Sunday reviews
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A spy in the family
In “The Wolf and the Watchman,” Scott Johnson writes about life as the son of a CIA agent.
History: Civil War journalists on the loose
In “Junius and Albert’s Adventures in the Confederacy,” Peter Carlson tracks the antics of northern writers.
History: Franklin Roosevelt and the Jews
Allan J. Lichtman explores the 32nd president’s evolving views on Jews and the Holocaust
History: The mind of the executioner
In “The Faithful Executioner,” Joel F. Harrington reveals the inner life of a 16th century executioner.
Science: Genetically modified pets
In “Frankenstein’s Cat,” Emily Anthes looks at cyborg beetles, transgenic mice and glow-in-the-dark fish
Philanthropy: Failing charities
‘With Charity For All’ is an eye-popping expose about America’s charities and lax oversight of them
Art: ‘Forty-one False Starts’
Janet Malcolm’s new book is a collection of essays on artists and writers
A nuanced portrait of the high court
In “The Roberts Court,” Marcia Coyle goes behind the scenes of four recent cases.
Our robotic friends and foes
Robots will see us, hear us and respond to us; they will recognize our faces and perceive our smiles.
New approach for U.S. Mideast policy
In “Beyond War,” David Rohde argues for the U.S. to work with moderates in the region.
Reinventing government, again
Gavin Newsom’s “Citizenville” and Cass Sunstein’s “Simpler” apply trendy thinking to an old tradition.
New luster for a hard-boiled gem
“They Don’t Dance Much” is attuned to the ambiguities of human behavior and tightly controlled.
Book review: ‘Cheat the Clock’
A science writer for The Washington Post, Margaret Webb Pressler decided to unravel the mystery of her husband’s biology.
How a mom educated her autistic son
In “The Spark,” Kristine Barnett tells how she and her son defied the experts.
Horrors of World War II
Rick Atkinson’s “The Guns at Last Light” reconstructs the war in compelling detail.
Behind creation of Dodd-Frank reform
In “Act of Congress,” Robert Kaiser shows how Congress succeeds and stumbles in governing.
Recent Reviews
‘Southern Cross the Dog,’ by Bill Cheng
A powerful debut novel about misery in the South pushes us to think about the bargains we make with life.
Washington Post Bestsellers May 26
The books Washington has been reading.
10 things you can do with your Borders gift cards
A federal judge says those cards are worthless, but we know better.
Book review: Jane Gardam’s ‘Last Friends’
The final novel in the British writer’s wonderfully entertaining ‘Old Filth’ trilogy stands on its own.
Great leadership books for your summer reading list
These books offer keen insights into leadership and management challenges, which on a day-to-day basis can bring their own dramas, twisting plot lines and, in this city, political intrigue.
Harlequin to unveil new Cosmo Red-Hot Reads
Bestselling author Sylvia Day was paid at least $1 million to launch this new series of e-novellas.
Alan Brennert’s nostalgia-laced fiction
The 20th-century family saga has a brisk pace, unencumbered by hurdles of richness or complexity.
Book review: ‘The Fix,’ by Damian Thompson
How addiction is taking over your world, and how you are empowered to stop it.
Book World: ‘My Life as a Weapon’ explores a superhero’s spare time
In comic series, writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja follow Avengers’ Hawkeye through daily life.
Book review: Philipp Meyer’s ‘The Son’
The author of ‘American Rust’ is back with a spectacular saga about the settling of Texas and the flow of oil.
'Apocalypse Cow,' by Michael Logan
In Logan's absurdist first novel, sex-crazed zombie bovines threaten the earth.
Khaled Hosseini’s exquisite ‘And the Mountains Echoed’
The bestselling author of “The Kite Runner” returns with another powerful story about Afghanistan.
‘Minotaur,’ by Benjamin Tammuz
A man becomes obsessed with a teenage girl, but does that obsession lead him to murder?
Adam Mansbach at the Gaithersburg Book Festival
The fourth annual book fair offered 100 authors and a dozen workshops.
Book review: ‘The Golem and the Jinni,’ by Helene Wecker
Can modest golem and a mercurial jinni find love in Lower Manhattan?
Book review: ‘Cheat the Clock’
A science writer for The Washington Post, Margaret Webb Pressler decided to unravel the mystery of her husband’s biology.
