"Old Money"

New from Hanover Square Press: Old Money: A Novel by Kelsey Miller.

About the book, from the publisher:

On the Fourth of July, a teenager dies at an exclusive country club. Twenty years later, her cousin returns to her hometown, seeking answers behind closed gates in this rich, atmospheric thriller for fans of Lucy Foley, Liz Moore and Ruth Ware.

Sixteen-year-old Caitlin Dale died unexpectedly on the Fourth of July. Like other affluent families of Briar’s Green, Caitlin joined hers at the country club’s annual party. They say she slipped by the pool. A tragic accident.

But her cousin Alice knows the truth.

Caitlin was murdered. And Alice saw who did it.

Twenty years later, Alice returns to her childhood hometown, seeking answers. The club where Caitlin died has barely changed. But its secrets, Alice soon discovers, are carefully hidden—and there are powerful people in Briar’s Green who would like them to stay that way.

In her deliciously dark debut novel, Kelsey Miller transports readers to a brooding enclave, one with a long history, a short fuse and a narrator determined to seek justice, at all costs.

Visit Kelsey Miller's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

"Sink or Swim"

New from The University of North Carolina Press: Sink or Swim: Capitalist Selfhood and Nineteenth-Century American Literature by Andrew Kopec.

About the book, from the publisher:

People living in the nineteenth-century United States saw shocking upheavals in both the economy and in ideas of selfhood in a commercial society. Narratives such as Horatio Alger’s rags-to-riches tales allured Americans with visions of financial success, while events such as the Panics of 1819, 1837, 1857, and 1865 threatened them with sudden and devastating financial failure. The antebellum period’s “go-ahead” ethos encouraged individuals to form an identity amid this chaos by striving for financial success through risk-taking—that is, to form a capitalist self. Andrew Kopec argues that writers of this era were not immune to this business turbulence; rather, their responses to it shaped the development of American literature. By examining the public and private writings of well-known American writers—including Washington Irving, Catharine Maria Sedgwick, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Frederick Douglass—Kopec contends that, instead of anxiously retreating from the volatile market, these figures deliberately engaged with it in their writing.

These writers grappled with both the limits and opportunities of capitalist selfhood and tried, in various ways, to harness the economy’s energies for the benefit of the self. In making this argument, Kopec invites readers to consider how this era of American literature questioned the ideologies of capitalist identity that seem inescapable today.

--Marshal Zeringue

"The Irish Goodbye"

New from Henry Holt: The Irish Goodbye: A Novel by Heather Aimee O'Neill.

About the book, from the publisher:

In this debut, for fans of J. Courtney Sullivan and Mary Beth Keane, three adult sisters grapple with a shared tragedy over a Thanksgiving weekend as they try to heal strained family bonds through the passage of time.

It’s been years since the three Ryan sisters were all together at their beloved family home on the eastern shore of Long Island. Two decades ago, their lives were upended by an accident on their brother Topher’s boat: A friend’s brother was killed, the resulting lawsuit nearly bankrupted their parents, and Topher spiraled into depression, eventually taking his life. Now the Ryan women are back for Thanksgiving, eager to reconnect, but each carrying a heavy secret. The eldest, Cait, still holding guilt for the role no one knows she played in the boat accident, rekindles a flame with her high school crush: Topher’s best friend and the brother of the boy who died. Middle sister, Alice, has been thrown a curveball that threatens the career she’s restarting and faces a difficult decision that may doom her marriage. And the youngest, Maggie, is finally taking the risk of bringing the woman she loves home to meet her devoutly Catholic mother. Infusing everything is the grief for Topher that none of the Ryans have figured out how to carry together.

When Cait invites a guest from their shared past to Thanksgiving dinner, old tensions boil over and new truths surface, nearly overpowering the flickering light of their family bond. Far more than a family holiday will be ruined unless the sisters can find a way to forgive themselves—and one another.

Visit Heather Aimee O'Neill's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

"Scream with Me"

New from Atria Books: Scream with Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980) by Eleanor Johnson.

