Lineville, Iowa, is your typical small town: box-lunch auctions, doors left unlocked, and plenty of gossip. So the last thing Lineville's inhabitants expect the summer of 1920 is murder. When snooty Sophia Vander Veen, part owner of the Mineral Springs Resort, is found murdered after the disastrous Fourth of July ball, not many people are upset. But Maude Lovett, a self-styled detective who prides herself in her shrewd observation abilities, vows to get to the bottom of the murder and the malicious pranks that led up to Sophia's death. Maude makes it her duty to determine if the pranks—a snake in Sophia's closet, a headless statue in her bed, and noxious gas in her suite of rooms—and the murder were committed by the same person. With suspects from bootleggers to close acquaintances to waiters at the Mineral Springs Resort, Maude has her work cut out for her and must quickly eliminate suspects in order to squelch rising fear. With help from her niece, Lilly, and her friends; her sister, Nell; and everyone in between, Maude labors to bring justice to her once-safe town. Upon questioning her final batch of suspects, Maude learns the killer's identity and then uses herself as bait in a dangerous trap to snare the murderous perpetrator. Surprising twists, a bit of romance, and humor laced throughout are sure to keep you turning the pages until you too discover the target of Maude's iron-willed persistence.

Spain, 1493 - Europe's first smoker imprisioned by the Inquisition England, 1604 - Massive tax rise on tobacco in a bid to discourage smoking Canada, 1676 - Smoking is banned in the street United States, 1899 - Anti-smoking campaigners call for the eradication of tobacco Germany, 1944 - Smoking banned on public transport to protect workers from secondhand smoke In this revealing and meticulously researched account of an untold story, Christopher Snowdon traces the fortunes of those who have tried to stamp out tobacco through the ages. Velvet Glove, Iron Fist takes the reader on a journey from 15th century Cuba to 21st century California, via Revolutionary France, Victorian Britain, Prohibition Era America and Nazi Germany. Along the way, the author finds uncanny parallels between today's anti-smoking activists and those of the past. Today, as the same tactics begin to be used against those who enjoy alcohol, chocolate, fast food, gambling and perfume, Velvet Glove, Iron Fist provides a timely reminder that once politicians start regulating private behaviour, they find it very hard to quit.

A completely redesigned issue of Daniel Clowes masterpiece of surrealistic and cinematic low-life drama which collects together all 10 chapters of Eightball's terrifying and fascinating journey into madness. As Clay Loudermilk attempts to unravel the mysteries behind a snuff film, he finds himself involved with an increasingly bizarre cast of characters. Clowes reputation as a graphic novel artist is renowned throughout the comic world, and he is set to reach a wider audience next year with the release of the film Ghost World, directed by Terry Zwigoff.

This book presents a concept of the role of police in society as basically repressive. The authors give a historical account of the rise of police from early slave patrols to the present to bolster their position that the police are a repressive force. Instances of police brutality and police control of demonstrators are examined. Technological advances and equipment to aid police departments are pointed to as examples in the police arsenal of repression. Police political surveillance is described, and private security police come under fire also for protecting corporate property and investments.