Little, Brown and Company

Acclaimed for her 'devastatingly accurate insight' (The New York Times Book Review) into the criminal mind, Ann Rule has chronicled the most fascinating cases of our time in her bestelling Crime Files series. For this sixth stunning collection, Rule has culled from her private files the most-asked about homicide-cases — riveting accounts of seemingly normal men and women who are compelled by a murderous rage to suddenly lash out at innocent victims. Torn from the headlines, here is the shocking case of a Seattle city bus ride that turned to mayhem and murder at the hands of a gunman. While the scene unfolds as in a terrifying movie, Rule answers the haunting question 'how could this happen?' and expertly constructs the unseen chain of events that resulted in an explosive and shattering tragedy. Included here are nine other sensational cases that illuminate Rule's uniquely authoritative view of the human psyche gone temporarily berserk. You may think you know who is safe and who is dangerous; in A RAGE TO KILL, Ann Rule shows that none of us are truly protected from the irrational violence that can erupt from the killers among us.

Shea and Flick Ohmsford have somehow survived the first stage of their quest. With the aid of their childhood friend Menion Leah, and new companions, the dwarf Hendel, Balinor of Callahorn and the elves, Durin and Dayel, they have successfully evaded capture by gnomish warriors, and eluded the Warlock Lord's dread Skull Bearers. Now, with Allanon to guide them, the company must continue north, through the vast peaks of the Dragons Teeth Mountains. It is a route fraught with more danger, but the only path to their goal — the druid keep at Paranor, last resting place of Shannara's fabled Sword, the weapon Shea is destined to wield. So continues the epic tale of The Sword of Shannara — a classic of magic, adventure and epic conflict, from one of the world's greatest living storytellers. The concluding volume, THE SECRET OF THE SWORD is scheduled for May 2004 publication.

A reclusive writer is dead. And her final manuscript has disappeared ...Someone is stalking Beryl Madison. Someone who spies on her and makes threatening, obscene phone-calls. Terrified, Beryl flees to Key West — but eventually she must return to her Richmond home. The very night she arrives, Beryl inexplicably invites her killer in ...Thus begins for Dr Kay Scarpetta the investigation of a crime that is as convoluted as it is bizarre. Why would Beryl open the door to someone who brutally slashed and then nearly decapitated her? Did she know her killer? Adding to the intrigue is Beryl's enigmatic relationship with a prize-winning author and the disappearance of her own manuscript. As Scarpetta retraces Beryl's footsteps, an investigation that begins in the laboratory with microscopes and lasers leads her deep into a nightmare that soon becomes her own. For more about Patricia Cornwell and her books visit her website at www.patricia-cornwell.com

A farmhouse destroyed by fire. A body amongst the ruins. Dr Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner and consulting pathologist for the federal law enforcement agency ATF, is called out to a farmhouse in Virginia which has been destroyed by fire. In the ruins of the house she finds a body which tells a story of a violent and grisly murder. The fire has come at the same time as another, even more incendiary horror: Carrie Grethen, a killer who nearly destroyed the lives of Scarpetta and those closest to her, has escaped from a forensic psychiatric hospital. Her whereabouts is unknown, but her ultimate destination is not, for Carrie has begun to communicate with Scarpetta, conveying her deadly — if cryptic — plans for revenge. Chillingly mesmeric in tone, labyrinthine in structure, POINT OF ORIGIN is Patricia Cornwell at her most dazzling.

Deputy Chief Virginia West likes and respects her boss, Hammer, but with an increasing number of visiting businessmen being murdered in her city by a maniac with a penchant for painting his victims bright orange, she finds it hard to accept Hammer's edict that a rookie reporter should ride on patrol with her to better relations with their citizens. Her worst fears are confirmed when the reporter, Brazil, presses the button to activate the boot-release rather than the siren on their first outing. He's not the only blight on her life right now: her cat's angsty, her hormones are misbehaving. her opposite member in the uniformed division is behaving like a jackass, the radio despatched is determined to trip her up, the D.A. is in the middle of a hot battle with Hammer and the visiting judge's bladder problems are causing havoc with the trial schedule. And orange coloured corpses keep turning up on her patch.

