The futuristic hardboiled noir that Lauren Beukes calls “sharp as a paper-cut” about a garbage man turned kill-for-hire. Spademan used to be a garbage man. That was before the dirty bomb hit Times Square, before his wife was killed, and before the city became a blown-out shell of its former self. Now he’s a hitman. In a near-future New York City split between those who are wealthy enough to “tap in” to a sophisticated virtual reality, and those who are left to fend for themselves in the ravaged streets, Spademan chose the streets. His new job is not that different from his old one: waste disposal is waste disposal. He doesn’t ask questions, he works quickly, and he’s handy with a box cutter. But when his latest client hires him to kill the daughter of a powerful evangelist, his unadorned life is upended: his mark has a shocking secret and his client has a sordid agenda far beyond a simple kill. Spademan must navigate between these two worlds—the wasteland reality and the slick fantasy—to finish his job, clear his conscience, and make sure he’s not the one who winds up in the ground. Adam Sternbergh has written a dynamite debut: gritty, violent, funny, riveting, tender, and brilliant.From the Hardcover edition.Review“Stunning narrative sleight-of-hand. . . . Characters [with] humor and a resilient humanity. . . . Mixing dystopian science fiction and urban noir with a Palahniuk swagger, this could well be the first novel everybody is talking about over the next few months.” —Booklist (starred review) “Spademan is an unlikely yet tragic hero, and it takes a talented author to make a reader root for such a damaged and ruthless man. . . . This is a gripping genre mash-up and a stunning debut.” —Library Journal (starred review) “[An] edgy, noir-soaked thriller.” —*Bookpage* “Hardboiled as f with writing as fierce and sharp as a paper-cut.” *—Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls“With prose chiseled to hardboiled perfection and a tale that throbs with the keen ache of noir, Adam Sternbergh’s Shovel Ready reads like William Gibson as directed with inky brilliance by Christopher Nolan. Debut novels as sleek, resonant and accomplished as this are a rare gift.” —Megan Abbott, author of *Dare Me“Shovel Ready tosses you off a precipice and you don’t know where you're going to land. Dark and often funny, with sparse, sharp language. Think Charlie Huston’s dystopian New York meets Richard Stark’s anti-hero—this is good, bitter fun.” —Toby Barlow, author of Sharp Teeth and Babayaga“Compulsive! Savage future noir that crackles with deadpan wit." —Nick Harkaway, author of The Gone-Away World and Angelmaker “Shovel Ready is an elegant, lean and clever noir. It’s the best sci-fi thriller I’ve read since Snow Crash.” *—Roger Hobbs, author of Ghostman “A terrific debut. It has the grimy neon feel of Warren Ellis’s Transmetropolitan combined with a touch of Philip K. Dick’s gonzo cyberpunk.” —Austin Grossman, author of You and *Soon I Will Be InvincibleAbout the AuthorAdam Sternbergh is the culture editor of The New York Times Magazine. Formerly an editor-at-large for New York, his writing has been featured in several other publications including GQ, The Times of London, and on the radio program This American Life. He lives in Brooklyn and is at work on a second Spademan novel.www.adamsternbergh.com · @sternbergh Views: 15
As the new castellan, Sir Nicholas Beringar has the daunting task of rebuilding Ravenmoor Castle on the Scottish border and gaining the trust of the locals—one of whom wastes no time in trying to rob him. Instead of punishing the boy, Nicholas decides to make him his squire. Little does he know the thieving young lad is really...a lady.Lady Elizabet Armstrong had donned a disguise in an attempt to free her brother from Ravenmoor's dungeons. Although intimidated by the confident Englishman with his well-honed muscles and beguiling eyes, she cannot refuse his offer.Nicholas senses that his new squire is not what he seems. His gentle attempts to break through the boy's defenses leave Elizabet powerless to stem the desire that engulfs her. And when the truth is exposed, she'll have to trust in Nicholas's honor to help her people—and to surrender to his touch...82,300 Words Views: 15
They say you can’t outrun your past, but I’ve done just that. At twenty-five and living on the mean streets of Brooklyn, I’ve gotten wise on how to score anything from pills to cash to men. It’s called surviving, and I've learned how to make the rules up as I go. But, deep down, I know it’s only been a means to forget my disturbing past. I would do anything to forget… But when I return home one night and discover that song playing on the stereo, the song they used to play to torment me, I know they've finally found me, they've come for me, they’re already here. If they capture me this time, there will be no chance of escape. I am not about to let that happen. My new neighbor from down the hall, Ash has been watching me and I know he likes what he sees. He’s caught my attention as well. But there’s something about his smoldering good looks and brooding gaze I don’t trust. Then again, I don’t trust anyone. Will he complicate my plan to protect myself? NOTE: This is a three part story and, due to the nature of its content, is not suitable for very young readers. Views: 14
Chris Copeland has always been a company man. There's an art to capturing gods for electricity, and Chris is good at his job—at least until his arrogant trainee partner sabotages the hunt. Chris barely escapes with his life, but for the good of the company, he buries the evidence and sets aside his apprehensions.Six years later, Chris's former partner is a rising star among the energy industry's corporate elite, while Chris has taken a break from field ops. But when he's contacted by Anna Ganz, a brusque, chain-smoking Hungarian detective, Chris realizes his fears were correct. A mysterious serial killer is stalking Budapest, and, in the name of profit, the company isn't going to stop it. It's up to the unlikely team of Chris and Anna to hunt down a god—but can they catch the killer before it's too late? Views: 14
When a chance meeting on a hiking trail leads to a position at a nonprofit in Boulder, Colorado, Nora feels lucky to have a job . . . even after she finds out that the previous financial director has gone missing.With her suspicions of foul play confirmed by her Kachina guardian, Nora doesn’t know who to trust in an organization that’s rife with deceit and corruption. As she’s pulled deeper into a treacherous conspiracy, an unannounced visit from her mother and a reunion with Cole Huntsman have Nora playing tug of war with her own feelings. Fearful for her own life and the safety of those she loves the most, Nora wonders if her new beginning in Boulder will turn out to be a deadly mistake.Praise:**"Baker deftly escalates the stakes of her initially straightforward story, which takes a much more serious turn before arriving at its unexpected conclusion." —Publishers Weekly** Views: 14
When Kiara falls hard for her neighbor, she worries about all that lays between them - he's rich, handsome, older... and white. Can she overcome all of this to get him to come over? Views: 14
