Picks of the Week

PROMISE ME, by Harlan Coben

(originally posted on February 15, 2006)

Yes, the galleys for the new Myron Bolitar novel (due out at the end of April) live. And of course I had to zoom through it as soon as it landed in my mailbox. The verdict? It's a real pleasant surprise, let me tell you. It takes a little bit to get back into the old rhythm, but pretty soon we're there, and Myron's up to it with missing teenagers, new loves, dealing with the passage of time (and the fact that Win, alas, isn't aging as well as he wants to) and lots of twists. But PROMISE ME moves slower than the standalones and most importantly, it's just much easier to care about Myron & co. I'm glad he's back.

MURDER IN MONTMARTRE, by Cara Black

(originally posted on February 15, 2006)

In the sixth installment of one of the genre's most underrated series, Aimee Leduc is asked to clear the name of her friend Laure, accused of shooting her partner to death -- and gets tangled up with the past, namely the unsolved murder of her father some years before. Black captures the flavor and tang of contemporary Paris and really knows how to craft a good mystery, complete with surprising conclusion. I'm glad I whiled away a few hours reading this, and must catch up on the backlist.

THE MERCY SEAT, by Martyn Waites

(originally posted on February 15, 2006)

Simply put: already one of the higher entries on my "Best of 2006" list. I've long loved Waites' ability to craft characters, especially men, who are unafraid to go deep with their emotions, but in THE MERCY SEAT he takes that talent and crafts an incredible thriller that at least for me, was damn impossible to put down. There are brutal surprises, shocking revelations and no one is left where they were before. Which is exactly how a thriller should be. Go buy it when it's out in early April. It's wonderful.

THE PORTRAIT OF MRS. CHARBRUQUE, by Jeffrey Ford

(originally posted on February 10, 2005)

How many ways can you say brilliant? How can you describe the feeling of getting completely and utterly lost in a book because you're so absorbed in everything that's happened and about to happen? Lord knows I loved the Edgar-nominated THE GIRL IN THE GLASS but this earlier book shows just how special a writer Ford is. I've been recommending it to people all month and figure it's about time to make it official -- one of the best books I've read in quite some time.

HAVE YOUR CAKE AND KILL HIM TOO, by Nancy Martin

(originally posted on February 10, 2006)

The fifth installment of the Blackbird Sisters series moves to hardcover and as a result, will probably get more reviews and fans, as it should. Martin has a knack for humor, snappy dialogue and maintaining chemistry (though I'm generally not such a big fan of longrunning triangles) but it's the interaction between protag Nora and her irrepressible sisters Emma and Libby that gives the books their ooomph. It's great fun and hugely enjoyable.

A GOOD DAY IN HELL, by J.D. Rhoades

(originally posted on January 30, 2006)

I'm so tempted to post a one-line summary that's along the lines of "THIS BOOK KICKS ASS" but a little detail -- like the further development of Jack Keller as he battles his demons, a horrifically nasty Natural Born Killer trio, and the prospect of real love, wonderfully evocative writing and non-stop pace -- might be a good idea. Then again, why not go with my gut? Buy this book when it's out in March.

THE TWO MINUTE RULE, by Robert Crais

(originally posted on January 30, 2006)

Considering the extremely mixed takes I had on Crais's last two books, I did approach this with some trepidation. So guess what? I couldn't put the book down, enjoyed it thoroughly, and appreciated how he kept up maximum tension and raised the stakes ever higher in a smooth and almost natural fashion. If this is what a publisher switch does, hell, I'm all for it.

HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON, by Naomi Novik

(originally posted on January 30, 2006)

This is all Jenny Davidson's fault, because if she hadn't blogged about having loved this book so much I wouldn't have read it as soon as I did. And so of course I loved it too and must get the sequels yesterday. Put it this way: if someone like me, who barely reads SF/F books, could be so taken with Temeraire, this book -- and Novik's career -- is going to be really, really something. (FYI, the hardcover first edition is already out in the UK.)