In the too-quiet town of Oakwood, only the lucky die of boredom…and new homeowner Zack Walker isn’t feeling lucky. Whoever said the burbs were boring will think twice after reading Linwood Barclay’s hilarious debut mystery, in which Dad learns the hard way that he doesn’t always know best. Zack wouldn’t blame you for thinking he’s safety-obsessed. True, he masterminded a plot to trade his family’s exciting city lifestyle for one of suburban tranquillity. True, even after this strategic move, Zack still has issues with family members who forget their keys in the front door, leave their cars unlocked, or park their backpacks at the top of the stairs—where you could kill yourself tripping over them. Just ask his wife, Sarah, or his teenage kids, Paul and Angie, who endure their share of lectures. Zack knows that he needs to chill out and assume the best for once—but we know what happens to those who assume. When Zack realizes their two-faced developer sent a petty thief to fix their leaky shower, he starts fighting hard to ignore the fact that Oakwood isn’t the crime-free paradise he was hoping for. But his brief state of denial comes to an abrupt end when, during a walk by the creek, he stumbles across a dead body. Even more shocking, Zack actually knows who the victim is—and who might want him dead. With a killer roaming around their neighborhood and Zack’s overactive imagination in overdrive, he’s sure things can’t get any worse. But then another local is murdered—and Zack’s paranoid tendencies get him implicated in the crime. While his wife is trying to remember why she married him in the first place, and his kids are considering whether it’s time to have him committed, Zack decides there’s only one thing he can do. To protect his family—and avoid being busted for a crime he didn’t commit—he’s going to have to override his safety-first instincts, tap into his delusions of machismo, and track down the killer himself. From the Hardcover edition.

On an early spring canoe trip, our hero, Ted, finds the body of Hughie, drowned in a mudhole on the portage trail. Because the electronic organizer Hughie always carried is missing. Ted wonders if someone killed him.Ted figures there are three things you must not being on a canoe trip: electronic devices, pet anacondas, or people who will die on the trip. Just as well nobody brought an anaconda….Hughie apparently left the campsite in the middle of the night while everybody else was asleep. That wasn't surprising, considering how poorly he got along with the rest of the group the night before.What is surprising is his canoe, lying in a very large mud hole on the portage - with Hughie's body under it. And there's the question of what happened to the phone that's no longer with is body.

A boy, a girl, a beach, a mystery. Could there be magic in the air or something far more sinister?Join our two unlikely heroes as they embark on a quest to solve baffling riddles, the outcome of which, could be life changing in more ways than one.Actor, a young man of Ancient Greece looking to make a name for himself, ends up on a trail of side-kicking for some of the greatest heroes ever. However, each one seems to be a little off from their legend. Jason is a jerk. Perseus is an old fart. Theseus is a liar. And so on and so on. Only by the skin of his teeth is he able to survive each time, but when will he be the hero? When will he deserve to become a legend?This is a play in One Act intended for a minimum of two actors. It is a comedy-farce, and it requires a few basic props, blackbox theatre, some costume change for second (or more) actor(s), and repeatedly breaking the fourth wall. It's a good small piece for a mildly mature to fully mature audience.ATTN: Reading it is free. Producing it requires you to contact me the author. Please.

Tim Diamond—the world’s worst private detective—takes on his most dangerous case yet, and it’s going to be up to his brother to keep him out of trouble. A short story from Guys Read: Thriller, edited by Jon Scieszka. Available online here.

In 1888, a serial killer, Jack the Ripper, prowls London's East End. A century later, History repeats itself. Marie Kelly is haunted by horrifying dreams in which she is pursued through the gloomy alleyways of Victorian Whitechapel by a dark shadow that seeks to destroy her, as it once did her near-namesake, Mary Jane Kelly. Marie experiences Mary's terror and despair as her own. The twoIIn 1888, a serial killer, nicknamed Jack the Ripper, prowls London's East End. A century later, History repeats itself. Marie Kelly is haunted by horrifying dreams in which she is pursued through the gloomy alleyways of Victorian Whitechapel by a dark shadow that seeks to destroy her, as it once did her near-namesake, Mary Jane Kelly. Marie experiences Mary's terror and despair as her own. The two series of murders are linked fundamentally in a way that the police cannot prevent - even if they identify the modern killer, even if they kill him. Marie and the Ripper are 'Chained in Time'. Although the tragic fate of Mary Jane Kelly is a matter of historical fact, that of the fictional Marie Kelly, is not. Together we witness the pressure building on both young women as the fatal day approaches.

