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I enjoy reading true crime, and I, like many, have been riveted to the coverage of the murders of the four college students in Idaho. I had started THE IDAHO FOUR: An American Tragedy by James Patterson and Vicky Ward last Friday. I read all day on Saturday and finished it at about 1am on Sunday. While I had read a lot about the case, seeing all of the details in one place was enlightening.
There was new insight on the hunt for Bryan Kohberger once he was home with his family in Pennsylvania for the holidays. The court had muted as much coverage as they could with their gag order, so some theories were not discounted until this week. In fact, as I watched the sentencing portion of the trial on Wednesday, it was interesting to hear how so many of the theories that had been out there had been rebuked by the prosecution. A number of them had seemed so credible. But what a tragedy!
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which will take place on Wednesday, July 30th at 8pm ET.
Our guest will be J. Courtney Sullivan, and she will be talking about her novel, THE CLIFFS. This Reese’s Book Club pick and Bookreporter.com Bets On selection from last year is now available in paperback.
If you have a question for Courtney, please email it to me using the subject line “Courtney” by Wednesday at noon ET. Be sure to also include your name, city and state, and indicate if you’d like to be on camera during the event so you can ask Courtney the question yourself, or if you’d prefer me to ask it for you. Those who appear on camera will be able to chat with Courtney in our virtual green room before the program starts.
In a departure from his Cotton Malone thrillers, Steve Berry’s THE LIST is a novel of suspense about a lawyer in a small Georgia town who finds himself at odds with his new employer. They want him dead, and he has only one way to survive: find and reveal the shocking secret of the list.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “The concept of THE LIST is nothing short of brilliant, and the suspense that Berry is able to infuse it with is simply blood-curdling. I really enjoyed seeing him step away from his Cotton Malone series to bring us something from the dark side of his extremely formidable imagination.” I want to read this one. I love when an author tries something new.
When undefeated criminal defense attorney Jane Smith takes on a famous celebrity client, she’s armed and ready: with brilliant arguments, hard evidence --- and two Glocks. Yet she is chased down and shot at, and she risks contempt of court. That’s when mounting a legal defense turns into self-defense in James Patterson and Mike Lupica’s latest collaboration, THE HAMPTONS LAWYER.
According to Ray Palen in his review, “THE HAMPTONS LAWYER is a great beach read that is unpredictable and hard to put down. Even though Jane is gambling with the Grim Reaper, the novel ends with a terrific cliffhanger that hopefully will open the door to a fourth installment in this engaging series.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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WAYWARD GIRLS: Susan Wiggs’ new novel is based on a true story of survival, friendship and redemption. Set in the turbulent Vietnam era in the All-American city of Buffalo, New York, six girls are condemned to forced labor in the laundry of a Catholic reform school.
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THESE SUMMER STORMS: Sarah MacLean’s first contemporary novel is about a wealthy New England family’s long-overdue reckoning...and the one week that threatens to tear them apart. It explores past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.
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THE AVIATOR AND THE SHOWMAN: Laurie Gwen Shapiro’s new book unveils the untold story of Amelia Earhart's decade-long marriage to publisher George Putnam, offering an intimate exploration of their relationship and the pivotal role it played in her enduring legacy.
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THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE: Sarah Beth Durst’s new stand-alone novel is set in the world of THE SPELLSHOP. Nestled on a far-away island brimming with singing flowers, honey cakes and honeyed love, this cozy fantasy is about giving second chances --- to others and to yourself.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On picks are CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger and THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline, both of which we reviewed over the last couple of weeks. Click on each of the titles for my Bets On commentary. If you missed my recent “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Bruce, be sure to watch or listen to it.
Summer Reading Contest Update
In this week’s Summer Reading contest, we gave away THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER by Karen White. Next week’s prize will be Megan Miranda’s new thriller, the aforementioned YOU BELONG HERE. The contest will be up on Tuesday, July 29th at noon ET.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We also are giving away YOU BELONG HERE in our new Word of Mouth contest, along with the aforementioned FULL BLOOM by Francesca Serritella. Let us know by Friday, August 8th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have the opportunity to win both these titles.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 12 of my Bets On picks that recently came out or will be releasing in paperback soon. How many of these titles have you read or are you planning to read? Let us know here by Friday, August 8th at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we listed 35 fiction titles that are being published this month 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.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Michelle wrote today, “Thank you SO MUCH for my copy of THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA! I was thrilled to learn that I had won one of the Summer Reading contests, especially since I was on a long wait list for this book at my library. I can’t wait to read it. Thank you again.
