Book picks similar to
Winter Work by Dan Fesperman


crime-mystery
hist-fiction
july
mystery-suspense

Shatter the Silence


Carol J. Post - 2020
    She is using those experiences to help other women and children find solace. Right now, her abused women’s shelter is bursting at the seams. When she learns she’s heir to a huge two-story house outside of town, she thanks God for unexpected blessings, until a grandson shows up with another will, threatening to contest hers. For the past several months, Jason Sloan has kept his nose to the grindstone, watching his mother’s cancer treatments dwindle away his savings. When he learns the inheritance he counted on has been left to Tia and her shelter, he’s torn. With his mother and him having been forced to flee an abusive situation themselves, Tia’s cause hits too close to home. All disagreements take a back seat, though, when he and Tia find themselves working together to fight an unseen foe. But which one of them is the target?

Watched Too Long


Ann Voss Peterson - 2016
    Former Chicago Homicide lieutenant Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels, needs Val to babysit for a few days. Val isn’t comfortable around toddlers, but she accepts. Then one baby becomes two, and some criminals from Jack’s past come calling with child abduction and arson on their agenda. Val might not know babies. But she knows a whole lot about putting up a fight... WATCHED TOO LONG by Ann Voss Peterson and JA Konrath Some would kill for a good babysitter…

Firebird: The Spy Thriller of the 1960s


Noel Hynd - 2018
     It is 1968, one of the most tumultuous years of the 20th Century. Frank Cooper, a former star investigative reporter now writes obituaries for a popular New York City tabloid. He hears the confession of a dying man named Leonard Rudawski, a former American diplomat, who bitterly questions the fate of Pavel Lukashenko, a would-be Soviet defector in Paris in 1965. Lukashenko promised to expose the espionage secret of a generation if he could get to the West. But the defector, code named “Firebird,” vanished. Or did he? Cooper teams with Lauren Richie, a young NY/Latina reporter from the same tabloid. They prowl into the dying man’s confession. Soon they are onto the story of their lifetimes, reviving a dangerous once-cold trail of back channel/back alley CIA and KGB intrigue and tradeoffs, all of which factor into the 3-way racially tinged American election of that year: Nixon vs. Humphry vs. the segregationist George Wallace. Murder, espionage, romance, betrayal and conspiracy intertwine. Readers will meet and recognize dozens of memorable “real life” characters: reporters, gangsters, diplomats, call girls, spy masters, politicians and assassins. The story is tough, large, sprawling and historically precise. "Russians sabotage and destabilize the west," says one experienced reporter with KGB knowledge. "It's not just what they do. It's what they do best." The story straddles the decades from World War Two to 2018, even throwing a cynical light on Russian-American relations of today. “Hynd is a solid, dependable writer with enough literary flair to move him up a few notches above the Ludlums and Clancys of the world. —Booklist

A Dash of Sorcery


Constance Barker - 2021
    I own the local art gallery for up and coming artists in the city. I can also summon Mother Nature if need be. See, I'm a witch that controls fire, wind, water and the air. As the saying goes, don't mess with Mother Nature. Although, I'm only mother to a cat familiar, Mr. Marcel.Mr. Marcel is 196 years old and never lets me forget it. He wears a monocle...I don't know why...he thinks it makes him look regal although all the other cats laugh at him. What these other cats can't do that Marcel can is identify when someone is lying or exaggerating. He also has flashes of the future, however, those can be confusing and get us into all kinds of trouble. He's my bestie and I couldn't imagine life without him.Which comes to my next best friend Veronique. She has the power to speak to the dead, which comes in handy if someone is murdered. She also assists me at the gallery.The local detective in our corner of the city is a warlock by the name of Raphael. His grey eyes put me in a trance, but I'm not sure he's interested in me. At one moment he's tender and another he's aloof. Which makes me think he has secrets.My mentor, Miss Hallie, is older than dirt. And I mean that in a nice way. The gal is old but still has the spunk of a 1200 year old. She owns the shop next to me, and performs a little tarot reading. Oh and she also raised me after my parents perished young. She likes her martinis dry and her jokes dirty.And last but not least is my nemesis, Xavier. He's a witch hunter, but mortal. He's a thorn in my side as he thinks he's more than he is. But he's got his own secrets. Some that may change his world and mine.When a murder occurs in my shop, I'm not willing to lie down and let the so called police take over. I will get to the bottom of it to restore my good name in the city of New Orleans.

