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A ';groundbreaking' memoir about raising a special-needs daughter in an era of misinformation and prejudicea classic that helped transform our perceptions (Publishers Weekly). It was my child who taught me to understand so clearly that all people are equal in their humanity and that all have the same human rights. Pearl S. Buck is known today for earning a Nobel Prize in Literature and for such New York Timesbestselling novels as The Good Earth. What many do not know is that she wrote that great work of art with the motivation of paying for a special school for her oldest daughter, Carol, who had a rare developmental disorder. What was called ';mental retardation' at the timethough some used crueler termswas a disability that could cause great suffering and break a parent's heart. There was little awareness of how to deal with such children, and as a result some were simply hidden away, considered a source of shame and stigma, while others were taken advantage of because of their innocence. In this remarkable account, which helped bring the issue to light, Pearl S. Buck candidly discusses her own experience as a mother, from her struggle to accept Carol's diagnosis to her determination to give her child as full and happy a life as possible, including a top-quality education designed around her needs and abilities. Both heartrending and inspiring, The Child Who Never Grew provides perspective on just how much progress has been made in recent decades, while also offering common sense and timeless wisdom for the challenges still faced by those who love and care for someone with special needs. It is a clear-eyed and compelling read by a woman renowned for both her literary talent and her humanitarian spirit. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author's estate.

A Pinkerton detective is hired to protect a Palm Beach tycoon in this Reconstruction-era tale of luxury hotels, corruption, and murder. The Great Migration of the 1890s remade south Florida as Northern developers, former sharecroppers, and recent immigrants rushed to the state to seek their fortunes. Sitting atop it all was the Royal Poinciana Hotel, built on the shores of Palm Beach by real estate tycoon Henry Flagler. Nearby was the Styx, an African American community that housed many of the Royal Poinciana's 1,200 workers. Shortly after the hotel's completion, the Styx would be mysteriously burned to the ground in a tragedy clouded for generations by rumor and mythuntil now.Riveting and suspenseful, The Styx is a historical novel that brings to life the frenzy of Reconstruction-era Florida, the racial tensions simmering beneath the surface, and the events that changed one community forever.This ebook contains an illustrated biography of the author featuring never-before-seen photos.

Book three of the bestselling Max Freeman mystery series: Max seeks to uncover the twisted truth behind an eighty-year-old triple homicideIn the 1920s, three of Mark Mayes's ancestors left to help build the first road through the Evergladesbackbreaking labor from which they never returned. Now, decades later, Mayes has discovered letters that point to murder as the cause of their disappearance, and he hires Max Freeman to get to the bottom of it all. But as Freeman follows the trail of evidence, he incurs the wrath of the corporation that built the road, and finds that the murder case may not be as cold as everyone assumed. Freeman's search takes him to the heart of the Everglades to reveal the truth behind the murdersand put a stop to a cycle of violence three generations in the making.This ebook contains an illustrated biography of the author featuring never-before-seen photos.

An ex-cop from Philly investigates the deaths of elderly women in a poor Florida community in this ';gritty, vivid, and suspenseful' thriller (Harlan Coben).When five elderly women are murdered in Fort Lauderdale, Max Freeman is determined to get to the bottom of it. His friend, the lawyer Billy Manchester, believes the murders are tied to a conspiracy to collect on the women's life insurance policies. But when Freeman uncovers a shocking betrayal, he soon realizes the gruesome plot reaches further than anyone thought possible. Now it's a race against the clock to hunt down the psychopath behind the murdersbefore the killer sets his sights on Freeman himself.This ebook contains an illustrated biography of the author featuring never-before-seen photos.

Female bartenders are targeted by a killer in this PI novel by the author Michael Connelly calls ';the master of the high-stakes thriller.' After three young bartenders are murdered in Miami, and another goes missing in Philadelphia, private investigator Max Freeman is hiredby his ex-girlfriend Sherryto look into the deaths. He accepts the job grudgingly, especially since Sherry is convinced the prime suspect is a retired police officer who once saved Freeman's life back in Philly. Heading from Florida up north to his old stomping grounds, Freeman races to solve the case before the killer can strike again. But looking at the evidence objectively as he wrestles with his personal feelings for Sherry and his former colleague will be more difficult than he expected, in this mystery thats ';compelling from start to finish' by an Edgar Awardwinning author (The Miami Herald). This ebook contains an illustrated biography of the author featuring never-before-seen photos.

