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Yesterday marked 30 years since Bookreporter launched, the first book review site online. Initially it was called The Book Report, and it only was on AOL. I still can hear the sound of the dial-up ringing in my head (we were excited that 56k modems were coming). At the time, there were approximately 257,000 websites. We thought if we were on AOL, it would be easier for readers (who then were called users) to find us. Yes, I can hear you laughing at how primitive things were back then.
My partners on the original launch were Jesse Kornbluth and Murray Bruce. We had made some documentaries together when I was working at Condé Nast, and we had a plan to create author videos (these were the days of videotapes, not even discs) that would run in Barnes & Noble bookstores. The idea was that if you learned more about an author, their inspiration and their backstories, you would want to read more of their work. These videos could be in every store across the country, not just the ones where authors would be doing events. Think how prescient we were!
We pitched the idea to the B&N corporate offices, and they asked us who would put the videotapes in, what color the TVs would be, and what would happen if the tape broke. Clearly, this was not going to be the right route to take.
Jesse heard that AOL was putting companies into businesses in what was called their Greenhouse area, where they would nurture small companies to create content. We put together a business plan and trekked down to their offices in Vienna, Virginia, to tell them about our idea. They jumped on board. We often muse that we are around because B&N said no and AOL said yes.
It took nine months from pitching the plan to launching. We had the message boards and chat rooms that AOL was known for, all of which were moderated. These hosts were spread around the country, and we were lucky enough to meet many of them in person in both Chicago and St. Louis in 1997 and 1998. We loved that this was not a coastal site, but rather was something that was available to readers “wherever they may be.”
We recruited a brilliant group of reviewers, who we appreciate for the breadth and depth of what they review each week. Many of them we found in the chat rooms where they were discussing the books they were interested in. Others found us, and some were brought in by existing reviewers.
Murray bowed out when he realized that broadband was years away; early broadband viewing was indeed a decade away. Jesse was recruited by AOL to become their Editorial Director in the spring of 1997, about nine months after we launched. I have so much gratitude for them for shepherding me into the next stage of my career. Sadly both Jesse and Murray have passed away.
To date, we have run more than 20,000 Bookreporter reviews and hundreds of author interviews. Through the years, we have added a dozen or so new features. Between 1997 and 2020, we created sites for kids, teens, twentysomethings, graphic novels and Christian books. But ultimately we decided to devote our time and energy to just two sites: Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides.
Celebrating this anniversary, I want to be sure to thank our brilliant Editorial Director, Tom Donadio, who has been with us for 24 of those 30 years. He came to us as an intern and quickly proved himself to be an editorial leader --- selecting books to be covered, pairing them with the right reviewers, and ensuring that every single review, article and feature, as well as all of our newsletters, are proofed and polished. Francesca Smith came to us in 2023 and has become another great work partner. As our Contest Coordinator and Social Media Manager, she ensures that the prize books get out to the winners --- and that our social media is both timely and polished. I am beyond lucky to have them sharing a vision for what we bring to you each week.
For humor, our launch was scheduled for August 26th. We had a launch party planned at the office that night, but someone at AOL forgot to flip the switch to turn the site on. So our launch date became August 27th. We literally could not make this up!
What's next? We are working on a complete redesign that we plan to launch early in 2027. Be assured that we are keeping the features that you have come to love, but we also are working on bringing some of the content that may not be readily seen more to the forefront. We will look for readers to beta test the new site when it is ready. Thanks to all of you for being readers. We so appreciate you.
Please note: If you wish to donate to our GoFundMe campaign as a way of supporting these expansion efforts, here’s the link. We would be grateful to you for contributions at any level. And if you already have contributed, thank you. I fear I am never up to date on thanking people.
Announcing TWO Upcoming
“Bookaccino Live” Book Group Events
Our fall is lining up to have a number of exciting events. We are happy to announce the wonderful author guests for our September and October “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events.
Lisa See will join us on Tuesday, September 29th at 8pm ET to discuss her latest novel, DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN AND MOON, which is an instant New York Times bestseller and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
The book tells the story of three Chinese women whose unexpected friendship helps them survive and, despite the odds, thrive in the turmoil of post–Civil War Los Angeles. Roberta O’Hara has this to say in her review: “As only she can do, See weaves together memorable characters and thorough research into gripping historical fiction that will leave you at once satisfied and wanting to know more at the end.”
