Fiction Review

James Rollins actually appeared live at The Poisoned Pen to kick off this year’s events. He has a long origin story for his latest book, The Starless Crown. You can order signed copies through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/3q0CUMV

Here’s the description of The Starless Crown.

An alliance embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the secrets of the distant past and save their world in this captivating, deeply visionary adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling thriller-master James Rollins.

A gifted student foretells an apocalypse. Her reward is a sentence of death.

Fleeing into the unknown she is drawn into a team of outcasts:

A broken soldier, who once again takes up the weapons he’s forbidden to wield and carves a trail back home.

A drunken prince, who steps out from his beloved brother’s shadow and claims a purpose of his own.

An imprisoned thief, who escapes the crushing dark and discovers a gleaming artifact – one that will ignite a power struggle across the globe.

On the run, hunted by enemies old and new, they must learn to trust each other in order to survive in a world evolved in strange, beautiful, and deadly ways, and uncover ancient secrets that hold the key to their salvation.

But with each passing moment, doom draws closer.

WHO WILL CLAIM THE STARLESS CROWN?

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JAMES ROLLINS is the #1 New York Times bestseller of international thrillers, sold to over forty countries. His Sigma series has earned national accolades and has topped charts around the world. He is also a practicing veterinarian, who still spends time underground or underwater as an avid spelunker and diver.

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Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, welcomed James Rollins to the store. Enjoy their discussion.

When author Dana Stabenow hosted Dr. Emily Levesque for The Poisoned Pen, she was so excited she said that since Carl Sagan, she’s been waiting for someone like Emily Levesque to write about astronomy. Levesque is the author of The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers. You can order copies through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/3qTiOnd

Here’s the description of The Last Stargazers.

The story of the people who see beyond the stars—an astronomy book for adults still spellbound by the night sky.

Humans from the earliest civilizations through today have craned their necks each night, using the stars to orient themselves in the large, strange world around them. Stargazing is a pursuit that continues to fascinate us: from Copernicus to Carl Sagan, astronomers throughout history have spent their lives trying to answer the biggest questions in the universe. Now, award-winning astronomer Emily Levesque shares the stories of modern-day stargazers in this new nonfiction release, the people willing to adventure across high mountaintops and to some of the most remote corners of the planet, all in the name of science.

From the lonely quiet of midnight stargazing to tall tales of wild bears loose in the observatory, The Last Stargazers is a love letter to astronomy and an affirmation of the crucial role that humans can and must play in the future of scientific discovery.

In this sweeping work of narrative science, Levesque shows how astronomers in this scrappy and evolving field are going beyond the machines to infuse creativity and passion into the stars and space and inspires us all to peer skyward in pursuit of the universe’s secrets.

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EMILY LEVESQUE is a professor at the University of Washington and lives in Seattle. She received her SB in physics from MIT and a PhD from the University of Hawaii. She has won the American Astronomical Society’s Annie Jump Cannon Award and Newton Lacy Pierce Prize, among other awards.

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Levesque is an enthusiastic speaker, and Dana Stabenow is excited about the topic. Enjoy the event!

You might have missed Laura Bradford’s chat with The Poisoned Pen’s John Charles because of the holidays. Bradford’s latest book, the first in a new series, is A Plus One for Murder. It’s available through the Web Store. https://tinyurl.com/bdf7y9b4

Here’s the summary of A Plus One for Murder.

Entrepreneur Emma Westlake is reinventing herself as a hired friend when murder gets in the way in this exciting new mystery series from USA Today bestselling author Laura Bradford.

Emma Westlake has always wanted to be in business for herself. As a kid, she had her own successful lemonade stand and dog-walking business. And when she entered adulthood, Emma sunk all her cash into her dream job of travel planning. But as her customers became more and more internet savvy, the need for her services declined. At a loss for what to do next, she turns to an elderly friend who suggests she try to get paid for doing something she’s really good at–being a paid companion. Emma thinks it’s a crazy idea until requests start pouring in. Big Max from down the block wants her to act as his wingman at the local senior center’s upcoming dance, nurse practitioner Stephanie needs a workout partner, and writer Brian Hill asks Emma to be his cheering section at an open mic night.

