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A Harvest of Bones (Chintz & China #4)
by Yasmine GalenornTea shop owner and psychic Emerald O'Brien has stumbled onto the ruins of a 50-year-old house rife with supernatural bounty, including a ghost and whispering plants. Now it's up to Em and her friends to delve into the past and lay the secrets of the dead to rest. [From the back of the book:] "Delicious blends of tea aren't the only draw at the Chintz 'n China Tea Room--Emerald O'Brien, owner and medium, also offers her customers a tarot-card reading. But the single mother of two never saw herself as a sleuth.... It's harvest time in Chiqetaw, Washington--Emerald's favorite season. But this year, nature yields a most supernatural bounty. When Em and her sweetie, Joe, stumble over a bramble-covered foundation that has remained hidden for fifty years in the lot next door, strange events begin to occur. The cat vanishes. Will-o'-the-wisps threaten to harm Emerald and her loved ones. And the ghost of a woman named Brigit and her beloved calico make themselves at home in the backyard."
A Harvest of Murder (Pies and Pages Cozy Mysteries #14)
by Carolyn Q. HunterA Fall Festival turns sinister when a body is discovered, and a priceless antique goes missing. Pie shop owner, Bertha Hannah, takes time away from baking her delicious traditional treats in order to investigate the heinous crimes. Will the mild-mannered pie lady live to tell the tale?
A Harvest of Thorns
by Corban AddisonA beloved American corporation with an explosive secret.A disgraced former journalist looking for redemption.A corporate executive with nothing left to lose.In Dhaka, Bangladesh, a garment factory burns to the ground, claiming the lives of hundreds of workers, mostly young women. Amid the rubble, a bystander captures a heart-stopping photograph—a teenage girl lying in the dirt, her body broken by a multi-story fall, and over her mouth a mask of fabric bearing the label of one of America’s largest retailers, Presto Omnishops Corporation.Eight thousand miles away at Presto’s headquarters in Virginia, Cameron Alexander, the company’s long-time general counsel, watches the media coverage in horror, wondering if the damage can be contained. <P><P> When the photo goes viral, fanning the flames of a decades-old controversy about sweatshops, labor rights, and the ethics of globalization, he launches an investigation into the disaster that will reach further than he could ever imagine—and threaten everything he has left in the world.A year later in Washington DC, Joshua Griswold, a disgraced former journalist from the Washington Post, receives an anonymous summons from a corporate whistleblower who offers him confidential information about Presto and the fi re. For Griswold, the challenge of exposing Presto’s culpability is irresistible, as is the chance, however slight, at redemption. Deploying his old journalistic skills, he builds a historic case against Presto, setting the stage for a war in the courtroom and in the media that Griswold is determined to win—both to salvage his reputation and to provoke a revolution in Presto’s boardroom that could transform the fashion industry across the globe.“This exposé of the underbelly of the international fashion industry is disturbing, moving, and thoroughly engrossing.” —PHILLIP MARGOLIN, New York Times bestselling author of Violent Crimes
A Harvest of Thorns: Nail-biting courtroom drama meets emotional rollercoaster
by Corban AddisonA gripping new thriller that unpacks the horrors of exploitation in the garment industry, blending the nailbiting courtroom drama of John Grisham with the emotional heart of Khaled Hosseini.'Poignant and engrossing ... Corban Addison will hold you spellbound with his elegant prose from his first word to his last' Wilbur SmithIn Dhaka, Bangladesh, a garment factory burns to the ground, claiming the lives of hundreds of workers, mostly young women. Amid the rubble, a bystander captures a heart-stopping image-a teenage girl lying in the dirt, her body broken by a multi-storey fall, and over her mouth a mask of fabric bearing the label of one of America's largest retailers, Presto Omnishops Corporation. When the photo goes viral, it fans the flames of a decades old controversy about sweatshops, labour rights, and the ethics of globalization.A year later, in Washington, D.C., Joshua Griswold, a disgraced former journalist for the Washington Post, receives an anonymous summons from a corporate whistleblower promising information about Presto. He offers Griswold confidential information about Presto's apparel supply chain.For Griswold, the challenge of exposing Presto's wilful negligence is irresistible, as is the chance, however slight, at redemption. Deploying his old journalistic skills, he builds a historic case against Presto, setting the stage for a war in the courtroom and in the media that Griswold is determined to win - both to salvage his reputation and to provoke a revolution of conscience in Presto's boardroom that could change the course of the fashion industry across the globe.
