Best of
Murder-Mystery

2013

The Key to Justice


Dennis Carstens - 2013
    Jake Waschke, is feeling the pressure to find him. To make matters worse, the killer strikes again, this time across the river in St. Paul, and his victim is the daughter of a prominent politician. Just when the investigation seems to be going nowhere, the police catch a break when the killer strikes yet again, except this time there is a witness who gets the police, including Jake Waschke chasing the killer through the streets of Minneapolis. During the chase Jake gets a good look at him and realizes his problems are only beginning when he recognizes the man and realizes he must do whatever is necessary to protect him. A patsy is found and an arrest is made. The patsy’s fate is placed in the hands of criminal defense lawyer, Marc Kadella, when the brother of the accused turns out to be a former client of Marc’s. The case has heat and publicity far beyond anything Marc has ever dealt with and he tries to beg off. He knows he is over his head with a case of this magnitude and also realizes it could destroy his practice and drive him into bankruptcy. The brother convinces Marc to take the case playing on their past relationship, guaranteeing payment of his fees and Marc’s own belief that the man is innocent. As the case progresses, Marc, aided in the investigation by a stunningly beautiful private investigator, becomes more and more convinced his client is being framed. But, unless he can uncover who is framing him and, more importantly, why, an innocent man is going to take a very serious fall, Marc will be helpless to prevent it. The Key to Justice is a work of fiction that the author undertook to give a more realistic view of the practice of law and what a lawyer goes through than is usually found in most legal thrillers. It is not an easy way to make a living but it can be very rewarding though not always easy on the soul and the lawyer’s private life. Whether the lawyer practices on his or her own, in a small firm or, maybe especially, a large firm to which you almost become enslaved, though well compensated, it can be a demanding, all-consuming, pressure-filled way to make a living.

The Hit - Free Preview (first 8 chapters)


David Baldacci - 2013
    

Dirty


Robert White - 2013
    He is the enemy.Stewart hatches a plan to destroy the evidence against him, but what he finds inside those files, is evidence of a vile paedophile ring operating under McCauley’s nose.Now three people are dead and Dave Stewart is the prime suspect.

The Charlie Parker Collection 1


John Connolly - 2013
    He is a man consumed by violence, guilt and the desire for revenge. When his ex-partner asks him to track down a missing girl, Parker embarks on a grim odyssey through the bowels of organised crime to a unique serial killer: The Travelling Man.In DARK HOLLOW, Private detective Charlie Parker embarks on a nerve-shredding manhunt and closes in on his prime suspect. But someone else is tracking them both.Parker's empathy with the powerless victims of crime is growing ever stronger. It makes him a natural choice to investigate the death of Grace Peltier in THE KILLING KIND - a death that appears to be a suicide. Genial killers Angel and Louis join Parker again as he descends into a honeycomb world populated by dark angels and lost souls.In THE WHITE ROAD, a black youth faces the death penalty for rape and murder; his victim, the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in South Carolina. It is a case with its roots in old evil, and old evil is Charlie Parker's speciality. Evil men from his past unite to exact a terrible revenge on the private detective.

Ritual in Death / Missing in Death


J.D. Robb - 2013
    Robb short stories.Ritual in DeathWhen a naked, knife-wielding man who thinks he has killed someone crashes a glamorous ball she's attending, Lieutenant Eve Dallas is almost relieved. The clues point towards ritual murder, but Eve knows there is nothing supernatural about a deadly lust for power...Missing in DeathAboard the Staten Island ferry, a tourist sees something she shouldn't have - and soon no one can find her. But if she didn't jump, and she's not on board, where is she? Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her team know that all the answers lie in what she saw on that ferry.Gritty, sexy and non-stop crime-fighting - enter the world of Eve Dallas.

Second Chances


Calle J. Brookes - 2013
    When not searching for his girls, he excelled at his role as second-in-command of the CCU. He loved his team, loved them like family. And when it became necessary to risk his own life to protect one of those teammate he gladly does it, nearly dying in the process.His first day back on the job he's nearly knocked to the ground by a pretty little whirlwind. The younger woman makes him feel again and brings out all his protective instincts. Shame she'd never be interested in a man like Dan, one who had nothing to give. He gave it all to his search.Allison Brewster liked the look of the man who helped her to her feet. Yes, he was at least fifteen years older than she was, but he had a kind face. Strong hands. A spark of real intelligence in his eyes. She found him so intriguing...But Dan had a complicated situation, just as complicated as the recent divorcee's. Should they really get involved with one another?RECKONINGSomeone had hacked the PAVAD's secure maintenance system, trapping his daughter and a pregnant woman in the elevators, and that infuriated Edward Dennis, creator of the PAVAD division.Ed's fury faded away when he learned the culprit was 11 yr. old Teddy Glendower, son of the new forensics supervisor, Dr. marianna Glendower.Ed recognized the act for what it was--a boy stuck in the middle of six other brothers and needing attention. Since his daughter's recent marriage, Ed had the time to mentor the young boy. Provided his mother was agreeable...Ed Dennis terrified Marianna, with his cold brown eyes and commanding presence. And now Teddy's fate was in the man's hands, something Marianna, the survivor of domestic abuse, couldn't help but panic over.If Teddy didn't cooperate would Marianna lose her position? The position she'd worked hard for? Men who held that kind of power over people couldn't be trusted...Ed was determined to show the beautiful mother of seven boys that he could be trusted. Determined to show her he would never hurt her...But someone was trying to do just that. Hurt Marianna and her team, and her safety now rested in Ed's hands. And he could make one vow, and he'd die to keep it if necessary.No one would hurt Marianna or her children ever again...@84,443 words

The FBI Profiler Series 6-Book Bundle


Lisa Gardner - 2013
    Now this edge-of-your-seat eBook bundle assembles all six of the superb novels featuring Lisa Gardner’s extraordinary protagonist: THE PERFECT HUSBAND THE THIRD VICTIM THE NEXT ACCIDENT THE KILLING HOUR GONE SAY GOODBYE A convicted murderer escapes from a maximum security prison—to go after the wife who put him behind bars. A maniac who kills for sport hides in the shadows, even as a boy confesses to his horrific crimes. A predator torments his victims with unspeakably intimate acts of violence. A butcher leaves two bodies each time he strikes, with the first containing clues that lead to the second. A madman pursues money, power, and celebrity by adopting the alias of a notorious killer. A sadist hunts the streets for vulnerable girls—and makes their nightmares come alive. These are just a few of the souls that haunt Lisa Gardner’s riveting series. But all these criminals have one thing in common: They are no match for Pierce Quincy.

Danganronpa: The Animation Volume 1


Takashi Tsukimi - 2013
    plus one ordinary student, chosen by lottery. Makoto Naegi was that lucky person -- or so he thought! When he shows up for class, he finds the students are a bizarre cast of odd-balls Under the ruthless authority of a robot teddy bear principal, Monokuma. The bear lays down the school rules: the only way out of Hope's Peak is not only murder another student... but get away with it, in a tribunal where the survivors cross-examine each other!Inspired by the Danganronpa video game series from NIS America and now on Steam... based on the anime series from Funanimation! The first Danganronpa manga to be released in English has twists and turns of its own!

Dark Justice


Brandilyn Collins - 2013
    While driving a rural road, Hannah Shire and her aging mother, who suffers from dementia, stop to help a man at the scene of a car accident. The man whispers mysterious words in Hannah’s ear. Soon people want to kill Hannah and her mother for what they “know.” Even law enforcement may be involved. The two women must flee for their lives. But how does Hannah hide her confused mother? Carol just wants to listen to her pop music, wear her favorite purple hat, and go home. And if they turn to Hannah’s twenty-seven- year-old daughter, Emily, for help, will she fall into danger as well?Pressed on all sides, Hannah must keep all three generations of women in her family alive. Only then does she learn the threat is not just to her loved ones, but the entire country . . .

