Mystery/Crime

Earl Derr Biggers (1884-1933) is best remembered as the creator of Chinese detective Charlie Chan, whose long-running series of exploits (portrayed in the movies first by Warner Oland and later Sidney Toler) made him a world-famous character from the 1930s to the 1950s. At the height of the series, Charlie Chan was nearly on par with Sherlock Holmes ... and he spawned such Oriental detective imitators as Mr. Moto and Mr. Wong. Biggers had always been interested in mystery fiction, but his intere... more info>>

A civil lawsuit turns decidedly uncivil when Daniel T. Scadman, the meanest lawyer in Colorado, is murdered during a pre-trial deposition at the office of Denver lawyer, Adam Larsen. As Scadman's successor moves the case toward trial Larsen's client, Josie Ballantine, who also happens to be his girlfriend, abruptly fires Larsen, placing her faith--and apparently much more--into the eager hands of her young insurance lawyer. After Larsen confronts a corrupt court reporter, someone tries to frame ... more info>>

When Jon Abercrombie attends a benefit performance with his psychic sister, Jill, the murder onstage turns out to be real in this period mystery. And the number one suspect turns out to be Jon's father. Can Jon attract the attention of a certain curvaceous actress, whom Jon's father has been courting on the sly. Can Jon protect his father by finding the real murderer? How does one solve a murder that takes place onstage in front of hundreds of people?

A family ravaged by greed, jealousy and hatred--can one member transcend her past and survive the ultimate evil? Dr. Abigail Potter has come home to take over her dying father's medical practice. When her estranged sister Rona Lee unexpectedly reappears, Abigail is brought face to face with the cunning ruthlessness and dark secrets that drove her away twelve years before. The struggle between the sisters turns ugly. Then Abigail discovers Rona Lee's butchered body and realizes she is the primary... more info>>

"As far as I'm concerned, Richard S. Prather was the King of the paperback P.I writers of the 60s. Shell Scott should be in the Top Ten of any readers list of favorite private eyes." --Robert J. Randisi For four decades, Richard S. Prather published over 40 works of detective fiction, most featuring his clever, cad-about-town hero, Shell Scott. Known for their arched humor, punchy dialogue, and sunny Southern California locale, the Shell Scott books represent one of the greatest private ey... more info>>

The tranquility of a small southern town is shattered when one of its citizens is reported missing and a battered body is found in a wrecked car. Hasty investigations and judgment errors result in both cases being prematurely closed. Detective Lieutenant Lanny Boone is faced with the dilemma of following orders from his superiors and letting things lie, or of following his intuition and taking on the Dixie Mafia to find the killers. The only thing he has to lose by following his intuition is his... more info>>

Gus Frank has a busy summer planned--between working as an intern at his father's Maine newspaper, managing ball pickup at the golf driving range, he barely has a moment for sleep. But when his best friend, Funboy, also known as John Francis, steals Gus's bicycle, and when Funboy's sexy girlfriend demands that Gus track him down, Funboy decides he has no choice. He's got to find his friend. Unfortunately, the more Gus investigates, the more it looks like Funboy has excellent reasons to stay hidd... more info>>

A man is shot dead in a woman's bedroom. Was it murder, or self-defense?

Nefarious deeds occur when everyone must vacate the library during a fire drill.

by Arline Chase FIRE NEXT TIME is the tale of how a young teen handles it when her mother's "just plain no-good" boyfriend sets out to destroy her family and her world. ISBN 978-1-59431-880-1 Young Adult / Action adventure

The women of Athena Academy were becoming known as a force for justice around the world. And when new clues surfaced about the decade-old murder of Athena Academy founder and U.S. senator Marion Gracelyn, FBI forensic scientist Alexandra Forsythe jumped to investigate the stone-cold case. With fellow Athena alums and special agent Justin Cohen rallying to the cause, Alex uncovered an intricate web of deceit and murder. The evidence she uncovered could send shock waves around the nation: D.C.'s c... more info>>

In tiny Murphy's Harbour, where Reid Bennett serves as the one-man police force, questions and dead bodies tend to pile up all at once. The morning starts with Reid chasing off a gang of threatening teens with a baseball bat. Minutes later, Reid learns that a bank robber might be headed his way looking for vengeance. But, the day doesn't really start rolling until Reid finds a dead woman in the trunk of a waterlogged car. What follows is a fast-paced thriller involving rich lawyers, a questi... more info>>

Victoria Clark, a frightened unwed teenager, gives birth to a baby girl only to have the infant stolen from her. Twenty-nine years later, Victoria, now a successful defense attorney with a demanding career, is still haunted by her loss. When her father passes away, she finds the first clues that could lead her to her daughter. Marilyn Jameson thought she had it all until her husband, Richard, a well-respected judge, is murdered and a fateful decision they both made long ago comes back to haunt h... more info>>

