"I'd read lots of thrillers about politicians and presidents, but never one where you flip the stereotypes and make good people bad and bad people good." ~ David Baldacci, American author |
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New and Recently Released!
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| Empire Rising by Rick CampbellMilitary Thriller. In his 2nd novel (a sequel to The Trident Deception), author Rick Campbell continues to raise our blood pressure -- in this case thanks to competition over the world's limited oil supply. Cut off from much of it by a U.S./Pacific Rim treaty, China is more than willing to launch World War III by invading Taiwan. They're eyeing Japan next, and have kidnapped the U.S. president's national security adviser. Focusing on the naval battles that ensue, especially through the experiences of the crew of the missile submarine USS Michigan, this is a winner for fans of Tom Clancy-like depictions of military weaponry and naval warfare. |
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| Nobody Walks by Mick HerronSpy Fiction. For the last few years, Thomas Bettany has toiled as a laborer in a French slaughterhouse, but the death of his estranged son brings him back into his old world -- as an undercover operative for MI5's Special Ops. Suspecting that his son was murdered, Bettany starts asking questions that bring him to the attention of some rather unsavory types, including a few higher-ups at MI5. Atmospheric, violent, complex, and utilizing a precise writing style, Nobody Walks will appeal to fans of John Le Carré...and may be just the beginning of a promising series. |
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| The Stolen Ones by Owen LaukkanenSuspense Fiction. The shooting of a Cass County sheriff's deputy cuts short Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Kirk Stevens' camping trip with his family, but it's the hysterical young woman, who speaks no English, found near the body that launches the story. She's escaped a vicious ring of human traffickers, and she's desperate to rescue her younger sister. The Stolen Ones offers plenty of "white-knuckle suspense" (Publishers Weekly), but author Owen Laukkanen's real talent is in creating remarkable characters; the chemistry between Stevens and his FBI partner, Carla Windermere, is as strong here as in their previous three outings. |
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| The Life I Left Behind by Colette McBethPsychological Suspense. Six years ago, Melody Pieterson was brutally attacked and left for dead; her friend and neighbor David Alden went to prison for the assault. Soon after David's release from prison, journalist Eve Elliot, who'd been investigating his possible innocence, is found dead in exactly the same manner that Melody had been found barely alive. Though Melody has withdrawn almost entirely from the world, Eve's death -- and the ensuing investigation -- forces her to question whether David was really her attacker -- and if he wasn't, who was. Alternating chapters offer the perspectives of Melody and Eve; this compelling, tense read is a natural fit for fans of S.J. Watson and Lisa Unger. |
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If You Like: David Baldacci
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David Baldacci is known for fast pacing, intricate plots, and lots of twists and double crosses; his honorable, upstanding heroes face villains whose evil natures aren't necessarily obvious up front. Financial manipulation, political intrigue, and corporate corruption all have a place in Baldacci's bestselling novels. This month, Baldacci hits a milestone (his 30th book) while also launching a new series starring a man who has the ability to remember everything. If you're waiting for a chance with Memory Man, try one of the below suggestions for a Baldacci-like wild ride.
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| Black Horizon by James GrippandoLegal Thriller. The explosion of an oil rig in Cuban waters -- and the resulting, devastating oil spill -- sends honeymooning attorney Jack Swyteck and his FBI bride home early from the Florida Keys. Back at work, Jack is asked to represent a client whose husband was on the rig, while his wife is sent deep undercover...and it turns out that their two cases might be closely and dangerously connected. Black Horizon is the 11th in the Jack Swyteck series, which starts with The Pardon and offers the same sorts of political and legal shenanigans that David Baldacci fans enjoy. |
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| Trust No One by Gregg HurwitzSuspense Fiction. With his intriguing protagonists, slowly unfolding central mysteries, and complex plots that keep readers guessing, Gregg Hurwitz is a good bet for David Baldacci fans. In Trust No One, Nick Horrigan has been kidnapped by government agents and brought to a nuclear facility where a terrorist has demanded to talk to him. An ordinary man living a quiet life, Nick seems like the last person a terrorist would be interested in -- but it seems to be connected to the murder of his stepfather, a Secret Service agent, nearly two decades previously. Plenty of dirty political dealings add color to this fast-paced tale. |
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| Last Snow by Eric Van LustbaderSuspense Fiction. Conspiracy-loving readers won't want to miss this complex, fast-paced novel, in which presidential strategic adviser Jack McClure is dispatched to Eastern Europe after a U.S. senator dies under mysterious circumstances. His assignment there is complicated by two unlikely companions -- a rogue Russian agent and the U.S. president's daughter -- as well as attacks on his life. With plenty of spycraft as well as a breakneck pace, this is one that Baldacci fans are sure to enjoy. It's the 2nd in a series that now numbers five, beginning with First Daughter. |
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| Chain of Events by Fredrik T. OlssonSuspense Fiction. For more than 50 years, a group of elite mathematicians and scientists have locked themselves away in a remote Alpine castle, trying to decode a prophetic message apparently stamped in human DNA. They're getting desperate, and have started kidnapping other experts, including an ex-army cryptologist whose estranged wife is soon on his trail. With humanity's future in the balance, this intriguing, action-packed novel features sympathetic and likeable characters and an experience reminiscent of David Baldacci's novels. |
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| The Bell Ringers by Henry PorterPolitical Thriller. Former British spy Kate Lockhart has created a successful career for herself as a high-powered lawyer in New York, but she returns to England when her estranged lover, David Eyam, is killed in a terrorist bombing. Surprised to discover that she is his main beneficiary, Kate's suspicions are further roused by what she uncovers in going through his estate. It appears that David was trying to expose a plot to misuse a massive surveillance system. Since England is already host to a plethora of CCTV cameras, and not everyone agrees with the reach of the Patriot Act in the U.S., this chilling tale of the destruction of privacy hits close to home (it was originally published in England under the title The Dying Light). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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