Book picks similar to
Death Rites by Wendy Cartmell


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The Reluctant Detective


Adrian Spalding - 2019
    He just wanted a quiet life. Something his mother was not going to allow. There again he never for one moment imagined he would have to look into the death of a 90-year-old lady who was gambling away her family fortune. The Hayden Detective Agency has no need of clients. The very existence of the Agency allows Martin Hayden to claim his large monthly allowance from the family fortune - without lifting a finger. Martin’s biggest problem is his interfering mother, who understands her idle son too well. She takes steps to find him not just clients but also a personal assistant to keep an eye on him. Under pressure from the women in his life, Martin agrees to take on his first client. How hard can it be to follow a 90-year-old woman who spends her time losing money at roulette tables? As it turns out harder than Martin ever thought possible, especially with the old lady dying in strange circumstances. Soon the Reluctant Detective is grappling with shady estate agents, an intellectual artist, missing charity money and an irritating Indian waiter. Luckily for Martin there is help in the form of Colin, a transvestite who, apart from having very good fashion sense, is an expert at breaking into houses.

The Haunted Mine


Carrie Bates - 2019
    The pay is great, his men are welcoming, but who is that man he keeps seeing in the mines? As time goes on, the man's presence sparks chilling scenes. Lights go off in the mine, terrifying noises are heard, and money and tools go missing. When Adam is attacked, he thinks he's losing his mind as none of his men nearby see anything. Adam has only one choice - leave - before he meets the same fate as the mystery miner. But when the miner asks for help, Adam changes his mind, which may be the biggest mistake of his life.

Like Stones on a Crow's Back (The Deal Book 2)


Amy Cross - 2018
    It's a good deal. You should stick to it for the rest of your life.” One year after she made a deal to save her father's life, Ramsey Kopperud lives in fear. She's terrified that at any moment, the evil Sebastian might emerge from the forest and announce that the deal is off. Yet even as she tries to come to terms with her own actions, Ramsey has no idea that another deadly force is about to launch an attack. Sebastian wasn't alone in the forest, and now something else is coming for vengeance. Meanwhile, many years in the past, a farm-boy meets a beautiful witch and falls in love. As his hopes for happiness fade, however, young Sebastian must make a terrible choice. His decision will have consequences not only for his own life, and not only for the life of Ramsey many years in the future, but perhaps even for the fate of the whole world. First, though, he must try to pass the test of placing stones on a crow's back. LIKE STONES ON A CROW'S BACK is the sequel to THE DEVIL, THE WITCH AND THE WHORE, and the second book in a trilogy about the end of the world.

2 Cordelia Gray Mysteries: An Unsuitable Job for a Woman / The Skull Beneath the Skin


P.D. James - 2015
    Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

Hidden in the Dark (Harper Flagg Book 1)


Alyson Larrabee - 2017
    He's been getting away with it for years. How has he kept his identity a secret? What will it take to stop him?No one knows.He hides in plain sight, and his current obsession is high school golden girl, Harper Flagg.When she was two years old Harper was the only witness to her mother's murder. She's eighteen now, and she's no ordinary teenager. She has spent the past sixteen years preparing for a confrontation with her mother's killer. And her wish is about to come true."Wow, this book had me biting my nails and obsessively turning the pages to see who and what the killer was. It had a Silence of the Lambs feel to it." -Emmie"A different type serial killer story that will keep you awake at night." - Fran

Like Souls Series (Books 1-4): Blood of Like Souls, Tears of Like Souls, Promises of Like Souls, Secrets of Like Souls


