Our latest First Impressions read, Cate Quinn's Black Widows, is an engrossing murder mystery revolving around three Mormon sister-wives whose husband has been mysteriously killed.

In Editor's Choice this week, we bring you a glimpse of Amelia Pang's Made in China, which explores the issue of forced labor in China and how American consumption habits contribute to it, along with an accompanying "beyond the book" article about an organization devoted to exposing this inhumane practice.

We also have an article to share with you on what we discovered in our "Book Clubs in Lockdown" report about how the pandemic has changed book clubs' reading habits.

Plus, check out recipients of the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, and enter a giveaway to win a copy of the most recent award winner, Katherine Seligman's At the Edge of the Haight.

Each month we give away books to BookBrowse members who live in the U.S. to read and review. Members who choose to participate receive a free book about every 3-4 months. Here are their opinions on one recently released title.

"In an arid lonely desert in Utah a man, a polygamist, and his three wives live in a very dilapidated house. When the story begins the man, Blake, has been found brutally mutilated. The story develops slowly as we meet the wives; they are all very different from each other and the only thing they really want is to please Blake. As the investigation of Blake's death begins the wives are the only suspects. Which one killed him? I loved the way this story progresses." - Jeanette L. (Marietta, GA)

"The three wives have well developed and distinct personalities and I felt sympathetic towards all three. The very short chapters move the story along quickly and kept my interest piqued. My only problem, if there was one, was that since the chapters are so short and my interest was so high I found myself reading till the wee hours of the night. This was a highly enjoyable read and perfect entertainment for a COVID-19 winter!" - Iris F. (Delray Beach, FL)

"What an engrossing, fun read! The author's technique of switching the narrative back and forth among the three sister-wives and moving back and forth in time is surprisingly easy to follow and perfect for this novel. Among my favorite characters were the two police detectives involved in the investigation. The dialogue, both between them and with the sister-wives, is so realistic, I felt like I was sitting in the room with them. Any reader who enjoys mining for clues will find Black Widows a fascinating and very satisfying read." - Leslie R. (Arlington, VA)

Review and article by Kim Kovacs

BookBrowse is also available through some public libraries. Patrons have full access from any device at any time. You can check to see if your library subscribes, and if it does, access for free with your library card at bookbrowse.com/library.

For many, one of the most appealing aspects of being in a book club is the opportunity for lively discussions about themes and subjects that are relevant to real life. Books ask us to contemplate what's important to us and think critically about how we live in the world and relate to others. They often require us to evaluate our beliefs and enhance our empathy.

In addition to the pandemic, 2020 brought a new wave of racial justice activism to the forefront in America, particularly during the summer months, and the visibility of that movement changed how some book clubs made their reading selections. Among respondents in U.S. groups that choose their books six months or less ahead of time, 28% reported reading more books about racial justice in 2020 than they had in the previous year, and 58% say they have discussed issues relating to race with their group at some point during the year ... continued

Literary fiction has the power to change hearts and minds, to engage readers with the world around them, to offer up unforgettable stories that allow us to learn and to empathize. These are among the many reasons Algonquin Books is the proud publisher of the bi-annual winners of the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, founded by Barbara Kingsolver.

As the prize focuses on books that cover social justice issues and the effect politics and culture have on people, its recipients provide thoughtful material for enriching reading and can make great selections for book club discussions.

Katherine Seligman's At the Edge of the Haight, a novel about homelessness in San Francisco, is the most recent winner. Click here to find out more about it and the winners from previous years (and scroll down to enter for the chance to win a free copy).

Discussions are open to all, so please join us! If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification. You can also find inspiration for your book club among our more than 150 past discussions.

The Winner of the 2019 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, At the Edge of the Haight follows Maddy Donaldo, who is homeless at twenty, and the lives of those who depend on makeshift homes and communities in a rapidly changing San Francisco.

"Through careful observation, Seligman seeks to humanize a community that is often ignored and misunderstood...At the Edge of the Haight is a thoughtful look at modern homelessness." - Booklist

"[A] gripping debut novel, At the Edge of the Haight explores a community on the edge of a historic setting and on the edge of getting by, with a compelling protagonist and an array of problems to wrestle with." - Shelf Awareness

Published every Thursday, BookBrowse Highlights is one of BookBrowse's four free newsletters. We also offer Publishing This Week every Sunday, and Book Club News and Librarian News monthly.