Book picks similar to
Lethal Secrets by Quadidra S. Williams


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The Dark Heart: A True Story of Greed, Murder, and an Unlikely Investigator


Joakim Palmkvist - 2017
    When a search yielded nothing, and all physical evidence had seemingly disappeared, authorities had little to go on—except a disturbing phone call five weeks later from Göran’s daughter Maria. She was sure that her sister, Sara, was somehow involved. At the heart of the alleged crime: Sara’s greed, her father’s land holdings, and his bitter feud with Sara’s idler boyfriend. With no body, there was no crime—and the case went as cold and dark as the forests of southern Sweden. But not for Therese Tang. For two years, this case was her obsession.A hard-working ex-model, mother of three, and Missing People investigator, Therese was willing to put her own safety at risk in order to uncover the truth. What she found was a nest of depraved secrets, lies, and betrayal. All she had to do now, in her relentless and dangerous pursuit of justice, was prove that it led to murder.

Blind Thrust


Samuel Marquis - 2015
    Somehow the cause of the unusual earthquakes must be unraveled and the cataclysms stopped before they result in more carnage and devastation. But are they the result of natural tectonic adjustments, hydro-fracking, conventional subsurface sequestering, or clandestine operations? Environmental Geologist Joe Higheagle is on a mission to find out the answer. But he soon finds himself in a deadly duel of wits against powerful forces and, with the cataclysms worsening, he may not have enough on his side to solve the mystery and save Colorado from more devastation. Can he solve the enigma of the earthquakes and gather enough evidence to stop those responsible? Will the tremors continue to wreak death and mayhem across the Front Range? Or will Higheagle and his outgunned team be defeated and ultimately crushed by their adversaries? If the earthquakes are not stopped, thousands more will perish and more towns and homes will be destroyed, leaving countless injured and homeless as well as untold financial damage across the Front Range. But can the resourceful Higheagle and his team stop those responsible? In the end, all they can do is try.

Bone Deep: Untangling the Betsy Faria Murder Case


Charles Bosworth Jr. - 2022
    Schwartz, the defense attorney who fought for justice on behalf of Russel Faria, and New York Times bestselling author Charles Bosworth Jr.On December 27th, 2011, Russell Faria returned to his Troy, Missouri, home after his weekly game night with friends to an unthinkable, grisly scene: His wife, Betsy, lay dead, a knife still lodged in her neck. She’d been stabbed fifty-five times. First responders concluded that Betsy was dead for hours when Russ discovered her. No blood was found implicating Russ, and surveillance video, receipts, and friends’ testimony all supported his alibi. Yet incredibly, police and the prosecuting attorney ignored the evidence. In their minds, Russ was guilty. But prominent defense attorney Joel J. Schwartz quickly recognized the real killer. The motive was clear. Days before her murder, the terminally ill Betsy replaced her husband with her friend, Pamela Hupp, as her life insurance beneficiary. Still, despite the prosecution’s flimsy case and Hupp’s transparent lies, Russ was convicted—leaving Hupp free to kill again. Bone Deep takes readers through the perfect storm of miscalculations and missteps that led to an innocent man’s conviction—and recounts Schwartz’s successful battle to have that conviction overturned. Written with Russ Faria’s cooperation, and filled with chilling new revelations and previously undisclosed evidence, this is the story of what can happen when police, prosecutor, judge, and jury all fail in their duty to protect the innocent—and let a killer get away with murder.

