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TWENTY THREE by Murray McDonald
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The Killer On the Bell Tower
Issy Brooke - 2020
Here, genteel dinner parties hide murderers; sparkling balls harbour dastardly villains; and every light society conversation hints at a darker scandal.The Earl of Calaway and his wife, Adelia, have raised and married off seven daughters. Now free of domestic duties, they are building an enterprise as private detectives of a very personal nature, guaranteeing to keep aristocratic reputations intact.In this short story, which can be read at any point in the series of full-length novels, Adelia and Theodore are invited to the trouble-ridden parish of Peverham where the local vicar is convinced that the death of Sir Phileas Hinge was no accident.After all, so many people wanted him dead. Sir Phileas’s ancestral home of Pever House is now occupied by the bombastic Vice Admiral Frankhaus, and both men hated each other. Then there are the Smiths – the oldest and most established family in the area – who look down on everyone else as being merely shabby new money. All three families – the Hinges, the Frankhauses and the Smiths – are vying for control of the parish, and this comes to a head when the vicar asks for money for a new bell in the church. Each family wants to be the one who contributes the most and to have the bell inscribed with their name for all time.The death of Hinge removes one of the players – but who will be next? Theodore and Adelia race to discover the murderer before death strikes again.This book is written in British English by an actual Brit who used to have to curtsey to the local aristocrat from “the big house” when she visited the village school at Christmas. The spelling and grammar is British English throughout. Splendid!
The Sutton Billionaires Books 1-3: The Billionaire Deal; Reuniting with the Billionaire; The Billionaire Op
Lori Ryan - 2020
She needs a paycheck. But neither expect the heat in their marriage of convenience.No one backs CEO Jack Sutton into a corner, not even his mother... or her will. If he wants his inheritance, he needs to be married, but no one said the marriage had to be anything other than a business arrangement. There are plenty of willing women, and they'll play by the rules: stick to the script and don't fall in love. He only has to find one in time. Too bad he only left himself a few hours.Kelly Bradley made it into the law school of her dreams, but she has no way to pay and the tuition deadline is fast approaching. Marrying a billionaire might be a bit drastic, but spending one year on his arm will make all her problems go away... if she can keep her heart in check. That's never been a problem in the past.It's a business arrangement, but when one thing leads to another will Jack be able to let Kelly go? Or can he find a way to renegotiate the deal of his life?Reuniting with the Billionaire:Two people whose past ensures they can never fully trust again.Jill can play with Andrew Weston. She can have fun with him. She can even have a wild, no-strings-attached rebound fling with him. But she can’t lose my heart to him. Because if they fall in love and that love died the way her ex-husband’s love for her died, she wouldn’t be able to handle it. She can’t go through that again. Not with the sexy billionaire from her past who tempts her at every turn.********He’s falling for Jill Walsh. He knows it’s happening but can’t stop it. But no matter what happens, he can’t let her know how he feels. Sharing feelings makes you vulnerable and he can’t let himself be vulnerable to a woman like that again. So he’ll keep his feelings a secret while he uses his vast fortune to make sure she marries him and never walks away.5-star billionaire romance that will have you turning pages to the very end!Reuniting with the Billionaire was originally published in a shorter version as part of the Sutton Capital Series. It’s a stand-alone book that can be read in any order in the series.The Billionaire Op:Can she ever get over her broken heart?Jennie Evans has known true love, and it died with her husband. But she's found balance in her life: friends and a job she loves at Sutton Capital. And there might be a man that caught her eye, but she'll never give him her heart.Chad Thompson sees what others don't: Jennie's hurting inside and hiding it from the world. Their chemistry may be off the charts, but he vows not to push. Even if true happiness might be within reach.When their meddling friends throw Jennie and Chad together in a plot designed to push them out of their comfort zones, she ends up in more danger than anyone could have imagined. To keep her safe, Chad will have to risk his body and his heart, and no matter how things end, one of them is going to get hurt.The Billionaire Op is a standalone book in the Sutton Billionaires Series. A shorter version of it was previously published as part of the Sutton Capital Series.
