Patrick Millikin recently hosted Joe Pan at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore. Pan is the author of Florida Palms, a debut novel. You can order a signed copy through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/4odjOPY

Here’s the summary of Florida Palms.

The Outsiders meet Sons of Anarchy in this gripping debut about a group of young men dragged into a drug-running operation.

It’s 2009, the height of the Great Recession. Best friends Eddy, Cueball, and Jesse are fresh out of high school and wild at heart, but the economy is in the dumps. With jobs scarce along Florida’s Space Coast, they join a furniture-moving company run by Cueball’s father, a gruff ex-con biker who’s supposedly retired from the fast life. But when a mysterious old boss arrives in town, the payload is switched out, and the young men are coerced into shipping a new designer drug up the East Coast.

What is advertised as a bastion of brotherhood and respect quickly spirals into back-alley deals, bloodshed, and an all-out turf war that will test the bounds of love and friendship. Enticed by larger paychecks, and fueled by burgeoning drug habits, the young friends find themselves trapped between rank opportunists, warring gangsters, meth zombies, crazed bikers, and a blowgun-wielding hitman, all vying for a shot at the big time.

Soaring, ambitious, and deeply humane, Florida Palms is a gritty coming-of-age story with enormous heart and an unflinching vision of the violence and inequities facing forgotten communities. In a relentless race against desperate circumstances, the young friends must fully embrace the crime life or abandon their loyalties and risk ending up face down in the muck of the unforgiving swamps.

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Joe Pan is the author of five poetry books and founder of Brooklyn Arts Press, one of the smallest independent houses ever honored with a National Book Award in Poetry, and publisher of Augury Books, honored with a Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Poetry. His writing has appeared in the Boston Review, Hyperallergic, The New York Times, and Poets & Writers, and he’s been profiled by Publishers Weekly, The Rumpus, and The Wall Street Journal. He grew up along the Space Coast of Florida and now lives in Los Angeles. With his wife he cofounded BAH, an activist group that serves unhoused populations with sleeping bags and goods. Florida Palms is his debut novel. 

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Check out the conversation with Joe Pan.

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, toasted author Lisa Scottoline for making the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. So, you can travel to Tuscany with a signed copy of Scottoline’s The Unraveling of Julia. Copies are available in the Webstore. https://bit.ly/4f1obJu

Here’s the description of The Unraveling of Julia.

An international bestselling author crafts a gothic “thriller with dashes of romance and excellent twists!” (Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author) in which a young widow inherits a Tuscan estate from a mysterious benefactor and finds herself thrust into the crosshairs of a dangerous conspiracy—twisty, transportive, and haunting, this is suspense with a passport.  

Lately, Julia Pritzker is beginning to think she’s cursed. She’s lost her adoptive parents, then her husband is murdered. When she realizes that her horoscope essentially foretold his death, she begins to spiral. She fears her fate is written in the stars, not held in her own hands.

Then a letter arrives out of the blue, informing her that she has inherited a Tuscan villa and vineyard —but her benefactor is a total stranger named Emilia Rossi. Julia has no information about her biological family, so she wonders if Rossi could be a blood relative. Bewildered, she heads to Tuscany for answers.

There, Julia is horrified to discover that Rossi was a paranoid recluse, who believed herself to be a descendent of Duchess Caterina Sforza, a legendary Renaissance ruler. Stunned by her uncanny resemblance to Rossi, and even to Caterina, Julia is further unnerved when she unearths eerie parallels between them, including an obsession with astrology.

Before long, Julia suspects she’s being followed, and strange things begin to happen. Not even a chance meeting with a handsome Florentine can ease her troubled mind. When events turn deadly, Julia’s harrowing struggle becomes a search for her identity, a race to save her sanity, and ultimately, a question of her very survival. 

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Lisa Scottoline is a #1 bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of 37 novels. She also wrote and a series of humorous memoirs, co-authored with her daughter, novelist Francesca Serritella. Lisa is President of Mystery Writers of America and she reviews fiction for the New York Times, Washington Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. A former trial lawyer, she graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania and cum laude from its law school, where she taught Justice & Fiction. There are 30 million copies of her books in print, and she is published in 35 countries. She lives on a Pennsylvania farm with an array of disobedient pets, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Enjoy Lisa Scottoline’s conversation about The Unraveling of Julia.

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, welcomed Tom Mead back to discuss his latest Joseph Spector mystery, The House at Devil’s Neck. His series is a homage to the locked room mysteries of the Golden Age. You can order a signed copy of The House at Devil’s Neck through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/3GTNOzo

Here’s the description of The House at Devil’s Neck.

An apparent suicide in a London townhouse uncannily mirrors a similar incident from twenty-five years ago, prompting Scotland Yard’s George Flint to delve deep into the past in search of the solution to a long-forgotten mystery.

