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In the olden days (which is sometime before, let's say, 2010), there were lots of really fun book parties. Now they are few and far between. So when there is a big-themed book event like the one that Tom, Francesca and I went to on Wednesday night to celebrate the August 18th US publication of Raphael Montes' novel, THE SECRET DINNER, it's special. The party was hosted by Celadon Books and the author.
Every detail was spot on, from cocktails named for each of the characters (I was crazy about the pink foam that was on the top of mine and have decided that I will be trying this on future cocktails that I make here at the house!) to the small bites that had us wondering just what we were eating as the book's menu was very human tasting. We left with swag that included matches and sample bottles of Cachaça de Alambique, a traditional artisanal Brazilian sugarcane spirit that we were warned is to be sipped, not drunk as shots.
I confess that I am not much of a reader of horror, but as party prep, I read 150 pages of the novel last weekend, which ensured that I could chat with Raphael and hold my own. I did tell him that I wanted exact details about every morsel that I was eating at the party. Raphael is a huge author in his home country of Brazil, with eight books to his name. And THE SECRET DINNER has been on the bestseller list there for 10 years.
My trainer at the health club grew up in Brazil, and I was texting her during the party. Yes, she confirmed that Raphael is quite a rock star of an author there, and she has read some of his books. She also cautioned me about the potency of Cachaça de Alambique.
From the photos above, you see how on point the evening was. Kudos to the team at Celadon for putting together one very memorable event.
I heard raves about THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis, so I picked up an advance copy on Sunday afternoon. It started off briskly and never slowed down. Instead of working Sunday night, which I intended to do, I kept reading and telling myself that this was work too. Yes, we have known about the evil of Hitler for decades, but this is a story that I was not aware of.
Today we kicked off a special contest for the book, which releases on September 21st and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
Here’s the premise: Spanning a century, THE MUNICH AFFAIR is set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand. Thomas Bauer is a determined detective who obsessively pursues Hitler --- putting his Jewish wife and children in grave danger. Fritz Gerlich is a courageous journalist who writes story after story detailing the murder --- making him a target for Hitler’s Gestapo. Eleanor Robbins is an American professor who picks up the trail of evidence from present-day Neo-Nazis guarding the Führer’s long-held secrets to the death.
We are awarding a copy of the book to 25 readers and giving them the chance to share their comments about it with us. Winning means that you are committed to reading THE MUNICH AFFAIR and giving us your feedback on it by Monday, September 14th. If you can do this, please fill out this form by Monday, August 17th at noon ET.
We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter.
First up is Ben Reeves, whose debut novel, EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT, is an instant New York Times bestseller, a #1 Indie Next pick, and a Bets On selection.
The book reimagines the Grim Reaper as a compassionate, ordinary man named Travis who spends time with people before they die, exploring themes of life, death, grief and regret. It ultimately makes readers question if they are truly living the life they want and focusing on what matters.
EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT won the Bath Novel Award in 2024, which launched Ben's publishing journey after 20 years of writing. Ben notes that he is always personally preoccupied with whether or not he is using his time well, and he wanted to unpack that through storytelling --- encouraging readers to “wake up” by contemplating mortality. He also explains why he brought two characters to the forefront of the story: a midwife and her daughter.
During our discussion, I praise the final chapter as the most impactful part of the novel and urge readers to give it a lot of thought. I see it as the emotional and philosophical culmination of the book's message about living intentionally. Ben also shares that he is working on a new project.
Click here to watch our interview or here to listen to the podcast.
I also had the pleasure of talking to Sophie Chen Keller about her latest novel, LITTLE WONDER, an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Bets On title.
Song, a migrant worker, and her 11-year-old piano prodigy son, River, are separated in a massive crowd at a Beijing train station on the busiest travel day of the year. The story follows both characters over the years as they search for each other while building separate lives.
Sophie describes LITTLE WONDER as being about motherhood, music, and the love between a mother and a child. She shares that she was born in rural northeastern China, was raised in the US, lived in Beijing, and is now residing in Germany. Her own experiences as a mother and a pianist deeply informed the novel. Carol and Sophie’s conversation also touches on themes of longing, stage fright, social inequality in China, and the COVID-19 pandemic as portrayed in the book.
And yes, Sophie explains what she was doing when she got the call from Oprah. The interview that she taped with Oprah was her first real exposure to reader reactions. She found the audience's questions to be surprising and insightful as they made connections she had not anticipated.
