Masquerade

One of the oldest chestnuts in the thriller genre--someone waking up with no memory and discovering they might be a murderer--is given a lively and original roasting in this, Gayle Lynds's first novel, which had reviewers comparing Lynds to Robert Ludlum and Ian Fleming. Lynds, whose background includes journalism and high-level involvement with international security, makes her amnesia victim, Liz Sansborough, a poignant and recognizable character. Is she really a CIA agent turned rogue killer, as the people who are looking after her insist? Or is she the innocent victim of some diabolic plot? You won't know for sure until you turn the very last page.