Book review: ‘Wash,’ by Margaret Wrinkle
The harrowing story of a black man pressed into sexual slavery after the Revolutionary War.
Washington Post Bestsellers May 19
The books Washington has been reading.
Book review: ‘The Philosopher, the Priest, and the Painter’
Steven Nadler’s fascinating survey of Golden Age Dutch culture, Cartesian philosophy and art connoisseurship.
Book review: Eleanor Morse’s ‘White Dog Fell from the Sky’
A novel about the unusual friendship between a South African refugee and an American expatriate.
Timothy Egan wins the Chautauqua Prize for "Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher"
Egan's biography of American West photographer Edward Curtis garners $7,500 and a week at the summer program in New York State.
Book review: ‘Flora’ by Gail Godwin
Things fall apart when a young girl is left alone in the house with her emotional cousin.
Book review: ‘Raven Girl,’ by Audrey Niffenegger
The author of ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ returns with a novella for the Royal Ballet in London.
Book review: Dan Brown’s ‘Inferno’
Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon races to solve a mystery based on Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”
Paul Muldoon fed and feted at Irish ambassador's residence
The Irish poet will speak tonight at the Folger Library
Book review: ‘Murder as a Fine Art,’ by David Morrell
Writer Thomas De Quincey must apprehend a murderer terrorizing London — or take the fall himself.
Washington Post Bestsellers May 12
The books Washington has been reading.
‘Paris,’ by Edward Rutherfurd
Author stuffs stale history lessons into his multi-generational journey through the City of Light.
Book review: ‘The Hand of Kornelius Voyt’
A supernatural mystery tale by Oliver Onions (1873-1961) stands with the best of its genre.
Trauma in Chechnya gives way to hope
REVIEW | In Anthony Marra’s “A Constellation of Vital Phenomena,” neighbors struggle to survive.
Book review: Brian Kimberling’s ‘Snapper’
A scientist makes a meager living observing the effects of climate change on Indiana’s birds.
YA Book review: ‘Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass’
Meg Medina’s gritty new novel for teens tackles the subject of bullying straight on.
Book review for kids: ‘The Beatles Were Fab’
This picture-book introduction to the Beatles is a loving tribute.
Book review: ‘The Dark,’ by Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen
A little boy faces the inky darkness in this charming book for children.
Three new novels about Zelda Fitzgerald
Therese Anne Fowler, Erika Robuck and R.Clifton Spargo reimagine the most romantic couple of the ’20s.
John le Carre’s latest thriller defies expectations
“A Delicate Truth” is popcorn reading — you can shovel buckets of it into your mouth as you turn the pages.
Washington Post Bestsellers May 26
The books Washington has been reading.
Washington: From cover to cover
From novels to history to cooking and ghost stories, Post editors and critics offer introduction to capital.
Ron Charles
Book review: Philipp Meyer’s ‘The Son’
The author of ‘American Rust’ is back with a spectacular saga about the settling of Texas and the flow of oil.
Ron Charles
Book review: ‘Flora’ by Gail Godwin
Things fall apart when a young girl is left alone in the house with her emotional cousin.
Ron Charles
Trauma in Chechnya gives way to hope
REVIEW | In Anthony Marra’s “A Constellation of Vital Phenomena,” neighbors struggle to survive.
Michael Dirda
Book review: ‘The Philosopher, the Priest, and the Painter’
Steven Nadler’s fascinating survey of Golden Age Dutch culture, Cartesian philosophy and art connoisseurship.
Michael Dirda
Book review: ‘The Hand of Kornelius Voyt’
A supernatural mystery tale by Oliver Onions (1873-1961) stands with the best of its genre.
Michael Dirda
‘The Letters of William Gaddis’
The novelist won National Book Awards for “J R” and “A Frolic of His Own.”
Jonathan Yardley
Art: ‘Forty-one False Starts’
Janet Malcolm’s new book is a collection of essays on artists and writers
Jonathan Yardley
The life and times of Edna O’Brien
In ‘Country Girl’ the novelist reflects on her vigorous, fascinating life
Jonathan Yardley
Seize the dad: Saul Bellow as father
Saul Bellow was a great writer but a distant father, according to his son’s memoir “Saul Bellow’s Heart.”
Literary Calendar
Going Out Guide: Upcoming events
Get the latest on readings, signings and author appearances in the D.C. area.
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