Thrillers & Suspense
October 2025

New & Recently Released
Billion-dollar ransom : a thriller by James Patterson
Billion-Dollar Ransom
by James Patterson

Five members of a billionaire’s family. In different locations. All kidnapped at the same moment.  Two children taken from a private-school bus. A film producer and a movie star grabbed at a hideaway resort. A beautiful wife whisked off the streets of Beverly Hills.  A patriarch wants his family back. The cash, gold, jewels, and crypto are all ready.  There’s only one problem: a brilliant, very stubborn FBI agent. Special Agent Nicky Gordon doesn’t want to pay the kidnappers. Not a dime.
Hidden nature by Nora Roberts
Hidden Nature
by Nora Roberts

Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store―and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.  After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.  She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young―the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.  Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case―and she's willing to risk her life again if that's what it takes to stop the horror.
Hot wax : a novel by M. L. Rio
Hot Wax
by M. L. Rio

Summer, 1989: ten-year-old Suzanne is drawn like a magnet to her father’s forbidden world of electric guitars and tricked-out cars. When her mother remarries, she jumps at the chance to tag along on the concert tour that just might be Gil and the Kills’ wild ride to glory. But fame has sharper fangs than anybody realized, and as the band blazes up the charts, internal power struggles set Gil and his group on a collision course destined for a bloody reckoning—one shrouded in mystery and lore for decades to come.  The only witness to a desperate act of violence, Suzanne spends the next twenty-nine years trying to disappear. She trades the music and mayhem of her youth for the quiet of the suburbs and the company of her mild-mannered husband Rob. But when her father’s sudden death resurrects the troubled past she tried so hard to bury, she leaves it all behind and hits the road in search of answers. Hitching her fate and Gil’s beloved car to two vagabonds who call an old Airstream trailer home, she finds everything she thought she’d lost forever: desire, adventure, and the woman she once wanted to be. But Rob refuses to let her go. Determined to bring her back where she belongs, he chases her across the country—and drives her to a desperation all her own.  Drenched in knock-down drag-out rock and roll, Hot Wax is a raucous, breakneck ride to hell and back—where getting lost might be the only way to find yourself and save your soul.
What about the bodies : a novel by Ken Jaworowski
What about the Bodies
by Ken Jaworowski
 
Carla, a single mom poised to finally break free from her cycle of poverty, must risk it all, including her morality, to help her son hide a terrible secret.  Reed, an autistic young man, sets out on a journey to keep a deathbed promise to the mother he just lost. Along the way he’ll encounter both kindhearted residents and a cold-blooded nemesis.  And Liz, an aspiring musician on the cusp of a breakthrough, needs to quickly come up with the cash she owes a brutal ex-con. If she can’t pay him, both her dream and her life will be in grave danger.  As these three compelling characters intersect, the novel ignites into a story filled with explosive twists, hair-raising chills, and boundless love.
Never flinch : a novel by Stephen King
Never Flinch
by Stephen King

When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help.  Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard—a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.  Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off.  Thrilling, wildly fun, and outrageously engrossing, Never Flinch is one of King’s richest and most propulsive novels.
The list by Steve Berry
The List
by Steve Berry

After a ten-year self-imposed exile, Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, a quaint town in central Georgia nestled close to the Savannah River. Two years ago, his father died, and now Brent, hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel, is returning to care for his ailing mother.
 For decades, Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, creating a thriving community where its employees live, work, and retire. But the genteel sheen of this quiet town is deceiving, and when a list of cryptic code surfaces, Brent starts to see the cracks. 
 Southern Republic’s success is based largely on a highly unorthodox and deadly system to control costs, known only to the three owners of the company.  Now, one of them, Christopher Bozin, has had a change of heart. Brent’s return to Concord, a move Bozin personally orchestrated, provides his conscience with a chance at redemption. So a plan is set into motion, one that will not only criminally implicate Bozin’s two partners, but also place Brent Walker square in the crosshairs of men who want him dead—with only one course left available.  Find and reveal the shocking secret of the list.
Edge of honor : a thriller by Brad Thor
Edge of Honor
by Brad Thor

After six months abroad, America’s top spy returns to a new administration, a new set of global priorities, and a power struggle—the likes of which the United States has never experienced.
Drawn into a web of deceit and deadly politics, Scot Harvath is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy that could change the course of history. A cabal of shadowy elites is maneuvering for control and if they succeed, they will bring the country to its knees.  When trust is fleeting and survival means making impossible decisions, Harvath finds himself at the precipice. The actions he takes will shape the future of America—and might cost him everything he holds dear.
With enemies at every turn, one wrong move could push the nation over the edge.
Tom Clancy terminal velocity by M. P. Woodward
Tom Clancy Terminal Velocity
by M. P. Woodward

