Mystery Reads

THE BLACKSTONE CONSPIRACY by Sylvain Pavlowski

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THE BLACKSTONE CONSPIRACY by Sylvain Pavlowski

A sickening act of terrorism in the streets of Paris and the assassination of a politician appear at first to be unrelated.
Charged with finding out who is behind the attack, the emotionally fragile Commander Pauline Rougier of the Counter Terrorist Brigade discovers that the two incidents may not be so far removed, as a looming civil war threatens to catapult the country into chaos.
Meanwhile, troubled yet charming New York Times journalist Jack Campbell and his friend, computer genius Thomas Delvaux, have uncovered an international conspiracy could reshape the global balance of power.
Middle eastern oil money, shady Swiss banks and hyper-advanced artificial intelligence, Jack and his connections are led to Paris as they try to find out who, or what, is behind it all.
Will Jack and Pauline be able to combine their talents and put a stop to the wheels of doom before they are set in motion?
Will these two tortured souls be able to put their own feelings to one side as they work to protect the global status quo?

Catastrophe ~ A Highland Murder Most Fowl by Lucinda Hare

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Catastrophe ~ A Highland Murder Most Fowl by Lucinda Hare

Charming protagonists, reprehensible relatives, with an edge-of-your-seat conclusion, as seen through the eyes of the irrepressible feline hero! Looking forward to more adventures with Mary, George, and Catastrophe! Amazon.com *****review

An absolutely wonderful book for children and adults! Very well written, and the description of the Highlands where Catastrophe lives is enchanting. As is Catastrophe himself, and his exciting tale. This writer is the first since J K Rowling that can make me laugh and cry while reading her books. I could not put this book down! Highly recommended! Amazon.co.uk ***** review

A wildcat moves softly through his Highland world describing it through feline eyes in exquisite golden detail. Scent is a language of its own. His is an elemental world of rain and snow, of forest, moorland and mountain. A world of changing seasons and the endless dance of life and death; predator and prey. Although the wildcat’s home is a world of poetic beauty it is also one of sudden terrifying violence where the ultimate predator is mankind. Shot deliberately by a gamekeeper on a shooting estate the wildcat nearly dies before being rescued by a young couple. After a spell in the vets he convalesces in their Perthshire cottage where he learns to love their old bony cat, Haggis, and author Mary, The hunting moon is barely on the rise when bad news arrives from the solicitors. Mary’s beloved Aunt Edith suddenly dies and the couple head north into the Highlands with Catastrophe. Arriving at Driechandubh Castle, where Mary was raised by Aunt Edith, they barely escape with their lives as a large chunk of masonry ‘accidentally’ falls in a storm. Things don’t improve as they meet odious Aunt Maud, Edith’s envious sister who has ensconced herself in the castle like a cuckoo, under the pretext of nursing Edith. As an apex predator Catastrophe instinctively sees through Maud’s charade as the grieving sister: he can scent her underlying fear and hostility at her niece’s unexpected arrival, and hear the falsehood in her voice. Aunt Maud is hiding a terrible secret. Aunt Maud mistakenly sees Catastrophe merely as a fashion accessory. Divided by mutual loathing Catastrophe finds himself drawn into a web of intrigue, murder and adventure that will test our magnificent wildcat sleuth to his limits. Can Catastrophe unravel odious Aunt Maud’s dastardly plans before it’s too late?

Summary & Analysis of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by ZIP Reads

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Summary & Analysis of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by ZIP Reads

***UPDATED SINCE THE CAPTURE OF THE GOLDEN STATE KILLER!***
In her chilling and exhaustive true crime memoir, Michelle McNamara traces the trail of the Golden State Killer–a man who viciously raped and murdered dozens of people in California more than 40 years ago–and who evaded police just as long.

