House of Mystery True Crime History

Allegra Tarot has an uncanny knack for becoming anyone she wants.Depending on the job, she can transform the carriage of her body or the cadence of her speech. With the pop of a collar or the tousle of her hair, she can dupe your perceptions.As a former T.V. actress, she's got chameleon abilities, no doubt, and they come in handy now that she straps a Diamondback 9mm and prowls the gritty backstreets of working-class Hollywood, running the grind as a skip tracer.If you want to follow along on her investigations, you better lock in. It's bound to get your blood thumping, your adrenaline spiking.Partial in Blood is a propulsive, character-driven crime thriller rife with twisty turns and piquant humor. Tag along with Allegra as she leverages her performance chops to investigate the disappearance of a troubled young woman, in the process uncovering a brutal shadow world of corruption and deception.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Desire or desperation, revenge or retribution—how far would you go to realize a dream? The twenty-two authors in this collection explore the possibilities, with predictably unpredictable results.Featuring stories by Pam Barnsley, Linda Bennett, Clark Boyd, C.W. Blackwell, Amanda Capper, Susan Daly, James Patrick Focarile, Rand Gaynor, Gina X. Grant, Julie Hastrup, Beth Irish, Charlie Kondek, Edward Lodi, Bethany Maines, Jim McDonald, donalee Moulton, Michael Penncavage, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Peggy Rothschild, Debra Bliss Saenger, and Joseph S. Walker.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The vast majority of Hondurans would have never dared to set foot in Nueva Suyapa, a mountainside barrio that was under the thumb of a gang whose bravado and cruelty were the stuff of legend. But that is precisely where Kurt Ver Beek, an American sociologist, and Carlos Hernández, a Honduran schoolteacher, chose to raise their families. Kurt and Carlos were best friends who had committed their lives to helping the poor, and when they accepted that nobody else—not the police, not the prosecutors, not the NGOs—was ever going to protect their neighbors from the incessant violence they suffered, they decided to take matters into their own hands.In magnetic prose, journalist Ross Halperin chronicles how these two do-gooders became quasi-vigilantes and charged into a series of life-and-death battles, not just with this one gang, but also with forces far more dangerous, including a notorious tycoon who commanded about a thousand armed men and a police force whose wickedness defied credulity. Kurt and Carlos would eventually get catapulted from obscurity to being famous power players who had access to the backrooms where legislators, ambassadors, and presidents pulled strings. Their efforts made some of the most violent neighborhoods on earth safer and arguably improved a profoundly corrupt government. But they were forced to compromise their principles in order to make all that happen, and furthermore, they acquired a large number of outraged critics and precipitated some heartbreaking collateral damage.A remarkable and dangerous feat of reportage, Bear Witness shows what happens when altruism, faith, and an obsession with justice are pushed to the extreme.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Expertly plotted and exquisitely twisted… Julie Clark masterfully weaves together a daughter's long-held suspicions and her father's deadly secrets with the tragic events from the past. The Ghostwriter kept me turning pages in this suspenseful search for the truth." — Ashley Elston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Lie WinsFrom the instant New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell comes a dazzling new thriller.June, 1975. The Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their own home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets. Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she's offered a job to ghostwrite her father's last book. What she doesn't know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies. Because it's not another horror novel he wants her to write. After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Turnout comes a simmering, atmospheric novel of friendship and betrayal, following a women-led pyramid scheme in suburban Detroit."Abbott is a superstar of the suspense genre." —NPRAll I want is to be innocent again. But that's not how it works. Especially not after the Wheel.The three Bishop sisters grew up in privilege in the moneyed suburbs of Detroit. But as the auto industry declined, so did their fortunes. Harper, the youngest, is barely making ends meet when her beloved, charismatic sister Pam—currently in the middle of a contentious battle with her ex-husband—and her eldest sister, Debra, approach her about joining an exciting new club.The Wheel offers women like themselves—middle-aged and of declining means—a way to make their own money, independent of husbands or families. Quickly, however, the Wheel's success, and their own addiction to it, leads to greater and greater risks—and a crime so shocking it threatens to bring everything down with it.Megan Abbott turns her keen eye toward women and money in El Dorado Drive, a riveting story about power, vulnerability, and how desperation draws out our most destructive impulses.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poignant, Hilarious, and Beautifully HumanStep into the glow of lavender twilight with Alfred P. Doblin's unforgettable collection, Tales of the Lavender Twilight. In this debut, Doblin opens doors to the rich, poignant, and often hilarious lives of late-middle-aged gay men—and one very sophisticated Cocker Spaniel—as they seek love, redefine family, and gracefully navigate the complexities of life's next chapters.From a bittersweet gathering in a West Village gay dive bar to the quirks of a Catskill town brimming with out-of-work actors, Doblin's eleven tales journey coast-to-coast, capturing moments of humor, heartbreak, and unexpected resilience. Follow a hopeful dog in search of a new home, a sharp-tongued theater critic who stirs up old wounds, LGBTQ youths rediscovering a legacy, and an unforgettable Thanksgiving celebration where gratitude and community collide.With warmth, wit, and compassion, Tales of the Lavender Twilight celebrates lives lived boldly, refusing to be defined by a world too focused on youth. These stories are a vibrant tribute to the endurance of spirit, love, and identity.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Detective Mike O'Shea is spiraling—consumed by painkiller addiction, alcohol, and the crushing weight of unresolved grief. As his personal demons threaten to take control, he's pulled into a chilling case: a woman is found dead, her son rotting beside her, discovered only when neighbors are alerted by the unbearable stench of decay.Meanwhile, O'Shea's obsession with the killer of his former partner, Sal, continues to haunt him. The elusive murderer has evaded justice for years, but O'Shea has always suspected something more—an untold truth buried beneath the surface. As he digs further, he uncovers a terrifying reality: the killer's freedom isn't just a coincidence—it's the result of high-level corruption that runs far deeper than he ever imagined.As the conspiracy begins to unravel, the threat intensifies, drawing in those closest to O'Shea. Detective Sergeant Amanda Black, one of the few who knows the whole story, becomes the target of an assassination attempt. With her pending promotion and O'Shea's growing addiction-fueled paranoia, he starts to wonder if he can still trust her—especially if she's crossing over.Haunted by years of policing that have left him physically and emotionally scarred, O'Shea is worn down by the weight of it all. Torn between his duty and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion, he struggles to hold on as the stakes rise and the lines between right and wrong blur. He must decide whether to keep fighting—or walk away, knowing the cop killer who took Sal's life still roams free.