I will talk to Lisa for a bit before handing it off to readers who would like 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), followed by audience questions. Click here to sign up.
If you would like to ask Lisa a question, all you have to do is fill out this form by Tuesday, September 29th at noon ET. Remember to include your name, city, state, email address and phone number, as well as your question. And indicate if you prefer to be on camera or off.
The following month, on Wednesday, October 28th at 8pm ET, Kathryn Stockett will talk about her most recent novel, THE CALAMITY CLUB, which is a #1 New York Times bestseller and a Bets On pick. Since the book is over 600 pages, we wanted to let you know about this event now so that those who haven’t read it will have plenty of time to do so.
This bighearted novel from the multimillion-copy-selling author of THE HELP is about a group of unbreakable women fighting for what’s rightfully theirs --- and the power of friendship to change everything. In her review, Pamela Kramer points this out to readers: “[D]on't let the book's heft keep you from reading it. You'll race through it. I did. You'll probably love it and think about it for weeks to come. I did.”
After I chat with Kathryn, we will give readers the chance to ask her a question on camera. Then we will turn to questions that have been dropped into Zoom’s Q&A feature. You can register for the event by clicking here.
For those who want to ask Kathryn a question, be sure to fill out this form by Wednesday, October 28th at noon ET. Please include your name, city, state, email address and phone number, as well as your question. And let us know if you would like to be on camera or off.
Join Us for Our September “Bookaccino Live”
Book Preview Afternoon Event on September 9th
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for September's “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event, which will take place on Wednesday, September 9th at 2pm ET.
The focus will be on titles releasing between September 8th and October 6th, along with a few from November, 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.
A Reminder to Sign Up for Our “Bookaccino Live”
Fall Preview Event on September 15th
As we announced in last week's newsletter, we will be hosting our “Bookaccino Live” Fall Preview event on Tuesday, September 15th at 8pm ET. Join us as I present books in a variety of genres --- fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction --- that we think you will enjoy reading this fall. Click here to sign up.
This week saw the release of BIG LITTLE TRUTHS, the highly anticipated sequel to Liane Moriarty’s BIG LITTLE LIES, which is Reese’s Book Club pick for September. Reese says, “All the characters are back: Celeste, Madeline, Jane, Bonnie and Renata. I can’t tell you how fun it is to go back down memory lane with these characters. Their kids are up to all kinds of crazy shenanigans, and these moms are just trying to survive.”
According to Eileen Zimmerman Nicol in her review, “Humanity’s foibles and follies are always prime fodder for Moriarty, and one of the joys of reading her work is chuckling along in recognition…. As Moriarty says in the foreword, it’s not necessary to have read BIG LITTLE LIES to appreciate BIG LITTLE TRUTHS. And you probably could wait for the third season of ‘Big Little Lies’, for which this delicious novel lays the groundwork. But you would miss out on some savory and highly enjoyable reading. The book is always better.”
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
BIG LITTLE TRUTHS is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes, along with THE BIRTHING TREE by Amanda Peters, which releases on Tuesday, September 1st. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both these titles. Please do so by Friday, September 11th at noon ET.
Linwood Barclay is back with his latest thriller, NOT A WORD, in which a man’s world is upended after he stumbles upon a grisly crime scene in the family home. The book is about the lies that families tell themselves, the secrets that outlive the people who kept them, and how far a man will go to protect the ones he loves.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “There aren’t many thriller authors out there whose novels leave such a deep impact on your psyche as Linwood Barclay. They range from twisty treats to those that completely pull the rug out from under you when you least expect it. His latest is in the former category. It is as twisting as a predatory snake in the grass.... NOT A WORD is exactly what we have come to expect from a Linwood Barclay thriller, and I am confident that his fans will be quite satisfied.”
On Wednesday night, Linwood talked about the book and his prolific career with Barbara Peters during a virtual event hosted by The Poisoned Pen Bookstore. Click here to watch their conversation.
We are featuring MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER in our New Release Spotlight. Releasing on Tuesday, September 1st, Hank Phillippi Ryan’s latest psychological thriller will be a Bets On pick.
