The Summer of Dead Toys

The Summer of Dead Toys
Author: Antonio Hill
Publisher: Crown
Total Pages: 310
Release: 2013-06-18
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0770435882

A riveting crime thriller set in the midst of a sultry Barcelona summer, introducing the first book in the Inspector Salgado series Argentine native Inspector Héctor Salgado is one of Barcelona's leading criminal detectives. After a stint on probation—he assaulted a suspect from a human-trafficking case—Salgado is back in the office and eager for something major. To his dismay, he's assigned to a routine accidental death instead: a college student fell from a balcony in one of Barcelona’s ritzier neighborhoods. But as Salgado pieces together details from the victim's life, he realizes that his death was not all that simple: his friends are clearly hiding something and drugs might be involved. Salgado follows a trail that will lead him deep into the underbelly of Barcelona’s high society, where he’ll confront dangerous criminals, long-buried secrets, and, strangely, his own past. But Salgado thrives on pressure, and he lives for this kind of case—dark, violent, and seemingly unsolvable. Gripping, sophisticated, and wickedly entertaining, The Summer of Dead Toys introduces a charismatic new detective and announces Antonio Hill as a new master of the crime thriller.

The Good Suicides

The Good Suicides
Author: Antonio Hill
Publisher: Crown
Total Pages: 341
Release: 2014-06-17
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0770435912

Unrelenting hero of The Summer of Dead Toys, Inspector Hector Salgado returns in another riveting crime thriller After a company retreat in a remote country house, senior employees of Alemany Cosmetics return with a dark secret. They’ve each received an anonymous, menacing email of only two words: “Never forget”. What’s worse, the message is accompanied by a nightmarish photo attachment showing the bodies of dogs—hung to death from a tree—near the very same farm estate they just visited. When they begin killing themselves, one by one, the connection between the shocking photos and the suicides baffles Barcelona law enforcement and corporate think tanks alike, threatening a terrifying end for everyone involved. Breaking through the insular power structures of these enigmatic executives isn't easy, but Inspector Salgado has his own ways of making those still alive speak up. As the clock is ticking before another suicide, Salgado is doing all he can to bring the terror to an end. Meanwhile, his partner Leire, bored on her maternity leave, remains fixated on Salgado’s missing wife, Ruth. She refuses to give up on a case many—including Salgado—fear is hopeless. Antonio Hill deftly braids these two stories together for a richly layered and darkly chilling thriller about secrets, cover-ups, and devastating lies.

Summer of the Dead

Summer of the Dead
Author: Julia Keller
Publisher: Macmillan
Total Pages: 365
Release: 2014-08-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1250044731

High summer in Acker's Gap, West Virginia—but no one's enjoying the rugged natural landscape. Not while a killer stalks the small town and its hard-luck inhabitants. County prosecutor Bell Elkins and Sheriff Nick Fogelsong are stymied by a murderer who seems to come and go like smoke on the mountain. At the same time, Bell must deal with the return from prison of her sister, Shirley—who, like Bell, carries the indelible scars of a savage past. In Summer of the Dead, the third Julia Keller mystery chronicling the journey of Bell Elkins and her return to her Appalachian hometown, we also meet Lindy Crabtree—a coal miner's daughter with dark secrets of her own, secrets that threaten to explode into even more violence. Acker's Gap is a place of loveliness and brutality, of isolation and fierce attachments—a place where the dead rub shoulders with the living, and demand their due.

Death In Summer

Death In Summer
Author: William Trevor
Publisher: Penguin UK
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2012-02-09
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0241962455