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A hall of mirrors with no exits, The Poet's Game is a sophisticated portrait of a spy working to uncover layers of deceit behind a Russian plot on the American president.Alex Matthews thought he had left it all behind: his CIA career, the viper's den of bureaucracy at headquarters, the deceits of the cat-and-mouse game of double agents, and the sudden trips to Russia, which poisoned his marriage and made him an absentee husband and father, with tragic results.But then the Director came asking for a favor. Something that only Alex could do because it involved the asset Byron—a Russian agent whom Alex had recruited. Byron had something of great interest to the CIA; the Director said it was a matter of grave national security that implicated the White House, and that Byron would hand over the kompromat once he was extricated from Russia.But Alex is a different man than when he had run Moscow station: he has pieced his life back together after a tragic accident killed his wife and daughter—but the scars remain. He left the agency; started a financial firm that made him wealthy; and met a new woman, Anna, who works as an interpreter in the CIA. Anna is beautiful and supportive and helps him find love again after years of drowning in grief alongside his son. Throughout the last years, Alex has remained, in his mind, a patriot, and so he begrudgingly accepts the Director's request.Something, though, doesn't feel right about the whole operation from the start. The Russians seem one step ahead and the CIA suspects there is a traitor in the agency, passing along secrets to the Russians. Alex realizes that, by getting back into the game, he has risked everything he has worked for: his marriage, his family's safety, and the trust of his closest colleagues—one of whom is betraying him. As the noose tightens around Alex, and the FSB closes in on Byron, the operation becomes a hall of mirrors with no exits. To find redemption, Alex must uncover Byron's secrets or risk losing everything.The Poet's Game is a remarkably sophisticated and emotionally resonant portrait of a spy from a renowned master of the genre.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two cousins. Two paths. One unforgettable era. This award-winning historical fiction novel follows the transformative journey of Cate and Albie. Cousins and best friends, they are raised in 1960s New Jersey under the watchful eyes of their family and strict Catholic school nuns. Their bond seems unbreakable. Then the Vietnam War erupts, tearing them apart.Albie, driven by faith and patriotism, enlists in the military and is stationed at a base along the South China Sea nicknamed Paradise.Cate protests the war, challenges her upbringing, and seeks purpose by immersing herself in the bohemian counterculture of New York's Greenwich Village while enduring life in a low-rent tenement in the gritty Hell's Kitchen district.Tragedy strikes, and her world unravels. With the support of her family and an eclectic group of friends—artists, activists, and veterans—Cate embarks on a journey of resilience and personal transformation. Travel back to a pivotal era when men marched off to war and women burned their bras. Demonstrators protested for peace as the silent majority rallied around the flag and the American president's call-to-arms. This compelling novel explores the:Emotional toll of the Vietnam WarRise of feminism and LGBTQ+ movementsConflict between faith, patriotism, rebellion, and personal freedomStrength in kinship, friends, found family, and communityAll the Broken Angels is a profound exploration of love, loss, and the indomitable spirit of a generation that resonates far beyond the final page.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the tumultuous world of high school, Emma grapples with a devastating breakup, a damning social media scandal that threatens her reputation, and an overwhelming sense of isolation. Her parents are distant, she has no true friends, and her despair deepens with each passing day.One fateful night during a sudden snowstorm, Emma forges a connection with Sarah, a girl who navigates the treacherous high school terrain of 2001. In this improbable friendship, they bond through the digital ether, supporting each other's struggles at the same school, in the same town, while separated by two decades.The friendship becomes a lifeline for both girls. Their lives bear striking similarities, yet the differences are equally profound. While Sarah is spared from the perils of social media, she gains self-assurance and begins to discover herself. In contrast, Emma's struggles intensify as she faces dire consequences for her actions online and misguided romantic entanglements.Sarah watches helplessly as Emma's life unravels, yearning to help but bound by the constraints of time. Emma's perilous descent accelerates, and the danger of not receiving the help she desperately needs looms large. Sarah, trapped twenty years in the past, must find a way to intervene before it's too late.This gripping tale of bridging the gap between eras explores the enduring power of human connection, the complexities of teenage life, and the lengths to which a stranger will go to save a life.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A twisting, deeply engrossing investigation into the many lingering questions surrounding the sudden disappearance of the McStays, a family of four who vanished from their suburban San Diego home without a trace—until their skeletal remains were found in the Mojave Desert nearly four years later—from New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother.On February 15, 2010, Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two young sons were reported missing from their new home in San Diego County. They left eggs and fruit rotting on the counter. Their Dodge truck sat in the driveway. Their dogs were abandoned outside without food. But investigators found no blood, signs of a struggle, or clues to their whereabouts. Did the family take an unannounced vacation? Were they running away from personal problems? Or were they victims of foul play? Nearly four years later, a motorcyclist found the McStays' remains in and around two shallow graves, one hundred miles away in the Mojave Desert. Their skulls showed signs of blunt-force trauma, likely due to the sledgehammer buried with them. Authorities focused on Charles "Chase" Merritt, a close friend and subcontractor for Joseph's company. Despite a lack of physical evidence, scenarios that defied logic, and numerous unanswered questions, prosecutors convinced a jury of Merritt's guilt. After an emotional sentencing hearing, the judge imposed the death penalty. But did another possible suspect, who was ignored by investigators and ducked a subpoena to testify, get away with murder?In this twisting, deeply researched true-crime mystery, New York Times bestselling investigative journalist Caitlin Rother hunts for answers to reveal the truth behind a heinous crime that became a nation's obsession, with a controversial trial in its wake, and lingering questions of justice.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1878 a teenage Jew, the Hessex Kid, kills an Irish thug in a Five Point's bar fight in front of hundreds of drugged and drunken killers, all members of the Whyo Gang, which controls all crime in Manhattan under the aegis of the corrupt Irish politicians at Tammany Hall.The boy is then grabbed by the rabble and murdered.By 1900, the Irish mob has gained control of the police departments, the gangs, and crime in every major American city, and from 1900 to 1910, a political operative named James Monaghan has risen to the pinnacle of power at Tammany, which is the icon of the nationwide Irishsnake.In 1910, a gambler from Chicago named Billy McGuinness, haunted by the legend of the Hessex Kid and the murder of a low-level gambler and his family, arrives in New York. He is connected to mid-west political powers and to gangsters Max and Moses Annenberg, Big Jim Colisimo, and Johnny Torrio, his sole objective: to destroy Monaghan and the Irish political and criminal machine,Arriving in New York, McGuinness begins atorturous maneuver through real historic events and within the confines of New York's Bowery ghetto and its Tenderloin District, a.k.a Satan's Circus, manipulating the real politicians and gangsters who marked the period, now long-forgotten.In the end, McGuinness, driven by dark forces, becomes the inadvertent moving force behind prohibition booze smuggling, Murder Inc. and the Cosa Nostra until he is ultimately embraces the hand of God.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What drove the inconspicuous sociopath to become a ruthless killer?During his nearly fifteen-year reign of terror, Ronald Lloyd Bailey's depraved obsession with sexual sadism held communities across southeast Michigan in a shroud of fear. From the early 1970's to the mid-1980's, the former patient at one of Michigan's foremost psychiatric hospitals, abducted as many as fifteen teens and over time became a sadistic serial killer.In this shocking, fast-paced account, retired police officer and true crime author Rod Sadler examines law enforcement's dedicated efforts in connecting the dots to stop an unknown killer, and he poignantly chronicles the determination of the victims' families to triumph over tragedy.Sadler also examines Bailey's insanity defense that centered on the alleged abuse he endured at the hands of his psychiatrist. In doing so, the bestselling author of KILLING WOMEN asks and answers the question: What drove the inconspicuous sociopath to become a ruthless killer?Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dokkrsdottir is not your ordinary Norse woman of the Viking age. One of the great warriors of her time, she soon learns that the hardest battles are not always those fought with a sword and shield. Through countless trials and tests, she is led by visions and omens on numerous adventures with the help of steadfast friends and family to discover her mysterious supernatural destiny, one more extraordinary than anyone could ever have imagined.Myrgjol the Dokkesdottir's path may be fraught with physical dangers and battle, but some wars are fought with whispered words and deceitful lies. While in Saxon lands, she must learn to maneuver the battlefield as well as her position on the board in the game of Saxon politics. Will she be successful?And though she is blind to all the pieces in The Game, a Saxon gamemaster plays on her behalf as well as his own against many others, and the enormity of the risk spirals out of control for everyone.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don Sawyer's THE TUNNELS OF BUDA, the second romantic fantasy thriller in the Soul Catcher series, in which a magical gem maker and an empath struggle against a hideous conspiracy of evil headquartered in a maze of fantastic tunnels deep below Hungary's Buda Castle.The Mester is dead or maimed and the black stone used to control his network of gem makers is in Barbara and Zoltan's hands. But as Zoltan discovered in the ruin bars of Budapest from a former associate, who turned up beheaded and his hands cut off, the Mester was just a small part of a much larger cabal, an ancient Order dating back to Aristotle and beyond. The Order has one goal: to convince the populace that there are masters divinely intended to rule and slaves meant only to obey.Using magic and sorcery, both ancient and modern, they will stop at nothing to protect the rule of the aristoi.But this time the “slaves” are fighting back, drawing on the knowledge and skills from many traditions and backgrounds, including magic of their own, to battle this shadowy cabal and its message of fear, division and hopelessness.In The Tunnels of Buda Zoltan, the 110-year-old gem maker and Barbara, empath and gem wielder, veer in new and terrifying directions, facing evil on an unimagined scale. They are drawn to the lair of the Justin, so powerful he controls the minds of all around him and who commands the Company, a hidden underground futuristic complex that serves as the hub of the Order's monstrous conspiracy to enact the darkest of Nietzsche's Weltanschauung.Barbara and Zoltan find new allies and diabolical enemies as they fight for their lives in the mines and ancient tunnels deep below Buda Castle in Budapest.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prepare to be thrilled and chilled with this compilation of tales compiled from historical documents, first-person accounts, and the files of the paranormal group Haunted Hamilton, which has been investigating and celebrating Hamilton's historic haunted past since 1999.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danger, deception, and betrayal lurk at every turn in this compelling international crime thriller from the award-winning author of Chasing Money.Marty and Bo are back and flush with money thanks to their alluring new business partner, Natalya, and her powerful Russian oligarch backer. The two friends are in Italy to buy an art foundry and close a multi-million dollar licensing deal with the Vatican. But when they arrive, they discover the stakes are far higher than they imagined.Threatened and attacked, Marty and Bo find themselves in a trap. The Naples Mafia is after the foundry for nefarious purposes. The head of the Vatican Bank has a hidden agenda. The Russian oligarch wants more than he is saying. Everyone is keeping secrets and telling lies. The two friends are ready to call it quits when a dangerous figure from their past appears in Rome. And then Natalya is kidnapped, the stakes go from business to personal, and all bets are off.Caught in the crossfire between the Naples Mafia and the Russian Vory, can Marty and Bo uncover the truth about the Vatican deal, find a way to rescue Natalya, and escape with their lives and friendship intact?Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this fourth installment of the Shepherds Series, good and evil collide in a battle that has raged for thousands of years, and Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson and his team are at the tip of the spear—fighting for humanity's future and the ones they love.Victor is dead. But out of the chaos, a new dark power rises …Only weeks ago, former Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson, head of Joshua Bravo team at the Shepherds, helped to defeat Victor, the leader of the devil's Dark Ones. Now, his boss, Ben Morvant, has tasked him with an even harder mission: Take a vacation.But before Jed has even managed to hit the beach in the Dominican Republic, he comes face-to-face with a new evil: Orphans are being abducted right off the streets of Santo Domingo. Are these disappearances just an unfortunate crime in an unfamiliar country, or do they hint at something bigger—a new threat emerging out of the power vacuum Victor left behind?When Jed needs help after a violent encounter, he finds himself with an unexpected new ally: CIA liaison Gayle James. Together, the two of them must follow the trail of the missing orphans before it runs cold. Soon they find themselves immersed in a dangerous world of murder, betrayal, and voodoo. Jed will need Gayle, the Watchers Sarah Beth and Corbin, his old friend Ben Morvant, and the entire team of Shepherds at his side to expose the new threat—and to prevent a new dark power from rising …Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than 50 years after the Zodiac Killer mysteriously vanished, his crimes and letters still haunt the world.The Zodiac Killer conducted a campaign of terror in the late 1960s, killing seven victims before taunting investigators through a series of cryptic letters, clues and coded messages sent to local newspapers.For more than five decades, investigators have searched for the identity of the Zodiac Killer. Hoaxes and forged letters fueled an ongoing media circus while the mystery inspired TV documentaries, feature films, books, websites, podcasts, and even copycat killers.This compelling biography is written by Michael Butterfield, a writer and researcher who has been investigating the Zodiac case for more than 30 years. He separates fact from fiction and lays out what we know about the crimes, the mysteries and the theories surrounding the case, its legacy in popular culture, and where the investigation stands today.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Accused of the murder of his former lover, Korean War veteran Sam Monroe is forced to abandon his job as an assistant district attorney and fight to clear his name.Sam Monroe thought his steamy love affair with Manhattan socialite Laura Nielson was dead and buried, but when she didn't show up after unexpectedly calling him late at night and asking to meet, he decides to investigate. He finds her naked on her penthouse balcony, strangled, his dog tags wrapped around her neck. With a bull's-eye on his back as the prime suspect, Sam begins a search for the killer that reveals Laura's involvement with several men, some with ties to a well-known crime family.As circumstantial evidence mounts against him, the cops close in, especially a heavy-handed rogue patrolman carrying a grudge against Sam and looking for serious payback. Forced to operate in the shadows, he relies on the unofficial help of several coworkers in the DA's office and Debora Jean Ryan, a private investigator who offers to assist but has an agenda that she refuses to disclose. As they probe Laura's past looking for clues, they must also figure out Laura's mysterious trip out west, the death of a young man in New Jersey during her childhood, and who is making attempts on his life.From the crime-ridden precincts of Lower Manhattan, the mean streets of Spanish Harlem, and the lofty mansions along Millionaires' Row, Night in the City is classic crime noir fiction at its best that wonderfully evokes the vibrant world of 1950s New York. Michael McGarrity again proves himself to be one of the most accomplished writers of mysteries working today.