Gray Ghost By F.X. Regan

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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The Shadow Friends By Tess Gerritsen

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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You Know Why By J.T. Ellison

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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Heart Of Glass By Jennifer Hillier

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.

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God's Country By William Kent Krueger

Emotional, dark and suspenseful, God’s Country will have you on the edge of your seat as you sweat out Cork O’Connor’s fate at the hands of dangerously desperate criminals.  William Kent Krueger has once again delivered an immersive and engrossing tale that hits with a powerful intensity and rocks you to your core.

Cork O’Connor is preparing for a family outing into the Boundary Waters when he’s struck with an ominous vision.  Jarring enough on its own, it is only heightened by the visions shared by his son and grandson.  Undeterred, they commence the trip, only to find signs of environmental disrespect and violence that puts Cork on edge.  Sending his family back home to alert the authorities, Cork presses on and runs into two brothers who are seeking the hidden fortune from their murderous father.  As the threat to himself and others increases, Cork must wrestle with a darkness that settles inside him which unleashes a thirst for vigilante justice that betrays his law enforcement background.  But one thing is for sure, Cork would rather die than let a pair of criminals hurt any innocent people.

Usually, every new release in this series feeds my soul and provides an uplifting spiritual experience.  Not so this time given the feature of a darkness so immense it wars against the light.  It’s raw and vicious.  And unlike most of the prior books in this series, Cork’s family and community are ancillary characters (though still important) as the narrative focuses on Cork himself, his mindset, and how far he will go when pushed to the limit.  Providing more depth and perspective on a character we thought we knew everything about already.  And as unsettling and unexpected as this is, it’s a treat for long-term readers to be involved in this part of Cork’s journey.

And speaking of perspective, for God’s Country William Kent Krueger decided to shake things up and write this story from the first-person perspective.  Bringing a freshness to this brilliant series that is twenty-one editions deep by putting readers squarely in the mind of Cork O’Connor.  For better or worse, we get a front row seat to his mental struggle between Cork’s natural inclination to do good for those who have earned it and his impulse to cause serious and violent harm to those who deserve it.  Providing an exploration of the potential darkness inside the protectors who stand between us and evil.  And providing fans with a different look at our honorable and steadfast protagonist.

It also ends with significant questions that we will have to wait to have answered in the next book.  Which can’t get here quickly enough.  With nothing short of Cork’s soul on the line, it promises to be a poignant and memorable story.  Building another layer of greatness on top of the best series in print today.

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What They Did By Rio Youers

What They Did is a suspenseful, dark and emotional tale of family and friendship, trauma and grief, regret and redemption.  Brimming with a simmering intensity and a growing sense of dread and desperation as the inevitability of poor decisions begin closing in.  Rio Youers has done it again!  Delivering a captivating and weighty reading experience you won’t soon forget.

Twenty-four years ago, best friends Carly Rivers and Dana Lee were involved in a tragic experience that set their lives on separate paths.  Carly became a police officer while Dana found herself working for a charismatic and dangerous drug dealer.  Making a pact to never discuss what happened to them all those years ago, they had fallen out of touch until Carly’s husband is killed in the line of duty and her son, Anthony, ends up in Dana’s backyard making bad choices.  Reconnecting isn’t easy, especially with the secret of their past hovering over their heads.  But with Anthony’s life in danger, they come together one more time to do what is necessary to keep someone they love from harm. 

This is one of those great books that features a duality of storytelling, one moment thrilling readers with a story about crime and violence then delivering emotional gut punches that resonate with anyone who has deeply cared for someone.  The thriller side has well-developed characters readers will get invested in, a tremendously developed plot that drives the book forward with urgency, and high-intensity moments that will leave you breathless.  The emotional side contains a soul-searching exploration of handling grief and trauma, what family means to us and the lengths we go to protect those we love, and how true friendship never dies no matter time, space and distance.  This combination comes together flawlessly to create a novel that is impossible to put down and difficult to get out of your head. 

Another brilliantly crafted thriller by Rio Youers.  One that’s destined to be an award winner, gracing many lists of top books for 2026 and a favorite of readers everywhere.

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Backtrack By Marc Cameron

Backtrack is a phenomenally written book filled with action, suspense, emotion and family.  A brilliantly crafted tale of past and present.  Another home run from the pen of the great Marc Cameron!

