Sharp Objects
NOW AN HBO(R) LIMITED SERIES STARRING AMY ADAMS, NOMINATED FOR EIGHT EMMY AWARDS, INCLUDING OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES FROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF GONE GIRLFresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims--a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story--and survive this homecoming. Praise for Sharp Objects "Nasty, addictive reading."--Chicago Tribune "Skillful and disturbing."--Washington Post "Darkly original . . . [a] riveting tale."--People
Golden Son
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR, BUZZFEED, AND BOOKLIST - "Gripping . . . On virtually every level, this is a sequel that hates sequels--a perfect fit for a hero who already defies the tropes. [Grade: ] A"--Entertainment Weekly As a Red, Darrow grew up working the mines deep beneath the surface of Mars, enduring backbreaking labor while dreaming of the better future he was building for his descendants. But the Society he faithfully served was built on lies. Darrow's kind have been betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds--and their only path to liberation is revolution. And so Darrow sacrifices himself in the name of the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life. He becomes a Gold, infiltrating their privileged realm so that he can destroy it from within. A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love--but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind's destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution--and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo's principles of love and justice to free his people. He must live for more. Praise for Golden Son "Stirring . . . Comparisons to The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones series are inevitable, for this tale has elements of both."--Kirkus Reviews "Brown writes layered, flawed characters . . . but plot is his most breathtaking strength. . . . Every action seems to flow into the next."--NPR Don't miss any of Pierce Brown's Red Rising Saga: RED RISING - GOLDEN SON - MORNING STAR - IRON GOLD - DARK AGE - LIGHT BRINGER
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes returns in this meticulously crafted Logician Edition, celebrating the razor-sharp intellect behind the world's greatest consulting detective.Rediscover the classic cases that made Holmes the first name in crime solving. Mysteries unravel not by chance or bravado, but by disciplined observation, rigorous derivation, and a mind trained to follow logic wherever it leads. From cryptic messages to seemingly impossible crimes, each adventure showcases deduction at its most elegant.This special edition opens with a new foreword by editor Gerald Simon Jameson, offering a lucid and engaging exploration of Holmes' method: how he thinks, why his reasoning works, and what separates true logic from inspired guesswork. For readers who have ever wondered how Holmes reaches his conclusions, the journey does not end with the stories themselves. An extensive appendix presents formalized versions of Holmes' reasoning in each case, translating narrative deduction into clear logical structures and arguments.Both a timeless collection of detective fiction and a celebration of analytical thought, the Logician Edition is essential reading for fans of Sherlock Holmes, lovers of puzzles, and anyone fascinated by the art, and discipline, of reasoning itself.
The Found Object Society
An atmospheric speculative suspense novel following a mysterious society offering its members the chance to relive the death of another person--and the self-destructive woman determined to uncover its secrets This ambitious, genre-bending debut is perfect for fans of time-travel fiction including Matt Haig's The Midnight Library and Gareth Brown's The Book of Doors For twenty years, Greta Davenport has lived with the guilt of surviving the accident that killed her parents. She's tested the limits of her own mortality ever since, but little gives her the dopamine rush she craves. Not until the night she almost drunkenly crashes her car into a tree, and a peculiar blank card slides under her front door--an invitation to the Found Object Society. What she discovers there is beyond comprehension: an opulent, subterranean playground filled with aisles of objects from different eras and regions of the world. Pick an object and go on a voyage to relive the final moments of the person who died holding it, along with an unparalleled, irreplicable high. Greta's hooked, but she can't quiet her questions about the society and its enigmatic creators, the answers to which have implications far beyond her growing dependence on the voyages. Death is addictive, and what she uncovers will put her entire life into question. A fever dream of a novel with episodic, time-traveling chapters told from multiple points of view, The Found Object Society examines the depraved whims of the ultrarich and the breadth of unresolved trauma--all while asking how grief and the choices we make in its aftermath can change the course of our lives. Michelle Maryk's wholly original and ambitious debut opens an impeccably wrought speculative world of greed, power, and destiny.
Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
From New York Times bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave--the hugely anticipated next installment in the fan-favorite Finlay Donovan series.Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet . . . but at least there's not a body in her backyard. Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay's elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay's house, right across the street. Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case--or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they've dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else. However, when the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay's ex-husband, Steven, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?
When the Moon Hits Your Eye
New York Times bestselling author John Scalzi flies you to the moon with his most fantastic tale to date: When the Moon Hits Your Eye The moon has turned into cheese. Now humanity has to deal with it. For some it's an opportunity. For others it's a moment to question their faith: In God, in science, in everything. Still others try to keep the world running in the face of absurdity and uncertainty. And then there are the billions looking to the sky and wondering how a thing that was always just there is now... something absolutely impossible. Astronauts and billionaires, comedians and bank executives, professors and presidents, teenagers and terminal patients at the end of their lives -- over the length of an entire lunar cycle, each get their moment in the moonlight. To panic, to plan, to wonder and to pray, to laugh and to grieve. All in a kaleidoscopic novel that goes all the places you'd expect, and then to so many places you wouldn't. It's a wild moonage daydream. Ride this rocket.
The Collectors
While a gifted con artist plots against the most ruthless businessman in the world, the Camel Club must stop a renegade CIA agent from selling American secrets to the highest bidder in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller. The assassination of the speaker of the House has rocked the nation. And the Camel Club has found a chilling connection with another death: that of the director of the Library of Congress's Rare Books and Special Collections Division. The club's unofficial leader, a man who calls himself Oliver Stone, discovers that someone is selling America to its enemies one secret at a time. Then Annabelle Conroy, the greatest con artist of her generation, comes to town and joins forces with the Camel Club for her own reasons. And Stone will need all the help she can give, because the two murders are hurtling the Camel Club into a world of espionage that is bringing America to its knees.
