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Ladies' Bane (The\miss Silver Mysteries Ser. #22)
by Patricia WentworthCLASSIC GOLDEN AGE MYSTERY PERFECT FOR FANS OF AGATHA CHRISTIEMiss Silver must unravel a tangled web of marriage, mystery and murder'Ranks with the best of the golden-age detectives' Daily MailNo one has seen Allegra Trent since she got married. Her husband swept her off her feet and out of London, to a faraway town called Bleake. She has stopped writing letters, and her family has begun to worry. Allegra's husband is a strange man. He is consumed with his dream of owning the ramshackle estate curiously known as Ladies' Bane, and he intends to use his new wife's money to do it. Why he wants to live there no one knows, but Josepha Bowden does not want his castle to become her goddaughter's prison. She asks the help of Maud Silver, the former governess who now makes a living using her reason to unravel the intricacies of murder. There has been no killing in Bleake, but if Miss Silver doesn't intervene quickly, there could be one soon.'A first-rate storyteller' Daily Telegraph'You can't go wrong with Miss Maud Silver' Observer'Miss Silver is marvellous' Daily Mail'Better than Miss Marple' Mary Stewart'A particular favourite' Andrew Taylor 'Miss Wentworth's plot is ingenious, her characterization acute, her solution satisfying' Scotsman'Miss Silver has her place in detective fiction as surely as Lord Peter Wimsey or Hercule Poirot' Manchester Evening News
Ladies' Bane: A Miss Silver Mystery (The Miss Silver Mysteries #22)
by Patricia WentworthGoverness-turned-sleuth Miss Silver unravels a tangled web of marriage, mystery, and murder in the English countryside No one has seen Allegra Trent since she got married. Her husband, Geoffrey, swept her off her feet and out of London to a faraway town called Bleake, consumed with the dream of owning a ramshackle medieval estate known as &“Ladies&’ Bane.&” Why he&’s so determined to live there no one knows, but Allegra postpones visits from family again and again, and then stops writing letters at all. Her family has begun to worry when suddenly her sister, Ione, finds herself not merely invited but positively urged to come. At first, Ione is puzzled, but upon her arrival she suspects that ominous forces are at work in the house. Then an unexpected death occurs, and her worst suspicions are confirmed. Miss Silver might appear harmless, but the former governess knows her way around a murder. As a private investigator, she&’s solved many cases among London&’s upper class and has earned &“her place in detective fiction as surely as Lord Peter Wimsey or Hercule Poirot&” (Manchester Evening News).
Ladies' Bane: Through The Wall, Death At The Deep End, The Watersplash, And Ladies' Bane (Miss Silver Series #22)
by Patricia WentworthCLASSIC GOLDEN AGE MYSTERY PERFECT FOR FANS OF AGATHA CHRISTIEMiss Silver must unravel a tangled web of marriage, mystery and murder'Ranks with the best of the golden-age detectives' Daily MailNo one has seen Allegra Trent since she got married. Her husband swept her off her feet and out of London, to a faraway town called Bleake. She has stopped writing letters, and her family has begun to worry. Allegra's husband is a strange man. He is consumed with his dream of owning the ramshackle estate curiously known as Ladies' Bane, and he intends to use his new wife's money to do it. Why he wants to live there no one knows, but Josepha Bowden does not want his castle to become her goddaughter's prison. She asks the help of Maud Silver, the former governess who now makes a living using her reason to unravel the intricacies of murder. There has been no killing in Bleake, but if Miss Silver doesn't intervene quickly, there could be one soon.'A first-rate storyteller' Daily Telegraph'You can't go wrong with Miss Maud Silver' Observer'Miss Silver is marvellous' Daily Mail'Better than Miss Marple' Mary Stewart'A particular favourite' Andrew Taylor 'Miss Wentworth's plot is ingenious, her characterization acute, her solution satisfying' Scotsman'Miss Silver has her place in detective fiction as surely as Lord Peter Wimsey or Hercule Poirot' Manchester Evening News
Ladies' Man (Prologue Books)
by Orrie HittThree girls and a man - that was the set-up. And it suited Nicky fine because he was the man! Of course, it took a bit of juggling. Alice for instance, just wanted love all the time. But Marie was after a little business with her pleasure. As for Lola - lovely Lola - she was pure trouble . . .But worth it, Nicky figured. That sweet-smelling, long-legged body of hers. And that $25,000! He didn’t see why he couldn’t have Lola, her money - and the other girls besides. Not only were they crazy about him, but they were such pretty little creatures. Always ready for a romp, a party - or a rendezvous!
