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Editorial Content for I Dreamed of Falling

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Pamela Kramer

In Julia Dahl's latest mystery, I DREAMED OF FALLING, the main characters have failed at parenting during at least one point in their lives. The parents of these neglected children (some of whom are now adults) were not married, and the conception of said children was completely accidental. Read More

Teaser

Roman Grady is the sole reporter for the local newspaper in a tiny Hudson Valley town --- a town so small that every store opening and DUI is considered newsworthy. But when Roman's longtime girlfriend, Ashley, the mother of his four-year-old son, is found dead, he realizes he had no idea what was really going on in her life. And when he starts asking questions, he’s not prepared for the answers. What was Ashley doing at the cliffside home of her troubled ex-girlfriend? How did no one in a house full of people see what happened to her? And why does it seem like everyone in town suddenly has something to hide? As Roman and his mother dig into Ashley’s last few months, the truths they uncover threaten to expose painful secrets. The kind of secrets that can get you killed.

Promo

Roman Grady is the sole reporter for the local newspaper in a tiny Hudson Valley town --- a town so small that every store opening and DUI is considered newsworthy. But when Roman's longtime girlfriend, Ashley, the mother of his four-year-old son, is found dead, he realizes he had no idea what was really going on in her life. And when he starts asking questions, he’s not prepared for the answers. What was Ashley doing at the cliffside home of her troubled ex-girlfriend? How did no one in a house full of people see what happened to her? And why does it seem like everyone in town suddenly has something to hide? As Roman and his mother dig into Ashley’s last few months, the truths they uncover threaten to expose painful secrets. The kind of secrets that can get you killed.

About the Book

In acclaimed author Julia Dahl's new stand-alone, the death of a young mother triggers an avalanche of secrets in a small Hudson Valley town.

Roman Grady is the sole reporter for the local newspaper in a tiny Hudson Valley town --- a town so small that every store opening and DUI is considered newsworthy. But when Roman's longtime girlfriend, Ashley, the mother of his four-year-old son, is found dead, he realizes he had no idea what was really going on in her life.

And when he starts asking questions, he’s not prepared for the answers.

What was Ashley doing at the cliffside home of her troubled ex-girlfriend? How did no one in a house full of people see what happened to her? And why does it seem like everyone in town suddenly has something to hide? As Roman and his mother dig into Ashley’s last few months, the truths they uncover threaten to expose painful secrets. The kind of secrets that can get you killed.

A gripping thriller and a moving portrait of a family struggling through tragedy, I DREAMED OF FALLING showcases Julia Dahl's talent for using crime fiction to tell an immersive and unforgettable story. Dahl’s unflinching novel asks hard questions about love, regret, inequality, and the possibilities and the perils of forgiveness.

Audiobook available, read by Jennifer Blom and Shahjehan Khan

Editorial Content for Death at the Sanatorium

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Ray Palen

Ragnar Jónasson quickly has become the foremost writer of Icelandic crime fiction. His latest release, DEATH AT THE SANATORIUM, is set within the fictional world he has created that typically features Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir. It bounces between 1983 and 2012 and reflects on investigations into mysterious deaths at a sketchy sanatorium in northern Iceland. Read More

Teaser

1983: At a former sanatorium in the north of Iceland that is now a hospital ward, an old nurse, Yrsa, is found murdered. Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir and her boss, Sverrir, are sent to investigate her death. There, they discover five suspects. Less than a week after the murder, the chief physician is also found dead, having apparently fallen from a balcony. Sverrir rules his death a suicide and assumes that he was guilty of the murder as well. The case is closed. 2012: Almost 30 years later, Helgi Reykdal, a young police officer, is writing his thesis on the 1983 murders in the north. As Helgi delves deeper into the past, he decides to try to meet with the original suspects. But soon he finds silence and suspicion at every turn as he tries to finally solve the mystery from years before.

Promo

1983: At a former sanatorium in the north of Iceland that is now a hospital ward, an old nurse, Yrsa, is found murdered. Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir and her boss, Sverrir, are sent to investigate her death. There, they discover five suspects. Less than a week after the murder, the chief physician is also found dead, having apparently fallen from a balcony. Sverrir rules his death a suicide and assumes that he was guilty of the murder as well. The case is closed. 2012: Almost 30 years later, Helgi Reykdal, a young police officer, is writing his thesis on the 1983 murders in the north. As Helgi delves deeper into the past, he decides to try to meet with the original suspects. But soon he finds silence and suspicion at every turn as he tries to finally solve the mystery from years before.

