David Joy addresses his latest novel, When These Mountains Burn, and the opioid crisis in the mountains of North Carolina. Patrick Millikin from The Poisoned Pen is a skilled interviewer, so you’ll want to listen to this conversation. You can order signed copies of When These Mountains Burn, and copies of Joy’s other books, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2BhRPLk
Here’s the summary of When These Mountains Burn.
Acclaimed author and “remarkably gifted storyteller” (The Charlotte Observer) David Joy returns with a fierce and tender tale of a father, an addict, a lawman, and the explosive events that come to unite them.
When his addict son gets in deep with his dealer, it takes everything Raymond Mathis has to bail him out of trouble one last time. Frustrated by the slow pace and limitations of the law, Raymond decides to take matters into his own hands.
After a workplace accident left him out of a job and in pain, Denny Rattler has spent years chasing his next high. He supports his habit through careful theft, following strict rules that keep him under the radar and out of jail. But when faced with opportunities too easy to resist, Denny makes two choices that change everything.
For months, the DEA has been chasing the drug supply in the mountains to no avail, when a lead–just one word–sets one agent on a path to crack the case wide open . . . but he’ll need help from the most unexpected quarter.
As chance brings together these men from different sides of a relentless epidemic, each may come to find that his opportunity for redemption lies with the others.
*****
Here’s David Joy in conversation with Patrick Millikin.
The Poisoned Pen launched Sandra Brown’s seventy-first book, Thick as Thieves, by hosting a conversation between Brown and Linda Castillo, author of the Kate Burkholder novels, including Outsider. Brown even gives writing tips for other writers. She did sign copies of the books, and there may still be signed copies in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/3bh8361
Here’s the story of Thick as Thieves.
In this tantalizing thriller from a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a woman uncovers lifelong secrets as she searches for the truth behind her father’s involvement in a heist gone wrong.
Twenty years ago in the dead of night, four seemingly random individuals pulled the ultimate heist and almost walked away with half a million dollars. But by daybreak, their plan had been shot to hell. One of them was in the hospital. One was in jail. One was dead. And one got away with it.
Arden Maxwell, the daughter of the man who disappeared all those years ago — presumably with the money, after murdering his accomplice — has never reconciled with her father’s abandonment of her and her sister. After countless personal setbacks she decides to return to her family home near mysterious Caddo Lake, and finally get answers to the many questions that torment her. Little does she know, two of her father’s co-conspirators — a war hero and a corrupt district attorney — are watching her every move.
Ledge Burnet, a rebellious teen at the time of the heist, evaded his jail sentence by enlisting in the army. Now he’s back in town to care for his ailing father – and to keep his eye on the county’s corrupt district attorney, whome he suspects was the real murderer. Although the two are bound to silence because of the crime they committed together, each has spent years waiting and hoping that the other will make a fatal misstep. But the arrival of their elusive accomplice’s daughter, Arden, who may know more about the missing money than she’s telling, sets them both on red alert. She ignites Ledge’s determination to expose the D.A.’s treachery . . . and sparks a desire he wishes to deny.
I’ve been waiting to run this piece. There’s been quite a bit of buzz about Alyssa Cole’s When No One is Watching. It will be released on Sept. 1, but you can order it, and Cole’s other books, through the Web Store now. https://bit.ly/31zfyC3
Alyssa Cole is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, sci-fi romance, and now, a psychological thriller. Her contemporary rom-com A Princess in Theory was one of the New York Times‘ 100 Notable Books of 2018, and her books have received critical acclaim from Library Journal, BuzzFeed, Kirkus, Booklist, Jezebel, Vulture, Book Riot, Entertainment Weekly, and various other outlets. When she’s not working, she can usually be found watching anime or wrangling her many pets.
*****
I can attest to the fact that Alyssa Cole has been working a lot lately. She’s been participating in a number of virtual events, talking about her books, but also hosting and talking with many other authors to promote their books right now when authors aren’t on the road. We’re lucky she was able to make time to talk about her book “Distractions” during the pandemic.
Like many people, I’m a comfort reader in times of distress, but surprisingly, given the state of the world, I’ve also managed to fit in lots of new reads! Like my writing tastes, my reading tastes are varied as well, so I thought I’d share some of the books—sci-fi, women’s fic, thriller, and mystery—that served as fantastic distractions for me!
Mercenary Librarians: Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha
In this fast-paced, action packed dystopian future-set read, we meet Knox and the Silver Devils, a band of battle weary TechCorp soldiers who can escape the hold the autocratic government has over them if they’re able to complete one last job: capture Nina and the “Mercenary Librarians,” who are info brokers, protectors, and beacons of hope in their apocalyptic community. The Librarians aren’t easily fooled, but can’t pass up the ultimate bait: a long lost server chock full of data from The Library of Congress. What follows is a sexy, action-packed, sci-fi road trip, with lots of thrilling turns.
