5 new books you won't want to miss this week: Thrillers from W.E.B. Griffin, Robin Cook

USA TODAY
Look for new thrillers from W.E.B. Griffin and Robin Cook, plus an inside account of life in Cuba. All on sale Dec. 11.

USA TODAY’s Jocelyn McClurg scopes out the hottest books on sale each week.

1. “The Enemy of My Enemy” by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV (Putnam, fiction, on sale Dec. 11)

What it’s about: In the latest in this post-World War II series, Clandestine Operations special agent James Cronley Jr. tracks down a rumor that notorious Nazi Heinrich Himmler stashed away a fortune to create a Fourth Reich.

The buzz: Griffin has had 45 USA TODAY best-sellers, including 19 co-written with Butterworth, his son.

2. “Pandemic” by Robin Cook (Putnam, fiction, on sale Dec. 11)

What it’s about: After a young woman dies of flu-like symptoms at a New York City hospital, medical examiner Jack Stapleton is drawn into the dark underbelly of the organ transplant market.

The buzz: Cook’s contemporary novel draws on parallels to the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, marking its 100th anniversary.

3. “This Is Cuba: An American Journalist Under Castro's Shadow” by David Ariosto (St. Martin’s Press, nonfiction, on sale Dec. 11)

What it’s about: A CNN reporter/cameraman offers a firsthand account of post-Castro Cuba.

The buzz: “A penetrating report of a nation struggling with serious challenges … candid,” says Publishers Weekly.

4. “A Moment In Crime” by Amanda Allen (Crooked Lane, fiction, on sale Dec. 11)

What it’s about: New York City flapper turned sleuth Maddie Vaughn-Alwin returns in this period mystery about the murder of a film director, and Maddie’s cousin Gwen is the prime suspect.

The buzz: “A satisfying read for Maddie’s fans,” says Booklist.

5. “The Day the Sun Died” by Yan Lianke (Grove Press, fiction, on sale Dec. 11)

What it’s about: A sleepwalking plague infects a village in this dark satire by the Chinese novelist.

The buzz: Lianke is a two-time finalist for Britain’s prestigious Man Booker International Prize.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 new books you won't want to miss this week: Thrillers from W.E.B. Griffin, Robin Cook