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• Beneath the Mountain: A Novel - January 2, 2018 Harper Paperbacks,

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Beneath the Mountain
Publishers Weekly.
264.47 (Nov. 20, 2017): p76.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text: 
* Beneath the Mountain
Luca D'Andrea,trans. from the Italian by Howard Curtis. Harper, $16.99 trade paper (400p) ISBN 978-0-06-
268017-4
D'Andrea's superb debut thriller mines the darkness that hides beneath the surface of Siebenhoch, a
beautiful, remote Italian village. New Yorker Jeremiah Salinger, a documentary filmmaker, nearly loses his
mind after he's the only one to survive a disastrous shoot in the Dolomite mountains involving the region's
rescue group. With the support of his Italian wife, his five-year-old daughter, and his father-in-law, Salinger
comes back from the brink. Meanwhile, he becomes obsessed with the never-solved murder and
dismemberment of three students in the Bletterbach Gorge in 1985. His interest in the case comes to the
attention of the local head of the forest rangers, who warns him not to dig up the past. Undeterred, Salinger
unearths some sinister secrets, but revealing the truth could cost him his family and his life. D'Andrea makes
excellent use of his unusual setting, its idiosyncratic denizens, and the troubled Salinger's outsider status. A
genuinely unexpected denouement hits like a freight train, perfectly bringing together all the pieces of a
macabre, utterly riveting puzzle. Agent: Piergiorgio Nicolazzini, Piergiorgio Nicolazzini Literary Agency.
(Jan.)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Beneath the Mountain." Publishers Weekly, 20 Nov. 2017, p. 76. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A517262094/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=ec0da9c0.
Accessed 27 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A517262094
Beneath the Mountain
Thomas Gaughan
Booklist.
114.6 (Nov. 15, 2017): p24.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text: 
* Beneath the Mountain.
By Luca D'Andrea. Tr. by Howard Curtis.
Jan. 2018.400p. Harper, paper, $15.99
(9780062680174); e-book, $11.99 (9780062680181).
Pared to its essence, this is the story of a young American man, Jeremiah Salinger, who relocates to the
small Italian mountain town in the Alto Adige, in the Dolomite Alps, where his wife grew up. Soon after
arriving, he becomes obsessed with the savage, unsolved murder of three young people who were hacked to
death in 1985. But former schoolteacher D'Andrea, who also grew up there, has a lot more in mind than a
crime. His portrait of a region that many readers will not have heard of is multidimensional--sociological,
geographical, climatological, and geological. The region is a place of small villages whose inhabitants are
suspicious of outsiders and never forget the transgressions of lifelong neighbors. It's a place where German
and Ladin are more commonly spoken than Italian. It's a place once very poor that has, through tourism,
become Italy's wealthiest region. It's a place of avalanches, rock slides, glaciers, crevasses, and deadly selfregenerating
storms fueled by the mountains. It's also a magnificent laboratory for paleobiologists studying
fossils of creatures that lived 200 million years ago. But D'Andrea isn't just providing a social-studies class;
he puts Salinger into blizzards, crevasses, and even caves beneath the mountains. Indeed, Salinger's
obsession is fueled partly by PTSD brought on by being caught in a glacier's crevasse and listening to the
"hissing of the Beast." Beneath the Mountain is a grand tale that appeals on many levels.--Thomas Gaughan
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Gaughan, Thomas. "Beneath the Mountain." Booklist, 15 Nov. 2017, p. 24. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A517441730/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d79d4d8b.
Accessed 27 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A517441730
Fiction
Library Journal.
142.15 (Sept. 15, 2017): p63+.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text: 
* Benedict, Helen. Wolf Season. Bellevue Literary. Oct. 2017.320p. ISBN 9781942658306. pap. $16.99;
ebk. ISBN 9781942658313. F
The latest from award winner Benedict (The Lonely Soldier) offers an unflinching look at three women
whose war-torn lives intersect after a hurricane devastates their small town in upstate New York. Iraq War
veteran Rin, discharged with PTSD after her soldier husband is killed, retreats with her blind daughter Juney
to his family farm, where she keeps three wolves raised from pups. Widowed doctor Naema, who first
appeared in the author's Sand Queen, works at the clinic where Rin takes Juney. Naema, whose husband was
a U.S. interpreter in Iraq, grieves with her wounded son Tariq, whose memories of the battle include a
prosthetic leg. Naema further suffers life-threatening injuries during the storm. With son Flanner, Beth
awaits the return of her husband from Afghanistan, only to find him violent and abusive. When Flanner lies
about Rin's wolves, Beth reports her to the authorities. With his mother recovering and Flanner no longer a
friend, Tariq finds solace with Juney and Rin. As tensions rise, even more explosive events occur, turning all
of their lives upside down. VERDICT In a book that deserves the widest attention, Benedict "follows the
war home," engaging readers with an insightful story right up until the gut-wrenching conclusion.--Donna
Bettencourt, Mesa Cty. P.L., Grand Junction, CO
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Brockmole, Jessica. Woman Enters Left. Ballantine. Aug. 2017.352p. ISBN 9780399178511. pap. $16; ebk.
ISBN 9780399178528. F
In 1917, Ethel's best friend Florence shows up at her doorstep waving an ad for a factory job painting
radium dials on watches. Florence, who has always been in love with Ethel, doesn't wipe the radium glow
off of her lips as she works, hoping to match Ethel's natural effervescence. In 1926, Ethel's husband, Carl,
has left her and taken their daughter to a ranch in Nevada to wait out the time it takes to file for divorce.
Meanwhile, Florence comes to visit, and Ethel impulsively decides to go on a road trip with her. Riding
rough in a Model T, they sleep in campgrounds and cook over a fire. Florence is losing her teeth, and Ethel
has ankle pains that never seem to heal. In 1952, Ethel's daughter Louise, a Hollywood movie star, travels to
Vegas to escape from a failing marriage and career troubles, uncovering family secrets along the way.
VERDICT In Brockmole's (Letters from Skye; At the Edge of Summer) poignant novel, multiple time lines
work together to flesh out the characters' stories. There may be additional interest in this book owing to Kate
Moore's recent nonfiction work, Radium Girls.---Jennifer Mills, Shorewood-Troy Lib., IL
D'Andrea, Luca. Beneath the Mountain. Harper. Jan. 2018.400p. tr. from Italian by Howard Curtis. ISBN
9780062680174. pap. $16.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062680181. F
DEBUT Documentary filmmaker Jeremiah Salinger has moved with his family to his wife's hometown in
the Italian Alps. He is settling in and starting a new television series about the mountain rescue team when
tragedy strikes the group, leaving him the only survivor. While recovering, he starts poking into local
history and learns of a 30-year-old unsolved triple murder. As he becomes more determined (his wife,
Annelise, would say obsessed) to understand what happened, he risks alienating his new friends and
