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I know that Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, but this year it feels so early. I am behind on pulling together the menu and making shopping lists. I am thinking about what “new” item I want to add to the plan. I am playing around with a root vegetable dish with parsnips, celery root and other vegetables. I love to make up recipes. I made stir fry last night; we marinated the chicken in pineapple juice, and added daikon radish and fresh pineapple, along with other vegetables. That will be made again, and next time I will remember to add the soy sauce as I am cooking instead of later. This proves that my brain has been crammed with turkey-related thoughts.
I also feel like I am back in school prepping for finals as I am reading as fast as I can, trying to sneak in a number of author interviews and to see if there are any more Bookreporter.com Bets On selections for the year. I am listening to books, as well as reading, to try to get as much scheduled as possible. There are some terrific books coming out these next few weeks, and I do not want them to get lost in the hurry-up to the holidays. Before I turn to 2024 books, I feel like I want to be sure I am giving all 2023 books their due.
Drumroll, please! This week, we kick off a special contest --- with a couple of fun additions --- for THE WOMEN, Kristin Hannah’s highly anticipated new historical novel that releases on February 6th.
“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. 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.
We have 25 advance copies of THE WOMEN to give away to those who would like to read the book, share their comments on it and submit a question for Kristin. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, December 1st at noon ET.
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 a month or so after the book releases and asking some of these questions. For those winners who would like to ask Kristin their question on camera, we would be happy to have you join us. We had so much fun hosting a similar event with William Kent Krueger last month, and we received such great feedback on it, so we’re looking forward to bringing you this one! This time we are planning it as an evening program.
The 6:20 Man is back, dropped by his handlers into a small coastal town in Maine to solve the murder of a CIA agent who knew America’s dirtiest secrets. Can Travis Devine uncover the truth before his time runs out? Find out in David Baldacci’s newly released thriller, THE EDGE, which is a follow-up to last year’s THE 6:20 MAN.
According to our reviewer Ray Palen, “Baldacci uses every card up his sleeve to keep THE EDGE consistently pumping with life and brilliant plot tricks that surprise and stun. Once again, he shows that he is more than just a bestselling author. A writer who is always relevant and never phones anything in, Baldacci pushes himself to churn out top-notch thrillers that not only entertain but remain eminently readable.”
DAY is Michael Cunningham’s first novel in nearly a decade. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of THE HOURS, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, has written a story set in three different time periods --- 2019, 2020 and 2021 --- on the same day, April 5th. The book explores love and loss, the struggles and limitations of family life, and how we all must learn to live together and apart.
Harvey Freedenberg has our review and says, “Cunningham’s supreme talent lies in his ability to map, with honesty and empathy, the storms and sunny days that make up the weather of his characters’ interior lives and to allow us to connect their struggles with our own…. Anyone who believes that great fiction has the power to hold a mirror up to what it means to be human will relish this fine novel.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE MANOR HOUSE: Gilly Macmillan, whose previous books include the psychological thrillers THE NANNY and WHAT SHE KNEW, is back with a terrifying story of what can happen after all your dreams come true. Be careful what you wish for...
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A VERY INCONVENIENT SCANDAL: This page-turning family drama from Jacquelyn Mitchard explores the emotional consequences of loyalty, deception and jealousy. Stunned by her recently widowed father’s reckless behavior, a young woman must learn to navigate a new world.
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THE COMFORT OF CROWS: Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: 52 chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. The book also includes 52 full-page original illustrations by her brother, Billy Renkl.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We’re giving away A VERY INCONVENIENT SCANDAL in our new Word of Mouth contest, along with THE MYSTERY GUEST, a stand-alone sequel to Nita Prose’s THE MAID and a future Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Let us know by Friday, December 1st at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On selection is THE SPY COAST, the first entry in Tess Gerritsen’s Martini Club series, which we reviewed earlier this month. Click here for my commentary. If you didn’t catch my interview with Tess that went up last week, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Allegra Goodman
Out in paperback this week is SAM by Allegra Goodman, a “Read with Jenna” pick that explores what happens to a girl’s sense of joy and belonging --- to her belief in herself --- as she becomes a woman. I talked to Allegra about the book in January when it released in hardcover, so if you missed the interview or would like to revisit it, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
Our new poll asks which of 25 paperbacks releasing in November and December you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes by Friday, December 1st at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we listed 25 fiction titles that are being published this month for the first time and asked which of them, if any, you are looking forward to reading. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
The National Book Awards were presented on Wednesday night during an in-person ceremony in New York City that also was streamed live. It was hosted by actor, director and education advocate LeVar Burton and featured a special guest appearance by the one and only Oprah.
