Publishers Weekly articles from September 2008

Publishers Weekly archives from September 2008

Obama books proliferate: but putting the candidate's name in a title doesn't guarantee success.(Foreword)
September 29, 2008... Ever since Barack Obama's rise to national prominence, the Democratic presidential nominee has spawned a publishing cottage industry. The search words "Barack Obama" in Amazon deliver 1,259 hits, and while many of them are books, there are a...

New Google option.(Google Previews)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Google introduced a new feature tied to its Book Search program, a widget-like tool called Google Previews. By adding simple code to their Web sites, publishers, retailers or anyone with sufficient technical knowledge can embed a...

Scholastic results fall.(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Without the $240 million contribution from last July's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, revenue at Scholastic dropped 46%, to $285 million, in the first quarter ended Aug. 31, and the company had a net loss from continuing operations of...

Brave new blood at Holt.(Foreword)(Company overview)
September 29, 2008... Starting a publishing house in the middle of a recession is nobody's suggestion of a good idea--and yet, in a way, that is what's happening at Macmillan with Henry Holt. Yes, Holt has existed since its founding in Baltimore by, yes, Henry...

Capstone buys Heinemann unit.(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Capstone Publishers has strengthened its presence in the school and library market through its acquisition of the Heinemann-Raintree library reference group from Pearson. The deal involves more than 6,000 titles aimed at the pre-k to...

A record for 'Brisingr'.(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Brisingr, the third volume in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance cycle, sold 550,000 copies on September 20, the first day of its release, setting a one-day sales record for Random House Children's Books.

Minx to close.(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... DC Comics said last week it was shutting down Minx, a line of graphic novels targeting teen girls, a little more than a year after the first book in the line went on sale. Minx will cease publication next January.

Bestselling food books return with new editions.(Heating Up)
September 29, 2008... Not content to rest on their laurels, three hugely popular food books are coming back to market this rail in new or revised editions. There's The Taste of Home Cookbook, whose 2006 debut from Reader's Digest has 1.5 million copies in print;...

Zune adds partners.(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... As Microsoft works to increase the market share for its Zune media players in the iPod-dominated market, Audible and OverDrive have announced audiobook compatibility with the device. Microsoft's September 15 firmware update for the Zune...

Changes at D&GLM.(Dystel & Goderich Literary Management)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Dystel & Goderich Literary Management has promoted Michael Bourret to v-p and Lauren Abramo to subsidiary rights director. Additionally, agent Jessica Papin will be rejoining the firm following a three-year stint in international rights sales...

Correction.(Correction notice)
September 29, 2008... In last week's story, "Life After Harcourt," Sarah Melnyk's name was misspelled.

Cider Mill Press blossoms.(Niched)(Company overview)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... The gamble that John Whalen took when he left Running Press in 2005 to establish his own company in Kennebunkport, Maine, appears to be paying off. Cider Mill Press will release about 50 new titles this year, bringing the total in print to...

Jaffe winners.(Foreword)(Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Awards)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Elizabeth Strout (center front) was the guest speaker at the September 18 presentation of this year's Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Awards. The women who received the $25,000 grants were (front row, l. to r.)...

Wilson's novel.(Deals)(Edward O. Wilson's The Anthill)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Bob Weil at Norton has acquired world rights to Edward O. Wilson's first novel, The Anthill, as well as his next work of social biology, The Forces of Social Evolution, from John Taylor "Ike" Williams at Kneerim & Williams. The scientist's...

A nurse's notes.(Deals)(Theresa Brown)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... After a flurry of interest from publishers following the publication of her essay "Perhaps Death Is Proud" in the New York Times, Theresa Brown signed with Bob Miller at HarperStudio for a chronicle of her first year of nursing--described by...

Bertinelli's back.(Deals)(Valerie Bertinelli)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Valerie Bertinelli, whose Losing It hit #1 on the Times list earlier this year, has made another world rights deal with Leslie Meredith at the Free Press for Finding It; Dan Strone at Trident made the sale. After losing 40 pounds as the world...