The Husband Poisoner: Suburban women who killed in post-World War II Sydney


Tanya Bretherton - 2021
    For readers of compelling history and true crime, from critically acclaimed, award-winning author Tanya Bretherton.After World War II, Sydney experienced a crime wave that was chillingly calculated. Discontent mixed with despair, greed with callous disregard. Women who had lost their wartime freedoms headed back into the kitchen with sinister intent and the household poison thallium, normally used to kill rats, was repurposed to kill husbands and other inconvenient family members.Yvonne Fletcher disposed of two husbands. Caroline Grills cheerfully poisoned her stepmother, a family friend, her brother and his wife. Unlike arsenic or cyanide, thallium is colourless, odourless and tasteless; victims were misdiagnosed as insane malingerers or ill due to other reasons. And once one death was attributed to natural causes, it was all too easy for an aggrieved woman to kill again.This is the story of a series of murders that struck at the very heart of domestic life. It's the tale of women who looked for deadly solutions to what they saw as impossible situations. The Husband Poisoner documents the reasons behind the choices these women made - and their terrible outcomes.

REPORTS OF THEIR DEMISE


William Peter Grasso - 2021
    

The Gomorrah Principle


Rick DeStefanis - 2011
    Brady Nash was one of those men. When his friend Duff Coleridge is killed in Vietnam, Brady recognizes the mysterious circumstances and is compelled to search for the truth. With an extraordinary ability to shoot and a hard-nosed determination, Brady must face life and death through the scope of a rifle when he gets involved with a clandestine organization. Caught in a web of espionage and black-ops, Brady attempts to find the identity of Duff's killer. However, once he digs too deep, he'll soon find himself on the hit list. While "truth has a resonance to it that fills the cracks where falsehoods lie," Brady will quickly discover his search for truth is leading him to become more and more like the people he despises. Rick DeStefanis' The Gomorrah Principle: A Vietnam Sniper's Story is an exciting new thriller that blurs the line between right and wrong. Filled with gripping espionage and rigid tension, this enthralling story will have readers hooked from the opening pages. Historical fiction mixed with thrilling action, Brady's journey will engross and entertain with its ambitious story and complex themes. Filled with complex characters that eschew traditional cliches, The Gomorrah Principle is an exciting story that grabs readers with thrilling action and espionage but truly captivates them with its surprising depth. Not only perfect for action and thriller fans, this tantalizing novel will fit wonderfully in any casual reader's collection. A page-turner in every sense of the phrase, this mesmerizing story proves easy to pick up and hard to put down. With action, intrigue, and suspense set against a tumultuous time in United States history, The Gomorrah Principle has all of the ingredients to become an instant classic.

South of Good (Hardin Steel #1)


Randall Reneau - 2014
    Twice divorced, with a bit of a drinking problem, he’s now dating Rory Roughton, a fiery sixth-generation Texan who’s as rich as she is beautiful—and hell-bent on keeping Steel on the straight and narrow. But then his best friend, Wes Stoddard, is nearly shot down flying in a load of pot, Rory is kidnapped by a Russian mercenary working for the most dangerous cartel in Mexico, and the Cuban Mafia decides they’d like the former DEA agent—dead. Steel is forced to take unsanctioned, unconventional—and mostly illegal—action in order to save himself and those closest to him . . .

Real Monsters


Liam Brown - 2015
    The lines are now so blurred, no one knows who the real enemy is anymore.Reeling from the terrorist attack that killed her father, Lorna lurches through an inebriated adolescence until she finds redemption in a young soldier called Danny. However, her dream of a stable life is shattered when Danny is called to serve in war overseas.Danny is lost in the desert. Most of his unit is dead – victims, it would seem, of a brutal ambush. With their equipment destroyed and food running out, the small band of men stumble through the sand and shadows, desperate to find salvation. As their hope fades, they begin to turn on each other, until finally it becomes clear that only the truly monstrous will survive.Brown creates a compelling and gripping experience alternating between the soldier and home narrative. Cleverly employing letters and unique voices we are drawn completely into the raw desert while being left with a thought-provoking and graphic view of modern warfare.What Reviewers and Readers Say:'Beautifully written, smart and punchy'. Sam Mills, author of The Quiddity of Will Self'A memorable and moving portrait of the futility of 21st century conflict'. Benjamin Myers, author of Pig Iron and Beastings

