Reviews and Publicity

Thriller Thursday (4/24/14 Edition)

Thriller Thursday (4/24/14 Edition)

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Anne Spieth
Happy #ThrillerThursday! Here are the latest mysteries keeping us up well beyond bedtime:

FROM THE CHARRED REMAINS by Susanna Calkins
In Calkins' next mystery with “rich, historical detail” (Publishers Weekly), chambermaid Lucy Campion must learn how a dead body discovered in the wreckage of the Great Fire of London actually perished.

DON'T EVER LOOK BACK by Daniel Friedman
In Friedman's “fine sequel and a must-buy!” (Library Journal), feisty octogenarian Buck Schatz has unfinished business from his past to take care of. “Edgar-finalist Friedman injects a darker tone into his alternately humorous and moving sequel to 2012’s DON'T EVER GET OLD. The howdunit of the 1965 crime will please Golden Age puzzle fans.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review 

THE POOR BOY'S GAME by Dennis Tafoya
A former U.S. Marshal's life turns upside down when the most dangerous criminal she's ever faced—her father—escapes from prison. “Tafoya delivers a gut-wrenching crime thriller as gritty and harsh as a Philadelphia winter. The equation seems simple, but Tafoya does a superb job keeping the reader guessing to the surprise end.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review  

THE FURIES by Mark Alpert
A shadowy clan with an ancient history has discovered a medical miracle—and will kill to keep it secret. “Alpert has a knack for making unbelievable things seem not only plausible but also completely real. Alpert’s carefully constructed alternate history of witchcraft—and sorcery, too—is very clever. Good stuff.” — Booklist 

THE BLOOD OF ALEXANDER by Tom Wilde
A modern Indiana Jones steals a relic of Alexander the Great in this thrilling debut novel. “Two of my favorite topics—the lost tomb of Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte—joined in a rip-roaring, across-the-globe adventure. A superb debut by an exciting new voice in the thriller genre.” — New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry

Share your reads with us @MacmillanLib this #ThrillerThursday. [...]

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Stars for AMERICAN INNOVATIONS

Stars for AMERICAN INNOVATIONS

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Anne Spieth
Who doesn't love a good short story collection? They're entertaining and easy to read when you don't have much time. They're like the 100 calorie snack packs of reading! 

We've got a good one for you: AMERICAN INNOVATIONS by Rivka Galchen. A “20 Under 40” writer for The New Yorker and recipient of several prizes and awards, Galchen's witty and lyrical collection has received three starred reviews and has a great media line-up:  

“Coming eight years after her widely acclaimed debut, ATMOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES, Galchen dips further into the dazzlingly disorienting. These stories balance on the surreal, striking the borders of the logical and the hypothetical. With her second book, Galchen continues to secure a place for herself among today’s great prose stylists.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred & boxed review

“These are literary short stories, but there’s a detective lurking in their author, who peels back fine layers of life with close observation to uncover clues about the physics of daily living and how we process the world. Galchen’s stories feel remarkably believable, despite their suggestion of alternate worlds and lives. This is a collection to read and keep on the bookshelf. It will stand the test of time.”
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review, plus May cover photo feature

“The problem with the stories in this clever, urbane, and sometimes surreal collection from the author of the breakout novel ATMOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES is that there are only ten of them.” — Library Journal, starred review

“Rivka Galchen’s second book—a series of playful, irreverent short stories—showcases her surrealist imagination, while also riffing on canonical tales.”
— The Wall Street Journal Magazine

“...spectral, demanding stories from a brilliant young writer.” — Elle Magazine

“AMERICAN INNOVATIONS marks a sharp step forward for American short stories… Galchen writes with a glorious and gentle lyricism, her sentences clear and sharp in their tracings of the world’s complexity. Her stories shine a light on hidden thoughts and desires, offering up unimagined possibilities for grace as her characters spin through their quiet lives.” — The Last Magazine

Upcoming reviews and feature coverage:
The New York Times Sunday Styles section, “Under the Influence” series interview
Harper's Bazaar review
Marie Claire review
GQ review
Vanity Fair review
The Washington Post review
The Los Angeles Times review
Mother Jones feature
Paris Review Daily featured Q&A

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Happy #BookBday to A FIGHTING CHANCE

Happy #BookBday to A FIGHTING CHANCE

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Anne Spieth
Fighting chanceToday we wish a very special #BookBday to Senator Elizabeth Warren's memoir, A FIGHTING CHANCE. 

