Bad Twin

An interesting TV tie-in for you...

Bad Twin by Gary Troup
From LJ: PI Paul Artisan searches for a missing twin and for the truth in the last novel by the fictional "Troup," who disappeared in 2004 on Oceanic Flight 815 (heads up, Lost fans!) and remains missing and presumed dead. Penned by a well-known mystery writer, the novel will figure in upcoming episodes of the hit TV series.

Adverbs

And in other children's author writing adult fiction news--Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) has an adult fiction book coming out in April called Adverbs!

The Girl of Lost Things

I am very excited to report that Ann Brashares, author of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, will make her adult fiction debut this June with The Girl of Lost Things! (No book cover yet.)

By a Lady

Romance, time travel, and Jane Austen--what could be better?

By a Lady: Being the Adventures of an Enlightened American in Jane Austen's England by Amanda Elyot
During an audition for a play about Jane Austen, New York actress C. J. Welles is transported back in time to Bath, England, at the turn of the nineteenth century, where she is befriended by the eccentric Lady Euphoria Dalrymple, falls for Owen Percival, the Earl of Darlington, the cousin of Jane Austen, and finds herself torn between two different eras.

The Blight Way

The Blight Way by Patrick McManus
A new fiction series by humorous non-fiction writer, Patrick McManus, about "a wry Idaho sheriff and his crusty father [who] solve a trio of rural murders." Kirkus calls it "one of the most entertaining mystery debuts in years."

Lapham Rising

Lapham Rising by Roger Rosenblatt
Just in case you're not going to catch the Lehrer Newshour tonight, I wanted to highlight this featured title by a Newshour contributor. It's about an island-dwelling recluse who launches countermeasures against his boorish, McMansion-building neighbor. In order to save civilization as we know it, March decides to launch a fireball from his homebuilt catapult onto the monstrosity. The projectile is defeated, however, by a frigid gust from Lapham's state-of-the-art air conditioner, which blasts the fiery mass back onto March's island, destroying his home and property. Sounds entertaining to me.

The Game's Afoot

Some new Sherlock Holmes related fiction:

Arthur and George by Julian Barnes
Set against the backdrop of the British Empire, an intriguing novel by the author of Flaubert's Parrot chronicles the lives of two boys--George, the son of a Midlands vicar, and Arthur, growing up in Edinburgh--one who is forgotten by history, and one who becomes the creator of the world's most famous detective, as they pursue their separate destinies until they meet in a remarkable alliance.


Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith
In 1893, inspired by their hero, master sleuth Sherlock Holmes, two cowboys, Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer, put their detecting skills to use to uncover the truth about the murder of a ranch hand on their Montana cattle ranch.




Ghosts in Baker Street
A third collection of original Sherlock Holmes mystery tales features supernatural themes and is complemented by a nonfiction essay by Caleb Carr on the Holmes legacy as it has affected the works of the writer and other authors.

Philippa Gregory Lite

A Lady Raised High: A Novel of Anne Boleyn by Laurien Gardner
From PW: "Readers looking for a lower-calorie Philippa Gregory will be pleased."

Phryne (rhymes with briny) Fisher

I just finished Kerry Greenwood's Urn Burial, the latest U.S. release in the Phryne Fisher mystery series. While I don't think this was one of her stronger stories, in general I really enjoy this series, featuring the wonderfully stylish and independent Phryne and taking place in 1920's Australia.

Valentine's Day

Some new books for the upcoming holiday:

Forever Mine, Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Traveling across the country to find her true calling, artist Jill Amory finds fate intervening in a strange way when she meets a kind-hearted elderly man, who, believing that he is a modern-day cupid, orchestrates a Valentine's Day meeting between her and his marriage-phobic friend, Spence.



Valentine's Day is Killing Me by MaryJanice Davidson, Leslie Esdaile, and Susanna Carr
Cupid's arrow goes dangerously awry in this trio of stories that follow three women as their Valentine's Day festivities are marred by murder and illegal activities, leading them into the arms of the law.

A Couple of Classics

Classic books on the big and small screen:

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne
This "unfilmable novel" has been made into a soon to be released movie under the title A Cock and Bull Story.




Bleak House by Charles Dickens
A Masterpiece Theatre rendition of Bleak House is now showing on PBS, starring Gillian Anderson.