The Pact


Robert Patrick Lewis - 2018
    The Pact is the second book by former Green Beret-turned-author Robert Patrick Lewis and is his first foray into the world of fiction. The Pact is the first of a fictional trilogy based on current events, the author's experience in Special Forces and first-hand knowledge of geopolitics and global intelligence.The Pact combines global politics, combat, economics, conspiracy theories and Special Forces history into one nail-biting fiction work; think Dan Brown meets Tom Clancy meets Red Dawn.Find out what a team of Green Berets would do if their homeland were attacked by her enemies China, Russia, Iran & Hezbollah in The Pact.©2014 3 Pillars Enterprises

The Barry Island Murders


Andrew Peters - 2013
    Will Williams' budding detective skills be equal to the task of catching any of the murderers? Will his current gin intake permit him to remember any of the details?Transcribed from the original interviews, the only changes made have been to names, places, dates and facts. Oh, and cutting out all the heavy swearing.

The Starlight Club


Joe Corso - 2011
    "They looked like mob guys. They had that arrogance exuded by those who liked to intimidate - those who were the proud purveyors of fear." Amidst the nightly gaiety was the back room, where business deals were made, hits were ordered, and territories were divided. Trenchie, not being a "rat" is just released from his ten-year prison sentence. A new life is waiting - complete with envelopes of money and a steak house to call his own. He finds the woman of his dreams who brings along ex-husband baggage. Hit man Jimmy The Hat finds unexpected fame and fortune in Hollywood, yet always stays true to the "boys", especially Trenchie. His loyalty costs him his life. "Crazy Joey Gallo" and his brothers break away from the Profaci family and go "rogue, on their own now. They split their gang into several small groups and spread them out over the five boroughs." Harsh punishment awaits those who talk. "The colt 45 caliber bullet did its deed, taking with it a sizable portion of Rag's brain, forming a pink mist, mixed with bone and grey matter that puffed in front of Rag's head like a small mushroom, deflating when it met the chilly evening air. The current would soon carry his body at least a mile away."

Ginger Snaps


Webb Hubbell - 2015
    Drawn by curiosity as well as a forgotten promise to his late wife, DC antitrust attorney Jack Patterson returns to Little Rock to learn why Stewart was growing hundreds of marijuana plants in his back yard. Jack enlists security expert Clovis Jones and local lawyer Micki Lawrence in a race against time to uncover why the Feds are refusing to allow Jack see his client, why someone will stop at nothing, including murder, to prevent him from investigating the case, and why Stewart’s wife, Liz, continues to insist its all about her not-so-secret – Ginger Snaps.

