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Happy December to all!
Our house is half-decorated for Christmas. This means that last weekend I enlisted Tom, Greg and our Thanksgiving house guests to bring the bins of decorations from the attic to the first floor of the house. And I did “some” decorating, as in the pre-lit trees are up, but they are not decorated. The wreath is on the front porch, but I am 99% sure that the light with the timer is not on it. I spent time arranging the reindeer above like I was a four-year-old kid. They do make me laugh as they sit on the floor in front of the TV.
I realized that book club is here at the house on Tuesday night, so there is a deadline to get everything unpacked and the boxes stored away. We are reading THE SPECTACULAR by Fiona Davis. We felt it had the right vibe for the holiday as it is set at Radio City Music Hall, and Fiona is calling in for the discussion. I am looking forward to this. I just need some elves.
In other news, the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone…AND the new way that we cut the white meat on the turkey was a huge success. The best way to describe it is that Tom cut a V from the top of the turkey and then cut that down the middle. Each “V” section was then cut in 1-inch pieces instead of slices. The meat was a lot moister, and the leftovers never dried out. In case what I wrote made zero sense, here’s a video. And if I ever write a cookbook, I promise to do better!
Yesterday, Lisa Hickman and I met up with Nita Prose for lunch as she was in New Jersey for an event (you can see the three of us above). We both love Nita's THE MYSTERY GUEST, which is a terrific second book featuring Molly the maid. And yes, Nita is working on book three! It will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection, and you will see my commentary next week.
I loved the chance to catch up with Nita as I was not able to attend her evening event last night. We were hosting our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event with Dani Shapiro talking about SIGNAL FIRES, and I still cannot clone myself (though I do try). Lisa went to the program, which was held at the Glen Ridge Country Club, and said it was a smashing success. Our event with Dani also was a smashing success, and we will have the video and podcast of that for you next week.
For humor, when Nita went to check in at her hotel, her room was not ready. Lisa immediately commented that “Molly must be off her game,” as we know her character would have had that room looking “pristine.”
We are featuring our review of THE MYSTERY GUEST in this newsletter. Our reviewer Kate Ayers calls it “a fun mystery” and goes on to say, “If you like character-driven stories, this one’s for you. Molly Gray is one of the most unique characters I’ve come across in a long time and is oddly lovable. She is open, honest and wise, yet she believes herself to be barely worthy of all her blessings. She can’t imagine being anything other than a maid…. But when someone suggests something else she might be good at, Molly pauses to consider it. We will have to wait for the next Maid book to see what direction she takes.”
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Douglas Brunt, whose book, THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I, was an instant New York Times bestseller when it released in September. Apple Books has selected it as one of the 20 best books of 2023, and it already was named one of the Best History Books of the Year by Audible.
Doug talks about the origin of the story, which came about as he bought an older boat, and how his fascination with the character of Rudolf Diesel sprang from there. Many know about Diesel fuel, but few are aware that it was named for the man who invented it, along with the first Diesel engine. Doug explains why he chose to include a wider view of what was going on in the world at the time, as well as theories about Diesel’s fate. He goes on to present his thoughts on what really happened; to him, it was neither suicide nor murder. He also reveals his inspiration for his podcast, “Dedicated with Doug Brunt”, where he speaks with authors --- and shares cocktails. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
I typically am not a big nonfiction reader, but this book was such well-written narrative nonfiction that I was completely engaged with it. I found myself drawing on a lot of the historical fiction that I have read as I was reading it. And while over the last century there have been a couple of theories about what happened to Diesel, the premise that Doug draws makes perfect sense.
Our 12 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event is Now Available for Viewing!
Last month, we hosted our 12 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians, book club leaders and bloggers. Representatives from seven publishers presented more than 35 titles perfect for book groups that will be published between now and next May. You can watch the event here --- and if you would like to hear from a specific publisher, we have included timestamps for each of them.
To learn more about the books, click here to access a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title, along with a sheet to take notes. We heard from many attendees who enjoyed the event, including Cathy S., who wrote, “Thank you so much for this fabulous program. I found a number of interesting titles to read and recommend.”
