Don’t Tell a Soul, by David Rosenfelt

 Rosenfelt has written a half dozen mysteries featuring Andy Carpenter, a New Jersey lawyer. With his latest book, he has crafted a thriller with a new set of characters.  Tim Wallace, a construction executive, has been trying to get over the death of his wife in a boating accident.  The police initially suspected him of murdering her but finally cleared him after he passed a lie detector test.  But one cop, Jonathon Novack, still thinks he is guilty and wants to prove it.  Tim is celebrating New Year’s Eve at a bar with some friends when he is approached alone by a man—who tells him that he has murdered a woman and now it is up to Tim to decide what to do with the information.  Tim goes to the police but he is not believed and a string of events convinces Novack to press for Tim to be charged with his wife’s murder.  But, there’s something bigger going on—and it revolves around the grand opening of a new, super-secure Federal Center that’s been built by Tim’s company.  To get to the bottom of the mystery, Tim must go on the run and find some answers before he is captured and arrested.  This was a nice change from the Carpenter series and I enjoyed the new characters.

Illegal Action, by Stella Rimington

 Liz Carlyle, the British MI5 intelligence agent, makes her third appearance in this new novel by Rimington, the former head of MI5.  Carlyle, single, thirtysomething, attractive, and smart, has been working in the Counter Terrorism department but she has just been transferred to Counter Espionage. Liz isn’t too happy about the transfer—feeling the Terrorism department is more important—but she does get to bring along Peggy Kinsolving, her young protégé who is a crackerjack researcher.  Liz has barely gotten her desk organized when the Espionage department receives a credible tip that an assassination is planned for one of the Russian billionaires now residing in London.  The likely target is Nikita Brunovsky, who has been a very vocal critic of Vladimir Putin.  Brunovsky is warned of the threat and it’s decided—after some inter-department squabbles--that, with Brunovsky’s knowledge, Liz will go undercover and become a part of his household while the threat is investigated.  And, what a strange household it is—filled with any number of suspicious characters.  A reluctant Liz is thrust into the lively, turbulent, decadent, and dangerous world of wealthy Russian émigrés in London—and she may be in over her lovely head.   This is a terrific addition to this interesting and entertaining espionage series.

Rules of Deception, by Christopher Reich

 Jonathan Ransom is a surgeon working with Doctors Without Borders and his beautiful wife, Emma, is an administrator with the organization.  After working together for a number of years in very dangerous assignments around the globe, the Ransoms are taking a well-earned breather with a posting to Geneva.  While they are mountain climbing on holiday in the Swiss Alps, Emma is killed when she falls into a deep crevice.  As Jonathan mourns the death of his wife, he receives a note with two baggage claim tickets that belonged to Emma.  The tickets are for packages being held at a nearby train station.  Curious, Jonathan decides to retrieve the items.  As he is leaving the station with the packages, he is attacked by two men dressed as policemen.  Fighting for his life, Jonathan manages to kill one of the men and send the other into a coma.  At this point Jonathan doesn’t know what is going on or who to trust so instead of going to the police, he goes on the run.  When he has time to look at the packages, he discovers that his beloved wife Emma may have been leading a double life—and might have been involved in a diabolical plot that is still unfolding.  I loved this novel! Yes, the story may be a little far-fetched but so what—it’s fiction.  There’s nothing I like better than a character on his own battling unknown forces with just his wits—and Jonathan being pursued by both good guys and bad guys made it even better.  The multiple international settings and interwoven plotlines made this an exciting, suspenseful read. 

The Front, by Patricia Cornwell

 Last year Ms. Cornwell introduced a new set of characters in her novel, At Risk.  Win Garano is a Massachusetts state investigator with a grandmother who has some unusual talents.  Win often finds himself assigned to work with Monique Lamonte, the District Attorney for Middlesex County.  Monique—as her name might imply—is sexy and single.  She is also ruthlessly ambitious, a publicity hound, and would like to be governor.  In an effort to gain some publicity, Lamonte has decided that a long ago unsolved murder case from the early 60s should be reopened and investigated by Garano.  He is none too happy about the assignment—feeling the case of a young, blind girl from England who was murdered so long ago is likely to remain unsolved.  But, he’ll take a look—while also checking into some suspicious activities by Lamonte herself. This was ok but not great. I like the character of Garano and Lamonte is interesting in a scary way but I wish the plot had been a little more entertaining.

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