Kathleen Beavier of Boston is a wholesome, all-American 16-year-old who suddenly finds herself pregnant, even though doctors confirm that she is a virgin. Colleen Galaher of Ireland, age 14, is an innocent who finds herself in the same situation. Anne Fitzgerald is a private investigator (and a former nun) who is hired by the Archdiocese of Boston to investigate these strange occurrences. Is one girl carrying a savior, and one about to bear the son of Satan? This intriguing novel will keep the reader turning pages to find the answers to these questions.

Reviewed by Jackie H., Scaleybark Branch

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Amidst the chaos of a world gone mad two young girls, both virgins, find themselves pregnant. This fast paced page-turner will have you guessing to the very end. In true Patterson style the twisted finale will leave you awestruck.
-Tammi, Charlotte, NC

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Lucas Davenport is back in Easy Prey. This fast paced thriller starts with the murder of two women at a party, one a famous model, the other an employee of a local hotel. The police assume the model is the target of the killer and the other woman got in the way, but are their assumptions correct? As the body count mounts, Davenport begins to suspect there are two murderers. And if this case isn't enough trouble, Lucas is attracted to three women with whom he develops relationships while conducting the investigation.

Reviewed by Karen K., Morrison Regional

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What seems like devotion to one person can look exactly like obsession to another. Joe Rose and his wife Clarissa were on a picnic when they become tangled up in a hideous ballooning accident. At some point in the incident, Joe meets Jed Parry. Jed feels something pass between them, and both of their worlds change forever. As Jed’s love becomes obsession and eventually becomes violence, he, Joe and Clarissa tumble headlong into confusion, chaos, and a shocking conclusion. What is so wonderful about this novel is that we slowly see Joe become almost as obsessed with Jed as Jed is with him, a strange and urgent emotion that tears all three of them apart. McEwan’s writing is tight, exciting and a joy to read.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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Andrew Thomas has been on the run for the past seven years, framed for the murder of his mother and others found buried on his property in Davidson, North Carolina. Andrew has disguised himself, gotten a new identity and is living in the tiny town of Yukon, Canada. Even in Yukon, Andrew hears about the deaths in Davidson and the kidnapping of the wife of a former friend. Risking recognition and capture but knowing someone is trying to get his attention, he flies to North Carolina to stop the killing. While the body count is fairly high, the gore is kept to a minimum. This story is so suspenseful that you hate to put it down however you hate to keep reading because you’re sure something worse is going to happen.

Reviewed by Karen M., Morrison Regional

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Cherry, NC was once a peaceful mountain, but in the past two years five women have disappeared with only a blue ribbon left behind. Lilly Martin returns to finalize the sale of her mountain cabin and thus end her turbulent marriage to police chief Dutch Burton. When Lilly gets caught in a blizzard, her drive down the mountain turns nightmarish as her car skids and hits a man emerging from the woods. She recognizes Ben Tierney and, despite his injuries, they make it to Lilly’s cabin and safety. But is Lilly truly safe? What is Tierney hiding? Is he the serial killer known as “Blue”? If so, how will Lilly survive? Once again Sandra Brown has constructed a page-turner full of compelling characters and amazing plot twists.

Reviewed by Julie B., ImaginOn

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A new voice is moving to the forefront of a new generation of Latin American novelists, that of Edmundo Paz Soldan of Bolivia. In Turing’s Delirium Paz Soldan shows a society on the verge of a revolution against both the government and globalization. The soldiers of the oppressed include hackers who use computer viruses instead of bullets. The fictitious city of Rio Fugitivo marks the epicenter of this struggle that brings together traditional revolutionaries and the nation’s urban youth steeped in pop culture. Rio Fugitivo is home to the head of the Resistance, a young hacker who calls himself Kandinsky, and the Black Chamber which is the section of Bolivia’s intelligence service which seeks to intercept and decipher encrypted messages. This fast paced literary thriller focuses on both national and individual responsibility.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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One horrible night the lives of Jackson Workman Pickens, Work, and his sister Jean were sent tumbling into chaos. Their mother died that night during a family argument then their father disappeared. Now, a little more than a year later, the police have found the body of their father; Ezra Pickens was murdered. His son Work is in a race against the police to discover what happened on that fateful night, or at least to deflect attention away from his troubled sister even if he must take the rap in her stead. Set in contemporary Salisbury, North Carolina, this taut literary mystery will keep you spellbound right to the end.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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The Winter of Frankie Machine is a fast-paced Mafia thriller from author Don Winslow. Frankie "The Machine" Machianno has worked his way into the San Diego good life. A perfect day for Frankie starts very early catching a few waves on his long board. He puts in long hours juggling his bait shack with three other business concerns. He's a good guy who takes care of his ex-wife, his daughter and maintains high standards for himself. It's a fulfilling life for a retired Mafia hit man. Unfortunately, the past will not stay buried and Frankie gets drawn into complex and dangerous circumstances. As usual, Don Winslow offers readers a breathtaking ride.

Reviewed by Susan C., Independence Regional

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Serge A. Storms and his substance-fueled friend Coleman are back home in Tampa, just in time for a more than active hurricane season. Serge is feeling his age and there is nothing like keeping pace with the eye of a storm in a “borrowed” Hummer to rejuvenate his psyche. Along the way, Serge is followed by Jeff McSwirley, the super sensitive police beat reporter and Serge’s nemesis Agent Mahoney. And, oh yes, there’s a familiar Plymouth Duster out there too. Along the way, Serge meets the usual miscreants who must be helped into the next world in inventive ways.

Reviewed by John C., Main Library

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A skeletal bone discovered during a young child’s birthday party sets up an eerie and grim murder scene for Inspector Erlendur Svieinsson in Reykjavik, Iceland. Suspected of being no more than 70 years old, an archaeologist team is invited in to carefully unearth the remains the body, and the police in the meanwhile talk to older residents in the community to track which families lived in the area. Interlocking with this story are the events of Erlendur’s personal struggles with an ill and estranged daughter, and a hidden story of domestic abuse during the war. A popular crime writer in Iceland, Arnaldur Indridason delivers a gripping and crisp novel here with award winning (the CWA Golden Dagger Award) results.

Reviewed by Lawrence T., South County Regional

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John Brice is the son of Ben Brice, a career special forces soldier. He grew up the sensitive geek beaten regularly by the resident bullies on various military bases. He is now estranged from Ben Brice and is on the brink of coming into his own by taking his internet company public. Then his daughter Gracie is kidnapped from her soccer game while John is conducting business on his cell phone from the stands. What ensues is a race against time as Ben and John join forces to find Gracie. Secrets of every Brice family member are discovered, and an incredible government plot plays a part of the crisis. Gimenez takes the reader on a great wild ride of twists, turns, and revelations.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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Popular characters Richard Jury (New Scotland Yard CID) and friend Melrose Plant are back to unravel the death of a wealthy bachelor. His body was found by a youth involved in one of Jury's previous cases, and when he reports this, it puts Jury in the uncomfortable position of being on someone else's "patch." Surprising relationships then develop. The deceased, Billy Maples, has led a privileged, philanthropic and complicated life. Jury and his team uncover secrets, relationships, traumas and shame that go back many years and have unsuspected ramifications on present day events. Dust has an astounding ending that will have readers demanding a sequel.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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Dr. Megan Blair has been trying to live a normal life ever since her mother was murdered. As a young girl she was sent to live with her Uncle Phillip and he provided the security and stability she needed. Now her world is being torn apart. The man who murdered her mother has discovered her whereabouts and wants Megan dead. Neal Grady, a man from Megan’s past, appears and turns her world upside down. Can Megan handle the truth about herself and her mother? Will she find the strength to fight for her life and those she holds dear? Pandors’a Daughter is a fast-paced thriller that won’t disappoint.

