Techno-Thriller. In the middle of Arizona's Navajo Indian Reservation, the construction of the world's largest, priciest, and most powerful particle accelerator--part of a plan to explain the big bang--is months behind schedule. Sent to find out what's going on, ex-CIA agent Wyman Ford joins the team of physicists and comes face to face with murder, inexplicable messages, and near-rioting Fundamentalists angered by what they view as an attempt to disprove the existence of God. With non-stop action complicated by the tangle between science and religion, "this baby roars" (Publishers Weekly).

Disaster Thriller. If you've read Matthew Reilly's 7 Deadly Wonders, you could be forgiven for thinking that Australian commando Jack West and his team had saved the world. Sadly, it turns out that their work has only just begun, for the pyramidal capstone Jack now has in his backyard is just one of six items that several power-hungry cabals will stop at nothing to collect. A willing suspension of disbelief is a must to enjoy this "rocket-fueled" (Publishers Weekly) adventure--as is patience, for this book, which features a black hole headed straight for the Earth, ends in what can only be described as a cliffhanger.

Psychological Suspense. British Army lieutenant Charles Acland has returned from the war in Iraq with serious head injuries, terrible migraines, and a deep suspicion of others. In refusing any forms of help, Acland has rejected his earlier life (especially his former fiancée) and is growing increasingly isolated, distrustful, and aggressive. He's also exhibiting uncontrollable rages that scare even him, and he eventually becomes the prime suspect in a series of recent killings. The suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat as Charles tries to figure out what's going on. "A sure winner," says Booklist.

Psychological Suspense. "By the end of that summer, three of us were dead." So begins 19-year-old Anita Naidu's tale of her 13th summer, which starts just after her family moves into a rundown house in South London. Socially awkward, Anita befriends two other misfits, the learning-disabled Denis and the moody, near-invisible Kyle, whose escalating violence both disturbs and attracts Anita. Detail by detail, Anita shares the horrors she witnessed seven years ago in the caves under London, and the events that led to them. Booklist calls this debut a "humdinger of a story told by an exceptional writer."

Thriller. It's COLD out on the Minnesota lakes when Phil Broker guides three men on a canoeing expedition across the state's watery wilderness, but it gets colder still when a blizzard destroys most of their supplies and Broker nearly drowns. He's saved by bestselling writer Hank Sommer, who ends up comatose after emergency surgery. Although a nurse-anesthetist is blamed, Broker becomes suspicious when he learns that Sommer's accountant has died in a rather unusual manner, and he realizes just how much Sommer's beautiful wife has to gain by her husband's death. Broker's fight to save the man who saved his life makes for a first-rate 3rd entry in a memorable series.

Adventure Thriller. In the frozen wasteland of the Arctic ice cap, an American research team discovers an abandoned Soviet base encased entirely in ice. Inside, they are horrified to discover evidence of terrible experiments as well as a host of biological and geological wonders. Meanwhile, in nearby Alaska and on the orders of the man whose father is behind the Arctic station's mysteries, Russian soldiers are after a game warden and the survivor he rescued from a plane crash. Strange, predatory creatures and unfinished business keep the story going at rollercoaster speed.

Police Thriller. Originally published in 1981, Gorky Park introduced Russian investigator Arkady Renko to the world; more than 25 years later there are now six books in this popular series. In this 1st appearance, Renko investigates a creepy triple murder--three faceless, frozen bodies wearing ice skates have been found in the middle of Moscow's popular Gorky Park. His investigation is complicated by the shadowy and uncooperative presence of several KGB agents, who don't like what Renko uncovers. Just be warned--you might want to grab a blanket before entering Renko's world.

Police Thriller. In this 4th Monkeewrench thriller, the holidays are over, but the long cold Minneapolis winter still has a long way to go. At least there's the snowman-building contest in the park to look forward to...though this year the usually cheerful event might be tainted by the dead cops found inside two of the snowmen. When another one is found in rural Dundas County, city detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth team up with the county's sheriff (it's the former English teacher's first day on the job) while the crack computer experts at Monkeewrench start looking for clues on the Internet. If you're looking for great plots, lively characters, and engaging writing, check out Snow Blind.

Mob Thriller. Sixty-two-year-old Frank "The Machine" Machianno doesn't necessarily need a winter coat (he lives in San Diego, after all) but when he's forced to return to his old job as a hit man, he discovers that someone from his past wants him dead. So much for a nice, quiet retirement as a bait shack operator. With great details of the world of organized crime, The Winter of Frankie Machine is sure to appeal to fans of mob movies--and you'll have the movie version itself to look forward to in 2009, produced by and starring Robert De Niro.