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Another Brilliant Week of Authors and Events
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the International Thriller Writers (ITW) Awards Banquet, which was the final event of this year's ThrillerFest, the International Thriller Writers conference. While I had been at their first conference in Arizona, and many others here in New York, I had not attended it in years with the exception of the opening cocktail party.
Photo Credit: Victoria Akeson
Lisa Scottoline and Harlan Coben were honored as ThrillerMasters, and I was so happy to be there to celebrate them. ITW co-presidents Gregg Hurwitz and Lisa Unger have done a wonderful job of growing the organization --- and its mission. The evening had both gravitas and fun.
The gravitas came with people being honored for championing the cause of keeping AI out of publishing. It was expressed so well. Books tell stories about people, their emotions and how they talk. So what if pirated books were used to train AI for that purpose? That, unfortunately, became a reality: “AI company Anthropic agreed to a landmark $1.5 billion settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit from authors and publishers who alleged the company used pirated copies of their books to train its Claude AI models.”
Douglas Preston received ITW's Silver Bullet Award for all that he has done to fight for copyright protection for authors --- not just when it comes to AI, but with other copyright issues that have arisen through the years.
I spoke with David Baldacci (pictured above) about his appearance in front of Congress last year. There he talked about an experience with his son, who asked ChatGPT to write a plot that reads like a Baldacci novel. As he said, “In about five seconds, three pages came up that had elements of pretty much every book I’d ever written, including plot lines, character names, narrative, the works.” Yes, I consider that grand theft!
The fun came when Daniel Palmer performed a vocal tribute à la Barry Manilow to Lisa and Harlan that had people laughing with the cleverness of his lyrics set to the tune of “Copacabana.” I loved his light-up blue shoes.
Lisa’s acceptance speech was from the heart. As she often has shared, as a child the book in her house was TV Guide. Reading was not something that was emphasized. Her grandfather signed his name with an X. As Lisa would do, instead of just accepting an award for her storytelling, she also remembered her family --- where she came from and what has happened in just two generations for her family. She loves the community of thriller writers who have championed each other --- and considers herself so lucky that she has written more than 30 books to date. That is a big accomplishment in just two generations. And she immediately got a standing ovation.
Above you can see Lisa with her daughter, Francesca Serritella, who has written two novels of her own: GHOSTS OF HARVARD and FULL BLOOM.
Photo Credit: Kristin Thorvaldsen
Harlan Coben was quick to thank everyone in the community who has been there to support him through the years. Camaraderie is at the heart of this community. Harlan has built a parallel world for himself, bringing his books to the screen (see more about that later in this newsletter). But for all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, he has not forgotten his roots in the thriller world.
What was interesting to me is that Lisa, David and Harlan all mentioned that they started writing about 30 years ago, the same time that we launched Bookreporter. It’s been such fun to follow their careers with the reviews on our pages.
Photo Credit: Victoria Akeson
I also got to spend time with Barbara Peters, who received the Thriller Legend Award for starting The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, which is legendary in itself in Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as Poisoned Pen Press. She was the one who listened to a group of writers griping about the fact that there was no organization for thriller writers while there was one for mystery writers. She famously said, “Then start your own organization!” I always enjoy talking to Barbara, and I often tune in to her author interviews from the store.
The banquet also featured book awards. Click here to see all the winners of the 2026 Thriller Awards, which include CROSS MY HEART by Megan Collins for Best Standalone Novel and THE BIG EMPTY by Robert Crais for Best Series Novel, the latter of which also won the Edgar Award just a couple of weeks ago.
On Tuesday, I enjoyed an evening event that was offered by [words] Bookstore in Maplewood, NJ at The Woodland, where the room was packed with readers. Elizabeth Strout was interviewed by Ellen Zimiles, who owns the store with her husband, Jonah. It was a very lively conversation.
THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY has been out for a couple of weeks (I had just finished listening to it on audio), and readers were eager to ask questions. I love moments like that, though there was a caution to avoid spoilers. One thing I enjoy with authors is hearing the various ways that they come up with ideas, and Elizabeth was clear that many of hers come to her seemingly out of nowhere. She loved the enthusiasm from readers about the details that they appreciated in her work.
