Fall Mysteries

There are quite a few mysteries coming out in the fall. There are so many of them in fact, that I can't possibly cover them in one try. Not all of these will be in the catalog right away but I guarantee that the records will be coming within the next month.

Marcia Muller continues her Sharon McCone series in November with Looking for Yesterday. A woman who was accused and acquitted of her best friends murder is beaten badly and shows up on McCone's doorstep. Can McCone find the real killer before someone else dies?

I have lived in that area of North Carolina where Margaret Maron places her Judge Deborah Knott series. Maron's sense of place is outstanding. Every time I read one of her books, I think I am back there. Also in November, she continues the series with The Buzzard Table. A long lost nephew of an elderly wealthy woman arrives to study southern vultures. Something about the man tickles Knott's memory. A murder surfaces and Knott is off on the case working with the usual suspects.

Sandra Parshall writes a series with a Virginia based veterinarian Rachel Goddard and the local Sheriff Tom Bridger. The 5th in the series, Bleeding Through, is coming in September. Goddard and Bridger take on 2 cases at once. While taking a group of teens to clean up trash, the body of the sister of one of the teens is found wrapped in plastic. Also, Rachel's sister comes to visit claiming she is being stalked and the stalker turns his attention to Rachel. This is an exciting series and all of them will be added to the catalog within the next few weeks.

Max Allan Collins writes a sort of classic Spillane, hard boiled detective series starring Nathan Heller. Heller becomes involved in some historic cases: the death of Marilyn Monroe; the Lindbergh kidnapping; with characters like Huey Long; Clarence Darrow and Amelia Earhart. In Target Lancer, coming in November, he takes on the Kennedy assassination.

Tim O'Mara debuts with Sacrifice Fly in October with a former Brooklyn police office, Raymond Donne,  whose bad knees lead him to change professions. He becomes a teacher at a local Brooklyn high school. When one of his students, a star baseball player, stops showing up for class, Donne goes looking for him only to find the student's father beaten to death and the student and his sister missing.

Finally, one of my favorite mystery authors, Louise Penny gives us another Chief Inspector Gamache title, The Beautiful Mystery, in September. Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir investigate a murder at a monastery in the Quebec wilderness. OK - there is a murder and there are villains but something about this series is very peaceful. Penny's description of the countryside is idyllic.

August Thrillers

Several authors are bringing us new thrillers this month.  I read this genre and these titles fascinate me. Set aside time to read some of the following.

William Kent Krueger is an award winning mystery author whose series featuring Cork O'Connor and take place mainly in Minnesot. Those who enjoy well written mysteries should give him a try. On August 21st, Mr Krueger gives us Trickster's Point. Cork is part Irish/part Native American and he is the former sheriff. Part of the charm of reading these books is Krueger's love of nature and the Native American culture.This title has Cork going hunting with Jubal Little, Minnesota's first Native American governor-elect. The two of them have a hsitory and it hasn't always been a friendly one. Little winds up with one of Cork's arrows in his heart. Cork is the prime suspect and he has to work to clear his name and find out who set him up. Exciting and suspenseful with wonderful characters.

Gregg Hurwitz was an associate producer for the television show 'V'. If any of you watched this, you know he must have unique stories in his head. Hurwitz has written several very suspenseful, critically acclaimed titles and his 2011 title, You're Next, was a Library Journal Thriller of the Year. On August 21st, The Survivor hits the shelves. A very unique lead character is forced to save the day. Nate Overbay, a former soldier, is divorced, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and dying of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (better known as Lou Gehrig's disease). Basically, you wouldn't want to be him. He has decided to kill himself and is standing 11 stories up on the ledge of a bank building when robbers break into the bank and start shooting. Nate responds and captures or kills the bank robbers. Unfortunately, apparently he had annoyed a Russian mob boss who kidnaps him and threatens to kill his daughter if he does not steal a specific document. A really compelling read and a definitely different hero.

