"Stone Cold", by David Baldacci (Pan Macmillan)

Spies, action and Cold War conspiracy = an exhilarating read

The genre of political thrillers is slowly becoming rather crowded with some truly superb writers. David Baldacci is without doubt among the most skilled writers in this genre, and with Stone Cold he's scored yet another home run.

Reuniting us with Oliver Stone/John Carr after the events of The Collectors, Stone Cold delves a little deeper into Stone's background, giving us more detail of what he got up to when employed by the CIA. This back-story is all linked in with events that are taking place in the present day: members of his former team are getting taken out one by one. Convinced the deaths are connected, Stone decides to investigate, putting his nose in places it doesn't belong.

The rest of the Camel Club (the aging, motley assortment of conspiracy theorists) are all present, of course, as are a whole host of other interesting and three-dimensional characters. Milton, the genius with a photographic-memory is still my favourite, though every character has their part to play in the story. A lot of time is also written from the perspective of Harry Finn, the main "enemy" of the novel, and Baldacci has created an extremely compelling character: by day a family man who works for Homeland Security, identifying holes that can be exploited by terrorists and helping officials seal them up. By night (and sometimes during the day, too) he has some bloody scores to settle. To be honest, though, it's his successes at his official job that are the most chilling - that official buildings and installations might really be that insecure...

Annabelle Conroy, the beautiful con-artist is another main player in this novel, having stolen $40 million from casino king and certifiable psychopath Jerry Bagger. The two story lines run parallel to each other, with the Camel Club trying to keep Annabelle out of Bagger's hands.

The book has a number of running themes throughout, including loyalty, trust, vengeance and justice. The novel's two plots are about histories catching up with the present; in this case Annabelle's and Stone's. The plotting is extremely tight, and you'll find yourself flying through it (even at 500+ pages, this was a surprisingly quick read). All the characters are fully developed, the plot is superb and Baldacci's writing just keeps getting better and better.

Filled with contemporary fears and themes, cloak-and-dagger politics, twists and suspense, all tied together through superlative writing, Stone Cold is a real page-turner, delivering the action, thrills and quality that we've come to expect from Baldacci. It will have you on the edge of your seat, and after finishing the last page, wanting much more. Thankfully, Divine Justice, the follow up, will be released later this year, so there's not too long to wait before we're reunited with the Camel Club.

Baldacci is still one of the best. If you don't already read his work, it's about time you go out and discover what you've been missing all this time.

For Fans Of: Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Frederick Forsythe, Kyle Mills, Andrew Britton, Robert Ludlum, Alex Berenson

"The Way Of Shadows", by Brent Weeks (Orbit)

The start of something truly fantastic

Fantasy fiction has undertaken a shift in tone and style in recent years. It's darker, more realistic (oddly), and the characters are less polished, more flawed and human. The fairy-tale feel of older fantasy fiction has been purged from much the genre's new writing, and the world is better for it. Brent Weeks' new series not only fits perfectly into this new genre, but it surpasses much of what's already available.

The Way Of Shadows follows the struggles of Azoth (who later changes his name to Kylar Stern), as he attempts to escape his life as a guild rat. Life on the streets is hard, dirty, brutal and dark. Weeks is able to portray the fear and desperation his character lives through brilliantly, in some cases revealing only enough to let our imaginations conjure up the most horrible scenarios (Rat's treatment of Azoth's friends Jarl and Doll Girl, for example). This is not a novel for young children.

Azoth, tired of the terror and brutality of being a guild rat, manages to escape his life on the street by pursuing an apprenticeship with Durzo Blint, the most accomplished and skilled, of Cenaria's magically-gifted assassins (or "wetboy"). Azoth must learn the ways of a killer, separating his emotions from the orders and whims of those in control of the purse-strings - be it the Sa'Kage crime-lords or the political class in the city, living by Blunt's rules or suffering the deadly consequences.

