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Dark Chant in a Crimson Key (Mongo #11)
by George C. ChesbroMongo becomes entangled in an international hunt for "the world's most dangerous terrorist," whom Mongo comes to discover may not be at all what he appears to be.
Dark Chant in a Crimson Key (The Mongo Mysteries #11)
by George C. ChesbroA circus-performer-turned-PI matches wits with an international assassin in another of Chesbro&’s &“wild roller-coaster rides&” (Ellery Queen&’s Mystery Magazine). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. Hired to investigate an audacious theft, Mongo travels to Zurich, Switzerland, where rich philanthropist Emmet P. Neuberger claims terrorist and criminal John &“Chant&” Sinclair has swindled his charitable organization, the Cornucopia Foundation, out of $10 million. Several agencies, including Interpol, are already on the case, but Neuberger wants a private eye to monitor the situation. It quickly becomes clear it&’s much more than a simple case of embezzlement. As the bodies pile up and suspicions turn to Mongo himself, the detective decides to hunt down Chant on his own. But the deeper he digs into this peculiar case, the more he begins to think that Chant may not be the one to blame . . . This thrilling entry in the Mongo series introduces international assassin Chant, who goes on to star in his own series of adventures from the author who &“writes wonderfully strange mystery novels . . . [with] perfectly calculated nail-biting tension&” (Boston Sunday Herald). Dark Chant in a Crimson Key is the 11th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Dream of a Falling Eagle (The Mongo Mysteries #14)
by George C. ChesbroCircus-performer-turned-PI Mongo takes on &“the CIA, neo-Nazis, and Haitian voodoo terrorists&” in a grand finale that is &“even more fun than usual&” (Booklist). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. Investigating illegal CIA activities in Haiti leads Mongo and his brother, former NYPD cop Garth Frederickson, to a grisly discovery: five victims of voodoo ritual sacrifice. But that&’s just the first surprise. Soon they uncover a wildly ambitious assassination plot that not only puts them in the cross hairs but also has the potential to change the fate of the United States forever . . . Employing his &“unlimited imagination&” and talent for creating &“terrific suspense&” in the Mongo mystery series, author George C. Chesbro delivers a climax that pulls out all the stops (Publishers Weekly). Dream of a Falling Eagle is the 14th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
In the House of Secret Enemies (Mongo #8)
by George C. ChesbroFor most writers of so-called genre fiction the quest is for a successful series character--a man or woman who, already completely brought to life in the writer's and readers' minds, leaps into action at the drop of a plot to wend his or her perilous way cleverly through the twists and turns of the story to arrive finally, triumphantly, at the solution. Great series characters from mystery and spy fiction immediately spring to mind:
In the House of Secret Enemies: A Mongo Collection (The Mongo Mysteries #9)
by George C. ChesbroTen novellas featuring circus-performer-turned-private-eye Mongo—&“one of the greatest characters of recent mystery fiction&” (Ellery Queen&’s Mystery Magazine). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. Originally published in leading mystery magazines in the 1970s, these ten novellas—each introduced with notes from the author—offer new readers and diehard fans alike a tantalizing taste of the unique blend of hardboiled mystery, science fiction, and explosive action of this acclaimed series. In the House of Secret Enemies—which includes The Drop, High Wire, Rage, Country for Sale, Dark Hole on a Silent Planet, The Healer, Falling Star, Book of Shadows, Tiger in the Snow, and Candala—is the 9th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Jungle of Steel and Stone (The Veil Kendry Suspense Novels #2)
