A college student walks home at night, followed closely by a tall stranger, in a town that's terrorized by a knife-wielding serial killer.A short story.It all began when Rey found a black crystal ball inside the old relic. Taken out of the blue by the mysterious power of the crystal, he finds himself in the world called Terra, a world where the civilization shaped by magical orb called Sphere.Two decades have passed after the fall of the Dark Lord and Spheria at the time of peace since then. But now the unknown menace spreads in the Kingdom of Ishtar, on the west a mysterious army called Phantoms swept one village to another, took their peoples and leaved the place into desolation. His unexpected meeting with Scarlett, a royal guardian, has brought him into a mission to investigate this mysterious incident. Along with Aska of the Volk Tribe, a tribe who can transform into wild beast and Eorin, a girl skilled in crafting magic they went into a dangerous journey; hunts by assassins and dragon rider, fought against Gargantua, an abominable giants from nameless realm and battles against the Phantoms.On the journey they found that the old enemy began to rise and the old horror will spread upon the world.

Could a nightmare be used as a murder weapon? That's the provocative question confronting Gurney in the thrilling new installment in this series of international bestsellers. The former NYPD star homicide detective is called upon to solve a baffling puzzle: Four people who live in different parts of the country and who seem to have little in common, report having had the same dream--a terrifying nightmare involving a bloody dagger with a carved wolf's head on the handle. All four are subsequently found with their wrists cut -- apparent suicides -- and the weapon used in each case was a wolf's head dagger. Police zero in quickly on Richard Hammond, a controversial psychologist who conducts hypnotherapy sessions at a spooky old Adirondack inn called Wolf Lake Lodge. It seems that each of the victims had gone there to meet with Hammond shortly before turning up dead. Troubled by odd holes in the official approach to the case, Gurney begins his own investigation -- an action that puts him in the crosshairs of not only an icy murderer and the local police but the darkest corner of the federal government. As ruthless as the blizzard trapping him in the sinister eeriness of Wolf Lake, Gurney's enemies set out to keep him from the truth at any cost -- including an all-out assault on the sanity of his beloved wife Madeleine. With his emotional resources strained to the breaking point, Gurney must throw himself into a deadly battle of wits with the most frightening opponent he has ever faced. Wolf Lake is the page-turning new work by a writer hailed by the New York Times as "masterly" -- and it furthers the adventures of Dave Gurney, a detective reviewers have compared to Sherlock Holmes.

There are those who believe that a creature as small as a young child, but as deadly for its size as any on earth, has been depicted in the ancient art of the Mayans. There are others who say that it was spawned through genetic engineering, or eluded capture when its space ship crashed to earth. Whatever it is, or however it got here, the Goatsucker stalks the livestock of an East Texas town...Sometimes life can be a real witch. Meet Maxie Duncan. Your average 23-year-old blonde. If you can call being wealthy, gorgeous, and knowing what the future holds at times, average. After her fiancé blindsides her with a breakup at their favorite restaurant, she leaves Maine for a shot at being Hollywood’s new ‘it girl.’ There’s only one problem. She’s never acted a day in her life. When a big Hollywood director sends her packing, she realizes if she wants to stay in L.A., she may have to become a normal girl after all. But normal has never been in the cards for her. Strange things keep happening wherever she goes, a red-eyed shadow no one else sees is stalking her, and to top it off, she may be falling in love again, with either the bookish guy next door, or Hollywood’s hottest leading man. But everything isn’t what it seems. Someone’s keeping secrets from her. Is it her new friends at the apartment building she moved into? Or is it Ryan Everheart, the actor who wants to sweep her off her feet? And why are her feet suddenly floating off the ground? It’s enough to drive a girl insane. All Maxie wants to do is ride off into the sunset with her one true love and find a killer pair of Manolo Blahniks on the way. But how’s a girl supposed to focus on a love life and shopping when everywhere she turns someone or something is trying to kill her?

