  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: September 12th, 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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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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MAX ALLAN COLLINS - Bye, Bye Baby
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 (Forge Books, $24.99).
"Set in 1962, Collins's excellent 13th novel featuring Chicago PI Nate Heller (last seen in 2002's Chicago Confidential) finds Heller . . . looking into the death of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. The book's first half covers the movie star's last two months. . . . By the time a drug overdose claims her, there's no shortage of people who wanted her dead. Heller, Monroe's sometime lover, who refuses to buy the official line that she committed suicide, steps on powerful toes with his usual tenacity and stubbornness to reach the truth. Collins convincingly portrays the real-life players in the drama, who include Jimmy Hoffa and Frank Sinatra. Readers with a taste for hard-boiled romance will hope that more Heller is in the offing," offered PW.
ALSO:
-- 'Kiss Her Goodbye' (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $25.00) As New. Signed. |
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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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CHERYL CRANE - The Bad Always Die Twice
|  (Kensington, $25.00).
"Crane, the daughter of movie icon Lana Turner, makes her promising fiction debut with the first in a new series featuring Hollywood realtor Nikki Harper. When the corpse of 1950s TV star Rex March turns up in the bed of Nikki's promiscuous real estate partner. . . the discovery is a double shock as Rex apparently died in a plane crash six months earlier. . . . An amusing and ingenious finale wraps up this good-humored mystery," said PW. And James Ellroy praised: ''Cheryl Crane has written a superb mystery: rich in milieu, deep in plot twists, constant in the exercise of suspense and surprise. This book is a veritable primer on why people read and love crime fiction.'' |
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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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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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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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LEV GROSSMAN - The Magician King
|  (Viking, $26.95).
"Now a king in the magical land of Fillory, Quentin embarks on a quest to save the universe in Grossman's searing sequel to The Magicians (2009, etc.). It's been two years since Quentin assumed one of Fillory's four crowns along with Eliot and Janet, fellow graduates of the Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, and Quentin's high-school friend Julia, a Brakebills reject who managed to acquire magical powers on her own. . . . Echoes from The Chronicles of Narnia, in particular The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, continue to reverberate, but Grossman's psychologically complex characters and grim reckoning with tragic sacrifice far surpass anything in C.S. Lewis' pat Christian allegory," said Kirkus. Lev Grossman is a senior writer and book critic for Time magazine. He is also the author of the international bestselling novel Codex, the creator of the Time blog Techland, and a graduate of Harvard and Yale. |
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DENISE HAMILTON - Damage Control
|  (Simon & Schuster, $27.00).
"In this excellent stand-alone from Hamilton (The Last Embrace), 33-year-old Maggie Silver works for 'the top crisis management firm in L.A.,' which represents movie stars and famous athletes and makes sure the client's version of a story gets told every time. . . . The suspenseful denouement should please Hamilton fans," said PW. And Library Journal praised: "Her characters are believable, her plots draw on conflicts of class and identity, and her portrayal of the less-than-glamorous side of Southern California is compelling. Highly recommended." |
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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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LAURIE R. KING - Pirate King
|  (Random House, $25.00).
Booklist starred: "Brilliant and beautifully complex. . . . This one's tangled web includes some very high comedy from Gilbert and Sullivan, pirates, and early moviemaking. . . . Her descriptions of locale are voluptuous, and her continued delineation of the relationship of Russell and Holmes exquisitely portrays the eroticism of intellectual give-and-take." And Library Journal concluded: "In the latest volume of Mary Russell's memoirs (after God of the Hive), Sherlock Holmes's young wife is sent to Lisbon by Scotland Yard. . . . Her mission: investigate possible criminal activities of the Fflytte Film Company and the whereabouts of the studio's one-time secretary. Mary's strong personality and wit, on which fans of the series have come to rely, serve her well. . . . while her crime-solving collaboration with Holmes, as always, gives readers a taste of their sharp intellect and clever deductions." |
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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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LAURA LIPPMAN - The Most Dangerous Thing
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 (Wm. Morrow, $25.99).
"Superb storyteller Lippman continues her trenchant investigation into the malleability of memory and the unexpected ripple effect of crime in another superb stand-alone novel similar in its flashback approach to I'd Know You Anywhere (2010). . . . a powerful novel beyond category," said Booklist. And Kirkus praised: "Childhood playmates can't quite put their past behind them in Lippman's tale of growing up too fast but not at all. . . . No one explores the delicate interplay between children and the adults they grow into better than Lippman." And from PW: ". . . series lead, Tess Monaghan, makes a brief appearance, but this stand-alone belongs to the children, their memories, and everything dangerous that lives in the woods."
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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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CATRIONA MCPHERSON - Dandy Gilver & the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains
|  (Minotaur, $23.99).
Signed&Selected II for August. "Agatha Christie meets Upstairs, Downstairs in McPherson's charming fifth interwar whodunit featuring Edinburgh sleuth Dandy Gilver (after 2008's The Winter Ground). One morning the aristocratic detective opens a letter from Walburga Balfour, who writes, "My husband is going to kill me, and I would rather he didn't," said PW. Library Journal said: "With witty dialog and low-key humor, McPherson's series is a great choice for Jacqueline Winspear, Carola Dunn, and Amy Patricia Meade fans. A strong traditional offering with sly humor, a love of dogs, and not too much violence. A real contender for the Agathas!" And Kirkus concluded: "McPherson's charmingly witty heroine once again keeps you guessing while you enjoy the historical tidbits."