Goldman and Lupica collaborate.(Deals)(William Goldman and Mike Lupica plans to write a young adult novel for Philomel)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... William Goldman, screenwriter and author of The Princess Bride, and sportswriter and bestselling YA author Mike Lupica will join up to write a young adult novel for Philomel; publisher Michael Green acquired the pair's first collaboration...

Carlin considered.(Deals)(James Sullivan's Seven Dirty Words: The Life and Crimes of George Carlin )(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Da Capo executive editor Ben Schafer bought world rights to James Sullivan's Seven Dirty Words: The Life and Crimes of George Carlin via Paul Bresnick. Sullivan, author of Jeans and the forthcoming The Hardest Working Man (Gotham) will...

Lucrative lions.(Deals)(Part of the Pride: My Life Among the Big Cats of Africa)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... On the heels of Broadway's recent acquisition of Anthony Bourke's and John Rendall's story of Christian the Lion, St. Martin's executive editor Michael Flamini has paid six figures for the tentatively titled Part of the Pride: My Life Among...

Calendar: Oct. 5-11.(Foreword)(Brief article)(Calendar)
September 29, 2008... 10/5 Anne Rice's Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession (Knopf) discusses her 38 years of atheism and her renewed belief in Christ. 10/6 Simon & Schuster announced a 300,000 first printing for Richard Paul Evans's...

David Thompson, manager, murder by the book, Houston.(Galley Talk)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... There aren't many books I'd want to read in unbound manuscript form, but when Charles Ardai announced the completion of his new book, Fifty-to-One {Hard Case Crime, Nov.}, I immediately pleaded for a copy. Ardai has earned awards and...

Meredith's shrinking book unit.(Downsized)(Meredith Corp.)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... The scope of Meredith Corp.'s retreat from book publishing can be seen in the recent 10-k report the company filed at the completion of its fiscal 2008 year, ended June 30. Revenue in the book group plunged 50% in the year, which Meredith...

Publishing 101 stresses book market realities.(Education)
September 29, 2008... More than 100 people attended "Book Publishing 101," PW's one-day seminar for aspiring authors, held at NYU's Kimmel Center on September 22 and sponsored by NYU School of Continuing & Professional Studies, iUniverse and TurnHere. The...

Longe to Media Masters.(People)(Ron Longe )(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Ron Longe has been named account director at Media Masters Publicity, which specializes in children's books and graphic novels. Longe was publicity director for Workman and Artisan.

Cook up at HMH.(People)(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Amanda Cook)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Amanda Cook has been promoted from senior editor to executive editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She's been at HM for four years and her authors include Paul Davies, Lee Smolin and Stephen Baker.

Goldstein to IDW.(People)(Greg Goldstein )(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Greg Goldstein has been named COO of comic book and graphic novel publisher IDW. Goldstein arrives from the sports collectibles company Upper Deck, where he was v-p of gaming and entertainment. Before Upper Deck, Goldstein was CEO and founder...

Macro up at Avon.(People)(Lucia Macro )(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Lucia Macro has been promoted to v-p, executive editor, at HarperCollins's Avon Books imprint. Macro joined Avon 11 years ago; her authors include Victoria Alexander, Rachel Gibson and Stephanie Laurens.

PW's manuscript pick.(Foreword)
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] PW editors read more than 50 proposals from seminar attendees. Their favorite was C. James Mahoney's From Elephants to Mice: Animals That Have Touched My Soul. Reviews director Louisa Ermelino explained how the...

Choteborsky up at Crown.(People)(Mary Choteborsky )(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Mary Choteborsky has been promoted to the newly created position of associate publishing manager/associate editor at Crown. Choteborsky, who recently acquired Chasing the American Dream by reporter Michael Barone and a book on David Beckham...

Marmion to head AAP Trade.(People)(Bridget Marmion )(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Bridget Marmion has been named chair of the AAP Trade Publishers Executive Committee. Marmion, senior vp and director of marketing at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is replacing Bob Miller, who's been heading the committee since 2002.

