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Week of August 8, 2021

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1
NEW
BLACK ICE
Brad Thor
Cover of BLACK ICE

BLACK ICE

by Brad Thor · Emily Bestler/Atria

1 wks at #1 · 1 on list

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “[A]nother instant classic.” —The Real Book Spy “The undisputed master of blending geopolitics with spycraft…a thriller aficionado’s dream.” —The Providence Journal The new Cold War is about to go hot. #1 New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brad Thor is back with his most intense thriller yet. Scot Harvath is having his best summer ever. With a cottage on the fjord, a boat, and his beautiful girlfriend Sølvi, he’s got everything he could possibly want. But out of vacation days and long overdue back home, America’s top spy has a decision to make—return or submit his resignation. When his deadly past comes calling, though, he’ll be left with no choice at all. Leaving his favorite Oslo café, Harvath watches as a ghost climbs out of a taxi—a man he killed years ago, halfway around the world. How is he still alive? And what is he doing in Norway? In a race against time that will take him high above the Arctic Circle, Harvath is tested in ways he never could’ve imagined and pushed to a limit few human beings could ever endure. If he succeeds, he’ll walk away with everything. If he fails, the United States and its allies will be at the mercy of one of the world’s most dangerous actors.

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THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME
Laura Dave
Cover of THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME

THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME

by Laura Dave · Simon & Schuster

12 wks on list

* OVER TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD * * THE NO.1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * * THE RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK * * THE REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK * _______________________________________ * NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES ON APPLE TV+ STARRING JENNIFER GARNER * 'The ultimate page turner' - REESE WITHERSPOON 'Powerful, intense and beautifully observed' - T.M. LOGAN 'A brilliant thriller' - JANE CASEY IT WAS THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME: PROTECT HER Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his new wife, Hannah: protect her. Hannah knows exactly who Owen needs her to protect - his teenage daughter, Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. And who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. As her desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, his boss is arrested for fraud and the police start questioning her, Hannah realises that her husband isn't who he said he was. And that Bailey might hold the key to discovering Owen's true identity, and why he disappeared. Together they set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen's past, they soon realise that their lives will never be the same again... Now a major Apple TV+ series starring Jennifer Garner and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, discover the book that everyone is talking about...

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THE CELLIST
Daniel Silva
Cover of THE CELLIST

THE CELLIST

by Daniel Silva · Harper

2 wks on list

Master of international intrigue Daniel Silva, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, comes an explosive thriller featuring art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon. The most beautiful music hides the deadliest secrets ... Viktor Orlov had a longstanding appointment with death. Once Russia's richest man, he now resides in exile in London, where he is waging a crusade against the kleptocrats who have seized control of the Kremlin. His mansion is protected by armed bodyguards. Yet somehow, on a rainy summer evening, in the midst of a global pandemic, Russia's vengeful president finally manages to cross Orlov's name off his kill list. Before him was the receiver from his landline telephone, a half-drunk glass of red wine, and a stack of documents ... The documents are contaminated with a deadly nerve agent. The Metropolitan Police determine that they were delivered by one of Orlov's employees, a prominent investigative reporter. And when the reporter vanishes hours after the killing, MI6 concludes she is a Moscow Center assassin who penetrated the billionaire's formidable defenses. But Gabriel Allon believes his friends in British intelligence are dangerously mistaken. His search for the truth will take him to Geneva, where a private intelligence service is plotting an act of violence that will plunge an already divided America into chaos. Only Allon, with the help of a brilliant young woman employed by the world's dirtiest bank, can stop it... Praise for Daniel Silva: 'Fascinating, suspenseful and bated-breath exciting'Publishers Weekly 'One of the greatest spy novelists the genre has ever known' CrimeReads 'Daniel Silva is that rarity of rarities, a writer whose stories just keep getting better' Huffington Post 'If you like Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher, get to know Gabriel Allon' Australian Women's Weekly

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THE PAPER PALACE
Miranda Cowley Heller
Cover of THE PAPER PALACE

