Inspector Jimmy Perez takes his fiancé home to Fair Isle, the tiny island he comes from, to meet his parents. The island is a magnet for bird watchers, who congregate at the local inn and lighthouse. When a local married celebrity, who had an eye for the lads, is murdered, Perez discovers...  more

Inspector Jimmy Perez takes his fiancé home to Fair Isle, the tiny island he comes from, to meet his parents. The island is a magnet for bird watchers, who congregate at the local inn and lighthouse. When a local married celebrity, who had an eye for the lads, is murdered, Perez discovers that the suspects are very close to him indeed. With a sensational ending destined to create much buzz in the mystery world, Blue Lightning will thrill suspense fans everywhere.

Piecing together the evidence . . . Genealogist Sophreena McClure is an expert at unearthing other people’s secrets. Using old documents and photographs, Soph and her business partner, Esme Sabatier -- also a gifted medium -- trace family histories and create heritage scrapbooks. Their...  more

Piecing together the evidence . . . Genealogist Sophreena McClure is an expert at unearthing other people’s secrets. Using old documents and photographs, Soph and her business partner, Esme Sabatier -- also a gifted medium -- trace family histories and create heritage scrapbooks. Their latest client, Dorothy Pritchett Porter, is thrilled with their research into Morningside’s most prestigious clan. But before Dorothy can proudly display her new scrapbooks on Founders’ Day, she’s found murdered. It seems the ties that bind can also strangle, for Dorothy has been killed using the Pritchett family pearls. Pegged as prime suspects, Sophreena and Esme turn their investigative skills from the dearly departed to the alive and dangerous, hoping to pin down the real killer among Dorothy’s kinfolk. Sophreena’s scrapbooking club members, crafty in more ways than one, pitch in to help. As the Pritchett ancestral roots turn out to be more tangled than anyone suspected, Sophreena wonders just how many skeletons lurk in this family closet -- and whether she and Esme are destined to join them. . . .

Keller is your basic urban Lonely Guy.He makes a decent wage, lives in a nice apartment. Works the crossword puzzle. Watches a little TV. Until the phone rings and he packs a suitcase, gets on a plane, flies halfway across the country...and kills somebody. It's a living. But is it a...  more

Keller is your basic urban Lonely Guy.He makes a decent wage, lives in a nice apartment. Works the crossword puzzle. Watches a little TV. Until the phone rings and he packs a suitcase, gets on a plane, flies halfway across the country...and kills somebody. It's a living. But is it a life? Keller's not sure. He goes to a shrink, but it doesn't work out the way he planned. He gets a dog, he gets a girlfriend. He gets along.

Can a vet detective catch a killer who's hopping mad? Veterinarian and amateur sleuth Jessica Popper races down the rabbit hole and into a vintage case of passion and betrayal in Long Island's elite wine country in... HARE TODAY, DEAD TOMORROW It's harvest time, but...  more

Can a vet detective catch a killer who's hopping mad? Veterinarian and amateur sleuth Jessica Popper races down the rabbit hole and into a vintage case of passion and betrayal in Long Island's elite wine country in... HARE TODAY, DEAD TOMORROW It's harvest time, but this season's crop includes chardonnay, merlot… and murder. The victim is heir to one of the North Fork's most prestigious wineries -- and if the crime isn't shocking enough, the prime suspect is one of Jessie's closest friends! Between managing her menagerie of pets, including Lou, the one-eyed Dalmatian, her tailless Westie, Max, and a tiger kitten who thinks she's queen of the jungle, commitment-phobic Jess struggles to adjust to a new addition to her household: live-in boyfriend Nick Burby. But even that proves easy compared to the challenge of catching a killer who's left nothing behind but a "hare" -- a stuffed bunny rabbit. To clear her friend's name, Jess must maneuver through a warren of bizarre twists and more suspects than a bunny has offspring -- and she'll need her own lucky rabbit's foot to avoid becoming this killer's next victim…

Erin Gilbert is paid to bring spaces to new life?not to uncover murder. But from the beginning of her job in a Victorian manor, things are totally out of control. It starts with the sighting of a ghost and leads to the discovery of a decades-old secret, a hidden dead space in the attic, and the...  more

Erin Gilbert is paid to bring spaces to new life?not to uncover murder. But from the beginning of her job in a Victorian manor, things are totally out of control. It starts with the sighting of a ghost and leads to the discovery of a decades-old secret, a hidden dead space in the attic, and the shocking death of a beautiful young woman. Teamed with her insufferably self-confident competitor, Steve Sullivan, Erin finds herself up against the neighbors, a troubled teen, a woman communing with the dead, and one very unnerved client. The more Erin works on the house, the more manners of death she seems to find until, like peeling off layers of wallpaper, she suddenly sees it revealed all too clearly: the perfect blueprint for murder?.

