16 Books I Read in October

Happy November, my friends. If you haven't yet voted, please make a plan to do so tomorrow! (And wear your mask.)

I read 16 books in October, and most of them were audiobooks and almost all were for pure escapism. Maybe one of these days I'll return to books that make me think, but last month I wasn't in the mood. That said, I was surprised to find several 5-star reads/listens on my list. October was an awesome reading month.

Here are my brief thoughts. I wrote longer reviews for some of these over on GoodReads, where you'll also find my thoughts on the audiobook productions. Thanks to the publishers for print, digital, and/or audio review copies of the following books. Also many thanks to Libro.fm. My opinions are my own. Note too that I reviewed several of these for AudioFile magazine (indicated by "AFM"); my thoughts on the audiobook production can be found on their website.

• Prime Deceptions by Valerie Valdes (Harper Voyager; Sept. 8; AFM). This is book two of a series, which I listened to for a freelance assignment. An action-packed science fiction story starring a space smuggler trying to walk on the right side of the law; some romance, some LGBTQ+ themes. It was only okay for me.
• Road Out of Winter by Alison Stine (Mira; Sept. 1) I'm still reading dystopian; maybe because I'm looking for survival tips? Anyway, this one is scarily realistic. Wylodine has a green thumb, but after climate change creates never-ending winter and the infrastructure begins to fail, she decides to risk a road trip from Ohio to the presumably warmer and better California. The world is a dangerous place, even for a smart young woman. I really liked this; see deeper thoughts on Goodreads.
• And Now She's Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall (Forge; Sept. 22; AFM) This combination missing person investigation and domestic thriller was only okay for me. I liked the main character, Grayson Skyes, who is trying to solve her first case as a professional private investigator and liked that she made rookie mistakes though had solid instincts. A few side plots were a little confusing, but everything was clear by the end.
• Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith (Mulholland; Sept. 15) I thought I could rise above the controversy surrounding this title and the author because I really loved the first four Cormoran Strike books. Alas, I stopped reading about a quarter of the way in. I couldn't get over the issues and the book itself was not very good.

• The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (Redhook; Oct. 13) I liked this novel but not as much as I like Harrow's The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Still, this story of three sisters and women's power, love, independence, and knowledge was good and gave me lots to think about.
• A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson (William Morrow; Oct. 27) I really liked this start of a mystery series starring wildlife biologist Alex Carter. When she gets the opportunity to take over a field research project in northern Montana to study wolverines, she doesn't hesitate, even though she'll be working alone. Someone, however, does not want her in the wilderness preserve. What are they hiding? Good in print or audio.
• Silence of the White City by Eva Garcia Saenz (Vintage Crime; July 28; AFM) Unlike many published reviews of this start of a trilogy set in the Basque country, I have some reservations with the book. First, what I liked about this police procedural mystery: the plotting, the characters, and the details of the city and Basque culture and history. What I didn't like: the translation was not smooth, often using a clumsy literal translation when an idiom would have been better. Still, now that I'm on guard about the translation issues, I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
• Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam (Ecco; Oct. 6) Another dystopian, this one set in contemporary times in the Hamptons after an unexplained blackout leaves people without a clue of what happened or what may happen next. Two couples, one wealthy and Black and the other white and middle class, end up sheltering together as the new reality begins to settle on them.

• The Killing of the Tinkers by Ken Bruen (Minotaur; 2005; personal collection) This was a reread via audio for me. I love the darkness of the Jack Taylor series, set in Ireland. After Jack returns to Galway after a stay in London he juggles his personal problems with trying to solve targeted murders.
• Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth (William Morrow; Oct. 20) I encourage you to read my thoughts on Goodreads, but I loved this book about a book about a movie about a book with creepy happenings and female friendship and love. If you listen to the very well done audio, don't forget to download the accompanying PDF.
• The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart (Orbit; Sept. 8) This is the first in an non-Western epic fantasy with several plot lines, a few surprises, strong women and no love triangle. It's set in an island nation with hints of the Pacific; perhaps Japan. Maybe not the best fantasy I've read, but I'm still looking forward to book 2.
• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (Gallery; Oct. 13) This was a strong opening to another non-Western epic fantasy; this one set in pre-Columbian Mexico and Central America. Several plot lines, good characters, and great world building.

