BLISS HOUSE by Laura Benedict

August 2, 2014

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Almost everyone in Old Gate can agree that there’s something very wrong with Bliss House. It has a history that’s marred by tragedy, but Rainey Adams doesn’t set any stock in such matters. It’s just a house. The recent incident didn’t even occur in the house itself, but outside on the grounds. And it’s exactly that incident that put Bliss House in Rainey’s budget.

The move to Old Gate is a much-needed fresh start for Rainey and her teenage daughter and Bliss House is the kind of project any interior designer can lose themselves in. It’s exactly what Rainey needs to distract herself from the tragic loss of her husband. But it’s Ariel Rainey hopes will really benefit from the move. The accident that claimed her father’s life also left the girl physically scarred and disfigured. As a result she’s become more sullen with each passing day, even going so far as to refuse to leave the house.

At first, Ariel has mixed feelings about the move: sure it’s an escape from her past but she resents her mother’s efforts. It doesn’t take long for Ariel to warm to their new home, though. She feels a connection to the house and is certain that since moving in her scars have begun to fade and her limbs have begun to strengthen. But Bliss House is changing Ariel in other ways as well. As the house begins to reveal its secrets to the teen, Rainey realizes that Bliss House may not be the salvation she’d once hoped it would be.

Laura Benedict’s latest is just the first of what I hope will be many Bliss House stories to come.

Bliss House features a bit of a dual storyline. Benedict kicks it off with Allison, a young girl newly involved with a young man named Michael. Their budding relationship is anything but rosy, though, and Allison soon finds herself Michael’s prisoner. Decades later Rainey – a Bliss by blood – arrives to once again lay claim to the historic family home. It comes as no surprise then when Benedict quickly reveals to the reader that Rainey had a cousin named Michael who’s been missing for quite some time.

As the story unravels Benedict spins a web of sex and seduction, madness and murder, and love and loss. It’s a haunted house story with many layers, all of which come together to make Bliss House a chilling and atmospheric read.

8/14 Becky Lejeune

BLISS HOUSE by Laura Benedict. Pegasus (June 15, 2014). ISBN 978-1605985725. 400p.

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Best Books of 2015

June 20, 2019

Best Books of 2015: Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

December 20, 2015

Perennials – these are the authors that I wait for each year, and somehow they just seem to get better and better.

MAKE ME by Lee Child: When I review a new Jack Reacher book, it often feels like I will run out of superlatives or lapse into another review that sounds much like the one before it. But really, it’s not my fault if Child keeps pumping out series books that get better every time – especially considering that he started out with a winner. This is a dark and twisty story as only Lee Child can tell it, and I stayed up late into the night to finish it.

THE CROSSING by Michael Connelly: This is the beginning of a new Harry Bosch. Connelly has gone where he swore he wouldn’t go and Harry is working for his half brother, the Lincoln Lawyer himself, Mickey Haller. As far as I’m concerned, Connelly is the best crime fiction writer out there, and his latest just proves it.

CORRUPTED by Lisa Scottoline: Bennie Rosato, founder of the Rosato & Associates law firm, is a very private person, even with her staff. This book moves back and forth in time from a young Rosato handling a juvenile case, to a present day murder case. Both are compelling on their own, but the combination and the glimpse into Bennie’s younger self make this a wonderful addition to the series.

CHECKED OUT by Elaine Viets: The fun continues, this time at the library, in Viet’s latest entry into one of my favorite mystery series. I love the south Florida culture that Viets always infuses her mysteries with, and this time out she also inserts lots of interesting library trivia, and any library regular will love all the inside gossip. Another great cozy mystery with lots of laughs, warm, wonderful characters and an intriguing premise. Being a librarian, this book holds a special place in my heart.

Thrillers

COLD COLD HEART by Tami Hoag: Tami Hoag has been writing nail biting thrillers for years, but takes a different turn here, while fans will recognize some series characters in minor roles. While the suspense is high, the stakes are even higher as Hoag delves into traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. This unusual look at the serial killer genre is a most welcome exploration of these brain injuries and what it is like to be a survivor.

A COLD WAR by Alan Russell: This “Cold War” has nothing to do with Russia and everything to do with an Alaskan autumn, and is a fascinating look at survivalists and the wilderness of our fiftieth state, as well as being a truly gripping page turner.

CRAZY LOVE YOU by Lisa Unger: This is a complex, intricate story yet the pages fly by as Ian, the most unreliable narrator since Nick Dunne in Gone Girl, leads us on a wild ride in this superb psychological thriller. Unger is at the top of her game here.

Cozy Mystery

TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES by Denise Grover Swank: There is a lot of humor in this book that borders on but never quite crosses over to silly, and the mystery here almost takes a backseat to Rose and her declaration of independence.  It is light, fluffy Southern fun and should appeal to Mary Kay Andrews and Charlaine Harris fans.

Literary Mystery

EILEEN by Ottessa Moshfegh: Eileen is the narrator of this dark look back at her life during a 1960’s Christmas week. Eileen has to be one of the most damaged characters in fiction. A friendship turns into something truly ugly that leads to a shocking ending. This is literary psychological suspense at its best.

Women’s Fiction

THE DRESS SHOP OF DREAMS by Menna van Praag: This is a fabulist, wondrous story about a girl, the guy whose been in love with her for most of their lives, and her grandmother. There are several storylines here that flow seamlessly together and make the pages fly by. I loved this magical read, and just might read it again – which is high praise indeed.

WHO DO YOU LOVE by Jennifer Weiner: I have loved Jennifer Weiner since her first book, Good in Bed, and she has grown since then, graduating from smart chick-lit to smart women’s fiction. These characters are complex and real, and this is a beautiful coming of age story in a addition to a sweeping romance. Best of all, the book is totally unputdownable – I couldn’t stop turning the pages and when I finished it, I couldn’t stop thinking about these characters, and that is the highest praise I can give.

Historical Fiction

THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah: This was a completely mesmerizing story, a female side of the war that isn’t often explored. I was totally immersed in their world, and often brought to tears. It is a difficult subject, and the brutality and violence is not whitewashed at all, but is necessary to the story. I have read a lot of Holocaust fiction and this was one of the more interesting, unusual and compelling books on the subject. This strong, well written feminist historical fiction is simply not to be missed.

ALL THE STARS IN THE HEAVENS by Adriana Trigiani: In a bit of a departure from her usual big Italian family sagas, All the Stars in the Heavens takes a look back at the glamorous Hollywood of the 1930s. The story centers around Loretta Young, Spencer Tracey and Clark Gable and the fascinating lifestyles of these rich and famous. If you haven’t read Trigiani, this is a terrific place to start and if you’re already a fan, you won’t want to miss this one.

Foodie Fiction

THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE by Amy E. Reichert: One of my favorite movies is You’ve Got Mail, the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan romcom written by Nora & Delia Ephron that is set around NYC bookstores. Much as You’ve Got Mail was a love letter to New York City, Coconut Cake is a love letter to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Reichert did an amazing job – I want to go!  The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is the foodie equivalent of Mail, and that completely worked for me.

KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST by J. Ryan Stradal: This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It has everything; great characters, terrific setting, a creative premise and mouthwatering meals. This is a story about fathers and daughters, mothers and daughters, and community. It’s always about the Midwest and the foodie culture that has pervaded America. There are a lot of laughs, poignant moments that brought me to tears, and everything in between. The prose is beautiful, almost poetic at times, but it is the characters that completely stole my heart. It is a book that begs to be read slowly and savored, and book that craves to be discussed.

Historical Romance

WHEN A SCOT TIES THE KNOT by Tessa Dare: This was such a fun read! I admit, I have a thing for Scots – at least Scots men in kilts – thank you, Diana Gabaldon. And I love Tessa Dare. Lots of angst, sex and a bit of history are thrown into the mix. I haven’t had this much fun reading a romance in a while.

FOUR NIGHTS WITH THE DUKE by Eloisa James: Eloisa James is my favorite romance writer. She does historical romance, this one set in late 18th century England. This is another wonderful romance, filled with likeable characters, enough drama to make the pages fly by and as always, lots of passion. I loved it.

Contemporary Romance

IT HAPPENED ONE WEDDING by Julie James: This book was on so many best romances of the year lists for 2014 I quickly got on board. And am I glad I did – I found a new author that I will continue reading. Plus this is book 5 of a series which means there at least 4 more I can get my hands on. I loved this fast paced romance. The characters were believable, their stumbling blocks realistic, and having a wedding as a backdrop just added to the charm of this book.

PLAYING WITH FIRE by Kate Meader: This is the second book in the series but my first Meader read, and I’ll be back for more.  A contemporary romance bordering on erotica but not quite crossing the line, Meader excels at heating things up page by page, and I couldn’t turn them fast enough. Loved her main character, a female firefighter, and the chemistry between her and the mayor up for reelection. A super fun, sexy read.