The Found Object Society
An atmospheric speculative suspense novel following a mysterious society offering its members the chance to relive the death of another person--and the self-destructive woman determined to uncover its secrets This ambitious, genre-bending debut is perfect for fans of time-travel fiction including Matt Haig's The Midnight Library and Gareth Brown's The Book of Doors For twenty years, Greta Davenport has lived with the guilt of surviving the accident that killed her parents. She's tested the limits of her own mortality ever since, but little gives her the dopamine rush she craves. Not until the night she almost drunkenly crashes her car into a tree, and a peculiar blank card slides under her front door--an invitation to the Found Object Society. What she discovers there is beyond comprehension: an opulent, subterranean playground filled with aisles of objects from different eras and regions of the world. Pick an object and go on a voyage to relive the final moments of the person who died holding it, along with an unparalleled, irreplicable high. Greta's hooked, but she can't quiet her questions about the society and its enigmatic creators, the answers to which have implications far beyond her growing dependence on the voyages. Death is addictive, and what she uncovers will put her entire life into question. A fever dream of a novel with episodic, time-traveling chapters told from multiple points of view, The Found Object Society examines the depraved whims of the ultrarich and the breadth of unresolved trauma--all while asking how grief and the choices we make in its aftermath can change the course of our lives. Michelle Maryk's wholly original and ambitious debut opens an impeccably wrought speculative world of greed, power, and destiny.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes returns in this meticulously crafted Logician Edition, celebrating the razor-sharp intellect behind the world's greatest consulting detective.Rediscover the classic cases that made Holmes the first name in crime solving. Mysteries unravel not by chance or bravado, but by disciplined observation, rigorous derivation, and a mind trained to follow logic wherever it leads. From cryptic messages to seemingly impossible crimes, each adventure showcases deduction at its most elegant.This special edition opens with a new foreword by editor Gerald Simon Jameson, offering a lucid and engaging exploration of Holmes' method: how he thinks, why his reasoning works, and what separates true logic from inspired guesswork. For readers who have ever wondered how Holmes reaches his conclusions, the journey does not end with the stories themselves. An extensive appendix presents formalized versions of Holmes' reasoning in each case, translating narrative deduction into clear logical structures and arguments.Both a timeless collection of detective fiction and a celebration of analytical thought, the Logician Edition is essential reading for fans of Sherlock Holmes, lovers of puzzles, and anyone fascinated by the art, and discipline, of reasoning itself.
Full House
On the brink of their wedding, Dela Alvaro and Heath Seaver's plans shatter when a ten-year-old boy appears, claiming to be Heath's son. The truth is even darker: the boy's mother-the woman Heath thought died years ago at Pine Ridge-was an FBI informant hidden under a new identity, left to raise his child alone before dying of addiction.As Heath wrestles with awe for the son he never knew and fury at the FBI's deception, the past turns deadly. When the agent who lied to him is found murdered in Pendleton, the FBI shows up on Dela's doorstep, bringing danger straight to their home.With their future on the line, Dela and Heath must confront a web of secrets before it destroys the family they're just beginning to build.
Inadvertent Consequences
It is 1980 in St. Louis, Missouri, when fourteen-year-old Adam Tangere is admitted to the hospital with an unknown blood disorder. As his doctors struggle to treat him, Adam discovers that grief is the most powerful emotion of all after a family friend is killed in an accident. In the midst of the trauma, Adam has a dream where he learns he has a destiny to fulfill great things in life, with help from a gift he never knew he had. But is it a gift or a curse? Many years and experiences later, it is 2016 as Adam walks slowly along the tiles that form the expansive plaza of the Mansudae Grand Monument in Pyongyang, the capital city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. As dark clouds roil above and along the hillside, adding a foreboding air to the inner tension he feels, he wonders how long he has thought of this day. It is now here-the day he will change history. In this geopolitical tale, a man with a greater destiny than he ever imagined embarks on a personal quest of honor from his childhood to the Korean Peninsula and back to the United States.
Inadvertent Consequences
It is 1980 in St. Louis, Missouri, when fourteen-year-old Adam Tangere is admitted to the hospital with an unknown blood disorder. As his doctors struggle to treat him, Adam discovers that grief is the most powerful emotion of all after a family friend is killed in an accident. In the midst of the trauma, Adam has a dream where he learns he has a destiny to fulfill great things in life, with help from a gift he never knew he had. But is it a gift or a curse? Many years and experiences later, it is 2016 as Adam walks slowly along the tiles that form the expansive plaza of the Mansudae Grand Monument in Pyongyang, the capital city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. As dark clouds roil above and along the hillside, adding a foreboding air to the inner tension he feels, he wonders how long he has thought of this day. It is now here-the day he will change history. In this geopolitical tale, a man with a greater destiny than he ever imagined embarks on a personal quest of honor from his childhood to the Korean Peninsula and back to the United States.
Three of a Kind
This is the first book of a series which follows the career of Detective Alan Simpson as he attempts to solve three separate murders.The first is the murder of three members of the Cambridge Women's Institute. Alan enters the world of MI5 and 'The Troubles' in Northern Island. The second is the murder of a wealthy property developer whose family has much to gain from his demise. The third is of a Southeast London gangster who has been stealing from his boss. All these murders take place in and around Cambridge, where Alan is based. His success is based on hard work, intense police enquiries and teamwork.
The Crimson Ledger
The Crimson Ledger is a high-stakes crime thriller that exposes the deadly cost of uncovering secrets powerful institutions are willing to kill to protect.When financial analyst Daniel Cross stumbles upon a blood-stained ledger hidden within a web of offshore accounts, he uncovers a vast conspiracy linking organized crime, political elites, and corporate power. What begins as a routine investigation quickly becomes a race for survival as witnesses disappear, evidence vanishes, and Daniel realizes the truth is far more dangerous than the criminals chasing him.With the help of an investigative journalist determined to expose the corruption and a law enforcement officer trapped between duty and loyalty, Daniel follows a trail of money soaked in violence, betrayal, and murder. Every revelation tightens the net around him-and every step closer to the truth brings him nearer to becoming the next entry in the ledger.Gripping, intelligent, and unflinchingly dark, The Crimson Ledger is a story of greed, moral collapse, and the peril faced by those who dare to challenge systems built on secrecy and blood.Perfect for fans of conspiracy thrillers, financial crime fiction, and fast-paced political suspense.
