New Releases: From Berlin to Japan to Paris to South Africa, and More

Time to catch up and look a few weeks ahead, for new books of crime fiction and detection.

I'm delighted that Soho Crime has brought out David Downing's Potsdam Station in softcover, just in time for readers to catch up with this crossover series that merges espionage and suspense in Berlin during and immediately after World War II. Postdam Station covers the risks and dangers for British journalist John Russell as he negotiates for safety for his family members -- and maybe himself -- during the final brutal days of the war. Gripping in the portrayal of the human costs of loyalty, betrayal, and starvation, it includes segments from the point of view of Russell's fiercely surviving German actress girlfriend Effie. And it's the perfect intro for Downing's next book, Lehrter Station, due out in June.

Now is also the time to catch up with the Jade De Jong investigations written by South African Jassy Mackenzie. Random Violence, My Brother's Keeper (audiobook; print book coming later), and Stolen Lives (audiobook; print book coming later) propel Henning Mankell's African landscape toward modern urban crime fiction, gritty, dark, and rewarding to read. Mackenzie's new title, The Fallen (titled Worst Case in Europe), comes out in the United States in April.

Another April release will be Viral by James Lilliefors, an award-winning journalist who lives in Florida. The action in Viral develops simultaneously in Uganda and in Washington, DC, building a political thriller with a medical subplot that's all too believable. Consider me already a fan of this series-in-the-making.

Last for today, I'm excited that the next novel from Alan Furst, Mission to Paris, is coming in mid June. It's been too long since I've mentally roamed the cities and mountains of Eastern Europe with this master of between-the-wars espionage and manipulation. I can hardly wait.

Reminder: Today is the release date for The Thief by Fuminori Nakamura, and for the new Cara Black adventure featuring Aimée Leduc, Murder at the Lanterne Rouge. Aren't we lucky?

Leighton Gage, Chief Inspector Silva Series: Wall Street Journal Review

It's great to see a crime fiction series getting significant national publicity, without bribing anyone! Leighton Gage is sharing his happiness this weekend with Friday's series-length review from the Wall Street Journal, where ace reviewer Tom Nolan started writing about the newest Chief Inspector Mario Silva book, A Vine in the Blood -- and then praised the entire set of contemporary Brazilian police novels, right back to book number one, Blood of the Wicked. Congratulations, Leighton! And here's to more of your books.

Dave asked me to remind collectors: We still have some signed first edition copies of Blood of the Wicked available.

Jodi Picoult, LONE WOLF: Book Tour Started This Morning

Jodi Picoult arrives to launch LONE WOLF

What happens to the family of a person who loves his work so much that he can't be there for his wife and children? Could someone bond so strongly with a pack of wolves -- for which everything comes down to family -- that he loses his own?

And when that person, Luke Warren, is incapacitated with a traumatic brain injury, with no likely recovery, how can the people responsible for his life support regain enough of their own souls' ease, to make the right decision?

That's where Jodi Picoult's new novel LONE WOLF begins. As she pries open the Warren family, she also brings the reader through Luke's eyes into the lives of wolves, which she herself researched while preparing to write this.

At this morning's launch for the book, sponsored by the Norwich (VT) Bookstore and held a few miles from Picoult's New Hampshire home, Picoult told of wolf pack structure and personalities; habits of wolves, including how they feed, communicate, and nurture; and drawing three women from the audience, taught them to give three different kinds of wolf calls, creating the sound of a hunting pack.

It was, as always, a fabulous launch to the annual Picoult tour. This year, there will actually be TWO books coming out for this author -- the second is co-written with her daughter Samantha Van Leer and is a "young adult" novel called Between the Lines  (releasing in June). Picoult noted that she often writes as if she were watching a movie and describing it -- and because she and her daughter found themselves writing in the same way, the book grew as if the two shared a single dream.

And for a look even further in the future, Picoult commented briefly on her 2013 title, The Storyteller, which wrestles with the unexpected encounter of a dying Nazi SS guard and the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Picoult's tour continues this evening and tomorrow in Massachusetts, goes down the East Coast, then flies to the West, then point in between. Her schedule is at her website. Don't miss the chance to meet and listen to this author, whose novels so often probe the vulnerable cross sections of medicine, law, and love.

PS - We brought back to Kingdom Books two lovely signed copies of LONE WOLF today.

