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Around the World in Eighty Days: Kelly's English Comics Simplified Characters (Extraordinary Voyages)
by Jules VerneFor the sake of a bet, an Englishman embarks on the journey of a lifetime, in this classic adventure tale from a master of the form Phileas Fogg believes the world has gotten smaller. With the opening of a new railroad across India, he calculates it will now be possible to circumnavigate the globe in as few as eighty days. When the men at his club disagree, Fogg bets them the astonishing sum of £20,000—half his worth—that he can make the trip. Accompanied by his new manservant, the eccentric Passepartout, Fogg risks his fortune, his honor, and his life to prove the naysayers wrong. From the sands of Egypt to the jungles of India to the icy waters of the Pacific to the dark corridors of a Chinese opium den, Fogg and Passepartout use every mode of transportation possible to race from one exotic exploit to the next. Pursued by a Scotland Yard detective, derailed by a herd of bison, and attacked by Sioux Indians, the travelers never lose sight of their goal—even when they stop to rescue a beautiful damsel in distress. A brilliant blend of comedy, adventure, and fantasy, Around the World in Eighty Days continues to delight and amaze readers of all ages, long after the world of Jules Verne&’s imagination became our reality. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
The Rent Collector: Adapted for Young Readers from the Best-Selling Novel
by Camron WrightBased on true events. Sang Ly lives at Cambodia's city dump and is grateful she can help earn a living for her family by sifting through the trash for recyclables and things which can be repaired and sold. On a good day, she can earn enough to buy food for her family. She needs enough good days so she can pay the rent collector, Sopeap--a grumpy old woman who shows no mercy and who is willing to evict any tenant who can't pay their rent on time. When Sang Ly is unable to pay her rent for the month, she fears her family will have to leave the dump and their shanty home--a place where her only possessions can be carried in two hands. Little does she know that a discarded children's book found among the mounds of trash would save her. When Sopeap sees the book lying on Sang Ly's cardboard bed, her mood changes. Sang Ly offers her the book if she is allowed to keep her family at the dump. An unlikely friendship develops between the two women, and Sang Ly learns that Sopeap knows how to read--something Sang Ly has always wanted to learn. Being able to read could transform Sang Ly's world beyond the predictable confines of the dump and lead to a future with possibilities and hope. But the rent collector has a secret and tragic past, one that will not be easy for Sang Ly to navigate. With the help of her supportive husband, Ki Lim, and a helpful and humorous boy, Lucky Fat, Sang Ly embarks on a life-changing journey to give her young son, Nisay, a better life and future. The Rent Collector is about the power of literacy, the influence of the past, and finding hope, resiliency, and empowerment in the face of seemingly endless hardship.
Homeland
by Clare FrancisIn this &“thoughtful, deeply atmospheric novel&” by the author of Wolf Winter, a Polish refugee faces suspicion after a death in rural postwar England (Daily Mail). After World War II ends, soldiers are pouring back into Britain, and in 1946, the country is on the brink of the harshest winter in a hundred years. Blizzards rage and everything is in short supply: jobs, coal, food. In the Somerset wetlands, a Polish veteran named Wladyslaw Malinowski seeks work as a laborer. The soldiers of the Second Polish Corps are reluctant to leave, and many of the locals view them with uncertainty, but Malinowski manages to find employment on a farm. He also finds a potential romance in the local schoolmistress, Stella. But when murder rocks the small community, suspicion falls on the outsider. From the international bestselling author of A Dark Devotion and Betrayal, Homeland is an insightful look at how hardship and social upheaval can shape—or shatter—everyday lives, &“a very fine novel indeed&” (The Independent).