Death In Summer - a beautiful and haunting novel by acclaimed writer William Trevor 'Possibly the most perfect of Trevor's novels . . . Astonishing' Los Angeles Times Book Review There were three deaths that summer. The first was Letitia's, sudden and quite unexpected, leaving her husband, Thaddeus, haunted by the details of her last afternoon. The next death came some weeks later, after Thaddeus's mother-in-law helped him to interview for a nanny to bring up their baby. None of the applicants were suitable - least of all the last one, with her small, sharp features, her shabby clothes that reeked of cigarettes, her badly typed references - so Letitia's mother moved in herself. But then, just as the household was beginning to settle down, the last of the nannies surprisingly returned, her unwelcome arrival heralding the third of the summer tragedies. 'William Trevor is an extraordinarily mellifluous writer, seemingly incapable of composing an ungraceful sentence . . . His skill is very real, and equals his great compassion' New York Times Book Review Readers of The Story of Lucy Gault and Love and Summer will adore Death In Summer. It will also be cherished by readers of Colm Toibin and William Boyd. William Trevor was born in Mitchelstown, County Cork. He has written eighteen novels and novellas, and hundreds of short stories, for which he has won a number of prizes including the Hawthornden Prize, the Yorkshire Post Book of the Year Award, the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and the David Cohen Literature Prize in recognition of a lifetime's literary achievement. In 2002 he was knighted for his services to literature. His books in Penguin are: After Rain; A Bit on the Side; Bodily Secrets; Cheating at Canasta; The Children of Dynmouth; The Collected Stories (Volumes One and Two); Death in Summer; Felicia's Journey; Fools of Fortune; The Hill Bachelors; Love and Summer; The Mark-2 Wife; Selected Stories; The Story of Lucy Gault and Two Lives.

Curious Toys

Curious Toys
Author: Elizabeth Hand
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2019-10-15
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9780316485883

An intrepid young woman stalks a murderer through turn-of-the-century Chicago in "this rich, spooky, and atmospheric thriller that will appeal to fans of Henry Darger and Erik Larson alike." (Sarah McCarry) In the sweltering summer of 1915, Pin, the fourteen-year-old daughter of a carnival fortune-teller, dresses as a boy and joins a teenage gang that roams the famous Riverview amusement park, looking for trouble. Unbeknownst to the well-heeled city-dwellers and visitors who come to enjoy the midway, the park is also host to a ruthless killer who uses the shadows of the dark carnival attractions to conduct his crimes. When Pin sees a man enter the Hell Gate ride with a young girl, and emerge alone, she knows that something horrific has occurred. The crime will lead her to the iconic outsider artist Henry Darger, a brilliant but seemingly mad man. Together, the two navigate the seedy underbelly of a changing city to uncover a murderer few even know to look for.

Treacherous Toys

Treacherous Toys
Author: Joyce and Jim Lavene
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2012-09-04
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1101589558

From the author of Harrowing Hats comes a special holiday Renaissance Faire Mystery. Hail ye, hail ye, and welcome to the Renaissance Faire Village. Here, associate professor Jessie Morton spends her summers honing her skills and finding the lady, lord, or serf whodunit. But when she comes for Christmas, will murder mean a very unhappy holiday? Jessie Morton is getting just what she wished for this holiday season at the Renaissance Faire Village—working as an apprentice to the new toy maker. But when Chris Christmas is discovered dead just hours after her arrival, Jessie’s holiday plans start to melt away. Jessie can’t imagine who would want to silence the toy maker, but apparently the red-cheeked Chris Christmas liked toying with the ladies. Although it may be her shortest apprenticeship ever, she wants to unwrap the truth before word gets out in the village that it’s not safe to be Santa—or one of his helpers…

A Death in Summer

A Death in Summer
Author: Benjamin Black
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2011-07-05
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1429972912

One of The Chicago Tribune's Best Reads of 2011 One of Dublin's most powerful men meets a violent end— and an acknowledged master of crime fiction delivers his most gripping novel yet On a sweltering summer afternoon, newspaper tycoon Richard Jewell—known to his many enemies as Diamond Dick—is discovered with his head blown off by a shotgun blast. But is it suicide or murder? For help with the investigation, Detective Inspector Hackett calls in his old friend Quirke, who has unusual access to Dublin's elite. Jewell's coolly elegant French wife, Françoise, seems less than shocked by her husband's death. But Dannie, Jewell's high-strung sister, is devastated, and Quirke is surprised to learn that in her grief she has turned to an unexpected friend: David Sinclair, Quirke's ambitious assistant in the pathology lab at the Hospital of the Holy Family. Further, Sinclair has been seeing Quirke's fractious daughter Phoebe, and an unlikely romance is blossoming between the two. As a record heat wave envelops the city and the secret deals underpinning Diamond Dick's empire begin to be revealed, Quirke and Hackett find themselves caught up in a dark web of intrigue and violence that threatens to end in disaster. Tightly plotted and gorgeously written, A Death in Summer proves to the brilliant but sometimes reckless Quirke that in a city where old money and the right bloodlines rule, he is by no means safe from mortal danger.

