Best of
Suspense

2008

Ritual in Death


J.D. Robb - 2008
    Everything points to Satanic ritual, but Eve doesn't believe in devil worship.…

Stolen Children


Peg Kehret - 2008
    Armed with misinformation and a weapon, the men take Amy and little Kendra to a remote cabin in the woods. There they make videos of the girls and mail them to Kendra’s wealthy parents in an effort to get ransom money. After several of her escape attempts fail, Amy is forced to make one last, desperate move. Award winner Peg Kehret crafts a suspenseful thriller with a spunky heroine who uses her wits to save herself and the toddler.

Divine Justice


David Baldacci - 2008
    Men in the highest circles of power want him dead, and quickly, because he knows too many of their deepest secrets. On the other hand, the members of the secretive Camel Club not only want Stone alive, but they are willing to risk their own lives to save their leader and friend. Get ready for a David Baldacci thriller with relentless intensity, a perfect follow-up to his acclaimed "Stone Cold" - Camel Club #3.We begin with Oliver Stone taking drastic action to deal with individuals who have imposed injustices on him in his past life. He soon resorts to necessary flight and lands accidently in Divine, Virginia with a new young friend, Danny Riker. It's a strange place, fraught with secrets, criminal activities, and so much danger for Stone.Librarian's note: this is one of five volumes in the author's Camel Club series.

A Perfect Escape


Maddie James - 2008
    But can she really escape the terror of her past, to grab onto some hope of a future?Leaving Chicago and her mob-connected husband behind, she assumes a new identity. She planned her escape to the last detail—but she didn’t plan on Smyth Parker.Smyth Parker is already lost. And he sure as hell doesn’t need a complication like Megan Thomas in his life. He wants nothing from no one and expects to live out his life in solitude. But when Megan fears her husband has found her, she runs again, and no detailed plan can save her this time. When she runs blindly into Smyth’s arms, he has no choice but to protect her.Can two people running away from life, figure out how to trust each other enough to live?

Anathema


Colleen Coble - 2008
    But the real question is, can she forgive herself?Visitors come to Parke County, Indiana to enjoy the lush farms, to buy the Amish quilts, and to experience the peaceful ways of the Amish families who live there. But when a double murder rocks this quiet community, the Amish residents resolve to forgive even this unfathomable offense.Hannah, however, finds forgiveness out of reach--both for the murderer and for herself. She harbors a secret shame: while the crime was committed in her own home, she was out meeting with her forbidden love, her English beau, Reece.The elders of the community insist that Hannah must forgive her family's killer or be shunned. When Hannah refuses, she runs away with Reece, leaving behind the only life she's ever known.Years later, Hannah must journey back to the place she no longer calls home. Can she find the forgiveness and belonging she so desperately desires?

The Perk


Mark Gimenez - 2008
    But he's been a full-time lawyer and a part-time father, so their lives soon fall apart. To save his children, he returns to his small hometown in the Texas Hill Country, reunites with his estranged father (a goat rancher turned winemaker), and soon becomes the local judge. He finds himself trying to pay off an old debt by solving the cold case murder of his high school buddy's teenage daughter—and discovers that a small-town judge's life isn't such a simple life.Best-seller lists:No. 6, IrelandNo. 11, AustraliaNo. 17, UKEditorial Reviews:"Remember when John Grisham exploded on to the courtroom drama market with novels of breathtaking brilliance? Lightning just struck twice." - The Daily Record (Scotland)"Gimenez returns to the complex legal thrillers where he seems to be at his best. The Perk has mystery, humour and history along with well-drawn characters that the reader will actually care about. As is often the case in legal thrillers, there is a mix of those characters that take the moral high ground and those who seem just out for their own good. Unusually, there are also a few comic and slightly caricatured figures here as well—but they all fit well together in the plot. Together with great characters and a strong plot there is also lots of interesting historical information. The ending may not be what is expected but it is all the better for it and proves to be a good finish to an excellent book. As ever, Gimenez is highly recommended, impossible to put down and definitely not to be missed." - CrimeSquad.com (UK)"Just as well I started The Perk on the weekend, as I couldn't put down this book. . . . This one's a cracker—neatly woven subplots, a taut thriller and a wonderfully current statement on American popular culture. And yes, Gimenez may possibly be the next Grisham." - Kerre's Book Reviews (UK)“Gimenez fills the John Grisham hole in the legal-thriller genre so well there may be no room left for Grisham.” – The Sunday Times (Perth) "Gimenez's novels are gripping, intense thrillers. Guaranteed to keep you up well into the night, The Perk is an exceptionally well crafted novel, populated by a cast of characters that are realistically-drawn and appealing. As always, thought-provoking, intelligent, and addictive. Highly recommended." - Civilian-Reader (UK)Top Ten of 2008—"We read lots of thrillers and they can tend to merge into one another. The Perk stood out by a mile as an excellent example of the genre and a stunning, well told tale in its own right. Gimenez' stature continues to grow." - CrimeSquad.com (UK)

A Prisoner of Birth


Jeffrey Archer - 2008
    But when the four prosecution witnesses are a barrister, a popular actor, an aristocrat, and the youngest partner in an established firm's history, who is going to believe his side of the story?Danny is sentenced to twenty-two years and sent to Belmarsh prison, the highest-security jail in the land, from where no inmate has ever escaped.However, Spencer Craig, Lawrence Davenport, Gerald Payne, and Toby Mortimer all underestimate Danny's determination to seek revenge, and Beth's relentless quest to pursue justice, which ends up with all four fighting for their lives.Thus begins Jeffrey Archer's most powerful novel since Kane and Abel, with a cast of characters that will remain with you long after you've turned the last page.And if that is not enough, prepare for an ending that will shock even the most ardent of Archer's fans.