Daniel Deronda: Volume 2...
by George EliotTwo members of the British upper class are drawn together—and torn asunder—by their search for self in this &“startling and unexpected novel&” (A. S. Byatt). As a true scion of the English gentry, Daniel Deronda has been raised with the expectation that he will take his rightful place in society—despite being possessed of a disquiet he cannot ignore. When he spies the beautiful Gwendolen Harleth, he senses a similarly dissatisfied soul in her. However, their shared discontent takes them in vastly different directions. Upon discovering some unsettling possibilities about his own ancestry, Daniel is drawn into the world of Judaism and the discipline and spiritual growth it entails while Gwendolen fiercely desires to be freed from her oppressive marriage to noble Henleigh Mallinger Grandcourt and rectify mistakes from her past in order to live on her own terms. The two find their paths intertwined as they seek life outside of their station. Set at the height of the British Empire, where racism, sexism, and the strict hierarchy of an absolutely uncompromising society held sway, Daniel Deronda is a jarring, emotional tale of a time and place often romanticized but rarely examined in all its facets, both glorious and grotesque. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
The Helliconia Trilogy: Helliconia Spring, Helliconia Summer, and Helliconia Winter (The Helliconia Trilogy #Bks. 1-3)
by Brian W. AldissFrom a Science Fiction Grand Master: The sweeping epic of a planet veering from one extreme atmosphere to another—and the humans trying to survive on it. Helliconia Spring introduces us to a tumultuous world that follows an eccentric orbit around a double-star system—and the satellite from Earth secretly monitoring it. Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Brian W. Aldiss then explores the social and religious divisions keeping the planet&’s population in conflict even as they&’re devastated by plague in Helliconia Summer, and concludes the trilogy with Helliconia Winter, which recounts both the threat of a looming, frigid age of decay and the hope of a new future. The Helliconia Trilogy is both a riveting story and a thought-provoking examination of how our destinies are shaped by the environment around us. Aldiss&’s study of fields from astronomy to climatology to geobiology endow all three novels with rich details of the planet Helliconia. This riveting, century-spanning saga is a timely exploration of what climate change can mean for our own planet. &“Brian Aldiss&’s towering imagination places his Helliconia Trilogy far above standard science fiction&” (Daily Mail).
The Deadly Ackee (The Theo Bloomer Mysteries #2)
by Joan HessRetired florist Theo Bloomer would much rather stay at home than go on a disastrous Jamaican vacation in this charming cozy mystery. Every time Dorrie Caldicott gets into trouble, it falls to Theo Bloomer to bail her out. So when Dorrie and her college buddies rent a villa in Jamaica, Uncle Theo is called on to chaperone. An unassuming retired florist, Theo prefers pottering around his greenhouse to traveling the world, but he has a soft spot for his niece—and it may get him killed. At the resort, Theo struggles to make himself at home among Dorrie&’s preppy gang. As the students whip themselves into a frenzy of debauchery, Theo just looks the other way. But when fun in the sun gives way to kidnapping, extortion, drug smuggling, and murder, Theo will do anything to get home to his flowers. Fans of Kate Collins&’s bestselling Flower Shop Mysteries will find a kindred spirit in Joan Hess&’s Theo Bloomer. When this wilting violet is uprooted, the results are nothing short of hilarious. The Deadly Ackee is the 2nd book in the Theo Bloomer Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Under the Apple Tree: A Novel
by Dan WakefieldA moving tale of young love, family values, and growing up during wartime from bestselling author Dan Wakefield At the height of World War II, Artie Garber turns eleven years old in his hometown of Birney, Illinois. When his older brother, Roy, joins the US Marines, Artie is left to defend the home front—as well as Roy&’s high school sweetheart, Shirley. Without the guidance of his beloved big brother, Artie resorts to reading advice in Collier&’s on how to identify spies and search for German aircraft over the lush fields of Illinois. As Artie works to protect Shirley—a lost cause, despite the cheerleader&’s best efforts—he must come to grips with his own burgeoning sexuality as he steps cautiously toward adulthood. Rendered in stunning, peeled-back prose, Under the Apple Tree realistically depicts one boy&’s loss of innocence and the devastating effects of war felt far beyond the battlefield.