In 1977, D. Wayne Cutter is a Deputy Sherrif in Texas who kills a suspect in an armored car heist and then leads a manhunt of the other suspects, leading to their arrest and conviction of a 15-year-old to a life sentence.  In 2026, Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter, D. Wayne’s grandson, gets a call from one of his ex-wives that she suspects she’s being followed on an Alaskan cruise.  With a reputation of always coming to the rescue, Arliss goes to check it out and quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous showdown with someone hellbent on getting revenge against the Cutter family or events from almost 50 years ago.  Oh, and there’s the small matter of $15M in missing diamonds to make things even more interesting.

For 7 previous books in this series, readers have gotten a glimpse into the man known as Grumpy Cutter, Arliss’ grandfather who raised him.  Now in Backtrack, the brilliant usage of dual timelines allows us to see Grumpy in action, learn more about what made him tick, and see the beginnings of his wisdom that he passes down to Arliss.  And it’s even more fantastic as fans of this series could have hoped for.  Shootouts, manhunting, tracking, showing a young deputy the ropes, going through the emotional situation with his wife, and more is not only a way to provide insight into how Arliss turns out the way he does, but gives us the gift of getting to know Grumpy at a deep level. 

But there’s also the modern-day storyline with Arliss coming to the aid of one of his ex-wives, doing what he does best in protecting and serving.  With his trusty partner by his side, he dives headfirst into a complicated situation to do what he believes is right, despite the unknown level of lethal danger coming his way.  But when the time comes to face that danger, he’s as cool as a cucumber and takes care of business.

The result of these two storylines coming together is one hell of a fun story that advances reader’s understanding and appreciation of these characters.  Furthering the depth of connection we have with them.  And solidifying this as one of the best law enforcement thriller series in the genre today.

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Desert Heist By Alex Dekker

Desert Heist is an epic, high-adrenaline, cinematic adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat.  It’s a cross between Indiana Jones and Three Kings, making for a dramatic, intense and incredibly entertaining thrill ride through the desert of Saudi Arabia and the sands of time.  A smashing debut by Alex Dekker!

Nate Wilde is a former Green Beret turned student pursuing a PhD in Archaeology at Harvard.  Trying to move on from the tragic events at the end of his military career, he pours himself into a dissertation proposal to find the lost Saudi Arabian city of Ubar.  When his proposal is rejected, Nate decides he won’t give up that easily and seeks more evidence to gain approval.  Teaming up with several of his former teammates and a geologist seeking her missing father, they illegal enter Saudi Arabia via Yemen and quickly find themselves pursued by al Qaeda terrorists and a former Spetsnaz soldier whose orders from a shadowy organization are to stop Nate and his team by any means necessary.  Kicking off a life-or-death race against the clock with serious global ramifications on the line.  And Nate will not be deterred from achieving his goal.  By any means necessary. 

The pursuit of lost history and buried treasure, and the dangers inherent in such a risky journey, are enough on their own to produce a pulse-pounding story.  Throw in a highly capable and well-financed operator who will stop at nothing to keep that expedition from success, and it throws more fuel on the fire.  Then add in a woman who’s desperate to find her father and the attempt to heal broken bonds of a brotherhood forged in battle, and emotional connections are created that grow reader’s investment in the characters.  Lastly, exploring themes of resilience, overcoming obstacles and never giving up, give this tale a fist-pumping, cheer-out-loud quality that results in total buy-in from the reader.  Simply put, it’s a summer blockbuster action movie in book form.

Alex Dekker has announced himself as an author to keep your eye on with Desert Heist, a thriller that appears to be the start of a promising series with unlimited potential for action and adventure.

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Insurgent By Andrews & Wilson

Gritty, fast-paced and suspenseful, Insurgent is a unflinching, hard-edged, intricately plotted thriller that will keep you up late into the night.  Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson once again bring the heat with another masterfully crafted, intense, and emotionally draining thriller.

John Dempsey and his team have an opportunity to take out a high-value target in Yemen, when it all goes to hell and reveals that Task Force Ember’s technology might have been infiltrated by foreign adversaries.  Leading to a deadly cat and mouse game with a brilliant and psychotic Chinese operative with grandiose plans to strike massive blows to the United States and Dempsey personally.  Including the targeting of Dempsey’s son, Jake, and his SEAL team who find themselves in the middle of the action near a critical US Air Force base.  Attempting to tame the beast inside him, Dempsey must outsmart his enemy before he can enact his devilish plans and send the United States into chaos. 

