New Releases by Raymond Benson

Wir schreiben das Jahr 1959, und wieder setzt sich Judy Cooper, in den Straßen von New York mittlerweile besser als Black Stiletto bekannt, für Recht und Gesetz ein. Dieses Mal hat sie es auf einen gefährlichen Gangster abgesehen – den Heroin-König von Harlem – nachdem sie herausfand, dass dieser ihren Kampfsporttrainer erpresst und kurzerhand dessen minderjährige Tochter entführt hat. Gleichzeitig hat die Black Stiletto aber mit ganz eigenen Problemen zu kämpfen. Ein windiger Filmemacher droht, ihre geheime Identität zu lüften, ein enger Freund ihres Ziehvaters und Mentors scheint ein Handlanger der Ganoven aus Harlem zu sein, und darüber hinaus hat sie ihr Herz verloren; dummerweise an einen FBI-Agenten, der den Befehl hat, sie den Behörden zu überstellen. Und auch in der Gegenwart sieht sich Judys Sohn, Martin Talbot, ganz ähnlichen Wirrungen gegenüber. Offenbar ist er nicht der Einzige, der über eine Kopie jenes 8mm-Films verfügt, der am Ende zeigt, wie sich die Black Stiletto demaskiert ... und zu seiner Mutter wird. Die Kopie befindet sich im Besitz des Sohnes des Mannes, der in den Sechzigerjahren diesen Film drehte, und nun die Gelegenheit nutzen will, Profit aus dieser Sache zu schlagen. Doch Martin bekommt unverhoffte Hilfe, und wieder scheinen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart auf ein alles entscheidendes Finale hinzusteuern. "Auch der zweite Teil der Black Stiletto Serie macht einfach nur verdammt viel Spaß. Wieder wechselt die Story zwischen der jungen, furchtlosen Judy und den rührenden Versuchen ihres Sohnes in der Gegenwart, seine Mutter vor einer medialen Schlammschlacht zu bewahren, hin und her. Einfach pure Unterhaltung." [Booklist]

From internationally acclaimed and best-selling author RAYMOND BENSON comes a wry and darkly comedic work in which a quaint suburb of Chicago finds itself rocked by more than just the uncertainties of 2020. Perfect for fans of Celeste Ng and the twisted prose of Tom Perrotta. For Scott Hatcher, a former television writer turned struggling novelist with a failing marriage to boot, social-distancing and mask-wearing feel like fitting additions to his already surreal life. When his wife Marie and neighbor John Bergman disappear in the middle of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, Scott is naturally mystified and disturbed, but he is also about to learn that his picturesque neighborhood hides more than just the mundane routines of suburban life. When a fire claims the empty house for sale next door, the entire community is shocked when the charred remains of Marie and John are found inside. Stranger still, stockpiles of valuable Personal Protection Equipment, clearly stolen, were destroyed in the blaze alongside them. As the neighborhood reels from the loss, Scott and Bergman''s earthy and enticing widow, Rachel, not only find themselves under investigation for the crime, but also inexorably drawn to one another. As tensions reach a fever pitch, the tale—which is at once familiar and ordinary, yet bizarre and eerie—shows that, just like life in 2020''s uncertain times, dread and danger lurk below the hidden underside of everyday suburbia. Fans of Thornton Wilder''s classic Our Town and films by the sardonic Coen Brothers will be captivated by the warped Americana of The Mad, Mad Murders of Marigold Way.

Che cosa ne è stato di Blair Kendrick? Stella del cinema degli anni ’40, sulla sua scomparsa aleggia un’ombra di mistero. Scappata di casa a diciotto anni, trova fortuna a Los Angeles firmando un contratto con una grande casa di produzione cinematografica gestita da Heldon Hirsch. Sul set del suo secondo film, The Jazz Club, incontra Hank, un pianista di colore, e tra i due nasce l’amore. La loro storia viene da subito ostacolata a causa delle leggi razziali in atto in quel periodo, ma questo non li ferma, e la loro storia continua in segreto. Heldon, indebitato con la mafia di Las Vegas, li scopre e ordina al suo braccio destro di mettere fine a quella relazione. I due innamorati smettono di vedersi per qualche tempo, fino a quando l’attrice non scopre di essere incinta e decide di abbandonare il mondo del cinema per poter sposare Hank e crescere insieme il loro bambino, ma poco dopo viene diffusa la notizia di un suo ricovero in una clinica di riabilitazione, e da quel momento si perdono le tracce di Blair. Nel 2019, la produttrice cinematografica Karissa Glover si trasferisce a Los Angeles nella vecchia abitazione dell’attrice, intenzionata a realizzare un film sulla vita di Blair; lei è la prima inquilina a esserci entrata dopo la scomparsa e tutte le sue cose sono ancora nella casa. Dopo aver trovato alcune vecchie fotografie della ragazza, Karissa decide di indagare di più su di lei e si convince che il mistero debba essere risolto: tutti i film in cui aveva recitato sono stati tolti dalla circolazione, non ci sono più né foto né poster. Ma appena Karissa e il suo socio cominciano a realizzare il film, inizia per loro un pericoloso gioco intimidatorio, che sfocerà in un tentato omicidio. Un thriller scritto in maniera magistrale, ricco di misteri, intrighi e segreti.

