Book picks similar to
The Message by Hylton H. Smith


thriller
detective-crime
genre-mys-thrill-act
mysteries-and-thrillers

A Drop of April Snow


Christopher Sword - 2014
    The police warned drivers to stay off the roads. Families huddled inside their homes, wondering if they would lose power. In the morning everything was covered in a glittering layer of frosting, including the body of a young man found off to the side of a rural highway without a jacket, shoes or socks. With no identification on the body the police come up empty-handed. The small town raise enough donations to hire an investigator. Darren Holloway is known for solving missing children cases. But not missing like this, where there seems to be no happy ending in sight, not for the frozen boy, or for Darren’s crumbling marriage. In a large city to the south, two women are unknowingly connected to the mystery of the frozen boy found in the field. Their lives intersect through minor touch points, but they are more connected than they realize. Their past clings to them, unwilling to let them go.

Blamed


Dana Griffin - 2017
    His last memory is putting the landing gear down. The NTSB and news media blame him and the deceased first officer Ned Partin for the accident that killed thirty-eight, and burned or severely injured ten. Bill knows from experience flying with Ned that they would have prevented the accident. While recovering from his debilitating injuries, Bill investigates why data that would exonerate him has disappeared. Why hasn’t the NTSB figured out there was something wrong with the rudder? And why does his airline’s management thwart his attempts to prove he shouldn’t be blamed? Those who caused the accident will go to extreme lengths to assure Bill does not uncover their secret agenda.

NightShade Forensic FBI Files: Vol 2 (Books 5-7)


A.J. Scudiere - 2021
     Vol 2 - Books 5, 6, and 7 Salvage - A Shadow Files Novel Former marine turned Private Investigator, Walter Reed, has been given yet another strange and amazing opportunity: to become an agent with the FBI’s NightShade division. Though confident her training will make Quantico a cake walk—even with only one leg—Walter is discovering her shot at a new career has disaster written all over it. Her first hurdle? Walter doesn’t graduate training if her new partner GJ Janson doesn’t graduate, too… After previously being arrested by the FBI, GJ Janson hopes to redeem herself with the chance to become an agent. Unfortunately, her snooping around her grandfather’s laboratory reveals he’s been hiding strange skeletons—with strikingly similar anomalies to those she notices in her friend Donovan. When a weekend visit to her grandfather’s lab yields a fresh body, GJ goes into investigation mode. But the body is that of a fellow NightShade agent, and Walter and GJ quickly realize that nothing in NightShade is what it seems—not the case, the other agents, nor even their job descriptions. Only one thing is clear: the killer is coming after them next. And they suspect it’s someone GJ knows. Garden of Bone FBI Agent Eleri Eames was there the day her sister disappeared at eight years old. However, Eleri is the only one who knows that her sister is already dead and has been for quite some time. When a skeleton is unearthed in New Orleans, Eleri is convinced it belongs to Emmaline. The age and ancestry of the remains are a match, and there’s something telling Eleri that New Orleans is the place where her sister lived and died. As Eleri hunts for answers, demons—old and new—begin following her. The Lobomau have been entering the city in ever-increasing numbers, and that might just have something to do with the Dauphine sisters and their long family history of witchcraft and voodoo. Eleri desperately needs her partner Donovan on this case with her, but can he risk his own job to help her? Eleri’s ancestry may have imbued her with some powers, but compared to her own great-grandmother and the Dauphines, she’s untrained and untested at best. When the bones turn out not to belong to her sister, Eleri has to ask how a case so similar to Emmaline’s even exists…and is it an arrow pointed to her own twisted family history? The Camelot Gambit Can Eleri and Donovan outsmart a killer who leaves no evidence behind or even a discernable cause of death? How will they track down someone who is more intelligent than both of them together? Curie, Nebraska was designed as a research haven for the ultra-intelligent. In fact, applicants must pass a rigorous IQ test before they can call the strange town home. Nearly every resident—including several child geniuses—is suspect and no one is safe. Going undercover as the new neighbors leaves the agents struggling to find even the most basic clues. Eleri and Donovan can barely maintain their false identities against their overly-curious and stunningly intelligent new friends, let alone solve a murder. Can they figure it out before the next body turns up? Or has the killer already found them… “She’s in the top five of my best writers list.

