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By Peter May. 2016
"A VIVID, FULLY REALIZED NOVEL OF LOST LOVE, YEARNING AND UNBEARABLE HARDSHIP." --Seattle Times"IN A WORD, SUPERLATIVE AND A BOOK…
TO GET LOST IN" --Deadly Pleasures MagazineOnly two kilometers wide and three long, Entry Island is home to a population of just more than 100 inhabitants, the wealthiest of whom has just been discovered murdered in his home. Covered in her husband's blood, the dead man's melancholy wife spins a tale for the police about a masked intruder armed with a knife. The investigation appears to be little more than a formality--the evidence points to a crime of passion by the wife. But homicide detective Sime Mackenzie is electrified by the widow during his interview, convinced that he has met her before, even though this is clearly impossible. Haunted by this strange certainty, Sime's insomnia is punctuated by vivid, hallucinatory dreams of a distant past on a Scottish island 3,000 miles away, dreams in which he and the widow play leading roles. Sime's conviction soon becomes an obsession. And despite mounting evidence of the woman's guilt, he finds himself convinced of her innocence, leading to a conflict between the professional duty he must fulfill and the personal destiny he is increasingly sure awaits him.By Ann Purser. 2011
Cantankerous spinster Ivy Beasley has quickly learned that spending her golden years in the quaint village of Barrington won't be…
as quiet as she thought. Ivy hasn't been in assisted living at Springfields for long, but she's already found new friends, formed a detective agency, and solved a murder. And as autumn falls, Ivy and her team are asked to investigate a mysterious death in the village of Measby-in between card games, of course.By Ann Purser. 2010
A new series and a new sleuth from Ann Purser-author of the Lois Meade mysteries! Ivy Beasley, the beloved cantankerous…
spinster from the Lois Meade mysteries, has found a silver lining in her golden years as an amateur sleuth. She teams up with Gus, a mysterious newcomer to the small English village of Barrington who can't resist a little excitement even as he strives to keep his past a secret, and her own cousin, a widow with time on her hands and money in her purse. Together they're determined to solve the murder of Gus's elderly neighbor.By Richard Curtis. 1975
Dave Bolt doesn't know what the Racers' star quarterback has to do with the game no gambler would touch, but…
it smells like a mighty fishy fix. When Jimmy Quinn doesn't show for a meeting and has disappeared, Bolt suspects more than a thrown game. Quinn's books show a few shady deals, but nothing too suspicious. Now Bolt has a dead gambler on his hands, and what he wants to know is...is Quinn next on the list or a cold-blooded killer? No one ever said the sports business was a cup of tea and Dave Bolt takes his coffee strong, bitter and black.By Suzette Haden Elgin, Susan Squier. 1984
Called "fascinating" by the New York Times upon its first publication in 1984, Native Tongue won wide critical praise and…
cult status, and has often been compared to the futurist fiction of Margaret Atwood. Set in the twenty-second century, the novel tells of a world where women are once again property, denied civil rights and banned from public life. Earth's wealth depends on interplanetary commerce with alien races, and linguists ---a small, clannish group of families ---have become the ruling elite by controlling all interplanetary communication. Their women are used to breed perfect translators for all the galaxies' languages.Nazareth Chornyak, the most talented linguist of the family, is exhausted by her constant work translating for trade organizations, supervising the children's language education, running the compound, and caring for the elderly men. She longs to retire to the Barren House, where women past childbearing age knit, chat, and wait to die. What Nazareth comes to discover is that a slow revolution is going on in the Barren Houses: there, word by word, women are creating a language of their own to free them from men's control."Native Tongue brings to life not only the possibility of a women's language, but a rationale for one,"--Village Voice"Elgin takes up more than linguistics, of course--everything from religion to sex...the story is absolutely compelling."--Women's Review of BooksSuzette Haden Elgin is author of twelve science fiction novels and is widely know for her best-selling series The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense and for The Grandmother Principles. She is director of the Ozark Center for Language Studies and is professor emerita of linguistics at San Diego State University.Susan Squier is Julia Brill professor of English and Women's Studies at Pennsylvania State University.By Scott Graham. 2015
"Graham's clever tale is tailor-made for those who prefer their mysteries under blue skies..."-KIRKUS"Description and dialogue balance to bring both…
