Suspense

In Lawrence Osborne's new novel Beautiful Animals, two entitled girls vacationing on a chic Greek island get involved with a mysterious stranger - with wholly unexpected results. Critic John Powers says, if you haven't read Osborne, this is a great place to start.

Enter Me

The suspense stories on Maureen Corrigan's early summer reading list roam from the beaches of Long Island to the Welsh coast, and from the mean streets of Chicago to the alleyways of Berlin.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews two new historical suspense novels that she says you will want to stay up all night to finish.

The British author wrote crime novels for 50 years, many featuring Chief Inspector "Reg" Wexford. Rendell died May 2. Originally broadcast in 1989 and 2005.

The British novelist set shocking crimes in mundane settings -- always adding a dash of social criticism. Critic Maureen Corrigan says she is forever giving Rendell's books to friends.

A new mystery by novelist Zygmunt Miloszewski explores Poland's relationship to its anti-Semitic past. Teodor Szacki, the likably washed-up hero, must sprint all over town interrogating suspects, including so-called Polish "patriots" — extremists who bombard him with their anti-Semitic rants.

Dr. Jennifer White is a retired orthopedic surgeon diagnosed with dementia — who cannot remember whether or not she killed her friend. Alice LaPlante's debut novel is a fearless and compassionate investigation into the erosion of her main character's mind.

Set in various fantastic and creepy landscapes, Dan Chaon's latest book, Await Your Reply, weaves together three separate narratives in what reviewer Maureen Corrigan calls a "spinning nebula of a novel."

Mystery writer Ruth Rendell is known both for her more traditional Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford mysteries and for dark psychological thrillers. Her new book, 13 Steps Down, falls into the latter category.

Author Allen Kurzweil's latest novel is the literary thriller The Grand Complication. His first novel, A Case of Curiosities, (Harcourt, 1992) received international critical acclaim. Kurzweil worked for many years as a freelance journalist in Europe before settling in the United States and turning his attention to fiction.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews thrillers.

Book Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews two new thrillers set in Washington, DC: Shame the Devil by George Pelecanos (Little Brown and Co.) and Chaos Theory by Gary Krist (Random House).

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews three new thrillers. Basilica by William Montalbano (Putnam), Archangel by Robert Harris (Random House), The Second Angel by Philip Kerr (Henry Holt).

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Rough Justice" (Harper Collins) by Lisa Scottoline.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan gives her summer reading round-up (part one): "Neanderthal," by John Darnton (Random House); "Firestorm," by Nevada Barr (Putnam); "The World at Night," by Alan Furst (Random House); "Ruined By Reading," by Lynne Sharon Schwartz (Beacon).

Book critic John Leonard reviews "The Innocent," by British novelist Ian McEwan.

Book critic John Leonard reviews "Foucault's Pendulum," the new novel by Umberto Eco. Eco's first novel was the critically acclaimed bestseller "The Name of the Rose."

Writer Ken Follett. He was only 27 when his 11th novel, "Eye of the Needle," became a huge bestseller. When it was later adapted into a hit film, it only enhanced Follett's reputation as a master of the thriller genre. His other novels include "Triple" and "The Key to Rebecca." Follett's latest effort is a departure from this successful formula. "The Pillars of the Earth" is a historical novel set in 12th century England; its plot centers on the building of a cathedral.

Crime writer Patricia Highsmith. Her first novel, Strangers on a Train, was later made into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Her new novel, her 19th, is titled Found in the Street.