There's no love lost between Marla and Carolyn Sutton since Marla left Carolyn's Hairstyle Heaven to open her own place.  Still, it’s a nasty shock when Marla enters the meter room behind the shopping center that houses both salons and stumbles over her rival's murdered...  more

There's no love lost between Marla and Carolyn Sutton since Marla left Carolyn's Hairstyle Heaven to open her own place.  Still, it’s a nasty shock when Marla enters the meter room behind the shopping center that houses both salons and stumbles over her rival's murdered body. Curiosity would have been enough to send Marla snooping, but then Detective Dalton Vail actually asks for her help.  Marla's quest becomes even more personal when Wilda Cleaver, Carolyn's psychic and new owner of her salon, insists that Carolyn's spirit is begging Marla to solve her murder.  Marla's got her work cut out for her -- poor Carolyn was far from popular.  There's her snubbed sister, who only inherited an unspecified, valuable "collection," the chiropractor whose shady dealings Carolyn had uncovered, and the immigration lawyer who had suspicious ties to Hairstyle Heaven.  With no shortage of suspects and few more surprising twists, Marla's well -coiffed head is soon spinning.  It will take all her skill to untangle this snarl of clues before the murderer strikes again...  

When savvy hairstylist Marla Shore volunteers for a fund-raiser, she has to comb through a knot of suspects to determine who's sabotaging the gala event. Participating chefs are dropping off the roster like hot rollers, and it's only through a series of hair-raising exploits that the...  more

When savvy hairstylist Marla Shore volunteers for a fund-raiser, she has to comb through a knot of suspects to determine who's sabotaging the gala event. Participating chefs are dropping off the roster like hot rollers, and it's only through a series of hair-raising exploits that the brazen beautician can tease the truth from them. Too late to stop a murder, Marla must salvage the grand affair before she's moussed into oblivion.

Carlotta Wren desperately needs a vacation from her life. So when hunky Cooper Craft invites her to ride with him to Florida for some fun in the sun and a VIP body pickup, it seems like the opportunity she's been waiting for. Until her brother Wesley, eluding an irate loan shark, tags along...  more

Carlotta Wren desperately needs a vacation from her life. So when hunky Cooper Craft invites her to ride with him to Florida for some fun in the sun and a VIP body pickup, it seems like the opportunity she's been waiting for. Until her brother Wesley, eluding an irate loan shark, tags along to play chaperone. Until they arrive to pick up their VIP body and are greeted by three different men--each one laying claim to the celebutante they've been hired to move. And until Carlotta realizes that someone is very determined that they don't make it back to Atlanta with their famous cargo intact!

Computer expert Cat Velis is heading for a job to Algeria. Before she goes, a mysterious fortune teller warns her of danger, and an antique dealer asks her to search for pieces to a valuable chess set that has been missing for years ... In the South of France in 1790 two convent girls hide...  more

Computer expert Cat Velis is heading for a job to Algeria. Before she goes, a mysterious fortune teller warns her of danger, and an antique dealer asks her to search for pieces to a valuable chess set that has been missing for years ... In the South of France in 1790 two convent girls hide valuable pieces of a chess set all over the world, because the game that can be played with them is too powerful ...

And this new adventure is Wendelin Van Draanen's most complex and compelling yet! It's Christmastime in Sammy's hometown of Santa Martina, but some people are being very, very naughty. Pranksters dressed as wise men sabotage the Christmas Parade. In the ensuing chaos, some thugs...  more

And this new adventure is Wendelin Van Draanen's most complex and compelling yet! It's Christmastime in Sammy's hometown of Santa Martina, but some people are being very, very naughty. Pranksters dressed as wise men sabotage the Christmas Parade. In the ensuing chaos, some thugs dognap a prize Pomeranian. Then the Pom's owner blackmails Sammy into finding the dog so she won't have to pay the ransom. Sammy doesn't have to check her list twice to know that these people belong in the naughty column! But in the course of her search for the doggone dog, Sammy also comes across some characters who are harder to figure: a runaway elf, an embittered old biddy, a puffed-up policeman, and a sneaky Secret Santa. Still, someone's got that dog and whoever it is had better watch out -- 'cause Sammy Keyes is nosing around...and she's willing to be pretty naughty herself to make sure the bad guys pay.