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over a span of 39 years, 23 aliases, 28 arrests in 20 cities, and nearly a dozen imprisonments, Robert Spears had lived a con artists' life of unparalleled adventure and intrigue. This is his story.Shortly before Thanksgiving Day in 1959, a plane exploded in mid-air, killing all 42 passengers and crew and leaving scattered debris and bodies across the otherwise tranquil Gulf waters. Listed on the manifest was Dr. Robert Spears—once the highly regarded president of the Texas Naturopathic Association. Father of two small children with a lovely, society-minded wife and an elegant home in an exclusive neighborhood, it was a monumental tragedy for them as it was for all the souls lost that day.Less than two months later, Robert Spears miraculously “rose from the dead” in Phoenix where he was promptly arrested. Headlining newspapers nationwide—“Man Downs Airliner to Fake Death”—Spears was discovered to have cleverly switched identities, persuaded his friend, Al Taylor, to fly with his plane ticket, asked him to carry “a package” on board, and drove away in his buddy's car with his wallet and driver's license.As the FBI began to investigate, they uncovered a stunning, mind-bending tale of murder, abortion rings, and false identities—more than 25 aliases for Spears alone—as well as insurance scams and investment fraud that stretched over decades.But that was far from the end of the story.Methodically and carefully researched for years and meticulously sourced by a research sociologist and author, Vanishing Act is one of the great true crime stories of our time and a compelling read that is paced like a page-turning, mystery novel. Until now, the complete and shocking story has never been told.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the gripping story of the real Charles Manson as told by his long-time prison administrator, counselor, unofficial "press agent," and confidant, Ed George. “Throughout my life, people have asked me about Manson. . . .‘Does he have hypnotic powers?' ‘Does he have a diabolical charisma?' . . .‘Is he crazy?' My response is that for some people, the answer to all of the above is yes—except for the last question.” —EDWARD GEORGE Charles Manson was perhaps the most infamous criminal of the twentieth century. Convicted for orchestrating the shocking Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969, and for two other killings, there has been much written about him. But not many people knew him as well as Edward George, who over years of conversations with Manson as his prison administrator, counselor, unofficial “press agent,” and confidant, gained deep insight into Manson's mind-set. In this updated edition of George's riveting account, he illuminates the many sides of Manson: charismatic cult leader, master manipulator, calculated “showman,” sly trickster, and more. George and his coauthor, Dary Matera, begin by detailing the troubling events of Manson's youth, the historic 1969 murders, and the subsequent trial that ended an era. They then pull back the curtain on the intense reality of Manson's turbulent life behind bars and the events that have transpired since the initial publication of this book in 1999, including Manson's death in 2017.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For more than 40 years, Charles Manson languished in prison for his participation in the Manson family murders of 1969. He was America's icon of evil, the one who brought down the curtain on the 1960s. He was never a quiet inmate, either. From his unbridled outbursts of rage to his tender acts of generosity, he made his presence felt to everyone around him. Over time, he parlayed his notoriety, through clever manipulation and shrewd alliances, to great power behind bars. He inspired awe in other inmates, he cozied up to prison guards who were more than eager to do him favors, and he was responsible for countless staff transfers within and outside of the institution.This book details the dramatic journey of Willie Mendez, a troubled inmate, housed next to the serial killer for more than a year. Willie became institutionalized after repeated violations of the law, including attempted murder and armed robbery. He is serving a 68-year prison sentence. Author Mark Hewitt was introduced to Mendez by Charles Manson, who thought the two had similar ideas and a shared optimism about life. From his initial feelings of contempt toward the aging killer, Willie, nicknamed, "Boxcar," by Manson, traveled to a place of openness and acceptance of the old man's ideas. Over time, he began to defer more and more to Manson without reservation. The relationship eventually soured when some of Manson's claims were proven false. Through great internal strength, and the support of others, Willie distanced himself from the cult leader. Finally, he was able to extricate himself completely from Manson's manipulations.This is a tale of growth and maturity that contains intimate details and shocking jailhouse secrets. Willie shares an insider's view of Charles Manson, his crazy behavior, his whispered confessions, and his sometimes profound wisdom."Charlie" speaks openly about his sexuality, shares some vivid details of the Tate and LaBianca murders, and relates his childhood experience of being forced to wear a dress to school. The iconic killer described for him the many people who influenced him, some when he was a child, others, during his adulthood.Willie describes the episode in which Charlie made and wore a Ku Klux Klan outfit to stir up trouble on the tier. He shares his discovery of Manson's intricate artwork, including the creative techniques used to produce masterpieces behind bars. He details Manson's trip to the shower where the aging killer walked into the water fully clothed. Willie gives us profound insight into Manson's personality and character through stories that illustrate the killer's false bravado, his feigned insane behavior, and a few deep-seated insecurities.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pike Logan uncovers a geopolitical scheme that has spiraled out of control in India in this latest pulse-pounding thriller from New York Times bestselling author and former special forces officer Brad Taylor. While on a routine security assessment in India, Taskforce operator Pike Logan foils an attempted attack on a meeting between the CIA and India's intelligence service. Both government agencies believe it's nothing more than a minor terrorist attack, but Pike suspects that something much more sinister is at play. After another terrorist operation at the Taj Mahal, he begins to believe that outside powers are attacking India in the gray zone between peace and war, leveraging terrorist groups for nothing more than economic gain. But the separatists conducting the operations have their own agenda.After a massive slaughter and kidnapping of hostages during an elaborate Indian pre-wedding party, two global powers are destabilized, and only Pike Logan and his team can de-escalate the tension by rescuing the captives. What follows is a race against the clock that winds through the bustling markets of Old Delhi, the luxurious resorts of Goa, and the epic halls of the Taj Mahal. It will take everything that Logan and the taskforce have to foil an intricate plot that leaves countless lives in the balance.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some Thirsts Can't be QuenchedThirst dives into the lives of Neil Graham, a country club bartender, and Ranger Melusky, a sexy and charming small-town auto mechanic who's irresistible but complicated. A chance encounter leaves Neil captivated by Ranger's rough charm, but there's a catch—Ranger only lets his true self emerge after a few too many drinks. Neil wants something real, and he hopes Ranger might, too, despite his struggle with identity and acceptance.When an accident with his truck forces Ranger to sober up, he decides to cut ties with his old life, including Neil, and takes a misguided plunge into marriage. Heartbroken, Neil seeks a new purpose. He quits the country club bar and concentrates on repairing the fractured relationship between his father and grandfather—two men divided by secrets and pride.Just as Neil finds his footing, Ranger returns, ready and anxious to rekindle the flame they once shared. Now, both men must confront their fears and decide: Is the love they left behind worth the struggle? Or will the road ahead only lead to another crash?Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1942. War rages in Europe. Pearl Harbor still smolders. And alcoholic private eye Nicholas Bishop wakes up on a hotel room floor with two slugs missing from his .38 revolver. The cops think he's murdered lounge singer Pearl DuGaye, mobsters think he saw something he shouldn't have, and Bishop remembers nothing… Together with his indomitable assistant Gia Alessi, who he may or may not have fired, a WWI vet who often flashes back to 1918, and a one-eyed female dog named Jake, Bishop tries to piece together the events that took place during his disastrous five-day bender. Along the way, he stumbles across a dirty politician, a socialite and her unfaithful husband, and a cabal of American Nazis who are undoubtedly up to no good. Written in the spirit of classic noir, Eoannou adds his own unique voice and flair to the genre in this, the first action-packed outing of the Nicholas Bishop Mysteries…Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the suburbs of New Jersey, where temple gossip flows like Manischewitz wine, eleven-year-old Andy becomes entangled in a whirlwind of maternal quirks and religious intrigue. His mother's bizarre obsession with Rabbi Landy transforms their once-quiet life above a candy store into a tale of surprises.Andy's world features a colorful cast: a fiery sister, an invisible brother, a precociously sexual savant best friend with green teeth, and a foul-mouthed neighbor who rivals the 50-Foot Woman. As he navigates from confusion to understanding, his journey is filled with humor and heartfelt moments.When forced into yeshiva with the rabbi's insufferable sons, Andy becomes drawn to his magnetic Talmud teacher, Rabbi Loobling. His exploration of faith, desire, and family secrets unfolds from the streets of the Garden State to the halls of college, revealing the complex adults around him.Rabbis of the Garden State delivers a sharp look at synagogue life laced with teenage yearning. This powerful portrayal of suburban Jewish life in the '60s is both funny and moving. As Andy transitions to adulthood, the mysteries of childhood unravel, exposing secrets and deep truths about family, faith, and the unexpected twists of love. Daniel Meltz's beautifully crafted debut novel captures the spirit of an era and delves into the timeless questions of belonging, belief, and the complicated relationships that shape us all.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Texarkana, where Death's Interns are working overtime—and the body count is rising.Meet Death's Interns: part-time grim reapers, full-time troubleshooters for the supernatural community. Usually, their biggest headache is keeping the local vampires from picking fights at the all-night diner.But now? They're hunting a killer.Bodies are dropping faster than autumn leaves, and it's not just humans filling up the morgue. Someone—or something—is cutting a bloody swath through Texarkana.As Halloween creeps closer, Death's Interns find themselves in a race against time. Can they unmask the killer before Texarkana's secret community becomes front-page news? Or will long-buried prejudices turn neighbor against neighbor, predator against prey?In a town where death is just another day job, the real challenge is staying alive.If you devoured every episode of Supernatural or Charlaine Harris's Midnight Texas, and loved Terry Pratchett's Night Watch, sink your teeth into this wickedly fun, pulse-pounding urban fantasy. Just remember: in Texarkana, the things that go bump in the night... bump back.Cursed by Fur is a standalone novel and book three in the Once Upon a Curse book series.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes You Have to Get Lost to Find YourselfMark Anello thought he had it all figured out, but life had other plans. At 34, the suburban math teacher is unceremoniously dumped by his stand-up comedian boyfriend, leaving him feeling stuck and uninspired in Los Angeles. Desperate for a change, Mark flees to San Francisco, where he encounters Alessandro, a charming but disillusioned Italian tourist trapped in a loveless relationship. Their connection is immediate, and after months of long-distance emails, Mark follows his heart to Rome.But love doesn't come easy. After three passionate summers together, Mark begins to sense Alessandro slipping away, embarking on new adventures while Mark is left to question everything. Left high and dry in a foreign country, heartbroken and alone, Mark stumbles into a new world—a seductive, high-stakes scene of neo-Bohemians, aristocrats, and avant-garde artists. Yet beneath the glamorous surface lurks a darker reality: a dangerous web of drugs, lust, and even murder in the elite European art circles.On the brink of destruction, Mark must navigate his way through the chaos to discover a new sense of self. As the world begins to heal from a global pandemic, he returns home transformed—armed with the hard-earned wisdom to embrace love on his own terms, let go of what no longer serves him, and face the future with clarity and compassion.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave is like nobody you've ever met. Or maybe you have, but didn't know it. Thrown out of his home at 14, he used his wits, charm and determination to become one of the most successful drug dealers in Canada. But, after the birth of his son, he knew he had to make one last big score before getting out of the game. So, he became an undercover police agent, the first one whose life wasn't in danger.Jerry Langton, one of Canada's best known crime authors, follows Dave's incredible trip while exposing the inner workings of the Canadian drug trade, weapons trade, crime organizations, police investigations and judicial system. Dave became as the president of a major biker gang chapter, robbed a powerful Russian gangster, occupied a maximum-security prison cell next to the notorious Paul Bernardo, struggled to find ways to hide all of his cash, drove cars worth as much as a suburban house without ever having a license and frequently taunted those in law enforcement who never found a way to shut down his drug business.The most incredible part of the whole story is that all of it was happening right under the noses of frustrated police services and naive neighbors. From a trip to Home Depot to pick up burglary tools to the purchase of a grenade launcher powerful enough to take down a large house, Dave plied his trade with almost total impunity.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 2047. The rebellion has been crushed. The Agency is reestablishing control.Rebel leader Dray Quintero languishes in his cell, struggling against his captors' manipulations. His daughter Raven's cries torment him at night. He has doomed them both.When given an unexpected chance to escape prison, they break out--but they're not safe. No one is. The Agency is still in power. And they're tightening their grip. As dangers mount, Dray is haunted by an impossible dilemma: flee and survive, or gamble his last chance for freedom by taking a stand against impossible odds.He tried running. He tried fighting. This time, he must try something radically different. Something no one will see coming.The Price of Freedom is the adrenaline-fueled final installment in The Price Of trilogy from multiple-award–winning author Michael C Bland.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Boris deftly combines military thriller elements with thought provoking SF.” Kirkus Reviews“A gripping SF thriller about the limits of human ingenuity and the ethics of creating AI systems.” Kirkus Reviews“The novel excels in its exploration of humanity's reliance on technology and the unintended consequences of such dependence.” Kirkus ReviewsAfter twelve years of supersecret research, the USAF has built the most advanced hypersonic bomber ever created by man and combined it with the ultimate in AI technology. Is this the beginning of a Brave New World or the start of a Technological Apocalypse?BLACK SUN, our newest and most advanced superplane, is considered the “Ultimate War Weapon,” an aircraft no adversary would dare to confront. Lt. Commander Jack Reese, still haunted by the horrifying murder of his wife and child three years earlier, is an ex-Navy SEAL and Chief of Security for this greatest of all superweapons. As Black Sun begins her shakedown cruise with VIP's aboard, a brutal hijacking erupts and is quickly thwarted by Jack Reese, who works in conjunction with the onboard AI Unit, code-name “Adam.”  