Book picks similar to
Glastonbury by Brian L. Porter


mystery
fiction
crime-thriller
historical-fiction

A Journal of Sin


Darryl Donaghue - 2014
    A troubled priest is brutally murdered, leaving behind a journal of the resident's confessional secrets; secrets certain people would prefer he took to the grave. As word spreads, the pressure rises as the eyes of the town watch her every move. With no forensic team, no support and a savage killer hiding in a turbulent town, is PC Sarah Gladstone up to the task?

Three Incidents at Foster Manor


P.T. Phronk - 2019
    An apocalyptic storm. Whispering voices in the air. She was right to fear the worst-case scenario. Amy Burnett has been buried in her work as a security expert. She likes it that way—her dark past can’t invade her thoughts as long as she stays holed up in her office. So why the heck has she ended up at a gothic mansion’s doorstep in the middle of the night? It’s because Craig Foster summoned her there. Amy’s company built the sealed chamber in his basement, for any worrisome worst-case scenario, but now the safe room has presented a scenario of its own: Craig’s daughter is trapped inside. It should be a quick fix. After all, what’s the worst thing that can happen when a stranger arrives at a remote mansion on a stormy night? An impossible mystery? A haunting? A visit from the lurking strangers in the woods? Surely not all three—that would require extraordinarily bad luck. Unfortunately, Amy’s been short on luck lately. Three Incidents at Foster Manor will keep you guessing until the end with a twist-filled, fast-paced, genre-blending mix of mystery, ghost story, thriller, and cosmic horror that will chill you to the core. This is a standalone story, but also acts as a sequel to P.T. Phronk's previous mystery, The Arborist. "Full of interesting characters, twists and scares, it will keep you off-balance all the way to the end!" —Franny "I'm always down some ghostly fun but then the fun dial twisted and wow." —Amazon Reviewer "If you like reading stories somewhat reminiscent of The Twilight Zone this is for you." —Alanna Patterson

Heartman


M.P. Wright - 2014
    Joseph Tremaine “JT” Ellington, an ex-cop with a tragic past and a broken heart, has left his native Barbados in search of a better life in the Mother Country. But Bristol in the Sixties is far from the Promised Land and JT faces hostility from both the weather and the people.Then local mogul Earl Linney approaches him. He needs JT’s help finding Stella Hopkins, a young deaf and mute West Indian woman who has gone missing, and who the police aren’t interested in searching for. With rent due, and no job, JT has little option than to accept.Calling on his wits and not-so-honest cousin Vic for help, JT soon finds himself adrift in a murky world of prostitution and kidnapping where every lead reveals more mystery and nobody can be trusted. What is Linney’s connection to the girl? Have more women gone missing? And what exactly is the Erotica Negro Club? Facing hostility and prejudice as well as the demons from home he thought he’d escaped, JT must unravel a deadly conspiracy in a dangerous and unfamiliar world.

Gold


Thomas Hollyday - 2010
    He has followed his conscience for too long, working for pennies to support local farmers in the quiet Chesapeake town of River Sunday. With his own bills mounting, he is doing one last job before selling out to the corporate life. He just needs to finalize the will of Father Tom, a beloved priest who passed away while performing a mass.To the town’s surprise, it seems that Father Tom had access to gold - to the tune of millions of dollars. None can figure out where the stash of precious metal was coming from, or how many millions still remained. A modern day gold rush ensues, with prospectors descending on the town from all corners of the world. John struggles to fend off the enthusiastic claims of the church as well as the scrabbling efforts of neighbors while making his own furious explorations of the brush-encrusted fishing property Father Tom maintained.When a Native American burial mound presents evidence of a history tracing back far more than local tribes could account for, John realizes the significance of his discovery could go far beyond monetary wealth. His world enters the realm of science fiction, and he races to stay one step ahead of death in his efforts to share the truth with the world.

Rope Enough


Oliver Tidy - 2012
    Newly promoted Detective Sergeant Joy Marsh is shipped out to Dover on the Kent coast to work under Detective Inspector Romney, a copper with a reputation as a cantankerous man but good at his job.On her first night as his sergeant, a brutal crime in the town starts a chain of events that will test the grit, the resolve and the detective in both of them.