Imagine life with unlimited possibility, where fear, misconceptions, and insecurities don't have the power to rob you of your potential or your dreams. Many women have trouble seeing this vision because they are bound by lies that keep them from living free. In Set Free to Live Free, Saundra...  more

Imagine life with unlimited possibility, where fear, misconceptions, and insecurities don't have the power to rob you of your potential or your dreams. Many women have trouble seeing this vision because they are bound by lies that keep them from living free. In Set Free to Live Free, Saundra Dalton-Smith shows you how to break free from seven mental ties that hold you back and steal your joy, like striving for perfection, comparing yourself to others, and having an all-or-nothing attitude. Through compelling stories and inspirational writing, she encourages you to embrace spontaneity, be transparent, nurture your body, and cultivate a balanced life. "The author writes with the belief that God has a plan for each member of his creation and thus is ready to guide and assist through prayer and Bible study. VERDICT: The eight-week study guide makes this book a perfect choice for Christian women's groups." - Library Journal

Vicki Hearne's dramatic report from the front lines of the "pit bull wars" is a penetrating inquiry into the appropriate relations between animals and the human world, a song of praise for the "dance of friendship" between animals and people, and a hell of a dog...  more

Vicki Hearne's dramatic report from the front lines of the "pit bull wars" is a penetrating inquiry into the appropriate relations between animals and the human world, a song of praise for the "dance of friendship" between animals and people, and a hell of a dog story.  

Modern-day Christians often bring their own presuppositions and assumptions to the reading of the Bible, not realizing how deeply their understanding of Christ's life and teachings is affected by a 21st-century worldview. In UNDERSTANDING JESUS, author Joe Amaral delves deep into Jewish history,...  more

Modern-day Christians often bring their own presuppositions and assumptions to the reading of the Bible, not realizing how deeply their understanding of Christ's life and teachings is affected by a 21st-century worldview. In UNDERSTANDING JESUS, author Joe Amaral delves deep into Jewish history, societal mores, and cultural traditions, closing the gap created by geographical distance and over two thousand years of history. Using a chronological approach to the life of Christ, he guides the reader through significant events such as Jesus' birth, baptism, and crucifixion, pointing out illuminating details that that the Western mind would normally miss. Amaral's premise is that to understand Jesus, we must understand the time and place in which he was born, the background from which he drew his illustrations, and the audience he spoke to. Throughout the book he explores specific terms, places, and events for their significance and shows how they add richness and meaning to the text. Topics include the connection between Jesus and John the Baptist, the annual Feasts and why they are important to modern Christianity, Jewish customs such as foot-washing, clean and unclean foods, paying tribute to political governments, and the significance of various miracles. In UNDERSTANDING JESUS, Amaral draws back the curtain on a way of life that existed during the reign of the Caesars, and in doing so, reveals truths about the way we live more than two thousand years later, half a world away.

While nursing a broken heart, Josh Michaels is outraged when a neighbor abandons his very pregnant dog, Lucy, at Josh’s Colorado home. But Josh can’t resist Lucy’s soulful brown eyes, and though he’s never had a dog before, he’s determined to do the best he can for...  more

While nursing a broken heart, Josh Michaels is outraged when a neighbor abandons his very pregnant dog, Lucy, at Josh’s Colorado home. But Josh can’t resist Lucy’s soulful brown eyes, and though he’s never had a dog before, he’s determined to do the best he can for Lucy -- and her soon-to-arrive, bound-to-be-adorable puppies. Soon in over his head, Josh calls the local animal shelter for help, and meets Kerri, a beautiful woman with a quick wit and a fierce love for animals. As Kerri teaches Josh how to care for Lucy’s tiny puppies and gets them ready to be adopted through the shelter’s “Dogs of Christmas” program, Josh surprises himself by falling for her. But he’s fallen even harder for his new furry family, which has brought incredible joy into Josh’s life. He barely has time to sit down, between chasing after adventurous Sophie and brave Oliver, but when he does, his lap is quickly filled by the affectionate Lola. And Rufus and Cody’s strong bond makes Josh wonder about his own relationships with his family. With Christmas and the adoption date looming, Josh finds himself wondering if he can separate himself from his beloved puppies. At odds with Kerri, Josh isn’t willing to lose her, but doesn’t know how to set things right. Can a surprise litter of Christmas puppies really change one man’s life?  