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for our Year-End “Bookaccino Live” event that will take place THIS Wednesday, December 6th at 8pm ET. We will be talking to eight Bookreporter reviewers about their top three books of 2023. Our guests will be Kate Ayers, Harvey Freedenberg, Pamela Kramer, Rebecca Munro, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol, Ray Palen, Norah Piehl and Stuart Shiffman. Click here to register for the event. We look forward to “seeing” many of you there for what promises to be a very fun evening!
The Contest Deadline for Kristin Hannah’s THE WOMEN Has Been Extended!
Our contest for Kristin Hannah’s upcoming novel, THE WOMEN, will now be open until THIS Monday, December 4th at noon ET. We are giving 25 readers the opportunity to share their comments on the book and submit a question for Kristin.
Winners must be committed to sending us both their feedback and their question for Kristin by Monday, January 8th. I will be chatting with Kristin during a live “Bookreporter Talks To” interview after the book’s February 6th release and asking some of these questions. Winners also will be given the option of asking Kristin their question on camera!
It was announced this week that Lauren Grodstein’s new book, WE MUST NOT THINK OF OURSELVES, is December’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. Inspired by a little-known piece of history --- the underground group that kept an archive to ensure that the lives of Jewish occupants of the Warsaw Ghetto in World War II were not lost to history --- this is a heart-wrenching novel of love and defiance.
According to our reviewer Katherine B. Weissman, the book is “a gripping mix of past and present, cruelty and beauty, privation and improvisation… Much of what we know about the Warsaw Ghetto comes from Oneg Shabbat, which buried three caches of documentary evidence. Two were unearthed, in 1946 and 1950. The third has never been found. But this novel is not simply a compendium of research, although I’m sure Grodstein did plenty. It is an act of love and vision, reconstructing life in the ghetto in all its rage, hunger, grief --- and, sometimes, beauty, ingenuity and hope. I wept when I came to the end.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE WATCHMAKER’S HAND: In Jeffery Deaver’s twisty new thriller, forensic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and detective Amelia Sachs track a criminal with a bizarre and catastrophic m.o. --- toppling the construction cranes in New York City.
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THE VULNERABLES: Sigrid Nunez’s ninth novel offers a meditation on our contemporary era, as a solitary female narrator asks what it means to be alive at this complex moment in history and considers how our present reality affects the way a person looks back on her past.
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THE FUTURE: A handful of friends plot a daring heist to save the world from the tech giants whose greed threatens life as we know it in Naomi Alderman’s latest novel, which highlights how power corrupts the few who have it and what it means to stand up to them.
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THE FICTION WRITER: Jillian Cantor's new book follows a writer hired by a handsome billionaire to write about his family history with Daphne du Maurier and finds herself drawn into a tangled web of obsession, marital secrets and stolen manuscripts.
Books on Screen Offerings for December
We’ve updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. December’s roundup includes the season two premiere of "Reacher" on Amazon Prime Video; the films The Boys in the Boat, The Color Purple, Wonka, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever, Eileen, Ferrari and the Netflix premiere of Leave the World Behind; the season finales of "Black Cake" on Hulu, "Slow Horses" on Apple TV+ and "Sullivan's Crossing" on The CW; the conclusion of Showtime's "Fellow Travelers"; the premieres of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" on Disney+ and the HBO docuseries "Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage and Reckoning"; and the DVD releases of Dumb Money, Rumble Through the Dark and The Last Voyage of the Demeter.
Holiday Cheer Update
In this week’s Holiday Cheer contest, we gave away MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT by Nina Simon, which we also are featuring in our “What to Give, What to Get” Guide. Our last Holiday Cheer giveaway will be up on Tuesday, December 12th at noon ET; the prize book will be THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, December 15th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon and THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner. We plan to review both these titles next week, and the latter will be a Bets On pick.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
It’s that time of year when we ask if you’re planning to give books as gifts this holiday season. Let us know by voting in our latest poll.
In our previous poll, we listed 25 titles releasing in paperback in November and December and asked which of them, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
The 2023 Booker Prize has been awarded to Paul Lynch for his fifth novel, PROPHET SONG, an exhilarating and propulsive portrait of a nation sliding into tyranny --- and one woman's attempts to hold her family together. Heralded in one review as "a crucial book for our current times," it captures some of the biggest social and political anxieties of our age, from the rise of political extremism to the global plight of refugees. Lynch is the fifth Irish writer to win the Booker Prize, after Iris Murdoch, John Banville, Roddy Doyle and Anne Enright. Read more about Lynch and PROPHET SONG here.