Ladle to the Grave
by Connie ArcherBy the Spoonful is Snowflake, Vermont's most popular soup shop, but owner Lucky Jamieson doesn't have any time to enjoy her success--she's too busy trying to keep a lid on false accusations against her loved ones... It's almost May, and some of the local ladies have organized a pagan celebration in the woods to welcome spring. But the evening goes terribly wrong when one of the attendees winds up dead, apparently poisoned by an herbal concoction prepared by Lucky's grandfather, Jack.Lucky's sure her grandfather could not have made such a tragic mistake. But before she can clear him of suspicion, her best friend, Sophie, is diverted from planning her wedding to By the Spoonful chef Sage DuBois when she finds a dead man floating in the creek on her property. Now it's up to Lucky to get both Sophie and Jack out of hot water before a killer stirs up more trouble...Recipes included!
Ladrón de vidas
by Horacio ConvertiniUna trama inquietante que desafía los límites del miedo y que evoca los relatos más perturbadores de Edgar Allan Poe. En los márgenes de Villa Luppi, los Piel de Judas imponen su ley. Cami, Pablo y Fernando tienen apenas quince años y una pesada reputación que se ganaron patrullando las calles del barrio. Sin embargo, las reglas cambian cuando llegan a la feria del pueblo vecino siguiendo el rastro de la desaparición de los padres de Cami. Por sus confines merodea el fantástico doctor Valdemar, un experto en las ciencias de la hipnosis, que esconde un secreto aterrador y es capaz de torcer sus vidas para siempre.
Lady Afraid
by Lester DentDesperate to recover her son, a yacht designer turns to a hard-bitten captain for helpSarah Lineyack&’s in-laws hated her the moment she married their son. They hated her when she was pregnant, and they hated her even more after the car crash that killed their darling boy but spared Sarah and her child. While Sarah recovered, the Lineyacks stole her baby, claiming she was an unfit mother and tricking her into believing there was nothing she could do about it. But now Sarah has found a way to save her son: She&’s going to steal him back. Kidnapping her child will not be as easy for Sarah as it was for her in-laws. She has no money, no friends, and no influence, but she does have one person she can turn to. Captain Most is a man of iron, blessed with seafaring brilliance that will ensure that Sarah and her baby are together at last—whether at sea, on land, or in death.&“A hard-boiled, violent and authentically gritty tale in the best pulp style.&” —Publishers Weekly on Honey in Her Mouth &“One of the grandest purveyors of ripping, tearing, he-man action-fiction.&” —Richard A. Martinsen, editor of Sky Riders
Lady Audley's Secret
by Mary E. BraddonBarrister Robert Audley is suspicious. His friend George Talboys recently returned a rich man from the goldfields of colonial Australia but is shattered to find that the wife he left behind has died. Now George has vanished, leaving only a note saying that he's returned to Australia. Fearing foul play, Robert attempts an investigation into his friend's sudden disappearance but his every move is hampered by his uncle's lovely young bride, Lady Audley, whose placid, doll-like exterior conceals a secret double life of intrigue, madness, and murder. This 1862 "sensation novel," a nineteenth-century equivalent to today's thrillers, established Mary Elizabeth Braddon as the chief rival of the genre's master, Wilkie Collins. Inspired by a real-life murder, Braddon's romantic melodrama challenges Victorian notions of femininity and offers intriguing insights into the era's anxieties about social rank and identity. It's also a fast-paced, deftly plotted detective story that offers vivid glimpses of life among the English gentry during a bygone age.
Lady Audley's Secret (Modern Library Torchbearers)
by Mary Elizabeth BraddonGraceful and lovely Lady Audley may not be all that she seems in this Victorian-era equivalent of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl—with an introduction by Flynn Berry, the Edgar Award–winning author of Under the Harrow and A Double Life Lady Audley is young, beautiful, and universally adored. Everyone comments on her sweet nature and her perfect marriage to the wealthy and aristocratic Sir Michael Audley. Sir Michael’s nephew Robert is equally struck by his new aunt’s angelic ways—until he notices the strange, terrifying effect Lady Audley has on his friend George Talboys. When George mysteriously vanishes, Robert is convinced that Lady Audley is neither as innocent nor as helpless as she appears, and he sets out to discover what secrets lie in Lady Audley’s past. A bestseller when it was first published in 1862, Lady Audley’s Secret shocked readers because it dared to suggest that beneath a perfect surface a woman might be willing to lie, con, and even kill for the life she wanted.The Modern Library Torchbearers series features women who wrote on their own terms, with boldness, creativity, and a spirit of resistance.
