| Black Widow: A Jack Parlabane Thriller by Christopher BrookmyreSuspense Fiction. Diana Jager is an ambitious, hard-working, and sharp-tongued surgeon, disliked and feared in equal measure. When she's maliciously exposed as the writer behind a blog railing against sexism in the workplace, she moves from London to Inverness for a new start, where, after a startlingly quick romance, she marries. But soon after cracks in their relationship appear, her new husband disappears, and Diana is accused of his murder. That's when reporter Jack Parlabane starts looking into her history. With the smart and acerbic Diana at the forefront, and shifting perspectives and twisty family secrets, this 7th novel featuring Jack is a complex and entertaining story. |
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| Spirit Mission by Ted RussMilitary Thriller. Twenty-five years ago, Sam Avery was a brand new cadet at West Point, learning the ropes and participating in elaborate pranks (called "spirit missions") led by a maverick upperclassman known as the Guru. Right now though, he's maneuvering a stolen Chinook helicopter deep into Iraq in an attempt to save the Guru -- now a humanitarian aid worker -- from being beheaded by ISIS. If he gets caught by ISIS, it spells death, but he's also risking court martial and jail if he survives. A compelling account not just of an unsanctioned military operation but of the loyalty between West Point classmates, Spirit Mission is the fiction debut of a former West Point cadet |
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| The Fifth Gospel by Ian CaldwellReligious Thriller. Set within the Vatican in about 2004, this Da Vinci Code-like novel addresses the split between Roman and Eastern Catholicism. The story follows two brothers, both priests, who chose different branches; their desire to bring about a reconciliation within the church is dashed by murder, political machinations, and theological infighting. Both intellectual and suspenseful, this literary religious thriller incorporates a lost gospel, a controversial relic, and a strong sense of place, and is a great choice for fans of Iain Pears. |
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| Playing with Fire by Tess GerritsenSuspense Fiction. While in Rome, professional violinist Julia Ansdell buys an old music book from an antiques shop. Inside is a loose piece of paper on which a waltz is notated -- a waltz that, when she plays it for her daughter, seems to cause a series of violent acts. Afraid for her daughter (and doubting her own mental stability), Julia throws herself into a search for more information about the music's composer, whose story is told in tandem with her own. Though very different from author Tess Gerritsen's popular Rizzoli and Isles series, this standalone novel combines historical details and plenty of twists to create something "tailor-made for literary-thriller fans" (Booklist). |
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| What She Knew by Gilly MacmillanPsychological Suspense. Walking through a park in Bristol, England, eight-year-old Ben runs ahead of his mother; when she arrives at their destination, Ben is nowhere to be found, and the dog accompanying him has been badly injured. Told through the alternating perspectives of Ben's mother, Rachel, and the police inspector assigned to the case, the story traces the investigation and the media frenzy that follows (which mostly paints recently divorced Rachel as a bad mother). Tension mounts as a variety of suspects are considered, but it's clear that some people know more than they're saying in this compelling, fast-paced debut. |
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| Bull Mountain by Brian PanowichNoir Fiction. Clayton Burroughs has taken a job as county sheriff, in part to distance himself from his drug-running family and in part to help maintain the peace in the Georgia mountains. There's an uneasy truce of sorts between him and his brother, who runs the family business, until an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms upsets the balance. With plentiful violence, great characterization, and a vividly rendered setting, this debut novel has been compared to some pretty big names in the country noir tradition: Cormac McCarthy, Daniel Woodrell, John Steinbeck, and Ron Rash. Look for a follow-up (Last Lions) in 2018. |
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| Pretty Girls by Karin SlaughterPsychological Suspense. In her second standalone novel, bestselling author Karin Slaughter tells the story of two estranged sisters -- Claire and Lydia -- reunited by the murder of Claire's husband, whom Lydia had accused of harassment years ago. Hidden computer files pique Claire's interest and provoke suspicion that he may have known something about the disappearance of their oldest sister, Julia, decades previously. Realistic characters, moments of unexpected humor, poignant chapters from their father's perspective, ample suspense, and the slow healing of damaged relationships make for a tense, unsettling, but utterly compelling read. |
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