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How To Seal Your Own Fate (The Castle Knoll Files)
by Kristen PerrinThe much-anticipated sequel to How To Solve Your Own Murder 'What a great read!' J. M. Hall'Kept me guessing until the very end' Joanna Wallace'Thrilling' G. T. Garber'Original, atmospheric' Ian MooreAnnie thought the murders were over. She was wrong.It is autumn in Castle Knoll and Annie Adams is busy settling into her new home. She doesn't find Gravesdown Hall particularly cosy, especially since she found two dead bodies there over the summer. What's more, ever since she arrived in the village, Annie has had the creeping sense she's being watched.Lonely, and desperate for some company, Annie starts talking to a stranger she meets in the grounds of the estate. The striking old woman introduces herself as Peony Lane, the fortune-teller who predicted Great Aunt Frances' murder all those years ago. And now she has a fortune to tell Annie. Desperate not to fall into the same trap as Frances, Annie flees Peony Lane, refusing to hear any of her grim predictions. But she can't outrun Peony for long, as hours later she finds her, dead on the floor of Gravesdown Hall, a ruby-hilted dagger plunged into her back.But who killed the mysterious fortune teller and why? And can Frances' library of evidence help Annie solve the case?
How To Seal Your Own Fate (The Castle Knoll Files)
by Kristen PerrinThe much-anticipated sequel to How To Solve Your Own Murder 'Kept me guessing until the very end' Joanna Wallace'Thrilling' G. T. Garber'Original, atmospheric' Ian MooreAnnie thought the murders were over. She was wrong.It is autumn in Castle Knoll and Annie Adams is busy settling into her new home. She doesn't find Gravesdown Hall particularly cosy, especially since she found two dead bodies there over the summer. What's more, ever since she arrived in the village, Annie has had the creeping sense she's being watched.Lonely, and desperate for some company, Annie starts talking to a stranger she meets in the grounds of the estate. The striking old woman introduces herself as Peony Lane, the fortune-teller who predicted Great Aunt Frances' murder all those years ago. And now she has a fortune to tell Annie. Desperate not to fall into the same trap as Frances, Annie flees Peony Lane, refusing to hear any of her grim predictions. But she can't outrun Peony for long, as hours later she finds her, dead on the floor of Gravesdown Hall, a ruby-hilted dagger plunged into her back.But who killed the mysterious fortune teller and why? And can Frances' library of evidence help Annie solve the case?
How To Solve Your Own Murder (The Castle Knoll Files)
by Kristen PerrinThe biggest debut of 2024 and a hilarious mystery with a killer hook. Perfect for fans of Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building.FRANCES ALWAYS SAID SHE'D BE MURDERED...SHE WAS RIGHT.In 1965, when Frances Adams was seventeen, a fortune teller told her that one day she'd be murdered. Thus began a lifetime of trying to prevent the crime that would be her eventual demise. No one took Frances seriously for sixty years - until, of course, she was murdered. But for Frances, being the village busybody was a form of insurance. She'd spent a lifetime compiling dirt on every person she met, just in case they might turn out to be her killer. In the heart of her sprawling country estate lies an eccentric library of detective work, where the right person could step in and use her findings to solve her murder. When her great-niece Annie arrives from London and discovers that Frances' worst fear has come true, Annie is thrust into her great-aunt's last act of revenge against her sceptical friends and family. Frances' will stipulates that the person who solves her murder inherits her millions, and she's challenged a group that includes Annie to prove to the world that Frances was right all along about her future. Can Annie unravel the mystery and find justice for Frances, or will digging up the past lead her into the path of the killer?(P)2024 Quercus Editions Limited
How To Solve Your Own Murder: An unmissable mystery with a killer hook! (The Castle Knoll Files)