Meanwhile, Joseph Spector travels with a coach party through the rainy English countryside to visit an allegedly haunted house on a lonely island called Devil’s Neck. The house, first built by a notorious alchemist and occultist, was later used as a field hospital in the First World War before falling into disrepair. The visitors hold a seance to conjure the spirit of a long-dead soldier. But when a storm floods the narrow causeway connecting Devil’s Neck to the mainland, they find themselves stranded in the haunted house. Before long, the guests begin to die one by one, and it seems that the only possible culprit is the phantom soldier.

Flint’s and Spector’s investigations are in fact closely linked, but it is only when the duo are reunited at the storm-lashed Devil’s Neck that the truth is finally revealed. Tom Mead once again creates a brilliant homage to John Dickson Carr and the Golden Age of mysteries with this intricately plotted puzzle.

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Tom Mead is an author, translator, and aficionado of Golden Age crime fiction. He is the creator of the Joseph Spector locked room mystery series, which has been translated into ten languages (and counting), and is soon to be adapted for the screen. His debut novel, Death and the Conjuror, was nominated for the Capital Crime Award for Debut Novel of the Year and the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown. It was also named one of the best mysteries of the year by The Guardian and Publishers Weekly. Its sequel, The Murder Wheel, was named one of the Best Traditional Mysteries of 2023 by Crimereads and the Daily Telegraph, as well as nominated for a Capital Crime Award and longlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award. His third novel, Cabaret Macabre was published in August 2024, along with a collection of short stories, The Indian Rope Trick and Other Violent Entertainments, in November 2024.

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Enjoy the conversation with Tom Mead.

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, welcomed Steve Berry for a preview of his new book, The List. He talks about his own background, and signed copies of his book. There are a few signed copies of The List in the Webstore. https://bit.ly/4lz1gYl

Here’s the description of The List.

In the vein of David Baldacci, John Grisham, and Harlan Coben—this is Steve Berry like you’ve never read him before.
 
After a ten-year self-imposed exile, Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, a quaint town in central Georgia nestled close to the Savannah River. Two years ago, his father died, and now Brent, hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel, is returning to care for his ailing mother.
 
For decades, Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, creating a thriving community where its employees live, work, and retire. But the genteel sheen of this quiet town is deceiving, and when a list of cryptic code surfaces, Brent starts to see the cracks. 
 
Southern Republic’s success is based largely on a highly unorthodox and deadly system to control costs, known only to the three owners of the company.  Now, one of them, Christopher Bozin, has had a change of heart. Brent’s return to Concord, a move Bozin personally orchestrated, provides his conscience with a chance at redemption. So a plan is set into motion, one that will not only criminally implicate Bozin’s two partners, but also place Brent Walker square in the crosshairs of men who want him dead—with only one course left available.

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Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of nineteen Cotton Malone novels, six stand-alone thrillers, two Luke Daniels adventures, and several works of short fiction. He has over twenty-six million books in print, translated into forty-one languages. With his wife, Elizabeth, he is the founder of History Matters, an organization dedicated to historical preservation. He serves as an emeritus member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board and was a founding member of International Thriller Writers, formerly serving as its co-president.

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Enjoy Steve Berry’s discussion of the background of The List.

https://www.youtube.com/live/9zmiZR0VpQ4?si=Mi37hk8SdXsFItvM
 
Find and reveal the shocking secret of the list.

If you read Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie books, you’ll understand the Hawaiian shirt and pants. If you don’t get it, Quinn explains in the video. But, no matter how much we love Chet and Bernie, Quinn was at The Poisoned Pen on release day for Mrs. Plansky Goes Rogue. You can order a signed copy of the latest Mrs. Plansky book through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/44BRA9L

Here’s the description of Mrs. Plansky Goes Rogue.

This tale of the irresistible and unforgettable Mrs. Plansky, “a terrific character” (Stephen King), will lead her up and down coastal Florida and beyond in a brand-new, whirlwind adventure, Mrs. Plansky Goes Rogue!

Mrs. Plansky is fresh off of winning a thrilling senior tennis championship with her doubles partner, Kev Dinardo, and is gearing up to celebrate with him on his yacht. That is, until the yacht is destroyed in a fire. Kev claims the fire was caused by a lightning strike, pure bad luck, but there’s one small problem—Mrs. Plansky didn’t see any lightning.

Already certain there’s more going on than she’s being told, Mrs. Plansky’s curiosity turns to concern when Kev goes missing. Her suspicion gets the better of her and leads her to break into his house, only to find it ransacked.

But Kev isn’t the only person Mrs. Plansky has to worry about. A conversation with her dad reveals that not long ago, he’d introduced Kev to Jack, Mrs. Plansky’s wayward tennis pro son. And now, her dad—distracted by arrangements for his upcoming wedding—either can’t remember or has no interest in divulging any details.

