Here are some more novels of suspense, featuring the Central Intelligence Agency.
Multiple Exposure: a Sophia Medina Novel is written by Ellen Crosby. When her husband, a geologist and covert CIA operative, is abducted and potentially a suspect in his boss’s murder and illicit Russian oil deals, photojournalist Sophie Medina is forced to play a high-stakes game of Russian roulette as she tries to prove his innocence.
Downfall is written by Jeff Abbott. Compelled to assist a beautiful woman who whispers a plea for help in his San Francisco bar, former CIA agent Sam Capra is pursued by authorities and a secret network of people who owe their wealth and power to a mysterious Faustian figure.
English Girl: a Novel is written by Daniel Silva. The wayward son of Israeli intelligence, Allon is plunged into a high stakes game of murder, espionage and corruption after a beautiful young British woman vanishes on the island of Corsica, which threatens to destroy a prime minister’s career.
Blowback: a Vanessa Pierson Novel is written by Valerie Plame Wilson. Narrowly escaping a sniper attack that leaves a key informant dead, covert CIA ops officer Vanessa Pierson resolves to capture the nuclear arms dealer behind the killing and defies orders by involving a fellow officer with whom she is romantically involved.
A Foreign Country is written by Charles Cumming. When a newly appointed first female Chief of M16 disappears weeks after two possibly related cases, disgraced former M16 officer Thomas Kell is offered a chance to redeem his career by conducting a discreet operation that uncovers a shocking conspiracy.
The Secret Soldier is written by Alex Berenson. CIA operative John Wells goes undercover in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon to find conspirators bent on tearing down the monarchy of King Abdullah. If the conspirators prevail, it will mean more than just the fall of a monarch – it may be the start of a final conflagration between America and the full force of Islam itself.
Red Sparrow: a Novel is written by Jason Matthews. Drafted against her will to serve the regime of Vladimir Putin as an intelligence seductress, Dominika Egorova engages in a charged effort of deception and tradecraft with first-tour CIA officer Nathaniel Nash before a forbidden attraction threatens their careers.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
CIA Thrillers
Monika presents a selection of CIA thrillers, each guaranteed to keep you up late at night until you reach the end of the book.
Once a Spy is written by Keith Thomson. After his apartment is blown up by would-be killers, Charlie learns that his father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, used to be a spy for the CIA and part of an operation that sold faulty nuclear technology to terrorists.
Death Echo is written by Elizabeth Lowell. Ex-EIA agent Emma Cross and former Special Forces member MacKenzie Durand put aside their differences and join forces in order to take down a formidable international crime network that plans to destroy a major American city.
Devil’s Light is written by Richard North Patterson. Sidelined after a colleague’s blunder, CIA agent Brooke Chandler envisions a way to halt an Al Qaeda plot to set off a massive nuclear explosion and begins a race against time that returns him to Lebanon, where nothing is quite as it seems.
What Doesn’t Kill You is written by Iris Johansen. Trading information on the streets to survive after being abandoned at the age of four, Catherine Ling is instructed by assassin and master poisoner Hu Chang before being recruited by the CIA and pitted against a rogue operative in a race to obtain a brutally deadly poison.
The Cryptos Conundrum is written by Chase Brandon, a former longtime CIA operations officer. CIA operative Dr. Jonathan S. Chalmers, the only man in the world capable of understanding a mysterious code emblazoned on a famous copper statue in the CIA’s courtyard, works at the head of a task force to contain the greatest secret ever kept by the U.S. government.
The Expats is written by Chris Pavone. Newly arrived in Luxembourg, mother and expat Kate Moore suspects that another American couple is not who they claim to be and as her paranoia grows, she becomes increasingly terrified that her own past is catching up with her.
American Assassin: a Thriller is written by Vince Flynn. Syracuse University student Mitch Rapp broods over the deaths of his girlfriend and thirty-four other classmates on the bombed Pan Am Flight 103, until he is recruited and trained by the CIA and receives his first assignment – to kill the Turkish arms dealer who sold the bomb that killed his friends.
Once a Spy is written by Keith Thomson. After his apartment is blown up by would-be killers, Charlie learns that his father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, used to be a spy for the CIA and part of an operation that sold faulty nuclear technology to terrorists.
Death Echo is written by Elizabeth Lowell. Ex-EIA agent Emma Cross and former Special Forces member MacKenzie Durand put aside their differences and join forces in order to take down a formidable international crime network that plans to destroy a major American city.
