Primal Red


Nicole Kimberling - 2009
    Nick Olson is a reclusive painter with questionable past and a studio in the Vitamilk Building. Peter has a knack for choosing to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In this case that place is the Vitamilk Building and the time is the moment that Shelley Vine, local art professor and rising star of the art world, is stabbed to death.Determined to understand why Vine was killed, and convinced that breaking the story could jumpstart his career as an investigative journalist, Peter begins his own investigation into her death. As Peter uncovers more information about Vine, Olson, and the interconnected lives of the rest of the artists at the Vitamilk Building, he finds himself falling in love with Nick.Peter wants a story but he also wants Nick, and it looks like he's going to have to make a choice before the two can paint the town Primal Red.

The Well


Marie Sexton - 2017
    Haven knows his cousin Elise only wants to scare the crap out of him and his friends, but he’s willing to put up with one of her pranks if it means a chance to spend a few hours with the new kid in town, Pierce Hunter. But when morning comes, Elise has disappeared without a trace. Twelve years later, Pierce and his twin brother Jordan are professional paranormal investigators, starring in their own ghost-hunting TV show. When Pierce calls Haven, insisting they return to the supposedly haunted building one last time, Haven reluctantly agrees. He’s nervous about seeing Pierce again, but he’s determined to get some answers. Did they really speak to Cassie’s ghost that night? What happened to Elise? And the biggest mystery of all – how did she know the secret of the well?

The Mystery of Nevermore


C.S. Poe - 2016
    But when Snow’s Antique Emporium is broken into and a heart is found under the floorboards, Sebastian can’t let the mystery rest. He soon finds himself caught up in murder investigations that echo the macabre writings of Edgar Allan Poe. To make matters worse, Sebastian’s sleuthing is causing his relationship with Neil to crumble, while at the same time he’s crushing hard on the lead homicide detective of the case, Calvin Winter. Sebastian and Calvin must work together to unravel the mystery behind the killings, despite the mounting danger and sexual tension, before Sebastian becomes the next victim.In the end, Sebastian only wants to get out of this mess alive and live happily ever after with Calvin.

Son of a Gun


A.M. Riley - 2010
    When Stefan returns for the funeral of his best friend, he is confronted by painful memories, Chet's recriminations, and a hunky Secret Service agent who seems determined to make Stefan's business his business.

Bitter Legacy


Dal Maclean - 2016
    His remarkable gut instincts and relentless detective work have put him on a three-year fast track to becoming an inspector. When the murder of barrister Maria Curzon-Whyte lands in his lap, he finds himself drawn back into the insidious world of London's privileged elite where men like James's father possess wealth and power enough to hold the law in contempt. As James navigates the promiscuous, secretive and corrupt spheres of the rich, the murderer strikes again. Soon James begins to fear that these crimes lead dangerously close to his own heart and home. And now, he risks losing everything he's made of his life unless he can expose the sordid truths that have bred this bitter legacy.

Hacked Up


Ethan Stone - 2017
    For Detective Peter Tao, it’s a career-making case, but he’s struggling to find a lead. How is the killer choosing his victims? What is he trying to prove?With a long list of suspects and nothing to connect them, Peter is more determined than ever to apprehend the murderer. Then Peter gets the one vital piece of evidence that ties everything together. Now he’ll have to look beyond the obvious to identify the killer before anyone else is murdered. Solve the mystery in this fast-moving crime thriller by Ethan Stone.

Ramen Assassin


Rhys Ford - 2019
    After rescuing former child star Trey Bishop from a pair of murderous thugs, he reluctantly picks his guns up again. It seems trouble isn’t done with Trey, and Kuro can’t quite let go… of either danger or Trey.Trey never denied his life’s downward spiral was his own fault. After stints in rehab, he’s finally shaken off his Hollywood bad-boy lifestyle, but not his reputation. The destruction of his career and relationships was epic, and no one trusts anything he says, including the LAPD. When two men dragging a dead body spot him on a late-night run, then try to murder him, Trey is thankful for the tall, dark, and deadly ramen shop owner not just for rescuing him, but also for believing him.Now caught in a web of murders and lies, Trey knows someone wants him dead, and the only one on his side is a man with dark secrets. Trey hopes Kuro will stick around to see what the future holds for them once the dust settles, but from the looks of things, neither of them may survive to find out.

