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On the Horizon

It’s a downer to think about the week ahead, after a long weekend, but I’m happy to know that the following titles are on the way:

*Scott Spencer, “An Ocean without a Shore.” Spencer is past seventy; this guy just loves writing. He is known for having “literary cred” while still telling juicy stories. Big things actually happen in his novels.

*Val McDermid, “How the Dead Speak.” This one comes out in a few days. McDermid has two protagonists, and they love each other, but they can’t act on their love; one, the victim of childhood abuse, can’t have normal romantic relationships. The other is struggling with alcohol after the murder of her brother. In “Insidious Intent,” the most recent Tony Hill novel from McDermid, a major character killed someone in cold blood. This was shocking; no one could have anticipated that the character would act this way. I’m curious to see how McDermid digs herself out of the narrative hole she has created--maybe the biggest narrative hole in her long, long career.

*Hilary Mantel, “The Mirror and the Light.” Just a reminder that this one is happening in 2020. How does Cromwell upset the King? How does the situation become so bad that Cromwell--once powerful--ends up assassinated? You’ll hear quite a bit about this title in the weeks to come.

Can’t wait!
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