The final round is now open for the 15th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers. Be sure to cast your votes in 15 different categories by this Sunday, December 3rd. The winners will be announced on Thursday, December 7th.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Myra wrote about last night's event with Dani Shapiro: “Your interviews with authors are great. You are a good interviewer. You step in at the right time and never overpower the author you are interviewing. I don’t know how I came about 'Bookaccino Live' a few years ago, but it has introduced me to so many authors I would not have stumbled upon on my own. It is your gift to your 'Fans.' Thank you, and may you, the two Toms and your families have a wonderful December holiday season.” Thank you for your lovely note. I am so glad that you enjoyed the event. Dani is really terrific. It is such fun to talk to an engaged author like that!
We got some lovely Thanksgiving messages. Lorraine wrote to me and the team about last week’s newsletter: “Lovely message, with meaningful ideas. Happy Thanksgiving.” Harriet wrote, “Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I am grateful to Bookreporter.com. Thank you.” Mindy wrote, “Just wanted to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all you do for the love of books and authors!” Dale wrote, “I just want to let you know how much I look forward to receiving your emails. Happy Thanksgiving, and I wish you, your family and your staff the very best.”
Love Actually on Netflix: Yes, we watched this film on Thanksgiving night as both Angela and Glynnis who were visiting said it was a holiday must.
“Lessons in Chemistry” on Apple TV+: I finally got to watch the end of this series. Though it veered from the book, I liked it.
My access to Hulu somehow has been cut off, even though I am paying for it, so I am not caught up on “Black Cake”. I see a call to them in my future. Between this and the cable box in my office, which auto-reboots itself, I need tech elves to deal with these things as I have zero time for them!
Oh, and about the LEGO fall centerpiece that was going to be a “group craft.” Well, Cory put it together in an hour! I started working on one side that mirrored one that he was doing, and on piece six I already was not on top of this, even with the directions and pieces segmented for each section. It was fun watching him do it!
Aside from decorating the house, I have a list of books that I want to read for my final Bets On selections of the year. Our BIG year-end contest kicks off next week. Do you see why I need a fleet of elves? And I am not talking about shopping or baking or organizing holiday dinners yet. I am reading the aforementioned THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner, and it’s terrific. I thought I had the killer figured out --- and a motive --- but then…well, wow! I look forward to finishing it.
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review: THE MYSTERY GUEST by Nita Prose
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE MYSTERY GUEST: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Ambrose
With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, Molly Gray has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J. D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead on the hotel’s tearoom floor. When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know: Who killed J. D. Grimthorpe? As the high-profile death threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows that she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past, as long ago she knew J. D. Grimthorpe. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
THE MYSTERY GUEST will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review:
WE MUST NOT THINK OF OURSELVES
by Lauren Grodstein
December’s “Read with Jenna”
Today Show Book Club Pick
WE MUST NOT THINK OF OURSELVES by Lauren Grodstein (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Brad Griffith, Jesse Vilinsky, Sharon Freedman, Amir Levi and Rich Keeble
In November 1940, Adam Paskow becomes a prisoner in the Warsaw Ghetto, where the Jews of the city are cut off from their former lives and held captive by Nazi guards. Weeks later, he is approached by a mysterious figure with a surprising request: Will he join a secret group of archivists working to preserve the truth of what is happening inside these walls? Adam agrees and begins taking testimonies from his students, friends and neighbors. One of the people Adam interviews is his flatmate Sala Wiskoff, who is married with two children. Over the months of their confinement, in the presence of her family, Adam and Sala fall in love. But when Adam discovers a possible escape from the Ghetto, he is faced with an unbearable choice: Whom can he save, and at what cost? Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE WATCHMAKER’S HAND
by Jeffery Deaver
THE WATCHMAKER'S HAND: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Edoardo Ballerini
When a New York City construction crane mysteriously collapses, causing mass destruction and injury, forensic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and detective Amelia Sachs are on the case. A political group claims responsibility for the sabotage and threatens another attack in 24 hours, unless its demands are met. Then a clue reveals to Rhyme that his nemesis, known as the Watchmaker, has come to town to fulfill his promise of murdering the criminalist. Now Rhyme and Sachs have to dodge his brilliant scheme to destroy them both, while racing against time to stop the construction site terrorists. With New York in a panic, Rhyme and his team must unravel a handful of plots as tightly wound as a timepiece --- before more cranes fall, raining down death and destruction from above. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Special Contest: Enter to Win One of
25 Advance Copies of THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah
Share Your Feedback on the Book
and Ask Kristin a Question!
