Behind the Curtain by Maxwell Stegner The fate of an entire civilization hangs in the balance. In the depths of a top-secret CIA underground bunker, Terry Ferrow, the brilliant Director of Artificial Intelligence, dedicated his life to the "Bright Futures Project." For twenty-five years, he worked relentlessly, crafting an extraordinary AI neural brain chip that he believed would revolutionize the world. As he delved deeper into his groundbreaking creation, the world above was in turmoil. Society was ensnared in a web of mass surveillance, its inhabitants held captive by their very own minds. The once-empowered citizens now found themselves at the mercy of the corrupt government, self-proclaimed "Enlightened Ones," who exploited Terry's invention to manipulate and control the populace. When Terry discovered the monstrous consequences of his brain chip, a fierce determination ignited within him â driven by the desire to restore freedom to a society robbed of it, he knew he had to take action. Terry must confront the cages his chips had constructed, facing formidable adversaries at every turn. Will he be able to liberate the population from the clutches of his creation, ushering in freedom? Or will he find himself trapped in a nightmarish existence, shackled by the invention he once believed would bring about a brighter future? Prepare for a heart-pounding tale of redemption, as Terry Ferrow battles against the shackles of his own creation in a race against time to salvage a world on the brink of surrendering its soul. Will humanity rise from the ashes, or succumb to the insidious grip of a technology gone awry? |
Out of the Shadows by D M Macdonald In Hannah Tree's flotsam life only two things motivate her, injustice and the desire to destroy the person who ruined her life. Troubled loner Hannah Tree's drifter lifestyle changes forever when she meets the statuesque Gloria Starr. Gloria, who sees something in Hannah that Hannah cannot, pulls her off the streets, gives her a job and puts a roof over her head. She also encourages her to turn her fierce pursuit of justice into a detective business. Hannah isn't so sure, but since ramming justice down abusive peopleâs throats is something she's always done she figures she might as well be paid for it. But when, by a twist of fate, Hannah stumbles across the man who ruined her life, her burning need for revenge takes over. Heedless of the consequences Hannah pursues her obsession down dark and dangerous pathways, exposing appalling abuses at every turn, risking not only her own safety but that of everyone around her. But those responsible do not tolerate meddlers. In the end Hannah's quest to save the victims of these vicious criminals, and bring down her bitterest enemy, threatens to cost her everythingâincluding her life. |
An imPerfect Samhain by C.N. Rowan The walls between the worlds are thin. The nights draw in. And monsters walk abroadâŠOctober 30th, 1958. Franceâs papers are haunted by the spectre of the Algerian War of Independence. But that still doesnât explain why theyâre silent about a childâs skeleton, washed up on a French beach. No stories, no breaking news. Nothing but a set of police photos, delivered anonymously to my hands. And bite marks on the skeleton, too big for any human to have made.So my best friend, Aicha, and I head to the city of Nice to investigate. But what we find is more missing children, and an emerging pattern. One that raises some terrifying questions. Who would abduct and sacrifice children? Why isnât the news getting out? What would demand such a sacrifice? And what terrors might it offer as payment in return?We need to find out fast to save the children, if they can be saved. And maybe save the whole of France at the same time.An imPerfect Samhain is a standalone novella in the best-selling âimPerfect Catharâ series. You can expect dark humour, strong language and explicit violence. |
Candy Cain Kills by Brian McAuley Oh what fun it is to DIE! When Austin's parents drag him and his little sister Fiona to a remote cottage for Christmas, he's less than thrilled about the forced bonding exercise. But after learning that their holiday getaway was the site of a horrific crime, this family on the rocks will have to fight for their lives against a legendary killer... because Candy Cain is slashing through the snow with a very long naughty list. |
Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold Join a coven. Catch a killer. Get a makeover...? When his cousin is murdered, recently outed 16 year old Dane Craven, is forced to return to his unbearably small hometown of Jasper Hollow. It would be easy enough for him to keep his head down if it weren't for three inescapable facts. â One, Dane is a witch with fiery powers he can barely control. Two, he's been claimed by a coven of fashion forward 'mean girls' desperate to give him a makeover. And three, Dane is pretty sure he's responsible for the death of his cousin. â Being the gay best friend to a trio of teenage witches was never high on Dane's list of aspirations, but fortunately for him these girls have the necromantic powers he needs to figure out who killed his cousin. Plus, he could do with some new clothes. While on the hunt for his cousin's killer, Dane discovers life in Jasper Hollow isn't all bad. There's the cute boy who works at the local coffee shop and enjoys long walks in the woods, for one. But when the rabbit-faced killer comes for Dane, he'll