I finished Stephen Coonts' latest book, "Liars & Thieves" this past weekend in just one day. It's not the usual Coonts fare with exotic locales and the fate of the world hanging in the balance as hero Jake Grafton sets things right. Instead, it reminded me much more of books by Steve Baldacci -- specifically "Absolute Power" -- and Robert Ludlum.

A minor character in several previous Coonts novels, Tommy Carmellini, a CIA operative and second-storey man, arrives at a CIA safehouse to find two guards dead and their bodies still warm.

What follows is a fast-paced and intriguing plot as Carmellini works to discover who wants a lot of people dead -- and who has the power to cover it up.

If you're looking for a fun read, check it out.