possibly losing his family. The remote spot where the crime occurred has long had a reputation for evil, and
there are even whispers about supernatural goings-on in the darker corners of the mountain range.
VERDICT This Italian debut is a satisfying mystery with building tension and a dramatic and unusual
setting that will appeal to armchair travelers eager to explore beyond Venice or Rome.---Dan Forrest,
Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green
Dempsey, Joan. This Is How It Begins. She Writes. Oct. 2017.399p. ISBN 9781631523083. pap. $16.95;
ebk. ISBN 9781631523090. F
DEBUT Ludka Zeilonka and husband Izaac remember the past all too well, and now they fear they are
being made to repeat it. At age 85, Ludka is still active as an art professor. Both Izaac and son Lolek are
distinguished Massachusetts politicians. Grandson Tommy enjoys teaching until he is abruptly fired, along
with several other gay high school teachers, for supposedly silencing the Christian students in their classes.
This is followed by rocks through the window and outright assault, which sends Tommy to the hospital. The
teacher firings were instigated by Warren Meek, a fundamentalist local radio host who reasons that if he can
establish such sentiments in liberal Massachusetts, he will make headway on the national stage. Yet Warren
abhors violence and is uneasy at the turn his followers are taking. Meanwhile, Ludka receives a disturbing
message about a secret she has kept since the dark days of the Warsaw ghetto and the Holocaust, as she and
Izaac take a grueling trip to Poland. VERDICT Dempsey's fine debut, set in 2009, explores how hate, fear,
and intolerance cast a lifelong shadow. Current events have only made this gripping story more relevant.---
Leslie Patterson, Rehoboth, MA
Erdrich, Louise. Future Home of the Living God Harper. Nov. 2017.304p. ISBN 9780062694058. $28.99;
ebk. ISBN 9780062694072. F
Born on an Ojibwe reservation, Cedar Songmaker was adopted by Sera and Glen, an ultraliberal couple who
made sure Cedar never forgot her tribal roots. Now 26, single, and pregnant, Cedar is living in a dystopian
future, where a biological calamity appears to be reversing evolution. To tamp down panic, cable and
telecommunications companies have been seized. Many women are dying in childbirth, their babies not
viable. An ultrasound indicates that Cedar's child might be perfect, which sets her on the run from laws that
call for rounding up and incarcerating mothers-to-be until delivery. Whom can she trust? Phil, the father of
her child; her tribal family, who could spirit her to Canada; her adoptive parents, who have disappeared? In
a narrative that is propulsive, wry, and keenly observant, Cedar records her fears in a diary for her unborn
baby. Though Erdrich (Round House; LaRose) struggles to wrap up these observances in a single, cohesive
message, she unpacks a Pandora's box of contemporary thematic threads, including environmental
devastation, religious intolerance, censorship, and government overreach of women's reproductive rights.
VERDICT Quite different from Erdrich's previous work, this chilling speculative fiction is perfect for
readers seeking the next Handmaid's Tale. [See Prepub Alert, 5/8/17.]--Sally Bissell, formerly with Lee Cty.
Lib. Syst., Fort Myers, FL
Garcia, Cristina. Here in Berlin. Counterpoint. Oct. 2017. 224p. ISBN 9781619029590. $26; ebk. ISBN
9781619029705. F
This latest from Garcia, a National Book Award finalist for Dreaming in Cuban, recounts conversations held
by the narrator, known only as the "visitor," with strangers around modern-day Berlin. Most of the
interactions are with people who lived through World War II, from a Jewish woman who hid in a coffin built
by her husband to a woman who defended former Nazis in court. We hear the story of one woman who
performs cataract surgery and another who is happy that her cataracts have blurred her vision so she can no
longer see her reflection in the mirror. Others have more anecdotal stories, e.g., a doppelganger of Hitler's
wife, Eva Braun, and a man who was commissioned to create a new dance craze by the German Ministry of
Culture. VERDICT Unfortunately, most of Garcia's vignettes are only a few pages long, leaving readers no
chance of getting to know the emotions or details of the characters' lives. This novel touches on complex
themes such as exile, memory, and life in wartime but without much depth.--Kate Gray, Boston P.L., MA
Hauser, Emily. For the Winner: A Novel of Jason and the Argonauts. Pegasus. Oct. 2017.368p. ISBN
9781681775456. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9781681775890. F
This second novel (after For the Most Beautiful) in a planned trilogy by Hauser (classics, Yale Univ.)
revisits the Greek legend of Jason and the Argonauts from the perspective of the sole female Argonaut,
Atalanta, who at birth was left to die on a mountain by her father, the King of Pagasae. Raised in
Kaladrosos, she embraces her natural athletic talent, hunting, fighting, and running as well as any man.
When she discovers her true birthright, she vows to win the favor of her royal father. Disguised as a young
man, she travels to Pagasae and hunts with Jason and other heroes, joining their quest for the mythical
Golden Fleece, knowing the prophecy that whoever wins the fleece will rule the kingdom. Meanwhile, the
gods on Mount Olympus play their part in the saga as they try to influence the human contests on Earth.
VERDICT The narrative voice of Atalanta, which offers a fresh point of view on a well-known myth, will
attract fans of Margaret George's Helen of Troy, Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad, and Madeline Miller's
Song of Aehilles. A solid choice for readers of historical and adventure fiction.--Catherine Lantz, Univ. of
Illinois at Chicago Lib.
*Hunter, Megan. The End We Start From. Atlantic. Nov. 2017.160p. ISBN 9780802126894. $22; ebk. ISBN
9780802189066. F
DEBUT London is under water. People are fleeing the city in panic. An unnamed narrator escapes with her
husband and new baby to the family farm, where they survive for a brief time before supplies run out. Then,
along with many others, they leave their safe surroundings for the uncertainty of life on the road, eventually
ending up in a communal encampment. When the camp also becomes uninhabitable, they continue
northward from one shelter to another, until the husband goes off in search of provisions and doesn't return.
The wife then links up with another young mother whose husband has disappeared, allowing each of them
to help the other with child care and other necessary chores. Amid the chaos, they are able to see their young
children grow and flourish just as they might have done in better circumstances. VERDICT The story may
seem familiar--the dystopian nightmare, the mass migration, food shortages, an uncertain future--but debut
novelist Hunter's spare prose and luminous writing give it a fresh immediacy. [See Prepub Alert, 5/22/17.]--
Barbara Love, formerly with Kingston Frontenac P.L., Ont.
Iggulden, Conn. Ravenspur: Rise of the Tudors. Pegasus. (Wars of the Roses, Bk. 4). Dec. 2017.496p. ISBN
9781681776859. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9781681776873. F
The messiest period of medieval English history comes to a relatively tidy finale in Iggulden's wrap-up of
the "Wars of the Roses" quartet (after Stormbird; Trinity; Bloodline). The author takes the internecine
royalist feud from the restoration of the debilitated Henry VI to the surprise victory of Henry VII. In
between, Edward IV replaces Henry VI for a second time, then succumbs to indulgence, allowing his