The Hike


Landon Beach
    It's Breaking Bad meets The Godfather...and the battle for Detroit is about to begin. Intense!" - Ryan Steck, The Real Book SpyBrad Cranston is having a normal Friday afternoon in Shelter Harbor, Michigan when he receives a desperate call from his brother, who disappeared six years ago. Conrad’s message is clear: head south, bring a boat, do not involve the police, and there is a load of money involved—click.After enlisting the service of rookie Private Investigator Allison Shannon—a retired master diver who is haunted by her own demons—the two start to realize that Conrad Cranston has become much more than a lost hiker.Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bruno has just been relocated to the Motor City to help bring down the Detroit Mafia, better known as “The Association.” What Patrick does not know, however, is that Detroit’s young new Godfather, Don Ciro Russo, has been targeted for assassination—an event that would turn the criminal organization upside down. And, a long-time confidential informant may be orchestrating the transfer of power.As Patrick attempts to learn the truth, his path crosses with an unlikely pair: Brad Cranston and Allison Shannon. The search narrows, and the answers may lie on a small island in Lake Erie nicknamed “the Key West of the north.” However, unimaginable terror could await them on the island and in the depths offshore.For they are about to learn that justice and discovery still come at a price.If you are a fan of Don Winslow, Lee Child, Breaking Bad , or The Godfather , you've come to the right place.

Ava James and the Ivy Grove


A.J. Rivers - 2021
    FBI Agent Ava James had a difficult entrance into the FBI.After shadowing famed agent Emma Griffin inside the disturbing underbelly of Windsor Island. Ava James is now ready to carve out her own path in the agency.But before she dives into the case awaiting her in Harlan, she receives an invitation to attend a special gala weekend.A gala honoring her aunt who has devoted her life to charity.Although still recovering from the shocking aftermath of the last island she attended.Ava does her best to put her best foot forward for the sake of her aunt.When a strange suicide mars the special event, it’s Ava that starts questioning what she sees. As the secrets of the Foundation start to bubble to the surface, Ava faces the realization that she may be more than just an invited guest.Truth, lies, and consequences.The only way off this island may be death...

Never Girl


Ana Valen - 2021
    Two LAPD officers arrived at her condo and said her older brother was murdered. In the wake of this, she seeks guidance from James Reed—a lifelong friend and defense attorney in her brother’s law firm. James cautions against rash action, and she heeds this advice… until one of the homicide detectives updates her on the proceedings.Detective Stacy Raven doesn’t believe the facts on the ground—that someone killed Claire’s brother in a robbery. The crime hints at passion, not desire for his wallet. When Raven informs Claire about the irregularities, Claire shifts into action.Claire needs to find out what happened, but she doesn’t possess investigative skills. She needs someone who understands crime scenes. Better yet, she needs someone who understands the criminal mind. After finding the ideal person, they begin their own investigation. They quickly realize that the truth differs from what even Detective Raven suspects.

The Chateau Hauntings: A Riveting Haunted House Mystery Boxset


James Hunt - 2021
    The estate is in disrepair, but one couple is determined to restore the estate to its former glory. But when strange accidents begin to become more dangerous, putting their crew’s lives at risk, the fixer-upper couple realize they might have bitten off more than they could chew.The Haunting of Calhoun MansionThree murders. One night. No convictions.Nicole Harper, a hospice nurse with a floundering marriage, is assigned a new patient in the remote Northwestern wilderness. But when Nic meets her new patient, she discovers the old woman's family history is as troubling as her medical condition.The Haunting of the Holloway FamilyA job opportunity has brought the Holloway family to a small desert town on the Arizona/California border in the middle of nowhere. But what is thought as a godsend soon devolves into a parent’s worst nightmare.

The Last Job


Mike Ryan - 2018
    He's the best there is. He's the number one go-to man when a job pops up. But Lamb is getting tired of his profession. The constant killings, some seemingly innocent, have finally taken their toll on him. And he's about to do something about it. After he's contracted to do a new job, he decides he's had enough. All in the hopes of saving a young girl he doesn't even know. And it will probably cost him his life.

