thriller feels startlingly modern and essential. As you watch a detective, a journalist, a resistance leader, and a professor race to solve past crimes, the boundaries of time quickly give way to pure suspense.”
― Brad Meltzer
“Much more than a historical murder mystery, this lively and engaging story --- from two masters at the top of their game --- reminds us that 'those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' You need to read this one and never forget.”
― Steve Berry
- Click here to read James Patterson's bio.
- Click here to visit James Patterson's website.
- Connect with James Patterson on X, Instagram and Threads.
- Click here to read David Ellis' bio.
- Click here to visit David Ellis' website.
- Connect with David Ellis on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to read our review from Ray Palen.
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
THE MUNICH AFFAIR will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review:
MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL
by Lucy Foley
MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL: A Miss Marple Mystery by Lucy Foley (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available; read by Hayley Atwell, Lucy Boynton, Adeel Akhtar, Mara Wilson and Hugh Kermode
High in the Swiss Alps, accessible only by a single, winding railway, stands the luxurious Grand Alpine Hotel. With glorious mountain views and exclusive access to powdery slopes, it draws guests from far and wide. The notorious actress. The high-flying politician. The society wife. The reckless friend. The shrewd doctor. But not everyone is here for a winter holiday. Beneath the champagne and furs, dark histories simmer. Old grudges emerge like cracks in the ice. And someone is watching from the shadows. A polite, unassuming woman with an extraordinary mind: Miss Marple. When a body is found and a blizzard cuts off all escape, only Miss Marple can connect the clues before the killer strikes again. Because it isn’t a question of who has a motive, but who’s next. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
AN UNEXPECTED LIFE by Gloria Steinem
AN UNEXPECTED LIFE: A Memoir by Gloria Steinem (Memoir)
Audiobook available; read by Gloria Steinem, Julianne Moore, DeLanna Studi, Lily Tomlin and Lena Dunham
Before she became a feminist leader, Gloria Steinem was a curious child: going on road trips with her itinerant father, caring for her mother, and devouring every book she could find. In AN UNEXPECTED LIFE, she reflects on the unlikely experiences and pivotal moments --- from a childhood rat bite that opened her eyes to the dangers of poverty to the 1970 Women’s March honoring the right to vote --- that shaped the visionary woman she would become. Steinem shares her years living in India, learning from the nonviolent movement there, and her travels around the world advocating for women’s rights. Along the way, she honors the people who influenced her most, including trailblazers, writers and thinkers who expanded her understanding of power, community, justice and solidarity. Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: UNDER STORY by Chloe Benjamin
September’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
and Barnes & Noble Book Club Selection
UNDER STORY by Chloe Benjamin (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Maggi-Meg Reed
At the edge of the world, biologist Laurel Salter is hiding from everything she’s ever known. For 10 hours a day, six days per week, she works as a dishwasher at McMurdo Station, an isolated research base in Antarctica. She tells no one that before she arrived, she was a renowned young scientist with a promising career and a family. But even in this remote outpost, Laurel can’t escape her past. When a strange light appears across the ice --- and draws a group of physicists to McMurdo --- her former husband, Eli, won't be far behind. Laurel is captivated by the Arc: its surreal glow; the way it seems almost alive. And though Eli is reluctant to test her wildest theory, Laurel is convinced that the Arc leads down a rabbit hole and into a world they can barely imagine. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- 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 “Good Morning America” Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE BIRTHING TREE by Amanda Peters
THE BIRTHING TREE by Amanda Peters (Fiction)
I had enjoyed THE BERRY PICKERS, so I was looking forward to THE BIRTHING TREE. Once again, Amanda Peters brings us to the Mi’kmaq community in Nova Scotia.
Aliet Paul was born under a tree in a small Nova Scotia town, delivered by her grandmother, Kiju. Her mother died during childbirth, and her father remains unknown except to a select few. She was raised by Kiju, who, in addition to being a midwife, knew of the use of herbs to heal various ailments. One family that came each year had a boy named John, who was a friend to Aliet and then much more. She wrote him letters when he returned home, and there was a real bond between them. Reading about young love can be such fun as we remember waiting for the mail when life was a lot less immediate than it is today.
