Last month Ainslee Tamboline of Victoria, British Columbia, asked us about the English translation of Todos los Nombres ("All the Names"), the most recent novel by Nobel Prize-winning Portugese novelist Jose Saramago, and we said it wasn't scheduled yet. Well, now it is. We are happy to report that all the words in All the Names will be in English as of the spring of 2000 -- published, like Saramago's other novels in the U.S., by Harcourt.

Nobody knows. It's a mystery.

Dear Burning Questions,
Is there any word about a new P. D. James novel being published? I've read everything she's written and feel she is the greatest British mystery writer living today. I also enjoy the dramatizations of her work done by PBS as they are so professional.

C. R. Condon
Tallahassee, Florida

A publicist at Knopf informed us that P. D. James doesn't have anything scheduled for publication with them at least through October 2000, but added that it's possible a new book is already under contract. We recommend starting over on her books from the beginning until she returns with something new. This method also works with Ruth Rendell, James's only rival for the crown as British Queen of Crime.

Thank heaven for little girls' stories

Dear Burning Questions,
A friend told me she heard about a new book told by a little girl in the days of radio. My bookseller can't identify it. Can you help?

Erika Guissmuehler
Atlanta, Georgia

Well, our bookseller can beat up your bookseller any day of the week. Thanks to advice from that intrepid expert, we are willing to bet that the book you seek is a new first novel, The Life and Crimes of Fleur de Leigh (Simon & Schuster, published in May), by a woman named Diane Leslie. The narrator is a pre-teen girl, the Fleur of the title. The novel takes place in Beverly Hills in the late 1950s, and Fleur's mother is a famous radio actress who plays a detective.

After Rosenberg's Trial

Dear Burning Questions,
I am a fan of Nancy Taylor Rosenberg and have been looking for her next book. Has she written, or will she write anything after Trial by Fire ?

Jim Sena
via the Internet

Boy, do we have self-control. For two months we sat on this question (it became quite wrinkled) until Nancy Taylor Rosenberg signed her new contract with Hyperion and they were able to provide an Official Answer. At which point a charming publicist called to inform us that Rosenberg has signed a deal for two new legal thrillers. The first, as yet untitled, is scheduled for publication in the fall of 2000. It will bring back the popular characters from Rosenberg's bestseller Mitigating Circumstances.

Since 1995, when Trial By Fire came out, Rosenberg has published Abuse of Power, which is now available in a mass market paperback from Signet.

Looking for a new Carr

Dear Burning Questions,
When can we expect another novel from the wonderful writer, Caleb Carr?? I just recently "discovered" him and am anxiously awaiting anything new from him.
Thanks!!

Kristi Corder
via the Internet

First of all, we assume that now that you have discovered Carr, you have read both of his popular historical novels, The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness. Random House informs us that Carr certainly is working on a new novel for them, but as yet there is no publication date scheduled. Nor was the publicist able to reveal the topic of the next book -- even when, strictly on behalf of your flaming query, we whined and begged.

A hundred years of fortitude

Dear Burning Questions:
I've been waiting for about a hundred years for the next book by Patricia Cornwell, who is just the most exciting writer of all time. Please tell me she's working on something new and it will be out soon!!

Karen McClelland
San Diego, California

Congratulations; your wait is over. Not only is Patricia Cornwell coming out with a big new thriller in August, but naturally BookPage will have a review of it. It's entitled Black Notice and published by Putnam. Advance word is that, pursuing developments in the recent Point of Origin, it reveals a more vulnerable side to the ever competent Kay Scarpetta, and also takes the hardboiled medical examiner on a journey halfway around the world on a secret mission.

Ghost of a chance

Some time back I heard a little bit of a thing on NPR about a ghost story set in the Holocaust. I have been unable to find information about this, and I was wondering if BQ could help. Thanks!

Rachel Yarmolinsky
Baltimore, Maryland

We have asked bookstore clerks, reference librarians, crystal balls, and random people on the street, and we think we may have the answer. In 1991 Algonquin Books published a first novel entitled A Blessing on the Moon, by Joseph Skibell. It is narrated by a man who is shot and left in a mass grave. It isn't a traditional ghost story by any means, but apparently his spirit climbs up out of the grave and has harrowing adventures with the spirit of a rabbi, who has returned in the form of a crow. You may have heard about it on NPR because this spring Berkley published a trade paperback edition.

What if

When oh when will sci-fi master Harry Turtledove put out another of his wonderful alternate world books like The Great War? I think he's the best thing going in science fiction nowadays.

Carlton Stallings
Richmond Heights, Virginia

Many people would agree with you. Turtledove's series The Great War began with The American Front and will continue this August, when Del Rey publishes Walk in Hell.

The face in the mirror

Dear Burning Questions,
Has Jane Goodall written any new books lately? I so admire her work with the chimpanzees of Gombe. Is she still working in Africa or has she retired?

Todd Brown
Plano, Texas

We share your admiration, and we are happy to report that Jane Goodall has not retired. She still divides her time between Tanzania and England, and still works as a biologist, conservationist, and animal rights activist. In fact, she is expanding the variety of her work. Early this spring North-South books published their third children's book by Goodall, Dr. White, a beautiful picture book based on a true story. Just last month Aperture published Brutal Kinship, in which Goodall collaborates with animal photographer Michael Nichols. In September Warner Books will publish Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey, which explores Goodall's lifelong religious beliefs and how her work as a scientist has only strengthened them.

Burning down the house

Dear Burning Questions:
Awhile back a woman in a library told me I absolutely had to read a new book about immigrants coming to this country and about a fire at Coney Island. I have no idea what the title of that book was. Is this description enough for you to help?

Carly Erickson
Scottsville, Iowa

We think the only book that fits your description is Kevin Baker's acclaimed historical novel Dreamland, which came out in March of this year from HarperCollins. We understand that Dreamland was the name of the amusement park that burned down in 1911. For more information, turn to the interview with Kevin Baker in our March issue, still available on our website, which we have cleverly named www.bookpage.com.

Trust us on this one

An update for Clan fans: Undoubtedly our most Frequently Asked Question (FAQ, to you Webcrawlers) is, "Do you know when Jean Auel's next book will be out?"

No.