A screenwriter stage dives into L.A.’s punk rock scene to find a missing reporter as Sinclair mixes “hard-edged realism . . . [and] humor” in a “fine” novel (Gerald Petievich, author of To Live and Die in L.A.). Four years ago, when Capt. George Steifer charged screenwriter Ben Crandel with murder, it didn’t look like the beginning of a beautiful friendship. But Hollywood makes strange bedfellows, and now the cop has come to his writer pal for help. A Los Angeles Times reporter named Elise Reilly disappeared two weeks ago while investigating a story on the punk rock scene. Steifer has been trying to find her with the help of a spiky-haired informant who just ended up shot point-blank in the bathroom of a punk club—and now the cop is losing it. It turns out he buried the lead: He’s in love with Elise. Ben has lost his own loved one to the punk scene, in a way. His now fifteen-year-old adopted son, Petey, is the lead singer in a group called Claustrophobic—and apparently that’s how he felt about living at home. But at least Petey left a note: He’s off to pursue his punk pipe dream and Ben’s left with his basset hound, Stanley, for company. In pursuit of Elise, Ben and Steifer rush headlong into a veritable mosh pit of neo-Nazis and religious fanatics, where one wrong move could get them trampled. As they uncover a stockpile of weapons and an assassination plot, they frantically search for a connection to the reporter’s whereabouts . . . “Sinclair has the unique ability to dish out hard-edged realism with—believe it or not—a touch of humor. Goodbye L.A. is a fine piece.” —Gerald Petievich, author of To Live and Die in L.A.

In this sequel to the Edgar Award–nominated Tough Luck L.A., a Hollywood screenwriter searches for his kidnapped son in the dark underbelly of Los Angeles. Things are mostly looking up for Ben Crandel. The once down-on-his-luck screenwriter now has a steady job as a studio script doctor. But the transition from Big Brother to single father of an adopted teenager has been bumpy. So when his son, Petey, disappears with their basset hound, Stanley, after a confrontation, Ben assumes the kid’s run away again. Then comes the ransom call. Ben’s frantic search for his kidnapped boy soon has him mired in a morass of body snatchers and murder that involves a corpse dredged from the La Brea Tar Pits, a drunk and deranged Hollywood legend, and a mysterious and sexually voracious femme fatale. With the help of the cop who once charged him with murder, Ben follows a twisted trail of clues all over Los Angeles—from warehouse to funeral home, tanning parlor to bomb shelter—to bring his son home in one piece. Praise for the Ben Crandel Mysteries “Sinclair has the unique ability to dish out hard-edged realism with—believe it or not—a touch of humor. Goodbye L.A. is a fine piece.” —Gerald Petievich, author of To Live and Die in L.A.

Hexagonie is a unique scheme for introducing Key Stage 2 pupils to French. Language elements are introduced in a logical, easy-to-understand way, so that children quickly communicate with confidence. Language is broken down into manageable chunks and presents them in a methodical manner enabling pupils to feel that they can converse in French.

French Made Simple will help you learn to speak French quickly and easily! An invaluable introduction to one of the most studied languages, French Made Simple is ideal for students, business professionals, and tourists alike. Teaching the basics of grammar, vocabulary, and culture, it guides you step-by-step through the process of learning and conversing quickly. Refreshingly easy to understand, French Made Simple includes: • Grammar basics • Modern vocabulary • Helpful verb chart • French-English dictionary • Reading exercises • Economic information • Common expressions • Review quizzes • Complete answer key

Searchable Spanish to English and English to Spanish dictionaries, based on the Oxford Spanish dictionary. Databases contain 170,000 words and phrases and 240,000 translations.

Las raíces del realismo mágico en los escritos de Borges y otros autores de América Latina han sido ampliamente reconocidos y bien documentadas produciendo una serie de estudios críticos, muchos de los cuales figuran en la bibliografía de este trabajo. Dentro de este marco, este libro presenta a los lectores una variedad de escritoras de grupos étnicos, conocidas y menos conocidas, y las coloca en un contexto literario en el que se tratan tanto a nivel individual como escritoras así como a nivel colectivo como parte de un movimiento artístico más amplio. Este libro es el resultado del trabajo realizado en las universidades de Sheffield y la de València y representa una valiosa investigación y una importante contribución a los estudios literarios.

Prepare to have your imagination charmed and your holiday enchanted by a book about change, hope, and goodwill toward humankind. This magical and fun Christmas story will warm your heart like the best hot cocoa. A mystical agency exists that is responsible for creating Christmas Carol scenarios with preselected targets every December. Ghostly employees of the agency work in either the Past, Present, or Future department and each year they are assigned humans on Earth in need of being "Scrooged" so those people can reform and embrace the potential for goodness, love, and humanity they have in their hearts. Frost Mason has worked in the Present department for almost a century saving souls headed down the wrong path. The problem---over the years Frost's belief in the miracle of Christmas and what her agency does has started to fade because while many people commit to reforming after the "life-changing" experience of being Scrogged, human beings rarely change permanently. Frost must find a way to reawaken hope for humanity and the Spirit of Christmas in her own spectral heart, while working with her team to save her 100th soul by midnight on Christmas Eve.

""We must not waste the Gifts."" Seou Chant TT's sanity is threatened as he searches for a way to protect the Ooda in their coming test. With time slipping away, TT and the Ooda in his tiny Circle begin pondering the metal fute. Facing insurmountable odds, Uloma struggles to unite the Damned under History's momentum. Determined to rescue the woman he loves, Zarn sails to The Far East with unexpected allies. Despite his best efforts, Jom also finds himself sailing through the heart of the rocksharks. Xenolia descends closer to War. Armed with Al'eu's new weapons, the Riders demonstrate their loyalty to their Queen. NewLand flexes its military might as they prepare to launch their invasion. Rumors of the Hultek spread across Ditarin, destroying entire cities in its flaming wake. With a rich cast of compelling characters in realistic settings, The Gift explodes with action and adventure. Richard Mills' masterpiece series, A New Man is a landmark in 21st Century science fiction.