by George C. ChesbroFrom the author of the Mongo Mysteries: Former CIA operative Veil Kendry uses his paranormal powers to track down a stolen African artifact. When Veil Kendry dreams, he possesses a clarity normal people never experience, along with the power of volition, which allows him to enter the minds of others. Veil&’s strange gift was invaluable as an operative for the CIA, but now he&’s left that life behind and instead channels his unusual ability into art. When needed, though, he still applies his supernatural and clandestine skills to helping those in trouble. So when Veil crosses paths with a thief who stole a K&’ung tribe religious idol from the same midtown art gallery that exhibits his dream-paintings, he&’s compelled to get involved—despite threats from a corrupt cop named Carl Nagle. Using his dream powers, Veil attempts to enter the mind of the thief in order to apprehend him. But there are others on the hunt, desperate to possess the artifact— and soon, Veil will find himself fighting just to stay alive. Jungle of Steel and Stone is the 2nd book in the Veil KendrySuspense Novels, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
King's Gambit
by George C. ChesbroAn American chess grandmaster gets involved with a Russian defector in the exciting debut novel from the author of the Mongo Mysteries. Highly focused and arrogant, John Butler has little time for anything other than achieving his ultimate goal: to become a world champion chess player. He already knows he&’s the best player in the world, but he needs the title to prove it. Now, with the most important competition of his life about to take place in Venice, John&’s carefully regimented existence is suddenly thrown into chaos when the CIA asks him to take part in a different sort of match. John&’s opponent, Russian world champion Yevgeny Petroff, plans to defect, and the CIA wants John to be their point of contact. John would never willingly agree to such a distraction, but when he&’s paid an unexpected visit by Petroff&’s sister, he finds himself a pawn in a complex, dangerous game of deception—and only the greatest player can win.
Lone Wolves: Stories
by George C. ChesbroWild stories featuring favorite characters from the Mongo Mysteries, including Mongo&’s brother, Garth Frederickson, and ex–CIA agent/Vietnam vet Veil Kendry. Three very different sleuths—an ex–NYPD cop, a psychic painter and vigilante, and a former priest—handle unusual cases in this collection from the &“unlimited imagination&” of George C. Chesbro, creator of the one-of-a-kind dwarf detective, Mongo the Magnificent (Publishers Weekly). When a mad scientist injected him with a rare drug, former policeman Garth Frederickson—brother of Dr. Robert Fredrickson, aka Mongo—developed the power to sense the often-malevolent feelings of those around him . . . Veil Kendry, ex–CIA agent, Vietnam War veteran, and devoted martial arts instructor, almost died at birth. The damage left him with powerful dreams that have made him a successful abstract painter—and a dangerous vigilante . . . Brendan Furie was once a priest who carried a Bible, but after a mishandled exorcism forced him out of the church, he became a PI armed with a gun . . . In Lone Wolves, these unconventional antiheroes take on deadly militias, doomsday cults, East German secret police, alien abductions, telepathy experiments, Chinese street gangs, ghosts, demonic possessions, and more.
Prism: A Memoir as Fiction
by George C. ChesbroThe author of the Mongo Mysteries reveals the interior life of a troubled writer in this deeply personal autobiographical novel. At the age of fifty-eight, author Garth Fugue is adrift. For the last forty years he has poured his soul into twenty-three novels and countless short stories, all filled with murder and mayhem. By delving into the troubled minds of his characters, he has kept his own demons at bay. Now, Garth is at a crossroads. Despite his floundering literary career, he is attempting to write his magnum opus while simultaneously teaching at a children&’s psychiatric hospital. As he decides what to write about, Garth must ultimately wrestle with his own beliefs about humanity, morality, and the meaning of it all. In this insightful novel, George C. Chesbro exposes a fictional writer&’s tortured mind and, in doing so, divulges the struggles of the real, complicated man best known for penning quirky mysteries and pulpy thrillers. It is an intimate invitation not to be missed.
