  Recently Signed - In Stock
86 East Third Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401 Phone: 650-401-8077
OR Toll Free outside Bay Area: 888-405-8077
last updated: August 15th, 2011 |
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ABOUT THIS ARCHIVE
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This archive of signed first editions lists
our current stock of RECENT releases.
They are alphabetical by author,
and are kept on the list for approximately
six weeks. These listings are updated weekly.
If you are looking for older signed books, or
specialty categories, use the catalogs on our
web site. We have six catalogs on our home
page (see buttons at left).
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How to Order
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To place an order:
email usor phone us (650)401-8077 (888)405-8077 toll free We accept Visa, MC, Amex and checks by arrangement We ship USPS Media mail within the US and USPS International Priority for overseas addresses Shipping rates: In the US - $6.50 for the first book $1.35 each additional book Overseas - email us to discuss the options |
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OWEN SMITH POSTERS
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OWEN SMITH, nationally recognized artist known for his artworks for The New Yorker and Rolling Stone as well as numerous book covers, was commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission in 2008 to create original works based on a theme for display in special kiosks on Market Street. Most recently, he did the cover illustration for Mark Coggins' new book, The Big Wake-Up, and appeared at "M" for that book event with the author. These posters are from Smith's "Dashiell Hammett's San Francisco" series. Each is SIGNED by the artist; 12" x 18" on heavy glossy stock, at $12.00 each.
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 Recently Signed - In Stock
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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." |
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MEGAN ABBOTT - The End of Everything
|  (Reagan Arthur, $23.99).
"Thirteen-year-old Lizzie Hood is the last person to see her best friend, Evie, before she disappears. They've been inseparable for years, and Lizzie knows everything about her -- or does she? Lizzie knows enough to pursue clues the police dismiss, but in all her reflections there are flashes of darker moments and unsettling questions. Her narration is full of quick glimpses of another story, just there on the edges, that create layers of suspense. . . . Edgar Award winner Abbott (Queenpin) offers a fascinating twist on the coming-of-age story, blending a tale of young women just discovering their sexuality with suspense and plenty of plot twists," said Library Journal. |
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DONNA ANDREWS - The Real McCaw
|  (Minotaur, $24.99).
"At the outset of Andrews's crowd-pleasing 13th Meg Langslow mystery (after 2010's Stork Raving Mad), Meg, new mother of twin boys, awakes early one morning to find her living room filled with animals, including a bright blue macaw, who cries, 'Hiya, babe!' The Corsicans, an animal activist group whose members include Meg's dad and granddad, have rescued the creatures, mostly dogs and cats, from an animal shelter that's recently reversed its no-kill policy. . . . With the support of her big extended family, Meg sets out to solve one murder and prevent another. People connected to Parker provide clues, but the key is the real macaw," said PW. |
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MICHAEL BAMBERGER & ALAN SHIPNUCK - The Swinger
|  (Simon & Schuster, $25.00).
"In their roman a clef about Tiger Woods, Shipnuck and Bamberger thinly disguise as fiction plenty of gossip they've heard over their four decades, combined, covering the PGA Tour. What's more relevant to the story, and to the reader -- including, possibly, Tiger Woods himself -- is the way Tree approaches his post-scandal life. . . " said Time Magazine. Janet Maslin in the New York Times praised: "A funny, fast-moving book. . . Dead on. . . The authors know their man and know their game. Credible and brightly apt. . . .When The Swinger -- nice title -- isn't dwelling on Tree's meltdown, it's describing his athletic style with familiarity and ease. Golf's best-known courses and tournaments figure in the book, as do the rumors of steroid use that dogged Mr. Woods. Combining both, the authors capture the exact sound of Scottish heckling at St. Andrews." Both authors are senior writers at Sports Illustrated. |
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BENJAMIN BLACK - A Death in Summer
|  (Henry Holt, $25.00).
"Black's exceedingly well-written Dublin series hits its stride in the sleekly plotted fourth installment. Imprudent pathologist Quirke and reticent Inspector Hackett, whose humble appearance belies a steel-trap mind, attain new levels of drollery and investigative camaraderie. . . . moments of detective clairvoyance are neatly juxtaposed with numskull opaqueness as Black (the pen name of John Banville) once again exposes insidious corruption and prejudice," said Booklist. And Janet Maslin in the New York Times said: "[Black's] books about the dour Irish pathologist named Quirke have effortless flair, with their period-piece cinematic ambience and their sultry romance. [They] are much more like Alan Furst's elegant, doom-infused World War II spy books than like standard crime tales." |
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C.J. BOX - Back of Beyond
|  (Minotaur, $25.99).
