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Editorial Content for The Fairest: An Arles Shepherd Thriller

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Ray Palen

As THE FAIREST opens, two people appear to be lost on a trip to the countryside somewhere. It is unclear if this is a flashback or a fictional scene between characters in a book by author Kara Parsons. As the story progresses, this introduction --- along with various other moments spliced into the novel --- will become quite clear. Read More

Teaser

Author Kara Parsons is at a book signing in the town where she was raised. Before it’s over, a young girl approaches with a copy of Kara’s book containing a handwritten inscription: I am a missing child. Most people would alert the police, but Kara knows what happens to the young and vulnerable when the system fails them. She turns to her former therapist, Arles Shepherd, who finds something off about this girl who refuses to reveal her own name. What is she running from? And how much of what she says can be believed? When a man with a gun manages to locate Arles’ remote wilderness home, the true threat is revealed, and Arles and Kara go on the run. But to save this child, Arles must allow her to be found. And that’s when the real danger begins.

Promo

Author Kara Parsons is at a book signing in the town where she was raised. Before it’s over, a young girl approaches with a copy of Kara’s book containing a handwritten inscription: I am a missing child. Most people would alert the police, but Kara knows what happens to the young and vulnerable when the system fails them. She turns to her former therapist, Arles Shepherd, who finds something off about this girl who refuses to reveal her own name. What is she running from? And how much of what she says can be believed? When a man with a gun manages to locate Arles’ remote wilderness home, the true threat is revealed, and Arles and Kara go on the run. But to save this child, Arles must allow her to be found. And that’s when the real danger begins.

About the Book

When a young girl seeks out sanctuary with a total stranger, a nightmare follows in this riveting novel of suspense by Jenny Milchman, the USA Today bestselling author of THE USUAL SILENCE.

Author Kara Parsons is at a book signing in the town where she was raised. Before it’s over, a young girl approaches with a copy of Kara’s book containing a handwritten inscription: I am a missing child.

Most people would alert the police, but Kara knows what happens to the young and vulnerable when the system fails them. She turns to her former therapist, Arles Shepherd, who’s recovering from injuries and staying off the grid. But even Arles, who’s seen everything, finds something off about this girl who refuses to reveal her own name. What is she running from? And how much of what she says can be believed?

When a man with a gun manages to locate Arles’ remote wilderness home, the true threat is revealed, and Arles and Kara go on the run. But fleeing only gets them so far. To save this child, Arles must allow her to be found. And that’s when the real danger begins.

Audiobook available, read by Sarah Mollo-Christensen

October 24, 2025

I did a books presentation at my local health club this week. It’s the second time that I have done an event like this, and it was so much fun. I structured it like our “Bookaccino Live” events, but this time it was with “me” live as well. It was a great opportunity to share the books that we are championing to a live audience.

During this week, I have heard from some of the attendees, and they remarked on how they loved getting a list of what they may want to explore. I find that these days there are so few outlets writing about books, and readers still crave book conversation. I am hoping that some of them subscribe to this newsletter!

Clare Leslie Hall Book Group Signup

Clare Leslie Hall Book Group Signup

October 21, 2025

We have been teasing this for a while, so I am THRILLED to officially announce our very special 25th Anniversary Feature, which includes a BIG contest that we had fun pulling together.

We looked back and created a list of the most discussed books each year since ReadingGroupGuides.com launched in 2000 --- and yes, doing this brought up a whole swell of memories and a lot of discussion.

October 21, 2025

In this newsletter, you will find books releasing the weeks of October 20th and October 27th that we think will be of interest to Bookreporter.com readers, along with Bonus News, where we call out a contest, feature or review that we want to let you know about so you have it on your radar.

This week, we are calling attention to our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest for CALDER STRONG, the fifth installment in Janet Dailey’s Calder Brand series. The epic tale of the settling of the American West comes to vivid life in this inspiring saga of love, hope and endurance. We are awarding 25 readers a copy of the book, which is set in 1929 Blue Moon, Montana, and is perfect for fans of “Yellowstone” who crave western familial sagas. The deadline for your entries is Friday, October 31st at noon ET.

Kiran Desai, author of The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny

When Sonia and Sunny first glimpse each other on an overnight train, they are immediately captivated yet also embarrassed by the fact that their grandparents had once tried to matchmake them, a clumsy meddling that served only to drive Sonia and Sunny apart. Sonia, an aspiring novelist who recently completed her studies in the snowy mountains of Vermont, has returned to her family in India. She fears that she is haunted by a dark spell cast by an artist to whom she had once turned for intimacy and inspiration. Sunny, a struggling journalist resettled in New York City, is attempting to flee his imperious mother and the violence of his warring clan. Uncertain of their future, Sonia and Sunny embark on a search for happiness together as they confront the many alienations of our modern world.

Thomas Pynchon, author of Shadow Ticket

Milwaukee, 1932. The Great Depression is going full blast, the repeal of Prohibition is just around the corner, Al Capone is in the federal pen, and the private investigation business shifts from labor-management relations to the more domestic kind. Hicks McTaggart, a onetime strikebreaker turned private eye, thinks he’s found job security until he gets sent out on what should be a routine case: locating and bringing back the heiress of a Wisconsin cheese fortune who’s taken a mind to go wandering. Before he knows it, he’s been shanghaied onto a transoceanic liner, eventually ending up in Hungary. By the time Hicks catches up with the runaway heiress, he will find himself entangled with Nazis, Soviet agents, British counterspies, swing musicians, practitioners of the paranormal, outlaw motorcyclists, and the troubles that come with each of them.

Philippa Gregory, author of Boleyn Traitor

Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens. For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.

Lily King, author of Heart the Lover

In the fall of her senior year of college, our narrator meets two star students from her 17th-Century Lit class: Sam and Yash. The boys invite her into their intoxicating world of academic fervor, rapid-fire banter and raucous card games. They nickname her Jordan, and she quickly discovers the pleasures of friendship, love and her own intellectual ambition. But youthful passion is unpredictable, and soon she finds herself at the center of a charged and intricate triangle. As graduation comes and goes, choices made will alter these three lives forever. Decades later, the vulnerable days of Jordan's youth seem comfortably behind her. But when a surprise visit and unexpected news bring the past crashing into the present, she returns to a world she left behind and must confront the decisions and deceptions of her younger self.