This Week at M is for Mystery

This Week at "M"

86 East Third Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401 Phone: 650-401-8077

OR Toll Free outside Bay Area: 888-405-8077

July 18th, 2011

In This Issue

Upcoming Author Events

Coming Attractions

Summer Preview

Signed Firsts - Just Arrived

Signed Firsts - Expected Soon

Deluxe & Limited Editions

Quick Links

Extended Hours!

THURS., FRI. & SAT. --

10:30 AM to 9:00 PM

SUN. -- 12 Noon to 6:00 PM

MON., TUES., WED. --

10:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Greetings!

"M" is for Mid-summer madness: Monday through Monday next, authors galore!

MON.: (tonight): reads like an action thriller, but it's a nonfiction book about the secret plot to assassinate drug lord Pablo Escobar.

TUES.: a must-read for legal thriller addicts, this was hailed as best one yet in (a great) series, and Linda Fairstein called it "smart, taut, suspenseful and exquisitely plotted."

WED.: In 1938, Reichsfuhrer SS Heinrich Himmler sends a team of Nazi scholar-warriors to Tibet in search of a legendary energy force -- and in present-day Seattle, a woman narrowly escapes death; connect the dots!

THURS.: a double-author event tonight! A third in series that 'PW' starred: "an electrifying blend of history, myth, and science" and a fourth in series that 'Booklist' starred, explaining: "A white shotgun, or lupara bianca in the organized-crime parlance of southern Italy, is a murder for which the body is never found."

SAT.: Edgar Award-winner (for Best Novel) author of fourteen novels returns with her newest, starring intrepid reporter Irene Kelly. She also has plenty to say on what she's learned about serial killers between the time she wrote 'Bones' (1999) and her research for the current book.

MON.: Bay Area-bred internationally bestselling author who not only writes superb thrillers, but also has sneaked onto demolition ranges with Navy SEALs, swum with sharks in the Galápagos, and gone undercover into mind-control cults.

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Upcoming Author Events

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REMEMBER . . . It is never too soon to reserve your copy of ANY forthcoming book, whether the author is signing in-store or otherwise. These first editions, especially once signed, are limited in quantity. Orders may be placed by email (info@mformystery.com) any time, or telephone (650-401-8077) during store hours.

All events are free and open to the public. To be in the signing line you must buy the new book from us.

Mon. July 18th at 7:00 PM: WILLIAM C. REMPEL
At the Devil's Table (Random House, $27.00; nonfiction). "Investigative reporter Rempel's debut offers a behind-the-scenes look at a never-before-told story -- the secret plot to assassinate drug lord Pablo Escobar, recounted by the man hired to do it. After eight years interviewing Salcedo, Rempel pieces together his source's unbelievable story, one in which two rival Columbian drug cartels -- Pablo Escobar's Medellín and the Rodríguez Orejuela brothers' Cali -- waged a war for trafficking supremacy. . . . Rempel's book reads like an action-packed blockbuster, complete with a cast of hot-headed, short-fused drug lords and their trigger-happy underlings. A fast-paced, heart-racing nonfiction thriller, occasionally bloated by excessive drugs, blood and bullets," said Kirkus. And author James Risen said: "Bill Rempel has earned his reputation as one of America's finest investigative reporters the old fashioned way -- by getting people to tell him explosive stories they won't talk about with anyone else."

Tues., July 19th at 7:00 PM: ROBERT DUGONI
Murder One (Touchstone, $24.99). Publishers Weekly called it "The best yet in the series." Library Journal starred: "Tight plotting and well-developed characters push Dugoni to the head of the legal thriller pack in what is probably his finest book to date. John Grisham and Scott Turow fans should add Dugoni to their list of must-reads." And Booklist said: "Dugoni has often been described as a challenger to Turow and other big names in the legal-thriller genre, but at this point, he's claimed his own position on the A-list. A must read for fans of courtroom drama from Grisham to Turow to Erle Stanley Gardner." ALSO buy the new plus the following and get 10% off both!: -- 'Bodily Harm' (Touchstone, 2010, $25.00) As New. Signed.