Jeffery Deaver, EDGE: And Thoughts on Thrillers

Jeffery Deaver's 2010 stand-alone thriller EDGE recently became available in paperback -- a handy enough reason to take another look at this psychologically intense novel of "catch the hired killer before he gets to his target." Actually the plot is more subtle than that, because the ruthless killer, Henry Loving (ouch!), is only slicing throats and spraying with bullets as side effects to his actual goal: "lifting" information from someone, on behalf of a client who can afford to pay millions in expenses.

For protection officer Corte, working within a highly specialized team, Loving is the Moby-Dick of his career, and while protecting the threatened hero-detective Ryan Kessler and family is Corte's primary mission as a "shepherd," he's also aware of another side of himself, more akin to the fierce nature of a guard dog: He wants to get hold of Loving, end the hired hit man's career, possibly even his life.

Corte's mixed motives add to the tension that Deaver ramps up so well. If a move goes wrong, is it because Corte didn't focus properly? If casualties mount, is it a message from Henry Loving to Corte, taunting him? And how critically maimed is Corte emotionally, from his own life's experiences -- is his deformed emotional landscape lowering the chance that he'll be able to protect the Kessler family?

Reviews have called EDGE a fast-paced thriller, and Deaver is known for his psychological twists and intensity. I particularly savored EDGE because each page is tight, each action believable (within the given world of corporate and political espionage), each action impeccably choreographed. It's a pleasure to enter a book written by a master who never lets down his drive for emotional resonance and pitched movement.

It's also a good moment to reflect on what the "thriller" is, and is supposed to be. I like this recent version from modern noir author Dave Zeltserman:

It’s not necessarily the page-turning aspect that makes a novel a thriller—every piece of fiction no matter the genre needs to get the reader involved and interested enough to want to keep turning pages. What defines a thriller is that it needs to be thrilling—from the first page to the end it needs to keep generating thrills. There are other elements that are common among thrillers, such as the hero being in constant danger and a very loud ticking clock that’s ever present, but the most important aspect is having thrills and plenty of them. 

(For more, check out Zelterserman's full review of Godchild by Vincent Zandri.)

Not only has Zeltserman defined the thriller -- he's also set the bar high for good fiction. That is, the term "page turner" should be a compliment. And in that sense, Deaver's got the bar well jumped.

P.S.: Mark your calendar for the June release of Deaver's next novel, XO, featuring Kathryn Dance.

New Englanders Who Commit (Fictional) Murder ...

I got quite a kick out of this line from a recent AAA New England article that features Gerry Boyle, Archer Mayor, and other New England mystery/crime fiction authors:

Boyle commits fictional murder easily and relies upon Jack McMorrow and Brandon Blake for happy endings.

OMG. The more Jack McMorrow and Brandon Blake I read, the more I realize the happy endings are always going to be mixed ones, with losses to reckon. But still, it's a great line, and I had fun reading the article. Thanks, Gerry, for passing it along!

Maine crime fiction writer Gerry Boyle

For more about the cover image (which really is Boyle in Maine!), check out Gerry's website blog, http://www.gerryboyle.com. Fun reading, and good to know the next Jack McMorrow, Once Burned, is near the finish line.

Fuminori Nakamura, THE THIEF: Dark, Powerful, Japanese

Reading the local newspaper made me sad this week: people hurting other people in so many ways. There are heroic stories, too -- our community comes together in powerful ways when families and small children are injured, whether by fire, car accident, or birth -- and I usually notice those and let the other stuff slide by. But sometimes the reality is: Those dark, "noir" works of crime fiction are telling some of the truths of our time. And they're not pretty.

Fuminori Nakamura is one of Japan's most honored young writers. He turns 35 this year and has racked up a number of awards, including the Oe Prize, Japan's largest literary award. Named for, and selected by, Kenzaburo Oe -- whose books often embrace the life of the handicapped with deep emotion -- the prize went to Nakamura for THE THIEF. And now, thanks to a translation by Satoko Izumo and Stephen Coates, the book is arriving in the US, scheduled for release by Soho Crime on March 20.

I didn't always like it, but I couldn't put the book down. Brutal at times, always gritty, it's narrated by "The Thief" himself -- a professional pickpocket, not only an artist of his trade but schooled in an alternate reality by his original mentor, Ishikawa, who told him, "If you steal a hundred thousand from someone who's worth a billion, it's almost like you've taken nothing." The apprentice thief had countered with, "But it's still wrong," and his mentor agreed but responded, "As long as there is one starving child in the world, all property is theft."

