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Union Station (A John Russell WWII Spy Thriller #8)
by David DowningIn this fascinating historical thriller, a British journalist (and former spy) is adrift in McCarthy-era Los Angeles—until his research into a wartime conspiracy brings him face-to-face with the perilous instability of a post-Stalin Berlin.John Russell, an English journalist who specializes in human-interest pieces, had always been a reluctant spy. It&’s a dangerous life—especially when you are tasked with being a double agent for Soviet and American intelligence, in a city as fraught with hazard as Nazi-occupied Berlin. But it&’s been years, now, since Russell was finally able to extricate himself from his life of espionage—through a shady deal with a high-ranking Soviet official.Now it&’s 1953, and Russell and his family—his long-time partner, Effi Koenen, a burgeoning star on an American sitcom, and their daughter, Rosa, a young artist on the cusp of adulthood—live a life of relative comfort in Los Angeles. Feeling somewhat adrift, Russell has just begun work on a book investigating American firms that continued doing business with Germany during Nazi occupation. Then he notices someone is tailing him around Los Angeles. Has someone not taken kindly to his research? Or could it be that the deal Russell struck all those years ago has left him with unfinished business?The answer may lie in Berlin, where John and Effi decide to return for the Third Annual Berlin International Film Festival. Braving the political disorder of a city that was once their home, the two are thrust into a perilous mission to protect the life—and safety—they worked so hard to build.
Unladylike Rules of Attraction: A Marleigh Sisters Novel (The Marleigh Sisters #2)
by Amita MurrayFrom the author of Unladylike Lessons in Love comes the second spectacular novel in the Marleigh Sisters series, following Anya as she must marry in order to inherit a fortune…and fight her attraction to the man who stands in her way.Anya Marleigh is a singer and sitar player in Queen Charlotte’s court. She is left a fortune by Dowager Countess Budleigh, one of her elderly clients who used to hire her for musical evenings. But there is a condition attached. Anya must marry before her next birthday if she wants to see any of the fortune. The executor of the will is an insufferably conceited man who must consent to her marriage—if he doesn’t give his consent, the fortune reverts to him.But Damian Ashton is only part of the problem. The Budleigh family see Anya as a usurper. They believe the fortune is rightfully theirs, and they will do all in their power—including accusing Anya of murder and Damian of some dubious and criminal dealings—to get their hands on the fortune. Now Anya must do everything she can to thwart their efforts, save herself from the gallows, and at the same time, resist the powerful attraction she feels towards Damian—who surely is only interested in keeping the Budleigh money.Can Anya sort out the tangle—or must she lose her heart to find her fortune?
The Unwedding: The addictive new destination thriller: fast paced, unputdownable and unsettling
by Ally CondieTHE JUNE 2024 REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK!Ellery Wainwright is alone at the edge of the world.She and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. Where better to celebrate a marriage, a family, and a life together than at one of the most stunning places on earth?But now she's traveling solo.To add insult to injury, there's a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay. Ellery remembers how it felt to be on the cusp of everything new and wonderful, with a loved and certain future glimmering just ahead. Now, she isn't certain of anything except for her love for her kids and her growing realization that this place, though beautiful, is unsettling.When Ellery discovers the body of the groom floating in the pool in the rain, she realizes that she is not the only one whose future is no longer guaranteed. Before the police can reach Broken Point, a mudslide takes out the road to the resort, leaving the guests trapped. When another guest dies, it's clear something horrible is brewing.Everyone at Broken Point has a secret. And everyone has a shadow. Including Ellery.
The Unwedding: Reese's Book Club Pick (A Novel)
by Ally CondieREESE&’S BOOK CLUB PICK &“Our June Reese&’s Book Club pick is the perfect summer read!!! The Unwedding by Ally Condie opens with a wedding at a gorgeous resort in Big Sur... but everything begins to fall apart when the main character Ellery discovers a dead body the morning of the ceremony.&”– Reese Witherspoon The White Lotus meets Agatha Christie in this bold novel from a #1 New York Times bestselling author, &“a knife&’s-edge whodunit that&’s as much a thriller as it is an exquisite meditation on grief and loss.&” (Nicola Yoon) Ellery Wainwright is alone at the edge of the world. She and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. Where better to celebrate a marriage, a family, and a life together than at one of the most stunning places on earth? But now she&’s traveling solo. To add insult to injury, there&’s a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay. Ellery remembers how it felt to be on the cusp of everything new and wonderful, with a loved and certain future glimmering just ahead. Now, she isn&’t certain of anything except for her love for her kids and her growing realization that this place, though beautiful, is unsettling. When Ellery discovers the body of the groom floating in the pool in the rain, she realizes that she is not the only one whose future is no longer guaranteed. Before the police can reach Broken Point, a mudslide takes out the road to the resort, leaving the guests trapped. When another guest dies, it&’s clear something horrible is brewing. Everyone at Broken Point has a secret. And everyone has a shadow. Including Ellery.