Obituary: Brian M. Thomsen.(People)(Obituary)(Brief article)
September 29, 2008... Brian M. Thomsen, a consulting editor at Tor and an author, died September 21 at his home in Brooklyn; he was 49. Thomsen was one of the founding editors of Warner/Popular Library Questar science fiction & fantasy line. Thomsen, a Hugo Award...

Hardcover bestsellers/fiction.
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What a difference a week makes, especially if Oprah selects your title as one of her book club picks. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle was already doing very well for a debut novel, with a 13-week PW bestseller run and...

Hardcover bestsellers/nonfiction.
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dr. Phil's latest bestseller, Real Life: Preparing for the 7 Most Challenging Days of Your Life, has 650,000 copies in print after three printings. This is the seventh season of the nationally syndicated Dr. Phil...

Paperback bestsellers/mass market.
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Charlaine Harris has six titles among the Borders Superstore Top 25. At Barnes & Noble, there are seven Harris titles on the top 30 mass market list (both ending September 20).The New York Times October 5 mass...

Paperback bestsellers/trade.
September 29, 2008... The PBS special based on Change Your Brain, Change Your Life has been driving sales; Three Rivers reports 24 printings totaling 460,000 copies in print. Amen's new hardcover, Magnificent Mind at Any Age, is due out December 2 and will also...

Children's series and tie-ins bestsellers.
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In September 1998, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released in the U.S., with little or no fanfare. Now that the book has been out for 10 years and has sold more than 120 million copies, Scholastic...

Audio bestsellers/fiction.
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Under the Black Ensign by L. Ron Hubbard (Galaxy Audio, $9.95; 978-1-59212-333-9) Of the five new titles just released as part of the Stories from the Golden Age line of audiobooks, this one got an extra boost when...

Audio bestsellers/nonfiction.
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Hickses' 13th audio with Hay House focuses the "Law of Attraction" principles on controlling money and physical health. The teachings are broken down into rive sections: Processing of Pivoting and Positive...

Kuo-Yu Liang: from teenage book clerk to distribution executive.(50 UNDER 40)(Biography)
September 29, 2008... In the late 1980s, 15-year old Taiwanese immigrant Kuo-Yu Liang began working part-time at the Central Park Bookstore in San Mateo, Calif. Now, 24 years later, Liang--or Ku, as just about everyone in the publishing biz calls him--is the v-p...

For CEO Marmaduke, Hastings is a work in progress: culture of change has kept chain in the black while competitors struggle.(VB + PW: HASTINGS 40TH ANNIVERSARY)(Biography)
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] John Marmaduke, Hastings Entertainment's president and CEO for the last 32 years, explains one aspect of his business strategy with a West Texas aphorism: You can always spot a pioneer, he says, by the arrows in...

Key innovations at Hastings: these five achievements have contributed to Hastings' 40 years of success.(VB + PW: HASTINGS 40TH ANNIVERSARY)
September 29, 2008... Now: Rebranding under the Discover Your Entertainment initiative, emphasizing the all-encompassing selection of media products Reacting to a downturn in CE) sales, Hastings over the last few years has begun ramping up such growing...

Casting a wider Web: music downloads, social networking part of new site.(VB + PW: HASTINGS 40TH ANNIVERSARY)(Company overview)
September 29, 2008... Hastings Entertainment's Web site is undergoing a makeover to better complement the broadening merchandising strategies inside its stores. Over the last few years, Hastings has been rebranding its 154 outlets as one-stop entertainment...

Hastings expands used product: category to represent 15% of retailer's business.(VB + PW: HASTINGS 40TH ANNIVERSARY)(Hastings Entertainment)
September 29, 2008... Hastings Entertainment is distinguished by its strengthening dedication to used product, a category that can be controversial for retailers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hastings is one of the few entertainment specialists to sell used...

Change for the good: retailer stays competitive with constant modifications, consumer knowledge.(VB + PW: HASTINGS 40TH ANNIVERSARY)(Company overview)
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Constant change. That has been Hastings Entertainment's secret to longevity in a business that has seen competitors from the legendary Tower Records to the all but forgotten MedialPlay fail. [ILLUSTRATION...

