Finalist for the 29th Annual Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Mystery. Charlene "Charlie" Mack is a PI in Detroit. Born and raised in the city that America forgot, Charlie has built a highly respected private investigation firm through hard work, smart choices, and relentless ambition. Her team of investigators is highly skilled and trustworthy, but she secretly struggles with her sexual orientation and a mother with early-onset Alzheimer's. When Charlie and her crack team head to Birmingham, Alabama following the trail of a missing person, what should be a routine case turns into a complex chase for answers. Shady locals and a southern patriarch with dark secrets dating back forty years obscure their path. It seems like everyone has something to hide, including Charlie. When the case turns deadly with a double murder, and Charlie is attacked on a quiet neighborhood street, everything suddenly becomes personal. Who can Charlie trust, and will she ever solve the riddles of the Magic City? A Detroit native, Cheryl A. Head now lives on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, where she navigated a successful career as a writer, television producer, filmmaker, broadcast executive, and media funder. Her debut novel, Long Way Home: A World War II Novel, was a 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist in both the African American Literature and Historical Fiction categories. When not writing fiction, she's a passionate blogger and user of Twitter, and she regularly consults on a wide range of diversity issues.
On her way to Hawaii for a week of fun, Jean witnesses the death of Mike--the boy sitting beside her on the plane--and suffers a vacation of terror when his corpse continues to turn up on the Hawaiian islands.
Shortlisted for the 2021 Lambda Literary Award in LGBTQ Mystery. When Charlie Mack is hired by her ex-husband’s new wife Pamela, things get awkward quickly. Her ex, Franklin, has been charged with his brother-in-law’s murder. Charlie and Pamela both believe he didn’t do it, but he’s gone into hiding for some reason neither of them understands. To the police, it adds up to easy guilt, but to Charlie, it indicates that Franklin has stumbled onto something that likely comes with life-threatening complications. Charlie wants proof the case doesn’t involve a double-cross, and when the Mack Investigations team throws all their assets at the case, Charlie's girlfriend, Mandy begins to worry that Charlie’s all-out efforts to find Franklin might be driven by lingering romantic feelings. In the end, everyone involved must figure out which loyalties run deeper than love.
She hasn't seen her brother in years. Now, he's dead. When Judi Westerholme finds out her estranged brother has been murdered, she assumes it's connected to his long term drug addiction. Returning home, she is shocked to discover he had been clean for years, had a wife--now missing--and a child, and led a respectable life. But if he had turned his life around, why was he killed in a drug deal shooting? And where is his wife? Desperate to know what really happened, Judi sets out to uncover the truth, even though it means confronting her own traumatic past. But she's not the only one looking for answers. With a gutsy, unapologetic protagonist, Trust Me, I'm Dead is a gritty and bold crime thriller that explores the sacrifices people will make for their families.
In India, a child is born every two seconds, and 90 minor girls get raped every day (According to NCRB Reports 2023). Due to our illiterate politicians, we fight with each other in the name of religion and are busy protecting our religion. This work of fiction was created by our politicians to prevent our society and its people from questioning them about our country's development. If we are preoccupied with our own lives, we have no time to ask or question them about the development of our country. I have written eight different stories that discuss our biased society and its so-called terms and conditions. Through this book, I aim to encourage every girl in our country to break free from the backward thinking that a girl is only meant to cook and dress according to the dress codes set by men in our country. No girl is weak because, in India, I have observed that when a girl is born, she is cherished by her father until she turns 12, her mother becomes her best friend until she reaches 25, and from 26 onwards, she is expected to be a housewife and raise children until her death. Does she have her own life? As a child, she is told that the entire family's honor rests on her young shoulders and she should keep her distance from others. As she grows up, she is instructed to be home before the street lights come on because her parents are concerned about society. The stories below serve as inspiration and prompt you to think and act wisely. 1) Lachchi: a Karma that Haunts - This story talks about a 12-year-old child, Lachchi, getting married to a 40-year-old man. The story explores the consequences of child marriage and karma, showing how she haunts her son before he can marry his sister. I wanted to tell people about the trauma a child goes through when she is pushed into nuptial ties at an early age. 2) Jennet: The Tale of a Courageous Young Woman! - This tale revolves around a physically challenged girl who was subjected to gang rape at a young age and her subsequent entry into the police force. With an IQ of 190, surpassing that of Einstein, she embarks on tackling the most significant human trafficking case after joining the police force. 3) The Last Ship to London: This narrates the journey of British-born Suzzain Bradshaw during the India and Pakistan partition. She must board the final ship to London before its departure. The account follows her from her residence to the vessel, where she experiences the traumatic event of being raped, resulting in memory loss. This narrative conveys the message that when a flame is ignited, it not only consumes the forest but also affects the individuals who sparked the fire. 4) Eternal Love! Sometimes it can be a curse: This is a horror tale of a solitary superstar and his deceased fan. It delves into the tale of the eccentric wife of a monarch and how following her passing, she anticipates his rebirth. Whether she will triumph or face losing him once more is the essence of this narrative. 