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 6503 items
By Ava January. 2024
A witty, feminist mystery set in the heart of nineteenth-century London, this daring adventure featuring an intrepid woman detective will…
thrill fans of Deanna Raybourn and Katharine Schellman.London, 1894. Albertine Honeycombe never wanted a husband and certainly not the one with fifteen children that her cousin, Aubrey, is trying to marry her off to. She reinvents herself as Countess Von Dagga, a private detective aiding the upper echelons of women in society. As the Countess, she is a married woman, with a conveniently absent husband who doesn&’t exist, which allows her far more freedom than being single.When Lord Grendel, from whom she has recovered blackmail letters, is murdered, Albertine is suspect number one—having been the last person to see him. And when the Duke of Erleigh comes looking for her utterly fictitious husband, she realizes she has landed herself in hot water, without a tea bag. When Albertine also becomes the prime suspect in her fictional husband&’s death, things are looking grim.Unless Albertine can prove who murdered Lord Grendel and clear her name, her choices are stepmothering enough small children to start a school or hanging from the end of Her Majesty's rope.By April Henry. 2023
Piper Gray starts a true-crime podcast investigating a seventeen-year-old cold case in this thrilling YA murder mystery by New York…
Times bestselling author April Henry. Seventeen years ago, Layla Trello was murdered and her killer was never found. Enter true-crime fan Piper Gray who is determined to reopen Layla&’s case and get some answers. With the help of Jonas—who has a secret of his own—Piper starts a podcast investigating Layla&’s murder. But as she digs deeper into the mysteries of the past, Piper begins receiving anonymous threats telling her to back off the investigation, or else. The killer is still out there, and Piper must uncover their identity before they silence her forever.By William W. Johnstone, J. A. Johnstone. 2024
JOHNSTONE COUNTRY: TRUST IN THE LORD—SOMETIMES HE&’S ALL YOU GOT.From national bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, a…
pioneering journey into the raw beauty and untamed dangers of the unsettled West, where the legendary American spirit is fired in true grit and bold determination . . .THE OREGON TRAIL Wagon Master Clayton Scofield has led countless families across the dusty, wide-open territories of the West, helping the brave, sometimes reckless pioneers settle into new lives brimming with the promise of good lives. Accompanied by his nephew Clint Buchanan riding as scout and cook Spud Williams, Scofield&’s latest trail finds him guiding a train of thirty wagons from Independence, Missouri, to the distant dream of Oregon. It isn&’t long before the pioneers fall prey to the hazards of the countryside—both natural and man-made. The rough currents of the Kansas River tears a family apart. A fur trapper threatens Scofield in a foolhardy attempt to win the affections of an uninterested lady. Kill crazy Lakota Sioux warriors attack wagon train and slaughter without mercy. Scofield can&’t remember the trail ride ever being this treacherous and unforgiving—and he knows there&’s even worse things awaiting them along the far-reaching miles before they reach their destination . . .By Reavis Z. Wortham. 2024
In a land with no law, there&’s only two things a man can count on—a deadly sense of justice and…
an even deadlier ability to outdraw the most dangerous lead-spitting gunslingers. Texas cowboy Cap Whitlatch has never shied away from hard work. Whether driving cattle or busting broncos, he gets the job done right. When he hires on with a ranch, he earns his pay with blood and sweat, keeping him honest. And when a friend is in dire need, Cap will move the tallest mountains to defend and protect them from harm. Gil Vanderburg has known Cap since they were children. Now, he&’s in jail for murder in a small Oklahoma town. To see justice served right, Cap volunteers to escort his friend to South Texas where he will stand trial for robbery. But they&’re not quite traveling alone along the unhealthy trail in Indian territory. Three bloodthirsty Cherokee brothers want revenge on Gill for killing their sibling. A pair of vicious outlaws are after the gold in Cap&’s saddlebags. And the marshal pursuing them all is determined to bring every lawbreaker in—dead or alive. Cap is not about to let any man—no matter which side of the law he falls on—deter him from fulfilling his righteous mission. And he will show no mercy to anyone who tries . . .By William W. Johnstone, J. A. Johnstone. 2024
Meet John Bannack. Jailed for a crime he didn&’t commit. Busted out of a Texas State Prison. Running for freedom…