• They Never Learn by Layne Fargo (Gallery; Oct. 13) An engrossing and well-plotted revenge thriller / female Dexter mashup set on a small college campus with #metoo and LGBTQ+ themes. Worth the read.
• The Cold Millions by Jess Walter (Harper; Oct. 27; AFM) Set in Spokane, Washington, about 100 years ago, this is a story of two brothers who get caught up in larger sociopolitical issues. Read my review on Goodreads or in AudioFile magazine, but the short take is read this. A shoo-in for my top 10 list this year.
• Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy (Harper; Oct. 13) If you read too much about this thriller before you start, it will be spoiled. Avoid reviews! Fun escape reading with a nod to a well-known thriller / light horror book.
• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab (Tor; Oct. 6) This book about what happens if you make a deal with the Dark God deserves every single starred review and every second of buzz. Loved, loved, loved it. Trust me, you want to read this.
  

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5 Books for Speculative Fiction Fans

This week's roundup is all about escaping real life through speculative fiction. These days my world is full-on hard realities, so I want my reading to transport me to words that don't exist (at least not yet). The books I feature today represent some of the variety of stories found under the umbrella of fantasy and science fiction. I hope at least one will make it to your wish list.

Followers by Megan Angelo (Graydon House, Jan. 14) is a dual-time story that focuses on the effects of social media--first in 2015 and then in 2051. While some of the elements will seem familiar to our everyday lives in contemporary times (influencers and reality TV), how Angelo imagines that social media will evolve and change in the fairly close dystopian future gives us something to think about. The novel has garnered starred reviews and is billed as appealing to literary fiction lovers as well as dystopian fans. Opener:

Prologue / New York / 2051

So she still believed in mail, this woman, whoever she was. The first thing Marlow saw when she walked into the building was a grid of metal boxes, each with its own window and cobwebbed keyhole.

Audiobook: Read by Jayme Mattler (HarperAudio; 13 hr, 29 min)

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez (Del Rey, Jan 14) is the proof that science fiction is much more than the Earthlings-meet-aliens scenario of old television shows. Nia pilots a faster-than-light ship, which means she barely ages in comparison to her friends and family, eventually leaving her alone and lonely. When she meets an apparently orphaned boy, something tugs at her, and she takes him in. Others, however, have not forgotten the child, and they may want him back. Another novel with starred reviews and much buzz. Opener:

He was born with an eleventh finger. A small bead of flesh and bone beside his right pinky. The doctor calmed the worried parents and told them the nub was a harmless thing. “But still,” he said, unlacing a small cloth pouch, “a farmer needs only ten fingers to work the dhuba.” He coaxed the child to sleep with the smoke of torched herbs, and sliced the nub from the hand with a cauterizing knife.

Audiobook: Read by Shayna Small (Random House Audio; 13 hr, 17 min)

Strange Exit by Parker Peevyhouse (Tor Teen, Jan. 14) is a stand-alone science-fiction/dystopian thriller in which the only survivors of a nuclear holocaust are in orbit around Earth awaiting the time until it's safe to return to the planet. The people are kept alive in a virtual reality version of San Francisco, meant to ease their fears. When the system starts to break down and supplies run low, two teens manage to escape the simulation--one wants to rescue everyone on board before it's too late; the other decides that only some are worth saving. The reviews have been mixed. Opener:

The San Francisco Zoo: gates rusted open, weeds bursting through cracks in the asphalt, trees like many-armed scarecrows, broken and stunted. Lake figured she was the only person to set foot in the place in years. Not counting the boy in the tiger exhibit. Lake peered in at him through a curtain of dirt over the viewing glass. She guessed he was around her age, seventeen. He sat on a log, hunched over something she couldn’t see. No tiger in sight.

Audiobook: Read by Caitlin Davies (Blackstone; ~6 hr)

A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen (Mira, Jan. 14) is a different kind of dystopian story set in the aftermath of deadly flu pandemic that killed all but about 2 billion people on Earth. After a six-year quarantine, people emerge into public to start over, whether in closed cities, on communes, or in marauding gangs. Amid rumors of another flu outbreak, some survivors learn that it isn't all that easy to make a new beginning, especially when the secrets of their "before" life may be exposed. Another novel with mixed reactions. Opener:

People were too scared for music tonight. Not that MoJo cared. Her handlers had broken the news about the low attendance nearly an hour ago with some explanation about how the recent flu epidemic and subsequent rioting and looting kept people at home. They’d served the news with high-end vodka, the good shit imported from Russia. . . .

