Edie Kiglatuk’s discovery along Alaska’s Iditarod trail leads to a massive, far-reaching conspiracyM. J. McGrath’s debut novel, White Heat, earned both fans and favorable comparisons to bestselling Scandinavian thrillers such as Smilla’s Sense of Snow and the Kurt Wallander series.In The Boy in the Snow, half-Inuit Edie Kiglatuk finds herself in Alaska with Sergeant Derek Palliser, helping her ex-husband Sammy in his bid to win the famous Iditarod dog sled race. The race takes a grim turn when Edie stumbles upon the body of a baby left out in the forest. The state troopers are keen to pin the death on the Dark Believers—a sinister offshoot of a Russian Orthodox sect—but Edie’s instincts tell her otherwise. Her investigations take her into a world of corrupt politics, religious intolerance, greed, and sex trafficking. But just as she begins to get some answers, Edie finds herself confronted by a painful secret from her past.Review''The two-week 1,150-mile Iditarod dog sled race from near Wasilla to Nome, Alaska, forms the backdrop for McGrath's outstanding second mystery featuring half-Caucasian, half-Inuit Edie Kiglatuk . . . McGrath has a firm grasp on a little known culture, its values and language, and excels at bringing to life such characters as conniving Anchorage mayor Chuck Hillingberg and his power-hungry wife, Marsha. This affecting novel should melt even the most frozen human hearts.'' --Publishers Weekly (starred review)''Edie is fierce in her desire for justice . . . [She] finds herself at mortal risk from the cold, so masterfully described that it chills the reader.'' --BooklistAbout the AuthorM. J. McGRATH is an award-winning journalist and the author of several books, including The Long Exile: A Tale of Inuit Betrayal and the novels White Heat and The Boy in the Snow. She was awarded the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for best Commonwealth writer under thirty-five and currently lives in London. Views: 13
Collegiate farce meets espionage comedy in a Wodehousian tale with a twistA local newspaper run by a duo with a shady past.A college of secrets, and secrets about secrets.A stranger seeking vengeance.An all-seeing eye.Gin-addicted, man-addicted academic Spencer Flowers receives an ultimatum from the Master of St Paul's College, Cambridge. Rookie reporter Conor Geraghty must make a life-changing decision of his own. The fates of both men collide in this hilarious tale of revenge and truth, of watchers and watched.And meanwhile, the snows are falling... Views: 13
When Anthony Forrest walked out of the office building, the only thoughts on his mind were of an impending birthday and a meeting with his wife for dinner. And a deadly bullet saw to it that they were the last thoughts on his mind. The problem for Detectives Steve Carella and Meyer Meyer of the 87th Precinct is that Forrest isn’t alone. An anonymous sniper is unofficially holding the city hostage, frustrating the police as one by one the denizens of Isola drop like flies. With fear gripping the citizenry and the pressure on the 87th mounting, finding a killer whose victims are random is the greatest challenge the detectives have ever faced—and the deadliest game the city has ever known. A gritty, relentless pressure cooker of a thriller, Ten Plus One is one of bestselling author Ed McBain’s finest, the ultimate addition to the 87th Precinct series where time threatens to stand still and murder rules the day.** Views: 13
Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean that they will always be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. But now they face their biggest challenge. Can their love survive a seemingly insurmountable divide. And in the end, will there be enough trust left to rebuild what has been broken? The lines are drawn — but which sides are they on? Views: 13
For P.I. Paul Grayhorse, there were no secrets—thanks to his special Navajo gift. He knew why U.S. Deputy Marshal Kendra Armstrong found him in the canyons of New Mexico. Reopening the case that ended his marshal career and killed his partner did more than haunt Paul; it put him in the crosshairs.Using Paul to flush out her fugitive was risky, but teaming with him was downright dangerous. In his arms, Kendra felt like a woman, with a woman's desires. But with his powers, could she hide her biggest secret—that she'd fallen for him? And that for the first time in her career, she was afraid…afraid to live without him if she couldn't get her man?Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Paul Grayhorse stepped back into the shadows as a jagged flash of lightning sliced across the darkened New Mexico sky. He had a bad feeling about tonight, and it had nothing to do with the storm raging around him.Ignoring the pain coming from deep inside his right shoulder, he remained focused. The bullet wound had healed, but the nagging ache that remained was a reminder that even the briefest lapse in attention could have devastating results. In less than three seconds, a sniper had taken the life of his partner, Deputy U.S. Marshal Judy Whitacre. Her death, and the high caliber bullet that had torn through his own shoulder that day, had changed his life forever.He shook off the bitter memory as he continued to keep watch. It was a typically cold, rainless New Mexico storm, one of hundreds he'd seen while growing up in the Four Corners. There was the usual blend of wind and stinging dust, but no rain or sleet to ease the parched desert.Given a choice, most people would have stayed inside on an October night like this one. That's where he should have been, too, sitting in his armchair, beer in hand, watching the football game next to a bowl of corn tortilla chips and hot salsa.Yet here he was, standing on the lawn beside an old brick office building in downtown Hartley waiting for an arranged meeting with a mysterious, prospective client.The skies rumbled again and the ground shook, rattling windows all the way down the block. Tense and ever alert, he kept his gaze on the darkened street. He'd considered staying in his parked truck, but this wasn't a stakeout, and his visibility and mobility would be restricted inside the cab of his pickup.Tonight was a first. Since leaving the U.S. Marshals Service he'd worked several cases that had involved teaming up with his brothers, but this time he was going solo, and he liked it.The woman who'd called his agency asking for help had captured his interest right from the get-go. Yolanda—at least that was the name she'd used—had dialed his office late last night. She'd spoken in a harsh whisper, her words coming out in a rush. Certain that her abusive, soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, an officer in the Hartley P.D., would be at his own home tonight watching the game, she'd insisted on meeting in this tiny downtown park after hours. It was near her workplace, she'd said, and on her way home.All things considered, Yolanda, or whoever she was, had come to the right P.I. He'd never had much patience with bullies, particularly those who preyed on women.As the minutes stretched by and the temperature continued to drop, he reached into his pocket for his cell phone and dialed his foster brother, Preston.Like it was with all his foster brothers, Preston and he had come from completely different backgrounds. Yet, once they'd been taken in by Hosteen Silver, the traditionalist Navajo medicine man who'd become their foster father, they'd grown as close, or closer, than blood brothers.Preston Bowman, now a Hartley Police detective, lived for his job. Even though it was getting close to seven, Paul knew his brother would still be clocked in.Preston picked up on the first ring and barked his name."It's me," Paul said."What's up?" Preston asked."I'm supposed to meet a client—Yolanda—no last name.She contacted me last night claiming she'd been trying to break up with her boyfriend, a Hartley cop. He's apparently started using her as a punching bag, so she's asked for my protection.""Hook her up with the chief's office or Internal Affairs. We have ways of dealing with this kind of thing," Preston answered immediately."I suggested that, but she doesn't trust the police. She thinks they'll cover for one of their own.""No way. We try to keep things in-house, sure, but we make sure the situation gets handled. We take a dim view of domestic abuse," he said. "Give her my number and tell her to come see me.""I'll pass that on when she shows up, but if she says no, I'm taking her case.""You're waiting for her right now?""Yeah. She's late. She said six-thirty.""You thinking maybe her boyfriend found out she was looking for help?""The thought occurred to me, yeah," Paul said."She wouldn't give you a last name?""Nope. She was whispering when she called, so wherever she was, she was worried about being overheard. All I got was a description so I could spot her," Paul said."Go on.""Blonde, five foot seven, average build. She said she'd be driving a green Ford SUV, wearing a denim jacket and jeans, and carrying a red handbag. She sound familiar?""You mean do I know an officer with a girlfriend named Yolanda who fits that bill?""Yeah.""Sorry, doesn't ring a bell. Give me her number and I'll run it through the system."Paul gave him the number straight from his caller ID, then waited."That matches a residential landline for a woman named Yolanda Sharpe. The address is on Hartley's south side—485 Conejo Road. Hang on a sec. Here's more. Yolanda's got a record—shoplifting, check fraud and a few misdemeanors," Preston said. "She's served six months jail time.""Interesting background, but