Death Sentence: The Inside Story of the John List Murders
by Joe SharkeyThe true account of the man who murdered his family in their New Jersey mansion—and eluded a nationwide manhunt for eighteen years. Until 1971, life was good for mild-mannered accountant John List. He was vice president of a Jersey City bank and had moved his mother, wife, and three teenage children into a nineteen-room home in Westfield, New Jersey. But all that changed when he lost his job. Raised by his Lutheran father to believe success meant being a good provider, List saw himself as an utter failure. Straining under financial burdens, the stress of hiding his unemployment, as well as the fear that the free-spirited 1970s would corrupt the souls of his children, List came to a shattering conclusion. &“It was my belief that if you kill yourself, you won&’t go to heaven,&” List told Connie Chung in a television interview. &“So eventually I got to the point where I felt that I could kill them. Hopefully they would go to heaven, and then maybe I would have a chance to later confess my sins to God and get forgiveness.&” List methodically shot his entire family in their home, managing to conceal the deaths for weeks with a carefully orchestrated plan of deception. Then he vanished and started over as Robert P. Clark. Chronicling List&’s life before and after the grisly crime, Death Sentence exposes the truth about the accountant-turned-killer, including his revealing letter to his pastor, his years as a fugitive with a new name—and a new wife—his eventual arrest, and the details of his high-profile trial. Revised and updated, this ebook also includes photos.
Sense and Sensibility: Three Volumes Of Miniature Classics (Mobi Classics Ser.)
by Jane AustenTorn between reason and passion, obligation and impulse, two sisters search for love in eighteenth-century England Although they are as close as sisters can be, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood could not be more different. Elinor is reasonable beyond her nineteen years; Marianne&’s feelings are as ungovernable as the wind. But both girls are about to learn how powerful and devastating true love can be. When Elinor meets the intelligent and mysterious Edward Ferrars, her commitment to self-control is tested for the first time. As her sister quietly endures the pain of heartbreak, Marianne longs for a romance of her own. She finds it in a chance encounter with John Willoughby, a dashing young rake who lives life as passionately as she does, and whose love could make her the happiest woman in England—or destroy her. A sparkling comedy of manners and an essential guide to navigating affairs of the heart, Jane Austen&’s first published novel is a timeless tale of love and loss. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
A Winter's Love: A Novel
by Madeleine L'EngleA lonely woman is torn between the bonds of family and the potential of new love in this moving novel from the author of A Wrinkle in Time. Caught somewhere between love, hate, and indifference, Emily Bowen&’s marriage is hanging on by a thread. After being let go from his job, her husband pulled away from her, and the distance continues to grow during their family&’s sabbatical in Switzerland. With their relationship as cold as the wind baying outside, Emily finds unexpected warmth in a man from her past. As she contemplates seizing the connection she&’s been craving, Emily must decide if she&’s willing to sacrifice the life she&’s built for an unseen future. Poignant and powerful, this is a timeless tale of the turmoil that comes with falling in—and out—of love, and &“a convincing story of mixed loyalties and divided affections&” (Kirkus Reviews). This ebook features an illustrated biography of Madeleine L&’Engle including rare images from the author&’s estate.
Very Old Bones: A Novel
by William KennedyFrom a Pulitzer Prize–winning author: &“An immensely gratifying novel&” of an Irish-American clan whose exploits changed Albany forever (The Boston Globe). When it was built, the Phelan mansion was the only home on the block. In the decades since, countless tragedies have swept through its rambling halls, but no matter how many times its foundations have been rocked, the old house still stands. Now, in 1958, its sole occupants are the eccentric old painter Peter Phelan and his illegitimate son, Orson, who sees all—but says nothing. When Peter invites his remaining family to hear him read his will aloud, it forces the Phelan clan to reckon with the most powerful force in Albany: their own tortured history. Unveiling a series of portraits inspired by family tragedy, Peter takes the Phelans back into the past, as far as 1887, forcing them to come face-to-face with the origins of the family curse. As the raucous narrative unfolds, Orson does his best to grapple with his roots, and the knowledge that the sins of the past can never truly be washed away. William Kennedy&’s eight-book Albany Cycle is one of the most ambitious projects in modern historical fiction, a kaleidoscopic portrait of a city whose heroes are its corrupt politicians, conmen, and thieves. The Phelans are one of the roughest families in American literature, and also one of the greatest, who &“can claim a place beside O&’Neill&’s Tyrones and Steinbeck&’s Joads&” (Library Journal).