Audiobook: Read by Emily Woo Zeller (Harlequin Audio; 11 hr, 39 min)

Diamond City by Francesca Flores (Wednesday Books, Jan. 28) is a dark fantasy debut about a young adult orphan who is trying to make her way in a violent world. Aina, a professional assassin, takes on an assignment that will give her the funds to be her own boss--if she can evade her enemies long enough to make the successful hit. To complicate matters, she must justify her life choices against the lessons taught by her murdered parents, who used their magic to protect those in need. Reviewers feel the world-building could be stronger but praise the action and the plotting. Opener:

The baker’s final words were smothered by a whimper.

“You know how they say you should watch out for the quiet ones?” Aina’s breath fogged the blade of the dagger she held. “They were right.” She took her time with the blade, heedless of his screams.

Audiobook: Read by Frankie Corzo (Macmillan Audio; 9 hr, 59 min)

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11 Picks for Speculative Fiction Fans

Here at Beth Fish Reads I try my best to provide book news for a range of reading tastes. Last week I was all about true stories, so this week I’ve taken a 180. The books featured today are not only fiction but have some fantastical elements. Most are set in fully imaginary worlds, but one takes places in the bleak future and a couple are based in contemporary times.

Here are 11 November books that caught my eye. The summaries are from the publisher, and I’ve included the first line and audiobook information as well. Speculative fiction lovers have a lot to be grateful for this month.

Note: All books were provided (digital, print, or audio) by the publisher; some first lines are from advance reader copies.

Life and Limb by Jennifer Roberson (DAW, Nov. 5) The first installment in a new urban fantasy with a western slant on Armageddon.

Gabe Harlan, ex-con biker, and Remi McCue, Texas cowboy, are informed—no, commanded—by a higher power that they must form a partnership, bound by blood and bone, to help save the world. Complete strangers one moment, they have now been thrust together, conscripted into heaven’s army-on-earth. While Remi is willing to believe in such things, to Gabe, newly released from prison, it makes no sense that heaven would count on humans when it has angels in its armory.

First line: “His voice was rich, a much loved, clear baritone, as he handed his seven-year-old grandson a gun.” Audiobook: Read by Kevin Stillwell (Audible Studios; 10 hr, 57 min).

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White (Delacorte Press, Nov. 5) This first in a trilogy offers a fresh look at Guinevere and her role at Camelot.

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution—send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. . . . To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old—including Arthur’s own family—demand things continue as they have been, and the new—those drawn by the dream of Camelot—fight for a better way to live.

First line: “There was nothing in the world as magical and terrifying as a girl on the cusp of womanhood.” Audiobook: Read by Elizabeth Knowelden (Listening Library; 10 hr, 51 min)

Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson (Tor Teen, Nov. 5) The story of two sisters living in a fairy-tale world.

Zuhra and Inara have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins, an abandoned fortress where legendary, magical warriors once lived before disappearing from the world—including their Paladin father the night Inara was born. On that same night, a massive, magical hedge grew and imprisoned them within the citadel. . . . For fifteen years they have lived, trapped in the citadel, with little contact from the outside world . . . until the day a stranger passes through the hedge, and everything changes.

First line: “The night my sister was born, the stars died and were reborn in her eyes.” Audiobook: Read by Caitlin Kelly (Macmillan Audio, 14 hr, 42 min)

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw (Simon Pulse, Nov. 5) A dark fantasy set near a haunted woods lightened by elements of romance.

Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he’d been missing.

First line: “Never waste a full moon, Nora, even in winter, my grandmother used to say.” Audiobook: Read by Emma Lysy and Mark Turesky (Audible Studios; 10 hr, 16 min)

Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade (Tor, Nov. 5) An epic fantasy full of adventure and friendship.

Everyone loves Mathias. Naturally, when he discovers it’s his destiny to save the world, he dives in headfirst, pulling his best friend, Aaslo, along for the ride. However, saving the world isn’t as easy, or exciting, as it sounds in the stories. The going gets rough, and folks start to believe their best chance for survival is to surrender to the forces of evil, which isn’t how the prophecy goes. At all. As the list of allies grows thin . . . they must decide how to become the heroes they were destined to be or, failing that, how to survive.