Debbie wrote last week with a question: “I thoroughly enjoy your weekly newsletter and hearing about what you and your team are doing. I have a random question. Do you have a favorite pool float chair that you like for reading? My husband and I bought a house last year that has a pool, and I want to spend more time in it reading your recommendations! Have a wonderful rest of your summer.”
Above is a photo of the BEST pool float that I had for reading. It is now stretched terribly out of shape. I am thinking of asking the seamstress at the dry cleaner what we can do to make it great again. I have tried MANY other chairs since then, and none is as comfortable as this one.
Jennifer wrote, “Not new after all these years but still remarkable that you and I read the same books in the same order. After abandoning EMPIRE OF THE ELITE on audio (I love listening to nonfiction but could not adapt to Jacques Roy's narration of this one), I pulled FOX from my TBR pile. Quite the upper body workout toting it around, but I'm fully invested.
“Super cool and fitting (in keeping with the fashion-speak) that you entered the launch party for EMPIRE OF THE ELITE right ahead of Tina Brown. When I hear her name these days, I think of being interviewed on camera by CNN and WABC/7 and photographed by Reuters for reading her book, THE DIANA CHRONICLES, while waiting in line at the flagship Apple Store for the launch of the first iPhone. A commitment precluded me from attending/streaming Michael Grynbaum in conversation with Maureen Dowd at the 92nd Street Y, which I'm hoping will post to its YouTube channel. In the interim, I'll watch the CNBC interview to which you linked. Thanks!”
Nancy wrote, “So delighted to see William Kent Krueger on the list. My favorite writer. Not only does he write well. He is a super witness in his St. Paul church and presents a welcoming hand at greeting time during worship.”
East Hampton Library's Authors Night: We had friends who had a home in Amagansett, and we would head out to see them for a weekend in August. At least on a few occasions, this timing coincided with the East Hampton Library's Authors Night, which benefits the library. They have a stellar list of authors who will be on hand signing books on Saturday, August 9th. Take a look at the lineup here.
The Nightingale film: Kristin Hannah shared HUGE news about the film adaptation of THE NIGHTINGALE this week. Production had been ready to get underway in 2020 when the COVID pandemic hit. Then there were two strikes in Hollywood. The release date has been announced for February 12, 2027, which is noted to be Valentine’s Day weekend, Presidents' Day weekend and Super Bowl weekend. (I know Kristin has posted that she is not a football fan, so this timing makes great sense.) The Fanning sisters are slated to play Vianne and Isabelle. Side note: I do want to see how the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day go together!
“Stick” on Apple TV+: Picking up on a line from last week’s newsletter where I shared that Santi Wheeler said he thought about the song “Cecilia” when he was on the golf course. In the season finale, when he gets into a tough spot, his girlfriend starts singing it, and the crowd picks it up until the song is wrapped at the end with Simon and Garfunkel singing. Yes, this is what happens when a singer/songwriter sells his or her catalog. It then can be used for all sorts of mentions like this, which might have been turned down in the past. It was just brilliantly fun.
For years --- since my sons were in high school --- I have been very vocal that the books that students are told to read in school often turn them off to reading. I keep saying that they read the same books that I read decades ago in high school. See this Wall Street Journal piece that talks about how the most popular books being taught in American schools are the same as 30 years ago. It is maddening! Have we truly not changed the curriculum up? Is it really thought that no great books were written after that?
We now have an outdoor TV set up in the gazebo. Tom and I have spent evenings out there the last week or so. Curtains for the gazebo have been ordered in the closest color to turquoise that I could find. We have spent lots of time decorating this little haven. Luckily, most of what we find has been on sale, which is our favorite phrase. Of course, the EXACT coffee table that I wanted (it also had storage) is out of stock (Tom had nixed that idea, but now we see it WILL work), so now we will see what else is out there.
At this point, we have no weekend plans, and I am loving this. Somehow in the summer months, I do not like to plan too far ahead. My weeks are so crazy busy that I am fine with reading and making nice dinners on the weekends. I also am thinking that maybe we should have one BIG party and invite lots of people!