From master storyteller Kristin Hannah, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE NIGHTINGALE, THE GREAT ALONE and THE FOUR WINDS, comes the story of a turbulent, transformative era in America: the 1960s.
We are giving 25 readers the chance to win an advance copy of THE WOMEN. All winners must be prepared to provide feedback on the book and share a question for Kristin by Monday, January 8th. Carol will ask Kristin some of these questions during a live "Bookreporter Talks To" interview after the book's February 6th release. The winners also will be given the option of appearing on camera to share their question with Kristin.
To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, December 4th at noon ET.
THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction)
“Women can be heroes, too.”
When 20-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing and being a good girl. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.
THE WOMEN is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyric beauty, THE WOMEN is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define a generation.
- Click here to read Kristin Hannah's bio.
- Click here to visit Kristin Hannah's website.
- Connect with Kristin Hannah on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 12 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event: Great Books for Book Groups
Featured Review: THE VULNERABLES by Sigrid Nunez
THE VULNERABLES by Sigrid Nunez (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
Elegy plus comedy is the only way to express how we live in the world today, says a character in Sigrid Nunez’s ninth novel. THE VULNERABLES offers a meditation on our contemporary era, as a solitary female narrator asks what it means to be alive at this complex moment in history and considers how our present reality affects the way a person looks back on her past. Humor, to be sure, is a priceless refuge. Equally vital is connection with others, who here include an adrift member of Gen Z and a spirited parrot named Eureka. This book reveals what happens when strangers are willing to open their hearts to each other and how far even small acts of caring can go to ease another’s distress. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE FUTURE by Naomi Alderman
THE FUTURE by Naomi Alderman (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by a full cast with the author
When Martha Einkorn fled her father’s isolated compound in Oregon, she never expected to find herself working for a powerful social media mogul hell-bent on controlling everything. If the apocalyptic warnings in her father’s fox and rabbit sermon are starting to come true, how much future is actually left? Across the world, in a mall in Singapore, an internet-famous survivalist named Lai Zhen flees from an assassin. Suddenly, a remarkable piece of software appears on her phone telling her exactly how to escape. Who made it? What is it really for? And if those behind it can save her from danger, what do they want from her, and what else do they know about the future? Martha and Zhen’s worlds are about to collide. An explosive chain of events is set in motion. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE FICTION WRITER by Jillian Cantor
THE FICTION WRITER by Jillian Cantor (Gothic Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Allyson Ryan
The once-rising literary star Olivia Fitzgerald is down on her luck. Her most recent novel --- a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s REBECCA --- was a flop, her boyfriend of nine years just dumped her, and she’s battling a bad case of writer’s block. So when her agent calls her with a high-paying ghostwriting opportunity, Olivia is all too willing to sign the NDA. At first, the write-for-hire job seems too good to be true. All she has to do is interview Henry “Ash” Asherwood, a reclusive mega billionaire, twice named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, who wants her help in writing a book that reveals a shocking secret about his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier. But when Olivia arrives at his Malibu estate, nothing is as it seems --- and before she knows it, she’s trapped in a gothic mystery of her own. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature
This year, we kick off the holiday season in style with three Holiday Cheer contests. Our prize books are THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters, THE JOLLIEST BUNCH: Unhinged Holiday Stories by Danny Pellegrino, and MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT by Nina Simon.
Our final 24-hour contest of the year will go live on Tuesday, December 12th at noon ET. Five readers will win a copy of THE BERRY PICKERS. If you would like to receive a special Holiday Cheer newsletter alerting you to this giveaway, you can sign up for it here.
THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters (Fiction)
A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a mystery that will haunt the survivors, unravel a family and remain unsolved for nearly 50 years.
THE JOLLIEST BUNCH: Unhinged Holiday Stories by Danny Pellegrino (Humor/Essays)
From the New York Times bestselling author of HOW DO I UN-REMEMBER THIS? and host of the hit podcast "Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino" comes a collection of tragically hilarious holiday mishaps.
MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT by Nina Simon (Mystery)
Nothing brings a family together like a murder next door. MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT is a lighthearted whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio of amateur sleuths. Think "Gilmore Girls" but with murder.
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Bookreporter.com’s “What to Give, What to Get” Guide:
“Reader Perfect” Suggestions
for Holiday Giving and Getting
We at Bookreporter.com know that readers crave ideas for gift-giving --- and getting --- at the holidays. With this in mind, we're offering a "What to Give, What to Get" Guide with "Reader Perfect" suggestions. We have book ideas for everyone on your holiday list. And while you're looking for gifts for others, may we suggest you jot down notes for books YOU want? Let the shopping begin!
Our featured titles are:
Click here to see our "What to Give, What to Get" Guide.
December’s Books on Screen Feature
THE LAST OUTLAWS: The Desperate Final Days of the Dalton Gang by Tom Clavin (History)
Audiobook available, read by George Newbern
The dreaded Dalton Gang consisted of three brothers and their rotating cast of colorful accomplices who saw themselves as descended from the legendary James brothers. They soon became legends themselves, beginning their career as common horse thieves before graduating to robbing banks and trains. On October 5, 1892, the Dalton Gang attempted their boldest and bloodiest raid yet: robbing two banks in broad daylight in Coffeyville, Kansas, simultaneously. For the first time ever, the full story of the Dalton Gang's life of crime, culminating in one of the Wild West’s most violent events, are chronicled in detail --- a last gruesome gasp of the age of gunfights. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
A TRUE ACCOUNT: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself by Katherine Howe (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Petrea Burchard
In Boston, as the Golden Age of Piracy comes to a bloody close, Hannah Masury is ready to take her life into her own hands. When a man is hanged for piracy in the town square and whispers of a treasure in the Caribbean spread, Hannah is forced to flee for her life, disguising herself as a cabin boy in the pitiless crew of the notorious pirate Edward "Ned" Low. To earn the freedom to choose a path for herself, Hannah must hunt down the treasure and change the tides. Meanwhile, professor Marian Beresford pieces Hannah’s story together in 1930, seeing her own lack of freedom reflected back at her as she watches Hannah's transformation. At the center of Hannah’s account lies a centuries-old mystery that Marian is determined to solve, just as Hannah may have been determined to take it to her grave. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
UHTRED'S FEAST: Inside the World of The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell with Suzanne Pollak (Historical Fiction/Social History)
Audiobook available, read by Matt Bates
UHTRED’S FEAST offers rich background on the books of Bernard Cornwell’s Last Kingdom series, presenting a fascinating, detailed view of Anglo-Saxon life in all its splendor, danger and beauty. With his narrative flair, Cornwell explores every aspect of this historical period, from the clothes to weapons to food, offering beautifully crafted recipes of early Anglo-Saxon fare, created by renowned UK chef Suzanne Pollak. In addition, he has written three new stories exclusive to this book that reveal the man behind the shield --- Uhtred as a young boy, as Alfred’s advisor, and as prince. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
THE CORE OF AN ONION: Peeling the Rarest Common Food — Featuring More Than 100 Historical Recipes by Mark Kurlansky (Cooking/History)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Kurlansky
Flourishing in just about every climate and culture around the world, onions have provided the essential basis not only for sautés, stews and sauces, but for medicines, metaphors and folklore. Now they're Mark Kurlansky's most flavorful infatuation yet as he sets out to explore how and why the crop reigns from Italy to India and everywhere in between. Featuring historical images and his own pen-and-ink drawings, Kurlansky begins with the science and history of the only sulfuric acid-spewing plant, then digs through its 20 varieties and the cultures built around them. Entering the kitchen, he celebrates the raw, roasted, creamed, marinated and pickled. THE CORE OF AN ONION also includes a recipe section featuring more than 100 dishes from around the world. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EIGHT by Nalini Singh (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
