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The Stopping Place
by Helen SlavinA librarian becomes obsessed with a coworker’s secrets in this compelling psychological thriller from “a highly original talent” (Beryl Bainbridge). Ruby Robinson drifts through life stacking shelves at the library—quiet, solitary, invisible. Invisibility makes it easier to notice things, though, and Ruby has always valued the importance of knowledge. She watches the world go by from her place amongst the bookshelves. The bored students, the domestic dramas, and her colleague Martha—vivacious, wild, enchanting. Drawn in by Martha’s light, Ruby finds herself watching, observing . . . which is how she spots the cracks in Martha’s shiny new relationship before anyone else. An unsettling feeling. A flinch. Forced to intervene, Ruby is drawn out of the shadows. But all actions have consequences, particularly for someone with a past she’d rather forget . . . The Stopping Place is a smart, suspenseful tale by an author who “reels you in, teases you and rewards you” (The Scotsman).
The Store
by Bentley LittleIn a small Arizona town, a man counts his blessings: a loving wife, two teenage daughters, and a job that allows him to work at home. Then "The Store" announces plansto open a local outlet, which will surely finish off the small downtown shops. His concerns grow when "The Store's"builders ignore all the town's zoning laws during its construction.
The Store
by James Patterson<P>THE STORE IS WATCHING YOU. <P>Jacob and Megan Brandeis have gotten jobs with the mega-successful, ultra-secretive Store. Seems perfect. Seems safe. But their lives are about to become anything but perfect, anything but safe. <P>ALWAYS WATCHING. <P>Especially since Jacob and Megan have a dark secret of their own. They're writing a book that will expose the Store--a forbidden book, a dangerous book. <P>ALWAYS. <P>And if the Store finds out, there's only one thing Jacob, Megan and their kids can do--run for their bloody lives. Which is probably impossible, because--THE STORE IS ALWAYS WATCHING. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
The Stories You Tell: A Mystery (Roxane Weary #3)
by Kristen Lepionka“Brimming with surprises and a mystery that’s both stealthy and menacing,” a thriller featuring a female PI trying to exonerate her brother of a crime (Alex Segura, Anthony Award–winning author of Dangerous Ends and Blackout).A late-night phone call is never good news, especially when you’re Roxane Weary. This one is from her brother Andrew, whose evening was interrupted by an urgent visit from Addison, a hip young DJ and one-time fling, who turns up at his apartment scared and begging to use his phone. She leaves as quickly as she appeared, but now Andrew is worried—especially when Addison never makes it home and her friends and family demand to know where she is. As the police begin to suspect that something may have happened to her, and that Andrew is involved, Roxane tracks Addison’s digital footprint as she goes deeper and deeper into the events preceding her disappearance. Meanwhile, a cop is found dead on the opposite side of town, leading to a swirl of questions surrounding a dance club whose staff—which includes Addison—has suddenly gone AWOL. As Roxane struggles to distinguish the truth from the stories people tell about themselves online, it’s clear that the mystery of Addison’s whereabouts is just the beginning.“Building to a chilling and surprising conclusion, the third book in Lepionka’s Shamus-Award–winning series is both intricately plotted and character-driven, with a complicated protagonist.” —Library Journal“Lepionka’s keen eye for integrating national news and technology into her developing characters’ plotlines produces a story that’s timely in more ways than one.” —Kirkus Reviews“Entertaining. Fans of plucky female detectives will look forward to Roxane’s further adventures.” —Publishers Weekly
The Stories of Ray Bradbury: Space Stories: Jonah Of The Jove-run, Zero Hour, Rocket Summer, Lorelei Of The Red Mist (Everyman's Library Contemporary Classics Ser.)
by Ray BradburyAn extensive collection of imaginative short stories by a National Medal of the Arts–winning author of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and suspense.Fly to Mars and explore the mysteries of the red planet. Journey through time to futures ruled by cold computers and hear the deafening roar of dinosaurs in the past. Sing the body electric and look into the mechanical eyes of androids that want to replace human life as we know it. Visit idyllic landscapes and nostalgic towns that hide sinister secrets. Available in one massive collection for the first time digitally, experience the wondrous mind of Ray Bradbury through one hundred of his all-time greatest tales. These are the stories that ask &“What if?,&” the stories that make the mind turn, and those that are, in the true spirit of Ray Bradbury, best read under the safety of a blanket. Featuring works from Dark Carnival (1947), The Martian Chronicles (1950), The Illustrated Man (1951), The Golden Apples of the Sun (1953), Fahrenheit 451 (1953), The October Country (1955), Dandelion Wine (1957), A Medicine for Melancholy (1959), R Is for Rocket (1962), The Machineries of Joy (1964), S Is for Space (1966), I Sing the Body Electric! (1969), and Long After Midnight (1976)—as well as six additional stories available only in this collection—this is the best of Bradbury over numerous decades, thoughtfully compiled from the seminal short story collections that marked his illustrious career.
