New Books for February 11, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

It’s New Book Tuesday! My favorite day of the week and this week has some great books coming out. I have a stack of books on my desk that shipped early and are just waiting to be cataloged so they can finally be read by my kids. Remember, Librarians love recommendations so if you see a book that looks amazing, please tell your local Library and you just might find it on the shelf waiting for you.

Happy Reading everyone!

For the younger readers:

For the grown-ups:

Blog Tour! Third to Die by Allison Brennan

New York Times bestselling author and gifted storyteller Allison Brennan's new standalone thriller features a troubled female police detective and an ambitious FBI special agent who wind up at the center of a ticking-clock investigation into a diabolical serial killer.

Brennan's novel will launch a book-a-year series featuring a fabulous cast of recurring characters. It’s the story of a troubled female police detective and an ambitious FBI special agent who wind up at the center of a ticking-clock investigation into a diabolical serial killer; and the bond they forge in this crucible sets the stage for the future books in the series.

Detective Kara Quinn is visiting her hometown of Liberty Lake, Washington, after being placed on administrative leave by the LAPD, when she comes upon the mutilated body of a young nurse during an early morning jog. The manner of death is clearly ritualistic; she calls it in. Meanwhile back in DC, special agent in charge Mattias Costa is meticulously staffing his newly-minted Mobile Response Team. One of his first recruits is the brilliant FBI forensic psychologist Catherine Jones. When word reaches Matt that the Washington state murder appears to be the work of the Triple Killer--it will be the first case for the MRT. Jones has done the only profile on this serial killer, but she is reluctant to join the unit, still shaken by the death of her sister a year ago under circumstances for which she holds herself responsible. But only she holds the key to understanding the killer's obsessive pattern--three murder victims, three deep slashes a piece, each three days apart, each series beginning on a March 3rd--3/3, then a three-year hiatus before he strikes again.

This time they have a chance to stop him before he claims another victim strikes, but only if they can figure out who he is and where is is hiding.

Click on your favorite retailer for a copy of your own:

Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound Books-A-Million AppleBooks Google Play

Ready to hear more about this thrilling and nail-biting book? Read on for an excerpt.

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Wednesday, March 3

Liberty Lake, Washington

12:09 a.m.

Warm blood covered him.

His arms, up to his elbows, were slick with it. His clothing splattered with it. The knife—the blade that had taken his retribution—hung in his gloved hand by his side.

It was good. Very good.

He was almost done.

The killer stared at the blackness in front of him, his mind as silent and dark as the night. The water lapped gently at the banks of the lake. A faint swish swish swish as it rolled up and back, up and back, in the lightest of breezes.

He breathed in cold air; he exhaled steam.

Calm. Focused.

As the sounds and chill penetrated his subconscious, he moved into action. Staying here with the body would be foolish, even in the middle of the night.

He placed the knife carefully on a waist-high boulder, then removed his clothes. Jacket. Sweater. Undershirt. He stuffed them into a plastic bag. Took off his shoes. Socks. Pants. Boxers. Added them to the bag. He stood naked except for his gloves.

He tied the top of the plastic, then picked up the knife again and stabbed the bag multiple times. With strength that belied his lean frame, he threw the knife into the water. He couldn’t see where it fell; he barely heard the plunk.

Then he placed the bag in the lake and pushed it under, holding it beneath the surface to let the frigid water seep in. When the bag was saturated, he pulled it out and spun himself around as if he were throwing a shot put. He let go and the bag flew, hitting the water with a loud splash.

Even if the police found it—which he doubted they would— the water would destroy any evidence. He’d bought the clothes and shoes, even his underwear, at a discount store in another city, at another time. He’d never worn them before tonight.

Though he didn’t want DNA evidence in the system, it didn’t scare him if the police found something. He didn’t have a record. He’d killed before, many times, and not one person had spoken to him. He was smart—smarter than the cops, and certainly smarter than the victims he’d carefully selected.

Still, he must be cautious. Meticulous. Being smart meant that he couldn’t assume anything. What did his old man use to say?

Assume makes an ass out of you and me…

The killer scowled. He wasn’t doing any of this for his old man, though his father would get the retribution he deserved. He was doing this for himself. His own retribution. He was this close to finishing the elaborate plan he’d conceived years ago.

He could scarcely wait until six days from now, March 9, when his revenge would be complete.

He was saving the guiltiest of them for last.

Still, he hoped his old man would be pleased. Hadn’t he done what his father was too weak to do? Righted the many wrongs that had been done to them. How many times had the old man said these people should suffer? How many times had his father told him these people were fools?

Still, he hoped his old man would be pleased. Hadn’t he done what his father was too weak to do? Righted the many wrongs that had been done to them. How many times had the old man said these people should suffer? How many times had his father told him these people were fools?

Yet his father just let it happen and did nothing about it! Nothing! Because he was weak. He was weak and pathetic and cruel.

Breathe. Focus. All in good time.

All in good time.

