Lynn Walker watched her dad, John, deteriorate from Miami undercover narcotics agent to drug smuggler, from protective father to monster—a very charming monster. By the time she was in high school, her dad was in prison for smuggling 12,000 pounds of marijuana. There, John made a connection with a powerful Colombian drug lord. Within months of being paroled, John waltzed back into his kids' lives, dishing out pure, Colombian cocaine to Lynn and launching her brother's coke-dealing career. After a few years of abusing coke together, Lynn lost everything and was forced to choose between her life and her father. Jaw-dropping, emotionally raw and heart-breaking, Midnight Calling: A Memoir of a Drug Smuggler’s Daughter is a story about family bonds, addiction and the price of holding on when it’s time to let go.
Who would ever suspect that their mentor, teacher, and friend was a cold-blooded killer? Jessie Martin didn't-at least not until she answers the midnight call. Late one August night, Jessie's lifelong mentor and friend-and presently a popular, charismatic, and handsome high school teacher-Terrence Butterfield calls. He utters a startling admission: he's killed someone. He pleads for Jessie's help, so out of loyalty, she rushes to his aid completely unaware that she's risking her relationship, her career, and her life-and that of her unborn child-to help Terrence. Does Jessie's presence at Terrence's home implicate her in the gruesome murder of the teenage boy found in the basement? Why does Terrence betray Jessie when he has a chance to exonerate her of all charges? Has he been a monster in disguise for all these years? To reclaim her life and prove her innocence, Jessie must untangle the web of lies and reveal the shocking truths behind the homicide. The quest turns out to be the fight of her life: to preserve everything and everyone she holds dear.
In 'The Radio Boys at Mountain Pass; Or, The Midnight Call for Assistance' by Allen Chapman, the reader is transported to the early 20th century where the world of amateur radio communication is at its peak. The book follows the adventures of a group of young radio enthusiasts as they navigate through treacherous mountain terrain to help a stranded traveler. Chapman's literary style is engaging and immersive, providing a glimpse into the technological advancements of the time while weaving a thrilling tale of friendship and bravery. His descriptive language and attention to detail truly bring the story to life, making it a captivating read for both young adults and adults alike. This book belongs to the genre of juvenile fiction that combines elements of adventure, technology, and camaraderie, making it a unique and enjoyable read for all ages. Allen Chapman, a prolific writer of children's books, showcases his deep understanding of the adolescent mind, crafting a story that is not only entertaining but also educational in its portrayal of early radio technology. With its blend of excitement and historical context, 'The Radio Boys at Mountain Pass' is a must-read for anyone interested in a thrilling adventure with a touch of nostalgia.
Hawai‘i author Chris McKinney’s first entry in a brilliant new sci-fi noir trilogy explores the sordid past of a murdered scientist, deified in death, through the eyes of a man who once committed unspeakable crimes for her. Year 2142: Earth is forty years past a near-collision with the asteroid Sessho-seki. Akira Kimura, the scientist responsible for eliminating the threat, has reached heights of celebrity approaching deification. But now, Akira feels her safety is under threat, so after years without contact, she reaches out to her former head of security, who has since become a police detective. When he arrives at her deep-sea home and finds Akira methodically dismembered, this detective will risk everything—his career, his family, even his own life—and delve back into his shared past with Akira to find her killer. With a rich, cinematic voice and burning cynicism, Midnight, Water City is both a thrilling neo-noir procedural and a stunning exploration of research, class, climate change, the cult of personality, and the dark sacrifices we are willing to make in the name of progress.
LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE FINALIST • NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE • A “powerful and devastating” (The Washington Post) call to free those buried alive by America’s legal system, and an inspiring true story about unwavering belief in humanity—from a gifted young lawyer and important new voice in the movement to transform the system. “An essential book for our time . . . Brittany K. Barnett is a star.”—Van Jones, CEO of REFORM Alliance, CNN Host, and New York Times bestselling author Brittany K. Barnett was only a law student when she came across the case that would change her life forever—that of Sharanda Jones, single mother, business owner, and, like Brittany, Black daughter of the rural South. A victim of America’s devastating war on drugs, Sharanda had been torn away from her young daughter and was serving a life sentence without parole—for a first-time drug offense. In Sharanda, Brittany saw haunting echoes of her own life, as the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother. As she studied this case, a system came into focus in which widespread racial injustice forms the core of America’s addiction to incarceration. Moved by Sharanda’s plight, Brittany set to work to gain her freedom. This had never been the plan. Bright and ambitious, Brittany was a successful accountant on her way to a high-powered future in corporate law. But Sharanda’s case opened the door to a harrowing journey through the criminal justice system. By day she moved billion-dollar deals, and by night she worked pro bono to free clients in near hopeless legal battles. Ultimately, her path transformed her understanding of injustice in the courts, of genius languishing behind bars, and the very definition of freedom itself. Brittany’s riveting memoir is at once a coming-of-age story and a powerful evocation of what it takes to bring hope and justice to a system built to resist them both. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWS
NOW A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor. At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting-- he’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It’s ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd-- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself-- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.
Late-night radio-show psychologist Rain Sommers is used to the crazies who call in to rage from the back alleys of the French Quarter and the shadows of the bayou. But one caller's chilling obsession with her and her long-ago murdered mother—an iconic singer beloved among the city's Goth community—has even the jaded Rain running scared as a sadistic serial killer known as the Vampire prowls New Orleans. FBI agent Trevor Rivette is convinced her midnight caller and the killer are one and the same. As it becomes disturbingly clear that the Vampire has a sick bloodlust only Rain can satisfy, she allows Trevor to get closer and closer. But he soon discovers that his secretive past and troubled present are intertwined—and that he may die trying to keep Rain's fate out of a madman's control.
May Anna Kovacks was discovered on the dustry streets of Butte, Montana and went on to become a Hollywood star. War, fame, marriage, love, and heartbreak came and went. What never changed was the bond she shared with her two best friends, Effa Commander and Whippy Bird. When scandal, murder, and betrayal made a legend of May Anna, only Effa and Whippy Bird could set the record straight.
Wit and wisdom from some of the world's greatest musicians "If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music." —Gustav Mahler Music may be the food of love, but when melodies slow down or harmonies don't fit, sometimes help is necessary to get back in the flow again. This little book, filled with the wit and wisdom of some of the world's most renowned composers and musicians, is sure to provide inspiration for all who live their life through music