Val Conrad - 2017
     Blood of Like Souls Julie Madigan's career with the New Mexico State Police ended in the puddle of blood on the floor when she survived having her throat cut. But a year of recovery left her desperate to hide the scars and to escape her past. She moved to Michigan, away from friends and coworkers who knew her secrets. Now a Medical Examiner Investigator, Julie Madigan plays by the rules, but the rules change when a killer sends her clues and evidence about two victims, taunting her with his unusual methods of murder, pulling her into his twisted game, targeting those she cares about. His goal - to prove Julie will kill like he does. While trying to identify him, Julie discovers the monster has been closer to her than she imagined, leaving her in a race to save the victims he's selected, forcing her to choose who lives and who dies. Tears of Like Souls Medical Examiner Investigator Julie Madigan might have survived her half-brother's brutal crime spree, but the emotional wounds left by Anthony Bock's evil run deep. She begins a walk down the path to healing with the one man who's always loved her - Zach Samualson, who works for the Drug Enforcement Agency. They begin to establish a new life together in Washington - until he reveals a secret of his own. Julie's torn between trusting him and running from her inner demons and the one question that's haunted her since she was sixteen -did Bock make her kill her father? Promises of Like Souls After a small wedding to Zach in Albuquerque, Julie Madigan, now Julie Samualson, goes back to Michigan to pack and say goodbye to her friends and coworkers before moving to the log cabin Zach had built for them prior to Julie's yes to marriage. But her arrival in paradise was without her groom, who had stayed behind in New Mexico to finish an assignment with his DEA unit while awaiting a transfer. Zach, however, faces a startling surprise that will change both their lives completely - that he is the father of a teenage daughter, whose mother was kidnapped by one of Zach's ex-partners who had turned against the agency and his partners. By a man with a single goal - to destroy Zach and all he holds precious. Secrets of Like Souls On her way down the stairs, Julie Samualson falls and injures her ankle, disrupting more than her family. She limps on to a Portland hospital to begin an investigation into the burns suffered by the sister of one of the sheriff's dispatchers - burns that don't appear to have been sustained in a fall. Then the wife of a fellow deputy goes missing, and the van found near the Columbia River. On crutches, Julie can only help process evidence. Meanwhile, Amber, her stepdaughter, asks if they can continue searching for clues about the bag they found on a trail ride - the contents include an old library card and piece of tattooed human skin made into leather. But when the three different cases begin to connect and threats get closer to her loved ones, Julie's world begins to unravel.

Murder at Whalehead (Outer Banks Murder Series)


Joe Ellis - 2012
    On the northern Outer Banks looms an old hunting lodge known as the Whalehead Club. During the roaring twenties Edward and Marie Knight entertained guests at this isolated Mansion by the Sea. Now it has become one of North Carolina's most popular tourist attractions. Less than a quarter mile away deep in the marsh along the Currituck Sound lies the body of a young woman. Someone has killed and craves to kill again. In his new novel, Murder at Whalehead, Joe C. Ellis tells the story of two Ohio families vacationing on the Outer Banks. They look forward to sun, sea, rest, and relaxation. Instead, they cross paths with a homicidal maniac. Can they stop him before another innocent victim dies? "Murder at Whalehead will absorb the reader from its first tantalizing page to its last satisfying conclusion." Michele Rubin, senior agent, Writers House, New York

Our Haunted Home in the Country: A True Story


Dale Scott - 2018
    This book is a true account of events the author and his family experienced in their rural Northern California home in the mid-1970's when he was young.

Operations Compromised (The Jake Stryker Series Book 1)


Warren Conrad - 2014
    In this first installment of the “Jake Stryker” series, Warren has created a fast paced and riveting story that you could imagine reading in today’s headlines. Here are a few testimonials: “Fast paced thriller in keeping with Vince Flynn and Brad Thor.” Captain Mike Penn Chief Pilot Southwest Airlines Decorated Navy Fighter Pilot and POW “A spider web of plots, covert action, and dead bad guys!” Ryan “Birdman” Parrott Exec. Dir., Sons of the Flag, Burn Foundation Former US Navy SEAL, SEAL Team 7 Jake Stryker, one of the US Army’s lethal and highly trained Delta Force Operators, suspects leaks of classified information that lead to the death of his team in Afghanistan. When his tour of duty ends, Stryker returns to the United States to locate and punish those responsible. While investigating these leaks, he crosses paths with Rachel Cohen, a beautiful but deadly Mossad agent. While their goals appear to be vastly different with Stryker pursuing government leaks and Rachel chasing an Iranian terrorist, they form an unlikely union. What they uncover is a network of corruption that leads them directly to the White House.

