New reads for November

We've got variety for November in these five brand-new books, which feature thrillers, debut books and even recipes. But I've picked them based on one common thing: reviewers and readers are excited about these books.

1. The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild

"For readers anticipating the next irresistible blend of art, mystery, and intrigue along the lines of Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch, the wait is over."-Library Journal

In her search for the identity of an intriguing masterpiece painting, Annie unwittingly uncovers some of the darkest secrets of European history, as well as the possibility of falling in love again. Irreverent, witty, bittersweet, The Improbability of Love draws an unforgettable portrait of the London art scene, but it is also an exuberant and unexpected journey through life's highs and lows and the complexities of love and loss.

2. American Blood by Ben Sanders

A former undercover cop now in witness protection finds himself pulled into the search for a missing woman. The film rights to this book have already been sold to Warner Brothers. Written by a rising New Zealand star who has been described as "first rate," this American debut drops a Jack Reacher-like hero into the landscape of No Country for Old Men.

3. Recipes for Love and Murder by Sally Andrew

"With a fascinating setting, engaging characters, and a full complement of drool-worthy recipes, this is sure to leave readers craving more." - Library Journal

A bright new talent makes her fiction debut with this first novel in a delicious crime series set in rural South Africa, full of humor, romance, and recipes, and featuring a charming cast of characters.

4. American Copper by Shann Ray

"A Western epic with appeal for literary readers, this seems likely to become a classic Montana read." - Library Journal

Ray's elegiac debut novel, set in 1923, follows poet Evelynne Lowry as she tries to shrug off the influence of her brutal, possessive copper baron father, Josef Lowry, by accompanying her brother, Tomas, a veteran of World War I, to a job working on the railroad in northern Montana. But when an accident forces her to return to her father's home in Butte, Evelynne's solitary existence is challenged by two different men.

5. Crucifixion Creek by Barry Maitland

"Nail-biting reading." - Publisher's Weekly

A meth-addicted biker shoots a woman during a police siege. An elderly couple commit suicide on the terrace of their favorite cafe. An unidentified white male is stabbed to death in the street. For Sydney homicide detective Harry Belltree, not long out of the military and a grueling tour of Afghanistan, these three deaths appear to be just another day at the office.

Looking for something more?

Catch up on the Fiction 5 archives, where you're sure to find your next favorite book.