5 new books not to miss this week, including Chris Bohjalian, Clive Cussler

Jocelyn McClurg | USA TODAY

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USA TODAY’s Jocelyn McClurg scopes out the hottest books on sale each week.

1. The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian (Doubleday, fiction, on sale March 13)

What it’s about: When flight attendant Cassie Bowden wakes up in a Dubai hotel room next to a dead man, hung over and with no idea what happened, she makes the mistake of lying to everyone, including the FBI.

The buzz: “As intellectually satisfying as it is emotionally entertaining,” says Booklist in a starred review.

2. The Rising Sea by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown (Putnam, fiction, on sale March 13)

What it’s about: In the 15th installment in the NUMA adventure series, Kurt Austin and his team trace a mysterious rise in sea levels to a plot to upset the balance of power in Asia.

The buzz: Nighthawk, the last title in the NUMA series, landed at No. 3 on USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list last year.

3. Picasso and the Painting That Shocked the World by Miles J. Unger (Simon & Schuster, non-fiction, on sale March 13)

What it’s about: This biography of the great Spanish painter focuses on his early years in Paris when he painted Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, which led to the rise of Cubism.

The buzz: “Riveting … engrossing,” says Publishers Weekly.

4. Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney (Flatiron, fiction, on sale March 13)

What it’s about: In this debut thriller, a woman (another unreliable narrator!) lies in a coma in a hospital bed, able to hear everything around her, including her husband’s troubling words.

The buzz: It’s an Indie Next pick of independent booksellers. “The twists and turns are dizzying,” says Kate Towery of The Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Va.

5. Fade to Black by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur, fiction, on sale March 13)

What it’s about: New Jersey state police officer Doug Brock, recovering from a gunshot wound, is led to a cold murder case through an amnesia support group.

The buzz: Rosenfelt also writes a mystery series featuring lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara.