This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth. They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it. In the fall of 1962, twenty-seven-year-old Jemma Barker is desperate to escape her life in Chicago—and the spirits she has always been able to see. When she receives an unexpected job offer from the Duchon family in New Orleans, she accepts, thinking it is her chance to start over. But Jemma discovers that the Duchon family isn’t what it seems. Light enough to pass as white, the Black family members look down on brown-skinned Jemma. Their tenuous hold on reality extends to all the members of their eccentric clan, from haughty grandmother Honorine to beautiful yet inscrutable cousin Fosette. And soon the shocking truth comes The Duchons are under a curse. And they think Jemma has the power to break it. As Jemma wrestles with the gift she’s run from all her life, she unravels deeper and more disturbing secrets about the mysterious Duchons. Secrets that stretch back over a century. Secrets that bind her to their fate if she fails.

The Pharaoh's Cat by Maria Luisa Lang

The Pharaoh’s Cat, a tragicomic fantasy narrated in the present tense by the cat himself, tells of a free-spirited, wise-cracking stray in ancient Egypt who suddenly acquires human powers and immediately captivates the young Pharaoh, making him laugh for the first time since his parents’ death. The cat becomes the Pharaoh’s constant companion and, at the royal palace and on a tour of Egypt, participates in the festivities, developing an insatiable appetite for good food, wine, and gossip. Gradually, he renews the Pharaoh’s ability to enjoy life and inspires him to become a stronger leader. The bond of selfless love they share will change Egypt’s destiny. The cat has a good friend in the High Priest of the god Amun-Ra and seeks his help in solving the mystery of his human powers and the supernatural manifestations that plague him. He has a mortal enemy in the Vizier—the second most powerful man in Egypt--who hates him for his close relationship with the Pharaoh. The Vizier’s persecution of the cat ultimately results in his fleeing with the High Priest to present-day New York City, where they find an ally in an Egyptologist’s daughter.

Secrets of Riverway by Ashley Hards

Hannah Edwards has a lot on her mind. For starters, her father—the Canola King—has been missing for months. And not her distracted mother, her meddlesome guidance counselor, nor her evil Uncle Fergus seem to care. Luckily, she has her secret journal and her best friend Sam Castillo for support. So when Sam tells Hannah he thinks he saw her father’s ghost down at the old Riverway Mill, Hannah decides to take matters into her own hands. She soon learns that Uncle Fergus has a plan to steal the family farm, drain the river, and find a hidden treasure. On the edge of going from being a "good kid" to a "bad kid", Hannah stops pretending to pay attention to her endlessly boring classes. With Sam, her journal, and eventually a whole lot of Riverway frogs, Hannah sets out to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance. A heartfelt story of a young neurodiverse girl with a whole lot of determination to do the right thing.

Last Night at the Beach House by Claire Harlow

Olivia Harper finds herself entangled in the lavish world of Richard Bennett, a man whose charm is as vast as his secrets. When Richard is found dead, the peaceful community is thrust into a web of intrigue and suspicion. With the help of her spirited best friend Milly, the irresistible Dr. Ethan Foster, and her lovable Golden Retriever Barkley, Olivia delves into a web of jealousy, betrayal, and hidden motives, where every acquaintance of Richard becomes a suspect with something to lose. As the investigation unfolds, a colorful cast of characters emerges, each with secrets of lies, love, and betrayal. From the enigmatic artist entwined in a troubling affair to a vengeful sister shadowed by family feuds, the suspects' motives are as murky as the coastal fog. Before a threat becomes deadly, Olivia must unravel the intricate web of deceit, exposing a truth more perilous than the stormy seas, and bringing a cunning murderer to justice.

Pond of Refelections by C A Russell

Content in her father’s wise kingdom, Princess Journee loves life but has one nagging question: Who is she? Yes, she is a mouse and a princess, but who is she really? With her adventurous spirit and her father’s mighty steed to protect her, she goes on a quest to find herself. The adventure takes an interesting turn when she befriends a toad and an owl who tell her about a legendary Pond of Reflection known to reveal one's true identity. But first they must find it, if indeed it exists. Their friendship and appreciation for each other grow as they encounter difficulties along the way, and strange happenings in the ancient Whoami Forest.

