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Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, is heading out on a lengthy trip, so she hosted May Cobb and Ashley Winstead for an early release for both books. May Cobb’s new book is All the Little Houses. Winstead’s new book is The Future Saints. There are signed copies of both books available in the Webstore. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Here’s the summary of All the Little Houses.

“May Cobb’s most explosive book yet. And trust me, that’s saying a lot.” — Jeneva Rose

“Nobody does explosive and twisted like May Cobb does it.” —Lisa Jewell

Adults can behave badly too…

It’s the mid-1980s in the tiny town of Longview, Texas. Nellie Anderson, the beautiful daughter of the Anderson family dynasty, has burst onto the scene. She always gets what she wants. What she can’t get for herself… well, that’s what her mother is for. Because Charleigh Andersen, blond, beautiful, and ruthlessly cunning, remembers all too well having to claw her way to the top. When she was coming of age on the poor side of East Texas, she was a loser, an outcast, humiliated, and shunned by the in-crowd, whose approval she’d so desperately thirsted for. When a prairie-kissed family moves to town, all trad wife, woodworking dad, wholesome daughter vibes, Charleigh’s entire self-made social empire threatens to crumble.

Who will be left standing when the dust settles?

From the author of The Hunting Wives comes a deliciously wicked new thriller about mean girls, mean moms, and the delicious secrets inside all the little houses.

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MAY COBB is the award-winning author of The Hollywood Assistant, A Likeable Woman, My Summer Darlings, and The Hunting Wives, which is being adapted into an 8-episode series for STARZ. She earned her MA in literature from San Francisco State University and her essays and interviews have appeared in The Washington Post, Texas Highways, Good Housekeeping, and more. A Texas native, she lives in Austin with her family.

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Check out the description of Ashley Winstead’s The Future Saints.

A most anticipated book from Goodreads, Woman’s World, Brit + Co, and more!

For fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and In Five Years—a powerful, and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink, from bestselling author Ashley Winstead.

The best love stories are the ones you don’t expect.

When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral and Theo has been dispatched to coax a new—and successful—album out of them, or else let them go.

Immediately, Theo is struck by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who’s gone off script by debuting a whole new sound, replacing their California pop with gut-wrenching rock. When this new music goes viral, striking an unexpected chord with fans, Theo puts his career on the line to give the Saints one last shot at success with a new tour, new record, and new start.

But Hannah’s grief has larger consequences for the group, and her increasingly destructive antics become a distraction as she and her sister Ginny—her lifelong partner in crime—undermine Theo at every turn. Hannah isn’t ready to move on or prepared for the fame she’s been chasing, and the weight of her problems jeopardize the band, her growing closeness with Theo, and, worst of all, her relationship with her sister—all while the world watches closely. The Future Saints’s big break is here—if only they can survive it.

A novel about sisterhood, friendship, and the ghosts that haunt us, The Future Saints is “a mesmerizing look at grief, love, and the music industry that’s so raw and emotional, you’ll want to play it on repeat” (Laura Hankin, author of One-Star Romance).

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Ashley Winstead is an academic turned novelist with a PhD in contemporary American literature. She lives in Houston with her husband, three cats, and beloved wine fridge. Find out more at AshleyWinstead.com. 

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Enjoy Barbara Peters’ conversation with May Cobb and Ashley Winstead.

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, welcomed John McMahon back to the bookstore. Inside Man follows Head Cases, a novel featuring PAR, an FBI team that specializes in Patterns and Recognition. There are signed copies of Inside Man available through the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/uathfve8

Here’s the description of Inside Man.

In this sequel to McMahon’s electrifying series debut, Head Cases, Gardner Camden and the PAR team return to investigate potentially connected cases.

FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He and his squad of brilliant yet quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, the FBI’s hidden edge, brought in for cases that no one else can solve.

PAR’s latest case involves a militia group stockpiling weapons. When their confidential informant in the case is killed, it quickly becomes clear that the militia did not kill him.

As the squad looks into the evidence surrounding his murder, an unidentified man is caught on camera with their informant. This mystery man’s picture is connected to another case at the FBI, an unsolved series of murdered women, buried in the ground in north Florida. Could they have uncovered a serial killer? And if so, what is his connection to their C.I.?

As PAR juggles an investigation into both the dead women and the militia, they enroll a new informant, only to find the case escalating in dangerous ways. How will PAR handle a case that increasingly looks like a terrorist plot? And in the serial case, with no puzzles or witnesses, and few leads, how will a group set up to decode riddles be successful?

