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The Underground Man
by Ross MacdonaldAs a mysterious fire rages through the hills above a privileged town in Southern California, Archer tracks a missing child who may be the pawn in a marital struggle or the victim of a bizarre kidnapping. What he uncovers amid the ashes is murder--and a trail of motives as combustible as gasoline. The Underground Man is a detective novel of merciless suspense and tragic depth, with an unfaltering insight into the moral ambiguities at the heart of California's version of the American dream.If any writer can be said to have inherited the mantle of Dashiell Hammet and Raymond Chandler, it was Ross Macdonald. Between the late 1940s and his death in 1983, he gave the American crime novel a psychological depth and moral complexity that his predecessors had only hinted at. And in the character of Lew Archer, Macdonald redefined the private eye as a roving conscience who walks the treacherous frontier between criminal guilt and human sin.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Underground Stream
by Velda JohnstonA Manhattan copywriter struggling to recover from a nervous breakdown and failed romance, Gail Loring seeks the peace of quiet Hampton Harbor, Long Island, only to find herself traveling back through time into a world of terror and torment.
The Underhanded
by Adam SikesEurope' s last line of defense against neofascism— a history professor?Professor William Dresden has found solitude in the south of France to grapple with his troubled past— a neglected upbringing, failed romances, the recent demolition of his life' s work in academia, and even witnessing genocide, among other secrets. But he soon learns that he has much larger problems when an adrift MI6 officer, Adeline Parker, calls and insists on a meeting, revealing shocking information about his family. Then a bomb explodes.William and Adeline narrowly escape the attempt on their lives and find themselves battling a group of neofascists and extreme nationalists who are inciting violent divisions across Europe. They are pulled into a shadowy war against a cabal called the Strasbourg Executive and pushed to the brink by family betrayals, corrupt institutions, and the Executive' s subversive plots against the fabric of Western society.To survive, William must make tough decisions and act in ways he could' ve never previously imagined— but even that might not be enough.Perfect for fans of Dan Brown and Jack Carr
The Underhistory
by Kaaron WarrenPeople come to visit my home and I love to show them around. Of course it's not the original house where it happened. That was destroyed when my entire family died. But I don't think their ghosts know the difference.Pera Sinclair was nine the day the pilot intentionally crashed his plane into her family's grand home, killing everyone inside. She was the girl who survived the tragedy, a sympathetic oddity, growing stranger by the day. Over the decades she rebuilt the huge and rambling building on the original site, recreating what she had lost, each room telling a piece of the story of her life and that of the many people who died, both before and after the disaster. Her sister, murdered a hundred miles away. The soldier, broken by war. Death follows Pera, and she welcomes it in as an old friend. And while she doesn't believe in ghosts, she's not above telling a ghost story or two to those who come to visit Sinclair House.On the day of her last haunted house tour of the season, an unexpected group of men arrive. One Pera recognises, but the others are strangers. But she knows their type all too well. Dangerous men, who will keep an old woman alive only so long as she is useful. But as she begins to show them around her home and reveal its secrets, the dangerous men will learn that she is far from helpless. After all, death seems to followher wherever she goes...Sinister and lyrical, The Underhistory is a haunting tale of loss, self-preservation and the darkness beneath.