Worse? Now Jack has gone missing, too.

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Spencer Quinn is the pen name of Peter Abrahams, the Edgar-award winning author of many novels, including the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Chet and Bernie mystery series, Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge, The Right Side, and Oblivion, as well as the New York Times bestselling Bowser and Birdie series for younger readers. He lives on Cape Cod with his wife Diana—and Dottie, a loyal and energetic member of the four-pawed nation within.

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Enjoy the conversation with Spencer Quinn.

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, recently welcomed Mary Dixie Carter, author of Marguerite by the Lake, and debut author Kelsey Cox who wrote Party of Liars. There are signed copies of both books available in the Webstore. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Here’s the description of Mary Dixie Carter’s Marguerite by the Lake.

From Mary Dixie Carter comes an atmospheric, tense novel about the death of a glamorous garden designer, a widower trying to keep his secrets buried, and the beautiful young gardener who finds herself entangled in their lives.

Marguerite Gray is a lifestyle icon known for her garden parties, high-end business ventures, and being the muse behind the famous Serge Kuhnert painting, Marguerite by the Lake. Her presence is overpowering, her taste, legendary. For the last few years, Phoenix has been the gardener on the famed Rosecliff grounds, home of the Gray family: Marguerite and her husband Geoffrey. Phoenix came from humble beginnings, and now she works hard to craft the landscape that underpins Marguerite’s brand.

When a storm threatens the launch party for Marguerite’s latest book, it’s Phoenix who spots the danger to the guests and rushes to Geoffrey’s side to save him from a falling tree. Geoffrey is grateful—perhaps too grateful. Marguerite is . . . jealous. Phoenix senses the danger of being drawn deeper into their lives but can’t resist the attention, becoming embroiled in an affair that could destroy her career.

But soon after the affair begins Marguerite falls to her death, from the same high point at Rosecliff where she posed for Marguerite by the Lake. Now Phoenix has another secret, one that haunts her even as Geoffrey invites her to move into the manor with him. A secret that Detective Hanna and Marguerite’s daughter—her spitting image—are circling closer and closer to. Phoenix tries to put it all behind her and find her rightful place at Rosecliff. But as every gardener knows, nothing stays buried forever.

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MARY DIXIE CARTER is the author of the critically acclaimed novel The Photographer. Her writing has appeared in TIME, The Economist, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Sun, The New York Observer, and other print and online publications. She worked at The Observer for five years, where she served as the publishing director. In addition to writing, she also has a background as a professional actor. Mary Dixie graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in English Literature and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.

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Check out the summary of the debut, Party of Liars.

A lavish, Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen turns deadly in this twisty, pulse-pounding new novel — serving up a fresh take on a classic locked-room whodunnit. Let the festivities begin…

Today is Sophie Matthews’s sixteenth birthday party, an exclusive black-tie bash in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, where secrets are as deep-rooted as the sprawling live oaks. Sophie’s dad has spared no expense, and his renovated cliffside mansion—once thought haunted and shuttered for years from outsiders—is now hosting the event of the season. Then, just before the candles on the three-tiered red velvet cake are blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the starlit dance floor below.

It’s a killer guest list . . .

DANI: Sophie’s new stepmother who’s been plagued by self-doubt ever since the birth of her own baby girl

ÓRLAITH: the superstitious Irish nanny who senses a looming danger in this cavernous house

MIKAYLA: the birthday girl’s best friend who is not nearly as meek as the popular kids assume

KIM: the cunning ex-wife who has a grudge she can’t let go of . . .

Everyone is invited in. Not everyone will get out alive.

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Kelsey Cox (she/her) received her MFA in fiction from Purdue University and works from home in the Texas Hill Country. You can often find her writing at Mammen Family Public Library, chasing around her two young daughters, or watching British mysteries with her mom and aunts. On nights when bedtime goes as planned, she enjoys curling up on the sofa, glass of wine in hand, and a book with complicated characters and a killer twist in her lap. Party of Liars is her debut novel.

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Enjoy the conversation with Mary Dixie Carter and Kelsey Cox.

Oline Cogdill recently reviewed Cold Burn by A.J. Landau for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. A. J. Landau is actually two authors, Jon Land and Jeff Ayers. Both authors appeared at The Poisoned Pen, and signed copies of Cold Burn, which are available through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/463gTm9

Once you read Cogdill’s review, you can also watch the video of the authors’ appearance at the bookstore.