The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
This is a wonderful novel with a great hook: three women become close friends after a video of them confronting the man three-timing them goes viral on social media. Each of the women are professionals at a cross-roads, and during one of their hangouts they decide to swear off dating and follow their dreams. This is all well and good for Samiah, who’s finally going to work on the app she’s been planning for years, until she meets Daniel, the hot new guy at the tech company she works for. Sparks fly between Daniel and Samiah but secrets may get in the way of both love and career for the duo. I loved the detailed setting, humor, and strong female friendship in this winner of an anytime-read.
And Now She’s Gone by Rachel Howzel hall ( Sept 22)
In this twisty LA-set thriller from renowned thriller writer Howzell Hall, we meet Grayson Sykes, a new PI on her first case. Grayson is struggling with pain from unmet medical needs, lack of sleep, and constant fear—she’s always watching her back as she waits for her terrifying past to catch up with her. When she’s assigned the case of Isabel Lincoln, who’s seemingly run off, she feels a kinship with the woman and a distrust for the boyfriend she is likely on the run from who has hired Gray to find her. Told in present day and flashback and with twists and turns that keep you on your toes, And Now She’s Gone is a riveting look at secrets, abuse, and what women do to survive.
The Conductors by Nicole Glover (March 21, 2021)
This one is a ways out, but I’m reading and loving it so far. Set in post-Civil War Philadelphia, this book is historical fiction + cozy mystery + fantasy with magic systems, and it’s a winning combination! Hetty and Benjy are married former conductors on the Underground Railroad who now use their magic to help solve mysteries in their community. So far it’s fresh and engaging and hits all the right spots for lovers of history, mystery, and magic!
*****
I think you’ll discover some of Alyssa Cole’s books will hit the right spots, depending on what you like to read. Take her new book, When No One is Watching.
“I was knocked over by the momentum of an intense psychological thriller that doesn’t let go until the final page. This is a terrific read.” ““ Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author
Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…
Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo.
But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.
When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?
*****
Maybe you’re interested in Cole’s romances. A Prince on Paper is the third in her Reluctant Royals series.
Named one of Amazon’s Best Romances of May!
The Reluctant Royals series returns with a good girl searching for the life that’s not too big, and not too small, and the bad boy prince who might be just right for her…
Nya Jerami fled Thesolo for the glitz and glamour of NYC but discovered that her Prince Charming only exists in her virtual dating games. When Nya returns home for a royal wedding, she accidentally finds herself up close and personal—in bed—with the real-life celebrity prince who she loves to hate.
For Johan von Braustein, the red-headed step-prince of Liechtienbourg, acting as paparazzi bait is a ruse that protects his brother—the heir to the throne—and his own heart. When a royal referendum threatens his brother’s future, a fake engagement is the perfect way to keep the cameras on him.
Nya and Johan both have good reasons to avoid love, but as desires are laid bare behind palace doors, they must decide if their fake romance will lead to a happily-ever-after.
*****
Or, how about historical romance? You might be able to find one of Alyssa Cole’s books to meet any of your fiction interests. An Unconditional Freedom is the third in The Loyal League series.
Award-winning author Alyssa Cole returns with her highly-acclaimed Loyal League series exploring the untold role of people of color in the fight to end slavery. This time, an assassination plot could end the Civil War, and a hidden enemy could destroy a secret league of unsung heroes . . .
Daniel Cumberland, born free in Massachusetts, studied law with dreams of helping his people—dreams that died the night he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Daniel is rescued, but he’s a changed man. When he’s offered entry into the Loyal League, the covert organization of Black spies who helped free him, he seizes the opportunity for vengeance against the Confederacy and those who support it.
When the Union Army occupies the Florida home of Cuban Janeta Sanchez, daughter of an enslaved woman and the plantation owner who married her, her family’s wealth does not protect her father from being imprisoned. Under duress and blaming herself for the arrest, Janeta agrees to infiltrate a group called the Loyal League as a double agent—and finds a cause truly worth the sacrifice.
Daniel is aggravated by the headstrong and much too observant new detective he’s paired with, and Janeta is intrigued by the broken but honorable man she is tasked with betraying. As they embark on a mission to intercept Jefferson Davis and thwart European meddling, their dual hidden agendas are threatened by the ghosts of their pasts and a growing affection that could strengthen both the Union and their souls—or lead to their downfall.
