The Secret Speech - Tom Rob Smith

So late last month, Hachette let me run a giveaway for copies of Tom Rob Smith's new paperback release of The Secret Speech. The book hit shelves this Tuesday and I wanted to tell you a little bit more about it. If you weren't one of the lucky winners, maybe you'll be enticed into buying the book :)

I have to say that when Child 44 was originally released, all of the hype was going to Stieg Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (another fantastic read if you haven't gotten to it yet). I read both of them pretty close together and I think style wise, if you like one, you should definitely check out the other. Where Tom Rob Smith differs, though, is that his books are set in Stalinist Russia, so they're historical thrillers. They are amazing, and his setting makes the books all that much more exciting.

So here you go:

It's been four years since Leo hunted down the serial killer in Child 44, and in that time he's been allowed to start his own homicide investigation office. During a case involving the death of a local printer, Leo determines that the man is actually a suicide, but discovers some interesting evidence that points to blackmail as a major factor. Meanwhile, Leo’s old boss approaches him to discuss a different blackmail case. The man is drunk and Leo puts him off until they are both rested. That evening the man kills his family before turning the gun on himself. And these two men are just the beginning. Though Russia is in a state of flux, someone is anxious to ensure that no one forgets the crimes of the past, and that includes Leo's own actions as an officer of the state. Making things worse is Leo’s tenuous home situation, which leaves him distracted when his adopted daughter is taken hostage. The Secret Speech will not disappoint fans of Smith's debut,Child 44. A total page-turner and an exciting continuation of Leo's story.

Congrats again to the folks who won The Secret Speech. I know you're going to enjoy it. And I highly recommend tracking down both books to anyone who is looking for a smart historical thriller.

Win a Copy of Brunonia Barry's Latest

Yay! It's free books galore this week!

I've got two - yes two - copies of Brunonia Barry's The Map of True Places up for grabs from the publisher. Who wants 'em?

Leave me a comment (with your email addy) here before midnight, Saturday, May 15. I'll draw two names the following morning and announce them here (and email the winners individually as well). And these are coming from the publisher, so no PO boxes and US only, please.

Now here's a bit about Barry's latest for you:

“It is not down in any map; true places never are.”

––Herman Melville

Brunonia Barry, the author of the beloved New York Times and international bestseller, The Lace Reader, delivers her second novel, THE MAP OF TRUE PLACES, a complex and emotionally compelling novel about finding your true place in the world when you have no map.

After Boston psychotherapist, Zee Finch’s impending marriage falls apart and she loses a bi-polar patient to suicide, she returns to the town of her troubled youth––Salem––to care for her ailing father. While there, Zee encounters danger as she falls into the puzzle of unraveling the mystery surrounding her own mother’s suicide when Zee was a child and realizes shocking parallels between the death of her mother and that of her patient, Lilly Braedon. She also finds new love with a man who has a mysterious past, which may or may not be related to Lilly’s death.

Twist of Orchids Winner

Hi, guys! By random number generator, the winner is:

Suko

Congrats, Suko! And thanks to everyone else that entered. Don't forget, you have until Saturday to enter to win a copy of Stephenie Meyer's The Host. And I've got another contest starting tomorrow, so be sure to check back then!

Super Cool News

Have you read Leanna Renee Hieber's fantabulous book, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker? No? Well then get to it! The follow up, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is new out on shelves and now Dorchester has made this excellent announcement:

Dorchester Publishing is thrilled to announce the signing of the Broadway musical option agreement for Leanna Renee Hieber’sThe Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, a haunting tale of love and ghosts in Victorian England.

Mt. Claire Entertainment bought the novel for its musical adaptation, and Hieber, who has innate talent for invoking the Victorian era in her writing, will pen the script. Composing music and lyrics are Kenny Seymour (Broadway credits include music direction for “Memphis” and arrangements for “The Wiz”) and Nicholas Roman Lewis (creative development for “The Alchemist” and “They Call Me La Lupe”), with additional orchestrations and arrangements by Jim Abbott (“Wicked,” “Bombay Dreams,” “Disney’s Tarzan”)

“(Hieber’s) lifelong passions for the Victorian era, classic fairy tales, the paranormal and ancient mythology combined with her professional background as a classically trained theater actress endow this project with the essential ingredients for titanic commercial success,” said Tim DeYoung, Dorchester Senior VP for sales, marketing and distribution.

A September 2009 release from Dorchester imprint Leisure Books, the novel tells a lyrical tale of an eerily beautiful young woman who harbors a special talent for interacting with ghosts. The rich, atmospheric love story employs a brilliant cadre of characters who believe Percy may be the key to an ancient prophecy. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker acquired an impressive fan base, rave reviews, and a slot on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller list.

“Leanna’s book had enthralled me from the moment I first read it,” said Lewis, “I knew this would make a wonderful musical…the characters and epic nature of the story lend themselves to song, and I knew that Kenny shared my desire to incorporate sweeping cinematic themes with traditional musical theater styles.”

For more about Leanna Renee Hieber and The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, visit www.leannareneehieber.com or www.dorchesterpub.com. The novel’s sequel, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, is a May 2010 publication.

