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October 17, 2014

Bookreporter.com Newsletter October 17, 2014
Meeting Up with Our Readers!

For those in the New York City area who are wondering why it was warmer than usual this week, here are two reasons: 1) I put the electric blanket on the bed, and 2) We brought in most of the plants and herbs that we thought were in danger of being harmed by cold weather and the eventual frost. If we had brought in the rest, we would be having a full-on heat wave. I'll work on that over the weekend! Like last winter, I am determined to keep the hibiscus and Mandevilla plants in bloom. The challenge: I bought a ceramic planter that is in the shape of a boat that the Mandevilla is in (see photo above), and that thing is heavy. I am thinking we need a ramp and a dolly to move it. And there are three other big pots that need to come inside. Tom has challenged me next year to plant the big plants in light buckets, but if these wither over according to plan, we will be hauling them around again.

I love to cook --- and the long weekend last weekend meant I had time to try new recipes. There is something special about mixing ingredients and flavors that I would not normally pull together. Out this week is Yotam Ottolenghi's PLENTY MORE cookbook, which I have been eagerly anticipating. On Monday, I found a recipe from the book on Epicurious and made a Tomato and Pomegranate Salad. It was fabulous! Part of the recipe entailed making Pomegranate Molasses, which I have learned you also can buy if you want to make this recipe in a hurry. I am looking forward to making many more dishes from a cookbook that is sure to get me thinking about food pairings that are not typically on my radar.

I had an interesting television viewing experience this week. I watched episode one of "The Affair" on Showtime, but I tuned in about halfway through after Tom gave up on the Giants game. Intrigued, I decided to head for the On Demand channel and view it in its entirety. I had not done any prelim reading about the series and thus did not know the story is told from two different points of view. The episode opened with Noah’s telling of the story, and then the second half was Alison’s. My viewpoint was totally skewed to hers as I had watched the second half first. It was like I had a completely different director’s cut. I felt his story was ramped up too much, whereas hers unfolded well. It made me think a lot about how an edit on a point of view can turn the course of a story. If you have watched, I am curious what you think. By the way, I have screened the next three episodes, and the story has built nicely for me.

Tomorrow morning, I am off to the Hachette Book Group Brunch where I am looking forward to meeting Melanie Steinberg, who has been editing our Word of Mouth feature on Bookreporter.com. Also, our reviewer, Vivian Payton, and our intern, Rebecca Munro, are joining me, and a few other readers have noted that they are going to be there, too. Please be sure to introduce yourselves if I have not yet met you. I would love to figure out a way to get some photos or a group shot of our readers with me. I will have my camera with me. Lots more about this next week!

As we continue to explore the world of audiobooks, we’re asking readers to complete our Audiobook Survey. We want to hear from you whether or not you listen to audiobooks as we are trying to learn more about your listening habits, or why this format has not intrigued you. I am a recent convert and never thought I would enjoy listening the way that I am, so please DO weigh in whether you are a listener or not. Finish the survey, and you can enter a drawing for a chance to win one of 25 books or audiobooks. There will be 25 prizes for listeners and 25 prizes for non-listeners. Click here to take the survey, which will be up until December 1st at noon ET. And please share it with others as well. We want to learn as much as we can about your opinions concerning this format.

And now to this week’s VERY robust lineup….

Jodi Picoult proves that hard questions often have even harder answers in her most poignant novel yet, LEAVING TIME. Jenna Metcalf’s mother, Alice, has been missing for more than a decade, following a tragic accident. Alice was a scientist who studied grief in elephants, and Jenna has been using her journals as clues to her whereabouts. Now Jenna has enlisted two eccentric characters to help her: Serenity Jones, a famous psychic, and Virgil Stanhope, a private detective who originally investigated Alice’s disappearance. As the three work together, Jenna’s memories begin to merge with Alice’s journals, leading to a gripping finish.

Ray Palen has our review and says, “Jodi Picoult has long been writing bestselling novels that are driven by moral complexity and social issues. There is rarely a time that one of her books will not linger with you long after the final page is turned. That being said, LEAVING TIME may be her finest work yet and is sure to produce much discussion after reading it.”

