Twisty fast-paced story of genius, hope, and family set amid the chaos and bloodshed of the Congo of the near future. When 15-year-old Lemba Adula and his twin sister flee their war-imperiled village, they have no idea what's in store for them. Lemba becomes a drone-loving computer whiz in the mega-city of Kinshasa, while Josiane aspires to be a rumba star. But murderous gun-worshippers kidnap the brilliant techie, and to keep his parents safe, he must fight for the wrong side. He must even become a sea-going pirate. Meanwhile Josiane faces different menaces as bad as his. Only Lemba can save her. And for now, he is a captive of the thuggish Congolese Purification Army--led by a seven-foot whackjob all too handy with his AK-47 and machete. As Lemba fights both the Purifiers and their enemies, he also battles to keep his humanity while protecting the people he loves. The Congolese rebels pride themselves on not letting their child soldiers escape alive, but they've never met Lemba Adula. Lemba is headed for greatness. But first he must survive. Just how? Told as Lemba's war memoir. A compelling, inspirational story for young adults and older.

Lemba Adula is the perfect 15-year-old--brilliant, hardworking and polite to his elders. He excels at flying drones and coaxing new tricks out of smartphones and computers. But murderous Congolese rebels kidnap Lemba and force him to kill. He also must train other child soldiers and even help hijack a giant container ship. Drone Child is a powerful thriller and adventure story recommended for mature readers aged 18 and above. Younger readers should receive guidance and engage in dialogue with parents, teachers or librarians due to the book's mature content. Sex traffickers kidnap Lemba's sister, a gifted rumba singer, highlighting a real-life crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Also, Drone Child contains elements of violence. The novel includes satirical passages that critically address the inhumanity of violence-loving individuals. Lemba is a crack shot both on the firing range and when hunting for food. At the same time, he's far from the typical action hero and empathizes with the families of the people he must kill. For authenticity and cultural sensitivity, author David H. Rothman enlisted the expertise of two Congolese fact-checkers. Junior Boweya is a translator, software localization expert, and businessman. Jean Felix Mwema Ngandu is a former Mandela Washington Fellow and prominent civic activist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Both experts endorse the book and hope for translations into Lingala and French. Rothman has long been interested in issues affecting developing countries, especially technological ones. Positive reviews have appeared in Kirkus, The Midwest Book Review, and the American Library Association's Booklist. "A hefty tapestry interwoven with the possibilities for change," says the African American Literature Book Club. "In the context of our current times, this is a hope worth having." The second edition includes a new cover and a discussion guide for book clubs, parents, teachers and librarians. Drone Child also offers an informative section that compares events in the book with real happenings in the Congo. Additionally, the war in Ukraine makes this thriller more relevant than ever due to the moral questions that arise regarding drones and war in general, including atrocities against civilians. Don't miss out! Read Drone Child and root for Lemba and the other Adulas.

Dramatic first-hand accounts of the results of handgun rounds fired into criminals by cops, storeowners, cabbies and others are the heart and soul of this long-awaited book. This is the definitive methodology for predicting the stopping power of handgun loads, the first to take into account what really happens when a bullet meets a man.

Safety is just an illusion during a zombie apocalypse. The second survival thriller in the Contagium series from the New York Times–bestselling author. Orissa Penwell will do anything in the zombie-plagued world to keep her friends safe. After the discovery of a zombie-proof safe house, she thinks things may actually work out and they can get through the apocalypse together. The compound offers more than just shelter. It gives her and her friends a sense of community and purpose. It gives them a reason to keep living in the dead world. But her chance at happiness is shattered when someone she recently let into her life—and her heart—is shot. Hell-bent on revenge, Orissa will do whatever it takes to seek vengeance and get even . . . without caring what the risk is for herself. Things quickly go from bad to worse and she finds herself lost and abandoned—and forced to face the living dead on her own. When lies, secrets, and desperation are added to the already harrowing world, Orissa discovers that zombies aren’t the only things to worry about. What—or who—will justice cost her? And just how far will Orissa go to avenge someone she loves? Praise for Contagious “I can’t give this post-apocalyptic story six stars but I wish I could!” —Tamara Rose Blodgett “In her narrative storytelling, Emily Goodwin presents a refreshingly strong female hero in her zombie-infested, survival tale . . . Goodwin has shown that female writers can make flesh crawl, both living and undead, just as well as her male peers.” —HorrorAddicts.net

