Books: New and noteworthy

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

1. Private Paris by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan (Little, Brown, fiction, on sale March 14)

What it’s about: Jack Morgan, visiting Private’s investigative office in Paris, is pulled into a case when several members of France's cultural elite are found murdered.

The buzz: Patterson and Sullivan’s Private L.A. entered Paste BN’s Best-Selling Books list at No. 1 in 2014.

2. 50 Great American Places by Brent D. Glass (Simon & Schuster, non-fiction, on sale March 15)

What it’s about: A guidebook to “Essential Historic Sites Across the U.S.,” including Monticello, Grand Central Terminal, the Liberty Bell and Pearl Harbor.

The buzz: Glass should know: he’s director emeritus of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

3. Two If by Sea by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Simon & Schuster, fiction, on sale March 15)

What it’s about: An American man who loses his family in a Brisbane tsunami saves another little boy, but keeps it secret from authorities; by the author of The Deep End of the Ocean.

The buzz: It’s an Indie Next pick of independent booksellers. “A gripping narrative of a family borne out of tragedy,” says Stephanie Crowe of Page & Palette in Fairhope, Ala.

4. Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America by Douglas Brinkley (Harper, non-fiction, on sale March 15)

What it’s about: Examines FDR’s mostly unsung role as an environmental and State Park champion.

The buzz: “Among the best books on this major historical figure,” says Publishers Weekly in a starred review.

5. At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier (Viking, non-fiction, on sale March 15)

What it’s about: Pioneer saga set in the 19th century follows the travails of a family of apple farmers.

The buzz: “A highly accessible read that takes a surprisingly dark look at the brutal conditions of frontier life,” says Booklist.