Robert B. Parker and Robert Crais fans will enjoy 2011 "Best Novel" nominee Hallinan's overeducated private eye, Simeon Grist. In the second book in Hallinan's cult series, originally published in the 1990s, Grist takes a case, that leads him to the phantom neighborhoods of L.A.'s lost children.Missing thirteen-year-old Aimee Sorrell, who ran all the way from Kansas to be a star. But Aimee's trail soon leads Simeon to the city morgue, the first stop on a perilous journey to find out what happens to America's lost children when they go looking for love in all the wrong places.*From Publishers WeeklySimeon Grist, seen before in The Four Last Things , is an up-to-date private eye, a hip survivor of the Woodstock Generation bemused by current L.A. life. He's also a bit seedy, drinking too much and backsliding into cigarette smoking, with a wry outlook and heart of gold that keep him squarely in the hardboiled Hammett-Chandler tradition. Hired to find a 13-year-old runaway who left Kansas to become a Hollywood star, Simeon soon finds himself mired in L.A.'s seamy underworld of teenage hustlers, pimps and all-around losers. Using as decoys his teenage godchild Jessica and a young computer whiz smitten by her, Simeon uncovers a vast interstate ring involving a talent agency, a bent cop and high-tech kiddy-sex. While providing a nasty new meaning for a computer "menu" and some scenes not for the squeamish, Hallinan employs skillful pacing, L.A. color and Simeon's attractive persona to grip readers right through the gory climax and somewhat reassuring ending. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. *From BooklistHallinan's first novel, The Four Last Things, introduced Southern California professor-turned-private-eye Simeon Grist and was notable for its superior plot, dialogue, and characterizations. The second Grist novel is as entertaining as the first, although its subject matter – child prostitution – is hardly light. Hired to find Aimee Sorrell, a 13-year-old runaway from Kansas City who has been kidnapped, Grist attempts to get a lead by hanging out with the young hookers and pimps who frequent the area between Sunset and Fountin Boulevards in Hollywood. His discoveries lead, first, to a strange alliance with the bizarre Mountain (a self-appointed guardian angel who tries to convince the runaways to go home) and, next, to the recruiting of Grist's goddaughter, Jessica, and her computer-nerd friend, Morris, to assist in the hunt for Aimee. Hallinan once again supplies a riveting story, and Grist continues to be one of the most intriguing of the new private eyes. Be forewarned, though: the denoument is grim indeed.*From Library JournalSimeon Grist, persistently hard-nosed private eye, searches the draggy side of Los Angeles for a little lost rich girl. The 12-year-old's mother has received obscene pictures and a ransom note of sorts, so Grist, disgusted and enraged, dives into a graphic world of teenage prostitution, drug abuse, instant violence, colorful street people, and odious exploitation. By treating a grimly fascinating subject matter and location with sharp-voiced style and verve, Hallinan rises far above his first effort, The Four Last Things .Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. “Squeal combines high-octane action, baroque violence, humor, and pathos in a self-assured manner that marks Mr. Hallinan as a capable practitioner of the private eye tale. (Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal)From Publishers WeeklySimeon Grist, seen before in The Four Last Things , is an up-to-date private eye, a hip survivor of the Woodstock Generation bemused by current L.A. life. He's also a bit seedy, drinking too much and backsliding into cigarette smoking, with a wry outlook and heart of gold that keep him squarely in the hardboiled Hammett-Chandler tradition. Hired to find a 13-year-old runaway who left Kansas to become a Hollywood star, Simeon soon finds himself mired in L.A.'s seamy underworld of teenage hustlers, pimps and all-around losers. Using as decoys his teenage godchild Jessica and a young computer whiz smitten by her, Simeon uncovers a vast interstate ring involving a talent agency, a bent cop and high-tech kiddy-sex. While providing a nasty new meaning for a computer "menu" and some scenes not for the squeamish, Hallinan employs skillful pacing, L.A. color and Simeon's attractive persona to grip readers right through the gory climax and somewhat reassuring ending. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library JournalSimeon Grist, persistently hard-nosed private eye, searches the draggy side of Los Angeles for a little lost rich girl. The 12-year-old's mother has received obscene pictures and a ransom note of sorts, so Grist, disgusted and enraged, dives into a graphic world of teenage prostitution, drug abuse, instant violence, colorful street people, and odious exploitation. By treating a grimly fascinating subject matter and location with sharp-voiced style and verve, Hallinan rises far above his first effort, The Four Last Things .Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Katherine Mackenzie agreed to catalogue the Ramsay oriental rug collection before she realized the drama playing out in the famous painter’s mansion. Ramsay’s heir, his exotic mistress Roxelana, had been missing for seven years and was about to be declared legally dead. Katherine wanted no part of the intrigue—until she noticed that in Roxelana’s portrait, the beauty was wearing the same ring that Katherine had inherited. Gothic by Joyce C. Ware; originally published by Zebra Gothic

It is the year 2063. China's world dominance is growing, and America is slipping into impotence. All new sources of energy have been depleted or declared unsafe, and a new Ice Age has begun. Ben Belson searches for a new energy resource.

The bright dawn of the twentieth century finds itself shadowed by the strictures of the Victorian Age. Women, whatever their status in society, are still women and are expected to conform to their well-defined role in life as a mother and wife. For the Bannister girls, daughters of a wealthy and respected family, this is not enough. But the Great War, with all its horrors and degradation, brings with it opportunities for the girls - the stolen lives of a whole generation of young men slowly erode the man-made barriers to equality and fulfilment. For Ellen, tempestuous and headstrong, the way is paved for her to join the suffragette movement; for young Angel, yet to discover her true self, the war creates challenges that harden her character, and nurtures a love that unleashes a dangerous passion; and for Louise, the eldest, bright but sensible the terrible conflict brings a tragedy that threatens to tear her life apart - until the prospect of a new romance promises a heartwarming regeneration of her soul... The Bannister Girls is a poignant novel of love and war, of the choices facing a young generation that will mould Britain's future in the new century...

