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Money Matters A Novel by Brian Finney At once a painful coming-of-age novel, an exciting amateur sleuth tale and an intriguing narrative involving social issues (immigration and wealth disparity), Money Matters has mystery at its core. This emotionally charged debut novel is firmly embedded in Los Angeles culture over the 2010 mid-term election. Jenny, the 27-year old inexperienced protagonist, faced with the tragic disappearance of a friend, is forced to take on financial tycoons, corrupt politicians, and the treacherous Baja drug cartel in her search to uncover the truth. Jenny's investigation takes her into the twilight world of undocumented immigrants, which leads her to seek the help of the handsome director of an immigrant rights organization to whom she is strongly attracted. But will the deadly enmity of the rich and powerful thwart her search and end her budding romance? |
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The Avenging Angel (The Malhaven Mystery Series #2) by Helen Whistberry When a series of escalating pranks at the Sisters of Mercy orphanage get out of hand, it's time for intrepid reporter Jim Malhaven to grab his trusty fedora and dust off his investigatory skills. A lost little girl with no voice and no past, an unpleasantly sinister pair of caretakers at a local mansion, and reported sightings of a heavenly visitor sporting a pair of wings. Can Jim and his friends get to the bottom of the mystery before evil triumphs over good? This is Book Two in the Malhaven Mystery Series, light noir novels with a cozy mystery feel and a touch of the paranormal that pay loving tribute to the wise guy detectives of the 40s and 50s. (This book was originally published under the title The Avenging Angel of Hasselwhite Hall in May of 2020. Content warnings: child endangerment, anti-Semitism, racism) |
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The Weird Sisters by Helen Whistberry Jim Malhaven is a lonely hack reporter stringing along on assignments no one else wants at the local paper until he gets the scoop of his life. There's a mysterious wraith haunting the local cemetery, and it's up to him to get to the bottom of the ghostly goings-on. Along the way, he'll cross paths with a trio of weird sisters, uncover a sinister conspiracy, have more than one brush with death, and meet a gal with honey-blonde hair and a killer smile. Is she that certain someone he's been looking for all his life, or is there a villain hiding behind that lovely face? This twisty tale will leave you guessing until the final shocking revelation. This is Book One in the Malhaven Mystery Series, light noir novels with a cozy mystery feel and a touch of the paranormal that pay loving tribute to the wise guy detectives of the 40s and 50s. (This book was previously published under the title The Weird Sisters of Wynter's Hill. Content warnings: suicide, implied child abuse, drug use, child loss) |
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Working Wonders by Thomas Allen The world-famous occult shop, Working Wonders, sits on the corner of 1st Street and Hurlbert, in the heart of the Business District, one of the areas of the city with the densest populations of supernatural beings. Two weeks before Christmas, a dead body is found crumpled on Hurlbert, not far from the abandoned Beasley Inn. Sergeant Thomas Parkland is suspicious, not just because of the location of the body, but also because it appears to have been mummified. Realizing he may be out of his element, Sergeant Parkland reaches out to members of the supernatural community, eventually finding himself inside of Working Wonders. However, the owner of the shop, and his two employees, are reticent to offer any assistance to the police. Quickly, it becomes clear that Sergeant Parklandâs hunch about the dead body is justified. By the time the owner of Working Wonders decides to help him solve the mystery, another dead body is found on a wooded pathway in Crockett Memorial Park, a mythical creature of death is on the loose, a violent agent from a clandestine government agency is prowling about, and the world itself may be in danger. Is it just a coincidence that the solution to Sergeant Parklandâs investigation resides in the upstairs storage room of Working Wonders? |
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The Witch's and the Wolf's Curse by Julia Pazdro As the Witch entered the woods with her wolf close behind her, she knew that tonight was going to be difficult. Today was the long-awaited day. After 12 long years, she is finally going to attempt to break the curse. Will she succeed? What is the curse? Can she have a happily ever after? |
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Donn's Hill by Caryn Larrinaga Ghosts. Psychics. Murder. Just another day in Donn's Hill. Mackenzie Clair needs a fresh start. The death of her father and a broken relationship rendered her old life unlivable. What better place to build a new one than Donnâs Hill, the most haunted town in America and her favorite childhood vacation spot? But returning to Donnâs Hill awakens more than nostalgia. As memories resurface, so does a lost psychic ability to talk to the dead... a power the poltergeist haunting Macâs apartment is eager to use. Aided by her new roommateâa spirited Tortoiseshell cat named Strikerâand the ghost-hunting crew of the Soul Searchers, Mac struggles to control her newfound talents. Sheâd better get a handle on them fast, because someone in town is hiding a deadly secret. If Mac canât divine the truth, Donnâs Hill will never be the same. First in a new series, this cozy supernatural mystery was the 2017 winner of the League of Utah Writers Silver Quill award. "A genre-bending gem of a book, cozy meets horror meets cat fancier in a unique town of psychic tourism and ghostly secrets." -Johnny Worthen, award winning author of THE FINGER TRAP, THE BRAND DEMAND and WHAT IMMORTAL HAND |
