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Thrillers and Suspense September 2021
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An ambush of widows by Jeff AbbottWhat it's about: Two widows form an uneasy alliance after their husbands, who didn’t know each other, are discovered violently murdered together. What happens: Kirsten North, widow of Henry, a cybersecurity expert, and Flora Zhang, widow of Adam, cofounder of a successful venture capitalist firm, face a powerful foe determined to write a false narrative about the murders. In doing so, neither Flora nor Kirsten will remain the women the world thought they were. Reviewers say: " Abbott is one of the preeminent writers of thrillers involving ordinary people caught up in unusual and dangerous situations... An Ambush of Widows continues that trend, delivering two irresistible lead characters, a shrewd villain, and a story that defies our expectations. Great stuff" (Booklist).
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| Mrs. March by Virginia FeitoWhat it is: an intricately plotted, gothic-tinged story that explores trauma, neglect, and the line between fact and fiction.
Starring: the titular Mrs. March, whose sense of self and connection to reality come undone after learning that a polarizing character in one of her husband's bestselling crime novels might actually be inspired by her.
Media Buzz: A film adaptation of Mrs. March is in development, with Elisabeth Moss slated to star. |
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| The Cover Wife by Dan FespermanThe premise: CIA agent Claire Saylor is growing bored and restless with her posting in Hamburg, Germany, posing as the wife of an academic known for his controversial interpretations of the Quran.
The problem: Claire jumps at the chance for a new (and potentially more rewarding) assignment -- a dangerous investigation of the newest recruit to a fledgling terrorist group, a man who has started questioning his commitment to their radical cause.
Read it for: the intricate, suspenseful plotting, thoughtful narrative tone, and unexpected connection to a shocking real-life terrorist attack. |
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The good sister by Sally HepworthStarring: Twin sisters Rose and Fern who are polar opposites but who are harboring a deep, dark secret about their sociopathic mother. What it's about: When Rose discovers that she cannot get pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her by having a baby for Rose. Fern's mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets from the past, in this quirky, rich and shocking story of what families keep hidden. Reviewer's say: "It's a warped tale of twisted memories and skewed perceptions that will make fans of psychological thrillers say, "Wow, I didn't see that coming" (Library Journal); "Fern is...multilayered and relatable to readers, illustrating Hepworth’s talent for page-turners with depth" (Booklist).
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The guilt trip by Sandie JonesIntroducing: Rachel and Jack. Paige and Noah. Will and Ali. Five friends who've known each other for years. And Ali, Will's new fiancée. What happens: While in Portugal for her brother-in-law’s wedding to Ali, who rubs everyone the wrong way, Rachel discovers something about Ali that changes everything and threatens to unravel friendships and marriages in a place where jumping to conclusions becomes the difference between life and death. For fans of: Liv Constantine, Darcey Bell, and Nicola Moriarty.
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| Moon Lake by Joe R. LansdaleThe premise: As a child, Daniel Russell survived his father's attempt to kill them both by driving into the titular Moon Lake. As an adult, he returns to the area to deal with his father's recently dredged up remains and, hopefully, for some closure.
The problem: There is more lurking in the lake than just the wreckage of Daniel's father's car, including a secret legacy of violence and greed that some local notables would much rather stay beneath the surface.
Read it for: the haunting and atmospheric tone; the well-rendered East Texas dialect; the thought-provoking questions the novel raises about history and culpability. |
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21st birthday by James PattersonWhat it's about: SFPD Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the disappearance of Tara, a young mother, and her baby girl. What happens: All eyes are on Tara's husband, Lucas. He paints her not as a missing person but a wayward wife--until a gruesome piece of evidence turns the investigation criminal and places the lives of women all over the state of California in grave danger. Series alert: 21st Birthday is number twenty one in the Women's Murder Club series, following The Twentieth Victim.
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Part of the family by Charlotte PhilbyWhat it's about: On the surface, Anna Witherall has the perfect life. Married to her university boyfriend David, she has an enviable job, beautiful home, and gorgeous three-year-old twin daughters, Stella and Rose. Their competent and capable nanny, Maria, is practically part of the family. But beneath the veneer of success and happiness, Anna is hiding a dark secret, one that threatens to unravel everything she has worked so hard to create. Only one thing is certain: to protect her children, she must betray them Reviewers say: "Every character is complex, enigmatic, and chameleon-like, and it’s challenging to know who the enemy really is, who’s telling the truth, and who’s lying. The tension ratchets up with every page, and there’s a palpable sense of danger and impending doom as the narrative rushes toward its shocking conclusion in a series of mind-boggling twists" (Booklist). "Everyone has an agenda in this intriguing exploration of deceit and duplicity, as Philby ratchets up the paranoia to Highsmithian levels" (Guardian UK)
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Every vow you break : a novel by Peter SwansonStarring: Abigail Baskin, engaged to millionaire Bruce Lamb. Right before the wedding, Abigail has a drunken one-night stand on her bachelorette weekend. She puts the incident out of her mind, and wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life. What happens: The mysterious stranger from the one night stand suddenly appears and he insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something much, much more. Does she tell Bruce and ruin their idyllic honeymoon--and possibly their marriage? Or should she handle this psychopathic stalker on her own? Strange things begin to happen and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss... including her perfect new husband. For fans of: Lucy Foley, Shari Lapena, and Alice Feeney.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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