Each month, Beyond The Page : A GBH Book Club features a notable author, who takes part in a live Q&A with a GBH personality to discuss the intricacies of that month's novel. With each monthly book selection, we also ask the author for a list of reading recommendations. For its September edition, Beyond The Page selected Hank Phillippi Ryan's The First To Lie, a tale of deception and revenge filled with sharp insights into the cut-throat worlds of pharmaceutical sales and investigative reporting.
Here are five reading suggestions from Hank Phillippi Ryan:
For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing: Darkly witty and twisty, the main character is a private school teacher who just wants colleagues—and the meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way. If not, they’ll get what they deserve. It's macabre and wonderful, and I laughed out loud.
Every Little Secret by Wanda Morris: The Firm meets The Other Black Girl--by a terrific new voice in crime fiction. A gripping and brave thriller about a young Atlanta lawyer who finds herself poised for success with her entreé into the inner circles of a successful company. Uh-oh.
The Last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer: A fast-paced international thriller, inspired by the real-life theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911. Full of action and adventure and a bit of romance--and packed with fascinating art history.
We Begin at the End by Chris Whittaker: Brilliant and immersive, this heartbreaking mystery stars the 15-year-old Duchess Day Radley, a self-proclaimed "outlaw" and a truly memorable character. This has echoes of To Kill A Mockingbird--touching, surprising, and revealing.
My Sweet Girl by Amanda Jayatissa: Jaw-dropping surprises and the unique combination of settings (both the author's home country of Sri Lanka and San Francisco) combine to make this chilling debut unlike any psychological suspense I've ever read. I finished this a month ago, and I still think about it.
What she's reading now:
A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz: This amazingly clever super-meta locked room mystery stars the author himself as a detective. It's Horowitz's brilliant take on Holmes and Watson, and Golden Age whodunnits, and a brilliant satire on the world of books and writing. I cannot begin to tell you how marvelous this is--from the screenwriter who created Foyle's War and Midsomer Murders.
Next up on her "To Be Read" list:
Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian: Just in time for back-to-school. This debuts features college students who are specially chosen to be part of a clinical study--because they are all psychopaths. Talk about a hook! Welcome to the dorm, right? If the homework doesn't kill you, your roommate might.
Looking for more? Then join the club. Don't miss out on the next selection and virtual session by joining the Beyond The Page Facebook Group and signing up for the e-mail newsletter.