she still doesn't deserve to get batted around.""True, but I think you should back off, at least for now. Look at the facts. She didn't give you her full name or even the first name of her boyfriend. Now she's late. Who knows what might have gone down? What if the boyfriend shows up instead, mad as hell and looking for a fight? With that bum shoulder, if he comes at you, you're going down hard.""Like hell.""Look, bro, something's off. You felt that too or you wouldn't have called," Preston said. "Anyone who checks you out on the internet knows you like riding to the rescue. Remember that roughneck you threw out the window after he cornered the waitress at the Blue Corral? Made the cable news.""That was self-defense." Paul chuckled softly. "And my shoulder didn't hold me back. He flew a good ten feet.""Okay, so you're not backing off. Give me your location and I'll join you. You might be able to use a little backup.""Just don't get in my way," Paul growled. "I'm standing behind the pines in the park beside the Murray Building on Main. My truck's across the street.""I'm in my cruiser now. My ETA's only three minutes or less, so try to stay out of trouble till then."Paul hung up, his gaze still on the empty street. His brother was right. He had a sixth sense about some things, and right now his instincts were telling him trouble was close at hand.Muscles tensing up, Paul reached for the lynx fetish he wore around his neck on a leather cord. The slivers of pyrite that comprised its eyes glittered ominously. He'd never been able to figure out why, or how, but whenever danger was near, the eyes of the lynx would take on a light of their own. Tonight, maybe it was the lightning or the cold playing tricks on his senses, but either way, he'd learned not to ignore the warning.After checking his watch one last time, Paul decided to walk back over to his pickup. He'd just stepped out of cover when a blue truck pulled up to the curb and the driver leaned toward the passenger's side window. As a brilliant flash of lightning lit up the night sky, he saw the pistol in the driver's hand.Paul dove to the ground just as two loud gunshots ripped through the air.Paul rolled to his right, and using a tree trunk as cover, he rose to one knee, pistol in hand, but it was too late. The truck was already speeding away. Making a split-second decision, he ran after it, hoping to read the plates.He hadn't gone fifty yards when he heard the wail of an approaching siren. A heartbeat later Preston rounded the corner and pulled to a screeching stop beside him."You hit?" Preston asked, leaning over and shouting out the passenger's side window."No." Paul opened the door of his brother's unit and jumped in. "Blue pickup, turned south down Applewood.""Make and model?""Ford 150, I think," Paul said, reaching for the shoulder belt as Preston hit the gas. "Or maybe a Chevy. The tailgate was down and it happened in a flash.""Let me guess. No Yolanda?""I never got a look at the driver. All I saw was the pistol sticking out the passenger's window. If that lightning flash hadn't lit up everything at just the right time, I would have been on the ground right now, a soon-to-be chalk outline.""You were set up, bro." Preston turned the corner at high speed, yanking Paul to one side. "The shooter can't be far. Keep an eye out for taillights on the side streets."Paul kept a close watch on the area as his foster brother raced down the street. Traffic here was light. Hartley was barely a city. Most downtown businesses were closed before six, and the area restaurants and bars were all farther east or west."In your gut you knew all along that this wasn't just another domestic abuse situation. I'm right, aren't I?" Preston said as he took another left, then slowed down and directed his spotlight into the darkened alley they passed."I didn't know, but I had a feeling something wasn't right," Paul said. "I'd just decided to call it a night when it went down."Preston slowed as they passed a bank parking lot, giving them time to study every inch of the well-lit area. "I think we struck out. The pickup's gone."After another ten minutes, Preston picked up his radio and called off the other patrol cars in the area."So, you gonna report this to the marshals service?" he finally ... Views: 13
Girls FC: the best team for football and friendship.The under eleven girls' league is well underway and Lucy Skidmore is her team's best defender. Bright, sporty and happy-go-lucky, her parents' divorce doesn't seem to have affected her at all. The same is not true of her older brother, Harry. He is so badly behaved! Lucy overcompensates by trying to please both parents all the time. But with a dad living miles away, a mum stressed out and a sulky brother to contend with, Lucy is feeling the pressure. Views: 13
