Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

THE ESCAPE ARTIST by Brad Meltzer

March 6, 2018

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Brad Meltzer’ s latest novel ties together two of the most interesting people ever united by events in a book. The first one is a soldier named Nola Brown. Nola’s background includes a childhood marred by the worse treatment ever received by an adopted daughter from the man that became her father. She was bullied, browbeaten, and treated as garbage. Her only escape was to join the army.

While there she was chosen to be the Army’s Artist in Residence. She had the open-ended assignment of going wherever she wanted to and drawing what she saw to be included in the army’s record of the battle or the event in order to form a better picture of what occurred.

The other person is Jim “Zig” Zigarowski who works at Dover Air Force Base as a mortician in the section that receives fallen military personnel. Zig does not treat the position as something to just work at as his day job. His feelings towards the dead received causes him to labor long and hard at fixing up features of those that combat has disfigured in order to allow next of kin to be able to have open casket burials and find closure in that process.

Zig knew Nola years ago while she was in high school and saved the life of his daughter. Later in that period there was a terrible accident that did claim the life of Zig’s child and thereby ruined his life. His wife left him and Zig went deeper into the lonely business of dealing with the dead to ready them for burial.

The novel opens with the news of the crashing of a small plane coming from a secret military base in Alaska. Among other casualties, Zig learns that Nola is among the dead and solicits her body in order to work on it preparing for the funeral. He quickly discovers that the corpse is not Nola but someone else and begins his own intensive investigation of what is happening.

The events depicted keep the reader glued to the book in order to find out what is going on. Who is the person killed and, of course, where is Nola? Both Zig and Nola are very well delineated and their feelings and reactions to events are those that would happen to anyone caught up in those situations. It is possible that Nola might enter into future novels written by Brad Meltzer but the current book is able to stand on its own and provides an excellent reading experience for those enjoying it. Very well done.

3/18 Paul Lane

THE ESCAPE ARTIST by Brad Meltzer. Grand Central Publishing (March 6, 2018). ISBN: 978-1455559527. 434p.

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THE LAST EQUATION OF ISAAC SERVERY by Nova Jacobs

March 5, 2018

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A Novel in Clues

The subtitle is “A Novel in Clues” and that is precisely what it is. Isaac Severy, the patriarch of an intellectually gifted family, passes away. His farewell note indicates that he knew he would die, and when, and also indicates that two others would become deceased and predicts the times. Murder, suicide, natural death? And what enables him to make such spot on predictions? Is it the equation that he has just finished?

Isaac sends a letter to his adopted granddaughter Hazel while she is in Los Angeles for his funeral. The letter alludes to a secret organization that is after the equation and will stop at nothing to obtain it. Isaac charges Hazel with finding said equation and delivering it to a close friend of his.

While still in Los Angles, Hazel comes to the realization that the equation has implications that could have disastrous consequences for her entire extended family and begins an exhaustive hunt for it. Clues sent to Hazel by her grandfather indicate that the equation can be found by clues hidden in one of her favorite novels, and we follow her reasoning and search through them.

Complicating events are the appearances of Isaac’s favorite son, a theoretical physicist, and a long lost cousin, both coming to Los Angeles. Do they know about the equation and what it can do? And of course the obvious question of what is it capable of?

The debut novel certainly bodes well for an exciting career for this author. It is definitely one that will not let the reader put it down until finished and exhibits a literary style that is certainly captivating.

3/18 Paul Lane

THE LAST EQUATION OF ISAAC SERVERY by Nova Jacobs. Touchstone (March 6, 2018). ISBN 978-1501175121. 352p.

KINDLE

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THE INVESTIGATION by David Bell | 7 Sentence Stories

March 4, 2018

Author David Bell (SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER) narrates an original story told in only seven sentences.

SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER by David Bell

In this pulse-pounding novel of psychological suspense from the

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bestselling and acclaimed author of Bring Her Home and Since She Went Away, a man must save the life of a little girl who just might be his daughter….

