Service Alert
Website maintenance April 24 10pm ET
On Wednesday April 24 at 10pm ET the CELA website will be unavailable for about 15 minutes for planned maintenance.
On Wednesday April 24 at 10pm ET the CELA website will be unavailable for about 15 minutes for planned maintenance.
Showing 1 - 20 of 4273 items
By Tim Davys. 2011
"[An] audacious concept. . . . [A] giddy thrill." —Los Angeles Times "Weird? Obviously. . . . There’s more than stuffing here, though, including questions of good vs. evil,…
life vs. death, and sanity vs. insanity. Skip that evening Scotch and read this one stone-cold sober—it’s plenty trippy as is." —Washington Post on AmbervilleA horrific crime sets off a disturbing chain of events in Tim Davy’s Mollisan Town. Like George Orwell’s Animal Farm, as well as the allegorical worlds of Neil Gaiman and Jasper Fforde, this sinister sequel to Lanceheim and Amberville illuminates our reality through a giddy paradoxical conceit—as in Tourquai, the stuffed animals who populate Mollisan Town will be forced to confront the deepest issues of love and servitude, free will and destiny, life and death.By Judi Culbertson. 2013
It's not every day you get an inside peek at the world of a famous artist. So when bookseller Delhi…
Laine gets the opportunity to appraise the late Nate Erikson's library, she jumps at the chance, despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding the illustrator's death. But as she spends more time with the eccentric Erikson clan at the family compound in the Hamptons, Delhi can't help but wonder what really happened to the lost patriarch.When death visits the family once more and another Erikson is found murdered, dark secrets come to light. Left coping with a charmed family not quite as idyllic as she first believed, Delhi is determined to solve the murders once and for all. But digging up truths can get you dirty . . . and Delhi is about to discover just how far some will go to keep them buried.By Lynn Cahoon. 2017
A cool California resort turns into a chilling crime scene when a groom-to-be is murdered in this cozy mystery by…
the New York Times bestselling author. Bookstore owner Jill Gardner and her detective boyfriend Greg are still getting used to living together. So it&’s a welcome surprise when they get an invitation to South Cove, California&’s most luxurious resort. Greg and his college pals are gathering to celebrate the upcoming wedding of their buddy Levi, who&’s now a tech millionaire. Meanwhile, Jill finds herself caught in a wives&’ club of women who don&’t approve of Levi&’s standoffish fiancé. Just as Jill is ready to escape the shenanigans with a good book, Levi&’s body is found floating in the resort pool. Not only is the party over, but everyone who knew Levi is a suspect, including Greg. Now it&’s up to Jill to find the killer fast—or she might not have a boyfriend to come home to any more.By Ellen Kirschman. 2015
&“Highly satisfying . . . Perceptively treats complex racial, feminist, personal, and political issues while providing intimate knowledge of cops&’ shop procedure.&” —Publishers…
Weekly Officer Randy Spelling has always wanted to be a cop. The eager rookie comes from a law enforcement family and, at least as far as police department psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff is concerned, the young woman is up to the challenge. But when Officer Spelling mistakenly shoots and kills a pregnant teen, the community is outraged, and the family of the victim demands justice. Feeling protective of the traumatized cop in her care, Dot tries to stop Officer Spelling from her desperate attempts to apologize to the girl&’s family. But Dot&’s efforts fail, with catastrophic results. Now Dot is taking this into her own hands, despite the police chief demanding that she back off. For Dot, this case feels all too personal for her to walk away, even if it means being in the line of danger herself. Praise for the Dot Meyerhoff Mysteries &“Riveting, compelling and authentic! Ellen Kirschman&’s been-there done-that experience makes this a real standout.&” —Hank Phillippi USA Today-bestselling author of The House Guest &“Psychological thriller writing at its finest.&” —D.P. Lyle, award-wining author of the Jake Longly series &“An inherently absorbing read from beginning to end and marks author Ellen Kirschman as a novelist of exceptional storytelling talent.&” —Midwest Book Review &“Gutsy and emotionally anchored in real life.&” —Hallie Ephron, New York Times–bestselling author of Careful What You Wish For &“Ellen Kirschman is one to watch.&” —Bookreporter.comBy Ellen Kirschman. 2015
