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Books! All Calling My Name
I Hear You --- “Read Me Now!”
What a jam-packed week this was after a super busy conference at the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute!
I try to meet as many authors as possible at these events --- those who have books that I know will be getting all the buzz in the months ahead, as well as those who are debut writers. While it was impossible to interact with all 100+ authors, I treasured the conversations that I did have. As you know, I am wild about QUICKSAND by Malin Persson Giolito; she was in from Sweden where QUICKSAND was named the Best Crime Novel of the Year in 2016, which is Sweden’s official suspense literature award given by the Swedish Crime Writers’ Academy. Given the storied history of Swedish crime fiction, this was worth noting. I loved meeting her. The book will be out here on March 7th, and we are going to be running a contest for it in two weeks! You can see a photo of us below to the left.
I gave a rave blurb to Benjamin Ludwig’s THE ORIGINAL GINNY MOON, and after weeks of following him on Facebook as he made his way across the country on his pre-publication tour, it was such fun to meet him in person (you can see us above right). This is one very special book, which will be in stores on May 2nd.
Christina Baker Kline’s A PIECE OF THE WORLD (February 21st) and Jessica Shattuck’s THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE (March 28th) are two eagerly anticipated titles. They were signing at the same table at the author reception (see them below to the right), and I got to catch up with them there. Pam Jenoff’s THE ORPHAN’S TALE (February 21st) is getting a lot of buzz, and Mary Kubica’s star is getting brighter every year. Her next book, EVERY LAST LIE, will be in stores on June 27th, while DON’T YOU CRY is out in paperback now. You can see me with Pam below center and with Mary above left.
Prepping for dinner, I read smatterings of books to ensure that I could be conversational with the authors --- and now I am ready to dive in and finish OUR SHORT HISTORY by Lauren Grodstein (March 21st), THE LEAVERS by Lisa Ko (May 2nd) and ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT by Laura McBride (May 2nd), as well as Tom Perrotta’s MRS. FLETCHER (August 1st). And there are many, many others. And many, many authors with whom I did not have photo ops!
In addition to authors at Winter Institute, I loved meeting booksellers and reconnecting with those who I already know. Their enthusiasm for books and authors, and their ideas for connecting with readers, made the conference all the more special! I walked away mulling new ways that we can work together.
The funniest scene of the week was my friend Wendy and I at the United check-in area in Minneapolis trying to pack our bags so they did not go over the required 50-lb. limit. I had two bags allowed, and she had one, and we were juggling the books to make this work. At one point she held up a book and said, “I can send this one to you from the office if we have to leave it behind,” which made me laugh thinking Titanic thoughts. I actually had brought that one from home to prep for a dinner with the author. I caught the eye of one of the airline personnel who worked that area, and she was laughing at us more than once as we moved books from bag to bag --- and yes, we did it! But we each then had three small carry-ons where we also had crammed books. I abandoned my usual Catholic school guilt and said, "I am bringing three on" (they all were small enough to fit under the seat), while noting how Wendy could consolidate down to two bags to follow the rules. Next year, a big tote for carry on!
We hit the United Club a few hours before our flight. As we checked in, the attendant at the counter asked if we would like to get on an earlier flight that had been delayed. We leaped at this, but noted we needed our luggage moved to the new flight. Handing over our baggage claim tags, we were told this was no problem, and I, who typically worry about EVERYTHING luggage-related, somehow just let go. Literally five minutes later, Wendy was upgraded to first class where you are allowed three 70-lb. bags, which made our whole luggage charade even more amusing. When we landed in Newark, we sorted the books back out beside the baggage carousel, and surprisingly we figured out exactly whose were whose. And no books were left behind!
You can see some of the books that I picked up above. Soooo many good ones. Must sleep less and read more!
One evening, there was a party where we all shared favorite backlist titles (at least five years old) that are still in print. I brought CITY OF WOMEN by David R. Gillham, which had been a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection in 2012. It got me thinking about an idea that I am going to share in next week’s newsletter. Stay tuned!