be forced to come to terms with who he is and where he belongs before it's too late for him and everyone in Jasper Hollow. â Wicked Little Things is a spooky, campy, horror complete with mystery, romance, and a whole lot of sass. It's Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets Caleb Roehrig's The Fell of Dark. â â "Think The Craft meets Mean Girls, with a pinch of AHS: Coven, then make it super gay. A bitchy, witchy, spook-fest that delivers scares, gore, and so much more! Camp, funny, and with moments of devastating darkness, this book really is full of Wicked Little Things." - Rory Michaelson, author of The Lesser Known Monsters Trilogy âThrow The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Are You Afraid of The Dark, Mean Girls, and Heathers into a cauldron, stir in a little queerness (for flavor) and you've got this book! Wicked Little Things brings the creep factor of urban legends, and mixes in humor, found family vibes, oh yeah, and a possible deal with the "devil" to create a sassy, spooky read that readers will come back to again and again." - Lou Wilham, author of The Hex Next Door |
This Pact Is Not Ours by Zachary Sergi The summer before college Luca Piccone returns to Copper Cove, the idyllic campsite he and his closest friends have visited every year since they were kids. To Luca, Copper Cove is like the setting of the fantasy movies he loves, a sanctuary, protected from the dangers of the outside world, where nothing goes wrong and everything stays the same. But this year things are changing. Desperate to make this summer the best one yet, Luca tries to ignore the freshly torn rifts within his tight friend group, the pangs of unrequited love, the anxiety attacks he thought heâd left back at school, and the shadows at the edge of the forest threatening to break free. Until he learns the terrible truth. Every generation the children of four families are bound by a pact. A pact designed to keep the camp pristine and the monstrous force lurking beneath the campsite imprisoned. But in order to do this, an unthinkable price must be paid--a price that has soaked the previous generations in blood. Can Luca keep his friends, and his favorite place, from being ripped apart? By the end of the summer, only one thing is for certain: Copper Cove will never be the same again. â â â |
Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman by Patricia Meredith Sam Shovel only comes to life for twelve days a year at Christmastime, and this year, he's in time to solve a murder mystery at the North Pole. O. Tannenbaumâthe world's largest supplier of Christmas treesâhas been murdered, and although Nick and Nora Claus are too busy to solve the mystery, Sam has enough time on his branchy hands to take a stab at it. Woven with enough Christmas references to choke a reindeer, find out if he succeeds in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman. "Patricia Meredith's recipe for a perfect Christmas mystery? Magic with a dash of murder." âJess Brady, @jess.literarylife, Bookstagram Reviewer âI see Sam Shovel right up there with Frosty and Rudolphâhe'll go down in history!â â Kathy Buckmaster "Cookies, candy, presents...and murder! A holiday mystery that will leave you questioning...and craving sweets!" âNiko Sollazzo, @nikosbookreviews, BookTuber |
In Excess of Dark by Red Lagoe "A somber and deeply upsetting escalation of weirdness, Red Lagoe's 'In Excess of Dark' is a serrated examination of love, loss, and death." - Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes What if every terrible thing imagined came true? Every fleeting, nightmarish thought a reality? For grief-stricken Karina, her newfound ability to turn her worst daydreams into palpable truths has sent her into a downward spiral of depression and guilt. Coupled with the appearance of an enigmatic shadow figure and visions of her dead family, she grapples to maintain her sanity while desperately attempting to harness her abilities and reunite with her loved ones. |
Sledge vs The Labyrinth by Nick Horvath SLEDGE. âTHE ULTIMATE ANTI-HERO.â â Horror Reads When his former lover, Kiira, finds herself the target of a mysterious dark web assassin network, modern-day gladiator, Einarr âSledgeâ Laukkanen, embarks on a blood-spattered mission to uncover who lurks at its heart. But as he bludgeons his way down to its lowest depths, one thing becomes terrifyingly clear: NO ONE ESCAPES THE LABYRINTH . . . âTHINK REACHER. BUT MEANER AND LEANER.â â EC Greaves, author of Daughter of the Beast âHORVATH WRITES WITH THE STACCATO PRECISION OF â50S NOIR.â - Coy Hall, author of The Promise of Plague Wolves âA BONE-CRUNCHING ACTION FLICK WITH ALL THE SMOOTH NUANCE AND NARRATIVE INTELLIGENCE OF A GREAT NOIR MASTERPIECE.â - K.C. Finn, Readersâ Favorite 5-star review âSHARP-WITTED, BLOOD-DRENCHED, AND MOVES WITH THE SPEED OF TRACER FIRE. THIS IS THE ONE ACTION FANS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR." - Dave Buzan, author of In the Lair of Legends |
Not Your Mary Sue by Rebecca Frost A not so classic girl meets boy story begins when a televangelistâs adult daughter, Marcy, journeys to a secluded island resort where she awakens a captive of a handsome, charming, notorious serial killer who requests she pen his autobiography explaining all of his intentions and crimes in detail. She finds herself horrified that she is intrigued by him and maybe even...infatuated by him. He has more control than she realizes as he slowly begins to brainwash her just as the autobiography is completed. Once she is rescued and he is arrested, Marcy begins to pull her life back together only for her captor to escape and her brother becomes a new suspect in a murder. |