In the Shadow of Babylon


John Schwartz - 2011
    The demands of our modern multitasking lives often distract us from applying these proven life lessons that create a more satisfying, happy and fulfilled life. It is an intriguing myth with a powerful philosophical core that speaks to the importance of ... creating ones own destiny through visualization ... living in the present moment ... controlling emotions and eliminating grief and sadness. Baghdad is in chaos. Sunni and Shia, free from the dictator Hussein, revive their religious hatred. Then, without warning, the children of Iraq rise up in protest against the killings. In the Shadow of Babylon is a powerful story from the past and how its message changes the present. During the reign of the last ruler of Babylon, Saddam Hussein, a crypt lined with engraved gold panels protecting an ancient scroll (pre-dating Hamrabi by thousands of years) is discovered--it is the oldest writing in the world. After the liberation of Iraq Alexandria Darshi, an Iraqi doctoral student and Bryan Feroz, a handsome professor of Middle Eastern studies at the University of Chicago, translate the autobiographical scroll of a warrior poet named Ayuba. When it is read during two worldwide television documentaries, moderate Arabs embrace the ancient warrior's secular voice. Threatened by the message, radical Islamists set out to kill the messenger. Ayuba, orphaned at age nine, wanders for two years in a barren desert inhabited by violent tribes. He is brutally enslaved by a band of reed gatherers. His rescue and adoption by a prominent tribal leader sets him on a course of adventure, war and fame. The courage, kindness and passion of a man who existed in 11,000 BCE touches the hearts of thousands of modern-day Iraqi children. Moved by Ayuba's wisdom and leadership they stand in peaceful protest against the raging jihadists. Many are slaughtered but, in the end, their example inspires the women of Iraq to join them in a nationwide demonstration of unity. In the Shadow of Babylon follows an ancient warrior/poet's dramatic life via a high-tension timeline that is both exciting and inspiring, and at times humorous and heartbreaking.

Grind Their Bones


Drew Cross - 2012
    The original ‘Gray Man’ was Albert Fish - serial killer, rapist and cannibal - who was executed in New York’s Sing Sing prison in January 1936 for the murder of Grace Budd, but was believed to have been responsible for the deaths of up to one hundred people.Some tricks are worth repeating and some tastes never die, so enter the new ‘Grey Man’, a gourmet serial killer, who is itching to get his teeth into his next victim.And if the gruesome results of the killer’s classic cuisine are not chilling enough for Detective Chief Inspector Zara Wade who is leading the investigation, he claims to know her, and that she knows him.

Off the Record: An Avery Rich Mystery (Avery Rich Mysteries Book 1)


Sara B. Gauldin - 2016
    But she is soon forced to keep her investigation "off the record" and gets paired with an unusual consultant. The world of crime and conspiracy takes on a dangerous edge as she finds herself dealing with kidnapped bankers, high stakes cover ups, and criminals who are determined to keep her quiet. To save herself from the unthinkable, she must sort out the conspiracy from the crime and find out who she can trust to finish the case before they can derail her investigation, permanently!

Solar Weapon


D.F. Capps - 2015
    IF every nation on Earth doesn't surrender total control to that elitist group, a Coronal Mass Ejection will be triggered on the sun, creating an Extinction Level Event that will incinerate the surface of the planet. FBI agent Jake Hunter and NSA agent Honika Badger scramble through a maze of clues and evidence, desperately trying to discover who is behind this threat, and figure out how they can be stopped, as the resolve of the elite group is terrifyingly demonstrated.

Artifice


Patrick Gooch - 2018
    But an unscrupulous trader in works of art knows their true worth; and exploits the situation, involving Cleverden in his shady activities. A major heist is planned by the trader, which first necessitates the theft of many of Turner`s paintings. These are held to ransom in exchange for priceless artifacts displayed in the British Museum. Once again, Alan Cleverden is unwittingly swept up in this unlawful venture. One word to the authorities, he would most certainly serve time. A pawn in a highly-charged affair, the odds are against him as he tries to free himself from the trader`s clutches; ensure the safety of the Turners; and return to their original owners the paintings acquired by his grandfather during the Second World War. A fast-paced thriller, Artifice is a must read for those who appreciate fine art, and are drawn to mysteries that hold you spellbound to the very last page. Patrick Gooch has enjoyed an interesting and varied career. He studied History of Art, and went on to lecture at the Central School of Art and Design in London. Patrick worked in marketing, travelling throughout Europe and Central and South America. It was while travelling that he began writing. Married with two sons, he lives close to the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. “Absorbing and convincing heist thriller” Kevin McManus, author of 'New Blood'.

