Skin Trade
by Laurell K Hamilton
Published 2009 by Berkley Publishing Group

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780425227725

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Jacket Notes:

A proven series with a hot new look. The #1 bestselling author returns with her most anticipated novel yet.

When a vampire serial killer sends Anita Blake a grisly souvenir from Las Vegas, she has to warn Sin Cityas local authorities what theyare dealing with. Only itas worse than she thought. Ten officers and one executioner have been slainaparanormal style. Anita heads to Vegas, whereas sheas joined by three other federal marshals, including the ruthless Edward. Itas a good thing he always has her back, because when she gets close to the bodies, Anita senses atigera too strongly to ignore it. The weretigers are very powerful in Las Vegas, which means the odds of her rubbing someone important the wrong way just got a lot higher.

Publishers Weekly 04/20/2009

Hamilton's 17th Anita Blake novel draws the vampire hunter into a game of cat-and-mouse with a particularly monstrous vampire named Vittorio. Aided by sadistic serial killer Otto Jefferies, convenient sociopath Edward Kemper and fanged escorts handpicked by her lover Jean-Claude, U.S. marshal Anita offers her services to Las Vegas, now under siege from Vittorio's army of enthralled preternatural beings. Manipulated by the cunning Vittorio and occasionally misled by coincidental events, Anita employs her insight into Vittorio's condition and weaponized libido as the decisive weapons in this struggle. The book is largely concerned with the melodramatic conflict between hunter and hunter and Blake's soap-operatic love life, but Hamilton does manage some genuinely moving passages, particularly those describing the terror of innocent vampires caught up in the arbitrary and draconian U.S. legal system. "(June)" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Publisher's Marketing Text:

A proven series with a hot new look. The #1 bestselling author returns with her most anticipated novel yet.
When a vampire serial killer sends Anita Blake a grisly souvenir from Las Vegas, she has to warn Sin Cityas local authorities what theyare dealing with. Only itas worse than she thought. Ten officers and one executioner have been slainaparanormal style. Anita heads to Vegas, whereas sheas joined by three other federal marshals, including the ruthless Edward. Itas a good thing he always has her back, because when she gets close to the bodies, Anita senses atigera too strongly to ignore it. The weretigers are very powerful in Las Vegas, which means the odds of her rubbing someone important the wrong way just got a lot higher.

Waveland
by Frederick Barthelme
Published 2009 by Doubleday Books

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780385527293

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Jacket Notes:

Set during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on Mississippi's Gulf Coast, this latest work by the author of the "New York Times" Notable Book "Elroy Nights" uncovers a landscape of mortality, love, regret, and redemption. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on Mississippi's Gulf Coast, mostly retired architect Vaughn Williams, who is beset by the routine but no less troubling difficulties of late midlife, is doing what he can to remain, as he says, "viable." He scans the channels, reads newspapers and blogs online, Googles practically everything, teaches an occasional class at the local junior college, and worries perhaps overmuch about his late father.

When his ex-wife, Gail, is assaulted by her hot-tempered new boyfriend, she asks him and his landlady/girlfriend, Greta, to move in with her. Perhaps a little too cavalierly, they agree, and complications distinctly Barthelme-esque follow, including manly confrontations with the perp, lamentations of his father's life and death, casual moonlight drives, gambling for money, adults playing with trains, and the eventual untimely arrival of Vaughn's annoyingly successful younger brother, followed closely by Vaughn's ex-wife's invitation to remarry.

The tattered landscape of the post-hurricane Gulf Coast is the perfect analogue for these catastrophically out-of-order lives, and in this setting the players work into and out of almost all their troubles. In the process, and en route to a satisfying set of resolutions, Barthelme's acute eye and subtle wit uncover and autopsy an inner landscape of mortality, love, regret, and redemption. The result is his most emotionally resonant work of fiction yet--and a new reason to celebrate him as an American master.

Publishers Weekly 11/03/2008

In his first novel since PEN/Faulkner finalist "Elroy Nights", Barthelme offers a strangely detached exploration of the post-Katrina Mississippi Gulf Coast. One year after the hurricane and a divorce, Vaughn Williams has more or less recovered from the shock of both. Renting a room from a younger woman who was widowed under mysterious circumstances, Vaughn slides into a low-key romance with his landlady. Their cordial yet detached friendship with Vaughn's ex-wife, Gail, is put to the test when Gail asks Vaughn and his girlfriend, Greta, to move in with her after she's assaulted by her new boyfriend. The change of scenery does little to simplify Vaughn's love life, and his strange new role stirs up his guilt surrounding the death of his father and estrangement from his brother. Oddly, though, Vaughn never seems overly concerned about the developments around him; Gail's new beau never emerges as a threat; and Greta does not seem bothered by the living arrangement. There are some beautifully written passages, but Barthelme's reluctance to break his characters' cozy familiarity makes it difficult for readers to engage with Vaughn's apparent struggles. "(Apr.)" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Undead and Uneasy
by MaryJanice Davidson
Published 2008 by Jove Books

Mass Market Paperbound, English. ISBN: 9780515145045

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Jacket Notes:

Weddings are never easy. But for bride-to-be Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor, they can become downright deadly after her fianc and most of her loved ones go missing, in this sixth novel of Davidson's "New York Times" bestselling series. The New York Times bestselling series. With her wedding fast approaching, cold feet don't come as a surprise to Betsy Taylor-especially with an undead groom. But when her fiancA1/2 and most of her loved ones go missing, it's up to Betsy to find them-and whoever is behind the disappearances.

