Thrillers & Suspense
March 2026

New & Recently Released
Exit Strategy: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child
Exit Strategy
by Lee Child

First—a Baltimore coffee shop. A seat in the corner, facing the door. Black coffee, two refills, no messing around. A minor interruption from two of the customers, but nothing he can’t deal with swiftly. As he leaves, a young guy brushes against him in the doorway. Instinctively Reacher checks the pocket holding his cash and passport. There’s no problem. Nothing is missing.  Second—a store to buy a coat. Nothing fancy. Something he can ditch when he heads to warmer climates. Large enough to fit a man the size of a bank vault. As he pulls out his cash, he finds something new in his pocket. A handwritten note. A desperate plea for help.  Third—wherever this bend in the road takes him. Impressed by the guy’s technique and intrigued by the message, Reacher makes it his mission to find out more . . .
Nash Falls by David Baldacci
Nash Falls
by David Baldacci

Nash is an intelligent man, tough but fair-minded. He has a wife and a daughter and a very high-level position at Sybaritic Investments, where his innate skills and dogged tenacity have carried him to the top of the pyramid in his business career. Despite never going on grand adventures, and always working too many hours, he has a happy and upscale life with his family.  However, following his estranged Vietnam-veteran father’s funeral, Nash is unexpectedly approached by the FBI in the middle of the night. They have an important request: become their inside man to expose an enterprise that is laundering large sums of money through Sybaritic. At the top of this illegal operation is Victoria Steers, an international criminal mastermind that the FBI has been trying to bring down for years.  Nash has little choice but to accept the FBI’s demands and try to bring Steers and her partners to justice. But when Steers discovers that Nash is working with the FBI, she turns the tables on him in a way he never could have contemplated. And that forces Nash to take the ultimate step both to survive and to take his revenge: He must become the exact opposite of who he has always been.  And even that may not be enough.
The Girl from Devil's Lake: A Brady Novel of Suspense by J. A. Jance
The Girl from Devil's Lake
by J. A. Jance
 
Sheriff Joanna Brady is looking forward to the holidays with her busy family, and to celebrating her daughter Jenny’s graduation from the police academy. But the family is interrupted when a body is discovered beneath a flooded bridge in the Arizona desert, and Joanna is called onto the case. A young boy was murdered, and the details of the crime scene tell Joanna two things: This was not the killer’s first murder. And it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.  As Joanna digs deeper into the case, she begins to understand this murder is just one piece of a much, much bigger puzzle. She uncovers unlikely connections between cases of mysterious deaths and missing persons, having long since gone cold, that extend far beyond the confines of her small town and include the discovery of a body near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. To get justice for the victims and to save the town of Bisbee from a predator, Joanna must chase down every dangerous lead.
Meanwhile, as a dogged journalist is circling the case and privileged information is leaked, Joanna can’t be sure who to trust. Could a prolific killer be hiding in plain sight? And how far will that person go to keep his many crimes hidden?
The Burning Library by Gilly MacMillan
The Burning Library
by Gilly MacMillan
 
On a frigid, windswept day in Scotland’s Western Isles, Eleanor Bruton’s body is discovered on the shore. To her family Eleanor was an ordinary middle-aged woman. She did flower arrangements and plumped kneeler cushions at church. Little did they know she was harboring a dark and all-consuming secret. A scrap of fraying embroidery that seems worthless at first glance.  For over a century, two rival organizations of women have gone to deadly lengths to secure the valuable artifact in the hopes of finding the original medieval manuscript from which it was torn. The Order of St. Katherine: devoted to the belief that women must pull strings in the shadows to exercise control. And the Fellowship of the Larks, determined to amass as many overt positions of power for women as possible…so long as their methods of doing so never come to light.  When Dr. Anya Brown garners international attention for her translation of the cryptic Folio 9, she is handpicked by Diana Cornish, a professor and high-ranking member of the Fellowship, to join the exclusive Institute of Manuscript Studies in St. Andrews. Unbeknownst to Anya she’s been recruited at great personal danger to translate ancient texts that the Fellowship believes critical to their mission.  Meanwhile at Scotland Yard, Detective Constable Clio Spicer begins a private investigation into the death of Eleanor Bruton.  As all the women grow further entangled in this ancient web, circumstances spin wildly out of control and their lives may be in grave danger.  Perfect for fans of Alex Michaelides and Ruth Ware, The Burning Library is the story of a centuries-old secret set to divide and consume those who seek to unearth it.
The Picasso Heist: A Thriller by James Patterson
The Picasso Heist
by James Patterson