Now to this week’s update...
In Lisa Gardner’s new thriller, RIGHT BEHIND YOU, Sharlah May Nash must struggle with the ultimate question: Is her brother a hero or a killer? Eight years ago, Sharlah’s older brother killed their drunken father in an effort to save both of their lives. Now 13 years old, Sharlah has finally moved on. She’s about to be adopted by retired FBI profiler Pierce Quincy and his partner, Rainie Conner. Then the call comes in about a double murder at a local gas station. As Quincy and Rainie race to assist, they are forced to confront mounting evidence that the shooter may very well be Sharlah’s older brother, Telly Ray Nash, and it appears his killing spree has only just begun. As they hunt for Telly, Quincy and Rainie must answer two critical questions: Why after eight years has this young man started killing again? And what does this mean for Sharlah?
Our very own Rebecca Munro has our rave review and says, "To say that RIGHT BEHIND YOU is a page turner is an understatement. Although Gardner begins with a ripped-from-the-headlines murder spree and subsequent chase, she never fails to keep the drama on high, with each new development amplifying the already chilling suspense. Where she really shines, however, is in her characters, each of whom possesses a fully fleshed-out background and some sort of dark motivation."
Paul Auster is widely acclaimed for his fiction, and his unique new novel, 4 3 2 1, has been received with similar appreciation. Nearly two weeks early, on March 3, 1947, in the maternity ward of Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, Archibald Isaac Ferguson, the one and only child of Rose and Stanley Ferguson, is born. From that beginning, Ferguson’s life takes on four simultaneous and independent fictional paths. Four boys who are the same person go on to lead four parallel and entirely different lives. Readers will take in each Ferguson’s pleasures and ache from each Ferguson’s pains, as the mortal plot of each Ferguson’s life rushes on.
Our reviewer Jana Siciliano calls the book “at once epic and intimate, expressive and very, very quiet at the same time.” She goes on to say, “4 3 2 1 is a blast-off into a rich, rewarding and sometimes stultifyingly confusing read that still warrants your time. If you put in the effort, you can get much out of it. So, dear reader, my advice is to take your chances. I think it’s worth the shot.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include BEHIND HER EYES by Sarah Pinborough, a psychological thriller that has been getting so much buzz leading up to its release, mostly because of its major twist of an ending that so many people are already talking about (looking forward to what you say about it); THE BLOOD OF EMMETT TILL, Timothy B. Tyson’s examination of the most notorious racial crime in American history, which includes the only interview ever given by Carolyn Bryant, the white woman in whose name Emmett Till was killed; and THE MEN IN MY LIFE, in which acclaimed biographer Patricia Bosworth recalls her emotional coming of age in 1950s New York. Many thanks to Jesse Kornbluth, who co-founded Bookreporter.com with me and now runs HeadButler.com, for sharing his review of THE MEN IN MY LIFE with us.
BEHIND HER EYES was one of the books we gave away in this week’s Winter Reading contests; the others were THE CHARM BRACELET by Viola Shipman, CITY OF SAINTS & THIEVES by Natalie C. Anderson, and HISTORY OF WOLVES by Emily Fridlund. Next week’s prizes will be THE ARRANGEMENT by Ashley Warlick and GHACHAR GHOCHAR by Vivek Shanbhag, with the first contest of the week going up on Tuesday, February 7th at noon ET.
There’s still time to enter our Valentine’s Day contest, where five readers will win eight love-themed books (including WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES by Georgia Hunter and two Jojo Moyes novels: ME BEFORE YOU and AFTER YOU), along with some decadent chocolate. The deadline for your entries is Tuesday, February 14th at noon ET.
This week, I chose THE GIRL BEFORE by JP Delaney (a Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight title) as my latest Bets On pick. Click here to read my comments on this outstanding psychological thriller. And if you missed our review of the book and the interview I conducted with the author last week, be sure to check those out too!
