From Publishers WeeklyForensics anthropologist Gideon Oliver's compelling 14th adventure (after 2006's Unnatural Selection) involves a hot, humid and decidedly deadly expedition up the Amazon River with his friends Phil Boyajian, who heads a budget travel agency, and FBI agent John Lau. While Phil rates the boat's amenities, Gideon and John marvel at the natural wonders. But before long, they pick up on tension among the other passengers, who include world-famous ethnobotanist Arden Scofield and two of his colleagues—a ghostwriter and a bug researcher—plus a mysterious guide known only as Cisco. As the travelers go deep into the jungle, fearful of the rarely seen Chayacuro headhunters, Gideon and his pals find themselves in the middle of a decades-old blood feud, along with drug smuggling, greed and murder. Edgar-winner Elkins delivers fascinating descriptions of the Amazon and a satisfying denouement, courtesy of Gideon's characteristically astute analysis of human remains. (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From BooklistElkins, who has won the Edgar Award for his Gideon Oliver series, trots out forensic anthropology professor Oliver for another adventure, this time along the Amazon River. Elkins totally avoids the sin of sloth represented by some mystery writers who habitually underresearch their topics. Elkins always presents a rich buffet of fascinating scientific facts, and this time his table overflows with information about the Amazon's wildlife and, even more intriguingly, its plant life, long used by natives as medicine and now studied by medical ethnobotanists. Elkins, generous with background, is a bit too generous with setup: by the time Professor Oliver and the research botanists actually get to the Amazon, readers may be tired of the overly long, and-then-there-were-none-style introductions to each character. Once underway on the Amazon, however, things quickly pick up, as a shrunken head, carried by a spear, lands on deck, and Oliver's detective skills are called into play when one of the botanists is murdered. Learned and entertaining. Connie FletcherCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Views: 55
SHE’S LIKE A VIRGIN … SIMULATED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME For a red-blooded male, Las Vegas offers a virtual smorgasbord of temptation: sexy showgirls, vampy vampires, zombie starlets, you name it. But paranormal investigator Delilah Street isn’t worried about losing her man to these vixens. Especially when the one woman with a soft spot for the guy also has a hard-shelled exterior.... She’s a robot—or a CinSim, to be exact—a near-perfect simulation of the silver-metal robot Maria from the classic science fiction movie Metropolis . Part innocent teenage actress, part depraved sex goddess, the new Maria is hooked on Delilah’s partner, Ric, who raised her from the dead. She also happens to be the perfect secret weapon for a demonic drug lord. Which could be one hell of a problem. Delilah’s not the jealous type, but this tin-can temptress must be stopped—even if it forces Delilah to forge a dangerous alliance with her wicked mirror-twin, Lilith. If robo-girl goes ballistic, every player in Vegas loses.... Views: 55
Over the course of his legendary career, Harlan Ellison has defied-and sometimes defined-modern fantasy literature, all while refusing to allow any genre to claim him. A Grand Master of the Science Fiction Writers of America, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers Association as well as winner of countless awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, Edgar Allan Poe and Bram Stoker, Ellison is as unpredictable as he is unique, irrepressible as he is infuriating. E-Reads is proud to publish over thirty titles in Ellison's brilliant catalog, now available in an elegant new package featuring Ellison himself. Genius never felt so combustible. - The original teleplay that became the classic Star Trek episode, with an expanded introductory essay by Harlan Ellison 'The City on the Edge of Forever' has been surrounded by controversy since the airing of an "eviscerated" version—which subsequently has been voted the most beloved episode in the series' history. In... Views: 55
A KILLER IN THE DEAD OF WINTER... As a family clinic administrator, Michele Layton has seen her share of suffering. But never anything like this. Not here in St. Cloud, Minnesota. A local activist has been found murdered, his body frozen like a statue and placed in a Winter Carnival ice sculpture display. Next a vicious hate crime puts a man in the ICU. And locked away in the Holy Rest mental ward, a deranged man of the cloth prays for more sinners to be punished--and waits for a sign from above. These seemingly random acts lead police chief Steve Radke to Michele, who could be the next pawn in a madman's chess game of life and death, good versus evil... Views: 55