The winners were BLACKOUTS by Justin Torres (Fiction), THE REDISCOVERY OF AMERICA: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History, by Ned Blackhawk (Nonfiction); FROM UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY [ÅMOT] by Craig Santos Perez (Poetry); THE WORDS THAT REMAIN by Stênio Gardel, translated from the Portuguese by Bruna Dantas Lobato (Translated Literature); and A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Dan Santat (Young People’s Literature).
Two lifetime achievement awards also were presented as part of the evening’s ceremony. Paul Yamazaki, a bookseller at City Lights Booksellers & Publishers since 1970, received the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community. And Rita Dove, who received the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for her third collection of poetry, THOMAS AND BEULAH, was recognized with the Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. If you missed the ceremony, you can watch it here.
Voting is now underway for the 15th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers. Two rounds of voting are open to all registered Goodreads members, with the opening round ending on November 26th. Click here to cast your votes in 15 categories, and check out the voting schedule here. The winners will be announced on December 7th.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Here's a lovely note from Kelly: “Just a quick note to say thank you. I look forward to your newsletters all week. It is one of my best sources for the latest books. I also am a huge fan of your 'Bookaccino Live' events. So much research by you and the staff, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I received a copy of BANYAN MOON from you earlier this year. I’ve been traveling all year and will be home soon to get my gift. Thank you so much. I’m looking forward to it. Enjoy the holidays and happy reading!”
“The Crown” is Back on Netflix: One of the few shows that Husband Tom will watch with me.
BBC Culture: Here's a piece from BBC Culture saying that “every story in the world has one of these six basic plots.” See if you agree.
Nyad on Netflix: This film was terrific. I confess to forgetting how many attempts Diana Nyad made at this swim or her age when she made them. Reading about it is one thing, but seeing it fictionalized reminds me of just how arduous this was. Annette Bening and Jodie Foster are fabulous!
“Black Cake” on Hulu: I am enjoying this series. I like the pacing and parsing of the story.
JFK: What the Doctors Saw on Paramount+: A very interesting documentary about JFK's assassination. A real 360-degree from that day.
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial on Showtime: I would say that this one is a skip. I had noted to watch it a few weeks ago, but when I did see it, I was less than impressed. So was Husband Tom.
Interview and Fashion Shoot with Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos’ Fiancée: I am not sure when I have read a more cringeworthy piece. Can we please go back to supermodels wearing the clothes, and do articles about people who are not just name-dropping?
I read this week about Hazel Tindall, who is known as the world’s fastest knitter. How fast is she? The record stands at 262 stitches in three minutes. As I am getting ambitious about knitting holiday gifts, I wish I had her talent. Of course, she may not type as quickly as I do! And audiobooks have been helping me to multitask. How many words to the inch?
I was at my local yarn shop last weekend for knitting help. Yes, there are issues when you have 160 stitches on the needles when you should have 120. We talked books, as well as knitting. It was fun to catch up with the folks there who I have not seen in a while. Alicia, who was helping me, finally figured out who I was: “The Skirt Lady.” She remembers me making skirts and bringing them in there for tips on finishing them. It was lots of fun chatting with her as I was unraveling.
Last Sunday, we were successful at getting watermelon radishes (they had LOTS of them) and eucalyptus. So this week’s hunt and gather at the farmers' market will be all about turkey sides and flowers for the centerpiece. I am off to find last year’s menu and see what I can make besides the tried and trues!
We will be back in your inboxes on Wednesday so the team can enjoy the long Thanksgiving weekend.
Read on, and we’ll see you in five days.
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!
New 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 Friday, December 1st 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.