The Adventue of the Egyption Tomb by Agatha Chistie

n Agatha Christie's short story, "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb," the widow of a famous Egyptologist consults Poirot on the suspicious death of her husband and an American financier, Bleibner. The mystery takes Poirot and Hastings to Egypt to investigate the site of an archaeological dig. But who could want the two men dead? This short story originally appeared in the September 26, 1923 issue of The Sketch magazine.

The Adventure of the Clapham Cook by Agatha Christie

Poirot is not interested in investigating some of the cases which appear in the newspapers when Hastings tries to bring them to his attention. These include ones about a bank clerk, Mr. Davis, who disappears with fifty thousand pounds of securities, a suicidal man, and a missing typist. He is put on the spot though when visited by a Mrs. Todd who is determined that he investigate her missing cook. Challenged, he decides, with some humour and to avoid an argument, to take the seemingly trivial case. Eliza Dunn, a middle-aged woman, walked out of her job and the Todd's house in Clapham two days ago without working her notice. She has not communicated with her employer since, except for sending for her trunk that very day. What can Poirot make of this?

Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Box set: Book 1-3 includes Murder, Framed, and Poisoned in Cherry Hills by Paige Sleuth

Welcome to Cherry Hills, where small-town life can be deadly. This box set includes the first three books in the Cozy Cat Caper Mystery series. If you enjoy light, fun, cozy mysteries without excessive violence, bad language, or graphic scenes, then grab this three-book collection today and join Kat Harper and her two crime-fighting felines in their quest for justice!Murder in Cherry Hills (Book 1) How do you solve a murder when the only eyewitness can't talk? Kat Harper has barely settled back into small-town life in Cherry Hills, Washington, when she spies her neighbor's tortoiseshell cat Matty sitting on her doorstep. But Matty's not making a social call. The newly orphaned feline has just witnessed her owner's violent death.But who would want to kill the elderly Mrs. Tinsdale? Was it one of her fellow animal rescue volunteers? A money-hungry daughter? A local veterinarian with something to hide? Or someone completely unexpected?If Kat wants to put the murderer behind bars, the amateur sleuth is going to need Matty to lend a furry paw to her investigation. But how do you convince a cat eyewitness to reveal "whodunit"?Framed in Cherry Hills (Book 2) What happens when big trouble comes to a small town? Cherry Hills resident Kat Harper doesn't expect her first meeting with the Furry Friends Foster Families animal rescue to kick off with the mysterious absence of another member. But it soon becomes clear why Willow Wu is a no-show; she's been arrested for a crime that nobody can believe.Kat's convinced someone framed Willow. But who would do such a thing? A crooked small-town cop with big dreams? A local teenager looking for revenge? Or the disgruntled caterer who lost out on a lucrative job?With this case hitting so close to home, Kat's determined to find the guilty party. And if she can cajole her cat Matty into lending another helping paw, the amateur detective might just succeed.Poisoned in Cherry Hills (Book 3) Animal rescue can be a deadly business. Murder is the last thing on Kat Harper's mind when she shows up for the Furry Friends Foster Families benefit dinner. But that's exactly what she gets when one of the guests drops dead. Now the focus of the evening has shifted from cat adoptions to catching a killer.Between an old childhood rival, a sister in line to inherit everything, and a couple with opportunity aplenty, there's no shortage of suspects. Kat's going to need all of her sleuthing skills if she hopes to identify "whodunit" this time . . . especially when her cats Matty and Tom turn the case on its head and force her to question everything that happened that tragic night.