The Norfolk Probationer is a short story, a sampler about a Welsh Detective Sergeant, Catrin Sayer of the ‘Met’, and her role in solving art-related crimes. A robbery in which several paintings are taken from an old hall in Norfolk, a National Trust property, results in two elderly visitors being injured. But all is not quite what it seems.The Norfolk Probationer is a short story, a sampler ‘prequel’ to the third novel in the Catrin Sayer series, The Falmouth Model.The series is about a young Welsh Detective Sergeant, Catrin Sayer of the Metropolitan Police Service and her work in solving art-related crimes. In ‘Probationer’, a robbery of a painting by Canaletto take place at Halsting Hall, an old manor in Norfolk, during which two elderly visitors are injured. But all is not quite what it seems. Catrin works with a probationer assigned from the Norfolk Constabulary to solve at least part of the mystery.‘The Chinese Sailor’ is the first full-length novel in the series, in which Sayer transitions from a uniform role with the Metropolitan Police to the role of detective constable. It is set largely in North Wales. ‘The Scottish Colourist’, the second novel, is about the interaction of art forgery and drug gangs and is set in Scotland. The third mystery in the series, ‘The Falmouth Model’, takes place immediately after the events in this story and is set in Cornwall. Sayer is drawn into an investigation into a bizarre Facebook attack on a university student who also models for a life drawing class.If you enjoy this short story, please read the novels and follow the development of the career, cases and life of the policewoman and artist, Catrin Sayer.

Faced with the daunting task of providing a monthly information article for the local Neighbourhood Watch newsletter, Ken created the character of Ben (B.Urglar), to convey "advice" on security (or the lack of it!) in a humorous way. In these short, diary-style reports, Ben boasts of his traditional "skills", bemoans new technology and shows a mature understanding of human behaviour.Faced with the daunting task of providing a monthly information article for the local Neighbourhood Watch newsletter, Ken created the character of Ben (B.Urglar), to convey "advice" on security (or the lack of it!) in a humorous way. In these short, diary-style reports, Ben boasts of his traditional "skills", bemoans new technology and shows a mature understanding of human behaviour. The twenty-eight entries, combined into a volume, provides quick bites of insight on the simple mistakes we can make in our busy lives to make the life of a burglar an easy one. This is all couched in a tongue-in-cheek humour that will leave you with a smile on your face - as you double-check the deadbolt on your front door!!

Called “supremely addictive” by Booklist, the Arcane Society novels, written under both the Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz names, have pulled readers into a saga filled with steamy romance, drama, and dark intrigue. Her newest novel promises to mesmerize as well. Leona Hewitt, disguised in men's formal evening clothes, has secretly made her way into Lord Delbridge’s private museum to retrieve a relic stolen from her family years ago. But someone else is there in the dimly lit gallery, on the same errand: a tall, black-cloaked man whose very voice is enough to put her in a trance. Thaddeus Ware, a mesmerist with psychic energy, is accustomed to fearful reactions from others—women, in particular. After all, a man who can control the minds and actions of others could rob a lady of her virtue—without her ever knowing! But Leona shows no trace of hysteria in his presence. A force to be reckoned with as both a gifted crystal worker and a woman, she exerts a rather hypnotic power over the hypnotist himself. And she is determined to keep the coveted crystal they recovered, by giving him the slip at a run-down London inn. Thaddeus, on assignment for the Arcane Society, knows the menace Leona is courting by absconding with the crystal. It is a source of remarkable energy, and it holds the potential for great destruction. Lord Delbridge has already killed two men to acquire it, for it is his key to membership in the elite, shadowy group known as the Third Circle. And, with the help of a seductive hunter of preternatural skill—dubbed "The Midnight Monster" by the press—Delbridge intends to find her. With the stolen crystal in their possession, the danger is only beginning.

The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams. After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners. Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City. As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city? In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.

First came Plague, now comes Fire. The epic tale of the hunt for a serial killer threatening London's rich and poor during the Great Fire of London. Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and Conn Iggulden. Fires don't start by themselves. They need someone to light them. What are friends for? As the Great Plague of London loosens its grip at last, Charles II's court moves back to the city, the theatres reopen and a new year arrives. 1666. It cannot be more terrible than the previous year, surely? But it can. For many will strive to make it so; to finally rid London of the curse that brought the plague upon it. A wholesale cleansing is required if society is to be born again. What's more it seems that a serial killer who stalked hand in hand with the Plague might not be dead after all. Together with actress Sarah Chalker, highwayman William Coke and thief-taker Pitman come together as one, determined to stop the brutal murder of London's rich and poor once and for all. But another threat is on the way. It hasn't rained in five months. London is a tinderbox--politically, sexually and religiously. The Great Fire of London is about to ignite. And the final confrontation between Coke, Pitman and Sarah Chalker and their murderous adversary will be decided against a background of apocalypse.

