J.H. Gelernter discusses The Montevideo Brief

In a fascinating virtual event hosted by The Poisoned Pen, J.H. Gelernter discussed his latest historical fiction novel The Montevideo Brief, as well as his crime novel The Siberia Job. written under the name Josh Haven, with our founder Barbara Peters.

Gelernter also introduced his earlier works, described as “James Bond crossed with Patrick O’Brian.” Barbara delved into the details of Gelernter’s books, exploring their historical settings and intriguing characters. She particularly emphasized how Gelernter skillfully weaves history and adventure, making his novels a must-read for fans of heroes and espionage.

Gelernter’s discussion touched on various topics, from the influence of music in Vienna during the Napoleonic era to the real historical events that inspired his stories, like the Treaty of San Ildefonso. The conversation also offered insight into the author’s background, including his adventures in physics and his connection to the world of publishing.

Gelernter shared his inspiration for writing historical fiction, his fascination with the Napoleonic Wars, and his research process. He also talked about his interest in crime fiction and his love for writing heist and financial fraud stories.

During the event, Gelernter mentioned various historical fiction authors, such as Patrick O’Brien, Ken Follett, and C.S. Forester. He also discussed his background in magazine writing and his interest in exploring different genres, including fantasy and romance.

The Montevideo Brief is set during the Napoleonic Wars and follows Captain Gray as he becomes a double agent and gets involved in a covert war with foreign intelligence. The Siberia Job is a crime novel based on real events and follows a Czech investor and an American businessman as they navigate the Russian gas and oil industry. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with a dash of espionage and rich characters, Gelernter’s books might be your next literary adventure. You may also enjoy our Historical Fiction Book Club.

And if you enjoyed this virtual event with J.H. Gelernter and would like to see more exciting author interviews, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and book recommendations. And don’t forget to share this content with your fellow book lovers on social media!

Graham Norton discusses Forever Home

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, recently welcomed Graham Norton for a virtual event. You might recognize Norton’s name as the successful host of radio and BBC TV shows. But, he’s also an author. His new book is Forever Home. You can order copies of the book through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/3qLaJoo

Here’s the description of Forever Home.

 “Wonderful. . . . Dark, funny, full of emotional intelligence and gripping from the start . . . beautifully written.”—Daily Mail

The internationally bestselling author and host of The Graham Norton Show returns with a tense and darkly comic novel that casts a caustic light on the relationship between mothers and daughters and truth and self-preservation.

Where do secrets live?

Carol is a divorced teacher living in a small town in Ireland, her only son now grown. A second chance at love brings her unexpected connection and belonging—and sparks a flurry of speculation. What does a woman like her see in a man like that? What happened to his wife who abandoned him and his children all those years ago? Carol and Declan know their relationship is the talk of the town, but the gossip only serves to bring the couple closer.

When Declan becomes ill, their relationship falters. His children are untrusting and cruel, and Carol is forced to leave their beloved home, with its worn oak floors and elegant features, and move back with her parents.

Carol’s mother is determined to get to the bottom of things—she won’t see her daughter suffer this way. It seems there are secrets in Declan’s past, strange rumors that were never confronted, and suddenly the house they shared takes on a more sinister significance that affects them all.



Graham Norton is the author of the novels Holding, which was a New York Times bestseller and won the 2016 Irish Independent Popular Fiction Award, and A Keeper. One of the UK’s best loved broadcasters, Graham has won eight BAFTAs and is the host of The Graham Norton Show on BBC1 and BBC America, has a weekly show on BBC Radio 2, and writes a column for the Telegraph. Born in Dublin and raised in West Cork, he now lives in London.


Norton talks about his journey to writing. Enjoy the conversation!

Karin Slaughter & Her Hot Book of the Week

Karin Slaughter’s “Will Trent” is on ABC, but readers knew him first. She just appeared at The Poisoned Pen to talk about her latest book, After That Night. It’s the Hot Book of the Week at the bookstore. Although store owner Barbara Peters welcomed her and the live audience for the event, Isabella Maldonado was guest host. Slaughter’s events are always fun. You’ll want to watch it, and then you can still order a signed copy of After That Night through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/3ssna9a

Here’s the description of After That Night.

WATCH WILL TRENT ON ABC!

“Enter the world of Karin Slaughter. Just be forewarned, there’s no going back.” —Lisa Gardner

Will Trent and Sara Linton are back in an electrifying thriller featuring GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton from New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter

After that night, everything changed . . .

Fifteen years ago, Sara Linton’s life changed forever when a celebratory night out ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has finally managed to leave the past behind her.