Praise for An Unconditional Freedom
“Forbidden attraction and the threat of betrayal are the initial hooks for what turns out to be a sumptuously written and meticulously researched tale of a country at war with itself and two damaged people who find themselves in each other’s arms.” —Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW
“This third and hopefully not last installment in Cole’s Loyal League series is historical romance at its finest.” —Booklist STARRED REVIEW
“[A] triumphant conclusion to an outstanding series that has redefined the possibilities of historical romance.” —Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW
“A heroine torn by conflicting loyalties and a vengeance-driven hero haunted by the past struggle to come to terms with reality and their feelings in this emotionally compelling, information-rich story.” —Library Journal
“Her most powerful novel yet.” —Entertainment Weekly
It’s an hour of unforgettable storytelling. James Lee Burke did a virtual event for The Poisoned Pen, talking with Patrick Millikin. Of course, they talked about A Private Cathedral, the latest Dave Robicheaux, Burke’s fortieth book. But there was so much more ground to cover as James Lee Burke told stories of writing and other authors. You can find a copy (hopefully still a signed one) of A Private Cathedral in the Web Store, along with copies of Burke’s other books. https://bit.ly/2SJ8gVl
Here’s the summary of A Private Cathedral.
After finding himself caught up in one of Louisiana’s oldest and bloodiest family rivalries, Detective Dave Robicheaux must battle the most terrifying adversary he has ever encountered: a time-traveling superhuman assassin.
The Shondell and Balangie families are longtime enemies in the New Iberia criminal underworld and show each other no mercy. Yet their youngest heirs, Johnny Shondell and Isolde Balangie, rock and roll-musician teenagers with magical voices, have fallen in love and run away after Isolde was given as a sex slave to Johnny’s uncle.
As he seeks to uncover why, Detective Dave Robicheaux gets too close to both Isolde’s mother and the mistress of her father, a venomous New Orleans mafioso whose jealousy has no bounds. In retribution, he hires a mysterious assassin to go after Robicheaux and his longtime partner, Clete Purcel. This hitman is unlike any the “Bobbsey Twins from Homicide” have ever faced. He has the ability to induce horrifying hallucinations and travels on a menacing ghost ship that materializes without warning. In order to defeat him and rescue Johnny and Isolde, Robicheaux will have to overcome the demons that have tormented him throughout his adult life—alcoholism, specters from combat in Vietnam, and painful memories of women to whom he opened his heart only to see killed.
A Private Cathedral, James Lee Burke’s fortieth book, is his most powerful tale, one that will captivate readers—mixing crime, romance, mythology, horror, and science fiction to produce a thrilling story about the all-consuming, all-conquering power of love.
*****
You’ll want to see this conversation with James Lee Burke.
It’s always a good time when the authors from Jungle Red Writers get together. It’s unusual for all seven of them to be available, but The Poisoned Pen was able to bring them together via Zoom and Facebook.
If you don’t know the authors from Jungle Red Writers, they’re crime writers who blog daily at https://www.jungleredwriters.com/ talking about writing and life. In the event below, you’ll meet Julia Spencer-Fleming, Lucy Burdette, Hallie Ephron, Rhys Bowen, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Deborah Crombie, and Jenn McKinlay. Although Hank Phillippi Ryan is supposed to be the moderator, she admits that no one can keep control of this group.
If you follow or occasionally read this blog, I’m sure you find time for books in your life. The publisher Penguin Random House sent a video showcasing some of their fall releases. I’ll admit, their “fall” is a little long because Carl Hiaasen’s Squeeze Me is out today. But, because I always want to share new books with other readers, here’s the video. Don’t forget to check the Web Store for titles that interest you. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
There’s a terrific slate of authors scheduled for virtual events with The Poisoned Pen for the rest of August. Just a reminder, though. The schedule may change. There may be authors added, or some who have to change appearances for one reason or another. Check the store’s web page regularly. And, check the Web Store for books by the authors. There’s a limited number of signed books right now, so make sure you reserve copies by your favorite authors. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
John SheaDavid Heska Wanbli WeidenWendy Corsi StaubSandra Brown/ Linda CastilloStan ParishPhilip BondsSophie Hannah/Alex PavesiKearsley et al
Elsa Hart’s Li Du trilogy took place in the early eighteenth century in China. Now, with The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne, she moves to London in the same period. In a fascinating conversation with author Douglas Preston and Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, she talks about ghosts left over from her previous books, and why she moved to London for the latest book. She and Preston talk about the history of cabinets of curiosity. The conversation even takes them into Patrick O’Brian’s series. You can find copies of Hart’s books, including signed copies of The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne, in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/31it9gG Douglas Preston talks about the book he wrote with Lincoln Child, The Cabinet of Curiosities, and the collections at the American Museum of Natural History. You can order a copy of that in the Web Store as well. https://bit.ly/34pdcHJ
Here’s the summary of The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne.