Blood Sisters by Rebecca Frost For almost a decade now, Brent Wright has been in prison for the killing of seven women - unless the surviving twin sister of one of his victims is right and Brent didn't kill anyone at all. If the theory is true, a presumed survivor of his is more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. No one will be entirely satisfied or safe until they find out for certain. |
I Found Christmas Lights Slithering Up My Street by Ben Farthing Something festive is growing in the sewer... After last yearâs tragedy, Douglasâ parents are ignoring Christmas. But when Douglas finds an eerie strand of lights slithering through the sewer, he unwittingly unleashes merry terror upon his neighborhoodâs tacky lights contest. String lights spread like invasive kudzu, turning festive decorations into surreal, predatory nightmares. Determined not to lose both Christmas and his family forever, Douglas gathers his courage to confront the source of the holiday horror: deep in the concrete pipes beneath the street. I Found Christmas Lights Slithering Up My Street is a horror tale from the âdarkly inventiveâ purveyor of uncanny places and wondrous evils, Ben Farthing. |
Dojakai: The BrixCity A.C.T - Cloutless by Cordell Charles In a world where competition is everything, and notoriety, is considered currency. Dojakai tells the story of Auraluke, a 13 year old boy, raised just outside of societyâs logic. Born in seclusion with only his fatherâs guidance; Auraluke has been training his entire life, without the treasures of fame and glory. But this world is different. The world was also once plagued by beasts, born from the stars; known as Dojakai. Hip to the world, but forbidden from participating in societyâs politics, Auraluke longs to find his place between mind, body and his own sense of will. Who is his father? Why has he been training him in seclusion? ..What the heck is Clout? Adventure awaits, in this introduction to the series. Dojakai: The BrixCity Sagas⊠Book 1 |
Devils That Prey by David Washburn Olivia Rose and her friends have just finished their first semester and are planning to raise a little hell on their college break, but have no idea just what hell is to be raised. Hungry for a good time, they provoke a group of locals and find themselves in a nightmare that doesnât seem to ever let up. With their lives on the line this young group of friends fight to escape this hopeless situation while the locals sink their teeth into this sick game of cat and mouse. The only chance at survival is to meet violence with violence. The terror unfolding will have you reconsidering your drive through small-town America. |
To Spy a Star (Agent Renault Adventures) by Jonathan Nevair Mission: Impossible meets The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in this fun and fast-paced follow-up to the award-winning Stellar Instinct - a new standalone spy-fi adventure featuring a tough yet conflicted secret agent, immersive world-building, and a charming cast of alien characters. One star can break a galaxy. Agent Renault plays cloak and dagger against her most formidable opponent yet - a ruthless and cunning expert at cards and more deadly arts besides. Her mission: retrieve a stolen asset known as the Star Eye. Aided by her eccentric agency team and armed with state-of-the-art gadgets, she races to solve a devious conspiracy and bring down her elusive foe. But a specter haunts the agency's halls, whispering secrets from its past. Allies and enemies alike wear masks in the espionage game. Lilline must decide who to trust if she hopes to take down a sinister and vengeful mastermind before a wave of terror crashes across the stars. Each Agent Renault Adventure is a standalone story - start anywhere in this award-winning series. |
The Vampire's Mark by Rowena Aiello Someone crouched on the ground. They clung to somethingâa forearm, he realized. Scott went cold and shivered. âDad?â The crouching figure turned and Mariaâs shining eyes locked with his. Her mouth was covered in something dark that matched something on his fatherâs arm. For a second, Scott froze, watching her like she was a wild animal twice his size. Maria stood up, her arms at her sides and her fingers splayed. A bolt of fear shot through his stomach until his bladder threatened to burst. He dropped the food. It landed with a weighty, crinkling thump that startled them both to life. âScotty,â she whispered, in the same slippery voice that had prickled the hairs on his neck. Dry mouthed, Scott dashed for his bike. In the sleepy town of Northam, Massachusetts, not everyone is who they seem to be. Isolated by what he knows, Scott must stop Maria from draining his father's blood before she kills him, or worse: turns his father into a vampire, too. |
THE FINDING MACHINE by Lucy Lyons HER FATHERâS MYSTERIOUS INVENTIONâŠA 1920s COLD CASEâŠCAN ALEX FOLLOW THE DOTS TO SOLVE IT? One winter morning in 1998, Alex Martin inherits a mysterious invention from her late father. The Finding Machine solves mysteries. But the biggest mystery of all lies deep within its wiring â the unsolved disappearance of a little girl, dating back seventy years. What happened to the girl, all those years ago? Who was she? Alex and her handsome housemate, Antony, must follow the dots to solve the mystery. But, as dark family secrets are revealed, will the Finding Machine bring them togetherâŠor push them further apart? |