The Storm (Numa Files #10)
by Clive Cussler Graham BrownIn the middle of the Indian Ocean, a NUMA research vessel is taking water samples when a crew member spots a patch of black oil ahead of them. But the substance is not oil.<P> Like a horde of army ants, a swarm of black particles from the spoiled sea suddenly attacks, killing everyone aboard while the ship goes up in flames.<P> A few hours later, Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala are on their way to the Indian Ocean. What they find on the smoldering hulk of the ship will eventually lead them to discover the most audacious scheme they have ever encountered: a plan to permanently alter the weather on a global scale. The insidious plot will kill millions...and it has already begun.
The Storm King: A Novel
by Brendan Duffy“Deeply atmospheric, breathlessly suspenseful, with a ticking clock like no other—a terrific thriller.”—Lee Child Haunted by dark secrets and an unsolved mystery, a young doctor returns to his isolated Adirondacks hometown in a tense, gripping novel in the vein of Michael Koryta and Harlan Coben. Burying the past only gives it strength—and fury. Nate McHale has assembled the kind of life most people would envy. After a tumultuous youth marked by his inexplicable survival of a devastating tragedy, Nate left his Adirondack hometown of Greystone Lake and never looked back. Fourteen years later, he’s become a respected New York City surgeon, devoted husband, and loving father. Then a body is discovered deep in the forests that surround Greystone Lake. This disturbing news finally draws Nate home. While navigating a tense landscape of secrets and suspicion, resentments and guilt, Nate reconnects with estranged friends and old enemies, and encounters strangers who seem to know impossible things about him. Haunting every moment is the Lake’s sinister history and the memory of wild, beautiful Lucy Bennett, with whom Nate is forever linked by shattering loss and youthful passion. As a massive hurricane bears down on the Northeast, the air becomes electric, the clouds grow dark, and escalating acts of violence echo events from Nate’s own past. Without a doubt, a reckoning is coming—one that will lay bare the lies that lifelong friends have told themselves and unleash a vengeance that may consume them all. Advance praise for The Storm King“Duffy follows his debut, House of Echoes, with a stunning literary thriller, which combines accomplished wordsmithing with startling twists.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “An elaborately layered, creepily atmospheric story that blends haunting legends and the psychological terror of a murderer on the hunt. A winning thriller sure to draw readers of Jennifer McMahon, Ruth Ware, and Michael Koryta.”—Booklist (starred review)
The Storm Murders: A Thriller (The Storm Murders Trilogy #1)
by John FarrowIn this “smart . . . enthralling” mystery, a Montreal detective investigates a puzzling murder when a married couple is found dead in their remote rural home (Publishers Weekly, starred review).City of Ice, John Farrow’s first book in his acclaimed Emile Cinq-Mars series, which has been hailed by Booklist as “one of the best series in crime fiction,” has been published in over seventeen countries. Now with The Storm Murders, the series continues.On the day after a massive blizzard, two policemen are called to an isolated farm house sitting all by itself in the middle of a pristine snow-blanketed field. Inside the lonely abode are two dead people. But there are no tracks in the snow leading either to the house or away. What happened here? Is this a murder/suicide case? Or will it turn into something much more sinister?“One of the best mysteries from Canada in some time, this fourth book in a strong series is equally good at capturing the atmosphere of New Orleans and the distinctive qualities of Montreal.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review“Farrow has written an excellent thriller in which characters, plot, and setting score a triple for suspense.” —Library Journal, starred review“Farrow brings a literary fiction writer’s sensitivity to nuance and feel for landscape to this fine, character-rich thriller with a bang-up finish. Add Cinq-Mars to your shortlist of favorite retired Montreal detectives, including, of course, Penny’s Armand Gamache.” —Booklist
The Storm Without (Doug Michie, #1)
