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How About Demons?: Possession and Exorcism in the Modern World (Folklore Today #No.467)
by Felicitas D. GoodmanThe author of the Exorcism of Anneliese Michel &“is to be commended for a stimulating and wide-reaching treatment of a compelling and much-debated subject&” (Journal of Folklore Research). As part of a series that strives to introduce new or previously unrecognized folkloric phenomena—as well as new approaches and theories that result from discovery and investigation—How About Demons? provides an overview of a topic that has for many years captured the imagination of people from all walks of life. Rich in detail derived from the author&’s fieldwork and anthropological literature, this work contemplates possession and exorcism in a holistic manner—discussing their effects on both the body and soul. How About Demons? paints a picture of possession as a usually positive experience occurring in a wide variety of cultures and religions around the globe. It also details the ritual of exorcism which is applied when things go wrong. &“Quite an interesting book.&”—Religious Studies Review &“It is by far superior to anything else on demons we have seen in the past few years.&”—The American Rationalist
Cutting Edge Sales: Confessions of Success, Influence & Self-Fulfillment from the World's Finest Knife Dealers
by Jon BerghoffA guide to successful selling from the professionals at Cutco Cutlery: &“Everybody needs the practical wisdom contained in Cutting Edge Sales&” (Brian Tracy). Since 1949, a growing culture of Cutco Cutlery salespeople has been quietly grooming our nation's youth to be the next generation of CEOs, philanthropists, and entrepreneurial success stories. Here, twelve former and three current Cutco Cutlery sales professionals—with over $300 million combined in Cutco Cutlery sales—have gathered together to collaborate and share their influence, secrets and real world wisdom with sales professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs across the globe. As a true expression of their willingness to give back, each author involved in this project agreed to donate 100% of their royalties to the charity of their choosing. Your purchase of this book will help the authors in their quest to positively transform the world—and your execution of the Cutting Edge Sales lessons will positively transform you and your business.
Understanding Philanthropy: Its Meaning and Mission (Philanthropic and Nonprofit Studies)
by Michael P. Moody Robert L. Payton&“A fine volume on the moral meaning and function of philanthropy…makes the case that philanthropy is essential to democratic society.&”—Choice Philanthropy has existed in various forms in all cultures and civilizations throughout history, yet most people know little about it and its distinctive place in our lives. Why does philanthropy exist? Why do people so often turn to philanthropy when we want to make the world a better place? In essence, what is philanthropy? These fundamental questions are tackled in this engaging and original book. Written by one of the founding figures in the field of philanthropic studies, Robert L. Payton, and his former student sociologist Michael P. Moody, Understanding Philanthropy presents a new way of thinking about the meaning and mission of philanthropy. Weaving together accessible theoretical explanations with fascinating examples of philanthropic action, this book advances key scholarly debates about philanthropy and offers practitioners a way of explaining the rationale for their nonprofit efforts.
Claiming Society for God: Religious Movements and Social Welfare (Encounters: Explorations in Folklore and Ethnomusicology)
by Robert V. Robinson Nancy J. DavisThe nonviolent ways orthodox religious groups achieve social power and influence: a &“brilliant&” study of four movements in the US and abroad (Wendell Bell, Yale University). Gold Medal Winner, Independent Publisher Book AwardsClaiming Society for God focuses on common strategies used by religiously orthodox (what some would call &“fundamentalist&”) movements around the world. Rather than using armed struggle or terrorism, as much of post-9/11 thinking suggests, these movements use a patient, under-the-radar strategy of taking over civil society. Claiming Society for God tells the stories of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the Sephardi Torah Guardians or Shas in Israel, Comunione e Liberazione in Italy, and the Salvation Army in the United States, showing how these movements, grounded in a communitarian theology, are building massive grassroots networks of religiously based social service agencies, hospitals and clinics, rotating credit societies, schools, charitable organizations, worship centers, and businesses. These networks are already being called states within states, surrogate states, or parallel societies, and in Egypt brought the Muslim Brotherhood to control of parliament and the presidency. This bottom-up, entrepreneurial strategy is aimed at making religion the cornerstone of society. &“Sociology at its very best…professionally researched and analyzed, both pragmatic and theoretical, overwhelmingly convincing, and an important corrective to a lot of current beliefs…a great read—fascinating from beginning to end.&”—Wendell Bell, Yale University, author of Foundations of Futures Studies