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: THE LIST by Steve Berry
THE LIST by Steve Berry (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
After a 10-year self-imposed exile, Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, a quaint town in central Georgia. His father died two years ago, and now Brent --- hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel --- is returning to care for his ailing mother. Southern Republic’s success is based largely on a highly unorthodox and deadly system to control costs, known only to the three owners of the company. Now, one of them, Christopher Bozin, has had a change of heart. Brent’s return to Concord, a move Bozin personally orchestrated, provides his conscience with a chance at redemption. So a plan is set into motion, one that not only will criminally implicate Bozin’s two partners but also will place Brent square in the crosshairs of men who want him dead --- with only one course left available. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE HAMPTONS LAWYER
by James Patterson and Mike Lupica
THE HAMPTONS LAWYER: A Jane Smith Thriller by James Patterson and Mike Lupica (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Eva Kaminsky
The Hamptons on Long Island is known for its beautiful beaches, its luxury lifestyle --- and its exclusive legal advice. When Jane Smith takes on a famous celebrity client, she’s armed and ready: with brilliant arguments, hard evidence --- and two Glocks. Yet she’s chased down and shot at, and she risks contempt of court. That’s when mounting a legal defense turns into self-defense. Knowing every day in court could be her last, she’s a survivor. For now. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: WAYWARD GIRLS by Susan Wiggs
WAYWARD GIRLS by Susan Wiggs (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jane Oppenheimer and Cynthia Farrell
In 1968, we meet six teens confined at the Good Shepherd, a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns. They include Mairin, the free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather; Angela, who was denounced for her attraction to girls and was sent to the nuns for reform --- but instead she found herself the victim of a predator; Helen, the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China who saw her “temporary” stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years; Odessa, who was caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident --- but she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence; Denise, who was sentenced for brawling in a foster home and dared to dream of a better life; and Janice, who couldn’t decide where her loyalties lie --- except when it came to her friend, Kay. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger
and THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline
CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger (Fiction)
CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger is a brilliant look at a family that is involved in an accident in their autonomously driven minivan. The collision kills an elderly couple and sends their car down a cliff. It seems that it’s not just the vehicle that behaved badly here, as each person in the family has his or her own reason for feeling guilty about what happened. Charlie was behind the wheel, and his father, Noah, was writing an email beside him. In the back seat were Noah’s wife, Lorelei, who was working on a project, and their two daughters, Alice and Izzy, who were on their phones.
To recover from the accident, both emotionally and physically, the family rents a home for a week on the Chesapeake Bay. It is right across the bay from a compound-size property (with its own heliport) that is owned by tech pioneer Daniel Monet, who is very passionate about AI. Charlie meets Daniel’s daughter, Eurydice, and they go off on adventures on the water, including one that will put them in jeopardy.
- 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 see why the book is this month's Oprah's Book Club pick.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Bruce Holsinger.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on CULPABILITY.
THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline (Psychological Thriller)
I love how Lisa Scottoline changes things up, especially with her last few books. We went with her to Italy for ETERNAL, the story of three childhood friends who come of age during World War II. LOYALTY brought us through the beginning days of the Mafia. While she kept us stateside with WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BENNETTS and THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DEVLINS, she continued to examine justice and family.
Now, in THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA, Julia’s husband tragically dies at the hands of an unknown assailant in Philadelphia while protecting her. She lost her adoptive parents at a young age, and it feels like she is not destined to be forever happy. After her husband’s death, Julia is barely going through the motions of her life when she receives a letter that she has inherited an Italian villa and a vineyard. Cautious but also ready to try something new, she heads to the Italian countryside to learn more about this piece of property. A surprise awaits her there.
- 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 a video series featuring Lisa Scottoline's travels to Italy as she discusses her inspiration and research for the book.
- Click here to visit Lisa Scottoline's website.
- Click here to see Lisa Scottoline's book tour schedule.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA.
