To recover an African artifact, St. Ives will trade $250,000—or his lifePhilip St. Ives is the kind of man who can convince a vice cop and a paroled mobster to sit down to a hand of poker. Once he was a reporter with a daily column, a fat Rolodex, and a reputation for indifference to criminal behavior. Now he is a go-between, a professional mediator between thieves and the people they rip off. For arranging the recovery of a stolen necklace, painting, or child, St....

The Edgar Award–winning debut novel from "America's best storyteller" about a man drawn into espionage by his mysterious business partner ( The New York Times Book Review ).At the height of the Cold War, two Americans are runnng a bar in the West German capital, called Mac's place. One of the pair, Michael Padillo, isn't around a lot; he keeps disappearing on "business trips." McCorkle, his partner, wisely doesn't ask ques...

From the Edgar Award–winning author: “[A] highly readable novel of political adventure . . . a cracking good story and the Africa mentality is fascinating” (Kirkus Reviews).Clinton Shartelle doesn’t seem like a good choice to run a political campaign in Albertia. For one thing, he’s American, and Albertia is a small coastal republic in Africa, about to be cut loose from the English Crown. For another, Shartelle is Southern and fiercely proud of it, and his ...

"Hain't we got all the fools in town on our side? And ain't that a big enough majority in any town?" -- Mark TwainWhen Lucifer Dye is released from three months in a Hong Kong prison, debriefed, handed a false passport, a new wardrobe and a $20,000 check, his haughty control makes it clear that Dye's career with his country has been permanently terminated. But a good agent is always in demand, and just a few hours later Dye is being interviewed for a highly ingenious position....

Ah, Treachery!, the last novel Thomas wrote before his death, tells the story of one Captain Edd "Twodees" Partain, drummed out of the Army and hounded by rumors of his involvement in a secret operation in El Salvador. Twodees gets hired on to help a fundraiser for the "Little Rock folks" recover funds that were stolen from an illicit stash used to smooth over problems and pay off hush money. Meanwhile, Partain is involved in a storefront operation called VOMIT (Victims of Militar...

An old-school Southerner is recruited to run a political campaign in a dangerous African electionClinton Shartelle doesn’t seem like a good choice to run a political campaign in Albertia. For one thing, he’s American, and Albertia is a small coastal republic in Africa, about to be cut loose from the English Crown. For another, Shartelle is Southern and fiercely proud of it, and his ideas about racial politics veer unpredictably from progressive to rigidly old-fashi...

A cop is car-bombed in Texas—and her brother comes from Capitol Hill to investigate—in this Edgar Award winner by "one of the best storytellers around" ( The New York Times Book Review).A long-distance call from his small Texas hometown on his birthday gives Benjamin Dill the news that his sister Felicity—born on the same day exactly ten years later—has died in a car bomb explosion. She was a homicide detective who had perhaps made one enemy too many over t...

An "entertaining" noir thriller about a disgraced judge forced into hiding after being released from prison "can be pleasantly devoured in one sitting" ( Los Angeles Times ).The Fourth Durango is not your ordinary Durango. It's not in Spain, or Mexico, and it's not a ski town in the Colorado Rockies, although Durangos do exist in all of those places. This Durango is a hideout business, a place where people pay to find sanc...

"The Student's Companion to Latin Authors" by George Middleton and Thomas Ross Mills serves as an essential guide for students and enthusiasts of Latin literature. This comprehensive reference work provides insightful biographical sketches and critical analyses of prominent Latin authors, making it an invaluable resource for understanding the context and significance of their works. The authors meticulously compile information that aids readers in navigating the complexities of Latin texts...

Mac McCorkle and Mike Padillo team up to help twin bodyguards in a thrilling crime caper from "America's best storyteller" ( The New York Times Book Review).The twins who walk into Mac McCorkle's bar look identical, despite their differing genders. Their names are Wanda and Walter Gothar, and from the steel in their eyes it's apparent that their business isn't the friendly kind. They've come seeking help from Mac and his partner, Padilla, a...

Two jaded government agents team up with three veteran conmen to carry out a $5-million courier mission in this "first-rate thriller" ( New York Times )."Everybody else watch out! Ross Thomas writes with a switchblade knife. Out on the Rim dazzles!" —Ed McBainWould you be wary if someone gave you the assignment of delivering five million dollars to a Phi...

Missionary Stew follows political fundraiser Draper Haere on a quest to uncover the secret behind a right-wing coup in an unnamed Central american country. He seeks the information in order to get dirt on his boss's opponent in the 1984 US Presidential election.Haere's pursuit of the truth repeatedly puts Haere's life in danger, as the powers-that-be stop at nothing to keep the episode buried. Along the way, Haere carries on an affair with the wife of his candidate and enli...