Say You're Sorry (DCI Campbell McKenzie #1)


Ian C.P. Irvine - 2017
    In this thrilling version, David works in a call centre in India, and Goliath is Scottish crime lord Tommy McNunn. When Scottish crime lord Tommy ‘McNunn’ commits the perfect murder, killing a corrupt policeman and framing his death on a rival, DCI Campbell McKenzie knows there is little he can do to stop a gang war and prevent McNunn taking over the whole of Scotland. However, when Tommy McNunn accidentally drives into an old age pensioner, destroys the man’s car and refuses to apologise, his ambitions are soon to be thwarted. In a modern day retelling of the biblical story ‘David Versus Goliath’, the meek topple the mighty, brains conquer brawn and good overcomes bad. DCI McKenzie versus his arch rival, Tommy McNunn. Who will win? In another classic IAN CP IRVINE thriller, just when you think you know the truth, your world is turned upside down. Hold on tight, cancel the rest of your day and take a deep, deep breathe. You'll need it. About the book. 'Say You're Sorry!' is the latest crime thriller written by Ian C.P. Irvine, one of the UK's top cyber security experts. Based upon real facts, 'Say You're Sorry!' is a page-turning, thrilling and chilling exposé of just how much our daily lives are now controlled by computers, and how an cyber expert with the right knowledge, could, if they wished, ruin your life. A cyber crime conspiracy thriller at the top its game, after reading this, you'll never want to switch on your mobile phone again. Read it now, ...or you'll be sorry you missed it! You can't say you haven't been warned... Once you've read it, this is the book you will want to recommend to your friends! The action in the book is split between Scotland and India, so if you are in India, and like crime thrillers, this is the one to read!

The Manor Hauntings


J.S. Donovan - 2017
    and a small town holds a shocking secret waiting to be unearthed...Amazon best selling mystery authors J.S. Donovan, Roger Hayden, James Hunt and Alexandria Clarke invite you to explore this riveting mystery box set! These stories have collectively accumulated 250+ 5-star reviews!A missing father, decade old murders, and an Antebellum-era mansion invaded by the spirits of the dead, private investigator/unexpected plantation inheritor Evelyn Carr has her hands full. Assisted by her husband, Evelyn chases answers. With each mystery solved, another arises... along with new adversaries. The truth hides within her family's dark past, but some secrets, once unearthed, cannot be reburied.The Haunting of Winchester MansionIn the small town of Black Bay, a vacant, forgotten house sits atop an overlooking bluff. When Bailey and Bodhi Taylor move in and begin renovations, the house seems perfect. But things move on their own, screams echo from the basement, and Bailey sees a shadowy figure out of the corner of her eye. Is the house haunted? And if it is, what does the ghost want with Bailey?The Curse of the House on Cypress Lane There sits a large house on Cypress Lane in the small town of Ocoee, Louisiana, and its history is intertwined with the town itself. A feud was born within its walls, and it is there where it will die. The Cooley family finds themselves in the middle of a fight that started long before they arrived. Will they make it out alive, or will they become another casualty in the fight between the living and the dead?The Haunting of Bechdel Mansion  One couple must unearth the secrets of a small-town murder before it's too late.A young couple from the city move to a small town, looking for a fresh start. They soon find their dream house in an old Victorian mansion and everything seems perfect, that is, until they experience strange supernatural occurrences linked to an unsolved mass murder from forty years ago. Unearthing the secrets buried within the mansion won't be easy. Can they solve the mystery in time, or will they face the same doomed fate as the tenants who came before them?

Butler's Justice (Monroe T. Lovett Legal Thriller Series Book 1)


