Books Coming Out in October
Books Coming Out in October
Books Coming Out October 1:
This Jade World by Ira Sukrungruang
THIS JADE WORLD centers on a Thai American who has gone through a series of life changes. Ira Sukrungruang married young to an older poet, and on their twelfth anniversary, he received a letter asking for a divorce, sending him into a despairing spiral. How would he define himself when he was suddenly without the person who helped mold him into the person he is? Returning to the ancient temples and lush greenery of Thailand, Ira seeks to obliterate the stereotype of the “sexless” Asian man in This Jade World as he recounts a year of mishap, exploration and experimentation, self-discovery—and eventually, healing.
A Conspiracy of Mothers: A Novel by Colleen van Niekerk
The year is 1994, and South Africa is in political turmoil as its first democratic election looms. Against a backdrop of apartheid and racial violence, traumatized artist Yolanda Petersen returns from the Appalachian foothills to the land of her youth at the behest of her mother. While there Yolanda longs to reconnect with her estranged daughter, Ingrid, the product of an illegal mixed-race affair with a white man.
Under Color of Law by Aaron Philip Clark
From novelist and screenwriter Aaron Philip Clark comes an LA crime novel like no other. Under Color of Law explores the intersection of race, corruption, violence and cover-ups as a Black rookie LAPD detective must navigate his superiors and scour the underbelly of the city to try and uncover the truth behind the murder of a young police recruit.
The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up: Find Your Path, Face Your Shadow, Discover Your True Self by Beatrice Chestnut & Uranio Paes
A fresh approach to the Enneagram that encourages readers to embark on their own hero’s journey for transformation. This is a personal transformation book rooted in the wisdom of the Enneagram system of personality types. It is a book about waking up and growing into the best version of yourself. It is a book that shows you how to discover who you are and what you can be. It is a book about finding your path, facing your shadow, and discovering your true self.
Books Coming Out iOn October 5:
Final Table by Dan Schorr
A political thriller about sexual misconduct in the #MeToo era, one victim's battle to survive and overcome trauma, and the cable news machine that feeds off titillating scandal coverage and inflammatory confrontation, Final Table draws upon Dan Schorr's firsthand experience as a New York City sex crimes prosecutor and sexual misconduct investigator to tackle the worlds of political and media dysfunction.
After Perfect by Maan Gabriel
Thirty-six-year-old Gabriella Stevens is living a quiet and content fairy tale as a devoted housewife to Simon--just as her traditional Filipino mother has always told her to do--when, after sixteen years of marriage and twenty years together, he tells he wants a divorce. Simon has been Gabby's everything since they were kids; without him, her world implodes. But as she navigates her way through the wreckage of the marriage she thought would last forever, she becomes determined to make a life on her own. With New York City as her backdrop, Gabby--single for the first time since she was a teenager--goes back to school, gets her first real job, and faces unfamiliar reality with determination. Gabby's life takes another turn when she falls in love with her mysterious but utterly beautiful creative writing professor, Colt. Being with Colt is exhilarating for her--something new, something exciting and beyond understanding. He is almost seven years her junior, and a literary genius. But he is also battling demons of his own: a tragic past that may have made him incapable of love. Is Gabby destined for another heartbreak--or will her connection with Colt be what unbreaks her?
My Famous Brain by Diane Wald
After falling victim to a brain tumor, Jack narrates his life story from beyond the grave—relying on his intelligence and prodigious memory to gain insight into the relationships, both romantic and platonic, that shaped his existence, and to understand his life more richly.
Description automatically generated with medium confidenceDeemed a “genius” early in life, Jack never becomes famous, even though many expected that he would. He suffers from a brain tumor, goes through a divorce, falls in love again, gets involved in faculty intrigue at his university, and copes with the tragic death of a close friend. When his brain tumor progresses past hope in the eyes of his doctors, Jack chooses to take his own life. In this “evocative novel” (Kirkus Reviews), Jack clues readers in on vivid glimpses into his life, allowing him–and by extension, those reading his journey–to understand life more richly.
The Orphan House by Ann Bennett
Two women uncover the secrets of the past in this emotional and poignant story that’s perfect for fans of Lisa Wingate and Kristina McMorris.
Wolf Point by Ian K. Smith
In the second installment of the suspense-filled series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ian K. Smith, an ex-cop turned private investigator seeks to fight corruption on the streets of Chicago.