The killer took another, smaller plastic bag from his backpack. He removed his wet gloves, put them inside, added a good-sized rock, tied the bag, then threw it into the lake.

Still naked, he shivered in the cold, still air. He wasn’t done.

Do it quick.

He walked into the lake, the water colder than ice. Still, he took several steps forward, his feet sinking into the rough muck at the bottom. When his knees were submersed, he did a shallow dive. His chest scraped a rock, but he was too numb to feel pain. He broke through the surface with a loud scream. He couldn’t breathe; he couldn’t think. His heart pounded in his chest, aching from the icy water.

But he was alive. He was fucking alive!

He went under once more, rubbed his hands briskly over his arms and face in case any blood remained. He would take a hot shower when he returned home, use soap and a towel to remove anything the lake left behind. But for now, this would do.

Twenty seconds in the water was almost too long. He bolted out, coughed, his body shaking so hard he could scarcely think. But he had planned everything well and operated on autopilot.

He pulled a towel from his backpack and dried off as best he could. Stepped into new sweatpants, sweatshirt, and shoes. Pulled on a new pair of gloves. There might be blood on the ATV, but it wasn’t his blood, so he wasn’t concerned.

He took a moment to stare back at the dark, still lake. Then he took one final look at the body splayed faceup. He felt nothing, because she was nothing. Unimportant. Simply a small pawn in a much bigger game. A pawn easily sacrificed.

He hoped his old man would be proud of his work, but he would probably just criticize his son’s process. He’d complain about how he did the job, then open another bottle of booze.

He hoped his father was burning in hell.

He jumped on the ATV and rode into the night.

Excerpted from The Third to Die by Allison Brennan, Copyright © 2020 by Allison Brennan. Published by MIRA Books.

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The Third to Die : A Novel Allison Brennan

On Sale Date: February 4, 2020

9780778309444, 0778309444

Hardcover $26.99 USD, $33.50 CAD

Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense 464 pages

About the Author: Allison Brennan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of three dozen thrillers and numerous short stories. She was nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by International Thriller Writers, has had multiple nominations and two Daphne du Maurier Awards, and is a five-time RITA finalist for Best Romantic Suspense. Allison believes life is too short to be bored, so she had five kids. Allison and her family live in Arizona. Visit her at allisonbrennan.com

Social Links:

Author website: https://www.allisonbrennan.com/

Facebook: @AllisonBrennan

Twitter: @Allison_Brennan

Instagram: @abwrites

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52527.Allison_Brennan

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

New Releases for February 4, 2020

New Releases for February 4, 2020.

Happy Tuesday!

Here is a collection of new titles that I have either ordered for the Library, myself, or am just plain excited about. Click on the covers for more information about each title. 

For the younger readers:

For the more mature audience:

As always, purchasing through the links helps support the site as I am part of the Amazon Associate Program.

New Releases for January 28, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

It’s Tuesday which means it’s New Book Day! To celebrate my favorite day of the week, here’s a round-up of my the titles that I have ordered for the Library, bought myself, or am just excited to share with you.

Happy Reading Everyone!

For the younger readers:

For more mature tastes:

As always, purchasing books through the links helps support the site.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

New Releases for January 21, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

It’s another great week for new releases. Here’s a round-up of books I’ve ordered for the Library, put on hold for myself, or just look really interesting. Click on the cover for more information.

Happy Reading!

New in Children’s

New for Adults:

As always, purchasing books through the links helps support the site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Followers by Megan Angelo

What starts as a humorous, slightly catty look at social media turns into a chilling and dark commentary on our obsession with likes and followers. I fully expected this to be a light, fluffy read that would keep me entertained for a few hours and instead found myself dropped into a dark and twisted future that seems all to real and likely to happen. 

Told through two timelines, we are introduced to a future where entire towns are filled with reality tv stars and are on camera non-stop.  Marlow, a young starlet who has spent almost her entire life in front of the camera having her everyday life written and directed by the Network, has few memories of her life before.  The face of Hysteryl, a mood stabilizing drug she has been using since puberty, Marlow spends her day in medicated contented bliss.  When the Network decided it's time for her and her husband to have a child, the drug must be stopped during the pregnancy and is slowly weaned off as she prepares for her sowing party, her emotions slowly return and the mental clarity creates her first feelings of dread and uncertainty of spending the rest of her life having her every move dictated by others.  When a lab technician discovers there is a discrepancy in Marlow's DNA, Marlow sets out to discover the truth about her parents and her past. 

As Marlow searches for clues to her past, we learn through flashbacks about the social media rise of the couple that Marlow believes to be her parents.  Floss Natuzzi and Aston Clipp rose to Internet super stardom with the help of blogger Orla Cadden and a series of outrageous stunts.  When their Instagram stardom leads to a reality tv show, the three spend their days pretending to live their real life on camera while a small crew of writers create the scandalous and shocking scripts for them to follow.  After an Instagram message inadvertently causes a horrific event, the three social media stars are cast out as social pariahs.  The fallout of the event helped to spur on the Spill, a tragic and worldwide phenomenon that changed the world forever. 