Wild Card


Lora Leigh - 2008
    All Navy SEAL Nathan Malone had to do was rescue three young girls from a Colombia drug cartel, then allow himself to be captured just long enough to draw out a government spy. That was before his mission went disastrously wrong…and before his wife, Bella, was told that Nathan was never coming home.Bella’s mourned her husband’s death for three long years. But she has no idea he’s still alive. Forced to assume a new identity, the man Nathan was is now dead. If he can get back to his wife, can he keep the secret of who he really is…even as desire threatens to consume them? And as danger threatens to tear Bella from Nathan’s arms once more?

Freefall


Traci Hunter Abramson - 2008
    The plan almost worked. But now he has been left behind--with one of the hostages. It's up to Brent to get Amy Whitmore, a US Senator's daughter, across miles of desert to safety. What he doesn't know is that to survive, he needs her as much as she needs him.

Singularity


Kathryn Casey - 2008
    As a single mother and one of the few female Rangers in Texas history, she has had to work twice as hard to rank among the best cops in the Lone Star State. But when megawealthy businessman Edward Lucas III is found murdered along with his mistress, their bodies posed in grotesque ways, Sara quickly senses that this will be the deadliest case of her career. While others focus the investigation on Lucas’s estranged wife, Sarah disagrees and hunts a suspect only she believes in. Yet nothing in her career could have prepared her for the horror of a young man who believes he has been sent from heaven to massacre innocent people. When Sarah picks up on the killer’s elusive trail, following his scent all over Texas, the psychopath makes her his next target. And as Sarah closes in, the madman sets his sights on all she holds dear. Singularity features a feisty, funny, and tough heroine and a truly creepy killer, as it races along to a chilling and unexpected climax.

The Healer


Sharon Sala - 2008
    All his life, Jonah Gray Wolf has had an uncanny connection to animals and the power to heal the sick and wounded. Driven from the only home he's ever known by those who wish to harness his gift for profit, he becomes a drifter, working in out-of-the-way towns, never staying long. It's a lonely life, but Jonah knows he's still being hunted-he can't afford to get close to anyone who might learn his secret. In West Virginia he finds Luce, a tough but beautiful loner who knows all about keeping people at a distance-a kindred soul with whom he might dare to make a life. But the hunters have caught Jonah's scent again. Danger is coming to their mountain refuge-a confrontation that will be decided only by a force of nature.

The Harry Bosch Novels, Volume 3: A Darkness More Than Night / City of Bones / Lost Light (Harry Bosch, #7-9)


Michael Connelly - 2008
    Meanwhile, criminal profiler Terry McCaleb is called to a murder scene where the killer has left a message that seems to implicate Bosch. The pair, first at odds, must now work together to clear Harry's name... City of Bones: When the bones of a young boy are found scattered in the Hollywood Hills, Harry Bosch is drawn into a case that recalls the darkest memories from his own haunted past. Then a love affair begins to blossom for Bosch — until a disastrous mission leaves him in more trouble than ever before, as he faces an unimaginable decision...Lost Light: Harry Bosch has finally quite the LAPD, but one unsolved case still haunts him: that of a young woman murdered four years earlier in a $2 million robbery. But when he decides to re-investigate, he falls foul of both his old colleagues and the FBI. And then someone from Bosch's past turns his world upside down...

Lethal Deception


Lynette Eason - 2008
    Not that the former Navy SEAL could ever forget the brave, beautiful single mother. But when the danger followed her home, Gabe promised to protect her. Why anyone would want to kill Cassidy was a mystery. Was the motive related to the orphaned toddler Cassidy was raising, a sweet little girl who brought out the father fi gure in maverick Gabe? Or did a newly revealed family secret have killer consequences?

Killing Fear


Allison Brennan - 2008
    . . both on his victims and on those who later find the mutilated corpses. At his trial seven years ago, Glenn vowed vengeance on Detective Will Hooper, the cop who nabbed him, and beautiful Robin McKenna, the stripper whose testimony put him behind bars. When a catastrophic disaster sets Glenn free, he blazes a freshly bloodied path across San Diego County. But the death he craves most is Robin McKenna’s. Putting aside their past troubled relationship, Will rushes to protect Robin, now a savvy businesswoman operating an upscale club. As the killings mount and Glenn proves a master manipulator, Robin and Will become snared in a twisted web of horror. But the shocking truth is even worse: The evil they are to face is even deadlier than they fear.

The Lonely Tree


Yael Politis - 2008
    She hates the hardships of life in Kfar Etzion - an isolated kibbutz south of Jerusalem - clearing rocky hillsides, bathing in rationed cups of trucked-in water, and being confined behind barbed wire. Her own dreams have nothing to do with national self-realization; she longs for steaming bubble baths and down comforters, but most of all for a place on earth where she can feel safe. She is in love with Amos, but refuses to acknowledge these feelings. She knows he will never leave his homeland and Tonia plans to emigrate to America. But can she really begin a new life there? Tonia's story in The Lonely Tree is interwoven with the true story of Kfar Etzion, a kibbutz that was overrun by the Arab Legion during pre-War of Independence hostilities.

Suite 606


J.D. Robb - 2008
    RobbLieutenant Eve Dallas plunges into the violent aftermath of a ritualistic murder--and into the mind of an alleged witness who can't remember a thing to save his life."Love Endures" / Mary BlayneyInvestigates the connection between a ghost, a magic coin, and a deliberate deception that has kept two lovers apart for years."Cold Case" / Ruth Ryan LanganBrings a lost man out of a pounding storm and into the arms of a welcoming woman for a breathtaking twist of fate."Wayward Wizard" / Mary Kay McComasFollows a mother and son lost in the threads of history and an impaired wizard who must return them to their own world to fulfill his own destiny--in time.

Double Jeopardy: The Target / The Edge


Catherine Coulter - 2008
    And FBI agents Savich and Sherlock must unravel the clues.The Edge--In this "fast-paced thriller" (People), an FBI agent's sister disappears after an attempted suicide. When Savich and Sherlock join the search, they discover a startling connection to a puzzling murder--and put their lives on the line to uncover the truth.

