Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




2011 Best of Fiction: The Complete List (page 6)


Cover art for THE MAGICIAN KING
FICTION
Released: Aug. 9, 2011

"Fabulous fantasy spiked with bitter adult wisdom--not to be missed."
Now a king in the magical land of Fillory, Quentin embarks on a quest to save the universe in Grossman's searing sequel to The Magicians (2009, etc.). Read full book review >
Cover art for THE FAMILY FANG
FICTION
Released: Aug. 9, 2011

"A fantastic first novel that asks if the kids are alright, finding answers in the most unexpected places."
The grown children of a couple infamous for their ostentatious performance art are forced to examine their own creativity and flaws in the shadow of their unusual upbringing. Read full book review >
Cover art for STEALING MONA LISA
FICTION
Released: Aug. 2, 2011

"Like La Joconde, Carson's debut novel is set in an elegant frame--a newspaper reporter wrests the amazing story from a dying Valfierno--that still isn't as finely crafted as what lies inside."
A world-class art thief snatches a world-famous masterpiece from under the noses of its guardians in 1911 Paris. Read full book review >
Cover art for BACK OF BEYOND
FICTION
Released: Aug. 2, 2011

"Once again, Box provides the complete suspense package: unobtrusively slick detection, buckets of surprises and mounting thrills, all amid his trademark settings in the majestic high country."
A second standalone from the chronicler of Twelve Sleep County Game Warden Joe Pickett (Cold Wind, 2011, etc.) takes a Montana cop deep into the wilds of Yellowstone National Park in the hope of protecting his teenaged son from a determined killer. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE CALL
FICTION
Released: Aug. 2, 2011

"A triumph."
As Murphy's sixth book for adults (Signed, Mata Hari, 2007, etc.) gets started, a large-animal veterinarian in rural New England faces various small uncertainties: an iffy economy, weird recurrent lights in the night sky, a marriage in which there are minor flare-ups. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE GENTLEMEN'S HOUR
FICTION
Released: Aug. 2, 2011

The Southern California kingpin of the surf-and-drugs thriller should extend his popular domain with this novel. Read full book review >