Steve Netter

July 11, 2026

Meet BTB Reviewer Steve Netter

Steve Netter

July 11, 2026

Background: Born and raised on the East Coast, I now live on the West Coast after stints in the Midwest and Southwest. Married for 20+ years with 2 kids nicknamed "The Clown Show." Huge sports fan (Go Hoosiers!), addicted to good food, appreciate live theatre and music, enjoy camping & hiking...oh yeah, I also love reading thrillers and military non-fiction.

Go-To Author: William Kent Krueger. His Cork O’Connor series is incredible. I started with Lightning Strike and then rapidly read the entire series. It’s a collection of great writing filled with suspense, emotion, wisdom and fantastic characters. Each book teaches me something, makes me think deeply about my own life and actions, and reading each one for the first time is like a spiritual experience. Then there’s William Kent Krueger’s standalone novels. Wow! They’re breathtaking literature. Can’t wait to see what comes next from this fantastic author.

Author People Should Discover: Lee Goldberg. Everything he writes is engaging and entertaining. His Eve Ronin series is fantastic, chock full of great characters with stories you can't get enough of. And his standalone books, namely Calico and the upcoming 2026 release Murder by Design, are up there with some of the most interesting and unforgettable thrillers you'll ever read.

Books You Would Recommend From 2025:
Red Tide by MP Woodward. An explosive, emotionally powerful, and frighteningly realistic military thriller.

Cry Havoc by Jack Carr. A masterclass in blending storytelling with real-life events, expertly blurring the lines between fact and fiction.

Apostle's Cove by William Kent Krueger. Crafted with precision and purpose to achieve storytelling perfection.

Most-Anticipated Book Of 2026: Dirty 20 by Bill Schweigart. A new thriller by a great author and even better dude, this book that's billed as The Sopranos meets Dungeons and Dragons promises to deliver one hell of an entertaining story.

Favorite Local/Indie Bookstore: Powell's in Portland, OR. One of my favorite things to do is to get lost for hours in the stacks at Powell's, checking out their amazing selection of books. It's one of the largest independent bookstores in the world, but more importantly it serves as my happy place.

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Steve Netter

July 11, 2026

One Of Us Is Guilty By Steve Cavanagh

Steve Netter

July 11, 2026

One of Us Is Guilty is an exhilarating legal thriller that takes readers on a roller coaster filled with emotional twists, dark turns and numerous "oh shit!" moments. Steve Cavanagh's propensity for propulsive storytelling is on full display in this latest installment of the brilliant Eddie Flynn series.

Patrick and Vanessa Vanderpool are married, insanely wealthy, and individually suspected of murdering an aide on Patrick's political campaign for Governor with whom Patrick is also having an affair. Eddie Flynn, an attorney and former con man known for doing whatever it takes to win difficult cases for his innocent clients, is hired to represent Vanessa. Putting Eddie in the crosshairs of the rich, influential, and unscrupulous patriarch of the Vanderpool family. Ignoring the increasing danger to himself and those around him, Eddie digs in and does what he does best: find a way to exonerate his client by any means necessary. But this time, he has a better chance of being killed and buried in the woods than defeating the powers lined up against him.

This series never disappoints and One of Us Is Guilty is a thrilling new edition that elicits strong reactions while keeping you guessing. Eddie Flynn is in top form, maneuvering in ways only he can despite the odds stacked against him, threading the needle of ethical ambiguity that allows him to adhere to his own moral code while simultaneously testing the boundaries of lawful and honorable behavior. Meanwhile, his team adds significantly to the story with their relentlessness and toughness as they journey into the belly of the beast to get the evidence needed to support Eddie's strategy. Not to mention the agendas, both hidden and overt, of the Vanderpools and the murder victim, all of which provides enough doubt and uncertainty to how events will conclude. Setting up showdowns inside and outside the courtroom with multiple lives hanging in the balance.

One of Us Is Guilty is compelling, engaging and gripping in ways that make it impossible to put down this book without it beckoning you to pick it back up in short order. Perfect for anyone who loves a dramatic story with formidable villains stacking the deck against the underestimated underdogs who are no shrinking violets, turning the dangerous tables and bringing justice to those who think they're above the law.

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Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steve Netter

June 21, 2026

Last Man Standing By Gregg Hurwitz

Steve Netter

June 21, 2026

Explosive and intense with plenty of heart, Last Man Standing is a propulsive thriller that keeps you in suspense and fill you with equal amounts of dread and hope. With this much-anticipated twelfth installment, Gregg Hurwitz raises the bar and once again proves why the Orphan X series stands among the very best in the thriller genre.