A Cadillac, a pistol, and a corpse make for another morning in Chicago. The body belongs to Walter Griffin, a prominent Black Chicagoan insider hailing from the city’s West Side. He ascended to the upper echelons of the mayor’s office only to meet his end in a watery grave at Wolf Point. Forensics finds his prints on the gun; it’s ruled a suicide.
But grizzled private investigator Ashe Cayne knows better.
Griffin’s children plead with a reluctant Ashe to hunt their father’s killer. They know their dad wouldn’t have taken his own life without a goodbye. And Ashe knows this town’s dark secrets often mean murder is not too far away.
Ashe decides to take on the case and navigate a city rotting with corruption, racial tensions, and sketchy backroom deals. On the bleak streets of Chicago, it’s every man for himself—and that makes everyone a suspect.
The Keepers of Metsan Valo by Wendy Webb
In Metsan Valo, her family home on Lake Superior, Anni Halla’s beloved grandmother has died. Among her fond memories, what Anni remembers most vividly is her grandmother’s eerie yet enchanting storytelling. By firelight she spun tall tales of spirits in the nearby forest and waters who could heal—or harm—on a whim. But of course those were only stories…
The reading of the will now occasions a family reunion. Anni and her twin brother, their almost otherworldly mother, and relatives Anni hasn’t seen in forever—some with good reason—are all brought back together under one roof that strains to hold all their tension. But it’s not just Anni’s family who is unsettled. Whispers wind through the woods. Laughter bursts from bubbling streams. Raps from unseen hands rupture on the walls. Fireflies swarm and nightmares stir. With each odd occurrence, Anni fears that her return has invited less a welcoming and more a warning.
When another tragedy strikes near home, Anni must dive headfirst into the mysterious happenings to discover the truth about her home, her family, and the wooded island’s ancient lore. Plunging into the past may be the only way to save her family from whatever bedevils Metsan Valo.
In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace
For four hundred years, the Warren witches have used their magic to quietly help the community of Evenfall thrive. While Brynn Warren and her meddling aunts do their best to keep their supernatural talents a secret, some of the townsfolk suspect the Warrens are more special than they let on. Even so, there’s never been a problem they couldn’t handle. But then Constance Graves—a local known for being argumentative and demanding—dies while staying at the bed and breakfast Brynn maintains with her aunts. At first, it seems like an accident, but an omen alerts the witches that something more sinister is at work. Even worse, Aunt Nora is shaping up to be the prime suspect.
There’s nothing Brynn wants more than to prove Nora’s innocence, and it hurts to know that even two years ago that might have easier. While her Aunt Izzy works magic in her kitchen and Aunt Nora’s garden seems to have a life of its own, Brynn’s abilities are a bit more occult. She is a witch of the dead—a witch who can commune with ghosts. Ghosts never remember much about their deaths, but Constance might remember something about her life that would help crack the case. Brynn hasn’t used her powers since her husband died and isn’t even sure she still can. She will just have to hope that her aunts’ and reclusive uncle Gideon’s abilities—coupled with her own investigative skills—will be enough to crack the case and lead her back to the gift she once thought was gone forever.
The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
Do you believe in ghosts? In Caitlin Starling's gothic horror story THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE (St. Martin's Press; on sale October 5) Jane Shoringfield, the mathematically gifted orphan, believed in science and fact. That is until she married the town's good-natured doctor, Augustine Lawrence. Entering the world of matrimony, Jane is plunged into a terrifyingly fantastical new life filled with magic rituals, corporeal ghosts, and a paranoid husband who is a stranger to the man she once thought she knew.
Both Are True by Reyna Gentin
Jackie Martin is a woman whose intelligence and ambition have earned her a coveted position as a judge on the Manhattan Family Court-and left her lonely at age 39. When she meets Lou Greenberg, Jackie thinks she's finally found someone who will accept her exactly as she is. But when Lou's own issues, including an unresolved yearning for his ex-wife, make him bolt without explanation, Jackie must finally put herself under the same microscope as the people she judges. When their worlds collide in Jackie's courtroom, she learns that sometimes love's greatest gift is opening you up to love others.