A Hasty Betrothal
by Dorothy ElburyAn engagment of convenienceWhen Robert, Viscount Sandford, agrees to take Harriet Cordell as his betrothed it is purely an act of convenience-and most definitely short-term! Escaping an undesirable forced marriage, she simply needs a temporary refuge.But then dramatic events at his estate, including Harriet’s sudden kidnapping, force Robert to admit that their hasty betrothal might need to become a much more permanent arrangement....
A Haunt of Murder (Canterbury Tales Mysteries, Book 6): A ghostly tale of love and death in medieval England
by Paul DohertyA murderer lurks among a group of friends...Paul Doherty relates the Clerk of Oxford's tale in A Haunt of Murder - a tale of mystery and murder as he goes on pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Susanna Gregory.As the sun sets, Chaucer's pilgrims find themselves lost in a Kent forest rumoured to be haunted. Huddled around the fire, trying to ignore the cries of screech owls and other, more frightening sounds of the night, the Clerk of Oxford agrees to tell a ghostly tale of love and death that will chill the blood. It's 1381 and Beatrice Arrowner is on her way to Ravenscroft Castle on the outskirts of Maldon. Beatrice is meeting clerk Ralph Mortimer for a feast on the green. Nothing can dampen Beatrice's mood as she and Ralph gather with their friends. But the sinister events of the last few days soon cast a cloud over the festivities. Phoebe, a castle maid, has been horribly murdered. Soon there is another death and it seems that the evil spirits which haunt the Midnight Tower are doing their worst. Certain there is a connection between these events and his own search for the legendary Brythnoth's jewelled cross, Ralph knows that this own life is in danger and that the murderer must be one of his close friends. But he can only hunt down the killer with the help of Beatrice - who learns that death is not necessarily the end of existence...What readers are saying about the Canterbury Tales Mysteries:'An intriguing tale which keeps one entertained up to the last page''Spellbinding''I found it a brilliant, mystifying tale and was hooked from beginning to end'
A Haunt of Murder: The Clerk of Oxford's Tale of Mystery and Murder as He Goes on Pilgrimage from London to Canterbury
by Paul DohertyAs the sun sets, Chaucer's pilgrims find themselves lost in a Kent forest rumoured to be haunted. Huddled around the fire, trying to ignore the cries of screech owls and other, more frightening sounds of the night, the Clerk of Oxford agrees to tell a ghostly tale of love and death that will chill the blood.
A Haunted Summer
by Adrianne Kathleen WoodKristy and Lawrence are a couple who work together as Private Investigators. Kristy is fascinated by the paranormal while Lawrence remains sceptical. She has added psychic skills to her resume which has led to her to being relegated to the role of nanny when she applies for investigative work. She is rescued from this role by a distraught mother, Suzanne, who is convinced her son, Eddy, was murdered. Eddy had died in a house fire, along with a young girl, assumed to be Ashlin, who had been left in charge of the house. Kristy is led deeper into the maze of relationships of Eddy and Ashlin and Eddy’s family. Kristy finds Ashlin’s journal and is fascinated by her account of a psychic’s vision of a young boy and girl dying, in a fire, in a house by the sea. Finally, the case appears to have been wrapped up, at least from sceptical Lawrence’s point of view, but following events show all is not as it seems.
A Haunting Collection by Mary Downing Hahn: Deep and Dark and Dangerous, All the Lovely Bad Ones, and Wait Till Helen Comes
by Mary Downing HahnMysterious disappearances! Ghost appearances! From the supernatural to the downright scary, these three spooky stories from award-winning author Mary Downing Hahn are sure to send shivers down readers' spines. Mysterious photographs, ghostly old houses, and all things supernatural await readers in these three frightful tales.
