On the first day of Lillian's summer-before-college, she gets a message on her cell from her sort-of friend, Penny. Not only has Penny faked her own kidnapping, but Lil is the only one who figures it out. She knows that Penny's home life has been rough, and that her boyfriend may be abusive. Soon, Penny's family, the local police, and even the FBI are grilling Lil, and she decides to head out to Oregon, where Penny has mentioned an acquaintance. And who better to road-trip across the country with than Lil's BFF, Josh. But here's the thing: Lil loves Josh. And Josh doesn't want to "ruin" their amazing friendship. Josh has a car and his dad's credit card. Lil has her cellphone and a hunch about where Penny is hiding. There's something else she needs to find: Are she and Josh meant to be together?

It is 1939 when the bullet-riddled body of an accounting clerk from a gambling ship washes up under the Santa Monica pier. As city homicide detectives tenaciously chase down their only cluea fast, expensive, and very exclusive Bugattitheir investigation leads them into a tangle of competing gangsters all looking to muscle their way to a bigger share of illegal gambling. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County deputy district attorney Cliff Thoms is leading a special squad searching for a pair of serial killers who have already killed four young women and are on the hunt for more. Thoms, with the help of a self-proclaimed psychic he doesnt quite trust, risks lives and careers in a desperate gamble to catch his elusive quarry. As the two investigations collide and rush to a deadly conclusion, dirty cops, DAs on the take, mobsters, grieving families, and reformer politicians must attempt to distinguish lies from the truth. Unfortunately, they are all about to discover that even the truth wont help them now. In this fast-paced tale of murder and gangland intrigue, a gritty district attorney and a band of detectives set out on a quest to solve two separate crimes amid a corrupted 1939 Los Angeles.

Two best friends, plus one faked kidnapping, plus one life-changing cross-country adventure--these add up to Halpern's funniest and most heartfelt novel to date.

More than 40 stories from the glory days of rock'n'roll, featuring Lou Reed, Elton John, Sting and The Clash. Allan Jones brings stories – many previously unpublished – from the golden days of music reporting. Long nights of booze, drugs and unguarded conversations which include anecdotes, experiences and extravagant behaviour. - A band's aftershow party in San Francisco being gatecrashed by cocaine-hungry Hells Angels - Chrissie Hynde on how rock'n'roll killed The Pretenders - What happened when Nick Lowe and 20 of his mates flew off to Texas to join the Confederate Air Force - John Cale on his dark alliance with Lou Reed Allan Jones remembers a world that once was – one of dark excess and excitement, outrageous deeds and extraordinary talent, featuring legends at both the beginnings and ends of their careers.

When a brick smashes the window of a family-run Internet cafe, a customer tries to help but finds himself in danger.