Having Read That with Brian Vakulskas

Author: Brad Meltzer (and Josh Mensch) Book: THE NAZI CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill (Young Reader’s Edition) Publishing: Scholastic Focus (October 21, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Brad_Meltzer_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): New York Times bestselling authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch adapt their instant bestseller, The Nazi Conspiracy, for young readers to bring them the heart-pounding story of the assassination plot that nearly changed the course of history.It’s 1943. Nazi Germany and its Axis power allies are ravaging Europe and the Pacific with a terrible war. At this juncture, President Franklin Roosevelt has one critical goal: a face-to-face meeting with his allies, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. The first ever meeting of the “Big Three” is set to take place in Tehran, Iran, where the leaders of the three great superpowers will discuss and decide on some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. But when the Nazis learn about the meeting, they form their own secret, deadly plan: an assassination plot that would forever change history…if they’re successful. This riveting true story, filled with daring rescues and high stakes intrigue, explains how this pivotal meeting in Tehran changed the course of World War II, and how the Nazi conspiracy to assassinate the Allied leaders nearly led to world-shattering disaster. Renowned authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch bring their New York Times bestseller, The Nazi Conspiracy, to young readers for the first time with this action-packed page-turner that offers an informative overview of World War II and details the heart-pounding true story of the Nazi plot to assassinate Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill at the height of World War II. Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills, so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future. The post BRAD MELTZER – THE NAZI CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill (Young Reader’s Edition) appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Co-Editors: Lucas  E. Morel & Jonathan W. White Book: MEASURING THE MAN: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln Publishing: Reedy Press (October 1, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lucas_Morel_Jonathan_White_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): In Measuring the Man, acclaimed scholars Lucas E. Morel and Jonathan W. White assemble Frederick Douglass’s most meaningful and poignant statements about Abraham Lincoln, including a dozen newly discovered documents that have not been seen for 160 years. Readers will encounter the distrust and vitriol Douglass directed at Lincoln throughout much of the Civil War, including his anger and frustration with the president as he moved slowly, but methodically, toward emancipation. Douglass’s writings also reveal how three personal interactions between these two great men led to powerful feelings of friendship and mutual admiration. After Lincoln’s assassination—as Jim Crow laws and political violence gutted the hard-won rights of Black Americans—Douglass expressed greater appreciation for Lincoln’s statesmanship during the Civil War and praised him as a model for postwar America. There is no one better than Frederick Douglass to offer a critical assessment of the Great Emancipator and savior of the Union. His reflections not only convey Lincoln’s contributions to the nation but also teach today’s generation timely lessons on how to fulfill the promise of the American republic. Measuring the Man sheds new light on the most critical period of American history and will transform the way we think about these two extraordinary leaders. The post LUCAS E. MOREL & JONATHAN W. WHITE – MEASURING THE MAN: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Elizabeth George Book: A SLOWLY DYING CAUSE: A Lynley Novel Publishing: Viking (September 23, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Elizabeth_George_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): A new and highly anticipated Inspector Lynley TV series releasing this fall from BritBox Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley are back in the next Lynley novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George. Michael Lobb has just been found dead on the floor of his family’s tin & pewter workshop. It’s suspicious enough that his body was found by a representative of Cornwall EcoMining, a company keen on acquiring his family’s land, and it’s made even worse when he’s revealed to have been the majority owner of the business and the sole obstacle preventing a deal from being made. But it doesn’t take long for Inspector Beatrice Hannaford to unearth the layers of estrangement that surrounded Michael in his final days, pointing suspicions elsewhere. In comes Kayla, a young woman half Michael’s age, who has just been made his widow. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers are brought in to help solve the crime and search for justice in a community where lust, greed, and family traditions collide with devastating consequences. The post ELIZABETH GEORGE – A SLOWLY DYING CAUSE: A Lynley Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Lisa Gardner Book: KISS HER GOODBYE: A Novel Publishing: Grand Central Publishing (August 12, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Lisa_Gardner_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): A New York Times bestselling author returns with the latest installment in the addictive Frankie Elkin series, in which Frankie is called to Tucson, Arizona, to find a missing Afghan refugee, whose friend suspects she is in grave danger—before it is too late. “Timely and completely gripping.” (Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author) Recent Afghan refugee and young mother Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. The local police have yet to open a case, while her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. At the insistence of Sabera’s closest friend, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search just in time for a video of Sabera to surface—showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder. Frankie quickly notes there’s much more to the Ahmadi family than meets the eye. The father Isaad is a brilliant mathematician, Sabera a gifted linguist, and their little girl Zahra has an uncanny ability to remember anything she sees. Which given everything that has happened during the girl’s short life, may be a terrible curse. When Isaad also disappears under mysterious circumstances and an attempt is made on Zahra’s life, Frankie realizes she must crack the code of this family’s horrific past. Someone is coming for the Ahmadis. And violence is clearly an option. When everything is on the line, how far would you go to protect the ones you love? Frankie is about to find out. The post LISA GARDNER – KISS HER GOODBYE: A Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Mitch Harris Book: MY PRIVATE WAR: Relentlessly Chasing a Dream – From the Navy to the Major Leagues Publishing: LT4D, LLC (July 6, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mitch_Harris_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): “Making it to the big leagues isn’t just about talent. It takes grit, sacrifice, and an unshakable belief in yourself and in God’s plan, especially when the odds are against you. My Private War captures Mitch’s journey perfectly. It’s a powerful reminder that perseverance, determination, and faith can take you further than you ever imagined.” — John Smoltz HALL OF FAME PITCHER, ATLANTA BRAVES “Mitch Harris’ journey is one of faith, family, military service, and an unyielding love for baseball. Through every challenge, he remained honest about his struggles but never lost sight of his dream. With determination and resilience, he proved that true heroes aren’t just made on the field—but in life itself.” — Jim “The Rookie” Morris FORMER PITCHER, TAMPA BAY RAYS On the electrifying night of April 25, 2015, inside Milwaukee’s Miller Park, 29-year-old Mitch Harris achieved what many said was impossible: pitching in the Major Leagues. It took more than a powerful right arm. It also took remarkable tenacity for Harris to battle through daunting odds, heartbreak, doubt, and the persistent resistance of the United States Navy. In My Private War, Harris delivers a raw and inspiring account of his extraordinary journey from Navy lieutenant to the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup, overcoming five years away from the game and the rapid aging of his arm to become the first Naval Academy graduate to play in the big leagues in 94 years. But this is more than a baseball story. It is a story about understanding the difference between impossible and improbable, and a testament to perseverance and the power of chasing a dream, even when the world tells you it’s too late. The post MITCH HARRIS – MY PRIVATE WAR: Relentlessly Chasing a Dream – From the Navy to the Major Leagues appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Steve Berry Book: THE LIST: A Novel of Suspense Publishing: ‎ Grand Central Publishing (July 22, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Steve_Berry_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): In the vein of David Baldacci, John Grisham, and Harlan Coben—this is Steve Berry like you’ve never read him before. After a ten-year self-imposed exile, Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, a quaint town in central Georgia nestled close to the Savannah River. Two years ago, his father died, and now Brent, hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel, is returning to care for his ailing mother. For decades, Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, creating a thriving community where its employees live, work, and retire. But the genteel sheen of this quiet town is deceiving, and when a list of cryptic code surfaces, Brent starts to see the cracks. Southern Republic’s success is based largely on a highly unorthodox and deadly system to control costs, known only to the three owners of the company.  