The Understudy
by Sophie Hannah Holly Brown Clare Mackintosh B A ParisWritten By Sophie Hannah, BA Paris, Clare Mackintosh, and Holly Brown, this psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Louise CandlishHOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO PROTECT YOUR DAUGHTER?Carolyn, Bronnie, Elise, and Kendall are bound together by one thing - their four daughters are best friends at the highly competitive Orla Flynn Academy for the Performing Arts.Imogen Curwood is a new girl at the Academy and her behaviour is odd from the start. On the day she arrives, bad things start to happen. As one threatening incident follows another, the four mothers begin to ask themselves: are their girls in danger? When an attempted murder rocks the school, Imogen is pleased to report that she has an alibi. If she isn't the guilty party, someone else must be.Carolyn, Bronnie, Elise and Kendall are determined to uncover the truth and protect their daughters. But are they prepared to risk their own secrets being exposed?THE UNDERSTUDY IS THE OUTSTANDING NEW NOVEL FROM FOUR MASTERS OF SUSPENSE
The Understudy
by Sophie Hannah Holly Brown Clare Mackintosh B.A. ParisWritten By Sophie Hannah, BA Paris, Clare Mackintosh, and Holly Brown, this psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Louise Candlish.How far would you go to protect your daughter?Four mothers must identify the true threat at their daughters' school before it's too late.Carolyn, Bronnie, Elise, and Kendall are bound together by one thing-their four daughters are best friends at the highly competitive Orla Flynn Academy for the Performing Arts. Last year the foursome exploded because of brutal bullying between the girls, but they've since forgiven each other. The mothers, however, haven't been able to move on. When new threats surface and "accidents" begin to happen - just as a mysterious new girl enters the scene - the mothers take matters into their own hands. But they will have to risk their own secrets being exposed if they stand a chance at uncovering the truth . . . Four incredible novelists come together to tell this unique, brilliantly written suspense novel.(P)2019 Serial Box Publishing
The Understudy
by Julie BennettImmersed in the gritty underbelly of the theatre world in Sydney&’s questionable streets of 1973, this addictive debut will have you wondering just how dangerous ambition – and love – can be. It&’s opening night. The stage is set, the houselights have dimmed and the handsome male lead is waiting. This is your time. Your chance to prove you are so much more than the understudy. You have worked so hard and would have done almost anything to get here. But not what they are accusing you of – never that. It&’s simply bad luck that Australia&’s darling of opera has gone missing, throwing the spotlight on you just as the whole world is watching history in the making. But the show must go on and it&’s all down to you. Take a deep breath and get ready to perform the role of your life.Praise for The Understudy &‘A delicious read! A fascinating glimpse into the glamorous world of opera where innocence & betrayal is set against the seedy underbelly and glorious splendour of Sydney and the opening of our very own opera house. You&’ll never see the twists and turns as the layers of this intriguing mystery begin to unfold.&’ Tania Blanchard, author of The Girl from Munich &‘Julie Bennett's The Understudy is the best kind of historical fiction: a powerful love story blended with a mystery that keeps the reader guessing. Bennett relives the opening of the fabled Sydney Opera House in all its glory, while describing the underbelly of opera and the machinations that carry on backstage. A stunning debut that will have book clubs talking!&’ Anita Abriel, author of The Light After War &‘A heady, genre-bending drama about ambition, performance, love, betrayal and passion … a delight to read … There is a cast of wonderfully interesting characters, like an Agatha Christie novel, some with richly drawn backstories and some remaining infuriatingly enigmatic … An enjoyable and page-turning read.&’ Cass Moriarty, author of The Promise Seed &‘The Understudy takes us back to a time of change and growth in Australia; its operatic characters feel, sing and live with passion and intensity. The story of two opera singers, twenty years apart, gives us both triumph and tragedy, that bittersweet tone which stays with you for a long time. So evocative you can smell the scent of Sydney Harbour—and the then-mean streets of Woolloomooloo.&’ Pamela Hart, author of The Charleston Scandal &‘The Understudy is a sexy, page-turner of a novel, full of intrigue, secrets and ambition set during the opening season of the Sydney Opera House in 1973. Julie Bennett has woven a spell that will entice the reader in and won&’t let them go. Brava!&’ Mary-Lou Stephens, author of The Last of the Apple Blossom
The Understudy: A Novel
by Morgan RichterAn opera singer uncovers the dark secrets of her cruel and alluring understudy when a murder disrupts her disciplined world."The first time my understudy tried to kill me was on the day we met. We got off on the wrong foot, Yolanda and I, and while most of that was due to Yolanda being a very . . . complicated individual, some of the blame lies with me..."After years of rigorous instruction and ensemble work, Kit finally gets her big break when she&’s hired to play the lead role in a new opera based on the 1960s cult classic film Barbarella. Entrusted with playing the beautiful and seductive titular role, Kit is on her way to the top of the highly competitive world of New York City opera. But then she walks into rehearsal and meets her understudy. Stunning, suggestive, and bursting with the unbridled confidence of a novice, Yolanda is physically everything Barbarella is meant to be. At first, Kit isn&’t threatened by the neophyte, until Yolanda reveals that she wants the role—and will do anything to get it.As Yolanda's schemes become increasingly more reckless, she draws an unwitting Kit into her orbit. But when a brutal murder destabilizes the company and threatens her role, Kit discovers that Yolanda's glamorous veneer conceals something much more sinister. Hunting down the betrayed friends and discarded lovers from Yolanda&’s past and unearthing secrets she&’s worked hard to bury, Kit realizes just how far Yolanda is willing to go to get what she wants, and the number of enemies she made in the process.