What does this ZIP Reads Summary Include?
– Synopsis of the original book
– Detailed Chapter-by-chapter summaries
– A guide to the detectives, victims, and crimes linked to the killer
– Gripping retellings of some of the original murders
– An in-depth editorial review
– Special addendum covering the capture of the killer
– Background on the author

About the Original Book:
In I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, Michelle McNamara leaves no stone unturned in her decade-long search for the Golden State Killer. Teaming up with detectives and amateurs alike, this case seemed to affect everyone who got close to it. Her book is expertly crafted and immediately draws you in. It is part memoir, part true crime novel, and will have you checking your locks before you go to bed.

DISCLAIMER: This book is intended as a companion to, not a replacement for, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. ZIP Reads is wholly responsible for this content and is not associated with the original author in any way.

First Ever Unhuman Bundle by Wilkie Martin

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First Ever Unhuman Bundle by Wilkie Martin

Escapism and crazy, quirky adventures in Wilkie Martin’s unhuman series. If you are looking for a new fantasy series or a light, funny read, then this unhuman bundle or collection will show why Wilkie has a cult following for his cozy mystery crime fantasies.
I – Inspector Hobbes and the Blood
Inspector Hobbes, a monstrous police detective, investigates grave, ghoulish, goings-on. A mad pseudo vampire with the dagger of Vlad Tepes is behind robbery, and murder. It is a funny tale with a troll, human sacrifice, blood and great cooking.
‘I ought to tell you, dear, he can get rather wild when he’s hungry.’

II – Inspector Hobbes and the Curse
Andy becomes infatuated with a dangerously beautiful woman during Hobbes’s investigations into sheep deaths and the mysterious disappearance of pheasants, which are apparently connected to a rash of big cat sightings; and something horrible seems to be lurking in the woods.
‘Love may be on the horizon but, beware; something wicked this way comes.’

III – Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers
Unwelcome Attention after foiling an armed robbery forces the Inspector away on holiday to the dangerous Blacker Mountains, where his accident-prone friend. Andy stumbles across something shocking, before falling for an attractive widow.
‘I always knew you’d get ahead one day.’

A Cherry Sinister Murder

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A Cherry Sinister Murder

AUTHORS: Nancy McGovern & Cyra Bruce

Faith Franklin is a dreamer. She dreams of cakes & pies. She dreams of crepes & brownies. And, more than anything, she dreams of making a career of serving her delicious treats to an adoring public.

So, when her grandmother calls and asks her to move to Florida to help run her café, she cannot get out of Minnesota fast enough! And before she knows it she is standing in Paradise Point, the beautiful, oceanside plaza in which Bessie’s Café is located, hardly able to believe her good fortune.

Life is now exactly how Faith had imagined it could be. She’s made wonderful friends. The café, now renamed the Slice of Paradise, has been renovated to showcase her amazing desserts. And both locals & tourists are loving it!

Well, all except for one…

The owner of a nearby cupcake shop is not at all happy with Faith’s arrival in Paradise Point. She has accused Faith of trying to ruin her by stealing her recipes & designs. And she is not shy about letting everyone know it.

So, when the woman is found dead the day after their confrontation, people immediately begin to consider whether Faith is the killer…

Is Faith guilty of murder? If not, who is? And can Faith find a way to clear her name before her dreams turn into nightmares?

Find out in A Cherry Sinister Murder!

“Slice of Paradise Cozy Mysteries” is a Culinary Cozy Mystery series written by #2 Bestselling Author, Nancy McGovern, and the talented newcomer, Cyra Bruce.

Join the “Slice of Paradise Mailing List” inside this book and receive updates on the series, behind-the-scenes info & a FREE “SLICE OF PARADISE” STORY called The Cream Pie Alibi!

Body In The Bookstore by Emma Lee

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Body In The Bookstore by Emma Lee

After her painful and heartbreaking divorce, Bonnie Mayberry thought her life was over. The numbness, the disbelief in what had happened and the fear of what would come next ensured that her every thought was tinged with doubt.