Murder at Westminster: A 1920s Historical Cozy Mystery (The Kitty Worthington Mysteries Book 2)


Magda Alexander - 2022
    Can she catch the killer before her sister's beloved pays the ultimate price?London. 1923. Much to her consternation, Kitty Worthington's debut season is a resounding success, prompting marriage proposals from lords, rogues, scoundrels, and ne'er do wells. Even as she dodges them, a new intrigue arises, and at Westminster, no less. A high-ranking member of the nobility is murdered, and her sister's beau has been framed to take the fall.With her sister's happiness at stake, Kitty once more sets out to investigate, ably aided by her faithful maid, two noble lords, a titled lady, and Sir Winston, her still flatulent Basset Hound. As they dash about London from the stews of St. Giles to the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair in search of the wily killer, can she convince the maddening Inspector Crawford to aid their quest? For if she fails to find the killer, her sister’s beloved may very well hang from the wrong end of a rope.

Diamond Reef


Douglas Pratt - 2020
    Chase Gordon has the life.The former Marine works part-time as a bartender to support his life island-hopping on his 40-foot sailboat.When the pretty young wife of one of his fellow Marines shows up looking for her husband, Chase steps in to help her out.Immediately, he finds himself in a stand-off between one of South Florida's most dangerous drug dealers and the D.E.A.Now, he's left wondering what kind of trouble his friend might be facing.Can Chase even save him?Filled with action and adventure, Chase Gordon is the next Travis McGee.

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...

DARC Ops: The Complete Series


Jamie Garrett - 2017
    Black Ops. Alpha males determined to protect what’s theirs. Celebrate the release of Dark Escape (DARC Ops 10) with this box set. Save over 85% with this special sale price. Dark Secret Maybe it's her innocent gaze that makes his blood boil with lust. Regardless, Jackson wants Mira as his own, very special, personal client. The pretty blonde ignites every protective instinct inside his battle-scarred heart. He'll need every shred of his skills and warrior strength to protect her. Dark Web One last job. That's what Carly DiMarco told herself. But while she knows nothing about her boss, he clearly knows everything about her. Enough to find people from a past she thought long-dead and kill them in cold blood. Tansy has never met her face to face, but can't forget her. This hack has her name all over it, and now someone wants her dead. Dark Heart Can medic Jasper Raleigh save nurse Fiona Marshall's life from a hidden enemy? She was once his lover, and now her life is in his hands. Dark Control Almost killed on an op, Matthias has crippling PTSD, nightmares and flashbacks now normal. Can he deal with his past in time to save Laurel's future? Dark Threat Sam Hyde wants to stay with Clara Mills forever. The only problem? An attack from a terrorist threat that no one else believes even exists. Dark Lies Trapped. On the run half a world away from home. Can Tucker Quinn save the woman he loves before the CIA's assassin finds her and kills them both? Dark Salvation Cole's killed in war, but he'd never take the life of an innocent. So how the hell did he end up in the kill room with a gun to Annica Lawson's head? Dark Discovery Kalani escaped with her life, barely, but that doesn't mean they've stopped hunting her down. Ethan Vaughan promised to keep her safe. When one of their own goes missing and all signs point to an inside job, all bets are off. Dark Enemy Facing a matter of life or death, Holly must ask for help from the one man she's tried for years to forget. For Logan Williams, blood and sweat is nothing more than another day on the job. Until a woman from his past shows up, terrified and begging for help. One slip, and he could lose the only woman he's ever loved forever. Click to buy now and start the series readers say is "So good", "a must read", "The men of DARC Ops get hotter each book!", "never want it to end!"

Paper Dolls


Cory Toth - 2014
    The beloved girl's best friend and childhood crush, Landon, is the only key to unlock the mystery of what happened to her. When Landon is found wandering in a daze far from his home after the disappearance, he is clueless as to the events that took place or the whereabouts of Emily. The only thing keeping him from knowing what happened to his best friend, and girl of his dreams, are the memories which have hidden themselves far within the folds of his brain. He must delve deep within his mind to remember the events of that fateful day so that he can hopefully be reunited with her, but at the same time he is scared to death of what role he played in her disappearance. As Special Investigator Carter VanDusen races against time to learn the truth, Landon can only pray that the greatest danger is not within himself.

The Ice Maiden (Detective Inspector Jack Gilbert)


Michael Saunders - 2018
    Simply waiting for a bus why should Anne ever dream of dying? He was an opportunist driven by lust, needing to climax while looking into her eyes as she died. Found two months later she will be like all the others - frozen in time. Hunting the killer down is Detective Inspector Jack Gilbert, a dinosaur of the old school, a fish out of water in the swinging sixties, but with a reputation second to none. What is Jack’s sad secret? What does the future hold for him? Read the ICE MAIDEN and there’s a link at the end allowing you to download for FREE, number one in the Jack Gilbert Series – THE CHOCOLATE KILLER. For you, chocolate will never taste the same again!