"Whip-smart (Louise Penny) amateur sleuth Samantha Clair returns in the newest mystery from Judith Flanders, the New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed author of A Murder of Magpies. Sam Clair figures she ll be a good sport and spend a night out at the theater in support of her upstairs neighbors who have small parts in a play in the West End. Boyfriend (a Scotland Yard detective) and allround good sport Jake Field agrees to tag along to what is apparently an extra bloody play filled with dramatic gory deaths galore. So Sam expects an evening filled with faux fatalities. Until that is the curtain opens to the second act revealing a dummy hanging from the rafters, whos been made up to look suspiciously like Campbell Davison the director of the production. When Sam sees the horrified faces of the actors onstage, she realizes that this is indeed not a dummy, but Davison himself and this death is not part of the show. Now everyone wants to know who killed Campbell Davison? As Sam learns more about the murdered man, she discovers that he wasnt all that well-liked amongst the cast and crew so the suspect list grows. The show must go on but Sam knows a murderer must be apprehended so she sets out to find out what happened and why. New York Times bestselling author Judith Flanders once again brilliantly fuses mystery with humor in the fourth installment of her critically acclaimed Sam Clair series"--

The Isaac Quartet contains four detective stories from an internationally acclaimed master of the genre. Blue Eyes, the first book in Jerome Charyn’s legendary crime series, introduces Isaac Sidel — the toughest, most incorruptible police inspector in the biz. In Marilyn the Wild, Isaac confronts the hot-headed daughter of the first deputy police commissioner. The Education of Patrick Silver tells the story of a giant shoeless Irishman who becomes just another pawn in the war between Isaac and a gang of Peruvian pimps. And in Secret Isaac, a scar on a prostitute’s cheek sends Isaac on a desperate trip to Ireland in search of relief from the tightening grip on his soul. “Packed with manic energy, peopled with bizarre characters and outrageous situations. [Charyn] sounds like a ... Jewish Philip Marlowe.” — Chicago Sun-Times “These books constitute the highest kind of novelistic art ... absolutely unique among contemporary writers.” — Los Angeles Times

"Shadows by the Sea" is a gripping Golden Age mystery by the acclaimed master of suspense, J. Jefferson Farjeon. Set against the moody and atmospheric backdrop of the English coast, the narrative unfolds through a series of eerie occurrences and clandestine encounters that disturb the peace of a seaside community. When a group of disparate characters finds themselves entwined in a web of secrets and unexpected danger, the tension escalates into a classic puzzle of crime and deduction. Farjeon, renowned for his ability to blend humor with genuine thrills, crafts a story where the setting itself-the shifting tides and darkening shores-becomes a character in its own right. As shadows lengthen by the sea, the protagonists must navigate a labyrinth of motives and hidden identities to uncover the truth behind a looming threat. This work stands as a quintessential example of early twentieth-century British crime fiction, showcasing the clever plotting and evocative prose that made Farjeon a favorite of readers and critics alike. Fans of traditional detective stories and atmospheric thrillers will find "Shadows by the Sea" an enduringly suspenseful and entertaining read, representative of the high-water mark of 1920s mystery writing. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

A mind bending voyage into the reaches of the imagination. Winner of The Hugo & Nebula awards. In Praise of His Spirits Noble & Otherwise by Roger Zelazny Where the Stray Dreams Go contains 3 unfinished stories: The/One/Word/People, Moth on the Moon & Snake in the Mind The Sky Is Burning/If Aug ’58 My Brother Paulie/Satellite Dec ’58 The Time of the Eye/The Saint Detective Magazine May ’59 Life Hutch [Kyben]/If Apr ’56 Battle Without Banners/Taboo, New Classics House, 1964 Back to the Drawing Boards/Fantastic Universe Aug ’58 A Friend to Man/Fantastic Universe Oct ’59 We Mourn for Anyone [Mourners for Hire]/Fantastic May ’57 The Voice in the Garden/Lighthouse Jun ’67 Soldier [Soldier from Tomorrow]/Fantastic Universe Oct ’57 Soldier [tv script]/American Broadcasting Corporation Sep ’64

A puzzling publishing murder attracts the eye of Ellery Queen. Mandarin Press is a premier publishing house for foreign literature, but to those at the top of this enterprise, there is little more beautiful than a rare stamp. As Donald Kirk, publisher and philatelist, prepares his office for a banquet, an unfamiliar man comes to call. No one recognizes him, but Kirk's staff is used to strange characters visiting their boss, so Kirk's secretary asks him to wait in the anteroom. Within an hour the mysterious visitor is dead on the floor, head bashed in with a fireplace poker, and everything in the anteroom has been quite literally turned upside down. The rug is backwards; the furniture is backwards; even the dead man's clothes have been put on front-to-back. As debonair detective Ellery Queen pries into the secrets of Mandarin Press, every clue he finds is topsy-turvy. The great sleuth must tread lightly, for walking backwards is a surefire way to step off a cliff.