I murdered my brother with a sculptor's mallet. But it was only a dream. It was a dream I always had. I hated my brother. I was going home to see him now, get it out of my system, and then spend the rest of my life hunting Leda. She was my wife and she belonged to me. All I remember of that searing journey was the sun blazing down. And there, framed in the doorway, were my brother Frank and Leda, my lovely Judas wife. So when they found my brother with his head battered in by a sculptor's mallet... more info>>

The first in the Inspector Jane Doe adult mystery/paranormal series. Inspector Jane Doe, head of Melbourne Homicide is staying in an isolated cliff top cottage. She's recovering from near fatal head injuries received from a serial killer. Ryan O'Byrne a stranger on the beach befriends her. Jane's idyllic sojourn turns into a nightmare. Who is sending her flowers with threatening notes attached? Is Ryan truly a ghost? Can she trust Ryan as a friend or is he in fact the serial killer, and she his ... more info>>

Digger is an insurance investigator who drinks, chases women, asks smartass questions and gets help from his part-time hooker girlfriend. A humorous crime adventure series by the author of The Destroyer. In FOOL'S FLIGHT, Digger investigates a plane crash that leaves forty pilgrims dead, each of whom has an insurance policy payable to the Reverend whose religious retreat they were traveling to attend.

When gold is found in the mountains of Canada, it brings a rush of prospectors, pilots, and men looking to get rich quick. It also brings a slew of dead bodies. That's when Reid Bennett, the lone cop of tiny Murphy's Harbor, gets called in to help. The dead body of geologist Jim Prudhomme is found mauled beyond recognition by a bear. Or is it? Bear attacks are more than rare in these parts, and the tracks don't add up. Is it murder instead? Things get complicated as witnesses cry foul and more... more info>>

After her favorite aunt is found dead and an alarming box is mysteriously left on the doorstep of her aunt's house now legally hers, Lavinia Esposito wants explanations. But, having cleared the package of explosives, the local cops are dumbounded by the precious stones which came without an explanation, just an address??her Aunt Livvy's. Frustrated by the cops' refusal to share their theories, criminal justice instructor Lavinia Esposito, a.k.a. Vinnie, takes investigation matters into her own h... more info>>

A cricket game. Much to gain, perhaps more to lose. Air darkens, grey clouds churn like billows from an angry stove. Lights come on, white beacons in the field, and Spirit plays the match of a lifetime.

The life insurance money--wasn't that reason enough for Ardis Clinton to kill her husband? That and his annoying neglect of his loving. But Ardis has the plan--with her dimwitted boyfriend and a meat cleaver she'll be on easy street. But sometimes the best laid plans of mice and unfaithful women often go astray.

The murder of a Beverly Hills psychic -- fifth victim of the Ice Pick Killer -- drafts Detective Art Murry and his partner Billy Kidman into a special LAPD task force, where Murry's intuitive hunches are ignored in favor of fitting together the "facts" that so far, have led nowhere. But when Murry's intuition turns to psychic flashes, he sees a vision of his girlfriend, Medical Examiner Mary Eclair. She's dead, ice picks through her hands and feet. To try and save the woman he loves, Murry al... more info>>

Seth Lambert is a slightly soiled but ever powerful and dashing operative for Continental Mogul Insurance. An aging 40ish surfer in Southern California, he has cornered a niche in occasional huge death insurance investigations that keep him in drinking money. This time, it's different. Is the victim dead or vanished? And then there is Sandy, the attractive cop who goofed a little bit but wants to make up for lost time.

Brando Mahr lost his mind when an artillery shell exploded close by. Upon returning to some form of consciousness, he found himself aphasiac and epileptic. He escaped from the hospital and found menial work in the basement of the UCLA library, where he re-learned language, unfortunately by reading mostly 18th century English penny dreadnaughts. Since the language has shifted somewhat in 200 plus years, the author has channeled the spirit of one of Brando's favorite writers from the 1700s to act ... more info>>

The Fast-Acting, Quick Thinking 1930s Woman Private Eye Is Back! A generation or two ago, strong female private detectives were few and far between. Grace Culver of the Noonan Detective Agency is one of those few, and this red-headed investigative dynamo was (literarily) ahead of her time. Grace doesn't cower in the corner, waiting for some he-man to rescue her. She takes charge when she is on a case. Smart, cute, and full of fire, Grace Culver was a ground-breaking heroine who paved the way for... more info>>

Who would want to frame a young rookie cop for murder? Private investigator, Dan Starrett, is hired to find the answer. When he discovers his client was videotaped having sex with the murdered woman just hours before her body was found, he realizes he has to work fast before the blackmail tape surfaces. He also begins to believe his client might possibly be telling the truth when he says he didn't kill her, but still feels he's lying about something. As Starrett gets deeper into the investigatio... more info>>