The Reluctant Executioner

The Reluctant Executioner
Author: J.R. Roberts
Publisher: Speaking Volumes
Total Pages: 157
Release:
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1628158603

Outside the town of Fate, Nebraska, Clint Adams encounters a stranger pinned down by 5 attackers, apparently trying to kill him. After driving the assailants off, Clint discovers that the man is a professional hangman, on his way to Fate to execute a young man convicted of murder. He agrees to accompany the man to keep him safe. Along the way, the Gunsmith learns the longtime hangman has become a somewhat reluctant executioner and is considering a change of profession following this job. Upon arrival in town, Clint discovers the prisoner might be innocent. He decides to investigate, which could possibly free an innocent man and give the hangman more time to decide whether or not he wants to continue in his profession. However, there are still those who believe the only way to stop the execution is to kill the hangman—and the Gunsmith! Clint must work his way through 2 town factions, those for the hanging and those against it, in order to not only prove the prisoner’s possible innocence but to stay alive long enough to do it.

The Executioner's Tale

The Executioner's Tale
Author: Ginny Stroud
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2014-09-28
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1783065915

The Executioner’s Tale is a vigilante plot with a twist: justice is in the shape of a female pensioner – a reluctant one at that, who is accidentally drawn into the role of executioner. “I believe most people have considered murder at one time or other in their lives. Some actually go so far as imagining the act. A very few put their fantasies into action. An accident made me one of that number.” This is the fictionalised autobiography of a serial killer, or, as she would see herself, ‘an instrument of justice’. The first death is accidental, when she confronts the husband of her neighbour, a notorious wife-beater. But at this point she realises that her age, rather than being a negative, is actually a positive. No one would look at an older woman with suspicion: in fact, most people barely notice the elderly at all. So begins her new ‘career’. “I’m not a monster. I am someone who crossed a line and chose not to step back.” One of the significant factors is her loss of faith, but in its place she adopts the utilitarian principle of ‘the greatest good’. All the ‘victims’ are, to her mind, worthy of removal, and range from murderous nurses to paedophiles and drug dealers. In fact, every killing is made to protect or save the vulnerable. Our anonymous subject sees that the courts so often do not, or cannot, provide this justice, and believes in the Old Testament ideal of ‘an eye for an eye’ – or at least a punishment to fit the crime... The Executioner’s Tale is a gripping, refreshingly original crime novel whose heroine Ginny dubs ‘a modern Miss Marple’ who goes beyond detection to judge – and executioner.

My Experiences as an Executioner

My Experiences as an Executioner
Author: James Berry
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 140
Release: 2023-10-25
Genre: Literary Collections
ISBN:

James Berry's book, 'My Experiences as an Executioner,' delves into the dark and morbid world of capital punishment through the eyes of a seasoned executioner. Berry's writing is straightforward and devoid of unnecessary embellishment, reflecting the harsh realities of his profession. The book provides a glimpse into the psychological toll of taking human lives in the name of justice, offering a unique perspective on a controversial practice. Set against the backdrop of a time when public executions were common, Berry's narrative serves as a chilling reminder of the consequences of violence and the cost of administering justice. His stark prose and attention to detail create a haunting account of life and death in the executioner's domain. James Berry's personal experiences as an executioner shape the narrative of his book, shedding light on the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by those who carry out society's most unforgiving duties. His insights into the inner workings of the executioner's mind reveal the complexities of a role often shrouded in secrecy and taboo. With 'My Experiences as an Executioner,' Berry challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the justice system and the individuals tasked with enforcing it. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the historical and psychological aspects of capital punishment, offering a rare glimpse into a world few dare to explore.