Too Much Glue by Jason Lefebvre

Winner of:PAL Award Although Matty’s art teacher has warned him that too much glue never dries, Matty loves glue. After all, he and his dad make oodles of glue projects at home. One day during art class, Matty finds the fullest bottles of glue, and the fun begins. With a squeeze and a plop, Matty pours a lake of glue before belly-flopping right in the middle and finds himself stuck to the desk. When Matty’s dad arrives at the school, instead of being mad, he celebrates his son’s creativity and calls him a work of art. With vibrant language and artwork and a wild, silly plot, Too Much Glue is sure to appeal to all children who love to get messy.

The Faithful Dog by Terry Lee Caruthers

When German-born Louis Pfeif leaves home to join the Fifty-Eighth Illinois Infantry Regiment in 1862, his dog accompanies him. At Chicago's Camp Douglas, Bärchen charms Louis's fellow officers-even Colonel Lynch. As the Civil War escalates, the unit is transferred to Tennessee and placed under the command of General Lew Wallace. Shortly afterward, they come under fire at Erin Hollow. Bärchen proves his mettle-remaining by Louis's side amid the boom of cannon and the rattle of musketry. Then one morning the two are thrust onto a battlefield, where one will die and the other must learn to carry on. Based on a true story and the history of the Fifty-Eighth Illinois, The Faithful Dog powerfully illustrates the unwavering bond of devotion between dogs and their humans.

The Big Book of Female Detectives by Otto Penzler

For the first time ever, Otto Penzler gathers the most iconic women of the detective canon over the past 150 years, captivating and surprising readers in equal measure. The 74 handpicked stories in this collection introduce us to the most determined of gumshoe gals, from debutant detectives like Anna Katharine Green’s Violet Strange to spinster sleuths like Mary Roberts Rinehart’s Hilda Adams, from groundbreaking female cops like Baroness Orczy’s Lady Molly to contemporary crime-fighting P.I.s like Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone, and include indelible tales from Agatha Christie, Carolyn Wells, Edgar Wallace, L. T. Meade and Robert Eustace, Sara Paretsky, Nevada Barr, Linda Barnes, Laura Lippman, and many more.

Paradise on the Pike by Sarah Angleton

For fans of Water for Elephants and Devil in the White City, a mystery set in the enchanting world of Hagenbeck's Zoological Paradise on the grounds of the 1904 World's Fair.1903 Twenty-year-old Max Eyer is still reeling from his father’s recent death when a mysterious stranger’s offer to buy the family farm outside of Hamburg, Germany presents to him and his mother an unexpected opportunity to make a fresh start in America. Welcomed by his uncle’s bustling family in St. Louis Max finds employment on the grounds of the upcoming 1904 World’s Fair, where he is hired as a zookeeper at Hagenbeck’s Animal Paradise on the Pike. Max’s enchantment with the trained animal shows, ostrich rides, and water sliding elephants is rivaled only by his fascination with Shehani, a beautiful Sinhalese woman who captivates the crowds of fairgoers by dancing among the lions. However Max’s paradise unravels when a grisly discovery leads to an accusation of murder against the woman he loves. His efforts to uncover the truth may save her, but in this fantasy land of the fair where palaces are temporary, animals roam free, and people are on exhibit, will his own dreams be shattered by an ugly reality?

Sparrow Spreads Her Wings by Gail Donovan

In this sequel to the “uplifting” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) Sparrow Being Sparrow, Sparrow rescues an injured animal but soon wonders if she’s taken on more than she can handle alone.A blizzard is coming, and Sparrow’s parents are leaving for the hospital to welcome Sparrow’s new baby brother, but all Sparrow can think about is investigating the strange thwack she heard coming from her bedroom window. When she goes outside, she finds an injured pigeon getting buried in the snow. She has to save it! Sparrow and her best friend, Paloma, bring the bird inside while the grown-ups are distracted, determined to nurse it back to health. But soon, Sparrow realizes that helping the bird recover—especially with curious kittens around the house—will be much harder than she thought. If she asks for help, will it mean letting go of her new animal friend?