Reviewed by Angela A., Cornelius Branch

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Annabelle Conroy has just pulled a $40 million con on a casino owner who murdered her mother. She has come to Washington to see the members of the Camel Club of which she is an honorary member. Oliver Stone, leader of this unlikely group, is making plans and taking precautions to keep Annabelle safe. In this process, Oliver realizes that he is someone's target. Stone's murky past is resurrected as his former colleagues turn up dead. Truths are learned and honor prevails as Oliver Stone is at his most brilliant. Two plots and more unfold simultaneously. This is a true page-turner and a stunner. Baldacci is at his best.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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Jack Reacher, ex-Army Special Investigator, has a limited bank account which he closely monitors, but little else. Jack prefers to live this way - no phone, no residence, no car - anonymous. Then $1030.00 appears in his account, and he realizes a former colleague is using an Army code to request urgent assistance. What follows is a reunion of the special investigators minus members who have been murdered. This reunion is welcomed by each of the members, but it also brings back the days when they worked together - the closeness and the separateness. Soon the old patterns are re-established and they pool their resources and special strengths. Investigating the deaths of their friends, Reacher and his team find corruption, greed, coercion, and government involvement in a murderously twisted scheme. Child has again written a fast knuckle-biting thriller.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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Virgil Flowers of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations has been called to his old stomping ground of Bluestem, MN where everyone knows everyone. As he approaches town, he notices a conflagration that can only be the home of Bill Judd, Sr. Bill Judd is the area's wealthiest citizen, who got that way by taking advantage of people. Flowers works closely with sheriff Jim Stryker, whose father was tragically involved in one of Judd's schemes. Then two other couples of Judd's generation are discovered murdered, Flowers and Stryker feel tremendous community pressure to solve these crimes. Sandford delivers entertaining dialogue, good character development and an unpredictable plot.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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In Nothing To Lose, Lee Child's twelfth Jack Reacher novel, Reacher feels the exact dip in the road between Hope and Despair, Colorado every time he crosses it. Although the two towns are only twelve miles apart, the difference in the soul of each town is as big as the difference between, well. . .hope and despair. When Reacher arrives in Despair, all he wants is a good cup of coffee before he passes on down the road. Unfortunately, the coffee is served with hostility, a vagrancy charge, and a ride out of town. Reacher takes his abusive treatment personally and the adventure begins. He finds an ally in Officer Vaughan of the Hope Police Department. Together, they begin to uncover the many secrets in the company town of Despair. Lee Child presents another explosive chapter in Jack Reacher's story, Nothing To Lose.

Reviewed by Susan C., Independence Regional

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Amanda Travis, 28, is a criminal attorney in West Palm Beach. She has been estranged from her mother for almost a decade and is surprised when her first husband calls to tell her that her mother has killed a man in the posh Four Seasons hotel. After much hesitation, she finally returns to Toronto, where she is forced to interact with both her mother and ex-husband, Ben, who is acting as her mother’s attorney. Their investigation uncovers many secrets from long ago that help explain the pain that has been in this family. Twists and turns make this a very surprising and entertaining story.

Reviewed by Gloria J., North County Regional

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Sail by James Patterson is an excellent book that will captivate the reader from the very beginning. Since her husband died, Anne Dunne has struggled to bring her three children together for a family vacation, so she plans a summer sailing trip on her late husband's sailboat. Little do they know that someone wants them dead, and they will stop at nothing to make sure the family's boat does not make it home. This story is reminiscent of The Swiss Family Robinson but with more danger and an unbelievably shocking ending. This is one thriller that will not disappoint!!

Reviewed by Amy H., Steele Creek Branch

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Archie Sheridan, a police detective addicted to pain killers and still recovering from being tortured by a female serial killer two years ago, is called back to work when someone starts dumping teenage murder victims in the Portland area. Archie has kept in touch with the woman convicted of his torture, Gretchen Lowell. In fact he meets with her every Sunday because she has agreed to tell him the location of another of her murder victims each time they meet. Twists and turns in this first book by Cain slowly reveal Archie’s story with very graphic, horrible details.

Reviewed by Gloria J., North County Regional

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This is definitely a thriller!! If you don't like spiders stay away from this book. This story has many, many spiders of several scary and deadly kinds including human. The "bad guy" is called alternately "Spidey" and the "Burgerman". There are several parallel stories here and several victims. Child abduction and murder are vying for attention by the "good guys". Their first hint of him is at the site of a plane crash when an extra leg is found in a tree. From there on out it's a race to identify and find him. We get frightening glimpses of him and his victims throughout the book. I will carry this scary man in my head for a long time - many bad dreams to come.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Lucas Davenport is in the doldrums of a Minneapolis winter. A major drug dealer has given the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the St. Paul police the slip, so Lucas is doing little police work other than surveilling the drug dealer's wife. Then Lucas' wife Weather's friend Alyssa Austin came home to find blood in her house and her daughter Frances missing. Weather pressures Lucas to get involved in the investigation. This takes him through the Goth community, then friends of Frances start getting killed and Lucas gets shot. Sandford weaves the usual complicated tale with surprise turns in all directions. It's a fast paced, well characterized plot that shocks in the end.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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One word to the 911 operator starts it all - "this…” Is it really a distress call? How does one word cause so many dead bodies? Brynn Bond is sent to find out if that one word is an error or something else. She finds death and then has to run for her life through the forest at night along with a "city" girl. Along the way she rescues a little girl. This small town Wisconsin detective spends a VERY long, harrowing April night running into and outwitting trouble. And more people die. The whys and the whos will keep you reading until the very last page. Each new page changes what you think you know.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Madam X is the newly discovered mummy at the small, private Crispin Museum. She's being CT scanned, the TV cameras are rolling, and the publicity is bringing in much needed money to help the museum. Then they find the bullet in her leg. Detective Jane Rizzoli is called in and the story is off to a great start. Several other mummies and bones in and out of the museum make this tale a page turner until the end. Archeology and museums make a great scary background for thrillers. With a storyteller like Tess, watch out! There are several secrets and plot twists galore. I didn't get one thing right- see if you can do better! And have fun.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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This story starts with a dead body frozen in place in a swimming pool at an old hotel. They remove it with a chainsaw and defrost it in the morgue. That’s when they find out about the radiation. When they discover he was a scientist from “Atomic City” it leads them to secrets dating back to World War II and the creation of the atom bomb. This is set in the mountains of Tennessee in a town especially built to make plutonium and secretly help make the atom bomb. Scientists, soldiers, their families and the support staff were all living there. How events from then and today intersect to cause his murder is as much a story for murder fans as WWII buffs.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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If you’re looking for a political novel with a brand new twist, this one’s for you. Born to Run covers it all … a threat to the president and a story that revolves around the relationship between Miami attorney, Jack Swyteck and his father, Harry. When the Vice President dies while exploring the Everglades, a top-notch reporter, a reckless ex-intern and the VP’s widow are convinced of a cover up that may be tied to a 50 year old crime. James Grippando skillfully builds the plot for maximum suspense and tension keeping the “secret” buried until the very end. A page turner for sure!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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Drea Rousseau was drop dead gorgeous and happily content being "arm candy" for Rafael Salinas, a well known crime lord, who is treacherous and deadly. However, when Rafael walks out on her she makes a dangerous decision to steal a ton of money from him in order to finance her escape. Salinas immediately sends an assassin after her which results in a strange sequence of events. Left for dead, Drea returns and vows to live her new found life as a brand new person with a whole new set of values. But … it's not that easy! She knows she will never be fully free until she takes out those who want her dead. This is another "dark" thriller from Linda Howard.