A Haunting Dream (A Missing Pieces Mystery # #4)
by Joyce Jim LaveneThe mayor of Duck, North Carolina, Dae O'Donnell, is a woman with a gift for finding lost things. Sometimes it leads her to lost keys or earrings--and sometimes it leads her to murder... When her boyfriend Kevin's ex-fiancée Ann arrives in Duck looking for a second chance, Dae suddenly finds herself facing certain heartache. And while her romantic life is in shambles, she's even more concerned by the sudden change in her gift. After touching a medallion owned by a local named Chuck Sparks, Dae is shocked when her vision reveals his murder--and a cry for help. Dae doesn't know what to make of the dead man's plea to "Help her," until she has another vision about a kidnapped girl--Chuck's daughter, Betsy. With a child missing, the FBI steps in to take over the case. But Dae can't ignore her visions of Betsy, or the fact that Kevin's psychic ex-fiancée might be the only person who can help find her...
A Haunting Is Brewing
by Juliet BlackwellIn this all-new novella, New York Times bestselling author Juliet Blackwell's popular characters from her Witchcraft Mysteries and Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries find themselves joining forces to solve a supernatural dilemma... When Mel Turner is hired to rehab an old Victorian mansion to act as the eerie setting for a Halloween bash, she's expecting the normal challenges--old wiring, bad plumbing, maybe a ghostly specter or two. But when a young man is killed after spending the night in the house, and the mannequins in the attic start to come to life, it's clear that this is serious paranormal activity. Maybe this time, a real witch is needed. Recommended by a mutual friend, vintage clothes expert Lily Ivory arrives to offer her help with the mannequins. Armed with Lily's spells and Mel's know-how, the two women must figure out the cause of all of the ghostly commotion--before Mel's renovation project turns into even more of a deadly haunt... Includes previews of Keeper of the Castle: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery and Spellcasting in Silk: A Witchcraft Mystery. Praise for the novels of Juliet Blackwell: "Blackwell's writing is like that of a master painter, placing a perfect splash of detail, drama, color, and whimsy in all the right places!"--New York Times bestselling author Victoria Laurie "Extraordinarily entertaining."--Suspense Magazine "A winning combination of cozy mystery, architectural history, and DIY with a ghost story thrown in."--The Mystery Reader "Blackwell mixes reality and witchcraft beautifully...outstanding storytelling skills."--Lesa's Book Critiques Juliet Blackwell is the pseudonym for the New York Times bestselling mystery author who also writes the Witchcraft Mystery series and, together with her sister, wrote the Art Lover's Mystery series as Hailey Lind. The first in that series, Feint of Art, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. As owner of her own faux-finish and design studio, the author has spent many days and nights on construction sites renovating beautiful historic homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She currently resides in a happily haunted house in Oakland, California.
A Haunting Refrain (Helen Bradley Mysteries, #3)
by Patricia H. RushfordEager to spend time with her husband while they remodel their home, Helen Bradley is reluctant to answer the summons of her eccentric uncle Paddy until she learns that there have been attempts on his life. Helen arrives at Paradise Island determined to protect her uncle, but fears abound. Never before in her years as a cop has Helen faced a ghost as a possible suspect. Now she must find the courage to confront her own beliefs - and to reveal whatever truth surfaces...
A Haunting at Holkham: from the author of the bestselling memoir Lady in Waiting
by Anne Glenconner'[A] winning, well-plotted read... the mystery's denouement at the dance makes a glamorous and dramatic conclusion' Daily MailThe thrilling new novel from the acclaimed author of Murder on Mustique and Lady in Waiting. January 1950. Lady Anne Coke, daughter of the 5th Earl of Leicester, is in Scunthorpe on a business trip when she is called home after a sudden death in the family. She returns to Holkham Hall to discover a mystery: her beloved grandfather has been found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs with a valuable piece of jewellery in his pocket. No one can find a cause of death, and some even suspect foul play from the ghost who supposedly haunts the house. But Anne's suspicions are aroused; she grew close to her grandfather when they lived together during the war and she is determined to discover the truth.During World War II, Holkham Hall was an army base with large sections out of bounds, and 11-year-old Anne was in the care of a new governess, whom she hated and believed to be deceitful. Although she had been told to stay away from certain parts of the house, Anne used the secret passageways and the cellars to move around unnoticed. And something she saw then could unlock the mystery of her grandfather's death now ... Full of rich historical detail, this is a gripping novel of wartime secrets, intrigue and deceit.
