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Week of June 24, 2019

New in Paperback

Week of June 24, 2019

Paperback releases for the week of June 24th include KINGDOM OF THE BLIND, the 14th installment in Louise Penny's mystery series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, a novel about everyday life and ever-curious death in the village of Three Pines; I OWE YOU ONE by Sophie Kinsella, an irresistible story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be “the one,” and an IOU that changes everything; NIGHT OF MIRACLES, Elizabeth Berg's delightful novel of friendship, community and the way that small acts of kindness can change your life; and Ottessa Moshfegh's second novel, MY YEAR OF REST AND RELAXATION, which is about a young woman's efforts to duck the ills of the world by embarking on an extended hibernation with the help of one of the worst psychiatrists in the annals of literature and the battery of medicines she prescribes.

The Anomaly by Michael Rutger - Thriller

June 25, 2019

Nolan Moore is a rogue archaeologist hosting a documentary series derisively dismissed by the “real” experts, but beloved of conspiracy theorists. He sets out to retrace the steps of an explorer from 1909 who claimed to have discovered a mysterious cavern high up in the ancient rock of the Grand Canyon. And, for once, he may have actually found what he seeks. Then the trip takes a nasty turn, and the cave begins turning against them in mysterious ways. The only way out is to answer a series of intriguing questions: What is this strange cave? How has it remained hidden for so long? And what secret does it conceal that made its last visitors attempt to seal it forever?

Ball Lightning written by Cixin Liu, translated by Joel Martinsen - Science Fiction/Adventure

June 25, 2019

When Chen’s parents are incinerated before his eyes by a blast of ball lightning, he devotes his life to cracking the secret of this mysterious natural phenomenon. His search takes him to stormy mountaintops, an experimental military weapons lab, and an old Soviet science station. The more he learns, the more he comes to realize that ball lightning is just the tip of an entirely new frontier. While Chen’s quest for answers gives purpose to his lonely life, it also pits him against soldiers and scientists with motives of their own: a beautiful army major with an obsession with dangerous weaponry, and a physicist who has no place for ethical considerations in his single-minded pursuit of knowledge.

The Boys in the Cave: Deep Inside the Impossible Rescue in Thailand by Matt Gutman - Current Affairs

June 25, 2019

After a practice in June 2018, a Thai soccer coach took 12 of his young players to explore a famous but flood-prone cave. It was one of the boys’ birthday, but neither he nor the dozen resurfaced. Worried parents and rescuers flocked to the mouth of a cave that seemed to have swallowed the boys without a trace. When water unexpectedly inundated the cave, blocking their escape, they retreated deeper inside, taking shelter in a side cavern. ABC News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman recounts this amazing story in depth and from every angle, exploring their time in the cave, the failed plans and human mistakes that nearly doomed them, and the daring mission that ultimately saved them.

The Break Line: A Max McLean Novel by James Brabazon - Thriller

June 25, 2019

When it comes to killing terrorists, British intelligence has always had one man they could rely on: Max McLean. As an assassin, he's never missed, but Max has made one miscalculation and now must pay the price. His handlers send him to Sierra Leone on a seemingly one-way mission. What he finds is a horror from beyond his nightmares. Rebel forces are loose in the jungle, and someone or something is slaughtering innocent villagers. It's his job to root out the monster behind these abominations, but he soon discovers that London may consider him the most disposable piece in this operation.

Cherry by Nico Walker - Fiction

June 25, 2019

Cleveland, 2003. A young man is just a college freshman when he meets Emily. They share a passion for Edward Albee and Ecstasy, and fall hard and fast in love. But soon Emily has to move home to Elba, New York, and he flunks out of school and joins the Army. Desperate to keep their relationship alive, they marry before he ships out to Iraq. But as an Army medic, he is unprepared for the grisly reality that awaits him. He and Emily try to make their long-distance marriage work, but when he returns from Iraq, his PTSD is profound. The opioid crisis is beginning to swallow up the Midwest. Soon he is hooked on heroin, and so is Emily. With their money drying up, he turns to the one thing he thinks he could be really good at --- robbing banks.

The Dead Ringer: An Agatha Raisin Mystery by M. C. Beaton - Mystery

June 25, 2019

Agatha Raisin convinces lawyer Julian Brody to hire her to investigate the mystery of Bishop Peter Salver-Hinkley’s ex-fiancée, who went missing years ago and whose body was never found. Meanwhile, the bodies just keep on piling up. The corpse of Larry Jensen, a local policeman, is discovered in the crypt. Millicent Dupin, one of a pair of bell-ringing identical twins, is murdered near the church of St. Ethelred. And Terry Fletcher, a journalist and (briefly) Agatha’s lover, is found dead in her sitting room. Agatha widens her investigation, and very soon her main suspect is the handsome Bishop himself. But could he really be behind this series of violent killings, or is it someone who wants to bring him --- and his reputation --- down?

Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle - Psychological Thriller

June 25, 2019

For nearly a year, Beth Murphy has been plotting to leave her abusive husband. The time has finally arrived, and this is her one chance at freedom. Each part of her plan has to be carefully thought-out, because one small slip and her violent husband will find her. A couple hundred miles away, Jeffrey returns home from a work trip to find that his wife, Sabine, is missing. Wherever she is, she has taken almost nothing with her. Her abandoned car is the only trace of her the police have to go on, and all signs point to foul play. Where is Sabine? And who is Beth? As her husband starts piecing together her whereabouts, Beth will have to make a decision about her future that will leave readers breathless.

Desperate Measures: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods - Thriller/Adventure

June 25, 2019

Upon returning to the states from a European jaunt, Stone Barrington makes the acquaintance of a stunning woman who seems like she could be an ideal candidate to meet some of his professional --- and personal --- needs. Before long, though, Stone is put to the task of protecting his new hire when New York City is rocked by a series of disturbing crimes, and it looks as if she might be the next target. In the city that never sleeps, there's always a plot being hatched, and the only recourse is constant vigilance and a bit of luck. But if those defensive systems fail, Stone will have to go head-to-head against some of the most dastardly scum he's ever faced.

The Ensemble by Aja Gabel - Fiction

June 25, 2019

Brit is the second violinist, a beautiful and quiet orphan; on the viola is Henry, a prodigy who's always had it easy; the cellist is Daniel, the oldest and an angry skeptic who sleeps around; and on first violin is Jana, their flinty, resilient leader. Together, they are the Van Ness Quartet. After the group's youthful, rocky start, they experience devastating failure and wild success, heartbreak and marriage, triumph and loss, betrayal and enduring loyalty. They are always tied to each other --- by career, by the intensity of their art, by the secrets they carry, by choosing each other over and over again.

Field of Valor by Matthew Betley - Thriller/Adventure

June 25, 2019

With the full resources of the Justice Department, Intelligence Community and the military (not to mention presidential pardons pre-signed), Logan West must battle a secret organization with the connections and funding to rival many first-world nations. The goal of this organization is both singular and sinister --- to pit the United States against China in a bid to dismantle the world’s security and economy. Back on US soil, Logan and his task force pursue the elusive foe from the woods of northern Virginia to the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, from suburban Maryland across the urban sprawl of Washington, DC. The stakes have never been higher for Logan or America itself.

Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen - Fiction

June 25, 2019

Thirty-four-year-old Harry Crane works as an analyst for the US Forest Service. When his wife dies suddenly, Harry, despairing, retreats north to lose himself in the remote woods of the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. But fate intervenes in the form of a fiercely determined young girl named Oriana. She and her mother, Amanda, are struggling to pick up the pieces from their own tragic loss of Oriana’s father. Discovering Harry while roaming the forest, Oriana believes that he holds the key to righting her world. Harry reluctantly agrees to help Oriana carry out an astonishing scheme inspired by a book given to her by the town librarian, Olive Perkins. Together, Harry and Oriana embark on a golden adventure that will fulfill Oriana’s wild dream --- and ultimately open Harry’s heart to a new life.

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella - Fiction

June 25, 2019

Since Fixie Farr's dad passed away, she spends all her time picking up the slack from her siblings. When a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, she not only agrees, but ends up saving it from certain disaster. To thank Fixie, the computer’s owner, Sebastian, an investment manager, scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. But then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life. His lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons, and she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. No sooner has Seb agreed than the tables are turned once more and a new series of IOUs between Seb and Fixie ensues. Soon Fixie, Ms. Fixit for everyone else, is torn between her family and the life she really wants.

In the Darkness by Mike Omer - Psychological Thriller/Mystery

June 25, 2019

An online video of a girl clawing at the ceiling of her own grave could be the worst thing FBI forensic psychologist Zoe Bentley has ever seen. Perhaps even more disturbing is the implication of the video’s title: “Experiment Number One.” Zoe and her partner, Special Agent Tatum Gray, work as fast as they can to find the monster behind the shocking video, but soon another one shows up online, and another girl turns up dead. Meanwhile, a different murderer is on Zoe’s mind. Rod Glover has been tormenting her since childhood, and his latest attack is a threatening photo of himself with Zoe’s sister. As Glover’s threats creep toward action, Zoe is torn between family and duty.