François Truffaut: The Lost Secret
by Anne Gillain&“Truffaut fans will love this English translation of Gillain&’s work drawing on the psychology and cinematography of the acclaimed filmmaker.&” —Booklist For François Truffaut, the lost secret of cinematic art is in the ability to generate emotion and reveal repressed fantasies through cinematic representation. Available in English for the first time, Anne Gillain&’s François Truffaut: The Lost Secret is considered by many to be the best book on the interpretation of Truffaut&’s films. Taking a psycho-biographical approach, Gillain shows how Truffaut&’s creative impulse was anchored in his personal experience of a traumatic childhood that left him lonely and emotionally deprived. In a series of brilliant, nuanced readings of each of his films, she demonstrates how involuntary memories arising from Truffaut&’s childhood not only furnish a succession of motifs that are repeated from film to film, but also govern every aspect of his mise en scène and cinematic technique. &“Brilliant . . . A delicious reexamination . . . that will make us want to sit down and take in all of Truffaut&’s wonderful filmography at once.&” —PopMatters
Woman to Woman: The Truth About Our Intimate Relationships: How We Love, Hurt and Triumph
by PsyD Daniela GranzottoAn exploration of the bonds that play a central role in women&’s lives and which are critical for a woman&’s sense of identity and emotional well-being. For the modern woman, the need for love and acceptance from another has never been more important. Finding true love, however, has never been more fraught with challenge and adversity. You may have experienced infidelity, had a partner who fails to respect your boundaries, or felt deeply sad and lonely in your marriage. You could also be a woman who has a strong desire to marry but can&’t find your soul mate. In Woman to Woman you will read about others who have experienced such challenges, as well as those who were able to find fulfillment in their romantic relationships. In their own words, they talk about marriage, sex, infidelity, divorce, and single life. Entwined within their stories, Dr. Daniela Granzotto discusses critical issues that characterize a healthy intimate relationship. With frankness and warmth, Dr. Granzotto shares her expert knowledge and insight—woman to woman—to empower you with a better understanding of yourself and your love life.
The Event: Event (Studies in Continental Thought)
by Martin HeideggerThis elegantly translated collection of Heidegger&’s private later writings is &“illuminating to some of his most difficult discussions.&” (Phillip Braunstein, Loyola Marymount College). Martin Heidegger&’s The Event offers the most in-depth articulation of his later work&’s most foundational concept, as well as his most substantial self-critique of his Contributions to Philosophy: Of the Event. Written between 1936 and 1944, and published posthumously as volume 71 of his Complete Works, The Event collects Heidegger&’s private writings in response to his Contributions. Richard Rojcewicz&’s faithful and straightforward translation offers the English-speaking reader intimate contact with the author&’s process of formulating some of his most important concepts. This book lays out how the Event is to be understood and ties it closely to looking, showing, self-manifestation, and the self-unveiling of the gods.
The Step: One Woman's Journey to Finding her Own Happiness and Success During the Apollo Space Program
by Martha LemastersA memoir of working as one of the few female employees at the Kennedy Space Center in the 1960s. Martha Lemasters&’s gripping memoir tells the remarkable story of her life as a single mother employed at Cape Kennedy during the Apollo years. Fiercely determined, she works her way up, finally realizing her dream of becoming a writer in a male-dominated workplace, and witnesses history first hand. In this riveting insider's look at the real dream team who made landing a man on the moon possible, we get to know many of the main players in the most powerful scientific and engineering team of its time. The space race and the sexual revolution collide in this true story of what it was like to be a part of this remarkable era, and the historical accomplishment of launching our astronauts to the moon.
