Aaron de Monbrun is a writer, poet, thespian and family man from Nebraska who has the singular talent to turn a few well-crafted words into a dynamic story. Born in Virginia Beach, and raised all over, including 5 years in Japan, Aaron developed a true "worldview" as part of a military family. His uncanny enthusiasm for communicating through the spoken word is contagious and inspiring, captivating one and all to follow him on his winding journey to the moon and stars. It is a journey not only of time and space, but of mood and spirit and modality of times. Reading an Aaron de Monbrun poem is like pulling on a sweater yarn until the sweater is totally unraveled, exposing the naked truth underneath, and yet not finding at all what you would expect.

Scripts, interviews, photos, and critical commentary documenting the riotous beginnings of this long-lived experimental theater space for women

Meet Dan Chambeaux—a.k.a. Dan Shamble—zombie detective, a persistent hardboiled gumshoe (or maybe that’s something more sinister on the bottom of his shoe…) Even being murdered doesn’t keep a good detective down, and in the Unnatural Quarter—inhabited by ghosts, vampires, werewolves, mummies, and all sorts of creatures that go bump (or thud!) in the night—a zombie P.I. fits right in. Dan Shamble solves a string of madcap cases with his ghost girlfriend Sheyenne, his Best Human Friend Officer Toby McGoohan, and his firebrand lawyer partner Robin Deyer. And first on the list: finding out who murdered him. This Zomnibus contains the complete first Dan Shamble novel, Death Warmed Over, plus the seven individual cases showcased in the collection Working Stiff, together in one volume. It’s a perfect way to dig up the dirt on a lot of things that would rather stay buried. Dan Shamble puts the PI in RIP.

From a New York Times–bestselling author, seven hilarious mystery stories starring a zombie detective who won’t let death stop his pursuit of justice. Even being murdered doesn’t keep a good detective down, and in the Unnatural Quarter—inhabited by ghosts, vampires, werewolves, mummies, and all sorts of creatures that go bump (or thud) in the night—a zombie P.I. fits right in. Dan Chambeaux, a.k.a. “Shamble,” solves a string of madcap cases with his ghost girlfriend Sheyenne, his Best Human Friend Officer Toby McGoohan, and his firebrand lawyer partner Robin Deyer. Working Stiff contains seven cases from the files of Chambeaux & Deyer Investigations. Dan Shamble must solve the mystery of a stolen deck of fortune-telling cards and the undeath-defying feats of a vampire trapeze artist, finds himself sealed in a coffin in the back of a truck with no idea where he’s being taken, and is even hired by Santa Claus to find his lost “naughty and nice” list. Being trapped in an unbreakable monster-proof crypt, deciphering a string of mysterious zombie graffiti, investigating the murder of a costumed fan at a science fiction convention where the monsters are the normal attendees, or tracking down a kidnapped hellhound for legendary vigilante werewolf cop Hairy Harry—it’s all in a day’s work for Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I.

I did not cry. The moment came when Heather died; I did not shed a tear. I felt numb, like I was having an out of body experience, and I was watching myself go through the motions. There were things to do; people to call, it was not the time to begin to fall apart. I had just joined an elite club of grieving mothers. This was the club no one talked about or wanted to become a member of. From that moment on my life was getting a makeover that I didnt ask for let alone consent to allowing it to happen. It was beyond my control; I was not given a choice. This was and is my life now. I am a grieving mother for the rest of my life.

From the Edgar-nominated author of Coop Knows the Scoop comes an exciting mystery perfect for fans of From the Desk of Zoe Washington and Holes. When Grady and his dad learn that the town oddball, Eudora "Kooky" Klinch left something for them in her will, they can only imagine what it might be. When it turns out it's an old scrap of 300-year-old tapestry, they are bitterly disappointed. But the cloth comes with a note saying, "This is no ordinary piece of needlework. It's a treasure map. Riddles and Clues. To the victor go the riches." Grady's dad dismisses it, but Grady thinks this could be the chance of a lifetime. With the help of his friends Thad, Clemmie, and the town dog Ophelia, Grady is determined to crack the clues and find the treasure. But when someone tries to break into Grady's house one night, and then the local antiques expert who examined the tapestry is found unconscious, Grady realizes that he's not the only one who knows about the treasure map. There's more at risk than he bargained for, and solving this mystery just got a lot more dangerous. You will love Grady and his adventures if you are looking for: Mystery books for kids 9-12 Heartfelt and quirky stories for young readers Kids detective books 5th grade mystery books

