Detective Paul Monroe has little room in his life for anything but work. Maintaining order and solving cases in the town of Thornwood Park keeps him busy. When Jerry Gregoria, a popular bartender and personal trainer is found murdered, there’s no shortage of suspects. It seems Jerry was busy shaking more than cocktails all over town, leaving Paul and his partner with an ever-growing list of men and women who have reasons to want Jerry dead. The deeper Paul delves into the case, the more he finds himself drawn to hotel manager Cliff Baxter, whom he hasn’t seen in years. Cliff Baxter’s childhood crush on Paul Monroe hasn’t waned since high school. In fact, with the sexy detective conducting the investigation at the hotel, Cliff is more than happy to help. Ever since his last relationship went up in flames, Cliff has made it a rule to never get involved with a closeted man. But after Paul is threatened and things between the two heat up, Cliff decides to make an exception. With new twists in the case popping up every day and the mayor breathing down the police department’s neck, Paul needs to solve the case yesterday. It takes a crisis for Paul and Cliff to realize what started out as something casual could be everything they’ve both been looking for but never thought to find. But if the killer strikes again, they might never get that chance.

With her financial planning business beginning to flourish in Magnolia Hill, Oklahoma, Jillian Bradford is stunned to learn her old high school flame Stan Savage is not only back in town but suddenly cutting into her business with rash promises of investing success. Jillian doesn’t mind a little competition, but she knows Stan doesn’t possess the smarts or the training to handle the precious retirement accounts of her savvy senior friends. No sooner does Jillian tell Stan to drop dead than her nemesis bites the Oklahoma dust in his Porsche. Having unearthed evidence that Stan had been running a Ponzi scheme, Jillian has a hunch that the lying, cheating thief had plenty of enemies in their small college town. But the police dismiss her theory that Stan’s death was more than an accident. Solving Stan’s murder is ever-present on Jillian’s mind as she juggles clients while preparing her horse Agatha for the 4th of July parade. Will Jillian find the murderer before she becomes the next victim?

When a body is found in the park, Paul Monroe knows two things: this isn’t a simple mugging, and the weekend he has planned with his boyfriend is officially over before it begins. With no murder weapon but a slew of suspects at the ready, Paul and his partner, Rob, begin the tedious task of piecing together the few clues they have. Happier than he’s ever been, Cliff knows there’s more to Paul than the tough exterior the man shows to the world, but Cliff is determined to take things slow. An unexpected phone call forces him to revisit the pain of his past, and now he needs Paul more than ever, but he’s hesitant to ask, unwilling to pressure Paul into a decision he might not be ready to make. Paul’s investigation means more long nights away from Cliff, who is grappling with his unsettling news. Not being able to support Cliff isn’t sitting right with Paul, and for the first time his personal life is as important as his job. Knowing he has Paul to lean on gives Cliff the courage to speak and to heal old wounds as they navigate the minefield of building a relationship. Meanwhile, a killer walks the streets of Thornwood Park, and Paul won’t be satisfied until they are caught and justice served.

Tropes is a collection of thirty seven short, twisted, and diverse little tales, each crafted for maximum enjoyment.If you like sweet romance or sickening sexual violence, stark tragedy or dark comedy, the surreal or the plausible, then you'll probably find something here to enjoy. You might also find that along the way, there are events to laugh at, moments to cry over, and things that make you throw up in your mouth a little.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas hunts for the killer of a seemingly ordinary history teacher—and uncovers some extraordinary surprises—in this thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series. Eve Dallas doesn’t like to see innocent people murdered. And the death of history teacher Craig Foster is clearly a murder case. The lunch that his wife lovingly packed was tainted with deadly ricin. And Mr. Foster’s colleagues, shocked as they may be, have some shocking secrets of their own. It’s Eve’s job to get a feel for all the potential suspects—and find out why someone would have done this to a man who seemed so inoffensive, so pleasant...so innocent. Someone Eve could easily picture dead is an old flame of her billionaire husband Roarke, who has turned up in New York and manipulated herself back into his life. Consumed by her jealousy—and Roarke’s indifference to it—Eve finds it hard to focus on the Foster case. But when another man turns up dead, she’ll have to keep in mind that both innocence and guilt can be facades...

For a quarter of a century, this multiple award-winning annual selection has showcased some of the very best, and most disturbing, short stories and novellas of horror and the supernatural. As always, this landmark volume features superior fiction from such masters of the genre and newcomers in contemporary horror as Michael Chislett; Thana Niveau; Reggie Oliver; Tanith Lee; Niel Gaiman; Robert Shearman; Simon Strantzas; Lavie Tidhar; Simon Kurt Unsworth and Halli Villegas. With an in-depth introduction covering the year in horror, a fascinating necrology and a unique contact directory, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror remains the world’s leading anthology dedicated solely to presenting the very best in modern horror. Praise for previous Mammoth Books of Best New Horror: 'Stephen Jones . . . has a better sense of the genre than almost anyone in this country.' Lisa Tuttle, The Times. 'The best horror anthologist in the business is, of course, Stephen Jones, whose Mammoth Book of Best New Horror is one of the major bargains of this as of any other year.' Roz Kavaney. 'An essential volume for horror readers.' Locus

Eighteen years have passed since Seti commanded the Royal Army in The City of Refuge. Now he rules Egypt as King. While Seti is far away to the south, his eldest son is ambushed and killed through a senseless mistake. His family sends word, but it is not delivered. Seti returns to learn that his son is sealed away in a tomb. With grief weighing heavy upon his heart and yet constantly under his subjects' gaze, Seti cannot bear his grief. He seeks peace and healing in a small village only to learn that marauders from the western deserts have been attacking the town, which is helpless to resist them. During that short summer, the greatest warrior king of that dynasty teaches them the art of battle and in his turn learns of companionship, kindness and courage. Mourningtide, the second book of The Memphis Cycle, is a story of loss, renewal and love set against the background of the Valley of the Kings.