The Christian market is flooded with diet and exercise programs, each claiming to be "God's way" to healthy living. While some of them are based on biblical principles, and some have even proven effective for weight loss, there is not one program leading the pack daring to answer the question...  more

The Christian market is flooded with diet and exercise programs, each claiming to be "God's way" to healthy living. While some of them are based on biblical principles, and some have even proven effective for weight loss, there is not one program leading the pack daring to answer the question What Would Jesus Do? Or better yet, What Would Jesus Eat?This comprehensive eating plan examines Scripture and reveals what we know Jesus ate and what we can confidently infer He ate. Using current medical research, What Would Jesus Eat? demonstrates why the diet Jesus followed is ideal for twenty-first century living as well. Readers will: Understand why foods forbidden in the Old Testament dietary laws are unhealthy for us. Learn how to follow Jesus' eating model with foods that are available today Realize the health benefits of the food Jesus ate and the health risks of the food He avoided.The second half of the book equips the reader with tools to effectively follow the plan -- recipes, nutritional information, and practical advice.For those desiring to safely lose weight and for those seeking a healthier, Bible-based eating program, the only question to ask is, What Would Jesus Eat?

Diets just don't work. Judy Halliday and Dr. Arthur have years worth of research to prove it and most Americans have personal testimonies that echo that same sad truth. But Halliday's extensive experience and study also prove that you can reach and maintain your ideal weight by simply...  more

Diets just don't work. Judy Halliday and Dr. Arthur have years worth of research to prove it and most Americans have personal testimonies that echo that same sad truth. But Halliday's extensive experience and study also prove that you can reach and maintain your ideal weight by simply listening to your body. If you have suffered from being overweight or have struggled with an eating disorder, Thin Within is the truth you have been searching for and it will set you free. The original hunger-fullness plan, time-tested for over 25 years Learn to eat like a naturally thin person Leave diets behind forever Eat your favorite foods and still lose weight Identify and resolve issues that cause you to overeat Feel good about yourself as you melt down to your natural size

Scotia MacKinnon's new client just can't believe that his sister's death was a freak accident. But the authorities, with no body and no clues, have decided that Tina Breckenridge, a local sailing instructor, must have drowned near her abandoned boat. Enjoyable mystery with touches of...  more

Scotia MacKinnon's new client just can't believe that his sister's death was a freak accident. But the authorities, with no body and no clues, have decided that Tina Breckenridge, a local sailing instructor, must have drowned near her abandoned boat. Enjoyable mystery with touches of Scotia's relationship and motherhood woes.

Every day, Petfinder.com finds thousands of loving families for homeless dogs. Second Chances tells the story of these placements and the courage--both human and canine--behind them. These fifty tail-wagging tales include: The Puppy Mill Dog, in which two women rescue an abused Shih tzu from a...  more

Every day, Petfinder.com finds thousands of loving families for homeless dogs. Second Chances tells the story of these placements and the courage--both human and canine--behind them. These fifty tail-wagging tales include: The Puppy Mill Dog, in which two women rescue an abused Shih tzu from a life of neglect in an overcrowded "puppy mill." Just What the Doctor Ordered, a tale of an older dog doomed to spend the rest of her life in a shelter until she was adopted by a woman who needed Sandy as much as Sandy needed her. Mister Lucky, a touching story of a terrier who was found in the rubble of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath--and returned to his family, thanks to devoted rescue workers and Petfinder.com. Dog lovers everywhere love Petfinder.com--and this amazing collection of heartwarming adoption stories will show you why.

Avery Baker never thought she’d leave Manhattan, until she inherited her aunt’s old Maine cottage and found her true calling -- home renovation. But when Avery goes to work restoring a condominium, she discovers it’s another condo owner who’s been condemned... Avery...  more

Avery Baker never thought she’d leave Manhattan, until she inherited her aunt’s old Maine cottage and found her true calling -- home renovation. But when Avery goes to work restoring a condominium, she discovers it’s another condo owner who’s been condemned... Avery and her partner, Derek, are fixing up a cute little condo in homey Waterfield, Maine, hoping for a quick turnaround and some extra money. It seems like a simple project -- and Avery is looking forward to using her big-city experience with small spaces. But they didn’t expect to have their every move watched by the resident busybody in the condo, Hilda Shaw, who loves snooping on everyone’s comings and goings. When the busybody becomes a dead body, Avery suspects foul play. Soon she’s doing some snooping of her own -- and it seems everyone in the complex has a secret. Could one of them be worth killing for? Avery needs to work fast, before someone decides to fix her...for good.

