I love Jeffrey Deaver-his Lincoln Rhyme books are special. Just finished the Stone Monkey and am looking forward to a new one to be released in March about a criminal illusionist.
For mystery buffs, I recommend Elizabeth George. Her series features Lord Lynley and Lady Helen...She is an American author who writes English mysteries...very, very well.
And if you want some really hillarious fun reads, the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series is sidesplitting.....
Another author I really really like, and highly recommend is MM Kaye. She wrote The Far Pavilions, Shadow of the Moon, and Tradewinds, plus several mysteries. She is classified as writing historical romantic fiction, but she is spot on in her history of India. Great love stories too. One of my all time favorite authors.
I have received as gifts several book from Oprah's club and didn't enjoy any of them very much. I HATE fiction in which people live miserable lives, although if it's a true story, somehow it's ennobling and inspiring I suppose:-)
Anyway, one of the books was Icy Sparks. I finished it, but don't read it. Miserable, horrible people!