Vengeance


A.J. Scudiere - 2008
    It was the last thing he did. In retaliation for his efforts, his mafia bosses laid waste to his family. Only the youngest - Cynthia - came up fighting.Three years ago, Lee Maxwell made the same error. His wife and daughter paid for his mistake. In a haze of booze and regret, Lee disappeared.Now, Owen Dunham is following the trail of the 'Grudge Ninja' - only all the evidence is false and the profilers can't get their heads around anything except the obvious fact that the Ninja is extracting a deadly revenge for an old wrong.As the Ninja gets bolder and far more dangerous, Owen is forced to recognize that he hasn't always made the best decisions - he's spent far too much time trying to be right. Even as he questions whether bringing in the ninja is the right thing to do, the voice in the back of his head is telling him it will make his career . . .

The Edge of Recall


Kristen Heitzmann - 2008
    For years she has immersed herself in the healing aspects of these elaborate structures, searching for God and hoping to make sense of the nightmares that have plagued her nearly all her life. When Smith Chandler, an estranged colleague with whom she'd half fallen in love a dozen times before, calls to propose a project he claims is the opportunity of a lifetime, she reluctantly agrees to check it out. Smith is reconstructing a pre-Revolutionary War abbey for wealthy clients, and among its remarkable features is an overgrown labyrinth. Unable to resist, Tessa accepts his offer. Soon Tessa is immersed in what is truly the project of a lifetime. But one evening, Tessa and Smith are attacked, and while trying to protect her, Smith is stabbed. And the nightmare begins again . . .

Rescue Me


Cherry Adair - 2008
    Elizabeth Goodall is kidnapped and held captive in the African jungle, her only hope for rescue is counterterrorist operative Sam Pelton. But to escape from a brutal warlord, they must confront a powerful attraction that could prove more treacherous than the wilds of the jungle…“Atlanta Heat” by LORA LEIGHEm Delaney has wanted bad-boy Macey March for as long as she can remember. But as a Navy SEAL under the command of her overprotective godfather, Macey is off-limits to Em…until a kidnapping attempt forces them to share tantalizingly close quarters—and a forbidden desire.“Desert Heat” by CINDY GERARDAssistant D.A. Elena Martinez never wanted to fall for police detective Seth King. When they are teamed up on a charity hike in the Grand Canyon, however, their chemistry sizzles under the desert sun. But a vengeful drug lord is determined not to let them survive the canyon with their lives—and love—intact…

The Concrete Blonde & The Last Coyote (Harry Bosch, #3-4)


Michael Connelly - 2008
    

Without A Trace / Beyond A Doubt


Colleen Coble - 2008
    

Whispers of the Bayou


Mindy Starns Clark - 2008
    But, trying to survive in troubled circumstances, she welcomes the chance to change her location for a period of time. The letter informs her that her grandparents' estate is finally about to become hers. She immediately heads down to Louisiana and the old house by the bayou. There Miranda finds secrets that lead to life-changing revelations.This suspenseful story reminiscent of old Gothic tales has a complex mystery and a vivid sense of the Deep South. It shows how God can take the darkest circumstances and use them to light a bright path leading to the future.

Trust Me


Brenda Novak - 2008
    She managed to fend off her knife-wielding assailant, but the trauma changed everything about her life. As a result of that night, she joined two friends--also survivors--in starting The Last Stand, an organization to help victims of crime.But now...Her would-be rapist is getting out of prison. Skye knows that Dr. Oliver Burke hasn't forgotten that her testimony cost him his reputation--and his freedom.Sacramento detective David Willis, who investigated her case, believes Burke is a clear and present danger--and guilty of at least two unsolved murders.And now Burke is free to terrorize Skye again. Unless David can stop him. Unless Skye can fight back. Because Oliver Burke has every intention of finishing what he started. And that's a promise. Trust me.

Blue Heaven


C.J. Box - 2008
    Retired cops from Los Angeles, the killers easily persuade the inexperienced sheriff to let them lead the search for the missing children.William and Annie’s unexpected savior comes in the form of an old-school rancher teetering on the brink of foreclosure. But as one man against four who will stop at nothing to silence their witnesses, Jess Rawlins needs allies, and he knows that one word to the wrong person could seal the fate of the children or their mother. In a town where most of the ranches like his have turned into acres of ranchettes populated by strangers, finding someone to trust won’t be easy.With true-to-life, unforgettable characters and a ticking-clock plot that spans just over forty-eight hours, C.J. Box has created a thriller that delves into issues close to the heart: the ruthless power of greed over broken ideals, the healing power of community where unlikely heroes find themselves at the crossroads of duty and courage, and the truth about what constitutes a family. In a setting whose awesome beauty is threatened by those who want a piece of it, Blue Heaven delivers twists and turns until its last breathtaking page.Blue Heaven is the winner of the 2009 Edgar Award for Best Novel.

