He was young, arrogant, wealthy and in the bloom of health—or was he? “Undoubtedly one of the best writers of English mysteries and chiller-killer plots.”—The Los Angeles Times Like any small community, Linchester has its intrigues: love affairs, money problems, unhappy marriages. But the gossip is elevated to new heights when young Patrick Selby dies on the very night of his beautiful wife’s birthday party. The whole neighborhood was there, witness to the horrible attack of wasp stings Patrick suffered at the end of the evening. But did Patrick die of a wasp sting? Dr. Greenleaf thinks not. Heart failure, more likely. Still, Greenleaf isn’t at peace about his death. After all, everyone in Linchester hated Patrick. With the help of a certain naturalist, Dr. Greenleaf begins to think about murder. . . . “Rendell is awfully good.”—The New York Times Book Review

Almost everyone on Linchester hated Patrick Selby, including his wife. And they all had good cause. There was almost no one who had been at that fateful party who wouldn't have been happy to see Patrick Selby dead. But was that enough to assume murder? And if so, which of all the people Patrick Selby had caused to suffer was the one desperate enough to go one step further than just wishing him dead?

A crime novel written by the author of "From Doon with Death". Ruth Rendell received three Edgars from the Mystery Writers of America and won the Crime Writers' Gold Dagger Award for 1976's best novel - "A Demon In My View"--And the Gold Dagger Award for "A Fatal Inversion."

This is a unique and enlightened insight into mental illness. This book has taken the author over two decades to write. A must-read for all interested in not just the working of the human brain but also its breakdown. This is an exciting new work that uses the latest ideas of the functioning of the human brain to tell a dark but true story of its dysfunction. This is his first novel,his first work of fiction.

When Alice accepts a job helping to stage a Punch-and-Judy show at the library, all she wants is a break from the tensions at home. But mysterious, frightening events take place as the show draws nearer. Only Alice's aunt Emily suspects that the truth lies buried in the past. Will she and Alice be able to discover the dreadful secret of the puppet show in time to save themselves? In this chilling novel, Michael Bedard explores the nature of evil - and of hope.