Terry Hayes

In modern American life - what with all of our pop culture obsessions and every-four-seconds social media obligations - how many of us actually stop and occasionally ponder those most dark thoughts? To wit, other than the Boston Marathon bombings, why HASN'T there been a large-scale, post 9-11 terror attack on U.S. soil? Dive into "I Am Pilgrim" and have the hell scared out of you. Fortunately, Pilgrim - a former black ops specialist for one of those unnamed CIA-style outfits - is pulled out of retirement in search of an invisible quarry called The Saracen and may be able to save us. Which is excellent because The Saracen is a Saudi zealot, Muj warrior and former physician with an indomitable will and incendiary desire to destroy America. He has also devised a spookily plausible plan - and The Pilgrim embarks on a global chess match that incorporates all sorts of dramatic scenery and excellent support stories and characters. It's a masterful fusion of police procedural and spy story - and you'll relish every one of the 600-plus pages.

- RICK KOSTER