A poster child for our nation's urban experimentation a century ago, Gary was forged with hype and hope, dreams and sweat, political agendas and tons of steel. The hardscrabble city attracted all kinds, from shady scoundrels and famous architects to hardworking immigrants and brilliant entrepreneurs. Boasting 180,000 residents at its peak, the booming melting pot eventually faded away under the afflictions of urban decay, racial unrest and political upheaval. Jerry Davich explores the remnants of Gary's glory days, from Union Station in ruins to City Methodist Church stripped of its soul. Revisit the Sheraton Hotel's demise, Emerson High School's hard lessons, Vee-Jay Records' last release and a devastated downtown filled only with facades and fond memories.

Edgar Award Finalist: A teenage psychopath searches for his kidnapped sister in this “remarkable, dark, and exquisite” suspense novel (The Washington Post Book World). When Sherman Abbott fires a bullet into his brain in front of his younger sister, Mamie, his mother’s diligent care and faith in his recovery helps him heal into some semblance of his former self. But a year later, though Sherman can walk and talk, he can relate only to Mamie and the vicious dog known as the Chinaman that lives penned up next door. Then the Abbott house goes up in flames, and Mamie ends up in the hospital, where Leona Hillenbrandt, a well-meaning, lonely young woman bonds with the injured little girl—and abducts her. As Leona flees across the country, collecting other “lost” children, she must take unusual steps to protect her brood . . . because someone is stalking them. Aided only by the ferocious Chinaman, Sherman will stop at nothing to reclaim his beloved sister, leaving a trail of blood and carnage in his wake. An Edgar Award finalist for Best First Novel and hailed as “a minor American classic” by the Philadelphia Daily News, Lost takes readers into the chilling world of a psychopath and delivers an unforgettable, deeply moving read that will keep the reader guessing at every turn.

Sometimes evil has a familiar face . . . Paul Artisan, P.I. is a new version of an old breed -- a righter of wrongs, someone driven to get to the bottom of things. Too bad his usual cases are of the boring malpractice and fraud variety. Until now. His new gig turns on the disappearance of one of a pair of twins, adult scions of a rich but tragedy-prone family. The missing twin -- a charismatic poster-boy for irresponsibility -- has spent his life daring people to hate him, punishing himself endlessly for his screw-ups and misdeeds. The other twin -- Artisan's client -- is dutiful and resentful in equal measure, bewildered that his "other half" could have turned out so badly, and wracked by guilt at his inability to reform him. He has a more practical reason, as well, for wanting his brother found: their crazy father, in failing health and with guilty secrets of his own, will not divide the family fortune until both siblings are accounted for. But it isn't just a fortune that's at stake here. Truth itself is up for grabs, as the detective's discoveries seem to challenge everything we think we know about identity, and human nature, and family. As Artisan journeys across the globe to track down the bad twin, he seems to have moved into a mirror-world where friends and enemies have a way of looking very much alike. The P.I. may have his long-awaited chance to put his courage and ideals to the test, but if he doesn't get to the bottom of this case soon, it could very well cost him his life. Troup's long-awaited Bad Twin is a suspenseful novel that touches on many powerful themes, including the consequence of vengeance, the power of redemption, and where to turn when all seems lost. Bad Twin is a work of fiction and all names, characters and incidents are used fictitiously; the author himself is a fictional character.

Gary William Ramsey Biography Gary William Ramsey was born in Monroe, North Carolina. He graduated from Western Carolina University with degrees in business administration and social sciences. He enjoyed a highly successful career in retail, achieving the titles of President and CEO of two major corporations. Gary lived in 17 different locations in the USA and has traveled to numerous countries around the world. He presently resides in Kemah, Texas. He is the author of seven novels and a book of poetry.

A poster child for our nation's urban experimentation a century ago, Gary was forged with hype and hope, dreams and sweat, political agendas and tons of steel. The hardscrabble city attracted all kinds, from shady scoundrels and famous architects to hardworking immigrants and brilliant entrepreneurs. Boasting 180,000 residents at its peak, the booming melting pot eventually faded away under the afflictions of urban decay, racial unrest and political upheaval. Jerry Davich explores the remnants of Gary's glory days, from Union Station in ruins to City Methodist Church stripped of its soul. Revisit the Sheraton Hotel's demise, Emerson High School's hard lessons, Vee-Jay Records' last release and a devastated downtown filled only with façades and fond memories.

Series statement taken from publisher's website.

More than 60,000 books have been published on the Civil War. Most Americans, though, get their ideas about the war--why it was fought, what was won, what was lost--not from books but from movies, television, and other popular media. In an engaging and accessible survey, Gary W. Gallagher guides readers through the stories told in recent film and art, showing how these stories have both reflected and influenced the political, social, and racial currents of their times.