Click here to watch the podcast of our interview. Please note that the video should be up on our YouTube channel this weekend.
GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER is Shari Lapena’s 10th book in 10 years since her debut novel, THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR, released in 2016 --- and it will be a Bets On pick. Married couple Jill and Ted have spent years turning their Brooklyn brownstone into their sanctuary. So when their money unexpectedly runs out, they see only one solution to keep their beloved home and enviable lifestyle: they have to commit a murder.
Bronwyn Miller has our review and says, “Summertime means long, lazy days at the beach, near the pool or by the lake, hopefully with a good book. Lucky for readers, it also means a new breakneck domestic thriller from Shari Lapena, and her latest offering does not disappoint. GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER features the breathless plot and pacing for which she is known…. Lapena deftly shows that there can be different definitions of the ‘perfect crime’ and maybe murder is best left to the professionals.”
If you read last week's newsletter, you know how much I consider Shari's books to be a “one-sit” read. We will feature my Bets On commentary in next week's newsletter.
Nadia Hashimi, the internationally bestselling author of THE PEARL THAT BROKE ITS SHELL, is back with her latest novel, CITY OF WIDOWS, an epic saga of an Afghan woman with secrets that threaten to undo the life she resurrected from ashes. She, a soldier in an elite military unit, and her musically gifted daughter find themselves at a crossroads of history. An upcoming Bets On pick, the book gives voices to the unforgettable Afghan women whose lives were upended with the fall of Afghanistan into Taliban power.
In her review, Megan Elliott calls CITY OF WIDOWS “hopeful yet sobering” and goes on to say, “In addition to capturing the richness of Afghan women’s lives, Hashimi draws on the country’s rich literary and musical traditions, particularly in scenes involving Hawa, who has chosen to play the rubab, a stringed, lute-like instrument. Hawa’s love of music stands in stark contrast to the Taliban’s strict opposition to music and song and is a reminder of all that she stands to lose as they take power.”
We will feature my interview with Nadia in next week’s newsletter, followed by my Bets On commentary in the August 14th newsletter.
Word of Mouth Contest Reminder
CITY OF WIDOWS is a prize in our current Word of Mouth contest, along with THE AMATEUR by Chris Bohjalian, which also will be a Bets On selection. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read for your chance to win both these titles. Please do so by Friday, August 7th at noon ET.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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DAD, LOVE, ME: Written in the form of a letter to his ailing father, this debut memoir from Matthew Quick, the bestselling author of THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, explores the complicated burden of caring for an abusive parent who is dying.
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IN WONDERLAND: In one golden summer, Frances trades her working-class world for an elite Maine lakeside estate --- where privilege and betrayal turn into a deadly game --- in Joyce Maynard’s latest novel.
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BEGINNING MIDDLE END: Valeria Luiselli, the award-winning author of LOST CHILDREN ARCHIVE and TELL ME HOW IT ENDS, returns with the tale of a mother and a daughter who are starting over as they search for a new story.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On selections are THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline and THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland. Click on each of the titles for my commentary. If you missed my interviews with Lisa or Rachel, be sure to check them out here.
On ReadingGroupGuides.com, we have a BIG contest for THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING that we want to be sure is on your radar. One book group will win up to 10 copies of the book and will get to talk to Lisa in October or November.
In addition, we are awarding 10 readers a single copy, with a promise that they will read it and give us their feedback on it. They also will tell their book group members about the book and recommend that they discuss it this fall.
But even if you are not chosen to receive copies of the book, you and your group can still win a virtual chat with Lisa. We have four of these discussions to give away.
To enter the contest, all you have to do is fill out this form by Wednesday, August 19th at noon ET. Good luck to all who enter!
Summer Reading Contest Update
We gave away SILENT RETREAT by Sally Quinn, which is now in paperback, in this week’s Summer Reading contest. Our next prize book will be CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger, a suspenseful family drama about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence, which is an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Bets On selection. The 24-hour contest will be up at noon ET on Tuesday, August 4th.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of my 13 previous Bets On picks that are now or soon to be in paperback you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, August 7th at noon ET.
The longlist for this year’s Booker Prize has been announced. Among the 13 books, referred to as the “Booker Dozen,” are THE DISAPPEARERS by Marlon James, JOHN OF JOHN by Douglas Stuart, SWITZY by Emma Cline, and THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY by Elizabeth Strout. Click here for the complete list.