With a sniper targeting Florida's worst criminals, a reporter must choose between revenge and the law in this thriller from the Edgar Awardwinning author. As a reporter for the South Florida Daily News, Nick Mullins has covered the worst of the Sunshine State's crooks and murderers. But the man he's obsessed with is Robert Walker, responsible for the deaths of Mullins's wife and daughter in a drunk driving accident. When a military-trained sniper begins murdering the criminals Mullins has covered in his reporting, he comes to a harrowing crossroads: Stop the sniper's reign of terror, or succumb to his own thirst for vengeance and allow Walker to become the killer's next target.This ebook contains an illustrated biography of the author featuring never-before-seen photos.

The Edgar Awardwinning debut of the bestselling Max Freeman mystery series: A tormented ex-cop's mission to solve a grisly murder and earn redemption for his dark pastAfter a shootout during a convenience store holdup led to the accidental death of a twelve-year-old, Max Freeman left behind the Philadelphia police department for a life in exile in the Florida Everglades.Since then, he has lived in seclusion, haunted by guilt, with the humid night and the nocturnal predators of the swamp as his only company. But everything changes when Freeman discovers a young girl's body floating in the muddy waters and becomes the prime suspect for her murder. To prove his innocence, Freeman must uncover the real murdererand confront his own tortured soulbefore it's too late.This ebook contains an illustrated biography of the author featuring never-before-seen photos.

A PI's vacation in the Everglades is disrupted by a deadly hurricaneand dangerous criminalsin this riveting read by an Edgar Awardwinning author. The peace and quiet of Max Freeman and Sherry Richards's vacation ends abruptly when Hurricane Simone slams into the Sunshine State. Sherry suffers a devastating injury in the storm, and the two are left stranded in the swamp. But as they struggle to find help, they're thwarted by not only opportunistic crooks looking to benefit from the disaster, but also hired muscle from a powerful oil company hoping to protect a lethal secretregardless of who stands in the wayin this ';survival-of-the-fittest tale' by a master of mystery and suspense (Newsday). ';King vividly describes the hurricane's force and the different ways people respond to it. Sherry displays her grit and Max his ingenuity in a series of desperate gambles as the story builds to an explosive climax. This is a worthy addition to a Florida subgenre that includes Carl Hiaasen's Stormy Weather and Tim Dorsey's Hurricane Punch.' Publishers WeeklyThis ebook contains an illustrated biography of the author featuring never-before-seen photos.

Funny Boy faces his biggest threat yeta plaque attack! Funny Boy's super-powered sense of humor has saved the world from airsick aliens, bubble-brained barbers, and a chain of chitchatting cheeses. It's even won him the love of his life: Tupper Camembert. But this riddle-flinging superhero's work is far from over.When the president of the United States is summoned for a cleaning with Dr. Denny the dentist, he knows something is wronghe doesn't even have an appointment! This is a job for Funny Boy, who must once again use every joke in his arsenal to destroy the evil dentist villain and his hygienist henchmen. But does Funny Boy know enough dentist jokes to save the planet from an invasion of plaque?This ebook features an illustrated biography of Dan Gutman including rare images from the author's personal collection. Funny Boy Meets the Dumbbell Dentist from Deimos (with Dangerous Dental Decay) is the 4th book in Funny Boy, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