In the photo above, see Annmarie Puleio getting her book signed. We love attending book events together, and it was fun to take this picture when she did not see me doing it.
I am listening to FIVE by Ilona Bannister thanks to Rebecca Munro’s review, which had me wanting to read it. I love when that happens!
I am reading A FORTUNE OF SAND for my interview with Ruta Sepetys next week. I have been a fan of Ruta’s work since her first book, BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY. I attended an author luncheon for her in late 2010 or early 2011. There was one big table. I was the only member of the media who had read the book, or the only one who had read it and had questions, and I felt like I was interviewing her in front of a group of about 20 people. It’s amusing the things that one remembers.
I went on to read Ruta's other books as they came out. I am delighted that we are bringing you her first book for adults.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Kathryn Stockett. Her new novel, THE CALAMITY CLUB, is her first book since THE HELP, which was published in 2009. It is a New York Times bestseller its first week out and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
The story is set in Mississippi during the Great Depression and follows a group of scrappy, strong-willed women who work together to conquer challenges they face, knowing that there are no men to save them. The novel also addresses the societal expectations and hypocrisies of the 1920s and ’30s.
Kathryn balances the book’s serious historical themes with humor. Initially she tried to write a cautious, bland tale that was different from THE HELP to avoid similar criticism, but she realized after a number of years that it lacked heart. Kathryn also discusses the novel’s length, which she justifies by the character development and story complexity. She drew a lot of inspiration from her own mother, to whom THE CALAMITY CLUB is dedicated.
Click here to watch the interview or here to listen to the podcast. And if you missed our rave review of the book last week, you can read it here. We will feature my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter.
We hosted this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event on Wednesday. I talked about 31 books releasing between May 12th and June 2nd, along with 11 from the first half of July, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Next month's “Bookaccino Live” book preview afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, June 10th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on books releasing between June 9th and June 30th, in addition to some titles from the second half of July, plus August, that we think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up.
#1 bestselling author Louise Penny and award-winning journalist Mellissa Fung have teamed up to write THE LAST MANDARIN. A mother and daughter race against time in this gripping international thriller that reaches from Tiananmen Square all the way to the White House.
Pamela Kramer has our review and says, “It's easy to see why the Penny/Fung partnership has resulted in a finely written thriller. Fung brings to the table her background in China, specifically Hong Kong, along with her knowledge of the complexities and brutality of war. Penny brings her ability to write almost poetic passages amidst otherwise brutal subjects. She has a knack for finding the beauty in people and places. Together, they have written a memorable novel about relationships and secrets.”
Spanning five decades and unfolding against the backdrop of a fractured nation hurtling toward war, THE FOURSOME is Christina Baker Kline’s boldly original reimagining of the astonishing true story of two sisters in 19th-century North Carolina --- Kline’s own distant relatives --- who married world-famous conjoined twins from Siam.
According to Rebecca Munro in her review, “Christina Baker Kline paints an evocative portrait not just of the conjoined twins and their sister wives, but of marriage and the South itself.... This outstanding novel, which very well could have read like a tabloid in a lesser author’s hands, is expansive in its intimacy and intellectual in its heart as it celebrates the extraordinary gift of an ordinary life.”
Every May 1st, a serial killer stalks a small town. Alex Finlay’s much-talked-about new novel, THE ANNIVERSARY, is being touted as an addictive murder mystery and a nail-biting thriller. But it’s also a tender, heartrending story about fate, innocence lost, and two people bound by a single day.
Ray Palen has this to say in his review: “The finale of THE ANNIVERSARY is worth the price of admission and aptly concludes all the suspense that has been building up to that point. Finlay has written a work of extremely unsettling terror that is unleashed on two terrific protagonists. We know they will be forever damaged by it, but we still can’t stop pulling for them right up to the end.”