The Way Of Shadows manages to avoid most of the pitfalls that usually weaken debut novels, such as excessive exposition that can tiresomely slow a story. Weeks has managed to not succumbed to this, using a number of excellent tricks to introduce us to the environment and the host of characters that make up Cenaria's various social strata - his best are through Blint's and Azoth's hunting/scouting trips, which give us insight into the politics and culture of the upper classes without interrupting the flow or atmosphere. If I have one personal complaint, though, it's that Weeks' has used the overly common fantasy trope of having names bisected by apostrophes.

The plot contains some classic elements: the coming of age, triumph over adversity, and character transformation, all done to a very high standard. There is also the internal struggles that define Azoth and Durzo, each of whom has his own issues with the life they've chosen. Azoth is unable to relinquish his attachments to others, despite it being necessary to be accepted into this new world of "wetboys" - who aren't just mere assassins, but magic-wielding killing artists. He often finds himself in a struggle between his training and his own morals, unable at first to fully relinquish his attachment to life and the innocent. While Durzo, on the other hand, most skilled of all wetboys, vehemently opposes personal relationships as a result of a tragedy in his past. It feels at first that there are a large number of plot threads to juggle, and it's not immediately apparent how they will link up, but Weeks manages to tie them all up deftly, making everything fall into place - an attempted coup, which affects all the characters differently.

At almost 650 pages (plus insightful bonus interviews, etc., after the novel proper), this is a pretty heft tome. But, like Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell (two others of the best of the new breed of fantasy authors), Weeks manages, with fluid prose and tight plotting, to keep the reader entertained and engrossed throughout: there's plenty of action, complex characters, occasional well-placed humour, and a twisting plot that will keep you guessing almost to the end and hooked until the very last word.

In The Way of Shadows, Weeks has created a vivid new world full of political intrigue, individual struggle, a dark and gritty complexity, and superb characters. Thankfully, books two and three will also be out this year (6th November and 4th December), so there's no need to wait too long to continue reading about the exploits of Azoth/Kylar Stern.

Solid, extremely well written, and deftly plotted, The Way Of Shadows is a promising debut from a talented new voice in urban fantasy fiction.

For Fans of: Scott Lynch, Alan Campbell, Richard Morgan, Patrick Rothfuss, and Joe Abercrombie

"Dark of the Moon", by John Sandford (Pocket Books)

Sex, Money, Murder & Small-Town America... Fantastic!

Taking a break from his Lucas Davenport series, John Sandford has started a new spin-off following the investigations of Virgil Flowers. Or, "That f**king Flowers!", as almost everyone refers to him eventually.

Beginning with a grisly, ritualistic murder of an elderly couple, and a devastating arson attack on a local billionaire, Virgil Flowers is sent by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to check it all out. Making great use of the small-town gossip-mill (portrayed in a nice, amusing way), Flowers starts closing in the killer with the help of local town Sherriff, Stryker (who is in a "bromantic" relationship with Flowers, constantly trading quips, dicussing women, and ribbing each other).

Dark Of The Moon has a different feel than the Lucas Davenport series, illustrating that despite writing for over 18 years, Sandford's skill with words and characterisation has only grown. Flowers' internal monologue is completely different to Davenport's, which makes the series fresher (more introspective, impulsive, a touch of religion, and perhaps suffering a little with ADHD). His methods are also different - Flowers sketches out his thoughts in fictionalised fashion, which allows the author to sprinkle some gentle humour throughout the story. The writing is tight and controlled, not overly descriptive. There's no "fat" here, it's a lean story with taut plotting and great characters; from the protagonist, the sherriff, and Joanie (the love interest). Even the lesser characters are wholly believable.

A new series, a new character, but retaining the qualities that have made Sandford's novels so successful (bloody realism, great locales, humour, and an amazing sense for thrilling narrative), Dark Of The Moon is a great addition to Sandford's ever-growing bibliography. Showing no signs of slowing down, he really is the American master of crime fiction! Bring on the second volume, out next year: Heat Lightning!

