Steven Cooper, "Desert Remains." A literature-loving detective and a reluctant psychic team up to find a serial killer who leaves taunting clues in the desert caves around Phoenix. 2 p.m. Oct. 29. Talk, signing, refreshments. Free. Tall Tales Book Shop, Toco Hill Shopping Center, 2105 LaVista Road NE., Atlanta, 404-636-2498, talltalesatlanta.com
Van Jones, "Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together," with Emily Giffin. CNN political contributor Jones offers a blueprint for transforming our collective anxiety into meaningful change. 7 p.m. Oct. 30. Reading, talk. $33.09-$38.37 includes pre-signed book. Pace Academy, 966 West Paces Ferry Road NW., Atlanta, 404-262-1345, acappellabooks.com
Stuart Woods, "Quick & Dirty." The theft of a small, unknown Van Gogh painting from a NYC penthouse propels Woods's latest Stone Barrington adventure. 7 p.m. Oct. 30. Talk, signing, silent auction, beverage bar. Free. Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center, 10 College St., Norcross, 770-978-5154, gwinnettpl.org
John Boyne, "The Heart's Invisible Furies." From the author of "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," comes a sweeping saga about one man's life in post-war Ireland. 7 p.m. Oct. 31. Talk, signing. Free. First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairmont Ave., Decatur, 404-373-1653, georgiacenterforthebook.org
Regina Bradley, "Boondock Kollage." Bradley's debut short-story collection addresses issues of race, place and identity in the post-Civil Rights American South. 7 p.m. Nov. 1. Talk, signing. $10. Margaret Mitchell House, 979 Crescent Ave. NE., Atlanta, 404-814-4150, atlantahistorycenter.com
Karen Cox, "Goat Castle." By revisiting a decades-old true crime, Cox demonstrates how a tale of fallen Southern grandeur and murder obscured an all-too-familiar story of racial injustice. 7 p.m. Nov. 1. Talk, signing. Free. Carter Presidential Library & Museum, 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, 404-865-7100, jimmycarterlibrary.gov
Victoria Chang, Anis Mojgani, and Matt Hart. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2. Poetry readings. Free. Georgia Institute of Technology, Kress Auditorium, 500 10th St., Atlanta, 404-894-2000, poetry.gatech.edu
MJCCA 2017 Book Festival. This year's literary extravaganza includes headliners U.S. Sen. Al Franken (sold out), Dan Rather, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Nicole Krauss, Reza Aslan, Walter Isaacson and Dave Barry. Nov. 4–20. Readings, panel discussions, meet-n-greets, signings. See link for schedule and ticket info. Marcus Jewish Community Center, Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, 678-812-4000, atlantajcc.org
Jason Sheffield, "Son of a Bitch." Sheffield's novel follows a budding defense attorney whose mother, a criminal lawyer, clawed her way to the top of the sexist, male-dominated legal profession in Atlanta. 1 p.m. Nov. 4. Signing. Free. Posman Books, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE., Atlanta, 470-355-9041, posmanbooks.com
Nandita Godbole, "Not For You: Family Narratives of Denial & Comfort Foods." Godbole's cookbook-slash-memoir combines six different regional and international cuisines and their influence over time in one family kitchen. 2 p.m. Nov. 4. Signing. Free. Bookmiser-Roswell, 4651 Sandy Plains Road, Roswell, 770-993-1555, currycravings.wixsite.com
