Best of
Crime

1987

Small Sacrifices


Ann Rule - 1987
    Ann Rule's shocking and powerful account of the destructive forces that drove Diane Downs, a beautiful young mother, to shoot her three young children in cold blood.

The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man, Red Harvest


Dashiell Hammett - 1987
    A one-time detective and a master of deft understatement, Hammett virtually invented the hard-boiled crime novel. In The Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade, a private eye with his own solitary code of ethics, tangles with a beautiful and treacherous woman whose loyalties shift at the drop of a dime. The Thin Man introduces Hammett's wittiest creations, Nick and Nora Charles, who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis. And in Red Harvest, Hammett's anonymous tough-guy detective, the Continental Op, takes on the entire town of Poisonville in a deadly war against corruption."Dashiell Hammett is a master of the detective novel, yes, but also one hell of a writer."—Boston Globe”Hammett was spare, hard-boiled, but he did over and over what only the best writers can ever do. He wrote scenes that seemed never to have been written before.”—Raymond Chandler”Hammett’s prose was clean and entirely unique. His characters were as sharply and economically defined as any in American fiction.”—The New York Times”As a novelist of realistic intrigue, Hammett was unsurpassed in his own or any time.”—Ross Macdonald”Dashiell Hammett’s dialogues can be compared only with the best in Hemingway.”—André Gide”Hammett is one of the best contemporary American writers.”—Gertrude Stein

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes


Martin H. GreenbergStephen King - 1987
    These new adventures are the only ones to be specially authorised by Dame Jean Conan Doyle, celebrating the centennial of Holmes' first appearance in print.Greeted with unanimous acclaim, the traditionally crafted stories feature dazzling encounters with Holmes rising to new challenges and revealing new feats of brilliant, deductive logic ... culminating in a mental duel of frightening intensity with the master criminal Moriarty. And Watson - God bless him - has his share of the spotlight too.

Her Honor


William J. Coughlin - 1987
     Justice is twisted out of shape and anyone will do anything in their thirst for power. When the beautiful young Kathleen Talbot is assigned her first important case as a circuit court judge, she must confront more than her trial at hand. The case on the docket – a controversial “mercy killing” of a brain-dead victim by a vengeful officer – is a painful reminder of her own decision to have her terminally ill father’s life-support system cut off. At first, Kathleen’s sense of honor impels her to proceed, regardless of the consequences. But as the case progresses and the pressure mounts, she soon realizes that she, instead, has been put on trial. Meanwhile, with the position of executive judge up for grabs, political favours and backroom deals sweep through the courtroom, as judges are out to score the most votes. And Jane Whitehall, an ambitious and ruthless journalist, is determined to uncover a juicy, controversial story for the local paper. When Kathleen finds herself irresistibly attracted to Jeremiah Mitchell, the handsome, charismatic attorney for the defence, things become even more complicated. Despite her efforts to keep the relentless politics of the court from defeating her, the case suddenly explodes into hideously accusing headlines… And to what extent, will Kathleen’s honor protect her? Her Honor is a stunning legal drama and the very human story of a woman judge’s struggle to balance pride, passion, love and honor. Praise for Her Honor “ Her Honor is fascinating, a crackling and insightful book. I loved it” — Robert B. Parker, author of the Spenser Series “Combines a compelling insider’s knowledge with a powerful storyline. If you want to learn about the way it really is inside a courtroom and also be royally entertained, read this book …William Coughlin is habit-forming.” — James B. Patterson, Edgar Award-winning author of The Thomas Berryman Number “Enjoyable, informative … a well-written page-turner that gives insight into backroom judicial politics.” — Stanley Shapiro, producer and author of A Time To Remember “A humdinger! An irresistible story … and an exciting tapestry of the day-to-day running of criminal court … William Coughlin really knows his stuff!” — William J. Caunitz, author of One Police Plaza William J. Coughlin has combined a career as a United States administrative judge in Detroit with that of a best-selling novelist. His four previous highly acclaimed and successful novels are The Twelve Apostles, His Father’s Daughter, In the Presence of Enemies and Shadow of a Doubt.

