Alicia Bessette Books

A novel of great tact and sly humour that deals with ennui in Quebec and the intellectual alienation of a disenchanted hero, Hervé Jodoin who has come to Saint Joachim to work in the town's only bookstore. The proprietor, M. Léon Chicoine, is seemingly respectable and claims to be the secret agent of free thought and liberty by keeping a collection of books that are not for every eye. However, when Jodoin sells a book by a well-known subversive author, this causes a crisis in the town that involves not jus M. Chicoine, but also the town priest and our hero's lonely landlady. This story, chosen by the Grand Jury des Lettres of Montreal as one of the ten best novels of post-war contemporary Quebec, is both touchingly comical and extremely provocative."--P. [4] of cover.

When a killer stirs up trouble in the Outer Banks, amateur sleuth and bookseller Callie Padget is on the case, in a new beachside mystery from author Alicia Bessette. Cattail Island in the Outer Banks is a popular destination for honeymooners and nature lovers alike. So it is a huge blow when the murder of a newlywed grinds the pre-summer season to a screeching halt. Bookseller Callie Padget launches her own investigation, after mysterious customer Geri-Lynn Humfeld, caretaker of the island’s protected wild horses, brings in an irresistible piece of information. Determined to restore order and safety to her beloved hometown, Callie searches for answers—even as those answers cast suspicion on her soon-to-be boyfriend, Toby Dodge, whose martial arts studio was the scene of the crime. As she digs deeper, Toby becomes the police’s prime suspect. The truth raises troubling questions and sends her scouring the bookshop’s shelves for guidance. Meanwhile, a well-loved member of the mustang herd—a pregnant mare whose anticipated foal is a symbol of summery hope for locals and visitors alike—may be facing dire circumstances. With help from Geri-Lynn, Callie unearths startling secrets surrounding not only the compromised mare, but the murdered newlywed, too. And when another body shows up, this time on isolated Mustang Beach, she must race against time to stop a killer from claiming any more innocent lives.

From author Alicia Bessette comes an all-new mystery series featuring Callie Padget, a former reporter turned bookshop clerk in the Outer Banks who is pulled into a deadly web of secrets when a mysterious fall at a lighthouse echoes a tragedy from her past. When Callie is laid off from her reporting job, she returns to her hometown of Cattail Island and lands a gig at the local bookstore—the same one where she found comfort after her mother died. In fact, the anniversary of her mother’s infamous death is approaching. Years ago, Teri Padget tumbled from the top of the lighthouse. As islanders are once again gossiping about the tragedy, devastating news strikes: the lighthouse has claimed another victim. Eva Meeks, of Meeks Hardware. The police are calling it suicide, but Callie does not believe Eva jumped any more than she believes her mother did—especially because Callie knows that before her death, Eva had dug up a long-forgotten treasure hunt that could have put a target on Eva’s back. In Callie’s search for answers, she enlists the help of some beloved books and several new friends, including the handsome local martial arts instructor, Toby Dodge. But when another death rocks Cattail Island, Callie must face her fears alone. As she earns enemies in pursuit of the truth, Callie knows she will either uncover the killer or become a victim herself. Mystery Writers of America’s Lilian Jackson Braun Memorial Award nominee

Zell und Nick waren zum Heulen glücklich: Skifahren, bis das Gesicht einfriert, Tanzen im Wohnzimmer, nächtliche Rennen mit ihrem Windhund Captain Ahab. Und eine ganze Fußballmannschaft an Kindern wollten sie haben. Dann verunglückt Nick, als er nach dem Hurrikan »Katrina« den Menschen in New Orleans beim Wiederaufbau hilft.Zell zieht sich völlig zurück, spricht nur noch mit ihrem Hund und hört alte Soul-Schlager auf einem kratzigen Plattenspieler. Erst mit Hilfe ihrer Freunde und ihres kleinen Nachbarsmädchen, mit dem sie am Wettbewerb einer Fernsehköchin teilnimmt, kommt das Leben langsam zurück. Manchmal braucht es eben eine ganze Stadt, um Trauer in Zukunft zu verwandeln … Alicia Bessette schreibt so liebenswert und witzig, so ergreifend und erfrischend über Liebe, Verlust und Freundschaft: der schönste und lebendigste internationale Bestseller seit langem.