Death Benefits

      Nelson DeMille
     Death Benefits

A digital short story from New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille that also includes a preview from his upcoming novel, THE PANTHER Bestselling author Jack Henry is suddenly on the brink of bankruptcy. With bills mounting and the IRS calling, he realizes that he has a major problem on his hands. But who is to blame for his declining fortunes? Certainly not Jack himself. The fault, he determines, lies with his agent, Stan Wycoff - who takes 15% of everything Jack makes for doing absolutely nothing. Jack needs a way out of his dire financial predicament - and fast. And then he remembers that both he and his agent have substantial life insurance policies on one another. If Stan were to die unexpectedly, Jack would cash in... But can a famous crime writer commit the perfect crime?

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    Here We Lie

      Sophie McKenzie
     Here We Lie

On holiday with family and her adoring fiance, Jed, Emily couldn't be happier. But overnight, the idyllic trip turns into a waking nightmare when one of the group is found dead in what appears to be a terrible accident. The devastated party returns to London to cope with their loss while trying to resume their normal lives. But new revelations shed a shocking light on the holiday tragedy and set Emily on a perilous journey to discover the truth about what happened. Soon a terrifying series of threats and lies bring her face to face with the dark truths at the heart of her family - and into life-threatening danger...

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    Sun on the Rocks - The Emotion Scale

      Somers Isle & Loveshade
     Sun on the Rocks - The Emotion Scale

Clarity Nice attends a personal development course at Herbaline, a company reputed for its aggressive sales methods and a secretive hierarchical structure. Befriending Herbaline emotician Coley Manglove, Clarity gets hired to work on the company's secret project, an emotion scale used to elicit sales and label Herbaline employees conforming or rebellious, unrightfully deciding promotion prospects.Teleoperator Clarity Nice visits the headquarters of Herbaline in Orange County, a herbal, diet and weight prevention company, known for its aggressive marketing methods. Seeing on a corporate chart that the president of the company, Lyle Matchett, has never been seen and is not shown anywhere in the annual report of the company, she decides to explore the company's premises afterhours, and stumbles upon an area inside the company building labeled emotician office. Emotician Coley Manglove finds Clarity in her office and reveals to her the secretive project that she has been told to carry out by the head of human studies at Herbaline: A scale of emotion that can be used to describe the personality of employees and to elicit sales from a customer, even those reticent to buy Herbaline products.Clarity and her friend Lanai sign an agreement to work for Herbaline, with their duties undefined and their compensation contingent on dubious aspects of their performance. They board a plane for Cayman where the company has a sales training center, led by Herbaline motivational guru Coleman Cartmel. After looking at the poor sales performance of Clarity and Lanai, Manglove decides to send both of them to the Herbaline language facility in Palm Springs, where a company employee, Ambi Mivel, is being held against her will, because she shows signs of consistent company language refusal of the company's official sales language, 'Herbaspeak'.At the facility, Clarity gets into the 'antisale' area, the room where Mivel is being held against her will. Clarity realizes that Cartmel is manipulating the emotions of Herbaline employees, using an emotion scale that measures human emotions, assigning a subjective 'emotional tendency' number to each employee based on personality, which is used to promote or criticise the worker. The emotion scale links to a brain wave technology device known as the inducer, to prevent or cut off from employee thinking, any emotion that has to do with negative emotions, like impatience, hostility, animosity or open, overt disagreement with company sales policy. Signing off on a relational agreement with Cartmel, Clarity leaves the facility with the recluse, going to a relational board house in Nevada, 'Honey Ranch', belonging to Herbaline, in order to denounce the illegal policies of Herbaline, leave the place, and find their human blueprint, measured by the emotion scale, and shared with a shady group pulling the strings of Herbaline, known as the Privilege club.

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    VETO Seeking the presidency can be a killer!

      Jan Sumner
     VETO Seeking the presidency can be a killer!

