Novella (24,000-words): With a new partner he doesn't want, a journalist who defies the laws of physics and an unknown man letting himself into his house, Detective Inspector Josiah Dark of the Serious Crimes Division must find out why Santa has been busy leaving gory Christmas presents around Greater Manchester. Views: 9
EDITORIAL REVIEW: The acclaimed *New York Times* bestselling author returns with a new stand-alone novel—a powerful and utterly riveting tale that skillfully moves between past and present to explore the lasting effects of crime on a victim's life....*I'd Know You Anywhere* Eliza Benedict cherishes her peaceful, ordinary suburban life with her successful husband and children, thirteen-year-old Iso and eight-year-old Albie. But her tranquillity is shattered when she receives a letter from the last person she ever expects—or wants—to hear from: Walter Bowman. *There was your photo, in a magazine. Of course, you are older now. Still, I'd know you anywhere*. In the summer of 1985, when she was fifteen, Eliza was kidnapped by Walter and held hostage for almost six weeks. He had killed at least one girl and Eliza always suspected he had other victims as well. Now on death row in Virginia for the rape and murder of his final victim, Walter seems to be making a heartfelt act of contrition as his execution nears. Though Eliza wants nothing to do with him, she's never forgotten that Walter was most unpredictable when ignored. Desperate to shelter her children from this undisclosed trauma in her past, she cautiously makes contact with Walter. She's always wondered why Walter let her live, and perhaps now he'll tell her—and share the truth about his other victims. Yet as Walter presses her for more and deeper contact, it becomes clear that he is after something greater than forgiveness. He wants Eliza to remember what really happened that long-ago summer. He wants her to save his life. And Eliza, who has worked hard for her comfortable, cocooned life, will do anything to protect it—even if it means finally facing the events of that horrifying summer and the terrible truth she's kept buried inside. An edgy, utterly gripping tale of psychological manipulation that will leave readers racing to the final page, *I'd Know You Anywhere* is a virtuoso performance from acclaimed, award-winning author Laura Lippman that is sure to be her biggest hit yet. Views: 9
In Alison Kent's brand-new novel set in Miami's sultry South Beach, Finn finds a woman who can melt his ice-cool exterior with one look, and a case that could land them both in hot water. . . Finn McLain is no stranger to unusual assignments. But the gorgeous stranger who just asked him to photograph her for an erotic art exhibit--that's definitely a first. Finn came to Miami to dig into the personal life of boutique manager Roland Green for a lovesick gallery owner, and hadn't planned on sticking around. But the boutique's owner, Olivia Hammond, has just made him a proposal that's as hard to ignore as Olivia herself. She's got caramel-kissed skin, a body that makes grown men tremble, and a wild sideline as an exhibitionist. Ooookay. Yet despite her willingness to "let people look," Finn's convinced there's a hell of a lot Olivia's not revealing. And that's the most intriguing prospect of all. . . Olivia has never been shy about using her sexuality to get... Views: 9
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.The LC-130 Hercules turboprop plane jumped and dropped as the turbulence buffeted it about the sky. Annja Creed, dressed in extreme-cold-weather gear issued to her by the U.S. military, clutched at the armrests on her seat. She felt as if her stomach were on a roller-coaster ride and had forgotten to inform her.She swallowed the rising bile in her throat and felt the plane lurch again. "This is getting ridiculous," she said. She unclasped her seat belt and tried to stand, bumping her head against the interior bulkhead in the process."Damn."If the plane was going to crash, she at least wanted to see it coming rather than sit trapped in her seat. Annja clawed her way forward toward the cockpit.She passed one of the crew on her way. "Is it always like this?"He grinned. "Yup. This time of year, it's always stormy down in these parts. You get used to it after a few trips.""Wonderful," she said, not feeling any better about the turbulence.She made her way to the flight deck. "Hi."The pilot turned. "You're supposed to be strapped in, Miss Creed. It's not exactly safe for you to be roaming around."Annja smiled. "I got the distinct impression that it wasn't safe sitting in my seat, either.""We're totally fine," the pilot said. "This is run-of-the-mill updrafts, turbulence and assorted atmospheric anomalies.""Anomalies?" Annja asked.He shrugged. "We don't really know what to call them. But they come with the territory of flying near the bottom of the world."The copilot glanced at her. "You're in no