Chicago, all’agente speciale Annie Marino è affidato il caso di una giovane donna morta all’interno del bagagliaio di un’auto. La vittima ha un tatuaggio con l’impronta della zampa di un orso, lo stesso trovato sui corpi di molte ragazze russe morte di recente. Il mistero di quel simbolo si infittisce sempre più quando una ragazza, anche lei col medesimo tatuaggio, riesce a scappare dai sui rapitori e a incontrare Annie. Le rivela dettagli importanti prima di suicidarsi non riuscendo a superare il trauma subito. Grazie a queste scoperte l’indagine entra nel vivo, portando l’agente speciale a stretto contatto con l’ambiente degli strip club di Chicago e delle persone che li popolano. Lì si immergerà in un terribile mondo di perdizione, dietro cui si cela un traffico di esseri umani e una pericolosa rete di criminali russi. Chi è il grande burattinaio che tira i fili? Quali segreti custodisce l’impronta dell’orso?

From the New York Times bestselling author and former James Bond novelist comes a gritty, riveting tale of modern crime, featuring a female FBI agent embroiled in a Russian human trafficking case. Chicago Special Agent Annie Marino examines the case of a dead young woman who possesses a tattoo Annie has come across before—that of bloody bear claws. Several deceased women with the tattoo have turned up over the past few years, all suspected of being involved in a vast human trafficking operation. Annie’s neighborhood friend, Jason Ward, is a young writer engaged to be married into an upper-class family from a posh Chicago suburb. Jason believes his future brother-in-law, a war veteran, is definitely a bully—but does he also have ties to the Russian mob? Yana Kravec, a woman from St. Petersburg, Russia, has been fraudulently lured into a trafficking scheme and thrown into a horrid and seemingly hopeless situation. She is, however, determined to fight back and escape her captors. Annie’s investigation eventually uncovers a sordid plot of procuring slaves overseas and marketing them in the US. Her interests soon coincide with those of Jason and Yana, bringing the trio together to fight against a deadly network of criminals. As the separate lives of these characters collide, their paths ultimately converge in a night of terror and survival in a Michigan forest, where they become the prey of evil men who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.

From the New York Times bestselling author of the continuation James Bond novels comes a new novel of suspense about coming-of-age in the 1960s, and the neighborhood street where first love, a child abduction, and abuse collide. Sixty-one-year-old Shelby Truman, a romance novelist, has received a request to visit her childhood friend, Eddie, who is on Death Row. Though mentally ill, Eddie is scheduled to be executed for the disturbing, brutal murders of his wife and unborn child. As Shelby travels home to Texas for the unnerving reunion, she steps back into memories of her past, recalling her five-decade-long relationship with Eddie in order to understand what led the beautiful but troubled boy who lived across the street to become a murderer. Shelby and Eddie used to visit an abandoned fallout shelter in his backyard, their “secret hiding place" where they could escape Eddie’s abusive father, enjoy innocent playtime, and, later, adolescent explorations. As they grow increasingly close, a tragedy occurs one July fourth, an event that sets in motion a lifelong struggle against an Evil—with a capital "E"—that has corrupted their all-American neighborhood. With only a few days left for Eddie to live, Shelby braces herself for a reunion that promises to shed light on the traumatic events that transpired on her street, changing everything Shelby thought she knew about the boy on Chicory Lane.

