- Table View
- List View
Mad Hatter's Holiday: The Fourth Sergeant Cribb Mystery (Sergeant Cribb #4)
by Peter LoveseyThe beloved Sergeant Cribb series by Peter LoveseyIt's 1882 and Albert Moscrop, who is spending his holiday in Brighton observing human nature through a telescope, gradually moves into the circle of the Prothero family, who he has been fascinated by - especially the beautiful Zena Prothero, whose husband appears to take her for granted. But through this connection, he becomes involved in a sensational murder. All of Brighton is horrified by the gruesome crime, and the local police seek the help of Scotland Yard's Sergeant Cribb and Constable Thackeray, who soon find themselves challenged by the strangest case of their careers, one as mystifying as it is macabre.
Mad Hatter's Holiday: The Fourth Sergeant Cribb Mystery (Sergeant Cribb #4)
by Peter LoveseyThe beloved Sergeant Cribb series by Peter LoveseyIt's 1882 and Albert Moscrop, who is spending his holiday in Brighton observing human nature through a telescope, gradually moves into the circle of the Prothero family, who he has been fascinated by - especially the beautiful Zena Prothero, whose husband appears to take her for granted. But through this connection, he becomes involved in a sensational murder. All of Brighton is horrified by the gruesome crime, and the local police seek the help of Scotland Yard's Sergeant Cribb and Constable Thackeray, who soon find themselves challenged by the strangest case of their careers, one as mystifying as it is macabre.
Mad Jack: Bride Series (Bride Series #4)
by Catherine CoulterA historical romance set in 1811 England from #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter. To hide from her abusive stepfather, Winifrede Levering Bascombe disguises herself as male valet Jack. She arrives in London with Grayson St. Cyre’s aunts, Mathilda and Maude, to beg his assistance. He welcomes the aunts, briefly spots Jack, and proceeds very quickly after their arrival to fall down the rabbit hole. He catches Jack stealing his horse, Durban; chases her down; and then all sorts of interesting things happen. Amidst all the laughter, however, there lurks a deadly secret that’s ready to leap out and crush both Jack and Gray. . . . “Coulter is excellent at portraying the romantic tension between heroes and heroines and she manages to write explicitly but beautifully about sex as well as love.”—Milwaukee Journal
Mad Maudlin (Bedlam's Bard #6)
by Rosemary Edghill Mercedes LackeyThis whole series and some other books are set in our own time and almost always take place in large cities. Hence they are often referred to as Urban Fantasies. In this series, Eric Banyon who is a bard and also capable of interacting with the fair folk who live parallel to us, finds himself called upon to interpose himself and his friends between the machinations of the evil fay and the world's survival. It sounds a little dramatic but, in general, these books offer vivid characterization, good depictions of urban teen-age life, and good fun and great storytelling.
Mad Money
by Max Allan CollinsNolan must rob every store in a mall in one night – or his girlfriend dies. Two Nolan novels from Grandmaster Max Allan Collins, collected in one volume for the first time.Nolan and Jon have put their lives of crime behind them – but when a cruel adversary from their past resurfaces, they&’re forced back into the heist game with a brutal ultimatum: pull off an insanely ambitious overnight robbery or Nolan&’s kidnapped lover won&’t live to see the morning. Appearing in bookstores for the first time in 35 years, this is Nolan&’s biggest and deadliest job – and Mad Money also features, for the first time ever in the same volume, the bonus full-length novel Mourn the Living, offering a look back at Nolan&’s early years as a professional thief.