The Reluctant Spy

The Reluctant Spy
Author: John H. Goodwin
Publisher: Author House
Total Pages: 674
Release: 2008-08-28
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1452057788

The Reluctant Spy is the timely story of Calvin Evan, a smart, but flawed CIA agent, beginning with the 1979 Iranian revolution. Cal develops a critical Iranian operative and becomes embroiled in the audacious, yet little honored effort to liberate the American embassy hostages. Romantically, he’s caught between his love for a rescued refugee and the aggressive intentions of his boss’ manipulative daughter. Ensnaring him, the savvy daughter navigates his career away from the political fallout of the mission’s failure and directs him to the battleground of the 1980’s- the Nicaraguan Contra war where Cal runs an illegal funding operation. Morally conflicted and victimized by his erratic behavior, he slips into a burned out funk, posted to Switzerland. There, amidst the rise of Middle Eastern terrorism, his past pulls him into conflict with his former Iranian asset, possibly a double agent, and reunites him with his long ago betrayed love, now a death squad target. The Reluctant Spy is the tale of Cal’s torment in trying to reconcile his heroic and destructive behaviors, his successes and failures, and his search for happiness and contentment. The backdrop of his struggles is the American foreign policy establishment’s often futile efforts to influence and control global events while carrying on insidious bureaucratic warfare. John H. Goodwin is a 1981 graduate of Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, Magna Cum Laude. John used his experience living abroad and knowledge of foreign cultures and American political and military affairs history in writing The Reluctant Spy. John manages global investment portfolios for wealthy American and international families at Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth Management business.

The Kitish

The Kitish
Author: Michael J. A. Speyer
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2009-04-08
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1409276171

The dramatic and thought provoking story of the Kitish is the framework for spiritual ideas that are truly revolutionary. It is the tale of Gus, an American business man, whose psyche is adopted by the Antichrist, another name for the Kitish. Gus is selected for a mission to help people accept and integrate their dark side, the mission of Lucifer, the bringer of the light of consciousness.The story highlights the tension between sexual needs and spirituality, and the need for both in a human life. The author conveys revolutionary ideas about Christianity in light of the wisdom left us by Carl Gustav Jung, as well as contemporary and ancient knowledge about Christianity. There is reason to expect that this book by Michael J. A. Speyer will become a classic and revolutionize our grasp of Christianity. It ought to be required reading for any thinking person living in the second half of life.

Roanoke

Roanoke
Author: Karen Ordahl Kupperman
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 214
Release: 2007
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780742552630

In telling the tragic and heroic story of Roanoke, the lost colony, award-winning historian Karen Ordahl Kupperman recovers the earliest days of English exploration and settlement in America the often forgotten years before Jamestown and the landing of the Mayflower. Roanoke explores Britain s attempt to establish a firm claim to North America in the hope that colonies would make England wealthy and powerful. Kupperman brings to life the men and women who struggled to carve out a settlement in an inhospitable environment on the Carolina coast and the complex Native American cultures they encountered. She reveals the mixture of goals and challenges that led to the colony s eventual abandonment, and discusses the theories about what might have become of the first English settlers in the New World as they adapted to life as Indians. With a new preface and afterword written by the author, Roanoke: The Abandoned Colony brings the fascinating story of America s earliest settlement up-to-date, bringing together new work from scholars in a variety of fields. The story of Roanoke remains endlessly fascinating. It is a tale marked by courage, miscalculation, exhilaration, intrigue, and mystery."

Wace, The Hagiographical Works

Wace, The Hagiographical Works
Author: Jean Blacker
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 406
Release: 2013-06-06
Genre: History
ISBN: 9004247688

Best known for his two chronicles, the Roman de Brut and the Roman de Rou, Wace, one of the great pioneers of twelfth-century French writing, is also the author of three hagiographical works: the Conception Nostre Dame and the Lives of St Margaret and St Nicholas. The Conception is the first vernacular work to focus on the life of the Virgin Mary. Emphasising Margaret's concern for women in labour, the Margaret seemingly contributed to the saint's broad popularity. The Nicholas, with its many miracles involving children, equally played a key role in popularising its protagonist's cult. The present volume brings these works together for the first time and provides the original texts, the first translations into English, notes and substantial introductions.