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Eldritch Sparks: Shadows of Otherside Book 2 by Whitney Hill The deal that secured Arden Finch a measure of freedom came with strings, and now everybody wants to pull them. Arden has carved out a place for herself in Othersideâat a price. Pressure mounts as she juggles her day job as a private investigator with her new obligations, fraying relationships, and growing elemental powers. If that wasn't enough, a lich has appeared in the Triangle, sowing violence and raising zombies. Everyone wants Arden to get rid of itâ , including the gods. But the lich offers something Arden has always wanted: enough power to stand alone. All she has to do is put herself first for once...and betray everyone she cares about. Urban fantasy and paranormal fans of Kim Harrison, Faith Hunter, Seanan McGuire, and the early Anita Blake series will find a kick-ass heroine in Arden. Praise for Eldritch Sparks: Shadows of Otherside Book 2 "A compelling book of Otherside that goes from strength to strength." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) |
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Entanglement: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller by Alina Leonova Cay thinks he may be going insane. His partner isnât herself. He can only surmise that sheâs been replaced, which is impossible. And yet⊠In a desperate attempt to discover the truth, Cay gives up his identity and flees home. Cutting out the implant that connects him to society is an unforgivable crime, but it may be the only way to find the people who can help him. His path leads him to the underworld where he meets Vietra. She wants to run from her past but canât leave it behind. Together, they get a chance to discover why the world has set out to destroy them. Will the answers they find save them, or bring their downfall? Readers call Entanglement mind-bending, exciting, and unpredictable. This cyber-punk thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page. |
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Intricate Deceptions by Jennifer Rayes Waking up in a desolate cell, Gaia realizes that she has been kidnapped by a human trafficking organization, doomed to be sold to the highest bidder and unable to remember anything before her capture. An opportune rescue by Raoul, the Prince of Kayamato, saves Gaia from a gruesome future, and she is thrown into a world of luxury and privilege. As she struggles to regain her memory, Gaia learns that her rescue was no accident and finds herself in even more danger, hunted by a powerful drug lord, targeted by a thrill seeking pirate, and betrayed by those she thought closest to her. Fighting for sanity and survival, she works to unravel the truth behind her capture, each revelation more shocking than the last. The intricate web of deceptions spun around her family will shatter her world, leaving her unsure if she will ever trust again. Through it all, she must survive to save a friend before itâs too late⊠|
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Magister's Bane (Call of the Elements #1) by Yvette Bostic Magic canât be real, right? Tell that to the werewolf glaring at me with his near-black eyes or the handsome vampire in the corner. Did I enjoy growing up rejected by everyone I encountered because of my physical abnormalities? Hell no! The only thing I ever wanted was to be accepted by someone. Not everyone, just anyone. A normal job and one solid meal a day wouldâve been nice too. You know that old saying, âBe careful what you wish for?â Yeah, that one really sucks. After a vampire kidnapped me, I suddenly become wanted by all the wrong people. Why would those blood sucking fiends want a deformed, malnourished woman who looked more like a little girl? I only get more questions when an elemental mage steals me from the vampires and thrust me into a role I wasnât prepared for. I thought I wanted to know the answers, but discovering the truth forced me into a fight for my life. One I wasnât sure I could win. |
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Hell Hound (Jane Doe Chronicles #1) by M.J. Sylvester A foul-mouthed bounty hunter and assassin, Jane Doe is not your average witch. Working for the ruling magical class in Britain - the Merlins - she takes on the jobs and creatures that other members of the magical community wouldn't touch with a six-foot spell staff. As rumours spread that a powerful being wants to free a horrific hound from its prison on Dartmoor, Jane and her assistant, Dawn, are tasked by their Handler to find the perpetrator and stop them using any means possible. |
