A cop is car-bombed in Texas—and her brother comes from Capitol Hill to investigate—in this Edgar Award winner by “one of the best storytellers around” (The New York Times Book Review). A long-distance call from his small Texas hometown on his birthday gives Benjamin Dill the news that his sister Felicity—born on the same day exactly ten years later—has died in a car bomb explosion. She was a homicide detective who had perhaps made one enemy too many over the course of her career. Unwilling to let local law enforcement handle the investigation, Dill, a consultant for a Senate subcommittee, arrives in town from DC that night to begin his dogged search for his sister’s killer. What he finds is no surprise to him as he begins to unravel town secrets, because Benjamin Dill is never surprised at what awful things people will do. “Taut . . . a superior piece of work.” —The New York Times Book Review “Expert prose, penetrating social commentary and . . . a marvelous sense of humor. [Thomas] does what only the best writers can: he leaves you wanting more.” —The Washington Post “A master of the crime thriller.” —Publishers Weekly Includes an introduction by New York Times–bestselling author Lawrence Block
On April 2, 1969, New York City policemen rounded up members of the Black Panther party. Thirteen of 21 suspects were then charged and tried for attempted arson, attempted murder, and conspiracies to blow up various police stations, school buildings, and the Bronx Botanical Gardens. "The Briar Patch" brilliantly examines the proceedings, illuminating not only the history of the Panther 21, but the quality of justice in America.
Follow the adventures of crafty B'rer Rabbit and his friends in seven playful folktales with roots in traditional African stories. Told and retold for hundreds of years, this young-reader's version of these folktales retains the original humor and wisdom, com- plemented by spirited, full-color illustrations by Don Daily.
Stories from the classic Afro-American tales about Br'er Rabbit and his friends and enemies. Tar Baby is a collection of the some of the finest of these often surreal and grotesque stories, in the orginal African American dialect.
Amethyst, WI is a small, peaceful town on a pristine lake with an active tourist season in summer. When the air turns chill, the area is transformed into a ghost town with only a handful of lifers who stay. Populated with colorful characters, Amethyst is bursting with mystery, romance, and jealousy. Come and visit a place where anything is possible all-year-round. As a teenager, Roman OBudO Marasek was shy, a farmerOs kid who grew up to be a farmer himself. The first girl he loved was Briar Sankey. Years later, he married, had a daughter, and his wife died unexpectedly. Raising Harper hasnOt been easy alone. Briar had spent her life confident she had all the time in the world to make a life for herself. At forty-seven, she no longer has the same choices. When Bud asks her for help with Harper, she canOt refuse. Suddenly sheOs seeing Bud in a whole new lightEand falling in love with the sweet, shy man whoOs been there all along.
As a teenager, Roman "Bud" Marasek was shy and withdrawn, a farmer's kid who grew up to be a farmer himself. The first girl he loved was Briar Sankey, a popular girl with big, beautiful eyes and a wild clothing and makeup style. It took him years to work up the courage to ask her out, and their date was the best night of his life. But, when she never answered his calls after that and started dating the star athlete, he'd realized he'd only been wishing for the moon. Years passed, Bud fell in love with Evette, had a daughter, and his wife died unexpectedly. Raising Harper hasn't been easy alone, but at forty-seven he feels completely unprepared for being both father and mother to a moody teenage daughter with too many boyfriends and life-and-death meltdowns. He turns to Briar for help. Briar is running her mother's restaurant, has finally toned down her style, and, unbelievably, has never married and seems content to be alone. Looks are deceiving... Briar had spent her life confident she had all the time in the world to make a life for herself and any choice she wanted. At forty-seven, she no longer has the same choices. With both of her parents gone, she's the only one left to run the restaurant, her mother's legacy to the small town of Amethyst and what she considers her "patch" in the big, wide world. Additionally, the few eligible men in the area don't interest her. Letting slip an unintended faux pas, a friend of both Briar and Bud reveals to Briar that Bud has had a thirty year crush on her. Suddenly his reason for coming by the cafe nearly every day of his life takes on startling meaning. In truth, she'd barely noticed him most of the time. When he asks her for help with Harper, she can't refuse. And suddenly she's seeing Bud in a whole new light...and falling in love with the sweet, shy man who's been there all along.