20 Best Action Books (2023 Update)

National bestseller – in a “riveting” (booklist) tale that picks up where to wake the giant left off, jeff shaara transports us to the battle of midway in another masterpiece of military historical fiction. – spring 1942. the united states is reeling from the blow the japanese inflicted at pearl harbor. but the americans are determined to turn the tide. the key comes from commander joe rochefort, a little known “code breaker” who cracks the japanese military encryption. with rochefort’s astonishing discovery, admiral chester nimitz will know precisely what the japanese are planning. – but the battle to counter those plans must still be fought. – from the american side, the shocking conflict is seen through the eyes of rochefort and admiral nimitz, as well as fighter pilot lieutenant percy “perk” baker and marine gunnery sergeant doug ackroyd. – on the japanese side, admiral isoroku yamamoto is the mastermind. his key subordinates are admiral chuichi nagumo, aging and infirm, and admiral tamon yamaguchi, a firebrand who has no patience for nagumo’s hesitation. together, these two men must play out the chess game designed by yamamoto, without any idea that the americans are anticipating their every move on the sea and in the air. – jeff shaara recounts in electrifying detail what happens when these two sides finally meet, in what will be known ever after as one of the most definitive and heroic examples of combat ever seen. in the eagle’s claw, he recounts, with his trademark you-are-there immediacy and signature depth of research, one single battle that changed not only the outcome of a war but the course of our entire global history. – the story of midway has been told many times, but never before like this.

New york times bestseller – the classic suspense novel of shark versus man, which was made into the blockbuster steven spielberg movie. the jaws phenomenon changed popular culture and continues to inspire a growing interest in sharks and the oceans today. when peter benchley wrote jaws in the early 1970s, he meticulously researched all available data about shark behavior. over the ensuing decades, benchley was actively engaged with scientists and filmmakers on expeditions around the world as they expanded their knowledge of sharks. also during this time, there was an unprecedented upswing in the number of sharks killed to make shark-fin soup, and benchley worked with governments and nonprofits to sound the alarm for shark conservation. he encouraged each new generation of jaws fans to enjoy his riveting tale and to channel their excitement into support and protection of these magnificent, prehistoric apex predators. this edition of jaws contains bonus content from peter benchley’s archives, including the original typed title page, a brainstorming list of possible titles, a letter from benchley to producer david brown with honest feedback on the movie adaptation, and excerpts from benchley’s book shark trouble highlighting his firsthand account of writing jaws, selling it to universal studios, and working with steven spielberg. praise for jaws “a tightly written, tautly paced study of terror [that] makes us tingle.”—the washington post “powerful . . . [benchley’s] story grabs you at once.”—the new york times book review “relentless terror . . . you’d better steel yourself for this one. it isn’t a tale for the faint of heart.”—the philadelphia inquirer “pure engrossment from the very opening . . . a fine story told with style, class, and a splendid feeling for suspense.”—chicago sun-times

New york times bestseller – from the bestselling author of dark matter and the wayward pines trilogy comes a relentless thriller about time, identity, and memory—his most mind-boggling, irresistible work to date, and the inspiration for shondaland’s upcoming netflix film.“ gloriously twisting . . . a heady campfire tale of a novel.”—the new york times book reviewnamed one of the best books of the year by time – npr – bookriotreality is broken. at first, it looks like a disease. an epidemic that spreads through no known means, driving its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived. but the force that’s sweeping the world is no pathogen. it’s just the first shock wave, unleashed by a stunning discovery—and what’s in jeopardy is not our minds but the very fabric of time itself. in new york city, detective barry sutton is closing in on the truth—and in a remote laboratory, neuroscientist helena smith is unaware that she alone holds the key to this mystery . . . and the tools for fighting back. together, barry and helena will have to confront their enemy—before they, and the world, are trapped in a loop of ever-growing chaos.praise for recursion“an action-packed, brilliantly unique ride that had me up late and shirking responsibilities until i had devoured the last page . . . a fantastic read.”—andy weir, #1 new york times bestselling author of the martian“another profound science-fiction thriller. crouch masterfully blends science and intrigue into the experience of what it means to be deeply human.”—newsweek“definitely not one to forget when you’re packing for vacation . . . [crouch] breathes fresh life into matters with a mix of heart, intelligence, and philosophical musings.”—entertainment weekly“a trippy journey down memory lane . . . [crouch’s] intelligence is an able match for the challenge he’s set of overcoming the structure of time itself.”—time“wildly entertaining . . . another winning novel from an author at the top of his game.”—av club

