Teaser Tuesdays: THE CONFESSION OF KATHERINE HOWARD by Suzannah Dunn

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B. of Should Be Reading.







"The king alone had chosen her -- liking what he saw and not looking any closer -- and he'd championed her: she was only here on his whim. She had no friends with influence."

 -- Page 41


THE CONFESSION OF KATHERINE HOWARD
by Suzannah Dunn

Pub. Date: April 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback , 320pp
ISBN-13: 9780062011473

ISBN: 0062011472

Click here to read an excerpt.

Want to play along?  Here's what to do:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mailbox Monday: October 24, 2011

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia at The Printed Page, is being hosted this month by Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit. If you'd like to join in, stop by Serena's and leave a link - or just browse through the comments to see what new books have been showing up.

What's in your mailbox?

I was extraordinarily lucky this past week -- I received several books which I won over the summer, a few more for review, and a "happy accident" bundle.  Thank you to all the bloggers, authors, publishers and publicists who had a hand in feeding my mailbox last week.

THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE de MEDICI
by C.W. Gortner

a win from Johanna of Mom's Tree House

NEXT TO LOVE

by Ellen Feldman

a win from Audra at Unabridged Chick

I won the following set of four books by Ariana Franklin from Rita of Chi-TownCheapskate



MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH
(Book 1)

A SERPENT'S TALE

(Book 2)

GRAVE GOODS
(Book 3)

A MURDEROUS PROCESSION

(Book 4)

THE TIN TICKET
by Deborah J. Swiss

THE ORPHAN MASTER'S SON

by Adam Johnson

Then I received the following five ARCs which were intended for another blogger. Lucky for me, when I contacted Penguin, I was allowed to keep them -- O.K., so, I shamelessly begged. Wouldn't you?

THE GODS OF GOTHAM
by Lyndsay Faye

ALL I DID WAS SHOOT MY MAN

by Walter Mosley

A GOOD AMERICAN
by Alex George

THE INVISIBLE ONES

by Stef Penney

THE PROFESSIONALS

by Owen Laukkanen

Book Review: TWO FOR SORROW by Nicola Upson

TWO FOR SORROW

(Josephine Tey Series #3)

by Nicola Upson

Pub. Date: August 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback , 496pp

Sales Rank: 63,564

ISBN-13: 9780061451584

ISBN: 0061451584

Description (from the publisher):

They were the most horrific crimes of a new century: the murders of newborn innocents for which two British women were hanged at Holloway Prison in 1903. Decades later, mystery writer Josephine Tey has decided to write a novel based on Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, the notorious “Finchley baby farmers,” unaware that her research will entangle her in the desperate hunt for a modern-day killer.

A young seamstress—an ex-convict determined to reform—has been found brutally slain in the studio of Tey’s friends, the Motley sisters, amid preparations for a star-studded charity gala. Despite initial appearances, Inspector Archie Penrose is not convinced this murder is the result of a long-standing domestic feud—and a horrific accident involving a second young woman soon after supports his convictions. Now he and his friend Josephine must unmask a sadistic killer before more blood flows—as the repercussions of unthinkable crimes of the past reach out to destroy those left behind long after justice has been served.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars -- a truly fine historical novel and a complex mystery

My Thoughts:  In the past, I've shied away from novels centered around characters from another author's work or even that other author. Something about one author expanding upon another's creations or casting another author as a fictional character just didn't sit well with me. However, when I read about the series of books from Nicola Upson depicting Josephine Tey dealing with murders occurring within her circle of friends and acquaintances, I took a closer look. First of all, Josephine Tey is itself a psuedonym which Elizabeth Mackintosh used to publish her mystery novels. Secondly, Upson's series is set during the mid 1930's, a period when the British were not only still reeling from the devastating losses of World War I but also facing a growing awareness that another war was looming on the future's horizon. This setting fascinates me. But the element that really lured me onto the hook of this book is that Upson constructed her novel around the fictional Tey penning a novel about a real life event -- the 1903 executions of Amelia Sachs and Annie Waters for crimes related to baby farming. Wow! I just had to see how Upson pulled this off.

