Book picks similar to
If Wishes Were Horses... by Tim Hemlin
mystery
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Free Fish Friday: Introducing Slacker Mills
Lee Stone - 2014
A vagabond fisherman extraordinaire, the self-indulgent Slacker has just two goals in life. The first is to spend every conscious hour doing only what he loves – hooking and battling big game fish on the ocean by day and hooking up with bar stool sirens at night. The second goal is to avoid any responsibilities that might get in the way of achieving the first. His persistent search for the ultimate angling experience takes him from one ocean paradise to another, where he inevitably becomes entangled in a mystery adventure. His story begins in Key West, Florida, where the 37-year-old Slacker believed he had finally found the ideal life and a lasting home. With his mounted trophies covering the walls of the famous Rusty Hook tavern, he was acclaimed as the best saltwater angler around and never had to pay for a beer. Because every Friday night at the tavern was celebrated with a complimentary banquet of his catch, he also was recognized as a benevolent hero. Through wandering eyes of vacationing ladies, he was typically viewed as "The Catch of the Night." Slacker’s dream lifestyle was attributable to the influence of his best friend and benefactor Jerry Porter, who had landed in Key West aboard his yacht five years earlier. Due to a unique talent for engaging people to talk about themselves while revealing nothing about himself, Jerry quickly bonded with everyone around him. Using those bonds as foundations, he tried to build what he viewed as better and more successful people ... and Slacker was his pet project. The transformation of the Rusty Hook from a local fishermen’s haunt to a Key West landmark was Jerry's crowning achievement. No one had inquired or even speculated much about Jerry Porter’s personal history prior to his arrival in Key West; all were content to revel in his presence. However, when Porter is the victim of a violent death, the traditionally peaceful community is shocked by revelations that there may be a killer in their midst and that perhaps not all of Porter's deeds were worthy of celebration. The charter fishing industry had been losing major clients and perhaps Jerry was the reason for it. A criminal investigation turns up information that damages dozens of families, fractures friendships, and leads to unwelcome national publicity for a town that relies on tourism to fuel the local economy. The police also single out Slacker as the prime suspect, destroying his treasured image among most Islanders, even his closest friends. Exactly who was the mysterious Jerry Porter? How and why did he meet such a violent end? Slacker Mills discovers the answers, and begins to discover himself, in Free Fish Friday.
Armageddon Heights
D.M. Mitchell - 2014
Two men, two stories, one breathtaking conclusion. The first man is Samuel Wade, an ex-soldier, on the run and blamed for the murder of his beloved wife and daughter. But he’s on the trail of the real murderer and is seeking revenge. He boards a coach bound for Edinburgh, hot on the heels of his one-time friend and army colleague John Travers – a man who was kidnapped and brutally tortured by insurgents. A man who blamed Wade for allowing it to happen. The man who killed his family. What happens next is totally unexpected and bizarre. Trying to sleep during a storm, Wade wakes to discover that the coach and its ten remaining passengers is no longer headed to Edinburgh. Impossibly, it’s in the middle of a vast, unknown and hostile desert, abandoned by its driver. Are they asleep, is it a dream? Are they all dead? So their nightmare begins. The second man is Robert Napier, second-in-command at Lindegaard Software, a company run by the powerfully wealthy Dale Lindegaard. Dale took over the business when his brother Jeremy and niece Melissa were brutally gunned down by an activist group known as CSL. Jeremy died, and Melissa was reduced to a vegetative state, and all because of Lindegaard’s complete control of a controversial new drug called tremethelene, used by millions worldwide. CSL was duly crushed, their leaders now in jail. But CSL has come back from the dead with a new leader called Charlie Sharland, threatening Dale Lindegaard’s tremethelene monopoly all over again. Lindegaard is determined to stamp them out for good and urges Robert Napier to do whatever it takes to rid him of them. Even murder. As Samuel Wade’s living nightmare in the desert grows ever more bizarre and terrifying, Robert Napier is forced to work with Dean Villiers, a cold, calculating and violently ambitious man. He is drawn ever deeper into the dark underbelly of a multi-billion dollar corporation, where violence and greed are the norm and nothing is as it first appears. Who is the mole known as Cobalt? Who and where is Charlie Sharland? Does he even exist? And what exactly is motivating the scheming Dean Villiers? Both men are out for revenge. Wade because of his family’s murder, Napier because of what happened to the vegetative Melissa Lindegaard, his wife-to-be. Both men’s lives are irrevocably intertwined. Both their stories will come crashing together in the terrifying, surprising, jaw-dropping climax of D. M. Mitchell’s undeniably original and most imaginative thriller to date. Dare you take a journey into nightmare?
