Although new books posts have been popping up with regularity here, I've actually been showing restraint. Last Friday I stopped by the bookstore after work, which is something I've not done for months. The impetus was three coupons I received in my email inbox from B&N. I felt I couldn't pass them up, and as long as I paid cash life is good. The thing is the coupons turned out to be not such a great deal after all. The most generous was for a hefty 40% off their bestsellers, not one of which appealed to me, so that one got pitched. The next coupon was for 30% off an adult hardcover, which sounds good except the hardcover I wanted was 28% off online. Not much of a savings there. And the last was for 20% off one item, which in my case was already discounted, so I only got an additional 12% off. Not sure how they came up with that number, but I won't quibble over it. Discounted books are still discounted books. I'm certainly happy with my stack, so I won't complain! What I ended up getting:
Thursday Night Widows by Claudia Piñeiro -- This is actually a review copy that came in the mail a couple of days ago. I'm very excited about it as I've wanted to try something published by Bitter Lemon Press for a while now. They publish quality international crime fiction. More about this one later.
Haunting Jordan by P.J. Alderman -- I'll be honest, when it comes to mysteries and crime fiction I tend to choose British or other international authors. If I buy a book set in the US it is often classic crime and rarely anything contemporary. I don't know why, but American crime novels just don't appeal to me. However, when I read the back of this one it sounded too good to pass up. I think it is the "quaint Pacific Northwest town of Port Chatham" that sold me. Seaside. It sounds like a mixture mystery, supernatural fiction sort of story. And I think it's kind of on the light side, too, which might be fun.
The Glass of Time by Michael Cox -- I haven't yet read his first novel, The Meaning of Night, but when I saw the cover illustration and read the description, something Victorian sounded really good to me. I'm sure I'm going to want a good Victorian story or two this winter.
A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd -- This is what I actually had in mind to buy when I saw the coupon. I noticed it before it was published but assumed it was one of his series books (Inspector Rutledge), which I've read and enjoyed, but I have enough unread books that I don't buy any of the new ones until they are released in paper. By the time I realized this was set in 1916 featuring a WWI nurse, the library list was so long I wasn't likely to get it until well into the new year. I don't usually like to buy mysteries in hardcover, but I couldn't wait. So, another book for my holiday break.
I'm officially on break from work for the next five days! I hope to get caught up on blog reading (I feel even more behind than I usually do--if that's at all possible). I have two books I'm nearly finished with, so I'll be spending time with them. I also think a library visit is in order (time to switch out books), and since I'll be downtown with no other pressing business I might even stop by my favorite used bookstore. Just for a browse of course. Two bookstores in two weeks. Scandalous behavior.