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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Hart has left Rowan County, the setting of his earlier books, but not the dark side of humanity. Young Johnny Merrimon knows too much of pain – far too much. The abduction and apparent death of his twin sister Allyson has made pain the core of his existence. When his father disappears, filled with despair, life becomes a living hell for Johnny and his mother. This case has gone cold, but one Detective Hunt can’t let it go; neither can Johnny. Both are determined to find the truth whatever that may be. Set in a fictional county in the Sandhills region of North Carolina, this novel is a portrait of pain, evil, and pedophilia, but also the search for truth and redemption. This dark novel is worth the read.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Los Angeles Times crime reporter Jack McEvoy has come to terms with his professional fate at the newspaper. It is over. Unable to avoid the newest wave of staff layouts, Jack prepares to place one foot out the door when he spots an opportunity to land a big news story before he leaves the job. There’s a murder story of a young, white woman and the accused, a black teenager with a criminal background. While grooming his replacement, Jack concludes the police have the wrong suspect and he presses on with his personal investigation. That investigation runs dangerously close to the tech guru The Scarecrow and Jack never sees the threats coming. Novelist Michael Connelly pens a creepily plausible, good thriller.

Reviewed by Lawrence T., South County Regional

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Stone Barrington and his friend Dino Bachetti are sent to Key West by his law firm to track down the son of multi-national family businessman Warren Keating. Keating needs the approval of his father and son to sell the family business under the terms of his great grandfather’s will. Stone is reunited with ex-NY police officer Tommy Sculley, now working in Key West. They work together to find Evan Keating, but soon run into drugs, fraud, faked identities, and attempted murder. Woods uses many twists and turns to weave this thriller. It entertains with the usual Woods’ wit and characters and is a good summer read.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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In Scott Smith’s debut novel A Simple Plan, Hank Mitchell, his brother and a friend discover a crashed plane with a dead man and 4.4 million dollars inside. Thinking that no one will be looking for the money, they decide to keep it for themselves if no one claims it after six months. This seems to be a simple plan, except that things begin to spiral out of control almost immediately and one problem after another pops up. As Hank solves each of his dilemmas, the story becomes a study of the moral and ethical implications of committing the “perfect crime”. A final twist is the perfect conclusion to the book and leaves the reader pondering what he or she would do in the same situation.

Reviewed by Sandra S., North County Regional

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Ken Follett visits the genre of the techno-thriller with his novel The Third Twin. Jeannie Ferrami is a professor researching genetics and the role of nature versus nurture by studying twins raised separately. When her love interest Steve Logan is accused of rape, they discover that he in fact has a “twin” he never knew about. While they investigate and try to clear Steve’s name, a sinister medical corporation is tracking their movements and trying to prevent them from uncovering dangerous secrets. After a fast-paced cat and mouse game, Jeannie and Steve make a shocking discovery that leads to the climactic resolution of this page turner.

Reviewed by Sandra S., North County Regional

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Author David Cristofano immediately draws us into the psyche of Melody Grace McCartney. Melody is the main character and narrator of The Girl She Used to Be, an intriguing account of a young woman trapped in the Federal Witness Protection Program. We experience Melody’s yearnings: to be safe, loved, and free from her haunted past. This she is denied until she feels love towards a man who may lead her to her death. Utilizing this unexpected plot twist in a gripping and quick read, The Girl She Used to Be combines romance and suspense into a dramatic conclusion.

Reviewed by Linda O., University City Regional

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Little does attorney Paul Madriani know when he befriends Katia, a Costa Rican woman, he will be implicated in a homicide. Katia is visiting a rare coin dealer and ex-CIA agent obsessed with pictures Katia’s mother took in Colombia. He delays her return home trying to pinpoint the site of the pictures. Katia escapes on the night an assassin comes to kill her and the coin dealer and steal these pictures. Katia is apprehended, charged with murder; Madriani comes to her defense. When the Feds become involved, Madriani and investigator Harry Hinds hustle to clear Katia. They don’t realize they will uncover one of Castro’s closely guarded secrets. Martini takes time to set his characters and plot in place, then unleashes a harrowing, heart-stopping tale with stunning factual roots.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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Blood Game picks up immediately following the events in Quicksand. Nancy Jo Norris, a college student and daughter of Senator Ed Norris, is murdered and the blood drained from her body. As Joe Quinn examines the crime scene, he makes a startling discovery. He can see and communicate with Nancy Jo’s ghost. As Joe must come to grips with this startling event, the link between the killer and Eve is discovered. Jelak is on the short list of people suspected of killing Eve’s daughter Bonnie. As the game of cat and mouse begins, Eve and Joe will hold nothing back in their quest for justice.

Reviewed by Angela A., Cornelius Branch

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Carl Marsalis is a variant thirteen, one of the genetically engineered pre-civilized humans created to be super-soldiers, emotionless killers. Considered too dangerous to live on Earth or even to breed, thirteens are exiled to Mars. But Marsalis wins the lottery and begins a new life as a bounty hunter/assassin on Earth. When a Mars shuttle crashes into the Pacific and everyone on board is brutally murdered, the evidence points to another variant thirteen. But not everything is as it seems in this brutal world of genetically engineered variants, seceding states and geo-political-corporate interests. Richard Morgan parcels out information on an as-needed basis with excellent pacing and tension in this violent, yet provocative thriller.

Reviewed by Vera B., North County Regional

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They call him Boneman. He hates that name. Boneman just murders girls. Only breaks their bones. But he is much more than that. He is Satan and he's beautiful. Six girls have died. None of them worthy to be his daughter. But when he takes Bethany he believes he has finally found the ideal girl. She's sixteen, she's perfect. However Ryan, her true father, isn't giving up without a fight. For his daughter and himself, Ryan will do whatever it takes to find her. But will he locate her before she sins? Before Satan starts breaking her bones?

Reviewed by Elizabeth S., Charlotte, NC

This book review was submitted on-line by a Reader's Club patron.