“cameron’s books are riveting page-turners.” —mark greaney, #1 new york times bestselling author – the bestselling author of the latest tom clancy, jack ryan novels delivers an adrenaline-filled new thriller featuring deputy us marshal arliss cutter! stranded with three violent prisoners in the deadly alaskan wilderness, cutter will become the hunter and the hunted… an instant usa today bestseller – after an early spring thaw on the alaskan coast, anchorage police discover a gruesome new piece of evidence in their search for a serial killer: a dismembered human foot. – in kincaid park, a man is arrested for attacking a female jogger. investigators believe they have finally have their suspect. but one deputy is sure they have the wrong man. – in the remote northern town of deadhorse, alaska, supervisory deputy us marshal arliss cutter escorts four very dangerous handcuffed prisoners onto a small bush plane en route to fairbanks. cutter’s expecting a routine mission and a nonstop flight—or so he thinks. when the plane goes down in the wilderness, all hell breaks loose. the prisoners murder the pilot and a guard and torch the plane. but their nightmare’s just beginning. back in anchorage, deputy lola teariki has traced the dismembered foot to a missing girl—and the serial psychopath who slaughtered her. – it’s one of the prisoners on cutter’s flight…now it’s a deadly game of survival. with no means of communication, few supplies, and ravenous grizzly bears and wolves lurking in the shadows, cutter has to battle the unforgiving elements while the killer wants his head on a stick. here in alaska, nature can be cruel—but this time, human nature is crueler…“well-developed characters complement the nonstop action. cameron viscerally conveys alaska’s austere beauty as well as its unexpected dangers.” – publishers weekly

Someone's set him up someone's going to die when victor is arrested for a murder that, for once, he didn't commit, escape must surely be inevitable for a hitman of his ferocity. yet someone wants victor put away, and he finds himself behind bars, incarcerated by police who have no idea of the monster they are dealing with and have, apparently, tamed. quickly, however, his fellow prisoners realise that he's not trapped in there with them: they are in a cage, with the most dangerous of enemies. and victor has a traitor to find.

A full-color collection of three manga adventures from the world of erin hunter’s #1 bestselling warriors series—never before available in color! set after the events of warriors: the new prophecy #3: dawn, this graphic novel adventure follows one of the series’ most beloved characters as he embarks on a difficult journey to return to his home among the clans.graystripe, deputy of thunderclan, has been captured by twolegs. he longs to go back to the forest and his clan, and sets off in search of his clanmates alongside a feisty kittypet named millie. but with the forest destroyed, and no clear path to lead him, how will graystripe find his way home?