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Fade (The Faders #1) by E.G. Bateman An invisible enemy. A mysterious school. Can a troubled teen use her incredible powers to uncover the deadly truth? As the only child of a widowed father, Jenna Banks has learned to handle whatever the world throws her way. But when she encounters a strange boy who vanishes before her eyes, she never expected sparks of electricity to leap from her fingertips in response. Confused by her strange new ability, she barely has time to process the freak accident that kills her father and leaves her an orphan. Devastated and alone, sheâs sent to a prestigious academy filled with bloody deeds and dark secrets. As she meets her classmates, Jenna learns sheâs not the only one with powers. But until she controls her strange gift, sheâll never be able to track the vanishing creature bent on turning her world upside down. Can Jenna survive the school long enough to hunt down her target before her future fades away? Fade is the first book in an electrifying YA urban fantasy trilogy. If you like headstrong heroines, paranormal powers, and jaw-dropping twists, then youâll love E. G. Batemanâs exciting coming-of-age adventure. |
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Duckett & Dyer: Dicks For Hire by G.M. Nair Michael Duckett is fed up with his life. His job is a drag, and his roommate and best friend of fifteen years, Stephanie Dyer, is only making him more anxious with her lazy irresponsibility. Things continue to escalate when they face the threat of imminent eviction from their palatial 5th floor walk-up and find that someone has been plastering ads all over the city for their Detective Agency. The only problem is: He and Stephanie donât have one of those. Despite their baffling levels of incompetence, Stephanie eagerly pursues this crazy scheme and drags Michael, kicking and screaming, into the fray only to find that they are way out of their depth. They stumble upon a web of missing people that are curiously linked to a sexually audacious theoretical physicist and his experiments with the fabric of space-time. And unless Michael and Stephanie can put their personal issues aside and fix the multi-verse, the concept of existence itself may, ironically, no longer exist. |
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The One-Hundred Percent Solution by G.M. Nair The Future Group is the cityâs biggest and most lucrative company even though no one really knows what it is they do. Michael Duckett has worked there for four years and he still has no clue. All he knows is that he hates his meaningless job and all the people in it. But it pays the bills. Bills that have been stacking up since his roommate and best friend Stephanie Dyer decided to open a detective agency â despite her chronic inability to commit to anything. When Michael is suddenly fired, he and Stephanie are forced to return to the world of private investigation against his better judgment. A mysterious woman wants to enlist the services of Duckett & Dyer: Dicks For Hire to track down an assassin who has a bone to pick with Michaelâs former employer. Apparently, The Future Group has been harboring a deadly secret for decades. One that could put the world in the grip of an indescribable horror. It turns out Michael was lucky to get out of that job alive. Too bad he and Stephanie are being dragged back to work. |
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Dames and Demons by G. Campbell Twenty years ago, a pandemic ripped through the world and forever changed society. Where Man once stood, now stand the Women and the Demons. They rule the city through magic and money. Men like Tom and Chris Redfield have nothing. The brothers live under the heel of society and fight over the scraps dropped by the upper classes. Or at least they used to. Things change with the discovery of a Demonic book. The brothers might have a shot at a better life, but theyâre not ready for the chaos the book unleashes. Suddenly, the Redfields are thrown into the tangled machinations of the spiteful Sororities and the fastidious lords of Hell. Forced to become players in an intricate game, the brothers will have to use their wits and all the magic they can afford if they hope to survive. Cock your pistols, sharpen your swords, and fill your magic reserve⊠Not everyoneâs going to make it out alive. |
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The Clay Queen (Children of Clay #1) by Ono Ekeh With her armies defeated, Queen Noueiâs enemies march north to condemn her. The earth godâs only hope is to change history before they arrive. To become stronger she must restart her divine journey by reincarnating as Bridget Blade. But what if Bridget doesnât want to be a god? All Bridget wants is a simple life with love and family. But she is confronted by a destiny she doesnât even understand and burdened by powers and impulses she struggles to control. Bridget must choose a path that leads her to Nouei or, must force the Queen to settle for Bridgetâs modest ambitions. Two women, one life, conflicting desires. Who will prevail? |
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Atonement (Heaven Sent #1) by J.L. Rothstein To Hell, this world is fractured and faithless, perfectly ripe for the picking. Sent by Heaven, Guardians defend against a malevolent onslaught of demonic intrusion. For hundreds of years the nine siblings of the OâMara family have been engaged in this merciless battle, fighting to protect the souls of all humanity. Heaven and Hell have been waging this infernal war bound only by the rules of a contentious accord. On the anniversary of her husband Gabrielâs disappearance, Genevieve OâMaraâs lingering sorrow manifests into a murderous rage unfurled upon a demon. Vengeance is coming, not just for Genevieve, but for all those she loves. |
