from NoveList PlusMeltzer, B. (2011). The inner circle. New York: Grand Central Pub.

ISBN: 9780446577892

Rating: 4Q3P

Readers' Annotation: Beecher is thrust into the middle of a secret society with roots from the time of the first U.S. President.

Summary: Beecher, a young archivist, at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. helps his childhood crush find information about her father.  When Beecher shows her into a room where the current President of the United States views items from the archives, they discover a secret book stashed under the chair where the President usually sits.  This small discovery sets in motion events out of Beecher's control.  He doesn't know who to trust and his life depends on trusting the right people.

Evaluation: Readers of Dan Brown and John Grisham will appreciate Brad Meltzer's intricately plotted stories.  Meltzer is a master at keeping you guessing who the real villian is.  The Inner Circle is plot driven with a few key characters and a few supporting ones.  Meltzer makes it easy for readers to keep the characters strait.  He is able to keep the story moving with out getting too bogged down in the details behind the secret societies.

Genre:

• Suspense - Political Thriller
• Mystery

Other Books by Brad Meltzer

• The Tenth Justice
• Dead Even
• The First Counsel
• The Millionares
• The Zero Game
• Identity Crisis
• The Book of Fate
• The Book of Lies

from NoveList Plus Brown, D. (2009). The lost symbol. New York: Doubleday.

ISBN: 9780385504225

Rating: 3Q4P

Readers' Annotation: Robert Langdon, symbologist, is requested to give a lecture in DC. by an old friend, only things aren't as they appear.

Summary: Robert Langdon's old friend, Peter Solomon, requests he give a speech at the United States Capital Building. He even sends a private jet to pick Robert up in Boston. Little does Robert know, this is all set-up by a man seeking the Mason's Pyramid which is said to be hidden beneath the city of Washington, DC. Soon after Robert's arrival at the capital he realizes Peter did not summon him and he must figure out centuries old puzzles to save Peter, his friend and mentor.

Evaluation: Dan Brown's follow-up to The Da Vinci Code intrigued me more then The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons merely because it is set in Washington, DC. For readers unfamiliar with the previous two Robert Langdon novels The Lost Symbol is still accessible with only a couple references to the events of the previous novels. Readers may be overwhelmed with the amount of characters to keep track of while reading. Brown also gets bogged down the explanation regarding the Free Mason lore and Noetic Science. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would suggest it to readers who like a bit of history in their suspense novels.

Genre:

• Suspense
• Adventure - Cipher Thrillers

Series: Rober Landon Novels

1. Angels and Demons (2000)
2. The Da Vinci Code (2003)
3. The Lost Symbol (2009)

If you liked The Lost Symbol try...

• The Librarian by Larry Beinhart
• The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
• The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason
• The Price of Liberty by Keir Graff
• The Book of Spies by Gayle Lynds
• The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer
• Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
• Sandstorm by James Rollins
• The Blackbird Papers by Ian Smith
• Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
• Download the If you liked The Lost Symbol bookmark [PDF], compiled by Becky Rech

from NoveList PlusQuick, A. (1999). I thee wed. New York: Bantam Books.

ISBN: 9780553100846

Rating: 4Q4P

Readers' Annotation: Emma Greyson meets Edison Stokes; he convinces her to help him catch a thief.

Summary:  Emma Greyson is a ladies companion who isn't afraid to speak her mind, which sometimes leads to employment issues.  She believes her current employer Lady Mayfield is her last chance at earning enough money to survive.  Emma has invested all of her money in what now seems to be a failed endeavor.  She accompanies Lady Mayfield to a week long event where she meets Edison Stokes.  Edison and Emma team up after running into one another in a compromising situation.  Edison needs Emma's help locating the thief of an ancient book of potions.  In agreeing to do this Emma finds her life in danger; fortunately for Emma Edison is usually there to save her.

