strange and random happenstance

Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson
Published by: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: March 8th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From America’s most beloved superstar and its greatest storyteller - a thriller about a young singer-songwriter on the rise and on the run, and determined to do whatever it takes to survive.

Every song tells a story.

She’s a star on the rise, singing about the hard life behind her.

She’s also on the run. Find a future, lose a past.

Nashville is where she’s come to claim her destiny. It’s also where the darkness she’s fled might find her. And destroy her.

Run, Rose, Run is a novel glittering with danger and desire - a story that only America’s #1 beloved entertainer and its #1 bestselling author could have created."

I don't think I've ever seen anyone's name ABOVE James Patterson's. Technically it is alphabetical, but more importantly, it's Dolly!

The Summer We Forgot by Caroline George
Published by: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: March 8th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Caroline George once again transports readers with lush, evocative prose, leading them to ask the question: what happens when we can't even trust ourselves?

Some memories are better left forgotten.

Darby and Morgan haven't spoken for two years, and their friend group has splintered. But when the body of their former science teacher is found in the marsh where they attended camp that summer, they realize they have more questions than answers...and even fewer memories.

No one remembers - or no one is talking.

The group of reunited friends begins to suspect that a murderer is stalking the coastal highway 30A, and they must try to recover their memories as quickly as possible...before the history they can't remember repeats itself.

Everyone has a secret.

As tensions rise and time runs out, Darby and Morgan begin to wonder if they can believe one another...or if they can even trust themselves.

Some memories are better left forgotten.

Darby and Morgan haven't spoken for two years, and their friend group has splintered. But when the body of their former science teacher is found in the marsh where they attended camp that summer, they realize they have more questions than answers...and even fewer memories.

No one remembers - or no one is talking.

The group of reunited friends suspects that a murderer is stalking the coastal highway 30A, and they are desperate to recover their memories as quickly as possible...before their history they can't remember repeats itself.

Everyone has a secret.

As tensions rise and time runs out, Darby and Morgan begin to wonder if they can believe one another...or if they can even trust themselves."

Summer camps mysteries here we come!

Who Took Eden Mulligan by Sharon Dempsey
Published by: Avon Books
Publication Date: March 8th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"'They're dead. They're all dead. It's my fault. I killed them.'

Those are the words of Iona Gardener, who stands bloodied and staring as she confesses to the murder of four people in a run-down cottage outside of Belfast.

Outside the cottage, five old dolls are hanging from a tree. Inside the cottage, the words "WHO TOOK EDEN MULLIGAN?" are graffitied on the wall, connecting the murder scene with the famous cold case of Eden Mulligan, a mother-of-five who went missing during The Troubles.

But this case is different. Right from the start.

Because no one in the community is willing to tell the truth, and the only thing DI Danny Stowe and forensic psychologist Rose Lainey can be certain of is that Iona Gardener's confession is false...."

A horrific new crime perhaps connecting to a cold case? It's my catnip!

Far to Go by Noel Streatfeild
Published by: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication Date: March 8th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 160 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Margaret Thursday, the unforgettable heroine of Thursday's Child stars in this classic children's adventure from Noel Streatfeild, the beloved author of Ballet Shoes.

When Margaret Thursday lands a role as a child actress at a well-known London theatre, becoming famous almost overnight, news of her success reaches her bitter enemy, the matron of her old orphanage.

Margaret knows that Matron is set on revenge, but she keeps her head held high, focusing on the play. But Matron's evil plans are well prepared, and Margaret is going to need her wits about her - and the help of her friends - if she is to escape unharmed..."

My mom would have loved all the Noel Streatfeild reissues that have been coming out.

The Mammoth Adventure by Philippa Gregory
Published by: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication Date: March 8th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Princess Florizella may live in a classic fairy-tale world, but she's no ordinary princess...

This third volume in The Princess Rules series sees the feisty princess take her baby brother and best friend, Bennett, on another round of adventures together.

Can they rescue their new-found friend the sea serpent from a travelling circus? And hold back the pirate, Five-fathom Freida. Or will Florizella's worst fairygodmother prove that in a fairytale world, you really do have to be careful what you wish for?..."