The shortlist of six books will be revealed on September 22nd, followed by the announcement of the winner on November 9th.
We learned the sad news this week that Keigo Higashino has passed away at the age of 68 from colorectal cancer. Higashino was one of Japan's bestselling novelists. His books have been published in more than 40 countries and territories, and have been widely adapted for film and television.
Keigo achieved international recognition for his Detective Galileo mystery series (I really liked the opening installment, THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X) and his Kyoichiro Kaga series (which began with MALICE). His work was a finalist for both the Edgar Award and the CWA Dagger, and he won many awards in his home country.
You can read more about Keigo here, including quotes from his US editor, Keith Kahla, who introduced me to his work.
Finding a New (to Me) Bookstore
I went to Chapter One Bookstore in Mendham, NJ on Monday night for Lisa Scottoline's event. I loved meeting the owner, Sophia, and the rest of the team. It's always nice to find a bookstore that I have not been to before and to hear what is selling and working for them. Pictured from left to right are Kim, Sophia, Lisa, Stephanie and Jill.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Terry wrote about winning the aforementioned THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland and THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline in our Word of Mouth contest: “Thank you so much! I received the books a few days ago and started reading one. They both sound like good books. I will share them with family and friends.”
“Ransom Canyon” on Netflix: I missed this when the first season aired and played catch-up last week. Now I am enjoying season two, though I think the Taylor Sheridan shows are better written. Yes, it's another series set in a small town, this time in Texas. Years ago, a friend from Texas came to visit and taught my friends and me how to dance the Texas Two-Step and more. We had so much fun, so when I saw them dancing on the show, I wanted to haul out my cowboy boots!
“Ted Lasso” on Apple TV: It's back on Wednesday night. Yep, more soccer and more time to “Believe.”
Neighbors who have a three-year-old boy are coming over tomorrow, so I am looking forward to hauling out some of the boys' toys for him to play with. There also will be more reading. Francesca and I sorted the huge piles of galleys that I have by month, and I am very much ready for lots more great reading.
Next weekend, my book group is coming with their husbands and children, so we are ramping up here with pool games and all kinds of board games, etc. I love throwing parties and spending time with kids, so both weekends promise to be fun. It has been a long time since I have had a lot of kids around the house!
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!
New Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of
THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis,
and Share Your Feedback on It!
Based on a true story, THE MUNICH AFFAIR is a suspenseful thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling authors James Patterson and David Ellis that spans a century --- set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand.
The book doesn't release until Monday, September 21st, but we have 25 copies to give away to those who would like to read it and give us their feedback on it by Monday, September 14th.
To enter the contest, please fill out this form by Monday, August 17th at noon ET.
THE MUNICH AFFAIR by James Patterson and David Ellis (Historical Thriller)
Spanning a century, THE MUNICH AFFAIR is set in motion by the murder of Adolf Hitler's young lover by his own hand. A determined detective, Thomas Bauer, obsessively pursues Hitler --- putting Bauer’s Jewish wife and children in grave danger. A courageous journalist, Fritz Gerlich, writes story after story detailing the murder --- making Gerlich a target for Hitler’s Gestapo. An American professor, Eleanor Robbins, picks up the trail of evidence from present-day Neo-Nazis guarding the Führer’s long-held secrets to the death.
- Click here to read James Patterson's bio.
- Click here to visit James Patterson's website.
- Connect with James Patterson on Facebook, X, Instagram and Threads.
- Click here to read David Ellis' bio.
- Connect with David Ellis on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review:
GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER by Shari Lapena
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER by Shari Lapena (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary. So when Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle? The answer is obvious. The death of one wealthy family member --- from whom they stand to inherit millions --- could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder. As long as they trust each other. As long as neither makes a mistake. As long as there are no surprises. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review: CITY OF WIDOWS by Nadia Hashimi
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
CITY OF WIDOWS by Nadia Hashimi (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mozhan Navabi
In February 2020, the US began to withdraw troops from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years of occupation. A whole generation of Afghan women had been born during that time --- women who had grown up in relative peace, gone to school, entered the professions, even served in the army and Parliament. The women of Afghanistan watched as the Taliban filled the streets again. In the bustling, cosmopolitan city of Kabul, women are TV newscasters, shop owners, doctors, teachers, lawyers, even soldiers. They include Marjan, who fought with the Afghan army and will risk everything to keep her daughter safe. Soraya led the army’s all-female combat force over the objections of her upper-class family. She is now a wanted woman whose brother may choose not to shelter her from the Taliban. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
CITY OF WIDOWS will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's interview with Nadia Hashimi in next week's newsletter, followed by her Bets On commentary in the August 14th newsletter.
