Fiction books I have liked

I just started this list recently, more entries will be added.
Hidden Prey by John Sandford, Penguin Group May 2004 A murder mystery with great characters, and humor. This is the latest of 15 in the prey series featuring state police Detective Lucas Davenport. A Russian sailor, the son of someone high in the hierarchy, is killed and sexy female cop Nadya Kalinen is sent over to observe the investigation. It is a great twisty plot and seems very detailed and realistic. I enjoyed it and have gone back into the library stacks to read the others.
Iron Fire by David Ball, Delacorte Press Dec 2003 It transports you back to the 1600's and the interacting lives of a Knight of Malta who really just wants to be a surgeon, a peasant girl and boy, and the clash between Muslims and Christians. Slave galleys and seiges. A great read!