Evan Smoak gets a call from a young woman who needs help escaping captivity where she’s forced to scam innocent people out of their money for a nasty piece of work known as Boz. But saving this woman is only the beginning of what becomes one of The Nowhere Man’s most difficult and taxing missions to date. Putting everyone he has come to deeply care for in danger, a physically compromised Orphan X is forced to rely on his wits and intelligence to outmaneuver the threat that the Boz represents to the world. And failure is not an option.

Last Man Standing is a brilliant edition to the incredible Orphan X series, taking a massive leap forward in the humanization of Evan Smoak. He’s more vulnerable than ever, both emotionally and physically, which leads to him getting closer to those few people he has let into his world and results in relying on them for support like never before. And with the necessity to rely almost solely on his intellect, it brings additional depth to a character that we know is physically formidable and operationally smart, but his genius goes to another level and it’s glorious to witness.

That’s not to say that Evan Smoak is weak and incapable of kicking serious ass. On the contrary. He still does his thing, taking the fight to the bad guys and rescuing those who need his help. All while navigating friendships (and more) that still don’t come easy to him and result in some awkward yet funny and loving social moments. Bringing levity and affection to a deadly serious mission that has more than its share of heartbreak.

It’s another brilliant Orphan X thriller knocked way out of the park by the masterful Gregg Hurwitz. A tape measure shot that long-time fans will drool over and newcomers to the series will marvel at, wondering how they have lived this long without Evan Smoak in their lives.

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Purchase Last Man Standing
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Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

June 18, 2026

Roundabout By Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

Steven Netter

June 18, 2026

Provocative, unpredictable and surreal, Roundabout is another reality-bending and ingenious tale by the writing duo of Jeff Rake and Rob Hart. Packed with tension and suspense wrapped around explosive action, it challenges our perception of the world as we know it. Twisting and turning as it confounds and disorients readers in the best of ways, making you ask, “what the hell did I just read?” with a furrowed brow and a smile on your face.

Following the unsettling events of Detour, Roundabout kicks off with six astronauts on the run from their own government. Accused of selling information to the Chinese, they’re labeled as traitors and subjected to a nationwide manhunt. But it’s a ruse to hide the fact these six individuals are from a parallel universe, the result of a perception-warping experiment by a billionaire and his scientific team. With strange phenomena gripping people all over the planet, likely explained by the opening of a pathway between worlds, those in power will do anything to capture and silence the astronauts before they can reveal the truth…and find a way back to their home on the other Earth.

The second book in this budding series, Roundabout feels like the middle episodes of an addictive show you binge watch on a streaming service. The first book was explosive, messing with your head while introducing you to the characters and hooking you with a wild concept. Then this second book advances character development, puts them through difficult challenges, and sets the stage for what’s to come in book three and beyond. And that’s the best way to consume these books, as they drip information and develop events with cliffhangers at the end of each one. Building anticipation for the next episode.

Also, it needs to be said that while this story can be enjoyed on its own, it’s highly advisable to read Detour first to understand the background to hit the ground running with Roundabout. There are many mind-bending concepts and critical details that are important to understand to get the full reading experience and not feel like you’re constantly trying to catch up. Plus, Detour is a hell of a story, so you don’t want to miss it anyway.

It’s an intriguing two-book start to a series that holds a lot of promise. It’ll be fascinating to see where the authors go from here with the next installment. Whatever they have in store for readers next, it’s sure to be entertaining, captivating and brain-twisting. Jump on this bandwagon now, because the ride is just getting started.

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Purchase Roundabout
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

June 15, 2026

Pressure Point By A.J. Landau

Steven Netter

June 15, 2026

Visiting devastation upon some of the western United States most cherished lands, Pressure Point is a suspenseful and violent eco-terrorism thriller that should frighten and concern everyone on the planet. A.J. Landau, the pseudonym for the writing team of Jeff Ayers and Jon Lindstrom, has delivered a relentless, anxiety-inducing, and distressing tale within the pages of an entertaining story filled with heroic actions to counteract plans of the wicked evildoers.

America’s national parks are under attack. Crater Lake erupts. Mount Rainier suffers a devastating fire. Lassen Volcanic National Park has a geological event. And concerning events occur around Yosemite and Yellowstone. All with one common theme: water levels are dropping. Special Agent Michael Walker is sent in to investigate if this is a string of natural occurrences or if something more nefarious is at play. As violence increases and the picture becomes clearer, Walker and those he works with must repeatedly risk their lives to stop a devastating plot that is a century in the making.