From the author of the acclaimed Li Du novels comes Elsa Hart’s new atmospheric mystery series.
London, 1703. In a time when the old approaches to science coexist with the new, one elite community attempts to understand the world by collecting its wonders. Sir Barnaby Mayne, the most formidable of these collectors, has devoted his life to filling his cabinets. While the curious-minded vie for invitations to study the rare stones, bones, books, and artifacts he has amassed, some visitors come with a darker purpose.
For Cecily Kay, it is a passion for plants that brings her to the Mayne house. The only puzzle she expects to encounter is how to locate the specimens she needs within Sir Barnaby’s crowded cabinets. But when her host is stabbed to death, Cecily finds the confession of the supposed killer unconvincing. She pays attention to details—years of practice have taught her that the smallest particulars can distinguish a harmless herb from a deadly one—and in the case of Sir Barnaby’s murder, there are too many inconsistencies for her to ignore.
To discover the truth, Cecily must enter the world of the collectors, a realm where intellect is distorted by obsession and greed. As her pursuit of answers brings her closer to a killer, she risks being given a final resting place amid the bones that wait, silent and still, in the cabinets of Barnaby Mayne.
*****
If you’re interested in the history of these collections, a fan of Elsa Hart’s books or Preston/Child’s books, you’ll want to watch this fascinating conversation.
Kevin Hearne kicked off his recent conversation with Pat King from The Poisoned Pen by mixing a drink. Because Ink & Sigil, the spin-off from The Iron Druid series, involves a mystery set in Scotland, Hearne mixes up a drink with Glenfiddich Scotch Whiskey. You’ll be able to check out the new drink on the video of the virtual event. You can also find Ink & Sigil, along with Hearne’s other books, in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2Glm6Lt
Here’s the summary of Ink & Sigil.
New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne returns to the world of his beloved Iron Druid Chronicles in a spin-off series about an eccentric master of rare magic solving an uncanny mystery in Scotland.
“Ink & Sigil is escape reading, and I loved every word.”—Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author of A Longer Fall
Al MacBharrais is both blessed and cursed. He is blessed with an extraordinary white moustache, an appreciation for craft cocktails—and a most unique magical talent. He can cast spells with magically enchanted ink and he uses his gifts to protect our world from rogue minions of various pantheons, especially the Fae.
But he is also cursed. Anyone who hears his voice will begin to feel an inexplicable hatred for Al, so he can only communicate through the written word or speech apps. And his apprentices keep dying in peculiar freak accidents. As his personal life crumbles around him, he devotes his life to his work, all the while trying to crack the secret of his curse.
But when his latest apprentice, Gordie, turns up dead in his Glasgow flat, Al discovers evidence that Gordie was living a secret life of crime. Now Al is forced to play detective—while avoiding actual detectives who are wondering why death seems to always follow Al. Investigating his apprentice’s death will take him through Scotland’s magical underworld, and he’ll need the help of a mischievous hobgoblin if he’s to survive.
Scottish crime writer Denise Mina recently talked with Patrick Millikin from The Poisoned Pen about her novels and social issues. The Less Dead was triggered by actual crimes that happened in Glasgow. You can order a copy of the book through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2EjTFgH
Millikin says he stayed up the night before to read The Less Dead. Here is the description of the book.
In this shocking new thriller from the author of the “blazingly intense” Reese Witherspoon book club pick and national bestseller Conviction, a woman in crisis finds herself on the hunt for her own mother’s murderer (A. J. Finn).
She thought she was finding her birth mother. Now she’s searching for a killer.
Dr. Margo Dunlop is at a crossroads. Her adoptive mom just passed away, and Margo misses her so much she can’t begin to empty the house-or, it seems, get her brother on the phone. Not to mention she’s newly single, secretly pregnant, and worried about her best friend’s dangerous relationship. In an effort to cheer herself up she goes in search of her birth mother. Instead she finds Nikki, her mother’s sister. Aunt Nikki isn’t what Margo expects, and she brings upsetting news: Margo’s mother is dead. Worse, she was murdered years ago, and her killer is still at large-and sending Nikki threatening letters.
Margo is torn. Should she stay out of this mess, or try to find justice? But then Margo receives a letter, too. Someone out there has been waiting and watching, and in Margo sees the spitting image of her mother…
Darkly funny and deeply affecting, The Less Dead is a sharply modern new thriller from the bestselling author of Conviction, and a surprisingly moving story of daughters and mothers, secrets and choices, and how the search for the truth-and a long-hidden killer-will lead one woman to find herself.
*****
You’ll want to watch the discussion of the book, The Less Dead, class, criminal justice, and social issues.
