A bigger selection than in more-recent New Books posts — just an unusually good few weeks for new books and ARCs.
Featuring: Dan Abnett, Lauren Beukes, Lowell Cauffiel, David Guymer, Rupert Holmes, Scott C. Johnson, Nick Kyme, Mike Lawson, Rebecca Makkai, Dwyer Murphy, Elissa R. Sloan, A. R. Torre, Calder Walton, Brent Weeks, Iris Yamashita
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Dan Abnett, THE END AND THE DEATH, VOLUME 1 (Black Library)
The arch-traitor Horus Lupercal’s forces have bombarded Terra and the Imperial Palace lies in ruins. With the Emperor’s dream in tatters, he seeks only to rob Chaos of its ultimate victory…
There is no way out.
The walls have fallen, the gates are breached, and the defenders are slain. It is the end and the death. After seven brutal years of civil war, the Warmaster stands on the verge of victory. Horus Lupercal, once beloved son, has come to murder his father. The Emperor, a shining beacon of hope to many, an unscrupulous tyrant to others, must die. The lives of uncountable numbers have been extinguished and even primarchs, once thought immortal, have been laid low. The Emperor’s dream lies in tatters, but there remains a sliver of hope.
Now, at the final hour of the final day, the Emperor rises. With him come his Angel, his Praetorian, and his Captain, all determined to enact terrible vengeance. Yet the hope is slim, for the Warmaster sees all and knows all, and the ultimate victory of Chaos is at hand.
And so we enter the final chapter of the Siege of Terra, and the Horus Heresy overall. It’s fitting that Abnett has written the final book (well, final two, as apparently there was too much to fit into one), given that he launched the HH series so well in Horus Rising. It feels a little strange that the series is finally coming to a close, so many years after it began. It’ll be interesting to see how it ends, and also to see what’s going to come after. (I’ve seen mention that the publisher is going to release novels/series set in between the end of the HH and the “current” WH40k timeline, but who knows.) The End and the Death, Volume 1 is out now, published by Black Library in North America and in the UK.
Also on CR: Reviews of Horus Rising, Prospero Burns, Know No Fear, The Unremembered Empire and Saturnine
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Lauren Beukes, BRIDGE (Mulholland)
A grieving daughter’s search for her mother becomes a journey across alternate realities…
It was a game they played; the other worlds, the other lives. It was part of her mom’s grand delusions. It wasn’t real. Unless it was…
Bridget Kittinger has always been paralyzed by choices. It has a lot to do with growing up in the long shadow of her mother, Jo, a troubled neuroscientist. Jo’s obsession with one mythical object, the “dreamworm” — which she believed enabled travel to other worlds — led to their estrangement.
Now, suddenly, Jo is dead. And in packing up her home, Bridge finds a strange device buried deep in Jo’s freezer: the dreamworm. Against all odds, it actually can open the door — to all other realities, and to all other versions of herself, too. Could Bridge find who she should be in this world, by visiting the others? And could her Jo still be alive somewhere? But there’s a sinister cost to trading places, and others hunting the dreamworm who would kill to get their hands on it…
Across a thousand possible lives, from Portland to Haiti, from Argentina to the alligator-infested riverways of North Carolina, Bridge takes readers on a highly original thrill ride, pushing the boundaries of what we know about mothers and daughters, hunters and seekers, and who we each choose to be.
The latest novel from the author of The Shining Girls, Broken Monsters, and more. It feels like quite a while since I last read one of Beukes’s novels, so really looking forward to giving this a try. Bridge is due to be published by Mulholland Books in North America (August 8th) and Michael Joseph in the UK (August 17th).
