Hello friends! We keep thinking it is March already, and judging by the noise the birds are making in the morning, we’re not the only ones. Publishing, however, is still in February mode, which is to say “Winter Season.”
Once upon a time, Winter was a time when no one read books (or so publishing thought), and so the release schedule would lighten. But then folks started slipping books into the Winter schedule to avoid the heavy traffic of the other seasons, and whaddya know? It worked! Books were seen! And then everyone thought the same idea (like, you know, releasing books with painted edges and raising the price $5), and now Winter is no longer a secret place to slip quirky reads.
First up this week is A. J. Finn’s End of Story, which is ominously tagged with “The Past isn’t gone; it’s just waiting.” Finn writes a thriller that is primed for TV. We’ve got our reclusive mystery writer with a mysterious past; there’s a family that dotes on him, but who start to wonder if they really know the man in their lives; and we’ve got a serious case of unreliable narratoritis.
Oh, that there were a cure for this malady, but alas, we suspect no lab is doing the necessary research.
Anyway, don’t be surprised when things turn out to not be what they seem in Finn’s new book.
Meanwhile, B. A. Paris’s new book, The Guest, is tagged “Some secrets never leave.” Everything’s so ominious this week. “The past is lurking in the koi pond.” “That secret of yours keeps putting its feet on the sofa.” “The cat keeps staring at the same spot on the floor in the kichen.” Winter Season is so stressful.
Anyway, in Paris’s new book, a house guest—oh, for crying out loud!—really doesn’t leave. The guest is rearranging the furniture, wearing other people’s clothes, and they might even be leaving the lids off jars in the refrigerator. It’s like Edward Gorey’s The Doubtful Guest recast with Emma Stone as the houseguest from Hell. Naturally, everyone makes terrible choices and fails to openly communicate, and so all sorts of terrible things happen. For some reason, this appears to be compulsively readable. Go figure.
Meanwhile, Mark Greaney leans on the hot topic of the year for The Chaos Agent, the newest Gray Man novel. That’s right, the world’s most deadly assassin must face off against an adversary who seems to know his every move before he does. That’s right, it’s the Gray Man versus Skynet. Plan accordingly.
Wait until we discover evidence of life on Mars. That’s when thriller writers are going to really start strip-mining plots from science fiction novels written fifty years ago.
And speaking of throwing up new wallpaper to make the room look more attractive, Steve Berry is back this week with The Atlas Maneuver, a propulsive “ripped from the headlines” thriller about legendary stashes of World War II gold, cryptocurrency conspiracies, and shadowy organizations that, presumably, are working toward world domination. Gee, it’s like Neal Stephenson’s Cryptonomicon, but at half the length and without the wry commentary on our relentless fascination with technology.
Okay, here’s something a little different. This is Hafsah Faizal’s A Tempest of Tea, which is the story of Arthie Casimir, a criminal mastermind who hatches the clever idea of transforming her tea room into a bloodhouse for vampires. Naturally, her quaint little bloodsucker bar is threatened, and she must assemble a band of misfits to drive a stake into the heart of the dark conspiracy in the vampire underground.
Striking cover art too. Well played.
And speaking of things that caught our eyes, Jeff Noon has a new book out. Gogamog: The First Chronicle of Ludwich (co-written with Steve Beard) is a hypnagognic fantasy journey. The river Nysis is unlike any other river—part Styx, part the path between worlds—and no one knew the currents better than Cady Meade. However, Meade’s lost her touch and is spending her days drinking and telling tales in a rundown resort. She’s approached by two strangers—a very ill girl and an artificial person with many secrets inside their crystal skull. They convince Meade to make one last trip, and as you can imagine—especially if you’re familiar with Noon—all sorts of marvelous and strange adventures await. Recommended.
And speaking of magic trips, here is Hwang Bo-Reum’s Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, the Korean version of Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore and Sokuke Natsukawa’s The Cat Who Saved Books. The Hyunam-dong Bookshop is a place where lost souls go. They wander the stacks. They bump into other souls. They share their dreams and desires. They find happiness. It’s . . .
Okay, we were going to say “It’s like hanging around here for weeks at a time,” but we don’t want to give anyone any ideas. Let’s just say this book affirms—yet again—the power of reading, community, and cozy places that are welcoming to all.