5) Vidya! An Abandoned Child: This concerns a girl named Vidya who is detained at Dubai airport during her exit immigration. The narrative explores her parents who have forsaken her. It delves into how she developed feelings for a man over the phone and whether she will be released from the UAE prison to reunite with him. Will she have the opportunity to encounter her estranged parents and the individual she has never met? 6) Confession of a Ritual Man: This is a confession by a 94-year-old man who used to give the last bath to dead bodies. It is about him discussing the circumstances of his raping a dead girl while carrying out the last bath and his life journey while on his deathbed. 7) An Archaeologist's Adventure in the Mystic City on the Sand Islands: This is a sci-fi fantasy tale that continues from my initial novel "Did You See My Family?" They have been missing for the last two years. It is the emotional roller-coaster life of an archaeologist who discovered the mystic city in Misr. 8) Resilience in Relationships: A Woman's Journey Through Marriage and Transformation! The life of a woman who got married for the first time at the age of 14 and later went on to marry three more times after losing her first child with her second husband is a complex and compelling story that sheds light on the challenges and resilience of women in relationships. This Story will explore the experiences of this woman, examining the societal norms and pressures that influenced her decisions, as well as the personal growth and transformation she underwent throughout her marriages. Through an analysis of historical context, cultural expectations, and personal narratives, this Story will delve into the reasons behind the woman's early marriage at 14 years old, exploring how societal norms and familial pressures may have played a role in shaping her choices. Additionally, this Story will examine the impact of losing her first child with her second husband on her subsequent marriages, considering how grief and trauma may have influenced her relationships. Furthermore, this Story will explore the woman's personal growth and resilience throughout her marriages, examining how she navigated challenges and setbacks to ultimately find happiness and fulfillment. By analyzing her experiences through a feminist lens, this Story will highlight the agency and strength of women in navigating complex relationships and societal expectations. Overall, this Story aims to shed light on the complexities of women's experiences in marriage, highlighting how societal norms, personal trauma, and individual agency intersect to shape their lives. Through an exploration of this woman's story, we can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by women in relationships and celebrate their resilience in overcoming adversity. 9) The Colonial Legacies: In the rich tapestry of India's history, some threads weave together the complex narrative of colonialism, resistance, and the quest for independence. Among these threads are the profound impacts of the English language and Christian missionaries in India, the evolution of the Indian education system, and the insidious strategy of "Divide and Conquer." As we delve deeper into the layers of history, we uncover the legacy of the Three Colonial Gifts and their lasting influence on modern India. These gifts, though presented as benevolent gestures, carried with them a hidden agenda of control and exploitation. Amidst this backdrop of colonial rule and cultural upheaval. 10) The Exploitation of North India" In a land rich with history and culture, the people of North India have endured centuries of exploitation at the hands of invaders seeking to conquer and control their region. From the opulent rule of the Mughals to the cunning tactics of the British colonizers, the lands of North India have witnessed the plundering of resources, the imposition of heavy taxes, and the suppression of indigenous traditions. As the once prosperous land faced the heavy burden of foreign rule, families struggled to make ends meet, landowners were reduced to mere tenants, and the education system suffered under oppressive policies. Despite these hardships, a spirit of defiance and determination burned bright in the hearts of the people, as they sought to reclaim their financial independence, educational opportunities, and land rights. Through acts of resistance and solidarity, the people of North India began to rebuild their shattered communities and reclaim their rightful place in the land they called home. The legacy of exploitation may have left scars that ran deep, but it also forged a bond of unity and resilience among the people of North India, as they stood together in the face of adversity and worked towards a brighter future for themselves and generations to come. "Echoes of Resilience: The Exploitation of North India" tells the story of a region's enduring spirit in the face of adversity and the strength found in unity. 11) Rajan, the Temple Trader, whose journey from trader to survivor to revolutionary embodies the indomitable human spirit and the power of resilience in the face of adversity. Standing alongside his comrades in the fight for a future free from oppression, Rajan's story becomes intertwined with the larger narrative of India's struggle for independence – a tale of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring quest for freedom. Join us on this exploration of history, as we unravel the complexities of India's past and witness the transformative power of individuals like Rajan, whose unwavering determination shapes the course of a nation's destiny.
