The Last Olympian: the fifth book in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series.The fifth awesome adventure in the top-ten bestselling Percy Jackson series - now in paperback.Most people get presents on their sixteenth birthday. I get a prophecy that could save or destroy the world.That's how it is when you're the son of Poseidon, God of the Sea. According to an ancient prophecy, bad things will happen when I turn sixteen - because I'm the one who gets to decide the fate of the entire world. But no pressure.This is the one where Kronos, Lord of the Titans, is beginning his attack on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Oh, and the dreaded (and not to mention enormous) monster Typhon is also heading our way. So it's me and forty of my demigod friends versus untold evil . . .Praise for the Percy Jackson series:'Witty and inspired. Gripping, touching and deliciously satirical...This is most likely to succeed Rowling. Puffin is on to a winner' - Amanda Craig, The Times'Puns, jokes and subtle wit, alongside a gripping storyline' - Telegraph'Perfectly paced, with electrifying moments chasing each other like heartbeats' - New York TimesRick Riordan is an award-winning mystery writer. For the past fifteen years he has taught at middle schools in the San Francisco Bay area and in Texas. Rick lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife and two sons. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, the overall winner of the Red House Children's Book Award, was Rick's first novel featuring the heroic young demigod.The Percy Jackson series:The Lightning Thief; The Sea of Monsters; The Battle of the Labyrinth; The Titan's Curse; The Last Olympian Heroes of Olympus:The Lost Hero; The Son of Neptune; The Mark of AthenaThe Kane Chronicles:The Red Pyramid; The Throne of Fire; The Serpent's Shadow Read more

Irish scones, shamrock shortbread, a local literary festival… and a rather dead author? Join Mercy McCarthy on her next case! Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy are settling in to the charming seaside village of Shamrock Cove on the west coast of Ireland. Lizzie throws herself into organizing a book festival and mystery writer Mercy even agrees to come out of her bookish hidey-hole to get involved. But then the event’s star author is found dead. James Brandt was killed by a falling bookshelf in his own cottage… The local detective is not convinced by Mercy’s suspicion of murder but when someone else turns up dead, the police cannot ignore it. There’s just one problem: Mercy and Lizzie’s beloved dog Mr. Poe sniffs out the second body in the storeroom of their own bookstore. And now all the gossips seem determined to pin the murder on Mercy!Convinced the police are focusing on a red herring in this real-life case, Mercy needs to act fast to clear her name. A meddling mayor, a cheerful chef and a bashful botanist make her suspect list, but it’s not until Mercy discovers a tatty old photograph in the local library archive that she is onto the killer’s trail.With the police keen to shut her out of the murder investigation, can Mercy play this case by the book, or will she be the next to fall off the shelf…? A totally gripping and twisty cozy crime novel, perfect for readers who love Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor or Faith Martin! This incredibly fast-paced and fun murder mystery will whisk you off to Ireland and won’t let you go until the final page!See what readers say about Death by the Book: “Wow!!!… Absolutely blooming fantastic!!… mind-blowing twists!!… had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!!… I started this one afternoon and finished it a few hours later after I read it in one sitting!!!” Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“So incredibly addicting!… Phenomenal… the definition of cozy murder mystery and I couldn’t put it down!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“Oh man! I loved this book so much that I finished it in one sitting!… tons of thrills, chills, wild rides… Red herring after red herring gets thrown at you and you just have to keep ducking!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“Captivating… a delight for cozy mystery lovers… thrilling… plot twists keep the pages turning… a must-read!” The Book Decoder, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“A twisty, turny tale that will keep the pages flipping!” Goodreads reviewer“Simply amazing… absolutely charming… kept me guessing until the end.” (e)Book Nerd Reviews, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“I am LOVING this to bits!… FANTASTIC!… I am hooked… thrilling and exciting… truly a treat to read.” A Bookish Way of Life“Amazing. I loved… I read it so quickly. Highly recommend.” Pulling Lexi, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“Did I google if Shamrock Cove actually exists, because I want to go and visit? Maybe… a fast-paced and delightful read that will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie… will keep you turning pages until the very end… a must-read for mystery lovers!” Goodreads reviewer“A new favorite… The little town is super adorable, and the mystery always keeps me guessing… so much fun, I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next!!!” Daniereads87, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“An absolute page-turner… awesome… Loved.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Read more