A political murder mystery set against a backdrop of intrigue and intolerance. Chicago, 1960, with the Presidential candidacy at stake; Cornell Eastman becomes entangled in deception and assassination. The political maneuvering and treachery could well cost he and his family a chance at the White House.A political murder mystery set against a backdrop of intrigue and intolerance. Chicago, 1960, with the Presidential candidacy at stake; Cornell Eastman becomes entangled in deception and assassination. The political maneuvering and treachery could well cost he and his family a chance at the White House. The suspicious death of his closest confidant and aide takes Eastman on an unwanted and devastating journey.

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    The Make-A-Pet Mystery

      Carolyn Keene
     The Make-A-Pet Mystery

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew are out to solve the case of a stolen stuffed animal. River Heights has gone gaga over Make-a-Pets! Nancy and her friends are excited to make their own cuddly stuffed animals—and play the online game Petopia that goes along with Make-a-Pet animals. But when Nancy’s friend, Violet, discovers that Hoppity, her Make-a-Pet, is missing, the Clue Crew is called on to help find the missing bunny. It seems there are a few possible suspects—including Violet’s best friend, Sonia, who claims Violet stole the idea about Hoppity from her. Could Violet’s best friend be the culprit? Or is the real thief even more of a surprise?

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    Tanners Tiger

      Lawrence Block
     Tanners Tiger

The Cold War's boiling over. Global tensions are near the breaking point. So what's the perfect assignment for a super-spy who hasn't slept since the Korean conflict? A fun-filled trip to the Montreal World's Fair! The adorable little girl he's escorting—who, under different circumstances, would be sitting on the Lithuanian throne—can hardly contain her excitement, but it isn't all playtime for Evan Tanner. Some mysterious disappearances, apparently linked to the fair's Cuban exhibition, need to be looked into. Keeping his mind on business, however, won't be easy after an insatiable lovely in a tiger skin falls into Tanner's arms, and a mother lode of dangerous drugs falls into his lap. But the biggest, deadliest suprise is the terrorist plot Tanner's tumbling into, and he'll have to think and act quickly to prevent the visiting queen of England from being blown to smithereens.

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    Bad For Business

      Steven Jay Hamilton
     Bad For Business

Adrian Shetler has had a stroke of bad luck. The window of his PI office has been broken by the body of a dead woman. Law Enforcement Agents of the orbital city largely ignore the crime and don't start an investigation. This is not acceptable to Adrian and he chooses to take on the case himself. However, the killer is quickly covering their tracks. Can he find them before they escape?Adrian Shetler is a private investigator on an orbital city called New Independence. When the alarm for his office is triggered, he finds the body of a dead woman in the shattered office window. In a world of surveillance and data collection, Adrian must find a killer who is quickly covering their tracks, deleting any evidence of the crime. Standing in his way are identity scanning checkpoints and vicious gang members. Will he find the murderer in time or will they escape to kill again?

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    We are NOT Buying a Camper!

      Karen Musser Nortman
     We are NOT Buying a Camper!

A prequel to the Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries. Frannie and Larry Shoemaker have busy jobs, two teenagers, and plenty of other demands on their time and sanity. Larry's sister and brother-in-law pester them to try camping for relaxation--time to sit back, enjoy nature, and catch up on naps. After all, what could go wrong?A prequel to the Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries. Frannie and Larry Shoemaker have busy jobs, two teenagers, and plenty of other demands on their time and sanity. Larry's sister and brother-in-law pester them to try camping for relaxation--time to sit back, enjoy nature, and catch up on naps. After all, what could go wrong? Join Frannie as "RV there yet?" becomes "RV crazy?" and she learns that going back to nature doesn't necessarily mean a simpler life.