Fans of GILEAD and HOME plus newcomers alike are invited to the small town of Gilead in Marilynne Robinsons latest release, LILA. Neglected as a child, young Lila has been homeless for most of her life, comforted only by Doll, a sly drifter. Though their life is not easy, Lila and Doll share a sisterly bond that transcends their situation. Now, alone and forced inside a small-town Iowa church for shelter, Lila finds romance with the minister, John Ames. When the two marry, Lila must reconcile her past suffering and makeshift family with her newfound stability and the Christian worldview of her husband.

Harvey Freedenberg raves about the book in his review. Among his thoughts: “LILA is a distinctive story of one ordinary woman’s search for life’s meaning, told with beauty and deep insight…. The great pleasure of this novel certainly is enhanced by having read its two predecessors, but this graceful story stands fully on its own, an exquisite point of entry into the world of Gilead.”

Congratulations to LILA for being named one of this year’s National Book Award finalists! The other nominees in the Fiction category are ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr (a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection), STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel (a BEA Buzz selection), REDEPLOYMENT by Phil Klay and AN UNNECESSARY WOMAN by Rabih Alameddine. Click here for the complete list of finalists, which also includes the Nonfiction, Poetry and Young People’s Literature categories. Also, for LILA we have a book group discussion guide here.

Sandra Dallas takes readers to the height of the Civil War in A QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS. The year is 1864, and Eliza Spooner is busying herself by making a special quilt for her husband at war. In charge of her children and household, she has no fear that her husband will not return. But when tragedy strikes, Eliza turns to her quilting group for support. Then a difficult decision comes to her doorstep, and she must make her own choices about right and wrong --- and who she can trust throughout it all.

According to reviewer Jamie Layton, “There’s nothing better for the holidays than a book you can escape into and that makes you feel good the whole way through. Sandra Dallas has written just that…. A QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS is a lovely story about quilting and friendship; love and war; hate and forgiveness; and women.”

This week, we’re featuring Q&As with husband and wife Andrew Grant and Tasha Alexander, both of whom have released new books this month. Tasha Alexander’s novel, THE COUNTERFEIT HEIRESS (out this week), is the ninth in her popular Lady Emily series. In this latest escapade, Lady Emily becomes entangled in the murder investigation of an imposter pretending to be mysterious heiress Estella Lamar at a masquerade ball. As Emily and Colin dig deeper into the mystery, they learn that no one has even seen Estella Lamar in years --- and she may not even be alive. In Andrew Grant’s RUN (which released last week), an innocent tech consultant named Marc finds himself the target of a shocking corporate cover-up. Fired from his job, stalked, ambushed and triple-crossed, the only thing that can save him is a flash drive full of data that could become a deadly weapon in the wrong hands. Click here to read Tasha’s interview and here for Andrew’s.

Our “Sounding Off on Audio” feature, where we talk to listeners about their love of audiobooks, continues this week with two more interviews. Hear what two loyal Bookreporter.com readers have to say. The aforementioned Melanie Steinberg and Deborah Bryson share their audiobook listening habits and some of their favorite audiobooks and narrators. If you are an audiobook aficionado and would like to be interviewed, then drop me a note at [email protected] with the subject line "Audiobook Lover." We already have a number of informative interviews planned for the weeks ahead…and I will be in touch with others of you who already have contacted me to get your interviews scheduled! But we want to keep this feature rolling, so keep those emails coming.

I finished listening to BEAUTIFUL RUINS this week. Just a total treat! I listened to some David Sedaris stories while wondering what to listen to next. This morning, I popped in THE LAST BREATH by Kimberly Belle that we currently are featuring on ReadingGroupGuides.com. It had one gripping prologue!

Our History Books roundup has been updated for October. Among this month’s featured titles are DREAMERS AND DECEIVERS: True Stories of the Heroes and Villains Who Made America by Glenn Beck, WHEN LIONS ROAR: The Churchills and the Kennedys by Thomas Maier, THE RETURN OF GEORGE WASHINGTON: 1783-1789 by Edward Larson and THE NAZI NEXT DOOR: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler's Men by Eric Lichtblau.