Matthew Dunn spent years as an M16 field operative so he knows the territory his books cover. In 2011, he came out with his first novel Spycatcher and on August 7th he publishes the 2nd in the series, Sentinel: A Spycatcher Novel. Dunn's novels are all action and his main character, Will Cochrane is able to jump tall buildings in a single bound but if you are looking for some excitment in your books, this is what you need to read. In Sentinel, Cochrane is sent to Russia to find an undercover agent who  has sent a cryptic message. When he finds him, he is near death and Cochrane realizes he has work to do if he is going to prevent the next world war. If you like Lee Child's and Vince Flynn - try Matthew Dunn.

Lastly, also on August 7th, Stephen White offers us Line of Fire. This is the nineteenth and the first of a two part work that will end the Alan Gregory series. White has been writing this series since 1991 so I guess it may be time for Gregory to sail off into the sunset. Alan Gregory is a trained clinical psychologist. That probably immediately has you thinking of Kellerman's Alex Delaware. Kellerman and White actually became acquainted back in the 1980's when both were one of a dozen practicing child psychologists working with pediatric cancer patients. Unusual to say the least that 2 of that dozen became best selling authors. If you like Kellerman's Delaware series and haven't read any of White - give him a try. In this title, Alan Gregory is besieged by the weight of his world - wildfires are burning in the hills of Boulder, Colorado where Alan calls home, and Alan not only has this issue and his family’s safety to worry about, but he’s also struggling with a horrible secret that he and his friend, Police Detective Sam Purdy share - a secret that could end Sam’s police career and cost Alan his reputation. He also has problems in his personal life from the death of his neighbor to his wife’s illness, things have been more than difficult. Suddenly, out of the blue, a witness comes forward and forces police to reopen the case that has been causing Gregory to have nightmares.

August Non Thriller Titles

There are a lot of thrillers coming out in August and when I was looking at the titles we have coming in, I had a hard time deciding out to separate them. Basically, I decided to talk about all the titles that were not thrillers first. There are some well known literary authors with titles coming out in August that I wanted to make sure were publicized. In a few days, I come back with all those thrillers for the suspense lovers out there.

Paranormal readers out there will not want to miss the August 2nd entry into the Dark Hunter series. Sherrilyn Kenyon's Time Untime. Ren Waya is back from the dead. He came back to stop his prophecy about the end of the world from coming true. Unfortunately, the only way he can do that is by killing Kateri Avan, the one person he loves.

A translation from French by Michel Schneider, Marilyn's Last Sessions: A Novel comes out on August 1st. It is a re imagined versions of Marilyn's last session with Dr. Ralph Greenson, her psychoanalyst. It was well received in Europe and is being published by Little, Brown in time for the 50th anniversary of her death.

For all those who loved Selden Edward's 'The Little Book', the story continues in The Lost Prince, which hits the shelves on August 16th. The first entry covers Wheeler Brunden time traveling from the 1980's back to 1897 Vienna. In this new one, Eleanor Burden returns to New England to await what comes next. Not science fiction and more in the romantic historical travel genre.

Martin Amis takes an acidic look at modern society in his new title Lionel Asbo: The State of England which comes out on August 21st. The title character has named himself after the Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. He fits his name. His ward, Desmond Pepperdine want a respectful quiet life with books and a wife but his uncle has different plans.

Margaret Dilloway won strong reviews for her first work and now ,on August 2, she offers The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns. Gal Garner splits her time between teaching biology, receiving dialysis for failed kidney's and cross pollinating roses in hopes of winning a prize. The only time she is peaceful and happy is in the garden. Suddenly, out of nowhere, her sister's 15 year old daughter appears and Gal's life changes. Predictable perhaps but very well written.

Bernhard Schlink, the author of The Reader, offers us Summer Lies on August 14th. Short stories from Schlink dealing with the relationship between truth, lies and love. His short stories are reviewed extremely well and this title has excellent reviews in Europe.