About the Book

Fresh off of REYKJAVÍK, his career-changing standalone co-written with the Icelandic prime minister, #1 Icelandic bestseller Ragnar Jónasson presents a riveting new thriller.

1983. At a former sanatorium in the north of Iceland, now a hospital ward, an old nurse, Yrsa, is found murdered. Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir and her boss, Sverrir, are sent to investigate her death. There, they discover five suspects: the chief physician, two junior nurses, a young doctor and the caretaker, who is arrested following false testimony from one of the nurses, but subsequently released.

Less than a week after the murder, the chief physician is also found dead, having apparently fallen from a balcony. Sverrir rules his death a suicide and assumes that he was guilty of the murder as well. The case is closed.

2012. Almost 30 years later, Helgi Reykdal, a young police officer, has been studying criminology in the UK but decides to return to Iceland when he is offered a job at the Reykjavik police department --- the job which detective Hulda Hermannsdottir is about to retire from.

He is also a collector of golden age detective stories and is writing his thesis on the 1983 murders in the north. As Helgi delves deeper into the past and starts his new job, he decides to try to meet with the original suspects. But soon he finds silence and suspicion at every turn, as he tries to finally solve the mystery from years before.

Audiobook available, read by Sam Woolf

Editorial Content for William

Book

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Ray Palen

I was excited to read WILLIAM for two reasons. First, I am fascinated by AI and its impact on our lives. Secondly, the book is written by Mason Coile, a pseudonym for International Thriller Writers Award winner Andrew Pyper, who always delivers. The result is a novel packed with suspense, creepy chills and more than a few surprises, which toes the line between top-notch science fiction and horror. Read More

Teaser

Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career. He’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William. No one knows about William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily. When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house --- the smartest of smart homes --- Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover that the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.

Promo

Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career. He’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William. No one knows about William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily. When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house --- the smartest of smart homes --- Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover that the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.

About the Book

Psychological horror meets cyber noir in this delicious one-sitting read --- a haunted house story in which the haunting is by AI.

Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career. He’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William.

No one knows about William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily.

When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house --- the smartest of smart homes --- Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover that the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.

Audiobook available, read by Honey St. Dennis

Editorial Content for Cowpuppy: An Unexpected Friendship and a Scientist’s Journey into the Secret World of Cows

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Pamela Kramer

Reading the title of this book, one might wonder what exactly Gregory Berns is writing about. To really understand this endeavor, you must take note of the subtitle: "An Unexpected Friendship and a Scientist's Journey into the Secret World of Cows." If you aren't interested in animals, COWPUPPY is not for you. If you are worried that it espouses veganism, that’s not what Berns does. In fact, he admits to occasionally eating meat and feeding it to his dogs. But he writes about his cattle not just from a scientist's point of view, but as a behaviorist. Read More

Teaser

When Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns and his wife decided to venture into sustainable farming in rural Georgia, they knew that cows were a key part of a successful operation. But that was where his knowledge of cattle ended. As Berns and his small herd of three miniature zebus acclimated to each other and Berns received a crash course in being a cattleman, he turned his powers of scientific observation and innovation on his new charges. This wasn’t the first time he’d studied animals through the lens of neuroscience. Years earlier, Berns had applied his knowledge to man’s best friend, resulting in two books and important advances in how we understand dogs’ thoughts and emotions. Now it was time to see what he --- and all of us --- could discover about the interior worlds of cows.

Promo

When Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns and his wife decided to venture into sustainable farming in rural Georgia, they knew that cows were a key part of a successful operation. But that was where his knowledge of cattle ended. As Berns and his small herd of three miniature zebus acclimated to each other and Berns received a crash course in being a cattleman, he turned his powers of scientific observation and innovation on his new charges. This wasn’t the first time he’d studied animals through the lens of neuroscience. Years earlier, Berns had applied his knowledge to man’s best friend, resulting in two books and important advances in how we understand dogs’ thoughts and emotions. Now it was time to see what he --- and all of us --- could discover about the interior worlds of cows.

About the Book

From the author of the bestselling HOW DOGS LOVE US, a fascinating glimpse into the cognitive and emotional lives of cows.

When Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns and his wife decided to venture into sustainable farming in rural Georgia, they knew that cows were a key part of a successful operation. But that was where his knowledge of cattle ended.

As Berns and his small herd of three miniature zebus acclimated to each other and Berns received a crash course in being a cattleman, he turned his powers of scientific observation and innovation on his new charges. This wasn’t the first time he’d studied animals through the lens of neuroscience. Years earlier, Berns had applied his knowledge to man’s best friend, resulting in two books and important advances in how we understand dogs’ thoughts and emotions. Now it was time to see what he --- and all of us --- could discover about the interior worlds of cows.