Perry Perrett
    There’s only one problem; no one seems to know who Monroe Lovett is, and to make matters worse, he hasn’t had a single client. His sole hope is that just one person will hire him.That hope is answered when in walks Ashley Butler. Monroe is so glad to see her, happy to have a someone in need of his service that he jumps at the opportunity to represent her. Little does he realize, Ashley’s case will pit him against forces wanting his client convicted. Her case will open the closest to the Butler family’s secrets.Ashley Butler’s problems started when adultery and accusations led to a single rash act that ended in murder. In a matter of seconds, an argument climaxed with Julie, Marcus Butler Jr.'s mistress, dead.The Lane County Sheriff’s Department receives a tip of hearing what sounded like gunshots coming from inside the Butler home. Minutes later, deputies arrived to find Julie's body lying on the bedroom floor. The ill-tempered Detective Carson investigates the crime scene and upon leaving gets a tip that Ashley is the killer. The detective attains an arrest warrant and puts out an all-points bulletin for the arrest of Ashley Butler.Ashley hears from a friend that deputies are looking for her. Knowing her husband’s family, she seeks the help of the only person she believes she can trust, Lane County's newest defense attorney, Monroe T. Lovett. Knowing that her husband’s father, Marcus Sr., holds power over most of Lane County, she's not even sure Monroe can help her. But he's her only hope.Speaking with Monroe in his office, Ashley explains that she is about to be arrested for murdering her husband's girlfriend. After she tells him of her predicament, and with only a few details, Monroe, in desperate need of a client, agrees to take her case. Soon, he learns Ashley isn't just any client, and he will have to fight to save her life.To make matters worse, Monroe will face Lane County’s District Attorney Robert Breaux. Breaux. Monroe will discover that Robert Breaux is a self-serving, egotistical district attorney, who is interested in one thing—winning. Justice is not Breaux's goal. Convictions translate into votes and those votes to lead to him gaining more political clout.Monroe soon finds himself in over his head. A godsend in the person of Herman (Herm) Edwards, a retired New Orleans detective and a native of Peregrine offers to help Monroe. Monroe is skeptical, knowing that Edwards is from the area. In need of help, Monroe, with the urging of his wife, Debbie, decides to hire Herm. But he still unsure of Herm’s allegiances. Trust issues arise between them as suspicions of a possible corrupt sheriff's department is trying to impede Ashley’s case.As Monroe’s case begins to unravel, Monroe is forced to seek a different approach to prove Ashley's innocence. This new tactic lands him right in the middle of the Butler family secret, a secret that even Ashley does not know about. No one in Lane County knows the truth the Butlers have been hiding for years, and Monroe is ready to rip the door off the closet. To stop him, Marcus Butler Sr., the family patriarch, will do whatever he must to keep the closet locked.To stop Monroe, Marcus Butler Sr. forms some new alliances to ensure his secrets stay buried. His new ties include a man named Félix Roche, a man who has many aliases and a sinister reputation with more than one agenda.Only the truth can free Ashley, but finding the truth will mean revealing her past, a past she would just as soon forget. However, Monroe encourages her, convincing her this is the only avenue to freedom. Monroe’s plan? Go after the patriarch, Marcus Butler Sr., and expose the man and the Butler family secrets. It is the only way Butler's justice will prevail.

Summer of Fear - a murder-mystery thriller


Chris McGarry - 2014
    Over his 20 - year career, Antonio Guardini has investigated some very disturbing, grisly crimes. But the latest string of murders that have New Yorkers in a paralyzing state of fear have struck a personal chord within Antonio. A devout Catholic and prolife activist, the hardened cop is tasked with tracking down the wily serial killer who is stalking and butchering the city's abortion physicians. As his personal beliefs begin conflict with his job, a struggle ensues as Antonio delves deeper the twisted myriad of clues left by the murderer and his victims. Will Antonio identify and apprehend the 'Abortion Avenger' before he kills again?

Real Ghost Stories: Disturbing Paranormal Stories Based On True Events


Eve S. Evans - 2019
    Learn more in The Collector.Some things seem ordinary to the naked eye, but sometimes a camera catches things invisible to the naked eye. This one will give you chills in It's Only A Photo.

The Gypsy Hill Murders


P.J. Thurbin - 2012
    J. Thurbin, a new writer to the fictional crime scene. He has a unique and fast moving style that will appeal to the reader who likes mysteries that are in the genre of those by John Grisham and M.C. Beaton. His book has all the ingredients that one would expect to find in a classic murder mystery. It is centered on an ivy covered Victorian house set within the campus of a modern University just outside London. A group of five academics find themselves embroiled in a series of vicious attacks that are linked to incidents that took place 100 years earlier. The main character, Ralph Chalmers, a Professor of International Business, attempts to unravel the links between a 100 year old skeleton found on the site and a series of recent attacks in the University, while at the same time courting an old flame from his days as a student at Cambridge University. Inspector Linham and his Sergeant Wilson also strive to apprehend the villains and lend an air of authenticity to the investigations. As the plot thickens, various members of the academic staff are seen to have motives that would also implicate them in the events that unfold. The atmosphere of jealousy and mistrust is stimulated by the character of the head caretaker, Jack Welsh, a retired army Master at Arms who has compelling reasons for wanting to unravel the mystery. The book is fast moving in that the plot moves to Australia, France, Monte Carlo, and the world of diamond trading, while delving into the backgrounds and lives of the main characters. A final twist will leave the reader surprised at how greed and desperation can result in tragedy. Thurbin manages to entertain by depicting the frailties of his main characters in all too familiar ways, while at the same time adding just enough intrigue to keep the reader turning the pages. This novel is for anyone who likes the thrill of a good mystery with plenty of action coupled with the element of surprise. -------------------------------