The Retreat
A heart-wrenching, gripping, tense mystery novella ripping into the truth behind an isolated retreat island in this enthralling new addition to the wildly popular series. When broken, shattered and traumatized private investigator Bettie English runs away to a holiday retreat, she quickly realises death lurks round the corner. Explosive. Suspenseful. Deeply-unsettling. International bestseller Connor Whiteley delivers another impactful, gut-punching, riveting mystery book that provides perfect escapism and comfort to readers.
The Good Girl
Pick up this addictively chilling horror suspense title from bestselling author Michelle Dunne. If you love John Marrs and Jason Rekulak - this one is for you! ����Would you know a serial killer if you met one?Grace Murphy doesn't seem like the type of woman who'd have a man cable-tied to a chair, slowly dying in her house. She keeps to herself and goes through life relatively unnoticed, working as a barista and caring for her sister, providing her with wholesome meals and a clean home - things they never had as children . . .Detective Inspector Jerry Hughes knows about Grace's brutal and troubled childhood; his own life was profoundly affected by it after all... so when men start going missing in the city - men who seem to have nothing in common aside from a physical resemblance to someone from Grace Murphy's past - Inspector Hughes must dive back into the past to face a terrible truth playing out before him...*This title has been previously publishedPraise for The Good Girl: 'A compelling page turner... what a rollercoaster read.' Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond'Fresh and original with an unforgettable voice and a propulsive plot, The Good Girl is an immersive rollercoaster of a page-turner.' Andrea Mara - Sunday Times bestselling author of No One Saw A Thing⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'If you love Freida McFadden this book will blow you away.' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An astoundingly clever, disturbing and all-consuming novel!' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Dark, gritty and truly addictive.' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'One of the best books I've ever read' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Dark, heart-breaking and gruesome beautifully written book' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Just Amazing!' Reader Review
The Good Girl
Pick up this addictively chilling horror suspense title from bestselling author Michelle Dunne. If you love John Marrs and Jason Rekulak - this one is for you! ����Would you know a serial killer if you met one?Grace Murphy doesn't seem like the type of woman who'd have a man cable-tied to a chair, slowly dying in her house. She keeps to herself and goes through life relatively unnoticed, working as a barista and caring for her sister, providing her with wholesome meals and a clean home - things they never had as children . . .Detective Inspector Jerry Hughes knows about Grace's brutal and troubled childhood; his own life was profoundly affected by it after all... so when men start going missing in the city - men who seem to have nothing in common aside from a physical resemblance to someone from Grace Murphy's past - Inspector Hughes must dive back into the past to face a terrible truth playing out before him...*This title has been previously publishedPraise for The Good Girl: 'A compelling page turner... what a rollercoaster read.' Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond'Fresh and original with an unforgettable voice and a propulsive plot, The Good Girl is an immersive rollercoaster of a page-turner.' Andrea Mara - Sunday Times bestselling author of No One Saw A Thing⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'If you love Freida McFadden this book will blow you away.' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An astoundingly clever, disturbing and all-consuming novel!' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Dark, gritty and truly addictive.' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'One of the best books I've ever read' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Dark, heart-breaking and gruesome beautifully written book' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Just Amazing!' Reader Review
The Good Girl
Pick up this addictively chilling horror suspense title from bestselling author Michelle Dunne. If you love John Marrs and Jason Rekulak - this one is for you! ����Would you know a serial killer if you met one?Grace Murphy doesn't seem like the type of woman who'd have a man cable-tied to a chair, slowly dying in her house. She keeps to herself and goes through life relatively unnoticed, working as a barista and caring for her sister, providing her with wholesome meals and a clean home - things they never had as children . . .Detective Inspector Jerry Hughes knows about Grace's brutal and troubled childhood; his own life was profoundly affected by it after all... so when men start going missing in the city - men who seem to have nothing in common aside from a physical resemblance to someone from Grace Murphy's past - Inspector Hughes must dive back into the past to face a terrible truth playing out before him...*This title has been previously publishedPraise for The Good Girl: 'A compelling page turner... what a rollercoaster read.' Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond'Fresh and original with an unforgettable voice and a propulsive plot, The Good Girl is an immersive rollercoaster of a page-turner.' Andrea Mara - Sunday Times bestselling author of No One Saw A Thing⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'If you love Freida McFadden this book will blow you away.' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An astoundingly clever, disturbing and all-consuming novel!' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Dark, gritty and truly addictive.' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'One of the best books I've ever read' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Dark, heart-breaking and gruesome beautifully written book' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Just Amazing!' Reader Review
Missing
"Alcohol, sex, greed and just plain nasty human habits are the gist of this first-person account about a newscaster, his love life, kidnapped children and eviscerated organs. Readers who pick up this book will not be able to put it down." - 4 Stars - Faith V Smith, Romantic Times"...runs the gamut of emotions along with just the right amount of twists and turns designed to keep the reader twisting and turning -, and reading - As a serious writer, Rockey has the ability, as they might say in Tennessee, to "run with the big dogs," when it comes to spinning the kind of yarn that could easily enter today's best seller list." - Peggy Russell, The Hinckley RecordEditorial review by Crystal WhiteIt has been said that difficult subjects can make difficult books. But G.L. Rockey takes these true words, and turns them on their head. Because more than the politics, more than the thrill, this book shows that difficult subjects can not just be hard for those involved, but present opportunities and provide room for less than perfect characters to become, if still not perfect, then definitely better. Missing is a book that shows not just that things can go missing and need finding, but that even if we are in some way lost, we can still be found or find ourselves.Genre(s) you want books listed under: Mystery/Suspense
The Good Girl
