mc-books

A pitfall lies in wait for the true-crime author who chooses to explore a grisly murder: Describing the killing in lurid detail may seem sensationalist, even sadistic.

Works by Chris Bohjalian, Amity Gaige and William Boyle are among this month’s new releases.

Colleen Hoover is back. To those outside the CoHorts, this may sound confusing. Did she ever leave? Her tear-jerking melodramas, with their disarming pastel covers, are stocked everywhere imaginable.

Suspense plays no part in this story, though perhaps it never does for the truly faithful. Instead, readers get a rotating series of perspectives that, together, suggest something essential about the mystery and the terror of spiritual passion.

“Swoon” by Bea Martinez-Gatell delves into the history and influence of fandom, from Lord Byron to Elvis to the Beatles.

Cher’s memoir, Louise Erdrich’s “The Mighty Red” and a reissued novel by Jack Kerouac’s daughter are among notable recent releases.