We also are featuring reviews of these two books:
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A MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD: This new Hollywood mystery/thriller, originally written in 1973 by Michael Crichton under the pseudonym John Lange but never before published, promises to keep you guessing until the very end.
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GHOST STORIES: This searing memoir from Siri Hustvedt is an intimate meditation on grief, memory and enduring love, written after the death of her husband, Paul Auster, the prolific novelist, memoirist and screenwriter.
There is still time to enter our contest for THE LAKE HOUSE, which we are featuring in our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight.
Second chances, surprising revelations, and sweet, unexpected love go hand-in-hand in Bramble, Kentucky. This tiny lakeside town is at the heart of Lori Foster’s Firefly Summer series, which kicked off last year with THE GUEST COTTAGE.
The contest ends on Friday, May 22nd at noon ET, so be sure to submit your entries before then if you haven’t already.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
As I sat down to write about my three latest Bets On selections --- MAD MABEL by Sally Hepworth, LAST ONE OUT by Jane Harper, and A FAR-FLUNG LIFE by M. L. Stedman --- I realized that all of them are set in Australia. It’s a complete coincidence, but it definitely makes sense. When people ask me where I want to visit, I frequently say, “Australia.”
LAST ONE OUT and A FAR-FLUNG LIFE are set in the Outback, and the ruralness of the places lends to the storytelling.
If you missed my recent “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Jane Harper, be sure to give it a watch or a listen.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Jeanine Cummins
Out in paperback this week is SPEAK TO ME OF HOME by Jeanine Cummins, a deeply felt multigenerational family story that asks: What does it mean to call a place home? I talked to Jeanine about the book, which was a Bets On pick, following its hardcover release last year. Watch the interview here or listen to the podcast here. My book group enjoyed this book.
Announcing Our Mother’s Day Contest Winners
Congratulations to the five winners of our Mother’s Day contest!
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Anne R. from Chandler, AZ
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Bridget R. from Punta Gorda, FL
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Jill L. from Merrick, NY
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Susan C. from Aiken, SC
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Wendy N. from Anacortes, WA
These lucky readers will receive all five of our featured titles: the aforementioned THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett, HARBOR POINTE by Irene Hannon, LITTLE WONDER by Sophie Chen Keller, THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB by Susan Patterson and James Patterson, and THE MOUNTAINS WE CALL HOME by Kim Michele Richardson.
Summer Reading Contest Update
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away SEEK THE TRAITOR’S SON by Veronica Roth (which we are reviewing this week) and THE SAPPHIRE SEA by Davis Bunn. Next week’s prizes will be THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff and YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda, the latter of which is now available in paperback. These 24-hour giveaways will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, May 19th and Wednesday, May 20th.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
Let us know by Friday, May 29th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win the aforementioned A FORTUNE OF SAND by Ruta Sepetys and THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN by Matt Haig (both releasing on May 26th) in our new Word of Mouth contest.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we have listed 15 notable nonfiction titles that have been or will be released in May. We want to know which ones, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Click here to cast your votes.
In our previous poll, we asked you which of 35 fiction titles that are being published this month you are looking forward to reading. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Deanna wrote about winning a copy of MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman in a Spring Reading contest: “I wanted to reach back out now that I’ve finished reading MY FRIENDS. Wow, what an emotional roller coaster. I absolutely loved the book. As promised, here is a photo of me holding the book on the day I received it.”
Jean wrote, “JOHN OF JOHN by Douglas Stuart was also this month’s selection for Gainesville, FL Lynx Books’ First Editions Club. It was selected by store owner Lauren Groff long before Oprah’s announcement. Club members got an autographed copy of the book, some Scottish shortbread, and a chance to meet Stuart after his one-hour interview with Groff. He is a delight who told funny stories and explained having to learn about sheep by spending time in the rural Scottish islands as he had only lived in the city. It was an honor to speak with him. Next up? Ann Patchett and Colson Whitehead. For more info on the club, go to the Lynx Books’ Events page.”
Terre wrote, “Wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day! Along with that is my thank you for all your book recommendations, several of which have become my book club’s choice for the month. You are my personal Alexa for the question 'What should I read?'” I love that!