For fans of: Robert Crais, Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke, James Patterson, John Hart, Greg Iles

"Dead on Arrival", by Mike Lawson (Harper Collins)

Political Thriller done right!

Mike Lawson's debut, The Inside Ring (2006) introduced us to Joe DeMarco, trouble-shooter for the Speaker of the US Congress, Mahoney. Called on to do all the jobs the Speaker doesn't want publicised, DeMarco works in the dirty underbelly of US politics (not to mention having an office in the basement). The novel is told primarily from the perspective of DeMarco and the Speaker (who's actually an awesome character, so his increased presence here is definitely welcome), providing insight into both the public and private workings of the US government.

A series of failed attacks by Muslim Americans gets the politicians all riled up and calling for blood. At first, the call is only from a freshman, Senator Broderick, who calls for Muslim registration (to begin with). As these attacks get larger and more brazen, the Speaker sends DeMarco off to investigate why one of the attackers, who happened to be a family friend, decided to slaughter his family and try to fly his Cessna into the White House.

Working with various government agencies (cheekily dropping the Speaker's name whenever he meets resistance), DeMarco uncovers a plot of far greater magnitude and consequence.

Lawson has recovered from his lacklustre second novel, The Payback (2007), and Dead On Arrival returns us to a gritty political world, where almost everyone can be bought or intimidate. For a hatchetman, DeMarco lacks the Bond-esque qualities of many leading men (he's uncomfortable around guns, for example, and has a habit of getting caught), making him far more believable and, strangely, likeable.

With tighter prose, Lawson's really upped his game. A longer, slow-burning thriller, Dead On Arrival will appeal to anyone who likes political thrillers focussing on current events, and especially those who aren't in any hurry to get to the end. Highly recommended in a field that is growing increasingly more popular and competitive.

For fans of: Andrew Britton, Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills, Alex Berenson, David Baldacci

"The Final Reckoning", by Sam Bourne (Harper Collins)

"The Biggest Challenge to Dan Brown's Crown"? Nope. This is so much better!

Just a quick review, here: This was my first Sam Bourne novel, having put off reading his others because of the constant references to Dan Brown (yes, I know, I did the same, above...). In The Final Reckoning, however, after a slightly slow beginning, I found myself hooked to one of the best books I've read all year (much to the annoyance of my girlfriend, who I was visiting at the time). Its two gripping storylines - one set in present day London and New York, and another set during the Holocaust - mesh perfectly, if rather darkly (the details of life in the Lithuanian ghettos will stay with you, for sure).

Following an accidental shooting at the UN building in New York, some-time disillusioned UN lawyer, current mob-lawyer Tom Byrne is hired to solve the riddle of why the old man was confused with a terrorist. Thrown into the middle of a conspiracy that has spanned over 60 years, Byrne and the daughter of the victim, Rebecca, unearth some truly frightening truths about certain men in very high, influential places.

Very well written, combining strong dialogue and just the right amount of exposition, Sam Bourne has created a book that should appeal to everyone who wants intrigue, globetrotting, and red-herrings to keep you guessing (I actually guessed the ending, but Bourne threw me two major red-herrings that almost made me second-guess myself, the crafty so-and-so). The Final Reckoning blends fact and fiction wonderfully (the author's note at the end of the book is equally surprising).

Sure, Sam Bourne is probably going to be lazily compared to Dan Brown for a good portion of his career, though it is wholly unwarrented. Exciting, gripping and near-impossible to put down, The Final Reckoning is perfect summer-reading, but will also keep you entertained on those cold winter nights. If you want a good thriller with quality historical detail, a gripping narrative and characters you will care about... well, get this. I'm going to go buy his other books, now.

For fans of: Andrew Grosse, Matthew Reilly, James Twining, Daniel Silva, James Rollins

"Six Sacred Stones", by Matthew Reilly (Pan)

Buckle up for the sequel to The Seven Ancient Wonders!