A most unlikely political star, Warren's introduction to government came when she was asked to go to Washington DC to help advise Congress on rewriting the bankruptcy laws. She fought for better bankruptcy laws for ten years and lost. She tried to hold the federal government accountable during the financial crisis but became a target of the big banks. She came up with the idea for a new agency designed to protect consumers from predatory bankers and was denied the opportunity to run it. Then finally, at age 62, she decided to run for elective office and won the most competitive—and watched—Senate race in the country.

In this passionate, funny, rabble-rousing book, Warren shows why she has chosen to fight tooth and nail for the middle class—and why she has become a hero to all those who believe that America’s government can and must do better for working families.

Early reviews are fabulous and national media is ramping up:

“In these pages, she displays a down-home charm and an effortless rapport with everyday people that makes her story more engaging than the average political tome. The book is more memoir than manifesto; Warren emerges as a committed advocate with real world sensibility, who tasted tough economic times at an early age and did not forget its bitterness.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review  

“This is a passionate memoir of one woman’s personal story and the larger story of corruption in financial circles and the need for reform that balances the interests of the American middle class against those of the corporate sector.” — Booklist, starred & boxed review  

“CBS Sunday Morning” - click to watch 
NPR's “Morning Edition” - click to listen 
USA Today - click to read 
The New Yorker, review by Jill Lapore - click to read 
The Boston Globe - click to read 
“Rachel Maddow” airing 4/22
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” airing 4/22
“CBS This Morning” airing 4/22
“The View” airing 4/23
CNN's “Bill Weir” airing 4/23
“Morning Joe” airing 4/24 & 4/25
NPR's “On Point” airing 4/25
“This Week w/George Stephanopoulos” airing 4/27
The New York Times Book Review, to run 4/27
The Los Angeles Times, review to run 4/27
The Miami Herald, review to run 4/27
Parade, interview to run 4/27
The Washington Post, review to run 4/27
People Magazine, review to run 4/28 (5/1 issue)
Esquire Magazine, feature to run in the May issue
More Magazine, feature to run in the May issue

And much, much more still to come! 
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Happy Earth Day 2014!

Happy Earth Day 2014!

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Anne Spieth
Happy Earth Day, friends! We hope you're doing something environmentally friendly today, like taking public transit to work, recycling your plastic bottles, or having your ice cream in a cone instead of a cup. 

We've pulled together an Edelweiss collection of relevant titles for you. Here are some of the highlights:

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH by Al Gore
Former Vice President Al Gore’s groundbreaking argument that the fact of global warming is not in question and that its consequences for the world we live in will be disastrous if left unchecked. 

HOT, FLAT, AND CROWDED 2.0 by Thomas Friedman
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Friedman speaks to America's urgent need for national renewal and explains how a green revolution can bring about both a sustainable environment and a sustainable America. “Friedman produces cogent analyses of the most important developments of our time.... A convincing case for the green revolution required to rescue us from an unsustainable course.” — USA Today

EAARTH by Bill McKibben
McKibben argues that we need to scale back and concentrate on the essentials to build the kind of societies and economies we need to withstand change. “'Eaarth' is the name McKibben has decided to assign both to his new book and to the planet formerly known as Earth. His point is a fresh one that brings the reader uncomfortably close to climate change. Earth with one 'a,' according to McKibben, no longer exists. We have carbonized it out of existence. Two-a Eaarth is now our home.” — The New York Times Book Review


THE WORLD WITHOUT US by Alan Weisman
Weisman's penetrating, page-turning take on how our planet would respond if humans simply disappeared made several Best Books of the Year lists for 2007 and continues to fascinate readers today. 

FIELD NOTES FROM A CATASTROPHE by Elizabeth Kolbert
The bestselling author of THE SIXTH EXTINCTION cuts through competing rhetoric and political agendas to tell readers what is really going on with global warming and asks what, if anything, can be done to save our planet. “Important... [Kolbert] lets readers connect the dots to form a frightening (and still avoidable) vision of our future...[Grade:] A.” — Entertainment Weekly 

NO IMPACT MAN by Colin Beavan
Beavan chronicles his family's year-long adventure of trying to live in the heart of Manhattan with zero impact on the environment. “Profound... Beavan's project has significant emotional and ecological heft.  NO IMPACT MAN works, most of all, because Beavan is intelligent, funny, provocative, and, above all, honest.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer

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Friday Reads – Fractured Fairy Tales

Friday Reads – Fractured Fairy Tales

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Anne Spieth
Happy Friday! Today's #FridayReads are two fractured fairy tales:
Talia is enchanted by Kate Forsyth's BITTER GREENS
Bitter Greens jacket

This historical novel gorgeously interweaves the Rapunzel fairy tale with the true life story of French novelist Charlotte-Rose de la Force. This sumptuous novel holds the stories of three women, braided together to create a compelling tale of desire, black magic and the redemptive power of love. 