The Vacancy in Room 10: A Psychological Crime Thriller
by Seraphina Nova GlassThe Most Anticipated 2024 Book Releases by Nerd DailyMost Anticipated Crime Fiction Novels of 2024 by Novel Suspects"[An] entertaining thriller [that] maintain[s] tension and intrigue through to the satisfying end. The author&’s fans will devour this.&” —Publishers WeeklyThe Paris Apartment meets The Wrong Family in this thrilling tale of crime, passion and murder set in a run-down apartment complex packed with shady characters willing to go to deadly lengths to keep their darkest secrets from the stranger in their midst.When Anna Hartley&’s husband, Henry, calls her with a terrible, guilty confession, she can&’t believe what she hears. It has to be a bad joke—the mild, predictable artist she married would never hurt a fly, let alone commit murder. But her confusion turns to horror when police find his body washed up on the banks of the Rio Grande. Desperate for answers to the millions of questions his untimely death has raised, Anna checks in to The Sycamores, the run-down motel turned apartment Henry rented as an art studio. As she absorbs every bit of gossip the eclectic mix of residents are willing to share about her husband and each other, she begins to piece together a picture of a very different man than the one she married, and the life he led behind her back. The more she learns, and the less sense things seem to make, she finds herself wondering: Did she ever really know Henry at all? But Henry&’s secrets aren&’t the only ones; as Anna&’s search for clues expands, Cass, the mysterious, jaded motel manager, seems more and more determined to keep Anna in the dark. And when threatening letters start appearing at her door, Anna has to decide what&’s more important—the truth, or her own safety.
The Vanished: A Novel
by Cara Putman"Putman's legal expertise shines in this compelling and intricately plotted romantic suspense. Highly recommended!" --Colleen Coble, USA Today best-selling author Janae Simmons left the small town of Kedgewick, Virginia, ten years ago to pursue her legal career and never looked back--until a professional mistake leads her to her grandmother's historic carriage house and to the town where her past threatens to find her. The quiet streets echo with her grandfather's sterling reputation, one that conflicts with fresh questions that claw at Janae, launching her on a reluctant journey to unearth his secrets. When her new job at a local law firm doesn't live up to expectations, she wonders if coming home was the right decision. Carter Montgomery starts his art preservation career with the only job he can get--director at the Elliott Museum of Art. At least Kedgewick is a nice enough town to provide him and his nephew with a safe place to grieve the loss of Carter's sister. But Carter's calm days disappear when an elderly woman claims two paintings in the museum's collection were stolen from her family during World War II. Carter enlists Janae's help to unravel the legal labyrinth of art ownership, and the peaceful facade of Kedgewick morphs into a hot bed of secrets. When an attorney turns up dead and Janae uncovers another painting, what began as a simple legal issue spirals into a race against time. As the web of intrigue tightens, the duo must confront a looming question: What dark truths lie beneath the surface, waiting to be exposed? "Cara Putman has once again created an exciting cast of characters. I was immediately drawn in by Janae and Carter's unique chemistry. This is one story you don't want to miss." --Rebecca Hemlock, award-winning author of Fury in the Shadows
The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells
by Rebecca Rego BarryThe Vanishing of Carolyn Wells is the first biography of one of the &“lost ladies&” of detective fiction who wrote more than eighty mysteries and hundreds of other works between the 1890s and the 1940s.Carolyn Wells (1862–1942) excelled at writing country house and locked-room mysteries for a decade before Agatha Christie entered the scene. In the 1920s, when she was churning out three or more books annually, she was dubbed &“about the biggest thing in mystery novels in the US.&”On top of that, Wells wielded her pen in just about every literary genre, producing several immensely popular children&’s books and young adult novels; beloved anthologies; and countless stories, prose, and poetry for magazines such as Thrilling Detective, Life, The Saturday Evening Post, Harper&’s, and The New Yorker. All told, Wells wrote over 180 books. Some were adapted into silent films, and some became bestsellers. Yet a hundred years later, she has been all but erased from literary history. Why? How?This investigation takes us on a journey to Rahway, New Jersey, where Wells was born and is buried; to New York City&’s Upper West Side, where she spent her final twenty-five years; to the Library of Congress, where Carolyn&’s world-class collection of rare books now resides; and to many other public and private collections where exciting discoveries unfolded.Part biography and part sleuthing narrative, The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells recovers the life and work of a brilliant writer who was considered one of the funniest, most talented women of her time.