Eliza Ramsey and her sister, Bea, are the only survivors of a plane crash that killed their parents. But now, on the 11th anniversary of this unspeakable tragedy, Bea doesn’t pick up her daughter, Piper, from a sleepover at Eliza’s. This is completely out of character for Bea, so Eliza fears the worst. But did Bea plan her own disappearance? Eliza realizes that she is the only one who can protect her niece from the horrifying legacy of her family’s sinister history. Together, they must prevent their lives from going up in flames once again.
Pamela Kramer has this to say in her review: “Ryan's masterful use of Eliza's first-person narrative ratchets up the tension as we feel her fear when mysterious notes appear, a shadowy figure moves the curtains in her apartment as she and Piper watch from below, and she doesn't know where to turn and where is safe…. This is a story that truly will keep you up late at night in your rush to find out the resolution. While you might guess some of it, I predict that few will figure out the entirety of this cleverly plotted, thrilling mystery.”
We will feature my interview with Hank in the September 11th newsletter, followed by my Bets On commentary in the September 18th edition.
Fall Reading Contest Update
We gave away MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER and NOT A WORD in this week’s Fall Reading contests. Our next giveaway will be up on Wednesday, September 9th at noon ET. The prize book will be THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman, a Bets On pick that is now available in paperback. If you missed my interview with Sharon from last year, you can watch the video here or listen to the podcast here.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE SHADOW FRIENDS: In this third installment of Tess Gerritsen’s Martini Club series, ghosts of the Cold War return with a vengeance --- and cannot be outrun.
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YOU KNOW WHY: J.T. Ellison’s latest domestic thriller is about identity, revenge, and the dangerous secrets kept hidden from the ones we love most.
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THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE: Two murdered girls. A town with dark secrets. A race to break a deadly cycle. That’s the intriguing premise of Sarah Pinborough’s latest novel.
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THE DISAPPEARERS: Marlon James’ new novel, which has been longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize and releases on September 1st, is about the murder of a gay man in 1980s Jamaica and its tragic consequences.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On pick is William Kent Krueger’s new Cork O’Connor mystery, GOD’S COUNTRY, a New Release Spotlight title that we reviewed last week. Click here for my commentary.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
In honor of our 30th anniversary, our poll continues to ask how long you’ve been a Bookreporter reader. Let us know here by Friday, September 11th at noon ET.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Lisa, who was a winner of DISTANT SHORES by Kristin Hannah in our Summer Reading contest, wrote, “Thank you so much! It is part of a relaxing weekend." She also shared the photo that you see above.
A second Lisa wrote, “I was so surprised and excited when I received the book I won in the 'Bookaccino Live' contest! I just want to say thank you and tell you how much I enjoy 'Bookaccino Live' and look forward to the release previews and the author interviews. It is always fun, and I learn so much! I enjoy engaging live with other book lovers. Thank you so much, and I really am looking forward to reading this one!”
Pam wrote, “That is wonderful news, thank you so much!" after winning GOD’S COUNTRY by William Kent Krueger and UNDER THE FALLS by Richard Russo in our Word of Mouth contest.
Ann wrote about winning THE UNSTOPPABLES by David Biro in our Fall Reading contest: “This is so thrilling for me! Thank you!”
Margie wrote, “I love the newsletters. Are the past issues archived? If so, how can I read them? Thank you!” You can find past newsletters on the right-hand side of these pages: Bookreporter Weekly Update, Bookreporter “On Sale This Week” and Reading Group Guides.
Dolly Parton: It was a week to think pink to honor Dolly Parton, a brilliant light in the music and entertainment world. In 1994, she published her memoir, DOLLY: My Life and Other Unfinished Business, which was a New York Times bestseller. So many colleagues in the business wrote on social media about working with her on the book --- editing her, working behind the scenes, touring with her, and all else that is part of the launching of a book.
In 1995, Dolly established Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a philanthropic endeavor. To date, more than 200 million books have been distributed to babies and young children. Look at that number --- 200 million! DOLLY: A True Original Musical will open on Broadway on January 19, 2027, which would have been her 81st birthday. Dolly is gone way, way too soon, but what a legacy she left behind. We need more positive people like her who see something that needs to be done --- and finds a solution.