TWO FOR SORROW is the third book in the Josephine Tey series and, since I  hadn't read the first two books, that gave me pause. One of the difficulties of reading a mystery series out of order is that sometimes the resolution of a previous case is discussed, thus spoiling some of the pleasure of going back and reading that particular book. I was so intrigued by the premise of TWO FOR SORROW that I threw caution to the wind and was not disappointed. Though events in previous novels are referenced, it was done in such a way that I became more curious about them, not less. Another aspect that appealed to me is that Upson does not portray Tey as an amateur sleuth. Rather, Tey's close friend, Archie Penrose is a Scotland Yard Inspector. Josephine doesn't assist him in an active way but, because of the nature of their friendship and her proximity to those involved in the case, she does make contributions and is privy to more information than the press or the public. This perspective leant an authenticity to the story which might not have existed had Upson dressed Tey in Nancy Drew's sleuth suit.

The upshot is that I loved this book! Upson delivers a complex mystery in a richly drawn setting. Actually, two settings. I love when a piece of fiction offers me the opportunity to learn about actual historical events. In this case, I learned a lot about late 19th century attitudes toward unwed mothers and unwanted children as well as gaining a deeper understanding of the collective conciousness of England between World Wars I and II. TWO FOR SORROW has my highest recommendation for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Before I even completed it, I purchased a copy of the first book in the series, AN EXPERT IN MURDER. Kudos to Nicola Upson.

*I will offer two caveats:  First, the murderer's treatment of the victim is quite gruesome and, though it fits the story and is not at all gratuitous, I found it difficult to read. Secondly, in this novel Josephine wrestles with the question of her sexuality. It wasn't clear if this was an ongoing issue from the previous two novels or a new development. It is handled with sophistication and is not at all salacious. Both the violence perpetrated on the victim and the question of Josephine's sexuality are in keeping with the storyline but not difficult to skim over if you so desire.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to visit the author's website.

About the author (from the publisher):
Nicola Upson has written for a variety of publications, including the New Statesman, where she was a crime fiction critic. She also regularly contributes to BBC radio and has worked in the theater for ten years. She divides her time between Cambridge and Cornwall.

Disclaimer:  I won a copy of this book in a giveaway at Reviews from the Heart. I have not been compensated in any way whatsoever from the beginning of time to the end of days for my honest opinion of this book.

Waiting on Wednesday: THE WHITE PEARL by Kate Furnivall

"WAITING ON WEDNESDAY"

is hosted by Jill from

Breaking the Spine.

Join in and tell us . . .

What are you waiting for?

My pick for this week is . . .

THE WHITE PEARL

by Kate Furnivall

Pub. Date: March 2012

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Format: Paperback , 496pp

ISBN-13: 9780425241004

ISBN: 0425241009

Description (from the publisher):

National bestselling author of The Russian Concubine, Kate Furnivall spins a tale of war, desperation, and the discovery of love off the coast of Malaya.

Malaya, 1941. Connie Thornton plays her role as a dutiful wife and mother without complaint. She is among the fortunate after all-the British rubber plantation owners reaping the benefits of the colonial life. But Connie feels as though she is oppressed, crippled by boredom, sweltering heat, a loveless marriage. . .

Then, in December, the Japanese invade. Connie and her family flee, sailing south on their yacht toward Singapore, where the British are certain to stand firm against the Japanese. En route, in the company of friends, they learn that Singapore is already under siege. Tensions mount, tempers flare, and the yacht's inhabitants are driven by fear.

Increasingly desperate and short of food, they are taken over by a pirate craft and its Malayan crew making their perilous way from island to island. When a fighter plane crashes into the sea, they rescue its Japanese pilot. For Connie, that's when everything changes. In the suffocating confines of the boat with her life upended, Connie discovers a new kind of freedom and a new, dangerous, exhilarating love.