Our Books on Screen feature has been updated for February. Highlights include Fifty Shades Darker and I Am Not Your Negro on the big screen, and the series premieres of "Big Little Lies," "When We Rise" and "Madiba" on the small screen.
Thinking about books, over the last few months, have you been reading more, less or about the same? Let us know by taking our latest poll!
For our previous poll, we were curious about the genre of the book you’re currently reading. Almost half of you said mysteries or thrillers, 29% are reading general fiction, and 22% are delving into historical fiction. Click here to see the complete results, including all the answers readers submitted in the “Other” category.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, February 17th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win ECHOES IN DEATH by J. D. Robb and PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee, both of which we’ll be reviewing next week.
February’s Sounding Off on Audio contest is also live. This month’s prize books are the audio versions of Faye Kellerman's BONE BOX: A Decker/Lazarus Novel, performed by Richard Ferrone, and Christina Baker Kline's A PIECE OF THE WORLD, performed by Polly Stone (the latter will be a Bets On pick). To win both these audio titles, all you have to do is let us know about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to, commenting on both the narration and the content/storyline. Be sure to enter by Wednesday, March 1st at noon ET.
The finalists for the 21st Annual Books for a Better Life Awards were announced this week. The winners will be revealed during an awards ceremony at The TimesCenter in New York City on April 17th. We also have the six finalists for the 2016 Discover Great New Writers Awards, which Barnes & Noble announced this week. The winners will be announced on March 1st, also in NYC.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Jennie from Highland, CA wrote, “I was so thrilled and surprised to receive my gift of five books in the mail the other day! It felt like Christmas! Can't wait to take them to my next book club meeting to share with them. Thank you so much!” Jennie, love that you are sharing with fellow booklovers.
Keila wrote, “This week has been one of those weeks where you think it's Thursday on Tuesday and nothing seems to stop this runaway train. Yesterday I arrived at home to a package that I was not expecting and discovered that I had won your contest for THE GIRL BEFORE!! I have never won anything but so very happy to have won this contest. Thank you so very much!!!” This is one of those weeks where I really understood the Thursday on Tuesday feeling, Keila.
Elaine wrote, “Carol, just wanted to say thank you...look forward to your news and reviews every week. With all the crazies going on in the country, I am in need of "light" reading to de-stress! Have you ever thought of coming up with a list of "easy readers" that help one escape the everyday depressing news. This is one longtime reader who would really appreciate it. Again, Carol, thanks for your newsletters...love them.” So I am asking readers: What is light reading that you recommend?
Small Great Things Movie News: Learned this news this week from Deadline.com. The movie rights to SMALL GREAT THINGS by Jodi Picoult have been picked up by Amblin Partners with Viola Davis and Julia Roberts slated to star. The director is Marc Platt, one of the producers of La La Land."
Tom Brokaw: Still my favorite newsperson. Great profile on “50 Years of Brokaw” last Friday on "Dateline." Catch it On Demand if you can.
“The Affair”: Glad the season is over; hope the parents still are in the panic room. Noted that no matter what his mental or physical state is, Noah is ready for sex. And I lost track of how many affairs these people have had. “The” is the wrong word.
Loving: Watched this film a few weeks ago and forgot to share how much I enjoyed it. Just learned that Chronicle Books has published a YA version of the book, LOVING VS. VIRGINIA, which is written in verse. It’s beautifully done.
We're planning to celebrate Greg’s birthday tonight (it actually was last Saturday) with yet another marble cake! My boys are nothing if not consistent. LOTS of reading on tap for the weekend as I am wickedly behind. The guest room finally is finished being painted, and I am going to get on decorating that. A new place for bookshelves.
Go Falcons! I have to remember to pick up some mini hot dogs, because it’s not the Super Bowl without mini hot dogs, with mustard and relish. And queso. And guacamole. All the party foods (even if you are not having a party) that will mean on Monday I will be craving salad…for a week!
