Reviews and Publicity

Spotlight on BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Anne Spieth

We know that #ThrillerThursday is still a day away, but we're very excited about this thriller coming in April from Forge Books: BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS by Hilary Davidson.

In this twisted tale of love, crime, and family gone wrong, Dominique Monaghan wants to get even with her two-timing, married boyfriend, but an elaborate blackmail scheme soon lands her in the middle of an unexpected kidnapping... and attempted murder. Dominique’s big brother, Desmond Edgars, wants to help Dominique, but digs himself deeper into a tangled web of murder and deception, involving a family fortune, a couple of shifty lawyers, and a missing child, while wrestling with his own bloody secrets.

Kirkus Reviews named BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS one of their “Spring Breakouts,” and early reviews are excellent:

“Davidson has penned an outstanding novel that entertains with its carefully plotted tale of kidnapping, murder and duplicity. Impressive from the outset, the surprises continue throughout until the clincher at the end. Her talent for character development shines.” — RT Book Reviews, Top Pick!

“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

“[A] riveting standalone from Anthony Award–winner Davidson... the relationship between Dominique and her brother, Desmond Edgars, who comes to Pennsylvania to investigate his sister’s disappearance, keeps the reader turning the pages.” — Publishers Weekly

Get whitelisted and download the e-galley.

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BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS on the Graphic Books Best Sellers list!

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Anne Spieth

We're so pleased that BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS by Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoët is a New York Times bestselling graphic novel!

Coming in at #10 on the March 16, 2014 list, BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS is a dark fairy tale about surviving the human experience.

“This unforgettable graphic novel hovers on the edge of your daydreams and nightmares” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

Available now from Drawn & Quarterly. [...]

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Thriller Thursday (3/6/14 Edition)

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Anne Spieth

Today we've got a super-sized #ThrillerThursday with mysteries to satisfy every reader, from cozies to psychological suspense and more!

PRECIOUS THING by Colette McBeth
A March 2014 Library Reads pick! "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

THE BLACK-EYED BLONDE by Benjamin Black
Black's "pitch-perfect recreation" of Raymond Chandler's incomparable private eye Philip Marlowe goes "beyond mere thoughtful homage" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) when a seductive young heiress asks Marlowe to find her former lover. "Great fun for Chandlerians." — Booklist

CITY OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT by Rhys Bowen
In the 13th entry of Bowen's New York Times bestselling historical series, Molly Murphy and her infant son are in Paris where she unexpectedly gets entangled in the murder of an Impressionist artist. "Molly is a smart, feisty heroine who admirably defends her investigation to a very skeptical Sûreté. Though placed a decade or so earlier, this breezy historical mystery will appeal to fans of Carola Dunn’s Daisy Dalrymple and Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs." — Booklist

THE PLAYER by Brad Parks
In the latest book in Parks' award-winning series, Carter Ross investigates a suspicious disease, but it takes him down a path that leads directly into the arms of the local mob boss. "Parks, a gifted storyteller (with shades of Mark Twain, or maybe Dave Barry), shows his mastery of the comic absurd behind serious journalism in his fifth outing." — Library Journal, starred review

WRECKED by Tricia Fields
"Fields’ third Josie Gray outing is emotionally taut, building to a breathtaking climax and portraying, in the process, the danger inherent in a Texas border town and presenting Josie, previously wary of commitment, with new challenges. More fine southwestern crime fiction by an author who clearly loves the locale." — Booklist, starred review

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
“Mulligan’s character, played off the vicissitudes of his job, is skillfully layered and engaging. DeSilva, who worked for decades at the AP, won an Edgar for Best First Novel for ROGUE ISLAND (2010). He knows of what he writes.” — Booklist, starred review

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2013 Nebula Award Nominees!

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Anne Spieth

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America revealed their finalists for the 2013 Nebula Awards and we're pleased to have HILD by Nicola Griffith up for Best Novel!

See the full list of finalists on Tor.com!

The winners will be announced in May during the Nebula Awards Weekend in San Jose, California.

Congratulations to all of the honored authors! [...]