DETECTIVE JACK DAWES BOOKS 1–5 five gripping crime mysteries full of twists
Frances Lloyd - 2020
Crime Scene
Casey Hill - 2014
For fans of Patricia Cornwell, Tess Gerritsen or TV series CSI & Criminal Minds. CSI Reilly Steel series titles: All stories are standalone and can be read in any order #0 CRIME SCENE - Prequel #1 TABOO #2 INFERNO #3 HIDDEN #4 THE WATCHED Forty miles south of Washington, D.C. lies the small town of Quantico. Situated among lush greenery, the 547 acre property is where FBI recruits run obstacle courses, engage in firearms training and participate in mock hostage scenarios in Hogan’s Alley.It's the world budding forensic investigator Reilly Steel was born for.During her first semester at the Academy, a fatal accident occurs at a student party off-campus, and a fellow recruit is under suspicion. But by the behavior of the other students and the forensic evidence at the crime scene, Reilly guesses that there is more to the story than meets the eye.Will her instincts, and everything she's learnt at Quantico so far help Reilly uncover the truth behind the victim's death?
Girl Hidden
Kate Gable - 2021
The only survivor is the teenage daughter who managed to escape the burning house.Who killed them? And why? Detective Kaitlyn Carr has to bring their killer to justice.A year before her disappearance, Violet, Kaitlyn’s sister, comes to stay with her after a bad fight with their mom. She can’t stand living at home as much as Kaitlyn once did and wants to move in with her.But Kaitlyn was just promoted to detective and her hours are erratic and long. She’s never home and she can’t take care of a teenager. Or maybe she can?As she gets closer and closer to finding out who killed the Hendrel family, her own family reaches a breaking point.What happens when her sister asks her to do the impossible? What happens when she can’t say no?What happens when the dysfunction of her own family threatens to blow up her face and let the killer off for good?Girl Hidden is a suspenseful thriller novella set in the same world as the Girl Missing series. It is perfect for fans of A. J. Rivers, Mary Stone, Willow Rose, James Patterson, Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot, Ella Gray, and Karin Slaughter. It has mystery, angst, a bit of romance and family drama.
When Angels Fear
P.J. Mordant - 2020
But she cannot rest. A strange sleeping sickness stalks the village, and a young woman has disappeared. Why won't the police investigate? As events unfold, Emma becomes embattled yet again, compelled to fight for her life, against a deadly curse linked to a past about which she had no knowledge. She is the only one able to vanquish the evil, but doing so will entail confronting an horrific and all-too-familiar enemy.The question is, after all she's been through, will she be strong enough?
Long Shot
Dan Ames - 2015
When he is murdered during a sailboat race, no one sees it coming. Private investigator John Rockne investigates the killing and soon unravels a web of greed and betrayal. A hard-hitting, action-packed story in the bestselling and award-winning John Rockne Mystery Series.
Harry Hunter Mystery Series #1-3
Willow Rose - 2020
Another is found dead in a dumpster. All five of them go to the same school and are on a list of witnesses to another crime.Because he's in bad standing with his boss, Harry is given the task of protecting a possible future victim, but Harry isn't always known to follow his boss's orders.Soon, he'll risk everything while racing to stop a killer who has left everyone else in the homicide squad shaking in terror.BOOK 2: RUN GIRL RUN:When a mother and her child are pulled out of the harbor in their car, the case seems pretty straightforward for Miami PD and Detective Harry Hunter.Everything points to a murder-suicide.They were homeless, living in their car, and the mother decided to end it all for them both by driving into the water.But the case is not what it looks like, Detective Harry Hunter soon realizes.Harry’s daughter is carrying devastating knowledge about their deaths, and soon she becomes the killer’s next target.As Harry races to protect her, he is betrayed by someone he thought he knew, leaving him terrified of trusting anyone in a town filled with liars.BOOK 3: NO OTHER WAY:Three women went on a road trip to Key West. Only two returned. When asked what happened, their stories don’t completely match.Who is telling the truth?What are they hiding?Detective Harry Hunter of the Miami PD is in church on a peaceful Sunday morning when a young teenager pulls out a gun and shoots his own father.Once the shock is gone, Harry starts to ask himself the question no one else seems to care about: What makes a young boy want to kill his own father?When more blood is shed, Harry suspects there’s a secret buried in this town that no one wants unearthed. What are the people around him not telling him?Scroll up and grab three thrilling, suspenseful mysteries today.