Featured Review: THE EDGE by David Baldacci
THE EDGE: A 6:20 Man Thriller by David Baldacci (Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Zachary Webber, Erin Cottrell, Will Collyer, Erin Bennett and Tiffany Smith
When CIA operative Jenny Silkwell is murdered in rural Maine, government officials have immediate concerns over national security. Her laptop and phone were full of state secrets that, in the wrong hands, endanger the lives of countless operatives. Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine spent his time in the military preparing to take on any scenario, so his analytical mind makes him particularly well-suited for complex, high-stakes tasks. Taking down the world’s largest financial conspiracy proved his value, and in comparison, this case looks straightforward. Except small towns hold secrets, and Devine finds himself an outsider again. As Devine gets to know the residents of Putnam, Maine, answers seem to appear and then transform into more questions. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: DAY by Michael Cunningham
DAY by Michael Cunningham (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Julianne Moore
April 5, 2019: In a cozy brownstone in Brooklyn, the veneer of domestic bliss is beginning to crack. Dan and his wife, Isabel, are slowly drifting apart --- and both, it seems, are a little bit in love with Isabel’s younger brother, Robbie. Ten-year-old Nathan is taking his first uncertain steps toward independence, while his sister, five-year-old Violet, does her best not to notice the growing rift between her parents. April 5, 2020: As the world goes into lockdown, the cozy brownstone is starting to feel more like a prison. Violet is terrified of leaving the windows open. Isabel and Dan communicate mostly in veiled sleights and frustrated sighs. And Robbie is stranded in Iceland. April 5, 2021: Emerging from the worst of the crisis, the family reckons with a new, very different reality. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE SPY COAST by Tess Gerritsen
THE SPY COAST by Tess Gerritsen (Thriller)
In May, I had the pleasure of hearing Tess Gerritsen talk about THE SPY COAST, which had me excited about it. When I read the book, it really lived up to her description and enthusiasm for it. The idea for the characters came from some people in her Maine town who “had worked in government in Washington, DC.” And they said not much more. She realized along the way that they were retired CIA agents.
From that kernel of an idea, Tess developed her characters for the book, who now are retired, living in Purity, Maine, and members of the Martini Club, which is what they call their book club. But their quiet existence is shattered when one of them, Maggie Bird, who is now running a chicken farm, learns that there is a body at the end of her driveway. It’s a woman who brought her a message earlier in the day that one of her former foes is still looking for her.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Tess Gerritsen.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
Featured Review: THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan
THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available; read by Ethan Reid, Nathalie Buscombe, Clare Corbett, Fenella Woolger, Josh Dylan, Ben Allen and Sian Thomas
Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple --- until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight. Soon they’ve moved into a custom-built state-of-the-art Glass Barn on the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire. They have fancy cars, expensive hobbies and an exclusive lifestyle they never could have imagined. But this dream world quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool. Was Tom’s death a tragic accident, or was it something worse? There’s a nice young couple who live in the Manor itself along with their middle-aged housekeeper who has the Coach House. And an old friend of Tom’s from school has turned up to help Nicole get through her grief. But big money can bring big problems and big threats. Is Nicole's life in danger as well? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: A VERY INCONVENIENT SCANDAL
by Jacquelyn Mitchard
A VERY INCONVENIENT SCANDAL by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Caroline Hewitt
Frankie Attleboro returns home to Cape Cod with thrilling news. She’s met the love of her life, and they’re getting married with a baby on the way. That’s the moment her widowed father makes his own jaw-dropping announcement. At 60, he’s getting married as well, to Frankie’s best friend, Ariel, who is also pregnant, and due soon. As Frankie and Ariel struggle to adjust to their new relationship, Ariel’s estranged mother, Carlotta, returns after a decade-long absence. She claims to be a changed woman. But is she really? And where has she been all these years? Frankie is suspicious, and as Carlotta’s unpredictable behavior intensifies, Frankie must untangle the threads of the past to protect Ariel’s future --- and her own. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE COMFORT OF CROWS
by Margaret Renkl
THE COMFORT OF CROWS: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl (Memoir/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Margaret Renkl
In THE COMFORT OF CROWS, Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: 52 chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons --- from a crow spied on New Year’s Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest box they used in spring --- what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer. Along the way, we also glimpse the changing rhythms of a human life. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature
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.
