New Releases This October

Zero Avenue by Dietrich Kalteis (Oct. 3)

Set during the birth of punk rock on the West Coast, Zero Avenue is a hard-rocking tale that's edgy and original. Frankie Del Rey is a talented punk star who runs enough dope on the side to keep her band together. But when her bass player gets caught stealing from her drug dealer, all hell breaks loose.

“Kalteis paints a down-and-dirty picture of a punk-rock scene fueled by drugs and marred by violence but buoyed by a heroine with plenty of faults and a grim determination to succeed.” — Kirkus Reviews

“References to actual singers and bands, such as Joey “Shithead” Keithley of D.O.A., will resonate with those who came of age in the late ’70s, and if a literary prize existed for depicting the most offensive club lavatories, this novel would win it hands down.” — Publishers Weekly

Ragged Lake by Ron Corbett (Oct. 3)

While working one afternoon on the Northern Divide, a young tree-marker makes a grisly discovery: in a squatter’s cabin near an old mill town, a family has been murdered.

Frank Yakabuski, a police detective and former soldier, is sent to remote Ragged Lake, a nearly abandoned village, to investigate. Before long, he is fighting not only to solve the crime but also to stay alive and protect the few innocents left living in the desolate woods.

A richly atmospheric mystery with sweeping backdrops, explosive action, and memorable villains, Ragged Lake will keep you guessing — about the violent crime, the nature of family, and secret deeds done long ago on abandoned frontiers.

“Familiar ingredients rarely combined — a starkly etched natural setting, a gung-ho cop, a series of soulful flashbacks, a violent climax — are expertly blended and brought to a full rolling boil.” — Kirkus Reviews

The Appraisal by Anna Porter (Oct. 17)

When wealthy octogenarian Geza Marton hires art expert Helena Marsh to buy back his family’s Titian painting, Helena flies to Budapest to close what she expects will be a reasonably simple sale. But nothing is ever simple in this beautiful, flawed city where corruption abounds.

Award-winning author Anna Porter’s The Appraisal is a smart, fast-paced, and entertaining new thriller which immerses readers in the high-stakes art world of corrupt Budapest.

“[A]n intelligent and exhilarating thriller . . . Porter’s stylish story vividly transports readers to Budapest and other European locales and keeps them hooked as her well-developed characters navigate corruption and deception.” — Publishers Weekly

Malagash by Joey Comeau (Oct. 3)

Sunday’s father is dying of cancer, and her family has travelled to the coastal town of Malagash so he can die where he grew up. But Sunday has a plan. She knows how to make her father live forever: a computer virus. Joey Comeau’s latest novel, Malagash, is a precisely crafted, darkly humorous portrait of a family in mourning.

“[A] sly and affecting novella.” — Wall Street Journal, Best New Fiction

“Witty and poignant. . . It perfectly captures the all-too-relatable feeling of dealing with loss. . . Comeau's fragmented sentences and short chapters provide a darkly humorous yet thoughtful read — one that will leave you feeling melancholy long after you're done.” – THIS Magazine

“Graceful images, scenes and dialogue blossom, meaning Malagash rings with authentic emotion.” — Toronto Star

Pockets by Stuart Ross (Oct. 3)

A wonderful dream and a horrific nightmare, a fuzzy consciousness of pain and family, Pockets is a novel of fragments — both literally and figuratively. In a series of prose-poem chapters, the nameless narrator, in a largely Jewish 1960s suburb in the northern reaches of Toronto, repeatedly enters the world, as if for the first time. His landscape is one of trilobite fossils, bicycles with banana seats, Red Skelton, and overwhelming loss. Among shadows that both comfort and threaten, a brother who drifts through the sky, he finds his narrative full of pockets of emptiness he can’t help but try to fill.

A heartbreakingly personal and profound work, Pockets redefines the novel, delivering infinite scope in something diminutive, pocket-sized. Every reading brings new revelations.

Rose & Poe by Jack Todd (Oct. 17)

Set in mythical Belle Coeur County in a time not too far from our own, Rose & Poe gloriously re-imagines Shakespeare’s The Tempest from the point of view of Caliban and his mother.

Jack Todd's latest novel is a tale of a mother’s boundless love for an apparently unlovable child, and a stunning fable for our own troubled times. It will stick in your memory like sweet wild honey.

“Innocence is savagely confronted by intolerance in a modern morality tale with classical roots . . . The writing is lyrical and the storytelling sincere.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Todd takes Shakespeare's most enigmatic, magic-infused work and fashions it into a morality tale with an uncannily of-the-moment resonance. . . The language of the book, a mix of Twain folksiness and Old Testament-flavoured Faulkner, is sustained flawlessly, and there are set pieces of an affecting lyricism. . . perhaps Todd's most impressive achievement.” — Montreal Gazette

Toronto and the Maple Leafs: A City and Its Team by Lance Hornby (Oct. 3)

On December 19, 2017, the Toronto Maple Leafs officially turn 100. In the spirit of the centenary celebrations, Toronto and the Maple Leafs explores the city’s relationship with its most beloved sports team.

Veteran Leafs and NHL columnist Lance Hornby gives readers an insider’s perspective on how the pulse of the city and team became one.

An unforgettable book about the good teams, bad games, and bizarre times of this franchise’s history, this is the perfect companion for every Leafs fan.

