New Releases by Ridley Pearson

Seattle police psychologist Daphne Mathews has her hands full with a pregnant, addicted, runaway teenager, a murder victim''s brother whose strange behavior unnerves her, and a deputy sheriff she once treated who''s now stalking her. She''s frightened enough to move in with Detective John LaMoia, a development that doesn''t exactly thrill Lou Boldt, their boss and Daphne''sex-lover. But Lou''s too busy with his own cases to brood over John and Daphne: the recent disappearances of two local women, and the death of Billy Chen, the nephew of Mama Lu, an old friend and a powerful figure in Seattle''s Chinese community, which appeared to be an accident but turns out to have been murder. The only thing the disappearances and murder have in common is location; all three victims were last seen in a part of downtown built over the Underground, a dark and dangerous warren of buildings abandoned after the fire that leveled Seattle more than a hundred years ago. While Seattle''s Underground has been the setting for several mysteries by other authors (Earl Emerson, J.A. Jance), Pearson makes the most of its creepy-crawly atmosphere in a gripping thriller whose solid plotting pulls all of Daphne''s, LaMoia''s, and Boldt''s cases together. It also wisely reconfigures the personal relationships among the three central characters, which bodes well for their future adventures in this long-running series ( Middle ofNowhere, The Pied Piper). --Jane Adams

Steven "Steel" Trapp has been placed in an East Coast boarding school for gifted kids by his FBI agent father. He soon discovers that there''s a clubby element of the faculty and upper classmen that is very secretive and protective. To his surprise, his friend Kaileigh arrives at the school, and it isn''t long before the two realize that this is not your normal boarding school. It seems a select few students are recruited, while still minors, to serve as special "translators" for the US Government.

This epic conclusion to the KINGDOM KEEPERS INHERITANCE trilogy will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page! In this final installment in the series that has sold over a million copies worldwide, Ridley Pearson concludes the Kingdom Keepers saga with spectacular magical flair. The Villains are about to make their ultimate stand in an effort to take over the Disney parks. Ursula, the baddest of the bad, has figured out how to animate every villain in every attraction, and has beckoned them to her side to form the most evil army of all time, leaving the parks without their stories. The result? The parks begin to fade and warp as the stories their attractions are based on cease to exist. Can Eli and his band of talented friends find a way to take down Ursula before her dastardly deeds ruin the Disney Parks for good?

In this riveting thriller, 14-year-old Steven "Steel" Trapp sets off with his mom and their dog, Cairo, on a 2-day Amtrak journey to compete in the National Science Competition in Washington, DC. Steel is both blessed and cursed with a remarkable photographic memory--just one look and whatever he sees is imprinted for keeps. Trying to be a good Samaritan on the train, he instead becomes embroiled in an ingenious, international plot of kidnapping and bribery that may have links to terrorists.

The second book in this all new KINGDOM KEEPERS INHERITANCE trilogy follows our young heroes to parks around the world as they work to stop the most villainous villain of all—Ursula—from taking over for good! In this latest book in the series that has sold over a million copies worldwide, Ridley Pearson expands the Kingdom Keepers world in ways no reader—or Disney Parks fan—could have imagined. Home from their adventures abroad in book one, Eli and his friends are safe and sound at Epcot with their families—or are they? When Eli learns that the CEO of the Walt Disney Company has mysteriously done a 180 and ordered Villains Realms to be built in every park across the globe, he and his friends know something is amiss. It turns out that Ursula, the baddest of the big bads, has recruited an evil chemist to recreate Walt''s magical ink, which would allow the Villains to travel between parks and end Disney magic as we know it. With the help of Cinderella''s very own Fairy Godmother—the notorious FGM as she''s known in this world—they set out to stop Ursula—jumping from Epcot to Disneyland to Disneyland Paris, where the ultimate battle between good and evil plays out. Will Eli and his friends prevail, or will the Villains finally have their way?

