Book picks similar to
Friends from Damascus by Cliff Happy


book-club
action-adventure
mystery-thriller-suspense
amazon

The Tenth Island: Finding Joy, Beauty, and Unexpected Love in the Azores


Diana Marcum - 2018
    A long-buried personal sadness is enfolding her—and her career is stalled—when she stumbles upon an unusual group of immigrants living in rural California. She follows them on their annual return to the remote Azorean islands in the Atlantic Ocean, where bulls run down village streets, volcanoes are active, and the people celebrate festas to ease their saudade, a longing so deep that the Portuguese word for it can’t be fully translated.Years later, California is in a terrible drought, the wildfires seem to never end, and Diana finds herself still dreaming of those islands and the chuva—a rain so soft you don’t notice when it begins or ends.With her troublesome Labrador retriever, Murphy, in tow, Diana returns to the islands of her dreams only to discover that there are still things she longs for—and one of them may be a most unexpected love.

Ghost Gifts


Laura Spinella - 2016
    Her remarkable gift may help others rest in peace, but it also made for an unsettling childhood and destroyed her marriage. Finally content as the real estate writer for a local newspaper, Aubrey keeps her extraordinary ability hidden—until she is unexpectedly assigned the story of a decades-old murder.Rocked by the discovery of a young woman’s skeletal remains, the New England town of Surrey wants answers. Hard-nosed investigative reporter Levi St John is determined to get them. Aubrey has no choice but to get involved, even at the terrifying risk of stirring spirits connected to a dead woman’s demise and piquing her new reporting partner’s suspicions.As Aubrey and Levi delve further into the mystery, secrets are revealed and passion ignites. It seems that Aubrey’s ghost gifts are poised to deliver everything but a normal life.

The Abigail Affair


Timothy Frost - 2010
    On his first night aboard he is framed for the murder of a guest. And that's just the start of his problems. His attractive crewmate Julia seems to be the only one on his side - but can he trust her? With his mobile phone confiscated, armed only with a winning smile and a flair for mixing cocktails, can Toby foil the sinister international conspiracy that threatens to entangle him? It's New Year's Eve and something terrible will happen at midnight. Time is running out, and so are Toby's options ...

Kiloton Threat


William G. Boykin - 2011
    Out of the house churches of rural Iran, a Christian masquerading as a Muslim gains the confidence of a high-ranking leader in the Iranian nuclear program and opens his eyes to Christianity. The man’s newfound faith stirs his desire to flee to the West, taking with him intelligence that would allow Coalition forces to neutralize his nation's devastating capabilities. But no one in such a position could ever escape unnoticed. Enter Blake Kershaw, a highly trained U.S. Special Forces officer who has already made extraordinary sacrifices for his country that include faking death and losing his true identity. His mission to infiltrate Iran and extract the high-value defector strains the relationship with the woman he loves— one of the few people on earth who knows his real story. With even more intensity, it shows the price that must sometimes be paid when political correctness fails and a man has to stand up for what is right. Praise for Kiloton Threat: "This fast-paced, ripped-from-the-headlines sequel by a founding member of the elite special operations unit Delta Force is packed with danger at every turn. It is sure to appeal to fans of Don Brown, Joel C. Rosenberg, and other authors of faith-based thrillers."Library Journal"LTG(R) Boykin has extracted his story straight from future headlines as he highlights the very serious threats posed by the Iranian nuclear rogram. This book is more reality than fiction as Blake Kershaw, a courageous young Special Forces officer, enters the dark world of espionage to try and stop the madness of the Iranian fanatics before they bring the world to the brink of a global nuclear conflict. This is a story that could unfold tomorrow."Frank Gaffney, founder and president, Center for Security Policy

Regret


Dan Dawkins - 2011
    at first, that is. Dan, a newly published bestselling author has just begun to taste the good life: Money in the bank, house in a quiet neighborhood, beautiful wife. His monster of a fictional character--a wealthy, handsome, womanizing murderer--is the catalyst for Dan's good fortune, intriguing millions of readers. But when Dan sleeps with his agent on a business trip, and then confesses the whole thing to his wife in near tears, he sets off a chain of events that cause him to lose his wife and his grip on everything, including reality.Fleeing his hometown in an attempt to outrun tormenting memories, Dan lands himself in a nearly forgotten small town in Oklahoma, taking up indefinite refuge in a Bed and Breakfast. While here, Dan's demons begin to prey on his mental instability, and the character that he's thrilled his readers with begins to come off the page and out into the flesh, sending shockwaves through the otherwise peaceful town, and giving Dan some interesting and horrific ideas on how to cope with his pain.