Nonfiction

LEAN IN by Sheryl Sandberg: I don’t read a lot of business type books, but I ripped through it in one Sunday afternoon – I could see why there has been so much hype around this book. The book is part memoir, part career advice, and eminently personal. This is an inspirational and important book, and I urge anyone who works to read it – both men and women. There is a new edition called Lean In for Graduates, which expands on this book with additional chapters “offering advice on finding and getting the most out of a first job; résumé writing; best interviewing practices; negotiating your salary; listening to your inner voice; owning who you are; and leaning in for millennial men.”

HEADS IN BEDS by Jacob Tomsky: Jacob Tomsky works the front desk of high end, luxury hotels. Here he offers up the inside dirt on what really goes on, how to get the most bang for your buck, but really his point is how to beat the system – all told in a most entertaining fashion. I listened to the audiobook, which the author reads, and he does a really good job. I actually had to stop it a few times to take notes! But for the most part, the note taking portion is in the appendix. The book itself is by turns funny, horrifying and always interesting –  at least to anyone who has ever stayed or is planning to stay in a hotel. A fun and informative read.

Cookbooks

THE PIZZA BIBLE by Tony Gemignani: I am Italian by marriage, and over the years we have gotten pretty serious about pizza, serious enough that my husband built a wood burning pizza oven in the back yard. For the beginner to the Professional Pizzaiolo, this book works for everyone. This is an excellent cookbook, well laid out, easy to use, with recipes that work. It is pizza nirvana.

FOOD52 GENIUS RECIPES by Kristen Miglore: Food52 is one of the great foodie blogs out there. The pictures are gorgeous, they offer columns with lots of really useful info, tons of recipes, a hotline where you can post any kind of cooking/kitchen question, and lots more. This cookbook is a collection of recipes from many chefs, all tops in their fields like Julia Child, Dorie Greenspan, Marcella Hazan, Dan Barber, James Beard, & Tom Colicchio. Having all these amazing recipes in one book means that this is a book I will keep on my kitchen counter and draw from again and again.

Coffee Table Cookbook

A NEW NAPA CUISINE by Christopher Kostow: There are cookbooks that have great recipes that I can’t wait to try, and there are cookbooks that have the most gorgeous pictures. This is one of the latter. This is a beautiful coffee table book, from the cover, which is a sort of burlap-like fibrous material, to the stunning photos of the Napa Valley, the local artisans, the farms, and of course the food.

YA
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING by Nicola Yoon: Who can forget the Bubble Boy? Well, I certainly couldn’t, and Nicola Yoon takes that story and gives it a modern, unique twist. Short chapters are interspersed with drawings, charts & graphs, drawn by the author’s husband. I love epistolary novels and this is a really good one, filled with unforgettable characters.

Holiday

CHRISTMAS BELLS by Jennifer Chiaverini: I figured if I keep reading Christmas novels, eventually I’ll find one I can rave about…and here it is! This book is a twofer – two stories told in alternating chapters that are set over a hundred years apart. The obvious inspiration of the historical story neatly focuses the modern day one, and I loved them both. This is heartwarming, of course, but also fascinating and beautifully written.

Older books I found this year:

JOSHUA: A Brooklyn Tale by Andrew Kane: At its heart, it is a coming of age story but it is also a history of the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, starting in the late 1950s but with some additional historic information going back to the 1800s. This a completely engrossing story, with well defined characters that the reader can’t help but care about. The tumultuous times add a lot of drama and action, making this a fast paced story as well. What I really liked is that the author showed both the good and the bad in all these racial and religious groups. There was no black and white, only the more realistic shades of gray.

DREAMING OF YOU by Lisa Kleypas: The innocent yet smart woman saving the damaged man is a standard in the romance genre, and this is an excellent example. The cover has actually been updated, the book was reissued last summer and from what I can tell has been in print continuously since 2000. There are probably thousands of paperback romances that have gone out of print in that time so while that may not sound like a big deal, trust me, for a paperback romance to be in print for that long, especially to be reissued with a new cover 15 years later, is a very big deal. But having read it, I completely understand.

Best Books of 2015: Paul Lane

1) Cost of Life by Joshua Corin: Giddy ride about a hijacking of a passenger airline. Well done character presentation of feelings and thoughts of both hijackers and their victims.

2) One Man’s Flag by David Downing: Very well researched novel set during the early period of World War I and the Irish rebellion against England. Mr Downing paints his characters as they would have been during the period described. They act and talk as they most likely would have at the time they existed.

3) Trust No One by Paul Cleave: Cleave tells the story through the eyes of an author of books dealing with murder. The individual, Jerry Grey is sinking into early onset Alzheimer’s and is beginning to believe that he actually committed the murders described in his books. The novel is a brilliantly handled description of Grey’s gradual descent into the disease and the solving of actual murders via the clues that his non lucid ravings provide.

4) Night Tremors by Matt Coyle: A detective story set in Southern California, La Jolla and San Diego. Coyle proves adept at introducing many characters with varying connections to a murder that occurred eight years ago. His detective Rick Cahill, suffering from the horrors of his beloved wife being killed two years prior to the opening of this book is attempting to regain some semblance of order in his life.

5) Clear by Fire by Joshua Hood: A book about men and women in combat told by a veteran of war in both Iraq and Afghanistan. An adrenalin rush of constant action with the advantage of both intimate knowledge of both the weapons and tactics utilized as well as the emotions, thoughts, and reactions of the people involved in the battles.

6) Chimpanzee by Darin Bradley: Set in the near future when the US economy has collapsed, unemployment is rampant and millions defaulting on their loans. The government has evolved a method of collecting the principal defaulted on by actually recovering on his memories through Repossession Therapy. Ben Cade has been called to undergo the Therapy, but discovers a novel way to prevent this. A book that could predict the future as government giveaways destroy the economy and drive millions into debt that cannot be repaid.

7) Storm Front by Robert Conroy: Well done novel about the damage unrestrained nature can cause when let loose. An unexpected major snowfall hits the town of Sheridan Michigan and causes everything to stop. Compounded by the presence of two killers that entered Sheridan and cannot get out due to the weather. Plenty of well done action.

8) A Different Lie by Derek Haas: Married couple has a baby, the norm for a happy marriage. Minor problem. The husband is an assassin and his wife works at the details in setting up a hit. Very different picture of a loving husband and wife just having a baby.

9) Sunfail by Steven Savile: Jake Quinn was formerly a member of the armed forces Special forces. He now works as an electrician for the New York subway system. He comes upon two young men spray painting graffiti and comes to the realization that the writing is actually a code in an ancient language. The “hidden” are calling to each other and Jake is dragged kicking and screaming into a world of conspiracy and menace. An all nighter from the very inception.

10) The First Hostage by Joel Rosenberg: The author has written several novels about terrorism in the middle east. His knowledge is uncanny and each novel seems to forecast what is to occur. J.B. Collins is a foreign correspondent for the New York Times He becomes witness to a devastating attack by ISIS terrorists in Amman Jordan. The terrorists are able to capture the US president who is in Jordan to meet with the leaders of Israel and Palestine and attempt to reconcile their differences. Fast moving and a picture of ISIS and it’s goals.

Best Books of 2015: Becky LeJeune

  1. BRED TO KILL by Franck Thilliez – This second in Thilliez’s series picks up right where Syndrome E left off. It features another weird and dark premise with more of the science-based theory of its predecessor as well. Definitely a favorite new series for me! 
  1. TRIGGER WARNING: SHORT FICTIONS AND DISTURBANCES by Neil Gaiman – with everything from fantasy and horror to Doctor Who and American Gods this newest collection of shorts from Gaiman features first run and previously published tales perfect for hardcore fans and newcomers to his work as well. 
  1. GIRL UNDERWATER by Claire Kells – a harrowing debut about a college swimmer whose plane crashes in the Rockies. We know from the outset that she’s survived but we don’t know what happened in the time it took to be rescued.
  1. LOVE IS RED by Sophie Jaff – a cross-genre read that kicks off a new trilogy, Love is Red is part horror, thriller, fantasy, and romance. It’s dark and twisty and completely wonderful! 
  1. NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE by Adam Nevill – I’m a huge horror fan but most of it doesn’t really give me the heebie jeebies – except Adam Nevill. He freaks me out! This one is a dark and twisted haunted house story that is the stuff of nightmares. 
  1. DAY FOUR by Sarah Lotz – this companion to The Three is set on a cruise ship that loses power and communications while at sea. As the passengers become more irate and supplies begin to dwindle, the crew starts to report strange happenings. And that’s only the beginning! 
  1. EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING by Nicaola Yoon – Yoon’s teen debut is about a girl who is allergic to everything. But while her home has become a sanctuary, it has also become a trap preventing her from experiencing life and true love. The charming heroine, illustrations, and fabulous plot make this a perfect read for both teens and adults. 
  1. CHARLOTTE’S STORY by Laura Benedict – The second novel featuring Benedict’s uber creepy Bliss House. This one takes readers back to the 1950s and a story that’s hinted at in the previous installments. The series can be read in any order, but I do love the way Benedict is moving backwards in the timeline with each new release.
  1. DAUGHTERS UNTO DEVILS by Amy Lukavics – the comparisons to Stephen King and Little House on the Prairie definitely caught my attention on this one and I have to say it lived up to the promise of that strange combination. Lukavics is one to watch for sure! 
  1. SEIZE THE NIGHT edited by Christopher Golden – if you’ve tired of romantic vampires and crave horrific ones once again, this is the anthology for you. Scott Smith, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Michael Koryta, Kelley Armstrong… the list of contributors is amazing and the stories are all incredibly creepy.

