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Shamrocks And Murder (The Darling Deli #31)
by Patti BenningIt'll take more than luck... To solve a murder. It's almost springtime in Maple Creek, and amateur sleuth Moira Darling is thrilled when one of her friends asks her to cater a party on St. Patrick's Day. Life is busy, but good, until the owner of another restaurant shows up at her door covered in blood and leads her to a murder victim. Moira doesn't know who to trust as her friends' loyalties are questioned. She and David struggle to find a motive for the crime, but are Left grasping at straws. They'll need all of the lucky clovers they can get to solve the murder before an innocent person ends up behind bars.
Shan (China Maroc #2)
by Eric Van LustbaderA novel of suspense and mystical adventure in China from the New York Times–bestselling author of Jian and the Nicholas Linnear series. A martial arts expert and former agent of the top secret US government agency known as the Quarry, Jake Maroc has experienced great betrayal and tragedy. Caught up in a game of shifting loyalties, assassins, and power hungry nations, he knows there are few he can trust. Now part of Hong Kong&’s yuhn-hyun, the inner circle that will someday control all of Asia, Jake is poised to lead China to fulfill its ancient destiny. On a plateau in the heart of the Burmese highlands lies Shan, the holy site where men are tested and the deepest secrets of Eastern mysticism are revealed. It is here that Jake will face his greatest challenge as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. From a master known for his continuation of Robert Ludlum&’s legendary Jason Bourne thrillers, as well as numerous other bestsellers, Shan is &“a Far East Arthurian epic, laden with . . . dragons, mountains, fire . . . and a story line mined with mystical aphorisms&” (The Wall Street Journal).
Shanghai Redemption: Inspector Chen 9 (As heard on Radio 4 #9)
by Qiu XiaolongNow a BBC Radio 4 Drama Series.'The system has no place for a cop who puts justice above the interests of the Party. It's a miracle that I survived as long as I did.' For years, Chen Cao managed to balance the interests of the Communist Party and the demands made by his job. He was considered a rising star until, after one too many controversial cases that embarrassed powerful men, he found himself neutralised. Under the guise of a promotion, he's been stripped of his title and his influence, discredited and isolated. Soon it becomes clear that his enemies still aren't satisfied, and that someone is attempting to have him killed - quietly. Chen has been charged with the investigation into a 'Red Prince' - a high Party figure who embodies the ruthless ambition, greed and corruption that is on the rise in China. But with no power, few allies, and his own reputation and life on the line, he knows he is facing the most dangerous case of his career.
Shanghai Secrets (Rowland Sinclair WWII Mysteries #9)
by Sulari GentillA fascinating historical mystery by Sulari Gentill, author of #1 LibraryReads pick The Woman in the LibraryIn a city full of strangers, be careful whom you trust…Shanghai, 1935. Black sheep gentleman sleuth Rowland Sinclair arrives with his bohemian housemates from Sydney, Australia to explore a new city and take the name Sinclair international with a new class of negotiations. A novice to global commerce, Rowland is under strict instructions from his brother to keep a low profile…but that soon becomes next to impossible. A beautiful Russian taxi girl—who once claimed to be the Princess Anastasia and who danced in Rowly's arms the night before—is found slain in his suite.Out of sympathy for the murdered girl and to clear his name, Rowly and his companions embark upon their own investigation into the murder mystery. They soon discover there are many people who may have wanted Alexandra Romanovna dead. As they are drawn deeper into Shanghai society and its underworld, Rowly searches for answers in a strange city determined to ruin him.Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen, Kerry Greenwood, and Jacqueline Winspear and exploring the simmering underbelly of Shanghai just years before WWII, Shanghai Secrets is a historical mystery that brings alive an expatriate playground where East and West collide, the stakes are high, and fortunes—and lives—are easily lost.
