Isabel becomes involved in a delicate paternity case in the twelfth installment of the beloved Isabel Dalhousie Series.Isabel finds herself befriended by Patricia, a single mother whose son, Basil, goes to school with Isabel's son. Isabel discovers that Basil is the product of an affair Patricia had with a well-known Edinburgh organist, also named Basil, who was, rumor has it, initially reluctant to contribute financially to the child's upkeep. Though Isabel doesn't really like Patricia, she tries to be civil and supportive, but when she sees Patricia in the company of an unscrupulous man who peddles fake antiquities, her suspicions are aroused and she begins to investigate the paternity of Basil Jr.When Isabel takes her suspicions to Basil Sr., she finds that, although paying child support is taking a severe financial toll on him, he likes the idea of being the boy's father and, in fact, wishes he could have more of a relationship with Basil Jr. Patricia, however,... Views: 30
For childhood friends Leo Kelly, Jane Devlin, and newly ordained "Packy" Keenan, the summers they spent at the lake together were times of pure magic. And no summer was more enchanting than the summer of 1948 - until a tragic car wreck killed two of their friends.The rich and prominent "Old House" families of Chicago banded together to protect their own - the driver, who was drunk, was the son of a local doctor. There was a cover-up and a vicious scandal. Leo left for the Korean War, and the three friends' summers at the lake were gone forever. . .Until thirty years later when Leo, still obsessed by the memory of Jane and the need to solve the mystery of what really happened that fateful summer, comes back to Chicago and back to the lake.Jane is more beautiful than ever, but her life has been an unhappy one, trapped in a loveless marriage and haunted by the memory of Leo. She has returned to the lake to try to piece her life back... Views: 30
ECHOESWhat if the thoughts in your head were not your own?When Lieutenant Asher Benson suffered a traumatic brain injury while stationed in Iraq, his doctors warned him that the symptoms would be life altering. They had no idea. As Ash recovered, a never ending barrage of voices began echoing in his mind, effectively crippling his life. Mistakenly treated for PTSD, Ash was honorably discharged and now lives in self-imposed, drunken isolation.Five years later, Ash is still struggling to rejoin society. His desperate, lonely existence is maintained by a meager disability check and gallons of alcohol. As he's finally learning to control his burden, and making progress with the girl next door, Ash is thrust back into a life he thought he'd left behind. When unidentified intelligence agents abduct him from his apartment, he is plunged into a world of espionage and assassinations.A unique terrorist is operating on U.S. soil, and the government needs Ash, and the malady that has plagued... Views: 30
Paul Sherman has been an agent at Interpol's Narcotics Bureau for a long time. Used to working alone, he has a lot of readjusting to do for his current assignment. He must fly to the Netherlands to break up a vicious drug ring and track down a dope king. The catch? He has the assistance of two attractive female agents. Views: 30
For fans of Lisa Scottoline and Law and Order: SVU, former federal sex-crimes prosecutor Allison Leottas novel explores the intersection of sex and power as Anna Curtis investigates the murder of one of DCs highest-paid escorts. When a beautiful young woman plummets to her death from the balcony of the U.S. Capitol, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Curtis is summoned to the scene. The evidence points to a sexual assault and murder. The victim is one of the citys highest-paid escorts. And the balcony belongs to Washington, D.C.s sole representative to Congress, the most powerful figure in city politics. The Congressman proclaims his innocence, but hes in the middle of a tough primary fight, and the scandal could cost him the election. For Anna, the high-profile case is an opportunity. But as the political stakes rise, she realizes that a single mistake could end her career. At the same time, her budding romance with Jack Bailey, the chief homicide prosecutor, is at a crossroads. Determined to gain respect in the office, Anna wants to keep their relationship under wraps. But the mounting pressure and media attention that come with the offices most important case will inevitably expose their relationshipif it doesnt destroy it first. The investigation leads Anna to Discretion, a high-end escort service that caters to D.C.s elite. But with each break in the case, the mystery deepens. And the further Anna ventures into D.C.s red-light underworld, the larger the target on her own back. From the secret social clubs where Washingtons most powerful men escape from public view to the asphalt track where the citys most vulnerable women work the streets, Discretion is a gripping exploration of sex, power, and the secrets we all keep. Views: 30
Former investigative journalist Zoe Greene was so traumatized by a serial killer she put behind bars, she vowed never to ask probing questions again. Now writing for a soap-opera digest, she has become obsessed with soap-star Warren Clark, and doesn't hesitate to join him for several sexually-satisfying weeks at his home in San Esteban, Mexico. But her best friend Steve Sorenson knows something about the charming tourist town that Zoe doesn't—the brutally mutilated body of a teenage boy was found there recently, his heart torn from his body. And Steve fears that Zoe is headed straight into danger. From the moment Zoe arrives in San Esteban, things go drastically wrong. Warren disappears for long stretches of time. Other Americans she meets are hiding strange black crosses and blood-tipped cactus plants in their homes. When more people end up dead, their hearts also torn out, Zoe's investigative instincts kick in. But even as she follows an ominous trail of clues,... Views: 30
In her third top-of-the-line culinary cozy (after 2001's Strawberry Shortcake Murder), the delightful amateur sleuth Hannah Swensen once again faces murder and mayhem with good cheer. To fight the late February doldrums, Lake Eden, Minn., is about to celebrate its first winter carnival with ice sports on the lake, activities for children and Hannah's delicious cookies from her shop, the Cookie Jar. The whole town is involved, and even Hannah's mother, who usually spends her time trying to get Hannah married, has found a new interest in recreating the home of one of Lake Eden's founding fathers. Connie MacIntyre, bestselling cook book author and star of a popular cable TV cooking show, has agreed to make the cake for the carnival banquet. But when Hannah discovers Connie's dead body in the pantry of the Cookie Jar, Hannah and her sister Andrea join forces to track down the killer, despite warnings by one of her boyfriends, policeman Mike Kensington, to stay out of the investigation. Since everyone who had contact with the abusive Connie disliked her, the sisters have plenty of suspects. Delicious food descriptions and recipes, warm and familiar characters who grow into real people (Hannah's increasing respect for Andrea is a highlight), a vivid picture of the small lake town and a well-crafted mystery provide the ingredients for yet another tempting feast that should satisfy all fans, old and new. (Mar. 5)Forecast: A simple, bold jacket featuring a skull formed by blueberries in a sliced muffin sends just the right message to attract cozy fans.
