English Authors Mystery

J. W. Rinzler combines actual and speculative history in a sweeping recreation of the dramatic race to develop rockets, dominate the skies over Earth, and explore our solar system - an epic that rages through World War II and culminates with the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.

As the small resort town of Kapac, Ohio, prepares for their annual August festivities, another preparation is underway of a more malicious nature. A suspicious toxic spill on the only road in or out, by unknown agents, quarantines the town and threatens not only its livelihood, but also its very life. Shut off from everything, nearly a thousand trapped residents - with only a limited local food supply - lose power, and with that, city water and sewage, and then communications. The government is the only entity powerful enough to pull this off, but why? Who are they after?

To their Mississippi community, the death of well-regarded attorney Richard Pickering is a fascinating scandal. To Cissy's distraught mother, Caroline, it's an unforgivable crime. But in Cissy's troubled mind, killing her father was the only way she knew to save the two people she loves most in the world.

The year is 1942. In New York City, the German spy dutifully follows orders from the Third Reich, climbing the corporate ladder as part of his cover. Everything is perfect until one night when his wife discovers his shocking secret. In Germany, one of the US Army's deadliest commandos parachutes to earth. His mission: wreak havoc from behind enemy lines. But something goes terribly wrong during his jump, leaving him with a lethal injury and a crucial choice. It's kill or be discovered. Two years later, as the parallel plots converge, the American doggedly stalks the German spy.

Mystery Writers of America is proud to present Deadly Anniversaries, a collection of crime and mystery stories from some of the best contemporary authors, all of whom have been invited to put their own unique spin on what it means to recognize a certain day or event every year. An anniversary can take many forms, and by the time this group of best sellers and award winners is through, none of us will ever look at anniversaries the same way again. Edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, this collection features original stories from 20 industry giants.

Chicago, 2018: Ole Henryks, a popular restauranteur, is set to be honored by the Danish/American Association for his many civic and charitable contributions. Frequently appearing on local TV, he is well known for his actions in Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II - most consider him a hero. Britta Stein, however, does not. The 90-year-old Chicago woman levels public accusations against Henryks by spray-painting “Coward”, “Traitor”, “Collaborator”, and “War Criminal” on the walls of his restaurant.

A dedicated painter, Miss Sophia Hastings is far more concerned with finding the right slant of light than in finding Mr. Right. But when an overheard conversation hints at danger for another local artist, Sophia is determined to get involved, even if it means accepting help from an impossibly good-looking vicar who insists on joining her investigation and threatens to capture her heart.

Alex Mercer could use a break. But, as usual, he can't catch one. He's overburdened with best man duties, familial changes, and work obligations. The three responsibilities collide when his daughter's boyfriend is taken, his best friend is targeted, and officers and agents go missing. He knows there must be a link, but he's the only common denominator - a fact that doesn't bode well for job security. Or his loved ones' safety.

A schoolgirl - Siu-Man - has committed suicide, leaping from her 22nd floor window to the pavement below. Siu-Man was an orphan, and Nga-Yee, the librarian older sister who'd been raising her, refuses to believe there was no foul play - although nothing seemed amiss. She contacts a man known only as N, a hacker and an expert in cyber-security and manipulating human behavior. But can Nga-Yee interest him sufficiently to take her case, and can she afford it if he says yes?

Swallowtail Island is hosting the Swallowtales Writer’s Conference. Lark’s ecstatic to be chosen as a “page” for her favorite author, Ann E. Keyhart. But they say you should never meet your idols. When Keyhart arrives with her personal assistant in tow, she is nothing but a terror. And within a few hours, the assistant is dead! But the explanation isn’t sitting well. Not when lots of people had reasons to want to be rid of Keyhart, and especially not after it’s revealed the assistant recently completed a hot new novel and the file’s vanished from her computer.

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she's cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel. In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide.

As January delves into her family history, she discovers dark secrets about her great-grandmother Colleen and those secrets threaten everything she ever thought she knew about her heritage. Now, with her confidence already on shaky ground, January takes on a case with her friend Ari. Hired by a friend to discover whether their child is really their child, January and Ari delve into the Mystic Woods, looking for the answer. Their investigation leads them down the rabbit hole of magical intrigue, unrequited love, and into the world of the Woodlings.

When Somerton County "bad girl" Leona Darling goes missing, Deputy John Lee Quarrels is ordered to find her. How hard could it be? Just look in the nearest gin mill, right? But Leona was nowhere to be found. As he begins asking questions, John Lee discovers that Leona was a badge bunny, a cop groupie who was well-known on a less than professional basis by many of his fellow lawmen. He also discovers that asking questions can get you into trouble, especially when the people you are asking wear badges, carry guns for a living, and have something to lose.

As most of New York City sleeps, Athena Paradis, one of the most glamorous and desired women in the world, steps onto the red carpet at an exclusive nightclub. Suddenly a shot rings out, and Athena dies amidst hundreds of cameras and spotlights. When Henry Parker begins to investigate the famous starlet's death, another public murder shakes the city to its core. Both murders appear to be more like executions. And Henry discovers a shocking link between the two murders, and to a man who seems to be taking his cue from one of the most notorious killers in history.

Nila Weaver's family is indebted. Being the first born daughter, her life is forfeit to the first born son of the Hawks to pay for sins of ancestors' past. The dark ages might have come and gone, but debts never leave. She has no choice in the matter. She is no longer free. Jethro Hawk receives Nila as an inheritance present on his 29th birthday. Her life is his until she's paid off a debt that's centuries old. He can do what he likes with her - nothing is out of bounds - she has to obey.

Kelsey has lived most of her life in a shadow of suspicion, raised to see danger everywhere. Her mother hasn't set foot outside their front door in 17 years, since she escaped from her kidnappers with nothing but her attacker's baby growing inside her - Kelsey. Kelsey knows she's supposed to keep a low profile and stay off the grid for their protection, but that plan is shattered when her dramatic car accident and rescue by volunteer firefighter and classmate Ryan Baker sparks media coverage.

In the mystical Snæfellsnes region on Iceland's west coast - at a New Age health resort in a renovated farmhouse - the body of a young woman is discovered, savagely beaten, with pins inserted into her feet. Thóra Gudmundsdóttir, lawyer and single mother of two, has been retained to represent the resort's owner and prime suspect. But a fresh corpse is not the only abomination Thóra encounters here - for local legend says this place is haunted.

Holly Miller and her grandmother, Oma, are working their tails off to prepare the Sugar Maple Inn for an upcoming matchmaking event for pet owners. While Holly has no interest in pairing up, Oma plans on playing Cupid and finding someone to warm her reluctant granddaughter's heart. Unfortunately, one man Holly does meet is cold - dead cold - and he has a personal letter from Oma in his pocket.

When FBI Agent Emily Slate discovers a series of fires are being used to cover up the murder of firefighters, she’ll need all her skills as an investigator to flush out the killer.

Nanette's life is finally getting back to normal when her mother calls her with some upsetting news: Nan's beloved bohemian Aunt Vivian has gone missing. Normally this is par for the course with Viv, but this time, the circumstances surrounding Vivian's disappearance are rather troubling. Would Nan be up to brushing up on her French language skills and flying to Paris to track her down? Would she ever. Now swanning about her favorite city, Nan has a hard time keeping her attention on the task at hand...especially after she meets handsome violinist Andre.