Pick up this addictively chilling horror suspense title from bestselling author Michelle Dunne. If you love John Marrs and Jason Rekulak - this one is for you! ����Would you know a serial killer if you met one?Grace Murphy doesn't seem like the type of woman who'd have a man cable-tied to a chair, slowly dying in her house. She keeps to herself and goes through life relatively unnoticed, working as a barista and caring for her sister, providing her with wholesome meals and a clean home - things they never had as children . . .Detective Inspector Jerry Hughes knows about Grace's brutal and troubled childhood; his own life was profoundly affected by it after all... so when men start going missing in the city - men who seem to have nothing in common aside from a physical resemblance to someone from Grace Murphy's past - Inspector Hughes must dive back into the past to face a terrible truth playing out before him...*This title has been previously publishedPraise for The Good Girl: 'A compelling page turner... what a rollercoaster read.' Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond'Fresh and original with an unforgettable voice and a propulsive plot, The Good Girl is an immersive rollercoaster of a page-turner.' Andrea Mara - Sunday Times bestselling author of No One Saw A Thing⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'If you love Freida McFadden this book will blow you away.' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An astoundingly clever, disturbing and all-consuming novel!' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Dark, gritty and truly addictive.' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'One of the best books I've ever read' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Dark, heart-breaking and gruesome beautifully written book' Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Just Amazing!' Reader Review
No Good Deed
In a city where the forgotten vanish, who will be next?Homeless men are disappearing, and no one is asking why. But for true-crime journalist Carrieanne Dafoe, finding answers isn't just a job, it's an obsession. When her latest investigation uncovers links to her own past, she's dragged back into the tangled lives of her childhood friends, sisters Gennifer and Genevieve.Gennifer is the twin everyone admires - successful and devoted to helping others. Genevieve is the quiet one that people forget. But as Carrieanne begins to dig deeper, she can't shake the feeling that one of them is hiding something. And that in this city, no good deed goes unpunished.As the body count rises and the past refuses to stay buried, Carrieanne's search for truth becomes a fight for survival... because some stories are never meant to be told.Perfect for fans of Jane Casey and C.L. Taylor, No Good Deed is a taut and haunting thriller about obsession, truth and the cost of doing what's right.
Back to Africa
Haunted by the loss of a childhood worldWhile visiting her son Jonathan in prison, Daisy heard a strange story. He'd befriended an old man who was serving a life sentence for a crime he hadn't committed. Of course every inmate says that, but Johnny-John believed this man's protestations of innocence and begged his mother to look into it.The facts of the case had taken place in Zambia long ago, when it was a British colony, so Daisy started her investigation among ex-colonials who'd returned to England. However, it soon became clear that the people holding the key to the mystery were still living in Africa, so Daisy took a flight to Lusaka to seek out these witnesses.The truth turned out to be as strange as life in the African bush can be. It slowly emerged from a missionary daughter's rambling memoir about the long-lost world she grew up in. Daisy had to follow a winding trail, but in the end she was mysteriously led to unexpected revelations.
Snow Place Like Home
In the fifth installment of the Snow Globe Shop Mysteries, the past collides with the present for Camryn Brooks on one cold winter evening when a man's body is found in the passenger seat of a car, parked in her driveway. Camryn is chilled to the bone when she learns his identity: her old nemesis, the one whose actions ruined her career and tarnished her stellar reputation in Washington D.C.
Full House
Ten remarkably diverse short stories filled with scheming characters, unexpected twists, and writing that'll sneak up on you from the Edgar Award-winning crime novelist. "A good short story is like a punch from a prize fighter-it comes at you fast, delivers an impact, and leaves you stunned. There's no one in our business who does this better than David Housewright. In great story after great story, he proves himself a master of the art of short fiction. This is a collection that should be on every reader's bookshelf." -William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of the Cork O'Connor series A reformed newspaper reporter and ad man, David Housewright has published 16 crime novels including Penance (winner of the 1996 Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America), and Practice to Deceive, Jelly's Gold, and Curse of the Jade Lily-all winners of the Minnesota Book Award. He was elected President of the Private Eye Writers of America in 2014.
Winter's Rose
A queen and prince abducted. Can Bronwyn save them?Kitchen maid Bronwyn Blakenhale has earned Empress Maud's displeasure. She has been found in a passionate embrace with Theobold Durville, the squire of the empress's main military commander, who currently sits in prison. And with members of the royal family on their way to Bristol for a hostage exchange, tensions are high. Nothing must go wrong. It's certainly not the time for squires to go messing about with kitchen maids in full view of the empress.But when word comes that the queen and prince have been abducted, the empress sets Bronwyn on a thankless task. For earning her displeasure, Bronwyn is bidden to find and return the missing pair-or never return to court. Her search leads her to track a treacherous noblewoman to find them, then hiding the royal pair under the empress's nose in order to save their lives.But there's another problem happening at court. Maidservants are dying, found with roses in their hands. And the prime suspect is Rupert Bothwell, Bronwyn's close friend and crush. Can she prove his innocence and find the killer? In a world of courtly intrigue, false friends, accusations of spying, and the threat of losing her closest friend hanging over her head, Bronwyn needs all the help she can get.Tropes You'll Love: Courtly BreakupsLovers ReunitedFair-weather FriendsAmateur DetectivesBodies in the CemeteryMedieval HalloweenJudgments and Jousting
The Dying Hour
The wind still carries the memory of a recent storm across the Yorkshire hills. But it's not the weather that's set the dogs howling all day...When police officer Josh Mason is sent to investigate a complaint at Cooper's Stables, he expects nothing more than an awkward conversation with the yard's notoriously difficult owner. What waits behind the locked gates will haunt him forever.A family has been brutally murdered.Amidst the carnage, two things give Josh pause - a cryptic note clutched in a corpse's hand: For Freddy. Tell Giles. But Giles Cooper is among the dead. So who was meant to receive this message? And two tarot cards. One viciously defaced with red slashes scored across a child's face.What do the cards and the note mean? And why are Josh's superiors on the force so determined to ensure he never finds out?A gripping and atmospheric crime thriller, perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves and LJ Ross.