When Michael Frazier’s ex-wife, Erica, unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep, she drops a bombshell that threatens to rip his family apart: Her ten-year-old daughter is missing–and Michael is the father. Unsure whether this is the truth but unwilling to leave the girl’s fate to chance, Michael has no choice but to follow the elusive trail of the child he has always wanted but never knew he had.

After Michael departs, his wife, Angela, learns shocking news about Erica and fears for the safety of both her husband and the endangered girl. When a stranger, a man who claims a connection to Erica and her missing daughter, knocks on the door, Angela is drawn out into the night–and deep into the tangled web of Michael’s past….

Over the course of one night, lies that span a decade come bubbling to the surface, putting Michael, his wife, and his whole family in jeopardy. And as the window for a little girl’s safe return closes, Michael will have to decide who can be trusted and who is hiding the truth….

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HARBOR OF SPIES by Robin Lloyd

March 3, 2018

A Novel of Historic Havana

An extremely well researched and compelling novel combining a story about sailors working aboard ships still under sail and a little known stage of the American Civil War. In 1863, Everett Townsend, a young man recently dismissed from the U.S. Naval Academy for cause and subsequently in disgrace, is captain of a ship owned by his father and sailing to and selling that vessel in Havana. Cuba has become a center for Southern blockade runners to pick up cargoes crucial for the Confederate war effort, run the blockade to Southern ports while evading the Northern navy, and return, bringing a cargo of cotton destined for European markets. It is a very dangerous but very lucrative venture when successful and Havana is therefore a good market to sell ships in.

On the way into Havana harbor, Everett rescues a man escaping unknown danger and swimming towards the ship while pursued by sharks. This good Samaritan action results in jail for Everett with his release effected by a profiteering Spanish merchant who forces him into becoming captain of the merchant’s blockade runner in order to pay the debt owed for obtaining his release from prison. Robin Lloyd’s descriptions of the Cuban world of that period: huge plantations and very wealthy people,extremely poor people and slaves brought from both Africa and Jamaica to work the plantations are riveting and show the reader a world not normally depicted. For the blockade runners there are the dangers of both conditions of the ocean these ships sail on and the equally dangerous possible meetings with Northern warships hunting the blockade runners.

The writing flows rapidly with the reader drawn into the reward of discovering a world that is only 90 miles off the coast of the U.S. and at the time of the story a base for Union warships hunting blockade runners. Two factors enrich the novel. One is the solving of a mystery that has haunted Everett since childhood with the answer found on Cuba, and the other meeting a girl of great interest for him. Both of these situations help enrich the attraction of Lloyd’s novel, keeping the reader glued to the pages.

The ending is well done and logically based on the story told, but fortunately leaving a good deal of factors that could go into another book about Everett Townsend and the world he finds himself in.I hope that this will be the case and I will be looking for those novels when published.

3/18 Paul Lane

HARBOR OF SPIES by Robin Lloyd. Lyons Press (March 1, 2018). ISBN 978-1493032266. 320p.

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MEET A LITERARY AGENT AT THE LONDON BOOK FAIR!

March 2, 2018

Bookings now open for LBF’s Agent One-to-One programme

News for release, 2 March 2018: The London Book Fair (LBF), the UK’s biggest gathering of international publishers and agents, has announced bookings are now open for its Agent One-to-One programme, which will take place in LBF’s Author HQ – the area of the Fair dedicated to writers and aspiring writers.

The Agent One-to-One programme offers Author HQ attendees the opportunity to meet with a leading literary agent, who will be on hand to offer advice on the publishing process and provide feedback on authors’ pitches and ideas.

Participating agents this year include representatives from AM Heath, Darley Anderson, David Higham Associates, DKW Literary Agency, MBA, Peters Fraser & Dunlop, Sheil Land Associates and Susanna Lea Associates. Between them, the agents’ areas of interest cover everything from children’s publishing, middle grade and YA, to SF and fantasy, as well as literary fiction, commercial fiction, historical fiction and crime thrillers. Narrative non-fiction and memoir are also covered.

Meetings are by appointment only, and need to be booked in advance of the Fair.