The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Greg Matthews&“The true sequel to Twain&’s masterpiece.&” —The Christian Science Monitor At the start of this exuberant adventure story, Huck Finn&’s life is back to normal in St. Petersburg, Missouri: The Widow Douglas expects him to wear clean clothes and eat with a knife and fork, and Jim now gets paid two dollars a week for the same chores he did as a slave. But when tragedy strikes and Huck is framed for the murder of Judge Thatcher, the two old friends have no choice but to finally &“light out for the Territory&”—and straight into the chaos of the California Gold Rush. With tenacious lawman Bulldog Barrett in hot pursuit, Huck and Jim zigzag west, encountering a colorful cast of con artists, vixens, outlaws, and Indians along the way. Huck&’s dastardly Pap even makes an appearance, rising from a watery grave to menace his son once again. When the adventurers visit a rowdy San Francisco theater, they find their greatest surprise yet: A popular playwright has dramatized their cross-country odyssey with Huck Finn as the dastardly villain and Tom Sawyer as the noble hero. A picaresque romp through the Old West and a heartfelt tribute to the greatest of American novels, The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is rip-roaring fun from first page to last.
Anne Sexton: A Self-Portrait in Letters
by Anne SextonA revealing collection of letters from Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Anne Sexton While confessional poet Anne Sexton included details of her life and battle with mental illness in her published work, her letters to family, friends, and fellow poets provide an even more intimate glimpse into her private world. Selected from thousands of letters and edited by Linda Gray Sexton, the poet&’s daughter, and Lois Ames, one of her closest friends, this collection exposes Sexton&’s inner life from her boarding school days through her years of growing fame and ultimately to the months leading up to her suicide. Correspondence with writers like W. D. Snodgrass, Robert Lowell, and May Swenson reveals Sexton&’s growing confidence in her identity as a poet as she discusses her craft, publications, and teaching appointments. Her private letters chart her marriage to Alfred &“Kayo&” Sexton, from the giddy excitement following their elopement to their eventual divorce; her grief over the death of her parents; her great love for her daughters balanced with her frustration with the endless tasks of being a housewife; and her persistent struggle with depression. Going beyond the angst and neuroses of her poetry, these letters portray the full complexities of the woman behind the art: passionate, anguished, ambitious, and yearning for connection.
Hard Money
by Luke ShortAn early master of the western spins a dramatic yarn about a ruthless mine baron and the unlikely duo who risk their lives to stop his dastardly plans. Charles Bonal is a self-made man who believes in getting the job done whatever the obstacle. But his newest project to drive a tunnel through the mountains is hitting more than immovable earth. A vicious mining magnate, Chris Feldhake, doesn&’t want Bonal interfering with his own plans to expand his power and empire—and he&’ll kill to stop him. Phil Seay will do anything to make his way in the West, so when Bonal asks the young man to join him as a tunnel boss, he accepts—even though the old man&’s prideful daughter tends to ride his last nerve. But the routine job turns far more dangerous when Feldhake sets out to bury them all. Only Seay and Bonal can keep the crew above ground. Luke Short, along with such legendary authors as Zane Grey and Louis L&’Amour, helped transform the stories of the American West from dime-store pulp into popular and respected literature. A winner of the Levi Strauss Golden Saddleman Award, he is a true icon of the genre and a king of western adventure.
Linden Hills: A Novel
by Gloria NaylorThe National Book Award–winning author of The Women of Brewster Place explores the secrets of an affluent black community. For its wealthy African American residents, the exclusive neighborhood of Linden Hills is a symbol of &“making it.&” The ultimate achievement: a home on prestigious Tupelo Drive. Making your way downhill to Tupelo is irrefutable proof of your worth. But the farther down the hill you go, the emptier you become . . . Using the descent of Dante&’s Inferno as a model, this bold, haunting novel follows two young men as they attempt to find work amid the circles of the well-off community. Exploring a microcosm of race and social class, author Gloria Naylor reveals the true cost of success for the lost souls of Linden Hills—an existence trapped in a nightmare of their own making.