Longbow by Wayne Grant

Roland Inness is a peasant boy with an unusual talent—and a secret. He has learned the art of making a longbow and the skill to use it with deadly accuracy. Why must this be kept secret? The Normans rule England with their armored knights and a well-aimed longbow can pierce that armor. Possession of the weapon is a hanging offense and when Roland takes the wrong deer on the wrong Lord’s land he has to flee for his life. His flight will take him from the high hills of the English midlands to the wild frontier with Wales and on to the court of Richard the Lionheart. Along the way he is hunted by a paid killer, aided by a strange monk named Tuck, and taken in by a gruff Norman knight, who values his skill with the bow. That skill and his courage will be sorely tested as he fights to earn the trust of his new master. As King Richard celebrates his coronation, Roland faces old enemies he thought he had left behind and must test his skill at a royal archery tournament against the greatest bowmen in England, to include the favorite, Sir Robin of Loxley. A mix of history, myth and high adventure, LONGBOW follows the journey of Roland Inness as he seeks to find a place for himself in a restive kingdom and become a man in a brutal age.

Den of Iniquity by J A Jance

Former Seattle homicide cop J. P. Beaumont faces trouble in the small town of Ashland, as both his personal and professional lives are thrown into turmoil. Beau’s daughter and son-in-law are having marital troubles, and his grandson, a senior in high school, shows up on his doorstep, wanting to live with Beau and his wife Mel as he finishes out the school year. Meanwhile, a friend from his past asks for Beau’s help in looking into what appears to be an accidental death. A young man died of a fentanyl overdose, but those closest to him are convinced that he would never have used the drug, and that something much more sinister has happened. Beau agrees to unofficially reopen the case, and his investigation leads him to uncover similar mysterious deaths that all point to a most unlikely suspect. As the case becomes more complicated than he could have imagined, and past and present mysteries collide, it will take everything Beau has to track down a dangerous vigilante killer.

Cream Caramel and Murder by K E O'Connor

With its stunning turrets and rose gardens, I thought Audley Castle was perfect, set in the idyllic Audley St. Mary. But behind the trimmed hedgerows, stately gardens, and birdsong, a killer is waiting… Cream Caramel and Murder features baking sleuth, Holly, her cute clue-hunting dog, and a cast of quirky villagers.

The Murder at Aspen Creek by Anne Shillolo

A random overnight visit to a quiet prairie town turns deadly for Inspector Hilary Casgrain. Instead of starry skies, a home-cooked meal, and an evening at a Cowboy Poetry Festival, Hilary is dragged into a drive-by shooting and the search for a missing teen - a night that rages out of control and ends in a killing. She’s driving across the continent to a new job, in search of a fresh start and a quiet cruise towards retirement. But in the town of Aspen Creek, she gets a taste of small-town policing at its most intense. The Aspen Creek chief asks for her help and Hilary sees first-hand his struggles with limited resources, and a crime as ruthless as any she encountered in her 20 years of city policing. At the same time, she’s drawn to the close bonds and staunch support shared by the handful of Aspen Creek officers. Can she forge those kind of relationships at her new post? Can she shake off the shadows of the past and become a leader to admire? These thoughts and worries are fleeting, however. The clock is ticking and lives hang in the balance. Dive into this prequel novella and get a glimpse of a sensational new crime series featuring Inspector Hilary Casgrain.

Detectives Tanzy and Byrd Crime Thrillers by C. J. Grayson

BOOK 1: THE TEES VALLEY KILLINGS Detectives Tanzy and Byrd find Julia Porter’s body tied to a chair in her quiet family home in the outskirts of Darlington. She’s covered in blood, and someone has cut out her eyes. Next to her is a message written in red crayon: She didn’t see it coming. Tanzy and Byrd have never seen the like of this in their town before. Then a few days later a woman is handed a package on the high street. It contains Julia Porter’s eyes . . . BOOK 2: THE DENES PARK KILLINGS Anna Greenwell is walking home she comes across a body. As soon as she sees the trainers and tracksuit, she knows. Her eldest was wearing those same clothes last night — and he never came home. At the post-mortem, Tanzy and Byrd see that Mark Greenwell’s back is covered in deep scars. Someone was punishing this boy with regular whippings. Meanwhile, a nine-year-old goes missing. Is his abduction connected to the murder of Mark Greenwell? BOOK 3: THE LINGFIELD POINT KILLINGS Late one night Danny Walters tucks his young son back into bed. He realizes the carpet is soaking wet just as he sees a man standing at the bottom of the stairs. The man lights a match. The house goes up in flames. Across town, four women wake up in a dark, cold room. People on the internet are paying good money to watch what happens to them. Then Tanzy and Byrd get a sickening call . . . Darlington used to be a nice town. A quiet town. Not any more.

