Sorry I didn't get this out Saturday but...when I came in, I couldn't get the lights in my office to come on. I just can't type in the dark so....this morning will have to do.
First, I am going to talk about Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt which is coming out on October 4. Occasionally I come across a book that even though not in my preferred genres, I feel compelled to read. This is one of those. Maybe because it takes place in the 70's and is about a teenage girl - that could be the thing that is calling me. Here, Lucy is 16 and a bored high school student who lives with her older 'perfect' sister Charlotte and Iris - their guardian. Lucy and her high school English teacher run away to live on a remote farm in Pennsylvania. Charlotte, who has always been Lucy's caretaker, and Iris - are desperate to find her. Lucy soon finds out that running away may not have been a good idea. The writing is beautiful - the character development is outstanding. It is a compelling read.
Melina Marchetta, who has only written for teens up till now, has her first adult novel coming out on October 11. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil is really a literary who-done-it. Chief Inspector Bish Ortley's daughter is on a touring holiday when Bish gets a phone call about a bombing. He rushes to his injured daughter and is drawn into the investigation. He discovers that 17 year old Violette LeBrac was also on the bus. Bish had put her mother in prison with a life sentence for another bombing 14 years ago. No one knew who the target was and the students were not talking. Bish though, is determined to find the truth.
By Gaslight by Steven Price comes out on October 4. Price first published as a poet so you know that language is lyrical. If you like historical mysteries or works placed in Victorian London - then this one is for you. It takes place in London in 1885. William Pinkerton - following in the footsteps of his father, the famous detective - is after the mysterious thief, Edward Shade. Adam Foole is a gentleman with no background is looking for a lost love. Both end up searching the dark streets of London looking for clues.
Seduced by Randy Wayne White is coming out on October 18. This is the fourth in the Hannah Smith series. Smith is, of course, a fishing guide and part time investigator. In this work, Florida's orange trees are dying. They have been weakened by infestations and genetic manipulations. The only thing that might help them is root stock from the original trees planted by the Spanish conquistadors. Smith is a obvious choice to hunt for this. She is warned that some would kill for this and she finds that it wasn't an exaggeration.
Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood comes out on October 11. This is the fourth novel in the Hogarth Shakespeare series. The Hogarth Shakespeare Project has asked authors to create an updated version of one of Shakespeare's plays. Atwood has done a fabulous reinvention of The Tempest. Here, Prospero becomes Felix Phillips, a deposed artistic director of a Shakespeare Festival, who was stabbed in the back by his assistant, Tony. Felix's wife and daughter (Miranda) are dead. Felix, takes on an alias of Mr. Duke and starts to volunteer in a prison. He puts on The Tempest about a Prospero who puts on a play to gain revenge and here, it a play within a play within a play. Said to be the best of the Hogarth series yet.
Lastly, Thomas Keneally of Schindler's List fame, has Napoleon's Last Island. This novel is based on lots of research by Keneally Most of the people and the important events are real. Betsy Balcombe was a child living with her family on St. Helena when Napoleon was exiled there. Her father, William Balcombe was ruined by his friendship with Napoleon and took a position in New South Wales to reclaim his reputation. An interesting time in history
OK - there you go. Hope there is something there for you.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Friday, September 16, 2016
More October Titles
This is going to have to be a quick one this week. Tomorrow is our big Children's Book Festival and we are all working. It is going to be an exciting day but we will be tired tomorrow night. So - here are some more titles coming out in October.
Jefferson Bass has Without Mercy, the tenth in the Body Farm series, coming out on October 4. Jefferson Bass is actually Jon Jefferson, a writer and Dr. Bill Bass, a forensic anthropologist who founded the "Body Farm" at the University of Tennessee. Obviously, these are going to be dark, disturbing and even gruesome at time works. Here, Bill Brockton, the forensic anthropologist, is working on one crime when he and his assistant find that some one he put behind bars, a vicious serial killer, Nick Satterfield, has escaped. Satterfield wants revenge by harming all Brockton hold dear.
Allen Eskens has The Heavens May Fall coming out also on October 4. Eskens writes intricately plotted and compelling suspense. Here, two good friends are on opposite sides of the case of the death of Jennavieve Pruitt. Max Rupert is sure she was killed by her husband. Attorney Boady Sanden is just as sure that her husband is innocent. Obviously one of them is wrong.
Once again on October 4, Tana French has The Trespasser arriving. This one made the LibraryReads list from last week. It is a continuation of the Dublin Murder Squad series. Antoinette Conway and her partner Steve Moran can't understand why they are being pushed in one direction when their guts tell them something else.
Patrick Hoffman has Every Man a Menace once again coming out on October 4. Hoffman also writes dark and gritty crime fiction. Here Hoffman follows the people involved in transporting a major delivery of Ecstasy (the drug) to San Francisco. This is his second novel focusing on the making, running and distribution of drugs and it's effects.
Lastly for this week, Joe Ide has IQ coming out on October 18. This is a debut novel by Ide who is of Japanese American descent. He grew up in South Central LA but went on to earn a graduate degree. His favorite books growing up were those by Conan Doyle. He was fascinated by the idea that someone could defeat his enemies just because he was intelligent. this work deals with a genius loner living in East Long Beach. He solves the crimes the police can't. It has already been sold to develop into a television series. You might want to get on the wagon before it gets on the screen.