Terry wrote, “The Jasper (Charleston) Book Club celebrated LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY with Brisa Carleton and cocktails Tuesday evening, and it was delightful! She is brilliant, charming and entertaining. It was easy to see how she went from knowing no one at Sardi's to a brilliant career as a producer on Broadway.
“Thank you for creating an opportunity for our book group to have its own private chat with an author. The cocktails were on-point, and so were the questions going both directions. Having learned from the master at juggling a Zoom call with multiple people in multiple locations, I followed your format and it worked beautifully!”
I love when the matches we make between authors and readers work out like this.
Big News for Fans of The Godfather: It was announced this week that a new Godfather novel will be coming in 2027. It will be written by Adriana Trigiani and will be based on the life of Connie, a woman from the Corleone family. Read more about it here.
Michael: I highly recommend this movie. The music is terrific, and Jaafar Jackson, who is Jermaine Jackson’s son, is brilliant. We went to the Tuesday half-price movie night, which was a nice way to break up the week.
Harlan Coben's Lucky Twelve: To follow up on Harlan Coben's parallel world, which I mentioned above, Netflix has extended its overall deal with him and greenlit a 12th series. This time, it's an adaptation of his Myron Bolitar novels from David E. Kelley. Our friend Cathy, aka Dez, is very happy about this. She loves Myron!
Speaking of a Netflix series adapted from a book, “The Lincoln Lawyer” will come to an end with the upcoming fifth season. The series stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and is based on the books by Michael Connelly.
I have no weekend plans beyond opening the pool at the house and thinking about getting the outside furniture set up. Memorial Day is breaking early this year, and Labor Day is breaking late, so there is a lot of summer weekends ahead. I have not given much thought to the garden, which may be the first time that has happened in mid-May. The outdoor pool at my health club, which is heated, is opening on Saturday. Trust me, I will be there at some point this weekend, even if it is just to stand in the pool and read.
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
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 Bookshop/IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review: THE LAST MANDARIN
by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung
THE LAST MANDARIN by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Eunice Wong
Alice Li, a first-generation Chinese American and former food blogger, has long lived in the shadow of her mother, Vivien Li --- a Tiananmen Square dissident turned world-renowned human rights activist and passionate advocate for a free and democratic China. When security and fire alarms go off simultaneously all around the world, setting off a panic, the signal is traced back to China. As world leaders scramble to respond, Vivien and Alice are called to the White House in hopes that Madame Li can interpret the Chinese intentions. But why involve Alice? If China isn’t behind the attack, Vivien warns, someone even more dangerous is pulling the strings. Mother and daughter must join together to overcome their estrangement if they have any hope of preventing global catastrophe. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE FOURSOME by Christina Baker Kline
THE FOURSOME by Christina Baker Kline (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Marin Ireland
When Eng and Chang Bunker arrive in Wilkes County in 1839, everyone is eager to learn if the salacious rumors about them are true. Within months, the twins have opened a general store, bought land, and begun building a plantation. Now, word has it that they’re looking for wives --- and in a place that thrives on gossip and legacy, their ambitions set the community on edge. Sarah and Adelaide Yates, daughters of a once-prominent local family brought low by scandal, are drawn into their orbit. Bold, beautiful Adelaide sees in the twins’ fame a chance to reclaim her future. Sarah, quiet and observant, isn’t so sure. When the twins’ lives become entangled with theirs, they must navigate loyalty, longing and identity in a world where everything --- including race, class and gender --- is rigidly defined. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE ANNIVERSARY by Alex Finlay
THE ANNIVERSARY by Alex Finlay (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ari Fliakos and Brittany Pressley
On May 1, 1992, Jules Delaney and Quinn Riley hardly know each other. Jules is high school queen bee in a small Midwestern town when she survives a brutal attack by the elusive May Day Killer --- a predator who strikes every May 1st. Quinn, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, is arrested the same night after trying to break up a fight and nearly killing someone. By morning, their lives are forever connected. A year later, Jules is tormented by one question: Why was she spared? Quinn is newly released from juvenile detention and returns home to devastating news --- the unsolved murder of his mother. Over the next decade, their lives are revisited on a single day each year: May 1st. As the years pass, secrets surface, lies unravel, and the paths of Jules and Quinn draw closer together. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of THE LAKE HOUSE
by Lori Foster, Releasing on May 26th
Second chances, surprising revelations, and sweet, unexpected love go hand-in-hand in the tiny lakeside town at the heart of Lori Foster's charming Firefly Summer series, the second installment of which releases on May 26th.