Featured Review:
THESE SUMMER STORMS by Sarah MacLean
THESE SUMMER STORMS by Sarah MacLean (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
Alice Storm hasn't been welcome at her family's magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five years --- not since she was cast out and built her life beyond the Storm name, influence and untold billions. But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything. Alice plans to keep her head down, pay her final respects (such as they are), and leave the minute the funeral is over. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his family a final challenge --- an inheritance game designed to upend their world. The rules are clear: spend one week on the island, complete their assigned tasks, and receive the inheritance. But a whole week on Storm Island is no easy task for Alice. It will be a miracle if she manages to escape unscathed. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE AVIATOR AND THE SHOWMAN
by Laurie Gwen Shapiro
THE AVIATOR AND THE SHOWMAN: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon by Laurie Gwen Shapiro (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Stefanie Powers
In 1928, a young social worker and hobby pilot named Amelia Earhart arrived in the office of George Putnam, heir to the Putnam & Sons throne and hitmaker, on the hunt for the right woman for a secret flying mission across the Atlantic. A partnership --- professional and soon otherwise --- was born. THE AVIATOR AND THE SHOWMAN unveils the untold story of Amelia's decade-long marriage to Putnam, offering an intimate exploration of their relationship and the pivotal role it played in her enduring legacy. Their ahead-of-its time partnership supported her grand ambitions --- but also pressed her into more and more treacherous stunts to promote her books, influencing a certain recklessness up to and including her final flight. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE by Sarah Beth Durst
July's Top LibraryReads Pick
THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE by Sarah Beth Durst (Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Caitlin Davies
Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium. This should have been the end of her story. Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. The only other human on the island is Yarrow, a grumpy gardener who offers her a place to sleep and clean clothes. As she grows closer with him, she learns that the magic that sustains the greenhouses is failing --- causing the death of everything within them. Assisted by Yarrow and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island --- and have a fresh chance at happiness and love. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 21st Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer is here! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through mid-August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next contest will be up on Tuesday, July 29th at noon ET. The prize book will be Megan Miranda's new thriller, YOU BELONG HERE. Memories fade, but on this campus, legacies are never forgotten…or forgiven.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
THE BEWITCHING by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Historical Fantasy/Gothic Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Gisela Chipe
“Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches”: That was how Nana Alba always began the stories she told her great-granddaughter, Minerva, who is now researching the life of Beatrice Tremblay, an obscure author of macabre tales. In the course of assembling her thesis, Minerva uncovers information that reveals that Tremblay’s most famous novel, The Vanishing, was inspired by a true story. Decades earlier, during the Great Depression, Tremblay attended the same university where Minerva is now studying and became obsessed with her beautiful and otherworldly roommate, who then disappeared under mysterious circumstances. As Minerva descends ever deeper into Tremblay’s manuscript, she begins to sense that the malign force that stalked Tremblay and the missing girl might still walk the halls of the campus. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
I'LL BE RIGHT HERE by Amy Bloom (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mozhan Navabi
Immigrating alone from Paris to New York after the crucible of World War II, young Gazala becomes friends with two spirited sisters, Anne and Alma. When Gazala’s lost, beloved brother, Samir, joins her in Manhattan, this contentious, inseparable foursome makes their way into the 21st century, becoming the beating heart of a multigenerational found family. The passing years are marked by the business of everyday existence and the inevitable surprises of erupting passions, of great and small waves of joy and despair, from the beginning of life to its end. Gazala and Samir make a home together, Anne leaves her husband for his sister, and Anne’s restless daughter grows up to raise a child on her own and to join a throuple, becoming who she wants to be. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
GREENWICH by Kate Broad (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Imani Jade Powers
Summer, 1999. Rachel Fiske is almost 18 when she arrives at her aunt and uncle’s mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her glamorous aunt is struggling to heal from an injury, and Rachel wants to help --- and escape her own troubles back home. But her aunt is oddly spacey, and her uncle is consumed with business. The only bright spot is Claudia, a recent college graduate, an aspiring artist, and the live-in babysitter for Rachel’s cousin. As summer deepens, Rachel eagerly hopes their friendship might grow into more. But when a tragic accident occurs, Rachel must make a pivotal choice. Caught between her desire to do the right thing and to protect her future, she’s the only one who knows what really happened --- and her decision has consequences far beyond what she could have predicted. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