Sorry this has to be so short this week. Hope to see some of you tomorrow at the festival.
Jefferson Bass has Without Mercy, the tenth in the Body Farm series, coming out on October 4. Jefferson Bass is actually Jon Jefferson, a writer and Dr. Bill Bass, a forensic anthropologist who founded the "Body Farm" at the University of Tennessee. Obviously, these are going to be dark, disturbing and even gruesome at time works. Here, Bill Brockton, the forensic anthropologist, is working on one crime when he and his assistant find that some one he put behind bars, a vicious serial killer, Nick Satterfield, has escaped. Satterfield wants revenge by harming all Brockton hold dear.
Allen Eskens has The Heavens May Fall coming out also on October 4. Eskens writes intricately plotted and compelling suspense. Here, two good friends are on opposite sides of the case of the death of Jennavieve Pruitt. Max Rupert is sure she was killed by her husband. Attorney Boady Sanden is just as sure that her husband is innocent. Obviously one of them is wrong.
Once again on October 4, Tana French has The Trespasser arriving. This one made the LibraryReads list from last week. It is a continuation of the Dublin Murder Squad series. Antoinette Conway and her partner Steve Moran can't understand why they are being pushed in one direction when their guts tell them something else.
Patrick Hoffman has Every Man a Menace once again coming out on October 4. Hoffman also writes dark and gritty crime fiction. Here Hoffman follows the people involved in transporting a major delivery of Ecstasy (the drug) to San Francisco. This is his second novel focusing on the making, running and distribution of drugs and it's effects.
Lastly for this week, Joe Ide has IQ coming out on October 18. This is a debut novel by Ide who is of Japanese American descent. He grew up in South Central LA but went on to earn a graduate degree. His favorite books growing up were those by Conan Doyle. He was fascinated by the idea that someone could defeat his enemies just because he was intelligent. this work deals with a genius loner living in East Long Beach. He solves the crimes the police can't. It has already been sold to develop into a television series. You might want to get on the wagon before it gets on the screen.
Sorry this has to be so short this week. Hope to see some of you tomorrow at the festival.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
October's LibraryReads
There are always some interesting titles on the LibraryReads list. Some might not be my cup of tea but I am sure they are for others. This is one of those months where only a few of them are titles I chose. The number one choice on this months list is News of the World by Paulette Jiles. Jiles' historical novels are always well researched but she is known more for great characterizations. Both are present in this title. An old ex-soldier becomes an itinerant news reader in Texas after the Civil War. Captain Jefferson Kidd would read world event news to the small towns spread throughout Texas. In one, a gentleman he trusted, asked him to return a young 10 year old, kidnapped by Indians when she was 6, back to her parents in Austin. This work claimed quite a few hearts with the reviewers - even those who don't like historical fiction.
Next, in no particular order on the list:
The Trespasser by Tana French. This is the sixth in the Dublin Murder Squad series. This series is always dark and disturbing but also compelling - once you start, you can't put it down. Here a young beautiful girl, Aislinn Murray, is killed and although all clues point to her boyfriend, Antoinette Conway and her partner Steve Moran have doubts. Conway is rough and tough. The rest of the squad would like to get rid of her. So when all clues point one way, Conway wonders if she should look another way.
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Picoult likes to examine current day issues through the perspective of fictional stories of everyday people. Here neonatal nurse, Ruth Jefferson, is asked to not touch a newborn's white supremacist's parents. When the baby goes into cardiac distress, Ruth is alone in the department. She hesitates and the baby dies. Now, she is being charged with causing the death of a baby. The story is told from the point of view of Ruth, Ruth's attorney and the newborn's father. Reviewers have called it brilliant and gripping.
Crosstalk by Connie Willis. I like Connie Willis. She writes speculative fiction kind of science fictiony in a way with humor in her dialog. I read a series she wrote about people time travelling back to WWII Britain. It was really good. This one will take a leap of faith at the beginning. It takes place in the relatively near future. There is a procedure that has been invented to telepathically connect couples - boyfriends and girlfriends. The main character, Briddey, undergoes this procedure to connect with her seemingly perfect boyfriend. Unfortunately, she ends up connected with someone else. Quite a dilemma.
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict. This was kind of surprise to me. I was not it's biggest fan. It is the story of Einstein's first wife, Mileva Maric who was a brilliant physics student with Einstein in university. After marrying Einstein some say she played a big part in his theories - others say she lost her drive for physics.
The Mothers by Brit Bennett. This is a highly regarded debut novel that takes place in an African American community in California. Nadia, a high school senior, is troubled by her mother's suicide and turns to a local pastor's son for comfort. A pregnancy results. The story is about Nadia, the young man, Luke, and Nadia's best friend, Aubrey. It is the story of how the decision that they make this particular year affects their lives. There is the constant question of 'what if'. Reviewers have said things like 'outstanding', 'sage and sad', blindingly good'.
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple. Semple wrote the very popular Where'd You Go, Bernadette. Truthfully, the reviews have been mixed here. Some absolutely loved it, others thought it was so-so. Here were follow one day in the life of Eleanor Flood. Flood, with a young son and married to a hand surgeon, had been a top animator in New York but moved to Seattle with her husband. She has become a neurotic mess. She makes plans for this day to be different but then life happens.
