Book picks similar to
Edge of Beauty by Betty Ferm


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mystery
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Escaping Her Fiancé’s Rumors (Mail Order Brides of Missouri)


Susannah Calloway - 2021
    

Key West Drop


Mike Pettit - 2013
    Key West Drop is a suspense filled rampage of murder, money, greed, betrayal, white slavery, and drugs. Jack Marsh goes toe to toe with the Israeli Mafia to save a shipment of captive women destined for the Mideast slave market. The I.M.’s first mistake was to snatch Jack’s best friend because he knew of their planned shipment, their second mistake was that they threatened to kill his friend if he didn’t back off. Their third mistake was to underestimate an adversary that would stop at nothing to bring the gang down. The action rolls through the Florida Keys, Key West, Miami, and a final fight on the tempest torn waters of the Florida Strait. The climax will leave you stunned.MP

Faecal Money: A Very Lucrative Cr*p (A Raucous Tom Sharpe Style Comedy)


Giles Curtis - 2016
    Easy reading and enjoyable.." - John P Sam's trousers were round his ankles. The microwaved chicken - long past its sell-by date - had made a hasty exit. He was down a ditch in the middle of nowhere, and there weren't any tissues. Suzy had dumped him. Things weren't going well. He was only one wipe away from his life changing forever when he found a blue IKEA bag packed with banknotes. Gary wants to kill him. So does Vlad. Ashton wants to paint him naked and then there's the Contessa. Suzy isn't certain they've broken up. One thing’s for sure: Sam's life has been turned upside down.

THE SEAGULL AND LECORSAIR (COURTENAY)


Brian Withecombe - 2012
    The Navy maintains a blockade of French ports but one day events change the life of Lieutenant Giles Courtenay, First-Lieutenant of the SEAGULL, a sloop of 22 guns. As a result he is promoted to command her and takes her to Antigua, there to assist with the enternal fight against the French, pirates, privateers and LE CORSAIR a particularly vicious pirate terrorising the Islands. Much close action, hand to hand combat and broadsides a-plenty as Courtenay tracks down his quarry for one last bloody embrace.

Nothing Else Matters


Vish Dhamija - 2016
    The clients are anonymous, so are the targets. Out one night on a job, he awaits his target to climb out of the car that’s just arrived at the scene. As he looks through the scope of his rifle, his finger on the trigger, he sees his target accompanied by one of the most gorgeous women Luv has ever seen: Zoya. Zoya Merchant was Luv Singh’s girlfriend back in college, almost two decades earlier. He fails to take a shot. He’s betrayed Zoya once before; He cannot assassinate her husband. Knowing that the mafia doesn’t condone failure or dissidence, he still pledges to save Zoya’s husband from whoever’s calling the shots. Nothing Else Matters is a riveting tale set alternately in the criminal underworld and Zoya and Luv’s college lives and about making choices that impact lives forever. It is crime fiction, but it is also a heart-breaking romance of a love that never dies. Come, fall in love with its flawed characters that cannot be forgiven, but will always be loved.

A Simple Murder


Phillip Thompson - 2011
    But when he reports on a murder aboard the Marine base on Oahu, he discovers a sinister plot to kill hundreds of innocent tourists.

Dead Cold Mysteries Box Set: Books 11-13


Blake Banner - 2018
    So a small island off the north coast of Scotland in a 16th century castle seems to be just the job.After all, two out of three isn’t bad. At first the place seems idyllic: The wild landscapes are breathtaking, the northern lights otherworldly and the fire-side talk, fuelled by good whisky and good Angus steak, is fascinating. Maybe a bit too fascinating when it leads to a forty year old mystery about a man murdered, shot with a .38 in a locked room in circumstances which are, quite simply, impossible. And when the island is cut off by a storm, and an identical murder is committed, well, what are two cold case cops on honeymoon to do…?Book 12: The Butcher of WhitechapelIt was the first time John Stone had been back to London for fifteen years. Last time had been on an exchange program between the NYPD and Scotland Yard: an exchange of skills and experience that was supposed to last six months, but went one for a year and a half. This time he was on honeymoon with his partner and wife, Carmen Dehan. And it seemed, as they prepared to return home, that history was repeating itself.Because, as they were leaving the hotel for the airport, the call came; the call that said they had to stay, the call that said the killer was back, the one he’d been searching for fifteen years ago, the one who haunted all his secret nightmares - the one that got away.So now he has to share his dark secrets, and his nightmares, with his new bride. Book 13: Little Dead Riding Hood An eighteen-year-old girl sets out one November night to walk five blocks down Gleason Avenue to her boyfriend’s house. He calls her and she tells him she’s on her way. It’s a walk that should take ten minutes, but she never arrives.When she does turn up, it’s five days later, washed up on the banks of the River Bronx, in Soundview Park, strangled to death.The detective who investigates the murder, a friend of the family, finds no forensic evidence, nothing of interest in her phone records, no witnesses to the abduction or the murder. Nothing. The case goes cold.Until her brother, Samuel, comes forward with new evidence he has found. And then the cases is handed to Detectives Stone and Dehan of the 43rd Precinct. They start asking the difficult questions, like how did she get into the river in the first place, and then the case starts heating up again…

