LibraryReads - Macmillan Library

For Your Consideration: April LibraryReads titles

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Anne Spieth

The March LibraryReads list may have just been announced (thank you to everyone who voted for PRECIOUS THING!!!), but we're already excited about April's potential picks. With February being such a short month and the Winter Olympics distracting us from reading time, the March 1 deadline to nominate April 2014 publications will be here faster than Shani Davis can break a new speedskating record!

Here's the inside track on our hot April titles:

KEEP QUIET by Lisa Scottoline
In New York Times bestselling author Scottoline's latest standalone, Jake Whitmore is enjoying a rare bonding moment with his sixteen-year-old son, Ryan, when they get in a terrible car accident that threatens to derail Ryan’s future. Jake makes a split-second decision that saves his son from formal punishment, but plunges them both into a world of guilt, lies, and secrecy. When a malevolent outsider comes forward with the power to expose them, Jake must do anything he can to prevent the further unraveling of his family.

THE PLOVER by Brian Doyle
When Declan O Donnell flees his troubled life on land by setting out on the Pacific Ocean in his boat, the Plover, he discovers something much more interesting than the solitude he sought. "Doyle (editor, Portland Magazine) has written a novel in the adventurous style of Jack London and Robert Louis Stevenson but with a gentle mocking of their valorization of the individual as absolute. Readers will enjoy this bracing and euphoric ode to the vastness of the ocean and the unexpectedness of life." — Library Journal, starred review

SEDITION by Katharine Grant
In this "...witty, dark, and sophisticated tale" (Publishers Weekly, starred review), four nouveau rich fathers make their five marriageable daughters learn to play the piano in an effort to attract men and marry well. However, the girls' lascivious (and French) piano teacher has an education beyond music in his plans. "[A] fun, lascivious gambol through the lives of women and men with decidedly carnal appetites... Suggest to fans of Sarah Dunant and Sarah Waters." — Booklist

DESTROYER ANGEL by Nevada Barr
In the next book in Barr's New York Times bestselling Anna Pigeon series, a camping trip in Minnesota goes harrowingly wrong when Anna's friends are taken hostage by armed thugs. "Once again, Barr lays down a riveting mystery and permeates the pages with scrupulous descriptions of Anna's struggle with the cold, with the night, and with the terror and fear of not rescuing her friends." — Library Journal, starred review

DON'T EVER LOOK BACK by Daniel Friedman
In this "alternately humorous and moving sequel" (Publishers Weekly) to the Edgar Award-nominated debut DON'T EVER GET OLD, feisty octogenarian Buck Schatz is trying to close the case on some unsolved robberies from his past.

'TIL THE WELL RUNS DRY by Lauren Francis-Sharma
This buzzed about debut novel is a glorious and moving multi-generational, multicultural saga that begins in the 1940s and sweeps through the 1960s in Trinidad and the United States. "Why the buzz: Voice, Voice, Voice! A story that takes you places you have never been and will stay with you forever." — Publishers Weekly, ABA's Winter Institute 9 round-up

MIMI MALLOY AT LAST by Julia MacDonnell
An April 2014 Indie Next pick! "MacDonnell captures perfectly the family dynamics between sisters, mothers, and daughters, as if she were sitting in on their gab sessions, taking copious notes. For readers who enjoy Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher, this is a highly engaging family chronicle, with a healthy dose of Irish history laced in as well." — Booklist

THE OTHER STORY by Tatiana de Rosnay
The internationally bestselling author of SARAH'S KEY returns with another absorbing novel about a young writer who, while digging into his family’s deeply buried secrets, finds the key to his future.

For more April LibraryReads title suggestions, view our collection on Edelweiss. Happy reading and happy nominating!

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PRECIOUS THING is on the March 2014 LibraryReads list!

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Anne Spieth

FABULOUS NEWS! Colette McBeth's thrilling debut novel PRECIOUS THING is #8 on the March 2014 LibraryReads list!

I know her inside out. I know what she’s thinking, I know what she wants. So I can’t give up on her, she knows I never will.

Imagine discovering something about your oldest friend that forces you to question everything you’ve shared together—so goes the story between Rachel and Clara.

They met in high school when Rachel was the shy, awkward new girl and Clara was the friend everyone wanted. Instantly, they fell under one another’s spell and promised their friendship would last forever. Flash forward to present day: now in their late twenties, Rachel's the one who has it all—the plum job as a television crime reporter, the apartment and the boyfriend; meanwhile, Clara’s life is spiraling further out of control.