by Kristen Perrin'VERY funny' Jennie Godfrey'Smart, twisty, and original' Heat'Terrific' J. M. Hall'Superb' Glamour 'Wildly original' Elly Griffiths'Delightfully refreshing' Daily MailFRANCES ALWAYS SAID SHE'D BE MURDERED. SHE WAS RIGHT. In 1965, Frances Adams was told by a fortune teller that one day she'd be murdered. Frances spent the next sixty years trying to prevent the crime that would be her eventual demise. Of course, no one took her seriously - until she was dead. For Frances, being the village busybody was a form of insurance. She'd spent a lifetime compiling dirt on every person she met, just in case they might turn out to be her killer. In the heart of her sprawling country estate lies an eccentric library of detective work, where the right person could step in and use her findings to solve her murder. When her great-niece Annie arrives from London and discovers that Frances' worst fear has come true, Annie is thrust into her great-aunt's last act of revenge against her sceptical friends and family. Frances' will stipulates that the person who solves her murder will inherit her millions. Can Annie unravel the mystery and find justice for Frances, or will digging up the past lead her into the path of the killer? *******************************Readers are loving How to Solve Your Own Murder*'FINALLY, the book I've been searching for . . . Without a doubt the best murder mystery book I've ever read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A cracking dual timeline read . . . I was totally engrossed in trying to solve the crime! Loved it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This book is SO much more than just a clever hook. It's a fantastic combination of wonderfully crafted prose, vivid characters and a plot that made me gallop through' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'An amazingly well written mystery with true Christie vibes . . . a rollercoaster I didn't want to get off' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Just brilliant . . . A proper who done it with a very modern twist' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐*Praise for How to Solve Your Own Murder* 'A wonderful idea and, pun intended, brilliantly executed' Ian Moore 'Plenty of twists and red herrings . . . entertaining' Guardian 'Addictive . . . a devilishly clever plot' Sunday Post 'I so enjoyed this smart, original murder mystery' Beth O' Leary 'A deliciously inventive new take on the classic murder mystery' Bobby Palmer 'Ridiculously fun . . . unputdownable . . . One to savour for fans of Only Murders in The Building' My Weekly 'Sharply observed . . . vivid characterisation and theatrical plotting' Sunday Independent 'Intriguing . . . skilful storytelling . . . a compelling read' Daily Mirror
How To Steal a Dragon: The perfect read this Halloween! (Villains Academy #2)
by Ryan HammondBeing BAD has never felt so GOOD! The second book in the villainously funny, highly illustrated young middle-grade series from author-illustrator Ryan Hammond. For fans of Amelia Fang, Dog Man and Grimwood. Don&’t miss the third installment, How to Win the Gruesome Games, out in April 2024! &‘A charmingly villainous adventure about friendship, school and unspeakable evil.&’ Louie Stowell, author of Loki: A Bad God&’s Guide to Being Good &‘Criminally fun!&’ Danny Wallace, author of The Day the Screens Went Blank It&’s the start of the winter term and there&’s a new teacher in town at Villains Academy – the notorious dragon-rider Felix Frostbite. Class Z are in awe of him and his lessons on venomous beasts and mythical creatures, but werewolf Bram is suspicious. Soon Bram and his friends the Cereal Killers uncover Felix Frostbite&’s evil plan to steal all the dragons from the Wicked Woods and leave Villains Academy undefended. Have the gang learnt enough to outsmart their troublesome teacher, or will Felix Frostbite&’s heist go down in villain history?PRAISE FOR VILLAINS ACADEMY: &‘Frightfully fun – Villains Academy had me cackling from the very first page!&’ Katie Tsang, co-author of the Dragon Realm series &‘I loved the spookily funny Villains Academy. It's a work of (evil) genius!&’ Jenny McLachlan, author of The Land of Roar &‘Heart-warming and hilarious – Villains Academy is a spookalicious treat, set to terrify every other book on your shelf.&’ Jack Meggitt-Phillips, author of The Beast and the Bethany &‘An absolute HOOT! Evil laughs aplenty!&’ Sophy Henn, author and illustrator of the Pizazz series &‘A joyful hug of a book with genuine warmth and heart.&’ Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear &‘A delightfully fun adventure with real heart and humour.