- Click here to read the book description.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Don't miss Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with
Amanda Peters in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review:
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK by Clare Mackintosh
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK by Clare Mackintosh (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Richard Armitage, Samuel Barnett, Tuppence Middleton and Vineeta Rishi
Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs. She's been here before. When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he's lying. He's with another woman, and she's determined to catch him in the act. But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can't explain himself. The house has become a crime scene. Jamie is dead. You think you know the people you love. You think you know who you can trust. You think you know how the story ends. It’s not what you think. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: TRUE NORTH by Paul Theroux
TRUE NORTH: On the Road in Canada by Paul Theroux (Travel/Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Charlie Anson
For more than half a century, Paul Theroux has traveled the globe and chronicled its far corners with curiosity, wit and an unflinching eye. With TRUE NORTH, he turns that eye to a country that has long been his quiet neighbor: Canada. What begins as the completion of a North American road trip trilogy becomes something more personal. Theroux meets his Quebcois friends and relations, then travels more widely through remote villages, multicultural cities and sweeping landscapes that have defined modern Canada. Along the way, he speaks with farmers, refugees, writers like John Irving and Michael Ondaatje, and Indigenous leaders such as Tanya Talaga, listening as Canadians reckon with identity, belonging and patriotism. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: REDWOOD by Ben Macintyre
REDWOOD: The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Extraordinary Spy by Ben Macintyre (History)
Audiobook available, read by Ben Macintyre
In 1981, KGB Major Vladimir Kuzichkin, codenamed “Redwood,” was the best Soviet officer in Iran, running spies in the wake of the Islamic revolution and working with a hidden network of Iranian communists to undermine the new regime. But Kuzichkin had a problem, a sexual secret that, if revealed, would humiliate him with his colleagues, cost him his job, and send him into exile. Desperate for a solution, he reached out to the only place he believed could help: Britain’s MI6. So begins one of the most astounding true spy stories of the Cold War, set against the terrifying prospect of nuclear armageddon. In REDWOOD, Ben Macintyre unfolds a world in turmoil, where no one’s motive is what it seems, and exposure means death. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 16th Annual
Fall Reading Contests and Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. In our Fall Reading Contests and Feature, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about this fall.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through mid-October, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be COME CLOSER: Childhood Wounds, Adult Love, and the Secrets of Emotional Intimacy by Dr. Galit Atlas, which reveals how our childhood wounds hold the key to understanding our adult relationships. The contest will be up at noon ET on the day of its release, Tuesday, September 29th.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
THE FIRST SCARLET DOOR: A 4MK Thriller by J.D. Barker (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Crouch and Piper Goodeve
Before he was known as the Four Monkey Killer, he was just a boy trying to survive. Charleston, 1999. Fifteen-year-old Anson Bishop didn't mean to kill --- not the first time, anyway. Raised by parents who taught him that murder was simply survival, Anson thought he'd escaped his dark past when his home burned and his mother vanished with stolen mob money. He was wrong. Someone is hunting Charleston's forgotten children --- runaways, the addicts, the ones no one will miss. When the few people Anson has come to care about vanish into the night, he discovers a truth more horrifying than anything his parents taught him: there are monsters in the world far worse than the one he sees in the mirror. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
INCARNATE by Alma Katsu (Psychological Thriller/Techno-Horror)
Dorothy Wagner has spent her whole life wanting nothing more than to be seen. But after failing to make her mark as an influencer, she takes a job working for a brilliant coder whose company is focused on cutting-edge deepfake technology. And there, in secret, is where she creates her salvation. Isabella. An impossibly gorgeous girl who takes social media by storm. Dorothy's artistry is brilliant, and Isabella seems so real that she garners millions of followers. But everybody knows that overnight success doesn’t just happen. And when someone gets a little too close to the truth, a violent confrontation sends Dorothy on the run, forcing her to confront what she’s willing to sacrifice to keep her secrets. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PLAYERS: What I've Learned from Baseball's Best by Peter Gammons (Sports)
Audiobook available, read by Mike Chamberlain
Peter Gammons is the preeminent baseball writer of his generation. Nearly every significant figure in the game has shared stories with him. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PLAYERS reveals what Gammons has learned from those greats about baseball and life. He details the emergence of Latin and Asian players in Major League Baseball and the symbiotic relationships between manager and general managers, catchers and pitchers, and second basemen and shortstops. He recalls his chance childhood meeting with Roger Maris as he was falling in love with baseball. He speaks to the marriage between rock n' roll and baseball, and tells the story of how Ted Williams claimed he could smell the wood burning on his bat after smoking line drives to the outfield. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
UNTIL SHE DIES by Kendra Elliot (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Stephanie Németh-Parker