Lady Be Good: Rules for the Reckless 3 (Rules for the Reckless #4)
by Meredith DuranMeredith Duran returns with another witty, humorous and smart romance in the third book of her Rules for the Reckless series. Fans of Julia Quinn, Jane Feather and Eloisa James will delight in Meredith's trademark headstrong heroine, cunning hero and tale of deep emotional intensity!Born to a family of notorious criminals, Lilah Marshall has long abandoned her past. A hostess at Everleigh's, London's premier auction house, she leads a virtuous life of art and culture. Lilah has almost transformed into the perfect lady - until an enigmatic viscount catches her in the act of one last, reluctant theft.Christian 'Kit' Stratton, Viscount Palmer, is society's most dashing war hero. But his charming façade masks a dark secret: he's haunted by a madman's vow to destroy anyone he loves. When Kit catches Lilah red-handed, he strikes a bargain she can't refuse. Their attraction is instant, but as their very lives hang in the balance, one tempting touch could be their undoing... Want more Rules for the Reckless? Don't miss That Scandalous Summer or Fool Me Twice.
Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man
by Violet MarshFamily secrets and scandalous mystery combine in this delightfully witty historical rom-com full of "sweet romance and twisty mystery"—perfect for fans of Evie Dunmore, Enola Holmes, and Netflix's Bridgerton! (Manda Collins, author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem). Lady Charlotte Lovett should have never run away upon discovering her betrothal. But when one has been promised to a man who, rumor has it, killed his previous two wives, one does what one must. The only thing that can get her out of this engagement is proving that Viscount Hawley is as sinister as she thinks he is. And the person who would know best is his very own brother. In many ways, Dr. Matthew Talbot is the exact opposite of his sibling—scholarly, shy, and shunned by society. But like his brother, he has secrets, and he doesn&’t need Charlotte exposing them in her quest to take down the viscount. It only seems prudent to help her while keeping her from poking her nose in all the wrong places. But as they put their hearts at risk to grow closer to each other, they are also getting closer to a dangerous confrontation with Hawley.
Lady Charlotte's Ruse
by Judith HarknessLady Charlotte is the happiest of young ladies as she awaits her beloved Gerald Kirkland, the dashing young man who is also, seemingly, devoted to her. Then, suddenly and without warning, Gerald disappears to far-off America in the company of the caddish Fitzwilliam Canterby, there to fall into the clutches of the lovely, dangerous Miss Chastity Brown. When Charlotte finds herself forced by her father into an engagement to the notorious Marquis of Beresford, who can promise her only a lifetime of cold courtesy and callous betrayal, she can bear it no longer.As her wedding day draws near, Charlotte realizes she is about to lose her one chance of happiness - unless she takes matters into her own hands, and even if it means behaving as no young lady should, and taking a gamble she cannot afford to lose.Fans of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer will delight in the reissue of this classic Regency Romance by Judith Harkness. With a light touch and keen eye for human foibles, Harkness not only paints the fashionable world of Regency England, with its beaus and belles, balls and routs, but takes the reader on a fascinating tour of post-Revolutionary New York. There, on the majestic banks of the Hudson River, we are given a privileged view of how aristocratic Americans lived only a few decades after declaring their independence from the British. Brimming with period detail, Lady Charlotte's Ruse will delight readers craving a good, old-fashioned romantic caper.Judith Harkness is the author of five classic Regency Romances: The Montague Scandal, The Admiral's Daughter, The Determined Bachelor, Contrary Cousins, and Lady Charlotte's Ruse, all originally published by Signet. She is the co-author of a screenplay, EMMA in New York, an updated version of the classic Jane Austen novel set in contemporary Manhattan. As J.H. Richardson, she writes non-fiction on subjects ranging from children with learning and developmental issues to profiles of notable creative artists. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Will Taft.Finally! A really well written historical romance that can hold it's own with the likes "Emma" and "Pride and Prejudice." Can't wait to read more...--Sally Quinn, New York
Lady Chevy: A Novel
by John WoodsIn a forgotten part of Middle America, a defiant act leaves one man dead and one teenage girl faced with a stark decision that could mean losing everything.Amy Wirkner, a high school senior in Barnesville, Ohio, is a loner, nicknamed &“Chevy&” for her size. She&’s smart, funny, and absolutely determined to escape from her small town in the Ohio Valley, a place poisoned by fracking. She does well in school despite the cruelty of her classmates and has her eyes on a college scholarship, so she can one day become a veterinarian and make something of herself.But even as she tries to keep her head down and stay out of trouble, trouble seems to find her. Believing toxic water has poisoned her family, Amy one night becomes involved in an act of ecoterrorism against a local fracking company that goes terribly wrong. Her oldest friend Paul, as angry and defiant as she is, has drawn her into this dark world—and now a man is dead as a result. But Amy can&’t—won&’t—let one night&’s mistake stand in the way of her plans.Touching on important topics as wide-ranging as ethnic hatred, police corruption, environmental decay, and gun violence, Lady Chevy is one girl&’s story that highlights the darkest parts of modern America with surprising results.