The Myron Bolitar Series 7-Book Bundle: Deal Breaker, Drop Shot, Fade Away, Back Spin, One False Move, The Final Detail, Darkest Fear (Myron Bolitar, #1-7)


Harlan Coben - 2013
    The complex, fascinating brainchild of Edgar Award–winning storyteller Harlan Coben, Bolitar has faced off against ruthlessly competitive superstars, desperate gamblers and groupies, and, on more than one occasion, even the mob. Now the first seven novels of Harlan Coben’s acclaimed series are teamed up in this convenient eBook bundle, including:  DEAL BREAKERDROP SHOTFADE AWAYBACK SPINONE FALSE MOVETHE FINAL DETAILDARKEST FEAR Praise for Harlan Coben and his Myron Bolitar novels   “The modern master of the hook-and-twist.”—Dan Brown   “What sets Harlan Coben above the crowd are wit and wicked nonchalance.”—Los Angeles Times   “Don’t let Coben’s wry observations fool you: They gift wrap keen insights into our society.”—The Washington Post Book World   “Myron Bolitar is one of the most engaging heroes in mystery fiction.”—Dennis Lehane   “[Coben] combines Chandler’s wry wit with Ross MacDonald’s moral complexity.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer   “A gifted storyteller . . . Mystery just comes along for the ride.”—The Denver Post   “Like fellow wisecracking P.I.’s Spenser and Elvis Cole, Myron Bolitar is great fun in the best ‘hard-boiled’ tradition.”—Houston Chronicle

The Hunter


Chris Carter - 2013
    As a rookie, he is given a simple suicide investigation to cut his teeth on. But when he arrives at the scene, he swiftly begins to suspect that something is not quite right.Despite the fact that the door was locked from the inside, and there is no other way out of the apartment, Hunter has a hunch that the victim did not commit suicide. But with a new Captain to impress and the evidence stacked against him, Hunter has a lot to prove if he is to solve the case and keep his place on the team.

M for Murder


Keri Beevis - 2013
    But only one Killer?  In 1989 the Alphabet Killer, Professor Rodney Boone, murdered eight students. The victims, 'A' to 'H', were each found with their surname initial carved into their neck. Victim nine narrowly escaped and the murderer was left to burn to death.Eight years later and rookie police officer, Rebecca Angell, is thrown headlong into assisting a murder investigation. A body is found floating in the sewer, bearing the initial 'J'. The investigators are convinced they are dealing with a copycat killer, but Boone's body was never recovered… As Angell scrambles to uncover the truth, the body count continues to rise, and it soon becomes apparent that the killer is intent on completing the alphabet… *** This book was previously published as Dead Letter Day ***

My Brother's Destroyer


Clayton Lindemuth - 2013
    He lives in the woods next to his house, philosophizes with his dog Fred, and writes letters to his high school love Ruth--who long ago chose Baer's brother. Baer keeps a low profile. Everyone is happy drinking his sublime moonshine--until Fred goes missing. A week later, while Baer harvests apples in the moonlight, a chain of headlights emerges from the woods. A single truck tosses a bundle to the ditch. When you discover who stole Fred, you'll know you've found a new master of the dark surreal.And when you see what Baer does to him... Them...You haven't read a novel like this.I promise.

12th of Never [Excerpt: First 17 Chapters]


James Patterson - 2013
    At the same time, Lindsay is confronted with the strangest story she's ever heard: An eccentric English professor has been having vivid nightmares about a violent murder and he's convinced is real. Lindsay doesn't believe him, but then a shooting is called in-and it fits the professor's description to the last detail.Lindsay doesn't have much time to stop a terrifying future from unfolding. But all the crimes in the world seem like nothing when Lindsay is suddenly faced with the possibility of the most devastating loss of her life.

Family Matters


Laurinda Wallace - 2013
    An unsolved hit-and-run accident claimed her cousin’s life 20 years ago. Dissatisfied with the seemingly lax police investigation, she begins her own. Her friends and family in the rural village of Deer Creek warn her to leave the case alone. And then death strikes again. Although she’s overwhelmed with running her new dog business, and grief stricken over the recent of loss of her husband and unborn child, she’s determined to unravel the mystery of her cousin’s untimely death. With Haley, her intrepid Labrador by her side, Gracie follows a dangerous trail of clues to find a killer.

Jack Daniels Boxset, #1-3


J.A. Konrath - 2013
    Konrath has self-published his first six Jack Daniels thriller ebooks with new covers, introductions, and formatting.This set includes Whiskey Sour #1, Bloody Mary #2, Rusty Nail #3.

Looks that Deceive


Braxton DeGarmo - 2013
    Rapist, a misnomer in all ways for this serial assailant whose attacks on legal assistants leaves them in a vegetative state. Now, the deaths of two prominent medical malpractice attorneys have put authorities in an uproar and detective Lynch Cully is under extreme pressure to find the perpetrators. Or should that be singular? Has the L.A. Rapist upped “his” game? Amy Gibbs, RN is a newly recruited med-evac flight nurse who left the E.D. and its stress behind, along with memories of a certain detective who “dumped” her. On one fateful call, she hears the deathbed confession of a man who police are seeking as a person of interest, perhaps the killer’s accomplice. Within hours, the lives of Amy Gibbs and detective Lynch Cully again intertwine in a story that unravels a web of identity theft, electronic eavesdropping, and stalking amid a confusion of identities.

Front Page Fatality


LynDee Walker - 2013
    She assumes it will be routine, a scene like many other accidents she's covered.She's wrong.This was no ordinary accident.And as Nichelle digs deeper into the case, people and evidence begin to disappear. Someone is one step ahead of her, desperate to cover their tracks. A master criminal with a deadly secret, who will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden...But as she draws closer to unraveling the mystery of two dead cops, Nichelle realizes she's become the next target. Can she survive this murderous game of cat and mouse long enough to solve the mystery? Or will Nichelle fall prey to a killer?

Relative Malice


Marla Madison - 2013
    In the murder house, she discovers an empty crib with blood drops next to it on the wood floor. The family: a father, mother, teenage daughter, and young son have been fatally shot . . . but where is baby Philly?The desperate search to find the child derails when a man is arrested for murdering the family and claims to have killed the baby. Suspecting he had an accomplice, Kendall isn’t convinced. Refusing to give up on finding the child, Kendall persists in unearthing the family’s secrets. With the help of a hacker turned spurious fortune-teller and a former cop hired by the missing baby’s uncle, she discovers a furtive pedophile ring is planning on buying and sharing a baby. Can she stop them while there's time to save Philly?

Relics


R.D. Shah - 2013
    Peter’s Square, his friend, Professor Alex Harker, is dragged into a secret war.  The suicide sets into motion a timetable of terrifying events that will irrevocably change the world as we know it. With the clock ticking, pursued by a deadly assassin, Harker must track down and decipher pieces of a puzzle laid down by the dead priest.Harker finds himself in an epic battle – one that has been playing out on the fringes of society since the birth of Christ. It threatens to reveal a truth so shocking that it could enslave and transform mankind's destiny forever. A rip-roaring crypto-thriller fuller of twists and action, perfect for readers of Dan Brown, Scott Mariani and Chris Kuzneski.

Ostland


David Thomas - 2013
    Brilliant, idealistic young detective Georg Heuser joins the Murder Squad in the midst of the biggest manhunt the city has ever seen. A serial killer is slaughtering women on S-Bahn trains and leaving their battered bodies by the tracks. Heuser must confront evil eye-to-eye as he helps track down the murderer.July 1959, peacetime West Germany: a pioneering young lawyer, Paula Siebert, is the sole woman in a federal unit investigating men who have committed crimes of unimaginable magnitude and horror. Their leader has just been arrested. His name is Georg Heuser. Siebert is sure of his guilt. But one question haunts her: how could a once decent man have become a sadistic monster?The answer lies in the desolate wastes of the Russian Front, the vast landmass conquered by Hitler’s forces… the new empire the Nazis call Ostland.Based on an extraordinary true story, Ostland is a gripping detective thriller, a harrowing account of the Holocaust and a thought-provoking examination of the capacity for sin that lurks in every human soul.