Murder my Neighbor by Veronica Heley

Ellie Quicke is confronted by an angry young man, demanding to know what has happened to his elderly great aunt. Flavia Osborne had refused to move in with her relatives, telling everyone that she'd sold her secluded house and was moving to a retirement flat - but it seems she never arrived at her destination. Ellie is distracted by her difficult daughter Diana, who makes a shocking announcement, but Russ insists Ellie help him discover the truth. Where is Flavia, and who knows more than they are prepared to tell?

Golden Age Locked Room Mysteries by Otto Penzler

For devotees of the Golden Age mystery, the impossible crime story represents the period’s purest form: it presents the reader with a baffling scenario (a corpse discovered in a windowless room locked from the inside, perhaps), lays out a set of increasingly confounding clues, and swiftly delivers an ingenious and satisfying solution. During the years between the two world wars, the best writers in the genre strove to outdo one another with unfathomable crime scenes and brilliant explanations, and the puzzling and clever tales they produced in those brief decades remain unmatched to this day. Among the Americans, some of these authors are still household names, inextricably linked to the locked room mysteries they devised: John Dickson Carr, Ellery Queen, Clayton Rawson, Stuart Palmer. Others, associated with different styles of crime fiction, also produced great works―authors including Fredric Brown, MacKinlay Kantor, Craig Rice, and Cornell Woolrich. All of these and more can be found in Golden Age Locked Room Mysteries, selected by Edgar Award-winning mystery expert and anthologist Otto Penzler. Featuring a delightful mix of well-known writers and unjustly-forgotten masters, the fourteen tales included herein highlight the best of the American impossible crime story, promising hours of entertainment for armchair sleuths young and old.

Seed on the Wind by Rex Stout

One woman, four men, countless temptations on the streets of New York. This lost novel from legendary "Nero Wolfe" creator Rex Stout—unpublished for more than 90 years—presents a gripping psychological puzzle and a heroine you’ll never forget.

VIctricia Malicia by Carrie Clickard

Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett may have been born on her family's pirate ship, but this mild-mannered young lady is sick of the sea: she'd much rather be ashore with her nose permanently buried in a book. But when Scylla the Serpent—the scourge of the sea—appears, quick-thinking Vic saves the ship by thunking the serpent on the head with her trunk full of books. For her bravery she is rewarded with the thing she wants most: a home on a little island. She opens a bookstore, and Landlubber Books becomes the pirates' favorite port in a storm. As Carrie Clickard's nimble, jaunty rhymes roll off the tongue like waves onto shore, children will delight in Victricia's adventures while parents will relate to her family's attempts to understand their unusual daughter. Victricia may not be a typical pirate hero, but she is the captain of her own destiny in this rollicking tale of self-determination, sticking to your dreams, and the joy of reading.

Five Card Murder by Bruce Hammack

An inheritance worth millions. A killer with a list…and Smiley’s on it. A phone call from out of the blue leads blind PI Steve Smiley to become executor of a large Texas estate—one which includes the last undeveloped lakefront property in the state. While the sheriff is hunting for the rancher’s killer, a second death occurs. The ranch foreman is found murdered. Someone is intent on getting their hands on that property. Any of the four siblings could be guilty of one, or both, of the murders. There’s no love lost in the dysfunctional family. But which one wanted the land bad enough to kill for it? Or was it a conspiracy? Steve and his partner Heather are hired to find out who killed the ranch foreman. They unearth a long-buried family secret that could solve the mystery, but will it also lead to more killing? A person desperate not to be discovered attacks Heather. Steve needs to stop the killer or the next funeral could be his.