Reuniting us once again with Jack West Jr. (retired Australian Special Forces, with a metal arm) and his friends and allies from the previous novel, we are taken on yet another globetrotting adventure romp with archaeological and apocalyptic themes. After a secret ceremony undoes their work from the previous novel, Jack and his fellow adventurers are set on another mission, with time once again running out!

Shaped around a quest to find the stones of the title, and get them to significant, hidden sites to stave of the apocalypse, the novel takes us all over the world as Jack and Co. battle against time, well-armed and ill-intentioned enemies, and traitors in their midst. A lot of thought and research has gone into this book - from information about the sites visited to history (sure, Reilly's used artistic license to alter history to his needs, but he's allowed to, so stop complaining - this is meant to be fun!).

Some people might be inclined to give this a miss, given it's rather... esoteric premise, but I guarantee if you like Indiana Jones, James Bond, The Mummy movies, or any other adventure story, then you will thoroughly enjoy Matthew Reilly's novels. The pace never lets up: the 567 pages whizz by, leaving you rather breathless and hankering for more (the third book in the series is on its way).

With an excrutiating cliff-hanger at the end, there is little doubt that you'll be eagerly waiting for the forthcoming exploits of this driven group of adventurers.

Great fun, very well written, this is pure unadulterated entertainment. Just as it should be.

"Phantom Prey", by John Sandford (Simon & Schuster)

Volume 18 in the ever-excellent Lucas Davenport series

This latest novel from John Sandford finds Lucas a little older but no less active in his mission to discover the whereabouts of a wealthy friend's daughter.

Slower than some of the previous Davenport thrillers, the story nevertheless proceeds at a fair clip, with Sandford's impeccable prose and plotting pulling us willingly along with him.

Delving into Goth culture in the Twin Cities, Phantom Prey travels into new territory for Davenport, complete with close-shaves and a fiendish killer "Fairy" on the loose. Complete with Sandford's usual attention to grisly detail, and plenty of red-herrings and twists to keep you guessing until he reveals the baddies (sort of - you'll just have to read it to see what I mean), Phantom Prey fits perfectly into the series.

One question, though - why do cops always go for Porsches? (James Patterson's Alex Cross has one, too...)

"Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight", by Michael Reeves (Arrow)

A new trilogy begins, set between Episodes III and IV

And so begins another trilogy aimed at filling in some of the blanks between the middle two episodes. Set on Coruscant, Jedi Twilight introduces us not only to a host of new characters, but also a seedier, grimier side of the "gleaming capital" of the Star Wars universe.

Following the actions of Jax Pavan (a newly-minted Jedi Knight when Order 66 was given to wipe them out), an acerbic droid who's well on his way to becoming sentient thanks to a generous removal of software, and a Sullustan journalist. Unlike most other Star Wars novels, this one is a little slow, taking almost half the 343 pages to bring the main characters together. It dispenses with the fast-paced space action, set as it is on one planet. It's because of this that the novel is a little unfulfilling, though it does mean that we're learning about the Star Wars universe on a smaller, compressed scale, rather than the vast scale we're used to. Sure, as part 1 of 3 we know there isn't going to be any closure at the end, but it's usually better to have something a little more gripping to keep people excited about the next instalment (Streets of Shadows).

What makes Jedi Twilight stand out most for me was how Reaves focusses more on what the Force is to different users. The descriptions of how it appears to main protagonist Jax Pavan as dark or light tendrils of intent are particularly new. The "return" of established characters such as Prince Xizor of the Black Sun criminal organisation, as well as everyone's favourite wheezing menace Darth Vader, help the reader to remain connected with the over-arching Star Wars saga, as well as bringing some familiarity to an otherwise completely new story.

It's well worth reading, but don't expect something as fast as most other Star Wars novels. Exciting and interesting events do start to take off a little over halfway through (at which point the novel improves tenfold), which will be rewarding to Star Wars fiction fans, but might be a little too late for casual readers who picked up the novel on a whim.

