Editorial Content for Little Heaven
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
The prologue of LITTLE HEAVEN is set in 1980 and depicts an ancient evil that has been dormant and now sleeps no more. The description of this evil entity is somewhere between "The Blob" and John Carpenter's creature in The Thing. The massive body of the creature is made up of figures with features from your darkest nightmare as well as random pieces of forest and countryside. Read More
Teaser
A trio of mismatched mercenaries is hired by a young woman for a deceptively simple task: check in on her nephew, who may have been taken against his will to a remote New Mexico backwoods settlement called Little Heaven. Shortly after they arrive, things begin to turn ominous. Stirrings in the woods and over the treetops --- the brooding shape of a monolith known as the Black Rock casts its terrible pall. Paranoia and distrust grip the settlement. The escape routes are gradually cut off as events spiral towards madness. The remaining occupants are forced to take a stand and fight back, but whatever has cast its dark eye on Little Heaven is now marshaling its powers...and it wants them all.
Promo
A trio of mismatched mercenaries is hired by a young woman for a deceptively simple task: check in on her nephew, who may have been taken against his will to a remote New Mexico backwoods settlement called Little Heaven. Shortly after they arrive, things begin to turn ominous. Stirrings in the woods and over the treetops --- the brooding shape of a monolith known as the Black Rock casts its terrible pall. Paranoia and distrust grip the settlement. The escape routes are gradually cut off as events spiral towards madness. The remaining occupants are forced to take a stand and fight back, but whatever has cast its dark eye on Little Heaven is now marshaling its powers...and it wants them all.
About the Book
An all-new epic tale of terror and redemption set in the hinterlands of mid-century New Mexico from the acclaimed author of THE TROOP --- which Stephen King raved “scared the hell out of me and I couldn’t put it down...old-school horror at its best.”
From electrifying horror author Nick Cutter comes a haunting new novel, reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy's BLOOD MERIDIAN and Stephen King’s IT, in which a trio of mismatched mercenaries is hired by a young woman for a deceptively simple task: check in on her nephew, who may have been taken against his will to a remote New Mexico backwoods settlement called Little Heaven. Shortly after they arrive, things begin to turn ominous. Stirrings in the woods and over the treetops --- the brooding shape of a monolith known as the Black Rock casts its terrible pall. Paranoia and distrust grips the settlement. The escape routes are gradually cut off as events spiral towards madness. Hell --- or the closest thing to it --- invades Little Heaven.
The remaining occupants are forced to take a stand and fight back, but whatever has cast its dark eye on Little Heaven is now marshaling its powers...and it wants them all.
Audiobook available, read by Corey Brill
Editorial Content for The Midnight Cool
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Young horse trader Charles McLaughlin spends nearly all of the money that he and his partner, Billy Monday, made in a summer of slow trading on a magnificent black thoroughbred mare. The owner, Leland Hatcher, the richest and most powerful man in Richfield, Tennessee, drove a hard bargain, but Charles pays top dollar for “the prettiest horse ever drew breath.” When he tries to catch the skittish filly to load onto the trailer, she attacks him, teeth bared and hooves flying. Charles realizes that he has been swindled; she is a man killer, but is now his problem. Read More
Teaser
A middle-aged Irish immigrant, Billy has a gift for illusion --- making damaged objects look new. His companion, Charles, the smooth-tongued teenage son of a prostitute, is a natural salesman, just like the mythical father he’s never met. Longtime horse traders and partners, they’ve recently turned their talents to trading mules. But in the summer of 1916, these seasoned grifters skilled in the art of the underhanded deal have just been swindled themselves. They’re saddled with the one thing they may not be able to unload: a gorgeous, murderous black mare named The Midnight Cool.