Mad Moon of Dreams (Dreamlands #3)
by Brian LumleyFor David Hero, waking up isn’t an option. Third in Dreamlands, the Lovecraftian horror series from the award-winning author of the Necroscope novels.Once David Hero was an ordinary man living in the real world. Now he is trapped in the Dreamlands, cut off from the waking world. David Hero’s dreams and nightmares have become his own reality.Swollen, glowing oddly in the gloom of night, the moon hangs lower and lower over the Dreamlands. Its weird, unearthly light transforms beautiful landscapes into twisted nightmares and imperils the sanity of any who walk abroad after sunset.Beams of terrible power stab the unsuspecting earth, destroying the land, shattering buildings, and dragging people into the shrieking sky, straight toward the hellish moon!David Hero, once a man of the waking world, finds himself fighting side by side with his worst enemies—Zura and her zombie armies, the Eidolon Lathi and her termite men—against the slimy, many-tentacled moon monsters.Praise for Brian Lumley“One of the best writers in the field.” —John Farris, author of Son of the Endless Night“Wide-angle horror of a scope too rarely seen in modern fiction. A feast for the horror fan.” —F. Paul Wilson, New York Times–bestselling author“Lumley wields a pen with the deft skill of a surgeon.” —The Phoenix Gazette
Mad Mouse: A John Ceepak Mystery
by Chris GrabensteinThe second John Ceepak mystery in which Ceepak and young partner Danny Boyle find themselves targets of a madman's plot.
Mad River (Virgil Flower Ser. #Bk. 6)
by John Sandford**Don't miss the new pulse-pounding Virgil Flowers thriller, Bloody Genius. Out now in paperback and eBook**The sixth Virgil Flowers novel by internationally bestselling author John Sandford Bonnie and Clyde, they thought. And what's-his-name, the sidekick. Three teenagers with dead-end lives, and chips on their shoulders, and guns. The first person they killed was a highway patrolman. The second was a woman during a robbery. Then, hell, why not keep on going? As their crime spree cuts a swath through rural Minnesota, some of it captured on the killers' cell phones and sent to a local television station, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator Virgil Flowers joins the growing army of cops trying to run them down. But even he doesn't realize what's about to happen next.* * * Praise for John Sandford and the Virgil Flower novels * * * &‘Along the way to the satisfying ending, Virgil displays the rough humor and rough justice that make him such an appealing character&’ Publishers Weekly on Deep Freeze &‘A knowing portrait of small-town life layered into a very well plotted mystery. Virgil understands that, in small towns, no one ever outgrows high school... One of the very best novels in a superior series&’Booklist (starred review) on Deep Freeze &‘Add a gripping storyline, a generous helping of exquisitely conceived characters and laugh-out-loud humor that produce explosive guffaws, not muted chuckles, and you&’re in for the usual late-night, don&’t-even-think-of-stopping treat when Flowers hits town&’ Richmond Times-Dispatch on Deep Freeze &‘An outstanding novel&’ Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Escape Clause &‘Perfect entertainment&’ Kirkus Reviews on Escape Clause
Mad River (Virgil Flowers Series, #6)
by John SandfordPLAYTIME IS OVER FOR VIRGIL FLOWERS. Bonnie and Clyde, they thought. And what's-his-name, the sidekick. Three teenagers with dead-end lives, and chips on their shoulders, and guns. The first person they killed was a highway patrolman. The second was a woman during a robbery. Then, hell, why not keep on going? As their crime spree cuts a swath through rural Minnesota, some of it captured on the killers' cell phones and sent to a local television station, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator Virgil Flowers joins the growing army of cops trying to run them down. But even he doesn't realize what's about to happen next.
Mad River Road: A Novel
by Joy FieldingNew York Timesbestselling author Joy Fielding returns withMad River Road,a sexy, suspenseful novel of murder, romance, and revenge. After spending a year in prison, Ralph Fisher has explicit plans for his first night of freedom: tonight, someone will be held accountable. He goes to murderous lengths to obtain the address of his former wife -- the woman he blames for his fate and against whom he has sworn vengeance. Determined to bring her to his idea of justice, Ralph's next step is to travel from Florida's sandy beaches to Dayton, Ohio, where his ex-wife is struggling to make ends meet on Mad River Road. Also in Florida, Jamie Kellogg wakes from an agonizing nightmare of her mother's funeral, and assesses her life: a pretty but unaccomplished twenty-nine-year-old woman in a dead-end job, with an ex-husband in Atlanta, a married lover in the hospital, and a virtual stranger in her bed. But this stranger is everything the previous men in her life weren't: tender, attentive, and adventurous. After convincing Jamie to quit her miserable job and ditch her judgmental, perfectionist sister, he proposes a romantic getaway. While Jamie wonders if this thrilling man might finally be her Prince Charming, they plan a road trip to visit his son, who lives with his mother on a street called Mad River Road. . . . As riveting and beguiling as Joy Fielding's previous bestselling novels, which includeWhispers and Lies, Lost,andPuppet, Mad River Roadis a novel about courage, truth, and the strength that comes only when you believe in yourself.