All the Little Liars by Charlaine Harris. This is the ninth in the Aurora Teagarden series, the first since 2003. Defined as her most cozy series, it will be interesting to see if that continues. Teagarden.is a librarian who can't help but investigate crime. She is married to a crime writer so...it is a beneficial partnership for all. Disaster stricks her small Georgia town when 4 children disappear from the school soccer field. One of them is Aurora's 15 year old brother. How can she not investigate this one.
Smoke and Mirror by Elly Griffiths. This is the second in the series entitled Magic Men by some and Stephens and Mephisto. Stephens is DI Edgar Stephens and Mephisto is Max Mephisto, a friend of Stevens from WWII and an illusionist. This title takes place in Brighton in the winter of 1951. Max is starring in the play Aladdin but Stevens is concentrating on 2 missing local children who are found dead in the snow with a trail of candy around them. A gruesome crime for sure and one where Stephens again needs Max's help.
Lastly, The Motion of Puppets by Keith Donohue. This will take a leap of faith right from the beginning almost but if you can make it, it is a creepy story that will have you looking at puppets with fear. Kay is a performer at the cirque and her husband, Theo, is a French professor in New York. They are spending their summer in the old section of Quebec. After a late post show dinner, Kay is distracted by a puppet shop which she had never seen opened before and goes inside. She is transformed into a puppet. Her husband searches the city for his missing wife. Can he recognize her in puppet form? Will she want to return to human form? Said to be frightening and dark.
OK - there you go. The 10 titles that come out in October that were the most popular among librarians around the world. I hope one of them grabs your attention.
Next, in no particular order on the list:
The Trespasser by Tana French. This is the sixth in the Dublin Murder Squad series. This series is always dark and disturbing but also compelling - once you start, you can't put it down. Here a young beautiful girl, Aislinn Murray, is killed and although all clues point to her boyfriend, Antoinette Conway and her partner Steve Moran have doubts. Conway is rough and tough. The rest of the squad would like to get rid of her. So when all clues point one way, Conway wonders if she should look another way.
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Picoult likes to examine current day issues through the perspective of fictional stories of everyday people. Here neonatal nurse, Ruth Jefferson, is asked to not touch a newborn's white supremacist's parents. When the baby goes into cardiac distress, Ruth is alone in the department. She hesitates and the baby dies. Now, she is being charged with causing the death of a baby. The story is told from the point of view of Ruth, Ruth's attorney and the newborn's father. Reviewers have called it brilliant and gripping.
Crosstalk by Connie Willis. I like Connie Willis. She writes speculative fiction kind of science fictiony in a way with humor in her dialog. I read a series she wrote about people time travelling back to WWII Britain. It was really good. This one will take a leap of faith at the beginning. It takes place in the relatively near future. There is a procedure that has been invented to telepathically connect couples - boyfriends and girlfriends. The main character, Briddey, undergoes this procedure to connect with her seemingly perfect boyfriend. Unfortunately, she ends up connected with someone else. Quite a dilemma.
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict. This was kind of surprise to me. I was not it's biggest fan. It is the story of Einstein's first wife, Mileva Maric who was a brilliant physics student with Einstein in university. After marrying Einstein some say she played a big part in his theories - others say she lost her drive for physics.
The Mothers by Brit Bennett. This is a highly regarded debut novel that takes place in an African American community in California. Nadia, a high school senior, is troubled by her mother's suicide and turns to a local pastor's son for comfort. A pregnancy results. The story is about Nadia, the young man, Luke, and Nadia's best friend, Aubrey. It is the story of how the decision that they make this particular year affects their lives. There is the constant question of 'what if'. Reviewers have said things like 'outstanding', 'sage and sad', blindingly good'.
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple. Semple wrote the very popular Where'd You Go, Bernadette. Truthfully, the reviews have been mixed here. Some absolutely loved it, others thought it was so-so. Here were follow one day in the life of Eleanor Flood. Flood, with a young son and married to a hand surgeon, had been a top animator in New York but moved to Seattle with her husband. She has become a neurotic mess. She makes plans for this day to be different but then life happens.
All the Little Liars by Charlaine Harris. This is the ninth in the Aurora Teagarden series, the first since 2003. Defined as her most cozy series, it will be interesting to see if that continues. Teagarden.is a librarian who can't help but investigate crime. She is married to a crime writer so...it is a beneficial partnership for all. Disaster stricks her small Georgia town when 4 children disappear from the school soccer field. One of them is Aurora's 15 year old brother. How can she not investigate this one.
Smoke and Mirror by Elly Griffiths. This is the second in the series entitled Magic Men by some and Stephens and Mephisto. Stephens is DI Edgar Stephens and Mephisto is Max Mephisto, a friend of Stevens from WWII and an illusionist. This title takes place in Brighton in the winter of 1951. Max is starring in the play Aladdin but Stevens is concentrating on 2 missing local children who are found dead in the snow with a trail of candy around them. A gruesome crime for sure and one where Stephens again needs Max's help.
