Death Of A Scam Artist

A retirement home hides a surprising amount of intrigue and danger in this novel by a two-time finalist for the Lefty Award for Humorous Mystery. A failing retirement home needs to be turned around—and unfortunately, the job has been given to a financial hatchet man who dislikes old people. But his foray into the world of geezers and geezerettes will turn out to be a life-transforming experience. He must deal with a suspicious death, a scam, a hit man, an unexpected romance—and retired magician Jerry Rhine and his five wacky sidekicks known as the Jerry-atrics. And he will face the most important decision of his life when he uncovers the secret behind an unusual murder… Praise for Mike Befeler’s mysteries: “Witty, clever, and wholly entertaining.”—Margaret Coel, New York Times-bestselling author of the Wind River Mysteries “Delightful.”—Maggie Sefton, New York Times-bestselling author of the Knitting Mysteries

The undisputed king of the confidence men of the Old West, Jefferson Randolph Smith II (Soapy Smith) ruled criminal gangs in Colorado and Alaska. No other scoundrel could match Soapy Smith’s utter audacity and unrelenting pursuit of skinning a sucker. He was a genius at running a scam, at organizing a gang of confederates, and at paying off authorities. He had the inherent ability to look a man in the eye and lie like every word was etched in stone.  But, on July 8 1898, Soapy was killed in a shootout in Skagway, Alaska. At the time, newspapers attributed a man, Frank Reid, with putting the fatal bullet through Soapy’s heart. Now, 100 years later, historical research has shown that was not the case. Death of a Con Man is a concise, accurate account of the truth behind the myth. Entertaining, as well as informative, the story of the most notorious con man is told with many vintage photographs

A detective follows a case from Dublin to Cornwall—but the suspect keeps disappearing into the mist . . . When Detective Garda Sergeant Mike West is called to investigate a murder in a Dublin graveyard, suspicion immediately falls on a local woman, Edel Johnson, whose husband disappeared some months before. But then she vanishes. Evidence leads West to a small village in Cornwall, but when he checks in to an inn, he finds Edel has arrived ahead of him. Her explanation seems to make sense, but just as West begins to think his suspicions of her are unfounded, she disappears again. Is she guilty? West, fighting an unsuitable attraction, doesn’t want to believe it. But the case against her is growing. Back in Dublin, his team uncovers evidence of blackmail and illegal drugs connected to Edel’s missing husband. When another man is murdered, she once again comes under suspicion. West knows he has to untangle the truth—but it may not be the truth he wants to hear . . . Previously published under the title That One May Smile

Like no event in history, the real estate appraisal industry has been slandered, steered, and stomped into submission. Charged and convicted of a crime they did not commit. Big banking is leading a new revolution, taking real estate appraisers out of the mortgage lending process. Enter computerized home valuation services, being promoted as the "technology-based" saviors to the home buying public. The greatest sales job ever, sold to a real estate weary public who just wants to know they are paying a fair price. Discover the misinformation that is killing an entire industry that consumers need now more than ever before. Caveat Emptor!

Romantic suspense from a New York Times bestseller with “bold pacing and a steamy love affair . . . keeps readers guessing right up to the tingling conclusion” (Booklist). Madison Connelly is tired of lies—and betrayal. First her husband and business partner leaves her for another woman. Then Detective Paul Tanner arrives to tell her that the man she thought was her father isn’t. Madison wants answers . . . answers about her past that someone is going to deadly lengths to keep hidden. Falling for Madison isn’t in Paul’s job description. And soon she’ll need more than Paul’s growing attraction to keep her safe. Because she’s about to be drawn deep into a complicated web of intrigue, deceit—and murder.

In-depth fraud coverage of computer crimes such as pyramid schemes make this crime library of internet fraud the cybercrime location for the schemes and scams that con artists perpetrate. White collar crimes such as prime bank fraud, pyramid scams, internet fraud, phone scams, chain letters, modeling agency and Nigerian scams, computer fraud as well as telemarketing fraud are fully explained. This detailed but easy to read report on organized crime topics include credit card fraud, check kiting, tax fraud, money laundering, mail fraud, counterfeit money orders, check fraud and other who's who true crimes of persuasion.

Seth Parker is considered a terrorist by the FBI and is credited with many unusual deaths in Southern California. A man who cut the beaks off of pelicans is found dead and lipless. Another man who ran a dog fighting ring is found torn apart by his own dogs. Two boys who posted a YouTube video of themselves blowing up cats are missing, and no one expects to find them in one piece. When Parker kills two poachers in the Mojave Desert for shooting burros, he falls into Frank Flynn's orbit. The problem is that Flynn sympathizes with Parker more than he should. Because of this connection and his intimate knowledge of the desert, Flynn seems able to anticipate Parker's next moves, though he is always one step behind. With the opening of Sand Canyon, Flynn finds himself in the awkward position of having to protect an exclusive hunting resort. He'll have to come to terms with this duty, if he's to stay alive. David Sundstrand's second novel gives more incredible descriptions of the desert and a riveting story.

Why would a billionaire smuggle terrorists into the country? On a mission to free enslaved Iraqi friends, Jacob Stearne feels good about liberating an American held with them. Then he learns the American leads a terrorist cell. The man vanishes. Scrambling after his mistake from Latin America to the South Pacific, Jacob gets a bad feeling when he tracks the fundamentalists heading for the USA. The twists in Seeley James stories are better than Steve Berry, Tom Clancy, or John Sandford — David Gormer Pia Sabel is doing her best to learn the family business. She’s feeling a little out of place among the billionaires when the president charges her with uncovering a peer intent on destroying the country. With no shortage of rich, arrogant suspects, trust quickly becomes her biggest problem. Who is funding the radicals Jacob is hunting? Her boyfriend? An old associate? Her father? The intricate plotting in Sabel Security novels creates a world you’ll love to get lost in — Pat Chapman While the wealthy fraternize with politicians, everything Pia believed in is turned upside down. Facing a collision with evil she cannot win her team can only hope to save some—not all. As the clock ticks down, Pia and Jacob must face the ultimate question: in the final showdown, will they have what it takes? Praise for Seeley James’ Sabel Security series Jacob Stearne is Jack Reacher … without the sanity — Paul Westmoreland Pia Sabel reminds me of a young Eve Dallas, or a tragic Daenerys, always driven to succeed — Ingrid Anderson It wasn't only the story that kept me riveted. It was characters that I loved or detested with a passion — Vine Voice DreamBeast Jacob and his sidekick god, Mercury are two of the best characters ever created — Secret World Book Club Plenty of edge of the seat suspense, a splash of well-timed humor, and adventures that leave you wanting more — Susan Gainoutdinov You can feel them facing evil, staring it in the face and saying, "Bring it on!" — Ann Graham The riveting thriller from sensational author Seeley James featuring the unrivaled heroes Sabel & Stearne asks the question: who can you trust?