First line: “ ‘Why?’ Mathias said as he stared down at the back of his best friend’s head.” Audiobook: Read by Nick Podehl (Macmillan Audio; 12 hr, 33 min)

Day Zero by Kelly deVos (Inkyard Press, Nov. 12) Set in the near future, a story of survival after organized violence ends life as we know it.

Seventeen-year-old coder Jinx Marshall grew up spending weekends drilling with her paranoid dad for a doomsday she’s sure will never come. . . . Now that her parents are divorced, she’s ready to relax. But all that disaster training comes in handy when . . . a pattern of violence erupt[s] all over the country. . . . In a desperate attempt to evade paramilitary forces and vigilantes, Jinx and her siblings . . . make a break for Mexico. . . . But if they can survive, will there be anything left worth surviving for?

First line: “I will save the world.” Audiobook: no information

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (Doubleday, Nov. 5) Stories come alive in an underground world where time is fluid and people are not what they seem.

Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, . . . he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues—a bee, a key, and a sword—that lead him . . . through a doorway to an ancient library hidden far below the surface of the earth. What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians—it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead.

First line: “There is a pirate in the basement.” Audiobook: Read by Dominic Hoffman and others (Random House Audio, 18 hr, 37 min)

Eight Will Fall by Sarah Harian (Henry Holt BYR, Nov. 26) A dark adventure fantasy with battles, monsters, and forbidden magic

In a world where magic is illegal, eight criminals led by rebellious Larkin are sent on a mission to rid their kingdom of monsters. Descending into an underground world full of unspeakable horrors, Larkin and her crew must use their forbidden magic to survive. As they fight in the shadows, Larkin finds a light in Amias, a fellow outlaw with a notorious past. . . . But as the beasts grow in number and her band is picked off one by one, Larkin is forced to confront a terrible truth: They were never meant to return.

First line: “Beneath Larkin’s glowing lantern, luminite shimmered like fish scales in the darkness of Ethera Mine.” Audiobook: Read by Lauren Fortgang (Macmillan; 10 hr, 15 min)

Unnatural Magic by C. M. Waggoner (Ace, Nov. 5) A standalone historical fantasy with strong female characters who hope to forge peace in their land

Onna Gebowa is determined to become a great wizard. She can write the parameters of a spell faster than any of the young men in her village school. But despite her incredible abilities, she’s denied a place at the nation’s premier arcane academy. . . . Tsira is a troll who never quite fit into her clan, despite being the leader’s daughter. She decides to strike out on her own and look for work in a human city. . . . Trolls have lived alongside—and been revered by—humans for generations, but now it appears they’re being targeted by a sinister sorcery. And Onna and Tsira both begin to devote their considerable abilities into figuring out how to stop the deaths before their homeland is torn apart.

First line: “Onna Gebowa always liked numbers.” Audiobook: Read by Shiromi Arserio (Blackstone; ~14 hr)

Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao (Delacorte Press, Nov. 19) The start of an epic fantasy series with elements of mystery, political intrigue, and corruption

In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are unnatural—dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, has a terrifying secret. Her deadly Affinity to blood is her curse and the reason she has lived her life hidden behind palace walls. When Ana’s father, the emperor, is murdered, her world is shattered. Framed as his killer, Ana must flee the palace to save her life. And to clear her name, she must find her father’s murderer on her own. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is far different from the one she thought she knew.

First line: “The prison bore a sharp resemblance to the dungeons of Anastacya’s childhood: dark, wet, and made of unyielding stone that leaked grime and misery.” Audiobook: Read by Emily Woo Zeller (Listening Library; 13 hr, 57 min)

Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean (HMH BYR, Nov. 6) Set in a world where women battle for power and shape-shifters are despised

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yokai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yokai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit.

First line: “Breathing in the dark, and not her own.” Audiobook: Read by Hanako Footman (HMH, 9 hr, 52 min)

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10 New Thrillers Written by Women

I love a good thriller, mystery, suspense, or crime novel, and I'm not too picky about subgenres. I'll take a fun cozy mystery, a creepy domestic thriller, or an intense suspense novel. Once I've settled into a comfy chair and opened to the first page, I'm ready for an afternoon of escape reading. Here are 10 good thriller/mysteries, all written by women and all new this month.

• The Broken Girls by Simone St. James (Berkley, March 20; supernatural thriller): Murder, ghosts, and secrets that won't rest are all connected to an event that took place at a boarding school for unruly and unwanted girls. Set in Vermont. Opening lines: "The sun vanished below the horizon as the girl crested the rise of Old Barrons Road. Night, and she still had three miles to go."
• Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh (Berkley, March 13; psychological thriller): A new mother feels the loss of her parents, whose deaths were considered suicide. As she digs into her family's past, she feels danger closing in. Set in East Sussex. Opening lines: "Death does not suit me. I wear it like a borrowed coat; it slips off my shoulders and trails in the dirt."
• If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin (William Morrow, March 6; suspense): A teen is accused of a carjacking and hit-and-run murder, but when the case hits social media the facts don't look that simple. Set in New York state. Opening lines: "By the time you read this, I'll be dead. This isn't Jackie. It's her son Wade."
• Death Comes in through the Kitchen by Teresa Dovalpage (Soho Crime, March 20; mystery/detective): After a Cuban food blogger is found dead in her bathtub, her fiancé--newly arrived in the country for the wedding--becomes the prime suspect. Can he clear his name and find the true killer? Set in Havana. Opening line: "The Cuban customs officer lifted an eyebrow at the bridal gown--a white satin bodice with tulle appliques, sheer sleeves, and a two-foot train--and took a long, suspicious look at the couple."
• Crimson Lake by Candice Fox (Forge, March 6; suspense): A private investigator and ex-police detective meet in an isolated Australian community, each hiding from their past. In this first of a new series, the two team up to find a missing person. Set in Queensland. Opening lines: "I was having some seriously dark thoughts when I found Woman. The only company I'd had in a month was my gun, and they can start to talk to you after a while, guns, if you're alone with them long enough."

• Dipped to Death by Kelly Lane (Berkley, March 6; cozy mystery): Eva Knox is surprised when her ex-boyfriend shows up at her family's olive farm and inn, claiming he's in town to do some bird watching. After he's found dead in her pond, poisoned by olive oil, she must scramble to find the murderer and save her family's reputation. Set in rural Georgia. Opening lines: "Given the bizarreness of the night before, all in all, it'd been a pretty ho-hum September day in Abundance, Georgia. Right up until the moment Dolly and I spied that odd mop of brown stuff bobbing in the pond."
• Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 13; thriller / suspense): A diverse group of six teens are trapped in their school after a series of bombs goes off. Their survival may depend on how well they can work together, especially when they learn the bomber is still inside the building. Opening lines: " 'Don't fight,' Cas said from the doorway that Frankie and Z had just disappeared through. Tears glistened in her eyes. 'Can we turn the radio back on? Maybe they'll tell us help is finally coming.' "
• Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney (Flatiron, March 13; domestic thriller): A woman is in a coma, able to hear but unable to speak or move. She listens and thinks while her family talks, remembering her past and beginning to suspect that her husband might be a bad, bad man. Set in England. Opening lines: "My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me: 1. I'm in a coma. 2. My husband doesn't love me anymore. 3. Sometimes I lie."
• The Woman Left Behind by Linda Howard (William Morrow, March 6; romantic suspense): Can a woman with a military desk job and a high security clearance transform herself into a valuable member of a field-op team? Maybe with the help of the man who trained her. Set in Syria. Opening lines: "Congresswoman Joan Kingsley moved quietly through the deep night-shadows of her home, not turning on any lights because darkness suited her these days. She resented the sun for shining, people for laughing, the days for passing."
• The Other Mother by Carol Goodman (William Morrow, March 27; Gothic thriller): Taking her infant daughter and running from a controlling husband, a woman assumes a new identity and starts a job as an archivist in a remote mansion in the Catskills. A new friend, a decades-old mystery, a creepy mental asylum, and a bout of postpartum depression threaten to pull her under entirely. Opening lines: "She's crying again. I don't know why I say again. Sometimes it seems as if she's done nothing but cry since she was born. As if she'd come into this world with a grudge."

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Eight Great Reads for November

Now that Daylight Savings Time has ended and the nights are long and cold, I'm getting ready to spend my evenings hunkered down with a pot of tea and a stack of good books. Here are some of my must-read titles from November's releases.

