A not-so-anonymous victim sends Reuben Frost on a chase to catch a high-tech killer The girl is found lying beside the East River, strangled. She’s in her late twenties—so why was she carrying a fake ID? The case should have nothing to do with Reuben Frost, legendary retired Wall Street lawyer, but Frost has never been known to mind his own business. Not to mention, his wife, Cynthia, has been slowed down by arthritis, and his social calendar is barren for the first time in decades. It’s the perfect time to find a murderer. The dead girl is Marina Courtland, daughter of millionaire food distributor Daniel Courtland, a treasured client of Frost’s old firm. Working alongside his dear friend Luis Bautista, the sharpest detective in the NYPD, Frost digs into Marina’s past. But what he discovers is a tangled web of plagiarism, infidelity, and indiscreet emails that will ultimately put him face to face with Marina’s killer. Murder.com is the 8th book in the Reuben Frost Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Another hitch: missing autopsy The Walsh case was hampered by various problems, including a missing autopsy report and a glitch in identifying the remains. -- The Miami Herald, March 28, 2010 From The Unsolved Murder of Adam Walsh, Book One: The Adam Walsh story you know: After 6-year-old Adam was found murdered, his father, John Walsh, channeled his unbearable grief into becoming an angry crime-fighting TV host. Yet this is the story you don’t know: For decades, officials had never revealed the file proving the child was Adam. Astonishingly, it showed that the ID of the dead child had never been completed. Why? Was it because the evidence was either inconclusive—or showed that the child likely actually wasn’t Adam? After Hollywood Police closed the case in 2008, not only was the police investigative file made a public record, so were the medical examiners' files in two districts. Harris asked to see all of them and realized this: As shown by his smile in the "Missing" picture, Adam's top front baby teeth were both gone. But the found child had a buck tooth -- a left top front tooth that was in "almost all the way," in the words of a state forensic anthropologist who the police had later consulted. When was the "Missing" picture taken? How long before Adam vanished? John Walsh wrote it was one week. Harris found it was actually about a month. He found Adam's last best friend, who said he saw him a week or two before he disappeared and remembered that he still didn't have any top front teeth. However, the police's last-seen-alive description reads that his top left front tooth was partially in. So within the week or two before Adam disappeared, his new tooth had erupted. Two weeks after Adam was gone, the child's head was found. The Fort Lauderdale medical examiner told the newspapers then that the child (Adam, he said) had been dead for possibly all of the 14 days he had been missing. Teeth don't keep growing after death. In just that week or two before he disappeared, could Adam's top left front tooth have gone from eruption to in "almost all the way"? That would be very unusual if not impossible. More likely, it would have taken months, maybe up to six, pediatric and forensic dentists and parents of young children told Harris. If indeed Adam's top left front tooth doesn't match the same one in the found child, there also should be other indicators that they don't match. To compare discovered, abandoned bodies with missing people, forensic dentists use the missing person's dental charts and dental X-rays. The upstate medical examiner who made the positive ID wrote that Adam's dental chart showed that he had a filling in a lower left molar that matched a filling in the found child. But that was only enough for a "presumptive ID," which is less than a positive ID. It was only one filling, and it was in a common place for children to have cavities. And the dental chart he used is missing from his file -- as well as the files of Hollywood Police, which originally handled it, and the Fort Lauderdale medical examiner, who the upstate M.E. said he gave a copy to. Further, none of the files mention ever getting or using Adam's dental X-rays for a comparison. Those would have made for a definitive match -- or a negative match. Nor is there a mention anywhere of a forensic dental consultation, ordinarily done in such circumstances to make positive IDs. Adam's dentist says he no longer has the original records, so the examination that should have been done then can never be done in the future. Even worse, there is no autopsy report. The medical examiner who performed the autopsy admitted in writing that neither he nor anyone else in his office ever wrote one. Detectives, prosecutors, and defense attorneys who work homicides told Harris they had never heard of that ever happening before. This is what it all means: As there never has been, there never can be a trial for the murder of Adam Walsh because prosecutors can never establish that the murder victim was Adam Walsh. Instead, this case is about something different: crimes, injustices, and horrors against likely two young children, their families, and their communities: A child close in age to Adam who has never been correctly identified, whose parents were never notified and whose murder was never investigated, and who was not buried under his (or her) correct identity; And also the kidnapping of a young boy in a shopping mall in Hollywood, Florida. Which leads to an incredible pair of questions: What ever happened to Adam Walsh? Could he still be alive?