Anyway, thought you guys would be as excited to hear about this as I was. You can read my review of Strangely Beautiful... here.

The Host Giveaway

Morning, all! I'm happy to announce that Hachette is letting me run a giveaway for a copy of the new paperback edition of Stephenie Meyer's The Host. (Dets on how to enter at the bottom of this post.)

I was in the bookstore Friday and saw a woman paging through the book next to one of the displays. She read a bit, walked a few steps away (with it still in her hands) and continued reading down the stairs where she had to stop at the platform and read more. I wanted to scream at her, "Buy it! Buy it! It's fantastic!." I didn't see if she made it to the register because I was on my way out with my own purchase, but I hope she took it home and devoured it like I did when it first came out!

Now, I've never done a Stephenie Meyer post. First, I was late coming to the Twilight saga, much to the chagrin of my sisters. And by then I figured everyone had put in their two cents already.

The Host was actually my first Meyer read and I happily reviewed it for Bookbitch.com, but was really only a few months into blogging at the time. But I loved it. I mean I really, really loved it. I jumped on the Meyer bandwagon within just moments of cracking that tome and have not looked back since. (To be honest, I was already on her bandwagon because she was one of the first who really got through to the eldest Junior Junkie, sending her on her way to earning Junkie status!)

The Host is Meyer's adult debut (though it's really fine for her teen readers as well -- I've noticed this as a concern on Shelfari, and thought I should mention that). It's got all the hallmarks of the Twilight saga, a love triangle and (in my opinion) excellent characterization and an enthralling plot. Instead of vamps, though, it's about aliens! I'm one of many who are seriously hoping that there will be another outing in this world. (Did I mention I loved it?!) Here's a little bit about The Host:

They call themselves souls and they live transferring themselves from one host to another. Earth is just their latest conquest. Wanderer has lived more lives than most of her kind and this is why she is chosen to be placed inside one of Earth's remaining resistant humans. From the beginning, Melanie, the host, is different from others: Her consciousness seems to have remained, and her memories of loved ones haunt Wanderer day and night. Melanie’s increasingly insistent voice drives Wanderer to the desert where she hopes to finally track down the human's family. As Wanderer's bond with Melanie changes, though, she becomes unsure of her place in this life. Her kind leads a collective existence, one with no room for individuality. The fact that humans embrace this offers an aspect to life that Wanderer has never experienced.

And, my thoughts back in May '08 when I reviewed the book for Bookbitch.com:

This is a more complex story than any synopsis can really express, but it’s essentially a tale of love, friendship, and the need to belong somewhere. Meyer has already conquered the teen scene, and captured the hearts of many adult readers as well, with her Twilight series. The Host is an absolutely amazing book that will give those few remaining holdouts the opportunity to see just what all the fuss is about. I’ll tell you now, it’s all true - I loved The Host and can’t recommend it highly enough.

Now tell me, are you one of those holdouts? How would you like to win a free copy? If so, leave me a comment here (with your email) between now and midnight Saturday, May 8 (US only, please). I'll draw a name on Sunday morning and announce it that morning. Good luck!

New Releases 5/04/10

Some of the new titles hitting shelves this week are:

Play Dead by Ryan Brown -- more zombie awesomeness!

The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard

The Marks of Cain by Tom Knox

Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

White Cat by Holly Black -- first in the Curse Workers series

The Templar Knight by Jan Guillou -- book two of the Crusades trilogy

The Singer's Gun by Emily St. John Mandel

Injustice for All by Scott Pratt

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Innocent by Scott Turow

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

The Demon in Me by Michelle Rowen

These titles were due out May 1:

Fortuna by Michael R. Stevens

The Hypnotist by MJ Rose -- third in the Reincarnationist series

The Heirs of Cain by Tom Wallace

New on DVD:

Leap Year

Tooth Fairy

Nine

Pre Pub Book Buzz -- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

Yep, it's almost here! The release of the third, and final, installment to Stieg Larsson's Millenium Trilogy. Those of you who have already discovered Larsson have been waiting in great anticipation for this day (UK and overseas folks excluded, since you already have yours).

What began for us Stateside readers two years ago with the much anticipated release of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has been a true literary phenomenon. Larsson has been praised the world over, and readers mourned his untimely death. (You can read more in one of my original Pre Pub posts here.)

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has already been released in theaters overseas (and limited here) and the others are already set for release as well. An American remake (needless, to say the least, since I'm fairly certain the Scandinavian flick is pretty amazing -- due out the week of my b-day on DVD -- is already in development). Like I said, literary phenomenon. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon, now's certainly the time!

I don't want to give anything away for those of you who may just be starting or considering starting the series. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest picks up right where book two, The Girl Who Played With Fire, leaves off, so the synopsis is a bit of a spoiler if you haven't read it yet. That said, this is too huge of a release not to get a Pre Pub post here, so I couldn't resist.

Mark you calendars for May 25. Run out and snatch up the first two books (they're well worth it) and get ready for what promises to be one of this year's HUGE releases.

For more on Larsson, the Millenium series, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, you can visit StiegLarsson.com