A CPA in 1940s San Francisco searches for his partner’s killer in this witty and “hard-hitting” mystery by the author of the classic To Catch a Thief (Time). The first in the series of noir mysteries starring hard-drinking accountant Whit Whitney, Death and Taxes follows the calculating amateur detective as he looks into the murder of George MacLeod—a top tax consultant who was a close colleague of Whitney’s, at least until his body was stuffed into a bank vault. A fast-paced, sharp-witted tale involving everything from pretty blondes to bootleggers to tangles with the Treasury Department, Death and Taxes “winds up at a lightning pace . . . Fast and easy to read” (New York Herald Tribune). “Rapid-fire action in the manner of Dashiell Hammett.” —The Detroit News

A comprehensive and accessible account of the U.S. estate tax, examining its history and evolution, structure and inner workings, and economic consequences. Governments have been levying some form of inheritance tax since the ancient Egyptians did so in the seventh century BC. In the United States, the federal government experimented with various forms of inheritance taxes, settling on an estate tax in 1916 and a gift tax in 1932. Despite this long history, there are few empirical studies of the federal estate tax. This book offers the first comprehensive look at U.S. estate and inheritance taxes, examining their history and evolution, structure and inner workings, and economic consequences. Written by David Joulfaian, a veteran economist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the book provides accessible accounts of such topics as changes in tax laws, issues of equity, the fiscal contribution of the estate tax, and its behavioral effects. Joulfaian traces the evolution of U.S. inheritance taxes from 1797 to the present, noting that the estate tax rate and base expanded through 1976, then began to decline. He describes the tax itself, explaining that it currently applies to estates and gifts in excess of $11.18 million, and outlines applicable deductions and credits. He sketches a profile of taxpayers and their beneficiaries; surveys the revenues from estate and gift taxes; and discusses the effect of estate taxation on labor decisions, saving and wealth accumulation, charitable giving, life insurance ownership, and other economic activities. Finally, he addresses criticisms of the estate tax and analyzes its shortcomings. Accompanying tables present a wealth of data gathered by Joulfaian in his research and not available elsewhere.

Hitting the books. Solving murders. Counting calories. It's all in a day's work for Tara Holloway, the U.S. Treasury's latest, greatest, soon-to-be-skinniest weapon against the biggest, richest tax cheats in the nation... When she joined the Criminal Investigations Division, Tara knew she'd be investigating some very real crooks. Forget about waitresses hiding tips from the IRS or babysitters not declaring income! Tara and her partner, Eddie, are going after one of country's richest, dirtiest felons. Being on a diet doesn't help Tara's mood much. Hopefully, by the time the investigation is over, she'll be sitting somewhere in a string bikini, far, far away... "PREPARE TO LAUGH YOUR ASSETS OFF."—Jana DeLeon, author of the Ghost-in-Law mysteries But first: Reality. Marcos Mendoza is a suspected loan shark with connections across the Mexican border. He's never been accused of any crimes, yet his business associates have a history of disappearing...and resurfacing...in body bags. Will Tara risk life, limb, and the pursuit of filing a joint tax return with her maybe-serious boyfriend Brett? Fighting crime, like drinking a cup of coffee with low-fat milk and artificial sweetener, is often bittersweet... "HUNTING DOWN TAX CHEATS HAS NEVER ADDED UP TO SO MUCH FUN!"—Robin Kaye, award-winning author of The Domestic Gods series

Teenage runaway slaves with superhuman powers, a Hessian giant, the most evil slave owners imaginable, and Benjamin Franklin: this story of the Revolution blends fact and fantasy in an imaginative reinterpretation of a critical time in American history.

In Death, Taxes & Push-ups, Skup confesses his secret obsession with the exercise and how it transformed him into a "lean, mean, pushing machine." He contends that with fitness levels at an all-time low, fitness should be a national priority. He also shows that the most important element in becoming and staying fit is consistency, which is achieved through a fitness program that you can perform anytime or anyplace. You have an arsenal of exercise options at your disposal, and push-ups are the ultimate choice.Skup also takes on the 35-billion-dollar fitness industry and explains why it is failing us, with its bogus claims, magic bullets, and quick fixes. Although the fitness industry may not want to hear it, push-ups are free no equipment, no gimmicks and totally portable. They work for busy executives as well as people with tight budgets. The definition of good health is a sense of well-being, and Death, Taxes & Push-ups will be your guide to reaching that goal.

Tara Holloway has got your number. A special agent on the IRS's payroll, she's dead-set on making sure that money crimes don't pay... Tax cheats, beware: The Treasury Department's Criminal Investigations Division has a new special agent on its payroll. A recovering tomboy with a head for numbers, Tara's fast becoming the Annie Oakley of the IRS—kicking ass, taking social security numbers, and keeping the world safe for honest taxpayers. Or else. Tara's latest mission finds her in hot pursuit of ice-cream vendor Joseph "Joe Cool" Cullen. Along with frozen treats he's selling narcotics—and failing to report his ill-gotten gains on his tax returns. Over Tara's dead body. Then there's Michael Gryder, who appears to be operating a Ponzi scheme...with banker Stan Shelton...whose lake house is being landscaped by Brett Ellington...who happens to be dating Tara. If following that money trail isn't tough enough, now Tara must face a new conundrum: Should she invest her trust in Brett—or put him behind bars? New love always comes at a cost but justice? Priceless.

Fired. Tara Holloway can't believe it. After all she's done for the IRS, a few too many shots fired from her weapon and suddenly she's public enemy number one. To add insult to injury, another agent has replaced her, and a ten-million-dollar assault case is hanging over her head. So much for traveling to Tokyo with Special Agent Nick Pratt, former partner and current boyfriend. Tara's stuck in Texas, and using green tea ice cream to soothe her disappointment, as well as the terrifying prospect of a life behind bars. Tara's former boss, Lu "the Lobo" Lobozinski, has a plan—to stick Tara in auditing, where she can't possibly get into trouble. But between bumping into a college frenemy whose family business is under audit, Tara's stubborn determination to keep an eye on Nick behind the scenes, and her new long-range rifle, she's about to get a taste of just how dangerous her life can be, in Death, Taxes, and Green Tea Ice Cream from Diane Kelly...