The Family Tree by Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry
The DNA results are back. And there’s a serial killer in her family tree…
The 2021 International Book Awards finalist that “keeps the shocks coming right up to the climatic end…” (Lisa Gardner)
Liz Catalano is shocked when an ancestry kit reveals she’s adopted. But she could never have imagined connecting with her unknown family would plunge her into an FBI investigation of a notorious serial killer…
The Tri-State Killer has been abducting pairs of women for forty years, leaving no clues behind – only bodies.
Can Liz figure out who the killer in her new family is? And can she save his newest victims before it’s too late?
A gripping, original thriller for fans of My Lovely Wife, Netflix’s Making a Murderer, and anyone who’s ever wondered what their family tree might be hiding…
Greedy by Jen Winston
A hilarious and whip-smart collection of essays, offering an intimate look at bisexuality, gender, and, of course, sex. Perfect for fans of Lindy West, Samantha Irby, and Rebecca Solnit—and anyone who wants, and deserves, to be seen.
Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers
Longlisted for the Women’s Fiction Prize, SMALL PLEASURES defied the pandemic to become a massive word-of-mouth hit in the UK in July 2020. It was a sensational commercial breakout for previously literary author, CLARE CHAMBERS. Of the novel, Jessie Burton, bestselling author of The Miniaturist, wrote: “I’ve had about five people recommend this to me, which is quite rare... It’s a novel about the last throw of the dice, the last chance perhaps of finding a life of happiness when you’ve had a struggle. The writing is beautiful. This is also the first novel Chambers has written in ten years, which I find really inspiring—she’s come back with this absolute humdinger. It’s just so nice to read a book by someone who’s so confident with their talent.” Now available for the first time in the US—SMALL PLEASURES (on sale October 5, 2021; Hardcover; ISBN 9780063094727 ; $27.99 ), the dark horse literary novel that has taken Britain by storm! In the best tradition of Tessa Hadley, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Ann Patchett—an astonishing, keenly observed period piece about an ordinary British woman in the 1950s whose dutiful life takes a sudden turn into a pitched battle between propriety and unexpected passion.
These Walls Between Us: A Memoir of Friendship Across Race and Class by Wendy Sanford
From a founding author of Our Bodies, Ourselves, Sanford tells a story, at once profoundly intimate and powerfully political, of her sixty-year friendship with Mary Norman, a Black woman whom she met when both were in their teens. The daughter of an upper-middle-class suburban family in Princeton, New Jersey, Sanford comes of age within the cultural revolutions of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. She embraces feminism, queer identity, and Quaker faith. Informed and fueled by the writings of women of color, she begins to reckon with the impact of her training in “the habits of dominance” and her white skin privilege, as she and Ms. Norman seek to become friends.
In Another Light by A.J. Banner
The death of a look-alike stranger leads a grieving woman down a troubling path in this riveting novel by A. J. Banner, bestselling author of The Poison Garden.
The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley
Set at the cusp of the eighteenth century, THE VANISHED DAYS (Sourcebooks Landmark, on-sale 10.02.2021) is a multi-layered tale of adventure, endurance, romance…and the courage to hope. In a riveting dual point of view narrative, THE VANISHED DAYS unravels an investigation by a man who is far from objective, as he seeks to unearth one young widow’s secrets, unveiling a plot which resonates to the highest echelons of Scotland’s social and political leaders.
Books Coming Out October 12:
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen by Rhys Bowen
In GOD REST YE, ROYAL GENTLEMEN, Georgie’s own Christmas plans are abruptly canceled when her Aunt Ermintrude writes on behalf of the Queen of England to request Georgie’s help. A series of strange accidents at the royal home of Sandringham have the Queen believing someone is out to get her son, The Prince of Wales. Even with her history of informally investigating murders, Georgie must pull out all the stops to get to the bottom of the mystery at hand, ensuring this is not the last Christmas celebration for the future king of England.
Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes
Food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith’s move from New York to Coral Shores, Miami, where she puts her academic career on hold to stay at home with her young son. Adding to her funk is an opinionated mother-in-law and a husband rekindling a friendship with his ex. Gracias to her best friend, Alma, she gets a short-term job as a Caribbean cooking expert on a Spanish-language morning TV show. But when the newly minted star attends a Women’s Club luncheon, a socialite sitting at her table suddenly falls face-first into the chicken salad, never to nibble again. When a second woman dies soon after, suspicions coalesce around a controversial Cuban herbalist, Dr. Fuentes–especially after the morning show’s host collapses while interviewing him. As the ingredients to the deadly scheme begin blending together, Miriam is on the verge of learning how and why the women died. But her snooping may turn out to be a recipe for her own murder.