Have I mentioned lately how much I love that Philippa Gregory is doing kids books?

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
Published by: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: March 8th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A romantic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson, about two people who find themselves competing for glory - and each other's hearts - in a magical fox hunt.

When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.

Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist - yet. He's been fired from every apprenticeship he's landed, and his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret. She begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.

Although they make an unlikely team, they soon find themselves drawn to each other. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt - if they survive that long.

In A Far Wilder Magic, Allison Saft has written an achingly tender love story set against a deadly hunt in an atmospheric, rich fantasy world that will sweep you away."

This book might just win my favorite book cover of 2022 award.

Lost Worlds and Mythological Kingdoms edited by John Joseph Adams
Published by: Grim Oak Press
Publication Date: March 8th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea to Journey to the Center of the Earth, from the fabled island of Avalon to the lost oasis of Zerzura, from The Land That Time Forgot to the golden city of El Dorado, storytellers have long imagined what exists beyond the edges of the map.

The need to seek and discover the unknown is embedded in who we are, no matter the culture or era. To celebrate this sense of wonder, award-winning editor John Joseph Adams has gathered together some of the best Science Fiction and Fantasy writers working today, collecting adventure and mystery in this spectacular anthology. With original contributions from Kate Elliott, Tobias S. Buckell, Dexter Palmer, E. Lily Yu, Jonathan Maberry, and a dozen more, there are short stories sure to enthrall every reader.

Explore the rich tradition begun centuries ago with this all-new compilation full of imagination and delights. What lies beyond the edge of the unknown? Only you, brave reader, can find out.

Featuring new tales by today's masters of Science Fiction and Fantasy:

Tobias S. Buckell
James L. Cambias
Becky Chambers
Kate Elliott
C.C. Finlay
Jeffrey Ford
Theodora Goss
Darcie Little Badger
Jonathan Maberry
Seanan McGuire
An Owomoyela
Dexter Palmer
Cadwell Turnbull
Genevieve Valentine
Carrie Vaughn
Charles Yu
E. Lily Yu"

I really can't pick an author whose story I am most excited for. Just look at the roster!

Crowbones by Anne Bishop
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: March 8th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this engrossing and gripping fantasy set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, an inn owner and her friends must find a killer - before it’s too late....

Crowbones will gitcha if you don’t watch out!

Deep in the territory controlled by the Others - shape-shifters, vampires, and even deadlier paranormal beings - Vicki DeVine has made a new life for herself running The Jumble, a rustic resort. When she decides to host a gathering of friends and guests for Trickster Night, at first everything is going well between the humans and the Others.

But then someone arrives dressed as Crowbones, the Crowgard bogeyman. When the impostor is killed along with a shape-shifting Crow, and the deaths are clearly connected, everyone fears that the real Crowbones may have come to The Jumble - and that could mean serious trouble.

To “encourage” humans to help them find some answers, the Elders and Elementals close all the roads, locking in suspects and victims alike. Now Vicki, human police chief Grimshaw, vampire lawyer Ilya Sanguinati, and the rest of their friends have to figure out who is manipulating events designed to pit humans against Others - and who may have put Vicki DeVine in the crosshairs of a powerful hunter."

Just the titled gives me a frisson of anticipation.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Allison Saft, Anne Bishop, Caroline George, Dolly Parton, James Patterson, John Joseph Adams, Lost Worlds and Mythological Kingdoms, Noel Streatfeild, Philippa Gregory, Sharon Dempsey, Summer Camp

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
Published by: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you.... So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard - even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood’s biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweather Post lived an epic life few could imagine.

Marjorie’s journey began gluing cereal boxes in her father’s barn as a young girl. No one could have predicted that C. W. Post’s Cereal Company would grow into the General Foods empire and reshape the American way of life, with Marjorie as its heiress and leading lady. Not content to stay in her prescribed roles of high-society wife, mother, and hostess, Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process. Before turning thirty she amassed millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the United States. But it was her life-force, advocacy, passion, and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy.