Magic is Allison Beckstrom's blessing and curse. As a Hound, she uses her gifts to track down practitioners who abuse their power and stop them from inflicting harm on unsuspecting innocents. Unfortunately, her spells have taken their toll on her, physically marking her and erasing her...  more

Magic is Allison Beckstrom's blessing and curse. As a Hound, she uses her gifts to track down practitioners who abuse their power and stop them from inflicting harm on unsuspecting innocents. Unfortunately, her spells have taken their toll on her, physically marking her and erasing her memories -- including those of the man she supposedly loves. But lost memories aren't the only things preying on Allie’s thoughts. Her late father, the prominent businessman—and sorcerer—Daniel Beckstrom, has somehow channeled himself into her very mind. With the help of The Authority, a secret organization of magic users, she hopes to gain better control over her own abilities -- and find a way to deal with her father…

An avid antique collector, Jane Wheel owns a lot of stuff. In fact, she owns too much stuff, which often gets her into trouble. So finally she agrees to do the unthinkable: she holds her very first garage sale. Thankfully the sale ends almost before it begins, interrupted by a hysterical...  more

An avid antique collector, Jane Wheel owns a lot of stuff. In fact, she owns too much stuff, which often gets her into trouble. So finally she agrees to do the unthinkable: she holds her very first garage sale. Thankfully the sale ends almost before it begins, interrupted by a hysterical phone call from Jane's mother, Nellie. But Jane's relief doesn't last long. Nellie is calling to tell Jane about a mysterious discovery on a neighbor's property: bone fragments, buried in his backyard. Since Jane's husband, Charlie, is a geologist, Jane volunteers to make the trip to her hometown, Kankakee, Illinois, to see if they can help her parents' neighbor, Fuzzy Neilson, sort things out. When they arrive, Jane and Charlie are surprised to find quite a controversy brewing in town, and not just over the mysterious discovery of the bones. In addition to Fuzzy's buried treasure, people are trying to reinvent this sleepy Midwestern town. There are a couple of slick real estate developers going around town talking a big game about making Kankakee into Hometown, U.S.A. Then Jane's best friend, Tim, gets in on the act, proposing that Kankakee host the World's Largest Garage Sale. But when a man turns up murdered on Fuzzy's field, the spotlight turns back to the mysterious doings on the Neilson farm. While Charlie uncovers what may or may not be an archaeologically significant site, Jane manages to uncover the town's buried secrets. With the help of her family, Tim, and sometime partner P.I. Bruce Oh, Jane must sort rumor and gossip from the true crimes before it's too late.

Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged), a Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery, embroils the joyous newlyweds Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy in a mystery involving one of their wedding guests. The lovely Caroline Bingley is engaged to marry a rich and charismatic American....  more

Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged), a Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery, embroils the joyous newlyweds Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy in a mystery involving one of their wedding guests. The lovely Caroline Bingley is engaged to marry a rich and charismatic American. Unfortunately, this windswept courtship is marred by many strange events-- nocturnal wanderings, spooked horses, carriage accidents, and even an apparent suicide attempt. Soon the whole Bingley family seems the target of a mysterious plot, with only the Darcys recognizing the danger. Sinister forces are afoot and the Darcys must get to the bottom of the plot before the blushing bride descends into madness--or worse.

My dearest Sugar. I must see you. It's urgent. I need your help. The letter that arrived from Sam's mother was postmarked Santa Fe, penned in her mother's handwriting, and disclosed details only Johanna Adams could know. There was just one catch: Johanna Adams had been dead for...  more

My dearest Sugar. I must see you. It's urgent. I need your help. The letter that arrived from Sam's mother was postmarked Santa Fe, penned in her mother's handwriting, and disclosed details only Johanna Adams could know. There was just one catch: Johanna Adams had been dead for thirty-four years. The mind-blowing missive could have been an entry from Sam's latest book of bizarre anecdotes, American Weird -- or an elaborate hoax. Either way, it instantly rekindled Sam's impossible wish that her mother hadn't really died in a plane crash when Sam was a child. Fueled by her journalistic instincts -- and a daughter's need for closure -- Sam touches down among Santa Fe's tourists and crystal gazers, jewelry shops and fast-food stands. But only when she summons the courage to knock on the door of Room 409 at the La Fonda Hotel does her surreal, mother-seeking adventure take off with no turning back.

