I love reading a good action thriller with lots of suspense, and am looking for a good one.  Can anybody recommend some good ones?  Something along the lines of maybe a Tom Clancy, or one of Ludlum's Bourne series.  One thing I don't like a lot of however is trashiness and smut.  Any ideas?

I just found Clive Cussler!  I think he's along the lines of what you're looking for.  I finished Sahara (the movie with Matthew McConaughey is based on it) and I was mildy surprised.  It was a good and fun read. 

Give him a try and let me know what you think,...

I really like Iris Johansen. This is a loose series with Eve and Joe appearing in all of the books. My personal favorite is

And Then You Die  but I think  The Ugly Duckling was first. Give her a try as she will keep you gussing until the last page.

You might want to try Vince Flynn  Mitch Rapp Series  or maybe David Baldacci

Thanks

Tammy

Try The Messenger by Daniel Silva... it is an international spy story.

I also like Stephen White - his protagonist for most of the books is a psychiatrist, and the books are very suspenseful.

James Rollins, or the Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child books.

I agree with Heather. Clive Cussler books are really good. Plenty of action, and keep you on the edge of your seat.

I'd go for a Nevada Barr "Anna Pigeon" mystery. Anna, the main character, is a park ranger and she gets involved in all kinds of murders that she has to solve.  The suspense is great, the characters are realistic and while there's a touch of romance, it's tastefully done and certainly not the focus of the series at all. My favorite was the one where the murder happened in a cavern. (I can't remember the title, though...Sorry!) I've read all of hers and can't wait for a new one.

Tracey

I like Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series.

http://yourehistory.wordpress.com/2007/10/27/crime-novels-the-narrows-by-michael-connelly/

I recommend the JACK REaCHER NOVELS BY LEE CHILD

My favorite for this genre is David Baldacci.  I have 2 remaining on my Bookshelf.

You might also like some of the newer Dean Koontz stuff. He's an absolutely terrific writer. His newer stuff is usually always some kind of thriller, with some weird twist. There's almost never any smut in the newer ones. The older ones (80's) have a bit more smut in them, and aren't quite as well written, IMO.

Stephen White is super.. Clive Cussler gets old after a while.  Nelson Demille - the Charm School, The Gold Coast are geat.  Night over Water - Ken Follet is excellent along with Daniel Silva.

Have to reccommend Sherrily Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series on that one. Lots of action on that one, dark stuff, vampires, Gods...can't beat that.  Unless it's the strict murder mystery that you're looking for.

Ken Follett,  THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE and NIGHT OVER WATER.

Thanks for all of the recommendations - keep em coming!  Someone mentioned James Rollins  - I recently discovered him and read his Black Order, and it was pretty fun. 

For the Cussler fans, I've never read him, so what's his best book?

Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch Mysteries are truly great mystery/suspense reading.  Also Robert B. Parker. Phillip Margolin and Jack Kerley.  I have titles by all these guys on my Book Shelf.  Click my list, above to look them over.  I try to write reviews on all my books.  Check them out.

I really find Cussler a bit too far-fetched.  His characters are not believable to me, and his plots became too predictable after reading a few.  But that's me.  I didn't find them suspenseful.  it's like McGiver.  You know he's going to get out, you just wait to see how he does it so you can groan.

I have 9 Michael Connelly paperbacks in like new  condition, 7  of which are the Harry Bosch series. The others are Void Moon and Chasing the Dime.

 You can have all 9 for 4 credits. Otherwise they are 2 for 1 credit. They were gently read once, and put on the shelf. (no smoking; no pets) They are in  excellent condition!

PM me as well as post here if you're interested. My husband read them and absolutely loved Harry Bosch!

 Vince Flynn for sure. I have a lot of friends in Washington, and they all say he does by far the best job of writing fiction political thrillers that best mirror real-life "spy" and intrigue stuff. I also like Lee Child's series with Jack Reacher character, although that's more of a movie-type character/book, and not so realistic--but fun.

  David Baldacci's earlier thrillers were outstanding, IMHO, but his more recent books with the "Camel Club" veer more toward comedy and much lighter material.....

My husband loves Vince Flynn, and I have 4 on  my shelf that you can have for 3 credits.

2 of them are in perfect like-new giftable condition, one being a larger trade paperback.

He buys them, reads quickly and shelves them. (No smoking or pets)

Pm me as well as post here if you're interested. And check my free list in my profile.

Rose

I You might try John Sandford.  Start with "Eyes of Prey" and if you like it you'll have lots of books to look forward to.

An older suspense author I really liked and read everything by about 10 years ago is Helen McInnes.  My very favorite of hers was "While Still We Live".  She has written quite a few.  That would keep you busy for a while :  ).

Brad Meltzer writes very much like John Grisham and David Baldacci.  His "edge-of-your-seat" political thriller THE FIRST COUNSEL  is very good!