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Jameal is a Rom Ameriko, neither a Gypsy nor an outsider. She wants to be free from the life into which she was born. She just doesn’t understand what that freedom will cost. When she makes a deal with Salazar Sanso, a man who promises a way out, she believes she will soon be free. Instead she has to run, or die. Her past burns, but the scars haunt her. When someone from her past comes back and threatens to pull down the life she created, the only option she believes she has is to shift though the ashes of her past or watch it all go up in flames. Again.

Reviewed by Elizabeth S., Chralotte, NC

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If you liked Bolano’s The Savage Detectives or 2666 you will want to read Peruvian author Roncagliolo’s electrifying, debut novel, Red April . On Ash Wednesday, 2000, a mutilated burned body is found in the mountain town of Ayachcho and Associate District Prosecutor Félix Chacaltana Saldívar is put in charge of the investigation. As Holy Week progresses with religious processions and an influx of tourists, more bodies are discovered and Saldívar is convinced they are a resurgence of terrorist Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) violence, but how can he convince his superiors? And then, chillingly, he realizes that everyone he talks to about the investigation dies. Violence begets violence in this political thriller imbued with the history and culture of the mountains of Peru.

Reviewed by Vera B., North County Regional

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Jane MacGuire is having an art show in Paris. Celine, the gallery owner, wants to help make Jane a star. While most of Jane’s paintings are available for purchase, one, entitled Guilt, is not. This painting came to Jane in a dream and she can't seem to part with it. What Jane doesn't realize is that she painted Judas and a cult has now decided she must suffer. This cult will do whatever it takes to get Jane to deliver an ancient treasure and then offer her as the supreme sacrifice to Judas. The sacrifice ceremony will take place in eight days, so Jane, her friends and family will need to use every resource available to survive.

Reviewed by Angela A., Cornelius Branch

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The second book in the Bug Man series, has a fun new character, Nick Polchak . His specialty is entomological forensics. He uses bugs on the dead to help solve crimes. This time he's helping a young pathologist , Dr. Riley McKay, figure out what, if anything, is going on inside the coroner’s office that is very odd and may be a crime. They think someone may be stealing organs from crime victims. The why and the who will shock them. Is someone using the coroner's office as a spare parts shop? Will their budding romance last through their investigation? Will they still be alive to "blow the whistle"? This one is good to the last page.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis to the rescue once again. This time, Elise Freeman, a tutor from an exclusive prep school, is found dead. A DVD of her, accusing several teachers of sexual abuse is found with her. Is it a clue to the identity of her killer? Is it a scam to extort money from the school? Teachers and students rally and run from helping the police solve this crime. There`s even a connection to the police department, that seems to be hindering them. Can they cut through the moneyed curtain to find the killer? Kellerman keeps us guessing until the end once again.

Reviewed by Dorothea J., South County Regional

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Dexter Morgan, the serial killer/hero is a father. Lily Ann is pink and cute and...What`s happening to Dexter? Emotions? Joy and fear and now what? There`s also a missing girl and cannibals in Miami. And who shows up but Dexter`s brother, Brian. Dexter is trying to make sense of his emotions. He`s never had them before so this is all new territory for him. His sister Deborah, the homicide detective, is showing some new emotions too. Why is Brian in Miami? Cannibals?? This is the delightful and dark fun of Dexter. If you`re a fan of the tv show this is another great addition. If you`ve never tried one before, this is a great place to start.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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A wounded Afganistan War vet returns to his mother's racing stable in Lambourne, England after leaving the hospital. She runs a successful stable but they aren't as successful with their relationship. He is amazed that his mother's horses aren't doing well at the races. He's even more amazed to find out about her financial problems. He accidentally gets involved in both and NOT accidentally becomes a target. He needs to find out who is causing the problems and how he can solve them quickly. Enjoy the newest ride through the world of racing and murder. Dick and his son Felix make the racecourse a battlefield and we get to enjoy their explosive mix.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Another great addition to the `Bug Man` Nick Polchak series. This time, several graves are found while digging to begin a huge mall. The land belongs to a powerful politician and his beautiful wife. The FBI and forensics are called and the ID process begins. They need to make sure that all the graves are found when new skeletons are found on top of old graves. They call in a cadaver dog team. They have no luck, but Nick is convinced there are more graves. He stirs up a hornet’s nest when he brings in the local `witch` and her dog and they find the graves. There are lots of twists and motives and intrigue.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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When a desiccated body is found in an abandoned warehouse scheduled for demolition, Theresa MacLean, a Cleveland forensic scientist is called upon to discover the identity and circumstances of the death. Seventy-five years earlier, the Torso Killer terrorized the city and Theresa discovers the body belonged to police detective James Miller. Soon another body is found but this is a fresh kill. It seems the current killer is attempting to replicate the long ago murders of the Torso Killer. The author shifts from present day to the past as she tells this story. It was particularly interesting to learn that there really was a Torso Killer in Cleveland in the 1930’s. Interesting read!

Reviewed by Gloria J., North County Regional

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This book opens with a bang - an explosion to be exact. This explosion kills the President of the United States and two Middle Eastern Heads of State, in front of the press in the middle of Jerusalem. When the bomber goes to trial, one of his lawyers is abducted. In order to free her, her famous trial lawyer father, Abe, must free the bomber. Luckily Abe`s wife is a former spy. They use all their contacts to help them. Then the twists and turns begin. Everyone looks guilty. This is a timely book set in an explosive place, with today`s headlines as a story line. Alan Dershowitz`s expertise is very evident. The subject and the author keep this from being just another trial story.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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The rape/murder conviction and trial of Roland Curtlee, son of billionaire, influence-wielding, revengeful newspaper-owner parents, caused havoc in the lives of the chief of homicide, the prosecutor, and the jury foreman. All three lost their dreams. Ten years later, they have mostly rebounded when Roland is then granted a re-trial and released from prison without bail. When a witness in his trial turns up dead, Ronald’s parents start putting pressure on the new DA, and other participants are threatened. For police and prosecutors, a race begins as they try to remove Roland from the street with little physical evidence, while the Curtlee family newspaper makes accusations of police harassment. Damage is a novel with great characterization, suspense, and a layered, challenging plot.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Scaleybark Branch

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It starts with a special request from the President, asking Oliver Stone to gather intelligence about a Russian/Central American drug cartel war. While walking by Lafayette Park on the evening of a state dinner for the British Ambassador, Stone realizes that the event has ended and the Ambassador’s motorcade is moving. His senses go on high alert. There are people in the park, and the Secret Service should have evacuated the area prior to start of the motorcade. Then gunfire begins and bombs explode. Stone’s mission suddenly changes. Baldacci takes the reader on another one of his incredibly suspenseful trips with the remaining Camel Club characters with the addition of a British Intelligence officer. There are plot twists which very few readers will anticipate.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Scaleybark Branch

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With oil prices going through the roof, this book is very much today. The country's largest offshore oil rig is blown-up and the crew dies, except for Dewey Andreas. Then the country's largest electric power dam is blown-up. Now we have to beg for help from the Middle East countries, at any price. Dewey Andreas must save himself, find the people who blew up his rig, and let our government know he's alive and helping them, not the terrorists. This is a thrill a minute page turner. The clock is ticking to a deadline that only the villain knows. I hated to put this one down for a minute, and am looking forward for his next book.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Wow! What a first novel. Helen Grant does an excellent job melding a contemporary abduction thriller with a fairytale. Pia, an elementary school girl with purpose is our unconventional heroine. Her deduction skills may be under developed but she makes up for that with her imagination. Town elder Schiller tells her ancient stories of trepidation set in Bad Munstereifel, weaving scenarios that support the abduction of local girls. This story will keep you enthralled from the beginning when her grandmother explodes at dinner thus causing her to become a social outcast to the fantastic ending where she becomes the town hero.