Calculating Desires (Rockford Security #4)


L.A. Dobbs - 2020
    But now there’s another kind of trouble brewing in the Lucky Ace Casino. Her winning streak at blackjack hasn’t gone unnoticed and Owen Rockford, head of casino security, has been dogging her every move. She wants to cut and run, but not when it means sacrificing the only friend she’s had in a long time.Owen Rockford has his own demons from his past military life and the woman that betrayed him. He’s not about to let that happen again, so when the gorgeous redhead who caught his eye in the casino turns out to be a suspect in a card-cheating ring, he’s more than happy to prosecute her like any other criminal.But it soon becomes clear that nothing is as it seems. When the stakes become deadly, Alison is forced to make the biggest gamble of all- one that could cost her her heart ... not to mention her life.

Chief Inspector Gamache Book Series in Order: How to read Louise Penny novels series? Chronological order


Ted West - 2020
    

Sweet & Deadly Endings (Sweets Shop Cozy Mysteries Book 4)


Maisy Morgan - 2019
    Her grandson Tripp is doing great in school. Her relationship with Officer Preston is blooming. And now, her daughter Lilly is visiting for a few months, while her boyfriend Matthew is filming for a starring role in a movie located close to her sweets shop! Unfortunately, soon after they arrive, an assistant turns up dead on the movie set. And it looks like Matthew is the main murder suspect. Not to mention, Tripp’s friend Hannah gets some really bad news that has them all worried. Maybe things aren’t going so good after all. Will Hannah end up being okay? And, will Mary and Officer Preston be able to clear Matthew of the murder charges? Or is Matthew truly guilty of the crime… AUTHOR’S NOTE: Thank you for your interest in my Sweets Shop Cozy Mysteries Series! If you like reading about murder mysteries, women who own sweets shops, family life and a little clean romance on the side, you’ll likely enjoy this series. So download and immerse yourself in this fun four-book series located in the small town of Brooks, Georgia…

The Essential Sam Jameson / Peter Kittredge Box Set: The Incident, #1-8 and Balls Deep


Lars Emmerich - 2015
    Save over half off the cover price on three runaway international hits: The Incident Season 1, The Incident Season 2, and Balls Deep. THE INCIDENT: Where do you run when even the good guys want you dead? Special Agent Sam Jameson is having a bad week. People are trying to kill her.
 
That would be business as usual in the counterespionage world, except that it’s the good guys who have her in the crosshairs. Why are the DC Metro police trying to kidnap her? Do her bosses at Homeland want her in a body bag, too? And why does everyone she talks to seem to end up in the morgue? Will a ruthless mercenary, a hapless American traitor, and a dead man’s cryptic clue hold the key to Sam’s survival? As the noose tightens around her neck, Sam must uncover a brutal and deadly conspiracy before she becomes its next victim. BALLS DEEP: Peter Kittredge is middle-aged, unassuming, bisexual, and frequently — perpetually, one might say — bombed out of his mind. He also found a dead man in his own bed, and he managed to accidentally stab a CIA agent. Twenty-seven times. Oops. How will the rest of the week unfold? Interview with author Lars Emmerich Q - So, what makes Sam Jameson and Peter Kittredge 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 espionage and private detective novels, any of the thousands of thrillers and mysteries best sellers, and, of course, books featuring classic pulp heroes. I also like heroes with problems and villains who are frighteningly human, maybe a little too much like us. The Sam Jameson and Peter Kittredge books are a mix of these genres. The series focuses on the mystery and thriller / espionage genre overall, with a couple of themes borrowed from financial thrillers thrown in for good measure, a healthy dose of the stuff that makes political thrillers great, and a serial killer novel or two to keep things interesting. Why such a mixing of themes? Because life isn't monolithic and book genres are arbitrary. There's murder in spy novels and there's espionage in political conspiracy thrillers. Overall, the series are designed to keep you turning the pages. I've done my best to make sure there's never a dull moment, and I think the characters' chutzpah and attitude makes for good entertainment. But I'm probably a little biased. And in Peter's case, his sexuality is obviously a strong part of his character, as is his distinctive personality. Q - So, why should readers give these books a try? A - Because the Sam Jameson and Peter Kittredge books are fast, fun thrill-rides that never let up! Ultimately, readers who enjoy a blazing pace, characters with depth and distinctive voices, and a plot that twists and turns all the way to the end will enjoy this series. Peter Kittredge Espionage and Suspense Thrillers Series eBook Categories: - LGBT and female Espionage Thrillers - LGBT and female Suspense Thrillers - Gay spy novel / female spy novel - LGBT Mystery Series / female mystery series - LGBT and female Crime Thrillers - LGBT and female Private Investigator Series - LGBT and female Political Thrillers - LGBT and female Conspiracy Thrillers &lt