We have 25 copies of THE LAKE HOUSE, which follows last year's THE GUEST COTTAGE, to give away to those who would like to read the book. To enter the contest, please fill out this form by Friday, May 22nd at noon ET.
THE LAKE HOUSE: A Firefly Summer Novel by Lori Foster (Fiction)
When Pixie Nolan first came to Bramble, Kentucky, the abandoned and desperate young single mother found hope, healing and a fresh start. With the loving support of her best friends --- Marlow Heddings and her handsome Marine husband, Cort --- Pixie is now happily raising her toddler son in a cozy cottage, managing Marlow’s thriving boutique and designing firefly logo t-shirts that are selling like hotcakes. The past is behind her, and life is good.
She never expected to make an electrifying connection with a summer renter, a retired Navy SEAL with his own complicated past.
A rugged warrior with scars both seen and unseen, Brogan Rafferty arrives with an adorable baby girl in tow and settles into the lake house next door. And while he’s a stunning addition to the gorgeous scenery, it’s his caring devotion that captures Pixie’s heart --- the way he gently snuggles away the precious infant’s cries or swoops Pixie’s delighted little boy high in the air with his tattooed, muscular arms.
But it’s no coincidence that Brogan has found Pixie, and his startling revelations make it clear she’s the key to healing old regrets and building new dreams. And when a hostile stranger turns up with shocking accusations against Bramble’s new hometown hero, Pixie must put her own fears and heartbreak away for good --- and learn what it truly means to trust.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Lori Foster's bio.
- Click here to visit Lori Foster's website.
- Connect with Lori Foster on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight
and enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
MAD MABEL by Sally Hepworth,
LAST ONE OUT by Jane Harper,
and A FAR-FLUNG LIFE by M. L. Stedman
MAD MABEL by Sally Hepworth (Domestic Thriller)
When I tell you that I think MAD MABEL is Sally Hepworth’s best book, I am saying that after having devoured everything she has written.
Here we have an older protagonist, Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, who is 81 years old and definitively grumpy. Elsie is the neighbor whom people watch and tell their children to be quiet around. She’s living in a Melbourne suburb where she minds her own business until a neighbor is found dead.
There’s a reason that Elsie keeps more to herself than most. She has something of a history to her. Years ago she was known as Mad Mabel Waller, and she had the honor --- or onerous distinction --- of being Australia’s youngest convicted killer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on MAD MABEL.
LAST ONE OUT by Jane Harper (Mystery/Thriller)
Jane Harper’s LAST ONE OUT is set in Carralon Ridge in rural New South Wales. More than a decade ago, a mining company discovers what they want on the border of the town. Slowly they have encroached on the property around it, and much of the town has been bought up by them as they expand. It’s not just the riches below the ground that the company is looking for, but rather the ability to build roads and easily facilitate their business.
The hum of the mining mission is behind the entire story like a character. The noise is relentless and the dust ever present, as are memories of the places that are both fresh and buried.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to watch Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Jane Harper.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on LAST ONE OUT.
A FAR-FLUNG LIFE by M. L. Stedman (Historical Fiction)
In 2012, I read THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS and loved the power of M. L. Stedman’s writing. I did not think it would be 14 years until I could read something from her again. I listened to A FAR-FLUNG LIFE and enjoyed the narration by Lewis Fitz-Gerald. I constantly found myself swept up in the storytelling.