danger."Annja smirked. "Guess I figured if the end was coming, I wanted to see it rather than hide from it."The pilot nodded. "Understandable sentiment. I'd be the same way. If you want to, you can stay as we make our approach.""How much longer?" she asked."Maybe fifteen minutes. We come in low and fast, so make sure you hold on to something when we hit.""Hit? You guys sure do have a great way of putting things.""Well, we don't so much land as we skip and slide to an eventual stop. Those skis underneath our wheels are there for a reason," the copilot said.Annja nodded. When they'd taken off from the Air National Guard base in New York, she'd noticed the long skis on the underside of the plane. Without the benefit of a proper runway, aircraft going to Antarctica sometimes had to land on skis.It was the first time Annja had ever done this and she wasn't quite sure what to expect.The flight to New Zealand had been a long one with three in-flight aerial refuelings supplied by KC-130 supertankers. Annja had watched the experienced crew guide the plane to within a quarter mile of the flying gas station, take on a full tank of gas and then continue on its way.She looked out of the cockpit glass and could see snow falling. The pilot pointed to the instrument console. "Wipers, please.""Wipers." The copilot switched them on and they flicked the flakes from the glass.The plane felt as if it was starting to descend. Annja could hear flaps grinding in the cold blasts of air outside. The pilot kept the throttle up. Suddenly, Annja felt very much out of place.Best just to let these guys get done what they need to get done, she thought. She turned and headed back to her seat.She passed more crew members. One of them was drinking a tumbler of coffee. "Can I get you some?" he asked.Annja shook her head. "No, thanks. Not sure my stomach will let it settle right now."He grinned. "We'll be down in about ten minutes. You can have all you want then."Annja sat down and secured her seat belt. As she glanced around the dimly lit interior of the plane, she thought back to the letter she'd received in her mailbox shortly after returning from her latest dig. The letter had been sent from a colleague she'd once worked with: Zachary Guilfoyle. Zach had always been obsessed with prehistory on the planet, and his quest for the strange had made him something of an untouchable among other members of the more conservative scientific community.But Annja had loved hanging out with him. Zach, while a sucker for any bit of the mythical, was also a mean card shark and could spin a tale that often left you wondering what was truth and what was fantasy.His letter had asked Annja to come down to the research station in Antarctica. He was currently there, studying something that he would only describe as "very interesting."Annja had put the letter away intrigued but with no real thought toward going. She had reports to file for Chasing History's Monsters, after all. And she had some very overdue bills to pay.She was all set to send Zach an e-mail telling him she couldn't go when a pair of men in dark suits, bad haircuts and disposable sunglasses had shown up outside her loft one afternoon as she returned from a jog."Are you Annja Creed?" one of the strangers asked.She glanced at them, knowing immediately they were with the government. "You're telling me that with all the technology you guys have at your disposal these days, you really have to ask if I'm who you're looking for? What is that, some sort of leftover ritual you still follow from the Cold War?" she said.It got a smirk out of one of them. "Well, you were out jogging.""Ah, so it's more a comment on how crappy I look right now. Well, as long as I know," she said, wondering what she was in trouble for now.Annja started up the steps. "What can I do for you?"The Fed leaned against the railing. "You got a letter recently from a Mr. Guilfoyle.""Are you asking me or telling me?" Annja said.He looked over the top of his glasses at her. Annja smiled. "Right, of course. Yes, I got the letter from Zach. So what?""He's requested your presence at the research center in Antarctica."Annja sighed. "If you already know about the letter, I'm assuming you know all about the contents of the letter. So how about we don't waste any more of each other's time— me being the sweaty, stinky creature in need of a shower— and you guys tell me exactly what it is you want and then go back to scaring little kids with those costumes. Okay?""We need you to go to Antarctica," the man said."Why?" Annja asked."Because Guilfoyle needs your help. He says you're the only one he can trust. The only one he'll work with."Annja felt the sweat rolling down her back. It tickled a bit whenever it did that and she really wanted that shower. "What's the big deal in Antarctica?" she asked."It's classified.""Of course. All that snow and ice. No wonder you guys want to keep a lid on it."The Feds said nothing, but