Shanghai: A Novel
by Joseph KanonNamed a Best Mystery & Suspense Book of the Year by BookPage and CrimeReads &“A steamy, thrilling crime story&” (The Washington Post) from New York Times bestselling author Joseph Kanon set in pre-World War II Shanghai, where glamour and squalor exist side by side and murder is just the cost of doing business.After the violence of Kristallnacht (1938), European Jews, now desperate to emigrate, found the consular doors of the world closed to them. Only one port required no entry visa: Shanghai, a self-governing Western trading enclave in what was technically Chinese territory, a political anomaly that became an escape hatch—if you were lucky enough to afford a ticket on one of the great Lloyd liners sailing to the East and safety. Daniel Lohr was one of the lucky ones—lucky enough to have escaped the Gestapo when his colleagues in the resistance were caught, lucky to have an uncle waiting in Shanghai, lucky to find a casual shipboard flirtation that turns unexpectedly passionate. But even lucky refugees have to confront the reality of Shanghai. With all their assets and passports confiscated by the Nazis, they arrive penniless and stateless in a tumultuous, nearly lawless city notorious for vice. When you can sink fast, how far are you willing to go to survive? What lines do you cross? As Daniel tries to navigate his way through his uncle&’s world in Shanghai&’s fabled nightlife, he finds himself increasingly ensnared in a maze where politics and crime are two sides of the same shiny coin. The trick, his uncle tells him, is to stay one step ahead. But how do you stay ahead of murder? How do you outrun your own past? &“A Casablanca-worthy setting for World War II-era intrigue&” (Parade), Shanghai is the story of a political haven that becomes a minefield of conflicting loyalties—&“one of [Kanon&’s] most satisfying historical thrillers to date&” (The Wall Street Journal).
Shanghai: A gripping new wartime thriller from 'the most accomplished spy novelist working today' (Sunday Times)
by Joseph Kanon&‘Step forward Kanon, the American Robert Harris, a man who finds untold stories from our recent past and brings them alive&’ TIM SHIPMAN, SUNDAY TIMES Daniel Lohr, sensing that the Nazis are closing in on the Jews, leaves his dying father in Berlin and boards a ship to Shanghai. His passage is dependent upon him delivering a package to his shady uncle, his father&’s brother, upon arrival. Daniel has no idea what the package contains. On board is Leah, also fleeing the Nazis. She and Daniel conduct a passionate but brief shipboard affair, but are separated as soon as the ship docks in Shanghai. Will he ever see her again? Daniel is immediately plunged into his uncle&’s seductive and corrupt world, and becomes involved in the launch of a new nightclub, the biggest, best and most glitzy in town. When violence breaks out and lives are at risk, he finds himself drawn irrevocably into the terrifying underworld that is wartime Shanghai.Beautifully atmospheric and intricately plotted, this masterful thriller marks exciting new ground for an author hailed by the Sunday Times as &‘the most accomplished spy novelist working today&’.PRAISE FOR JOSEPH KANON: 'Kanon is fast approaching the complexity and relevance not just of le Carré and Greene but even of Orwell' New York Times 'Heart-poundingly suspenseful' Washington Post 'Joseph Kanon continues to demonstrate that he is up there with the very best . . . he is the master of the shadows of the era' The Times 'Thoroughly absorbing, a thoughtful and subtle evocation of a place and era' Sunday Telegraph &‘Arguably America&’s greatest writer of historical thrillers&’ Sunday Times 'Joseph Kanon owns this corner of the literary landscape' Lee Child 'Sensational! No one writes period fiction with the same style and suspense – not to mention substance – as Joseph Kanon' Scott Turow 'The perfect combination of intrigue and accurate history brought to life' Alan Furst
Shank
by Roderick AnscombeImprisoned for killing his HIV-infected wife in what he claims was an act of mercy, Dan Cody escapes with a prison nurse as a hostage and recounts his life story on a radio call-in show.