When America's cows go on strike, a gang of interstellar cheeses land on Earth The nation's cattle have gotten too smart for their own good. Tired of letting humans steal their milk, American cows have gone on strike. This is great news for every kid who hates drinking his milk, but trouble for anybody who likes cheese. Funny Boya joke-telling superhero who was sent to Earth from the planet Croutonis mourning the cheese shortage when five giant cheeses fall on Wisconsin, squashing an unlucky farmer named George Gouda. That alone would be weird enough, but the cheeses also talk.The cheeses are aliens from the faraway planet Chattanooga, and they have come to stop the cheese shortage. The country's woe is ended, but something about the aliens' story stinks worse than month-old Muenster. It will take Funny Boy and his galactic sense of humor to curdle these curds before America starts to spoil.This ebook features an illustrated biography of Dan Gutman including rare images from the author's personal collection. Funny Boy Takes on the Chit-Chatting Cheeses from Chattanooga is the 3rd book in Funny Boy, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Exiled on Earth, Funny Boy must save his new planet from an evil haircut Never spit spitballs at your brother. That's the lesson Funny Boy learned on his last day on the planet Crouton, when his parents strapped him to a rocket and shot him to Earth as punishment for misbehaving. But just like Superman, this exiled Croutonian gained powers when he landed on the new world. He's not super strong, super fast, or super stylish, but his super sense of humor lets him crack jokes faster than a speeding bullet, and leap over boring situations with a single pun. But now he must face the least hilarious thing in the universe: the first day of school.As he tries to fit in among his human peers, Funny Boy learns that three intergalactic barbers have come to steal every strand of hair on Earth. He'll have to dust off his freshest material to stop them, because everybody knows there's nothing funny about a bad haircut.This ebook features an illustrated biography of Dan Gutman including rare images from the author's personal collection. Funny Boy Versus the Bubble-Brained Barbers from the Big Bang is the 2nd book in Funny Boy, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

The funniest alien in the universe lands on the galaxy's weirdest planet: Earth On the planet Crouton, kids never have to straighten their rooms or make their own beds. That's because their rooms aren't crooked, and when they need beds, they just buy them. It's a pretty neat place. But when Funny Boya Croutonian smart-aleck with the galaxy's best sense of humorshoots his brother with a spitball, his parents strap him into a spaceship and blast him to Earth.Things get strange from the minute his spaceship crash-lands in the underwear factory. A planet-gobbling alien is about to attack his new home, and Funny Boy doesn't have any weapons besides a talking dog and a razor-sharp wit. But there is good news: Something about Earth's atmosphere has made Funny Boy even funnier. His job is to crack the jokes, but he needs somebody to turn the pages. So get to it! Earth won't save itself!This ebook features an illustrated biography of Dan Gutman including rare images from the author's personal collection. Funny Boy Meets the Airsick Alien from Andromeda is the 1st book in Funny Boy, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Stories of the American West by the #1 New York Timesbestselling author of North and South, ';the best historical novelist of our time' (Patricia Cornwell). In these timeless stories of the untamed American West, John Jakes thrillingly portrays the harsh realities of life on the frontier with tales of lawmen in the Sierra Nevada, railroad workers in Kansas, and gamblers on the steamboat River Queen. From a saloon showdown unlike any other and outlaws double-crossing each other to a fur trapper hell-bent on vengeance and a power struggle between medicine men, Jakes's frontier stories capture the same sweeping historical drama and unforgettable characterizations as his epic novels in the Crown Family Saga, the Kent Family Chronicles, and the North and South Trilogy. ';At the very heart of every Jakes saga is a story that throbs to the beat of history.' The Cleveland Plain Dealer This ebook features an illustrated biography of John Jakes including rare images from the author's personal collection.

From the #1 New York Timesbestselling author of North and South: The first in a saga about a German immigrant and his family's rise in 20th-century America. The tide of the twentieth century is rising upon the world, and on its crest rides the Crown family. Young Pauli Kroner, freshly arrived in America from the streets of Berlin, makes his way to the mansion of his millionaire uncle in Chicago, looking to fulfill his dreams. His uncle, Joe Crown, is a self-made brewery tycoon who rules his domain with an iron handespecially when it comes to his own family of defiantly rebellious children and a wife yearning for her own liberation. In this new world, Pauli will rise as his own man and find his destiny in the early days of motion pictures. Surrounded by relations close and distant, proud and vengeful, each struggling to find themselves at the dawn of a new era, he will witness and experience the violence of the Pullman Strike, and find love in the arms of a woman who can never be his as he follows the march of history, intertwined with such figures as the audacious Theodore Roosevelt, the ruthless Thomas Edison, the fading western icon Buffalo Bill, and many more. Named a New York Times Notable Book, Homeland is a ';first-rate historical ...chock-full of fascinating period detail, [Jakes's] captivating story brings to life the sounds, smells and tastes of turn-of-the-century America in a manner comparable to Michener's Hawaii and Doctorow's Ragtime' (Publishers Weekly). This ebook features an illustrated biography of John Jakes including rare images from the author's personal collection.

