News - Book Reviews
News - Book Reviews

Former New Yorker staff writer Becky Cooper’s WE KEEP THE DEAD CLOSE has received another glowing review from Library Journal. They write that “Cooper’s suspenseful, intensely intimate work casts a critical lens on institutional misogyny,” adding that the novel is “[s]ure to appeal to true crime readers, especially fans of Michelle McNamara’s I’LL BE GONE IN THE DARK.” Cooper also sat down for a Q&A with Publishers Weekly about the ten years’ worth of research she conducted for the book. Additionally, WE KEEP THE DEAD CLOSE has been named a recommended read for the fall by Town & Country, Refinery29, and several other outlets. Grand Central will publish the book on November 10, 2020.

The Globe and Mail has kind words for Andrew Pyper’s latest novel THE RESIDENCE. They write: "Pyper’s ability to make one question truths, what they witness, and even their own existence, is horror in the tradition of Henry James’s TURN OF THE SCREW and Shirley Jackson’s THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE." Skybound published the book on September 1, 2020.

Kirkus Reviews praised THE NEW GREAT DEPRESSION by James Rickards as “[a]n ambitious, eccentric look at the wreckage of the American economy in a time of pandemic . . . good takeaways amid the swirl and mayhem. A blend of alarmism, intrigue, and solid financial advice.” Portfolio will publish the book on October 27, 2020.

Former New Yorker staff writer and investigative journalist Becky Cooper’s thrilling true crime debut, WE KEEP THE DEAD CLOSE, received its first trade review this week, and a starred one at that! Publishers Weekly raves: “In this mesmerizing debut . . . [Cooper] delves into the phenomenon and morality of true crime fandom. This twist-filled whodunit is a nonfiction page-turner.” Grand Central Publishing will publish the book on November 10, 2020.

Craig Davidson’s second short story collection CASCADE received a rave review from the Toronto Star. The news site praises the author’s language and depth of feeling, writing: "Davidson’s stories retain their immediacy and gut-level emotion while also allowing for a lyricism in the writing that elevates the subject matter.” Knopf Canada published the book on August 18, 2020.

THE SPRAWL by Jason Diamond was showered with critical praise upon its release. In a starred review, Booklist writes that: “[i]n this fascinating history, Diamond presents readers with a new way of viewing this ubiquitous environment,” and calls the book a “humble and curious must-read.” Meanwhile, Kirkus refers to the book as “[a] literate meditation on clipped-lawn places easily taken for granted but that well deserve such reflection.” Diamond was also interviewed in Bloomberg, The Millions, Hazlitt, and more. Coffee House Press published the book on August 25, 2020.

Karolina Waclawiak’s third novel LIFE EVENTS received a rave review by Lara Vapnyar in The New York Times Book Review. Vapnyar writes: “Waclawiak accomplishes a brilliant feat here, creating an atmosphere of almost palpable, effortful dullness that presides over the entire novel. With so much opportunity for raw emotion, the author seems to avoid it at all cost, going for exceptional clarity instead. ” Farrar, Straus and Giroux published the book on July 28, 2020.

Publishers Weekly praised THE NOLAN VARIATIONS by Tom Shone, writing: “Drawing on interviews conducted over three years, film critic Shone (The Irishman: The Making of the Movie) shines a light on Christopher Nolan, who has ‘long perfected the art of talking about his films while giving away nothing about himself.’” Knopf will publish the book on October 20, 2020.

DOWN ALONG WITH THAT DEVIL’S BONES by Connor Towne O’Neill received a starred review from Kirkus. They call the book a “personal examination of one of the great divides in our country today,” and “[e]ssential reading for how we got from Appomattox to Charlottesville—and where we might go next.” Algonquin Books will publish the book on September 29, 2020.

The Evening Standard praised BUNKER by Bradley Garrett in a glowing review, calling it “prescient and timely” and “a tartly thoughtful work.” Engineering & Technology had kind words for the title as well, writing: “What makes Garrett’s book fascinating is his portrayal of the balance between fringe thinking and the real world . . . that of wanting to dismiss the world of bunkers while acknowledging that there has never been a more compelling case for taking emergency preparation seriously.” Scribner published the book on August 4, 2020.