A Haunting at Holkham: from the author of the bestselling memoir Lady in Waiting
by Anne Glenconner'[A] winning, well-plotted read... the mystery's denouement at the dance makes a glamorous and dramatic conclusion' Daily MailThe thrilling new novel from the acclaimed author of Murder on Mustique and Lady in Waiting. January 1950. Lady Anne Coke, daughter of the 5th Earl of Leicester, is in Scunthorpe on a business trip when she is called home after a sudden death in the family. She returns to Holkham Hall to discover a mystery: her beloved grandfather has been found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs with a valuable piece of jewellery in his pocket. No one can find a cause of death, and some even suspect foul play from the ghost who supposedly haunts the house. But Anne's suspicions are aroused; she grew close to her grandfather when they lived together during the war and she is determined to discover the truth.During World War II, Holkham Hall was an army base with large sections out of bounds, and 11-year-old Anne was in the care of a new governess, whom she hated and believed to be deceitful. Although she had been told to stay away from certain parts of the house, Anne used the secret passageways and the cellars to move around unnoticed. And something she saw then could unlock the mystery of her grandfather's death now ... Full of rich historical detail, this is a gripping novel of wartime secrets, intrigue and deceit.
A Haunting at Holkham: from the author of the bestselling memoir Lady in Waiting
by Anne GlenconnerThe thrilling new novel from the acclaimed author of Murder on Mustique, based on the childhood described in her international bestseller Lady in Waiting. January 1950. Lady Anne Coke, daughter of the 5th Earl of Leicester, is in Scunthorpe on a business trip when she is called home after a sudden death in the family. She returns to Holkham Hall to discover a mystery: her beloved grandfather has been found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs with a valuable piece of jewellery in his pocket. No one can find a cause of death, and some even suspect foul play from the ghost who supposedly haunts the house. But Anne's suspicions are aroused; she grew close to her grandfather when they lived together during the war and she is determined to discover the truth.During World War II, Holkham Hall was an army base with large sections out of bounds, and 11-year-old Anne was in the care of a new governess, whom she hated and believed to be deceitful. Although she had been told to stay away from certain parts of the house, Anne used the secret passageways and the cellars to move around unnoticed. And something she saw then could unlock the mystery of her grandfather's death now ... Full of rich historical detail, this is a gripping novel of wartime secrets, intrigue and deceit.(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
A Haunting at Linley (The Henrietta and Inspector Howard serie #Book 7)
by Michelle Cox“Mixing Romance and Mystery in a Fizzy 1930s Cocktail!”In this seventh book of the series, Clive and Henrietta return to England to find Castle Linley in financial ruin. When Clive’s cousin, Wallace, invites an estate agent in to assess the home’s value, the agent is later found poisoned, throwing all of the Castle’s guests into suspicion. Clive and Henrietta are soon drawn into an investigation, which is slowed by an incompetent local inspector and several unexplained phenomena—the cause of which many, especially the frail Lady Linley, believe to be the workings of the ghost of a hanged maid.Meanwhile, Gunther and Elsie have begun life on a farm in Omaha. Circumstances are difficult, but they are content—until Oldrich Exely appears, proposing an option Elsie finds difficult to ignore. Melody Merriweather, still masquerading as a nun to aid Elsie’s escape, likewise finds it difficult to ignore a letter with tragic news from home, while Julia, on the other hand, receives a very different sort of letter from Glenn Forbes.Back in England, Clive is called away to London on suspicious business, leaving Henrietta to carry on with the investigation alone. When she is mysteriously locked in the study one night, however, things take on a more deadly, supernatural feel, leaving her to fear that Lady Linley's “ghost” might just be real after all…
A Haunting in the Arctic
by C. J. CookeA deserted shipwreck off the coast of Iceland holds terrors and dark secrets in this chilling horror novel from the author of The Lighthouse Witches.The year is 1901, and Nicky is attacked, then wakes on board the Ormen, a whaling ship embarked on what could be its last voyage. With land still weeks away, it&’s just her, the freezing ocean, and the crew – and they&’re all owed something only she can give them...Now, over one hundred years later, the wreck of the Ormen has washed up on the forbidding, remote coast of Iceland. It&’s scheduled to be destroyed, but explorer Dominique feels an inexplicable pull to document its last days, even though those who have ventured onto the wreck before her have met uncanny ends. Onboard the boat, Dominique will uncover a dark past riddled with lies, cruelty, and murder—and her discovery will change everything. Because she&’ll soon realize she&’s not alone. Something has walked the floors of the Ormen for almost a century. Something that craves revenge.
