5 new books you won't want to miss this week, including Paula McLain and David Duchovny

Jocelyn McClurg | USA TODAY

USA TODAY’s Jocelyn McClurg scopes out the hottest books on sale each week.

1. Love and Ruin by Paula McLain (Ballantine, fiction, on sale May 1)

What it’s about: McLain, whose 2011 novel The Paris Wife was a book-club hit, returns to Ernest Hemingway and his wives in this historical novel focused on war correspondent Martha Gellhorn (wife No. 3).

The buzz: It’s an Indie Next pick of independent booksellers. “Deliciously entertaining,” says Jake Reiss of Alabama Booksmith in Birmingham.

2. Miss Subways by David Duchovny (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, fiction, on sale May 1)

What it’s about: New York City’s subway system provides the setting for this modern updating of an ancient myth about star-crossed lovers; the latest novel from The X-Files star.

The buzz: “An entertaining, postmodern fairy tale,” says Kirkus Reviews.

3. Political Risk: How Businesses and Organizations Can Anticipate Global Insecurity by Condoleezza Rice and Amy B. Zegart (Twelve, non-fiction, on sale May 1)

What it’s about: Aimed at entrepreneurs, executives and investors, advice on how to navigate a world put at risk by terrorists, hackers and unpredictable political leaders.

The buzz: The book is based on a popular class Rice, the former Secretary of State, and Zegart, a professor of political science, teach together at Stanford University.

4. The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy (Harper, fiction, on sale May 1)

What it’s about: The tight bond of the “May Mothers” — a group of Brooklyn moms (and one dad) whose babies were all born the same month — is threatened when a baby is snatched from his crib.

The buzz: Film rights for this debut thriller have been sold with Kerry Washington (Scandal) attached to star.

5. He by John Connolly (Quercus, fiction, on sale May 1)

What it’s about: This novel recreates the comedic partnership of early 20th century entertainers Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, aka Laurel and Hardy, famous for their slapstick routines.

The buzz: This is a departure for Connolly, best known for his USA TODAY best-selling Charlie Parker mysteries (A Game of Ghosts).