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Weep for Me
by John D. MacdonaldWeep for Me, one of many classic novels from crime writer John D. MacDonald, the beloved author of Cape Fear and the Travis McGee series, is now available as an eBook. When Kyle Cameron meets temptation in the memorable shape of Emily, the strange, lovely new girl at the bank, his life changes forever. Emily has a fortune that frees him from his worst nightmares. But the relationship comes at a terrifying cost. Soon Kyle enters a world in which it will be impossible ever to feel safe again. He has placed his life in the hands of an insatiable woman with no fear of death . . . and no regard for anyone who stands in her way. Features a new Introduction by Dean Koontz Praise for John D. MacDonald "The great entertainer of our age, and a mesmerizing storyteller."--Stephen King "My favorite novelist of all time."--Dean Koontz "To diggers a thousand years from now, the works of John D. MacDonald would be a treasure on the order of the tomb of Tutankhamen."--Kurt Vonnegut "A master storyteller, a masterful suspense writer . . . John D. MacDonald is a shining example for all of us in the field. Talk about the best."--Mary Higgins Clark
Weep for a Blonde (The Mike Shayne Mysteries #28)
by Brett HallidayA blonde with a rotten husband sends Mike Shayne into the past Mike Shayne isn't scared of anyone, but that doesn't mean he feels comfortable in a tuxedo. He squeezes into the monkey suit for the sake of Lucy Hamilton, his beloved secretary, and grins and bears his way through a meal at the ultra-posh Martinique. The detective is just settling into the evening when he sees a woman who stops his blood cold: Lydia Kane, a friend of his late wife. She's polite, but her eyes show mortal terror. The reunion is soon broken up by Lydia's husband, a squat thug who explodes at Shayne for talking to his wife. The men exchange harsh words, then swift punches, which causes Shayne and Lucy to be kicked out of Martinique. When Lydia is murdered soon after, Shayne suspects her husband is the killer. But how can the detective prove it when the police are hot on his own trail?
Weeping On Wednesday: A Lois Meade Mystery #3
by Ann PurserShe's mopped up Murder on Monday,. She's tidied up Terror on Tuesday. This Wednesday, working-class mum and housecleaner extraordinaire Lois Meade returns for more mystery -but it seems that someone wants her to wash her hands of it all. Long Farnden villagers don't know what to think of the reclusive Abrahams of Carthanger Mill -and malicious rumors have surrounded the family as long as anyone can remember. But ever-spotless housecleaner Lois Meade isn't one for mudslinging -and when young Enid Abraham applies for work with New Brooms, Lois's cleaning business, Lois decides to give the girl a try. Then she sees what may be a body in the swollen millstream. And her husband starts getting letters insinuating that Lois is having an affair with a local policeman. After mysterious disappearances and more strange events, Lois begins to wonder if the rumors and gossip surrounding the Abrahams are the key to a terrible secret...
Weeping Waters: Book 1 Of The Inspector Beeslaar Series (The Inspector Beeslaar Series #1)
by Karin BrynardFirst in the series starring a South African police detective: “[A] picturesque backdrop, cast of authentic characters, and knotty story line” (Publishers Weekly).Shortlisted for the International Dagger Award and Winner of the University of Johannesburg Debut PrizeInsp. Albertus Markus Beeslaar is a traumatized cop who has abandoned tough city policing and a broken relationship in Johannesburg for a backwater post on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. But his dream of rural peace is soon shattered by the repeated attacks of a brutally efficient crime syndicate, as he struggles to train and connect with rookie local cops Ghaap and Pyl, who resent his brusqueness and his old-school ways.A beautiful and eccentric artist and her four-year-old adopted daughter are murdered on a local farm, and angry white farmers point to her enigmatic Bushman farm manager as a key suspect. Along with Ghaap and Pyl, Beeslaar is plunged into the intrigue and racial tensions of the community, and finds that violence knows no geographical or ethnic boundaries.Weeping Waters marks the beginning of a great new series with a striking setting, a strong ensemble of characters, and suspenseful storylines.“Brooding. Riveting. Brilliant.” —Deon Meyer, author of Blood Safari
Weeping on Wednesday
by Ann PurserIt's all smiles for the series that sweeps up sales-every day of the week. Working mum and owner of a cleaning business, Lois has just hired on the daughter of the Abrahams, an eccentric, reclusive family. But when strange letters and omens put everyone on edge, Lois wonders if the rumors about the Abrahams are the key to a terrible secret.
