THE TWO MASSACHUSSETS HOMICIDE COPS WONDERED WHY I WAS MENTIONED SO PROMINENTLY IN A MURDERED NUN'S OLD DIARY.

I knew why. Many years before she became Sister Veronica, Ronnie Frost was a vivacious college co-ed -- and my lover. I always wondered what became of her after she mysteriously disappeared. I also knew I had to find out who killed her! Was her murder random? Or tied to something in her past?

IF YOU LIKE STRONG CHARACTERIZATIONS, GREAT DIALOGUE AND SURPRISES, PULITZER-NOMINEE LAWRENCE DE MARIA’S ALTON RHODE MYSTERIES ARE IN A CLASS BY THEMSELVES.” (John Crudele, New York Post); “A LAWRENCE DE MARIA TITLE GIVES YOU MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK THAN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IN THE BOOK MARKETPLACE TODAY.” (Florida Weekly); “A MASTER OF THRILLER DIALOGUE.” (Washington Independent Review of Books); “WHILE DE MARIA MAY HAVE BEEN AN AWARD-WINNING FINANCIAL REPORTER, HE'S AN AWFULLY GOOD FICTION WRITER AS WELL.” (Naples Daily News)

INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM

THE UNITED STATES
THE DRONE (A Jake Scarne Thriller): “No matter what the series, De Maria’s characters are sure to act with boldness and courage. When I first discovered this author, I turned to his first book, Sound of Blood, purchased used, a signed copy, now one of many I have read, and I now read each new paperback as soon as it is published. Pleasures to read, sure entertainment, don’t even try to anticipate the twists and turns, as true as the statement about reality — you could never make this up!”
TURTLE DOVE (An Alton Rhode Mystery): “You won’t be sorry reading this humorous, amorous, adventurous book … happy to have discovered this author.”
SPLICER (A Jake Scarne Thriller): “With all the news about the recent pandemic out and about, De Maria has captured the threat of a genetically modified “bug” that could be weaponized.”

GREAT BRITAIN
THE END OF US (A Cole Sudden C.I.A. Thriller): “This is a cracker of a H bomb terrorist plot. A story very well told and written. Great bunch of characters and fast paced. Enjoyable.”
HOPE (A Jake Scarne Thriller): “Another brilliant read in an ever-increasing catalogue of great stories. Never disappoints and with great characters reappearing, this book is highly recommended once again.”
SISTER (An Alton Rhode Mystery): “Yet another classy read from the excellent pen of Mr. De Maria. Brilliant characters, a terrific storyline and would recommend this author without any misgivings. Kept me enthralled from beginning to the end.”

GERMANY
ALAS, PARIS (A Thriller): “I have read many of De Maria’s books, and find them unfailingly entertaining. Engaging dialogue, venues with enough descriptive detail to interest experienced travelers, scenes played out with gastronomic expertise, all while partnering with attractive and attentive characters of both sexes. And finally, for me, the writing in Chapter 14 was perfection.

INDIA
THE VIRON CONSPIRACY (A Jake Scarne Thriller): If you enjoy conspiracy theories, this is the book for you. Well written plot and characters, fast paced, detailed mystery.
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THE PERFECT PATSY – A SWASTIKA TAT AND
A PRISON RECORD – OF COURSE HE DID IT.

5 Out 5 Stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Carstens is one hell of a legal thriller writing author. If I ever have a need for a criminal defense attorney, I want Marc Kadella. Carstens weaves a tale that catches you, at least it does me, from the first page. You know out the who, why & how, but it’s how the truth is figured out that leaves you guessing. Great book!! This series needs to be on tv.

Carstens’ new high-octane legal thriller takes more twists and turns than a Monte Carlo Rally, right from the very public assassination of a black community leader through to the author’s customary expert depiction of courtroom finesse.

Top Minneapolis defense attorney Marc Kadella didn’t so much “catch” this tricky loser of a case as it chased him down and tackled him. He could refuse to take it, but he’d be sleeping on the couch for the rest of his life.

