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                                                              September 19th, 2011
In This Issue
Upcoming Author Events
Coming Attractions
Fall Preview
Signed Firsts - Just Arrived
Awards Season!
Signed Firsts - Expected Soon
Deluxe & Limited Editions
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TONIGHT, an exclusive:  South African author DEON MEYER's only Bay Area appearance is at the Belmont Library. His new thriller has garnered wide critical acclaim.

Nonstop authors for the rest of this week: evening events on Tuesday and Thursday nights; Wednesday brings a noon-time event, as well as a drop-by; and a double drop-by on Sunday.

Back in stock: Robicheaux Chapeaux!

 

ROBICHEAUX'S DOCK & BAIT SHOP caps, above, in six colors: orange, black, grayish tan, forest green, yellow, and dark blue. James Lee Burke's long-running series star sports a great-looking cap ($21.95).  

 


How to Order
 pen nib                  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 ([email protected]) 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., Sept. 19th at the BELMONT LIBRARY at 7:30 PM: DEON MEYER
The BELMONT LIBRARY is located at 1110 Alameda de las Pulgas, two blocks south of Ralston.

Trackers (Grove/Atlantic, $24.00).  
PW praised:  "Meyer's ambition matches his execution in this brilliantly complex stand-alone thriller set in his native South Africa. . . .  This powerhouse read. . . should be the American breakthrough book this talented author deserves." Library Journal added: "Milla Strachan, a discontented, fortyish housewife. . . leaves her suburban family and takes a job writing security reports for the secretive Presidential Intelligence Agency. She becomes involved with a man who is being chased by her bosses and the CIA. . . Meanwhile, Lemmer, a professional bodyguard last seen in Blood Safari, is fighting gangsters while inadvertently smuggling black rhinos. Muslim terrorists lurk in the background of both plots. . . . Highly recommended."

Tues., Sept. 20th at 7:00 PM: ANDREW GROSS
Eyes Wide Open (HarperCollins, $25.99).  
"In his fifth solo outing (after Reckless and five number one best sellers coauthored with James Patterson), Gross employs two events from his own life -- the suicide of a nephew and a chance encounter with a notorious mass killer -- to craft a gripping psychological thriller in which past family secrets return to haunt those least able to bear the horror. . . . no melodrama, just a menacing tale with effective twists, perfect pacing, intriguing characters, and heart-gripping suspense," said Library Journal. And Kirkus starred: "An emotional, frightening study of evil with believable characters and a relentless pace. Readers who wear pacemakers will want to check their batteries before they open the book."

Wed., Sept 21st DROP BY: ALEX SHAKAR
Luminarium JacketLuminarium (Soho Press $25.00)    
Booklist starred:  "In his long-awaited second novel after the razor-sharp 'The Savage Girl' (2001), Shakar takes measure of our post-9/11 existential confusion. . . A radiantly imaginative social critic, Shakar is also a knowledgeable and intrepid explorer of metaphysical and neurological mysteries. With beguiling characters trapped in ludicrous and revelatory predicaments, this is a cosmic, incisively funny kaleidoscopic tale of loss, chaos, and yearning."  And PW starred:  "[A] penetrating look at the uneasy intersection of technology and spirituality. . . Shakar's blend of the business of cyberspace and the science of enlightenment distinguishes the novel as original and intrepid. . . Shakar's prose is sharp and hilarious, engendering the reader's faith in the novel's philosophical ambitions. Part Philip K. Dick, part Jonathan Franzen, this radiant work leads you from the unreal to the real so convincingly that you begin to let go of the distinction."

Wed., Sept. 21st at Noon 12:00 PM: GIANRICO CAROFIGLIO
Temporary Perfections (Rizzoli, $24.95).  
Praise from PW: "Guido Guerrieri looks into a cold case. . . . Six months after beautiful 22-year-old Manuela Ferraro disappeared on her way home to Bari from Rome, where she was a college student, Manuela's parents are desperate. The carabinieri who handled the investigation are about to give up. As a favor to a fellow lawyer, Guerrieri agrees to help, though it means doing more detective work than usual. . . A satisfyingly complex protagonist."  A bestseller in Italy, this is its first English translation. Carofiglio is a former Italian prosecutor whose protagonist, Guido Guerrieri, is a defense lawyer practicing in Bari.

The San Francisco Chronicle Literary Guide listed the wrong time for this event.  It is indeed at NOON, not 7PM.