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR • In the newest entry into the Nero Award-winning Pentecost & Parker Mystery series, Lillian and Will are hot on the trail of a serial killer whose murders are stranger than fiction. The Pentecost & Parker series “takes gritty 40s noir, shakes it up, gives it a charming twist, and serves it up with unforgettable style” (Deanna Raybourn, author of the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries). From the author of Fortune Favors the Dead and Murder Under Her Skin. New York City, 1947: For years, Holly Quick has made a good living off of murder, filling up the pages of pulp detective magazines with gruesome tales of revenge. Now someone is bringing her stories to life and leaving a trail of blood-soaked bodies behind. With the threat of another murder looming, and reluctant to go to the police, Holly turns to the best crime-solving duo in or out of the pulps, Willowjean “Will” Parker and her boss, famed detective Lillian Pentecost. The pair are handed the seemingly-impossible task of investigating three murders at once without tipping off the cops or the press that the crimes are connected. A tall order made even more difficult by the fact that Will is already signed up to spend her daylight hours undercover as a guileless secretary in the hopes of digging up a lead on an old adversary, Dr. Olivia Waterhouse. But even if Will is stuck in pencil skirts and sensible shoes, she’s not about to let her boss have all the fun. Soon she’s diving into an underground world of people obsessed with murder and the men and women who commit them. Can the killer be found in the Black Museum Club, run by a philanthropist whose collection of grim murder memorabilia may not be enough to satisfy his lust for the homicidal? Or is it Holly Quick’s pair of editors, who read about murder all day, but clearly aren’t telling the full story? With victims seemingly chosen at random and a murderer who thrives on spectacle, the case has the great Lillian Pentecost questioning her methods. But whatever she does, she’d better do it fast. Holly Quick has a secret, too and it’s about to bring death right to Pentecost and Parker’s doorstep.

When they talk about it now, the Boudreau siblings will say all the moving they did as children left them lacking their own, true sense of place-all thanks to their crazy parents. But all those moves are just a part of this story. After surviving physical and psychological abuse and more than seventy moves all around Boston by age eighteen, Michael Boudreau escaped into the wild blue yonder before returning home after thirty years. His father had long died, his mother's psychological grip remained firm, and his several siblings were still coping with bitter feelings they held toward them both. Most of them were mired in painful memories but clinging with a vanishing hope that somehow Ma would show contrition and offer penance for herself and her late husband. Nevertheless, the author jumped back into the center of his sideways family in hopes of helping them all-including himself-to find answers, healing, and maybe even forgiveness.

Ace Ventura meets the Addams Family! A shambling horde of new cases hits Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. in the Unnatural Quarter. Dan and his gang—including his ghost girlfriend, feisty lawyer partner, cop best friend, and little vampire half-daughter Alvina—are out to seek justice, solve mysteries, and keep their heads on straight ... or at least attached. Alvina’s singing lessons for the Banshee Tabernacle Choir end on a sour note when the troll choir director plunges to her death from a high belfry, and the only witness is a deaf-as-a-post gargoyle who sits too close to the loud bells. A frustrated imp, woefully unsuccessful in betting on the nightmare races, is dead certain that his bookie BatGN (GN for “gender neutral” to avoid copyright issues) is cheating him. Francine, the salty bartender at the Goblin Tavern, is worried when One Fang the vampire—her on-again, off-again suitor—disappears without a trace. A shady vendor discovers a market for living shrunken heads that are conversational as well as decorative, but the demand by far exceeds the supply. A heartless therapist has ulterior motives when she counsels zombies, distracting them from their woes to concentrate not just on brains, but on self-improvement as well. There is much at stake in the Unnatural Quarter, and it’s up to Dan Shamble to keep the streets dark and safe for monsters and humans alike. After all, the cases don’t solve themselves! This zombie detective puts the P.I. back in R.I.P.