The thirty-two stories in this new collection reflect the differences between man's real self and the various masks he has to wear in a Romanian society that vacillates between nostalgia for its communist past and restrained optimism about its capitalist future. The characters, who are taken from all walks of life, face constant political intrigues, moral dilemmas, and/or family crises. They must find a way to fit their own life stories, however insignificant, within the often ruthless history of their native land. Written in a journalistic style, and based very loosely on incidents that the author encountered while working for a local newspaper, these stories are filled with unexpected twists and turns, pathos, and small glimpses of average and extraordinary people coping with real-life crises. Gripping tales from Eastern Europe!

NYT and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings a new dose of adventure and thrills to ancient Rome in the second book of her magical Mark of the Thief trilogy! Nic may have escaped enslavement in the mines outside of Rome, but his troubles are far from over. The Praetor War -- the battle to destroy Rome from within -- is in full force, and Nic is caught in the crossfire. The secretive Praetors are determined to unlock a powerful amulet -- one sure to bring the empire to its knees. Worse, the Praetors believe Nic holds the key to finding this amulet, and they will stop at nothing to steal it, even if that means harming the people Nic holds most dear. When the Praetors capture Nic's mother, Nic knows he must do anything to save her. He challenges the Praetors to a chariot race. If he wins, they will release his mother. But if he loses, he must hand over a magic that will certainly bring about the end of Rome as well as his own life. Can Nic once again harness his magic and gather the strength to defeat his enemies? Or will he lose his mother and bear witness to Rome's destruction?

9 great reads for a lonely night of thrills and chills! In Sydney J. Bounds's "The Book Miser" has detective Josephine "Jo" Royal trying to thwart an unscrupulous book collector who's taken advantage of an innocent seller. In "The Purple Glove Murders," by Mary Wickizer Burgess, attorney Gail Brevard is asked to solve a killing that appears to be linked to another murder from decades earlier. In Victor Cilinca's "Eggs," a multi-millionaire pasta company executive becomes the target of a scam. In "The Case of the Telbury Halt Ghost," by Ernest Dudley, well-known detective Doctor Morelle must unravel the mystery behind the apparent haunting of a rural railway station. "The Adventure of the Forgotten Umbrella," by Mel Gilden, is one of those tales of Sherlock Holmes mentioned—but never actually related—by Doctor Watson. Michael Hemmingson tells the story of an unfortunate young man on the make who's quite simply overwhelmed by his three "Vivacious Vixens!" Francis Jarman demonstrates, "In the Light of What Happened," that poking around in old Indian temples can have unforeseen consequences! James B. Johnson's "Flankspeed" is one of the most unusual mysteries ever encountered by this editor—and also one of the best. Arlette Lees, a rising star of the noir mystery magazine scene, contributes "Blood Bayou," one of those backwater places that you probably want to avoid on your next little escape from the law.

A sneak peek at an electrifying tale of greed and power, magic and destiny, and one boy's courage at the heart of it all, from Jennifer A. Nielsen, the New York Times bestselling author of the Ascendance Trilogy. When Nic, a slave in the mines outside of Rome, is forced to enter a sealed cavern containing the lost treasures of Julius Caesar, he finds much more than gold and gemstones: He discovers an ancient bulla, an amulet that belonged to the great Caesar and is filled with a magic once reserved for the Gods -- magic some Romans would kill for. Now, with the deadly power of the bulla pulsing through his veins, Nic is determined to become free. But instead, he finds himself at the center of a ruthless conspiracy to overthrow the emperor and spark the Praetor War, a battle to destroy Rome from within. Traitors and spies lurk at every turn, each more desperate than the next to use Nic's newfound powers for their own dark purposes. In a quest to stop the rebellion, save Rome, and secure his own freedom, Nic must harness the magic within himself and defeat the empire's most powerful and savage leaders.

This is one of a series of anthologies of science fiction and mystery stories by Borgo Press writers that are being distributed at cost as both ebooks and print-on-demand volumes. This third volume in the sequence, Once Upon a Future, includes a dozen original and reprint tales by twelve writers. Jean Lorrah’s “Best of Friends” is a key tale in the Sime~Gen sequence, being set just after the implementation of the treaty that allowed Simes and Gens to live together peaceably. In “Best-Laid Plans,” by William Maltese, a pair of professional fighters is selected for a new mission—but not the one they thought! A. R. Morlan’s “Boog’/4 and the Endicaran Kluge” is an interesting psychological tale set on a multi-generational spaceship to the stars. Edward R. Morris can pronounce “Game Over” only when his protagonist escapes the game world in which he’s trapped. Charles Nuetzel’s “The Talisman” demonstrates that “free” is sometimes too high a price to pay for a gift. Patricia Wardon discovers that “Saving Jane Austen” (by Robert Reginald) is not as easy as it sounds. A starving author’s agent discovers a new market for subsidiary rights in Pamela Sargent’s amusing “All Rights.” Darrell Schweitzer’s “The Fire Eggs” just appear one day, everywhere on Earth, but what are they—and what purpose do they serve? “The Skin Trade,” by Brian Stableford, is one of a series of tales that explores the future of biotechnology, particularly as applied to the human form. In “The Space City,” by Doru Tatar, Grig investigates the massacre of a group of androids. E. C. Tubb’s “Agent” only wants to make money peddling his clients’ talents, but the licensees desire something entirely different! George Zebrowski’s “The Water Sculptor” fashions sculptures from ice in his isolated satellite home orbiting Earth. Twelve great stories by a dozen great writers!

The second Borgo Press book of mystery stories presents a collection of great tales by such masters as Michael Kurland, Brian Stableford, Darrell Schweitzer, Don Webb, George Zebrowski, Ardath Mayhar, John Russell Fearn, Lonni Lees, and many more!

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