About the author (from the publisher):

Kate Furnivall was born in Wales and currently lives in Devon, England. Married and the mother of two sons, she has working in publishing and television advertising. She drew inspiration for The Russian Concubine from her mother’s experiences as a White Russian refugee in China.

 

Mailbox Monday: October 17, 2011

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia at The Printed Page, is being hosted this month by Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit. If you'd like to join in, stop by Serena's and leave a link - or just browse through the comments to see what new books have been showing up.

What's in your mailbox?

WHAT LANGUAGE IS
by John McWhorter


A win from Julie at My Book Retreat

Thank you, Julie!

MWF SEEKING BFF

by Rachel Bertsche

Click here to visit the book's website.

IMMORTAL BIRD
by Doron Weber


Click here to read an excerpt.

THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

by Gretchen Rubin

I've wanted this book for a loooooong time,

 so I snapped it up while dashing through Barnes & Noble yesterday.

JOINT CUSTODY WITH A JERK
Raising a Child with an Uncooperative Ex: A Hands-on, Practical Guide to Communicating with a Difficult Ex-Spouse

by Julie A. Ross, M.A. and Judy Corcoran

Let's just say, I picked this one up for a friend . . .

Audio Book Review: BURNT MOUNTAIN by Anne Rivers Siddons; read by Kate Reading

BURNT MOUNTAIN

by Anne Rivers Siddons

read by Kate Reading

 Pub. Date: July 2011

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Format: Compact Disc

ISBN-13: 9781607882497

ISBN: 1607882493

Description (from the publisher):

From one of our most acclaimed writers comes this dramatic tale of a well-born Southern woman whose life is forever changed by the betrayal of her mother and by the man she loves.

Growing up, the only place tomboy Thayer Wentworth felt at home was at her summer camp - Camp Sherwood Forest in the North Carolina Mountains. It was there that she came alive and where she met Nick Abrams, her first love...and first heartbreak.

Years later, Thayer marries Aengus, an Irish professor, and they move into her deceased grandmother's house in Atlanta, only miles from Camp Edgewood on Burnt Mountain where her father died years ago in a car accident. There, Aengus and Thayer lead quiet and happy lives until Aengus is invited up to the camp to tell old Irish tales to the campers. As Aengus spends less time at home and becomes more distant, Thayer must confront dark secrets-about her mother, her first love, and, most devastating of all, her husband.

My Rating: 2 Perplexed Stars out of 5

My Thoughts: I'm perplexed. Though I suppose I shouldn't be. Before I began listening to the audio version of BURNT MOUNTAIN by Anne Rivers Siddons, I was somewhat aware that it wasn't receiving great reviews. I try to avoid reading actual reviews before I begin a book myself because I don't want to be influenced or encounter any spoilers. I might get a feel for the general popularity of a title without learning any particulars. In the case of BURNT MOUNTAIN, I thought the storyline sounded interesting, and I've enjoyed the author's work in the past, so I plunged on in (much like the kids pictured on the cover!).

I found most of BURNT MOUNTAIN to be very enjoyable. Siddons takes her time laying out the backstory of her lead character, Thayer Wentworth. Descriptions of Thayer's privileged though troubled childhood are detailed and lush. Thayer and her mother, Crystal, don't have much fondness for one another, but she's able to compensate because she connects so well with her father (whose character Crystal has never fully appreciated) and with her paternal grandmother, Grand, who sees something of herself in Thayer. Crystal is dissatisfied that she hasn't been able to achieve the social standing to which she always aspired and is somewhat bitter and resentful that her marriage into the prestigious Wentworth family hasn't provided the exaltation she craves. What she can't achieve for herself, she hopes to secure for her daughters - whether they want it or not. Sometimes the interplay between Crystal and Grand is quite amusing. Grand has no delusions about Crystal's values and occasionally enjoys thwarting and subtly taunting her. However, even Grand's cleverness and financial advantages cannot protect Thayer from her mother's selfish and dark scheming. If this were a fairy tale, Crystal would be cast as the evil stepmother.