Any Man's Death (The Peter Macklin Thrillers #3)
by Loren D. EstlemanA Detroit mob war draws Peter Macklin back into his old life as a Mafia assassin in award-winning author Loren D. Estleman&’s riveting hard-boiled thriller The Reverend Thomas Aquinas Sunsmith is halfway through his sermon when killers open fire. He is preaching against the evils of gambling, which a cartel of mobsters is trying to legalize in Detroit. The hail of gunfire misses the reverend, but a choir member is cut down—the first victim in the battle for the soul of the Motor City. The Detroit mob has erupted into civil war, and professional killer Peter Macklin is caught in the middle. A former mob employee, he has since tried to stay away from the savagery of organized crime, but now they&’re offering him a job too tempting to refuse. The mob will kill whomever it takes to bring gambling to Detroit, and Macklin is about to discover their secret weapon: a seventeen-year-old prodigy assassin, who happens to be Macklin&’s own son. This suspenseful thriller from the three-time Shamus Award–winning author of the Amos Walker Mysteries rumbles with hard-boiled action and razor-sharp dialogue. Any Man&’s Death is the 3rd book in the Peter Macklin Thrillers, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Hardy Boys 38: Mystery at Devil’s Paw (Hardy Boys Mystery Stories)
by Franklin W. DixonWhen Frank and Joe Hardy receive a telegram from Tony Prito in Alaska telling them that his life is in jeopardy, they immediately make plans to fly to Tony’s rescue. Unknown enemies dog the Hardys and their pal Chet Morton even before they start the 4,000 mile journey. Puzzling questions lead the Hardys into dangerous sleuthing in the wilderness of Alaska and British Columbia. The astounding secret that the young detectives uncover, in the shadow of the forbidding mountain peak Devil’s Paw, winds up one of the most perilous adventures they have ever encountered.
Roux the Bandit: A Novel (Casemate Classic War Fiction #8)
by André ChamsonA Frenchman flees his small mountain village to avoid service in World War I in a thoughtful, witty novel about the conflict of patriotism and conscience. Deep in the Cévennes Mountains of southern France, a man called Roux refuses to heed the call to duty at the outbreak of war in 1914. Instead, he flees and hides in the hills, returning only occasionally to the farm where he left his mother and sisters. The people of the valley condemn his desertion and hope the police will find his hideout and force him into the army. Then, as the months and the years go by, and the horrors of the trenches become known, the locals begin to understand Roux&’s actions—but it is only at the end of the war that his fate will be decided. In an atmospheric and often witty novel of life during wartime in a rural French community, André Chamson explores the questions of perception and morality, as well as the roles we play in the great historical events of our times.
Far Thoughts and Pale Gods (The Complete Short Fiction of Greg Bear #2)
by Greg Bear6 dazzling stories, freshly revised for this volume, plus new introductions, commentary, and reminiscences from the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author of War Dogs, Eternity, and The Forge of God Greg Bear is the author of more than 30 books, from thrillers (Darwin&’s Radio, Vitals) to science fiction (Blood Music, Eon, Hull Zero Three) to pure fantasy (The Infinity Concerto, The Serpent Mage). He has won 5 Nebula and 2 Hugo Awards, his works have been translated into more than 20 languages, and his titles have sold millions of copies worldwide. But his skills are not confined to writing at full-length novels: He is also the author of dozens of brilliant short stories, novellas, and novelettes. Far Thoughts and Pale Gods contains 6 highly acclaimed stories, each newly revised by the author, that illustrate Bear&’s abundant breadth of talent. The volume includes: · &“Heads,&” which marks the first time the concept of quantum computing appears in science fiction—though it is a vision of 400 frozen heads that will remain in the reader&’s memory; · &“The Wind from a Burning Woman,&” the first story set in the universe that spawned the novels Eon and Eternity; · &“Plague of Conscience,&” which explores what it means to be alien—and whether that can be comprehended without understanding what it means to be human; · &“Scattershot,&” beginning &“The teddy bear spoke excellent Mandarin,&” a gripping deep-space adventure that is also a tribute to legendary female science fiction writer James Tiptree Jr. These and the remaining entries—&“Mandala&” and &“Petra&”—form a remarkable collection showcasing the talents of a major American writer. Each story is accompanied by an introduction and an afterword written especially for this volume.