Best Books of 2015: Jack Quick

THE BAT by Jo Nesbo First Harry Hole. Inspector Harry Hole of the Oslo Crime Squad is dispatched to Sydney to observe a murder case.  Harry is free to offer assistance, but he has firm instructions to stay out of trouble. The victim is a twenty-three year old Norwegian woman who is a minor celebrity back home. Never one to sit on the sidelines, Harry befriends one of the lead detectives, and one of the witnesses, as he is drawn deeper into the case.  Together, they discover that this is only the latest in a string of unsolved murders, and the pattern points toward a psychopath working his way across the country. As they circle closer and closer to the killer, Harry begins to fear that no one is safe, least of all those investigating the case.
THE ASSASSINATION OPTION by WEB Griffin: Interesting take on the post- World War II transition from the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) to the CIA. We spent more time fighting among ourselves than we did worrying about the new threats to our country.  James Crowley thought he had done well—he didn’t know he’d done this well. His first successful mission for the about-to-be-official new Central Intelligence Directorate has drawn all kinds of attention, some welcome, some not. On the plus side, he’s now a captain; promoted to Chief, DCI, Europe; and in charge of a top secret spy operation. On the minus side, a lot of people would like to know about that operation, including not only the Soviets, but his own Pentagon, as well as a seething J. Edgar Hoover. Crowley knows that if just one thing goes wrong, he’s likely to get thrown to the wolves. As if that weren’t enough pressure, complications are springing up on all sides. He’s discovered a surprising alliance between the former German intelligence chief and, of all things, the Mossad. A German family that Crowley never knew he had has suddenly, and suspiciously, emerged. And he’s due for a rendezvous with an undercover agent against the Soviets known only as Seven K. It’s when he meets Seven K that he gets the real surprise.
HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins – How do you write a review of something that almost everyone has read and/or seen the movie? But for those few who haven’t, it is the story of a young girl in a future United States which consists of 12 districts subservient to THE CAPITAL which appears to be in the Rocky Mountains. Each year the Districts, each of which specializes in a different commodity (District 12, the one our heroine comes from supplies coal and appears to be the former Pennsylvania area). Every year each District is required to furnish one mal and one female between the ages of 12 and 20 to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death contest. The sole survivor wins a lifetime of riches. Our girl, Katniss, volunteers to keep her younger sister out of the competition. How she does in the games makes a remarkable story/ First in a trilogy and definitely recommended.
HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY: BOOK 2 CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins. I found this volume to be more chic-lit than book 1 as Katniss worries if she will ever be able to marry her true love Gale or will be forced to marry her Hunger Games partner Peeta. Just beyond the mid-way point of the book it seemingly becomes a moot point as Peeta and Katniss are selected to be in the 75th anniversary Hunger Games, in which one or both will surely die. In the background are the whisperings of a rebellion – sparked by Katniss performance in the previous Hunger Games. Ready now for Volume Three.
 
HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY: BOOK 3 THE MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins – After a stirring Book One, and a somewhat mediocre (to me) chic-lit Book Two, Collins returns the story to its roots in Book Three resolving most of the issues raised in Book One and Book Two. At the end Katniss gets married, but I won’t say to whom. As with One and Two there are enough twists & turns to keep you turning pages.
THE TRAP by LJ Sellers:  While skydiving with an adventure group, FBI Agent Jamie Dallas overhears plans to carry out criminal acts against a politician. The bureau sends Dallas to infiltrate the activists, but to get inside the tight-knit clan, Dallas makes dangerous compromises and starts to sympathize with their cause. She ends up so deep undercover she can’t make contact with the bureau. Across town, a Washington DC detective investigates a death that looks like a simple “hooker homicide.” But as Detective Larson peels away the layers, she uncovers something far more sinister, something deeply connected to a high-profile judge’s death. Meanwhile, working against her own conscience, Agent Dallas struggles to gather evidence and push the activist group toward the major takedown the FBI has orchestrated. But inside the group’s safe house, another imposter lurks, and when the real motive surfaces, Dallas is caught in a cunning trap that will make her both a victim and a killer. Cant beat L J Sellers for twists and turns.

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Posted by Stacy Alesi

Best Books of 2015: Becky LeJeune

December 22, 2015

Becky’s Top Ten of 2015

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  1. BRED TO KILL by Franck Thilliez – This second in Thilliez’s series picks up right where Syndrome E left off. It features another weird and dark premise with more of the science-based theory of its predecessor as well. Definitely a favorite new series for me! 
  1. TRIGGER WARNING: SHORT FICTIONS AND DISTURBANCES by Neil Gaiman – with everything from fantasy and horror to Doctor Who and American Gods this newest collection of shorts from Gaiman features first run and previously published tales perfect for hardcore fans and newcomers to his work as well. 
  1. GIRL UNDERWATER by Claire Kells – a harrowing debut about a college swimmer whose plane crashes in the Rockies. We know from the outset that she’s survived but we don’t know what happened in the time it took to be rescued.
  1. LOVE IS RED by Sophie Jaff – a cross-genre read that kicks off a new trilogy, Love is Red is part horror, thriller, fantasy, and romance. It’s dark and twisty and completely wonderful! 
  1. NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE by Adam Nevill – I’m a huge horror fan but most of it doesn’t really give me the heebie jeebies – except Adam Nevill. He freaks me out! This one is a dark and twisted haunted house story that is the stuff of nightmares. 
  1. DAY FOUR by Sarah Lotz – this companion to The Three is set on a cruise ship that loses power and communications while at sea. As the passengers become more irate and supplies begin to dwindle, the crew starts to report strange happenings. And that’s only the beginning! 
  1. EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING by Nicaola Yoon – Yoon’s teen debut is about a girl who is allergic to everything. But while her home has become a sanctuary, it has also become a trap preventing her from experiencing life and true love. The charming heroine, illustrations, and fabulous plot make this a perfect read for both teens and adults. 
  1. CHARLOTTE’S STORY by Laura Benedict – The second novel featuring Benedict’s uber creepy Bliss House. This one takes readers back to the 1950s and a story that’s hinted at in the previous installments. The series can be read in any order, but I do love the way Benedict is moving backwards in the timeline with each new release.
  1. DAUGHTERS UNTO DEVILS by Amy Lukavics – the comparisons to Stephen King and Little House on the Prairie definitely caught my attention on this one and I have to say it lived up to the promise of that strange combination. Lukavics is one to watch for sure! 
  1. SEIZE THE NIGHT edited by Christopher Golden – if you’ve tired of romantic vampires and crave horrific ones once again, this is the anthology for you. Scott Smith, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Michael Koryta, Kelley Armstrong… the list of contributors is amazing and the stories are all incredibly creepy.

 

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Posted by Stacy Alesi

Win the October ’15 bookshelf of signed thrillers!

September 30, 2015

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Happy October! I’m giving away some great books this month, all autographed by the authors. Best of luck, and don’t forget to check back…you never know when new titles will be added.

THE END GAME by Catherine Coulter & J.T. Ellison
A Brit in the FBI (Book 3)
Another late addition to this month’s bookshelf! From New York Times–bestselling author Catherine Coulter, the explosive new addition to the remarkable thriller series featuring Nicholas Drummond and Mike Caine. Publisher’s Weekly gave it a starred review, saying, “Intense, captivating…Nicholas and Mike work in perfect sync, never missing a beat…Their relationship leaves much room for developments in future installments of this excellent suspense series.”

STRONG LIGHT OF DAY by Jon Land
A Caitlin Strong Novel
This late addition to this month’s bookshelf is another fabulous entry in the Caitlin Strong series. I love this kick ass Texas Ranger and I am not alone – Huffington Post calls it “A truly excellent series.” And the Los Angeles Review of Books says, “Land is one of the best all-out action writers in the business and his amalgam of modern day thriller and western is flat out terrific. Caitlin Strong is the best female protagonist out there.” I agree!

THE SURVIVOR by Vince Flynn & Kyle Mills
A Mitch Rapp Novel
A blistering novel that picks up where The Last Man left off, The Survivor is a no-holds-barred race to save America…and Mitch Rapp’s finest battle.