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Shadow Road by A. E. Pennymaker Brenorra Warring's father is going crazy. That's the only conclusion Bren can come to when a fire destroys everything they own, and his only answer is to take a job in the uncivilized Coalition Colonial Region on the other side of the ocean. Then disaster strikes again, and Bren is left with nothing but the clothes on her back, the things in her father's satchel, and the discovery that he was lying about his reasons for leaving. When more of her father's secrets are revealed, it becomes clear that someone powerful is killing innocent people to keep those secrets hidden â and they are hunting for Bren. Now on the run, Bren is pulled into an alliance with two very different men. The first is fighting to bring down the same shadow organization stalking her, no matter the cost. The other is a brilliant but icy war hero who has been branded a wanted man by the enemy. With danger rising on every side, Bren must solve her father's trail of coded messages before the last of his secrets fall into the wrong hands. In the process, she will have to rewrite everything she once knew about her life, and reveal strengths she never thought she had. |
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Murder Under a Blue Moon by Abigail Keam Mona Moon is not your typical young lady. She is a cartographer by trade, explorer by nature, and adventurer by heart. But thereâs a problem. Miss Mona is broke. Itâs during the Depression, and National Geographic has just turned down her application to join an expedition to the Amazon. Whatâs she to do? Perhaps get a job as a department store salesgirl. Anything to tide her over until a next assignment. Thereâs a knock on the door. Who could this be in the middle of the night? Holding a revolver, Mona reluctantly opens her door to a man wearing a Homburg hat and holding a briefcase. âI bring glad tidings. Your Uncle Manfred Moon has died and left you as his heir to the Moon fortune. You are now one of the richest women in the country!â he says. Monaâs response is to point her revolver in his face. If the stranger is telling the truth, she will apologize. If he is a fraud, she will shoot him. Thatâs how Mona does things in 1933. |
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Grace's nine-year-old son, Jordan, is dying. . . . First, the Metagenesis disease will tear his soul from his body, and then it will kill him. Desperate for a cure, Grace agrees to take part in an illegal clinical trial cloning souls. Supported by her best friend Kay, the two embark on the ultimate "Vegas Vacation" to the past in search of the right soul to clone, racing against time to save Jordan's life. But someone is trying to stop them and when they discover why, Grace must make a choice: let her son die or kill her husband. If she kills her husband, she triggers widespread Metagenesis, sealing the fate of the human race with a new plague. Humanity is counting on Grace choosing to let her son die. Book trailer: https://youtu.be/nZwRXDKHZ-4 Praise for Hamartia: âRich spins an ambitious and imaginative concept into a plot thatâs full of fantastically complicated twists. . . . Throughout, the narrative raises and resolves questions at a brisk pace, making for a compelling page-turner.â â Kirkus Reviews "The love story is a complex, thought provoking relationship with a seductive touch of heat. Ms. Rich delivers a mind-bending futuristic thriller with seductive skill and a unique perspective to the dilemmas of time-travel!" â InD'tale Magazine |
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Quitting The Grave by Decater Collins Eugene, Oregon. October, 1999. After three graves robberies--in each instance, the abducted corpse was a John Doe--the police have few leads and little interest in the case. Caya Blumenshine, a reporter for the local newspaper, canvasses Eugene, questioning anarchists, wyccans, and politicians, until her search hits upon a secluded house on the outskirts of the city. Its owner, Alexander Hilyard, a history-writing hermit who hasn't been seen in years, may be involved in the grave robberies, or may have been the most recent victim. Fort Vancouver, the 1830âs. A trading outpost on the Columbia river is charged with harvesting as many furs as possible for the Hudson Bay Company, while at the same time discouraging American pioneers from settling in the region. Dr. McLoughlin, the chief factor, and his three adopted sons find the undertaking challenged by the arrival of Jason Lee and his Methodist missionaries. A blood feud begins that will shape the course of Oregon history for the next two centuries. Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1846. After the murder of her father, Helen Hunsaker wants nothing more than to escape the strictures of a society that views women as second-class citizens. She sets out on the Oregon Trail hoping to find a measure of freedom not afforded to her by her family circumstances or gender. Unfortunately, a spurned suitor chases after her and will apparently stop at nothing to win her hand in marriage. Three stories that span more than 150 years of American history, united by a shocking mystery. How far will those responsible go to keep their secrets buried? |
