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Villain
by Shuichi YoshidaThe first novel from one of Japan's rising literary stars to be translated into English--a tale of murder and desperation set in a desolate seaside town, in online chat rooms and love hotels, with a cast of characters all pushed to the razor's edge.
Villainous (Villainous)
by Stonie WilliamsTilly, one of the newest super-powered humans to join the Coalition of Heroes, is doing her best to navigate the dizzying world of superheroes. Working with her idols should be a dream come true, but when she learns the truth, Tilly’s dream quickly becomes a nightmare. Now, Tilly has to make a choice – Get in line and stand with her heroes, or take a stand and risk becoming something more… Villainous. Collects issues 1 – 5.
Villainous Trade Paperback
by Stonie WilliamsTilly, one of the newest super-powered humans to join the Coalition of Heroes, is doing her best to navigate the dizzying world of superheroes. Working with her idols should be a dream come true, but when she learns the truth, Tilly’s dream quickly becomes a nightmare. Now, Tilly has to make a choice – Get in line and stand with her heroes, or take a stand and risk becoming something more… Villainous. Collects issues 1 – 5.
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 Villain's Daughter
by Roberta KraySean O'Donnell, small-time villain and family man, walked out of his home nineteen years ago and hasn't been heard of since. Now his daughter, Iris, has returned to the East End in the hope of finding him again. But she's not the only one on his trail. The psychotic Street brothers are right on her heels - and they've got good reason to want her father dead. With the help of the mysterious Guy Wilder, Iris slowly begins to unearth the horrors of the past. It isn't long before she comes to realise that some secrets are best left buried...
The Villain's Daughter
by Roberta KraySean O'Donnell, small-time villain and family man, walked out of his home nineteen years ago and hasn't been heard of since. Now his daughter, Iris, has returned to the East End in the hope of finding him again. But she's not the only one on his trail. The psychotic Street brothers are right on her heels - and they've got good reason to want her father dead. With the help of the mysterious Guy Wilder, Iris slowly begins to unearth the horrors of the past. It isn't long before she comes to realise that some secrets are best left buried...
The Villain's Daughter
by Roberta KraySean O'Donnell, small-time villain and loyal family man, walked out on his family nineteen years ago and hasn't been heard of since. Now his daughter Iris has returned to the East End in the hope of finding out what happened. But it isn't going to be easy. Everyone close to Iris, including her mother, seems intent on keeping the truth hidden. With the rest of her life in a mess, Iris struggles to make sense of her murky family history. But a chance meeting with the mysterious Guy Wilder changes everything. Son of the local criminal matriarch, Guy has plenty of problems of his own but there's something about Iris that makes him more than willing to help her search for the truth.
The Villains of the Piece (The Crusader Knights Cycle)
by Graham ShelbyRoyal intrigue and deadly deceit abound in this epic historical adventure of the Crusader Knights England 1134: These are the years of the long, bloody civil war over the succession of Henry I – a conflict between the supporters of Henry's daughter and rightful heir, the beautiful and tyrannical Matilda, and her cousin, the usurper Stephen of Blois, a just and decent man but with no lawful claim to the throne.This is a war in which even partisans can change sides according to who holds the advantage – a war in which there is little courage, much deceit, and barely any honour.The sole exception is Brien Fitz Count, Lord of Wallingford, friend of Stephen's but true to his vow of support for Matilda. He, his wife Alyse, and their retainers make of their small, strategic castle a fortress and rallying point, holding it against siege and worse at immense personal cost…This epic third instalment of The Crusader Knights Cycle is perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, Peter Darman and Bernard Cornwell.‘History with a dramatist’s eye for a fine setting and a novelist’s insight into human minds and motives’ The Times Literary Supplement
Villains' Paradise: Britain's Underworld from the Spivs to the Krays (Murder Room #819)
by Donald ThomasWith the war over, the forties, fifties and sixties have the aura of a golden age. But nostalgia is deceptive. From teenage Teddy Boy razor gangs and casual stabbings at dance halls to the psychopathic Krays, 'Mad' Frankie Fraser and Ronnie Biggs, Villains' Paradise reveals the chilling true story of the crimes of postwar Britain.With the narrative pace of the best detective fiction, Donald Thomas creates a thrilling journey into the heart of postwar Britain's secret history.
