Calendar

 
Hours:  10 - 6 Wed - Friday, Sat 10 - 5
Sundays for signings. 

Order signed first editions online.    

Click here to order any of the books featured below.   

Book Group

All are welcome, so please join us.  We will be meeting on Thursday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m. for The Woman Who Married a Bear by John Straley. The book for Thursday, February 4 at 7:00 p.m. is Corridors of Death by Ruth Dudley Edwards.

Author Events

Samantha Brennan is a bogus psychic who finds herself entangled in a situation that brings her into contact with a genuine Celtic goddess who has taken the human form of Special FBI Agent Annabelle Haggerty. Hollywood actress Molly Clare has gone missing evidently abducted by a car full of clowns! After an attempt is made on Sam’s life she is rescued by Annabelle, and the two women team-up to battle the dark forces that are fomenting gang wars and riots in the City of Angels. The first book in new series from the creator of the heralded Tracy Eaton mysteries, this lighthearted but lively urban fantasy mystery will appeal to fans of Juliet Blackwell and Charlaine Harris.

L. A. Sheriff’s Deputy Charlie Hood is back in action. Charlie is part of the task force formed with the ATFE to foil the gunrunning squads that provide the muscle for the vicious cartel wars. A botched sting operation results in the death of the son of a powerful cartel leader. The conse­quence is an incursion of cartel soldiers crossing the border bent on bloody revenge specifically targeting members of Hood’s team.  This is a superbly crafted novel from the master of California noir that combines hard-hitting action with a probing exploration of the very real and deadly situations surrounding our southern border.

Left speechless as the result of a childhood trauma at the age of eight, Michael now eighteen is a young man with two special talents. He creates graphic novels and he can defeat any kind of lock device. The former skill attracts a special girl but the latter ability leads him into partnership with some less than honorable business partners.  This stand-alone thriller from the Edgar winning writer of the Alex McKnight series is a first person narrative that draws you in from the first page as Michael shares with us, in the only way he can, his challenging odyssey to exhume the secret that has kept him silent so long. This is a fresh and original tale that is offbeat and fascinating.

Charlie Bouchon has just finished serving an 18-month stretch for grand theft auto.  He looks to score some quick cash performing an errand for his former boss, a well-connected woman with the L.A. Armenian mob. Things get complicated for Charlie when he discovers that the car he’s supposed to drop off in exchange for a suitcase has a girl bound and gagged in the trunk. Charlie opens a Pandora’s box of troubles for himself when he chooses to release the girl. This dynamite debut is a fast and funny crime caper filled with entertaining characters and featuring some dynamite plot twists.

Retired Marine sniper, Bob Lee Swagger is asked by his friend FBI agent Nick Memphis to employ his unique and special expertise to uncover who’s responsible for a series of killings targeting ‘60s peaceniks. Swagger’s quest for the truth plunges him into a situation where skill, intelligence, and marksmanship will be required if evil is to be thwarted and the reputation of former war hero is to be salvaged. Stephen Hunter is in fine form in this outing that delves into the darkest corners of the sniper world and the clever subterfuges utilized to tarnish a man’s honor. This latest bullet-filled opus will please his legion of fans and will certainly gain him some new ones.

FBI forensic artist Sydney Fitzpatrick is called upon help identify the faceless corpse of a young woman. When her friend, the forensic anthropologist who assisted her, is killed in a hit-and-run accident, Sydney’s certain that it was not a random event but a deliberate act linked to their investi­gation. Her deeper probing into the first victim’s background reveals a connection that brings her to Italy where the search for a long lost Templar treasure by a ruthless killer knows no bounds. Robin Burcell has constructed an action-packed international thriller that will keep you turning pages deep into the night.

The death of her father brings former army sniper Mercy Gunderson home to South Dakota. Mercy has the unplea­sant task deciding what to do with the family ranch, a problem that becomes compounded by the discovery of a dead Native American boy on the property.  The local authorities make no real effort to investigate, and when tragedy strikes again, Mercy goes into action determined to stop a killer before everything she has fought for is lost. This is the premiere of a new series with a heroine who is a tough, independent force of nature.