Now, one of them, Christopher Bozin, has had a change of heart. Brent’s return to Concord, a move Bozin personally orchestrated, provides his conscience with a chance at redemption. So a plan is set into motion, one that will not only criminally implicate Bozin’s two partners, but also place Brent Walker square in the crosshairs of men who want him dead—with only one course left available. The post STEVE BERRY – THE LIST: A Novel of Suspense appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: M.P. Woodward Book: TOM CLANCY LINE OF DEMARCATION: A Jack Ryan Jr. Novel Publishing:  G.P. Putnam’s Sons (May 20, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MP_Woodward_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): The discovery of an oil field off the coast of Guyana plunges Jack Ryan, Jr into a cauldron of lies in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series. It starts with the destruction of a US Coast Guard cutter and the loss of her entire crew. But the USCG Claiborne was on an innocuous mission to open a sea lane between an oil field off the coast of South America and the refineries of southern Louisiana. The destruction of the ship, tragic as it is, won’t stop that mission from continuing. So who would sacrifice twenty-two men and women just to slow down the plan? That’s the question plaguing Jack Ryan Jr. He’s in Guyana to work a deal to get his company, Hendley Associates, in on the ground floor of this new discovery, but Russia’s Wagner Group and a pack of Venezuelan narco-terrorists have other ideas—and will risk war with the United States to see them through. It’s up to Jack to identify the killers before they draw a bead on him, but how can he do that when the line of demarcation between friend and foe is constantly shifting? The post M.P. WOODWARD – TOM CLANCY LINE OF DEMARCATION: A Jack Ryan Jr. Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Laurence Leamer Book: WARHOL’S MUSES: The Artists, Misfits, and Superstars Destroyed by the Factory Fame Machine Publishing: ‎ G.P. Putnam’s Sons (May 6, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Laurence_Leamer_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): ONE OF “12 NEW NONFICTION BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ IN 2025”—THE OBSERVER A “MUST-READ” BOOK OF SPRING 2025 – TOWN & COUNTRY ONE OF “25 BOOKS TO READ IN 2025”—TORONTO STAR From the New York Times bestselling author of Capote’s Women comes an astonishing account of the revolutionary artist Andy Warhol and his scandalous relationships with the ten women he deemed his “Superstars”. “Now and then, someone would accuse me of being evil,” Andy Warhol confessed, “of letting people destroy themselves while I watched, just so I could film them.” Obsessed with celebrity, the silver-wigged artistic icon created an ever-evolving entourage of stunning women he dubbed his “Superstars”—Baby Jane Holzer, Edie Sedgwick, Nico, Ultra Violet, Viva, Brigid Berlin, Ingrid Superstar, International Velvet, Mary Woronov, and Candy Darling. He gave several of them new names and manipulated their beauty and talent for his art and social status with no regard for their safety, their dignity, or their lives. In Warhol’s Muses, bestselling biographer Laurence Leamer shines a spotlight on the complex women who inspired and starred in Warhol’s legendary underground films—The Chelsea Girls, The Nude Restaurant, and Blue Movie, among others. Drawn by the siren call of Manhattan life in the sixties, they each left their protected enclaves and ventured to a new world, Warhol’s famed Factory, having no sense that they would never be able to return to their old homes and familiar ways again. Sex was casual, drugs were ubiquitous, parties were wild, and to Warhol, everyone was transient, temporary, and replaceable. It was a dangerous game he played with the women around him, and on a warm June day in 1968, someone entered the Factory and shot him, changing his life forever. Warhol’s Muses explores the lives of ten endlessly intriguing women, transports us to a turbulent and transformative era, and uncovers the life and work of one of the most legendary artists of all time. The post LAURENCE LEAMER – WARHOL’S MUSES: The Artists, Misfits, and Superstars Destroyed by the Factory Fame Machine appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Amor Towles Book: TABLE FOR TWO: Fictions Publishing: Penguin Books (April 8, 2025 – Paperback Edition) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Amor_Towles_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): A New York Times Bestseller “This may be Towles’ best book yet. Each tale is as satisfying as a master chef’s main course, filled with drama, wit, erudition and, most of all, heart.” —Los Angeles Times “The book spans the 20th century, bringing characters into tableaus of deceit and desire. Beneath his coifed prose Towles is a master of the shiv, the bait and switch; we see the flash of light before the shock wave strikes, often in the final sentence. . . . Table for Two delivers the kick of a martini served in the Polo Lounge.” – The New York Times Book Review Millions of Amor Towles fans are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter fiction: six stories based in New York City and a novella set in Golden Age Hollywood. The New York stories, most of which take place around the year 2000, consider the fateful consequences that can spring from brief encounters and the delicate mechanics of compromise that operate at the heart of modern marriages. Told from seven points of view, “Eve in Hollywood” describes how one of Towles’s most beloved characters, the indomitable Evelyn Ross from Rules of Civility, crafts a new future for herself—and others—in a noirish tale that takes us through the movie sets, bungalows, and dive bars of 1930s Los Angeles. Written with his signature