This book was fascinating! Not only does Megan Angelo give us a world ruled by social media and reality tv, but everyone also has an implanted device that allows them to see their standings and comments from followers.  The devices provide a way for producers to directly influence their stars and direct their behavior.  Living with a complete lack of privacy is second nature to the residents of Constellation, a town completely set up to provide 24 hour access to the followers of the show.  With only one hour a day allowed to themselves off camera, found in the very wee hours of the morning, Marlow and her fellow residents have their every word and movement scrutinized and commented on by their millions of followers. 

How absolutely terrifying!  Even more so when you know someone in our present day has definitely had that idea and there are those out there who would love to watch a group of people live out every moment of their life with no editing or commercial breaks. 

Angelo created a story that deftly combined the two timelines with enough twists and turns that you are always kept guessing as to how the two are truly intertwined.  The Spill, not going to spoil that little nugget, is frightening in it's believability.  To have one event completely change the future of the entire world-terrifying. 

Followers is thought-provoking, chilling, and fascinating. 

More from Megan Angelo:

I have read so many great debut authors this last year, I don’t know how they do it!

More like Followers:

I’m going with the “creepy future I hope never happens” vibe for these.

As always, purchasing books through the links helps support the site.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.  All opinions, and mistakes, are my own.  

New Releases for January 14, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

We did it! We survived another week and now it’s time to treat ourselves to a new book. Here is a collection of books that I have either ordered for the Library, ordered for myself, or am just excited to see on the shelf. As always, purchasing through the links helps support site as I am an Amazon Associate. For more information about each title, just click on a cover.

Happy Reading everyone!

For the younger readers:

For the grown-ups:

The Bookwanderers by Anna James

It’s been a bit since I’ve added in a Chick Pick and this one is absolutely delightful!

What could be a more wonderful ability for a book lover than the ability to actually wander inside books?  Could you imagine getting to talk to your favorite book characters and join them in their adventures?  That's what Tilly Pages learns to do in this delightful and imaginative middle grade novel. 

Growing up in a bookstore, Tilly Pages spends her days surrounded by her favorite books and an endless supply of new possible favorites.  One day, she meets a young girl named Anne with an "e" who is remarkable like Anne from Green Gables.  Turns out-she is that Anne from Anne of Green Gables.  When she meets Alice and joins her for a tea party, she knows she's in over her head.  Turns out, her family comes from a long line of book wanderers, people who have the ability to journey inside books and live alongside the characters. 

But it's not all tea parties and caucus races.  The secret society that oversees the safety of book wanderers and their books has other darker secrets that Tilly will become caught up in when she and her friend Oskar venture into her mother's favorite book to find clues about her mother's disappearance not long after Tilly's birth. 

This is a wonderfully written, imaginative, and fast paced story that will intrigue any young, or not so young, book lover.  Tilly and Oskar are both brave, intelligent, and ready to explore their new abilities.  Their adventures will keep readers enthralled from beginning to end.  And who wouldn't be intrigued about wandering through books?

Interested in a copy for yourself or your favorite young reader? You can get your copy here, and help support the site:

More from Anna James:

This is Anna’s first book but book 2, Pages & Co. The Lost Fairytales comes out in May!

More like The Bookwanderers:

I love books about books!

As always, purchasing books through the links helps support the site.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Hollow Kingdom By Kira Jane Buxton

Available now from Grand Central Publishing

This book is one of the most original and bonkers books I've ever come across.  Told through the eyes of the crow Shit Turd, or S.T. as he's more commonly known, the human race has devolved into nothing more than bloodthirsty zombies and the only unaffected survivors are animals. 

Yep, it's told through the point of view of a highly intelligent pet crow. 

And it's one of the funniest and most wildly entertaining reads I had this year. 

S.T. and his canine brother Dennis set out to find help for their human Big Jim after his behavior turns creepily repetitive and dangerous.  As the two journey through the city seeking information, they encounter other domestic animals trapped in their homes and try to save as many as they can.  When their actions attract the attention of a murder of crows, S.T. must put aside his prejudices and find a way to work with the other animals, and the sketchy birds, to save the domestics and find out what happened to the humans.

It sounds bonkers but this book is truly hilarious.  S.T. uses his unique skills learned from living with Big Jim to both help the trapped domestics and teach the other animals how to help.  Who knew Tinder was so educational?  Turns out, Big Jim taking S.T. around the city with him as he worked or on field trips to the zoo was highly educational for our sharp minded crow.  S.T.'s ability to think like a human, or MoFo as he calls them, is key to his and his friends' survival.  We are also giving short chapters told from the point of view of various animals from around the world- Winnie the Poodle was my favorite. 

This story is truly imaginative and original and it was an absolute delight to read. 

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

More from Kira Jane Buxton:

Surprise! It’s her debut! What an amazing first book, I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.

More like Hollow Kingdom:

I’m going with the plucky/sarcastic/hero for these.

As always, purchasing books through the links helps support the site.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.