Kirkus said: "A second standalone from the chronicler of Twelve Sleep County Game Warden Joe Pickett takes a Montana cop deep into the wilds of Yellowstone National Park in the hope of protecting his teenaged son from a determined killer. Once again, Box provides the complete suspense package: unobtrusively slick detection, buckets of surprises and mounting thrills, all amid his trademark settings in the majestic high country." And Library Journal praised: "Following 2008's Blue Heaven, this is the author's second stand-alone thriller to take place in the wild. As Box has shown in his Joe Pickett series, he knows life and death in the backcountry like few other writers today."
ALSO:
--  'Below Zero' (Putnam, 2009, $22.00) VF/VF. Signed.
-- 'Cold Wind' (Putnam, 2011, $24.00) VF/VF. Signed.
-- 'Nowhere to Run' (Putnam, 2010, $25.95) As New. Signed.
-- 'Open Season' (Putnam, 2001, $49.00) VF/VF. Signed.
-- 'Three Weeks To Say Goodbye' (Minotaur, 2008, $34.00) VF/VF. Signed.
-- 'Winterkill' (Putnam, 2003, $28.00) VF/VF. Signed. |
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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. |
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ANDREA CAMILLERI - The Track of Sand
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 (Mantle UK, $37.00)
Inspector Montalbano rises one morning to find the carcass of a horse on the beach in front of his seaside home. But no sooner do his men arrive, than the body has mysteriously vanished, leaving behind only a trail in the sand. Before long Rachele, a beguiling equestrian champion, turns up at police headquarters to report her horse missing. She had been keeping it at the stables of a certain Saverio Lo Duca, one of the richest men in Sicily. Montalbano investigates, entering the strange, unfamiliar world of horse-racing. Maneuvering his way through the colorful demimonde of eccentric aristocrats and high-rolling bourgeois, Montalbano must once again call upon his special blend of intuition, analysis, play-acting and Proustian memory for good food, if he is to uncover this latest mystery. |
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REBECCA CANTRELL - A Game of Lies
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 (Forge, $24.99).
"Set in 1936, Cantrell's well-paced third mystery featuring German crime reporter Hannah Vogel returns to the high level of her debut, 2009's A Trace of Smoke. Sought by the Gestapo for kidnapping the son of a high-ranking Nazi official, Vogel has assumed the alias of Adelheid Zinsli, a Swiss reporter, to cover the Olympic Games while spying for the British. . . . Her search for the truth, aided by an SS officer of uncertain trustworthiness, leads her to a deadly secret. . . . Cantrell does a fine job evoking the period," said PW. |
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JODI COMPTON - Thieves Get Rich, Saints Get Shot
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 (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. |
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CAROL CULVER - A Good Day To Pie
|  (Midnight Ink, $14.95).
Trade Paperback Original. No one can die from a pie . . . or can they? Hanna Denton has returned home to Crystal Cove, California, to take over the pie shop her Grannie Louise owned for thirty years. Grannie has now moved to the ritzy retirement community on the hill and Hanna is working her hardest to live up to Grannie's reputation for baking the best pies in the state. However, between rolling dough, slicing rhubarb, and trying to find the magic ingredients that made Grannie's pies so popular, Hanna is suddenly faced with an even bigger challenge: convincing the handsome new police chief (her ex-high school crush Sam Genovese) that Grannie couldn't possibly have committed murder. |
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ARNE DAHL - Misterioso
|  (Pantheon, $25.95).
Signed by the Translator Tiina Nunnally, with bookplates signed by the author.
Kirkus starred: "Thoughtfully haunting and sometimes beautifully written, the first of Hjelm's cases to be translated into English is likely to resonate with readers of the Stieg Larsson trilogy." Booklist also starred: "It's 1997, and a serial killer is methodically killing Sweden's wealthiest businessmen while listening to a tape of Thelonious Monk's haunting classic Misterioso. . . . Although this is Mankell's turf, Dahl handles it differently but also very successfully. Mystery devotees who loved Mankell's Kurt Wallander, and crime fiction 'lifers' who still treasure Sjowall's and Wahloo's Martin Beck, will want to add Paul Hjelm to their short lists of international favorites." And Library Journal called it "An exciting debut . . . Fans of hard-boiled detective and Swedish novels will enjoy this." |
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WILLIAM DIETRICH - Blood of the Reich
|  (Harper, $25.99).
