Happy holidays, everyone! If you’re looking to score big with the readers in your life this Christmas, don’t worry . . . we’ve got you covered.
From e-readers to thrillers and mysteries, below, you’ll find our picks and suggestions to help you nail all your gift-giving needs, including some non-book stuff geared towards superfans of certain authors like Brad Thor and others.
Merry Christmas!
BOOKS
Perfect For: Anyone who loves ripped-from-the-headlines political thrillers that have tons of action and suspense. If you’re shopping for someone but don’t know who their favorite author is, Thor is the safest bet on the list. Not only has he sat at the top of the thriller genre for two decades, but he continues to elevate his own series, which, by the way, can be read in chronological order or not. Newcomers will have no trouble at all hopping into Shadow of Doubt, so buy with confidence and make gifting the latest Brad Thor book part of your Christmas tradition.
Bonus: This year, Brad Thor has teamed up with Landmark Books to offer personalized copies of Shadow of Doubt to his readers. See all the details HERE.
BUY SIGNED BRAD THOR BOOKS HERE
Perfect For: The person you think might be into books but aren’t 100% sure. . . or someone you want to encourage to read more. Jack Carr the closest thing we have to a modern-day, Tom Clancy. A bonafide celebrity author, Carr has appeared everywhere from the Joe Rogan Experience to the Pat McAfee show. Even people who don’t normally read are reading this guy. Known for his #1 New York Times bestselling James Reece The Terminal List series, Carr’s books have been adapted for television over on Prime Video (The Terminal List starring Chris Pratt), and he’s got a bunch of other projects in the works as well. This book is a masterpiece of absolute mayhem and impossible to put down, so once you gift a copy to someone, don’t expect to hear from them for a few days.
Bonus: If you’re shopping for a mega Jack Carr fan or just looking to find something to go with a copy of Red Sky Mounring, be sure to check out the Jack Carr store online. HERE, you can get everything from custom Jack Carr watches to drinkware, gear, apparel, and other collaborations.
The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney
Perfect For: Readers who like a little (or a lot) of action with their espionage. The latest book in his #1 New York Times bestselling Gray Man series (which was adapted for film—The Gray Man starring Ryan Goslin and Chris Evans—on Netflix), The Chaos Agent is Greaney as his very best, and when he’s clicking on all cylinders, watch out because the competition doesn’t stand a chance.
Dead Man’s Hand by Brad Taylor
Perfect For: Readers who appreciate authenticity. Taylor, a twenty-one-year veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces, including eight years with Delta Force, knows the world that his hero, Pike Logan, operates in better than anyone working today. And it’s precisely that sort of been-there-done-that experience that makes Taylor’s books pop. Trust me, when the gunfights break out, Brad Taylor will have you ducking for cover and ready to reengage. Not many authors can match the energy he writes with, and few, if any, would dare to go toe-to-toe with Pike Logan.
Three-Inch Teeth by C.J. Box
Perfect For: Anyone who loves the outdoors, a good mystery, modern westerns, or all three. Box, my personal favorite author working today, is a surefire, can’t-miss name when it comes to gifting books this Christmas. Whether it’s his latest offering, Three-Inch Teeth, or one of his other titles, all of his books are amazing—and I promise you, if whoever you gift one of his books to isn’t already a fan, they will be soon enough. Seriously, I cannot recommend Box enough, and in fact, I am giving away copies of his books this year to friends and loved ones.
Perfect For: Fans of Westerns or Longmire. Johnson’s Walt Longmire franchise has a huge following, and between the book series and the television show, they’ve had plenty of time to hang with Walt and the gang. Even so, Johnson shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, with his readership growing larger with each new release. You can buy with confidence here, knowing that whoever you gift First Frost to this year will quickly become a fan if they aren’t already.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
Perfect For: Anyone who loved Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. This is an especially great pick if you’re shopping for your mom/wife/partner who has enjoyed psychological thrillers in the past. McFadden is one of the biggest names in that space today, and for good reason. She’s a crazy talented writer who understands plotting and characters, but where McFadden really gets you is with her mind-bending twists.
Tom Clancy Act of Defiance by Andrews & Wilson
Perfect For: Fans of Tom Clancy’s beloved series. If you know someone who read Clancy’s iconic debut, The Hunt for Red October, then you have to get this book, which is a direct sequal to that story. Andrews & Wilson, the thriller genre’s top writing duo, pulled out all the stops for this one, which mixes a vintage Jack Ryan story with the modern threats of today’s world. A worthy sequel to an iconic story, this book is a no-brainer to give away this holiday season.
Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman
Perfect For: Readers who love real depth to their stories without sacrificing the action and adventure. Newman, one of the genre’s brightest new stars, stunts yet again with her latest novel—her third consecutive New York Times bestseller—that takes readers into the cockpit of a commercial airliner that crashes into a nuclear power plant, kicking off a chain of devastating events with global implications. Riveting and packed with nail-biting suspense, Newman’s epic novel follows everyday men and women, heroes who rise to the occasion and risk everything to help in a time of incredible need.
Out For Blood by Ryan Steck (aka The Real Book Spy)
Perfect For: Fans of Yellowstone and modern-day Westerns, but with the kind of action you might expect from Jason Bourne. Endorsed by Brad Thor (“packed with nonstop action, wall-to-wall adventure”) and Jack Carr (“If you’re looking for action, this one’s coming in hot!“), this book follows a former Marine Raider who is forced to go on the run into the vast Montan wilderness during a record-setting snowstorm. Hot on his heels is a team of assassins, all sent to make sure Matthew Redd can never identify the people who make up a powerful shadow government known as The Twelve. To survive and keep those he loves safe, Redd must defy the odds and the elements, but time is not on his side . . . which means there is zero margin for error. Set against the vibrant Montan backdrop, this book also includes a free bonus Christmas novella. (Note: All hardcovers arrived *signed* by Ryan Steck, The Real Book Spy himself.)
The Waiting by Michael Connelly
Perfect For: Fans of mysteries, police procedurals, or the Prime Video-produced television series Bosch and Bosch Legacy. Connelly is far and away one of the best writers still working today. An iconic scribe who will be remembered for creating Detective Harry Bosch (now retired), Connelly continues to churn out new books, and he never disappoints.
Perfect For: Fans of Top Gun and high-flying action. Written by a real-life pilot and former Top Gun instructor, Maverick ain’t got nothing on Jack Stewart and his hero, Colt Bancroft, who has fast become one of the genre’s better protagonists. This is book three in the series, but fear not, you can buy with confidence and give this one to the reader(s) in your life as they’ll have no trouble jumping in with this book. Just make sure you tell them to strap in tight, though, because Stewart goes full throttle here, holding nothing back.
Perfect For: Fans of myseries. Penny, over the course of her 19 books, has turned her Inspector Armand Gamache series into what might be the closest thing we’ve seen to this generation’s Hercule Poirot, delivered another instant #1 bestseller with The Grey Wolf. If you’re shopping for someone who appreciates a well-thought-out mystery with a hero you can’t but love, this is the best book you could hand them on Christmas morning.
Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson
Perfect For: Readers who love big adventure and heart-pounding suspense. While intense, Eruption is also a ton of fun, and how could it not be? Started by Crichton before his death and finished by James Patterson, the world’s most famous author, Eruption was destined to be a #1 bestseller, and boy was it. The year’s most notable new release, this book will thrill whoever you gift it to this holiday season.
The Elias Network by Simon Gervais
Perfect For: Readers who love action but appreciate great characters. Gerais knows his way around an action scene, there is no question about that, but what really stands about his latest book, which has nearly 12,00 reviews on Amazon already, is the character development. Caspian Anderson is a translator for the United Nations (spoiler: he’s not really—he’s actually part of a black program deep within the Department of Homeland Security) and a fantastic new character who Gervais really brings to life. The same is true for Caspien’s girlfriend, and without giving anything away, there’s a rea Mr. And Mrs. Smith vibe going on in this book. A fun, exciting read that begs for a sequel, this one is sure to be a winner with whoever you gift it to.
Perfect For: Fans of The Godfather and Goodfellas. Good luck trying to find a more prolific writer than Don Winslow, who previously announced that this would be his final book. In the parlance of old baseball vernacular, Winslow delivered a walk-off grand slam here, treating his readers to one final epic novel, tying up his crime saga in stunning fashion. If you know a reader who loves gritty, hard-boiled crime thrillers, this one is for them.