The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood: A brilliantly chilling and thrilling mystery debut novel
by Lisa RookesThe debris from the night before is scattered underneath the village tree and across the cobbles. Red wine stains the ground like blood. And Joni has vanished.Joni Blackwood is my best friend. She was there for my first crush, stood beside me at my wedding, watched my daughter grow up. She's been there through the painful mess of the divorce, too. So when she suddenly goes missing on All Gallows' Eve, I'm first to raise the alarm.People outside the village say she must have been sacrificed in some pagan ritual. But All Gallows' Eve isn't like that. We're just simple folk enjoying an annual bonfire to keep an old tradition alive. It's mulled cider and local mums running charity bake sales to be in with a chance of winning Gallows Queen. Joni wins every year.My mum used to say this village was built on the roots of The Gallows Tree, that they're underneath the ground, under all of our houses. It used to scare me as a kid. Thick, snaking roots squirming under me. No matter how far you ran, they could tunnel after you. And when the bones of a small child are unearthed in the church graveyard, I have to wonder how many secrets are running through our village, like the roots of the tree. And I wonder if Joni can really outrun hers. And I wonder if I can really outrun mine.The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood is an utterly compelling mystery with a twist you won't see coming. Perfect for fans of C J Tudor, Caroline Mitchell and Erin Kelly.
The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood: A brilliantly chilling and thrilling mystery debut novel
by Lisa Rookes'An absolute page-turner, I'm actually on pins waiting for the story to unfold and my anxiety is through the roof. And what a jaw-swinging, heart-palpitating ending this book has, too!... An easy 5 star for me.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The debris from the party the night before is scattered underneath the village tree and across the cobbles. Red wine stains the ground like blood. And Joni has vanished.Everyone in the village loves Joni Blackwood. She is beautiful and bold, and it's no surprise to anyone when on All Gallows' Eve, she is crowned Gallows Queen. After all, despite fierce competition from the charity-giving and churchgoing mothers in the village, she has won this honour five years in a row.But this year, the morning after the All Gallows' Eve bonfire is not like the mornings before. This year, Joni is missing, the shower left running in her cottage.When the next day, human remains are found in the church graveyard, everyone is quick to assume that the mystery of Joni's whereabouts has had a swift and deadly answer. But when it's revealed that the remains are the small bones of a baby from many years ago, it's clear that Joni's disappearance only marks the start of dark truths in the village coming to light.If the remains aren't Joni's, did she vanish because she put them there? Or is she running because she knows who did?The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood is an utterly compelling mystery with a twist you won't see coming. Perfect for fans of C J Tudor, Caroline Mitchell and Erin Kelly.Read what everyone is saying about The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood:'I absolutelyyyyyyy loved the atmospheric setting of the small village... And that final reveal? Wow! I didn't see it coming at all.🔥🔥🔥... You'll love this one. It's a real page-turner, and I can't wait to read more from Lisa Rookes' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Lisa Rookes has written a gem of a book. It's small town claustrophobia that bites in all the right places. A surefire five star read.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I meannnnn I am currently jaw to the floor. I was not expecting that very end twist!!! This was such a wild ride and I honestly don't feel a review can do the twists and turns justice, you just need to go and read it... Small town... drama... it's got it all.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐'A crime fiction trope that I really, really love is a small town mystery... I was really shocked that this was a debut novel, it's got a very distinctive voice and the mystery is complex and develops in a really unexpected way. A brilliant set of characters, and the Northern setting of a small village near Sheffield was perfect for this storyline full of secrets and suspense.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A page-turner from the first chapter... The author did a wonderful job describing relationships and their dynamics... Creepy, twisty... There are a lot of times that make you wonder if your predictions of what is going to happen next or who may not be the best person(s) are true... Cannot wait to read more from this author.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I was hooked... It had everything that I was hoping for in the mystery element. It was a unique world... Lisa Rookes has a great writing style and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood: A brilliantly chilling and thrilling mystery debut novel