The Far East Trilogy: The Chinese Bandit, The Last Mandarin, and The Blue-Eyed Shan (The Far East Trilogy #2)
by Stephen BeckerThree thrillers set in WWII-era Asia by a New York Times–bestselling author who writes &“like a cross between Joseph Conrad and James Clavell&” (Houston Chronicle). &“A master of terse, ironic dialogue,&” the author of A Covenant with Death presents a trilogy that journeys from the Gobi Desert to Peking to Burma in the chaotic years following the Second World War (Kirkus Reviews). The Chinese Bandit: An American ex-marine must run for his life in the cutthroat atmosphere of postwar China, pursued by both a dangerous criminal and Chiang Kai-shek&’s forces. This one &“will keep readers turning pages through the night&” (Los Angeles Times). The Last Mandarin: An American mercenary chases a Japanese war criminal through the war-torn streets of Peking in this &“fascinating . . . exciting&” adventure (ThePhiladelphia Inquirer). The Blue-Eyed Shan: The battle between East and West explodes in a remote corner of Burma, as an anthropologist in an isolated mountain village finds himself fighting to save the people he loves from the Chinese Red Army and a fearsome tribe of headhunters. A thriller &“as exciting as Raiders of the Lost Ark&” (Publishers Weekly). Described as &“absolutely ripping adventure&” by Time and &“sublime entertainment&” by John Irving, the Far East Trilogy is an unforgettable saga filled with suspense, epic scope, and rich historical atmosphere.
Curtain for a Jester (The Mr. and Mrs. North Mysteries #17)
by Frances Lockridge Richard LockridgeThe murder of a notorious practical joker is no laughing matter in this &“excellent series&” starring a husband-and-wife detective team (The New Yorker). Byron Wilmot will do anything for a laugh. He&’s a legend of practical jokes, notorious for once using a dummy to stage a kidnapping so realistic it fooled the police. So when Pamela and Jerry North are invited to a party at Wilmot&’s home, Mrs. North braces herself for an evening of snakes in a can, rubber spiders, and the like. But tonight, a murderer will get the last laugh. When Wilmot&’s secretary finds her boss lying in a pool of blood with a knife sticking out of his chest, she assumes it&’s just another highly realistic gag. But Wilmot doesn&’t move. He&’s dead and the Norths will have think quickly if they&’re going to find the killer—and make it to the punch line of Wilmot&’s last great joke. Curtain for a Jester is the 17th book in the Mr. and Mrs. North Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Legacy of Lehr (Millennium Series, A Byron Priess Bk.)
by Katherine KurtzBest known for her beloved Deryni series, Katherine Kurtz rockets into new territory in this breathtaking science fiction murder mystery. The interstellar cruiser Valkyrie has been ordered to take an unexpected detour from its normal route to pick up a strange and valuable cargo. Capt. George Lutobo cannot disobey the commands of his emperor, but the idea of bringing four huge, blue-furred lionlike creatures onboard a luxury vessel makes the captain uneasy. Nor does he trust the big cats&’ escorts, husband and wife scientists Mather Seton and Wallis Hamilton. Though these magnificent felines possess remarkable psychic abilities and are worshipped as deities on their home planet—and, for that reason, are essential components of the diplomatic negotiations between worlds—they are nevertheless frighteningly dangerous beasts, powerfully built, with razor-sharp claws and teeth. Soon after the creatures&’ arrival, the discovery of a dead passenger, ripped to pieces and clutching a clump of blue fur, seems to justify Captain Lutobo&’s fears. The killings continue, each as savage as the last, though Seton and Hamilton insist that the great felines could never have escaped from their cages. But the dark mystery only deepens when one of the imprisoned cats is murdered—the manner of its death impossible to fathom—and one terrible truth becomes frighteningly clear: No one and no thing is safe any longer aboard the Valkyrie. Thrilling, surprising, and marvelously inventive, Katherine Kurtz&’s The Legacy of Lehr is an exciting science fiction adventure that displays a daringly different side of the acclaimed fantasist best known for her popular Deryni and Knights Templar fantasy series.
