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Does Hell really exist? A guide in the mountains of Tibet, Ike Crockett, leads hikers into a cave that may be a gateway to Hell. The Helios Corp. has plans to control the lower resources of Earth, and they hire Crockett to lead an expedition into the planet's interior. The "Beowulf Circle" is a group of theologians and metaphysicians who surmise that Satan has evolved into human form. They travel the world investigating bizarre and unexplained events that seem to prove their theories. If they look for Satan, care to guess who they find? This subterranean adventure and the nocturnal beings inhabiting Earth's cavities take you on a horrifying journey with a very unexpected ending. Tell all your demented friends not to miss this one!

Reviewed by Tammi C., Main Library

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Joe Lassiter awakens to the ringing of the phone. Groggily he answers and learns the terrible news about his sister and her toddler son -- they are fatalities. Who would want to hurt a suburban single mother and her young son? Thus begins the story of Joe Lassiter's mission to find out what happened to them and why. This intense, spellbinding story takes you on a wild ride from Washington, D.C. through the sites of Europe. In it you will ponder the world of medical ethics and Vatican ideology. This is a great story of suspense that I would recommend to anyone who likes thought provoking plot twists. The story leaves you wanting more information to the final page.

Reviewed by Lynette H., South County Regional

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A victim is found dead in a car trunk, sawn in half. A psychologist is murdered and mutilated in a similar way. A nonfunctional psychotic, locked up in an institution for homicidal madmen, is predicting murders. Thus begin Dr. Alex Delaware's problems in Kellerman's latest. As Dr. Delaware begins to sort through his information, there are unexpected twists and turns that slow him in figuring out just who is really behind these grisly murders. His frustration turns to urgency as the final puzzle pieces fit together, and he realizes that time is running out for the next victims. Until the very end, Kellerman has you turning pages as fast as you can to discover if the real murderer will be stopped in time.

Reviewed by Jennifer C., Main Library

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Be careful what you wish for. It could and did happen to Ellen Chambers. Her life will never the same after her daughter’s wedding. Neal Chambers, Ellen's nephew, whose father hung himself twelve years earlier, is at Moreen’s wedding and seems to read Ellen’s mind. Neal, a charismatic, bible-quoting sociopath, moves into the Chambers' home. Then Randy, Ellen's son-in-law, dies a week later in a farm pond accident. This novel of suspense gains momentum with each page as family secrets are stripped away, and a diabolical plot for revenge with a surprise ending is revealed in Destin, Maine.

Reviewed by Natalie M., Morrison Regional

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The deadly assassin known only as the Coffin Dancer has a new assignment: kill three federal witnesses in 48 hours. The only force capable of stopping the Dancer from completing his deadly assignment is the keen mind of forensics expert Lincoln Rhyme, but will Rhyme's forensics skills be enough to stop a killer with the uncanny ability to anticipate his opponent's every move? A fast-paced game of cat-and-mouse ensues as these two brilliant men match wits in a race against the clock. Suspense fans will be thrilled with this follow-up to Deaver's first Lincoln Rhyme novel, The Bone Collector.

Reviewed by William N., Morrison Regional

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If the title fits, read the novel. Intensity is a fast paced thriller that can leave you breathless at times. Meet Chyna Shepherd, a young woman overcoming the shadows of an abusive childhood when she finds some peace at a friend’s family home. Here, Chyna secretly witnesses the hideous murder for thrills of her friend and her friend’s family. She decides to chase the perpetrator to his final destination when she finds out another victim awaits. There’s one catch - the psychopath can never know she’s there. Read this book for a bone chilling adrenaline rush.

Reviewed by Jeff G., North County Regional

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Reader's comments about this book

I loved this book! It is very fast paced and as the title reads Intense. I read this book in about 2 days. It was so good I couldn't stop reading it.
-Jennifer, Concord, NC

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Once again, James Lee Burke takes us on a ride through the steamy underbelly of Louisiana with Cajun detective Dave Robicheaux. Robicheaux, a recovering alcoholic, has many personal demons, and one that haunts him now is the memory of his mother who disappeared in 1967. As Dave delves into his mother’s past, he also tries to uncover evidence that would exonerate Letty Labiche, a death row inmate who butchered the man who molested her as a child. These two intertwined cases send Dave and his bumbling sidekick, Clete Purcell, into a seedy underworld of pimps, hookers, psychopathic killers and corrupt politicians. Burke is a master storyteller with a gift for action and dialogue, but perhaps the best aspect of his writing is his vivid depiction of southern Louisiana culture. You can almost see the Spanish moss in the trees and smell the Cajun gumbo