One of the most important original documents about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to be published on the 50th anniversary of the event. The never before published diary of Edward Jay Epstein's investigation into the assassination reveals startling new details. Epstein, one of America's most acclaimed investigative journalists and widely acknowledged as the premier expert on the assassination, while still an undergraduate at Cornell, interviewed the members of the Warren Commission and its staff of investigators, and obtained their key files. He was the only journalist, ever, to have gained this access. His full findings are disclosed here for the first time. In his investigation, Epstein also interviewed the top officials of the CIA, including at length the legendary chief of counter-intelligence James Jesus Angleton. He was the only journalist to interview Yuri Nosenko, the KGB officer who claimed to be Oswald's KGB case officer. Jim Garrison, the New Orleans district attorney, who attempted to reopen the case, confided his methods and sources in Epstein. Epstein was, moreover, the last person to see George De Mohrenschildt, Oswald's mysterious White Russian friend, who he interviewed for hours until the moment when he took his secrets with him in death. The JFK Assassination Diary is the true story at last of the incredible answers Epstein unearthed in pursuit of the greatest crime of the 20th century. Praise for Edward Jay Epstein "A grand figure of modern journalism...Show Epstein a juicy crime and he will show you how it has been subverted by unseen powers for their own agenda, by the inevitable incompetence of investigative authorities and by the media because it likes a simple story line." -Michael Wolff, USA Today "Epstein believes that conspiracies are more common than most journalists credit; for much of his career, he has reveled in the kind of tantalizing clues that could lead somewhere, or nowhere." -Joe Nocera, The New York Times "Epstein is a bulldog researcher." -Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post "A brilliant investigator." - Lou Dobbs Praise For Agency of Fear "Epstein tells all." -John Leonard, New York Times " Part detective story, part farce, part exposé, and part textbook on investigative reporting. It is ingenious, perverse, hilarious, and shocking." -Victor Navasky "Exciting research, impressive thesis." -Norman Mailer Praise For Legend: The Secret World of Lee Harvey Oswald A fascinating, alarming, and enormously significant book on the mystery of Lee Harvey Oswald-- The New York Times Book Review ABOUT THE AUTHOR Edward Jay Epstein is the author of fifteen books. He studied government at Cornell and Harvard and received a Ph.D from Harvard in 1973. His thesis on the search for political truth became a best-selling book, Inquest: The Warren Commission and the Establishment of Truth. His doctoral dissertation on television news was published as News From Nowhere. He is the recipient of numerous foundation grants and awards, including the prestigious Financial Times/Booz Allen & Hamilton Global Business Book Award for both best biography and best business book for Dossier: The Secret History of Armand Hammer. He has written for Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. He lives in New York City.

Donald J. Sobol, author of the popular Encyclopedia Brown books, tickles his reader's curiosity (and funny bone) in this hilarious tale of friendship, ingenuity, and smashing achievement. We meet Ken Mullins and his three buddies Orv, Horseshoes and Bo, who unexpectedly find themselves forming a detective squad-V.A.C.U.U.M.(Volunteer Agents Crusading Unsteadily Under Mongoose). Assisted by Mary Evans, the girl expert in karate (her title: V.A.C.U.U.M. B.A.G.), they are soon thrown between the nefarious "Cobra" gang (which is threatening the entire city of Miami for high stakes) and "Mongoose," the sleepy-seeming good guys. Now the fun begins: vintage cars, a World War I De Havilland airplane, island escapades, a sinister weapon and a constantly twisting plot keep the reader breathless between suspense and laughter. A well-written and enjoyable addition to our Adventure Library.

In present day London, boy genius and amateur detective Lucas Voigt befriends time travellers (or are they out of work actors?) Sherlock Holmes and Wyatt Earp and, after various adventures, sets out to solve for once and for all the mystery of Jack the Ripper..."You're next, Lucas," he said, smiling thinly.Lucas stood his ground. "You kill prostitutes, you don't kill boys.""Up until now, I have indeed killed only prostitutes, Lucas. But now I shall kill you. I shall kill you, Lucas, because...Do you know why?""No.""I shall kill you, Lucas, because you have really pissed me off."