Reviewed by Joseph D., Morrison Regional

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California mental hospitals in the 1940's were vastly different than today's. When one in Barstow burns down and thirty boys die, the doctors decide to move what is left to Oklahoma. They purchased an abandoned fort and must be transported by train. The man in charge of security, Hook Runyon, needs to devise a safe way to do it. It's also war time and most trains and men are being used by the war effort, so those available are worn at best. Hook needs to hire guards, so he employs veterans living under a bridge. Other than them, only one nurse and two orderlies are going. As the train makes its way, people start to die. Hook and the nurse try to solve the mystery before it's too late.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Well the robots have taken over the world. They are called Elites, and they plan to eliminate all humans, who they call Skunks. The main character is Hayes Baker and he thinks he is an Elite, but in reality they discover he is an enhanced human. They ostracize him and he becomes a member of the Skunks. He now goes from hunter to being hunted by the robots. He has a action- packed dream, but it is really his human life. Hayes often puts on a virtual reality helmet to experience his fantasies. It is a page turner with a surprise ending.

Reviewed by Cathy F., Main Library

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The most unique murder weapon of all the books I've read. It's raining in Portland, Oregon, and the snow is melting. It's flooding in many places and people are drowning. An old skeleton washes up and so do several bodies. The bodies are new, and it takes a while to determine they have been killed not just drowned by the flood. A reporter, Susan, speculates that the skeleton is from the flood of 60 years ago. The story of how the old skeleton and the new murders overlap is a page turner. A kidnapped boy, Patrick, and the detective, Archie, round out the cast. The rain and the water make a frightening backdrop to this page turner.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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This is the first book I have read by this author, but definitely not my last. It seems that an old murderer has come alive again. Detective Mike Coletti is just about to retire and this unsolved murder is taunting him. He`s been given the job to train a new detective. The two of them have to learn to work together, find the killer and save a wrongly convicted priest all at the same time. The background is South Philly, art galleries and churches. The murderer is taunting Coletti with the biggest failure of his career. Coletti is also falling in love rather reluctantly. Jones mixes these plot strands together for a wonderful story. I`ll have to go back to earlier titles soon.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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This powerful psychological thriller is set in Greenwich, south-east London and introduces us to Detective Inspector Jack Caffery of the Met`s crack murder squad, IMIP. Caffery is hunting the deranged serial killer responsible for the murders of five prostitutes. All the victims were raped and mutilated, but not until after they were killed with an injection of heroin directly into their brainstems. The atrocities don`t stop there! Even more gruesome is the fact that each body has one more bizarre link in common. Caffery is young, driven and obsessed as he seeks out this chaotic, sadistic killer before he strikes again. This is by far one of the most gut wrenching books I`ve ever read, but even that couldn`t make me put it down.

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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Abandon is an inventive steady paced thriller that skillfully combines events from the past with events of the present. On Christmas day in 1893, everybody in a remote mining town disappears. Not a single bone is found nor is the gold which had been rumored to be the town's pride and joy. Wanting to solve the mystery, a history professor and his journalist daughter hire two backcountry guides to lead them into the abandon mining town. A paranormal photographer and a psychic are also hired because the town is believed to be haunted. Thinking it's a ghost town, they soon discover that even though they're twenty miles from civilization, with a blizzard quickly approaching, they are not alone and the past is not the past after all.

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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Mike’s story begins in prison and through flashbacks, we discover how a teen’s talent for picking locks turns into safecracking and criminal activity. But, why should we even care about a convict’s life and how it came to be that he is serving time? But, we do, as author Steve Hamilton snags our interest early, and yes, our sympathy, and holds us captive through a skillful blend of foreshadowing and suspense. Why was the main character Mike called the “Miracle Boy” and why doesn’t he speak even though nothing is physically wrong with him? The grisly details eventually come out and the result is an eight year old devastated survivor. Grim circumstances prevail, but with a hopeful ending, feel for Mike as he aspires to rebuild his life.

Reviewed by Linda O., University City Regional

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Christine Lucas shares the start of a typical day in 2007 when she wakes up and a man who tells her he is her husband, Ben, explains she lost her memory. Dr. Ed Nash, a neuropsychologist, encourages her to keep a journal. Christine takes us on her journey and shares two weeks of her journal. She documents each day before she goes to sleep. Reading the journal helps her to remember. Christine tells us about the rest of the day toward the end of the book. S. J. Watson’s debut novel is an intelligent psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you try to piece together Christine’s life. It is inspired by the lives of patients with amnesia.

Reviewed by Megan M., Main Library

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Frazier has written a compelling novel that has a bleak undertone bordering on evil. Luce is the main character who must take care of everyone. She starts as a recluse in an old lodge in the mountains of North Carolina. Luce suddenly has the additional responsibility of twins, her niece and nephew.They have been so traumatized that neither of them can talk. They like to set fires. Luce must be vigilant in retraining them so they don`t burn the place down. Bud is the twins’ violent stepfather. He is searching for the twins because he thinks they have stolen money from a burglary he committed. A great read along the lines of Flannery O`Connor.

Reviewed by Cathy F., Main Library

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Tough guys Hap Collins and Leonard Pine are not shy about meting out their own version of street justice in Texas. That said, when a friend asks them to rescue a young woman from a dangerous drug-dealing boyfriend, they do. This undertaking includes beating up the boyfriend, his accomplices and destroying the available illicit drugs. Such a deed does not go unnoticed and the wise-cracking Hap and Leonard are soon pursued by Dixie Mafia into an intricate adventure with car chases, shootings and, along the way, good character stories. The white/black, straight/gay best buddy duo appears in their seventh novel here and writer Joe R. Lansdale gives the story clever twists and keeps the characters` banter witty and earthy.

Reviewed by Lawrence T., South County Regional

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Sworn to Silence is set in the peaceful town of Painters Mill, Ohio where the population is one-third Amish. Kate Burkholder, current Chief of Police and former Cleveland homicide detective, was born Amish, but chose not to be baptized. Being shunned by the Amish and her own family sometimes makes it difficult for Kate to do her job. Her current case involves the discovery of the brutally tortured body of a young woman that is eerily similar to a string of murders that occurred sixteen years ago. Trying to find the killer while protecting her own secret is not easy and Kate`s life becomes even more complex when State Agent, John Tomasetti, is assigned to help with the investigation. This is a great series debut by Linda Castillo.