Kill Order / Vendetta


Jack McSporran - 2017
    Beautiful. On the run. When secret agent Maggie Black agrees to protect the Mayor of London, she thinks she’s in for a boring night of babysitting. The simple job gets a lot more complicated when an assassin arrives and takes out the Mayor, framing Maggie as the killer. Unable to explain the evidence against her, Maggie is branded a traitor and hunted by the very people she once fought beside. With no one to turn to, Maggie relies on the one person who has always had her back—herself. From the hidden nightclubs of Madrid, to the dark streets of Moscow, Maggie must delve into the depths of the criminal underworld to unearth the truth, and fast. Because time is running out and the enemy is closer than she thinks… KILL ORDER is the first gripping installment to the Maggie Black thriller series, and the perfect read for fans of Lee Child and James Patterson. Venice. The Mafia. A drug deal gone wrong. When a British covert intelligence agency learns of an impending drug deal between the Venetian mafia and one of the UK’s most notorious importers, agent Maggie Black is sent to stop it. Under the alias of an American drug lord, Maggie must infiltrate the crime family and stop their product from reaching British soil. A feat that gets more complicated when her colleague and old flame Leon is sent along with her. Maggie is soon thrust into the middle of a vicious war that spans generations. As blood is spilled and the scent of death lingers across the lagoons, a failed mission becomes the least of her worries. Because someone has a score to settle and they won't let Maggie stand in their way... Join Maggie Black in VENDETTA, the first heart-pounding novella in the Maggie Black Case Files series. Get your copy of the Starter Library today and discover the action-packed world of Maggie Black.

The Eleventh Hour: Day Of Atonement Book II (The Eleventh Hour Trilogy)


Kathryn Dionne - 2012
    

Smith: A Detective Jason Smith Thriller


Stewart Giles - 2014
    It is Christmas Day in York. A woman is found dead in her bed. A suicide note is found on her chest. It reads ‘I am so sorry Martin’. Hours later the police are called to a house a few miles away. A mother and her daughter have been brutally attacked; the mother is dead and the daughter is barely alive. The father is found shaking uncontrollably in the corner of the room. He is covered in blood but he is unharmed. His name is Martin Willow. Detective Sergeant Jason Smith is put in charge of the investigation. After reaching dead end after dead end, Smith starts to put the pieces together and figures out that Martin Willow is innocent and the killer is still out there. The little girl who was attacked on Christmas Day wakes from her coma and gives Smith a clue about the attacker; a piece of a song she heard directly before the attack. Smith then finds himself in a race against time to find this maniac before he kills again.

The Eagle and the Tiger


Tim Davis - 2015
    The deceptive, crooked path that led him to today began a few months back. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, nineteen-year old Fleming was a professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago White Sox. His successful first year in the minor leagues was waylaid when he received his draft notice. Through a series of misadventures, he ended up enlisting for four years in an elite unit called the A.S.A. or Army Security Agency; the army’s equivalent to the N.S.A. or the National Security Agency. Once in the army, Fleming learned that the recruiter had manipulated him with a host of untruths. Then, to his dismay, he learned that the army had lost his orders and he was placed in an infantry unit. Once in Vietnam, Platoon Sergeant, Levine questioned Fleming and dragged out of him the sad story of how he had enlisted for four years and ended up in an infantry unit. He became the butt of the platoon’s jokes and underwent vicious ribbing by the other platoon members. That day, the platoon was ordered back to their base camp: L.Z. English. Before leaving, they endured a mortar attack and then a ground probe. Fleming’s foxhole mate was critically wounded. Fleming did everything he could to save the man but his wounds were too severe and he died in Fleming’s arms. Repulsed by the ordeal, Fleming was left wondering if he could endure a whole year of this. Twelve-year old Van Phan Duc and his two friends twelve-year old Hoi Anh Vanh and Dan Tri Quang lived happily in their village until the day a N.V.A. invaded and forced them to join their struggle and fight the invading Americans. They were then assigned to a Viet Cong unit where they met Sergeant Chi, the man who would train them to be soldiers for the revolution and lead them into battle. Three American soldiers had been captured. Chi ordered the three boys to participate in brutally torturing the Americans. Dan embraced the torture and it turned him into a brutal fighting machine, much to Chi’s satisfaction. On the other hand, Hoi was repulsed by the events and a part of him died that day. He performed the torture but it wasn’t to Chi’s satisfaction. Van, a devout Buddhist, was also repulsed. He realized that life, as a soldier was three hundred and sixty degrees opposite of Buddha’s spiritual path. The 173rd’s area of operations was the Central Highlands. The 173rd’s home base was in and around the town of Bong Son, but they patrolled all over the province of Binh Dinh. For the next few months, Fleming and Van’s units met on numerous occasions. The first time they engaged each other in combat was in a simple ambush that lasted only two minutes. Both men were left repulsed by the carnage that could take place in only two minutes. Right after the ambush, Fleming’s company was deployed in a battalion-sized operation located in the Dak To mountain range. It was an area where numerous North Vietnamese soldiers infiltrated into South Vietnam from neighboring Cambodia and Laos. Fleming’s company was dropped into an area far from Dak To and the men were forced to march (hump) to their final destination. During the trek, they had to carve their way through impenetrable jungle and cross leach infested rivers to reach their destination, all the while suffering under Vietnam’s oppressive heat. Van’s Viet Cong unit was sent to the Dak To mountain range to do battle with Fleming and his company. Months passed with Van and Fleming’s units constantly meeting. Both men had similar personalities. Both men overcame their initial shock at war’s brutality and became highly competent soldiers who bravely fought the enemy. Both men were ultimately made into squad leaders. Both men continued to hate the war, yet were entrapped in the insanity that was war. They both recognized what war was—a brutally insane series of events where lives were lost and where dreams died.