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A pandemic where women over 50 survive? Antigenesis is a action packed political thriller and farce inspired by today's headlines with themes centered on revenge at all costs, female empowerment, and declining world health. An extremely contagious and deadly outbreak begins in the Arctic Circle, where thousands of Russian soldiers perish. Russia and China threaten retaliation assuming the virus is a US bioweapon. As the White House, Pentagon and National Security Agency try to understand the ramifications of the situation in Russia, they bring in a consultant, Ally, a former CDC virus hunter. Ally works with an NSA spy to track down the origin of the virus and halt the spread. She discovers that the virus is transmitted by dogs and, remarkably, women over 50 seem to have immunity. When the casualty rate begins to decimate American cities, the President, both clueless and inept, refuses to institute a national quarantine. His Vice President tries to keep the government running but quickly descends into madness. As society and government collapses, the surviving female congress members decide to overcome the pesky quorum problem by re-writing the Constitution. Will Ally find the source of the virus and stop it in time to save humanity? What will happen when the world is run by women? |
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The Thief of Eyes by Michael McCaskill The world is not what it seems. Creatures of myth and legend walk among us. Some just living life like humans do, but others are less interested in such mundane pursuits. Enter the Choir, a clandestine organization that polices the supernatural world in secret and limits the damage from the world behind the veil. In the American northwest, a child away at camp drowns in the middle of the night. This sad but mundane event triggers a doomsday prophecy that could drag the world into oblivion. Allison Piper and Donna "Don" Kyle, agents of the Choir, must race against the clock to unravel the dark future before it is too late. |
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Tom has a unique gift which he feels, at times, is more of a curse. Art is investigating a series of murders, but the clues are lacking. Pulled together by circumstances, Art and Tom become unlikely allies as Art is forced to suspend disbelief and trust in Tomâs gift before it's too late. |
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Girl with a Gun: An Annie Oakley Mystery by Kari BovĂ©e Fifteen-year-old Annie Oakley is the sole supporter of her widowed mother and two siblings. An expert markswoman and independent spirit, she hunts game to sell to the local mercantile to make ends meet instead of accepting a marriage proposal that could solve all her problems. After a stunning performance in a shooting contest against the handsome and famous sharpshooter Frank Butler, Annie is offered a position in the renowned Buffalo Billâs Wild West Show. Finally, she has a chance to save the nearly foreclosed family farm and make her dreams come true. But then her Indian assistant is found dead in her tent, and Annie is dubious when the local coroner claims the death was due to natural causes. When another innocent is murdered, Annie begins to fear the deaths are related to her. And to make matters worse, her prized horse, Buck, a major part of her act, is stolen. Annie soon discovers that the solution to her problems lies buried in a padlocked Civil War trunk belonging to the showâs manager, Derence LeFleur. And so, with the help of a sassy, blue-blooded reporter, Annie sets out to find her horse, solve the murders, and clear her name. |
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Murder So Deadly: A Merry March Mystery (Merry March Mysteries) by Eileen Curley Hammond Pretty Things Can Be DeadlyItâs springtime in Hopeful and the town is abloom. Gardeners, avid to challenge themselves, move past the usual begonias into more exotic plants. Unfortunately, some of their selections are pure poison.Robâs mother and her husband are in town for a visit that ends in murder. Merry investigates and finds ugly truths growing in some of the most beautiful places. |
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Murder So Heartless: A Merry March Mystery (Merry March Mysteries) by Eileen Curley Hammond Nothing spoils Valentineâs Day in a small town like a murdered florist.The First Gulf War lasted less than a year. Now, nearly three decades later, the local florist is murdered in Hopeful. Merryâs pulled in once again, as her daughter begs her to save her boyfriendâs father from prison. When Merry investigates, she realizes that secrets kept during that War are beginning to unravel. Wine and cats keep her sane while her boyfriend, Rob, and best friend, Patty, pitch in to help her solve the mystery before the murderer kills again. |
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Murder So Festive: A Merry March Mystery (Merry March Mysteries Book 2) by Eileen Curley Hammond Christmas: A time for love, putting away grievances, and joining together in joy. Or not. When Merryâs ex breezes back into the town he swindled, her world turns upside down. Drawn into the drama that surrounds him, she works to protect their daughter from the turmoil. Tensions run high, and Merry finds herself, once again, in the center of a murder investigation. Good friends, wine, and her cats keep her grounded as she works to uncover the identity of the killer. |