Villains' Paradise: Britain's Underworld from the Spivs to the Krays
by Donald ThomasWith the war over, the forties, fifties and sixties have the aura of a golden age. But nostalgia is deceptive. From teenage Teddy Boy razor gangs and casual stabbings at dance halls to the psychopathic Krays, 'Mad' Frankie Fraser and Ronnie Biggs, Villains' Paradise reveals the chilling true story of the crimes of postwar Britain.With the narrative pace of the best detective fiction, Donald Thomas creates a thrilling journey into the heart of postwar Britain's secret history.
Villainy Victorious (Mission Earth #9)
by L. Ron HubbardEarth is rising in the House of Voltar...<P> And there'll be hell to pay!<P> That's right. The invasion is on... and it's coming soon to a galaxy near you. The action couldn't be hotter, and the plot couldn't be more diabolical. Earth is coming to Voltar--and the Voltarians won't know what hit them.<P> Murder, blackmail, drugs, psychoanalysis, PR firms, sex-crazed teenyboppers, riots in the streets, women in chains. These are the powerful secret weapons of war--perfected on Earth and imported to Voltar--which are now being exploited by the ruthless Lombar Hisst, chief of the Coordinated Information Apparatus (the infamous CIA). His obsession: total domination of the Voltarian Confederacy.<P> Can anyone stop the madness? Does anyone have the courage and charisma to crash this party?<P> Enter Royal Officer of the Fleet, Jettero Heller. Dodging Death Battalions and death warrants, he's racing from Earth to face the challenge. But Hisst has taken Heller's beautiful sister hostage, and she may be the one who has to pay the ultimate price of VILLAINY VICTORIOUS.
The Ville Rat
by Martin LimonHow much can murder, and silence, buy on the black market of 1974 South Korea? South Korea, 1970s: A young Korean woman dressed in a traditional chima-jeogori is found strangled to death on the frozen banks of the Sonyu River with only a carefully calligraphed poem in her sleeve. George Sueño and Ernie Bascom, sergeants in the US 8th Army CID, are called in by the formidable KNP detective Gil Kwon-up to investigate. George and Ernie's job is to liaise with Korean law enforcement on matters that may involve or implicate 8th Army American servicemen. But as they learn about the case, George and Ernie realize this isn't their jurisdiction--the nearby village of Sonyu-ri is occupied by the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division, a disciplined and often brutal force that won't stand for outside officers questioning its men. All that George and Ernie are able to glean before being kicked out of town is that they are close to the truth--and that a mysterious smuggler, known locally as "the Ville Rat," holds the key to the woman's murder.Luckily, the pair is officially assigned another investigation in the area, which allows them to continue nosing around for answers. They are to elucidate the circumstances of a shooting incident between a young African American private and his white supervising chief. Racial tensions run high, and George and Ernie must tread carefully to solve both cases. But they aren't exactly known for going out of their way to avoid stepping on US Army toes, and this is no exception.From the Hardcover edition.
The Villiers Touch
by Brian GarfieldAn unscrupulous businessman targets a family chemical companyThough his business cards read &“Mason Villiers,&” that is not his name. His respectable lower-middle-class upbringing—with its innocent stories of hot rods and prom queens—is a lie. Though an expert on finance, he has no formal education. The man who calls himself Mason Villiers was raised on the streets of Chicago&’s rough South Side, and once he clawed himself out of the gutter he decided no one should know where he came from. His past doesn&’t matter. Villiers is headed for the top, no matter how many throats he must cut along the way. Having made a name for himself in swashbuckling business dealings, Villiers plans a hostile takeover of a family-owned chemical company. Although Melbard Chemical&’s stock hovers at rock bottom, Villiers makes an astronomical offer. Melbard Chemical has a valuable secret, and there is no one more ready to exploit it than Villiers.