Weeping on Wednesday
by Ann PurserIt's all smiles for the series that sweeps up sales-every day of the week.Working mum and owner of a cleaning business, Lois has just hired on the daughter of the Abrahams, an eccentric, reclusive family. But when strange letters and omens put everyone on edge, Lois wonders if the rumors about the Abrahams are the key to a terrible secret.
Weigh Dead: An Iris House B&B Mystery (Iris House B&B Mystery #6)
by Jean Hager[from the back cover] "A ton of trouble It's March, and Tess Darcy has her hands full, planning both her own June wedding and the renovation to Iris House that will turn her living quarters into a lovely home for herself and Luke. Now she has a house full, and a weighty one at that. Famous aerobics queen Lida Darnell has booked an oversized group of well-heeled fitness wannabes, including radio health know-it-all Dr. Patrice Singleton who's there incognito. Marcia, a recent divorcee with a fascination for UFOs and dancing in the nude is accompanied by her sister Dorinda, who's keeping an eye on her unbalanced sibling. Tubby tycoon Rudy Hansel was tricked into showing up by his gorgeous super-model bride. And the most troublesome fitness follower, Heather Brackland, merciless snoop for The National Scoop, is digging up dirt on her ex-boyfriend--a fitness trainer and now Lida's lover--as well as the rest of the guests...creating a poisonous mix of hungry dieters chewing each other to bits. Tess wants no part of the bickering, but when a loud scream pierces the night air, she rushes outside to discover that someone has turned a fitness retreat into a fatal affair. And with a hefty list of suspects and a slim number of clues, Tess has the mammoth task of figuring out who at her quaint little B & B has turned weight reduction into guest reduction." Her business is running a bed and breakfast, but, again and again she finds herself making murder her business and giving clues to an unappreciative police chief. You'll Enjoy meeting returning and new, colorful characters and collecting evidence with Tess Darcy In the Iris House B&B Mysteries in the Bookshare library including: #1. Blooming Murder, #2. Dead and Buried, #3. Death on the Drunkard's Path, #4. The Last Noel, #5. Sew Deadly and #7. Bride and Doom.
Weighed in the Balance (William Monk #7)
by Anne PerryThe enigmatic Mr. Monk is once more called in this time to investigate the death of a crown prince. The countess Monk is trying to help believes he was murdered and has no proof and is about to go on trial for slander. As the book unfolds, it becomes clear the prince was killed but did the countess herself do it?