House of Bad Memories by Michael David Wilson From the author of The Girl in the Video comes a darkly comic thriller with an edge-of-your-seat climax. Denny just wants to be the worldâs best dad to his baby daughter, but things get messy when he starts hallucinating his estranged abusive stepfather, Frank. Then Frank winds up dead and Denny is held hostage by his junkie half-sister who demands he uncovers the cause of her fatherâs death. Will Denny defeat his demons or be perpetually tortured for refusing to answer impossible questions? House of Bad Memories is Funny Games meets This Is England with a Rosemaryâs Baby under-taste. âHouse of Bad Memories is a haunting and equally visceral tone poem of cruelty, betrayal, and vengeance. Michael David Wilsonâs writing vibrates with the all-consuming trauma and suffering of humanity. This is a novel that I certainly wonât forget.ââEric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke "All the many ties that bind a chaotic and increasingly dysfunctional extended family together are stretched to breaking point and beyond in House of Bad Memories. The book goes in every direction except the one you expect. Itâs a wild, bloody, and expletive filled riot thatâs never anything less than intense. With genre shifts worthy of a Ben Wheatley movie, itâs highly recommended.ââDavid Moody, author of the Autumn books and Hater "House of Bad Memories hits so hard, you'll spit teeth out once you're done reading it."âClay McLeod Chapman, author of Ghost Eaters "An established master of human frailty and misdirection, Michael David Wilson's latest offering, House of Bad Memories, kept me off kilter and turning pages as reality tilted. Compelling and deeply unsettling, House offers a mystery with endless layers. Never doubt Wilson's willingness to skillfully cross lines you never knew were there. Excellent."âLaurel Hightower, author of Crossroads and Below âIf Ira Levin and Guy Ritchie had a drug-fuelled weekend binge with the Kray twins in a Kidderminster council flat, they wouldn't come close to House of Bad Memories. Darkly funny, brutally violent and strangely touching, Michael David Wilson has created something truly bonkers and I'm here for it.ââAlan Baxter, author of The Gulp and Sallow Bend âWith razor-sharp dialogue and some of the most unpredictable, WTF moments youâll find anywhere in dark fiction, House of Bad Memories is what would have happened if Quentin Tarantino had grown up in the rancid underbelly of the English Midlands.ââKev Harrison, author of Below and The Balance |
Inspector Stone Mysteries Volume 2 (Books 4-6) by Alex R Carver Volume 1 of the Inspector Stone Mysteries, containing books 4-6 Into The Fire When the Larsson Studio and its owner suffer a series of attacks, Nathan Stone must not only figure out who is responsible, he must try to lay to rest the rumours that have led to them. Rumours that have been encouraged by the local paper. Just as he is putting that case to bed a body is discovered in a burned out car in Branton Wood, a car that is connected to Kurt Walker, the man who murdered his family. Nathan must decide whether he is the right man to investigate, and figure out how a man who has been dead for nine months can be connected to a body that is only days old. Is it a coincidence, or is there something more going on? A Stone's Throw A dead body really ruins your holiday. During a much-needed break in Devon, Inspector Nathan Stone finds himself at the centre of a murder investigation when the wife of the owner of the hotel is found killed. The last person to see her alive, he must contend with the suspicions of the local police. The arrival of a storm that isolates the small village of Donningford from the outside world changes everything, however, and Nathan must take charge of the investigation. A second murder drives home a frightening fact: Nathan, the other guests, and the hotel staff are sharing a roof with a hate-filled killer who will stop at nothing to exact revengeâŠand to prevent the police from discovering the truth. Under Pressure Nathan Stone hasn't long got back from a holiday, but he could already do with another one. Between a murder, an unexplained drowning, a trio of assaults, a missing teen, and an interdepartmental dispute over jurisdiction, he's under so much pressure he barely has time to sleep. |
The Witness Must Die by Alex R Carver Sofia Torres is the only witness when her employer and his entire household are massacred by a rival druglord. The Spanish police are relieved to have a witness, but they soon discover that keeping her alive to testify won't be an easy job, especially when the man responsible for the massacre is prepared to kill as many people as it takes to keep her quiet. Even with the help of Interpol, keeping Sofia Torres safe is difficult and costly, and with the eyes of the world on Barcelona as it becomes like Chicago in the 1920s they must rely on help from an unexpected source. |