A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron

New motel owner Dee Stern has checked out of the familiar comforts in the San Fernando Valley and checked in to the quaint village of Foundgold. Running a rustic getaway in the woods sure beats LA traffic—until murder ruins the peace and quiet . . . Down-on-her-luck sitcom writer Dee Stern is flipping the script. Twice divorced and wasting her talents on an obnoxious kids’ show, the lifelong Angeleno embraces the urge to jump in her car and keep driving. It's a road trip with no destination—until she pulls into a mid-century motel filled with cobwebs and retro charm. Nestled in the shadow of a national park, it’s a time capsule of a place that, like her, could use some work. So, in the most impulsive move of her life, Dee teams up with best friend, Jeff Cornetta—who happens to be her first ex-husband—to transform the aging ranch into the Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains, a hiker’s oasis on the edge of the wilderness . . . But Dee and Jeff soon realize there couldn’t be two people more unprepared for the hospitality business. There’s also the panic-inducing reality of prowling bears and a general store as the only shopping spot for miles. Living and working in the middle of nowhere takes some getting used to—especially when a disrespectful guest ends up murdered! Now, with the motel duo topping the suspect list, Dee must steer clear of a meddling park ranger, face her past in show biz, and determine if the killer is a local or tourist. Because as she quickly finds out, there are many things worse than a one-star review.

Murder on the Clyde by Daniel Sellers

Detective Lola is heading back over the river from a rare night out when she spots a crowd of people looking over the parapet. Someone’s gone in. A young man called Cammy witnessed everything. He swears it’s the work of the Clyde Pusher, but is terrified of the police. The Clyde Pusher is the stuff of urban legend. A hooded figure who throws men into the river to drown. Eight victims in five years. But according to the police, the Pusher doesn’t exist. There are no reliable witnesses, nothing to link the victims. Lola starts looking into the case unofficially but gets a rap on the knuckles from her higher-ups for nosing around. Someone is trying to derail the investigation. What are they trying to cover up? Because the Pusher is real. And he has Cammy in his sights . . .

Cold Case Mysteries by Dr. Kate Hanson

BOOK 1: THE COLDEST CASE Forensic psychologist Kate Hanson knows as soon as she sees the body that she’s looking at Molly Elizabeth James. She was only eighteen when she disappeared from a shopping centre in Solihull five years ago. Then another young woman’s body is found. It’s a fresh kill. Same MO. This cold case just got hot. BOOK 2: THE COLDEST CLUES A mummified body is found in Birmingham’s Woodgate Country Park. The victim is Nathan Troy, an art student who disappeared two decades ago. Days later, a second body is found. This time it’s a fresh kill. It’s been twenty years, but after all this time, Nathan’s killer is back. BOOK 3: THE COLDEST KILLER It’s 1:23 in the morning when Kate gets the call. A body has been found in a shallow grave. It’s badly decomposed, but Kate is sure it’s nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Williams, a good student who simply disappeared a year ago. Then another young woman is attacked. Kate knows Elizabeth’s killer is still out there, and they’re not going to stop until they’re caught. BOOK 4: THE COLDEST MOTIVE Two teenagers discover a body locked inside a church crypt. The victim’s throat has been viciously ripped out. The dead man is quickly identified as the son of a wealthy businessman. He was reported missing a year ago. Then another young man’s remains are found. And Kates’s case takes an even darker turn . . . BOOK 5: THE COLDEST DEATH Ten years ago famous novelist David Lockman is convicted of murdering Della Harrington. He was sentenced to life in prison. But he’s just been released after the judge ruled miscarriage of justice. But if David didn’t kill Della, who did? Kate is determined to get answers. But her search for the truth will jeopardize everything.

