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Ringing In Murder (Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery #16)
by Kate KingsburyAn all-new Yuletide mystery featuring the incomparable staff of the Pennyfoot Hotel? from ?a descendant of Agatha Christie.?(The Statesman Journal) (OR) A merry hustle-and-bustle always heralds the holidays at the Pennyfoot. <P><P> Even as she prepares for the holiday meal, Cecily Sinclair Baxter is also helping her friend Madeline plan her wedding. And this year, Cecily has a cracking surprise for her guests?Christmas crackers. Once the crackers pop, one lucky guest will discover a beautiful pearl brooch? But when two crackers go astray, things turn less than jolly. A mysterious fire has broken out in an upstairs room, killing the mood?and two guests. And at the bottom of it all: one of the missing Christmas crackers. Cecily?s dead-set on solving this mystery before another deadly present turns up?
Rio Bravo
by Gordon D ShirreffsThey sent Sergeant Gorse back—lashed aboard his own mount. They bay carried him—upright and staring—across the parched, hostile wasteland to the very gates of Fort Bellew. He had six arrows in his back. They had slit him open from neck to thigh, filled him with a stinking, unspeakable mess, and sewed him back together with gut. This was the savage challenge of Asesino, warrior chief of the Chiricahuas. Before the sun rose again the gates of Fort Bellew would swing open and its men would ride out after Asesino—down the trail that led to glory—or death!
Rio Bravo
by Gordon D. ShirreffsThey sent Sergeant Gorse back--lashed aboard his own mount. They bay carried him--upright and staring--across the parched, hostile wasteland to the very gates of Fort Bellew. He had six arrows in his back. They had slit him open from neck to thigh, filled him with a stinking, unspeakable mess, and sewed him back together with gut. This was the savage challenge of Asesino, warrior chief of the Chiricahuas. Before the sun rose again the gates of Fort Bellew would swing open and its men would ride out after Asesino--down the trail that led to glory--or death!
Rio Bravo
by Gordon ShirreffsFrom Santa Fe to Calaveras County, Ross Fletcher had learned to use his wits and speed. But he would need every ounce of courage and cunning to avenge the death of his brother and outwit Cochise in Bugles on the Prairie. Rio Bravo finds Apache chief Asesino, the Assassin, planning his master stroke against the white eyes.
Rio Grande Fall
by Rudolfo AnayaEveryone loves the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta de Alburquerque. This year the fiesta is more profitable and livelier than ever. Until a body plummets from the heavens. P.I. Sonny Baca immediately reconizes the corpse as a key witness in his cousin's murder case. When another balloonist is shot down and the fiesta offers him a handsome reward to catch the killer, Sonny is soon following a sinister trail leading to a world of black magic, corruption, and drugs. Here his enemy is not only of this world, but of its shadow, and here Sonny must risk his very soul for the fate of the city - and the woman - he loves.
Rio Grande Fall: Zia Summer, Rio Grande Fall, Shaman Winter, And Jemez Spring (The Sonny Baca Novels #2)
by Rudolfo AnayaA PI with deep cultural roots in his native New Mexico, Sonny Baca is guided by his intuition and guardian spirit, the coyote--but is that enough to stop a cult leader's murderous rampage? The world-famous International Balloon Fiesta of Albuquerque is one of the city's most eagerly anticipated annual events and its biggest moneymaker. But when a woman plunges to her death from one of the balloons--foreshadowed by Sonny's vision of a body plummeting from the sky--Sonny's sure it's murder. The dead woman was the chief witness to testify against the cult implicated in the murder for hire of Sonny's cousin Gloria, whose death still haunts him. In addition to motive, Sonny finds means and opportunity: a homeless family who saw someone push Veronica Worthy out of the hot-air balloon. Worthy was one of the four wives of Raven, leader of the sun cult, and a dangerous, shamanlike criminal who's supposed to be dead. But the four black feathers found on the corpse are his calling card--clues to let Sonny know he's alive and kicking. And his murder spree isn't over. Led by his spirit guides, Sonny races to stop a vengeful madman and save the woman he loves.