Only the Brave: An Aviation Thriller Omnibus


Richard Herman - 2016
     THE WARBIRDS The Pentagon, Washington. When Libya provokes a world crisis, the 45th Tactical Fighter Wing is relocated to a base in East Anglia to prepare for combat. Colonel Anthony "Muddy" Waters has a mission: to mould a company of poorly trained rogues and misfits into heroes. His assignment is one that no other officer in the United States Air Force would touch. But Waters has a fabled stubbornness and dedication unparalleled in the armed services...and the will to make the impossible possible. This includes turning a superbly talented pilot but loose cannon named Jack Locke into a fighting force to be reckoned with. Because their country could ask them at any time to fly their F-4s into the eye of the firestorm, to face an overwhelming enemy and brave the flames of hell itself. Tomorrow that call will come. And there will be no turning back when the heavens explode… FORCE OF EAGLES Iran. 281 American POWs were taken captive when the US pulled out of the country. Now the US is assembling a Force of Eagles to bring them home. The POWs, including one woman, have become the latest bargaining chip in Middle Eastern politics. The rescue team includes ace fighter pilot Jack Locke, his weapons system officer, “Thunder” Bryant, Colonel Rupert Stansell, and General Lawrence “Sundown” Cunningham – and a company of Rangers. The Ranger’s Command Sergeant Major, Victor Kamigami, soon proves he is a force in himself. The mission becomes a race against a thirty-day deadline as a sadistic prison commandant works to break his captives' will… THE TRASH HAULERS Vietnam, 31 January 1968. Over an action-packed 24 hours, three lives collide amidst war and violence. Captain Mark Warren and his crew are trash haulers, airlifting supplies and personnel on their C-130 Hercules, the workhorse of tactical airlift. Flying a Huey, the helicopter that symbolizes mobile warfare in Vietnam, Wilson Tanner is a Dust Off pilot who risks all to rescue the wounded. At Se Pang, Colonel Tran Sang Quan comes into conflict with inept superiors as they initiate the People’s Army of Vietnam’s long-planned General Offensive and Uprising. This is the beginning of the Tet Offensive. Both sides face more than the enemy as superior officers manoeuver for political advantage, and where cowardice, prejudice and treachery infiltrate the ranks – on both sides. In the air and on the land, raw courage, tenacity, and honor are the marks of humanity that deal with the wreckage of war… Praise for Richard Herman ‘An imaginative action story told to perfection’ – Clive Cussler 'Too many of today’s geopolitical thrillers ring false, but not Herman’s.” – San Francisco Examiner ‘This is the sharp end, with vivid descriptions of air combat, the smell of hot oil and fear’ – The Times ‘A really fast-moving air force adventure story, with some superb action scenes which glue you to

Secret Wars: An Espionage Story


Joe Goldberg - 2014
    It's a clandestine world where intricate networks of people fight a complex battle to keep the world safe from terrorism.When terrorists funded by the Libyan government strike airports in Rome and Vienna in 1985, the CIA enlists top propaganda expert Mike Garnett to help recruit a high-ranking Libyan official, Foreign Minister Abdallah Mukhtar, to work for the CIA. As violence escalates between the US military and terrorists based in Libya, Garnett utilizes CIA assets in Hollywood to produce a propaganda video designed to convince Mukhtar he was betrayed by his own regime. Garnett's plan works—but goes sideways when it motivates the Libyan official to do something Garnett didn’t even consider.Sharp and insightful, Secret Wars: An Espionage Story is a thrilling tale of deception, betrayal, and patriotism—and Garnett soon learns they’re not as black and white as they seem when he’s forced to reevaluate the true nature of the business of deception.For fans of Tom Clancy, David Ignatius, and Frederick Forsyth, Secret Wars is a fictional thriller set against the backdrop of historical events. Meticulously researched, it pulls from the author's personal experiences as a member of the CIA.

The Penny Black (Ben Bracken Book 3)


Rob Parker - 2019
    Nobody knows I’m alive… Ben Bracken is on the run for his life. Keeping a low profile from the agencies seeking to silence him, he finds refuge in the quiet town of Horning. Working in a boat yard and lodging with an older couple, Eric and Dot, Ben uses this time to plan. He needs to escape, and realising his only chance will reveal his whereabouts to some unsavoury characters, he plans every detail. Little does he know, even that won’t be enough… Just before he walks away, murder strikes the quiet town. Ben cannot leave until he is sure that he has not brought any further trouble to the townsfolk. Will he be able to exact revenge? One thing is certain, there is a lot more going on in the town of Horning than meets the eye… The Penny Black is action packed from beginning to end, keeping you guessing right the way through. Praise for The Penny Black: ‘Brave…a home run…like James Bond meets The Godfather…I bloody loved it’ - Dan Stubbings, author of The Dimension Between Worlds blog. ‘Another gripping instalment in the Bracken series…a wonderful thriller’ - James Stuart, screenwriter 'The writing flows beautifully and the story really draws the reader in' - Ann Bloxwich, crime fiction author Rob Parker currently writes full time, while also making time to encourage new young readers and authors through readings and workshops at local schools and bookstores. He holds a law degree and a degree in film and media production.