As we know from her many trips to the New York Times bestseller list, Miss Julia simply can't abide sitting idle. And with young Lloyd moving out and husband Sam off to the Holy Land, everybody's favorite steel magnolia is feeling restless. Maybe it's time for that...  more

As we know from her many trips to the New York Times bestseller list, Miss Julia simply can't abide sitting idle. And with young Lloyd moving out and husband Sam off to the Holy Land, everybody's favorite steel magnolia is feeling restless. Maybe it's time for that long-delayed home makeover. But before Miss Julia can even pick a color swatch, Hazel Marie's new husband, private eye J.D. Pickens, goes missing -- and police in West Virginia have detained an injured man fitting his description. Meanwhile, a religious cult is out to convert the locals -- and Miss Julia must pick up the pace to free J.D. and get back in time to stop them.

Life is easier with a good pair of running shoes After her life was downsized by a divorce and a pink slip, Zoey Jones moved back home to Blytheville, Missouri. Now tending bar at her uncle's watering hole, Zoey is working overtime to keep her rebellious teenage daughter and her eccentric...  more

Life is easier with a good pair of running shoes After her life was downsized by a divorce and a pink slip, Zoey Jones moved back home to Blytheville, Missouri. Now tending bar at her uncle's watering hole, Zoey is working overtime to keep her rebellious teenage daughter and her eccentric parents out of trouble. Naturally, Blytheville's sexy top cop Hank Westlake picks this time to start rekindling old fires. But their tentative first date is a bust -- literally -- when Hank is forced to book Zoey's own father for murder. Sure, Charlie has been acting strange lately, but could he really be the bumbling burglar behind three convenience-store robberies? Actually, yes...but he has a very good reason. And did he murder clerk Joe Donny in cold blood? No. Not a chance. Determined to find the real killer, Zoey begins her own investigation, knowing that in life, and in love, it's good to stay on your toes and ahead of the game.

She sees dead people Beautiful, smart, and chic, Pepper Martin never had to work a day in her life -- until her surgeon daddy was convicted of fraud, her wealthy fiancé took a powder, and the family fortune ran bone dry. Suddenly desperate, the inexperienced ex-rich girl was...  more

She sees dead people Beautiful, smart, and chic, Pepper Martin never had to work a day in her life -- until her surgeon daddy was convicted of fraud, her wealthy fiancé took a powder, and the family fortune ran bone dry. Suddenly desperate, the inexperienced ex-rich girl was forced to take the only job she could get: as a tour guide in a cemetery. But a grave situation took a turn for the worse when a head-on collision with a headstone left her with an unwanted ability to communicate with the disgruntled deceased . . . and now Pepper has a whacked Mafia don demanding that she hunt down his killers -- and threatening to haunt her until she does.

Bernie Rhodenbarr is a personable chap, a good neighbor, a passable poker player. His chosen profession, however, might not sit well with some. Bernie is a burglar, a good one, effortlessly lifting valuables from the not-so-well-protected abodes of well-to-do New Yorkers like a modern-day Robin...  more

Bernie Rhodenbarr is a personable chap, a good neighbor, a passable poker player. His chosen profession, however, might not sit well with some. Bernie is a burglar, a good one, effortlessly lifting valuables from the not-so-well-protected abodes of well-to-do New Yorkers like a modern-day Robin Hood. (The poor, as Bernie would be the first to tell you, alas, have nothing worth stealing.) He's not perfect, however; he occasionally makes mistakes. Like accepting a paid assignment from a total stranger to retrieve a particular item from a rich man's apartment. Like still being there when the cops arrive. Like having a freshly slain corpse lying in the next room, and no proof that Bernie isn't the killer. Now he's really got his hands full, having to locate the true perpetrator while somehow eluding the police -- a dirty job indeed, but if Bernie doesn't do it, who will?