Until one evening, on call in the ER, everything changes. Sara battles to save a broken young woman who’s been brutally attacked. But as the investigation progresses, led by GBI Special Agent Will Trent, it becomes clear that Dani Cooper’s assault is uncannily linked to Sara’s.

And the past isn’t going to stay buried forever . . .


Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular storytellers. She is the author of more than twenty instant New York Times bestselling novels, including the Edgar-nominated Cop Town and standalone novels The Good Daughter and Pretty Girls. An international bestseller, Slaughter is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. Pieces of Her is now a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette, Will Trent is now a hit television series starring Ramón Rodríguez on ABC, and further projects are in development for television. Karin Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.


If you’re a fan of Karin Slaughter, you’ll enjoy the event.

A.J. Pearce and The Emmy Lake Chronicles

A.J. Pearce’s latest Emmy Lake Chronicles novel is Mrs. Porter Calling. John Charles from The Poisoned Pen recently welcomed A.J. Pearce to talk about the series and her new book. You can order a copy of Mrs. Porter Calling through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/3qK7YUu

Here’s the description of Mrs. Porter Calling.

From the author of the bestselling “jaunty, heartbreaking winner” (PeopleDear Mrs. Bird comes a charming and irresistible novel featuring journalist Emmy Lake as she fights for her readers, her friends and her found family in London during World War II.

London, 1943. Twenty-five-year-old Emmy Lake is doing her part in the war effort by spearheading the hugely popular “Yours Cheerfully” advice column in Woman’s Friend magazine. The postbags are full, Emmy’s guidance offers much needed support to her readers, and Woman’s Friend is thriving. Cheered on by her best friends Bunty and Thelma, and resolute in the absence of her husband who is fighting in the army, Emmy is dedicated to helping women face the increasing challenges brought about by over three years of war.

But Emmy’s world is turned upside down when glamorous socialite, the Honorable Cressida Porter, becomes the new publisher of the magazine, and wants to change everything about it. Aided by Mrs. Pye, a Paris-obsessed fashion editor with delusions of grandeur, and Small Winston, the grumpiest dog in London, Mrs. Porter fills the pages with expensive clothes and frivolous articles about her friends. Worst of all, she announces that she is cutting the advice column and leaving the readers to fend for themselves. Her vision for the publication’s future is dreadful and Emmy is determined to fight back.

Emmy and her friends must save the magazine they love, but when personal tragedy strikes, can they find a way to do so while juggling the very real implications of life in war-torn London?

Perfect for book clubs and fans of The Paris Library and Lessons in ChemistryMrs. Porter Calling is a story about women coming together. Set during World War II but inherently resonant with how we choose our families today, Pearce’s signature combination of laugh-out-loud funny and heartbreakingly sad storytelling delivers a feel-good tribute to the strength of friendships. This stand-alone novel with its much-loved continuing characters is the perfect tonic for our times.


AJ Pearce grew up in Hampshire, England. She studied at the University of Sussex and Northwestern University. Her collection of over 800 vintage women’s and news magazines is the inspiration for her series The Emmy Lake Chronicles, which includes Dear Mrs. Bird, Yours Cheerfully, and Mrs. Porter Calling. She lives in the south of England.  


Enjoy the discussion of women’s roles in wartime, women’s magazines, and historical fiction.

Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, Dead Mountain

Barbara Preston, owner of The Poisoned Pen, recently hosted Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child to talk about their latest Nora Kelly book, Dead Mountain. There are signed copies of Dead Mountain available in the Webstore. https://tinyurl.com/5xc4y8kb

Here’s the description of Dead Mountain.

#1 New York Times bestselling authors Preston & Child return in the latest installment of the bestselling series featuring renowned archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, who investigate a mystery so enigmatic it may have no solution.

In 2008, nine mountaineers failed to return from a winter backpacking trip in the New Mexico mountains. At their final campsite, searchers found a bizarre scene: something had appeared at the door of their tent so terrifying that it impelled them to slash their way out and flee barefoot to certain death in a blizzard. Despite a diligent search, only six bodies were found, two violently crushed and inexplicably missing their eyes. The case, given the code name “Dead Mountain” by the FBI, was never solved.

Now, two more bodies from the lost expedition are unexpectedly discovered in a cave, one a grisly suicide. Young FBI Agent Corrie Swanson teams up with archaeologist Nora Kelly to investigate what really happened on that fateful trip fifteen years ago—and to find the ninth victim. But their search awakens a long-slumbering evil, which pursues Corrie and Nora with a vengeance, determined to prevent the final missing corpse from ever coming to light.


