Send No More Roses

A battle of criminal minds leads to deadly attacks in the Gold Dagger Award–winning author’s thriller of “cerebral twists and sophisticated wit” (Time). In the parlance of criminology, an “Able Criminal” is one who flies below the radar of crime syndicates and law enforcement alike. Employing no discernable pattern or method, he is virtually uncatchable—but that won’t stop criminologist Frits Krom from trying. Krom believes that Paul Firman, the director of an ostensibly legitimate international investment firm, is a textbook “Able Criminal.” Surprisingly, Firman has agreed to an interview with Krom at his secluded villa on the French Riviera. But amid their barbed exchanges, it becomes clear that the host and his guest are under siege by a third party, one whose motives and violent intentions are unclear. Now, criminal and criminologist will have to join forces in order to survive . . . Send No More Roses was previously published under the title The Siege of the Villa Lapp.

Professor Krom believes Paul Firman, alias Oberholzer, is one of those criminals who keep a low profile and are just too clever to get caught. Firman, rich and somewhat shady, agrees to be interviewed in his villa on the French Riviera. But events take an unexpected turn and perhaps there is even someone else artfully hiding in the deep background?

The “Able Criminal”, as defined by noted criminologist Frits Krom, strikes with no discernible pattern or method, and flies below the radar of crime syndicates and law enforcement agencies alike. He is virtually uncatchable—but Krom is willing to try. He knows that Paul Firman, the director of an ostensibly legitimate international investment firm, is in fact an expert in tax avoidance and a textbook Able Criminal. Surprisingly, Firman agrees to submit to an interview with Krom and his two colleagues at his secluded villa on the French Riviera. He’s more than a little curious about what they really want from him and confident he can avoid implicating himself. But it soon becomes evident that the host and his guests are under siege by a third party, one whose motives and violent intentions are unclear. If they are to survive, the criminal and the criminologists will have to band together. The Siege of the Villa Lipp is a classic Eric Ambler tale of suspense in which a man thrust into a high-stakes situation, far outside of his usual expertise, finds himself at the mercy of forces beyond his control.

Charity Joy travels to Oregon with her family, expecting to assist her father in sharing God's message with the natives. When she returns to her family in Boston over two years later, she has no memory of what happened since leaving. The small box she brings back, containing a native headband and a ring, leave her confused. Trying to remember brings horrific fear. When her doctor and aunt decide she needs to start life anew, her aunt takes her to England for a Season and to reconnect with her now married sister who travelled to England rather than west with her family. Even in England, Charity finds her past a frightening void. By the time memories and nightmares merge, she finds her heart engaged by the Duke St. Clair. But how can she marry until her past is made clear? When shocked into fully remembering, Charity finds her past and present clashing. Will she find wholeness in knowing the truth or will that truth destroy her future, her faith...and her love forever?

Examines both the differences and the continuity between the early and late work of American thriller writer Ambler, and considers the five novels, published under the name Eliot Reed, that he wrote with Australian writer Charles Rodda. Paper edition (unseen), $15.95. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The traditional and quiet life of a retiring priest is shaken up when a new, young priest comes along.

A career-spanning collection of crime and mystery stories with an autobiographical introduction by the Diamond Dagger Award–winning author. Credited with inventing the modern spy novel, Eric Ambler was hailed by Graham Greene as “unquestionably our best thriller writer,” while John le Carré declared him “the source on which we all draw.” Waiting for Orders collects eight of Ambler’s short stories written between 1939 and 1992 that range from the fringes of WWII Germany to the Cold War intrigues of Central America. This volume also includes six cases featuring the refugee Czech detective Dr. Czissar. Stories include “The Army of the Shadows,” “The Case of the Pinchbeck Locket,” “The Blood Bargain,” and others.