From Library Journal Hannah's (Strawberry Shortcake Murder) baking plans for Lake Eden's Winter Carnival get stalled when a despotic rival baker is murdered in Hannah's bakery. With her oven declared part of a crime scene, Hannah must find the murderer before she can bake. A delightful confection and a recipe included. Views: 30
In The Missing Mitt, the boys must help their teammate find his lucky mitt before the last game, or their Little League season is doomed! Views: 30
The twenty-sixth novel in Michael Jecks?s medieval Knights Templar series. 1325: Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend Simon Puttock are in France guarding King Edward?s son on his perilous journey to meet the French king, Charles IV. But they are unaware that King Edward?s wife Isabella is disaffected and plotting her revenge? What first appears a simple diplomatic mission is fast becoming lethally dangerous. Meanwhile, two murders in Paris are causing alarm. Is there a connection between the killings and the shadowy `King? of thieves? Simon and Baldwin know the future of the English crown is at risk. And in order to protect it they must put their own lives in jeopardy.From Publishers WeeklyFans of well-researched historicals will welcome Jecks's 26th Knights Templar mystery (after 2008's The Prophecy of Death). In 1325, England's Edward II prepares to pay homage to the French king, Charles IV, in order to retain two precious territories in France. At the last minute, Edward decides to send his willful and untested teenage son in his place, with orders to Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and Baldwin's longtime friend, Simon Puttock, to watch over his son on the journey. In Paris, Queen Isabella, Charles's sister and Edward's wife, is trying to keep the peace, though she bitterly resents her husband's relationship with his intimate adviser, Sir Hugh le Despenser. Meanwhile, the Procureur of Paris, Jean de Poissy, has two murders to investigate—that of a man who was on a mysterious visit to the Louvre palace, and that of a naked woman found near the palace. Frequent scene shifts help move the complex, multilayered plot. (July) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review"Fans of well-researched historicals will welcome Jeck's 26th Knights Templar mystery." —Publishers Weekly"The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular." —Library Journal"Memorable characters, steadily absorbing period background . . . a commendable achievement." —Kirkus Reviews"The most wickedly plotted medieval mystery novels." —The Times"Really difficult to put down." —Historical Novels Review"Each page is densely packed with cuckolding, coarseness, lewdness, lechery, gore galore, but also with nobility. A heady mix." —North Devon Journal"A gem of historical storytelling." —Northern Echo"Complicated, well-populated, written with cross-cutting gusto, and accompanied by scholarly extras." —Ellery Queen Views: 30
A half-hour by air from Miami, it's the world's hottest ― and most dangerous ― city. From the plush mobster casinos in Centro to the backstreet brothels on Zanja Street, you can get anything you want, for a price. The city is the linchpin of many empires: the Mafia's, the CIA's, numerous American corporations', El Presidente's, and even the vice lords' of Old Havana. It must be protected at all costs. But now there's a threat. A young lawyer, a kid named Castro, is giving speeches. He speaks of reform, of change, of self-determination. He speaks of…of revolution even. This danger must be dealt with. So, into the steamy, sunny climate of corruption come two men, both unafraid, both skilled, both tough as ball bearings. They would be friends in a sane world, for they are so similar in their capabilities and experiences. But now they have to be enemies, because the Cold War is at its apogee: one is American, the other Russian. The American is named Earl Swagger. A Medal of Honor winner on Iwo Jima, a toughened gunman from adventures in Hot Springs and the swamps of Mississippi, Earl has been conned by two young Old Boys of the CIA to become Our Gun in Havana. The Russian, Speshnev, also a veteran of tough battles (from Spain in '36 to Berlin in '45, with a few stays in the gulag just for seasoning), has a similar assignment: he too is sent by strategic gamesters to pay attention to that same young orator. But his job is protection, not elimination. Neither man's assignment will be easy. For, like an orchid hot house, Havana's climate grows spectacular specimens: the wise old mobster king Meyer Lansky, who runs the casinos for his nervous New York sponsors; the syndicate hitman Frankie Carbine, Frankie Horsekiller of the famed Times Square massacre; the secret police officer called Ojos Bellos ― Beautiful Eyes ― for his penchant to interrogate at scalpel point; the beautiful Filipina Jean-Marie Augustine, who knows so much; and even those crew-cut, cheery young CIA fellows on the embassy's Third Floor, behind whose baby-blues and tender faces lurk all manner of deviousness. And everybody wants something. In Havana , Stephen Hunter has produced a truly epic adventure story, shot-through with violence, eroticism, and the pressures of big money and big politics, set in a legendary time and place. His hero, Earl Swagger, fights his enemies, his superiors, and his own temptations and, in the end, has to decide what is worth killing for ― and what is worth dying for. He knows only one thing for certain: that he's a pawn in somebody else's game. But a pawn with a Colt Super.38 in his shoulder holster and the skill and will to use it fast and well is a formidable man, indeed. Views: 30