wit, humor, and sophistication, Table for Two is another glittering addition to Towles’s canon of stylish and transporting fiction. The post AMOR TOWLES – TABLE FOR TWO: Fictions appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Robert K. Tanenbaum Book: THAT DAY IN DALLAS: Lee Harvey Oswald Did NOT Kill JFK Publishing: Regnery (May 20, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Robert_Tanenbaum_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): That Day in Dallas: Lee Harvey Oswald Did Not Kill JFK is best described as a prosecution by Robert K. Tanenbaum of those corrupt, unscrupulous government and unelected agency officials, who from inception with predetermined outcomes, deceitfully engaged in insecure, phony pretense probes regarding the assassination in Dealey Plaza. Those responsible are prosecuted while those who speak truth to power are exonerated. Robert Tanenbaum, who in 1976 was appointed deputy chief counsel in charge of the congressional investigation into the assassination of President Kennedy, provides stunning and shocking “immutable facts” that reveal unequivocally that the government’s reliance on the Warren Commission (WC) investigation and the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) alleged probe were reprehensibly and ultimately gut-wrenchingly misleading and downright dishonest. The HSCA was not interested in searching for truth. In fact, as an example, it ultimately fabricated a significant portion of its forensic medical panel summary report and then sealed for fifty years all the underlying documents. For the past sixty years, the government’s contrived case that a sole gunman fired from the rear three shots from the sixth-floor sniper’s nest window inside the Dallas Book Depository building, rested substantially on invalid science and common sense offered to prove the so-called “Single-Bullet Theory.” Evidence shows that five shots were fired in Dealey Plaza, not three. Corroboration of the fourth shot, the fatal blast fired from the geographical front of JFK at the knoll hill stockade fence area, includes witnesses and exhibits, as well as scientific audio and photo verification, while significant convincing evidence shows that the fifth shot came from a northeast building complex behind JFK. The uncomfortable truth is that Lee Harvey Oswald has been unjustly accused as the assassin notwithstanding his contract employee status of both the CIA and FBI. The post ROBERT K. TANENBAUM – THAT DAY IN DALLAS: Lee Harvey Oswald Did NOT Kill JFK appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Co-Authors: Rick Jackson & Matthew McGough Book: BLACK TUNNEL WHITE MAGIC: A Murder, a Detective’s Obsession, and ’90s Los Angeles at the Brink Publishing: ‎ Mulholland Books (March 4, 2025) Listen to the full 4-part interview here: https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rick_Jackson_full_to_air.mp3 BUY THE BOOK! Synopsis (from the Publisher): Detective Rick Jackson, a decorated LAPD detective and a key inspiration in the development of Harry Bosch, delivers a shocking and immersive look into the one case he could never let go. In June 1990, Ronald Baker, a straight-A UCLA student, was found repeatedly stabbed to death in a tunnel near Spahn Ranch, where Charles Manson and his followers once lived. Shortly thereafter, Detective Rick Jackson and his partner, Frank Garcia, were assigned the case. Yet the facts made no sense. Who would have a motive to kill Ron Baker in such a grisly manner? Was the proximity to the Manson ranch related to the murder? And what about the pentagram pendant Ron wore around his neck? Jackson and Garcia soon focused their investigation on Baker’s two male roommates, one Black, and one white. What emerges is at once a story of confounding betrayal and cold-hearted intentions, as well as a larger portrait of an embattled Los Angeles, a city in the grip of the Satanic Panic and grappling with questions of racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of Rodney King. In straightforward, matter-of-fact prose, Rick Jackson, the now-retired police detective who helped inspire Michael Connelly’s beloved Harry Bosch, along with co-writer, Matthew McGough, take us through the events as he and his partner experienced them, piecing together the truth with each emerging clue. Black Tunnel White Magic is the true story of a murder in cold blood, deception and betrayal, and a city at the brink, set forth by the only man who could tell it. The post RICK JACKSON & MATTHEW McGOUGH – BLACK TUNNEL WHITE MAGIC: A Murder, a Detective’s Obsession, and ’90s Los Angeles at the Brink appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Co-author: Tom Lange (& Robert Souza) Book: THE DIRTY BUSINESS OF MURDER: The Inside Story of Homicide Investigation in the City of Angels Publishing: Independently published (October 22, 2024) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Tom_Lange_complete_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): The book comprises some (24) compelling murder investigations in Los Angeles that were handled by the writers, or in which they played a role to one extent or another. The book also contains a deeper dive into four additional serial killer investigations that involved the writers as lead detectives in the cases. Several other serial killer cases that plagued the southern California area