"outstanding… grips you from the start to the end… a fantastic book… move over jack reacher." goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ when girls go missing here, no one says a word… twenty-four-year-old lila has disappeared without trace. it's the kind of case that ex-military loner grant fletcher would normally be happy to take on–he will always seek justice if someone has the money to pay him. but this one he's doing for free. this one's personal. because fletcher owes his life to lila's father. and fletcher knows that returning lila safe and sound is the only thing that matters to his wheelchair-bound friend. she last called her father from a small town in rural georgia. arriving there, fletcher's feet barely touch the ground before he finds trouble. he also discovers that his friend's daughter wasn't the first girl to go missing there. not the first by far. then the last person to have seen lila before she disappeared is murdered. as a outsider, fletcher becomes the local deputy's only suspect, leaving him no choice but to go on the run. because fletcher knows someone's abducting girls in this town. and he also knows he's the only person who can find them… fans of high-octane action and unforgettable heroes like lee child's jack reacher, robert ludlum's jason bourne and david baldacci's amos decker will love first shot. readers are loving first shot "fasten your seat belts and hold on tight as john ryder's first in the series grabs you and pulls you full throttle into his pulse-pounding, gripping and exciting thriller." netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "just the right balance of action and suspense… engaging with the most cleverly crafted jaw-dropping moments sneaking in and what an ending, bloody hell, i had to lie down in a dark room after that! action, twists, turns and a bloody good story! what more can you ask for?" chapter in my life ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "from the first page i was totally hooked, it's fast paced, full of suspense and intrigue, it was like being on a rollercoaster that wouldn't stop. brilliant story… an absolute gem of a book!!!!" goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "what a treasure this book is! i loved every minute of it and i was swept up by the fast paced story… well, mr fletcher, i for one cannot wait to meet you again." b for bookreview ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "a great mix of crime, investigation and action that makes for an enthralling read… couldn't ask for a better start to a new series and i will definitely be first in line for the next book coming out." by the letter book reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "this is an edge of your seat thriller!" goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "enthralling… this book has so much suspense and had me in shivers… you can just tell that this series is going to be something special." sean's book reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"real power is always a step ahead…" when lad markham aesher is attacked in the capital's slums weeks before the start of the 16th election of the people's monarchy of aldahad, staella – an ex-cage fighting champion hiding from the law, is employed as his protector.she arrives to find a city on the precipice of chaos. markham's fellow representatives are disappearing. a rebellion is brewing in yaekós' underbelly. and a dark presence haunts the aesher manor at nightfall.as staella uncovers markham's secrets, she is sucked into a world more dangerous than she could ever have imagined. "to wear a crown is a thrilling ride, from its compelling characters and suspenseful storytelling to its dastardly villains and incredible worldbuilding. this is one read you won't regret." kate argus, author of the wyndshaper

When an oregon crew member falls victim to the poison, juan cabrillo will stop at nothing to find an antidote before it is too late. he and his team must connect an ancient mystery with a cunning modern enemy in order to save millions of innocent lives, including their own.

Graystripe and millie's journey to find thunderclan has only just begun when the pair is faced with a series of obstacles that seem insurmountable. getting out of twolegplace alive isn't nearly as simple as expected, and millie's unfamiliarity with life in the wild makes it a challenge for graystripe to keep them both moving forward. but just when a temporary refuge is in sight, conflict with a tribe of barn cats threatens to break the travelers apart for good! ages 10 and up.

When johnny dolan, a seasoned new york city investigative reporter, begins to cover the brutal murders of two computer programmers, it catapults him into the 1960's underworld of organized crime and government corruption. – working to uncover the crime details with earmarks of a mob hit, dolan encounters an intricate web of facts and players. while interviewing lydia hayes, the beautiful ex-wife of one of the victims, johnny discovers critical facts steering his investigation into the fast lane. lydia reveals her ex was gay. although dolan's own homosexuality was neither a plus or a minus in his professional life, it impacted his military career and life. – johnny learns that doug hayes and his partner developed a computer program that could predict winning lottery numbers. hoping to parlay this into cold hard cash, our victims have unwittingly orchestrated their deaths when they sign on with "the preacher," an intelligent, soft-spoken black man who runs the harlem numbers racket known as policy. – this connection catches the watchful eye of bunny ennis, a sadistic sociopath whose loyalty lies not with his mafia boss, but with his own perverse pleasures and self-interest. will bunny and lydia's masochistic relationship ultimately impact her personal and professional relationship with her boss, frederick douglass summerfield, an ambitious african american congressman from new york city's harlem district? his growing popularity and standing in the black community caught the attention of lyndon johnson and a whiff of corruption could stir the smoldering embers of racism, and shake the foundation of the president's civil rights agenda. with stakes this high, can johnny dolan keep it together while he uncovers the truth? single action, the latest crime thriller from jim williams, examines the ethical questions woven into a maze of twists and turns in this thought-provoking and suspenseful new novel.

