An Accusing Finger

A man’s violent, early-morning death on the freezing pavement of a west-end convenience store parking lot in Canada’s capital city appears at first to be just another random act of gang violence. But is it?

The dead man has no identification, and his associate has mysteriously vanished. One of the victim’s fingerprints is linked to the unsolved murder of a young woman more than twenty years earlier. When Inspector Matt Armitage begins investigating the cold case, he uncovers a second, identical, unsolved murder. This one took place years later, in another city, in another country. As he works to close the case, Armitage discovers that cutting through red tape can cause serious, self-inflicted wounds.

Even if he were not a police officer, Inspector Matt Armitage of the Ottawa Police Service would be an imposing figure. He stands seventy-six inches tall in his dress socks, with a big-boned athletic frame, a thick shock of dark hair, and intense, piercing eyes the colour of Antarctic ice. He has an unblemished service record, but Armitage will probably never be promoted. His bosses believe he has one unforgivable flaw: he puts people first. He is a cop’s cop, operating in a milieu that rewards careerism and mediocrity, and punishes anyone who threatens the system’s status quo or the self-interest of the top brass.

An Accusing Finger was a Chanticleer Clue Awards finalist.

The Malpais Legate

Ever wonder what life would be like if Russia and the U.S. actually launched their nuclear arsenals? Would mankind survive? What would that look like?

Follow the adventures of a young man navigating a post-apocalyptic desolation where he finds romance, adventure, heartache, and redemption. Along the way, he encounters a diverse cast of characters, from robots to the scum of the earth. In the scorching Texas heat, he witnesses the wonders of science and discovers the true meaning of love.

Join the journey of The Malpais Legate, a tale sure to entertain, excite, and tug at your heartstrings. Feel the crunch of the dirt underfoot and the sizzle of the sun on your neck as you travel with Joshua and his rescuer, Maria, in their quest to find a place to call home again.

More Than Survive

Michelle Davis, another victim of Eric Wyler’s torment, finally tells her story. She may seem awkward and quiet to most, but she possesses a hidden strength that allows her to fight for what she believes is right, even under the most trying circumstances.

Although a dark turn of events soon follows as she attempts something that none of The Nothings of the school would ever even fathom: putting an end to Eric’s reign of terror. The real question is: will she be able to pull it off and what obstacles will leap in her path during this bold endeavour?

Strangers and Friends

He was called a rhymer the first time he stood at an open mic.

Not mockingly – that was simply who he was and what he mistakenly believed was every poet’s way. But rhymers were rare then, and they remain so today.

Gentry’s only argument against free verse is that it has become the dominant voice, leaving few to march to a different beat. In this collection, he invites you to join him as he rhymes and meters against the tide, weaving tales where strangers are stranger than they seem, and true friends are all too few.

Black Swan Shock

Marla Case, an elite Olympic-bound athlete, finds her devotion to competition fading and chooses to step away. She considers becoming a medical responder and learns about the profession from a paramedic friend. Before committing to the rescue service, Marla accompanies her mother on an academic tour that ends abruptly when a massive earthquake strikes. The athlete reacts to save victims with her physical skills and newly acquired understanding of some emergency medical actions. She becomes a beacon of hope for the citizens of St. Louis, Missouri. However, personal tragedy affects Marla, as well, and she struggles to find catharsis herself. Black Swan Shock is the second book in Vettori’s Black Swan trilogy, although each of the three books can be read independently.

The first novel, Black Swan Impact, is a sci-fi political thriller that takes place in 2113. Having recovered from the devastation of World War III and reaching new scientific advancements, people believe only prosperity lies ahead until an emerging deadly pandemic threatens all of humanity. Dr. Syia (Sī-yuh) Case, National Institutes of Health Director of Epidemiology, is invited to advise US President Daniel Piper and the White House Crisis Action Team to try to mitigate the threat. Actions required to protect US citizens from the lethal virus become increasingly challenging. However, when Piper steers the country toward questionable courses, Dr. Case and the strident voices on the task force find there is more than a virulent virus to fight.

Black Swan Terror will round out the series.

Broken Contract

In a future where Earth’s natural balance has been shattered, humanity teeters between ecological collapse and an uncertain life in space. Broken Contract unfolds across three interconnected worlds: the rainforests of the Amazon, the mineral-rich landscapes of Transylvania, and 3STAR Alpha, an artificial habitat orbiting Earth. As scientists, corporate interests, and indigenous communities struggle over dwindling resources, the fate of an entire species – one whose survival is bound to humanity’s own – hangs in the balance. The last remaining bees, hidden deep in the jungle, hold a secret that could alter the course of history. But will humanity recognize its own mistakes before it is too late?

Told through the eyes of researchers, industrialists, and those fighting to protect the land, this novel explores the fragile connections between human ambition and the natural world. Against a backdrop of technological ingenuity and environmental devastation, Broken Contract challenges us to reconsider what we owe to the planet and to future generations. As those in power push forward with a new frontier beyond Earth, one question remains: can humanity escape the consequences of its own recklessness, or will the final cost be paid in silence?