The Undertaker's Widow: A Novel
by Phillip MargolinA cold-blooded murder. A beautiful suspect. An honest judge forced to do the unthinkable.New York Times bestselling author Phillip Margolin is a master of legal suspense. In this explosive novel, a simple case of self-defense becomes a nightmare in which justice itself is held hostage.Judge Richard Quinn is young, idealistic, and honest to a fault. That's why he's handed the most sensational homicide case in Oregon history. Locked in a race for the U.S. Senate, Ellen Crease gunned down the intruder who murdered her wealthy husband. In a single, brutal instant she became a widow, a victim, and a hero. Yet disturbing questions remain. What secrets did the man who started his fortune running mortuaries keep that might have cost him his life? What about the son frozen out of his will? Or his wife's political enemies? And what about Ellen Crease herself?Soon it becomes clear that a deadly plot of murder, blackmail, passion, and double cross is unfolding around Judge Richard Quinn. And unless he breaks the rules, justice will not only be blind, it will be the final victim.From the Paperback edition.
The Underwood Tapes
by Amanda DeWittA captivating and profoundly moving novel with hints of supernatural intrigue, blending We Were Liars and Your Name into a can&’t-miss read for fans of You&’ve Reached Sam.Thirty years ago, Grace&’s mom left her hometown of Hermitage, Florida and never looked back—which is exactly why Grace thinks it&’s the safest place to spend her summer now. Since her mom died in a car crash, Grace has been desperate to get away from the memories and reminders of her loss. Spending the summer transcribing cassette tapes for the Hermitage Historical Society might be boring, but boring is just what Grace needs.Until she hears the voice of Jake Underwood—the boy who first recorded the cassette tapes back in 1992. When Grace realizes he can hear anything she records, despite thirty years of time between them, they strike up an impossible conversation through the tapes.But the past isn&’t any simpler than the present, and a mystery has haunted Hermitage through the generations. In the 1970&’s, a hurricane made landfall and resulted in the tragic death of Jake&’s uncle Charley. In a town as suffocatingly small as Hermitage, it&’s impossible not to notice how no one talks about that storm, or Charley, and as the mystery unfurls, Grace can&’t help but realize a worse truth: No one talks about Jake either. A beautifully written exploration of grief and what happens when untreated wounds bleed into future generations, The Underwood Tapes is the perfect read for anyone in need of a good, cathartic cry.
The Underworld: A Novel
by Kevin CantyFor readers of Russell Banks and Richard Ford, a novel about loss, love, and redemption following a catastrophe in a small mining town. In The Underworld, Kevin Canty tells a story inspired by the facts of a disastrous fire that took place in an isolated silver mining town in Idaho in the 1970s, in which almost everyone in town lost a friend, a lover, a brother, or a husband. The Underworld imagines the fates of a handful of fictional survivors and their loved ones—Jordan, a young widow with twin children; David, a college student trying to make a life for himself in another town; Lionel, a lifelong hard-rock miner—as they struggle to come to terms with the loss. It’s a tough, hard-working, hard-drinking town, a town of whores and priests and bar fights, but nobody’s tough enough to get through this undamaged. A powerful and unforgettable tale about small-town lives and the healing power of love in the midst of suffering.
