DANCE OF DEATH A former chief prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s sex crimes unit, Linda Fairstein, signs her new mystery novel, “Death Dance” (Scribner). In this latest installment in the series following investigator Alexandra Cooper, she investigates the disappearance of a famous ballerina from backstage at Lincoln Center. Tonight, 6-7:30 p.m., Mysterious Bookshop, 58 Warren St., between Church Street and West Broadway, 212-587-1011, free.

ELLIOT’S REASONS WHY NOT Elliot Perlman reads from and signs his new short story collection, “The Reasons I Won’t Be Coming” (Penguin). Tonight, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway at 66th Street, 212-595-6859, free.

RETURN TO ISRAEL Liel Leibovitz reads from his book “Aliya: Three Generations of American-Jewish Immigration to Israel” (St. Martin’s Press). He examines the phenomenon of aliya, in which diaspora Jews immigrate to Israel, through the prism of his American cousins’ journey to Israel from New Jersey. Tonight, 7 p.m., Mo Pitkin’s House of Satisfaction, 34 Ave. A, between 2nd and 3rd streets, 212-777-5660, free.

HEADS OF SKULL Authors published by the independent Soft Skull Press gather for a reading of their most recent works. The readers are Wayne Koestenbaum, author of the novel “Moira Orfei in Aigues-Mortes”; Maggie Nelson, author of the poetry-prose-nonfiction blend “Jane: A Murder,” and Douglas Martin, author of “Branwell: A Novel of the Bronte Brother.” Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Coliseum Books, 11 W. 42nd St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-803-5890, free.

FREEDOM FORUM Journalist Christian Parenti reads from and discusses his book, “The Freedom” (New Press), which casts a critical eye at the war in Iraq. Tonight, 7 p.m., the Half King, 505 W. 23rd St. at Tenth Avenue, 212-462-4300, free.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.