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If you like this series, you’ll want to watch the video. If you’re unfamiliar with John McMahon’s Head Cases series, check it out.

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, welcomed Amy Pease back to the bookstore to discuss her second book in the Northwoods series, Wildwood. There are signed copies on order, so you can order your copy through the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/4a23hcbp

Here’s the description of Wildwood.

“Amy Pease proves herself a master of modern literary crime fiction.” —Danielle Trussoni,New York Times bestselling author

From the award-winning author of the “riveting debut” (People) Northwoods, a mother-son law enforcement team confront buried secrets in their small town as they work to expose a conspiracy that goes far beyond the tight-knit community.

Deputy Sheriff Eli North has spent the last year getting his life back together. He hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol, he’s working through his PTSD from his military deployment, and he’s repairing his most important relationships. When an undercover informant disappears and all signs point to murder, Eli must expose the dark underbelly of his idyllic Wisconsin small town while safeguarding his newfound stability.

Then, with the unexpected arrival of FBI Agent Alyssa Mason, Eli and his mother, the sheriff, are pulled deeper into a violent criminal network built on the backs of the lost and forgotten.

As the case deepens, loyalties fracture and the line between justice and survival begins to blur. In a town where everyone has something to hide, exposing the truth may cost them everything.

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Enjoy the discussion of Wildwood.

A Lion’s Ransom is the sixteenth book in the Owen Archer series. She appeared for The Poisoned Pen to discuss medieval history and mysteries with Barbara Peters, the owner of the bookstore. You can order a signed copy of her latest book through the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/5fthmjaz

Here’s the description of A Lion’s Ransom.

Who stole the king’s coronation gift? Owen encounters murder, secrets and spies as he attempts to recover a missing gold lion.

‘A standout . . . Robb reinforces her place among the top writers of medieval historicals’ – Publishers Weekly Starred Review

York, 1377. A costly lion created by the goldsmiths of York as a gift for King Richard’s coronation is stolen. The desperate guildmaster begs Owen Archer to find it.

A CITY’S ROAR

But Owen has other troubles plaguing him. The French and Spanish navies are attacking English ports and boarding merchant ships. As the king’s man in the north, Owen is hunting spies, and in a city on edge every foreigner is suspect. Especially when a body is found in the river . . .

A DANGEROUS PREDATOR

Is there a connection between the theft of the golden lion, the drowning, and the subsequent torture and murder of a foreigner? Owen’s urgent search will uncover passions, betrayals and painful secrets that soon lead him to one of the most powerful men in the kingdom.

A page-turning, intricately plotted medieval mystery from a master storyteller, perfect for fans of PAUL DOHERTY, ELLIS PETERS and C.J. SANSOM.

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Why was the medieval period a good time for mysteries? Enjoy Candace Robb’s conversation.

Robert Dugoni’s Her Cold Justice will be released on January 27, but The Poisoned Pen Bookstore has a preview. You can order a signed copy through the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/3kxpzmkp

Here’s the description of Her Cold Justice, the third Keera Dugan novel.

To save a client accused of murder, defense attorney Keera Duggan must fight a complex web of corruption in a riveting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

In a quiet South Seattle neighborhood, a suspected drug smuggler and his girlfriend are murdered in their home. When a young man named Michael Westbrook is accused of the brutal double homicide, his uncle JP Harrison turns to Keera Duggan to defend him. JP is Keera’s trusted investigator, and he desperately needs Keera to save his nephew against escalating odds.

The evidence is circumstantial—Michael worked with one of the victims, drugs were found in his possession, and he bolted from authorities. Ruthless star prosecutor Anh Tran has gotten convictions on much less. With the testimony of two prison informants, the case looks grave. But Keera never concedes defeat. To free her client, she must dig deep before Tran crushes both of them.

As the investigation gets more twisted with each new find, Keera is swept up in a mystery with far-reaching consequences. This case isn’t just murder. It’s looking like a conspiracy. And getting justice for Michael could be the most dangerous promise Keera has ever made.

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Enjoy the preview as Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, discusses Her Cold Justice with Robert Dugoni.

Tracy Clark’s latest mystery, Edge, has just been nominated for a 2026 Lefty Award for Best Mystery. Thanks to critic Oline Cogdill for sharing her review from the South Florida Sun Sentinel. You can order a copy of the book through The Poisoned Pen Bookstore’s Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/4wj567h9

Book review: Tracy Clark delivers gripping police procedural with ‘Edge: A Detective Harriet Foster Thriller’

‘Edge: A Detective Harriet Foster Thriller’ by Tracy Clark; Thomas & Mercer; 332 pages; $16.99

“Edge” assumes various meanings in Tracy Clark’s superb fourth police procedural featuring Chicago police detective Harriet Foster.