&’ Benjamin Dean, author of Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow &‘Immersive, funny, and with a cast of scarily loveable characters, Villains Academy made me feel like I was IN the book!&’ Mel Taylor-Bessent, author of The Christmas Carrolls &‘A fabulously funny adventure. I want to enrol in Villains Academy!&’ Nick Sheridan, author of The Case of the Runaway Brain &‘Wickedly funny and full of quirky yet loveable characters.&’ Iona Rangeley, author of Einstein the Penguin &‘This is a brilliant, bonkers work packed with top-notch illustration.&’ Jack Noel, author and illustrator of the Comic Classics series &‘Full of wonderful characters, Villains Academy is such a FUN read!&’ Rikin Parekh, illustrator of The Worst Class in the World series
How To Tame Your Duke: Princess In Hiding Book 1 (Princess In Hiding)
by Juliana GrayHow To Tame Your Duke is the dazzling first novel in a new trilogy by historical romance writer Juliana Gray whose debut Affairs By Moonlight series was richly praised. Lose your heart to this witty and romantic story of three intrepid princesses caught in a deadly plot. Perfect for fans of Julia Quinn and Suzanne Enoch.England, 1888. Quiet and scholarly Princess Emilie has always avoided adventure, until she's forced to disguise herself as a tutor in the household of the imposing Duke of Ashland, a former soldier disfigured in battle and abandoned by his wife. When chance draws her into a secret liaison with the duke, Emilie can't resist the opportunity to learn what lies behind his forbidding mask, and find out what adventure really means... The duke never imagines that his son's tutor and his mysterious golden-haired beauty are one and the same. But when the true identity of his lover is laid bare, Moreland must face the demons in his past in order to safeguard both his lady - and his heart.Don't miss the other two enticing books in the Princess In Hiding trilogy, How To Master Your Marquis and How To School Your Scoundrel, and for more gorgeous historical romance check out the other titles in her Affairs By Moonlight trilogy: A Lady Never Lies, A Gentleman Never Tells and A Duke Never Yields.
How We Fall
by Kate BrauningEver since Jackie moved to her uncle's sleepy farming town, she's been flirting way too much--and with her own cousin, Marcus.Her friendship with him has turned into something she can't control, and he's the reason Jackie lost track of her best friend, Ellie, who left for...no one knows where. Now Ellie has been missing for months, and the police, fearing the worst, are searching for her body. Swamped with guilt and the knowledge that acting on her love for Marcus would tear their families apart, Jackie pushes her cousin away. The plan is to fall out of love, and, just as she hoped he would, Marcus falls for the new girl in town. But something isn't right about this stranger, and Jackie's suspicions about the new girl's secrets only drive the wedge deeper between Jackie and Marcus--and deepens Jackie's despair.Then Marcus is forced to pay the price for someone else's lies as the mystery around Ellie's disappearance starts to become horribly clear. Jackie has to face terrible choices. Can she leave her first love behind, and can she go on living with the fact that she failed her best friend?
How We Were Before
by Jonathan KravetzWhen a savage home invasion results in the death of a town's most glamorous couple, the surviving friends and relatives of the victims must navigate the emotional aftermath: Exasperated high school Vice-Principal Zachary Rivers makes a final effort to reach a troubled student. Town librarian, Shelby Blythe— the eldest daughter of the murder victims— begins a correspondence with Billy Lawson, her parents' murderer. Evelyn Kavanaugh, a retired marketing manager and beloved family friend of the Blythes, embarks on a luxurious cruise as a prelude to suicide. Noam Russell, Billy Lawson' s best friend, returns to Benfield to claim a share of his deceased father' s estate. Samantha Blythe' s maternal attempt to help an employee evokes a renewed desire to connect with her own family. The spaces between stories are haunted by echoes of the deceased couple's life— from the ignorant bliss of first impressions and great expectations to the tumultuous troubles of middle age, and, finally, an undying hope for reconciliation.