New York Times bestselling author Terri Blackstock’s Cape Refuge series is now available in one volume.Cape RefugeWhen Thelma and Wayne Owens are found murdered in the warehouse where they held their church services, their son-in-law Jonathan is arrested for the crime—but his wife Morgan and her sister Blair, Thelma and Wayne’s daughters, are confident that he didn’t do it and set out to find the real killer. Southern StormPolice Chief Cade disappears after hitting and killing a man with his car.  Without a trace, without a note, without taking clothes or his car or money—he is gone.  When a witness says she saw Cade getting into a blue Buick with a woman before his disappearance, the newspapers report that Cade left town to be with her.  But Blair Owens believes something has happened to Cade, and she’s determined to find him.River’s EdgeMayoral candidate Ben Jackson seems to have the election locked.  But when Jackson's wife turns up murdered, things begin to shift.  Was this the act of a jealous lover? A dangerous client? Or is this all about the election?Breaker’s ReefA teenage girl is found murdered, and the scene matches one in a book by a famous mystery writer who just moved to the island. This murder has a connection to Hanover House—and the residents there might never be the same. Read more

After suffering a personal tragedy Abby Sullivan buys a huge old seaside mansion she has never even seen, packs up her life in San Francisco, and moves to Holiday Bay Maine, where she is adopted, quite against her will, by a huge Maine Coon Cat named Rufus, a drifter with her own tragic past named Georgia, and a giant dog with an inferiority complex named Ramos. What Abby thought she needed was alone time to heal. What she ended up with was, an inn she never knew she wanted, a cat she couldn't seem to convince to leave, and a new family she'd never be able to live without.In book 1 of this series, a local girl has been murdered and the small seaside community is up in arms. When Abby finds boxes in the basement of her new home, which seem to provide a clue as to who might have killed the girl, Abby plants herself firmly in the middle of what has turned out to be a complicated investigation. Although Abby isn't a cop, or even a private detective, she isn't unfamiliar with the investigative process. As a New York Times Bestselling mystery writer she knows how to conduct research. As the widow of a homicide detective, she knows the questions to ask. Join Abby, Georgia, Rufus, and Ramos, as they help Officer Colt Wilder track down a killer before he kills the next victim in what looks to be a annual spree. Read more

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Stephanie Plum knows that something big is brewing in Trenton, New Jersey—and it could blow at any minute. “The most popular mystery writer alive.”—The New York TimesStephanie Plum might not be the world’s greatest bounty hunter, but she knows when she’s being played. Ken Globovic (aka Gobbles), hailed as the Supreme Exalted Zookeeperof the animal house known as Zeta fraternity, has been arrested for beating up the dean of students at Kiltman College. Gobbles has missed his court date and gone into hiding. People have seen him on campus, but no one will talk. Things just aren’t adding up, and Stephanie can’t shake the feeling that something funny is going on at the college—and it’s not just Zeta fraternity pranks. As much as people love Gobbles, they hate Doug Linken. When Linken is gunned down in his backyard it’s good riddance, and the list of possible murder suspects is long. The only people who care about finding Linken’s killer are Trenton cop Joe Morelli, who has been assigned the case, security expert Ranger, who was hired to protect Linken, and Stephanie, who has her eye on a cash prize and hopefully has some tricks up her sleeve. Read more

“A socialite bride, a $1 million inheritance, an older husband of questionable social rank, Yankees misbehaving on Southern soil . . . [A] web of intrigue” (Our State).   A news media frenzy hurled the quiet resort community of Pinehurst, North Carolina, into the national spotlight in 1935 when hotel magnate Ellsworth Statler’s adopted daughter was discovered dead early one February morning weeks after her wedding day. A politically charged coroner’s inquest failed to determine a definitive cause of death, and the following civil action continued to expose sordid details of the couple’s lives. More than half a century later, the story was all but forgotten when local resident Diane McLellan spied an old photograph at a yard sale and became obsessed with solving the mystery. Her enthusiastic sleuthing captured the attention of Southern Pines resident and journalist Steve Bouser, who takes readers back to those blustery winter days so long ago in the search to reveal what really happened to Elva Statler Davidson.   Includes photos   “As compelling as any crime mystery an American writer has ever written: suspenseful, titillating, true and set in Moore County.” —The Pilot   “Bouser is both compassionate and balanced in his reports of the Davidson affair.” —Authors ’Round the South   “Bouser uses a story ‘ripped from the headlines’ as they say to reveal what’s known and unknown about a young Pinehurst socialite’s bizarre death . . . [He] takes the reader through the wild inquest, a later trial over Elva’s will, and buckets of speculation.” —Salisbury Post Read more

"Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction." (Tana French, New York Times best-selling author)From the queen of suspense, an all-new collection of her spookiest and most sinister stories, including an Agatha Christie story never before published in the USA, "The Wife of Kenite"!For lovers of the supernatural and the macabre comes this collection of ghostly and chilling stories from legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie. Fantastic psychic visions, specters looming in the shadows, encounters with deities, a man who switches bodies with a cat - be sure to keep the light on whilst listening to these tales.The Last Séance gathers 20 stories, some featuring Christie’s beloved detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, in one haunting compendium that explores all things occult and paranormal, and is an essential omnibus for Christie fans. Read more

The Ultimate Resource for Research! As a mystery writer I was constantly looking up poisons and wanted a book that would instantly tell me where to aquire different poisons, what the symptoms were, how traceable were they, and how long it took the victim to die! This was the book I needed.If you write mysteries, thrillers, crime or suspense, or have to do any kind of research involving toxins then you needthis excellent compendium of 'to the point' information.Each chapter unveils the facts of substances such as:ArsenicCyanideDeadly NightshadeToxic MushroomsHemlockStrychnineAnd many more!Journey through the intriguing stories of history's most infamous poisons and poisoners. Blending scientific detail with historical context, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into the deadly science of toxicology. Learn about the groundbreaking discoveries, the development of life-saving antidotes, and the ongoing battle between poisoners and detectives.This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the lethal yet captivating world of poison Read more

While everyone loves eating fresh garden produce, not everyone has the time and energy to create a productive garden. But what if growing delicious crops required hardly any effort? What if you could have succulent strawberries, perfect peas, and terrific tomatoes without needing to touch a spade, hoe, or plow—without needing to worry about irrigating, spraying, sowing a cover crop, weeding, cultivating, or building a compost pile? If that sounds good, the Stout System is the answer for you!Ruth Stout has shown tens of thousands of gardeners how to greatly reduce their gardening workload. Let Ruth (and within a few chapters, she will feel like a friend!) show you how you can rejuvenate the soil and make your fruits, vegetables, and flowers thrive with low-maintenance mulch gardening.Widely renowned as a gardening expert (and sister of the famed mystery writer Rex Stout), Ruth Stout wrote extensively about how to simplify gardening. Her techniques have brought people from all over the world to her garden, and now her advice can help you maximize your garden's output with minimal effort. In addition to the time-saving tips provided, Stout's joyous perspective on life and gardening makes this book a delight-and is a must-read for anyone growing food or flowers. Read more

The Ultimate Resource for Research! As a mystery writer I was constantly looking up poisons and wanted a book that would instantly tell me where to aquire different poisons, what the symptoms were, how traceable were they, and how long it took the victim to die!If you write mysteries, thrillers, crime or suspense, or have to do any kind of research involving toxins then you need this excellent compendium of 'to the point' information.Each chapter unveils the facts of substances such as:ArsenicCyanideDeadly NightshadeToxic MushroomsHemlockStrychnineAnd many more!Journey through histories most infamous poisons and poisoners. Blending scientific detail with historical context, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into the deadly science of toxicology. Learn about the groundbreaking discoveries, the development of life-saving antidotes, and the ongoing battle between poisoners and detectives.This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the lethal yet captivating world of poison Read more

A Coretta Scott King Author Honor and Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor winner!"Powerful.... Johnson writes about the long shadows of the past with such ambition that any reader with a taste for mystery will appreciate the puzzle Candice and Brandon must solve." -- The New York Times Book ReviewWhen Candice finds a letter in an old attic in Lambert, South Carolina, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, who left the town in shame. But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding its writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle.So with the help of Brandon, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the answers slip into the past yet again? Read more

The Elements of Mystery Fiction: Writing the Modern Whonunit has guided and inspired mystery writer veterans as well as beginners―for nearly a decade. Here William G. Tapply, with more than 20 popular mystery and suspense novels under his belt, isolates the crucial "elements" of the mystery novels that publishers want to publish and readers want to read―original plots, clever clues, sympathetic sleuths, memorable villains, multi-dimensional supporting characters, true-to-life settings, sharp narrative hooks, and, of course, smooth writing. In clear readable prose using examples from many of our best contemporary mystery novelists, Tapply shows how the writer can create the pieces and fit them together to make a story you can't put down.This new expanded edition of Elements contains original chapters by some of our best contemporary writers and most prominent personalities in the publishing world discussing writing and business issues that are vital to mystery writers in the 21st century. Read more