David J. Montgomery

As summer recedes, booksellers are awash in white-knuckled tales of suspense. From Joseph Finder’s “private spy” story to the conclusion of Robert Ferrigno’s Assassin trilogy, here are the best.

Richard Lange’s first book set the bar so high that his sophomore effort had almost no chance of living up to the hype—except that it does, an L.A. Confidential for the 21st century.

Critics say Janet Evanovich’s novels are low-brow, formulaic chick lit with a lurid crime twist, not worth a second glance. So why can’t I stop reading them?

Gregg Hurwitz is the best thriller writer you’ve never heard of, and the protagonist of his new novel, Trust No One, is one rarely seen: a consummate everyman who bungles, misfires and flubs.

Lisa Gardner used to write Fabio-esque romance novels. But her new book, The Neighbor, rubs elbows with murderers, sex offenders, and child abusers. What happens when a fairytale spinner gets nasty?

Depraved serial killers, hard-bitten cops, sleuthing journalists, and femme fatales—read our roundup of the can’t-put-down thrillers that will keep you on the beach well past sunset.