When Secrets Die (The Lena Padget Mysteries #3)
by Lynn HightowerAccused of murdering her child, a suspected sufferer of Munchausen syndrome by proxy seeks help from Southern private eye Lena Padget, in this riveting thriller. Lena Padget has dedicated her life to helping women in trouble, but she&’s never dealt with a case as desperate and complex as that of Emma Marsden, who recently lost her infant son to a fatal liver ailment. The pediatrician who treated the child has accused the devastated mother of poisoning her son. Dr. Theodore Tundridge firmly believes that the tragedy was the result of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, which can cause sufferers to inflict harm on others to draw attention to themselves. Now Emma is terrified that Children and Family Services will take her teenage daughter away from her. Lena&’s search for the truth leads her into the dark, shadowy regions of the medical establishment—where a nightmare of unethical science may be unfolding behind the doors of Dr. Tundridge&’s hospital pathology laboratory—and into troubling areas of her enigmatic client&’s psyche. What initially appeared to be a case of medical malpractice and character assassination suddenly takes a sharp and dangerously unexpected turn, setting Lena on a race to untangle a twisted web of secrets before more children die. Shamus Award–winning author Lynn Hightower delivers a must-read for fans of Karin Slaughter, Laura Lippman, and Marcia Muller—a powerful story of medicine, motherhood, and madness that will stay with the reader long after the mystery&’s surprising denouement. When Secrets Die is the 3rd book in the Lena Padget Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Albatross
by Charlotte ArmstrongMaking amends for a tragic accident, a couple fears their good deed is about to be punished in this suspense novel from the &“mistress of day-lit terror&” (The New York Times). In a roadside Santa Clara motel, Esther Gardner wakes up to an intruder lurching toward her. No one blames her husband, Tom, for taking him down with a single blow to the head—least of all the stranger himself, an embarrassed real estate broker from Arcadia, who had drunkenly stumbled into the wrong room. Three days later, the poor man dies of a neglected head injury, leaving his wife, Audrey, and her invalid sister penniless, desperate, and in need of a new home. Overcome with guilt, Tom and Esther invite the women to stay with them. But as the temporary stay stretches into months, Esther can&’t shake the disquieting suspicion that their grieving, freeloading guests are up to something. The sisters&’ whispers are starting to sound conspiratorial. Their stories aren&’t adding up. And their smiles are beginning to curl with menace. If it&’s all in Esther&’s over-burdened imagination, that would be understandable. If it isn&’t, that could be terrifying. With eight novels and nearly two dozen short stories adapted for film and television, The Albatross demonstrates once again why Edgar Award–winning Charlotte Armstrong is considered &“the American queen of suspense novelists&” (New York Telegraph).
Gentleman's Relish: Stories
by Patrick GaleLove—common and uncommon, vengeful and transformational—is the theme of this superb collection from the bestselling author of Notes from an Exhibition. From subtle tales of domestic unease to a story featuring a caravan that transports three generations of a family away from their small-town lives, author Patrick Gale proves in his second story collection that he is a master at mining the loneliness, yearning, and eternal optimism of the human spirit. The lonely wife of a prison governor—and the only female on an inaccessible island—gets a lesson in angling from an inmate who will pay a high price in &“The Lesson.&” In &“Saving Space,&” a widower returns to a summer music festival to revisit bittersweet memories of his wife—and receives consolation from another woman&’s ghost. In &“Petals on a Pool,&” a female author bonds with a male poet at a book convention in Hong Kong where no one has heard of them—until she sees something odd floating among the petals in the hotel&’s pool. The puppy training lessons at the center of &“Obedience&” serve as the catalyst for the rekindled sex life of a couple when the husband is suspected of murder. Gentleman&’s Relish also features chilling tales of blood and revenge. In &“Making Hay,&” a senior citizen living in a retirement home conceives a diabolical payback in the form of family folklore told to her young grandchildren. And in &“Cookery,&” a son exacts a nasty retribution against his homophobic father when he whips up an extra-special dinner. Some of these stories unfold like dreams—or nightmares—and others dissect with the precision of a surgeon&’s scalpel. Narrated with wit, glee, and surprising tenderness, this collection includes unsung masterpieces like &“Hushed Casket,&” in which a husband on his honeymoon discovers an old tea casket in an abandoned church that releases a macabre spirit, and suddenly, the homely spouse is transformed into an irresistible sex magnet. Additionally included here are stories originally commissioned by BBC Radio 4, as well as &“In the Camp,&” which explores the childhood of Laura Lewis, the heroine of Gale&’s acclaimed novel The Whole Day Through. With Gale&’s sharp eye for detail and unerring ear for dialogue, this pitch-perfect, something-for-everyone collection is sure to lure readers in—and keep them hooked.