A Conservationist Manifesto
by Scott Russell Sanders&“Eloquent . . . a must-read for anyone committed to taking care of the natural world and passing it along to future generations&” (ForeWord). As an antidote to the destructive culture of consumption dominating American life today, Scott Russell Sanders calls for a culture of conservation that allows us to savor and preserve the world, instead of devouring it. How might we shift to a more durable and responsible way of life? What changes in values and behavior will be required? Ranging from southern Indiana to the Boundary Waters Wilderness, and from billboards to the Bible, Sanders&’s 40-point blueprint for ecological health extends the visions of Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and Rachel Carson to our own day. A Conservationist Manifesto shows the crucial relevance of a conservation ethic at a time of mounting concern about global climate change, depletion of natural resources, extinction of species, and the economic inequities between rich and poor nations. The important message of these &“original and intriguing&” essays is that conservation is not simply a personal virtue but a public one (Publishers Weekly). &“A book to be savored—for its language, its stories, its sense of place, and for how it reminds us of the profound relationships with nature and each other that can inspire us to change how we live on this planet.&” —Will Rogers, President, The Trust for Public Land
Battle of Surigao Strait (Twentieth-Century Battles)
by Anthony P. Tully&“[Tully] paints Admiral Nishimura's high-speed run into history with an entirely fresh palette of detail.&” —James D. Hornfischer, New York Times–bestselling author of Neptune&’s Inferno Surigao Strait in the Philippine Islands was the scene of a major battleship duel during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Because the battle was fought at night and had few survivors on the Japanese side, the events of that naval engagement have been passed down in garbled accounts. Anthony P. Tully pulls together all of the existing documentary material, including newly discovered accounts and a careful analysis of US Navy action reports, to create a new and more detailed description of the action. In several respects, Tully's narrative differs radically from the received versions and represents an important historical corrective. Also included in the book are a number of previously unpublished photographs and charts that bring a fresh perspective to the battle. &“By giving a fuller view of the Japanese side, Tully's work forces a substantial revision of the traditional picture of the battle. Battle of Surigao Strait is not only military history based on scrupulous use of a plethora of new source materials, but is a spanking good read. Highly recommended.&” —War in History &“Tully has managed to trace the complicated flow of and reason for events on the nights of 24-25 October with a skill and aplomb that forces one to reconsider previously held views.&” —Naval History
In Search of Jewish Community: Jewish Identities in Germany and Austria, 1918–1933
by Michael Brenner and Derek J. PenslarA collection of essays interrogates the nature of Jewish identity in the time between two world wars. The history of Jews in interwar Germany and Austria is often viewed either as the culmination of tremendous success in the economic and cultural realms and of individual assimilation and acculturation, or as the beginning of the road that led to Auschwitz. By contrast, this volume demonstrates a re-emerging sense of community within the German-speaking Jewish population of these two countries in the two decades after World War I. The fresh research presented here shows that while Jews may have experienced a deepening sense of impending crisis and economic decline, a renewal of Jewish communal life took place during these years, as new groupings sprang up, including organizations for youth, for rural Jews, and for political groups such as Zionists and Bundists. Several chapters consider the impact of economic and political crises on German-Jewish family life. Together, these essays form a complex mosaic of German Jewry on the eve of its demise. &“An excellent collection . . . well written and cogently argued.&” —David N. Myers
Becoming Soviet Jews: The Bolshevik Experiment in Minsk (The Modern Jewish Experience)
by Elissa BemporadAn &“endlessly rewarding&” contribution to the study of Jewish life in the Soviet Union: &“Fascinating . . . nuanced and respectful of human limitations&” (Slavic Review). Minsk, the present capital of Belarus, was a heavily Jewish city in the decades between the world wars. Recasting our understanding of Soviet Jewish history, Becoming Soviet Jews demonstrates that pre-revolutionary forms of Jewish life in Minsk maintained continuity through the often violent social changes enforced by the communist project. Using Minsk as a case study of the Sovietization of Jews in the former Pale of Settlement, Elissa Bemporad reveals the ways in which many Jews acculturated to Soviet society in the 1920s and 1930s while remaining committed to older patterns of Jewish identity, such as Yiddish culture and education, attachment to the traditions of the Jewish workers&’ Bund, circumcision, and kosher slaughter. This pioneering study also illuminates the reshaping of gender relations on the Jewish street and explores Jewish everyday life and identity during the years of the Great Terror. &“Highly readable and brimming with novel facts and insights . . . [A] rich and engaging portrayal of a previously overlooked period and place.&” —H-Judaic
The Miss Silver Mysteries Volume Three: The Clock Strikes Twelve, The Key, and She Came Back (The Miss Silver Mysteries)
by Patricia WentworthA trio of World War II–era whodunits in the &“ingenious [and] satisfying&” mystery series featuring a British governess-turned-amateur-sleuth (The Scotsman). Meet Miss Maud Silver, a retired governess and &“little old lady who nobody notices, but who in turn notices everything&” (Paula Gosling, author of the Jack Stryker mystery series). The Clock Strikes Twelve: A wealthy British family convenes in their manor house for New Year&’s Eve. But when their industrialist patriarch dies, it&’s up to prim Miss Silver to determine who rang in the new year with murder . . . The Key: A German Jewish scientist working for the British war effort is murdered, and his new formula has been stolen. Now Miss Silver must find the killer or risk an explosive disaster . . . She Came Back: Three years after everyone thought she died in France, Lady Anne Jocelyn returns to England. The lady may be who she claims to be, or perhaps she&’s a fraud—or even a Nazi spy. Only Miss Silver will be able to divine the truth.