Vince Flynn Collectors' Edition #1: Term Limits, Transfer of Power, and The Third Option (The Mitch Rapp Series)
by Vince FlynnFor the first time in eBook from the UK, the box set of three Vince Flynn titles Transfer of Power The White House is under attack and CIA counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp struggles to save lives.The Third Option Dr Irene Kennedy is named the successor to dying CIA Director Thomas Stansfield, and many insiders are not happy. Mitch Rapp is under threat and will stop at nothing to discover who set him up.Term Limits A group of highly trained killers is unleashed in Washington, brutally murdering three of the most unscrupulous politicians. The ultimate democratic ideal - a government of the people - is taken to a devastating extreme. PRAISE FOR VINCE FLYNN:'Sizzles with inside information and CIA secrets.' Dan Brown 'Flynn perfectly measures all the ingredients for a fast and furious read.' Publishers Weekly 'A cracking, uncompromising yarn that literally takes no prisoners' The TimesVince Flynn clearly has one eye on Lee Child's action thriller throne with this twist-laden story . . . instantly gripping' Shortlist
Vince Flynn Collectors' Edition #2: Separation of Power, Executive Power, and Memorial Day (The Mitch Rapp Series)
by Vince FlynnFor the first time in eBook from the UK, the box set of three Vince Flynn titles Separation of Power The American President's position is under threat and Saddam Hussein is close to entering the nuclear arms race. With World War III looming, Mitch Rapp has two weeks to take out the nukes. Executive Power A leak in the US State Department and an assassin out for his life. Can Rapp prevent the outbreak of a war? Memorial Day A nuclear strike on Washington planned for Memorial Day is defused, but Mitch Rapp knows that in the face of a new kind of enemy, nothing is as it seems . . .
Vince Flynn Collectors' Edition #3: Consent to Kill, Act of Treason, and Protect and Defend (A Mitch Rapp Novel)
by Vince FlynnIn this special collectors' edition, relive the action in Vince Flynn's #1 New York Tmes bestselling political thrillers: Consent to Kill, Act of Treason, and Protect and Defend.Consent to KillAn eye for an eye: that's what the powerful father of a dead terrorist demands in retribution--and with his hate-filled plea, Mitch Rapp becomes the target of an explosive international conspiracy. The fearless operative has both killed with impunity and tortured to avert disaster, all in a battle to preserve freedom. But even among America's allies, some believe the time has come to bring Rapp down. Now the unter is the hunted, and Rapp must rely on his razor-sharp instincts for survival--and justice--as he unleashes his fury on those who have betrayed him.Act of TreasonIn the final weeks of a fierce presidential campaign, a motorcade carrying candidate Josh Alexander is shattered by a car bomb. Soon after the attack, Alexander is carried to victory by a sympathy vote, but his assailants have not been found. When CIA director Irene Kennedy and Special Agent Skip McMahon receive damagin intelligence on Washington's most powerful players, they call on Mitch Rapp--the one man reckless enough to unravel a global network of contract killers on an explosive mission that leads back to the heart of our nation's capital...and the inner sanctum of the Oval Office.Protect and DefendNo longer willing to wait for the international community to stop its neighboring enemy, Israel brings down Iran's billion-dollar nuclear program in an ingeniously conceived operation. The attack leaves a radioactive tomb and environmental disaster in its wake, and has Iranian president Amatullah calling for blood--American blood. Seeing opportunity where others fear reprisals, Mitch Rapp devises a brilliant plan to humiliate Iran's government and push the nation to the brink of revolution. But when a back-channel meeting between CIA director Irene Kennedy and her Iranian counterpart goes disastrously wrong, Rapp is locked in a showdown with a Hezbollah mastermind in league with Amatullah--and he is given twenty-four hours to do whatever it takes to stop unthinkable catastrophe.
