Publishers Weekly - April 3, 2017

futures. Losing an auction at the last second to an unknown bidder, Paul becomes fixated on obtaining a rare, highly desired map—regardless of cost or the dubiously moral actions required to complete its acquisition. Meanwhile, small-town-girl-turned-trophy-wife Jennifer Mehraz reignites a passionate romance from her past after a man in military fatigues appears at the auction, risking potentially violent repercussions from her wealthy husband if he discovers her infidelity. An attempted abduction results in two unforeseen deaths, which send carefully crafted plans spiraling out of control. As bodies pile up and Jennifer’s fear for her safety reaches a crescendo, Paul attempts to help his friend while advancing his own interests. The narrative is as impressively constructed as the maps in Paul’s collection: each section laid out in seamless order to allow for a satisfyingly neat conclusion. What the narrative has in plotting it lacks in characterization, often relying on overused noir conventions— particularly with regards to women— which ultimately allows the city itself to emerge as the most memorable character.

New York, in its glory and historical complexity, defies any who would attempt to possess it and dwarfs the ambitions of this intricate cast of ruthless characters. (June)

The Slip

Mark Sampson. Dundurn (IPS, U. S. dist.; UTP, Canadian dist.), $15.99 trade paper (280p)

ISBN 978-1-4597-3575-0

Early in the riotous but astute third novel by Sampson (Sad Peninsula), readers will see that renowned philosophy professor and public intellectual Philip Sharpe is about to take a tumble; it’s just a question of how far he will fall and whether he will be able to get back up.

Philip has admirable traits, including
having attained an Oxford education in
spite of an impoverished childhood, but
he nevertheless comes across as neglectful
husband and an impatient, pompous
know-it-all. A televised debate against a
“grotesquely conservative” newspaper
columnist degenerates into sniping, and
he insults his opponent. Social media
explodes with criticism and threats
directed at Philip, and the next week
gives him ample cause to double-fist his
cocktails. In addition to stretches of expertly
timed hilarity, including a hellish brunch,
the author examines an assortment of
contemporary issues, such as the gendered
division of household labor, everyday
sexism, volatile university politics, social
media crucifixions, and political correct-
ness. Sampson’s gift to his protagonist is
not judging the 49-year-old “compul-
sively type A” prof as a hopeless jerk. Like
Robertson Davies, he grants him the
ability to direct his prodigious intellect
inward, with satisfying results. (June)

★ Season of Crimson Blossoms

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim. Cassava Republic (Consortium, dist.), $15.95 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-911115-00-7

Ibrahim’s excellent first novel tells of the unlikely romance between a Muslim widow and a dope-dealing street tough amidst the troubles that each faces.

When 55-year-old Binta Zubairu wakes
to the smell of cockroaches, she knows
that something terrible will happen to
her; as the odor has always heralded
disaster in the past. Her niece Fa’iza and
granddaughter Ummi, who both live
with her, are
away at school
when her home
is robbed by a
knife-wielding
young man.

Mysteriously,
most of the
stolen goods are
returned a few
days later and
Binta’s assailant
appears to apologize. When Hassan
Babale, known as Reza, returns a third
time, the two are overcome by their inex-
plicable desire and thus begins an illicit
romance. Binta must also contend with
the arrival of her daughter, Hureira, who
has left her husband, and the increasingly
erratic behavior of Fa’iza. Reza’s jobs for
his senator boss escalate in danger.

Throughout this tale set in the author’s native Nigeria, current and past violence taints the lives of these characters seeking solace where they can find it. Each feels longing and loss and must contend with the forces of propriety and duty to family.

(May)

� � � � � � � �

SecUnit, aka Murderbot, is a semiorganic corporate pro;t center, genderless and constructed of cheap parts to perform contract bodyguard services for clients who mostly don’t want them. SecUnit can choose its attitude because it has hacked its governor (a hat-tip to Susan R. Matthews), blocking the functions that would punish it for anything but robotic obedience. Disgusted by humans and secretly addicted to a video serial called Sanctuary Moon, SecUnit is simply enduring another assignment until something completely outside of its data parameters tries to kill its humans. Nebula ;nalist Wells (Edge of Worlds) gives depth to a rousing but basically familiar action plot by turning it into the vehicle by which SecUnit engages with its own rigorously denied humanity. The creepy panopticon of SecUnit’s multiple interfaces allows a hybrid ;rst-person/omniscient perspective that contextualizes its experience without ever giving center stage to the humans. Agent: Jennifer Jackson, Donald Maass Literary. (May)