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The world’s gone to hell. Post humans walk the Earth. The ecosystem is in ruins, from dust bowl to complete wasteland, and from blistering heat to arctic freeze. America’s broken. Corporations rule. One such, Satori, is both corporation and living city, and the only real provider of foodstuffs to the hungry migrant masses that roam the land in search of sustenance. The ineffectual United States government and its military exist primarily as Satori’s distribution network. Satori’s own personnel are bio-engineered into castes that serve their master. Into this mix are thrown a tough secret service agent soldier, an AWOL Satori designer, and a couple of nomadic brothers. All will come together to change the face of the planet forever.

Seed is post-apocalyptic eco-punk and corporate/political horror story with a liberal dash of bio-punk and military science fiction. Future Earth or alternate Earth? I’ll let you decide. It is also very much in keeping with one of my favorites, Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl, all environmental collapse and dystopic awesomeness. But where The Windup Girl was often “every man for himself,” Seed is more about family ties: brothers, lovers, fathers, etc. Oh, and what the hell, add a couple thousand years and a few sandworms, and you could very easily be on Dune. He who controls the Seed, controls the universe! Seed is Rob’s first novel and I can’t wait to see what grows out of it. — PMH

It will be no surprise to Michael’s fans that The Drop is another winning entry in the much beloved Harry Bosch series. Harry is back in the Open-Unsolved Unit where new evidence is now possible because of advances in DNA technology that did not exist when their cases were first open. Harry’s new case is a 1989 rape and murder that can now be connected to a man with a known record for similar crimes. The only problem is that this suspect was only eight years old at the time the crime was committed.

In the meantime, Harry is summoned by the Chief of Police to look into the death of the son of (Harry’s nemesis) Councilman Irvin Irving, who was found outside the Chateau Marmont in what is initially presumed to be an act of suicide. Harry works both cases, meets a possible love interest, and maintains his relationship with daughter Maddie, now 15 years old with a yen to solve crimes.

The Drop in the title refers to both Harry’s current cases and to the acronym used to refer to the Deferred Retirement Option Plan which has allowed Harry to continue working after retirement, but which mandates that he retire after a one-time extension. Connelly assures us that he will continue writing about Harry Bosch until he must retire him, but also reminds us that he has been planting seeds in his books as to what (or who) may follow Harry into the field. — tlg

Signed copies available while supplies last.

Elle Beene is beyond happy with her new life that includes husband Joe and his two children who call her Mommy and have filled her life with joy, after years of trying to be a mother with her previous husband. She lives in beautiful surroundings in Northern California where every day is a blessing of organically grown food in a small town filled with family and security. Until one day…

Elle’s life falls apart when her husband is killed by a rogue wave while out taking pictures. And then everything gets worse. The family business is floundering and the children’s birth mother who abandoned them three years prior is now back in their lives threatening everything Elle holds dear … and everything that is holding her together in the midst of tragedy. I thought this was a beautifully written debut about family and finding one’s way back to joy. — tlg