When wealthy, hard-driving corporate genius Jason Wilding reluctantly takes a break from his business and his husband-hunting girlfriends for a Christmas visit to his Kentucky hometown, he has no idea what his physician brother, David, has in store for him. It seems that Amy Thompkins, a whimsical young widow, has captured David's heart, but courting her with a demanding baby in tow has been difficult. In order to pursue her, David persuades Jason to stay with her and take care of her son for a week. As Jason moves into Amy's house and they grow closer, he must confront the fact that he and his brother are now in love with the same woman...and their lives will never be the same again.

Legendary model Liana Marchall was every man's dream--every man except Richard Zagen whose heart she had broken to begin her career. When he arrived at SwanSea Place, Liana's heart raced--both with desire and panic--but she could never forget the scars she bore. Could they ever forgive one another and regain the passion they had once embraced together?

"You've forgotten how to be a woman! "Zach Reedman's bitter accusation had been the death knell of his marriage to Julie. And even after three long years Julie still winced when she remembered his parting wordsShe'd been a budding journalist, he her publisher when they met. A love too strong and passionate to resist had led them quickly to the altar, but even after her vows Julie's career had come before her husband.Older and wiser, she met Zach again, And as the wounds time had never fully healed were reopened, so once more was her heart....

Equipped with the latest in stealth design and technology, fully armed and virtually invisible to conventional military tracking devices. Sea Devil is the lethal new submarine in a deadly enemy fleet. Under the command of renegade Admiral Igor Starobin, this top secret weapon spearheads a Code One operation to penetrate and destroy the U.S. Navy base at Holy Loch, Scotland, the strategic core of NATO’S defense advantage. Pentagon special investigator Commander Brad Mackenzie knows that the next secret enemy strike will occur along the unprotected shores of Scotland. At the helm of the super attack sub USS Bowfin , Mackenzie is soon locked in combat with the Sea Devil, chasing shadow signals and sound signatures in a desperate battle that will decide the future of the free world!

Beautiful, headstrong Pilar Sandoval y Serna will pay any price to escape the tyranny of her stepfather, Don Esteban. She turns to handsome, moody El Leon, a nobleman turned to a life of outlawry by the depredations of Don Esteban. Together in the hills, Pilar and El Leon find their wills in constant battle and their hearts in secret accord . . .

The world's two deadliest spies in the ultimate showdown. At a small-town carnival two men, each mysteriously summoned by telegram, witness a bizarre killing. The telegrams are signed Jason Bourne. Only they know Bourne's true identity and understand the telegram is really a message from Bourne's mortal enemy, Carlos, known also as the Jackal, the world's deadliest and most elusive terrorist. And furthermore, they know that the Jackal wants: a final confrontation with Bourne. Now David Webb, professor of Oriental studies, husband, and father, must do what he hoped he would never have to do again – assume the terrible identity of Jason Bourne. His plan is simple: to infiltrate the politically and economically Medusan group and use himself as bait to lure the cunning Jackal into a deadly trap – a trap from which only one of them will escape.

Forget what you thought you knew about the universe and enter the fantastic world of master storyteller Alan Dean Foster . . . OPERATOR ASSISTED CALLS ARE CHARGED AT A HIGHER RATE. Mr. Parkworthy had a score to settle with the telephone company, and he was a man used to getting his own way. But he should have remembered that it is not polite to be rude to a lady . . . especially when the lady is Ma Bell.THE METROGNOME. Charlie Dimsdale was only a little man in the company that ran New York City's subways . . . until some odd little denizens of the city's subterranean tunnels showed him who was really in charge!THE TESSELATED TETRAHEXAHEDRAL YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS. Country people in America are a fair but mighty independent bunch. So when some government scientists rudely demanded that the Shattucks turn over the UFO that crashed on their Texas ranch, the Shattucks became a bit obstinate. Besides, the shining little spacecraft looked real cute hanging on the barn with the Christmas decorations.COLLECTIBLE. When young Pearl's life was collapsing around her, she could always find comfort in her extensive collection of dragon memorabilia -- but some youngsters are more fragile than others, and dragons can be deadly.Plus eleven more stories!**

In sixteen stories, T.C. Boyle tears through the walls of contemporary society to reveal a world at once comic and tragic, droll and horrific. Boyle introduces us to a death-defying stuntman who rides across the country strapped to the axle of a Peterbilt, and to a retired primatologist who can't adjust to the "civilized" world. He chronicles the state of romance that requires full-body protection in a disease-conscious age and depicts with aching tenderness the relationship between a young boy and his alcoholic father. These magical and provocative stories mark yet another virtuoso performance from one of America's most supple and electric literary inventors.

HE WAS THE SEXIEST GUY SHE'D EVER MET.And that was about all Jess Baxter knew about her newest tenant. Rob Carpenter was a master at dodging questions...and igniting her desires. With just one of his searing kisses, Jess was hotter than the Florida sun. Then the murders started--all women who looked like her. And the profile of the killer matched Rob.... Was he an innocent victim--or had his burning kisses only been a smoke screen? One thing was certain: Rob Carpenter was no ordinary man.

An exquisitely written novel about the delicate balance between loss and desire, abandonment and renewal, and the fragility of relationships.