Mystorical July. 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. |
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CAROLE NELSON DOUGLAS - Cat in a Vegas Gold Vendetta
|  (Forge, $24.99).
PW said: "In Nelson's. . . 23rd Midnight Louie caper (after Cat in an Ultramarine Scheme), Las Vegas public relations expert Temple Barr undertakes her first job as a PI when actress Savannah Ashleigh hires her to investigate the death of Pedro Gomez, her aunt Violet Weiner's yardman. The dying Violet lives with a large 'clowder' of cats while various relatives and hangers-on vie for her favor. . . . Tomcat sleuth Midnight Louie provides the heroic feats and sly commentary series fans expect." And Library Journal concluded: "Our favorite 20-pound noir feline detective is back helping Temple Barr solve the crimes of Las Vegas."
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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."
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JANET EVANOVICH - Smokin' Seventeen
|  (Bantam, $28.00).
Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie's name is on the killer's list. Short on time to find evidence proving the killer's identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it's time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie's mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who's just returned to town.
ALSO:
-- 'Four to Score' (St. Martin's, 1998, $29.00) F/F. Signed and inscribed "To Kay, sally forth!"
-- 'Visions of Sugar Plums' (St. Martin's, 2002, $5.00) F/F.
-- 'Wicked Appetite' (St. Martin's, 2010, $27.99) As New. Signed.
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CHRIS EWAN - The Good Thief's Guide to Venice
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 (Minotaur, $24.99).
Amsterdam, Paris, Vegas, and now . . . Chris Ewan's series turns to Italian adventure -- in La Serenissima, no less! "Now a resident of Venice, thief and mystery author Charlie Howard promises his long-suffering literary agent . . . that he'll devote himself professionally only to his Michael Faulks burglar novels in Ewan's hilarious yet suspenseful fourth caper novel (after 2010's The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas). Charlie's resolve to give up crime is put to the test when, in the middle of the night, an attractive cat-burglar steals his autographed first edition of The Maltese Falcon, which he uses as his inspiration, and leaves a flyer in its place, the first of several crumbs he must follow to ascertain the burglar's true motivation. . . . Ewan can turn a Wodehousian phrase on occasion, and his taut plotting adds substance to his considerable style," said PW. |
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PAUL HARPER - Pacific Heights
|  (Henry Holt, $25.00).
"Dr. Vera List, a prominent psychoanalyst in affluent Pacific Heights, San Francisco, has discovered something unsettling about two of her clients. Elise and Lore, wealthy trophy wives, are unwittingly having affairs with the same man, Ryan Kroll. Kroll has the uncanny ability to see inside their heads and anticipate their darkest fantasies and fears. The only conclusion Vera can come to is that he is breaking into her office, reading her patients' personal files, then using their psychosis against them. . . . This series debut by a pseudonymous New York Times best-selling author [David Lindsey] offers a great premise and fast-paced read. Thriller fans will eagerly anticipate the next installment," said Library Journal. |
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JOHN HART - Iron House
|  (Thomas Dunne, $25.99).
Booklist starred, calling it "An unforgettable novel from a master of popular fiction." And PW also starred: "This rich, impressive contemporary thriller from two-time Edgar-winner Hart ('The Last Child') focuses on two brothers, Michael and Julian, both raised and abused at the Iron House of the title, an orphanage in the mountains of North Carolina. . . . [The book's] powerful themes and its beautiful prose will delight Hart's fans -- and should earn him many new ones." |
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MICHAEL HARVEY - We All Fall Down
|  (Random House, $24.95).
PW starred: "Harvey shows how a thriller focused on bioterrorism should be done in his outstanding fourth novel featuring Chicago PI Michael Kelly (after The Third Rail), learns that some form of superbug is felling Chicagoans left and right. At a high-level meeting that includes the city's mayor and Homeland Security agents, two scientists reveal that a biowarning device in a subway tunnel has detected the possible presence of a pathogen. The complexity of the plot never overwhelms the narrative flow in this utterly persuasive view of a present-day apocalyptic nightmare." And Booklist called it "A gripping crime novel with a frightening message about very plausible biological warfare." |
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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." |
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MICHAEL KORYTA - The Ridge
|  (Little, Brown, $24.99).