Wed., July 20th at 7:00 PM: WILLIAM DIETRICH
Blood of the Reich (Harper, $25.99). Library Journal starred: ""Dietrich has created a wonderful web of intrigue, using history, vibrantly depicted settings, and great character development that leaves the reader unsure of whom to trust until the very end." And PW said: "Once again the occult delusions of the murderous Nazi regime prove to have a basis in fact, as shown by this diverting thriller from Dietrich, best known for his Ethan Gage historical adventure series (The Barbary Pirates, etc.). In 1938, Heinrich Himmler dispatches academic and SS man Kurt Raeder to Tibet to uncover long-lost secrets for use in the Reich's coming war effort. Seven decades later in Seattle, publicist Rominy Pickett narrowly escapes death when her car explodes, and soon finds herself on the run with the guy who saved her from the blast, journalist Jake Barrow. Plenty of chases, deadly confrontations, and startling revelations keep the pages turning." ALSO: -- 'Barbary Pirates' (Harper, 2010, $35.00) As New. Signed.

Thurs., July 21st at 7:00 PM: DOUBLE EVENT: BOYD MORRISON and APRIL SMITH
BOYD MORRISON - The Vault (Touchstone, $24.99). Tyler Locke's routine commute on a Washington State ferry is interrupted by a chilling anonymous call claiming that his father has been kidnapped and that a truck bomb is set to detonate on board in twenty minutes. When Tyler, a former army combat engineer, reaches the bomb on the boat's car deck, he's stunned to find classical languages expert Stacy Benedict waiting for him. She's received the same threat and her sister has also been taken. In order to disarm the bomb, they must work together to solve an engineering puzzle--a puzzle written in ancient Greek. Preventing the explosion is only the first step. They soon learn the entire setup is a test created by a ruthless criminal who forces them to go on a seemingly impossible mission: uncover the legendary lost riches of King Midas. APRIL SMITH - White Shotgun (Knopf, $25.95). Booklist starred: "Ana Grey is a credible, fascinating heroine, both worldly and rueful about her unsettled life. Tight suspense and fascinating background." Even on leave from the FBI, Ana can't kick old habits: when she witnesses a drive-by shooting at an Italian restaurant in London, she helps the injured and gives testimony to the police. Still, it comes as a shock when, soon after, the Bureau contacts her -- not because they want her to investigate the shooting, but because they want her to investigate the half sister she never knew she had, Cecilia, who lives in Siena and is married to Nicosa, a coffee mogul with some suspicious connections. The entire city of Siena is gearing up for its legendary horse race, the Palio -- the dazzling annual culmination of ancient rivalries between the city's many wards. But when her nephew is stabbed and her sister goes missing, Ana understands with painful clarity that there's more than a horse race at stake here.

Sat., 23rd at 2:00 PM: JAN BURKE
Disturbance (Simon & Schuster, $25.00). Booklist called it ""Tautly written and suspenseful . . . Irene [is] a strong, likable protagonist." Irene Kelly fights for her life in this blood-chilling sequel to the Edgar Award-winning Bones. Despite her reporter's nose for trouble, Irene Kelly's life has almost returned to normal -- the Las Piernas News Express wobbles along in defiance of its financial woes, and with the help of her husband, Frank, and a good therapist, she's recovered from the debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder that haunted her after her near-fatal encounter with notorious serial killer Nick Parrish. Until she receives some unwelcome news: Parrish, once thought permanently paralyzed by the injuries he sustained fleeing recapture, is walking again. And the rumor among the Moths, Parrish's online fan club, is that he's coming after Irene.

Mon., 25th at 7:00 PM: GREGG HURWITZ
You're Next (St. Martin's, $24.99). Library Journal starred: "The bad guys are suitably evil and the mystery satisfying, but Hurwitz's real success is depicting Mike's hard-won life as a husband, father, and successful businessman. A first-rate thriller!" Booklist praised: "Excellent . . . keeps Mike (and the reader) on edge, wondering what is happening to him and how far it will escalate. Highly recommended to Hurwitz's many faithful readers and to fans of Linwood Barclay, Harlen Coben, and Lisa Gardner." Thomas Perry called it "a deft, expertly plotted thriller driven by the kind of realistic suspense that will make any reader's heartbeat race." And PW said: "Hurwitz masterfully provokes feelings of extreme dread. . . . Shep and Mike fight and sleuth their way through intensifying mayhem until they find the unexpected answer." ALSO, buy the new one plus the following and get 10% off both!: -- 'Trust No One' (St. Martin's, 2009, $19.00) VF/VF. Signed.