Saturday, January 30, 2:00 p.m.
CHARLIE HUSTON, SLEEPLESS

It’s the summer of 2010, and the world is facing yet another devastating challenge as 10 percent of the people are infected with SLP—a plague of sleeplessness that condemns the victims to a fugue like state that leads ultimately to a painful death after about one year. Parker Haas is an LAPD cop whose wife has fallen prey to the disease, and who worries about the fate of his infant daughter. As the fabric of social order strains and frays all around him, Parker relentlessly continues an undercover probe of those involved with Dreamer a black market drug that alleviates the suffering but does not cure the disease. Science fiction, crime, and suspense are all blended seamlessly together in this thought provoking work that transcends genre classifications creating a powerful and haunting literary experience that is a testament to the strength and endurance of the human spirit.

Joe Pike and Elvis Cole are together again as Joe takes center stage in this adrenaline-charged revenge thriller. Frank Meyer and his family are slaughtered in what on the surface is made to appear to be a home invasion gone horribly wrong. While the police suspect Frank was mixed up in something of a criminal nature, Joe who worked with Frank as professional mercenary knows better. Enlisting the aid of his friend and partner L.A. PI Elvis Cole, and Jon Stone, another former mercenary, Joe sets out to avenge the death of his fallen comrade. And Joe also wants to know what triggered this atrocity. It’s a quest that plunges them into a vortex of old grudges, double crosses, blackmail, kidnapping, and gun smuggling. When you buy the book from us you will receive your very own Joe Pike temporary tattoo! They are way cool, so reserve your copy today.

It’s 1940 and exploding fireworks are filling the sky as San Francisco’s Chinatown engages in a Chinese New Year celebration that is part of the street festival designed to raise money and community support for the China war relief effort. As the party rages on, Miranda Corbie, a 33-year-old private investigator, sees a young numbers runner, Eddie Takahashi, shot to death right in front of her. When the authorities make it clear that they have no interest in pursuing the case, Miranda sets out to get to the truth behind such indifference.  Miranda is a totally realized character that you can’t help but root for even if you don’t always like what she says or the way she behaves. This is a debut that any serious fan of period noir cannot afford to miss.

Chief Inspector Kaldis of the Greek Police’s Special Crimes Division is called to investigate when the body of the teenage son of a one of Greece’s wealthiest families is found thrown in a dumpster behind a bar in one of the seediest neighborhoods in Athens. Within days the boy’s family flees the country, and politically incorrect Kaldis finds himself immersed in the dark underworld of the criminal side of the nightlife scene. In the course of the search for answers, Kaldis finds divisions that exist in the upper echelons of Athens high society where resentments and vendettas stretch back from the distant past. 

Last year we had a very delightful visit with these two gifted cozy writers and we are pleased to welcome them back with the latest adventures of their spirited heroines. The Proof is in the Pudding is a new Della Cooks mystery that finds Della Car­michael, the host of a cable cooking show in a deadly situation. Della is enlisted to serve as one of three judges for an A-list cook-off, but the situation heats up unexpectedly as the parti­cipating celebrities are getting knocked off.  Recipes included!

Expose! has obituary writer Vicky Hill receiving an early morning anonymous tip about a secret funeral for a local celebrity being staged by her husband.  Probing into the reasons for such a low-key ceremony she uncovers more than she bargained for as she tries to stay one step ahead of a killer. An added bonus is a peek into the world of snail racing! If you are looking for a fun-filled afternoon, you know where to be.

It’s June in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and Hannah Swensen, owner of The Cookie Jar, has been commissioned by the mayor’s wife to bake 1,100 cookies for a 3-day charity fundraiser.  Furthermore, her business partner, Lisa, persuades Hannah to set up an apple turnover stand at the event. Hannah has also been recruited to participate as a magician’s assistant in the talent show segment. The major wrinkle is that the host of the program is Professor Bradford Ramsey, a former suitor and all-around cad who courted not only Hannah but her younger sister as well. When Ramsey is found dead backstage with a turnover in his hand, Hannah is compelled once more to ferret out a killer.  As always, delectable cookie and dessert recipes are included. Do culinary mysteries get any better than this? Join us for a special Sunday launch party to celebrate another winning entry in this captivating series, and take advan­tage of a sterling opportunity to meet and greet Hannah’s creator in person.