Special Contest & Author Chat Opportunity
on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
In THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, #1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline's latest psychological thriller, a woman risks her life to help her best friend find justice for a tragic crime --- and realizes she has more power than she ever knew. This fast-paced, twisty and shocking new novel of suspense is a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.
In this very special contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com, we are giving one book group the opportunity to win up to 10 copies of THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, along with a virtual book group chat with Lisa in October or November.
Additionally, we are awarding one copy of the book to 10 readers who will agree to read it and give us their feedback on it, share it with their book group, and recommend it for a discussion this fall.
Even if you are not selected to win copies of the book, we are giving four readers and their book groups the chance to chat virtually with Lisa in October or November.
To enter the contest, please fill out this form by Wednesday, August 19th at noon ET.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline (Psychological Thriller)
Julia Pritzker loves her new life as a wife and mother in beautiful Tuscany --- except that she misses her best friend, Courtney, back in the States. One night, Julia calls Courtney and reaches her as she’s arriving at her grandmother’s farm in Pennsylvania. A dreadful premonition overwhelms Julia as Courtney enters the house --- and makes a heartbreaking discovery. Her beloved grandmother has been murdered, and the killer is escaping out the back door.
Rushing to support Courtney, Julia flies home the next morning. The local police believe the murder was a botched burglary, but the women suspect something much more sinister and enlist hotshot Philly lawyer Bennie Rosato to assist. But events take a deadly turn, and Julia becomes the target of a murderous conspiracy.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Lisa Scottoline.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to read Lisa Scottoline's bio.
- Click here to visit Lisa Scottoline's website.
- Connect with Lisa Scottoline on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland
THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland (Historical Fiction)
THE HALF LIFE is the third Rachel Beanland book that I have selected as a Bets On title. The previous two were FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER and THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, both of which still are memorable.
In her latest novel, Rachel brings us the story of 23-year-old Eileen O'Malley, who immediately marries a young Navy man she falls for named Paul Archer and accompanies him to La Maddalena, a stunning Mediterranean island off the coast of Sardinia. It's the Atomic Age, and the United States has nuclear submarines stationed there as a precautionary measure in case Italy falls to Communism.
Eileen finds herself a newlywed with not much experience being a wife, let alone one who follows the tight strictures of being a Navy wife. Wives are looked at in comparison to the rank of their husbands. This applies to all social commitments, including casual potluck dinners and fancy dress-up affairs. Eileen’s brother, who she adored, was killed in Vietnam, so she sees war through a different lens from most military on the island.
- Click here to read the book description.
- 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 Rachel Beanland.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Featured Review: DAD, LOVE, ME by Matthew Quick
DAD, LOVE, ME: A Memoir by Matthew Quick (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Matthew Quick
Matthew Quick traveled all over the world advocating for mental health awareness, standing before crowds as a success story. But secretly, he was depressed. And some days, he didn’t want to live. Years earlier, when he first told his father that he wanted to be a novelist, the response was immediate and brutal: “Idiot!” Quick channeled his pain into his debut novel, THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, which became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into an Oscar-winning film. Still, the approval he longed for never came. His father remained cold and withholding. The deeper the rift between them grew, the deeper he sank into anxiety and addiction. In this book, Quick takes readers deep into his psyche, as he wrestles with both his own mental health and his father’s cognitive decline. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: IN WONDERLAND by Joyce Maynard
IN WONDERLAND by Joyce Maynard (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joyce Maynard
Frances believes she has found a ticket to paradise when a wealthy couple hires her for the summer as their mother’s helper at their lakefront summer home in Maine. Best of all, she gets to spend the summer with Forrest Emerson, her father's charismatic childhood friend who escaped their neighborhood when he married into money. But below the glittering surface of Lake Catherine, nothing is what it seems. When Forrest’s wife, Regina, pulls Frances into her private obsession, the girl finds herself witness to the intimate secrets of adult lives. As the summer heat builds, so do the tensions within Wonderland’s walls. By Labor Day, a death will shatter the seemingly perfect family, leaving Frances to question everything she thought she knew about privilege, power and the price of belonging. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
BEGINNING MIDDLE END by Valeria Luiselli
BEGINNING MIDDLE END by Valeria Luiselli (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Maia Enrigue Luiselli and Marta López Astrain
This story begins when a mother and her daughter take off on a trip. It is a summer of rapidly changing winds, volcanic rumbles and sudden tempests. They’ve landed in Sicily, near the ancient ruins where the mother’s grandmother worked long ago on an archaeological dig. The narrator’s marriage has collapsed, her mother is losing her memory, and her daughter is on the threshold of adolescence, starting to ask difficult questions and form complex memories. How do you begin again? the narrator wonders, pondering her family line. How do you begin again if you got the beginning wrong? While the mother tries to figure out how to reconstruct their lives as a duo, her daughter takes the reins of the story, and their journey soon becomes a quest for origins. 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.
