The latest volume: Sometimes it's just blockbusters

I'm pretty proud of the way Select Editions finds new books by new authors, bringing to readers fresh voices that they might not otherwise hear. But our main goal is always presenting the best books we can find, wherever we find them, and if sometimes that means using nothing but knockout bestsellers by some of the biggest and best names in the business, I guess I shouldn't be too apologetic.

Robert Harris has written alternate history (what if the Germans won World War II) and novels of ancient Rome; The Ghost on the other hand is, as they say, ripped from the headlines, concerning as it does a former UK prime minister who looks oh so like Tony Blair. Surprisingly enough, this is Harris's first appearance in our series. We're glad to have him aboard.

Nicholas Sparks, on the other hand, has been a Select Editions favorite for years now, and The Choice is, frankly, one of his best. Robert Crais, who is about as far from Nicholas Sparks as a writer can get—his tough private eye stories are seldom accused of bringing a tear to the eye—brings us his latest featuring the iconic tough guy Elvis Cole. (We do love variety!)

And finally, another new voice to us, but a far from new voice to mystery fans around the world, is the award-winning Rhys Bowen, who in Her Royal Spyness introduces a brand new heroine of somewhat royal blood in a fun romp set in 1930s London. Big names one and all, and big books. Sometimes it just happens that way.

This volume is in the mail if you haven't already received it. Enjoy!

—Jim