How Will I Know You?
by Jessica TreadwaySomeone knows what really happened . . .On a cold December day, teenager Joy Enright is found drowned at the edge of a frozen pond. When an autopsy reveals she was strangled first, suspicion is thrown onto Martin,the young graduate who was last to see her alive. Someone who is prepared to keep their secret at any cost.In a small community, secrets are hard to keep and as the web of lies around Joy's life and death unravels, the truth will either bring one family closer together, or tear them further apart. Suspenseful, engaging and shocking, How Will I Know You? will make you question everything you thought you knew about the ones you love.'Jessica Treadway draws her characters into an impossible knot and then expertly teases it apart. The question of what really happened to Joy kept me up half the night.' Orange Prize winner, Ann Patchett
How Will I Know You?: A Novel
by Jessica TreadwayA page-turner about the murder of a teenage girl, from the author of Lacy Eye.On a cold December day in northern upstate New York, the body of high school senior Joy Enright is discovered in the woods at the edge of a pond. She had been presumed drowned, but an autopsy shows that she was, in fact, strangled. As the investigation unfolds, four characters tell the story from widely divergent perspectives: Susanne, Joy's mother and a professor at the local art college; Martin, a black graduate student suspected of the murder; Harper, Joy's best friend and a potential eyewitness; and Tom, a rescue diver and son-in-law of the town's police chief. As a web of small-town secrets comes to light, a dramatic conclusion reveals the truth about Joy's death.
How Will I Know You?: A Novel
by Jessica TreadwaySomeone knows what really happened . . .On a cold December day, teenager Joy Enright is found drowned at the edge of a frozen pond. When an autopsy reveals she was strangled first, suspicion is thrown onto Martin,the young graduate who was last to see her alive. Someone who is prepared to keep their secret at any cost.In a small community, secrets are hard to keep and as the web of lies around Joy's life and death unravels, the truth will either bring one family closer together, or tear them further apart. Suspenseful, engaging and shocking, How Will I Know You? will make you question everything you thought you knew about the ones you love.
How a Gunman Says Goodbye (The\glasgow Trilogy Ser. #2)
by Malcolm MackayThe breathtaking, devastating second novel in the acclaimed Glasgow Trilogy, a Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year.How does a gunman retire? Frank MacLeod was the best at what he does. Thoughtful. Efficient. Ruthless. But with his health failing him, how long before he's no longer of use to his employers?A new job. A target. But something is about to go horribly wrong. And up-and-coming hitman Calum MacLean will be called upon to pick up the pieces.Most gunmen say goodbye to the world with a bang. Frank's still here. No longer in his prime, certainly. But with decades of experience at the top of his profession. Underestimating such a man could prove to be deadly.
How a Lady Weds a Rogue: A Falcon Club Novel (The Falcon Club Novels #3)
by Katharine Ashe“With its jaded hero, effervescent heroine, an intriguing, engaging plot and healthy doses of both humor and emotion, this is a delightful Regency jaunt.” —Kirkus ReviewsGentleman’s Rule #1: If a lady is virtuous, he should deny her nothing.Beautiful Diantha Lucas understands society’s rules: a young lady must find a man to marry. But Diantha has a bigger goal, and she’s not afraid of plunging into adventure to achieve it. When daring, dashing Wyn Yale rescues her, she’s certain he’s just the man she needs.As an agent for the secret Falcon Club, Wyn knows his duty, but he’s not about to admit he’s a hero of any sort. He has a plan, too: steal a prized horse, murder an evil duke, avenge an innocent girl, and probably get hanged for it—in that order. Wyn can’t afford to be distracted by a pretty face, even one with delectable dimples and kissable lips. But how can a country miss and a hardened spy solve their problems when they can’t keep their hands off each other?“Katharine Ashe writes with eloquence and power.” —New York Times–bestselling author Lisa Kleypas
How a Woman Becomes a Lake
by Marjorie CelonaTHIS DAY NEVER HAPPENED. YOU HEAR ME?'Stunning .... page-turning and shocking' JO SPAIN'A highly original, beautifully crafted literary thriller' IRISH INDEPENDENTBy a frozen lake, ten-year-old Jesse waits for his father. It's New Year's Day, and his dad promised a fresh start. But Jesse messed it all up. And that's when he meets the woman.In the months ahead, Vera's disappearance sets off a chain of events in the small town of Whale Bay, spanning out like fracture lines into the lives of her husband, the detective trying to solve her case, and of Jesse and his family - a young boy cracking like ice under the weight of a terrible secret.'Excellent' DAILY MAIL'Celona has the courage to take her time and yet she manages to pull off twists worthy of Harlan Coben ... It's a rarity: a book confected with satisfying artfulness that feels like a slice of real life' DAILY TELEGRAPH