Mercy Street


Mariah Stewart - 2008
    Now Stewart begins a thrilling new series–with a novel that proves to be her biggest and boldest yet. On a balmy spring evening, four high school seniors–three boys and a girl–enter a park in the small Pennsylvania city of Conroy. The next morning, two of the boys are found shot to death, and the girl and the third boy are gone. After three weeks with no leads and no sign of either of the two missing teenagers, the chief of police begins to wonder if they too were victims. But with no other suspects, the authorities conclude that one of these kids was the shooter. The missing boy’s grandmother, a secretary at the local parish church, maintains his innocence. On her behalf, the parish priest, Father Kevin Burch, hires former detective Mallory Russo as a private investigator to figure out what happened in the park that night. Mallory had ended her nine-year stint with the Conroy police force some time ago after becoming a target of a smear campaign. Now a true-crime author, Mallory is surprised to receive the priest’s offer–and highly intrigued by the case. She can’t help but accept the challenge–especially when she learns that her investigation will be financed by Father Burch’s cousin the reclusive billionaire Robert Magellan, a man whose own wife and infant son disappeared without a trace a year ago, a man who understands the heartache of not knowing what happened to a loved one. Detective Charlie Wanamaker is facing another sort of tragedy. He fled Conroy years ago with no plans to return to what he considered a dying factory town–until a family emergency brought him back. Finding the situation much worse than he’d thought, he trades his job as a big-city detective for one with the Conroy police department. Assigned to the park shooting case, Charlie quickly realizes that the initial investigation left a lot of questions unanswered. Unofficially, he teams up with Mallory to uncover the truth and find the two kids, dead or alive. What Charlie and Mallory discover will take them down a twisted path that leads to an old unsolved murder–and justice for a killer with a heart of stone.Mercy Street is tautly paced, resonant with emotion, and relentlessly gripping. It showcases Mariah Stewart at her most brilliant, as she ratchets up the suspense to new levels of excitement.BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Mariah Stewart's Cry Mercy.Praise for Mariah Stewart “Mariah Stewart is one to watch and savor for a long time.”–The Philadelphia Inquirer “Stewart can always be counted on to write an exciting romantic suspense thriller.”–TheBestReviews.com

The Whole Truth


David Baldacci - 2008
    "Matt" is Mathew Pender, of Pender Associates--a shadowy organization that specializes in managing seemingly impossible situations for its clients. Sometimes, those services extend to managing--and creating--armed conflict. When Matt Pender is asked by his client--the largest defense contractor in the world--to manipulate two nations against each other, a shocking and surprising series of events are set in motion that will possibly bring the world to the brink of World War III.*In this epic thriller with a global backdrop, David Baldacci delivers all the twists and turns, compelling characters, and can't-put-it-down pacing that readers have come to expect from this master storyteller.

Left To Die


Lisa Jackson - 2008
    . .One by one, the victims are carefully captured, toyed with, then subjected to a slow and agonizing death. Piece by piece, his exquisite plan takes shape. The police can't yet see the beauty in his work--but soon, very soon, they will. . . Than Being Left Alone. . . In the lonely woods around Grizzly Point, Montana, four bodies have been discovered. Detectives Selena Alvarez and Regan Pescoli have been hoping for a career-making case, but this is a nightmare. Even with the FBI involved, Selena and Regan have nothing to go on but a killer's cryptic notes, and the unsettling knowledge that there is much worse to come. . . To Die. . . When Jillian Rivers opens her eyes, she's trapped in a mangled car. Then a stranger, claiming to be a trail guide named Zane McGregor, pries her free. Though she's grateful, something about him sets Jillian on edge. And if she knew what lay out there in the woods of Montana, she'd be truly terrified. Because someone is waiting... watching... poised to strike and make Jillian the next victim...

Protective Instincts


Julie Miller - 2008
    The decorated police officer has a family legacy to uphold and a reputation that none could rival. Until one distress call ignites the most personal case of his career. He'd saved Melissa Teague's life once--long before she had a son. The boy would be safe with Sawyer, but she isn't so sure how she could bear his presence again. A man that powerful-- however gentle--scared her, no matter how right Sawyer fit. But this time her protector would not walk away, not with his family's lives on the line. This is his sworn duty.From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.For more action-packed stories, check out the other books in The Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge series:Book 1: Protective InstinctsBook 2: Armed and DevastatingBook 3: Private S.W.A.T. TakeoverBook 4: Kansas City Christmas Book 5: Beauty and the Badge

As Darkness Falls


Bronwyn Parry - 2008
    A ruthless killer. A race against time. Haunted by her failures, police detective Isabelle O'Connell is recalled to duty by detective Alec Goddard to investigate the abduction of yet another child from her old home town.

Traitor


Sandra Grey - 2008
    However, as Marie parachutes into France to join the Resistance, she not only lands into the arms of her fiance', but also drops into the hands of the enemy.Major Rolf Schulmann has been struggling between personal convictions and his duty to the German Fatherland. Now he must decide what to do with the captured fiance' of the man who gave him a new chance at life--a man he once loved as a brother. The Gestapo will do whatever it takes to dispose of Marie. If Rolf helps her escape he will have enemies on all sides--is it a sacrifice he is willing to make? Can Marie possibly trust her life to a man torn between two masters?

Tropical Dreams


Kelly Cozzone - 2008
    She can't escape the devastation of anger and pain. Bringing Tropical Dreams to life is the culmination of facing all life has dealt to her. The same life that taught her trusting someone carried dire consequences. Until David Murphy walked into her club. He made her want to trust again, made her want to love again. What she didn't know was someone wasn't about to let that happen. They wanted her dead! Can David keep her alive long enough to find out who is after her? Can he put aside his own demons for her? Can they overcome deceit, betrayal and more death? Or will life finally take its toll!