The Renegade Spy


Mark O'Neill - 2017
     A Deadly Assassin Is After The German Chancellor - But The Assassin Is In Even More Danger Than He Realises. A page-turning debut novella in the tradition of Daniel Silva, Mark Dawson, and Robert Ludlum, The Renegade Spy is the story of a deadly and maverick female German Intelligence agent, tasked with saving the life of the German Chancellor from a ruthless assassin. The German chancellor, Claudia Meyer, is riding a wave of popularity at home. But she also has her enemies, and one of them has hired an assassin - nicknamed "The Scorpion" - for twenty million Euros to kill her. Little does the chancellor know that the Scorpion is relentless. He is ruthless, and he is extremely good at his job. The government has no clue what the Scorpion looks like and how he will strike. Not even her bodyguards are a guarantee of safety. All they know is that the Scorpion leaves a trail of dead bodies in his wake. Captain Sophie Decker of German Intelligence rapidly becomes Meyer’s only chance of ultimate survival, along with her colleague, Lieutenant Wolfgang Schmitz. Decker and Schmitz are given an order – stop the Scorpion by any means necessary – before the Scorpion gets to the chancellor.

The Lions Den


Qyesha Smith - 2014
    Born with a silver spoon in her mouth in a wealthy family without a care in the world, Robin, a once rich-girl from Florida, has lost everything when her father, is arrested for embezzlement. Now having to slowly adjust to a downgraded life, in a new city, Robin, must learn what it means to survive with the fittest. Joni is Robin's new neighbor. Not your typical "hood" girl, but the typical scammer that dabbles in everything from boosting to hustling. Joni takes a liking to Robin and plans to get her away from her "bougie" persona into something more "hood" certified." The lifestyle that Joni is leading will land her in much more trouble than jail, especially when a stripper introduces Joni into blackmailing businessmen. Now deciding it is time for Robin to be down with this life of chaos, Joni convinces Robin to prove herself continuously. Her motto is “it’s either you’re with me or against me.” Joni’s plan is to take over the hood like her older brothers had failed to do. Ron has struggled his whole life. Being on his own since 15, he’s always wanted a life in which he would never have to want for anything. Growing up with a mother who abandoned him and a father who committed suicide, Ron had to grow up fast in this cold world alone. Now as a man, he has his eyes set on two things, getting money and the new girl Robin. He plans on telling his best friend Joni that he is leaving the game plus taking Robin with him. But when two events occur in his life, everything changes and he begins to reevaluate the route his life is taking. Sometimes you have to be thrown into situations to know what it’s like. In the wild, you either sink or you swim. Follow the lives of Robin, Joni, and Ron as they try to figure out how to make it out of The Lions’ Den.

Mac Travis Adventures: The First Four


Steven Becker - 2015
    Mac Travis is trying to live the Keys lifestyle: Fishing, diving and enough salvage work to pay his bills. But trouble has a way of finding him. Follow Mac in the first four full-length novels: Wood’s Relic, Wood's Reef, Wood's Wall and Wood's Wreck "Action & Adventure In The Florida Keys from the #1 Sea Adventure Series" *** Download the prequel “Wood’s Ledge” FREE by visiting woodsledgepromo.stevenbeckerauthor.com*** EDITORIAL REVIEWS "A riveting tale of intrigue and terrorism, Key West characters in their full glory! Fast paced and continually changing direction Mr Becker has me hooked on his skillful and adventurous tales from the Conch Republic!" - Amazon Review "Read this book in one day. The scenes move, and I mean fast. Anything goes in the Florida Keys, and this story captures the essence. Good descriptions, unique characters and a plot that could be taken from the news headlines. I'm a fan of Florida fiction and Steven Becker is now on my "to-read" list" - Ed Robinson - Author of Leap Of Faith/Quit Your Job And Live On A Boat ALSO BY STEVEN BECKER Mac Travis Adventures: Wood’s Relic Wood’s Reef Wood’s Wall Wood’s Wreck Wood’s Harbor Tides Of Fortune: Escape - Free Sample Pirate Wreck of the Ten Sail Will Service Eco Thriller: Bonefish Blues Tuna Tango

Dog Tag


Ben Rehder - 2017
    The way they go about it is a howl.

