Cool!
I actually really like mystery/adventure books. Being female (well, armed and female ;-) ) I love Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta mysteries. Dr. Scarpetta is one badass gun totin' very smart female character. And I think Ms. Cornwell is Republican... I'm almost positive she is.
Patricia is one of my favorites also, and she is a friend to Laura Bush yes. Just finished her new book, have you read it yet?