A string of savage murders in the United States seems unrelated until the FBI makes a shocking discovery: a decade ago, all of the murder victims were involved in a raid to eliminate the Umayyad Revolutionary Council, a vicious terror group that—were it not for John Clark and the Campus—would have perpetrated the most devastating attack against critical American infrastructure in history. Now it appears they’re back, with a next-generation leader hell-bent on revenge.  Mary Pat Foley, Director of National Intelligence, greenlights an op for the Campus to cut the head off the snake. Clark taps ex-Delta commando Bartosz “Midas” Jankowski to lead a kill team deep into the mountains to snuff out the charismatic terror leader. But when the hunters become the hunted, it’s up to Jack Rayan Jr. to avert disaster amid a deadly power game of nations vying for control of the disputed region.  On a rapid covert ingress from neighboring India, he’ll traverse the Himalayan wilderness with a rifle on his back and a tough Mujahadin fighter by his side. Jack knows time is growing short—he must save his team and lead them into position to be the first to hit terminal velocity.
Emma on fire 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.
Cold Eternity by S. A. Barnes
Cold Eternity
by S. A. Barnes
 
Halley is on the run from an interplanetary political scandal that has put a huge target on her back. She heads for what seems like the perfect place to lay low: a gigantic space barge storing the cryogenically frozen bodies of Earth’s most fortunate citizens from more than a century ago…The cryo program, created by trillionaire tech genius Zale Winfeld, is long defunct, and the AI hologram "hosts," ghoulishly created in the likeness of Winfeld’s three adult children, are glitchy. The ship feels like a crypt, and the isolation gets to Halley almost immediately. She starts to see figures crawling in the hallways, and there’s a constant scraping, slithering, and rattling echoing in the vents.  It’s not long before Halley realizes she may have gotten herself trapped in an even more dangerous situation than the one she was running from….
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: Make a Flying Bat!
Thursdays, October 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Come by the Maker Space every Thursday at 3:30pm to create your own unique craft! Registration is *required* to participate. Recommended for ages 8-13. This month's craft: Celebrate Spooky Season by making your very own flying bat!  Register for additional dates on our website.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
Storytime in Motion! 
Friday, October 17th 11:00 AM
Join us in the Children's Area as Cranbury Public Library partners with the American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School for an interactive Storytime sure to keep you on your toes!  Let your youngest learners twirl, jump, and imagine through ballet stories and an interactive ballet demonstration - the perfect program to help us celebrate the Arts! Suggested for ages 21/2 to 12. Registration is *highly recommended*.
 
Register Here
 
 
Toddler Craft Tuesday: Pumpkin Apple Stamps 
Tuesday, October 21st 11:00 AM
Calling all crafty toddlers! Join us in the Maker Space for a special seasonal craft perfect for busy little hands. This month: Pumpkin Apple Stamping! Recommended for ages 2 to 5. Registration is *highly encouraged.*
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! and Other Halloween TV Classics 
Friday, October 24th 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Join us in helping bring back appointment television -- come and watch the Halloween Holiday Classic It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! and other must-see spooky specials with us in Meeting Rooms 1 + 2!
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                              Trick or Treat at Cranbury Public Library 
Friday, October 31st 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Add Cranbury Public Library to your Halloween Trick or Treating route!
From 3:00 to 5:00pm, we invite patrons to stop by our Maker Space to strike a pose and show off their fantastic costumes or otherwise festive apparel in front of our Halloween backdrop. Those without costumes are welcome, and we'll have props and other assorted costume accessories to make your photos pop! In exchange, the first 50 patrons under age 18 will receive a free pair of 
Spooky Specs 3D Halloween Glasses!
 
For Teens
 
Teen Mashup Hour (or Whatever)  
Thursdays, October 16th and 23rd 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 suggested book to read & discuss and 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.  Register for additional dates on our website.

The Teen Mashup Hour will meet on the second and fourth Thursday each month at 4:00pm in the Teen Room (unless otherwise stated).

On October 16th & 23rd:
We suggest reading: Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
We will be crafting: Collages (or whatever else you want to work on!)
 
Register Here
 
 
Spooky Flower Crowns 
Tuesday, October 28th 4:00 PM
Costumes aren't the only seasonal items to wear this spooky season. Patrons ages 11 and older are invited to join us in crafting spooky faux flower crowns to top off your anything-but-scary looks for Halloween and Día de Muertos.

This program is restricted to those ages 11 and older, as sharp tools will be used.

This program will take place in the Teen Room at 4:00pm. Registration is *required* as materials and space are limited. 
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
For Adults
 
Gentle Yoga 
Wednesdays, October 8th, 15th and 22nd and 29th
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.
 
 
Cardio Dance Yoga 
Tuesday, October 14th 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Stephanie Cuddahy is a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer who has taught classes is several local gyms, including most recently RWJ Fitness and Wellness Hamilton and the Hamilton Area YMCA.  Her cardio chair dance class came from her love of low impact aerobic exercise and the need to make the class appropriate for all bodies and fitness levels. AND it needs to be fun!
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
Afternoon Book Discussion
Wednesday, October 15th 1:30 PM
Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month in Meeting Room 3.
October Title:  Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
 
Register Here
 
 
                                                          Monthly Puzzle Night
Wednesday, October 15th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for our monthly puzzle club on the third Wednesday of each month! Come work on a new puzzle each month, and meet fellow puzzle enthusiasts!