His client is the hapless son of a friend of a friend, a young man who landed an unlucky punch in a barroom fight and served a ten-year manslaughter sentence in Arkansas.

Billy looked forward to a fresh start in Minneapolis under the watchful eye of his father’s pal, Marc’s investigator Tony Carvelli. But he soon learned he was expected to pay back the gang that protected him in prison by working for the local drug-running white supremacists.

Oh – and a rogue FBI investigation team who are supposedly out to sever the drug pipeline would also appreciate his services as a mole.

When a prominent black figure is assassinated, somebody makes sure it looks like the murder was perpetrated by the white supremacists – in particular, Billy. And somebody high up – way high up – wants the death penalty on the table.

In other words – it’s all but unwinnable. So it’s all hands on deck, 24/7. Tony Carvelli, with his seemingly endless supply of contacts, will have to call in every favor he’s owed. And, as always, Maddy Rivers, Marc’s investigator and fiancée, will be called upon to teach a few guys a painful lesson in underestimating her.

Stay tuned for great courtroom drama and a last-minute twist.

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The French Riviera is the ultimate travel destination…unless murder is on the itinerary. When an old high school friend is murdered on the Côte d’Azur while auditioning for the hit TV travel show “Americans See Europe,” Maggie is forced to break away from village life and new motherhood to find the killer. Her sleuthing takes her from the sun-drenched beaches of Saint-Tropez to the cafes and backstreets of Arles, across lavender fields and stunning medieval ruins and straight into the evil hands of her most diabolical adversary yet. Can Maggie find her friend’s killer before an innocent man pays for the crime? And can she do it without paying the ultimate price herself?

In this first book of a new historical mystery series, a young art historian faces a tough choice in German-occupied Norway.

“Artful prose and at a pace that makes for a can't-put-down, first-class literary voyage."–Melissa Dalton-Bradford, bestselling author of Global Mom

Oslo, 1944. Soli Hansen’s passion for art history is and always has been a way of life for her. While she spends her days working in an art shop, WWII is taking its toll on everyone. Apprehensive of the consequences, Soli avoids becoming entangled in the war resistance efforts. She closes her eyes in hopes the enemy will retreat and leave her beautiful country for good.

But when a woman is found dead in the alley alongside the art shop and a painting from the last auction goes missing, Soli is thrown into the thickest of the fray involving both Nazi art theft and the Norwegian resistance.

Once Soli finds her courage, there’s no turning back. Her personal life is turned upside-down with danger, lies, spying, and an incredible discovery.

In this dual timeline novel, Heidi Eljarbo paints a vivid picture of what people are willing to do in desperate times. With unforgettable characters and rich historical details, Of Darkness and Light will keep the reader mesmerized until the last satisfying page.

Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Lucinda Riley, Katherine Neville, and Kate Mosse.

Praise for Of Darkness and Light

“Interspersing love, hope, and courage, the participants are drawn together in mysterious paths.”–Pauline Isaksen, bestselling author of Dying for Justice

“Of Darkness and Light will reel you in and keep you hooked until the end.”–Mette Barfelt, bestselling author of The Solvik Series

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Even small-town secrets can be deadly.
  
Ember Burns was determined to overcome her grief and establish a new veterinary practice, but her first client lands her in the middle of a murder mystery. When the evidence points to a horse as the cause of death, she vows to protect him.
 
Except horses don't talk, and neither do the dead, so Ember has to rely on her intelligence and instinct to get to the truth. A truth buried under layers of small-town secrets big enough to get her killed.
 
Battling a reluctant Sheriff and pushy Mayor, Ember struggles to get her business off the ground while digging deeper. Why would anyone want to kill the local farrier, and who was plotting to stop her?
 
As the town gears up for its centennial celebration, Ember is led from local ranches to the surrounding Cascade Mountains in her quest. Time is running out for the horse and for Ember as a maze of intersecting lies collide to threaten her life and allow the true culprit to get away with murder.