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Featured Review: RIGHT BEHIND YOU by Lisa Gardner
RIGHT BEHIND YOU by Lisa Gardner (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Luke Daniels and Teri Schnaubelt
Eight years ago, Sharlah May Nash’s older brother beat their drunken father to death with a baseball bat in order to save both of their lives. Now 13 years old, Sharlah has finally moved on. About to be adopted by retired FBI profiler Pierce Quincy and his partner, Rainie Conner, Sharlah loves one thing best about her new family: They are all experts on monsters. Then the call comes in. A double murder at a local gas station, followed by reports of an armed suspect shooting his way through the wilds of Oregon. As Quincy and Rainie race to assist, they are forced to confront mounting evidence: The shooter may very well be Sharlah’s older brother, and it appears his killing spree has only just begun. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Paul Auster
Nearly two weeks early, Archibald Isaac Ferguson is born. From that single beginning, Ferguson’s life will take four simultaneous and independent fictional paths. Four identical Fergusons made of the same DNA, four boys who are the same boy, go on to lead four parallel and entirely different lives. Family fortunes diverge. Athletic skills and sex lives and friendships and intellectual passions contrast. Each Ferguson falls under the spell of the magnificent Amy Schneiderman, yet each Amy and each Ferguson have a relationship like no other. Meanwhile, readers will take in each Ferguson’s pleasures and ache from each Ferguson’s pains, as the mortal plot of each Ferguson’s life rushes on. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: BEHIND HER EYES
by Sarah Pinborough
BEHIND HER EYES by Sarah Pinborough (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Anna Bentinck, Josie Dunn, Bea Holland and Huw Parmenter
On a rare night out, single mom Louise meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. When she arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David --- the man from the bar. David is married and says the kiss was a terrible mistake, but he still can’t keep his eyes off her. And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend. But she also just happens to be married to David. David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife. But then why is David so controlling? And why is Adele so scared of him? As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE BLOOD OF EMMETT TILL
by Timothy B. Tyson
THE BLOOD OF EMMETT TILL by Timothy B. Tyson (History)
Audiobook available, read by Rhett S. Price
In 1955, a 14-year-old black boy named Emmett Till was murdered by a group of white men. He had gone into a small country store a few days earlier and made flirtatious remarks to a white woman, 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant; Bryant’s husband and brother-in-law were two of Till’s attackers. THE BLOOD OF EMMETT TILL revises the history of the Till case, not only changing the specifics that we thought we knew, but showing how the murder ignited the modern civil rights movement. Timothy Tyson uses a wide range of new sources, including the only interview ever given by Carolyn Bryant; the transcript of the murder trial, missing since 1955 and only recovered in 2005; and a recent FBI report on the case. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL
by John Avlon
WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL: The Founding Father’s Warning to Future Generations by John Avlon (History)
Audiobook available, read by John Avlon
George Washington’s Farewell Address was a prophetic letter from a “parting friend” to his fellow citizens about the forces he feared could destroy our democracy: hyper-partisanship, excessive debt and foreign wars. Once celebrated as civic scripture, more widely reprinted than the Declaration of Independence, the Farewell Address is now almost forgotten. However, its message remains starkly relevant. In WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL, John Avlon offers a stunning portrait of our first president and his battle to save America from self-destruction. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE GIRL BEFORE by JP Delaney,
Our Latest Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight Title
THE GIRL BEFORE by JP Delaney (Psychological Thriller)
As soon as you read the title, THE GIRL BEFORE, you know that something happened “before.” Then you open the first page and read, “1. Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.” From there, JP Delaney had drawn me into the story, both to see why this question mattered and to learn what happened then, as well as now. It was a brisk read that flips back and forth between “Then: Emma” and “Now: Jane,” with me turning pages rapidly to follow their stories.