by Lisa Rookes'An absolute page-turner, I'm actually on pins waiting for the story to unfold and my anxiety is through the roof. And what a jaw-swinging, heart-palpitating ending this book has, too!... An easy 5 star for me.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The debris from the party the night before is scattered underneath the village tree and across the cobbles. Red wine stains the ground like blood. And Joni has vanished.Everyone in the village loves Joni Blackwood. She is beautiful and bold, and it's no surprise to anyone when on All Gallows' Eve, she is crowned Gallows Queen. After all, despite fierce competition from the charity-giving and churchgoing mothers in the village, she has won this honour five years in a row.But this year, the morning after the All Gallows' Eve bonfire is not like the mornings before. This year, Joni is missing, the shower left running in her cottage.When the next day, human remains are found in the church graveyard, everyone is quick to assume that the mystery of Joni's whereabouts has had a swift and deadly answer. But when it's revealed that the remains are the small bones of a baby from many years ago, it's clear that Joni's disappearance only marks the start of dark truths in the village coming to light.If the remains aren't Joni's, did she vanish because she put them there? Or is she running because she knows who did?The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood is an utterly compelling mystery with a twist you won't see coming. Perfect for fans of C J Tudor, Caroline Mitchell and Erin Kelly.Read what everyone is saying about The Vanishing of Joni Blackwood:'I absolutelyyyyyyy loved the atmospheric setting of the small village... And that final reveal? Wow! I didn't see it coming at all.🔥🔥🔥... You'll love this one. It's a real page-turner, and I can't wait to read more from Lisa Rookes' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Lisa Rookes has written a gem of a book. It's small town claustrophobia that bites in all the right places. A surefire five star read.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I meannnnn I am currently jaw to the floor. I was not expecting that very end twist!!! This was such a wild ride and I honestly don't feel a review can do the twists and turns justice, you just need to go and read it... Small town... drama... it's got it all.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐'A crime fiction trope that I really, really love is a small town mystery... I was really shocked that this was a debut novel, it's got a very distinctive voice and the mystery is complex and develops in a really unexpected way. A brilliant set of characters, and the Northern setting of a small village near Sheffield was perfect for this storyline full of secrets and suspense.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A page-turner from the first chapter... The author did a wonderful job describing relationships and their dynamics... Creepy, twisty... There are a lot of times that make you wonder if your predictions of what is going to happen next or who may not be the best person(s) are true... Cannot wait to read more from this author.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I was hooked... It had everything that I was hoping for in the mystery element. It was a unique world... Lisa Rookes has a great writing style and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Venetian Sanctuary
by Philip Gwynne Jones'I devoured all Philip's novels and felt transported to Venice with a new intimacy' Val McDermid'An unputdownable thriller' Gregory Dowling'It is no surprise to find that Philip Gwynne Jones lives in Venice... art and architecture interweave into a story that builds to an almost surreal climax' Daily Mail'Gwynne Jones's talent for evoking place and atmosphere is clear as ever' Literary ReviewWhat lies beneath?Venice, June 2020. The city has returned to the Venetians during a merciful pause in the Covid pandemic, and few overseas visitors are to be seen. Yet Dominic Vicari, a British private investigator haunted by loss, has travelled across Europe to the tiny island of San Francesco del Deserto. The ancient monastery there, it is said, was founded by St Francis himself in the 13th century. Its population now consists of five Franciscan brothers and three pilgrims on retreat. Or, rather, two pilgrims and a dead man.Nathan Sutherland is called in when Vicari's broken body is found at the base of the campanile, his death seemingly nothing more than a terrible accident. But Nathan isn't so sure and sets out on an investigation that will reunite him with an old friend and an old adversary, and the discovery of a terrible secret hidden at the heart of the lagoon. Praise for Philip Gwynne Jones'Superb - always gripping, beautifully constructed and vivid' Stephen Glover'Clever and great fun' The Times'Sinister and shimmering, The Venetian Game is as haunting and darkly elegant as Venice itself' L.S. Hilton, bestselling author of Maestra'The Venetian setting is vividly described... good, fluid writing makes for easy reading' Literary Review'Un-put-downable . . . If you love Venice, you'll love this because you'll be transported there in an instant. If you've not been to Venice, read this book and then go. If you like intrigue, and a clever plot, you'll love this book' Amazon reviewer, 5*****'The lively, colourful narrative scuds along as briskly as a water taxi...you'll enjoy the ride' Italia Magazine