A Dear Abby Cozy Mystery Collection Books 1 - 3: End of the Lane, Be Still My Heart and The Last Ride
Sonia Parin - 2018
Instead of writing about the weekend bake sale, she has to give a statement to the police. It seems the small town of Eden is not the idyllic place she'd imagined it to be. There's a killer on the lose but the finger of suspicion is pointed at Abby. Be Still My Heart (Book 2) Abby Maguire is in a rut and in desperate need of a scoop, not another dead body, but that’s what she gets. After witnessing an altercation between two Eden Thespian rivals, Abby Maguire, the town’s new reporter, hopes the annual Eden picnic fundraiser will be the perfect venue for her to witness some fireworks. Everyone has turned up, and everyone is dressed in 1920s costumes, including the dead body she finds. The Last Ride (Book 3) A carousel. A body. An inheritance. Eden’s local café owner, Joyce Breeland, has issued Abby Maguire an ultimatum - the small-town newspaper reporter must find the identity of the Eden Bloggess or be banned from Joyce’s café. Functioning on limited coffee rations, Abby Maguire goes in search of this elusive blogger only to stumble upon a body and a mysterious inheritance. There’s a killer on the loose and he might be working his way through a list… I LOVE this book. The writing flowed, the story drew me in immediately and the characters were incredibly likable. Abby flies halfway around the world to start a new life as a small-town newspaper reporter in Australia. Her first assignment is supposed to be about cake, of all things, but instead she finds herself investigating the murder of her new boss. This is sincerely the perfect cozy mystery. It is fast-paced, lighthearted, fun and engaging. I will be keeping my eye out for more books by Sonia Parin. (End of the Lane) Amazon Reviewer A hilarious cozy!!! I love Doyle! A small town, a reporter and a dog. Throw in murder and stir with a lot of sugar Well written with a good story line (Be Still My Heart) Amazon Reviewer I love this writer and especially this series in Australia. The characters are real and funny. They relate to each other. There is consistency between the books. (The Last Ride) Amazon Reviewer
The Beatrice Stubbs Boxset Two: European Crime Mysteries
J.J. Marsh - 2017
“If you like Kate Atkinson, Alexander McCall Smith or Dorothy L Sayers, you’re going to love Beatrice Stubbs.” COLD PRESSED “Two things people fear the most? Change and death.” Santorini. Turquoise seas, ancient ruins and beautiful sunsets. And a woman thrown from a cliff. The violent death shocks fellow passengers of the Empress Louise, a grand cruise liner packed with British tourists. For newly promoted Inspector Nikos Stephanakis, the case poses linguistic and cultural problems. His request for assistance yields unexpected results. DI Beatrice Stubbs, called in as support, flies to Greece. What with tension at home, the timing couldn’t be better. She anticipates a few days in the sun and a swift resolution. Yet an earlier death at sea proves suspicious and when another elderly lady is killed in her cabin, terror spreads like contagion. Murder is aboard. And someone has Beatrice in his sights. From the Cyclades to the Dodecanese, Nikos and Beatrice pursue the killer and unearth a secret. Revenge is a dish best served cold. HUMAN RITES “Judgement is in the eye of the beholder.” Adrian Harvey, London wine merchant, has lost the Christmas spirit. Someone is stalking him, stealing his post and vandalising his shop. When the police question him after an anonymous tip-off, he’s more than anxious. He’s scared. And who is that nun? Long time neighbour and friend DI Beatrice Stubbs is dispatched to Germany to investigate a series of apparently related art thefts, so Adrian seizes the chance to flee the city. He follows her to Hamburg to do some Christmas shopping and visit his ex. Yet the stalker is still on his heels. While Beatrice is on the trail of a violent gang of mercenary thieves, Adrian runs from danger to the remote island of Sylt. But danger follows and Adrian has run too far. From the icy streets of Hamburg, to the canals of Amsterdam, and the snowswept beaches of Sylt, Beatrice and Adrian discover how a virtue taken to extremes can lead to deadly sin. BAD APPLES “Some people are just rotten to the core.” Acting DCI Beatrice Stubbs is representing Scotland Yard at a police conference in Portugal. Her task is to investigate a rumour – a ghostwritten exposé of European intelligence agencies – and discover who is behind such a book. Hardly a dangerous assignment, so she invites family and friends for a holiday. Days at the conference and evenings at the villa should be the perfect work-life balance. Until one of her colleagues is murdered. An eclectic alliance of international detectives forms to find the assassin. But are they really on the same side? Meanwhile, tensions rise at the holiday villa. A clash of egos sours the atmosphere and when a five-year-old child disappears, their idyll turns hellish. From Lisbon streets to the quays of Porto, Parisian cafés to the green mountains of Gerês, Beatrice realises trust can be a fatal mistake.