Lastly, The Motion of Puppets by Keith Donohue. This will take a leap of faith right from the beginning almost but if you can make it, it is a creepy story that will have you looking at puppets with fear. Kay is a performer at the cirque and her husband, Theo, is a French professor in New York. They are spending their summer in the old section of Quebec. After a late post show dinner, Kay is distracted by a puppet shop which she had never seen opened before and goes inside. She is transformed into a puppet. Her husband searches the city for his missing wife. Can he recognize her in puppet form? Will she want to return to human form? Said to be frightening and dark.
OK - there you go. The 10 titles that come out in October that were the most popular among librarians around the world. I hope one of them grabs your attention.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
October Big Names (and there are a lot of them)
OK - October is a BIG month. I know that many of you are waiting for some of these already but...just in case you missed it coming out, here are the big name authors who have titles coming out in October.
Order To Kill is the continuation of the Mitch Rapp series originated by Vince Flynn and written by Kyle Mills. This will be out on October 11. Here Rapp is trying to chase down Pakistani nukes so they don't come under the control of terrorists or Russia. This is Mills second Rapp title.
John Grisham has The Whistler coming out on October 25. Lacy Stoltz is a lawyer and an investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct when she is assigned a case presented by Greg Myers, a previously disbarred lawyer. He has a client who says a judge helped the Coast Mafia to finance a casino on Native American land and all, including the judge, are taking a good chunk of the profits. If correct, the whistle blower will receive a bunch of money but....there is also a lot of danger.
Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen have Night Watch also coming out on October 25.This is the fourth in the Kendra Mitchell series. Mitchell had been blind but a new medical procedure gave her sight. She is an investigator that is in high demand. Her latest case, however, deals with the doctor who gave her her sight back. He had come to visit and then disappeared and one of his associates was killed in the mountains. What is going on?
$10,000,000 Marriage Proposal by James Paterson and Hilary Liftin comes on October 4. A billboard in LA proposes giving $10,000,000 to the woman who will marry a wealthy businessman who says he doesn't have time to look. Three women are interested. Could this be real????
John Sandford has Escape Clause coming out on October 18.This is the ninth in the Virgil Flowers series. Here two Siberian tigers go missing from the Minnesota Zoo. Virgil is suppose to find them before they are turned into body parts for the Chinese market. Also, Virgil's girlfriend, Frankie's sister arrived. Sparkle, yes, that is her name, is there is do research on migrant workers. Someone really doesn't want the research done - plus - Sparkle kind of likes Virgil and Frankie is not pleased.
Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks comes out on Oct 4. Russell Green had it all - a beautiful wife, a 6 year old daughter, a challenging career and a great home in Charlotte. Then - he lost his job and his wife. He is left with his daughter and the task is overwhelming. It is a new life for Green.
Last but not least, Stuart Woods has Sex, Lies, and Serious Money coming out on October 25. This is the 39th in the Stone Barrington series. No real word on the plot here other than Stone is about to learn that sometimes easy money, isn't easy.
You can see that the big names are really big this month. If you haven't got your name on their lists yet - now is the time.
Order To Kill is the continuation of the Mitch Rapp series originated by Vince Flynn and written by Kyle Mills. This will be out on October 11. Here Rapp is trying to chase down Pakistani nukes so they don't come under the control of terrorists or Russia. This is Mills second Rapp title.
John Grisham has The Whistler coming out on October 25. Lacy Stoltz is a lawyer and an investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct when she is assigned a case presented by Greg Myers, a previously disbarred lawyer. He has a client who says a judge helped the Coast Mafia to finance a casino on Native American land and all, including the judge, are taking a good chunk of the profits. If correct, the whistle blower will receive a bunch of money but....there is also a lot of danger.
Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen have Night Watch also coming out on October 25.This is the fourth in the Kendra Mitchell series. Mitchell had been blind but a new medical procedure gave her sight. She is an investigator that is in high demand. Her latest case, however, deals with the doctor who gave her her sight back. He had come to visit and then disappeared and one of his associates was killed in the mountains. What is going on?
$10,000,000 Marriage Proposal by James Paterson and Hilary Liftin comes on October 4. A billboard in LA proposes giving $10,000,000 to the woman who will marry a wealthy businessman who says he doesn't have time to look. Three women are interested. Could this be real????
John Sandford has Escape Clause coming out on October 18.This is the ninth in the Virgil Flowers series. Here two Siberian tigers go missing from the Minnesota Zoo. Virgil is suppose to find them before they are turned into body parts for the Chinese market. Also, Virgil's girlfriend, Frankie's sister arrived. Sparkle, yes, that is her name, is there is do research on migrant workers. Someone really doesn't want the research done - plus - Sparkle kind of likes Virgil and Frankie is not pleased.
Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks comes out on Oct 4. Russell Green had it all - a beautiful wife, a 6 year old daughter, a challenging career and a great home in Charlotte. Then - he lost his job and his wife. He is left with his daughter and the task is overwhelming. It is a new life for Green.
Last but not least, Stuart Woods has Sex, Lies, and Serious Money coming out on October 25. This is the 39th in the Stone Barrington series. No real word on the plot here other than Stone is about to learn that sometimes easy money, isn't easy.
You can see that the big names are really big this month. If you haven't got your name on their lists yet - now is the time.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Last Post about September Titles
Can't believe I will start on October titles next week but.....here we are at the end of August so I guess I have to believe it. I'm going to try to cover some quite quickly today. Let's see what we have left.