What you are holding is no ordinary book. This book contains scary stories. Thrilling and chilling tales that feature the worst Disney villains. They twist and turn through unfortunate circumstances. Maybe you''ve heard of a cave full of wonders where no one escapes alive? Or a huntsman carrying a a princess''s heart back to an evil queen? Don''t forget the horseman who lost his head. Literally. Something strange happens once you start reading. You might feel like you are in the story. Right. Inside. The. Pages. Just ask Billie Templeton. She knows all about scary stories. Billie would rather such tales stay inside her book where they belong. If only her classmate, Tim, hadn''t found the mirror. The magic mirror. A mirror wrapped up and never to be opened. But since when does Tim follow the rules? Consider yourself warned. Chilling tales, filled with twists and turns will leave you on the edge of your seat! Perfect for fans of Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

The New York Times–bestselling author’s “engaging cop hero” finds himself on the other side of the interview room in this revealing short story (Publishers Weekly). After twenty-seven years on the force, Lt. Lou Boldt is suddenly seated at a table being grilled as part of an internal investigation. They want him to talk about what happened with ten grand in cash in the evidence room. As the pressure mounts and Boldt leads his interrogators on numerous conversational detours, they will touch upon issues of crime and corruption, but also subjects like friendship and loyalty, trauma and trust—in this short story that explores the Seattle detective’s life and career.

DAS ABENTEUER GEHT WEITER - DIE FORTSETZUNG ZU SUPER SONS: PROJEKT POLARSCHILD! Währenddessen folgt Candace Hinweisen die der Schlüssel zu ihrem Schicksal sein könnten. Sie entdeckt mächtige Fähigkeiten von denen sie selbst bisher nichts wusste. Die drei drohen an ihren Aufgaben zu zerbrechen doch als Team könnten sie erfolgreich sein ...

Three heart-pounding novels by the New York Times–bestselling author: “The best thriller writer on the planet” (Booklist). This volume include three novels filled with twists and turns from the author of such acclaimed suspense novels as White Bone and The Red Room: Probable Cause: Carmel, California is a peaceful tourist haven where James Dewitt is the police force’s only detective. His usual caseload is stolen bicycles and the occasional burglary—but things are about to change with frightening speed. “A natural storyteller . . .He keeps the thread going, twisting the details . . .dancing the forensic shuffle without missing a step.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch Blood of the Albatross: An innocent Seattle sailor is pulled into a dangerous web of espionage in this “enthralling” novel (The San Diego Union-Tribune). “Pearson skillfully spins this thriller with sense-of-place, breakneck pace, and economically drawn, believable characters.” —Library Journal Never Look Back: A Soviet agent has entered the United States—carrying a terrifying weapon—in this “breakneck-action” Cold War adventure (Kirkus Reviews).

With the adventures set forth in the first books now behind them, Kingdom Keepers 3: Disney In Shadow follows the five teens, Finn, Philby, Willa, Charlene, and Maybeck as they search to find Wayne, their mentor and head Imagineer who has mysteriously gone missing. Concerned Wayne has been abducted by the Overtakers—Disney villains, who along with other Disney characters, take over the parks when the turnstiles stop spinning, and want desperately to steer the parks to a far darker place—the five kids pick up a major clue from a close friend, Jess, whose dreams (nightmares, really) often accurately predict the future. The very few clues from Jess''s dream lead the kids into Disney''s Hollywood Studios and Epcot--through imaginary worlds that become real, by imaginary kids who are real. Each clue seems tied to the last, and with the stakes growing ever higher, what starts out as a puzzle ends up as a fight for their lives. Through a transparent paper box, a quest for a sword, rides on Soarin'' and Maelstrom, life-and-death encounters with giant snakes, and a devious Maleficent, the Kingdom Keepers not only begin to decipher deeper meanings to the clues, but discover new truths about themselves and their ever-growing friendships.

It''s supposed to be a happy day at the Magic Kingdom—the return of the teenaged holographic hosts. But things go very wrong when a sudden lightning storm disrupts the celebration, and Amanda''s mysterious sister, Jez, disappears. The only clue is the sighting of a wild monkey in the Magic Kingdom during the storm. The mystery deepens as Finn is contacted by Wayne, an old man he hasn''t heard from in months. Wayne tells Finn that there''s trouble at the Animal Kingdom: the evil Overtakers have gained control of one of the computer servers that will be used to operate Daylight Holographic Imaging there. That means that if any of the holographic hosts fall asleep, they will go into comas—permanently. Filled with action and brimming with the same meticulous detail as The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark, this second book in the series —The Rise of Chernabog—is the result of hands-on research behind the scenes at Disney''s Animal Kingdom Park. Young and older readers alike will get a glimpse into a second Disney kingdom. The wild rides have only just begun; and the clock is ticking. How long can the teens keep themselves awake in their quest to find their friend—and what happens if they fail?