FRONT RUNNER: A Dick Francis Novel by Felix Francis
Jefferson Hinkley is back in the newest Dick Francis thriller by the New York Times–bestselling author of Damage. “Francis once again proves himself worthy of wearing his father’s colors.  This latest effort has an absolutely propulsive plot that will remind Dick Francis fans of his classic nail-biters . . . This one’s a stunner.”—Booklist (starred review)

CUT AND COVER by Kevin Hurley
With exemplary skills in hand-to-hand combat and small arms weaponry, John Rexford completes a string of successful kills, eliminating terrorists and their money supply in the New York Metropolitan area. “A resounding character study just as much as it is an action novel, and both are equally triumphant.” —Kirkus Reviews

DIE AGAIN TOMORROW by Kira Peikoff
“Die Again Tomorrow held me captive me from the opening chapter—in which a murdered woman is subjected to a secret medical procedure that brings her back to life. From there the story takes off like a rocket, full of surprises, fascinating science, and vivid characters. If you enjoy the medical thrillers of Crichton and Cook, this book is for you. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”—Douglas Preston

CHARLOTTE’S STORY by Laura Benedict
A Bliss House Novel
Step back into Bliss House, the yellow-brick Virginia mansion with a disreputable, dangerous past, that even the sheen of 1950’s domesticity cannot hide…

 

 

You can win autographed copies of all these books! If you are new to the site, each month I run a contest in conjunction with the International Thriller Writers organization. We put together a list of books from debut authors to bestsellers, so you can win some of your favorites and find some new favorites.

What makes this contest really special is that all of the books (except eBooks) are signed by the author!

Don’t forget, if you subscribe to the newsletter or follow this blog, you get an extra entry into every contest you enter. Check out the Win Books  page for more information on all these books and how you to enter this month’s contest.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

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Posted by Stacy Alesi

Best Books of 2014

January 8, 2015

Stacy Alesi AKA the BookBitch

It is my pleasure to present my favorite reads of 2014. Once again I didn’t constrain myself to any arbitrary number of good books – these are all terrific and are listed alphabetically by author within each category. That said, my top three for the year would have to be All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (literary fiction,) Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (women’s fiction,) and Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger (crime fiction.) But believe me when I say every one of these books is terrific!

*BEST FICTION

SAVE THE DATE by Mary Kay Andrews: My go to summer beach read; lots of angst, but lots of romance and Andrews’ trademark southern charm make this a terrific fast paced read with warm, fully realized characters, crisp writing, and a terrific storyline.

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr: Universal themes of love, war, deception, loyalty, impairments and more offers great fodder for discussion. Most of the chapters are extremely short, and even though it is a highly descriptive novel, the story moves and is quite gripping, I couldn’t put it down. Shortlisted for the National Book Award.

THE ICE CREAM QUEEN OF ORCHARD STREET by Susan Jane Gilman: This is a family story about the immigrant experience in America, told with a lot of humor and pathos. The characters come alive on these pages and while you may not always like Lillian Dunkle, you can’t help but cheer her on.

THE SECRET OF MAGIC by Deborah Johnson: Racism is the theme of this fast paced read that tugs at the heart with reminders of how much things have changed, and how much maybe they haven’t. My love affair with Amy Einhorn books continues.

THE GLASS KITCHEN by Linda Francis Lee: Romance never runs smoothly, and Lee does a more than credible job here, even with the touches of magical realism sprinkled throughout the book. This is a charming, sweet and funny story with wonderful, warm characters you can’t help but care about. Foodies will love it.

RUTH’S JOURNEY by Donald McCaig: The Authorized Novel of Mammy from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. I don’t know how this book stands on its own as I am so familiar with GWTW that I have no basis for that understanding. So all I can say is this book brings another dimension to that one, and I ripped through it in a night. I think it’s a great addition to the saga and not to be missed by GWTW fans.

BIG LITTLE LIES by Liane Moriarty:  The way she builds almost unbearable suspense is simply magical, especially as we don’t even know who dies until the end, never mind who did it. Moriarty has become one of my favorite authors and this is a page turner of the finest kind. Don’t miss it.

THE SISTERS WEISS by Naomi Ragen: Ragen goes back to her roots, Ultra Orthodox Jewish family stories, this time using Rose and Pearl Weiss as her vehicle.The characters are well developed, the culture interesting and I learned a lot. This is a fast read, albeit not an easy one. This is a family I won’t soon forget.

DELICIOUS! by Ruth Reichl: Ruth Reichl is well known for her memoirs, including my favorite, Garlic & Sapphires, about her stint as the New York Times restaurant critic. She is also well known  for her stewardship at Gourmet magazine before its demise, and her occasional appearances on TV shows like Top Chef. This is her first novel, and it’s a really fun read. Another foodie favorite.

FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell: This is another charming story from this terrific storyteller. The characters are deftly brought to life and their stories are absorbing. I hated when it ended, and I can’t think of a better recommendation than that.

THE BEEKEEPER’S BALL by Susan Wiggs: There are a lot of threads to this story, and Wiggs masterly weaves them all together seamlessly, creating an engaging page turner with historical significance – I learned a lot about about Denmark’s role during the Holocaust. Her characters are skillfully brought to life, and the California setting becomes another character here.

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY by Gabrielle Zevin: This is an utterly charming book that is sure to make my best books of the year list (and here it is!) It is simply 272 pages of bookseller bliss. All I can say is don’t miss it.

*BEST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE 

THE SWEET SPOT by Stephanie Evanovich: This sequel (really a prequel) is another great romance from Evanovich, with a little humor and a lot of kinky sex. Fans of the 50 Shades of Gray trilogy should enjoy this – the writing is far superior.

ONE PLUS ONE by JoJo Moyes: Moyes writes great characters (Me Before You,) and I will not be forgetting these anytime soon. This was a really enjoyable, fast read that should please her legion of fans.

HEROES ARE MY WEAKNESS by Susan Elizabeth Phillips: This book is a bit of a departure for Phillips. Eventually the romance kicks in but the gothic atmosphere is pervasive throughout, an obvious nod to one of the original Gothic romances, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Bottom line? Phillips is a great storyteller and has penned another winner.

*BEST HISTORICAL ROMANCE

THE ESCAPE by Mary Balogh:  Survivor’s Club Series, Book 3. This series focuses on a group of men who all sustained injuries during the Napoleonic Wars.  This is another terrific story in what has turned into a favorite series.

VIXEN IN VELVET by Loretta Chase: The Dressmakers, #3. A book that starts out with the heroine entranced with a Botticelli painting grabs me from the get go. The love scenes are well done without resorting to cliché, and not too explicit.

THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X by Eloisa James: Desperate Duchesses series. Eloisa James has become my favorite romance writer. She does historicals, this one set in 1799 England. James excels at creating believably complex, well developed characters and richly imagined stories. People magazine said, “Romance writing does not get much better than this,” and I agree.

*BEST CRIME FICTION

NOTORIOUS by Allison Brennan: In this introduction to a new series, investigative reporter Maxine Revere takes on cold cases both in print and on her cable TV show, and works with ex-special forces turned detective Nick Santini. Fireworks erupt on more than one occasion, and it seems like the beginning of an interesting relationship and a terrific new series.

PERSONAL by Lee Child: It’s rather hard to believe that this is the 19th book in the Jack Reacher series, and somehow, this series doesn’t grow stale, doesn’t get tiresome, and the predictability is always enjoyable. It would be simple to say that this is just another chapter in the Reacher series. Personal is exciting as expected, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, but that is no easy feat to pull off. If you read any series, you know how difficult it is to create nineteen books that are really all terrific.

THE BURNING ROOM by Michael Connelly: This is the latest Harry Bosch novel, and it is another excellent addition to the series and frankly, I’m running out of superlatives to describe Connelly’s work. And for me, seeing Harry so close to the end of his career is bittersweet; I can’t imagine the series ending, so I’m hoping it takes a turn in some way.

THE GODS OF GUILT by Michael Connelly: This is the latest entry in the Lincoln Lawyer series, but fear not, Harry Bosch is lurking around the fringes. Mickey Haller is a great character, and I loved the tongue-in-cheek references to the Lincoln Lawyer movie. This was fast reading, one night, as I couldn’t put it down. Another excellent read from the master of crime fiction.

ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Kruger: This family deals with death, with God and faith, with community and the long term repercussions of war in this beautifully written, soul searing novel. If I had to sum it up in one word it would be – unforgettable. Don’t miss it.

A CIRCLE OF WIVES by Alice LaPlante: I loved LaPlante’s first novel, Turn of Mind, and it took two years to get the second – but it was worth the wait. The writing is crisp and the characters well developed. All the varied relationships are explored and themes of trust, love, passion, jealousy and more will give book groups lots to discuss. This is another excellent literary thriller from LaPlante.

AFTER I’M GONE by Laura Lippman: Lippman returns with a brilliant standalone novel that includes a nod to her series heroine, Tess Monahan, and is set in her hometown of Baltimore. This is a genre bending novel; mystery for sure, but women’s fiction readers will love it too, as will book groups. After I’m Gone is a truly wonderful read and I was very sorry to have to turn the last page.

RUIN FALLS by Jenny Milchman: Paul is a professor who is determined to live a green, postconsumer lifestyle. How far Paul will go to live his politics and how a determined mother can seemingly overcome almost any obstacle is at the heart of this tautly written page-turner. Milchman proves her chops with her sophomore effort and she carves out a new niche with this unusual environmental family thriller.

BETRAYED: A Rosato & Associates Novel by Lisa Scottoline: Scottoline writes terrific legal fiction with warm, smart characters and lots of humor and heart, adding additional depth to her stories. This is one of my favorite series and she never disappoints. Her legion of fans will be happy with Betrayed, and should find her new readers as well.

