Short one today, because when this goes live I will be en-route with my daughter to Erie, PA, so we can be in the path of the eclipse totality. More on that next week.
But for now, just wanted to share some books I read recently that I really enjoyed…
Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett: This comes out April 30, and you can pre-order it here. You definitely should! Kellye is one of the best voices in crime fiction, and this book does an incredible job of balancing relevant social issues with a carefully-constructed, gripping mystery. Bonus: it helped me get through jury duty!
Dune by Frank Herbert: I had zero experience with Dune until recently, when I watched the movies. Diving into the book afterward was fun because 1. it was easier to follow the incredible amount of characters and worldbuilding and 2. it was like getting all these extras, those bits of story that couldn’t fit in the movie. This is sci-fi that’s made for me: big and sprawling and kinda nuts but most of all, deeply human.
The Man Who Saw Seconds by Alexander Boldizar: This book rocked my socks. It’s about a guy who can see five seconds into the future, and while that alone instantly makes it something I want to read, the way this book escalates kept me glued throughout. Christoph Paul over at CLASH Books asked me to blurb it, and here’s what I said: “I can't write a blurb that will do this justice. The Man Who Saw Seconds is everything I want in a book. I absolutely loved it, and you need to read this.” It comes out May 21 and you can pre-order it here.
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover: I am always encouraging writers to read outside their preferred genre. It helps to see different forms of storytelling, it helps to keep you fresh. I picked this up because I wanted to understand by Hoover has her own kiosk at the airport bookstores. She sells way more books than I do; she clearly knows something I don’t. And… I liked it! I can see why it’s popular. The voice is easy and friendly and light, which lulls you into a sense of security before diving into some very weighty subjects, which it unpacks with a surprising amount of thoughtfulness.
Alter Ego by Alex Segura: Alex knocked it out of the park with Secret Identity, a murder mystery set in the world of comic book publishing. The sequel, Alter Ego, is even better. It’s set decades later, and it’s a brilliant continuation, building on the first while standing on its own. It demonstrates a deep love for the genre, without shying away from the toxicity of the business. And it’s just a ripping page-turner. Available in December—pre-order it here.
The Get Off by Christa Faust: This one doesn’t even have a pre-order page or a cover yet. It’s the third book in Christa’s Angel Dare series, the first two of which are available from Hard Case Crime. Christa is a pal so it was hugely exciting that she passed me a draft to read. She didn’t specifically ask for a blurb, but I gave her one anyway: “Kneel before the Queen of Noir: Christa Faust is back, to show us how it’s done. Angel Dare’s sunset ride is brutal, propulsive, and heartrending, and the dust she kicks up will stick in your teeth long after you’ve finished.” It’ll come out at some point next year, I think, so in the meantime you can read the first two entries: Money Shot and Choke Hold. Go do that.
Not a whole lot of news in terms of my own stuff, though there will be plenty to share soon—a Blood Oath signing, more Assassins Anonymous and Dark Space stuff. Until then, go buy some books, and make some time today to check out the eclipse!
This is very kind of you--thank you!
Thank you!!