First Novels: Fall Firsts
Oct 1, 2010Charming, Poignant. Insightful. The first novels listed here, forthcoming this fall and winter, are all this and more—just check what our reviewers are saying. Where available, we have quoted from the LJ review and indicated which ones we starred. What's more, the entire compilation is grouped by type, so that librarians can start planning their purchases. Enjoy!
POP FICTION
Thelma Adams. Playdate. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Jan. (New York) (LJ 8/10)
Sheri Anderson. A Secret in Salem. Sourcebooks. Nov. (California)
Paula Brackston. The Witch's Daughter. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Jan. (Wales)
Paola Corso. Catina's Haircut: A Novel in Stories. Univ. of Wisconsin. Oct. (New York)
Suzanne Corso. Brooklyn Story. Gallery. Dec. (New York)
Kit Crumb. Cutter's Legacy: The Search for Yamashita's Gold. Hellgate. Dec. (Oregon)
Julie Egert. The Left Side of the Stairs. Aberdeen Bay. Nov. (Texas)
Siobhan Fallon. You Know When the Men Are Gone. Amy Einhorn: Penguin Group (USA). Jan. (California)
Ann Wertz Garvin. On Maggie's Watch. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). Nov. (Wisconsin)
Roberta Gately. Lipstick in Afghanistan. Gallery. Nov. (Massachusetts) "An informative glimpse into the lives of women in challenging times." (LJ 10/1/10)
C.M. Hedgecock with S.J. Booker. Locker Letters. Royal Shield. Sept. (Texas)
Susan Henderson. Up from the Blue. Harper: HarperCollins. Oct. (New York) "A triumphant debut." (LJ 8/10)
Keith Hollihan. The Four Stages of Cruelty. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Dec. (Minnesota)
Lindsey Kelk. I Heart New York. HarperCollins. Sept. (New York)
E.E. King. Dirk Quigby's Guide to the Afterlife: All You Need To Know To Choose the Right Heaven (Plus a Five-Star Rating System for Music, Food, Drink, and Accommodations). Exterminating Angel. Oct. (California)
François Lelord. Hector and the Search for Happiness. Penguin. Sept. (Vietnam) "Charming, clever, humorous, and insightful." (LJ 9/15/10)
Stacey McGlynn. Keeping Time. Crown. Oct. (New York)
Lorelle Marinello. Salting Roses. HarperCollins. Nov. (California)
Sam Meekings. Under Fishbone Clouds. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Dec. (China)
Rain Mitchell. Tales from the Yoga Studio. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). Dec. (New York) "Novices and veterans of yoga will be rejuvenated by the transformative nature these women begin to undergo." (LJ 10/1/10)
Lisa Rinna. Starlight. Gallery. Oct. (California)
Deborah Rodriguez. A Cup of Friendship. Ballantine. Jan. (California) "Clearly a great book club read." (LJ 9/1/10)
Mary Jane Ryals. Cookie & Me. Kitsune Bks. Sept. (Florida)
Lise Saffran. Juno's Daughters. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). Jan. (Missouri)
Elliott Sawyer. The Severance. BridgeWorks, dist. by National Bk. Network. Nov. (Oklahoma) "Good twists and reads quickly, but...indistinct characters." (LJ 9/15/10)
T.M. Shine. Nothing Happens Until It Happens to You. Crown. Sept. (Florida)
Tim Slover. The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus. Bantam. Nov. (Utah) "An adventurous spin...with the invention of...Claus's jealous nemesis." (LJ 10/1/10)
T.B. Smith. The Sticking Place. Hellgate. Nov. (Oregon)
Mary Volmer. Crown of Dust. Soho, dist. by Consortium. Nov. (California) "A colorful debut." (LJ 9/15/10)
Nicolle Wallace. Eighteen Acres. Atria: S. & S. Oct. (New York) "A must for political junkies." (LJ 9/1/10)
Jan Yager. The Pretty One. Hanna-croix Creek. Nov. (Connecticut)
LITERARY
Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall. Ghosted. Soft Skull. Oct. (Canada)
Matt Burgess. Dogfight, a Love Story. Doubleday. Sept. (Minnesota) "Gritty, funny, violent, and genuine." (LJ 9/15/10)
Liza Campbell. The Dissemblers. Permanent. Sept. (Colorado)
Thérèse Soukar Chehade. Loom. Syracuse Univ. Nov. (Massachusetts)
Brian Chikwava. Harare North. Trafalgar Square. Jan. (England)
Amber Dawn. Sub Rosa. Arsenal Pulp. Oct. (Canada)
Linh Dinh. Love Like Hate. Seven Stories. Sept. (Pennsylvania)
Tishani Doshi. The Pleasure Seekers. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. Sept. (India) "This engaging tale of mixed cultures is a happy read." (LJ 9/1/10)
THRILLERS
Michael Baxandall. A Grasp of Kaspar. Frances Lincoln. Sept. (deceased)
Ben Coes. Power Down. St. Martin's. Sept. (Massachusetts) "This well-written thriller will appeal to fans of Vince Flynn and Brad Thor." (LJ 8/10)