The Underwriting
by Michelle Miller“A digital age Edith Wharton . . . hilarious, exhilarating, and so, so clever.” –Kevin Kwan, author of Crazy Rich Asians**A Huffington Post, New York Post and Metro Summer Reading Pick** The Underwriting is a tantalizing glimpse into the boardrooms and bedrooms of six young hopefuls behind a Silicon Valley IPO that will launch them into the exclusive world of the über-wealthy—if it doesn’t destroy them first. Each of them is looking for success, but they may have to nail more than the deal to get to the top. Wall Street hotshot and playboy Todd Kent is not surprised when Hook’s eccentric founder taps him to lead the deal of the decade: taking the multibillion-dollar dating app public. Hook has been helping Todd score with women since its inception and now it’s poised to make his career. Given just two months to pull it off, Todd assembles his investment banking team—brainy Neha, party-boy Beau, and, a surprise choice, old college flame Tara Taylor. Tara runs six miles every morning, never eats after nine p.m., is the first to arrive and last to leave the office, but is starting to wonder why she bothers. When Todd asks her to help with Hook’s IPO, she sees her opportunity to break through the glass ceiling and justify six boyfriendless years of sacrifices for her career. She quickly realizes the dating app has more in store for her than a bigger bonus. The stars are finally aligning for Nick Winthrop. Rejected from SAE rush at Stanford by Todd Kent, Nick is now a Harvard Business School graduate and Hook’s CFO, with a chip on his shoulder even bigger than his ego. Now that Hook is going public and $80 million is about to come his way, the life Nick knows he deserves is finally at his fingertips. But when a young woman dies, it threatens to throw the deal—and the lives of those involved—into a thrilling tailspin. The Underwriting is an insightful and prescient glimpse into the inner workings of two generation-defining worlds and might be the most accurate depiction yet of the tech generation and the power it holds to shape the future.From the Hardcover edition.
The Undesired
by Yrsa SigurdardottirA chilling modern horror novel from the author of THE SILENCE OF THE SEA, winner of the 2015 Petrona Award - perfect for fans of Let the Right One In.The light spilling in from the corridor would have to do. Though weak, it was sufficient to show Aldís a boy sitting in the gloom at the furthest table. He had his back to her, so she couldn't see who it was, but could tell that he was one of the youngest. A chill ran down her spine when he spoke again, without turning, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. 'Go away. Leave me alone.''Come on. You shouldn't be here.' Aldís spoke gently, fairly sure now that the boy must be delirious. Confused, rather than dangerous.He turned, slowly and deliberately, and she glimpsed black eyes in a pale face. 'I wasn't talking to you.' Aldis is working in a juvenile detention centre in rural Iceland. She witnesses something deeply disturbing in the middle of the night; soon afterwards, two of the boys at the centre are dead.Decades later, single father Odinn is looking into alleged abuse at the centre following the unexplained death of the colleague who was previously running the investigation. The more he finds out, though, the more it seems the odd events of the 1970s are linked to the accident that killed his ex-wife. Was her death something more sinister?Yrsa Sigurdardottir is a huge European bestseller both with her crime and horror novels. You might want to sleep with the light on after reading THE UNDESIRED . . .
The Undesired
by Yrsa SigurdardottirA chilling modern horror novel from the author of THE SILENCE OF THE SEA, winner of the 2015 Petrona Award - perfect for fans of Let the Right One In.The light spilling in from the corridor would have to do. Though weak, it was sufficient to show Aldís a boy sitting in the gloom at the furthest table. He had his back to her, so she couldn't see who it was, but could tell that he was one of the youngest. A chill ran down her spine when he spoke again, without turning, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. 'Go away. Leave me alone.''Come on. You shouldn't be here.' Aldís spoke gently, fairly sure now that the boy must be delirious. Confused, rather than dangerous.He turned, slowly and deliberately, and she glimpsed black eyes in a pale face. 'I wasn't talking to you.' Aldis is working in a juvenile detention centre in rural Iceland. She witnesses something deeply disturbing in the middle of the night; soon afterwards, two of the boys at the centre are dead.Decades later, single father Odinn is looking into alleged abuse at the centre following the unexplained death of the colleague who was previously running the investigation. The more he finds out, though, the more it seems the odd events of the 1970s are linked to the accident that killed his ex-wife. Was her death something more sinister?Yrsa Sigurdardottir is a huge European bestseller both with her crime and horror novels. You might want to sleep with the light on after reading THE UNDESIRED . . .