More than 160 short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors. This volume will introduce you to horror, mystery, fantasy and thrills, from the dark worlds of Lovecraft to the cutting-edge suspense of the mean streets of the cities of the world. This monster collection speaks in the voices of some of today''s leading masters of the short story, with something certain to appeal to every reader. Find a new creative voice to follow. Find a new world to love. An amazing wealth of fiction and imagination. Included in Corruption at the Crossroad: 12+1: Twelve Short Thrillers And A Play — Raymond Benson The Devil Made Me Do It Again And Again — Paul Dale Anderson Seeing Red — David J. Schow Bedbugs — Rick Hautala Destinations Unknown — Gary Braunbeck The Call Of Distant Shores — David Niall Wilson Falling Idols — Brian Hodge In The End, Only Darkness — Monica J O''Rourke 13: A Collection Of Horror And Weird Fiction — Michael Boatman Vapors: The Essential G. Wayne Miller Fiction, Vol. 2 — G. Wayne Miller Scars And Other Distinguishing Marks — Richard Christian Matheson

More than 160 short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors. This volume will introduce you to horror, mystery, fantasy and thrills, from the dark worlds of Lovecraft to the cutting-edge suspense of the mean streets of the cities of the world. This monster collection speaks in the voices of some of today''s leading masters of the short story, with something certain to appeal to every reader. Find a new creative voice to follow. Find a new world to love. An amazing wealth of fiction and imagination.

DYING LIGHT Nightmare Row tells the terrifying story of Mel Wyatt, an 18-year-old American athlete who participated in the Harran 2015 Global Athletic Games two weeks earlier. As one of many Americans stranded in Harran as a result of the outbreak, Mel has been surviving with her little brother, Paul, in an isolated hotel - their parents were killed on the first day of the Infected attacks on the stadium. Thus begins a tense and ticking time bomb thriller of survival.

New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author All five Black Stiletto books in one stunning saga This USA Today and New York Times best-selling five-book saga tells the entire amazing story of Judy Cooper, the famed Black Stiletto of vigilante fame. The story is told by Martin Talbot, the Stiletto''s son, in the words of the Stiletto herself through her diaries. Martin does not discover these diaries until his mother, suffering from Alzheimer Disease, is confined to a nursing home. Imagine his utter shock when he realizes that his mother''s diaries—and other revealing discoveries—bring the Black Stiletto''s—his mother''s—past into the present. This awe-inspiring five-book saga takes the reader through the parallel lives of Judy today and the young masked crime stopper from the 1950''s and ''60''s. From New York to Los Angeles to Texas, Judy—the Stiletto—is a hero to the public, but a hunted enemy of law enforcement and criminals, including the Mafia. As she relentlessly fights for justice, her life is in constant danger. And that danger returns to the present to threaten Martin, his daughter, and Judy, herself. The Black Stiletto Saga covers the entire story. The old Judy, the young Judy, and the Black Stiletto. All five books in one package: The Black Stiletto, The Black Stiletto: Black & White, The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes, The Black Stiletto: Secrets & Lies, and The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings.

The amount of income that an individual has after all personal debts, including the mortgage, have been paid. This calculation is usually made on a monthly basis, after the monthly bills and debts are paid. Also, when a mortgage has been paid off in its entirety, the income that individual had been putting toward the mortgage becomes residual income.

From internationally-acclaimed author Raymond Benson, 12 + 1 is a collection of previously published mysteries, thrillers, science fiction, and fantasy, all told with wry humor and in the spirit of The Twilight Zone—plus some unpublished works such as “The Heart of Erzulie,” “Fortunata-697,” and the stage play “Second Chance.” Spies and detectives, rock ‘n’ roll crime, time travel, androids, alternate history, an encounter with St. Peter, and even The Black Stiletto, all in one compact anthology.

New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author The past and the present meet as two shattering climaxes converge Raymond Benson''s The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings is the startling, climactic finale to the five-book, critically acclaimed saga of The Black Stiletto. It''s 1962. Judy Cooper, the Black Stiletto, is devastated at the betrayal by her nemesis and former lover, mobster Leo Kelly. Additionally, Leo and his psychotically dangerous sister, Christina, have set out to ruin the Stiletto''s reputation in L.A. with a series of crimes that are made to appear as if the crime-fighter is responsible. The very pregnant Judy must fight back only with her wits and cunning—until disaster strikes and she is forced to flee to her old hometown in Texas for the final showdown with destiny. Meanwhile, in the present, the Alzheimer''s that afflicts elderly Judy is in its last stage, but her son and granddaughter, Martin and Gina, must continue to protect her from the past''s last remaining assault, culminating in a cathartic and explosive conclusion. Perfect for fans of vigilante justice While all of the novels in The Black Stiletto Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is: The Black Stiletto The Black Stiletto: Black & White The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes The Black Stiletto: Secrets & Lies The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings

From the towers of Manhattan to the jungles of South America, from the sands of the Sahara to the frozen crags of Antarctica, one man finds adventure everywhere he goes: GABRIEL HUNT. Backed by the resources of the $100 million Hunt Foundation and armed with his trusty Colt revolver, Gabriel Hunt has always been ready for anything--but is he prepared for the adventures that lie in wait for him?

As Judy Cooper, formerly the masked crime fighter the Black Stiletto, suffers from Alzheimer''s, her son Martin and granddaughter Gina explore her hidden past and unearth an old enemy who still wants revenge--and a missing diamond.

Judy, The Stiletto, meets a man who convinces her to move to Los Angeles to escape the pursuit of the New York police, but he may not be the savior she originally thought, and his sister also presents a new threat to Judy.

A partir dos personagens do aclamado jogo de videogame, Raymond Benson desenvolve uma narrativa com o melhor assassino do mundo, um homem geneticamente criado e aprimorado para matar e que atende pelo nome de 47. Nessa história, passada no intervalo entre os dois games, Hitman: Blood Money e Hitman: Absolution, o Agente 47 vai viajar para lugares exóticos como Nepal, Chipre e Caribe, conhecer chefões do crime, negociar acordos obscuros com contatos enigmáticos e eliminar grandes figuras políticas dos Estados Unidos. Balas vão voar e corpos irão cair enquanto 47 tenta finalizar aquilo que foi programado para fazer.

Martin Talbot is stunned when he discovers several hidden volumes of his elderly mother''s diaries which tell of her adventures as the Black Stiletto, an underground heroine who operated in the late 1950s in New York City, taking on communist spies, the Mafia, and common crooks, and he must find some way to keep her safe when an old enemy surfaces from the past.

New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author 1960: Election Year—The Black Stiletto—a Kennedy girl It''s 1960. The Black Stiletto, in her civilian persona as Judy Cooper, volunteers to work for John F. Kennedy''s presidential campaign, only to become involved in a devious behind-the-scenes plot that could change the course of history. Is the mysterious Eastern European man she briefly dated associated with a Cuban/Soviet spy ring? Closer to home, the Stiletto must challenge dangerous tongs in Chinatown after befriending a teenage boy whose father was killed by the gangs. She soon discovers what a different—and very deadly—world exists in lower Manhattan. In the present, Martin, the Stiletto''s son, must deal with his mother''s worsening Alzheimer''s symptoms, his own mental health issues, and the dilemma of whether or not to reveal his family''s secrets to the new woman in his life. Meanwhile, his daughter, Gina, continues to bring trouble to herself, exhibiting behavior that suggests she is closer in spirit to her grandmother than Martin would like. Every major character, past and present, experiences a turning point in this third chapter of The Black Stiletto Series. Perfect for fans of vigilante justice While all of the novels in The Black Stiletto Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is: The Black Stiletto The Black Stiletto: Black & White The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes The Black Stiletto: Secrets & Lies The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings

Pełen akcji jedyny OFICJALNY PREQUEL gry HITMANTM: ROZGRZESZENIE. Najbardziej brutalny i skuteczny morderca powraca, aby podjąć się jednego z najtrudniejszych zadań w swojej karierze. Dzięki tej powieści poznasz szczegóły kluczowej misji bohatera jednej z najbardziej oczekiwanych gier roku.

New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author The Stiletto Faces Racial Injustice—Up Front and Personal It''s 1959, and Judy Cooper, the Black Stiletto, sets out to confront a dangerous gangster known as the heroin king of Harlem when the teenage daughter of her beloved martial arts instructor ends up a prisoner in an uptown narcotics den. And the Stiletto has troubles of her own—a shady filmmaker is threatening to reveal her identity to the world—a close friend of her landlord and substitute father may be in cahoots with the Harlem criminals—she''s fighting for racial equality—and she has fallen in love again . . . this time with an FBI agent who has standing orders to arrest her. Meantime, in the present, the Stiletto''s son, Martin, faces his own blackmail crisis when he finds out that there is a second copy of an 8mm film he found in his mother''s strongbox—showing the Black Stiletto unmasked in a film studio dressing room. As he tries to stop the filmmaker''s son''s extortion plot, he learns that his daughter, Gina, has been brutally assaulted in New York City. The past and the present meet as two shattering climaxes converge. Perfect for fans of vigilante justice While all of the novels in the Black Stiletto Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is: The Black Stiletto The Black Stiletto: Black & White The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes The Black Stiletto: Secrets & Lies The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings

The official, all-original, all-out-thrilling prequel to the much-anticipatednew game, Hitman: Absolution. Available in a tall Premium Edition. Original.