The Oakhurst Murders Duology by Alex R Carver A peaceful paradise in rural England is torn apart by murder and mistrust as a serial killer stalks its daughters. Written In Blood: The Oakhurst Murders #1 A peaceful village torn apart by murder, mistrust, and a desire for revenge. When Oakhurst's daughters begin to turn up, brutally murdered and with accusatory words carved into their skin, the residents of the small, close-knit community are unwilling to believe that one of their own might be a killer. Suspicion falls on the village's newest resident, Zack Wild, attractive, charming, author of violent crime novels, and possessor of a dark history; he seems like the perfect suspect. As the investigation continues, the evidence against Wild mounts, but is prejudice against the newcomer affecting the judgment of Sergeant Mitchell, Constable Turner thinks so, and is prepared to do whatever she must to find the killer, whoever it might be. Who will be proved right, the sergeant or the constable? And will they catch the killer before he can strike again? Poetic Justice: The Oakhurst Murders #2 Caught, escaped, and now on the run. The killer has been caught, but before he can see the inside of a cell he escapes, leaving behind a trail of bodies. While Constable Melissa Turner deals with the aftermath of the murders, including the revelation of who was behind them, and a case of vandalism at the local stables, Detective Inspector Martins is given the task of hunting down the killer. As the body count mounts, and the killer becomes more and more desperate to get away, a storm builds overhead. Can Martins and the police catch him before more people die, or will the storm provide him with the cover he needs to make good his escape? |
Poetic Justice (The Oakhurst Murders Book 2) by Alex R Carver Caught, escaped, and now on the run. Kieran Wright, the teen serial killer who terrorised the village of Oakhurst in Written In Blood has been captured, but before he can see the inside of a cell he escapes, leaving behind a trail of bodies. Constable Melissa Turner is engrossed with the aftermath of the murders and the revelation of who was behind them, and a case of vandalism at the local stables. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Martins is given the task of searching for and apprehending the killer. As the body count mounts, and Wright becomes more and more desperate to get away, a storm builds overhead. Can Martins and the police catch Wright before more people die, or will the storm provide him with the cover he needs to make good his escape? |
Written In Blood (The Oakhurst Murders Book 1) by Alex R Carver A peaceful village torn apart by murder, mistrust, and a desire for revenge. When Oakhurst's daughters begin to turn up, brutally murdered and with accusatory words carved into their skin, the residents of the small, close-knit community are unwilling to believe that one of their own might be a killer. Suspicion falls on the village's newest resident, Zack Wild, attractive, charming, author of violent crime novels, and possessor of a dark history; he seems like the perfect suspect. As the investigation continues, the evidence against Wild mounts, but is prejudice against the newcomer affecting the judgment of Sergeant Mitchell, Constable Turner thinks so, and is prepared to do whatever she must to find the killer, whoever it might be. Who will be proved right, the sergeant or the constable? And will they catch the killer before he can strike again? |
Inspector Stone Mysteries Volume 1 (Books 1-3) by Alex R Carver Volume 1 of the Inspector Stone Mysteries, containing books 1-3 Where There's a Will (Book 1) The kidnapping of a child on the way home from school is every parents worst nightmare, for the Keatings it's no nightmare, it's a reality. A reality made worse when it is suspected the Russian Mafia is behind the kidnapping to force Owen Keating to sell his business. Are the rumours true, or is there something else going on? An Eye For An Eye (Book 2) A sudden surge in murders across Branton leaves Nathan Stone wondering if the town has gone made, or if they could all be the work of one man. If so who is it, and why is he killing such a diverse group of people. A Perfect Pose (Book 3) The murder of a teen model draws Nathan Stone back to work after the tragic events of An Eye For An Eye. When rumours surface of abuse at the studio where Ellen Powers worked, Nathan must investigate whether that is why she was murdered, or if her death is connected to her pregnancy. |
Under Pressure: Inspector Stone Mysteries #6 by Alex R Carver Nathan Stone hasn't long got back from a holiday, but he could already do with another one. Between a murder, an unexplained drowning, a trio of assaults, a missing teen, and an interdepartmental dispute over jurisdiction, he's under so much pressure he barely has time to sleep. All of that would be bad enough without one of the assaults having occurred on his best friend, Louisa Orchard, leaving her in the same ITU where his wife died. He's determined to catch the people responsible, despite the strain that such a busy caseload and worry over his best friend is having on him. Can he keep himself together and awake long enough to solve the cases and hopefully see Louisa recover from her injuries? |
A Stone's Throw: Inspector Stone Mysteries #5 by Alex R Carver A dead body really ruins your holiday. During a much-needed break in Devon, Inspector Nathan Stone finds himself at the centre of a murder investigation when the wife of the owner of the hotel is found killed. The last person to see her alive, he must contend with the suspicions of the local police. The arrival of a storm that isolates the small village of Donningford from the outside world changes everything, however, and Nathan must take charge of the investigation. A second murder drives home a frightening fact: Nathan, the other guests, and the hotel staff are sharing a roof with a hate-filled killer who will stop at nothing to exact revengeâŠand to prevent the police from discovering the truth. |