Insurgent is a superb continuation of the beloved Tier One series, containing everything you’ve come to expect from the dynamic duo of Andrews and Wilson.  Relentless pacing and a constant sense of urgency.  Well developed characters fueled by conflict and complex feelings.  High stakes, geopolitically and personally, with life and death consequences.  A masterful chess match between the good guys and the bad guys.  A scary level of realism that makes you think about how this plot could actually be happening right now without us knowing about it.  And, of course, action sequences that are tense, tactically authentic, and unrivaled in the genre.  In addition, we get to witness Dempsey’s continued emergence as a strategic leader and more self-aware operator/individual.  All packaged together to deliver a gripping, pulse-pounding, impossible to put down page-turner that will have you holding your breath before fist pumping in triumph. 

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The Elias Conspiracy By Simon Gervais

Tension-filled and adrenaline-fueled, The Elias Conspiracy is a cinematic tale that demands your full attention from the enticing start through the explosive finish.  Simon Gervais once again delivers a compelling story filled with action, emotion and intrigue.  Adding another stellar edition to this superb trilogy.

Caspian Anderson is on vacation in Mallorca, recovering from his last brutal mission alongside German agent/girlfriend Liesel Bergmann, when he gets involved in trying to stop the abduction of a journalist.  Sending him headfirst into a global conspiracy filled with money, power and corruption.  As he dodges bullets and unravels the plot, everyone close to him becomes a target and Caspian will have to use every bit of his impressive skillset to keep his loved ones safe while spoiling the nefarious plans of a wealthy philanthropist and a highly determined assassin. 

As usual with a Simon Gervais thriller, the writing is fantastic, the storylines are absorbing, the action is intense and the character development is top notch.  And it’s the characters that make this story so great.  Starting with the further development of Caspian and Liesel, which adds depth and complexity to our heroes, but goes well beyond that to build tremendous characters like an insanely capable assassin and a wealthy philanthropist who’s more than meets the eye.  Even the characters with smaller parts or even just cameos are fully cultivated to serve their exact purpose.  No one person is superfluous.  They’re all integral to furthering the story and help make The Elias Conspiracy as exciting and fast-paced as possible.  

Simon Gervais long ago moved into automatic must-read territory and The Elias Conspiracy only further cements his spot among the great storytellers in the thriller genre. 

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Lost In Boomville By Montana Kane

Captivating, intriguing and playful, Lost in Boomville is a lively, snow-covered mystery packed with colorful characters, sharp humor, and amorous liaisons.  Once again highlighting the tenacity and sassiness of her endearing and highly capable female protagonist, Montana Kane has delivered an entertaining and immersive thriller that keeps you guessing and compels you to keep the pages turning.

Brandy Martini picks up what is supposed to be an easy surveillance case locating and watching an author.  Taking advantage of her client’s deep pockets, Brandy builds a team that includes law enforcement, her sister, and their friends from the affectionately named House of Bong.  Meanwhile, Brandy is also doing deep background on a couple of ex-cons for a landlord looking to know if they’ll cause trouble as renters.  And while all of this is going on, Moose Mountain opens for this year’s ski season, bringing tourists and potential trouble to town.  As Brandy gets deeper into the case, she learns several things her client conveniently forgot to mention, putting her in way more danger than she could have ever expected.  Now she must use every skill she sharpened in her past life as a Chicago cop to save the day from an unhinged individual who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

This is a series that keeps getting better and better.  Now five editions deep, the characters feel more like friends, and you’re fully invested in their continued development.  Especially with Brandy Martini.  With her humor, sarcasm and lustfulness towards a particular gentleman, she is the kind of protagonist readers enjoy spending time with.  And the swings between highlighting her competence and exposing her flaws make her relatable to everyone. Throw in her relentless pursuit to get the job done and you have someone you can’t help but root for to be successful in all aspects of her life. 