When Danger Calls


Terry Odell - 2008
    Ryan Harper, on the other hand, uses a gun. Is it possible they can work together when their lives depend on it? Frankie’s returned to her childhood home in Montana to help care for her mother. Her biggest worries are balancing the budget and the upkeep of an aging home. When she offers a man a ride home from the hospital, she never imagines she’ll end up having to choose between her daughter’s life and matters of national security that could cost the lives of millions. Ryan returns to his family home to find a way to prove he didn’t leak vital information on a covert ops mission gone south. As he searches for the meaning of a file he’s kept hidden from the mission, he has no idea that international mercenaries have been searching for it—and him. When the mercenaries come after Ryan, he’s torn. Fighting for his country wars with fighting to rescue people he loves. Set against a Montana mountain backdrop, When Danger Calls is a story filled with action, adventure, and romance, where the stakes keep getting higher and higher. Excerpt: Frankie took his elbow. “You’re still shaky. I think you should stick around here, where someone can keep an eye on you.” His mouth narrowed. “No, I need to get away. It’s complicated, but I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.” He stared over her shoulder for a moment, as if it took a long time for the words to line up before he spoke. “Can I impose on you for a lift to a motel? I’d like to be nearby.” He lifted his arms shoulder height, palms upward, then did a slow pivot. “I’m not armed. And I don’t bite. Promise. In a few minutes I’ll be out of your hair.” Logic said to give him cab fare. She checked her wallet, and didn’t think three dollars would get him anywhere. She remembered his gentle touch on the dance floor. At the moment, he was in no condition to do anything to hurt her. She’d have him at a motel in a few minutes. Instinct trumped logic. “My car’s outside. Can you walk?” The Buzz for WHEN DANGER CALLS "...an action-packed adventure tale with agreeable results." Jay Boyar, Orlando Magazine "Odell has written a story with nonstop action. There are plenty of surprises, especially when the line that separates the good guys from the bad guys becomes blurred ... Odell's writing will keep readers on their toes." - Barb Anderson, Romantic Times BOOKreviews. “Terry Odell creates adventures that will keep you turning the pages. A perfect, getaway read from a very talented author.” – USA Today best-selling author Rhonda Pollero Terry Odell puts a fresh spin on romantic suspense with WHEN DANGER CALLS. The story teems with passion, action and characters as real as your best friend. The book intrigued me from beginning to end. I'll definitely be looking for her next installment! ... Linda Castillo, bestselling author of OVERKILL Formerly published by Five Star Expressions, WHEN DANGER CALLS is now available in digital format.

Switch


Grant McKenzie - 2008
    He returns home one night to find his house blown up and two body bags being removed from it. He assumes the bodies are those of his wife and daughter, until he receives a call from a man saying they are alive, but will only be spared if Sam follows instructions and completes the increasingly violent tasks set out for him.When he meets Zack Parker, also a victim of the kidnapper, they realize their pasts are connected, and the two of them must race against time to discover the identity of their sadistic tormentor—staying one step ahead of the police—to save their families.Set in Portland, Oregon, featuring the spooky and labyrinthine tunnels underneath the city, this is a fantastically commercial, brilliantly paced read from a debut author.

Primal Obsession


Susan Vaughan - 2008
    After hitting rock-bottom, he needs to prove he can pull himself out of the bottle and succeed at something. He can't let himself be distracted by an ambitious, obsessed female, even if she's sexy, witty and smart.Investigative journalist and confirmed urbanite Annie Wylde embarks on the canoe trip to keep a promise to her murdered friend. She intends to use the outing to study her notes on the notorious killer called the Hunter. She banters with Sam but rebuffs his advances, considering him just another egotistical jock.But when Annie realizes the killer has followed her into the woods, she learns there's more to Sam than testosterone and dimples. And Sam faces the challenge of his life to keep Annie safe and defeat the Hunter.

Breaking Cover


J.D. Rhoades - 2008
    Did he go native, or was he discovered and killed? When Tony Wolf is finally driven out into the open, torn from deep cover during the rescue of two kidnapped children, he becomes the number one target of both the vicious biker gang he double-crossed and a massive Federal manhunt.But Tony’s tired of being the hunted, and as both the gang and a traitorous FBI agent converge on a small southern town, they’re all about to learn a hard lesson: When the Wolf breaks cover, he doesn’t always run away.Sometimes he comes straight at your throat.J.D. Rhoades has written his most compelling thriller to date--a pulse-pounding novel that leaps off the page and will leave readers begging for more.

The God of War


Chris Stewart - 2008
    super- jet named after the Greek God of war. With its ultra powerful laser and ability to easily outmaneouver anything else in the sky, the Ares opens a new era in warfare. But when it is stolen before of a crowd of international dignitaries, the President and his defence staff must use outdated technology to try to stop their creation from sparking a war between civilizations.It's up to Colonel "Jesse" James to save the world from impending doom. But, the obstacles will be numerous. He faces suspicion from the President's chief advisor, a romantic interest with unknown allegiances, and a terror plot that seems too obvious to be true. In his fourth novel, Stewart is in top form- fusing a high octane plot with hair raising flight scenes drawn from his career as a fighter pilot.

Hot Shot


M.J. Fredrick - 2008
    Peyton Michaels expected her assignment to be simple-write an article about everyday heroes. Heroes like Hot Shot firefighter Gabe Cooper. She never expected to find herself running up a mountain, a wildfire nipping at her heels, her life in his hands. And she never expected to be drawn to Gabe. After the loss of her husband in the line of duty, the last thing she wants is to fall in love with yet another man who routinely puts his life at risk. Gabe has had enough of women who want to make him into someone he's not. Women like his ex, who couldn't handle the heat of his job. Like Peyton, who sees him as a hero when he's just a man doing a job. Except time after time, the pesky reporter proves her mettle. And gets deeper under his skin. But there's an arsonist at work, and danger is closing in with the speed of a raging brush fire. Peyton and Gabe have to dig deep for what it takes to be a real hero-to find the courage to reach out and grab a forever kind of love. Before it's too late. Warning: sexy

What Sarah Saw


Margaret Daley - 2008
    FBI agent Sam Pierce needs to question little Sarah. Yet child psychologist Jocelyn Gold will barely let him near the girl. Or herself. The tragic conclusion to a kidnapping case broke Sam and Jocelyn apart years before, and their hearts still haven't healed. But for the child's sake--and her mother's--they must join forces to uncover just what Sarah saw.

The Reckoning


Tanya Parker Mills - 2008
    When journalist Theresa Fuller is captured inside Iraq in August 2002, and imprisoned by Iraq's secret police, visions of her childhood in Baghdad begin to haunt her. Tormented by the relentless Colonel Badr, she only finds relief in her growing attraction to Tariq al-Awali, the Iraqi captain who took charge of her capture. Before American bombs begin to fall, Theresa must find a way to escape the cruelty of an oppressive regime and save those she cares for most. Through gritty, gut wrenching prose Mills exposes the horrors of dictatorship and the mindless cruelty that flows from political repression. The Reckoning masterfully weaves the horrors of Saddam Hussein's Iraq with the rich threads of a compelling fictional narrative as raw and real as anything taken from today's political headlines. It also sends a message of hope, inspiration, and faith in the human heart.