the rounded characters and the Rocky Mountain setting alive in this tale of danger, death, and intrigue...Scott Graham has created a satisfying and suspenseful adventure."-FOREWORD REVIEWS"Filled with murder and mayhem, jealousy and good detective work-set against a stunning Colorado backdrop-Mountain Rampage is an exciting, non-stop read. I look forward to more good tales from this talented author."-ANNE HILLERMAN, New York Times bestselling author of Spider Woman's Daughter"In Mountain Rampage, Scott Graham delivers taut writing, solid plot twists, a cast of interesting characters, and an appealing protagonist both men and women will love. Get ready for a leave-you-breathless high country southwestern adventure."-MICHAEL MCGARRITY, New York Times bestselling author of Hard Country and Backlands"Move over Nevada Barr-clean prose and confident storytelling combine to make Scott Graham's second Chuck Bender/National Park Mystery Series novel a must-read for fans of Western outdoor fiction and for mystery lovers everywhere."-CHUCK GREAVES, author of Hush Money, Green-Eyed Lady, and The Last Heir"In archaeologist Chuck Bender, Scott Graham has created a flawed, all-too-human, and memorable investigator who had me rooting for him to the end."-MARGARET COEL, author of Night of the White BuffaloIn the riveting second installment of the National Park Mystery Series, archaeologist Chuck Bender finds himself and his young wife and stepdaughters in the crosshairs of an unknown killer when he defends his brother-in-law from false accusations of murder in the brutal slaying of a resort worker in Rocky Mountain National Park.Scott Graham is author of Canyon Sacrifice: A National Park Mystery and Extreme Kids, winner of the National Outdoor Book Award. He is an avid outdoorsman and amateur archaeologist who enjoys hunting, rock climbing, skiing, backpacking, mountaineering, river rafting, and whitewater kayaking with his wife, an emergency physician, and their two sons. Graham lives in Durango, Colorado.By Scott Graham. 2014
"This riveting series debut showcases Graham's love of nature and archeology, simultaneously interjecting some serious excitement. Graham is to be…
commended for weaving together several cultures into one story. Recommend to readers who enjoy Tony Hillerman, Nevada Barr, and C.J. Box's Joe Pickett series."-LIBRARY JOURNAL"A gripping tale of kidnapping and murder...in a style similar to mysteries by Tony Hillerman."-ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL"Graham has created a story [of] richness and depth...Graham's comfort and familiarity with his subject make the story an enjoyable read."-DURANGO HERALD"A riveting mystery...Graham takes readers intimately into the setting, his knowledge of the places he writes about apparent at every turn."-DURANGO TELEGRAPH "A terrific debut novel..."-C.J. BOX, New York Times bestselling author of Stone Cold and Breaking Point"The real star of this engrossing mystery novel is the Grand Canyon itself. Scott Graham clearly knows the territory. In addition to some fine plot twists guaranteed to keep you guessing to the end, Graham delivers a glorious portrait of one of the most compelling landscapes on earth, a place that can kill just as easily as it thrills. This is a topnotch read."-WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER, New York Times bestselling author of Tamarack County"One of the most engaging mysteries I've read in a long while! In archaeologist Chuck Bender, Scott Graham has created a flawed, all-too-human and memorable investigator who had me rooting for him to the end. The setting is magnificent and fascinating-nothing less than the Grand Canyon with its centuries-old secrets. The plot is fast-paced and filled with suspense. Canyon Sacrifice delivers it all and then some."-MARGARET COEL, New York Times bestselling author of Killing Custer"Bring an extra-large bowl of popcorn while you read Sacrifice in one sitting."-C.M. WENDELBOE, author of Death on the Greasy Grass"In this gripping, imaginative mystery set in Grand Canyon National Park, ancient Anasazi culture collides with the modern world in the most unexpected of ways. Like Tony Hillerman, Scott Graham uses his deep knowledge of the region to fashion a thrilling, compulsively readable story."-FRANK HUYLER, author of The Blood of Strangers"As unpredictable and twisty as a switchback trail plummeting into its depths, Graham's thriller sucks you into the mysteries of the canyon and the story of an unsuspecting family whose lives will never be the same."-TED BOTHA, author of The Girl With the Crooked Nose"Graham deftly weaves a first-rate mystery through the caves and canyons and winding roads of the Grand Canyon. If you've been, you'll immediately be drawn into the story. If you've never been, this may be your motivation to buy the ticket! I can't wait to read which national park he tackles next!"