Then Rachel’s news editor assigns her to cover a police press conference, and when she arrives, she's shocked to learn that the subject is Clara, reported missing. Is it abduction, suicide or something else altogether?

Booklist gave PRECIOUS THING a starred review saying, "Debut author McBeth’s GONE GIRL-style psychological thriller will be a widespread hit for fans of dark drama with questionable narrators, including S. J. Watson’s BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (2011), Sabine Durrant’s UNDER YOUR SKIN (2013), and Karen Perry’s THE INNOCENT SLEEP (2013)."

Many of you agree, based on the early buzz:

See the complete March list at LibraryReads.org.

Thank you to everyone who voted! Keep in mind that February is a short month so nominations for the April list will be here soon (due March 1). Need help finding books? Check out our Edelweiss collection of April 2014 titles. Don't wait, nominate!

As for the current list, you can help support these great books by promoting each month's selections in a featured display in your library and by using the FREE downloadable marketing materials provided by LibraryReads, which includes flyers and online banner ads. [...]

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For Your Consideration: March LibraryReads titles

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Anne Spieth

Happy Monday to our dear librarian pals,

We’d like to remind y’all that the February 1 deadline to nominate March 2014 publications for the next LibraryReads list is just around the corner!

Get thee to edelweiss! Download a DRC, read it, love it and nominate it! REPEAT!

THE CAIRO AFFAIR by Olen Steinhauer

International politics are at play as an Egyptian agent, an American analyst, a CIA agent, and a bereaved wife all converge on Cairo to find out why a diplomat was assassinated.

"THE CAIRO AFFAIR is an elegant, elaborate clockwork of mystery and deception that should draw readers in and keep them on tenterhooks as they try to figure out what is really making it all tick." — Publishers Weekly, boxed signature review

"It has become de rigeur to compare Steinhauer to le Carré, but it’s nearly time to pass the torch: for the next generation, it’s Steinhauer who will become the standard by which others are measured." — Booklist, starred review

SHOTGUN LOVESONGS by Nickolas Butler

Butler's debut novel about the relationship between four friends in a small Midwest town was selected by the ABA for the Spring 2014 Indies Introduce program.

"The hearty Midwest, which thrums and beats through tiny Little Wing, Wisconsin-an Anytown, USA, if there ever was one-assumes the whole soul of Butler's fetching debut. Readers can feel the winter cold on the other side of the neon sign and hear the peanut shells crunching underfoot." — Booklist

TEMPTING FATE by Jane Green

From the New York Times bestselling author of ANOTHER PIECE OF MY HEART comes a riveting new novel about the events leading up to one woman's affair—and its aftermath.

"A SCARLET LETTER for the 21st century." — Kirkus Reviews

PRECIOUS THING by Colette McBeth

"Debut author McBeth’s GONE GIRL-style psychological thriller will be a widespread hit for fans of dark drama with questionable narrators, including S. J. Watson’s BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (2011), Sabine Durrant’s UNDER YOUR SKIN (2013), and Karen Perry’s THE INNOCENT SLEEP (2013)." — Booklist, starred review

I REMEMBER YOU by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

"In a departure from her series featuring lawyer Thora Gudmundsdottir, Iceland’s queen of suspense combines modern crime detection with mysticism to chilling effect. Nordic mystery writers can raise goosebumps as few others can, and Sigurdardottir shows she’s one of the best." — Booklist, starred review

Let’s not forget the buzz that’s been building for this gem.

THE HAVEN by Carol Lynch Williams

For the teens at The Haven, the world beyond the towering stone wall that surrounds the premises is a dangerous unknown and always has been since the hospital was established in the year 2020. It was built to help control the Disease that claims limbs and lungs-and memories-but what if it's not the safe place it claims to be? Award-winning YA novelist Williams' new novel is "Deliciously enigmatic." — Kirkus Reviews

PROVIDENCE RAG by Bruce DeSilva

“Edgar-winner DeSilva melds moral dilemmas with a suspenseful plot in his third novel featuring Providence, R.I.–based reporter Liam Mulligan, his best yet.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

Go beyond the book and read this Publishers Weekly interview with DeSilva.

For more March LibraryReads title suggestions, view our collection on Edelweiss. Happy reading and happy nominating!

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LibraryReads picks LOST LAKE!

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Anne Spieth

FANTASTIC NEWS! LibraryReads just announced their January 2014 list and we're thrilled to have LOST LAKE by Sarah Addison Allen as the #3 pick!