twisted brother Richard to ascend the throne. The princes in the Tower are "disappeared," so the opposition
turns to a distant male heir to be its standard bearer. The female consorts do not bear on the plot as much
this time, as they're eclipsed by the charisma of Edward York and the Shakespearean cunning of his sibling.
Treacherous sailings, forced marches, and sword-swinging galore run through this energetic retelling. A
map and some genealogical tables help tell the players and places apart. VERDICT Historical fiction
aficionados will relish this concluding volume. Fans of HBO's Game of Thrones will also want to see where
that colossal series had much of its genesis.--W. Keith McCoy, Somerset Cty. Lib. Syst., Bridgewater, NJ
Ignatius, David. The Quantum Spy. Norton. Nov. 2017.304p. ISBN 9780393254150. $25.95; Oebk. ISBN
9780393254167. F
"Like I said, pull on the thread. Eventually, no more sweater." That's the advice that CIA spook Harris
Chang receives from his boss as he searches for a mole inside the agency. Someone is reporting to the
Chinese on U.S. efforts to develop a quantum computer, a machine powerful enough to crack any code in
lightning time. Chang's search is a process of small steps. Often he's in the dark; sometimes he doesn't know
whether he's sleuth or bait. But once he gains some leverage, he uses it to gain more, then more, until the
truth, or a semblance of it, comes into view. In his tenth spy thriller, Washington Post columnist Ignatius
(The Director) demonstrates again his superior storytelling skills. This engrossing tale of spy vs. counterspy
rockets back and forth from Washington, DC, to CIA headquarters in Langley, VA, to Beijing, with stops
along the way in Dubai, Singapore, Mexico City, Kyoto, and Amsterdam. In this sly, fast-moving story,
everyone is hiding something. The trick is finding out what--and then using that knowledge for one's own
ends. VERDICT Ignatius's latest is up to his usual high standards and should appeal to all lovers of spy
fiction.--David Keymer, Cleveland
* Jones, Tayari. An American Marriage. Algonquin. Feb. 2018. 320p. ISBN 9781616201340. $26.95; ebk.
ISBN 9781616207601. F
Novelist Jones (Silver Sparrow), recipient of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award and United States Artist
Fellowship, begins her story with Celestial and Roy, a young, newlywed couple excited about their future
together, taking a trip to visit Celestial's family. Roy then makes a simple decision that changes his life. A
woman in a nearby hotel room is raped and, having encountered Roy at the ice machine, later mistakenly
identifies him as the culprit. Despite the lack of evidence, Roy is sentenced to prison for 12 years. Celestial
knows that he is innocent and tries to support him despite her pain. She turns to best friend Andre, who was
also a friend of Roy's, eventually beginning a relationship with him. When Roy's conviction is later
overturned, his return is equally a joyous and a challenging occasion that brings up issues of love, family,
and race. Jones's writing is engagingly layered with letters between the main characters integrated through
the narrative. Her personal letter to readers demonstrates how writing this novel changed her. VERDICT
Layered like Pearl Cleage's What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, this title will appeal to all readers
of contemporary fiction. [See Prepub Alert, 8/14/17.]--Ashanti White, Fayetteville, NC
Joseph, Nic. The Last Day of Emily Lindsey. Sourcebooks Landmark. Oct. 2017.336p. ISBN
9781492646532. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9781492646549. F
In his second novel (after Boy, 9, Missing), Joseph once again explores the effects of childhood trauma. Det.
Steven Paul is still recovering from having shot a bank robber. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting,
he experiences a PTSD episode, though that's not what he tells his superiors. He's had episodes and a
recurring nightmare for most of his life, but neither has affected him on the job. Now, as Steven is trying to
convince everyone he's fine, he and his partner are called to the hospital. A woman named Emily Lindsey
was found in her home holding a hunting knife and completely covered in blood that is not hers--and she's
not talking. But she does draw a symbol, and that image is one that has haunted Steven's dreams since he
was a child. How is this housewife connected to his past? What does the symbol mean? Those are questions
he is determined to answer. VERDICT Joseph deftly manages a twisty tale of psychological suspense with
just enough creepiness to inspire readers to keep their lights on while turning the pages.--Jane Jorgenson,
Madison P.L., Wl
Keener, Jessica. Strangers in Budapest. Algonquin. Nov. 2017. 352p. ISBN 9781616204976. $26.95; ebk.
ISBN 9781616207687. F
Annie and Will have relocated from the United States to Budapest, surprising friends and family who all
seem to have the same questions: Why Hungary? What about the baby? Annie looks forward to escaping
visits from an overly attentive social worker who facilitated their adoption of infant Leo; Will eagerly
anticipates taking advantage of the rumored booming economy of 1995 Budapest to launch his solo
enterprise in cell phone services. However, they discover a simmering tension in the city that can't quite be
named. Annie seeks to discover the source and immerse herself in the Hungarian experience as much as she
can, eschewing the expat groups that congregate for lunches and cocktails. People whom Annie and Will
meet along the way soon become darkly suspicious. As we learn more about Annie's past and present state
of mind, the suspense builds to a breaking point and nothing is what it seems. VERDICT Keener's (Night
Swim) second novel is a slow burn of an international psychological thriller. Recommended for fans of
Chris Pavone. [Five-city tour.]--Julie Kane, Washington & Lee Lib., Lexington, VA
Lamb, Cathy. No Place I'd Rather Be. Kensington. Sept. 2017.480p. ISBN 9781496709813. pap. $15; ebk.
ISBN 9781496709820. F
Olivia Martindale drives to Montana in a blizzard, the storm reflecting her inner turmoil. She is trying to
adopt two sisters, but it seems their abusive biological mother may soon regain custody. When Olivia's car
plunges toward an icy river, her almost ex-husband, Jace, arrives to pull them to safety. Olivia and her
precocious girls receive a heartwarming welcome from her gentle grandmother, blunt mother, and outspoken
sister. This multi-generational family has plenty of warmth and sass and their hometown has a bevy of
colorful characters who are rooting for Olivia and Jace to get back together. Olivia, a talented chef,
discovers an old cookbook in the attic written in several languages, which reveals a story full of anguish that
unites these four women as they work through the recipes. VERDICT Lamb (Henry's Sisters) covers too
much territory with her inclusion of issues of harassment, bullying, mental health problems, drug abuse, and
autism, yet there is a sweet romance and moving historical reference to how one family is damaged for
generations by war and persecution.--Gloria Drake, Oswego P.L. Dist., IL
Lang, Ruth Emmie. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance. St. Martin's. Nov. 2017. 352p. ISBN
9781250112040. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250112057. F
Lang's fable-like first novel, chock-full of whimsical events, is narrated by the individuals acquainted with
Weylyn Grey, a fellow gifted with the understanding of the natural world. Orphaned, somehow raised by
