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El violinista de Praga
by Michael CraneUna misteriosa melodía de violín acompaña los pasos de un despiadado asesino. Una oda a la muerte que solo un hombre puede interpretar.En la bulliciosa y efervescente Praga del siglo XVIII, el genial compositor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart se convierte en el principal sospechoso de una serie de crímenes atroces.
La violinista roja
by Reyes MonforteReyes Monforte regresa con su novela más ambiciosa: la apasionante historia de la española que se convirtió en la espía soviética más importante del siglo XX. La legendaria historia de una valerosa mujer que luchó por sus ideales más allá de la familia, el amor, la amistad y el orden mundial. «Pero ¿quién demonios es esa mujer?» era la pregunta más escuchada en los despachos de la CIA. ¿Quién movía los hilos del espionaje mundial, frustraba operaciones de inteligencia, retorcía voluntades, mudaba de piel, encabezaba misiones imposibles, descubría secretos de Estado y dibujaba en el tablero de la Guerra Fría la amenaza de una Tercera Guerra Mundial? Esa misteriosa mujer era la española África de las Heras, quien se convirtió en la espía soviética más importante del siglo xx. Captada por los servicios secretos de Stalin en Barcelona durante la guerra civil española, formó parte del operativo para asesinar a Trotski en México, luchó contra los nazis ejerciendo de radioperadora —violinista— en Ucrania, protagonizó la trampa de miel más fructífera del KGB al casarse con el escritor anticomunista Felisberto Hernández y crear la mayor red de agentes soviéticos en Sudamérica, dejó su impronta en el espionaje nuclear, en bahía de Cochinos y se relacionó con Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera o Ernest Hemingway, entre otros. Una vida llena de peligro, misterio, glamour y numerosas identidades secretas bajo un mismo alias: Patria. Ni siquiera la relación personal con el asesino de Trotski, Ramón Mercader, la separó de sus objetivos, pero ¿qué precio tuvo que pagar por su lealtad a la URSS y a sí misma? Reyes Monforte relata en La violinista roja la increíble vida de un icono fascinante de nuestra historia; una novela épica, torrencial y ambiciosa en torno a una de las mujeres que forjaron el siglo XX tal y como lo conocemos.
Viper: No Resurrection for Commissario Ricciardi (The Commissario Ricciardi Mysteries #6)
by Maurizio de GiovanniCommissario Ricciardi, “one of the most interesting and well-drawn detectives in fiction,” returns in this historical mystery by the author of By My Hand (The Daily Beast).It is one week before Easter, Naples, 1932. At the high-class brothel in the center of town known as Paradiso, Viper, the most famous prostitute of all, is found dead. Suffocated with a pillow. Her last client swears that when he left her she was alive and well. But when her next client arrived, he found her dead. Who killed her and why? Ricciardi has to untangle a complex knot of greed, frustration, jealousy, and rancor in order to solve the riddle of Viper’s death. As he does so, he will discover no end of conflicting emotions just beneath the surface of a city that lives on passion.De Giovanni’s mysteries unfold with such sinuous ease that they seem to write themselves. They enchant, surprise; they hold readers enthralled. Commissario Ricciardi, whose dubious gift of being able to see and hear the last seconds in the lives of those who have suffered a violent death, is one of the most fascinating investigators to make his appearance in the world of international crime fiction in recent years. And in Viper, the lustful and boisterous city of Naples has never been more seductive.“Engaging . . . melancholy Ricciardi, Brigadier Raffaele Maione, and other characters are compellingly drawn. New readers and returning fans should savor this novel like a Neapolitan pastiera.” —Publishers Weekly“De Giovanni is a fantastic discovery and I’m looking forward to reading the series from the start as there’s plenty here to enthrall the reader.” —Crimepieces
The Viper: The Final Instalment In The Sandro Cellini Series (Sandro Cellini #6)
by Christobel KentSandro Cellini faces his demons as the sixth and final installment in the series takes him back to his very first case Sandro Cellini hasn't set foot in La Vipera, a derelict farmhouse just outside Florence that was once home to a free-living commune, for forty years - until the discovery of two bodies nearby leads him back there. At the start of his career, Cellini investigated an accusation that minors were being corrupted at La Vipera, but no charges were ever brought. Now, tasked with tracking down former members of the community, he has a chance to finally discover what really went on all those years ago. But in order to learn the true nature of the commune's mission, he must face his own traumatic memories. As he sifts through the lies, those closest to him are placed in danger. Only Cellini can unravel the final mystery of La Vipera, and so protect those he loves.