Todd Moss has Ghosts of Havana coming out on September 6. This is the third in the Judd Ryker series. What makes this series interesting is the Moss was a high ranking Department of State diplomat in West Africa so he understands the workings of the government. Moss' first two Ryker books took place in Africa but here, the place is Cuba. When 4 sport fishermen stray into Cuban waters and are imprisoned, Ryker, as the State Department Crisis Manager, is sent to deal with the incident. But the more he looks, the more he wonders what is actually going on.
Red Right Hand by Chris Holm comes out on September 13. This is the second in the Michael Henricks series after The Killing Kind. Hendricks is an paid assassin who kills assassins. When their is a terrorist attack on the Golden Gate Bridge, some mobile video showed the world that an FBI informant who they believed to be dead, was actually alive and well. He was supposed to testify against a crime syndicate called The Council. The FBI is only interested in catching the terrorists so Special Agent Charlie Thomson asks Michael Henricks to protest the witness. Compelling, fast paced and action-packed according to reviewers. Should you read the first one first? Most of the reviewers have.
I am just going to mention the next one because it is an interesting work on nonfiction but....well, you would have to want a real close view of the US education system. Nicholson Baker, an award winning author, spent a year as a substitute teacher with a school system in Maine. In Substitute, coming out on September 6, he describes his experience and his impression of todays public school system.
Sophie Hannah has Closed Casket coming out on September 6. This is the second in the New Hercule Poirot Novel series after The Monogram Murders. Here Poirot with help from Scotland Yard inspector Edward Catchpool solve a murder that takes place at an old rich, aristocrat lady's lavish party in the Irish countryside. Reviewers have said this one is even better than the first one and at times, you forget that you are not reading Christie.
Ron Rash has The Risen also coming out on September 6. When I think of Rash, I think of moody Appalachian mountain fiction and this meets that criteria. This story takes place in the Asheville, NC area and concerns two brothers. One, Eugene, a failed alcoholic author whose wife and daughter have left him and the other, Bill, a successful neurosurgeon. Back in the summer of 1969, a wild child Liegeia who had been sent to the town from Daytona Beach, in punishment - introduced both to drugs, alcohol and sex. Then, suddenly, she disappeared. What actually happened that summer? Rash's writing is lyrical with a real sense of place.
Lastly, again on September 6, Carl Hiaasen has Razor Girl arriving. As usual, it is filled with wild characters. Here Andrew Yancy lost his detective badge when he had a Dust Busting incident with his ex-lover's husband. Now, he inspects restaurants in Key West but wants to get back to his old job. He decides to try to solve a murder. Most of the enjoyment of reading Hiaasen comes from meeting the really outlandish characters he invents. This title certainly has that. So if you like humor or sarcasm with your suspense, try this one.
OK - those are the September titles from me. Hope there is something that interests you.
Todd Moss has Ghosts of Havana coming out on September 6. This is the third in the Judd Ryker series. What makes this series interesting is the Moss was a high ranking Department of State diplomat in West Africa so he understands the workings of the government. Moss' first two Ryker books took place in Africa but here, the place is Cuba. When 4 sport fishermen stray into Cuban waters and are imprisoned, Ryker, as the State Department Crisis Manager, is sent to deal with the incident. But the more he looks, the more he wonders what is actually going on.
Red Right Hand by Chris Holm comes out on September 13. This is the second in the Michael Henricks series after The Killing Kind. Hendricks is an paid assassin who kills assassins. When their is a terrorist attack on the Golden Gate Bridge, some mobile video showed the world that an FBI informant who they believed to be dead, was actually alive and well. He was supposed to testify against a crime syndicate called The Council. The FBI is only interested in catching the terrorists so Special Agent Charlie Thomson asks Michael Henricks to protest the witness. Compelling, fast paced and action-packed according to reviewers. Should you read the first one first? Most of the reviewers have.
I am just going to mention the next one because it is an interesting work on nonfiction but....well, you would have to want a real close view of the US education system. Nicholson Baker, an award winning author, spent a year as a substitute teacher with a school system in Maine. In Substitute, coming out on September 6, he describes his experience and his impression of todays public school system.
Sophie Hannah has Closed Casket coming out on September 6. This is the second in the New Hercule Poirot Novel series after The Monogram Murders. Here Poirot with help from Scotland Yard inspector Edward Catchpool solve a murder that takes place at an old rich, aristocrat lady's lavish party in the Irish countryside. Reviewers have said this one is even better than the first one and at times, you forget that you are not reading Christie.
Ron Rash has The Risen also coming out on September 6. When I think of Rash, I think of moody Appalachian mountain fiction and this meets that criteria. This story takes place in the Asheville, NC area and concerns two brothers. One, Eugene, a failed alcoholic author whose wife and daughter have left him and the other, Bill, a successful neurosurgeon. Back in the summer of 1969, a wild child Liegeia who had been sent to the town from Daytona Beach, in punishment - introduced both to drugs, alcohol and sex. Then, suddenly, she disappeared. What actually happened that summer? Rash's writing is lyrical with a real sense of place.
Lastly, again on September 6, Carl Hiaasen has Razor Girl arriving. As usual, it is filled with wild characters. Here Andrew Yancy lost his detective badge when he had a Dust Busting incident with his ex-lover's husband. Now, he inspects restaurants in Key West but wants to get back to his old job. He decides to try to solve a murder. Most of the enjoyment of reading Hiaasen comes from meeting the really outlandish characters he invents. This title certainly has that. So if you like humor or sarcasm with your suspense, try this one.