Lady Cop Makes Trouble (Kopp Sisters #2)
by Amy StewartIn 1915, lady cops were not expected to chase down fugitives on the streets of New York City. But Constance Kopp never did what anyone expected. <p><p> Constance and her sisters aren’t living the quiet life anymore. They’ve made headlines fighting back against a ruthless silk factory owner and his gang of thugs. After Sheriff Heath sees Constance in action, he appoints her as one of the nation’s first female deputies. But when a German-speaking con man threatens her position—and puts the honorable sheriff at risk for being thrown in his own jail—Constance will be forced to prove herself again. <p> Based on the Kopp sisters’ real-life adventures, Girl Waits with Gun introduced the sensational lives of Constance Kopp and her sisters to an army of enthusiastic readers. This second installment, also ripped from the headlines, takes us farther into the riveting story of a woman who defied expectations, forged her own path, and tackled crime along the way.
Lady Go Die!
by Max Allan Collins Mickey SpillaneWhen Hammer and Velda go on vacation to a Long Island beach town, Hammer becomes embroiled in the mystery of a missing well-known New York party girl who lives nearby. When the woman turns up naked - and dead - astride the statue of a horse in the town square, Hammer feels compelled to investigate. Mickey Spillane's lost 1940s Mike Hammer novel, written between I, the Jury and My Gun Is Quickand never before published! Completed by Spillane's friend and literary executor Max Allan Collins,Lady, Go Die is finally making its way into print almost 70 years after its inception!
Lady Gwendolen Investigates
by Anne AshleyElegant yet feisty, well traveled yet innocent to the world, beautiful yet modest-prying into others' lives isn't for Lady Gwendolen Warrender. Until murder and mayhem come to Marsden Wood!And every good sleuth needs a partner. Who better than dashing master of the manor Jocelyn Northbridge? With his touch of arrogance, intelligent eyes and brooding chivalry, she knows he'll make the perfect accomplice. But soon the renowned bachelor has more than solving murder in mind.It seems Gwendolen may have uncovered her very own marriage proposal!
Lady Hawk's Folly
by Amanda ScottWhen her husband returns from war, the Marchioness of Hawkstone battles for her independenceLess than two weeks after their wedding, Gavin Colporter, Marquess of Hawkstone, left his lovely wife Mollie at home and went off to war with Lord Wellington. Four years later, Mollie has become accustomed to running the estate and doing as she pleases. It&’s quite a shock when Hawkstone returns and immediately begins to assume his rights and responsibilities as lord of the manor. Can she learn to submit to his authority? What will he say when he hears certain scandalous rumors about her activities in his absence? And can these two near-strangers actually learn to live together as husband and wife?
Lady In Red: Mad Passions Book 2 (Mad Passions)
by Maire ClaremontA richly romantic and enthralling novel of beauty, passion and scandalous secrets from the acclaimed author of The Dark Lady. Perfect for fans of Grace Burrowes, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth Hoyt and Sarah MacLean.Lady Mary Darrel should be the envy of London. Instead, all society believes her dead. For Mary holds a secret so dangerous, her father chose to keep her locked away...and have a grave made for her near her mother's. Driven to the edge of desperation, Mary manages to escape the asylum, only to find that her fate yet again rests in the hands of a man...Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh, longs for some way to escape the torment of his father's crimes. In Mary's warrior spirit and haunted gaze - which so mirrors his own - he finally sees his path to redemption. He will stop at nothing to keep her safe, even as she seeks revenge. But will the passion they discover in each other be enough to save them from their demons?For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.