"Koryta (The Cypress House; So Cold the River) delivers another supernatural thriller with punch. The lives of a small-town chief deputy, an out-of-work reporter, and the owner of a big cat rescue center collide when a well-known eccentric dies in his landlocked lighthouse, set on a ridge in the eastern Kentucky hills. . . . Mystery readers, supernatural thriller lovers, and horror buffs who can live without gore all will appreciate Koryta's latest effort," said Library Journal. And PW said: "Koryta matches an original and complex plot line with prose full of understated menace." |
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DAVID LEVIEN - 13 Million Dollar Pop
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 (Doubleday, $24.95).
The bestselling author of City of the Sun returns with his third novel featuring enigmatic private investigator Frank Behr. Library Journal said: "Hired to protect prominent businessman-turned-political candidate Bernard 'Bernie Cool' Kolodnik, private investigator Frank Behr proves his worth by saving Kolodnik when an attempt is made on his life. But he's really not sure what happened when those automatic weapons started blazing, and he's even more suspicious when the police hush up the incident. Levien has Edgar and Shamus nominations to his credit and seems to be building. Thriller fans should definitely investigate." And Kirkus called it "A professional-grade auctioneer. . ."
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DAVID LISS - The Twelfth Enchantment
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 (Random House, $26.00).
The Edgar, Macavity, and Barry Award-winning author of A Conspiracy of Paper returns with his new historical novel. "David Liss takes readers on a light-hearted romp through Regency England. . . . With an adroit mix of fact and fantasy, Liss casts heroine Lucy Derrick into a world of industrializing mill towns, mysterious enchantments, ghostly dogs, undead fairies, Luddites, and even Lord Byron and his legions of lovesick women. Charged with gathering the scattered pages of an alchemical manuscript, Lucy's adventures teach her that appearances can be deceptive--and delightfully so. Liss's deft touch with historical subject matter and his ability to craft tremendously appealing characters makes this a thoroughly enjoyable, satisfying read," praised Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches.
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ADA MADISON (aka CAMILLE MINICHINO) - The Square Root of Murder
|  (Berkley, $7.99, paperback original).
"Dr. Sophie Knowles is a fortysomething math professor teaching summer session at a small Cape Cod women's college. Her close-knit academic community is suffering through a sweltering summer heat wave when, out of the blue, a much-despised chemistry professor is poisoned in his lab. Wanting to help the graduate student who's been fingered as the killer, Dr. Knowles begins her amateur investigation. Along the way, she learns about the darker side of academia. . . . in this leisurely-paced cozy. Veteran series author Camille Minichino, also known as Margaret Grace, introduces an engaging new protagonist with a fresh venue for her fans. This mystery is a puzzler designed for word problem skill building. Puzzles and brainteasers included," said Library Journal.
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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?
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BILL MOODY - Fade to Blue
|  (Poisoned Pen, $24.95).
Jazz pianist Evan Horne, settled into the San Francisco jazz scene, takes a gig in Los Angeles, where he's offered his most unusual job yet. Mega movie star Ryan Stiles hires Evan to teach him to look like he's playing piano for an upcoming film role. Evan stays at Stiles' lush Malibu home for the tutoring, but suddenly things go wrong with the arrogant, spoiled star. Stiles' adversarial relationship with the paparazzi explodes when a photographers is killed. Was it an accident or is Stiles himself a suspect? Evan wants out, but Stiles' manager dangles the opportunity for Evan to score the film if he stays. With help from his FBI girlfriend, Andie Lawrence, and Lt. Danny Cooper, Evan launches his own investigation to help clear Stiles. To further complicate things, Evan's old nemesis, serial killer Gillian Sims escapes from prison. |
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CHISTOPHER MOORE - The Griff
|  (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.) |
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LAURIE MOORE - Wanted Deb or Alive
|  (Five Star, $25.95).
PW starred: "Moore's superlative sequel to 2010's Deb on Arrival.... will keep readers on their most stylish toes as they follow fashionista Dainty in her pursuit of the surprising truth." Booklist elaborated: "When former Texas debutante Dainty Prescott receives a frantic phone call from her sister Teensy, who has been kidnapped, beaten, and is now in a Mexican hospital, she immediately heads for the Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez, where Teensy and her friend Tiffany disappeared. Dainty hooks up with Lieutenant Amanda Vasquez from the El Paso police as guide and interpreter, and the two head south to the violent city. . . . Fast pacing, numerous plot twists, and some humor (playing on Dainty's ignorance) keep the pages turning."
ALSO:
-- 'Couple Gunned Down News at 10' (Five Star, 2011, $25.95) As New. Signed. |
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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. |
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BOBBIE O'KEEFE - Family Skeletons
|  (Five Star, $25.95).