The Katie & Annalise Box Set
Pamela Fagan Hutchins - 2014
She flees Texas for the Caribbean and escapes professional humiliation, a broken heart, and a wicked Bloody Mary habit, but ends up trading one set of problems for another when she begins to investigate the suspicious deaths of her parents on the island of St. Marcos. She’s bewitched by the voodoo spirit of an abandoned house in the rainforest and discovers that she’s as much a danger to herself as the island’s bad guys are.Leaving Annalise (#2): One unexpected and hotly fought-over little boy, two dead bodies, and a series of home vandalisms throw Texas attorney turned island chanteuse Katie Connell into a tizzy. Juggling all of this, Bloody Mary cravings, baggage, and the bad guys too, she waffles between the jumbie house that brought her back from the brink and the man she believes is the love of her life.Finding Harmony (#3): Katie’s already on edge when a dead guy shows up at Estate Annalise and shady locals claim there are slave remains in the foundation, but when her husband doesn’t come home to her and the kids one day after work, she’s ready to lose it. A frantic Katie launches a Caribbean-wide manhunt, calling on her stoic, steady father-in-law, and Collin, her badass big brother, to help her search air, land, and sea for her husband, who may be in very big trouble indeed. ˃˃˃ See why this series won contest after contest.
2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, Romance, Quarter-finalist
2011 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Mainstream Novel Contest
2010 Winner of the Writers League of Texas Romance Contest
2012 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Ghost Story Contest
˃˃˃ Once Upon A Romance Calls Hutchins an "up and coming powerhouse writer."
The Depths
Kirk Kjeldsen - 2018
And it does, as they enjoy trading thebustle of their Shanghai life behind for the idyllic tropical paradise.But while on a diving excursion, they're taken hostage by a group ofterrorists, who take them to a remote island and hold them there forransom. The longer that time drags on, though, the more doubts Marahbegins to have about their captors' true motivations.
Lost Innocence
Carter Blake - 2017
That is why he likes his job on the state police organized crime task force. Most of the bodies he encounters knew what they were signing up for. And when the inevitable setbacks and disappointments arise, he never feels too guilty. But Alex can’t insulate himself forever. When a criminal organization is engaged in human trafficking and child pornography, Alex is drawn into a disturbing and dangerous world. A world where anonymous forces exploit young women and girls with impunity. A world where any mistake Alex makes could lead to the suffering of innocents. Can Alex pull the curtains back on this dark world before a young girl is lost forever?
Hard Bite
Anonymous-9 - 2012
Now a paraplegic, Dean Drayhart unleashes payback on suspected hit-and-runners in Los Angeles with helper-monkey Sid as his deadly assistant. Dean's gentle, doting nurse knows nothing about what he's up to. When Sid tears out the throat of a Mexican Mafia member, Marcie gets kidnapped in order to force Dean's surrender. Armed with nothing but his wits, Sid, and a sympathetic streetwalker named Cinda, Dean manipulates drug-cartel carnales and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department in a David-against-Goliath plot that twists and turns to a heart-pounding showdown.