Also on CR: Reviews of The Shining Girls, Broken Monsters, and Afterland
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Review copy received via NetGalley
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Lowell Cauffiel, BELOW THE LINE (Arcade Crimewise)
Former Detroit homicide detective Edwin Blake broke into show business as a script consultant on cop movies. Now living in Los Angeles five years later, Blake is suffering from clinical depression, is no longer in demand in film and TV — and money is short. But things look up when Blake gets a call from wealthy, oddball producer, Jason “JP” Perry, telling him he wants to hire him for a future cable TV series. But there’s a catch. First he wants Blake to locate the missing ex-wife of a “friend of a friend” from Chicago. Blake will be working for free on a promise — a typical Hollywood hustle. But Blake’s not the only one on the case. Hired gun Warren Poole has also been contracted to find the woman.
When a corrupt Hollywood producer, an ex-cop with a conscience, and a career criminal without one all have the same quarry, trouble is bound to ensue. And it does, with remarkably satisfying results, thanks to Blake’s girlfriend, Carla, a former roller derby queen who has turned more than her own life around. Filled with rich characters both easy to love and hate, BELOW THE LINE skewers Hollywood in a deliciously fresh way.
With his expert eye for true crime detail and his prowess at executing elaborate plot, Cauffiel gives us a thrilling ride on the dark side of Hollywood that lingers long after the credits roll.
It’s entirely redundant, at this point, to note that I enjoyed Los Angeles/Hollywood-based mysteries and crime novels, but that’s why this one caught my eye. The author has written a number of non-fiction investigative books, and I have high hopes for this one. Below the Line is due to be published by Arcade Crimewise in North America and in the UK, on May 2nd.
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Review copy received via NetGalley
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David Guymer, ANGRON: THE RED ANGEL (Black Library)
In the darkness of Imperium Nihilus, across half a million worlds cut off from the dim light of Holy Terra, a beacon is lit. The Red Angel returns to an unsteady galaxy and his scattered sons heed the call to slaughter. Aboard the World Eaters’ flagship, Kossolax the Foresworn, self-appointed lord regent of the XII, fights to keep the old dreams of the Legion alive, but finds the return of his hated father both an opportunity and a threat to the warriors’ fragile unity.
Marooned on a worthless moon with a rag-tag band of traitors as despicable as himself, Ortan Leidis of the Angels of the Grail dares to dream of something greater.
Half a galaxy away, Graucis Telomane of the Grey Knights has been readying himself for this day, and plans six centuries in the making are finally set in motion – plans that will see the eradication of the Emperor’s greatest mistake once and for all…
Like many fans of WH40k fiction, I am very fond of stories about the primarchs — whether we’re talking about their time pre-Heresy or after. they remain a fascinating part of that setting’s lore. Angron, the Primarch of the World Eaters, twisted into the embodiment of rage is of particular interest. So, when this novel was announced I preordered it as soon as I could, and ended up reading it a couple of days after release. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and Guymer does some interesting stuff with the perspectives and characters — it was the first time, I think, that I’d read about a newly-renegade Space Marine trying to join a Traitor legion, for example. The action set-pieces are big, brash, and wonderfully WH40k-OTT, but there is also plenty of exploration of the lore for those who don’t just want bolter-porn. (Also highly recommend reading Ian St. Martin’s Angron: Slave of Nuceria, Aaron Dembski-Bowden’s Betrayer and Echoes of Eternity for more on Angron’s story.) Angron: The Red Angel is out now, published by Black Library in North America and in the UK.
Also on CR: Reviews of Dreadwing, Kinslayer, Slayer
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Rupert Holmes, MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER (Avid Reader Press)
The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim.
Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college — its location unknown to even those who study there — is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate…and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.
Prepare for an education you’ll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you’ll ever read.
This novel has been getting a lot of buzz pre-publication. It didn’t seem to have a long-pre-publication push, but I remember seeing a lot of excitement when it was announced. Naturally, I was intrigued. It sounds pretty interesting, and I look forward to getting around to reading it soon. (Interesting fact: Holmes wrote “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)”. Yes, that one.) Murder Your Employer is out now, published by Avid Reader Press in North America, and Headline in the UK.
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Scott C. Johnson, THE CON QUEEN OF HOLLYWOOD (Harper)
The spellbinding tale of an epic international manhunt for a psychopathic con artist who stole dozens of identities and millions of dollars while exploiting the dreams of artists from Hollywood, Jakarta, London and beyond.