Presumed Innocent


Scott Turow - 1987
    Presumed Innocent brings to life our worst nightmare: that of an ordinary citizen facing conviction for the most terrible of all crimes. It's the stunning portrayal of one man's all-too-human, all-consuming fatal attraction for a passionate woman who is not his wife, and the story of how his obsession puts everything he loves and values on trial—including his own life. It's a book that lays bare a shocking world of betrayal and murder, as well as the hidden depths of the human heart. And it will hold you and haunt you ... long after you have reached its shattering conclusion.

Hot Money


Dick Francis - 1987
    Nor did he expect his latest wife to be brutally murdered. All the clues suggest the killer comes from close to home - but after five marriages and nine children, that still leaves the field wide open. When he finds his own life in danger, Pembroke entrusts his safety to his estranged son, Ian, an amateur jockey; and through him discovers a compulsive new outlet for his financial expertise. Soon he's playing the international bloodstock market for incredible stakes. Not the safest bet for a man on the run from avaricious relatives. Particularly when one of them got a bomb...

Cause for Alarm


Erica Spindler - 1987
    Julianna sees Richard as her fantasy man and begins to stalk the couple. She molds herself in Kate's image and insinuates herself into Richard's life, determined to tear their marriage apart. Unspeakable evil follows Julianna and now no one is safe--not even an innocent child. (May)

Doctor Dealer: The Rise and Fall of an All-American Boy and His Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Empire


Mark Bowden - 1987
    But behind the facade of his success was a dark secret -- at every step of the way he was building the foundation for a cocaine empire that would grow to generate over $60 million in annual sales. Award-winning journalist Mark Bowden tells the saga of Lavin's rise and fall with the gripping, novelistic narrative style that won him international acclaim as the author of the New York Times best-seller Black Hawk Down. Immensely readable . . . eye-popping . . . a smoothly crafted, exciting, can't-put-it-down book. -- Louisville New Voice

Rafferty's Rules


W. Glenn Duncan - 1987
     Fifteen years ago, Rafferty saved Vivian Mollison from a crazed junkie who tried to blow her head off. A lot has changed since then. Rafferty’s no longer a cop, and Vivian’s now twenty-five, studying sociology at SMU, with a father who made a fortune in computers. So when Rafferty gets summoned to the Mollison estate and told to chase down the five outlaw bikers who kidnapped Vivian and put her into a drug-induced twilight zone, it’s mixed emotions. The payday will be big, but he’ll have to earn every penny of it. The bikers aren’t likely to come quietly and who knows how many people could get hurt in the crossfire. But behind all that fun and excitement, there’s still a girl who needs his help. Rafferty saved Vivian once. Can he do it again? If you’re a fan of Spenser, Mike Hammer or Matt Scudder, then this hardboiled pulp thriller, from Shamus Award Winner W. Glenn Duncan, will keep you reading late into the dark night. RAFFERTY'S RULES is a hardboiled P.I. mystery in the tradition of the best pulp thrillers. Rafferty’s a Dallas P.I. and an ex-cop who spent enough time on the streets to understand how things work. And when they don’t, Rafferty’s the guy you’ll want on your side. He may quote Latin occasionally, smoke too much and be a cynical sonofabitch, but when it all hits the fan and you need someone you can trust, you’ll be glad you called Rafferty. Originally published by Ballantine, this 30th Anniversary release of RAFFERTY'S RULES marks the first time that W. Glenn Duncan’s work has been available in digital format. We doubt that Rafferty would quietly accept the ongoing march of technology that provides this opportunity, but even a grizzled P.I. has to grow up sometime. This hardboiled PI series will continue with the first new Rafferty story in nearly three decades. FALSE GODS, written by W. Glenn Duncan Jr. (son of the original author) sees Rafferty looking for a missing girl, up to his ass in religious fundamentalists and needing all the help he can get from his old pals Cowboy and Mimi—and a few new ones—to make sure he gets out alive.