Second Horseman Out of Eden (The Mongo Mysteries #7)
by George C. ChesbroA circus-performer-turned-PI and his ex-cop brother rescue a girl from a doomsday cult in this novel of &“terrific suspense&” and &“unlimited imagination&” (Publishers Weekly). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. Mongo and his brother, Garth, have left their day jobs as a professor and a cop, respectively, and formed their own PI firm, Frederickson & Frederickson. It&’s a great reason to celebrate this holiday season, but when their annual tradition of picking up a few letters to Santa from the post office to fulfill the Christmas wishes of needy children reveals a sinister secret, their cheer is replaced with a yearning for justice. As the brothers race to save a little girl from a religious doomsday cult, they&’ll get up close and personal with a murderous zealot bent on the eradication of all mankind—preferably before the New Year . . . Second Horseman Out of Eden is the 7th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Shadow of a Broken Man (Mongo #1)
by George C. ChesbroDr. Robert Frederickson also known as a Mongo is a Dwarf who used to be in the circus, a detective, a criminologist and a karate expert.
Shadow of a Broken Man (The Mongo Mysteries #1)
by George C. ChesbroA former circus performer and criminology professor becomes a PI in &“one of the best detective novels of the year&” (TheNew York Times Book Review). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. Now a detective in New York City, Mongo is hired by the widow of a famous architect to find out if her husband is really dead—because a new building just went up and it looks like his work. As Mongo begins to uncover the surprising truth, his investigation gives a whole new meaning to an architect&’s façade. The intrepid sleuth will need all of his extraordinary skills to find his man without losing his own life, as some very powerful forces want to send him back to the drawing board. With a freewheeling blend of mystery and science fiction elements, author George C. Chesbro introduces the man called Mongo, &“the most engaging detective in decades&” (Library Journal). Shadow of a Broken Man is the 1st book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Silent Killer (The Chant Mysteries #2)
by George C. ChesbroInternational criminal Chant confronts a diabolical doctor in this action-packed thriller from the author of the Mongo Mysteries. When John &“Chant&” Sinclair learns his oldest and closest friend has been murdered, there&’s only one thing on the professional killer&’s mind: revenge. But the man who inflicted Harry Gray&’s slow, painful death is no simple thug. After being thrown out of medical school, Richard Krowl dedicated himself to becoming a highly trained specialist in the art of torture. Now, other sadists attend his seminars, learning the tools of the trade from a &“doctor&” whose horrifying skills know no bounds. To avenge his friend, Chant must travel to a remote Pacific island and infiltrate Krowl&’s secret facility. What awaits him is more terrifying than most could imagine, but Chant has seen the depths to which humanity can sink—and nothing will stop him from exacting justice by any means necessary. Silent Killer is the 2nd book in the Chant Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Strange Prey: And Other Tales of the Hunt
by George C. ChesbroWild and weird tales by the author of the Mongo Mysteries—including the novella that inspired the dwarf detective&’s first adventure: Shadow of a Broken Man. The &“unlimited imagination&” of the creator of Mongo the Magnificent is given free rein in these eleven stories full of suspense and surprises (Publishers Weekly). An architect can read minds after surviving a fatal car wreck. The lives of schoolteachers are far from ordinary—or safe. A snake charmer visits a busy, fast-food burger joint. Two bumbling friends summon a demon who develops migraines whenever he&’s asked to do anything evil. A chess grandmaster plays a game for his life, which takes him from the sea to high in the Alps. A secret organization has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an ex–CIA agent. A bank clerk&’s boring life flips upside down when a stranger hands him a thermos in the Madrid airport. Science and religion violently collide on a college campus after a murder. And a man&’s dream may be his ultimate nightmare . . .
The Beasts of Valhalla (Mongo #4)
by George C. ChesbroThe novel that radically altered the nature of the Mongo series, this book blends a classic detective style with elements of science fiction and fantasy. Chesboro takes readers on a wild roller-coaster ride, using the structure and elements of Wagner's Ring Cycle and Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings."