THE CIA BOOK CLUB: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature by Charlie English (History)
Audiobook available, read by Michael David Axtell
For nearly five decades after the Second World War, the Iron Curtain divided Europe, forming the longest and most heavily guarded border on earth. No physical combat would take place along this frontier. Instead, the war was fought psychologically. It was a battle for hearts, minds and intellects. Few understood this more clearly than George Minden, head of a covert intelligence operation known as the “CIA book program,” which aimed to undermine Soviet censorship and inspire revolt by offering different visions of thought and culture. Minden’s “book club” secretly sent 10 million banned titles into the East. Charlie English narrates this tale of Cold War spycraft, smuggling and secret printing operations for the first time, highlighting the work of a handful of extraordinary people who fought for intellectual freedom. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
THE LIBRARY AT HELLEBORE by Cassandra Khaw (Dark Fantasy/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Natalie Naudus
The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted is the premier academy for the dangerously powerful: the Anti-Christs and Ragnaroks, the world-eaters and apocalypse-makers. Hellebore promises redemption, acceptance and a normal life after graduation. At least that’s what Alessa Li is told after she’s kidnapped and forcibly enrolled. But the Institute is more than just a haven for monsters. On graduation day, the faculty embark on a ravenous rampage, feasting on their students. Trapped in the school’s cavernous library, Alessa and her surviving classmates must do something they were never taught: work together. If they don't, this school will eat them alive. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ONE YELLOW EYE by Leigh Radford (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Sofia Engstrand
British scientist Kesta Shelley has spent her life looking down the barrel of a microscope rather than cultivating personal relationships. But that changed when she met Tim. So when he was one of the last people in London to be infected with a perplexing virus that left the city ravaged, Kesta went into triage mode. Though the government has rounded up and disposed of all the infected, Kesta is able to keep her husband (un)alive --- and hidden --- with resources from the hospital where she works. As she races against the clock, her colleagues start noticing changes in her behavior and appearance. There are whispers of a top-secret lab working on a cure, and Kesta clings to the possibility of being recruited like a lifeline. But can she save her husband before he is discovered? Or worse, will they trigger another outbreak? Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
HOW TO SURVIVE A HORROR STORY by Mallory Arnold (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Gabra Zackman
When legendary horror author Mortimer Queen passes, a group of writers find themselves invited to his last will and testament reading expecting a piece of his massive fortune. Each have their own unique connection to the literary icon --- some known, some soon to be discovered --- and they've been waiting for their chance to step into the author's shoes for some time. Instead, they arrive at his grand manor and are invited to play a game. The rules are simple: solve the riddle and progress to the next room. If they don't, the manor will take one of them for itself. You see, the Queen estate was built on the bones of Mortimer's family, and like any true horror story, the house is still very, very hungry. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE CONFESSIONS by Paul Bradley Carr (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Allyson Ryan
LLIAM is the world’s most powerful supercomputer, built to make the toughest decisions for its users. But when it suddenly goes offline with no explanation, the world is thrust into chaos. Then, on every continent, mysterious envelopes arrive in the mail, exposing people’s darkest secrets and most shocking crimes. All beginning with the same chilling words: “We must confess.” With millions of people suddenly made to confront their past transgressions, CEO Kaitlan Goss must track down the only person who can help undo the resulting violent chaos: Maud Brookes, an ex-nun who taught LLIAM what it means to be human. But when Maud receives a letter herself, revealing Kaitlan’s own unforgivable sin, the two women are forced into a deadly game of deceit as the world teeters on the brink. Reviewed by Jack Kramer.
THE QUIET by Barnaby Martin (Science Fiction/Dystopian Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Annabel Scholey
Hannah knows that her son, Isaac, is gifted and that those gifts make him vulnerable. To keep him safe, she spends every waking moment by his side. If she lets her guard down, he will be taken from her. When the Soundfield arrived 20 years ago, the world changed with it. Now, people are forced to live at night due to the deadly heat of the day, food and water are scarce, and everyday life is punctuated by the constant and disconcerting hum from the Field. A brilliant scientist, Hannah spent her early career working on the enigma of the Soundfield, looking for answers. Now, resigned, she has focused all her energies on keeping Isaac living, not just alive. To do so, she will have to lie to the people she knows and hope she can trust the ones she doesn't. Because the only thing more dangerous than her lies is the truth of what she has done. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on
July 29th and August 1st
Below are some notable titles releasing on July 29th and August 1st 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 July 28th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
July 29th
THE CARPOOL DETECTIVES: A True Story of Four Moms, Two Bodies, and One Mysterious Cold Case by Chuck Hogan (True Crime)
THE CARPOOL DETECTIVES is the incredible true story of a group of moms who, united by a search for new purpose, attempt to solve a 15-year-old double murder.