Reviewed by Bryon C., North County Regional

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Bristow Camino’s Police Chief, Jeff Talley, is a former LAPD SWAT negotiator who left his high stress position to control crime in a bedroom community. In a place where no serious crimes take place, he does not expect to use his former skills. A convenience store robbery turns bad, and Talley becomes involved in a hostage situation. A seemingly ordinary accountant and his family are under siege, not only from the kidnappers, but also from his employers. Crais gives us another page turner with plenty of plot twists, unique characters, and surprises.

Reviewed by Sarah H., Independence Regional

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For eight years Dr. David Beck has believed his wife Elizabeth was dead. Her father identified her body after she was kidnapped and brutally murdered. But after all of those years, he receives an e-mail message that only she could have sent. Hope springs eternal. He wants to believe that she is still alive, but before he can find the answer he is accused of her murder, the murder of her best friend, and assaulting a police officer. Hiding in the roughest part of the city, he becomes a fugitive whose only ally is a drug pusher. Tell No One is a page-turner with quirky characters harboring dark secrets that keep the reader waiting for the next page.

Reviewed by Natalie M., Morrison Regional

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Dead Sleep by Greg Iles is a smart, complex and richly textured thriller. Set in steamy New Orleans on and about the Tulane University campus, Iles weaves a tapestry so true that you can almost hear the strains of "When the Saints Come Marching In", wafting across the bayou. Jordan Glass is a 40ish photojournalist with an international reputation. Upon entering an art museum in Hong Kong, Jordan senses that some of the museum guards and visitors are eyeing her with unnatural interest. She is stopped in her tracks when she views her own deadly portrait knowing immediately that she is looking not at herself but at a painting of her missing twin's corpse. What follows is a fast-paced mystery that holds up to the final page.

Reviewed by Sue G., Davidson Branch

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John Hammond is a showman – with the ultimate show. Thanks to technology and investors his incredible park is almost ready to open; just a few snags away from perfection. But the snags are not easily solved; how do you control animals no one has ever seen before? In a richly detailed book, Crichton has captured the essence of technology gone wild. With a scope exceeding the movie, the characters and science compete for your attention. The pace is just as fast and intriguing. In addition to T-Rexes and raptors there are other carnivores to worry about, including pterodactyls, and compsognathus. Oh, yes, dinosaurs are escaping the island on the boat to the mainland. A seductive, exciting read with plenty of heart pounding danger as well.

Reviewed by Tammy S., University City Regional

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Reader's comments about this book

This book is very interesting, because it shows you what you all can do with science. Even though many people find sciences are very dull, Michael Crichton lets you see it isn't true. I mean, making dinosaurs isn't something you deal with every day.
-Kevin, Everberg, Brussels, Belgium

This book is one of my favorites because I have been a dinosaur fan for years.
-Henry, New Holstein, Wisconsin

This book was amazing. It was just as good as the other book that I read of his called Prey. He has such a way of writing that makes the plot so suspenseful. I couldn't put the book down. It's these kinds of books that get people interested in reading. I'm very disappointed that the movie was hardly at all like the book. But I give thumbs up to Michael Crichton.
-Christina, Arizona

This is one of my favorite novels! I believe it to be Crichton's best work. As suspensful as Prey and as action-packed as Predator! I couldn't put it down!
-David Johnson, New York City, NY

A good book with plenty of suspense and thrills. More character development than the film, as well.
-SteponStorev, North Olmsted, Ohio

What do you expect from a summa cum laude of Harvard? Jurrasic Park is definitely his best book. It is Michael Chrichton at his best. Absolutely more thrilling than Dan Brown's novel. Better than the best. The father of techno-thriller will never put you down.
-ian, los angeles, california

My all time favourite. Best book ever.
-Smitha, Charlotte, NC

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Brandon O'Toole is divorced and has custody of his teenage son, Scott. Close-knit and best friends, they call themselves Team Bachelor. His ex-wife Sherry, a self-help author whose life is devoted to her fame and money, feels left out. In an attempt to win his favor, she takes Scott on a ski trip to the Rockies. While there, Scott is involved in a plane crash and is the only survivor. He must use all his wits to stay alive. Just when he thinks everything will be fine, his nightmare begins in earnest. His rescuer may turn out to be more deadly than the elements he has faced in the desolate mountains. This is a first-rate thriller that will keep readers wide awake until the last page.