Weighed in the Balance: A William Monk Novel
by Anne PerryWhen Countess Zorah Rostova asks London barrister Sir Oliver Rathbone to defend her against a charge of slander, he is astonished to find himself accepting. For without a shred of evidence, the countess has publicly insisted that the onetime ruler of her small German principality was murdered by his wife, the woman who was responsible for the prince’s exile to Venice twenty years before. Private investigator William Monk and his friend Hester Latterly journey to the City of Water in an attempt verify the countess’s claims, and though the two manage to establish that the prince was indeed murdered, as events unfold the likeliest suspect seems to be Countess Zorah herself.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Weighed in the Balance: A royal scandal jeopardises the courts of Venice and Victorian London (William Monk Mystery #7)
by Anne PerryThe greatest love story... or the greatest murder? Monk is called on by his friend, lawyer Oliver Rathbone, to help in one of the greatest trials of the century in Anne Perry's compelling mystery Weighed in Balance. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Arthur Conan Doyle.'[Takes] the reader clue-hunting through the glittery courts of Venice, London, and a never-never-land principality. It's all rich as a warm scone slathered with jam and clotted cream' - St Petersburg Times It's 1859 and throughout Europe tremendous upheavals have taken place. Hester Latterly is nurse to the sick son of a German Baron and his family, who have moved to London from one of the many small principalities between Prussia and Bavaria - and the Baroness tells Hester about her kingdom's famous royal family...Handsome Prince Friedrich was one of just two heirs to the crown, considered the perfect match by every woman of the land. But during an affair with Countess Zorah Rostova, he meets the alluring and sophisticated Gisela - with whom he falls deeply in love. He can have Gisela or the crown, but not both. He chooses Gisela, marries her in Venice and, after many years, tragically dies in England.Now, Countess Zorah, having accused the widowed Princess of murdering Friedrich, is being sued in the biggest slander trial of the century - and the only way that she can defend herself is to prove that Gisela is indeed guilty. But in doing so she must sully the greatest love story that the country has ever known, and that is enough to put her lawyer's career in jeopardy, too. That lawyer is Oliver Rathbone, who calls on Investigator William Monk to help... What readers are saying about Weighed in the Balance: 'Anne Perry takes her knowledge of Victorian society across Europe with the flair and ease of a truly excellent writer''Another superb step back in time with murder and intrigue''Five stars'
Weight of Memory
by Kristina BruneLara Kemp's brother is dead. She's a wife and a mother but she's lost in her grief and far too many days she finds herself curled up on her closet floor, unable to function. She's miserable and worst of all, she's lost all her memories of her brother and can only remember him through the stories other people share. When Lara comes close to taking her own life, she and her husband take steps to get her the help she needs. They go on a much-needed visit to Lara's aunt in the small town of Grafton, Illinois, on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. In search of something—anything—to help her overcome the pain and get back to her normal, unremarkable life, Lara stumbles upon an old book in an antique shop. The book tells the story of a woman from a wealthy family in the 19th century, whose brother died in a fishing accident. Lara finds comfort in the book and her life slowly begins to return to a new normal. Months later, she reads the book again, but this time, the book is different. Lara thinks the book has changed. It appears to be small changes at first, and Lara chalks it up to just misremembering. But as she reads on, the story takes a dark, sinister turn and is nothing like the story she read the first time. Soon, the terrifying things happening in the book begin to mirror the strange happenings in Lara's own life. With her husband and almost everyone around her convinced her experiences are a byproduct of her stress and grief, Lara is convinced it's real. Based on what happened in the book, Lara begins to hope it might hold the secret to recovering her memories of her brother, so she sets out to find out more. Lara discovers that the story is real and that she and the women in her family are connected to the book in ways she never could have guessed. Refusing to back down in the face of the increasingly terrifying things happening around her, Lara enlists the help of her Aunt Maisie and her friend Maryn, along with Amabel, a mysterious
Weird Detective: The Stars Are Wrong
by Fred Van LenteThe streets of New York have been plagued by a pattern of crimes too weird and bizarre for the average detective. Lurking in the evidence are shadows of loathsome horrors from beyond space and time, seeking to usher in the unimaginable evil of the Old Ones. And the only man capable of fighting against the unspeakable terrors isn't a man at all. Detective Sebastian Green is one of them--it takes a monster to catch a monster. New York Time's best-selling author, Fred Van Lente, and artist Guiu Vilanova are on the case for Weird Detective, a Lovecraftian mystery tale!