Blending years of deep reporting with distinctive, powerful prose, Scott C. Johnson’s unique true crime narrative recounts the tale of the brilliantly cunning imposter who carved a path of financial and emotional destruction across the world. Gifted with a diabolical flair for impersonation, manipulation, and deception, the Con Queen used his skill with accents and deft psychological insight to sweep through the entertainment industry. Johnson traces the origins of this gender-bending criminal mastermind and follows the years-long investigation of a singularly determined private detective who helped deliver him to the FBI. Described by one victim as a “crazy, evil genius,” the Con Queen brazenly worked in an evolving, borderless world in which our notions of gender, identity, and sexuality are undergoing profound changes, helping enable one of the most elaborate scams to ever hit Hollywood. The Con Queen is the perfect criminal, committing the perfect crime for our time.
But for what purpose? And with what motive?
Johnson first broke the story of the Con Queen for The Hollywood Reporter and led the coverage of this intricate story. His unparalleled access to sources, including exclusive interviews with victims and investigators, and never-before-heard audio footage of the Con Queen, brought global attention to the scam and spurred law enforcement to act. But the story took a truly unique turn when Johnson ventured out of Covid restrictions to search for the Con Queen himself. Embarking on a journey that took him from Los Angeles to the United Kingdom and, finally, to Jakarta, Johnson came face-to-face with the mastermind and uncovered the truth about one of the most compelling and disturbing criminal minds in recent history.
Despite decades of experience as a foreign correspondent and war reporter, nothing prepared Johnson for the bizarre experience of following the Con Queen’s exploits — and for what chasing the story ultimately revealed about himself and his own troubled family history.
I remember seeing a cover story about the Con Queen in The Hollywood Reporter, back in 2018, and it’s stuck with me ever since. I missed most of the follow-up stories that Johnson wrote, but when I saw that the story had been turned into a book, I thought it would make for an excellent book. I started reading it pretty soon after I received the DRC, and got through it quite quickly. It is a wild story, but the book itself was a little uneven. I’ll let things percolate for a little bit, and post a review soon. The Con Queen of Hollywood is due to be published by Harper in North America and in the UK, on June 6th.
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Review copy received via Edelweiss
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Nick Kyme, THE IRON KINGDOM (Black Library)
A depleted Battle Group Praxis returns the slain heir of Kamidar to the Knight world’s ruling family – and its embittered ruler, the Iron Queen Orlah.
A war-weary Battle Group Praxis arrives at the Knight world of Kamidar, ruled by the Iron Queen Orlah, to return the queen’s slain daughter and heir, who died fighting in Guilliman’s name. In truth, the Imperium’s mission here is twofold: to strip Kamidar of its resources in order to resupply the flagging armada, and prepare the Ironhold Protectorate to become part of the defensive Anaxian Line, a crucial bulwark for the Indomitus Crusade. With Kamidar having survived many years without the Imperium’s aid, what should have been a simple reunion between allies soon becomes a vicious feud.
As division turns loyal souls against one another, the agents of Abaddon move in the shadows, seeking to manipulate this growing rift to their own ends. Can the Imperium bring itself back from the brink before it’s too late, or will the Hand of Abaddon arise triumphant, halting the Avenging Son’s reclamation in its path?
The fifth novel in the Dawn of Fire series, one that I’ve been rather enjoying — it’s doing a great job of fleshing out the “current” WH40k timeline, moving various metastory threads forward, bringing Guilliman back to life, and so forth. I’ve enjoyed Kyme’s work in the past, too, so looking forward to reading this soon. The Iron Kingdom is out now, published by Black Library in North America and in the UK.
Also on CR: Reviews of Promethean Sun, Vulkan Lives and Deathfire
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Mike Lawson, ALLIGATOR ALLEY (Atlantic Monthly Press)
Joe DeMarco likes to call himself a troubleshooter. It sounds better than “bagman” or “fixer.” With more than a decade of troubleshooting under his belt on behalf of John Mahoney, the Speaker of the House, DeMarco has seen his fair share of dangerous situations.