Another “character” in the story is the house where Jane and Emma live/lived, which is austere and peaceful, One Folgate Street. To live there, one must apply, answering a rental questionnaire that is very exacting as the opportunity to live there is highly selective. The house, built by architect Edward Monkford, is stark in design, and the rule is that if you live there, you cannot personalize it. The house thus becomes a character in the story. Every detail is computer-driven --- from room and shower water temperature to, well, just about every household function being micromanaged by a personal online assistant named Housekeeper, who manages the house as well as one’s access to the outside world until one closes the door. Sounds lovely, until you realize how restricting it is.
While not for everyone, the home is affordable for both Emma and now Jane, and they are both into the challenge that living there will provide. Or so they think. Each is running from something. Emma’s breakup with her boyfriend, Simon, has her ready to hide out. Jane sadly lost a child and wants a place to rebuild her life. Both women end up involved with Monkford. What’s happened to Emma is an obsession of Jane’s, and as the story unfolds, she sees just what kind of jeopardy her life is in and the control this house has on her.
Something in the ending is unexpected and holds special meaning for the author, which you can read more about in my interview with him here. And do not read the end first lest you see one last surprise.
Oh, and about that rental questionnaire. You can have a go at it here. But before you leap at the chance to sign on, remember, the house does not allow personal items, like books on the shelves. So alas, it’s not the house for me!
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit the book's official website.
- Click here to read our interview with JP Delaney.
- Click here to read JP Delaney's bio.
- Click here to see the 25 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
- Click here to read more in our Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
Click here for more books we're betting you'll love.
Bookreporter.com's 12th Annual Valentine's Day Contest: Enter to Win Books and Sweet Treats
for Yourself or Your Valentine!
Valentine's Day is only a few heartbeats away. We can't think of a better way to celebrate this special day than to cuddle up with your loved one...and a good book, of course!
We're giving readers the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Valentine's Day prize packages, which includes one copy of each of our featured titles and some delicious chocolates. Enter between now and Tuesday, February 14th at noon ET for your opportunity to be a lucky (and beloved!) winner.
If you're feeling frisky, share with us your all-time book character crush. Don't be shy, we all got 'em! We'll post the top 10 literary loves and lusts --- along with the five winners --- right after Valentine's Day.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's Third Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature
At Bookreporter.com, we are kicking off 2017 with our third annual Winter Reading Contests and Feature. On select days between now and February 24th at noon ET, we are hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter and giving five lucky readers a chance to win it. We also are 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, February 7th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles include:
Click here to read all the contest details.
February’s Books on Screen Feature
We’re only a little over a month into 2017, and already the world feels topsy-turvy. I mean, it’s February and there’s no new Nicholas Sparks movie. What’s next, no superheroes in July? In case you were worried you’d have to readjust your entire paradigm, fear not! This month’s crop of entertainment hits a few of the usual marks.
Fifty Shades Darker --- the sequel to 2015’s, uh, hit E L James adaptation --- comes out mid-month, just in time to get your pre-Valentine’s Day dose of sadomasochism.
There’s a strong showing for Black History Month with I Am Not Your Negro --- based on James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript for REMEMBER THIS HOUSE --- dominating early movie buzz. The powerful documentary is now in theaters and is sure to be a challenging, enlightening experience for theatergoers. Watch it in tandem with BET’s “Madiba,” a six-part miniseries starring Laurence Fishburne about the life of politician and revolutionary Nelson Mandela.
HBO will be serving up its own drama on the side, with the highly anticipated “Big Little Lies” --- adapted from Liane Moriarty’s bestselling book --- bringing an all-star, female-led cast to the small screen.
Click here to see all the movies, TV shows and DVDs
featured in February’s Books on Screen.