DEAD TO ME by Cath Staincliffe: This book is actually a prequel to a popular British TV series, “Scott and Bailey,” now in its fourth season in the UK and airing on some PBS stations in the U.S. Much more than just a murder mystery, these characters are well developed, idiosyncratic and likeable, and that extends to their families and co-workers as well. Most reminiscent of the Cagney and Lacy TV series, this should appeal to readers who enjoy female buddy books.

MOVING DAY by Jonathan Stone: Con men preying on the elderly is nothing new, but in Stone’s hands seems brand new, especially with a Holocaust survivor main protagonist. Well developed characters, interesting settings and tautly written suspense make this a true page turner.

 *BEST CRIME FICTION DEBUTS

BONE DUST WHITE by Karin Salvalaggio: Rural Montana’s frozen tundra is the setting for this literary mystery debut. The icy winter itself becomes almost another character in this dark, brooding whodunit filled with sharp twists and idiosyncratic characters.

EAT WHAT YOU KILL by Ted Scofield: Main protagonist Stoess is a sympathetic character despite his murderous ways, making this financial thriller an emotional rollercoaster of a read. Fans of Christopher Reich and Joseph Finder will love this debut.

*BEST NONFICTION

THE ANDY COHEN DIARIES by Andy Cohen: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year.  Andy mentions another possible title, “Namedropping,” which certainly would have been appropriate as well. Andy kept a journal for 2013, and kept track of everyone he ran into, dined with (and where), topics discussed, guests on his show, shows where he was the guest, parties attended,  events that he emceed, and so forth. This was seriously fun reading.

SOUS CHEF by Michael Gibney: 24 Hours on the Line. Everyone has eaten in a restaurant but do you have any idea of what’s involved in getting your food to the table? Kitchens can be very competitive, and indeed Gibney describes competitions he has with himself in putting together his mise en place. But it is serving the customer that is at the heart of this kitchen. The pacing is relentless, the writing superior, and all in all this is just a fascinating read.

HOW ABOUT NEVER–IS NEVER GOOD FOR YOU? by Bob Mankoff: My Life in Cartoons. This is a memoir of sorts, from the cartoon editor of the New Yorker. Often laugh out loud funny and always interesting, I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it to New Yorker fans and those who’ve even never picked up the magazine as well. When you need a break from heart pounding thrillers, thought provoking literary books or dystopian nightmares, this light, fast, funny read is the perfect respite.

CONGRATULATIONS, BY THE WAY by George Saunders: George Saunders gave the commencement address at Syracuse University in 2013, the New York Times published it, someone posted it on YouTube, and the rest, as they say, is history. That speech has been turned into this adorable little book, only 7 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches, 64 pages, yet packs an enormous, powerful wallop. Right on the chin. It’s a knockout.

*BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL

STARLING by Sage Stossel: I don’t read many graphic novels, probably one a year on average, so if I do manage to read the whole thing, that already says a lot. I liked the premise of a young woman superhero who is essentially a flawed character. The illustrations are good and add to the story, but it’s the story that really pulled me in. This is a fun read and a good bet for fans of Sex and the City and any young women in need of a superhero like themselves.

Becky’s Top Ten of 2014

BIRD BOX by Josh Malerman – a violent epidemic leads to the end of everything. Four years after its onset, Malorie has decided it’s time to try and create a new life for her and her two children. But this new life means risking everything. This is an eerie and unsettling debut, one that builds slowly and is worth savoring!

ROBOT UPRISINGS ed by Daniel H. Wilson and John Joseph Adams – a fabulous collection of shorts based on the premise that artificial intelligence and technology can and will go wrong.

ABROAD by Katie Crouch – this dark thriller is loosely inspired on the Amanda Knox case.Abroad is a powerful read but also an emotionally draining one.

SINFUL FOLK by Ned Hayes – set in the winter of 1377, this story is based on a real incident wherein a group of village boys was killed in a suspicious fire. A group of villagers sets off to plead justice from the king, but one of their party is hiding secrets that could be a detriment to them all. This is a really fantastic historical tale, one with a surprising and gripping premise.

BLISS HOUSE by Laura Benedict – after an accident claims the life of her husband and leaves her daughter severely injured, Rainey decides it’s time for a change. She moves back to the old family estate but soon finds that it isn’t the refuge she’d hoped it would be at all. Benedict’s latest is excellent and chilling! It’s also the first in a series of titles to be set around Bliss House.

THIRD RAIL by Rory Flynn – Eddy Harkness’s last big case ended in massive embarrassment and suspension. In spite of his current attempts to keep his nose clean, Eddy finds himself in the midst of another sensitive case and on the brink of further trouble. This pseudonymous debut is a top-notch thriller packed with unexpected twists and turns.

MIND OF WINTER by Laura Kasischke – Christmas morning begins on an ominous note for Holly and her daughter. As a snowstorm rages outside, Holly revisits the strange occurrences that have plagued her family since their trip to a Siberian orphanage thirteen years ago. Mind of Winter is so incredibly creepy and atmospheric!

THREE SOULS by Janie Chang – this debut begins with the main character witnessing her own funeral. Before her soul can move on to the afterlife, she has something that she must atone for – but first she has to figure out what that something is. Three Souls is a beautiful book steeped in history and folklore.

WHITE SPACE by Ilsa J. Bick – a holiday getaway quickly turns dangerous in this first of the Dark Passages series. This is a bizarre tale that’s often compared to Memento and Inception. It’s trippy as all get out and readers seem to either love it or hate it – I’m firmly in the love category!

EX-PURGATORY by Peter Clines – this fourth installment of Peter Clines’s Ex-Heroes series (featuring superheroes and zombies) turns the entire series on its head. It’s spoilerific if you haven’t read the preceding three books, but it is also super fun and super clever.

Paul Lane’s Top Ten 2014

1) Chain of Events by Fredrik T. Olsson

Author’s first novel.  An ancient Sumeranian text outlines a plague that will strike in modern times killing more people than the Black Plague did.  Two people are kidnapped by a mysterious group and made to work on translating the text in order to come up with it’s remedy.  Fast moving and engrossing novel following the progress towards finding the answers.

2) Twilight’s Last Gleaming by John Michael Greer 

A look into a possible near term scenario when the United States runs out of oil, and fracking does not work anymore.  A war to conquer an African country that has just discovered a huge oil deposit on it’s shores.  The poor shape of American weaponry due to corrupt politicians taking bribes to okay the choice of these arms, the intervention of China that has an alliance with that country and a leadership of the U.S. concerned only with their own gain.  The results of the lose of that war leads Americans into a revolution to overthrow  the government.  Events depicted by Greer are possibilities based on current trends and the thoughts provoked by him will give the reader pause.

3) The Carnage Account by Ben Lieberman 

Story told with three principal characters all well delineated.  One is a multi millionaire who invests in a business selling death bonds.  That is betting on the death of individuals buying a policy to pay an amount on their demise.  The millionaire decides to help beneficiaries of high payments by hastening the death of the principal on the policy.  This is done for a payment by the beneficiary to him.  The second two people are a beautiful woman that does publicity for the millionaire’s pro basketball team who is a love interest for him and an ex navy seal that had a love affair with the woman some years ago.  Very well set up plot and events of the novel.

4) Full Measure by T. Jefferson Parker

A stand alone novel by Parker. A young ex marine returns from Afghanistan with the intention of starting a sport fishing guide business.  He finds instead that his parent’s Avocado tree ranch has been destroyed by a wild fire and his mother and father are facing ruin.  His brother who is intellectually slow gets involved with a criminal element in order to prove that he is worthy of his family’s love.  The book is a study of the thoughts and emotions of all of the characters and extremely well done by Parker who generally writes crime novels.

5) The Color of Justice by Ace Collins 

Engrossing book by Collins told in two parts.  Both parts take place in the Mississippi town of Justice. Part one takes place in the past during a period when Jim Crow was alive in the south.  A lawyer born in Justice and returning there with his law degree takes the case of a young black man accused of murder.  The attorney realizes that doing so will cause him to become persona non grata with the white element. Collins is superb in bringing the events of both periods together logically.

6) Assassin’s Game by Ward Larson

A retired assassin that had worked for the Mossad, married and living in the U.S. with his wife is forced to reenter service by his ex employers.  A scientist in Iran has succeeded in bringing that country to the brink of perfecting a nuclear tipped ballistic missile and attempts to assassinate him have failed. David Slaton, the retired assassin is coerced into returning to action in order to kill the Iranian scientist since it is believed that there is a leak within the Mossad and David is not known.  The novel is replete with fast moving action and a guaranteed all nighter.

7) Dead Line by Chris Ewan 

Daniel Trent and his fiancee are partners in the unusual business of helping families of kidnapped individuals deal with the kidnappers in order to reach a speedy and successful conclusion.  Daniel knows that his fiancee has been in contact with a wealthy family to sell the head a policy to negotiate his release should he be kidnapped.  His fiancee has also just told him that she is pregnant when she suddenly disappears. Daniel decides to begin following the millionaire on whom his partner has been calling on to sell him one of their policies. He is a witness when that person is kidnapped right in front of him.  Daniel has to enter the picture to negotiate the millionaire’s release while also trying to find his fiancee.  Engrossing and different story to fascinate the reader.

