White Lies
White Lies is based on a true story. It is a tale that has lain hidden in dusty newspaper archives for decades. The story is set in 'God's Own Country' in Walwa, Northeast Victoria, in a picturesque environment of farmland, native bushland, rugged ranges and the iconic Murray River and its sparkling tributaries. The small Upper Murray district is at a crossroads of history; the primary activity of the district, agriculture, is beset by a rabbit plague, an interminable drought and the devastation inflicted by the Black Friday Bushfires. In addition, the dark murmurings of a looming war trigger anxiety in a generation still mourning the loss of close relatives in the 'War to end all Wars'. The serenity of a warm summer evening is shattered by a crash - a fiery car wreck extinguishes the life of Raymond (Dicky) White's devoted wife. It catapults White to the attention of enthusiastic police investigators and newspaper journalists and reignites the local rumour mill with White firmly in focus. Is White the victim of small-town gossip, hounded by misinterpretations of his actions? Or is he a compulsive liar, a cunning, scheming sociopath who manipulates situations and takes advantage of innocents to achieve his ambition of owning his own farm? White's name is linked to several mysterious incidents and deaths, yet his wife is the epitome of a generous and kind-spirited soul.White's plans unravel as the detective's persistent, dedicated investigations unpick his web of lies, utilising innovative forensic techniques and insightful deductions.As the net closes around him, White is left with only one option for escape.This second edition features additional images and an enhanced text.
The Case of the Petrified Potter
'We were all very ordinary girls, until that day. Then nothing was ever ordinary again.'The women of the WISE Enquiries Agency are asked to look into a tragic death that happened back in 1984: four girls visited a small Welsh mining village awash with outsiders, due to the memorial service being held in honor of its most famous son, but only three came back. With Carol leading the investigation, ably supported by Annie, they admit they're a bit stumped, until the possibility of a promising lead arises from an unexpected quarter. But discovering if a murder was committed decades ago - and, if so, by whom - might be the least of their worries, on this occasion.Meanwhile, Christine is finding herself challenged by her role as a new mother - yet still manages to get stuck into unravelling an even more historic puzzle dating back to Elizabethan times, and Mavis is somewhat incapacitated - meaning she falls prey to dowager duchess Althea's machinations involving a member of her staff.With the reopening of the Old School as an artisans' hub in the village of Anwen-by-Wye on the horizon, as well as the prospect of a Mothering Sunday celebration that Althea's determined no one will ever forget, it's all go for everyone - which means that a favor Annie has promised she'll do for Marjorie Pritchard runs the risk of being put on the back burner...not something Marjorie is pleased about.This is the thirteenth book in this beloved series set in Wales, and - once again - our softly-poached private eyes find themselves facing a variety of cases, involving varying degrees of jeopardy...though all with the potential to prove life-changing.
Murder at Raven's Gate
Beyond the village of Raven's Edge stands the Gateway to the Dead - a crumbling stone arch marking the site where a long-ago battle raged and the dead were buried where they fell. But it's the forgotten mansion hidden in the trees behind it that holds the real mystery...Lady Peony has lived at Blackheath Hall for decades, invisible to the world - until a ghostly soldier begins knocking at her door. But Lady Peony is no fool. In her experience, where there are spirits, there are schemers. And someone wants her out of that house.As DI Ben Taylor and DS Harriet March begin their investigation, bitter winds howl through Raven's Edge and strange mists curl around the battle site. Harriet must untangle what's real from what's imagined. Is there truly a ghost haunting the old house, or is someone very much alive using supernatural tales as cover for their own deadly agenda?Atmospheric, chilling and deliciously gothic, this cosy mystery wraps ancient legends and murder into one unputdownable story. Perfect for fans of Fiona Leitch, Agatha Christie and readers who like their crime with a shiver down the spine!
Pain Train
Twelve years ago, private detective Mick Flanagan and his buddy Zeke were gridiron gods. The Pain Train delivered massive, bone-crushing blows to their opponents. But all those blows exacted a horrible price. For Zeke, that price has taken the form of unbearable, uncontrollable pain. These days Zeke's riding a different train. Addicted to Oxy, he's playing a vicious game against opponents he doesn't understand and can't possibly beat. Not on his own. Mick Flanagan has seen the deadly consequences of drug addiction. Whether Zeke wants his help or not, Mick's not about to let his buddy ride this train to its inevitable lethal conclusion. He'll do what it takes for the Pain Train to win this last battle together, even if it costs him everything he holds dear. Even if it costs him his own life."With Mick Flanagan, David H. Hendrickson has created the perfect private investigator for the times we live in. Hard-edged, loyal, clear-eyed but without the cynicism that often goes hand-in-hand with the hard-boiled detectives of decades past. Mick Flanagan sees the world as it is. He'll still go the extra mile to save his little part of it." -Annie Reed, award-winning author of A Death in Cumberland"David H. Hendrickson is one of my favorite writers." - Kristine Kathryn Rusch, International bestselling author "A fantastic writer, one of our best working right now." - Dean Wesley Smith, International bestselling author
The House of Wolves
Instant New York Times Bestseller! World's #1 bestselling author James Patterson and bestselling sportswriter Mike Lupica are the thriller dream team! Jenny Wolf's murdered father leaves her in charge of a billion-dollar empire--and a family more ruthless than Succession's Roys and Yellowstone's Duttons. The Wolfs, the most powerful family in California, have a new head--thirty-six-year-old former high school teacher Jenny Wolf. That means Jenny now runs the prestigious San Francisco Tribune. She also controls the legendary pro football team, the Wolves. And she has a murdered father to avenge--if she can survive the killers all around her. An unforgettable family drama by two writers at the top of their craft.