About the book, from the publisher:

A compelling, intelligent, and timely exploration of the horror genre from one of Columbia University’s most popular professors, shedding light on how classic horror films demonstrate larger cultural attitudes about women’s rights, bodily autonomy, and more.

In May of 2022, Columbia University’s Dr. Eleanor Johnson watched along with her students as the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade. At the same time, her class was studying the 1968 horror film Rosemary’s Baby and Johnson had a sudden epiphany: horror cinema engages directly with the combustive politics of women’s rights and offer a light through the darkness and an outlet to scream.

With a voice as persuasive as it is insightful, Johnson reveals how classics like Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, and The Shining expose and critique issues of reproductive control, domestic violence, and patriarchal oppression. Scream with Me weaves these iconic films into the fabric of American feminism, revealing that true horror often lies not in the supernatural, but in the familiar confines of the home, exposing the deep-seated fears and realities of women’s lives.

While on the one hand a joyful celebration of seminal and beloved horror films, Scream with Me is also an unflinching and timely recognition of the power of this genre to shape and reflect cultural dialogues about gender and power.

--Marshal Zeringue

"The October Film Haunt"

New from St. Martin's Press: The October Film Haunt: A Novel by Michael Wehunt.

About the book, from the publisher:

Horror Movie meets the scope and emotion of Stephen King in this heart-pounding, magnetic tour de force novel, destined to become an instant classic, about a woman pulled into a cult horror film that is determined to have a sequel, by critically acclaimed author Michael Wehunt.

Ten years ago, Jorie Stroud was the rising star of the October Film Haunt – a trio of horror enthusiasts who camped out at the filming locations of their favorite scary movies, sharing their love through their popular blog. But after a night in the graveyard from Proof of Demons – perhaps the most chilling cult film ever made, directed by the enigmatic Hélène Enriquez – everything unraveled.

Now, Jorie has built an isolated life with her young son in Vermont. In the devastating wake of her viral, truth-stretching Proof of Demons blog entry — hysteria, internet backlash, and the death of a young woman — Jorie has put it all, along with her intense love for the horror genre, behind her.

Until a videotape arrives in the mail. Jorie fears someone might be filming her. And the “Rickies” – Enriquez obsessives who would do anything for the reclusive director – begin to cross lines in shocking ways. It seems Hélène Enriquez is making a new kind of sequel…and Jorie is her final girl.

As the dangers grow even more unexpected and strange, Jorie must search for answers before the Proof of the movie’s title finds her and takes everything she loves.

This riveting and layered horror novel unleashes supernatural terror in a world where truth can be manipulated, and nothing is as it seems. Beautiful and horrifying, with an unforgettable cast of characters, The October Film Haunt will shock and delight readers all the way to its breathless final page.

Visit Michael Wehunt's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

"Lab Dog"

Coming October 14 from Seal Press: Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research by Melanie D.G. Kaplan.

About the book, from the publisher:

The “remarkable” (Dr. Jane Goodall) story of a beagle’s past, and the future of animal research

When journalist Melanie D.G. Kaplan adopted her beagle Hammy, all she knew was that he had spent nearly four years in a research lab. Curious to know more about this gentle creature’s past, as well as the broader world of animal research, Kaplan—with Hammy in tow—embarks on a quest for answers. How did Hammy end up in a research facility? Why are we still using millions of animals a year in experiments? What have we learned from them? Is there another way?

In Lab Dog, Kaplan investigates the breeding and use of beagles for biomedical research, drug and product testing, and education. She takes readers on a journey, peeking behind laboratory doors and visiting with researchers, activists, ethicists, veterinarians, lawmakers, and innovators. Along the way, she finds thoughtful and caring humans on all sides of the debate, explores promising developments in nonanimal testing, and discovers puzzle pieces from Hammy’s past. Equal parts journalism and love story, Lab Dog offers a nuanced view on our relationship with a species that we both love and exploit, and a reason to hope for a better future for all.

Visit Melanie D.G. Kaplan's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

"The Reveal"

Coming October 7 from Montlake: The Reveal (Book 1 of 2: Bloodlore) by Megan Crane.