Jennifer Hillier: I watched Jennifer Hillier at a Poisoned Pen event on Wednesday night where she was in conversation with her editor, Keith Kahla, about her latest thriller, HEART OF GLASS. Click here to watch the interview. We will feature our review of the book in the September 11th newsletter.
Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing on Netflix: I found this to be a really interesting documentary.
Blueberry Corn Muffin Recipe. Last week, a number of you asked me for my recipe for Blueberry Corn Muffins. Well, this is something that I have made up. I use Jiffy Corn Muffin mix and add the egg and milk that they recommend. I then take either a cooked ear of corn, or a small can of corn, and â…“ to ½ cup of fresh blueberries. I add milk if it looks too thick. Then I pour it into a greased muffin pan. They were a bit too moist as the blueberries were really ripe. I am working on another batch this weekend!
We are taking next week off, which we do annually the week before Labor Day to give us time to recharge. My plan is to read in the pool, beside the pool, in the gazebo, in the hammock, on the couch and in bed. Fall is going to be filled with some brilliant offerings, and I am looking forward to those, but I also will play catch-up with some titles that I have missed. Above you can see the pile that I have lined up to select from. No, I will not read them all. When we return in September, I will turn those covers around and share the ones that I have read.
Thank you again for reading. Happy Labor Day!
Read on, and have a great TWO weeks. We will see you in September.
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!
Featured Review: BIG LITTLE TRUTHS by Liane Moriarty
Reese’s Book Club Pick for September
BIG LITTLE TRUTHS by Liane Moriarty (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Caroline Lee and Ella Le Fournour
The last time we saw the women of BIG LITTLE LIES, their children were five years old. Now they’re teenagers. When the high school principal receives a threatening package in the mail, word quickly spreads throughout the community. But Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata and Bonnie have other things to worry about. Celeste’s mother-in-law is behaving oddly. Madeline is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of her life. Jane is at a dangerous fork in her marriage. Bonnie has realized there’s only so much solace in yoga. And Renata is living her best life --- revenge is sweet. When a stranger begins lurking around the school asking supposedly innocent questions, this tightly connected group of women finally must face the full repercussions of the big little truths they have and haven’t shared with their kids. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to see why the book is Reese's Book Club pick for September.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: NOT A WORD by Linwood Barclay
NOT A WORD by Linwood Barclay (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Nan McNamara and Johnathan McClain
When Reece visits his parents’ house, he’s shocked to find them in bed, dead. At first glance it looks like a murder-suicide perpetrated by his father, but on closer inspection there’s clearly more to the story. For starters, inconsistencies in the crime scene suggest his dad may not have shot himself. As Reece, shaken by his horrifying discovery, awaits questioning from the police, his phone lights up with a call. It’s the last person he ever would have expected to hear from. Reeling from the day’s events, Reece finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about his parents --- and whether he and his own family are in danger now. While the authorities work to untangle the baffling crime scene, Reece is pulled into a web of secrets linked to the unscrupulous pharma company his father worked for years ago. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to visit Linwood Barclay's website.
Click here to read our review.
New Release Spotlight & Featured Review:
MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER
by Hank Phillippi Ryan
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
On Sale September 1st
MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available on September 1st, read by Stevi Incremona​
The sole survivors of the fiery plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her sister, Bea, share an unbreakable bond. But now, on the 11th anniversary of the tragedy, Bea fails to retrieve her preteen daughter from a sleepover at Eliza’s.
Eliza knows her sister would never leave her precious Piper behind, and she fears the worst. But did Bea plan her own disappearance?
The Ramseys’ lives have already crashed and burned once. Now, Eliza discovers she's the only one who can protect her niece from the horrifying legacy of her family’s sinister history. Together, the two must prevent their lives from going up in flames once again.
A missing mother. Her frightened daughter. And a sister on a desperate search for a happy ending. But someone knows the deadly key to their shared past and won’t stop until they’ve written a devastating final chapter. Mother, daughter, sister --- stranger.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Hank Phillippi Ryan's bio.
- Click here to visit Hank Phillippi Ryan's website.
- Click here to see Hank Phillippi Ryan's book tour schedule.
