The Crystal Stopper

Maurice Leblanc

Summary

The two boats fastened to the little pier that jutted out from the garden lay rocking in its shadow. Here and there lighted windows showed through the thick mist on the margins of the lake. The Enghien Casino opposite blazed with light, though it was late in the season, the end of September. A few stars appeared through the clouds. A light breeze ruffled the surface of the water.
Arsene Lupin left the summer–house where he was smoking a cigar and, bending forward at the end of the pier:
"Growler?" he asked. "Masher?…Are you there?"
A man rose from each of the boats, and one of them answered:
"Yes, governor."
"Get ready. I hear the car coming with Gilbert and Vaucheray."

Available since: 02/28/2023.

Other books that might interest you

Six Teeth

Jacob Russell Dring

A mysterious gunslinger known only as Raine stalks members of a poaching crew in Idaho. Her motive? Their worst nightmare.

Show book

Solid Gold Murder

Ellen Byron

With the summer season looming, former Hollywood sitcom writer Dee Stern has one small goal—scrubbing her motel's unflattering moniker as the "Murder Motel." Dee and ex-husband-turned-business-partner Jeff Cornetta are excited to introduce a family-friendly panning activity complete with fool's gold just in time for the peak tourist months. Except neither could have anticipated the discovery of a real gold nugget or the ensuing social media frenzy. In a flash, the viral sensation draws grizzled prospectors, wide-eyed adventurers, and trend-chasing thrill seekers to the abandoned mines scattered around the woods. 
 
 
 
The instant popularity proves great for business, but it also attracts a group of Silicon Valley techies with dreams of striking it rich—again. Dee finds herself particularly annoyed by the insufferably smug Sylvan Burr, a retired CEO who sold his startup and won't let anyone forget it. But things take a sinister turn when Sylvan meets a grim fate at the bottom of a mineshaft, leaving Dee at the center of a deadly mystery that could end her days as a motelier. And while Sylvan had plenty of enemies, Dee suddenly faces adversaries rooting against her own success. Now, with her life and the future of the Golden Motel hanging by a thread, Dee must unearth a minefield of suspects and outwit a greedy killer before she finally digs herself too deep . . .

Show book

Witch and Tell

Angela M. Sanders

Small-town Wilfred, Oregon, is poised to step into the limelight, and the citizens behind the renovation of the old movie palace—into a brew pub—certainly want that to continue. Until librarian and apprentice witch Josie Way discovers a dead body . . .  
 
 
 
Local librarian Josie Way's life is in shambles. Her magical abilities are on the fritz, and her relationship with sexy sheriff Sam has cooled way off since she told him she's a witch. On top of that, Josie senses a bad energy she can't explain, which seems to be interrupting her connection with the spellbound library books, usually her sure-fire way to get to the bottom of any mystery. 
 
 
 
When she wakes to a fierce pounding in the library's atrium, she hurries there—only to find a corpse. But after she goes for the phone to call Sam, she returns to the atrium to find the body gone—and all the doors and window are still locked. And that's just the beginning of a mystery that features Josie as the prime suspect, several shady characters, and possible long-lost relatives. It's just like the beginning of an old movie, but Josie will need a lot more direction than her grandmother's magic lessons will provide . . .

Show book

Allies and Enemies

Michael Anderle, Lyn South

A war is looming between humans and the supernatural. The murders of a wealthy Chicago family could be the match that lights the powder keg. Who killed the Jónassons? Could it be the same people who outed them as werewolves? 
 
 
 
Kat is the key to stopping an apocalypse, and she has no memory of her witchy side. With enemies on all sides, they're not sure who they can trust. Can the team persuade the ancestors to help in time? Even if they do, will it be enough to stop the prophecy from coming true? 
 
 
 
The ancestors tell Kat to unite the three supernatural factions: werewolves, vampires, and witches. She must start by earning the werewolves' trust, a feat not easy to do given centuries of animosity between the wolves and vampires. 
 