“Because of their history, and despite it, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a unique relationship with the city and with their fans. Lance Hornby has done a terrific job of telling the stories of the players, the coaches, and all those around the team over the years, depicting a love affair that never seems to end.” — Scott Morrison, NHL on Sportsnet

Gratoony the Loony: The Wild, Unpredictable Life of Gilles Gratton by Greg Oliver and Gilles Gratton (Oct. 3)

Gilles Gratton was not a typical pro hockey player. He refused to don his equipment and man his net if the planets were not properly aligned. He skated naked at practice. He created one of hockey’s most famous goalie masks based on his astrological sign. He fought with coaches and management, speaking his mind to his detriment. Sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll ruled his life, not stopping pucks.

Now, in his autobiography, Gratton teams up with author Greg Oliver to tell his wild and at times, yes, loony story.

“Gratton’s stories of life in the NHL are the best part of the book, and he doesn’t hide the negative stories in his glove, unabashedly naming names . . . The book as a whole is honest, open, and fun, and it’s perfect for hockey fans, especially those who remember the ’70s.”— Publishers Weekly

Dennis Maruk: The Unforgettable Story of Hockey's Forgotten 60-Goal Man by Ken Reid & Dennis Maruk by Ken Reid and Dennis Karuk (Oct. 17)

Only 20 men in NHL history have scored 60 or more goals in a single season: Gretzky, Lemieux, and Hull all hit the magical mark. And so did an undersized, take-no-prisoners centre named Dennis Maruk.

Meet the man who shattered the Washington Capitals record, but after his hockey career ended, found himself fighting for his life.

“Maruk writes honestly about his failed marriages, his battles with depression, and his difficulty finding a post​-​hockey life, and there’s enough insight into the business side of the game (including the bizarre merger of the Barons and North Stars), his teammates, and on-the-road hijinks to please any hardcore hockey fan.” — Publishers Weekly

Fast Ice: Superstars of the New NHL by Andrew Podnieks (Oct. 17)

From the incredible debut of Auston Matthews to the unparalleled speed of Connor McDavid, the NHL is experiencing a rebirth that is based on speed and skill, not size, fighting, or intimidation. Fast Ice: Superstars of the New NHL features profiles of more than 50 of today’s greatest stars.

“The facts listed by Mr. Podnieks will be appreciated by long-time fans while newer fans will learn where these players developed and why they are considered some of the best players in the game today.” –– Hockey Blog in Canada

Scion of the Fox: The Realms of Ancient, Book 1 by S.M. Beiko (Oct. 17)

Roan Harken considers herself a typical high school student — dead parents, an infected eyeball, and living in the house of her estranged, currently comatose grandmother (well, maybe not so typical) — but she’s uncovering the depth of the secrets her family left behind. When a powerful fox spirit saves Roan’s life from Death itself, she must learn to harness an ancient power to battle the snake-monster Zabor, who lies in wait in the Assiniboine River, hungry for her yearly sacrifice.

“A smart, complex, animal-based fantasy.” — Kirkus Reviews

“The first installment in a fantasy trilogy by Beiko has an interesting premise and a lively protagonist.” — Publishers Weekly

Resilience: Navigating Life, Loss and the Road to Success by Lisa Lisson (Oct. 17)

Part leadership guide, part memoir of loss, and part personal empowerment primer on how to achieve your goals no matter what the universe throws at you — this is FedEx Canada Express’ president Lisa Lisson’s story. Resilience is about how to rise to the top in a man’s world, triumph over adversity, lead a fulfilling life, and live each day with purpose and gratitude.

Read an excerpt here! 

“Lisa Lisson’s powerful memoir, Resilience, is proof positive that while we’re all subject to life’s hardships, the choices we make in response not only have the power to strengthen and renew us, but define who we are as human beings. Resilience is an inspiration to us all.” — Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications

Ain't No Place for a Hero: Borderlands (Pop Classics) by Kaitlin Tremblay (Oct. 17)

The critically acclaimed first-person shooter franchise Borderlands knows it’s ridiculous. It’s a badge of pride. In Ain't No Place for a Hero, writer, independent game developer, and narrative producer Kaitlin Tremblay explores how the video game series satirizes its own genre, creating nuanced and compelling storytelling that highlights the strengths and possibilities of this relatively new narrative medium. 

This latest entry in ECW's acclaimed Pop Classics series is a fascinating read for Borderlands devotees as well as the uninitiated.

“Tremblay spends a hundred and thirty-five pages discussing toxic masculinity and fart jokes with equal seriousness, accomplishing something I never thought possible: it convinced me we actually knew what we were doing.” — Anthony Burch, lead writer for Borderlands 2

Bon: The Last Highway: The Untold Story of Bon Scott and AC/DC's Back in Black by Jesse Fink (Nov. 7)

In death, AC/DC’s trailblazing frontman has become a rock icon, and the legend of the man known around the world simply as “Bon” grows with each passing year. But how much of it is myth?

Leaving no stone unturned in a three-year journey that begins in Austin and ends in London, with unprecedented access to Bon’s lovers, newly unearthed documents, and a trove of never-before-seen photos, Jesse Fink divulges startling new information about Bon’s last hours to solve the mystery of how he died.

“It's hands down the most informative look at AC/DC's golden years, 1977-80, ever.” — The Canton Repository

“Very eye opening. . . Jesse Fink has done rock fans a great service. He dispels the many myths about how AC/DC's Bon Scott lived and died, and in doing so, brings to life one of the most influential, memorable, and complex figures in rock history.” — Greg Renoff, author of Van Halen Rising