Promo
A middle-aged Irish immigrant, Billy has a gift for illusion --- making damaged objects look new. His companion, Charles, the smooth-tongued teenage son of a prostitute, is a natural salesman, just like the mythical father he’s never met. Longtime horse traders and partners, they’ve recently turned their talents to trading mules. But in the summer of 1916, these seasoned grifters skilled in the art of the underhanded deal have just been swindled themselves. They’re saddled with the one thing they may not be able to unload: a gorgeous, murderous black mare named The Midnight Cool.
About the Book
The Whiting Award-winning author of the story collection REASONS FOR AND ADVANTAGES OF BREATHING delivers her enchanting debut novel, set in 1916 Tennessee: a rich and rewarding tale of two flawed yet endearing grifters who pursue women, wealth and a surprisingly valuable commodity for the troops in Europe --- mules.
A middle-aged Irish immigrant, Billy has a gift for illusion --- making damaged objects look new. His companion, Charles, the smooth-tongued teenage son of a prostitute, is a natural salesman, just like the mythical father he’s never met. Longtime horse traders and partners, they’ve recently turned their talents to trading mules. But in the summer of 1916, these seasoned grifters skilled in the art of the underhanded deal have just been swindled themselves. They’re saddled with the one thing they may not be able to unload: a gorgeous, murderous black mare named The Midnight Cool.
Charles should have listened to Catherine, the beautiful, rebellious daughter of Leland Hatcher, the richest man in Richfield, Tennessee, and the former owner of The Midnight Cool. The horse would be worth a fortune --- if she weren’t a verified man-killer who attacks on sight. Charles and Billy are rooted in this muggy town until they can miraculously retrain their recalcitrant mare, and in the shadow of the growing inevitability of war, their bond begins to fray. Falling in love with Catherine --- and under the spell of the deceitful, wealthy Leland, the vision of himself he’d like to be --- Charles pulls away from the older man.
Despite their growing distance, Billy and Charles find their business thriving when the war in Europe pushes the demand for mules sky-high and the United States enters the fight. But when a trade goes terribly wrong, Charles is forced to reevaluate his allegiance to his country, the moral implications of his lifestyle, his relationship with Catherine and, ultimately, his mysterious and surprisingly deep connection to Billy.
Populated by spirited, memorable characters, THE MIDNIGHT COOL is a startlingly profound tale of aspiration, loyalty and love --- and the eternal search for something lasting in a transitory world.
Audiobook available, performed by Don Hagen
Editorial Content for Doctorow: Collected Stories
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
The great American novelist E. L. Doctorow has never been particularly noted for his short fiction, and this posthumous collection is unlikely to change that. It is somewhat of a redundant book --- it was anticipated six years ago by another retrospective collection of the writer’s shorter works entitled ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD. Of the 15 stories presented here, 12 were included in that earlier volume. And what has been added? Two pieces from Doctorow’s 2004 collection, SWEET LAND STORIES, and one from the early book LIVES OF THE POETS. Read More
Teaser
These 15 stories, written from the 1960s to the early 21st century --- and selected, revised and placed in order by the author himself shortly before he died in 2015 --- are a testament to the genius of E. L. Doctorow. In “A House on the Plains,” a mother has a plan for financial independence, which may include murder. “Jolene: A Life” follows a teenager who escapes her home for Hollywood on a perilous quest for success. “Heist,” the account of an Episcopal priest coping with a crisis of faith, was expanded into the bestseller CITY OF GOD. “The Water Works,” about the underbelly of 1870s New York, grew into a brilliant novel. “Liner Notes: The Songs of Billy Bathgate” is a corollary to the renowned novel and includes Doctorow’s revisions.
Promo
These 15 stories, written from the 1960s to the early 21st century --- and selected, revised and placed in order by the author himself shortly before he died in 2015 --- are a testament to the genius of E. L. Doctorow. In “A House on the Plains,” a mother has a plan for financial independence, which may include murder. “Jolene: A Life” follows a teenager who escapes her home for Hollywood on a perilous quest for success. “Heist,” the account of an Episcopal priest coping with a crisis of faith, was expanded into the bestseller CITY OF GOD. “The Water Works,” about the underbelly of 1870s New York, grew into a brilliant novel. “Liner Notes: The Songs of Billy Bathgate” is a corollary to the renowned novel and includes Doctorow’s revisions.
