An author of racy novels heads to picturesque Vermont to finish his manuscript—but finds his retreat less than peaceful—in this "bright, slapstick comedy" ( The New York Times).Told through a sequence of exchanged letters, this comic novel introduces softcore pornographer "Guy LaDouche" as he heads to the wilderness in the hope of solitude and concentration to write his next book under a looming deadline.Instead of peace, he finds harassment and dist...

Because they were collected into a single hardcover volume published by Subterranean Press, a good number of readers are acquainted with my three collaborations with Donald E. Westlake. That's not the case with CIRCLE OF SINNERS, a similar joint effort undertaken with another longstanding (and, I'm pleased to say, still standing) friend and colleague, Hal Dresner. Unlike two of the Block/Westlake titles, CIRCLE OF SINNERS did not bear a joint byline; Nightstand issued it as "by Don Hollida...

American humorist James Thurber’s classic short story is about a man who escapes the tedium of his mundane life by retreating into his vivid imagination. This title features a new introduction by Rosemary A. Thurber, James Thurber’s daughter, as well as a selection of Thurber drawings.

The classic autobiography from the prescient, influential, and controversial American stand-up comic.Featuring a new preface by comedian Lewis Black and a new foreword by jazz critic Howard Reich"I read this book for the first time when I was twelve years old. It made me want to be in showbiz, have a lot of sex, and be Jewish. I've rethought that last one." —Penn Jillette, author of God No!

Mystery conundrums from crime's finest storytellersPresenting 30 impossible mysteries and bizarre crimes guaranteed to fascinate and intrigue. The delight in these stories is unravelling the puzzle and trying to work out what on earth happened.Stories include:• A man alone in an all-glass phone booth, visible on CCTV and with no one near him, is killed by an ice pick.• a man sitting alone in a room is shot by a bullet fired only once and that ...

Who doesn’t like a good mystery? Here are 25 great noir crime and mystery stories by some of the top fictioneers of the 20th century, ripped from the pages of such magazines as The Black Mask Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Secret Agent X, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine -- and many more! Hours of great reading await...if you dare proceed!LET HER KILL HERSELF, by Rufus KingTHE SPENT DAYS, by Fletcher FloraCONSOLATION PRIZE, by Stephen Wasylyk

Before he could bleed out, his family discovered the bloody, bloody scene, and rescued the beleaguered coal man. He said his only regret is that he didn't kill his meddling mother-in-law, too. This "novelette" length true crime story details the family quarrel that led to the gruesome crime and the delivery of turn-of-the-century justice.

A "riveting" true crime classic: The trial of Connecticut teen Peter Reilly, accused of killing his mother, and the community that defended him ( People).In the sleepy hamlet of Canaan, Connecticut, Barbara Gibbons stood out. She and her eighteen-year-old son, Peter Reilly, lived in a drab one-bedroom house on a desolate stretch of road. An intelligent, lively woman with a wicked sense of humor, Barbara also had dark moods and drank too much. She fought lou...

When the White family comes into the possession of a monkey’s paw that magically grant wishes, they do what many people would do—they wish for money. But every wish has a consequence, and the White family finds they are completely unprepared for what comes next. The Monkey’s Paw is a classic horror tale that gives new meaning to the phrase “be careful what you wish for.”The Monkey’s Paw has become a classic horror story and has been adapted numerous times, includi...

"Block grabs you with the first story and never lets go" in this indispensable collection packed with unforgettable characters and crimes (Elmore Leonard).Enough Rope, a collection of superb stories, establishes the extraordinary skill, power, and versatility of contemporary Grand Master Lawrence Block. Block's beloved series characters are on hand, including ex-cop Matt Scudder, bookselling burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, and the disarming duo of Chip Harrison ...

The Solve-It-Yourself Mystery MEGAPACK® presents 123 Mysteries you can read in a minute (or two) -- and try to solve yourself! (Just turn to the next page for the solution.) Hours of great fun for the mystery buff!If you enjoy this volume of classic stories, don't forget to search your favorite ebook store for "Wildside Press Megapack" to see the 270+ other entries in this series, including science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, adventure, horror, westerns -- and much, much more!

Against the backdrop of the Korean War, a young man faces life’s unimagined chances and terrifying consequences.It is 1951 in America, the second year of the Korean War. A studious, law-abiding, intense youngster from Newark, New Jersey, Marcus Messner, is beginning his sophomore year on the pastoral, conservative campus of Ohio’s Winesburg College. And why is he there and not at the local college in Newark where he originally enrolled? Because his father, the sturdy, hard-working ...