Blind Overlook (FULL VERSION): A beautiful, enigmatic young woman who owns an art gallery in New Orleans hires Jay Leicester (pronounced "Lester") to travel to Maine where a body has been found fitting the description of her brother. Delving into this situation leads Leicester straight into a confrontation with the most powerful Mafia figure in the United States and many suspicious locals.Jay Leicester (pronounced "Lester") is a retired airline pilot, retired because he could not stand the bureaucratic web the government spun over the aviation industry, and partly because anyone with the price of a bus ticket could fly on the airlines which resulted in overbooking, overcrowding, and near chaos on every route. Raised in a family of Judges and police officers, the only thing he knew to fall back on was the law. Opening his own private investigation business was a natural evolution, especially since he had trouble with authority, and could work outside the constraints of legalese. Handling mostly aviation related cases, recovery of stolen aircraft, investigating drug-hauling pilots, and helping set up corporate aviation departments kept him busy.In Blind Overlook we find Leicester doing a favor for an attorney friend and taking a case far removed from aviation. It involves something he knows nothing about, the art world. A beautiful, but enigmatic young woman who owns an art gallery in New Orleans hires him to travel to Maine where a body has been found fitting the description of her brother and partner in the gallery. He has not been heard from and the young lady grows concerned as he was traveling with four hundred and fifty thousand dollars in cash with which to buy a collection of work by an artist named, Rockwell Kent. Delving into this situation leads Leicester straight into a confrontation with the most powerful Mafia figure in the United States, a local detective, a police sergeant, local fishermen, and a friendly, but suspicious waitress at a local caf . The entire populace of the small community seems involved in the murder, the missing brother and his money. Maine coastal locals and offshore islands provide a unique setting for a powerful work reminiscent of Ross MacDonald or John D. McDonald. Character driven and plot oriented, this is a must read for the serious Mystery/Thriller 'aficionado.'There are a total of 10 ebooks in the Jay Leicester Mysteries Series by JC Simmons:Blood on the VineBlind OverlookSome People Die QuickIcy Blue DescentThe Electra FilePopping the ShineFour Nines FineThe Underground LadyAkel DamaThe Candela of Cancri

Published for the first time under his own name, a dark and haunting story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly Like his father before him, Brian Holloway is a safe man. That is, his specialty is opening safes. Every job is a little mystery, and he has yet to encounter a lock he can't break or a box he can't crack. But the day Holloway gets called in to open a rare, antique safe in a famous author's library, his skills open a door that should have remained closed. In this haunting and singular story, previously published anonymously, Michael Connelly proves once again that he is "superb at building suspense.... the reader can never be sure what sudden turns the plot may take" (Wall Street Journal).

This edition includes two short stories: On Camera and Moving Day. On Camera tells the story of Stacy Sterling, an anything-for-a-story reporter told through the eyes of a smitten admirer. Moving Day uncovers the mystery of a neighbor known only on the surface.The new blade, the second of a twin pair, slices skin and lets blood out. There’s hardly even a sting at first, before the foamy shaving cream turns pink, then red, and here’s the sting, for real now, as if let loose by blood. Foam redder still. A pretty deep cut.“Damn.”His right hand passes the razor to his left then dives into a blue box of paper napkins by the basin and brings one—two actually, they tend to cling together—out. He presses them against his skin. A few seconds, then tests by removing. Blood still coming. He dabs the cut a couple of times, but the bleeding does not stop. Precious minutes. “Damn,” again. It will not stop bleeding. He throws the bloodstained napkins in the toilet bowl and grabs another pair from the box. Dabs the cut again. Less blood this time. Finally. Leaves a strip of napkin stuck to the cut to help the blood settle and seal.Then he finishes shaving, more carefully now. The cut still stings and it will show. “Damn,” for a third time. The after shave which smarts like hell. Sizzles the cut, now a small red smile smack in the middle of his right cheek. Looks ridiculous. And still stings.The aftershave reminds him of Alice.Aramis.The scent brings her face along with it. Alice of the long red hair and the many freckles. Of the great smile. Of the wedding bells, or else. Malice Alice. He-said-no-not-right-now-so-she-took-off-and-left-him-to-rot Alice.