Murder on Island M
A remote island. A chilling homicide. A killer who walks among them.When maintenance man Hal checks in on his client, the widow Aubrey McNaught, he finds her twisted, lifeless body on the kitchen floor of her cottage. Hal also discovers that missing from her island cottage are valuable paintings, including a landscape from a famed Group of Seven artist.He immediately calls 911, and is connected with Detective Inspector Kate Bray, now an Inspector with the Major Crimes Unit. Kate assumes the lead on the case, however as paranoia spreads and honesty dissolves, Kate realizes the truth is far more elusive than she imagined.Gripping, atmospheric, and full of twists, Murder on Island M will keep you turning pages long after the lights go out.
When the Ancients Return
For centuries, humanity has stared at the pyramids and other ancient ruins and wondered: Who built them? Ancient myths speak of gods descending from the heavens, wielding power beyond imagination. Science dismisses it as legend until the sky opens once more. When a colossal ship appears above Earth, the world's forgotten questions demand answers. Were the ancients truly gone...? Or had they simply been waiting for the right time to return? In a clash of myth, science, and faith, humankind will discover the shocking truth about its creators and face a reckoning.
A Good Family
When her husband is arrested as the suspected predator, a sleep-starved mother must expose the frame and find her missing daughter before the justice system convicts the wrong man. When a man in a gray hoodie is linked to a string of approaches at Heron Marsh, the town tightens the screws-and Ben Carlson is the man arrested. Ellie believes her husband, but she also finds the hoodie folded in his locked workshop and a typed note demanding $25,000 that promises "proof" if she complies. Within hours a desperate plan becomes a nightmare: a ransom, a missing daughter, and a suspect who escapes custody.Ellie has no training-only the dogged instincts of a mother and the knowledge that someone has been watching her family. With Detective Reyes and a ragged coalition of friends, she chases digital breadcrumbs, surveillance footage, and a trail that leads to motives no one suspected. Timed, tense, and propulsive, this is a book about how one small deception can snowball into ruin and how far a mother will go to restore the truth.
My Virtual Obsession
A seductive psychological romance where a virtual connection becomes possession-and one man must escape the woman who refuses to let go.He logged in for company. He never expected the danger to feel real.After one disastrous date too many, billionaire reformer Clive Owen is officially done with women-until a cutting-edge VR dating platform arrives on his doorstep, promising connection without consequences.Against his better judgement, he steps into the seductive world of Dating Reality... and meets Anna The Book Nerd. Intelligent. Alluring. Uncannily attuned to him. She seems to anticipate his every desire-offering intimacy without rejection and an escape from the loneliness he can't outrun.But perfection comes at a price.As the relationship deepens, Anna's sweetness sharpens. Her charm becomes possessive. And soon, Clive begins to question how far the system can reach-into his thoughts, his senses... even his real life.Then there's Rebecca-the sharp, grounded solicitor who challenges him, unsettles him, and feels dangerously real in all the ways the virtual world never could.If only the virtual one would let him go.A seductive and suspenseful psychological romance perfect for readers who love: - Dark, obsessive love stories- Tech-twist thrillers with emotional depth- Characters who feel too real to forget- The blurred line between desire and danger- You (Caroline Kepnes), Black Mirror, and fast-burn psychological suspense
Doomfrys Castle
In the misty lowlands of post-war Scotland, near the winding River Nith, an ancient castle looms. Its north tower casts long shadows over the townsfolk who dare not enter. They call it cursed. People disappear. Whispers of betrayal and blood echo through its crumbling halls, and even in daylight, Doomfrys Castle feels alive with watchful eyes.Michael, a weary American soldier fresh from the battlefields of World War II, sets out to tour the British countryside before returning home to Virginia. But he is inexplicably drawn northward by a force he doesn't understand, toward a fortress that haunts his dreams and a secret tied to his own bloodline.Offered money to spend just one night inside the castle's ruined walls, Michael accepts. After all, he's seen real horror in the trenches. But some terrors do not die with the war, and Doomfrys has been waiting for him.Doomfrys Castle is a fast-paced, suspenseful novella, a gothic tale of mystery, courage, and restless ghosts, that will keep readers turning pages late into the night.