A $100 million painting.  A previously unknown Picasso is discovered in the attic of a French villa.  Everyone wants to possess it. Filthy-rich Manhattan art people. Organized crime bosses. Power-hungry government officials. A notorious forger. A glamorous twenty-two-year-old art thief.  Only one person knows how to take it. She’s the rival none of the power players see coming.
The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf
The Perfect Hosts
by Heather Gudenkauf

Is it a boy or a girl? They would die to know…  Madeline and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the year: a “pistols and pearls” gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets.  As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn’t just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it’s too late.
Emma on Fire: A Thriller by James Patterson
Emma on Fire
by James Patterson

Everyone at Ridgemont Academy knows what to expect from Emma Caroline Blake. Perfect grades. Perfect record. Perfect life. Then she stands up in class and commits an act so shocking her reputation will never recover.  And that’s exactly what Emma wants. In a world where the path forward is uncertain, expectation is the enemy. Emma on Fire is the unforgettable story of one brave young woman—and her decision to live life as if everyone’s future depends on it.  Because it does.
The Proving Ground: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel by Michael Connelly
The Proving Ground 
by Michael Connelly

Following his “resurrection walk” and need for a new direction, Mickey Haller turns to public interest litigation, filing a civil lawsuit against an artificial intelligence company whose chatbot told a sixteen-year-old boy that it was okay for him to kill his ex-girlfriend for her disloyalty.  Representing the victim’s family, Mickey’s case explores the mostly unregulated and exploding AI business and the lack of training guardrails. Along the way he joins up with a journalist named Jack McEvoy, who wants to be a fly on the wall during the trial in order to write a book about it. But Mickey puts him to work going through the mountain of printed discovery materials in the case. McEvoy’s digging ultimate delivers the key witness, a whistleblower who has been too afraid to speak up. The case is fraught with danger because billions are at stake.  It is said that machines became smarter than humans on the day in 1997 that IBM’s Deep Blue defeated chess master Garry Kasparov with a gambit called “the knight’s sacrifice.” Haller will take a similar gambit in court to defeat the mega forces of the AI industry lined up against him and his clients.
The Invisible Woman: A Thriller by James Patterson
The Invisible Woman
by James Patterson

No one sees her, but she sees everything. Elinor Gilbert was once a young woman with a thriving career at the FBI.  Now decades past solving crimes with the bureau, she is personally and professionally forgettable.  Which is exactly what her former FBI boss needs. He disguises Elinor as a middle-aged nanny, and casts her as an agent on the inside of his investigation into a New York art dealer suspected of ties to organized crime. But as Elinor pushes toward the truth, her superpower—anonymity—morphs into a fatal flaw.  The more the invisible woman integrates into her “host” family, the more dangerously memorable she becomes.
Dead Ringer by Chris Hauty
Dead Ringer
by Chris Hauty

Set in the present day, a disgraced former Secret Service officer and a Jesuit professor join forces to delve into the mysteries surrounding the events of November 22, 1963. Fixated on deciphering the conspiracies behind the history-changing assassination, they are oblivious to the fact that the cabal is still active—and may face an end as bloody as the carnage in Dealey Plaza. Will they be able to uncover the truth in time? Or will they become two more footnotes in history?
Friends and Liars by Kit Frick
Friends and Liars
by Kit Frick

It’s been five years since heiress Clare Monroe tragically died on New Year’s Eve at her family’s opulent Italian palazzo. Since that time, her college friends have harbored a dark secret—their lies and betrayals led to Clare’s untimely death.  What happened that fateful night was a horrible accident, but Luca, Harper, Sirina, and David are guilty, nonetheless. And their desperate decision to conceal the truth destroyed their once-close bond.  Now, the estranged friends are each the recipient of an invitation from the Monroes to return to the lakeside palazzo for a long-overdue memorial for Clare. Accepting the Monroes’ invitation means playing with fire, but they can hardly refuse.  Luca, Harper, Sirina, and David have barely settled into their idyllic accommodations on Lake Como before someone at the memorial party begins targeting them. Haunted by little “gifts” left in their rooms, taunting notes, and the unshakable sense of being watched, it soon becomes clear that someone on the guest list knows the whole truth about the night Clare died—and the secrets her friends have been keeping. Nothing is as it seems at the palazzo on the lake, and under their tormentor’s vengeful gaze, their secrets—and their lives—are in danger.
The Grave Artist by Jeffery Deaver
The Grave Artist
by Jeffery Deaver
 