Vince Flynn Collectors' Edition #3: Consent to Kill, Act of Treason, and Protect and Defend (The Mitch Rapp Series)
by Vince FlynnFor the first time in eBook from the UK, the box set of three Vince Flynn titles Consent to Kill The father of a terrorist is out for retribution and Rapp becomes the centre of an international conspiracy. Act of Treason After an explosion in Washington, Mitch Rapp is called upon to unravel a global network of contract killers, which leads back to the inner sanctum of the Oval Office. Protect and Defend With tensions building between Iran and Israel, Mitch Rapp has twenty-four hours to do whatever it takes to stop terrorist Imad Muktar from doing the Iranian President's dirty work... PRAISE FOR VINCE FLYNN:'Sizzles with inside information and CIA secrets.' Dan Brown 'Flynn perfectly measures all the ingredients for a fast and furious read.' Publishers Weekly 'A cracking, uncompromising yarn that literally takes no prisoners' The TimesVince Flynn clearly has one eye on Lee Child's action thriller throne with this twist-laden story . . . instantly gripping' Shortlist
Vince Flynn Collectors' Edition #3: Consent to Kill, Act of Treason and Protect and Defend
by Vince FlynnIn this special collectors’ edition, relive the action in Vince Flynn's #1 New York Times bestselling political thrillers: Consent to Kill, Act of Treason, and Protect and Defend. Consent to Kill: An eye for an eye: that's what the powerful father of a dead terrorist demands in retribution--and with his hate-filled plea, Mitch Rapp becomes the target of an explosive international conspiracy. The fearless operative has both killed with impunity and tortured to avert disaster, all in a battle to preserve freedom. But even among America's allies, some believe the time has come to bring Rapp down. Now the hunter is the hunted, and Rapp must rely on his razor-sharp instincts for survival—and justice—as he unleashes his fury on those who have betrayed him. Act of Treason: In the final weeks of a fierce presidential campaign, a motorcade carrying candidate Josh Alexander is shattered by a car bomb. Soon after the attack, Alexander is carried to victory by a sympathy vote, but his assailants have not been found. When CIA director Irene Kennedy and Special Agent Skip McMahon receive damaging intelligence on Washington's most powerful players, they call on Mitch Rapp—the one man reckless enough to unravel a global network of contract killers on an explosive mission that leads back to the heart of our nation's capital... and the inner sanctum of the Oval Office. Protect and Defend: No longer willing to wait for the international community to stop its neighboring enemy, Israel brings down Iran's billion-dollar nuclear program in an ingeniously conceived operation. The attack leaves a radioactive tomb and environmental disaster in its wake, and has Iranian president Amatullah calling for blood—American blood. Seeing opportunity where others fear reprisals, Mitch Rapp devises a brilliant plan to humiliate Iran's government and push the nation to the brink of revolution. But when a back-channel meeting between CIA director Irene Kennedy and her Iranian counterpart goes disastrously wrong, Rapp is locked in a showdown with a Hezbollah mastermind in league with Amatullah—and he is given twenty-four hours to do whatever it takes to stop unthinkable catastrophe.
Vince Flynn Collectors' Edition #4: Extreme Measures, Pursuit of Honor, and American Assassin (A Mitch Rapp Novel)
by Vince FlynnIn this special collectors' edition, relive the action in Vince Flynn's #1 New York Tmes bestselling political thrillers: Extreme Measures, Pursuit of Honor, and American Assassin.Extreme MeasuresIn the secretive world where fearless men and women wage a daily covert war, the CIA has intercepted two terrorist cells--but a third, led by a dangerous mastermind, is feared to be on the loose. Counterterrorist agent Mitch Rapp joins forces with a warrior as dedicated--and lethal--as they come: ex-Marine and elite operative Mike Nash. Both Rapp and Nash have stared down the jihadist culture of death. Both have saved thousands of lives without accolades or acknowledgment of their personal sacrifices. But the political winds have changed on Capitol Hill, and certain leaders want Mitch Rapp put back on a short leash. And when a nightmare scenario descends on Washington, D.C., Rapp and Nash will follow new rules of engagement: their own. Pursuit of HonorWhen Washington, D.C.'s National Counterterrorism Center is struck by a series of devastating explosions, the results are catastrophic--185 killed, including public officials and CIA employees. Such an act of extreme violence calls for extreme measures--and elite counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp, joining forces with trusted team member Mike Nash, finds himself in the frustrating position of having to illustrate the realities of national security to government officials up in arms over the agents who rushed in to save countless American lives. Meanwhile, with three al Qaeda terrorists still at large and Nash traumatized by the horrors he witnessed during the attack, Rapp must help his friend while threading his way through the naysayers on Capitol Hill--and silently, swiftly, do what he must for the sake of his country and the pursuit of honor.American AssassinBefore he was considered a CIA superagent, before he was thought of as a terrorist's worst nightmare, and before he was both loathed and admired by the politicians on Capitol Hill, Mitch Rapp was a gifted college athlete without a care in the world . . . and then tragedy struck. Two-hundred and seventy souls perished that cold December night of the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack, and thousands of family and friends were left searching for comfort. Mitch Rapp was one of them, but he was not interested in comfort. He wanted retribution.