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Murder So Sinful: A Merry March Mystery (Merry March Mysteries Book 1) by Eileen Curley Hammond A murder at the church rocks the small town of Hopeful and sets tongues wagging. Single mom and successful insurance agent Merry March steps in to figure out who the killer is. Merryâs had a tough week. Her daughter went off the rails and her best friend became an annoying matchmaker. Finding solace in food, wine, and two demanding cats, her comfortable life changes when her best friendâs daughter is suspected of murder. As Merry investigates, she begins to open her heart. |
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The Storm over Paris by William Ian Grubman The Storm Over Paris is a "dark, gripping historical thriller" with "evocative and frightening descriptions of life in Paris under Nazi rule." - Kirkus Reviews It's 1942 in Nazi-Occupied Paris. Mori Rothstein is a widely-respected, internationally-known art dealer, loving husband, and father. Mori's once-charmed life darkens when Hermann Goering â the head of the Nazi Gestapo and one of the most feared men alive â seeks out his expertise. Goering gives Mori a choice: appraise priceless pieces of art that will be deported to Hitler's new museum or risk his and his family's lives. As his friends and fellow Jews disappear one by one, Mori must decide what he will stand for and at what cost. With so much at stake, Mori and his son concoct a risky plan to save some of history's greatest pieces of art...but can it possibly work? And can Mori's family possibly survive the scrutiny of Goering and the horrors of Nazi occupation? Fans of Daniel Silva, Dan Brown, and John Grisham will fall in love with this gripping piece of World War II historical fiction. The action and intrigue makes this page-turner impossible to put down; the cast of characters make it impossible to forget. |
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The Paris Photo by Jane S Gabin The Paris Photo compassionately conveys the story of American soldier Ben Gordon and his relationship with a young mother and her son just after the Liberation of Paris in August 1944. Despite the strength of this relationship during the war, Ben's eventual return to America separates them. Decades later, Ben's daughter stitches the relationship back together when she discovers a photograph of her late father with an unknown woman and boy. Eager to uncover more of her father's past, she travels to Paris to learn about the people in the photograph. The Paris Photo lifts characters out of the pages of a history book, richly depicting the human emotion that pervades our memories. The Paris Photo will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, particularly those with an interest in WWII. Jane S. Gabin creates a vivid picture of life in Paris during the dark days of the Nazi occupation, as well as a depiction of the contemporary city that still carries scars from the war. Interweaving mystery, romance, and historical research, The Paris Photo demonstrates how the traumas of wartime loss persist into the present. |
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Public Parts by Joel W. Harris A failed escape? Or a Mob hit arranged by crime boss Meyer Lansky to silence him and save Lepke Buchalter, Bugsy Siegel and Albert Anastasia from the electric chair? Either way, Murder Incorporated hit man turned major crime snitch Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, "the pigeon who could sing but not fly," encountered the one law he could not evade: The Law of Gravity. Thirty years later in the early 1970s, Larry Levine takes over at PUBLIC AUTO PARTS, in Brownsville, Brooklyn, when his father is forced into abrupt retirement in Florida to avoid questions about the demise of his old friend, Reles. Someone is talking. Larry knows a little of his fathers link to the Mob, but not nearly enough, as he is left to face a relentless police detective, John Mannion, who wants answers and an equally relentless Mob boss, Carmine, who wants cooperation. While trying to protect his father, end Mob sway at Public Parts, deal with Laurie, his dissatisfied wife, and Ann Riordan, his new, beautiful, and enigmatic young assistant, the business burns to the ground. Indicted for arson and other charges, he is defended by Brownsville's own Harvard trained Bernie the Attorney, once a renowned Mob mouthpiece, now turned Orthodox Rabbi, whose time has long past. Ultimately, Larrys fate is in the hands of his assistant, whose reluctant testimony about the extent of their relationship and where they were on the night of the fire could save Larry from prison but could also destroy her engagement and his marriage. PUBLIC PARTS is a black comedy of corruption and error cloaking a classic tale of love and betrayal, death and redemption; a might-be-true legend of its time and place, and Larry is the last man able to tell the tale. |
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NAMED TO KIRKUS REVIEWSâ BEST BOOKS OF 2017 Ray Lopez is on the run with a duffel bag full of cash. Both drug dealers and the police are after him. But Ray is not a criminal. His last brush with the law was over traffic tickets. Recently released from the hospital with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, he is haunted by voices, auditory hallucinations, that frighten him and cause him to question his every move. Rayâs journey from California to Laredo is perilous. Like so many Americans before him, he travels through unfamiliar territory with no clear way of knowing who will help and who will harm him. And he may well find himself on the wrong side of the border with a mind that has no borders. |