Collateral Damage
The BRAND NEW exposive instalment in the Dane Winter thrillers from Sam Cogley. Perfect for fans of Lee Child ����"Pulse-pounding action and razor-sharp suspense" - Bestselling author Andrew WarrenWinter came for the pancakes. Hollowvale fed him the dead.Dane Winter is unemployed and on a lonely road to nowhere. Riding his motorcycle west from New York, he spots a sign on the Interstate: Hollowvale, Pennsylvania. A place he hasn't visited since his Redwind Security days. Back then, the town was known for its coal mines and the best pancakes he ever tasted.A chance encounter with a distraught local woman pulls him into investigating her friend's disappearance. When Jacob Rhodes' body is found at the bottom of an abandoned mine shaft, the local authorities are quick to label it an accident. Winter isn't convinced...Between the death of Jacob and the unexplained illnesses spreading through the local population, it's clear that nothing is as it seems in the town of Hollowvale. Worse still, Winter thinks it might have something to do with his time there two years earlier.What starts as a quest for answers becomes a fight to expose a conspiracy that reaches far beyond the small town.But Winter is never one to give up, and he's willing to burn it all down in order to uncover the horrific truth.Praise for the Dane Winter thriller series: "A masterful cocktail of compelling heroes, ruthless adversaries, and the gritty backdrop of cartel-controlled Mexico." - Bestselling author Andrew Warren"A 5* read on every level. Has the makings of a blockbuster movie." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review"Wow, fast paced and exciting." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review"Explosive read I couldn't put it down." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review"I loved this book and cannot wait for book 2 in this series." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review"A fast moving thriller that has many twists and turns." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
Broken by Magick
Detective Inspector Brighton of Scotland Yard doesn't believe in magick... until a disturbing police investigation takes an unexpected turn.As the forensic evidence mounts up, even Brighton can't ignore the links between a series of child kidnappings in London, and his estranged mother's best-selling fantasy adventure series.When his own daughter is kidnapped, Brighton realises that everything in his mother's books is real, and that somehow, she's managed to incur the wrath of an evil wizard.When a nuclear missile is stolen deep in Dartmoor Forest, all the evidence leads Brighton to the magical wooded world where his daughter is being held prisoner.Joined in his quest by a feisty fairy, a forensics geek, and a flatulent brouny who loves a good curry; Brighton must start believing, if he's to save his broken family from a thermonuclear future.Will he find the missile in time?
Collateral Damage
The BRAND NEW exposive instalment in the Dane Winter thrillers from Sam Cogley. Perfect for fans of Lee Child
The Genesis Protocol
When a buried alien structure hums to life beneath a Cretan dig site, Dr. Kaelin Myre uncovers a truth humanity was never meant to remember: We didn't evolve here... we arrived.Dax Vorn, the lone survivor of an impossible event, becomes the key to activating a global network of ancient towers hidden across Earth. As governments scramble and the sky begins to change, something older than history awakens.The towers aren't relics. They're an early-warning system. And the threat they were built to detect has returned.From collapsing alien cities to frozen anchors buried under polar ice, Kaelin and Dax race to decipher the Seed Language before synchronization tears the planet open. But when the Arrival Window activates and an ancient enemy answers the call, Kaelin faces the brutal truth: Saving the world may cost her the one person who can change it.Fast-paced, emotional, and cinematic, *The Genesis Protocol: The Awakening* launches a high-stakes sci-fi thriller where humanity's future depends on remembering its past.
Hide in Plain Sight
Alex orchestrates a meeting with a supposed old flame, the acclaimed actress, Clare Keegan. They meet. They connect. Then they marry freely, but this is where the problems surface. But these are big problems, mainly brought on by Alex's strange upbringing and his need for control over Clare, whose career surprisingly goes global, affecting them both big time. They part, but keep in touch, even at the end. And it is not a good ending.
Santified Sins
By day, he is Bishop, a spiritual leader whose sermons draw thousands and whose prayers can move a congregation to tears. By night, he is the Godfather, a silent mastermind of Portmore's criminal underworld, feared and respected in equal measure. For years, he has balanced the pulpit and the streets, commanding loyalty from both choir and crew. To the public, he is a man of God. To those who know better, he is power incarnate. But when grief, betrayal, and ambition threaten to unravel the fragile line he has walked for decades, the Bishop must decide how far he is willing to go to protect his legacy and whether his salvation lies in faith, fear, or fire. Set against the vibrant yet volatile backdrop of Portmore, Jamaica, this gripping tale of duality, dominance, and deception asks: How long can one man serve two masters?
Ours Is a Tale of Murder
"A shocking collision made all the more satisfying by Murphy's brilliant twists...Clear your schedule--you won't be putting this down until that last, mesmerizing page." --Carter Wilson, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of Tell Me What You DidOne quiet neighborhoodThree different familiesBound by murderKlara never wanted the house with the white picket fence. Troy never wanted anything else.Nothing is quite right with this happy couple, but isn't every home hiding something? Mary, the mother in the blue house, is cleaning out her son's old room before she sells, haunted by the mistakes of her past and afraid of what her home has become. Henry, freshly laid off and back living with hisparents, has plenty of time to watch everyone--especially wives. He knows something is wrong with the couple across the street. But then, nothing is quite what it seems, and sometimes you miss what's right in front of you. Murder will soon thread its way through this world in ways no one will see coming--unless you've been the one plotting it all along.
Normandy, Echoes in Blood
Conflict and war seems to echo in Normandy. Two pivotal battles were fought in Normandy, one on D-Day, and the other an American Civil War naval battle. The story begins with solving a crime that could incite another pivotal war, although this time with terrorists. The story involves a young woman who has a vested interest in the Civil War battle fought in Normandy waters. We are later introduced to an adept CIA operative who is brought in to solve the crime and prevent another tragedy in Normandy.