OK - those are the September titles from me. Hope there is something that interests you.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
More September Titles
So this week, I am going to do mysteries, suspense and thrillers that will be out next month. There are enough to dedicate this entry to them even without the ones I've already told you about.
Because I'm Watching by Christina Dodd comes out on September 6. Dodd writes romantic suspense among other genres and this fall in that genre. Mad Maddie, Madeline Hewitson, has survived a college dorm massacre; been accused of the murder of her lover; and now has driven her car into the house of Jacob Denisov. Jacob has quite a back story too.He blames himself for the troubles in his past and is trying to come up with the nerve to commit suicide. Then Maddie happens. Jacob begins suspecting that she isn't crazy but that someone is trying to convince her she is.
Elsa Hart has The White Mirror also arriving on September 6. This is a follow up to a title I loved, Jade Dragon Mountain. If this one has the wonderful sense of place and lushness of the first, it will be a winner for me. Li Du was an exiled imperial librarian but after the first book, he has become a free traveler. He accompanies a trade caravan which happens upon a dead monk with a strange image painted on his skin. Because of a snowstorm, the caravan and others are forced to take shelter in the local manor. Li Du finds clues which lead him to believe the monk was murdered and did not commit suicide. His investigation brings him to realize some hard truths about himself. Reviewers have praised this one highly -the said things like "the book is a fascinating look at 18th century China, its culture, religion, and the people's way of life." and "This is an excellent series with wonderful atmosphere, intelligent content, and beautiful writing." I highly encourage anyone who like historical mysteries to give this one a try. It can be read as a standalone.
An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson comes out on September 13. This is the 12th in the Walt Longmire series. Walt is the Sheriff of Absaroka, Wyoming and he and his friend Henry Standing Bear travel to Hulett, Wyoming to join a motorcycle rally. While there, Walt is asked to assist on an accident investigation. Things get very complicated when dealing with biker gangs, undercover ATF agents, neo-Nazis and other gun-obsessed people. Henry likes to quote Sherlock Holmes and the title comes from one Henry loves to quote, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." If you read Johnson, you won't want to miss this one.
Gilly Macmillan has The Perfect Girl arriving on September 6. If you read her debut novel, What She Knew, you will for sure want to give this one a try. Here, Zoe Maisey is a 17 year old musical prodigy. When she was 14, she made a horrible mistake that ended with 3 teenagers being dead. She has served time, her parents got divorced, and she and her mother now live with a new step father who also has a son who is a musical prodigy. Unfortunately, the new father and brother have not heard about Zoe's past. During a big recital, one of the parents of the dead teens arrives and announces the secret. Somehow, at the end of the evening, Zoe's mother ends up dead. Who????? Why?????
Presumption of Guilt by Archer Mayor arrives on September 27. This is the 27th Joe Gunther novel. Here, a 40 year old skeleton is found encased in concrete at a decommissioned nuclear energy site. Gunther, the head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, gets the case which quickly goes from missing person to murder. The victim was Hank Mitchell and Gunther starts talking to people who knew him. Then, right after talking to one of them, the man is shot and killed AND a young police officer whose father is a VBI investigator is kidnapped. Apparently, even after 40 years, there are people who are willing to kill to keep the murderer safe.
Lastly, Stuart Neville has So Say the Fallen coming out on September 20. This is the second in the series taking place in Ireland and featuring Detective Chief Inspector Serena Flanagan. During her last case, her home had been invaded and her husband attacked. Her family has been unable to put this behind them and Serena is afraid they are going to leave. Then, she is asked to sign off on the supposed suicide of a severely disabled local businessman. On arriving, she finds the widow being comforted by the local reverend who is a close friend. Alarm bells start going off for Serena and she suspects foul play however, there is no evidence. Without support, she has to go forth on her own. Said to be a real page turner with a strong plot and believable characters.
Hope there is something here which tempts you. Only one more week before we move on to October. That is hard to believe. Enjoy!
Because I'm Watching by Christina Dodd comes out on September 6. Dodd writes romantic suspense among other genres and this fall in that genre. Mad Maddie, Madeline Hewitson, has survived a college dorm massacre; been accused of the murder of her lover; and now has driven her car into the house of Jacob Denisov. Jacob has quite a back story too.He blames himself for the troubles in his past and is trying to come up with the nerve to commit suicide. Then Maddie happens. Jacob begins suspecting that she isn't crazy but that someone is trying to convince her she is.
Elsa Hart has The White Mirror also arriving on September 6. This is a follow up to a title I loved, Jade Dragon Mountain. If this one has the wonderful sense of place and lushness of the first, it will be a winner for me. Li Du was an exiled imperial librarian but after the first book, he has become a free traveler. He accompanies a trade caravan which happens upon a dead monk with a strange image painted on his skin. Because of a snowstorm, the caravan and others are forced to take shelter in the local manor. Li Du finds clues which lead him to believe the monk was murdered and did not commit suicide. His investigation brings him to realize some hard truths about himself. Reviewers have praised this one highly -the said things like "the book is a fascinating look at 18th century China, its culture, religion, and the people's way of life." and "This is an excellent series with wonderful atmosphere, intelligent content, and beautiful writing." I highly encourage anyone who like historical mysteries to give this one a try. It can be read as a standalone.