Thurs., Sept. 22nd at 7:00 PM:  WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER
Northwest Angle (Atria, $24.99).  
"The eleventh novel starring. . . Cork O'Connor is part adventure, part mystery, and all knockout thriller. Krueger takes the catastrophic storm system known as a derecho. . . as his catalyst. With O'Connor and his family still reeling from the. . . death of his wife two years before, he decides to make a stab at reuniting them. . . . Catch-your-breath suspense throughout," said Booklist.  And Library Journal concluded:  "Mystery readers. . . will appreciate this fascinating adventure interwoven with folklore. Krueger builds upon previous series titles to develop his characters and plot lines creatively and thoughtfully." PW called it ". . . superb . . . . Krueger never writes the same book twice as each installment finds him delving deeper into Cork's psyche."

Sun., Sept. 25th DROP BY:  DAVE BARRY and RIDLEY PEARSON
The Bridge to Never Land (Hyperion, $18.99). [Y/A, 9-12].  
"Bringing the Starcatchers series into the twenty-first century, this chapter book features Sarah and her brother, Aidan [now ages 17 and 15, respectively], who find a cryptic note in an antique desk and follow the clues to London, Princeton, and Orlando. Along the way, they clash with evil Lord Ombra, find an ally in Molly Darling's great-great-great nephew, and discover Einstein's part in the plan. The plot is a thrill ride of action and adventure," said Booklist.  And PW added: "The book's joyful sense of adventure and wonder is tempered somewhat by the constant pursuit of authorities and parental figures, as well as scenes set in Disney World that seem to be designed to remind readers that runaway children are serious business in this day and age. Nonetheless, it's a worthy complement to the series."

Tues., Sept. 27th  at 7:00 PM: "M" is for Mystery Bookclub
This month's book is The Age of Dreaming by Nina Revoyr.
Join us every last Tuesday of the month for lively d
iscussion about selected books!  Please note: This is not an author event and the author will not be present.



Fri., Sept. 30th DROP BY: 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."

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

Sat., Oct. 1st at 2:00 PM: MARCOS MCPEEK VILLOTORA - 'Blood Daughters' - Cick Here to Pre-Order!
Tues., Oct. 4th DROP BY: RUSSELL BANKS - 'Lost Memory of Skin' -  Cick Here to Pre-Order!
* Thurs., Oct. 6th DROP BY: NEAL STEPHENSON - Reamde - Cick Here to Pre-Order!
Sun., Oct. 9th at 2:00 PM: MICHAEL STANLEY - 'Death of the Mantis' (TPBO) - Click Here to Pre-Order!
* Thurs., Oct. 13th DROP BY: DANIEL WOODRELL - 'The Outlaw Album' -  Click Here to Pre-Order!
Fri., Oct. 14th at 7:00 PM: DENISE MINA - 'The End of Wasp Season'  - Click Here to Pre-Order!
Wed., Oct. 19th at 7:30 PM: VENDELA VIDA - 'The Lovers'  - Click Here to Pre-Order!
Thurs., Oct. 20th DROP BY: AMITAV GHOSH - 'River of Smoke'  - Click Here to Pre-Order!
Wed., Oct. 26th or Thurs., Oct. 27th DROP BY: CHARLES FRAZIER - 'Nightwoods' - Click Here to Pre-Order
pen nib                      Coming Attractions
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FALL 2011 PREVIEW: (Asterisk indicates name added since last week* .) 
* AVERY AAMES  /  CARA BLACK   /  * KATE CARLISLE  / JOHN CONNOLLY  /  ANTHONY HOROWITZ  /  ANN PARKER /  PRISCILLA ROYAL /   DAVID VANN   /  * PENNY WARNER
pen nib           Signed First Editions - Just Arrived
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MARGARET COEL - The Perfect Suspect
(Penguin, $25.95).  
"A reporter and a killer duel over the murder of a political candidate. The hottest story in Denver is the shooting of gubernatorial hopeful David Matthews. Investigative journalist Catherine McLeod ('Blood Memory') has been covering the campaign for the Denver Journal. Now a mysterious phone call from a woman who names the murderer launches Catherine into a tricky investigation. . . . Although Coel reveals the killer's identity in the first chapter, the dangerous dance between Catherine and her quarry provides all the tension you could ask for," said 'Kirkus'. And 'Library Journal' added: "The Wind River Mystery series holds great possibilities, with Catherine's Arapaho background and the myriad news stories that still lie ahead."