The Viper: A Dave Gurney Novel (Dave Gurney #8)
by John VerdonPushed to his breaking point and accused of murder, retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney must face his greatest adversary yet to solve a mystery that is quickly tearing his world apartTennis bad boy Ziko Slade is serving twenty years for the grisly murder of small-time criminal Lenny Lerman. The facts of the case—and Slade&’s checkered past—seem indisputable. What begins as a cursory review of the case as a favor to Dave Gurney&’s wife&’s friend soon spirals into something much more complicated. When Gurney&’s involvement threatens to expose a viper&’s nest of corruption, he finds himself framed for murder and pursued by a sensational media, a ruthless district attorney, and a coldblooded killer.As he evades the law and attempts to solve the case to salvage his reputation, Gurney grapples with the realization that his unshakable need for police work is costing him more than the brilliant detective ever suspected. The Viper is the most shocking and riveting chapter yet in the internationally bestselling Dave Gurney series.
Viper Attack (Mission Alert)
by Benjamin Hulme-CrossTom and Zilla go undercover to protect a classmate who's being targeted by kidnappers. He's the son of an important physician with powerful enemies. But can Tom and Zilla keep him safe without exposing their secret mission? It's up to the secret agents to save the day.
Viper Game (Ghostwalker Novel #11)
by Christine FeehanHailed as "the queen of paranormal romance" by J.R. Ward, #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan continues to amaze readers with her phenomenal novels. Now, from the author of the Dark Carpathian series, comes the newest in Christine Feehan's explosive GhostWalker series . . . GhostWalker Wyatt Fontenot knows the price he paid for the secret military experiments that gave him his special catlike abilities. After all, he left his bayou home a healer and came back a killer. While Wyatt and his GhostWalker brother Gator may have known exactly the sort of game they were getting into, Wyatt never anticipated where it would lead - or to whom.The swamps hold many mysteries, but few are as sinuously seductive as Le Poivre de Cayenne. The woman the locals call Pepper is every bit as enigmatic as the three little girls she's desperately trying to protect. From what, Wyatt is soon to discover. Right now Pepper needs a man like Wyatt. Passionately. But her secrets are about to take them both deeper into the bayou than either imagined -- where desire is the deadliest poison of all.
Viper's Dream: A Novel
by Jake LamarFor fans of Colson Whitehead and Wild Women and the Blues, Viper's Dream is a gritty, daring look at the vibrant jazz scene of midcentury Harlem, and one man&’s dreams of making it big and finding love in a world that wants to keep him down.Harlem, 1936. Clyde &“The Viper&” Morton boards a train from Alabama to Harlem to chase his dreams of being a jazz musician. When his talent fails him, he becomes caught up in the dangerous underbelly of Harlem&’s drug trade. In this heartbreaking novel, one man must decide what he is willing to give up and what he wants to fight for.Viper's Dream is a fast-paced story that is charged with suspense. A snappy, provocative voice and a stark look at Viper&’s Black American experience weave with endless plot twists to offer readers a stunningly original, achingly beautiful read.
Viper's Kiss
by Shannon CurtisLibrarian Maggie Kincaid yearns for excitement--but being accused of espionage is not what she had in mind. Wanted by the police, the FBI and the criminal element, Maggie goes on the run--and runs straight into sexy Luke Fletcher. Unfortunately, when Luke pulls out the handcuffs, it's not because he has something kinky in mind... Security expert Luke is intent on seeing the murderous spy known only as Viper brought to justice. The un-spy-like behavior of his fugitive makes him suspect he's apprehended the wrong woman. Just as they give in to lust, new evidence convinces Luke that Maggie's not as innocent as she claims to be. Devastated by Luke's inability to trust her, Maggie runs again. She's determined to clear her name, and if that means tracking down a notorious spy even Interpol can't seem to locate, then that's exactly what she'll do.
