If they existed in real life, most of the characters populating Waterfall's debut would be in mental hospitals or intense therapy-they swallow plum pits and imagine they are growing roots, chop off their own verbally abusive toes, and adopt squash as babies. Revealed in fashionably understated prose, these oddball tales fall squarely into the realm of young fiction stylists like Miranda July, Tao Lin, and Aimee Bender, but further distilled; most of the stories last just a few pages. Though it feels limited as a method, the precarious balance between austere writing and outrageous subject grows more hypnotic and enjoyable as it goes; before long, the quickly progressing freak show begins, paradoxically, to feel plausibly lived-in. How much these stories have to say about actual people is debatable: the focus is narrowed to emotionally damaged, nearly sociopathic individuals who have lots of anonymous sex, minimal self-reflection, and little empathetic awareness. Still, they make an interesting bunch, and Waterfall's slim collection doesn't give them the chance to overstay their welcome. (May)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 04/01/2010 | Details & Permalink

Facing the future means facing the past for Jacyln Collins, an African-American dancer whose ambition spells disaster for her relationship with Taji Hietkikko, a Japanese-African American. In her latest novel, Walker (Never As Good As the First Time) tracks Jadyn's challenges as she strives to break free from Taji, who'd rather she fit the traditional housewife role; she's also still recovering from years of sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Finally, when Taji sabotages her chance at a role in a production of STOMP, she leaves him. After a spiritual awakening, she heads for Florida to find her real father, Charles Ivery. Connecting with great-uncle Buhjay and cousin Flash, however, leads her to a shady new boyfriend, and a shocking turn of events. Walker deftly depicts Jadyn's family reunions with a gentle touch. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 04/01/2010 | Details & Permalink

In his debut, Brown delivers a chillingly plausible thriller that ties Wall Street corruption to a plot threatening the foundations of the U.S. government. When she's implicated in the murder of a senior partner at her prestigious Wall Street law firm, young lawyer Mayson Corelli goes on the run, reluctantly enlisting the help of the firm's new star lawyer, the handsome but infuriating Tyler Waddill. Fleeing New York to pursue a lead, the duo fail to realize they stand in the way of a far-reaching conspiracy to stack the Supreme Court and transform America into a theocracy. As Mayson and Tyler cross-cross the nation, eluding police and the FBI, the cat-and-mouse games get ever more dangerous, escalating both the violence and plotting. Although Brown's story is engaging, readers may get frustrated with his leads' wooden bickering and an excessive number of plot twists. (May)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 05/01/2010 | Details & Permalink

In Yamashita's latest, she strings together a stunningly complete vision of San Francisco's Asian American community in the late 1960s and early '70s, using the titular inn as a meeting point for ten loosely-connected novellas, each covering a single year. Focusing on the struggle for equality and peace as it involved this particular community, Yamashita's work also incorporates a broad view of the Asian and Asian American experiences, from Japanese internment camps to the Marcos dictatorship. Yamashita accomplishes a dynamic feat of mimesis by throwing together achingly personal stories of lovers, old men, and orphaned children; able synopses of historical events and social upheaval; and public figures like Lenin and Malcolm X (Yamashita's opening line: "So I'm Water Cronkite, dig?"). Despite its experimental and fictionalized nature, the novel reads more like a patchwork oral history, determined to relate the facts of its setting and, more importantly, the feelings of it; with varied commingling of voices and formats (stream-of-consciousness, slangy first person, quotes, dossiers, academic papers, even written-out choreography), the narrative reads like a collection of primary sources. Though it isn't for everyone, this powerful, deeply felt, and impeccably researched fiction is irresistibly evocative and overwhelming in every sense. 30 b&w photos and illus. (May)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 06/01/2010 | Details & Permalink

Rosamund Walsingham is from a lesser branch of the Walsingham family, with no real fortune or prospects until she catches the eye of her influential cousin, Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's spymaster and secretary of state. He sends the beautiful young woman to court to act as his eyes and ears, a task she performs well until she gets involved in an ill-advised liaison with fellow courtier, William Creighton, who has similarly dim prospects. Disgraced, Rosamund is sent to spy on Elizabeth's sister, the imprisoned Catholic queen Mary, but soon discovers that the cost of these political games is greater than she could have anticipated. Accomplished romance author Feather (A Husband's Wicked Ways) delivers another reliably steady historical, but sidesteps the most provocative opportunities of her Elizabethan court setting in favor of a fairly tame tale. Rosamund is too typical a heroine, while Feather's most interesting characters-the historical figures of Francis and Christopher Marlowe-are relegated to sideline roles. Fans of historical romances should probably skip this in favor of a Tudor tale with more heat. (Apr.)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 04/01/2010 | Details & Permalink