How to book:

Tickets cost £25 and appointments can be booked by visiting: http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/agents

Asif Sardar, previous participant in LBF’s Agent One-to-One programme said: “It was a pleasure to meet up with a professional agent who was interested in my work and offered insightful opinions. Highly recommended for anyone looking to step out from the secret garden of isolated authoring into the daunting world of commercial publishing.”

Author HQ, one of the most popular features of the Fair, will have plenty on offer for both established and aspiring writers, including a three-day seminar programme with industry experts and authors taking to the stage to share their expertise and experience. All Author HQ events are free-to-attend with the purchase of a three-day pass, required to access The London Book Fair.

www.londonbookfair.co.uk

THE LONDON BOOK FAIR (LBF)

The London Book Fair (LBF) is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. Taking place every spring in the world’s premier publishing and cultural capital, it is a unique opportunity to explore, understand and capitalise on the innovations shaping the publishing world of the future. LBF brings you direct access to customers, content and emerging markets. LBF 2018, the 47th Fair, will take place from 10 – 12 April 2018, Olympia London. LBF’s London Book and Screen Week will run for the third year, with the book fair as the pivotal three-day event within a seven-day programme. For further information, please visit: www.londonbookfair.co.uk.

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Diana Gabaldon shows how she crafts a sentence

March 2, 2018

One of my favorite authors (OUTLANDER) shares this animation

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Win the March ’18 bookshelf of signed thrillers!

March 1, 2018

Welcome to the March bookshelf of signed thrillers! These are terrific titties from bestselling authors and maybe some that are new to you. Best of all, one lucky reader is going to win all these books, signed by the authors. More books may be added throughout the month, so check back often. To enter, go to the Win Books page.

Best of luck!

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THE BISHOP’S PAWN by Steve Berry: Former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone uncovers a disturbing link between a case from his past and the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. that risks innocent lives and threatens the legacy of the Civil Rights movement’s iconic martyr.

THE CUBAN AFFAIR by Nelson DeMille: Nelson DeMille’s #1 New York Times bestseller featuring DeMille’s newest character—U.S. Army combat veteran Daniel “Mac” MacCormick, a charter boat captain setting sail on his most dangerous cruise yet. When his shaky finances compel him to accept a lucrative job for a 10-day fishing tournament to Cuba, Mac learns that one of his clients is seeking to claim millions hidden by her grandfather, who was forced to flee Castro’s revolution years earlier.

HOUSE WITNESS by Mike Lawson, A Joe DeMarco Thriller: The new novel in Mike Lawson’s acclaimed series takes political fixer Joe DeMarco to New York for behind-the-scenes work on a high-stakes murder case. Investigating the murder of his employer’s illegitimate son, DeMarco begins to question the guilt of a chief suspect when he realizes that someone has been interfering with the case’s witnesses.

THE THIRD VICTIM by Phillip Margolin: When a series of abductions, tortures and murders are traced to the home of a prominent attorney in rural Oregon, a rookie lawyer becomes a second chair to a legendary criminal defense attorney who holds a dangerous secret.

LET ME LIE by Clare Mackintosh: Struggling to come to terms with her parents’ double suicide, new mother Anna commits herself to uncovering what really happened only to be confronted by a mysterious adversary who would keep the past hidden.

DEAD CALM by Annelise Ryan, A Mattie Winston Mystery: The honeymoon will have to wait for newlyweds deputy medical examiner Mattie Winston and homicide detective Steve Hurley when a man and woman are found dead next to each other in bed in what initially appears to be a grim but straightforward murder-suicide.

SHALLOW GRAVE by Karen Harper: While volunteering with a support group for children affected by domestic violence, forensic psychologist Claire Britten, aided by her partner Nick Markwood, investigates a suspicious death at a wildlife sanctuary.

SPEED THE DAWN by Philip Donlay, A Donovan Nash Thriller: In the style of Clive Cussler, best-selling author Philip Donlay climbs to a new height of terror in his 8th Donovan Nash thriller.

You can win autographed copies of 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! Books with multiple authors will be signed by at least one of the authors.

