Category: book releases

New book release: ‘Spin’ by Patricia Cornwell

‘Spin’ is the new Patricia Cornwell Captain Chase novel. Photo: amazon

Patricia Cornwell is an author whose first novel, “Postmortem,” went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity Awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize—the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Her Scarpetta series won Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development. Cornwell’s novels and iconic characters are known around the world. Beyond the Scarpetta series, Cornwell has written the definitive nonfiction account of Jack the Ripper’s identity, cookbooks, a children’s book, a biography of Ruth Graham, and two other fictional series based on the characters Win Garano and Andy Brazil. Her new thriller, “Spin,” is book two of the Captain Chase series and has her racing against time to stop a plot that leaves the fate of humanity hanging in the balance. (amazon, 2021)

In “Spin,” in the aftermath of a NASA rocket launch gone terribly wrong, Captain Calli Chase comes face-to-face with her missing twin sister and the startling truth of who they really are. A top-secret program put in motion years ago has spun out of control and only Calli can redirect its course. Aided by cutting-edge technologies, the NASA investigator and scientist turned Space Force pilot sets out on a frantic search for the missing link between the sabotaged rocket launch and her predetermined destiny – a search that someone else seems extremely interested in stopping. From NASA to the Chase family farm, to the White House to distant orbits of space, Calli plays a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek with a cunning and ruthless adversary. One wrong move will unleash cataclysmic consequences reaching far beyond the boundaries of Earth.

Upcoming book release: ‘A Bright Ray of Darkness’ by Ethan Hawke

‘A Bright Ray of Darkness’ by Ethan Hawke will be out on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Photo: amazon.

A four-time Academy Award nominee, twice for writing and twice for acting, Ethan Hawke has starred in the films Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites, Gattaca, and Training Day, as well as Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise trilogy and Boyhood. He is the author of “Rules for a Knight,” “The Hottest State,” and “Ash Wednesday.” His new book, “A Bright Ray of Darkness: A novel,” which will be released on Tuesday, February 2, is the blistering story of a young man making his Broadway debut in Henry IV just as his marriage implodes—an utterly transfixing book about art and love, fame, and heartbreak from the acclaimed actor/writer/director. (amazon, 2021)

“A Bright Ray of Darkness” is Hawke’s first novel in nearly twenty years and is a bracing meditation on fame and celebrity, and the redemptive, healing power of art. It is a portrait of the ravages of disappointment and divorce; a poignant consideration of the rites of fatherhood and manhood; a novel soaked in rage and sex, longing and despair; and a passionate love letter to the world of theater. Read an excerpt here.

The narrator is a young man in torment, disgusted with himself after the collapse of his marriage and still half-hoping for a reconciliation that would allow him to forgive himself and move on. What saves him is theater: in particular, the challenge of performing the role of Hotspur in a production of Henry IV under the leadership of a brilliant director, helmed by one of the most electrifying–and narcissistic–Falstaff’s of all time. Searing and raw, “A Bright Ray of Darkness” is a novel about shame, beauty, and faith as well and the moral power of art.

New book release: ‘The Lost Boys’ by Faye Kellerman

‘The Lost Boys’ is Faye Kellerman’s newest novel and the next in the Decker/Lazarus series. Photo: amazon

Faye Kellerman is the author of twenty-six novels, including nineteen The New York Times bestselling mysteries that feature the husband-and-wife team of Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus. She has also written two best selling short novels with her husband, The New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman, and recently has teamed up with her daughter, Aliza, to co-write a teen novel, entitled “Prism.” Her new book, “The Lost Boys: A Decker/Lazarus Novel” is an atmospheric, fast-paced mystery set in upstate New York and is full of unexpected twists and turns that build to a shocking and surprising end. It is the latest in her bestselling Decker/Lazarus series. (amazon, 2021)

In “The Lost Boys,” when Bertram Telemann goes missing from a local diner near Greenbury, the entire community of the small upstate New York town volunteers to search the surrounding woods in hopes of finding him. Bertram had been on a field trip with the staff and fellow residents of the Loving Care Home when he vanished. When no trace of the man is found, the disappearance quickly becomes an official missing persons case and is assigned to detectives Peter Decker and his partner Tyler McAdams. As their investigation deepens, the seasoned Decker becomes convinced that Bertram had left with someone he knew. Soon Decker discovers that Elsie Schulung, a recently fired nurse who had worked at the home, seemed to be especially interested in Bertram.  But then Elsie disappears and human blood is found in her kitchen. 

