Mar 062025
 

Library Journal: Thompson’s new novel of suburban scandals and secrets (following Such a Lovely Family) is set in a peaceful subdivision outside of Washington, DC. All appears normal for Aimee, Gwen, and Lisa, three neighborhood wives who share weekly dinners, exchange parenting advice, help each other out with their kids while their husbands tag along, and even go on family vacations together. One night after a group dinner in their neighborhood, Aimee overhears an argument between Gwen and her husband, Anton, from the next yard over. The following morning, the neighbors receive the news that Anton is dead—murdered. The subsequent police investigation creates waves among the group. Secrets begin to surface, and everyone’s perfect facades begin to crumble, creating doubt in all of the relationships. Some of the neighborhood’s residents are not who they say they are; many of them are harboring jealousy, judgment, and deceit.

VERDICT Thompson flawlessly creates engaging plot twists and imperfect, realistic characters that readers will love to hate. This is a must-buy for public libraries and perfect for fans of Adele Parks and Lisa Unger.

Mar 052025
 

Shelf Awareness: An unassuming hero must move forward after trauma and seek reparations for a historic crime in this emotionally deep, friendship-affirming fantasy mystery. The Tomb of Dragons is the third in Katherine Addison’s the Cemeteries of Amalo series, set in the universe of her breakout novel The Goblin Emperor.

Othala Thara Celehar’s victory over a dangerous evil in the previous book, The Grief of Stones, came at the price of his power to speak to the dead and therefore his standing as Witness for the Dead. Now he must decide who he is without that title. He continues to follow the calling of his god, “even though I wasn’t sure I had one anymore,” as well as advising his mentee, Othalo Tomasaran, who finds herself suddenly thrust into the role of Witness for the Dead. His Archprelate charges him with investigating a large municipal cemetery that has stopped accepting the dead. Celehar finds a sea of disorganized paperwork and orphaned bones at the cemetery office, as well as a supervising prelate overwhelmed by the Sisyphean task of sorting it all out. He will also learn once and for all whether his calling is finished with him when a group of miners forces him to confront a long-dead, vengeful dragon spirit trapped within a mountain. Celehar will have to face down some of the nation’s most powerful players to see justice served.

Addison (The Witness for the Dead) continues to flesh out her world, adding new political and economic details along with her own take on dragons. Celehar finds plenty of mystery and intrigue, or it finds him, even without his power. The core of the story reckons with the complexity of healing, whether from a widespread social injustice or a personal crisis. Celehar’s previous adventure has left him shaken and unsure of his future, but he won’t endure his struggles alone. He is supported by familiar friends, including opera director Iäna Pel-Thenhior, and new ones such as Hanu Olgarezh, an honorable guard captain with eyes of “pale orange fire.” Fans will be happy to see cameos from the Goblin Emperor, among others. While the finale offers some closure, Addison leaves plenty of room to return to Celehar and his continuing escapades. Readers who are up to date on Celehar’s earlier ventures will derive the most enjoyment from this installment. Readers new to Addison’s world should consider enjoying her highly recommended backlist. —Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads

Shelf Talker: Katherine Addison’s fantasy mystery series continues with an emotionally complex story of healing and reparation.

Mar 042025
 

cover for Cold Iron Task with a wizard and fiery magicGrimshaw Griswald Grimsby may have one case under his belt, but he’s still a novice Auditor in Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. And he’s already made mistakes.

Desperate to repair his fraying friendships, he doesn’t ask too many questions when a mysterious patron offers him the chance to join a heist of an otherworldly vault—and in the process find answers that could make things right.

Complications arise when Grimsby learns that his partner, Mayflower, is keeping secrets about his past. Between facing new demons, old horrors, and monsters—both Usual and Unorthodox—Grimsby soon realizes nothing is how it appears and that not asking enough questions just might be his downfall.

Mar 042025
 

Grief-stricken over her mother’ s death and bruised by her failure on her most recent case, Special Agent Emmeline Helliwell with the National Park Service returns to her Utah hometown to heal and regroup. She’ s determined to turn in her badge and take over her mother’ s bakery for a much quieter life . . . until the body of a childhood friend turns up in The Narrows of Zion National Park.

The case is too personal for Emme to turn down, but the seemingly simple investigation turns treacherous as clues that connect to her previous case grow too glaring to ignore. When bodies start to pile up, Emme must track down the killer before they take more lives, venturing deep into Zion National Park to uncover the sordid secrets hiding beneath its stunning beauty.