Collateral Damage
The BRAND NEW exposive instalment in the Dane Winter thrillers from Sam Cogley. Perfect for fans of Lee Child
Collateral Damage
The BRAND NEW exposive instalment in the Dane Winter thrillers from Sam Cogley. Perfect for fans of Lee Child
Normandy, Echoes in Blood
Conflict and war seems to echo in Normandy. Two pivotal battles were fought in Normandy, one on D-Day, and the other an American Civil War naval battle. The story begins with solving a crime that could incite another pivotal war, although this time with terrorists. The story involves a young woman who has a vested interest in the Civil War battle fought in Normandy waters. We are later introduced to an adept CIA operative who is brought in to solve the crime and prevent another tragedy in Normandy.
Forgiveness Dies
Upon being released after three years of incarceration in a psychiatric facility, former narcotics detective and unlicensed PI Trevor Galloway has no idea how to begin picking up the pieces of his shattered life. Having lost the woman he loved and exacting revenge upon those responsible, he is irreparably broken, heavily medicated, and unemployable. When former Secret Service agent Nick Van Metre knocks on Trevor Galloway's door, the last thing he expected was a job offer. However when the head of Metal Security hands Galloway a stack of photos and asks for his assistance with investigating a series of threats against a controversial presidential candidate, the former detective is stunned. Galloway initially takes the case, but eventually has to question his own sanity after he reports an encounter with intruders who seem to have left no trace in his home. When Nick Van Metre turns up dead and an attack is carried out against Dennis Hackney, the former detective with a history of extreme violence becomes the focal point of multiple investigations. Galloway pulls clues from photos and searches for answers while dodging bullets in Pittsburgh and Savannah. Get set for a mystery told at a breakneck pace, with each of the chapters being linked to photograph in roll of film. Look for the hints. Watch for the signs. Trevor Galloway doesn't trust himself. Can you trust him? The answers won't be revealed until the final photo is flipped. Praise for FORGIVENESS DIES: "Is someone setting Trevor Galloway up, or is his own mind deceiving him? Forgiveness Dies puts a uniquely fascinating protagonist--a detective who can't trust his own perceptions--into a complex political thriller, and the result is propulsive. Hensley starts with a punch, and accelerates from there." --Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of Judgment and The Switch "Inventive storytelling meets propulsive action in this wild thrill ride from J.J. Hensley, who brings real-life experiences to the page and delivers an authentic tale of double-crosses and dirty dealings. Don't worry if you haven't stepped into Trevor Galloway's shadowy world yet...start right here, and you'll soon want to read them all!" --Daniel Palmer, USA Today bestselling author of Stolen and Saving Meghan "A snapshot of humanity in perfect focus. Edgy, furiously paced, raw. From the whip-smart dialogue to the deeply flawed characters, Hensley has a voice that will stay with you long after the final exposure." --K.J. Howe, author of The Freedom Broker and Skyjack "Forgiveness Dies is a non-stop, gut churning thriller that you'll read in one sitting. Hensley has conceived a brilliant but almost fatally flawed protagonist in Trevor Galloway, a man so tormented by his past that in the battle for truth and justice he's forced to fight enemies that are dangerously real, and some that only real to him. J.J. Hensley is one of the best thriller writers out there, and he sits at the top of my must-read list." --Mark Pryor, author of the Hugo Marston series "With Trevor Galloway, the tortured, likable protagonist of J.J. Hensley's Forgiveness Dies, Hensley has created a character destined to remain with the reader long after the last page is turned. Not only that, but readers will find themselves inextricably pulled into a tight plot that bears a brutally close, and necessary, resemblance to today's America. Read this book, and you'll want to read everything else Hensley has written." --E.A. Aymar, author of The Unrepentant
A Taste of Shotgun
Nobody likes a shakedown. Especially not Denis Carroll, proprietor of The Brass Lantern, a dive bar in a bleak southern Illinois town. Five years ago Denis gunned down a dirtbag who was attempting to hold up his bar. At least that's what the cops think. After the shooting, Denis' hotheaded younger brother, Vince, insisted on taking the rap. No big deal. He'd plead self-defense. Case closed. What the Carrolls didn't count on was the cops discovering a huge stash of weed in a back room, locally sourced marijuana the Carrolls peddled "to make ends meet." Weed supplied by the psychotic Goodwin Brothers, Clay and Randy. Vince ended up taking the fall for that, too. With Vince behind bars and Denis promising to keep his nose clean, the Goodwins turn to blackmail to force the Carrolls back into the illegal drug trade. Play along or the Goodwin Brothers (one of whom witnessed the shooting at the bar) will finger Denis as a murderer. Meanwhile the Goodwins have troubles of their own, specifically their niece, Erica. As a child, Erica witnessed her sister being sexually abused by her Uncle Clay. As a young woman, she saw her fianc矇 shot down at a local bar by one of the Carrolls. Erica is determined to get revenge on both men. How much better if she can kill two birds with one stone--get rid of her uncle and pin his murder on that murderous bar owner? In this darkly humorous small-town noir everyone has something to hide and nothing is as it seems.