ALSO:
-- 'Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day For A Murder' (Hodder & Stoughton UK, 2010, $29.00) As New. Signed Bookplate.
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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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CARSON MORTON - Stealing Mona Lisa
|  (Mulholland Books, $25.99).
Signed&Selected I for August. Starred review from Library Journal: "With all the careful brushstrokes of a classic, Morton gives us a historical tale of deception and theft surrounding the actual 1911 theft of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. . . . You'll never look at museum art in quite the same way. Great characters, a captivating tale, and vivid descriptions of old Paris make this debut a pleasurable read. Morton's screenwriter/playwright background ensures sparkling dialog. . . . Tremendous crossover appeal for historical fiction (think Susan Vreeland) and romance readers, too." And Kirkus also starred: "Like La Jaconde, Carson's debut novel is set in an elegant frame -- a newspaper reporter wrests story from the dying Valfierno -- that still isn't as finely crafted as what lies inside." More praise, from Booklist: "Based on the actual theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911, Morton's first novel is a canny heist story with fine characterizations and skillful plotting, and it isn't hurt one bit by all the shimmering Parisian ambience. . ." |
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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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GEORGE PELECANOS - The Cut
|  (Reagan Arthur, $25.99).
Booklist's Bill Ott starred: "Pelecanos' last few stand-alone novels have been more about working-class lives in Washington, D.C., than about the crime and criminals that so often surround those lives. This time, though, he's back in the wheelhouse of his early work, with the first novel in what will be a series about Spero Lucas, an Iraqi War vet and a young man with appetites, who has carved for himself a Travis McGee-like career of recovering stolen property, from which he takes a 40 percent cut. . . . Familar and right for Spero and also for Pelecanos' fans." From PW: "Pelecanos's excellent first in a new crime series introduces Spero Lucas, a 29-year-old Iraq War vet who does investigative work for a Washington, D.C., defense attorney. . . . Both vital and timely, this remarkable novel also connects D.C.'s past and present as only Pelecanos does. Readers will want to see a lot more of Lucas."
ALSO:
-- 'The Night Gardner' (Little Brown, 2006, $17.00) VF/VF. As New. Signed. |
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KATHY REICHS - Flash and Bones
|  (Simon & Schuster, $26.99).
"The discovery of an old corpse in a barrel of asphalt in landfill bordering the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., propels Reichs's solid 14th thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (after 'Spider Bones'). As Brennan pokes around into the cold case, new issues crop up with the FBI claiming jurisdiction because of possible bioterrorism. Reichs imbues this fusion of past and present with her signature blend of forensic know-how and deeply felt characters," said PW. And Booklist commented: "Despite the popularity of the Fox TV series Bones, which is based on the Brennan novels, Reichs has done an excellent job of keeping the books separate from their television spin-off. The literary Brennan remains older and more layered than her television incarnation, and the novels remain deeper, darker, and more complex. A fine entry in a consistently solid series." |
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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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DAN SIMMONS - Flashback
|  (Little Brown & Company, $27.99).
Booklist starred: "Simmons, who seems to like setting off in new directions with each novel, takes us to the near future. . . for this gritty, ambitious thriller. America is in political and economic death throes. . . and the prevalence of the dru. flashback, which allows users to relive events in their lives, has birthed a dark, dangerous subculture. . . . As usual, Simmons, best known for his sf novels and the best-seller Drood (2009), creates a remarkably vivid and nuanced fictional universe. . . . Another winner from Simmons, whose imagination seems to know no bounds." Library Journal added: "Simmons keeps the reader's attention from start to finish. Midway between sf and detective fiction, this will appeal to aficionados of both genres." |
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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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AMOR TOWLES - Rules of Civility
|  (Penguin, $26.95).
Mystorical for August. "This rhapsodic tribute to a bygone era conjures up mesmerizing images of 1930s New York. Two worlds collide on New Year's Eve 1937, and three lives will never be the same. Discerning readers will draw parallels between Towles and the ominously ironic Edith Wharton while relishing the fact that the snappy dialogue and descriptive prose are wrapped in a compelling narrative," said Booklist. And PW called it a "smashing debut . . . His first effort is remarkable for its strong narrative, original characters and a voice influenced by Fitzgerald and Capote, but clearly true to itself." From Kirkus: "Towles' buzzed-about first novel is an affectionate return to the post-Jazz Age years, and the literary style that grew out of it (though seasoned with expletives). . . An elegant, pithy performance by a first-time novelist who couldn't seem more familiar with his characters or territory." |
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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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LISA UNGER - Darkness My Old Friend
|  (Crown, $24.00).
Library Journal starred: "Excellent characterization makes this one of Unger's best thrillers yet." And PW praised: "In Unger's gripping psychological thriller, a sequel to Fragile, 15-year-old Willow Graves, a recent Manhattan transplant along with her author mother, considers the sleepy upstate New York town of the Hollows the antithesis of cool. Life becomes more interesting after Willow spots caver Michael Holt in the woods, digging what she fears is a grave. . . . his mother disappeared more than 25 years earlier when he was 14, and he's eager finally to solve the cold case after his father's recent death. . . . the secluded nature of the town easily lends itself to long-gestating secrets, which Unger handles much better in this follow-up that's as much about uncovering the past as it is about accepting the future." |
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THOMAS W. YOUNG - Silent Enemy
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 (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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(Simon & Schuster, $24.00).
(Minotaur, $24.99).