In the stately nineteenth-century homes on Philadelphia's Delancy Street, the wilder passions scarcely ruffle the peace. Murder is unimaginable, particularly a murder involving an upscale book discussion group, of which schoolteacher Amanda Pepper is a devoted member. Nevertheless, on the...  more

In the stately nineteenth-century homes on Philadelphia's Delancy Street, the wilder passions scarcely ruffle the peace. Murder is unimaginable, particularly a murder involving an upscale book discussion group, of which schoolteacher Amanda Pepper is a devoted member. Nevertheless, on the day after a heated discussion of a fictional heroine's suicide, book group member Helen Coulter falls to her death from her roof garden. Helen's death is declared a suicide -- a shocking end to a perfect life -- but Amanda is skeptical. In the course of recording the group's memories of Helen, inconsistencies and questions arise -- and Amanda becomes convinced that Helen Coulter did not take her own life.  Why is this admirable woman dead? And if she was killed, who performed the heinous act? Helen's life was not an open book, but somewhere among its startling subplots Amanda believes she'll find the answers. Amanda's investigations will draw her into a zone of great danger, where Helen Coulter's ice-hearted killer is once more ready to strike.

Last night's earthquake has the California Gold Country town of Flat Skunk buzzing; and over her morning mocha, deaf newswoman Connor Westphal is shaping it into a lead story for her local paper, the Eureka! Then her TTY phone brings more sensational news: a twisted corpse has been found on a...  more

Last night's earthquake has the California Gold Country town of Flat Skunk buzzing; and over her morning mocha, deaf newswoman Connor Westphal is shaping it into a lead story for her local paper, the Eureka! Then her TTY phone brings more sensational news: a twisted corpse has been found on a construction site owned by her rival publisher, Harlan Truax. What was the dead soil engineer doing there at midnight, and was it the quake that toppled him four stories to his death? An act of God--or human malevolence? Connor is soon back in the sleuth business, uncovering Flat Skunk's darkest secrets: from toxic dirt to tainted relationships. But someone's out to stop her, and they're saying it with flowers, verses, menacing e-mail--and a series of murders that could knock the numbers off the Richter scale and silence one lip-reading reporter forever.

Racing to complete her doctoral research, Elizabeth MacPherson is completely booked for the summer -- until her Scottish fiance calls from across the seas with a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to tea with Her Majesty the Queen. There's a hitch, of course -- no friends or fiances allowed, only...  more

Racing to complete her doctoral research, Elizabeth MacPherson is completely booked for the summer -- until her Scottish fiance calls from across the seas with a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to tea with Her Majesty the Queen. There's a hitch, of course -- no friends or fiances allowed, only spouses. Royalty enthusiast that she is, Elizabeth solves the dilemma by planning a large formal wedding in five weeks. In between Elizabeth's fittings and flowers, local widow Clarine Mason receives word that her dear husband, Emmet, has died on a highway in San Diego. Odd, thinks Mrs. Mason, as the errant Emmet died five years before. And she's got an urn of ashes to prove it. Just whose ashes those are is what Elizabeth must discover -- if tartan bridesmaids' dresses, scones with tea, and all the accoutrements necessary for the joining of two noble clans don't bury her first!

When forensic anthropologist Elizabeth MacPherson becomes the official P.I. for her brother Bill's fledgling Virginia law firm, she quickly takes on two complex cases.  Eleanor Royden, a perfect lawyer's wife for twenty years, has shot her ex-husband and his wife in cold blood....  more

When forensic anthropologist Elizabeth MacPherson becomes the official P.I. for her brother Bill's fledgling Virginia law firm, she quickly takes on two complex cases.  Eleanor Royden, a perfect lawyer's wife for twenty years, has shot her ex-husband and his wife in cold blood. And Donna Jean Morgan is implicated in the death of her Bible-thumping bigamist husband. Bill's feminist firebrand partner, A. P. Hill, does her damnedest for Eleanor, an abused wife in denial, and Bill gallantly defends Donna Jean. Meanwhile, Elizabeth's forensic expertise, including her special knowledge of poisons, gives her the most challenging case of her career. . . .

In her third outing as amateur sleuth, Elizabeth MacPherson has the chance to revel in the rites of the old country at the annual Glencoe Mountain Games. But the innocent ethnic fair is cursed when the loathed Colin Campbell is found murdered. When a second reveler is found dead, Elizabeth lays...  more

In her third outing as amateur sleuth, Elizabeth MacPherson has the chance to revel in the rites of the old country at the annual Glencoe Mountain Games. But the innocent ethnic fair is cursed when the loathed Colin Campbell is found murdered. When a second reveler is found dead, Elizabeth lays to hunt and untangles all....

