Dear Burning Questions,
I've read all of Patricia Cornwell's books and was wondering if she was working on another.

Bonnie Szul
Rossford, Ohio

We've got good news for you and the millions of Kay Scarpetta fans out there: Cornwell has completed another Scarpetta mystery, Blow Fly, to be published in October by Putnam. This time the Virginia medical examiner heads to Florida for some peace and quiet but instead is called to assist in solving a series of baffling murders there. Kay soon becomes involved in an international conspiracy with deadly consequences.

SPY GAMES

Dear Burning Questions,
I have a question about Frederick Forsyth: where is he in the whole espionage writing game? I have not seen any books from him in a long time. Is he still writing, or has he retired?

Debbie Hughes
New York, New York

We can't blame you for wondering if acclaimed thriller writer Forsyth had retired—it's been seven years since the publication of his last novel, The Veteran. But he's still in the business and better than ever, according to advance word on Avenger, which Thomas Dunne Books will publish on September 30.

Cal Dexter is a successful attorney who leads a quiet life in suburban Pennsylvania. But his tranquil present hides a turbulent past: Dexter is a former assassin. Reading the newspaper one day, he finds a coded message that can only be meant for him, and he is drawn back into the dangerous world of espionage, revenge and murder.

POLE GOAL

Dear Burning Questions,
Have Ann Bancroft and her companion, who skied across Antarctica, written a book about their journey?

Lois Arnold
Rockford, Illinois

Ann Bancroft and Liv (pronounced "leave") Arnesen—the first two women to cross Antarctica—have indeed penned a book about their five-month trek. Titled No Horizon Is So Far, it will be published by Da Capo Press in October. These women have had plenty of practice withstanding arctic temperatures—besides the fact that both had led previous expeditions, Bancroft is from Minnesota and Arnesen lives in Oslo, Norway.

Da Capo also plans to release a children's book about the duo's arduous journey: Ann and Liv Cross Antarctica.

CHAIN OF POWER

Dear Burning Questions,
I have a question about Richard North Patterson: any news on when he's going to write another book?

Jackie Morgan
Indianapolis, Indiana

Richard Patterson, author of 11 suspense thrillers, returns in October with Balance of Power (Ballantine). In the third novel starring young, charismatic President Kerry Kilcannon, Patterson takes on the touchy subject of gun control. Kilcannon launches a fight to end gun violence after his new wife's sister, niece and three others are shot and killed. But the gun lobbies have more power than Kilcannon had ever imagined, and he finds his dedication to the cause may cost him his political career.

BUTCH IS BACK

Dear Burning Questions,
When can we expect a new book in the Butch Karp series by Robert K. Tanenbaum? The last I know of is Absolute Rage.

Nancy Brian
Solon, Ohio

The 15th installment of Tanenbaum's series, which stars Manhattan Assistant DA Butch Karp, was just released by Atria Books. In Resolved, Karp is stalked by a man he convicted over 10 years ago, Felix Tighe, who has escaped from prison to join a group of Islamic terrorists. Things get even more personal when Tighe sets his sights on Karp's daughter, Lucy.

RIVER ROMANCE

Dear Burning Questions,
I'm looking for a book my mother turned me on to when I was 15. The male main character is a wealthy man in Cairo and the woman is a clothes designer or publisher in the States. It has sex, a storyline about the Nile River and Cairo, and at the end they are walking on a bridge discussing their future plans.

Tori Anderson
Baltimore, Maryland

Sounds like quite a story! We're pretty sure the book you're looking for is Three Rivers by Roberta Latow. Though it's out of print, you shouldn't have much trouble finding this 1981 romance at a local library or used bookstore.

BREATHE EASY

Dear Burning Questions,
I haven't seen anything new from Terry McMillan since A Day Late and a Dollar Short. Do you know if she has anything in the works?

Barbara Cappucci
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

Terry McMillan has been a household name ever since the publication of Waiting to Exhale in 1992. Since then, she's written five more books, all of them bestsellers. If you've been holding your breath since the publication of her last novel, you won't have to wait much longer for the next one. The Interruption of Everything will be released by Viking this December.

Marilyn Grimes' life looks perfect—from the outside. Her three kids are grown and out on their own, and her husband, Leon, is faithful and a good provider. But Marilyn can't help but feel like something is missing. Aided by her good friends Paulette and Bunny, Marilyn decides to figure out how to get herself where she wants to be in life, revisiting old dreams and goals she'd all but forgotten. But life takes on a few twists of its own, and Marilyn has to take another look at her marriage, friendships, family and herself.