Harriet is on the edge, worrying about her career as she is still a suspect in the murder of a corrupt cop who killed her police partner. She is forever on the edge, mourning the death of her intelligent son, a grief that will never go away. Chicago is on edge because of a new lethal designer drug whose victims have been those who are not drug addicts.

“Edge” also shows two families on edge. A cop must deal with the fact that his bright, seemingly innocent niece almost overdosed on Edge. The other is a longtime crime family who has ruled the South Side for generations, but is now fraying.

Clark pulls these plot tendrils into a cohesive story that delves deep into police investigations and the vagaries of Chicago.

On her day off, Harriet sees two teenagers who have overdosed in a locked city park. The boy has died; the girl is barely alive. Harriet reaches the ambulance in time to save 19-year-old college student Ella Byrne. Ella, who has never been in trouble before, is the niece of Harriet’s colleague, detective Matt Kelley.

Ella lives, but this is the start of a series of fatalities that will include a new mother and a group of blue-collar drinking buddies. Edge is being produced by the Gamons crime family, who have been losing their power. A drug that kills its customers isn’t good for business.

Harriet and the squad intensify their investigation into the origins of Edge, but they also must keep an eye on Matt, who tries to take over. Matt has been told that his involvement is a conflict of interest and that he cannot be objective. The detectives balance reigning in Matt with trying to stop Edge.

Clark delivers a gripping police procedural that is wide in scope but very centered on her core characters. The dynamic among the multiracial police squad and Harriet, who is Black, adds to the plot.

Chicago’s DNA permeates “Edge,” as Clark takes the reader to various neighborhoods, from the upscale to those in transition.

Crisp dialogue punctuates the story as Clark richly shows how people actually talk to each other, from the police colleagues to families in distress. Clark balances serious conversations with wry humor, which is how people often deal with stress.

Clark continues to shape Harriet, whose ongoing grief is a part of her soul. Her professionalism and intelligence further enhance “Edge.”

Barbara Peters was eager to welcome S.J. Rozan for a virtual event. Her latest Lydia Chin/Bill Smith book is a traditional mystery, First Do No Harm. Rozan provides the background of her crime novel set in a hospital. There are only a few signed copies left, so grab your copy now. https://tinyurl.com/4k2rsy8p

Here’s the description of First Do No Harm.

In the latest novel in S. J. Rozan’s groundbreaking mystery series, Lydia Chin and Bill Smith face a dangerous task: they must unlock a hospital’s many secrets in order to save an innocent man.

With River Valley Hospital in the midst of negotiations to avert a nurses’ strike, a wealthy benefactor is set to give a large donation to honor of the Chief of Emergency Medicine: Dr. Elliott Chin, the brother of private investigator Lydia Chin.

Before the donation can be finalized, a member of the nurses’ negotiating committee is found murdered. A morgue assistant is arrested and although he denies even knowing the victim his father and brother, both doctors at the hospital, are quick to urge him to take a plea. Another negotiating committee member abruptly resigns and a senior biomedical technician disappears. An officially off-limits section of the hospital basement turns out to be a hotbed of unauthorized—and in some cases criminal—activity.

Hired by the arrested man’s lawyer, Lydia Chin and her partner Bill Smith start to dig into the events and personnel at the hospital. Among the union disputes, blackmail, thefts, lies, and a detective who really, really doesn’t like them, one thing becomes clear: the dictum to “First Do No Harm” is not in effect at River Valley. As time runs short, Lydia and Bill face a complicated and dangerous task: they must unlock the hospital’s secrets to save an innocent man.

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S.J. Rozan’s comments are fascinating. You’ll want to watch the video.

It’s a little early to talk about Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. But, Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen will be in New Zealand on the actual release date of Jan. 27, and Preston had planned to be there at the time. The two authors discussed their earlier appearance for the series, along with their book, Relic. There are signed copies of Pendergast: The Beginning available through the Webstore, https://tinyurl.com/4dk5v473. And, you’ll want to watch the video to learn what else is available, personalized, and what programs are coming up.

Pendergast: The Beginning is the origin story.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling duo Preston and Child comes the Agent Pendergast origin story—a golden opportunity for longtime fans and new readers to learn about Agent Pendergast’s strange and shocking first case.