and gunning for justice. They call him . . .THE MAN FROM WACO. As a young man, John Bannack worked hard on his brother&’s farm—until times got tough and his brother grew desperate. Desperate enough to rob a bank. Unfortunately, John&’s brother left a trail that led straight to the Bannack farm. When a posse showed up to make an arrest, John made a fateful decision: He confessed to his brother&’s crime. Sacrificed his freedom for the sake of his brother&’s family. And doomed himself to a hard, hellish life in a rat-hole state prison . . . A man&’s got two choices in a place like that: Get tough or get killed. For John Bannack it means this will be a one-way trip to Hell. Bannack is on a work detail outside the prison. On the way back, Judge Wick Justice, who sentenced Bannack, tags along with the prison wagon, only to find he has involved himself in a planned prison break. When a gang ambushes the wagon and frees the prisoners, they bullet-blast the guards—and the judge takes a hunk of lead himself. But Bannack finds the judge alive and takes him to safety. In return, the judge releases him from prison and employs him as his bodyguard and avenger. Johnstone Country. A New Texas Legend.A message in a bottle launches a quest for the recovery of shipwrecked crew in this Jules Verne classic—now with…
an arresting new look!When Lord and Lady Glenarvan catch a shark during a sailing trip, they are surprised to find a message in a bottle within its belly, sent by Captain Grant of the shipwrecked Britannia. Unfortunately, the water-damaged note is mostly unreadable, giving any would-be rescuers only a latitude and no longitude to work with. Eager to help the castaways, the couple urges the British government to launch a rescue expedition but are refused. So they take it upon themselves to search for Grant with the help of Mary and Robert—Captain Grant&’s children—and the crew of the Duncan. Thus, the group sets off, determined to find the shipwrecked crew, even if it means sailing across the entire thirty-seventh latitude—and facing whatever dangers lie in their path.By Ben Miller. 2020
From actor, author, and comedian Ben Miller comes an illustrated middle grade fantasy adventure following a brother and sister who…
stumble into a magical new world—perfect for fans of Half Upon a Time and Land of Stories!Lana loves stories, especially the ones she and her brother, Harrison, share in their make-believe games. But when Harrison decides he&’s too grown-up to play with Lana anymore, she&’s too lonely to find the wonder in storytelling…until something magical happens. Lana discovers a portal to a fairy tale world hidden in the strange new supermarket in town! But these aren&’t the happy-ever-after fairy tales that Lana knows—they are darker and more dangerous, and the characters need Lana&’s help to defeat an evil witch. But she can&’t do it alone. Can she convince Harrison to believe in stories again and journey to the world with her before it&’s too late?By Jules Verne. 2024
A stolen hot air balloon lands an unlikely crew on a mysterious island far from everything they know in this…
action-packed Jules Verne classic—now with an arresting new look!Five prisoners of war steal a hot air balloon and escape capture in Virginia during the American Civil War. They fly for several thousand miles before a storm forces them to crash land on an unknown island in the Pacific. There, the marooned men must work together to pool all their knowledge and skill if they wish to survive. But the island has its secrets, and the castaways discover it&’s not as deserted as they thought. A mysterious figure has been watching them. Does it bring salvation or even more danger?By Jonas Jonasson. 2022
Obsessed by what they are certain is the impending apocalypse, a mismatched trio sets off on a globe-trotting road trip…
in the latest feel-good adventure from the internationally bestselling author of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and DisappearedIn the fading days of summer 2011, self-taught astrophysicist Petra has calculated that the atmosphere will collapse in a few weeks’ time—on September 21, at approximately 9:20 p.m.