Tues., July 26th at 7:00 PM: "M" is for Mystery Bookclub
This month's book is The Baker Street Letters by Michael Robertson. Join us every last Tuesday of the month for lively discussion about selected books! Please note: This is not an author event and the author will not be present.

Wed., 27th at 7:00 PM: JOHN MILLIKEN THOMPSON
The Reservoir (Other, $15.95 trade paperback original). Kirkus said: "An engaging mystery novel rendered as Southern literature," and PW called it "Solidly entertaining." Library Journal concluded: "Historian and debut novelist Thompson mined a treasure trove of documents and background detail for this novel, based on an actual murder and trial set in 1880s Richmond, VA. . . Thompson masterfully illustrates how a seemingly clear-cut case can be filled with ambiguities."

Thurs., 28th at 7:00 PM: JODI COMPTON
Thieves Get Rich Saints Get Shot (Crown, $23.00). In Compton's searing sequel to Hailey's War, Hailey Cain, tough girl/West Point dropout, resurfaces in Los Angeles as second-in-command enforcer to Serena 'Warchild' Delgadillo, the leader of a Latina female gang. Rejected by the Army because of a brain tumor she knows will kill her, and rejected as well by her adored cousin CJ, who can't manage the unconventional lifestyle that allows Hailey to cope with her shortened life, Hailey plunges into a maelstrom of hijacking, deadly gang rivalry, and identity theft. . . . Readers fascinated by Hailey's conflict between her aching heart and her canny head will hope she continues raising Cain," said PW.

Sat., 30th at 12:00 PM: CHRISTOPHER MOORE & IAN CORSON
The Griff: A Graphic Novel (Wm. Morrow, $22.99). Trade Paperback Original Oversized. Christopher Moore and award-winning screenwriter-director Ian Corson team up for a wacky and entertaining graphic tale of alien invasion and a motley crew of Earthlings trying to stay alive and, oh, yeah, save humankind. The mayhem begins when an ancient alien beacon is unwittingly activated, summoning behemoth spaceships from the far reaches of the galaxy. Hovering in Earth's atmosphere, they release a biblical stream of pods that transform into minivan-size, people-eating, flying lizardy things that look like mythological griffins. Destroying communications, emergency, and military infrastructure, they systematically kill everyone on the planet. Well, almost everyone. A pesky trio of New Yorkers isn't about to roll out the red carpet -- or roll over and die -- for these unwelcome intergalactic marauders. (We can't give away the rest.)

Sun., 31st at 2:00 PM DOUBLE AUTHOR EVENT: SUSAN CUMMINS MILLER and ADA MADISON (aka Camille Minichino)
SUSAN CUMMINS MILLER - Fracture (Texas Tech Univ. Press, $24.95). Geologist Frankie MacFarlane and P.I. Philo Dain, just back from Afghanistan, are packing for an R&R trip to a cooler clime when Philo's Aunt Heather is murdered in her empty Tucson mansion. Her husband, wealthy developer Derek Dain, is the prime suspect. The day before, Heather had left town with the Dain coin collection, worth millions. Now it's missing. Though Philo and his uncle haven't spoken in years, Philo and Frankie agree to backtrack Heather on a quest that takes them from the sun-baked Tucson Basin to the foggy San Francisco Peninsula. Among California's fault-scarred hills they uncover painful secrets from Philo's past--and clues to a mysterious chess set worthy of kings, long protected by one family and long coveted by another. A treasure worth killing for -- but who will survive to claim it? ADA MADISON (aka CAMILLE MINICHINO) - The Square Root of Murder (Berkley, $7.99, paperback original). Dr. Sophie Knowles teaches math at Henley College in Massachusetts, but when a colleague turns up dead, it's up to her to find the killer before someone else gets subtracted. Camille Minichino has published eight novels in the Periodic Table Mysteries series, featuring retired physicist Gloria Lamerino. As Margaret Grace, she's published five novels in the Miniature Mysteries series, and this one is the first in a new series, the Professor Sophie Knowles Mysteries. Camille received her Ph.D. in physics from Fordham University, New York City. She is currently on the faculty of Golden Gate University, San Francisco and on the staff of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Camille is on the boards of the California Writers Club and NorCal Sisters in Crime. She's a member of NorCal Mystery Writers of America and SF Romance Writers of America. ALSO: -- 'Lithium Murder' (William Morrow, 1999, $6.00) First Book Club Edition. NF/VG+. Signed. Tear at upper edge of front panel.