by Tony Black<p> <em>"This is an elegiac noir for the memory of a place, delivered in a prose as bleakly beautiful as the setting."</em> <strong><em>--The Guardian</em></strong></p> <p> Still recovering from the harrowing case that ended his police career, Doug Michie returns to his boyhood home of Ayr on Scotland’s wind-scarred west coast. He hopes to rebuild his shattered life, get over the recent failure of his marriage and shed his demons, but the years have changed the birthplace of the poet Robert Burns.</p> <p> When Doug meets an old school-days flame, Lyn, he feels his past may offer the salvation of a future. But Lyn’s son has been accused of murder and she begs Doug to find the truth.</p> <p> Soon Doug is tangled in a complicated crimeweb of corrupt politicians, frightened journalists and a police force in cahoots with criminals. As he uncovers illicit smuggling activities at the town’s port and falls firmly on the wrong side of eastern European ganglords, the problems he left behind in Ulster are now the least of his worries. Only Burns’ philosophical musings offer Doug some shelter as he wanders the streets of Auld Ayr battling The Storm Without.</p> <p> <em>The Storm Without </em>is a 45,000-word novella, first serialised in the Ayrshire Post.</p> <p> "This is the Great Scottish Novel, got it all and just a wee shade more ... Classic."<br /> —Ken Bruen, author of <em>Headstone</em></p> <p> "highly entertaining, fast paced and tightly, almost sparingly, written"<br /> —Undiscovered Scotland</p> <p> "a thrilling piece of crime writing"<br /> —Scottish Field</p> <p> "cracking stuff"<br /> —You Would Say That, Wouldn't You?</p> <p> Praise for Tony Black</p> <p> "Black's dialogue and atmosphere crackle with authenticity."<br /> —The Times</p> <p> "If you're a fan of Rankin, Mina or Welsh this is most certainly one for you."<br /> —The Scotsman</p> <p> “Tony Black’s first novel hits the ground running, combining a sympathetic ear for the surreal dialogue of the dispossessed with a portrait of a city painted in the blackest humour.”<br /> —The Guardian</p> <p> “The enigmatic Dury continues to be the punk rocker of the Scottish crime scene – anarchic, rebellious and never afraid to shove his Doc Martens where they’re not wanted.”<br /> —Daily Record</p> <p> “Tony Black is my favourite British crime writer and Gus Dury the genre’s most interesting protagonist. Like his previous books, <em>Loss</em> has the power, style and street swagger that makes most of his contemporaries a little bland by comparison.”<br /> —Irvine Welsh</p> <p> <strong>About the author:</strong></p> <p> Tony Black is Irvine Welsh’s favourite British crime writer. The author of six critically acclaimed crime novels, his works include the Gus Dury PI series: <em>Paying For It</em>, <em>Gutted, Loss</em> and <em>Long Time Dead</em>. His police inspector series, featuring DI Rob Brennan, includes the titles <em>Truth Lies Bleeding</em> and <em>Murder Mile</em>. A heist novella, <em>R.I.P Robbie Silva</em> is also available from Blasted Heath.</p> <p> Before turning to the novel, Black was an award-winning national newspaper journalist covering subjects as diverse as crime and nightclub reviews.</p> <p> </p>
The Story Collector: A New York Public Library Book (The Story Collector #1)
by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb"For every book lover who fantasized about getting locked in the library overnight,The Story Collectoris a dream come true!"—New York Times-bestselling author Alan GratzIn the tradition of E. L. Konisburg, this middle-grade mystery adventure is inspired by the real life of Viviani Joffre Fedeler, born and raised in the New York Public Library. The Story Collector by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb is a middle-grade historical fiction inspired by the real life of Viviani Fedeler. Eleven-year-old Viviani Fedeler has spent her whole life in the New York Public Library. She knows every room by heart, except the ones her father keeps locked. When Viviani becomes convinced that the library is haunted, new girl Merit Mubarak makes fun of her. So Viviani decides to play a harmless little prank, roping her older brothers and best friend Eva to help out.But what begins as a joke quickly gets out of hand, and soon Viviani and her friends have to solve two big mysteries: Is the Library truly haunted? And what happened to the expensive new stamp collection? It's up to Viviani, Eva, and Merit (reluctantly) to find out.
The Story Keeper (A Carolina Heirlooms Novel #2)
by Lisa WingateAccording to Gee Gee Rosell, "Moving to New York City doesn't break the strong ties to her Appalachian heritage the way Jen Gibbs hopes it will. She finds her ancestors beckoning her when an anonymous manuscript mysteriously appears on her desk. The Story Keeper mixes soul-deep darkness with the possibility of redemption..."