Rio Noir (Akashic Noir)
by Clifford Landers Tony Bellotto"The latest installment of Akashic's geographically wide-ranging mystery series lands in Rio de Janeiro, a city whose famous imagery--the massive statue of Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf mountain, the beautiful beaches--constitutes the public face of the city, but behind lurks a 'world of shadows, blood, intrigue, violence, hideouts, and mystery'...A good introduction to writers of the region and to the dark side of a very sunny place."--Booklist"As Rio de Janeiro prepares to host the 2016 summer Olympics amid fears of the Zika virus, this anthology of 14 dark and violent short stories set in the Brazilian city might give prospective visitors more reasons to be concerned...A solid addition to Akashic's acclaimed noir series."--Publishers WeeklyAkashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.Brand-new stories by: Tony Bellotto, Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza, MV Bill, Luiz Eduardo Soares, Guilherme Fiuza, Arthur Dapieve, Victoria Saramago, Arnaldo Bloch, Adriana Lisboa, Alexandre Fraga dos Santos, Marcelo Ferroni, Flávio Carneiro, Raphael Montes, and Luis Fernando Verissimo. All stories translated from Portuguese by Clifford Landers (Coelho's The Alchemist, etc.).From the introduction by Tony Bellotto:"The images of Rio de Janeiro are well known: high rises aligned along white sandy beaches, a blue sea, freshwater lakes, and luxuriant forests that stretch through winding mountains of stone...the open arms of Christ the Redeemer blessing a happy, cordial, mixed-race people ever ready to dance a samba or offer a welcoming smile to the tourists who move about in the streets admiring beautiful women shimmying nude atop floats in Carnival parades...Opa!This is not a tourist guide. The city revealed in this book is a different Rio. Even though famous landscapes are present in the pages of Rio Noir, what is exposed here is a world of shadows, blood, intrigue, violence, hideouts, and mystery (and also of humor, of course, as is necessary with any undertaking involving Cariocas)...Whether we have succeeded in deciphering an enigma with the dramas of our procurers, card readers, colonels, cops, traffickers, socialites, slum dwellers, embezzlers, tourists, brokers, detectives, journalists, politicians, assassins, editors, outlaws, travelers, coup plotters, writers, lovers, and everyday citizens, I don't know. But we have surely added a large shadow to the sunny landscape of this wonderful city."
Riot (Scarred Souls #4)
by Tillie ColeBRUTAL. INTENSE. PASSIONATE. THE WORLD OF THE SCARRED SOULS. They call me 901. I am a monster, a killer, a champion. In the blood pit I am a god. I have no name, no family, and no identity. When master says fight, I fight . . . until I am the only one left standing. I have one goal, to fight so well that I am freed. I don't need friends, I don't need women. They are weaknesses. I am strong. Until I see her. She is gorgeous and kind and off-limits to me. She was stolen as a child to be the worst type of slave and now master wants her. What he wants, he gets. With a smile, she melts my brutal heart. I have never wanted anything more. I need to make a choice. Freedom or Love. I cannot choose wrong.
Riot Act (Charlie Fox #2)
by Zoë SharpSecond in the series featuring a one-woman wrecking crew from the author of Killer Instinct. &“Charlie Fox is simply the best.&” —Jeffery Deaver No good deed goes unpunished. That&’s what Charlie Fox discovers when she agrees to dog-sit for a friend, only to find that the friend&’s housing complex is being terrorized by violent gangs. Desperate and frightened, the residents have hired a freelance &“security&” firm, whose bully-boy tactics aren&’t a whole lot more appealing. With her bike on hand and a big dog by her side, Charlie is more than able to take care of herself, until a ghost comes calling—a ghost from some of Charlie&’s very bad old days. To save the locals of the Lavender Garden estate (and incidentally, her own skin), Charlie&’s going to have to learn to trust somebody. That&’s going to be a tough lesson to learn: Trust has never been her strong suit.Praise for Zoë Sharp and the Charlie Fox series &“If Jack Reacher were a woman, he&’d be Charlie Fox.&” —Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author &“Zoë Sharp is one of the sharpest, coolest, and most intriguing writers I know. She delivers dramatic, action-packed novels with characters we really care about.&” —Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author &“The bloody bar fights are bloody brilliant and Charlie&’s skills are formidable and for real.&” —The New York Times &“As action-packed and streamlined as the Suzuki the main character, a self-defense expert, rides. Zoë Sharp has an apt last name.&” —David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author &“One of the very best crime fiction sagas out there.&” —Chicago Tribune
Riot Act (Orca Soundings)
by Diane TullsonHow often do you get to see a car tipped or stores looted? Seventeen-year-old Daniel gets caught up in a post-game riot, and then he and his best friend escape police by breaking into a store. They only intend to cut through to the alley, but rioters follow and trash the place. Daniel prevents an arsonist from torching the store; the next day he's a hero while his friend is outed as a rioter. Can Daniel save face, and will it cost him his friend?