The struggle of an old man to find redemption. Set in a post war pseudo-utopia. A world that no longer recognizes the beliefs that he fought for as being valid, and worse find them against the basic structure of a new society. Hunted by those who wish to use him, and his former life, as a pawn for corrupt political gain. He must face the evil he once did, in the name of people who forgot history.The struggle of an old man to find redemption. Set in a post war pseudo-utopia. A world that no longer recognizes the beliefs that he fought for as being valid, and worse find them against the basic structure of a new society. Hunted by those who wish to use him, and his former life, as a pawn for corrupt political gain. He must try and face the evil he once did in the name of people who don’t care. Having lost all he holds dear he struggles to retain his dignity as he is tried for a past that he has tried to forget.

In this OTS novella, Magician Elizabeth Tanner is consulted by a local coven when their medium goes missing after a strange Enochian rite. Liz soon learns that there's more to the story, and the woman has been kidnapped by something not from this world. Can she negotiate the woman's release, or will all hell break loose?The Davis kids have acquired land and a cattle ranch from their Civil War injured father. Trying to make the ranch profitable the Davises notice some of their cattle disappearing. After seeing strange things on their ranch such as Indian arrows and unknown riders the Davises believe there is more to the disappearance of their cattle then what they initial thought. As Bub and A.J. track down the supposed thieves Soph guards their small stone house that was passed down by their folks. Things start to heat up when they have confrontation with their neighbors the Farlands. After a showdown on the land the Davises know they are in for a bloody resolution.

Will you marry me for $10,000,000?I am a creative, open-minded businessman with limited time and desire to play the field. This is a serious proposal.A mysterious billboard intrigues three single women in LA. But who is this Mr. Right?...And is he the perfect match for the lucky winner?BookShotsLIGHTNING-FAST STORIES BY JAMES PATTERSON Novels you can devour in a few hours Impossible to stop reading All original content from James Patterson

In The Wolf, #1 New York Times bestselling author Lorenzo Carcaterra introduces readers to Vincent Marelli, his most stunning and captivating hero yet. But, in this eBook original prequel short story, before Marelli becomes the world’s most powerful mob boss, he must prove he has what it takes to lead the pack.   Features a preview of Lorenzo Carcaterra’s riveting new novel, The Wolf! My name is Vincent Marelli, and when I was a young man life gave me a choice: play by the rules . . . or play to win. You might say I chose well, because today I am the don of all dons, commanding the biggest, most successful organized crime operation in the world. But all that I have—everything I won—I got by working harder, thinking smarter, and fighting better than the rest. This is the story of how I started. How my uncle gave me a job to do and turned me loose in the big, bad world he’d already conquered. And how I took on the man who tried to take on the wrong people—my people. I won’t say what happened. You can find out for yourself. Let’s just say that killing your enemy is easy, but there are better ways to get revenge. And the best revenge is a gift that keeps on giving. Advance praise for The Wolf *  “Lorenzo Carcaterra is one of the my favorite writers in the world, and The Wolf is his best book yet. In it you’ll meet the superbly crafted crime boss Vincent Marelli—and then you’ll spend this riveting read trying to decide whether Marelli, like Michael Corleone, is a hero or a villain. Pick up a copy of The Wolf* and you won’t put it down until the surprise ending!”—Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of Accused “The Wolf crackles with the geopolitical high stakes of Homeland, the intrigue and lore of The Godfather, and the clock-ticking final showdown of 24*. No one combines such themes as Renaissance art, global terror, and all things Italian like Lorenzo Carcaterra.”—Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of Everything to Lose Praise for Lorenzo Carcaterra   “Terrifying and heartbreaking . . . a brilliant, troubling, important book.”—Jonathan Kellerman, on Sleepers   “Crackles with action . . . a riveting and ingenious read that will keep you turning the pages.”—Douglas Preston, on Midnight Angels “A powerful read . . . with plenty of action and dialogue as authentic as the streets of New York.” —St. Petersburg Times , on Paradise City “A brilliant, multilayered novel that breathes and bleeds on every page. This book transcends the genre of crime fiction. It is a full-blooded novel and an epic read.”—Robert Crais, on Gangster