Shannon McKenna Bundle: Ultimate Weapon, Extreme Danger, Behind Closed Doors, Hot Night, & Return to Me (The Mccloud Brothers Series)
by Shannon MckennaShannon McKenna Bundle: Ultimate Weapon, Extreme Danger, Behind Closed Doors, Hot Night, & Return to MeUltimate Weapon"Dark characters and darker emotions. . .perfectly balanced by the heat they generate."--Romantic Times The First Cut Is The DeepestCovert operations are what Val Janos is all about. The man is mysterious and sinister, and lethally hot. Only Tamara can understand the strange intensity that drives him to win at all costs--and only she can match it.Val has one weak spot: Imre, the frail old man who befriended him when he was a scared, hungry kid abandoned on the streets of Budapest. But Daddy Novak knows about Imre, and Imre's head is on the block if Val doesn't deliver Tam up to Novak's tender mercies. . .A white-hot passion explodes when Tam and Val get too close. They both have too much to be afraid of, too much to hide. And now, for the first time, too much to lose. . .Praise for Shannon McKenna and Her Novels"Full of turbocharged sex scenes, this action-packed novel is sure to be a crowd pleaser."--Publishers Weekly on Edge Of Midnight "Highly creative. . .erotic sex and constant danger." --Romantic Times on Hot Night (4 ½-star review and a Top Pick)"Aims for the heart with scorching precision." --Publishers Weekly Extreme DangerOne Taste Of DangerSkinny-dipping in a stranger's pool--it's as close to reckless as good girl Becca Cattrell has ever been. But the house Becca picked for her midnight swim just changed owners. And her harmless escapade has landed her at the mercy of a brutal, terrifying organization who'll make sure she doesn't live to tell a soul.Can Cost YouThe most gorgeous woman Nick Ward has ever laid eyes on is also the worst luck he's ever had. Becca's presence at this top-secret meeting place won't just destroy the undercover operation he's been working on, it's liable to get them both killed. But to his surprise, Becca isn't running away--from the danger or from him. . .EverythingBecca knows she should be scared. Instead, she's discovering just how fearless she can be when innocent lives are at stake and white-hot desire is running through her veins. And she'll need every ounce of that courage as she and Nick face off against an enemy more powerful and more ruthless than she could ever imagine. . .Praise for Shannon McKenna and her novels. . ."Super-sexy suspense! Shannon McKenna does it again." --Cherry AdairBehind Closed DoorsSurveillance expert Seth Mackey knows everything about the women his millionaire boss Victor Lazar toys with--and tosses aside. But Lazar's latest plaything, Raine Cameron, is different. Beautiful. Vulnerable. And innocent. Just looking at her triggers a white-hot passion Seth can barely control as night after night, he watches her on a dozen different video screens. Raine is pure temptation, but Seth can't slip up: he's convinced Lazar had his half-brother murdered. His secret investigation--and his life--are on the line. But then he finds out that Raine may be Lazar's next victim. . .Raine knows she's being watched--but no one can see the secrets in her heart. She has reasons of her own to seek revenge on Victor Lazar, and she will, despite her fear--and the distracting presence of Seth Mackey. His fiercely masculine good looks and animal sensuality stir her most erotic fantasies when she's alone. . .and lead her to a bold plan. Offering her body to him, surrendering totally to his ruthless desire, might well push her beyond all emotional limits--and beyond fear itself.Hot NightIn The Crosshairs. . .Abby Maitland just landed a dazzling exhibit of priceless Spanish treasure for the museum--and someone would kill for it. Whether she likes it or not, Zan Duncan has to protect her. But Abby's mesmerized by Zan's untamed strength and very sexual vibe. From the long dark hair, the thick, hard muscles, and the black leather jacket right on down to the honed fighting skills and the tattoos, Zan is a master of subtle s...
Shannon Mckenna's McCloud Brothers Bundle: Fade To Midnight, Behind Closed Doors, Standing In The Shadows, Out Of Control, Edge Of Midnight, Extreme Danger And Ultimate Weapon (The Mccloud Brothers Series)
by Shannon MckennaSurveillance expert Seth Mackey knows everything about the women his millionaire boss Victor Lazar toys with--and tosses aside. But Lazar''s latest plaything, Raine Cameron, is different. Beautiful. Vulnerable. And innocent. Just looking at her triggers a white-hot passion Seth can barely control as night after night, he watches her on a dozen different video screens. Raine is pure temptation, but Seth can''t slip up: he''s convinced Lazar had his half-brother murdered. His secret investigation--and his life--are on the line. But then he finds out that Raine may be Lazar''s next victim. . . Ex-FBI agent Connor McCloud can never forget the day he was set up to die at the hands of trusted friend and fellow agent Ed Riggs. Hard justice and loyalty to his badge have cost Connor what he wants most--Ed''s shy, studious daughter Erin. He can never have her now, but her beauty still haunts and torments his every waking hour and his most fevered erotic dreams. But now