Into the Black Nowhere: An UNSUB Novel by Meg Gardiner - Psychological Thriller

June 25, 2019

In southern Texas, on Saturday nights, women are disappearing. Rookie FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix, newly assigned to the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit, fears that a serial killer is roaming the dark roads outside Austin. Caitlin and the FBI's serial crime unit discover the first victim's body in the woods. She is laid out in a bloodstained, white baby-doll nightgown. A second victim in a white nightie lies deeper in the forest's darkness. Both bodies are surrounded by Polaroid photos, stuck in the earth like headstones. As Saturday night approaches, Caitlin and the FBI enter a desperate game of cat and mouse, racing to capture the cunning predator before he claims more victims.

Kingdom of the Blind: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny - Mystery

June 25, 2019

When a peculiar letter arrives inviting Armand Gamache to an abandoned farmhouse, the former head of the Sûreté du Québec discovers that a complete stranger has named him one of the executors of her will. Still on suspension, Gamache accepts and soon learns that the other two executors are Myrna Landers, the bookseller from Three Pines, and a young builder. None of them had ever met the elderly woman. The will is so odd and includes bequests that are so wildly unlikely that Gamache and the others suspect the woman must have been delusional. But what if, Gamache begins to ask himself, she was perfectly sane? When a body is found, the terms of the bizarre will suddenly seem less peculiar and far more menacing.

A Matter of Will by Adam Mitzner - Psychological Thriller/Mystery

June 25, 2019

Will Matthews came to Wall Street with hopes and dreams of hitting it big. But things have not been going as expected. He’s on the verge of being fired when he meets the devilishly mysterious and fabulously wealthy Sam Abaddon. Winning Sam’s business answers Will’s prayers, catapulting the young stockbroker into the privileged world of money and luxury. Not only that, but Will also has met his dream girl, ambitious attorney Gwen Lipton. But when Will witnesses a shocking act of violence, his charmed new existence is revealed to be a waking nightmare as the truth about his benefactor --- and his own complicity in criminal conduct --- becomes devastatingly clear.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh - Fiction

June 25, 2019

Our narrator should be happy, shouldn't she? She's young, thin, pretty, a recent Columbia graduate, works an easy job at a hip art gallery, lives in an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan paid for (like the rest of her needs) by her inheritance. But there is a dark and vacuous hole in her heart, and it isn't just the loss of her parents, or the way her Wall Street boyfriend treats her, or her sadomasochistic relationship with her best friend, Reva. It's the year 2000 in a city aglitter with wealth and possibility. What could be so terribly wrong?

Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg - Fiction

June 25, 2019

Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes. Her classes have become so popular that she’s hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris doesn’t know how to bake, but she needs to keep her mind off a big decision she sorely regrets. When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son. Lincoln’s parents aren’t the only ones in town facing hard choices and uncertain futures. In these difficult times, the residents of Mason come together and find the true power of community --- just when they need it the most.

A People's History of the Vampire Uprising by Raymond A. Villareal - Supernatural Thriller

June 25, 2019

The body of a young woman found in an Arizona border town, presumed to be an illegal immigrant, disappears from the town morgue. Then more bodies, dead from an inexplicable disease that solidified their blood, are brought to the morgue, only to also vanish. Soon, the U.S. government must come to terms with what they're too late to stop: an epidemic of vampirism. These changed people, or "Gloamings," rapidly rise to prominence in all aspects of modern society. Soon people are beginning to be "re-created," willingly accepting the risk of death if their bodies can't handle the transformation. But when a charismatic and wealthy businessman who recently has been turned, runs for political office, all hell breaks loose.

The Sea Queen by Linnea Hartsuyker - Historical Fantasy

June 25, 2019

Six years after THE HALF-DROWNED KING, Ragnvald Eysteinsson is now king of Sogn, but fighting battles for King Harald keeps him away from home. Ragnvald’s sister, Svanhild, has found the freedom and adventure she craves at the side of the rebel explorer Solvi Hunthiofsson, though not without a cost. As a growing rebellion unites King Harald’s enemies, Ragnvald suspects that some Norse nobles are not loyal to Harald’s dream of a unified Norway. He sets a plan in motion to defeat all of his enemies and bring his sister back to his side. Svanhild finds herself with no easy decisions, and no choices that will leave her truly free. Their actions will hold irrevocable repercussions for the fates of those they love and for Norway itself.

The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar - Fiction

June 25, 2019

Poor and illiterate, Bhima had faithfully worked for the Dubash family, an upper-middle-class Parsi household, for more than 20 years. Yet after courageously speaking the truth about a heinous crime perpetrated against her own family, the devoted servant was cruelly fired. Bhima’s fortunes take an unexpected turn when her path intersects with Parvati, a bitter, taciturn older woman. The two acquaintances soon form a tentative business partnership, selling fruits and vegetables at the local market. As they work together, these two women seemingly bound by fate grow closer, each confessing the truth about their lives and the wounds that haunt them.

