Trouble happens everywhere in the universe. Any time. Any place. And to make sure whatever cockeyed balance exists is kept, the universe takes care of itself. Some ethereal cosmic force assigns special individuals to the unpredictable, unrewarding, and usually life-threatening task of Troubletaking, being in the completely wrong places at the totally right times to hopefully keep everyone… or most everyone from dying. But the universe doesn't trust just one person to do this. No, it works ...

Every City has one. That place, neighborhood, or borough where the forgotten live, where the once great land when they fall, where the tarnished and corrupt shine and where Justice and Fairness caught the last train out of town.Welcome to the Ninth Circle.The 9th Precinct is known as 'The Ninth Circle' or "The Dante Precinct'. This part of town is where all the losers end up. If you work for a company or the city government and they want to get rid of you, they put you in t...

In a world where the League and its assassins rule, where betrayal and treachery are everywhere . . . the only survivors are those ones who are . . .BORN OF SHADOWSFor Caillen Dagan, a defiant soldier of fortune, survival isn't a right, it's a brutal daily battle. Moving through the Ichidaian universe like a wraith, his brushes with the law and death are legendary. But when an act of rare heroism reveals his hidden birthright, he's forced into a world much more dangerous an...

A desperate ex-cop searches for a shadowy killer in a thriller by the New York Times–bestselling author: “One of the masters of the police novel.” —Ridley PearsonA killer dubbed “The Night Prowler” has turned the city that doesn’t sleep into a town kept awake by terror. Unseen, he enters couples’ homes. Unsuspected, he lingers until the perfect moment arrives. He leaves “gifts” for his victims—before taking their lives.Enter ex-homicide cop Frank Q...

The third novel in the Nebula Award–winning author's classic series: "A challenging, pacesetting work of hard science fiction that should not be missed" ( Los Angeles Times ).Nearly 100,000 years after first contact with the machines that dominate the universe, a few hundred humans survive. Trapped on Snowglade, a barren world near the center of the galaxy, people like Killeen of Family Bishop and his child Toby are primiti...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A former star athlete turned deputy coroner is drawn into a brutal, complicated murder in this psychological thriller from a father-son writing team that delivers “brilliant, page-turning fiction” (Stephen King).Natural causes or foul play? That’s the question Clay Edison must answer each time he examines a body. Figuring out motives and chasing down suspects aren’t part of his beat—not until a seemingly open-and-shut case prove...

Two Stories of a Tumultuous TimeThe Department of the Interior's bloody plot against planet Liad has failed, at least for now, but Clan Korval's firing upon Solcintra, Liad's capital city, to save it from the release of ancient killer machines has resulted in the clan's banishment. Korval has accepted this ruling with glee, but not everything is solved yet, especially with the clan's urgent Plan B still in effect."Hidden Resources" deals with untested pilot Quin yos'Phelium...

Fiendish suspense. Shocking twists.Twelve diabolical tales.New York Times bestselling author and highly acclaimed storyteller Jeffery Deaver-the undisputed "grand master of the plot twist" (Booklist)-returns with a dazzling new collection of short stories. In these twelve electrifying tales (including six written just for this anthology) Deaver proves once again his genius for the unexpected-in his world, appearances are always deceiving.A devoted h...

A year has passed since the Paladin Nation was exposed to the public. Their mission is still to protect humanity from whatever may threaten them. Previously, it was the human duplications, but now that they've been extinguished their biggest challenge is dealing with the complications of public image.Socket Greeny, now 17 years old, has been a Paladin cadet for the past year and is nearing the final test. But that's the least of his problems. He's trying to live two lives: one as a...

Accused as witch, Eileen must flee for her life, leaving her village and true love behind. With her pursuers closing in, she chances across a strange black horse - but does she dare to pay the price of escape?Fae Horse is a short story of 5k words (about 23 pages) in the traditional dark faerie tale style.

From USA Today bestselling author Robert Swartwood, a new unforgettable novel that "will leave its mark on your heart" (Benjamin Percy).In a small Pennsylvania town, one of the most famous women in history — a woman who the world has believed dead for almost two decades — is dying.John Chambers walked away from his life eighteen years ago to become the woman's bodyguard. He gave up everything — including the woman he loved — because he believed tha...

Tsara Adelman is a happily married mother of two (three if you count the dog), enjoying her unruffled existence in the Boston suburbs. One day she receives an invitation to a lavish housewarming party at the New Hampshire estate of her uncle, Castle Thornlocke, from whom she has been estranged for twenty-five years due to a family quarrel. With some hesitation she accepts but leaves her husband and young children behind for the weekend.The night of the party Tsara is abducted by tw...