A ';riveting ... sweeping epic' of one man driven by gold fever, by the #1New York Timesbestselling author ofNorth and South (Richmond Times-Dispatch). At the height of California's Gold Rush, men left everything behind for the chance at striking it rich. Now, some thirty years after its peak, gold fever still entices adventurous Easterners like James Macklin Chance, a poor Pennsylvanian who is drawn to California by the dream of lasting wealtha dream so powerful he'll stop at nothing to see it through. Along the way he'll encounter grand passion, ruthless enemies, and larger-than-life titans like Leland Stanford, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Randolph Hearst, who helped shape a country's destiny. ';The best historical novelist of our time' (Patricia Cornwell) once again spins a sweeping tale of power and passion, as he did so masterfully in the Crown Family Saga, the Kent Family Chronicles, and the North and South trilogy.This ebook features an illustrated biography of John Jakes including rare images from the author's personal collection.

Inspired by the murder of millionaire financier and banker Ted Ammon: A tax investigator races against time to save the love of his lifeand the man who stole her from himEvery tax cheat needs a lawyer, and every lawyer needs an investigator like Max Smoller. Max knows the tax code's intricacies better than Uncle Sam himself, and lawyers pay handsomely for him to dig up their clients' dirt, ensuring that no nasty surprises come out during trial. After years in the business, Smoller knows that every crook tells the same storya tale forged by self-pity and unwavering greed. But he never thought he would hear that story from his former business partner Joe Dempsey.Even at the start of their once-promising partnership, Smoller knew Dempsey's brilliance would eventually catapult his friend toward success beyond their shabby office on San Francisco's Telegraph Hill. But Smoller never expected his lover, Christina Lawson, to follow Dempsey out the door. Years after the betrayal, Lawson and Dempsey are separated, and the IRS is nipping at their heels. With prosecution, bankruptcy, and prison on the horizon, it's up to Smoller to save his former partner and the only woman he ever lovedbefore it's too late.The Golden Gate Is Red is a riveting tale of avarice and betrayal, set against a vivid San Francisco backdrop.

A frank and insightful memoir of a life spent in publishing, by one of literature's most legendary agentsSterling Lord has led an extraordinary life, from his youth in small-town Iowa to his post-war founding and editing of an English-language magazine in Paris, followed by his move to New York City to become one of the most powerful literary agents in the field. As agent to Jack Kerouac, Ken Kesey, and countless othersranging from Jimmy Breslin and Rocky Graziano to the Berenstains and four US cabinet membersLord is the decisive influence and authors' confidant who has engineered some of the most important book deals in literary history. In Lord of Publishing, his memoir of life and work (and tennis), Lord reveals that he is also a consummate storyteller. Witty and wise, he brings to life what was arguably the greatest era of book publishing, and gives a brilliant insider's scoop on the key figures of the book businessas well as some of the most remarkable books and authors of our time.

