In my own version of, "what I did on my summer vacation," last weekend I floated and read. I set off on my floating chair armed with FAITHLESS by Karin Slaughter, which to me, is her best book to date. Her characters are stronger than ever, I saw the scenes unfolding and I felt the story. She makes Grant County feel very real --- and I quickly fall into the rhythm of the place when I read her books.  FAITHLESS is in stores on August 30th, so mark your calendars now.
 
It's always a treat to discover a new author --- and enjoy them so much you are glad you will be able to say, I read her first book. TRACE EVIDENCE by Elizabeth Becka was my second pool read. Her writing about a forensic expert from Cleveland shows this side of the business with reality, not television fantasy. Her lead character has both grit -- and style. It's in stores next week, so take note.
 
You know how much I love listening to authors talk about their work. It's even more fun to read what authors say about their work when they talk to other authors. In this spirit, this week we bring you an interview where the legendary bestselling author Tony Hillerman interviews Margaret Coel about her Wind River Reservation series. You'll want to read as Coel explains how Hillerman inspired her to begin writing mystery novels.
 
Those of you who love Steve Berry will want to check out a video that he has done about THE THIRD SECRET. You can see it here.
 
If you missed the movie based on THE DIVE FROM CLAUSEN'S PIER last Monday on Lifetime, note the show is airing again on Sunday at 6PM. And don't forget the five-week series based on Luanne Rice's BEACH GIRLS starts Sunday. We have a review of her new book SUMMER OF ROSES this week for those of you who want more Luanne!
 
For those who read and float, here is an exercise. I call it the push off. When you reach the side of the pool and come to a stop, you move your foot into position against the wall and push off. If you want to burn more calories, do this with great vigor. Note that if you do this too hard, you will splash and wet the book. Tomorrow I am going to spend the day perfecting my technique reading COLD HIT by Stephen J. Cannell. I also will burn calories doing page turning. Others with reading and floating ideas are welcome to submit them. I happily will share them with other readers.
 
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

Bookreporter.com Co-Founder Carol Fitzgerald and contributing writer Shannon McKenna interviewed Mary Jane Clark, author of DANCING IN THE DARK. Clark explains the significance of the title, how her background in television news has impacted her fiction writing, the benefits of short chapters in suspense novels, and why she chose Ocean Grove, New Jersey as the setting for this eighth book in the KEY News series.

DANCING IN THE DARK by Mary Jane Clark (Mystery)
Reviewed by Shannon McKenna
New York Times bestselling author Mary Jane Clark turns up the heat with a drop-dead frightening novel about a town where teenage girls are disappearing, where an idyllic beach community is terrorized, and where one reporter must get to the truth to protect her family.

Whether your "beach" is on sand, your backyard deck or a grassy meadow in the country, the summer months mean it's time for "beach reading." Bookreporter.com is celebrating the lazy days of summer reading with a special feature, Bookreporter.com Beach Bag of Books.

Every week from May 20th through August 19th a different title will be featured with a review and author interview, as well as a contest prize --- a beach bag stocked with that book, plus summertime essentials that tie in to its theme. Five FABULOUS beach bags will be given away each week, as well as five copies of the book to additional winners.

Legendary bestselling author Tony Hillerman, whose latest novel is SKELETON MAN, interviewed Margaret Coel, author of EYE OF THE WOLF. This eleventh book in her Wind River Reservation series will be released on September 6th. Coel discusses the influences of Native American culture and natural landscapes on her writing, describes the creation of main characters Father John O'Malley and Vicky Holden, and explains how Hillerman himself inspired her to begin writing mystery novels.

Margaret Coel, author of EYE OF THE WOLF, is our newest featured Mystery Mayhem author. EYE OF THE WOLF is on sale September 6th. Coel demonstrated her ability to combine her expertise in Arapaho Indian history with her skills as a writer in her previous bestseller WIFE OF MOON. Now she gives fans the chance to re-visit a world where history and present-day collide with devastating consequences.

We have 20 advanced reading copies of EYE OF THE WOLF to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. A description can be found below. If you are interested, please send your name and mailing address to mystery@bookreporter.com by Friday, August 5th, 2005.
 
More about EYE OF THE WOLF (On sale September 6th)
In Margaret Coel's all-new Wind River Reservation mystery, a psychopathic killer has brutally murdered three Shoshone Indians and posed their bodies on a historical battlefield. Is his intent to provoke a civil war between the reservation's Shoshone and Arapaho inhabitants, or is his target actually Father John O'Malley?

Jacqueline Winspear, author of PARDONABLE LIES, is one of our featured Mystery Mayhem authors. PARDONABLE LIES is on sale August 10th. If you like historical fiction and mysteries this is a series you will want to get caught up on.

New This Week:
-Read an excerpt from PARDONABLE LIES.
-Read critical praise for Jacqueline Winspear.

Previous Weeks:
-See our Advance Copy Winners of PARDONABLE LIES here.
-Read Fast Facts for Jacqueline Winspear.

More about PARDONABLE LIES (on sale August 10th):
In the third installment of this best-selling, award-winning series, London investigator/psychologist Maisie Dobbs faces grave danger as she returns to the site of her most painful memories from the Great War to resolve the mystery surrounding a pilot's death.

THE WILD GIRL: The Notebooks of Ned Giles, 1932 by Jim Fergus (Fiction)
Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon
From the author of ONE THOUSAND WHITE WOMEN  comes a new novel, THE WILD GIRL. Seventeen-year-old orphan Ned Giles joins an elaborate expedition to 1932 Mexico on a quest to rescue a kidnapped boy from the Apaches. His life intersects with a wild Apache girl in a most unexpected way as he encounters danger, friendship, and love in this engrossing adventure.

July's roundup of New in Paperback titles includes the bestselling novel THE RULE OF FOUR by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason, in which an Ivy League murder, a mysterious coded manuscript, and the secrets of a Renaissance prince collide; Barbara Delinsky's THE SUMMER I DARED, the emotionally charged story of three people whose lives are forever altered by a tragic boating accident; BAIT, a gripping suspense novel from Karen Robards about the mind games between an innocent woman and the unstoppable killer she's forced to outwit and outrun; ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS, Linda Greenlaw's riveting and highly entertaining collection of tales involving fishing and adventures at sea; and the psychological thriller THE HALO EFFECT by M. J. Rose, which is the first book in her Dr. Morgan Snow series and is now available in mass market paperback.

What is your favorite series? As we know you are voracious readers, you can name up to three.

Please note: Our question of the week will update August 12th.

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 WHITE by Christopher Whitcomb and THE PATRIOTS CLUB by Christopher Reich. Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on August 12th.