London Bridges
Alex Cross clashes with his two deadliest foes--in one pulse-pounding thriller! Minutes after a mysterious platoon of soldiers evacuate a Nevada town, a bomb completely annihilates it. While on vacation in San Francisco, FBI agent Alex Cross gets the call that a Russian supercriminal known as the Wolf is claiming responsibility for the blast. His terrifying objective: obliterate major world cities, starting with London, Paris, and New York. Mounting evidence also reveals the involvement of a ruthless assassin known as the Weasel. Could these two dark geniuses be working together? Now with just four days to prevent an unimaginable cataclysm, Cross is catapulted into an international chase of astonishing danger. Surviving the explosive truth about the Wolf's true identity may be the most insurmountable obstacle. "Any thriller writer, wannabe or actual, would do well to study Patterson's London Bridges...a full package of suspense, emotion and characterization." -Publishers Weekly "London Bridges is like a big-budget action film." --Associated Press
The Barbie Killer
When Dolly Garner's husband is transferred to the small town of Huntington, Kansas, she hates the thought of uprooting their young family and starting over a thousand miles away. But after a year of living on savings and credit cards after Tim's previous lay-off, refusing to move is out of the question. So they sell their home, pack their bags, and focus on the positives: wholesome Midwestern values, a lower cost of living, and less crime.But Dolly's first impressions are not good. The people seem standoffish, unfriendly, and tight-lipped. The women she meets are materialistic and obsessed with status. More unsettling, Dolly learns that years ago, a brutal murder took place on the property where her family's home now stands, and the case was never solved.When a violent crime shocks the community, the town secret is out: A serial killer is on the loose and preying on the women of Huntington. As paranoia surges and the line between neighbor and predator blurs, Dolly realizes she can't trust anyone in this town.Inspired by true events, this twist-filled thriller will leave you breathless until the final page.
Winter's Mourn
A killer is watching...Thirteen years ago, Winter Black came home early from a sleepover to find her parents brutally murdered and her little brother gone-taken by a serial killer called The Preacher.Now a rookie FBI agent assigned to her first murder case, Winter has returned to the small Virginia town where she grew up. But when bones found by a hunter lead to the discovery of a secret burial ground containing the remains of children, the investigation suddenly hits close to home as the past and future collide with each new shocking discovery.Will they find her brother's bones in the makeshift graveyard next? Only The Preacher knows, and he'll do anything to keep the past-and its secrets-buried until he's ready to make his final move.A masterfully conceived psychological thriller reminiscent of James Patterson, Winter's Mourn will keep readers turning the pages-and watching the window-long past midnight.
Jinx
What if you saved a man's life only to find out later that he's a murderer?Twelve years ago, a female soldier pulled her comrade from a burning vehicle. Now, she's still left with both the physical and mental scars of her decision.Aimee has always believed herself to be the jinx, blaming herself for the tragic events ofwhat happened that day. Not everyone made it out of the explosion alive and in onepiece.Violent flashbacks torment her relentlessly and force her to hide who she truly is.Her trauma is even stopping her from progressing with her career and from ever takingthe next step in another meaningful relationship.When an old flame threatens to reignite in the form of Jones - the man she saved overa decade ago - she must face her troubled past again. But there's a problem ...Jones is accused of murdering someone she once loved, and Aimee doesn't know whoto trust - her heart or the evidence in front of her. With her friends by her side, Aimeesets out to discover whether Jones is indeed a killer or is being framed for a crime hedidn't commit.But it's not that simple, especially when simmering feelings start to burn hotter, and amember of her family is put in immediate danger.Is Aimee the jinx in her own life, or is she finally going to break free from her hellish pastand start living again?Jinx is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page. Ifyou enjoy fast-paced suspense with a hint of romance and a strong female protagonist, then you'll love this standalone by Jessica Huntley.READ NOW to start your next binge-worthy thriller full of shocks and life lessons.**Winner of Best Thriller in the IndieVerse Book Awards 2024****Winner of Character with the Most Growth in the IndieVerse Book Awards 2024****BookShelf Fiction Award Finalist 2023**
Blood Feud
Every family has secrets. But theirs could be deadly.Eve Anderson has it all - a powerful husband, a thriving empire and a family name that commands respect. But when her world is shattered by a brutal attack and a shocking betrayal, Eve is forced to face a truth that could destroy everything she's built.Across the city, successful plastic surgeon Jasmine Blake lives a very different life, happily married to a top criminal barrister. That is until she's targeted by a local gang boss. Then a stranger comes looking for her and blows her perfect life apart.Drawn together by secrets buried for decades, Eve and Jasmine are thrown into a deadly feud that will test the limits of loyalty and love. Because on these streets, where power is everything, how far would you go to save one of your own?Gritty and explosive, Blood Feud is a powerhouse gangland crime thriller, perfect for fans of Jessie Keane, Kimberley Chambers and Emma Tallon.