The Seventh Taking
B.J. Bourg - 2015
When Joy Vincent disappears in the Blue Summit Mountains of Tennessee while vacationing with her family, park rangers begin an intensive search for the Louisiana high school junior. Seven weeks later, the search is abandoned and authorities conclude that Joy voluntarily ran away because of a fight with her father. Unwilling to believe it, Abraham Wilson makes the long drive to the mountains and sets off on a journey that will change his life--and the lives of his friends, Brett Lester and Charlie Rickman--forever. Will they discover the secret behind Joy's disappearance, or will they meet with the same fate? (NOTE: Originally published on April 5, 2015 by Amber Quill Press, LLC)
Girl, Kidnapped
Peter R. Stone - 2020
Wearing a threadbare knee-length dress and with her badly-bruised ankles encased in leg irons, she's filthy, malnourished and covered in burn scars. She has no memory of how she got there, where she has been or even who she is. A doctor's examination reveals that her memory has been deliberately erased by repeated electric shock therapy.Desperate to find out who did this to her and why, and displeased with the police superintendent's plodding pace, Caitlyn launches an investigation of her own. However, she is unnerved by her brother's insistence that she talk to him first when her memories start returning because he suspects that their father is the one who did this to her...
Trial By Fire
Richard Townshend Bickers - 1983
War is about to be declared in Europe. Roger Hallowes, an RAF sergeant pilot returns to the hangars with his comrades from B Squadron to see who else had returned from the latest attack. Only one more Blenheim had come in. Of the nine that had taken off, three had been shot down. One crashed on landing. One captain, one second pilot and two wireless operator-air gunners had been killed in the six which had survived the battle. The mental arithmetic Roger did to calculate his chances of surviving another half-dozen operations gave him no comfort. Three young men, Roger and his two cousins, share the last few precious days of peace with their families and friends. Their carefree, comfortable lives are about to be shattered by the hardships and horrors of the Second World War. ‘Trial by Fire’ follows these men through the dramatic first year of war; the fall of France and the triumph of the Battle of Britain. It gives a comprehensive view of the early air operations whose outcome affected the whole future course of the war. ‘Trial by Fire’ is a gripping war story told from first-hand experience and a wide knowledge of the R.A.F in all its facets. Praise for Richard Bickers: 'A thrilling page turner.' - Tom Kasey, best-selling author of 'Trade Off'. Richard Townsend Bickers volunteered for the RAF on the outbreak of the second world war and served, with a Permanent Commission, for eighteen years. He wrote a range of military fiction and non-fiction books, including ‘Torpedo Attack’, ‘My Enemy Came Nigh’, ‘Bombing Run’ and ‘Summer of No Surrender’. Originally published as 'The Gifts of Jove'. Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
Blake Pierce Mystery Bundle: Once Gone / Before he Kills
Blake Pierce - 2016
This bundle offers a great introduction to Blake Pierce’s series with over 140,000 words of reading.In BEFORE HE KILLS, a woman is found murdered in the cornfields of Nebraska, strung up on a pole, the victim of a deranged killer. It doesn’t take long for the police to realize a serial killer is on the loose—and that his spree has just begun. Detective Mackenzie White, young, tough, smarter than the aging, chauvinistic men on her local force, finds herself called in grudgingly to help solve it. As much as the other officers hate to admit it, they need her young, brilliant mind, which has already helped crack cold cases that had left them stumped. Yet even for Mackenzie this new case proves an impossible riddle, something the likes of which she—and the local force—have ever seen. With the FBI called in, together, an intense manhunt ensues. Mackenzie, reeling from her own dark past, her failed relationships, and her undeniable attraction to the new FBI agent, finds herself battling her own demons as her hunt for the killer takes her to the darkest places of her mind.In ONCE GONE, women are turning up dead in the rural outskirts of Virginia, killed in grotesque ways, and when the FBI is called in, they are stumped. A serial killer is out there, his frequency increasing, and they know there is only one agent good enough to crack this case: Special Agent Riley Paige. Riley is on paid leave herself, recovering from her encounter with her last serial killer, and, fragile as she is, the FBI is reluctant to tap her brilliant mind. Yet Riley, needing to battle her own demons, comes on board, and her hunt leads her through the disturbing subculture of doll collectors, into the homes of broken families, and into the darkest canals of the killer’s mind. As Riley peels back the layers, she realizes she is up against a killer more twisted than she could have imagined. Dark psychological thrillers with heart-pounding suspense, BEFORE HE KILLS and ONCE GONE mark the debut of riveting new series—and beloved new characters—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Books #2 and #3 in the Riley Paige series are also available!