They met when they were teenagers. Now they’re adults, and time has been kind to some and unkind to others --- none more so than to Bea, the one they lost nine long years ago. They’ve gathered to reminisce at Bea’s family’s estate, a once-glorious mansion straight out of a gothic novel. Best friends, old flames, secret enemies and new lovers are all under one roof. But when the weather turns and they’re snowed in at the edge of eternity, there’s nowhere left to hide from their shared history. As the walls close in, the pretense of normality gives way to long-buried grief, bitterness and rage. Underneath it all, there’s the nagging feeling that Bea’s shocking death wasn’t what it was claimed to be. And before the weekend is through, the truth will be unleashed --- no matter the cost. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
HOT SPRINGS DRIVE by Lindsay Hunter (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Emily Ellet
Jackie Stinson’s best friend is dead, and everyone knows who killed her. Jackie is an ex–emotional eater and mother of four who finally has lost the weight she long yearned to be free of. In her new, sharp-edged body, she goes by Jacqueline. But leaving her old self behind proves harder than she ever imagined. And while she believes she should be happier, misery still chases her, and motherhood threatens to subsume what little is left of her. Jacqueline’s only salve is her best friend Theresa, whose seemingly perfect life she desperately covets. Since they met in the maternity ward 15 years earlier, the two have survived the trials of motherhood side by side. Their bond is tight, but it is not enough to keep Jacqueline from stealing a bit of Theresa’s perfect life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
KENNEDY 35: A BOX 88 Thriller by Charles Cumming (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Elliot Fitzpatrick
1995: In the wake of the Rwandan genocide, 24-year-old spy Lachlan Kite and his girlfriend, Martha Raine, are sent to Senegal on the trail of a hunted war criminal. The mission threatens to spiral out of control, forcing Kite to make choices that will have devastating consequences not only for his career at top-secret intelligence agency BOX 88, but also for his relationship with Martha. 2023: Eric Appiah, an old friend from Kite’s days at school and an off-the-record BOX 88 asset, makes contact with explosive information about what happened all those years ago in West Africa. When tragedy strikes, Kite must use all the resources at his disposal to protect Martha from a criminal network with links to international terror. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A LORD by Celeste Connally (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Eilidh Beaton
After losing her beloved fiancé in an accident three years earlier, Lady Petra Forsyth announces in front of London’s loosest lips that she will never marry. A woman of independent means, Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life is gone. Instead, she plans to continue enjoying the best of society without any expectations. But when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of a fit due to her “melancholia” while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper --- uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. Just as Petra has reason to believe her friend is alive, a shocking murder proves that more danger is afoot than she thought. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on December 4th and 5th
Below are some notable titles releasing on December 4th and 5th 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 available the week of December 4th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
December 4th
WHAT REALLY HAPPENS IN VEGAS: True Stories of the People Who Make Vegas, Vegas by James Patterson and Mark Seal (Biography)
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas --- until now. James Patterson shows the real Vegas in a dazzling journey through “lively tales of those who labor and dream in Sin City" (Kirkus).
December 5th
BECOMING ELLA FITZGERALD: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song by Judith Tick (Biography)
Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996) possessed one of the 20th century’s most astonishing voices. In this first major biography since Fitzgerald’s death, historian Judith Tick offers a sublime portrait of this ambitious risk-taker whose exceptional musical spontaneity made her a transformational artist.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF GONE by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
The truth behind a teenage girl’s disappearance becomes something to conceal in a gripping novel about justice, lies and impossible choices by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
THE FOURTH RULE by Jeff Lindsay (Thriller)
Packed with Jeff Lindsay’s trademark style of intricately plotted twists, stunning global settings and thrilling action, THE FOURTH RULE is a relentlessly suspenseful and delicious escapist thriller that will leave you shocked, breathless and endlessly entertained.
THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon (Historical Mystery)
From the New York Times bestselling author of I WAS ANASTASIA and CODE NAME HÉLÈNE comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
THE LOST TOMB: And Other Real-Life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder by Douglas Preston (True Crime/History)
Douglas Preston, the #1 bestselling author of THE LOST CITY OF THE MONKEY GOD, presents the jaw-dropping discovery of a vast Egyptian tomb containing dozens of sealed burial chambers, as well as recounting tales of pirate treasure, mysterious deaths, archaeological mysteries and more.
