In what "The New York Times" calls "a striking, ambitious first novel" Hooper brilliantly portrays a young woman reluctant to conform to the world of adults. Kate Byrne is having an affair with the father of her most gifted fourth grader, whose disturbing drawings may foretell her future.
Introduce middle-grade readers to the intriguing and exciting history of true crime, including capers, stories, unsolved crimes, daring escapes, famous art heists, and much more, in this first-ever true crime book specifically for kids. True crime is a genre that captures readers of all ages, but oftentimes the stories are too intense—even for kids who love spooky books and movies. Curious Cases: True Crime for Kids presents a slew of fascinating stories that are all age-appropriate, including: -The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft -The cold case of D. B. Cooper -The disappearance of Masterpiece the poodle -Two brothers' cunning escape from Alcatraz -Sherlock Holmes and the Fairy Photographs -Real-life Ghostbusters -and much more! Plus, kids will love the breakdowns of some of the most iconic pop culture detectives and mystery writers like Agatha Christie. The book even includes some fun forensic science activities that kids can do at home to help them better understand how evidence is found and how mysteries can be solved.
True crime for kids. Or is it the happy childhood you never had? Thirteen tales. A wry, fantasy children's book to make adults laugh. Reminiscent of such greats as James Thurber and Lemony Snicket. Penned by SF troublemaker Terry Bisson, and illustrated by transreal cyberpunk Rudy Rucker. Also available in two paperback editions: an all-text "Billy's Book," and an illustrated large-format "Billy's Picture Book."
On October 16, 1991, the badly decomposed body of 11-year-old Melissa Moody was found in the woods near Boswell, Oaklahoma. She had been raped and murdered by her uncle, Jesse James Cummings. Only when one of his wives--herself a victim of his abuse--found the strength to turn against him do police get the evidence they need to put him on death row. Includes 12 pages of photos.
Chance is a black-and-white thinker until she realises that sometimes there are shades of grey. Chance is in Year 7 and thinks she has it all - a loving mother, dog Tiges, best friend and almost-sister next door. But when a reality TV team makes over her house, she discovers newspaper cuttings from the past that cause her to question the world as she knows it and everyone in it. Then she finds herself caught between two realities, identities and worlds. Face-to-face with the truth, Chance has a very difficult decision to make, which almost splits her in two. This powerful story explores what is true and what is fake in today’s world. And while Chance is all about the truth, she ponders whether "Maybe being truthful was really just a big lie." The Book of Chance by Sue Whiting, Highly Commended, 2021 Davitt Awards Best Children’s Crime Book
"We taught our girls to pray every day. What we didn't know was that the devil himself had moved in right across the street." Maddie Clifton is dead. Her killer is a young teenage neighbor, Joshua Phillips, who beats her with a baseball bat and stabs her multiple times. He then stuffs her body under his waterbed that he sleeps on for a week. With a lingering smell coming from the decomposing body, Joshua's mother finally makes the gruesome discovery. How is it possible Josh can hide her body under his bed for that length of time without either of his parents noticing the distinct smell of decomposing flesh? Who is the real Joshua Phillips? There is a dark side to this young teenager that shocks the community to the core. He is a burglar, a thief, a destroyer of property, a possible sexual deviant and a murderer. He pleads that Maddie's murder was a terrible mistake. But was it? There is a lot more to this macabre murder. The Kids who Kill series is written by the bestselling author and researcher, Kathryn McMaster. This nonfiction true crime series covers murder cases of young killers. If you enjoy books by Anne Rule, Jack Rosewood and Kathryn Casey you will enjoy this author's books. Kathryn McMaster specializes in true crime and unsolved murder cases while digging deep to explore the dark side of the human mind.
The dark double life of Ellen Boehm, the mother who murdered her two sons—and nearly killed her daughter. Ellen Boehm, a single mom from St. Louis, Missouri, appeared devoted to her children. But in reality, she was unequipped for motherhood, financially strapped, and desperate. Within a year of each other, her sons, ages two and four, died mysteriously, and Boehm’s eight-year-old daughter then suffered a near-fatal mishap when a hair dryer fell into the girl’s bath. While neighbors wondered how Boehm remained so calm through it all, Det. Sgt. Joseph Burgoon of St. Louis Homicide had darker suspicions. Burgoon soon unraveled a labyrinth of deception, greed, and obsession that revealed a cold-blooded killer whose get-rich-quick scheme came at the cost of her children’s lives. Boehm had taken out insurance policies on her children with six different companies totaling nearly $100,000. Using police reports, case documents, and photos, journalist John Coston recreates the events that led to one mother’s unspeakable acts of filicide—and a cop’s relentless pursuit of the truth.
With the dark suspense of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and the frank and shocking eroticism of Josephine Hart, this debut novel tells the story of a young teacher’s illicit affair and obsession with a historical murder. Tasmanian schoolteacher Kate Byrne is having an affair with the father of her most gifted fourth grader, Lucien. Her lover’s wife has just published Murder at Black Swan Point, a true-crime story about the brutal slaying of a young adulteress in a nearby town. Kate herself has become so obsessed with the murder and so convinced that the published account has it all wrong that she sets about writing her own version—this one for children, narrated by Australian animals. Though Lucien’s father brings Kate to life sexually in encounters of escalating eroticism, he cannot dull her obsession. Fixated on the crime of passion, Kate is becoming less and less aware of the present and of how her behavior may align her fate with that of the dead girl. Chloe Hooper chillingly captures this young woman’s unraveling in an intense, witty, superbly crafted novel.
"He could have just killed Derrick. But he chose not to. Eric continued to deal with Derrick's body because he wanted to, because he chose to, and most frighteningly of all, because he enjoyed it."Four-year-old Derrick Robie is dead. The killer's name is Eric Smith. He is just thirteen years old.Eric Smith loves torturing small animals of all descriptions; cats and kittens, birds, even snakes. When he graduates to people, he shows no remorse for what he has done."I have just met the Anti-Christ," says a family friend to his wife after meeting teen-killer Eric Smith for the first time.This is the true story of a chilling murder of a preschooler stranger who becomes the target of Eric's uncontrollable rage.Did police officers stop a serial killer in the making? You decide.If you read true crime books by Ann Rule, Jack Rosewood or Kathryn Case, you will enjoy reading Kathryn McMaster's books.Kathryn McMaster is an accomplished author who specializes in true crime and unsolved cases and explores the darkest side of the human mind.