Tribune books

“He Had It Coming: Four Murderous Women and the Reporter Who Immortalized Their Stories” “Chicago The Musical” has played on Broadway for more than 9,600 performances since it premiered on Nov. 14, 1996, yet not many people know the characters of Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly and others are inspired by real women. Their stories were captured by Chicago Tribune reporters including Maurine Watkins, who worked at the newspaper for just eight months in 1924. This new book includes original newspaper clippings, Watkins’ stories and new analysis written by Chicago Tribune reporter Kori Rumore and visual editor Marianne Mather, film critic Michael Phillips, theater critic Chris Jones and columnists Heidi Stevens and Rick Kogan.

“Dinner at Home” Cooking at home doesn’t have to be difficult, but it should always be delicious. Since 2007, JeanMarie Brownson, culinary director for Rick Bayless’ Frontera Foods, has been helping readers put inventive, yet simple, dishes on the table through her Dinner at Home column for the Tribune. Her book includes everything you need to create spectacular food any day of the week, including sample menus and recipes for everything from prosciutto parmesan puffs to roasted chicken with tomato-olive relish. Dinner at home has never been better.

“Life Skills: How To Do Almost Anything” How do you give a good wedding toast? How do you fix a clogged drain? How do you bowl without hurting anyone? Questions like these make up this engaging do-it-yourself guide. Collected from the Chicago Tribune how-to columns called “Life Skills,” this book is filled with often humorous instructions on performing a variety of tasks.