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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`You`re Next` by Gregg Hurwitz weaves between Michael Wingate`s past and present life. Mike has worked hard to become a successful real estate developer and life is good until a couple of goons named William and Dodge track him down and threaten him. Could the threats be a result of discovering PVC pipes were used in his newly finished `green house` development or are they connected to him being abandoned at age four by his father? The thugs sneak into his house, stalk his daughter at school and kill his wife. Mike takes his daughter on the run, enlists the help of an old friend he met while in foster care and hires a private-eye. This is a `hit you in the gut` read and one that will keep you up late at night. Hurwitz at his best!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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`They`re Watching` focuses on Patrick Davis who has achieved his dream of having a screenplay adapted to film. On the set he and the star have a slight altercation and he’s slapped with an unfounded lawsuit. His so-called perfect marriage is falling apart and he begins receiving strange DVDs. They reveal that he and his wife are being stalked and have been filmed from a nearby roof, the street and through a window in their home. Surrounded by lots of people, the suspect list is endless. You can`t tell the good guys from the bad, but as soon as the culprits are revealed their intentions become crystal clear. Hurwitz masterfully twists the plot and keeps you on the edge until the end!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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Shakespeare scholar, Kate Stanly, is trying to find one of Shakespeare’s lost plays. In her search she finds conspiracy theories, half truths, codes, curses, and dead bodies. A mystery thriller that could bear the title “The Da Vinci Code Meets the Bard”, it’s a fun romp through little known Shakespeare trivia. Starting out in England it then takes a trip to America, where we discover the great Shakespeare battles of the Wild West. Who knew? (The author is a published Shakespeare scholar who wrote an article for Smithsonian titled “How the Bard Won the West”.) It details the conflicts between groups who do not believe that Shakespeare wrote “Shakespeare.” Each group has their own “true” author and they are very serious about it, deadly serious.

Reviewed by Michele B., Plaza Midwood Branch

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When a promising gubernatorial candidate is killed, it’s big news and the Denver police are on the case immediately. But unbeknownst to the police, the killer is one of their own, Detective Ryan Beckman. Intimately involved with the candidate David Mathews, Beckman visits him in the hopes of saving their relationship, but when Mathews refuses to salvage it, Beckman pulls the trigger. Rushing away from the crime scene, Beckman realizes a woman in the darkness has seen her. A witness! This witness can not be allowed to connect Detective Beckman with the crime. With fast paced action and the suspense building, Detective Beckman’s crime spree accelerates to eliminate those who could incriminate her. Second in the Catherine McLeod mysteries, this thriller will engage fans until the dramatic finale.

Reviewed by Linda O., University City Regional

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Alex has a tumor in her brain. Since the meds have stopped working she has decided to trek to the wilderness in the North to release her parents’ ashes. She comes across a nice man and his granddaughter, Ellie; then everything changes. Alex’s head is splitting, Ellie’s grandfather is screaming in pain, and a herd of deer jumped off a cliff. It`s over but Ellie’s grandfather is dead. The Pulse killed his pacemaker and all other electronics. But Alex gets back her sense of smell, stolen by cancer. She’s not the only survivor who has changed. Now she can literally smell danger- teens that the Pulse changed into cannibals and packs of feral dogs that were family pets yesterday. Staying alive amongst the blood thirsty cannibals won’t be easy.

Reviewed by Jessica W., University City Regional

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Reuben Golding’s memory is fuzzy, his muscles and hair grow in seconds and he starts to wonder who could be the man staring back in the mirror and worst of all, he resembles a wolf! Anne Rice`s new novel `The Wolf Gift` turns a meek San Francisco reporter into a raging beast that haunts the bay area. He smells the evil of murderers, rapists, and child abusers, and they become his prey. Reuben eloquently labels this affliction as a `gift` rather than a curse as he explores a new legend of werewolves. He questions every relationship he holds personally and professionally; but the biggest relationship that changes is the one he has with himself. This intellectual `wolf man` was a beautifully crafted tale for a new age.

Reviewed by Angel T., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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Pornography, murder, and a dying newspaper intertwine to make this an engrossing read. Liam Mulligan arrives as a body is discovered at the base of the famous Cliff Walk, in Newport, RI. It may be a gangster whose source of income is the legal prostitution industry and the illegal pornography industry. Then a child`s arm is discovered in a pile of garbage about to be fed to pigs. Mulligan tries to connect these two stories. There`s a militant church, trying to outlaw prostitution, which may be involved in the death. A few corrupt politicians and a love interest complicate his life, too. Follow Mulligan around as he follows his leads and stays one step ahead of the death of his newspaper.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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If you haven`t already met former Detroit detective, Alex McKnight, here is your chance in the latest and ninth book in the series. Alex’s good friend Vinnie has disappeared just days after Vinnie’s mother’s funeral. Around the same time as Vinnie’s disappearance, five bodies are found in a rural community’s airfield. Vinnie would never be involved in a drug deal gone bad, yet the timing is too strong for Alex to ignore. Author Steve Hamilton combines just the right balance of first person voice and realistic, concise dialogue to build appealing crime fiction set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Hang on as suspense and action intensify as Alex, accompanied by Vinnie’s estranged father, put together the pieces of the puzzle, culminating in an unexpected yet feasible conclusion.

Reviewed by Linda O., University City Regional

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Dana Cutler and Brad Miller get involved in high conspiracy again. Brad is working for Senator Jack Carson in Washington when serial killer Clarence Little, whom he had represented, escapes from prison. Brad receives a threatening letter from Little, and Dana goes to Portland to research Little’s background. Then a woman murdered using Little’s signature technique is found in Carson’s home. A member of a terrorist cell who tried to set off devastating explosions in a Washington stadium is captured and appears to be related to Senator Carson’s personal life. Brad and Dana become embroiled in finding the truth. The plot twists and turns and never fails to surprise while the action unfolds with roller coaster speed.

Reviewed by Sheila C., South County Regional

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There is a war being waged in Antarctica; a war that may change the balance of power and tilt it away from the US. Ground zero for the mayhem is a tiny US research facility located hundreds of meters below the ice that may have just discovered an alien ship. The US government has sent in the marines, led by Lieutenant Shane Schofield, aka Scarecrow, to secure the facility and the find from other countries. Scarecrow and his team have to fight enemy groups, some unknown killer near the alien spacecraft, but also a killer planted in his own team. Will Scarecrow be able to lead his team and the scientists to safety or will they all perish in the hellish frozen battlefield?

Reviewed by Jessica W., University City Regional

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The CIA chose Mitch Rapp to eliminate the people responsible for the PanAm Lockerbie attack. He finds his next victim in a hotel room in Paris. On entering the room, Rapp is ambushed by men spraying gunfire from sub-machine guns. Rapp is wounded but escapes. The news reports of nine dead, one being the Libyan oil minister, leaves the CIA in the midst of international scandal and potential exposure. Plots emerge as various groups spin the situation to their advantage. Rapp has to face the fact that his mission has been compromised. He doesn’t know whom to trust, but he knows someone is trying to kill him. Flynn keeps the plot moving with every page in this fast-paced, well written thriller.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Scaleybark Branch

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If you’re a fan of classic crime thrillers you’ll enjoy this one. Deep Water entertains and chills your blood as Vic, the gregarious yet disturbing bon vivant, tells us the terrifying story. In a desperate attempt to re-attract his wife after years of discord, Vic recounts the most outrageous stories of murder every chance he gets, ousting friends and arousing suspicions. Set in late 1950’s suburbia, you can almost smell the smoke and taste the martinis as Vic draws you into his social climbing world while revealing what happens when a man finally succumbs to stress and desperation.