-TRICIA FIELDS, Hillerman Prize-winning author of Scratchgravel Road"Stunning setting, intriguing plot and likeable characters make this debut novel a bookseller's dream."-ANDREA AVANTAGGIO, owner of Maria's Bookshoptivation to buy the ticket! I can't wait to read which national park he tackles next!"-TRICIA FIELDS, Hillerman Prize-winning author of Scratchgravel Road"Rooted in the southwest in both geography and culture, Canyon Sacrifice will hook you early and keep you intrigued to the last page. You'll meet archaeologist and investigator Chuck Bender. You'll laugh with him and at him while you get drawn into the mystery he seeks to solve. Stunning setting, intriguing plot and likeable characters make this debut novel a bookseller's dream."-ANDREA AVANTAGGIO, owner of Maria's BookshopBy Lawrence Block, Max Allan Collins, Ed Gorman, Jeremiah Healy, S. J. Rozan, Otto Penzler, Dennis Lehane, Brendan Dubois, Ace Atkins, Parnell Hall, Lyndsay Faye, Reed Farrel Coleman, Gary Phillips, Matthew Clemens, Loren D Estleman. 2012
When Robert B. Parker passed in early 2010, the world lost two great men: Parker himself, iconic American crime writer…
whose books have sold more than 6 million copies worldwide, and his best-known creation, Spenser. Parker's Spenser series not only influenced the work of countless of today's writers, but is also credited with reviving and forever changing the genre.In Pursuit of Spenser offers a look at Parker and to Spenser through the eyes of the writers he influenced. Editor Otto Penzler-- proprietor of one of the oldest and largest mystery specialist bookstores in the country, New York's The Mysterious Bookshop, and renowned mystery fiction editor whose credits include series editor for the Best American Crime Writing and Best American Mystery Stories, among many others (and about whom Parker himself once wrote, "Otto Penzler knows more about crime fiction than most people know about anything")-- collects some of today's bestselling mystery authors to discuss Parker, his characters, the series, and their impact on the world.From Hawk to Susan Silverman to Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall, from the series' Boston milieu to Parker's own take on his character, In Pursuit of Spenser pays tribute to Spenser, and Parker, with affection, humor, and a deep appreciation for what both have left behind.By T. Jefferson Parker. 2010
Original short stories by best-selling mystery writers about their favorite pastime—?shing. Sixteen of America's favorite author-anglers spin tales of mystery…
and fishing in this collection. From the tragic to the comic with many stops in between, these stories reflect the authors' passions for both making stories and catching fish. Michael Connelly, Ridley Pearson, John Lescroart, Don Winslow, Melodie Johnson Howe, Victoria Houston, and others all share a mysterious affection for things piscatorial when not busy writing best-selling books. This collection of all-original short stories will entertain even the most discriminating mystery reader. Proceeds from this book will help support two charitable groups, Casting For Recovery, which helps women cancer survivors to heal body and soul through fly-fishing, and Project Healing Waters, which does the same for our returning veterans. Contributing authors include • Ridley Pearson • Mark T. Sullivan • Michael Connelly • John Lescoart • Andrew Winer • Dana Stabenow • Don Winslow • Melodie Johnson Howe • James W. Hall • C.J. Box • Victoria Houston • William Beall • Spring Warren • Brian M. Wiprud • William Tapply • T. Jefferson ParkerBy Ann Purser. 2012
In a brand-new mystery from the author of The Measby Murder Enquiry, the cantankerous golden years gumshoe Ivy Beasley keeps…
her mental faculties sharp with a strict regimen of crime detection. Apart from the unwelcome noise made by the morning cleaning crew, life has been quiet at Springfields Home for the Elderly. Too quiet, in fact. Ivy and her team of sleuths, Enquire Within, have resorted to finding lost cats, and Gus is even threatening to return to his memoirs. But no sooner does he attempt to put a winning phrase together than he receives a call from his ex-wife, Katherine, who is in desperate needs of a place to hide. Though Gus has a difficult time getting a straight answer from Kath--just as it was in their many years of marriage--something is most certainly afoot, and soon Enquire Within is back in business. This time they have their hands full, not only with missing pets, but missing jewels, and evidence of foul play uncomfortably close to their too quiet home...By Ronald Weber. 2013
Lottery winner and ex-journalist Donal Fitzgerald joins forces with his girlfriend, DNR conservation officer Mercy Virdon, to solve the mysterious…