The book is set on the MacBride family’s sheep station, the million-acre Meredith Downs in Western Australia, which has been in the family for generations. It’s the kind of place where the weather is charted as much as the number of sheep. The story begins in the 1950s and follows the family as they cope with an accident on a remote road in 1958. Phil and his oldest son, Warren, are killed. His youngest son, Matt, is hospitalized with severe injuries, memory loss, and the new burden of being the only man in the family.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on A FAR-FLUNG LIFE.
Featured Review: A MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD
by Michael Crichton, writing as John Lange
A MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD by Michael Crichton, writing as John Lange
(Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ray Porter
A MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD was originally written in 1973 but never before published. In the glitz and decadence of 1970s Hollywood, an era when sex and drugs are readily available on any movie set, the writer of the next Western blockbuster, Bloodrock, has been found dead in his motel bathtub. Now publicist Harvey Jason is desperately trying to keep the project on track while the famed Harlow Perkins, a brilliant and ruthless investigator, begins to unravel the mystery and hunt the killer down. From scorching-hot desert locations to sleazy motel bars, the members of the cast and crew --- each one with a very dark secret of their own --- will send this case deeper and deeper into a maze of confusion and shadows until the shocking truth is revealed. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: GHOST STORIES by Siri Hustvedt
GHOST STORIES: A Memoir by Siri Hustvedt (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Siri Hustvedt
GHOST STORIES is an intimate meditation on grief, memory and enduring love, written after the death of Siri Hustvedt’s husband, Paul Auster. The book includes personal, never-before-seen writing by Auster --- letters and notes to Siri and his last unfinished book addressed to his grandson, Letters to Miles. The memoir is both an elegy and a reckoning, a chronicle of personal loss that also bears witness to the sorrows of recent years --- the tragic deaths of Hustvedt’s stepson and granddaughter. Hustvedt explores how grief unmoors time, how the intimacy of a shared life continues to mark the everyday, and how the body experiences the absence of love as a presence. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 22nd Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through mid-August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win.
We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next two contests will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, May 19th and Wednesday, May 20th. The prize books will be THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff, which releases on Tuesday, and YOU BELONG HERE by Megan Miranda, which is now available in paperback.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
SEEK THE TRAITOR'S SON by Veronica Roth (Dystopian Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available; read by Imani Jade Powers, Max Meyers, Rebecca Soler and Steve West
Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her. She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts. But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy --- her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man with whom, Elegy is told, she will fall in love. In just one day, Elegy’s old life --- her job, her purpose and her future --- is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing. Reviewed by Sam Johnson.
ROBERT B. PARKER'S BOOKED: A Sunny Randall Novel by Alison Gaylin (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Burton
World-famous author Melanie Joan Hall asks for Sunny Randall's help in tracking down Book Babe, the screen name of an enormously popular book reviewer, who has trolled her with a deeply insulting one-star review. This usually wouldn’t matter except that Book Babe has thousands of followers, and her unwarranted blast has Melanie's publisher threatening to pull all her books. But Sunny's investigation reveals that the reviewer and Melanie have a rich history --- in fact, she may even have good reason to hate the torn-up author. And when Book Babe suddenly turns up dead, casting Melanie as a possible suspect, Sunny finds herself in a complicated web that, if she can't untangle fast enough, just might put a target on her back. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
COME BACK TO THE WORLD by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Frankie Corzo
Amelia Booker, a journalist and expert in American literature, receives a photograph leading to the possible whereabouts of E. L. Swann, an author who vanished 40 years ago after the success of her first and only novel. In Santa Rosarita, Mexico, Amelia and her seven-year-old son, Jaden, meet the elderly and guarded Ella Steinbach. Prickly and defensive at first, Ella reluctantly concedes the truth about her identity. If not for Ella’s deep affection for the bright and introverted Jaden, she would have found the intrusion unforgivable. Instead, she grants an interview on the condition that Amelia tell no one where E. L. Swann has been found. As days turn into weeks, and Ella reveals more than expected about her past, she and Amelia form a difficult but surprising bond. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