just looked at her.Annja cleared her throat. "You guys aren't leaving until I agree to go—is that what I'm seeing here?""Something like that.""Right." Annja took a breath and sighed. "All right. I'll need a day or so to get my things in order and let my boss know that I won't be in to do that work on the reports I'm supposed to be filing," Annja said, stalling for time to figure out what was going on."That's already been taken care of," one of the men said.Annja frowned. "Excuse me?""Your boss. He's already been called. He knows not to expect you for about ten days.""Ten days?"One of the Feds shrugged. "Well, it's not like they run daily flights into the research station. Especially this time of year. Weather's a lot worse than usual.""Oh. Great.""We need to get you to New Zealand, Miss Creed.""New Zealand?""And then on to Antarctica."Annja nodded. "Did you guys already take a shower for me, as well?""Not quite."Annja started up the steps. "Good. In that case, I'm going to soak my tired muscles. I'd invite you guys up, but I know what habitual snoops you are. There's no telling what kind of trouble you'd get into up there."The lead Fed grinned. "That's okay. We've already seen the place."Annja started to laugh, but something about the way he said it told her he wasn't joking. The slimy bastards had been into her place.She stalked into the building and slammed the door shut behind her. What the hell had Guilfoyle gotten himself mixed up with this time?The plane jerked again and seemed to turn slightly. Annja felt as if she'd just been jarred awake.They must be starting to come in now, she realized.One of the crew members moved past her. "Won't be long now. Sit tight. We'll be on the ground shortly.""Thanks," she said.He moved off and Annja closed her eyes. The propellers seemed to be groaning now. She could hear them straining against the Antarctic gales. It sounded like frozen pellets of snow pummeling the plane outside.She could imagine the pilot and copilot going through their loading routine. They'd lower the flaps, decrease the throttle and line up the nose of the plane with the point on the ground where they'd be landing the plane.Did they have runway lights strung out down here? Annja didn't know what to expect. All she knew was that two days ago she'd been standing on her front stoop back in Brooklyn sweating profusely while two Feds spoke to her. She'd gone upstairs, showered, tossed a few items into a bag and then been whisked off to the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard based outside Sche-nectady. From there, she'd been hustled aboard a big military plane and then flown across the world to Christchurch, New Zealand.In Christchurch, the weather was seventy degrees and pleasant. She could have lounged there in jeans and a T-shirt. Instead, the flight crew made her clamber into thermal underwear and extreme-cold-weather survival gear."In case we go down, you have to be clothed already in survival gear," the loadmaster told her matter-of-factly."You ever go down?" Annja asked nervously.He grinned. "Once we pass the boomerang, we either land or crash.""The boomerang?""The point at which we can't come back here." He zipped up her parka. "But I wouldn't worry about it. It's only bad if we have a whiteout landing.""I don't think I want to know about that," Annja said. By that point, the two Feds who'd flown down with her from New York City had maneuvered her onto the plane and then waved goodbye to h... Views: 9
Three classic Richard Sharpe adventures.Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Seringapatam, 1799When a senior British officer is captured by the Tippoo of Mysore’s forces, Sharpe is offered a chance to attempt a rescue, which in turn offers an escape from the tyrannical Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill.Richard Sharpe and the battle of Assaye, September 1803Sergeant Richard Sharpe witnesses a murderous act of treachery by an English officer who has defected from the East India Company to join the Mahratta Confederation. In the hunt for the renegade Englishman, Sharpe penetrates deep into enemy territory where he is followed relentlessly by his worst enemy, Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill.Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Gawilghur, December 1803Sir Arthur Wellesley's army is closing on the retreating Mahrattas in western India. Marching with the British is Ensign Richard Sharpe, newly made an officer, wishing he had stayed a sergeant. Views: 9
In an original short story by New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd, Scotland Yard inspector Ian Rutledge must put all his detecting skills to use to solve a baffling case. A man and his young daughter were returning home from a dinner party when three men appeared from out of nowhere and grabbed the girl. Rutledge has to act quickly to find the child and bring the surprising culprits to justice.The Kidnapping also includes excerpts from three other Ian Rutledge mysteries: A Lonely Death, The Red Door, and A Pale Horse. Views: 9