When Andie Moore, a 23-year-old working in the DOJ’s Inspector General’s Office, is murdered in cold blood in Florida’s Everglades, it falls on DeMarco to get to the bottom of things. Paired with Emma, an enigmatic, retired ex-spy with seemingly endless connections in the military and intelligence communities, they venture south to the scene of Andie’s murder: Alligator Alley.
DeMarco and Emma waste no time in identifying a two suspects—a pair of crooked, near-retirement FBI agents named McIntyre and McGruder. But as they keep digging, it becomes clear that these FBI agents weren’t acting alone, and that this goes much deeper than just the murder of an innocent 23-year old woman.
The 16th novel in Lawson’s Joe DeMarco series — one of the most consistently entertaining and engaging series, in my opinion. I’ve been reading it since the first one was published in the UK, and I always know I’m going to enjoy each new book. Lawson hasn’t let me down yet. Inexplicably, I just realized I’ve fallen a couple of books behind: I still have House Standoff and Redemption (a stand-alone) to read — the former at least will be read before this new novel, but hopefully I’ll get all caught up very soon. Alligator Alley is out now, published by Atlantic Monthly Press.
Also on CR: Reviews of House Rules/Dead on Arrival, House Secrets, House Justice, House Divided, House Blood, House Reckoning, House Rivals, House Arrest
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Rebecca Makkai, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU (Viking)
A successful film professor and podcaster, Bodie Kane is content to forget her past — the family tragedy that marred her adolescence, her four largely miserable years at a New Hampshire boarding school, and the murder of her former roommate, Thalia Keith, in the spring of their senior year. Though the circumstances surrounding Thalia’s death and the conviction of the school’s athletic trainer, Omar Evans, are hotly debated online, Bodie prefers — needs — to let sleeping dogs lie.
But when the Granby School invites her back to teach a course, Bodie is inexorably drawn to the case and its increasingly apparent flaws. In their rush to convict Omar, did the school and the police overlook other suspects? Is the real killer still out there? As she falls down the very rabbit hole she was so determined to avoid, Bodie begins to wonder if she wasn’t as much of an outsider at Granby as she’d thought—if, perhaps, back in 1995, she knew something that might have held the key to solving the case.
Quite some time ago, I saw that Richard Russo gave one of Makkai’s novels a glowing blurb. As a huge fan of Russo’s work, I was intrigued (if for no other reason than it wasn’t a book obviously attached to Maine, which seems to be most of what Russo is asked to blurb). This new novel has been getting a lot of buzz (not that the author’s previous novels weren’t well-received), but I get the sense there are high expectations for this one to take Makkah’s career to the next level (although, worth noting that The Great Believers was a Pulitzer finalist, so it’s not like she’s floundering in obscurity). Really looking forward to reading this, I started it quite soon after getting it. I Have Some Questions For You is out now, published by Viking in North America, and Fleet in the UK.
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Dwyer Murphy, THE STOLEN COAST (Viking)
Adrift in a sleepy coastal Massachusetts town, a man who ferries fugitives by day gets twisted up in a plot to pilfer diamonds…
Jack might be a polished, Harvard-educated lawyer on paper, but everyone in the down-at-the-heels, if picturesque, village of Onset, Massachusetts, knows his real job: moving people on the run from powerful enemies. The family business — co-managed with his father, a retired spy — is smooth sailing, as they fill up Onset’s holiday homes during the town’s long, drowsy off-season and help clients shed their identities in preparation for fresh starts.
But when Elena, Jack’s former flame — a dedicated hustler who’s no stranger to the fugitive life — makes an unexpected return to town, her arrival upends Jack’s routine existence. Elena, after all, doesn’t go anywhere without a scheme in mind, and it isn’t long before Jack finds himself enmeshed in her latest project: intercepting millions of dollars’ worth of raw diamonds before they’re shipped overseas.