SIGNED BOOKS

Serge A. Storms, the devoted Floridaphile and committed psycho killer who dispenses his own vigilante justice on all those folk who mistreat Florida or other people, has de­cided to add auteur to his lengthy resume. With his old buddy Coleman in tow, Storms arrives in Panama City to shoot a documentary about Spring Break and takes under his protective wing a college student who is being sought by a Miami crime gang and some FBI agents. This leads to the comic mayhem that is the signature trait of this long-running and popular series.  (Jan) 

The author of The Historian has written another novel about the power of obsession. Andrew Marlowe is a psychiatrist who also is a student of painting. When famous artist Robert Oliver attacks a painting in the National Gallery of Art, he becomes a patient at Marlowe’s clinic. Desperate to understand what could have caused such a shocking act, Marlowe seeks out the women closest to Oliver to unearth a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism. This sweeping novel about life and love is poised to be another stellar success from the brilliant Yale graduate. (Jan)

Aleut detective Kate Shugak and Alaska state trooper Jim Chopin have had their hands full keeping track of missing persons lately. Hikers have been getting lost in the wilderness when they go in unprepared. Miners have quit and left without telling anyone. The result of all this is that when an abandoned pickup truck is located with a suicide note inside and partial human remains are discovered nearby, it is assumed that they are the bones of the owner of the truck. But things take a strange turn when the “dead” man stumbles out of the wilderness onto Kate’s homestead. Kate and Jim set out to unravel the story of the man and the body, and it seems likely that the nearby gold mine plays a part in this puzzle. (Feb)

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Lady Emily and her new husband British agent Colin Hargreaves are on their honeymoon in 19^th-century Constantinople when a half-English harem girl is murdered. Colin is assigned the investigation, and the Crown reluctantly grants Emily the delicate task of questioning the harem. The lush and exotic setting combined with the signature formula of danger, romance, and detection that are Tasha Alexander trademarks make this fourth entry a standout in this popular Victorian series. (Dec)

This is the promising debut of a new historical series introducing amateur sleuth, Miss Dido Kent. She arrives at Bellfield Hall in September of 1805 to comfort her niece whose fiancé has disappeared after receiving a mysterious message. Very soon after Miss Kent’s arrival the body of young woman is discovered on the estate. As she pursues her inquiry into the possibility of a linkage between these two events, she uncovers surprising information about some of the other occupants of Bellfield Hall, but maybe most surprising is the fact that she is falling in love herself. This well-realized traditional country house mystery is rich with period detail and is anchored by a clever and resourceful heroine that should build a strong following among fans of Jane Austen and Regency lovers.  (Feb)

Two men with the same name, from the same family, die on the same night. One is a gangland slaying and the other is, apparently, a road accident. Or is it? When family member Gina Rafferty starts asking questions she starts on a path of inquiry that will push certain powerful interests to their limits placing her in jeopardy. This is the first in a series of novels revealing the dark and hidden underside of globalization. The lust for power and the corrupting influence of money are the driving forces in this modern Irish noir tale. (Feb)

The little town of Maggody, Arkansas boasts a total population of 755 is holding its first charity golf tournament. The announcement of the awarding of a $40,000 bass boat to the first player to score a hole-in-one sets off a frenzy of activity with everyone in town trying to learn the game.   When braggart Tommy Ridner achieves that coveted goal on the first day of the tournament it prompts someone in town to bash Tommy’s head in with a golf club. This brutal act presents pregnant police chief Arly Hanks with a messy and complicated case of homicide with practically the whole town qualifying as prime suspects. This long-running cozy series purrs along like a well-tended racecar, never stalling or spinning out as it heads for the checkered flag. (Jan)

South Boston PI Mark Genevich, a narcoleptic detective who falls prey to unexpected blackouts is struggling to keep his business afloat. An infidelity investigation for a powerful CEO is botched when his affliction results in his tailing the wrong woman. With the threat of a lawsuit hanging over his head, Mark accepts an assignment from a member of his therapy group. In trying to protect a female bartender from a stalker, Mark’s efforts run true to form and he finds himself tangled up in a murder case with the police suspecting him of being an arsonist. This witty and quirky follow-up to last year’s well-received novel, The Little Death, clearly proves that this unique sleuth really can go the distance as the hero of a continuing series. (Feb)