PAST LYING: A Karen Pirie Novel by Val McDermid (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Lyle
It’s April 2020, and Edinburgh is in lockdown. It would seem like a strange time for a cold case to go hot --- the streets all but empty, an hour’s outdoor exercise the maximum allowed --- but a mere pandemic doesn’t mean crime takes a holiday. When a source at the National Library contacts DCI Karen Pirie’s team about documents in the archive of a recently deceased crime novelist, it seems it’s game on again. At the center of it, a novel: two crime novelists facing off over a chessboard. But it quickly emerges that their real-life competition is drawing blood. What unspools is a twisted game of betrayal and revenge, and as Karen and her team attempt to disentangle fact from fiction, it becomes clear that their investigation is more complicated than they ever imagined. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE HELSINKI AFFAIR by Anna Pitoniak (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Amanda Dolan
Amanda Cole is a brilliant young CIA officer following in the footsteps of her father, who was a spy during the Cold War. One hot summer day, a Russian defector warns of the imminent assassination of a US senator. Though Amanda takes the warning seriously, her superiors don’t. Twenty-four hours later, the senator is dead. And the assassination is just the beginning. Corporate blackmail, covert manipulation, corrupt oligarchs: the Kremlin has found a dangerous new way to wage war. Teaming up with Kath Frost, a fearless older woman and legendary spy, Amanda races to unravel the international conspiracy. But as she gets closer and closer to the truth, a central question haunts her: Why was her father’s name written down in the senator’s notes? What does Charlie Cole really know about the Kremlin plot? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE PUREST BOND: Understanding the Human–Canine Connection by Jen Golbeck and Stacey Colino (Self-Help/Personal Growth)
Audiobook available, read by Jen Golbeck
Dogs have been considered people’s best friend for thousands of years, but never has the relationship between humans and their canine companions been as vitally important as it is today. With all of the seismic shifts in today’s world, rates of anxiety and depression have been skyrocketing, and people have been turning to their dogs for solace and stability. In the United States alone, dog adoptions doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic. As people have brought furry friends into their lives for the first time or seized this opportunity to deepen the connections they already have, they are looking to understand how owning a dog can change their lives. Now, THE PUREST BOND explores the benefits our dogs can have on our physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being, often without our realizing it. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE GENERAL AND JULIA by Jon Clinch (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Gibson Frazier
Barely able to walk and rendered mute by the cancer metastasizing in his throat, Ulysses S. Grant is scratching out words, hour after hour, day after day. Desperate to complete his memoirs before his death so his family might have some financial security and he some redemption, Grant journeys back in time. He had once been the savior of the Union, the general to whom Lee surrendered at Appomattox, a twice-elected president who fought for the civil rights of Black Americans and against the rising Ku Klux Klan, a plain farmer-turned-business magnate who lost everything to a Wall Street swindler, a devoted husband to his wife Julia, and a loving father to four children. In THE GENERAL AND JULIA, Grant rises from the page in all of his contradictions and foibles, his failures and triumphs. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
HUNT ON DARK WATERS by Katee Robert (Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Simone Lewis and Will Watt
Evelyn is a witch with a perfect storm of impulses: terrible taste in bed partners, sticky fingers and a lust for danger. After she steals from her vampire ex and falls through a portal to another realm, she’s fished out of the waters by a band of seafarers and their telekinetic captain. She’s immediately given a choice --- join their ship’s crew or die. Bowen has no memory of his life before he became one of the Cŵn Annwn. He and his band of pirates are bound by vow to patrol through Threshold, the magical sea in between realms, keeping the portals to other worlds safe. When he rescues Evelyn, he doesn’t expect to be attracted to the unflappably brassy pickpocket. The longer he spends in her presence, the more he begins to question if his heart is the next thing she’ll steal. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE PROFESSOR by Lauren Nossett (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
Ethan Haddock is discovered in his apartment, dead, apparently by his own hand. His professor, Dr. Verena Sobek, has been taken in for questioning, and there are rumors his death is the result of a bad romance. A former detective turned research assistant, Marlitt Kaplan misses the excitement of her old job, but most of all the friendship of her partner, Teddy. When her mother, a colleague of the accused professor, asks for her help, she finds herself in the impossible position of proving something didn't happen. Without the credentials to interview suspects or access phone records, she will have to get closer to a victim's life than ever before. And she quickly finds herself in his apartment, having dinner with his roommates, even sleeping in his bed. But is she too close to see the truth? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE NIGHT PARADE: A Speculative Memoir written by Jami Nakamura Lin, with illustrations by Cori Nakamura Lin (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Traci Kato-Kiriyama
As a young woman with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, much of Jami Nakamura Lin’s adolescence was marked by periods of extreme rage and an array of psychiatric treatments. Her relationships suffered as a result, especially as her father’s cancer grasped hold of their family. As she grew older and learned to better manage her episodes, Lin became frustrated with the familiar pattern she found in mental illness and grief narratives, and their focus on recovery. She sought comfort in the stories she’d loved as a child --- tales of ghostly creatures known to terrify in the night. Through the lens of the yokai and other figures from Japanese, Taiwanese and Okinawan legend, she set out to interrogate the very notion of recovery and the myriad ways that fear of difference shapes who we are as a people. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
ODYSSEY'S END: A Rick Cahill Novel by Matt Coyle (Hard-boiled Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Evan Lavelle
San Diego private investigator Rick Cahill’s wife, Leah, has fled with their daughter, Krista, to her parents’ home in Santa Barbara. She fears Rick’s violent outbursts brought on by his potentially fatal brain disorder, CTE. Rick desperately wants to reunite his family and help provide for Krista’s future --- one he fears he won’t be alive to see. A jumpstart toward that future appears in the form of Peter Stone, Rick’s longtime enemy. Stone offers Rick $50,000 to find a woman he claims can save his life with a kidney transplant. Rick can’t pass up the chance to buttress Krista’s future. When what seems like a simple missing person case spirals out of control into cryptocurrency machinations, dead bodies and an outgunned faceoff, Rick is forced to battle evil from his past. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on November 20th and 21st
Below are some notable titles releasing on November 20th and 21st 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 November 20th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
November 20th
ALEX CROSS MUST DIE by James Patterson (Thriller)
Alex Cross, “[o]ne of the greatest fictional detectives of all time” (Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child), is in the sights of the Dead Hours Killer, a serial murderer on a ruthless mission.