The Foxglove Mission is the rare sequel that takes everything readers love about Super Sons and raises the stakes without losing any of the charm or sense of wonder. SLJ writes, ''''For kids who enjoy suspenseful adventures about saving the world and superhero-adjacent stories.''''

The polar ice caps have nearly melted away, causing devastation to coastal cities. Erratic, deadly weather forces everyone inland, tearing families apart. Earth is facing its greatest crisis—and Superman and Batman are nowhere to be found. Jon Kent and Damian Wayne are opposite in every way except one—they are the sons of the World’s Greatest Heroes! To uncover a global conspiracy, this unlikely dynamic duo will need to learn to trust each other and work together to save the Earth. But who is the mysterious Candace? And what secrets does she hold that could be the key to everything? From New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson (Kingdom Keepers) and artist Ile Gonzalez comes the first original graphic novel in an epic three-part series that follows the Super Sons of Superman and Batman as they struggle to find their place in a rapidly changing world!

“Will leave you dying to know more.” —Rick Riordan, author of the #1 bestselling Percy Jackson series The New York Times bestselling author of the Peter and the Starcatcher and Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson, brings us the second riveting tale in the Lock and Key trilogy. This bravely reimagined origin story of the rivalry of literature’s most famous enemies—Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty—is told from the perspective of James’s observant little sister, Moira. At the thrilling conclusion to book one, we left off with James and Moira’s father dying horribly and unexpectedly. Now the search is on to find out whatreallyhappened to their father. Did he fall or was he pushed? Sherlock, James, and Moira reluctantly partner up, trusting no one, not even each other, as they uncover a secret sect, a rare jewel, and a sordid history. Blood is spilled, trusts broken, and friendships lost in this story of how one simple mistake cost Father his life and James his heart, and sent the Moriartys spiraling ever downward. It’s a highly original and satisfying take on the Sherlock Holmes series as only master of suspense Ridley Pearson could envision. As Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, says, “This tale will change the way you see Sherlock Holmes and leave you dying to know more.”

The stakes are high--both for the past and the future. The finale of The Return series leaves the Kingdom Keepers with unimaginable choices to make.

Disneyland, Opening Day, 1955. When five present-day teenagers known as the Kingdom Keepers find themselves thrown into a past that would make anyone envious, things don''t exactly work out the way they''d hoped. Finn, Charlene, Maybeck, Willa, and Philby open a door into a place and a time when the legend of the Disney parks is just starting. They are there, in 1955, to retrieve Walt Disney''s infamous pen that once saved the parks as we know them. But like all things Disney, nothing is as it seems.The early days of the Tower of Terror, the origin of the Overtakers (Disney villains), and the real power of magic unfold in an unexpected series of events that propel both the Keepers and Disney itself into a darkness no one saw coming. Along the way, the Keepers visit Walt Disney''s hilltop home, Disneyland''s opening day and reception, and find themselves separated from friends sixty years away. The three Fairlies, young women in Disney''s School of Imagineering, girls with astonishing powers of their own, have unmasked a long-buried secret that threatens the lives of their friends as well as everything Walt Disney worked for.

“Will leave you dying to know more.”—Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series The New York Times bestselling author of the Peter and the Starcatchers and Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson, brings us the riveting first tale of the Lock and Key trilogy about the origins of the rivalry between literature’s most famous enemies—Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty, told from the perspective of James’s observant little sister, Moria. Before James grew up to be a ruthless, remorseless villain, he was a curious boy from Boston, with a penchant for trouble and an acid tongue. Thrown into a boarding school against his wishes, James winds up rooming with a most unlikely companion: a lanky British know-it-all named Sherlock Holmes (“Lock” to his friends). An heirloom Bible, donated by the Moriarty family more than a hundred years ago, has gone missing, and it doesn’t take long for the two to find themselves embroiled in the school-wide scandal. The school is on lockdown until it’s found, strange clues keep finding their way to James, and a secret society lurks behind it all. It’s a brave new reimagining of the Sherlock Holmes series as only master of suspense Ridley Pearson could envision. As Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, says, “This tale will change the way you see Sherlock Holmes and leave you dying to know more.”

