Suspense Fiction. What do an ancient civilization, Nazi interest in Antarctica, and the death of former secret agent Cotton Malone's father have in common? You'll have to read the book to find out, but here's a taste: Cotton's father didn't drown in a submarine accident in the North Atlantic--he was on a secret mission to Antarctica, and when Cotton goes there in search of more information, he discovers a long-deserted underground city once inhabited by an advanced race known as the Aryans. But danger is never far away, for there are those who want to prevent Cotton from learning more. This 4th in a series chock full of historical puzzles is likely to appeal to those who enjoyed The Da Vinci Code.

Political Thriller. How do you write a report about a woman's death if you don't know how--or where--she died? That's the assignment Inspector O has been given during a brutal winter soon after the death of North Korea's leader, Kim Il-sung. His country appears to be collapsing around him, but the nuclear missile program, at least, seems to be in business, a fact that gets Inspector O into trouble as he tries to learn the facts behind the woman's death and "guard" a mysterious foreigner. This 3rd in the series, which as usual provides a thoughtful glimpse into one of the world's most secretive and paranoid societies, is set a full decade before the previous books, in 1997.

Spy Fiction. In this follow-up to A Spy by Nature, disgraced former MI6 agent Alec Milius is trying to rebuild his life in Madrid while keeping an eye out for former handlers and colleagues who might be out to get him. But his efforts to research investment opportunities in Basque Country land him in hot water when a political leader turns up dead and his boss' discreet inquiries get him involved in a terrorist plot. Life's additionally complicated by the arrival of his former best friend--but is he truly on the outs with his wife, or is it simply a ploy to give Alec's wronged CIA counterparts a chance for revenge? Despite the danger, Alec loves the freelance spy work he's doing--and you will too, for this is "spy fiction of the highest order" (Publishers Weekly).

Military Thriller. Navy Commander Dan Lenson has been instructed to buy a brand-new nuclear torpedo developed by the Russians, but when the deal falls apart he must go to ever more desperate and dangerous lengths to obtain one, putting himself and his crew in danger. Full of technological details and action on the high seas, this thriller will appeal to those hankering for naval derring-do. The Weapon is the 11th entry in a long-running series that started with The Med more than 20 years ago.

Suspense Fiction. When she was 14, Cynthia Bigge woke up the morning after a fight with her father to find that her entire family had disappeared. Twenty-five years later, Cynthia is still seeking closure, and she agrees to appear on a TV crime show to plead for information about her family. That appearance certainly catches somebody's attention, for Cynthia receives a phone call that suggests that her father is still alive, and then the house she shares with her husband and daughter is broken into. Soon, Cynthia's paranoia becomes full-fledged, but it slowly becomes clear that there is a lot more to the disappearance than Cynthia could ever imagine.

Suspense Fiction. There are missing persons all over the place in this breathtaking thriller: Will Klein, who runs a shelter for street kids in New York, is told by his dying mother that his brother--who disappeared 11 years ago after being accused of murdering a neighbor--is still alive. Then, the night of her funeral, his girlfriend disappears. With the help of a strange assortment of allies (including the dead neighbor's younger sister and a former Nazi turned yoga guru), Will starts searching for the truth, only to find he has more reason to doubt than trust those closest to him. Clear your calendar--once you pick up Gone for Good, you won't want to put it down.

Political Thriller. Things really can't get much worse for Washington lawyer Philip Barkley--his career at the Justice Department has tanked, his marriage is over, and his daughter is dead. But, as an alternative to being fired, he's agreed to investigate the disappearance of a Senate Intelligence Committee staffer, and, with nothing left to lose, throws himself into it when he realizes that the facts don't quite add up. Soon, teamed up with a retired New York cop, Philip is following a trail of murder victims that dates back generations and threatens to expose high-level politicians. Look for "memorable characters, a wonderfully labyrinthine plot, and a genuinely surprising ending," says Booklist.

Psychological Suspense. Wealthy, controversial Drewe Hildebrand is an art benefactor who's taken up with a sculptor whose latest exhibition provokes a near riot. Soon after, Drewe disappears and her teenaged niece Marta is found wandering through the woods, having apparently been forced to consume an almost lethal dose of crystal meth. But who attacked Marta and what happened to Drewe? What exactly is the nature of the relationship between Drewe and Marta? And how reliable is the story that Marta tells, with her memory damaged by the drugs she was forced to take? This tale, written by prolific novelist Joyce Carol Oates under a pseudonym, is "smart, canny, haunted, and compelling" (Booklist).

Suspense Fiction. Manipulation, brain-washing, paranoia, and plain old creepiness feature heavily in this provocative thriller, which is likely to appeal to Stephen King fans. While looking into a brutal double murder as a favor to a friend, former LAPD cop Jack Whalen is worried about his wife, who is acting oddly. Then there's the little girl who disappeared after meeting a strange man. Next thing you know, she's reappeared miles away--but is no longer acting quite the way a normal nine-year-old should. And then there's that missing scientist whose family has just been murdered. Jack knows something's wrong--but he has no idea just how wrong things can get.