To escape arrest for her best friend's murder, Vejay must find the real killerbefore it's too lateIn the small woodsy town of Henderson, California, the electric company is strict about sick days. So when meterreader Vejay Haskell decides to play hooky, her first concern is staying out of sight. She skirts around the edge of town, making her way to Frank's Place, a cozy saloon owned by her friend Frank Goulet. After two cups of hot buttered rum, they have an argument and she storms out into the pouring rain. She goes home, takes a nap, and awakens sober, embarrassed, and ready to apologize. But by the time she gets back to Frank's bar, he is dead.Vejay was seen leaving Frank's house in a huff, and her lack of an alibi combined with her suspicious sick day makes her the number-one suspect. As the police close in on her, Vejay turns detective in search of Frank's real killer. It's a perilous task, but she has one advantage when she puts on her work clothes: Nobody ever notices the meterreader.This ebook features an illustrated biography of Susan Dunlap including rare images from the author's personal collection.An Equal Opportunity Death is the 1st book in the Vejay Haskell Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Former medical examiner Kiernan O'Shaughnessy investigates a scandalous suicide in a Catholic churchQuick-witted, precise, and comfortable with corpses, Kiernan O'Shaughnessy was perfectly suited to life as a medical examiner. In her four years with the coroner's office, she never had one unhappy shift until the day they let her go. Enraged and adrift, she made her way to La Jolla, California, to set up a high-class private investigation service for medically suspicious deaths. She works only the cases she wants, and charges a steep enough fee that she can afford a cherry red Triumph and a former NFL player as a houseman. Her latest client is one of the biggest moneymakers on the planet: the Roman Catholic Church.A troubled young priest is found hanged in Mission San Leo in Phoenix, Arizona. Hoping to avoid scandal, the bishop bypasses the police, and hires Kiernan to determine whether the death was an accident or a suicide. They ask her to be quiet, but the secrets she uncovers will make her want to sing louder than any church choir.This ebook features an illustrated biography of Susan Dunlap including rare images from the author's personal collection.Pious Deception is the 1st book in the Kiernan OShaughnessy Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Hard-nosed beat cop Jill Smith combs Berkeley for a Buddhist guru-killing cultistIn Berkeley, California, Telegraph Avenue is the headquarters for the city's strangest inhabitants. Cultists, drug addicts, and hippie burnouts wander its streets, looking to raise their consciousness or, if that fails, to just get high. And Jill Smith walks with them, a beat cop with her finger on the pulse of one of the most unique neighborhoods in America.With time on her hands after her divorce, Jill lets a friend drag her to hear the district's hot new guru, a Buddhist holy man from Bhutan. As his disciples clap and cheer , Jill tries to keep from smirking. The guru finally draws her attention, however, when he slumps forward with a knife in his back. She calls for backup and cordons off the temple. Jill doesn't care about karma, but she knows when justice is due.This ebook features an illustrated biography of Susan Dunlap including rare images from the author's personal collection.

A provocative collection of essays by one of the foremost thinkers of second-wave feminismIn a career spanning four decades, Alix Kates Shulman has written on issues ranging from marriage, sex, and divorce to religious identity, age, and family devotion. Throughout her diverse body of work runs a staunch advocacy of equal rights and social justice. Beginning with her provocative essay ';A Marriage Agreement,' written in 1969, and continuing through to the heartrending ';Caring for an Ill Spouse, and Other Caregivers,' written in 2011, this collection provides a window into the social movements that defined an era.Witty, stirring, and poignant, A Marriage Agreement and Other Essays illustrates how each generation, in Shulman's words, ';can do no more than add its bit to the endless river of consciousness and change.'

Journey to Regency England in this ';wonderful' holiday tale of a desperate nobleman, a forgetful fiancee, and a sweet romance (Affaire de Coeur). Her name is Serenity Adams. She's Timothy Crawford's fiancee, and he's going to present her to his grandfather in less than twenty-four hours. The only problem is, she doesn't exist. Now the desperate nobleman must find a willing woman to play the role of his affianced or risk being disinherited. Providence steps in when he stumbles across an overturned carriage. The injured beauty he rescues has no memory of the accidentor of who she is. ';Serenity' remembers nothing except awaking to the magnificent sight of a dashing, golden-haired stranger. When he asks her to take part in a risky act of deception, she has no choice but to accept. At Timothy's ancestral estate, she starts to fall for the nobleman who woos her passionately but whom she can never wed. As the truth about her past emerges amid preparations for the annual Christmas Ball, will it cost Serenity her new lifeand the man she loves? From the ';truly talented author' featured in One Winter's Night: A Regency Yuletide, this is a delightful historical romance filled with mystery, adventure, and plenty of Christmas spirit (Romantic Times).