You Are The Love of My Life arrives on August 22nd from Susan Richards Shreve. Lucy Painter is a children's book illustrator and the single mother of 2. There are things she does not want her children to know - like their father (a married man) or that her father committed suicide in the house where they are living. A domestic, intimate story - well written.

Finally, Elie Wiesel entry, Hostage, arrives on August 21st. Wiesel continues to explore the Holocaust with this story of Shaltiel Feigenberg who is kidnapped by an Arab and an Italian and kept in a basement in Brooklyn. They tell him that he was kidnapped so they could exchange him for 3 Palestinian prisoners. While tied to a chair, he tells stories to himself and to his jailers.

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.

Titles to Look For in July

I am headed out of town until July so this week, I am going to cram in as many books arriving in July as I can. First, let's briefly mention those by the MEGA authors which are coming us:

James Lee Burke - Creole Belle - on July 17th.
Catherine Coulter - Backfire - July 10th.
Andrew Gross - 15 Seconds - July 10th.
Iris & Roy Johansen - Close Your Eyes - on July 17th.
James Patters & Michael Ledwidge - I, Michael Bennett - July 9th.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips - The Great Escape - on July 10th.
Danielle Steel - Friends Forever - July 24th.

OK - now they are out of the way. If you want to read any of the above, you will probably not be first on the list but you will be alot higher now than you would if you waited. There are some other titles coming out this month, that are worth your perusal.

Chris Cleave, the author of Little Bee (a New York Times bestseller), has written another book that has a very timely subject. Gold is about 2 friends who are both battling to win a gold medal in cycling at the London Olympics. The reviews on this one range all over the place. The writing is good, the characterizations are good, but some people seem to have trouble with the plot line while others loved it. Zoe and Kate have been competing against each other for ages. Now, in their 30's, the London Olympics seem to be their last chance. Kate has a daughter who is suffering from leukemia. What would you give up for someone you loved?

Stephen L. Carter, the author of The Emperor of Ocean Park, has authored The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln. This is actually an alternative history where Lincoln survives the assassination attempt and is accused of violating the Constitution in his conduct of the war. His lawyers for his impeachment trial include a young black woman. Carter, a professor at Yale, has written this novel of history, mystery and political questions which comes out on July 10th.

If you liked The Discovery of Witches (and I did), Deborah Harkness comes out with the second book featuring Matthew Clairmont, a vampire genetist, and Diana Bishop, a witch in rebellion. I loved the first one and this time, in Shadow of Night, the time-travel back to Elizabethan London so Diana can learn more about how to handle the magic she can't seem to keep under control. This one also comes out on July 10th.

Francine Matthews has an interesting hsitorical thriller out on July 5th, Jack 1939. Preseident Roosevelt chooses John F. Kennedy, the son of America's ambassador to Britain, to go to Europe to investigate what Hitler is really planning and to stop German money designed to help derail Roosevelts re-election. Since Matthews worked for the CIA in the 90's, the atmosphere seems authentic and many of the facts she uses are true.

My next blog entry will be the week of July 9th. I hope everyone has a wonderful July 4th.

Suumer Reading New and Old

Looking for something to take on vacation? I've gleaned some titles for some sources as far away as Los Angeles as well as some of my own personal favorites. Some need no description but some do. See if any of these sound interesting to you.

The After Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer. The main character in this book, Hannah, experiences grief beyond compare. However, in the time that follows, she gets on with life with the help of her wacky, unique, loveable group of friends.

Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Imperative by Eric Van Lustbader

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - King Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell. Really good historical novel that makes you take a second look at these 2 major characters. If you have read this one, try Bring Up the Bodies, the second in this series.

Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series will be a good summer read for mystery and thriller lovers - #1 is In the Woods;  #2 is The Likeness; #3 is Faithful Place; and #4 coming out in July is Broken Harbor.

Capital by John Lanchester is a novel about London life. This is this is a novel of love and suspicion, of financial collapse and terrorist threat, of property values going up and fortunes going down, and of a city at a moment of extraordinary tension

A Conspiracy of Friends by Alexander McCall Smith is the 3rd in the Corduroy Mansions series. Smith is most known for his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series and this series is the same kind of gentle character study. The first two are Corduroy Mansions; and The Dog Who Came in From the Cold.