While combing the woods, searchers discover the remains of one of three young men who had vanished during a camping trip. For Decker, personal problems are adding pressure as well. After a ten-year absence, the biological mother of Decker’s and Rina’s foster son, Gabriel, has suddenly appeared in New York, children in tow, wreaking emotional havoc on the young man. Juggling the personal and professional, a hot case and a cold case, Decker and McAdams race to find answers, sifting through cabinets of old files, several clues and evidence, and discouraging dead ends. As on-going searches for Bertram and the campers’ missing remains continue, the frustrated detectives begin to wonder if the woods will ever give up its dark secrets and if these intertwining cases will be solved.

New book release: ‘The Push’ by Ashley Audrain

‘The Push’ is Ashley Audrain’s debut novel. Photo: amazon.

Ashley Audrain is a Canadian author who previously worked as the publicity director of Penguin Books Canada. She describes her debut novel, “The Push” as a “psychological drama told through the eyes of motherhood.” A January release, it is a tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family, and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for, and everything she feared. (amazon, 2021)

In “The Push,” Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had. But in the thick of motherhood’s exhausting early days, Blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughter—she does not behave like most children do. Her husband, Fox, says she is imagining things. The more Fox dismisses her fears, the more Blythe begins to question her own sanity, and the more we begin to question what Blythe is telling us about her life as well. Then their son Sam is born—and with him, Blythe has the blissful connection she had always imagined with her child. Even Violet seems to love her little brother. But when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth. Read an excerpt here.

New book release: ‘Intercepts’ by T.J. Payne

‘Intercepts’ is the new book by T.J. Payne. Photo: amazon

T.J. Payne is the author of “The Venue,” “Intercepts,” and “In My Father’s Basement.” He writes primarily in the horror and thriller genres. His writing style relies on a light touch, using lean, smooth prose to build and maintain the story’s intensity. Through this style, Payne weaves in deeper themes and questions about human nature, particularly the subtle line between Good and Evil. Traditional Hero and Villain archetypes are often flipped in Payne’s work. His characters may not always be likable, but their faults and sins are profoundly human. Humans are the only species on Earth with the capability to create both great beauty and unspeakable acts of cruelty. The exploration of that duality has always been central to Payne’s work. His new book “Intercepts” is another chilling novel that is a must-read for fans of horror and is featured on Cosmopolitan’s “31 Best Horror Books of All Time” list. (amazon, 2021)

In “Intercepts,” Joe works at a facility that performs human experimentation. His work just followed him home. The government wanted to unlock hidden abilities in the human mind. They put subjects in extreme sensory deprivation. All the test subjects went violently insane. But the research continued. Today it has been perfected. Almost perfected. Noe Joe’s teenage daughter is experiencing terrifying hallucinations. Either Joe’s daughter is having a mental breakdown or her mind has been intercepted by the patients at the her father’s facility.

New book release: ‘Bloodline’ by Jess Lourey

‘Bloodline’ is Jess Lourey’s chilling new novel based real events. Photo: amazon

Jess Lourey is the Amazon Charts bestselling author of “Unspeakable Things,” “The Catalain Book of Secrets,” the Salem’s Cipher thrillers, and the Mira James mysteries, among many other works, including young adult, short stories, and nonfiction. An Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award nominee, Jess is a tenured professor of creative writing and sociology and a leader of writing retreats. She is also a recipient of The Loft’s Excellence in Teaching fellowship, a Psychology Today blogger, and a TEDx presenter. In her new novel “Bloodline,” a pregnant journalist moves back to her fiancé’s hometown but everything seems too perfect; it is enough to drive some women mad. (amazon, 2021)

