Who is the caretaker hiding in the shadows of the Martha's Vineyard mansions he tends?Back in India, Ranjit Singh commanded an elite army squad. But that was years ago, before his Army career ended in dishonor, shattering his reputation.Driven from his homeland, he is now a caretaker on the exclusive resort island of Martha's Vineyard, looking after the vacation homes of the rich and powerful. One harsh winter, faced with no other choice, he secretly moves his family into the house of one of his clients, an African-American Senator. Here, his wife and daughter are happy, and he feels safe for the first time in ages.But Ranjit's idyll is shattered when mysterious men break into the house. Pursued and hunted, Ranjit is forced to enter the Senator's shadowy world, and his only ally is Anna, the Senator's beautiful wife, who has secrets of her own.Together, they uncover a trail of deception that leads from the calm shores of the Vineyard to countries half a world away. And when his investigation stirs up long forgotten events, the caretaker must finally face the one careless decision that ruined his life- and forced him to leave India.A gripping tale of hidden histories, political intrigue and dangerous attractions, A. X. Ahmad's The Caretaker introduces a new hero for our times: an immigrant caught between two worlds and a man caught between two loves.From Booklist*Starred Review* This fine thriller debut views disturbing political realism through the lens of Ranjit Singh, a newly immigrated Sikh fleeing danger in India after a politically explosive mistake ends his military career. Ranjit’s hope to settle in Martha’s Vineyard becomes reality when his landscaping work for a powerful senator’s wife grows into an unexpected relationship, opening doors for him to work as winter caretaker for the island’s wealthiest residents. When Ranjit’s cottage is damaged, the only housing option is a clandestine short-term move onto the senator’s property. But this brief flirtation with luxury is abruptly ended one night by armed men who break in and begin searching the house. Ranjit’s military training ensures his family’s escape, but the intruders track them to Boston and orchestrate his wife and daughter’s detention for illegal immigration. Stealthily tracking his pursuers, Ranjit discovers that they are the senator’s security personnel, desperately searching for something tucked inside a doll his daughter has taken from the house. Ranjit goes underground to decipher the doll’s secret and strategize using it to secure his family’s safety. Ahmad laces Ranjit’s voice with sadness, creating beauty as he spins a cynically smart political thriller that draws parallels of political expediency between Washington deal-brokering and Ranjit’s tragic past. Beyond the masterfully crafted, high-adrenaline story, readers will be fascinated by Ranjit’s strong Sikh faith, rarely seen in American fiction. Views: 39
Susan Callisto is pushing thirty and taking stock. The man in her life, Massachusetts police lieutenant Michael Benedict, has unaccountably left her without a word of goodbye. Her consulting firm caters to entry level candidates, and while business is good, money is short. Late in the season, political novice Charles Renfrow begs Susan to help him run for mayor of Telford. But Renfrow is a scientist not a politician, and his pockets are far too deep. Susan is tempted—Renfrow knows how to seduce—but her suspicions, if not her libido, are aroused.When a friend insists Renfrow's biotech company is dumping deadly toxic waste, Susan decides to find out the truth before committing herself. Instead of truth, she finds a corpse, Renfrow's gorgeous assistant Torie Moran. The murder weapon is a microtome blade, razor sharp and accessible to anyone at Renfrow's lab. After Torie's murder, violence shadows Susan and people close to her. She is attacked in her driveway. An... Views: 39
Product DescriptionWhen a sacred relic is stolen from its subterranean guarded vault, Dr. Steven Cross, amateur cryptographer, becomes embroiled in a deadly quest to decipher one of history's most enigmatic documents - a 15th century parchment written entirely in unbreakable code; The Voynich Manuscript. Stalked by secret societies, and aided by the daughter of a murdered colleague, a trail of riddles catapults Cross from England to Italy to the Middle East, where a Byzantine web of ancient secrets leads him to a revelation so profound it will change the world order. Views: 39
A brutal snowstorm has blanketed the area and brought with it translucent phantoms that invade humans and drive them to murder. Views: 39
The fourth installment in the popular Jennie McGrady mystery series Jennie McGrady's search for her missing father lands her in a lot of hot water, and now she's got to get out of Portland—fast. To Jennie's relief, her grandmother's response is a Caribbean cruise, where tropical breezes and endless beaches await. But danger is still on her heels. Lisa Calhoun has only one thing in common with her cousin Jennie: their age. A petite beauty with sparkling auburn hair and an eye for the perfect date, Lisa's idea of an adventure is trying on new nail polish. But she's entangled in another of Jennie's schemes, and the consequences could be deadly. Dominic Ramirez has both the wealth and the charm to sweep Jennie off her feet. But Jennie's still standing, and glimmers of his dark side have her worried. Suddenly the dream turns into a nightmare. Views: 39
Bean and Ab are expecting to spend a normal, fun summer together on the Main island where Bean lives. Things quickly become exciting however, when Ab tells Bean that the Moses Webster House, the boarding house where she is staying with her parents, is haunted.What follows is a set of entertaining adventures as the two search for a buried treasure. But first they must find the secret tunnel connecting the Moses Webster House to the spooky Winthrop House, get past the sinister Maud Valliers, and dodge Bean's nasty Cousin, Monty.A series of frightening and dangerous missteps leads them to a bizarre treasure - and even darker secrets. In the process they become heroes in their close-knit island community. Views: 39
