Miller's Secret


Tess Thompson - 2017
    In an era when most are reeling from the impacts of World War II, Miller Dreeser is a man focused solely on an obsession born of ambition. Caroline Bennett's heart is as big as her father's fortune, but her insecurities make her susceptible to Miller's charms. Will the decisions of her youth destroy her family and her future? Set against the vibrant backdrop of the California coastline, Miller’s Secret spans more than two decades during some of the most defining moments of the 20th century as it follows the story of five intertwining lives from America’s Greatest Generation. Author Tess Thompson explores themes of power, deceit, and love lost and found in this suspenseful, page-turning post World War II drama.

The King Tides


James Swain - 2018
    And that of strangers, too. Wherever she goes, she’s being watched. Each stalker is different from the last, except for one thing—their alarming obsession with Nicki.Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Nicki’s father is turning to someone who can protect her: retired private detective and ex–Navy SEAL Jon Lancaster. Teaming up with FBI agent and former abduction victim Beth Daniels, Lancaster can help—his way. He’s spent most of his career dispatching creeps who get off on terrorizing the vulnerable. Unlicensed, and unrestricted, he plays dirty…But this case is unusual. Why so many men? Why this one girl? Does Nicki have something to hide? Or do her parents?Trawling the darkest depths of southern Florida, Lancaster faces a growing tide of secrets and deception. And the deeper he digs, the more he realizes that finding the truth won’t be easy. Because there’s more to this case than meets the eye.

Don't Murder Me


John Meany - 2019
     On her way out of work on a frigid October night, two inebriated thugs assault pregnant Ashley Ferguson as she goes to get in her car. She is knocked unconscious and is taken to the field behind the shopping center where 23-year-old Ashley is brutally raped. This horrifying event devastates her emotionally, not only for obvious reasons, but also because it comes in the wake of her husband's tragic death. Down and out as well as broke, talented abstract painter Ashley is forced to moved back home with her mother. Claire Whittaker, who is retired, does not want the responsibility of having to take care of Ashley's baby. Even though she loves the child dearly, it shouldn't be her job. Then one day, after peeking in her daughter's diary, Claire is shocked to learn that Ashley is hearing voices, which are telling her to commit suicide with the .22 caliber revolver that she had supposedly bought for protection. So who will save her? Who will save Ashley from the drugs and alcohol that begin to control her life? Who will help her become the responsible parent that her baby deserves? Could it be Troy? The supermarket employee who had chased away the rapists? And with whom Ashley had fallen in love with? Would he accept not only her, but also her and Peter's child? Ashley hopes so, because without someone to love, life doesn't seem worth living.

Unintended Consequences


Marti Green - 2012
    They arrested George Calhoun for murdering his daughter, and his wife testified against him at the trial. George maintains he didn’t do it. That the body isn’t his little Angelina. But that’s all he’s ever said—no other defense, no other explanation. The jury convicted him. Now his appeals have been exhausted, and his execution is just six weeks away.Dani Trumball, an attorney for the Help Innocent Prisoners Project, wants to believe him. After all, there was no forensic evidence to prove that the body in the woods was George’s daughter. But if the girl isn’t Angelina, then who is it? And what happened to the Calhouns’ missing daughter? Despite the odds, the questions push Dani to take the case.For nineteen years, George Calhoun has stayed silent. But he’s ready to talk, and if the story he tells Dani is true, it changes everything.

Have You Seen Her?


Rich Silvers - 2012
    The successful money manager had yet to get his priorities straight - a flaw that led him to break a promise and cost him both his wife and his unborn daughter. Now his life is a maddening series of obsessions and rituals that alienate his friends and plague his mind.Jack spirals out of control until a postcard arrives in the mail with a photo of a missing, hauntingly familiar, girl.Jack pours his grief and diminished sanity into finding the runaway who looks so much like his wife. Why would she run away? Why doesn't her father seem to care? And why does his sister-in-law seem to care so much? Jack's search for a girl he's never met takes him down dangerous streets and to shady corners of his wife's past, where he uncovers a truth that shakes his perception of reality. Or does it?Early reviews call 'Have You Seen Her?' a "riveting psychological thriller," and debut novelist Rich Silvers a "diabolically clever 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.