It's not an excuse, but it's a way to stand up against others who feel they're "saints" compared to the pickpockets. And they, in turn, are among the gentlest in the world of crime, especially organized crime. The Thief, it turns out, has failed to protect himself against such violent and abusive enemies. And since he is human enough to care about some of the people he meets, especially a boy who clings to him, the most criminal planners have a lever to use against him, forcing him to use his skills in deadly ways.

Crime, crime fiction -- the inner and outer life of a pickpocket must fit within such a description. Yet this is also written as "post-modern" Japanese literature, with the choppy language, moody imagery, and painful consequences that readers may have already experienced in, say, The Devotion of Suspect X. So fix a cup of (green) tea, dim the lights, let the room grow quiet, and walk into the book with The Thief and his allies and enemies. It's unforgettable. And it's a part of today's Japan that's worth getting to know.

The guy in the suit went on sleeping, and the bartender hadn't moved a muscle. If I could, I planned to watch them until I fell asleep myself. (Nakamura, THE THIEF)

Collector's Corner: Richard Stark (Donald Westlake), THE OUTFIT: Visuals

Yes, there's plenty of snow here for skiiers, if you head to the tallest peaks. Here on the ridge, the season's been gentler than usual, and tracks this morning revealed a newly active skunk determinedly searching the yard -- especially near where the trash is kept. Thank goodness it's a secure storage place!

To go with the weather, I've been reading "spring releases" both foreign and domestic, both dark and cozy (I'll start writing about them tomorrow), while Dave's been rediscovering some great Richard Stark (Donald Westlake) items. Here they are:

RICHARD STARK AT THE MOVIES, 1973: EPHEMERA

This is the MGM Pressbook for the movie The Outfit. The pressbook is 8 1/2 inches wide by 13 1/2 inches tall. From Richard Stark's (Donald E. Westlake) novel The Outfit. 16 pages. 1973.

Directed by John Flynn and the screenplay was by John Flynn. The stars of the film were Robert Duvall, Karen Black, Joe Don Baker, Robert Ryan, & Joanna Cassidy. Interesting twist: For the movie they changed the name of the main character in the Richard Stark novels from Parker to Macklin.

BOOK JACKETS: The Outfit

 

We have two copies of this Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) novel in stock. On the left is a British hardcover published in 1988 by Allison & Busby. This was the first time The Outfit was printed in hardcover. Note the image of Lee Marvin on the cover. The other is the paperback (right), which was published by Avon in 1984.

Picturebook Special: Jan Brett

Many, many years ago (or so it seems), Kingdom Books built a very special collection of signed children's picturebooks. This had nothing to do with mysteries or even poetry -- we just were charmed by these gems from New England authors. Now it's time to let them go. Every few days, I'll add another cluster here. Today's special is a threesome of signed picturebooks from Massachusetts author/illustrator Jan Brett, described as follows, all in near-fine condition:

Jan Brett, The Wild Christmas Reindeer 1st ed, special signed Brett-designed bookplate laid in.

Jan Brett, Hedgie Blasts Off, 1st ed, signed w/ small drawing.

Jan Brett, Berlioz the Bear, 1st ed, special signed Brett-designed bookplate laid in.

If you're a Brett collector or just want something very special for the grandkids, now's your chance: the three books together, for $25, with free shipping via Media Mail in the US; first e-mail to reach us at KingdomBks@gmail.com asking for these captures the threesome.

Diversion: A New Low-Residency MFA Program for Writers

Poet Brian Turner, author of Here, Bullet and Phantom Noise, dropped us a note last week -- he's now heading a new low-residency MFA program on the shore of Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Here's his invitation, just in time for planning a commitment to creativity:

Sierra Nevada College is pleased to announce its new low-residency MFA program in Creative Writing. Classes begin in January 2012.

Low-Residency MFA:
The Inspiration You Want. The Flexibility You Need.
Pursue your artistic and professional development on your own terms. Over the course of the 2 year program at Sierra Nevada College, you will attend 4 eight-day residencies in Lake Tahoe and one abroad, followed by 4 semesters of instructor-supported learning at home. This low-residency design provides opportunities for both engagement and retreat. Become part of a nurturing community of writers without disrupting your current lifestyle.