Bookreporter.com's 22nd Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer is here! 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 this summer, 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 contest will be up on Tuesday, August 4th at noon ET. The prize book will be CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger, which is an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. This suspenseful family drama is about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
What’s New on ReadingGroupGuides.com
SEA OF CHARMS by Sarah Beth Durst (Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Caitlin Davies
Betrayed by love, Marin lives and works as a supply runner, sailing from island to island, delivering an array of goods with Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub as her crew. On one of her routine trips to the capital, Alyssium, Marin finds a revolution underway --- and her friend, Dax, in the line of fire. What starts as a rescue evolves into a deal: Marin will keep Dax on as a member of her crew if he pretends to be her boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home. But against her better judgment, Marin finds herself intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, his charming smile --- and realizes that perhaps she isn’t saving him. Maybe it’s the other way around. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE GOOD PARTS by Evann Normandin (Fiction/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Mhairi Morrison
When Landon receives a letter from Rose --- the woman he once planned forever with --- he learns that their love story is over. She has undergone a radical memory-erasing treatment, leaving behind her grief, her past...and him. But Landon can't bear to lose the love of his life. Now living in Edinburgh, Rose's world is a blank canvas, and she's dating someone new. When Landon reenters her life as a stranger, they become fast friends. But what Rose doesn’t know is that this new friend carries the weight of everything they once shared. And when she starts exhibiting strange symptoms, it becomes clear their history isn’t gone --- it’s just buried. And remembering could come at a devastating cost. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
SCAVENGING BEAUTY: A Memoir in Walks by Angelica Glass (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Angelica Glass
Angelica Glass spent decades as a social worker helping families struggling with poverty, addiction, abuse and neglect. Needing relief from work-related stress, she turned to walking as an outlet. What began as a way to incorporate more exercise into her busy life transformed into something extraordinary: a years-long odyssey in which Glass drew upon physical exercise, a close observation of the natural world, and long periods of introspection to reconcile with her own past. Between moments of awe as she explored her community and documented what she saw with her camera, she grappled with the turmoil of her early years in a complicated, challenging family, the aging process, long-held insecurities and grief. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
RUNNER by Ashton Lattimore (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by A'rese Emokpae
Martha’s Vineyard, 1923. The sea was the gift that kept on giving to Lena Jameson’s father, Earl, a fisherman turned successful rumrunner who built up a small fortune smuggling liquor from offshore ships to thirsty customers back on the island. But when Earl and his entire crew are lost in a mysterious shipwreck that some whisper was no accident, his loved ones are left reeling and penniless. And Lena, who had been on the cusp of a college career in Boston, sees her future slipping away. Desperate to save her family, as well as her own hopes of escaping their small town, Lena decides to take over Earl’s rum-running business. But as buried secrets rise to the surface and the temptations of the glittering underworld pull Lena in deeper, everything she’s fought to protect soon hangs in the balance. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
OUR MARRIAGE IS MURDER by Carol Goodman (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Marni Penning
Fred and Thea Morgan-Lane coauthor the wildly successful Death Takes a Holiday series, and they’ve been invited to the Italian castle where it all began for a mystery conference celebrating their first novel, Death Takes the Castle. But 20 years and 20 books after they met, Thea wants out. Shortly after their arrival at the beautiful Castellarosa, a shocking death takes place when the wrong person drinks a cocktail meant for Thea. Could someone be trying to kill her? When a second death occurs, a disturbing pattern emerges. These deaths aren’t random --- they’re following the murders in Death Takes a Castle exactly. In order to save the day --- and maybe even their marriage --- the unhappy couple will have to work together to figure out who is using their book as a blueprint for a killing spree. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
INDIE DARLING by Lauren Nossett (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Amara Jasper