It only took six months for the life of Special Agent Dwight Chambers to crumble around him. First, he lost his partner, and then, tragically, his wife. Returning to work at the New Orleans Field Office, Chambers is dismayed to find himself saddled with mentoring a brand new FBI agent—a certain A. X. L. Pendergast. As Chambers tries to pull himself together, his enigmatic and exasperating junior partner pulls an outrageous stunt that gets both of them suspended.

Pendergast welcomes the banishment, because it gives him the opportunity to investigate a peculiar murder in Mississippi that has captured his fancy. Chambers grudgingly goes along. What starts off as a whimsical quest swiftly turns into a terrifying pursuit, as Chambers and Pendergast uncover a string of grisly, ritualistic killings that defy any known serial killer profile.

Thanks in large part to Pendergast’s brilliance and unorthodox methods, they solve the case and find the killer… and that is when the true horror begins.

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Enjoy the conversation with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

Fire Must Burn is Allison Montclair’s eighth Sparks and Bainbridge series. He discussed the book with The Poisoned Pen’s owner, Barbara Peters. There are a few signed copies still available in the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/ycym6nwz

Here’s the description of Fire Must Burn.

The owners of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau are back, and more determined than ever to bring love matches to the residents of Post-WWII London . . . so something as trivial as being dragged into a spy mission isn’t going to stop them!

Sparks fly when an old friend comes to town . . .

London, 1947. After recent events have left the normally steadfast Iris Sparks thoroughly shaken, she’s looking forward to some peace. With The Right Sort doing well, she and business partner Gwen Bainbridge are due a holiday. Until Iris’s former boss enlists their help for a secret mission.

Iris, who left British intelligence after the war, is being recruited for her Cambridge connection to one Anthony Danforth. She hasn’t seen Tony in almost ten years, yet she and Gwen must manipulate him into hiring their marriage service.

Tony’s suspected of being a Soviet operative, and an undercover agent posing as his perfect match could discover the truth. Despite her reluctance at being dragged back into the world of espionage, Iris agrees. After all, Tony was once a very good friend. If he’s innocent, she’ll happily prove it. If not? Well, no one ever said being a spy was easy . . .

Those who enjoy reading Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher Mysteries and Dorothy Sayers will adore this warm and witty historical mystery!

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You can enjoy the conversation through the video.

Yes, Brad Meltzer does have input on the covers of his book. He and Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, discussed Meltzer’s books, his characters, and his career. His virtual appearance for the bookstore was the virtual release of his book. You can order signed copies of the book through the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/5dn82752

Here’s the description of The Viper.

“A thrilling adventure, full of twists and turns, gripping from the first page to the last. Hugely enjoyable. The perfect book to meet Zig & Nola.” — Alex Michaelides, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient

New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer is back with his thrilling Zig and Nola series, unraveling a shocking cold case with a personal—and deadly—twist.

Andrew Fechmeier is a master at hiding. He’d better be—he’s spent decades concealing a secret that could get him killed. So when he’s diagnosed with a terminal disease, he heads for the local funeral home carrying the blue suit he eventually wants to be buried in. But what no one knows is that Fechmeier secretly tucked something inside, turning the suit into a final, untraceable hiding spot.

It’s a perfect plan. Until Fetch is brutally murdered by a mysterious killer who will stop at nothing to find the priceless object hidden in the suit.

Wasting no time, the cunning but unconventional Roddy LaPointe opens an investigation into Fetch’s murder, recruiting help from his friend, the brilliant “Zig” Zigarowski. But it doesn’t take long for Zig to discover the real reason Roddy cares so much about this case: Fetch’s death is tied to Roddy’s mother, who was murdered decades earlier.

As the relentless killer closes in, Roddy’s twin sister—the enigmatic and volatile Nola Brown—starts investigating for herself, uncovering a sinister plot that reveals their mother’s dark history, the true identity of her killer, and the shocking secret behind her death.

Don’t turn your back on The Viper.

“The Viper is a pulse pounding adventure that takes you on a journey into the darkest recesses of the human heart.” — S.A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author of All the Sinners Bleed and King of Ashes

“Expertly crafted and charged with tension, Meltzer delivers exactly what readers crave: a killer story from a true master of the craft. Smart, sharp, and undeniably gripping—this is Meltzer doing what he does best.” — Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Sky Mourning

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Enjoy Barbara Peters’ discussion with Brad Meltzer.