Mann brings the ‘Heat’ again; murder befouls the outback
In search of something good to read? USA TODAY’s Barbara VanDenburgh scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases. All books are on sale Tuesday.
‘Heat 2’
By Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner (William Morrow, fiction)
What it’s about: Mann, the Oscar-nominated director of the 1995 film “Heat,” teams up with Edgar Award-winning author Gardiner for a crime novel that continues the classic film’s story, exploring the gritty world of international crime organizations and the agents who investigate them.
The buzz: “The best thing about this innovative tale is the way the fully fleshed human stories support and even transcend the often-breathtaking action,” says a starred review from Booklist.
‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’
By Jennette McCurdy (Simon & Schuster, nonfiction)
What it’s about: Landing a hit show seems like an actor’s dream come true, but for the former child star of Nickelodeon’s “iCarly,” it was a nightmare in large part due to her overbearing mother, whose calorie restrictions and oppressive management contributed to eating disorders and addiction. McCurdy tells her story with candor and, judging by the cover, the darkest of humor.
The buzz: “Insightful and incisive, heartbreaking and raw, McCurdy’s narrative reveals a strong woman who triumphs over unimaginable pressure to emerge whole on the other side. Fans will be rapt,” says a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
‘Black Folk Could Fly: Selected Writings’
By Randall Kenan (Norton, nonfiction)
What it’s about: This posthumous collection from the acclaimed author of “A Visitation of Spirits” and “The Fire This Time,” who died in 2020, offers an intellectual self-portrait and insight into his experience as a queer Black Southerner.
The buzz: “Fans and new readers alike will appreciate this opportunity to take in Kenan’s remarkable talent,” says a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
‘Return to Uluru: The Hidden History of a Murder in Outback Australia’
By Mark McKenna (Dutton, nonfiction)
What it’s about: This gripping work of true crime explores a decades-old cold case: How did an Aboriginal man named Yokununna die at one of Australia’s most recognizable landmarks, and what does his death reveal about white Australians’ treatment of Aboriginal peoples?
The buzz: “A thoroughly researched, well-told story of a true crime that can never see punishment,” says Kirkus Reviews.
‘The Family Remains’
By Lisa Jewell (Atria, fiction)
What it’s about: “The Family Upstairs” author returns with a suspenseful stand-alone sequel in which three people seeking answers to their own mysteries discover they’re connected in surprising ways, The buzz: “Jewell effectively keeps readers off balance all the way to the happy ending,” says Publishers Weekly.