Reviewed by Alex O., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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If you’re looking for a thrilling, action packed novel, you should add this book to the top of your list! In Clean Cut, Theresa Monsour weaves a story of suspense involving a successful, handsome doctor with a double life and a tough cop who will not let anything get in her way as she investigates the sociopathic tendencies of a serial killer haunting the streets of Minneapolis. Fast-paced and full of glimpses into criminal profiling and police investigation procedures, this book will keep you turning pages well into the night as you delve into the mind of a deranged sociopath and hurry to the shocking end.

Reviewed by Alex O., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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Duncan is serving time at his summer job in the transit system lost and found. It’s boring and tedious. Day after day he sorts and fetches lost items – junk, mostly. One day he comes across a new addition - a book - and he decides to read it. It’s disturbing. The book is a diary in which the owner has documented his crimes. They start small, but quickly escalate to diary entries and newspaper clippings of mutilated animals and arson. Soon, Duncan finds that the diary owner has tired of small crimes; he’s now on the hunt for the most dangerous game - people. Can Duncan stop this killer before it’s too late? This is a great fast-paced suspense/thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Reviewed by Jessica W., University City Regional

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Post-Katrina, New Orleans has become the newest setting for suspense/mystery novels. In this one, Nola Cespedes, a young Cubano reporter for the Times-Picayune newspaper, has been tasked with writing about sex offenders. At the same time, a nanny disappears from a restaurant when she goes to the ladies room. Nola is also a bridesmaid in her friend`s wedding, and we`re getting to know Nola`s mother and their background. As she meets the offenders and victims for her article, we, too get a lot of information from that world. The threads of these stories weave back and forth as the prominent force of her days and nights. These parts come together in a surprising climax.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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How can a man be killed and hanged from a tree in a park without anyone seeing him or leaving any traces? That`s what Archie Sheridan has to figure out. His arch-nemesis and former lover, Gretchen Lowell, says she has a clue for him. But she knows Archie won`t go see her, so she gives it to his reporter friend, Susan Ward. Since they can`t work together, they are off to solve this mystery themselves. As Gretchen plays her awful psychological games, the killer strikes again and they come together for an amazing ending. There`s also a new love interest for Archie, and Susan almost loses her very precious job. This is another great book from a well established series, set in Portland, Oregon.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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In this fast-paced thriller Dr. Lou Welcome, ER doctor and Associate Director of Physician Wellness--a program for doctors struggling with drugs or alcohol, attempts to help his friend and former client, Dr. Gary McHugh who has been accused of murdering Congressman Elias Colston. McHugh, who was drunk at the time and involved in a car accident shortly thereafter, readily admits that the only reason he was at the Colston home was because he was having an affair with Colston`s wife, Jeannine. Dr. Welcome discovers a CD proving someone else had a motive to murder Colston, but before he can turn it over to McHugh`s attorney, the CD is stolen. This book is filled with twists, turns, ends in a big surprise and is a totally great read!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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The Forgotten delves into the slave trade and prostitution that encompasses the entire country. Army Special Agent John Puller is about to start a period of much needed downtime, but all that changes when he receives a cryptic letter from his Aunt Betsy in Paradise, FL. When Puller arrives in FL, Aunt Betsy is dead from a purported accidental drowning, but Puller`s instincts say `no way.` While investigating her death, Puller runs into a conspiracy of silence, is introduced to the dark side of Paradise, and discovers that the corrupt major operator is the rich and famous Peter Lampert. Puller makes some unlikely allies who want revenge and justice, but they find themselves up against a well-trained group. Action packed with a great ending.

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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Lisa Ballantyne`s debut novel is a gripping one. When an eight -year -old boy`s body is found on the playground, all fingers point at eleven -year -old Sebastian. Troubled Solicitor Daniel Hunter`s new case provides a deep and thought-provoking investigation into the crime as well as into the pasts of all the characters. What shaped them? What made them who they are today? Who is ultimately responsible for the death of the child and how should the crime be handled? Daniel Hunter is a product of the foster care system and connects with Sebastian`s situation. Alternating chapters between the present and past give us a deeper understanding of Daniel`s story. Readers will not be disappointed with the emotionally charged ending to this book!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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After a horrendous car accident, Special Agent Ethan Burke with the U.S. Secret Service, wakes up in the small, but beautiful town of Wayward Pines without ID, money or a cell phone. Strangely, even after seeking help from the Sheriff, he is unable to make contact with people outside of Wayward Pines. Injured and starving, he tries to find somebody willing to help, but instead finds a web of deception more dreadful than one could imagine. This town, though pretty on the outside, has an evil core of death and violence. When he attempts to leave, he discovers that every road leads straight back to Wayward Pines. Leaving becomes his priority, but his chances of success and survival are extremely bleak. This one is a page turner for sure!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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This is book three in the Dave Gurney series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Gurney is a semi-retired NYPD detective recovering from three almost fatal gunshot wounds. While recuperating, he`s approached by a friend who asks him to help her daughter, Kim, with a final degree project that deals with families of unsolved murder sprees. Soon after, very strange things start happening around Gurney and Kim. As they dig deeper, Gurney becomes interested in an old case about the Good Shepherd involving roadside shootings that suddenly stopped ten years ago. The more he looks, the more others try to dissuade him. Gurney is a multi-layered character, the plot complex and the writing crisp and smart. You will love this one!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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Take a clever and witty look into the insider world of Washington D.C. from the perspective of recent Harvard Law School graduate Mike Ford. Mike’s dreams come true when he lands a position at the power house consulting firm, the Davies Group. Mike does well and within four months has succeeded in securing a promotion to senior associate. He’s living the dream: past debts paid off, a house, and a love interest in Annie, a fellow coworker. But, it’s too good to be true to this reformed former con man. Mike can’t overlook the corruption in his own workplace and pursues some answers. This debut novel is an action-packed, invigorating adventure. It is a thriller you won’t put down until the last pieces of the puzzle come together.