While the end of the novel does leave you wanting more, it would still perhaps be best to wait for all three volumes to be out, so you don't have to wait too long to find out what happens next, able to treat the trilogy as one long book in one go.

"Invincible", by Troy Denning (Arrow)

And so we come to the end...

The final installment in any series always runs the risk of being a massive disappointment. Thankfully, Invincible does not suffer from this malady. This will be a short review through necessity, because any great description of the plot will ruin it for everyone not yet caught up.

Needless to say, Troy Denning has really rolled up his sleeves and got stuck into the gritty nature of civil war (expanded to galactic scope, here) and the tragedies and attrocities that war can compel people to commit.

Invincible is more brutal than pretty much any previous Star Wars novel or movie. The battles between Jaina and Jacen/Caedus are described in amazing, gruesome detail - so much so that you almost feel like you're actually there.

Perhaps the reason Invincible doesn't fall foul of last-installment pitfalls is because it's not, ultimately, a last installment. There will be more novels to come with the characters we all continue to love (next up, chronologically, is Millennium Falcon, out at the end of this year).

Excellent plotting, excellent humour (though not too much), and allegory done very well and deftly, Invincible is one of the best Star Wars novels to come out over the past few years (it certainly blows all of the previous long series out of the water). If you haven't started the Legacy of the Force series yet, get cracking so you can get up to speed and enjoy this cracking final chapter.

Highly recommended.

"The Malice Box", by Martin Langfield (Penguin)

Satisfying supernatural-tinged thriller from promising new author

Martin Langfield's The Malice Box was not what I was expecting. The supernatural/spiritual elements of the story took me a little by surprise, as I was expecting something more akin to a Indiana Jones-like romp. Instead, there's a lot to do with our psychic identities and some people's psychic powers, and whatnot.

This novel centres around three friends and their "entanglement" from their days back at Cambridge University together. These are Robert Reckliss, British journalist based in New York; Adam Hale, his eccentric friend; and Katherine, Robert's wife and once-girlfriend of Adam (no thriller is complete without a love-triangle of some sort). The characters are all believable (psychic-natures excepting, for some readers), and you do end up caring about them. Some times it can feel like not enough development went into creating all of them, though, and some elements might appear standard or cliched for the thriller genre.

Througout the novel, Langfield uses flash-backs a lot! This actually, is probably the only downside to this book; the author's addiction to changing timeline can sometimes be a little infuriating. I'm all for tantalising cliff-hanger endings, but sometimes it gets a little annoying, here.

But, if you're fine with these jumps back and forth through time, then The Malice Box is a very satisfying read. Set in two of my favourite places in the world, New York City and Cambridge, it had the added appeal to me because it read a little like a quide book - especially for the former. Some might be put off by this, but Langfield manages to describe each location in the city (of which Robert visits many) in a welcome, interesting way. Anecdotes about landmarks add local colour to the novel, while not detracting from the overall scavenger-hunt theme of the story. If you've been to New York before, then you will probably get more out of this novel than someone who either hasn't, or someone who has no intention of ever going. Langfield clearly loves this city, and it comes across very well in his writing.

To describe much of the story would ruin it for anyone not yet familiar with the novel. Needless to say, this is a very well written thriller, with decent pace, original ideas, likeable characters, and fluid prose. If you're looking for something light, but not trashy, then you should pick up The Malice Box. While there are better thriller writers out there (John Sandford, Kyle Mills and Vince Flynn come to mind), for a first novel, The Malice Box shows a natural skill for story-telling that bodes well for Langfield's future output. (Think a better-written, less schmaltzy James Patterson, or his earlier Alex Cross novels, if you need a reference.)

I've been unable to find any information on Mr Langfield's next novel, but I assume he will be writing one, and I am greatly looking forward to it.

A great mass-market appeal thriller. Recommended.