Frankfurt '08: what the Americans are shopping: an aging rocker, a dog whisperer, a bestselling pastor, some literary icons (living and dead) and a Paris Review editor-turned--deli employee are just a few of the authors who will be vying for attention from foreign editors in this year's rights tent.(Cover story)
September 29, 2008... THE AGENTS Inkwell Management On the fiction side for Inkwell there's Lesley Kagen's Shenandoah Valley--set Tomorrow River (Dutton/NAL), about a set of twins whose mother goes missing. The book is the first hardcover by Kagen, whose...

Crossing the channel: a look at what the U.K. contingent is bringing to Frankfurt.
September 29, 2008... British publishers and agents will be looking for deals for authors who have worldwide brand names as well as debut novelists. Virgin founder Richard Branson, Charles Darwin's great-great granddaughter and Ted Hughes's brother all have new...

Maine chance: what do you do after writing a national bestseller, giving interviews to the New York Times and the Washington Post and being compared to William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor?(Author Profile)
September 29, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Carolyn Chute, who had such jobs as waitressing, teaching and working in shoe and chicken factories, hit it big with her first novel, The Beans of Egypt, Maine (Ticknor & Fields, 1985), and finally had the...

Oh, Johnny.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Oh, Johnny Jim Lehrer. Random, $25 (240p) ISBN 978-1-4000-6762-6 PBS NewsHour anchor Lehrer mixes baseball, WWII and romance in his 19th novel to mostly pleasant results. Even though Johnny Wrigley, from smalltown Lafayette,...

Everyone Is Beautiful.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Everyone Is Beautiful Katherine Center. Ballantine, $23 (240p) ISBN 978-1-4000-6643-8 When Lanie Coates moves from Houston to Cambridge, Mass., with her musician husband, Peter, she loses her support system and quickly becomes...

True Colors.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... True Colors Kristin Hannah. St. Martin's, $25.95 (400p) ISBN 978-0-312-36410-6 In her 17th novel, bestseller Hannah , portrays the delicate and enduring bonds of sisterhood. The story of the Grey sisters is set in a small...

The Baltic Gambit.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... The Baltic Gambit Dewey Lambdin. St. Martin's/Dunne, $25.95 (368p) ISBN 978-0-312-34806-9 Lambdin and his Napoleonic War hero, Capt. Alan Lewrie, do their usual nautical thing in the series' 15th installment, but this account of...

Sima's Undergarments for Women.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Sima's Undergarments for Women Ilana Stanger-Ross. Overlook, $24.95 (320p) ISBN 978-1-59020-089-6 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In Brooklyn's Borough Park, Sima Goldner runs a bra shop from her basement while tolerating her oafish...

Tinkers.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... * Tinkers Paul Harding. Bellevue Literary (Consortium, dist.), $14.95 paper (192p) ISBN 978-1-934137-12-3 Harding's outstanding debut unfurls the history and final thoughts of a dying grandfather surrounded by his family in...

Armor of God.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Armor of God Paul Block and Robert Vaughan. Forge, $24.95 (352p) ISBN 978-0-7653-1339-3 Fr. Michael Flannery, the 47-year-old priest last seen in The Masada Scroll, is back and continuing his quest for the Gospel of Dismayas....

The Charlemagne Pursuit.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... * The Charlemagne Pursuit Steve Berry. Ballantine, $26 (528p) ISBN 978-0-345-48579-3 In bestseller Berry's fourth thriller to feature ex-Justice Department agent Cotton Malone (after The Venetian Betrayal), Malone embarks on a...

Fallen Skies.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Fallen Skies Philippa Gregory. Touchstone, $16 paper (528p) ISBN 978-1-4165-9314-0 After losing her father in the Great War, working-class girl Lily Pears becomes chorus girl Lily Valance to help support her widowed mother in...

The Treasure.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... The Treasure Iris Johansen. Bantam, $25 (368p) ISBN 978-0-553-80731-8 Set largely in 12th-century Europe, this intricately plotted historical romance from bestseller Johansen, the sequel to Lion's Bride (1996), is replete with...