The Venetian Sanctuary
by Philip Gwynne Jones'I devoured all Philip's novels and felt transported to Venice with a new intimacy' Val McDermid'An unputdownable thriller' Gregory Dowling'It is no surprise to find that Philip Gwynne Jones lives in Venice... art and architecture interweave into a story that builds to an almost surreal climax' Daily Mail'Gwynne Jones's talent for evoking place and atmosphere is clear as ever' Literary ReviewWhat lies beneath?Venice, June 2020. The city has returned to the Venetians during a merciful pause in the Covid pandemic, and few overseas visitors are to be seen. Yet Dominic Vicari, a British private investigator haunted by loss, has travelled across Europe to the tiny island of San Francesco del Deserto. The ancient monastery there, it is said, was founded by St Francis himself in the 13th century. Its population now consists of five Franciscan brothers and three pilgrims on retreat. Or, rather, two pilgrims and a dead man.Nathan Sutherland is called in when Vicari's broken body is found at the base of the campanile, his death seemingly nothing more than a terrible accident. But Nathan isn't so sure and sets out on an investigation that will reunite him with an old friend and an old adversary, and the discovery of a terrible secret hidden at the heart of the lagoon. Praise for Philip Gwynne Jones'Superb - always gripping, beautifully constructed and vivid' Stephen Glover'Clever and great fun' The Times'Sinister and shimmering, The Venetian Game is as haunting and darkly elegant as Venice itself' L.S. Hilton, bestselling author of Maestra'The Venetian setting is vividly described... good, fluid writing makes for easy reading' Literary Review'Un-put-downable . . . If you love Venice, you'll love this because you'll be transported there in an instant. If you've not been to Venice, read this book and then go. If you like intrigue, and a clever plot, you'll love this book' Amazon reviewer, 5*****'The lively, colourful narrative scuds along as briskly as a water taxi...you'll enjoy the ride' Italia Magazine
Vengeance: The Khan 2
by Saima MirJia Khan must fight to stay on top when secrets from the past are revealed. The brilliant, tension-filled follow-up to the bestselling Times and Guardian Crime Novel of the Year. 'Unputdownable, unflinching and timely.' Erin Kelly For two years, Jia Khan has been running her late father&’s organised crime business in the north of England. So far, her authority has remained unchallenged, but now things are beginning to unravel. When she finds her father&’s notebook recounting his arrival from Pakistan in the 1970s, it awakes an old family feud that could have devastating repercussions for Jia. And worst of all, one of her staff lies brutally slain, his corpse displayed provocatively in her garden despite her sophisticated security. Someone is getting dangerously close. Could there be a traitor in Jia Khan&’s trusted inner circle? 'Propulsive... A riveting second outing for the Khan.' Vaseem Khan
Vengeance Street: An utterly gripping crime thriller
by Louise SharlandA disgraced probation officer&’s clients are falling victim to a vicious killer—but will anyone believe what she has to say? Grace Midwinter is at breaking point. Following a dreadful mistake at work, her career as a probation officer is hanging by a thread. Then her clients start dying in grotesque and premeditated ways. When one ex-offender is beaten and dumped in the harbor, and another grisly corpse is discovered soon afterward, Grace can&’t help but dredge up her recent past. Rumors swirl about conspiracies and vendettas, some of which involve Grace and her colleagues. Grace discovers that the deaths have been made to look like the sordid results of a gangland turf war but are actually hiding something else. Can she persuade the people in power that her suspicions could be correct? Grace knows she&’s in trouble. She just doesn&’t realise how deep. If only she could tell her friends from her enemies . . . &“A fresh new talent.&” —Phoebe Morgan, author of The Babysitter on The Lake
Very Bad Company: A Novel
by Emma RosenblumFrom the national bestselling author of Bad Summer People • "Another irresistible summer read." ―W Magazine • "A darkly funny mystery." —TIME • "Juicy and hilarious." ―Glamour • "Fun, page-turning." ―People • A high-stakes, high-drama novel that reads like White Lotus meets SuccessionEvery year, executives at the trendy tech startup Aurora gather the company’s top employees for an exclusive retreat in Miami, and this year Caitlin Levy—Aurora’s newest hire—is joining the team as head of events. The benefits are outstanding: a seven-figure salary, stock shares, a discretionary bonus, limitless vacation days—what could possibly go wrong?When a fellow high-level executive vanishes after the first night, the disappearance has the potential to derail the future of the company’s sale and cost everyone on the team millions. Now more than ever, Caitlin and her colleagues must continue the charade—partaking in team-building exercises, group brainstorms, dinners—in order to keep the future of Aurora afloat amid all the fatal speculations.Compulsively readable, Very Bad Company is a slick send-up of corporate culture wrapped in a captivating mystery.
