Military Thriller. Captained by former naval pilot Jerry Mitchell, the USS Seawolf is on a reconnaissance mission deep in the frigid Barents Sea when the Russian nuclear sub Severodvinsk attempts to run it off. A miscalculation on the Russian captain's part, however, damages the Seawolf and sends his own sub to the sea floor. As the air runs out in both subs, Captain Mitchell must decide--does he put his own crew at risk in a desperate attempt to rescue the aggressors, or does he return his badly damaged sub to port? Even if you don't suffer from claustrophobia, you're sure to feel the stress of this deadly situation.

Psychological Suspense. When Libby Day was seven years old, her mother and sisters were murdered while she hid nearby; after her testimony, her brother was sent to prison. Twenty-five years later she's still struggling to get through each day when she starts to sell off family artifacts to make some money--the buyers, a group of obsessed true crime fanatics, also push her to look into the murders, which eventually forces her to question her memories. Though the story itself is graphic and violent, Dark Places is nevertheless "a gritty, riveting thriller with a one-of-a-kind, tart-tongued heroine" (Booklist).

Thriller. British naval intelligence officer David Trevellyan is in New York on assignment when he's thrown in jail on suspicion of murder; the victim is a homeless man whose body Trevellyan had found in an alley. But it turns out that the dead man was far more than the vagrant he appeared to be, and Trevellyan has clearly been framed. Disavowed by his organization, Trevellyan goes up against a powerful corporation and its ruthless leader to clear his name. If you're a fan of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels, you won't want to miss this debut: not only are Reacher and Trevellyan similarly resourceful as they seek to right wrongs, their creators are brothers.

Legal Thriller. On its way to a top-secret meeting at Camp David, the helicopter carrying the president crashes, killing everyone on board. Annapolis attorney Mike Nolan is hired by the helicopter's manufacturer to defend it against lawsuits, but the more that Mike learns, the more questions he has. First of all, was there a mechanical defect, or was the helicopter sabotaged? And why was the president headed to Camp David--in a terrible storm--for a meeting that only three people knew about? There's something for fans of techno-thrillers, legal thrillers, and political thrillers in this compelling read.

Thriller. Five years after a deadly gunfight along the Mexican border compelled her to question her commitment to the Texas Rangers, Caitlin Strong has been drawn into investigating the lethal desert shoot-out. What she finds--a husband she thought was dead, a corporation's terrifying plans--forces her to team up with a Texas outlaw who wants her dead. Together, they must fight not only the corporation's plans to destroy the American way of life, but a philosophizing murderer and the Mexican mafia as well. This is Caitlin's 1st appearance, but rumor has it that author Jon Land has plans for a series; here's hoping we see more of this tough, brave woman.

Romantic Suspense. Though Sayre Lynch promised herself that she would never return home to Destiny, Louisiana, she flies out from San Francisco when her younger brother Danny commits suicide. But her short trip lengthens when she begins to suspect that Danny was killed--possibly by their brother, Chris. While defying her corrupt, controlling father and highly unpleasant brother, she must also figure out whether or not her father's handsome lawyer, Beck Merchant, can be trusted. Forget verandahs and sweet tea: "white-hot labor disputes, family conflict, murder and romance are ablaze" (Publishers Weekly) in this hot summer read.

Thriller. Set just a year after 9/11, Wild Fire offers a frighteningly plausible conspiracy that involves high-ranking government officials and the nuclear bombs they plan on using to further their own agendas. Fortunately for the rest of us, former NYPD cop and current member of the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force John Corey stumbles right into the middle of their plans while investigating the probable murder of a fellow Task Force member. Along with his wife, FBI Agent Kate Mayfield (who also happens to be his boss), Corey must hustle if he's going to stop the very powerful, very wealthy madmen at the heart of the nefarious plot. This well-researched novel is the 4th to star John Corey.

Legal Thriller. It's another sweltering summer in Manhattan, and as Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper works to complete her latest rape trial, she's called to a crime scene at an abandoned building, where a woman's decomposing body has been found. The similarities between her brutal death and the ones that follow suggest a serial killer with a military background. Between the investigative scenes (as Alex and her ally on the police force, Detective Mike Chapman, try to track down the killer) and the courtroom scenes (Alex is prosecuting a multiple rapist), this 10th in the series heats up as fast as the city sidewalks.

Police Thriller. What do lemons and the Vietnam War Memorial in Minneapolis have to do with each other? They're the only things that connect two murders in the area, and it's a slim start for Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator Virgil Flowers, who's struggling to find the tie that would identify any more potential victims. With a couple of Homeland Security men running around and the flirty daughter of a murder suspect (or is he a potential victim?) to contend with, the genial Flowers has his hands full; in his 2nd appearance he remains "fascinating to observe" (Booklist).

Spy Fiction. In this 5th book to feature art restorer Gabriel Allon, the Israeli secret agent's cover is blown when the Israeli embassy in Rome is destroyed by a bomb. Having returned to Israel, Gabriel is put in charge of finding the terrorists responsible and finds himself stalking an elusive master terrorist in a deadly cat-and-mouse game. If you've read all of Daniel Silva's books, you might want to try John le Carré for more of the bleak atmosphere and moral ambiguities that both authors do so well.