British bestseller Strong (Stalking Horse) delves into the murky world of espionage and terrorism as seen through the eyes of Phil Mason, a former Royal Marine sniper turned PI. A little surveillance on an easy target turns into an investigation of several people with suspected ties to al-Qaeda and other Islamic terrorists. With a team that includes his former lover, interpreter Jasmina “Jazz” Alagic, and a Pakistani MI5 agent called Popadom, Mason goes to work and soon stumbles upon an assassination plot of frightening magnitude. Strong predictably runs down the checklist of the world-weary hero’s personal life—a checkered past, an acrimonious divorce, a stack of unpaid bills—but thorough research and ample details grant verisimilitude, and cutting-edge spy gadgets, topical issues, and a surprisingly nuanced understanding of world politics and Islamic tradition make this more than your basic anti-terrorist shoot-’em-up. (July)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 05/01/2010 | Details & Permalink

Wine (In the Warrior’s Bed) fills this addictive tale of betrayal, lust, power, and love with detail-rich descriptions and frequent bedroom scenes hot enough to warm even the coldest Scottish nights. In 15th-century Scotland, women are expected to be quiet, meek, and above all obedient, but hot-blooded, hotheaded Shannon McBoyd is not a typical simpering lady. She meets her match in the dark, handsome highlander Torin McLeren, who kidnaps her to stop her father’s raids into McLeren land. While Scotland roils in political upheaval, Shannon struggles to accept passion and a future with Torin, never losing her independent spirit and courage even as she succumbs to her feelings. Wine skillfully creates suspense, keeping Shannon’s fate uncertain until the very end. With a captivating leading lady and terrific pacing, this story will be devoured by devoted historical romance readers. (July)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 07/01/2010 | Details & Permalink

Holmes debuts with the first in a derivative paranormal mystery series featuring Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation enforcer Alexandra Sabian, a vampire charged with policing the undead populace of Jefferson, Miss. When someone begins killing and mutilating vamps in ways that send Alex flashing back to her father’s murder, Alex’s ex-fiancé, Varik Baudelaire, is dragged out of retirement, reassigned to the FBPI, and sent to help her on the case. With all the tension between human and vampire populations exposed, the story reads like a badly conceived morality play on racism, including 1960s vampire demonstrations for equal legal rights, which they earn in a scant seven years. A dash of religious zealotry and flimflammery adds little flavor. Holmes does deviate from tradition in that her vampires, while light-sensitive, are not night creatures—in which case, why bother? (July)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 07/01/2010 | Details & Permalink

Fans mourning Baker’s death earlier this year will be comforted by this gentle conclusion to 2009’s The House of the Stag and 2010’s The Anvil of the World. Teen Elissa is left orphaned and guilt-ridden when her addict mother dies in a diving accident. She supports herself and her younger half-brother by odd-jobbing on a huge river barge, visiting colorful towns on their way upstream. As Elissa gradually becomes invaluable to the Bird’s crew by spotting dangerous river snags, she also learns to see through human subterfuge while accompanying Krelan, lesser son of an assassin family, who’s investigating the murder of one of his family’s wealthy clients. Satisfyingly exotic local color, a boatload of convincing characters with a captain touched by the supernatural, and a realistic treatment of young love make this an unusually sensitive growing-up tale. (July)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 07/01/2010 | Details & Permalink

This collection assembles 14 stories published by celebrated SFWA Grand Master Vance between 1948 and 1959. Even these early tales make it clear why Vance is still one of the most revered, read, and taught of science fiction authors, highlighting his blending of genres, forward-thinking and prophetic science, and careful craft. In the title story, a problem solver applies Holmes-like logic. “The Masquerade of Dicantropus” invokes psychoanalysis, while in “Abercrombie Station,” a strong female lead encounters an unusual subculture. “Shape-Up” is a classic locked room mystery, and “The Phantom Milkman” is pure horror. Each tale, though occasionally dated, is as fun to read today as it was 50 years ago, and longtime fans will especially enjoy the accompanying excerpts from Vance’s autobiography and a 1995 interview. (July)

Reviewed on 04/03/2010 | Release date: 07/01/2010 | Details & Permalink