How a Woman Becomes a Lake
by Marjorie Celona* 'A surefire hit' Jo Spain * 'Masterful' Karen Thompson Walker * 'I could not put it down' Eliza Robertson *THIS DAY NEVER HAPPENED.YOU HEAR ME?By a frozen lake, ten-year-old Jesse waits for his father.It's New Year's Day, and his dad promised a fresh start.But Jesse messed it all up. And that's when he meets the woman.In the months ahead, the woman's sudden disappearance sets off a chain of events in Whale Bay, spanning out like fracture lines into the lives of her husband, the detective trying to solve her case, and of Jesse and his family - a young boy cracking like ice under the weight of a terrible secret. How A Woman Becomes a Lake is a chilling literary mystery that asks what happens when we are failed by the ones we love.
How it Happened
by Michael Koryta"And that is how it happened. Can we stop now?"Kimberly Crepeaux is no good, a notorious jailhouse snitch, teen mother, and heroin addict whose petty crimes are well-known to the rural Maine community where she lives. So when she confesses to her role in the brutal murders of Jackie Pelletier and Ian Kelly, the daughter of a well-known local family and her sweetheart, the locals have little reason to believe her story. Not Rob Barrett, the FBI investigator and interrogator specializing in telling a true confession from a falsehood. He's been circling Kimberly and her conspirators for months, waiting for the right avenue to the truth, and has finally found it. He knows, as strongly as he's known anything, that Kimberly's story-a grisly, harrowing story of a hit and run fueled by dope and cheap beer that becomes a brutal stabbing in cold blood-is how it happened. But one thing remains elusive: where are Jackie and Ian's bodies? After Barrett stakes his name and reputation on the truth of Kimberly's confession, only to have the bodies turn up 200 miles from where she said they'd be, shot in the back and covered in a third person's DNA, the case is quickly closed and Barrett forcibly reassigned. But something still nags at locals, and at a local newspaper reporter who's been chasing the story as doggedly as Barrett himself.Reminiscent of both the epic and adventurous early writing of Stephen King and the white-knuckled action of Lee Child (both of whom have anointed Koryta as the next great thriller writer), HOW IT HAPPENED is a frightening, tension-filled ride into the dark heart of rural America.
How the Dead Live (Factory Series #3)
by Derek RaymondCan you murder for love?In the third novel of Derek Raymond's acclaimed Factory Series, the nameless detective visits a decrepit country house to look into the case of a disappeared woman.It is, as always for the Detective Sergeant, a deeply unsettling investigation of love and damnation. The woman's husband seems to love her entirely. And yet he seems reluctant to find her, preferring to hide in a house that resembles the set of a horror film. Meanwhile other cops are getting in the way of the Sergeant and he's making new enemies on the force.With growing desperation and his trademark sense of enraged compassion, the Sergeant fights to uncover a murderer not by following analytical procedure, but by doing the most idfficult thing of all: understanding why crimes are committed.From the Trade Paperback edition.
How the Dead Speak: A Tony Hill And Carol Jordan Thriller (Tony Hill and Carol Jordan #11)
by Val McDermidDon't miss the electrifying new Karen Pirie thriller - STILL LIFE is out now___________________The eleventh book in the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, from No. 1 bestselling author Val McDermid.'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' Independent'No one can tell a story like she can' Daily Express'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review'We are all creatures of habit. Even murderers . . .'When human remains are discovered in the grounds of an old convent, it quickly becomes clear that someone has been using the site as their personal burial ground. But with the convent abandoned long ago and bodies dating back many years, could this be the work of more than one obsessive killer?The investigation throws up more questions as the evidence mounts but, after their last disastrous case, Tony Hill and Carol Jordan can only watch from afar. As they deal with the consequences, someone with a terrifying routine is biding their time - and both Tony and Carol find themselves closer to the edge than they have ever been before . . .Masterful and filled with suspense, this is the most electrifying, heart-racing thriller yet from number one bestseller and queen of crime Val McDermid.