- Click here to connect with Hank Phillippi Ryan on Instagram.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER will be a Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's interview with Hank Phillippi Ryan in the September 11th newsletter, followed by her commentary in the September 18th newsletter.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
GOD’S COUNTRY by William Kent Krueger
A New Release Spotlight Title
GOD'S COUNTRY by William Kent Krueger (Mystery)
When I read one of William Kent Krueger's Cork O’Connor books, I journey back to Minnesota and Cork’s universe. His writing makes me dash aside the day-to-day of my life, and I drop into what is a brilliantly built world with a set of characters I want to revisit to see how they are, what they have been up to, and what their next life adventure will be.
In GOD’S COUNTRY, we find Cork and the male members of his family on a canoe trip into the Boundary Waters. This place is spiritual to Cork, and as a reader who takes journeys with him into this space vicariously, its grandeur and beauty spill off the page. For those who are not familiar with this area, it's the over one million acres of forests, lakes and streams between Northern Minnesota and Ontario. In Kent's hands, you feel like you are there. I, who never see myself portaging a canoe or camping in a forest, love reading about this special part of the world.
- Click here to read the book description.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read William Kent Krueger's bio.
- Click here to visit William Kent Krueger's website.
- Click here to see William Kent Krueger's book tour schedule.
- Connect with William Kent Krueger on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Featured Review:
THE SHADOW FRIENDS by Tess Gerritsen
THE SHADOW FRIENDS by Tess Gerritsen (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
When a renowned disease expert and Russian defector dies mysteriously during a global affairs conference in Purity, Maine, the tight-knit band of former spies in the Martini Club once again sees their quiet coastal retirement interrupted by international intrigue. And when a waitress at the conference hotel is found murdered, Ingrid Slocum sees chilling links to a disastrous mission that nearly killed her three decades ago. Desperate to uncover the truth, Ingrid is drawn back into the game by a magnetic ex-CIA colleague --- and former lover --- who was with her on the long-ago doomed mission. He convinces her to join him, and together they head to Amsterdam to track down her would-be killer. But a clandestine network of assassins is intent on stopping them. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: YOU KNOW WHY by J.T. Ellison
YOU KNOW WHY by J.T. Ellison (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Brittany Pressley, Samara Naeymi, MacLeod Andrews, Saskia Maarleveld and Hillary Huber
It’s the holidays, and photographer Brooklyn Locke is bound for Italy with her husband, Trey, and their two children. But when Trey vanishes from the airport, missing their connecting flight, their impromptu vacation --- and life as she knows it --- begins to unravel. Desperate to find her husband, Brooklyn accepts help from a stranger on the same flight, Eden Barrow. But Eden soon makes a shocking claim. She is the sister of Trey’s first wife, and 10 years ago he was the main suspect in her murder. Struggling to comprehend these accusations, fate delivers one more blow: a violent accident that leaves Brooklyn fighting for her life. With nowhere else to turn, Brooklyn leans on Eden for support. But each kindness feels too rehearsed, feeding her doubts about Eden’s motives and Trey’s true past. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE by Sarah Pinborough
THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE by Sarah Pinborough (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
Anna Maybourne never imagined herself living in a place like Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town full of dusty farmland plagued by drought. It’s supposed to be a new start for her and her family. But after dropping out of college, Anna feels stuck in place --- working a part-time job, watching her little sister grow up, and taking care of her grandmother with dementia. It seems that the only interesting thing about her new town is the string of grisly murders attributed to a killer called the Farmhandman. Along with outspoken loner Melissa Laverne and handsome deputy Todd Greenbough, Anna fills her hours with the town’s darkest curiosity. But even though the prime suspect is long dead, the Farmhandman murders begin to feel too close for comfort as the anniversary nears. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE DISAPPEARERS by Marlon James