death of a beloved angler, Charlie, who was murdered in his tent in a state campground and who was known by all—and who may have known too much. Set in the engaging small town of Ossning on the Borchard River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—an angler’s dream, filled with eccentric, believable, sympathetic, and unforgettable characters—Riverwatcher is a classic whodunit. Fitzgerald and Mercy’s investigation to discover the deadly secret among the locals leads to dead ends until a surprisingly bookish theory surfaces. Weber expertly weaves this character-driven novel with a strong sense of place, creating a great yarn for anglers and mystery lovers and, as it turns out, a literally literary mystery.By John Curran. 1928
La vida y la obra de Agatha Christie a lo largo de las décadas, desde el final inédito de su…
primer libro hasta las ideas que no llegó a emplear en el último, junto a nuevas obras y documentos nunca publicados hasta ahora, entre ellos un relato perdido de la señorita Marple. En esta continuación del aclamado Agatha Christie. Los cuadernos secretos, John Curran, archivista y experto en Christie, conduce al lector a través de las seis décadas de la carrera de Agatha Christie, desvelando las claves más notables de su éxito, además de una serie de extractos y relatos de sus archivos, inéditos hasta el momento. La obra cuenta con un prologo de David Suchet quien, para la mayoría de aficionados a Agatha Christie, es Hércules Poirot, tras veinte años interpretando de manera impecable al famoso detective belga en la televisión. La crítica ha dicho...«Esta edición es un lujo inexcusable para todos los amantes de la literatura de detectives en general y de la de Agatha Christie en particular».El Cultural de El Mundo «El reciente rescate de esta colección de cuadernos [...] nos abre una ventana al proceso creativo, caótico y fascinante, de la novelista más publicada de todos los tiempos».El País «Nos brinda la oportunidad de ver entre bambalinas a una escritora que poseyó dos dones excepcionales: la legibilidad y la confección de tramas endiabladamente encajadas».Qué leer «Christie siempre tendrá un lugar de honor entre los iconos de la escritura contemporánea».ABC de las Artes y las LetrasBy John Curran. 2009
Una fascinante exploración del contenido de los 73 cuadernos de notas de Agatha Christie recientemente descubiertos, que incluyen ilustraciones, extractos…
eliminados y dos novelas inéditas de Poirot. Cuando Agatha Christie falleció en 1976 se había convertido en la escritora más popular del mundo. Con unas ventas billonarias en todo el mundo y publicada en más de 100 países, había conseguido lo imposible: publicar más de un libro al año desde la década de 1920, y todos ellos éxitos de ventas. Tras la muerte de la hija de Agatha, Rosalind, a finales de 2004, se reveló un extraordinario legado. Entre sus objetos personales de la residencia familiar de Greenway se desenterraron los cuadernos privados de Agatha Christie, 73 volúmenes escritos a mano que habían permanecido en gran parte ignorados, probablemente debido a que la inconfundible caligrafía de Agatha era muy dificultosa de leer. Pero cuando el archivero John Curran comenzó a descifrar los cuadernos, se hizo evidente la magnitud de este tesoro escondido... Este libro abre la tapa del mayor secreto de Agatha Christie: cómo sus anotaciones, listados y borradores se convirtieron en los exitosos libros, obras de teatro y relatos que finalmente fueron. Argumentos alternativos, escenas eliminadas, incluso sus planes para libros que no llegó a escribir, la investigación de Curran revela una enorme riqueza de material inédito, incluidas dos novelas cortas de Hércules Poirot.In his preface, the anonymous author of Courtesans and Opium describes his book as an act of penance for thirty…
years spent patronizing the brothels of Yangzhou. Written in the 1840s, his story is filled with vice and dark consequence, portraying the hazards of the city's seedy underbelly and warning others against the example of the Fool.Chinese literature's first true "city novel," Courtesans and Opium recounts the illustrious career of a debauched soul enveloped by enthralling pursuits and romantic illusions. While socially acceptable marriages were arranged and often loveless, brothels offered men accomplished courtesans who served as both enchanting companions and sensual lovers. These professional sirens dressed in the latest styles and dripped with gold, silver, and jewels. From an early age, they were taught to excel at various arts and graces, which transformed the brothel into a kind of club for men to meet, exchange gossip, and smoke opium at their leisure.The Fool's fable follows five sworn brothers and their respective relationships with Yangzhou courtesans, revealing in acute detail the lurid materialism of this dangerous world—its violence and corruption as well as its seductive but illusory promise. Never before translated into English, Courtesans and Opium offers a brilliant window into the decadence of nineteenth-century China.By Michel Bussi. 2018
A #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH'Outrageously entertaining' The Times'A tantalising story that wraps the…
