Books: New and noteworthy

'The Intercept' by Dick Wolf

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."

Jocelyn McClurg is USA TODAY's Books Editor. She is based in New York City, the heart of the U.S. publishing industry.

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