Dark Tales for Dark Nights

Although Watchers of the Dark by Joseph Nassie (Tor; ISBN-13: 9780765327208) may be a little scary for me, I don't think I'll be able to resist its intriguing genre mix of urban fantasy and thriller. In this third Jeremiah Hunt book, our hero finds himself at the gates of hell, hoping he can survive the cost of keeping them shut forever. A different kind of darkness is found in Ronald Frame's Havisham (St. Martin's Press / Picador; ISBN-13: 9781250037275), which imagines how young, wealthy Catherine Havisham was transformed into the mysterious Miss Havisham of Dickens's Great Expectations. I'm curious about what changed her from a carefree girl into a woman who haunted her own mansion. Keeping with the dark theme, I'm looking forward to Charles Palliser's new Gothic tale, Rustication (Norton; ISBN-13: 9780393088724). When seventeen-year-old Richard Shenstone is sent down from Cambridge, he relocates to a ramshackle mansion with his mother and sister. Soon after, the village experiences a number of disturbing incidents from petty crime to gruesome murder. All eyes turn to Richard, an opium addict who can barely control his sexual urges.

Family in All Its Guises

I don't know if I need to tell any of you how much I love Adriana Trigiani. She is one of the nicest, most generous people I've ever met. Her newest novel, The Supreme Macaroni Company (HarperCollins / Harper; ISBN-13 9780062136589), focuses on some of my favorite themes: family, love, and emigration. I can't wait to revisit Valentine and travel the world through Trigiani's words. I was thrilled to have had the chance to meet Wally Lamb at BEA this year, and his We Are Water (HarperCollins / Harper; ISBN-13: 9780061941023) is on the top of my reading list. This contemporary novel explores issues of sexuality, parenthood, class, and politics. I particularly love the fact that the story is told from multiple points of view, giving us a well-rounded perspective of a family in crisis. Inappropriate teacher–student relationships is a popular theme this year and is also at the core of Kristina Riggle's The Whole Golden World (HarperCollins / William Morrow; ISBN-13: 9780062206459). The story explores the consequences not only of the affair once it's discovered but also of seventeen-year-old Morgan's decision to stand up for her schoolteacher/lover.

A Nonfiction Duo

After reading the summary of Wendy Lawless's memoir, Chanel Bonfire (Simon & Schuster / Gallery Books; ISBN-13: 9781476745480), I was surprised she survived her childhood with enough groundedness to have had a successful acting career. Lawless shares the difficulties of dealing with a horribly disturbed mother while protecting her younger sister and of her ultimate, painful decision to find her own path. Fried Walleye and Cherry Pie, edited by Peggy Wolff (University of Nebraska Press; ISBN-13: 9780803236455) was another great BEA discovery. In this collection of essays a variety of Midwest authors share stories and thoughts on food, from small town to city to county fair. I can't wait to settle in with this slim volume and then share my thoughts with you in a Weekend Cooking post.

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Today's Read: River Road by Suzanne Johnson

What's a modern wizard to do when new beings start appearing in post-Katrina Louisiana? Drusilla Jaco (DJ) has enough problems just keeping the humans unaware of the paranormals, but when someone or something begins to murder wizards, her life is turned upside down.

The minute hand of the ornate grandfather clock crept like a gator stuck in swamp mud. I'd been watching it for half an hour, nursing a fizzy cocktail from my perch inside the Hotel Monteleone. The plaque on the enormous clock claimed it had been hand-carved of mahogany in 1909, about 130 years after the birth of the undead pirate waiting for me upstairs.

They were both quite handsome, but the clock was a lot safer.

—River Road by Suzanne Johnson (Tor / Tom Doherty, 2012; opening paragraphs)

Quick Facts

• Setting: New Orleans and surrounding areas
• Circumstances: paranormal creatures looking for war; serial killer of wizards
• Characters: DJ (wizard sentinel) and her partner, Alex Warin (a shifter) plus a dead pirate, merpeople, weres, and more
• Themes: murder, betrayal, clashing cultures, relationships/dating
• Genre: urban fantasy (with some humor), mystery
• Miscellaneous: this is the second book in a series

Want to know more? Check out Suzanne Johnson's blog.

Buy River Road at an indie or at a bookstore near you. (Link leads to an affiliate program.)
ISBN-13: 9780765327802
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Giveaway & Guest Post: The Witch of Babylon by D.J. McIntosh

I like a good thriller, especially one based in archaeology and folklore. It's even more fun when the novel involves puzzles, historical accuracy, and exotic locales. Thus D. J. McIntosh's The Witch of Babylon should be a great match for me.