Weird Events on Campus: Volume 1 (Volume 1 #1)
by Hua Banyu（linying）All greed is the beginning of evil. The school is the sanctuary of education, but under the drive of benefits, it has become a veritable hell on earth. Teacher was originally an engineer who had transformed the human soul, but became the murderer of the children...No. 1 High School was the national college entrance examination champion's base. Every year, the teacher in charge of senior year (1), Teacher Gu, would bring the students to the academy to carry out their demonic closed study. Every year, there would be students who could not bear the burden and went crazy. The new College Entrance Examination has created the history of No.1 Middle School. Just as the school prepared to host Teacher Gu's celebratory feast, Teacher Gu suddenly disappeared …A few years later, Xie Ke, a handsome male teacher, came to the classroom of a senior in high school. He was secretly adored by a beautiful and gentle girl. With an uneasy mood, Xie Ke led the students from Grade 3 (1) class into a courtyard known as the "Fierce Room" for closed study. However, on the very first day they entered the courtyard, the mysterious and mysterious Teacher Gui appeared. From then on, Xie Ke and Quiet had entered into a life of horror and terror.Can you sell your soul in exchange for real demand? Can giving up faith really be exchanged for greed? Will Xie Ke and Jing Jing be able to escape the deadly curse in the end?
Weird Nights (Shadow Promised Ser. #2)
by Rebecca RoyceBook Two of the Shadow Promised. Mindy Spellman hasn’t been the same since a demon stepped into her life, murdered her boyfriend and left her scarred inside and out. Jonah is one of the blood-oathed, sworn to guard mankind against things that go bump in the night. He’s promised Mindy he’ll teach her how to protect herself. But a poltergeist on the loose leaves him feeling protective—and lust-struck. She’s supposed to be under his care, but as they battle the forces of evil, he finds himself caring too much. **Please note, this book was published under the same name by a different publisher**
Weird Tales: Best of the Early Years 1923-25
by Harry HoudiniThirteen tales of terror—from the macabre and morbid to unexplainable stories of the occult—from such authors as Harry Houdini, H. P. Lovecraft, and others. First hitting newsstands in 1923, Weird Tales magazine quickly became a literary monster in discovering and publishing the best horror, sci-fi and fantasy writers of its day. The pulp magazine was one of the earliest publications, if not the first, to feature strange tales of occultism and alien invasions that simply didn&’t fit into any other magazine at that time. The stories struck a chord with those early audiences, and as a result, Weird Tales created a subgenre as &“weird&” could be attached itself to various genres. Marquee names like master magician Harry Houdini and cosmic horror creator H. P. Lovecraft graced the magazine&’s pages during those early years with several debut stories, alongside authors who were already giants in their own right—Otis Adelbert Kline, Seabury Quinn, and Greye La Spina. Maybe lesser known, but no less influential, writers like Frank Belknap Long Jr., Mary S. Brown, Lyllian Huntley Harris, Hasan Vokine, Arthur J. Burks, and H. Warner Munn turned out disturbing yarns that have stood the test of time only to be resurrected nearly a century later. This collection features those early authors across thirteen spooky stories from the impactful years of 1923 to 1925 that are best enjoyed at the witching hour. Reading ritual aside, you&’ve been warned.
Weirdo
by Cathi UnsworthNamed one of the Best Crime Books of the Year by the Guardian , Weirdo is an atmospheric thriller about a teenage girl convicted of murder in a 1980s seaside town and the private investigator who reopens the case to discover that she may not have acted alone … Corinne Woodrow was fifteen when she was convicted of the ritualistic murder of her classmate in a quaint seaside town. It was 1984, a year when teenagers ran wild, dressed in black, stayed out all night, and listened to music that terrified their parents. Rumours of Satanism surrounded Corinne and she was locked up indefinitely, a chilling reminder to the parents of Ernemouth to keep a watchful eye on their children. Twenty years later, private investigator Sean Ward — whose promising career as a detective with the Metropolitan Police was cut short by a teenager with a gun — reopens the case after new forensic evidence suggests that Corinne didn’t act alone. His investigation uncovers a town full of secrets, and a community that has always looked after its own.