Stolen In Paradise


Toby Neal - 2013
    The victim’s project, a genetically-engineered algae that could solve the world fuel crisis, has been stolen from the development lab, a hotbed of intrigue where everyone on the project has something to hide—including Marcella.It was supposed to be simple: kill the scientist and grab the formula. Now he has to stop a relentless FBI agent any way he can.He’s in too deep. He’s trapped. They’re closing in, and he’ll kill anyone he has to in order to walk away.

The Sense of Death


Matty Dalrymple - 2013
    But the calm is shattered after Philadelphia socialite Elizabeth Firth is reported missing. With few clues and fewer options, detective Joe Booth calls upon Ann's spirit sensing abilities to help solve the mystery. With Joe and her brother Mike, Ann attempts to uncover what Elizabeth's husband may be hiding beneath his cloak of wealth and privilege. As Ann is drawn deeper into a web of lies and betrayal, she realizes she may be racing against time to keep herself from disappearing too.

The Ambitious Card


John Gaspard - 2013
    Sometimes it’s murder. Especially when magician Eli Marks very publicly debunks a famed psychic, and said psychic ends up dead. The evidence, including a bloody King of Diamonds playing card (one from Eli’s own Ambitious Card routine), directs the police right to Eli. As more psychics are slain, and more King cards rise to the top, Eli can’t escape suspicion. Things get really complicated when romance blooms with a beautiful psychic, and Eli discovers she’s the next target for murder, and he’s scheduled to die with her. Now Eli must use every trick he knows to keep them both alive and reveal the true killer.

Girl Jacked


Christopher Greyson - 2013
    They were old friends. He knew only one way to deal with pain. Hunt it down and kill it." Police Officer Jack Stratton is hiding. Hiding from the world. From pain. From the memories of losing his best friend, Chandler, in Iraq. Suffering from PTSD and isolated from those he cares about, the last thing Jack expects to hear is his foster sister Michelle, Chandler’s sister, is gone. The words cut straight to his core. Although the police think she just took off, he knows Michelle would never leave those she loved behind–like he did. Now he must take action, find Michelle, and bring her home or die trying. The first novel in the Jack Stratton Collection introduces us to handsome rogue, Jack Stratton. A debt of honor to his dead foster brother drives Jack into a world of deception and lies. As Jack’s walls begin to crumble, he must navigate the quirky characters that seep into the mystery of his foster sister’s disappearance. And in the sleepy community of Darrington, like so many places in this world, nothing is as it appears. The hidden mysteries that often go unnoticed begin to emerge as Jack and his new unpredictable sidekick begin to turn over the rocks. Following a trail that has grown cold, Jack must tread carefully to protect his job, his family, and his life. This stand-alone novel features rogue hero Jack Stratton. Look for other books in the Jack Stratton Collection including Jack Knifed, Jacks are Wild, and now Jack and the Giant Killer. They can be read in any order, however, they are best experienced in sequence.

The Cuckoo's Calling, Vol. 2


Robert Galbraith - 2013
    K. Rowling, published under the pen name, Robert Galbraith. As Rowling creating the appealing and vivid characters, London PI Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin, she leads readers into a very well written mystery thriller for her trial to switch to a new genre. As Strike investigates a top supermodel Lula Landry's death case, the story starts revealing her private life and the hidden past... Vol 2 of 2 In Korean. Annotation copyright Tsai Fong Books, Inc. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.

The Drive-By Wife


Mike Wells - 2013
    A deranged, seedy truck driver barges into their lives, blackmailing Cynthia into becoming his "drive-by" wife. Billy has led a lonely, bleak existence on the road and has always dreamed of “having him a beautiful, lovin’ woman to come home to.” Unable to go to the police, Allen and Cynthia desperately try to fight off the twisted stalker, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. But the two have serious problems of their own. The story spirals into a tangle of deceit, deception, and murder. Can Allen and Cynthia unite and defeat the diabolical maniac from the hills, or will he destroy them both?

The Blood Whisperer: a mind-twisting psychological thriller


Zoë Sharp - 2013
    Then six years ago all that changed. Kelly woke next to the butchered body of a man, the knife in her hands and no memory of what happened. She trusted the evidence to prove her innocent. It betrayed her.Now released after serving her sentence for involuntary manslaughter, Kelly must try to piece her life back together. The only work she can get is for the crime-scene cleaning firm run by her former mentor. When her instincts tell her things are not as they appear at the scene of a routine suicide, she can’t help but ask questions that somebody does not want answered.Branded a killer once again, Kelly is soon fleeing from police, Russian thugs, and a local gangster. But she acquired a new set of skills on the inside. Now street-smart and wary, can she use everything she’s learned to evade capture and stay alive long enough to clear her name?

Bond Bombshell


Gemma Halliday - 2013
    But when Maya is thrust into the field to catch her first mark in the act, she realizes this case is personal. Her mark just happens to be her ex-fiancé... and things did not end well between them. Can Maya prove that he's repeating his past mistakes with his current wife? Or is something more sinister happening in Beverly Hills couple's life? Maya's past may have come back to haunt her, but she's determined to prove that no one can fool a Bond Girl. This is a SHORT STORY What critics are saying about Gemma's works:"Like the west coast version of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie plum - only more stylish!"- LG Book Club"A saucy combination of romance and suspense that is simply irresistible."- Chicago Tribune"Stylish . . . nonstop action . . . guaranteed to keep chick lit and mystery fans happy!"- Publishers' Weekly, starred review

Wounds


Alton Gansky - 2013
    Cause of death is asphyxiation, an easy call for the medical examiner. More mysterious, however, are the tiny drops of blood on the victim’s skin, resulting from hundreds of punctures.A rabbi leaving his house for work expects a regular day at the synagogue. That quickly changes when he discovers a dead man on his front lawn, clearly beaten to death.Motorcycle riders racing along the empty streets of an abandoned military base stumble across another man’s corpse, its skin revealing long, red-purple marks of a thrashing given with wood dowels.The numbers mount. Each week another victim and another mysterious clue in a game of mass murder the police don’t want to lose. The solution rests with Dr. Ellis Poe, a religious professor who only wishes to be left alone with his books and classes.But evil must be faced, and the choice is no longer his own.

Confessions: The Private School Murders - FREE PREVIEW (The First 15 Chapters)


James Patterson - 2013
    Enter Tandy Angel. Her first case was the mystery of her parents' deaths. Now she's working to exonerate her brother of his girlfriend's homicide. And danger just got closer.One of the recent victims was a student at Tandy's own elite school. She has a hunch it may be the work of a serial killer... and Tandy perfectly fits the profile of the killer's targets. Can she untangle the mysteries in time? Or will she be the next victim? James Patterson keeps the confessions coming as Tandy delves deeper into her own tumultuous history and the skeletons in the Angel family closet.

Blackberry Pie Murder: Free Sneak Preview (Hannah Swensen, #17)


Joanne Fluke - 2013
    In fact, it's been a whole four months since anyone in the Swensen family has come across a dead body—a detail that just made the front page of the local paper. And that means Hannah Swensen can finally focus on her bakery. . .or can she?Life is never really quiet for Hannah. After all, her mother's wedding is a little over a month away and guess who Delores put in charge of the planning? Yet just when Hannah believes her biggest challenge will be whether to use buttercream or fondant for the wedding cake, she accidentally hits a stranger with her cookie truck while driving down a winding country road in a raging thunderstorm. Hannah is wracked with guilt, and things get even worse when she's arrested. . .for murder! But an autopsy soon reveals the mystery man, his shirt covered in stains from blackberry pie, would have died even if Hannah hadn't hit him. Now, to clear her name, Hannah will have to follow a trail of pie crumbs to track down the identity of the deceased, find a baker who knows more about murder than how to roll out a perfect pie crust—and get herself to the church on time. . .

Jordan's Stormy Banks


Jefferson Bass - 2013
    Bill Brockton—a bright, ambitious young forensic scientist—is hired by the University of Tennessee to head, and to raise the profile of, the school's small Anthropology Department. Six months later, the ink on his contract barely dry, Brockton is called to a gruesome crime scene in a rural area to identify a corpse and determine how the woman died. But the case—one of Brockton's first murder investigations in Tennessee—could also prove to be his last when he runs afoul of both the county sheriff and an angry mob intent on administering their own swift, rough brand of "justice." With his back to the wall, Brockton is forced to think fast, talk faster, and hope for a miracle.