This is the second novel by the author of An Honest Living (which I also have, but haven’t yet had the chance to read). The premise for this new novel caught my attention, and I hope to read it very soon. The Stolen Coast is due to be published by Viking in North America and in the UK, on July 18th.
Follow the Author: Goodreads, Twitter
Review copy received via Edelweiss
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Elissa R. Sloan, HAYLEY ALDRIDGE IS STILL HERE (William Morrow)
It’s been years since anyone really thought about Hayley Aldridge. A child star turned television royalty, Hayley spent years in Hollywood partying and being plastered across the front page of all the tabloids before quietly disappearing after a whirlwind marriage and divorce and very public breakdown. Once the tabloids wrung every last drop out of the drama, they moved on to the next It Girl. But Hayley is still here.
For over a decade, she’s been trapped in a conservatorship and had every aspect of her life controlled by her parents. She goes nowhere, does nothing without their approval, which is rarely granted. Her visits with her kids are monitored, her fan mail is censored, and she’s a prisoner in her own home. She thought things might change once she was well enough to work, but the restrictions got even tighter as she continued to bring money in—the only thing her parents ever really cared about. Hayley is beginning to realize that this nightmare is her actual life. And she’s sick of it.
When the hashtag #helphayley starts to emerge on social media, and the public starts thinking critically about what happened to her all those years ago, there’s finally some momentum on her side. With an upcoming court date to review the status of the conservatorship, Hayley might finally have a chance to break free.
But how can she go up against her parents when they’re aware of her every move? It’s time for Hayley Aldridge to remind the world who she is, this time on her own terms.
I rather enjoyed Sloan’s debut novel, The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes, so of course I was interested in reading the author’s next title. The synopsis seems to clearly be taking inspiration from Britney Spears’s experiences over the past decade-or-so. Should be an interesting read. Will hopefully get to this very soon. Hayley Aldridge is Still Here is out now, published by William Morrow in North America and in the UK.
Also on CR: Review of The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes
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A. R. Torre, A FATAL AFFAIR (Thomas & Mercer)
Stars. Lovers. Liars. Killers. This is Hollywood, and everyone has a part to play…
Actress Nora Kemp loves two men. One is Hugh Iverson, a philanthropic movie star who gives Nora security and respectability. The other is Hugh’s twin brother, Trent, a Hollywood bad boy who brings out Nora’s wild side. When Trent and an unidentified woman are found dead on the Iversons’ Beverly Hills property, more than Nora’s and Hugh’s reputations are at stake.
An investigation suggests murder-suicide. But there’s more to the crime than first meets the eye: suspicions of a serial killer with a bizarre motive, Hugh’s unnerved and cautious staff, and a missing mother and son. As two LA detectives sift through the deceptions of the innocent and the guilty — some living and some dead — solving the case becomes a cunning cat-and-mouse game.
Because in a city of illusions, the truth — no matter how dangerous — is so easy to hide.
I haven’t read anything by Torre before, but this sounded like an interesting mystery (and yes, the LA/Hollywood location did ping my attention). A Fatal Affair is due to be published by Thomas & Mercer in North America and in the UK, on June 20th.
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Review copy received via NetGalley
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Calder Walton, SPIES (Simon & Schuster)
The riveting, secret story of the hundred-year intelligence war between Russia and the West with lessons for our new superpower conflict with China.
Spies is the history of the secret war that Russia and the West have been waging for a century. Espionage, sabotage, and subversion were the Kremlin’s means to equalize the imbalance of resources between the East and West before, during, and after the Cold War. There was nothing “unprecedented” about Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. It was simply business as usual, new means used for old ends.
The Cold War started long before 1945. But the West fought back after World War II, mounting its own shadow war, using disinformation, vast intelligence networks, and new technologies against the Soviet Union. Spies is an inspiring, engrossing story of the best and worst of mankind: bravery and honor, treachery and betrayal. The narrative shifts across continents and decades, from the freezing streets of St. Petersburg in 1917 to the bloody beaches of Normandy; from coups in faraway lands to present-day Moscow where troll farms, synthetic bots, and weaponized cyber-attacks being launched on the woefully unprepared West. It is about the rise and fall of eastern superpowers: Russia’s past and present and the global ascendance of China.