The Deadly Sins Novels Volume One: The First Deadly Sin and The Second Deadly Sin (The Edward X. Delaney Series)
by Lawrence SandersNew York City cop Edward X. Delaney solves a string of murder cases in these first two novels in the series by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author. Lawrence Sanders&’s first novel in the Deadly Sins series became a New York Times bestseller and was made into an acclaimed film starring Frank Sinatra as hard-bitten New York City homicide detective Edward X. Delaney. The Edgar Award–winning Sanders would follow up with three more Deadly Sins novels—each one a New York Times bestseller—proving himself again and again to be &“a master&” (The New Yorker). The First Deadly Sin: New York Police Department captain Edward Delaney is called to the scene of a brutal murder. A Brooklyn councilman was struck from behind, the back of his skull punctured and crushed with an unknown weapon. No robbery, no known motive. The commissioner appoints Delaney to head up a secret investigation. As more young men are murdered in the same way, Delaney starts putting the pieces together, even as he&’s distracted by the serious illness of his wife. Soon, he&’s faced with a cop&’s dilemma: He knows who the killer is, but the person is untouchable. That&’s when Delaney lays a trap to bring a monster to justice . . . &“Breathtakingly exciting.&” —Newsday The Second Deadly Sin: World-renowned artist Victor Maitland is dead—found in his Mott Street studio stabbed repeatedly in the back. With no clear leads or suspects, the NYPD calls Chief Edward Delaney out of retirement. Following a winding path of greed, deception, and fraud, Delaney uncovers a long line of suspects that includes Maitland&’s wife, son, and mistress. When a second murder rocks Manhattan&’s art world, Delaney moves closer to the truth about what kind of a man—or monster—Maitland really was. But which of the artist&’s enemies was capable of killing him and leaving no trail? &“Sanders is a pro!&” —Los Angeles Times
The Suspicion Series Volume Three: Suspicion of Madness and Suspicion of Rage (The Suspicion Series)
by Barbara ParkerGet twice the thrills in these two masterful crime thrillers in the New York Times–bestselling author&’s Edgar Award–nominated series. &“Miami&’s tempestuous legal sweethearts&” Gail Connor and her fiancé, Anthony Quintana, may have a volatile relationship, but when it comes to solving crimes on the dark side of sunny Florida, they must see eye to eye (Publishers Weekly). Suspicion of Madness: Anthony is in the Florida Keys to clear a former client&’s stepson of murder. But the simple case takes an unexpected turn when the boy attempts suicide. As a tropical storm looms, Florida&’s mean season will trap Anthony and Gail in a tinderbox of explosive surprises. &“Sizzling . . . smoldering suspense.&”—Vero Beach Press Journal (Florida) Suspicion of Rage: After finally tying the knot, Gail and Anthony travel to Havana to introduce her to the Cuban branch of his family. But when Anthony is asked to persuade his brother-in-law to defect, the newlyweds find themselves up against a radical underground group, an assassination plot, and a shattering secret from Anthony&’s past. &“Takes Parker to a new level . . . a strong political thriller.&” —The Miami Herald
The Charlie Muffin Thrillers Volume Two: Charlie Muffin U.S.A., Madrigal for Charlie Muffin, The Blind Run, and See Charlie Run (The Charlie Muffin Thrillers)
by Brian FreemantleThe un-Bond-like British spy is back—from a multimillion-selling author who &“hauls you aboard and won&’t let you off until the roller coaster stops&” (Los Angeles Times). &“If Brian Freemantle isn&’t the best writer of spy novels around, he&’s certainly, along with John le Carré, in the top two.&” —The Philadelphia Inquirer In his long-running Charlie Muffin series, Freemantle gives us an atypical British spy. Charlie is neither high cultured nor well mannered. He&’s working-class, scruffy, and fond of a drink. But he gets the job done . . . Charlie Muffin U.S.A.: Officially declared dead, Charlie can breathe again without the intelligence forces of Great Britain and the United States hunting him. He puts his espionage skills to work for an English insurance company, ensuring the security of the Romanov stamps, a priceless collection assembled before the Russian Revolution. When the American government decides to use them as bait for a vicious drug lord, Charlie gets stuck in the middle. But he&’s not licked yet. &“Fine, lightweight-caper entertainment.