Disappearing in Plain Sight


Francis Guenette - 2013
    She is drawn to Izzy Montgomery, a gifted trauma counsellor who is struggling through personal and professional challenges. Lisa-Marie also befriends Liam Collins, a man who goes quietly about his life trying to deal with his own secrets and guilt. The arrival of a summer renter for Izzy's guest cabin is the catalyst for change amongst Crater Lake's tight knit community. People are forced to grapple with the realities of grief and desire to discover that there are no easy choices - only shades of grey.

Harbored Secrets


Marie F. Martin - 2013
    473 Five Star reviews on Amazon. Historical novel with a psychological mystery in the unearthing of family secrets. In May of 1935, Blinny Platt's homestead shack burns to the ground forever leaving her family asunder, scattering them like the embers flew on the Montana wind. She was only eight-years-old, sent away and in charge of her little sister. She could handle that because Platts take care of Platts.However, it is the hidden secrets of her parents smoldering beneath the charred remains that haunts Blinny until 1982. She once again leaves the home place to build a house for herself. As the foundation is poured and the walls go up, each of the hurtful memories are uncovered. Finally the mystery, left in the ashes of the burned home, is revealed. How could her mother do what she did?Recent Five-Star Reviews:By the end of the very first paragraph, I knew Marie F. Martin had written a book I would have a hard time putting down. In between high drama, there is a love letter to Montana, and she uses her love of the English language throughout. More "Oh wow" moments in this book than any other I have ever read in my more than half a century of life.  Yvonne Bechtold, Five-star reviewerThis is a tale so well told, you can smell the sage, feel the heat, and pain this family shares. I wish more authors crafted their characters so well.  Renita Hulsey Five-Star Reader Review.The author was a master at weaving the past with the present.  Quaintreader Five-Star Reader ReviewMartin knows family dynamics and human frailties.  From these she has crafted a heartbreaking story, of love, loss, and endurance.   Barb Ward Five-Star Reader Review

K-Town Confidential


Brad Chisholm - 2021
    The crime takes place in a gritty Koreatown ‘room salon' with Naomi holding the murder weapon. The case is tried in the L.A. media and everyone takes sides. The deeper Holly digs, the darker the secrets become. Holly risks everything to find the truth, only to learn that if she reveals it, Naomi goes to prison for life. If Holly keeps the secret, then Naomi may walk, but Holly will have betrayed her lover. No one will guess the plot twists in K-Town Confidential.

The Kennedy Rifle


J.K. Brandon - 2012
    His claim triggers years of research by his son. As a court-certified expert on firearms and ballistics, Michael Cole writes a book about a second Dallas assassin and the weapon likely used. Cole is ridiculed, his reputation nearly destroyed. Finally, with the death of his father and the passing of five decades, Cole abandons his search for the truth. Meanwhile, his book attracts some unwanted attention from those originally involved.One day a woman comes to his office with killer looks and an unbelievable story. Kate Marlowe says she has proof of a JFK assassination conspiracy, that her uncle was bodyguard and driver for the assassin on the Grassy Knoll. After JFK's murder in 1963, he drove to Arizona to lay low and hide the sniper rifle. Now near death, he confesses his crime and the rifle's location to her. Go get the rifle, he tells her. Show the world what really happened. Kate travels to Arizona to enlist the help of Michael Cole and locate the true assassin's rifle.Before they can find it, rumors surface of the Kennedy Rifle and a mysterious auction on the fiftieth anniversary. Billionaire collectors, criminal arms-dealers, and coup d'etat participants join the hunt. Some want the truth, some want the truth buried, but all want the rifle...and Kate and Cole dead. Thanks to the miracle of Kindle publishing, this is a modified version with additional new material and a different ending from the original release.

Loose Ends


D.D. VanDyke - 2013
    As a straightforward case takes unexpected twists, Cal must quell a growing fear that an anguished mother may never see her child again. With a shadowy crime lord lurking behind every unexpected clue, Cal struggles to tie up loose ends before evil claims its next victim.Loose Ends is book one in a new P. I. mystery series from D. D. VanDyke. Set against the rich backdrop of the San Francisco Bay Area, Cal Corwin novels brim with intrigue and fully fleshed characters from cops and criminals to hit men, oddball family and unexpected allies.