Late one morning in 1995 Thomas Webster, a semi-retired journalist, received an unexpected visitor. Sixteen years earlier, Frank Montini, an American university professor of history, had been accused of murdering another professor at a university in Montreal. The charges were inexplicably dropped, but belief in his guilt lingered and ruined his life and that of his family. Assumptions about his guilt followed him when his family returned to the United States. After he died, his daughter, Gina, convinced he was innocent, wants his reputation restored. She returns to Montreal and arrives at Websters door. She reminds him that even after the charges were dropped, he had written that the police still believed in his guilt. She wants his help: asking him to redeem what he had written which caused her family so much misery. Later that day he agrees to help even though he knows the task is probably beyond his ability and experience. But how often does one get a chance to redeem a damaging mistake made when one was much younger? Early on they discover that the charges against Frank Montini were dropped because of pressure from both the American and Canadian Secret Services. As the lies and deceptions begin to be exposed, more deaths occur before the real murderer is identified. But as the truth emerges from the shadows, Webster discovers that attempting to redeem ones past has a price, and he will never be able to return to the kind of life he had before Gina rang his doorbell.
It's senior year for Adam Madlock, Derek and Bonnie Baglish, Zach Brehm, and Humphrey Warth at Eagerton High School. Adam Madlock is found murdered at 8:00 p.m. in the St. Joe's parking lot. What is supposed to be an intervention to get Adam the help he needed to turn his life around and save his friendship turns to tragedy. As each person pulls up, they see sirens and squad cars. They're interviewed by detectives Chris Appleton and Jeanie Pinkerton. One of these friends is the killer, or are they? As the days turn into weeks and weeks into months, lives will be forever changed, and friendships will be tested in the small town of Dyer, Indiana.
The Agatha Award–winning author of Stirring the Plot returns to the Cookbook Nook in Crystal Cove, California, where February brings Pirate Week, National Chocolate Month—and bitter murder… Pirate Week is sweeping through Crystal Cove and keeping Jenna Hart and her bookstore, the Cookbook Nook, plenty busy. But she’s not too swamped to also host the local Chocolate Cookbook Club’s meeting—especially because the guest of honor is her friend, candy maker and cookbook author Coco Chastain. Jenna whips up a delicious event amidst the rowdy festivities, but the mood is soon broken by robberies, simmering tempers, and a dead body—Coco’s editor, Alison. The suspects turn out to be more plentiful than a pot full of gold doubloons, so to prove Coco isn’t responsible for the dastardly deed, Jenna will have to stir up some clues and figure out who’s the real sticky-fingered killer… INCLUDES RECIPES!
Elihu Leonard has acquired great wealth from his investments over his lifetime, and is enjoying life in Monomoy, at his home on Nantucket for several months of the year. His favorite grandson Samuel Leonard often visits when he finds himself the new owner of the property after his grandfather was found murdered. Elihu has left several wax sealed letters addressed to Samuel which are actually dated in a time frame after his passing for them to be opened. Some of these already have been given to Samuel by Elihu's attorney, Eileen Berg, who was a trusted friend of Elihu and his wife for many years on Nantucket. Eileen is privy to all the financial records of Elihu's and has always kept them private and locked away for safe keeping until the time arrives to disclose them to family members. One of the last letters that Samuel is given by Elihu's attorney is one that describes a book, that is supposedly hidden in the house, as Elihu discovered an old faded piece of paper that actually fell out of a desk that was left after he purchased the home many years ago, the paper was hidden in between a desk drawer and a side wall of the desk. It was dated October 31, 1922 and stated if the person who finds this letter is reading it that means a certain book is still undiscovered at the property located on the North Westerly knoll Half Mile to the left of the very beginning of Monomoy Road, parcel number 44, the old Shea Estate.