reader in myriad enigmas - utterly spellbinding'Daily Mail'As exhilarating as Bussi's breakthrough novel After the Crash' The Sunday Times 'Agatha Christie updated and then cranked up to 11: a blast' Shots Magazine REVENGE IS WORTH WAITING FOR... Jamal loves to run. But one morning - as he is training on a path winding up a steep cliff - he stumbles across a woman in distress.It's a matter of seconds: suddenly she is falling through the air, crashing on the beach below.Jamal is only an unlucky bystander - or is he?His version of events doesn't seem to fit with what other eyewitnesses claim to have seen. And how to explain the red scarf carefully arranged around the dead woman's neck?Perhaps this was no accident after all.Or perhaps there is something more sinister afoot - a devilish plan decades in the making, masterminded by someone hell-bent on revenge.MICHEL BUSSI: THE MASTER OF THE KILLER TWISTBeloved by readers... 'I didn't anticipate all the twists and turns in this cleverly plotted novel''The final twist is a bit of a jaw dropper''Twists and turns aplenty!''A twisting, turning story which clobbers you with a number of cracking twists!''Fast-paced and chock full of twists, turns and red herrings' ...and critics 'A novel so extraordinary that it reminded me of reading Steig Larsson for the very first time . . . I doubt I'll read a more brilliant crime novel this year' Sunday Times on After the Crash'A dazzling, unexpected and haunting masterpiece' Daily Mail on Black Water Lilies'Inventive, original and incredibly entertaining' Sunday Mirror on Don't Let Go'Combines an extraordinarily inventive plot with characters haunted by long-ago events - and demonstrates why he has such a hold on readers' Sunday Times on Time is a KillerSHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA NEW BLOOD DAGGER ***Don't miss the utterly gripping new thriller from Egan Hughes - LEAVE THE…
LIGHTS ON is out now*** 'This one really pulled me in' JANE CORRY 'Tense, thrilling and full of twists and turns' ANGELA MARSONS 'A summer must-read' WOMAN'S WEEKLY 'A masterclass in storytelling' THE COURIER 'Addictive, I was gripped from the opening chapter' JO SPAIN 'Plunges the reader in and leaves them gasping for air' RACHEL EDWARDS 'Utterly addictive' CRIME MONTHLY 'Gripping' HELLO __________________You love him. You trust him.YOU CAN'T ESCAPE HIM. Mia thinks she has escaped her controlling ex-husband, Rob. She's found herself a new home, a new boyfriend and a new life.But when the police arrive to tell her that Rob has been found dead on his boat, things quickly fall apart. Mia is terrified she'll be suspected, however the police are keeping all options open. They know Mia had reason to hate her ex-husband, but she's not the only one. Plenty of people wanted Rob Creavy dead, not least his new wife, Rachel. What they don't know is that Mia has a secret, one she's desperate to protect.But someone else knows. Someone with very dark secrets of their own . . . A claustrophobic, twisty psychological thriller about love, trauma and revenge - perfect for fans of, THE HOLIDAY, SOMETHING IN THE WATER and THE WOMAN IN CABIN TEN.___________________WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY 'One of my favourite thrillers of the year' ***** 'Clear your schedule. Once you start reading, you won't be able to stop' ***** 'All the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very last page' ***** 'The ending is incredibly hard to predict' ***** 'Wow, is all I can say for this book' ***** 'An incredible novel that drew me in and didn't let me go' 'What a thrilling read' ***** 'Dark, twisted and utterly unpredictable. A must-read!' *****A gripping mystery about a woman trying to find out the truth behind the death of her best friend and…
introducing a brilliant detective duo - perfect for fans of Peter James, Angela Marsons and James Oswald. A DEAD GIRLA vulnerable young woman, fresh out of the care system, is trying to discover the truth behind the sudden death of her best friend.A MURDERED POLICE OFFICERThe charred body of a policeman - currently the subject of an internal investigation - is found in the burnt-out-shell of his car on the Southend seafront.A CRIME WORTH KILLING FOR?To DS Frank Pearson and DC Catherine Russell of the Essex Police Major Investigation Team, the two events seem unconnected. But as they dig deeper into their colleague's murder, dark secrets begin to emerge.Can Pearson and Russell solve both cases, before more lives are destroyed?A twisty, gripping novel that introduces a brilliant new detective duo. If you like Peter James, Angela Marsons and James Oswald, then you'll love this crime debut. TRULY EVIL, the gripping second book in the series is out now. ****Praise for Burned and Broken:'Immensely impressive' The Times'The investigation into a copper's dramatic death in downbeat Southend scoops a cast of equally downbeat characters into its net, and tensions rise as their stories fold around each other. An accomplished debut' Sunday Times'Emotional, intelligent, sensual and