Books: New and noteworthy

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

1. Maggie Smith: A Biography by Michael Coveney (St. Martin's Press, non-fiction, on sale Dec. 29)

What it's about: A look at the life and career of the British actress, still going strong at age 80.

The buzz: All hail Dame Maggie as she begins her final spin around Downton Abbey as the Dowager Countess on Jan. 3 on PBS.

2. The Forgotten Soldier by Brad Taylor (Dutton, fiction, on sale Dec. 29)

What it's about: Pike Logan faces a dilemma when a member of the secret counterterrorist unit the Taskforce ignores orders and seeks to avenge a soldier's death.

The buzz: Taylor's last Pike Logan thriller, The Insider Threat, landed on Paste BN's Best-Selling Books list at No. 12 on July 9.

3. The Hunting Trip by William E. Butterworth III (Putnam, fiction, on sale Dec. 29)

What it's about: Young Philip W. Williams III's adventurous life as a Cold War special agent begins after he is expelled from boarding school for a prank.

The buzz: Butterworth has written many best sellers under the name W.E.B. Griffin.

4. The Negative Calorie Diet by Rocco DiSpirito (HarperWave, non-fiction, on sale Dec. 29)

What it's about: The chef shows how to lose "up to 10 pounds in 10 days" with 75 "delicious" recipes that naturally support weight loss.

The buzz: The holiday fun is apparently over, folks. DiSpirito's diet book arrives the same day as Thinner in 30, a fitness and health title from Jenna Wolfe (Grand Central Life & Style).

5. The Song of Hartgrove Hall by Natasha Solomons (Plume, fiction, on sale Dec. 29)

What it's about: After the death of his wife, an English composer is brought back to life by his grandson, a 4-year-old piano prodigy.

The buzz: It's an Indie Next pick of independent booksellers. "A joy to read and fills readers with a hope of restoration in the face of loss," says Vicki Burger of Wind City Books in Casper, Wy.