The Story Of Anna P, As Told By Herself
by Penny BusettoThis sparse, disturbing novel reflects the past, present, and future of a woman, Anna P, who lives on an island off the coast of Italy but can no longer remember how she got there. <P><P>She comes from South Africa but has almost no memories of the place or people there. The only person she has any relationship with is a sex worker whom she pays by the hour. She has abusive encounters with unknown men, and it is not clear whether she occasionally kills these men or not. <P><P>It is only when she begins to connect emotionally with a young boy in her accidental care that she finds some value in herself, some place which she will not allow to be abused, and her life gradually changes. <P><P>This meticulously crafted debut asks a number of difficult questions about the nature of memory: Who are we if we lose our memories? What does it mean to have no identity? And if we have no identity, no sense of ourselves, how can we make any ethical choices? <P>The answers may not comfort the reader, but The Story of Anna P, as Told by Herself grounds such existential ponderings in a rich imaginative landscape that will linger with the reader long after the last page is read.
The Story Of My Assassins
by Tarun J. TejpalThe Story of My Assassins tells the story of a journalist who learns that the police have captured five hitmen on their way to kill him. Landing like a bombshell on his comfortable life, just as he's started a steamy affair with a brilliant woman, the news prompts him to launch an urgent investigation into the lives of his aspiring murderers - a ragtag group of street thugs and village waifs - and their mastermind. Who wanted him dead, and why? But the investigation forces him to re-examine his own life, too - to confront his own notion of himself, his job, and his treatment of the women in his life, as well as his own complex feelings about the country that crafted his would-be killers. Part thriller and part erotic romance, full of dark humor and knife-edged suspense, The Story of My Assassins is a piercing literary novel that takes us from the lavish, hedonistic palaces of India's elite to its seediest slums. It is a novel of corruption, passion, power, and ambition; of extreme poverty and obscene wealth. It is an awesome adventure into the heart of today's India.
The Story Pirates Present: Digging Up Danger (Story Pirates #2)
by Jacqueline West Hatem Aly Story PiratesGhosts? A mysterious plant? Something even more sinister? This spooky mystery (inspired by a real kid's idea) doubles as a creative writing guide for young writers! Eliza loves hunting ghosts — too bad she's spending the summer helping her scientist mother study weird plants instead. But when a mysterious plant goes missing, things go from strange to downright spooky. Eliza is convinced something—or someone—is haunting the plant shop. Is she digging into dangerous ground? Like Stuck in the Stone Age, the first in the Story Pirates Present series, this spine-tingling mystery doubles as an introduction to the basics of creative writing. With the help of Story Pirate Captain Vincent Rolo and the Mystery Creation Zone, kids can use this kid-generated story as inspiration to create their OWN great mysteries!“What a fantastically fun way to learn about writing a story!” — Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author
The Story Teller
by Margaret CoelFather O'Malley and Arapaho attorney Vicky Holden return! When a sacred tribal artifact disappears from a museum, it's more than Arapaho history that is lost--it's an Arapaho student's life...
The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books
by Martin Edwards&“This is an exemplary reference book sure to lead readers to gems of mystery and detective fiction.&” —Publishers Weekly, starred review This book tells the story of crime fiction published during the first half of the twentieth century. The diversity of this much-loved genre is breathtaking, and so much greater than many critics have suggested. To illustrate this, the leading expert on classic crime discusses one hundred books ranging from The Hound of the Baskervilles to Strangers on a Train which highlight the entertaining plots, the literary achievements, and the social significance of vintage crime fiction. This book serves as a companion to the acclaimed British Library Crime Classics series but it tells a very diverse story. It presents the development of crime fiction—from Sherlock Holmes to the end of the golden age—in an accessible, informative and engaging style. Readers who enjoy classic crime will make fascinating discoveries and learn about forgotten gems as well as bestselling authors. Even the most widely read connoisseurs will find books (and trivia) with which they are unfamiliar—as well as unexpected choices to debate. Classic crime is a richly varied and deeply pleasurable genre that is enjoying a world-wide renaissance as dozens of neglected novels and stories are resurrected for modern readers to enjoy. The overriding aim of this book is to provide a launch point that enables readers to embark on their own voyages of discovery.