Suley, Georgia, is home to Lost Lake Cottages and not much else. Which is why it's the perfect place for newly-widowed Kate and her eccentric eight-year-old daughter Devin to heal. Kate has wonderful memories of Lost Lake, but she doesn't believe in dreams anymore. Kate's Aunt Eby, owner of Lost Lake, also feels like the magic is gone. She wants to sell the place and move on. But time has a way of standing still at Lost Lake. As Kate tries to bring the cottages—and her heart—back to life, she realizes that sometimes the things you love have a funny way of turning up again. And sometimes you never even know they were lost... until they are found.

Early enthusiasm for LOST LAKE has been wonderful:

See the complete January list at LibraryReads.org.

Thank you to everyone who voted! Keep in mind with the holidays approaching that nominations for the February list will be upon us very soon (due January 1). Don't wait, nominate! Need help? We've got suggestions.

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For Your Consideration: February LibraryReads titles

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Anne Spieth

The holiday season is upon us!

Silly Boy Time is more fleeting than ever in December, so why not get your February LibraryReads nominations in early and have one less thing to worry about? Unless you're saving all your reading and nominating for a long, winter break (just make sure to submit by the January 1, 2014 deadline). We recommend a big mug of hot cocoa, a warm blanket, a cat curled up in your lap, and these February books:

DOING HARM by Kelly Parsons
“As a medical thriller, this skillfully wrought debut gets high marks for building tension to a breathtaking climax." – Library Journal, starred review

BITTER EDEN by Tatamkhulu Afrika
“Originally published shortly after the author’s death in 2002 and based on his experiences as a POW in WWII, BITTER EDEN is a beautifully crafted, absorbing read, a careful examination of human relationships, and a rare glimpse into the complexities of life in wartime.” — Booklist

Read the full story on BITTER EDEN

Note: BITTER EDEN is available on NetGalley. Email library@macmillanusa.com (subject line: BITTER EDEN) to get pre-approved for an e-galley.

RUNNER by Patrick Lee
This thriller from New York Times bestselling author Patrick Lee is the first in a new series starring retired special forces operative Sam Dryden. It's received three outstanding pre-publication reviews, sold international rights in seven countries, and the film rights were optioned by Warner Brothers with director Justin Lin (Fast & Furious 6) attached.

Read the full story on RUNNER

THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Karen Perry
"Readers drawn to the intense emotion and zero-sum conflict of Andre Dubus III’s HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG will love this one, as will those captivated by the missing-person intrigues in Laura Lippman’s WHAT THE DEAD KNOW and Lisa Scottoline’s LOOK AGAIN." — Booklist

Get the free praise sheet for THE INNOCENT SLEEP

THE HEADMASTER'S WIFE by Thomas Christopher Greene
"This is a riveting psychological novel about loss and the terrible mistakes and compromises one can make in love and marriage. Essential for fans of literary fiction." — Library Journal, starred review

WHERE MONSTERS DWELL by Jørgen Brekke
"The buildup to each murder is extraordinarily well done and almost unbearably suspenseful. On the whole, the novel lives up to the edginess of this genre. Brrrr." — Booklist

For more February LibraryReads title suggestions, view our collection on Edelweiss. Happy reading and happy nominating!

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For Your Consideration: January LibraryReads titles

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Anne Spieth

With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, many of us are busy making lists. Grocery lists for the big meal, shopping lists for those Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales, who's been naughty and who's been nice (OK, we didn't write that one)... Here's our list of new books we think are great, just in time for the January LibraryReads nomination deadline of December 1:

RADIANCE OF TOMORROW by Ishmael Beah
From the author of A LONG WAY GONE comes a “formidable and memorable novel” (Publishers Weekly) about a village trying to reclaim peace after war. “Beah, who broke our hearts with the haunting memoir of his life as a boy soldier, will render readers speechless with the radiance of his storytelling in this novel of grace, forgiveness, and a vision of a tomorrow without conflict." – Library Journal, starred review

THE LAST ENCHANTMENTS by Charles Finch
In this contemporary update of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, William Baker is a recent graduate of Yale who embarks on a life-changing year at Oxford, complete with unexpected friendships and a romance with a beautiful and enigmatic woman. "In prose that glides effortlessly from scene to scene, Finch captures the fleeting time in people’s lives when their every decision, from career to lover, seems freighted with eternal consequence. Highly recommended for all collections." – Library Journal, starred review