Mad World
by Pepper EspinozaMutilated corpses litter Pomona, California, and Detective Jason Squires is pressured to find a killer who leaves no evidence. His private life is a nightmare as well. Estranged from his wife, he finds himself in the grip of growing obsession with young prostitute, Daisy Winters.As Jason and the killer dance around each other, Jason is increasingly distracted and frustrated by Daisy, who never loses control in their mercurial, violent relationship. Daisy, who is willing to do whatever it takes to protect herself and her interests. Daisy, who will take down anyone who gets in her way. Daisy, who cannot resist the agonizing passion she shares with a man who could destroy her without a twinge of remorse.Content Notes: anal sex, public sex, bondage, domination, knife play, blood play, forceful sex, non sexual violence, prostitution, foul language
Mad as Helen
by Susan McbrideIn the second River Road Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Susan McBride, Helen Evans must find a killer before her granddaughter is arrested for murder!When tiny River Bend, Illinois, is hit by a string of burglaries even Sheriff Frank Biddle can't solve, the clients of LaVyrle's Cut 'n' Curl can hardly talk of anything but. There are no signs of forced entry and no fingerprints, and valuables are missing from secret hiding places, as if the thief knew what he wanted and just where to look.Helen Evans wonders what the world has come to if even their once-quiet town isn't safe anymore. Then Grace Simpson, a big-city psychotherapist who had opened up shop in River Bend, is found dead on her bedroom floor, and Helen's granddaughter is caught with the murder weapon in hand.Sure of the girl's innocence, Helen embarks on a little investigation of her own and turns up plenty of folks who aren't grieving a bit now that Grace is dead ...
Mad as the Dickens: A Laura Fleming Mystery (A Laura Fleming Mystery #7)
by Toni L. KelnerMurder takes center stage in a Southern small town’s Christmas play in this cozy mystery by the New York Times–bestselling author of Down Home Murder.Laura Fleming’s theater-loving husband, Richard, is getting an early Christmas present—he’s been asked to direct a production of A Christmas Carol in Laura’s hometown of Byerly, North Carolina. To Richard’s annoyance, the play is beset by practical jokes and glitches, and Seth Murdstone makes an unconvincing Scrooge. Unfortunately, he makes an all-too-convincing corpse. When Seth is found murdered backstage, Laura agrees to investigate.This time, she has an unexpected sidekick: Byerly’s police chief Junior Norton, who’s determined to solve the case before her ambitious deputy does. Junior’s inside information is a definite boon—for one thing, she knows that Seth was a longtime moonshiner. The man had a veritable stockingful of secrets, and between grudge-filled rivals and feuding family members, there are plenty of likely suspects. But which one decided to bring the curtain down on Seth, and can Laura and Junior stop the culprit from staging an unwanted encore performance?Praise for Mad as the Dickens“Lots of small-town bickering, family gossip, and not a few private agendas make for an entertaining Southern mystery.” —Library Journal
Mad for a Mate (BeWere My Heart #3)
by MaryJanice DavidsonBeloved and bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson is back with a hilarious and heartfelt shifter romance:A delightful cast of shifters and supernatural creaturesSide-splitting hijinks that'll make you snort-laughSlow-burn romanceVerity Lane might be a Shifter who can't shift (known as a "squib")—but woe betide anyone who tries to tell her who she is or what she's capable of. She's a proud member of a club for squibs out to prove themselves by participating in dangerous stunts. Which is probably how she ended up on this strange island…Bear shifter Magnus Berne wants two things: to connect with his motherless goddaughter, and to find out who keeps dumping dead bodies on his property. When he discovers Verity on his island, he's determined to get some answers—but it's clear that whoever has been killing squibs is just as resolved to keep it quiet. And now that Verity is in the crosshairs, they'll have to move quickly to stay ahead, stay alive, and stay together.You won't want to miss the rollicking series readers are raving about!Praise for A Wolf After My Own Heart:"Hilarious, quirky, unique, and fun."—CHRISTINE FEEHAN, #1 New York Times bestselling author"Super cute…sure to keep you flipping pages."—TERRY SPEAR, USA Today bestselling author"A droolworthy hero and high-stakes…a winner!"—PAIGE TYLER, New York Times bestselling author
Madam President: A Novel
by Nicolle WallaceWith Madam President, current cohost of The View and former White House Communications Director Nicolle Wallace returns with an electrifying portrait of three powerful women on a day that will change the country forever.Charlotte Kramer, the forty-fifth President of the United States, has done the unprecedented in allowing a network news team to document a day in her life--and that of her most senior staff. But while twenty news cameras are embedded with the president, the unthinkable happens: five major attacks are leveled on US soil. Her secretary of defense, Melanie, and her press secretary, Dale, must instantly jump to action in supporting the president and reassuring the country that the safety they treasure is in capable hands. But secrets have always thrived in President Kramer's White House. With all eyes on them and America's stability on the line, all three women are hiding personal and professional secrets that could rock the West Wing to its very foundations...and change the lives of the people they love most. With an insider's sharp eye and her trademark winning prose, Nicolle Wallace delivers a timely novel of domestic and political intrigue that is impossible to put down.