Go back to the beginning and see how NY police detective Sara Pezzini was first chosen by the mystical Witchblade to be its next bearer. Collecting Witchblade #1-8 by writers David Wohl and Christina Z, and superstar artist Michael Turner, this trade paperback introduced Pezzini, the Witchblade, Kenneth Irons, and Ian Nottingham to the world of comics.

In the three decades since her revolutionary and seminal article "The Character of Hamlet's Mother," Carolyn Heilbrun has been a prophet in the field of women and literature, gender and culture. This collection of graceful and uncompromising essays charts her development as a feminist writer and critic, which has culminated in such groundbreaking works as REINVENTING WOMANHOOD and WRITING A WOMAN'S LIFE. Shakespeare's Gertrude was first among many literary figures illuminated by Heilbrun's feminist sensibility. Others include Homer's Penelope -- an archetypal single parent, weaving herself a new life for which she was given no script; Jo in LITTLE WOMEN, a model of autonomy for generations of female readers; Elizabeth Bennet, remarkable for the promise of friendship in her marriage with Darcy; and Harrriet Vane, outrageously unique on many counts. The consistency and clarity of Heilbrun's vision in matched only by its heterogeneity, as she discusses Margaret Mead and Freud's daughters, Virginia Woolf and James Joyce, resistance to feminist studies in academia, mothers and daughters, fiction and myth, tomboys and surrogate sons, and the detective story, of which Heibrun herself (as Amanda Cross) is one of the ablest practitioners. HAMLET'S MOTHER AND OTHER WOMEN will spark recognition, again and again, in readers on their own quest for female redefinition. "[A] witty, learned collection of essays . . . filled with delicate, sometimes startling gems of perception . . . . Provocative." -- New York Newsday

Unravel a chilling mystery in Ben Hecht's "The Florentine Dagger," a gripping novel for amateur detectives steeped in historical intrigue. Journey into the depths of the human psyche as this classic work of historical fiction explores the complex intersection of crime and insanity. Hecht, a master storyteller, crafts a tale where the line between sanity and madness blurs, challenging readers to question what they believe. A timeless exploration of psychological suspense, "The Florentine Dagger" delves into the dark corners of the mind. This meticulously prepared print edition offers a new opportunity to experience Hecht's masterful prose. Perfect for fans of classic detective stories and those fascinated by the intricacies of psychological thrillers, this novel remains a compelling and thought-provoking read. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Ernst Henke boarded the uptown A train, smiling to himself with approval. Yes, these were the right people, a good mix. No one noticed the package he left in the subway. But they noticed the car full of bodies of over a hundred people--and the letter warning New York City that this was just the beginning.

Actions speak louder than words in this wordless, fully painted graphic novel. If every action has an equal and oppostie reaction, get ready to run for cover: A corrupt cop is shaking down drug dealers, a serial killer is slaughtering strippers, a political scandal is about to explode, the planet is burning and nobody's tal

When a bundle of unidentified body parts tumbles out the rear door of a van on a Los Angeles freeway, FBI agent Scott Houston knows just where to go for an off-the-record analysis: Agency 32/1, a non-profit missing persons identification resource center run by forensic anthropologists Jayne Hall and Steelie Lander. However, Scott's call has unintended consequences for the two women as he draws them into a coast-to-coast murder investigation, and bends FBI rules as far as he can in his pursuit of a villain who has evaded him for years. Their unique skills enable them to uncover evidence that leads directly to the killer, but very soon Jayne and Steelie find that their own lives are in jeopardy.--From front jacket cover flap.

"Lola Bensky is a nineteen-year-old rock journalist who irons her hair straight and asks a lot of questions. A high-school dropout, she's not sure how she got the job - but she's been sent by her Australian newspaper right to the heart of the London music scene at the most exciting time in music history: 1967. Lola spends her days planning diets and interviewing rock stars. In London, Mick Jagger makes her a cup of tea, Jimi Hendrix (possibly) propositions her and Cher borrows her false eyelashes. At the Monterey International Pop Festival, Lola props up Brian Jones and talks to Janis Joplin about sex. In Los Angeles, she discusses being overweight with Mama Cass and tries to pluck up the courage to ask Cher to return those false eyelashes. Lola has an irrepressible curiosity, but she begins to wonder whether the questions she asks these extraordinary young musicians are really a substitute for questions about her parents' calamitous past that can't be asked or answered. As Lola moves on through marriage, motherhood, psychoanalysis and a close relationship with an unexpected pair of detectives, she discovers the question of what it means to be human is the hardest one for anyone-including herself-to answer. "--

When Guy Fletcher protests at a feeble joke he overhears in his grotty local pub, he finds himself headbutted and struck by an idea in quick succession. Is it possible to trace a joke all the way back to its original source? Guy's meandering trail leads him to a humourless Hungarian dentist, a hyperactive troupe of Boy Scouts, a group of giggling grave-diggers and half a dozen undercover detectives. And there are some pretty odd things happening along the way. Guy is sure he's being followed by a sinister Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman. He has an unfortunate accident on a banana skin. And there's a fly in his soup. Guy is on the verge of discovering something very unpleasant. Making jokes is no laughing matter...