Smoke Screen


Sandra Brown - 2008
    The blaze left seven people dead, but the death toll would have been much higher if not for the bravery of Jay and three other city officials who risked their lives to lead others to safety.Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, was off-duty that day. Though he might not have been a front-line hero, he was assigned to lead the investigation into the cause of the fire. It was an investigation he never got to complete. Because on one calamitous night, Raley's world was shattered.Scandalized, wronged by the people he trusted most, Raley was forced to surrender the woman he loved and the work to which he'd dedicated his life. For five years his resentment against the men who exploited their hero status to further their careers -- and ruin his -- had festered, but he was helpless to set things right.That changes when he learns of Jay Burgess's shocking death and Britt Shelley's claim that she has no memory of her night with him. As the investigation into Jay's death intensifies, and suspicion against Britt Shelley mounts, Raley realizes that the newswoman, Jay's last sexual conquest, might be his only chance to get personal vindication -- and justice for the seven victims of the police station fire.But there are powerful men who don't want to address unanswered questions about the fire and who will go to any lengths to protect their reputations. As Raley and Britt discover more about what happened that fateful day, the more perilous their situation becomes, until they're not only chasing after the truth but running for their lives.Friends are exposed as foes, heroes take on the taint of criminals, and no one can be trusted completely. A tale about audacious corruption -- and those with the courage to expose it -- Smoke Screen is Sandra Brown's most searing and intense novel yet.

Shake Down


Joel Goldman - 2008
    Kate Scranton, whose job is spotting lies for high-priced courtroom lawyers, is convinced that mild-mannered Latrell Kelly knows something about the crime. But Latrell is hiding far more than Kate can guess. And with Jack half-blinded by an imploding personal life, and someone on his own side leaking crucial information, they're headed straight for the ultimate danger zone...

Polanski Brothers: Home of Eternal Rest


Dakota Cassidy - 2008
    Vampires, a funeral home, and a sleepy little town set the stage for murder with a whole lot of laugh-out-loud fun to keep you turning the pages. Detective McBride has his hands full as he tries to catch a murderer while dealing with the voice in his head…a deliciously sexy voice that has his libido working overtime. The voice of a vampire and maybe a murderer! Spencer Polanski is an embalmer at her family-owned funeral home. Perfect job for a vampire, really. Especially one who's sans a working schnoz. That’s right. She has a bum nose. A plus when preparing the dead for eternal slumber—a big fat zero when it comes to sniffing out your true life mate.Devoid her sense of smell, it’s business as usual when a clueless Spencer meets Larkin McBride. The detective's at Polanski’s to attend the wake of his best friend when he discovers something very unusual…He can hear Spencer’s every thought.Her every vampire thought.So what’s “Detective McYummy” to do when the luscious Miss Polanksi’s thoughts are consumed by the body count in her sleepy town…and the possibility that the murderer could be one of her own kind?Dear Readers, First and foremost, if you recognize the title and concept of this book, do note, this is an expanded, revised, updated re-release of a small-press publication, originally released as a multi-part serial.Content Notes: Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Supernatural, Romantic Comedy, HumorousPreviously published (2014) Dakota Cassidy |(2006) Changeling Press

Gabby's Secret


O.T.K. Romance - 2008
    Jake Sommerville, her best friend’s older brother, is suspicious of Gabby from the start, remembering how much trouble she was as a teenager. But despite his misgivings, he reluctantly gives her a job to appease his sister’s worries about Gabby’s financial state. Living in the same household as Gabby shows Jake a new side of her, and he’s surprised to find himself falling for her. But there are still secrets in her eyes, even though she’s well aware of the penalty she’ll pay for keeping them from him: being spanked by his hard hand. Jake is a patient man, but will he be willing to wait her out? Publisher’s Note: This story contains over the knee discipline and adult themes.

Royal Target


Traci Hunter Abramson - 2008
    And she certainly doesn't expect to fall in love with him. Janessa resists her feelings, fearing conflicts in her personal and professional life, yet when the Prince admits his feigned affection has become genuine she can no longer pretend. Matters of security, society, and spirituality make their unlikely romance even more complex, and escalating political intrigue gives Janessa an excuse to ignore the questions in her heart. But when a terrorist plot against the royal family endangers them both, Janessa and Garrett must face the challenges of loyalty to family, to country, to God—and to love.

Winter's Journey


Kathryn Meyer Griffith - 2008
    To keep the bank from repossessing her truck and putting her and her daughter on the street, Loretta Brennan takes a treacherous route to Wyoming with a winter storm approaching. She worries if she can make the deadline and navigate the icy roads since her driving partner husband died in an accident the year before. At a truck stop, Loretta meets handsome hitchhiker Sam Emerson, who helps her out of a bind. She feels compelled to return the favor and offers him a ride to Cheyenne. Blizzards, a series of trucker murders, and a sinister truck haunt them along their route. They grow close despite Loretta's fear that Sam may be aligned with the killer. Is Sam a good man down on his luck or is she falling in love with a murderer?

Deeper Water


Robert Whitlow - 2008
    A complex mix of betrayal and deception quickly weaves its way through the case and her life, as she uncovers dark and confusing secrets about the man she's defending--and the senior partners of the firm. How deep will the conspiracy run? Will she have to abandon her true self to fulfill a higher calling? And how far will she have to go to discover the truth behind a tragic cold case?

