Unusual Crime

What drives a person to commit unspeakable acts of violence? How does a seemingly ordinary individual become a monster? This gripping collection takes you deep inside twenty of the most harrowing and complex criminal cases in modern history. Forget simple headlines and sensationalism. This is a meticulous work of investigative journalism that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche. Each chapter is a comprehensive deep dive, detailing the perpetrators' backgrounds, their chilling methodologies, and the desperate investigations that brought them to justice. From the calculated ...

#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell returns with the remarkable twenty-fourth thriller in her popular high-stakes series starring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. In the quiet of twilight, on an early autumn day, twenty-six-year-old Elisa Vandersteel is killed while riding...

Weird but True Stories from the Roaring 1920s: Strange and Bizarre Tales from the Prohibition Era is a riveting collection of real, historically documented events that prove truth is stranger than fiction. From haunted courtrooms and dance marathons that drove people to madness, to bootlegging schemes, deadly medical frauds, and a massacre that changed organized crime forever, this book explores the weirdest corners of 1920s America. Set against the backdrop of Prohibition, jazz, flappers, and gangsters, these ten unforgettable stories showcase the bizarre side of the decade that redefined ...

Behind the whitewashed walls of a quiet Sacramento boarding house, an elderly woman served homemade meals, offered warm smiles—and buried bodies in her garden. Dorothea Puente appeared to be the perfect landlord: nurturing, soft-spoken, and devoted to caring for the elderly and disabled. But behind her grandmotherly façade lurked a manipulative killer who preyed on society’s most vulnerable for money, power, and control. For years, she murdered her tenants, forged their signatures, and continued cashing their Social Security checks—all while the system turned a blind eye. Death House...

“The Necrophile Next Door: The True Story of Karen Greenlee ” is a chilling, meticulously researched, and unflinchingly honest exploration of one of the most disturbing and culturally silenced cases in American criminal history. Told through the lens of investigative journalism and forensic psychology, this book unearths the true story of Karen Margaret Greenlee—a young California mortuary worker whose 1979 confession to necrophilia would ignite public outrage, legislative scrutiny, and a lasting cultural taboo. The book reconstructs Greenlee’s case from every possible angle: ...

Deadly Ingenuity does something new in the study of weaponry and martial arts. It traverses the centuries and continents while focusing exclusively on fighting tools that are not the usual suspects. It also brings to light some historical weapons and fighting techniques that have never before been surveyed. The diverse panoply of objects takes the reader from islands (Hawaii, Okinawa, New Zealand), to plains (Argentina, the American Southwest) and from jungles (Borneo, Brazil) to cities (New York City, London, Seoul, Tokyo, Venice). Nor are those complete lists. Sources include but are not ...

'What do you know about the boy?' Dad asked. 'He plays cricket for India,' my uncle replied, as if this mere fact was a clincher. The announcement did not make any noticeable impression on my father and Geeta Didi, because, like me, they did not follow cricket. 'I've seen him play,' announced my...

A fascinating collection of intriguing and unusual classic murder stories by some of the masters of mystery and crime writing.

Emma made it out of Hub Two, but now she’s faced with the next set of Trials. And this time, they will "involve" combat. Whatever that’s supposed to mean. Thankfully, she’s not going in alone. Instead, she’ll be facing the Trials together with her little gang of misfits. At least maybe they’ll keep her from taking any more stupid risks, right? After all, there are still many unanswered questions about the Realm of Crystals. All they have to go by is sparse information provided by the mysterious AIs linked to their eye-crystals. But can those really be trusted?

Atlas Obscura says this lushly illustrated New York Times bestselling guide to dozens of dangerous, eerie, and infamous locations is the perfect gift for "those who believe the world is still full of mysteries to investigate." Pick up the acclaimed Atlas of Cursed Places and visit the world's...

I’m Seymour…Parakeet Detective. My owner, Sharon, and I are on the Sasquatch watch! The creature stalking quiet Mountain Springs is nosy and newsworthy. We’ll find out more than we bargained for. This monster may hold the key to my human existence in a bird body. But I’ve got to survive to find out. Jump in with Sharon and Seymour for a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist.