Additionally, Lost in Boomville strikes the perfect balance between laugh-out-loud moments and genuine suspense.  Blending a light tone with dark and mysterious moments that works exceedingly well and keeps readers engaged through all the twists and turns with the case, as well as Brandy’s love life.  And the fact that this all takes place in a picturesque mountain town makes it even more fun.  Bringing forth a colorful cast of locals and a small-town feel that allows you to escape real life and become a part of a beautiful and enjoyable setting.  A setting that becomes its own character in a way that enhances the reading experience.

Come for the mystery, stay for Brandy Martini and the charming yet sinister journey through the wintry streets, hidden secrets, and offbeat personalities of Boomville.  You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, and you’ll pump your fist in triumph. 

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Exit Wound By Isabella Maldonado

Exit Wound will have your adrenaline flowing and your heart beating faster as you are consumed with this battle of good vs. evil.  Isabella Maldonado has once again constructed a high-octane, pedal-to-the-floor thriller that holds you captive as you journey to hell and back.

Detective Veranda Cruz is laser focused on dismantling the Villalobos cartel, for both professional and personal reasons.  When the extradition of a high-level informant turns out to be a setup to free the brutal criminal, Veranda doubles down on her efforts and puts the people she loves in danger.  Disobeying orders from her Lieutenant, she’s able to do some damage to the cartel and its leader, Hector Villalobs.  Setting up a deadly showdown where only one of them can walk away with their life. 

This is another stellar novel by Isabella Maldonado.  Well-written, filled with great characters and a fast-moving plot, it has everything you could want from a thriller.  Suspense, action, twists and turns, emotion and drama, and a big showdown between the protagonist and antagonist.  It presses all the right buttons to deliver a gripping and engrossing read.  With everything hanging in the balance, it’s a book you cannot put down until you know how it ends.  Hoping for fist pumping moments but preparing yourself to shed tears of agony.

It’s also a story about family, friendship and finding your own path.  Exploring the concept of nature vs. nurture and fate vs. control.  Are you destined to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors because the DNA flowing through you has preordained the outcome of your life?  Or are you a product of your environment and your actions, controlling the outcome of who you will become?  Rare that you can be entertained and left in suspense for hours with a book that also provides something deep to think about.  But Exit Wound does just that.  Making for a fantastic reading experience.

Isabella Maldonado has entered “must-read” territory.  Delivering banger after banger.  Crafting stories with depth, emotion, action and bloodshed that are engaging as hell. 

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Choke Point By Brad Thor

Choke Point is overflowing with international intrigue, explosive action and enough tension to make a bomb technician sweat.   It’s Scot Harvath at his best as he engages in a deadly game of cat and mouse through Thailand with thousands of innocent lives and the established world order hanging in the balance.   Brad Thor has once again crafted a top-notch thriller that is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride.  Simply put, this book absolutely rips.

A major terrorist bombing takes pace in Bangkok in what appears to be an attempt to destabilize the country.  But who is behind the attack?  It could be any number of bad actors – Islamic separatists, Cambodian forces, the Chinese or others.  While the local intelligence service and law enforcement try to uncover who is pulling the strings, Scot Harvath and his team are tasked with the same mission.  They team up with a local CIA agent to conduct their own investigation.  Which goes kinetic quickly and raises more questions than answers.  Until they get a partial print that suggests a former Navy SEAL turned explosives mercenary is involved.  Bringing another level of complication into an already fraught situation.

This may be the twenty-fifth edition in the Scot Harvath series, but it feels fresh and delivers the goods.  Harvath is back out in the field with his team and on the hunt.  A major attack has already happened so he’s playing from behind and dodging curveballs while trying to get a handle on who’s executing and masterminding these deadly events.  All while having to piece together how different factions are involved, where identifying friend vs foe is not black and white.  Which puts Harvath’s skills as an operator, a leader and an investigator to the test with no time to spare.  Spiking the intensity meter all the way to the danger zone and never letting up for a second.  Creating a barnburner of a story that remains at full throttle from the first page to the last.  Reminding readers why Brad Thor is still one of the very best in the genre.

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Three Hitmen And A Baby By Rob Hart

Three Hitmen and a Baby is the best reading experience you can have while watching assassins try not to kill anyone while simultaneously being out of their depth taking care of a little girl.  Rob Hart delivers another enjoyable, intriguing and unputdownable thriller that should not be missed.