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Happy #BookBday (3/4/14 Edition)

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Anne Spieth

Oh what a lovely day for a #BookBday! Today we're celebrating:

SHOTGUN LOVESONGS by Nickolas Butler
Butler's debut novel about the relationship between four friends in a small Midwest town is the #1 March Indie Next pick, and is receiving rave reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, Shelf Awareness, and more. Don't miss the chance to meet him at PLA next week!

NOTES FROM THE INTERNET APOCALYPSE by Wayne Gladstone
Perfect for fans of David Wong, Chad Kultgen, and Chuck Palahniuk, Cracked.com columnist Wayne Gladstone’s novel about what happens when the world suddenly loses all Internet access is a hilarious look at life unplugged. “...the punchlines are pitch-perfect. Anyone who spends time sharing jokes in web communities will find this satire irresistible.” — Booklist

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR by Jeffrey Archer
The fourth volume in Jeffrey Archer's New York Times bestselling Clifton Chronicles series opens with Harry Clifton and his wife Emma rushing to learn the fate of their son Sebastian, who has been in a fatal car accident. But who died, Sebastian or his best friend? “Archer’s...tight plotting make for a page-turning rich man’s soap opera. Lightweight, entertaining beach reading.” — Kirkus Reviews

WORDS OF RADIANCE by Brandon Sanderson
“Sanderson’s skill at world building is unmatched, and in the 'Stormlight Archive' series he has developed an innovative magical system and combined it with rich, complex characters to create a compelling story. His eagerly awaited sequel to THE WAY OF KINGS exceeds expectations. This developing epic series is a must-read for all fantasy fans.” – Library Journal, starred review

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Stars for THE PLOVER!

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Anne Spieth

The great news keeps coming for THE PLOVER—Brian Doyle's story about a man who flees his troubled life on land for the solitude of the Pacific Ocean, but ends up on a rousing adventure.

It's an April 2014 Indie Next Pick and has two starred reviews:

"Doyle 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

“A rare and unusual book and a brilliant, mystical exploration of the human spirit.”
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A jack of all literary trades, Doyle augments his impressive oeuvre with this whimsical dreamscape of a nautical adventure about desolation and friendship. In stylized prose with frequent nods to Coleridge, Melville, and Stevenson, Doyle’s surreal world is alive with vivid characters, mysterious birds, and lyrical philosophy about contentment. A joyous journey of discovery."
— Booklist

“Every sentence Doyle writes about the ocean smacks of authenticity…”
— Publishers Weekly

Get whitelisted and download your copy of THE PLOVER. [...]

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Entertainment Weekly loves our thrillers!

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Anne Spieth

Entertainment Weekly recently ran a feature on GONE GIRL-style psychological thrillers all linked by a common theme: How well do you really know your spouse? And of course they featured several of our favorite titles too!

APPLE TREE YARD by Louise Doughty

EW's Grade: A-

Who's the couple?
Yvonne Carmichael, a leading geneticist, and her professor husband, Guy.

What's their story?
Guy watches as Yvonne begins an affair with an unnamed—and untrustworthy—lover.

How good's the big twist?
The opening scene pretty much announces that things won't end well for Yvonne, but it's still fascinating to see a brilliant woman destroy her life with a few impulsive decisions. In Doughty's hands, Yvonne's actions are both shocking and weirdly understandable.

THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Karen Perry

EW's Grade: B

Who's the couple?
Architect Robin and her artist husband, Harry.

What's their story?
When an earthquake levels Tangier, Robin and Harry survive, but their son Dillon, left alone in their apartment for just a few minutes, does not. Years later, Harry—spinning close to a nervous breakdown—becomes convinced he's glimpsed the boy on the street.

How good's the big twist?
You won't see it coming—they've both got something to hide from that long-ago day in Tangier.