The Seventh Floor by David McCloskey
Perfect For: Fans of old-school spy thrillers with a modern take. McCloskey, who very well may be America’s version of John le Carre, is a brilliant talent who has gone from writing espionage after a long and decorated career with the CIA (where he wrote the President’s Daily Brief) to writing about espionage. Fascinating and timely, there’s no doubt that McCloskey’s book will look good under trees this Christmas.
A Death at Cornwall by Daniel Silva
Perfect For: Readers who love mysteries and espionage. Silva, whose name is thoroughly in the discussion for greatest spy novelist of all time, has long been treating his readers to incredible, unputdownable adventures with Gabriel Allon, a world-famous art restorer who happens to have also been chief of Israel’s Mossad. Here, Silva dials down the spy and action elements, choosing instead to focus on the mystery at hand—a baffling murder investigation that leads to one twist after another. One of the best books to hit stores this year, A Death in Cornwall is another no-brainer pick to give away this holiday season.
Karla’s Choice, a John le Carre Novel by Nick Harkaway
Perfect For: Fans of John le Carre (obviously) and spy enthusiasts. We’ll round out the spy section of our gift-buying guide with this fantastic new novel from Nick Harkaway, who serves up a tale worthy of the le Carre name. If you know a reader who fancies spy fiction, then it’s a sure thing that they know who George Smiley is. All you need to tell them is that Smiley is back in this book, and I promise you they’ll start clearing their schedule to make reading time immediately.
Clive Cussler’s Ghost Soldier by Mike Maden
Perfect For: Readers who love action, adventure, and nonstop thrillers. Written in the vein of a classic Cussler story, author Mike Maden rolls out an all-too-plausible scenario involving American weapons falling into the wrong hands, but readers should expect a twist or two (or three) as Juan Cabrillo and his crew aboard the Oregon race to save the day.
Out in the Cold by Steve Urszenyi
Perfect For: Readers who enjoy a strong female protagionist. Urszenyi’s hero, Alex Martel, sure can hold her own, and we see plenty of that in this book, which, by the way, may just have the year’s best cover. An exciting new voice in the thriller space, Urszenyi knows when to dial up the action, which he does plenty, but readers who appreciate a well-rounded story with memorable characters will especially enjoy this one.
Capture or Kill by Don Bentley
Perfect For: Readers who love Mitch Rapp. Vince Flynn’s iconic hero, Mitch Rapp, returns to action in this series debut by Don Bentley, who makes his presence in the Rappverse felt immediately with this throwback thriller that follows Rapp as he joins the hunt for the world’s most wanted terrorist.
E-READERS
(16 GB) 17″ glare-free display and weeks of battery life
Perfect For: Those new to e-readers. Considered by many to be the perfect Kindle device, the Paperwhite is simple but consistent, with a battery life that lasts several weeks between charges.
(16 GB) – 10.2” 300 ppi Paperwhite display, a Kindle and a notebook all in one, convert notes to text and share, includes Basic Pen
Perfect For: Those who want an e-reader that can do more. The Kindle scribe doubles as a dream e-reading device and a note-taking tablet. A Kindle and Notebook all in one, the Scribe can actually convert hand-written notes into text, which can then be sent or exported off the device, with a battery that lasts up to a month. It also offers a smooth reading experience, though it is bigger than the Paperwhite by a considerable margin.
32 GB) – With color display, auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging, and long battery life
Perfect For: Those who want all the benefits of a Kindle Paperwhite but with a color screen and wireless charging.
Backed by Amazon’s promise to replace it if your kid breaks it, this Kindle includes ad-free books and a cover with a glare-free display and faster page turns.
Perfect For: Kids! Look, we need to encourage more kids to read, so kudos to Amazon for creating a Kindle geared towards their wants and needs. The Kids version of Kindle’s flagship e-reader is tailored to children and their reading needs. A great way to encourage your young bookworm to dive into more stories, the Paperwhile Kids e-reader is a no-frills, no-distraction device. The battery does last several weeks, though, and can hold thousands of books on its on-board memory.
Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation): A15 Bionic, 8.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 256GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP front/12MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery Life
Perfect For: Those who want an e-reader that can do everything. It’s overkill, to be sure, but Apple’s iPad Mini is a top-notch e-reader thanks to its versatility. Users with this device can access the Kindle app, Audible, or iBooks, offering flexibility and the ability to hunt for better e-book and audiobook prices. (Bonus: with the latest iOS, most e-books and audiobooks sync across iPad and iPhone.)