THE PAPER PALACE

by Miranda Cowley Heller · Riverhead

3 wks on list

2 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2022 One life changing decision: your husband or your one true love? ---------------- On a perfect August morning, Elle Bishop heads out for a swim in the pond below 'The Paper Palace' - her family's holiday home in Cape Cod. As she dives beneath the water she relives the passionate encounter she had the night before, against the side of the house that knows all her darkest secrets, while her husband and mother chatted to their guests inside... So begins a story that unfolds over twenty-four hours and fifty years, as Elle's shocking betrayal leads her to a life-changing decision. A PAGE-TURNING SUMMER READ FOR FANS OF WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING AND LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE ---------------- Readers have been gripped by THE PAPER PALACE: ***** 'I devoured this book in a couple of days' ***** 'I fell in love with the characters' ***** 'A heart-rending love story filled with so many complications' Sunday Times Bestseller, September 2022

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MALIBU RISING
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Cover of MALIBU RISING

MALIBU RISING

by Taylor Jenkins Reid · Ballantine

8 wks on list

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today • From the author of Carrie Soto Is Back, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo . . . “Irresistible . . . High drama at the beach, starring four sexy, surfing siblings and their deadbeat, famous-crooner dad.”—People ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, Time, Marie Claire, PopSugar, Parade, Teen Vogue, Self, She Reads Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, the family drama that ensues will change their lives forever. Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva. The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth. Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there. And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone. By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface. Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.

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THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY
Matt Haig
Cover of THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY

by Matt Haig · Viking Press

34 wks on list

Between life and death there is a library. When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change. The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren’t always what she imagined they’d be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?

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FALSE WITNESS
Karin Slaughter
Cover of FALSE WITNESS

FALSE WITNESS

by Karin Slaughter · Morrow

1 wks on list

An ordinary life hides a devastating past. But now the past is catching up and time is running out. Leigh Coulton has worked hard to build what looks like a normal life. She has a good job as a defense attorney, a daughter doing well in school, and even her divorce is relatively civilized - her life is just as unremarkable as she'd always hoped it would be. But Leigh's ordinary life masks a childhood which was far from average - a childhood tarnished by secrets, broken by betrayal, and finally torn apart by a devastating act of violence. Then a case lands on her desk - defending a wealthy man accused of rape. It's the highest profile case she's ever been given - a case which could transform her career, if she wins. But when she meets the accused, she realizes that it's no coincidence that he's chosen her as his attorney. She knows him. And he knows her. More to the point, he knows what happened twenty years ago, and why Leigh has spent two decades running. If she can't get him acquitted, she'll lose much more than the case. The only person who can help her is her younger, estranged sister Calli, the last person Leigh would ever want to ask for help. But suddenly she has no choice.

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FALLING
T.J. Newman
Cover of FALLING