The Story of Grenville King (The tour #3)
by Jean GraingerHandsome, charming Conor O’Shea has had enough of driving and guiding tours of Ireland. So when an opportunity to renovate and run the magnificent but rundown Castle Dysert as a five-star resort presents itself, he grabs it with both hands. But problems arise almost immediately when his business partner appears to have more on her agenda than just business. To add to that, his darling wife seems discontented as a stay at home mom, and his in-laws have moved in. With his family’s future now entangled in a stunningly beautiful old castle on the coast of Clare, Conor undertakes a mammoth project, and in so doing, he uncovers the troubled past of this ancient stronghold. The mystery of the family who lived, loved, and lost their lives within the walls of the castle are reflected in his own family as they too struggle to let go of the past. Like in every small Irish village, gossip abounds. But do the ghosts of regret still haunt these ancient hallways? It is now left to Conor to explore the truth and uncover a heartbreaking lesson on the power of memory and the long threads that bind us together. In The Story of Grenville King, Jean Grainger takes you once again to the real heart of Ireland.
The Story of Henri Tod (Blackford Oakes #5)
by William F. Buckley Jr.A carefree pair of young lovers rendezvous in a deserted railroad car of eerie origin, and through them Bruderschaft leader Henri Tod discovers the awesome secret. Blackford Oakes travels to the White House to meet with the young President, who has communed with de Gaulle and Macmillan and other world leaders, about whom he soliloquizes. Will the U.S. stand up to Khrushchev or not? Henri Tod, age thirty-three, has a master plan. Once again, writing about High Noon in the Cold War, Buckley has created characters he cares about, as you will, in a novel of style and substance, wit and tragedy, seriousness and surprise.
The Story of Henri Tod (The Blackford Oakes Mysteries #5)
by William F. Buckley Jr.Around the time that East Germany slammed shut the border with West Germany, President Kennedy sends Blackford Oakes into the Eastern Sector to find out what the Soviets are planning. Buckley captures the paranoia and tension of the Cold War.
The Story of Us
by Dani AtkinsFor fans of David Nicholls's One Day and Liane Moriarty's What Alice Forgot, here's a page-turning novel about a young woman who is torn between two men, and who must determine where--and with whom--her future lies. Emma is just days from marrying her childhood sweetheart, Richard. But what should be the happiest time of Emma's life takes a turn for the worse when, on the night of her bachelorette party, tragedy strikes. Thanks to some quick thinking from a stranger, Emma is pulled free from a totaled car before it goes up in flames. But another passenger is not so lucky. The wedding is postponed as family and friends deal with their shock and grief. But soon, secrets come to light that have Emma questioning her relationships--and her engagement. Making matters more complicated is the emotional connection she feels with Jack, the mysterious man who saved her life. It's a crisis no bridal magazine has ever covered: What do you do when, on the eve of your wedding, you find yourself in love with two men? Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader's Circle for author chats and more.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Story of the Gypsies
by Konrad BercoviciWith this book, first published in 1928, Romanian-born American author Konrad Bercovici has written a sympathetic, thorough, and fascinating account of an extra-ordinary people. Long an admirer of the Gypsies, he was determined to penetrate their mysteries. He listened to their legends, traced their history, and here presents all that he knows and could learn from others about their origins, customs and lives down through the centuries and throughout the world.
The Storyteller
by Arthur ReidHe's the most famous novelist in the country, the author of a raft of international bestsellers, the darling of New York's publishing circles. But the more successful he becomes, the more terrifying is the predicament he finds himself in.In the beginning, Steven (with a v) King is an aspiring writer tending bar in a small town in Maine. He works diligently on his novel, dreams of the life he and his fianceé, Tina, will share, and puts his faith in the successful power-agent (his first cousin Stuart) who represents him. Then Steve's life takes an unexpected turn. In a stroke of unimaginable good fortune, he gets his big break--though not the kind he'd always wished for. With a momentous decision, he opens a Pandora's box that transforms him from a failed novelist into one of the hottest authors in the world. To avoid confusion with another famous writer from Maine, Steve uses his ancestral name, and the phenomenon known as Steven Konigsberg is born.Within weeks of his first book's publication he is perched firmly on top of the bestseller lists. His subsequent novels only outdo each other. His face graces TV talk shows and magazine covers . But Steven Konigsberg has a very dark secret--a hidden skeleton that not only threatens his meteoric career, but may very well jeopardize the safety of his family and his own life. As a range of sinister people come out of the woodwork of the past, Steve must make an agonizing choice: confront his deepest secret . . . or lose far more than just his place on the bestseller list.An irresistible blend of gripping suspense and black humor, THE STORYTELLER is a colorful, inside look at the vanities, glamour, and power plays of the exotic world of publishing and fame . . . with a twist.