that his old enemy Kurt Novak has returned, Connor is prepared to do anything to protect the vulnerable young woman from a killer who h One Taste Of Danger Skinny-dipping in a stranger''s pool--it''s as close to reckless as good girl Becca Cattrell has ever been. But the house Becca picked for her midnight swim just changed owners. And her harmless escapade has landed her at the mercy of a brutal, terrifying organization who''ll make sure she doesn''t live to tell a soul. Can Cost You The most gorgeous woman Nick Ward has ever laid eyes on is also the worst luck he''s ever had. Becca''s presence at this top-secret meeting place won''t just destroy the undercover operation he''s been working on, it''s liable to get them both killed. But to his surprise, Becca isn''t running away--from the danger or from him. . . as vowed a brutal payback. . . a killer with a predator''s lethal patience. In Behind Closed Doors and Standing in the Shadows, Shannon McKenna introduced the McCloud Brothers: intense, rugged, and super-sexy. Now, Davy McCloud is about to meet a woman he can''t trust--or live without. . . Disillusioned P. I. Davy McCloud has an ironclad rule: never follow blind impulse when it comes to women. But he breaks it the instant gorgeous Margo Vetter shows up to teach at the gym next door. The sexual hunger--and the instinctual protectiveness--that she awakens is much too strong to resist. On the very day an arsonist burns down Liv Endicott''s bookstore in a small town in the Washington mountains, she finds fate has another shock in store for her. Amid the smoke, rubble, and tears, Sean McCloud appears, calling her name. He''s every inch the man he always was--the man she kept on wanting. But wanting is not the same as trusting, and she doesn''t dare let him get too close. Yet a ruthless killer is gunning for Liv, and she''ll die unless they join forces to unearth a chilling truth--and come together in a blaze of searing passion. . . Enter the seductive world of Shannon McKenna, where passion and suspense are intertwined, and love is the riskiest venture of all. . . On The Edge Nobody''s home at the millionaire''s estate on remote Frakes Island. And nobody seems to be watching. Becca Cantrell dives in for an illicit midnight skinnydip--and gets hauled out by a towering, hard-muscled guy with burning dark eyes. He seems to be in charge. Good. The man is the embodiment of her most intense fantasies. And she''s up for risky thrills. . . Nick Ward can''t tell her that he''s spying on a vicious Russian crime boss. Becca could be his worst enemy: an assassin sent to kill him, a call girl sent to distract him, or the worst scenario of all--a clueless innocent. Anyway he looks at it, she''s trouble: beautiful, bare, dripping-wet trouble. The kind he can''t resist. Tamara''s a bad girl with a dangerous difference. Enter a terrifying, sexually charged world of thrilling suspense, where love is the riskiest game of all. . . The First Cut Is The Deepest Covert operations are what Val Janos is all about. The man is mysterio...
Shantaram
by Gregory David RobertsAustralian fugitive travels to Bombay, runs a medical clinic in a slum, and smuggles medicines to fighters in Afghanistan.
Shantaram
by Gregory David RobertsA novel of high adventure, great storytelling and moral purpose, based on an extraordinary true story of eight years in the Bombay underworld.'In the early 80s, Gregory David Roberts, an armed robber and heroin addict, escaped from an Australian prison to India, where he lived in a Bombay slum. There, he established a free health clinic and also joined the mafia, working as a money launderer, forger and street soldier. He found time to learn Hindi and Marathi, fall in love, and spend time being worked over in an Indian jail. Then, in case anyone thought he was slacking, he acted in Bollywood and fought with the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan . . . Amazingly, Roberts wrote Shantaram three times after prison guards trashed the first two versions. It's a profound tribute to his willpower . . . At once a high-kicking, eye-gouging adventure, a love saga and a savage yet tenderly lyrical fugitive vision.' Time Out
Shantaram
by Gregory RobertsShantaram is the story of Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who flees maximum security prison in Australia for the teeming streets of a city where he can disappear. Accompanied by his guide and faithful friend, Prabaker, the two enter Bombay's hidden society of beggars and gangsters, prostitutes and holy men, soldiers and actors, and Indians and exiles from other countries, who seek in this remarkable place what they cannot find elsewhere. Burning slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison agonies, criminal wars and Bollywood films, spiritual gurus and mujaheddin guerrillas – this huge novel has the world of human experience in its reach, and a passionate love for India at its heart. Based on the life of the author, it is by any measure the debut of an extraordinary voice in literature.
Shantaram: Now a major Apple TV series starring Charlie Hunnam
by Gregory David RobertsA novel of high adventure, great storytelling and moral purpose, based on an extraordinary true story of eight years in the Bombay underworld.