Tender Mercies Psychiatric Hospital is one of the darker places in the Sunshine State, so no one’s surprised when young college student Elena Santos dies while under its care. Though Elena’s death appears to result from a severe allergic reaction, the family asks PI Addie Gorky to investigate. Though still mourning her father’s death, Addie takes on the case, expecting to find evidence of neglect or malpractice. But soon the inconsistencies surrounding Elena’s death start piling up, with the tight-lipped and paranoid staff blocking the investigation at every turn. After discovering that Elena was not the inexperienced college student described by her family, but a woman with a haunted past, Addie risks everything to unlock the dark secret of the Tender Mercies. When a second person dies, Addie finds herself in a deadly chess match with an unseen opponent, a grand master of murder always one step ahead. Will Addie find a way to defeat this ruthless killer before another life is lost?
From USA Today bestselling author Leslie Langtry comes the next Merry Wrath mystery about one former CIA agent turned Girl Scout Troop leader who is playing the deadly game of her life! Mrs. Gable in the Conservatory with a noose? It was supposed to be a fun weekend of pretend murder. Girl Scout Troop leader Merry Wrath and four of her scouts play an important role at the Murder Mystery Night Fundraiser on a secluded island in the middle of Dead Otter Lake. The guests, major donors, have all arrived in period costume, are eager to play, and can’t wait for the "killer" to strike! Mr. Blunt in the Ballroom with a lead pipe? Unbeknownst to them, a very real murderer roams the mansion’s halls, and the first victim falls with the first round of cocktails. A violent storm leaves the guests stranded and cut off from the outside world, as our cast of characters, one by one, are dying off in a very real mystery in a very unusual house. Of course, people aren’t who they seem and red herrings abound, throwing a wrench into the investigation. Did the Butler do it? With a nod to a mystery classic, can Merry solve this case and catch a killer before there’s no one else left to play the game? Merry Wrath Mysteries: Merit Badge Murder – book #1 Mint Cookie Murder – book #2 Scout Camp Mystery – short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection Marshmallow S'More Murder – book #3 Movie Night Murder – book #4 Mud Run Murder – book #5 Fishing Badge Murder – short story in the "Pushing Up Daisies" collection Motto for Murder – book #6 Map Skills Murder – book #7 Mean Girl Murder – book #8 Marriage Vow Murder – book #9 Mystery Night Murder – book #10 Meerkats and Murder– book #11 What critics are saying about Leslie Langtry's books: "I laughed so hard I cried on multiple occasions while reading MARSHMALLOW S'MORE MURDER! Girl Scouts, the CIA, and the Yakuza... what could possibly go wrong?" ~ Fresh Fiction "Darkly funny and wildly over the top, this mystery answers the burning question, 'Do assassin skills and Girl Scout merit badges mix…" ~ RT BOOKreviews "Mixing a deadly sense of humor and plenty of sexy sizzle, Leslie Langtry creates a brilliantly original, laughter-rich mix of contemporary romance and suspense." ~ Chicago Tribune "Langtry gets the fun started from page one with a myriad of clever details." ~ Publisher's Weekly
Chaos reigns as desperate invaders wreak havoc on a peaceful land. A simple farmer loses everything: his home, health, freedom, and most of all his family. After being saved from slavery he vows to rescue his wife and daughter. Fuelled by revenge and love the farmer embarks upon a journey into a land of magic that will change him forever. Constant hardships and moral dilemmas test his resolve and character. Will he ignore those who need his help? Can he betray friends who have aided him? Tempted with dark magic he has to make a choice. Meanwhile darkness has chosen him. Unknowingly hunted by the man responsible for his misery, the farmer is running out of time. Can he find a way to save them before it is too late? The Wishing Well can grant his wish, but at what cost? What is he willing to sacrifice to save what is his?
Life of a Serial Murderer Psychological war of Davut committing inconceivable murders with deep remorse and guilty conscience following a burning passion and pleasure. Will Simge, his sister, the only beauty in his life, cure him? Or will he be caught by the chasing police inspector, Muhsin? What end Davut awaits? Appalling, alluring, fascinating and absorbing history