Penguin Random House books for giveaway were provided by the publisher. #PRHpartner

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 to enter this month’s contest.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

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THE WIFE by Alafair Burke

February 28, 2018

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Wow, what a read! This was the last book I read before I went back to work and it was a one day read for me, I could not put it down.

Angela grew up in the Hamptons, and we find out fairly quick that something traumatic happened when she was a teenager – and that story teasingly unfurls throughout the book.

As an adult, Angela became a successful caterer in East Hampton, and when she meets Jason at her best friend’s house where she’s catering a party, she assumes this will be a short fling as most relationships between townies and summer people go. But Jason has other ideas.

Even being a single mother doesn’t deter him and Angela falls for him and the way he cares for her son. Jason is one of the good guys, a smart, successful college professor and they marry. They live in NYC and Jason gets Spencer into a good private school. When Jason writes a bestselling book, he becomes a celebrity which makes Angela somewhat uncomfortable because she’s always afraid her past will come back to haunt her. Jason, of course, knows, and he respects her wanting to keep her secrets.

Then Jason is accused of sexual harassment by one of the interns he supervises. He tries to blow it off, but then another woman comes forward and accuses him of rape. Angela, always a survivor, realizes she needs to stand by her man, even after he admits to having an affair with his accuser. But as things progress, their life starts spiraling out of control.

There are many twists in this story but the ending is the real shocker. The pacing is relentless, the characters are so well drawn that they completely drive the narrative. If you are a fan of the “girl books,” put this on your list. In general I’m not, but this book was exceptional, I loved it.

2/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE WIFE by Alafair Burke. Harper (January 23, 2018). ISBN: 978-0062390516. 352p.

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4 Comments | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction | Tagged: Thriller | Permalink
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THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah

February 27, 2018

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I’m a long time Kristin Hannah fan. She started off writing women’s fiction and I often recommended her books to Danielle Steel readers who wanted to step up a bit. Then she wrote The Nightingale, and never looked back. That book lingered on the NY Times bestseller list for well over a year, a real anomoly for fiction and certainly well deserved. The Great Alone debuted at number one on that list and I have a feeling this book, too, shall linger.

Leni Allbright is a young teenager who has lived a difficult life. Her father, Ernt, is a Vietnam war vet obviously suffering from severe PTSD, undiagnosed and untreated at that time. Her mom, Cora, loves her husband madly and truly seems to understand the demons that drive him. He can’t hold a job, he drinks to much, and he has black moods on a regular basis. Leni has a harder time, but knows her father loves her. Leni and her mom are very close, unusually close for a child that age, but the family constantly moves, often several times a year, due to Ernt’s troubles, so Leni and Cora cling to each other.

Ernt receives a letter from the father of an old army buddy of who had died in the war, informing him that his buddy has left him 40 acres and a house in the wilds of Alaska. This book opens in 1974 in the pre-cruise era, and even the cities in Alaska weren’t all that populated. Ernt decides this is just the break he needs and he loads his family into an old VW bus and they make the drive from Seattle to Alaska.

They arrive in the tiny town and are amazed – the main street has a general store and a bar and not much else. The population is in the double digits and everyone who lives there is living off the grid – no electricity, no running water, just spectacular vistas and a very hard life. Fortunately, they arrive in spring so they have the summer to prepare for the long, hard winter. Ernt seems happy, and Cora and Leni are enjoying learning to hunt, how to can fruits and vegetables for winter, how to smoke fish and so forth. Leni goes to school in the one room schoolhouse and makes her first real friend. But as darkness falls on Alaska, so does Ernt’s mood.

This is a fascinating look at a life most of us would never experience, living entirely off the land and bartering for whatever else you need. It is also a coming of age story, a story about the effects of war, about an abusive marriage, anarchy, and more. While the storyline is nothing like The Nightingale, it is about two strong women and the life they build, something Hannah excels at. This is not a happy story, but a dark, searing one that will be staying with me for a very long time. It is such a gripping novel that I just couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait to talk to someone who has read it – it will make a fabulous book discussion. Don’t miss it.

2/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah. Holtzbrinck Publishers; First Edition edition (February 6, 2018). ISBN 978-0312577230. 448p.