Vipers Rule
by Stephanie TylerFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Vipers Run, here is the latest Skulls Creek novel, starring the outlaws of the Vipers Motorcycle Club and the women in need of their protection--and love....Even though he's no longer a U.S. soldier, Talon "Tals" Garrity hasn't lost his desire for living on the edge. As the enforcer for the Vipers Motorcycle Club, the eternal bad boy is always getting into trouble--especially with the ladies, who can't seem to resist him. But when Maddie Wells returns to Skulls Creek, he's shocked that she can't seem to keep her hands off him either. Good thing Tals doesn't mind playing with fire.Growing up with her family's prestigious name and money, Maddie could never indulge a bad-boy biker like Tals. Now that she's back, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But if Maddie ends up getting what she wants, they might both be sorry. Because some very dangerous men are hot on her trail--and Tals and his MC will have to put their lives on the line to protect her....
Viper’s Tangle
by François Charles Mauriac Warre B. WellsThe masterpiece of one of the twentieth century's greatest Catholic writers, Vipers' Tangle tells the story of Monsieur Louis, an embittered aging lawyer who has spread his misery to his entire estranged family. Louis writes a journal to explain to them--and to himself--why his soul has been deformed, why his heart seems like a foul nest of twisted serpents. Mauriac's novel masterfully explores the corruption caused by pride, avarice, and hatred, and its opposite--the divine grace that remains available to each of us until the very moment of our deaths. It is the unforgettable tale of the battle for one man's soul."a modern masterpiece."--St. Louis Star-Times"It is a magnificent novel, beautifully and skilfully written."--Integrity"Mauriac is one of the few who can touch the supernatural and write superb fiction simultaneously...Perhaps no one reader will see all that is taught in this book. But that is the nature of great literature. We are satisfied in knowing that any serious reader of mature intelligence will find the story profound and yet exciting in a tense, still sort of way. Few novels bring one so close to the soul of man; fewer have such a profound grasp of basic supernatural values."--Rev. Demetrius Manousos, O.F.M.Cap. The Cowl"extraordinary Catholic novel"--Commonwealth"Both as a novelist in the tradition of Dostoevsky and as a poet in that of Baudelaire, Mauriac deserves his present position as one of the world's greatest writers."--The New York Times"One of the most human and Catholic of Mauriac's works, Vipers' Tangle could well be his greatest."--Best Sellers
Viral
by Robin CookIn this electrifying medical thriller from New York Times bestselling author Robin Cook, a family&’s exposure to a rare yet deadly virus ensnares them in a growing danger to mankind—and pulls back the curtain on a healthcare system powered by profit and greed. Trying to find some normalcy during the Covid-19 pandemic, Brian Murphy and his family are on a summer excursion in Cape Cod when his wife, Emma, comes down with concerning flu-like symptoms. But their leisurely return home to New York City quickly becomes a race to the local hospital as she suddenly begins seizing in the car. At the ICU, she is diagnosed with eastern equine encephalitis, a rare and highly lethal mosquito-borne viral disease seemingly caught during one of their evening cookouts. Complicating the situation further, Brian and Emma&’s young daughter then begins to exhibit alarming physical and behavioral symptoms, too. Emma&’s harrowing hospital stay becomes even more fraught when Brian receives a staggering hospital bill full of outrageous charges and murky language. To add insult to injury, his health insurance company refuses to cover any of the cost, citing dubious clauses in Brian&’s policy. Forced to choose between the ongoing care of family and bills he can never pay, and furious at a shockingly indifferent healthcare system, Brian vows to seek justice. But to get to the bottom of the predatory practices targeting his loved ones and countless others, he must uncover the dark side of an industry that has strayed drastically from its altruistic roots—and bring down the callous executives preying on the sick and defenseless before the virus can claim even more people . . .