Allison's Gambit by C.A. Price
When Allison began to care for her mother with Alzheimer’s, she started to ask some difficult questions. At what point is a life no longer worth living? Would dementia be in her future too?
Worried that her mother’s fate may be her own, Allison comes up with an unusual approach to try and control her own demise: start smoking. After all, she would rather die of cancer or a lung infection than the way her mother did—unable to recognize her own family, to take care of herself, or even speak. The tough part will be getting her family and friends on board with her new perspective.
Full of compassion for both Alzheimer’s victims and those it affects—caregivers, family, and loved ones—this novel by a California family practice physician brings a taboo topic to the forefront and asks us all: what would we do?
The Longest Story by Richard Girling
Without animals there would be no us. We are all fellow travelers on the same evolutionary journey. By charting the love–hate story of people and animals, from their first acquaintance in deep prehistory to the present and beyond, Richard Girling reveals how and where our attitudes towards animals began – and how they have persisted, been warped and become magnified ever since. In dazzling prose, The Longest Story tells of the cumulative influence of theologians, writers, artists, warriors, philosophers, farmers, activists and scientists across the centuries, now locking us into debates on farming, extinction, animal rights, pets, experiments and religion.
Raver Girl: Coming of Age in the 90s by Samantha Durbin
A ’90s time capsule buried inside a coming-of-age memoir set against the neon backdrop of the San Francisco Bay Area's rave scene, Raver Girl chronicles Samantha’s double life as she teeters between hedonism and sobriety, chaos and calm, all while sneaking under the radar of her entrepreneur father.Samantha keeps a list of every rave she goes to—a total of 104 over four years. During that time, what started as trippy fun morphs into a self-destructive roller coaster ride. Samantha opens the doors of her mind, but she's left with traumas her acid-fried brain won't let her escape; and when meth becomes her drug of choice, things get progressively darker. Through euphoric highs and dangerous lows, Samantha discovers she’s someone who lives life to the fullest and learns best through alternative experience rather than mainstream ideals.
The Sisters Are Alright, Second Edition: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America by Tamara Winfrey-Harris
A slew of harmful stereotypes continues to follow Black women. The second edition of this bestseller debunks vicious misconceptions rooted in long-standing racism and shows that Black women are still alright. When African women arrived on American shores, the three-headed hydra—servile Mammy, angry Sapphire, and lascivious Jezebel—followed close behind. These stereotypes persist to this day through newspaper headlines, Sunday sermons, social media memes, cable punditry, government policies, big screen portrayals, and hit song lyrics. Author Tamara Winfrey Harris reveals that while emancipation may have happened more than 150 years ago, America still won’t let a sister be free from this coven of caricatures.
The Space in Between by Signe Myers Hovem
Are you highly sensitive? Empathetic? Empathic? An empath? The Space in Between captures the essence of what it means to live as an empath—and demonstrates how an ordinary person can open up to living an extraordinary life. Longtime spiritual counselor and seasoned guide Signe Myers Hovem takes readers on a journey through her life, demystifying empathic receptivity and revealing that it is not a “gift” or “power” but a feature of one’s sensory perception and intuition, an ability that allows us to live in extended communication with nature and humanity. She elucidates the difference between having empathic traits and sensitivities and actually having the skills and abilities of an empath. And she explores the five different landscapes and fields of consciousness that provided her with insight and movement as she traveled her own path of discovery—Field of Reflection, Field of Definition, Field of Sensing, Field of Awareness and Experience, and Field of Mystery—helping readers to dismantle long-held beliefs, illuminating the intentional path towards balance and belonging, and encouraging us all to rediscover what it means to live a truly authentic life. Written for persons who identify as highly sensitive, as empathic, or as empaths, The Space in Between is a road map to cultivating both self-awareness and connectivity with the greater world.
The Wilkes Insurrection by Robbie Bach
An elusive extremist hell-bent on destroying America.
A woman of uncommon valor haunted by her tragic past.
A dark web hacker confronting his conscience.
A failed intelligence officer in search of redemption.
