It's amazing how much time you can waste by browsing for new books online. I've yet to refine my method, but I've found that if you put in the right dates, select the right category and then choose a publisher, you can see a list of forthcoming books through Amazon's advanced search option. I've also discovered that many publishers will put their catalogs (in PDF form) on their websites, or at least share their "coming soon" list of books. It's not like I have nothing better to do, but once you start it becomes sort of addicting. Here's my latest list of books I'd like to keep an eye out for:
Shadow Tag, Louise Erdrich - I have never read any of Erdrich's books, which seems sort of bad as I consider her to be a major contemporary American author. I should really remedy that sometime--maybe with her new book.
Storm in the Blood, Jon Stephen Fink - This is based on true events that occurred in London in 1910 involving "violence, ethnic unrest, political subterfuge, and terrorism".
Faithful Place, Tana French - I loved Into the Woods, have yet to read The Likeness and will be watching for this new one, which seems to be another crime novel set in Dublin--not sure if it's related to the first two. Will have to get her second novel read soon.
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage, Elizabeth Gilbert - Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love fame. I liked parts of her recent book very much, though not all of it resonated with me. I expect her new one will do very well. I'm curious about the movie that was supposed to be made of Eat, Pray, Love.
Sheen on Silk, Anne Perry - I've enjoyed Perry's Victorian mysteries (haven't read all of them, though) and have a few of her WWI mysteries on hand. Apparently this is a standalone set in 13th century Constantinople, which sounds very much a departure for her. It sounds good, though, and I'm happy to say I'm first in line for it at the library!
Body of Death: An Inspector Lynley Novel, Elizabeth George - Sheesh. I waited ages for her most recent mystery, which I had to buy right away and then promptly set it on my TBR pile and haven't picked it up. Now it seems right away she has a new one coming out. What happened. I really love George's Lynley mysteries, though I think I perfer her earlier books. Still, I think I am enough of a fan to still buy the new books even if I'm unsure of them. I've heard varying things about her most recent mystery, though I've finally pulled it off the pile to perhaps read over my break. A new book is just the impetus I needed I guess.
Dead Travel Fast, Deanna Raybourn - I have no idea what this is about, but as I love her Lady Julia Grey books, I will have to buy her new one (which is not a Lady Julia Grey novel). Does anyone know what this is about? Not that I don't enjoy vampire books, but I sort of hope it might not be a vampire novel. By the way, I've yet to read her latest Lady Julia Gray mystery, but it is also gracing my holiday reads pile. I'm going to be very busy I expect.
Vienna Secrets, Frank Tallis - I really liked his first Max Liebermann mystery and plan on savoring the rest of the books in the series. This is #4.
Shadow and Light, Jonathan Rabb - This is set in pre-WWII Berlin. I've been watching for the paperback.
The Hand That First Held Mine, Maggie O'Farrell - I read one of her earlier novels and really liked it. I've been meaning to read something else and this one sounds pretty good as well.
Ordinary Thunderstorms, William Boyd - This sounds really good, edge of your seat type reading. It's about identity theft, but I suspect it's about much more than that.
The American Girl, Monika Fagerholm- "Crime mystery and gothic saga, social study and chronicle of the late sixties and early seventies, a portrait of the psyche of young girls on the cusp of sexual awakening, The American Girl is a bewitching glimpse of the human capacity for survival and for self-inflicted wounds."
The Last Rendezvous, Anne Plantagenet - I'm not entirely sure if this is fiction or biography, or a combination of the two. It's about French poet Marceline Desbordes.
The Edge of Ruin, Irene Fleming - This appears to be a new historical mystery series featuring a young struggling moviemaker, Emily Daggett Weiss, in the early 20th century. It sounds like fun!
It's a good thing I might be getting a gift card or two for Christmas in case I feel the urge to buy one or two new books in 2010. Hopefully I can find most of these at my library otherwise!