A Midcoast Murder


Stephen E. Stanley - 2009
    Should he take early retirement or continue teaching? When his best friend, Rhonda Shepard, retires and moves to the coast of Maine to open a gift shop, Jesse offers to help her set up her business. Much to Jesse's surprise, Rhonda's gift shop in located in the town where Jesse grew up. Jesse must not only deal with relocation, but he must also reestablish ties that he had severed thirty-some years ago. Jesse purchases a run-down 1920's bungalow called Eagles Nest. The house was the site of a 1960's commune and has been more or less neglected in recent years. While digging a garden in the isolated back yard, Jesse and his pug dog, Argus, make a gruesome discovery. Police chief Tim Mallory is one of the first on the scene of the discovery. Tim and Jesse were in the same high school graduation class and have a shared history. Tim and Jesse begin the investigation of the unknown victim and struggle to renew their friendship. Thanks to Jesse's keen eye and the indestructibility of polyester fabric, the victim is initially identified as a student who disappeared in 1970. Jesse and Tim begin to research what they believe to be a cold-case file until threats to several former classmates help provide clues to the murder. While Jesse is investigating the murder, he is also struggling to deal with new relationships and the need to establish a sense of place for himself. The events of the plot allow Jesse to explore new areas of his life.

A Body to Dye For


Grant Michaels - 1990
    When a vacationing National Park ranger turns up dead in Boston, Stan is implicated in the murder, and must find the killer to clear his own name. With an eye for detail and a mettlesome spirit, Stan finds plenty of clues, but he also confronts the police lieutenant assigned to the case, a man with little tolerance for the world of fashion and style, or for Stan's cheeky attitude. With a sharp tongue as his best defense, a most unlikely detective uses even more unlikely techniques to close the loop and get the killer.

Model Citizen


Lissa Kasey - 2015
    He takes over his brother’s business as a private investigator, even though he doesn’t have a license. His first case: a childhood friend has become a reality TV star and was injured on set. But others haven’t been as lucky. Some have died.Ollie’s brother’s best friend, Kade, has arrived to take over the job. He’s got a license, a gun, and is a former Marine. But Ollie refuses to step aside. The business is his, the case involves his friend, and even when the bullets start flying, he’s determined to find the killer.But Kade isn’t willing to put Ollie in danger, even if that means stepping in and taking the shot to save Ollie’s life.Note: This MM romance features a tattooed ex-Marine, a former model with a passion for manties and sticking his nose into mysteries, and a bunch of reality TV stars with the habit of getting murdered. Second edition.

The British Devil


Greg Hogben - 2012
    A secretary in a small-town Southern Baptist church in Texas, she bristles at Greg’s secular beliefs. Through passive-aggressive manipulation, subtle deceit, or outright battle, Vivien resolves to banish Greg and return Danny to the fold, come hell or high water. Greg’s hold on Danny’s heart is pitted against Vivien’s crusade for Danny’s soul.All the while, Greg devotes himself to keeping Danny happy while negotiating the cultural differences of his life in America. Danny’s new career as a lawyer takes them from his native Texas to New York. But with Vivien testing Greg’s stiff upper lip at every turn, something has to give.The British Devil is a semiautobiographical novel exploring culture, religion, and love in a bi-national relationship.