VIRAL!!!
by Michael GandyAn infection leads desperately ill people unable to get better, but moreover, unable to die. And then, different species exhibit different effects—white-tailed deer drop dead, cattle become carnivorous, birds of all kind turn iridescent blue. Next affect is the natural world, with waterfalls changing color from top to bottom and a mysterious deep rumble occurring offshore from the Sydney Opera House. But the night the Great Wall of China disappears from the face of the earth…
Viral: A Novel
by James LillieforsIn remote pockets of the Third World, a deadly virus is quietly sweeping through impoverished farming villages and shanty towns with frightening speed and potency. Meanwhile, in Washington, a three-word message left in a safe-deposit box may be the key to stopping the crisis--if, that is, Charles Mallory, a private intelligence contractor and former CIA operative, can decipher the puzzle before time runs out. What Mallory begins to discover are the traces of a secret war, with a bold objective--to create a new, technologically advanced society. With the help of his brother Jon, an investigative reporter, can he break the story to the world before it is too late--before a planned "humane depopulation" takes place? As the stakes and strategies of this secret war become more evident, the Mallory brothers find themselves in a complex game of wits with an enemy they can't see: a new sort of superpower led by a brilliant, elusive tactician who believes that ends justify means.blems that plague many Third World nations. With the help of his brother Jon, an investigative reporter, can he break the story to the world before it is too late - before a planned "humane depopulation" takes place? As the stakes and strategies of this secret war become more evident, the Mallory brothers find themselves in a complex game of wits with an enemy they can't see: a new sort of superpower led by a brilliant, elusive tactician who believes that ends justify means.From the Hardcover edition.
Viral Conspiracy
by John NexdarJames Rocasolano, a renowned scientist, discovers the cure for HIV after a couple of tries. What he is unaware of is that there are many financial interests involved….and this is where trouble begins. The Black Ambar Corporation, which represents the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, intends to continue profiting from the sale of chronic treatments. James Rocasolano’s cure is in their way…so they try to assassinate him, but the question is, do they succeed? It has a very elaborate, dizzying plot, with many twists and turns, and a totally unexpected ending. When you least expect it, everything you thought was going to happen, jumps into the air and goes in another direction. Nothing appears to be as you would expect. There are murders, conspiracies, love stories, suspense, betrayals, sex, etc. ESCRIDUENDE AWARD TO THE BEST INTRIGUE NOVEL AT THE 2015 BOOK FAIR. INFINITE AWARD FOR THE BEST THRILLER NOVEL 2016. "The novel by the young Juan Martin Garcia reveals a narrative mastery. This is not common at the author's age." José Menéndes - former Supreme Court Magistrate. "We are facing a novel that does not detract from the latest works of such noted authors like Stephen King or Dan Brown." Gabriel Neila - Professor of the Literature University of Alcalá. "Viral Conspiracy" is a dynamic, fun adventure written with a carefree style" Vicente Baratas – writer
Viral Justice
by Julie RoweAs a general's daughter, Alicia Stone has fought twice as hard for everything she's earned in the military. A Special Forces consultant with black belts in three martial arts, she's as strong as her surname implies. No one dares call her Alicia--no one but Colonel Robert Maxmillian, head of the Biological Response Team.With Alicia at his side, Max must lead the team into northern Iraq to investigate a virus--or is it a weapon--killing the area's population. Charged with guarding his body, she can't help wanting his hands on her body. Max would be the perfect fling. But he demands more.The heat builds between them, but danger quickly follows. As the two get closer to the source of the virus, they'll have to risk their future to outsmart a scientist with nothing to lose.Book three of Biological Response Team
Viral Siege
by Don PendletonMEMORY SWEEPA call for help from an FBI agent with nowhere else to turn has Mack Bolan racing to Seattle, but he arrives minutes too late: the agent is ambushed before he can be rescued. Hurt during the attack, Bolan can't remember who he is or why he's there. All he knows is that he has something important to do or thousands will die.Piecing together the fragments of his memory, Bolan realizes that a deadly virus is about to be handed over to a North Korean client. The airborne germ could cause widespread devastation unless he can stop the transaction and take down the group behind the lethal bioweapon. With his mind working against him, the Executioner is about to put up a fight his enemies will never forget...if they survive.