Evaluation:  Romance readers who like an independent female lead will be drawn to Emma.  I Thee Wed has it all: romance, suspense and intrigue; readers won't be able to put it down.  I'm usually not a fan of Regency Romance Novels, but Quick hooked me early on with witty banter between Edison and Emma.  Besides, Edison I found the male characters to be flat and forgetabble.  Quick breathes life into her female characters, and even now, I can picture Lady Mayfield sitting in bed waiting for Emma to help her get ready for the day.

Genre:

• Romance - Suspense
• Romance - Historical
• Romance - Regency

About the Author: Amanda Quick is Jayne Ann Krentz.  Krentz writes under three names depending on the genre of her books.  As Jayne Ann Krentz, she writes contemporary, romantic, suspense stories.  As Amanda Quick, she writes historical, romantic, suspense stories.  As Jayne Castle, she writes futuristic/paranormal romantic suspense stories.  For more information on Jayne Ann Krentz visit her website.

from NoveList PlusLippman, L. (1997). Baltimore Blues. New York: Avon Books.

ISBN: 9780380788750

Rating: 3Q3P

Readers' Annotation:  Tess, an out of work journalist, takes up private investigation.

Summary:  Tess, an out of work journalist, has been picking up odd jobs here and there to make ends meet.  Her friend, and fellow rower, Rock, asks her to investigate his fiancé, Ava, who has been acting a little unusual.  Tess suspects Ava to be cheating.  When the man she is secretly meeting is murdered, Rock is the first suspect.  Tess now must prove her friend didn't do it while on the run for her life.

Evaluation:  While Baltimore Blues is a page turner, I found it to be a bit unrealistic, which often is the problem I have when law enforcement professionals are not doing the investigations.  For many readers this is a major appeal factor.  If she can be the center of a mystery, then maybe so can I.  I think this is why so many amateur detective stories are so popular.  I appreciated the humor Lippman infused into Tess' character.  New readers unfamiliar with the series may find it a bit dated with the lack or little use of cell phones and the Internet.

Genre:

• Mystery - Women Detectives
• Suspense

Series: Tess Monaghan

1. Baltimore Blues (1997)
2. Charm City (1997)
3. Butcher's Hill (1998)
4. In Big Trouble (1999)
5. The Sugar House (2000)
6. In a Strange City (2001)
7. The Last Place (2002)
8. By a Spider's Thread (2004)
9. No Good Deeds (2006)
10. Another Thing to Fall (2008)
11. The Girl in the Green Raincoat (2011)

If you liked Baltimore Blues try...

• One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
• The Hunter by John Lescroart

from NoveList PlusHenderson, D. (2000). True devotion. Sisters, OR: Palisades.

ISBN: 9781576736203

Rating: 3Q4P

Readers' Annotation: Kelly Jacobs finds love again with her and her husband's best-friend, Navy SEAL Joe "Bear" Baker.

Summary:  Kelly Jacobs' continues to mourn the death of her husband, a Navy SEAL even though it has been three years. Their best friend, Joe "Bear" Baker is also a SEAL.  Kelly has feelings for Joe, but doesn't know if she can handle the emotional stress of being in a relationship with another SEAL.  After a couple strange, life-threatening events, Joe realizes they are related to Kelly's husband's death.  Joe realizes he must protect Kelly at any cost because he loves her.

Evaluation:  Readers will find themselves cheering for Kelly and Joe's relationship.  Their love seems so pure, rooted in friendship.  At times the novel is predictable, but that won't stop readers from enjoying and reading on to see what happens next.  The author does a good job of weaving Joe and Kelly's love story together with they mystery surrounding the death of Kelly's husband.  It is very evident that this is a Christian novel.  Both Kelly and Joe are Christians and refer to their faith often.

Genre:

• Christian Fiction - Romance
• Christian Fiction - Suspense

Series: Uncommon Heroes

1. True Devotion (2000)
2. True Valor (2002)
3. True Honor (2002)