with such a strong voice, Burned and Broken by Mark Hardie is a crime debut that deserves huge success' Harry Illingworth (Goldsboro Books)'I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book and I would recommend it to anybody. I can't wait to read more investigations led by DS Frank Pearson and DC Cat Russell' Amanda Oughton (Ginger Book Geek)'The story is easy to follow without being too simple, and the novel really manages to evoke a sense of atmosphere and reality within its pages. I didn't find myself becoming distracted whilst reading at all, and raced through it in hours. I will certainly be reading any future novels, particularly in this series which I wholeheartedly enjoyed' Laura Naz (Snazzy Books)SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA NEW BLOOD DAGGER ***Don't miss the utterly gripping new thriller from Egan Hughes - LEAVE THE…
LIGHTS ON is out now*** 'This one really pulled me in' JANE CORRY 'Tense, thrilling and full of twists and turns' ANGELA MARSONS 'A summer must-read' WOMAN'S WEEKLY 'A masterclass in storytelling' THE COURIER 'Addictive, I was gripped from the opening chapter' JO SPAIN 'Plunges the reader in and leaves them gasping for air' RACHEL EDWARDS 'Utterly addictive' CRIME MONTHLY 'Gripping' HELLO __________________You love him. You trust him.YOU CAN'T ESCAPE HIM. Mia thinks she has escaped her controlling ex-husband, Rob. She's found herself a new home, a new boyfriend and a new life.But when the police arrive to tell her that Rob has been found dead on his boat, things quickly fall apart. Mia is terrified she'll be suspected, however the police are keeping all options open. They know Mia had reason to hate her ex-husband, but she's not the only one. Plenty of people wanted Rob Creavy dead, not least his new wife, Rachel. What they don't know is that Mia has a secret, one she's desperate to protect.But someone else knows. Someone with very dark secrets of their own . . . A claustrophobic, twisty psychological thriller about love, trauma and revenge - perfect for fans of, THE HOLIDAY, SOMETHING IN THE WATER and THE WOMAN IN CABIN TEN.___________________WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY 'One of my favourite thrillers of the year' ***** 'Clear your schedule. Once you start reading, you won't be able to stop' ***** 'All the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very last page' ***** 'The ending is incredibly hard to predict' ***** 'Wow, is all I can say for this book' ***** 'An incredible novel that drew me in and didn't let me go' 'What a thrilling read' ***** 'Dark, twisted and utterly unpredictable. A must-read!' *****A classic hardboiled tale of a beautiful talent for life in smoky poolrooms'A wonderful hymn to the last true era…
when men of substance played pool with a vengeance' TIME OUT'This book sees the poetry of the pool game ... Fast Eddie's ascent up the ladder from pool shark to full-time hustler is the story of the will to power, told in cool fifties style' GUARDIANFast Eddie Felson has a reputation as a pool hustler to be feared, but his ambitions go far beyond taking small-town punks for a few bucks here and there. He has the talent to make big money, but he soon learns that it takes more than natural ability to become a real winner. He heads to Chicago to test himself against the legendary Minnesota Fats in more than forty-hours of high-stakes pool. Can he find the will to overcome his failings and fulfil his potential as the best there is?By Michelle Ann Abate. 2013
"Off with her head!" decreed the Queen of Hearts, one of a multitude of murderous villains populating the pages of…
children's literature explored in this volume.Given the long-standing belief that children ought to be shielded from disturbing life events, it is surprising to see how many stories for kids involve killing. Bloody Murder is the first full-length critical study of this pervasive theme of murder in children’s literature. Through rereadings of well-known works, such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, and The Outsiders, Michelle Ann Abate explores how acts of homicide connect these works with an array of previously unforeseen literary, social, political, and cultural issues. Topics range from changes in the America criminal justice system, the rise of forensic science, and shifting attitudes about crime and punishment to changing cultural conceptions about the nature of evil and the different ways that murder has been popularly presented and socially interpreted. Bloody Murder adds to the body of inquiry into America's ongoing fascination with violent crime. Abate argues that when narratives for children are considered along with other representations of homicide in the United States, they not only provide a more accurate portrait of the range, depth, and variety of crime literature, they also alter existing ideas about the meaning of violence, the emotional appeal of fear, and the cultural construction of death and dying.