RATHER BE THE DEVIL by Ian Rankin (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by James MacPherson
When Rebus starts reexamining the facts behind the long-ago murder of a glamorous woman at a luxurious hotel --- on the same night a famous rock star and his entourage were also staying there --- the past comes roaring back to life with a vengeance. And as soon as Rebus starts asking questions about the long forgotten crime, a fresh body materializes. His inquiries reunite him with his old pals --- Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox --- as they attempt to uncover the financial chicanery behind the savage beating of an upstart gangster, a crime that suggests the notorious old school crime boss Big Ger Cafferty has taken to retirement as poorly as Rebus himself. Reviewed by Jennifer McCord.
BELOW THE BELT: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Tony Roberts
Newly ensconced in his Santa Fe abode with a lovely female companion, Stone Barrington receives a call from an old friend requesting a delicate favor. A situation has arisen that could escalate into an explosive quagmire, and only someone with Stone’s stealth and subtlety can contain the damage. At the center of these events is an impressive gentleman whose star is on the rise and who would like to get Stone in his corner. He is charming and ambitious and has friends in high places --- the kind of man who seems to be a sure bet. But in the fickle circles of power, fortunes rise and fall on the turn of a dime, and it may turn out that Stone holds the key not just to one man’s fate, but to the fate of the nation. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
THE PRISONER: A John Wells Novel by Alex Berenson (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by George Guidall
Evidence is mounting that someone high up in the CIA is passing messages to ISIS, alerting them to planned operations. Finding out the mole’s identity without alerting him will be very hard, and to accomplish it, John Wells will have to do something he thought he’d left behind forever. He will have to reassume his former identity as an al Qaeda jihadi, get captured, and go undercover to befriend an ISIS prisoner in a secret Bulgarian prison. Many years before, Wells was the only American agent ever to penetrate al Qaeda, but times have changed drastically. He knows it may well be his death sentence. But there is no one else. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE TRUE FLAG: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire by Stephen Kinzer (History)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Petkoff
How should the United States act in the world? Americans cannot decide. Sometimes we burn with righteous anger, launching foreign wars and deposing governments. Then we retreat --- until the cycle begins again. No matter how often we debate this question, none of what we say is original. Every argument is a pale shadow of the first and greatest debate, which erupted more than a century ago. Its themes resurface every time Americans argue whether or not to intervene in a foreign country. Revealing a piece of forgotten history, Stephen Kinzer transports us to the dawn of the 20th century, when the United States first found itself with the chance to dominate faraway lands. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
THE MEN IN MY LIFE: A Memoir of Love and Art in 1950s Manhattan by Patricia Bosworth (Memoir)
From acclaimed biographer Patricia Bosworth comes a series of vivid confessions about her remarkable journey into womanhood. Married and divorced from an abusive husband before she’s 20, she joins the famed Actors Studio. She takes classes with Lee Strasberg alongside Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman and others; she works on Broadway opposite Paul Muni, Helen Hayes and Elaine Stritch; Gore Vidal and Elia Kazan become her mentors. Her anecdotes of theatre’s Golden Age have never been told before. At the zenith of her career, about to film The Nun’s Story with Audrey Hepburn, Patricia faces a decision that changes her forever. Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth for HeadButler.com.