Devil’s Light is written by Richard North Patterson. Sidelined after a colleague’s blunder, CIA agent Brooke Chandler envisions a way to halt an Al Qaeda plot to set off a massive nuclear explosion and begins a race against time that returns him to Lebanon, where nothing is quite as it seems.
What Doesn’t Kill You is written by Iris Johansen. Trading information on the streets to survive after being abandoned at the age of four, Catherine Ling is instructed by assassin and master poisoner Hu Chang before being recruited by the CIA and pitted against a rogue operative in a race to obtain a brutally deadly poison.
The Cryptos Conundrum is written by Chase Brandon, a former longtime CIA operations officer. CIA operative Dr. Jonathan S. Chalmers, the only man in the world capable of understanding a mysterious code emblazoned on a famous copper statue in the CIA’s courtyard, works at the head of a task force to contain the greatest secret ever kept by the U.S. government.
The Expats is written by Chris Pavone. Newly arrived in Luxembourg, mother and expat Kate Moore suspects that another American couple is not who they claim to be and as her paranoia grows, she becomes increasingly terrified that her own past is catching up with her.
American Assassin: a Thriller is written by Vince Flynn. Syracuse University student Mitch Rapp broods over the deaths of his girlfriend and thirty-four other classmates on the bombed Pan Am Flight 103, until he is recruited and trained by the CIA and receives his first assignment – to kill the Turkish arms dealer who sold the bomb that killed his friends.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Longbourn
A different view of the goings-on at Longbourn, the family home of the Bennetts in Jane Austen’s book Pride and Prejudice. In this recently-written novel by Jo Baker, life is seen through the eyes of the Bennett’s servants. And while the reader does catch glimpses of the major events in the original novel, the focus here is squarely on the five servants: orphaned Sarah, a housemaid; Mrs. Hill, the cook and head servant; her husband Mr. Hill, Polly, a younger housemaid; and James Smith, a footman who is hired by Mr. Bennett after mysteriously arriving in the night. At first Sarah mistrusts James, thinking him to be a fraud. Sarah would like to escape Longbourn and travel the wide world, particularly going to London. She thinks she sees her chance to do this by leaving with one of the Bingley’s menservants, but James prevents her from making a disastrous mistake. A romance develops between Sarah and James but James has a secret that he doesn’t dare reveal to her. He had been punished for supposedly deserting the British army after battle and has been on the run ever since. With the installation of the militia in the neighborhood, James is on edge and decides to quit Longbourn and work elsewhere.
There are other mysteries to be resolved here too: the relationship between Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Hill; the reasons for James’ journey; and how Sarah is able to locate him. All are eventually revealed through Baker’s accurate detail and perceptive characterization. This is an enjoyable read for Austen fans and for others.
There are other mysteries to be resolved here too: the relationship between Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Hill; the reasons for James’ journey; and how Sarah is able to locate him. All are eventually revealed through Baker’s accurate detail and perceptive characterization. This is an enjoyable read for Austen fans and for others.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Authors Celebrating November Birthdays
Commemorate these authors’ birthdays by reading some of their books.
November 18th – Margaret Atwood is a Canadian novelist, poet and literary critic, well-known for several titles that some regard as science fiction but she sees as “speculative fiction”. Some of her best-known works include The Handmaid’s Tale, The Blind Assassin, and MaddAddam.
November 20th -- Don DeLillo, a novelist, playwright and essayist, is viewed as an author of the literary postmodernism era. He has been both nominee and finalist for several book awards. Some of his best-known works include White Noise, Libra, and The Body Artist.
November 23rd -- Rick Bayless, a chef and cookbook author, specializes in regional Mexican cuisine. His cookbooks include Rick Bayless’s Mexican Kitchen and Fiesta at Rick’s: Fabulous Food for Great Times with Friends. He also hosts the PBS series Mexico: One Plate at a Time.
November 26th – Charles Schulz was a cartoonist and the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. He has left a legacy in a collection of books containing his Peanuts cartoons as well as videos.
November 27th – Michael Stackpole is a science fiction and fantasy writer who has contributed to several volumes in the Star Wars and the Battle Tech series. He also has had a career in game design.
November 28th – Rita Mae Brown is the “coauthor” of mysteries written with her cat Sneaky Pie Brown, featuring the feline character Mrs. Murphy. These include The Big Cat Nap and A Nose for Justice. She also has written other styles of fiction, poetry and screenplays.