The hunter becomes the hunted. . . . West Grayer is done killing. She defeated her Alternate, a twin raised by another family, and proved she’s worthy of a future. She’s ready to move on with her life. The Board has other plans. They want her to kill one last time, and offer her a deal worth killing for. But when West recognizes her target as a ghost from her past, she realizes she’s in over her head. The Board is lying, and West will have to uncover the truth of the past to secure her future. How far will the Board go to keep their secrets safe? And how far will West go to save those she loves? With nonstop action and surprising twists, Elsie Chapman’s intoxicating sequel to Dualed reveals everything. Praise for Dualed: “The kind of book Katniss Everdeen and Jason Bourne would devour.” —Andrew Fukuda, author of the Hunt series “Full of unexpected turns. . . . Fans of the Divergent trilogy will want to read this imaginative tale.” —VOYA “A fast ride from first to final pages, Dualed combines action and heart.” —Mindy McGinnis, author of Not a Drop to Drink “Romance and action fans alike will love it.” —Elana Johnson, author of the Possession series “Stylish, frenetic, and violent . . . the textual equivalent of a Quentin Tarantino movie.” —Publishers Weekly “A double dose of intensity and danger in this riveting tale of survival, heartache, and love.” —Kasie West, author of Pivot Point “A fast-paced, wild ride of a book. This thought-provoking survival-of-the-fittest story will leave you breathless for more.” —Ellen Oh, author of Prophecy “Clever suspense—here, stalking is a two-way street.” —Kirkus Reviews

Juliet Lawler has a score to settle against the drug dealers of Denver. Vance Crowe has made it his mission that Jules won’t get dead while dishing out vigilante justice. Jules doesn’t have time for romance, she’s too busy saving the world. In this effort, she enlists Zip (a gun store owner), Heavy (an ex-PI) and Frank (a mysterious recluse) to help. The Rock Chicks get involved to provide advice and guidance. The Hot Bunch adopt Jules as one of their own. Even though Jules tries to hang on to her inner Head-Crackin’ Mamma Jamma, the Rock Chicks, Hot Bunch, Jules’s long-suffering Uncle Nick and her Jackie-O wannabe friend May, will stop at nothing to wear her down. Not to mention Vance, who has his own unique ways of digging into Jules’s heart. But Jules makes some bad guys pretty angry, and one will stop at nothing to take her out. And Vance may be too late in making sure that doesn’t happen.

When you're caught between two evils, only the most decisive will survive . . . A violent South London gang will be destroyed if Dan 'Spider' Shepherd can gather enough evidence against them while posing as a ruthless hitman. What he doesn't know is that his work as an undercover agent for MI5 is about to intersect with the biggest terrorist operation ever carried out on British soil. Only weeks before Shepherd witnessed a highly skilled IS sniper escape from a targeted missile strike in Syria. But never in his wildest dreams did he expect to next come across the shooter in a grimy East London flat. Spider's going to have to proceed with extreme caution if he is to prevent the death of hundreds of people, but at the same time, when the crucial moment comes he knows he will have to act decisively. The clock is ticking and only he stands between us and Armageddon . . . 'Let Spider draw you into his web, you won't regret it' - Sun What readers are saying about DARK FORCES 'Palpable excitement' - 5 STARS 'I would recommend the Spider series to anyone who can read. They are THAT good!' - 5 STARS 'Possibly Stephen Leather's best yet' - 5 STARS ' Brilliantly written and highly recommended' - 5 STARS 'Just brilliant' - 5 STARS

In Las Vegas the 1940's saw mob influence in the growth of casino gambling, betting wires, prostitution and drugs. Private eye Jack Beech gets involved in two cases: one a search for a missing girl, and the other a search for missing diamonds stolen from Virginia Hill, Bugsy Siegel's girlfriend. Jack's life is in peril as he discovers a link between the two cases involving murder, treachery, corrupt cops and double crosses.

"THE GOOD SON is the most exciting, and gripping, Scottish crime fiction debut of recent years. Stylish and atmospheric, it marks the arrival of a exceptional talent." --John Connolly "McLean has all the merits of this brilliant writer [Jean-Patrick Manchette] with the added bonus of a Scottish sense of wit that is like no other." --Ken Bruen "Scottish crime fiction is entering a new era and Russel McLean is at the vanguard. A thrilling new writer, a brilliant debut...The Good Son is very good indeed." --Tony Black Recipient of widespread praise for his award-winning crime short stories, Russel McLean's full-length debut has been characterized by key crime authors and critics alike as the emergence of a major talent. There is something rotten behind the apparent sucide of Daniel Robertson and it's about to come bursting into the life of J. McNee, a Scottish private investigator with a near-crushing level of personal baggage. James Robertson, a local farmer, finds his estranged brother's corpse hanging from a tree. The police claim suicide. But McNee is about to uncover the disturbing truth behind the death. With a pair of vicious London thugs on the move in the Scottish countryside, it's only a matter of time before people start dying. As the body count rises, McNee finds himself on a collision course with his own demons and an increasing array of brutal killers in a violent, bloody showdown that threatens to leave none involved alive. Plumbing the depths of love, loss, betrayal, and one broken man's attempt to come to terms with his past, The Good Son successfully blends the classic style of the gumshoe era with the outer edges of modern noir.