Books: New and noteworthy

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

1. American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner's Legendary Rise by Joe Drape (Hachette, non-fiction, on sale April 26)

What it’s about: A New York Times sportswriter recounts the dramatic tale of the racehorse that in 2015 won the first Triple Crown in 37 years.

The buzz: Arrives as racing fans get their annual hopes up with the Kentucky Derby looming on May 7.

2. Hide Away by Iris Johansen (St. Martin’s Press, fiction, on sale April 26)

What it’s about: Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan must protect a girl named Cara Delaney; second book in a planned trilogy.

The buzz: Shadow Play, the first book in the series, landed at No. 13 last year on USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list.

3. Mockingbird by Charles J. Shields (Henry Holt, non-fiction, on sale April 26)

What it’s about: Shields’ 2006 biography of Harper Lee, who died in February, has been updated to include new information, including the controversy over the publication of Go Set a Watchman.

The buzz: In our 2006 review of the original edition, USA TODAY called Shields’ bio “admirable.”

4. City of Secrets by Stewart O’Nan (Viking, fiction, on sale April 26)

What it’s about: In post-World War II Jerusalem, a concentration camp survivor becomes involved in the underground resistance movement against the British.

The buzz: O’Nan “assumes the mantle of Conrad and Greene in a probing, keening thriller,” says Kirkus Reviews.

5. Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep by Michael Schulman (Harper, non-fiction, on sale April 26)

What it’s about: Looks at the early days of Streep’s storied career, from Yale Drama School to roles in movies such as The Deer Hunter and Kramer vs. Kramer.

The buzz: “An insightful portrait of the acclaimed actor,” says Publishers Weekly.