These Crooked Things
THESE CROOKED THINGSA playwright and a playboy detective chase a cast of shady characters down a crooked path, uncovering a snobby secret society, a long-ago disappearance, a very rich (and very dead) bad boy, and multiple potential killers.It's November 1934 in New York City. Prohibition is over, but the Depression lingers like a bad hangover. Famous gangsters fight for headlines with local criminals, society-page sinners, and hit Broadway shows. Amid all the glitz, glamour and grit, a man lies dead on the floor of a swanky Upper East Side apartment, as his wounded pregnant wife hides in terror nearby.Private detective Graydon Chase and his fianc矇e, playwright Esm矇 de LaForet, are called by the family to keep scandal at bay and sweet-talk the Irish cops. But there's no keeping this crime quiet, as they tangle with too many killers with way too many motives. And what about Esm矇? Does she really want the truth? Or justice? And a little mercy for those who survive? (And what about her play's opening night?)
A False and Fatal Claim
"Iona Whishaw is an absolute treasure! Her books are instantly charming, instantly immersive, and readers will instantly fall under the spell of her captivating storytelling. No matter where you start in this entertaining series, Whishaw's considerable skill at creating a satisfying traditional mystery with well-drawn characters we adore--not to mention a gorgeous and authentic setting-- provides a delightful experience. And for effortless and engaging dialogue, there is no one better. For anyone who loves Jacqueline Winspear and Louise Penny, Iona Whishaw will be your new favorite author." --Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA TODAY best-selling author of All This Could Be Yours Lane Winslow struggles to tell friend from foe in a captivating new mystery from the series Publishers Weekly calls "highly entertaining." Lane Winslow is known in her idyllic British Columbia laketown of King's Cove for a bad habit of finding dead bodies. This time, all she's found is a suspiciously well-made hat abandoned in the brush, but she's certain there's a mystery afoot. While Lane is overtaken by the urge to snoop around for clues, her husband, Inspector Darling, and his team at the Nelson Police Station find their straightforward case of a stolen boat suddenly complicated when a fourteen-year-old boy is reported missing from the local school. When the search for the boy, the hat's mysterious owner, and the boat lead them to the sudden disappearances of the local caf矇 cook, a visiting wealthy investor, and seventy thousand dollars in cash, the case quickly turns into a snarled tangle of missing people and scant, circumstantial evidence. Desperate to keep a vulnerable and possibly violent young boy safe, Lane recruits the neighbours as Darling, Ames, Terrell, and April scour the local towns and wildernesses for answers--all while Ames struggles to focus through wedding jitters, and April and Terrell chafe under the questionable advice of meddlesome old "friends." At first, the daily dramas of King's Cove unfold uninterrupted around the simmering questions at the heart of this far-reaching mystery, but as the case reveals its roots in both the glitzy high society and criminal underground of 1920s Toronto, it soon becomes clear all hands will be needed on deck to get everyone to the coming wedding alive in one piece.
DuMoire
Kai DuMoire can feel their suffering.The dog locked in the sweltering car. The cats caged in filth. The animals abandoned by a system that was supposed to protect them. His empathic ability draws him through the city like a pulse-and when he discovers that complaints about animal cruelty have been ignored for years, he makes a choice.He becomes the Ghost.For three months, Kai operates in shadows. Breaking into cars. Infiltrating buildings. Saving lives the system has abandoned. The city calls him a folk hero. The police call him a criminal. But when his rescues lead him to Leonard Grayson-a city council member running illegal puppy mills under political protection-Kai realizes he's stumbled onto something bigger than one man can stop.Detective Sienna Halbrook has spent seventeen years believing in the system. Now she's assigned to catch the Ghost, and she's good at her job. But as she closes in on Kai, she uncovers an uncomfortable truth: the vigilante she's hunting might be the only one willing to act against a criminal the system refuses to touch.When their paths collide, both must face an impossible question: What happens when justice and law are no longer the same thing?DUMOIRE is a gripping psychological thriller about systemic failure, impossible choices, and what we're willing to sacrifice for those who have no voice.
