The dark side of the soul is a terrifying place. "I'm about to be murdered!" With this message, an intruder wakes up Lizeth Frontenac in the middle of the night. He gives her his name, his address, and begs for her help, then vanishes into thin air before she can do anything. Lizeth doubts her own eyes. Was the man just a dream? A hallucination? In the morning she learns he was neither, for a body is found a state away, in the same town, on the same road. And he wasn't the only one. On the same night, under the same full moon, all across the country, eleven other people are also killed. When a victim's distraught boyfriend seeks out Lizeth and her sister Hyla for help, they are plunged into a mystery so intricate, tracking murders so perplexing and numerous as to boggle the mind. Is it a ritual? A cult? One killer or a dozen? The answer keeps slipping through their fingers. And one of their own might be next.

Previously published; newly revised by author I like my women like I like my whiskey: liable to kill me. The two parts of being a paranormal private investigator I could really do without are being forced to eat bananas by an animated statue with a potassium fixation, and being put on trial for murder by a self-appointed council of vampire oligarchs. To be fair, I did kind of do it (the murder, not the bananas). But I was kind of saving my girlfriend, who is kind of one of them. On top of this, I’ve also wound up with a primordial queen of the damned trying to strangle me in my dreams. And the conspiracy of undead wizards who tried to sacrifice me fifteen years ago has decided that now is the best possible time to give it another go. Throw in the woman who left me for a tech start-up, the old girlfriend who I might sort of owe eternal mystical fealty to and a werewolf “it girl” who can’t decide if she wants to eat me in the good way or the bad way, and I’m beginning to think life would be easier if I made better choices. Then again, it’d be a whole lot less fun. This book is approximately 98,000 words

A former circus performer and criminology professor becomes a PI in “one of the best detective novels of the year” (TheNew York Times Book Review). With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as “Mongo the Magnificent”—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf. Now a detective in New York City, Mongo is hired by the widow of a famous architect to find out if her husband is really dead—because a new building just went up and it looks like his work. As Mongo begins to uncover the surprising truth, his investigation gives a whole new meaning to an architect’s façade. The intrepid sleuth will need all of his extraordinary skills to find his man without losing his own life, as some very powerful forces want to send him back to the drawing board. With a freewheeling blend of mystery and science fiction elements, author George C. Chesbro introduces the man called Mongo, “the most engaging detective in decades” (Library Journal). Shadow of a Broken Man is the 1st book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

STRANGE STRANGE THINGS: 550+ Supernatural Mysteries, Macabre & Horror Classics is a monumental assembly of narratives that traverses the shadowy boundaries of the supernatural, the uncanny, and the outright terrifying. This collection boasts an unparalleled diversity in literary styles, encompassing the gothic tales of the 18th century, the psychological horror of the 19th century, and the cosmic dread of the early 20th century. The anthology highlights the genre's evolution, featuring seminal works that have shaped our understanding of fear and fascination with the unknown. Each piece, carefully selected for its contribution to the tapestry of horror and supernatural literature, stands as a testament to the genre's richness and complexity, showcasing the stylistic innovation and depth of insight that horror and macabre tales can offer. The backgrounds of the contributors to STRANGE STRANGE THINGS are as varied as the themes they explore, encompassing renowned authors from different eras and cultures, each bringing their unique voice and perspective to the collection. From the psychological realism of Henry James to the dark romanticism of Edgar Allan Poe, and the pioneering science fiction of H.G. Wells, this anthology not only charts the historical and cultural shifts within the genre but also reflects the broader human condition through its exploration of fear, desire, and the supernatural. The collective contributions of these authors provide a rich, multidimensional experience of the macabre, enlivened by their diverse cultural backgrounds and literary traditions, thereby enriching the reader's understanding of the multifaceted nature of horror and supernatural literature. STRANGE STRANGE THINGS is an indispensable volume for both aficionados and new readers of the horror and supernatural genres, offering a comprehensive journey through the labyrinth of humanity's deepest fears and darkest fantasies. This collection serves as a unique educational tool, broadening the readers literary horizons and deepening their appreciation for the craft of storytelling. It invites readers to immerse themselves in a world where the extraordinary confronts the ordinary, where the boundary between the known and the unknown blurs, and to explore the profound psychological and philosophical questions that these stories evoke. For anyone seeking to understand the breadth and depth of the supernatural in literature, STRANGE STRANGE THINGS is an unrivaled compendium that promises endless hours of fascination and awe.

No monster is safe in the path of a determined woman. A little girl with a dark secret and a devious imagination. A disappearance that sparks unexpected connections between old friends. An ancient mystery no one wants solved. A series of bizarre murders under the light of a full moon. These are the cases tackled by the Frontenac Sisters, Hyla and Lizeth. None of these cases are easy and each one is dangerous, but the sisters never back down. They fight for each victim and tirelessly pursue each monster. Evil better beware. The Frontenac Sisters' adventures continue with Case No. 5, Black at Night. Stories aren't just an escape. Dreams aren't nonsense. Nightmares are very real. And truth is just as strange as fiction. This box set contains Cases No. 1 to 4 in The Frontenac Sisters series: Wicked Innocents, Severed Souls, Death Knell, and The Shadow Mind. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "…will keep you turning the pages long after you should have been in bed." -- Amazon ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "... It's like art. You know when you have read something outstanding."-- Amazon ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "...a real page turner with twists and turns that keeps you enthralled..." -- Amazon ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "I've yet to find a story by this author that is lacking in that special something (call it what you will) that pulls me deep into the story and doesn't let go until I reach the ending that is always satisfying." ★ ★ ★ ★ "Once I started reading this story, the desperate need for sleep is the only thing that made me put my Kindle down." --Goodreads ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "I couldn’t put it down. Magnificent." -- Goodreads ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "She...delivers a really good mystery with strong women at the forefront and excellent characterization." -- Amazon ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "The story was action packed and full of twists and turns. It had suspense, intrigue, emotion and romance." -- Goodreads

This Norton Critical Edition includes four stories—two set on stormy seas, two on calm seas, all four based on the same incident—that speak to each other in interesting ways. The stories in this Norton Critical Edition maintain the connection and sequencing that Joseph Conrad saw among them. In his “Author’s Note” to ‘Twixt Land and Sea, Conrad writes of his two “Calm-pieces” (“The Secret Sharer” and The Shadow-Line) and his two “Storm-pieces” (The Nigger of the “Narcissus” and “Typhoon”). This edition is based on the first English book edition for the stories and the first American edition for the “Author’s Note” for The Shadow-Line, “Typhoon,” and “The Secret Sharer.” The stories are accompanied by explanatory annotations, a note on the texts (including a list of textual emendations), and a preface. “Backgrounds and Contexts” brings together relevant correspondence and contemporary reviews from both British and American sources. Also included are documents related to Conrad’s sources for the stories, among them Charles Arthur Sankey’s “Ordeal of the Cutty Sark: A True Story of Mutiny, Murder on the High Seas.” To help readers navigate, the editor includes a glossary of nautical terms as well as diagrams of the kinds of ships that appear in the stories. “Criticism” includes fifteen essays representing both new and established voices. The essays are arranged by story, with the focus on Conrad’s major themes—colonialism, narrative, gender, and race. Albert J. Guerard, Lillian Nayder, Mark D. Larabee, Fredric Jameson, F. R. Leavis, and John G. Peters are among the contributors. A chronology of Conrad’s life and work and a selected bibliography are also included.