How the Dead Speak: A Tony Hill And Carol Jordan Thriller (Tony Hill and Carol Jordan Mysteries #11)
by Val McDermidUnmarked graves are found on the grounds of an old orphanage in this &“riveting&” British crime thriller by an Edgar Award finalist (Publishers Weekly, starred review). With profiler Tony Hill behind bars and Carol Jordan no longer with the police, he&’s finding unexpected outlets for his talents in jail and she&’s joined forces with a group of lawyers and forensics experts looking into suspected miscarriages of justice. But they&’re doing it without each other; being in the same room at visiting hour is too painful to contemplate. Meanwhile, construction is suddenly halted on the redevelopment of an orphanage after dozens of skeletons are found buried at the site. Forensic examination reveals they date from between twenty and forty years ago, when the nuns were running their repressive regime. But then a different set of skeletons is discovered in a far corner—young men from as recent as ten years ago. When newly promoted DI Paula McIntyre discovers that one of the male skeletons is that of a killer who is supposedly alive and behind bars—and the subject of one of Carol&’s miscarriage investigations—it brings Tony and Carol irresistibly into each other&’s orbit once again in this masterfully plotted novel by &“the queen of psychological thrillers&” (Irish Independent).
How the Finch Stole Christmas (A Bird Lover's Mystery #6)
by J. R. RipleyIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the only things on Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms’s wish list are peace, quiet, and birding beside her beau. But in small town Ruby Lake, ‘tis the season to solve murders . . .Before Amy can get into the holiday spirit, she meets Franklin Finch—the cocky new owner of Christmas House Village, one of the most beloved attractions in town. Locals have been squawking over his decision to sack veteran staff members for cheaper help. And when Finch blows off a business deal with Amy, it confirms that he’s the biggest scrooge around. Still, she’s stunned the night his dead body is found swinging in the attic of a festive Victorian . . .Clashing against Chief Kennedy once again, Amy sets off to prove that Finch was murdered. But while her investigation quickly reveals a gaggle of disgruntled ex-Christmas House Village employees and unusual clues, Amy must move with caution as she focuses in on the seedy killer . . . Praise for J.R. Ripley’s Beignets, Brides and Bodies“Appealing . . . A clever, amusing cozy.” —Publishers Weekly“Ripley’s entertaining second series outing is a tasty option for foodie mystery fans.” —Library Journal
How the Finch Stole Christmas!: A Meg Langslow Mystery (Meg Langslow Mysteries #22)
by Donna AndrewsAs in her previous Christmas mysteries, Six Geese a-Slaying, Duck the Halls, and The Nightingale Before Christmas, Andrews continues to write “firmly in the grand tradition of Agatha Christie’s Christmas books” (Toronto Globe and Mail).New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews takes us home to Caerphilly for the holidays in her new hilarious Christmas mystery How the Finch Stole Christmas! Meg's husband has decided to escalate his one-man show of Dickens' A Christmas Carol into a full-scale production with a large cast including their sons Jamie and Josh as Tiny Tim and young Scrooge and Meg helping as stage manager. The show must go on, even if the famous—though slightly over-the-hill—actor who's come to town to play the starring role of Scrooge has brought a sleigh-load of baggage and enemies with him. And why is Caerphilly suddenly overrun with a surplus of beautiful caged finches? How the Finch Stole Christmas! is guaranteed to put the "ho ho hos" into the holidays of cozy lovers everywhere with its gut-bustingly funny mystery.