Just outside Omaha, Nebraska, the relative calm at Offutt Air Force Base is suddenly shattered when commercial Flight 209 crashes down onto its runway. From the flaming wreckage, Major Tamika Smith must try to rescue survivors and make sense of the tragedy. But this was no accident. In a time of national unrest and division, a shadowy mastermind is tearing down the United States from the inside out, moving pawns in an orchestrated plan and playing law enforcement like puppets. The deadly attacks continue and authorities have no leads. Barely any clues. Trails that start hot suddenly go cold. With thousands dying and the strikes becoming increasingly personal, Major Tamika Smith must answer a fundamental question: How far would you go to save what you love?
With heart-pounding action, compelling plot twists, and a rich tapestry of characters, The Wilkes Insurrection is a contemporary thriller of anarchic obsession and heroic ambition. Its perfect blend of callous villains, complex but captivating protagonists, and political intrigue will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella
It’s been almost two years since Effie’s beloved parents got divorced, destroying the image of the happy, loving childhood she thought she had. Since then, she’s become estranged from her father and embarked on a feud with his hot (and much younger) girlfriend, Krista. And now, more earth-shattering news: Greenoaks, the rambling Victorian country house Effie called home her whole life, has been sold.
When Krista decides to throw a grand “house-cooling” party, Effie is originally left off the guest list—and then receives a last-minute “anti-invitation” (maybe it’s because she called Krista a gold-digger, but Krista totally deserved it, and it was mostly a joke anyway). Effie declines, but then remembers a beloved childhood treasure is still hidden in the house. Her only chance to retrieve it is to break into Greenoaks while everyone is busy celebrating. As Effie sneaks around the house, hiding under tables and peeping through trapdoors, she realizes the secrets Greenoaks holds aren’t just in the dusty passageways and hidden attics she grew up exploring. Watching how her sister, brother, and dad behave when they think no one is looking, Effie overhears conversations, makes discoveries, and begins to see her family in a new light. Then she runs into Joe—the love of her life, who long ago broke her heart, and who’s still as handsome and funny as ever—and even more truths emerge.
But will Effie act on these revelations? Will she stay hidden or step out into the party and take her place with her family? And truthfully, why did she really come back to Greenoaks? Over the course of one blowout party, Effie realizes that she must be honest with herself and confront her past before she’ll ever be able to face her future.
Books Coming Out on October 15 - 19:
Object Lessons by Stephanie Kane
When Adam and Eve Castle bring their miniature dioramas to Denver to train cops in crime-scene investigation, a string of baffling murders follows. Called in to solve the crimes depicted in the dioramas, paintings conservator Lily Sparks discerns connections between them and the real murders which draw her into the orbit of a killer intent on going from master of a tiny universe to playing God.Each diorama parallels a real crime. But why is the killer reenacting the diorama murders on a life-sized stage? Are the dioramas roadmaps for the crimes, or are the victims being targeted based on the homes and lifestyles the dioramas represent? To catch the killer, Lily must now embark on a deadly new game of house played by a psychopath’s rules.
Litani by Jess Lourey
In the summer of ’84, fourteen-year-old Frankie Jubilee is shuttled off to Litani, Minnesota, to live with her estranged mother, a county prosecutor she barely knows. From the start, Frankie senses something uneasy going on in the small town. The locals whisper about The Game, and her mother warns her to stay out of the woods and away from adults. When a bullying gang of girls invites Frankie to The Game, she accepts, determined to find out what’s really going on in Litani. She’s not the only one becoming paranoid. Hysteria burns through the community. Dark secrets emerge. And Frankie fears that, even in the bright light of day, she might be living among monsters.
The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror - Paula Guran
The supernatural, the surreal, and the all-too real . . . tales of the dark. Such stories have always fascinated us, and modern authors carry on the disquieting traditions of the past while inventing imaginative new ways to unsettle us. Chosen from a wide variety of venues, these stories are as eclectic and varied as shadows.
This volume of The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror offers more than four hundred pages of tales from some of today’s finest writers of the fantastique—sure to delight as well as disturb!
Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars by Samantha Vérant
With her once-destroyed reputation fully recovered and then some, Sophie Valroux is making her mark in the culinary world. She’s running the restaurants of Château de Champvert, the beautiful estate that she inherited from her grandmother. She and her fiancé, Rémi, are closer than ever, and she’s even bonding with his daughter Lola. When Sophie is invited to cook at an exclusive event her culinary idol is attending, she thinks this could be the thing to bring her one step closer to her one and only dream of achieving Michelin stars. But fate has other plans for Sophie. After she accepts to cook for the Parisian elite, her world crumbles. She suffers a fall and loses her senses of smell and taste. Certain that her career will vanish if people find out, she keeps this secret to herself, not even telling Rémi. She fakes it all: the menus for every meal, the taste of fresh figs, the juicy cherries in the orchard. All she has to do is get through life—and the event—tasteless without missing a single step. Fake it ‘til you make it…right?
The Night of Many Endings by Melissa Payne
From Melissa Payne, bestselling author of Memories in the Drift, comes an emotionally rich, feel-good novel about hope, second chances, and seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. As a winter storm buries a small Colorado town, a collection of lonely hearts takes shelter in the local library run by open-hearted librarian Nora Martinez. They’ll discover more about each other, and themselves, than they ever knew—and Nora will be forced to question her older brother’s disappearance in ways she never could have imagined. No matter how stranded in life they feel, this fateful night could be the new beginning they didn’t think was possible.
It's a Wonderful Woof by Spencer Quinn
Spencer Quinn's It's a Wonderful Woof presents a holiday adventure for Chet the dog, “the most lovable narrator in crime fiction” (Boston Globe), and his human partner, PI Bernie Little. Holiday time in the Valley, and in the holiday spirit, Bernie refers a potential client to Victor Klovsky, a fellow private eye. But when Victor, who is not cut out for rough stuff, doesn’t show up at his mom’s to light the Hanukkah candles, she hires Chet and Bernie to find her missing son. They soon discover that Victor’s client has also vanished. The trail leads to the ruins of a mission called Nuestra Señora de los Saguaros, dating back to the earliest Spanish explorers. Some very dangerous people are interested in the old mission. Does some dusty archive hold the secret of a previously unknown art treasure, possibly buried for centuries? What does the Flight into Egypt—when Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus fled Herod—have to do with saguaros, the Sonoran desert cactus? No one is better than Chet at nosing out buried secrets, but before he can, he and Bernie are forced to take flight themselves, chased through a Christmas Eve blizzard by a murderous foe who loves art all too much.
The Last Season by Jenny Judson and Danielle Mahfood
Set in Victorian England, The Last Season is a story of social upheaval, changing fortunes, and an unlikely romance that develops between a well-to-do heiress and a stable boy.
The Truth About Elves by Ekta R. Garg
As a bartender in Las Vegas, Curtis seems to have the dream life. He’s single, lives close to the Strip, and only has to worry about when to pick up the next extra shift. No one knows the truth about what happened ten years ago, and no one knows how he spends three months every year: as a part-time elf for Santa Claus.
When Curtis went to the Arctic Circle the first time, he thought he could escape the unthinkable. Now, the anniversary of the worst day of his life is coming up, and he’s been asked to do the unbelievable. If Curtis wasn’t a man of his word, he would turn his back on the whole thing. But Mr. C. took Curtis in when he had nowhere else to go, and now the boss is calling in a favor—the kind that will make Curtis face the memory of the unimaginable.
If you’ve ever wondered whether holiday magic is real, come find out. Embrace the season and the power of forgiveness along with Curtis as he discovers The Truth About Elves.
Books Coming Out October 25 - 27:
Until We Fall by Nicole Zelniker
Isla, a Black, transgender girl, is an apolitical student when government forces arrest her and her teacher for alleged revolutionary activity. This action turns Isla into an activist working for social justice. What follows is an exhilarating ride marked by danger, close calls, and betrayals, with love and friendship as the reward.
The Nameless Ones by John Connolly
Fan favorite, international and instant New York Times bestselling author of The Dirty South, John Connolly is back with the white-knuckled Charlie Parker series! THE NAMELESS ONES (October 12th, 2021; Emily Bestler Books) is a heart-pounding race to hunt down the deadliest of war criminals. Bringing back a popular character, whether a longtime fan or new to the series, readers will be engrossed following Louis as he uncovers the mystery behind the violent murders occurring throughout Amsterdam. With Connolly’s trademark “dark, haunting, and beautifully told” (Booklist) prose and breathless twists and turns, THE NAMELESS ONES is an unputdownable thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, perfect for Fall reading!