Shantaram: Now a major Apple TV+ series starring Charlie Hunnam
by Gregory David RobertsA novel of high adventure, great storytelling and moral purpose, based on an extraordinary true story of eight years in the Bombay underworld'A literary masterpiece... at once erudite and intimate, reflective and funny... it has the grit and pace of a thriller' Daily Telegraph'A publishing phenomenon' Sunday Times'A gigantic, jaw-dropping, grittily authentic saga' Daily Mail'In the early 80s, Gregory David Roberts, an armed robber and heroin addict, escaped from an Australian prison to India, where he lived in a Bombay slum. There, he established a free health clinic and also joined the mafia, working as a money launderer, forger and street soldier. He found time to learn Hindi and Marathi, fall in love, and spend time being worked over in an Indian jail. Then, in case anyone thought he was slacking, he acted in Bollywood and fought with the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan... Amazingly, Roberts wrote Shantaram three times after prison guards trashed the first two versions. It's a profound tribute to his willpower... At once a high-kicking, eye-gouging adventure, a love saga and a savage yet tenderly lyrical fugitive vision.' Time Out
Shards of Murder (A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery #2)
by Cheryl Hollon"A fresh and original new series!" --Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author When a glass-making competition turns deadly, glass shop owner Savannah Webb must search for a window into a criminal's mind...As the new proprietor of Webb's Glass Shop, Savannah has been appointed to fill her late father's shoes as a judge for the Spinnaker Arts Festival, held in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. With her innovative glass works, the clear winner is Megan Loyola, a student of Savannah's former mentor. But when Megan doesn't show up to accept her $25,000 award, rumors start flying. And when Savannah discovers the woman's dead body on festival grounds, the police immediately suspect her of murder. To keep from appearing before a judge herself, Savannah sorts through the broken pieces of glass scattered around the victim for clues as to who took this killer competition too far..."Cheryl Hollon clearly knows her glass craft, but better still, she also knows how to craft a good mystery." --Sheila Connolly, New York Times bestselling author
Share No Secrets
by Carlene ThompsonAfter her husband died four years ago, Adrienne Reynolds and her teenage daughter Skye moved to the quiet town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. But their sense of safety is brutally shattered when Adrienne discovers the body of her best friend, Julianna, in an abandoned hotel. La Belle Riviere has a dark history, but Julianna's death is by far the most gruesome.When the elderly hotel caretaker is burned to death in his cottage on the hotel grounds, Adrienne knows that her friend's killer will do whatever it takes to keep his identity hidden. Even if that means coming after her and Skye . . .
Share No Secrets
by Carlene ThompsonAlong the banks of the Ohio River, the small town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, has been the home of quiet pleasures and safety for Adrienne Reynolds and her fourteen-year-old daughter Skye since the death of Adrienne's husband four years ago. Their sense of safety is shattered, however, when Adrienne and Skye find the body of one of Adrienne's best friends, Julianna, in a once-elegant, now abandoned hotel named La Belle Riviere. La Belle has a long history of misfortunes, but Julianna's murder is the most gruesome.Evidence indicates Julianna that had a secret lover whom she met regularly in the hotel, and who could have been with her in her final moments. The only person who knows this lover's identity is the hotel caretaker, Claude Duncan. But Claude is quickly silenced-drugged and burned to death in his small cottage on the grounds of La Belle the night after Julianna's death. One by one, people close to Adrienne are brutally murdered, and it looks as though she and Skye are the next targets of a fierce killer with a shocking secret.
Shares
by A. W. Gray Barry PressThis crime fiction novel from the author of the Bino Phillips series follows former Dallas police officer Frank White as he matches wits with an attractive ex-convict, who tries to entrap him in a kidnapping plot through which she hopes to beat the system. Facing a counterfeiting scheme, double crosses, and murder, White must summon all his skills as a detective to hunt down the conspirators and bring them to justice.
Shares the Darkness
by J. R. LindermuthJan Kepler and Swatara Creek Police Office Flora Vastine were neighbors and schoolmates, but never close. When Jan, a school teacher, avid birder and niece of a fellow officer, goes missing and is found dead in a nearby tract of woods, Flora finds herself thrust into the middle of an examination of the other woman's life, as she searches for clues. As usual, the police have more than one crime to deal with. There's illegal timbering and a series of vehicle thefts taking up their time.And there are other issues to deal with. Flora is concerned there's some shakiness in her relationship with Cpl. Harry Minnich, who seems to be making a lot of secretive phone calls. Still, Flora maintains focus on the murder, and despite evidence implicating other suspects, the odd behavior of another former classmate rouses Flora's suspicion. Flora's probing opens personal wounds, as she observes the cost of obsessive love and tracks down the killer.