FALLING

by T.J. Newman · Avid Reader

3 wks on list

Cel mai așteptat thriller al anului Pune-ți centura de siguranță și așază-te confortabil în scaun. Urmează o călătorie cu suspans nonstop și șocuri care îți vor tăia respirația. Ești pregătit? Tocmai te-ai îmbarcat într-un zbor spre New York. La bord sunt alți o sută patruzeci și trei de pasageri. Ceea ce nu știi este că familia pilotului a fost răpită cu treizeci de minute înainte de zbor. Pentru ca familia lui să trăiască, toată lumea din avion trebuie să moară. Singurul mod prin care pilotul își poate salva familia este să urmeze ordinele și să prăbușească avionul. Îți dorim un zbor plăcut! Recenzii „Un thriller palpitant imposibil de pus jos.” – Daily Mail „Captivant de la prima propoziție, acest thriller este unic.” – OK! Magazine „Un debut remarcabil.” – The Sunday Times „Unul dintre cele mai bune thrillere ale anului.” – Library Journal Suspans intens „Incredibil... Suspansul intens, șocurile, sperieturile și autenticitatea cutremurătoare fac acest roman cu totul special.” – Lee Child, autorul seriei Jack Reacher Thrillerul perfect pentru vară „T.J. Newman a combinat o idee genială cu 10 ani de experiență ca însoțitoare de zbor și a creat thrillerul perfect pentru vară. Tensionat și de neuitat.” – Janet Evanovich, autoare de bestselleruri New York Times Fiori pe șira spinării „Un thriller cu o tensiune incredibilă și mize personale. Am citit Falling cu sufletul la gură, o carte uimitoare și sfâșietoare despre cât de departe ai merge pentru a-ți salva familia. Știi filmul "Fălci"? Aceiași fiori pe șira spinării, dar la 10.000 de m în aer. Un debut extraordinar și o carte perfectă pentru vară!” – Don Winslow, autor de bestselleruri internaționale Cel mai bun thriller din ultimii ani „Pune-ți centura pentru un thriller complet original, care te va ține într-un suspans de îți rozi unghille până la ultimele pagini. Salvează-ți familia sau salvează cei peste o sută de pasageri care și-au pus viețile în mâinile tale. Nu îi poți salva pe toți. Romanul înfiorător al lui T. J. Newman mi-a rămas în minte mult timp după ce l-am terminat de citit. Acesta este cel mai bun thriller din ultimii ani.” – Adrian McKinty, autorul bestsellerului Lanțul Suspans la niveluri insuportabile „T. J. Newman a scris thrillerul perfect! O idee atât de interesantă și originală: pilotul unei companii aeriene este forțat să facă o alegere imposibilă – cine trăiește și cine moare. Experiența lui Newman ca însoțitoare de zbor ancorează povestea în realitate, în timp ce scrisul ei mărește suspansul la niveluri insuportabile. Teribil și terifiant, un roman cu totul fascinant. O lectură obligatorie pentru vacanța de vară, dar sfatul meu este să nu citiți cartea în avion.” – Gilian Flynn Îți e teamă să dai pagina „Îți face inima să bată cu putere. Să sară din piept. Să se oprească. O carte uimitoare! Îți e teamă să dai pagina, dar nu te poți opri.” – Diana Gabaldon Te captivează de la prima la ultima pagină „Un thriller cu motor cu reacție care te captivează de la prima la ultima pagină. Un debut cu adevărat uimitor și o roman incredibil de suspans pur.” – Steve Cavanagh, autorul seriei Eddie Flynn Un debut uimitor „Falling redefinește termenul de thriller care te ține cu sufletul la gură. Este ceva ce foarte rar întâlnești, o carte care este chiar mai bună decât toată lumea spune că este. T. J. Newman și-a făcut un debut uimitor.” – Dervla McTiernan, autoare de bestselleruri internaționale

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THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN
Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Cover of THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN

THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN

by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray · Berkley

4 wks on list

Over one million copies sold! The Instant New York Times Bestseller! A Good Morning America* Book Club Pick! Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! Named a Notable Book of the Year by the Washington Post! “Historical fiction at its best!”* A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection. But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American. The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

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NINE LIVES
Danielle Steel
Cover of NINE LIVES

NINE LIVES

by Danielle Steel · Delacorte Press

3 wks on list

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A woman who longs to avoid risk at all cost learns that men who love danger are the most exciting in this moving novel from New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel. After a carefree childhood, Mary Margaret Kelly came of age in the shadow of grief. Her father, a dashing daredevil Air Force pilot, died when she was nine. Maggie saw her mother struggle to put their lives back together. As the family moved from one city to the next, her mother warned her to beware of daredevil men and avoid risk at all cost. Following her mother’s advice, and forgoing the magic of first love with a high school boyfriend who was too wild to feel safe, Maggie instead sought out all the things her mother had lost—a predictable partner, a stable home, and a regular paycheck. She chose to marry a dependable, kind man who was a reliable husband and successful accountant. Together they had a son and found happiness in a conventional suburban life. Until tragedy struck again. Now on her own, feeling a sense of adventure for the first time, Maggie decides to face her fears, setting off on a whirlwind trip from San Francisco to Rome, Paris, and Monaco. But when her travels reconnect her with the very same irresistible, thrill-seeking man she’s spent thirty years trying to forget, Maggie becomes terrified that rushing into love and sharing his life may very well end in disaster. But ultimately, while Maggie tries to outrun her fears and painful memories of her past, fate will surprise her in the most astounding of ways, as she walks the tightrope between danger and courage, and between wisdom and love.