It began with The Notebook... After thirty years of marriage, Wilson is forced to face a painful truth. His wife, Jane, has fallen out of love with him. Despite the shining example of his in-laws, Noah and Allie Calhoun (originally recounted in The Notebook), and their fifty-year love affair, Wilson is unable to express his true feelings. With his daughter about to marry, and his wife thinking about leaving him, Wilson knows it is time to act. He will do anything he can to save his marriage. With the memories of Noah and Allie's inspiring life together as his guide, he vows to make his wife fall in love with him... all over again.

At Journey's end would a new life begin? When Liane crossed the Atlantic and arrived in Europe, the future seemed bright and beautiful. Only the image of a face haunted her new life in France. Then the war sent her on her second fateful crossing, leaving her husband and family far behind. Suspended between two worlds, Liane was swept into a passionate love affair, a bright, brief moment of total happiness. Would the voyage seal her love for ever, or leave her stranded on the shores of heartbreak and despair.

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job; loyal friends; his dream home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life, he believes that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite Travis's attempts to be friendly, she seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him. But something compels Travis to get to know his new neighbour. His persistent efforts lead them both to make tough decisions, the consequences of which neither could have foreseen. The Choice confronts us with that most heart-wrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

The archives of British Vogue define modern portraiture. Its collection remains a stylish barometer of the social and cultural changes that shaped the 20th century. From princesses to rock stars, models to actors, society beauties to world leaders, these are portraits of figures who have made an enduring mark on their age. And just as the pictures are a who’s who of the brilliant and beautiful, the selection of photographers is equally stellar. Daring, discerning, iconoclastic—here are the people who defined their art, including Horst, Beaton, Steichen, Penn, Snowdon, Parkinson, Bailey, and Testino.

Unseen Vogue goes beyond the cliches and often repeated «greatest hits» of fashion photography and tells a completely new story. Drawn from the archives of British Vogue, the book presents hundreds of images never seen before—the killed pictures, rejects, and outtakes—to form a fresh, new history of fashion photography. Features the first attempts of many now internationally famous photographers, great pictures by forgotten masters, outtakes from famous shoots, and many other extraordinary and sometimes controversial pictures. By showing contact sheets and unedited film Unseen Vogue opens up the process of making fashion images, previously the reserve of fashion's inner circle.

Joined in a romantic love that most people only ever dream about, Pat Taylor's marriage to Tom Allanson was all she ever wanted. Both came from fine Southern families, and both longed to recreate for themselves a plantation where they would raise horses, grow roses, and move with grace and style in the highest social circles of Atlanta; in short, to be the Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler of their time. But scarcely two months later, their perfect world had erupted into family hatreds, terror, bloodshed and murder, The beautiful estate was mysteriously burned to the ground and Tom Allanson stood accused of the brutal slaying of his own mother and father. Before the terrifying truth about the perpetrator was revealed, other innocent victims were to suffer attempts on their lives as intricate family loyalties and cruel, obsessive jealousies were played out.

Wren Ohmsford, Scion of Shannara, came from the Westlands, where she lived the life of a Rover. Now she, like her kinsmen, Par and Walker Boh, has been called upon to help the shade of Allanon fight the totalitarian power of the Federation. She must find the Elves, who disappeared from their strongholds more than one hundred years ago... But even knowledge of the Elves is hard to find — only a blind, wise woman of the West knows something of their location. On her advice, Wren and her Rover companion, Garth, journey to the coast of the Blue Divide, where they build a fire and let it burn for three days. With the unexpected help that their blaze attracts, they reach the isle of Morrowindle and near their goal — to find the last of the Elves. But they also find dangers such as they could not have imagined, and Wren will make a discovery that will change her life for ever.

The first warning is unexpected, calculated. Malcolm, head of the vampire Church of Eternal Life, is no friend to Anita Blake. So when he asks for help, against creatures so feared that no vampire will willingly speak their name, Anita is surprised. But the Harlequin require different rules. The second warning is presented like a gift, with Anita printed on the box. Inside, carefully wrapped in folds of pristine tissue paper, is a plain white mask. The fact that it's white is good news. White means they are only being watched. The power connecting Anita with Jean-Claude, vampire Master of the City and Richard, Ulfric of the werewolves, has been increasing exponentially — and this has attracted very unwelcome attention. Anita Blake has the authority to pass judgment on vampires. The Harlequin have the authority to pass judgment on her. It is forbidden to speak of the Harlequin unless you've been contacted. And to be contacted by The Harlequin is to be under sentence of death.