&“A deftly crafted novel of compelling complexity,&” this first book in the mystery series featuring cop therapist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff is &“absorbing&”…
(Midwest Book Review). As her police department&’s newest hire, police psychologist Dot Meyerhoff has a lot to prove. Especially since everyone on a small-town force doesn&’t see any reason for a shrink on staff. So when the rookie cop commits suicide, everyone&’s looking to blame Dot—even Dot herself. Dot knew Ben Gomez was struggling to adjust to police work, but how had she missed the signs that he was at the end of his rope? Now, with Ben&’s and her reputation on the line, Dot goes looking for answers. What she discovers is the dark underbelly of a town—and a police force—who have very little patience with a woman who asks too many questions. Dot is determined to get to the truth behind the young officer&’s death—even at the risk of losing her job. Or her life. . . . Praise for the Dot Meyerhoff Mysteries &“Riveting, compelling and authentic! Ellen Kirschman&’s been-there done-that experience makes this a real standout.&” —Hank Phillippi USA Today-bestselling author of The House Guest &“Psychological thriller writing at its finest.&” —D.P. Lyle, award-wining author of the Jake Longly series &“Highly satisfying . . . Perceptively treats complex racial, feminist, personal, and political issues while providing intimate knowledge of cops&’ shop procedure.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Gutsy and emotionally anchored in real life.&” —Hallie Ephron, New York Times–bestselling author of Careful What You Wish For &“Ellen Kirschman is one to watch.&” —Bookreporter.comBy Ellen Kirschman. 2017
Dot Meyerhoff is called to help with an abducted child case that is destroying the investigating officer's own family. …
Dr. Dot Meyerhoff is known for putting her personal life aside in the name of duty. But when she&’s brought in on a kidnapping case, she finds herself drawn into a harrowing crime that cuts deep. A toddler is missing. Her mother is a noted local photographer whose work contains photography of nude children. She's also a family friend. Dot is worried that the cop assigned to the case isn't up to the job. She's going to take this one on herself, come hell or high water. The stakes are too high for the missing toddler, her distraught family, and for Dot, who is ready to risk everything including her relationship with the best man she's ever met. Praise for the Dot Meyerhoff Mysteries &“Riveting, compelling and authentic! Ellen Kirschman&’s been-there done-that experience makes this a real standout.&” —Hank Phillippi USA Today-bestselling author of The House Guest &“Psychological thriller writing at its finest.&” —D.P. Lyle, award-wining author of the Jake Longly series &“An inherently absorbing read from beginning to end and marks author Ellen Kirschman as a novelist of exceptional storytelling talent.&” —Midwest Book Review &“Highly satisfying . . . Perceptively treats complex racial, feminist, personal, and political issues while providing intimate knowledge of cops&’ shop procedure.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Gutsy and emotionally anchored in real life.&” —Hallie Ephron, New York Times–bestselling author of Careful What You Wish For &“Ellen Kirschman is one to watch.&” —Bookreporter.comBy Ellen Kirschman. 2015
In this mystery series featuring cop therapist Dot Meyerhoff, Dot&’s sleuthing after a tragic fire leads her to a former…
client–turned–criminal mastermind. When a trailer park fire takes the life of a lonely, wheelchair-bound man, police psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff is doing double duty counseling the first responders involved, especially the traumatized dispatcher. But talking with the distraught young 9-1-1 operator about the dying man&’s last words leads Dot to wonder if there&’s more to this fire than meets the eye. Soon the department is looking for an arsonist and Dot is doing some investigating on her own. But when she discovers a former patient is orchestrating crimes from behind bars, Dot is suddenly in over her head. Not that a challenge has ever stopped her before. Only this time, she may put her own mental health—and her mother&’s life—on the line. . . . Praise for the Dot Meyerhoff Mysteries &“Riveting, compelling and authentic! Ellen Kirschman&’s been-there done-that experience makes this a real standout.