Village in the Dark
by Iris YamashitaDetective Cara Kennedy thought she&’d lost her husband and son in an accident, but harrowing evidence has emerged that points to murder--and she will stop at nothing to find the truth in this riveting mystery from the author of City Under One Roof.On a frigid February day, Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy stands by the graves of her husband and son, watching as their caskets are raised from the earth. It feels sacrilegious, but she has no choice. Aaron and Dylan disappeared on a hike a year ago, their bones eventually found and buried. But shocking clues have emerged that foul play was involved, potentially connecting them to a string of other deaths and disappearances. Somehow tied to the mystery is Mia Upash, who grew up in an isolated village called Unity, a community of women and children in hiding from abusive men. Mia never imagined the trouble she would find herself in when she left home to live in Man&’s World. Although she remains haunted by the tragedy of what happened to the man and the boy in the woods, she has her own reasons for keeping quiet. Aided by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier, Cara&’s investigation will lead them on a dangerous path that puts their lives and the lives of everyone around them in mortal jeopardy.
Villains Academy (Villains Academy #1)
by Ryan HammondBeing BAD has never felt so GOOD! The first in a villainously funny, highly illustrated young middle-grade series from author-illustrator Ryan Hammond. For fans of Amelia Fang, Dog Man and Grimwood. Don't miss the second installment, How to Steal a Dragon, out in October 2023, and the third installment, How to Win the Gruesome Games, out in April 2024! &‘Frightfully fun – Villains Academy had me cackling from the very first page!&’ Katie Tsang, co-author of the Dragon Realm series &‘I loved the spookily funny Villains Academy. It's a work of (evil) genius!&’ Jenny McLachlan, author of The Land of RoarWelcome to Villains Academy – the most prestigious villain school in the ENTIRE land. You will either leave here as a fully-formed villain . . . or in tatters. It's werewolf Bram&’s first day at Villains Academy. He really doesn&’t feel like a villain at all, but the coveted Villain of the Week trophy is up for grabs, and Bram knows he&’ll have to dig deep. With the help of new friends Mona the elf-witch, Bryan the lion, Shelia the ghost and Tony the skeleton, can Bram find his inner badness and become the villain he's always dreamed of being?PRAISE FOR VILLAINS ACADEMY: &‘A charmingly villainous adventure about friendship, school and unspeakable evil. Hammond is an exciting new author-illustrator double threat.&’ Louie Stowell, author of Loki: A Bad God&’s Guide to Being Good &‘Criminally fun!&’ Danny Wallace, author of The Day the Screens Went Blank &‘Heart-warming and hilarious – Villains Academy is a spookalicious treat, set to terrify every other book on your shelf.&’ Jack Meggitt-Phillips, author of The Beast and the Bethany &‘An absolute HOOT! Evil laughs aplenty!&’ Sophy Henn, author and illustrator of the Pizazz series &‘A joyful hug of a book with genuine warmth and heart.&’ Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear &‘A delightfully fun adventure with real heart and humour.&’ Benjamin Dean, author of Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow &‘Immersive, funny, and with a cast of scarily loveable characters, Villains Academy made me feel like I was IN the book!&’ Mel Taylor-Bessent, author of The Christmas Carrolls &‘A fabulously funny adventure. I want to enrol in Villains Academy!&’ Nick Sheridan, author of The Case of the Runaway Brain &‘Wickedly funny and full of quirky yet loveable characters.&’ Iona Rangeley, author of Einstein the Penguin &‘This is a brilliant, bonkers work packed with top-notch illustration.&’ Jack Noel, author and illustrator of the Comic Classics series &‘Full of wonderful characters, Villains Academy is such a FUN read!&’ Rikin Parekh, illustrator of The Worst Class in the World series
The Vinyl Detective - Noise Floor (Vinyl Detective 7)
by Andrew CartmelThe Vinyl Detective plunges into the world of electronic dance music in his seventh adventure. Expect laughs, LPs, cats and the return of fan favourites, Nevada, Tinkler, Stinky Stanmer and more.The Vinyl Detective enters the fraught and frenzied realm of electronic dance music. Lambert Ramkin aka Imperium Dart, techno trickster and ambient music wizard of the 1990s, has gone walkabout, disappearing from his rather palatial home in Kent. This isn&’t the first time he&’s pulled a vanishing act, but he&’s never been gone so long before and his wife — wives, actually; it&’s complicated — are worried and hire the Vinyl Detective to find the old rascal. They theorise that wherever the missing man is, he won&’t be able to resist turning up at a record fair somewhere in search of 12-inch white label acid house singles, which he collects compulsively. And no one knows the world of record fairs better than the Vinyl Detective.They&’re not wrong…But once our hero finds the wandering Lamb the trouble really begins — including terrifying mind-fucks with a side order of, if things break the wrong way, mass murder.