Artfully imagined, intricately detailed, eerily poignant: these are the outstanding features of Carol Goodman’s literary thrillers. She is part novelist, part craftsman—and The Drowning Tree is her newest masterpiece. Juno McKay intended to avoid the nearby campus of her alma mater during her fifteenth reunion weekend, but she just can’t turn down the chance to see her longtime friend, Christine Webb, speak at the Penrose College library. Though Juno cringes at the inevitable talk of the pregnancy that kept her from graduating, and of her husband, Neil Buchwald, who ended up in a mental hospital only two years after their wedding, Juno endures the gossip for her friend’s sake. Christine’s lecture sends shockwaves through the rapt crowd when she reveals little-known details about the lives of two sisters, Eugenie and Clare—members of the powerful and influential family whose name the college bears. Christine’s revelation throws shadows of betrayal, lust, and insanity onto the family’s distinguished facade. But after the lecture, Christine seems distant, uneasy, and sad. The next day, she disappears. Juno immediately suspects a connection to her friend’s shocking speech. Although painfully reminded of her own experience with Neil’s mental illness, Juno nevertheless peels away the layers of secrets and madness that surround the Penrose dynasty. She fears that Christine discovered something damning about them, perhaps even something worth killing for. And Juno is determined to find it—for herself, for her friend, and for her long-lost husband. From the Hardcover edition.

In 2012 Pete Sortwell did something no one had ever done before: he wrote a book based entirely on Amazon product reviews. The book was so successful, he wrote a series. The series was so successful, he spent the next year releasing other projects he’d been working on. Now, for the first time the stories he wrote while learning his craft are available in ebook and in paperback.In 2012 Pete Sortwell did something no one had ever done before: he wrote a book based entirely on Amazon product reviews. The book was so successful, he wrote a series. The series was so successful, he spent the next year releasing other projects he’d been working on. Now, for the first time the stories he wrote while learning his craft are available on Kindle and in paperback. From people stuck on roofs, to stalkers following their wives, to weight watchers’ meetings, this book is filled with oddballs, thieves, lowlifes, and other such lovelies. This book also contains the side story to Pete’s debut novel ‘So Low, So High’, so if you’re interested in finding out more about Fred, then this is the place. Short stories: Noang lish Hero Lose-lose So low, so high WeighTWATcherS Multi-storey Apt Pupil One flew over the policeman’s bonnet Win-win Inside I’m dancing *Contained in this book are also samples of all Pete’s other books. The short stories amount to around eleven thousand words.

From the New York Times bestselling author, Lauren Willig, comes this scandalous New York Gilded Age novel full of family secrets, affairs, and even murder. Annabelle and Bayard Van Duyvil live a charmed life: he’s the scion of an old Knickerbocker family, she grew up in a Tudor manor in England, they had a whirlwind romance in London, they have three year old twins on whom they dote, and he’s recreated her family home on the banks of the Hudson and renamed it Illyria. Yes, there are rumors that she’s having an affair with the architect, but rumors are rumors and people will gossip. But then Bayard is found dead with a knife in his chest on the night of their Twelfth Night Ball, Annabelle goes missing, presumed drowned, and the papers go mad. Bay’s sister, Janie, forms an unlikely alliance with a reporter to uncover the truth, convinced that Bay would never have killed his wife, that it must be a third party, but the more she learns about her brother and his wife, the more everything she thought she knew about them starts to unravel. Who were her brother and his wife, really? And why did her brother die with the name George on his lips?

Sakuma is a high-profile ad agent who was about to land one of the biggest gigs of his career. But he was betrayed by the owner of the company that just hired him. Down on his luck and now on his way out career-wise, he planned to go publically chew out the man who brough him down. Instead, upon uncovering a deep secret, he devises a plan to bring down his new rival in a twisted game called kidnapping.

A ghost story with a twist—a suspenseful and poignantly funny update of the Hamlet story. Eleven-year-old Philip Noble has a big problem: His dad, who was killed in a car accident, appears as a bloodstained ghost at his own funeral and introduces Philip to the Dead Fathers Club. The club, whose members were all murdered, gathers outside the Castle and Falcon, the local pub that Philip’s family owns and lives above. Philip’s father tells him that Uncle Alan killed him and he must avenge his death. When Philip realizes that Uncle Alan has designs on his mom and the family pub, Philip decides that something must be done. But it’s a much bigger job than he anticipated, especially when he is caught up by the usual distractions of childhood—a pretty girl, wayward friends, school bullies, and his own self-doubt. The Dead Fathers Club is a riveting, imaginative, and quirky update of Shakespeare’s great tragedy that will establish Matt Haig as a young writer of great talent and imagination.