Books: New and noteworthy
- Dick Wolf of 'Law & Order' fame tries his hand at thriller writing.
- New Simon Garfield: First fonts, now maps.
- A biographer takes on iconic fashion editor Diana Vreeland.
We scope out the hottest books on sale the week of Dec. 23.
1. The Intercept: A Jeremy Fisk Novel by Dick Wolf (William Morrow, fiction, on sale Dec. 26)
What it's about: NYPD terrorism task force detective Jeremy Fisk tries to track down a terrorist who has disappeared into thin air in Manhattan – as Fourth of July celebrations loom.
The buzz: This is a debut thriller by the creator of TV's hit franchise Law & Order. Says Kirkus Reviews: "Storytelling pro Wolf knows how to ratchet up tension and sustain it until the end."
2. On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks by Simon Garfield (Gotham, non-fiction, on sale Dec. 27)
What it's about: In a world of GPS and smartphones, Garfield offers a history of good old-fashioned print maps.
The buzz: Garfield's Just My Type, a look at fonts, was one of USA TODAY's "10 Books We Loved Reading in 2011."
3. Empress of Fashion: A Life of Diana Vreeland by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart (Harper, non-fiction, on sale now)
What it's about: A biography of the legendary fashion editor, capturing her heady days at Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, as well as her work for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.
The buzz: Says Publishers Weekly: "Stuart's biography is a tasty and erudite study of a complicated woman and her turbulent and colorful cultural life and times."