Vince Flynn Collectors' Edition #4: Extreme Measures, Pursuit of Honour, and American Assassin (The Mitch Rapp Series)
by Vince FlynnFor the first time in eBook from the UK, the box set of three Vince Flynn titles Extreme Measures Mitch Rapp and his protégé Mike Nash need to bring down an al-Qaeda cell, but certain leaders on Capitol Hill think that men like Rapp and Nash need to be put on a short leash. Pursuit of Honour In order to find al-Qaeda operatives responsible for a series of explosions in Washington, Mitch Rapp needs to stop partner Mike Nash from cracking... The Last Man Mitch Rapp must do all he can to find the man he is supposed to be protecting: Joe Rickman, head of the CIA's clandestine operations in Afghanistan. Can he navigate the ever-changing political landscape in order to complete his mission? Praise for Vince Flynn:'Sizzles with inside information and CIA secrets.' Dan Brown 'Flynn perfectly measures all the ingredients for a fast and furious read.' Publishers Weekly 'A cracking, uncompromising yarn that literally takes no prisoners' The TimesVince Flynn clearly has one eye on Lee Child's action thriller throne with this twist-laden story . . . instantly gripping' Shortlist
Vince Flynn Collectors' Edition #4: Extreme Measures, Pursuit of Honor and American Assassin
by Vince FlynnIn this special collectors’ edition, relive the action in Vince Flynn’s #1 New York Times bestselling political thrillers: Extreme Measures, Pursuit of Honor, and American Assassin. Extreme Measures: In the secretive world where fearless men and women wage a daily covert war, the CIA has intercepted two terrorist cells--but a third, led by a dangerous mastermind, is feared to be on the loose. Counterterrorist agent Mitch Rapp joins forces with a warrior as dedicated—and lethal—as they come: ex-Marine and elite operative Mike Nash. Both Rapp and Nash have stared down the jihadist culture of death. Both have saved thousands of lives without accolades or acknowledgment of their personal sacrifices. But the political winds have changed on Capitol Hill, and certain leaders want Mitch Rapp put back on a short leash. And when a nightmare scenario descends on Washington, D.C., Rapp and Nash will follow new rules of engagement: their own. Pursuit of Honor: When Washington, D.C.'s National Counterterrorism Center is struck by a series of devastating explosions, the results are catastrophic—185 killed, including public officials and CIA employees. Such an act of extreme violence calls for extreme measures—and elite counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp, joining forces with trusted team member Mike Nash, finds himself in the frustrating position of having to illustrate the realities of national security to government officials up in arms over the agents who rushed in to save countless American lives. Meanwhile, with three al-Qaeda terrorists still at large and Nash traumatized by the horrors he witnessed during the attack, Rapp must help his friend while threading his way through the naysayers on Capitol Hill—and silently, swiftly, do what he must for the sake of his country and the pursuit of honor. American Assassin: Before he was considered a CIA superagent, before he was thought of as a terrorist’s worst nightmare, and before he was both loathed and admired by the politicians on Capitol Hill, Mitch Rapp was a gifted college athlete without a care in the world... and then tragedy struck. Two-hundred and seventy souls perished that cold December night of the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack, and thousands of family and friends were left searching for comfort. Mitch Rapp was one of them, but he was not interested in comfort. He wanted retribution.
