March 2017 All-Stars

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march starsForget roaring in like a lion—March is shining with stars for these new and forthcoming books!

THE BREAKDOWN by B.A. Paris
“In the same vein as the author’s acclaimed debut, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, this riveting psychological thriller pulls readers into an engrossing narrative in which every character is suspect. With its well-formed protagonists, snappy, authentic dialog, and clever and twisty plot, this is one not to miss.” — Library Journal, starred review

“This psychological thriller is even harder to put down than Paris’ 2016 best-seller debut BEHIND CLOSED DOORS; schedule reading time accordingly. With two in a row, Paris moves directly to the thriller A-list.” Booklist, starred review

A CONJURING OF LIGHT by V.E. Schwab
Flawless prose provides the canvas against which Schwab’s complex characters battle, love, and die, and the bittersweet conclusion is a fitting one for a fantastic, emotionally rich series that redefines epic.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Fans will gobble up this final battle, in which the characters they love fight desperately to save everything they hold dear. Schwab has fully delivered on the promise of this inventive and captivating series.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

THE ANSWERS by Catherine Lacey
“Startling and stunning and compulsively strange, Lacey’s sophomore novel is a haunting investigation into the nature of love. With otherworldly precision and subtle wit, Lacey creates a gently surreal dreamscape that’s both intoxicating and profound. A singular novel; as unexpected as it is rich.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Lacey displays an exceptional ability to articulate the elusiveness of knowing others, as well as the desire to find meaning and trust within.” — Publishers Weekly, starred & boxed review

PROVING GROUND by Peter Blauner
“The murder of a liberal lawyer in Brooklyn puts his Iraq War veteran son and two detectives on a collision course in this complex, character-rich tale. A top-notch crime novel that avoids easy resolutions and is all the better for its unanswered questions.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Although it has been 11 years since SLIPPING INTO DARKNESS, Edgar-winner Blauner hasn’t lost his touch, as this page-turner demonstrates. Blauner has crafted two strong and complex leads in Natty and Lourdes and given readers an intricate plot that never feels forced.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review


HOW TO BE HUMAN by Paula Cocozza
“A debut novel from Guardian feature writer Cocozza, this disquieting story details the obsessive romance between a woman and a fox. A singular love story of dominance and betrayal, this novel sets the tone for what will hopefully be a long and strange literary career.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“This is a compelling, unsettling, and wholly original debut.” — Library Journal, starred review

AFTERLAND by Mai Der Vang
“Poets such as Quan Barry and Ocean Vuong have brought us face to face with the Vietnam War, and now Vang, an editorial member of the Hmong American Writers’ Circle, reminds us that the war in Laos—the largest CIA paramilitary operation ever—was equally horrific. An especially accomplished debut—it won the 2016 Walt Whitman Award of the Academy of American Poets, a first-book publication prize—this is important reading.” — Library Journal, starred review

“In her award-winning debut, Hmong American Vang deftly probes the tumultuous history of the Hmong, from the melodic myths of the ancients and the long-hushed horrors of war to the excruciating expense of exile. Vang’s collection interweaves profoundly personal recollections with unflinching glimpses into the circumstances of refugees past. ” — Booklist, starred review

THE FACT OF A BODY: A Murder and a Memoir by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich — 3 stars! 
“In this haunting hybrid of memoir and true crime account, Marzano-Lesnevich describes how a law school internship set her on a collision course with Ricky Langley, a pedophile and murderer, forcing her to contend with past trauma and preexisting prejudice. Her writing is remarkably evocative and taut with suspense, with a level of nuance that sets this effort apart from other true crime accounts.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“As her subtitle implies, true-crime writer and essayist Marzano-Lesnevich here combines two genres, and the result is surprising, suspenseful, and moving. The subject matter is difficult, and the author doesn’t shy away from graphic descriptions, but readers are rewarded with a book that defies both its genres, turning into something wholly different and memorable.” — Booklist, starred review

“She poses a greater philosophical and legal question of one’s past and how that determines cause in an exquisite and thought-provoking comparison study. The writing is superb and gripping and never heavy-handed on the legal jargon, creating a moving must-have for any collection.” — Library Journal, starred review

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