On orders from the pentagon, marine explorer dirk pitt must salvage crucial material from the world's most infamous maritime disaster in this novel in the #1 new york times-bestselling series.the president's secret task force has developed an unprecedented defensive weapon that relies on an extremely rare radioactive element—and dirk pitt has followed a twisted trail to a secret cache of the substance. now, racing against brutal storms, soviet spies, and a ticking clock, pitt begins his most thrilling mission—to raise from its watery grave the shipwreck of the century…

The new york times bestselling author pairs a woman in search of her family's truth with a hard-hitting professional treasure hunter in this taut and thrilling new book. as an unknown assailant stalks them across the treacherous superstition mountains in arizona, they race to follow their treasure map’s directions to a hidden trove of gold, but will they survive the danger long enough to reach their prize? “the plot’s heart-stopping twists will keep readers breathless until the final page.” – publishers weeklywhen abigail holland awakes to the sound of a nighttime intruder in her rambling denver victorian, she knows exactly what the black shrouded figure is after—the map she recently inherited from her grandfather. whoever he is, the man who grapples with her, then escapes, is willing to kill for the location of a treasure king farrell hunted for more than ten years. the devil’s gold has claimed hundreds of lives, and it was her grandfather’s obsession. with a killer pursuing her and her own family not to be trusted, abby decides to take up the search herself. but she’ll need help to do it, and there’s no one better than renowned explorer and treasure hunter gage logan. despite the instant chemistry between them, gage is reluctant. innocent people have been hurt on his watch before. but when abby shows him a genuine gold ingot she found with the map, his curiosity is piqued. before long they’re heading into the flash floods and brutal winds of the superstition mountains, straight into a passionate entanglement—and the dark heart of danger.

History's most exciting and terrifying events come to life in these ten books in the new york times bestselling i survived series.when disaster strikes, heroes are made.a collectible box set of ten books in the bestselling i survived series from author lauren tarshis! this set includes paperback editions of these books: i survived the sinking of the titanic, 1912i survived the shark attacks of 1916i survived the attacks of september 11, 2001i survived the nazi invasion, 1944i survived the bombing of pearl harbor, 1941i survived the battle of gettysburg, 1863i survived the destruction of pompeii, ad 79i survived hurricane katrina, 2005i survived the san francisco earthquake, 1906i survived the japanese tsunami, 2011with relatable characters and riveting plotlines, the i survived books are perfect for reluctant readers or any young reader who enjoys an action packed, page turning thriller. each book also contains several pages of nonfiction content, encouraging readers to further explore the historical topic.

A gripping graphic novel adaptation of lauren tarshis's bestselling i survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967, with text adapted by georgia ball. – no grizzly has ever killed a human in glacier national park before… until tonight. eleven-year-old melody vega and her family come to glacier every year. mel loves it here the beautiful landscapes and wildlife make it easy to forget her real-world troubles. but this year is different. with mom gone, every moment in the park is a reminder of the past. – then mel comes face-to-face with a mighty grizzly. she knows basic bear safety: don't turn your back. don't make any sudden movements. and most importantly: don't run. – that last one is the hardest. mel's been running from her problems all her life. can she find the courage to stay put this time, and face her fear? based on the real-life grizzly attacks of 1967, this bold graphic novel tells the story of one of the most tragic seasons in the history of america's national parks a summer of terror that forever changed ideas about how grizzlies and humans can exist together in the wild. – lauren tarshis's new york times bestselling i survived series comes to vivid life in graphic novel editions. perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the i survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.