8) I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

A fascinating story involving a battle between two men from different sides.  One is a master terrorist born in Saudi Arabia and known as the Saracen and the other known as Pilgrim who was adopted by a very wealthy family.  Pilgrim has become the top agent of a U.S. agency only known as above the CIA.  Both men are destined to meet as the Saracen plots a massive attack against the United States.  The threat is a brilliant conception that the reader will be able to identify with and the mental jousting between the two adversaries is equally as brilliant.

9) Natchez Burning by Greg Iles

After a long absence from the literary world due to a major auto accident Greg Iles returns with a vengeance.  In the first of an announced trilogy Iles uses the Cage family familiar to readers from other books to tell the story of the old south from the early 70’s until about the Katrina hurricane. Penn Cage, an attorney has to take on the defense of his father accused of murdering a black woman who had left the area years ago in order to leave behind a love affair she was having with the father.  She is raped before leaving by a group known as “The Double Eagles” who were members of the KKK.  Leaving the south she settles in Chicago and has a baby there.  It is not known if the child is by Penn’s father or as a result of the rape.  The murder is solved with this book but leaves problems and situations in all probability to be solved in the second and third novels.

10)  Influx by Daniel Suarez 

Suarez postulates an agency of the U.S. Government known as the Bureau of Technology Control.  They are charged with examining and possibly suppressing inventions and discoveries that could cause society to bypass orderly progress.  They have gone rogue and kept inventions that could benefit society but deemed by them to be contrary to an orderly progression of events secret.Jon Grady and his team have come up with a device that will reflect gravity probably causing travel by any form using it to become faster, safer and less expensive.  The Bureau of Technology Control offers Jon a job working on the device under their supervision, but he refuses and is thrown illegally into a high tech prison maintained by the Bureau. A very different science fiction story and an all night read following Jon’s escape and subsequent events.

 Jack Quick’s Top Ten 2014

1. THE ACCIDENT by Chris Pavone: The Accident is a somewhat more conventional thriller than Pavone’s fine debut (The Expats, 2012), but he excels at developing characters’ back stories. Highly recommended.

2. COP TOWN by Karin Slaughter: This book is set in Atlanta in 1974. As a brutal murder and a furious manhunt rock the city’s police department, Kate Murphy wonders if her first day on the job will also be her last. It’s also the worst day possible to start given that a beloved cop has been gunned down, his brothers in blue are out for blood, and the city is on the edge of war.

3. THE CUCKOO’S CALLING by Robert Galbraith AKA J. K. Rowling: I may be the only remaining person on the planet who has never read a Harry Potter book or watched a Harry Potter Movie. However, after reading this one I may have to change my priorities. I thought it was great.

4. FULL MEASURE by T. Jefferson Parker: A tale of two brothers and overcoming the odds. May be Parker’s best.

5. THE HEIST by Daniel Silva: Gabriel Allon, art restorer and occasional spy, searches for a stolen masterpiece by Caravaggio in Silva’s latest action-packed tale of high stakes international intrigue. Another must read from one of today’s finest thriller writers.

6. RUN by Andrew Grant: Marc Bowman is a highly successful computer consultant and software designer who is fired on the spot, stonewalled by his boss, and ushered out of the building. But it’s only Monday, and before the week is over, he’ll be stalked, ambushed, wiretapped, arrested, duped, double-and triple-crossed—until he can’t tell enemies from allies. And the only thing left to do is keep running—or end up a dead man walking.

7. THE SACRIFICE by Peg Brantley: Another great read from Ms Brantley. Suspense builds until near the end when it all comes together, but wait, the fat lady hasn’t sung yet, so keep on reading. You won’t be disappointed.

8. SNIPER’S HONOR by Stephen Hunter: Bob Lee Swagger’s war was Vietnam and now the former sniper has been out of the game a long time, and, sadly, nothing has ever replaced what he’s appalled to call the killing fever. Perhaps most memorable of all, though, is Hunter’s vivid re-creation of the carnage on the Eastern Front, where, as Milli notes, the Russians’ only advantage over the Germans was numbers: If they kill us five to one, we bring six to one . . . we shall prevail because, all things being equal, we can outbleed them. May be Hunter’s best ever.

9. THE TARGET by David Baldacci: Unputdownable. The President knows it’s a perilous, high-risk assignment. If he gives the order, he has the opportunity to take down a global menace, once and for all. If the mission fails, he would face certain impeachment, and the threats against the nation would multiply.

10. THE TARGET by L J Sellers: With her latest Agent Dallas outing, Ms. Sellers has once again hit it out of the park. Focusing on the world of industrial espionage and cutting edge medical technology, Sellers shows that while greed is universal and seemingly boundless, you can’t keep a good agent down, and Agent Dallas is the best of the best.

Geoff Hamlin’s Ten Favorites for 2014

I thought that this was pretty good year for both great stories and intellectual challenges, so this was not an easy list to put together.

1.  Faithful and Virtuous Night by Louise Gluck: Much to my surprise, the book that moved me the most this year was this slender volume of poetry by Louise Gluck.  Calm and reflective, Ms. Gluck’s language is an easy entrée into thoughts about both the deepest and the most transient aspects of life and family.

2. The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan: The powerful WWII story of a doctor from Australia who is the commanding officer of a group of Australian prisoners of war.  His men are being forced by the Japanese Army to try to build a railroad through the jungle in Burma. It pulls no punches and is not a pretty or romantic story.  However, there are many examples of courage and weakness displayed. The doctor, Dorrigo Evans, finds himself forced to be a better man than he had ever dreamed of being in order to set an example for his men.  The book looks in depth at why people do great things and why other people engage in acts of what seems to be unspeakable cruelty.  It is a powerhouse and was well deserving of the Booker Prize. (By the way, the title comes from a book by Basho, the legendary Japanese poet.)

3.  The Burning Room by Michael Connelly: Bosch is back, working on another cold case, a man who finally dies from a bullet fired ten years earlier. It is politically sensitive and becomes even more so when tied to another cold case involving children killed in a fire. Bosch is assigned a new protégé, Lt. Lucia Soto, who turns out to be a survivor of that fire. As the story progresses, Bosch tries to pass along not only what he knows about crime-solving and why murderers must be brought to justice, but also how to avoid the pitfalls of politics and the press. Lt. Soto is an apt student, although every bit as headstrong as Bosch himself.  As the twin cases progress, they each gain increasing trust and respect for each other. Hopefully, they will continue to get to work together in the future.

4.  The Long Way Home by Louise Penny: Those who know how strongly I feel about Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache stories will appreciate how powerful I thought the first three books were to place them ahead of her latest. The Long Way Home is interesting for a lot of different reasons.To start with, it is not, at least at first, a murder story. It is the story of the usual gang’s search for the husband of Clara Morrow, the artist extraordinaire. Secondly, it does not take place in the wonderfully familiar and comfortable setting of the Village of Three Pines, but rather travels to the no man’s land at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. But most of all, it is different because you can sense Ms. Penny feeling more confident and liberated as an author, willing to take chances and try new things. It will be fascinating to see where her next book goes. I can’t wait.

5.  Redeployment by Phil Klay: Klay’s short stories about life as a soldier in Iraq and afterward are based on his personal experiences there. A review of some of the stories titles will  let you know how deep and powerful they are going to be – Frago, After Action Report, Bodies, Money as a Weapons System, In Vietnam They Had Whores, Prayer in the Furnace, Psychological Operations, and Unless It’s a Sucking Chest Wound. The grim humor of men at war comes through in the story OIF, which pretty much consists of the acronyms that bureaucracies love. It starts “EOD handled the bombs. SSTP treated the wounds. PRP processed the bodies. The 08’s fired DPICM. The MAW provided the CAS. The 03’s patrolled the MSR’s. Me and PFC handled the money.”

6.  In Paradise by Peter Mattheissen: Mattheissen’s last book is one of his best. It is the story of Clements Olin, a professor of twentieth century Slavic literature, with a special interest in survivor texts.  Professor Olin, who is himself of Polish extraction joins a group of about a hundred people, from various countries, for a week-long “healing” at a German death camp.  The use of these different peoples, including a spiritual leader, Ben Lama, and a cynic named Dr. Anders Stern, illustrates how hard to it is to understand the holocaust and assign responsibility for that.  It is thought-provoking, as well as a good story.

7.  Cold Storage by John Straley: Straley is one of our finest regional crime fiction writers.  It is interesting to see that his cover blurbs come from the likes of James Sallis, Ken Bruen, Gary Snyder, and Sam Alden (graphic novelist). Cold Storage is the name of a small town in Alaska. Clive McCahon returns there after having served seven years in prison for drug offenses. He rebuilds an old town gathering place which he calls the Love Nest and serves beer and plays  music on records during the week and delivers a sermon on Sunday. All of the town characters are in fact characters. When a Tlingit Indian named Lester is asked if everybody in town is a comedian, he responds, “No, actually most of the people in this town are drunks or depressives, but we have our funny moments.”

