Society Mystery

It is 1890. In the twilight of his years, Carl Brooke records his reminiscences as a member of the Agora Society. Each letter describes the society's involvement in solving a crime, often coming to the aid of Captain Barnwell of the Boston police.

Seven of Charles Dickens' best ghost and thriller stories, which have been widely read and beloved worldwide. This collection celebrates the 200th anniversary of his birth. These stories provide a wonderful introduction Dickens before embarking upon his long novels; after these stories, listening to his longer novels becomes even more of a pleasure. Perfect for students and teachers seeking an understanding and appreciation of Dickens, without the time to engage with his long novels.

Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society president Nell Pratt gets some unexpected news that rocks her foundation. Two members of a local neighborhood rescue program, Tyrone Blakeney and Cherisse Chapman, inform Nell that her society owns an abandoned row house in a rundown area of Philadelphia and they insist on taking her to see the property before its date with the wrecking ball. But soon after they arrive at the house, Cherisse is fatally shot and Tyrone is badly injured. The police believe it's just random violence in a bad neighborhood, but Nell thinks there's more to it.

Six months ago, high school king Sumner Shadows tried to kill his friends. He led them to a cemetery and tried to bleed them dry. And he almost succeeded. But his friends lived through the horror, and ended up committing their own heinous crime in the process. They covered up what they did, and Sumner got away. That was supposed to be the end. But when a new girl moves to Armor Falls and has tangible evidence that Sumner might be back to finish what he started, the four friends he left behind are put to the test to learn what caused Sumner's sudden need to have them dead.

Lily is a top-tier agent for the CIA, though her husband was told she’s an agricultural attaché to explain her overseas missions. Disturbing developments at the office foreshadow developing troubles. When she is suddenly sent on a strange mission starting in Afghanistan with a multinational mixed team, they subsequently are forced to fight for their lives, constantly on the run, chased across several continents. Aware of background players, she must cope without the normal support and resources at home.

Every family is a secret society. Forget the Freemasons, forget the OTO, and forget the Illuminati. This applies to some families more than others, but no family is an exception. My family is both typical and exemplary. For your paranoia trip, look no further than your own household. Think about all the secrets you keep—every deep, dark one and every shallow, vain one, and all in between. Stop assuming everyone else doesn’t have the same amount of secrets or more. They are all constantly lying about, omitting, and distorting information.