False Truth 1-4: A Jordan Fox Mystery Boxed Set


Diane Capri - 2015
    These are quick reads, meant to be devoured in a single session -- just like the stories you hear from your friends every day.Each book will leave you asking breathlessly, "And THEN what happened?"False Truth 1: A Jordan Fox MysteryRookie TV reporter Jordan Fox graduated from journalism school and slid into her dream job at News Channel 12 on a secret mission to find answers to the very cold case of her mother’s murder. But on the first day, she gets her pitch stolen, her pay cut, and her status demoted to intern.And that’s just the first hour.False Truth 2: A Jordan Fox MysteryJordan plans to break a big story to stay employed long enough to do the real job only she can do. She gets her chance when she discovers the victim of a brutal crime on the scene of her first assignment. Determined to prove herself, Jordan investigates as if the victim’s story was hers to report -- but it isn’t hers and her efforts only drive her further into trouble until she comes face-to-face with a killer.False Truth 3: A Jordan Fox MysteryJordan started this investigation to save her job; finishing it might be the only way to save her life.False Truth 4: A Jordan Fox MysteryBudding investigative reporter Jordan Fox continues her a secret mission to find answers to the very cold case of her mother’s murder and keep her job until she solves the crime. When she’s assigned to cover a lightweight story about a reality singing competition, Jordan pitches a story about the world’s humanitarian response to a crisis in Haiti instead.Be careful what you wish for, Jordan.Introducing The Hunt for Truth, an exciting new mystery series, starring tenacious multimedia journalist Jordan Fox. An ambitious newcomer with a difficult past, fans are sure to love this feisty new heroine from Diane Capri and Beth Dexter!

Death in the Beginning


Gary Williams - 2011
    First, he discovered a magnificent manmade cave in the Canary Islands off the African coast. Then, while exploring a newly-found gunpowder magazine inside a 300-year-old stone Spanish fort in St. Augustine, Florida, a man emerged. The man is killed by police before his identity can be ascertained. All evidence indicates that the man had been sealed in the room for centuries. When Curt uncovers a link between the Canary Island cave and the unidentified man, he realizes that he has stumbled upon a secret lost in history; the catalyst for the Fountain of Youth legend. But the revelation holds terrifying consequences. And there are those willing to murder to guard the truth. As Northeast Florida braces for a deadly hurricane, Curt and his friends are drawn into a monumental conspiracy which could alter the balance of power…and destroy humanity.

Die Laughing: 5 Comic Crime Novels


Steve Brewer - 2014
     LOST VEGAS Steve Brewer Nick Papadopoulos used to be a button man for the Mob. Now he's the front man for an aging casino in Fowler, Nevada, an isolated backwater known as "Lost Vegas." Nick's stuck in a rut and deep in debt. Then he gets an idea: If someone would only rob his casino, he could collect on the insurance and get out from under. Tony Zinn runs a heist crew in San Francisco. He's never even heard of Fowler, Nevada. But Nick makes him an offer that's almost too good to be true. Neither man expects interference from rival casino owner Big Jim Kelton or his hired goon, a huge Samoan named Shamu. But once they're involved, it can only end in bloodshed. Filled with twists and double-crosses, LOST VEGAS is Steve Brewer at his best. FENDER BENDERS Bill Fitzhugh Eddie Long plans to be a country music star but he's stuck touring the college frat circuit. But after his nagging wife apparently dies at the hands of a serial killer, Eddie writes the best song of his life and it goes straight to number one. Eddie's friend, freelance writer Jimmy Rogers, senses a great opportunity and sets out to write the life story of Nashville's newest sensation. But Jimmy's research unearths some troubling facts about the death of Eddie's wife, facts that could ruin Eddie's burgeoning career—while making Jimmy a star of the publishing world. Throw in a beautiful and opportunistic country radio DJ, a pair of wily record producers, and a naive young singer-songwriter, and the stage is set. Everybody plans to make a killing—one way or another. It's murder on Music Row, where things don't always turn out as planned. Fender Benders won the Lefty Award (best humorous novel) at the Left Coast Crime Convention 2001. FAVOR (Stanley Hastings Mystery Book 3) Parnell Hall It was just a simple favor. Drive down to Atlantic City, check out Sergeant MacAullif's son-in-law, and see why his daughter wasn't happy in her marriage. Stanley Hastings started following the guy around, and quickly found himself involved with notorious loan sharks, sleazy private eyes, fat-cat casino owners, and crooked blackjack dealers, not to mention two dead bodies. Stanley had no idea who killed them, or why, but all the clues seemed to point to the son-in-law. Only the witness blew the ID and the cops arrested Stanley instead. Taking the fall for homicide is a hell of a favor. Stanley was in over his head, so he did the one thing he never thought he'd do in his life. He hired a private eye! HABEAS PORPOISE (Solomon vs Lord series) Paul Levine The love-hate relationship of Solomon & Lord continues. Sure, opposites attract, but they argue, too! This time, it starts with the kidnaping of two trained dolphins from Miami’s Cetacean Park. When one of the ecoterrorists behind the raid turns up dead, his partner in eco-crime is charged with homicide, even though he didn’t pull the trigger. It’s called “felony murder,” and Solomon thinks it’s a bum rap. What he doesn’t count on is his lover and law partner Victoria Lord being named a special prosecutor. Conflicts-of-interest abound, and Steve is up to his old tricks. At least, the mismatched legal duo agree on something...each one vows to win the case! GUILT TRIP (Blanco County Mysteries, Book 4) Ben Rehder Life in rural Blanco County, Texas, isn't what most folks would call exciting—and that suits game warden John Marlin just fine. But when the tequila-slamming, skirt-chasing treasurer of the local Rotary Club goes missing and his vehicle is found in the river the day after a flood, Marlin finds himself in charge of the search efforts.

