Location, location, location. After a divorce from her husband and business partner, Alex, Amanda Thorne is determined to make it on her own in real estate--despite scorpions, 100-degree heat, and an encounter with a cactus en route to her first big listing. But when she finally arrives at the Mid-century modern manse, a lifeless body in the living room really spoils the ambiance. With the reluctant cooperation of dishy Detective Ken Becker, Amanda sets out to unravel the truth. But after a fellow real estate agent is murdered, some pissed-off Black Widow spiders infest her car, and a body is found floating in her pool, it's clear someone wants Amanda's inquiring mind off the market--permanently. "James's sparkling debut introduces an appealing new sleuth. . .Witty, accident-prone Amanda should attract fans of Laura Levine."--Publishers Weekly David James has not written any screenplays, has never received a Pulitzer, and is not a regular contributor to National Public Radio. He is currently working on his next Amanda Thorne mystery.

Open House for Murder The real estate market is tanking, even in posh Palm Springs. So when Ian Forbes, the eccentric head of an international hair care empire, offers luxury realtor Amanda Thorne a chance to list his palatial Spanish style pad, she reluctantly agrees--even if it means appearing on the bizarre reality dating show he's starring in. With so much at stake, a throng of attractive contestants descend on the mansion in hopes of winning Ian's heart--and his fortune. The competition is fast and fierce, and it's almost no surprise when two of Ian's prospective lovers turn up dead. Amanda quickly discovers that everyone has a conceivable motive for murder. And now that there are two more realtors competing with her for the lucrative listing, it seems the killer won't be the only one who's out for blood. . . "The fun part of this mystery is James' snarky, sneaky sense of humor that keeps his lively cast of characters believable." --Mystery Scene "Once again, James charms." --Kirkus Reviews

Three twenty-something young adults, working at low-paying, no-future jobs, tell one another modern tales of love and death.

In this delightfully infectious novel of love and intrigue, Leslie Glass puts a sly and sexy spin on two of life’s most devastating certainties: death and taxes. Cassandra Sales is a woman with a gift for nurturing things—her husband, the successful wine importer; her two adult children; the fabulous flowers in her garden. After twenty-six years of marriage, however, Cassie’s husband, Mitch, is spending more time skipping abroad than remaining at home with her. Tired of being a modest Long Island housewife who can’t even remember what it’s like to be kissed, Cassie has a face-lift to recapture her youthful allure. The surprise for her husband goes awry when Mitch returns home early from a business trip. When he sees the post-op horror show, he collapses on the spot. The resulting coma may spare Mitch from the tax audit he’s facing, but Cassie is forced to step in and research the facts of her own life. What she discovers about Mitch and the family business shocks her to the core: her “loving” husband was preparing to divorce her, swindle her out of tons of money, and run off with another woman. As Cassie recuperates, she realizes what she’s after is revenge. Big time. But she soon learns that the road to retribution can lead to unforeseen and often deadly complications. In Over His Dead Body, Leslie Glass blends supreme suspense and warm-hearted romantic comedy into a perfect mélange that is as inevitable as. . . death and taxes.

Sarah J. Maas hit the New York Times SERIES list at #1 with A Court of Wings and Ruin!