 
 
Major Barry Lawrence has a big problem. His aggressive and unyielding boss, Colonel Sheila Baxter believes all supernatural creatures are killers and there's no such thing as a "good monster.” 
 
 
 
As tensions between humans and supernaturals continue to rise, Barry finds himself stuck in the middle. 
 
 
 
When push comes to shove, which side will he choose? Will he follow orders, even if they're immoral? Or will he do what he knows is right, even if it costs him his career?

Show book

A Date To Die For - The start of...

E.V. Hunter

'An enthralling murder mystery that kept me turning the pages. Well worth a read' T.A. Williams
The start of a brilliant new Cozy Crime series! Welcome to Hopgood Hall.
An unlikely duo…
When investigative journalist, Alexi Ellis, loses her job, she and Cosmo, her anti-social feral cat, head for beautiful Hopgood Hall, where they plan to lick their wounds in the boutique hotel run by her old friends, Cheryl and Drew Hopgood.
A missing woman…
But when Alexi arrives, she discovers Cheryl and Drew both distraught. Their close friend, Natalie Parker has gone missing. Alexi’s sure the woman has just taken a trip, but she still has a nose for a story and agrees to look into it.
A case to solve!
So too does ex-Met Police detective turned private eye, Jack Maddox. Natalie Parker had been using his sister’s online dating agency and Jack needs to find her before his sister’s business is ruined.
Reluctantly, Alexi, Jack - and Cosmo! - join forces to find out what happened to Natalie. But soon they discover secrets that someone desperately wants to make sure are never revealed!
A gripping new cozy crime series, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Frances Evesham and Emma Davies.
Reader Reviews for A Date To Die For
'A brilliant read that hooked me from the outset. I couldn’t tear myself away!' Gemma Rogers
'Murder, rivalries, love affairs and vendettas wrapped up in the world of race horses - what more could you want from a mystery series?' Kate Wells
'If you want to dip your toe into the cosy crime genre then this is the book for you! It is incredible. I loved every word and Cosmo the cat is just hilarious' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'A Date To Die For would make a fabulous early evening television series. I really enjoyed it and look forward to much more from E V Hunter' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'The author certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

Show book

Saints and Sinners - Every Saint...

Ludo Stuart-Douglas

SAINTS AND SINNERS 
Book One of The Rake's Progress Trilogy 
By Ludo Stuart -Douglas 
From the sun-scorched streets of colonial Saigon to the gilded halls of English country houses, "Saints and Sinners" follows the extraordinary life of Jack Drummond—a man born into privilege but forged by adversity. When his violent father's actions force a young Jack to flee Vietnam for the sanctuary of his grandfather's estate, he learns his first crucial lesson: survival isn't just about strength, but adaptability. 
As Jack navigates the treacherous waters of British high society, military service, and the cutthroat world of international business, he blazes a trail of both triumph and scandal. His journey takes him from the polo fields of Argentina to the dangerous backstreets of Bangkok, from Moscow's corridors of power to the wild beauty of Kenya's savannas. Along the way, he encounters a cast of unforgettable characters: the enigmatic Aicha, the fierce Clare, the rebellious Clodagh, and countless others who shape his destiny. 
But when his personal life implodes and a custody battle threatens to tear him away from his beloved daughter, Jack must confront the demons of his past and decide what kind of man he truly wants to be. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world from the 1960s through the 1990s, this sweeping saga combines the social observation of Edward St. Aubyn's Patrick Melrose novels with the historical scope of William Boyd's "Any Human Heart." 
Perfect for fans of Evelyn Waugh, Sebastian Faulks, and Julian Fellowes, "Saints and Sinners" offers a masterful exploration of power, privilege, and the price of redemption. With prose that crackles with wit and sophistication, Ludo Stuart-Douglas delivers a compelling tale of love, loss, and the eternal struggle between duty and desire.

Show book