The Edge of Winter
C.J. Box - 2017
Here in remotest Wyoming, where elk roam the pine forests and cougars prowl the mountains, everyone owns a gun. But when Joe Pickett hears two sharp cracks ring out months before hunting season, it's his job to investigate the first murder he's ever encountered. Battling grudge-holding neighbours, corrupt officials and out-of-town activists, Joe begins to unravel a mystery that threatens the life and the family he loves.Savage Run:Game warden Joe Pickett is called to a bizarre crime scene deep within the forests of Twelve Sleep County, Wyoming. The case is wrapped up too quickly, and Joe's search for the truth leads him ever deeper into the wilderness of the Bighorn Mountains. With two unlikely allies at his side, and two hired killers on his heels, Joe can't avoid the legendary Savage Run - a treacherous, isolated canyon with no crossing...Winterkill:It's an hour away from darkness, a bitter winter storm is raging, and Joe Pickett is deep in the forest edging Battle Mountain, shotgun in his left hand, his truck's steering wheel handcuffed to his right - and Lamar Gardiner's arrow-riddled corpse splayed against the tree in front of him. Lamar's murder and the sudden onslaught of the snowstorm warn: Get off the mountain. But Joe knows this episode is far from over. Somewhere in the dense timber, a killer draws his bowstring - with Joe as his prey...
The Case of Alan Copeland: A Golden Age Mystery
Moray Dalton - 1937
Had she a good hand?”
“There was death in it.”
The inhabitants of the quiet English village of Teene are a mixed bag. The schoolmistress is an artist manqué, her quick brain wasted for lack of opportunity. There is old Mrs. Simmons at the filling station, gloating over her discreditable past, and bullying her flighty young daughter. The fastidious Reverend Perry is more interested in his books than curing souls, and his niece dreams of romance but wakes to deadly realities. The prim, self-satisfied Miss Gort does most of the work of the parish; and the harassed poultry farmer, an artist once, is driven to desperation by an elderly nagging wife.When one member of this little circle dies, natural causes are assumed; but eighteen months later the word “murder,” whispered at first, becomes officially suspected. The evidence against one person seems conclusive, and the police make an arrest. But the trial takes an unexpected turn—and a second victim of the unknown killer is saved only just in time.The Case of Alan Copeland, a classic court-room drama, was originally published in 1937. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
The Jeffery Deaver Suspense Collection: Speaking In Tongues / The Blue Nowhere / Garden Of Beasts
Jeffery Deaver - 2007
But controversy -- and danger -- seem to have an unerring hold on him. Aaron Matthews, a brilliant psychologist, has turned his talents away from curing patients to far deadlier goals. He's targeted Tate, his ex-wife, Bett, and their estranged daughter Megan for unspeakable revenge. Featuring an urgent race against the clock, gripping details of psychological manipulation, and brilliant twists and turns that are trademark Deaver, Speaking in Tongues will leave you speechless.THE BLUE NOWHERERead by Dennis BoutsikarisWhen a sadistic hacker, code-named Phate, sets his sights on Silicon Valley, his victims never know what hit them. He infiltrates their computers, invades their lives, and lures them to their deaths. Desperate, the head of The California State Police Computer Crimes Division frees Wyatt Gillette, imprisoned for hacking, to aid the investigation. Gillette and Detective Frank Bishop, an old-school homicide cop who's accustomed to forensic sleuthing, at first make an uneasy team, but they must utilize every ounce of their disparate talents to stop the merciless and brilliant killer.GARDEN OF BEASTSRead by Jefferson MaysPaul Schumann, a German American living in New York City in 1936, is a mobster hitman known for his brilliant tactics and for taking only righteous assignments. But when he gets caught he is offered a stark choice: prison or covert government service. Paul must pose as a journalist coveringthe summer Olympics taking place in Berlin and hunt down and kill Reinhardt Ernst -- the ruthless architect of Hitler's clandestine rearmament. If he refuses the job, his fate will be Sing Sing and the electric chair.
California Blood
Pete Palamountain - 2011
Baldy.• Suicide of a wandering derelict.• Murder of a wealthy matriarch.• Murder of a charismatic Catholic priest.
In a House of Lies -- Free Preview (A Rebus Novel)
Ian Rankin - 2018
The remains, found in a rusted car in the East Lothian woods, not far from Edinburgh, quickly turn into a cold case murder investigation. Rebus' old friend, Siobhan Clarke is assigned to the case, but neither of them could have predicted what buried secrets the investigation will uncover.
Rebus remembers the original case--a shady land deal--all too well. After the investigation stalled, the family of the missing man complained that there was a police cover-up. As Clarke and her team investigate the cold case murder, she soon learns a different side of her mentor, a side he would prefer to keep in the past.
A gripping story of corruption and consequences, this new novel demonstrates that Rankin and Rebus are still at the top of their game.