For those who have visited our country’s great National Parks in the west, as I have frequently, Pressure Point provides both a familiar setting and an overwhelming feeling of despair of what could happen to places we hold dear. Making it difficult to forgive the authors for the extreme level of destruction they wreak on these precious locations. But it works incredibly well as a cautionary tale in a world where water is becoming the most critical resource on the planet. Bringing to life deep fears that affect all life on Earth. Resulting in a story that is thrilling and fascinating while simultaneously conjuring a sense of terror and dread.

Not for the faint of heart, Pressure Point entertains with intrigue and heroics while taking you through violent action that puts humanity on the brink of annihilation.

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Purchase Pressure Point
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

May 30, 2026

The Rust Forest By Anders de la Motte

Steven Netter

May 30, 2026

Dark, intense and gritty, The Rust Forest is a haunting thriller that gets under your skin and sets up shop for the duration. Anders de la Motte has delivered another unsettling novel that takes you on a foreboding journey through the shadows that will leave you shook.

With a path out of purgatory all but assured, Detective Leo Asker is handed a tempting cold case by her nemesis Jonas Hellman that he knows she cannot refuse and one that could torpedo her promotion. The case is a murder of a young woman from a decade ago, presumably by the woman’s husband who has since disappeared without a trace. With fierce determination to solve this case, Asker pulls in her friend and urban explorer Martin Hill for assistance. Despite unresolved feelings and issues between then, Asker and Hill use their complimentary skills to dig into the case, find new clues and get information from key individuals. But when signs point to a conspiracy that hits too close to home, Asker must decide: play ball to save her career or take down those who are responsible no matter the personal consequences.

This is a thriller that has an abundance of suspense and growing sense of dread that will keep you on edge and questioning everything that occurs. Whether it’s the fear, paranoia, trauma and folklore that is rooted in the Rust Forest and fueled by its inhabitants, or the corruption, lies, secrets and emotional weight arising from workplace politics and family/personal relationship dynamics, everything comes together to create a slow-burning tension that continues to rise until it violently explodes. Leaving no one unscathed.

The Rust Forest is a psychological thriller designed for those who enjoy noir, well-developed characters, and an ominous, layered plot. It provokes thought, shreds your nerves and engages you in a chilling exploration of fear, trauma and the evil that lurks in the darkness. A fantastic third edition to this unnerving and entertaining series.

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Purchase The Rust Forest
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

May 22, 2026

Robert B. Parker's Framed By Mike Lupica

Steven Netter

May 22, 2026

Robert B. Parker’s Framed is equal parts charming and treacherous, delivering the exact combination of fun and menace that you would expect from a Spenser novel. Mike Lupica delivers a compelling, witty, propulsive and thrilling novel that will have readers on the edge of their seats.

Boston Police Department Superintendent-in-Chief Martin Quirk is accused of an inappropriate relationship with a confidential informant and placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. But Spenser smells a rat and vows to prove the innocence of his good friend who also happens to be one of the most respected cops in the history of the department. This puts Spenser, along with his unconventional but fiercely loyal group of colleagues, in the crosshairs of a billionaire who’s suspected of illegal activities yet always seems to get away with everything. As Spenser gets closer to the truth, the danger increases and bodies start dropping. But it’ll take more than a rich man and his henchmen from stopping stop Boston’s legendary private investigator from prevailing.

The fifty-fourth (!!!) edition of Robert B. Parker’s beloved Spenser series gives long-time fans exactly what they love. Tons of wisecracks and humor, plenty of danger and bullets flying, lots of intrigue and interesting characters, and a heavy dose of Hawk and Susan. It also offers a satisfying plot for Spenser, trying to clear the good name of his friend while taking on a billionaire who thinks they are above the law. And if that wasn’t enough, several returning characters round out Spenser’s team of informants and hitters, bringing nostalgia and plenty of firepower along for the ride.

Framed is a fitting addition to this wildly adored series, which fans cherish and eagerly anticipate each fall. Mike Lupica absolutely nails this one with perfect pacing, tone, dialogue and honoring the series history within a modern plot. A wonderfully written story that is a perfect gift for Spenser fans.