Halloween Hijinks


Kathi Daley - 2013
    With the help of her best friends, Levi and Ellie, and her dog Charlie, she delves into a mystery as complex and multilayered as the feelings she develops for her ex-nemesis Zak Zimmerman. Halloween Hijinks is the perfect recipe, combining holiday fun with a touch of humor, a pinch of romance, and a dollop of murder. Zoe's Treasure Hunt: Zoe and Charlie meet a mysterious stranger at the hospital while doing therapy dog rounds. The man is in town to look for a 70 year old treasure. When he is unable to continue the journey into the past himself, Zoe and Charlie take over the quest with the help of Pappy and a few of his friends.

Raveled


Anne McAneny - 2013
    Despite her infamous surname and people’s wilted memories, this jaded cynic of a daughter sinks her teeth in and refuses to let go. She can practically taste the bitterness of that long-ago, twisted night when two teenagers died, linked to her father by bad luck and a few strands of rope.Ignoring the dense local atmosphere where image trumps substance and lies become legend, Allison stirs the pot. The more layers she discards, the more elusive the truth becomes. And when a key source of information turns up dead, the dark edges of resentment coil in around her like a slowly tightening noose. As revelations get ugly, Allison may wish she’d never ventured toward the forbidden fruit of truth.

Justice for Sara


Erica Spindler - 2013
    Kat was named the prime suspect and, on a string of circumstantial evidence, charged and tried. While the jury found her innocent, not everyone else agreed, and her only choice was to go into hiding. But she carried a dark secret with her, one that made her worry she might actually have had something to do with Sara’s death . . .Now, years later, Kat is still haunted by her sister’s unsolved murder and continues to receive chilling anonymous letters, but she has tried to move on with her life. Until, on the tenth anniversary of Sara’s death, she receives a letter that makes the past impossible to ignore: "What about justice for Sara?" What about justice for Sara? And for herself? Kat realizes that going back to Liberty, Louisiana, might be the only way to move forward and find some peace. And there’s a killer out there who was never caught.But the town she’s come back to is hardly different from the one she left. The secrets and suspicions still run deep. Kat has an ally in Detective Luke Tanner, son of the former Liberty police chief, but he may be her only one. With plenty of enemies, no one to trust and a killer determined to keep a dark secret buried, Kat must decide if justice is worth fighting—and dying—for.

Shadow Roll


Ki Longfellow - 2013
    Sam Russo, self-named and self-styled, would follow in the hard-boiled footsteps of Sam Spade, if he was hard-boiled. Up to his hocks in the murders of three young jockeys with both local cops and the track turning a blind eye, Sam is a closer. He's coming home if it kills him. Race horses, a gorgeous sassy dame, the Season at Saratoga, what more could a PI want? To become the "owner" of a dog named Jane who is smarter than he is. Sam is Jane's partner. Sam is the human half who gets the jobs that Jane solves.

Involuntary Turnover


Cheri Baker - 2013
    Whether it’s brawling employees, difficult bosses, or dress code drama, she knows how to handle a crisis. But when an employee is murdered at the Seattle hospital where Kat works, and the police try to blame the victim, playing by the rules won’t be enough to save the day. Fueled by an endless supply of coffee, and assisted by a colorful cast of coworkers, Kat is determined to bring the murderer to justice. But can she do it before the killer strikes again?This mystery is the first in the Kat Voyzey Series.

The Kate Shugak Investigation Books 10-20 Box Set


Dana Stabenow - 2013
    Orphaned at eight years old, Kate grew up to be resourceful, strong willed and defiant. She is tougher than your average heroine – and she needs to be to survive the worst the Alaskan wilds can throw at her.Kate investigates murders. She's worked under cover in the Arctic Circle, gone to sea, signed up as a bodyguard, tracked missing tribal relics and she continues to fight for the Aleut way of life.In this epic box set, Kate will witness the violent death of her closest friend and she'll face extreme peril herself. She'll even end up adopting a teenage boy. Just as well that she'll have Mutt at her side throughout it all. Books in this book set:Midnight Come AgainThe Singing Of The DeadA Fine and Bitter SnowA Grave DeniedA Taint in the BloodA Deeper SleepWhisper to the BloodA Night Too DarkThough Not DeadRestless in the GraveBad Blood

Unholy Hunger


Heather James - 2013
    As long as her daughter's murderer dies with her, she is ready to go. Why did this man—this stranger—destroy her family? Why has he not been brought to justice? Why is she forced to live a life of anger and grief? Amid a million questions she cannot answer, Evelyn knows one thing for sure: this murderer must be punished for his crime. Perhaps the harder lesson is this: the ultimate truth—of crime and verdict, of life and death—cannot be swayed by a mother's revenge.In this first book of a new, page-turning series, a woman will be brought to her limits before she finally recognizes the movement of the Holy Spirit and reconnects with the source of true peace.

Mrs. Jeffries Sallies Forth


Emily Brightwell - 2013
    Jeffries!NOW IN ONE VOLUME—THREE VICTORIAN MYSTERIES FEATURING MRS. JEFFRIESEveryone’s awed by Inspector Witherspoon’s Scotland Yard successes, but they don’t know about his secret weapon. Her name is Mrs. Jeffries, and she keeps house for the Inspector—and keeps him on his toes. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, her polished detection skills are up to the task. Because as she knows all too well, a crimesolver’s work is never done…Mrs. Jeffries Takes the StageAfter a theatre critic is murdered, Mrs. Jeffries uncovers the victim’s secret past: a real-life drama more compelling than any stage play...Mrs. Jeffries Questions the AnswersHannah Cameron was not well-liked. But were her friends or family the sort to stab her in the back? Mrs. Jeffries must really tiptoe around this time—or it could be a matter of life and death...Mrs. Jeffries Reveals Her ArtMrs. Jeffries has to work double-time to find a missing model and a killer. And she’ll have to get her whole staff involved—before someone else becomes the next subject...

Going Once


Sharon Sala - 2013
    Finally rescued in the aftermath of the storm, no one is willing to believe a story as horrific as hers — until three FBI agents arrive on the scene...one of whom Nola knows very well.Tate Benton has been tracking the so-called Stormchaser serial killer for months, never expecting the trail might lead him home, or to the woman he cannot forget. Home is now a ravaged town full of memories - of love, of disappointment, of past mistakes. The investigation brings Nola back into his life. Long-buried feelings resurface, and the former lovers try to pick up the pieces in the wake of the disaster.Amid the relief effort the killer lingers, determined to silence Nola forever. In the Stormchaser's twisted mind the pain is far from over...and hers is just beginning.

Midnight Shadows


Carol J. Post - 2013
    Despite changing her name, she soon finds anonymous notes on her doorstep and a menacing figure lurking in the shadows. She's sure her stalker has tracked her down, but the police think she's overreacting. The only one who believes she's in danger is the former cop who broke her heart years ago. Melissa is afraid to get too close to ex-fiancé Chris Jamison, who is back in town to settle family business. Because the more she turns to the handsome man she's never forgotten, the more her stalker wants Chris gone—permanently.

Cats' Eyes


Mollie Hunt - 2013
    The uncut stone, one of a pair called the Cats’ Eyes, has been stolen from its wealthy owner, but how it ended up a cat toy, even the robbers cannot guess. Threatened by kidnapping, theft, and murder, Lynley is determined to maintain her serenity, even if it means finding the crooks herself. With the police completely baffled, friends, family, and a hunky humane society investigator come onboard to help. The killer thinks Lynley has the diamonds and will go to any lengths to get them back. Will Lynley live to clean the litter box another day?

The Slice of No.1 Celebration Storybook: Fifteen years with Mma Ramotswe


Alexander McCall Smith - 2013
    And when the Ladies' Club of Gaborone invites Mma Ramotswe as their keynote speaker, she reaches some thought-provoking conclusions about the problems - or otherwise - of ladies and men. Also features reflections from the author on his much-loved series.

