Publisher: Harper
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 12/07/2010
ISBN-13: 9780061875748
ISBN-10: 0061875740

Thriller. When an elderly man--mistaken for a terrorist by a security guard--is shot and killed outside the U.N., former human-rights attorney Tom Byrne is summoned to take over damage control. But as he digs into the seemingly innocent victim's life, he discovers some surprising information about the man, a Holocaust survivor with links to an arms dealer and a powerful World War II brotherhood. Shockingly, this novel is based in fact, though liberally mixed with fiction. "Intensely gripping," says Library Journal.

Publisher: Vanguard Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/05/2010
ISBN-13: 9781593156213
ISBN-10: 1593156219

Thriller. When her boyfriend, Detective Robby Hernandez, disappears, FBI profiler Karen Vail enlists the help of Hector DeSantos, a covert Defense Department operative. Meanwhile, a new killer appears to be mimicking the one Vail just put away--and what DeSantos learns about Hernandez's disappearance points to a government conspiracy. Tackling drug cartels and serial killers, this suspenseful read offers "nonstop action, danger, and a gutsy heroine" (Library Journal), and while the action follows directly on the heels of Crush, this 3rd in the series gives enough background that newcomers won't be lost.

Publisher: Severn House
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 12/01/2010
ISBN-13: 9780727869395
ISBN-10: 0727869396

Spy Fiction. Despite the fact that the blame's not entirely his, MI5 officer Harry Tate is forced to shoulder responsibility for a drug bust gone bad. As punishment, he's dispatched to Red Station, a remote outpost in the Balkans, ostensibly to avoid press scrutiny. But Tate notices some strange things--constant surveillance, agents disappearing, and rumors that Russia is going to invade England. Then Tate discovers the real and truly shocking purpose behind Red Station--and can't let it rest. High praise attends this series launch, so if you're a fan of spy novels, you won't want to miss reading it from the beginning.

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/26/2010
ISBN-13: 9780312644765
ISBN-10: 0312644760

Spy Fiction. Both Daniel Marchant and his father, gifted agents with British intelligence services, have been relieved of their commands thanks to the CIA. But when Daniel prevents a suicide bomber from killing the American ambassador during the London marathon, he's rewarded by being kidnapped by the CIA--and waterboarded. Once he escapes, Daniel turns up secrets--about the would-be bomber, about the people who helped him, about the relationship between British and American intelligence, even about his own father and girlfriend. The surprises never stop in this intelligent, suspenseful novel, which is currently being developed by Hollywood.

Though his novels have elements of spy novels and political thrillers, Jack Higgins is known for action-packed adventure novels featuring unforgettable characters like Sean Dillon, an IRA terrorist turned mercenary turned British anti-terrorist agent. Set in locations around the world, Higgins' detail-rich and suspenseful stories give pride of place to desperate missions in which an elaborate plan, deadly villains, violence, revenge, and heavy weaponry figure prominently. If you're waiting for Sean Dillon's latest adventure, The Judas Gate, you might want to pass some time with the books below, which share some of these characteristics.

Publisher: Jove Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/29/2008
ISBN-13: 9780515144345
ISBN-10: 0515144347

Spy Thriller. Having infiltrated al-Qaeda long ago, secret agent John Wells has been an undercover member of the terrorist network for years. Now he's to take part in a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, but not everyone at the CIA still trusts him. Though Kirkus Reviews calls The Faithful Spy "worthy of le Carré," Booklist says that this thrilling read is a "sure bet for fans of Jack Higgins and Vince Flynn," most likely thanks to excellent plotting, a compelling lead, and a chilling (and believable) enemy.

Publisher: Pocket Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/25/2010
ISBN-13: 9781439189658
ISBN-10: 143918965X

Spy Fiction. Though Vince Flynn's novels are heavier on politics than Jack Higgins', his likable hero, Mitch Rapp, displays the independence seen in Higgins' rather more amoral series leads such as Liam Devlin or Sean Dillon. Rapp's missions are also just as action-packed, suspenseful, and complex; occasionally violent, they are always fast-paced and packed with technical detail. Executive Power is no exception--in this 4th entry in the series, we find Rapp on the front lines in the Middle East, despite the fact that he's recently been given a desk job.

Publisher: Jove Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 12/01/2004
ISBN-13: 9780515138610
ISBN-10: 0515138614

Military Thriller. Though you could argue that Retreat, Hell! has more politics than action, it offers the world-wide locales (including South Korea, the Sea of Japan, and the White House), military details, and wartime perspective that Jack Higgins fans are looking for. This 10th in The Corps series opens in 1950, as arguments over strategic decisions are growing among military brass, President Truman considers relieving General MacArthur of command, and another general worries over his son, stuck behind enemy lines after his plane is shot down. Whether you're familiar with W.E.B. Griffin or are new to his books, you'll find he depicts war realistically.

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Publisher: Avon Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/01/2001
ISBN-13: 9780061098024
ISBN-10: 0061098027

Political Thriller. With its political elements, exotic locales, and great characters--not to mention the fact that FBI agent Mark Beamon switches sides--Free Fall is an excellent option for fans of Jack Higgins' Sean Dillon stories. It opens with Beamon in trouble--he's been suspended from duty (perhaps to be prosecuted by the Bureau), and his only chance to redeem himself is to find a girl who doesn't want to be found. This is the 3rd in a series featuring maverick agent Mark Beamon; to start at the beginning, pick up Rising Phoenix.

Publisher: Anchor Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/29/2008
ISBN-13: 9781400078820
ISBN-10: 1400078822

Historical Thriller. It's the height of World War II, and U.S. Army Air Force pilot Lt. Grant has just been shot down after photographing a super-secret Nazi propeller-less plane. Fortunately--he thinks--he has crash-landed in neutral Switzerland, but Swiss Nazi sympathizers toss him in jail anyway. Though he manages to escape, he is soon tangled up in a host of complications that include a possible secret truce between Russia and Germany and a hunt for proof of Swiss/German collaboration. The result is a detailed, fast-paced adventure with engaging characters and a fascinating setting--perfect for Higgins fans looking for a historical take on wartime.

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