Viravax: A Thriller of Humanity's Genetic Apocalypse
by Bill RansomA near-future thriller of deadly genetic warfare. The private laboratory known as ViraVax, deep in the Central American jungles, is known for conducting questionable genetic research outside of safety regulations and oversight. Ex-intelligence officer Rico Toledo has uncovered a horrifying truth. Viravax, run by a mysterious utopian group called the Children of Eden, wants to remake the world, and humanity itself, according to their own image. As he digs deeper, Toledo&’s worst suspicions have been confirmed: his partner has been genetically programmed for assassination. And Toledo may have been altered, too …
La virgen negra
by Ilaria TutiFINALISTA DEL PREMIO EDGAR ALLAN POE 2021Y EN LOS PRIMEROS PUESTOS DE MÁS VENDIDOS EN ITALIA «La reina del thriller italiano.»Sandrone Dazieri «Teresa Battaglia es uno de los personajes más conseguidos y certeros de la escena negra contemporánea.»Javier Morales, Público La comisaria Teresa Battaglia duda si seguir ocultando a su equipo la enfermedad que se ceba con su memoria, cuando recibe una llamada desde una galería de arte: ha sido hallado un retrato de enorme valor atribuido a un pintor de culto, Alessio Andrian, cuya undécima y última obra se creía perdida. El cuadro, sin embargo, posee un detalle que ensombrece el descubrimiento: la pintura roja que dibuja el rostro de una joven es en realidad sangre humana y, según el análisis cromático, el pincel del artista se empapó en un corazón que aún latía. Teresa y su equipo tienen que averiguar qué sucedió en 1945, año en que se pintó el cuadro, cuando el autor se encontraba escondido en los bosques cercanos a la frontera entre Italia y Yugoslavia huyendo de los nazis. Battaglia, con una salud cada día más frágil, debe confiar en la ayuda de su colaborador Massimo Marini, pero pronto se dará cuenta de que ella no es la única que oculta un secreto inconfesable. La crítica ha dicho...«Con su protagonista, Ilaria Tuti hace el mejor regalo que un escritor puede dar a sus lectores: alguien a quien querer.»Donato Carrisi, Corriere della Sera «Teresa Battaglia es uno de los personajes más conseguidos y certeros de la escena negra contemporánea.»La Stampa «Ilaria Tuti sabe mantener alta la atención de los lectores. Una apuesta noir en femenino que ya es todo un fenómeno editorial.»Claudia Morgoglione, La Repubblica Acerca de Flores sobre el infierno...«Un thriller que penetra los pliegues del alma humana. Una autora que habrá que seguir con atención.»Marta Cervino, Marie Claire «Con una intriga compleja, la novela se desliza como un trineo por un eslalon de nieve a toda virolla. Y no descarrila. [...] Tuti consigue una obra de intriga de morbosa belleza poética: el encanto del mal.»Lluís Fernández, La Razón «Desde las primeras líneas, el paisaje y las condiciones atmosféricas se constituye en un personaje central de la trama: el frío, la niebla, los bosques... Muy lejos de la tradicional imagen colorista y mediterránea que la novela negra italiana exporta al mundo.»Álvaro Soto, La Verdad «Ilaria Tuti sorprende por un estilo fresco, inusual. [...] La historia está cocinada a fuego lento.»Juan Luis Sánchez, Crítica de Libros «Una de las revelaciones del año.»Ida Bozzi, Corriere della Sera«Una heroína de extraordinaria humanidad.»Babelio «Teresa Battaglia, una comisaria de sesenta años con una empatía extraordinaria.»L’Espresso
Vírgenes y verdugos