The problems I had with BURNT MOUNTAIN have their beginnings at about the halfway mark after Thayer's heart is broken just before she begins college. During her final semester, after four years of living in a sort of shell-shocked bubble, she falls quickly and deeply in love with Aengus, a professor of Celtic folklore. From that point on, Siddons seems to have lost control of the story. The plot takes a very dark turn and, frankly, I wasn't sure if we were dealing with obsession turned to madness, pedophilia, the supernatural, or a combination of all three! Then, suddenly, what should be a rather spectacular denouement falls flat, the story is wrapped up in a very unsatisfying epilogue, and that's all she wrote!

I was quite literally left scratching my head and saying "Huhhh??" Not only do I not understand the ending of the story but I'm also wondering about the author. Did she become ill and rush through the ending? Did she just lose interest? Was there a falling out with the publisher, agent . . . Did someone else finish writing this book for her?  What happened?! I'm concerned for her. And I'm very disappointed.

This book is just not up to Siddons' usual standards. If Anne Rivers Siddons is a new author for you, I would recommend that you read one of her other titles, several of which I've enjoyed. Regrettably, I cannot recommend BURNT MOUNTAIN.

Regarding the work of the reader, Kate Reading, I thought she was wonderful, and I have no criticisms whatsoever. I found the timber of her voice to be pleasant, her ability to slip into a variety of accents impressive, and her pacing spot on. I'm learning that when it comes to audio books, I have favorite readers just as I have favorite authors. Kate Reading is definitely on my Favs List.

Click here to listen to a sample.

Click here to read an excerpt.

About the author (from the publisher):

Anne Rivers Siddons is one of America’s most beloved novelists. A New York Times bestselling author, she has written sixteen previous novels: Sweetwater Creek, Islands, Nora Nora, Low Country, Up Island, Fault Lines, Downtown, Hill Towns, Colony, Outer Banks, King’s Oak, Peachtree Road, Homeplace, Fox’s Earth, The House Next Door, and Heartbreak Hotel. She is also the author of a work of nonfiction, John Chancellor Makes Me Cry.  OFF SEASON, was released in August 2008. She and her husband, Heyward, split their time between their homes in South Carolina and Maine.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this audio book for review purposes only. I have not received any form of compensation in exchange for my honest opinion.

Waiting on Wednesday: 3 British Mysteries from Harper Collins: THE CONFESSION by Charles Todd; NO MARK UPON HER by Deborah Crombie; BEFORE THE POISON by Peter Robinson

"WAITING ON WEDNESDAY"

is hosted by Jill from

Breaking the Spine.

Join in and tell us . . .

What are you waiting for?

My pick for this week is . . .

There's no way I could choose just one.
Oh, will next year never come?!

THE CONFESSION

by Charles Todd

Pub. Date: January 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover , 352pp
Series: Inspector Ian Rutledge Series

ISBN-13: 9780062015662

ISBN: 0062015664

Description (from the publisher):
The Confession is historical crime fiction at its finest, continuing Charles Todd’s New York Times bestselling mystery series featuring severely damaged British World War I veteran, and yet still astonishingly efficient Scotland Yard inspector, Ian Rutledge. Todd’s troubled investigator wrestles with a startling and dangerous case that reaches far into the past when a false confession from a man who is not who he claims to be leads to a brutal murder. The Confession is a must-read for every fan of Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes, P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, and Jacqueline Winspear, as post-war London’s best detective finds himself ensnared in a dark and deadly investigation that unearths shocking small town secrets dating back more than a century.