"Preparing her family home for sale, a San Francisco realtor faces painful old memories and surprising new opportunities. Sunny Corday's life hasn't always lived up to the promise of her nickname. After her father left and tried to disown her, then disappeared, the angry teenager turned to pills for comfort. Her strong-willed mother Roberta managed to get her first marriage annulled; Sunny was only 16 and her 18-year-old husband was as drug-addled as she. Even rehab didn't help much. . . O'Keefe (Second Thoughts, 2009) straddles the fence nicely between mystery and romance, keeping the relationship in the forefront but incorporating a genuine puzzle," said Kirkus. |
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PERRI O'SHAUGHNESSY - Dreams of the Dead
|  (Gallery, $25.00).
"O'Shaughnessy's suspenseful 13th Nina Reilly novel revisits one of the most painful episodes in the Lake Tahoe attorney's life. Philip Strong arrives one day at Nina's office with some disturbing news related to his son Jim. Two years earlier, Jim murdered his wife after finding out that she had had an affair with Philip; Jim also killed Nina's husband, then vanished and was believed dead. . . . Two brutal murders possibly related to the Strong family up the ante. This solid page-turner packs more than one surprise," said PW. Perri O'Shaughnessy is the pen name for two sisters, Pamela and Mary O'Shaughnessy. Together they have written twelve Nina Reilly legal thrillers, a stand-alone thriller, and one short story collection. |
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SEBASTIAN ROTELLA - Triple Crossing
|  (Mulholland Books, $24.99).
"Superb fiction debut. . . . Unflinching views of a double agent's harrowing life, a violence-drenched Mexican jail, and the wild border areas complement the provocative plot," said Publishers Weekly. From Booklist: "A strongly choreographed, authentically detailed, and sharply funny tale of cultural complexity and raging global criminality." Kirkus said: "A fast-paced thriller that rings true to the real story behind the political posturing over the drug war, illegal immigration, and border security," and Library Journal praised: "Rotella's crime drama captures the feel of the rampant corruption that is the stuff of headlines in the United States and Mexico. This should satisfy readers far beyond the border." |
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ESMERELDA SANTIAGO - Conquistadora
|  (Knopf, $27.50)
Booklist starred: "Extraordinary . . . a historical novel set in 19th Century Puerto Rico, featuring a high-handed, strong-willed woman determined to escape her boring upper-class future in Spain. . . . The issues of social caste, slavery, and sex roles make this a fascinating read. It's an outstanding story, full of pathos, tropical sensuality, and violence. . . . Storytelling genius." PW starred: "Santiago brings passion, color, and historical detail to this Puerto Rican Gone with the Wind . . . . The richness of her imagination and the lushness of her language will serve saga enthusiasts well." And from Library Journal: "the multitalented author of 'When I Was Puerto Rican' offers a big, bold novel. . . . Highly recommended." |
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JOHN BURNHAM SCHWARTZ - Northwest Corner
|  (Random House, $26.00).
The newest from the author of the universally acclaimed bestseller Reservation Road. Starred review from Kirkus: "Stark and deeply affecting . . . readers will grow to care deeply about whether and how [the characters'] lives can be redeemed." And PW said: "[Schwartz is] exceptional at describing the chemistry of desire, creating emotional tension, and making his characters feel more like flesh and blood than fictional constructs. Imaginative and taut, Schwartz's writing is seamless and infinitely inspired." Library Journal concluded: "A well-crafted selection, ideal for readers with a taste for moral ambiguity. . . those who haven't yet discovered this powerful writer are in for a treat." |
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APRIL SMITH - White Shotgun
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 (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. |
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ELIZABETH SPELLER - The Return of Captain John Emmett
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 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $26.00).
Signed Bookplates. "British author Elizabeth Speller's first book of fiction, . . . with its elegant prose and naturalistic manner, draws the reader into a simple-seeming story of post-World War I England -- a tale that turns out to be anything but straightforward and far from soothing. . . . Restrained and marvelous, [it] is full of jolting revelations and quiet insights -- and one last, subtle act of charity that echoes louder and longer than any gunshot," said Tom Nolan in the Wall St. Journal. And Kirkus said: "Surviving World War I is no guarantee of survival. John Emmett's sister Mary can't understand why he committed suicide. Yes, he descended into madness following service in the Great War. Yes, he had to be banished to Holmwood, where difficult cases of shell shock were sequestered. But she thought he was making progress. . . . Historian Speller (Following Hadrian: A Second Century Journey Through the Roman Empire, 2003, etc.) uses the Dyett and Poole executions in WWI as a springboard for this elegantly written antiwar saga." |
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PETER SPIEGELMAN - Thick As Thieves
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 (Knopf Doubleday, $24.95).