Only Time Will Tell


James Kipling - 2014
    Will she make the right choice? An unknown woman is murdered and detectives Pierce Carson, Chelsea Madden and a new recruit, Dean Weston, are assigned to the case. Their search for the killer leads to several dead ends and a suspected drug connection, as even more people are killed. In the process of helping to solve the first murder and those that follow, Chelsea realizes that she is walking a very thin line between personal revenge and professional responsibility. She too has suffered at the hands of a murderer, who brutally snuffed out the life of her parents, giving her a reason to join the police force. To complicate matters, she finds herself attracted to Dean. She knows little about the newcomer to Homicide, only that he’d been a successful undercover agent. Normally a loner, she finds him surprisingly easy to talk to, as she unburdens herself of her past, kept secret for years. As the case becomes more complicated and passions are stirred, questions arise about a mole in the force, and Dean is on the list of possible suspects. Chelsea is torn between trust and doubt, fear and love; her desire for vengeance and belief in the system of which she is now a part. The strands of the plot become intertwined, with unexpected twists and turns, and Chelsea finds herself caught in a life and death struggle in a most unexpected way. Only time will tell if she survives to right the wrong or decides to let it go and find a new direction for her life. Detective Chelsea Madden is the cool, calm, and collected hero of Only Time Will Tell. Putting her life on the line, she doesn’t pull any punches, searching only for the truth, and for the person who takes lives on her watch. Intelligent, resourceful, and uncompromising, Chelsea will take readers on a memorable, white-knuckled journey in this suspenseful, gripping serial killer thriller. <

The Tiger's Cage


Linda J. White - 2016
    Tom's life spins out of control as he desperately searches for his son. Meanwhile, Kenny must cling to his fragile, newly forged faith to survive.

Vietnam: Ground Zero: The American Special Forces are heading to the jungle... (Vietnam Ground Zero Military Thrillers Book 1)


Eric Helm - 2020
    T. Ryan, Don Keith and George Wallace.The elite Green Berets carry out Operation Phoenix: pacification by assassination!Republic of Vietnam, 1965On the trail of a deadly Viet Cong force, Master Sergeant Anthony Fetterman leads his Special Forces squad on a patrol across the South Vietnamese border and into Cambodia.Their mission? To eliminate a dangerous enemy and shorten the war.When Sergeant Fetterman and Sergeant Tyme are arrested for the murder of a foreign national in a neutral country, U.S. Army Special Forces camp commander Captain Mack Gerber is not about to let them go down without a fight.Up against a tyrannical General, Gerber finds himself in a race against time to save his men from being court-martialled for doing the job they were trained to do.But will he and his A-Team succeed? Can they turn the tide of the war in their favour?Or does Camp A-555 have a spy in its midst?VIETNAM: GROUND ZERO is the first book in the Vietnam: Ground Zero Series: action-packed, authentic historical thrillers following an American battalion as they fight to survive during the brutal Vietnam War.THE VIETNAM: GROUND ZERO SERIES:BOOK 1: Vietnam: Ground ZeroBOOK 2: P.O.W.BOOK 3: Unconfirmed KillBOOK 4: The Fall of Camp A555BOOK 5: Soldier's MedalBOOK 6: The Kit Carson ScoutBOOK 7: The Hobo WoodsBOOK 8: GuidelinesBOOK 9: The VilleBOOK 10: Incident at Plei SoiBOOK 11: TetBOOK 12: The Iron TriangleBOOK 13: Red DustBOOK 14: HamletBOOK 15: Moon CusserBOOK 16: Dragon's JawBOOK 17: Cambodian SanctuaryBOOK 18: PaybackBOOK 19: MacvBOOK 20: Tan Son NhutBOOK 21: Puppet SoldiersBOOK 22: GunfighterBOOK 23: WarriorBOOK 24: TargetBOOK 25: WarlordBOOK 26: SpikeBOOK 27: Recon

The Chase: One Courageous Skipper Battling The Perilous Evil Out To Destroy Him. (Sea Action & Adventure)


Herzel Frenkel - 2014
    Avri was hurled forward like a harpoon from a cannon. His head hit the bulkhead with a horrible blow, absorbing all his one hundred and sixty pounds of momentum. He heard the loud crunching noise of the bow crashing into something solid, or perhaps it was the sound of his skull smashing against the bulkhead."And the chase is on. A seasoned submarine captain versus a sailboat skipper, each struggling for survival, each racing for life. Meanwhile, the Russian naval intelligence has its own devious plans while the Israeli Mossad has quite different ideas. This adventure tale, though sprinkled with port and starboard and halyards would be enjoyed by thrill loving landlubbers and sailors alike. Scroll up and grab a copy today.