The thrillers of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child “stand head and shoulders above their rivals” (Publishers Weekly). Preston and Child’s Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities were chosen by readers in a National Public Radio poll as being among the one hundred greatest thrillers ever written, and Relic was made into a number?one box office hit movie. They are coauthors of the famed Pendergast series, and their recent novels include The Cabinet of Dr. Leng, Diablo Mesa, Bloodless, The Scorpion’s Tail, and Crooked River. In addition to his novels, Preston is the author of the award-winning nonfiction book The Lost City of the Monkey God. Child is a Florida resident and former book editor who has published eight novels of his own, including such bestsellers as Chrysalis and Deep Storm.


Enjoy the release day conversation with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

Preston & Child discuss Dead Mountain

In this captivating event hosted by The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, bestselling authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child delve into their latest work, Dead Mountain, and share insights, anecdotes, and a few surprises.

The conversation began with a casual exchange between the authors about their surroundings. They later dived into the heart of the matter – their latest release, and the fourth installment in the Nora Kelly series.

Douglas and Lincoln touched on the evolving roles of their characters, especially FBI agent Corey Swanson, who’s been steadily taking center stage alongside Nora Kelly. They teased with the idea that Corey might be overshadowing Nora, adding layers of complexity to the series.

They mentioned the mysterious real-life events that inspired Dead Mountain – the infamous Dyatlov Pass incident, where experienced hikers met a tragic, unexplained fate in Russia’s Ural Mountains. Doug and Lincoln explored the eerie details of the case, from frozen bodies to missing eyes and tongues, adding an element of intrigue to their novel.

Later, they discussed how they transplanted the Russian mystery to the unique New Mexico setting for the book, complete with rugged landscapes and historical layers, drawing readers into a world of archaeological mysteries and FBI investigations. The authors also shared their fascination with the region’s rich history, where petroglyphs and hidden treasures abound.

As the conversation unfolded, it became clear that Dead Mountain is not only a gripping mystery but also a narrative that brings their beloved characters together in a way readers haven’t seen before.

While the release date for their next book remains undisclosed, readers can look forward to more exciting adventures from this dynamic writing duo, including the final book in the Pendergast series and a collection of true stories by Douglas Preston.

If you enjoyed this virtual event, share it on social media and subscribe to our newsletter for more exciting author events and book recommendations.

Aimie K. Runyon discusses A Bakery in Paris

John Charles recently welcomed Aimie K. Runyon to The Poisoned Pen. She’s the author of A Bakery in Paris. You can order copies of A Bakery in Paris through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/3YGXstG

Here’s the description of A Bakery in Paris.

From the author of The School for German Brides, this captivating historical novel set in nineteenth-century and post–World War II Paris follows two fierce women of the same family, generations apart, who find that their futures lie in the four walls of a simple bakery in a tiny corner of Montmartre.

1870: The Prussians are at the city gates, intent to starve Paris into submission. Lisette Vigneau—headstrong, willful, and often ignored by her wealthy parents—awaits the outcome of the war from her parents’ grand home in the Place Royale in the very heart of the city. When an excursion throws her into the path of a revolutionary National Guardsman, Théodore Fournier, her destiny is forever changed. She gives up her life of luxury to join in the fight for a Paris of the People. She opens a small bakery with the hopes of being a vital boon to the impoverished neighborhood in its hour of need. When the city falls into famine, and then rebellion, her resolve to give up the comforts of her past life is sorely tested.

1946: Nineteen-year-old Micheline Chartier is coping with the loss of her father and the disappearance of her mother during the war. In their absence, she is charged with the raising of her two younger sisters. At the hand of a well-meaning neighbor, Micheline finds herself enrolled in a prestigious baking academy with her entire life mapped out for her. Feeling trapped and desperately unequal to the task of raising two young girls, she becomes obsessed with finding her mother. Her classmate at the academy, Laurent Tanet, may be the only one capable of helping Micheline move on from the past and begin creating a future for herself. 

Both women must grapple with loss, learn to accept love, and face impossible choices armed with little more than their courage and a belief that a bit of flour, yeast, sugar, and love can bring about a revolution of their own. 


Aimie K. Runyan is a multipublished and bestselling author of historical fiction. She has been nominated for a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year award and two Colorado Book Awards. She lives in Colorado with her wonderful husband and two (usually) adorable children.


John Charles always asks authors who they were before they started writing. You can hear Runyan’s conversation and response.

Upcoming Events

It’s time for a reminder about upcoming events at The Poisoned Pen. Before coming this week, though, you might want to check with the bookstore at 480-947-2974. Sundays event with Alice Hoffman was cancelled. You just might want to check. But, it’s a terrific lineup. After you verify the event will happen, you can then check the Webstore for books by your favorite author. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Preston & Child
A.J. Pearce
Graham Norton
Karin Slaughter w/Isabella Maldonado
Nina Simon
Taylor Moore
Angie Kim w/Chris Bohjalian