FADE IN by Kyle Mills (Political Thriller)
When an ex-Navy SEAL ends up injured and imprisoned, a shadowy ring of power brokers offers him the only way out --- through a high-stakes military mission.
THE GOOD LIAR by Denise Mina (Mystery/Thriller)
In this provocative mystery from beloved crime writer Denise Mina, new evidence in an old murder case forces one woman to make an impossible choice.
GUESS AGAIN by Charlie Donlea (Psychological Thriller)
On the 10th anniversary of a teenage girl’s disappearance, her cold case breaks open in dangerous ways…and threatens to tear apart her small Wisconsin town all over again.
LIKENESS by Samsun Knight (Fiction)
On a summer evening in the 1990s, Anne learns that one of her husband’s lovers is expecting his child, only a few weeks after learning that she too is pregnant. And the tenuous understanding between them is shattered.
ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE ESCAPE by Brian Freeman (Thriller/Adventure)
The death of a lover plunges Jason Bourne into a maelstrom of violence and deceit in this latest installment in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.
SHE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING by Shari Lapena (Domestic Thriller)
When a beloved wife and mother disappears, a luxurious condo building transforms into a potential crime scene, and the investigation begins. Can the detectives find her before it's too late?
UNDER THE STARS by Beatriz Williams (Historical Fiction)
When a daughter and her famous mother return to Winthrop Island to confront their complicated past, they discover a secret trove of paintings that connect them to a mysterious woman who vanished on a luxury steamship two centuries earlier.
THE WINDS FROM FURTHER WEST by Alexander McCall Smith (Fiction)
In this dazzling and uplifting novel of new beginnings and endless possibilities, a slew of personal and professional disasters cause a young researcher to upend his seemingly stable life in Edinburgh and move to a remote island off the Scottish coast.
YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda (Psychological Thriller)
Memories fade, but on this campus, legacies are never forgotten…or forgiven. YOU BELONG HERE is a new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda.
August 1st
LAST SEEN by J.T. Ellison (Psychological Thriller)
From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a twisted psychological thriller about the bonds of family and the disconnect between memory and the truth.
OUT OF THE WOODS: A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home by Gregg Olsen (True Crime)
OUT OF THE WOODS is the haunting and intimate true-crime story of one of the most notorious criminal cases in American history --- and a young woman’s journey to reclaim her life in its wake.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Susan Wiggs, Shari Lapena, J. Courtney Sullivan
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are five upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, July 28th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Shari Lapena for a live virtual discussion of SHE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Shari will be in conversation with the New York Times bestselling author of SHE'S NOT SORRY, Mary Kubica. I am signed up to watch this one.
Monday, July 28th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Denise Mina will talk about her new book, THE GOOD LIAR, a provocative mystery in which new evidence in an old murder case forces one woman to make an impossible choice.
Tuesday, July 29th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Anthony Horowitz about his latest novel, MARBLE HALL MURDERS, a mind-boggling metafictional mystery featuring detective Atticus Pünd and editor Susan Ryeland.
Wednesday, July 30th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Susan Wiggs about her latest book, WAYWARD GIRLS, a wrenching but life-affirming novel based on a true story of survival, friendship and redemption.
Wednesday, July 30th at 8pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to J. Courtney Sullivan about her novel, THE CLIFFS, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. Courtney also will answer questions from guests who will be “on stage,” as well as from other members of the audience.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers long-form, in-depth author interviews. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here is our latest interview:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Which of Carol’s
"Bets On" Selections Appeal to You the Most?
We have listed 12 of Carol’s Bookreporter.com Bets On picks that are now or soon to be in paperback. Which of these books have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker
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BAD LIAR by Tami Hoag
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BAD TOURISTS by Caro Carver
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THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan
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THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff
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GO AS A RIVER by Shelley Read
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HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty
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JACKIE by Dawn Tripp
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THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali
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SPIRIT CROSSING by William Kent Krueger
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SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews
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WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? by Shari Lapena
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, August 8th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from July 25th to August 8th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of FULL BLOOM by Francesca Serritella and YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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