In The Alternative Detective Sheckley once again creates a mystery with a comic heart. Hob Draconian, the Alternative Detective, is, in the tradition of Roger L. Simon's The Big Fix, an aging ex-hippie turned private investigator. Still suffering from the culture shock of returning to an America he never made, with a predatory ex-wife on his back and no prospects for work, Hob is wallowing in depression when his nephew brings him a new case. Five surfboards have gone missing on the island of Ibiza. Not the usual sort of case - but The Alternative Detective Agency isn't the usual sort of investigative firm. Draconian's international "staff, " mostly friends from Hob's hippie days, are spread all over Europe - including Ibiza. Hob's not in Europe long before he's got another case, this one more personal. A woman brings the news that an old buddy of his has disappeared in Paris. Accompanied by the attractive - and attentive - woman, Draconian journeys to Paris to search for Alex. This is no simple missing persons job - people are threatening Hob, and pointing guns at him, and generally making it clear that he's in way over his head. Hob Draconian has stumbled onto a real case, with real criminals. Organized crime, international drug trafficking, and Hob's version of the alternative lifestyle are not a good mix, but he's in too deep to get out.

At the tail end of the Roaring Twenties, a birthday bash for publishing heir John Sebastian, Jr., perfectly coincides with the twelve days of Christmas. Among the twelve invited guests is Ellery Queen, a newly published mystery writer planning to enjoy every last minute. But when an uninvited Santa Claus shows up on Christmas Eve and then mysteriously goes missing, the party takes a disturbing turn. Threatening clues masked as gifts begin to appear under the tree, and Queen - a novice crime fighter on his first solo case - must try to solve the killer's puzzle before someone gets murdered. After a dead body turns up, Queen is no closer to stopping the killer. If he can't anticipate the next clue before it shows up, John Sebastian's birthday will end up his funeral. From his first appearance in print in 1929, Ellery Queen became one of America's most famous and beloved fictional detectives. Over the course of nearly half a century, Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee, the duo writing team known as Ellery Queen, won the prestigious Edgar Award multiple times, and their contributions to the mystery genre were recognized with a Grand Master Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Mystery Writers of America. Their fair-play mysteries won over fans due to their intricate puzzles that challenged the reader to solve the mystery alongside the brilliant detective. Queen's stories were among the first to dominate the earliest days of radio, film, and television. Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine , which the writers founded and edited, became the world's most influential and acclaimed crime fiction magazine.

"Why are we all so hostile? So quick to take offence? Truly we are living in the age of outrage. A series of apparently random murders draws amiable, old-school Detective Mick Matlock into a world of sex, politics, reality TV and a bewildering kaleidoscope of opposing identity groups. Lost in a blizzard of hashtags, his already complex investigation is further impeded by the fact that he simply doesn't 'get' a single thing about anything anymore. Meanwhile, each day another public figure confesses to having 'misspoken' and prostrates themselves before the judgement of Twitter. Begging for forgiveness, assuring the public 'that is not who I am'. But if nobody is who they are anymore - then who the f**k are we? Ben Elton returns with a blistering comic satire of the world as it fractures around us. Get ready for a roller-coaster thriller, where nothing - and no one - is off limits."--Provided by publisher.

A Native American working on his Ph.D. A cop blinded in the line of duty. A chic resort's only hope to stop a killer cold in his tracks. GHOST DANCER A Howard Moon Deer Mystery Once a land of Pueblo dwellers, the town of San Geronimo Peak, New Mexico, is prime ski country. P.I. Howard Moon Deer and ex-cop Jack Wilder are headed there to meet their first client-a former U.S. senator and the ski slope's owner. Instead, they find his body-and a murder case to solve. Overrun with pleasure seekers, plunderers, and fanatics, San Geronimo has no shortage of suspects. But investigating the senator's two very different daughters, his political enemies, and his complex business dealings leads only to false clues. Then the senator's granddaughter is kidnapped-and the new detectives are plunged into a dangerous race for a little girl's life...and for their own. "Terrific...I couldn't put it down."-Margaret Truman, author of Murder at the Watergate "A clever, sexy, modern mystery. Imagine Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin in contemporary New Mexico. I look forward to more adventures for this engaging team."-Tom Savage, author of The Inheritance