Brian will be reading from his latest work and wants to know someone will clap for him when he’s done. When Emma balks at the notion that people wouldn’t, he tells her the room will be filled with people he’s invited–most of whom will likely want him dead by the time he’s done reading. Assuming he’s joking, she laughs. But when Brian steps up to the mic and clears his throat to speak, he promptly drops dead. Emma is one of the last people to see him alive, and so she becomes an immediate suspect. Now she’ll have to cozy up to a killer to save her skin and her new business.

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While spending a rainy afternoon at a friend’s house as a child, Laura Bradford fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number-two pencil. From that moment forward, she never wanted to do or be anything else. Today, Laura is the USA Today bestselling author of the Amish Mysteries, including Just Plain Murder and A Churn for the Worse. She is also the author of the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries, and, as Elizabeth Lynn Casey, she wrote the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries.

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Enjoy the conversation with Laura Bradford and John Charles.

T. Jefferson Parker’s upcoming virtual event for The Poisoned Pen is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 10 at 7 PM MST (9 PM EST). He’ll be talking about 1968, and his latest book, A Thousand Steps. You can still order a signed copy of the book through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/3sXQWRp

Before you check out the summary of the book, Parker did an interview for CriminalElement in November in which he talked about “The Books Behind A Thousand Steps“. You might be interested in checking out the titles he said inspired his novel. https://www.criminalelement.com/the-books-behind-a-thousand-steps/

Here’s the description of A Thousand Steps.

A Thousand Steps is a beguiling thriller, an incisive coming-of-age story, and a vivid portrait of a turbulent time and place by three-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker.

Laguna Beach, California, 1968. The Age of Aquarius is in full swing. Timothy Leary is a rock star. LSD is God. Folks from all over are flocking to Laguna, seeking peace, love, and enlightenment.

Matt Anthony is just trying get by.

Matt is sixteen, broke, and never sure where his next meal is coming from. Mom’s a stoner, his deadbeat dad is a no-show, his brother’s fighting in Nam . . . and his big sister Jazz has just gone missing. The cops figure she’s just another runaway hippie chick, enjoying a summer of love, but Matt doesn’t believe it. Not after another missing girl turns up dead on the beach.

All Matt really wants to do is get his driver’s license and ask out the girl he’s been crushing on since fourth grade, yet it’s up to him to find his sister. But in a town where the cops don’t trust the hippies and the hippies don’t trust the cops, uncovering what’s really happened to Jazz is going to force him to grow up fast.

If it’s not already too late.

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T. Jefferson Parker is the author of numerous novels and short stories, the winner of three Edgar Awards (for Silent Joe, California Girl, and the short story “Skinhead Central”), and the recipient of a Los Angeles Times Book Prize for best mystery (Silent Joe). Before becoming a full-time novelist, he was an award-winning reporter. He lives in Fallbrook, California.

Emily Levesque, author of The Last Stargazers, will appear virtually on Facebook and YouTube for The Poisoned Pen on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 5 PM (7 PM EST), hosted by author Dana Stabenow. Levesque is an award-winning astrophysicist whose book is available through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/3pOb7z8

Before you watch the event, you might want to check out Levesque’s TED Talk, “A Stellar History of Modern Astronomy.

Here’s the description of The Last Stargazers.

The story of the people who see beyond the stars—an astronomy book for adults still spellbound by the night sky.

Humans from the earliest civilizations through today have craned their necks each night, using the stars to orient themselves in the large, strange world around them. Stargazing is a pursuit that continues to fascinate us: from Copernicus to Carl Sagan, astronomers throughout history have spent their lives trying to answer the biggest questions in the universe. Now, award-winning astronomer Emily Levesque shares the stories of modern-day stargazers in this new nonfiction release, the people willing to adventure across high mountaintops and to some of the most remote corners of the planet, all in the name of science.

