Demons are pouring into Los Angeles and Tori seems to be the only one who notices. If she can manage to survive past her eighteenth birthday, she hopes to graduate from her performing arts high school. Unfortunately, something wicked this way comes and the only thing standing between her and a blood sacrifice is a mysterious new classmate—a classically trained actor from London who knows more about her than she does herself. This version includes the prequel, Apocrypha, which introduces the character Jem the Demon. Jem is dedicated to the diabolical, through and through...but is the demon losing her taste for leading the susceptible into sin? One man thinks so, and he uses her image in his supernatural game. Is Jem destined to be anything more than a beautiful face on a playing card or will she ultimately have a greater role in the real-life battle between good and evil? Darkly humorous and witty, Something Wicked in L.A. will keep you guessing until the end.

Everyone--including mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance--loves Arsenic and Old Lace. But something wicked is poisoned a local summer stock production as cast members stab each other in the back and props are sabotaged. Worst of all, the star, aging Hollywood beach-blanket hunk Shane Petree, butchers his lines--while getting top billing in bed with wives and teenage daughters around town. No wonder somebody wants to draw his final curtain. With a little help from Miss Marple, Poirot, and Agatha the Bookstore Cat, a pompous prosecutor tries to pin a murder on Max, Annie's own leading man. Unless Annie can prove her darling's innocence, their wedding date's off! Invoking the tried-and-true methods of her favorite literary sleuths, Annie snoops around the greasepaint and glitter of the show-stopper scene if she doesn't watch it, because theatrical murderers never play fair.

Falling passionately in love with a mysterious, sinfully sexy man can lead to Something Wicked Investigative reporter Regan Cluny is in hot pursuit of a reclusive philanthropist who is financing a mysterious archaeological dig in the California desert. Attempting to convince Charles Cunningham Nash to grant her an interview has proven impossible long distance, so Regan sets off uninvited for his dig to woo him in person. Instead, she meets with deadly trouble; a biker gang corners her at a remote rest stop, sabotages her car, and leaves her for dead on a country road. Miraculously, Regan survives with only one strange memory of her attack...and the man who comes to her aid is Nash himself. Strongly attracted to her handsome protector, Regan can't know that Nash is a vampire tied to her attackers by a vicious blood feud that dates back to the Civil War - or that he has hungered for the life and soul of a mortal for nearly two centuries. With the local sheriff determined to nail Nash for the violence perpetrated by his dire enemy, Regan must decide whether the dark secrets of a lover she can't live without are something wonderful...or something wicked.

The story turns into a psychological thriller when a school teacher moves to California to please his wife. After living in LA for a year Keith Anders is overwhelmed by the city and its demands, and finds himself living on pills. On a whim, Anders moves to Oregon to a tiny hole in the wall town called Perryville. His oddly quiet landlord fills him with rumors and legends that hint at bizarre activities in Perryville, but instead of a hoped for bliss, the teacher finds pretense, lies, secrets and murder, with eerie heart stopping moments that hint at the supernatural.

Something Wicked: 560+ Horror Classics, Macabre Tales & Supernatural Mysteries stands as a monumental anthology that maps the evolution of horror and supernatural fiction from its nascent stages to its more refined contemporary forms. Capturing an eclectic mix of styles and narrative voices, this collection underscores the genre's capacity to probe into the darkest corners of human experience and imagination. The anthology showcases a diversity in storytelling, ranging from Gothic tales of the supernatural, psychological thrillers, to cosmic horrors, presenting readers with seminal works that have shaped the genre. The inclusion of renowned pieces by iconic figures allows for a comprehensive overview of the genres thematic preoccupations and stylistic variations, making it an indispensable resource for both aficionados and newcomers to horror literature. The illustrious roster of authors featured within this anthology, including literary giants such as Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Mary Shelley, among others, brings together a rich tapestry of cultural and historical contexts. These authors, hailing from diverse backgrounds, have contributed significantly to literary movements such as Romanticism, Victorian Gothic, and the early modernist waves, thereby enriching the anthology with a breadth of perspectives on existential themes of fear, morality, and the supernatural. Their collective work emphasizes the anthologys alignment with significant literary and cultural movements, offering a deeper understanding of the genres evolution and its reflection of societal anxieties and fascinations. Something Wicked invites readers on an unparalleled journey through the annals of horror literature, offering a unique opportunity to indulge in over five hundred tales of terror, mystery, and the macabre. This anthology is not merely a collection of stories; it is a scholarly-curated exploration of horrors multifaceted expressions across time and cultures. Readers are encouraged to delve into this vast compendium, which serves both as an educational tool and as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling in evoking the most profound human emotions. The anthology stands as a testament to horrors capacity to connect readers with the universal fears that resonate through the ages, making it an essential addition to any literary collection.

The Brighton police force is on the hunt for another killer, but this time they have some competition--a newly formed all-women's private eye firm, led by none other than the police chief's wife. Newly minted PI Emma Holmes and her partner Sam Collins are just settling into their business when they're chosen for a high-profile case: retired music-hall star Verity Malone hires them to find out who poisoned her husband, a theater impresario. Verity herself has been accused of the crime. The only hitch--the Brighton police are already on the case, putting Emma in direct competition with her husband, police superintendent Edgar Stephens. Soon Emma realizes that Verity's life intersects closely with her own--most notably in their mutual connection, Max Mephisto, who has returned to England from America with his children and famous wife, Hollywood star Lydia Lamont. Lydia, desperately bored in the countryside, catches wind of what Emma and Sam are up to and offers her services. What secret does Lydia know about Verity's past? The team of female PIs circle closer to the killer, with the Brighton police hot on their tail. The clues suggest they're looking for a criminal targeting the old music-hall crew. How long will it be before that trail leads straight back to Max?

This book provides a concise and engaging examination of the subculture of the Crips and Bloods—the notorious street gangs that started in Los Angeles, but have now spread throughout the United States. Despite the dangers and harsh realities intrinsic to street life and criminal activity, the no-holds-barred lifestyle of gangs continues to interest mainstream America. This provocative book provides an insider's look into the subculture of two of the most notorious street gangs—the Crips and the Bloods. Crips and Bloods: A Guide to an American Subculture traces the evolution of the two gangs, covering their origins in South Central Los Angeles to the organizations' current presence throughout the United States. The author analyzes the ways in which the gang subculture is created, promoted, and perpetuated; shows how the groups currently recruit their members; and explores the ways Crip and Blood culture has expanded beyond the gangs into the larger mainstream society.