The Beasts of Valhalla (The Mongo Mysteries #4)
by George C. ChesbroA detective takes on mad scientists when a D&D fantasy world turns deadly in this &“ thrilling combination&” of &“not-quite-science-fiction and suspense&” (Playboy). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. When Mongo&’s sister asks him to investigate the death of his nephew, Tommy—the victim of an apparent murder-suicide—the private detective soon learns that everything&’s tied to the computer game Tommy and his friends created: an elaborate quest based on J. R. R. Tolkien&’s The Lord of the Rings. The clues send Mongo on a cross-country journey, from a painful visit to his former hometown in Nebraska and back to New York, then on to the rugged coastline of California&’s Big Sur and, ultimately, the frozen depths of the Arctic Ocean, where a mad genius will stop at nothing to achieve total Armageddon. Grounded by his completely original private detective Mongo, author George C. Chesbro &“writes wonderfully strange mystery novels&” (Boston Sunday Herald). The Beasts of Valhalla is the 4th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Cold Smell of Sacred Stone (Mongo #6)
by George C. ChesbroIn a decade, Chesbro's style has changed from crisp and medium-boiled to garish, and his plot is replete with talky comic-book stunts. Mongo's brother Garth, in a comatose state because of a rare drug injected by mad scientist Siegmund Loge, seems to make a dramatic recovery in a top-secret government sanatorium.
The Cold Smell of Sacred Stone (The Mongo Mysteries #6)
by George C. ChesbroA circus-performer-turned-PI who&’s also &“the most engaging criminologist to appear in decades&” must save his brother from a cult and a terrorist plot (Booklist). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. After a series of traumas and an accidental poisoning, Mongo&’s brother, Garth Fredrickson, is lying unresponsive in an off-limits government psychiatric facility. But that won&’t stop New York City&’s most resourceful private eye—because if there&’s one person in the world Mongo would do anything for, it&’s Garth. With a little unorthodox therapy, Mongo manages to bring his brother back to the real world. But it quickly becomes clear that Garth isn&’t himself. Soon the siblings are estranged, and Garth ends up in the center of a cult—an unsuspecting pawn in an international terrorist plot. Up against thousands of believers willing to do anything to protect their &“new Messiah,&” Mongo will risk his life to save him . . . The Cold Smell of Sacred Stone is the 6th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Fear in Yesterday's Rings (The Mongo Mysteries #10)
by George C. Chesbro&“The most engaging detective in decades&” returns to his big-top roots to solve some bizarre murders—but this time he&’s working without a net (Library Journal). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. Mongo&’s days as a professional acrobat are long over, but when he learns his former boss is down on his luck—and the circus has been sold—he heads to Florida to rally his fellow ex-performers to help buy back the spectacle they once called home. With seductive snake charmer Harper Rhys-Whitney in tow, Mongo sets out to make a deal with the traveling show&’s mysterious new owners. But when they track down the talented troupe in America&’s heartland, Mongo and Harper discover something has shifted under the big top: A string of grisly murders has dogged the circus&’s route, causing local tabloids to cry &“Werewolf!&” Now, if he wants to save his old gig, Mongo will have to get back in the center ring to figure out what&’s been going bump in the night . . . The Fear in Yesterday&’s Rings is the 10th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Keeper
by George C. ChesbroAn ex-spy struggles to dismantle a dangerous conspiracy in this explosive suspense thriller from the author of the Mongo Mysteries. As a Naval intelligence officer stationed in the Middle East, Jade Aden was trusted with secrets that would leave most people shaking in their boots. But after the fallout from an incident during Desert Storm forced her into early retirement, Jade made a new, more pedestrian life for herself and her two children in the picturesque town of Cairn-on-the-Hudson, New York. Employed as a river keeper, Jade monitors pollution created by weekend boaters and commercial tankers. But when something strange surfaces in the river, Jade&’s dangerous past is dredged up once more. She knows the object strapped to a dead sea lion is a mine from a top-secret weapons system supposedly canceled years ago. Because it was highly classified, Jade is forced to feign ignorance, but her silence soon leads to death and destruction. Determined to do the right thing, Jade must face off against forces willing to kill to protect their own despicable interests.
