A look at eight new book releases this month including the aftermath of a plane crashing into a nuclear plant, an underachiever who finds himself against a pyramid scheme CEO, and three people in different time periods connected by a single raindrop.
WORST CASE SCENARIO BY TJ NEWMAN
An airline pilot suffers a heart attack, causing a plane with 295 passengers to crash into a nuclear plant in a small town. The International Nuclear Event Scale tracks nuclear disasters, with the highest being the likes of Fukushima and Chernobyl at Level 7. As a catastrophic national crisis with global implications, the crash is rated an unprecedented Level 8.
Faced with a nuclear crisis, the townspeople race against time to save their community even if it means having to make a sacrifice for the greater good.
THE MERCY OF GODS BY JAMES SA COREY
For centuries, the alien species Carryx has brought chaos and terror across the galaxy. The planet of Anjiin falls victim their cruelty and only the brightest minds are spared – for now. Dafyd, along with other researchers and scientists, are abducted and brought to the Carryx homeworld where they meet captives from other planets. To stay alive, they’ll have to compete and prove themselves useful or face total extinction.
THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME BY SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA
Set in the 1950s Hollywood, where every actress dreams of winning the lead role Salome in the upcoming blockbuster movie based on an old tale. Despite having limited experience, Vera Larios lands the role and quickly becomes the center of attention.
Naturally, there are those who are overcome with envy including fellow aspiring actress Nancy Hartley whose career has hit a plateau. The story follows Vera and Nancy as they attempt to achieve stardom amidst the whirlwind of gossip and scandal in the golden age of Hollywood, and Salome herself in another timeline.
HOUSE OF GLASS BY SARAH PEKKANEN
After witnessing the death of her nanny, nine-year-old Rose Barclay has lost the ability to speak. With Rose’s parents going through a divorce, Stella Hudson is appointed to serve as counsel in her custody case and determine who she should live with.
As someone with a traumatic childhood herself, Stella wants the best outcome for Rose but the case is more complicated than she expected. Even the house is eerie – everything is made of plastic. There is no glass in the house including the windows, cups and mirrors.
ZERO STARS, DO NOT RECOMMEND BY MJ WASSMER
Of all the things that could happen while on vacation, Dan Foster never would’ve expected the sun to explode and leave the entire island resort in darkness while everyone tries to make sense of what seems to be an apocalypse.
The three buildings at the resort accommodate guests based on their wealth: Building A for the ultra-rich, Building B for the middle of the pack, and Building C for those on a budget.
Among the guests, a fitness pyramid scheme CEO takes charge of Building A to monopolise the limited resources. Dan, though reluctant at first, ends up being the one to lead the others to fight back against the elite.
WITNESS 8 BY STEVE CAVANAGH
Ruby Johnson works as a maid and nanny for several wealthy families in the neighborhood, the very same street she used to live on before her family lost everything due to her father’s gambling. With her father gone, Ruby and her mother are forced to deal with the aftermath.
One night on her way home, Ruby witnesses a murder. She makes an anonymous call to the police and tells them the culprit’s name. But Ruby has her own agenda, and she’s lying about the murderer’s identity.
THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY BY ELIF SHAFAK
The story follows three characters across different timelines. Arthur, gifted with a photographic memory, is drawn to the historical artifacts brought to the British Museum.
Narin, a young girl going deaf, is on a religious journey with her grandmother. Zaleekah, a hydrologist, stumbles on a book about her homeland. The three of them are connected by a single drop of water that dates back to the ancient times.
HOUSE OF BONE AND RAIN BY GABINO IGLESIAS
Young boy Bimbo swears to seek vengeance when her mother is shot dead. With the help of his childhood friends, Bimbo discovers his mother was killed by underlings of a powerful drug dealer. At the same time, a hurricane looms on the horizon, bringing supernatural forces to the island. – Aqilah Rahman