The Undesired
by Yrsa SigurdardottirA chilling modern horror novel from the author of THE SILENCE OF THE SEA, winner of the 2015 Petrona Award - perfect for fans of Let the Right One In.The light spilling in from the corridor would have to do. Though weak, it was sufficient to show Aldís a boy sitting in the gloom at the furthest table. He had his back to her, so she couldn't see who it was, but could tell that he was one of the youngest. A chill ran down her spine when he spoke again, without turning, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. 'Go away. Leave me alone.''Come on. You shouldn't be here.' Aldís spoke gently, fairly sure now that the boy must be delirious. Confused, rather than dangerous.He turned, slowly and deliberately, and she glimpsed black eyes in a pale face. 'I wasn't talking to you.' Aldis is working in a juvenile detention centre in rural Iceland. She witnesses something deeply disturbing in the middle of the night; soon afterwards, two of the boys at the centre are dead.Decades later, single father Odinn is looking into alleged abuse at the centre following the unexplained death of the colleague who was previously running the investigation. The more he finds out, though, the more it seems the odd events of the 1970s are linked to the accident that killed his ex-wife. Was her death something more sinister?Yrsa Sigurdardottir is a huge European bestseller both with her crime and horror novels. You might want to sleep with the light on after reading THE UNDESIRED . . .(P)2015 Hodder & Stoughton
The Undesired: A Thriller
by Yrsa SigurðardóttirAldis hates her job working in a juvenile detention center in rural Iceland. The boys are difficult, the owners are unpleasant, and there are mysterious noises at night. And then two of the boys go astray . . .Decades later, single father Odinn is looking into alleged abuse at the center. The more he finds out, though, the more it seems the odd events of the 1970s are linked to the accident that killed his ex-wife. Was her death something more sinister?Yrsa Sigurdardottir is a huge European bestseller both with her crime and horror novels. You might want to sleep with the light on after reading The Undesired. . .
The Undetectables
by Courtney SmythBe gay, solve crime, take naps—A witty and quirky fantasy murder mystery in a folkloric world of witches, faeires, vampires, trolls and ghosts, for fans of Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey and T. J. Klune's Under the Whispering Door.A magical serial killer is stalking the Occult town of Wrackton. Hypnotic whistling causes victims to chew their own tongues off, leading to the killer being dubbed the Whistler (original, right?).Enter the Undetectables, a detective agency run by three witches and a ghost in a cat costume (don&’t ask). They are hired to investigate the murders, but with their only case so far left unsolved, will they be up to the task?Mallory, the forensic science expert, is struggling with pain and fatigue from her recently diagnosed fibromyalgia. Cornelia is suddenly stirring all sorts of feelings in Mallory. Diana is hitting up all her ex-girlfriends for information. And not forgetting ghostly Theodore: deceased, dramatic, and also the agency&’s first – unsolved – murder case.With bodies stacking up and the case leading them to mysteries at the very heart of magical society, can the Undetectables find the Whistler before they become the killer&’s next victims?
The Undiscovered Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
by Ted RiccardiIf you thought Sherlock Holmes was dead—think again . . . Sherlock Holmes&’s fatal plunge over the Reichenbach Falls during his struggle with his archenemy, Moriarty, has been widely reported. But Holmes escaped and is still alive. In his immediate circle, only Holmes&’s brother, the lethargic genius Mycroft, knows of his survival. Even Dr. Watson thinks the great detective is gone. But among his enemies, Sebastian Moran, Moriarty&’s chief henchman, knows of Holmes&’s probable escape and waits for their inevitable meeting. From 1891 to 1894, Holmes wanders through Asia alone, armed only with his physical strength and endurance and his revered cold logic and rationality . . . For Holmes&’s fans throughout the world, these stories fill an enigmatic gap, the cause of so much speculation in the great detective&’s career. &“Mischievous, cunning and magnetically fascinating, Sherlock Holmes&’ lost meanderings in the Far East are richly rewarding for Holmes fans, armchair travellers and historians alike. Ted Riccardi conjures up the quirky, beloved detective&’s missing years solving intoxicatingly labyrinthine puzzles amidst the devilry of The Great Game.&” —Isabella Tree, award-winning author and conservationist
The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill: The must-read, incredible voice-driven mystery thriller