New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author Suppose you found out—just too late—that your mother had been a superhero crime fighter Could Martin Talbot''s mother, Judy, really have been the Black Stiletto? When Martin discovers several volumes of diaries hidden by his mother, he is stunned beyond all imagination. His mother, the underground heroine of yesteryear? The famed, still-unidentified woman who battled Communist spies, took on the Mafia, and preyed on common crooks? The woman who exacted punishment on evildoers without mercy? But it is all described, in great detail, in the diaries. What caused her to begin her quest for justice. Her decision to act outside the law. Her feats as the famed and feared vigilante. How her reputation exploded. In short, how it all played out. Could it be true? Talbot is filled with doubt and disbelief. But the reappearance of one of the Stiletto''s old enemies with a thirst for merciless revenge makes the story more than real and could imperil the life of not only the Stiletto, but her son and granddaughter as well. Perfect for fans of vigilante justice While all of the novels in The Black Stiletto Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is: The Black Stiletto The Black Stiletto: Black & White The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes The Black Stiletto: Secrets & Lies The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings

Former James Bond novelist Raymond Benson hits his stride with the release of the first book in his new Rock ''n'' Roll Detective series. A Hard Day''s Death introduces Spike Berenger, a private investigator specializing in cases in the rock music industry. If Spike''s debut is any indication, here''s hoping he''s walking these mean musical streets of rock for many more cases. A Hard Day''s Death begins with the murder of legendary rocker Peter Flame and the arrest of Flame''s estranged son, Adrian Duncan. Gina Tipton, Adrian''s mother and Flame''s first wife, hires Berenger to prove Adrian didn''t kill his father. During the course of the investigation, Spike''s path crosses Flame''s former and current band members, leaders of the fringe religious cult Flame had recently embraced, Flame''s second ex-wife and their son, and various record industry executives. In addition, a street gang currently running wild, selling drugs and performing guerrilla punk rock concerts, has added Spike to its hit list.

Der abgehalfterte Reporter Ben Walker hätte niemals damit gerechnet, dass sein Land - die glorreichen Vereinigten Staaten - einst so am Boden liegen würde. Die neue Supermacht des Vereinigten Koreas nahm Nordamerika quasi im Handstreich. Einer massiven Cyberattacke folgte ein elektromagnetischer Puls, der die gesamte Technologie der USA lahm legte - sowohl im zivilen Beriech als auch im militärischen. Nun beginnt die eigentliche Invasion in ihrer brutalsten Dimension. Auf der Flucht vor den koreanischen Truppen stellt Walker fest, dass die US Army zwar empfindlich getroffen wurde, aber ihr Kampfeswille noch immer stark ist. Im Chaos des erbitterten Verteidigungskrieges findet Walker seine Bestimmung: Er stellt einen Piratensender auf die Beine und versorgt die versprengten Truppen des Widerstands mit Informationen über den Feind. Und seine Sendungen werden empfangen - allerdings auch von den Invasoren. Diese setzen nun alles daran, Amerikas neue Stimme der Freiheit im Keim zu ersticken.

"Of all the priceless treasures Gabriel Hunt has sought, none means more to him than the one drawing him to the rugged terrain of Corsica and the exotic streets of Marrakesh: his own sister''s life. To save her, Hunt will have to challenge the mind of a tyrant two centuries dead--the calculating, ingenious Napoleon Bonaparte"--p. [4] of cover.

When his ranch hand''s newborn son is abducted from the hospital''s maternity ward and found dead hours later in a trash dumpster, former FBI agent and West Texan Rusty "Red" River resolves to bring the perpetrators to justice. A string of similar child abduction/murders all have one peculiar "signature" in common--the babies'' heads are marked with the Arabic equivalent to the letter "L."