A half-Indian, half-French deputy with ';a shrewd mind and wry sense of humor' investigates a case of homicide on the range (The New York Times Book Review). Two men have been cutting fences at the ranches of Toussaint, Montana, loosing thousands of dollars' worth of cattle to use as target practice for their .22 rifles. Are they thieves? Pranksters? Local cattle inspector and sometime deputy Gabriel Du Pre guesses they're environmentalists, agitating for the reintroduction of native wolves to Montana's high plains. Du Pre knows the perpetrators are trying to send a message to the ranchers of eastern Montanahe also has a hunch they're already dead. When the activists are indeed found shot to death, Du Pre must figure out who used them for target practice. The FBI descends, but their agents are as clueless in this territory as the hapless victims were. Clearly, one of Toussaint's citizens committed this crime, killing to protect the traditional way of ranching life, a loyalty Du Pre shares. But if anyone's going to arrest his people, it will be the cattle inspector himself ... Wolf, No Wolf is the third in ';a wonderfully eclectic and enjoyable series of interest to western crime readers, especially those favoring Montana authors C. J. Box, Craig Johnson, and Keith McCafferty as well as fans of the Hillermans' (Booklist).Wolf, No Wolfis the 3rd book in The Montana Mysteries Featuring Gabriel Du Pre series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

';[An] enjoyable series of interest to western crime readers, especially those favoring Montana authors C. J. Box, Craig Johnson, and Keith McCafferty as well as fans of the Hillermans' (Booklist). The news is bad: five young womenso farraped, tortured, and left in the Montana wilderness to be devoured by coyotes. It's not long before Gabriel Du Pre, Metis Indian cattle inspector and occasional deputy, gets the call from Sheriff Benny Klein, summoning him to yet another grisly crime scenethis time in his own backyard. Not far from the victim, he finds two more murdered women, their bodies arranged over each other in a cross. A message from the killer? But what does it mean? Working alongside a Blackfoot FBI agent and his feisty female partner, Du Pre, a father and grandfather with two daughters of his own, gives his all to the manhunt. But as more victims are found, and a young woman he cares about disappears, he will come to the grim realization that he must learn to think like this monster in order to catch him. ';Like the most memorable creations in detective fiction, [Du Pre's] moral center is unshakeable' (Booklist).Notchesis the 4th book in The Montana Mysteries Featuring Gabriel Du Pre series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

A ';lively' memoir by the Hollywood legend about the making of Spartacus, with a foreword by George Clooney (Los Angeles Times). One of the world's most iconic movie stars, Kirk Douglas has distinguished himself as a producer, philanthropist, and author of ten works of fiction and memoir.Now,more than fifty years after the release of his enduring epic Spartacus,Douglas reveals the riveting drama behind the making of the legendary gladiator film. Douglas began producing the movie in the midst of the politically charged era when Hollywood's moguls refused to hire anyone accused of Communist sympathies.In a risky move,Douglas choseDalton Trumbo, a blacklisted screenwriter, to write Spartacus. Trumbo wasone of the ';Unfriendly Ten,' men who had gone to prison rather than testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee about their political affiliations. Douglas's source material was already a hot property, as the novel Spartacus was written by Howard Fast while he was in jail for defying HUAC.With the financial future of his young family at stake, Douglas plunged into a tumultuous production both on-and off-screen. As both producer and star of the film, he faced explosive moments with young director Stanley Kubrick, struggles with a leading lady, and negotiations with giant personalities, includingSirLaurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and Lew Wasserman.Writing from his heart and from his own meticulously researched archives, Kirk Douglas, at ninety-five, looks back at his audacious decisions. He made the most expensive film of its erabut more importantly, his moral courage in giving public credit to Trumbo effectively ended the notorious Hollywood blacklist.A master storyteller,Douglas paints a vivid and often humorous portrait in I Am Spartacus! The book is enhanced by newly discovered period photography of the stars and filmmakers both on and off the set.