Courage of Fear


Barbara Boyer - 2008
    it's all about to come crumbling down. Her Husband Jackson--the beloved 'moon to her sea' - has a secret gambling problem... In debt to Las Vegas casinos, he commits an almost unspeakable act that will send Angela's life into a downward spiral. She flees the West Coast for her family compound on Nantucket, where she plans to end the miserable charade that her life has become. The island remains home to people who still love Angela and remember the little girl she used to be before fame and fortune struck. One man in particular has been waiting for her return... Slowly, the motley group of islanders bands together to coax Angela back from the edge. "Riveting until the end..." Kirkus Discoveries Review.

Sassy


Gloria Mallette - 2008
    A passionate relationship develops, but when key people associated with Norris are brutally murdered, Sassy is thrust into a world of uncertainty and doubt. Norris appears to have two personalities: One is that of a violent man, the other a man of great compassion who helps Sassy with her cousin who is dying of AIDS.Fear and edge-of-the-seat suspense plunges Sassy into a nightmare of deception and danger where romance cease to exist and the real world of murder is the force to be reckoned with.

Dead On Arrival


Karen H. Vaughan - 2008
    It was, after all, her ex-coworker, “Velcro” Hodges, a debt collector who was known to leech on his prey until the debt is already paid in full. But why was he dropped insider Laura’s room?Now someone wants Laura to be dead. As the plot thickens, Laura tries to find out on who could possibly want her next to be in cold blood. Lead Detective Inspector Jeff Gibbons helps her, tracking any leads he gets, but that doesn’t seem to help solve the puzzle.Dead on Arrival has its own unique way letting readers laugh, have fun, and it takes out the humor on every individual who gets the chance to read it.Dead on Arrival is highly recommended for readers, and for individuals who just can’t get enough of thrills, twists, and surprises.

The Medicine People


Lazarus Barnhill - 2008
    In what seems an open-and-shut case, he is charged with the murders of two police officers and his own wife. On hand for his arrest and charged with his safekeeping is rooki

false positive


J.J. Dare - 2008
    He married a beautiful woman and settled into a mundane job as a police detective. Then everything came crashing down around him. A terrible accident that nearly claimed his wife's life not only opened the door to his past, but forced him to recognize all of his perceptions of the world around him were wrong

Catching His Snow Bunny


Brandy Golden - 2008
    Beneath her temperamental, spoiled attitude lurks a damaged girl with a painful secret. She adamantly refuses to be a deal sweetener for her manipulative father, John Oaks, even if the deal includes the handsome Sanders Linson.Destroying John Oaks and his company is what drives Sanders Linson until he meets the man's daughter. Used to smelling blood in the water, he immediately recognizes the pain in the depths of those troubled blue eyes. Sanders is determined to have his revenge on Danni's father for his destructive business practices that cost him his own parents, but will it cost him the heart of the girl he's fallen in love with?

Indian Summer


Dellani Oakes - 2008
    A product of her guarded upbringing, she is naive in the ways of love until dashing Manuel Enriques declares his love for her. By accident, Gabriella uncovers the plot of British spy. Manuel embarks on a dangerous mission save the town from being overthrown by the British. Gabriella herself is caught in trap.

Too Close to Home


Linwood Barclay - 2008
    Promise Falls isn't the kind of community where a family is shot to death in their own home. But that is exactly what happened to the Langleys one sweltering summer night, and no one in this small upstate New York town is more shocked than their next-door neighbors, Jim and Ellen Cutter. They visited for the occasional barbecue, and their son, Derek, was friends with the Langleys? boy, Adam; but how well did they really know their neighbors? That's the question Jim Cutter is asking, and the answers he's getting aren't reassuring. Albert Langley was a successful, well-respected criminal lawyer, but was he so good at getting criminals off that he was the victim of revenge ? a debt his innocent family also paid in blood? From the town's criminally corrupt mayor to the tragic suicide of a talented student a decade before, Promise Falls has more than its share of secrets. And Jim Cutter, failed artist turned landscaper, need look no further than his own home and his wife Ellen's past to know that things aren't always what they seem. Suddenly the Cutters must face the unthinkable: that a murderer isn't just stalking too close to home but is inside it already. For the Langleys weren't the first to die and they won't be the last.

Belly of the Whale


Linda Merlino - 2008
    Nothing in her life—not even her beloved husband and children, her best friend, or her passion for teaching high school—will sway her decision to terminate her treatment. On the eve of her daughter's fifth birthday celebration, a troubled former student confronts her, hell-bent on violent revenge and then suicide. Facing certain peril, Hudson vows to do whatever she must in order to survive and see her husband and children once again.

Show No Mercy


Cindy Gerard - 2008
     THE SULTRY HEAT... Only two things can compel journalist Jenna McMillan back to Buenos Aires after terrorists held her captive there just months before: a rare interview with a shadowy billionaire and the memory of the dark and dangerous man who saved her.... HIDES THE DEADLIEST THREATS... Bad guys, bombs, and bullets are Gabriel Jones's way of life. But he'll never forget the brash redhead he rescued not so long ago...or the passionate kiss they shared before he sent her packing.... AND EXPOSES THE DEEPEST DESIRES. Now, forced together by a bombing at the National Congress, Jenna and Gabe confront the urgent longings that simmer between them. But this surprise meeting is no coincidence. A ruthless enemy stalks them with deadly precision. The question is...if they make it out alive, will Gabe turn his back on Jenna...again?

Don't Turn Around


Hunter Morgan - 2008
    . . Casey McDaniels knows the unbearable consequences of domestic violence--and the darkness that can swallow a life. An advocate for victim's rights, Casey is giving key testimony in the arraignment of the man who savagely murdered her best friend. But to her horror, he's set free. . . Don't Let Your Guard Down. . . He's hiding in plain sight, following a plan that has worked before, performing each move with exact precision, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again--and this time, the victim will be Casey McDaniels. . . And Whatever You Do, Don't Turn Around. . . At first, Casey suspects her friend's killer is following her. She's receiving threats over the phone and bizarre messages in the mail--strange, childlike drawings of human eyes. But then Casey starts to have doubts. Could someone else be stalking her? As Casey enters a deadly cat-and-mouse game, she soon comes face-to-face with her stalker--and her worst nightmare. . .