are alluded to throughout. A number of other related issues (i.e. Serial Killing defined, Philosophy for the Homicide Cop, O.J. Simpson re-visit & others) are included. There is also a photo section and related “Wanted” police bulletins appear with related stories. The types of cases vary significantly. They include domestic, home invasion, organized crime, serial robbers, cold cases, contract killers, serial killer and law-enforcement related murders (cops as victims and cops as killers). The writers have a combined (50) years of police related experience with the Los Angeles Police Department and over (30) years of high-profile homicide investigative experience. The book also contains a blurb from author Michael Connelly. BUY ANY OF TOM’S BOOKS BY CLICKING ON THE COVER BELOW:   The post TOM LANGE – THE DIRTY BUSINESS OF MURDER: The Inside Story of Homicide Investigation in the City of Angels appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Judy Henderson Book: WHEN THE LIGHT FINDS US: From a Life Sentence to a Life Transformed Publishing: Worthy Books (April 15, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Judy_Henderson_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): A testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of a mother’s love, this story of a wrongfully incarcerated woman’s fight for freedom and her family will inspire all. Judy Henderson was a single mother with a successful small business of her own when she was arrested and convicted of a crime she did not commit.  Sentenced to life in prison, Henderson faced the untenable: leaving her young children as she entered the brutal prison system. Even as she faced violence, mistreatment, Henderson persevered with hope and determination. She never lost sight of her innocence—or her deeply held role as a mother. She also gained new purpose, fighting for her clemency and for the rights of incarcerated women, especially mothers. As the years passed, Henderson experienced hope through serendipitous events and calls, letters, and too infrequent visits with her children and other family. With the support of the prosecutor who once sought her conviction and the Missouri governor, Henderson was granted clemency and received a full pardon after nearly thirty-five years behind bars. When the Light Finds Us is a gripping narrative that explores the depths of human resilience and the transformative power of hope. Henderson’s story will inspire readers to persevere through their own struggles, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit and the unbreakable bond of a mother’s love. In a world often filled with darkness, Judy Henderson’s journey is a beacon of light, illuminating the path to redemption and the triumph of justice. The post JUDY HENDERSON – WHEN THE LIGHT FINDS US: From a Life Sentence to a Life Transformed appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Joseph Finder Book: THE OLIGARCH’S DAUGHTER: A Novel Publishing: Harper (January 28, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Joseph_Finder_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): “Any new novel by Joseph Finder is a ticket to reading pleasure, and this one is hands down his best ever.”—Stephen King “This is Finder at his finest—a perfect everyman-in-peril story, first building an ominous drumbeat of menace, then exploding in action and intrigue and triumph. As good as it gets.”—Lee Child From the New York Times bestselling author of House on Fire, a breakneck thriller that marries the dynastic opulence of Succession with the tense and disorienting spycraft of The Americans. Paul Brightman is a man on the run, living under an assumed name in a small New England town with a million-dollar bounty on his head. When his security is breached, Paul is forced to flee into the New Hampshire wilderness to evade Russian operatives who can seemingly predict his every move. Six years ago, Paul was a rising star on Wall Street who fell in love with a beautiful photographer named Tatyana—unaware that her father was a Russian oligarch and the object of considerable interest from several U.S. intelligence agencies. Now, to save his own life, Paul must unravel a decades-old conspiracy that extends to the highest reaches of the government. Rivaling the classic spy novels of the Cold War, The Oligarch’s Daughter is built for the frightening world we live in now. The post JOSEPH FINDER – THE OLIGARCH’S DAUGHTER: A Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: C.J. Box Book: BATTLE MOUNTAIN: A Joe Pickett Novel Publishing: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (February 25, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CJ_Box_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): Outlaw falconer Nate Romanowski is off the grid and out for revenge in this riveting new novel from #1 New York Times bestseller C. J. Box. The campaign of destruction that Axel Soledad and Dallas Cates wreaked on Nate Romanowski and Joe Pickett left both men in tatters, especially Nate, who lost almost everything. Wondering if the civilized life left him vulnerable to attack, Nate dropped off the grid with his falcons in tow to prepare for vengeance. When Joe gets a call from the governor asking for help finding his son-in-law, who has gone missing in the Sierra Madre mountain range, he enlists the help of a local, a rookie game warden named Susan Kany. As Nate and fellow falconer Geronimo Jones circle closer to their prey, Joe and Susan follow the nearly cold trail to Warm Springs. Little do Nate and Joe know that their separate journeys are about to converge . . . at Battle Mountain. The post C.J. BOX – BATTLE MOUNTAIN: A Joe Pickett Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Steve Berry Book: THE MEDICI RETURN: A Cotton Malone Novel Publishing: Grand Central Publishing (February 11, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Steve_Berry_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry comes the latest installment in his wildly popular Cotton Malone series—now in development as a streaming series. The Medici Return takes Cotton to Italy to solve a five hundred year-old mystery.   