You're Looking For Buried Treasure

Or have the February blues

Hi book lovers,

I have a fun update: Audiobook narrator extraordinaire Julia Whelan released the audiobook, Casanova LLLC she teased in my interview with her last year. . For those who’ve read — or listened to —Julia’s Thank You For Listening, this new book available on her own audio platform Audiobrary, is the story her characters narrate in that one.

Making it even more fun, Julia, acting as Casanova’s LLC “author” June French, gave an “interview” to the romance podcast Fated Mates, as bonus content in the audiobook. I’m so delighted by this because it’s a spin on an idea I gave Julia last year. It’s my contribution to the world, or at least to audiobook lovers who appreciate a weird, meta moment.

And, now, what to read if…

You’re Fascinated by Archeological Discoveries

The Lost Tomb by Douglas Preston

Researchers recently concluded a Bronze Age treasure trove of 59 bottles, bowls and pieces of jewelry weren’t just made of gold and silver as previously thought. Craftsmen used iron from a meteor when they made the pieces between 1400 and 1200 B.C.E. For more on how archaeologists are uncovering our past, check out Douglas Preston’s The Lost Tomb, a collection of magazine articles the journalist published over his career.

Look at the treasure!

Preston documents his time chasing buried pirate treasure, entering an Egyptian burial chamber sealed for thousands of years and his effort to find an Italian serial killer (an experience he later turned into a full book, The Monster of Florence). My favorite essays, though, were about the world of archeology, which seems to be filled with larger-than-life characters, and the ethical questions surrounding digs and findings. He grapples with fraudulent “discoveries” and how seemingly obscure academic battles have shaped the way we understand our history.

In addition to his journalism, Preston co-writes thrillers, the Aloysius Pendergast series with Lincoln Child, and his storytelling abilities shine here as well. Think of it as Indiana Jones’s journal.

Reminder rec: The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne is a fun, fictional archeological adventure.

You’re Craving Some Sunshine

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel

A friend recently told me “No one is happy in February.” It made me laugh and also felt a bit true. The holidays are long past us, but it’s still dark and damp. If you’re looking for a spot of sunshine, grab Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel.

For more than thirty years, Bridget and Will have played in a chamber music group, the Forsyth Trio, with a rotating third member after their original colleague Gavin made it big. After a year of playing smaller and smaller venues and losing yet another third musician, Bridget is looking forward to escaping New York and spending the summer at her run-down Connecticut home with her boyfriend Sterling. Her plans are thrown into chaos when, in short order, Sterling dumps her, her adult twins announce they are returning home and her father, a famous musician himself, declares he's engaged. Knowing the musical world will attend the wedding, Bridget launches a plan to lure Gavin back to the trio and bring the Forsyth Trio back to the forefront.

All of Poeppel’s books are the equivalent of getting a hug from an old friend. They’re warm and cozy, while still feeling real and genuine. Musical Chairs is no exception, and I found myself wishing I could be transported to the well-worn summer home, sit on an Adirondack chair and listen to The Forsyth Trio (or duo.)

You Want Something Gritty

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

If, instead of looking something for something warm and sunny, the tail-end of February has you in the mood for a dark and gritty novel, S.A. Cosby’s All the Sinners Bleed is your pick.

As I wrote for Parade, “Cosby reminds us all he’s the reigning king of Southern noir with this latest thriller. A year after former FBI agent Titus Crown became the first Black sheriff in the history of his hometown, a young Black man, who murdered a beloved high school teacher, is fatally shot by one of his deputies. Titus vows to complete a thorough investigation and uncovers a serial killer lurking in the community, launching a gripping cat-and-mouse game between the sheriff and a murderer.”

There’s no way around it: All the Sinners Bleed is dark, very dark, so read it when it’s right for you. That said, Cosby is a brilliant writer, using the police procedural model to explore small-town corruption and the lasting legacy of Jim Crow. If you don’t believe me, believe Steven King, who called the book “A crackling good police procedural,” in a New York Times review. And added, “Cosby delivers a fine climax. Then, in an epilogue, he serves up a final treat that's worth the whole trip.”

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