My Sister's Grave


Robert Dugoni - 2014
    She doesn’t believe that Edmund House — a convicted rapist and the man condemned for Sarah’s murder — is the guilty party. Motivated by the opportunity to obtain real justice, Tracy became a homicide detective with the Seattle PD and dedicated her life to tracking down killers.When Sarah’s remains are finally discovered near their hometown in the northern Cascade mountains of Washington State, Tracy is determined to get the answers she’s been seeking. As she searches for the real killer, she unearths dark, long-kept secrets that will forever change her relationship to her past — and open the door to deadly danger.

The Folks at Fifty-Eight


Michael Patrick Clark - 2012
    With the war in Europe at an end, Hammond returns to Washington only to find his unit disbanded and his wife moved out of the marital home.Ostracized by the Washington elite, publicly humiliated by an unfaithful wife, and scorned by former friends and colleagues, he is forced to take a mundane job with an insurance company. . . But then comes the call.The State Department wants him to rescue a young woman, trapped in Soviet East Germany. Should he succeed a plum job at The State Department awaits. Desperate for deliverance from his humdrum existence, Hammond accepts the assignment.He heads into enemy territory, unaware of the sinister force that sponsored his mission or of the unseen dangers that lie in wait. He only knows that he must somehow save the girl to save himself, but as his enemies close in, and ever-more disturbing revelations come to light, Gerald Hammond begins to wonder which poses the greatest threat. . . The enemy he runs from, the friend he runs to, or the girl he was sent to save?"Fast paced thriller with lots of action - I couldn't put it down!!" - Amazon Reviewer "Delicious spy novel, bold and graphic." - Amazon Reviewer "A tremendous book - a definite page turner"- Amazon Reviewer "This is the best spy novel I have read in quite some time" - Amazon Reviewer "I purchased this based on the reviews, and it exceeded expectations" - Amazon Reviewer "And be warned, there's bad language, sex, sadistic murders, regular murders, etc. in this book. It's a spy novel...stay out of the kitchen if you don't like this kind of heat." - Amazon Reviewer

Against the Clock: the clock is ticking...


Charlie Moore - 2014
    Determined to kill the men responsible for her husband’s death, she finds herself torn between her all consuming vendetta and the consequences her actions have on those she cares about. Unrelenting. Unstoppable. Uncompromising. Shirin ruthlessly hunts down each man, working her way to the top, never realizing she has penetrated the inner sanctum of a covert operation - entangled within an explosive web of scandal, treason, murder and government corruption.

Twist of Faith


Ellen J. GreenEllen J. Green - 2018
    The photo shows a shuttered, ramshackle house on top of a steep hill. On the back, a puzzling inscription: Destiny calls us.Ava is certain that it’s a clue to her elusive past. Twenty-three years ago, she’d been found wrapped in a yellow blanket in the narthex of the Holy Saviour Catholic Church—and rescued—or so she’d been told. Her mother claimed there was no more to the story, so the questions of her abandonment were left unanswered. For Ava, now is the time to find the roots of her mother’s lies. It begins with the house itself—once the scene of a brutal double murder.When Ava enlists the help of the two people closest to her, a police detective and her best friend, she fears that investigating her past could be a fatal mistake. Someone is following them there. And what’s been buried in Ava’s nightmares isn’t just a crime. It’s a holy conspiracy.

Or Else


Joe Hart
    For Rachel, struggling to maintain the facade of a picture-perfect life, it’s an escape from an emotionally abusive marriage. Then Andy receives an anonymous note warning him to end the affair. Or else.Whoever’s been watching is going to make Andy pay. Weeks later, Rachel’s husband, David, is shot to death. Rachel and her two young sons vanish without a trace. One misstep, one careless reveal, and Andy could look as guilty as sin. Clue by clue, as his investigation into the mystery unfolds, Andy discovers that he and Rachel weren’t the only ones keeping secrets.Nothing in this quiet neighborhood is as it seems. No one peeking from behind the curtains of their homes can be trusted. And the worst is yet to come. Because David isn’t the only one who will die.

The October Five


Thomas Fincham - 2009
    The man is found strangled in his bed.Unknown to him, five individuals frequently meet in a room. They have been meeting for decades.During the course of the investigation another man is found murdered. This time the victim's throat has been slashed.Is there a link between the two victims? Can Whaler solve the cases before there are any more murders?THE OCTOBER FIVE is a spiraling page-turner that examines friendship, loyalty, and justice.

