Mystery Reads

Francis Thurston finds an old collection of letters and articles from his late uncle. They contain detailed descriptions of the so called Cthulhu cult, which Francis gets more and more interested in. He begins to understand his uncle’s fear and dread but he decides to continue his investigation. Will he keep be able to keep his sanity or will the Cthulhu cult come calling on him? B. J. Harrison started his Classic Tales Podcast back in 2007, wanting to breathe new life into classic stories.

Ali Baba and Cassim are two Persian brothers. Ali Baba barely manages to put food on the table for his family, while his brother lives an easy life thanks to his rich wife. One day, while chopping wood in the forest, Ali Baba sees a band of thieves laden with treasures approaching. They stop in front of a rock and the captain shouts "Open Sesame!". What happens next is pure magic. The giant rock moves to the sides and opens a portal which the thieves enter.

Abercrombie Smith and Edward Bellingham are neighbors and fellow students at the University of Oxford. Smith is a medical student and athlete, while Bellingham is a specialist of Eastern studies and the owner of many Egyptian artefacts. A series of strange episodes happen after Edward buys a four-thousand-years-old mummy. Smith suspects his fellow student of hiding a dark and threatening secret, and soon discovers what the truth really is.

"You see, this is the beauty I want. Beauty has got to be astonishing, astounding--it's got to burst in on you like a dream, like the exquisite eyes of a girl." Ardita, a beautiful and bored young Flapper, is hanging out on her uncle's yacht when it's suddenly captured by pirates. When Ardita meets and falls in love with the charming captain she knows she's been right to reject the boring and rich society men. But a truth lurks around the corner that will make her question everything she thinks she knows.

Seven of Charles Dickens' best ghost and thriller stories, which have been widely read and beloved worldwide. This collection celebrates the 200th anniversary of his birth. These stories provide a wonderful introduction Dickens before embarking upon his long novels; after these stories, listening to his longer novels becomes even more of a pleasure. Perfect for students and teachers seeking an understanding and appreciation of Dickens, without the time to engage with his long novels.

Ride along with the New Orleans police department as the officers work together to solve unusual happenings in this unique, historic city. You’ll meet Zack Nelson, a former police officer, now living in a retirement center because of his daughter-in-law’s illness. While he’s not keen to move, he does so temporarily to help his son, Tom, and Patty cope with the medical issues.

A meteorite crashes in an area around Arkham, Massachusetts and normally life is interrupted. The earth is poisoned, the animals are driven mad, the products that grow there become tasteless. One man decides to find out what has really happened but the townspeople are not willing to give more details about what they have gone through. The explorer however meets a man named Ammi Pierce. He looks a bit crazy but he is willing to share what he has experienced.

Sometimes self-fulfilling prophecies are not all they seem. Lord Arthur Savile is a young British aristocrat about to get married. Mr. Podgers tells people’s fortunes, and he has bad news for the groom: he will commit murder. Unable to get the thought off his mind, he decides to get it over with before entering into marriage, but things do not go as planned. Hear the darkly humorous short story "Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime" by Oscar Wilde from the late 19th century brought to life by B.J. Harrison. B. J.

"You won't know till afterward. You won't know till long, long afterward." When Ned and Mary Boyne hear that their new house is haunted, they laugh it off and joke that every good house in the countryside must have a ghost for it to be worth purchasing. They move in and forget all about its supposed supernatural quirks. But when Mary notices a strange change in her husband's behaviour, she begins to suspect a not so friendly ghost is indeed at play.

In this dark story by Robert W. Chambers we are introduced to a detective, who is tasked to uncover a hoax in the Pacific Northwest. There he investigates the possible existence of a terrible porpoise-skinned humanoid with an insatiable hunger for human females. If you like reading dark and weird stories, then "The Harbor Master" from 1904 is the right one for you. Do not hesitate to embark on this journey and solve the mystery of the porpoise-skinned humanoid. B. J.

"A Chapter in the History of the Tyrone Family" is a Gothic short story by Sheridan Le Fanu focusing on a young woman who marries a Scottish landowner with a dark past. A short story whose haunting and semi-supernatural elements might have influenced Charlotte Bronts "Jane Eyre", Le Fanus tale combines a lot of elements horror, romance, thriller, and drama to create a compelling and sophisticated world from which there is no easy escape.

Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan are two scruffy adventurers who are planning to conquer Kafiristan - a remote part of Afghanistan. The two men pretend to have signed a contract that neither of them will touch alcohol or women. However, disguised as a priest and his assistant, Dravot and Carnehan depart for Kafiristan, secretly carrying twenty riffles. Why do they want to conquer Kafiristan? Will the make it across the border alive? Find all the answers in Rudyard Kipling’s adventure story "The Man Who Would Be King" from 1888. B. J.

Bill Eisner escaped the high-powered world of dog eat dog and opened a neighborhood coffee shop. His high-maintenance girlfriend stayed behind. Now, all he wants is a second chance in life, a chance to do something he enjoys and meet someone who can love him for who he is, not what he can buy her. The community loves him, the press loves him, and even the homeless think he’s one of the nicest guys around. Finally, he thinks he’s found true happiness with the woman of his dreams. Until she’s murdered.

The world is in chaos. The United States is the last standing government, and it is hanging on by a thread. Billions of people have turned into zombies or have vanished. An elite military team of special forces is tasked to carry out a final mission to try and save humanity. The team consists of several Special Forces soldiers and an 18-year-old boy that the military believes may be the key to understanding the zombie mystery. The Special Forces team races against the clock from one disaster to another.

Electricity is dangerous, sometimes deadly. Accident or murder? Co-workers collaborate to uncover the truth. An anonymous letter warns MC Fiona to get out. Suspenseful and engaging, greed and corporate cover-ups dictate the price consumers pay for power and light....

In the highly competitive modern world, doing well in any competition is not enough. Being number one is what counts. This book traces the lives of five colorful individuals. They are winners in their unique ways from the early stages of their lives. We experience, intimately, the twists and turns that occur as they enter early adulthood and get embroiled in a contest anchored in the pursuit of business success and love. At some point, each character realizes that things can get highly complex, emotionally draining, and even dangerous when love is in the mix.

English professor Blair Cassidy finds the body of her boss-from-hell, Justin Capaldi, lying stabbed to death on her front porch. Her bloody clothes and plausible motive make her the number one suspect. When attorney and ex-husband Hart Montgomery posts bail and vows to keep her out of prison, she wants to believe him.

Murder smells foul...Juan Agosto smells death at dawn in trash bins near Mrs. Wong’s home. A single white pop bead stuck in blood indicates foul play. Juan’s job as a trash collector in the suburbs of Denver didn’t prepare him for this, but his life before his escape from Sinaloa did. Will local cops Teresa Agosto and Joelle McVay be able to solve a horrific murder and find justice for the victim...Or, will Mrs. Wong’s name go on the chilling list of unsolved crimes?

Stand-up comic Beau Maxwell is accused of killing the owner of a Boston comedy club and the evidence looks damning. His only option: escape from jail and prove he’s innocent. With Detective Bookton hot on his trail, can Beau chase down the killers before he gets caught or killed? It’s time to drop the mic…and run!

Law professor Oliver Kendall - British transplant to Duke University - is asked by former student Emma Russo to second chair the defense on a death penalty case. A vagrant stole the victim’s wallet, and thinks he found a large diamond. He’s charged with killing a newspaper reporter who was working a controversial story. As other suspects emerge, Oliver and Emma must discern whether their client is guilty or innocent. Can the lawyers solve the mystery, or will their homeless client end up on death row? Bullet books on a plane...on a train...faster than a speeding bullet!