What’s new: The latest from James Patterson, Jim Harrison on food, Marita Golden’s Alzheimer’s novel

THE BLACK BOOK, by James Patterson and David Ellis. The black book in question belongs to the madam of a high-end Chicago brothel, and after a brutal murder it has gone missing — and with it the names of some of the city’s most elite citizens. Patterson, the prolific author of the Alex Cross series and many books for young readers, calls this novel his best book in 25 years. (Little, Brown; $28)

A REALLY BIG LUNCH: The Roving Gourmand on Food and Life, by Jim Harrison. The voracious poet and novelist, whose books included “Legends of the Fall” and “Returning to Earth,” died last year at age 78. This collection of essays on food and drink showcases his irascible wit and lust for life, and includes a manifesto for what he calls “The Vivid Diet” (plenty of garlic, hot peppers) and a screed against bland white wine. (Grove Press, $26)

THE WIDE CIRCUMFERENCE OF LOVE, by Marita Golden. An African-American family grapples with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in this novel by Golden (“Migrations of the Heart,” “A Woman’s Place”), her first in nearly a decade. Gregory Tate, a successful 68-year-old Washington, D.C., architect, begins to forget appointments and get lost. The disease means that wife Diane and children Lauren and Sean must redefine their relationships with him. (Arcade, $24.99)