August 2011: (Asterisk indicates name added since last week.)

Coming Attractions

SUMMER/FALL 2011 PREVIEW: (Asterisk indicates name added since last week.)

RUSSELL BANKS / RHYS BOWEN / GIANRICO CAROFIGLIO / CHERYL CRANE / * ELLEN CROSBY / DENISE HAMILTON / LAURIE R. KING / WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER / ERIN MORGENSTERN / KELLI STANLEY / MICHAEL STANLEY / VENDELA VIDA

Signed First Editions - Just Arrived

JEFF ABBOTT - Adrenaline
(Grand Central, $24.99). "A near-perfect thriller. . . Fans of Harlan Coben, Lee Child, Joseph Finder, or John Grisham -- anyone who enjoys a wild ride on a bumpy road -- can cheer the arrival of our latest master of the fine art of the page-turner. Highly recommended," said Booklist. And PW said: "Edgar-finalist Abbott's outstanding tale of high intrigue set primarily in London and Amsterdam, the first in a series, introduces Sam Capra, a London-based CIA agent Abbott (Panic), displaying a greater mastery of the genre than in previous books, hits full stride early on and never lets up. Readers who thrive on a relentless narrative pace and a straight line to the finish won't be disappointed."

MARGARET COEL - Watching Eagles Soar: Stories from the Wind River and Beyond
(A.S.A.P. Publishing, $45.00). [Expected this week.] This deluxe 432-page limited edition has an Introduction by Craig Johnson, and an Afterword by William Kent Krueger. Artist Phil Parks created the wrap-around dustjacket and 66 full-page illustrations; there are also eleven photographs, some from Margaret's personal collection. The back cover essay is by Tony Hillerman. This is the first anthology of Margaret's short stories. Featured are: All ten of the Arapaho Commandments short stories, three other Father John-Vicky short stories, six other stories; the novella Molly Brown and Cleopatra's Diamond; two essays on writing and on writing about the West: Stories in the World and The West of Ghosts.

GLEN DUNCAN - The Last Werewolf
(Knopf Doubleday, $25.95). [Expected this week.] Starred review from Library Journal: "Yes, there are vampires here . . . But don't give this book to Twilight groupies; the frank tone, dark wit, and elegant, sophisticated language will likely do them in; smart, original, and completely absorbing. Highly recommended." And PW said: "At the start of British author Duncan's fine supernatural thriller, centuries-old lycanthrope Jake Marlowe learns he has become the last known werewolf on earth; Duncan (A Day and a Night and a Day) keeps the pages turning with hairbreadth escapes that have Jake globe-trotting for dear life from Europe to the U.S., but the true allure of his tale is the poetic and evocative prose by which Jake relates his transformations, kills, and thoughts.Savvy and exceptionally literate, this is one smart modern werewolf tale."

JENNIFER HILLIER - Creep
(Simon & Schuster, $23.00). "In Hillier's agreeably frightening debut, a psychological thriller, beautiful Sheila Tao, a highly regarded professor of social psychology at Seattle's Puget Sound University, has been having an affair with her volatile teaching assistant, Ethan Wolfe. Sheila, who's spent three years in Sex Addicts Anonymous, a fact known only to her trusted therapist, wishes to end the affair since she's about to marry Morris Gardener, a successful Texas financier who's deeply jealous. . . . the book holds its secrets well and packs a concluding wallop."