See Deluxe Editions below for more Margaret Coel!



DAVID KING - Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris
(Crown, $26.00).  
Three starred reviews, and here they are. From Booklist: "Erik Larson's tour de force of narrative nonfiction hasn't been matched -- until now. . . While this work is painstaking in its research, it still has the immediacy and gasp power of a top-notch thriller. True-crime at its best." From PW: "In 1944, when Parisian police entered a mansion littered with dismembered, rotting bodies, they thought of the Gestapo, but it turned out to be a purely French affair. Historian King has mined the resulting global media circus and extensive official records to tell a gripping story. . . " And Kirkus concluded: "The narrative is fresh and clear, told succinctly, but with a befitting level of detail. . . . expertly written and completely absorbing."



JOYCE CAROL OATES - New Jersey Noir
(Akashic, $24.95).  
"Oates's introduction to Akashic's noir volume dedicated to the Garden State, with its evocative definition of the genre, is alone worth the price of the book. . . highlights include Lou Manfredo's "Soul Anatomy," in which a politically connected rookie cop is involved in a fatal shooting in Camden; S.J. Rozan's "New Day Newark," in which an elderly woman takes a stand against two drug-dealing gangs; and. . . . Barry N. Malzberg and Bill Pronzini's "Meadowlands Spike," in which a man's confession details the end of Jimmy Hoffa. Poems by C.K. Williams, Paul Muldoon, and others-plus photos by Gerald Slota-enhance this distinguished entry," said PW.

ALSO:
--  'Give Me Your Heart' (Houghton Mifflin, 2010, $25.00) As New. Signed.
-- 'A Widow's Story' (HarperCollins, 2011, $27.99) As New. Signed.  



JIMMY OLSEN - Poison Makers
(Hoffman House Press, $19.95).  
All of us who enjoyed Things In Ditches by Jimmy Olsen -- published over ten years ago -- are now rewarded for our long wait, with another winner! This one boasts an exotic location and a fine complement of wild characters and customs.  Library Journal starred: "Put this in your cart right now. . . . Exciting, twisted, educational, if you will, with great dialog and an unforgettable finish. . . . Officially, Adam Quist, the U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republican, died of a heart attack one morning in 1972, but readers know that he's been poisoned by a voodoo concoction. Guileless part-time PI Edgar Espinosa-Jones (EJ), our Dominican American hero, is hired to investigate Quist's death. Big mistake! EJ's over his head with the myriad Caribbean cultures-Haitian and Cuban politics and religion mixed in with a heady dose of the CIA and the Marines."

ALSO:
--  'Things in Ditches' (North Star Press, 2000, $24.95) As New. Signed. 



pen nib                           Spotlight On..
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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 Gardener' (Little Brown, 2006, $5.00) VF/VF. As New.



 pen nib                    AWARDS SEASON!
Bouchercon 2011 concluded yesterday in St. Louis, and among other things, it was the occasion for various awards ceremonies. Here are the winners of the Anthony, Macavity, and Shamus Awards. We congratulate all who were nominated, and the winners, some of whom won multiple awards!

2011 ANTHONY AWARD WINNERS

Best Novel: LOUISE PENNY  -  'Bury Your Dead'

Best Paperback Original: DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI - 'Expiration Date'

Best Short Story: DANA CAMERAON - "Swing Shift" ('Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side)

Best Critical/Non-Fiction: JOHN CURRAN - Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making

* Best First Novel: HILARY DAVIDSON - 'The Damage Done'

Best Graphic Novel: JASON STARR - 'The Chill'


2011 MACAVITY AWARD WINNERS

Best Mystery Novel: LOUISE PENNY - 'Bury Your Dead'

Best First Mystery Novel: BRUCE DeSILVA - 'Rogue Island'

Best Mystery-Related Nonfiction: JOHN CURRAN - 'Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making'

Best Mystery Short Story: DANA CAMERON - 'Swing Shift'

* Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery: KELLI STANLEY - 'City of Dragons'


2011 SHAMUS AWARD WINNERS

Best Hardcover P.I. Novel: LORI ARMSTRONG - No Mercy

Best First P.I. Novel: MICHAEL AYOOB - 'In Search of Mercy'

Best Paperback Original P.I. Novel: CHRISTOPHER G. MOORE - Asia Hand

Best P.I. Short Story: GAR ANTHONY HAYWOOD - 'The Lamb Was Sure to Go' (Alfred Hitchcock Magazine)

The Hammer Award (Best P.I. Series Character): SARA PARETSKY for V.I. Warshawski

The EYE (Lifetime Achievement Award): ED GORMAN

 pen nib                   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.