Mining hitherto secret archives in multiple languages, Calder Walton shows that the Cold War started earlier than commonly assumed, that it continued even after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, and that Britain and America’s clandestine struggle with the Soviet government provides key lessons for countering China today. This fresh reading of history, combined with practical takeaways for our current great power struggles, make Spies a unique and essential addition to the history of the Cold War and the unrolling conflict between the United States and China that will dominate the 21st century.
A pretty substantial history of espionage between the US and Russia. Looks interesting, and might be useful for the Cold War course I help out with. Spies is due to be published by Simon & Schuster in North America (June 6th) and Abacus in the UK (June 1st).
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Review copy received via NetGalley
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Brent Weeks, NIGHT ANGEL NEMESIS (Orbit)
Return to world of the Night Angel, where master assassin Kylar embarks on a new adventure as the High King Logan Gyre calls on him to save his kingdom and the hope of peace.
After the war that cost him so much, Kylar Stern is broken and alone. He’s determined not to kill again, but an impending amnesty will pardon the one murderer he can’t let walk free. He promises himself this is the last time. One last hit to tie up the loose ends of his old, lost life.
But Kylar’s best–and maybe only–friend, the High King Logan Gyre, needs him. To protect a fragile peace, Logan’s new kingdom, and the king’s twin sons, he needs Kylar to secure a powerful magical artifact that was unearthed during the war.
With rumors that a ka’kari may be found, adversaries both old and new are on the hunt. And if Kylar has learned anything, it’s that ancient magics are better left in the hands of those he can trust.
If he does the job right, he won’t need to kill at all. This isn’t an assassination—it’s a heist.
But some jobs are too hard for an easy conscience, and some enemies are so powerful the only answer lies in the shadows.
One of my most-anticipated novels of the year, and one I have been very eager to read ever since it was announced. The Way of Shadows was the first book I ever received from Orbit Books for review, so very many moons ago now. I loved all three novels in the trilogy, as well as the prequel novella. It has, however, been rather a long time since I read them… and I can’t remember many of the salient details. I wonder if I’ll have time to re-read them before getting to this, or if I will be able to enjoy this without going back and reminding myself? Regardless, I hope to get to this ASAP. Night Angel Nemesis is due to be published by Orbit Books in North America and in the UK, on April 25th.
Also on CR: Interview with Brent Weeks (2016); Reviews of The Way of Shadows, Shadow’s Edge, Beyond the Shadows, Perfect Shadow, and The Black Prism
Follow the Author: Website, Goodreads, Instagram, Twitter
Review copy received via NetGalley
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Iris Yamashita, CITY UNDER ONE ROOF (Berkley)
A stranded detective tries to solve a murder in a tiny Alaskan town where everyone lives in a single high-rise building, in this gripping debut by an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter.
When a local teenager discovers a severed hand and foot washed up on the shore of the small town of Point Mettier, Alaska, Cara Kennedy is on the case. A detective from Anchorage, she has her own motives for investigating the possible murder in this isolated place, which can be accessed only by a tunnel.
After a blizzard causes the tunnel to close indefinitely, Cara is stuck among the odd and suspicious residents of the town—all 205 of whom live in the same high-rise building and are as icy as the weather. Cara teams up with Point Mettier police officer Joe Barkowski, but before long the investigation is upended by fearsome gang members from a nearby native village.
Haunted by her past, Cara soon discovers that everyone in this town has something to hide. Will she be able to unravel their secrets before she unravels?
I somehow managed to miss this when it was published, but I saw a recommendation from Alma Katsu (whose novels I highly recommend), and decided to check it out. I’ll be reading this very soon. City Under One Roof is out now, published by Berkley in North America and in the UK.
Civilian Reader 