Spy Fiction. In Bermuda for some much-needed R & R after his Amazonian adventures (Spy), swashbuckling superspy Alexander Hawke gets only a short break before plunging headfirst into a new mission--to prevent the coming of the second Cold War. With President Vladimir Putin in prison, there is a dangerous mastermind running Russia from behind the scenes, and his plans for global domination include destroying the United States. Though distracted by the drop-dead gorgeous woman he met on "his" secluded beach, Hawke must nevertheless pick up the tools of his trade and save the day. This rousing book is the 5th to star Alexander Hawke.

Historical Suspense. At 19, orphaned Esperanza Gorst has taken on a job as a Victorian lady's maid in the household of Baroness Tansor, but she's not there simply to help the baroness dress. Her true identity hidden, Esperanza is out to uncover her mistress' secrets, but she is unaware of the true intentions of those who sent her to the baroness in the first place. Those of you who have read The Meaning of Night will note the connections to that novel, but you needn't have read it to enjoy The Glass of Time.

Historical Thriller. Though chronologically the 1st entry in the Inspector Troy series, Second Violin is actually the 6th to feature London-based inspector Frederick Troy. As World War II looms, Frederick is assigned to a team responsible for sending London's German and Italian "enemy aliens" (including his own brother, Rod) to internment camps. But as Hitler continues to bomb London, Frederick finds himself investigating the murder of first one and then another rabbi. Readers looking for historical and political complexity in their police thrillers will find it all in this suspenseful tale.

Suspense Fiction. Plagued since childhood by strange and frightening memories of an elaborate puzzle box, Meer Logan is unsettled to receive information proving that the box does in fact exist--and is up for auction in Vienna. Once she arrives there, intent on learning her connection to the box, people around her start dropping like flies. As Meer goes on to hunt for a mysterious flute once handled by Beethoven, she learns more about the memories--of past lives--that haunt her, and realizes that her own life is in danger. The combination of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural (along with the desperate plans of a madman who's lost everything) makes for "a smashing good read" (Publishers Weekly).

Thriller. This debut thriller by journalist Emily Benedek could be the start of a great series starring an Israeli agent, an American journalist, and an FBI agent; according to the author, her tale is based on the experiences of a very real Israeli counterterrorism expert. The trouble starts with several commercial airplanes that explode at key points around the world, and there's soon to be more--a Muslim extremist is planning an attack on the U.S. using nuclear warheads in the shipping lanes outside New York. If you have an interest in modern-day terrorist plots, Red Sea is sure to keep you awake at night--and possibly out of airplanes for life.

Thriller. After witnessing a harrowing murder, 12-year-old Annie and her younger brother William take off through the woods of northern Idaho, pursued by the killers--who know exactly who Annie and William are. Their tiny Idaho town--nicknamed "Blue Heaven" for the many retired cops living there--mounts a search for the missing kids, spearheaded by (you guessed it) the killers themselves. This standalone thriller from the author of the Joe Pickett mystery series has so much building suspense that Booklist claims it "could serve as a textbook of how to do it."

Suspense Fiction. Though semi-secluded in Maine, former New York City cop Charlie Parker has been asked to help investigate a death in Charleston, South Carolina. The daughter of one of the richest men in town, Marianne Larousse was a beautiful white girl dating a young black man who now stands accused of her murder. In addition to this investigation, there's a threatening Baptist preacher, the ghostly appearances of a missing girl, ties to the Ku Klux Klan, and a creepy Cadillac with an invisible passenger. The White Road is the 4th in the Charlie Parker series; if you're new to it, you should start with the 1st, Every Dead Thing, and look forward to reading the 8th, which will be published next year.

Legal Thriller. With strong echoes of To Kill a Mockingbird, The Color of Law presents the story of a lawyer asked to work on a pro bono case. Billing hundreds of dollars an hour for a prestigious Dallas law firm, Scott Fenney has it all--a huge house, a fancy office, and a beautiful wife. But he loses this lavish lifestyle--and regains his ideals--while defending a prostitute accused of killing a powerful Texas senator's no-good son. The more he looks into Clark McCall's death, the less willing he is to toe the company line. Fenney's navigation of the cultural and racial divide between his client's position and his own makes for "fast-paced and thought-provoking fare" (Booklist).

Psychological Suspense. Many years ago, Annie Powers was under the thumb of a terrifying killer named Marlowe, but when his car was forced over a cliff, Annie had the freedom to reinvent herself. Now happily married--though still prone to panic attacks, blackouts, and a terrible fear of discovery--Annie can't remember all of her experiences with Marlowe, and still fears his return. Highly disturbed by a strange encounter on the beach, she quickly sees how easily her life could come apart. Is her tormenter truly dead? As the suspense builds unbearably, you'll tear through this "hurricane of a thriller" (Entertainment Weekly) to find out.