And yet Marjorie’s story, though full of beauty and grandeur, set in the palatial homes she built such as Mar-a-Lago, was equally marked by challenge and tumult. A wife four times over, Marjorie sought her happily-ever-after with the blue-blooded party boy who could not outrun his demons, the charismatic financier whose charm turned to betrayal, the international diplomat with a dark side, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would shake Marjorie and all of society. Marjorie did everything on a grand scale, especially when it came to love."

I wonder what she'd think about that Nazi living in her house...

Flung Out of Space by Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer
Published by: Abrams ComicArts - Surely
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 208 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A fictional and complex portrait of bestselling author Patricia Highsmith caught up in the longing that would inspire her queer classic, The Price of Salt.

Flung Out of Space is both a love letter to the essential lesbian novel, The Price of Salt, and an examination of its notorious author, Patricia Highsmith. Veteran comics creators Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer have teamed up to tell this story through Highsmith’s eyes - reimagining the events that inspired her to write the story that would become a foundational piece of queer literature. Flung Out of Space opens with Pat begrudgingly writing low-brow comics. A drinker, a smoker, and a hater of life, Pat knows she can do better. Her brain churns with images of the great novel she could and should be writing - what will eventually be Strangers on a Train - which would later be adapted into a classic film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1951.

At the same time, Pat, a lesbian consumed with self-loathing, is in and out of conversion therapy, leaving a trail of sexual conquests and broken hearts in her wake. However, one of those very affairs and a chance encounter in a department store give Pat the idea for her soon-to-be beloved tale of homosexual love that was the first of its kind - it gave the lesbian protagonists a happy ending.

This is not just the story behind a classic queer book, but of a queer artist who was deeply flawed. It’s a comic about what it was like to write comics in the 1950s, but also about what it means to be a writer at any time in history, struggling to find your voice.

Author Grace Ellis contextualizes Patricia Highsmith as both an unintentional queer icon and a figure whose problematic views and noted anti-Semitism have cemented her controversial legacy. Highsmith’s life imitated her art with results as devastating as the plot twists that brought her fame and fortune."

Patricia Highsmith is, dare I say it, even more interesting than her books!

Call Me a Cab by Donald E. Westlake
Published by: Hard Case Crime
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The final unpublished novel by MWA Grandmaster – a wild, romantic road trip across America by taxi cab - demonstrates why this beloved author is so fondly remembered and so dearly missed.

In 1977, one of the world’s finest crime novelists turned his pen to suspense of a very different sort - and the results have never been published, until now.

Fans of mystery fiction have often pondered whether it would be possible to write a suspense novel without any crime at all, and in Call Me a Cab the masterful Donald E. Westlake answered the question in his inimitable style. You won’t find any crime in these pages - but what you will find is a wonderful suspense story, about a New York City taxi driver hired to drive a beautiful woman all the way across America, from Manhattan to Los Angeles, where the biggest decision of her life is waiting to be made. From Pennsylvania to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Nevada on the way to California, the characters’ odyssey takes them through uncharted territory - on the map and in their lives. It’s Westlake at his witty, thought-provoking best, and it proves that a page-turner doesn’t need to have a bomb set to go off at the end of it in order to keep sparks flying every step of the way."

I think we've been waiting a long time for the suspense within these pages!

The Bone Track by Sara E. Johnson
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A nature trek turns dangerous when the wilderness gives up its bones...

New Zealand's remote Milford Track seems the perfect place for forensic investigator Alexa Glock to reconnect with her brother Charlie, with whom she hasn't spent much time since they were kids. Their backpacking trip seems ill-fated from the start, though, when she must stop on the way to examine nine skeletons - most likely Maori tribespeople - whose graves have been unearthed by highway construction. Before she opens the first casket, a Maori elder gives her a dire warning: "The viewing of bones can unleash misfortune to the living. Or worse."

Though Alexa dismisses his words as superstitious, they soon come back to haunt her as the idyllic hike takes a sinister turn. First, Charlie is aloof and resentful of the time Alexa has spent at work. Then a rock avalanche nearly carries her away as it reveals the skeletal remains of someone who has clearly been stabbed to death. When a fellow hiker goes missing and is later found dead, Alexa has all she can do to focus on the science as she investigates two murders, while trying not to become the third victim."

I am all about New Zealand lately.

