A cop is car-bombed in Texas—and her brother comes from Capitol Hill to investigate—in this Edgar Award winner by “one of the best storytellers around” (The New York Times Book Review). A long-distance call from his small Texas hometown on his birthday gives Benjamin Dill the news that his sister Felicity—born on the same day exactly ten years later—has died in a car bomb explosion. She was a homicide detective who had perhaps made one enemy too many over the course of her career. Unwilling to let local law enforcement handle the investigation, Dill, a consultant for a Senate subcommittee, arrives in town from DC that night to begin his dogged search for his sister’s killer. What he finds is no surprise to him as he begins to unravel town secrets, because Benjamin Dill is never surprised at what awful things people will do. “Taut . . . a superior piece of work.” —The New York Times Book Review “Expert prose, penetrating social commentary and . . . a marvelous sense of humor. [Thomas] does what only the best writers can: he leaves you wanting more.” —The Washington Post “A master of the crime thriller.” —Publishers Weekly Includes an introduction by New York Times–bestselling author Lawrence Block

Relates how the wily Brer Rabbit outwits Brer Fox who has set out to trap him.

"The Briar Patch Philosopher" is a collection of wise sayings that are simple to remember. One of my favorites that I learned from my dad was, "Even the good will of a bad dog is worth something." We all face bad dogs in our work places, in our families and with our friends. By getting the good will of bad dogs on your side, you make the dog's biting you very difficult. Another of my favorite sayings from "The Briar Patch Philosopher" is, "Suffering leads to patience, patience leads to perseverance, perseverance leads to character, character leads to strength, strength leads to courage, and courage produces a happy life." We generally fail to understand why we suffer mentally, physically and/or emotionally. But once we learn what suffering is teaching us, then we can go through it and come out of it better than we've been. Life is a relatively simple game to play. All we have to do is to strive each day to be better than we've been the day before. You can use this philosophy to achieve almost any goal. In the briar patch of life, you'll encounter thorns, hurts, disappointments, various trials, danger and missteps all along the way. Also, in the briar patch of life, you'll find the true virtues that are necessary - courage, endurance, patience, faith and wisdom. If you're willing to run through the briar patch and the fires of everyday living, and you rely heavily on courage, endurance, patience, faith and wisdom, you can have a happy, successful, prosperous and meaningful life. I've always told my children, "You can learn from the lumps on my head, or you can put those same lumps on your head." The easiest way to get through the briar patch is to learn from the wisdom of others. The most-difficult way to get though the briar patch is to run through the storms, fall in the holes and get hurt, sick, disoriented and discouraged like many do. If you pay attention, the route to wisdom has the right answers for all questions before they're even asked. Wisdom can tell you which road to take, what type of employment to seek, and whether or not to test an idea or try a new business. Wisdom also can teach you when to keep your mouth shut, when to charge into danger with reckless abandon and how to be courageous. To become courageous, you must face and overcome any fear you have about anything. Once you obtain courage and face life unafraid is when you'll find true happiness. Like anyone else, I don't always do the right thing. However, these sayings help me to recognize my mistakes and often prevent me from making the same mistake again. I'm not the briar patch philosopher. I'm just the rabbit who's gone into the briar patch and tried to learn from all who have ventured into the briar patch and come out on the other side. Hopefully like me, you'll learn some wisdom to live by, gain some strength to endure and find the courage to put a smile on your face from "The Briar Patch Philosopher."

On April 2, 1969, New York City policemen rounded up members of the Black Panther party. Thirteen of 21 suspects were then charged and tried for attempted arson, attempted murder, and conspiracies to blow up various police stations, school buildings, and the Bronx Botanical Gardens. "The Briar Patch" brilliantly examines the proceedings, illuminating not only the history of the Panther 21, but the quality of justice in America.

Inspired by the infamous Northwest Branch Park murder case in a peaceful Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., this masterfully intricate and epic story of crime and intrigue, love and courage, tragedy and vengeance spans more than half a century. It tells the tale of two women — one, a victim of a beastly killer; the other, her sister bent on the ultimate revenge despite insurmountable obstacles. Follow the events leading up to the June 15, 1955, killing of two teenage girls, Ellen Marie Chauvanne and Mikie O'Riley, and the ensuing nationwide hunt for a killer. Despite one false lead after another, there was no resolution ... until a surprising phone call was received more than forty years later. Would it put an end to the crime dubbed by a major Washington newspaper, "The Murder That Would Not Die"?

As a teenager, Roman "Bud" Marasek was shy and withdrawn, a farmer's kid who grew up to be a farmer himself. The first girl he loved was Briar Sankey, a popular girl with big, beautiful eyes and a wild clothing and makeup style. It took him years to work up the courage to ask her out, and their date was the best night of his life. But, when she never answered his calls after that and started dating the star athlete, he'd realized he'd only been wishing for the moon. Years passed, Bud fell in love with Evette, had a daughter, and his wife died unexpectedly. Raising Harper hasn't been easy alone, but at forty-seven he feels completely unprepared for being both father and mother to a moody teenage daughter with too many boyfriends and life-and-death meltdowns. He turns to Briar for help. Briar is running her mother's restaurant, has finally toned down her style, and, unbelievably, has never married and seems content to be alone. Looks are deceiving... Briar had spent her life confident she had all the time in the world to make a life for herself and any choice she wanted. At forty-seven, she no longer has the same choices. With both of her parents gone, she's the only one left to run the restaurant, her mother's legacy to the small town of Amethyst and what she considers her "patch" in the big, wide world. Additionally, the few eligible men in the area don't interest her. Letting slip an unintended faux pas, a friend of both Briar and Bud reveals to Briar that Bud has had a thirty year crush on her. Suddenly his reason for coming by the cafe nearly every day of his life takes on startling meaning. In truth, she'd barely noticed him most of the time. When he asks her for help with Harper, she can't refuse. And suddenly she's seeing Bud in a whole new light...and falling in love with the sweet, shy man who's been there all along.

Amethyst, WI is a small, peaceful town on a pristine lake with an active tourist season in summer. When the air turns chill, the area is transformed into a ghost town with only a handful of lifers who stay. Populated with colorful characters, Amethyst is bursting with mystery, romance, and jealousy. Come and visit a place where anything is possible all-year-round. As a teenager, Roman OBudO Marasek was shy, a farmerOs kid who grew up to be a farmer himself. The first girl he loved was Briar Sankey. Years later, he married, had a daughter, and his wife died unexpectedly. Raising Harper hasnOt been easy alone. Briar had spent her life confident she had all the time in the world to make a life for herself. At forty-seven, she no longer has the same choices. When Bud asks her for help with Harper, she canOt refuse. Suddenly sheOs seeing Bud in a whole new lightEand falling in love with the sweet, shy man whoOs been there all along.