A nice, relaxing vacation. After all the mystery and mayhem over the past several months, a tropical getaway seems like just what Kira Brightwell needs. With only her best friend for company and no one back home aware of their location (detective friend, persistent sidekick, and nosy reporters included), Kira can finally unwind and try to forget. Maybe enjoy a cool, refreshing cocktail on the beach. But wherever Kira goes, trouble always follows only a step behind. A stand-alone story from the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. If you enjoy a fun, tropical escapade, grab this book. (This adventure takes place after the Kira Brightwell novel Cornered.)

Kira Brightwell wishes she could forget her time in high school. But years after graduation, she finds herself walking the familiar hallways once more—thanks to her former tormentor and current sidekick, Trevor Wright. (Will he ever stop making her life difficult?) An old friend of his needs help with a problem. The kind only Kira can solve. ...Assuming she can step up to the challenge. A fun, stand-alone short novel from the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. (This adventure takes place between the Kira Brightwell novels Low Blow and Game Plan.)

Local hero and problem solver for hire, Kira Brightwell finds herself on the run. Again. Her running shoes pound the crowded sidewalk. A trickle of sweat slithers down her back in the California heat. And the damp remains of scrambled egg spatter the front of her favorite Nine Inch Nails T-shirt. The egg stain earns her a few looks from passers-by. That and her breakneck pace. Kira’s quarry remains two blocks ahead of her. She needs to haul ass if she wants to catch him. ...Because when a bad guy messes with her favorite shirt, the case gets personal. A stand-alone misadventure story from the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. (This adventure takes place between the Kira Brightwell novels Black and Blue and Low Blow.)

Abduction survivor, MMA trainee, local hero—trouble always seems to find Kira Brightwell. And with Christmas only a few weeks away, her current bout of trouble includes surviving her first holiday away from her childhood home, and figuring out what to get her best friend and roommate, Rob. ...Until a secret project turns everything upside down, and Rob’s present becomes the least of Kira’s problems. Join Kira and Rob on a fun, holiday misadventure from the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. (This adventure takes place before the Kira Brightwell novel Split Decision.)

So close. Kira Brightwell knows the Procurer lurks almost within her grasp. But the abductor for hire has always remained one step ahead. Can Kira finally outwit him? ...And what will happen if she does? The ongoing game of cat and mouse between Kira and the Procurer reaches its breaking point in this sixth collection of cases from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith: Cornered: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 6) Lucky Punch: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Lights Out: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Cornered: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 6) Kira Brightwell knows where to find the Procurer. Finally, after four long years, a level playing field. But the serial abductor knows how to cover his tracks. And any animal can become even more dangerous when cornered. Kira’s hard-won window of opportunity to capture the Procurer remains narrow in a race against the clock. Kira’s other problem? Someone else wants to find him first. The ongoing battle of wits between Kira and the Procurer comes to a head in this tense sixth novel in the Kira Brightwell mystery series. Lucky Punch: A Kira Brightwell Short Story A nice, relaxing vacation. After all the mystery and mayhem over the past several months, a tropical getaway seems like just what Kira Brightwell needs. With only her best friend for company and no one back home aware of their location (detective friend, persistent sidekick, and nosy reporters included), Kira can finally unwind and try to forget. Maybe enjoy a cool, refreshing cocktail on the beach. But wherever Kira goes, trouble always follows only a step behind. A stand-alone story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series. If you enjoy a fun, tropical escapade, grab this book. Lights Out: A Kira Brightwell Short Story A crowded mall, the week before Christmas. Definitely not Kira Brightwell’s idea of a good time. After a long year of difficult—and often dangerous—cases, the bustle and noise jangle her nerves. She resists the temptation to lash out at shoppers who bump into her with their purchases. Not worth the effort. Especially compared to the criminals she usually deals with. But Kira can find trouble anywhere. ...And a new case waits to be unwrapped. A stand-alone holiday story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series.

Kira Brightwell needs a change of scenery. A relaxing, solo trip to Toronto to visit her grandparents seems like a good idea. No nosy reporters, no criminals to take down, and (most importantly) no self-appointed sidekick Trevor Wright. ...But from the moment Kira steps off the plane from California, nothing goes according to plan. A stand-alone short novel misadventure from the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series by the author of the Mackenzie Quinn mysteries, Jacquelyn Smith. (This adventure takes place between the Kira Brightwell novels Split Decision and Black and Blue.)

"As in many post-conflict countries, the roles played by women during Sudan's long-lasting liberation struggle continue to go unrecognised. Thousands of women joined the southern liberation struggle in response to a political situation that affected whole communities, leaving the comfort and security of their homes not just to accompany their husbands but to fight for freedom, democracy, equity, justice, rights and dignity. As well as playing roles in the fighting, women acted as mothers, teachers and nurses, and filled numerous other roles during the war. The long-standing struggle for the liberation of South Sudan severely altered traditional gender roles as well as the societal structure as a whole. Women also suffered during the war. An increase in HIV, hunger and violence, particularly sexual violence, characterised their lives in Sudan as well as in exile for many years. Life in the post-conflict period continues to be challenging, as women try to carve out a meaningful life in a tenuous peace. This volume documents the lives of different groups of women in South Sudan. It seeks to understand the contributions made by a range of women both during the conflict and today. It describes the women of South Sudan: who they are, what they have experienced, what they hope and feel, what they experienced in the war, and whether the end of the war has brought meaningful change"--Back cover.

This book examines social aspects of humour relating to the judiciary, judicial behaviour, and judicial work across different cultures and eras, identifying how traditionally recorded wit and humorous portrayals of judges reflect social attitudes to the judiciary over time. It contributes to cultural studies and social science/socio-legal studies of both humour and the role of emotions in the judiciary and in judging. It explores the surprisingly varied intersections between humour and the judiciary in several legal systems: judges as the target of humour; legal decisions regulating humour; the use of humour to manage aspects of judicial work and courtroom procedure; and judicial/legal figures and customs featuring in comic and satiric entertainment through the ages. Delving into the multi-layered connections between the seriousness of the work of the judiciary on the one hand, and the lightness of humour on the other hand, this fascinating collection will be of particular interest to scholars of the legal system, the criminal justice system, humour studies, and cultural studies.

Lovecraftesque is a GMless storytelling game of brooding cosmic horror. Tell the story of a lone Witness at the mercy of strange and terrifying events. The game helps you create a slow-building mystery, culminating in a climactic scene of horror. LOVECRAFTESQUE IS A GAME FOR 2-5 PEOPLE AND TAKES 3-4 HOURS TO PLAY.