Cop to Corpse by Peter Lovesey. This is the 12th in the Peter Diamond series so if you like British police procedurals and you haven't read him before, you will have alot to read this summer.

The Family Corelone by Ed Falco. Falco was chosen to do a prequel of Mario Puzo's Godfather series. The critics say his efforts hit the mark. If you liked the series, see how Vito Corelone became the Godfather.

Little Night by Luanne Rice would be a good book to take to the beach. I blogged about this one before, it is about family and redemption.

The Nightmare  by Lars Kepler comes out in July. I actually met 'Lars Kepler' at a conference. It is actually written by a Swedish husband and wife team. They were delightfully funny at the conference but their books are highly suspenseful and extremely popular in Europe. this is the second in the series, following The Hypnotist, with the detective Joona Linna.

The Passage by Justin Cronin was very popular when it came out in June of 2010. If you haven't read it, you might want to get to it this summer before the 2nd in the series, The Twelve arrives in October. It is an account of a post-apocalyptic America when a secret project backfires and a virus leads to vampires.

These should give you some options to pick up some good books this summer. Enjoy!

This Summer's Best Nonfiction

5 nonfiction books this week – 3 serious, darker ones (Airlines, Iran and Afghanistan) and 2 which I hope will uplift you after the first 3.

Summer is starting, the big travel season where many of us will be getting in an airplane to go someplace for vacation. Make sure you don’t read the following book before you go – you will end up driving your car instead. William McGee, an award winning travel journalist for Consumer Reports and past editor of Consumer Reports Travel Newsletter, spent 7 years studying the airline industry today. He spoke with pilots, mechanics, passengers, executives and just about anyone who would talk to him. The result is Attention All Passengers: The Airlines' Dangerous Descent - and How to Reclaim our Skies which is out on June 26th. He discusses how the airlines need to turn a profit has affected the airlines and not in a good way.

The Twilight War: The Secret History of America’s Thirty-Year Conflict with Iran by David Crist hits the shelf on July 17th. The US and Iran have been  squaring off against each other for over 30 years – ever since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the taking of American hostages in November of that year. The conflict has continually threatened to become an open war since then. Crist, a senior historian for the federal government, adds depth and understanding to this deeply disturbing problem that has faced 6 presidents.

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Dakota Meyer, a Medal of Honor recipient, has authored an account of his actions on September 8, 2009 in the Kunar Province in Afghanistan with the help of Bing West. Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War will be published on August 12th. This title has some local interest. Meyer's unit was surrounded by the Taliban and was taking heavy fire. When air cover was late in being provided, he disobeyed orders, took charge of the company and saved 18 men.  4 men died in the attack, one of them, Edwin Wayne Johnson Jr., from Columbus, GA. Meyer made sure that the bodies of those killed in action were returned home. This should be an emotional and thought provoking title to read.

On a lighter note, Terrie M. Williams offers The Odyssey of KP2: An Orphan Seal, a Marine Biologist, and the Fight to Save a Species on July 5, 2012. This book has the cutest cover ever!!!! Williams is the director of the Marine Mammal Physiology Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the co-creator of the Center of Ocean Health. She is also the expert that environmental officials turned to when an orphaned monk seal turned up on the shore of Kauai. Monk seals are the most endangered marine mammal and the opportunity to study them and find a way to prevent their extinction overcame many objections. Williams’ story captures the bonds between humans and animals and reports on the ways we help each other.

Finally, Gretchen Rubin, the bestselling author of The Happiness Project, has another title coming on September 4th. Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon a Project, Read Samuel Johnson and My Other Experiment in the Practice of Everyday Life describes Rubin's efforts for part of one year to make her home a place of greater simplicity, comfort, and love. She writes with a blend of science, philosophy, experimentation and memoir.  This book will inspire you to find the happiness you might be missing.