—ending the world as we know it.But the distraught Petra will not have to carry the burden of this terrible news alone for long. Fate intervenes, bringing her into the orbit of a pair of unlikely companions: Johan, a man whose intellectual prowess is remarkably overshadowed by his culinary skills, and Agnes, a seventy-five-year-old widow who has made a fortune posing as a young influencer on social media. Convinced of their impending doom, Petra, Johan and Agnes embark on a wild adventure in a camper van that will take them from their homes in Sweden, through Europe, to their destination: Rome.Johan plans to make the most of the time he has left. He has decided at last to stand up to his heinous big brother, promising to deliver a swift yet brutal blow in more ways than one. But of course, nothing ever goes as planned. Not even the end of the world.In this, his sixth novel, Jonas Jonasson takes us on a dazzling odyssey across the globe—from Sweden, through Europe, across Africa and all the way to the U.S. The Prophet and the Idiot is an immensely funny, socially conscious and life-affirming yarn about what happens when three odd yet fully reasonable characters come together and find cause to make mutual plans, all relayed in Jonasson’s classically hilarious style.Translated from the Swedish by Rachel Wilson-BroylesBy Cameron Chittock, Amanda Castillo. 2024
Alidade and her friends face their ultimate challenge in the final installment of the graphic fantasy trilogy that's perfect for…
fans of Avatar the Last Airbender and 5 Worlds.With our heroes divided, they must find a way to stop the Night Coats and to reunite before it's all too late. With their freedom and the magic of the Memris on the line, each Mapmaker will have to decide — what is the future they want for their world? And what are they willing to pay to make it happen? This epic conclusion comes to an end as Alidade, Lewis, Blue, and their new friends and Mapmakers, finally take on the Night Coats who ruin any chance of hope for their homes and family. With dark magic and plenty of action, will Alidade be able to free everyone of the Night Coats?The Mapmakers series: #1: Mapmakers and the Lost Magic, #2: Mapmakers and the Enchanted Mountain, #3: Mapmakers and the Flickering FortressBy 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 Daryl Wood Gerber. 2024
Carmel-by-the-Sea garden shop owner Courtney Kelly sees things others can&’t—like fairies, and hidden motives for murder . . . Courtney…
is delighted when her tiny friend Fiona returns from the fairy realm, appearing at the base of a Cypress tree. When her Ragdoll cat, Pixie, emerges from her own portal—aka the cat door—the three set off for a busy day. Busier than usual, since Courtney has rented a small plot of land at the Flower Farm, where she hopes to grow her own supplies for her fairy-garden business. Plus, the annual Summer Blooms Festival is coming up, and Courtney has booked a booth . . . But the murder of Courtney&’s friend, Genevieve, casts a pall over the festival. Ever since Genevieve sold her floral business, she&’d been building a career as an influencer. She was perennially opinionated—but in her new role she&’d become surprisingly vicious, dissing local entrepreneurs with nasty posts and unwarranted bad reviews. That&’s landed a couple of Courtney&’s other friends on the suspect list—including Flower Farm owner Daphne Flores. And when a second victim is discovered, seeds of doubt about Daphne&’s innocence sprout in Courtney&’s mind. With only a germ of a clue, Courtney will have to overturn every rock to get the dirt on the real killer . . .By Scott Reintgen. 2024
In this sequel to the New York Times bestselling, &“pulse-pounding&” (Publishers Weekly) A Door in the Dark, Ren&’s intellect and…
cunning are stretched to the limit in her quest to take down the system that stole her father&’s life.Ren Monroe is a wolf among lions. After infiltrating one of the greatest Houses in Kathor through her successful bond with Theo Brood, she finds Theo&’s father is two steps ahead. He exiles Theo and isolates Ren, strategically working to break her unwelcome grasp on his son—and foiling Ren&’s first step to enacting the revenge she&’s been planning her whole life. Ren might have more resources than she&’d ever imagined growing up, but she&’ll still get nowhere without allies. Enter House Tin&’Vori. Years ago, House Brood led an unprecedented raid to destroy a fellow House of Kathor. But a few siblings survived, and they haven&’t forgotten the horrors waged against their family. Quietly, they&’ve plotted their own revenge, waiting for the right moment to strike. And Ren Monroe might be their best chance. Like fire, the Tin&’Vori siblings are as dangerous as they are useful, both gifted in rare magics. Ren must decide how to unleash them against House Brood without hurting Theo in the process. Her feelings for Theo are growing past the boundaries of their bond, and Ren finds herself balanced on a knife&’s edge, a breath away from immense power or utter ruin.By Dee Kelly Jr.. 2024
"Reminiscent of Dan Brown's work but with a tone and momentum all its own, Kelly's yarn will delight thriller fans…