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Sanction: A Spy Thriller by William Hunter While in England on an unsanctioned assignment, Sean Garrett witnesses the shooting of a distinguished Cambridge professor by elite contract killer David Laurent. With his cover blown, Garrett is on the run from an assassin desperate to erase his tracks, and authorities who believe he is responsible for the murder. Banastre Montjoy, a burned-out head of section at the Secret Intelligence Service, is in a race himself to discover if the scholar's death is linked to a bombing of the London Underground a year earlier. Montjoy's nemesis, the power-hungry and scheming Berwyn Rees, seeks to drum his rival out of MI6, while maneuvering to become deputy chief. With time running out, SOG operators are sent in by the CIA to locate and extract Garrett. As Laurent, MI5, and Scotland Yard close in on their target, Montjoy uncovers a devastating secret, one that someone inside the British government has sought to keep buried since World War II. |
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The Weight of Lies: A Novel by Emily Carpenter In this gripping, atmospheric family drama, a young woman investigates the fortyÂ-yearÂ-old murder that inspired her motherâs bestselling novel, and uncovers devastating truthsâand dangerous lies. Reformed party girl Meg Ashley leads a life of privilege, thanks to a bestselling horror novel her mother wrote decades ago. But Meg knows that the glow of their very public life hides a darker reality of lies, manipulation, and the heartbreak of her own solitary childhood. Desperate to break free of her mother, Meg accepts a proposal to write a scandalous, tell-all memoir. Digging into the pastâand her motherâs cult classicâdraws Meg to Bonny Island, Georgia, and an unusual woman said to be the inspiration for the book. At first island life seems idyllic, but as Meg starts to ask tough questions, disturbing revelations come to lightâŠincluding some about her mother. Soon Megâs search leads her to question the facts of a decades-old murder. Sheâs warned to leave it alone, but as the lies pile up, Meg knows sheâs getting close to finding a murderer. When her own life is threatened, Meg realizes the darkness found in her motherâs book is nothing compared to the chilling truth that lurks off the page. |
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Tinderbox (Flashpoint) (Volume 1) by Rachel Grant In the volatile tinderbox of the Horn of Africa, Morgan Adler has made the paleoanthropological find of a lifetime. The discovery brings her to the attention of a warlord eager to claim both Morgan and the fossils, forcing her to make a desperate dash to the nearby US military base to beg for protection. Master Sergeant Pax Blanchard has orders to intercept Dr. Adler before she reaches the base, and in so doing saves her life. After a harrowing afternoon he safely delivers her to his commanders, only to find his responsibilities toward protecting the obstinate archaeologist have only just begun. Morgan and Pax are forced to work together in the Djiboutian desert heat, but it is the fire that ignites between them that threatens to combust them both. For the Green Beret, involvement with the woman he must protect is a threat to his career, while for the archaeologist, the soldier is everything she never wanted but somehow canât resist. When Morgan uncovers a mystery surrounding Djiboutiâs most scarce and vital resource, the danger to her reaches the flashpoint. For Pax, protecting her is no longer a matter of following orders, and heâll risk everything to bring her back alive. |
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Damnable, broom-handle-sized sticks keep tumbling out of Nowhere and materializing into wretched Barbara's, Spartan apartment. But why? Before the appearance of the sticks, Barbara, was already far too anxious. Now she is losing sleep and, as a consequence, has grown decidedly snappish at work. Barbara's boss directs her to the "company" psychiatrist, a charming man, who, quite predictably, prescribes talk therapy and a dose of anti-depressants. Nevertheless, other pestering apparitions begin to present themselves--even in spite of Barbara's determination to live a quiet, utterly predictable, and rigidly unvaried life. Ultimately, the ghost of Barbara's father appears, rapping on the walls of Barbara's apartment, issuing orders via the "Ouija Board," and worse, using Barbara as a means of satisfying its own carnal appetites. Then one night unexpectedly, Father declares that he had never ever engineered his own presumptive suicide. Now had he? Father demands, therefore, that Barbara uncover his murderer. As Barbara begins to unmask the past, Barbara is faced with disturbing realities. In fact, one of these, in human form, is plotting to bludgeon Barbara to death... |