Reviewed by Linda O., University City Regional

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Boston Police Sgt. Detective D.D. Warren and her partner and former lover, Bobby Dodge, are investigating what appears to be a routine but deadly domestic dispute. Brian Darby lies dead on the kitchen floor, shot three times by his wife, Trooper Tessa Lioni, who claims she was defending herself. Though beaten, she was well trained in self-defense tactics and had access to her baton and taser. Why did she use her service revolver? D.D. keeps pondering this, but she`s not getting any answers from Tessa. D.D. and Tessa are well matched foes. This one is action packed, full of unforeseen twists and has an explosive ending!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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In four days, someone is going to kill me . . . Randi Menke, Jackie Knowles, and Charlene (Charlie) Rosalind Carter Grant were known as the Three Musketeers back in high school – inseparable best friends who would do anything for each other. Now Charlie is the only one left. Randi and Jackie were strangled one year apart on January 21. So as this January 21 approaches, Charlie is terrified that she will be next. She approaches Boston PD Detective Sgt. D.D. Warren at a crime scene, tells her she`s marked for death, and begs her to solve her murder, though it hasn`t yet taken place. D.D. thinks there`s something about Charlie`s story that just doesn`t add up. This is one of Lisa Gardner`s best works and is totally irresistible!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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As a couple is leaving on vacation, their boat`s anchor pulls up the body of a Mexican woman. Since there is no missing person`s report or ID, the overworked Police department calls it a Jane Doe and is done. The distraught couple asks Charles Noble, a marine P.I., to find out who she is. Noble`s investigation takes him to Raven. This black former Coast Guard and his Native American friend form an unlikely team. They find themselves in the middle of illegal immigration and prostitution. Several bodies and several boating adventures later, they think they have it figured out, but getting proof for the authorities is another thing. Great suspense, action, and an interesting mix of characters make this a great read.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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A must-read for any fan of the preceding book and critically-acclaimed film Drive staring Ryan Gosling. This aptly named successor follows Driver seven years later, beginning as his new peaceful life is destroyed when a botched assassination kills his fiancée. Unable to run, he must kill his way up the ladder of a massive criminal conspiracy; only embracing his criminal past will allow him to avenge his shattered chance at happiness. The writing is superb as James Sallis brings brevity and poetry to a deep story with a complicated protagonist, while still delivering a thrilling tale of violence, betrayal, and revenge. Read it today. At 147 pages, there is no excuse for ignoring this brilliant series.

Reviewed by Jonathan W., Morrison Regional

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Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner is another top-notch psychological thriller involving Justin Denbe, his wife Libby, and their 15-year old daughter, Ashlyn, who are abducted from their home. The family is taken to a state-of-the-art penitentiary that Justin`s firm built, but it has never been put into operation. While waiting and wondering about their captor`s motivation, the family struggles to be civil to one another. Justin has cheated, Libby`s turned to prescription drugs to deal with the pain, and Ashlyn has a secret boyfriend. P.I. Tessa Leoni, haunted by her own past, has been hired by Denbe Construction to investigate the kidnapping but is surprised when there`s no ransom demand. This one will you keep you guessing until the very end!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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Police Detective John Bekker had everything going for him until one fateful night when his wife was raped and murdered in front of their five-year-old daughter. Since that night his daughter hasn`t spoken a word and has spent the last twelve years in an institution while he`s spent his in the bottom of a bottle. Bekker always thought his involvement on a special task force investigating organized crime was the catalyst for this murder until mob boss, Eddie Crist, forces a face-to-face meeting. Crist insists he had nothing to do with this, but he`s not so sure his son didn`t. He sobers Bekker up and hires him to investigate this decade-old murder so he can die with a clear conscience. The outcome will absolutely leave you speechless.

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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What do Muslim extremists, Chinese hackers, and identity theft by the Russian Mafia have to do with an online game? It begins with the illegal sale of credit card information, made impossible by a virus blocking access to computer memory unless the programmers are paid off through a popular online game, it leads to an exciting shootout between Al-Qaida and the Russian Mob in a Chinese tenement, and then the story really takes off. As the plot progresses Neal Stephenson gives new insight to the changing dynamic of a global economy and high-bandwidth communication with government agencies, average citizens, and millionaire game developers alike caught up in an intricate web of unpredictable twists and turns in this globe-spanning thriller by one of today’s greatest science fiction writers.

Reviewed by Jonathan W., Morrison Regional

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Vita Berlin is a mean, malicious, unpleasant woman whose eviscerated remains are found in her apartment. Even those who disliked her agree that she didn`t deserve to die in such a horrific manner. Her killing is the first in what seems to be a series, but psychologist and consulting detective Alex Delaware and his friend, Detective Milo Sturgis cannot find anything concrete that links them. Their investigation into Vita`s murder finally reveals a connection to a state psychiatric hospital housing a special unit for the most disturbed patients. This book is not for the squeamish and definitely should not be read late at night or when alone. However, if you`re intrigued by cold and monstrous characters, then this one`s for you!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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Will Trent’s partner, Faith, returned from GBI training to find blood outside her mother’s house. Disobeying orders, she enters the house and is forced into a confrontation that leaves two men dead and her mother, Evelyn Mitchell, gone. It soon becomes evident some nasty people in the drug trade are involved. Because of an Atlanta police drug scandal years earlier, Evelyn was left with the taint of corruption. Faith never believed her mother was a “dirty cop”, but something has happened to cause the drug lords to think she has information or money. Faith is determined to rescue her mother, but Trent must protect Faith which thrusts him in harm’s way. The plot twists and turns, and the well-developed characters ring true.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Steele Creek Branch

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A Norwegian crime novel set in Oslo, this first Hanne Wilhelmsen novel explores the fictional world of drugs, crime and corruption in Norway. When two men are found murdered and a Dutchman turns up covered in blood and with no communication, commercial lawyer Karen Borg is asked by the Dutchman to represent him. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen is appointed to investigate the Dutchman’s case and the investigation leads all the way up to the highest ranks of the Norwegian Ministry of Justice. While containing a formulaic plot similar to other crime novels, author Anne Holt sets herself apart by commanding excellent characterization, legal analysis and Norwegian personality. Readers of crime fiction will surely enjoy this addition with a Norwegian twist.

Reviewed by Cameron S., University City Regional

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Private Investigator Dana Cutler is hired at an exorbitant rate to find the person in Seattle in possession of a priceless scepter. She feels she is on the trail as several bizarre events occur. Then she confronts the man who has been following her only to learn the search is a hoax. After returning to Washington, she is bothered by what would motivate a person to set her up at such an expense. Then Dana realizes the woman who hired her is in a surveillance photo she took on another case. She starts putting the pieces together and realizes she could be on the trail that will free a man being framed for murder. Margolin weaves a plot that artfully builds suspense.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Steele Creek Branch

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Tetrodoxin is a neurotoxin, derived from the blowfish, that causes nervous system failure and death - - even from a dose as small as half a milligram. It wreaks havoc in the town of Holloman, Connecticut in the winter of 1969, when a forestry heir, a university head scholar, and a member of a prominent local family all succumb to its effects. Captain Carmine Delmonico begins the arduous investigation which soon has another murder added to the list - - an execution style bullet to the head. The trail leads to Dr. Jim Hunter, a scientist with access to the lab where the toxin was extracted. As the investigation ensues, the reader rides a tsunami of thrills and revelations. McCullough’s 4th novel in the Carmine Delmonico series delivers.

Reviewed by Susanne W., Steele Creek Branch

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Zero Day stars combat veteran John Puller, the best military investigator in the U.S. Army`s Criminal Investigative Division. His father is an Army fighting legend and his brother is serving a life sentence in military prison for treason. A mountain of a man, Puller is relentless when it comes to finding out the truth. His current assignment takes him to Drake, West Virginia, the heart of coal country, to investigate the brutal murders of a colonel, his wife and two teenage children. The local police sergeant, Samantha Cole, is smart and attractive and provides Puller with insight into the town`s power structure and usual suspects. This is a great read and Puller`s character is so strong, you`ll keep turning the pages on this one!

Reviewed by Barbara C., Morrison Regional

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