2014 is full of debut authors, old faves, and some whom we have all been asking, “When in the hell are they going to publish another book?”! Here are a few that I think y’all should keep in mind when building your to-read list!
Under the Wide and Starry Sky, Nancy Horan (Ballantine Books, January 21st)
I know many of you remember the novel Loving Frank, about the romance between Frank Lloyd Wright and the married woman for whom he designed a house, from way back in 2007. Well, Nancy Horan has finally written a second novel, this time about Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne, the California woman he fell in love with. Being older than Robert, Fanny does not take to him immediately, but after a bit of pursuit she finally succumbs to Robert’s charm. Then the adventure begins.
The Winter People, Jennifer McMahon (Doubleday, February 11th)
I discovered Jennifer McMahon after reading a WSJ review of her 2011 novel, Don’t Breathe a Word. I took it home, read it, and immediately ordered all of her other books. Her stories are very creepy; if you like a dark, literary ghost story then The Winter People will not disappoint you. I finished the book last night and I am already wishing for the next one. West Hall, Vermont has always had its share of secrets, but the most mysterious is the story of Sara Harrison Shea. In 1908, just a few weeks after the tragic death of her daughter, Sara’s body was found behind her house. Now, in the present day, Ruthie and her family live in what used to be Sara’s farmhouse. After Ruthie’s mother disappears, she discovers Sara’s diary hidden in the floorboards while looking for clues. As she reads it, she realizes that the mysterious events in town may be connected and that she could be the one with the key to solving them all.
The Weight of Blood, Laura McHugh (Spiegel & Grau, March 11th)
Deep in the Ozarks, Lucy Dane continues to put up with rumors about her mother, Lila, who disappeared when Lucy was a small child. Now her friend, Cheri, is found murdered and the stories have started again. These events haunt Lucy and, with the help of a friend, she begins a quest to find out what happened to Cheri and whether it could be connected to her mother’s disappearance. She soon learns that it’s not only people who can keep a secret; the landscape itself can hold the key to many mysteries.
Natchez Burning, Greg Iles (William Morrow, April 29th)
I’m sure y’all have figured out that this is the “When in the hell is another one coming out?” book! Yes, the rumors are true — Greg Iles has a new book coming in April, and I promise it will not disappoint. We are very excited about it — especially when we found out that it is the first of three Penn Cage novels!!! I am not telling you any more about the book because I really want to keep you in suspense. Trust me, Natchez Burning is completely worth the wait!
And finally, a little teaser for a book that is coming out this summer. I am sure that a lot of y’all have heard that Lemuria is publishing a photography book by Ken Murphy on our fair city, Jackson, Mississippi. I have had the best time helping brainstorm locations to include and the great pleasure of getting a sneak peek at all the photographs. I have lived here all my life, yet some of what I have seen has been new to me. I am very proud of this book and I am very proud of my city.
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