Two small-time thieves get in over their heads in this literary thriller from the ';virtuoso novelist' and author of Soldier's Joy (The Philadelphia Inquirer). Not quite at home in the backwoods of Tennessee, and even less suited for the service, drifter Macrae lands on his feet in New York City in the 1980s. There, he teams up with a petty thief named Charlie, and the two hit on a scheme to rob people withdrawing money at ATMs. Caught up by their surprising success, they move on to bigger crimes. But as Macrae feels a growing discomfort with the increasing violence and danger of their hardscrabble existence, he wonders if he's in too deep to make a clean break. With a tightly orchestrated and harrowing conclusion from ';one of our most talented novelists... This meticulously observed story nevertheless grips us with its lucid prose, its keen psychological insights and the author's respect for his troubled characters' (Publishers Weekly). ';A remarkable read.' The New York Times Book Review ';Bell seems to know intimately the seedy sides of New York, Baltimore and the ex-urban south of housing developments and shopping centers abutting old, dying farms. He renders each locale exquisitely and seems as familiar with street jive as redneck vernacular.' Los Angeles Times ';Ripe for translation to the silver screen.' Library Journal

A Vietnam vet returns to rural Tennessee in this acclaimed novel from the National Book Awardnominated author of Save Me, Joe Louis. After the horrors of Vietnam, Thomas Laidlaw returns to his home in rural Tennessee where he spends his days raising sheep and growing vegetables. At night he likes to roam the quiet countryside and practice his banjo, revelling in the roots music he finds so grounding. Over time, he resumes his friendship with Rodney Redmon, a fellow vet and childhood friend scarred not only by the wages of war, but also by the deep wounds of racism. As the two friends piece together a new life as civilians, they also piece together a band with the addition of a fiddler. Through a masterful accumulation of details, Bell brings his story to a fever pitch, concluding in ';an unexpected, if powerful, finale' (Publishers Weekly). ';This important, insightful novel' (Library Journal) proves once again that ';every sentence [Bell] writes is a joy. His power is exhilarating' (The New Yorker). ';Bell's impressive talents as a writer, which include endowing settings with the significance of character, and a patient, compassionate probing of injured souls, are on full display.' Publishers Weekly

In the magical world of Lyra, a mysterious instrument gives a minstrel undreamed-of powerWhen Emereck and Flindaran leave a caravan in search of adventure, it isn't long before they stumble upon great danger. Emereck, a trained minstrel, and Flindaran, a nobleman masquerading as a tramp, have found a long-abandoned castle, and in it, one of Lyra's most sought-after treasures: the Harp of Imach Thyssel.Emereck recognizes the perfect white bow from legend: It is said to possess the power of life and death over all mankind. Now, to keep it from falling into the wrong hands, he'll have to learn to harness its strength to create and destroy, with the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance.

A coven of witches reaches out to one of its former warriors in a ';wonderful' Lyra novel ';filled with incredible world-building and characters' (Open Book Society). For more than a decade, Kayl has run a modest country inn. She opened it with her husband, and they managed it together until a summer illness took him away, leaving her alone with their two children. The three of them get by, living happily together as the years pass, but everything changes the day a sorceress asks for a room.Her name is Corrana, and by her silver brooch Kayl knows that she is a member of the order of Sisterhood of Stars, a coven of witches that Kayl left after a secret mission went horribly wrong. Kayl is sure that Corrana has come to take her back to the life she had renounced years before. Now, to save her family and her world, she will have to unlock a side of herself that she buried long ago.

A princess fights a faceless enemy in a forest filled with magic in this tale of ';high-style fantasy and adventure' from the author of Dealing with Dragons (The New York Times). Trouble is brewing in Alkyra. While the kingdom's noblemen squabble, on their borders an ancient enemy, the Lithmern, raises an army. As the head of the Noble House of Brenn attempts to organize an alliance, the princess Alethia celebrates her twentieth birthday. She is a remarkable woman: quick-witted, beautiful, and handy with a throwing knife. But on the next night, she passes through a dark corridor on her way to the banquet hall, and never emerges from the shadows. The Lithmern have kidnapped the princess.When Alethia regains consciousness, an evil Lithmern with a face made of shadows is carrying her through the forest. These are magic woods, home to fabled creatures whose existence she has always doubted. To find her way home, Alethia will have to learn to trust in the old tales, whose legends of magic and daring hold the only hope of saving her kingdom.