Book picks similar to
A Raucous Time by Julia Hughes
fantasy
mystery
e-books
young-adult
The Lavender of Larch Hall
Ruby Loren - 2015
Historical researcher, Emily Haversson, and Mr Bumble (the cat) are at heritage site, Larch Hall, to go through some old records. They’ve only been there a day, when Emily discovers an old love letter which contains cryptic clues to a ‘legacy of love’ buried in the garden at Larch Hall. However, when she approaches the head gardener, Rob, to see what he makes of the clues, he expressly forbids her from digging up the garden. So when Rob discovers soil and lavender bushes strewn everywhere the next morning, he immediately accuses Emily. Only she knows the truth… Someone else is hunting for the secret hidden beneath the lavender of Larch Hall! *This book can be read as a standalone novel* Interview with the Author Q - So, what makes the Hearts and Houses British Short Story Series special? A - It's a mix of things, really. When I set out to write these books, I wanted to create something that mirrored exactly the kind of books I like to read. My top picks are usually, rural mysteries, British Chick Lit, any of the thousands of cozy mystery bestsellers, and, of course, books featuring good old fashioned small town justice. Basically, anything with a kick-ass attitude and some romantic tension gets my vote. I love getting away from predictable women sleuths mysteries! The Hearts and Houses books are a great mix of these genres. You'll find the series focuses on the fun mystery thriller suspense / Chick Lit genre overall, with some clean and wholesome romance and drama thrown in for good measure. Overall, the Hearts and Houses series is designed to keep you turning the pages - and I've made sure there's never a dull moment. Q - What order should I read the books in? A – This series is one that can be read in any order! However, they are best read in this order: - The Lavender of Larch hall - The Leaves of Llewellyn Keep - The Snow of Severly Castle - The Frost of Friston Manor - The Heart of Heathley House Q - So, why should readers give these books a try? A - Because the Hearts and Houses series is a dramatic, suspense filled, British short story series that takes no prisoners! The characters and settings are so unusual that I guarantee you won’t have read anything like it before. Ultimately, readers who enjoy cozy mystery series with plots that twist and turn all the way to the end will get a kick out of this series. And thanks for reading! Hearts and Houses British Short Story Series eBook Categories: - British chick lit - British short story series - Short stories history - Cozy mysteries women sleuths series - rural mysteries - small town justice
Dead on the Vine
J.M. Harvey - 2014
Helena's Violet Vineyards, has a husband who would rather date a teenager than raise one, an emotionally unstable daughter with a violent ex-boyfriend and a staff of two who treat her more like a mother than a boss. But she can handle all of that. After all, things could be worse. Much worse.Claire is preparing for the bottling of Violet's Vintner's Reserve, hoping to stave off bankruptcy for one more year, when her neighbor, Kevin Harlan, is found murdered in her vineyard. That's awful enough, but when her daughter is arrested for the murder Claire is forced to pursue the real killer on her own, placing herself and everyone she loves in the line of fire.
A Cue to a Kill
Lilian Watts - 2015
but can it, when one of the actors has a cue to a kill?Backstage at the last night performance of the murder-mystery play "Bone Chiller," a real life killer is stalking the corridors of the theater.The Goose Meadow Bay Players' Halloween production has been declared an artistic success by enthralled audiences, but onstage and backstage the cast and crew are just a little bit bored.On the last night, one of the actors has a great idea to liven things up and everything seems harmless enough, but then an attempt is made on one actor's life. Not long after that, another goes missing.With the audience's laughter ringing in their ears, the cast are more intent on stardom than finding the potential murderer lurking amongst them. Can Kath keep the show running, the cast safe and make sure the killer sticks to the script?This is a cozy mystery short read in the Stage Door series.
Hawthorn Inn
Heidi Willard - 2013
New friends introduce him to legends and rumors that have swirled around the inn since time-immemorial, and he finds plenty of proof to believe them as strange noises and twisted shadows stalk the halls.Worst of all, his estranged grandfather has invited himself to join them at the inn. Creepy doesn't begin to describe that black-cloaked gentleman with the pale skin and weird, ever-constant glasses. Old secrets, mysterious sealed-up rooms and creeping shadows abound as Jack tries to manage his new life at Hawthorn Inn.