The Virgin Queen's Daughter.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... The Virgin Queen's Daughter Ella March Chase. Crown, $24.95 (368p) ISBN 978-0-307-39480-4 Tudor intrigue inspires yet another historical romance in this story of a willful girl who discovers she is the Virgin Queen's...

Cruel Intent.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Cruel Intent J.A. Jance. Touchstone, $25.95 (368p) ISBN 978-1-4165-6379-2 As if remodeling an old mansion near picturesque Sedona, Ariz., isn't stress enough for Ali Reynolds, the plucky former TV newscaster must also deal with...

One Night Stands and Lost Weekends.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... One Night Stands and Lost Weekends Lawrence Block. Harper, $14.95 paper (384p) ISBN 978-0-06-158214-1 First published in two volumes by Crippen & Landru in 1999, this collection of early crime stories from bestseller Block (Hit...

Salvation in Death.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Salvation in Death J.D. Robb. Putnam, $25.95 (368p) ISBN 978-0-399-15522-2 Holy communion spells death for Fr. Miguel Flores, a popular Catholic priest in New York City's Spanish Harlem, after he swallows wine laced with cyanide...

Ultimate Weapon.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... * Ultimate Weapon Shannon McKenna. Kensington/Brava, $14 paper (384p) ISBN 978-0-7582-1189-7 Bestseller McKenna (Extreme Danger) aims for the heart with scorching precision in this well-researched romantic thriller in which the...

Dying for Revenge.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Dying for Revenge Eric Jerome Dickey. Dutton, $25.95 (480p) ISBN 978-0-525-95086-8 The third entry of bestselling Dickey's Gideon trilogy (after Waking with Enemies) offers intrigue, deception, murder and sex in exotic locales...

Echoes from the Dead.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Echoes from the Dead Johan Theorin, trans, from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy. Delacorte, $22 (400p) ISBN 978-0-385-34221-6 Set predominantly on the Baltic island of Oland, Theorin's deeply disturbing debut will remind many of...

The World a Moment Later.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... The World a Moment Later Amir Gurfreund, trans, from the Hebrew by Jessica Cohen. Toby, $24.95 (500p) ISBN 978-1-59264-251-9 Fact and fiction mingle fancifully in this epic, accomplished tale from Israeli novelist Gutfreund...

When You Come Home.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... When You Come Home Nora Eisenberg. Curbstone, $15 paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-931896-47-4 Novelist Eisenberg misses the mark in her third book about the cost of modern war (after Just the Way You Want Me). Tony, 21, has just...

With Violets.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... With Violets Elizabeth Robards. Avon, $13.95 paper (320p) ISBN 978-0-06-157912-7 In her debut novel, Robards takes up the story of impressionist painter Berthe Morisot, who was a friend and lover of fellow artist Edouard Manet,...

The Torturer's Wife.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... The Torturer's Wife Thomas Glave. City Lights, $15.95 paper (240p) ISBN 978-0-87286-466-5 Glave's second collection is a disquieting, graphic, semiexperimental compendium examining violence and ignorance in and out of wartime....

Shot by Both Sides.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Shot by Both Sides Meisei Goto, trans, from the Japanese by Tom Gill. Counterpoint (PGW, dist.), $25 (224p) ISBN 978-1-58243-433-9 Inspired by an impulsive urge to locate the old military greatcoat that accompanied him...

Mr. Darcy's Daughter.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Mr. Darcy's Daughter Rebecca Ann Collins. Sourcebooks Landmark, $14.95 paper (336p) ISBN 978-1-4022-1220-8 The new installment of the Pemberley Chronicles follows the story of Cassandra Gardiner, daughter of Pride & Prejudice's...

The House on Tradd Street.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... The House on Tradd Street Karen White. NAL, $14 paper (336p) ISBN 978-0-451-22509-2 In this engaging novel from Southern novelist White (The Memory of Water), buttoned-up real estate agent Melanie Middleton, lover of order and...

