Silent Thunder

August 25, 2008
The talented Johansens—mother and son, teamed for the first time—offer a rousing adventure that follows marine architect Hannah Bryson as she struggles to uncover a terrorist threat aboard a nuclear submarine, all in the name of tourism, of course. Though the plot is far-fetched, this thriller is read with passion and vigor by Jennifer Van Dyck. Her voice is steeped in mystery, creating an absolutely stirring and brooding atmosphere. Van Dyck’s characters are each as original and thoughtfully crafted, her wide-ranging dialects ring true and bring an air of authenticity. Van Dyck’s passionate reading serves the story well, drawing listeners into the tale from the opening paragraph. A St. Martin’s hardcover (Reviews, May 12).

May 12, 2008
Bestseller Johansen (Quicksand
) and her Edgar-winning son, Roy (Deadly Visions
), collaborate on their first thriller with entertaining results. Hannah Bryson, a top-notch submarine designer, and her brother, Conner, must make sure that a Russian nuclear submarine, the Silent Thunder
, recently purchased by the U.S. government for use as a maritime museum, is safe for visitors. Working alone on the sub in a Maine harbor, the two make a strange discovery that's swiftly followed by a deadly attack. Others, both Russian and American, want what the Brysons have uncovered and will stop at nothing to obtain it. One Russian, Nicolas Kirov, has a special interest in the submarine as well as a growing interest in the feisty, beautiful Hannah. The constantly bickering Hannah and Kirov are forced to work together for a common goal as they fight various enemies and, of course, fall in love. The romantic subplot threatens to take over the action, but is thankfully reined in at the exciting finale. 12-city author tour.

March 1, 2008
The cold war heats up again in Johansens latest thriller, when marine architect Hannah Brysons brother, Connor, is killed in an explosion aboard a decommissioned Russian submarine theyrepreparing for a nautical museum exhibit. Although the U.S. government official appointed to handle the investigation wants Hannah to believe Connors death wasaccidental, Hannah thinks otherwise. Just minutes before he died, Connor discovered cryptic symbols etched into metal panels hidden deep withinSilent Thunder, and Hannah knows that if shes ever to learn the truth about her brothers murder, shell have to solve the codes mystery. Doing so, however, involves herin a protracted feud between two Russian operatives, Kirov and Pavski, who havea blatant disregard for human life when their missions are threatened. Its clearly a case of not knowing who ones friends or enemies are, as Hannah has to decide if Kirovs deep-seated hatred of Pavski equals her own need for revenge. Though the inherent distrust of all thingsrelated to Russia and its military complex has long been a staple of the international thriller genreand, as such, runs the risk of appearing trite and staleJohansens collaboration with her crime-novelist son imbues their saga with muscular characters and a brisk immediacy that keep it gripping and relevant.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)