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Big Books of the Week 

The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Grand Central: Hachette) leads holds this week.

Other titles in demand include:

The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis (William Morrow: HarperCollins)

Deep into the Dark by P. J. Tracy (Minotaur: Macmillan)

Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin)

The Lost Boys: A Decker/Lazarus Novel by Faye Kellerman (William Morrow: HarperCollins)

Spin by Patricia Cornwell (Thomas & Mercer: Amazon)

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas (Balzer + Bray: HarperCollins)

These books and others publishing the week of Jan. 11, 2021 are listed in a downloadable spreadsheet. 

Librarians and Booksellers Suggest 

There are five LibraryReads selections arriving this week:

The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous (Berkley: Penguin)

"When down-on-her-luck Sadie is offered a lucrative weekend acting job at a sumptuous Raven Hall, as a guest in a period mystery event, she jumps at the chance. Before the weekend is over, Sadie and the other 'perfect guests' will learn about Raven Hall's tragic past." —Cynthia Hunt, Amarillo Public Library, Amarillo, TX

Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida (Quirk: Random House)

"Mia awakes in a hospital in a gold cocktail dress, a cape covered in her blood, a head wound and her cell phone, and no memory of who she is or how she got there. She uses her Instagram account to begin to piece together her life. For readers who enjoyed Surprise Me (Kinsella) and What Alice Forgot (Moriarty)." —Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, Baltimore, MD

Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire (Tordotcom: Macmillan)

"In under 200 pages, McGuire again perfectly creates a detailed and expansive fantasy world, this time in a lush tale of non-conformity and finding one’s place in the world. For all the girls, teens, and women who’ve felt confined by labels placed on them by others—this one’s for you." —Annie Pruitt, West Georgia Regional Library Systems, Carrollton, GA

It is also an Indie Next choice:

"If you’ve ever wondered if an adult book could be written to be accessible to not just young adult but middle grade readers, too, wonder no longer: The book of your dreams is here. Across the Green Grass Fields is a wonderful coming-of-age story that has all the mandatory trappings: bullying, parental oversight, unicorns, evil queens, and an intersex main character. It’s like Tanith Lee rewriting Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. This standalone novella is a wonderful entrance to the Hooflands, and I can’t wait to double back and read more." —Lizy Coale, Copperfish Books, Punta Gorda, FL

The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin (Delacorte: Random House)

"A deadly snowstorm roared through the Great Plains on January 12, 1888, at a time when many children were in school with teachers little older than themselves. Based on actual oral histories of survivors, and told from perspectives of teachers, students, and the media, this book is perfect for readers who enjoy historical fiction by Ariel Lawhon and Marie Benedict." —Wendy Paige, Shelby County Public Library, Shelbyville, KY

It is also an Indie Next choice:

"Melanie Benjamin is at her best in this historical fiction account of the terrifying blizzard of 1888. It seemingly came out of nowhere and caught the residents of the Midwest by surprise, especially the children and teachers who were preparing to go home for the day. Benjamin looks at the lives of two sisters—both teachers at different schools—and how their decisions that day meant life or death for their students. I spent several late nights on this one!" —Linda Hodges, Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC

The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell (Tin House: Norton)

"Three stories—a mysterious suicide, a wayward young man searching for his uncle, and a young journalist investigating the story behind several missing girls—unfold before finally converging. The dark mood is palpable as Inspector Cutter, Gideon Bliss, and Octavia Hillingdon travel through Victorian London to fit the puzzle pieces together. Perfect for fans of The Night Circus and Jane Steele." —Maribeth Fisher, Scotch Plain Public Library, Scotch Plains, NJ

It is also an Indie Next choice:

"Paraic O’Donnell leavens the dark foreboding of a truly sinister, otherworldly mystery with distinctively clever storytelling and a decidedly marvelous cast of characters. You are in the best of hands with Inspector Cutter and Gideon Bliss on the case, along with the intrepid and resourceful reporter Octavia Hillingdon. Beautifully done!" —Peter Sherman, Wellesley Books, Wellesley, MA

There are seven additional titles on the Indie Next list coming out this week:

The Center of Everything by Jamie Harrison (Counterpoint: Penguin)