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Purchase Framed
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

May 19, 2026

The Hollow By Michael Connelly

Steven Netter

May 19, 2026

Propulsive, suspenseful and menacing, The Hollow is a haunting and raw reexamination of Bosch’s childhood and how it shaped him into the man he is today. Michael Connelly has delivered a complex and chilling tale that fans of the formidable and stubborn detective crave.

Harry Bosch spent his formative years at MacLaren Children’s Center, an orphanage with widespread abuse of children in its care. Now a class-action lawsuit sees Bosch entitled to $400,000, though he refuses to accept the money. But this stirs old memories, most of which aren’t fond. Including the suspicious death of his friend Chops, which went unsolved and Bosch believes was never properly investigated. With a new knee and time on his hands, Bosch digs into the case and drags up the past, which coincidentally lands him square in the middle of a federal investigation. Undeterred by those telling him to stand down, Bosch will do anything and everything to bring justice to Chops’ killer and to bring down a dangerous international criminal. And maybe in the process quiet some of the demons haunting him from his childhood.

The Hollow is a gift to long-time Harry Bosch fans with the deep dive into his childhood at the notorious orphanage he grew up in. Despite being dark subject matter that’s sometimes difficult to read, it provides depth and understanding to a character we’ve been following for a long time and thought we knew everything about. But this book provides additional details that shed light on the details of what young Harry went through and how he was able to not only survive an awful and abusive environment but also use that experience to turn him into the venerable detective he became.

As if that wasn’t enough, this story includes investigations that prove Bosch has hardly lost a step. He’s as sharp as ever, seeing things others cannot and relentlessly pursuing the truth no matter what the cost. Proving that age is just a number and once again affirming that everybody counts or nobody counts.

A brilliant addition to the Bosch catalog, The Hollow will grab you tightly in a death grip and won’t let go, taking you on a trip to hell and back one which only Harry Bosch could withstand. And it’s a journey that you will not want to miss!

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Purchase The Hollow
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

May 16, 2026

Dark Country By Adam Plantinga

Steven Netter

May 16, 2026

Dark Country is a relentless, brutal and emotional tale that forces the flawed hero to face off against horrifying brutality and morally reprehensible motives, providing the reader permission to enjoy the hell out of the sweet violence visited upon the bad guys. Adam Plantinga has delivered another hard-hitting, tension-fueled thriller that you won’t be able to put down.

Kurt Argento is hiding out in South Dakota, wanted by law enforcement and a brutal cartel for events that recently took place in Arizona. Living in a church basement in exchange for tending to the grounds, it’s a simple existence that gives him time to work through his haunted past. Then he meets Majed, a teenage Syrian refugee being pursued by powerful forces for reasons he doesn’t understand. Argento takes to the young man, helps him escape the immediate danger, and gets entangled in a deadly game against psychotic operators who always get the job done. But Argento is street wise and street tough from his days as a Detroit cop. And he will do everything in his power, until his dying breath, to keep Majed safe.

Dark Country will have you on the edge of your seat, captivated by the suspense it builds in between explosive acts of violence. There’s constant danger and intrigue that propels the story forward in a way that commands you to read faster in a desperate attempt to see how things end. But this isn’t one of those thrillers that’s only about the action, despite there being plenty of it. Rather, this is a story about finding redemption. About living by a moral code that focuses on helping people while asking the question if it’s ok to hurt, maim and/or kill bad people in the process. And it’s about learning to live with your past to find a way forward. Deep topics designed to make you think while being entertained by vicious and unforgiving events.

The Kurt Argento series is fantastic and worth your time. It’s intense, high-octane, unrelenting stuff that has everything a thriller fan could want. If you’re not already reading this series, now’s a great time to start.

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Purchase Dark Country
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steve Netter

May 16, 2026

The Lockup Period By Vince Thompson

Steve Netter

May 16, 2026

Greed, ambition and ethical dilemmas ooze off every page of The Lockup Period, an entertaining journey across Silicon Valley through the eyes of insiders and outsiders doing whatever it takes to strike it rich. Vince Thompson delivers a compelling, dynamic, and at times farcical tale that gives readers a peak behind the curtain of the startup world and those who inhabit it.

Mario Kennedy owns a pizzeria but has big dreams of being a Silicon Valley insider. When a startup he advised called MenuAi announces plans to go public, Mario gets his chance at the big time. But only if the stock does well and holds up during the 90-day lockup period. Which is no small feat with a shady venture capitalist leading the deal, a CEO with skeletons in his closet, and a crime that Mario helps to cover up. Meanwhile, an investigative reporter has it out for MenuAi and its founder, seeking to expose the truth about past misdeeds that threaten to tank the stock and take Mario’s dreams with it. Now Mario needs to determine if it’s worth his soul to keep things on track until his big payday comes in.