Meanwhile, William W. Johnstone (gone these last ten years) continues to produce new books. This week’s release is Catfish Charlie—a classic tale of the Old West wherein a retired Texas Ranger is coaxed back into the field to chase down a band of no-good ruffians who have slaughtered all the local law enforcement. “Oh, you old coot, Catfish Charlie!” the townsfolk cry. “Put down your fishing pole! Stop sucking on that bottle of mustang berry wine! We need saving!”
What the heck is mustang berry wine? Isn’t “berry” a rustic euphemism for . . . you know . . . stuff that comes out of the back end of animals? Which makes . . .
ANYWAY, Charlie—once a lawman, always a lawman—sets aside his fishing tackle and hauls out his old Colt Army .44, and sets off to serve up some hot, leaded justice.
And speaking of dead men and tales they tell, a couple of J. R. R. Tolkien books get sporty new covers this week. The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien, and The Fall of Gondolin are all dressed up like they’re going to slip across the aisle and hide themselves in the mythology section. We see you, little books. Nice try.
We’ll note that such is the power of Tolkien that his name on the cover of these books is his signature. Like, if you didn’t know what that scribble was, you’d be like “Who wrote this?” And everyone around you in the bookstore would awkwardly look away, valiantly trying to maintain the atmosphere of community and inclusivity that hangs sapidly in a room full of books.
And for those of you who are inclined to make the noise about yet another edition of Tolkien’s old stuff, oh, just you wait. Later this year, Tolkien’s publishers are going to make a grab for your wallet.
Ugh. We apologize for the ominous tone that keeps sneaking into this week’s newsletter. “The past is lurking near the stairwell.” “Secrets keep spilling out of from under the stairs.” “William Morrow & Company is waiting for you in the alley out back.” We blame the weather.
And speaking of scientifically plausible explanations, here is How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite. Presented by the co-founders of global science sensation Nerd Nite, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi is a collection of wacky and fascinating STEM factoids. Topics like “What Birds Can Teach Us About the Impending Zombie Apocalypse” and “Lessons from the Oregon Trail.” This one makes us laugh, even as it teaches us new things. We’re down with that.
And finally, here is The Museum Heist: A Mystery Agency Puzzle Book. Crafted by Henry Lewis, this book is for those who want a little more narrative structure to their Murdling. Think being locked in an escape room that’s on fire while you attempt to figure out today’s Wordle. And there are angry dogs barking nearby. They’re getting closer—no, wait. That’s being all ominous again.
It’s definitely the weather.
And speaking of tall tales told by booksellers, we'd like to remind you that Mr. Patterson is again giving money away to booksellers. Nominations are open through the middle of March, and you can go tell stories about your favorite booksellers at this link.
This week, we're highlighting Richard Chaote and Betsey Reed, the team that plays off the ropes during the weekdays at A Good Book. Their combined bookselling experience is a couple of decades, and between Richard's enthusiasm for graphic novels and rom-coms and Betsey's beguiling way of talking you into an Ottessa Moshfegh novel, they are on top of what all the famous people are reading (according to the stickers they keep putting on books, that is).
In addition to the aforementioned categories, Rich keeps both eyes on the kids' section upstairs and is always up for talking about what's going on in modern media. He prefers Tynion to Lemire, Jimenez to Roberts, and the Power Rangers over the Wonder Twins.
Betsey (two 'e's and a 'y,' unlike Beckey who . . . also has—never mind) grew up in and around different sorts of trees, is known to throw a stitch now and again, and yes, if you want to have a gab-fest about Moshfegh, Tokarczuk, or Bazterrica, Bestey's your bestie.
We should make t-shirts that say "Moshfegh Tokarczuk & Bazterrica." See how many folks accost you in the cracker aisle at the grocery store to excitedly talk about cannibalism, unreliable narrators, and Biblical narratives told in reverse.
Anyway, these two characters are a vital part of our store. Let Mr. Patterson know how much you appreciate them. Here's the nomination link once more: Patterson Bonus Nomination Link. You can use the store's email address for the form (enagoodbook@gmail.com).
