"One should never make one's debut in a scandal. One should reserve that to give interest to one's old age." ~ Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Irish poet |
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| Into a Raging Blaze by Andreas NormanSpy Fiction. After proving herself to "have a conscience," Swedish civil servant Carina Dymek is given some explosive information: the EU plans to create a secret intelligence agency without the knowledge or oversight of elected officials. She immediately passes this information to her superiors, which results in her dismissal from work, being labeled a terrorist, and becoming the subject of a manhunt by various worldwide intelligence agencies. Readers interested in the role of ethics in the world of espionage won't want to miss this international spy novel, which starts slowly but builds momentum amid plenty of detailed spycraft. |
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| The Delta by Tony ParkSuspense Fiction. After a failed assassination attempt on the president of Zimbabwe, mercenary Sonja Kurtz heads to Botswana, where she agrees to blow up the Okavango Dam, which may be destroying the environment but is certainly hurting the profits of the Western tour operators who hire her. Though Sonja herself is more anti-hero than hero, it's difficult not to be engaged by her tough-as-nails demeanor and clear love for Africa, which is itself vividly depicted. Personal complications and a "furious pace" (Library Journal) add to the appeal of this well-known Australian author's North American debut. |
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| The Cruiser: A Dan Lenson Novel by David PoyerMilitary Thriller. In this 14th entry in the Dan Lenson series, the newly promoted captain is assigned to a ship that has just run aground. His job is to take control of the vessel and head to the Persian Gulf, where he'll be testing a top-secret missile system. But personnel issues, a demoralized crew, hostile ships, rough seas, and a mysterious death on board don't make Lenson's job any easier. Full of technological details and action on the high seas, this thriller will appeal to those hankering for naval derring-do. |
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| Genocide of One: A Thriller by Kazuaki TakanoThriller. Ex-Special Forces soldier Jonathan Yeager has been hired to control a viral outbreak in the Congo, but his instructions include killing an entire Pygmy tribe and the American anthropologist living with them. And anything else that seems "unusual." This includes a three-year-old tribe member, who is the true target -- his genetic mutations, which give him astonishing capabilities, also make him a threat to human survival, according to Yeager's handlers -- and the U.S. government. But the toddler may also hold the key to saving the life of Yeager's son... Fans of Michael Crichton's science-based thrillers will likely enjoy this English-language debut by bestselling Japanese author Kazuaki Takano. |
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| The Trident Deception by Rick CampbellThriller. Readers looking for a tale as gripping as the one offered by Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October should not hesitate to check out this alarming thriller. Having received spurious orders to launch an attack on Iran in retaliation for the decimation of Washington, D.C. (which never happened, though the crew doesn't know this), a ballistic-missile submarine is heading radio-dark and at speed to the Persian Gulf. The U.S. President and the Navy have mere days to figure out how to prevent the attack -- or risk starting a major war. The author, a former naval commander, follows up his 2014 debut with Empire Rising, which will be published in February. |
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| North of Boston by Elisabeth EloSuspense Fiction. After the small lobster boat she was working on was rammed by a freighter, perfume heiress Pirio Kasparov somehow survived four hours in frigid water before her rescue. The owner of the boat, Pirio's friend Ned, was not so lucky, and Pirio, struggling with survivor's guilt, is convinced it was murder. Though the U.S. Navy wants to study her imperviousness to hypothermia, Pirio would rather figure out why Ned left his previous job so abruptly -- and whether the fact that the freighter that killed him was owned by his former employer is a coincidence or something more meaningful. This debut moves briskly and will offer conspiracy theorists plenty to chew on. |
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| A Burnable Book by Bruce HolsingerHistorical Thriller. Before Canterbury Tales scribe Geoffrey Chaucer secured his place in the English literary canon, he served as a government official -- and an (unofficial) information broker. In 1380s London, he's recruited fellow poet John Gower to find a "burnable book," the contents of which are so sensitive that merely possessing it is high treason. Gower's attempts to locate the manuscript soon lead him into a labyrinthine conspiracy that could depose reigning monarch Richard II and destabilize the kingdom. A suspenseful, intricate narrative rife with historical detail and strong characterizations make this debut an enticing journey into a medieval England that "never tasted so rich nor smelled so foul." (Library Journal). |
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| Precious Thing by Colette McBethPsychological Suspense. Back in high school, when Rachel was awkward and Clara was charismatic and beautiful, they were best friends. As adults, however, Rachel's the success, while Clara's never quite gotten her life together. Then, one night, Clara fails to appear at a social engagement Rachel attended -- and to anything else. Rachel, as a crime-news correspondent, is told to look into her disappearance. Soon, however, Rachel is the prime suspect. But it's unclear what's happened: is Clara framing Rachel? Is Rachel not telling all she knows? Fans of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl's layered relationships and potentially untrustworthy narrator will appreciate this captivating debut. |
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| Confessions by Kanae MinatoPsychological Suspense. The drowning of four-year-old Manami Moriguchi at S Middle School has been ruled accidental, but her mother, who teaches at the school, knows otherwise. Knowing exactly which of her students killed her daughter, and understanding that, as juveniles, Japanese law wouldn't punish them, Yuko Moriguchi puts in motion an exceedingly clever and far-reaching plan for revenge. Narrated by several characters, including Yuko and three of her students, this dark, chilling debut, only now translated into English, inspired an award-winning movie by the same name in 2010. |
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| Whiskey Tango Foxtrot by David ShaferCyber-Thriller. In this complex, darkly funny debut, three young adults -- a jaded NGO operative, a fake self-improvement guru, and a paranoid kindergarten teacher, to be specific -- are foot soldiers in an information war. They're up against an international group of industrialists and media moguls who want to privatize and control the world's information, from news to social media. Terrifyingly plausible, this fast-paced novel sets its well-characterized protagonists in locations as disparate as Myanmar, Oregon, and London. |
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