8. Soul of the Fire by Elliot Pattison: This is the seventh in a series of novels about a Chinese official, Shan Tao Yun, who was exiled to and imprisoned in Tibet for alleged political crimes. He was able to survive his imprisonment by embracing the instruction he received from other prisoners in the Tibetan religious practices and traditional way of life. Now he uses those beliefs and practices to ameliorate the evils being perpetrated by the Chinese rulers of Tibet. What these books are really about is the way in which the Chinese are seeking to extinguish everything that characterized the Tibetans.  In addition to being an entertaining and different story, the serious message of these books is an important reminder that awful things are still being done in many parts of the world.

9. The Laws of Murder by Charles Finch: The latest in Finch’s Charles Lenox Victorian era mysteries has Lenox starting a private detective agency after resigning his seat in Parliament. At first, he is frustrated because bad press has prevented him from bringing in his share of the business. However, when the Scotland Yard detective who was allegedly the source of the bad press is killed, Scotland Yard again requests his help. I enjoy these books not only because they are good stories, but also because they always have some interesting tidbit of English history or etymology.  For example, I now know where the name Charing Cross comes from.

10.  The Elephant Man by Vicki Croke: The story of an Englishman who humanized the treatment of elephants in the lumber camps of Burma and so was able to put together a formidable and useful force of elephants to assist the British in their defense and retreats during WWII.

I should note that I have not had the time to read Marilynne Robinson’s new book, Lila, which I suspect would have made this list. I would also like to mention Solo, by Rana Dasgupta, the story of a 100 year old man in Sofia, Bulgaria, looking back on his life. It was the best book I read this year that was published before 2014.

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Best Books of 2014: Becky LeJeune

December 18, 2014

Becky’s Top Ten of 2014

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BIRD BOX by Josh Malerman – a violent epidemic leads to the end of everything. Four years after its onset, Malorie has decided it’s time to try and create a new life for her and her two children. But this new life means risking everything. This is an eerie and unsettling debut, one that builds slowly and is worth savoring!

ROBOT UPRISINGS ed by Daniel H. Wilson and John Joseph Adams – a fabulous collection of shorts based on the premise that artificial intelligence and technology can and will go wrong.

ABROAD by Katie Crouch – this dark thriller is loosely inspired on the Amanda Knox case. Abroad is a powerful read but also an emotionally draining one.

SINFUL FOLK by Ned Hayes – set in the winter of 1377, this story is based on a real incident wherein a group of village boys was killed in a suspicious fire. A group of villagers sets off to plead justice from the king, but one of their party is hiding secrets that could be a detriment to them all. This is a really fantastic historical tale, one with a surprising and gripping premise.

BLISS HOUSE by Laura Benedict – after an accident claims the life of her husband and leaves her daughter severely injured, Rainey decides it’s time for a change. She moves back to the old family estate but soon finds that it isn’t the refuge she’d hoped it would be at all. Benedict’s latest is excellent and chilling! It’s also the first in a series of titles to be set around Bliss House.

THIRD RAIL by Rory Flynn – Eddy Harkness’s last big case ended in massive embarrassment and suspension. In spite of his current attempts to keep his nose clean, Eddy finds himself in the midst of another sensitive case and on the brink of further trouble. This pseudonymous debut is a top-notch thriller packed with unexpected twists and turns.

MIND OF WINTER by Laura Kasischke – Christmas morning begins on an ominous note for Holly and her daughter. As a snowstorm rages outside, Holly revisits the strange occurrences that have plagued her family since their trip to a Siberian orphanage thirteen years ago. Mind of Winter is so incredibly creepy and atmospheric!

THREE SOULS by Janie Chang – this debut begins with the main character witnessing her own funeral. Before her soul can move on to the afterlife, she has something that she must atone for – but first she has to figure out what that something is. Three Souls is a beautiful book steeped in history and folklore.

WHITE SPACE by Ilsa J. Bick – a holiday getaway quickly turns dangerous in this first of the Dark Passages series. This is a bizarre tale that’s often compared to Memento and Inception. It’s trippy as all get out and readers seem to either love it or hate it – I’m firmly in the love category!

EX-PURGATORY by Peter Clines – this fourth installment of Peter Clines’s Ex-Heroes series (featuring superheroes and zombies) turns the entire series on its head. It’s spoilerific if you haven’t read the preceding three books, but it is also super fun and super clever.

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Spotlight Review: LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by Kristan Higgins

June 4, 2024

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From the publisher:

From the author of Pack Up the Moon comes a funny, romantic, and deeply moving novel about the unexpected rewards that come from life’s detours.

Lark Smith has always had a plan for her life: find a fantastic guy, create a marriage as blissful as her parents’, pop out a couple of kids and build a rewarding career as an oncologist.

Things aren’t going so well.

For one, the guy didn’t work out. Theoretically, she’d love to find someone else, but it hasn’t happened. Two, she’s just been transferred out of oncology for being too emotional. (Is it her fault she’s a weeper?) Three, her parents just split up.

Deviating from the plan was…well, not in the plan. A potential solution comes from the foul-tempered and renowned surgeon Lorenzo Santini (aka Dr. Satan). He needs a date this summer for his sister’s wedding. His ancient Noni wants to see him settled. In exchange, he could make a few introductions and maybe get Lark back into the field of her choice.

As a sucker for old people and fake relationships, Lark agrees. Teeny problem—she instantly falls for his big, warm family. Especially his estranged brother.

Meanwhile, Lark’s mom has moved in with Lark’s colorful landlady, Joy, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. The three women have a long summer and a big beautiful house on the ocean to figure out what’s next…and quite possibly learn that the best things in life aren’t planned at all.

“Bestseller Higgins proves her mastery of the romance genre in this emotional tour de force… Higgins balances tear-jerking moments with happiness and hope, and crafts strong female characters worth cheering for. Readers should have tissues at the ready.“ —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

https://amzn.to/3x4BG9G

This is an emotional, compelling read centered around three women. Lark is the protagonist, a resident in oncology who is also prone to crying. After she loses yet another patient, the patient’s family ends up comforting her, which her supervisor is not thrilled with. He boots her out of oncology and into the emergency room, where patients don’t stick around long enough for her to get attached. It’s either send them upstairs or send them home, so no tears need to be shed here.

One of the best surgeons on staff is Dr. Lorenzo Santini, whom the staff calls Dr. Satan. He is cold and short with the staff, to say the least, but an awe-inspiring surgeon. He approaches Lark and asks if she would fake date him for the summer, a series of events leading up to his sister’s wedding. She is dumbfounded; her one interaction with him had her in tears. He explains that his grandmother is near death, and her only happiness will be to see her favorite grandson with someone. Lark’s soft heart won’t let her refuse, and he buys her some amazing outfits to wear to the wedding events.

Lark has always admired her parents’ marriage and aspires to a relationship like theirs for herself. So when her mother moves out, ostensibly to let her father do some renovations on the family home, Lark isn’t convinced that’s what is really going on. She had her own perfect relationship once, that started in kindergarten and lasted most of her life. We get to look back occasionally and see how that relationship bloomed, and why it ended.

Lark rents a small guesthouse on the beach from Joy, a lonely woman who has spent her life trying to improve her looks via plastic surgery. She’s lost a few husbands, none of whom she really loved, and she lost her brother, who was truly the love of her life. Devastated, she packs up her money bags and buys this beautiful oceanfront home. She gives Lark a great deal on the rent, and in return, Lark will provide her regular facial fillers, Botox, etc. When Lark’s mother needs a place to stay, Joy invites her to stay in the big house with her. These women don’t really know each other well, but as different as they are, they form a close friendship.

The dates with Dr. Satan aren’t all bad, especially when they spend time with his family. Both of these doctors come from large families with lots of siblings, so Lark is comfortable with that dynamic and adores his sisters. The only problem is that she also finds herself falling for his brother, Dante. Oh, what a tangled web has been woven here.

There are some heartwrenching scenes here, and I found myself crying a few times while reading this over the weekend. But to her credit, Higgins doesn’t really write tearjerkers; there is a lot of humor and sweetness here as well. Higgins has become one of my favorite authors – her books remind me of Elin Hilderbrand, somewhat of Jodi Picoult, and this book in particular, of Colleen Hoover, but with slightly older protagonists. To be a tad more succinct – I loved it and could not put it down!

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by Kristan Higgins. Berkley (May 28, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0593547656. 432p.

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PETS OF PARK AVENUE by Stefanie London

August 4, 2023

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Paws in the City, Book 2

From the publisher:

The perfect romcom for dog lovers! Pets of Park Avenue is the story of a self-confessed hot mess who learns that life is more fun when things don’t go according to plan.

What do you do when The One is also the one who broke your heart?

Self-proclaimed hot mess Scout Myers is determined to prove she’s finally got her act together. Raised by grandparents who saw her as her wayward mother’s wayward daughter, Scout’s used to being written off. So when the opportunity for a promotion arises at Paws in the City, the talent agency where she works, Scout is desperate to rise to the occasion. With shared custody of her little sister also on the line, Scout can’t afford a single mistake…like suddenly needing a canine stand-in for an important photoshoot. Luckily (or not) she knows the owner of the perfect pup replacement: the estranged husband she walked out on years ago.