wolves, Weylyn has developed a particular affinity with both the weather and earth; as a young boy, he
encounters Mary, enchanted with his lupine existence, who joins him for a brief time. Weylyn's gifts
multiply as he matures on his hopscotch journey across America. While he baffles and astonishes many,
overall, his innate warmth and goodness draw people to him. Whether halting a tornado, gathering
phosphorescent honey, or communing with wild animals, he demonstrates a fine ability to introduce wonder
into everyday life. VERDICT Although a bit long-winded, this enchanting title mixes magical realism with
romance, humor, and adventure, delighting readers who enjoy strong fantasy populated with quirky
characters and events. [See Prepub Alert, 5/22/17.]--Andrea Tarr, Corona P.L., CA
Mcintosh, Matthew. theMystery.doc. Grove. Oct. 2017.1664p. photos. ISBN 9780802124913. $35; ebk.
ISBN 9780802189172. F
Mcintosh's latest (after Well) is a hefty, ambitious foray into the frontier of the novel. The self-referential
story is about a writer who wakes up to discover that he doesn't remember who he is, nor does he recognize
his wife or neighbors. Wrapped around and through this premise are myriad, seemingly unrelated, sections,
including documented real-life dialogs, instant message transcripts, 9/11 call logs, excerpts from Dante's
Inferno, personal photos, movie stills, censored passages, and pages of symbols. As the book proceeds, the
writer discovers unsavory details about his unknown self and his possible impending doom. This book
succeeds in broadening the possibilities of fiction and blurring the boundaries of the form; the instant
messaging passages in particular cleverly shed light upon this microcosm of communication. As with any
risky venture, however, some elements are less successful than others; for instance, the photos have a minor
impact compared to the more textual elements. VERDICT This work redefines the concept of the pageturner,
exploring the field of uninterpreted meaning that gives power to the audience while requiring much
more effort to parse, echoing Mark Danielewski's creative use of text but with a more exploded narrative.
Recommended for intrepid readers. [See Prepub Alert, 4/10/17.]--Henry Bankhead, San Rafael P.L., CA
*McKibben, Bill. Radio Free Vermont: A Fable of Resistance. Blue Rider. Nov. 2017. 240p. ISBN
9780735219861. $22; ebk. ISBN 9780735219878. F
DEBUT Vern Barclay is an accidental radical. A native of Vermont, he has watched his beloved state slowly
transform from a small, neighborly, rural culture to one that values big-box stores, stadiums with retractable
roofs, and, horror of horrors, big-name cheap beer. Now in his 70s, facing the end of his career on local talk
radio, Vern goes into hiding, branded a terrorist after a subversive stunt at a Walmart goes wild. Vern and his
friends spread their message of resistance first through his podcast Radio Free Vermont and then through
minor acts of pro-Vermont environmentalism and mischief. Resistance begins to reach toward revolution as
Vern struggles with the ethics of his decisions and worries if he might be leading his friends to a new Utopia
or to jail. Set in the immediate future, complete with references to current politics, the plot feels possible,
even probable. Vern and his compatriots are engaging and realistic. VERDICT With great care and humor,
debut novelist McKibben's (The End of Nature; Oil and Honey) spirited and thought-provoking modern
fable will have readers grappling with the ethical questions of how and when resistance is necessary. [See
Prepub Alert, 5/7/17.]--Jennifer Beach, Longwood Univ. Lib., Farmville, VA
Miranda, Megan. Fragments of the Lost Crown Bks. for Young Readers. Nov. 2017. 384p. ISBN
9780399556722. $18.99; ebk. ISBN 9780399556746. F
When Jessa falls in love with Caleb, everything about him seems wonderful. He is thoughtful, sweet,
helpful, and considerate, but there are niggling things that spark suspicion: Caleb's tense relationship with
his stepfather, the lack of family history, and the unanswered phone calls and texts that Caleb brushes off.
Now he's gone, drowned in a storm after his car was swept over the bridge, and Jessa is devastated. When
Caleb's mom asks her to clean out his room, Jessa realizes she really did not know Caleb at all. And why is
his mother acting so creepy toward her, showing up everywhere Jessa is and seeming to know where she is
at all times? VERDICT Even though Miranda's latest (All the Missing Girls; The Perfect Stranger) is
labeled young adult (YA), adult thriller fans will enjoy it as well. As with Paula Hawkins's Gone Girl, the
reader and Jessa do not know what is true and what isn't, who is lying and why.--Marianne Fitzgerald,
Severna Park H.S., MD
Montemarano, Nicholas. The Senator's Children. Tin House. Nov. 2017.376p. ISBN 9781941040799. pap.
$15.95. F
On the surface, this new novel by Montemarano (The Book of Why; A Fine Place) appears to be another
retelling of an archetypal American political story. A married man runs for public office, spends many
exhausting and lonely days on the campaign trail, and eventually betrays his wife and family by having an
affair. Shame, embarrassment, and public ridicule follow. However, the author is after something much
deeper, tracing the collateral damage across generations as it lives in the hearts and minds of those affected
by it. In particular, the novel focuses on Betsy, the daughter of philandering politician David Christie, who
serves as a kind of parent/counselor to her mother and father as they navigate their separation and
postdivorce life. Betsy is a wonderfully drawn character--compassionate, reflective, and acutely responsive
to the complex and shifting emotional states of her parents. Betsy's journey through this family trauma is
poignant and heartbreaking, but it ultimately brings the gifts of humility, acceptance, and calm. In the end,
she achieves a kind of stoic wisdom, fully realized and beautifully rendered. VERDICT This wonderfully
affected novel is recommended for all fans of literary fiction.--Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community
Coll., CT
Naughton, Sarah. The Girlfriend. Sourcebooks Landmark. Mar. 2018.368p. ISBN 9781492651246. pap.
$15.99. F
Londoner Abe is living in a converted church when he falls from the top landing and ends up in a coma.
Jody, his starry-eyed and troubled girlfriend, is hopelessly devoted. She whimpers by his side and initially
claims that the fall was a botched suicide attempt. But Mags--Abe's estranged sister--is skeptical. Something
doesn't add up. Eventually, Mags, a high-powered and unlikable lawyer, pieces together the ruins of a
deeply tragic life. The story, told in short chapters from alternating perspectives and time lines, also features
Mira, Abe's neighbor, who may know more than she lets on. Each chapter serves as a puzzle piece as
readers gradually come to understand the full picture. VERDICT Costa Award--nominated children's author
Naughton (The Hanged Man Rises) makes her adult fiction debut with this well-crafted, adequately paced
psychological thriller published in the UK as Tattletale. However, this story isn't for the faint of heart.
Gratuitous scenes of child abuse and rape are difficult to read, and astute audiences may not be surprised by
the novel's many twists. Still, the plot moves quickly with skilled prose.--Erin Entrada Kelly, Philadelphia
Perry, Thomas. The Bomb Maker. Mysterious. Jan. 2018.384p. ISBN 9780802127488. $26. ebk. ISBN
9780802165534. F
When half of the entire LAPD bomb squad is killed in a booby-trapped house, it is clear that someone is