The tyrannical rule of the Deacon and his Jerusalem Riders has unleashed upon the world a sea of bigotry and hatred, where Unbelievers and Mutants are massacred in the name of God and Peace. And the long-vanished Jerusalem Man is now considered a saint of the new order. To speak ill of his memory is heresy. But when the church in Pilgrim's Valley is burnt to the ground, its congregation slaughtered, a rider appears and hunts down the killers. And word spreads — The Jerusalem Man is back! Hunted and alone, Jon Shannow must battle the forces of the Deacon — and face a terrible enemy from another universe; a dark god who feeds on the souls of worlds.

The gateway between past and present has opened, and evil forces of enormous power are unleashed. To close the gateway, the Sword of God must be found, and all that is known is that it shines in the clouds above the City of Beasts — a city ruled by the Dark Queen. Only one man can stand at the gateway of time — Jon Shannow, the Last Guardian. The hunters from his past who seek his death are but the first obstacle. For what Shannow doesn't know is that his actions could warp time itself — and herald the doom of worlds.

This sequel to The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty resumes Beauty's explicit, teasing exploration of the psychology of human desire and seduction. Now Beauty, having indulged in a secret and forbidden infatuation with the rebellious slave Prince Tristan, is sent away. Sold at auction, she will soon experience the tantalizing punishments of 'the village' as her education in love, cruelty, dominance, submission and tenderness is turned over to the brazenly handsome Captain of the Guard. Once again Anne Rice's classic tale of pleasure and pain dares to explore the most primal and well-hidden desires of the human heart.

To the scions of Shannara have fallen three tasks: Par Ohmsford has recovered the fabled Sword of Shannara. This he has accomplished, but the Federation's Chief Seeker has planted an awful thought in Par's mind — that he himself is Shadowen, the very evil he seeks to destroy. Wren is in the Westland, seeking out the elves. And in the Northland. . . Walker Boh has been commanded by the shade of Allanon to find the lost city of Paranor and recreate the Order of Druids, disbanded for three hundred years. To achieve this he must find the Black Elfstone, but the gem is in the hands of an ancient being of timeless evil — the Stone King. Beset on all sides by enemies, and from within by his own self-doubt, Walker Boh sets out on his part of the perilous quest. A quest that will end in success — or the complete destruction of all he holds dear.

Faith Zanetti is addicted to danger. But hooked as she might be on alcohol, cigarettes and living life in the fast lane, she’s also clever enough to know that at some point something’s got to give. She’s the Moscow correspondent of the moment — chosen for the job because, as a teenager, she married a Russian. Through the vodka haze it’s a struggle to remember everything about those days, but Faith knows that a lot of it was bad. Now, fifteen years later, those days are back to get her. And when she is arrested for murder, Faith knows she’s going to have to get the present in order. And the past too.

A serial killer is on the loose in Richmond, Virginia. Three women have died, brutalised and strangled in their own bedroom. There is no pattern: the killer appears to strike at random — but always early on Saturday mornings. So when Dr Kay Scarpetta, chief medical officer, is awakened at 2.33 am, she knows the news is bad: there is a fourth victim. And she fears now for those that will follow unless she can dig up new forensic evidence to aid the police. But not everyone is pleased to see a woman in this powerful job. Someone may even want to ruin her career and reputation …

Junchow, China, 1928. Lydia Ivanova has a fierce spirit. Nothing can dim it, not even the foul waters of the Peiho River. Into the river's grime bodies are tossed — those of thieves and Communists alike. So every time Lydia steals from someone to feed herself and her mother, she takes her life into her own hands. Lydia's mother, Valentina, numbered among the Russian elite until the Bolsheviks rounded them up. They took her husband but she managed to buy back her child and bring her to China. But survival is hard. Even though mother and daughter live in the Whites-only settlement, no walls can keep Lydia in. She escapes to meet Chang An Lo, who saves her life once and is bound to her for ever. But Chang has enemies who are hunting him down — Chiang Kai Shek's troops are headed towards Junchow to kill Reds like him. Their all-consuming love can only mean danger for them both, but they are powerless to end it …

The eighth instalment of Alexander McCall Smith`s wonderful No.1 Ladies` Detective Agency series.

Brilliantly insightful analysis of Hitler's Germany first published in 1940, written by the author of «Defying Hitler».

Dark family secrets and a passionate love affair, full of his trademark warmth, humanity and ingenuity, this is Iain Banks` best novel since «The Crow Road».

An action-packed adventure that hurtles from modern-day London, Boston and Arizona to the dark secrets of Shakespeare's past.