Meet the Sunshine girls -- three mischievous sisters out to clear their father's name... and maybe get a little romance on the side. Hollywood darling Jolie Sunshine is accustomed to trashy headlines. But the shocking gossip surrounding her father's sudden demise has sent her over the...  more

Meet the Sunshine girls -- three mischievous sisters out to clear their father's name... and maybe get a little romance on the side. Hollywood darling Jolie Sunshine is accustomed to trashy headlines. But the shocking gossip surrounding her father's sudden demise has sent her over the edge... right into the arms of millionaire Sam Becket. Jolie and Sam once shared much more than a bed, till fame ended their escalating relationship. Now that very limelight is bringing them back together. With a murder to solve and a white-hot passion to quench, they're really about to give the paparazzi a field day.

Desiree Shapiro hosts a bridal shower for her niece. But just a couple bites into the first course, the groom's aunt keels over. Now the plump P.I. must sift through the suspects, all of whom have reason to wish the husband-stealing Bobbie Jean dead.

Wren just wanted to find her long-lost family, to get to know the people she could not have dreamed of as a child growing up in an orphanage. But her quest turns into a far more dangerous adventure than she ever imagined, what with robbers, guardsmen, and an angry sorcerer after her. And when...  more

Wren just wanted to find her long-lost family, to get to know the people she could not have dreamed of as a child growing up in an orphanage. But her quest turns into a far more dangerous adventure than she ever imagined, what with robbers, guardsmen, and an angry sorcerer after her. And when her traveling companion, young prince Connor Shaltar, begins to meddle with magic as well&150things get entirely out of hand!

Rebecca Robbins is a woman on a mission -- to sell the roller rink she inherited in her rural hometown and get back to her life in Chicago. Fast. What she didn't count on was discovering a dead body head-first in a rink toilet. Now Rebecca is stuck in a small town where...  more

Rebecca Robbins is a woman on a mission -- to sell the roller rink she inherited in her rural hometown and get back to her life in Chicago. Fast. What she didn't count on was discovering a dead body head-first in a rink toilet. Now Rebecca is stuck in a small town where her former neighbors think she's a city slicker who doesn't belong, relying on a police department that's better at gardening than solving crimes. With the help of a handsome veterinarian, a former circus camel, and her scarily frisky grandfather, Rebecca must discover the identity of the murderer before she becomes the next victim.  

Miss Julia, a recently bereaved and newly wealthy widow, is only slightly bemused when one Hazel Marie Puckett appears at her door with a youngster in tow and unceremoniously announces that the child is the bastard son of Miss Julia's late husband. Suddenly, this longtime church member and...  more

Miss Julia, a recently bereaved and newly wealthy widow, is only slightly bemused when one Hazel Marie Puckett appears at her door with a youngster in tow and unceremoniously announces that the child is the bastard son of Miss Julia's late husband. Suddenly, this longtime church member and pillar of her small Southern community finds herself in the center of an unseemly scandal-and the guardian of a wan nine-year-old whose mere presence turns her life upside down. With razor-sharp wit and perfect "Steel Magnolia" poise, Miss Julia speaks her mind indeed-about a robbery, a kidnapping, and the other disgraceful events precipitated by her husband's death. Fast-paced and charming, with a sure sense of comic drama, a cast of crazy characters, and a strong Southern cadence, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind will delight readers from first page to last.

There's something about almost dying that makes a girl rethink her priorities. Take Nicki Styx-she was strictly goth and vintage, until a brush with the afterlife leaves her with the ability to see dead people. Before you can say boo, Atlanta's ghosts are knocking at Nicki's door. Now her days...  more

There's something about almost dying that makes a girl rethink her priorities. Take Nicki Styx-she was strictly goth and vintage, until a brush with the afterlife leaves her with the ability to see dead people. Before you can say boo, Atlanta's ghosts are knocking at Nicki's door. Now her days consist of reluctantly cleaning up messes left by the dearly departed, leading ghouls to the Light... and one-on-one anatomy lessons with Dr. Joe Bascombe, the dreamy surgeon who saved her life. All this catering to the deceased is a real drag, especially for a girl who'd rather be playing hanky-panky with her hunky new boyfriend... who's beginning to think she's totally nuts. But things get even more complicated when a friend foolishly sells her soul to the devil, and Nicki's new gift lands her in some deep voodoo. As it turns out for Nicki Styx, death was just the beginning.