November 30th – Mark Twain, pseudonym of author and humorist Samuel Clemens, lived during the 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for his classic novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
November 18th – Margaret Atwood is a Canadian novelist, poet and literary critic, well-known for several titles that some regard as science fiction but she sees as “speculative fiction”. Some of her best-known works include The Handmaid’s Tale, The Blind Assassin, and MaddAddam.
November 20th -- Don DeLillo, a novelist, playwright and essayist, is viewed as an author of the literary postmodernism era. He has been both nominee and finalist for several book awards. Some of his best-known works include White Noise, Libra, and The Body Artist.
November 23rd -- Rick Bayless, a chef and cookbook author, specializes in regional Mexican cuisine. His cookbooks include Rick Bayless’s Mexican Kitchen and Fiesta at Rick’s: Fabulous Food for Great Times with Friends. He also hosts the PBS series Mexico: One Plate at a Time.
November 26th – Charles Schulz was a cartoonist and the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. He has left a legacy in a collection of books containing his Peanuts cartoons as well as videos.
November 27th – Michael Stackpole is a science fiction and fantasy writer who has contributed to several volumes in the Star Wars and the Battle Tech series. He also has had a career in game design.
November 28th – Rita Mae Brown is the “coauthor” of mysteries written with her cat Sneaky Pie Brown, featuring the feline character Mrs. Murphy. These include The Big Cat Nap and A Nose for Justice. She also has written other styles of fiction, poetry and screenplays.
November 30th – Mark Twain, pseudonym of author and humorist Samuel Clemens, lived during the 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for his classic novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Craft Presents for the Holidays
Express your creative side by crafting holiday gifts for friends and family. Here are some books to get you started.
Vogue Knitting Very Easy Sweaters: 50 Simple, Stylish Designs features current styles using basic stitches and techniques. Color photos accompany each project. First-time knitters and those with more experience will find patterns to interest them.
The New Crochet: a Beginner’s Guide with 38 Modern Projects, written by Marion Madel, presents 25 lessons in the art of crocheting, each including at least one, or two, projects to reinforce the stitch or technique. Illustrations and color photos assist the crafter.
Sew Modern Baby: 19 Projects to Sew from Cuddly Sleepers to Stimulating Toys, written by Angela Yosten, offers ideas and patterns for creating infant toys and accessories out of fabric. Color photos and explicit instructions abound.
And, for kids of all ages, here are two books each featuring 101 duct tape activities: Tape It & Make It and Tape It & Make More, each written by Richela Fabian Morgan. Create fashion accessories, housewares, costumes and more. In-depth instructions show you how.
Vogue Knitting Very Easy Sweaters: 50 Simple, Stylish Designs features current styles using basic stitches and techniques. Color photos accompany each project. First-time knitters and those with more experience will find patterns to interest them.
The New Crochet: a Beginner’s Guide with 38 Modern Projects, written by Marion Madel, presents 25 lessons in the art of crocheting, each including at least one, or two, projects to reinforce the stitch or technique. Illustrations and color photos assist the crafter.
Sew Modern Baby: 19 Projects to Sew from Cuddly Sleepers to Stimulating Toys, written by Angela Yosten, offers ideas and patterns for creating infant toys and accessories out of fabric. Color photos and explicit instructions abound.
And, for kids of all ages, here are two books each featuring 101 duct tape activities: Tape It & Make It and Tape It & Make More, each written by Richela Fabian Morgan. Create fashion accessories, housewares, costumes and more. In-depth instructions show you how.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Cooking for Thanksgiving Day
Start planning now for your Thanksgiving Day menu! Here are some cookbooks to help you out.
Autumn from the Heart of the Home, written by Susan Branch, is a combination of cookbook and gift book designated just for Thanksgiving and Halloween. The book is brightly decorated with watercolor illustrations and appropriate quotations, and includes easy recipes, tips on entertaining, decorating ideas, and other projects.
How to Cook a Turkey: and all the other Trimmings is produced by the editors of Fine Cooking magazine. Sure to satisfy the needs of both novices and more experienced cooks, there are a hundred recipes covering everything from appetizers, to turkey, gravy, and stuffing, to desserts – especially pies. Color photos accompany it all.
Thanksgiving: how to Cook it Well is written by Sam Sifton, a former New York Times restaurant critic; it was named one of the best books of the year by Eater.com. He presents the basics and more, with many variations; helpful hints abound. The reader also will enjoy his ideas for leftovers.