IKE AND WINSTON: World War, Cold War, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Jonathan W. Jordan (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Will Damron
One was the soldier-statesman who would become America’s 34th president. The other was the British icon who refused to surrender in democracy’s darkest hour. Together they launched invasions, toppled tyrants, and shaped the world as the nations they served drifted apart. From world war to the Cold War, from Pearl Harbor to the hydrogen bomb, Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower faced down Hitler, Stalin and Khrushchev and stood together in the uneasy dawn of the nuclear age. Through triumph and loss, they forged a remarkable friendship that weathered the decline of an empire and the rise of a superpower. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
FIVE WEEKS IN THE COUNTRY by Francine Prose (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Hannah Curtis
In the summer of 1857, an unusual-looking stranger arrived at Charles Dickens' home. Dickens had met Hans Christian Andersen at a dinner party a decade before and, in a moment of desperation, had invited him to visit. The eccentric Danish author of classic fairy tales outstayed his welcome and alienated the Dickens household, which included nine children. Even the oblivious, obsessively self-conscious Andersen sensed the increasing tension between Dickens and his unhappy wife, Catherine, but was slow to understand --- or to believe --- that Dickens had fallen in love with a young actress appearing in his new play. For Andersen, those five weeks were a series of social mistakes and embarrassments but ultimately a lesson in how life's most humbling experiences can be transformed into art. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
LIAR’S CREEK by Matt Goldman (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Fred Berman
Riverwood, Minnesota is a scenic town threaded with trout streams carving their way through limestone bluffs. But beneath its picturesque facade, danger runs rampant. Clay Hawkins isn’t a stranger to the secrets of his hometown. After 20 years away, Clay has recently returned home from abroad with his 12-year-old son, and his relationship with his father, the recently replaced sheriff, is as strained as ever. But when Clay’s beloved uncle disappears, the three generations of Hawkinses must overturn every stone in Riverwood and confront deep familial wounds to find the one person who brings them together. As danger looms, Clay worries that it might be too late to save his uncle --- and that the rest of the family might be next. Reviewed by Jack Kramer.
MAKE ME BETTER by Sarah Gailey (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Xe Sands
Celia is so tired of being alone. All she wants is to have a family --- to belong to someone. That's why she's going to Kindred Cove for the annual Salt Festival held by the secluded community that lives there. They promise that healing is possible. They promise that transformation is inevitable. There is no grief at Kindred Cove, because there is no suffering. Nothing is ever lost. Celia knows that, at that mysterious island surrounded by that impossible, ever-growing reef, she will find herself. She’s ready to be healed. She’s ready to be transformed. She's ready to believe. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 19th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 19th 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 May 18th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff (Fiction)
From the author of THE BRIGHT YEARS comes the story of April and Leo, a couple on the brink of collapse. When their house goes up in flames, family secrets and thorny histories emerge as they are forced to decide what is worth salvaging.
THE DORIANS by Nick Cutter (Science Fiction/Horror)
On a remote island in the Canadian wilderness, five elderly volunteers from different walks of life are given a tantalizing offer: to stall their biological clocks or even reverse them, restoring their lost youth.
THE GULF OF LIONS by Caitlin Shetterly (Fiction)
From the acclaimed author of PETE AND ALICE IN MAINE comes a stand-alone sequel about a mother who, recovering from the trauma of breast cancer and a mastectomy, takes a once-in-a-lifetime trip across France with her two daughters.
IRONWOOD: A Catalina Novel by Michael Connelly (Thriller)
Sworn to protect a scenic island meant to be far from the evils of the mainland, Detective Sergeant Stilwell can feel danger closing in.
THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL: Romanovs, Revolutionaries, and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World by Douglas Brunt (History)
From the author of the New York Times bestseller THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL comes the enthralling hidden history of one of the world’s most successful business titans, a rival to the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds, whose legacy was erased in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution.
ON WITNESS AND RESPAIR: Essays by Jesmyn Ward (Essays)
From the two-time National Book Award winner and New York Times bestselling author Jesmyn Ward, this collection of essays documents more than a decade of work in the life of a singular writer often lauded as “the heir apparent to Toni Morrison” (LitHub).