In this moving and captivating memoir, Berns weaves together his hands-on experiences with his growing herd, accessible scientific explanations of animal behavior, and evocative portraits of the animals at the center of his study: the original bull, Ricky Bobby; the two mamas, Lucy and Ethel; and their sweet and spirited calves: BB, Cricket, Princess Xena, Luna, Walker and Texas Ranger.

Whether cows are a familiar part of your experience or you’re a city dweller longing for life in the country, COWPUPPY offers a deeper understanding of these complex creatures and what we humans can learn from them.

Audiobook available, read by Derek Dysart

Editorial Content for Bright I Burn

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Norah Piehl

I wasn’t sure what to expect from BRIGHT I BURN. I enjoyed Molly Aitken’s debut, THE ISLAND CHILD, but I haven’t read many novels set in the 13th and 14th centuries, as this new one is. In many ways, picking it up feels like entering a vastly foreign culture. It can take a little while to settle into as a result, but fortunately the woman at its center would be a magnetic presence at any point in history. So I was soon drawn right into her remarkable life. Read More

Teaser

Alice, the daughter of a wealthy innkeeper in Kilkenny, grows up watching her mother wither under the constraints of family responsibilities --- and she vows that she will never suffer the same fate. In time, she discovers she has a flair for making money and takes her father's flourishing business to new heights. But as her riches and stature grow, so too do rumors about her private life. By the time she marries her fourth husband --- the three earlier are dead --- a storm of local gossip and resentment culminates in a life-threatening accusation.

Promo

Alice, the daughter of a wealthy innkeeper in Kilkenny, grows up watching her mother wither under the constraints of family responsibilities --- and she vows that she will never suffer the same fate. In time, she discovers she has a flair for making money and takes her father's flourishing business to new heights. But as her riches and stature grow, so too do rumors about her private life. By the time she marries her fourth husband --- the three earlier are dead --- a storm of local gossip and resentment culminates in a life-threatening accusation.

About the Book

A fierce, electrifying novel inspired by the true story of the first woman to be condemned as a witch in Ireland.

In 13th-century Ireland, a woman with power is a woman to be feared.

Alice, the daughter of a wealthy innkeeper in Kilkenny, grows up watching her mother wither under the constraints of family responsibilities --- and she vows that she will never suffer the same fate. In time, she discovers she has a flair for making money and takes her father's flourishing business to new heights. But as her riches and stature grow, so too do rumors about her private life. By the time she marries her fourth husband --- the three earlier are dead --- a storm of local gossip and resentment culminates in a life-threatening accusation.

A breathtaking act of imagination, BRIGHT I BURN gives voice to a woman lost to history, who dared to carve a space of her own in a man’s world.

Audiobook available, read by Avena Mansergh-Wallace

Editorial Content for In a League of Her Own

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com)

Effa Manley has the unique honor of being the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. She is known for her role as a baseball executive who co-owned the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League alongside her husband, Abe Manley.

And, to be sure, that is a main portion of Kaia Alderson’s new historical novel. But as she writes in her author’s notes, “Mrs. Manley led just as interesting a life outside the Eagles’ front office as she did within it.” Read More

Teaser

An ambitious Harlem woman’s husband upends her social climbing when he buys a Negro Leagues baseball team and appoints her as the team’s business manager. Overnight, Effa Manley goes from 125th Street’s civil rights champion to an interloper in the boys’ club that is professional baseball. Navigating her way through gentlemen’s agreement contracts, the very public flirtatious antics of superstar Satchel Paige, and a sports world that would much rather see this woman back in her “place” at home, Effa ultimately whips her team, the Newark Eagles, into the Negro Leagues Champions of 1946. But how long will she get to enjoy the fruits of her success before Major League Baseball tears it all apart?

Promo

An ambitious Harlem woman’s husband upends her social climbing when he buys a Negro Leagues baseball team and appoints her as the team’s business manager. Overnight, Effa Manley goes from 125th Street’s civil rights champion to an interloper in the boys’ club that is professional baseball. Navigating her way through gentlemen’s agreement contracts, the very public flirtatious antics of superstar Satchel Paige, and a sports world that would much rather see this woman back in her “place” at home, Effa ultimately whips her team, the Newark Eagles, into the Negro Leagues Champions of 1946. But how long will she get to enjoy the fruits of her success before Major League Baseball tears it all apart?

