Thrillers and Suspense January 2018 Recent Releases Insidious Intent by Val McDermid What it's about: A vengeful serial killer targets single women attending weddings -- and DCI Carol Jordan, clinical psychologist Tony Hill, and their embattled team have little to go on. Why you might like it: A plethora of police procedural details and the complicated relationship between the self-destructive DCI and the profiler who cares for her makes this a complex, rewarding read.   Series alert: The 10th in a fast-paced series, this is a "must-read for series fans" (Booklist). Starting at the beginning (with The Mermaids Singing) will benefit newcomers who enjoy dynamic relationships between series stars.    You Can Run by Steve Mosby What it's about: When a car accident uncovers the lair of a depraved serial killer, DCI Will Turner hunts the now-identified Red River Killer, stymied by a personal connection to the crimes.  Why you might like it: Like dark books? With a high creepiness quotient, a clever plot, gruesome crimes, and a noirish tone, this one from award-winning British author Steve Mosby fits the bill.   Reviewers say: "This is one of those exceedingly rare novels that's virtually impossible to put down" (Publishers Weekly).  Poison: A Novel by Galt Niederhoffer What it's about: The truth is elusive in this psychological suspense novel, in which happily married mother of three Cass Connor begins to think her husband may be cheating on her -- and might also be trying to kill her. But is she right -- or is it all in her mind?  Why you might like it: The slowly unraveling relationship is described in such a gripping manner that your blood pressure is sure to rise.  For fans of: Chevy Stevens' Never Let You Go, B.A. Paris' Behind Closed Doors.  Hunter Killer: The War with China: The Battle for the Central Pacific by David Poyer What it's about: In this "terrifyingly real" (Booklist) tale, the U.S. war with China has escalated -- and China appears to be winning.  Series alert: This is the 17th in the Tales of the Modern Navy series, and the 3rd in the War with China story arc. Established fans will welcome the return of Dan Lenson -- now an admiral in charge of a U.S.-South Korea military force -- and SEAL Teddy Oberg, suffering in a POW camp. New to the series but eager for well-depicted military action? Start with the 1st in the trilogy, Tipping Point.  The bomb maker by Thomas Perry "A bomb is more than a weapon. A bomb is an expression of the bomber's thoughts about you, his predictions of your behavior--a performance designed to fool you into making one fatally wrong move. In The Bomb Maker, Edgar Award-winning author Thomas Perryintroduces us to the dark corners of a mind intent on transforming a simple machine into an act of murder--and to those committed to preventing that outcome at any cost. A threat is called into the LAPD Bomb Squad, a team dispatched to a house whose owner is away, and a bomb disguised inside photography equipment exploded in the kitchen. But it is a second bomb hidden in the basement that has devastating consequences--half of the entire Bomb Squad is obliterated within seconds. The fragmented unit turns to Dick Stahl, a former Bomb Squad commander who now operates his own private security company. Having just returned from a grueling job in Mexico, Stahl is reluctant to accept the offer, but senior technicians he had trained were among those killed. On his first day back at the head of the squad, Stahl's team is dispatched to a suspected car bomb outside a gas station. It quickly becomes clear to him that they are dealing with the same mastermind behind the weapon that killed fourteen highly trained men and women barely twenty-four hours before--and that the intended target may be the Bomb Squad itself. As the shadowy organization sponsoring this campaign of terror puts increasing pressure on the bomb maker, and Stahl becomes dangerously entangled with amember of his own team, the fuse on this high-stakes plot only burns faster. The Bomb Maker is Thomas Perry's biggest, most unstoppable thriller yet" On the Run Dark Spies: A Spycatcher Novel by Matthew Dunn What it's about: After choosing to disobey orders to let a fellow operative die, intelligence agent Will Cochrane is the focus of a massive CIA manhunt -- but why? Why you might like it: Plenty of action, a complex plot, and the perspective of the author's real-life experience as an MI6 insider means the novel moves with "relentless momentum" (Kirkus Reviews).  Series alert: Dark Spies is the 4th in the action-packed Spycatcher series. The 8th and most recent, Act of Betrayal, published just a few months ago, but newcomers should start with Spycatcher.   No Easy Target by Iris Johansen What it's about: When a vicious enemy from her past resurfaces, beautiful animal psychic Margaret Douglas goes on the run to try to escape him. But former CIA operative John Lassiter has other plans for her -- and the enemy they share.  Why you might like it: Fans of the author's Eve Duncan series will recognize Margaret, who turns out to be a strong and capable heroine in her own right. The fractious partnership (which has its fair share of sexual tension) with Lassiter adds spice.  The Accident: A Novel by Chris Pavone What it's about: A New York literary agent is the recipient of an anonymous manuscript that could make a lot of money -- and also destroy the career of a powerful and very dangerous man. Why you might like it: The characters are extremely well-developed, with fully fleshed-out backstories. Series alert: While The Accident is not part of a series, familiar faces from the author's 2012 debut (The Expats) appear.     The Old Man by Thomas Perry What it's about: Thirty-five years ago, a loyal American operative was branded a criminal by the NSA. Off the grid, he started life anew -- but several burned identities later, people are still trying to kill him, and it's time to neutralize the threat once and for all. Why you might like it: Now 60, the Old Man is no easy target: he's kept up his training and his fitness regimen and is more than capable of out-thinking and outfighting his adversaries. Reviewers say: Suspenseful and cleverly plotted, The Old Man is "swift, unsentimental, and deeply satisfying" (Kirkus Reviews).  War Hawk: A Tucker Wayne Novel by James Rollins and Grant Blackwood What it's about: In this 2nd novel to star former Army Ranger Tucker Wayne and his four-legged partner, Kane, semi-autonomous military drones have been hacked and stand ready to wreak destruction all over the world -- at the beck and call of an incredibly powerful madman. Is it for you? Set all over the world and co-starring a beautifully depicted dog, this fast-paced and action-packed book is a great match for fans of author James Rollins' Sigma Force novels. Contact your librarian for more great books! Siouxland Libraries Sioux Falls, South Dakota 605-367-8720 siouxlandlib.org