Safer
by Sean Doolittle
Published 2009 by Delacorte Press

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780385338981

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Jacket Notes:

The latest work from the acclaimed author of "The Cleanup" follows a young couple whose presence ignites a harrowing journey into darkness as a shocking accusation is made, a family is shattered, and the mystery of a long-ago crime begins to unravel. From" "Dirt to The Cleanup," " Sean Doolittle has dazzled critics and defied expectations, garnering bolder critical raves with each new novel. "Stylishly written" hailed the" New York Times Book Review... ""Superb" declared the "Wall Street Journal...""Heart-stopping, gut-clenching, eye-opening" raved the "Chicago Tribune." Now Doolittle fulfills all that promise--and more--in his latest novel, a powerhouse of suspense that will catch you off guard at every turn....Because in Safer," " a young couple moves into an idyllic little cul-de- sac--and ignites a harrowing journey into darkness as a shocking accusation is made, a family is shattered, and the mystery of a long-ago crime begins to unravel.

For Paul Callaway and his wife, Sara, moving from the East Coast to a quiet midwestern town was a major adjustment. But right from the start, Paul has tried to fit in. He's played golf with the guys. He's even joined the Neighborhood Patrol, grabbing a flashlight and a walkie-talkie to make these neatly tended streets even safer. Then Paul makes one mistake--and now they want him gone. But nothing could have prepared Paul and Sara for the quarrel that has erupted between Paul and a neighbor--the self-appointed leader of the Neighborhood Patrol. Or for the next outrage, as police arrest Paul for a sordid crime he didn't commit. Suddenly Paul's life, university career, and marriage are at risk, as he finds himself locked in a desperate fight with an angry man, a dark conspiracy, and a secret that began with a child's disappearance ten years before.

Publishers Weekly 12/15/2008

In this unsettling thriller from Barry Awardwinner Doolittle ("The Cleanup"), Boston transplants Paul Callaway and his wife, Sara, scare off a violent intruder their first night in their new home in Clark Falls, Iowa, where Paul has taken up a post as an English professor at the local university. As a result of this incident, the Callaways meet members of their tight-knit community, including ex-cop Roger Mallory, the neighborhood's unofficial protector. Though Paul is initially welcomed into Roger's circle of friends, Paul becomes suspicious when he discovers Roger is conducting secret surveillance of the neighborhood. Tensions mount between the two men, coming to a head after Paul is arrested for child pornography, a charge he's sure Roger helped concoct. Desperate to clear his name, Paul begins his own investigation into Roger's past. Despite Doolittle's admirably complex plot and empathetic hero, readers may question just how many skeletons a single small town can have in its closets. "(Mar.)" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

The Scarecrow
by Michael Connelly
Published 2009 by Little Brown and Company

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780316166300

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Jacket Notes:

Forced out of the "Los Angeles Times" amid the latest budget cuts, newspaperman Jack McEvoy decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paperto write the definitive murder story of his career.

He focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a 16-year-old drug dealer in jail after confessing to a brutal murder. But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus. The kid might actually be innocent.

Jack is soon running with his biggest story since The Poet""made his career years ago. He is tracking a killer who operates completely below police radar--and with perfect knowledge of any move against him. Including Jack's.

Publishers Weekly 03/30/2009

Bestseller Connelly comments on the plight of print journalism in a nail-biting thriller featuring reporter Jack McEvoy, last seen in 2004's "The Narrows". When Jack is laid off from the "L.A. Times" with 14 days' notice to tie up loose ends, he decides to go out with a bang. What starts as a story about the wrongful arrest of a young gangbanger for the brutal rape and murder of an exotic dancer turns out to be just the tip of an iceberg that takes McEvoy from the Nevada desert to a futuristic data-hosting facility in Arizona. FBI agent Rachel Walling, with whom he worked on a serial killer case in 1996's "The Poet", soon joins the hunt, but as the pair uncover more about the killer and his unsettling predilections, they realize that they too are being hunted. With every switch between McEvoy's voice and the villain's, Connelly ratchets up the tension. This magnificent effort is a reminder of why Connelly is one of today's top crime authors. "8-city author tour. (May)" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Publisher's Marketing Text:

Forced out of the "Los Angeles Times" amid the latest budget cuts, newspaperman Jack McEvoy decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paperto write the definitive murder story of his career.
He focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a 16-year-old drug dealer in jail after confessing to a brutal murder. But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus. The kid might actually be innocent.
Jack is soon running with his biggest story since The Poet""made his career years ago. He is tracking a killer who operates completely below police radar--and with perfect knowledge of any move against him. Including Jack's.