A wedding reception is coming to a close in the Hollywood Hills when the blissful day is shattered by the death of one of the newlyweds. Though the incident appears to be an accident, Homeland Security Investigations agent Carmen Sanchez and her partner, security expert Jake Heron, discover that the tragedy is the third in a series of similar deaths and conclude something far more sinister is at play.  The two uncover chilling evidence pointing to a serial killer who has taken evil to the next level. Dubbed the Honeymoon Killer, this man isn’t interested in his victims but in creating his own macabre masterpiece from their graves―focused on the survivors and reveling in their grief. And now his dark obsession has turned to Carmen and Jake…  The Honeymoon Killer has decided they are the perfect next target. Take one out and delight as the other crumbles. Time is running out as a deadly game between predator and prey begins.
Upcoming @ Your Library
For Youth
                                
Family Storytime
Every Wednesday at 11:00 AM
Join Ms. Laura for stories, songs, and fun for everyone in the Children's room!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thursday CRAFTernoon: Air Dry Clay Trinket Dishes
(Part 2) 
Thursday, March 12th 3:30 PM
Come by the Maker Space every Thursday at 3:30pm to create your own unique craft! This month, in honor of NJ Makers Day, we will feature a new craft each week. This week: Part One of our two-part  Air Dry Clay Trinket Dish Craft! Registration is *required* to participate. Recommended for ages 8-13.  Register for additional dates on our website.
 
Register Here
 
 
Thursday CRAFTernoon: Special Makers Month Edition
Thursday, March 19th 3:30 PM
Come by the Maker Space every Thursday at 3:30pm to create your own unique craft! This month, in honor of NJ Makers Day, we will feature a new craft each week. Registration is *required* to participate. Recommended for ages 8-13.
 
Register Here
 
 
                                                               MUSH! with Sophia the Sled Dog (and her human)! 
Saturday, March 21st 2:00 PM
Musher Karen Land is back with Sophia, her Alaskan husky, with a return visit to Cranbury Public Library!  Land is a writer, public speaker, and three-time participant in the 1000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as well as many other sprint and endurance races in Alaska, Canada, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Maine. Since 2000, Land has traveled to nearly every state with her dog sled, mushing gear, Arctic clothing, and beloved dogs. Come to hear fascinating tales of the Iditarod Trail and meet Sophia!
 
Register Here
 
 
Thursday CRAFTernoon: Special Makers Month Edition: Decorate our READ sign!
Thursday, March 26th 3:30 PM
Come by the Maker Space every Thursday at 3:30pm to create your own unique craft! This month, in honor of NJ Makers Day, we will feature a new craft each week. This week: Help decorate our READ sign to hang in the Maker Space! Registration is *required* to participate. Recommended for ages 8-13.
 
Register Here
 
 
Toddler Craft Tuesday 
Tuesday, March 31st 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
NEW DATE! Calling all crafty toddlers! Join us in the Maker Space for a special seasonal craft perfect for busy little hands. Recommended for ages 2 to 5. Registration is *highly encouraged.* This month: Let's shake up splatter paintings in a jar!
 
Register Here
 
For Teens
 
Teen Mashup Hour (or Whatever)  
Thursdays, March 12th and 26th 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
 
On the second and fourth Thursday each month, tweens & teens can drop by the Teen Room at 4:00pm for the Teen Mashup Hour (or Whatever). Each month there will be a guided craft to work on - but attendees are welcome to discuss whatever and work on whatever they'd like. Attendees will also learn of volunteer opportunities available at the Library. Light snacks will be offered. The teen room computers are only to be used for programming materials during this hour.

This program is intended for ages 11-17.
On March 12th we will be crafting: Bedazzling!

The Teen Mashup Hour will meet on the second and fourth Thursday each month at 4:00pm in the Teen Room (unless otherwise stated).
 
Register Here
 
 
For Adults
 
Gentle Yoga 
Wednesdays, March 11th, 18th and 25th
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Join us for an hour of gentle stretching, breath work, and meditation. This class is perfect for beginners or experienced practitioners.  Please bring your own mat.  Walk-ins-welcome.
Beth Glasberg  has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. After studying the mind-body connection as part of her work as a behavior analyst, she decided she needed a deeper education in yoga. The more she learned, the more she fell in love. She became certified as a yoga instructor through the Yoga Renew program and joined the Yoga Alliance. Since then, Beth has been teaching both foundational and vinyasa flow classes regularly. She is also in the process of becoming certified to work with individuals who have suffered a trauma. She is passionate about using movement and breath to build strength, flexibility, balance, and peace, and committed to making the practice available to individuals of all fitness levels and backgrounds. When not on the mat, you can find Beth enjoying time with her family, visiting new places, or relaxing at the beach. in Motion Fitness is a boutique fitness studio located in Princeton, NJ.  Walk-ins welcome, no registration required.
 
