New and Recently Released!

The Territory: A Novel - by Tricia Fields

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/25/2011

ISBN-13: 9780312613785
ISBN-10: 0312613784

Thriller. In the tiny border town of Artemis, Texas, police chief Josie Gray gets caught up in escalating violence between Mexican drug cartels, which can only get worse after a local man is shot, execution style, and his considerable stash of weapons stolen. Undermined by the mayor, who has a deep-seated distrust of women in power, Gray has only a staff of two to rely on as she tries to keep Artemis safe -- a task that becomes increasingly difficult after she kills a gang member and receives a death threat in return. The 2010 winner of the Tony Hillerman prize, this debut offers a fast-paced plot, a vividly depicted setting, fully realized characters, and all-too-believable violence.

Dead Man's Grip - by Peter James

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 11/22/2011

ISBN-13: 9780312642839
ISBN-10: 0312642830

Crime Thriller. Early one morning in Brighton, England, a traffic accident causes the death of an American university student who happens to be the grandson of a highly influential mobster. Not satisfied with letting the law find and prosecute the driver at fault, the dead man's family lets loose a brutal, imaginative killer to unleash vengeance of a more personal kind. This "brisk, smart, nerve-rattling read" (Booklist) is the 7th in a series starring Det. Supt. Roy Grace, and is likely to appeal to readers of police procedurals and fast-paced thrillers alike. You may want to start with Dead Simple to watch Grace's back story evolve, but it's not necessary in order to enjoy the unsettling premise of Dead Man's Grip.

First Chapter

Hell and Gone - by Duane Swierczynski

Publisher: Mulholland Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/31/2011

ISBN-13: 9780316133296
ISBN-10: 0316133299

Thriller. Former cop Charlie Hardie made his debut in the frenetic Fun and Games, and the gun battle that ended that novel leads to an ambulance ride in this one. But rather than becoming a patient at a hospital, Charlie comes to in an experimental facility that houses serial killers and other violent criminals. But is he a prisoner or a warden? Either way, how in the world is he going to escape? Hell and Gone's wild ride -- which ends abruptly, leaving readers salivating for Point and Shoot, the final installment due in March -- is like nothing you've ever read before. Pick it up if you're a fan of creative, bizarre plot twists and nail-biting action.

If You Like: Elmore Leonard

Bestselling author Elmore Leonard has another book coming out -- and for fans of the FX television series Justified, which is based on some of Leonard's work, it's a welcome one. But Leonard is known for more than just U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens -- his fast-paced, cynical novels mix sudden violence, vividly described locations, and surprising plot twists with realistic, street-smart dialogue from large casts of unusual characters. While no one's exactly like him, below you'll find some darkly comic crime fiction that might appeal.

The Librarian - by Larry Beinhart

Publisher: Nation Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/25/2004

ISBN-13: 9781560256366
ISBN-10: 1560256362

Political Thriller. Like Elmore Leonard, Larry Beinhart mixes brutality, crazy plot twists, and dark humor with grand results -- here, university librarian David Goldberg begins a side job organizing the library of ultraconservative billionaire Alan Carston Stowe. What Goldberg learns from Stowe's personal papers (a side hobby is buying politicians) threatens the current presidency, gets Goldberg in trouble with Homeland Security (while the state of Virginia charges him with bestiality), and puts him on the run from those who wish him dead. Political conspiracy theorists will love this one from the author of American Hero, which was made into the film Wag the Dog (with some notable changes).

First Chapter

Flinch - by Robert Ferrigno

Publisher: Vintage Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/01/2003

ISBN-13: 9781400030248
ISBN-10: 1400030242

Thriller. Weaving together black humor, superb characterization, and mounting suspense with unpredictable and fast-paced plots, Robert Ferrigno's novels are a must-try for fans of Elmore Leonard. In Flinch, disgraced tabloid columnist Jimmy Gage is nursing a broken heart and tracking down a serial killer named "The Eggman" who could very well be his successful brother, Jonathan. Or is the evidence he's found just a part of another one of Jonathan's twisted games? Ferrigno's L.A. is alive with eccentric characters, of which the Gage brothers are only two.

First Chapter

Don't Tell a Soul - by David Rosenfelt

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/29/2009

ISBN-13: 9780312356644
ISBN-10: 0312356641

Thriller. Poor Tim Wallace. After the death of his wife, police were convinced that the New Jersey contractor was involved -- in fact, one particularly stubborn cop is still chasing him. But when a drunk confesses to Tim that he killed a woman three months previously, Tim does the right thing and goes to the police -- who are soon convinced once more that Tim is a murderer. Though the authentic dialogue, likable characters, and high-voltage wit found in Don't Tell a Soul offer the mix of comedy and violence that Elmore Leonard's fans look for, author David Rosenfelt is better known for his Andy Carpenter mystery series.

Mr. Lucky: A Novel of High Stakes - by James Swain

Publisher: Ballantine Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/28/2007

ISBN-13: 9780345475459
ISBN-10: 0345475453

Crime Caper. Trapped by a fire in a Las Vegas casino, Ricky Smith nosedives off a balcony and into the hotel pool -- and survives. Still soaking wet, he walks across the street to capitalize on that luck and wins a small fortune. When he returns home to Slippery Rock, North Carolina, he follows up with a big win on a long-shot horse and a lottery ticket. Is he cheating? Or is he really just that lucky? Tony Valentine, an ex-cop who now catches cheaters for casinos, heads to NC to figure it out and gets far more than he bargained for. Like Elmore Leonard, James Swain mixes comedy and violence in just the right proportions -- and with Mr. Lucky, you'll also get an insider's view of the casino industry.

The Gentlemen's Hour - by Don Winslow

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/02/2011

ISBN-13: 9781439183397
ISBN-10: 1439183392

The Gentlemen's Hour is a slight change of pace for the normally very gritty Don Winslow. Here, what stands out is his handle on the surfer culture of San Diego plus an ear for banter that Elmore Leonard fans will appreciate. Boone Daniels is, in addition to being a surfer, a private investigator, and he puts his friendships with fellow boarders at risk when he agrees to help a young man accused of murdering a surfing legend. The more he digs in, the more it looks like a set-up -- one that involves the highest levels of power in San Diego. The Gentlemen's Hour is a sequel to The Dawn Patrol.

Contact your librarian for more great books!