This week in our Fall Preview contests, we gave away A DEADLY WANDERING: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention by Matt Richtel (a Bookreporter.com Bets On title), DIRTY ROWDY THING by Christina Lauren and THE REMEDY FOR LOVE by Bill Roorbach. This year’s contests come to an end next week with these final three books, which we know will wrap up this promotion in great style: GRAY MOUNTAIN by John Grisham, THE MIDNIGHT PLAN OF THE REPO MAN by W. Bruce Cameron and NEIL PATRICK HARRIS: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris. Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday the 21st at noon ET.

In our latest poll, we’d like to know whether or not you own a smartphone. Also, how exactly do you access Bookreporter.com? Is it via a smartphone, tablet or computer? Click here and let us know!

Our previous poll asked what you typically do to relax. It came as no surprise to us that 99% of you relax by… (drumroll please)… READING! 74% of you watch TV, 59% browse the Internet and 37% work out/walk/jog. Click here for all the results.

Our new Word of Mouth contest is now up. Please let us know the books that you’ve finished reading, and you’ll be in the running to win the aforementioned GRAY MOUNTAIN, along with THE BOOK OF STRANGE THINGS by Michel Faber and WINTER STREET by Elin Hilderbrand. Enter by Friday, October 31st at noon ET for your chance to be one of our five winners!

I watched a video of Glen Campbell’s final recording this week as he slips further into Alzheimer’s. It’s titled “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” capturing the reality that he will not know his wife and family as his disease progresses and thus will not miss them. It really captures the sadness of this disease.

Next weekend is the Boston Book Festival, and while I am not traveling there, I would love a report from our Boston area readers who will be in attendance. Please let me know if you plan to be there. Another beloved event for booklovers, the Miami Book Fair, is coming up on November 16th-23rd. I am very excited to share that this year all of the National Book Award nominees will be speaking at the Book Fair, which will add more excitement to an eagerly anticipated program!

Besides tomorrow’s brunch, my weekend has some Halloween decorating on tap. We have a number of young children who have moved into the neighborhood, and thus I am decorating a bit this year. Nothing as crazy as when the boys were young, but enough to make the place look festive! It also will be the weekend that the pool gets closed, which somehow this year I am okay about. I think it’s because we really had a great 4.5-month run of it, and I also am not charmed by plucking leaves from the bottom anymore!

Somehow in summer, I am not distracted by home projects like I am this time of year, and I feel so behind on my reading.

I attended two publisher previews this week, and thus I have a whole lot of book organizing, as well as reading, to get done. Sooooo many terrific books coming up in the months ahead; I cannot wait to get started. And I am ready to line up a new knitting project as I finally finished a summer lace shawl just in time for fall to roll in.

Have a great week, and read on….

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

Now in Stores: LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult

LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult (Fiction)
For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic accident. Desperate to find the truth, Jenna enlists two unlikely allies in her quest: Serenity Jones, a psychic who rose to fame finding missing persons, and Virgil Stanhope, a private detective who originally had investigated Alice’s case. As the three work together to uncover what happened to Alice, they realize that in asking hard questions, they’ll have to face even harder answers. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: LILA by Marilynne Robinson -- 2014 National Book Award Finalist
LILA by Marilynne Robinson (Fiction)
Lila, homeless and alone after years of roaming the countryside, steps inside a small-town Iowa church --- the only available shelter from the rain --- and ignites a romance and a debate that will reshape her life. She becomes the wife of a minister and begins a new existence while trying to make sense of the days of suffering that preceded her newfound security. In LILA, Marilynne Robinson revisits the beloved characters and setting of her Pulitzer Prize–winning GILEAD and HOME, a National Book Award finalist. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.