Reviewed by Jackie H., Scaleybark Branch

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Dan Brown scores a direct hit on our imaginations with The Da Vinci Code. This novel has "it" all - breakneck pacing, rich characters, historical details and opulent settings that combine to make one magnificent read. Robert Langdon is a Harvard Professor of Symbology in Paris on business. Quite suddenly, he finds himself the main suspect in the murder of The Louvre's well known curator. In order to prove his innocence, Langdon teams up with Sophie Neveu, a French crytologist, who is also the granddaughter of the murder victim. Their intriguing adventure is spellbinding. The Da Vinci Code is packed with Brown's meticulous research, a Secret Society bent on maintaining a religious conspiracy, unpredictable plot twists and turns and a perfectly stunning conclusion.

Reviewed by Susan C., Independence Regional

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Reader's comments about this book

This is an excellent book, very interesting and astonishing.
-Tanya, Charlotte, NC

GREAT GREAT GREAT. Super reading and you get to learn something.
-Elizabeth, Charlotte NC

Readers should not be put off by the Catholic-bashing in some of the characters' speeches. Keep going and by the end you will find that Brown acknowledges the redemptive as well as the fanatical side of religious faith. The story sketches a history of secret religious practices and describes the ancient symbols of goddess worship hidden in plain sight in the modern world. Characters who seek to uncover these secrets out of spite or greed do all the harm in the book. Others guard or learn the mysteries of the ancient cults so that an understanding of the feminine principle of the divine should not perish from the Earth.
-Tom, Charlotte, NC

Unpredictable and distinguished among the usual thrillers - be sure not to miss this one!
-Rosanne, Matthews, NC

Dan Brown challenges the masters of the thriller genre with this bold and blistering page turner. A disturbing secret deftly hidden for centuries by a secret society has suddenly turned up - and in the interim a masterful mix of murder and ancient church secrets becomes the centerpiece of an ingenious plot. Langdon and Neveu must solve the riddle of the code before time runs out while matching wits with Interpol and the Vatican hierarchy, for whom the revelation of the code will produce everlasting disquietude among the faithful.
-Rosanne, Matthews, NC

Peel away the hype about the religious implications in The Da Vinci Code and you have a very good "Who Done It?".
-Cynthia, Mint Hill, NC

This was a very thought-provoking book! It is kind of hard to believe that this could be true from the way I was brought up but it makes as much sense as anything does. This is one of those books you just can't put down until it is finished.
-Lucretia, Harrisburg, NC

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Monkeewrench, a computer software company, has developed a new game, Serial Killer Detective. After putting a prototype of the new game on their web site, people start turning up dead, mimicking the murders on the game. The police look into the five men and women who work for Monkeewrench to find the murderer. Unable to find any information more than ten years old on the five, the police become even more suspicious. What are the people from Monkeewrench hiding and does their past have anything to do with the murders? Secrets and twists abound on the pages of this well-written book. The characters and the plot will keep you enthralled and once finished, you’ll hope that the author is hard at work on a new book.

Reviewed by Karen K., Morrison Regional

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Louis L’Amour moves his Native American hero to Cold War Russia for this survival adventure. Major Joe (‘Joe Mack’) Makatozi, a United States Air Force pilot, captured by the Soviets, decides he will escape and return home. Joe Mack, part Sioux, part Cheyenne, schooled in the ancient skills of his people, heads toward the Bering Strait - the route his ancestors took thousands of years before. It is through his wit, skills and tenacity that Joe Mack traverses the harsh country and survives the winter in Siberia. The Soviet Army pursues him, commandeered by the ambitious and cool-headed Colonel Zamatev. The fierce and formidable native Siberian, Alehkin, who tracks Joe Mack, adds a suspenseful thread to the story. I didn’t want this book to end.