The New York Times bestselling author of the Peter and the Starcatcher and Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson, brings us the stirring digital prequel to the Lock and Key series, which reimagines the origins of the rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty. In The Gadwall Incident, readers get a glimpse into James’s life a mere twenty-four hours before the tipping point—before life as he knows it changes irrevocably and his childhood slips into the shadows. Readers will come to know the dangers that surround the Moriartys before James and Moria are sent off to the hallowed halls of Baskerville Academy, where they first meet the insufferable, inexhaustible Sherlock Holmes. It’s a tale full of intrigue and false starts and daring getaways, one that will leave readers desperate to know what''s next.

John Knox and Grace Chu, the incomparable duo of the Risk Agent novels, team up again in the latest international thrill ride from New York Times–bestselling author Ridley Pearson. When ex–military contractor John Knox receives a text from partner Grace Chu warning that she fears her cover may have been blown while on assignment, he jumps into action. Knox must locate her overseas handlers, convince them of the threat, and then attempt to retrace the well-hidden steps of a woman who had been attempting to determine how one million euros’ worth of AIDS vaccine disappeared, all while eluding angry poachers on a parallel trail. Corruption isn’t a “problem” in Kenya, it’s the way of doing business. The poaching of ivory from African elephants, driven by insatiable demand from mainland China, fuels constant blood and slaughter. Knox faces police, national rangers, journalists, and safari companies who are each in their own symbiotic relationship with elephants, both good and bad. As the threat from Al-Shaabab militants interferes with his pursuit of Grace, Knox finds himself pitted against the most savage and suicidal fighters in the world. And there’s this woman, Grace, always in his head. His gut. As Grace watches as her civilized self slips away while abandoned in the bush, Knox races against the clock to find her.

The “remarkable” first novel in the series starring an ex-musician and amateur sleuth in beautiful, rural Idaho, by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author (Kirkus Reviews). Chris Klick wants to get far away from his past in the fast-paced West Coast music industry. But trouble seems to find him even in the peaceful environs of Idaho. When a woman named Nicole Russell tells the amateur sleuth about her missing husband, missing Labrador, and missing fifty-thousand dollars, Klick’s suddenly up to his ears in mystery. Aided by his best friend, former basketball star Lyel, Klick pursues Nicole’s husband, dog, and lost cash in corrupt Snow Lake. But helping Nicole recover her money may mean losing everything . . . Originally published under the name Wendell McCall, this is the debut novel in the series featuring Chris Klick, full of wit, grit, and adventure.

An ex-musician searches far and wide for a missing maestro, in this mystery by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author. Chris Klick left his life in Los Angeles behind to enjoy the simple life in beautiful Idaho, and all he wants is to spend some time with his new love, Nicole. But money comes knocking and the amateur sleuth heeds the call. Tracking down philandering maestro Stephan Shultz, who’s gone MIA, proves to be a steep challenge from the get-go. From Atlantic City to Paris to London, Klick pursues Shultz as the case expands to include a secret Oxford lover, a missing don, some pilfered port, and a lost Mozart manuscript. Will he find Shultz after all, or will he lose everything—including Nicole? Originally published under the name Wendell McCall, this colorful crime novel comes from the acclaimed and bestselling author of the Walt Fleming series and other popular mysteries and thrillers.

An Idaho sleuth hunts a missing woman after a series of bizarre accidents, in this mystery from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author. After a small plane plummets into a gas station in rural Idaho, ex-musician and sometimes-sleuth Chris Klick knows that his dream of a quieter, simpler life far from Los Angeles may not be as easy to achieve as he hoped . . . Now he must team up with his buddy Lyel to track down a missing county courthouse employee connected to the plane crash and other freak accidents. Was she kidnapped? Is she on the run from her creditors? Searching for answers and finding only trouble, Klick’s questions pile up as the stakes climb ever higher. Originally published under the name Wendell McCall, this is the follow-up to Dead Aim, a mystery which “balances all the best P.I. elements with a lyrical sense of the country . . . Sardonic, wry, and remarkable in both plotting and pacing” (Kirkus Reviews).

With the defeat of the Overtakers behind them, the five teenagers known as the Kingdom Keepers should be celebrating. By all accounts they saved Disneyland from certain destruction. Why then did their mentor leave one last puzzle for them to decipher? The Keepers must solve a puzzle of the past, or be crushed under an evil that makes the Overtakers seem like gentle souls.