Doppelganger + Warrior and Witch


Marie Brennan - 2008
    Doppelganger, ISBN:0446616982 Warrior and Witch, ISBN:0446616974

Questionable Ethics


Angela Abderhalden - 2008
    . . nobody was surprised Mel was a bit--untamed. She left all that when she married and moved to the big city. But after a traffic accident claimed the lives of her husband and child, Mel returned home for the emotional support of her family and a familiar place to get through the grief. Her first day on the job answering phones at her brother's office as a favor gets her a gun in the face. Welcome home! That's the start of an unusual crime spree and only Mel has the info, the luck, and the spunk to tie the separate pieces together and uncover the truth behind the murders and mayhem. She may have come home looking for peace and time to heal, but if adventure and mystery come knocking--well, Mel Addison is ready and willing to play. The crimes may be the easy part, though. There's a new cop in town with an eye for Mel and her own heart can't seem to decide what to do.

A Spark of Heavenly Fire


Pat Bertram - 2008
    This is a story of survival in the face of brutality, government cover-up, and public hysteria. It is also a story of love: lost, found and fulfilled.

Solomon's Porch: A Christian Suspense Novel


Wid Bastian - 2008
    Federal prison camp, is given a vision by God to be shared with the world. The most unlikely of divine messengers, Peter is prophetically destined to provide the world with hope and miracles and to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Will the prisoner become a prophet?Backed up by divine intervention, Peter is surprisingly supported by inmates, as well as the warden and famous theologians. Astounding supernatural events begin to take place all around the world, involving even the president of the United States. But Satan is quick to strike back, doing everything in his power to stop Peter from executing God's plan. The world holds its breath as the unbelievable takes place. Will the message be heard?˃˃˃ An exciting fast paced read that engages the reader in the essential battle of good vs. evil.Solomon's Porch brings forward an eternal and universal truth as it is revealed in the most unlikely time and place. An important contemporary message in the form of a breathtaking novel, Solomon's Porch is Christian suspense fiction at its best. Scroll up to grab your copy of Solomon's Porch now!

Miss Lucy's Ghost: Ghost? or Angel?: Volume 1 (Jamey Hart Murder Adventures)


Jimmy Beard - 2008
    He carefully plots and carries out their murders. Despite the best effort of the local detective, he uses power and intimidation to halt the investigation. He appears to be above the law, until eighteen year old Jamey Hart moves to town, and begins to cause trouble. He is visited by a ghost, or maybe an angel. He’s not sure which Miss Lucy is, but he knows she is real. He follows her lead on adventures and must rely on her supernatural powers for protection from the killer, who discovers his identity and would prefer him dead. Add a romance or two and t’s the early sixties again in a small SC. Low-country town. This is the first of the Jamey Hart Series.

A Honeybun and Coffee


Sam Cheever - 2008
    Picturing a frail, helpless old Englishman, Angie rushes to warn him. There's only one, small problem, Alastair Honeybun is six foot two inches of yummy man, who's perfectly capable of taking care of himself. But when the thugs show up while Angie's still there, they soon figure out they'll need to take care of each other.

Images of Betrayal


Claire Collins - 2008
    One evening, a beguiling, rugged young man walks out of a blizzard and into her life. He possesses the remarkable ability to take photographs of events that have not yet happened.

Five Thrillers


Robert Reed - 2008
     Joe Carroway is mostly human, handsome and smart and peculiarly equipped for violence. He is the hero that this future needs, and you don't dare stand in his way. "At four in the morning, the animals slept -- which was only reasonable since this was a zoo populated entirely with synthetic organisms. Patrons didn’t pay for glimpses of furry lumps, formerly wild and now slumbering in some shady corner. What they wanted were spectacular, one-of-a-kind organisms doing breathtaking feats, and doing them in daylight. But high metabolisms had their costs, and that’s why the creatures now lay in their cages and grottos, inside glass boxes and private ponds, beautiful eyes closed while young minds dreamed about who-could-say-what." "Five Thrillers" was considered one of the best novelettes of 2008. It has been reprinted several times, but this is its first single performance.

Anticipation and Seduction


Patrice Michelle - 2008
    ANTICIPATION What if the "one who got away.,."didn't. Deidre Nelson has never forgotten the man who stole her heart so effectively a decade ago. When circumstances bring her back to Ventura, Texas to look after her parents' B&B, she prepares to face Jonas Mendez, the sexy wrangler-turned sheriff, with growing anticipation. Deidre's engaging smile and seductive gaze has haunted Jonas for ten years. But life's cruel ironies pepper his past, leaving him guarded and wary. He vows to keep his interaction with Deidre strictly professional while she's in Ventura. But when vandalism at the B&B turns life-threatening, Jonas finds himself intimately involved with the one woman he has always wanted but never touched. As a decade of built-up anticipation becomes reality, suddenly the line between protector and possessor begins to blur. SUSANNA'S SEDUCTION Seduction can be spontaneous Susan Brennon never expected that running an errand for her future sister-in-law would land her a spur-of-the-moment date. When Michael leads her down a sensual path of seduction, she takes on the sexy Italian full-throttle, all the while keeping her heart under tight guard. Every person she's formed a close attachment to has moved on. She doesn't expect Michael to be any different. From the moment he touches Susan, Michael Piccoli wants her. But as their relationship grows more physical, he finds that for the first time in his life he desires more than sex from a womanhe wants the whole package with Susanna. Michael's determined to break through the rigid hold Susanna has on her emotions. He'll do anything to reach her, even if that means taking their relationship to a whole new level.Two sexy stories that'll make you believe in happy-ever-afters all over again.