THE GREAT ALONE

By Kristin Hannah   (St. Martin’s Press  $28.99)

Former Vietnam POW, Ernt Allbright, severely scarred by PTSD, fails to provide a secure livelihood for his loving wife, Cora and teenage daughter, Leni. His luck suddenly changes when a buddy dies and leaves him a house and 40 acres in Alaska. What seems like a gift from heaven becomes a descent into hell, as Ernt is unable to adjust to the punishing cold and long, 16-hour nights, which even alcohol can’t remedy. Soon his fragile family falls apart in a terrible moment of violence leaving Cora and Leni to face “the great alone,” alone.

THE WORD IS MURDER

By Anthony Horowitz (Harper $27.99)   

Just 6 hours after wealthy widow Diana Cowper completes plans for her funeral at Cornwallis & Sons funeral home, she is murdered. Coincidence or premonition? It’s a genuine puzzle that prompts local police to enlist the aid of brilliant investigator and former cop, Daniel Hawthorne, whose record for solving unsolvable crimes is uncanny. His ego demands his story be told so he engages author Anthony Horowitz, (yes, this book’s author), to write it and who unwittingly becomes a central character. The by-play between Horowitz and Hawthorne is both amusing and often hostile and makes for an intriguing read.

WRESTLING WITH GOD

By Ronald Roheiser (Image $22)

Such audacity, to suggest mere mortals would attempt to pin God to the mat. Who wins? GOD! Why? Because, as Fr. Roheiser states, God never fights back, Never returns hate with hate, doubt with doubt, envy with envy. Instead, He counters all with love and forgiveness, even at the moment of a sinner’s death. Ron is a Roman Catholic priest and prolific writer.

CATCHING UP WITH DEAN KOONTZ

Two New Jane Hawk Novels (Bantam $28)

In “The Whispering Room” and “The Crooked Staircase,” rogue FBI agent, Jane Hawk, battles a powerful secret society that uses terrifying mind-control technology. No matter how long it takes, she will never cease her one-woman war against the conspiracy that threatens the freedom—and free will—of millions. Battling the strange epidemic of murder-suicides that claimed her husband, and is escalating across the country, Jane is determined to destroy these terrorists, solve her husband’s “suicide” and rescue her young son. In Jane, Koontz has created the most exciting female crime-fighter of our time. lasts, naturally, foregoing all drastic measures to set a longevity record.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED

By Mick Herron   (SOHO Crime $23.95)

Even in a book this size (only about 250 pages), Herron shows off his ability to turn an ordinary story into a suspenseful thriller. Poor little Maggie Barnes has absolutely nothing going for her, someone no one would look at twice, in a nothing job as a clerk in a mailroom. But, that’ s just what MI5 is looking for and Maggie incredibly finds herself recruited to help thwart an international plot against Britain. Soon the story finds her closeted away in a locked room ostensibly for her own protection. But, is it?