&” —Hank Phillippi USA Today-bestselling author of The House Guest &“Psychological thriller writing at its finest.&” —D.P. Lyle, award-wining author of the Jake Longly series &“An inherently absorbing read from beginning to end and marks author Ellen Kirschman as a novelist of exceptional storytelling talent.&” —Midwest Book Review &“Gutsy and emotionally anchored in real life.&” —Hallie Ephron, New York Times–bestselling author of Careful What You Wish For &“Ellen Kirschman is one to watch.&” —Bookreporter.comBy Barbara Ross. 2024
A short boat ride from Busman&’s Harbor, Maine, Morrow Island is a perfect spot for a wedding—and a Snowden Family…
Clambake. Julia Snowden is busy organizing both—until a mysterious wedding crasher drops dead amid the festivities . . . Julia&’s best friend and business partner, Zoey, is about to marry her policeman boyfriend. Of course, a gorgeous white wedding dress shouldn&’t be within fifty yards of a plate of buttery lobster—so that treat is reserved for the rehearsal dinner. Julia is a little worried about the timing, though, as she works around a predicted storm. When a guest falls to the floor dead, it turns out that no one seems to know who he is, despite the fact that he&’s been actively mingling and handing out business cards. And when an injection mark is spotted on his neck, it&’s clear this wasn&’t caused by a shellfish allergy. Now, as the weather deteriorates and a small group is stranded on the island with the body—and the killer—Julia starts interrogating staff, family members, and Zoey&’s artist friends to find out who turned the clambake into a crime scene . . .By Sarah Graves. 2024
Summer guests are eager to sink their teeth into tantalizing desserts at The Chocolate Moose, Jacobia &“Jake&” Tiptree and Ellie…
White&’s bakeshop in the island village of Eastport, Maine. But attracting the wrong kind of attention can be deadly . . . With the August heat strong enough to melt solid chocolate into syrup, Jake and Ellie crave a break from the bakery ovens, despite tourist season promising a sweet payday. But they never envisioned spending the last weeks of summer drifting around Passamaquoddy Bay searching for pirate&’s treasure—and a dead body. Sally Coates believes her husband was murdered off the coast, and begs Ellie, a trusted childhood friend, to locate his remains. It&’s unusual that a skilled fisherman would vanish along with the gold doubloon he inherited from his grandfather. And Sally isn&’t the only one coveting the valuable heirloom for her own. As Jake and Ellie&’s island-hop for answers, they find themselves caught between hungry sharks and hungrier suspects. Can the duo tempt fate and dodge danger before there&’s blood in the water—or are they destined to fall into the jaws of a killer&’s trap?By Leslie Meier. 2024
During a heatwave in Tinker&’s Cove, Maine, part-time reporter Lucy Stone becomes unseasonably entangled in handmade quilts—and a twisted case…
of murder . . . When a community center opens in town, many embrace it as a space where locals of all ages can gather and create. Others view it as a waste of taxpayer dollars. The director, Darleen Busby-Platt, is no less controversial. Intense and showy, Darleen has huge plans for her new role. But Lucy believes the woman isn&’t exactly as warm hearted—or qualified—as she seems. That hunch deepens when Darleen and a young employee vanish . . . and dismembered remains appear! With lots of clues and few concrete answers, Lucy rushes to connect loose ends. First there&’s the disappearance of Tim Stillings, a troubled twenty-something who endured harsh treatment on the job. Next there&’s Darleen herself, who made fast enemies as the highest-paid resident in Tinker&’s Cove. Finally, there&’s Darleen&’s rich ancestry and ties to heirlooms worth either a fortune or nothing at all. The closer Lucy gets to the facts, the more she realizes that solving this murder depends on the lies. Because the truth rests somewhere between wild rumors, a trusted friend&’s emotional new sewing project, and the authenticity of a mysterious three-hundred-year-old patchwork quilt. And Lucy must piece together the big picture—before she becomes part of crafty killer&’s deadly design . . .By Lindsay Maracotta. 1996