LAURIE MOORE - Couple Gunned Down - News at Ten
(Five Star, $25.95). [Expected Thurs.] "Moore follows 'Woman Strangled -- News at Ten' with another twisty and satisfying romantic thriller. Dallas news anchor Aspen Wicklow is ready to start her new job at WBFD-TV just as soon as she gets out of jail for felony charges incurred while shooting a coyote that was attacking her pug. . . . Lively and funny, the adventure moves along at a rapid clip, with plenty of action, entertaining side characters, and sharp dialogue," said 'PW.'

JOHN VERDON - Shut Your Eyes Tight
(Crown, $24.00). Library Journal starred, calling it "a must-read for thriller fans who enjoy tales that are not only gripping but believable." And PW also starred: "Verdon follows 'Think of a Number,' his sensational debut featuring retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney, with this standout sequel, set a year later. A bizarre, high-profile murder near Gurney's Catskills home puts his already shaky marriage to the test. . . . Verdon tosses in an apparent impossibility involving the murder weapon, and once again sensitively depicts a relationship in crisis." Another star from Booklist: "Verdon, who hit a home run with his debut novel, has now nailed another one."

Recent Signed Arrivals

These are the signed first editions that arrived or were signed here, in the past two weeks of which we have current stock. Complete blurbs for these titles can be found on our updated Archive ; link to it on this newsletter by clicking on the gold button above, left.

MEGAN ABBOTT - End of Everything - Buy Now!
REBECCA CANTRELL - A Game of Lies - Buy Now!
JANET EVANOVICH - Smokin' Seventeen - Buy Now!
TESS GERRITSEN - The Silent Girl - Buy Now!
JOHN HART - Iron House - Buy Now!
ALEX KAVA - Hotwire - Buy Now!
ALICE LAPLANTE - Turn Of Mind - Buy Now!
PAUL MALMONT - The Astounding, The Amazing, and The Unknown - Buy Now!
BETH MCMULLEN - Original Sin - Buy Now!
BILL MOODY - Fade to Blue - Buy Now!
BOBBIE O'KEEFE - Family Skeletons - Buy Now!
PERRI O'SHAUGHNESSY - Dreams of the Dead - Buy Now!
TONY PIAZZA - Anything Short of Murder - Buy Now!
JOSH RITTER - Bright's Passage - Buy Now!
DAVID ROSENFELT - One Dog Night - Buy Now!
ADAM ROSS - Ladies & Gentlemen - Buy Now!
MICHAEL WILEY - A Bad Night's Sleep - Buy Now!

Signed First Editions - Expected Soon

MYSTERY, CRIME AND GENERAL FICTION

DELUXE & LIMITED EDITIONS

ROBERT SILVERBERG - A Little Intelligence
(Crippen & Landrau, 2009, $42.00). by Silverberg and Randall Garrett. Deluxe hardcover, edition limited to 200 copies, signed and numbered by Silverberg. Introduction by Robert Silverberg. He and Randall Garrett wrote these mystery short stories under the joint pseudonym of Robert Randall. With many of the seven stories set in the future, they explore the topics of morality, theology, and humanity within their mysteries. Included is a separately bound 23 page short story pamphlet, Human Reaction, by Randall Garrett (1927-1987).

USED BOOKS NOW IN STOCK!

Be sure to browse our Used mass market paperback section, where we've recently added a rather large selection of authors such as Mary Higgins Clark, Dean R. Koontz, Agatha Christie, Tom Clancy, Len Deighton, Barry Eisler, Erle Stanley Gardner, Donna Leon, Rex Stout, and Donald Westlake (Richard Stark) and many more! These are all very good-condition copies, priced from $2.25 to $3.00. Not to be missed!

We also have a fine selection of trade paperback and hardcover used books, $4-$5, all in fine condition. An excellent selection of titles including authors such as Frederic Brown, Andrea Camilleri, Alexander McCall Smith, Carol O'Connell, Stuart Woods, Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich, and Donald Westlake (Richard Stark!

STORE HOURS:

MONDAY - WEDNESDAY from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM,
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, and SATURDAY 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM
SUNDAY from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM,

and evenings until approximately 9:00 PM when an author is scheduled to appear at 7:00 PM.