You don’t need to be a savvy investor or Finance Bro to be captivated by The Lockup Period. Yes, there is enough finance and stock market jargon to satiate Wall Street-types, but that’s not what this book is really about. This is a character-driven story, with Mario at the center who is faced with opportunities and difficulties everyone can relate to. Allowing readers to put themselves in his shoes and ask themselves how they would handle each situation. All while getting a taste for life and the various inhabitants, both the well-intentioned and the scum, in the tech startup community.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, you’ll yell at the characters, and you’ll stand up and cheer. The Lockup Period will put you through a rollercoaster of emotions as it twists and turns through the quest for IPO legendary status.

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Purchase The Lockup Period
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steve Netter

May 16, 2026

Truth To Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel By S.A. Cosby

Steve Netter

May 16, 2026

Dark and propulsive, Truth to Power is a gripping Marvel Crime novel that will get your blood boiling before making you jump out of your seat in triumph. S.A. Cosby has delivered an explosive thriller that balances pulse-pounding violence with a deeply human core.

Luke Cage travels from New York to Virginia to investigate the death of his cousin. The police say it was an accident, but Luke suspects foul play involving a suspicious medical device manufacturing plant. As Cage gets closer to the truth, evil doers with advanced abilities keep making runs at him. Using his super strength and unbreakable skin to his advantage, Cage leans into the danger with designs on turning the tables on the mastermind and his henchmen behind nefarious plans to unleash waves of hate and unimaginable violence across the country. With bullets flying and fisticuffs abound, Cage must keep his wits about him to get justice for his cousin and protect the innocent people of this small Virginia town.

What do you get when you combine S.A. Cosby’s writing with the Marvel Universe? A kick-ass, no-holds-barred, gritty crime novel with relentless pacing and sustained intensity within a world of superhuman abilities and futuristic technology. Showcasing the fundamental elements of what makes Cosby such a great storyteller within a cinematic world enjoyed by the masses. That’s not to say you must be a Marvel fan to enjoy Truth to Power. This story stands on its own merits, providing a white-knuckle thrill ride with barely a moment to breathe. Infusing emotion and powerful themes into a heartfelt yet viscous story. One that just happens to have superheroes and villains central to the story. Making this book simultaneously feel like the typical smash hit Cosby bestseller we’ve become accustomed to as well as breaking into fresh new territory for the award-winning author. It’s fantastic stuff!

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Purchase Truth To Power
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

May 16, 2026

Split Screen By Lee Goldberg

Steven Netter

May 16, 2026

Propulsive, explosive and ridiculously entertaining, Split Screen is a relentlessly fast-paced, amusing and intense police procedural that keeps you engaged as you turn pages with desperate urgency to see how everything turns out. It’s another Lee Goldberg special: a twisting, turning novel that’s fun as hell to read.

LASD Detective Eve Ronin is once again in the center of dramatic events. The new Sheriff coerces Eve to leverage her fame to bring positive press to the department. A famous actress is found dead in her home of a suspected drug overdose. Another actress, the one who plays Eve in the television series about her life, is gunned down in a restaurant. A doctor is found brutally murdered in the parking lot of his practice. An explosion rocks the LASD’s Lost Hills location. Eve’s half sister is caught up in a criminal enterprise that puts her life at risk. And Eve will stop at nothing, including disobeying direct orders, to get to the bottom of every one of these events.

There is so much going on in this book that it doesn’t let you breathe for a moment. But it’s not overwhelming or overcooked in any way. The storylines are complementary and cohesive, the action and investigations are purposeful, and the character development is on point. And with the acknowledgement that Eve will do whatever she wants, it frees up everything and everyone to just go with the flow to let her do what she does best. Which is to solve crimes and put bad guys in jail. Even if it repeatedly puts herself in the line of fire and forces her partner, Duncan “Donuts” Pavone, to continue postponing his retirement to protect Eve from herself. Which is actually great news since Duncan is the clear fan favorite character in this series.

Seven editions into this series and it’s still firing on all cylinders. It’s one of my favorites in the thriller genre and I highly recommend giving it a shot if you haven’t already started it. But if you’re already familiar with Eve Ronin and her exploits, you’re in for a huge treat with Split Screen. It’s excellent!