A “Dead is the New Fabulous” Mystery (#2) “Lindsay Maracotta has created in Lucy an exhilarating smart and sassy character.…
Her insider’s take crackles with fresh insight and laugh-out-loud one-liners.” —Janet Evanovich, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author “Killingly amusing. Lindsay Maracotta wields the sharpest tongue since Nora Ephron banged out Heartburn. The book’s social observations are right on the money.” —The Chicago Tribune Lucy Frampton just wants to make animated movies and to raise as functional a family as possible in the midst of Hollywood’s special brand of madness. Unfortunately, when her producer-husband Kit scores his first blockbuster movie, he is stricken with dreaded "Mogus Virus"—(a common ailment!), which compels seemingly down-to-earth people to hire personal chefs and trainers and share enough air-kisses to inflate the Hindenburg. And adding to the crazy is the suspicious on-location death of his director, the much-despised whiz-kid Jeremy Lord. What’s a rational wife to do? Suddenly Lucy's only hope of maintaining some semblance of domestic bliss is to dive alone into the Pacific Palisades shark pool of actors, agents, industry honchos, lavish spenders, spoiled brats, ex-wives and voluptuous nannies, and surface with the killer. Her only weapon in this ocean of sex, lies, and camera phones is her irreverence and smarts —and they may not be formidable enough to protect Lucy from the dangerous predator who's circling....By Leslie Meier. 2023
A surprise wedding in France sets the table in the latest book in the ever-popular Lucy Stone mystery series set…
in Tinker&’s Cove, Maine. When Lucy Stone arrives at a sprawling French chateau with the whole family, it should be the trip of a lifetime—especially because she&’s about to watch her oldest daughter, Elizabeth, marry the handsome, successful man of her dreams. But while navigating the vast countryside estate owned by her impenetrably wealthy in-laws-to-be, the jet-lagged mother of the bride has a creeping feeling that Elizabeth&’s fairytale nuptials to Jean-Luc Schoen-Rene are destined to become a nightmare . . . Maternal instincts are validated the moment a body is pulled from a centuries-old moat on the property. A young woman has dropped dead under mysterious circumstances—possibly at the hands of someone at the chateau—and unflattering rumors about the Schoen-Rene line and their inner circle flow like champagne. Then there&’s the matter of Elizabeth&’s hunky ex beau showing up on the scene as she prepares to walk down the aisle . . . With tensions building, personalities clashing, and real dangers emerging at the chateau, Lucy is determined to protect her family, together for the first time in years, and expose the one responsible. She&’ll have to locate the culprit among a list of worldly jilted lovers and potential criminal masterminds, or Elizabeth&’s trip down the aisle could end in tragedy . . .A heart-warming Cockney saga from multi-million copy seller Mary Jane Staples. Perfect for fans of Maggie Ford, Kitty Neale and…
Katie Flynn. You won't be able to put it down! READERS ARE LOVING SERGEANT JOE!"Another fun read with some surprising twists and turns" - 5 STARS"A lovely story, and so funny I couldn't help but burst out laughing at times" - 5 STARS"Excellent read" - 5 STARS"A brilliant book...Mary Jane Staples brings her characters to life! Excellent!" - 5 STARS"Awesome - a lovely fun read" - 5 STARS***********************************************************************SHE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP HER FAMILY SAFE FROM HARM...Everyone likes Sergeant Joe. From the family with whom he has lodgings to the bookseller who employs him in a little lucrative and harmless forgery. He is a universal favourite.When he bumps into Dolly Smith - quite literally - he meets a girl who makes quite an impression on him. Dolly is quick, lively, and full of cockney cheek. She is also a little frightened - running from a vicious-looking thug and a sinister foreigner who seem to think she has stolen something valuable. When Joe takes Dolly under his wing he thinks he is just helping her in a momentary predicament. Little does he know his life is going to change forever... For Dolly, bewitching and beguiling - is involved in something quite dangerous...A delightfully touching and uplifting saga from the Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Sallis, perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy,…
