Staff Pick
Chris Cleave's Gold is a departure from his previous two books: there are no horrific scenes of violence, but rather a tightly woven tale of friendship, family and, surprisingly, unrelenting ambition. Sounds a bit incongruous, doesn't it? Yet, it all makes sense and dovetails beautifully in Cleave's intertwined tale of three Olympic hopefuls and the child that binds them together. Can friendship coexist within explosive rivalry? What stands in the way of — or, alternately, fuels — a blinding passion? If you lose the very thing that gives your life meaning, can you live on afterward? Cleave's latest story explores the absolute, stop-at-nothing determination for a win, and doesn't let up until he reaches a heart-stopping climax. Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com