Books: New and noteworthy

Paste BN’s Jocelyn McClurg scopes out the hottest books on sale each week.

1. The Wilderness by McKay Coppins (Little, Brown, non-fiction, on sale now)

What it’s about: A senior political writer at BuzzFeed goes inside the Republican Party’s “Combative, Contentious, Chaotic Quest to Take Back the White House.”

The buzz: Coppins’ reporting on the GOP presidential field seems prescient considering the way Donald Trump has shaken up the race.

2. Blood, Salt, Water by Denise Mina (Little, Brown, fiction, on sale now)

What it’s about: In the latest Alex Morrow mystery, a wealthy businesswoman disappears from her Glasgow home without a trace.

The buzz: “Riveting,” says Publishers Weekly in a starred review.

3. Time and Time Again by Ben Elton (Thomas Dunne, fiction, on sale Dec. 22)

What it’s about: In this time-traveling adventure which begins in 1914, ex-soldier Hugh Stanton goes attempts to prevent World War I.

The buzz: “A fun, smart, adventurous book, a work of science-fiction as big on ideas as action,” says The Sydney Morning Herald.

4. A Gift From Bob by James Bowen (Thomas Dunne, non-fiction, on sale now)

What it’s about: London street musician James Bowen tells the story of how his cat Bob helped him overcome bad childhood memories of Christmas.

The buzz: Bowen and the real Bob are making cameos in the 2016 film version of Bowen's best seller A Street Cat Named Bob, which stars Joanne Froggatt of Downton Abbey fame.

5. Beatrice and Benedick by Marina Fiorato (St. Martin’s Press, fiction, on sale now)

What it’s about: A fresh take on the lovers from Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing imagines Beatrice and Benedick’s back story.

The buzz: “Full of passion, intrigue, and wit…a delight,” says Booklist.