A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz

A DEADLY EPISODE by Anthony Horowitz is book six in the Hawthorne and Horowitz Mysteries (following the story line introduced in The Word is Murder, The Sentence is Death, and A Line to Kill – plus more - which chronicle the sleuthing of a former policeman named Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, none other than Anthony Horowitz himself.). These mysteries are clever, fun, and entertaining and the latest title received starred reviews from both Booklist and Publishers Weekly (“This series is in peak form.”). This time, Hawthorne and Horowitz are visiting the filming site for The Word is Murder; a small, cash-strapped company is creating the film and have hired an eco-activist to write the script. Horowitz is not pleased with the changes from the book, but that is a non-issue when the lead actor, David Caine, playing Hawthorne is killed. There are a roughly a half dozen suspects, but numerous motives (seems as though Caine was universally disliked) and plenty of opportunity. Full of subtle clues and red herrings, there’s mystery within the mystery - I especially enjoyed reading about an earlier case, Hawthorne’s first as a private detective. While A DEADLY EPISODE could likely work as a stand-alone, it is much preferable to read this series in order as readers learn more about each of the characters and can observe the growing relationship between them. Enjoy!

NOTE: Here is the New York Times with suggested titles for classic private eye detective novels.

Major Labels and Audience-ology

A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres (and almost 500 pages), MAJOR LABELS by Kelefa Sanneh, is on our shelves and student researchers have really been enjoying it.  Sanneh, a staff writer at New Yorker who was also a music critic for The New York Times, explores Rock, R & B, Country, Punk, Hip-Hop, Dance Music, and Pop.  In each case, he describes the trends and changes, citing bands and musicians who had a major impact. He notes, for example, that “in the nineties, Nirvana and Pearl Jam helped push alternative rock into the mainstream. But in the 2010s, even mainstream rock was simply one more alternative.” Although the text tends to be rather dense and an index would have been useful, music fans will still be enthralled by this unique resource. 

MAJOR LABELS received starred reviews from Kirkus, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

Also related to the arts, AUDIENCE-OLOGY by Kevin Goetz describes “How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love.” Goetz and his firm, Screen Engine/ASI, conduct research for the majority of widely released movies and in this text, he explains the history and logistics of test screenings. Goetz also shares stories of how audience feedback impacted films like La La Land and Moonstruck (changing the beginnings to include music); Thelma and Louise or Fatal Attraction. While he recounts tales of past innovations, Goetz barely addresses the potential changes to the industry due to new streaming platforms, relying instead on his thirty years of impressive experience in Hollywood. He is able to include commentary from film producers and directors like Ron Howard, but generally omits those (e.g., Tarantino or Eastwood) who see less value in pre-screening research. Even then, AUDIENCE-OLOGY provides a behind the scenes look which will likely entertain our Lit Film students and teachers; it received a starred review from Booklist.

The Map from Here to There by Emery Lord

THE MAP FROM HERE TO THERE by Emery Lord is a young adult, coming of age novel. Although this new title could function as a stand-alone read, it is actually a sequel to The Start of Me and You.  Here, Paige Hancock is entering her senior year in high school and is struggling with college choices and her growing relationship with fellow senior, Max Watson. Lord does an excellent job of describing Paige’s vulnerability and of building empathy for her:

“But saying yes meant saying no to other things, didn’t it? A yes to Mythos [local theater internship] had meant a no to QuizBowl.  A yes to one college would mean a no to all the others.  A yes to film school felt like a no to Max, my family, my friends nearby.”

This is a sweet, gentle read which is likely to appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson; School Library Journal recommends THE MAP FROM HERE TO THERE for grades 7 and up.  Lord has written several other young adult novels and is a contributor to Don’t Call me Crazy, a collection of essays on mental health.