Sharkey

The “uncommonly trenchant account of the only known FBI agent to confess to murder” (Kirkus Reviews). When rookie FBI agent Mark Putnam received his first assignment in 1987, it was the culmination of a lifelong dream, if not the most desirable location. Pikeville, Kentucky, is high in Appalachian coal country, an outpost rife with lawlessness dating back to the Hatfields and McCoys. As a rising star in the bureau, however, Putnam soon was cultivating paid informants and busting drug rings and bank robbers. But when one informant fell in love with him, passion and duty would collide with tragic results. A coal miner’s daughter, Susan Smith was a young, attractive, struggling single mother. She was also a drug user sometimes described as a con artist, thief, and professional liar. Ultimately, Putnam gave in to Smith’s relentless pursuit. But when he ended the affair, she waged a campaign of vengeance that threatened to destroy him. When at last she confronted him with a shocking announcement, a violent scuffle ensued, and Putnam, in a burst of uncontrolled rage, fatally strangled her. Though he had everything necessary to get away with murder—a spotless reputation, a victim with multiple enemies, and the protection of the bureau’s impenetrable shield—his conscience wouldn’t allow it. Tormented by a year of guilt and deception, Putnam finally led authorities to Smith’s remains. This is the story of what happened before, during, and after his startling confession—an account that “should take its place on the dark shelf of the best American true crime” (Newsday). Revised and updated, this ebook also includes photos and a new epilogue by the author.

Gold Winner for the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the Performing Arts & Music Category "Sharkey is the natural artist, performing his magic for nothing but love." — Wolcott Gibbs, the New Yorker Sharkey tells the compelling story of an unusually gifted, trained sea lion who shared the stage with practically every important performer of the first half of the twentieth century—from Bob Hope to Ella Fitzgerald, from Broadway to Hollywood and beyond. Readers follow Sharkey and his flippered colleagues as they travel the world with stops at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, vaudeville houses, Manhattan during the Harlem Renaissance, burlesque nightclubs, movie palaces, Radio City Music Hall, and the legendary studios of early radio, movies, and television, meeting a who's who of showbiz entertainers, sports superstars, and even a US president. Meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated, Sharkey is a quirky slice of New York and entertainment history sure to delight fans of vintage pop culture and Americana, as well as animal lovers.

Set sail for high-seas intrigue with "The Dealings of Captain Sharkey" by Arthur Conan Doyle. Join Arthur Conan Doyle as he spins thrilling tales of adventure, piracy, and treachery on the open ocean in this captivating collection. As Conan Doyle navigates the perilous waters of the high seas, immerse yourself in the world of Captain Sharkey, a notorious pirate whose exploits strike fear into the hearts of sailors everywhere. Explore the thrilling escapades and daring schemes that define life on the open sea. But amidst the swashbuckling action and pulse-pounding suspense, a deeper narrative emerges: the complex motivations and moral dilemmas faced by those who live life on the edge. Prepare to be captivated by Conan Doyle's masterful storytelling as he delves into the psyche of pirates and privateers alike. Hook: Will Captain Sharkey emerge victorious in his quest for fortune and glory, or will his past sins come back to haunt him? Experience the thrill of the high seas and the clash of rival captains as you journey alongside Captain Sharkey and his crew. With each twist and turn, you'll be drawn deeper into a world of danger, betrayal, and unexpected alliances. Join Captain Sharkey on a quest for riches and redemption in "The Dealings of Captain Sharkey." Will you embrace the call of adventure and set sail for fortune, or will you succumb to the temptations of the pirate's life? Discover the timeless allure of maritime adventure in this captivating collection of tales from the master of suspense, Arthur Conan Doyle. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or simply a lover of thrilling tales, "The Dealings of Captain Sharkey" promises to transport you to a world of high-seas excitement. Are you ready to embark on a swashbuckling adventure with Captain Sharkey? Order your copy of "The Dealings of Captain Sharkey: Arthur Conan Doyle's Tales of High-Seas Intrigue" today and set sail for adventure on the open sea. Hoist the sails and join the crew. Purchase your copy now.

I CAPTAIN SHARKEY: HOW THE GOVERNOR OF SAINT KITT'S CAME HOME When the great wars of the Spanish Succession had been brought to an end by the Treaty of Utrecht, the vast number of privateers which had been fitted out by the contending parties found their occupation gone. Some took to the more peaceful but less lucrative ways of ordinary commerce, others were absorbed into the fishing-fleets, and a few of the more reckless hoisted the Jolly Rodger at the mizzen and the bloody flag at the main, declaring a private war upon their own account against the whole human race. With mixed crews, recruited from every nation they scoured the seas, disappearing occasionally to careen in some lonely inlet, or putting in for a debauch at some outlaying port, where they dazzled the inhabitants by their lavishness and horrified them by their brutalities. On the Coromandel Coast, at Madagascar, in the African waters, and above all in the West Indian and American seas, the pirates were a constant menace. With an insolent luxury they would regulate their depredations by the comfort of the seasons, harrying New England in the summer and dropping south again to the tropical islands in the winter. They were the more to be dreaded because they had none of that discipline and restraint which made their predecessors, the Buccaneers, both formidable and respectable. These Ishmaels of the sea rendered an account to no man, and treated their prisoners according to the drunken whim of the moment. Flashes of grotesque generosity alternated with longer stretches of inconceivable ferocity, and the skipper who fell into their hands might find himself dismissed with his cargo, after serving as boon companion in some hideous debauch, or might sit at his cabin table with his own nose and his lips served up with pepper and salt in front of him. It took a stout seaman in those days to ply his calling in the Caribbean Gulf

Grade level: 9, 10, 11, 12, s, t.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The night of the murders, Pat was brought in by the police and taken home by her father. She was frightened of her father, who did not speak to her that night. He had almost completely stopped speaking to his daughter several months earlier, after he had told her he strongly disapproved of her friends, her attitude, and her desire to have a career in the theater. #2 John’s behavior had become abusive towards his daughter, Pat. He would insult her and call her names, based on her developing sexuality. He would turn the radio up loud to drown out her music. #3 John had a large collection of military-strategy board games, low-tech precursors to virtual reality war games. He had a calendar marked in November 1971, three weeks before he killed his wife and daughter, that he wanted to augment his ongoing defense against a tormenting world with a surprise attack. #4 John List had a difficult time playing the role of father to his daughter, Brenda, because he didn’t like fish. He would take her and her brother to fish on the Saginaw River, though, and he would rent tackle and a couple of folding chairs to sit and fish beside a hole cut through the ice.