Lines of Sight


Wolf Specter - 2015
    But only because he has no choice. Russ Callahan may not be Seattle’s worst private investigator, but he’s likely its poorest. Since he blew the whistle on his last employer, the former military contractor has had to keep a low profile, living under an assumed identity. When a big case lands on his doorstep, he can’t refuse—unless he wants his next meal at a soup kitchen. Accelera Pharmaceutical Labs suspects some tech is leaking clinical trial data to the competition. The case sounds simple enough: tail the geek, catch him in the act, and collect a much-needed paycheck. A reclusive psychic faces the truth: people will die unless he finally uses his powers for good. Daniel Langston is far more than he appears. For starters, he’s not really a geneticist. Second, he can read minds. Things at Accelera aren’t as they seem, but how is a psychic supposed to prove it? Daniel needs Russ Callahan on his side to document the evidence. But he’s got to be careful. He knows the truth about Accelera's clinical trial, but no one can know how he knows. Once they join forces, the violence starts. Dan and Russ form a shaky alliance, only to realize there’s more threatening their partnership than just the lies they’ve told one another. Someone’s trying to kill them. Aware of the plot on their lives, Dan works in the shadows, trying to stay a step ahead of the murderers and a step ahead of Russ. Because if he had to explain how he found out, that would ruin everything. And if that weren’t enough, he's got a front row psychic ticket to a distracting truth: his partner is developing feelings for him. Russ knows that he's a target. He has to step lightly. So how come the only person he wants to trust is an emotionally volatile loner he knows nothing about? Lines of Sight is a must-read thriller that blends slow-burn romance and supernatural intrigue with a tense conspiracy plot, all set in the vibrant backdrop of the Pacific Northwest.

Mikey and the Chickadee


Kid Boise - 2016
    Every day, the same stunning man, riding alongside you. He seems to notice you. You could swear something's there--it almost feels as if he's reaching out... Then, one fine day, you're given the chance of a lifetime: a opportunity to finally strike up a conversation. Do you take it?Wyatt does. And he's thrust into a more beautiful, violent, emotionally-charged journey than he ever could have expected. Only time will tell if his new bond with this beautiful boy can weather the tumult and confusion that accompany early adulthood... “Mikey said things in a way that invoked visions of us spending time together in the future. I considered this while I watched the sun set out my window. Beyond houses, buildings and occasional fields, all of it racing by, I caught flickers of open water and the far-off levee holding it at bay. The next few miles were peppered with conversation borne, still, out of an inscrutable dose of caution and unfamiliarity. How does one coax something from a void? What kind of enigmatic force conjures a friendship between strangers? How fragile those first times together must be, yet with so much depending on them. For one covert second, I swelled with sadness, not just because a continued relationship with this beautifully unchained boy was so improbable, but for the tragedy of all friendships that died in infancy.”

The Best Corpse for the Job


Charlie Cochrane - 2014
    The governors at Lindenshaw St Crispin’s have already failed miserably at finding the right candidate, so it’s make or break this second time round. But when one of the applicants is found strangled in the school, what should have been a straightforward decision turns tempestuous as a flash flood in their small English village.Inspector Robin Bright isn’t thrilled to be back at St. Crispin’s. Memories of his days there are foul enough without tossing in a complicated murder case. And that handsome young teacher has him reminding himself not to fraternize with a witness. But it’s not long before Robin is relying on Adam for more than just his testimony.As secrets amongst the governors emerge and a second person turns up dead, Robin needs to focus less on Adam and more on his investigation. But there are too many suspects, too many lies, and too many loose ends. Before they know it, Robin and Adam are fighting for their lives and their hearts. - See more at: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/b...

Bleeding Hearts


Josh Aterovis - 1999
     Even the most idyllic small town has dangerous currents just under the surface -- like abuse, bigotry and hate. And murder. Killian Kendall is a small-town teen whose whole world is about to be turned upside down. The new kid in school is openly gay and, despite himself, Killian finds himself drawn to him. When the boy is killed in a brutal attack, and Killian is injured in the process, Killian begins to questions everything around him. The police seem eager to write the attack off as a random mugging, but Killian knows better. Unable to ignore the injustice, Killian launches his own investigation, and everyone is a suspect -- even his closest friends. His search turns up hatred in small town America. Before it's over, more people will die, and Killian's life will be on the line again. Bleeding Hearts is the first book in the Killian Kendall Mystery Series.