How to Sell
by Clancy Martin
Published 2009 by Farrar Straus Giroux

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780374173357

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Jacket Notes:

Bobby Clark is just 16 when he drops out of school to follow his big brother Jim into the jewelry business. What follows is the story of a young man's education in two of the oldest human passions, love and money. Bobby Clark is just sixteen when he drops out of school to follow his big brother, Jim, into the jewelry business. Bobby idolizes Jim and is in awe of Jim's girlfriend, Lisa, the best saleswoman at the Fort Worth Deluxe Diamond Exchange. What follows is the story of a young man's education in two of the oldest human passions, love and money. Through a dark, sharp lens, Clancy Martin captures the luxury business in all its exquisite vulgarity and outrageous fraud, finding in the diamond-and-watch trade a metaphor for the American soul at work.

Publishers Weekly 02/23/2009

A Canadian in 1987 goes to Texas and gets crushingly corrupted in Martin's sexy, funny and devastating debut. Bobby Clark is 16 when he leaves a dead-end setup with his single mother and grass-is-greener girlfriend, Wendy, and heads to Fort Worth to get into the fine jewelry business under the stewardship of his salesman brother, Jim. In no time, Bobby and Jim are snorting lines, Bobby's moving in on (and smoking crank with) Jim's mistress, Lisa, and getting a crash course in amazingly crooked business. Scams, bait-and-switch deals, bogus jewelry and startling treachery are day-to-day at the jewelry store, until the store's gregarious owner gets into trouble at the same time Bobby tries to save Lisa from a massive flame-out. Years later, Bobby's back in Fort Worth, married to Wendy (and with a child) and still in the jewelry business with Jim when Lisa reappears, engaged in an equally questionable if older profession. Bobby's helplessly honest narration is a sublime counterpoint to the crooked doings he's complicit in. Reading this is like watching one man's American dream turn into a soul-sucking nightmare. "(May)" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen
by Janet Evanovich
Published 2009 by St. Martin's Press

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780312383282

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Jacket Notes:

From #1 bestselling author Evanovich comes the next book in her Stephanie Plum series, in which complications arise, loyalties are tested, cliffhangers are resolved, and donuts are eaten. SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 EVENT: The next Stephanie Plum novel, in which complications arise, loyalties are tested, cliffhangers are resolved, and donuts are eaten. WHERE: Wherever books are sold across America WHAT TO BRING: Sunglasses, insect repellant, a flotation device, suntan lotion, cheez-doodles, extra-large towel, fire extinguisher, baseball bat, lip balm, monkey leash, sixty three pieces of chewing gum, and one canister of oxygen (don't ask). Hey, it's a Stephanie Plum novel!

Publishers Weekly 05/25/2009

Bestseller Evanovich recycles tired themes better executed in earlier adventures in her latest Stephanie Plum adventure ("Fearless Fourteen", etc.). When Lula inadvertently witnesses the beheading of culinary TV star Stanley Chipotle in a Trenton, N.J., alley, Stephanie's on-again off-again boyfriend, cop Joe Morelli, reluctantly takes the case. Lula, with the help of Grandma Mazur, enters the same barbequing competition Chipotle was in town to promote, hoping to lure the murderers out of hiding. Meanwhile, Ranger has recruited Stephanie to help solve a series of break-ins at properties under the protection of Rangeman Security. The inevitable sparks fly between Stephanie and Ranger, with Morelli grumbling on the sidelines. Evanovich dishes up her usual mixture of shoot-'em-up action (numerous cars explode) and quirky characters (notably a neighborhood flasher with a devoted following), but the lackluster plot will disappoint fans. "(June 23)" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Sliver of Truth
by Lisa Unger
Published 2007 by Shaye Areheart Books

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780307338464

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Jacket Notes:

Love hurts, sometimes it even kills. Just as Ridley Jones, first introduced in "Beautiful Lies," begins to move on with her life, a seemingly mundane act--picking up a few prints at a photo lab--puts her at the nexus of a global network of crime. The highly anticipated follow-up to the "New York Times" bestseller "Beautiful Lies,"

Charged with relentless intensity and kinetic action, and playing out with unnerving suspense on the streets of New York and London, Sliver of Truth delves deep into the shadowy world of Ridley Jones, a terrified but determined young woman at once hunting down a ghost from her past and running for her life. "From the Trade Paperback edition."

Publishers Weekly 10/23/2006

Bestseller Unger's sensational second thriller (after "Beautiful Lies") puts her in the same league as such genre masters as Peter Straub and Peter Abrahams. From the cryptic opening section, which ends with a "New York Times" reporter finding her husband bleeding to death, Unger grabs the reader by the throat and doesn't let go. Meanwhile, the FBI informs Ridley Jones, a magazine writer, that her late uncle, Max Smiley (who's really her biological father), is still alive and being sought by assorted international players on all sides of the law. Rapidly finding that little in her life is what it seems, Jones is horrified to be confronted with evidence indicating that Smiley is a misogynistic monster of the first order, who may have played a role in the murder of the reporter's husband. Unger's gifts for dialogue and pacing set this far above the standard novel of suspense and will leave many anxiously awaiting her third book. "10-city author tour. (Jan.)" Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.