November 21st
THE BALL AT VERSAILLES by Danielle Steel (Historical Fiction)
Four American debutantes attend a renowned Paris cotillion in #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel’s captivating new novel.
INHERITANCE: The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 1 by Nora Roberts (Paranormal Fantasy/Romance)
INHERITANCE is the first in the Lost Bride trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts ---- a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.
TOM CLANCY COMMAND AND CONTROL: A Jack Ryan Novel by Marc Cameron (Thriller/Adventure)
A Russian plot to seize the Panama Canal plunges President Jack Ryan into a desperate fight for his life in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.
A TRUE ACCOUNT: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself by Katherine Howe (Historical Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Katherine Howe comes a daring first-hand account of one young woman's unbelievable adventure as one of the most terrifying sea rovers of all time.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Mary Kay Andrews, Charles Cumming
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are four upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Saturday, November 18th at 4pm ET: Book Passage: Book Passage welcomes Charles Cumming, who once again straddles two timelines to create a high-tension thriller in KENNEDY 35, the third entry in his Lachlan Kite series.
Monday, November 20th at 7pm ET: Friends and Fiction Official Book Club with Brenda and Lisa: Join Mary Kay Andrews for a discussion of her new book, BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS, a novella celebrating love and the warm, glittering charm of the holiday season.
Monday, November 20th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Charles Cumming will discuss his new thriller, KENNEDY 35, which finds veteran agent Lachlan Kite reckoning with the fallout from a mission in Senegal carried out early in his career.
Wednesday, November 22nd at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": Join the "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- for a special Thanksgiving Eve show. Each of the Fab Four has invited a mystery guest of their choosing. They have all kept the identities of their guests a secret from each other. No one will know what fabulous author each host has invited until it comes time to introduce and reveal them one by one.
"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:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Douglas Brunt (THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: November and December
Paperback Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in paperback in November and December have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ALL THE BROKEN PLACES by John Boyne
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ALL GOOD PEOPLE HERE by Ashley Flowers
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THE COUPLE AT THE TABLE by Sophie Hannah
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A DANGEROUS BUSINESS by Jane Smiley
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THE DELUGE by Stephen Markley
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DIAMONDS AND DEADLINES: A Tale of Greed, Deceit, and a Female Tycoon in New York City’s Gilded Age, by Betsy Prioleau
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THE GIFTS by Liz Hyder
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THE HOUSE IN THE PINES by Ana Reyes
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THE HOUSE OF WOLVES by James Patterson and Mike Lupica
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HUNTING TIME: A Colter Shaw Novel, by Jeffery Deaver
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MOONRISE OVER NEW JESSUP by Jamila Minnicks
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MURDER AT HAVEN’S ROCK by Kelley Armstrong
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THE NIGHT TRAVELER by Armando Lucas Correa
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NO ONE LEFT TO COME LOOKING FOR YOU by Sam Lipsyte
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NOVELIST AS A VOCATION written by Haruki Murakami, translated by Philip Gabriel and Ted Goossen
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PAYBACK IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
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QUEENS OF THE AGE OF CHIVALRY: England's Medieval Queens, Volume Three by Alison Weir
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SAM by Allegra Goodman
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SHOWSTOPPER: A Peter Diamond Investigation, by Peter Lovesey
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THE SNOW HARE by Paula Lichtarowicz
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THE TWIST OF A KNIFE by Anthony Horowitz
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UNNATURAL HISTORY: An Alex Delaware Novel, by Jonathan Kellerman
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THE VILLA by Rachel Hawkins
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WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN NOW? by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
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WOLF TRAP by Connor Sullivan
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, December 1st 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 November 17th to December 1st at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE MYSTERY GUEST: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose and A VERY INCONVENIENT SCANDAL by Jacquelyn Mitchard.
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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