The Vince Flynn Encyclopedia
by Emily Bestler BooksEverything you need to know about Vince Flynn's #1 New York Times bestselling Mitch Rapp series!Hailed as "the king of high-concept political intrigue" (Dan Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code), Vince Flynn's covert agent Mitch Rapp took the world by storm in his bestselling series, fighting terrorism and treason both at home and abroad, and captivating the minds of readers all across the world. This comprehensive compilation of characters is the ultimate guidebook to the thrilling and dangerous world of Mitch Rapp. Featuring summaries, memorable quotes, and other fascinating trivia, The Vince Flynn Encyclopedia will tell you everything you need to know about all the characters you love, and the ones you love to hate.
Vindicate
by Beth YarnallBeth Yarnall kicks off a steamy new series--perfect for fans of Kendra Elliot and Emma Chase--featuring a San Diego investigative team with a soft spot for lost causes and a passion for redemption. Cora: I got my driver's license on my sixteenth birthday so I could visit my brother in prison. Five and a half years later, he's still locked up for a murder he didn't commit and I'm still trying to find a way to set him free. Then I hear about Nash Security and Investigation, a private detective agency that helped exonerate a wrongfully convicted man after thirty-nine years in prison. The problem? They've already taken on the one pro-bono case they'll accept this year. Leo: I'm this close to finishing law school--and never working another day at my dad's P.I. office--when Cora Hollis walks through the door. She's got a box of files, a handful of leads, and an independent streak a mile wide. She fascinates me and I can't say no. Suddenly I'm volunteering to help her find a missing witness who could be the key to her brother's case. But nothing is what it seems and giving in to the attraction between us could be more dangerous than finding the real murderer.Advance praise for Vindicate "With humor, romance, and suspense, Vindicate is such a fun book. I loved it!"--USA Today bestselling author Sidney Halston"Readers will love Beth Yarnall's fresh voice and high quality writing. This is an excellent start to a series, with a strong heroine and a smart, sexy hero who make a great team. I can't wait for Beau's book!"--Jill Sorenson, author of Against the Wall Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
Vindication (A Matt Royal Mystery #11)
by H. Terrell GriffinPremier adult community with everything you could possibly want, need, or dream of doing in your retirement years is just a golf cart ride away—now the scene of a murderIn this John Grisham style mystery, Matt Royal, the retired lawyer-turned-beach-bum is called back into the courtroom to defend his girlfriend J. D. Duncan's Aunt Esther, who lives in the sprawling North Central Florida retirement community of The Villages. A best-selling author has been murdered after a book signing, and Aunt Esther has been arrested. Matt has a history with the local sheriff—one which may not bode well for his client. Matt reluctantly suits up for the courtroom, and J.D. takes a leave from the police department to go undercover. A bizarre specter from the past haunts their investigation every step of the way. As they delve further into the case, the pieces of the puzzle refuse to fall into any kind of coherent pattern. Jock Algren arrives with his special skill set to expose the real murderer and free Aunt Esther, but to no avail. Not until the case goes to trial and the evidence is revealed does the truth emerge—and a strange kind of justice prevails.
A Vine in the Blood (A Chief Inspector Mario Silva Investigation #5)
by Leighton GageIt is the eve of the FIFA World Cup, the globe's premier sporting event. The host country is Brazil. A victory for the home team is inextricably linked to the skills of the country's principal striker, Tico "The Artist" Santos, the greatest player in the history of the sport. All the politicians in Brasilia, from the President of the Republic on down, have their seats squared-away for the finale, when they hope to see Argentina, Brazil's bitterest rival, humbled by the Brazilian eleven. But then, just three weeks before the first game, Juraci Santos, Tico's mother, is kidnapped. The star is distraught. The public is appalled. The politicians are outraged. And the pressure is on Chief Inspector Mario Silva to get her back.Suspects aren't lacking. Among them, are a cabal of Argentineans, suspected of having spirited the lady away to put Tico off his game, the star's gold-digging, top-model girlfriend, whom his mother dislikes and has been trying to get out of his life, his principal rival, who wants to play in the World Cup in Tico's place, and the man whose leg Tico broke during a match, thereby destroying his career. In the end, Silva and his crew discover that the solution to the mystery is less complex - but entirely unexpected.