On Sale September 1st
THE DISAPPEARERS by Marlon James (Fiction)
In 1988, eight men in Kingston, Jamaica, begin rehearsals for a play. Though strangers to one another, they share an inescapable truth: All of them are gay. And they live in a world that refuses to accept them. One night, the men are savagely beaten, and one of them is killed. As their bodies heal, the survivors begin to face the hatred and contempt that the violence laid bare. Some try to ignore what happened. Others double down on retribution. Some disappear completely. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- 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 contest will be up on Wednesday, September 9th at noon ET. The prize book will be THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick that is now available in paperback.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
DÈY by Edwidge Danticat (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Melinda Sewak
“Is home the place where we are born? Or is it the place where we die?” These questions haunt Magnolia, a successful Haitian American real estate agent in Miami. When she hears gunfire while at a shopping mall, she takes shelter in a nearby restaurant. Once she’s safely home, Magnolia keeps this traumatic event from everyone. But given her life back, she begins to see everything clearly: her extraordinary bond with her daughter, Zoë; her nearly broken relationship with Zoë’s father; the challenges of her mentally troubled mother; and her father’s affair with a woman who has borne him a child. While struggling through the labyrinth of her past, Magnolia also must come to terms with the losses sustained that life-altering day, and nearly every day by her parents and sibling in Haiti. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE OPPOSITE OF MURDER by Sophie Hannah (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Gabrielle Glaister
Jemma Stelling walks into a police station and confesses --- not to a murder she's committed, but to the one she's terrified she might. Jemma can't stop herself from thinking about murdering her stepmother, Marianne Upton. The only way to stop herself might be to confess before she snaps and does the unthinkable. But while Jemma is still giving her statement, a call comes in: Marianne has just been found stabbed to death, killed in exactly the way Jemma described. Suddenly, the woman desperate to prevent a murder has an unshakeable alibi…and a disturbingly accurate description of the crime she couldn't have committed. Is Jemma an innocent bystander? Or a brilliant, cold-blooded killer who planned everything down to the minute? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE EVEREST MYSTERY: Sandy Irvine, George Mallory, and the Truth Still Buried on Everest by Julie Summers and Jochen Hemmleb (History)
Audiobook available, read by Julie Summers
There is no mystery more compelling in the history of mountaineering than the disappearance of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine close to the summit of Mount Everest on June 8, 1924. Over 100 years after they were last seen “going strong for the top,” the question of exactly what happened to them on that fateful day has not been answered. George Mallory’s frozen remains were discovered in 1999. But in September 2024, a climber found an old boot lying out in the open on the Central Rongbuk Glacier on Mount Everest. It contained a foot, and a sock bearing a nametape spelled out in red: A.C. IRVINE. Did Mallory and Irvine reach the summit, or did they perish while ascending? What happened to the camera that Irvine may have carried, which would have documented their climb? Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
EMPIRE OF ASHES: Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent into Total War by James M. Scott (History)
Audiobook available, read by Jonathan Yen
At 9:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, an American bomber pierced the skies over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The single bomb it dropped unleashed an atomic hurricane that toppled homes, vaporized birds in flight, and carbonized humans. Three days later, a second bomb flattened the port city of Nagasaki. In the span of a mere 75 hours, the United States --- a nation once morally opposed to the bombing of civilians --- killed 120,000 men, women and children, dooming tens of thousands more to agonizing death in the weeks and months ahead. EMPIRE OF ASHES explores the final brutal months of the war in the Pacific, featuring the voices of never-before-heard victims of the atomic bombs. Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro.