Agnes Barton Senior Sleuth Mysteries Box Set


Madison Johns - 2013
    She drives a red hot Mustang, shops at Victoria's Secret, rankles local police officials, and has a knack for sticking her nose where it doesn't belong.What does a murder that happened forty-three years ago have to do with missing tourist Jennifer Martin? Agnes makes it her personal mission to find out, and she's not letting the fact she's seventy-two get in the way. Butting heads with Sheriff Clem Peterson is something she's accustomed to, but lately Clem seems to be acting even more strange, making Agnes wonder what he may be hiding ala the Martin disappearance.Agnes’ partner in crime, Eleanor Mason tags along, Watson to her Holmes. Together, they unearth clues. If only Eleanor would behave, as although lovable, she has a knack for getting into trouble by tangling with her rival, Dorothy Alton, or flirting with anyone—male or female—and gossiping! She's incorrigible, but she does carry a Pink Lady revolver in her purse, one that has proved useful at times.Life for Agnes and Eleanor is shaken up when Agnes' former boss and secret crush comes to Tadium. Before long, the lady sleuths have more on their hands to contend with as goons roll into town and bullets begin to fly.Adult content.Grannies, Guns and GhostsSenior snoop, Agnes Barton, has taken up residence in a Winnebago at a campground in East Tawas, Michigan. It’s not the ideal place for a woman of seventy-two to live, but she’s making do. She had planned to start a detective agency with partner in crime, Eleanor Mason, but a snag with the license has them free wheeling it, not that it matters because they are the ones folks call when dead bodies turn up.A frantic phone call has Agnes and Eleanor racing to the scene of yet another crime scene. Herman Butler has fallen to his death from a third story window, and the widow, Betty Lou, is beside herself with either grief or competing for the Oscars, and it’s up to Agnes and Eleanor to unravel the mystery, which gets more interesting when a ghost is listed as a possible suspect.This time around, Agnes and Sheriff Peterson can agree, the widow is nuts, but wait, a few days later the ghost ship, Erie Board of Trades, was spotted off the shores of Lake Huron. Ghost hunters, G.A.S.P., hightail it into town, and East Tawas is overrun with ghost sightings.Agnes and Eleanor must sort fact from fantasy before another body is found or a curse is realized.Senior SnoopsTrue to his words, Sheriff Clem Peterson sends Agnes Barton and Eleanor Mason packing to Florida via a Cessna, but things go haywire when during a fuel stop, two men shoot the pilot. Agnes springs into action slamming the door just as shots are fired while Frank Alton jumps into the cockpit flying them out of there.When they land in Florida, they’re asked tough questions by Putner and Palmer from Homeland Security. They keep asking if they found a packet on board the plane, a packet that Agnes has tucked in her purse, but they never mention what’s in the packet. She decides to hold onto it; after all it contains twenty-five thousand in cash.Sheriff Calvin Peterson, Sheriff Clem Peterson’s brother, picks them up from the airport in Florida, but tells them the bad news. His brother Clem made arrangements for them to stay at Sunny Brooke Retirement Village and work as the hired help to pay for their room and board. They go unwillingly, but discover in town that two maids have disappeared at Sunny Brooke.

Forgive & Forget


Heather Ashby - 2013
    When Hallie McCabe meets Philip Johnston at a picnic, she is drawn to his integrity. He is a gentleman—and an officer. Aware of the code against fraternization between officers and enlisted, Hallie hides her Navy status, hopeful she and her secret will stay hidden on their enormous aircraft carrier, at least until she can figure out a way for them to sail off into the sunset together.Caught in an emotional firestorm, Hallie faces a future without the man she loves, a career-shattering secret from the past, and the burden of being the one person who can prevent a terrorist attack on the ship she has sworn to protect with her life. Prepare to set sail for the Persian Gulf with a crew of 4,999 sailors and officers—and one terrorist in search of his own kind of Paradise.FORGIVE & FORGET is the first book in the Love in the Fleet series by Heather Ashby. Watch for the next one, FORGET ME NOT, December 3, 2013.

Desecration


J.F. Penn - 2013
    Her career is on the ropes. Her daughter is dying — there are only hours left before the end, and decisions have to be made. Museum curator Blake Daniel is a man on the edge of destruction. Cursed with the ability to “read” objects — to see where they’ve come from, and the bloody histories they experience — Blake splits his time between working as a researcher at the British Museum… and binge-drinking to forget his nightmare visions.Together, these two broken souls are all that stand between London and a serial killer. A young woman has been murdered, her uterus and unborn child removed during a gala event at a college of surgeons, any of whom could have committed the crime. The only clue is a small ivory figure of a woman undergoing a Cesarean section, dating to the seventeenth century.Body modification, grave robbery, Nazi eugenics, a laboratory that specializes in extreme genetic experiments. All come together to create a mystery unlike any Jamie has experienced, and a danger greater than any Blake has ever seen in his visions. It will take all Jamie’s detective skills, and all Blake’s psychic abilities, to find the killer. To end the murders. To stop something that wants to destroy all that is good… and leave behind only DESECRATION.Desecration is the first book in a thrilling new series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J.F. Penn: a blend of crime, psychological thriller — and the supernatural.

Sea Change


T'Gracie Reese - 2013
    Lucy is a sleepy little Gulf Coast community––and that’s the way its residents like it. Most of them generally ignore the monstrous old Robinson mansion that sits in the center of town, until one day, insane old man Robinson dies and leaves the house and its accompanying fortune to the town. The residents are ecstatic and begin planning improved schools and cultural centers. Local retired school teacher and village elder Nina Bannister is sent to the man’s funeral in New Orleans and to represent Bay St. Lucy at the reading of his will. However, Nina returns from her trip saddened to report that a long lost Robinson relative has appeared to claim the entire inheritance. Almost immediately, the new owner – flamboyant Eve Ivory – arrives and announces her own plans to turn Bay St. Lucy into a extravagant vacation resort, not plans that anyone in this small town like at all and ones that will quickly lead to murder.

Bones in Her Pocket


Kathy Reichs - 2013
    A new, exclusive straight-to-digital short story from Kathy Reichs, world leading forensic anthropologist and No.1 bestselling author of Deja Dead, Bones Are Forever and Bones of the Lost.Dr. Tempe Brennan has seen it all. Human bones. Animal bones. Old bones. Young bones. Male bones. Female bones. What she hasn't seen is all of them mixed together in the same case.Until now.The foothills of North Carolina aren't the only unfamiliar territory Tempe faces as she races to learn the meaning of the Bones in Her Pocket.Multi-million copy, international bestselling thriller writer Kathy Reichs is an expert in forensic science, giving her fiction an authenticity other crime writers would kill for.Bones In Her Pocket also gives readers the first chance to read the opening chapters of Kathy's new thriller, Bones of the Lost, out in August.

The Sovereign Order of Monte Cristo: Newly Discovered Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Special Edition) (The Count of Monte Cristo)


Holy Ghost Writer - 2013
    It includes exhilarating new adventures, characters, and ideas, carrying the reader through books I and II and into book III of an ever-expanding new series based on the classic. The author consulted the original French as well as the oldest English translations of The Count of Monte Cristo, but the style of the retelling, in the distinctive voice of Sherlock Holmes, constitutes a new work. Books II and III, incorporated herein, are wholly original sequels although they include characters from the original classic. The author of The Sovereign Order of Monte Cristo also consulted a more current 2003 translation by Robin Buss of the The Count of Monte Cristo, which helped to inspire both this work and the first sequel in this series, The Sultan of Monte Cristo. The most recent (2003) unabridged translation by Buss is indispensable to fully appreciate the original story. Those who have already had the pleasure of reading The Sultan of Monte Cristo will certainly appreciate the unique way in which the Holy Ghost Writer has expanded the original story without the help of anyone (except perhaps from the ghost of Dumas himself). While The Sultan of Monte Cristo has been enjoyed by thousands as a stand-alone work, this work is an even easier read of the original classic, as it has a condensed version of the original story retold in the voice of Sherlock Holmes.

