Thriller. When Dr. Peter Brown is mugged and it's the mugger who needs medical treatment, it comes as no big surprise that Brown is a former mob hit man now in the witness protection program. Between flashbacks that explain just how he got into killing for the mob (and why he left) and fascinating facts about medicine, among other topics, Brown must make rounds, save his patients, find one that's gone missing, survive a needle stick, take just enough pills to keep him awake and functioning, and avoid getting killed himself. If you like medical dramas or high action, drop whatever you're doing and pick up a copy of this violent, funny, and highly enjoyable book--stat. You won't regret it.

Suspense Fiction. Just weeks before she's due to give birth, Ivy Rose and her husband, David, clean out their newly renovated Victorian home and hold a giant yard sale. One of their customers is a woman neither of them recognizes but who turns out be an old high school classmate, Melinda White. When Melinda disappears, mounting evidence suggests foul play at the hands of the Roses, and David is arrested for murder. Convinced of his innocence, Ivy assumes responsibility for figuring out who's framing them--and why. As you read on, you'll understand why Publishers Weekly calls Never Tell a Lie a "deliciously creepy tale of obsession."

Thriller. The top-secret, shadowy organization known as the White Orchid believes that assassinations--of the right people, of course--can make the world a safer place. And who do they have in their sights but Cuba's long-time leader, Fidel Castro. Assigned to deliver the death blow is former CIA agent Carolina Perez, who's been working toward this moment for years, but Castro's own conflicted minister of health has been pulled into the conspiracy as well. Thanks to a complicated plot, the suspense of Fidel's Last Days is "as thick as an authentic café cubano" (Publishers Weekly).

Suspense Fiction. For years, Jane Whitefield helped fugitives in peril find new lives in new locations, but she's now living quietly as the wife of a surgeon in upstate New York. Nevertheless, in her 6th appearance, Jane gets back into the game when a pregnant girl needs her help. With six dangerous men and women on their trail, Jane and Christine hit the road, but even the smallest mistake could put both women in serious danger. Readers who have followed the series faithfully will note the new difficulties imposed on Jane by post-9/11 security measures; those new to the series will enjoy going back to the beginning to see how Jane develops the skills she needs to help others survive.

Techno-Thriller. In this imagining of the near future, thousands of autonomous computer programs allow the world to run smoothly, but a dormant program allows the now-dead game designer who created it to launch an Internet war that soon starts claiming victims. Though he doesn't really understand the technology behind it, Detective Sergeant Peter Sebeck learns what activates the deadly program and takes steps to prevent more deaths. Too bad the program is taking over computer systems around the world and is recruiting humans, too. Originally self-published, this Internet doomsday tale is thought-provoking and chilling...and hopefully just the beginning of a terrific series.

Thriller. Tortured horribly, a brilliant physicist uses his dying breaths to tell David Swift, a professor and science writer, that Albert Einstein had indeed completed his unified field theory, but that he had kept it secret, fearing its potential uses. Now both the feds and a murderous Chechnyan are hot on Swift's heels as he frantically crosses the U.S. in a desperate attempt to find Einstein's hidden work before it's used for nefarious purposes. With dollops of true scientific theory rendered in a manner that won't frighten off science neophytes, this action-packed thriller will appeal to fans of Michael Crichton.

Historical Thriller. The somnambulist is eight feet tall, hairless, mute, very fond of milk, and seemingly immune to the effects of weapons; he's also the assistant of a past-his-prime stage magician and amateur detective, Edward Moon. The other characters are just as unusual: there's one man apparently living his life backwards and another, called the Human Fly, who can climb almost anything. All of them reside in Victorian London, and when two strange murders occur, the police ask Moon and his silent sidekick to get involved. If you like quirky tales, pick up this "strange, magical, and darkly hilarious" (The Washington Post) debut for a bizarrely good time.

Military Thriller. Mercenaries, top-level corporate/government alliances, crash landings, and conspiracies to remake America and the American military are just some of the obstacles that Marine Corps sniper Kyle Swanson must face as he attempts to rescue a brigadier general kidnapped in Saudi Arabia. Action-packed and suspenseful, Kill Zone is the 1st in a new series, so if you enjoy it, look for Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Swanson to return in Dead Shot. Debut novelist Jack Coughlin was himself a Marine Corps sniper; for his tale, read his memoir, Shooter.

Thriller. Known only by a single name, Columbus is a "silver bear," a star at his chosen profession, which happens to be killing people. But his latest assignment might also be his last--he's been asked to assassinate a presidential candidate, a congressman who also happens to be Columbus' father. Columbus, who was raised in foster homes after his prostitute mother was murdered, does not exactly feel warm and fuzzy towards the man who fathered him, but it appears that there's more to the job than meets the eye. From Boston to L.A., Columbus recounts his preparations, and the past that led him to the current job. The Silver Bear is a "tight, swift" (Kirkus Reviews) thriller that will have you hoping for a sequel.

Legal Thriller. Once an associate at a prestigious law firm, Joel Deveraux landed at the Brooklyn Public Defender's Office after his drug use led to the suspension of his law license. He's been asked to help fellow lawyer Myra Goldstein on a case involving a black drug dealer, Lorenzo Tate, who's accused of killing a white college kid. Lorenzo claims he's innocent (and in fact had nothing to gain from killing his client), and the case is all over the news. But as Myra and Joel dig in, they realize that small inconsistencies are piling up. Grab this one if you like Scott Turow or are interested in thought-provoking legal thrillers.