targeting the group. The authorities call in Dick Stahl, former soldier, cop, and retired bomb squad leader, to
train replacements and hunt the killer. He manages to defuse several devices, frustrating the bomber, who
kills occasionally just to keep in practice. The culprit is financed by a shadowy terrorist group and is
constantly devising new explosives and methods of delivery. Stahl gets involved with a female squad
member and is forced to resign, but he continues as a consultant even as the bombmaker gets more
desperate. Things naturally build to an explosive climax in this tale filled with extensive bomb details and
nerve-wracking suspense. And while the terrorist element seems strained and the ending a bit melodramatic,
Perry (The Old Man) is a pro, this action-filled novel certainly supporting his considerable reputation.
VERDICT In Perry's 25th thriller, the Edgar Award--winning author deftly and clearly explains topics
unfamiliar to most readers while keeping the plot roaring along.--Roland Person, formerly with Southern
Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale
Pochoda, Ivy. Wonder Valley. Ecco: HarperCollins. Nov. 2017.336p. ISBN 9780062656353. $26.99; ebk.
ISBN 9780062656377. F
During 2006-10, a disparate cast of characters converges in the streets of Los Angeles and the desert outside
the city. This is not the glamorous L.A. of Hollywood, palm trees, and swimming pools. Instead, we follow
a young man recently released from juvenile detention in search of his mother who has become homeless; a
dubious spiritual leader, his family, and a collection of college-age "interns" inhabiting a communal chicken
farm; a pair of criminals on the lam; and a corporate lawyer having an existential crisis. All are connected to
a bizarre incident on the freeway in ways that are not apparent until at least 70 pages in, with the nonlinear
time line and lack of a central character making it somewhat challenging to get a grasp of the story and its
forward momentum. VERDICT Despite the initial confusion, Pochoda (Visitation Sheet) takes readers
places they don't often see with authenticity and clarity. Her description of the daily lives of the urban
homeless is particularly vivid and sympathetic. Each of the main characters does achieve some sort of peace
or resolution by the dark and often violent book's end. [See Prepub Alert, 5/15/17.]--Christine DeZelarTiedman,
Univ. of Minnesota Libs., Minneapolis
Raisin, Ross. A Natural Random. Oct. 2017. 400p. ISBN 9780525508779. $27; ebk. ISBN 9780525508786.
F
Tom Pearman, a 19-year-old British soccer player, gets demoted from the Premier League to lower-level
competition similar to American baseball's minor leagues. Tom has plenty of time for introspection as the
cartoonish coach rarely allows him onto the pitch, but we know our protagonist has natural skills. Raisin
(Out Backward) writes at length about Tom's frustration with soccer, his coming-of-age feelings about sex,
and the loneliness he experiences in his life outside of sports. Mirroring Tom's malaise is team captain Chris
Easter, who struggles balancing his soccer responsibilities with family life, which includes a young wife and
toddler son. Tom and Chris both begin to doubt their physical skills while dealing with maddening love
trysts that compound their despair. Unfortunately, this novel is cluttered with excessive descriptions that bog
down the story's flow. VERDICT Despite hinting at a sports tale, the focus of Raisin's story becomes his
characters' inability to bring into line their love of soccer and other emotional relationships. For readers of
contemporary British fiction. [See Prepub Alert, 4/10/17.]--Rollie Welch, Lehigh Acres, FL
Ross, David F. The Man Who Loved Islands Orenda. Sept. 2017.276p. ISBN 9781910633151. pap. $14.95;
ebk. ISBN 9781495627880. F
Best friends during the 1980s in Ayrshire, Scotland, Bobby Cassidy and Joseph Miller have since parted
ways. In 2014, loyal Hammy May brings them together again. After the initial chill between the two thaws,
Joey and Bobby hatch a plan to memorialize Bobby's brother Gary, who was beloved by both and died too
soon. They decide to celebrate Gary's life on Ailsa Craig, an island bird sanctuary off the Ayrshire coast.
However, Max Mojo, an eccentric scoundrel and former manager of the volatile group The Miraculous
Vespas, hijacks their arrangements, and in the runup to the event, greases palms and cuts deals that may land
Joey and Bobby in jail. Will the reunited Miraculous Vespas save the day? Will Gary, the man who loved
islands, receive the worthy tribute Bobby and Joey wish him to receive? It all depends on the weather.
VERDICT The final novel in Ross's "Disco Days" trilogy, this work is a warm, funny consideration of
reconciliation between middle-aged friends and a celebration of music's healing powers. Suggest to fans of
Nick Hornby.--John G. Matthews, Washington State Univ. Libs., Pullman
Sukegawa, Durian. Sweet Bean Paste. Oneworld. Oct. 2017. 224p. tr. from Japanese by Allison Watts. ISBN
9781786071958. pap. $16.99; ebk. ISBN 9781786071965. F
Making and selling dorayaki--a pancakelike pastry filled with the eponymous "sweet bean paste"--was not
supposed to define Sentaro's life. His someday-dreams of becoming a writer got waylaid by bad decisions
that resulted in a two-year prison sentence. Since getting out, he's been repaying his debts as the dorayaki
shop's only employee--until 76-year-old Tokue answers the "Help Wanted" notice. Sentaro's initial
protestations disappear after he tastes Tokue's homemade sweet bean paste, and she quickly becomes the
shop's best asset. But Tokue has a secret past--which eventually causes her to quit, but not before customers
are scared away by their own unfounded fears of her handicapped appearance. Tokue's got to keep teaching
Sentaro important lessons about listening and learning before it's too late. Inspired by the 1996 repeal of
Japanese legislation that for more than a century inhumanely confined patients with Hansen's Disease
(leprosy)--and their families, Sukegawa--enabled by Watts's lucid translation--tells an endearing, thoughtful
tale about relationships and the everyday meaning of life. VERDICT Readers in search of gently
illuminating fare--e.g., Shion Miura's The Great Passage, Jeff Talarigo's The Pearl Diver--will appreciate
this toothsome treat.--Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC
Whalen, Marybeth Mayhew. When We Were Worthy. Lake Union: Amazon. Sept. 2017.276p. ISBN
9781503941601. pap. $14.95. F
On a crisp, fall football Friday night in Worthy, GA, the Wildcats play to win and the whole town shows up
to watch. Afterward, three of the four elite varsity cheerleaders, Mary Claire "M.C"; Brynne; and
inexperienced, nervous designated driver Keary, pile into a car on their way to celebrate. Graham, who
didn't make the team even as the son of a Worthy Wildcat legend, gets in his new car for the first time and
heads out as well. When the vehicles collide, the deaths of all three girls fracture the town. Cheerleader
Leah, who was not in the car, struggles to explain why she wasn't there, and Graham, the lone crash survivor
found guilty by the jury of public opinion, face the questions and wrath of devastated families and friends.
This tale is told alternately by Leah, Graham's mother, M.C's mother, and Ava, a substitute teacher, as each
grapples with secrets that, if made public, could lead to healing or ruin. VERDICT Whalen (The Things We
Wish Were True) delivers small-town anguish, anger, gossip, and heartbreak in this page-turner. For readers