The Shortest Way Home by Miriam Parker - Fiction

June 25, 2019

Hannah is finally about to have everything she ever wanted. With a high-paying job, a Manhattan apartment, and a boyfriend about to propose, all she and Ethan have to do is make it through the last couple of weeks of grad school. But when, on a romantic weekend trip to Sonoma, Hannah is spontaneously offered a marketing job at a family-run winery and doesn't immediately refuse, their meticulously planned forever threatens to come crashing down. And then Hannah impulsively does the unthinkable --- she takes a leap of faith. Soon, the mission to rescue the failing winery becomes a mission to rescue Hannah from the life she thought she wanted.

The Sinners: A Quinn Colson Novel by Ace Atkins - Thriller

June 25, 2019

The Pritchards were an evil, greedy family who made their living dealing drugs and committing mayhem. Years ago, Quinn Colson's late uncle had put the clan's patriarch in prison, but now he's getting out, with revenge, power and family business on his mind. To make matters worse, a shady trucking firm with possible ties to the Gulf Coast syndicate has moved into Tibbehah, and they have their own methods of intimidation. With his longtime deputy Lillie Virgil now working up in Memphis, Colson finds himself having to fall back on some brand-new deputies to help him out. But with Old West-style violence breaking out, and his own wedding on the horizon, this is without a doubt Colson's most trying time as sheriff.

Swift Vengeance by T. Jefferson Parker - Thriller

June 25, 2019

Returning hero and private investigator Roland Ford is on the trail of a mysterious killer who is beheading CIA drone operators and leaving puzzling clues at each crime scene. His troubled friend, Lindsay Rakes, is afraid for her own life and the life of her son after a fellow flight crew member is killed in brutal fashion. Even more terrifying is the odd note the killer left behind: "Welcome to Caliphornia. This is not the last." Ford strikes an uneasy alliance with San Diego-based FBI agent Joan Taucher, who is haunted by what she sees as the Bureau's failure to catch the 9/11 terrorists. As the killer strikes again, Ford and Taucher dash into the fray, each desperate for their own reasons.

Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness - Paranormal Thriller/Romance

June 25, 2019

On the battlefields of the American Revolution, Matthew de Clermont meets Marcus MacNeil, a young surgeon from Massachusetts, during a moment of political awakening when it seems that the world is on the brink of a brighter future. When Matthew offers him a chance at immortality and a new life free from the restraints of his puritanical upbringing, Marcus seizes the opportunity to become a vampire. But his transformation is not an easy one, and the ancient traditions and responsibilities of the de Clermont family clash with Marcus' deeply held beliefs in liberty, equality and brotherhood. Fast-forward to contemporary Paris, where Phoebe Taylor --- the young employee at Sotheby's for whom Marcus has fallen --- is about to embark on her own journey to immortality.

Total Mayhem: A Jonathan Grave Thriller by John Gilstrap - Political Thriller

June 25, 2019

America is under fire. One by one, simultaneous terror attacks have left the country reeling. The perpetrators are former Special Forces operatives working for ISIS. Jonathan Grave and his team are called to go undercover and eliminate the traitors. The assaults are rehearsals for extreme disaster. A plot codenamed Retribution. One terrorist is willing to talk --- for a price. Grave’s only resort is to slip into a dark web where everything can be exposed. Where the rules of engagement do not hold. The bombs have been set, and Grave is the one being hunted. Unless he can save himself first, a terrorist plot of unimaginable scope will become history’s deadliest disaster.

The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone by Felicity McLean - Mystery

June 25, 2019

Tikka Malloy was 11 and one-sixth years old during the long, hot, Australian summer of 1992. The TV news in the background chattered with debate about the exoneration of Lindy (“dingo took my baby”) Chamberlain. That summer was when the Van Apfel sisters --- Ruth, Hannah and the beautiful Cordelia --- mysteriously disappeared. Did they just run far away from their harsh, evangelical parents, or were they taken? While the search for the girls united the small community, the mystery of their disappearance was never solved, and Tikka and her older sister, Laura, have been haunted ever since by the loss of their friends and playmates. Now, years later, Tikka has returned home to try to make sense of that strange moment in time.

Vendetta by Iris Johansen - Thriller

June 25, 2019

With his dying breath, Carl Venable, head of the CIA task force on terrorism and Jude Brandon’s final link to terrorist ringleader Max Huber, gives Brandon a mandate: keep his daughter Rachel safe --- at all costs. But Rachel Venable has a shocking, twisted past of her own, one that comes rushing back after her medical clinic abroad is attacked by Huber --- the same man who murdered her father and kept her imprisoned for months. Now, along with agent Catherine Ling, Rachel’s longtime ally and fierce protector, Brandon is determined to keep Rachel out of danger. As he and Rachel race against the clock to bring Huber down before he can orchestrate a disaster that will lay waste to half the country, they also fight a growing attraction to each other --- one that could prove just as dangerous as Huber himself.