An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson comes out on September 13. This is the 12th in the Walt Longmire series. Walt is the Sheriff of Absaroka, Wyoming and he and his friend Henry Standing Bear travel to Hulett, Wyoming to join a motorcycle rally. While there, Walt is asked to assist on an accident investigation. Things get very complicated when dealing with biker gangs, undercover ATF agents, neo-Nazis and other gun-obsessed people. Henry likes to quote Sherlock Holmes and the title comes from one Henry loves to quote, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." If you read Johnson, you won't want to miss this one.
Gilly Macmillan has The Perfect Girl arriving on September 6. If you read her debut novel, What She Knew, you will for sure want to give this one a try. Here, Zoe Maisey is a 17 year old musical prodigy. When she was 14, she made a horrible mistake that ended with 3 teenagers being dead. She has served time, her parents got divorced, and she and her mother now live with a new step father who also has a son who is a musical prodigy. Unfortunately, the new father and brother have not heard about Zoe's past. During a big recital, one of the parents of the dead teens arrives and announces the secret. Somehow, at the end of the evening, Zoe's mother ends up dead. Who????? Why?????
Presumption of Guilt by Archer Mayor arrives on September 27. This is the 27th Joe Gunther novel. Here, a 40 year old skeleton is found encased in concrete at a decommissioned nuclear energy site. Gunther, the head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, gets the case which quickly goes from missing person to murder. The victim was Hank Mitchell and Gunther starts talking to people who knew him. Then, right after talking to one of them, the man is shot and killed AND a young police officer whose father is a VBI investigator is kidnapped. Apparently, even after 40 years, there are people who are willing to kill to keep the murderer safe.
Lastly, Stuart Neville has So Say the Fallen coming out on September 20. This is the second in the series taking place in Ireland and featuring Detective Chief Inspector Serena Flanagan. During her last case, her home had been invaded and her husband attacked. Her family has been unable to put this behind them and Serena is afraid they are going to leave. Then, she is asked to sign off on the supposed suicide of a severely disabled local businessman. On arriving, she finds the widow being comforted by the local reverend who is a close friend. Alarm bells start going off for Serena and she suspects foul play however, there is no evidence. Without support, she has to go forth on her own. Said to be a real page turner with a strong plot and believable characters.
Hope there is something here which tempts you. Only one more week before we move on to October. That is hard to believe. Enjoy!
Saturday, August 13, 2016
LibraryReads for September
It is that time of the month - the time when we put out the top ten most appreciated titles that come out in September. Leading the way this month is an adult debut novel from Gayle Forman, Leave Me.
Foreman has been a journalist and a young adult novelist but this is her first novel for adults and it is a good one. Maribeth Klein is a harried working mother who doesn't even realize when she has had a heart attack. Her family is far from supportive and her recovery seems to be more of an inconvenience than a process. Maribeth then packs her suitcase and leaves her 4 year old twins; husband and job behind. Wonderful character studies with a narrator that you support even if you don't like her.
The rest in no particular order:
Jenny Colgan's The Bookshop on the Corner made the list. Colgan writes about women and her character studies are amusing and come across as real. This story has to do with a librarian - so of course librarians are going to love it. Nina Redmond's job as a librarian disappeared so she bought a van and converted it into a type of bookmobile and travels from place to place to put the perfect book into people's hands. The romance of the road, the romance of good books and just plain romance.
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett made the list. Patchett writes character driven, bittersweet fiction and this is certainly one of those. It follows 5 decades in 2 families - the Cousins and the Keatings. Bert Cousins leaves his wife with 4 children for Beverly Keating and Beverly with two children of her own, leaves her husband. It is the story of the families and most particularly the children. Said to be equal measure of humor and heartbreak.
Dinah Jefferies has The Tea Planter's Wife on the list. Jefferies is a British historical fiction author and has not been widely published in the US. Her work is atmospheric or as I like to say has a great sense of place. Here the place is Ceylon. 19 year old Gwendolyn Hooper is newly married to a rich widower and she is anxious to start her life on a tea plantation in Ceylon. When she arrives, she finds the plantation workers resentful, the neighbors unfriendly and then she discovers a dusty trunk and realizes her husband has secrets.
Sharon Bolton's Daisy in Chains which I just talked about in my last blog made the list. In case you forgot....Hamish Wolfe is handsome and charismatic and a convicted serial killer. Maggie Rose is a true crime writer and a lawyer who has been able to get convicted killer out of prison. Hamish is trying to use his charms to win Maggie's help. How bad is he?????
Thomas Mullen has Darktown on the list. Mullen tends to write historical thrillers. He has covered the Great Depression and the 1918 flu epidemic. Now, he covers the integration of the Atlanta Police Force in 1948. When a black woman who was last seen in a car driven by a white man turns up fatally beaten, only 2 black cops seem to car, Boggs and Smith. They fight all sides in order to find her killer.
The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman is on the list. Cogman writes fantasy or steampunk fiction. This is the second in a series which started with The Invisible Library. People who work in libraries generally like titles that feature librarians as this series does. The series takes place in an alternate version of Victorian London where the 'hero' is Irene, a Librarian/spy who collects fiction for the Library. Here here partner, Kai - a dragon, is kidnapped and Irene must rescue him or face the collapse of civilization.
