Oh, yes. I agree. It’s really tempting to pull the comforter over your head and hide until all this is over. The world seems very crazy right now, and … how do we deal with that? Here’s one thought. When the pandemic started, I was in the midst of writing Her Perfect Life. I looked at my manuscript and I thought: I cannot do this. Why am I writing this? To entertain people? It seemed unimportant and trivial.
And then I thought: no. I actively decided to be a writer, with agency and intent, and if writing a story gives people some people escape, or allows them, even briefly, to live a different life or solve someone else’s problems, or feel that there can be justice and honor and peace in the world — that’s exactly what we need.
I went back to my computer with increased enthusiasm, and I remember thinking: it’s always safe inside my manuscript. It’s always safe inside a book.
So yeah, here are some terrific escapes I’ve discovered recently. And yeah, they are completely entertaining and enlightening and compelling.
And if you feel like pulling the comforter over your head, take one of these books with you. And let these wonderful storytellers distract you — for a bit at least — from the fear and sorrow of the outside world. And count your blessings that you are safe and sheltered and able to choose what you want to read.
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What Happened to the Bennetts? by Lisa Scottoline. A typical suburban family — mom, dad, two kids and dog — is forced to go on the run, swept up in a witness protection program because of something gruesome they all witnessed. The only possibility for them to stay safe is if they give up everything they knew, everyone they know, and everything they are — in other words, they must erase themselves from existence. Which, as you can imagine, is not easy. And, as you can imagine, is not gonna work. Lisa Scottoline is absolutely a genius.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel. Wroble’s title is putting it mildly. A determined professional woman tries to rescue her younger sister from a cult — and that’s only the beginning of this creepy-twisty-shocking story about the consequences of fearlessness. You may want to bring an extra flashlight under the covers when you read this — it’s a master class in the authorial use of the reader’s imagination and how danger is most sinister when it’s merely suggested. One character notices a cult member walking by with a box of thousands of thumbtacks. “What are those for?” she asks. “Come and find out,” she’s told. Yikes.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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More sisters! These two – estranged. In Kellye Garrett’s groundbreaking and important standalone Like A Sister, the fabulous first line tells it all: “I found out my sister was back in New York from Instagram. I found out she’d died from the New York Daily News.” With its biting insight and wry dialogue, Garrett’s story is propulsive, fierce and witty. Do not miss this.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb. The good news: that violin you inherited is a 10 million dollar Stradivarius! The bad news: someone has stolen it just before you are to play in the world’s most important competition. This passionate and heartbreaking debut novel about an elite violinist (and written by one) is absolutely transformational – you will never listen to music the same way again. And that is a good thing. A tender and revealing coming-of-age story wrapped in an international thriller, this is not to be missed.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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The Next Thing You Know by Jessica Strawser. Touching, thought-provoking and more timely than ever in these perilous days. As the poet Mary Oliver asks, “what will you do with your one wild and precious life?” With her gorgeously drawn characters and moving relationships, Strawser gently shows us how to confront questions we avoid — while revealing the poignant beauty of personal connection, the transformative power of love, and the relentlessness of the human condition. This novel is brave and affecting, and should come with a box of tissues.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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I’ve called it Clue meets La Cage Aux Folles meets Philip Marlowe — can you picture that? It’s Lavender House, coming in October from Lev AC Rosen. If I tell you much more, it will ruin your joy in reading this unique, gorgeously written and heartbreaking mystery. Rosen channels the purity and skill of an Agatha Christie locked-mansion mystery to create an ingenious and sophisticated mid-century noir. This book brought me to tears.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight. Ooh, a mysterious inscription in a treasured first edition in an iconic London bookshop. When present-day Lucy’s future begins to intertwine with none other than Nancy Mitford’s past, history and literature take on a whole new meaning. The scandalous Mitford sisters, the glittering literati, gossip and secrets in pre-war London society – and spies and Nazis. Tall Poppy Knight has concocted an irresistible novel—captivating, witty, and revealing.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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The Blue Bar by Damyanti Biswas. A missing dancer and the police officer who cannot forget her. In this gaspingly authentic police procedural, Biswas transports us to Mumbai — not only to discover the solution to a grisly and sinister series of murders, but to reveal the dark and disturbing life of bar girls. This immersive and beautifully written book — and Biswas’ revealing social commentary — will change you, and haunt you, and have you understanding the world in a different way.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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The Girl They All Forgot by Martin Edwards is a perfect comfort read. Somehow, Edwards has used the classic golden age structure to create a completely contemporary mystery with strong and complex female main characters, and a clever and compelling mystery. This is one of those terrific novels where you say, “Whoa — I never saw that coming!” And isn’t that fun?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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If you missed Lisa Jewell’s The Night She Disappeared, grab it right now. I have rarely turned the pages faster than in this riveting thriller — not only the clash of classes in contemporary England, but the clash of emotions, and love, and motherhood, and what we will do to get something — or someone — we desperately desire. Oh. So. Twisty.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
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And the Queen of England just honored Adele Parks with an MBE for services to literature. If I could bestow such an honor myself I would, too, after reading Woman Last Seen. I don’t want to reveal anything about this plot except two loving wives – one affluent and glam, one middle-class mom — go missing the same week. How can they possibly be connected? Well, we know they are, or there wouldn’t be a book, right? But wow, Parks has done it again.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
Readers, there are several organizations working to help the people of Ukraine — here’s one from NPR — so maybe, before you escape into these wonderful books, take a moment to help others who need assistance in their own precious lives.
