Another week, another batch of books for your TBR pile. Happy reading, folks.
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Carl Hiaasen, Fever Beach
(Knopf)
“Hiaasen is working in a grand tradition that stretches back to Mikhail Bulgakov satirizing Stalinism and Charlie Chaplin mocking Hitler. At his best, he can pack a paragraph with so many little parodic bangs that it feels like a fireworks display when the explosions come so fast you stop saying “Ahhh” and just stand in slack-jawed bedazzlement…. While white-shoe lawyers, university presidents and media moguls cower before the MAGA assaults on American democracy and decency, this mischievous 72-year-old writer is fighting back with every political gag and sex joke he can get his hands on.”
–Ron Charles, The Washington Post
Anthony Horowitz, Marble Hall Murders
(Harper)
“Horowitz dazzles with the brilliant third entry in his Susan Ryeland series . . . . Horowitz is at the top of his game here, linking past and present in a virtuouso finale worthy of Agatha Christie. Fans will clamor for the sequel.”
–Publishers Weekly
John Lawton, Smoke and Embers
(Atlantic Monthly)
“Intricate . . . Short chapters and snappy dialogue help speed the kaleidoscopic narrative along, though not at the expense of character development or emotional power. Lawton remains a force to be reckoned with.”
–Publishers Weekly
Rachel McCarthy, Whack Job
(St. Martin’s)
“Whack Job is an engrossing historical analysis of how the axe has evolved as an instrument of change, retribution, and menace. In this exceptional book, James cites cases famed and obscure involving the axe, which will both inform readers and occasionally unsettle them.”
–Booklist
Michelle Young, The Art Spy
(HarperOne)
“The story of Valland’s courage and dedication to art and justice is compelling and inspiring… Ideal for fans of espionage and strong narrative nonfiction that reads like a compelling novel.”
–Library Journal
Helen Monks Takhar, The Marriage Rule
(Random House)
“Fiendishly entertaining…Monks Takhar remains a writer to watch.”
–Publishers Weekly
Brendan Slocumb, Dark Maestro
(Doubleday)
“A virtuosic thriller. . . . This is an intricately plotted novel, paced perfectly by Slocumb, who keeps the book moving at a breakneck speed—but not at the expense of his beautifully drawn characters. Curtis, shy and sweet, is especially memorable; Slocumb paints a beautiful picture of the young man’s internal life. . . . This novel should catapult Slocumb into the upper echelon of thriller authors.”
–Kirkus Reviews
Nev March, The Silversmith’s Puzzle
(Minotaur)
“March proves herself a master craftsman in offering us a glimpse into India’s conflicted history, which forms the perfect backdrop for a mystery shrouded in shadows and subterfuge.”
–BookTrib
Dana Huckelbridge, Queen of All Mayhem
(William Morrow)
“Huckelbridge has conjured up one heck of a Wild West tale about a ‘whiskey-drinking, horse-thieving, gunslinging double widow’ that is chock-full of Western lore and nasty desperadoes. . . . The elusive, colorful story of a rare outlaw, told with brio.”
–Kirkus Reviews
K.A. Merson, The Language of the Birds
(Ballantine)
“A thrilling page-turner full of heart and unforgettable characters . . . The Language of the Birds is a must-read for fans of puzzle books and intelligent suspense.”
–Meg Shaffer
Michelle Gagnon, Slaying You
(Putnam)
“Feature[s] Vegas-worthy theatricality and satisfying character evolution . . . a wild, absorbing ride. Recommend Gagnon’s series to readers who will appreciate hard-boiled crime delivered through a madcap filter.”
–Booklist