Yes, Again: (Mis)adventures of a Wishful Thinker
In this laughter-through-tears memoir, Sallie Weissinger, a late-in-life widow, recounts the highs and lows of navigating the tricky online dating world of the 2000s. Interwoven throughout her adventures in search of a new relationship are stories from her childhood as a military brat, her southern heritage, her various marriages, and the volunteer work in Central and South America that helped her keep moving forward. Weissinger keeps her sense of humor as she meets men who lie, men who try to extort money, and men with unsavory pasts. When she experiences even more loss, her search for a partner becomes less important, but—with the help of friends and dogs—she perseveres and, ultimately, develops her own approach to meeting “him.” Blending the deeply serious and the lighthearted, Yes Again shows us that good things happen when we open up our minds and hearts.
Ski Weekend by Rektok Ross
Filled with twists, secrets, and life-changing moments, Ski Weekend is a snow-packed survival thriller featuring a diverse cast of teens that will appeal to fans of One of Us is Lying and I Am Still Alive. Sam is dreading senior ski weekend and having to watch after her brother and his best friend, Gavin, to make sure they don’t do anything stupid. Again. Now they’re crammed into an SUV with three other classmates and Gavin’s dog, heading on a road trip that can’t go by fast enough. Then their SUV crashes into a snowbank, and Sam and her friends find themselves stranded in the mountains with cell phone coverage long gone and temperatures dropping. When the group gets sick of waiting for rescue, they venture outside to find help—only to have a wilderness accident leave Sam’s brother with a smashed leg and, soon, a raging fever. While the hours turn to days, Sam’s brother gets sicker and sicker, and their food and supplies dwindle until there isn’t enough for everyone. As the winter elements begin to claim members of the group one by one, Sam vows to keep her brother alive.
No matter what.
When Christmas Comes by Andrew Klavan
Colorful Christmas lights dapple the family homes in the idyllic lakeside town of Sweet Haven when Jennifer Dean, a young librarian at the local elementary school, is brutally murdered. There are witnesses and her boyfriend Travis Blake confesses to the crime… but something doesn’t quite add up. Blake is a third generation Army Ranger, awarded the Silver Star for his heroism in Afghanistan―how could a beloved son of this tight-knit burgh commit such a grisly deed? As a community of military families a few miles down the road from an Army base, no one in Sweet Haven wants to investigate a war hero like Blake, not even the top brass at the police department. In steps Cameron Winter, a rugged and lonesome English professor haunted by the ghosts of his own Christmas past, whose former lover asks him to prove Blake innocent. The Sweet Haven murder reverberates in his mind, echoing a horrific yuletide memory from his youth, and Winter knows there are darker powers at play here than a simple domestic dispute. If he can solve this small-town mystery, just maybe he can find peace from his inner demons as well.
Mistletoe Season by Michelle Major
Angi Guilardi needs a man for Christmas—at least, according to her mother. What she really needs is to grow her fledgling catering business. Partnering with Magnolia’s Wildflower Inn holds promise, but when her mother falls ill, Angi’s pulled back to the responsibility of the family restaurant. While she balances work and her eight-year-old son, romance is the last thing on her mind…until Angi runs into Gabriel Carlyle. Back in town to help his grandmother at her flower shop, Gabriel has no plans to stick around Magnolia, especially after he bumps into one of his childhood bullies. Sure, Angi's all grown up and gorgeous now, and when they find themselves under the mistletoe, their chemistry is undeniable. But it’ll take more than a Christmas miracle for Angi to break through the defenses of Gabriel’s well-guarded heart and find a love built to last.
The Lighthouse by Christopher Parker
Amy Tucker is struggling to put her life back together following the death of her mother. The loss has left the 18-year-old heartbroken, and she doesn’t know if her world will ever be whole again. Meanwhile, in Seabrook, a small town famous for its haunted lighthouse, Ryan Porter lives a simple but busy life, maintaining the ranch which he shares with his father. Separated by hundreds of miles, yet drawn to each other by forces they can’t understand, Amy and Ryan spend a magical day together and quickly forge a deep connection. But all is not what it seems in Seabrook, and when strange events begin happening around town, they question if their meeting really was an accident at all. Trusting in themselves and in each other, they attempt to unravel the mystery of why fate has brought them together, and in doing so, they embark on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery that leads straight to the heart of Seabrook’s mysterious lighthouse. There they uncover the most shocking secret of all… a secret that will change the course of their lives forever.