How the Heart Runs (Mystery and the Minister’s Wife Series, Book 18)
by Anne Marie RodgersThe woman, clearly shaken, pleads for Kate to stay by her side even as paramedics come to her aid, and they quickly forge a friendship. Despite Kate's growing affection for Emmaline, the woman seems evasive about the details of her sickness--and her past--and Kate begins to question what exactly has afflicted Emmaline. How can Kate properly minister to her if she doesn't know the whole truth? Who is this private, lonely woman? Meanwhile, a young mother in town is slowly recovering from major surgery and her family struggles to cope. As Kate cares for the family while also meeting the demands of her friendship with Emmaline, she begins to see there's much more to the mysterious woman than she ever imagined.
How the Hula Girl Sings: A Novel
by Joe Meno"A wonderful accomplishment. . . . The power is in the writing. Mr. Meno is a superb craftsman."-Hubert Selby Jr."The author moves the story along at a surprisingly fast and easy pace. The evil eyes of small-town America seem to peer from every page of Meno's claustrophobic noir, where the good and the bad are forced down the same violent paths."-Kirkus Reviews"Joe Meno writes with the energy, honesty, and emotional impact of the best punk rock."-Jim DeRogatis, pop music critic, Chicago Sun-Times"A likable winner that should bolster Meno's reputation." -Publishers Weekly"Joe Meno writes with the energy, honesty, and emotional impact of the best punk rock." -Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times"Fans of hard-boiled pulp fiction will particularly enjoy this novel." -BooklistA young ex-con in a small Illinois town. A lonely giant with a haunted past. A beautiful girl with a troubled heart. Strange and darkly magical, How the Hula Girl Sings begins exactly where most pulp fiction usually ends, with the vivid episode of the terrible crime itself. Three years later, Luce Lemay, out on parole for the awful tragedy, does his best to finds hope: in a new job at the local Gas-N-Go; in his companion and fellow ex-con, Junior Breen, who spells out puzzling messages to the unquiet ghosts of his past; and finally, in the arms of the lovely but reckless Charlene. How the Hula Girl Sings is a suspenseful exploration of a country bright with the far-off stars of forgiveness and dark with the still-looming shadow of the death penalty.
How the Murder Crumbles (A Cookie Shop Mystery #1)
by Debra SennefelderDebra Sennefelder whips up cookies and crime in a delicious new cozy series, perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Peg Cochran.Wingate, Connecticut, is famed as one of the top ten shopping destinations in the state, and home to Mallory Monroe&’s beloved Cookie Shop—a place where patrons are greeted with the heavenly aroma of freshly baked cookies that are as beautifully decorated as they are insanely delicious.But things aren&’t going so smoothly for Mallory. Her two employees are a disaster in the kitchen, she catches her boyfriend with another woman, and she&’s seen having a fierce argument with food blogger Beatrice Wright, who accuses Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe. Then Beatrice turns up dead in her kitchen, flour outlining her body and a bloodied marble rolling pin nearby. Mallory immediately becomes suspect number one, her sales plummet, and she desperately tries to clear her name—but that&’s not the only murder the killer is baking up.Debra Sennefelder has cooked up a perfect recipe—endearing characters, a picture-perfect evocation of small-town life, and a quaint sweets shop. And just when things get a little too comfy, there&’s always a murder or two for good measure.
How the Other Half Die: A tense thriller-romance, perfect for summer reading
by P.C. RoscoeDream vacation . . . or holiday from hell? A steamy and suspenseful thriller, full of family scandal and murder. Perfect for fans of The Perfect Couple and The White Lotus.Summer on ultra-exclusive Mokani Island has always been the highlight of Avery Finch's year. It's a chance to hang out in paradise with other super rich families. But this summer, Avery brings along her college roommate, Nora, and the vibe feels off from the start. Avery's parents are desperately trying to cover up scandalous secrets. Her ex, Hugo, can't get over their split. Her best friend, Sydney, is acting weird. Leo, who looks hot in his staff uniform, can't keep his eyes off her. And nobody likes Nora, who keeps sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Everyone on the island is hiding something - and some secrets are worth killing for.A tropical storm is brewing, and before long someone is going to end up dead ...