THE ORPHAN CHOIR by Sophie Hannah
Sophie Hannah writes taut, psychological suspense novels and her latest takes domestic horror to a new level. Louise Beeston is haunted by choral music only she can hear. Hoping to find some peace, Louise convinces her husband, Stuart, to buy them a country house in an idyllic, sun-dappled community, but the new home brings her anything but that. Louise starts to suspect that this sinister choir is not only real, but a warning. But of what? “Absolutely haunting, in every sense of the word.” – Booklist

BEFORE I BURN by Gaute Heivoll
Heivoll's novel is inspired by a real-life arson spree that deeply affected him as he grew up in Norway. It's already received two starred reviews–Publishers Weekly called it, "A compulsively readable novel about identity and the increasingly blurred line between art and reality" and Booklist said, "Fans of IN COLD BLOOD and THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY will appreciate the chilling true-crime angle, while Heivoll’s dazzling prose will quickly enchant those unfamiliar with this Scandinavian writer. An absorbing story of compulsion, obsession, and the power of desire."

For more January LibraryReads title suggestions, view our collection on Edelweiss. Happy reading and happy nominating!

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LibraryReads chooses DANGEROUS WOMEN and THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING!

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Anne Spieth

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY! LibraryReads just announced their December 2013 list and we're thrilled to have two great Macmillan titles in the top ten:

Coming in at #7 is DANGEROUS WOMEN, edited by George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois. This amazing collection of 22 original short stories co-edited by the Game of Thrones creator features contributions from bestselling authors, including Jim Butcher, Diana Gabaldon, Lev Grossman, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Brandon Sanderson, and a new GOT novella from Martin himself. It's received three outstanding starred pre-publication reviews, all claiming that this collection has something for every reader. Whether it's science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, or suspense, women are the stars, from feisty heroines down to villainess vixens.

The #9 pick is THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING: On Writers and Drinking by Olivia Laing, which was also recently named a January Indie Next selection. Growing up in an alcoholic family, Laing wanted to make sense of this disease and started by examining the link between alcohol and creativity in some of America’s finest writers, including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. “The tortured relationship between literary lions and their liquor illuminates the obscure terrain of psychology and art in this searching biographical meditation…. Laing explores this rich topic through an unusual mix of biographical research, astute literary interpretation, and wonderfully atmospheric travelogue... The result is a fine study of a human frailty through the eyes of its most perceptive victims.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review.

See the full December 2013 top ten list on LibraryReads.org.

Thank you to everyone who voted! Keep in mind with the Thanksgiving holidays approaching that nominations for the January list will be upon us very soon (due December 1). Don't wait, nominate!

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For Your Consideration… December LibraryReads suggestions

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Anne Spieth

Friends, thank you again for choosing Julia Spencer-Fleming's THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS and Barry Maitland's THE RAVEN'S EYE for the November LibraryReads list.

We're already halfway through the month, which means only two more weeks to nominate titles for the December list (due Nov. 1). Never fear! We're happy to help you whittle down the "To Read" pile with our favorite December books:

THE HOUSEMAID'S DAUGHTER by Barbara Mutch
This moving debut novel is a December Indie Next selection! Set in the arid plains of Apartheid-era South Africa, THE HOUSEMAID'S DAUGHTER tells the story of Cathleen, an estranged young woman whose only true companions are her diary and her housemaid's daughter. But one night changes everything and Cathleen must choose between conforming to society or finding the girl she has come to love as her own daughter. "Rich in detail and subtle in its politics, this affecting novel tells a poignant, inspiring story." – Booklist, starred review

NetGalley logo Available on NetGalley. Email library@macmillanusa.com (subject line: HOUSEMAID'S DAUGHTER) to get pre-approved for a galley.

ONCE UPON A LIE by Maggie Barbieri
In a dramatic departure from her Murder 101 series, Maggie Barbieri has written a gripping novel about one burnt out mother's desperate determination to protect her family's future by facing down her past. What starts out as a standard suburban mystery evolves into an unexpectedly riveting tale of ordinary cruelty and complicated heroism. "...Barbieri skillfully avoids tipping her hand until the last possible moment, leaving readers both breathless and unnerved by the novel’s conclusion." – Publishers Weekly, starred & boxed review

NetGalley logo Available on NetGalley. Email library@macmillanusa.com (subject line: ONCE UPON A LIE) to get pre-approved for a galley.

THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING: On Writers and Drinking by Olivia Laing
“The tortured relationship between literary lions and their liquor illuminates the obscure terrain of psychology and art in this searching biographical meditation…. Laing explores this rich topic through an unusual mix of biographical research, astute literary interpretation, and wonderfully atmospheric travelogue... The result is a fine study of a human frailty through the eyes of its most perceptive victims.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review. If that's not enough of an endorsement, Library Journal's Barbara Hoffert made it one of her picks saying, “Perennially astonishing authors framed by a perennially popular theme.”