About the book, from the publisher:

In the wake of a monstrous world war, a mortal woman’s submission to an enigmatic vampire is the only way to live in this enthralling paranormal romance from USA Today bestselling author Megan Crane.

It’s a different world now, Winter Bishop. Get used to it. Or die.

For the three years since the Reveal, when monsters rose from the shadows, I’ve been just another human trying to maintain normalcy in a world where life is short and brutal. Coexisting with werewolves, zombies, and vampires―each alarmingly true to their myths―isn’t easy.

Now I’ve been summoned by Ariel Skinner, the charismatic king of the vampires, who holds my missing brother’s life in his hands. To save him, I must do everything Ariel says. His quicksilver gaze and the way he makes my body hum should scare me, but the wildfire chemistry is just too hot.

I should have known that Ariel would want more.

Because there’s a greater cataclysm to come, and it will make everything worse. To help stop it, Ariel needs me. And whatever fresh hell arises, with every beat of my disastrously mortal heart, I need him.

After all, I’m only human.

Visit Megan Crane's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

"Too Poor to Die"

New from Rutgers University Press: Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins by Amy Shea.

About the book, from the publisher:

Death is the great equalizer, but not all deaths are created equal. In recent years, there has been an increased interest and advocacy concerning end-of-life and after-death care. An increasing number of individuals and organizations from health care to the funeral and death care industries are working to promote and encourage people to consider their end-of-life wishes. Yet, there are limits to who these efforts reach and who can access such resources. These conversations come from a place of good intentions, but also from a place of privilege.

Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins, a collection of closely connected essays, takes the reader on a journey into what happens to those who die while experiencing homelessness or who end up indigent or unclaimed at the end of life. Too Poor to Die bears witness to the disparities in death and dying faced by some of society’s most vulnerable and marginalized and asks the reader to consider their own end-of-life and disposition plans within the larger context of how privilege and access plays a role in what we want versus what we get in death.

Visit Amy Shea's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

"The Librarians"

New from Berkley: The Librarians by Sherry Thomas.

About the book, from the publisher:

Murder disrupts four quirky librarians' lives when they try to hide among books to keep their secrets.

Sometimes a workplace isn’t just a workplace but a place of safety, understanding, and acceptance. And sometimes murder threatens the sanctity of that beloved refuge....

In the leafy suburbs of Austin, Texas, a small branch library welcomes the public every day of the week. But the patrons who love the helpful, unobtrusive staff and leave rave reviews on Yelp don’t always realize that their librarians are human, too.

Hazel flees halfway across the world for what she hopes will be a new beginning. Jonathan, a six-foot-four former college football player, has never fit in anywhere else. Astrid tries to forget her heartbreak by immersing herself in work, but the man who ghosted her six months ago is back, promising trouble. And Sophie, who has the most to lose, maintains a careful and respectful distance from her coworkers, but soon that won't be enough anymore.

When two patrons turn up dead after the library’s inaugural murder mystery–themed game night, the librarians’ quiet routines come crashing down. Something sinister has stirred, something that threatens every single one of them. And the only way the librarians can save the library—and themselves—is to let go of their secrets, trust one another, and band together....

All in a day’s work.

Visit Sherry Thomas's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

"Black Gold"

New from the University of California Press: Black Gold: The Rise, Reign, and Fall of American Coal by Bob Wyss.

About the book, from the publisher:

Coal's central role in America's history and its ongoing threats in the climate crisis.

For decades coal has been crucial to America's culture, society, and environment, an essential ingredient in driving out winter's cold, cooking meals, and lighting the dark. In the coalfields and beyond, Bob Wyss describes how this magical elixir sparked the Industrial Revolution, powered railroads, and built urban skylines, while providing home comforts for families.

Coal's history and heritage are fundamental to understanding its legacy of threats to America's well-being. As industry developed so did clashes between powerful tycoons, coal miners, and innocent families. Exploitation and avarice led to victimization, deadly violence, and ultimately the American labor movement. More recently coal has endangered American lives and safety, brought on by two centuries of carbon combustion, and here the threat remains unresolved. This is coal's most enduring legacy, and Black Gold is pivotal in helping us understand how we got to this point.

--Marshal Zeringue