THE CALAMITIES by Chuck Wendig (Dark Urban Fantasy/Horror)
Audiobook available; read by Dani Martineck, Nicole Cash, MacLeod Andrews and Xe Sands
Mourning Mayne knows he’ll one day bear the duty of managing his family’s vast empire of wealth and power. But the feckless Mourning has always struggled to accept this legacy of cruelty, domination and exploitation…and something even darker. Because the Maynes are no ordinary family. Hidden in our world are the fiends --- half-human, half-demon, and possessed of a dark magic born from buying human souls --- and the Maynes are one of the oldest and most influential fiendish families. But when Mourning’s estranged father, the formidable and terrifying Hadrian Mayne, demands that Mourning return to the fold, he has to decide whether to accept his legacy and embrace his role in the family or to forge his own destiny…and, with it, change the course of the world. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
PLANT LADY written by Minyoung Kang, translated by Shanna Tan (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Jennifer J. Kim
Tucked away in the corner of a neighborhood in Dosan, South Korea, is the Plant Shop. Shop owner Yoohee has started anew, and her meticulously grown foliage thrives under her tender care. By day, Yoohee dispenses advice on gardening, but she also finds herself offering a special service off the clock. Women who are at their wits’ end come to her about a man they hope might disappear from their lives. So as night falls, Yoohee trades her apron for a shovel and a hoe and disappears into her moonlit garden. There, she buries not just the remains of the day, but also the bloody remnants of a few unfortunate encounters. As men begin to disappear, will anyone ever suspect the Plant Lady? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE by Camille Acker (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Emma Ladji
Nina Johnson has always taken pride in belonging to The Tenth. Her great-great-grandmother founded the prestigious DC society --- a space for influential African Americans --- just 40 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Nina has been elected to helm the organization, but she is determined to escape the influence of her mother and forge her own path. To realize her ambitions, Nina needs funding. So when a wealthy white benefactor named Sienna Masters offers financial support in exchange for her participation in a mysterious project at a former public housing complex, The Orchard, Nina ignores her initial skepticism and agrees to a partnership. But as Nina and those closest to her piece together Sienna's true motives, they discover far more sinister forces at play. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
STRIP RULES by Martin Limón (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Jonathan Todd Ross
Blackjack pro Ronnie “the Technician” Redfield has his life blown up when a casino owner decides to take him down. Card counting isn’t illegal, but the court battle costs Ronnie his livelihood, his sobriety and his family. His wife is dead, and his teenage daughter, Margot, has disappeared. Now, three years later, he’s just about dug himself out of his hole when his old army buddy, “Wild” Bill Grimsley --- now a casino handler for high rollers --- shows up to drag Ronnie back into the action. Bill has a revenge plot to take down Rodrigo Gwynne, the nastiest, most exploitative casino owner on the Strip. All Ronnie has to do is what he does best: make money off the house. If he succeeds, his share of the take will be enough to get his life back on track --- and hire a detective to track down Margot. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
Noteworthy Books Releasing on
September 1st and September 8th
Below are some notable titles releasing on September 1st and September 8th 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 August 31st, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here. You can see a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks releasing the week of September 7th in the September 1st “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
September 1st
AGRIPPA: A Novel of Ancient Rome's Descent into Dictatorship by Robert Harris (Historical Thriller)
From the #1 internationally bestselling author of CONCLAVE and DICTATOR comes a gripping tale of ancient Rome’s descent into dictatorship.
THE BIRTHING TREE by Amanda Peters (Fiction)
From the bestselling author of THE BERRY PICKERS comes an unforgettable novel about a woman who must confront her family’s buried truths and memories of passionate young love when her grandmother’s death leaves her as the only guide to her community’s future.
THE DISAPPEARERS by Marlon James (Fiction)
From Marlon James, author of the Booker Prize–winning A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEVEN KILLINGS, comes a propulsive novel about the murder of a gay man in 1980s Jamaica and its tragic consequences.
THE MOST DANGEROUS GAMES by MrBeast and James Patterson
(Thriller/Adventure)
A thousand strangers receive the invitation. One hundred make the cut. An unprecedented competition from MrBeast, the world's #1 creator with more than a billion followers, and James Patterson, the world's #1 bestselling author, where the stakes couldn’t be higher.
MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
What if your own family history turns out to be a terrifying lie? Every family has its story, and this one is deadly. Two sisters. One secret. And a race against time to find the explosive truth in this twisty and captivating thriller by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.
PAPER GHOSTS by Sarah Addison Allen (Fiction/Magical Realism)
Part ghost story, part love story and steeped in magical realism, PAPER GHOSTS will transport you to a place where old secrets echo through the years and love finds a way of bringing us home.
THE SILENT APPEAL by Janice Hallett (Mystery)
In this follow-up to Janice Hallett's blockbuster novel, THE APPEAL, the Fairway Players find themselves embroiled in murder, blackmail and betrayal as they mount their latest theatrical production.
UNDER STORY by Chloe Benjamin (Fiction)
The New York Times bestselling author of THE IMMORTALISTS returns with an intimate yet epic love story --- and a sweeping odyssey of scientific discovery.
September 8th
FURY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery/Thriller)
In this new crime thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author J. D. Robb, NYSPD Lieutenant Eve Dallas journeys into the darkness where murder is born.