Madam X
by Niobia BryantBy popular demand, national bestselling author Niobia Bryant brings you the sizzling, sexy, twist-a-minute follow-up to Madam, May I, in which Manhattan's most exclusive madam discovers her past is back with a vengeance. For fans of steamy, juicy, action-packed stories and Mary B. Morrison and Noire. Billionaire celebrity clients, anything-goes erotic nights, seductive betrayals—Desdemona Dean couldn't wait to leave the high-end prostitution game behind. Now settled down with the only man she&’s ever loved, Desi is getting the chances her shattered childhood denied her—and making her life truly her own. Until a basketball superstar publicly credits Madam X's unmatched sexual services for his astonishing career. Add an anonymous tip to the police—and suddenly Desi is in the center of a social and tabloid media firestorm . . . Knowing others&’ secret desires has always kept Desi safe—and hiding her own wrenching past is the only protection she could ever trust. But her lies are taking her relationship apart piece by piece, keeping her only seconds ahead of the police—and exposing her to a malicious blackmailer determined to destroy her for good . . . Now Desi will need all her nerve and cool, calculating bravado to take down her enemies and outmaneuver the law. But once she reveals who she used to be, can she survive the consequences to hold on to the woman she&’s become? Praise for Madam, May I&“The heroine is the hook, and she rocks it.&” —Kirkus Reviews&“There's plenty of heat in this absorbing romance.&” —Booklist
Madam, May I
by Niobia BryantShe’s the ultimate madam with a heart of gold. But can she fulfill her own dreams—and stay at the top? In the business of high-end, no-limits desire, Desdemona Dean is the best there is. This gorgeous madam can provide any sensual fantasy, ignite any insatiable hunger. She fiercely protects the women who work for her and helps them attain the lives they deserve—especially when it comes to her beautiful, troubled new protégé, Portia. But for Desi, having it all is no longer enough. She wants everything her shattered childhood denied her. And as she pursues an education and a normal life, she’s falling hard for her handsome tutor—and can’t resist schooling him in ways that are turning into more than just passion . . . But as Portia spirals out of control, she’s exposing any number of dangerous secrets. And as Desi desperately tries to save her and manage the damage, she’s putting everything she’s worked to build at risk. Now with her empire in peril, Desi must discover if she can survive . . . and truly be free. Praise for the Mistress series “Bryant’s loyal audience will love the generous doses of passionate sex, glamour, and revenge.” —Publishers Weekly “The Pleasure Trap is another testament to Bryant’s awesome imagination . . . we are swept off our feet during the climactic reveal.” —RT Book Reviews
Madam, Will You Talk?: The modern classic by the Queen of the Romantic Mystery
by Mary StewartThe original queen of the page-turner Mary Stewart leads her readers on a thrilling journey through a dangerous and deadly Provence in this tale perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym. 'Mary Stewart is magic' New York Times'One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent'The terrible thirsty heat of the Provençal summer, the noise of the cicadas, the dust of the country buses . . . an excellent tale of mystery' The TimesIt sounds idyllic: a leisurely drive through the sun-drenched landscape of Provence. But Charity's dream holiday turns into a nightmare when she becomes embroiled in a sinister plot to kidnap a young boy. She soon finds herself in a deadly pursuit and must uncover who to trust . . . and who to fall for. Whenever I look back now on the strange and terrifying events of that holiday in Southern France, I remember the minutes I spent gazing at the golden arches of the Roman aqueduct over the Gardon... the last brief lull before the thunder.'A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors.' Harriet Evans'She built the bridge between classic literature and modern popular fiction. She did it first and she did it best.' Herald
Madam, Will You Talk?: The modern classic by the queen of romantic suspense