The Midnight Killing by Sharon Dempsey
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Kindle, 378 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"She’d cycled this way hundreds of times before, every twist and turn familiar. She didn’t know this would be the last.

When the body of local architect James McCallum is found hanging in the grounds of his former school one cold, dark night, DI Danny Stowe and forensic psychologist Rose Lainey suspect foul play behind his apparent suicide.

To their astonishment, the trail leads to a 20-year-old cold case of a missing girl, and a teenage party. But what was James’ fascination with the case and how is it linked to his death?

Secrets don’t stay buried forever - but the real killer will stop at nothing to hide theirs...

An absolutely gripping and totally unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night! Perfect for fans of Patricia Gibney, Val McDermid and Rachel Caine."

Murders that involve young women on bikes are somehow really drawing me in lately.

An Impossible Impostor by Deanna Raybourn
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"While investigating a man claiming to be the long-lost heir to a noble family, Veronica Speedwell gets the surprise of her life in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award - nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

London, 1889. Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian beau Stoker are summoned by Sir Hugo Montgomerie, head of Special Branch. He has a personal request on behalf of his goddaughter, Euphemia Hathaway. After years of traveling the world, her eldest brother, Jonathan, heir to Hathaway Hall, was believed to have been killed in the catastrophic eruption of Krakatoa a few years before.

But now a man matching Jonathan’s description and carrying his possessions has arrived at Hathaway Hall with no memory of his identity or where he has been. Could this man truly be Jonathan, back from the dead? Or is he a devious impostor, determined to gain ownership over the family's most valuable possessions - a legendary parure of priceless Rajasthani jewels? It's a delicate situation, and Veronica is Sir Hugo's only hope.

Veronica and Stoker agree to go to Hathaway Hall to covertly investigate the mysterious amnesiac. Veronica is soon shocked to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past. To help Sir Hugo discover the truth, she must open doors to her own history that she long believed to be shut for good."

I just recently pulled ALL my Deanna Raybourn books out of storage for a mega reread. So I'm glad that once I finish all that I have I have a new book on the horizon!

The Midwife by Tricia Cresswell
Published by: Pan
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Kindle
To Buy

The official patter:
"A haunting and moving debut, The Midwife by Tricia Cresswell is perfect for fans of The Familiars and The Binding.

1838. After a violent storm, a woman is found alone, naked and near death, on the Northumberland moors. She has no memory of who she is or how she got there. But she can remember how to help a woman in labour and how to expertly dress a wound, and can speak fluent French. With the odds against her, a penniless single woman, she starts to build her life from scratch, using her skills to help other women around her. She finds a happy place in the world. Until tragedy strikes, and she must run for her life...

In London, Dr Borthwick lives a solitary life working as an accoucheur dealing with mothers and babies in the elegant homes of high society together with his midwife, Mrs Bates, and volunteering in the slums of the Devil’s Acre alongside a young widow, Eleanor Johnson. His professional reputation is spotless and he keeps his private life just as clean, isolating himself from any new acquaintances. But he is harbouring a dark secret from his past - one that threatens to spill over everything."

I was in at the mention of a moor!

Gwendey's Final Task by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar
Published by: Cemetery Dance Publications,
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 408 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When Gwendy Peterson was twelve, a mysterious stranger named Richard Farris gave her a mysterious box for safekeeping. It offered treats and vintage coins, but it was dangerous. Pushing any of its seven colored buttons promised death and destruction.

Years later, the button box entered Gwendy’s life again. A successful novelist and a rising political star, she was once again forced to deal with the temptation that box represented.

Now, evil forces seek to possess the button box and it is up to Senator Gwendy Peterson to keep it from them. At all costs. But where can you hide something from such powerful entities?

In Gwendy’s Final Task, "horror giants" (Publishers Weekly) Stephen King and Richard Chizmar take us on a journey from Castle Rock to another famous cursed Maine city to the MF\\\-1 space station, where Gwendy must execute a secret mission to save the world. And, maybe, all worlds."

Stephen King's books usually all end up being supernatural based or alien based, here we get both!

The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian by Phil Szostak
Published by: Abrams
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"This official behind-the-scenes companion to season two of the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian features exclusive concept art by the Lucasfilm art department and original interviews with the artists, writers, and filmmakers.