RHYS BOWEN - Naughty in Nice - Buy Now!
LEE CHILD - The Affair - Buy Now!
CLIVE CUSSLER - The Race - Buy Now!
GERALD ELIAS - Death and the Maiden - Buy Now!
DENISE HAMILTON - Damage Control - Buy Now!
LAURIE R. KING - The Pirate King - Buy Now!
ERIN MORGENSTERN - The Night Circus - Buy Now!
LOUISE PENNY - A Trick of the Light - Buy Now!
KATHY REICHS - Flash and Bones - Buy Now!
LEONARD ROSEN - All Cry Chaos - Buy Now!
JAMES SALLIS - The Killer is Dying - Buy Now!
DAN SIMMONS - Flashback - Buy Now!
KELLI STANLEY - City of Secrets - Buy Now!
CHARLES TODD - A Bitter Truth - Buy Now!
JASON WEBSTER - Or The Bull Kills You - Buy Now!

pen nib        Signed First Editions - Expected Soon
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ANY BOOK SIGNED ONLY ON A TIPPED-IN PAGE IS SO INDICATED. 
Asterisk indicates name added since last week.


LAWRENCE BLOCK (as Jill Emerson) - Getting Off - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
MICHAEL BRANDMAN - Robert Parker's Killing the Blues - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
TANIA CARVER (Pseudonym for Martyn Waites) - The Surrogate - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
RITA MAE BROWN - Murder Unleashed - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
JAMES LEE BURKE - Feast Day of Fools - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
MICHAEL CONNELLY - The Drop - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
COLIN COTTERILL - Killed at the Whim of a Hat - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
JAMES DOSS - Coffin Man - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
 R.J. ELLORY - A Simple Act of Violence - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
SUE GRAFTON - V Is For Vengeance - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
JOE & JOHN LANSDALE - Shadow West ($50.00 Subterranean Press Limited Edition)
VAL MCDERMID - Trick of the Dark - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
GEORGE PELECANOS - What It Was - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
LAURA JOH ROWLAND - The Ronin's Mistress - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
DAN SIMMONS - Phases of Gravity ($60.00 Subterranean Press Limited Edition)
SIMON TOYNE - Sanctus - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!
AMY WALDMAN - The Submission - Click Here to Pre-Purchase!



 pen nib             DELUXE & LIMITED EDITIONS
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MARGARET COEL - Watching Eagles Soar: Stories from the Wind River and Beyond
(A.S.A.P. Publishing, $300.00).  
This collector's 432-page limited edition has an Introduction by Craig Johnson, and an Afterword by William Kent Krueger. Artist Phil Parks created the 66 full-page illustrations; there are also eleven photographs, some from Margaret's personal collection. This edition is limited to 26 copies and is custom bound and housed in a clamshell case with one of the original illustrations laid in. 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.


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).

 pen nib             Used Books Now in Stock!
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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, Agatha Christie, Tom Clancy, Len Deighton, Barry Eisler, Erle Stanley Gardner, Carl Hiaasen, Donna Leon, Greg Rucka, Julie Smith, Rex Stout, and Donald Westlake (Richard Stark) and many more! These are all very good-condition copies, priced from $2.75 to $3.25. 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 Andrea Camilleri, Alexander McCall Smith, Carol O'Connell, Stuart Woods, Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich, and Donald Westlake (Richard Stark!)

Also, just in from the Swedish writing duo Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo, we have 10 of the original US mass market editions priced at $5.00 each!

Shipping Info:

We ship USPS Media mail within the US and USPS International Priority for overseas addresses

Shipping rates:

Standard Media Mail (in the mainland US ONLY) - $6.00 for the first book  $1.35 each additional book


 Priority Mail Domestic - email us to discuss the options

Overseas - email us to discuss the options
   

We accept Visa, MC, Amex and checks by arrangement  

STORE HOURS:

MONDAY - SATURDAY from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM,

 

SUNDAY from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM,

 

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

 PH.: (650) 401-8077 or Toll Free outside Bay Area: 888- 405-8077