by Tomás BárbuloRelato fiel de las atroces condiciones de vida de las mujeres bajo el Estado Islámico y a la vez trepidante thriller contemporáneo, Vírgenes y verdugos nos adentra en el corazón de las tinieblas del yihadismo de la mano de uno de los escritores que mejor conocen el mundo árabe. La trepidante aventura narrada en La Asamblea de los Muertos -primera entrega de esta original serie de Tomás Bárbulo- supuso el nacimiento literario de Haibala Ahmed Yadali el Saharaui, un personaje llamado a dejar huella entre los miles de lectores que disfrutaron de la novela. En esta ocasión, el enigmático y esquivo presunto ladrón de joyas se encuentra en Raqa, Siria, detrás de las fronteras virtuales del Estado Islámico, recaudando fondos para la yihad en un nuevo ejercicio de espionaje ideado para recabar información y pasársela a Rusia con el objetivo de localizar a Abu Mohamed el Jordano, uno de los principales cabecillas de la organización fundamentalista. Sin embargo, el Saharaui no es el único infiltrado en esa zona caliente del conflicto bélico. Malika, una enfermera de Ceuta al servicio de la inteligencia española y estadounidense, también se ha trasladado hasta allí con el mismo propósito. Durante el viaje ha hecho migas con Alia, una chica que va a reunirse con un muyahidín con el que se ha prometido en secreto, y a su llegada, ambas son conducidas a una casa de la brigada Jansa, una unidad del Estado Islámico dedicada a inculcar en las militantes novatas las rígidas normas que deberán obedecer ciegamente. En las polvorientas calles de Raqa, donde los teléfonos móviles acaban de ser prohibidos, se palpa la dureza con que los yihadistas han maltratado a la población desde su toma de la ciudad un año atrás: bebedores ejecutados, jóvenes esclavizadas y homosexuales perseguidos. Un escenario dantesco y brutal en el que Malika y el Saharaui, cada uno por su cuenta, procurarán reunir indicios suficientes para cumplir con su misión, abriendo la puerta a una eventual liberación de los sufridos habitantes de Raqa. La crítica ha dicho...«Una narración trepidante, divertida, excelentemente ambientada y, al mismo tiempo, dura. Tiene personajes potentes, lenguaje adecuado y diálogos verosímiles.»Alicia Giménez Bartlett «Bárbulo [...] escribe con una soltura sorprendente. Es capaz de crear momentos de mucha intensidad e incluso de colocar algunas frases resonantes, de esas que marcan a un personaje o a una acción.»Félix Linares, Radio Euskadi
Virgin
by F. Paul WilsonAn international thriller about the search for Mary, the mother of Jesus, from the New York Times–bestselling author of the Repairman Jack novels. During the Gulf War in 1991, an ancient scroll is found in the Negev Desert of southern Israel. Years later, scientists declare it a fake, but an American nun believes it will lead her to the resting place of the Virgin Mary. What she finds seems to possess miraculous healing powers that attract believers and skeptics from across the globe. She also draws the attention of a mysterious Israeli Shin Bet officer determined to retrieve the remains of &“The Mother&” at any cost. And that is only the beginning . . . Previously published under the pseudonym Mary Elizabeth Murphy.
The Virgin in the Ice: The Sixth Chronicle Of Brother Cadfael (The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #6)
by Ellis PetersA monk embarks on a dangerous quest to find a trio of missing travelers in this medieval mystery by an Edgar Award–winning author. The winter of 1139 will disrupt Brother Cadfael&’s tranquil life in Shrewsbury with the most disturbing of events. Raging civil war has sent refugees fleeing north from Worcester. Among them are two orphans from a noble family, a boy of thirteen and an eighteen-year-old girl of great beauty, and their companion, a young Benedictine nun. The trio never reaches Shrewsbury, having disappeared somewhere in the wild countryside. Cadfael is afraid for these three lost lambs, but another call for help sends him to the church of Saint Mary. A wounded monk, found naked and bleeding by the roadside, will surely die without Cadfael&’s healing arts. Why this holy man has been attacked and what his fevered ravings reveal soon give Brother Cadfael a clue to the fate of the missing travelers. Now Cadfael sets out on a dangerous quest to find them. The road will lead him to a chill and terrible murder and a tale of passion gone awry. And at journey&’s end awaits a vision of what is best, and worst, in humankind.
