Book reviews and concert previews brought to you by Betsy Burton, co-owner of The King's English Bookshop, and Austen Diamond, producer of 13% Salt. Books & Beats airs Saturdays at 7:35 a.m. and 9:35 a.m. during NPR's Weekend Edition.

Books & Beats: April 30, 2016

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Violent Femmes perform at The Depot on Monday, May 2.
Courtesy of the Artist

        Fool Me Once(Dutton Books) is the latest Harlan Coban thriller: Maya, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, is mourning her murdered husband.  Thing is, her sister was also killed while she was away.  And the investigating detective suspects Maya.  Betsy Burton recommends keeping away from this mystery at bedtime—“unless, of course, you have a need to stay up all night.”

   Then, despite more than three decades of acoustic punk rock, Violent Femmes are still best known for “Blister in the Sun,” the first song from their first album.  Lead singer and guitarist Gordon Gano and bassist Brian Ritchie have been constants in the band, while drummers have come and gone.  Austen Diamond says the newest record We Can Do Anything takes on the challenges of middle age.  Violent Femmes are playing at The Depot on Monday, May 2nd.

Music heard on this Books & Beats:

Intro: “Urami Bushi” by Meiko Kaji

By Violent Femmes:

1: “Blister in the Sun”

2: “I Hear the Rain”

3: “Memory”  

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