What Happened to the Bennetts? by Lisa Scottoline
A typical suburban family — mom, dad, two kids and dog — is forced to go on the run, swept up in a witness protection program because of something gruesome they all witnessed. The only possibility for them to stay safe is if they give up everything they knew, everyone they know, and everything they are — in other words, they must erase themselves from existence. Which, as you can imagine, is not easy. And, as you can imagine, is not gonna work. Lisa Scottoline is absolutely a genius.
This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel
Wroble’s title is putting it mildly. A determined professional woman tries to rescue her younger sister from a cult — and that’s only the beginning of this creepy-twisty-shocking story about the consequences of fearlessness. You may want to bring an extra flashlight under the covers when you read this — it’s a master class in the authorial use of the reader’s imagination and how danger is most sinister when it’s merely suggested. One character notices a cult member walking by with a box of thousands of thumbtacks. “What are those for?” she asks. “Come and find out,” she’s told. Yikes.
Like A Sister by Kellye Garrett
More sisters! These two – estranged. In Kellye Garrett’s groundbreaking and important standalone Like A Sister, the fabulous first line tells it all: “I found out my sister was back in New York from Instagram. I found out she’d died from the New York Daily News.” With its biting insight and wry dialogue, Garrett’s story is propulsive, fierce and witty. Do not miss this.
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb. The good news: that violin you inherited is a 10 million dollar Stradivarius! The bad news: someone has stolen it just before you are to play in the world’s most important competition. This passionate and heartbreaking debut novel about an elite violinist (and written by one) is absolutely transformational – you will never listen to music the same way again. And that is a good thing. A tender and revealing coming-of-age story wrapped in an international thriller, this is not to be missed.
The Next Thing You Know by Jessica Strawser
The Next Thing You Know by Jessica Strawser. Touching, thought-provoking and more timely than ever in these perilous days. As the poet Mary Oliver asks, “what will you do with your one wild and precious life?” With her gorgeously drawn characters and moving relationships, Strawser gently shows us how to confront questions we avoid — while revealing the poignant beauty of personal connection, the transformative power of love, and the relentlessness of the human condition. This novel is brave and affecting, and should come with a box of tissues.
Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen
I’ve called it Clue meets La Cage Aux Folles meets Philip Marlowe — can you picture that? It’s Lavender House, coming in October from Lev AC Rosen. If I tell you much more, it will ruin your joy in reading this unique, gorgeously written and heartbreaking mystery. Rosen channels the purity and skill of an Agatha Christie locked-mansion mystery to create an ingenious and sophisticated mid-century noir. This book brought me to tears.
The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight
The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight. Ooh, a mysterious inscription in a treasured first edition in an iconic London bookshop. When present-day Lucy’s future begins to intertwine with none other than Nancy Mitford’s past, history and literature take on a whole new meaning. The scandalous Mitford sisters, the glittering literati, gossip and secrets in pre-war London society – and spies and Nazis. Tall Poppy Knight has concocted an irresistible novel—captivating, witty, and revealing.
The Blue Bar by Damyanti Biswas
The Blue Bar by Damyanti Biswas. A missing dancer and the police officer who cannot forget her. In this gaspingly authentic police procedural, Biswas transports us to Mumbai — not only to discover the solution to a grisly and sinister series of murders, but to reveal the dark and disturbing life of bar girls. This immersive and beautifully written book — and Biswas’ revealing social commentary — will change you, and haunt you, and have you understanding the world in a different way.
The Girl They All Forgot by Martin Edwards
The Girl They All Forgot by Martin Edwards is a perfect comfort read. Somehow, Edwards has used the classic golden age structure to create a completely contemporary mystery with strong and complex female main characters, and a clever and compelling mystery. This is one of those terrific novels where you say, “Whoa — I never saw that coming!” And isn’t that fun?
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
If you missed Lisa Jewell’s The Night She Disappeared, grab it right now. I have rarely turned the pages faster than in this riveting thriller — not only the clash of classes in contemporary England, but the clash of emotions, and love, and motherhood, and what we will do to get something — or someone — we desperately desire. Oh. So. Twisty.
Woman Last Seen by Adele Parks
And the Queen of England just honored Adele Parks with an MBE for services to literature. If I could bestow such an honor myself I would, too, after reading Woman Last Seen. I don’t want to reveal anything about this plot except two loving wives – one affluent and glam, one middle-class mom — go missing the same week. How can they possibly be connected? Well, we know they are, or there wouldn’t be a book, right? But wow, Parks has done it again.
I’d add you, Hank, as an engrossing storyteller. I remember both “Trust Me” and “The Murder List” as reasons to cancel everything but sitting in my armchair and staying wrapped up in your stories.