A Wild Windy Night by Yul Abe

"Whoooosh!" The wind outside is so strong! "Hey, Mr. Wind, do you want to play with someone?" He's curious, but it's time to go to bed. The wind keeps getting stronger and stronger. "Whoooosh! Whoooosh! Whoooosh!" It's so loud that it's hard to sleep. Suddenly, Ricky hears a loud "bang!" outside. He looks out the window and sees his toy car fly away in the wind. All of his toys start to fly away too! "Wait, wait!" But he and all his toys are swept up by the wild wind. They fly through the dark, empty night sky towards the far-off woods. It's scary, but also exciting. Ricky feels like he's on an adventure. Yui Abe's beautiful illustrations capture the excitement and wonder of a windy night. You can see the wind blowing Ricky's hair and clothes, and the fear and excitement in his eyes. But even in the midst of the chaos, there is a sense of warmth and comfort, as Ricky remembers the love and safety of his home. If your child is afraid of windy nights, this book is the perfect way to help them overcome their fears. Through the story of Ricky's wild adventure, they will learn that even the scariest things can be exciting, and that they are never alone, even in the midst of a storm.

Endless Night by Agatha Christie

Gipsy’s Acre was a truly beautiful upland site with views out to sea – and in Michael Rogers it stirred a child-like fantasy. There, amongst the dark fir trees, he planned to build a house, find a girl and live happily ever after. Yet, as he left the village, a shadow of menace hung over the land. For this was the place where accidents happened. Perhaps Michael should have heeded the locals’ warnings: ‘There’s no luck for them as meddles with Gipsy’s Acre.’ Michael Rogers is a man who is about to learn the true meaning of the old saying ‘In my end is my beginning.’ The title Endless Night was taken from William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence and describes Christie’s favourite theme in the novel: a “twisted” character, who always chooses evil over good. Christie finished Endless Night in six weeks, as opposed to the three-four months that most of her other novels took. Despite being in her seventies while writing it, she told an interviewer that being Michael, the twenty-something narrator, “wasn’t difficult. After all, you hear people like him talking all the time.” The book is dedicated to Christie's relative "Nora Prichard from whom I first heard the legend of Gipsy's Acre." Gipsy's Acre was a field on the Welsh moors.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. A famous nursery rhyme is framed and hung in every room of the mansion: "Ten little boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little boys traveling in Devon; One said he'd stay there then there were seven. Seven little boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none." When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.

Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie

Mrs. McGinty died from a brutal blow to the back of her head. Suspicion falls immediately on her shifty lodger, James Bentley, whose clothes reveal traces of the victim’s blood and hair. Yet something is amiss: Bentley just doesn’t seem like a murderer. Could the answer lie in an article clipped from a newspaper two days before the death? With a desperate killer still free, Hercule Poirot will have to stay alive long enough to find out. . . .

Red River Road by Anna Downes

Anna Downes's extraordinary next thriller follows a woman desperate to discover what happened to her sister on a solo road trip through the Australian outback. Katy Sweeney is determined to find her sister. A year earlier, just three weeks into a solo vanlife trip, free-spirited Phoebe vanished without a trace on Western Australia’s remote and achingly beautiful Coral Coast. With no witnesses, no leads, and no DNA evidence, the case has gone cold. But Katy refuses to give up. Using Phoebe’s social media accounts as a map, Katy starts to retrace her steps, searching for the clues that the police have missed. Was Phoebe being followed? Who had she met along the way, and what danger did they pose? Was she as happy as her sun-bleached, lens-flared photos seem to suggest? Then Katy’s path collides with that of Beth, a young woman on the run from her own dark past—and very recent present. And as Katy realizes that Beth might be her best and only chance of finding the truth, the two women form an uneasy alliance to venture forth into increasingly wild territory to find out what really happened to Phoebe in this breathtaking but maybe deadly place, and how her fate connects them all. Anna Downes takes us on a twist-filled journey into the dark side of solo female travel, in this gripping novel that explores what drives us to keep searching for those we have lost, the family bonds that can make or break us, and the deception of memory.

Baxter and Jeffrey by Ariane and Todd Erickson

A picture book about a young boy who wants to become a knight - WITHOUT any help - and a young dragon who is CERTAIN he can help him!