The riveting first entry in the acclaimed PJ Gray series, in which a police psychologist uses virtual reality forensics to solve a vicious series of homicides Penelope Jennifer "PJ" Gray is a recently divorced single mother living in St. Louis—and a psychologist turned cyber-profiler who heads the police force's Computerized Homicide Investigations Project. By using virtual reality technology, Gray is able to get inside the heads of killers and reconstruct their crimes.The action begins when a talented pianist is savagely murdered, his back carved with a drawing of a dog, his head missing. As similar deaths follow, Gray and her partner—an old-school, technophobe detective called Schultz—must use their skills to trace the serial murderer. Gray Matter marks a brilliant crime-writing debut, as this electrictrifying story recalls Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lecter novels. Views: 9
When David and Sarah Woodson take a much-needed vacation with their ten-year old son, John, their intention is to find a relaxing, remote spot to take a break from the artificial stimulation of their busy world back in Jacksonville, Florida. What happens within hours of settling in to their rural, rustic little cottage in a far-flung spot on the coast of Ireland is an international incident that leaves the family stranded and dependent on themselves for their survival. Facing starvation, as well as looters and opportunists, they learn the hard way the important things in life. Can a family skilled only in modern day suburbia and corporate workplaces learn to survive when the world is flung back a hundred years? When there is no internet, no telephones, no electricity and no cars? And when every person near them is desperate to survive at any cost?From the Inside FlapFree Falling has been named a Semi Finalist in Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Books of 2012! Views: 9
Here is a brace of vignettes by the Old Vignette Master ... short and sharp ... like a hypodermic! Views: 9
"Give her a good murder and a shameful social evil," The New York Times Book Review once declared, "and Anne Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens's eyes pop." And Perry's new William and Hester Monk story, a mesmerizing masterpiece of innocence and evil on London's docks, outshines all her previous novels in this successful and beloved series.When the body of a small-time crook named Mickey Parfitt washes up on the tide, no one grieves; far from it. But William Monk, commander of the River Police, is puzzled by the expensive silk cravat used to strangle Parfitt. How did this elegant scarf--whose original owner was obviously a man of substance--end up imbedded in the neck of a wharf rat who richly deserved his sordid end?Dockside informers lead Monk to what may be a partial answer--a floating palace of corruption on the Thames managed by Parfitt, where a captive band of half-starved boys are forced to perform vile acts for men... Views: 9
Things are crazy at the bakery, as Sam tries to replicate the magical chocolates that the quirky Romanian chocolatier introduced at Christmas-time. Meanwhile, there are lots of weddings, in addition to her own, and other pastry shop demands during this romantic holiday week.While Sam tries to keep up with it all, another mystery comes her way. Marla Fresques needs to find her missing son. The woman is dying and wants her son home to raise the daughter he left behind. When Sam learns that the authorities dropped the case years ago, she feels she must help. Can she find the missing man?Or will she resort to using her uncanny healing powers to cure Marla's illness?Through all this, Sam's life becomes further complicated by the fact that an ex-girlfriend of Beau's shows up in town, determined to win him back. Views: 9
In the most suspenseful installment of the New York Times nestselling Body Farm series to date, forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton investigates a bizarre murder—and confronts a deadly enemy he thought he'd put behind bars for good.Forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton has spent twenty-five years solving brutal murders—but none so bizarre and merciless as his latest case: A ravaged set of skeletal remains is found chained to a tree on a remote mountainside. As Brockton and his assistant Miranda dig deeper, they uncover warning signs of a deadly eruption of hatred and violence.But the shocking case is only the beginning of Brockton's trials. Mid-case, the unthinkable happens: The deadliest criminal Brockton has ever foiled—the sadistic serial killer Nick Satterfield—escapes from prison, bent on vengeance. But simply killing Brockton isn't enough. Satterfield wants to make him suffer first, by destroying everything he holds dear:... Views: 9