THE ANIMATORS by Kayla Rae Whitaker (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Alex McKenna
In the male-dominated field of animation, Mel Vaught and Sharon Kisses are a dynamic duo: Sharon is quietly ambitious but self-doubting, Mel is brash and unapologetic, always the life of a party. They spent their 20s ensconced in a gritty Brooklyn studio. Now, after a decade of striving, the two are finally celebrating the release of their first full-length feature and stand at the cusp of making it big. But with their success comes doubt and destruction, cracks in their relationship threatening the delicate balance of their partnership. When the only other partner Sharon has ever truly known --- her troubled, charismatic childhood best friend, Teddy --- reappears, long-buried resentments rise to the surface, hastening a reckoning no one sees coming. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE RED SPHINX: A Sequel to The Three Musketeers written by Alexandre Dumas, translated by Lawrence Ellsworth (Historical Fiction/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by John Lee
After publishing THE THREE MUSKETEERS, Alexandre Dumas wrote a sequel, TWENTY YEARS AFTER, that resumed the adventures of his swashbuckling heroes. Later he wrote THE RED SPHINX, another direct sequel to THE THREE MUSKETEERS that begins a mere 20 days afterward. He wrote 75 chapters of it, all for serial publication, but never quite finished it, and so the novel languished for almost a century before its first book publication in France in 1946. While Dumas never completed the book, he had earlier written a separate novella, THE DOVE, that recounted the final adventures of Moret and Cardinal Richelieu. Now for the first time, in one cohesive narrative, THE RED SPHINX and THE DOVE make a complete storyline. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
FALSE FRIEND by Andrew Grant (Mystery/Thriller)
An arsonist is targeting schools in Birmingham, Alabama, with devastating effect. Detective Cooper Devereaux --- a man you can’t quite trust and should never ignore --- must put a stop to the elusive pyromaniac’s reign of terror before more damage is done. Or worse, before students’ lives are lost. But as Devereaux sifts through the ashes of the case, a grisly discovery at a burned-out school sends the investigation spiraling in a new, terrifying direction. The detective and his partner are dragged into a nightmare world by revelations of gruesome rituals, the disappearance of local citizens, and allegations against city officials of shocking crimes that stretch back decades. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
SNOWBLIND by Ragnar Jónasson (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Will Damron
Siglufjörður is an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors. Ari Thór Arason is a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik --- with a past that he’s unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theater, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness --- blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE ROAD TO ENCHANTMENT by Kaya McLaren (Fiction)
As a young girl, Willow watched her mother leave their home in Washington State in a literal blaze of glory: she set the mattress of her cheating husband on fire in her driveway. With that, she and Willow set off to New Mexico. Willow’s eccentric mother believed in this new life and set about starting a winery and goat ranch. But for Willow, it meant initially being bullied and feeling like an outsider. Today, as a grown woman, Willow much prefers Los Angeles and her job as a studio musician. But things tend to happen in threes: her mother dies, her boyfriend dumps her, and she discovers she is pregnant. Can Willow redefine what home means for her, and can she make a go of the legacy her mother left behind? Reviewed by Dunja Bonacci Skenderović.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 7th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 7th 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 releasing the week of February 6th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ALL OUR WRONG TODAYS by Elan Mastai (Science Fiction)
In Tom Barren’s 2016, humanity thrives in a techno-utopian paradise, but he just can’t seem to find his place in this dazzling, idealistic world. In a time-travel mishap, Tom finds himself stranded in our 2016, what we think of as the real world. For Tom, our reality seems like a dystopian wasteland --- until he discovers wonderfully unexpected versions of his family, his career, and --- maybe --- his soul mate. Does he fix the flow of history, or does he try to forge a new life in our messy, unpredictable reality?
THE BERTIE PROJECT: A 44 Scotland Street Novel by Alexander McCall Smith (Fiction)
Bertie’s mother, Irene, returns from the Middle East to discover that, in her absence, her son has been exposed to the worst of evils --- cartoons, movies and even carbonated beverages. Her wrath descends on Bertie’s father, Stuart. What does this mean for the residents of 44 Scotland Street? As Irene resumes work on what she calls her Bertie Project, Bertie begins to hatch a project of his own --- one that promises freedom.
A BOOK OF AMERICAN MARTYRS by Joyce Carol Oates (Fiction)
Joyce Carol Oates tells the story of two very different and yet intimately linked American families. Luther Dunphy is an ardent Evangelical who envisions himself as acting out God’s will when he assassinates an abortion provider in his small Ohio town. Augustus Voorhees, the idealistic doctor who is killed, leaves behind a wife and children scarred and embittered by grief.