Into The Fire: Inspector Stone Mysteries #4 by Alex R Carver The past just won't stay dead for Nathan Stone. When the Larsson Studio and its owner suffer a series of attacks, Nathan Stone must not only figure out who is responsible, he must try to lay to rest the rumours that have led to them. Rumours that have been encouraged by the local paper. Just as he is putting that case to bed a body is discovered in a burned out car in Branton Wood, a car that is connected to Kurt Walker, the man who murdered his family. Nathan must decide whether he is the right man to investigate, and figure out how a man who has been dead for nine months can be connected to a body that is only days old. Is it a coincidence, or is there something more going on? |
A Perfect Pose: Inspector Stone Mysteries #3 by Alex R Carver A dead model, a studio suspected of abuse, and a depressed detective. Three months after losing his family in a deadly blaze the discovery of a teenage girl's body on the riverbank draws Nathan Stone back to work and into a complicated case. Ellen Powers was a popular internet model with many adoring fans, so who would want to kill her? The investigation soon turns up many secrets, including the fact that Ellen was pregnant and planning an abortion. Was the studio she worked for covering up a dark secret of exploitation? Or was this a crime of passion? When Ellen's stepbrother is attacked soon after her body is discovered Nathan is sure there's a connection. The guy's not talking, though; what is he so determined to keep secret, even if it puts his life at risk? As the case deepens and they discover more about the murdered teen can Nathan Stone overcome his demons to find justice for an innocent young woman? |
An Eye For An Eye: Inspector Stone Mysteries #2 by Alex R Carver Revenge comes to Branton. Inspector Stone's past catches up to him with blood and flames. A series of murders rocks the small town of Branton and leaves Inspector Stone with his toughest case, one which may see him paying a tremendous personal price if he canât solve it quick enough. At first glance the murder of the wife and mother of an Asian shopkeeper appears racially motivated, and the local paper is quick to stir up tensions within the community. Another murder, this time the husband of a local barrister, an attack on a trio of teens, and the discovery of a previously unreported murder all lead Stone to the conclusion that something more than racism is at work. Before he can work out what connects these seemingly unrelated events he is distracted by the most tragic of events. Can Stone and his partner pull themselves together long enough to figure out who is responsible for bringing terror to the streets of Branton, or will the killer complete his fiendish plan and make good his escape? |
Beginnings: The Omniscients by Kevin Marstall BEGINNINGS â The Omniscients â Book 2 Los Angeles, CA - Itâs late 1993, as Detective Jason Markham embarks on a new investigation, one that will challenge his patience, his methods, and ultimately his mind. A heinous crime, an innocent victim, and a partner with whom working together is more difficult than solving the case. Struggling to train his attention on the clues in the continuing series of burglaries, instead Jasonâs heart and mind remain focused on his personal investigation into the disappearance of the woman he loves. Driven to find her and know that she is safe, Markhamâs actions stretch his physical, emotional, and mental state dangerously to its limits. New and old friends alike lend their support to Jason, but the detectiveâs tumultuous battle rages on against his new partner, his generations of memories that seem just beyond his grasp, and worst of all his own sense of self. |
Discoveries: The Omniscients by Kevin Marstall DISCOVERIES â The Omniscients Los Angeles, CA - Itâs 1993 and Detective Jason Markham faces a new case, unlike any heâs seen before. A nameless victim, no clues, and not a soul to care about the manâs unfortunate death. To make matters worse, sleepless nights, haunted by his memories, have him on the edge, and now a few chance encounters send his previously ordered life spiraling dangerously out of control. Love, friendship, betrayal, all swirling around him and threatening to consume his mind, Jasonâs heart desires to trust but is thrust into conflict with generations of wisdom passed down to him from his father and grandfathers before him. |
First Contact Last Resort by Singularative Ranch A team of scientists must prove their surprising discovery or surrender it to conspiracy in this breakout soft sci-fi series exploring the pitfalls and virtues of human nature. In 2033, a rogue experiment in a Berkeley astrophysics professorâs lab leads to discoveries that astound humanityâbut have uncertain consequences for the planet. Those uncertainties incite a popular conspiracy theorist to spread apocalyptic doom. The discoveries also stir heretical ideas that provoke a firebrand religious crusader and her acolytes to vilify the leader of the Berkeley lab, a young professor striving to advance her career. While battling to overcome all that often violent backlash, the roller coaster lives of the professor and her colleagues careen into even more chaos when their collaborations with a gutsy biotech entrepreneur, an alt-lifestyle activist, and a divergently-developed child reshape societyâin beneficial but also divisive ways. As the intimate stories of this cadre of trailblazers unfold in the face of this changing world, some will be triumphant. Others tragic. The First Contact Last Resort series dramatizes how civilization is revolutionized by a chain of new technologies, scientific discoveries, and social movements. This crisply written saga of raw human experience will make you question our destinyâand our origins. |
