The ABC procedural, adapted from Karin Slaughter's Atlanta-set detective novels, follows Ramón Rodriguez in the titular role, someone who "has had a really rough shake [yet] he’s going to do whatever it takes to get up every morning. I think people like that," says co-creator Daniel Thomsen.
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Casualties of Truth moves briskly between two timelines and settings: Johannesburg, South Africa in the 1990s and Washington, D.C. in 2018. It opens in post-apartheid South Africa where the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings are underway, allowing victims and perpetrators to confront the brutal history of apartheid. The narrative then shifts to Washington, D.C., where Prudence Wright, a former McKinsey consultant, lives a comfortable, affluent life with her husband and young son. When she encounters Matshediso, a man she met decades earlier as a law student in South Africa, the secrets and consequences of the two timelines merge, threatening to upend everything that Prudence cares about.
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Lauren Francis-Sharma’s new novel opens on an unsettling note, as a police officer nurses his injuries from the day’s work — “The American girl had done some real damage,” he thinks — and then finds that his car tires have been slashed.
The events that trigger that act of vandalism, and the violence unleashed afterwards, are the engine of “Casualties of Truth.” It draws on the author’s firsthand experience in South Africa, observing hearings held by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which heard testimony about human rights abuses committed by the state during the apartheid years, as well as violations committed by the liberation movements.
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“Casualties of Truth” is a tale of dual reckonings, of a woman and a country both forced to face their histories and the harrowing violence that has shaped them. Despite the pain chronicled in its pages, and despite having no easy answer to the complex question of what real accountability looks like, the book does contain a shred of hope: Though the truth alone is not justice, there is still freedom in it.
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Cozbi Cabrera’s book was recently featured in a New York Times roundup of Children’s picture books perfect for Valentine’s Day. They also had this to say about it:
“The intimate, poetic text makes each moment feel authentic, and the painterly artwork balances poignancy and playfulness.” — New York Times
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Alexander Smalls, James Beard Award-winning chef and Grammy-winning opera singer, joins TODAY to talk about his new children’s book called When Alexander Graced the Table and then shares two recipes from his youth for crispy okra fries and lemon meringue icebox pie.
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Casualties of Truth
By Lauren Francis-Sharma
A brutal history lesson in the guise of a thriller, Francis-Sharma’s third novel, about the horrific legacies of South African apartheid, jumps back and forth between 1996 Johannesburg and 2018 Washington, D.C., where the wife in a wealthy Black “power couple” encounters a shadowy figure from her past. Beneath the tightly plotted narrative, the author explores the nature and function of amnesty and human rights.
Atlantic Monthly Press, Feb. 11
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Sing the Truth: The Kweli Journal Short Story Collection
Edited by Laura Pegram. Authors Equity. Out May 13.
I simply could not create this list and not include Kweli Journal’s short story collection in celebration of 15 years! Contributors include Susan Muaddi Darraj, Edwidge Danticat, Ivelisse Rodriquez and many more.
Chef Alexander Smalls is revealing more into the upbringing that shaped his taste through a new children’s book.
The chef became famous for infusing his South Carolina roots in dishes loved from down South to Dubai. Now, he details his “origin story” to a tinier audience in When Alexander Graced The Table (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), released on Jan. 7.
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In his new children's book, "When Alexander Graced the Table," James Beard Foundation Award winner Alexander Smalls shares the story of a young boy learning to contribute to family meals with a special lemon icebox pie.
Click the link above to watch his video interview.
The Peacock limited series The Good Daughter has cast Rose Byrne (Physical, Bridesmaids) and Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus, The Perfect Couple) as the lead characters, sisters Samantha and Charlotte Quinn, respectively. Additionally, Byrne will executive produce.
Based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling novel of the same name, The Good Daughter was picked up straight-to-series by the NBCU streaming service in March, with Slaughter writing all episodes and executive producing the project from Fifth Season and Bruna Papandrea‘s Made Up Stories.
Learn More:
Deadline: Rose Byrne & Meghann Fahy To Headline Peacock’s ‘The Good Daughter’ Limited Series
Variety: Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy to Lead ‘The Good Daughter’ Series Adaptation at Peacock
The Hollywood Reporter: Rose Byrne, Meghann Fahy to Lead Peacock’s ‘The Good Daughter’
Traveling Shoes: The Story of Willye White, US Olympian and Long Jump Champion by Alice Faye Duncan is a 2024 Honor Book. This is awarded by the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute.