by Mary StewartThe pioneer of romantic suspense, Mary Stewart leads listeners on a thrilling journey through a dangerous and deadly Provence in this tale perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym. It sounds idyllic: a leisurely drive through the sun-drenched landscape of Provence. But Charity's dream holiday turns into a nightmare when she becomes embroiled in a sinister plot to kidnap a young boy. She soon finds herself in a deadly pursuit and must uncover who to trust . . . and who to fall for. Whenever I look back now on the strange and terrifying events of that holiday in Southern France, I remember the minutes I spent gazing at the golden arches of the Roman aqueduct over the Gardon... the last brief lull before the thunder.(P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Madam, Will You Talk?: The modern classic by the queen of romantic suspense
by Mary StewartThe original queen of the page-turner Mary Stewart leads her readers on a thrilling journey through a dangerous and deadly Provence in this tale perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym. 'Mary Stewart is magic' New York Times'One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent'The terrible thirsty heat of the Provençal summer, the noise of the cicadas, the dust of the country buses . . . an excellent tale of mystery' The TimesIt sounds idyllic: a leisurely drive through the sun-drenched landscape of Provence. But Charity's dream holiday turns into a nightmare when she becomes embroiled in a sinister plot to kidnap a young boy. She soon finds herself in a deadly pursuit and must uncover who to trust . . . and who to fall for. Whenever I look back now on the strange and terrifying events of that holiday in Southern France, I remember the minutes I spent gazing at the golden arches of the Roman aqueduct over the Gardon... the last brief lull before the thunder.'A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors.' Harriet Evans'She built the bridge between classic literature and modern popular fiction. She did it first and she did it best.' Herald
Madame B
by Sandrine Destombes«El thriller francés tiene nueva reina» (La Razón), una autora que va «a la zaga de Fred Vargas» (ABC ) y de Pierre Lemaitre PREMIO LIGUE DE L'IMAGINAIRE 2020 Blanche Barjac tiene un trabajo peculiar. Es limpiadora, pero no una limpiadora cualquiera. Se dedica a limpiar escenas del crimen, lugares donde se ha matado a alguien. Limpia ordenadores, alfombras, perfiles de redes sociales y oculta los cadáveres como si nada hubiera pasado. Sus clientes son personas célebres en el submundo de París, individuos que valoran mucho su eficacia, discreción y capacidad. Pero todo cambia cuando recibe el encargo de un todopoderoso asesino a sueldo al que apodan el Sabueso. Entre las pertenencias de la víctima que tiene que hacer desaparecer, Blanche encuentra un pañuelo, una prenda que la transporta hasta el día en que su madre se suicidó, veinte añosatrás. Alguien la vigila y pretende chantajearla, pero Blanche aún debe enfrentarse a un enigma mayor, un secreto que hará tambalear su salud mental. Mirando en su propio pasado aprenderá que, por mucho que se limpie, algunas manchas no pueden borradas. Y que cada uno de nuestros actos tiene siempre consecuencias. La crítica ha dicho sobre Madame B:«Una lectura apasionante, puro placer de lectura, como es habitual en la autora. Sandrine Destombes ha escrito un thriller cautivador. Perfectamente calculado y perverso hasta el límite.»Collectif Polar «Adictiva. La leerás de una sentada o casi y te aseguramos que quedarás con ganas de más.»Sudpresse «Nos encanta esta protagonista fortísima, una mujer atormentada por un fantasma del pasado que regresa como un bumerán.»Cosmopolitan «Una novela de capítulos cortos y con muchos vuelcos, con la que Sandrine Destombes desvela magistralmente, capa tras capa, la verdad de su protagonista Blanche.»L'Alsace La crítica ha dicho sobre El doble secreto de la familia Lessage:«Thriller en estado puro.»Página Dos «En sus historias nada es lo que parece y sus personajes tienen la capacidad de vaciar sus intenciones y sorprender al lector en cada gesto.»La Razón
Madame Maigret's Friend