"No one is more surprised than Rennie to hear that his late grandfather, whom he hardly knew, has left a mission for him to fulfill. Rennie is to fly to Iceland and deliver a message from beyond the grave, but when he gets there, nothing is simple or straightforward. For one thing, Brynja, the teenage daughter of the family he's staying with, is downright hostile. Her father Einar, who is to be Rennie's guide in Iceland, is preoccupied with looking after his elderly father-in-law, an old friend of Rennie's grandfather. Bored and a little bit annoyed, Rennie explores the town and becomes aware that the family is dealing with more than their grief over Brynja's mother's death the year before. Before he realizes what is happening, his curiosity puts Rennie in grave danger, with no one to trust and no one to save him except himself."Review"McClintock's style is ideal for this series. Her characters are well-developed, and secrets are revealed only gradually, leaving the murderer's identity in doubt until the final pages. She also includes much local colour...and lightens the story with a sense of humour...This title stands alone, but the intriguing series' premise and the sense of mystery and adventure should prompt middle grade readers to ask for more." (CM Magazine 20120907)"Written as one of a set of seven linked novels to be released simultaneously, this story easily stands on its own...McClintock writes with her usual simple prose that can appeal to a broad audience, scattering little clues for astute readers and highlighting Iceland's interesting culture. Rennie's defiant character will appeal to many reluctant readers, who may be moved to try another in the series. A neat, suspenseful mystery tailor-made for young readers." (Kirkus Reviews 20120901) Views: 55
With a sizzling Cuban setting and a murder plot that hits too close to home, the New York Times bestselling mastermind delivers her most dramatic case to date. Miami lawyers Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana have recently married. Gail hopes to learn more about her new husband by visiting the island that still claims his heart. Anthonys loyalties are divided between his family, who believe in the Revolution, and his friends, dissident writers Jos Leiva and Yolanda Cabrera. No one is aware that Yolandas idealistic twenty-year-old son, Mario, belongs to an underground group plotting the assassination of a top Cuban general. The night before Gail and Anthony leave for Havana, the CIA pays a visit. They want Anthony to deliver a message to his brother-in-law, General Ramiro Vega: He is in danger, and unless he defects, he could be killed. Why is Vega so important to the CIA? The answer leads to the discovery of a violent death, a secret terrorist threat, and a love from the past that could tear Gail and Anthony apart. Views: 55
Lycans, vampires, and cherubs... oh my.All Evangeline Hollis wants is to stay out of trouble long enough to lose the Mark of Cain, which drafted her into hunting demons for God. A former agnostic, she's still recovering from being the latest point of contention between the two men in her life—Cain and Abel. Now she's working for a cherub who thinks putting her undercover as a housewife is the best way to ferret out a rogue vampire hiding in an idyllic Orange County, California residential community.Eve knows when she's being used as a pawn in the celestial political game. Now, she just has to figure out who's the greater threat: the vampire she's hunting, the cherub yanking her chain, or the two brothers vying to play the role of her spouse—'til death do them part. Which in her line of work, could happen any minute... Views: 55
Someone's rigging the boats at Bayport's offshore race--and putting every racer's life at risk. Fortunately for the racers, Frank and Joe are on hand to investigate the foul play... Views: 55
Mob-connected loanshark Chili Palmer is sick of the Miami grind--plus his "friends" have a bad habit of dying there. So when he chases a deadbeat client out to Hollywood, Chili figures he might like to stay. This town with its dreammakers, glitter, hucksters, and liars--plus gorgeous, partially clad would -be starlets everywhere you look--seems ideal for an enterprising criminal with a taste for the cinematic. Besides, Chili's got an idea for a "killer" movie--thought it could very possibly kill him to get it made. Views: 55
In a meaty tribute to mystery sub-genres, Straub ( Ghost Story ) serves up a coming-of-age tale, a country-manor murder mystery and a twisted knot of governmental corruption and cover-up. Ten-year-old Tom Pasmore, a rich resident of the Caribbean island of Mill Walk, is hit by a car and, in a near-death experience, sees visions of himself in the future. During his long recuperation, Tom reads mystery stories brought to him by Lamont von Heilitz, an eccentric neighbor, once a famous detective. Action resumes when Tom, now aged 17 and possessed of sharpened deductive skills, gives the police an anonymous tip to help them solve the murder of a government official's sister. Tom's tip backfires, motivating him to join Lamont in trying to solve a murder that took place 20 years earlier in the Wisconsin resort town where Mill Walk's privileged citizens spend their summers. That layered, complex case reveals a long history of corruption, leads to more murders, to realization of the meaning of Tom's early visions and his discovery of his true identity. While evocative of place and time (the early '60s) and peopled with memorable characters, the story tries to fit into too many subgenres to succeed completely at any one. $200,000 ad/promo. Views: 55
Book II: The Midnight Eye returns…At first it’s a simple lost son case, but for PI Derek Adams things turn quickly to the twilight zone.Soon he’s on a remote island and up to his hips in mer-women, shape-changers and ancient fisher cults.Running back to the city doesn’t help; there’s magic and mayhem loose on the streets.An ancient god is waking up, and only blood will stop him! Views: 55