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Thriller Thursday (2/27/14 Edition)

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Anne Spieth

We've got a great line-up for our final #ThrillerThursday in February:

A KILLING OF ANGELS by Kate Rhodes
When a serial killer targets London's premier financial institution, psychologist Alice Quentin reluctantly agrees to help Detective Don Burns with the case. "Poet Rhodes crafts a mighty turn of phrase, and her multilayered characterization makes for an engaging read..." – Booklist

THE GHOST RUNNER by Parker Bilal
The death of a teenage girl strikes painfully close to home for Sudanese private eye Makana. "With its elegant prose and its incisive insight into the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Makana's third appearance transcends genre, satisfying fans of both mystery and literary fiction." – Kirkus Reviews

THE AMAZING HARVEY by Don Passman
Struggling magician Harvey Kendall is suspected of a murder he could not have committed, and must now use his talents to pull off the greatest escape of his career. "By striking a careful balance between humor and tension, Passman puts a fresh spin on the familiar setup of a man unjustly accused of a crime trying to prove his innocence." – Publishers Weekly

NOTORIOUS by Allison Brennan
In this start of a new series, bestselling author Brennan introduces tough-as-nails TV reporter Max Revere, who's got a knack for solving cold cases–except for the one from her own past. "[A] terrific new series. Sandra Brown and Hank Phillippi Ryan fans will feel right at home." – Booklist, starred review [...]

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Calling all Sci-Fi/ Fantasy Readers!

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Anne Spieth

Here's the scoop on the latest greatest and soon-to-come SF & Fantasy from Tor Books:

PILLAR TO THE SKY by William Forstchen
PILLAR TO THE SKY is part of NASA-inspired Works of Fiction–a partnership between NASA and Tor/Forge aimed at raising awareness of science, technology, engineering, and math, and attracting students to those fields. The titular pillar is a controversial supertower developed by a visionary rocket scientist intent on finding a new energy source. "Forstchen’s work is as convincingly told as it is diverting." – Kirkus Reviews

LIKE A MIGHTY ARMY by David Weber
In the seventh entry in Weber's popular Safehold series, Merlyn Athrawes, the cybernetic avatar of a thousand-year-old warrior, has one purpose: to restart the history of the too-long-hidden human race. "Weber’s seventh far-future Safehold novel is a complex and fascinating epic about change, identity, and the nature of faith." – Publishers Weekly

THE GOBLIN EMPEROR by Katherine Addison
A half-goblin named Maia unwittingly inherits the throne to the Imperial Court and struggles to navigate the politics of being Emperor. "Addison patiently and tellingly paints in the backdrop, mingling steampunk elements and low-key magic with imperial intricacies. The result is a spellbinding and genuinely affecting drama. Unreservedly recommended." – Kirkus Reviews, starred review

WORDS OF RADIANCE by Brandon Sanderson
In the second volume of New York Times bestseller Sanderson's Stormlight Archive (after THE WAY OF KINGS), the war with the Parshendi will move into a new, dangerous phase, Jasnah and Shallan search for the legendary city of Urithiru, and Kaladin is learning how to fulfill his new role as leader of the restored Knights Radiant. "... the novel is weighty without being ponderous, and delivers a satisfactory story despite being part of an episodic secondary world fantasy series." – Publishers Weekly

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Happy #BookBday (2/25/14 Edition)

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Anne Spieth

Just like our furry friend says, today we wish a happy #BookBday to:

BITTER EDEN by Tatamkhulu Afrika
Based on the author’s own capture in North Africa and his experiences as a prisoner-of-war in World War II in Italy and Germany, this frank and beautifully wrought novel deals with three men who must negotiate the emotions that are brought to the surface by the physical closeness of survival in the male-only camps. “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

MY NAME IS RESOLUTE by Nancy Turner
A sweeping historical set in Revolutionary War-era New England, young Resolute Talbot is sold into slavery and taught spinning and weaving–skills that place her at the secret heart of the growing rebellion against England. "Every page of Turner's engrossing and fascinating work is better than the last. Not only historical fiction fans will love this beautifully written and compelling novel." — Library Journal

THE HEADMASTER'S WIFE by Thomas Christopher Greene
Inspired by a personal loss, this is a beautifully written, haunting and deeply affecting portrait of one couple at their best and worst. "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

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