looking for an exciting read." -Kirkus Reviews "Rich in culture, themes of belief, and the grand implications of its relic, The Malachi Covenant exemplifies its genre, blending brisk plotting, action-packed sequences, and jolting betrayals with thoughtful spiritual inquiry, keeping the suspense potent up to a satisfying conclusion." -BookLife "Dee Kelly, Jr. is a master wordsmith. The Malachi Covenant is a propulsive thriller that takes the reader on an electrifying adventure. The characters are fully drawn and his research is on broad display. This story will draw you in and not let you go until the heart pounding ending. Even then, the story will stay with you." -Glenn Dyer, Author of Trust No One The relics of St. Nicholas are among the most divine and prized possessions in the Christian world, said to hold the power to heal the most incurable diseases and protect those who come in contact with them. Biblical archeologist Maggie Shepherd has the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to extract and study one of these priceless artifacts buried in the tomb of the man who is now known as Santa Claus. In just a few weeks, on Christmas Eve, the Pope will present the venerated relic of St. Nicholas to the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Moscow in the hope of reuniting East and West after a 1,000-year schism. Driven by rumors of the relic&’s legendary power, many people want to control it, including a Russian mob boss who coerces Malachi Popov into stealing it for him before the ceremony. A devout man, Popov wants nothing to do with the evil scheme but his desperate need for money to support his ailing mother leaves him no choice. Once in possession of the miraculous relic, Popov witnesses its awesome power and regrets his action, but before he can set things right, it vanishes. Not knowing who to trust, both Popov and Maggie set off on a globe-spanning chase to recover the treasured artifact before the world learns it&’s missing, and all hope of reuniting the Church is lost. What they don&’t know is there are others on their trail who will stop at nothing to keep them from their prize, including murder.Journey to a prehistoric world at the center of the Earth in this science fiction classic by Jules Verne—now with…
an arresting new look!When Axel&’s uncle, Professor Liedenbrock, finds a coded journal describing a path into the center of the Earth, Axel hopes he&’ll never be able to decipher it—because once the professor sets his mind to something, he&’ll insist on carrying it out no matter the danger or difficulty. But when Axel himself ends up cracking the journal&’s code, curiosity gets the better of him, and before he knows it, he and his uncle head to Iceland to find this secret route to unexplored territory. After being joined by a local guide, Hans, the group descends into a volcano, where Axel is convinced they&’ll find nothing noteworthy and face nearly certain death. Instead, what awaits is more incredible than any of the travelers could have anticipated.By Kim Sherwood. 2024
An elite team of MI6 agents must go undercover to unravel a smuggling network funding violent terror in the second…
thrilling adventure in the acclaimed Double O series by Kim Sherwood.James Bond is alive.Or at least, he was when he left a clue at the black site where the insidious private military company Rattenfänger held him captive. MI6 cannot spare any more lives attempting to track down one missing agent—no exceptions, even for Bond. But Johanna Harwood, 003, has her own agenda. Sidelined by her superiors while she grieves the loss of a loved one, Harwood goes on an unsanctioned mission: to find 007. Meanwhile, MI6 has another problem…A bomb has detonated in London.Double O agents on the trail of the terrorists responsible acted quickly to prevent mass destruction and save lives. But MI6 failed to neutralize the nation’s enemies before they could strike, and one of their own was seriously injured in the blast.They won’t fail again.Assigned to root out the source of the terrorists’ funding, Joseph Dryden, 004, and Conrad Harthrop-Vane, 000, enter the field. Tracing clues from Sotheby’s auction house to Crete to Venice, they uncover a money laundering scheme involving diamonds, black market antiquities, and human trafficking. Once a major sale is made, a six-day countdown to the next terror attack begins. As the Double O’s follow the twisting trail, they find themselves unexpectedly inching closer to Bond…By Victoria Thompson. 2024
Midwife Sarah Malloy and her private detective husband Frank discover that the cure is worse than the disease when they…