&” —Kirkus Reviews Madrigal for Charlie Muffin: Since British intelligence first turned on him and forced him to go into hiding, the ex-spy has had a rough few years. He takes a job for his only friend, Rupert Willoughby, who sends Charlie to Rome to check the security system for some valuable jewels. But Charlie has chosen the wrong time to visit the Eternal City. There&’s a mole in the British embassy there, and with agents of the East and West homing in fast, he&’s soon caught between a rock and a hard place. &“The most degenerate and lovable character ever cast in the role of secret agent.&” —Manchester Evening News The Blind Run: In this Edgar Award finalist, after a trumped-up trial, Charlie lands in jail for treason. But when KGB agents stage a prison break to free his fellow inmate, a convicted British traitor, Charlie also flees to Moscow. There he meets Natalia Fedova, the KGB interrogator assigned to determine if his defection is genuine. For anyone else, the risk would be suicidal. But for Charlie, the greatest danger may be falling in love. &“Unpretentious, sly rather than stately, but powerful nonetheless: the best of the Muffin novels thus far.&” —Kirkus Reviews See Charlie Run: Back at work for British intelligence, Charlie finally has a real assignment: A KGB agent in Tokyo wants to defect to the other side. Charlie&’s role is to bring him across. But as he himself has learned from all those evasive years, there&’s never anything simple or safe about running away. &“Freemantle has merged the good humor of a Lawrence Block thriller, the seriousness of a le Carré spy novel and the slam-bang adventure of a popular espionage caper.&” —Publishers Weekly
The Crossword Mysteries Holiday Collection: A Crossworder's Holiday, A Crossworder's Gift, Wrapped Up in Crosswords, and A Crossworder's Delight (Crossword Mysteries)
by Nero BlancFour holiday whodunits in one—the perfect present for puzzle fans! &“Light-hearted capers . . . Each as frothy as a cup of good eggnog&” (The Wall Street Journal). Together, crossword editor and amateur sleuth Belle Graham and her private detective husband, Rosco Polycrates, are &“a great investigative team in the tradition of Nick and Nora&” (Bookbrowse). In this holiday-themed collection—featuring two story anthologies and two novels by national bestselling author Nero Blanc—Belle and Rosco follow the clues and fill in the blanks to find the answers to some very puzzling mysteries. A Crossworder&’s Holiday: In these five short mysteries, Belle and Rosco solve puzzles in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Nantucket, and a haunted house in the Cotswolds. Perhaps the most challenging is the case of mobster Freddy Five Fingers, who was sending tip-offs to the cops via crosswords printed in the local tabloid—before he croaked. A Crossworder&’s Gift: Five more Yuletide mysteries take Belle and Rosco from sunny St. Lucia where they decipher clues to find a buried treasure to a blizzard that strands a sewing circle. And in Las Vegas, a high roller has strewn clues throughout his suite to form a crossword puzzle that leads to loot. Wrapped Up in Crosswords: With Christmas approaching, Belle does her part creating a Noel crossword contest while Rosco dons a red suit and snowy-white beard to collect toys for the town&’s annual children&’s drive. But his good will starts to dim when he and two Newcastle Police Department colleagues are mistaken for escaped convicts masquerading as small-town Santas. A Crossworder&’s Delight: Just in time for the holidays at Newcastle&’s historic Paul Revere Inn, Belle discovers an abandoned treasure: a book of dessert recipes written in the form of crosswords handed down from mother to daughter. But as nice as that is, someone else has been naughty: A valuable Longfellow poem has been stolen from its place of honor on the wall of the inn&’s front parlor. As he starts to investigate, Rosco finds himself with a new sleuthing partner, twelve-year-old E. T. Whitman—a bit of a wordsmith himself.