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Book review: Florida and Alaska landscapes vital to plot of ‘Cold Burn’ thriller

Author Jeff Ayers is one of the authors behind the pseudonym A.J. Landau. (Greg Ayers/Courtesy)

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‘Cold Burn: A National Parks Thriller’ by A.J. Landau; Minotaur; 336 pages; $28

Geographically, thousands of miles separate Alaska and Florida, but the states have in common breathtaking landscapes, open spaces and natural resources — all of which are ripe for exploitation as A.J. Landau explores in the high-concept thriller “Cold Burn.”

Landau, a pseudonym for writers Jon Land and Jeff Ayers, is setting a precedent for hefty plots stuffed with science, action, high adventure and evocative visits to national parks, all of which was established in the 2024 debut “Leave No Trace.”

“Cold Burn” once again teams up National Park Service investigator Michael Walker and FBI agent Gina Delgado, who start out working on different investigations across the country until situations bring them together. And once again, the threats are cataclysmic.

Jon Land is the other author behind “Cold Burn.” (Rayzor Bachand/Courtesy)

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“Cold Burn” starts with Walker on a cruise to Alaska, but this is no pleasure trip. He is following leads on thefts of Tlingit artifacts. Although that investigation takes a turn, Walker is not done with Alaska. A U.S. Geological Survey team disappears after hiding in a cave during an avalanche. About the same time, an entire crew of a submarine on a training mission dies after the vessel is struck by a supposedly dormant explosive device in Alaska’s Icy Strait.

Meanwhile, Delgado is in Miami investigating the murder of a U.S. Geological Survey team intern whose body was found in Everglades National Park. The team had been working on climate change, specifically the collapse of subsystems of ocean currents.

As the cases begin to intersect, Delgado and Walker work together. A link between the two investigations is a ruthless billionaire whose obsession with becoming a trillionaire and power has no limits.

The landscapes of Alaska and Florida provide an intensity, as both regions are vital to the plot, and may inspire readers to visit these parks. Everglades National Park with its hardwood hammocks is like “a tropical oasis of all the beautiful muck that defines the Everglades.” In Alaska, “mist-shrouded hills colored the richest green” Walker had ever seen. A focus on American Indian culture and connection to the land enhance “Cold Burn.”

Landau injects a large dose of science into the complex-but-understandable plot, adding a further sense of realism and authenticity. This National Parks series focuses more on plot and action, but the characters of Delgado and Walker are well-explored. Their respect for each other and the work they do enhances “Cold Burn” and their return is a treat for readers.

Rip-roaring adventure keeps the exciting “Cold Burn” on high alert from the beginning to the pulsating finale.

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Check out the interview with Jon Land and Jeff Ayers.

Patrick Millikin welcomed Gabino Iglesius for a virtual event to The Poisoned Pen. He has two books that have been reissued by Mulholland. They had been out of print. Now, Zero Saints and Coyote Songs are both available in the Webstore. https://bit.ly/44KvNLL

Here’s the summary of Zero Saints.

The first novel from one of the most electrifying voices in contemporary crime fiction, Gabino Iglesias, follows Fernando, a drug dealer and enforcer living in Austin whose life takes a lethal turn when an unknown gang with seemingly supernatural abilities arrives on his turf.

Enforcer and drug dealer Fernando has seen better days. On his way home from work, some heavily-tattooed gangsters throw him in the back of a car and take him to an abandoned house, where they saw off his friend’s head and feed the kid’s fingers to…something. Their message is clear: this is their territory, now.

But Fernando isn’t put down that easily. Using the assistance of a Santeria priestess, an insane Puerto Rican pop sensation, a very human dog, and a Russian hitman, he’ll build the courage (and firepower) he’ll need to fight a gangbanger who’s a bit more than human.

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Gabino Iglesias is the author of the Shirley Jackson and Bram Stoker award-winning novel, The Devil Takes You Home, as well as author of the critically acclaimed and award-winning novels Zero Saints and Coyote Songs. He is a writer, journalist, professor, and literary critic living in Austin, Texas. He is the horror columnist for the New York Times Book Review

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Here’s the description of Coyote Songs.

A “vivid and visceral, gritty and magical, dark and soaring” (Meg Gardiner) novel from one of the most electrifying voices in contemporary crime fiction, Gabino Iglesias, this deeply honest story follows several, lost, desperate folk in the heart of the southwest.

In this mosaic horror/crime novel, ghosts and old gods guide the hands of those caught up in a violent struggle to save the soul of the American southwest.

A man tasked with shuttling children over the border believes the Virgin Mary is guiding him towards final justice. A woman offers colonizer blood to the Mother of Chaos. A boy joins corpse destroyers to seek vengeance for the death of his father.

These stories intertwine with those of a vengeful spirit and a hungry creature to paint a timely, compelling, pulpy portrait of revenge, family, and hope.

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Enjoy the conversation between Patrick Millikin, who loves pulp fiction, and Gabino Iglesias.