In a novel filled with lush imagery and exhilarating action, Faith Hunter creates a near-future world caught in the throes of an ambiguous apocalypse-where a woman with everything to hide finds her true destiny revealed. As humanity struggles with religious strife and seraphs and demons fight a never-ending battle, a new species has arisen. «Neomages" are human in appearance, but able to twist left-over creation energy to their will. A threat to both humans and seraphs, they are confined in luxurious Enclaves. Thorn St. Croix is no ordinary neomage. Nearly driven insane by her powers, she is smuggled out of an Enclave and now lives among humans, channeling her gift of stone-magery into jewelry making. But when Thaddeus Bartholomew, a dangerously attractive policeman, tells her that her ex-husband has been kidnapped, Thorn risks revealing her identity to find him. And for Thorn, the punishment for revelation is death.

When a world-famous Olympic swimmer is sabotaged during the Summer Games, Nancy Drew, her friends, and the Hardy brothers have their work cut out for them after they decide to investigate the scandal. Can they find out who wants the swimming superstar to sink, or are they in water over their heads?

"Death," observes DeKok, "is entitled to our respect. Especially when it manifests itself in a violent manner." The phenomenon of sudden death has long intrigued Inspector DeKok. From the moment he confronted his first corpse, at the beginning of a very long career, he knew it was never going to get any easier. The numbness will never set in even after solving many mysteries, bringing to light many dark dealings, and unraveling many a puzzle. For DeKok, death will always remain an enigma. Mustering his decorated experience and reverence for the dead once more, a triple murder in the Amsterdam Concert Gebouw has DeKok unveiling the truth behind two dead ex-junkies and their housekeeper. Murder By Melody is the second new release by Speck Press in the celebrated Baantjer series. With an emphasis on the best possible translations, editorial consistency, and attractive cover art, this sleek series will prove that DeKok can claim success equal to that achieved in Europe where he is on...

A Detroit mob war draws Peter Macklin back into his old life as a Mafia assassin in award-winning author Loren D. Estleman's riveting hard-boiled thriller The Reverend Thomas Aquinas Sunsmith is halfway through his sermon when killers open fire. He is preaching against the evils of gambling, which a cartel of mobsters is trying to legalize in Detroit. The hail of gunfire misses the reverend, but a choir member is cut down—the first victim in the battle for the soul of the Motor City. The Detroit mob has erupted into civil war, and professional killer Peter Macklin is caught in the middle. A former mob employee, he has since tried to stay away from the savagery of organized crime, but now they're offering him a job too tempting to refuse. The mob will kill whomever it takes to bring gambling to Detroit, and Macklin is about to discover their secret weapon: a seventeen-year-old prodigy assassin, who happens to be Macklin's own son.

WHO WANTS MADELINE WESTFIELD DEAD? AND WHY? Forensic Instincts’ first order of business is to find out who’s targeting their client. Under the leadership of Casey Woods, the investigative team has the resources to do just that, working inside the law - and outside it. FI’s strength is its members, among them Casey’s associate Marc Devereaux, former navy SEAL and a man who’s equal to any situation. Except maybe this one[unknown-8230] Madeline’s case hits too close to home for Marc. She’s the only woman he ever loved, and she’s his only weakness. Now a nurse at Manhattan Memorial, she’s terrified because someone is trying to kill her. So she turns, reluctantly, to Marc and FI for help and protection. Meanwhile, Manhattan Memorial is in turmoil. With a merger in the works, the staff is still haunted by their hospital administrator’s sudden death - during heart surgery performed by Madeline’s ex-husband, Conrad. A surgery at which Madeline was present. The killer seems to blame both Madeline and Conrad[unknown-8230] With a growing list of suspects - including the grieving widow and a string of scorned lovers - Forensic Instincts will have to figure out who has the greatest incentive to get rid of Madeline. And FI has to work fast to save her[unknown-8230]before she’s permanently silenced.

When the apparent suicide of a young physiotherapist starts to take on more sinister aspects, Detective Sergeant Kathy Kolla jumps at the chance to investigate. Soon, questions arise: is a cover-up taking place to protect the reputations of wealthy clients? Was it really suicide or-murder? Suddenly taken off the case, Kathy turns to Detective Chief Inspector Brock of Scotland Yard. But when Brock checks himself in as a patient, they both learn that spas are not always good for your health-especially if you're a target for murder.

What are the Bamboo?They are from China.They look just like us.They live by night.They drink human lifeblood but otherwise keep their distance.And every century, they grow white blooming flowers.A boy named Kyo is saved from the precipice of death by a Bamboo, a vampire born of the tall grasses. They start an enjoyable yet strange shared life together, Kyo and the gentle Bamboo. But for Bamboo, communication with human beings is the greatest sin.Rated: None