SO, what books to buy to take to the beach? Two suggestions, both thrillers, and both with great additional merit beyond their page turning plots.

First, if you love to hate the French, Patrick Robinson’s Hunter Killer is the summer read for you. The plot has a scheming Chirac-replacement behind a French take-down of the Saudi Royals in order to back a fundamentalist who will give them all the rebuilding contracts as well as a guarantee on the black stuff. Much high-tech weaponry and good-guy American NSA staffers and crusty old sea-dogs recalled to duty to battle the French navy.