Hoping for a fresh start, she’s packed up, said her goodbyes and moved to the small town of Snow Ridge, New Hampshire. Settling down in an old, renovated farmhouse, she plans to focus on the simple things in life. And, in time, she is determined to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

But, apparently, that is not going to happen any time soon…

The young girl at the local bookstore Bonnie frequents has been murdered. She was one of the few with whom Bonnie has become friendly during her short time in town. And, whether it’s her mysterious past, her reserved nature or simply the relative ease in pinning the blame on the outsider, the police have Bonnie at the top of their list of suspects.

Now, if she wishes to avoid a prison sentence for a crime she didn’t commit, it appears as if Bonnie is going to have to prove her own innocence. In doing so, she’ll uncover a crooked politician, unveil a hidden monster and unearth a web of secrets & lies that certain residents of the town have spent their lives concealing. And, with a little luck, she may just survive long enough to clear her good name.

A Cherry Sinister Murder by Nancy McGovern

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A Cherry Sinister Murder by Nancy McGovern

Faith Franklin is a dreamer. She dreams of cakes & pies. She dreams of crepes & brownies. And, more than anything, she dreams of making a career of serving her delicious treats to an adoring public.

Well, all except for one…

So, when the woman is found dead the day after their confrontation, people immediately begin to consider whether Faith is the killer…

Is Faith guilty of murder? If not, who is? And can Faith find a way to clear her name before her dreams turn into nightmares?

Find out in A Cherry Sinister Murder!

Twin Time by Olga Werby

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Twin Time by Olga Werby

Alex and Sasha are twin sisters, physically identical down to their freckles. But the resemblance is only skin deep—Sasha is profoundly autistic, while Alex is not. Sasha can’t communicate and acts bizarrely, and the family revolves around her and her intense needs. Yet the aged, wealthy, and mysterious Aunt Nana seems to have a particular interest in both girls. Offering a helping hand, she encourages the family to move to San Francisco to be near her. And when the young twins discover a tunnel in Nana’s tool shed, it leads them on a journey across the world and back 100 years in time. The tunnel is a pathway to the Firebird Estate, the home of their ancestors, located in rural Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Even more remarkable, through the effect that twisting time has on cognition, Sasha is not autistic when she’s at the Firebird Estate. Now, growing up in two strikingly different times and places, the twins must face their separate destinies among the ravages of the incipient Russian Revolution. Can they save their families on both sides of the tunnel? Can they simultaneously stay true to their own hearts, to each other, and to the people they left behind? Each sister must face her own personal challenge — but only together can they discover their own future within their family’s past.

Luca Aiello, PI-Mafia Underground Blood Market by Joseph DiAntonio

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Luca Aiello, PI-Mafia Underground Blood Market by Joseph DiAntonio

This is an EXCITING, PULSE THRILLING story about a deadly virus found in the blood supply – specifically in the black market blood sold by organized crime. Professor Emilio Costa discovers a genetically modified virus and calls upon his friend, Luca Aiello, a retired New York City Police Lieutenant who is now a private investigator, to find out who is behind the sinister plot. Professor Costa realizes that this virus, if it gets into the world’s blood supply, will have catastrophic consequences for the world. This could unleash the deadliest plague to ever decimate humanity. So, who created the virus? Why did they do it? How is the Mafia involved? Yes, who is the sinister, evil group behind this deadly plague? Check the surprise ending.

Tip a Hat to Murder by Elaine Orr

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Tip a Hat to Murder by Elaine Orr

When the owner of the Bully Pulpit Diner decided to stop letting servers accept tips, he figured the raise he gave them would keep them happy. Apparently not. Or were some of his other hobbies what got poor Ben Addison killed? Police Chief Elizabeth Friedman contends with angry food servers, rowdy frat brothers at Sweathog Agricultural College, a batch of customers who seem to know nothing, and a thief who must have really wanted something from Ben. One of them keeps a good secret in the small town of Logland, Illinois. Join Elizabeth, Medical Examiner Skelly, and an offbeat group of characters who will tackle a murder and tickle your funny bone.