"This is a story about family, about history, and about love. The characters are like you and me; their stories are intertwined just as ours are, with a past and a hoped-for future. Author Jamie Harrison wields a mighty pen with precision and care, peopling her book with a myriad of interesting characters living believable lives. Her narrative is insightful and moving, and she has that rare gift of making a fictional story sound like the real thing." —Linda Bond, Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, WA

Hades, Argentina by Daniel Loedel (Riverhead: Penguin)

"Tender and politically evocative, Hades, Argentina is a beautiful portrait of grief and reflection. Loedel has created a breathtaking debut that examines the complexities of love and the way our memories betray us. This book will stay with me for a long time." —Cristina Rodriguez, Deep Vellum Books, Dallas, TX

The Inland Sea by Madeleine Watts (Catapult: Penguin)

"This character study of a woman’s reckless year while taking time away from college and answering phones for Australia’s emergency response system cuts deep. Madeleine Watts’ extraordinary debut novel takes us from oceans to bathtubs, from rivers flowing in the wrong direction toward a mythical sea to apocalyptic firestorms. The writing is stunningly powerful and insightful. I highly recommend this." —Dave Shallenberger, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA

Our Darkest Night: A Novel of Italy and the Second World War by Jennifer Robson (William Morrow: HarperCollins)

"This is a love story...until it isn’t. This is a war story...until it isn’t. This is a story about surviving the worst of humanity then finding humanity. Set in Italy, this is WWII fiction writing at its finest. Prepare it to be pulled into this heart-wrenching saga. So much for book clubs to discuss. So much for readers to enjoy. If you loved the depth of research in The Gown, you will love Our Darkest Night." —Carolyn Roys, Anderson’s Bookshops, Naperville, IL

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders (Random House)

"In this literal master class on literature and writing, Saunders earnestly yet playfully dissects 19th-century Russian short stories to discover how they exude life to this very day, while highlighting methods any aspiring writer can employ. The huge bonus: reading the wondrous stories themselves, and experiencing Tolstoy’s authority, Chekhov’s humanity, and the joy and glory of Gogol." —Mike Hare, Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs, NY

What Could Be Saved by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz (Atria: S. & S.)

"Wow. What a riveting read! Part family saga, part mystery, What Could Be Saved is just extraordinary. It is a moving, powerful story of loss and regret, loyalty and redemption. Schwarz’s crisp, lyrical prose lays bare the emotional journey of each member of this unforgettable family. These beautifully drawn, tragically flawed characters will remain with me long after turning the last page." —Anderson McKean, Page and Palette, Fairhope, AL

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar (Grand Central: Hachette)

"I didn’t think it was possible to combine education and humor so effectively in a book about racism, but Ruffin and Lamar proved me wrong. This incredibly well-structured, digestible, challenging, and engaging book opened my eyes to the many ways racism can permeate every interaction in Black people’s lives. The way the sisters play off each other and how Ruffin reflects on Lamar’s experience in contrast to her own make the book especially accessible. A must-read!" —Emily Autenrieth, A Seat at the Table Books, Elk Grove, CA

In the Media 

The People "Picks" book of the week is Walking with Ghosts by Gabriel Byrne (Grove). Other books highlighted are Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters (One World: Random House) and The Art of Falling by Danielle McLaughlin (Random House). A section on new paperbacks features The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (Harper), How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell (Melville House), and Brother & Sister: A Memoir by Diane Keaton (Knopf). Also included in this week's "Picks" are All Creatures Great and Small, based on the books by James Herriot, Lupin, based on the Arsène Lupin series by Maurice Leblanc. Interviews features Mark Henick, So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience (HarperCollins) and Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics (Chronicle). Donna Lennard, Il Buco: Stories & Recipes (Harper Design) shares a soup recipe.

Reviews 

NPR reviews After the Rain by Nnedi Okorafor, adapted by John Jennings and illustrated by David Brame (Abrams ComicArts): "After the Rain is far more than a well-rendered tribute to a trailblazing black female writer. In this case, it's also a kind of visual incarnation of the story's theme." Also, Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust by James Comey (Flatiron: Macmillan): "He sees his obligation, his client if you will, not the person or party who appointed him or even as the Department of Justice. He sees his obligation as being to justice itself." Also, Glimpsed by G. F. Miller (S. & S. Books for Young Readers): "Glimpsed was wonderful, twisted, clever, laugh-out-loud funny, and there were more than enough Star Trek: The Original Series references to make even my nerd heart smile."

