Beck, K.K.

Peril Under the Palms

The Body in the Volvo

Murder in a Mummy Case

Death in a Deck Chair

More Murder, They Wrote

Carolyn G. Hart presents Malice Domestic (4)

A Hopeless Case

Jane da Silva knows a Cole Porter tune and a silky voice will only carry you so far through the urbane cabarets of Europe. So when the young widow's "eccentric" Uncle Harold dies, she jets back to the States to claim the fortune she dearly needs to ransom her Visa card. Unfortunately, Jane finds her inheritance conditional and her situation critical. It seems Uncle Harold and his old-codger cronies are part of a secret society dedicated to aiding and abetting offbeat lost causes, and Jane must carry on her uncle's "work" if she expects to see anything resembling a windfall. But just how far will the chic expatriate go when her "hopeless case" forces her to mingle with a sleaze-ball lawyer, a scheming psychiatrist, a sinister New Age cult, a stone-cold corpse--and a ruthless murderer?

Jane da Silva knows a Cole Porter tune and a silky voice will only carry you so far through the urbane cabarets of Europe. So when the young widow's "eccentric" Uncle Harold dies, she jets back to the States to claim the fortune she dearly needs to ransom her Visa card. Unfortunately, Jane finds her inheritance conditional and her situation critical. It seems Uncle Harold and his old-codger cronies are part of a secret society dedicated to aiding and abetting offbeat lost causes, and Jane must carry on her uncle's "work" if she expects to see anything resembling a windfall. But just how far will the chic expatriate go when her "hopeless case" forces her to mingle with a sleaze-ball lawyer, a scheming psychiatrist, a sinister New Age cult, a stone-cold corpse--and a ruthless murderer?

Amateur Night/a Jane Da Silva Mystery

The Tell-Tale Tattoo and Other Stories (Five Star First Edition Mystery Series)

The Revenge of Kali-Ra

"I don't like it," said Raymond Vernon. "I sense a strange presence here."

"Steady, old chap," said the inspector. "I know you've had a scare, but it's all quiet now."

"Too quiet," said Raymond Vernon grimly. "Kali-Ra is here. I know it!"

Suddenly, Nick heard a shattering crash and a woman's terrified scream. He nearly dropped the book in his hand. He must stop reading these damn Kali-Ra thrillers; they were beginning to seem real. But then he realized he had heard an actual scream outside the mansion doors...

Super-bankable, way-hot movie star Nadia Wentworth has found her dream role: the all-powerful, eternally beautiful Kali-Ra, Queen of Doom-one of pulp fiction's most famous characters. Even better, no one stands between Nadia owning all the rights to the Kali-Ra novels. As far as Nadia's assistant, Melanie, can tell, Kali-Ra's creator, dissolute 1920 s novelist Valerian Ricardo, left no heirs. So, it seems that no power on earth can stop the return of Kali-Ra-or prevent Nadia from gaining untold profits and worldwide mega-stardom...

That is, until a cast of mysterious characters descend on Nadia's exotic Beverly Hills mansion-putting the level-headed Melanie in a scenario weirder than anything even she's ever seen. Nick Iversen, Valerian's great-great-nephew from Minneapolis, wants the truth about his dubious heritage. The writer's wacked-out widow, Lila, hungers to spread the "divine power" of his words and control his new fortune on the earthly plane. Haplessly sleazy lawyer Quentin Smith is out to claim the profits of Kali-Ra for his unscrupulous employer. And the mysterious Callie might have a more sinister connection to her Valerian Ricardo's creation than anyone can guess.

Determined to uncover the truth about Ricardo's legacy, Melanie attempts to untangle a web of events as fiendishly difficult as any Kali-Ra herself could devise. But from the moment one of Nadia's unwanted guests turns up stabbed and dangerous forces-including obsessed Kali-Ra Internet fans-stalk the scented night, Melanie must put her own final cut on this deadly script. Even if she must confront the most terrifying perils of celebrity ego, big-studio moviemaking-or the unholy powers of Kali-Ra herself...

Super-bankable, way-hot movie star Nadia Wentworth has found her dream role: the all-powerful, eternally beautiful Kali-Ra, Queen of Doom--one of pulp fiction's most famous characters. Even better, no one stands between Nadia owning all the rights to the Kali-Ra novels. As far as Nadia's assistant, Melanie, can tell, Kali-Ra's creator, dissolute 1920s novelist Valerian Ricardo, left no heirs. So it seems that no power on earth can stop the return of Kali-Ra--or prevent Nadia from gaining untold profits and worldwide mega-stardom. . . .That is, until a cast of mysterious characters descends on Nadia's exotic Beverly Hills mansion--putting the level-headed Melanie in a scenario weirder than anything even she's ever seen. Nick Iversen, Valerian's great-great-nephew from Minneapolis, wants the truth about his dubious heritage. The writer's wacked-out widow, Lila, hungers to spread the "divine power" of his words and control his new fortune on the earthly plane. Haplessly sleazy lawyer Quentin Smith is out to claim the profits of Kali-Ra for his unscrupulous employer. And the mysterious Callie might have a more sinister connection to Valerian Ricardo's creation than anyone can guess. Determined to uncover the truth about Ricardo's legacy, Melanie attempts to untangle a web of events as fiendishly difficult as any Kali-Ra herself could devise. But from the moment one of Nadia's unwanted guests turns up stabbed and dangerous forces--including obsessed Kali-Ra Internet fans--stalk the scented night, Melanie must put her own final cut on this deadly script. Even if she must confront the most terrifying perils of celebrity ego, big-studio moviemaking--or the unholy powers of Kali-Ra herself. . . .