of Jodi Picoult and lovers of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies.--Susan Santa, Shelter Rock P. L, Albertson,
NY
Willig, Lauren. The English Wife. St. Martin's. Jan. 2018. 384p. ISBN 9781250056276. $26.99; ebk. ISBN
9781466860216. F
It is 1899, and Bay and Annabelle are the golden couple of Gilded Age New York, enjoying a life of wealth
and privilege. That is, until Bay is found murdered during a masquerade ball, and a missing Annabelle is
accused of the crime. Bay's sister Janie defies her autocratic mother to investigate what really happened,
with the help of an attractive journalist. Parallel to Janie's story is that of young singer Georgie, who
struggles to make ends meet in 1894 London. But from whom is Georgie running, and what is her
connection to Janie? Willig, best known for her best-selling "Pink Carnation" series, has a knack for creating
sympathetic characters and fully fleshed settings, adding some juicy plot twists to this atmospheric period
piece. VERDICT Fans of historical mystery series such as those by Victoria Thompson or Lawrence H.
Levy will appreciate this stand-alone drama. [See Prepub Alert, 7/0/17.]--Laurel Bliss, San Diego State
Univ. Lib.
Wilson, Carter. Mister Tender's Girl. Sourcebooks Landmark. Feb. 2018. 400p. ISBN 9781492656500. pap.
$15.99; ebk. ISBN 9781492656517. F
Alice Hill's father earned a living from writing graphic novels featuring Mister Tender, a bartender who
convinces people to do evil in return for fulfilling their utmost wish. Ten years ago, Alice was nearly
stabbed to death by two classmates who had taken the books' message as truth and Mister Tender as their
master. After surviving the brutal crime, the trial, her parents' divorce, a move to America, and a spiral into
drugs, Alice feels like she can finally live her life. She opens and runs a small coffee shop and controls her
anxiety through intense workout sessions. It may be lonely, but it's working. Then a package containing an
unpublished Mister Tender novel arrives and Alice's world is turned upside down again, as she races to
identify Tender before it's too late. Wilson (Revelation) does a bang-up job of transforming a real news story
(the 2014 Slender Man stabbing) into a can't-put-down thriller that will reverberate with readers. The
characters are well drawn, the plot hums, the creepiness level is high, and you won't see the ending coming.
VERDICT Fans of psychological suspense shouldn't miss this great thrill ride.--Marianne Fitzgerald,
Severna Park H.S., MD
SHORT STORIES
Alive in Shape and Color: 16 Paintings by Great Artists and the Stories They Inspired. Pegasus. Dec.
2017.304p. ed. by Lawrence Block, illus. ISBN 9781681775616. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9781681776095. F
Following the success of 2016's art-related collection In Sunlight or in Shadow: Stories Inspired by the
Paintings of Edward Hopper, also edited by Block, this follow-up falls a little short but still contains some
nuggets. Unlike the Hopper-centric stories of the earlier volume, this title features all manner of art, from
the cave paintings of Lascaux (Jeffery Deaver's "A Significant Find") to Balthus (Joyce Carol Oates's creepy
"Les Beaux Jours"), Bosch (Michael Connelly's taut "The Third Panel"), Van Gogh (David Morrell's
"Orange Is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity"), Rodin (Kristine Kathryn Rusch's uneven "Thinkers"), and many
others. Some authors tell the painting's creation myth, with Morrell's Stephen King-inflected offering a
standout, and Nicholas Christopher contributing "Girl with a Fan" (Gauguin), a spy story with Nazis. Sarah
Weinman's period-perfect "The Big Town," and Lee Child's well-crafted "Pierre, Lucien, and Me" feature
art-loving protagonists compelled by paintings to do wrong. In "The Great Wave," S.J. Rozan's captive
narrator speaks to a print of Katsushika Hokusai's masterpiece (it talks back). Yet two of the best stories, Joe
R. Lansdale's deceptively folksy "Charlie the Barber," and Thomas Pluck's stunning "Truth Comes Out of
Her Well To Shame Mankind," barely mention their chosen artworks. VERDICT Reminiscent of Rod
Serling's Night Gallery, this anthology has something, often nasty or scary, for every art lover.--Liz French,
Library Journal
Diski, Jenny. The Vanishing Princess. Ecco: HarperCollins. Dec. 2017. 208p. ISBN 9780062685711. pap.
$15.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062685728. F
Feminist writing lost a provocative, stylistic voice with the death of Diski (Nothing Natural) last year. She
wrote not only several novels and varied works of non-fiction and memoir but also a regular column for the
London Review of Books. This is her only collection of short fiction, originally published in Great Britain in
1995. The varied stories include some fairy tales in which the heroine remains passively trapped or
consciously bucks the genre trope. Other pieces are less allegorical. A rebellious teenage girl is deposited in
a mental institution during the swinging 1960s. An unadventurous housewife discovers her contempt for her
husband while on a Caribbean vacation. Another figure achieves her life goal: the perfect, uninterrupted
bath. A mom rationally introduces her teenage daughter to a discussion of drugs and sex. In the most
memorable work, a competent hausfrau in the midst of a kinky affair with a college professor thoughtfully
analyzes the ethics of betraying both her husband and her lover's wife. VERDICT Each story is told in
Diski's clear, authoritative voice and explores how women strain (or not) against the bounds of a confining
world. A great introduction to Diski's works. [See Prepub Alert, 6/26/17.]--Reba Leiding, emeritus, James
Madison Univ. Lib., Harrisonburg, VA
*Yan Lianke. The Years, Months, Days. Black Cat. Dec. 2017.155p. tr. from Chinese by Carlos Rojas. ISBN
9780802126658. pap. $16. F
Set in the fictional Balou Mountains in Yan's home province of Henan (also the setting for Lenin's Kisses),
these two compelling novellas both exalt emotional bonds and warn against their fatal consequences. To
escape endless drought, an entire village flees in search of sustenance in "Years, Months, Days." A leftbehind
72-year-old man and his blind dog work obsessively to ensure the harvest of the sole remaining corn
stalk, sustained by their tenacious devotion for each other. In "Marrow," a widowed mother has made their
village "infamous" with her epileptic offspring: You Village is better known as Four Idiots Village. She
managed to marry her two older daughters to "a cripple [and] a one-eyed freak," respectively, but her third
daughter demands a "wholer" husband. The mother's search grows frantic as her youngest continuously
makes sexual advances toward his sister. She'll stop at nothing--deception, grave robbing, death--to get her
children properly coupled. Dexterously rendered by Duke professor Rojas (Yan's anointed translator), this
work again directs the author's unflinching gaze on life's impossible absurdities, exposing a surreal mixture
of brutality, openness, even sly humor. VERDICT Libraries with internationally minded readers will want to
provide Yan's provocative latest-in-English title to his substantial audiences. [See Prepub Alert, 6/26/17.]--
Terry Hong, Smithsonian Book-Dragon, Washington, DC
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Fiction." Library Journal, 15 Sept. 2017, p. 63+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A504543726/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d1788293.
Accessed 27 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A504543726