MASSIF by Garth Nix (Science Fiction/Space Opera)
From New York Times bestselling author and master of speculative fiction Garth Nix comes his first foray into adult science fiction with a brilliant and poignant stand-alone story of sentient starships, galactic warfare, and the bonds a crew forms far, far from Earth.
NO SONG FOR THE DEAD: A Department Q Novel by Jussi Adler-Olsen, Stine Bolther and Line Holm (Mystery/Thriller)
Jussi Adler-Olsen’s New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling Department Q series continues, introducing an intriguing new member to the Department Q team.
PICTURES OF YOU by Josh Malerman (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
A woman becomes the unknowing subject of an artist’s dangerous work in this intense Hitchcockian thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE.
THE PIRATE QUEEN by Ariel Lawhon (Historical Thriller/Adventure)
THE PIRATE QUEEN is a sweeping historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O’Malley, the legendary Irish folk heroine who risked everything to defend her people.
PLOT TWIST: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft: A Memoir on Writing Harlan Coben (Memoir)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben offers a look behind the curtain at his own writing process in an inspiring, candid memoir filled with indispensable insights and techniques.
QUEENIE IS WORKING ON IT by Candice Carty-Williams (Fiction)
Candice Carty-Williams, the internationally bestselling author of QUEENIE (now a television series on Hulu), reunites us with the iconic character nearly 10 years on, facing new chaotic choices in life and love with cherished old friends and family.
SWITZY by Emma Cline (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE GIRLS and THE GUEST comes a mesmerizing portrait of an aging man’s last pilgrimage.
TAIPEI STORY by R. F. Kuang (Fiction)
This wryly humorous and profoundly moving coming-of-age novel grapples with grief, language and culture shock --- all set against the backdrop of an unforgettable summer in Taipei.
TEN PERFECT GUESTS by Jonathan Santlofer (Psychological Thriller)
When celebrated and enigmatic artist Victor D’Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, his nearest and dearest receive an irresistible summons: attend his weekend memorial --- or forfeit their inheritance. But once they arrive, the paradise begins to feel more like a prison.
THE WITCHES OF CAMBRIDGE by Alice Hoffman (Historical Fiction)
This brand-new series from the bestselling author of PRACTICAL MAGIC follows two brilliant young women in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, as they become immersed in a mysterious secret group of witches at Radcliffe known as the Lilith Society.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Hank Phillippi Ryan, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Janice Hallett
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.
Tuesday, September 1st at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Janice Hallett will talk about her latest mystery, THE SILENT APPEAL, in which the Fairway Players put on Agatha Christie’s play, The Hollow, and find themselves embroiled in murder, blackmail and betrayal once again.
Tuesday, September 1st at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Charlie Donlea about his most recent thriller, GUESS AGAIN, which is now available in a deluxe paperback with stenciled edges and designed inside covers.
Thursday, September 3rd at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: J.T. Ellison and Jennifer Herrera will talk about their latest novels. J.T.'s YOU KNOW WHY is about identity, revenge, and the dangerous secrets kept hidden from the ones we love most. Jennifer's SIREN SAYS is about a tenacious young woman who must harness her family’s dangerous magic to put a stop to the sacrifices they’ve been making for more than a century.
Tuesday, September 8th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Eriq La Salle about LAWS OF SOLOMON, the fourth entry in his Martyr Maker series. The book can be read as a stand-alone novel, making it the perfect entry point for readers new to La Salle's writing.
Wednesday, September 9th at 2pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Preview Afternoon Event: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between September 8th and October 6th, along with a few from November, that we would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, September 9th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with F&F's own Kristy Woodson Harvey about her latest novel, FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF. Peachtree Bluff is a cozy coastal town where family secrets refuse to be washed away by the tide, and close-knit community is everything.
Friday, September 11th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Hank Phillippi Ryan will talk about her new thriller, MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER. What if your own family history turns out to be a terrifying lie? Every family has its story, and this one is deadly. Two sisters. One secret. And a race against time to find the explosive truth.
"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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Hank Phillippi Ryan (MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
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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 August 21st to September 11th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BIG LITTLE TRUTHS by Liane Moriarty and THE BIRTHING TREE by Amanda Peters.
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.
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