THE ONE DAY YOU WERE MY HUSBAND by Rosie Walsh (Domestic Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author of GHOSTED and THE LOVE OF MY LIFE comes an unmissable emotional thriller: an up-all-night, page-turning love story with a very dark secret at its heart.
AN ORDINARY SORT OF EVIL: A Rip Through Time Novel by Kelley Armstrong (Historical Mystery/Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Victorian Scotland in the latest installment of her genre-blending Rip Through Time series.
A PERFECT HAND by Ayelet Waldman (Historical Fiction)
Set in the country estates of 19th-century England, A PERFECT HAND is a richly drawn, captivating and endlessly amusing novel of love and subterfuge between a lady’s maid and her clandestine lover.
THE SHIPPERS by Katherine Center (Romantic Comedy)
THE SHIPPERS takes readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets...and true love rediscovered.
TAKE ME WITH YOU by Steven Rowley (Fiction)
Steven Rowley brings his resonant wit and emotional insight to an epic love story --- an exploration of the forces that draw two people into the same orbit and the gravity that threatens to pull them apart.
TOM CLANCY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT: A Jack Ryan Novel by Ward Larsen (Thriller/Adventure)
When a member of his Cabinet is killed in a plane crash, President Jack Ryan suspects that the “accident” is anything but in this latest shocking entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Alison Gaylin, Michael Connelly, Kim Sherwood
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.
Monday, May 18th at 3pm ET: Murder By The Book: Kim Sherwood will talk to Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello about HURRICANE ROOM, the final installment in her thrilling Double O trilogy. This time, Jame Bond must team up with the rest of the Double O Section to stop a threat from inside the agency itself.
Tuesday, May 19th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Alison Gaylin will talk about her latest novel, ROBERT B. PARKER'S BOOKED, which finds Boston PI Sunny Randall investigating a popular book critic on a mean streak...only for her to wind up dead.
Tuesday, May 19th at 10pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Michael Connelly will talk about his new book, IRONWOOD, which continues his Catalina series. Sworn to protect a scenic island meant to be far from the evils of the mainland, Detective Sergeant Stilwell can feel danger closing in.
Thursday, May 21st at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's presents Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie as they discuss their new book, A FOUNDING MOTHER, with Rachel McMillan. This stunning historical novel is a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams, whose wit, willpower and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers long-form, in-depth author interviews. 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 recently include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Rachel Beanland (THE HALF LIFE)
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Lori Foster (THE LAKE HOUSE: A Firefly Summer Novel)
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Jenny Jackson (THE SHAMPOO EFFECT)
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John Searles (SINGLE GIRLS)
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Ruta Sepetys (A FORTUNE OF SAND)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: May Nonfiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following nonfiction titles releasing in May have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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AMERICAN PATRIARCH: The Life of George Washington, by H. W. Brands
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AND SO IT IS...: A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope, by Jamie Lynn Sigler
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THE FAMILY MAN: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh, by James Lasdun
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GHOST STORIES: A Memoir, by Siri Hustvedt
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KATE!: The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will Be Queen, by Christopher Andersen
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THE KILLER AND FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT: The True Story of Mass Murder in Paradise, by Casey Sherman
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THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE: Essays, by David Sedaris
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THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL: Romanovs, Revolutionaries, and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World, by Douglas Brunt
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MIGRANT HEART: Essays About Things I Can't Forget, by Reyna Grande
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MOTHER TONGUE: A Memoir, by Sara Nović
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ON WITNESS AND RESPAIR: Essays, by Jesmyn Ward
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THIS DARK NIGHT: Emily Brontë, A Life, by Deborah Lutz
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TRUE CRIME: A Memoir, by Patricia Cornwell
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VENGEANCE: The Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull, by Tom Clavin
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YOUNG KING: The Making of Martin Luther King Jr., by Lerone Martin
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, May 29th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- 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 May 15th to May 29th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of A FORTUNE OF SAND by Ruta Sepetys and THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN by Matt Haig.
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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