About the Book
A superb collection of 15 stories by an American master, E. L. Doctorow --- the author of RAGTIME, THE MARCH, THE BOOK OF DANIEL and BILLY BATHGATE.
He has been called “a national treasure” by George Saunders. Doctorow’s great topic, said Don DeLillo, is “the reach of American possibility, in which plain lives take on the cadences of history.” This power is apparent everywhere in these stories: the bravery and self-delusion of people seeking the American dream; the geniuses, mystics, and charlatans who offer people false hope, or an actual glimpse of greatness.
In “A House on the Plains,” a mother has a plan for financial independence, which may include murder. In “Walter John Harmon,” a man starts a cult using subterfuge and seduction. “Jolene: A Life” follows a teenager who escapes her home for Hollywood on a perilous quest for success. “Heist,” the account of an Episcopal priest coping with a crisis of faith, was expanded into the bestseller City of God. “The Water Works,” about the underbelly of 1870s New York, grew into a brilliant novel. “Liner Notes: The Songs of Billy Bathgate” is a corollary to the renowned novel and includes Doctorow’s revisions.
These 15 stories, written from the 1960s to the early 21st century, and selected, revised and placed in order by the author himself shortly before he died in 2015, are a testament to the genius of E. L. Doctorow.
Audiobook available; read by John Rubinstein, Jesse Bernstein and Joshua Swanson
Editorial Content for Big Law
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Decades ago, during a conference I attended at The National Judicial College, a discussion took place regarding the merits of the genre known as courtroom fiction. After expressing my concern that many legal-themed novels had little basis in fact, one of my judicial colleagues reminded me that what we were discussing was fiction. “In fiction,” he observed, “plot trumps everything.” So it does. Read More
Teaser
As a young partner at Dunn & Sullivan, one of New York’s most prestigious law firms, Carney Blake has represented dozens of high-profile clients. But being a pawn of Big Law often means defending the corporate dirt bags of the world --- the spillers, the drillers and the killers. When Carney is suddenly asked by his firm’s chairman to represent the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit --- and not, as usual, the corporate bad guys --- he warily accepts. As Carney digs deeper into the case, he uncovers corruption and maliciously orchestrated schemes that go straight to the top of Dunn & Sullivan --- along with the true motives behind his placement on the case.
Promo
As a young partner at Dunn & Sullivan, one of New York’s most prestigious law firms, Carney Blake has represented dozens of high-profile clients. But being a pawn of Big Law often means defending the corporate dirt bags of the world --- the spillers, the drillers and the killers. When Carney is suddenly asked by his firm’s chairman to represent the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit --- and not, as usual, the corporate bad guys --- he warily accepts. As Carney digs deeper into the case, he uncovers corruption and maliciously orchestrated schemes that go straight to the top of Dunn & Sullivan --- along with the true motives behind his placement on the case.
About the Book
As a young partner at Dunn & Sullivan, one of New York's most prestigious law firms, Carney Blake has represented dozens of high-profile clients. But being a pawn of Big Law often means defending the corporate dirt bags of the world --- the spillers, the drillers and the killers. Morality aside, Carney is starting to make a name for himself, despite having a father who resents his success and an unpredictable big brother bent on self-destruction.
So when Carney is suddenly asked by his firm's chairman to represent the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit --- and not, as usual, the corporate bad guys --- he warily accepts. Maybe they're turning a corner, he thinks. And even if they aren't, when else has a junior partner been assigned such a major case, with a possible billion dollar payout?