One of the members of Assassins Anonymous, a recovery group for reformed killers, must go to LA to save her brother from a dangerous gang.  So she leaves her young girl with the other members who have offered to help.  But everything goes sideways when the girl gets a high fever and these elite hitters go to an urgent care facility, where the staff suspects the girl has been kidnapped.  Meanwhile, the leader of this chapter of Assassins Anonymous is summoned to pay a debt to the Russian mob, one that he has no intention of following through on.  Now on the run from the police, the Russians and every surveillance camera in New York, these former hitmen must keep their wits about them and figure out the right moves without throwing away the sobriety they work so hard to maintain.

This is such a fantastic and clever series.  Thrillers featuring assassins who won’t kill despite the temptation of taking the easy way out and using their lethal skillsets to get out of one jam after another.  But this unlikely family of killers in recovery continues to support each other and do what’s necessary to carry the day without intentionally leaving dead bodies in their wake.  And when someone dies during whatever situation they get themselves into, the self-reflection and conversation about whether or not it’s their fault is unique and refreshing in a genre filled with unrepentant operators and hitmen. 

In this latest installment, these deep, contemplative and deadly characters are put to the test in ways that challenge their commitment to the program at a higher level than they’ve experienced before.  With children and families in the mix, it would be simple start killing everything that stands in their way.  But they look for ways to reign victoriously with non-lethal means.  Making it harder on themselves, upping the intensity of operations and significantly increasing the likelihood of their own death.  Which makes for some fantastic reading.  Including some cool ass weaponry you won’t see in any other assassin-featured thriller.

With Three Hitmen and a Baby, Rob Hart delivers a third straight banger in this distinctive, entertaining and pulse-pounding series.  It’s well constructed, brilliantly executed, emotionally gripping, and fun as hell.  

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Murder By Design By Lee Goldberg

Murder by Design is original and fresh, amusing and cheeky, deadly and thrilling, and completely engrossing.  The kind of book that you read in one sitting, sleep be damned.  Because it’s so relentlessly entertaining and captivating that you cannot stop until you see how it all ends.  Lee Goldberg has outdone himself, delivering a murder mystery that demands to be read and will end up being ranked at the top of any serious list extolling the best books of 2026.

Edison Bixby is a brilliant Los Angeles detective with a 100% case closure rate…until his brash style pisses off the wrong crowd and gets him shot in the face.  Surviving the bullet, he now plies his trade as an insurance investigator who uses his knowledge of design principles to see the world in ways others cannot, resulting in solving crimes that the professionals miss.  But he still has a big mouth, exacerbated by a brain injury sustained in the shooting.  So his employer hires Wally Nash, a middling actor, to become Bixby’s assistant and keep him out of trouble.  Together, they get involved in several investigations, including what looks like a tragic accident in a shopping mall that leaves a woman dead.  But Bixby sees it differently, believing she was murdered.  Now Bixby and Nash must prove a theory no one believes.  Namely how a building can murder someone who appears to have simply fallen down a flight of stairs.

You won’t read a murder mystery that’s more fun, witty and clever than Lee Goldberg’s Murder by Design.  Fascinating characters, playful dialogue, well-executed points of view, and a completely different way of looking at murder investigations.  It’s suspenseful, intriguing and has a Holmes and Watson vibe to the Bixby/Nash relationship that can best be described as awesomely weird.  All coming together perfectly to create a memorable reading experience that, in a crowded genre filled with great mysteries, stands tall and offers something different.  It’s fantastic and once again highlights the amazing storytelling prowess of Lee Goldberg.  Do not miss this book!  It’s magnificent. 

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Storm Warning By James Byrne

James Byrne delivers another fantastically fun and enormously engaging Dez Limerick novel that has it all.  Packed with suspense, intrigue, every shade of violence, diabolical villains, and a wise-cracking, dangerously formidable hero that could go toe to toe with the best in the thriller genre.  Making Storm Warning one of the most entertaining and unputdownable thrillers of 2026.

A multinational scientific research facility in Canada has gone into lockdown and has no communications with the outside world.  Fearing foul play, the US Department of State asks Dez Limerick to lend his skills as a gatekeeper to join the FBI HRT on a trip to the facility to help them gain access and ascertain what has happened.  With one of Dez’s close friends trapped in the facility, he quickly agrees and sets off on a journey through harrowing storms, shadow organizations, murderous mercenaries and hidden enemies.  Nothing he can’t handle though.  It’s all in a day’s work for someone of Dez’s impressive skillset.