Lady Ingram's Room
by Jill TattersallAt first it seemed a lovely adventure--to play the role of governess in a large and aristocratic mansion in the wild reaches of northern England. But that was before Arabel entered the ominous Ingledale Manor and before she met its enigmatic master, the widower Sir Luke. Arabel Murray, spirited and beautiful, was resolved to remain undaunted. After all, this masquerade was her only alternative to a drab existence under the thumb of a distant uncle. And so, when on a coach ride she met the devilish Miss Johnson, complaining about her new appointment as governess, Arabel jumped at the opportunity to exchange places. And yet, despite her determination to appear older and braver than her nineteen years and despite her intentions to allay the fears of her intimidated six-year- old charge, Arabel is thwarted at every turn. Not only does the handsome and austere Sir Luke seem to suspect Arabel's very authenticity, but he makes it most difficult for her to help his child and specifically restricts her from wandering freely throughout Ingledale, as if its many rooms held secrets. Indeed, it is in one of these rooms that Arabel is to learn of the true fate of Sir Luke's wife, and it is with this knowledge that she must face the consequences before her.
Lady Jail (The Émile Cinq-Mars Thrillers)
by John FarrowWelcome to Lady Jail: a nest of killers, and not all of them are getting out alive . . . Quebec, 1994. Fraud artist Abigail, the newest arrival at the Joliette Institution for Women, is struggling to adjust to the prison’s communal quarters. Her fellow inmates only give out the bare bones of their crimes, and it’s quite the roll call. Doi took a hatchet to her own daughter. Malka poisoned her husband. And that’s just for starters. Abigail keeps her head down, does her best to make friends with the band of killers, tries to survive. But on an ordinary, quiet day, the extraordinary happens: a prisoner is found face-down in a toilet stall, a strangulation wire around her neck. Trouble, Abigail realizes, is ahead. Sergeant-Detective Émile Cinq-Mars is summoned from Montreal to investigate. He put Abigail away – and now she’s the prime suspect. But other, darker, forces are interested in Abigail, and Émile interferes at his own peril. For as he’ll soon discover, in Lady Jail, nothing is as it seems . . .
Lady Joker, Volume 1
by Kaoru TakamuraOne of Japan&’s great modern masters, Kaoru Takamura, makes her English-language debut with this two-volume publication of her magnum opus. Tokyo, 1995. Five men meet at the racetrack every Sunday to bet on horses. They have little in common except a deep disaffection with their lives, but together they represent the social struggles and griefs of post-War Japan: a poorly socialized genius stuck working as a welder; a demoted detective with a chip on his shoulder; a Zainichi Korean banker sick of being ostracized for his race; a struggling single dad of a teenage girl with Down syndrome. The fifth man bringing them all together is an elderly drugstore owner grieving his grandson, who has died suspiciously after the revelation of a family connection with the segregated buraku community, historically subjected to severe discrimination. Intent on revenge against a society that values corporate behemoths more than human life, the five conspirators decide to carry out a heist: kidnap the CEO of Japan&’s largest beer conglomerate and extract blood money from the company&’s corrupt financiers. Inspired by the unsolved true-crime kidnapping case perpetrated by &“the Monster with 21 Faces,&” Lady Joker has become a cultural touchstone since its 1997 publication, acknowledged as the magnum opus by one of Japan&’s literary masters, twice adapted for film and TV and often taught in high school and college classrooms.
Lady Joker, Volume 2
by Kaoru Takamura&“A novel that portrays with devastating immensity how those on the dark fringes of society can be consumed by the darkness of their own hearts.&”—Yoko Ogawa, author of The Memory PoliceThis second half of Lady Joker, by Kaoru Takamura, the Grand Dame of Japanese crime fiction, concludes the breathtaking saga introduced in Volume I. Inspired by the real-life Glico-Morinaga kidnapping, an unsolved case that terrorized Japan for two years, Lady Joker reimagines the circumstances of this watershed episode in modern Japanese history and brings into riveting focus the lives and motivations of the victims, the perpetrators, the heroes and the villains. As the shady networks linking corporations to syndicates are brought to light, the stakes rise, and some of the professionals we have watched try to fight their way through this crisis will lose everything—some even their lives. Will the culprits ever be brought to justice? More importantly—what is justice?