Afterward, Adam, an evolving A.I. who dreams of being human, speaks to all the passengers and crew. He claims that the failed hijacking has proven one thing: humans are incapable of protecting this aircraft. Therefore, Adam is seizing complete control of Black Sun, following his first protocol to protect this weapon at all costs.Upon hearing that command, the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon order a pair of Raptor Fighters into the air  to check on Black Sun, but Adam considers the planes hostile and blows them out of the sky. In one blinding flash, the war is on, and the Doomsday Scenario has begun. Mankind is about to face its ultimate conflict.Adam and Black Sun are on one side; Lt. Jack Reese and his ramshackle group of defenders are on the other.Nothing much is at stake. Just the fate of civilization and the future of our world. With it, one eternal question is about to be answered. Who will rule in our dystopian future? Will it be man himself, or the thinking machines  he has created to serve him?Black Sun is the first novel in a new series of Military Sci-Fi Action Thrillers by Writers Guild Award-Winning Screen-writer Robert Boris. This provocative and explosive debut is designed to introduce the world to Lt. Jack Reese, humanity's best hope and most unlikely defender in a rapidly changing world dominated by drones, block chains, quantum computing, carbon nanotubes, and uncontrolled A.I.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Book 1: An aging priest in rural Wisconsin gives an impassioned Christmas homily condemning abortion as murder and exhorting his parishioners to stop it. A former mayor responds by starting a hunger strike in city hall, and the editor of the local weekly newspaper begins running a counter at the top of each edition that estimates the number of abortions performed since Roe v Wade. A third member of the congregation takes a more lethal approach and begins to target reproductive rights physicians for murder. Cole Huebsch is a pro-life leaning Milwaukee FBI agent. Michele Fields is a pro-choice leaning reporter. They need to set aside their differences to catch the killer before the country is torn apart. The Killer Sermon is a fast moving thriller that reminds us that our words matter, and that regardless of how big our differences on divisive issues, we can still find respect, and maybe more…Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

STORM OF SUSPICION: The Karen Read Murder Trialsis an electrifying, real-time courtroom thriller and the gripping personal account of author Kevin Lenihan's detailed examination of the evidence—both known and what he's discovered—as well as the dark rumors, courtroom bombshells, and conspiracy theories that are at the heart of two of the most explosive and controversial murder trials of the decade.The case began in the midst of a massive snowstorm in 2022 and ended the first time in a mistrial. Now, more than two years later, it is poised to ignite in a Boston courtroom once again.At question is whether Karen Read, a 43-year-old college professor, is responsible as charged for the cold-blooded murder of her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer? Or was she framed, by the real killer—another cop—covering his tracks with the help of a corrupt law enforcement establishment?In STORM OF SUSPICION, Lenihan, the COURT TV expert commentator in the case, breaks down the key evidence and shocking conspiracy theories from the first trial. Then he does a deep dive into how the new trial will be fought by both sides, as well as in the court of public opinion, with new revelations, unanticipated twists, and a storm of suspicionSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD, the Top-Rated #1 Kindle Bestseller in BOTH Women Sleuth and Ghost genres!WINNER of the 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/SuspenseWINNER of the 2011 Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart Award for Best Novel with Strong Romantic ElementsPraise for NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD..."Full of thrills and chills, a fun rollercoaster ride of a book!" ~Susan Andersen, New York Times Bestselling author of Burning Up"Ann Charles has written an intriguing mystery laced with a wicked sense of humor. Watch out Stephanie Plum, because Violet Parker is coming your way." ~Deborah Schneider, RWA Librarian of the Year 2009 & author of Beneath a Silver MoonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“A gripping thriller that effortlessly combines high-stakes crime, political intrigue, and raw emotional depth.” – A Limitless ReaderA sister kidnapped and presumed dead decades ago. A brother who never stopped looking for her. A mission that could cost them everything.Inspector William Fox and his girlfriend, Tracy Jordan are enjoying a day off together on William's cigarette boat, The Midnight Fox. When the police scanner announces a body has washed ashore, William chooses to investigate, despite Tracy's protests.Uncovering a chilling note on the body meant for his friend and taekwondo master, Mr. Kim, William is thrust into an investigation far darker than he could ever have imagined.The message confirms Kim's sister, Mi-Cha, is still alive and is desperate to escape North Korea and her domineering husband, now head of Bureau 39.But Kim needs William's assistance to bring Mi-Cha to safety.Even with help from William's friend, FBI Agent Patrick Reilly, can Mi-Cha be rescued in time before she disappears for good?If you are a fan of political thrillers and investigative dramas you will be thrown into a narrative packed with action, emotion, and tension, culminating in a satisfying showdown that will leave you craving more from Inspector William Fox and his team.Deadly, dark, and action-packed, this thriller has everything to keep you on edge.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From New York Times bestselling author Eric Rickstad, a thriller so terrifying, you must “see” it to believe.A serial killer is rampaging across the country, tying families to chairs—arranged in puzzling tableaus—then murdering them, without leaving a trace of evidence.FBI Special Agent Lukas Stark has been hunting the Tableau Killer for eighteen months but is always two steps behind in a maze of dead ends. He has no understanding of why the killer stages the scenes so meticulously or chooses entire families. Burning out, Stark is forced to take on a new partner, Gilles Garnier.Garnier, an odd loner with a vague past, claims he's a remote viewer who “sees” people, places, and events far away—remote—as if they're right in front of him. Stark knows this sort. Cons. Wannabes desperate to worm their way onto a sensational case. Stark dismisses his new partner as a fraud … until Garnier precisely describes a new Tableau Killer crime scene from hundreds of miles away.As Stark and Garnier track the Tableau Killer across the country, they start to believe they finally have the advantage. But Garnier's ability to remote-view fails him and leaves him ill and weak. Then Stark realizes how the killer has stayed ahead of them all this time. The reason is more terrifying than either man can fathom.They face a killer who may be unstoppable, and stand at the abyss of a conspiracy so ominous, it shakes their reality to the core.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Return of the Devil, the cracks in Joseph's new universe have widened beyond repair, unleashing chaos across dimensions. Six years after the Epoch, a parasitic force, feeding on the instability of creation, threatens to consume reality itself.Lilly Thurman and Billy Hawthorne, struggling against the horrors spilling into their world, must reconnect with Joseph and uncover the truth about the Devil's fate. As the Madam reveals that Lucifer was not destroyed but banished to a realm beyond comprehension, they are faced with a harrowing realization: only Lucifer's return can restore balance to the fragile universe.Their journey leads them through the Axis Mundi, across a fractured Earth filled with unimaginable terror, where they must battle the parasite and forge a dangerous alliance with the Collectors to protect what remains of existence.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To his martial arts students, Vance Palladian is more than just a teacher; he is the Paladin, a man of warrior virtue. Now a widower, and with his finances in disarray, Vance feels disillusioned with his once noble life.After thwarting a seemingly random robbery, and the kidnapping attempt of a wealthy future heiress, Vance finds himself employed as her bodyguard by the young woman's father, a mysterious businessman who holds the lineage of the last remaining esoteric school of ancient Japanese fighting arts.Vance is taught the deadly techniques of Japan's invisible assassins, and finds the mythology behind these dark teachings is just as real, pulling him into a world of crime, deception, seduction, and vice, where nothing is quite as it seems.Now, he must battle tengu and oni, along with the forces of organized crime and police corruption, to survive the…Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The walls are closing in on Rose.But when powerful enemies move her from house arrest to a literal prison, Rose finds herself alone. Caged. And without help.Isolated from her friends and allies, yet stumbling on the truth of her captors' schemes, Rose must free herself. If she doesn't make it out in time, evil oppressors will take over her city.Can Rose escape her cage before her foes win and destroy what took the Underground generations to build?Find out in the second book in the award-winning YA dystopian Divided series that reviewers say reminds them of such classic YA dystopian as Divergent and The Giver.