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Chloe
Connie Briscoe. Amistad, $30 (224p) ISBN 978-0-06-333856-2
In this entertaining riff on Rebecca from bestseller Briscoe (You Never Know), a young chef embarks on a whirlwind romance with a billionaire. Angel is taking a break from her restaurant job in Washington, D.C., to work as a private chef on Martha’s Vineyard when she meets billionaire Everett Bruce. Enchanted by Everett’s down-to-earth demeanor, Angel falls for him quickly. Just before her job ends and she returns to D.C., Everett proposes marriage, and Angel eagerly accepts. The two then embark on an emotionally chilly trip to Europe, but Angel hopes they’ll spend more time together at Riverwild Estate, Everett’s enormous home in Potomac, Md., which is run by his prickly sister, Ida. As the new Mrs. Bruce, Angel is forbidden from entering the Riverwild room once inhabited by Everett’s first wife, Chloe, who died by suicide over a year ago. With Everett growing more distant, Angel searches for details about Chloe’s death, fearing she won’t like what she finds. Readers familiar with the Daphne du Maurier novel won’t be particularly surprised by the twists and turns of the plot, and the ending arrives rather abruptly. Still, Briscoe folds some perceptive class critiques into her intoxicating blend of romance and suspense. This offers plenty of gothic pleasures. Agent: Victoria Sanders, Victoria Sanders & Assoc. (Mar.)
/Film can confirm that "Universal Monsters: The Mummy" — a reimagining of 1932's "The Mummy" starring Boris Karloff — is rising up and shambling into comic shops next year.
"Universal Monsters: The Mummy" will be written and drawn by Faith Erin Hicks, who is partnering with colorist Lee Loughridge. Hicks is a two time Eisner Award winner (think the comic Oscars), taking home the Best Publication for Kids award in 2014 (for "The Adventures of Superhero Girl") and 2019 (for "The Nameless City").
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Kjersti Herland Johnsen has been getting some terrific press coverage lately for Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge. Check it out:
AARP.ORG: Murder and Mistletoe? We're in! Holiday Mysteries Offer Cozy Chills
GOODREADS: ’Tis the Season for Brand-New Holiday-Themed Reading
BOOKWORM SEZ (nationally syndicated newspaper columnist): It's what you want for your ho-ho-holidays: Christmas romance books and more by various authors
Finally, Shelf Awareness had this to say in its book review:
This gentle romantic mystery, set amid the incomparable beauty of Norway, makes for a delightful literary vacation.
Eli and the Uncles
By Jehan Madhani.
Illus. by Rashin Kheiriyeh.
Nov. 2024. 32p. Candlewick, $18.99 (9781536228113). PreS-Grade 2.
REVIEW. First published November 1, 2024 (Booklist).
In this delightful showcase of wholesome masculinity, little Eli gets to spend a day with his eight stylish and talented uncles: Mahmoud the storyteller; Salim the chef; Hanif the singer; Aman the dancer; Riz the comedian; Farouk and Aziz, who love to argue; and Nooru, “world champion nap-taker.” What make each of these uncles truly special, however, are their eight long and diversely fabulous beards, which flirt with the fantastical in their larger-than-life presentations. While Madhani’s upbeat text doesn’t provide much explicit narrative tissue, simply introducing each uncle one by one and then taking readers through Eli’s farewells, the illustrations tell the story of a long, busy, fun-filled day, as each uncle shines on a dedicated spread, showing off their individual talents, always in a group setting. The result is a genuinely festive atmosphere and something akin to a fashion show, collectively providing a treasure trove of beautiful, brown masculinity. Kheiriyeh’s characters burst with energy and color, a palette of hot pinks and beachy blues lending a feminine edge to these stunning men and their endlessly elegant beards. The unfettered affection on display among the uncles and their nephew doubles down on the book’s unmistakable message about the many things that men (and boys) can and should be proud of being: playful, pretty, and powerful, all at once.
— Ronny Khuri
Brown Girl, Brown Girl by by Cozbi Cabrera has earned two great book reviews:
“…vibrant, moving illustrations from Cabrera that celebrate Black and brown girls in moments of strength and joy. Images of young women of color sharing dreams and wins and building community provide an inspiring backdrop for this powerful rhyming poem.” — Booklist. Click here to read the review.
“This gorgeously illustrated poem celebrating and elevating brown girls is a solid choice for picture book collections.” — School Library Journal. Click here to read the review.
Kirkus Reviews just put out a terrific review of When Alexander Graced the Table by Alexander Smalls and Denene Millner!
★"Smalls and Millner’s pitch-perfect dialogue imbues the various characters with life. The joy of cooking—and family—brought to brilliant life." — Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
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