Ranked Top 10 "Best Lit Mags of 2023" by Chill Subs Synopsis: Carefully curated stories from our monthly magazine to create a themed short story book about the philosophy and ethics of crimes and their punishments. Perfect for classrooms and book clubs, each story is 1,500-7,000 words and comes with five suggested discussion questions. Idle Horns: A horned demon of hell born to eternally torture the damned walks off the job. Community Of Peers: A foreigner wanders into a remote village just before a convicted criminal is about to be punished and is asked to throw the first stone. Form Seven...

Having lived off the grid in an isolated Montana cabin since he was a baby, Ward Jones is thrust into civilization at age thirty when his parents die in an accident. Deciding to travel, Ward hops on a bus and winds up in Coffeyville, Kansas where he soon discovers that without a high school diploma or marketable skills, finding a job is impossible. All Ward knows is hunting and survival skills. When frustration overtakes him, Ward decides to hunt, rob and kill drug pushers in nearby Tulsa, Oklahoma. Will this new hobby as a human predator pan out well? ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Donald W. ...

THE PENSION JOB, is a light and entertaining crime story full of suspense, adventure, and humour. Joan and Brian have been married for almost 40 years and have worked hard all their lives to save for a comfortable retirement. When they are presented with an exciting pension proposal that promises inflation-proof returns, they are immediately drawn in. But when their retirement date approaches and they contact the company to arrange for the pension payments, they hear nothing. After months of searching for their investments, they realise they have been duped and their choices are suddenly ...

CRAZY CRIMES is one of a series of card games and communication games that are designed to be both entertaining and stimulate discussion about these topics. They can be played just for fun at a party or to have a discussion. The games are based on books and films about scams, prisons, crime, success, travel, and other topics.

On the frost-kissed streets of Waterford in winter, Reggie Power, a reserved accountant plagued by arthritis and a history of romantic failures, finds his heart ensnared by the enchanting Delilah Phelan. Her radiant beauty and effortless charm awaken a longing he thought had long since departed. But the captivating Delilah is married, and Reggie’s growing obsession threatens to unravel his quiet existence. As their friendship blossoms over late-night chess matches at the Timber Ford Tavern, a single, stolen kiss ignites a dangerous spark. When Delilah confesses her crumbling marriage and ...

Something horrifically sinister lurks in the town of Mountain Springs… Sharon Triplett’s life-change was to retreat to the majestic mountains, settle into her inherited family home with her two kids, plucky pet parakeet, Seymour, and try to recover from the tragic death of her husband, a hotshot, undercover, city detective. It was an elegant plan. It should have worked. But then, astoundingly, Seymour, began eerily communicating to her in her dead husband’s voice and Sharon’s life was flipped upside down. Sharon’s been keeping it all hush-hush. Impressive, considering she also has...

The remarkable true story of a modern-day Robin Hood: a British college student who started robbing banks as the financial crisis unfolded. “Completely fascinating . . . [The Unusual Suspect] reads like a deep psychological thriller, but it’s real. Is truth stranger than fiction? You bet...

In this set of four short stories, the perennial struggle to catch the bad guys gets the supernatural treatment. Like holding a murder trial in a twilight zone, anything can happen—but in the end, justice will be served. In “Judge and Jury,” a violent gang tries to make its own rules. But out West, a kangaroo court is the only law, and this time, there’s a ghost in attendance. He knows the truth about their terrible crimes, and he won’t stop until someone pays for it. Capital punishment gets a vengeful twist in “The Wheel,” as the victim’s family gets involved in choosing ...

A delightfully quaint mountain town, my cozy tearoom, a missing couple, and there’s something seriously weird about my bird. I didn’t expect to get wrapped up in a mystery through my husband… He’s dead. Retreat to the mountains, settle into my inherited family home and try to move on … a widow with kids and a parakeet. It was a good plan. It should have worked. I didn’t ask for a missing couple to complicate my first days, but there they were…or, rather, weren’t. I KNEW my detective husband was gone … but then here he was. Colorfully solving mysteries with me … he’s ...