Welcome to April’s Surprise Books & More, a monthly podcast episode/post in which I'll share all of my ranked reads (below) and “surprise” you with books I read this month that I’ve kept secret just for this episode. These monthly surprise reads are so fun for me (I love reading in secret) and I hope fun for you to get to hear about and hopefully decide to pick up. The best way I can think to describe this monthly segment is that it’s like a very mini reading guide that comes your way monthly instead of once a season or once a year. My goal is to always bring at least one book I absolutely loved1. My focus when searching for possible titles is on under the radar new and backlist books (mostly backlist).
This month, in the audio podcast, I’m sharing the backlist book I read this month that was a huge winner and the upcoming (much anticipated) June release that I have complicated feelings about. I’ll also be sharing two of my favorite products and tv shows this month, and a super under the radar book I just bought from Blackwell’s.
As always, below you’ll find links to all books and products mentioned, all my monthly reads ranked in order of enjoyment (star ratings are back this month), as well as gift links. I hope you enjoy!
April’s Featured Backlist Book
The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney
A smart, fiercely compassionate crime story that explores the mysteries of memory and the impact of violence on survivors—and the lengths they will go to find the painful truth of the events that scarred their lives.
In the summer of 1986, two tragedies rocked Oklahoma City. Six movie-theater employees were killed in an armed robbery, while one inexplicably survived. Then, a teenage girl vanished from the annual State Fair. Neither crime was ever solved.
Twenty-five years later, the reverberations of those unsolved cases quietly echo through survivors’ lives
I loved the idea of two mysteries being set in the summer of the late 1980’s. I have to tell you, not only is this an excellent crime story, it’s beautifully written. The characters and setting felt real as his writing puts you there, in that movie theatre and at the county fair. I really believe you’ll be hard pressed to put this one down once you start reading as Berney’s writing compels you to want to find out what happened that long ago summer. He expertly shifts perspectives between Wyatt and Julianna as well as between past and present. This book was one of my top 5 favorites of 2015 and I’d say if you love crime fiction with intriguing mysteries give this a try