Based on the publisher's summary, the story centers around John Madison, a Turkish-American art dealer who is caught up in a race to recover a "priceless relic looted from Iraq's National Museum" when Baghdad fell in 2003. Working with an archaeologist and a photojournalist, John is forced to solve a puzzle—which involves witches, Assyrian lore, and alchemy—all the while trying to stay two steps ahead of the villains.The Witch of Babylon involves revenge, treasure, and an ancient prophecy, promising a lot of action.

I haven't started the book yet, but when I was looking through it, I noticed it's illustrated with maps, photos, and clues to the puzzle. Reviewers have commented that the story has satisfying twists and turns and is a smart thriller that's hard to put down. The Witch of Babylon is the first in a planned trilogy.

To help celebrate the U.S. release of The Witch of Babylon (October 16), I'm pleased to welcome author D. J. McIntosh to Beth Fish Reads. Today she is talking about learning to bend the rules.

Writing What You Know

How many times have we heard new writers advised to "write what you know"? Well-meant guidance, I'm sure and the thought has a lot of merit. When writers draw on their own experience, their novel is often richer and the more convincing for it.

But here's another common adage "rules are meant to be broken." And when I sat down to write my first novel, The Witch of Babylon, I did break a lot of rules.

This didn't transpire out of sheer rebelliousness but was a result of luck, circumstances, and that author's inner voice it's always wise to pay attention to. Professionals I'd sought advice from recommended I choose a gutsy female protagonist. They were trending well in current literature, and being a woman myself, well, I'd be writing what I knew! But as I began the book, the inner voice that came to me was that of a thirty-something guy, an art dealer and risk taker who wasn't averse to crossing the legal line—as long as he didn't get caught of course. He came fully formed, I could see his image in my mind readily: European looking with a close cropped beard, dark hair and eyes. Even his name, John Madison, came easily. Especially when you're writing in first person, you need to feel a bond with your central character, and that's just what I felt. I'll leave it to others to decide whether this was successful, but I'm happy to say that a great many men who've read the book really like Madison and don't sense anything out of place.

Rule number two that I broke—the setting. The first part of The Witch is set in New York. I made several trips to that wonderful city to research all the locations, so in a sense, I was writing what I knew. But the second part of my novel is set in Iraq at the start of the 2003 war. Absolutely no way could I go there. So these circumstances required me to spend months researching everything I could find about life in Iraq. In this I will be forever grateful to the many journalists and photographers whose articles, books, and reports made it possible for me to tell my story convincingly. I was nervous about using a place I'd never even visited, but it's interesting that I ended up finding the Iraq portion easier to write than the rest.

Rule number three relates to getting one's book published rather than the book's content, and in that regard the most commonly recommended course of action was to circulate query letters in the hope your work will catch at least one literary agent's eye who will go on to sell your book for a six figure advance (well OK, maybe five figures to start with). Hearing about all the dreaded slush piles towering in agent's offices, I chose again not to follow the good advice. Instead I entered a competition called the Debut Dagger administered by the estimable Crime Writers Association in the UK. It was a moment of pure euphoria when I learned my submission for The Witch had been shortlisted. In the weeks following, I received expressions of interest from a couple of agents and signed on with one of them.

So yes, write what you know and follow the rules, but only after you've listened to your inner voice and chosen to write the book you feel passionate about.

Thanks so much, D.J. I think it's fantastic that you were able stick to your instincts and still come out on top. And as for rule number one: I bet John Madison displays a few rule-breaking behaviors himself during his Iraqi adventure.

To learn more about The Witch of Babylon, visit the novel's interactive website. For more on D. J. McIntosh, visit her Facebook page or follow her on Twitter.

The Giveaway: Thanks to Tor/Forge I am able offer one of my readers a finished copy of D. J. McIntosh's debut novel, The Witch of Babylon. To enter for a chance to win, all you have to do is fill out the following form. I'll pick the winner via a random number generator on October 22. (After the winner is confirmed, I'll delete all data from the form's database.) Because the giveaway is being handled by the publisher, it's open to only those with a U.S or Canadian mailing address. Good luck!



Published by Macmillan / Tor . Forge, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780765333667

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Review: An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor

An Irish Country Christmas is the third book in Patrick Taylor's Irish Country series. I read An Irish Country Doctor and Irish Country Village before I stared blogging. The following assumes you've read the first two books, although I doubt reading this review will ruin the fun. If you are concerned, jump to below the asterisks

It's six months after the young Dr. Barry Laverty arrived in the village of Ballybucklebo, just northeast up the coast from Belfast, to work with his father's old army buddy Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly. Barry is beginning to get the hang of country doctoring, and the townsfolk have accepted him as one of their own. Even the dog, Arthur Guinness, is starting to take Barry seriously.