investigate the death of a promising young woman in this atmospheric, riveting mystery from the USA TODAY bestselling author of Murder on Bedford Street. Sarah Malloy has just helped with the delivery of a bouncing baby girl at her women&’s clinic, when she receives a visit from an engaging and determined young woman writing an article for New Century Magazine. Louisa Rodgers explains that she is researching the dangers of patent remedies. Sarah is only too happy to tell Louisa exactly what she thinks of the so-called medicines whose ingredients include heavy doses of alcohol and other addictive drugs, and hurt much more than they help. A few days later, Sarah receives a visit from a bereft Bernard Rodgers, who explains that his daughter, Louisa, has been found strangled in the lobby of the building where New Century has its offices. The police have decided it was a random attack and have made no attempt to investigate, hinting that Louisa got what she deserved for sticking her nose where it didn&’t belong. Sarah wants justice for the bright young woman but as she and Frank delve deeper into Louisa&’s life, they find that nothing is quite as it seemed and Louisa is not who she claimed to be. The Malloys must first solve the mystery of Louisa&’s life before they can figure out who wanted to see her dead…By Stacey Lee. 2024
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl comes a YA murder mystery noir set in 1930s…
Los Angeles&’s Chinatown.&“A captivating and crackling noir full of suspenseful twists. Readers will fall in love with the Chow sisters and their quest for the truth.&” —Kathleen Glasgow, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and The AgathasLOS ANGELES, 1932: Lulu Wong, star of the silver screen and the pride of Chinatown, has a face known to practically everyone, especially the Chow sisters—May, Gemma, and Peony—Lulu&’s former classmates and neighbors. So the girls instantly know it&’s Lulu when they discover a body one morning in an out-of-the-way stable, far from the Beverly Hills home where she lived after her fame skyrocketed.The sisters suspect Lulu&’s death is the result of foul play, but the police don&’t seem motivated to investigate. Even worse, there are signs that point to a cover-up, and powerful forces in the city want to frame the killing as evidence that Chinatown is a den of iniquity and crime, even more reason it should be demolished to make room for the construction of a new railway depot, Union Station.Worried that neither the police nor the papers will treat Lulu fairly—no matter her fame and wealth—the sisters set out to solve their friend&’s murder themselves, and maybe save their neighborhood in the bargain. But with Lulu&’s killer still on the loose, the girls&’ investigation just might put them square in the crosshairs of a cold-blooded murderer.By Marcia Muller. 2024
In this twisting mystery in a New York Times bestselling series, pranks escalate into a deadly scheme that Private Investigator…
Sharon McCone must unravel—before they claim her life. San Francisco is home to more than 200 privately owned streets. Most are alleyways, but a select few look torn straight from the pages of a magazine. Lined with mansions and elaborate gardens, the properties are luxurious and perfectly maintained; security guards patrol the grounds to keep the curious at bay. Few know of these exclusive enclaves, but those who do prowl for availability, ready to make a grab for the precious real estate if opportunity strikes. When several such streets are targeted in a series of so-called pranks, Sharon is hired by a coalition of concerned owners to investigate. But as things escalate—an attempt on Sharon&’s life, an explosion at a meth lab, and a shocking murder—Sharon realizes far more is at play than a few misdemeanors gone wrong. The case takes a sudden turn when one of McCone & Ripinsky&’s most trusted employees is implicated, and Sharon will have to dig deep to save her agency—and her life.By Taylor Caldwell. 1963
From the New York Times–bestselling author, a tale of family tensions and foul play at a snowed-in Connecticut country house . . .…
Laura and Henry Frazier, David Gates, and Alice Bullowe are in Connecticut for Christmas. The family is staying in a country home Laura inherited from her aunt, Clara, and Alice, also a niece of the late Clara Beame, is more than a little disappointed by the terms of the will. As an edge of hostility threatens to spoil the party, the drama only grows as manipulative games are played, a blizzard roars outside, a surprise guest arrives—and the holiday turns more scary than merry . . . &“One of the few mysteries where no one at all seems to be off limits as the murderer.&” —Dead YesterdayPraise for Taylor Caldwell &“Her sense of timing and her ability to keep even the most alert reader guessing is something readers don&’t find very often.&” —Hartford Courant &“This bestselling author can tell an engrossing story.&” —Publishers Weekly