You've seen the name, you've heard the hype, you have a vague sense that she writes creepy psychological thrillers. But who is Tana French? Is she an author you'd enjoy? Here's the scoop:

Name: Tana French
Genres: Mystery stories/police procedurals/psychological suspense
Popular series written by French: French has written a total of four books, only two of which follow the same characters. But her most well-known book to-date is In the Woods, a thriller set in Dublin. French won numerous awards and widespread critical praise for her atmospheric detective story.
What makes her stand out: French creates vivid characters, nonformulaic plot twists and truly creepy stories that are perfect for those with a taste for the psychological, similar to Val McDermid.
Where to Start: In the Woods (2007)

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You've seen the name, you know his latest book has a million holds, you have a vague sense that he writes fast-paced thrillers. But who is Vince Flynn? Is he worth checking out? Here's the scoop:

Name: Vince Flynn
Genres: Political/suspense/anti-terrorism thrillers
Popular series written by Flynn: the Mitch Rapp chronicles, which follow an undercover CIA operative fighting terrorist plots
What makes him stand out: in the words of Publisher's Weekly, "Flynn knows his politicians and pits his characters against impossible odds with nonstop action and suspense."
Where to Start: American Assassin (2010)

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If you've read and enjoyed authors such as John Sandford, Dennis Lehane, and Michael Connelly, you're reading a genre lovingly referred to as "hardboiled." These gritty narratives with a street smart protagonist are popular in the United States, with many authors from which to choose. However, Scotland seems to lend itself well to this genre, too. You might want to try authors such as Denise Mina, Ian Rankin, Quintin Jardine, Val MacDermid, and a favorite of mine, Stuart MacBride.

If you're an avid reader, David Baldacci is a name you may have heard a few times. You know he's written a lot of books (about 35, according the Hennepin County library catalog), that people who read him seem to be obsessed with getting his latest title and maybe even that his first bestseller, Absolute Power, was made into a hit movie with Clint Eastwood. But if you don't know much more than that and aren't sure if this superstar author is right for you, here's the breakdown:

Name: David Baldacci
Genres: Suspense, political/legal, thrillers
Popular series written by Baldacci: Camel Club, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell
What makes him stand out: as Newsweek writes,"In these stressful times, Baldacci offers a break—and people who care about books should care about him."
Where to start: Baldacci offers many titles that stand-alone, including Total Control, The Winner and The Simple Truth. If you'd like to get into one of his five series, ask your local librarian for help finding the first title.

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The Mystery Writers of America released the Edgar Nominations for best mystery writing on January 16th. How many have you read?

As of this writing, Gillian Flynn's runaway bestseller Gone Girl has 1800 requests in the Hennepin County Library catalog! Maybe you're waiting for the book or you're facing withdrawal after finishing it and are desperate for similar reads. Fortunately for you, the library has put together just such a list: If You Liked...Gone Girl.

From popular recent titles such as In the Woods to lesser-known thrill rides like Eye Contact, explore the twisted minds of today's most respected mystery writers and enjoy new worlds of the sharp, suspenseful candor you loved (or soon will love) in Gone Girl.

October is the perfect month to hunker down with a blanket and a gripping novel. As the sun begins to set earlier and the weather gets colder, readers from all walks of life look forward to the escapist delights mysteries have to offer, especially in light of the ghoulish holiday that awaits us later in the month.

But for those not prone to be too scared in the midst of dark and stormy nights, the "cozy" genre of mystery provides a lovely blend of intrigue and civility. Authors of this kind know how to tell a good story that keeps you guessing, then wrap it up with a nice cup of tea. If you're interested in dipping into a mystery that won't give you nightmares, check out the Bookspace list on Cozy Mysteries for some great suggestions.

Christmas Eve is not starting well for under-sheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman of Posadas County, New Mexico. Statute of Limitations is part of the Posadas County series.  The  Chief of Police has a heart attack while confronting car thieves, Sheriff Torrez has a pulmonary embolism Christmas morning; a deputy's fiancée is murdered that afternoon; and former sheriff (and Estelle's best friend) Bill Gastner is brutally attacked that night. Just visiting everyone in the hospital would be a full time job, let alone tracking down the perpetrators and raising two children.  This series is a favorite of mine.