Optional reading
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (Doubleday, July 15). It's not as if other faiths haven't had their off days. But the exploits of the pioneer-era Mormons and of Mormon Fundamentalism, a spinoff of the modern Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do make good reading (there's even a late-breaking chapter on Elizabeth Smart's accused kidnapper, who's on the fringe of the fringe). In 1984, Ron and Dan Lafferty, who both say they were following God's orders, murdered the wife and baby of their youngest brother, Allen. Krakauer looks for the roots of the slaying in the religion's early days. Particularly problematic is the doctrine (not held by today's LDS Church) that every church member can receive divine revelations from God--which was a real issue for founder Joseph Smith when he said one thing and God said another.
FILM RIGHTS: Agents are sniffing around. SYNERGETIC: Knopf's American Massacre, a Mormon expose by Sally Denton, arrives on June 25. HIGH CONCEPT: Krakauer's star source is the unrepentant Dan Lafferty, so perhaps a Silence of the Lambs-style thriller?
The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin (Random House, out now). First published in Russia in 1998, The Winter Queen launched a mystery series now 10 volumes and 8 million copies strong. From the murky cover of its English translation, you might guess it to be dark and angst-filled--especially if you know it's set in 19th-century Russia. There's angst all right, but of the teen variety. The hero, Erast Fandorin, is a swooning romantic--barely 20--with long eyelashes and a tendency to blush at inopportune times. An orphan whose ruined father left him with naught but a fine wardrobe and a good education, Fandorin goes to work for the Moscow police instead of to university. When the humble clerk delves into a wealthy student's suicide, he stumbles (as they all do eventually) onto a diabolical conspiracy (is there any other kind?).
FILM RIGHTS: Paul Verhoeven of Robocop fame. OSCAR: Best Costume Design. Each dashing item Fandorin dons is detailed, even the Lord Byron corset purchased in hopes of inducing a "truly manly figure."
CASTING CALL: Adrien Brody, filmed through gauze to look 10 years younger.
Clues you can use
U.S. News reporter nails murderer! That's sort of what happens in My Ex-Best Friend (Simon & Schuster), a witty new mystery from former U.S. Newser Beth Brophy, which goes on sale in July. Reporter Claire Newman of Nationweek delves into the suicide (or was it?) of her former best friend, who dumped her years before without a word of explanation. So there are two mysteries, and the reporter, naturally, gets to the bottom of each. Maybe we're a little prejudiced, but we give this book five stars. For mystery fans who want more than just one good read this summer, we asked Brophy to review the competition:
The Killing Hour by Lisa Gardner (Bantam). FBI agent in training Kimberly Quincy, herself the victim of a traumatic past, is on the trail of a serial killer who targets pairs of young women during heat waves, then tortures and kills them. My only quibble: I could poke a few large holes in the resolution, such as the identity and occupation of the killer, which happen to be the same in two of the books below. Coincidence or trend?
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