The Outcast Child
Jacobo Priegue - 2019
When she discovers Kevin, an abandoned two-year-old boy injured and on the verge of starvation, Laura thinks she has finally found a purpose and decides to devote herself to saving the child.However, what looks like a case of neglect turns out to be something much darker, and Laura finds out very soon that to save Kevin she will have to fight ignorance and superstition, not only in the slum in Cusco but also back in England.In her search of happiness for her and her family, Laura’s life becomes an eternal struggle against prejudice and ignorance that makes her doubt about everything she knows, only to discover that the greatest obstacle in her way is none other than she herself.
The Crash of 5201
Denny Allen - 2011
However on it's flight to Eilson air force base in Alaska the flight was anything but routine. Plagued with one problem after another the plane was finally forced down in a mountainous region in Northeast Alaskas interior.. For three Airmen that survived the crash now found themselves alone in a very wild and hostile land. They survived the crash, but now can they survive the great Alaska wild. After giving up any rescue, the three Airman knew their only chance of survival was to walk out on their own. They had no idea how this was going to turn out..They new if thy didn't Find help by the winter they wouldn't survive the up to minus 50 degree temperatures, and without weapons.they couldn't defend them selfs. Also, starvation was a big concern. The author of this book did a lot hunting moose and caribou in this part of Alaska, so he knows first hand how wild and unforgiving this land can be.
Second Chance
Elleby Harper - 2019
Now condemned to Rikers Prison for a murder he can’t remember, Bram Carver’s luck has run out. The job: infiltrate a criminal gang to stop a rogue soldier selling weapons of mass destruction to an unknown terrorist group. The problem: he’s stuck in Rikers and the evidence against him can’t be denied. Bram has renounced his family, but have they renounced him? Guilty or innocent, his sister, Detective Bex Wynter, will not give up on the big brother she adored. Together they learn that appearances are deceptive while loyalties will be tested. But Bram’s life is not the only one in the crosshairs. Someone’s sights are set on a thirteen-year-old slum brat who holds the key to stop thousands of innocent deaths. Bram knows one wrong foot will put them both in the firing line. The mystery deepens and the consequences become deadlier with each new clue Bex uncovers. When the hunters become the hunted, one false move will kill them all.
Second Chance
is the first electrifying book in the Bram Carver Thriller series. If you like page-turning suspense, globetrotting action, and gripping plot twists that leave you breathless, then you’ll love this exciting new series from Elleby Harper. Scroll up to buy Second Chance to experience this thrilling page-turner today! The Bram Carver thrillers are recommended for fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Mark Dawson’s John Milton, Tim Tigner’s Kyle Achilles and Jason Kasper’s David Rivers series.What Amazon readers are saying about Second Chance: "This book blew through the pages like a bomb going off! What a stunningly brilliant beginning to Elleby Harper’s new series!" ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Elleby is one of the very rare gifted writers who not only opens a vivid window to the world she is writing about but plants you dead smack in the middle of it. I literately had a physical reaction to what I was reading…" ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “The author has an eye for interesting and complex characters, and this book has no shortage. Rich details of the underside of New York add to the total experience of the book. I have enjoyed all of the Bex Wynter books, but I think this one is the best so far. The plot is full of twists, and many subplots provide a very engrossing experience.” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Another scorcher from Elleby." ★ ★ ★ ★ “Wonderful read. VERY well developed characters and a fantastic plot and a really great and exciting read. Everything about Second Chance screams grab a copy and read to your delight. A book that carries the reader along page by page turner page…” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Elleby Harper has another winner on her hands.” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★Books in the Detective Bex Wynter FilesDriven to DeathStolen GirlsCourting DeathDeath for SaleBlood Lines Killing Time Bram Carver Mystery ThrillersSecond ChanceHunt for Justice
THE COMPLETE MONICA NOBLE MURDER MYSTERIES three utterly gripping cozy mysteries box set (Cozy crime and suspense mystery box sets)
Faith Martin - 2021