A Summertime Murder
The BRAND NEW page-turning cozy mystery from the author of the NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER A Christmas Murder - perfect for fans of Faith Martin and LJ Ross 'I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing mystery set in a beautiful location with deliciously menacing undercurrents.' Frances Evesham Susan never imagined herself an amateur sleuth, and she certainly never goes looking for trouble, preferring days spent walking her loyal dogs Libs and Rocco, and maybe even a dip in the sea to cool off after this interminable heatwave. When she hears of a break-in at the vet's where her new neighbour works, Susan's curiosity is piqued. And then, a few days later, the lead vet, Peter, mysteriously disappears. They assume it's business related until his body is washed up on the beach close to his clifftop home. Susan is convinced he was murdered and slowly discovers that each of the small group of suspects has a motive. Is the killing linked to the break-in... or is this a crime of passion? Once again, Susan finds herself piecing together clues in her search for the truth. Can she untangle the lies before someone else dies? Return to the beautiful coastline of the Isle of Wight in this engrossing and unputdownable cosy mystery! Praise for Mary Grand: 'A really terrific read. I have been reading and enjoying Mary's books for a number of years right from her first one, and this one was well up to Mary's high standard. Brilliant.' 'Another cracking murder mystery from Mary. It kept me intrigued through out. So many red herrings amongst the well created characters. With the added bonus of all the dogs.' 'I absolutely LOVE these psychological thrillers from Mary. On every page is another suspicious thing about someone but then at the end, the twist is a shocker! The fact the books are set on the Isle of Wight is another treat.' 'I love books where you are given lots of clues and have lots of suspects, and are continually changing your mind about who the murderer was. I've read other books by Mary Grand and she's very good at keeping you guessing. And, at the end, I still had it wrong!' 'Mary Grand has crafted another intriguing and cleverly thought out whodunnit. Prepare to be gripped and thrown around on this rollercoaster of a book. Cosy crime is rapidly becoming one of my favourite genres, and Mary Grand one of my favourite authors.'
A Summertime Murder
The BRAND NEW page-turning cozy mystery from the author of the NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER A Christmas Murder - perfect for fans of Faith Martin and LJ Ross 'I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing mystery set in a beautiful location with deliciously menacing undercurrents.' Frances Evesham Susan never imagined herself an amateur sleuth, and she certainly never goes looking for trouble, preferring days spent walking her loyal dogs Libs and Rocco, and maybe even a dip in the sea to cool off after this interminable heatwave. When she hears of a break-in at the vet's where her new neighbour works, Susan's curiosity is piqued. And then, a few days later, the lead vet, Peter, mysteriously disappears. They assume it's business related until his body is washed up on the beach close to his clifftop home. Susan is convinced he was murdered and slowly discovers that each of the small group of suspects has a motive. Is the killing linked to the break-in... or is this a crime of passion? Once again, Susan finds herself piecing together clues in her search for the truth. Can she untangle the lies before someone else dies? Return to the beautiful coastline of the Isle of Wight in this engrossing and unputdownable cosy mystery! Praise for Mary Grand: 'A really terrific read. I have been reading and enjoying Mary's books for a number of years right from her first one, and this one was well up to Mary's high standard. Brilliant.' 'Another cracking murder mystery from Mary. It kept me intrigued through out. So many red herrings amongst the well created characters. With the added bonus of all the dogs.' 'I absolutely LOVE these psychological thrillers from Mary. On every page is another suspicious thing about someone but then at the end, the twist is a shocker! The fact the books are set on the Isle of Wight is another treat.' 'I love books where you are given lots of clues and have lots of suspects, and are continually changing your mind about who the murderer was. I've read other books by Mary Grand and she's very good at keeping you guessing. And, at the end, I still had it wrong!' 'Mary Grand has crafted another intriguing and cleverly thought out whodunnit. Prepare to be gripped and thrown around on this rollercoaster of a book. Cosy crime is rapidly becoming one of my favourite genres, and Mary Grand one of my favourite authors.'
A Summertime Murder
The BRAND NEW page-turning cozy mystery from the author of the NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER A Christmas Murder - perfect for fans of Faith Martin and LJ Ross 'I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing mystery set in a beautiful location with deliciously menacing undercurrents.' Frances Evesham Susan never imagined herself an amateur sleuth, and she certainly never goes looking for trouble, preferring days spent walking her loyal dogs Libs and Rocco, and maybe even a dip in the sea to cool off after this interminable heatwave. When she hears of a break-in at the vet's where her new neighbour works, Susan's curiosity is piqued. And then, a few days later, the lead vet, Peter, mysteriously disappears. They assume it's business related until his body is washed up on the beach close to his clifftop home. Susan is convinced he was murdered and slowly discovers that each of the small group of suspects has a motive. Is the killing linked to the break-in... or is this a crime of passion? Once again, Susan finds herself piecing together clues in her search for the truth. Can she untangle the lies before someone else dies? Return to the beautiful coastline of the Isle of Wight in this engrossing and unputdownable cosy mystery! Praise for Mary Grand: 'A really terrific read. I have been reading and enjoying Mary's books for a number of years right from her first one, and this one was well up to Mary's high standard. Brilliant.' 'Another cracking murder mystery from Mary. It kept me intrigued through out. So many red herrings amongst the well created characters. With the added bonus of all the dogs.' 'I absolutely LOVE these psychological thrillers from Mary. On every page is another suspicious thing about someone but then at the end, the twist is a shocker! The fact the books are set on the Isle of Wight is another treat.' 'I love books where you are given lots of clues and have lots of suspects, and are continually changing your mind about who the murderer was. I've read other books by Mary Grand and she's very good at keeping you guessing. And, at the end, I still had it wrong!' 'Mary Grand has crafted another intriguing and cleverly thought out whodunnit. Prepare to be gripped and thrown around on this rollercoaster of a book. Cosy crime is rapidly becoming one of my favourite genres, and Mary Grand one of my favourite authors.'
Old Guy Music
When Cougar Bill, lead guitarist and founder of the iconic pop group The Cougars, is found hanging from the rafters of his sprawling country home by a curious schoolboy, Detective Chief Inspector Max Bellamy is called in to investigate.Was it suicide-or something far more sinister? What links Bill's death to a string of mysterious drownings from years past? And how much does Josie, Bill's wife and the band's manager, Eric Irwin, really know?As Bellamy digs deeper, he finds himself navigating a tangle of suspects, secrets, and those eager to dismiss the death as a suicide. But when threats are made against his wife, MP Louise Bellamy, the case becomes personal - and the stakes turn deadly.Will Bellamy uncover the truth before it's too late?