 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: A QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS by Sandra Dallas
A QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS by Sandra Dallas (Historical Fiction)
It is 1864, and Eliza Spooner's husband Will has joined the Kansas volunteers to fight the Confederates. When the unthinkable happens, she takes in a woman and child who have been left alone and made vulnerable by the war, and she finds solace and camaraderie amongst the women of her quilting group. When she is asked to help hide an escaped slave, she must decide for herself what is right, and who she can count on to help her. Reviewed by Jamie Layton.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

-Click here for the reading group guide.
 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT by Donna VanLiere
THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT by Donna VanLiere (Fiction)
In the small town of Grandon, five very different people discover the true meaning of Christmas. Jennifer and Ryan are both single parents, struggling with their own losses and heartache. Sixteen-year-old Kaylee is faced with a life-changing situation that has affected her whole family. Stephen and Lily are happily married and ready to start a family. When they are brought together for a rather unconventional church Nativity, they will learn that with strength, courage and love, there is always hope. Reviewed by Donna Smallwood.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: RUTH'S JOURNEY by Donald McCaig
RUTH'S JOURNEY: The Authorized Novel of Mammy from Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind by Donald McCaig (Historical Fiction)
On the Caribbean island of Saint Domingue, an island consumed by the flames of revolution, a senseless attack leaves only one survivor --- an infant girl. What follows is the sweeping tale of Ruth's life as shaped by her strong-willed mistress and other larger-than-life personalities she encounters in the South. Here is a remarkable story of fortitude, heartbreak and indomitable will --- and a tale that will forever illuminate your reading of GONE WITH THE WIND. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.

 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: BOY ON ICE by John Branch
BOY ON ICE: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard by John Branch (Biography/Sports)
The tragic death of hockey star Derek Boogaard at 28 was front-page news across the country in 2011 and helped shatter the silence about violence and concussions in professional sports. Now, acclaimed reporter John Branch tells the shocking story of Boogaard's life and heartbreaking death. BOY ON ICE raises deep and disturbing questions about the systemic brutality of contact sports and the damage that reaches far beyond the game. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

-Click here to read more about the book.

 
Click here to read a review.
Tasha Alexander and Her Husband, Andrew Grant, Talk About Their Latest Books
Tasha Alexander is the author of the Lady Emily novels, a historical mystery series that most recently includes THE COUNTERFEIT HEIRESS. This ninth book finds Lady Emily embroiled in the murder investigation of one of the guests of a grand masquerade ball, Estella Lamar, a sometime actress trying to pass herself off as the mysterious heiress and world traveler. In this interview, Alexander talks about how much fun the book was to write, and why she chose to set the story in London and Paris. She also discusses the collection of photographs from a 19th-century masquerade ball that inspired her latest work, and how she has allowed Lady Emily to (slowly and believably) grow up over the course of the series.

THE COUNTERFEIT HEIRESS: A Lady Emily Mystery by Tasha Alexander (Historical Mystery)
Lady Emily becomes embroiled in the murder investigation of one of the guests of a grand masquerade ball, a sometime actress trying to pass herself off as the mysterious heiress and world traveler Estella Lamar. Each small discovery, however, leads to more questions. Was the intended victim Miss Lamar or the imposter? And who would want either of them dead? Emily and Colin’s investigation takes them from London to Paris, where, along with their friend Cécile, they must scour the darkest corners of the city in search of the truth. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

-Click here to read the interview.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.


Andrew Grant
is the author of the David Trevellyan novels, a three-book thriller series that revolves around a professional spy. His latest book, RUN, is a stand-alone thriller that introduces readers to computer consultant and software engineer Marc Bowman--- who, unlike Trevellyan, is a layperson like you and me. When Bowman’s world falls apart, he finds himself in more danger than he ever could have imagined, to the point where he can no longer tell friend from foe. In this interview, Grant discusses why he chose to make his new protagonist so relatable --- including the challenges he faced in getting Bowman realistically out of sticky situations. He also talks about the surprising parallel between Bowman and pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, and why writing a book at the same time that his wife, Tasha Alexander, was writing her own was less hectic than you would think.