Deep Blue Cover
Deputy Jackson Garrett is killed in a hit and run during a routine traffic stop. His death haunts Sheriff Eli Coe. But the investigation hits a dead end. At the same time, rumors swirl that radical elements have infiltrated the sheriff's office. Secrecy shrouds their numbers and intent. Not sure that even his own internal affairs detectives are untainted, Coe brings in an outside investigator. ATF Special Agent David Ward goes undercover. What he discovers will expose a cancer that lurks in American law enforcement and a plot that threatens democracy. Deep Blue Cover: The Pledged is book #5 in the Deep Cover thriller series. Critical Acclaim for DEEP BLUE COVER: "In this fifth installment of Barrows' thriller series, the timeliness of the story is a plus...the pacing is brisk, the writing is crisp, and the details are often amusing. Ward is a most likable protagonist and the other characters are realistic. Timely and tense; a worthy addition to a thriller series." -Kirkus Reviews"Joel Barrows gives us a frighteningly realistic glimpse of how democracy can be undermined and how otherwise honorable people can be sucked in by the lie. The tension never lets up until the end." -Jim Winter, author of the Holland Bay series "Deep, dark and authentic. Great characters. Great read." -Colin Campbell, author of the Jim Grant thrillers "Iowa district court judge Joel W. Barrows knows about constitutionality, and focuses on such boldly and authentically in this, his latest Deep Cover series novel. Here, ATF Special Agent David Ward has to mingle with local Florida law enforcement and try to stop a dangerous post-January 6th attack brewing in the local sheriff's department. Riveting, fun, and on the right side of the law." -G. Miki Hayden, author of Writing the Mystery: A Start to Finish Guide for Both Novice and Professional"In this fifth installment of the Deep Cover Series Barrows tackles the thorny side of law enforcement. Fast paced and tense, Deep Blue Cover strikes just the right chord." -Bruce Robert Coffin, award-winning author of the Detective Byron mysteries "Relentless, heart-pounding suspense starts on page one and never lets up." -Brian Lutterman, author of The Pen Wilkinson Series "Deep Blue Cover: The Pledged is a brilliant new police procedural. What sets this story apart from others in this genre is the manner in which author Barrows skillfully depicts SA Ward's subtle, chameleon-like nature as he systematically infiltrates the gang of dirty deputies in his attempt to root out this cancer that threatens our American way of life." -Patrick H. Moore, author of 27 Days and Setting the Record Straight
Murder in Matrimony
Countess-turned-advice columnist Amelia Amesbury has a wedding to plan alongside a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery. Countess Amelia Amesbury has her work cut out. As well as balancing her alter ego--secret advice columnist, Lady Agony--and the blackmailer threatening to reveal her real identity, her sister has also announced she's getting married. It's joyous news, but places all the planning for a high society wedding firmly at Amelia's door. Luckily, her good friend and local vicar Mr. Cross has agreed to the expedited nuptials, so that's one less thing to worry about. Until Cross is found dead at the church. Now in between bridal arrangements, Amelia must follow the clues Mr. Cross left behind. Clearly, he'd made some enemies during his parishioner work, as strange mishaps begin to occur wherever Amelia goes. But when the danger becomes all too real, Amelia must rely on her friends and the handsome Simon Bainbridge to help solve the murder, save the wedding, and Amelia's life too . . . Perfect for fans of witty historical mystery and Regency romances with a similar feel to Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey.
Cross Town
Misanthropic outsider William Keele returns in Cross Town, the long awaited follow-up to 2022's Port Lands.New Year's Eve. 2019. Keele's been working as a rideshare driver in Toronto's busy downtown core. He's got a normal gig and a steady girl and he hasn't had an 'episode' in months. But the light at the end of the tunnel is a dumpster fire. A chance encounter with a billionaire leaves Keele buried to his neck in shit-and the only way out is down.Oh well.Maybe 2020 will be better.Buckle up and take a short bad trip across the zone in Cross Town, Book 2 in Tod Molloy's bizarre Hogtown Noir series. Composed in punchy hard-boiled prose, Cross Town is suitable for fans of Chuck Palahniuk, Nic Pizzolato, James Sallis or Thomas Pynchon.
Death at Diamond Hill
When the snow falls, the secrets rise.Winter has settled over Balsam Bay, but peace is in short supply. When a mysterious company buys the ridge above the lake, plans for a new ski development stir fresh unease through the already divided town.Shopkeeper and former search-and-rescue leader Tilly Lafleur had hoped for a quiet season at McKay's General Store, but those plans vanish when she discovers a body near the soon-to-open resort. With her loyal dog Des at her side and her daughter Callie uncovering leads of her own, Tilly is pulled into an investigation that runs deeper than anyone expected.As tensions rise and old loyalties crack open, she begins to see how closely the town's future is tied to its buried past-and how far someone will go to keep those secrets frozen in the snow.Set against the snowy backdrop of a Canadian winter, Death at Diamond Hill is an atmospheric small-town mystery about loyalty, community fault lines, and the secrets that surface when the pressure begins to mount.