The Strange Task Before Me by Sean Gibson Decades before the events of The Camelot Shadow, a young William Upton is intent on ensuring that his late fatherâs bookstore continues to thrive, even if that means taking a commission from a mysterious client who tasks him with finding an arcaneâand possibly magicalâtome. With time running out and a large reward hanging in the balance, Will chases down every possible lead, braving the macabre underground laboratory of a sadistic nobleman before embarking on a daring, late-night library break-in. Told through Willâs own diary and with his characteristic wit, âThe Strange Task Before Meâ is an intense race against the clock that mixes action, humor, and a bit of magicâall while laying the groundwork for momentous events to come, expanding on the mythology of The Camelot Shadow, and introducing a key new character in the unpredictable Baron Frederickson. |
Horrific Tales for a Horrific Year by Jack T Canis Horrific Tales for a Horrific Year: A short story collection â ten dark tales by Jack T Canis. A collection of gruesome & deeply disturbing short stories about obsession, lust, sociopathy, murder & the darkness that lies in our souls. |
In Sekhmet's Shadow by JD Rhodes The year is 2061, and the world has ended. In the city of Asclepion, Sabra Kasembe dreams of a superheroic future yet wakes to the taste of blood and ash. When her father is shot six times in a heist gone wrong, she resolves to bring those responsible to justiceâno matter where the trail might lead. To do this, she'll need to team up with a washed-up superhero, a brooding robotic woman, and the very man who shot her father. Because he is her only link to a conspiracy that threatens to shake the Functioning World to its core. But it may be impossible to save a world on the brink of apocalypse without pushing it over the edge. As her reckoning approaches, Sabra realizes that her future may not be filled not with the cries of those she's saved, but the screams of her victims. IN SEKHMET'S SHADOW is a complete anticapitalist "post-superhero" sci-fi thriller, and first of a trilogy (IN SEKHMET'S WAKE, IN SEKHMET'S HANDS.) It is intended for mature audiences and features violence, swearing, and ideas that may be considered traumatic or provocative. But remember this: everyone finds love in the end. |
Siren's Call by T.J.J. Klamvik In the Doomsday Cycle there are no heroes. The future could have looked different, but the path has been corrupted and only the inevitable awaits. Something lurks in the darkness of space, and it cares little for humanityâs petty squabbles. The apocalypse is here, but will anyone hear its call? Councilor Justynia Freid â an ambitious politician of Earthâs most prominent colony â never saw it coming. A scheme by her own Chancellor to restart a war that they themselves had a hand in ending? All without her knowledge? Tossed into a harsh world of intrigue and backstabbing, Justynia has to discover what led to the drastic decision that is going to send humanity into chaos. Only with all the answers can she decide whether to listen to her own conscience or follow the path to power. Detective Adelia Duarte does not care for politics â it only ever made her job harder. Tasked with investigating a series of murders that plague Capital City, Adelia has to confront her own past in order to understand the methods and motivations of the serial killer that seems impervious to the security systems that track each citizen down to the centimeter. As the bodies keep piling up, it is difficult to maintain faith. Would someone with a less troubled history be a better fit for the investigation? For now, all the city has is Adelia, and the bodies keep coming. Sergeant Jones is also haunted by his past â decisions taken in a war he never truly understood. His only refuge is more fighting. Recruited to join Special Operations, and reunited with old comrades to escort a scientist to an abandoned colony, he quickly learns all is not what it seems. Surrounded by mystery and an unknown enemy, he needs to warn mankind of what is coming. But will they truly listen? Sirenâs Call is the first novel in the Doomsday Cycle. It weaves complex interpersonal journeys with a backdrop of an overarching threat. It is never about the destination â only the journey to get there. |