Weiß ist die kälteste Farbe: Ein düsterer Psychothriller
by Eva Markert John NichollEin fesselnder Psychothriller von John Nicholl, ehemaliger Polizeibeamter und Sozialarbeiter im Kinderschutz. Trau, schau, wem! Die Familie Mailer ahnt nichts von der furchtbaren Gefahr, die in ihr Leben eindringt, als der siebenjährige Anthony von der Hausärztin an den Erziehungsberatungsdienst verwiesen wird, nachdem die Ehe seiner Eltern gescheitert ist. Der 58-jährige Dr. David Galbraith, ein sadistischer Pädophiler auf der Jagd nach Opfern, ist als beratender Kinderpsychiater dort angestellt. Er hat bereits einen Jungen ermordet – im schalldichten Keller seines georgianischen Stadthauses in Südwales, wo er mit seiner Frau und den zwei kleinen Töchtern lebt. Galbraith ist von Anthony geradezu besessen und macht vor nichts Halt, um seine grotesken Fantasien Wirklichkeit werden zu lassen. Das Buch enthält Material, das einige Leser*innen als verstörend empfinden könnten. Es ist all denen gewidmet, die überlebt haben. Brilliant und packend. Weiß ist die kälteste Farbe lässt einen von der allerersten Seite an nicht mehr los. Mit klopfendem Herzen hält man den Atem an bis zum schockierenden Ende. Lesermeinungen zu Weiß ist die kälteste Farbe: „Einer der besten Psychothriller, die ich je gelesen habe.“ The Book Review Café „Hervorragend geschrieben, dieser Psychothriller hat mich gefesselt.“ Read Along With Sue „Ich gebe zu, ich habe kurz vor dem Ende die Luft angehalten.“ Crimesquad.com „Nicholl ist ein großartiger Geschichtenerzähler. Es ist eine Kunst, ein Buch über derartige Gewalt und Brutalität zu schreiben, ohne es mit unnötigen Details zu überfrachten.“ Great Book Escapes „Ein meisterhaft geschriebener, düsterer Psychothriller.“ Albina Hume – Bestsellerautorin „Ich glaube, ich habe noch nie ein Buch gelesen, dass die Abgründe des menschlichen Geistes und der menschlichen Seele so gut aus
Welcome Back to the Night
by Elizabeth MassieA family reunion marks the beginning of a terrifying bond between three relatives and a fourth troubled woman who, for a brief time, was part of the family.
Welcome To Dubai
by Omar TyreeWhen American Gary Stevens decides to explore the immaculate tourism haven of Dubai in the Middle East, he finds much more than he bargained for. Plans for a peaceful and harmless visit to the exotic land of seven-star hotels, international culture, food and shopping, quickly change when Gary attracts the attention of a beautiful, rebellious and enticing Muslim woman. Gary stumbles into a violent labor revolt triggered by the death of a poor immigrant construction worker, who falls from one of Dubai's hundreds of fast-developing buildings. The exploitation of thousands of disposable immigrant laborers emboldens an Egyptian revolutionary to seek vengeance for the greed and inhumane practices of Dubai's business elite Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the outspoken wife of Dubai's youngest and most successful business leaders inspires an insurgence of young Muslim women---they seek empowerment, education and the freedom to pursue true love and romance. Gary becomes entangled in the uprising when the radicals take hundreds of international tourists hostage at the same hotel where Gary is staying. To make matters worse, these zealots include the older brother of the beautiful Muslim woman who has fallen for Gary. With nonstop action and cultural intrigue, Welcome to Dubai is the first full book in The Traveler series created by New York Times bestselling author Omar Tyree. Gary Stevens was introduced by Tyree in the e-book prequel, No Turning Back, in January 2013.
Welcome to Gothic
by Christina DoddNew York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd welcomes you to Gothic, California—the mysterious village with a foggy history—in this twisty, suspenseful, and darkly romantic novella… WELCOME TO THE PAST At the glittering heart of Hollywood&’s golden era stands the regal Gothic Palace Theater—the pinnacle of thrilling shows, opulent decor, and the biggest stars of stage and screen. Here, drama unfolds on and off the stage. WELCOME TO THE PRESENT Today, in the abandoned backstage, fitness guru Wendy Giordano is knocked unconscious and wakes to find herself performing a daredevil stunt in the Gothic Palace Theater…in glamorous 1940. WELCOME TO GOTHIC Wendy is swept into the hypnotic bygone world of desperate gamblers, powerful divas, and one tormented actor who might be her ideal man. Can she save a child and stop a murder before time once more sweeps her away from all she has come to love?