“Kate Forsyth’s BITTER GREENS is an enthralling concoction of history and magic, an absorbing, richly detailed, and heart-wrenching reimagining of a timeless fairytale.” — Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of MRS LINCOLN'S RIVAL


Anne's looking for Neverland after reading ALIAS HOOK by Lisa Jensen

Alias Hook jacketIn this retelling of the Captain Hook story, the pirate from Peter Pan is cursed to be the villain. Hook’s one hope for redemption comes in the form of Stella Parrish, a grown woman who dreams her way to the Neverland in defiance of Pan’s rules. It's perfect for fans of Gregory Maguire and Paula Brackston.

“Jensen’s wonderful imagination and devotion to history and myth allow the reader to fly with her through this outstanding adventure—no fairy dust required.” — Publishers Weekly  

 

What are you reading today? Share your #FridayReads with us @MacmillanLib. 
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Library Journal’s 2014 Mystery Preview

Library Journal’s 2014 Mystery Preview

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Anne Spieth
We loooove mysteries (the bloodier the better) and your patrons do, too! Our friend and Library Journal Mover & Shaker Kristi Chadwick recently wrote a mystery preview column for LJ and we're thrilled (pun intended) that it includes so many of our titles:

BAD COUNTRY by CB McKenzie
On sale November 4, 2014
The newest winner of the Tony Hillerman Prize, this Arizona-set debut mystery stars a Native American rodeo cowboy–turned–private investigator.

BOOTY BONES by Carolyn Haines
On sale May 20, 2014
In Haines's 14th charming Sarah Booth Delaney mystery, Sarah and her fiance Graf's island vacation goes disastrously awry when she's asked to solve the murder of a treasure-hunter.

BROADCHURCH by Erin Kelly
On sale September 2, 2014
This brilliant novelization of the hit television show Broadchurch follows Detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller as they search for a young boy's killer in a quiet British seaside town.

CRADLE TO GRAVE by Eleanor Kuhns
On sale June 17, 2014
In the next Will Rees mystery from Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America competition winner Kuhns, Rees is stunned to learn a Shaker friend of his has been accused of kidnapping and murder. 

FATAL ENQUIRY by Will Thomas
On sale May 13, 2014
Thomas is an Oklahoma librarian whose Barker & Llewellyn series, set in Victoria’s England, have won him a devoted following. His latest has the duo trying to figure out a reluctant ally's real motives.

FIVE by Ursula Archer
On sale December 9, 2014
Two Austrian detectives must investigate a series of murders committed by a killer who tattoos map coordinates on his victims in a twisted geocaching game. 

FROZEN DEAD by Bernard Minier
On sale August 12, 2014
A suspenseful and chilling murder mystery set in a high-security asylum for the criminally insane and the snowy mountains of the French Pyrénées.  

INVISIBLE CITY by Julia Dahl
On sale May 6, 2014
In Dahl's accomplished debut, young journalist Rebekah Roberts finds herself drawn into her mother's tight-knit world when she's assigned to cover the murder of an Hasidic Jew.

LAND OF SHADOWS by Rachel Howzell Hall
On sale June 10, 2014
Homicide detective Elouise “Lou” Norton tries to connect a teen’s death with her own sister’s disappearance.

MIDNIGHT PLAN OF THE REPO MAN by W. Bruce Cameron
On sale October 28, 2014
A repo man's ordinary life is turned upside down when he starts hearing the voice of a dead realtor in his head.

MURDER AT THE BRIGHTWELL by Ashley Weaver
On sale October 14, 2014
An exquisite seaside resort, an eccentric group of British aristocrats on holiday, and rich 1930s detail lay the setting for this fantastic Golden Age–style debut mystery by young librarian Weaver. 

WINK OF AN EYE by Lynn Chandler Willis
On sale November 18, 2014
The first woman to win the Minotaur Books/PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Competition in over 10 years, Willis's debut features PI Gypsy Moran who gets roped into a case of murder and police corruption in Texas.

Some titles are available on Edelweiss now—get whitelisted and start reading!

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Thriller Thursday & 2014 ThrillerFest Award Nominations!

Thriller Thursday & 2014 ThrillerFest Award Nominations!

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Anne Spieth
Happy #ThrillerThursday! We've got three great mysteries AND fantastic news about ThrillerFest Award nominations!

