Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Thrillers Book Reviews Available Now (page 8)


Showing

Cover art for STRANGE FLESH
FICTION
Released: April 3, 2012

"A profane, heady thriller more startling and compelling than its individual components and influences might demonstrate."
Sex, lies and video all play a role in the unraveling of a lusty, gifted hacker. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE DEEP ZONE
FICTION
Released: April 3, 2012

"A smart, informative debut thriller with a pair of assertive heroines that draws us into the strange wonders of inner space."
A super-lethal, fast-spreading bacterium that eats its victims from the inside out is decimating U.S. troops in Afghanistan and posing the threat of a pandemic. Read full book review >
Cover art for DRIVEN
FICTION
Released: April 3, 2012

"The noir formula readily accommodates Sallis' mannered dialogue. Even so, most readers will feel a jarring split between the ostensibly thrilling tale and the downbeat commonplaces that punctuate it, or vice versa."
Just in time for fans of the Ryan Gosling film adaptation, the further adventures of Driver (Drive, 2005). Read full book review >
Cover art for HOUSE OF THE HUNTED
FICTION
Released: April 3, 2012

"A lot of atmosphere complements the excitement, while the ending seems to suggest that a sequel might be in the works. Let's hope so."
A solid literary thriller from Mills. Read full book review >
Cover art for DECEPTION
FICTION
Released: April 1, 2012

"A solid read, but the ending doesn't satisfy."
A British spy thriller from Magson (Tracers, 2011, etc.). Read full book review >
Cover art for THE CALYPSO DIRECTIVE
FICTION
Released: April 1, 2012

"The story works until the last third of the novel, when supposedly brilliant and capable people make some pretty basic mistakes that propel the cast of characters into an ending that does little but set up an obvious sequel."
A biological thriller that mixes a series of "what-if" scenarios as it moves from New York to Europe in the blink of an eye. Read full book review >
Cover art for SAILOR
FICTION
Released: March 27, 2012

"As a novel of pursuit, this one has more than enough plot and characters to keep things lively, but without a charismatic hero, it never rises to a proper level of excitement."
A former mob wife whose testimony put her abusive ex in the slammer flees witness protection in Oklahoma when baddies, including a corrupt and bungling federal marshal, start killing people around her and her young son. Read full book review >
Cover art for BLOWOUT
FICTION
Released: March 27, 2012

"An enjoyable and fast-moving tale that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next one."
A blistering thriller from Dorgan, a former congressman and senator for North Dakota, and Hagberg, a former U.S. Air Force cryptographer. Read full book review >
Cover art for GAMES TRAITORS PLAY
FICTION
Released: March 27, 2012

"Scattered clichés and a threadbare Mata Hari subplot aside, this one will please fans."
Ploys and counter-ploys, motives sincere and suspicious, agents trustworthy and treacherous--plus a daunting lexicon of spy-agency jargon, terms and acronyms--highlight a complex thriller about the search for a "most wanted" terrorist. Read full book review >
Cover art for PHANTOM
FICTION
Released: March 20, 2012

Strange disasters are occurring around the world. Read full book review >
Cover art for ANGELMAKER
FICTION
Released: March 20, 2012

"Top-notch."
A bang comes at the door, and with it an offer that one shouldn't refuse but must. Read full book review >
Cover art for STAY CLOSE
FICTION
Released: March 20, 2012

"A proficient but routine thriller in which you can tell for miles in advance who's disposable and who's slated for survival, marked by the virtual absence of the baroque plot twists fans of Coben (Live Wire, 2011, etc.) expect as their due."
The past comes knocking for a former stripper who thought she'd said goodbye to all that in an altogether less-successful distaff reworking of The Innocent (2005). Read full book review >