Shark (Orca Soundings)
by Jeff RossSeventeen-year-old Mark "Shark" Hewitt is good at playing pool. Really good. When he, his mom and sister move to a new town, Mark immediately seeks out the local pool hall. He loves to play, but even more than that, he just loves hanging out with the regulars. It reminds him of good times with his dad, who is no longer in the picture. When one of the patrons notices Mark's natural gift for the game, he forces Mark to use his talent for profit. Now Mark has to find a way to get out from under this sleazeball's thumb and protect his family. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Shark Beach
by Chris JamesonA dream getaway is about to turn into a living nightmare. . .Rick and Corinne Scully and their kids have visited Florida’s Captiva Island many times. This year, they’ve brought along their best friends, who can’t wait to finally experience the place the Scullys call Paradise on Earth.But this vacation is turning out to be a lot different than planned. The Scullys never expected the rowdy college spring-breakers renting the house next door, or a hurricane that would sweep through the Gulf Coast, or the century-old shipwreck that washed up on the shore. They never knew about the military research being done at a nearby marine institute—and the test subjects that escaped during the hurricane. In the aftermath of the storm, the Scullys and their friends will try to salvage what’s left of their time at the beach. They believe it’s safe to go back in the water. . .but they’re dead wrong.
Shark Detective!
by Jessica OlienA missing pet poster nudges him to grab for his fantasy, and Shark thoughtfully begins a quest to find the missing kitty of the poster, a search that begins with research in the library and developing inner strength through Tai Chi. Interviewing witnesses is difficult when the detective presents his formidable teeth, but luck is with him as a chance sighting of the missing kitty not only solves the case but promises a future career for Detective Shark.
Shark Fin Soup: A Novel (A Christian Roberts Thriller #2)
by Susan KlausChristian Roberts, a handsome, young Floridian, has retired from horse racing and sets off with his wife, Allie, to cruise the Caribbean on his new sloop. Tragedy strikes, ending the dream vacation, and Christian becomes the prime suspect in a murder.Shattered and guilt ridden, Christian believes his actions caused the death, and suicide lurks in his thoughts, a way to end his pain, but he can't act on the impulse, at least not yet. He must first honor her dying request: "Save the sharks. Do it for me."Christian embraces the impossible task of stopping the slaughter of sharks for shark fin soup. Under the alias of Captain Nemo, he becomes an eco-terrorist while a suspicious FBI agent dogs his every move. Will Christian be caught and imprisoned? Will the fin traders kill him? Could despair win out, causing him to take his own life? Or will Christian succeed and save the sharks?
Shark Island
by Chris JamesonA shark attack survivor believes she has already lived through her worst nightmare. She's dead wrong. . . Naomi Cardiff is not one to give up without a fight—and now, after learning about a series of shark attacks in Cape Cod, she’s joined a team of scientists to put a stop to the terror. The plan: to lure the sharks to a remote island far from the populated coastline. Meanwhile, a fierce Nor’Easter is underway. . .In the midst of the storm, an alarming number of Great Whites have come to slaughter the seals in a vicious feeding frenzy. When sharks ram and breach the hull, Naomi and her team must jump ship and swim desperately through a sea of circling fins and gaping jaws to the tiny island. But as the swells from the storm begin to swallow their rocky refuge, how will they manage to make it out alive?
Shark Island: A Mystery (Wiki Coffin Mysteries #2)
by Joan DruettWiki Coffin, linguist aboard the U.S. Exploring Expedition, the famous voyage meant to put America at the forefront of 19th century scientific discovery, brings many skills to his job. Whether he's translating native languages, assisting his good friend Captain George Rochester as unofficial first mate, or upholding the rule of law as deputy to the sheriff of the port of Virginia, Wiki is never far from the action aboard the seven ships that make up the expedition.But when they encounter a wrecked sealing ship and its desperate crew on the shoals of remote, uninhabited Shark Island, Wiki has little idea just how many of his skills are about to be put to the test. As soon as they board the wreck, a dead body turns up with a dagger firmly inserted between its shoulder blades. And it's not just any dead body: the victim of the brutal murder is none other than the enigmatic captain of the doomed voyage. What's more, Wiki's colleague and nemesis Lieutenant Forsythe is suspected of the crime.Knowing full well that Forsythe is capable of such violence, Wiki nonetheless believes him innocent and is duty-bound to prove it for the good of the expedition. Was the murder a case of mutinous sealers taking the law into their own hands? Did the secrets of several mysterious long-ago voyages finally come back to haunt a dishonest and dishonorable captain? Or is Shark Island home to something more sinister than a few lonely goats? Something isn't quite right about the crew of the wrecked ship, and Wiki will stop at nothing to find out just what it is that they're hiding, and, in the process, unmask a vicious killer.