Fiona Valpy and Rosamunde Pilcher.READERS ARE LOVING SEARCHING FOR TILLY!"I loved this story. Her style is flowing and she really knows how to make her characters come alive." - 5 STARS"This is one of the best books I have read, certainly another amazing one by Susan Sallis. It cleverly spans generations while pulling the generations together into one story. Mystery, with a touch of supernatural intrigue. Very clever, would read again. " - 5 STARS"Brilliant as usual" - 5 STARS*****************************************CAN REVELATIONS FROM THE PAST HELP THEM START A NEW LIFE?Three women came to the remote Cornish cottage that summer: Jenna, only twenty-six and grieving for the loss of the love of her life; her mother Caro, whose husband Steve had also died; and Laura, who had been married to Caro's beloved brother Geoff. The Widow's Cottage, the house where they were staying was called, and it was poignantly suitable.In that tiny Cornish community they discover strange memories of their ancestors, and especially of Tilly, Caro's mother, whose family history seemed to mirror so much of their own.They become swept up in the dramatic story of Tilly and her family, a story which takes them on an epic journey across the West Country and to the solution of an amazing family mystery.By Leslie Meier. 2008
New York Times-bestselling author: &“Charming…Warm and homespun characters, plenty of seaside ambience and a fast-moving plot.&”—Publishers Weekly Not many…
people in Tinker&’s Cove, Maine, knew Old Dan Malone. The grizzled barkeep&’s social circle was limited to the rough-hewn lobstermen and other assorted toughs that frequented his bar. But when his body is found bobbing in the town&’s icy harbor, Lucy Stone makes getting to know more about Old Dan a priority. A local musician insists Old Dan conned a winning lottery ticket worth five grand from him. A handyman claims that Old Dan stiffed him for repair work he&’d done at the bar. The confusion surrounding the death is only compounded by the arrival of Dylan Malone, Old Dan&’s brother and a prominent, if fading, star of the Dublin stage. Dylan has come to direct the production of Finian&’s Rainbow, the featured event at Our Lady of Hope&’s St. Patrick&’s Day extravaganza. Was Old Dan killed by someone he&’d cheated or someone he&’d loved? Lucy can&’t be sure, but one thing is abundantly clear: The stage is set for a murder mystery with a killer ending… &“Leslie Meier writes with sparkle and warmth.&”—Chicago Sun TimesA family finds peace through the unexpected struggle to aid a stranger in this captivating and moving saga. From the…
million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jefferies.'An uplifting and inspiring book, emotional yet optimistic, which leaves the reader feeling optimistic and empowered' - THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE'I was surprised by this book. I'm not a romantic... but this did leave a little warm glow in my heart by the end.' - ***** Reader Review'A very enjoyable read, I loved the ending' - ***** Reader Review*********************************************************************************HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO HELP A STRANGER?Florence Fontaine has not recovered from a family tragedy when she discovers astrangely dressed young man asleep in her guest cottage at the Old Rectory.Against her better judgement she offers him breakfast, only to find herself caught up in his drama. Florence's young and beautiful daughter, Amadea, is immediately suspicious of Edmund, as he appears to be called, fearing that he might be a fraud.Despite her reservations, Florence enlists friends and neighbours to help restore Edmund's memory. As the mystery unfolds, it becomes apparent that Edmund's history is entwined with that of nearby Harlington Hall, but that his real identity is something quite other.Florence and Amadea become united in their quest and are finally able to put the tragedies of the past behind them, repair their once disjointed lives, and embrace a new and happy future...Perfect for fans of Donna Douglas and Nancy Revell, a feel-good, uplifting and funny saga set in post war London…