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Purchase Split Screen
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

May 16, 2026

Die Famous By Michael Koryta

Steven Netter

May 16, 2026

Exhilarating and contemplative. Beautiful and tragic. Powerful and emotional. Die Famous thrills you with tales of gangsters, heists and romance while tugging on your heartstrings through a young boy’s journey of self-discovery and his mother’s search for redemption. Michael Koryta has forged and unleashed an epic, layered and indelible tale that echoes in your mind long after the saga’s final reckoning.

Savannah Cody decides two things at roughly the same time: it’s time to be a real mother to her son and she’s going to murder the boy’s father. The father, Eddie “Nickel” Terhune, is on the crew of the infamous Brady Gang, notorious gangsters listed as public enemy number one by the FBI. Arrested herself for her connection and involvement with Nickel and the crimes he’s accused of committing, she has one shot to avoid the electric chair by providing information on the whereabouts of the gang. Joined by her twelve-year-old son Alford and her loving but disapproving father, they set off on a mission from Indiana to Maine to track down Nickel and his associates. Men who don’t want to be found, but also can’t stay away from the next big score.

This is a tremendous and memorable novel driven by phenomenal characters. Deep, complex and incredibly well developed. Each on their own journey of self-discovery filled with love and heartbreak, hope and regret, while facing endless possibilities raging against the seemingly inevitable. Connections form that make it impossible to stop from getting emotionally invested in the outcome, wishing for a redemptive happy ending that deep down you’re not sure everyone deserves but still hope they find.

But this is also a crime novel. With audacious criminal activity, sending bullets flying and resulting in manhunts across the country. Death and destruction left in the wake of a crew led by a man incapable of remorse and in search of fame and fortune procured through nefarious means during a time that romanticized gangsters. Providing intensity and crackling electricity throughout a story that transcends the crime thriller. Ascending into the rarified air that only a truly extraordinary book can bring a reader. That of a story that you know is special because you feel in your bones and understand it will stick with you for a long, long time.

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Purchase Die Famous
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steve Netter

May 16, 2026

Double Tap By Don Bentley

Steve Netter

May 16, 2026

Filled with intrigue and action that packs a powerful punch, Double Tap lets Mitch Rapp off the leash to do what he was born to do. Namely hunt and kill jihadi terrorists. Don Bentley patiently and skillfully sets the stage before releasing the hounds of hell to drive an explosive climax to this latest throwback Rapp thriller.

Mitch is sent to Italy to kill a Pakistani chemical weapons specialist before he can sell his skills to a terrorist organization. Only the target is kidnapped before Rapp can take him out. Setting off a chain of events that result in Rapp and friends racing against the clock to stop chemical weapons from disappearing and to thwart a deadly attack with designs on striking a devastating blow to the West.

This is the perfect mission for Rapp to flex his already impressive skillset as an assassin while also requiring him to stretch his abilities to hone his covert ops chops. Having to discern friend from foe as well as infiltrate an enemy organization provides opportunities for development of his critical thinking, listening to his instincts, and relentlessly pursuing his objective even as it changes mid-operation. Combining the cunning espionage with brutal action that long-time fans come to expect from one of the best characters ever written in the thriller genre. Kudos to Don Bentley for continuing his charge of advancing this cherished series with flashback adventures that provide much appreciated insight into the development of our beloved hero.

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Purchase Double Tap
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

May 16, 2026

London Station By David McCloskey

Steven Netter

May 16, 2026

Fully immersive and brimming with insider knowledge, London Station is the leader in the clubhouse for this year's most authentic espionage thriller. David McCloskey has crafted a propulsive, thought-provoking novel, using his firsthand experience to infuse every page with a level of realism few authors can match.

Following the transition to a new United States administration, a dramatic shift in leadership at the CIA sends shockwaves through one of the intelligence community's most trusted alliances, significantly straining the agency's relationship with British intelligence. As suspicion replaces cooperation, Artemis Procter, the CIA's new chief in London, finds herself facing conflicting orders and a rapidly escalating crisis after a series of covert operatives are mysteriously killed. With political agendas threatening to undermine decades of collaboration, Procter and her team must determine where their loyalties truly lie while racing to uncover the force driving the deadly campaign.