Adam Dunn. Rivers of Gold. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. Oct. (New York)
CHRISTIAN FICTION
R. William Bennett. The Christmas Gift. Burgess Adams. Oct. (Utah)
Billy Coffey. Snow Day. FaithWords: Hachette. Oct. (Virginia) "A gentle read and a sure bet." (LJ 8/10)
Cary Franklin Smith. The Year of Leland Thomson. AuthorHouse, dist. by Ingram Bks. Sept. (Texas)
MYSTERY
Toby Ball. The Vaults. St. Martin's. Sept. (New Hampshire)
T. Marie Benchley. Once Wicked Always Dead. M.M.W.E. Sept. (Florida)
Joelle Charbonneau. Skating Around the Law. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Sept. (Illinois) "Featuring lots of small-town charm and humor, this quirky and charming debut will attract cozy fans." (LJ 10/1/10)
Gary Corby. The Pericles Commission. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Oct. (Australia) "This series opener will appeal to historical mystery fans and readers who enjoy Lindsey Davis and Kelli Stanley." (LJ 8/10)
Hilary Davidson. The Damage Done. Forge: Tor. Sept. (New York) "An intriguing psychological mystery with a fully drawn protagonist who is surrounded by real characters who either care for her or who want her to fit their idea of who she should be." (LJ 10/1/10)
ROMANCE
Grace Burrowes. The Heir. Sourcebooks. Dec. (Maryland)
Tiffany Clare. Surrender of a Lady. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Sept. (Canada)
Stephanie Draven. Poisoned Kisses. Harlequin Nocturne. Oct. (Maryland)
Vicky Dreiling. How To Marry a Duke. Grand Central. Jan. (Texas)
Sophia Kell Hagin. Whatever Gods May Be. Bold Stroke Bks. Oct. (Massachusetts)
Jeannie Lin. Butterfly Swords. Harlequin Historical. Oct. (Missouri)
Liz Lyons. Barefoot over Stones. Trafalgar Square. Jan. (Ireland)
Lauri J. Owen. Fallen Embers. Pearlsong. Sept. (Alaska)
Robert Pagani. The Princess, the King, and the Anarchist. Helen Marx Bks. Oct. (France)
Kate Pullinger. Mistress of Nothing. Touchstone: S. & S. Jan. (England)
HISTORICAL FICTON
Glen Scott Allen. The Shadow War. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Nov. (Maryland)
Lorenzo Borghese. The Princess of Nowhere. Avon A: HarperCollins. Dec. (New York)
J.D. Davies. Gentleman Captain. Houghton Harcourt. Oct. (England)
Stephanie Dray. Lily of the Nile. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). Jan. (Maryland)
Anne Fortier. Juliet. Ballantine. Sept. (Canada) "This entertaining historical thriller [can be compared to] Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code (but much better written!), with its hunt for clues to a secret." (LJ 5/15/10)
Patricia Friedberg. 21 Ald-gate. Rainbow Books. Sept. (Florida)
STREET LIT
Drama with a Capital D. Melodrama. Sept. (New Jersey)
Boston George. Knee Deep in the Game. Urban Bks. Nov. (NA)
Nahisha McCoy. You Showed Me. Melodrama. Sept. (New York)
Tra Verdejo. Corrupt City. Urban Bks. Jan. (Maryland)
Natalie Weber. Bi-Curious. Urban Bks. Jan. (NA)
SF/FANTASY/HORROR
Beth Bernobich. Passion Play. Tor. Oct. Connecticut) "Brings to life a Renaissance-era world of arcane politics and romantic intrigue with a [complex] heroine." (LJ 9/15/10)
Robert Boyczuk. Nexus: Ascension. ChiZine. Sept. (Canada)
Darin Bradley. Noise. Spectra: Ballantine. Sept. (Texas)
Col Buchanan. Farlander. Tor. Jan. (England)
Alex J. Cavanaugh. Cassa-Star. Dancing Lemur. Oct. (NA) "Calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein's early military sf." (LJ 9/15/10)
Lisa Desrochers. Personal Demons. Tor. Sept.(California)
Merrie Destefano. Afterlife. Harper: HarperCollins. Sept. (California)
Darby Ham. The Book of Elizabeth. Prime. Nov. (Iowa)
Mark Hodder. The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack. Pyr: Prometheus. Sept. (Spain) "An exquisitely fleshed-out blend of steam-punk and gothic horror."(LJ 9/15/10)
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Barry Deutsch. Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword. Amulet. Nov. (Oregon) "This expanded webcomic is...a delightful mix of fantasy, adventure, cultural traditions, and preteen commotion." (BookSmack!, 7/10)
Chandra Free. The God Machine. Archaia. Oct. (Florida)
Conor McCreery & Anthony Del Col (text) & Andy Belanger (illus.). Kill Shakespeare. Vol. 1. IDW. Nov. (Canada) "Blood, laughs, sex, swordfights, and treachery—it's all here as in the original Shakespeare, even if not with all the Bard's literary depth and subtleties. Think Fables and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." (BookSmack!, 7/10)
| Author Information |
| Mary Witherell is Director, Kemmerer Library, Harding Township, NJ |