Riot Load
by Bryon QuertermousDominick Prince returns. Probably against his better judgment.Dominick Prince went through hell to make his dreams come true. He finally has a book deal, time and money to write whatever he wants, and a marriage to his college crush with a child on the way. But instead of working on his next book, Dominick spends his days as a mindless office drone at the university cancer center while his wife chases bail jumpers. When an old friend reappears to call in a favor, Dominick sees an opportunity for a little excitement.The plan seems simple enough. Dominick will use his access at the hospital to help his friend steal the last remaining piece of her murdered lover: a sperm sample left during prostate cancer treatment. Standing in their way are a pair of brothers who find kidnapping potential children far superior to kidnapping actual children, and Dominick's wife who has her own plans for the sample. Torn between his wife's wrath and the debt he owes his friend, Dominick taps into the most devious parts of his crime fiction training to write himself a proper ending where he saves the day, saves the girl, and lives to write another day.
Riot Most Uncouth (A Lord Byron Mystery)
by Daniel Friedman1807, Cambridge, England.A young woman is murdered in a boarding house, and nobody knows what to do about it. The volunteer watchman who patrols the streets of this placid college town has no idea how to investigate a serious crime and the private bounty hunters the girl's family has hired to catch the killer employ methods that are questionable, at best.What Cambridge needs is a hero, and, in a situation such as this, it's very easy for a gentleman with a romantic disposition to mistake himself for one.19 year-old Lord Byron, the outlaw poet, is a student at Trinity College, though he can only be described as a "student" in the loosest sense of the word: He rarely attends class and, instead, spends his time day-drinking, making love to faculty wives, and feeding fine cuisine and expensive wine to the bear he keeps as a pet.Catching a killer seems like a fine diversion, however, and Byron decides that solving the crime must take precedence over other, less-urgent matters such as his failing grades and mounting debts.Written by the Edgar Award-nominated author of Don't Ever Get Old, which Publishers Weekly called "wickedly funny," and inspired by Byron's moody, sexy and often hilarious poems and letters, this dark, twisty mystery will keep you guessing until its violent conclusion.
Rip Chord (A Ripple Effect Cozy Mystery #9)
by Jeanne GlidewellWhen a Man Falls from a 13th Floor Balcony, Rapella Suspects Murder in Rip Chord, A Cozy Mystery Adventure from Jeanne GlidewellSeeking a peaceful retreat amid the beauty of the Redwood National Forest, Rip and Rapella Ripple are camping at the serene Mystic River RV Park in Klamath, California. Their inspirational Sunday morning church service turns to intrigue when Charlie Short invites Rip to fill in as the tenor singer in a barbershop quartet competition. Henry Harpodingle, their original tenor, mysteriously died in what was deemed an accidental fall from a thirteenth-story balcony.Rapella finds the circumstances of Henry’s death anything but accidental and quickly amasses a list of suspects, including the peculiar Charlie Short and his wife, Fern.Will Rapella solve this deadly melody, or will they find themselves in grave danger? Don't miss this thrilling adventure in the beloved series featuring Rip and Rapella Ripple, where each clue is a note closer to exposing a killer.From The Publisher: The Ripple Effect series will be enjoyed by fans of Joanne Fluke, Madison Johns, Ceecee James, and readers of cozy mysteries who enjoy light-hearted, clean & wholesome mysteries featuring female amateur sleuths and senior citizens.“Glidewell succeeds in maintaining a rapidly paced storyline that dramatically builds suspense, while her tongue-in-cheek sense of humor provides plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.” ~Booklist on Leave No Stone Unturned“Jeanne Glidewell’s mysteries are fast-paced, complex, and has just the right hint of romance.” ~Jill Churchill, author of the Jane Jeffry and Grace and Favor Mysteries“I hope this series continues. Being Rip and Rapellas’ age I am happy to see them featured in adventures. I can recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, cozy or not.” ~Anna, ReviewerTHE RIPPLE EFFECT MYSTERIES, in series orderA Rip Roaring Good TimeRip TideRipped to ShredsRip Your Heart OutRipped ApartRipped OffNo Big RipThe Grim RipperRip ChordTHE LEXIE STARR MYSTERIES, in series orderLeave No Stone UnturnedThe Extinguished GuestHauntedWith This RingJust DuckyThe Spirit of the Season - a holiday novellaCozy CampingMarriage & Mayhem
Rip Crew
by Sebastian Rotella"About as tightly woven and rock-solid as international thrillers get...Rotella's latest is a tense, gritty thriller--perfectly seedy when it needs to be and near-perfect in its overall execution." --- Kirkus Reviews (starred) "Rip Crew is a taut, tense international thriller, filled with complex characters and gritty dialogue. Utterly riveting." --- Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Streetwise U.S. agent Valentine Pescatore investigates a brutal killing that leads him across borders and reveals a vast conspiracy of wealth and power terrifyingly close to home.Valentine Pescatore, the globetrotting former Border Patrol agent, finds himself back on American soil investigating the merciless killing of a group of women in a motel room. At first, the crime seems to be a straightforward case of gangsters battling for territory. Soon, however, the motive is revealed to be much deeper and more sinister: a single witness who knows too much is being hunted, at any cost. From an author who has been praised for his "pounding action scenes [and] ferocious prose style" (Marilyn Stasio, NYTBR), RIP CREW races at breakneck speed as Pescatore finds himself face-to-face with his most terrifying assignment yet.