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    Without a Trace

      Carolyn Keene
     Without a Trace

Hi, I'm Nancy Drew, and I've got a case to crack. Actually make that two cases. First a gorgeous Fabergé egg has been stolen. Who would have the heart to snatch such a precious family heirloom from someone new to town? Some housewarming that is! And if this isn't enough to keep me busy, someone's running through gardens and stomping on all the zucchinis. Needless to say, it's a big mess -- in more ways than one. Especially for Mr. Safer, who is suspected of squishing the squash. I'm pretty sure Mr. Safer's innocent. But who's the real vegetable vandal?

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    Tishomingo Blues

      Elmore Leonard
     Tishomingo Blues

Daredevil Dennis Lenahan has brought his act to the Tishomingo Lodge & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi -- diving off an eighty-foot ladder into nine feet of water for the amusement of gamblers, gangsters, and luscious belles. His riskiest feat, however, was witnessing a Dixie-style mob execution while atop his diving platform. Robert Taylor saw the hit also. A blues-loving Detroit hustler touring the Southland in a black Jaguar, Taylor's got his own secret agenda re the "Cornbread Cosa Nostra," and he wants Dennis in on the game. But there's a lot more in Robert Taylor's pocket than a photo of his lynched great-grandfather. And high-diver Dennis could be about to take a long, fatal fall -- right into a mess of hoop skirts, Civil War play-acting ... and more trouble than he ever dreamed possible.

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    Late of the Payroll

      John Eider
     Late of the Payroll

*** New version, newly proof-read ***The town of Southney is already rife with rumours of industrial unrest at its largest employer, before a man goes missing on the day he was running the firm's payroll. The search for him leads the detectives to uncover other secrets, find links to a previous missing persons case, and ultimately sees the town's worst fears realised.Eighteen authors, representing dozens in the Writer's Circle of ASMSG, pour their hearts, souls, and imaginations into stories of Other World Sci-Fi, Fantasy and paranormal. Become lost in these genre-bending works and discover gems of short fiction by new authors. From space opera to alien worlds to wizards and warlocks, there's a little something for everyone.DINO’S PAPERS—Alan HardyCOG—Bryan P. ClarkSHIMMER IN THE DARK: BRIDGE BUILDER—Ceri LondonTHE LAIR OF THE WITCH QUEEN—Christian W. FreedSOULMATCH—Drew AveraSHARPIES AND DULLARDS—E. Rose SabinTHE BAD SEED—Erin McDowellTHE CAT WORE ELECTRIC GOGGLES—Ian HutsonTHE SURVIVOR—J.C. HarkerAETERNAE NOCTIS—Jade KerrionTHE LAST OF THE JINN—K.N. LeeBOONE’S JOURNEY—Kirstin PulioffTHE SECRET SIGNAL—Matthew KadishEXPECTATION—Michael BarnettAGE QUEST—Michael K. EidsonEXCEPT THE DUST—Robert CarterBITTER PROPHESY—Susan HawthorneGUIDING STAR—Teresa GarciaVisit ASMSG (Authors’ Social Media Support Group)www.asmsg.weebly.comCover Art by ASMSGStone Arch by:https://www.public-domain-image.com/architecture-public-domain-images-pictures/walls-public-domain-images-pictures/stone-arch.jpg.htmlCosmic Metropolis background,X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R. Tuellmann et al.; Optical: NASA/AURA/STScIhttps://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2009/n604/Caelicorn Creations on Deviant Art,https://caelicorn.deviantart.com/art/

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    Thanksgiving Thief

      Carolyn Keene
     Thanksgiving Thief

Wild turkeys are running loose in River Heights! Can the Clue Crew round them up before they ruin the Thanksgiving feast? River Heights Elementary School is having a Thanksgiving pageant, and Nancy, Bess, and George want to dress up as Native Americans! But when the town starts preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, the girls end up smelling a mystery instead of turkey. As Thanksgiving food around town starts to disappear, the Clue Crew realizes that someone is trying to destroy the holiday! Can the Crew catch these birdbrained bandits? Or will Thanksgiving dinner be a recipe for disaster?

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