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Posts tagged with ‘Thriller’

OPERATION Z-DAY, by Dennis Larsen

December 15, 2013

NEAR-FUTURE HORROR TALE follows four young women fighting to survive a terrifying viral pandemic. Chilling!

Grade: SOLID B

OPERATION Z-DAY
Dennis Larsen
2013

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On FROM BANGKOK WITH DESPAIR, by Tichakorn Khroopan Hill

October 13, 2013

Mixing the charm of chick lit with the suspense of a thriller requires a deft hand; in her debut novel, From Bangkok with Despair: (Mis)adventures in D. C., Tichakorn Khroopan Hill is well up to the task. The book follows Joyjira, a Thai reporter trying to make a new life in the US after a nasty breakup back in Bangkok. Joy’s an engaging character, whose breathless love for Hello Kitty and designer shoes is balanced by her practical approach to the challenges of her new life and new job.

The camaraderie (and occasional savage backbiting) of a city newsroom is vividly depicted here, as are perspectives of the Thai community in the US, from restaurant chefs to international students. If there’s fault to find with From Bangkok with Despair, it’s that the book does so much at once: it’s a coming of age story, a Beltway thriller, and a romance. Joy’s distinctive voice and character are strong enough to tie the book together, though, and delightful enough to leave readers wanting more from Tichakorn Khroopan Hill.

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FROM BANGKOK WITH DESPAIR, by Tichakorn Khroopan Hill

A FRESH THAI TWIST on the chick-lit thriller! Charming novel stars a Bangkok reporter new to Washington, DC.

Grade: SOLID B

FROM BANGKOK WITH DESPAIR: (MIS)ADVENTURES IN D. C.
Tichakorn Khroopan Hill
2013

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THE BOYFRIEND, by Thomas Perry

June 3, 2013

BRILLIANTLY PLOTTED THRILLER follows a hard-boiled detective on the hunt for a killer of lovely call girls.

Grade: B PLUS

THE BOYFRIEND
Mysterious Press
2013

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THE ANDALUCIAN FRIEND, by Alexander Söderberg

May 31, 2013

TENSE SWEDISH THRILLER follows an intrepid nurse through a deadly web of international intrigue. Breathtaking.

Grade: B PLUS

THE ANDALUCIAN FRIEND
Crown
2013

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NECESSARY EVIL, by Ian Tregillis

May 6, 2013

NAZI CYBORG WARRIORS, warlock magic, and time travel combine in this brilliant, spooky World War II thriller.

Grade: B PLUS

NECESSARY EVIL
Tor
2013

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THE OFFICE OF MERCY, by Ariel Djanikian

May 2, 2013

ON A POSTAPOCALYPTIC EARTH, bunker-dwelling survivors try to regiment the world around them.  Thoughtful SF.

Grade: B PLUS

THE OFFICE OF MERCY
Viking
2013

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EXTINCTION, by Mark Alpert

April 14, 2013

A CYBORG SINGULARITY RUN wild is at the heart of this high-tech military thriller.  Page-turning suspense!

Grade: SOLID B

EXTINCTION
St. Martin's/Thomas Dunne Books
2013

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RAGE AGAINST THE DYING, by Becky Masterman

April 2, 2013

TAUT, SUSPENSEFUL THRILLER features a retired FBI agent racing to find the killer targeting her.  Good stuff!

Grade: B PLUS

RAGE AGAINST THE DYING
St. Martin's/Minotaur
2013

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GUN MACHINE, by Warren Ellis

March 31, 2013

GRITTY, SPOOKY, FANTASTICALLY well plotted New York police thriller from comics great Warren Ellis.

Grade: A MINUS

GUN MACHINE
Little, Brown/Mulholland Books
2013

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