It's Been Awhile

I've been gone for over 2 weeks and upon returning, it has taken me some time to get my work like in order. Now, I am ready to spread some good news about books arriving in August. Some are by authors you have heard of and some are by debut author or perhaps not well known. Try a sampling of these:

Jay Capian Kang, the deput editor of the online pop-culture magazine Grantland.com, has debuted with The Dead Do Not Improve. It will arrive on the shelves on August 7th. Kang writes in a stream of consciousnessstyle which may be difficult to follow in the thriller format but most reviews find the book exciting and well written. A young Masters of Fine Arts graduate, Philip Kim,  becomes involved in what appears to be the random shooting of his next door neighbor in San Francisco. Somehow, Philip thinks he had attracted the killers' attention and he runs. Is he in danger or is it only in his head?

The Second Empress: A Novel of Napoleon's Court by Michelle Moran comes out on August 14 for those who like historical fiction. The story of the young girl who becomes the second wife of Napolean after Jospehine. Moran has written several historical fiction titles and in each one, her character development improves. This follows the eighteen year old daughter of the King of Austria who is forced to marry Napoleon or throw her country into a bloody war.

Another debut novelist, ML Stedman offers The Light Between Oceans on July 31st. This one comes with alot of good press, it will be featured on NPR and it will contain a reading guide. The wife of a lighthouse keeper off the coast of Australia during World War I suffers 2 miscarriages and a still birth. When a boat washes up containing a dead man and a baby, the wife adopts the baby as her own. However, when they return to the mainland, problems arise. This is a story that makes you consider the difference between right and wrong.

Vengeance by Benjamin Black arrives on August 7th. Black is the name literary author John Banville uses when he is writing in the thriller genre. His series follows Detective Inspector Hackett and his sometimes partner, Quirke, the consulting pathologist. Hackett and Quirke investigate the mysterious suicide of a prominent businessman in Ireland and quickly discover there is more to it than meets the eye. More British suspense from a very popular author.

Karin Fossum, a Norwegian author, offers The Caller on August 1st. She continues her Los Angels award winning series following Inspector Sejer. The publishing house is really excited about this one. A young couple eating a meal check on their child sleeping in her stroller to find her covered in blood. The child is not hurt at all but they call the police and Inspector Sejer comes to take their statement. Later, a postcard arrives stating "Hell begins here". The terror begins. Fossum writes from a psychological and even sociological background so even though criminals are not excused, they can be understood.

Laura Lippman has a new title coming out that is based on a short story that was nominated for an Edgar and an Anthony. And When She Was Good comes out on August 14th. A suburban madam is concerned when someone she helped put behind bars is released. Lippman, of course, is always popular.

Also out on July 31st is Dean Koontz newest entry into the Odd Thomas series, Odd Apocalypse. Always a popular series and this one coincides with the release of this series in graphic novel form.