London Station burrows beneath your skin and settles deep in your mind. It begins with richly developed characters who evoke strong emotions…some of whom you'll be tempted to shove down a flight of stairs. From there, McCloskey immerses readers in the intricate world of espionage, where tradecraft, asset handling, clandestine operations, and calculated deception unfold with remarkable authenticity. The result is a masterfully told thriller that delivers a front-row seat to an intelligence war with enormous geopolitical stakes, dripping with insider details that will make you feel less like an observer and more like a participant.

London Station is as real as it gets without going through covert training at The Farm. A chance to feel like a spy from the comfort of your own living room, where the only danger comes from ignoring your family and friends as you fly through this fantastic, unputdownable story.

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Steven Netter

May 7, 2026

Beyond Honor By K.B. Brodsky

Steven Netter

May 7, 2026

Nerve-wracking, relentlessly suspenseful and emotionally gripping, Beyond Honor is a thrilling tale of espionage and deceit, brotherhood and family, politics and capitalism, and how far some will push the envelope to beat their adversaries. K.B. Brodsky delivers an enthralling, nail-biting tale that pays homage to the great spy novels of years past with a contemporary edge.

CIA analyst Whiney Skyler uncovers a financial conspiracy involving the Russians that has compromised an American real estate developer with a close friendship to the US President. CIA paramilitary operative Kevin Rhoads, reeling from the devastating results of a recent military operation, undertakes a dangerous solo mission deep into Siberia as the result of a CIA director leveraging Skyler’s intelligence to save an American agent from a Russian black site. Putting Skyler in a difficult spot of being unable to share vital information with Rhoads, a man she has come to love. And when Rhoads learns the truth, it sets off a mission of personal vengeance that disobeys direct orders and makes him a fugitive from the agency and country he served with distinction.

Beyond Honor is the merging of old school espionage novels with modern day military thrillers. Pitting US and Russian intelligence agencies against each other in ways that would make Jason Matthew’s Red Sparrow and Nelson DeMille’s The Charm School proud. And bringing the emotion and kinetic action of paramilitary operations that show the influence of Jack Carr’s The Terminal List and Mark Greaney’s Gray Man series. It keeps readers on their toes for most of the book by navigating between multiple threads to avoid predictability, before converging into a linear sprint to the finish with an almost certain outcome that leads to a cliffhanger finish, brilliantly keeping multiple possibilities available for the future of this nascent series.

If you love spy novels and military thrillers, this is a debut you can’t afford to miss. The beginning of a new series with excellently crafted characters, complex geopolitical and intelligence maneuvering, and explosive action.

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The Poisoned Pen

James Abt

April 15, 2026

Gray Ghost By F.X. Regan

James Abt

April 15, 2026

Dark, gritty and raw, Gray Ghost smothers you in a bear hug of intensity and takes you on a wild, desperate ride through the streets and jungles of southeast Asia to save an American held captive by the enemy. F.X. Regan has delivered a thrilling tale that reads as historical fiction, transporting you into the Vietnam War-era espionage ecosystem where spies operate in the shadows, loyalty is fluid, and nothing is ever quite as it seems.

An Air America flight is shot down over Laos and the pilot is taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese Army. In goes Chase Black, a covert CIA operative with orders to cultivate sources and throw some money around to locate the pilot and enact a rescue mission. With hostilities in full swing during 1968, Black has his work cut out for him with danger lurking around every corner and with trust a difficult commodity to come by. But Black is exceedingly good at his job, deftly navigating enemy territory and internal CIA politics, to successfully complete his mission. If only he can stay alive, and protect the woman he’s falling in love with, long enough to do so.

Unlike the 1990 film Air America, there’s nothing funny about Gray Ghost. It’s deadly serious and filled with life and death consequences. Giving you a front row seat to a dangerous covert operation behind enemy lines with a sense of urgency to complete the mission before time runs out. It’s harrowing, relentless, unforgiving and haunting. Holding you in suspense while landing multiple gut punches while you pray for some semblance of a happy ending.

Not for the faint of heart, Gray Ghost is a gripping, authentic, nerve-shredding and propulsive Vietnam War thriller you won’t soon forget.

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Purchase Gray Ghost
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

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The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steven Netter

March 30, 2026

The Shadow Friends By Tess Gerritsen

Steven Netter

March 30, 2026

The Shadow Friends proves that just despite advancing in age your experience brings value that can impact the world, especially with the power of friendship on your side. Tess Gerritsen delivers another wonderfully fun and intense spy novel that grabs you early and keeps you engaged to the bitter end.