RUN by Andrew Grant (Thriller)
Marc Bowman, a highly successful computer consultant and software designer, walks into his job at a major tech company one morning only to find himself fired on the spot, stonewalled by his boss and ushered out of the building. Then an explosive argument drives his wife away, and a robbery threatens to yank a million-dollar idea --- and his whole future --- out from under him. Before the week is over, Marc will be stalked, ambushed, wiretapped, arrested, duped, double- and triple-crossed --- until he can’t tell enemies from allies. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read the interview.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
Bookreporter.com's History Books Roundup for October
October's roundup of History titles include DREAMERS AND DECEIVERS, a follow-up to Glenn Beck's national bestseller MIRACLES AND MASSACRES, in which the radio and television host brings 10 more true and untold stories to life; WHEN LIONS ROAR by Thomas Maier, the first comprehensive history of the deeply entwined personal and public lives of the Churchills and the Kennedys and what their “special relationship” meant for Great Britain and the United States; THE RETURN OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, in which Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward J. Larson recovers an almost always overlooked chapter of George Washington’s life, revealing how Washington saved the United States by coming out of retirement to lead the Constitutional Convention and serve as our first president; and THE NAZI NEXT DOOR, Eric Lichtblau's shocking story of how America became one of the world’s safest postwar havens for Nazis.
 
Click here to see our History Books roundup for October.
Voice Your Thoughts About Audiobooks in Our Survey --- and Enter to Win a Book or an Audiobook!
Welcome to the Bookreporter.com Audiobook Survey! We are interested in receiving feedback from listeners and non-listeners; the questions have been designed for both groups to be able to respond. Finish the survey, and you can enter a drawing for the chance to win one of 25 books or audiobooks on CD. There will be 25 prizes for listeners and 25 prizes for non-listeners. The survey will be open until Monday, December 1st at noon ET. Please note that prizes are limited to respondents in the U.S. and Canada.

-Click here for the official rules.

 
Click here to take the survey.
Sounding Off on Audio: Interviews with Listeners About Their Love of Audiobooks
As we continue to explore the world of audiobooks, we bring you our newest Bookreporter.com feature, “Sounding Off on Audio,” where we interview listeners about their love of audiobooks. Find out what they listen to, who their favorite narrators are, why they enjoy audiobooks, and much more. Whether you are a seasoned listener of audiobooks or have only a passing curiosity, we hope that you find these interviews to be fun and informative --- and perhaps come across a title or two that you can add to your audiobook listening list. Whenever possible, we will try to provide samples for your listening pleasure as well.

This week, we have
TWO interviews to share with you.

First up is Melanie Steinberg, who has been editing our Word of Mouth feature on Bookreporter.com. Here, she talks about some of her favorite audiobooks --- including THE GOLDFINCH (narrated by David Pittu), which nearly saved her life one snowy night.

-Click here to read our interview with Melanie Steinberg.

We also interview Deborah Bryson, a loyal Bookreporter.com reader and lover of all kinds (and formats!) of books. She sounds off on listening to books while she’s in “that happy stitching place,” how different the experience of listening to a book can be from reading one, and why she’s such a fan of nonfiction audiobooks.


-Click here to read our interview with Deborah Bryson.
 
Click here for more "Sounding Off on Audio" interviews.
Bookreporter.com’s Fall Preview 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. To celebrate the arrival of fall, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about in the days and months to come.

We've been hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days in September and October, so you have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also have been sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, October 21st at noon ET.

This year's featured titles are:

Click here to read all the contest details and see our featured titles.
More Reviews This Week
FULL MEASURE by T. Jefferson Parker (Fiction)
Patrick Norris has seen the worst that Afghanistan has to offer. He returns home exhilarated by his new freedom, but is shocked to learn that his parents are facing ruin. Ted Norris worships his brother and yearns for his approval. His urgent quest to prove himself threatens to put those he loves in peril. When Ted’s plan for redemption goes terribly wrong, he tries to disappear. Desperate to find his brother and salvage what remains of his family, Patrick must make an agonizing choice. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE MISSING PLACE by Sophie Littlefield (Mystery/Suspense)
The North Dakota oil business is spawning shantytowns full of men hired to work on the rigs. When two young men in their first year on the job disappear, only their mothers believe there’s hope of finding them. Colleen, used to her decorous life in a wealthy suburb, is determined to find her son. And hard-bitten Shay, from the wrong side of the tracks, is on the same mission. These two unlikely partners must work together against the town of strangers if they want any chance of finding their lost boys. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