Cotton Malone is on the hunt for a forgotten 16th century Pledge of Christ—a sworn promise made by Pope Julius II that evidences a monetary debt owed by the Vatican, still valid after five centuries—now worth in the trillions of dollars.  But collecting that debt centers around what happened to the famed Medici of Florence—a family that history says died out, without heirs, centuries ago. Who will become the next prime minister of Italy, and who will be the next pope? Finding answers proves difficult until Cotton realizes that everything hinges on when, and if, the Medici return.   The post STEVE BERRY – THE MEDICI RETURN: A Cotton Malone Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Dr. Cristina LePort, MD Book: CHANGE OF HEART (A Miner & Mulville Medical Thriller) Publishing: Bancroft Press (February 4, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cristina_LePort_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): In the bustling heart of New York City, a young medical student’s life is tragically cut short, though her heart continues to beat, holding the promise of life for another. Detective Kirk Miner is called to the scene and quickly uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving organ donations and high-stakes crime. As the investigation unfolds, Miner realizes the case is far more complex and dangerous than it initially seemed. Enter FBI Agent Jack Mulville, who steps in to supervise Special Agent Charlotte Bloom as they join forces with Miner. Together, they unravel a web of corruption, revealing that Amy Winter’s death is connected to a ruthless organ trafficking ring. Amy Winter, a promising pre-med student, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Her death triggers an investigation that pulls Miner, Mulville, and Bloom into a labyrinth of deceit and desperation. As they dig deeper, they discover that Amy’s heart is not just a donor’s gift but a coveted prize in a deadly game controlled by criminals willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden. The quest for justice takes Miner, Mulville, and Bloom through the shadowy underbelly of organ trafficking, revealing the lengths to which people will go to secure life-saving transplants. Amidst the danger, they face moral dilemmas and personal risks, pushing them to their limits as they strive to protect innocent lives and dismantle a powerful criminal network. “Change of Heart” is a gripping medical thriller that intertwines the intricacies of modern medicine with the relentless pursuit of justice. Cristina LePort, M.D., masterfully combines her medical expertise with edge-of-your-seat storytelling, delivering a novel that will keep you turning pages long into the night. Dr. LePort is an accomplished physician with a passion for weaving medical knowledge into thrilling narratives. Her extensive background in medicine lends authenticity and depth to her stories, making the Miner & Mulville series a unique blend of fact and fiction.   The post CRISTINA LEPORT, MD – CHANGE OF HEART (A Miner & Mulville Medical Thriller) appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: TJ Klune Book: THE BONES BENEATH MY SKIN Publishing: Tor Books (February 4, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/TJ_Klune_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): A spine-tingling standalone novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune―a supernatural road-trip thriller featuring an extraordinary young girl and her two unlikely protectors on the run from cultists and the government. There’s nothing more human than a broken heart. In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his only brother wants nothing to do with him, and he’s been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington, DC. With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family’s summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon, to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty. It’s not. Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary ten-year-old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Artemis, who isn’t exactly as she appears. Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible. Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her. The post TJ KLUNE – THE BONES BENEATH MY SKIN appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Maria van Lieshout Book: SONG OF A BLACKBIRD Publishing: First Second (January 21, 2025) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Maria_van_Lieshout_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): FOUR STARRED REVIEWS! “This is essential, illuminating reading.” ―R. J. Palacio, bestselling author of Wonder Fight hate. Make art. In 1943 Amsterdam, Emma Bergsma’s world changes when she witnesses Jewish families being forcibly deported to concentration camps. That pivotal moment lights a fire within her, and she decides to join the Dutch Resistance. Before long, Emma is drawn into a clandestine world of printing presses and counterfeiters, with thousands of lives on the line. In 2011 Amsterdam, teenage Annick’s world has changed as well. A search for a bone marrow donor for her beloved oma leads to a shocking revelation: her grandmother was secretly adopted as a child. The only clues to finding their lost family are a series of art prints hanging on the wall―each signed by a mysterious “Emma B.” This timely graphic novel weaves together two timelines to reveal how art, in the face of political upheaval and nearly insurmountable adversity, can become our greatest lifeline. The post MARIA VAN LIESHOUT – SONG OF A BLACKBIRD appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Marcia Clark Book: TRIAL BY AMBUSH: Murder, Injustice, and the Truth About the Case of Barbara Graham Publishing: Thomas & Mercer (December 1, 2024) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Marcia_Clark_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): In this dramatic true account about the power of sensationalized crime, one woman’s case is exposed for its sexism, flagrant disregard for the truth, and, ultimately, the dangers posed by an unbridled prosecution. Unwanted and neglected from birth, Barbara Graham had to overcome the odds just to survive. Her beauty was both a blessing and a curse―offering her too many options of all the wrong kind. Her innate sensitivity left her vulnerable to the harsh realities of the street, where she was left to fend for herself before she reached double digits. Her record of petty crimes spoke to a life that constantly teetered on the brink of disaster. But in 1953, a catastrophic twist of fate would catapult her out of obscurity and into the headlines. When a robbery spiraled out of control and escalated into a brutal murder, Barbara became the centerpiece of a media circus. Her beauty enraptured the press, and they were quick to portray her as a villainous femme fatale despite abundant evidence to the contrary―a fiction the prosecution eagerly promoted. The frenzy of public interest and willful distortion paved a treacherous path for Barbara Graham. In Trial by Ambush, author and criminal lawyer Marcia Clark investigates the case exposing the fallacies in the demonizing picture they painted and the critical evidence that was never revealed. The post MARCIA CLARK: TRIAL BY AMBUSH: Murder, Injustice, and the Truth About the Case of Barbara Graham appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Robin Cook Book: BELLEVUE: A Novel Publishing: ‎ G.P. Putnam’s Sons (December 3, 2024) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Robin_Cook_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): From the bestselling author and “master of the medical thriller” (The New York Times), Robin Cook, comes a new tale of suspense-horror about a first-year resident whose life-shattering visions reveal the truth behind some of the greatest medical advances in the history of medicine. Twenty-three-year-old Michael “Mitt” Fuller starts his surgical residency with great anticipation at the nearly three-hundred-year-old, iconic Bellevue Hospital, following in the footsteps of four previous, celebrated Fuller generations. The pressure is on for this newly minted doctor, and to his advantage he’s always had a secret sixth sense, a sensitivity to the nonphysical. But quickly one patient after another assigned to his care begin to die from mysterious causes. As he tries to juggle these inexplicable deaths with the demands of being a first-year resident, things rapidly spiral out of control. Visions begin to plague Mitt—visions of a little girl in a bloodstained dress, bloodcurdling screams in the distance, and worse. As bodies mount and Mitt’s stress level rises, he finds himself drawn to the monumental, abandoned Bellevue Psychopathic Hospital building, which to his astonishment has somehow defied the wrecking-ball and still stands a few doors north of the modern Bellevue Hospital high-rise. Forcing an unauthorized entry into this storied but foreboding structure, Mitt discovers he’s more closely tied to the sins of the past than he ever thought possible. The post ROBIN COOK – BELLEVUE: A Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Amy Sarig King Book: ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES Publishing: Scholastic Press (September 3, 2024) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Amy_Sarig_King_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): Award-winning author Amy Sarig King takes on censorship and intolerance in a novel she was born to write. Attack of the Black Rectangles joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content! When Mac first opens his classroom copy of Jane Yolen’s The Devil’s Arithmetic and finds some words blacked out, he thinks it must be a mistake. But then when he and his friends discover what the missing words are, he’s outraged. Someone in his school is trying to prevent kids from reading the full story. But who? Even though his unreliable dad tells him to not