Kelly Williams, a private investigator in Nashville, helps women. Her latest client is Sarah Owens, better known as Seraph, the magnetic and polarizing lead singer of the indie sensation The Garden Snakes. After a series of threats turns violent, she hires Kelly to identify her assailant. With feminist anthems, cryptic lyrical Easter eggs, and an electrifying stage presence, Seraph has built a fiercely loyal following --- and attracted a number of critics. At that level of fame, her attacker could be anyone. Then, in the middle of a Nashville performance, Seraph is shot on stage. The ambulance carrying her disappears. As the city reels and conspiracy theories swirl, Kelly is pulled into a dangerous web of secrets involving Seraph’s bandmates, her troubled past, and the high cost of stardom. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE SHADOW STEP: A Detective Miller Novel by Mark Billingham (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by David Threlfall
The Shadow Step: One taken simultaneously by a pair of dancers facing the same direction, one of them behind and slightly shifted leftwards (“in the shadow”). A perfectly executed shadow step demonstrates synchronized elegance. It showcases a couple in near telepathic harmony with one another. It normally does not end with someone stone-dead in a lake. DS Declan Miller is a magnet for strange cases, but an innocent man confessing to the crime? That’s a first. Things rapidly escalate when the murder that isn’t really a murder attracts the unwanted attention of a drug Queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie, and a lovesick gangland enforcer. And when a real murder follows --- and a student is kidnapped --- all evidence points back to the same innocent man. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
JANUARY AND JULY by Jeff Abbott (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Fortgang
A disgraced intel officer anxious to redeem herself after a disastrous mission, January Holte vows to uncover the identity of a traitor who is selling her agency's secrets. The few clues she's found have led her to a sleepy river town: Lethey, Texas --- and to Bill Connors, the one man who might know the truth. July Whitlock, a rookie bodyguard, searches for his one and only client, who has suddenly disappeared. He follows a trail to Lethey to find his missing protectee: Bill Connors. But Bill's friends and enemies in Lethey have secrets of their own. And as January and July ask questions no one wants to answer, they find a tangled web of murder, greed and ambition --- one that will kill anyone who tries to unravel its mysteries. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE SINS OF SUMMER DAUGHTERS by Lo Patrick (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
Meg Gregory never wanted to return to Tuskin, the small Georgia town in which she grew up. But after her divorce left her wounded, she knew she had to quit running. Now, years later, Meg is bent on hiding from the memories that haunt her. Because she skipped town for a reason, and that reason runs deep. But when Meg's unassuming granddaughter, Lucy, is suddenly charged with the murder of her boyfriend, everything changes. Meg knows Lucy couldn't have done it. As she fights for Lucy's innocence, memories from the past threaten to break free, and she's left to contemplate a different murder, a different dead boy, a different summer under the hot Georgia sun. And soon enough, Meg isn't quite sure what is memory and who is innocent. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on August 4th
Below are some notable titles releasing on August 4th 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 August 3rd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE AMATEUR by Chris Bohjalian (Psychological Thriller)
When a young woman, a golf prodigy, kills a caddie with a stray ball at the country club, the investigation of this freak accident reveals a dark and shocking tale of secret affairs, predatory men and a teenager on trial.
THE BLUE FLAME by George Pelecanos (Hard-boiled Mystery/Thriller)
Private investigator Derek Strange returns in a riveting drama about revenge, greed and redemption. THE BLUE FLAME is signature George Pelecanos: tough, smart, and rich with details of a time and place.
DEATH ROW by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE HOUSEMAID.
DECEPTIONS by Jeffery Deaver (Thriller/Short Stories)
New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver returns with a devious collection, featuring two never-before published stories in which fan favorites Colter Shaw and Lincoln Rhyme are united by the layers of deception taking over New York City.
ETNA by Paul Yoon (Fiction)
Beloved author Paul Yoon, winner of The Story Prize, is back with the unforgettable story of a working dog, Etna, who, after a devastating war, embarks on an odyssey in the hopes of returning home.
THE SEEKERS OF DEER CREEK by Thao Thai (Fiction)
From the national bestselling author of BANYAN MOON comes a captivating, evocative story of two estranged sisters on a quest to find a painting by a forgotten Vietnamese artist that holds the truth of their family’s fractured past.