The Montana Mysteries Featuring Gabriel Du Pré Volume Two: Notches, Thunder Horse, and Long Son (The Montana Mysteries Featuring Gabriel Du Pré)
by Peter BowenThe contemporary western mystery series continues in these novels featuring a half Indian cattle inspector and &“character of legendary proportions&” (Ridley Pearson). Officially, Gabriel Du Pré is the cattle inspector for Toussaint, Montana, responsible for making sure no one tries to sell cattle branded by another ranch. Unofficially, he is responsible for much more than cows&’ backsides. The barren country around Toussaint is too vast for the town&’s small police force, and so, when needed, this hard-nosed Métis Indian lends a hand. In Gabriel Du Pré, &“Bowen has taken the antihero of Hemingway and Hammett and brought him up to date . . . a fresh, memorable character&” (The New York Times Book Review). Notches: Working alongside a Blackfoot FBI agent and his feisty female partner, Du Pré tracks a serial killer hunting young women in the Montana wilderness. &“A haunting tale, punched out in arresting rhythms of speech powerful as a tribal drumbeat.&” —Entertainment Weekly Thunder Horse: After an earthquake exposes an ancient burial site, Native American tribes fight over the remains and a fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex tooth is found in the hands of a murdered anthropologist. Time for Du Pré to start digging. &“Strange, seductive . . . The wonder of these voices is that they are . . . blunt, crude, soaked in whiskey and raspy from laughter, but still capable of leaving echoes.&” —Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review Long Son: After greedy, vicious Larry Messmer inherits his parents&’ ranch, the FBI asks Du Pré to keep an eye on the pathological prodigal son. When violence inevitably erupts, Du Pré finds himself caught in the crosshairs. &“Bowen&’s writing is lean and full of mordant observations. His hardy characters . . . come to life, and his wry humor . . . provides relief from the haunting, wind-bitten cattle-ranch landscape.&” —Publishers Weekly
The Executioner Series Books 7–9: Nightmare in New York, Chicago Wipeout, and Vegas Vendetta (The Executioner)
by Don Pendleton&“Action adventure icon&” Mack Bolan takes his assault on the Mafia to a whole new level—as the million-selling series continues (Los Angeles Times). To avenge his father, former Special Forces sniper Mack Bolan declares a one-man war on the Mafia. Included in this volume are books 7–9 in the long-running series. Nightmare in New York: The Executioner is about to make the mean streets of New York a whole lot meaner—when he targets the city&’s five families to stop a political assassination. Chicago Wipeout: With a single shot, Bolan puts a Chicago mob underboss six feet under—but he&’s just getting started as he blows away the bad guys in the windy city. Vegas Vendetta: When the Executioner takes aim at the mob&’s biggest casino and duels with the deadliest hit men the Mafia has to offer, guess who won&’t be leaving Las Vegas.
