New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman's most recent novel, Life Sentences, is on sale in trade paperback today! This is the perfect format for Laura, who writes smart, thought provoking and discussible novels. The Boston Globe said that Life Sentences "may be the most absorbing, entertaining mystery published in the last year," and USA Today calls Laura "a writing powerhouse." Need further proof that Life Sentences is great? Here's the description:
Author Cassandra Fallows has achieved remarkable success by baring her life on the page. Her two widely popular memoirs continue to sell briskly, acclaimed for their brutal, unexpurgated candor about friends, family, lovers—and herself. But now, after a singularly unsuccessful stab at fiction, Cassandra believes she may have found the story that will enable her triumphant return to nonfiction.
When Cassandra was a girl, growing up in a racially diverse middle-class neighborhood in Baltimore, her best friends were all black: elegant, privileged Donna; sharp, shrewd Tisha; wild and worldly Fatima. A fifth girl orbited their world—a shy, quiet, unobtrusive child named Calliope Jenkins—who, years later, would be accused of killing her infant son. Yet the boy's body was never found and Calliope's unrelenting silence on the subject forced a judge to jail her for contempt. For seven years, Calliope refused to speak and the court was finally forced to let her go. Cassandra believes this still unsolved real-life mystery, largely unknown outside Baltimore, could be her next bestseller.
But her homecoming and latest journey into the past will not be welcomed by everyone, especially by her former friends, who are unimpressed with Cassandra's success—and are insistent on their own version of their shared history. And by delving too deeply into Calliope's dark secrets, Cassandra may inadvertently unearth a few of her own—forcing her to reexamine the memories she holds most precious, as the stark light of truth illuminates a mother's pain, a father's betrayal . . . and what really transpired on a terrible day that changed not only a family but an entire country.
Browse inside the book and check out the reading group guide. If you're in the Baltimore area, New Orleans, or Boston you can also see Laura in one of three appearances for Life Sentences. And, there's a special offer for book clubs as well - registered reading groups at ReadingGroupGuides.com can enter to win a call from Laura to their book group that will be recorded on Book Club Girl on Air! Enter to win here!
Be sure to check out the blog tour for Life Sentences to see what other book bloggers think and if you're so inspired, Trish over at Hey, Lady, Whatcha Readin'? is running a Laura Lippman Reading Challenge as well. If you haven't read Laura yet, what are you waiting for?
She's such a good writer..would love to win a copy!
Posted by: Rica | March 02, 2010 at 04:38 PM
I love Laura Lippman. Cant wait to get a copy of this one.
Posted by: Bookventures | March 03, 2010 at 04:08 PM