The Virgin Kills
by Raoul WhitfieldA killer stalks the guests of an eccentric millionaire at a Hudson River boating event in this classic thriller from one of the unsung masters of early noir mystery In the years between the world wars, in the heyday of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Leslie Charteris, Raoul Whitfield was a mystery author to be reckoned with. Considered by many to be more realistic than his famous contemporaries, Whitfield wrote gripping tales of murder and mayhem, full of unanticipated twists and turns. His work was often featured in Black Mask, the legendary mystery magazine of the 1930s. The time is ripe to rediscover one of the godfathers of noir fiction. The guests of millionaire gambler Eric Vennel are gathered on their eccentric host&’s yacht, Virgin, speeding north up the Hudson River toward the Poughkeepsie Regatta, a renowned collegiate competition of boating skill. The crew on board is a motley one, including a famous Hollywood starlet, an acclaimed author, a sports writer, some society swells, a well-known aviator, a gossip columnist, and a hard-boiled newspaper reporter. Vennel is said to have a lot of money riding on this race. There is also speculation that someone wants him dead, which is why an underworld thug has been brought along to serve as the rich man&’s bodyguard. Neither the rumors nor the thug is doing much to alleviate the already considerable tension. And the questionable demise of a favored regatta competitor only heightens the sense of unease. It seems there may indeed be a killer among them—a suspicion that is emphatically confirmed when, one by one, the passengers of the Virgin begin to die.This ebook includes an introduction by Boris Dralyuk.
The Virgin Kills
by Raoul WhitfieldA killer stalks the guests of an eccentric millionaire at a Hudson River boating event in this classic thriller from one of the unsung masters of early noir mystery In the years between the world wars, in the heyday of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Leslie Charteris, Raoul Whitfield was a mystery author to be reckoned with. Considered by many to be more realistic than his famous contemporaries, Whitfield wrote gripping tales of murder and mayhem, full of unanticipated twists and turns. His work was often featured in Black Mask, the legendary mystery magazine of the 1930s. The time is ripe to rediscover one of the godfathers of noir fiction. The guests of millionaire gambler Eric Vennel are gathered on their eccentric host&’s yacht, Virgin, speeding north up the Hudson River toward the Poughkeepsie Regatta, a renowned collegiate competition of boating skill. The crew on board is a motley one, including a famous Hollywood starlet, an acclaimed author, a sports writer, some society swells, a well-known aviator, a gossip columnist, and a hard-boiled newspaper reporter. Vennel is said to have a lot of money riding on this race. There is also speculation that someone wants him dead, which is why an underworld thug has been brought along to serve as the rich man&’s bodyguard. Neither the rumors nor the thug is doing much to alleviate the already considerable tension. And the questionable demise of a favored regatta competitor only heightens the sense of unease. It seems there may indeed be a killer among them—a suspicion that is emphatically confirmed when, one by one, the passengers of the Virgin begin to die.This ebook includes an introduction by Boris Dralyuk.
The Virgin of Small Plains
by Nancy PickardJanuary 1987, Small Plains, Kansas. On the night of the decade's worst blizzard, a boy discovers the naked corpse of a beautiful girl. No-one can identify her, so the people of the town bury her with a gravestone marked with the date and 'Peace Be Unto You'. Seventeen years later, the mysterious dead girl - the 'Virgin of Small Plains' - has inspired a local myth. In the two decades since her death, strange miracles have visited those who faithfully tend her grave; some believe her spirit can cure deadly illnesses, while others credit her with the town's economic prosperity. Word of the legend spreads and Small Plains becomes a haven for an onslaught of spiritual seekers and the terminally ill, all hoping the Virgin will answer their prayers. When the mysterious Mitch Newquist reappears and a vengeful tornado devastates Small Plains, the truth begins to emerge.. What really happened seventeen years ago? Why did Mitch suddenly disappear the same night the Virgin's body was found - abandoning his first love, Abby Reynolds? And why are some of the town's leading citizens so determined that the truth remain buried?