get so emotional about a book (or anything else), Mac has been raised by his mom and grandad to call out things that are wrong. He and his friends head to the principal’s office to protest the censorship… but her response doesn’t take them seriously. So many adults want Mac to keep his words to himself. Mac’s about to see the power of letting them out. In Attack of the Black Rectangles, acclaimed author Amy Sarig King shows all the ways truth can be hard… but still worth fighting for. The post AMY SARIG KING – ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Sharon Virts Book: THE GRAYS OF TRUTH Publishing: Flashpoint (October 29, 2024) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sharon_Virts_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): From bestselling historical true-crime author Sharon Virts comes a gripping tale of murder and deceit.  In Reconstruction-era Baltimore, members of the city’s elite keep turning up dead. Below the polished surface of high society, there are illicit affairs, jilted lovers, financial hardships, and countless motives for murder. When Jane Gray Wharton’s husband, Ned, dies unexpectedly while overnighting at his brother’s home, Jane has no reason to question the circumstances of his death. But on a visit to the same house a few weeks later, both Jane and her daughter fall gravely ill, and Jane begins to suspect foul play. Though a trained chemist and former nurse, Jane is haunted by a history of delusion, loss, and institutionalization. As the unexpected and devastating deaths begin to multiply, Jane’s grip on reality starts to slip. When a respected army officer falls terribly ill after visiting the Whartons’ Baltimore home, Jane’s greatest fears become all too real. The time has come to act—but who will believe her? And can she even trust her own mind? Inspired by true events involving one of Baltimore’s most powerful families, The Grays of Truth is the story of one woman’s quest for answers in her fight for redemption—and to save the man she loves. The post SHARON VIRTS – THE GRAYS OF TRUTH appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: David Baldacci Book: TO DIE FOR: A 6:20 Man Thriller Publishing: Grand Central Publishing (November 12, 2024) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/David_Baldacci_to_air.mp3 Synopsis (from the Publisher): From a #1 New York Times bestselling author, the 6:20 Man returns, this time sent to the Pacific Northwest to aid in a complicated FBI case—and he’s about to come face-to-face with his nemesis, the girl on the train.   Travis Devine has become a pro at accomplishing any mission he’s given. But this time it’s not his skills that send him to Seattle to aid the FBI in escorting orphaned, twelve-year-old Betsy Odom to a meeting with her uncle, who’s under federal investigation. Instead, he’s hoping to lay low and keep off the radar of an enemy–the girl on the train. But as Devine gets to know Betsy, questions begin to arise around the death of her parents. Devine digs for answers, and what he finds points to a conspiracy bigger than he could’ve ever imagined. It might finally be time for Devine and the girl on the train to come face-to-face. Devine is going to find out the difference between his friends and his enemies–and in some cases, they might well be both. The post DAVID BALDACCI – TO DIE FOR: A 6:20 Man Thriller appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Author: Erika Engelhaput Book: GO TO HELL: A Traveler’s Guide to Earth’s Most Otherworldly Destinations Publishing: National Geographic (August 13, 2024) https://kscj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Erika_Englehaupt_to_air.mp3 Version 1.0.0 Synopsis (from the Publisher): You can go to hell and back with the help of this one-of-a-kind illustrated travel guide to real-life underworld destinations around the globe. Full of intrigue, lore, and plenty of brimstone and fire, each of the 54 destinations—from Antarctica’s Blood Falls to a tropical hell on Grand Cayman island—will be worth adding to your devilish bucket list. The world over, humans have been fascinated by hell in some form or another for thousands of years and across cultures. Now, with this illustrated collection, you can add hell to your travel bucket list with more than 50 one-of-a-kind underworld destinations, from ghost towns where Halloween is always in season, to ancient caves long viewed as entrances to Hades, to volcanoes that brim with fire and legend. Don’t be scared: along with the fascinating history of each location, star author Erika Engelhaupt also offers practical tips to make the most of your visit to the underbelly of the world. These hellish destinations include: Ireland’s “Hell Caves,” where Halloween was born The Gates of Hell crater in Turkmenistan, burning for more than 50 years Hell, Michigan, where you can serve as the mayor of Hell for a day Turkey’s Pluto’s Gate, an ancient Greco-Roman temple guarding a toxic cave China’s Fengdu City of Ghosts, where tourists pre-game the afterlife in a town devoted to the underworld The Maya Cenotes throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, long considered portals to hell And so many more! Ever wish you could send a postcard from hell? Now you can. R The post ERIKA ENGELHAUPT – GO TO HELL: A Traveler’s Guide to Earth’s Most Otherworldly Destinations appeared first on KSCJ 1360.