Well, after a big Recommended Reading List in July, I have a small one in August. I read a lot, but very little impressed me. I read three novellas by a favorite author, only available on Kindle (blech), and quit before getting to the others he’d published. He’s traditionally published and did these exclusive with Amazon, something he’s done for years. The novellas didn’t end. Or they changed POV at the end. Or they were all dialogue. It was…not as good as the rest of his stuff, and I don’t know why.
Then there was a book on my TBR that had been there for ten years. I read 49 pages and realized why I’d quit this author years ago. The book was boring.
I read a few collections, and another book from an author I liked. That book was slow going for a variety of reasons, and I’m not recommending it. Here, instead, is what I do have to recommend, including a literary mystery that was also a slow read, but a pleasurable one.
August, 2026
Browne, Robert Gregory, “Bottom Deal,” Killer Year: Stories to Die For…,, edited by Lee Child, St. Martins Paperback, 2015. Fascinating unputdownable novelette (or novella) with compelling characters. The setting is Las Vegas, so I could imagine it, but I did long for a bit more description at times. Other than that, I blew through the story, and loved it, particularly the ending.
Carter, Stephen L., New England White, Vintage, 2008. This is the next book in Carter’s mystery trilogy. The books are loosely connected. You can read one without reading any of the others, but you will miss some Easter eggs. I recommended the previous book, The Emperor of Ocean Park, which I read in April. These books are meaty and wonderful, filled with complex characters and a meandering plot. I scan some books, but not these. I had to read every word. The pull quote at the top says that the book is page-turning, and when I started it, I scoffed. Carter’s writing is too precise and dense for a page-turner. Yet by the end, I was turning the pages quickly…or as quickly as I could while savoring.
The book is twenty years old, and the world that it reflects isn’t ours any longer. The political problems at the time seemed horrific, but we had no idea what was in store for us. I found myself longing for traditional (if awful) problems in a long-gone world.
Definitely worth reading. I loved the book, not as much as Emperor, partly because the book didn’t have a charming child in it, but still worth the time I spent on it.
Causey, Toni McGee, “A Failure to Communicate,” Killer Year: Stories to Die For…,, edited by Lee Child, St. Martins Paperback, 2015. This story is all about timing, and it has headers over each section giving the time. (Five minutes ago, an hour ago.) It’s delightful, partly because the characters and voice are so strong. Worth reading.
Child, Lee, editor, Killer Year: Stories to Die For…, St. Martins Paperback, 2015. This little yellow paperback is a hot mess of a book. Whoever put it together, recognizing that the beginning writers from eight years before were now famous, had no idea how to update an anthology. Some of the bios were clearly written in 2015. Some in 2007. All of the introductions written by professional writers stem from 2007 as well. So it was confusing on the nonfiction side.
However, this anthology is filled with excellent stories, some of which I’ve noted here. After I finished it, I picked up another anthology and instantly regretted it. Most of those stories were beautifully written noir. Most of these stories are short thrillers or sharp shocks. A few are actual mysteries. But, if you can, pick up the original hardcover. The 2015 paperback is terribly done.
Feinberg, Scott, “This is Serious Shit, Man,” The Hollywood Reporter, June 3, 2026. Because it was awards season, Feinberg sat down with Harrison Ford to discuss his possible nominations and wins for TV, as well as his long career. Ford also discusses the future of movies. He and Feinberg packed a lot into this short interview, which is definitely worth your time.
Francis, Patry, “The Only Word I Know in Spanish,” Killer Year: Stories to Die For…,, edited by Lee Child, St. Martins Paperback, 2015. Compelling story with a strong voice, and the perfect feeling of impending doom. I couldn’t put this one down even as it broke my heart.
Heawood, Sophie, “Harry Styles is One of Us,” Runner’s World, Spring, 2026. The title of this article is misleading. It’s actually a joint interview about being a professional artist conducted with Harry Styles, musician, and Haruki Murakami, writer. Murakami’s book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running inspired Styles, and it shows in the discussion. Worth the read, even if you’re not a runner.
Manaugh, Geoff, A Burglar’s Guide to the City, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2016. One of the most fascinating books I’ve read in years, filled with story ideas and all kinds of perspective that I’d never had before. It’s well written, chockfull of anecdotes of burglars gone right and burglaries gone wrong. I discovered it on Bluesky when it was recommended by a friend. I read this one slowly too, partly because it had so many anecdotes and ideas per page. I even spent time on the (fascinating) footnotes. Highly recommended.
Tsui, Bonnie, “Ku Stevens Had It All Figured Out,” Runner’s World, Spring, 2026. Runner’s World articles are often amazing, but the Spring issue really knocked it out of the park. First there was the Harry Styles inteview/article (above), and then this inspiring and heartbreaking and amazing piece on Ku Stevens. Stevens grew up with the history of his grandfather, Frank Quinn, who ran away from the Stewart Indian School when he was eight years old. He ran 50 miles to get home. That wasn’t a school, by the way. Those of you who are unfamiliar with American history probably don’t know that the “Indian Schools” were designed to wipe out all knowledge of the children’s family and heritage. Many kids died in those places.
Ku’s grandfather was brought back and ran away two more times before federal authorities gave up on him, and he got to remain with his family. At 17, Ku ran that 50-mile stretch through the Nevada desert to honor his grandfather. Eventually, Ku started a race that would allow others to join him. In the meantime, he had some challenges of his own as a college athlete. I’m not going to recap the entire article here, but it is definitely worth your time.