THE AXE FACTOR by Colin Cotterill
An April 2014 LibraryReads pick! In Cotterill's third Jimm Juree mystery, the reporter's latest assignment is a profile of a writer who might also be a potential serial killer. “In addition to a clockwork plot and an intriguing setting, what really makes this book sing is Jimm’s own caustic, ribald observations. A stunner of a novel, third in the Jimm Juree series by the author of the acclaimed Dr. Siri novels.” — Booklist, starred review

DEAD PEOPLE by Ewart Hutton
In the next installment in this Welsh police procedural series, Detective Sergeant Glyn Capaldi finds several bodies at a remote site in the hills. His superior officers believe it's just a dumping ground, but Capaldi isn't convinced and sets out to learn who these dead people were and how they ended up there. “Fans of the cynical Scotsman John Rebus will find a lot to like in this hardworking Welsh outcast.” — Booklist  

BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS by Hilary Davidson
“In her new stand-alone thriller, Davidson introduces the reader to a cast of troubled, double-crossing characters who end up entangled in a dangerous game… you can’t help turning the pages in anticipation of yet another twist or turn. Recommended for mystery fans who appreciate quirky tales of revenge and family drama.” — Library Journal. Want to know more? Check out our feature.

Last week the ITW ThrillerFest Award finalists were announced and five were from Minotaur Books!

Best Hardcover Novel:
HER LAST BREATH by Linda Castillo

Best First Novel:
RAGE AGAINST THE DYING by Becky Masterman
THE EDGE OF NORMAL by Carla Norton

Best Paperback Original:
COLD SNAP by Allison Brennan
SNOW WHITE MUST DIE by Nele Neuhaus

The winners will be announced at the Gala Awards Banquet at the Grand Hyatt in New York, on Saturday, July 12, 2014. Click here for a complete list of finalists.

[...]

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Belated #BookBday (4/15/14 Edition)

Belated #BookBday (4/15/14 Edition)

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Anne Spieth
We're a day late in wishing these books a Happy #BookBday, but it's only to keep the party going!

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. A May 2014 Indie Next selection!
“...de Rosnay's fans and readers who enjoy contemporary interior novels will not be disappointed.” — Library Journal 

A PARIS APARTMENT by Michelle Gable
An antique furniture appraiser finds a treasure trove—and secrets of its courtesan owner—in a Paris apartment in the ninth arrondissement. “With its well-developed, memorable characters and the author's skillful transitioning between story lines...this stunning and fascinating debut will capture the interest of a wide audience but particularly those interested in stories about women behind famous men like Melanie Benjamin's THE AVIATOR'S WIFE or Nancy Horan's UNDER THE WIDE AND STARRY SKY. Highly recommended.” — Library Journal, starred review

THE SEA HOUSE by Elisabeth Gifford
Set in Scotland's remote Outer Hebrides, THE SEA HOUSE is a beguiling tale of love and loss, a meditation on motherhood, and how we find our identity through the stories we tell. “Hints of magic abound in Gifford’s haunting fiction debut, which follows two story lines... Gifford has an ability to bring depth to her characters, whether they live in the 19th century or the 20th, and this helps hold together her sweeping tale.” — Publishers Weekly

'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. “Francis-Sharma’s spellbinding, intimately detailed, psychologically lush, and suspenseful tale of racial and sexual trauma, hard work, love, and family devotion makes personal the injustice people endured in the years leading up to the civil rights movement in both multicultural Trinidad and segregated America.” — Booklist, starred review

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Teen Talk Tuesday (4/15/14 Edition)

Teen Talk Tuesday (4/15/14 Edition)

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Anne Spieth
It's time to talk teen titles again! Read up on the latest and greatest titles from St. Martin's Griffin, then join us and @earlyword today at 5m EST for Early Word YA Galley Chat (hashtag #ewyagc).

ILLUSION by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Chronicles of Nick #5)
In the fifth novel in the bestselling Chronicles of Nick series Nick Gautier gets sucked into an alternate reality where he realizes that every person has a specific place in the universe... Even the son of a hated demon.

INFERNO by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Chronicles of Nick #4, Trade Paperback Edition)
Sometimes, you have to trust your enemy to save your friends. But what do you do when that enemy is you? Now available for the first time in trade paperback.

REBORN by C.C. Hunter (Shadow Falls After Dark #1)
New York Times bestselling author C. C. Hunter returns to Shadow Falls with this brand new spin-off series starring vampire Della Tsang.

IF YOU FIND ME by Emily Murdoch (Trade Paperback edition)
A deeply compelling mix of high school drama and page-turning mystery that asks profound questions about family, truth, and love. A 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, now available for the first time in trade paperback.

IN PRAISE OF HATRED by Khaled Khalifa
In this powerful novel famously banned in Syria, a young Muslim girl turns to extremism under a brutal dictatorship, set in 1980s Syria. Booklist recommends it “for mature teens interested in the politics of the Middle East as it affects the lives of women.”

Hope to see you later at #ewyagc! [...]

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