"Beneath the Mountain." Publishers Weekly, 20 Nov. 2017, p. 76. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A517262094/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 27 Mar. 2018. Gaughan, Thomas. "Beneath the Mountain." Booklist, 15 Nov. 2017, p. 24. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A517441730/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 27 Mar. 2018. "Fiction." Library Journal, 15 Sept. 2017, p. 63+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A504543726/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 27 Mar. 2018.

• BookBrowse
  https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_number/12914/beneath-the-mountain
  Word count: 645

  Beneath the Mountain: Book summary and reviews of Beneath the Mountain by Luca D'Andrea

  Beneath the Mountain
  A Novel

  by Luca D'Andrea

  Readers' rating:
  Not Yet Rated
  Published in USA Jan 2018
  400 pages
  Genre: Thrillers

  Publication Information
  Debut Author

  Book Summary

  In Luca D'Andrea's atmospheric and brilliant thriller, set in a small mountain community in the majestic Italian Dolomites, an outsider must uncover the truth about a triple murder that has gone unsolved for thirty years.
  New York City native Jeremiah Salinger is one half of a hot-shot documentary-making team. He and his partner, Mike, made a reality show about roadies that skyrocketed them to fame. But now Salinger's left that all behind, to move with his wife, Annelise, and young daughter, Clara, to the remote part of Italy where Annelise grew up—the Alto Adige.

  Nestled in the Dolomites, this breathtaking, rural region that was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire remains more Austro than Italian. Locals speak a strange, ancient dialect—Ladino—and root for Germany (against Italy) in the world cup. Annelise's small town—Siebenhoch—is close-knit to say the least and does not take kindly to out-of-towners. When Salinger decides to make a documentary about the mountain rescue group, the mission goes horribly awry, leaving him the only survivor. He blames himself, and so—it seems—does everyone else in Siebenhoch. Spiraling into a deep depression, he begins having terrible, recurrent nightmares. Only his little girl Clara can put a smile on his face.

  But when he takes Clara to the Bletterbach Gorge—a canyon rich in fossil remains—he accidentally overhears a conversation that gives his life renewed focus. In 1985, three students were murdered there, their bodies savaged, limbs severed and strewn by a killer who was never found. Although Salinger knows this is a tightlipped community, one where he is definitely persona non grata, he becomes obsessed with solving this mystery and is convinced it is all that can keep him sane. And as Salinger unearths the long kept secrets of this small town, one by one, the terrifying truth is eventually revealed about the horrifying crime that marked an entire village.

  Completely engrossing and deeply atmospheric, Beneath The Mountain is a thriller par excellence.

  Media Reviews
  "Starred Review. Beneath the Mountain is a grand tale that appeals on many levels." - Booklist

  "A genuinely unexpected denouement hits like a freight train, perfectly bringing together all the pieces of a macabre, utterly riveting puzzle." - Publishers Weekly

  "This Italian debut is a satisfying mystery with building tension and a dramatic and unusual setting that will appeal to armchair travelers eager to explore beyond Venice or Rome." - Library Journal

  "Can be compared (with no fear of hyperbole) to Stephen King and Jo Nesbø." - La Repubblica (Italy)

  "D'Andrea is a real master." - La Stampa (Italy)

  The information about Beneath the Mountain shown above was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's online-magazine that keeps our members abreast of notable and high-profile books publishing in the coming weeks. In most cases, the reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the reviews shown do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, please send us a message with the mainstream media reviews that you would like to see added.
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  Luca D'anDrea lives with his family in Bolzano, Italy, where he was born in 1979. Beneath the Mountain is his first thriller, published in thirty countries.

• New York Journal of Books
  https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/beneath-mountain-novel
  Word count: 595

  Beneath the Mountain: A Novel

  Author(s):
  Luca D'Andrea
  Release Date:
  January 1, 2018
  Publisher/Imprint:
  Harper Paperbacks
  Pages:
  400

  Buy on Amazon

  Reviewed by:
  Michael J. McCann
  “D’Andrea’s story sweeps away the reader in an avalanche of life-threatening revelations that make Beneath the Mountain a complete success as a debut thriller.”
  New York City native Jeremiah Salinger is one half of a hot-shot television documentary team on the way up when he decides to move with his family to the remote Italian village of Siebenhoch in the Alto Adige region of the Dolomites. Not long after settling in with his wife, Annalise, and his young daughter, Clara, Salinger reaches out to his partner in New York with a new documentary subject: the Dolomite Mountain Rescue team that operates in the area.
  When Salinger, the writing half of the duo, fills in as cameraman for his partner on a routine rescue mission, he makes the fatal mistake of asking to be lowered into a crevasse at 3,200 meters to shoot additional footage while the rescue crew secures the hiker they’d come to assist. As he waits at the bottom of the crevasse, nearing panic, a sudden avalanche sweeps away the man being lowered to retrieve him and the helicopter to which he’s attached. Everyone dies, except Salinger.
  As he battles severe depression, survivor’s guilt, and panic attacks in the months that follow, Salinger launches himself into yet another investigation after hearing about the brutal murder and dismemberment of three students in the nearby Bletterbach Gorge in 1985. His obsessive search for the truth upsets and infuriates the locals, including his wife, who grew up in the area, and her father, and yet being beaten up, cursed, and spat upon does nothing to slow him down. Who slaughtered these innocent young people, and why has the truth been covered up for so long?
  Luca D’Andrea does a very good job in his debut novel of crafting a portrait of an obsessive mind trapped within a nightmare that refuses to end. Salinger is a character torn between his need to tell the next story and his responsibility to protect his wife and young daughter, and repeatedly he makes the wrong choice between these two opposing pressures.
  D’Andrea also succeeds in giving readers a strong sense of the region, the tensions between Italian and Austrian influences, the insularity of the locals, and the incredible beauty—and terror—of the geography of the area. In particular, his references to the geological and paleontological richesse of the Bletterbach Gorge provide an effective counterpoint to the human secrets also hidden there.
  Originally published in Italian as La Sostanza del Male, the novel has been translated into English by Howard Curtis, whose completely transparent effort reflects D’Andrea’s calm, uncomplicated writing style to great effect.
  The novel is rather slow to develop and is somewhat repetitive in the first two-thirds or so, but once Salinger finally penetrates through to the layers of the past that hold the truth of what happened in 1985, D’Andrea’s story sweeps away the reader in an avalanche of life-threatening revelations that make Beneath the Mountain a complete success as a debut thriller.