A mindbending, relentlessly surprising thriller from the author of the bestselling wayward pines trilogy.“ are you happy with your life?” those are the last words jason dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. before a man jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “welcome back, my friend.” in this world he’s woken up to, jason’s life is not the one he knows. his wife is not his wife. his son was never born. and jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. something impossible. is it this world or the other that’s the dream? and even if the home he remembers is real, how can jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? the answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

Star fbi detective amos decker and his colleague alex jamison must solve four increasingly bizarre murders in a dying rust belt town–and the closer they come to the truth, the deadlier it gets in this rapid-fire #1 new york times bestseller. – something sinister is going on in baronville. the rust belt town has seen four bizarre murders in the space of two weeks. cryptic clues left at the scenes–obscure bible verses, odd symbols–have the police stumped. – amos decker and his fbi colleague alex jamison are in baronville visiting alex's sister and her family. it's a bleak place: a former mill and mining town with a crumbling economy and rampant opioid addiction. decker has only been there a few hours when he stumbles on a horrific double murder scene. – then the next killing hits sickeningly close to home. and with the lives of people he cares about suddenly hanging in the balance, decker begins to realize that the recent string of deaths may be only one small piece of a much larger scheme–with consequences that will reach far beyond baronville. – decker, with his singular talents, may be the only one who can crack this bizarre case. only this time–when one mistake could cost him everything–decker finds that his previously infallible memory may not be so trustworthy after all…

This listing is for 5 pounds of the above genre. a standard hardcover book is a little under a pound, a regular paperback is half, a mass market is about a third and textbooks and coffee table books vary widely. we cannot guarantee specific books at this time or offer pictures of exact lots, but if you have another genre you'd like feel free to message us! you can also find more books and bookish goods available at neverland – books .com shipping times vary, but normally are about 10 days, this is how we are able to offer free shipping! please note that we ship all orders within three business days. books are used, but in good, readable condition.

The harriken have decided james brownstone is an unacceptable dishonor to their clan. – this time, grandfather has hired the best assassins in the business and shay knows them. – shay won't allow brownstone to go to japan without backup. – her backup. – brownstone needs to decide what he will do with the wish, and how much is he going to tell alison? the harriken may have paid the piper, but james brownstone is calling the dance. – while this is happening, tyler has made an unexpected alliance with the law. – brownstone likes his life simple, but when the harriken fail to call off the vendetta, brownstone is willing to admit it will be either them, or him. – kick back for a fun, action packed adventure that will have you yelling for the good guys, and wondering how brownstone will annoy shay this time.—note: this audiobook contains cursing. perhaps humorous cursing, but cursing nevertheless. if this offends you, i don't suggest listening to this audiobook.

In the vast, rugged reaches of frontier america in the post-civil war era is gabe tanner. he is a young scout and indian fighter. along with his trusted companion big smoke, a large gray buffalo horse, he is fresh out of the army and looking for adventure. gabe finds himself employed by a wagon train full of mormons headed en-route from omaha nebraska to the utah territories. his job is to scout the way and blaze a safe route for the wagon company to trek. he is accompanied by a seasoned teamster and his two young adopted choctaw indian sons. as the trip starts the company of mormons is stricken with the grip and impaled to the point of being shut down. while gabe is out scouting the wagon train is attacked by marauding indians and haley johnson is taken captive. when gabe finds out about the raid, he is furious and sets out with young davey a choctaw indian to try and retrieve the mormon girl. along the way, the pair of scouts meet up with an old ponca indian chief named mahan. he is looking for his granddaughter that was taken in a raid by the same hostiles that attacked the wagon train. forming a bond and trust among each other the three scouts set out to find and return the young girls to safety. the perils and savagery of the trail become all too apparent for the young women held captive by the cheyenne and sioux indian war party. the indians realize they are being pursued and make haste for the badlands and broken country of eastern wyoming. if they manage to get there ahead of their pursuers, then they will find safety in numbers. time is of the essence for the scouting party and if gabe tanner is going to be successful in rescuing haley johnson then fate and the good graces of heaven will have to prevail over the scene.