NO MARK UPON HER

by Deborah Crombie

Pub. Date: February 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover , 384pp
Series: Duncan Kinkaid/Gemma James

ISBN-13: 9780061990618

ISBN: 0061990612

Description (from the publisher):

Metropolitan Police officer and Olympic rowing hopeful DCI Rebecca Meredith goes out alone to train on the river in beautiful, historic Henley on a dark afternoon in late October - and doesn't return. When a desperate search by the police and a K9 team reveals the possibility of foul play, Scotland Yard calls in Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid.

Then, when a search-and-rescue team member's life is threatened, Kincaid realizes the case may be even more complex and dangerous than he believed. But it is only when he enlists the aid of his partner, Detective Inspector Gemma James, that they find the answers lie closer to home than they could have imagined - and are infinitely more deadly.

BEFORE THE POISON

by Peter Robinson

Pub. Date: February 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover , 368pp
ISBN-13: 9780062004796

ISBN: 0062004794

Description (from the publisher):

Through years of success in Hollywood composing music for Oscar-winning films, Chris Lowndes always imagined he would come full circle, home to Yorkshire with his beloved wife Laura.

Now he's back in the Yorkshire Dales, but Laura is dead, and Chris needs to make a new life for himself. The isolated house he buys sight unseen should give him the space to come to terms with his grief and the quiet to allow him to work.

Kilnsgate House turns out to be rather more than he expected, however. A man died there, sixty years ago. His wife was convicted of murder. And something is pulling Chris deeper and deeper into the story of Grace Elizabeth Fox, who was hanged by the neck until she was dead . . .

Teaser Tuesdays -- DARK MOON OF AVALON by Anna Elliott

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B. of Should Be Reading.

"She could feel the frighteningly strong pull of wanting to believe she could trust him--like being caught in the current of a fast-moving river.  But wanting and knowing were two different things."

-- page 206

DARK MOON OF AVALON:
A Novel of Trystan and Isolde
by Anna Elliott

Pub. Date: September 2010
Publisher: Touchstone
Format: Paperback , 419pp
ISBN-13: 9781416589907

ISBN: 1416589902

Click here to visit the author's website for excerpts, trailers, and more.

Want to play along?  Here's what to do:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mailbox Monday - October 10, 2011

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia at The Printed Page, is being hosted this month by Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit. If you'd like to join in, stop by Serena's and leave a link - or just browse through the comments to see what new books have been showing up.

What's in your mailbox?

THE SHATTERED VINE
Book 3 of The Vineart War
by Laura Anne Gilman

". . . a story about how the real victories are won behind the scenes, with cunning and careful planning, rather than by large armies doing as much damage to each other as possible."  -- Kirkus Reviews

THE WEIGHT OF STONE

Book 2 of The Vineart War

by Laura Anne Gilman

"Gilman has created a world that feels lived-in, real, and above all interesting."

-- New York Times bestselling author S. M. Stirling

FLESH AND FIRE
Book 1 of the Vineart War
by Laura Anne Gilman

"A fresh and creative fantasy -- you'll never look at a bottle of Chardonnay the same way again!"

-- Karen Miller, bestselling author of the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker duology

THE WINTERS IN BLOOM

by Lisa Tucker

"Fast-paced page-turner." —Library Journal

THE HUM AND THE SHIVER
by Alex Bledsoe

"This powerful, character-driven drama, set forth in superbly lucid prose, occurs against an utterly convincing backdrop and owns complications enough to keep everybody compulsively turning the page. A sheer delight.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

FORGOTTEN

by Cat Patrick

a win from Courtney at Stiletto Storytime

Thank you to all the authors, publishers, publicists,

and bloggers who fed my mailbox over the last week.

It's much appreciated!

Waiting on Wednesday: ALL THAT I AM by Anna Funder

"WAITING ON WEDNESDAY"

is hosted by Jill from

Breaking the Spine.

Join in and tell us . . .

What are you waiting for?