Volksjustiz - Der lange Weg zur Gerechtigkeit (Book one of a Trilogy #1)
by Dieter RudolphDie fortlaufende Geschichte eines Mörders, der weiterhin die Welt von Menschen befreien will, die als unerwünscht gelten, weil sie Sünden begangen haben, die nicht vergeben werden sollten; sein Ziel sind verurteilte Pädophile! Nach Ansicht unseres Mörders sind einige Jahre im Gefängnis, oft im offenen Vollzug - was manche als luxuriöses Leben bezeichnen - keine ausreichende Strafe. Er plant die Morde genau so, dass die Justiz keinen Anhaltspunkt und kaum Ideen hat, wie die Mordserie beendet werden kann. Und diesem Ziel räumt sie absolute Priorität ein. Der Fall ist für die Polizei in doppelter Hinsicht frustrierend, da der Mörder von der Bevölkerung als Richter der Menschheit gefeiert wird. Die Liste der Kandidaten, denen "Volksjustiz" widerfahren soll, scheint endlos zu sein.
Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities
by Casey LyallSometimes it’s hard to rest in peace. A young trainee witch, a family power gone haywire, a dearly departed grandma, an undead boy, and an evil witch—that’s a recipe for the perfect summer vacation. Both hilarious and heartfelt, this fast-paced mystery about life and death (and afterlife) is for fans of Spirit Hunters and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl.Twelve-year-old Kimmy Jones wants to excel at the unique (and secret) aspect of her family’s funeral home business. Under the watchful eye of Grandma Bev, Kimmy learns how to raise the recently deceased, request their last wish, and break the connection to send them on. But when Grandma unexpectedly dies herself, Kimmy can’t reach her spirit, and nothing seems like it’s ever going to be right again.Then a boy dies under mysterious circumstances on the night of a meteor shower. With no witnesses, Kimmy’s the only one who can get answers about what happened. So she breaks into the hospital morgue, and for the first time in months, her power works. She Wakes the boy up. Except then Kimmy can’t break the connection and so he stays Awake. Even worse, the boy has no memory of what happened to him. As Kimmy works to unravel the mystery, she discovers secrets about her heritage and learns about a witch who has been wreaking havoc for centuries.Casey Lyall’s supernatural mystery is heartfelt, thrilling, and hilarious. Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities is perfect for fans of Avi’s School of the Dead and Suzanne Young’s What Stays Buried.
Wander in the Dark
by Jumata EmillIn this new pulse-pounding thriller from the author of The Black Queen, two brothers must come together to solve the murder of the most popular girl in school after one of them is caught fleeing the scene of her death.Amir Trudeau only goes to his half brother Marcel&’s birthday party because of Chloe Danvers. Chloe is rich, and hot, and fits right into the perfect life Marcel inherited when their father left Amir&’s mother to start a new family with Marcel&’s mom. But Chloe is hot enough for Amir to forget that for one night.Does she want to hook up? Or is she trying to meddle in the estranged brothers&’ messy family drama? Amir can&’t tell. He doesn&’t know what Chloe wants from him when, in the final hours of Mardi Gras, she asks him to take her home and stay—her parents are away and she doesn&’t want to be alone. Amir never finds out, because when he wakes up, Chloe is dead—stabbed while he was passed out on the couch. And in no time, Amir becomes the only suspect. A Black teenager caught fleeing the scene of a rich white girl&’s murder? All of New Orleans agrees: the case is open-and-shut.Amir is innocent. He has a lawyer, but unless someone can figure out who really killed Chloe, things don&’t look good for him. His number one ally? Marcel. Their relationship is messy, but Marcel knows that Amir isn&’t a murderer—and maybe proving his innocence will repair the rift between them.To find Chloe&’s killer, Amir and Marcel need to dig into her secrets. And what they find is darker than either could have guessed. Parents will go to any lengths to protect their children, and in a city as old as New Orleans, the right family connections can bury even the ugliest truths.