Rip Crew
by Sebastian RotellaMaverick agent Valentine Pescatore is back and investigating a brutal killing that leads him across borders and reveals a vast conspiracy of wealth and power terrifyingly close to home.Valentine Pescatore, the former U.S. agent, finds himself back on American soil, investigating the merciless killing of a group of women in a motel room. At first, the crime seems to be a straightforward case of gangsters battling for territory. Soon, however, the motive is revealed to be much deeper and more sinister: a single witness who knows too much is being hunted.From an author who has been praised for his "pounding action scenes [and] ferocious prose style" (Marilyn Stasio, NYTBR), RIP CREW races at breakneck speed as Pescatore finds himself face-to-face with his most terrifying assignment yet.
Rip Tide (A Ripple Effect Cozy Mystery, Book #2)
by Jeanne GlidewellRed Snapper Poachers Suspected of Murder, The Ripples Swing Into Action in Rip Tide, a Cozy Mystery, by author Jeanne GlidewellSenior citizens and full-time RVers, Rip and Rapella Ripple are spending the holidays with daughter Regina, in their hometown of Rockport, TX. When Regina's new husband, Milo Moore, becomes a suspect in an off-shore harpooning homicide, the Ripples set out to exonerate him.But proving Milo didn't harpoon his best friend and business partner, Cooper Claypool--with Claypool's spear-gun while out poaching red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico--is more challenging than the Ripples anticipated. REVIEWS:"Well-written characters and realistic dialogue make this another fast-paced page-turner." ~Deacon, Amazon Verified Reviewer"[Jeanne Gideweell] infuses such a fun sense of humor in all of her books and creates enjoyable characters that you want to know more about!" ~Cozy Reader, Amazon Verified ReviewerTHE RIPPLE EFFECT MYSTERIES, in series orderA Rip Roaring Good TimeRip TideRipped to ShredsRip Your Heart OutRipped ApartTHE LEXIE STARR MYSTERIES, in series orderLeave No Stone UnturnedThe Extinguished GuestHauntedWith This RingJust DuckyThe Spirit of the Season (A Holiday Novella)Cozy CampingMarriage and Mayhem
Rip Tide: A Novel
by Colleen McKeegan“Fireworks explode down the shore in Rip Tide, Colleen McKeegan’s absorbing novel. At once an insightful look at tangled family dynamics and a wrenching story of youthful delusion, Rip Tide illustrates that for many women, the past is a ticking time bomb. The deeper we bury it, the bigger the boom. Spread out a blanket, crack open Rip Tide and prepare to be dazzled.”—Jillian Medoff, author of When We Were Bright and BeautifulFrom the author of The Wild One, a heartfelt and suspenseful novel about two sisters returning to their childhood beachfront home who are forced to confront their traumatic past when a body washes ashore.It’s been fifteen years since Kimmy Devine promised herself she’d never move back to Rocky Cape, the idyllic South Jersey beach town where she grew up. She doesn’t want to relive the crushing heartbreak and scandal that ravaged her world as a teen. Her younger sister Erin shares those feelings, the wounds she caused so many years ago forever binding her and Kimmy.Yet here they are, back in their hometown: Kimmy, floundering after quitting her high-powered finance job in London to help her dad run the family’s hardware stores; Erin, reeling from fertility issues and an ongoing divorce, begging to be taken seriously by her parents. The more time they spend in Rocky Cape, the stronger the pull of nostalgia, and both Erin and Kimmy slip on the past like a pair of last year’s sandals, forgetting about the blisters when worn too long.As the sisters celebrate their homecoming at their parents’ yacht club, a handful of familiar faces arrive to dampen the revelry. The next morning, a body is found floating nearby and long-buried secrets from their adolescence begin to emerge. Someone from the sisters’ past, it seems, is out for revenge.Told in fast-paced, dual timelines, Rip Tide is a steamy, tension-filled tale of suspense about family, friendships broken and repaired, young love lost and rekindled, forgiveness and second chances, taking control of your life, and the dangerous decisions we make when blinded by desire.
