James Ellroy and Otto Penzler mined the past century to find this treasure trove of thirty-nine stories. From noir's twenties-era infancy come gems like James M. Cain's "Pastorale," and its postwar heyday boasts giants like Mickey Spillane and Evan Hunter. Packing an undeniable punch, diverse contemporary incarnations include Elmore Leonard, Patricia Highsmith, Joyce Carol Oates, Dennis Lehane, and William Gay, with many page-turners appearing from the past decade. Views: 48
Polly had always been grateful that when she was in need, Marcus Frobisher had offered her a home, a job and himself as a stand-in father to her baby daughter.As the years passed, Marcus let Polly think he acted only out of a sense of family duty. However, the truth was, he'd wanted her since the first moment they'd met. Now, though, it was time to persuade her to surrender to the passion that had been denied for so long! Views: 48
Amazon.com ReviewAfter antiquing sojourns in the Yucatán (The Xibalba Murders), Malta (The Maltese Goddess), and Peru (The Moche Warrior), Toronto shopkeeper Lara McClintoch finds herself in County Kerry, Ireland. Lara, who has a good eye for antiques and an excellent eye for murder, is serving as moral support for her friend and employee Alex Stewart, who must attend the reading of an old friend's will. Eamon Byrne, formidable in life and maddeningly evasive in death, has decided to make the division of his estate an occasion for familial cooperation and goodwill. Well-versed in Irish mythology, Byrne leaves each person gathered at the reading a sealed clue to a mysterious treasure, a posthumous plot to force his family to mend the rifts between them. Too bad his querulous offspring aren't interested--but Lara is, particularly after learning that the clues are lines from the "Song of Amairgen," an ancient Celtic poem. As she, Alex, Rob Luczka (a Mountie along for the ride), and Rob's daughter Jennifer puzzle through the clues, the game turns lethal when members of the Byrne household are found dead.Hamilton's premise is an intriguing one; the process of deciphering--metaphorically if not literally--ancient texts should challenge the reader and allow the author to weave artfully between past and present. But the novel is crippled by what seems to be an acute lack of interest on Hamilton's part: she makes no effort to justify Lara's deductions, which often seem to be the result of divine intervention, and doesn't address at least half of the clues, merely assuring the reader that Lara and her cronies have solved them. Hamilton's repetition also handicaps her text; in a novel with so little narrative complexity, pausing to remind the reader of past plot developments is at best unnecessary and at worst infuriating.Lyn Hamilton's first novel, The Xibalba Murders, was nominated by the Crime Writers of Canada Association for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel; one hopes that Hamilton's next archaeological outing will better fulfill the potential implicit in that nomination. The Celtic Riddle, unfortunately, is probably not worth solving. From Library JournalToronto antiques dealer and amateur sleuth Lara McClintock (The Moche Warrior) accompanies co-worker Alex -and two other friends - to Ireland for the reading of a video will. Alex's bequest is a cliff-top cottage and one of seven clues that, if put together, lead to an "item of great value." Depairing of the teamwork needed from the deceased's greedy and dysfunctional family, Alex and Lara determined to find so-called treasure, spurred on by the suspicious deaths of a servant and gardener. The well-drawn characters' foray through Irish countryside and Celtic myth willdelight readers.Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Views: 48
An extraordinary tale of travel that remains one of the world's greatest travel books. Views: 48
Good guy Karl Bender is a thirty-something bar owner whose life lacks love and meaning. When he stumbles upon a time-travelling worm hole in his closet, Karl and his best friend Wayne develop a side business selling access to people who want to travel back in time to listen to their favorite bands. It's a pretty ingenious plan, until Karl, intending to send Wayne to 1980, transports him back to 980 instead. Though Wayne sends texts extolling the quality of life in tenth century "Mannahatta," Karl is distraught that he can't bring his friend back.Enter brilliant, prickly, overweight astrophysicist, Lena Geduldig. Karl and Lena's connection is immediate. While they work on getting Wayne back, Karl and Lena fall in love — with time travel, and each other. Unable to resist meddling with the past, Karl and Lena bounce around time. When Lena ultimately prevents her own long-ago rape, she alters the course of her life and threatens her future with Karl. A... Views: 48