The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
Laid off from her department store job, Carmen has perilously little cash and few options. The prospect of spending Christmas with her perfect sister Sofia, in Sofia’s perfect house with her perfect children and her perfectly ordered yuppie life does not appeal.
Frankly, Sofia doesn’t exactly want her prickly sister Carmen there either. But Sofia has yet another baby on the way, a mother desperate to see her daughters get along, and a client who needs help revitalizing his shabby old bookshop. So Carmen moves in and takes the job.
Thrown rather suddenly into the inner workings of Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop on the picturesque streets of historic Edinburgh, Carmen is intrigued despite herself. The store is dusty and disorganized but undeniably charming. Can she breathe some new life into it in time for Christmas shopping? What will happen when a famous and charismatic author takes a sudden interest in the bookshop—and Carmen? And will the Christmas spirit be enough to help heal her fractured family?
The Unheard by Nicci French
Maybe Tess is over-protective, but passing her daughter off to her ex and his new young wife fills her with a sense of dread. It’s not that Jason is a bad father—it just hurts to see him enjoying married life with someone else. Still, she owes it to her daughter Poppy to make this arrangement work.
But Poppy returns from the weekend tired and withdrawn. And when she shows Tess a crayon drawing—an image so simple and violent that Tess can hardly make sense of it—Poppy can only explain with the words, “He did kill her.”
Something is horribly wrong. Tess is certain Poppy saw something—or something happened to her—that she’s too young to understand. Jason insists the weekend went off without a hitch. Doctors advise that Poppy may be reacting to her parent’s separation. And as the days go on, even Poppy’s disturbing memory seems to fade. But a mother knows her daughter, and Tess is determined to discover the truth. Her search will set off an explosive tempest of dark secrets and buried crimes—and more than one life may be at stake.
Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday
USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday follows A Princess for Christmas with another delightful contemporary Christmas romance between a playboy baron and a woman who has said goodbye to love.
Thoughts and Prayers by Lee Anne Post
Straight-A student Lily Jeong, misunderstood by helicopter parents and ignored by thoughtless classmates, sneaks her manipulative boyfriend into Rockwell High, believing he’ll get revenge for her recent public humiliation. But he breaks his promise that no one will get hurt. Minutes later, fourteen people are dead.
The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women by Anushay Hossain
Following in the footsteps of feminist manifestos such as The Feminine Mystique and Rage Becomes Her, The Pain Gap is an eye-opening and stirring call to arms that encourages women to flip their “hysteria complex” on its head and use it to revolutionize women’s healthcare. This book tells the story of Hossain’s experiences—from growing up in South Asia surrounded by staggering maternal mortality rates to lobbying for global health legislation on Capitol Hill to nearly becoming a statistic herself. Along the way, she realized that a little fury might be just what the doctor ordered. Meticulously researched and deeply reported, this book explores real women’s traumatic experiences with America’s healthcare system—and empowers everyone to use their experiences to bring about the healthcare revolution women need.
Dead Code by Glenda Carroll
Trisha Carson blunders into a nest of cybercriminals when her landlord's grandson disappears after a San Francisco Giants baseball game. Reaching out to help, she lands in the middle of a frightening game and discovers that she is the main prize.
Amateur sleuth Trisha Carson is being watched. By a laptop that tracks her every keystroke. By a blue-eyed athlete who guides her through an open water swim. And by Frida, her smart refrigerator. Why have they targeted her?
A determined Trisha hunts down her stalkers and stumbles on a grim plan that will echo throughout the West Coast.
*****
Who is Trisha Carson?
If you combined the intellect and the curiosity of a 40-something Jessica Fletcher (Murder She Wrote) with the drive, cunning, and bravery of Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games), you'd have a Trisha Carson.
The Music Stalker by Bruce J. Berger
Kayla Covo is a piano prodigy. In mid-1970’s New York City, she vaults to fame, holding audiences in awe with her renditions of Beethoven and Chopin and winning their hearts forever with a smile. But deep within lie the seeds of her destruction, the genes leading to paranoid fear of being stalked by a murderous fan. Supported yet oppressed by her devoted brother Max, Kayla struggles to find the right path. The Music Stalker closely examines how genius and love might survive in a close-knit family torn by trauma, insanity, and jealousy.