Booklist starred: "Ever read a thriller so nicely written you flip back a few pages to re-experience an especially well-turned bit of prose? Spiegelman's caper novel is like that . . . The fine writing adds a layer of aesthetic pleasure to a good crime story . . . [The crew] brings off a sweeping symphony of a con, a grand attempt to relieve a bad guy of his gazillions . . . The ending is great, but it's an even greater trip getting there." And PW praised: "Superlative prose lifts this gritty stand-alone from Shamus Award winner Spiegelman (Black Maps). . . . Spiegelman, who has worked in both financial services and software industries, makes the mission both intricate and plausible." |
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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." |
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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."
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MICHAEL WILEY - A Bad Night's Sleep
|  (Minotaur, $24.99).
"Fans of gritty PI novels will relish Shamus-finalist Wiley's third mystery featuring Chicago detective Joe Kozmarski (after 2010's The Bad Kitty Lounge). Early one morning, while staked out at a construction site to prevent thefts of building materials and equipment, Kozmarski spots two uniformed patrolmen pull up in a police cruiser. When he observes the cops helping a gang that arrives soon after make off with spools of copper wire, the gumshoe calls 911. Four squad cars pull up within minutes, and a firefight erupts. One of the resulting deaths puts Kozmarski, a former cop who was cashiered from the force in disgrace, in a difficult position. His only way out of the mess involves him infiltrating a wide-ranging conspiracy. Kozmarski, a well-developed flawed hero, would be right at home in a Chandler or Hammett novel. The relentless pacing makes the pages fly by, and the hard-edged prose is bracing," said PW. |
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KEVIN WILSON - The Family Fang
|  (Ecco, $23.99).
Kirkus starred: "The subtlety of the comedy is flawless, channeling the filmmaking of Wes Anderson or Rian Johnson. A fantastic first novel that asks if the kids are alright, finding answers in the most unexpected places." PW also starred: "$23.99). [A] bizarre, mirthful debut novel. . . leavened with humor." 'The Washington Post' praised: "...a delightfully odd story about the adult children of a pair of avant-garde performance artist. . . Wilson has an infectious fondness for the ridiculous and a good ear for muffled exasperation." And Library Journal said: " Wilson, who won the 2009 Shirley Jackson Award for his story collection, Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, tells his madcap story with straight-faced aplomb, highlighting the tricky intersection of family life and artistic endeavor. All fiction readers will enjoy this comic/tragic look at domesticity." |
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DON WINSLOW - The Gentlemen's Hour
|  (Simon & Schuster, $25.00).
"The laidback calm of the Southern California surfing community of Pacific Beach boils over violently in Winslow's fast-paced sequel to The Dawn Patrol (2008). . . .The title refers to the "second shift on the daily surfing clock" after the dawn patrol. Winslow ensures there's nothing 'gentlemanly' about the action," said PW. And Library Journal said: "The dog days of August bring flat water for the handful of aging surfers who paddle out into San Diego Bay before heading to work each morning. Among them, PI Dan Boone and SDPD detective Johnny Kodani find their relationship strained because they are on opposite sides of the investigation of the brutal murder of a local surfing icon. This is more than just a snappy summertime thriller written with hip surfer dude dialog. It's a thoughtful cultural commentary about an iconic coastal community with too much money, constant sunshine, and terminal greed." |
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THOMAS W. YOUNG - Silent Enemy
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 Silent Enemy (Putnam, $25.95).
"Young's riveting follow-up to The Mullah's Storm is an airborne version of the movie Speed. . . . Soon after takeoff from Afghanistan, Maj. Michael Parson, the pilot of a giant C-5 Galaxy flying patients injured in a terrorist bombing to Germany for medical care, receives the message that there's a bomb on board and it's set to go off if the plane descends to a lower altitude. Aviation thriller aficionados will cheer, and readers of any genre will gnaw their fingernails to the quick." said PW. A must read for fans of military thrillers written by an Air National Guardsman whom Vince Flynn called "one of the most exciting new talents in years." Thomas W. Young has logged nearly 4,000 hours for the Air National Guard in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and elsewhere.
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(Doubleday, $25.95).
(Minotaur, $24.99).