As Christmas approaches, Barry and Fingal are both a bit preoccupied with their love lives, but they always put their patients first. Being a country doctor, Barry has learned, means that you treat more than just medical conditions. For example, the doctors want to help Eileen Lindsay, a young widow who is worried finding money to buy her kids presents; Colin Brown, a six-year-old who doesn't want to go to school; and the Shanks family, who are new in town and don't yet know the local customs.

To top it off, there is new competition in town, one Dr. Ronald Hercules Fitzpatrick, whose methods of treatment leave a lot to be desired. What are the ethical obligations of Barry and Fingal to make sure that Ronald "first, does no harm"?

* * * * * * *

Taylor has created a wonderful cast of characters in the Irish Country series. The time period is 1964: rock and roll is on the radio, young people see a bright future, and women are just starting to fight for their rights. In the small village of Ballybucklebo , the citizens are on the cusp. They are are not as modern as Belfast and have pride in their country traditions, but they are not stuck in their ways; for instance, telephones are being installed in the remotest houses, and no one hesitates to seek treatment in the city hospital when necessary.

An Irish Country Christmas is full of small-town, character-driven humor, which is reminiscent of the Yorkshire world of James Herriot. The stories revolve around Barry, Fingal, and Mrs. Kincaid (their housekeeper) and their easygoing relationship with each other and the villagers. Don't miss this charming series.

The paperback edition of An Irish Country Christmas contains a glossary of Ulster expressions, and an afterword by Mrs. Kincaid, including a few of her recipes. The unabridged audio edition (Macmillan Audio) was narrated by John Keating, whose rendition of the Ulster-Scots language and accents draws you in and gives life to the characters.

Patrick Taylor has a great website where you can learn more about his characters and their village Here is a video of Talyor talking about his books.

An Irish Country Christmas at an Indie

An Irish Country Christmas at Powell's
An Irish Country Christmas at Amazon
Also available at Audible.com
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Published by Forge, 2008
ISBN-13: 9780765320728
Challenges: Ireland Reading, Audiobook, Support Your Library, 2010, 100+
YTD: 20
Source: Print: review copy; audio: borrowed (see review policy)
Rating: B+

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Review: A Mortal Bane by Roberta Gellis

How is it that Magdalene la Batarde has been able to set up her high-class brothel in the Old Priory Guesthouse, which is still owned by St. Mary Overy Church? Magdalene doesn't run a common whorehouse, and her women are far from usual. She employs simple-minded Ella, blind Sabina, and mute Letice. The cook and housekeeper, Dulcie, can barely hear. For a high price, a gentleman can spend an enjoyable evening and know his secrets will be kept.

One night in the spring of 1139, a messenger from the pope comes to the guesthouse gate and asks for lodging. Only hours after the man has been entertained by Sabina, a body is found on the steps of the church, and the women are accused of the murder. They know they will hang because who would believe the word of a whore over that of a church official?

Sir Bellamy of Itchen, a bishop's knight is sent to Soutwark (outside of London) to investigate the murder. When he visits the Old Priory Guesthouse to search for clues, he is surprised at what he finds and is immediately drawn to the beautiful Magdalene. As they work together to find the murderer, they learn that this crime is more than a simple case of a robbery gone wrong. Furthermore, the messenger may have carried papers important both to the church of St. Overy and to Stephen in his fight with Maud for the English crown.

In A Mortal Bane, Gellis draws us into the world of medieval England, and we get a peek at the politics of the early church. Greed, murder, overzealous piety, politics, prejudice, and simple jealousy must all be sorted out before the murderer can be found. All the while we wonder, along with Bellamy, about Magdalene's past and her relationship with her powerful benefactor.

I highly recommend this first in the series mystery, and I will absolutely be reading the rest. If you like Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael series, you'll like this too. The characters are complex, the dialogue is believable, and the action is just right.

I listened to this unabridged audiobook, which was read by Nadia May. May did an excellent job differentiating among the characters, and her accents and inflections enhanced the book.

Audio published by Blackstone Audiobooks, 2002
ISBN-13: 0786193964
Challenge: 25 Books
Rating: A

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