Welcome to Harmony Harbor Box Set Books 1-3 (Harmony Harbor)
by Debbie MasonIn this special three-book collection from USA Today bestselling author Debbie Mason, visit a town where love is just around the corner . . . Mistletoe CottageSophie DiRossi loved growing up in Harmony Harbor but now it's the last place she wants to be. Left homeless by a fire, she's forced to go back to the small coastal town that harbors a million secrets, including her own. Sophie sees this secret reflected every day in her daughter's blue eyes-and she must keep it hidden from the only man she has ever loved. For Liam Gallagher, seeing Sophie again sparks a desire so fierce that it takes his breath away. Now he will do whatever it takes to show her that they deserve a second chance. Starlight BridgeHidden in Graystone Manor is a book containing all the dark secrets of Harmony Harbor, and Ava DiRossi is determined to find it. No one-especially not her ex-husband, Griffin Gallagher-can ever discover what really tore her life apart all those years ago. But what's never changed are the sexy sparks of attraction between Ava and Griffin, and he won't give her up again without a fight. He knows there's the real possibility of a future together . . . if the truth doesn't burn the bridge between them forever.Primrose LaneOlivia Davenport has finally gotten her life back together. She's become Harmony Harbor's most sought-after event planner and left her past behind her-until she learns that she's now guardian of her ex's young daughter. With her world spinning, Olivia doesn't have time for her new next-door neighbor, no matter how handsome he is. Dr. Finn Gallagher would really like to be the shoulder Olivia leans on, and with a little help from some matchmaking widows and a precocious little girl, Finn might just win her over.Don't miss Sugarplum Way, available in October 2017!
Welcome to Murder Week: A Novel
by Karen DukessUSA TODAY BESTSELLER In this delightfully funny and heartfelt new novel from the author of the &“bittersweet page-turner&” (The New York Times) The Last Book Party, an American woman travels to the English countryside when she discovers tickets her late mother had purchased for a murder mystery simulation in a small British town.When thirty-four-year-old Cath loses her mostly absentee mother, she is ambivalent. With days of quiet, unassuming routine in Buffalo, New York, Cath consciously avoids the impulsive, thrill-seeking lifestyle that her mother once led. But when she&’s forced to go through her mother&’s things one afternoon, Cath is perplexed to find tickets for an upcoming &“murder week&” in England&’s Peak District: a whole town has come together to stage a fake murder mystery to attract tourism to their quaint hamlet. Baffled but helplessly intrigued by her mother&’s secret purchase, Cath decides to go on the trip herself—and begins a journey she never could have anticipated. Teaming up with her two cottage-mates, both ardent mystery lovers—Wyatt Green, forty, who works unhappily in his husband&’s birding store, and Amity Clark, fifty, a divorced romance writer struggling with her novels—Cath sets about solving the &“crime&” and begins to unravel shocking truths about her mother along the way. Amidst a fling—or something more—with the handsome local maker of artisanal gin, Cath and her irresistibly charming fellow sleuths will find this week of fake murder may help them face up to a very real crossroads in their own lives. Witty, wise, and deliciously escapist, Welcome to Murder Week is a fresh, inventive twist on the murder mystery and a touching portrayal of one daughter&’s reckoning with her grief, her past—and her own budding sense of adventure.
Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza: A Fina Mendoza Mystery (The Fina Mendoza Mysteries #1)
by Kitty FeldeA lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine. – Kirkus ReviewsBeware the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill!Legends say if you see the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill, you're cursed with bad luck. Ten-year-old Fina Mendoza just saw it. And the last thing her family needs right now is a jinx!Fina and her older sister Gabby just moved to Washington, D.C. after the death of their mom to live with Papa, a congressman from California. But then she comes face-to-whiskers with a mysterious cat in the Capitol Crypt. Is it the Demon Cat?Disasters follow! Jars of spaghetti sauce explode. Fina's beloved grandmother Abuelita breaks her leg. And Fina's only friend in Washington, a big orange dog named Senator Something, becomes the next target.The only way for Fina to save her family from future "cat"astrophe is to solve the mystery of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill.This Readers' Favorite Award-winning novel is more than a mystery story!Fina takes us backstage at the U.S. Capitol to see firsthand how government works with an emphasis on Congress and the Legislative Branch. The Fina Mendoza Mysteries provide an introduction to civics for elementary age children.The West Wing meets Nancy Drew...For fans of Nancy Drew Mysteries, Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, and Hardy Boys!THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES: Book 1 – Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza Book 2 – State of the Union Book 3 – Snake in the Grass (coming soon)ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH: Book 1 – Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza Book 2 – Estado de la UniÓn Book 3 – Serpiente en la Hierba (muy pronto)ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: – Perfect for classroom or homeschooling settings – Free podcast based on the books and current events: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries – 32-page Teacher's Guide including language arts, math, and social studies lessons
Well And Truly
by Evelyn Wilde MayersonWith this beautifully rendered novel about three generations of women brought together after a family death, Evelyn Wilde Mayerson, author of five critically acclaimed novels, has crafted a set of characters and captured a sense of place with a stunning precision that once again substantiates her enormous talent. After nearly twenty years in her husband's Vermont hometown, New Yorker Maggie Hatch is still an outsider. She has a mother-in-law who gives her a nervous stomach, an old house with floors that slant, and a much-beloved doctor-husband who unexpectedly dies on her while tying his tennis shoes. So how did it happen that she could be so devastated by her loss, and less than five months later lie shivering in another man's arms? Maggie, who is approaching forty, is just as shocked by this "scandalous" turn of events as her neighbors, but suspects it is not all that surprising, given the circumstances. First there is the matter of her precocious daughter, who drops out of Smith College after one month and arrives home with an unpleasant young man in tow. Then her beautiful, much-married mother temporarily moves in to try to be the parent she never was when Maggie was growing up. And her very best friend turns abruptly cool when she thinks Maggie has made a pass at her husband. Finally, there is the matter of murder. Maggie is prematurely torn out of mourning by a summons to serve as a juror in the trial of a fifteen-year-old girl accused of murdering her mother. But how can she uphold her oath as a juror--to well and truly pass judgment on the accused--unless she first takes stock of her own life, as a mother, a daughter, and an attractive woman in her sexual prime? And what about the wonderfully cranky new man who couldn't have picked a worse (better?) time to make her feel alive again? As this wry, poignant novel moves to its bittersweet conclusion, Evelyn Wilde Mayerson reminds us that life can throw a curve when we least expect it. With the wittiest, most outrageous dialogue to be found in contemporary fiction, and with a heroine who is endearing, unpredictable, and very real, this life-affirming story of loss, redemption, and falling in love all over again quietly steals your heart.
Well Bred and Dead: A High Society Mystery (The High Society Mysteries #1)
by Catherine O'ConnellNewly widowed Pauline Cook was once the toast of the Windy City elite—but now she's practically broke. At least she's in better shape than her dear departed friend Ethan Campbell, whose corpse Pauline has had the misfortune to discover. A writer who chronicled the lives, loves, and ensembles of the Gold Coast's most elegant ladies, Ethan apparently took his own life—while inelegantly clad in old boxers, no less. And since no relatives are coming forward to claim Ethan's remains, it falls to Pauline to settle his final affairs . . . with her own dwindling funds.However, there are things about Ethan's suicide that don't seem to add up: the ratty undergarments he "chose" to die in, for example . . . and the multiple birth certificates the police turn up in his apartment. Before she can truly lay her friend to rest, plucky Pauline's determined to get to the bottom of his increasingly suspicious death.