When a search dog locates a mass burial ground in the Oregon forest, Detective Noelle Marshall is plunged into a hunt for a killer who’s hiding in plain sight. The key to her case lies in a decades-old secret: a lone survivor who escaped and is still out there, living in fear. The murderer is a phantom who left behind a collection of victims with nothing in common but their final resting place. As pressure mounts to identify the bodies and find the killer, the investigation draws in FBI Agent Max Rhodes --- Noelle’s partner in work and in life. They’ve hunted monsters before, but this one has spent years preparing for this moment, and he craves revenge. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
TERRESTRIAL written by Cristina Rivera Garza, translated by Christina MacSweeney (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Victoria Villarreal
In this new collection of genre-defying stories by Cristina Rivera Garza, a woman visits what she thinks could be her old lover's hometown after being abandoned by her years earlier. Two herons hitchhike across Mexico. A group of workers build a new home, only to see it destroyed by the state. With little baggage and much bravado, the characters in TERRESTRIAL hitchhike, migrate, take trains, wander or, at times, fly to survive the mandates of patriarchy and capitalism. On dusty roads or by a lake turned suddenly ominous, they remain in close contact with the earth's surface, sensing its wild promise and capacity for violence, its degradation and enduring beauty. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
CLOUD SIX by Amy Fusselman (Fiction/Dark Humor)
Audiobook available; read by Rebecca Lowman, Greg Barnett, Philip Hernandez and Maggi-Meg Reed
Following a catastrophic plane crash, married couple Mam and Bunko have found themselves in Cloud Six. It's the newest --- and lowest --- tier of heaven, run by a slumlord demon named Widdershins who takes the form of an underwear model. With a rabbit skeleton as their guide, the pair do their best to remain hopeful and together in their quest: to navigate the strangest of places, to find help, and to catch even one glimpse of the teen daughter they left behind. While Mam and Bunko try to accept their fate, Widdershins navigates workplace politics and tries to impress an ex-lover. And Amy, who appears in the book as our guide and scribe, grapples with how to tell an honest story with Satan breathing down her neck. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on September 29th
Below are some notable titles releasing on September 29th 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 September 28th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
AMERICAN HAGWON by Min Jin Lee (Fiction)
The National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author of PACHINKO returns with a breathtaking contemporary epic: a masterpiece that reckons with ambition and moderation, lust and loyalty, personal dreams and familial duty.
THE AMERICAN WAY OF KILLING: The Invention of an Epidemic by Malcolm Gladwell (Cultural Studies/Social Science)
The United States has far more homicides than any of its peers around the world. Why? In this groundbreaking book, Malcolm Gladwell explores the American “peculiarity” --- how the world’s wealthiest country came to suffer from a problem typically only seen in the world’s poorest countries.
COME CLOSER: Childhood Wounds, Adult Love, and the Secrets of Emotional Intimacy by Dr. Galit Atlas (Psychology/Personal Growth)
What is the secret of emotional intimacy? How can understanding our childhood experiences give us the insights we need to be close to others in a truly satisfying and more meaningful way? Galit Atlas invites us inside the private lives of her patients --- and into her own --- to offer new, life-changing answers to these important questions.
FICTIONAL SELVES: A Memoir by Kyle MacLachlan (Memoir)
In this highly anticipated memoir, the beloved actor and star of “Twin Peaks,” Blue Velvet, “Sex and the City,” Fallout and more shares his utterly original account of his offbeat journey in Hollywood, his battles with fear and fame, and the projects that shaped him --- and created a cult icon.
THE FRENCH ILLUSION by John Grisham (Thriller)
#1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham delivers a gripping, suspenseful page-turner about a Paris honeymoon gone horribly wrong --- and the nightmare that follows.
GALINDA: A Charmed Childhood by Gregory Maguire (Fantasy)
In this sister volume to ELPHIE, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of WICKED shares the eagerly awaited origin story of Galinda, the pink-clad, effervescent and popular favorite character.
THE MANY PRIVATE LIVES OF MISSY COOKE by Jane Green (Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Jane Green comes her most poignant and timely novel yet --- the story of a tech titan’s daughter, who, in the face of a family crisis, must step into her own power to redefine a legacy.
MESTRA: A Short Story by Madeline Miller (Mythological Fiction)
This brilliant new short story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Madeline Miller --- her first new work of fiction since the publication of CIRCE --- vibrantly reimagines the powerful and forgotten myth of Mestra.
PLY by Hernan Diaz (Fiction)
The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of TRUST turns to the future with a novel that examines the place of technology in the American imagination.
RUTHLESS by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
A journalist and the shipping magnate she is assigned to profile find themselves on a collision course in this powerful novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.
SOPHIE, STANDING THERE by Meg Mason (Fiction)
The much beloved author of the critically acclaimed SORROW AND BLISS returns with a tender and hilarious novel about heartbreak and the journey from isolation and loneliness towards love.
THE STEPS: A Memoir by Sylvester Stallone (Memoir)
This gritty, inspiring and heart-wrenching memoir by the Academy Award-winning legend and icon Sylvester Stallone is about his unlikely path to stardom and the creation of the greatest underdog story ever told.
THE VANISHING FAMILY: Love, Fate, and the Quest to End Dementia by Robert Kolker (Science/Biography)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD comes the heart-wrenching journey of a family facing an unthinkable destiny, whose flawed genetic code might hold the long-sought key to a cure for dementia.
THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS by John Boyne (Alternate History)
In imagining the life that Oscar Wilde never had, John Boyne has written one of the great what-if stories of modern literature, giving the iconic Anglo-Irish poet and playwright a fresh new voice and the opportunity to take an entirely different path.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO RIGHT?: The Essential Journey to Scale an Enduring Culture by Danny Meyer (Business & Leadership/Memoir)
Restaurateur, entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author Danny Meyer reveals the secrets of his widely admired leadership philosophy and the tools he uses to build an energized, cohesive and motivated culture.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Clare Mackintosh, Lisa See, Dr. Galit Atlas
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are seven upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Sunday, September 27th at 1pm ET: Books & Books: Join Books & Books for a virtual launch event hosted by Mitchell Kaplan. Dr. Galit Atlas will be accompanied by Miranda July, Adam Phillips, Gary Gulman and Noga Erez. Together, they will have an edifying discussion of six childhood wounds and how each of them plays out differently in adult love relationships, as examined in Dr. Atlas' new book, COME CLOSER. (Carol will be watching this!)
Tuesday, September 29th at 2pm ET: Barnes & Noble and Waterstones: Join Barnes & Noble for a special online event with multi-million-copy bestselling author Madeline Miller, hosted in collaboration with Waterstones, as she speaks to Ann Patchett about her new book, MESTRA, which vibrantly reimagines the powerful and forgotten myth of Mestra.
Tuesday, September 29th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Ann Cleeves for a live virtual discussion of her new Matthew Venn novel, THE DYING LIGHT, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Ann will be in conversation with the bestselling author of the Slough House series, Mick Herron.
Tuesday, September 29th at 3pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Clare Mackintosh will talk about her latest novel, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK, a relentless and terrifying examination of white supremacy, underpinned by a thrilling murder mystery about a woman who comes home to discover her fiancé dead.
Tuesday, September 29th at 8pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Lisa See about her instant New York Times bestseller, DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN AND MOON, which is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Lisa also will answer questions from guests who will be “on stage,” as well as from other members of the audience.
Tuesday, September 29th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Lucy Foley about her new book, MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL, which is the first fully authorized novel featuring Agatha Christie’s iconic detective, Miss Jane Marple, in 50 years.
Wednesday, September 30th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Lucy Foley about her brand-new Miss Marple mystery, MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL. Set at a luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps in 1950, the novel strands a glamorous cast of guests inside during a violent snowstorm after a murder disguised as an accident.
"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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Robert Kolker (THE VANISHING FAMILY: Love, Fate, and the Quest to End Dementia)
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Amanda Peters (THE BIRTHING TREE)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll:
New and Upcoming Nonfiction Titles to Anticipate
Which of the following nonfiction titles releasing in September and October have you read or are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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ABANDONING A CAT: A Personal Story, written by Haruki Murakami and translated by Philip Gabriel
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THE AMERICAN WAY OF KILLING: The Invention of an Epidemic, by Malcolm Gladwell
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BETWEEN CHAPTERS: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot, by Zibby Owens
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COME CLOSER: Childhood Wounds, Adult Love, and the Secrets of Emotional Intimacy, by Dr. Galit Atlas
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CONFRONTING AMERICA: What Has to Change, by Bill O'Reilly and Josh Hammer
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CORMAC McCARTHY: A Legacy Revisited, by Tracy Daugherty
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ETHEL KENNEDY: The Extraordinary Life and Bold Legacy, by Kerry Kennedy
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FICTIONAL SELVES: A Memoir, by Kyle MacLachlan
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ONE HELLUVA RIDE by Michael Douglas
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THE PHANTOM: The Untold Story of the American Marine the Nazis Could Not Kill, by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
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PLOT TWIST: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft: A Memoir on Writing, by Harlan Coben
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REDWOOD: The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Extraordinary Spy, by Ben Macintyre
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THE RUSH: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World, by Nathaniel Philbrick
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THE STEPS: A Memoir, by Sylvester Stallone
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STORY TELLING: A Writing Life, by Isabel Allende
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SWAN SONG: Diana, my sister, by Charles Spencer
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TRUE NORTH: On the Road in Canada, by Paul Theroux
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AN UNEXPECTED LIFE: A Memoir, by Gloria Steinem
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THE VANISHING FAMILY: Love, Fate, and the Quest to End Dementia, by Robert Kolker
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WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO RIGHT?: The Essential Journey to Scale an Enduring Culture, by Danny Meyer
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 9th 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 September 25th to October 9th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of AMERICAN HAGWON by Min Jin Lee and THE VANISHING FAMILY: Love, Fate, and the Quest to End Dementia by Robert Kolker.
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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