With the defeat of the Overtakers behind them, the five teenagers known as the Kingdom Keepers should be celebrating. By all accounts they saved Disneyland from certain destruction. Why then did their mentor leave one last puzzle for them to decipher? The Keepers must solve a puzzle of the past, or be crushed under an evil that makes the Overtakers seem like gentle souls.

When Amanda travels east to Orlando on a hunch, she''s met with the worst news possible. Kingdom Keeper Finn Whitman is missing. Calling on her own gift (she''s telekinetic), her sister Jess''s ability to dream the future, and their fellow Fairlie Mattie Weaver''s unexplained ability to read minds through physical contact, the three gifted girls must navigate treachery, deception, and the stubborn, unwilling parents of the missing Keepers if they''re to save their friends.

Collecting books 1-3 of the New York Times best-selling series! When Disney Imagineers installed hologram guides for the Magic Kingdom using five teenage models, they had no idea the technology might backfire. But backfire it did: some nights when the kids go to sleep, they wake up in one of the Disney parks as a hologram. Soon the five young teens find themselves pitted against Disney villains and witches that threaten both the future of Walt Disney World and the stability of the world outside its walls. As this fantastical thriller evolves, Finn and his friends must use their new skills to protect other Disney Parks, traveling to the Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and more! This gripping high-tech tale will thrill every kid who has ever dreamed of sneaking into Disney parks after hours or wondered what happens at night when the parks are closed.

A police detective struggles to outwit a twisted killer in this “breathless” crime novel by the New York Times–bestselling author of Undercurrents (Chicago Tribune). Carmel, California is a scenic, peaceful tourist haven where James Dewitt is the police force’s only detective. His usual caseload is stolen bicycles and the occasional burglary—but things are about to change with frightening speed. A series of apparent suicides—which soon prove to be murders—shocks the community. Dewitt, a former forensic scientist, struggles with the smallest of clues in his quest for the killer, while departmental turf wars and local politics increase the pressures on his investigation. His steps are further dogged by renegade ex-cop Howard Lumbrowski—the man Dewitt blames for his wife’s death. How is Lumbrowski connected to the killings? And why does he have information from Dewitt’s confidential files? Dewitt finds himself playing a dangerous game, breaking his own rules in a desperate search for answers . . . “A natural storyteller . . . He keeps the thread going, twisting the details . . . Dancing the forensic shuffle without missing a step.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch

A Soviet agent has entered the United States—carrying a terrifying weapon—in this Cold War thriller by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author . . . Agent Andy Clayton has been inactive for eighteen months, kept under tight surveillance at his home in Washington D.C. Now he is needed—Leonid Borikowski, code name Dragonfly, has been seen entering the United States, and Clayton is the only man who may be able to find and stop him. For Clayton, it’s more than a routine assignment. He knows Dragonfly, has faced him before, and he wants him. His interest is as personal as it is professional: He wants revenge on the foreign agent who killed his twin brother. But there is much that Clayton doesn''t know. He doesn''t know that Borikowski is carrying perhaps the most important, and dangerous, biological discovery the world has ever known. He doesn''t know that the microbe is in a suitcase armed with a device that will explode if Borikowski is harmed. And he doesn''t know about the Soviet intelligence project code-named Bookends—a project that will not be complete until Andy meets the same fate as his brother. The chase will take him across the United States and Canada, putting himself, the woman he loves, and thousands of innocent people in jeopardy…

The Kingdom Keepers'' senior year in high school is almost over. For more than three years, things have been quiet. Their battles are long behind them, they agree, the threat to the Disney realm silenced-albeit at great cost. But inside the catacombs of the Aztec temple where Finn Whitman faced down his nemesis, the monstrous Chernabog, a new threat brews. Deception and betrayal rock the Kingdom Keepers as the merciless group of Disney villains known as the Overtakers stage an unexpected comeback. But a discovery by the Keepers provides them with one hope of victory—a lost icon. It was believed to be gone forever. The Keepers have one last chance to preserve the heart of the Kingdom—Disneyland—from a terrifying destruction decades in the making.

Mega-Awesome Adventures features thrilling excerpts from six fantastic novels, including a sneak peek at a complete story from Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods! Explore this exciting sampler, which includes selections from internationally best-selling authors such as Eoin Colfer, author of the acclaimed Artemis Fowl series; Ridley Pearson, author of the Kingdom Keepers series; and Jonathan Stroud, author of the Bartimaeus series.