Residencies develop your individual voice through intense, creative dialogue with internationally known writers. You will focus on your chosen genre while pushing the boundaries of your art through exploration of other forms. Full of inspiration, you will transition from these high-engagement residencies to working one-on-one with your mentor during the semester. The semester is a period for contemplation, productivity and individual application of new knowledge. At the end of the program, you will emerge with publication-quality manuscript created through solitary discipline but shaped by interaction with some of the best writers in the world.

Sierra Nevada College is located in Incline Village, Nevada, on the beautiful shores of north Lake Tahoe. From moonlit snow shoe walks to kayaking the deep, clear blue waters of the lake to simply sitting under a canopy of pines to enjoy a good book, Lake Tahoe offers many opportunities for artistic inspiration. In this beautiful setting, we will gather together to create a community of writers and nurture a lifetime engagement with the art of writing.

Meeting Artists, Making Art
Each residency is an eight-day intensive series of workshops, seminars, readings, and more that will expand a writer’s sense of possibility within the written and spoken arts. From down to earth tricks-of-the-trade to the elevated heights of conceptual nuances, residencies will explore the wide landscape of the writing life. For eight days each January and July, you will find yourself building valuable lifelong connections with star writers within the literary world. Spend time in one of the most inspiring locations on earth, with artists who can help you channel that inspiration into your own work.

Faculty mentors will meet with you during each residency to identify your goals for the upcoming semester. You will receive personalized attention that is focused on your individual creative and critical work. Our faculty members are gifted, worldclass writers and artists in their field. They are also incredible teachers of their art. Faculty work one-on-one with you extensively during the semester, providing written critiques and feedback of your work.

Creating A Community, Building A Career
While spending time on the shores of Lake Tahoe, you will develop close, professional relationships with some of the best writers in the world.  These writers will inspire you to greater heights in your own work and will form the professional network that will allow you to take the next step in your career. You will leave our program prepared for a lifelong engagement with literature.  Become the newest voice in a larger literary conversation.

World Class Writers and Professors

Brian Turner  
Patricia Smith 
Kelle Groom 
Nathalie Handal

Contact
If you are interested in adding your voice to the discussion, and if you are intrigued by the possibility of working with teachers and peers who are passionate about the art they love, then please contact us—we look forward to meeting you.

MFAinfo@sierranevada.edu
866-412-4636
www.sierranevada.edu/mfa

Donald Westlake: New Material from an Old Taped Interview

Donald and Abby Westlake at Kingdom Books

If you're a Westlake fan, as we are at Kingdom Books, check out this piece by Vince Cosgrove, exhuming part of an interview he did with Donald Westlake in 1973.

By the way, there's a nice list of Westlake's pen names at his Wikipedia site now -- reaching a total of 17. When he was here at Kingdom Books, though, we came up with 22 (and the Grand Master admitted there might be another one or two).

Our faves are books authored by "Richard Stark" and the short but emotionally compelling series by "Tucker Coe."

Cara Black, MURDER AT THE LANTERNE ROUGE -- 12th Aimée Leduc Investigation

The twelfth Aimée Leduc investigation from Cara Black, MURDER AT THE LANTERNE ROUGE, is scheduled for March 6 release -- so it's a good time to pre-order a copy if you're a series fan. This one's a must: Black takes us back to the Marais, and to the Chinatowns of Paris, as Aimée searches for the missing girlfriend of her partner René. It's clear very quickly that the pretty young Meizi must be one of Paris's many illegal immigrants. But that's not enough justification for the violence surrounding Aimée's investigation.

Aimée bit her lip, adrift on a sea of conflicting emotions. She was not eager to voice more suspicions of Meizi, fracture her crumbling image, or hurt René. Every part of her wanted to protect him.

And as the young private eye races through ancient streets and buildings, in leopard-skin coat and high-heeled boots, her past and future are both racing toward her. Everyone's got eyes on her this time: partner, boyfriend, the flics, the secret service, and ... but of course, at least two groups of criminals. It's hard to tell where her godfather Morbier fits into all this, too.

Narrated in Black's staccato, caffeine-propelled style, MURDER AT THE LANTERNE ROUGE is one of the most complex investigations yet for Leduc. You can read it without knowing any of the other volumes, but it's richer, and even more suspenseful, if you've been reading along with the series.