London Carter Boxed Set: Books 1 - 3


B.J. Bourg - 2017
     Will London solve the mystery in time, or will more officers die before he can bring the killer to justice? PROVING GROUNDS When the sniper-style murder of an alligator poacher puts two rival families on edge, Police Sniper London Carter and Detective Sergeant Dawn Luke join forces to solve the case. But they'll have their work cut out for them as the two families recruit small armies to fight each other and the FBI becomes involved in the case. It doesn't take London long to realize they're dealing with a professional killer, but the motive for the murder is far from clear. Will he and Dawn solve the case before it's too late, or will the swamps of Louisiana run red with the blood of the rival families and the cops who are trying to stop them? SILENT TRIGGER Days after Police Sniper London Carter resolves a hostage situation at a local car dealership, Detective Sergeant Dawn Luke calls upon him to assist her with a mysterious death investigation. The cause of death is not obvious, but the body is found in a peculiar position and the individual is connected to the recent hostage situation, so something seems amiss. London and Dawn end up facing numerous roadblocks in their quest for the truth--including an unidentified body, uncooperative witnesses, and a killer tornado--and through it all they start to develop feelings for each other. But the case is growing complicated and dangerous, and if they’re not careful, one of them could end up like their victim…dead and naked on a cold morgue slab.

Perfume Therapy


Kirsty McManus - 2016
    Sure, she’s leaving behind an office that doesn’t seem to be able to run without her, and Mia has invited a bunch of her narcissistic friends along to join them, but a holiday is a holiday, right? Wrong. Pickpocketed on her first night and separated from everyone, Chloe soon finds herself stranded in the back streets of Bangkok. Fortunately, her saviour arrives in the form of charismatic perfumer Daniel Richards, whose Scottish accent and amiable nature immediately put her at ease. With Daniel’s help, Chloe is soon back on the metaphorical horse. But with several more unfortunate events befalling her over the following days, she is forced to rely on Daniel again and again to help bail her out. Throw in a jealous absentee boyfriend, a wild neighbour with the propensity to meddle, and a strangely aggressive staff member at Daniel’s perfumery, and Chloe finds herself on the trip of a lifetime. It’s not quite the one she was expecting, but it might just be the shake-up she needs.

Cloudburst


Ryne Douglas Pearson - 1993
    Ranging from the violent assassination of the President on the streets of Los Angeles to covert action against terrorist havens in North Africa, from the halls of power in Washington to a highjacked airliner racing toward the heart of the United States, Cloudburst takes the reader on a riveting journey as FBI agents and elite counter-terrorist units fight a desperate battle to save millions of innocents, and to bring those responsible to justice.

The Abducted Super Boxset


Roger Hayden - 2017
     A child’s abduction leads to a frightening pattern within a South Florida town where nothing is as it seems. Amidst the vast wetlands, suburban sprawl, and tropical heat, the Lee County police department knows what to expect on any given day. But when a serial child predator stakes his claim in the area, there is no knowing when and where he will strike. The parents of the latest victim are baffled to receive no ransom demands, given their wealth and influence. And the town is in an uproar as the girl marks the fifth child to vanish.

Edited for Death


Michele Drier - 2011
    When she left her job as a journalist in Southern California, she planned to give the adrenaline a rest. But she needed a job when her husband announced a move to Chicago with his pregnant girlfriend. A meeting with the local newspaper publisher netted her an offer to be the Managing Editor.She relies on her friend and police reporter, Clarice Stamms, for support and stories. After a respected Senator and World War II hero dies and two more people turn up dead, the news heats up. Both victims had ties to a hotel owned by the Senator’s family. Research into the family uncovers a shadowy figure, also a World War II veteran, linked to the Senator.The third victim at the hotel is a surprise. It’s a cousin of the current owner—and grandson of the Senator—who’s fallen, or been pushed, from the attic.Visiting the hotel, Amy and a friend meet an urbane European, a Holocaust survivor who’s spent sixty years tracking down Nazi loot. Amy learns that three people have just died to keep the secret of a stolen da Vinci drawing.

Moon Signs


Helen Haught Fanick - 2011
    Her sister Andrea has an altogether different point of view. When the sisters go to the Canaan Valley to search for paintings mentioned in a document found in an old hotel once owned by their grandparents—paintings that might be Monets—Andrea immediately becomes involved in tracking down a murderer. Kathleen would much rather be looking for the paintings, but she goes along with Andrea, since the victim was their hotel-keeper, murdered just down the hall from their room. The question is: Does the murder have something to do with the elusive paintings?There are many clues and many suspects, including hotel staff, valley residents, and the mysterious foreigners who come from the Eastern Seaboard for skiing. There are also many types of danger—icy roads, sub-zero temperatures, and a killer who doesn’t care how many people die in the attempt to make sure the right ones do.