The Storyteller
by Kathryn WilliamsWith the mystery of Maureen Johnson and Brittany Cavallaro and the historical intrigue of Romanov, this genre-bending YA will pull readers into one girl’s journey of discovering the impossible tale of a long-lost aunt—and through her, the importance of being true to yourself. It’s not every day you discover you might be related to Anastasia…or that the tragic princess actually survived her assassination attempt and has been living as the woman you know as Aunt Anna. For Jess Morgan, who is growing tired of living her life to please everyone else, discovering her late aunt’s diaries shows her she’s not the only one struggling to hide who she really is. But was her aunt truly a Romanov princess? Or is this some elaborate hoax?With the help of a supremely dorky but undeniably cute local college student named Evan, Jess digs into the century-old mystery.But soon Jess realizes there’s another, bigger truth waiting to be revealed: Jess Morgan. Because if she’s learned anything from Aunt Anna, it’s that only you can write your own story.
The Storyteller's Death: A Novel
by Ann Dávila CardinalInternational Latino Book Award Gold Medal Winner!"A beautiful book about family, memories, and the power of stories." —BuzzFeed"Mystical, masterful storytelling." —Ms. MagazineA gorgeously written family saga about a Puerto Rican woman who finds herself gifted (or cursed?) with a strange ability.There was always an old woman dying in the back room of her family's house when Isla was a child...Isla Larsen Sanchez's life begins to unravel when her father passes away. Instead of being comforted at home in New Jersey, her mother starts leaving her in Puerto Rico with her grandmother and great-aunt each summer like a piece of forgotten luggage.When Isla turns eighteen, her grandmother, a great storyteller, dies. It is then that Isla discovers she has a gift passed down through her family's cuentistas. The tales of dead family storytellers are brought back to life, replaying themselves over and over in front of her.At first, Isla is enchanted by this connection to the Sanchez cuentistas. But when Isla has a vision of an old murder mystery, she realizes that if she can't solve it to make the loop end, these seemingly harmless stories could cost Isla her life.BuzzFeed's 20 Highly Anticipated Thrillers of 2022BookRiot's 15 Best New Mystery Books of 2022Goodreads' Books to Read for Hispanic Heritage MonthApartment Therapy's One Book to Read in October 2022Paste Magazine's Best New Fantasy Books of October 2022BuzzFeed's Best New Books of October 2022BookRiot's Best New Mysteries, Thrillers, and True Crime of October 2022CrimeReads' Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2022The Nerd Daily's Most Anticipated Book ReleasesSheReads' Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books Coming In 2022Hasty Book List's Best Books of October
The Stowaway: A Novel
by Darren Wearmouth James S. MurrayFrom writer, producer, and actor best known as "Murr" on the hit television shows Impractical Jokers and The Misery Index, James S. Murray, and co-writer Darren Wearmouth, comes The Stowaway, a suspenseful masterpiece that leaves a cruise ship stranded at sea with a serial killer hiding aboard.Two years ago, Maria Fontana, the head of the Psychology Department at Columbia University, sat on a jury for one of the most depraved cases ever to pass through the hallowed halls of City Hall. Wyatt Butler, an antique watch restorer and alleged serial killer, was portrayed in the courtroom as a brutal monster. But Maria had to make the tough choice. In good conscience, she couldn't convict him based purely on circumstantial evidence, and her deciding vote set Wyatt Butler free. The media soon outed her as the lone juror and her successful and quaint life was turned upside down. The victims of Wyatt's ritualistic killings never forgave her either. Now, she and her family have decided to take a vacation to get away from everything: a two-week-long transatlantic cruise. Nothing, and nobody should be able to bother her there. With her two twins and her fiancé Steve, she is set to put the past behind her as soon as the ship leaves port. But when a passenger mysteriously disappears, Maria is left to wonder if maybe this was no coincidence. When another passenger is discovered brutally murdered in a similar way to Butler’s ritualistic MO, the ship goes on lockdown. Maria, one of only twelve people in the world with intimate knowledge of the case, faces a perilous ticking clock. Is it a copycat? Or is she trapped on board with the bloodthirsty maniac she chose to set free?