Now comes my favorite title of the month - not necessarily favorite book but the title - well - you'll see. Thrice The Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd by Alan Bradley, the 8th in the Flavia de Luce series, is on the list. In this work, Flavia is expelled and upon sailing home finds her father in the hospital and her sisters looming over her. When she is sent on an errand and finds a dead body, she is overjoyed with the thought of a case to investigate.
Blood At The Root by Patrick Phillips is the only nonfiction work on the list this month. Phillips digs into the history of the racial cleansing in 1912 of Forsyth County, Georgia. 3 young African American laborers were accused of raping and murdering a white girl. The violence that erupted had all three hanged and over 1,000 black citizens chased out of the county. Phillips grew up in Forsyth County and he is a poet and a professor. He manages to cover violence in a vivid and unforgettable way.
Lastly, Kate Saunders has The Secrets of Wishtide on the list. Saunders writes historical mysteries with strong female characters and this is certainly bound to be one. In probably the start of a series, we are introduced to Laetitia Rodd, a widow who works as an investigator in 1850's London. She is asked to find out the history of a prospective bride but the more she looks, the more secrets she finds.
OK - there are the LibraryReads for the month of September. Hope one of them tempts you.
Foreman has been a journalist and a young adult novelist but this is her first novel for adults and it is a good one. Maribeth Klein is a harried working mother who doesn't even realize when she has had a heart attack. Her family is far from supportive and her recovery seems to be more of an inconvenience than a process. Maribeth then packs her suitcase and leaves her 4 year old twins; husband and job behind. Wonderful character studies with a narrator that you support even if you don't like her.
The rest in no particular order:
Jenny Colgan's The Bookshop on the Corner made the list. Colgan writes about women and her character studies are amusing and come across as real. This story has to do with a librarian - so of course librarians are going to love it. Nina Redmond's job as a librarian disappeared so she bought a van and converted it into a type of bookmobile and travels from place to place to put the perfect book into people's hands. The romance of the road, the romance of good books and just plain romance.
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett made the list. Patchett writes character driven, bittersweet fiction and this is certainly one of those. It follows 5 decades in 2 families - the Cousins and the Keatings. Bert Cousins leaves his wife with 4 children for Beverly Keating and Beverly with two children of her own, leaves her husband. It is the story of the families and most particularly the children. Said to be equal measure of humor and heartbreak.
Dinah Jefferies has The Tea Planter's Wife on the list. Jefferies is a British historical fiction author and has not been widely published in the US. Her work is atmospheric or as I like to say has a great sense of place. Here the place is Ceylon. 19 year old Gwendolyn Hooper is newly married to a rich widower and she is anxious to start her life on a tea plantation in Ceylon. When she arrives, she finds the plantation workers resentful, the neighbors unfriendly and then she discovers a dusty trunk and realizes her husband has secrets.
Sharon Bolton's Daisy in Chains which I just talked about in my last blog made the list. In case you forgot....Hamish Wolfe is handsome and charismatic and a convicted serial killer. Maggie Rose is a true crime writer and a lawyer who has been able to get convicted killer out of prison. Hamish is trying to use his charms to win Maggie's help. How bad is he?????
Thomas Mullen has Darktown on the list. Mullen tends to write historical thrillers. He has covered the Great Depression and the 1918 flu epidemic. Now, he covers the integration of the Atlanta Police Force in 1948. When a black woman who was last seen in a car driven by a white man turns up fatally beaten, only 2 black cops seem to car, Boggs and Smith. They fight all sides in order to find her killer.
The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman is on the list. Cogman writes fantasy or steampunk fiction. This is the second in a series which started with The Invisible Library. People who work in libraries generally like titles that feature librarians as this series does. The series takes place in an alternate version of Victorian London where the 'hero' is Irene, a Librarian/spy who collects fiction for the Library. Here here partner, Kai - a dragon, is kidnapped and Irene must rescue him or face the collapse of civilization.
Now comes my favorite title of the month - not necessarily favorite book but the title - well - you'll see. Thrice The Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd by Alan Bradley, the 8th in the Flavia de Luce series, is on the list. In this work, Flavia is expelled and upon sailing home finds her father in the hospital and her sisters looming over her. When she is sent on an errand and finds a dead body, she is overjoyed with the thought of a case to investigate.
Blood At The Root by Patrick Phillips is the only nonfiction work on the list this month. Phillips digs into the history of the racial cleansing in 1912 of Forsyth County, Georgia. 3 young African American laborers were accused of raping and murdering a white girl. The violence that erupted had all three hanged and over 1,000 black citizens chased out of the county. Phillips grew up in Forsyth County and he is a poet and a professor. He manages to cover violence in a vivid and unforgettable way.
Lastly, Kate Saunders has The Secrets of Wishtide on the list. Saunders writes historical mysteries with strong female characters and this is certainly bound to be one. In probably the start of a series, we are introduced to Laetitia Rodd, a widow who works as an investigator in 1850's London. She is asked to find out the history of a prospective bride but the more she looks, the more secrets she finds.
OK - there are the LibraryReads for the month of September. Hope one of them tempts you.
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