In a Small Motel


John D. MacDonald - 2017
    She owns a small motor-inn motel on a major highway in South Georgia. The summer heat is still strong in the waning days of October, and she is tired from a long summer season. As the evening progresses, Ginny’s motel begins to fill-up. There is Johnny Benton, a strange motel guest who insists on parking his car behind the motel, a would-be suitor named Don Ferris, a guest that is the catalyst for a long and frightening night, and then there is the dead husband whose long shadow is cast across Ginny’s life like a long heavy rain...

Twitch (The Braddock & Gray Case Files Book 7)


H.P. Bayne - 2021
    

A Bottle Full of Djinn / Loony Town / Mummy Issues


Paula Lester - 2019
    She's the Chief of Staff at a retirement home, which doesn't sound odd on its own, but when you consider it's a retirement home for witches and other paranormals, the strange factor ratchets up.  And, with a facility full of partly senile but still powerful witches, things go hilariously awry fast. This e-book contains the first three books in the Sunnyside Retired Witches Community series. Book 1: A Bottle Full of Djinn: Zoey Rivers has a pretty great job as Head of Staff at Sunnyside Retired Witches Community. She's good at handling the magical messes that are part and parcel of providing a home for elderly (and some slightly senile) witches. But when the messes turn from slightly sloppy to hugely horrible, Zoey realizes there's more involved than just her residents. If she doesn't figure out who's causing havoc at the Home, the place might not be standing for much longer. If you love crime capers with magic, mayhem, and mystery, you'll adore Zoey Rivers and her comical crew of witch retirees. Please note: This book is a crime caper, not a murder mystery. Book 2: Loony Town: Caring for elderly witches at the retirement home in Sunnyside, California is a full-time job for Zoey Rivers. But when one of them is blitzing, causing magic to act even weirder than normal, things get…well, downright wacky. And when a local insurance agent winds up dead, some of the people Zoey is responsible for become the prime suspects. As the zaniness of the magical blips continues and things get crazier and crazier, Zoey has to work fast and try to stay one step ahead to keep her charges out of jail, figure out who is causing the chaotic blitzing so she can fix it, and also figure out who the real killer is. It’s a tough job, but she's determined to do it. The people who live at Sunnyside Retired Witches Community are counting on her. And she’s not about to let them down now. Book 3: Mummy Issues: Sunnyside Retirement Witches Community gets its fair share of visitors. Some of them like the entertainment and others enjoy volunteering. But when one of the sight-seers ends up dead, Zoey Rivers has to figure out what happened. The residents come up with a fantastic idea: Since the retirement complex seems to have more than its fair share of murders, they figure it might be a good idea to have a psychic on staff. So, Zoey hires Iris. And all the information she pulls from the ghosts of the growing list of victims points to Zoey herself. Except the clues aren't pointing to her. They're fingering someone she'd thought was long dead.Sunnyside Retirement Witches Community gets its fair share of visitors. Some of them like the entertainment and others enjoy volunteering. But when one of the sight-seers ends up dead, Zoey Rivers has to figure out what happened. The residents come up with a fantastic idea: Since the retirement complex seems to have more than its fair share of murders, they figure it might be a good idea to have a psychic on staff. So, Zoey hires Iris. And all the information she pulls from the ghosts of the growing list of victims points to Zoey herself. Except the clues aren't pointing to her. They're fingering someone she'd thought was long dead.

The Confession (Elizabeth Monroe #2)


Tom Lowe - 2019
    To divulge the private confession would violate holy canon law. When he refuses to go to the police, people begin to die, and the priest becomes the prime suspect. Elizabeth Monroe, a college professor who teaches forensic psychology, doesn’t believe the elder priest fits the killer’s profile. Elizabeth discovers a frightening thread woven within each killing—a thread that began thirty years ago. To stop the murders, she has to find where the seed of evil was first planted. Because the roots are penetrating deep within a small Mississippi town and they’re spreading dangerously close to Elizabeth.