  Michael J. McCann’s crime novel Sorrow Lake was shortlisted for the 2015 North American Hammett Prize for literary excellence in crime fiction. His latest novel is Burn Country, the second March and Walker Crime Novel.

• Lacey Does Lit
  https://laceydoeslit.com/2018/01/03/beneath-the-mountain-luca-dandrea/
  Word count: 227

  Beneath The Mountain-Luca D’Andrea

  I can’t turn down a thriller and boy am I glad I was sent a copy of Beneath The Mountain!
  Jeremiah Salinger is a documentarian of sorts. His claim to fame was, in his eyes, nothing special. When he moves to Italy with his wife and daughter and starts working on his next project, following a mountain rescue crew, he almost loses everything, including his life. His wife begs him to take a year break from work so he can fully recover. It’s during this time that he discovers the brutal Bletterbach murders. Although he promised his beloved wife that he would take a year hiatus, he finds himself obsessing over the mystery of the murders. When he discovers the truth of that horrible night he finds his entire world comes crashing down as well.
  Beneath The Mountain is 387 pages long and took me 5 days to read.
  I completely loved this story and give it a 4 out of 5. I still find myself thinking about it even though I finished it a month ago. Luca D’Andrea is a masterful story teller and I will absolutely be reading his other works.
  Thank you Harper for sending me this advanced copy!
  Here’s to the adventure of finding a novel novel!
  Lacey

• MBTB's Mystery Book Blog
  http://mbtb-books.blogspot.com/2018/03/beneath-mountain-by-luca-dandrea.html
  Word count: 1133

  MBTB's Mystery Book Blog
  Murder by the Book, Portland, Oregon, reviews mystery & crime books.

  Welcome to Murder by the Book's blog about what we've read recently. You can find our website at www.mbtb.com.

  Thursday, March 1, 2018
  Beneath the Mountain by Luca D’Andrea

  Translated by Howard Curtis
  Harper, 400 pages, $16.99 (c2016, U.S. Ed. 2018)

  If there were an award for the book equivalent of the Olympics’ Giant Slalom race, “Beneath the Mountain” would win. There are more twists and turns in this book than there are serpent coils in the caduceus. How many authors does it take to screw in a light bulb? Only one, if that author is Luca D’Andrea.

  “Beneath the Moon” was translated from Italian by Howard Curtis. Let me toss a massive number of kudos to Mr. Curtis, because the book read smoothly in English. The fact that the main character, Jeremiah Salinger, is supposedly Brooklyn born and raised ups the challenge to produce an authentic-sounding American. Italian author Luca D’Andrea can raise the flag on the summit of that challenge.

  Despite being dizzy from completing D’Andrea’s novel, I think what appealed to me the most was not the twisty plotting but the deep shadings of his many characters.

  Salinger and his wife and five-year-old daughter travel from the U.S. to Siebenhoch in the northeast part of Italy, an area more Deutsche than it is Italiano, for Salinger’s work. He and his American partner, Mike, almost by accident, are reality show developers. Their newest idea involves trailing the mountain rescue squad in the Siebenhoch area. This is where the father of Salinger’s wife, Annelise, lives. Because Salinger had a German immigrant mother, he speaks German. So everyone thinks of it almost like a vacation. Until tragedy strikes. Dum, dum, dum!

  Mike is the videographer but he is unable to go on one of the rescue missions, so Salinger — not the bravest soul — fills in. The helicopter swoops and twirls to the rescue site. Salinger finds himself — you can see the thought balloon above his head: "What?!" — asking permission to make the descent into the crevasse to film the rescue of a wayward tourist who managed to jam herself into the crack. The mission does not end well, and Salinger finds himself dealing with the effects of PTSD and survivor’s guilt.

  To take his mind off his physical and mental difficulties, Salinger becomes interested in a twenty-six-year old tragic tale that still resonates strongly, although discreetly, in the small community of Siebenhoch. The Bletterbach mountain looms over the village and has seen its share of mishaps and deaths, as locals and tourists insist on traversing its inhospitable cliffs. But on the face of it, one particular tragedy had nothing to do with the act of hiking or climbing per se and everything to do with a malevolent human act.

  Evi, her boyfriend Kurt, and her brother Magnus went for a hike on the mountain. As young adults who had grown up in the area, they knew the ins and outs of Bletterbach better than most. Nevertheless, a once-in-a-lifetime storm hits the area during their hike, stalling their progress. Their dead bodies are discovered shortly after by a rescue team. And their bodies aren’t just dead; they are mangled. Were they murdered by a person or a legendary beast? During Salinger’s own ordeal on the mountain, he heard what he calls “The Beast” muttering and calling to him. Or did he? (He is pretty danged traumatized in any event.)

  It is clear that as Salinger begins his “investigation,” he begins to step on toes and uncover secrets that should have stayed in the shadows. The investigation becomes an obsession at times. He knows it would be better for him to stay away from any more potential for trauma. He knows his wife and father-in-law strongly disapprove of his interference. He knows only heartache can come from digging into a crime that has uneasily settled down over the last twenty-plus years. No one was charged, no strong suspect investigated, no further murders occurred on the mountain.

  The strong secondary story in D’Andrea’s book is the disintegration of Salinger’s personality. He has gone from fun-loving dad to his precocious daughter and romantic husband to his stalwart wife to a man who screams in the night and tortures himself with the details of the mountain murders. The locals alternately pummel and confide in him.

  I can see why this book, according to promotional statements, made a splash at the London Book Fair. It’s loaded with plot twists, a mostly sympathetic main character, a cute kid, great physical setting, quirky culture (German-speaking part of Italy), and volatile human drama. But there was almost too much of everything. You really can stop now, I kept saying to Salinger. Let it go, I added. He didn’t listen to me. (He didn’t listen to anybody else either, so I don’t feel so bad.) Nevertheless, I found it hard to stop turning the pages.

  Posted by Barbara Tom at 11:52 AM

  About Murder by the Book, Portland, Oregon
  MURDER BY THE BOOK, a bookstore for the mystery reading community, opened in 1983. Although our collection of new and used mysteries was terrific, what we prided ourselves on most was our customer service. Our staff had more than 50 years combined experience, all focused on helping you find the perfect murder, whether it's an author you read long ago whose name you can't remember, a new author like your old favorites, or the missing title in your favorite series.

  Our doors closed in April 2013 but the spirit of Murder by the Book lives on through our website, book blog and more.

  If you are interested in purchasing a book mentioned in a blog post, please do so from your local, independent bookstore. They need your support and you need them in your neighborhood.

  Visit our website at www.mbtb.com.

  Why are some of these books not mysteries?
  After Murder by the Book was closed, I decided to include non-mysteries in the blog. The world is full of wonderful books, not all of which are mysteries. However, my first love is mysteries/crime fiction/thrillers/adventure novels. I try to clearly identify right at the start of a review those books that are not mysteries. I hope you find those reviews interesting, and if a review leads to a book you would not have otherwise read, then that's good. -- Barbara

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