MANNER OF DEATH by Robin Cook (Medical Thriller)
In this new fast-paced medical thriller from bestselling author Robin Cook, Dr. Jack Stapleton and his wife, NYC Chief Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery, are inadvertently drawn into a dangerous vortex of a series of homicides that have been cleverly staged as suicides.
THE MAYORS OF NEW YORK: A Lydia Chin/Bill Smith Mystery by S. J. Rozan (Mystery)
In this new crime novel from the award-winning S. J. Rozan, private investigators Lydia Chin and Bill Smith find themselves thrust into the mystery behind the disappearance of the teenage son of the mayor of New York.
THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner (Domestic Thriller)
The author of GREENWICH PARK returns with a fresh and deftly paced thriller about murder, class and motherhood in an exclusive London community.
THE WONDER OF IT ALL: A House of Falconer Novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford (Historical Fiction)
Told with Barbara Taylor Bradford's inimitable style and flair for period detail, THE WONDER OF IT ALL concludes the House of Falconer trilogy that has followed the story of this remarkable family from Victorian times to the 20th century.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Mary Kay Andrews, Barbra Streisand, Alice McDermott
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are eight upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, December 4th at 2pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Val McDermid will talk about her latest novel, PAST LYING, a superb new addition to her masterful crime series. DCI Karen Pirie returns in a propulsive thriller of deceit and vengeance, set against the disquiet of a global pandemic.
Monday, December 4th at 4pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews for a live virtual discussion of BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS, a novella celebrating love and the warm, glittering charm of the holiday season. Mary Kay will be in conversation with Adriana Trigiani, the New York Times bestselling author of 20 books of fiction and nonfiction, most recently THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE.
Monday, December 4th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: S. J. Rozan will talk about her new crime novel, THE MAYORS OF NEW YORK, in which private investigators Lydia Chin and Bill Smith find themselves thrust into the mystery behind the disappearance of the teenage son of the mayor of New York.
Tuesday, December 5th at 4pm ET: Book Passage: Alice McDermott and Lisa Gornick will talk about their latest novels: Alice's ABSOLUTION, a riveting account of women’s lives on the margins of the Vietnam War, and Lisa's ANA TURNS, a kaleidoscopic story that unspools over the 24 hours of a very contemporary woman's 60th birthday.
Tuesday, December 5th at 8pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome New York Times bestselling author and living legend Barbra Streisand for a live virtual discussion of MY NAME IS BARBRA, the long-awaited memoir by the superstar of stage, screen, recordings and television. Barbra will be in conversation with humorist, journalist and actor Mo Rocca.
Wednesday, December 6th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Alice McDermott for a live virtual event to discuss ABSOLUTION, November's B&N Book Club pick. She will be in conversation with Shannon DeVito, the Sr. Director of Book Strategy and Customer Experience at B&N, and Miwa Messer, the host and Executive Producer of B&N's “Poured Over” podcast.
Wednesday, December 6th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to Tessa Bailey about her new novel, WRECK THE HALLS, a sexy, hilarious stand-alone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their estranged mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert.
Wednesday, December 6th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Reviewer Event: Join us for a special “Bookaccino Live” evening event as eight of our reviewers share their favorite books of 2023. Our guests will be Kate Ayers, Harvey Freedenberg, Pamela Kramer, Rebecca Munro, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol, Ray Palen, Norah Piehl and Stuart Shiffman.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here is our latest interview:
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Douglas Brunt (THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Gilly Macmillan (THE MANOR HOUSE)
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Nita Prose (THE MYSTERY GUEST: A Maid Novel)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Giving Books for the Holidays
Are you planning to give books as gifts this holiday season? Please check all that apply.
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I am planning to give print books (hardcovers and/or paperbacks).
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I am planning to give e-books.
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I am planning to give audiobooks.
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I am planning to give a gift card that will allow the recipient to buy a print book, e-book or audiobook.
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I am not planning to give any books or book gift cards this year.
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I am not sure what I am doing.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, December 15th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from December 1st to December 15th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon and THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner.
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.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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