The Enemy Inside


Vanessa Skye - 2013
    That's what Chicago detective Alicia Raymond discovers when she's assigned to investigate the gruesome torture and murder of a middle-aged trucker with a horrible secret.Before she can get a lead on one crime, however, the bodies start piling up and Alicia, better known as Berg, finds herself the unexpected target of the very same legal system she has dedicated her life to.While simultaneously under attack from a formidable past, an enemy that seems to know too much, and a conniving killer, Berg is forced to confront her own darkness: her obsessive need to track down killers at the expense of everything else in her life; her increasing craving for violence just to feel normal; and her potentially devastating feelings for her partner, the charming and handsome Detective Inspector Jay O’Loughlin.The more Berg works her original case, the more she learns about the sheer viciousness of the trucker’s past, and the more she questions if his murderer should even be punished by a justice system that only seems determined to free the guilty. When she also finds herself sympathizing with a sadistic butcher exacting revenge for a decades-old crime, she realizes the most dangerous secret of all might just be her own state of mind.While Berg struggles with her morality, a killer is determined to recruit her and use her for a devastating end game.As Berg’s carefully constructed life falls apart and she struggles to maintain a grip on reality, she faces a choice: surrender to the evil inside or finally acknowledge the brutal past she would rather bury.The Enemy Inside is the first in the Edge of Darkness series, which challenges the concept of justice, asks if vengeance sometimes justifies murder, and explores whether you can ever heal from a broken past

Bound to a Promise: A True Story of Love, Murder and Redemption


Bonnie Floyd - 2013
    . . but she was wide-awake!This may sound like the beginning of a fiction thriller, but it isn't. This is a true story, and the nightmare was all too real. Life as Bonnie had known it was over, and the future she faced was unimaginable . . . unspeakable. Bound to a Promise is a nonfiction novel, told in fascinating, page-turning fiction style. This astonishing true story will grab you with the first sentence and hold you captive until the very last page.Based on Scotland Yard's investigation, newspaper reports, court transcripts, and eyewitness accounts, Bound to a Promise has it all-exotic settings, courtroom drama, real-life adventure, convicting testimony, and puzzling mystery.The key to this disturbing drama hangs on a very crucial and binding promise made to Bonnie. Did the promise maker keep that promise or was there a chance it was broken? The answer to that burning question had everlasting consequences both for the one who made the promise and to whom the promise was made.This shocking story is like an exciting action movieplayed out in powerful print. Don't be surprised if it captures your heart and you, too, become bound to a promise.

Pass the Eggnog


Christina A. Burke - 2013
    So how did she end up spending a "Good Ol' Fashioned Family Christmas" in a spooky old house in the Pocono Mountains? Try two parts familial obligation, one part sisterly arm-twisting, and a tiny flame of Christmas spirit still burning in her humbug heart. When The Grands start communing with ghosts, and a long lost boyfriend appears on the doorstep, Diana realizes it's going to be one heck of a holiday. With a Christmas play to produce, a mystery to solve, and three miracles on the way, Diana keeps her spirits up with a steady flow of Christmas cheer--of the eggnog variety. So settle down in front of the fire, grab a cup of cheer, and join Diana and her family on the wackiest Christmas vacation ever.

Neutral Mask


Barry Lyga - 2013
    Her father isn't happy that Connie is dating a white boy like Jasper Dent, and things get even worse when she realizes that Jasper is the son of Billy Dent, one of the world's most notorious serial killers! This is the story of how Connie and Jazz overcame their early troubles and fell in love.

Next to Die


Neil White - 2013
    Two weeks before he's due in court he suddenly fires his defense team, claiming that there's only one lawyer he wants to defend him: Joe Parker. Despite his misgivings about taking on the case in such strange circumstances, Joe decides to represent Bagley. Little does he know that Bagley is smarter than anyone has given him credit for, and soon Joe will find himself pitched against his own brother, Sam, in a race to outwit the most terrifying serial killer the city has ever seen.It isn't long before Joe and Sam's shared past comes crashing into the present in a pulse-pounding race to find out who is NEXT TO DIE...

Murder in the Garden of God


Eleanor Herman - 2013
    Within days, a powerful baron weds the lovely widow. Everyone knows the baron ordered the hit. But how much did the victim’s wife know? Vittoria Accoramboni, the most beautiful girl in Rome, chafed under the financial limitations of her husband’s family. She waited eight years for Pope Gregory XIII to die so that her husband’s uncle, Cardinal Montalto, could become the new pope and bring the family untold power and riches. But Pope Gregory seemed like he was never going to die. Had she grown tired of waiting? When the pope finally does die in 1585, Cardinal Montalto indeed becomes the new Vicar of Christ, Sixtus V. Within minutes of his election the mild-mannered, doddering old man becomes a wrathful spirit unleashing a torrent of revenge across Italy on all those involved in his nephew’s murder. Rich in the descriptions of contemporary sources, this riveting true story transports the readers into the beauty and brutality of a lost era and an intriguing tragedy of Shakespearean proportions.

Deception


Kate Allenton - 2013
    When one of them goes missing while working undercover on a case involving Hathaway Enterprises, Lexi is determined to do whatever it takes to find her. She’ll finish solving the case Catherine was working on and capture the parasite responsible for her disappearance, even if that means repositioning herself back into the high society she’s spent a lifetime renouncing.Billionaire Trip Hathaway has spent months waiting for the undercover agent to tell him who’s responsible for the corporate espionage and embezzlement occurring inside his company. When his investigator comes up missing and there is evidence of foul play, he knows she was getting close to providing the answers he needs, He realizes it’s time to call in someone with a personal stake in solving Catherine’s disappearance.Out of options and running out of time, Trip and Lexi enter a rocky alliance and take matters into their own hands. Leaving nothing to chance and with the same goal in mind, they devise a plan to bring Lexi into his circle. Marriage offers her the perfect cover for finding answers. Now they must work together to uncover the truth. A truth that could change both of their lives.When Lexi’s real identity is leaked, she and Trip are forced to deal with his meddling mother, drug lords looking for revenge, and a thief willing to kill to get what he wants.Who knew an arranged marriage could be so complicated?

Memory of Murder


Ramona Richards - 2013
    Deputy Jeff Gage has worked difficult cases, but with only Lindsey's fractured memories of a broken past to guide him, this is by far his most challenging. For Lindsey, fleeing the town she has come to call home is unthinkable. Separately, they are vulnerable, but together, Jeff and Lindsey just may stand a chance of catching a ruthless killer.

Crimes of the Levee


John Sturgeon - 2013
    The most open part of town is the Levee District. It is an area of the city that's hard to tell the crooks from the cops. There are brothels, madams, opium dens, gambling joints and plenty of alcohol, but it all comes at a price in the Levee, and the two Ward Aldermen get their share of every vice's dollar. With the hanging of serial killer, Simon Kluge, police Detective Patrick Moses is suddenly without a case. Before Moses can relax he is approached by an aging retail mogul who asks him to investigate the mysterious shooting death of his son. Moses accepts the offer and at the same time is asked by the department to search for the niece of the Italian Ambassador who has gone missing in the Levee and is suspected of becoming a victim of Chicago's "white slave" traffic, forced into a life of enslaved prostitution. As Moses gets deeper into both cases, he realizes that in the Levee there are a lot people who don't want the two cases solved, including the police and the Ward Aldermen. Soon a number of sources and witnesses end up murdered. Someone wants Moses and his partner, Gunter Krause, dead. On top of that, trinkets from the Simon Kluge murders begin to appear on Moses' doorstep, leading him to believe they may have executed the wrong person.

The Seduction of Miriam Cross


Wendy Tyson - 2013
    A year later, a lonely recluse named Emily Cray is brutally murdered in her bed in a small Pennsylvania town. Miriam and Emily are one and the same. As Delilah and her staff of female detectives - a militant homemaker, an ex-headmistress and a former stripper - delve into Miriam’s life, they become submerged in an underworld of unfathomable cruelty and greed with implications that go far beyond the gruesome death of one woman or the boundaries of one country. Eventually Miriam’s fight for justice becomes Delilah’s own...until Delilah’s obsession with finding the truth may prove just as deadly.