But Carney can't fool himself for very long. As he digs deeper into the case, he uncovers corruption and maliciously orchestrated schemes that go straight to the top of Dunn & Sullivan --- along with the true motives behind his placement on the case. Written by former top litigator Ron Liebman, BIG LAW is a thrilling, fast-paced roman à clef that exposes the secrecy, deception and machinations underlining America’s most powerful mega-firms.
Audiobook available, read by L. J. Ganser
Editorial Content for The Last Good Heist: The Inside Story of The Biggest Single Payday in the Criminal History of the Northeast
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Rhode Island may be America’s smallest state, but organized crime in the Ocean State has a well-deserved yet underappreciated reputation for thinking big. In THE LAST GOOD HEIST, the exhaustively researched true-crime work by veteran Providence journalists Tim White, Randall Richard and Wayne Worcester, readers get an object lesson in how the Rhode Island mafia became unthinkably profitable without drawing anywhere near the national attention of the New York and Chicago mobs: boundless ambition masked by a humble façade. Read More
Teaser
On August 14, 1975, eight daring thieves ransacked 148 massive safe-deposit boxes at a secret bank used by organized crime, La Cosa Nostra, and its associates in Providence, Rhode Island. The crooks fled with duffel bags crammed full of cash, gold, silver, stamps, coins, jewels and high-end jewelry. The true value of the loot has always been kept secret, partly because it was ill-gotten to begin with, and partly because there was plenty of incentive to keep its true worth out of the limelight. The heist was bold enough and big enough to rock the underworld to its core, and it left La Cosa Nostra in the region awash in turmoil. THE LAST GOOD HEIST is the inside story of the robbery and its aftermath.
Promo
On August 14, 1975, eight daring thieves ransacked 148 massive safe-deposit boxes at a secret bank used by organized crime, La Cosa Nostra, and its associates in Providence, Rhode Island. The crooks fled with duffel bags crammed full of cash, gold, silver, stamps, coins, jewels and high-end jewelry. The true value of the loot has always been kept secret, partly because it was ill-gotten to begin with, and partly because there was plenty of incentive to keep its true worth out of the limelight. The heist was bold enough and big enough to rock the underworld to its core, and it left La Cosa Nostra in the region awash in turmoil. THE LAST GOOD HEIST is the inside story of the robbery and its aftermath.
About the Book
On August 14, 1975, eight daring thieves ransacked 148 massive safe-deposit boxes at a secret bank used by organized crime, La Cosa Nostra, and its associates in Providence, Rhode Island. The crooks fled with duffel bags crammed full of cash, gold, silver, stamps, coins, jewels and high-end jewelry. The true value of the loot has always been kept secret, partly because it was ill-gotten to begin with, and partly because there was plenty of incentive to keep its true worth out of the limelight. It's one thing for authorities to admit that they didn't find a trace of goods estimated to be worth between $3 million and $4 million, and entirely another when what was at stake was more accurately valued at about $30 million, the equivalent of $120 million today.
It was the biggest single payday in the criminal history of the Northeast. Nobody came close, not the infamous James "Whitey" Bulger, not John "The Dapper Don" Gotti, not even the Brinks or Wells Fargo robbers. The heist was bold enough and big enough to rock the underworld to its core, and it left La Cosa Nostra in the region awash in turmoil. THE LAST GOOD HEIST is the inside story of the robbery and its aftermath.
Audiobook available, read by Eric Martin
George Fisher
When you aim for perfection, you discover it's a moving target.
Attribution
Early January 2017
Happy New Year! Ah, it feels like we haven’t spoken since last year (I’m sorry, I had to). As we ring in 2017, this newsletter arrives using our new newsletter platform. We’ve tried our best to keep everything as close to the old style as possible, but don’t be surprised if you see changes in the months ahead. Reading on your phone? Our newsletters are now mobile-friendly, so you can catch up on all the latest bookish news between Snapchatting and discovering new and creative uses for Emojis.
Allan Frome
Being grandparents sufficiently removes us from the responsibilities so that we can be friends.





