Laura A.B. Cifelli
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Downfall
Part psychological thriller and part police procedural, this novel reads like a TV series worth recording so as not to miss an episode.
Alias Emma
Perfect for a single-sitting read, Glass’s thriller (the first in a planned series) is an adrenaline-fueled tour of clandestine London. What’s next for Emma Makepeace? More, please.
The Secrets We Share
This suspenseful story will have readers careening from one erroneous conclusion to the next, which is either refreshing or an exasperating departure from predictable crime fiction, depending on one’s tolerance for twists.
PREMIUM
Cul-de-sac
Fielding pulls back the curtains of the neighborhood, allowing readers to spy on the neighbors as they spy on each other. As voyeuristically engaging as Hitchcock’s Rear Window, this psychological thriller elicits the page-turning urgency equivalent of trying desperately to see something just out of frame.
PREMIUM
Lie Beside Me
Police procedurals can often be predictable and easy to solve for steadfast fans. Not this time. Without employing obvious red herrings or misdirection, Lodge prevents readers from becoming attached to any one theory. This plausible unpredictability is quite engaging.
The Sea Gate
Johnson (Court of Lions) conveys a strong sense of place in her historical fiction. The author describes this as a book about family secrets. Although secrets abound, this is also a novel of sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption. Recommended for readers who value the journey, however harrowing, as much as the destination.
PREMIUM
The Traitor's Emblem
From the misleading title, readers would expect this thriller to be about the medallion, but family intrigue and the quest for revenge dominate the tale. Although Gómez-Jurado is a good storyteller, for artifact provenance stories Steve Berry is the reigning maestro. If you want a peek at secret Masonic handshakes and rituals, however, Gómez-Jurado may have just lifted the veil. [See Prepub Alert, 1/24/11.]—Laura A.B. Cifelli, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL
PREMIUM
The Phoenix Apostles
A venerated religious object in the hands of a megalomaniac…now what? That's always the question with this type of book. Here we have a unique relic with an exceptional "superpower," likable heroes, and a bold endgame. Implausible yet awesome; a reminder why fiction is fun.
PREMIUM
The Altar of Bones
From a prison camp in 1937 Siberia to the streets of present-day Paris to an underground club in Russia, Carter (a pseudonym for an "internationally renowned author") writes with a "you are there" authenticity. His chase and fight scenes are adrenaline-charged, breath-holding sensations. A worthy contribution to this genre.