On the surface, it appears Lane Halliday’s life has been blissfully drama free without Scout, but she suspects her handsome-as-ever not-quite-ex-husband doth protest too much. Working together even feels like old times—except for all that lingering, unresolved tension. But Scout’s not sure she’s ready to confront the reasons she left Lane, and when their plans to finalize the divorce become very real, Scout starts to wonder whether second chances might be worth a little hot mess.

“London pairs…satisfying romance with a deep dive into dysfunctional family dynamics, the corrosive power of secrets, and the importance of communication. This is sure to win hearts.” —Publishers Weekly 

https://amzn.to/453T1eb

This is such a fun series! You can tell from the title of the series, Paws in the City, that this will especially appeal to readers who love animals. In this second book of the series, the focus is on Scout, the best friend and employee of Isla, who was featured in the first book. Isla has opened her own social media company for pets, and Scout is her only employee.

Scout has a terrible work history; losing so many jobs has fed into her low self-esteem. But Isla is more than willing to give her a chance and Scout is determined to do the best job possible. When she has to step in for Isla at the last minute, everything that can go wrong does, and Scout feels awful. She is determined to make it up to Isla and she knows exactly how to do that.

After accidentally dying the fur on their biggest doggie star hot pink, Scout quickly realizes that her husband’s dog is a dead ringer for the now pink one. The only drawback? Scout snuck out in the middle of the night just one month after getting married – five years earlier. She hasn’t had any contact with her husband, Lane, since, and neither one has bothered filing for divorce. They are both brokenhearted, but this may be a chance for them to get closure.

Lane agrees to help Scout out by subbing in his dog for the up-and-coming star. Turns out there are several events scheduled, and before you know it, they are spending a lot of time together, revisiting their past and possibly creating a future. But Scout has other problems she is dealing with; the grandparents that raised her and threw her out of the house when she turned 18 now have custody of her much younger half-sister, and they severely limit the time the sisters can spend together. Scout is afraid that if she doesn’t do exactly as she thinks they want, she’ll lose all visitation rights. This is a pretty serious hurdle to get over, but the happy ending is worth it all.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

PETS OF PARK AVENUE by Stefanie London. HQN; Original edition (December 6, 2022). ISBN:‎ 978-1335498199. 336p.

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SUMMER READING by Jenn McKinlay 

June 9, 2023

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From the publisher:

When a woman who’d rather do anything than read meets a swoon-worthy bookworm, sparks fly, making for one hot-summer fling in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s new rom-com.

For Samantha Gale, a summer on Martha’s Vineyard at her family’s tiny cottage was supposed to be about resurrecting her career as a chef, until she’s tasked with chaperoning her half-brother, Tyler. The teenage brainiac is spending his summer at the local library in a robotics competition, and there’s no place Sam, who has dyslexia, likes less than the library. And because the universe hates her, the library’s interim director turns out to be the hot-reader guy whose book she accidentally destroyed on the ferry ride to the island.

Bennett Reynolds is on a quest to find his father, whose identity he’s never known. He’s taken the temporary job on the island to research the summer his mother spent there when she got pregnant with him. Ben tells himself he isn’t interested in a relationship right now. Yet as soon as Sam knocks his book into the ocean, he can’t stop thinking about her.

An irresistible attraction blossoms when Ben inspires Sam to create the cookbook she’s always dreamed about and she jumps all in on helping him find his father, and soon they realize their summer fling may heat up into a happily ever after.

“Add to this McKinlay’s flair for capturing just how family and friends can make us feel both vulnerable and strong, conveyed in breezy writing buoyed by quippy banter and sizzling sexual chemistry, and you have a book that is pure reading bliss in any season.” —Booklist (Starred Review)

“With a picturesque setting and plenty of entertaining storylines and well-developed characters, this fast-paced, steamy rom-com from McKinlay will enchant book lovers and foodies looking for an upbeat beach read.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)

https://amzn.to/3ITzmVE

The title caught my attention (of course!) as did the author – I enjoyed a couple of her previous books,  Wait for It and Paris is Always a Good Idea, so I was excited for this one and it really delivered.

The meet-cute happens on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard when Sam, a chef who recently quit her job after being passed over for promotion, accidentally knocks the book Ben is reading into the sea. This great looking guy is a librarian, and Sam doesn’t read. Ever. Sam is dyslexic and embarrassed about it.

Sam is not only licking her wounds after the job debacle, she is going to the Vineyard to take care of her younger half-brother while their parents take a long vacation. Sam and Tyler don’t really know each other very well as Sam has been out of the house while Tyler was growing up. Now he’s in high school and is planning on spending his summer in robotics camp, which, much to Sam’s chagrin, is located in the land of endless books, the library. On the other hand, her best friend works there and so does the hot guy from the ferry.

Ben is the interim director, helping out for the summer until they find a more permanent solution. Ben is also there because he is trying to find out who his father is. There is nothing on his birth certificate, and his mother, a famous artist, refuses to discuss it.

Sam has this secret dream of writing a cookbook – her Portuguese grandmother had shared many recipes from her home country (several included in the back of the book!) Ben and Sam keep bumping into one another and the next thing you know, they are helping one another pursue their goals and having a fine time getting to know one another. Meanwhile, Sam is enjoying spending time with Tyler, and they form a much-appreciated strong sibling bond.

I loved the neurodivergent subplot, especially when Ben started reading to Sam – even recording the rest of the book for her when he knows he won’t be around to finish it. A note in the book explains that the publisher chose a dyslexic-friendly font, and used bold type instead of italics, so kudos for that!

Like many romances, this follows the basic formula of boy meets girl, they fall in love, then boy loses girl over his stupidity, and eventually, they make up and have their happy ending. This was a fun summer read with some serious issues, and I liked that it wasn’t just another fluffy read yet still gave me the happily ever after I wanted.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SUMMER READING by Jenn McKinlay. Berkley (May 16, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593545720. 480p.

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Spotlight Review: HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry 

April 25, 2023

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From the publisher:

A couple who broke up months ago pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends in this glittering and wise new novel from  New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.

They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blissful week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best?

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by BuzzFeed ∙ Paste Magazine ∙ Elle ∙ Southern Living ∙ SheReads ∙ Culturess ∙ Medium ∙ Her Campus ∙ Readers Digest ∙ Zibby Mag and more!

“Once again, Henry dazzles and delights by brilliantly deploying her considerable skills in comic timing and crafting characters with relatable, realistically messy lives. Effortlessly toggling between the present-day fauxmance playing out between her protagonists and the origins of their love a decade earlier, Happy Place is a romance that delivers on both style and substance.” —Booklist (starred review)

“A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This sexy and profoundly romantic novel will satisfy fans of best-selling Henry’s thrilling trademark mix of witty banter and intensely emotional storylines.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Exes must pretend they’re still together in this delightful Summery rom-com from bestseller Henry…This has the makings of a rom-com classic.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

https://amzn.to/40WPFIl

I’ve read Henry’s last few books, and all were excellent, but I think may be her best yet. It’s certainly her most emotional read to date.

Harriet and Wyn have been together for years, and got engaged several months prior to the start of the book. They have a group of friends they are close to; in fact, that’s how they met – Harriet’s best friend and Wyn’s best friends were roommates, and along with two other couples, they have been meeting at this beach house in Maine every summer for years. But the house is being sold, so their two best friends plan a last week-long party, culminating with their wedding.

What Harriet and Wyn haven’t told their friends is that several months earlier, they broke up. Harriet was devastated; she only got a four-minute phone call and a box of her stuff delivered a few days later. She ends up blocking him on her phone just so she can stop checking it every few minutes to see if he has changed his mind.

They met in college and moved to San Francisco when Harriet scored an internship in neurosurgery there. Wyn barely got through college and is working in a bookstore. Then Wyn’s dad dies suddenly, and Wyn is devasted and depressed for months. When his mom falls ill with Parkinson’s disease, Wyn moves home to Montana to care for her. Harriet & Wyn figure they’ll do long distance for a year or so until his sister finishes college and can come home to help out their mom. But not everything goes according to plan, and he dumps her. When the invitation to the last week at the house in Maine comes, their friends refuse to take no for an answer. They both agree to go and, as always, share a room – but this time, instead of the room with two single beds, they get the room with one big bed. Harriet is far from over him, but she doesn’t realize that Wyn isn’t over her, either. This week they are forced to spend together with their best friends will prove to be challenging in a myriad of ways.

I loved the relationship between all six of these friends and how they formed their own family, especially as several of them come from unhappy homes. We learn their backstories and see how they coupled up. There is some humor throughout the book but more drama and angst, and I was so caught up in their lives that I could not put this book down. This is an engrossing romance with enough ups and downs and emotional entanglements to make me incredibly anxious until the requisite happy ending – I couldn’t figure out how they would work it out until they showed me. Another excellent read from a terrific author!

4/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry.‎ Berkley (April 25, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593441275. 400 p.

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