An infectious disease expert dies during a conference in Purity, Maine. He also happens to be a Russian defector, putting his death into a suspicious light that activates an investigation by the local friend group of CIA operatives known as The Martini Club. As the search for the truth evolves, it brings up emotional memories of a past mission for Ingrid Slocum, leading her to go off the grid with a former colleague/lover to draw out an enemy that escaped their grasp decades ago. While the rest of the group continue to probe back in New England, friendships and alliances will be questioned and they must rely on old skills to stay safe and avoid the death of those close to them.

This novel, and the series overall, is a wonderful departure from the typical testosterone-fueled and weapons-porn type of thriller, offering something cerebral and contemplative without sacrificing action and intrigue. It relies on the experience and skills honed over decades by wily vets of the espionage game. The Shadow Friends also provides a sliding door storyline that everyone can relate to. Thinking about a time in our lives where we reached a critical decision point, and even if things worked out you still wonder how picking the other option would have turned out. The exploration of this theme within a captivating, suspenseful and unpredictable story works fantastically well.

Grab your favorite cocktail, cozy up on the couch and enjoy watching the exhilarating work of seasoned operatives who might be out of the game, but the game isn’t out of them.

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Purchase The Shadow Friends
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

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The Poisoned Pen

Steve Netter

March 29, 2026

You Know Why By J.T. Ellison

Steve Netter

March 29, 2026

Dramatic, anxiety-inducing and with Single White Female vibes, You Know Why will hold you in suspense as you scream out loud at the characters and hang your head in despair as they ignore the warnings they cannot hear. J.T. Ellison has crafted a brilliant psychological domestic thriller that you feel with your whole being, giving you heart palpitations and a pounding pulse.

What begins as a holiday trip to Italy turns into a nightmare when Brooklyn Locke’s husband disappears at the airport without a trace. Searching for answers, she accepts help from a fellow traveler who claims a disturbing connection to Trey’s past and a decades-old murder. As Brooklyn struggles to make sense of the situation, a sudden, life-threatening incident leaves her vulnerable and increasingly dependent on someone she doesn’t trust. With doubts mounting and secrets surfacing, she’s forced to question everything she thought she knew about her husband, her family and her marriage. As the truth closes in, Brooklyn realizes she may be walking straight into a carefully set trap and needs to find a way to survive long enough to turn the tables on her tormentor.

I cannot stress enough how brilliantly stressful You Know Why is for the reader. J.T. Ellison does a masterful job of dripping information to the reader in a way that characters don’t see at the same time. Meaning the reader has insight that others don’t and it threatens to drive you nuts as you watch Brooklyn try to figure out what you’ve already pieced together. You’ll literally yell at her to do certain things and vibrate with anger when she doesn’t. Making this novel one of those exceptional stories that invades your bones and sets up shop for the duration. Leaving a lasting and powerful impression that you’re unable to shake for weeks afterward.

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Purchase You Know Why
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Steve Netter

March 28, 2026

Heart Of Glass By Jennifer Hillier

Steve Netter

March 28, 2026

Heart of Glass is a deliciously dramatic print version of reality TV and true crime documentaries coming together to deliver an addictive, guilty pleasure story you can’t look away from. Jennifer Hillier has crafted a twisting, turning, suspenseful thriller that maintains relentless intensity from beginning to end.

A serial killer, serving life sentences for five murders he confessed to, recants his confession to one of the murders on a true crime documentary. The body of a reality TV personality washes up on the shore of Seaside, Washington. For Barb and Nicolette, these events bring up painful memories of twenty-five years ago when their best friend Lorelei was killed…and the secret they swore to keep forever. With Nicolette grappling with her difficult childhood and the trappings of being famous, and Barb stuck in their hometown and finding it tough to have a successful relationship with anyone, their lives have not exactly turned out the way they had expected. Now, they must face the reality of what happened all those years ago and maybe find some peace in the horrible truth finally getting exposed.

On the surface, this is a crime thriller with a reporter trying to get to the truth about a murder and a missing person. And that would be enough to satisfy anyone looking for an intense storyline to lose themselves in. However, there’s so much more to Heart of Glass. It’s filled with drama that hits you from different angles. A killer recanting his confession, broken friendships, family conflict, reality stars behaving badly, relationship problems, and a whole trunk full of bad memories and inappropriate events from years ago. No shortage of oh-shit moments that make the story unpredictable and unputdownable.

It’s juicy and spicy, voyeuristic and indulgent, layered and complex, gripping and satisfying. Another wildly entertaining thriller from an author who always delivers.

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Heart Of Glass
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

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