Lady Joker: The Million Copy Bestselling 'Masterpiece of Japanese Crime Fiction'
by Kaoru Takamura*THE JAPANESE CRIME CLASSIC - ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD*'One of the great masterpieces of Japanese crime fiction and one of the must-read books of this or any year' David PeaceTokyo, 1995. Five men meet at the racetrack every Sunday to bet on horses. They have little in common except a deep disaffection with their lives, but together they represent the social struggles and griefs of post-War Japan: a poorly socialized genius stuck working as a welder; a demoted detective with a chip on his shoulder; a Zainichi Korean banker sick of being ostracized for his ethnicity; a struggling single dad of a teenage girl with Down syndrome. The fifth man bringing them all together is an elderly drugstore owner grieving his grandson, who has died suspiciously.Intent on revenge against a society that values corporate behemoths more than human life, the five conspirators decide to carry out a heist: kidnap the CEO of Japan's largest beer conglomerate and extract blood money from the company's corrupt financiers.Inspired by the unsolved true-crime kidnapping case perpetrated by "the Monster with 21 Faces," Lady Joker has become a cultural touchstone since its 1997 publication, acknowledged as the magnum opus by one of Japan's literary masters, twice adapted for film and TV and often taught in high school and college classrooms.'A novel that portrays with devastating immensity how those on the dark fringes of society can be consumed by the darkness of their own hearts' Yoko Ogawa, author of The Memory Police'Takamura's prismatic heist novel offers a broad indictment of capitalist society' New York Times'Lady Joker is a work you get immersed in, like a sprawling 19th century novel or a TV series like The Wire' NPR(P) 2021 Recorded Books
Lady Joker: The Million Copy Bestselling 'Masterpiece of Japanese Crime Fiction'
by Kaoru Takamura*THE JAPANESE CRIME CLASSIC - ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD*'One of the great masterpieces of Japanese crime fiction and one of the must-read books of this or any year' David PeaceTokyo, 1995. Five men meet at the racetrack every Sunday to bet on horses. They have little in common except a deep disaffection with their lives, but together they represent the social struggles and griefs of post-War Japan: a poorly socialized genius stuck working as a welder; a demoted detective with a chip on his shoulder; a Zainichi Korean banker sick of being ostracized for his ethnicity; a struggling single dad of a teenage girl with Down's syndrome. The fifth man bringing them all together is an elderly drugstore owner grieving his grandson, who has died in suspicious circumstances.Intent on revenge against a society that values corporate behemoths more than human life, the five conspirators decide to carry out a heist: kidnap the CEO of Japan's largest beer conglomerate and extract blood money from the company's corrupt financiers.Inspired by the unsolved true-crime kidnapping case perpetrated by "the Monster with 21 Faces," Lady Joker has become a cultural touchstone since its 1997 publication, acknowledged as the magnum opus by one of Japan's literary masters, twice adapted for film and TV and often taught in high school and college classrooms.'A novel that portrays with devastating immensity how those on the dark fringes of society can be consumed by the darkness of their own hearts' Yoko Ogawa, author of The Memory Police'Takamura's prismatic heist novel offers a broad indictment of capitalist society' New York Times'Lady Joker is a work you get immersed in, like a sprawling 19th century novel or a TV series like The Wire' NPR
Lady Joker: Volume 2
by Kaoru TakamuraOne of Japan's great modern writers, this second half of Lady Joker brings Kaoru Takamura's breathtaking masterpiece to a gripping conclusion.Five men who meet at a Tokyo racetrack every week carry out a heist. They have kidnapped the CEO of Japan's largest beer company to extract blood money from the company's corrupt financiers.Known as Lady Joker, the men make their first attack on the beer company when their demands are not met. As the attacks escalate, the shady networks linking corporations to syndicates are exposed, the stakes rise, and bring into riveting focus the lives and motivations of the victims, the perpetrators, the heroes and the villains. Some will lose everything, even their lives.Inspired by the real-life Glico-Morinaga kidnapping, an unsolved case that terrorized Japan for two years, Lady Joker reimagines this watershed episode in modern Japanese history.'One of the great masterpieces of Japanese crime fiction' David Peace, author of Tokyo Year Zero'A novel that portrays with devastating immensity how those on the dark fringes of society can be consumed by the darkness of their own hearts' Yoko Ogawa, author of The Memory Police(P) 2022 Recorded Books