TAKE WHAT YOU CAN by Naima Coster (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of WHAT’S MINE AND YOURS comes a rich, panoramic exploration of friendship, class, new motherhood and independence.
TIME TRAVEL FOR BEGINNERS by Jaclyn Moriarty (Fiction)
In her dazzling new novel, award-winning author Jaclyn Moriarty asks the question: If you could revisit one moment in your life, what would it be?
THE UNKNOWN by Riley Sager (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
In 1926, five women disappeared from a remote island in Vermont. Now, a hundred years later, it’s happening again.
THE WILD BENEATH by Kelly Anderson (Romance/Magical Realism)
For readers of WILD DARK SHORE and THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE comes a fierce, haunting story of one woman caught between her first love and a mysterious stranger who upends everything --- and the two worlds that won’t let her go.
THE WOMEN IN WHITE by Sarah Pekkanen (Psychological/Historical Thriller)
#1 bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen combines a decades-old mystery with spine-tingling paranormal elements in this twisty novel of the seen and unseen.
YOU'LL BE SORRY by Lisa Gardner (Mystery/Thriller)
A newlywed couple each with their own secrets. An abandoned lodge with a horrific decades-old mystery. And a small mountain town where everyone believes they know their neighbors.
Click here to see the latest “On Sale This Week” newsletter.
From left to right: Chris Bohjalian, George Pelecanos, Lisa Gardner
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are seven upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, August 3rd at 6pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lisa Gardner will talk to special guest host Gregg Hurwitz about her new thriller, YOU'LL BE SORRY. A newlywed couple each with their own secrets. An abandoned lodge with a horrific decades-old mystery. And a small mountain town where everyone believes they know their neighbors.
Monday, August 3rd at 9:30pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lauren Nossett will talk to special guest hosts J.T. Ellison and Ashley Winstead about her latest novel, INDIE DARLING. In this brilliant, breakout mystery set in Nashville, a Dolly Parton-loving private detective is drawn into the disappearance of an enigmatic pop star.
Tuesday, August 4th at 4pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Catherine Ryan Howard will talk about her new book, BUYER BEWARE, a page-turning thriller about two women whose shattered lives come crashing together around a house whose secrets could bury them both.
Tuesday, August 4th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Rhys Bowen will talk about her latest work of fiction, THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN. In this thrilling novel of romance and mystery, a ghostwriter plunges into danger as she unravels the dark secrets of a powerful Scottish family.
Wednesday, August 5th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Jo Piazza about her latest novel, THE PARISIAN HEIST, a propulsive dual-timeline mystery drenched in art-world intrigue and brimming with family secrets, betrayal and the intoxicating lure of power.
Wednesday, August 5th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: George Pelecanos will talk about his latest work of crime fiction, THE BLUE FLAME, a riveting drama about revenge, greed and redemption featuring the return of private investigator Derek Strange.
Thursday, August 6th at 9:15pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Chris Bohjalian will talk about his latest book, THE AMATEUR, which asks the question: What happens when one small moment --- a swing, a ball, a piece of string --- changes the course of an entire life?
"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 are our latest interviews:
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Sophie Chen Keller (LITTLE WONDER) Podcast
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Ben Reeves (EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT)
Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed recently include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Chris Bohjalian (THE AMATEUR)
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Nadia Hashimi (CITY OF WIDOWS)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Which of Carol’s
“Bets On” Selections Appeal to You the Most?
We have listed 13 of Carol’s previous Bookreporter.com Bets On picks that are now or soon to be in paperback. Which of these books have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS by Hank Phillippi Ryan
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APOSTLE’S COVE by William Kent Krueger
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ATMOSPHERE: A Love Story, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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THE BREAK-IN by Katherine Faulkner
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THE HEIR APPARENT by Rebecca Armitage
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THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA by Sharon Kurtzman
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THE RIVER IS WAITING by Wally Lamb
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SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING by Shari Lapena
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SPEAK TO ME OF HOME by Jeanine Cummins
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THE STOLEN QUEEN by Fiona Davis
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THIS HAPPENED TO ME: A Memoir, by Kate Price
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WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? by Sophie Kinsella
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WHAT KIND OF PARADISE by Janelle Brown
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, August 7th 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 July 24th to August 7th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE AMATEUR by Chris Bohjalian and CITY OF WIDOWS by Nadia Hashimi.
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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