My pick for this week is . . .

ALL THAT I AM

by Anna Funder

Pub. Date: February 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Hardcover , 384pp

ISBN-13: 9780062077561

ISBN: 0062077562

Description (from the pubisher):

One September morning, elderly Ruth Wesemann wakes to the sound of a parcel being delivered to her door. Inside she finds a tattered little notebook. Opening its delicate pages she meets with a flood of memories...

It's 1933 and she is back in her light-filled flat in Berlin. Hans is making caipirinhas, snow falls outside the kitchen window, and Hitler is making his first speech as Chancellor of Germany. Her life and those of her tight-knit group of friends are about to change beyond all recognition. Having dedicated themselves to resisting the Nazi's rise, they have become hunted outlaws overnight. Fleeing the country, Ruth and Hans find refuge in a basement flat in Bloomsbury, but inspired by Ruth's fearless cousin Dora, they defy the conditions of their visas and risk being sent back to Germany in order continue their dangerous resistance work. But with each breathtaking act of courage and every person that they trust, they cannot help but risk betrayal and deceit. And then, one day, they face the chilling realisation that Hitler's reach extends much further than they had thought, even to London itself.

Inspiring, tragic and based on real events, All That I Am is a masterful and devastating novel of bravery and betrayal, of the risks and sacrifices that people endure to protect their beliefs and of discovering remarkable heroism hidden in the most unexpected of places.

Click here to read an excerpt.

About the author (from the publisher):
Anna Funder is an Australian writer who grew up in Melbourne and worked as an international lawyer and in public relations for a German overseas television service in Berlin. Her first book, Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall, won of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious prize for nonfiction, the Samuel Johnson Prize. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and children.

Teaser Tuesdays: LIESL & PO by Lauren Oliver

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B. of Should Be Reading.

"Liesl had at that moment paused outside to get her bearings, and as she turned and looked around her, both Will and the old woman, staring down, got a nice long look at her face. Will thought, Angel, precisely as the old woman thought, Devil, and let out a wicked screech."

– page 167, advance reader's edition

LIESL & PO
by Lauren Oliver

Pub. Date: October 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover , 320pp
Age Range: 9 to 12
ISBN-13: 9780062014511

ISBN: 006201451X

Click here to visit the gorgeous website for the book.

Click here to enter a contest for a chance to win an arc copy at the author's blog.

Want to play along?  Here's what to do:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mailbox Monday: October 3, 2011

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia at The Printed Page, is being hosted this month by Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit. If you'd like to join in, stop by Serena's and leave a link - or just browse through the comments to see what new books have been showing up.

What's in your mailbox?

THE OUTLAW ALBUM: Stories
by Daniel Woodrell

"Twelve spare, haunting and brutal slices of country noir from the genre’s most gifted practitioner." - Kirkus Reviews


PARIS WITHOUT END
The True Story of Heminway's First Wife

by Gioia Diliberto

Which should I read first?
This factual account or the novel, THE PARIS WIFE by Paula McLain?

ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS YOU

by Elizabeth Berg

"Berg's masterful portraits and keen insight makes for a memorable read." -- Kirkus Reviews

FALLING FOR ME

by Anna David

". . . a thoughtful chronicle with inspiring lessons in personal growth and building a life one loves from the inside out." -- Publishers Weekly

DON'T SING AT THE TABLE

by Adriana Trigiani

“Trigiani combines family and American history, reflections on lives well-lived, and sound advice to excellent effect, as a legacy to her daughter and a remembrance of two inimitable women.” — Publishers Weekly

WHEREVER YOU GO

by Joan Leegant

Hmmm. Should I join the read along with Avis at She Reads and Reads and Carrie at Books and Movies? I think, Yes. Yes, I should!

IN OTHER WORLDS

by Margaret Atwood

"A witty, astute collection of essays and lectures on science fiction by the acclaimed novelist."  -- Kirkus Reviews