ECHOES IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Thriller)
As Lt. Eve Dallas and her husband are driving home, a bloodied young woman stumbles in front of their car. Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but her husband now lies dead amid the wreckage of his town house, his three safes emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil.” What does the devil look like? Where will he show up next?
MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE by Sophie Kinsella (Fiction)
Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Just as she’s finding her feet, Demeter fires Katie. Katie retreats to her family’s farm to help them set up a vacation business. She’s in the midst of picking herself back up --- until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and Katie must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.
NORSE MYTHOLOGY by Neil Gaiman (Mythology)
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating his fantastical fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source. Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, daring and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest; and Loki, son of a giant and an unsurpassable manipulator. He fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs and giants.
PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee (Fiction)
PACHINKO follows one Korean family through the generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea with Sunja, the prized daughter of a poor yet proud family, whose unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame them. Min Jin Lee presents a sweeping saga of an exceptional family in exile from its homeland and caught in the indifferent arc of history.
PRETEND I'M NOT HERE: How I Worked with Three Newspaper Icons, One Powerful First Lady, and Still Managed to Dig Myself Out of the Washington Swamp by Barbara Feinman Todd (Memoir)
Barbara Feinman Todd is an accomplished former ghostwriter and book researcher who worked with Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Ben Bradlee and Hillary Clinton. Revealing what it’s like to get into the heads and hearts of some of Washington’s most compelling and powerful figures, she offers authentic portraits that go beyond the carefully polished public personas.
THE REFUGEES by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Fiction/Short Stories)
Viet Thanh Nguyen gives voice to lives led between two worlds: the adopted homeland and the country of birth. From a young refugee who suffers culture shock when he comes to live with two gay men in San Francisco, to a woman whose husband is suffering from dementia, to a girl living in Ho Chi Minh City whose half-sister comes back from America having seemingly accomplished everything she never will, these stories explore questions of immigration, identity, love and family.
ROBERT B. PARKER'S REVELATION by Robert Knott (Historical Mystery/Western)
Territorial marshals Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch figured things had finally settled down in Appaloosa. But all that changed when, in a haunting twist of fate, Augustus Noble Driggs and a pack of cold-blooded convicts are suddenly on the loose --- and it’s up to any and all territorial lawmen, including Cole and Hitch, to capture the fugitives and rescue the woman kidnapped during their escape.
RUSH OF BLOOD by Mark Billingham (Mystery/Thriller)
Three British couples become fast friends on their Florida holiday. But on the last day of their vacation, a 14-year-old girl is found dead in the mangroves. The shocked couples return to the UK and remain in contact. But beneath their apparently normal exteriors are some unusual kinks and unpleasant vices. Then another girl goes missing --- not far from where the couples live. Could one of these six have a secret far darker than anybody can imagine?
WHAT YOU BREAK by Reed Farrel Coleman (Hard-boiled Noir Mystery)
Gus Murphy and his girlfriend, Magdalena, are endangered when he is caught up in the aftershocks of heinous crimes committed decades ago. Gus encounters a wealthy businessman anxious to have someone look more deeply into the brutal murder of his granddaughter. The businessman offers big incentives if Gus can supply him with what the cops cannot --- a motive.
THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR by Yewande Omotoso (Fiction)
Hortensia James and Marion Agostino are neighbors. One is black, the other white. Both are successful women with impressive careers. Both are recently widowed, living with questions, disappointments and secrets that have brought them shame. And each has something that the woman next door deeply desires. One day, an unexpected event forces them together. But are these sparks of connection enough to ignite a friendship, or is it too late to expect these women to change?
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Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're
Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from February 3rd to February 17th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of ECHOES IN DEATH by J. D. Robb and PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee.
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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Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from February 1st to March 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Faye Kellerman's BONE BOX: A Decker/Lazarus Novel, performed by Richard Ferrone, and Christina Baker Kline's A PIECE OF THE WORLD, performed by Polly Stone.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, 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.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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