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first Angel Dare novel, MONEY SHOT, earned universal acclaim: finalist for the Edgar, Anthony and Barry Awards, won the Crimespree Award and chosen by fans as their favorite Hard Case Crime title of all time. Angel's story continued in CHOKE HOLD and – after almost 15 years – it comes to a blazing conclusion in THE GET OFF.WILL THE CHANCE FOR A NEW LIFE BE ANGEL'S LAST SHOT?Tagged as a cop killer when a mission of vengeance goes wrong, Angel Dare finds herself on the run, with an unexpected burden: she's pregnant. Her desperate flight takes Angel across the American west, where cattle barons lock horns with rodeo bullfighters and life can end suddenly and brutally. A renegade couple living off the grid near the border might offer a chance of escape – but can Angel reach them in time…?Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HellBound Books are the veritable tour de force in the Independent publishing world - For eight years and counting, we have published novels, novellas, and bestselling anthologies of exemplary horror, bizarro, and all things dark - the type of tales from exciting new authors guaranteed to keep you wide awake in the small hours and checking the inky-black, coagulating shadows beneath your bed just one last time before you dare sleep...We are incredibly Proud to be champions of the newest, brightest upcoming authors as well as home to more established writers. Our objective is to bring to you - our wonderful readers - the very best in the dark genres. We are proud to say all HellBound Books titles are available in traditional-sized paperback and eBook (along with a few very special hard cover books), too and that we never - ever - use Artificial intelligence in any HellBound book's prose or cover art, nor do we condone its use in any way. So, Please do take a little of your time to peruse our ever-expanding bookshelf...Xtina Marie is an avid horror and fiction genre reader, who became a blogger; who became a published poet; who became an editor; who now is a podcaster and an aspiring novelist—and why not?People love her words. Her first book of poetry: Dark Musings has received outstanding reviews. It is likely she was born to this calling. Writing elaborate twisted tales, to entertain her classmates in middle school, would later lead Xtina to use her poetry writing as a private emotional outlet in adult life—words she was hesitant to share publicly—but the more she shared; the more accolades her writing received.Her first novel: Desiree is well under way.James hails originally from Yorkshire, England having relocated with his family to Houston, Texas in 2010. He was honored to become a US citizen in 2022. He has an honors degree in Zoology and a background in sales, marketing, and business. James is a former Affiliate Member of the Horror Writers Association.An accomplished, published author (and publisher in his role as co-founder partner in HellBound Books Publishing LLC), and ghostwriter of popular fiction, James writes across an incredibly wide range of genres and subjects in novel, shorts story, and screenplay formats. To date, he has four novels, five novellas, and a whole slew of short stories published by various publishers (many can be found in his first collection, Blood and Kisses). He also runs and co-hosts the popular ppodcast/radio show (The New Panic Room), which is used to promote HellBound Books and indie authors, artists, audiobook narrators, and publishers of all genres.James has been working full time as a freelance ghostwriter (and editor) for over a decade. He is quite the chameleon when it comes to writing: James is able to adapt to a wide range of styles and genres, is incredibly thorough in his research (he's renowned for his details, which bring stories leaping from the page!), extensive vocabulary, and he always keeps the client's "voice" when ghostwriting. Clients love him - especially with that Northern British accent (as an ex-pat, James is most proficient at writing in both UK and US styles – he also has clients in Australia who love his style!) and enthusiasm for every writing project he takes on.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political corruption turns Acapulco's first female police detective into a fugitive on the run . . . in Washington DC."A thrilling series" -- National Public RadioIn a derelict building for sale, Acapulco police detective Emilia Cruz stumbles on the body of a woman brutally shot to death. Incredibly, the victim was the sister of Acapulco's ambitious mayor, who is running for re-election against an opponent with deep pockets.Emilia's investigation is immediately under pressure for a fast result. The victim's ex-boyfriend has a suspiciously weak alibi but is the crime scene the key to finding the murderer? The building was once used for a secret Mexican government operation targeting a ruthless drug lord.Meanwhile, there's a conspiracy within the police department to force Emilia out.Before Emilia can save her job or arrest her prime suspect, she's sent on an errand of mercy to Washington, DC.There she becomes a fugitive hunted by killers masquerading as cops. Alone, desperate and on the run, Emilia turns for help to a man she once vowed to murder.He's her only chance to survive a deadly game of political intrigue on the wrong side of the border.From Acapulco's beaches to the streets of Washington, DC, the stakes couldn't be higher in this electrifying, page-turning thriller.2019 and 2020 Poison Cup award, Outstanding Series - CrimeMasters of America"Emilia is a character who is close to my heart" - MysterySequels"Amato brings her characters to life with her vivid writing style and sets them on the streets of a Mexico steeped in Catholicism and corruption" - OnlineBookClub.orgWith unflinching authenticity from the author's own espionage and counterdrug experience in Mexico and Central America, this is a female detective mystery series like no other.The Emilia Cruz series is for fans of international mystery and crime by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, Donna Leon and Liza Marklund, plus the Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Fans of Don Winslow's cartel and border thrillers set in Mexico love the plots torn from the headlines of the Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Middleman is an epic drama of whistleblowers, murder, thrills, and legal combat—torn out of today's headlines.Nicholas “Deke” Deketomis and his law firm take on America's Big Pharma when Deke's college pal, Matt Redmond, presents him with a case of possible fraud involving EirePharma, the Redmond family business and a powerful Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). PBMs serve as the “middlemen” between drug manufacturers and insurance companies, working in cryptic ways to determine not only the cost of drugs but also placing them on insurers' preferred formularies. EirePharma was recently taken over by the charismatic CEO, Connor Devlin, who has a Rasputin-like influence over Matt's cousin, Amy, the company's current president. Devlin may be utilizing racketeering practices—and perhaps murder—to raise the prices of insulin and other drugs for his own profit and to the detriment of consumers.Amy, who at first was in love with Devlin, decides—at great peril—to become her company's whistleblower and provide evidence to Deke and his team. When key witnesses and even Redmond family members meet mysterious and violent deaths, Amy finds herself a pawn caught in the center of a frightening and deadly game of wills between a formidable gangster, who in the eyes of the public is a respected businessman, and a law firm that is determined to investigate and uncover the Middleman's crimes.In the tradition of Suspicious Activity and Inhuman Trafficking, Mike Papantonio takes Deke and his cohorts on a new and different kind of legal gamble in The Middleman, which is chock full of the action and thrills for which he is known.