Bringing Tony Home.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Bringing Tony Home Tissa Abeysekara. North Atlantic/Scala (www.northatlanticbooks.com), $14.95 paper (224p) ISBN 978-1-55643-757-1 In the fine U.S. debut of Sri Lankan filmmaker and author Abeysekara, who writes in English,...

Alejandro and the Fishermen of Tancay.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Alejandro and the Fishermen of Tancay Braulio Munoz, trans, from the Spanish by Nancy K. Munoz. Univ. of Arizona, $16.95 paper (144p) ISBN 978-0-8165-2679-6 In a series of tales fashioned as an old fisherman's reflections,...

The Love Song of Monkey.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... The Love Song of Monkey Michael S.A. Graziano. Leapfrog (Consortium, dist.), $13.95 paper (152p) ISBN 978-0-9815148-0-2 Neuroscientist and author Graziano (Hiding Places) has crafted a compelling fantasy based on a...

Tea and Other Ayama Na Tales.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Tea and Other Ayama Na Tales Eleanor Bluestein. Univ. of Missouri/BkMk, $16.95 paper (206p) ISBN 978-1-886157-64-4 Editor and educator Bluestein brings a versatile, captivating voice to her debut story collection set in the fictional...

Murder in Mykonos.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Murder in Mykonos Jeffrey M. Siger. Poisoned Pen, $24.95 (288p) ISBN 978-1-59058-581-8 Soon after a woman's bound body turns up in a remote, abandoned church on the island of Mykonos in Siger's impressive debut, a score of other...

Bamboo and Blood: An Inspector O Novel.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... * Bamboo and Blood: An Inspector O Novel James Church. St. Martin's Minotaur/Dunne, $23.95 (304p) ISBN 978-0-312-37291-0 Church once again does a brilliant job of portraying the dysfunctional, paranoid society of modern North Korea...

Blood Island: A Matt Royal Mystery.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Blood Island: A Matt Royal Mystery H. Terrell Griffin. 0ceanview (Midpoint, dist.), $24.95 (248p) ISBN 978-1-933515-21-2 Set in Longboat Key, Fla., Griffin's third mystery to feature semiretired lawyer Matt Royal (after 2006's Murder...

Spider Season: A Benjamin Justice Novel.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Spider Season: A Benjamin Justice Novel John Morgan Wilson. St. Martin's Minotaur, $24.95 (304p) ISBN 978-0-312-34148-0 In Edgar-winner Wilson's solid eighth Benjamin Justice novel (after 2006's Rhapsody in Blood), two characters...

Moriarty.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Moriarty John Gardner. Harcourt/Penzler, $24 (320p) ISBN 978-0-15-101252-7 A derivative plot mars the long-awaited sequel to The Return of Moriarty (1974) and The Revenge of Moriarty (1975), in which Gardner reimagined Sherlock...

Paris Noir.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Paris Noir Edited by Aurelien Masson, trans, from the French by David Ball, Nicole Ball, Carol Cosman and Marjolijn de Jager. Akashic, $15.95 paper (300p) ISBN 978-1-933354-63-7 Rarely has the City of Light seemed grittier than...

Six Geese A-Slaying: A Meg Langslow Christmas Mystery.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Six Geese A-Slaying: A Meg Langslow Christmas Mystery Donna Andrews. St. Martin's Minotaur/Dunne, $22.95 (272p) ISBN 978-0-312-53610-7 Bah, humbug! In the 10th entry in Andrews's fine-feathered cozy series (Cockatiels at Seven,...

The Living Dead.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... * The Living Dead John Joseph Adams. Night Shade (www.nightshadebooks.com), $15.95 paper (350p) ISBN 978-1-59780-143-0 Recently prolific anthologist Adams (Seeds of Change) delivers a superb reprint anthology that runs the...

Swallowing Darkness.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 29, 2008... Swallowing Darkness Laurell K. Hamilton. Ballantine, $26 (384p) ISBN 978-0-345-49590-7 Wild magic and wilder sex enliven the seventh heady escapade (after 2007's A Lick of Frost) for half-mortal, half-faerie and pregnant...