Rip Your Heart Out (A Ripple Effect Cozy Mystery #4)
by Alice Duncan Jeanne GlidewellSeattle, WA: Philanthropist Murdered, Rapella Ripple Investigates in Rip Your Heart Out, a Ripple Effect Cozy Mystery by Jeanne GlidewellWhile celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary on an Alaskan cruise, Rip experiences a serious cardiac event that results in a triple-bypass. Of course, the hospital is just the beginning; the Chartreuse Caboose isn’t the best place to recuperate and heal. His cardiac care nurse, Sydney Combs, has the perfect solution: her recently deceased aunt's home.The Ripples move into the ancient Victorian mansion free of charge for the next two months. Mabel Trumbo bequeathed the home to the heart center to be used as temporary housing for heart patients' families, but it’s not quite up to snuff, which offers a great project to distract Rapella.When an anonymous tip leads the police to suspect Sydney of murdering her aunt, Rapella's determined to exonerate Sydney. Despite several individuals with dubious intentions, a mouthy cockatoo and a huge St. Bernard to tend to, along with a house that seems possessed by evil spirits, Rapella can’t help but get wrapped up in this newest mystery.Don't miss Rapella's heart-healthy recipe, Garlic-Roasted Salmon & Brussels Sprouts along with a special dessert, featured at the end of the story. When you make the Salmon & Brussels Sprouts, be sure to heed the warning!From The Publisher: The Ripple Effect series will be enjoyed by fans of Joanne Fluke, Madison Johns, Ceecee James and readers of cozy mysteries who enjoy light-hearted, clean & wholesome, mysteries featuring female amateur sleuths and senior citizens."In a world that views aging and senior citizens obsolete, it is refreshing to read A Ripple Effect Cozy Mystery series by Jeanne Glidewell." ~Cindy Travis, Reviewer"It is not often a book makes me laugh aloud but Jeanne Glidewell never disappoints . . ." ~Yvonne P., Reviewer"I hope this series continues. Being Rip and Rapellas' age I am happy to see them featured in adventures. I can recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, cozy or not." ~Anna, ReviewerTHE RIPPLE EFFECT MYSTERIES, in series order:A Rip Roaring Good TimeRip TideRipped to ShredsRip Your Heart OutRipped ApartTHE LEXIE STARR MYSTERIES, in series orderLeave No Stone UnturnedThe Extinguished GuestHauntedWith This RingJust DuckyThe Spirit of the Season - a holiday novellaCozy CampingMarriage & Mayhem
Rip the Angels from Heaven: A Novel
by David KruglerIntelligence officer Ellis Voigt fights to prevent the Soviets from infiltrating the Manhattan Project while running from enemies on both sides, in the thrilling sequel to The Dead Don’t Bleed. Washington, DC, 1945. Lieutenant Ellis Voigt of the Office of Naval Intelligence is desperate to keep the secrets that threaten his life. The war overseas is going well for America, but Voigt can’t escape a web of double-agents and undercover spies who follow his every move. The FBI suspects that he is the communist who murdered a Naval officer in a Washington back alley. The Soviets believe he’s holding back information from their contacts, and they’re willing to use any means necessary to extract it. When Voigt is sent to New Mexico on a secret mission to identify a Soviet spy, he is tailed by both the FBI and the Russians, and is running out of people he can trust. As the team at Los Alamos prepares to test an atomic bomb in the desert, Voigt faces the dilemma he’d been trying to avoid: he can stop the Soviets from getting the bomb or he can save himself—but he might not be able to do both.
Rip: A Game Protector
by S. P. MeekUpstate New York is the setting for Colonel Meek's new dog story, in which Rip, a pointer, and his master, Budge Outland, a Game Protector for the State of New York, carry out the trying job of enforcing game laws in the interests of conservation. Out-of-season hunting and illegal fur trade are their main problems, requiring of them expert detection work and keen knowledge of the outdoors. Often at the risk of their lives, the two of them live through an exciting story of a little-known, yet extremely valuable branch of public service.