About the Book

From the author of SISTERS IN ARMS comes the incredible, untold story of Effa Manley, a Black businesswoman in the male dominated baseball industry and, currently, the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1930s, New York City

An ambitious Harlem woman’s husband upends her social climbing when he buys a Negro Leagues baseball team and appoints her as the team’s business manager. Overnight, Effa Manley goes from 125th Street’s civil rights champion to an interloper in the boys’ club that is professional baseball.

Navigating her way through gentlemen’s agreement contracts, the very public flirtatious antics of superstar Satchel Paige, and a sports world that would much rather see this woman back in her “place” at home, Effa ultimately whips her team, the Newark Eagles, into the Negro Leagues Champions of 1946. But how long will she get to enjoy the fruits of her success before Major League Baseball tears it all apart?

Based on the incredible life of Effa Manley, an unforgettable and inspiring story about a woman with a dream who wound up with a baseball team.

Audiobook available, read by Shayna Small

Editorial Content for Bitter Is the Heart

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Sarah Rachel Egelman

The cold or overbearing Jewish mother is a tired trope. But Mina Hardy manages to breathe new life into what is an otherwise harmful and inaccurate stereotype by amping up the supernatural horror and letting that Jewish mamele off the hook just a bit. BITTER IS THE HEART is Hardy’s latest scary novel, blending psychological drama, creepy monsters, Jewish folklore and even some romance. Read More

Teaser

Tamar Glass fled an abusive mother when she was 18 to find a better life elsewhere. She has lived in freedom from Ruth for decades until one night she wakes to find her now-elderly mother standing over her bed, disoriented and confused. When Tamar reluctantly takes in her mother, strange events start happening inside her home. Tamar learns that Ruth has been kicked out of her assisted living home, and other facilities refuse to house her and endanger their own residents. Tamar has spent years suppressing her childhood trauma, but it comes rushing back with each strange event in her home. As Tamar copes with their disturbing past, which her mother stubbornly refuses to admit to, she can’t shake the feeling that there’s something worse than her mother lurking in the shadows.

Promo

Tamar Glass fled an abusive mother when she was 18 to find a better life elsewhere. She has lived in freedom from Ruth for decades until one night she wakes to find her now-elderly mother standing over her bed, disoriented and confused. When Tamar reluctantly takes in her mother, strange events start happening inside her home. Tamar learns that Ruth has been kicked out of her assisted living home, and other facilities refuse to house her and endanger their own residents. Tamar has spent years suppressing her childhood trauma, but it comes rushing back with each strange event in her home. As Tamar copes with their disturbing past, which her mother stubbornly refuses to admit to, she can’t shake the feeling that there’s something worse than her mother lurking in the shadows.

About the Book

Haunted by childhood abuse, a woman is forced to care for her cruel elderly mother in this electrifying horror novel exploring generational trauma, perfect for fans of Cassandra Khaw and T. Kingfisher.

Tamar Glass fled an abusive mother when she was 18, running away from home to find a better life elsewhere. She has lived in freedom from her mother, Ruth, for decades, until one night she wakes to find her now-elderly mother standing over her bed, disoriented and confused.

When Tamar reluctantly takes in her mother, strange events start happening inside her home. The house becomes oppressively hot, lights flicker and cupboards open and shut on their own. Whispers filter beneath her bedroom door. Tamar learns that Ruth has been kicked out of her assisted living home, and other facilities refuse to house her and endanger their own residents. Tamar has spent years suppressing her childhood trauma, but it comes rushing back with each strange event in her home.

As Tamar copes with their disturbing past, which her mother stubbornly refuses to admit to, she can’t shake the feeling that there’s something worse than her mother lurking in the shadows. Perfect for fans of THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, this terrifying novel unravels one dark strand at a time.

Audiobook available, read by Hallie Bee Bard

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

September 2024

I read all 501(!) pages of HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty in a day. Needless to say, I loved it. I stayed up way too late reading one night and was up way too early the next morning to finish it. I think I still was working the story through as I slept!

In it, passengers are on edge when their flight from Hobart, Australia, to Sydney is delayed. But real mayhem breaks out when a woman makes her way through the plane identifying travelers with a prediction of how they will die and at what age. People are not sure what this means, but then the prediction for one of them comes true, and it goes viral. From there, readers get to track the lives of five of the passengers as they wonder what happened to others on that flight.

Which of the following titles releasing in paperback in September have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.

September 20, 2024, 859 voters

September 20, 2024 - October 4, 2024

Here are reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for the contest period of September 20 - October 4.