A Summertime Murder
The BRAND NEW page-turning cozy mystery from the author of the NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER A Christmas Murder - perfect for fans of Faith Martin and LJ Ross 'I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing mystery set in a beautiful location with deliciously menacing undercurrents.' Frances Evesham Susan never imagined herself an amateur sleuth, and she certainly never goes looking for trouble, preferring days spent walking her loyal dogs Libs and Rocco, and maybe even a dip in the sea to cool off after this interminable heatwave. When she hears of a break-in at the vet's where her new neighbour works, Susan's curiosity is piqued. And then, a few days later, the lead vet, Peter, mysteriously disappears. They assume it's business related until his body is washed up on the beach close to his clifftop home. Susan is convinced he was murdered and slowly discovers that each of the small group of suspects has a motive. Is the killing linked to the break-in... or is this a crime of passion? Once again, Susan finds herself piecing together clues in her search for the truth. Can she untangle the lies before someone else dies? Return to the beautiful coastline of the Isle of Wight in this engrossing and unputdownable cosy mystery! Praise for Mary Grand: 'A really terrific read. I have been reading and enjoying Mary's books for a number of years right from her first one, and this one was well up to Mary's high standard. Brilliant.' 'Another cracking murder mystery from Mary. It kept me intrigued through out. So many red herrings amongst the well created characters. With the added bonus of all the dogs.' 'I absolutely LOVE these psychological thrillers from Mary. On every page is another suspicious thing about someone but then at the end, the twist is a shocker! The fact the books are set on the Isle of Wight is another treat.' 'I love books where you are given lots of clues and have lots of suspects, and are continually changing your mind about who the murderer was. I've read other books by Mary Grand and she's very good at keeping you guessing. And, at the end, I still had it wrong!' 'Mary Grand has crafted another intriguing and cleverly thought out whodunnit. Prepare to be gripped and thrown around on this rollercoaster of a book. Cosy crime is rapidly becoming one of my favourite genres, and Mary Grand one of my favourite authors.'
Treasure of the San Jos矇
More than three hundred years ago, the officers and crew of a Spanish treasure ship embarked on a quest to pull off the greatest heist the world would ever know.What became of them has remained hidden by time, but now two parties are closing in on the truth and the billions in gold and jewels that went missing all those years ago.Xavier Silvestre wants the treasure. He is rich, resourceful, and ruthless. He also has one of Patricia Fisher's friends and that's more than enough to get her involved.Patricia has no interest in the treasure, she just wants her gang to feel whole again, but she doesn't know who the other treasure hunter is, and she has no idea where he is. The only thing she does know is what he wants, and she is in a desperate scramble to find it first.Get ready for white-knuckle adventure.
A Deadly Development
They're Back...Bumbling Amateur Sleuths Annie and Dickie return in the much-anticipated sequel to humorous Southern mystery Odd Job Annie...Annie Cooper's living her best retirement life. Her side hustle-Odd Job Annie-is thriving, she's settling into her new life in the small quirky mountain town of Monteagle, Tennessee, and not one, but two, charming men seem interested in her. Well, at least one is charming-the other is slightly annoying but sexy as hell. Lord a mercy!When Annie discovers the body of the skeeviest man in their tiny homedevelopment, she and her partner-in-crime, Dickie, once again combine forces to figure out whodunit in this raucous, laugh-out-loud Southern mystery.And ya'll. . . there are recipes.
A Pretender's Murder
"A cracking good mystery, almost impossible to put down." --Booklist The year is 1925. A labyrinth of roads and rails spirals out from the bones of a nearly forgotten settlement. Londinium. Once the far-flung edge of the vast Roman Empire, it is now the seat of a greater one. Few have given more for the Empire than Colonel Hadrian Russell. Robbed of his four sons by the Great War, he now holds court as the acting president of the Britannia, a prestigious soldiers-only club in London. But when the Colonel is shot and thrown out the club's front window, it seems the shadows of the Great War may extend further than previously thought. Lieutenant Eric Peterkin, newly installed secretary at the Britannia, finds himself thrust into the role of detective after Scotland Yard points fingers at friends he knows are innocent. But is the true murderer an unknown spy? Or a recently resurfaced friend of the Colonel's dead sons? Or is it one of the Colonel's four widowed daughters-in-law, who by all appearances paid him complete devotion? Accusations from personal betrayal to wartime espionage mount among the suspects as Eric's investigation draws him back to scenes and sites of a war he's sought to leave behind. From the greening fields of Flanders and the springtime streets of Paris to the sterile wards of a Swiss sanatorium, and back to the Britannia itself, Eric finds that even myths leave behind bones.
Too Long In Paradise
Too Long In Paradise is a novel set in a future time when people have created a paradise on Earth. It is both an adventure story and science fiction -- the kind of science fiction which is based firmly on 21st Century science fact.Five emissaries from one of Earth's interstellar daughter colonies travel to Earth on a fact finding mission and are treated with cold indifference by Earth's ruler. One of their number, convinced something is being kept hidden, defies the ruler and makes contact with an apparently insane rebel. The result of this disobedience is that the five emissaries are ordered to return immediately to their home planet. However, before their expulsion can take effect, three of them are 'rescued' in an act of horrifying violence by the rebel and some accomplices. The three, now on the run, are at first appalled by the destruction which freed them, but gradually they come to identify with the rebels, as they learn ever more about the boredom and passivity that go with life in paradise. After one of their number is killed in an ambush, the two survivors realize that the facts they have uncovered hold the key to the future survival of all the interstellar daughter colonies. Unfortunately, Earth's ruler refuses to let them return home, demanding instead that they must first answer for the crimes they have been involved with. They conclude their only hope of getting a message to the daughter colonies is to steal a spaceship. The escape attempt, in which they are nearly killed, does not go according to plan. Ironically, what subsequently happens to them provides them with one final stark revelation about the reality of living in a paradise.If you've ever wondered what the ultimate goal of human endeavour is, or wondered, should we succeed in our efforts to build a paradise on Earth, whether you'd truly be happy to live in it, this novel of prediction will provide plenty of food for thought.