At Close Quarters


Gerald Seymour - 1987
    They are far into the Beqa'a, out of reach, when their cover is blown and Syrian Intelligence are alerted to their approach.

The Lindbergh Case


Jim Fisher - 1987
    . . choose Fisher's. It is balanced, impartial, and contains much material not to be found elsewhere."--Francis Russell, The New York Review of Books "Fisher . . . goes against the revisionist tide and argues strongly--and persuasively--for Hauptmann's guilt . . . a compelling book."--Patrick Reardon, Chicago Tribune "A good real-life crime yarn."--Kirkus Reviews "A riveting book."--Harry Sayen, The Times, Trenton "A real detective story."--Sylvia Sachs, The Pittsburgh Press "One cannot help getting caught up in the search for the child, then in the search for justice. These events resonate more than 50 years after they occurred."--John Katzenback, The New York Times Book Review "Fisher thoroughly covers the case, from the night the baby was taken from his home in Hopewell, NJ, on March 1, 1932, to Hauptmann's execution on April 3, 1936 . . . a convincing case."--Publishers Weekly "A grimly fascinating account of the kidnapping and murder of Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr., son of the world-famous aviator."--The Columbus Dispatch "A richly detailed, engrossing, and well-written history of the kidnapping saga. . . . may well become the definitive work on the subject."

The Monkey's Raincoat


Robert Crais - 1987
    A quiet and seemingly submissive wife, Ellen can't even write a check without him. All she wants is to get him and her son back—no questions asked. The search for Ellen's errant husband leads Elvis into the seamier side of Hollywood. He soon learns that Mort Lang is a down-on-his-luck talent agent who associates with a schlocky movie producer, and the last place he was spotted was at a party thrown by a famous and very well-connected ex-Matador. But no one has seen him since—including his B-movie girlfriend.At the same time the police find Mort in his parked car with four gunshots in his chest —and no kid in sight—Ellen disappears. Now nothing is what it seems, and the heat is on. It's up to Elvis Cole and his partner Joe Pike to find the connection between sleazy Hollywood players and an ex-Matador.

The Corpse Had a Familiar Face: Covering Miami, America's Hottest Beat


Edna Buchanan - 1987
    Reissue.

When Battered Women Kill


Angela Browne - 1987
    A compassionate look at 42 battered women who felt "locked in with danger and so desperate that they killed a man they loved"; scholarly and compelling.

High Priest of California/Wild Wives


Charles Willeford - 1987
    Used car salesmen, two-bit detectives, and psychotic dames clash against one another in the city by the Bay. Pure Pulped CLASSIX is a garishly named effort on the part of Resurrectionary Press to provide works of pulp fiction in cleanly designed and properly typset editions.

Age of Sex Crime


Jane Caputi - 1987
    Jane Caputi argues that the sensationalized murders by men such as Jack the Ripper, Son of Sam, Hillside Strangler, and the Yorkshire Ripper represent a contemporary genre of sexually political crimes. The awful deeds function as a form of patriarchal terrorism, "disappearing" women at a rate of some four thousand annually in the United States alone. Caputi asks us not only to name the phenomenon of sexually political murder, but to recognize sex crime in all of its various interconnecting manifestations.

Hot Money and the Politics of Debt


R.T. Naylor - 1987
    It seeks anonymity and political refuge. It dodges taxes and sidesteps currency controls. It rolls through offshore shell companies and secret bank accounts, phoney charities and fraudulent religious foundations. It is kept rolling by white-collar criminals, gun-runners, drug dealers, insurgent groups, scam artists, tax evaders, gold and gem smugglers, and, not least, secret service agents plotting coups and financing revolutions. R.T. Naylor explains the origins of this pool of hot and homeless money, its origins, its uses and abuses, how the world of high finance, corporate and governmental, became hostage to it, and the price the world is paying and will continue to pay until the hostages are released. This book was one of the first, and remains the most comprehensive, to dissect the world of offshore finance, capital flight, money laundering, and tax evasion. Once a subject of concern principally to tax authorities and finance ministries, since the September 11, 2001 hot and homeless money has now become a central preoccupation for police forces and intelligence services around the world.