The Language of Cannibals (Mongo #9)
by George C. ChesbroWhile investigating the death of a friend in a small village in the Hudson River Valley, Mongo must unexpectedly duel with an old enemy as well as a right-wing conspiracy.
The Language of Cannibals (The Mongo Mysteries #8)
by George C. ChesbroA circus-performer-turned-PI uncovers dark secrets in a Hudson River town in this novel of &“bloodcurdling adventure&” and &“genuine suspense&” (Publishers Weekly). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. When his friend, FBI agent Michael Burana, suspiciously drowns in the small town of Cairn, New York, Mongo&’s pursuit of the truth takes him up the Hudson River to the scene of the crime. Long known as a village populated by artists, intellectuals, and writers, Cairn has recently become home to ultraconservative political commentator Elysius Culhane, whose autobiography title, If You&’re Not Right You&’re Wrong, is less a pun than a personal manifesto. Mongo couldn&’t care less about politics, but there&’s something about Culhane that just isn&’t right. And as Mongo and his brother, Garth, attempt to discern the real reason for Agent Burana&’s death, they will uncover a conspiracy that could leave them both swimming with the fishes . . . The Language of Cannibals is the 8th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Turn Loose the Dragons
by George C. ChesbroTwo former CIA agents reunite for a dangerous mission in which nothing is as it seems in this seductive thriller from the author of the Mongo Mysteries. Rick Peters was one of the CIA&’s best operatives until the day the dragons—the company&’s elite covert team—were disbanded. Forced into unwanted retirement, Peters struck out on his own, becoming an assassin. Now, a two-million-dollar payday is on the table if he can take out San Sierran dictator Manuel Salva. Peters intends to make it look like a CIA operation . . . and he has the perfect patsy in mind. Retired for fifteen years, Alexandra Finway has left covert ops behind to raise a family. But when her former partner—and lover—storms back into her life, she finds herself contemplating getting back in the field. Peters claims the CIA wants two of their former dragons to stop a hit on Salva and remove the contract killer from play, all in the interest of international security. A patriot at heart, Finway agrees to take on the mission, unaware Peters has drawn her into a dangerous game of cross and double-cross—and few will make it out alive.
Two Songs This Archangel Sings (Mongo #5)
by George C. ChesbroThe man I was on my way to see had the odd but curiously appropriate first name of Veil. For the past six years he'd been one of the hottest painters on the fickle and volatile New York art scene and could presumably afford much better quarters than the loft he rented in a rotting, otherwise empty factory building in one of the roughest sections on the city's Lower East Side, but apparently simply preferred not to.
Two Songs This Archangel Sings (The Mongo Mysteries #5)
by George C. ChesbroA detective&’s search for a missing friend &“careens ahead with the speed and promise of danger of the Indy 500&” (The Washington Post Book World). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as &“Mongo the Magnificent&”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. Mongo&’s friend and sensei, Veil Kendry, is pretty magnificent himself. A devoted martial arts instructor and extremely successful abstract artist, Veil single-handedly transformed his shady neighborhood in New York City&’s Lower East Side into a safe haven from crime and corruption. But when Mongo enters Veil&’s abandoned apartment and finds a bullet hole, a cryptic oil painting, and an envelope addressed to him containing $10,000, he starts to worry that Veil&’s reputation as a vigilante has gotten him into the worst sort of trouble. Determined to find his friend, Mongo attempts to rule out any enemies from Veil&’s past—details of which Veil has never shared with him. But as he uncovers the shocking truth of Veil&’s time in the Vietnam War—participating in dangerous CIA missions under the call sign &“Archangel&”—Mongo soon finds enemies aplenty, ones that will do anything to make sure the past remains a secret . . . In addition to creating &“the most engaging detective in decades,&” author George C. Chesbro introduces the character of Veil Kendry, who would go on to have his own series (Library Journal). Two Songs This Archangel Sings is the 5th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.