Email library@macmillanusa.com (subject line: TRIP TO ECHO SPRING) to get request an e-galley.

THE RED POLE OF MACAU by Ian Hamilton
Booklist called the exotic Ava Lee mystery series, “Slick, fast-moving escapism reminiscent of Ian Fleming,” and the third entry shows no sign of flagging. In THE RED POLE OF MACAU, Ava must rescue her half-brother Michael and his business partner Simon from a disastrous multi-million-dollar real-estate deal in Macau that could bankrupt them. When the developers turn out to be gangsters and kidnap Simon, Ava must use all her skills to outwit the gangsters, rescue Simon, and save her family’s future.

Edelweiss DRC button
Available for download on Edelweiss.

For more December LibraryReads title suggestions, view our collection on Edelweiss.

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LibraryReads chooses THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS and THE RAVEN’S EYE!

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Anne Spieth

FANTASTIC NEWS!!!

LibraryReads logo

The November LibraryReads list was announced today and two wonderful Macmillan mysteries cracked the top ten!

The #2 pick for November is THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS by New York Times bestselling author Julia Spencer-Fleming. This eighth book in the Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne series raises the stakes as the pair's latest case involving a missing teen puts a strain on their new marriage and the baby on the way. And coming in at #8 on the list is THE RAVEN'S EYE by Barry Maitland, the latest novel featuring DCI David Brock and DI Kathy Kolla of Scotland Yard. Brock and Kolla find themselves investigating a mysterious death among the houseboats that line the canals around greater London that just might be linked to another earlier tragic accident.

See the full November 2013 top ten list on LibraryReads.org.

Thank you to everyone who voted for these great books! Now it’s time to keep the momentum going! You can continue to help support them by promoting each month's selections in a featured display in your library. No space? No problem! LibraryReads provides FREE downloadable marketing materials, including flyers and online banner ads. It's like pushing the Easy Button.

It’s never too early to vote for LibraryReads titles! Nominations for the December list are due November 1. Remember to nominate early and nominate often!

Not sure what we're talking about? LibraryReads is a new program which harnesses the value of "library staff picks" into a single nation-wide discovery tool, a monthly list of ten newly released must-reads.

To learn more about how to participate in LibraryReads (and get FREE e-galleys), click here to read our FAQ. [...]

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For Your Consideration… November LibraryReads suggestions

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Anne Spieth

Friends, we know your "To Read" list is long and piles are high. We also know that the deadline to nominate titles for November's LibraryReads list is only two weeks away (Oct. 1). If you'll indulge us, we'd like to help you navigate those piles by sharing some of our favorite November books for your nomination consideration:

THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS by Julia Spencer-Fleming
This starred Booklist review says it all: "This novel, the eighth starring Clare Fergusson and Russ van Alstyne, is among the best in the series, combining steady action with complex, sympathetic characters and an immersive setting. Readers seeking tales of city crime reaching small towns will love the well-crafted setting and story but shouldn’t expect a cozy; there’s plenty of grit here.”

Update: THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS is a December Indie Next selection!

WHERE THE MOON ISN'T by Nathan Filer

Recently named a November Indie Next selection, Nathan Filer's debut novel about two brothers—one who goes missing and the other who doesn't quite come back—is a “deeply affecting and insightful in its account of mental illness" (Booklist), "A haunting story about how to mourn when the source of your grief will never go away” (Kirkus Reviews), and "should prove catnip to book group participants (especially those who loved Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)" (Library Journal, starred review).

FRACTURES by Lamar Herrin

A hydrofracking controversy unearths a family's divisive passions and demons when a beleaguered patriarch must decide the fate of his land and children in this enveloping family drama. "Herrin has managed to transform the high profile, politically divisive issue of fracking into a thoroughly human, moving family drama…. Beautifully crafted.” – Kirkus Reviews (click to read our full article on FRACTURES)

AN OLD BETRAYAL by Charles Finch
“The upper-class amateur sleuth, an endangered species even in historical mysteries, is very much alive in Charles Finch’s charming Victorian whodunits.” —The New York Times Book Review. In the seventh book of Finch’s bestselling Victorian mystery series, a case of mistaken identity has Charles Lenox playing for his highest stakes yet: the safety of Queen Victoria herself.

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