Ripe for Murder
by Carlene O'NeilFrom the author of One Foot in the Grape--a new full-bodied Cypress Cove mystery that is certain to delight, even if one wine lover is about to expire...Penny Lively loves running her family's winery, but to keep business growing, she needs to find a way to attract more guests. When she's approached to invest in a new train line through wine country, Penny and her intoxicating winery manager, Connor, hightail it to a lavish resort to hear the details. Unfortunately, her neighbor's daughter, Chantal, is also there, swirling up trouble by flirting with the married investors--and with Connor too. When one of the investors' wives is murdered, Chantal, who was seen fighting with the woman, is the prime suspect. Chantal may be a sour grape, but she's no killer. So Penny, who's become a sleuthing connoisseur, starts sniffing out the real suspect--and discovers that her fellow potential investors have been savoring more than their share of deadly secrets...
Ripercussioni
by Jean De BlonayGautier Delcreuze viene trovato morto, appeso a un albero. Per la polizia si è trattato di un semplice suicidio. Ma per suo fratello David è decisamente impossibile. Poco prima di morire, Gautier aveva scritto un documento in cui spiegava di essere in pericolo, di essere ricercato per aver rubato del denaro e di essere in possesso di documenti compromettenti. Una pagina che terminava con le seguenti cinque parole: "Non sono un suicida". L'indagine della polizia potrebbe essere conclusa, ma David non è pronto a rinunciare alla ricerca della verità. Andrà fino in fondo, non importa quanto sia pericoloso... Tra mafia italiana e false piste, Jean de Blonay realizza un thriller mozzafiato con una trama perfettamente congegnata che tiene col fiato sospeso fino all'ultima riga.
Ripley Under Ground
by Patricia HighsmithNow part of American film and literary lore, Tom Ripley, "a bisexual psychopath and art forger who murders without remorse when his comforts are threatened" ( New York Times Book Review ), was Patricia Highsmith's favorite creation. In these volumes, we find Ripley ensconced on a French estate with a wealthy wife, a world-class art collection, and a past to hide. In Ripley Under Ground (1970), an art forgery goes awry and Ripley is threatened with exposure; in The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980), Highsmith explores Ripley's bizarrely paternal relationship with a troubled young runaway, whose abduction draws them into Berlin's seamy underworld; and in Ripley Under Water (1991), Ripley is confronted by a snooping American couple obsessed with the disappearance of an art collector who visited Ripley years before. More than any other American literary character, Ripley provides "a lens to peer into the sinister machinations of human behavior" (John Freeman, Pittsburgh Gazette ).
Ripley Under Ground: A Virago Modern Classic (Mr. Ripley Ser. #25)
by Patricia Highsmith"Ripley is an unmistakable descendant of Gatsby, that 'penniless young man without a past' who will stop at nothing."—Frank Rich Now part of American film and literary lore, Tom Ripley, "a bisexual psychopath and art forger who murders without remorse when his comforts are threatened" (New York Times Book Review), was Patricia Highsmith's favorite creation. In these volumes, we find Ripley ensconced on a French estate with a wealthy wife, a world-class art collection, and a past to hide. In Ripley Under Ground (1970), an art forgery goes awry and Ripley is threatened with exposure; in The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980), Highsmith explores Ripley's bizarrely paternal relationship with a troubled young runaway, whose abduction draws them into Berlin's seamy underworld; and in Ripley Under Water (1991), Ripley is confronted by a snooping American couple obsessed with the disappearance of an art collector who visited Ripley years before. More than any other American literary character, Ripley provides "a lens to peer into the sinister machinations of human behavior" (John Freeman, Pittsburgh Gazette).
Ripley Under Ground: A Virago Modern Classic (Ripley Series #2)
by Patricia HighsmithTom Ripley is now the owner of a beautiful estate in France, a wealthy art collector and married to an heiress. The Buckmaster Gallery is staging an exhibition by the celebrated artist, Derwatt, but an American collector claims that the expensive masterpiece he bought three years ago is a fake. It is, of course and he wants to talk to Derwatt - but Derwatt, inconveniently, is dead.Ripley needs the perfect solution to keep his role in the fraud a secret and his reputation clean, but not everyone's nerves are as steady as his. Especially when it comes to murder.Ripley Under Ground is an ingenious novel of masks and identity, illusion and reality, and is followed by Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Under Water.'The No.1 Greatest Crime Writer' The Times