Mar 042025
 

Bridget Morrissey, Emily Wibberley, and Austin Siegemund-Broka writing as E.B. Asher’s THIS WILL BE INTERESTING, a stand-alone set in the same world as THIS WILL BE FUN, in which a resurrected hero, a disgraced assassin, a honeymooning king and queen, a criminal, and a writer are thrown together on an unlikely journey overseas where they have only one rule: don’t fall in love with your quest mates, to Priyanka Krishnan at Avon, in a good deal, for publication in spring 2026, by Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary for Morrissey, and by Katie Shea Boutillier at Donald Maass Literary Agency for Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka (world). Film/TV: Olivia Fanaro and Maialie Fitzpatrick at UTA

Feb 282025
 

a pair of black ear budsAudio rights to David Jones’ MISS UNIVERSE, to Kim Budnick at Tantor Media, by Katie Shea Boutillier for Jennie Goloboy (World English).

Audio rights to J.S. Fields’s FOXFIRE IN THE SNOW, to Kim Budnick at Tantor Media, by Katie Shea Boutillier (world English).

Audio rights to Katherine Addison’s THE ORB OF CAIRADO, a novella set in the world of THE GOBLIN EMPEROR featuring an unlikely hero in historian Ulcetha Zhorvena, to Kim Budnick at Tantor Media, by Katie Shea Boutillier on behalf of Cameron McClure (world English).

Feb 282025
 

Chinese (complex) rights to Nebula and World Fantasy Award winner Premee Mohamed’s NO ONE WILL COME BACK FOR US, to Apex, by Gray Tan at Grayhawk Agency in association with Michael Curry.

Czech rights to Robert McCammon’s SWAN SONG and BOY’S LIFE, to OneHotBooks (CZECH REPUBLIC), by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Hebrew rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ ALL SYSTEMS RED and ARTIFICIAL CONDITION, the first two installments in the Murderbot Diaries series, to Opus Publishing House, by Beverley Levit at The Israeli Association Of Book Publishers Ltd in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

German rights to Miranda Lyn’s TILL DEATH and NEVERMORE, to Vajosh, by Sarah Knofius at Thomas Schlueck Agency, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Polish rights to Nnedi Okorafor’s BINTI: THE COMPLETE TRILOGY, to Vesper, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Donald Maass.

Polish audio rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s CHANGES, COLD DAYS, GHOST STORY, and SKIN GAME, all novels in the Dresden Files series, to Storytel, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava i Prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Ukrainian rights to Melissa K. Roehrich’s The Legacy series, to Family Leisure Club, in a four-book deal, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Ukrainian rights to Robert McCammon’s MISTER SLAUGHTER, THE PROVIDENCE RIDER and THE LISTENER, to Zhorzh, in a four-book deal, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Feb 262025
 

Congratulations to both Shaun David Hutchinson and Matthew Hubbard! Their respective works, SCHOOL FOR INVISIBLE BOYS (Hutchinson) and LAST BOYFRIENDS RULES FOR REVENGE (Hubbard) were listed in the American Library Association’s 2025 Rainbow Book List!

Feb 252025
 

Devoted fangirl meets hesitant fanboy in this swoony contemporary love letter to readers who adore fantasy worlds, from the beloved authors of The Breakup Tour.

Jennifer Worth lives to escape into the world of her favorite romantasy series Elytheum Courts, where the romance is sweeping and the men are brave, chivalrous… and winged. Newly single and craving connection,she travels to an immersive fan experience celebrating all things Elytheum, only to see the last face she expected—Scott Daniels, her work nemesis, whose disinterest in Jennifer’s favorite series and standoffishness have made their publishing jobs feel like a feuding fae court.

Except the Scott she encounters at the Elytheum Experience, in his secondhand cosplay outfit, is… different. Swaggering, flirtatious, confident. Unlucky in romance himself and inspired by Jennifer’s love for the swoonworthy men of Elytheum, Scott is determined to remake himself into the perfect book boyfriend.

Feb 242025
 

Booklist:Thompson initially creates a genial, sociable atmosphere that quickly turns dark, with steadily escalating tension, unexpected twists around every corner,revelations about how dark human nature can be, and an ending that is as shocking as it is shattering.”