The NYT reviews Troubled: The Failed Promise of America’s Behavioral Treatment Programs by Kenneth R. Rosen (Little A: Amazon): "...not just a work of extended empathy but a public service; these life stories, taken together, shine a light on an industry that has been able to thrive in darkness." Also, Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust by James Comey (Flatiron: Macmillan): "If nothing else, Comey has laid out the challenge of the next four years." Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood by Gary Paulsen (FSG: Macmillan): "Even in these sublime moments, I found my heart racing, knowing that while authors may craft fairy tales, they don’t always live them, because life doesn’t play out that way." Plus, brief reviews of recent crime novels.

The Washington Post reviews The Power of Ethics: How to Make Good Choices in a Complicated World by Susan Liautaud (S. & S.): "'The Power of Ethics' is more focused on the demands of ethics than on its alleged powers; its main intention is to help its readers make better ethical decisions." Plus, brief reviews of recent audiobooks.

Briefly Noted

Following the demise of BookExpo, two new book fairs are launching to fill the void. Publishers Weekly announced its new U.S. Book Show, which will run virtually May 26-28, and the new Edelweiss BookFest event will also take place virtually and is scheduled for June 8-9.

USA Today picks five books for the week.

CrimeReads has 10 new books out this week.

O: The Oprah Magazine has "The 20 Best Books to Pick Up This January."

Amazon highlights 6 biographies and memoirs out this month.

BookPage looks at January's cozy mysteries.

The BBC discusses recent apocalyptic novels.

BuzzFeed lists "17 Money Management Books."

Bitch Media suggests "9 YA Books Feminists Should Read in January."

Polygon recommends the best sci-fi and fantasy books of 2020.

Senator Amy Klobuchar has a new book on the way. Knopf will publish Antitrust: Taking on Monopoly Power From the Gilded Age to the Digital Age in April. The NYT reports.

Tor.com excerpts Stormbreak by Natalie C. Parker (Razorbill: Penguin). It's due out Feb. 9.

Lisa See speaks about this month's L.A. Times book club pick, The Island of Sea Women (Scribner: S. & S.).

The Atlantic has a Q&A with Lauren Oyler, Fake Accounts (Catapult: Penguin), about her story "Discovery," which also appears in the magazine.

The Guardian interviews Jenny Offill, Weather (Knopf).

Gish Jen, The Resisters (Knopf: Random House; LJ starred review), does the "Questionnaire" for Book Marks.

Charles Yutalks with Tor.com about Interior Chinatown (Pantheon: Random House).

The L.A. Times speaks with Kathleen Belew, Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America (Harvard) about the impact of The Turner Diaries on the Capitol attack.

The NYT looks into how I Hate Men by Pauline Harmange (Fourth Estate: HarperCollins) came to touch a nerve in France.

Authors on Air 

BCDF Pictures purchases the rights to adapt The Girl at Midnight series by Melissa Grey for TV. Deadline reports.

See a trailer for Cherry, based on the book by Nico Walker. It's due out on Apple+ on Feb. 26.

The Keen On podcast tackles fixing America with Kerri Arsenault, Mill Town; Carl Hoffman, Liar’s Circus; Dale Maharidge, Fucked at Birth; and Tom Zoellner, The National Road.

Jamie Harrison, The Center of Everything (Counterpoint: Penguin), talks about the challenges of writing on The First Draft podcast.

Charles Yu discusses Interior Chinatown (Pantheon: Random House) on the NYT Book Review podcast.

Wayétu Moore, The Dragons, the Giant, the Women: A Memoir (Graywolf: Macmillan; LJ starred review), appears on the CBC's Writers and Company.

The CBC's The Next Chapter talks with Cicely Belle Blain, Burning Sugar (Arsenal Pulp). 

NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday interviews Robert Jones, Jr., The Prophets (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin; LJ starred review).

Kamala Harris' niece, Meena Harris, talks about her book Ambitious Girl (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) with NPR's All Things Considered.

Shea and Syd McGee, Make Life Beautiful (Harper Horizon), are on with Kelly Clarkson today.

Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar, You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism (Grand Central: Hachette), will be on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

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