Reviewed by Gail D., Morrison Regional

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Featuring eccentric characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and tremendous heart, this refreshing debut novel has been compared to the works of Anne Tyler and John Irving. Setting her story in contemporary Seattle, Kallos spins a most unusual tale of the friendship between an older woman who has learned of her impending death, and a young woman whose life is unraveling. The book explores the nature of human relationships and offers insight about the hidden strength in people we may see as flawed or imperfect. You won't be able to put down this thought provoking, compelling page turner. Strong character development, an unpredictable plot, and beautifully poetic language combine to make this a winner.

Reviewed by Staci F., South County Regional

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This short, masterful work is not really about spies. Sallis uses the spy genre to lay bare the fluidity of personal identity. David had been an operative for the Agency for years until one day he knows he can’t do it anymore. He left the field to make a life for himself, eventually, as an artist and fell truly in love for the first time. Nine years later, when the Agency is in desperate need of his talents, they come calling. Sallis sees more deeply into the human soul and its mix of dark and light than any author I’ve read lately.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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As the author of I Feel Bad About My Neck: and Other Thoughts on Being a Woman, Nora Ephron takes a look at our society and helps us laugh at it. In this collection of essays, she appeals to women’s life experiences, recounting her own interactions with men, children, apartments, and purses. Aging is also a theme. Although “woman” is in the title, you do not have to be female to empathize with the universal themes of an aging body image or the loss of loved ones. At first glance, this book is a quick and easy read. But the individual essays invite the reader back. Nora Ephron’s essays are humorous at times, serious at others, but always insightful.

Reviewed by Linda O., University City Regional

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One word to the 911 operator starts it all - "this…” Is it really a distress call? How does one word cause so many dead bodies? Brynn Bond is sent to find out if that one word is an error or something else. She finds death and then has to run for her life through the forest at night along with a "city" girl. Along the way she rescues a little girl. This small town Wisconsin detective spends a VERY long, harrowing April night running into and outwitting trouble. And more people die. The whys and the whos will keep you reading until the very last page. Each new page changes what you think you know.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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In Scott Smith’s debut novel A Simple Plan, Hank Mitchell, his brother and a friend discover a crashed plane with a dead man and 4.4 million dollars inside. Thinking that no one will be looking for the money, they decide to keep it for themselves if no one claims it after six months. This seems to be a simple plan, except that things begin to spiral out of control almost immediately and one problem after another pops up. As Hank solves each of his dilemmas, the story becomes a study of the moral and ethical implications of committing the “perfect crime”. A final twist is the perfect conclusion to the book and leaves the reader pondering what he or she would do in the same situation.

Reviewed by Sandra S., North County Regional

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It all started with a smile in a cemetery in Sweden. Desiree, a 35-year-old widowed librarian, met 37-year-old Benny, a bachelor dairy farmer, because her husband’s drab grave was next to Benny’s parents’ gaudy plot. Benny, whose nickname for Desiree is Shrimp, thought she was “beige” in appearance. Benny and Shrimp alternate narrating chapters and share their views on each other. They are opposite in their interests and lifestyles, but are fiercely passionate about each other. Katarina Mazetti’s novel, translated from the Swedish, shares an insightful, humorous look at human nature and the compromises relationships require. Will their romance last or be a flash in the pan? Read the book to find out.

Reviewed by Megan M., Main Library

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A new coauthor and a new husband and wife duo mean lots of new possibilities for adventure. The Fargos, Sam and Remi, are professional treasure hunters. They already have enough money to do whatever they like so they look for lost artifacts to donate to museums and countries. While on a quest in America, they find a WWII German mini-submarine. This sends them off in another direction. They head for Europe to find a set of Napoleonic wine bottles. Of course, they are only steps ahead of the villains. They travel through several countries dodging bullets. Think Indiana Jones style adventure.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Leo King has led a troubled life since he found his older brother dead after committing suicide. On June 19, 1969 people who will mold the rest of his life make their entrance into his world. While these people are very different from one another the bonds they form during their senior year in high school become the threads that will be woven together to form their adult lives. The author brings the beauty of Charleston and the low country of South Carolina to life as the city itself becomes a character in this tale. The power of love and friendship is just one of the many themes of this lyrical novel, the author's first in fourteen years. Don’t miss Conroy’s latest gem.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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