MALICE by Keigo Higashino (Mystery)
Bestselling novelist Kunihiko Hidaka is found brutally murdered in his home on the night before he’s planning to relocate to Vancouver. His body is discovered by his wife and his best friend, both of whom seem to have rock solid alibis. But the question before Police Detective Kyochiro Kaga isn't necessarily who or how, but why. In MALICE, the detective and the killer battle over the truth of the past and how events that led to the murder really unfolded. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

HAND TO MOUTH: Living in Bootstrap America by Linda Tirado (Memoir/Sociology)
We in America have certain ideas of what it means to be poor. Linda Tirado takes all of these preconceived notions and smashes them to bits, articulating not only what it is to be working poor in America, but what poverty is truly like --- on all levels. She discusses how she went from lower-middle class, to sometimes middle class, to poor and everything in between, and in doing so reveals why “poor people don’t always behave the way middle-class America thinks they should.” Reviewed by Miriam Tuliao.

THEN CAME LIFE: Living with Courage, Spirit, and Gratitude After Breast Cancer by Geralyn Lucas (Memoir)
One mastectomy, two C-sections, three pants sizes and lots of red lipstick later, Geralyn Lucas --- the author of WHY I WORE LIPSTICK TO MY MASTECTOMY --- is dealing with the same issues as other women her age. When she looks in the mirror at her hard-won wrinkles, all she wants is Botox. Celebrating her sweet 16 cancerversary, she’s thankful for her second chance and ready to be daring. But can she survive life’s new ups and downs with the same courage she’s always had? Reviewed by Jane Krebs.

THE BOY WHO KILLED DEMONS by Dave Zeltserman (Horror)
The setting is quiet Newton, Massachusetts, where nothing ever happens. Nothing, that is, until two months after Henry Dudlow’s 13th birthday, when his neighbor, Mr. Hanley, suddenly starts to look…different. While everyone else sees a balding man with a beer belly, Henry suddenly sees a nasty, bilious, rage-filled demon. Once Henry catches on to the real Mr. Hanley, he starts seeing demons all around him, and his boring, adolescent life is transformed. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

TUNNEL VISION by Aric Davis (Mystery)
It’s been 15 years since Mandy Reasoner was murdered --- a crime for which her boyfriend, Duke, was convicted. But when best friends Betty and June discover that Mandy was June’s long-forgotten aunt, they decide to pursue the mystery. Galvanized by the growing community who doubts the evidence against Duke, the two girls start on a path into a world of drugs and violence that will bring them not only to Duke himself but smack into Nickel, a tough-as-nails teenage P.I. attempting to keep his own life together. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE MURDER MAN by Tony Parsons (Mystery)
Someone has been violently killing members of London society. The killer is strong enough and smart enough to kill with a single knife stroke, and bold enough to kill in public. When Detective Max Wolfe realizes that the victims may have all crossed paths decades ago at their exclusive private school, the case changes. Suddenly, the murders look less random and more personal, and Max finds the killer's reach getting closer to everything --- and everyone --- he loves. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
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Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win THREE Books!
Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from October 17th to October 31st, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE BOOK OF STRANGE NEW THINGS by Michel Faber, GRAY MOUNTAIN by John Grisham and WINTER STREET by Elin Hilderbrand.

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 complete rules and guidelines, click here.

Please note: You must enter your full address, using correct capitalization and filling in all fields if you would like to be eligible to win this prize.

Also, we realize that many times, your opinion of a book will change as you get further along into the story. Thus, to ensure that your comments and ratings accurately reflect your entire reading experience, your review WILL NOT be posted if you have not finished the book.

One important technical note: If you're using an iPad or another iOS device to access the Word of Mouth page and you would like to enter the contest, you must wait for the page to fully load before you can rate your book. Only then will the stars be clickable.

-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
 
Click here to enter the contest.

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