The Max Freeman Mysteries Volume Two: A Killing Night, Acts of Nature, Midnight Guardians, and Don't Lose Her (The Max Freeman Mysteries)
by Jonathon KingThe South Florida PI is back in the Edgar Award–winning series from a national bestselling author and &“the master of the high-stakes thriller&” (Michael Connelly). National bestselling author Jonathon King continues his Edgar Award–winning series that follows a tormented ex-cop from Philadelphia to South Florida on a quest to earn redemption from his dark past. &“Whether taking us to the dark corners of the Everglades or the hard streets of Philadelphia, King&’s writing is gritty, vivid, and suspenseful&” (Harlan Coben). A Killing Night: After three young female bartenders are murdered in Miami, and another goes missing in Philadelphia, private investigator Max Freeman is hired—by his ex-girlfriend Sherry—to look into the deaths. He accepts the job grudgingly, especially since Sherry is convinced the killer is a retired police officer who once saved Freeman&’s life back in Philly. &“Compelling from start to finish.&” —The Miami Herald Acts of Nature: Max and Sherry&’s vacation in the Everglades ends abruptly when Hurricane Simone slams into the Sunshine State, leaving them stranded in the swamp and forced to contend with opportunistic crooks looking to benefit from the disaster and hired muscle from a powerful oil company hoping to protect a lethal secret—regardless of who stands in the way. &“An action-packed glide through the Glades.&” —South Florida Sun-Sentinel Midnight Guardians: Freeman takes on a case involving a conspiracy to defraud Medicare—but he quickly discovers there&’s more to it than a simple scam. Soon the former Philadelphia cop is calling upon his old street instincts when an ex-drug kingpin known as the Brown Man turns up—and Freeman&’s girlfriend, Det. Sherry Richards, is put in harm&’s way. &“Captivating.&” —Publishers Weekly Don&’t Lose Her: When a pregnant judge is abducted while presiding over the extradition hearing of a notorious Columbian drug lord, Freeman follows her trail into the Everglades to save her and her unborn child before it&’s too late. &“This book moves with relentless abandon.&” —Michael Connelly
The Gideon Oliver Mysteries Volume Two: Curses!, Icy Clutches, and Make No Bones (The Gideon Oliver Mysteries)
by Aaron ElkinsBone-chilling cases featuring the forensic anthropologist known as the Skeleton Detective, in the Edgar Award–winning series &“that never disappoints&” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). Edgar Award winner and former anthropologist Aaron Elkins &“thoroughly understands the art of the murder mystery&” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). In books five through seven from the long-running Skeleton Detective series, Elkins brings back his &“likable, down-to-earth cerebral sleuth,&” Professor Gideon Oliver (Chicago Tribune). Curses!: Mayan ruins in the Yucatán . . . a secret room in a tomb . . . age-old skeletons . . . Anthropologist Gideon Oliver is thrilled to join the archaeological excavation of Tlaloc—until ancient Mayan curses against desecrators of the site seem to materialize as modern murders. &“Another delightful semiserious romp through science and an exotic police culture.&” —Publishers Weekly Icy Clutches: On a trip to Glacier Bay, Alaska, with his forest ranger wife, Julie, the Skeleton Detective pursues a coldhearted killer who buries evidence in an avalanche. &“A literate, amiable story . . . a credible plot, a likable hero.&” —Kirkus Reviews Make No Bones: In accordance with the wishes of Albert Evan Jasper, after his demise in a car crash, his remains—a few charred bits of bone—are installed in an Oregon museum to create a fascinating macabre exhibit. A fitting end for the &“dean of American forensic anthropologists&”—until what is left of him disappears during the biannual meeting—a.k.a. the &“bone bash and weenie roast&”—of the Western Association of Forensic Anthropologists. Gideon has one question: Why? &“[A] seamlessly plotted corker of a mystery . . . Readers who like their humor dark and their gumshoes smart are sure to enjoy the &‘bone bash.&’&” —Publishers Weekly
The Montana Mysteries Featuring Gabriel Du Pré Volume Three: The Stick Game, Cruzatte and Maria, and Ash Child (The Montana Mysteries Featuring Gabriel Du Pré)
by Peter BowenThe contemporary western mystery series follows the further adventures of a half Indian cattle inspector and &“character of legendary proportions&” (Ridley Pearson). Officially, Gabriel Du Pré is the cattle inspector for Toussaint, Montana, responsible for making sure no one tries to sell cattle branded by another ranch. Unofficially, he is responsible for much more than cows&’ backsides. The barren country around Toussaint is too vast for the town&’s small police force, and so, when needed, this hard-nosed Métis Indian lends a hand. In Gabriel Du Pré, &“Bowen has taken the antihero of Hemingway and Hammett and brought him up to date . . . a fresh, memorable character&” (The New York Times Book Review). The Stick Game: After a Native American boy turns up dead, Du Pré takes on a mining company that&’s poisoning reservation children. Is there something more sinister than greed and indifference at work? &“Wonderful . . . wise.&” —The Washington Post Book World Cruzatte and Maria: While reluctantly serving as a consultant for a documentary about Lewis and Clark&’s expedition up the Missouri River, Du Pré stumbles upon a national treasure: Meriwether Lewis&’s lost journals. Then members of the film crew start dying . . . &“A solid entry in a great series.&” —Booklist Ash Child: In the midst of a drought in Toussaint, Montana, brushfires, meth dealers, and murder challenge the Métis Indian tracker and cattle investigator. &“Compelling . . . plenty of action . . . a pleasure to read.&” —Publishers Weekly