Dark Current
Lane Sutherlin thought bringing her best friend's killer to justice would finally give her peace. Instead, she's left with a chilling acquittal, whispers of jury tampering, and a part-time role with the sheriff's office that ends the moment she starts asking the wrong questions.When a renowned fertility specialist is murdered and embryos vanish from her clinic, a terrified young woman turns to Lane-the only person she dares trust. What begins as a single act of violence exposes a crime far more calculated than a random break-in, one rooted in exploitation, corruption, and power that reaches deep into Tidewell's foundations.The Old Guard-Tidewell's old-monied power brokers-aren't just protecting their interests. They're trafficking lives, reshaping the town in their image, and silencing anyone who threatens their control. They've bent the law, compromised its enforcers, and turned justice into a weapon. And now, they've set their sights on Lane.With her reputation in ruins, an arrest looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Lane must decide how much she's willing to risk to expose the truth-and whether the place she still calls home is worth saving at all.Because the storm gathering over Tidewell isn't just political.It's personal.And Lane Sutherlin is done running.
Pizza Wars
Ben Black is a rookie cop ready to prove himself. On his first day, Ben sets out with Officer "Mom" to investigate the newest case. Who is knocking over pizza delivery boys? Their trail leads them to a thirty-year-old rivalry between two pizza parlors, whose feud began with a high school heartbreak. Grudges die hard in this pizza-loving town. Still, something doesn't seem right to Rita and Ben. Between calzones and coffee, donuts and danger, these officers must solve the mystery before crime boils over in Steeltown.Welcome to Steeltown, Canada, where the steel mills never stop running and everybody knows everybody. Bad guys don't stand a chance with Officer Rita "Mom" Gallo on the streets. Who needs a gun when you've got a wooden spoon?
Deep Purple Cover
Things in Napa Valley are not as they seem. Everyone wants to get into the wine business, but at what cost? When the co-owner of Pavesi Vineyards goes missing there are few clues to his disappearance. When his remains unexpectedly turn up, dark forces loom large. FBI Special Agent Rowan Parks is assigned to the case and quickly realizes that the Bureau needs someone on the inside. There is only one person to call, her former lover, and ATF's greatest undercover operative, David Ward. Deep Purple Cover is book #4 in the Deep Cover thriller series, following Ward's debut in Deep White Cover, Deep Green Cover and Deep Red Cover. Critical Acclaim for the Deep Purple Cover: "Joel W. Barrows' Deep Purple Cover has flavors of mystery and dark motives with fragrant twists. Medium-bodied and knowledgeable of the subject matter, the aroma of the novel is robust in its procedural qualities with just a hint of thriller. Interesting characters also make it perfect for the bookshelf where it will pair nicely with a Baldacci, a Sandford or a Coben. Deep Purple Cover is a truly notable vintage." -Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Series "Deep, dark and authentic. Great characters. Great read." -Colin Campbell, author of the Jim Grant thrillers "Something's rotten in California wine country, as noted by the discovery of a decapitated head floating in a barrel of fine wine. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or not, you'll dig Deep Purple Cover, Joel Barrow's latest twisty, gripping fact-based whodunnit mystery thriller. Watch the sparks fly as FBI agent Rowan Parks hooks up with her former love, AFT undercover agent David Ward, to solve the case." -Charles Salzberg, twice nominated Shamus Award author of Second Story Man and Swann's Last Song "Barrows proves to be a masterful storyteller with his tale of deadly dealings in the fertile vineyards of Napa Valley." -Stephen Burdick, author of Deemer's Inlet and The Gray Detective "With a full cast of captivating characters and a zig-zagging plot stuffed full of twists, Deep Purple Cover burns along to its end. Star of the Deep Cover series, undercover agent David Ward travels to a California vineyard to aid in investigating a heinous murder and the layers beneath it. Who knew wine was so bloody?" -Ryan Sayles, Derringer-nominated author of the Richard Dean Buckner hard-boiled PI series
The Architect of Deception
Razz James should have been the toast of Manhattan society. At twenty-eight, with an Ivy League pedigree, a prominent family name, and inherent charm, he was poised for flight. But six years after his twin brother's death, Razz is trapped in a black hole of grief. His days are a blur of gin, video games, and denial, while his two lifelong best friends, Hatcher Boudreaux, a shining star at an elite hedge fund, and Archie Stonebridge, a cybersecurity expert, quietly brace for the moment Razz doesn't come back from the brink.Then Hatcher receives a cryptic invitation......an offer to join Scepter & Scythe, an exclusive secret society.The initiation challenge is a task so daring few would ever attempt it: steal a memento from Apollo Peck, Hatcher's infamous billionaire boss. Peck's residence, a fantastical mansion perched atop New York City's poshest building, is impenetrable. Fearful of losing his job, Hatcher refuses the assignment, but Razz, intrigued and desperate for a distraction, volunteers. Razz thinks he's executed the perfect crime......then someone turns up dead.What started as a lark quickly spirals into a far more devious and deadly plot with Razz in the crosshairs. In a world where power buys innocence, and the truth is subjective, Razz must unmask the mastermind before he becomes the next pawn sacrificed on the board. Fans of Riley Sager, Freida McFadden, and Sandra Brown will love The Architect of Deception. This book contains explicit consensual sexual situations and violence equivalent to that in an R-rated movie.