From the lonely quiet of midnight stargazing to tall tales of wild bears loose in the observatory, The Last Stargazers is a love letter to astronomy and an affirmation of the crucial role that humans can and must play in the future of scientific discovery.

In this sweeping work of narrative science, Levesque shows how astronomers in this scrappy and evolving field are going beyond the machines to infuse creativity and passion into the stars and space and inspires us all to peer skyward in pursuit of the universe’s secrets.

---

EMILY LEVESQUE is a professor at the University of Washington and lives in Seattle. She received her SB in physics from MIT and a PhD from the University of Hawaii. She has won the American Astronomical Society’s Annie Jump Cannon Award and Newton Lacy Pierce Prize, among other awards.

James Rollins is guest author on Tuesday, January 4. The event will be broadcast on Facebook and YouTube at 7 PM (9 PM EST). One topic will be his current Hot Book of the Week at The Poisoned Pen, The Starless Crown. Signed copies are available through the Web Store. https://tinyurl.com/2p8cv37u

Here’s the description of Rollins’ fantasy novel, The Starless Crown.

An alliance embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the secrets of the distant past and save their world in this captivating, deeply visionary adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling thriller-master James Rollins.

A gifted student foretells an apocalypse. Her reward is a sentence of death.

Fleeing into the unknown she is drawn into a team of outcasts:

A broken soldier, who once again takes up the weapons he’s forbidden to wield and carves a trail back home.

A drunken prince, who steps out from his beloved brother’s shadow and claims a purpose of his own.

An imprisoned thief, who escapes the crushing dark and discovers a gleaming artifact – one that will ignite a power struggle across the globe.

On the run, hunted by enemies old and new, they must learn to trust each other in order to survive in a world evolved in strange, beautiful, and deadly ways, and uncover ancient secrets that hold the key to their salvation.

But with each passing moment, doom draws closer.

WHO WILL CLAIM THE STARLESS CROWN?

---

JAMES ROLLINS is the #1 New York Times bestseller of international thrillers, sold to over forty countries. His Sigma series has earned national accolades and has topped charts around the world. He is also a practicing veterinarian, who still spends time underground or underwater as an avid spelunker and diver.

With The Poisoned Pen closed until January 3, the blog will take a short break as well. Enjoy the weekend! Happy Reading in 2022!

2021 is still winding down, but The Poisoned Pen is already geared up for 2022. Check out the list of authors appearing in January. After you watch the virtual event on The Poisoned Pen’s Facebook or YouTube page, you can find the books in the Web Store. Or, if one of these authors is a favorite,, don’t miss the chance to own the book. Buy it now! https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Here’s the schedule for early January (always subject to change).

Here’s a fun Hot Book of the Week to round out the year at The Poisoned Pen, The Clanlands Almanac: Season Stories from Scotland by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish. According to Patrick Millikin at the bookstore, “We offer up to 1000 copies Signed by Diana Gabaldon with a bookplate signed by Sam and Graham (sent from the UK). One signed copy per customer. These will ship in JANUARY when our Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone project will wrap up and Diana has time to sign this book. Unsigned copies will be available in December.” Check the Web Store for information. https://tinyurl.com/yck2vyzz

Here’s the description of The Clanlands Almanac.

If Clanlands was a gentle road trip through Scotland, this almanac is a top down, pedal to the metal up and down odyssey through the many byways of a Scottish year. An invitation to anyone who picks up the book to join us on a crazy camper van exploration over 12 glorious, whisky fueled months. Mountains, battles, famous (and infamous) Scots, the alarming competitiveness of Men in Kilts, clans, feuds, flora, fauna, with a healthy sprinkling of embarrassing personal reminiscences thrown in. Much is explored, all is shared. It is a camper van cornucopia of all things Alba. From First Footing to Samhain, Fringe Festival follies to whisky lore, Sam & Graham guide readers through a year of Scottish legends, traditions, historical and contemporary events, sharing personal stories and tips as only these two chalk-and-cheese friends can.   As entertaining as it is practical, The Clanlands Almanac is a light-hearted education in Scottish history and culture, told through the eyes of two passionate Scotsmen. The perfect escapist guide, The Clanlands Almanac is intended as a starting point for your own Scottish discoveries.