A Haunting of the Bones (A Bell Elkins Novella): An unmissable thriller of small-town America
by Julia KellerWhat do you do when the past comes knocking?Bell Elkins, prosecuting attorney and small-town heroine from Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Keller, takes on her most personal case yet in exclusive digital novella A Haunting of the Bones. Perfect for fans of Linwood Barclay and Henning Mankell.Teresa Dolan's disappearance was never reported to the police. Because no one but her young daughters thought it was suspicious. And her abusive husband Donnie certainly didn't want the police hanging around.Bell Elkins and her sister Shirley grew up thinking their father had murdered their mother. But, with no body, no police involvement and no proof, justice was never served.Forty years later Bell's life has settled into a distorted rhythm. Then she receives a phone call that shatters her world.Human remains have been found in the scrubland just outside town. And they belong to her mother.What readers are saying about Julia Keller:'Julia Keller makes her characters come alive on the page''Outstanding''Five stars'
A Haunting on the Hill: A Novel
by Elizabeth HandFrom award-winning author Elizabeth Hand comes the first-ever novel authorized to return to the world of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House—a "scary and beautifully written" (Neil Gaiman) new story of isolation and longing perfect for our present time. **Named a Best Book of the Year by The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and Harper's Bazaar**Open the door . . . . Holly Sherwin has been a struggling playwright for years, but now, after receiving a grant to develop her play Witching Night, she may finally be close to her big break. All she needs is time and space to bring her vision to life. When she stumbles across Hill House on a weekend getaway upstate, she is immediately taken in by the mansion, nearly hidden outside a remote village. It&’s enormous, old, and ever-so eerie—the perfect place to develop and rehearse her play. Despite her own hesitations, Holly&’s girlfriend, Nisa, agrees to join Holly in renting the house for a month, and soon a troupe of actors, each with ghosts of their own, arrive. Yet as they settle in, the house&’s peculiarities are made known: strange creatures stalk the grounds, disturbing sounds echo throughout the halls, and time itself seems to shift. All too soon, Holly and her friends find themselves at odds not just with one another, but with the house itself. It seems something has been waiting in Hill House all these years, and it no longer intends to walk alone . . ."A fitting—and frightening—homage." —New York Times Book Review"It&’s thrilling to find this is a true hybrid of these two ingenious women&’s work—a novel with all the chills of Jackson that also highlights the contemporary flavor and evocative writing of Hand." —Washington Post "Only the brilliant Elizabeth Hand could so expertly honor Jackson's rage, wit, and vision." —Paul Tremblay "Eerily beautiful, strangely seductive, and genuinely upsetting." —Alix E. Harrow
A Head Full of Ghosts: A Novel
by Paul TremblayWINNER OF THE 2015 BRAM STOKER AWARD FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A NOVELA chilling thriller that brilliantly blends psychological suspense and supernatural horror, reminiscent of Stephen King's The Shining, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, and William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist.The lives of the Barretts, a normal suburban New England family, are torn apart when fourteen-year-old Marjorie begins to display signs of acute schizophrenia.To her parents’ despair, the doctors are unable to stop Marjorie’s descent into madness. As their stable home devolves into a house of horrors, they reluctantly turn to a local Catholic priest for help. Father Wanderly suggests an exorcism; he believes the vulnerable teenager is the victim of demonic possession. He also contacts a production company that is eager to document the Barretts’ plight. With John, Marjorie’s father, out of work for more than a year and the medical bills looming, the family agrees to be filmed, and soon find themselves the unwitting stars of The Possession, a hit reality television show. When events in the Barrett household explode in tragedy, the show and the shocking incidents it captures become the stuff of urban legend.Fifteen years later, a bestselling writer interviews Marjorie’s younger sister, Merry. As she recalls those long ago events that took place when she was just eight years old, long-buried secrets and painful memories that clash with what was broadcast on television begin to surface—and a mind-bending tale of psychological horror is unleashed, raising vexing questions about memory and reality, science and religion, and the very nature of evil.
A Head for Poisoning (Sir Geoffrey Mappestone Mysteries #2)
by Simon BeaufortOn the way home to his castle in Wales, one of Geoffrey de Mappestone's knights is killed during an ambush. The knight had claimed to be carrying an important message for the King, but when Geoffrey tries to deliver it, he is faced with the King's orders to spy on his own family to ferret out a traitor. Meanwhile, the future of the family estate is already in jeopardy, and Geoffrey's father is found murdered with his own knife during the night. As Geoffrey investigates, he finds the danger reaches from his family all the way to the King.