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IT'S BETTER THIS WAY
Debbie Macomber
Cover of IT'S BETTER THIS WAY

IT'S BETTER THIS WAY

by Debbie Macomber · Ballantine

2 wks on list

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • After her marriage ends, one woman’s struggle to pick up the pieces finally leads to a new beginning—but is the past truly behind her? In this poignant novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber explores the powerful intersections of love and family. “This deeply emotional tale proves it’s never too late for love.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) It’s been nearly six years since Julia Jones had her heart broken. After her husband became involved with another woman, she did everything she could to save their marriage, to no avail. The couple’s two daughters continue to stand by Julia in the wake of their father’s behavior—and they’ve had a tough time getting along with the other woman who’s become their stepmother. Distraught after selling the family home, Julia moves into a condominium complex that offers the warmth and charm of a fresh start. Now, having settled into her new community and sold her successful interior design business, she’s embraced a fulfilling new life, one that doesn’t seem to need a man in it. Her beloved father’s trusty saying is ringing truer than ever: It’s better this way. But when Julia meets a handsome new resident in the building’s exercise room, she can’t help but be drawn to him. Heath Wilson is a welcome change from the men she’s encountered on the occasional—mostly disastrous—dates her sister has eagerly planned for her over the years. As she and Heath, a divorcé himself, begin to grow close, their friendship blossoms into an unexpected love. However, they soon realize that combining families proves to be a challenge, even though their four children are adults. When a dramatic revelation threatens the happiness they’ve found, Julia and Heath must reconcile their love for their children with their love for each other. If they can’t, their bright future together may be nothing but a dream.

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THE MAIDENS
Alex Michaelides
Cover of THE MAIDENS

THE MAIDENS

by Alex Michaelides · Celadon

6 wks on list

This excerpt from The Maidens by Alex Michaelides contains the first five chapters of the book. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient comes a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together Greek mythology, murder, and obsession, that further cements “Michaelides as a major player in the field” (Publishers Weekly). Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike—particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens. Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge. Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, and beneath the ancient traditions, lies something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld? When another body is found, Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility as well as her closest relationships. But Mariana is determined to stop this killer, even if it costs her everything—including her own life.

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GOLDEN GIRL
Elin Hilderbrand
Cover of GOLDEN GIRL

GOLDEN GIRL

by Elin Hilderbrand · Little, Brown

8 wks on list

In this satisfying page-turner from "the queen of beach reads" (New York Magazine), a Nantucket novelist has one final summer to protect her secrets while her loved ones on earth learn to live without their golden girl. On a perfect June day, Vivian Howe, author of thirteen beach novels and mother of three nearly grown children, is killed in a hit-and-run car accident while jogging near her home on Nantucket. She ascends to the Beyond where she's assigned to a Person named Martha, who allows Vivi to watch what happens below for one last summer. Vivi also is granted three "nudges" to change the outcome of events on earth, and with her daughter Willa on her third miscarriage, Carson partying until all hours, and Leo currently "off again" with his high-maintenance girlfriend, she'll have to think carefully where to use them. From the Beyond, Vivi watches "The Chief" Ed Kapenash investigate her death, but her greatest worry is her final book, which contains a secret from her own youth that could be disastrous for her reputation. But when hidden truths come to light, Vivi's family will have to sort out their past and present mistakes--with or without a nudge of help from above--while Vivi finally lets them grow without her. With all of Elin's trademark beach scenes, mouth-watering meals, and picture-perfect homes, plus a heartfelt message--the people we lose never really leave us--Golden Girl is a beach book unlike any other.

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NEW
PROJECT HAIL MARY
Andy Weir
Cover of PROJECT HAIL MARY

PROJECT HAIL MARY

by Andy Weir · Ballantine

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE MARTIAN • Soon to be a major motion picture starring Ryan Gosling, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, with a screenplay by Drew Goddard A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this “propulsive” (Entertainment Weekly), cinematic thriller full of suspense, humor, and fascinating science. HUGO AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST BOOKS: Bill Gates, GatesNotes, New York Public Library, Parade, Newsweek, Polygon, Shelf Awareness, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal • New York Times Readers Pick: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century “An epic story of redemption, discovery and cool speculative sci-fi.”—USA Today “If you loved The Martian, you’ll go crazy for Weir’s latest.”—The Washington Post Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he? An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could deliver, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian—while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

Historical bestseller data sourced from the New York Times Book Review, archived by Hawes Publications.