The Dark Rift: The Supernatural Grail Quest Zombie Apocalypse (The Last Artifact Trilogy Book 1)
Gilliam Ness - 2016
Throughout history the long lost Cube has been sought after by emperors, popes, and caliphs alike. It is believed to be a container of knowledge; a holy vessel capable of emancipating humanity from the confines of earthly mortality. Now that it has been found, demonic forces are surfacing to destroy it. Their presence marks the return of a potent nefarious entity that once reigned supreme in Earth’s distant reptilian past. Under the apocalyptic shadow of global unrest and rampant natural disasters, Gabriel and Natasha battle to prevent this sinister blight from being unleashed. With nothing but a tattered journal to guide them, they race from Italy to Morocco, and finally to the mountains of Northern Spain where they must locate a Lost Labyrinth spoken of by the ancients. There, deep in a Sacred Chamber, they will find salvation for mankind, but not without a price. A cosmic clock is ticking. It marks the world’s entry into the oblivion of the Dark Rift, and the final days that remain. Categories: satire, post apocalyptic trilogy, metaphysical supernatural fiction, metaphysical mystery fiction, satire sci-fi, zombie apocalypse novels, supernatural thriller trilogy, supernatural series book set,
True Deceit
A.J. Carella - 2015
Little does he realize that it’s just the beginning and things are about to get worse. A lot worse. But all is not as it seems and soon he is forced to face the truth of his past in order to protect his future. Intense and fast-paced, this ride will have you on the edge of your seat.
The Laura Cardinal Novels
J. Carson Black - 2011
Carson Black's remarkable Arizona DPS investigator, Laura Cardinal, a New York Times and USA Today best seller. Laura Cardinal: Packs a SIG Sauer P226 9mm. Investigates homicides in small towns that have limited resources. Brings justice to murder victims--and to their killers. Laura’s job description: Criminal Investigator with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. But maybe it should just say “Troubleshooter.” DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, Book 1“A superb debut…Welcome to a strong new voice in American Crime Fiction”—T. Jefferson Parker, author of THE BORDER LORDSUsed to be kids played outdoors until time for dinner, now social media’s the new game in town. These days, they play on their smartphones. But with more freedom comes greater danger. Mobile devices and computers are a conduit into a child’s life, not just for friends but for those who intend harm. This is the message of J. Carson Black’s Daphne du Maurier Award-nominated thriller, DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN.When Laura investigates the murder of a fourteen-year-old girl left in a town’s park band shell, she knows immediately what she’s up against: a cunning sexual predator. But why is she plagued by the abduction of a schoolmate eighteen years earlier?In a runaway case that propels Laura from a lavish Tucson estate to the secretive heart of a north Florida town, she must confront the ghosts of her own past. Then another child goes missing—and Laura must race the clock to find her.“A dark, brilliantly-plotted police procedural.”—Midwest Book ReviewDARK SIDE OF THE MOON, Book 2When a young couple on their honeymoon is found shot to death in a campground in Williams, Arizona, the consequences go far beyond a simple murder investigation. As the investigation unfolds, Laura uncovers a chilling portrait of the dark side of love. And when she learns of one victim’s ties to an underground organization called the Earth Warriors, she is plunged into a high-stakes conspiracy played out against the unforgiving backdrop of the Mojave Desert—where there are no second chances."Dark Side of the Moon takes you on a perilous descent into a shadowy underworld where light cannot reach, trust can be fatal, and the deepest truth is only another lie. Once again J. Carson Black delivers a harrowing nonstop thrill ride that will eclipse every other suspense novel you read this year!”—New York Times bestselling author Michael Prescott“Black never lets up the pace for an instant.”—SF SiteTHE DEVIL’S HOUR, Book 3“J. Carson Black's THE DEVIL'S HOUR is a superior mystery novel in all respects. Fine prose, terrific suspense, believable characters, and one of the most unexpected and satisfying conclusions I've read in a long time. Highly recommended."—John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of DAMAGEIn 1997, the disappearance of three young girls rocked the city of Tucson, Arizona. Eleven years later, one of those girls—Micaela Brashear—comes home, alive.Detective Laura Cardinal worked homicide for Arizona DPS, but now she's been moved to the Open-Unsolved Unit. With a new job and a new partner who questions her every move, Laura pieces together Micaela's fragmented memories in the hope she will learn the whereabouts of the other two children.When a man walking his dog finds the bones of a child in a shallow grave on the mountain above town, it becomes clear to Laura that Micaela was the lucky one.
French Vanilla & Felonies
Erin Huss - 2018
She's got a nice home for her daughter, a steady source of income, and the cute maintenance guy is certainly a nice perk! But her luck takes a bad turn again when a dead body turns up, a crime spree takes over the community, and Cambria finds her complex squarely at the center of it all! With her dream job suddenly on the line, Cambria dons her detective hat to get to the truth—after all, she's watched enough crime shows on TV to know how to catch a perp! Or so she hopes as she wades through a streaker in apartment 40, an ex-con with a shady agenda, an overly frisky retired couple, and the suspiciously sneaky dealings of the dentist in apartment 36. But will Cambria be able to catch a killer... or will she get caught up in his game and lose it all?