by Georges Simenon Howard CurtisMaigret steps in when an anonymous note to the police reports that a body has been burned in a bookbinder’s furnace. The thirty-fourth book in the new Penguin Maigret series. An anonymous note to the police reports that a body has been burned in the furnace of a bookbinder on the Rue de Turenne. Preliminary investigations turn up suspicious details—and two human teeth of a man who’d been alive not long before. Meanwhile, Madame Maigret has had a strange experience while waiting for her dentist appointment. A woman she had often met on the bench while waiting suddenly leaves her young child in Madame Maigret’s care and disappears for over an hour, returning to take the child and vanishing without explanation. When Maigret’s investigation is blown wide open, it seems the two incidents might be related in ways no one could have predicted.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Madame Picasso
by Anne Girard“[An] intriguing story of love and loss. . . . Girard creates a wonderful period piece [and] . . . successfully captures the essence of an iconic figure.” —Publishers WeeklyWhen Eva Gouel moves to Paris from the countryside, she is full of ambition and dreams of stardom. Though young and inexperienced, she manages to find work as a costumer at the famous Moulin Rouge, and it is here that she first catches the attention of Pablo Picasso, a rising star in the art world.A brilliant but eccentric artist, Picasso sets his sights on Eva, and Eva can’t help but be drawn into his web. But what starts as a torrid affair soon evolves into what will become the first great love of Picasso’s life.With sparkling insight and passion, Madame Picasso introduces us to a dazzling heroine, taking us from the salon of Gertrude Stein to the glamorous Moulin Rouge and inside the studio and heart of one of the most enigmatic and iconic artists of the twentieth century.Novelist Anne Girard brings to life the mesmerizing and untold story of Eva Gouel, the unforgettable woman who stole the heart of the greatest artist of our time.“Girard . . . ably marries history, art, and romance here as Eva remains broadly rendered and famous figures shine.” —Booklist“Gripping. . . . Written with . . . heartfelt passion.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette“A wonderful portrait of the complicated relationship between art, passion and love from a woman’s viewpoint. Girard is a talented storyteller and historian, drawing readers into the world in which her characters live.” —RT Book Reviews
Madame X
by Alexandre Bisson J. W. McConaughyA tragic story of infidelity, murder, and a mother’s love in turn-of-the-century France. When Jacqueline Floriot’s husband, Louis, finds her in the arms of another man, she and her lover flee the house. Two years later, Jacqueline returns, hoping to reunite with her young son, Raymond. But Louis, overcome with jealous rage, sends her out into the cold of winter without so much as a glimpse of her child. His merciless act sets off a tragic chain of events as Jacqueline sinks into a life of depravity, drugs, and prostitution. Twenty years later, Raymond is a lawyer, working alongside his father. When he finds himself representing a woman accused of murder, a woman known only as Madame X, he has no way of knowing that he defends his own mother—or that she may have committed her alleged crime out of love for her son. Based on Alexandre Bisson’s 1908 play of the same name, J. W. McConaughy’s novel brilliantly depicts a harrowing tale. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Madame X
by Jasinda WilderMadame X invites you to test the limits of desire in this provocative new novel from New York Times bestselling author Jasinda Wilder. My name is Madame X. I'm the best at what I do... Hired to transform the uncultured, inept sons of the wealthy and powerful into decisive, confident men, Madame X wields culture and wit like a knife. But behind her sophisticated facade X is a woman adrift, trapped between a dangerous past she can't remember and the protection of a seductive man who claims her body--and her soul. Undone time and again by his exquisite dominance, X craves and fears his desire in equal measure. And while she longs for the safety of her tower penthouse, she also yearns to escape. But X has never known anything or anyone else--until he came along...From the Trade Paperback edition.