The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Season Two) takes fans behind the scenes of the second season of the Emmy Award–winning Disney+ live-action Star Wars television series. Filled with concept art, character, vehicle, weapon, and creature designs, and interviews with key crew and creatives, including executive producer/showrunner/ writer Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Lion King) and executive producer/ director Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels), The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Season Two) will provide readers with an exclusive look at the stunning art and design work that helped bring new and returning characters and locations to life.

Season two of The Mandalorian tracks the continuing adventures of Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and the Child as they explore the far reaches of the Star Wars galaxy in an effort to return Grogu to his people and stay one step ahead of Moff Gideon’s (Giancarlo Esposito) Imperial remnant and squad of dark troopers. Alongside comrades from the first season, the duo encounters a cadre of new allies and forms tenuous alliances with former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), frontier marshal Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant), fellow Mandalorians Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) and Koska Reeves (Mercedes Varnado aka Sasha Banks), and fan-favorite bounty hunter Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison). In The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Season Two), readers will encounter early visual and conceptual ideas for these new characters and their arsenal of weapons, ships, and armor, as well as the icy, lush, war-torn, and razed planets that serve as crucial stepping stones in Djarin and Grogu’s quest.

Returning for The Mandalorian season two, executive creative director Doug Chiang (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and the incomparable group of artists, designers, and dreamers known as the Lucasfilm art department “visualists” undertook the challenge of continuing to push the boundaries of Star Wars storytelling while also translating Ahsoka Tano from animation to live action and updating the look of the legendary Boba Fett. The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Season Two) is the only book to explore the artistic vision for this groundbreaking sophomore season, taking readers on a deep dive into the development of the next chapter of Din Djarin and Grogu’s story. Exclusive interviews with the filmmakers and the Lucasfilm visualists provide a running commentary on The Mandalorian’s innovative art and design, revealing the inspiration behind the look and feel of the series."

I know you all need some Grogu to tied you over until next season.

The Ankh-Morpork Archives: Volume II by Paul Kidby
Published by: Gollancz
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 252 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Containing material unavailable for twenty years - this is a comprehensive guide to the capital city of Terry Pratchett's Discworld, getting to the heart of Ankh-Morpork's secrets, societies and guilds.

Ankh-Morpork is a bottomless pit of secrets. It's time to unearth a few more...

In the second volume of this confidential guide, brave travellers are made privy to the inner workings of more illustrious Ankh-Morpork societies.

Disabuse yourself of notions of professionalism under which you may hold the City Watch; discover what serious business is undertaken by the Fools' Guild (joking is no laughing matter); and, should you be lucky, achieve true enlightenment through the teachings of Lu-Tze.

One thing's for sure: after you've read this book, Ankh-Morpork's Guilds are going to need to come up with new ways of doing things.

Completely revamped and redesigned, this full-colour book contains material from Discworld Diaries across the decades."

I love how Paul Kidby has helped visually created Discworld.

Christmas Poems by Carol Ann Duffy
Published by: Picador
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"For a decade, while she was Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy gifted her thousands of readers an illustrated poem every Christmas, transporting them in one year to a seventeenth-century festival on the frozen Thames, in another to Western Front to witness the famous 1914 truce, then to a sweet winter’s night in the South of France with Pablo Picasso and his small dog.

Christmas Poems showcases Duffy’s bold and innovative voice, alongside gorgeous artwork from Rob Ryan, David De Las Heras and Lara Hawthorne, amongst others. These ten much-loved poems are gathered together for the first time in this compendium to make a perfect gift for old friends celebrating a decade’s tradition or those experiencing the magic of Duffy’s festive verse for the first time."

I mean, ideally this would have been out for Christmas... But my Dad is a huge poetry fan and says she's the real deal, so it's a must buy even if it feels out of season.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Allison Pataki, Carol Ann Duffy, Deanna Raybourn, Discworld, Donald E. Westlake, Patricia Highsmith, Paul Kidby, Richard Chizmar, Sara E. Johnson, Sharon Dempsey, Stephen King, The Mandalorian, Tricia Cresswell