Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

Joe Hartlaub and Wiley Saichek of Bookreporter.com interviewed Neil Olson, author of THE ICON. Olson, who has a background in the publishing industry, talks about the most rewarding aspect of being on the "other side" of the publishing spectrum with the publication of his debut novel. He discusses the inspiration for some of his characters and the events that transpire in the book, and explains the many challenges he encountered during the writing process.

THE ICON by Neil Olson (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Its value is beyond measure, and its power beyond belief. A religious icon, thought to have been destroyed during World War II, reappears in contemporary New York in Neil Olson's debut thriller that blends faith, art, history and suspense.

As the school year draws to a close, a new crop of graduates is preparing to move on to new opportunities. With prospects of high school, college, grad school, or first jobs in sight, they all are in need of support and encouragement, some sound advice, a few laughs to ease the transition, and words of wisdom to guide them in the right direction. We at Bookreporter.com have made shopping for the special grad in your life a little easier. Included in this roundup are must-have reference guides, a collection of entertaining and poignant commencement speeches, and essays and memoirs with just the right amount of insight and humor needed during this momentous yet uncertain time.

Jack Kerley, whose book THE DEATH COLLECTORS is on sale on June 23rd, is our latest author to be spotlighted in our Suspense/Thriller feature. Many of you may remember his book, THE HUNDREDTH MAN that we shared with you last year.

We have 20 advanced reading copies of THE DEATH COLLECTORS to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please send your name and mailing address to SuspenseThriller@bookreporter.com by May 26, 2005.

Read more about THE DEATH COLLECTORS here:

In 1972, on the day of his sentencing, renowned artist and serial killer Marsden Hexcampis shot dead in the courtroom. Members of his Mansonesque band of followers are imprisoned or simply disappear.

Fast-forward more than thirty years: A suspected prostitute is found murdered in a candlelit motel room, the first in a series of horrors suggesting Hexcamp's art remains alive and treacherous. Following a trail of beautiful --- and profoundly disturbing --- artwork, homicide detectives Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus descend into the shocking world of the Death Collectors, people who spend vast sums to collect serial-killer memorabilia. As Ryder and Nautilus race to solve a thirty-year conspiracy, it becomes sadly evident that at the intersection of art and madness, death is beauty, tragedy a memento, and suffering suitable for framing.

From Lorna Landvik, the author of the bestselling book club favorite, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons comes OH MY STARS, her most ambitious novel yet, with a cast of characters whose travails and triumphs you'll long remember. It is a tale of love and hope, bigotry and betrayal, loss and discovery -- as Violet, who's always considered herself a minor character in her own life story, emerges as a heroine you'll laugh with, cry with, and, most important, cheer for all the way.

In a book club? Win a chance to chat with Lorna Landvik about Oh My Stars here:

See links to guides for all of Landvik's books here: Oh My Stars, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, Patty Jane's House of Curl, The Tall Pine Polka, Welcome to the Great Mysterious, Your Oasis on Flame Lake

THE HOT KID by Elmore Leonard (Fiction)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Elmore Leonard's 40th novel --- set in the world of 1930s gangsters, tommy guns and speakeasies --- is his most ambitious and arguably best work to date, rich in dialogue, characters, and subtle contrasts.

FREAKONOMICS: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (Economics/Popular Culture)
Reviewed by Robert Finn
In this wide-ranging and unconventional book, university professor Steven D. Levitt and co-writer Stephen J. Dubner take a quirky look at all sorts of everyday activities that seem to have unsuspected subtle connections --- but only when you know what sort of questions to ask.

BROKEN PREY by John Sandford (Suspense)
Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
When an inmate is released from the state mental hospital, gruesome killings begin. This latest Prey novel is rife with tension, great dialogue, and a fast-moving, twisting plot that will lead readers toward a surprise ending and more.

LAST WITNESS by Jilliane Hoffman (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
In this riveting new novel from the internationally bestselling author of RETRIBUTION, cops are being murdered. Special Agent Dominick Falconetti slowly uncovers a drug connection, but state prosecutor C. J. Townsend begins to suspect that she knows an even more terrible secret than Falconetti does.

HAUNTED by Chuck Palahniuk (Fiction)
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
In this novel comprised of 23 stories, a group of aspiring writers gather for a writers' retreat where they have agreed to isolate themselves for three months in order to devote their energy to composing their masterpieces. But what they don't realize is that they are kidnap victims of Mr. Whittier, a shadowy sadist who forces them to live in close and uncomfortable quarters.

FADED PICTURES FROM MY BACKYARD by Sue Carswell (Memoir)
Reviewed by Lourdes Orive
Sue Carswell, a reporter/researcher at Vanity Fair, reflects back on her two families --- her own, and the one comprised of the orphans living in her backyard. She weaves together stories spanning the decades and capturing generations of both the Carswell family and the Albany Home for Children.

MIRRORMASK: The Illustrated Film Script of the Motion Picture from The Jim Henson Company by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean (Fantasy/Screenplay)
Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard
The upcoming feature film MirrorMask is a breathtaking journey through a strange and magical looking-glass world where anything can happen --- and frequently does. SANDMAN creator Neil Gaiman and acclaimed artist and director Dave McKean have assembled a collector's book, a companion that enhances one's understanding of how a major motion picture of this design is made.

MYRREN'S GIFT: The Quickening, Book One by Fiona McIntosh (Fantasy)
Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard
Captivating, extremely entertaining and wholly addictive, Fiona McIntosh's first volume in "The Quickening" trilogy comes highly recommended to anyone who has an interest in fantasy novels of quality.

What book would you give a graduate?

Please note: Our next question update will be on May 20th.

Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.

This week we have some great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of 4TH OF JULY by James Patterson and OH MY STARS by Lorna Landvik. Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on May 20th.