It's no secret that Dez Limerick ranks very high on my list of the best protagonists in the genre.  And he absolutely brings the goods in Storm Warning.  Opening doors, bashing heads and righting wrongs as only he can.  But while he’s the star of the show, he’s not the only draw.  Every character adds depth to a well-developed plot.  There’s an unassuming assassin with a mysterious past, mercenaries with a mean streak, a State Department official who is as good at poker as she is at diplomacy, and a pair of devious and depraved corporate executives who will stop at nothing to get what they want.  Throw them all together in the middle of a massive storm in a race against the clock and you get one hell of an explosive novel that overflows with action and viscousness. 

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Ironwood By Michael Connelly

Fast-paced, suspenseful and intense, Ironwood packs a powerful punch that will have you on the edge of your seat.  Michael Connelly demonstrates once again that he’s a master of his craft, delivering yet another fantastic crime thriller you can’t put down.

Catalina might be known as an island paradise, but they have a saying: little island, big crime.  And in the middle of it all is Detective Sargeant Stilwell, a former homicide detective exiled to Catalina as punishment for past conduct.  Now he’s in the middle of several major investigations.  The first involves a drug drop gone bad when his deputies are ambushed, killing one and permanently injuring the other.  The second is a cold case of a woman who went missing years ago on a hike and may be connected to a serial killer still at large.  Despite orders to stand down on the first investigation, Stilwell won’t stop until justice is done for his deputies.  And partnering with a detective overland on the cold case, he eschews all signs of personal danger to see those responsible are punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Ironwood is dripping with intrigue and mystery across multiple cases that keeps the relentless protagonist busy and on the move from start to finish.  But each investigation is different, providing a mechanism for character development that provides different insight per case into Stilwell’s moral code.  Showing the same resolve no matter the magnitude of the investigation, but the versatility to approach each in a different manner.   Which reminds you of another famous detective in Connelly’s catalog, where everyone counts or nobody counts. 

Well-written with great pacing that makes it an easy and gripping novel to read, Ironwood is a must-read for Connelly fans and anyone who loves a good crime thriller.  As an added bonus, it brilliantly progresses this budding series, finishing with a little cliffhanger that gives readers something to look forward to.

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Hawai'i Rage By Tori Eldridge

Hawai’i Rage is a crime novel wrapped within a love letter to Hawaiian culture and specifically the Hawaiian cowboy, known as Paniolo.  It’s dramatic, suspenseful, emotional and captivating.  Keeping you guessing while educating you on a side of Hawai’i that’s not on any tourist itinerary.  A brilliantly executed novel with heart that pours out from the soul of author Tori Eldridge.

Makalani Pahukula recently returned to her native Hawai’i after working at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.  Now an interpretive ranger for a national historic site, she’s desperate for a more active job and excess energy.  When her cousin-in-law offers her a chance to work on the family ranch, Makalani dives in headfirst.  Putting her right in the middle of family drama that includes a gruesome death and suspicious activity aimed at an 8-year-old kid with dreams of being the next in a long line of authentic Hawaiian cowboys.  Using her investigative and observational skills, Makalani finds her initial suspicions of foul play are warranted.  Giving her no choice but to follow the evidence to the end and bring justice to the culprits before anyone else is gravely hurt.  Or worse. 

The blending of family, culture and crime works incredibly well in Hawai’i Rage, seamlessly weaving all storylines into a single narrative that results in a reading experience that’s both suspenseful and hopeful.  The crimes and investigations exercise your brain the way all good thrillers do by having readers continuously trying to piece together each character’s agenda and motivations, leading to a guessing game of who’s “good” and who’s “bad” while knowing it’s not that simple.  But what takes the book to another level is that it’s also dripping with authenticity and constantly dropping knowledge that grows your understanding of what we typically think of as paradise, but is first and foremost the home to a historic culture and people with cherished traditions. 

A book that thrills and educates?  A story that appeals to both thriller fans and anthropologists?  Yes please and thank you!

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Rules Of Engagement By Ward Larsen

Fresh and suspenseful, Rules of Engagement has everything you’d expect from a classic Tom Clancy thriller: audacious schemes, international intrigue, conspiracies, violent action, and critical use of technology.  Ward Larsen’s first foray into the Clancy-verse is nothing short of phenomenal.  A brilliant combination of modernity and staying true to the history of this cherished series. 

