Tag: New Fiction

New Fiction from the author of ‘Special Topics in Calamity Physics’

On By Malcolm R. CampbellIn books, writing

Marisha Pessl made quite a splash in 2006 with the release of Special Topics on Calamity Physics, a novel of which Publishers Weekly said, ” Pessl’s stunning debut is an elaborate construction modeled after the syllabus of a college literature course—36 chapters are named after everything from Othello to Paradise Lost to The Big Sleep—that culminates with a final exam. ” I’ve read it multiple times, followed by Neverworld Wake and Night Film.

And now we have Darkly about a game-making empire.

From the Publisher

Arcadia “Dia” Gannon has been obsessed with Louisiana Veda, the game designer whose obsessive creations and company, Darkly, have gained a cultlike following. Dia is shocked when she’s chosen for a highly-coveted internship, along with six other teenagers from around the world. Why her? Dia has never won anything in her life.

Darkly, once a game-making empire renowned for its ingenious and utterly terrifying toys and games, now lies dormant after Veda’s mysterious death. The remaining games are priced like rare works of art, with some fetching millions of dollars at auction.

As Dia and her fellow interns delve into the heart of Darkly, they discover hidden symbols, buried clues, and a web of intrigue. Who are these other teens, and what secrets do they keep? Why were any of them really chosen? The answers lie within the twisted labyrinth of Darkly–a chilling and addictive read by Marisha Pessl.

This summer will be the most twisted Darkly game of all.

From Publishers Weekly

“Fearless and whip-smart Dia, as well as the rest of the intersectionally diverse cast, will have readers cheering them on from page one. Assorted letters, news stories, and other ephemera depicting the events add visual interest throughout.”

–Malcolm R. Campbell

Malcolm R. Campbell is the author of the four-novel Florida Folk Magic Series.

‘Fire and Bones,’ by Kathy Reichs

On By Malcolm R. CampbellIn books

This upcoming novel in the Temperance Brennan series will be released on August 6, 2024. As I said in my post about Rhett Revane’s upcoming novel Ditch Weed, I won’t be first in line to purchase my copy due to my beauty sleep requirements, and besides, I haven’t done a long-line-in-the-middle-of-the-night mission since the wild and crazy Harry Potter days.

I’ve read all (or mostly all) of Kathy Reichs’ novels. I haven’t slowed down even though “Bones,” the TV series based on the book hasn’t aired in prime time since 2017 after running for 246 episodes over twelve seasons. [You can read a brief 2017 interview with Reichs about the end of the series here.]

From the Publisher

“New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with a twisty, unputdownable thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who finds herself at the center of a Washington, DC, arson investigation that spawns deepening levels of mystery and, ultimately, violence.

“Always apprehensive about working fire scenes, Tempe is called to Washington, DC, to analyze the victims of a deadly blaze and sees her misgivings justified. The devastated building is in Foggy Bottom, a neighborhood with a colorful past and present, and Tempe becomes suspicious about the property’s ownership when she delves into its history.

“The pieces start falling into place strangely and quickly, and, sensing a good story, Tempe teams with a new ally, telejournalist Ivy Doyle. Soon the duo learns that back in the thirties and forties the home was the hangout of a group of bootleggers and racketeers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. Though interesting, this fact seems irrelevant—until the son of a Foggy Bottom gang member is shot dead at his home in an affluent part of the district. Coincidence? Targeted attacks? So many questions.

“As Tempe and Ivy dig deeper, an arrest is finally made. Then another Foggy Bottom Gang-linked property burns to the ground, claiming one more victim. Slowly, Tempe’s instincts begin pointing to the obvious: somehow, her moves since coming to Washington have been anticipated, and every path forward seems to bring with it a lethal threat.”

You can learn more about Reichs on her website here.  Here’s a sample. (“Dr. Reichs is one of only 100 forensic anthropologists ever certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. She served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of both the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and is currently a member of the National Police Services Advisory Council in Canada. She is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.”)

-Malcolm

Fate’s Arrows is the fourth book in Malcolm R. Campbell’s “Florida Folk Magic Series.” It’s available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audio editions.