The first major deep dive into the case of a young American woman accused of killing her British roommate in Italy, convicted, freed, convicted again and then eventually freed highlights this week’s Newsmax Rising Bestsellers. There is also the tale of Hollywood’s chief “fixer” of the 1950s and ‘60s, the dissection of the international chaos among the three superpowers, and the explanation of the new racism taking hold in the United States. Firstly, there is the novel of the week — a harrowing, nail-biting page turner.
“The New Couple in 5B: A Novel,” by Lisa Unger (Park Row)
Called "Spine-tingling fun" by People, “The New Couple” is the latest from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger. A young New York couple is initially thrilled when they inherit a luxury apartment in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood from a relative. But what appears both charming and elegant on the surface becomes dark and sinister. Cameras are everywhere, the impeccably uniformed doorman seems always present, and people are dying. “Spine-tingling and tense,” said Tammy, reviewing for Amazon. “There’s so much to unpack here, but I don’t want to spoil the fun. Hint; a puzzling mystery to solve, twisty with supernatural elements, secrets and tragedy…with a shocking OMG conclusion. Is the perfect read for scary season.” [Fiction]
“Amanda Knox: Crime, Trial, Release and Controversy,” by Helen Saxton (Pen and Sword True Crime)
This is the first major book about the case since the Italian courts overturned American student Amanda Knox’s murder conviction nine years ago. When British student Meredith Kercher was found brutally murdered in her bedroom in Perugia, Italy, Knox became the central character from the start. She and Raffaele Sollecito would be convicted in a Corte d'Assise verdict, acquitted and re-convicted for their alleged participation in the crime. Author Helen Sexton ultimately asks if anyone who wasn’t there the night Kercher was savagely killed can ever really know what happened. “Saxton has taken police reports, court proceedings, books and internet chatter and has compiled them into a story,” said Sharon M, reviewing for GoodReads. “What this book shows is what the author states – that no one besides the person(s) who killed Meredith really know what happened. There are just as many arguments for Amanda's innocence as in her guilt.” [Nonfiction]
“The Fixer: Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn,” by Josh Young & Manfred Westphal (Grand Central Publishing)
Throughout the heyday of Hollywood’s golden age, studios invested enormous sums into their talent, and whenever they got into trouble or a detail from their stars’ sordid past was about to come out, they called on “The Fixer”: Fred Otash — ex-Marine, former L.A.P.D. vice cop turned private investigator. He would do “anything short of murder” for his long list of clients, including tapping phones and bugging homes. It’s all coming out in the open now thanks to Otash ’s never-before-seen investigative files and personal archives. “The brightest stars of the 1950s — including the likes of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, the Kennedy brothers, Lana Turner and Judy Garland — often hid the darkest secrets,” wrote Lizzie Hyman of the book for People magazine. “Over 60 years later, people continue to question some of the biggest scandals of that decade. What really happened the night of Marilyn Monroe’s death? Did she really have an affair with JFK? Did Lana Turner murder her abusive mafia boyfriend, or was it her daughter, Cheryl?” [Nonfiction]
“New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West,” by David E. Sanger (Crown)
This is the latest from the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Sanger, who is also the bestselling author of “The Perfect Weapon.” The breakup of the Soviet Union brought America’s Cold War with the USSR to a close. But a new Cold War has emerged, one with two adversaries — Russia (the Soviet Union’s successor) and the People’s Republic of China. Now all three are poised in a struggle to gain political, technological, economic and military superiority against the others. “New Cold Wars” takes the reader to the battlefields of Ukraine, the Taiwan facilities where the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured, and the White House Situation Room, where the U.S. response to the threats of the other superpowers are hammered out. “This is a very well-researched and readable account of our new foreign policy realities as of April in 2024,” said Umar Lee in his GoodReads review. “I'm not sure China is either with their demographic realities. We may be looking at the beginning of a rather brief era of Chinese dominance, with India being the stronger long-term player.” [Nonfiction]
“The Unprotected Class: How Anti-White Racism Is Tearing America Apart,” by Jeremy Carl (Regnery)
This instant New York Times bestseller describes the new brand of racism taking root in America. “There is systemic racism in the United States, against whites,” observed political commentator Tucker Carlson. “Everyone knows it. Nobody says it. How come?”
Civil rights legislation that resulted from the turbulent 1960s was supposed to have resulted in racial harmony in an “Age of Aquarius.” But the pendulum kept swinging and now it’s whites who find themselves on the receiving end of racism — even by other whites. “This book provides a wealth of well-documented information regarding the racism that is ingrained throughout the current power structure of America,” wrote Wayne in his review of the book for Amazon. “He brilliantly illustrates how racism has a detrimental effect on our entire society at large. The author shares many specific instances where it has placed individuals at a terrible disadvantage, simply because of their skin color.” [Nonfiction]
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