A Healing Love
by Doris EnglishA MAN WITHOUT A PAST...When Brad Jeremiah's private plane crashed on a foggy hillside, Dr. Laura McBride risked her life to save him. And with Laura at his hospital bed, Brad woke to find he'd lost his memory. Discovering the handsome surgeon's identity was simple, yet his past remained a puzzling mystery....Did their love have a future?The healing touch of his beautiful doctor gave Brad hope and her faith gave him strength. Soon he imagined working beside her in the small mountain hospital. But as Brad prayed for help to uncover the secrets of his past, he feared the truth would destroy Laura's love, and their dreams of a life together....
A Healthy Homicide (A Blossom Valley Mystery #4)
by Staci MclaughlinNormally the O'Connell Organic Farm and Spa in Blossom Valley, California, would welcome a little healthy competition. But it's no day at the spa when the rivalry with their chic opponent turns lethal. . .Blossom Valley is abuzz with excitement over The Pampered Life, a brand new spa with a trendy menu of decadent services and employees who look like they jumped off the pages of a fashion magazine--and Dana Lewis is worried it could ruin business. But when the swanky spa's owner is drowned in a mud bath, police suspect a healthy rivalry may have turned into deadly revenge. Now, with all eyes on the farm, Dana must sift through a tawdry list of suspects and catch a killer more fearsome than a botched chemical peel. . .
A Healthy Place to Die: A Healthy Place To Die; Eat, Drink And Be Buried; Roux The Day; And Dine And Die On The Danube Express (The Gourmet Detective Mysteries #5)
by Peter KingIn this &“feast of a food mystery&” the Gourmet Detective visits a Swiss health spa where the treatments can be deadly (Publishers Weekly). The gourmet detective realizes that the Alpine Springs health resort is not a typical spa somewhere in the middle of his first cocktail. Where other retreats promote abstinence, exercise, and bland food, this quiet little Swiss chalet preaches indulgence. Guests are allowed to eat, drink, and smoke as much as they want, and exercise is strictly optional. For this epicure, it is paradise—and it may also be his doom. He has come from London to speak about fine dining, but while here he fully intends on enjoying himself. One night he arranges a tryst with a fellow expert, a beautiful young woman named Kathleen Evans. They are deep in the woods, about to begin enjoying themselves, when something knocks the detective out cold. When he comes to, Kathleen has vanished, and the detective begins to suspect that life in the Alps is not as healthful as it appears.
A Hearse of a Different Color (Hitchcock Sewell Series #2)
by Tim CockeyIt's a dark and stormy night in Baltimore, and snow isn't the only thing piling up on the front steps of Sewell & Sons Family Funeral Home. There's also trouble. Specifically, a murdered waitress is unceremoniously dropped off at the door while a wake is under way inside. Bad form, no two ways about it. In this witty, page-turning follow-up to Tim Cockey's highly praised first novel, The Hearse You Came In On, charming mortician-about-town Hitchcock Sewell has just one question: Why my place? His meteorologist girlfriend, Bonnie, has bigger fish to fry. The murder is her chance to make the leap from the weather game--which she stinks at anyway--to hard news. A few well-timed bats of Bonnie's big blues, and Hitch is ready to roll. Starting at the seedy airport lounge restaurant where Helen, the murdered woman, worked, and with the reluctant assistance of her estranged sister, Hitch and Bonnie begin to learn more about the woman's past than they really care to know. Daughter of a stripper, nude model, small-time porn actress, single mother of a three-year-old son. Apparently Helen was determined to shake her tawdry past, but did her past catch up with her anyway? Could her son's father--identity unknown--have been the killer? Or maybe her "business manager" in the sex trade? How about one of those lonely business travelers who trawl the airport lounge? Maybe the big guy on the keyboards in the lousy lounge band? Or, for that matter, his jealous wanna-be Cher partner? Hitch's investigation takes him down an increasingly twisted and wicked trail--from Baltimore's low-life strip joints to its high-tone mansions--where he discovers the full scope of the nasty impulses that led to Helen's death. Having planned only to dabble, he's getting in over his head. Luckily, Hitch is a fast learner. At least, he'd better be.