from Sunday Times bestseller Pip Granger. "A colourful, deeply nostalgic evocation of Soho in the Fifties, drawing heavily on the author's own childhood." -- CHOICE"She brings the East End to life" -- BARBARA WINDSOR"Lovely book - enjoyed it immensely. Very funny and very accurate of London in the 1950s." -- ***** Reader review"A brilliant, amusing, unputdownable book." -- ***** Reader review**********************************************THE WAR MAY BE LONG OVER BUT LIFE IN SOHO IS ANYTHING BUT CALM...1956: Lizzy is working in Soho when Peace, the daughter of her employer Bandy Bunion's estranged sister, comes to stay. Peace is a beautiful sixteen-year-old part-Chinese girl who has run away from boarding school and who has no intention of going back. Having lost her own daughter - Rosie's best friend - to leukaemia two years previously, she feels a special bond with Peace. She also feels that life has been rather quiet recently; but things are about to change dramatically... When Peace goes missing a second time, and no one knows where she's gone, it looks as though there's only one thing to do. Lizzy asks TC - her new man and a policeman - to help her find Peace, and the first place they must visit is the dock area in Limehouse...No Peace for the Wicked paints a picture of 1950s Soho so authentic you feel as though you are there...By Lyndon Stacey. 2007
Sophie Bradford is pretty, blonde and an accomplished flirt. When her body is found dumped in a ditch on a…
lonely West Country road, Jamie Mullin is the prime suspect. He was her latest boyfriend and they'd had a very public row just before she disappeared.Jamie protests his innocence but soon spirals into a breakdown fuelled by frustration, self-pity and drink, and it is left to his friend, Matt Shepherd, to fight his corner. Can he find the truth behind what appears to be a motiveless murder?As Matt begins to uncover some dark secrets - secrets that someone will kill to protect - he soon learns that loyalty at all costs carries a lethal price.By Ada Moncrieff. 2022
It's Christmas at London's Theatre Royale and journalist Daphne King is determined to solve an extraordinary mystery...December 1935. Director Chester…
Harrison's production of A Christmas Carol has had a troubled run on its tour of regional theatres. With tensions amongst the cast running high, the company reach their final stop - London's Theatre Royale - a few days before Christmas.Catastrophe, however, strikes on opening night: 'Scrooge' dies on stage, seemingly due to a heart attack. But the show must go on. Until, that is, an old rival of Chester's is murdered in a dressing room. Are those associated with the production being picked off one by one? Journalist Daphne King is determined to reveal the truth...*Order Ada's new novel MURDER AT MAYBRIDGE CASTLE, out now!*______________________________Readers love Ada Moncrieff's Christmas mysteries:'Brilliant...full of twists and turns' 'A modern rival to Agatha Christie''A new festive favourite'Let multi-million copy seller Elvi Rhodes sweep you away with this moving and heart-warming saga set by the sea. Perfect…
for fans of Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy.READERS ARE LOVING MIDSUMMER MEETING!"Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book with its descriptive story and characters involved and I would recommend the reading of this to anyone" - 5 STARS"What a good writer [Elvi Rhodes] is...!" - 5 STARS"Magic" - 5 STARS*******************************************************************AFTER HEARTBREAKING TRAGEDY, CAN SHE FACE THE CHALLENGES OF HER NEW LIFE?Petra is at an all time low when she is unexpectedly left a cottage in the tight-knit village of Mindon by an old friend of her mother's: her parents had been killed in a car accident, her boyfriend had decided to go back to his wife, and as a painter she led a solitary life in her North Yorkshire home town.But she feels immediately at home in the gracious stone house that had been bequeathed to her, and is made welcome by the local residents - in particular, by the members of the Mindon Amateur Dramatic Society (somewhat appropriately known as MADS) presided over by the formidable Ursula. When Ursula decides to put on A Midsummer Night's Dream as the next production, Petra, to her surprise and pleasure, is put in charge of the wardrobe.Rivalries, squabbles, love affairs and seething resentments threaten to scupper the production, but Petra has more pressing things on her mind...A mystery from her past begins to haunt her - and the answer to that mystery might solve the puzzle of why she has been left such a beautiful house by a total stranger.