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Address to Die For by Mary Feliz For professional organizer Maggie McDonald, moving her family into a new home should be the perfect organizational challenge. But murder was definitely not on the to-do list . . . Maggie McDonald has a penchant for order that isn't confined to her clients' closets, kitchens, and sock drawers. As she lays out her plan to transfer her family to the hundred-year-old house her husband, Max, has inherited in the hills above Silicon Valley, she has every expectation for their new life to fall neatly into place. But as the family bounces up the driveway of their new home, she's shocked to discover the house's dilapidated condition. When her husband finds the caretaker face-down in their new basement, it's the detectives who end up moving in. What a mess! While the investigation unravels and the family camps out in a barn, a killer remains at large-exactly the sort of loose end Maggie can't help but clean up . . . |
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Tag (The Zumar Chronicles Book 1) by Simon Royle On 15 March 2110, 6.3 billion people will die at the hand of one man. A man with a twisted vision, to make humans a better, more intelligent race⊠In the wake of Arbitrator Jonah Oliverâs interrogation of Jibril Muraz, a prisoner of UNPOL, his secure life disintegrates into one of lies, corruption, conspiracy and murder due to what he learns. Jonah is thrown into a race against the clock to stop a plot designed to eliminate two-thirds of the population. The odds are stacked against him. He soon finds his past is not what he thought it was, those closest to him cannot be trusted, and what heâs learned could get him, or worse, his loved ones, killed. |
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The Opener (Expatriate Underworld Book 1) by John Triptych Abandoning a recession-plagued America for the easy money of Southeast Asia's lucrative but highly illegal investment scam industry, Don Rouse must navigate through a sordid world of drug addicts, deviants, prostitutes and professional con men in order to achieve his lifelong dream of making it big. But his world is suddenly turned upside down when the police show up and his boss goes missing. After a chance meeting with the alluring but enigmatic Jessica, Don is plunged into a high stakes mystery that could very well put an end to his criminal career and perhaps even his life. From the fleshpots of Bangkok to the gritty streets of Manila, John Triptychâs debut novel sheds a new light on the little known world of international organized crime. Recommended for mature readers. |
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Patriarch Run by Benjamin Dancer Nine years ago, Jack Erikson was deployed to China to protect the United States from a cyberattack. Now, suffering from a drug-induced amnesia, he is unable to recognize his own son. What Jack knows for sure is that an elite group of operators is determined to kill him. What he does not yet remember is that he controls a cyber-weapon powerful enough to return human civilization to the Stone Age. If Jack lives long enough to piece together his mission and his identity, he will be forced to choose between the fate of humankind and that of his own family. Readers of Cormac McCarthy and Peter Heller will appreciate both the suspense and the Western setting. In his thrilling literary debut, Benjamin Dancer also explores the timeless themes of fatherhood and the fraying fabric of global stability. |
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The Lies We Live - A Corner Confessions Novel (book 2 of 3-book series) by Kiersten Hall Meet 16 more people who have the need to rid their closets of at least one skeleton... if not more. Some people are still living their confessions although they know itâs very unethical. Others will share how they were done wrong by the people they love and arenât sure if they should reveal the information they know to their neâer do well family member or friend, or simply keep living the lie. While still others have discovered absolute down and dirty secrets about other people and are wondering what they should do with the premium gossip they possess? Confessions include divisive religious issues, government scandals, and greed that could literally blow a small town off the map. Make a new pot of coffee and get ready for another round of jaw-dropping confessions from The Lies We Live. Everyone has a secret. Whatâs yours? **THE CORNER CONFESSIONS 3-BOOK SERIES** Corner Confessions - A Novel (2016) The Lies We Live (2018) 'Final Book' (2021) |
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Corner Confessions - A Novel (book 1 of 3-book series) by Kiersten Hall Everyone has that one secret⊠that one skeleton in their closet⊠which will never see the light of day. No psychiatrist, priest, spouse, or best friend will ever hear this secret, yet the urge to share this information can be found in most people's natural psyche⊠People want to share their experience with others⊠They want to tell someone their deep, dark secret. Although this secret rides on the subconscious - scratching at the surface to be revealed, itâs most often too embarrassing, or horrifying, or scandalous... What better way to get that secret off the mind, and out of the closet than to tell someone who is a complete stranger? Someone who will not judge what has been said, and what has been done? This method is safe, anonymous, and there is no accountability or judgment - and if there is, the keeper of the secret can simply walk away. Meet fourteen individuals who have decided to clean at least one skeleton out of their closet by confiding in a complete stranger whom they meet at a local coffee shop. Unassuming and safe with no judgments passed, learn about these secrets first hand, as if you were a fly on the wall listening in during their confession. Everyone has a secret. Whatâs yours? |