by C.S. Robertson'A dark, disturbing and highly original thriller. You'll love Grace McGill' MARK BILLINGHAM'Dark, twisted and compelling, you won't want Grace to clean your house . . .' C.L. TAYLORSome people die alone, and someone has to clean what's left behind - houses, bodies, memories, and old, dark secrets. Grace McGill is an insular, friendless woman, living in Glasgow in her 30s. She has her beloved cat, and she has her own business - deep cleaning the houses of Undiscovereds. People who die alone and stay that way until they are found weeks, sometimes months, later. While working in the home of a man named Tommy Agnew, her suspicions are aroused by a hidden photograph and a stack of newspapers, all from the same date over many, many years. Grace can't get the mysterious life and sad death of Tommy Agnew out of her head, and she soon begins an investigation that could cost her her life. The past has stayed buried for many years already, but Grace has never been one to brush things under the carpet . . .A STAND-OUT NOVEL WITH A UNIQUE NARRATIVE VOICE AND AN UNGUESSABLE MYSTERY. YOU ARE GUARANTEED TO REMEMBER GRACE McGILL. font>(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill: The must-read, incredible voice-driven mystery thriller
by C.S. Robertson'[A] Gut-wrenching thriller. There are jaw-dropping revelations and startling assertions in C.S. Robertson's gruesome tale' THE TIMES'A dark, disturbing and highly original thriller' MARK BILLINGHAM'Haunting, twisted and compelling' C.L. TAYLOR'Twisted, twisting, original and sinister. The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill is unforgettable' CHRIS WHITAKER'Dark and quirky - there's just something readers are going to love about meeting Grace McGill' SCOTTISH SUN'One of the highlights of my reading year. A deliciously dark masterpiece' HELEN FITZGERALDDEATH IS NOT THE END. FOR GRACE McGILL IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.When people die alone and undiscovered, it's her job to clean up what's left behind - whether it's clutter, bodily remains or dark secrets. When an old man lies undetected in his flat for months, it seems an unremarkable life and an unnoticed death. But Grace knows that everyone has a story and that all deaths mean something more.A STAND-OUT NOVEL WITH A UNIQUE NARRATIVE VOICE AND AN UNGUESSABLE MYSTERY, YOU ARE GUARANTEED TO REMEMBER GRACE McGILL.Reader praise for The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill:'A twisted story of undiscovered deaths and twisted minds, of people of little or no morality and Grace right in the thick of it, setting records straight and doing good in her own inimitable way''Wow! What an absolute stunner of a book. This was so different to a lot of the books out there at the moment. Totally gripping and thrilling and I couldn't stop reading it although I really didn't want to finish it!''A premise that, gratifyingly, delivers the goods in spades and does so with a superbly well drawn cast of characters and a rather unique, well written, often dark narrative. Compelling and wholly engaging reading. Top notch''The story was engrossing and I couldn't wait to see where it would go. I highly recommend this''A masterpiece'
The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill: The must-read, incredible voice-driven mystery thriller
by C.S. Robertson'[A] Gut-wrenching thriller. There are jaw-dropping revelations and startling assertions in C.S. Robertson's gruesome tale' THE TIMES'A dark, disturbing and highly original thriller' MARK BILLINGHAM'Haunting, twisted and compelling' C.L. TAYLOR'Twisted, twisting, original and sinister. The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill is unforgettable' CHRIS WHITAKER'Dark and quirky - there's just something readers are going to love about meeting Grace McGill' SCOTTISH SUN'One of the highlights of my reading year. A deliciously dark masterpiece' HELEN FITZGERALDDEATH IS NOT THE END. FOR GRACE McGILL IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.When people die alone and undiscovered, it's her job to clean up what's left behind - whether it's clutter, bodily remains or dark secrets. When an old man lies undetected in his flat for months, it seems an unremarkable life and an unnoticed death. But Grace knows that everyone has a story and that all deaths mean something more.A STAND-OUT NOVEL WITH A UNIQUE NARRATIVE VOICE AND AN UNGUESSABLE MYSTERY, YOU ARE GUARANTEED TO REMEMBER GRACE McGILL.Reader praise for The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill:'A twisted story of undiscovered deaths and twisted minds, of people of little or no morality and Grace right in the thick of it, setting records straight and doing good in her own inimitable way''Wow! What an absolute stunner of a book. This was so different to a lot of the books out there at the moment. Totally gripping and thrilling and I couldn't stop reading it although I really didn't want to finish it!''A premise that, gratifyingly, delivers the goods in spades and does so with a superbly well drawn cast of characters and a rather unique, well written, often dark narrative. Compelling and wholly engaging reading. Top notch''The story was engrossing and I couldn't wait to see where it would go. I highly recommend this''A masterpiece'