SummaryDespite the many exotic places Pete McCarthy has visited, he finds that nowhere else can match the particular magic of Ireland, his mother’s homeland. In McCarthy's Bar, his journey begins in Cork and continues along the west coast to Donegal in the north. Traveling through spectacular landscapes, but at all times obeying the rule, “never pass a bar that has your name on it,” he encounters McCarthy’s bars up and down the land, meeting fascinating people before pleading to be let out at four o’clock in the morning. Written by someone who is at once an insider and an outsider, McCarthy's Bar is a wonderfully funny and affectionate portrait of a rapidly changing country.Review“[McCarthy] is a worthy addition to the ranks of P. J. O’Rourke, Bill Bryson, and Peter Mayle.... He narrates a series of hilarious and surprising adventures with an acerbic eye and a comedian’s gift for timing.... This wonderful debut will appeal to readers who are looking for a well-observed travel guide, or simply for its incisive hilarity. ”— Publishers WeeklyAboutPete McCarthy was born in England to an Irish mother and an English father. He is the writer and performer of many travel series for radio and television in the United Kingdom. McCarthy's Bar, his first book, was a bestseller in Ireland, England, and Australia. Views: 48
Sam’s going to another planet to teach English, where he hopes to earn enough creds to pay off his student loan and maybe buy a jetpack. He’s not entirely comfortable with spreading the English virus but it beats working for the power brokers on Earth, and Octavia is a dreamy underwater planet populated by eight-armed beings.He ends up learning more than teaching. From Mr. Zik, a singer of melancholy songs. From a boxy robot named 9/3. And from Jinya, whose undulating tentacles make Sam forget all about human legs.Against the colourful backdrop of kitsch science fiction, this novel entwines UFOs with STDs, androids with androgyny, and youth culture with culture shock. Leave your millenial angst behind — blast off to 2959!Acclaim for Angry Young Spaceman“It’s a wonderful book. Unquestionably SF, it isn’t written in the usual science fiction voice, and that’s part of its charm. His prose is conversational, his characters and settings of the future Earth and Octavia are fascinating, and the story remains engaging from start to finish.” — Charles de Lint, Fantasy & Science Fiction“This is marvelous stuff, hopeful, fresh, alive, and funny. Munroe is writing the chronicle of his generation.” — Georgia Straight“The book reads like a cross between Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth’s The Space Merchants and Douglas Coupland’s Generation X, livened with Munroe’s own DIY zinester sensibility.” — Cory Doctorow, Wired“The language is unflowery and unpretentious… the plot is tight, the tone throughout is amusing, the main character is likeable and the science fiction setting is both campy and pointed.” — Vancouver Sun“But beyond the comical elements that are dispersed throughout this clever little book, it becomes evident to the reader that the author is a seasoned social critic…” — Upath.com“His writing is lively and uncluttered… when Munroe takes aim at the management and co-opting of subcultures, the satire is dead on…”— Quill & Quire Views: 48
Beau Brummell was the arbiter of fashion in Regency London—and a friend of the Prince Regent. When the Duchess of York asked him to investigate the murder of the Countess of Wrayburn, he could not refuse. Miss Ashton, the Countess's paid companion, was suspected—and it would take a clever gentleman to discover that there were others with a motive for murder. Winner of an Agatha. Regency Mystery by Rosemary Stevens; originally published by Berkley Prime Crime Views: 48
Some secrets are just too good to keep to yourself Views: 48
Taylor Palmetta has spent the past year in Europe building her art career and hiding from Navy SEAL Quinn Lambert, the man who broke her heart. But Taylor can't seem to hide from trouble. When Taylor seeks safety with her family in Virginia Beach, a series of threats puts her on high alert—and puts Quinn into protective mode. Despite the private loss that continues to haunt him, Quinn can't deny his renewed attraction to Taylor. But just as the romance heats up, a plot against the very foundation of the American way of life surfaces, and Taylor's paintings may hold the key. The Saint Squad is back in action as the team frantically tries to protect their nation's security—and Taylor and Quinn search for courage to unlock the troubled past. Views: 48