A small Georgia town erupts in panic when a young college professor is found brutally mutilated in the local diner. But it's only when town pediatrician and coroner Sara Linton does the autopsy that the full extent of the killer's twisted work becomes clear. Sara's ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, leads the investigation—a trail of terror that grows increasingly macabre when another local woman is found crucified a few days later. But he's got more than a sadistic serial killer on his hands, for the county's sole female detective, Lena Adams—the first victim's sister—want to serve her own justice. But it is Sara who holds the key to finding the killer. A secret from her past could unmask the brilliantly malevolent psychopath .. or mean her death.

Tate is afraid of the dark. But his junkie sister has disappeared into the terrifying storm drains below Las Vegas. Tate wades into the drains to rescue his sister from her demons.Every step into the smothering darkness challenges Tate’s resolve. With his sister’s life and his own sanity at stake, Tate must face his fears or risk fading into the dank oblivion of the Las Vegas tunnels.Tate is afraid of the dark. But his junkie sister has disappeared into the terrifying storm drains below Las Vegas. The tunnels stretch hundreds of miles beneath the city, housing the city’s homeless and criminal element. Armed with only his flashlight, Tate wades into the gritty depths of the storm drains to rescue his sister from her demons. Every step into the smothering darkness challenges Tate’s resolve. With his sister’s life and his own sanity at stake, Tate must face his fears or risk fading into the dank oblivion of the Las Vegas tunnels.

A thrilling chase through history as Patrick Pierce tries to discover the truth behind a secret society known as the Black Tower Hunt Club.After receiving a mysterious letter, a withdrawn mid-level public servant is pulled from his quiet routine and thrust into a world of intrigue and danger. Invited to join the Black Tower Hunt Club, Patrick Pierce quickly realizes that the luxurious grandeur of Ravenwood Manor belies a dark secret within. Unsure who to trust, he delves into the past to find out why he was recruited and who is behind it.Meanwhile one of Ravenwood Manor’s maids finds herself caught up in an internal power struggle for control of the Club. Trapped between two brilliant and dangerous adversaries, Jane is forced to choose a side in order to achieve her goal of a life beyond servitude.As the stakes become higher, both Patrick and Jane will have to look inward for the strength to survive the perilous ordeals they’ve been pulled into.

A floating natural gas facility in Lithuania is blown up. A Venezuelan prosecutor is assassinated. A devastating attack on a Russian troop train kills dozens. A chaotic world is the best camouflage for a series of seemingly unrelated attacks. Only one man recognizes an ominous pattern in the reports of terror from around the globe. U.S. President Jack Ryan sees a guiding hand in the worldwide chaos. Faced with collapsing energy prices the Russian economy depends on expansion abroad. But it's a strategy that has been, in the past, thwarted by the United States. And so now it seems the Russian Leader, fearful of losing his grip on power, is pursuing his ambitions more indirectly. While Jack Ryan's intelligence agencies race to uncover the truth behind the attacks, the President struggles to unite a fractious and distrustful coalition of Western nations against the schemes of the Russian dictator. With five thousand Russian troops poised to invade a NATO nation, can Jack Ryan move swiftly enough to stop Volodin's grand plan of global conflict and conquest? Or will he succeed in changing the balance of world power forever?

At a small marine institute off the coast of Connecticut, only marine biologist Simon Chase realizes that a sixteen-foot pregnant Great White is feeding in the area. But even Simon doesn't know that a far deadlier creature is about to come out of the deep and threaten everything he cares for. A creature whose malevolence is unthinkable. Whose need to feed is insatiable. And whose relentless hunt for prey is unstoppable. Twenty years after his huge bestseller Jaws, the master of the deep has done it again, letting loose a chilling new predator that only he could create. Drawing on his singular knowledge of the sea, science, and history, Peter Benchley masterfully spins a suspense-filled novel that hits you on a primal level, makes your heart pound, and leaves your blood running cold. White Shark is Peter Benchley at his best. Read it at your own risk.