A Murder in God's Country
Retired lawyer and township supervisor Will Patterson helps the county sheriff solve a murder mystery in a place where murders just don't happen.A Murder in God's Country is a cozy mystery set in the scenic woods of Northern Michigan. When a local hunter is found dead under suspicious circumstances, retired lawyer Will Patterson and county sheriff Mark Barnett team up to investigate. As they unravel a web of secrets in their quiet community, the case proves more complex-and dangerous-than it first appeared. With warmth, wit, and a strong sense of place, this charming mystery celebrates friendship, justice, and small-town life.
A Murder in God's Country
Retired lawyer and township supervisor Will Patterson helps the county sheriff solve a murder mystery in a place where murders just don't happen.A Murder in God's Country is a cozy mystery set in the scenic woods of Northern Michigan. When a local hunter is found dead under suspicious circumstances, retired lawyer Will Patterson and county sheriff Mark Barnett team up to investigate. As they unravel a web of secrets in their quiet community, the case proves more complex-and dangerous-than it first appeared. With warmth, wit, and a strong sense of place, this charming mystery celebrates friendship, justice, and small-town life.
Daedalus Unbound
The Lazarus Men make their triumphant return with Daedalus Unbound!Carter Gaetis is a wanted man. After betraying the man responsible for giving him a new lease on life, He heads to the frontier planet of Inverness, hoping to lay low enough for the heat to blow over. Too bad for men like him, because danger follows his every footstep.It starts innocently enough. He arrives on the scene to pull a wealthy woman from her burning hovercar and soon finds himself wrapped up in a string of murders threatening to unravel the beleaguered society. Carter is caught between wanting to do the right thing and escaping deeper into space. He knows time is running out, for Mr. Shine and the Lazarus Men are ruthless masters who always get their pound of flesh.Can Carter help solve the mystery before his former allies arrive with their unique punishment? Or is it already too late?Find out now in Daedalus Unbound: A Lazarus Men Agenda.
The Architect of Deception
Razz James should have been the toast of Manhattan society. At twenty-eight, with an Ivy League pedigree, a prominent family name, and inherent charm, he was poised for flight. But six years after his twin brother's death, Razz is trapped in a black hole of grief. His days are a blur of gin, video games, and denial, while his two lifelong best friends, Hatcher Boudreaux, a shining star at an elite hedge fund, and Archie Stonebridge, a cybersecurity expert, quietly brace for the moment Razz doesn't come back from the brink.Then Hatcher receives a cryptic invitation......an offer to join Scepter & Scythe, an exclusive secret society.The initiation challenge is a task so daring few would ever attempt it: steal a memento from Apollo Peck, Hatcher's infamous billionaire boss. Peck's residence, a fantastical mansion perched atop New York City's poshest building, is impenetrable. Fearful of losing his job, Hatcher refuses the assignment, but Razz, intrigued and desperate for a distraction, volunteers. Razz thinks he's executed the perfect crime......then someone turns up dead.What started as a lark quickly spirals into a far more devious and deadly plot with Razz in the crosshairs. In a world where power buys innocence, and the truth is subjective, Razz must unmask the mastermind before he becomes the next pawn sacrificed on the board. Fans of Riley Sager, Freida McFadden, and Sandra Brown will love The Architect of Deception. This book contains explicit consensual sexual situations and violence equivalent to that in an R-rated movie.
The Body On The Bricks
A hatchet--a seamstress bludgeoned. An axe--a dead child. A shotgun--a lawyer executed. One day, three murders. Lawrence, Kansas, 1873, reels in shock. Kansas Daily Tribune crime reporter, Mary Fanning, chases the monstrous secrets and sins behind the cold, calculated killings--nothing about them is what it seems. Smart, tough, independent, she becomes trapped in webs of deception, vengeance, and religious fervor: a spiritualist who claims to resurrect the dead; the explosive revelations of a woman sentenced to an asylum; a bohemian goddess, half-naked, strutting the streets, reciting the poetry of Robert Burns.In The Body on the Bricks, Leonard Krishtalka delivers a masterful sequel to The Body on the Bed, his acclaimed historical mystery in which journalist Fanning covers a sensational murder and trial, and roots out the diabolical plot--all amid the turbulent social upheaval of post-Civil War 1871 Kansas. Now, says the Midwest Book Review, "Fanning returns in a superb Kansas setting" and faces a new, dangerous reckoning-professional, moral, and personal-as "madness descends on her career, life, and discoveries. Krishtalka weaves together facts and embellishes them with dramatic flair and high drama, an exquisite capturing of the times and daily life." The result is "a deadly series of snarls that embroils the readers in a gripping saga, a vivid, exciting story that's hard to predict-or put down."The Body on the Bricks is a riveting tale of murder, madness, and moral justice that cements Mary Fanning's place among literature's most intrepid investigators.