Hot Ash and the Oasis Defect (Ashley Westgard, #1) by Philip Wyeth âRobots and exowombs and hemp, oh my!â Welcome to 2045. Automation has freed humanity from the drudgery and limitations of blue-collar labor. For twenty years, a remarkable group of female bureaucrats has overseen an ambitious construction program that is spreading equity, prosperity, and peace worldwide. But Detective Ashley Westgard of the Jacksonville Police Corps senses that beneath all the glimmer and shine, a new malaise has taken root in society. From brazen acts of criminality and rampant party pill abuse, to her own insatiable desires... All is not well on the road to paradise. Ash is beautiful, vain, headstrong, and erratic. A symbol of her time as she careens from impulsive shopping sprees to drunken fights to escapades of sin. But now that a methodical killer is on the loose, she must rise above apathy and doubt in order to forge her raging inner fire into a fearsome weapon of justice. Philip Wyethâs crazy fifth novel is imaginative, hilarious, sexy, and poignant. It will dazzle fans of Rich Larson, Neal Stephenson's âSnow Crash,â âThe Tomorrow Fileâ by Lawrence Sanders, and women who kick ass! Note to Readers: This book contains adult language and sexual themes. (45,500 words) âOnce you get that nano crawling through you... You feel alive!â |
Replacement (The Lost Clone, #1) by Jordan Rivet Jane is a leftover clone. Created for an unknown purpose, then abandoned at a rundown facility outside Grid City, she has a knack for trouble and a burning desire to find out why she was made. When a powerful tycoon hires her to replace his son Isaacâs best friend, a girl from the same clone batch as her, Jane jumps at the chance to finally get some answers. All she has to do is convince the charming Isaac that his friend is still alive, without getting too close to him. Stepping into someone elseâs life isnât easy, though, even when you have the same genes. As Jane struggles to survive at Isaacâs elite private school, she discovers the other cloneâs death was no accidentâand she might be next. She must solve her batchmateâs murder and unravel the mystery of their origins before the killer comes for her too. |
Dial G for Gravity (Brent Bolster Space Detective, #1) by Michael Campling Brent Bolster has a particular set of skills. Unfortunately, most of them have no practical application whatsoever. Now, he's met his worst nightmare: an alien with a clipboard. So begins the adventures of Brent Bolster and his ragtag coalition of associates. With a client in the shapely form of a gorgeous dame, a musclebound assistant, an alien with an attitude, and fish called Algernon, Brent uncovers a galactic conspiracy. Meanwhile, a mighty warship is on its way. Affectionately known as The Skull by its crew of warlike Andelians, the ship causes all who see her to tremble. And in command is the notorious Admiral Norph, a warrior who makes Genghis Khan look neighborly. The scene is set for a galactic confrontation. Can Brent handle it? Probably not. But it will be fun to watch him try. Youâll get a kick out of this comedy because all sci-fi fans love a tongue-in-cheek reference. Dial G for Gravity takes the world of an old-fashioned gumshoe and propels it into the future. But like all good sci-fi, it has something to say about the way we live now and where weâre headed. |
New Yesterday by Frasier Armitage Find your past. Save your future. What if you could change everything in your life you wish you'd done differently? Fix regret? Unlock the potential of your past? That's what Adam Swann did in New Yesterday , a city where events in the present can alter history. He's living the life of his dreams, yet he can't shake a name from his mind -- the memory of a woman from a past he left behind. Who is she? And despite the dangers that remembering his former life would pose, why can't he bring himself to forget her? Adam will unearth long-buried secrets as he searches the city for clues to the woman woven through his memory, haunting his every thought. As the truth of his past drags him into a conspiracy that threatens everything he knows, he'll be forced to choose between the life of his dreams or facing the man he used to be. |
Project Valhalla by Michele Amitrani Some secrets must remain buried. In an unknown location north of the Barents Sea, a research center as tall as the Eiffel Tower hides the greatest scientific discoveries of the 21st century. The few who know of its existence call it Valhalla, but none suspect why it was built. When Dr. Selene Sato accepts a job at Valhalla for eccentric billionaire Wei Wang, she discovers more about human ingenuity than she ever thought possible. But there is a secret buried in this outpost of progress hiding a catastrophic scenario: destruction on a planetary scale never before seen in human history. Wei prepares for war as Valhalla holds the only defense capable of repelling the coming apocalypse. |
Three Grams of Elsewhere by Andy Giesler Fifty years ago, a new civil war fractured the United States into a mosaic of polarized nations. Ever since, Harmony âBibiâ Cain has isolated himself: from society, from technology, from family. A powerful empath weary from the constant intrusion of othersâ emotions, heâs finally cloistered in his rural Wisconsin retirement community. He hopes to find, if not peace, then at least a little quiet. But when four impossible-seeming killings shake North America, Bibi is drawn into an investigation he wants nothing to do with. The victims were killed by motesâunstoppable drones only an empath can controlâand decades ago, Bibi was an unwitting subject in the wartime program that created them: the program that weaponized empathy. With his few remaining friends at risk, and tensions between countries of the former United States reawakening, everything may depend on Bibi's lifelong struggle with his own extraordinary ability. |