Bedlam Burning

The acclaimed author of Bleeding London spins a yarn of academia, lunacy, and the blurry lines between them in this Whitbread Prize–finalist novel. It all starts at Cambridge University, where Dr. John Bentley throws his book burning parties—“a little active, symbolic literary criticism”—in which guests are invited to state their grudges against their least favorite books, and then toss them into a fire. It is at one such party that the brilliant but sheepish Gregory Collins meets Mike Smith, a handsome classmate. They become fast friends. And then their friendship takes a decidedly strange turn. When Gregory’s first novel, The Wax Man, is published, he convinces Mike to take his place on the book jacket. Now Mike is the one invited to be a writer-in-residence at an insane asylum run by Dr. Eric Kincaid, whose obscure therapeutic philosophy centers on the soothing powers of literature. When Mike compiles a book of the inmates’ writings, and it becomes a literary success, this comedy of errors threatens to take another, far darker turn. “Completely addictive and very, very funny. Great.” —Jonathan Lethem, author of A Gambler’s Anatomy “Donald Westlake meets Ken Kesey in this . . . compulsively good read.” —Library Journal

A Druid looks at quality control for product and service industries, amplifying from his earlier book Right first time . Some highlights: Quality is a religion, with the same trappings and pitfalls as other religions; humanity can be distorted, but not abolished, by managerial decree and organizatio

Improve your vocabulary in your spare time-and enhance your opportunities for a lifetime Whether you're studying for school, preparing a business presentation, or mingling at a cocktail party, your mastery of words is essential to your overall success. 1,500 Words in 15 Minutes a Day is the ultimate crash course in vocabulary building-a comprehensive day-by-day, week-by-week program that makes it easy to learn new words in the fastest time possible. The book's simple lesson plans are organized by related topics, highlighting common words used in business, politics, religion, and the arts. Each chapter includes clear definitions, pronunciations, and examples of usage, as well as self-quizzes and fascinating facts for a total learning experience. This exciting year-long program will help you to: SPEAK AND WRITE with total confidence MASTER KEY WORDS AND TERMS that every professional should know PREPARE YOURSELF for college or enhance your career INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE on a wide range of subjects MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS with fill-in quizzes and a final review BUILD AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY ...in just fifteen minutes a day.

An invitation to a funeral that turns deadly. A series of curious kidnappings in New York. Cryptic messages from beyond the grave. A hidden stash of diamonds in a secret safe. A serial killer as cold as ice. What do these elements all have in common? Your favorite psychotherapist, Dr. Crystal Knight-Davenport, is back as the seductive siren that no man can resist. Fueled by a passion to avenge her sister's death, Crystal finds herself dodging a sex-crazed stalker and a trio of girlfriends who bring nothing but drama. There's no end to the wild antics with this crazy crew! After an explosive turn of events lands Crystal at a crossroads, she suddenly has a lot of free time on her hands. Should she rekindle a flaming romance with her beau, Chief Inspector Don Dellevega, or attempt to pursue an exciting new career? Ultimately, Davenport and Dellevega must follow the trail of clues to solve a string of heinous crimes. As fate would have it, their choices lead down a path which ends in a stunning showdown with a sociopathic killer. Together, they go on a perilous mission to end the mysterious murders and bring a demented destroyer to justice!

Welcome to Starlight Hollow, a small town on Hood Canal, Washington, where dreams become nightmares, and nightmares become reality. My name is Elphyra MacPherson, and I was born into a lineage of witches from thousands of years back. The women of my family have always lived between the worlds, our blood as full of magic as our souls are. Born from Scottish descent, we guard over towns and villages. We’re found in cities and the country, and each of us is charged with keeping the monsters and the storms at bay—using any means needed. After tragedy invades my life, I move to Starlight Hollow, a little town near Gig Harbor, where I find new friends and Fancypants—a dragonette. Together with him and my circle of friends, I muddle through life, love, and danger, as best as I can. But when I’m approached by Darla, a woman who’s dealing with a demonic presence haunting her house, my life begins to change. Not only am I facing danger from the spirit world, but I also face another challenge when Faron Collinsworth, the King of the Olympic Wolf Pack, approaches me. We’ve already had two bad encounters, but now he wants my help. Members of the community are being murdered and the sheriff thinks one of the Wolf King’s Pack is to blame. Even as I try to eradicate the demons at the hell house, Faron asks me to exonerate his lieutenant. But that may not be possible, and as the killer digs deep, I must focus on what I’m able to do, as opposed to what I wish I could do. But will Faron and I find out the truth before we end up killing each other? Heat Level: Expected to be spicy/explicit Keywords: romance, love triangle, paranormal, witches, shifters, vampires, dragons, ghosts, dark fantasy, small town, hidden secrets, why choose, painful past, family traditions, magical heritage.

Welcome to Starlight Hollow, a small town on Hood Canal, Washington, where dreams become nightmares, and nightmares become reality. I’m Elphyra, the Witch of the Wild. I live in Starlight Hollow, a magical small town on the west side of Hood Canal, Washington. The town is filled with people who need magical help and advice, some tea, or a shoulder to confide in. They come to me, and I do what I can to help them and to protect the town. Bree, my best friend, has started to notice a strange energy. She feels like she’s being watched. We discover an old graveyard near her house and the trouble seems to be emanating from there. At first I think it’s a ghost, but then we discover it’s something far more dangerous—a force that brings up a past that both Bree and I forgot. I’m going to need help, so I call on Faron Collinsworth, the King of the Olympic Wolf Pack. Faron’s one of the only people who can help me go up against the stalker trying to destroy my best friend. Unfortunately, our attempts to save Bree lands us on the stalker’s hit list, and now our lives are in danger, as well. Heat Level: Expected to be spicy/explicit