From 6-8pm we'll be working on puzzles in the adult circulation room.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Watercolor Pencils 101 
Friday, October 17th 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Join local artist Jenny Santa Maria for this introductory adult art workshop.  Watercolor pencil provides participants with the color of dry media, but the beauty and delicacy of watercolor. Participants will  look to the masters for inspiration and pick a famous work from the Impressionists to sketch and paint. Attendees will learn observational drawing skills, techniques using brushes and Q-tips, and using the supplies the pros use- Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils.
Sponsored by the Cranbury Public Library Foundation. Open to Cranbury Public Library Cardholders. Registration Required. Space is limited. Meeting Rooms 1 + 2.

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.
 
Join Waiting List Here
 
 
CPL's Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest! 
Saturday, October 18th 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
All ages are welcome to join us in crafting some gourd-geous creations with pumpkins and materials we will supply. Patrons are welcome to decorate their pumpkins however they choose. Whether you want to carve a traditional scary face or paint an elaborate literary-themed masterpiece, there's no wrong way to gussy up your gourd! The more creative, the better!  Pumpkins will be voted on in various creative categories and participants will be given candy.

This program will take place in Meeting Rooms 1 + 2.

Registration is *highly encouraged* for this program.
 
Register Here
 
 
Button Maker Monday! 
Mondays, October 20th, and 27th
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! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPL Cinemates Film Club 
Monday, October 20th 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!

Monthly Themes:

October - Horror
 
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
 
Register Here
 
 
Spinning Yarns 
Tuesday, October 21st 6:30 PM 
Register for additional dates on our website.
 
Register Here
 
 
Paying for College: What's Changing and What You Can Do
Tuesday, October 21st 6:30 PM
This workshop will explore recent changes in financial aid that may impact how much parents will pay for college and how they can adjust to these shifts. Actionable strategies to reduce costs and make informed decisions based on each college’s financial aid formulas will be shared. Parents will leave with tools to predict their financial aid outcomes, avoid excess debt, and better navigate the evolving of higher education financing. Parents of middle and/or high school students are encouraged to attend.

Please note that this workshop is entirely online and through Zoom.

Please register using the link here
 
 
Blood Drive 
Wednesday, October 22nd 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Giving blood is a simple thing to do, but it can make a difference in the lives of others. The American Red Cross will be at the Cranbury Public Library collecting blood donations on Wednesday, October 22nd, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. These donations are extremely critical.
to register, click HERE 
Meeting Rooms 1 + 2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hobbies for Health - Beginner Crochet 
Thursday, October 23rd 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Hobbies for Health-Beginner Crochet by Penn Medicine Princeton Health
Are you looking for a new creative and relaxing hobby? Join us for a short one-hour class to get you started with crocheting.
Register HERE 


Meeting Room 3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A CPL Rowdy Screening: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW! 
Friday, October 24th 8:15 PM

LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!

We're beckoning all ghouls, gals, and doe-eyed impressionable, young newlyweds to come see what's on the slab! Make sure your car breaks down in front of CPL on the dark and stormy (if we're lucky) evening of Friday, October 24th so you can join us for a rowdy screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).

Props and refreshments will be provided for the occasion. At the request of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, guests are welcome to come in costume.

This screening will take place in Meeting Rooms 1 + 2 at 8:15pm. Guests are encouraged to arrive by 8:05pm.

Disclaimer: The Rocky Horror Picture Show is rated R and contains content that may be objectionable for some audiences. As such, this program is suggested for those who are 17 or older. Please refer to this Parents Guide for additional details.

Registration is *REQUIRED* so that we have the appropriate amount of materials.
 
Register Here
 
 
iPhone 101 
Monday, October 27th 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. In previous sessions, we discussed the camera, security measures, and data storage. Beginner to intermediate experience with an iPhone is suggested. 

This workshop will be held in Meeting Room 1.
 
Register Here
 
 
Literary Cafe
Monday, October 27th 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.
 
Register Here
 
 
Making Magical Moments 
Thursday, October 30th 1:00 PM
Join Kat Verdi our Community friend for an interactive afternoon of magic and illusions! 
Making Magical Moments with Terry and Larry with cards, coins, rope, mentalism closeups, and even parlor magic!  This program is for adults only.

Meeting Rooms 1 + 2
 
Register Here
 
 
 
Howling Woods Farm: Return of the Wolf Dogs! 
Thursday, October 30th 7:00 PM
Please join us for a howwwwling good time when animal education center Howling Woods Farm returns for an engaging and informative show about wolf conservation and natural history, followed by a 30-minute meet & greet with one of their animals! Registration for this event is *highly encouraged* and is suitable for all ages. Please register each participant individually.
 
Register Here
 
 
Special Announcements
 
SAVE THE DATE
After Hours Program
Friday, November 14th 7:00 PM
Library Hours & Closings
LIBRARY CLOSED 
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13TH
for Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day 
 
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/