Foul play is suspected when a plane carrying the US Secretary of Commerce crashes in Turkey.  President Jack Ryan wants answers and retribution if it’s found that a foreign power or terrorist organization was behind it.  With DNI Mary Pat Foley spearheading the investigation, both Ryan kids – Lt. Commander Katie Ryan and DIA cybersecurity expert Kyle Ryan – as well as John Clark and his Task Force 99 crew are thrust into the middle of the action.  What they uncover is a nefarious plot including a Swiss financier on the run, a Russian national with a band of mercenaries and a fleet of drones, and a conspiracy with designs on reshaping the world order.  Now it’s up to America’s finest to race against the clock and thwart an unmitigated disaster from occurring. 

Beyond the thrilling and absorbing plot, three things stand out to take Rules of Engagement to another level.  First, it’s the continued emersion of Katie and Kyle Ryan as part of this series.  While President Ryan continues to global political minefield with aplomb, there seems to be a bit of a passing of the torch to the next generation as they take on an increasingly important role in the series.  Second, the inclusion of advanced AI cyber capabilities, playing a critical role in solving the puzzle and directing assets into place to save the day, adds innovation that acts as another character and adds a modern, timely touch to the story.  Finally, and expected with Ward Larsen’s background, the aviation heroics entering the fray when the chips are down and the intensity is at its highest, will make you stand up and audibly cheer.

All told, it’s a triumphant Tom Clancy series debut for Ward Larsen that will greatly please long-term fans and entice casual thriller readers to pick up a copy as well. 

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Dirty 20 By Bill Schweigart

Dark and brutal, enchanting and immersive, Dirty 20 is a masterfully crafted crime/fantasy novel blend with a cutthroat game of loyalty, betrayal and survival at the center.  Bill Schweigart delivers an epic tale that combines the criminal underworld with role-playing games, resulting in a thriller that promises to be unlike anything else you’ve ever read. 

Tommy Fugue is the son of a mob boss and shows no interest in the family business.  But when his father forces him to spend his summer break from college figuring out how to launder money, he comes up with a fantasy game project he puts on FunFunder with the idea to submit pledges from accounts he controls using gift cards he purchases.  It’s a scheme with promise, except the world loves the game concept and suddenly there are pledges totaling $650k and climbing.  Now trying to create a legit game, forcing Tommy to follow through on something for the first time in his life, he must navigate a minefield of wise guys with a group of unique gamers forced on him by his father – a strip-club owner, a hit woman, a street capo with OCD and a stoner accountant.  As reality and fantasy converge, Tommy faces danger from inside and outside the family, forcing him to grow up in a hurry if he wants to successfully launch this game…and avoid being killed by his own father.

Dirty 20 is billed as The Sopranos meets Dungeons & Dragons, which is a perfect description of this book.  It dives deep into an organized crime family and what it takes to survive and thrive in that environment when the threat of pain and death hang over everything and everyone.  And it also does a fantastic job of developing the fantasy world of the game Tommy is developing, going into depth in a way that makes you want to play the game while recognizing the perilous parallels to the events the characters are experiencing in real time.  Merging these two concepts might sound strange, but it works exceedingly well.  Resulting in Dirty 20 feeling like two novels woven into one – a dark gangster crime thriller paired with a mythic fantasy novel. 

But it’s more than that.  At its core this is a coming-of-age story for young Tommy who’s at a crossroads in his life that forces him to choose between cowering from and kowtowing to his dominant father or deciding to get out and forge his own path.  Compelling him to see the world for what it is and find his place in it.  Ultimately pushing him to make the decision to step up and grow a pair of balls, so to speak.  All the while having to overcome obstacles placed in his way.  It’s a fun and treacherous journey to watch with a character that is easy to root for.

Filled with great characters, dark storylines, and shocking twists – of which there are several that will hit you like a pair of brass knuckles to the temple – Dirty 20 is a captivating and engaging novel you won’t be able to put down.  Bill Schwiegart knocks this one out of the park, further showcasing his literary versatility as he adds an epic fantasy and crime crossover thriller to his previous works in unfiltered dark crime and folklore-themed thrillers. 

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Purchase Dirty 20
(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

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