O'Henry


T.G. Brown - 2013
    . .Spring of 2003. After spending eleven months at the Vandenberg Psychiatric Hospital of Massachusetts, Josh Ingram, once a decorated FBI profiler is released back into society. Present day. While out learning to noodle for catfish in the Louisiana Bayou, Ingram gets notice the FBI is looking for him. O’Henry, a serial killer who once plagued New York City, has resurfaced. Recently promoted (against the wishes of her new boss) to head an FBI Special Crimes Unit in Lower East Side Manhattan, Rachael Tanner, driven, focused and willful, is given the O’Henry file. Ingram has no way of knowing his journey will put his closest of friends in harm’s way, forcing him to confront his innermost fear. All while O’Henry has set the wheels in motion to satisfy his all-consuming fixation . . .

The Mac Faraday Mysteries Box Set


Lauren Carr - 2013
     IT’S MURDER, MY SON introduces readers to Mac Faraday, a homicide detective. The worst day of his life turns into a new beginning when he discovers that he has inherited $270 million and an estate on Deep Creek Lake from his birth mother, world-famous mystery author Robin Spencer. In this first installment in Lauren Carr’s best-selling series, Mac Faraday moves to Deep Creek Lake where he meets his late mother’s beautiful assistant who comes with the house; his half-brother who Mac inadvertently implicates in a murder; and Gnarly, the only German shepherd to be dishonorably discharged from the United States Army. OLD LOVES DIE HARD … and in the worst places. In this second installment, Mac Faraday’s ex-wife comes sweeping back into his life to beg for forgiveness. But before Mac can say “Get lost!” she turns up dead in his private penthouse suite—along with her estranged lover for whom she had left Mac. Mac Faraday is once again the heir to an unexpected windfall in SHADES OF MURDER, when he inherits a priceless painting that had disappeared the same night that the artist who had painted it was murdered. In BLAST FROM THE PAST, Mac Faraday finds himself up to his eyeballs in mobsters and fed when his lady love Archie Monday’s past comes back with a blast.

Lethal Journey


Kim Cresswell - 2013
    For three decades, Gino Valdina has led New York's Valdina crime family. Since his recent indictment for murder, the leadership of the family is in turmoil, appalled by the death of one of their own, Gino's wife, Madelina. Without the support of the family behind him, Valdina will do anything to save himself. But Lauren soon discovers, things aren't always as they seem when she's tossed into a mystery, a deadly conspiracy that reaches far beyond the criminal underworld and a journey into the past makes her a target...and anyone she's ever loved.

Portrait of Rage


Cynthia H. Wise - 2013
    Believing they were conjured by stress and a vivid imagination, Tom hopes to vanquish the nightmares that leave him shaking and sweat-soaked by creating a series of life-sized portraits portraying the suffering of each little girl.When news of his portrait series spreads, however, Tom is confronted by the lead investigator for the missing children, Detective Mark Winward. Realizing he has become involved in something more sinister than he could ever have imagined and the detective’s number one suspect, Tom races to find the real killer before he is framed and someone Tom loves becomes the killer’s next victim.

Deep Blue Sea


Tasmina Perry - 2013
    With a blissful marriage, a darling son and beautiful homes in London and the country, Diana's life, to the outside world, is perfect. But nothing is as it seems...When Julian dies suddenly and tragically, Diana is convinced there is more to it than meets the eye. She calls on the one person she had never wanted to see again - her sister, Rachel.A former tabloid reporter, Rachel appears to be living the dream as a diving instructor on a Thai island. The truth is she's in exile, estranged from her family and driven from her career by Fleet Street's phone-hacking scandal.For Rachel, Diana's request opens old wounds. But she is determined to make amends for the past, and embarks on a treacherous journey to uncover the truth - wherever it may lead...

Murder Most Howl


J.K. Brandon - 2013
    She's trouble, but also in trouble. This Yellow Lab's master has been murdered and she's looking for help. Taser jumps in with all four paws, but soon he's over his head and head over heels...in love. An old enemy appears to complicate Taser's murder investigation, while Taser finds himself falling for the damsel in distress and spending too-much time away from home. In his absence, things break down in the neighborhood. Taser enlists his buddy Meatloaf to help, but Meatloaf has his own problems kicking a seed pod addiction. The pack arrives to help, but in the end, it's Taser who must save the day or lose all."

Young Miss Holmes Vol. 1


Kaoru Shintani - 2013
    At ten years old, she's as familiar with the sciences and classics as any older student at Cambridge or Oxford. And her facility with logic is reminiscent of her uncle, the eminent Sherlock Holmes himself. So, what's a brilliant young girl to do when her parents are away in India, leaving her behind in the care of maids and servants? Why, solve mysteries, of course.Along with her giant hound Nelson, Christie's implacable curiosity leads her from one dangerous adventure to another, often joining forces with Uncle Sherlock and Doctor Watson on their famed investigations. Christie may look pint-sized, but her clever mind is never to be underestimated!

Flash Bang


Kellen Burden - 2013
    Dishonorably discharged from the Army, he’s wracked with night terrors and an anger that he can't abate. Unemployable and uninterested in anything resembling a normal job, Parks makes his living in fugitive apprehension, finding wanted felons on Facebook and thumping them into custody with his ex-military buddies John Harkin and Eric "Etch" Echevarria. When the body of a teenage Muslim boy is found in front of a downtown Denver nightclub Parks, Harkin and Etch are called on to do what they do best: Find bad men and make them pay.First-time author Kellen Burden serves up edgy humor, brutal action and characters you can’t get enough of. Flash Bang will keep you turning pages until the end.

Dirty Business


Julie Elizabeth Powell - 2013
    Gavin is on the edge of developing a revolutionary turn for that very magazine, a programme that will no doubt secure the business, maybe forever.Amidst the excitement and enjoyment of its success, however, is the mysterious and heinous murder of one of their own.Who can have done it? And why?And who is the woman fastened by a chain to a wall?Follow the twists and turns and perhaps you can solve the puzzle before they do.Warning: some strong language, violence and moderate scenes of a sexual nature.

Relatively Risky: The Big Easy Ain't That Easy


Pauline Baird Jones - 2013
    Nell Whitby is starting over in New Orleans, getting a publisher for her children's book, sketching tourists in the French Quarter, and leaving the tragic death of her parents behind. When a handsome detective asks her for a date, her fresh start seems perfect...until a dangerous family secret bubbles up from the past and puts her life in jeopardy. The oldest of thirteen children, detective Alex Baker has two goals in life: solve murders and avoid anyone under the age of ten. That is, until the day the quirky children's book author foils a carjacking, becomes a target for the mob, and makes his libido sit up and reconsider the whole no-kids thing. If he doesn't protect her, she'll be the next body to turn up in his homicide investigation. As bullets start to fly, Nell can't resist her sexy bodyguard or ignore her past, and Alex must protect the irresistible kid-magnet who has them both in the crosshairs.

Midnight Blue Serenity


BeautifulFiction - 2013
    It was unbelievable, like stepping into an alternative universe, and John couldn't stop staring.”When Sherlock infiltrates a club in order to track down a serial killer, his altered appearance is enough to make John question his assumption that Sherlock is beyond his reach. However, is he the only one who appreciates his flatmate's charms, or is Sherlock at risk of becoming the next victim?Words: 151907Book cover by catonspeed.

Young Miss Holmes: Vol. 3


Kaoru Shintani - 2013
    3Crystal "Christie" Margaret Hope is back! This young lady is more at home in Scotland Yard's library than at a tea party, and more likely to ruffle feathers than to mind her manners. Join "Sherlock Holmes in miniature" for another round of adventures, and a deeper look into the history of those she holds dear, in this all-ages manga.Christie, the precocious young niece of Sherlock Holmes, once again joins the famous Victorian detective and his sidekick Watson in tackling some of the strangest puzzles of all time. From a family haunted by a demon hound to a London vandal obsessed with smashing statues of Napoleon, no secrets are safe from Christie's curious mind - and no criminals are safe from her steadfast companions, the deceptively gentle Annmarie and the rambunctious Nora, not to mention her faithful hound Nelson (who sometimes doubles as her steed)![Age Rating: 12+]

No Good Deed


Michael Rupured - 2013
    Meanwhile, James, his lover of several years, takes his own life back in their home. Unaware of what awaits him, Philip drops off gifts at a homeless shelter, an act of generosity that will later make him a suspect in the murder of a male prostitute. Following James’s shocking death, two men enter Philip's life—and both drive yellow Continentals. One of them, though, is a killer, with the blood of at least six hustlers on his hands. And both are hiding something. As Philip is about to discover, no good deed goes unpunished. 1st Edition published as "After Christmas Eve" by ManLove Romance Press, 2013.

