Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




2011 Best of Fiction: Thrillers


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Cover art for THE TRINITY SIX
FICTION
Released: March 1, 2011

"Taut, atmospheric and immersive--an instant classic."
A London academic risks his life to uncover a real-life, decades-old Cold War mystery in Cumming's (Typhoon, 2009, etc.) edgy thriller. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE COMPLAINTS
FICTION
Released: March 7, 2011

"Will readers miss Rankin's long-running protagonist, John Rebus (Exit Music, 2008, etc.)? Don't see why they should. Bonus: Rankin's plotting and prose are as compelling as ever."
Rankin adds another Edinburgh cop to his repertoire. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE TROUBLED MAN
FICTION
Released: March 29, 2011
by Henning Mankell, translated by Laurie Thompson

"Though shivering in the winter of his discontent, Wallander will grip the reader hard. Flawed and occasionally exasperating, he is that rare thing: a true original."
Swedish detective Chief Inspector Kurt Wallander (The Pyramid, 2008, etc.) makes a riveting 10th appearance in the strange case of the spy who was and wasn't. Read full book review >
Cover art for RED ON RED
FICTION
Released: April 5, 2011

"A first novel sure to make the bestseller lists."
Nick Meehan is the job, the quintessential New York City PD detective, also one who's ironic and self-contained, intelligent and driven. Read full book review >
Cover art for GUILT BY ASSOCIATION
FICTION
Released: April 20, 2011

"That the novel is marked by authenticity is no surprise given Clark's credentials—she was, after all, lead prosecutor in the headline-grabbing O.J. Simpson trial—but what may surprise some readers is the quality of the writing, plus the considerable charm of Rachel and her buddies."
A corker of a debut novel in which a brainy, plucky female prosecutor refuses to rush to judgment. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE SNOWMAN
FICTION
Released: May 1, 2011
by Jo Nesbø, translated by Don Bartlett

"The smart, suspenseful cat-and-mouse game will remind some readers of Erik Skjoldbjærg's 1997 film Insomnia--and that's high praise indeed."
Erica Jong meets Stephen King meets, yes, Stieg Larsson in this superb thriller, the eighth by Norwegian mystery writer Nesbø. Read full book review >