25 KILLER THRILLERS
“The Other Woman: A Novel (Gabriel Allon)” (Harper) by Daniel Silva, out now
A woman’s kidnapped child holds secrets essential to an international conspiracy involving Russia. Silva has a knack for topically relevantant novels, and “The Other Woman” is no exception. From the description: “Long ago, the KGB inserted a mole into the heart of the West — a mole who stands on the doorstep of ultimate power . . . Now [protagonist Gabriel Allon] and the Russians will engage in a final epic showdown, with the fate of the postwar global order hanging in the balance.”
“Paradox (An FBI Thriller)” (Gallery Books) by Catherine Coulter, out Tuesday
An escaped mental patient is obsessed with revenge, and two FBI agents are directly in his sights. This is Coulter’s 22ndd novel fo-focused on husband and wife FBI agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich. Coulter initially researched the series with help from the FBI, and she sought their assistance in the nick of time. “About six months before 9/11, I was invited to go to the Washington, DC, office,” she told Crimespree Magazine in 2014. “Since I am obviously pro-FBI, they allowed me to attend meetings, speak with agents in training and meet veteran agents. After 9/11, no one gets in there, so I consider myself very fortunate.”
“Our House” (Berkley) by Louise Candlish, out Aug. 7
A woman finds that a strange family has moved into her home just as her children and ex-husband disappear. Candlish was inspired by the story of a woman inn her native UK who came close to suffering the same property-fraud fate as her protagonist. She described the details of the crime to Publishers Weekly, saying, “You can buy a house without meeting your lawyer. You can do it all online, which sounds extraordinary but is true. The book’s been described as a how-to guide to steal a house, but hopefully no one will use it for that purpose.”
“Texas Ranger” (Little, Brown and Company) by James Patterson, out Aug. 13
A Texas Ranger must find his ex-wife’s killer to prove he didn’t commit the crime. According to Patterson’s website,, this is the prolific author’s 16th book release of 2018, with more on the way. While he hasn’t given any interviews about the book yet, we can presume he wrote it one morning between breakfast and lunch.
“Feared: A Rosato & DiNunzio Novel” (St. Martin’s Press) by Lisa Scottoline, out Aug. 14
A discrimination lawsuit quickly turns to murder. Scottoline’s latest, inin whichwhich the mostly female law firm of her most popular heroines is sued for gender discrimination, takes the usual turns when a man who recently left the firm — and who, it turns out, was dating one of the partners — is found murdered. Fans of Scottoline are sure to embrace this familiar thriller. In its review of the book, Kirkus wrote: “Scottoline, who obviously knows her readers inside out, hits every mark, and the results are never less than pleasurable, down to the last satisfying twist.”
“Trust Me” (Forge Books) by Hank Phillippi Ryan, out Aug. 28
If anyone’s equipped to create a compelling investigative journalist character, it’s Ryan,n, winner of 33 Emmys and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards as a reporter for Boston’s NBC affiliate WHDH. Also the winner of numerous writing awards including five Agatha Awards for her mystery writing, she brings the bulk of her experience to this tale of a grieving journalist who attempts to help an accused murderer prove her innocence, leading to a cat-and-mouse game filled with terror.
“Walking Shadows: A Decker/Lazarus Novel (Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus)” (William Morrow) by Faye Kellerman, out Aug. 28
A husband and wife detective team must determine if a young man’s murder is connected to his father’s crimes. Kellerman introduced Decker and Lazarus to readers in her 1986 debut novel, “The Ritual Bath.” Twenty million books sold later, she still finds joy in introducing these now welltraveled characters to new situations. “The fun part of these novels is my ability to get Rina involved with the crime,” Kellerman wrote about this book on her website. “The current book has to do with the past bubbling — a dark double murder — over to the present.”