A 3rd Time to Die


George A. Bernstein - 2013
    Twice, in the 17th and 19th Centuries, just as they discover the magic of their love, their lives are snuffed out by brutal murder. Reborn for the third time in the 21st Century, they discover each other again… and their killer is once again stalking them!ASHLEY EASTON rescues a badly abused horse and decides to return to show jumping, the passion of her youth. The animal gives her unquestioned love, something she no longer receives from her husband, KEITH. But when Ashley begins to compete, she is terrified as the course seemingly morphs into an old forest, the jumps transformed into real walls, fences and streams. Her thoughts spill through her head in elegant French, a language she barely knows, as she attacks the fences with a fearless abandon uncharacteristic for her, winning every event. CRAIG THORNTON is fed up with the rampant promiscuity of his society wife, TONI. An expert horseman, he attends a jumping show, seeing Ashley compete with Injun. After several missed attempts, they meet and become fast friends, their love of horses a mutual bond.Trying to sort out her troubled marriage and to address a strange terror swamping her whenever she’s intimate, Ashley seeks psychotherapy with DR. FELDMAN. Resorting to hypnotic regression, they are stunned to find her in past lives, first in the 17th Century as the French countess who fills her head while jumping Injun, and then in Philadelphia as the daughter of a shipping tycoon. Each life is fulfilled by the wonder of passionate romance, quickly terminated by their gristly murder! The doctor assures her these are pure figments of her subconscious, but he is shaken, realizing the truth. He somehow sees their slaughter through his own eyes! And he suspects their killer is here again, in this time!As Ashley’s and Craig’s marriages disintegrate beyond repair, they suddenly discover much more than just friendship. It’s as if they’ve loved each other forever. How wonderful to be in love with your best friend! The lovers struggle to free themselves from broken marriages and find happiness in this lifetime, unaware there is again someone, nearby, intent on fulfilling an ancient legacy of death. Will this be a 3rd time to die?

Beyond Belief


Mark Lingane - 2013
    His clients are dying. What's even more worrying is that they appear to be planning to kill him first. As he delves deeper into the cases he's confronted with a past he never knew he had. In a desperate and dying alternate Earth, Joshua is in a race to uncover who he once was, and to make one single, simple decision that will either wipe out an entire race or destroy Earth and the very fabric of time and space itself. No pressure. Beyond Belief is a dystopian alternate-reality fantasy-comedy novel. It pokes fun at many pop culture icons, and blows raspberries at society in general.

Murder at Cold Creek College


Christa Nardi - 2013
    Although Sheridan Hendley is not a sleuth, when her colleague is murdered she assists the Detective in gathering information. As Sheridan draws connections among the people in Adam's life, she realizes many women have a strong motive for murder. As information leaks out on Adam's exploits to college administration, she's charged with creating sexual harassment training. Slashed tires are the first indication that her curiosity and involvement in the investigation is making someone nervous. The murderer is afraid of what she might have found. In the meantime, as she works closely with the handsome detective, she hopes for romance in her future.Meet Sheridan Hendley and her friends in this first in a series of five cozy mysteries.

Unmade


Carol Oates - 2013
    That character trait proved deadly when a stray dog stepped into the path of his car on prom night. With all efforts to save Lincoln failing, his mother turns to the one person who might be able to save him. A year later, Lincoln remains under the care of innovative scientist, Matthew Baker. To the outside world, his recovery is astounding. However, for Lincoln, learning to act normal has become a matter of survival. Plagued by nightmares of grisly murders and convinced something has gone wrong, he struggles to convince his girlfriend that these nightmares are bleeding into reality. As Lincoln is forced to the brink of insanity, he will have to face his worst fears to keep the monster from destroying the one he loves.New Adult Horror17,000 words approx.

Murder at Mount Joy


Nancy Engle - 2013
    Logan and Ran know that developing the property is worth millions of dollars, but Ran isn't interested. As they uncover information relating to the history of the property secrets emerge and they find themselves the target of an unknown pursuer.

Inn Keeping with Murder


Lynn Bohart - 2013
    Claire Inn, no one is surprised. After all, Martha had a heart condition. But when her death is ruled a murder, the inn’s owner, Julia Applegate, becomes the prime suspect. Julia recruits her “sixty-something” group of friends to launch their own investigation. Together with the inn’s resident ghosts, including Julia’s recently deceased mother who has learned to use a cell phone, they go after the truth. Add to that a talking parrot who likes to quote old movies, a Harlequin Great Dane, two miniature Dachshunds, a very handsome detective (or two), and get ready for a romp down mystery lane!WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE 'OLD MAIDS'"This book had me riveted for hours.""I couldn't put my Kindle down until I finished the entire book.""Wonderful read. The characters soon become your neighbors.""I am not usually into paranormal books. But this one made me laugh out loud, often!"

Dark Chocolate Murder


Anisa Claire West - 2013
    At 38, Belinda makes the daring decision to move across the Atlantic from Boston to Monaco and pursue her lifelong dream of opening a chocolate shop. Settling into life on the French Riviera, Belinda opens a gourmet chocolate boutique that becomes a quick success. As she is working hard to develop her business, brooding French restaurateur Pierre Cédaire walks into her shop and is immediately smitten. Together, they savor the joie de vivre….until a scandal threatens to destroy their blossoming love. When two people are found dead after eating a box of Belinda’s Fatally Sweet truffles, she becomes the prime suspect of the crime. Can Belinda and Pierre’s relationship withstand the pressures of a double homicide investigation…or will their love prove to be fatally sweet as well?

Killer Image


Wendy Tyson - 2013
    Now she moves in a world of powerful executives, wealthy, eccentric ex-wives and twisted ethics.When Allison’s latest Main Line client, the fifteen-year-old Goth daughter of a White House hopeful, is accused of the ritualistic murder of a local divorce attorney, Allison fights to prove her client’s innocence when no one else will. But unraveling the truth brings specters from her own past.And in a place where image is everything, the ability to distinguish what’s real from the facade may be the only thing that keeps Allison alive.

Time


Randall Wood - 2013
    This started off as a writing challenge to myself. The goal was to improve my own writing, and publication of the end product was never intended. I simply wished to see if I could write six different stories, each of them surrounding one of the six main characters in the Jack Randall series, and have each story tie into the next, visiting each character over the course of a twenty-four hour day. I worked on it on and off over several months and eventually the pages piled up to a respectable thickness. People liked the insight into the private lives of the main characters. Some of the stories lack arc. Others were written to help me write detail or practice pacing. Still others were ways for me to comment on and research current events or subjects that were new to me. A couple are from first-hand experience. Regardless of the reasons for them being on the page I have caved to pressure and am publishing them as an e-book. A 100 page short-story collection/companion piece to the Jack Randall series if you will. So this is Time, I hope you enjoy it. If so, please let me know, I may just make this a "living book" and add to it from time to time. SPOILER ALERT; If you have not read the first three novels of the series, Closure, Pestilence, and Scarcity, you will not know all of the characters portrayed here and there will be spoilers within these short stories.

Night Film Extended Sampler


Marisha Pessl - 2013
    By all appearances her death is a suicide--but investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. Though much has been written about the dark and unsettling films of Ashley's father, Stanislas Cordova, very little is known about the man himself. As McGrath pieces together the mystery of Ashley's death, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the dark underbelly of New York City and the twisted world of Stanislas Cordova, and he begins to wonder--is he the next victim? In this novel, the dazzlingly inventive writer Marisha Pessl offers a breathtaking mystery that will hold you in suspense until the last page is turned.