The Undoing
by Averil DeanOn a bitter January evening, three people are found murdered in the isolated Blackbird hotel. Best friends since childhood, Eric, Rory and Celia have always been inseparable. Together they've coped with broken homes and damaged families, clinging to each other as they've navigated their tenuous lives. Their bond is potent and passionate-and its intensity can be volatile. When the trio decides to follow Celia's dream of buying and renovating the Blackbird, a dilapidated hotel that sits on the perilous cliffs of Jawbone Ridge, new jealousies arise and long-held suspicions start to unravel their relationship. Soon they find themselves pushed to the breaking point, where trust becomes doubt, longing becomes obsession, and someone will commit the ultimate betrayal. An unflinching story of ambition, desire and envy, The Undoing traces the events leading to that fateful night, revealing the intimate connections, dark secrets and terrible lies that wove them together-and tore them apart.s a web out of the deepest human obsessions...to reveal a haunting story." -Booklist on Alice Close Your Eyes
The Undoing of Thistle Tate
by Katelyn DetweilerFamous teen author Thistle Tate struggles to keep her biggest secret: the real identity of the author of her bestselling books.Thistle Tate is a glittering wunderkind--only seventeen, and a bestselling author of the wildly successful Lemonade Skies series, with the highly anticipated final book due to publish next year. She has diehard fans across the globe, flashy tours, and steep advances. And now she's finally started to date her best friend and next-door-neighbor, Liam, the only one who knows her deep dark secret: she's not the real author of the Lemonade Skies books. Thistle's guilt about lying intensifies after she meets the surprisingly charming Oliver, who introduces her to his super-fan little sister--but how can she have friendships based on deception? All she wants is for this last book to be written so she can be done with the ruse for good.Then with just two weeks left to deliver the manuscript to her agent and editor, a dramatic turn of events puts everything in jeopardy, and Thistle must grapple with her own identity. Is she a victim, a fraudster, or both? On top of that, Liam is increasingly jealous of Thistle's budding friendship with Oliver--a friendship that leaves Thistle more than a little confused about her own heart.As the book deadline looms closer, the stakes ever higher, a startling family truth comes to light, and it's only a matter of time before something gives--and Thistle's world becomes undone. For fans of Rainbow Rowell and E. Lockhart, this YA is the perfect summer read for teen bookworms everywhere, with a love triangle, an insider's depiction of the publishing world, and nonstop, page-turning action.
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne: A Novel
by Emily Critchley"Artful, gothic-tinged...an immersive, chilling treat for suspense fans." —Publishers WeeklyFor fans of Sarah Penner and The Foundling comes a slow-burn gothic mystery following Gillian, a young girl enthralled by the enigmatic Claybourne sisters, their house at Thornleigh Hall, and the tragedy that binds them together for good.To become a Claybourne girl, she'll have to betray one first.1938. Gillian Larking, lonely and away at boarding school, is used to going unnoticed. But then she meets Violet Claybourne, her vibrant roommate who takes Gilly under her wing. Violet is unlike anyone Gilly has ever met, and she regales Gilly with tales of her grand family estate and her two elegant sisters. Gilly is soon entranced by stories of the Claybournes, so when Violet invites Gilly to meet her family at Thornleigh Hall, she can't believe her luck.But Gilly soon finds that behind the grand façade of Thornleigh Hall, darkness lurks.Dazzled by the crumbling manor and Violet's enigmatic sisters, Gilly settles into the estate. But when a horrible accident strikes on the grounds, she is ensnared in a web of the sisters' making, forced to make a choice that will change the course of her life forever. Because the Claybournes girls know how to keep secrets, even at the cost of one of their own.With ensnaring prose and layers of friendship, privilege, mental health, and more, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a poignant book club read with characters you won't soon forget.
The Unexpected Corpse
by B. J. OliphantMiddle-aged and very strong, Shirley and J. Q. live on a ranch outside Denver. Allison, their new foster daughter lives with them. Shirley's cousins and uncles and aunts are in this story, accidents and murders, a mysterious family. Another light mystery. The author is also Sheri S. Tepper and A. J. Orde.