Thrillers that are killer read

A good thriller should thrill the reader. It should make the reader want to turn the pages to find out if the assassin succeeds in shooting the President or if the thief gets away with the gold or if the girl escapes from the serial killer. It should also surprise the reader with its twists and turns and keep them in a state of uncertainty.

From Hitchcock's North by Northwest to the recent novels by Harlan Coben, the best thrillers have often used the device of having an innocent bystander, or an ordinary person, unwittingly caught in sinister events beyond their control. It is a premise that allows the reader to more readily identify with the hero and become caught up in their quest, and it is one that these three authors use to good effect.

Few writers understand the requirements of a good thriller better than British author Simon Kernick. Since he burst on the scene in 2002, Kernick has established himself as an outstanding author of fast-paced, action thrillers, and Stay Alive is another terrific, thrill-a-minute read. Amanda Rowan is hiding in a remote Scottish village following her lucky escape from a serial killer who killed her husband and his lover. Her solitude, however, is interrupted by another killing and Amanda finds herself on the run through the isolated Scottish countryside with two girls who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The story twists and turns so frequently it is difficult to describe the plot without ruining the numerous surprises and Kernick excels in his ability to mislead the reader into thinking the book is heading in a certain direction only to take a dramatic turn in a new direction.

Kernick also manages the various plot strands well and brings them all together in a riveting conclusion. The characters are very thin, however the pacing is so frenetic that it is easy to overlook the lack of character development and the occasional implausible twist and just settle back and enjoy a thrilling read that will have you turning the pages well into the night.

Chris Pavone also provides a good variation on the theme of an innocent person caught in deadly machinations.

New York literary agent Isabel Reed receives an anonymous manuscript. The book contains revelations that encompass secrets involving a powerful media empire, its owner, government agencies and officials, and a secret from Isabel's own past. The media mogul, Charlie Wolfe, does not want the revelations to be made public, and this view is shared by many in the intelligence community who have enjoyed Wolfe's generosity. When Reed pitches the manuscript to editor Jeffrey Fielder, she sets in chain a lethal race against time as Wolfe and his allies try to suppress the book by any means. Meanwhile, the book's author sits and watches the escalating violence and sets his own plans in action.

More ambitious in its scope and intelligence than Kernick's book, The Accident is a gripping thriller that also raises interesting issues about media ownership and the corrupting influence of massive media empires. Set over 24 hours, with numerous flashbacks, the plot unfolds at a hectic pace as it bounces from one exciting set piece to another and from surprise to surprise. Well written and exciting, this is a good follow-up to Pavone's debut, award-winning novel, The Expatriates.

Newcomer Peter Swanson ventures into Harlan Coben territory with his noir thriller, The Girl With a Clock For a Heart.

The story opens with the familiar conceit of a troubled figure from the main character's past reappearing and propelling them into peril. The main character is George Foss, the business manager of a literary magazine. He is in an ''on again, off again'' 14-year relationship with an old colleague, Irene, and spends most of his days in a ''haze of disinterest''. His world is turned upside down when the love of his life from his college days reappears. George has not seen Liana for more than 20 years. Now she is back and intent on dragging George into a dangerous encounter with local mobsters.

This is a well-constructed thriller that unfolds in two time frames: George's freshman year at college and present day Boston. Swanson manages the two timelines well and the story races along as the affable George is increasingly drawn into Liana's dangerous world. There are plenty of twists, but most experienced thriller readers will see them coming and George's gullibility becomes a little annoying at times. Nevertheless, the end result is a brisk, enjoyable thriller that builds to a neat climax and is a fun accompaniment to a lazy afternoon.