“Bloodline” is a a tale inspired by real events and centers around Joan Harken, who is cautiously excited to follow her fiancé back to his Minnesota hometown. After spending a childhood on the move and chasing the screams and swirls of news-rich city life, she is eager to settle down. Lilydale’s motto, “Come Home Forever,” could not be more inviting. And yet, something is off in the picture-perfect village. The friendliness borders on intrusive. Joan cannot shake the feeling that every move she makes is being tracked. An archaic organization still seems to hold power over the town. So does the sinister secret of a little boy who vanished decades ago. And unless Joan is imagining things, a frighteningly familiar figure from her past is on watch in the shadows. Her fiancé tells her she is being paranoid. He might be right. Then again, she might have moved to the deadliest small town on earth.

New book release: ‘Remote Control’ by Nnedi Okorafor

‘Remote Control’ by Nnedi Okorafor will be released on January 19, 2021. Photo: amazon

Nnedi Okorafor is an author of fantasy and science fiction for both adults and younger readers and an associate professor of creative writing and literature at the University of Buffalo. Her children’s book “Long Juju Man” won the 2007-08 Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa, and her adult novel “Who Fears Death” was a Tiptree Honor Book. She is the winner of Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Locus and Lodestar Awards and her debut novel “Zahrah the Windseeker” won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. In her new novel “Remote Control,” an alien artifact turns a young girl into Death’s adopted daughter; it will be released on Tuesday January 19, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

“Remote Control” is a thrilling sci-fi tale of community and female empowerment. The day Fatima forgot her name, Death paid a visit. From here on, in she would be known as Sankofa­­―a name that meant nothing to anyone but her, the only tie to her family and her past. Her touch is death, and with a glance a town can fall. And she walks alone, except for her fox companion, searching for the object that came from the sky and gave itself to her when the meteors fell and when she was yet unchanged; searching for answers. But is there a greater purpose for Sankofa now that Death is her constant companion?

Goodreads’ Most Anticipated Books of 2021

Andy Weir’s ‘Project Hail Mary’ is one of Goodreads’ Most Anticipated Books of 2021. It will be released on May 4. Photo: amazon

The new year brings exciting new titles for readers of all genres. These are the highlights of Goodreads’ The Most Anticipated Books of 2021. The full list is available online.

Fiction: “The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslien Charles – release date: February 9
In Paris, 1939, young Odile Souchet is enjoying her dream job at the American Library in Paris. But when the Nazis roll in, things get real dark, real fast. Odile and her fellow librarians join the Resistance. Forty-some years later, a lonely teenager in Montana befriends her elderly neighbor, who has a story to tell

Mystery & Thriller: “Survive the Night” by Riley Sager – release date: July 6
The new thriller from pseudonymous superstar Riley Sager (Final Girls), “Survive the Night” is set in the early 1990s, back before smartphones could resolve plot points instantly. College student Charlie Jordan is sharing a ride back to Ohio with a guy who may or may not be a serial killer. Calling for help would require a pay phone. Running away would require a cruising speed less than 55 mph.

Fantasy and Science Fiction: “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir – release date: May 4
Andy Weir, author of “The Martian,” returns to space with the story of a last-ditch, fat-chance effort to save Earth from an extinction-level event. Astronaut Ryland Grace is on his own, millions of miles from home, having just awoken from a long cryogenic sleep. Using a patchwork spaceship, two corpses, and his very fuzzy memory, he is going to have to improvise.

Nonfiction: “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race” by Walter Isaacson – release date: Mary 9
Biochemist Jennifer Doudna and her collaborators pioneered the world-changing genetic engineering technology known as CRISPR, which opens an entirely new universe of medical miracles and serious ethical questions. Biographer Walter Isaacson, author of previous tomes on Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs, turns his gaze to the world of life science and 21st-century genetics.

