Two events this week: Erica Ruth Neubauer in conversation with Tim Hennessy and Lee Kravetz in conversation with Christina Clancy

Tuesday March 29, 6:30 pm

Erica Ruth Neubauer, author of Danger on the Atlantic
in conversation with Tim Hennessy for a hybrid event

Register for this event here! You can join us in-person or virtually.

Join us for an evening celebrating the launch of the third novel in Milwaukee author Erica Ruth Neubauer’s Agatha Award-winning Jane Wunderly mystery series, Danger on the Atlantic, in which a first-class cruise itinerary has an unexpected - and deadly - addition waiting just below deck. In conversation with Tim Hennessy, editor of Milwaukee Noir and crime writer extraordinaire.

In this wanderlust-inspiring historical mystery, young American widow Jane Wunderly is off adventuring aboard a transatlantic liner with the only man who could change her mind about romance. It’s 1926. While voyaging from Southampton to New York, self-reliant Jane is determined to prove herself a worthy investigator on the stately ship - even awkwardly going undercover as the fashionable wife of her magnetic partner, Mr. Redvers. Few details are known about the rumored German spy the duo have been tasked with identifying among fellow passengers, but new troubles unfold once wealthy newlywed Vanessa FitzSimmons announces the sudden disappearance of her husband at sea.

The man Vanessa rushed to marry in Monte Carlo has allegedly vanished into thin air, along with his

luggage. Redvers guesses the shifty heiress may be weaving tall tales for fun between flutes of champagne, yet Jane isn’t convinced - not after the stunning murder of a trusted acquaintance sends them into uncharted waters. Facing two dangerous mysteries and a boat load of suspects, Jane must navigate a claustrophobic quest for answers before the culprits can slip from her grasp on land… or, worse, ensure she and Redvers never reach their destination.

Daniel, Chris, and Rachel all enjoy this series! Here's what Chris has to say: "If you’ve read the Wunder-ful previous installments, then you’re going to love how this book pays off on what’s come before. If you haven’t, who cares? Danger on the Atlantic is still guaranteed to delight. In fact, if you saw Death on the Nile and thought, 'give me more of that,' then good news – Neubauer’s novel has the perfect vibes for you. A winner!" Rachel adds: "I love all of the historical detail so much, and I especially love that Jane flouts societal standards with quiet confidence. Much like Redvers, I would trust Jane's instincts any day. "

Erica Ruth Neubauer is author of Murder at the Mena House and Murder at Wedgefield Manor, and her Jane Wunderly series has been an Anthony Award and Lefty Award finalist. She has written for Publishers Weekly and Mystery Scene Magazine and is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. Tim Hennessy’s writing has appeared in Midwestern Gothic, Crimespree Magazine, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Thursday March 31, 7 pm

Lee Kravetz, author of The Last Confessions of Sylvia P.
in conversation with Christina Clancy for a virtual event

Click this link to register! And ask for your signed bookplate when you order the book.

Boswell presents an evening of conversation featuring Lee Kravetz, author of The Last Confessions of Sylvia P., a seductive literary mystery and multigenerational story inspired by true events. Kravetz will be in conversation with Wisconsin author Christina Clancy, whose latest is Shoulder Season.

Blending past and present, and told through three unique interwoven narratives that build on one another, Kravetz’s daring and brilliant debut novel reimagines a chapter in the life of Sylvia Plath, telling the story behind the creation of her classic, semi-autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar. Much like Michael Cunningham’s The Hours and Theresa Anne Fowler’s Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. bridges fact and fiction to imagine the life of a revered writer. Suspenseful and beautifully written, Kravetz’s masterful literary novel is a hugely appealing read.

Pulitzer-winning authors love this book! Adam Johnson, author of The Orphan Master’s Son, says: "Lee Kravetz has created a bit of a miracle, a plot-driven literary puzzle box whose mystery lives in both its winding approach to history and its wonderous story. It’s a book full of ideas about inspiration and a love for language that translates across borders, physical and generational." And from Paul Harding, author of Tinkers: "It would be easy, too easy perhaps, to see The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. as a spiritual sequel to Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, but Lee Kravetz's novel is very much its own thing, an audacious imagining that will have readers greedy to learn more about Plath and her literary cohort."

Kathy loves this book! "Kravetz’s book is a beautifully written novel blending fact and fiction, past and present, to create a story at the heart of which is Plath's novel, The Bell Jar. Told through the distinct voices of three fictional characters, Kravetz draws us into Plath's life - her lifelong battle with depression, her overwhelming need to express herself through words, and her struggle to be taken seriously as a poet and writer."

Lee Kravetz is author of the acclaimed nonfiction titles Strange Contagion and SuperSurvivors. He has written for print and television, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and PBS. Christina Clancy is author of the novels Shoulder Season and The Second Home, and holds a PhD from UWM. 

Photo credits:

Erica Ruth Neubauer by Rachel Neubauer

Christina Clancy by Kate Berg

More information on the Boswell upcoming events page. Thanks to Rachel for helping out with this blog.