Run
Patti Larsen - 2011
His sister Lucy pulls herself together and cuts him free from a year of foster care. She promises to take care of him, that her new boss and her new life are what they both needed to start again. Until Reid is taken in the middle of the night, dumped in a wild stretch of forest far from home with no idea why he is there. Lost and afraid, he learns to run from the hunters who prowl the darkness, their only pleasure chasing down kids like him. And killing them.
The Last Descendant
Megan Haskell - 2015
The high elves have made that very clear. Even training as an elite fighter isn’t enough to earn the respect she craves. Her only allies are the fierce carnivorous pixies who travel by her side, yet still she clings to the hope of one day earning her place in the Upper Realm.When she's attacked by assassins from the enemy Shadow Realm, Rie's martial prowess keeps her alive...and frames her as a traitor. Facing execution at the hand of a merciless king, Rie must forsake her oaths and flee into enemy lands to prove her innocence. What she uncovers may threaten more than her honor or even her life…for war is looming in the nine faerie realms.
Darkness Falls
Paul Teague - 2014
A twin who died in mysterious circumstances ... A family lured to a special place at a particular time ... And then the darkness falls. Separated from his family as the entire planet becomes surrounded by a deathly blackness, Dan Tracy must figure out what's going on below ground. The bunker is at the centre of a conspiracy to destroy the Earth - but there's something special about Dan and his twin that could stop the terrorists dead in their tracks. It's a race against time as the process of destruction has already begun ... Who will be left to hear Earth's final screams? The Secret Bunker: Darkness Falls is the first in a trilogy of books by author Paul Teague.
Adventures in Funeral Crashing
Milda Harris - 2011
At one of these, Kait is outted by the most popular guy in school, Ethan Ripley. Yet, instead of humiliating her for all the world to see, he asks for her help, and Kait finds herself entangled in a murder mystery. Not only is the thrill of the mystery exciting, but more importantly Ethan knows her name! A little sleuthing is well worth that!
Swimming Monkeys: Genesis
Steve Hadden - 2012
A Remarkable Discovery... A Decision for Mankind...When Ryan Webster is summoned to a Miami hospice by his grandfather, he knows the man he calls a hero is about to die. Ryan’s grandfather, a renowned zoologist and founder of the world's most famous primate park, tells him about a remarkable species of monkey kept secret by the Webster men since their discovery in 1926, the year after the Scopes Monkey Trial. When Ryan is convinced to use his unique gift with monkeys that he’s honed at the primate park, he reluctantly agrees that only he can rescue them and makes an impossible promise to find them and decide if the world is now ready to deal with the fallout from their revelation.As Ryan follows his grandfather's clues to California and beyond, he's tracked by a relentless mercenary, targeted by radical Christians and hunted by the world's most famous atheist. Aided by his crazy Iraqi War veteran turned surfer-dude uncle and the most enchanting but deadly woman he's ever met, Ryan discovers the monkeys can do much more than swim. The secret they carry within their DNA will shock evolutionists, rock the foundation of the Bible, and transform the life of every human being on earth.Now, his only hope to stay alive is to save the monkeys and live up to his promise to the greatest man he ever knew—and in the process become the man he's not ready to be.Swimming Monkeys: Genesis is an extraordinary thriller that blends real-science and riveting fiction to examine the on-going struggle between science, religion, and the fallout that could affect us all.
Ash
Jason Brant - 2013
10:32 AM EST: An entire floor of government agents leap to their death from their office building. 12:57 PM EST: All the police officers inside a station murder each other. And the day has just begun. Lieutenant Asher Benson left Iraq with a traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and a Purple Heart. His doctors warned that the symptoms would be life altering. They had no idea. As his body healed, the thoughts of those around him began to echo through Ash’s mind, stretching the boundaries of his sanity. Five years later, Ash is drowning the voices with copious amounts of booze and self-loathing. When unidentified intelligence agents abduct him in broad daylight, Ash is thrust into a world of espionage and assassinations. A unique terrorist is operating on U.S. soil, and the government needs Ash, and the malady that has plagued him for half a decade, to find the killer. *Ash is the first book in the Asher Benson thriller series, which is full of snarky humor and nonstop action.
The Hope Diamond
Julie Sarff - 2015
It’s been three long years since her Italian husband cheated on her, and she is facing financial ruin. In desperation, she teams up with fellow housemaid, Francesca -- an irascible Italian fashionista and self-proclaimed psychic. Together they search Villa Buschi for some of the most famous gems in the world, the diamonds that were cut away from the French Blue to make the infamous Hope. But when Lily can’t find the diamonds, and nothing seems to go her way, she briefly contemplates running around ranting drivel and frightening the whole reserved population of Arona, Italy. Follow Lily and several rambunctious rescues kittens on her quest for precious antiquities; a journey which may lead to something far better than long lost gems. Learn more about Julie’s books at www.JulieSarff.com