Young Adult: “Rule of Wolves” by Leigh Bardugo – release date: March 30
From the celebrated author of Ninth House, winner of a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award, “Rule of Wolves” returns readers to the land of Fjerda, where a king, a general, and a spy must work together to forge a new future. Bonus trivia: Several of author Leigh Bardugo’s previous works have already been optioned for film and TV.

Romance: “Act Your Age, Eve Brown” by Talia Hibbert – release date: March 9
Fans of Talia Hibbert’s series The Brown Sisters will be happy to hear a new story is coming, this one dedicated to Eve—invariably described as the flightiest of the sisters. The good news: Eve has found a guy. The bad news: She just hit him with her car. The weird news: He is now her boss.

Upcoming release: ‘The Retirement Mirage’ by Nancy Hite

‘The Retirement Mirage’ by Nancy Hite will be out February 16, 2021. Photo: amazon

Nancy Hite is a certified financial planner, trustee, and author. She is also founder of The Strategic Wealth Advisor ® LLC, located in Boca Raton, Florida. She offers financial advice and workable options to help her clients prepare for and enjoy the current and future chapters of their lives by focusing on their personal goals. In her upcoming book, “The Retirement Mirage: Time to Think Differently,” which will be released on February 16, 2021, she reveals what experts do not tell people about their financial planning. It is available for pre-order on Amazon. (Black Château, 2021)

“The Retirement Mirage: Time to Think Differently” combines Nancy’s years of financial experience with real-life examples to help readers assess their financial situation and give them the tools to plan for the realities of their financial future. Because people are living longer, technology is advancing quickly, and the world is changing due to climate change, COVID-19, and other factors, ideas about retirement savings are becoming antiquated. The book is an optimistic and practical look at the future and how people can prepare.

Driven by her fiduciary duty towards her clients and a desire to help others, Nancy Hite gives actionable advice in her book. She explores education and how children should have a strong financial foundation. She delves into unsteady markets and how they can impact investments. Plus, readers will discover why her mott: Spend it now, spend it later, or spend it never® makes sense today more than ever.

“So many people are still buying into the retirement mirage, the idea that once they stop working, they will have a perfect life. I’m here to show them that the world is changing, and they need to shatter those old ideas in order to adapt. There is so much hope and opportunity if we are willing to think differently, and that’s what people will find in my book.” – Nancy Hite

New release: ‘City of Angels’ by Kenneth Bromberg

‘City of Angels’ is the new novel by Kenneth Bromberg. Photo: amazon

Kenneth Bromberg has an MBA from UCLA and worked as a certified public accountant. During retirement, he started his writing career in earnest, utilizing the knowledge gained from his life experiences, a passion for history, and an ear for narrative. Born in Queen of Angels Hospital in downtown Los Angeles, he has had a lifelong fascination with the city’s corrupt and colorful history. This fascination is woven into his first book, “American Dreams,” a multi-generational saga about three immigrants from Europe who flee to New York City before arriving to the glitz and glamour of a very different corner of Los Angeles: Hollywood, as well as his second novel, “City of Angels,” a noir tale set in the back alleys of 1920s Los Angeles. (amazon, 2021)

“City of Angels” is set in 1924 and Sam Lacy, a tough-as-nails homicide detective, follows his own code of conduct within the racist and corrupt Los Angeles Police Department. Sam’s beautiful ex-girlfriend has been murdered and a sadistic predator is assaulting young Chinese women. Are the crimes connected and can Sam stop the killers before powerful forces stop him? Sometimes, a good detective cannot let the law get in his way. Sam navigates L.A.’s seedy underbelly with the help from an unlikely trio: Sam’s partner, Lonnie, a handsome detective whose cavalier attitude conceals a troubled past outside of the law; Sam’s friend, Edward Bixby, a brilliant man whose crucial forensic work is performed off the books since the LAPD would never hire a Black man for a murder investigation; and Susan, Sam’s sister and moral compass, a war widow and mother who pursues leads of her own. The story takes place in the movie capital of the world, a city that attracts wide-eyed innocents and cold-hearted killers – a City of Angels.