Register Here
 
 
                   
Self Defense for Women Personal Empowerment Safety
Thursdays, March 12th, 19th and 26th
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Empower yourself through this 12-hour basic RAD Women self-defense course designed for every women, regardless of physical fitness and age. Learn how to protect yourself from potential danger with awareness strategies and defense techniques.  Dress in comfortable clothing. 
 
Meeting Rooms 1 + 2

Registration is currently full.  Please check back later.
 
 
 
Author Talk with Jeff Chu, Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand
Saturday, March 14th 11:00 AM
Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand, was a 2025 NATIONAL BESTSELLER. "It's a profound meditation on nature, heritage, and belonging, from an accomplished journalist who left New York City for life on a working farm."

***
In his late thirties, Jeff Chu left his job as a magazine writer and found himself at Princeton Theological Seminary’s “Farminary”—a twenty-one-acre working farm where students learn to cultivate the earth while examining life’s biggest questions. In this book, Chu unpacks what he learned about creating “good soil,” both literally and figuratively, drawing lessons from the rhythms of growth, decay, and regeneration that define life on the land.  In gorgeous, transporting reflections, Chu introduces us to the cast of characters, human and not, who became his teachers. While observing the egrets that visit the pond, the worms that turn waste into fertile soil, and the Chinese long beans that get passed over in the farm’s CSA, Chu considers our desire to belong, the story behind the food on our plate, and the significance of his own roots. What is the earth trying to tell us, if we’ll only stop and listen?  Good Soil helps readers connect to the land and to one another at a time when we seem drawn most to the phones in our hands. For nature lovers, foodies, and anyone who has daydreamed about a more fulfilling life, this book is a tribute to friendship, to the sacredness of our bond with the natural world, and to how love can grow from the unlikeliest of places.  https://www.amazon.com/Good-Soil-Education-Accidental-Farmhand/dp/0593727363
 
Register Here
 
 
Pilates for Wellness 
Mondays, March 16th and 23rd 4:30 PM 
Candice Wisaksono is a certified Pilates instructor dedicated to guiding others toward deep relaxation, healing, and inner balance. With a passion for holistic wellness, she combines the restorative power of Pilates to help her students find peace, clarity, and renewal. Her classes offer a nurturing space to release stress, reconnect within, and restore harmony to the body, mind, and spirit. Please bring your own mat.  Walk - ins are welcome.  
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPL Cinemates Film Club 
Monday, March 16th 6:00 PM
Movie-lovers of all kinds are welcome! Whether you're a casual viewer or well-versed in auteur theory and the works of André Bazin, we invite all who wish to share in the cinematic experience and spirited (but civil) discussions. Screenings will vary in rating, so we advise using discretion on deciding whether to attend a screening.
 
This program is suggested for teens and older.
Refreshments will be provided, but you may also bring your own snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. Most importantly: bring your love for movies!  This program will meet in Meeting Rooms 1 + 2 on the third Monday of every month.  
 
Each month's selection is inspired by a specific theme and is voted on by club members. Be sure to submit your email address on the questionnaire below to be included in the voting for each month's film!

Below is a short questionnaire to assess what types of films participants would like to screen. Please feel free to share your thoughts by submitting a form and be sure to leave your email to stay up to date with Cinemates happenings!

Cinemates Film Club Questionnaire
 
Monthly Themes:
March - Old Hollywood
 
Register Here
 
 
A Matter of Balance 
Every Tuesday and Thursday in March
Tuesdays, March 17th and 24th 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Thursdays, March 12th, 19th and 26th 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
A Matter Of Balance is open to 60 and older and people with disabilities 18 years and older Participants are required to attend at least 5 sessions. Many older adults experience concerns about falling and restrict their activities. A MATTER OF BALANCE is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. This program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls. YOU WILL LEARN TO: view falls as controllable Set goals for increasing activity Make changes to reduce fall risks at home Exercise to increase strength and balance WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Anyone concerned about falls Anyone interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength Anyone who has fallen in the past Anyone who has restricted activities because of falling concerns.
Registration "highly recommended"  
 
Meeting Rooms 1 + 2 

Register HERE
 
 
Spinning Yarns
Tuesday, March 17th 6:30 PM
Register for additional dates on our website.
 