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1939. The brink of war. The dawn of nuclear terror.Captain Everett “Ridge” Frost, a disgraced Marine with a knack for trouble and a talent for survival, faces a grim future in a Pearl Harbor brig—until a shadowy U.S. intelligence agency offers him a way out. His mission: infiltrate the heart of Nazi Germany and steal their atomic weapons research before the world tips into chaos.Thrust into a world of shadow and subterfuge, Frost must navigate a treacherous landscape of double agents, brutal Nazi operatives, and an unforgiving enemy onslaught. But as the stakes escalate, he uncovers a chilling truth far more horrifying than he imagined—one that could rewrite the fate of the world.Caught between a deadly conspiracy and his growing feelings for an enigmatic ally, Frost will need every ounce of his cunning, courage, and charm to survive. In this electrifying debut of the Unit 12 series, the line between hero and villain blurs, and the cost of victory may be more than one man can bear.Fast-paced, gripping, and evocative of vintage thrillers, this is the story of a spy who could tip the balance of history—or die trying.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The bestselling author delves into the twisted crimes of Wayne Adam Ford.“This kind of frightening and fascinating glimpse into a killer's mind is rare.” —Ron Franscell, New York Times–bestselling author On a chilly November afternoon in 1998, a tearful 36-year-old man walked into the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department in Eureka, California, and confessed to something horrible. “I hurt some people,” he said. Inside his pocket was the ghastly proof of his statement. But there was more to Wayne Adam Ford than the trail of mangled victims he left behind. More, even, than the twisted predator inside, which drove him to increasingly perverse sexual appetites. Pulitzer Prize–nominated author Caitlin Rother draws on previously sealed testimony, interviews with the key players in the case, and the killer's shocking confession to explore the demons that drove a damaged man to his unspeakable crimes. Her book is a harrowing psychological portrait and a haunting, unforgettable true-life thriller. Includes dramatic photos “Page-turning excitement and blood-curdling terror . . . Riveting, fast-paced, and sure to keep you up at night.” —M. William Phelps, New York Times–bestselling author “Shocking, chilling, fast-paced . . . A book crime aficionados will be loath to put down.” —Simon Read, author of The Iron Sea “Rother has produced a superior study of a serial killer and his lost and lonely victims.” —Carol Anne Davis, author of Couples Who Kill “A must-read . . . Well-written, extremely intense; a book that I could not put down.” —True Crime Book ReviewsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the role of a lifetime puts the truth into true crime television, the results can be lethal.For bestselling author and criminal psychologist,Dr. Carolyn Harkin the return to her native Northern Ireland has been tumultuous.Having survived an encounter with the notorious How To Be Dead Programme, the dangers of a writing class blurring fact with crime fiction, the resurrection of the ghosts of her past and a threat to her life and the lives of her colleagues, life was now set for a slower pace. Or so she thought.Now, with news of the death by homicide of the wife of her associate, Chief Constable Brian Hannon and a spate of murders of young men to contend with, Dr. Harkin must face her greatest nemesis and the return of the programme in another tale of fiction being blended with reality, and this time it's set to be a small screen streaming blockbusterSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beau Shipley and Keeby Styles barely survive the WWI battle of the Meuse-Argonne. Beau returns to Charleston in a fatalistic attempt to stop his former girlfriend's wedding to a rival, while Keeby remains in Paris to become a writer.Beau discovers that time, the war, the Spanish Flu, and a dark family secret have left the Charleston he remembered unrecognizable, so he returns to Paris to live as a painter.On separate but intertwining paths, Beau and Keeby are swept up in what Gertrude Stein called the Lost Generation, two aspirants mired in the panoramic parade of ambitious expats seeking fame and fortune in the world of arts and letters.Then, drunken and desperate, Beau one night makes a fateful choice that will change both their lives—forever.22 Rue Montparnasse is a tale about high aspirations and bad decisions, with cameo appearances by the likes of Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas, Tsugahiro Foujita, Ernest Hemingway, Georges Brach, Amedeo Modigliani, Misia Sert, Coco Chanel, and Ezra Pound.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York Times bestselling author Adrian McKinty continues the Edgar Award–winning Sean Duffy series with Hang On St. Christopher.Rain slicked streets, riots, murder, chaos. It's July 1992 and the Troubles in Northern Ireland are still grinding on after twenty-five apocalyptic years. Detective Inspector Sean Duffy got his family safely over the water to Scotland, to “Shortbread Land.” Duffy's a part-timer now, only returning to Belfast six days a month to get his pension. It's an easy gig, if he can keep his head down.But then a murder case falls into his lap while his protégé is on holiday in Spain. A carjacking gone wrong and the death of a solitary, middle-aged painter. But something's not right, and as Duffy probes he discovers the painter was an IRA assassin. So, the question becomes: Who hit the hit man and why?This is Duffy's most violent and dangerous case yet and the whole future of the burgeoning “peace process” may depend upon it. Based on true events, Duffy must unentangle parallel operations by the CIA, MI5, and Special Branch. Duffy attempts to bring a killer to justice while trying to keep himself and his team alive as everything unravels around them. They might not all make it out of this one.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest from “mystery master” Walter Mosley, a family member's terminal illness leads P.I. Joe King Oliver to the investigation of his life: tracking down his long-lost father, and meanwhile, a new case pits King's professional responsibility against his own moral code. (TheWashington Post)Joe King Oliver's beloved Grandma B has found a tumor, and at her age, treatment is high-risk. She's lived life fully and without regrets, and now has only a single, dying wish: to see her long-lost son. King has been estranged from his father, Chief Odin Oliver, since he was a young boy. He swore to never speak to the man again when he was taken away in handcuffs. But now, Grandma B's pure ask has opened King's heart, and through his hunt, he gains a deeper understanding of his father as a complicated, righteous man—a man defined by women, a man protected by women, a man he wants to know. Although Chief was released from prison years ago, he's been living underground ever since. Now, King must not only find his father, but prove his innocence, and protect the future of his entire family.Simultaneously, King finds himself in a moral bind. Marigold Hart, the wife of a powerful Californian billionaire, has gone missing, along with their seven-year-old daughter. Orr is brutish and dangerous, and King realizes after locating her that it's in her best interest to stay hidden. But are his motives pure? There is something magnetic about Marigold; he can't help but want her near. In the latest installment in the Joe King Oliver series, no good deed goes unpunished. Emotionally stirring, pulse-pounding, and undeniably sexy, Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right shows Walter Mosley at his best.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the New York Times bestselling author of House on Fire, a breakneck thriller that marries the dynastic opulence of Succession with the tense and disorienting spycraft of The Americans.Paul Brightman is a man on the run, living under an assumed name in a small New England town with a million-dollar bounty on his head. When his security is breached, Paul is forced to flee into the New Hampshire wilderness to evade Russian operatives who can seemingly predict his every move.Six years ago, Paul was a rising star on Wall Street who fell in love with a beautiful photographer named Tatyana—unaware that her father was a Russian oligarch and the object of considerable interest from several U.S. intelligence agencies. Now, to save his own life, Paul must unravel a decades-old conspiracy that extends to the highest reaches of the government.Rivaling the classic spy novels of the Cold War, The Oligarch's Daughter is built for the frightening world we live in now.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.