Sam Heughan is an award-winning actor and philanthropist, best known for his starring role as Jamie Fraser in the hit TV show Outlander. From his early days at the Royal Court Theatre to his most recent role in the hit action film Bloodshot, Sam has enjoyed a career in theatre, television and film spanning almost two decades. With his growing success and fame, Sam has also lent his voice and platform to raise funds and awareness for many notable charities, including Marie Curie UK and Blood Cancer UK. In recent years he has raised over $5 million for blood cancer research, hospice care and testicular cancer awareness education. Due to his outstanding contribution to charitable endeavors and artistic success he was bestowed by the University of Glasgow and the University of Stirling with an honorary doctorate in 2019.

Graham McTavish has been acting for over 35 years in theatre, film and television. On film and TV he is best known for his roles as Dougal MacKenzie in Outlander, the fierce Dwarf Dwalin in The Hobbit trilogy, and AMC’s cult show Preacher as the Saint of Killers. He has performed in theatre all over the world from the Royal Court Theatre in London to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He is delighted that the dream of his 12-year-old self to be a published author has finally come true!

If you follow the blog or The Poisoned Pen’s Facebook or YouTube pages, you’ve seen Patrick Millikin. He’s the magician behind many of the virtual events, and sometimes he’s the host in front of the camera. Patrick is an author and editor himself, and he’s the noir fan on the staff. He says though, that he reads widely, and his taste is always evolving. If his picks for the Best Books of 2021 are similar to your interests, you might want to check out the Web Store for the titles Patrick recommends. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Best of 2021

William Boyle. Shoot the Moonlight Out. – A haunting crime story about the broken characters inhabiting yesterday’s Brooklyn, this is the new novel from modern master of neo-noir William Boyle.

Michael Connelly. The Dark Hours. – A Wall Street Journal and South Florida Sun-Sentinel Best Book of the Year

“A masterpiece”—LAPD detective Renée Ballard must join forces with Harry Bosch to find justice in a city scarred by fear and social unrest after a methodical killer strikes on New Year’s Eve (Publishers Weekly).

S.A. Cosby. Razorblade Tears. – A Black father. A white father. Two murdered sons. A quest for vengeance.

Abigail Dean. Girl A. – She thought she had escaped her past. But there are some things you can’t outrun.

Percival Everett. The Trees. – An uncanny literary thriller addressing the painful legacy of lynching in the US, by the author of Telephone.

Tod Goldberg. The Low Desert. – Raymond Carver meets Elmore Leonard in this extraordinary collection of contemporary crime writing set in the critically acclaimed Gangsterland universe, a series called “gloriously original” by The New York Times Book Review.

Naomi Hirahara. Clark and Division. – A New York Times Best Mystery Novel of 2021

Set in 1944 Chicago, Edgar Award-winner Naomi Hirahara’s eye-opening and poignant new mystery, the story of a young woman searching for the truth about her revered older sister’s death, brings to focus the struggles of one Japanese American family released from mass incarceration at Manzanar during World War II.

Kathleen Kent. The Pledge. – In this “instantly cinematic and completely compelling” thriller (Hank Phillippi Ryan), Detective Betty has only two weeks to take down her deadliest rival—this time for good.

Richard Lange. Rovers. – Two immortal brothers crisscross the American Southwest to elude a murderous biker gang and protect a young woman in this “utter triumph and delight” from award-winning author Richard Lange (Jonathan Ames, author of A Man Named Doll)

David Swinson. City on the Edge. – An American teen living abroad discovers the truth about himself and his family in this thrilling novel from “one of the best dialogue hounds in the business” (New York Times Book Review).

Vlautin, Willy. The Night Always Comes. – Award-winning author Willy Vlautin explores the impact of trickle-down greed and opportunism of gentrification on ordinary lives in this scorching novel that captures the plight of a young woman pushed to the edge as she fights to secure a stable future for herself and her family.