The Miss Silver Mysteries Volume Four: Dark Threat, Latter End, and Wicked Uncle (The Miss Silver Mysteries)
by Patricia WentworthThree cozy mysteries in the &“timelessly charming&” historical series featuring a retired English governess who finds a second calling as a detective (Charlotte MacLeod). Meet Miss Maud Silver, a retired governess and &“little old lady who nobody notices, but who in turn notices everything&” (Paula Gosling, author of the Jack Stryker mystery series). Dark Threat: Judy Elliot leaves war-torn London for a job as a maid in the peaceful countryside. But something&’s not right at the house known as Pilgrim&’s Rest. Fortunately Miss Silver is skilled at shedding light on deadly secrets . . . Latter End: Wealthy Mrs. Lois Latter thinks she has everything, but that doesn&’t stop someone from giving her poison. And with the late matron&’s long list of enemies, Miss Silver has her work cut out for her . . . Wicked Uncle: Gregory Porlock didn&’t become one of Britain&’s most powerful men by following the rules. But when he&’s found with a knife in his back, the game is over. Now Miss Maud Silver must deduce who&’s playing dirty.
Principles of AI Governance and Model Risk Management: Master the Techniques for Ethical and Transparent AI Systems
by James SaylesNavigate the complex landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance and model risk management using a holistic approach encompassing people, processes, and technology. This book provides practical guidance, oversight structure and centers of excellence, and actionable insights for organizations seeking to harness the power of AI responsibly, ethically, and transparently. By addressing the technical, ethical, and societal dimensions of AI governance, organizations will be empowered to build trustworthy AI systems that benefit both their bottom line and the broader community. Featuring successful mitigating controls based on proven use cases, the book underscores the importance of aligning AI strategy with AI governance, striking a balance between AI innovation, risk mitigation as well as broader business goals. You’ll receive pointers for designing a well-governed AI development lifecycle, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and continuous monitoring throughout the AI development lifecycle. This book highlights the importance of collaboration between stakeholders, i.e., boards of directors, CxOs, corporate counsel, compliance officers, audit executives, data scientists, developers, validators, etc. You’ll gain practical advice on addressing the challenges related to the ownership of AI-generated content and models, stressing the need for legal frameworks and international collaboration. You’ll also learn the importance of auditing AI systems, developing protocols for rapid response in case of AI-related crises, and building capacity for AI actors through education. Principles of AI Governance and Model Risk Management demonstrates its value-added uniqueness by detailing a strategy to ensure a cohesive approach to managing AI-related risks, global compliance, policy, privacy, and AI-human collaboration and oversight. What You Will Learn Different approaches to AI adoption, from building in-house AI capabilities to partnering with external providers Key factors to consider when choosing an AI solution and how to ensure its successful integration into existing workflows AI technologies, their business impact, and ethical considerations to make informed decisions and foster responsible AI The environmental impacts of AI systems and the need for sustainable practices in AI development and deployment. Who This Book is For Business executives and process owners/representatives, risk officers, cybersecurity professionals, legal counsel and ethics officers, human resource professionals, data scientists, AI developers, and CTOs.
Gaza’s Cycle of Destruction and Rebuilding: Understanding the Actors, Dynamics, and Responses
by Ghassan ElkahloutGaza’s Cycle of Destruction: Understanding the Actors, Dynamics, and Responses is an integrated, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive academic inquiry into Gaza wars and their drivers, actors, dynamic, paradigms, and responses. Unlike studies on the previous wars in Gaza, it seeks to present to the regional and global readership a different perspective towards the conflict—one that is authored by nearly a dozen Palestinian researchers and academics. It strives to steer away from the ‘Northern’-dominated research space to present an informative, analytical, and thought-provoking argument. The book provides a combination of theoretical, thematic, and topical analysis of the war. It is designed to guide the reader through the background and development of the events of the 2023 war. Put differently, the book’s objective goes beyond tracing the historical roots of instability in Gaza. Instead, it directly addresses the Gaza Strip’s contemporary context.