Thanksgiving 101: Celebrate America’s Favorite Holiday with America’s Thanksgiving Expert, written by Rick Rodgers, presents recipes, menus, shortcuts, variations on classics and more. Rodgers is also the author of The Turkey Cookbook and teaches Thanksgiving 101 classes.
Autumn from the Heart of the Home, written by Susan Branch, is a combination of cookbook and gift book designated just for Thanksgiving and Halloween. The book is brightly decorated with watercolor illustrations and appropriate quotations, and includes easy recipes, tips on entertaining, decorating ideas, and other projects.
How to Cook a Turkey: and all the other Trimmings is produced by the editors of Fine Cooking magazine. Sure to satisfy the needs of both novices and more experienced cooks, there are a hundred recipes covering everything from appetizers, to turkey, gravy, and stuffing, to desserts – especially pies. Color photos accompany it all.
Thanksgiving: how to Cook it Well is written by Sam Sifton, a former New York Times restaurant critic; it was named one of the best books of the year by Eater.com. He presents the basics and more, with many variations; helpful hints abound. The reader also will enjoy his ideas for leftovers.
Thanksgiving 101: Celebrate America’s Favorite Holiday with America’s Thanksgiving Expert, written by Rick Rodgers, presents recipes, menus, shortcuts, variations on classics and more. Rodgers is also the author of The Turkey Cookbook and teaches Thanksgiving 101 classes.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Strange Stories, Part Two
Ready for some more horror tales? Try these on for size.
Ash is written by James Herbert. Visiting a secluded stately home that country locals believe to be haunted, paranormal investigator David Ash looks into stories about strange occurrences and makes a shocking discovery beyond anything he has ever encountered.
Breed is written by Chase Novak. A couple obsessed with their infertility travels to Slovenia to have an unusual and painful procedure that results in horrible consequences they manage to hide until their twins, Adam and Alice, turn ten years old and start asking questions.
Abandon: a Novel is written by Blake Crouch. Hiring back-country guides, a psychic, and a paranormal photographer to aid their investigation into the bizarre and abrupt disappearances of every citizen from a gold-mining town over a century earlier, a history professor and his journalist daughter embark on the journey aware that the last team that attempted to solve the mystery was never heard from again.
77 Shadow Street is written by Dean Koontz. Once the center of madness, suicide, mass murder, and whispers of things far worse, the 1800s Gilded Age palace known as the Pendleton, has been re-christened in the 1970s as a luxury apartment building. But now inexplicable shadows caper across walls, security cameras relay impossible images, phantom voices mutter in strange tongues, not-quite-human figures lurk in the basement, and elevators plunge into unknown depths.
American Gods is written by Neil Gaiman. Just released from prison, Shadow encounters Mr. Wednesday, an enigmatic stranger who seems to know a lot about him, and when Mr. Wednesday offers him a job as his bodyguard, Shadow accepts and is plunged into a dark and perilous world.
Ash is written by James Herbert. Visiting a secluded stately home that country locals believe to be haunted, paranormal investigator David Ash looks into stories about strange occurrences and makes a shocking discovery beyond anything he has ever encountered.
Breed is written by Chase Novak. A couple obsessed with their infertility travels to Slovenia to have an unusual and painful procedure that results in horrible consequences they manage to hide until their twins, Adam and Alice, turn ten years old and start asking questions.
Abandon: a Novel is written by Blake Crouch. Hiring back-country guides, a psychic, and a paranormal photographer to aid their investigation into the bizarre and abrupt disappearances of every citizen from a gold-mining town over a century earlier, a history professor and his journalist daughter embark on the journey aware that the last team that attempted to solve the mystery was never heard from again.
77 Shadow Street is written by Dean Koontz. Once the center of madness, suicide, mass murder, and whispers of things far worse, the 1800s Gilded Age palace known as the Pendleton, has been re-christened in the 1970s as a luxury apartment building. But now inexplicable shadows caper across walls, security cameras relay impossible images, phantom voices mutter in strange tongues, not-quite-human figures lurk in the basement, and elevators plunge into unknown depths.
American Gods is written by Neil Gaiman. Just released from prison, Shadow encounters Mr. Wednesday, an enigmatic stranger who seems to know a lot about him, and when Mr. Wednesday offers him a job as his bodyguard, Shadow accepts and is plunged into a dark and perilous world.
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