Gorman Ponds

This book is a stunning debut collection of versatility, authenticity, and intense expression alongside wondrous nature, hope, light, and indomitable human spirit. It captivates the reader as the emotion that drives the work is deeply evocative and transportive in the informality, simplicity, and spontaneity of the authorial voice. The authorial voice is transfixing, as it offers a unique perspective through the haiku format, and it remains tenacious to tackle the topics that most profoundly strike at the core of what it means to be human. Each layer of the collection further engrosses the reader, and each poem builds upon the other to create a tumultuous, poignant, and restorative narrative. This book stands out with its empowering, unfiltered, contemplative perspective and attests to the unceasing beauty and simple truth embodied by nature.

Every Bad Thing

This dark and deeply moving novel from Shannon Gill Burnett follows the life of Danielle Smith, a woman from Green Bay, Wisconsin. From her childhood through her college years at Northwestern, to marriage, motherhood, and eventually a suicide attempt, Danielle's story is both heart-wrenching and raw.

After her attempt to take her life fails, Danielle is faced with a powerful revelation. Why should she be the one to go, when she has done nothing wrong? Her husband of twenty years announces he is leaving her to start a new life with his pregnant paralegal. Danielle, who gave up her career, her dreams, her figure, and her identity for her family, is left with nothing but questions.

Every Bad Thing explores what happens when a woman, hanging on by a thread, finally reaches her breaking point. What happens to any of us when we simply cannot hold on any longer?

The novel takes an unflinching look at revenge, mania, and the final act of desperation. It explores the complexity of human decisions, asking who is right, who is wrong, and what truly drives people to the edge.

Written with compassion and psychological insight, Every Bad Thing delves into the debate of nature versus nurture and the origins of our darkest choices. Through Danielle’s unraveling and her unexpected path of violence, the story brings her full circle to a place she never imagined she could reach.

Take a gripping and emotional journey with Danielle Smith. You may be terrified in one moment and cheering for her in the next. Discover the brutal beauty and haunting truth at the heart of Every Bad Thing.

A Secret No More

His mother dead, 16 years old, Clay Trent knew he had to run away when he shot the plantation’s overseer and then his cruel father. His half-brother, Luke, ran with him.From Georgia, months later, hungry and in their ragged clothes, they end up in Arizona where they meet Dan Driver, owner of Double D Ranch. Dan hires them, but Clay needs to confess his crime to Dan. Now, only three people knew his secret: Clay, Luke, and Dan. Still, the secret stayed with Clay, who was unable to forget.Clay and Luke became exemplary cowboys, honored and trusted, fast with a gun, yet they never abused the privilege. Then it happened. Clay’s past was suddenly exposed for all to hear and see. Shamed, Clay did the only thing he could. He had no other choice.

Texas Church Camp

Have you ever been to a summer camp? Christian, Sports, Relationship Strengthening, Handicapped, Military, Grandparents Camp, another Themed Camp, etc. Summer camps are an opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. There is also the opportunity to be introduced to a variety of insects and critters, which can spice up any interactions.One summer Scott Big Bear is an important counselor for TCC (Texas Church Camp), and his assignment is to be sure all trails up the hills and beside the river are safe for hiking.He is the first indigenous Native American counselor for TCC. His regular job, ever since he was able to independently leave his village, was to help ranchers in Texas and nearby states keep predators and other menacing animals away from their herds of cattle. He is wise beyond his age, a very large, muscular, handsome man.Jesse, the year-round camp leader, is grateful for Big Bear's outdoor expertise, even though he has to diffuse one unorthodox event after another. The surprising events are usually initiated by neighboring camps. A murder, a love interest, a plane crash, and a tornado also add to Jesse's challenges.Jump into Texas Church Camp, if you dare, and experience vicariously and intensely a unique summer camping experience.Ever onward, Beverly Blackman

Terror in Tuscany

A gothic suspense thriller infused with rich historical intrigue, romance, and the dark secrets of an ancient curse.

When historian Emma Bartoli impulsively purchases a crumbling villa in the rolling hills of Tuscany, she believes she is simply reclaiming her ancestral roots. But beneath the beauty of the vineyards and sun-drenched landscapes, a sinister legacy lies buried. Her arrival sets off a chilling chain of events. With the help of Marco, a security specialist with his own personal ties to the estate, Emma embarks on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth.

As they dig deeper, they discover an underground crypt filled with skeletal remains, victims of a ritual sacrifice that has sustained the estate’s prosperity for generations. The truth is darker than Emma ever imagined. The Caravaggio dynasty has continued its ancient, twisted practice, offering human sacrifices under the harvest moon to sustain the vineyard’s success.

With atmospheric tension, gripping suspense, and a breathtaking Tuscan backdrop, Terror in Tuscany: The Crimson Vines is a chilling gothic thriller that will keep readers enthralled until the very last page.

Tales from Vespucci

Our hero, Michael Brown, earlier seen in The Green Palmers Chronicle as a young boy and in Darwin’s Progress as a grown-up man, now retired, travels with guide and friend Isaiah through the Land of Vespucci, which invites travelers through its many provinces, each of which showcases different cultures and thoughts: some are bizarre, some adventurous, some inspiring, but all of them are always thought-provoking. Throughout his travel across 30 or so provinces, which produce these tales from Vespucci, Michael learns about humanity, his own as much as the Vespuccians themselves, which the author shares with the readers as a cautionary tale in this uniquely original and unforgettable collection of stories, reminiscent of classic Guliver’s Travels.