Watch It Burn: A Novel
by Kristen Bird&“NXIVM meets Southern suspense…. Gripping, timely, and ominous.&”—Allison Buccola, author of Catch Her When She FallsThree women work to uncover the scorching lies and scandal behind a self-help movement, igniting a powder keg of secrets that could blow their town apart, in this suspense novel perfect for readers who love Southern mystery. It&’s early morning in the small Texas town of Edenberg when the body of sixty-five-year-old Beverly Hoffman is discovered in the Guadalupe River—drowned in only two inches of water. After elementary school teacher Nichole Miller discovers the woman's body, she makes two phone calls: first to the police, who call Beverly's death a slip and fall, and second to her best friend, journalist Jenny Martin. Jenny is attempting to revive her flailing marriage and her all-but-DOA career, and she knows foul play when she sees it. The two women enlist the help of Beverly&’s daughter-in-law, Robin, who&’s eager to expose the truth. Beverly had been beloved in the tight-knit community, having cofounded the wildly popular personal-development company Genetive, Inc., alongside her influential husband. But something sinister has been smoldering beneath the surface of their picturesque hometown. And Genetive is at the center of it all.
Watch Where They Hide: A Jordan Manning Novel (Jordan Manning series #2)
by Tamron HallFrom Emmy Award winner Tamron Hall comes an edge-of-your-seat thriller featuring journalist Jordan Manning as she delves into the case of a mother in danger and uncovers a dangerous web of secrets that could lead right to the missing woman—or put Jordan in the crosshairs of her abductors. “With Jordan Manning, Tamron Hall has given us a smart, empathetic heroine to cheer on for years to come.” — Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling authorAfter dropping her child off at preschool, Marla Hancock, a stay-at-home mother, disappears. She had recently left her verbally abusive husband in rural Indiana and moved in with her sister, Shelly, who simply can’t believe that her sister would ever willingly vanish without her children. But with limited support from the town’s police department or media resources, Shelly fears that Marla’s disappearance won’t get the attention it deserves, or worse, will go unsolved. So, several weeks after filing a missing person’s report, she reaches out to TV journalist Jordan Manning for help.After her investigative and reporting skills helped solve multiple murders, Jordan Manning’s career in the newsroom is on the rise. She has gained a reputation as more than your typical news reporter: a “fixer” with a vigilante edge, dogged and undeterred to seek the truth. But even with this new status, Jordan still feels pressure to prove herself as a young Black professional. When Shelly reaches out, she feels compelled to do all she can to find Marla. Jordan’s search twists and turns in ways she could never have imagined, illuminating scandals and secrets that place her own life in grave danger.
Ways of Seeking: The Arabic Novel and the Poetics of Investigation (Islamic Humanities #6)
by Emily DrumstaA free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press’s Open Access publishing program. Visit www.luminosoa.org to learn more. In Ways of Seeking, Emily Drumsta traces the influence of detective fiction on the twentieth-century Arabic novel. Theorizing a "poetics of investigation," she shows how these novels, far from staging awe-inspiring feats of logical deduction, mock the truth-seeking practices on which modern exercises of colonial and national power are often premised. Their narratives return to the archives of Arabic folklore, Islamic piety, and mysticism to explore less coercive ways of knowing, seeing, and seeking. Drumsta argues that scholars of the Middle East neglect the literary at their peril, overlooking key critiques of colonialism from the intellectuals who shaped and responded through fiction to the transformations of modernity. This book ultimately tells a different story about the novel’s place in the constellation of Arab modernism, modeling an innovative method of open-ended inquiry based on the literary texts themselves.
We Used to Live Here: A Novel
by Marcus KliewerGet Out meets Parasite in this eerily haunting debut and Reddit hit—soon to be a Netflix original movie starring Blake Lively—about two homeowners whose lives are turned upside down when the house&’s previous residents unexpectedly visit.As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can&’t believe the killer deal they&’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they&’re working in the house one day, there&’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in. As soon as the strangers enter their home, uncanny and inexplicable things start happening, including the family&’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can&’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?