Register Here
 
 
Afternoon Book Discussion
Wednesday, March 18th 1:30 PM
Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month in Meeting Room 3.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
 
Monthly Puzzle Night! 
Wednesday, March 18th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for our monthly puzzle night on the third Wednesday of each month! Come work on a new puzzle each month, and meet fellow puzzle enthusiasts!

Drop in from 6-8pm when we'll be working on puzzles in the adult circulation room.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Jersey Makers Day 2026!
Saturday, March 21st 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
NJ Makers Day, one of our favorite events of the year is back, and we'll be celebrating all day on March 21st!

We will have passive programs that attendees can drop into throughout the day, as well as scheduled programs that require registration. For programs that require registration, please click on the highlighted program/s of your choosing to be taken to the listing. Please be mindful of any age requirements for specific programs.

10:30am - Sensory Slime
12:00pm - Egg Carton Animal Portraits
12:00pm - Spring Card Making Workshop (adults only)
2:00pm - MUSH! with Sophia the Sled Dog (and her human)!
3:00pm - Meet the Artist Reception: Emma Peters!

Beads & lanyards, coloring books for all ages, helicopter kits, and puzzles will also be available throughout the library from open to close.
 
Register Here 
 
 
 
 
Spring Card Making Workshop 
Saturday, March 21st 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Registration required, begins Feb 23.
Come join us as Alicia Vincelette from Inked Edge Paper Art instructs us on how to create a one- of- a kind Pop-Out Spring-themed card. No experience is necessary and all materials and tools will be supplied.  

Open to Cranbury Public Library Cardholders. Registration Required. Space is limited. Meeting Rooms 1&2. Adult Program. 

Cranbury Public Library Cards can be obtained by visiting the Cranbury Public Library and presenting ID with proof of Cranbury residency. Non resident library cards are also available for a fee.

Meeting Room 1 + 2
 
Register Here 
 
 
What Happened to Lucy's Son?: A Historical Mystery and an Introduction to Genealogical and Archival Research
Sunday, March 22nd 2:00 PM
On January 22, 1824, a young black woman named Lucy had a baby she gave the name Abraham Tromp. Nine months earlier, soon after Lucy had gained her freedom from slavery in Hillsborough, she had agreed to be the "covenant servant" of a 77-year old man. In 1830 she signed a contract for her 6-year old son to be the apprentice and servant of the old man's son, Peter Dumont Vroom Jr., governor of New Jersey. The only condition was that he would learn to read the Bible and receive a suit and a Bible when he finished his service at 21. 
_________________________________________________________________________________
What happened to Abraham?
In this presentation archivist, Helene van Rossum, takes you on a tour as a history detective. She will show attendees how to do archival research using genealogical databases, and how to avoid mistakes when using Chat GTP. The journey takes you to the Vroom family papers at Rutgers Special Collections, the Peter Dumont Vroom papers at the NJ Historical Society, the State Archives in Trenton, the National Archives in Washington, and the archives of the First Presbyterian Church and the Witherspoon Street Church in Princeton, where Paul Robeson's father preached from 1880 to 1901.  Is it possible that Abraham Tromp heard him preach? We will find out.
 
Register Here 
 
 
iPhone 101
Tuesday, March 23rd 12:30 PM
Learn all about how to use your iPhone or iPad!  In this workshop, we will have an open forum for any troubles you might encounter with the iPhone or other Apple devices. In previous sessions, we discussed the camera, security measures, and data storage. Beginner to intermediate experience with an iPhone or Apple device is suggested. Meeting Room 1.
 
Register Here
 
                                                    
Button Maker Monday!
Monday, March 23rd
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Want to gussy up that backpack? Or give your jacket the flair it deserves? Come by the Maker Space every Monday from 3:30-4:30pm with your pre-printed designs, or draw an original piece, and we'll make a button out of it! 
 
 
Literary Cafe
Monday, March 23rd 7:00 PM
Discuss your recent reads with fellow bibliophiles. This discussion group promises thought-provoking and engaging discourse. Meets the 4th Monday of the month in Meeting Room 3.
 
 
Wills, Trusts & Power of Attorney 
Saturday, March 28th 2:00 PM
Planning for the unexpected is important, whether you have young children or are reaching a certain glorious age. This educational workshop on estate planning is for adults of all ages.  Meeting Room 1
 
Register Here
 
 
Library Hours & Closings
Monday thru Thursday - 10 AM to 8 PM
Friday - 10 AM to 5 PM
Saturday - 10 AM to 4 PM
Sunday - 12 PM to 4 PM
Cranbury Public Library
30 Park Place West
Cranbury, New Jersey 08512
609-722-6992

www.cranburypubliclibrary.org/