The Always Anonymous Beast


Lauren Wright Douglas - 1987
    First in a series featuring this lesbian private eye.

Country of the Heart


Kay Nolte Smith - 1987
    Some 20 years later, his wife is dying of cancer and his daughter with her new name and the westernized lifestyle of a New York based writer finds out that he is due to perform in the West, in Finland. Despite the danger, she decides to go to Finland in disguise to find out from her father what really happened all those years ago. The author's first novel "The Watcher" was winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel.

Lost Treasures on the Old Spanish Trail


George A. Thompson - 1987
    The Old Spanish Trail was a pathway with but one purpose: to lead followers to the legendary land of Cibola and its immeasurable treasures of silver and gold. Lost Treasures of the Spanish Trail takes readers through the history of the trail and its surrounding lands, from the arrival of Spanish conquistadors and the treasures of Montezuma, through its expansion northward, to the traces of the trail that can still be found today, worn deeply into soft sandstone, perhaps still leading to the hidden treasures that inspire legends.

The Crimes of Patriots: A True Tale of Dope, Dirty Money and the CIA


Jonathan Kwitny - 1987
    In this explosive expose he reveals the most mysterious collection of spies ever caught in a single scandal. Kwitny is host of The Kwitny Report, seen weekly on 200 PBS TV affiliates.

Gone from the Promised Land: Jonestown in American Cultural History


John R. Hall - 1987
    Hall presents a reasoned analysis of the meaning of Jonestown--why it happened and how it is tied to our history as a nation, our ideals, our practices, and the tension of modern culture. Hall deflates the myths of Jonestown by exploring how much of what transpired was unique to the group and its leader and how much can be explained by reference to wider social processes.

Bingo! The Horrifying Eyewitness Account of a Prison Riot


Roger Caron - 1987
    

The Prosecutors: Inside the Offices of the Government's Most Powerful Lawyers


James B. Stewart - 1987
    The bestselling author of The Partners takes a gripping, unprecedented look at the nation's top lawyers in action, looking behind the scenes at headline-making trials and revealing how the criminal justice system really works.

The Imperial Way


James Melville - 1987
    

Snake Eyes


Gaylord Dold - 1987
    But the blind Reynard is also a nightclub owner with a dangerous and beautiful young wife.Gaylord Dold is the author of fifteen works of fiction including the highly acclaimed private detective series featuring Mitch Roberts, a well as numerous contemporary crime thrillers. Many of his novels have been singled out for awards and praise by a number of critics and writer’s organizations.

Honey Trap


Anthony Summers - 1987
    The resulting scandal saw the death, an apparent suicide, of society osteopath Stephen Ward (who brought them together) and is widely regarded as contributing to the resignation of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan through ill health and the defeat of the Tory government at the next election - though the public was assured that national security had not been damaged. This book produces evidence that only a fraction of the story was made known at the time or revealed by the trial of Ward for prostitution. The involvement of MI5, the use of sex to procure defections, suspicions that Ward was murdered, and many other aspects of the case are produced here as links in a chain that leads right back to President Kennedy. The book is re-issued to coincide with the release of the film "Scandal". Anthony Summers has written other investigative books, including "The File on the Tsar", "Conspiracy" about the Kennedy's assassination, and "Goddess", a biography of Marilyn Monroe. Stephen Dorrill also worked on "Goddess" and is co-editor of "Lobster", a political and intelligence quarterly.

Every Mother's Son


Anne D. LeClaire - 1987
    Kate Tyler is told by Annapolis officials that her son committed suicide, but she suspects that he was murdered.