The Bloodbath Ritual


Andrew Downs - 2012
    This exciting, gripping and original thriller series combines murder mystery, saga, love story, and conspiracy thriller into one satisfyingly complex and entertainingly atmospheric story. What readers are saying about The Alex Hollick FBI Series! “Refreshingly original.” “A great story, will keep you glued to your kindle for hours.” “Smooth but gritty, intellectual and sexy...great read.” “The story was intense and gripping and the character development was amazing.” “Brings something new and fresh to the table.” Extended Description Alex Hollick is a clean-cut robbery division agent in Los Angeles, paying his dues, putting in his time, but his steady climb up the FBI ladder is about to take a major detour. Half of his team is killed in an unauthorized sting operation. The situation worsens when Hollick learns of the internal corruption that helped shape the deadly event. At the order of his trusted mentor, John Novak, Hollick travels to Virginia, unknowingly as a suspect. A CIA torture team lies in wait, planning to kidnap Hollick and squeeze the truth out of him. After a torturous, drug-induced series of mind games, Hollick is released to Jordan Clay; head of a clandestine group burrowed deep within the FBI. His orders are simple - Bury the truth about the SOCAL robberies… But things become more complicated from the moment the cover-up begins. Blood spills in all directions as Hollick and Novak attempt to hide the truth. Arson leads to a cop killing in the Mojave Desert. An ambitious Internal Affairs Agent is on to the corruption and two-million dollars in missing robbery money sits in the lap of a beautiful, but troubled young widow. As the danger escalates, Hollick concocts a seemingly perfect plan to protect the woman of his dreams, Agent Jennifer Fletcher. Back in Washington, Clay has big plans for Hollick. A career in homicide waits, investigating religious crime at the height of the Satanic Panic of the 1980’s. Feeling confident that his plan has worked, Hollick begins his first case, The Halloween Murders - A double-homicide marked by a satanic signature. Hollick soon realizes that his prime suspect is a scared eyewitness and that the true killers are sabotaging his investigation. While Hollick struggles to close in on the killers, John Novak has made some plans of his own, to find and destroy the one piece of evidence keeping Jennifer Fletcher alive. The Complete Series Now Available! BOOK ONE: THE BLOODBATH RITUAL BOOK TWO: ROTTEN WAS THE HARVEST BOOK THREE: AS EMPIRES FALL BOOK FOUR: MALICE AND MACABRE BOOK FIVE: THE FINAL EMBRACE Are you looking for a unique, original pulse-pounding thriller series? Download a sample or buy The Bloodbath Ritual today!

A Death in Sweden


Kevin Wignall - 2016
    A former CIA operative, he is now an agent for hire by foreign powers on the hunt for dangerous fugitives. It’s a lethal world at the best of times, and Dan knows his number is almost up. His next job could be his last—and his next job is his biggest yet.The target sounds trackable enough: Jacques Fillon, who gave up his life trying to save a fellow passenger following a bus crash in northern Sweden. But the man was something of an enigma in this rural community, and his death exposes his greatest secret: Jacques Fillon never existed at all.Dan is tasked with uncovering Fillon’s true identity—but can he do so before his own past catches up with him?

Insanity (Insanity #1)


Andre Gonzalez - 2017
    Balancing school, work and plans for the future, he learns that dreams are merely far-fetch fantasies.After his college mentor emphasizes a major problem ignored by society—mental health—Jeremy grows obsessed with shedding light on this epidemic.When the corporate world and pressures of life begin to spiral out of control, Jeremy decides to carry out an experiment to save the ill who have been shunned by society. How far will Jeremy’s experiment lead him before reaching deadly conclusions? Insanity is the first novel in the gripping Insanity Series. If you like fast-paced thrillers, exploring twisted minds, and dark truths, then you’ll love this high-octane series by Andre Gonzalez!Buy Insanity to join Jeremy in his demented experiment!

Dead Times Four


Joel Goldman - 2011
    Fans will set in motion a plea for Mr. Goldman to return with more Mason (Lou not Perry) legal thrillers." Harrriett Klausner Lou Mason is back in The Last Witness and this time it's personal as Mason unearths secrets someone will do anything to keep. Goldman goes Grisham one better! "Fast, furious and thoroughly enjoyable, The Last Witness is classic and classy noir for our time, filled with great characters and sharp, stylish writing." Jeffery Deaver, bestselling author of The Vanished Man A troubled young woman turns herself in for murder in Cold Truth and Lou Mason takes the case. A riveting, page-turning romp in the tradition of James Patterson! "Wanted for good writing: Joel Goldman strikes again with Cold Truth." The Kansas City Star When Lou Mason is hired to prove a death row convict's innocence in Deadlocked, the past and present collide in an explosion of deceit, corruption and murder. "Deadlocked, the fourth Lou Mason case, is the best and...when the action starts it is a real page turner delivered by a pro." Mystery Scene Magazine Think Lee Child's Jack Reacher meets Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller and you'll get Joel Goldman's Lou Mason! Dead Times Four is the perfect gift at a great price! Buy it today for someone you love or treat yourself to four unforgettable thrillers!