The Shore Road Mystery

The Shore Road Mystery
Author: Franklin W. Dixon
Publisher: Aegitas
Total Pages: 123
Release: 2024-08-09
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0369411676

The Shore Road Mystery, written by Franklin W. Dixon, is a thrilling addition to the iconic Hardy Boys series. This classic mystery novel takes readers on a suspenseful journey filled with twists and turns, as the Hardy brothers strive to unravel the truth behind a mysterious plot. Set in the small town of Bayport, the story follows Frank and Joe Hardy, teenage amateur detectives who are known for their sleuthing skills. When a wealthy man named Mr. Morse hires the brothers to investigate a series of strange occurrences on Shore Road, the Hardy boys are eager to take on the challenge. As they delve deeper into the case, the Hardy brothers discover that there is more to Shore Road than meets the eye. From a missing yacht and a suspicious mansion to a secret underground tunnel, the boys encounter a web of deceit and danger that puts their detective skills to the test. With the help of their trusty friends, Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, and their detective father, Fenton Hardy, the brothers uncover a sinister plot involving stolen jewels and a notorious gang of criminals. As they race against time to solve the mystery, the Hardy boys must use all their wits and courage to outsmart their adversaries and bring the criminals to justice. One of the most captivating aspects of The Shore Road Mystery is the vivid and detailed descriptions of the setting. Franklin W. Dixon masterfully paints a picture of Bayport, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the small town atmosphere and feel as though they are right there with the characters, experiencing the mystery firsthand. Moreover, the characters in the novel are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for readers to connect with them. From the witty and daring Hardy boys to the loyal and supportive Chet and Biff, each character brings a unique element to the story and plays an integral role in solving the mystery. The Shore Road Mystery also touches upon important themes such as loyalty, friendship, and perseverance. Through the trials and challenges that the Hardy boys face, readers are reminded of the value of true friendship and the importance of never giving up, even in the face of adversity. The Shore Road Mystery is a captivating and suspenseful read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes, this book is not only entertaining but also educational. Young readers will be inspired by the Hardy brothers' determination and resourcefulness, while also learning important lessons about courage, trust, and teamwork. A must-read for fans of mystery and adventure, The Shore Road Mystery is a timeless classic that continues to thrill readers of all ages.

The Toymakers

The Toymakers
Author: Robert Dinsdale
Publisher: Random House
Total Pages: 422
Release: 2020-01-30
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1473582253

An enchanting, magical novel set in a mysterious toyshop - perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, Stephanie Garber's Caraval and Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist. The Christmas Emporium opens with the first sign of frost . . . It is 1917, and while war wages across Europe, in the heart of London, there is a place of hope and enchantment. The Emporium sells toys that capture the imagination of children and adults alike: patchwork dogs that seem alive, toy boxes that are bigger on the inside, soldiers that can fight battles of their own. Into this family business comes young Cathy Wray, running away from a shameful past. The Emporium takes her in, makes her one of its own. But Cathy is about to discover that the Emporium has secrets of its own . . . Complete your collection with Paris by Starlight, the next novel from the author of the The Toymakers, out now ***** 'This vivid, haunting novel is both vast and intimate. A wonderful and thought-provoking read.' KATHERINE ARDEN, author of The Warm Hands of Ghosts Engaging and enchanting . . . A fairytale for adults, with all the wonder – and terror – that that entails.' GUARDIAN 'There is magic at the heart of The Toymakers, a glittery inventiveness that shimmers through the dark corners of a story about love, war and sibling rivalry.' SUNDAY EXPRESS 'I was gripped, and thrilled, and touched, and above all I was completely swept into the magic of the book . . . Just astonishing' ADAM ROBERTS, author of Jack Glass 'Anyone who’s ever stepped inside a traditional toyshop and marvelled at the wonders on display will instantly be captivated by this book' CULTUREFLY