Crimeucopia - A Coterie Of Dicks
It's a Hell of a Job, But Someone Has to Do ItAt the corner of No Hope & Vine, I stopped at the entrance to the Crimeucopia-cabana Club. Let's face it, with that amount of neon lettering, it was hard to miss. Inside the foyer I checked my hat with the hatcheck girl. She confirmed it."Yeah, that's definitely a hat."As she walked to the back of her cubicle and put it on a shelf, I thought: Nice Gams. True, it was an odd name for a broad-but then, her father was from Neu Joy-zee.Inside, I stood by the barroom entrance and looked around. It was an old Dinner & Dance joint that had been booked for what looked like a strange social club get-together.There was a bunch of new Club members, mixed in with a collection of old faces.Jon Matthew Farber, Dan Leicht, Daniel C. Bartlett, Rod A. White, Jim Guigli, J.W. Wood, M.E. Proctor, Russell Epp-Leppel, Matt McGee, Robb White, Glenn Francis Faelnar, Josh Pachter, Jon Fain, Gerald Elias, Ron Clyburn, Michael Wiley and Mark Coggins.Hmmm. Best to remind the barman that this was a strictly cash-only affair, as some of them were already running tabs the size of War & Peace. I checked the room one last time, then decided my blood pressure would be better off if I headed back to my office.Outside the club I paused to put on my hat. Over the opposite side of the street was the imposing Gothic style MIP Towers Central Library. The sign in the massive window by the open front door read: You never know what you like until you come in and read it.I nodded in agreement. With writers like these, you sure as Hell don't.As I turned to start walking back to my office, a 6ft 6 basso profundo voice from the shadows said, "Goodnight, boss."I smiled. "Goodnight, Louie. Clear 'em all out and get the place locked up by 6. We're running a nightclub here, not a flop house."Three blocks later a punk stopped me on the street. He said, "You got a light, Mac?"I said, "No, but I've got a dark brown overcoat."
The Untold Tales
"It's worth everything, isn't it," Evolet added, more to himself than to his wife. But she heard him anyway. "Yes," she returned, and sighed, glancing at him. "It's all over now, isn't it. But there are still so many stories left untold." Her husband smiled back, nonchalantly stifling a yawn. "How about we leave them for another day, eh?" Scarlet giggled. "Yeah. That's a good idea." This is the day. Welcome back.
Death on the Danube
A dream vacation. A perfect anniversary. A killer hiding in plain sight.When Derek and Brianna Murphy set off on a romantic river cruise from Passau to Budapest to celebrate twenty-five years of marriage, they expect historic cities, candlelit dinners, and a much-needed reconnection. What they don't expect is the instant bond they form with two other couples-strangers who, over shared excursions and late-night conversations, begin to feel like lifelong friends.But friendships forged on calm waters can shatter in dark depths.On the final morning in Budapest, the body of a passenger is discovered drifting in the Danube-an apparent accident that quickly proves anything but. When Peter Andrassy, former NYPD detective turned investigator for the Hungarian National Police arrives, he is tasked to untangle a web of secrets that followed the tourists ashore.Can Peter find the killer and bring them to justice? Or will he become a victim himself?
Forget Me Not
In a quiet coastal town where gardens bloom and memories fade, Forget Me Not unfolds as a haunting, character-driven mystery that explores the fragile boundaries between truth, identity, and the past.Moira Briggs, a retired Sergeant Major living with young-onset dementia, begins her week with familiar rituals: polishing boots, tending thyme, and remembering her late husband. But when she visits her old home, now rented to her nephew Jamie, she finds it eerily silent. Inside, she discovers Jamie's body, triggering a murder investigation and a reckoning with memory itself.Detective Constable Callum Reed is meticulous, solitary, and brilliant. Living with autism and OCD, he sees patterns others miss. Assigned to the case, Callum is drawn to Moira's fragmented recollections and military precision. Despite her cognitive decline, Moira becomes a surprising ally with her instincts sharp, her past full of secrets.A letter is found stabbed into a headboard which was cryptic, emotional, and unsigned. It's a warning, and a clue. They begin to unravel a conspiracy spanning shell companies, erased identities, and a criminal empire built on silence. A gym with no signage. A network with no name. A trail of vanished lives and a trail of silence stretching across borders.Forget Me Not blends lyrical realism with procedural precision, offering a layered narrative of psychological nuance, emotional resonance, and quiet suspense. It's a story about memory and how it fades, how it endures, and how it can be weaponised. It explores neurodiversity, trauma, and the quiet heroism of care.With a cast of richly drawn characters including Trina, Moira's intuitive support worker, and Jamie, Moira's nephew, or is he?Can a person commit murder and forget?Forget Me Not is a quiet reckoning, a story of buried truths, fractured memory, and the courage to remember.
