Mitty Andersen knows that rising blues star Bobby Tarleton didn’t die of a heroin overdose. He’d blown enough blues harmonica notes with Bobby to know that he would never let anything get in the way of his music. So when he gets the news in the middle of his blues set at Little Queenie’s, he suspects a cover-up—and he’s determined to put his ex-investigative reporter skills to work to find out what really happened. Mitty hits the blues circuit with his “partner in chime,” Pete Bolden, and rounds up a posse disguised as a blues band. They gig the juke joints and blues bars throughout Southeast Texas and Louisiana, hoping to uncover the truth about Bobby T’s death. It doesn’t take long for Mitty to figure out that Bobby T just might be the latest in a decades long string of serial murders aimed at eliminating “those who play the Devil’s music.” Now Mitty must race against the clock to put an end to the madness before another harmonica player succumbs to a deranged psychopath who has managed to avoid capture for far too long.

River Bottom Blues (Crime Fighting Bluesmen)

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Bush, Ricky

Mystery

Barking Rain Press

When Marcus Glenfield committed suicide, he took his place among the Legions of Hell as the Demon of Regret. When he learns that the Prince of Wickedness, Belial, is planning to take his former fiancé, Brenda, as his consort, Marcus’s newfound belief in a second chance is quickly shattered in a fit of all too human rage. Incensed by the new demon’s disrespectful hostility, Belial plunges Marcus into the deepest pits of Hell. But Lucifer has other plans for Marcus. For in the tormented lands of Purgatory, a strange and powerful uprising has gathered to form a new plane of existence—one that would break the ancient caste system of Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Limbo and Earth, thwarting both God and Satan’s permanency within the universe. Not only have these brash metaphysical pirates kidnapped the powerful child born of Brenda and Belial’s union, they have also guided Marcus out of the prisons of Hell to their new realm. When they promise Marcus freedom in return for his help, he realizes that he will have to choose a side. But can he find one that he can truly believe in? "This clever and ambitious novel follows Marcus Glenfield who, after committing suicide, takes a grunt's position in Hell, harvesting souls for Lucifer as the Demon of Regret. Driven by an intricate and political plot line involving Marcus, his ex-girlfriend and a demonic love triangle, this novel is not a terrifying read but an inebriating, descriptive journey into the nether regions of dark fantasy. Addictive as, er, hell." — Rue Morgue Magazine “REVENGE is an epic tale of cosmic proportions. The perfect mixture of horror and lyricism, REVENGE is a spellbinding read that will ensnare you with its spiraling cyclones of horror and beauty and keep you turning the pages.” — The Austin Post “REVENGE is the perfect horror fantasy! It is beautifully written &amp; amazingly evil.” — Michael Vampire, Vampires Everywhere! “REVENGE is horror fantasy at its very best: magical, truly frightening, lyrical and sewn-through with a thread of hope. Gabrielle Faust &amp; Solomon Schneider are two of the most exciting horror writers in the business.” — Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author, DUST &amp; DECAY and DEAD OF NIGHT

Revenge

Literature & Fiction

Faust, Gabrielle

Schneider, Solomon

Genre Fiction

Curiously Twisted Tales is a masterful collection of short stories from the devious imagination of horror writer P.S. Gifford. If you are not familiar with Gifford's previously published works, this book will serve as a deliciously wicked sampler of some of his most fiendish tales—both old and new.  From cutthroat garden competitions to honeymoons from hell to wanna-be writers who are willing to do almost anything to get published, each story delves into the dark side of humanity with wit, charm, and a delectable dose of depravity. Creepy stories, twisted endings, unearthly beasties lurking in the corners—these nerve-rattling narratives will keep you turning pages as you turn on more lights!  "Gifford delivers the kind of story that jabs slivers under your nails, thorns in your palms, and needles and pins in your eyes, always with a sardonic smile. The sharply-drawn portraits are all the more effective for their overall brevity, delivering their tiny thrusts in just the right tone. This collection of 33 curiously twisted tales will enhance any rainy evening’s reading, leaving a taste for more of P.S. Gifford’s mystery stew." — W.D. Gagliani, Chizine Reviews  "The stories of P.S. Gifford are smart, inventive, and scary as hell.  This is horror writing at its very best."  —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times Bestselling Author, Rot & Ruin and The King of Plagues  "P.S. Gifford is a writer of great wit and talent. He remembers that most treasured of all storytelling purposes: entertainment! Keep an eye on this writer, because he's going places and he's delivering a lot of joy along the way." —Scott Nicholson, Author, Red Church & Ashes  "Indulge in Gifford's tawdry tales of deliciously wicked woe and let them ply your subconscious with evil twists. You'll dream dark the whole night through." —John Everson, Author, Covenant and Sacrifice  "Gifford returns with a vengeance! One of the best collections of horror fiction at any level I've seen in ages." —Lawrence Dagstine, Author, Fresh Blood

Curiously Twisted Tales: A Smattering of P.S. Gifford

Gifford, P.S.

Twin Hills is a dying forest in an abandoned Texas oil field, now skirted by a residential neighborhood. Its protector is an ancient oak tree called Daronwy, who has turned the forest’s pain into a dark magic that it hopes can keep the remaining trees safe from further harm. 
The spell was working, too—until a young boy from the nearby neighborhood, Jeremy Trahan, is drawn to the woods in search of the magic he senses instinctively. By finding the magic, Jeremy hopes it will help him escape the boredom and bullies that plague his life—just like in all the books he’s read. 
But as he gets closer to discovering the gateway to the other world that the spell hides, land developers descend on the fragile forest with bulldozers and chainsaws. Will Jeremy seize the chance to leave his mundane world behind, or will he stand and fight for his haven? 
“For a debut novel, The Last Stand Of Daronwy by Clint Talbert must be considered an impressive success. A deftly woven, complex, original fantasy story that engages the reader’s total attention from beginning to end, The Last Stand Of Daronwy is highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library YA fiction collections.” — Jack Mason, The Midwest Book Review 
"There have been hundreds of stories that glibly tell of young people plunged into fantastic settings, but very few of them make you really FEEL what it’s like to struggle in two worlds, to bring the experience so vividly to life that the tale swallows you. Clint Talbert manages just that in this beautifully written gem of a tale. Get this book! — Ed Greenwood, author &amp; creator, the Forgotten Realms series 
“Clint Talbert has crafted an intelligent fable about friendship, courage, and standing up for one’s beliefs. Jeremy’s quest to save the last remnants of a once proud forest pits the dogged idealism of youth against an adult world that has given up all hope for a happy ending.” — Sean Mulcahy, author, Slip Sliding Away

The Last Stand of Daronwy

Children's Books

Talbert, Clint

Science Fiction & Fantasy

When private financial investigator Seamus McCree returns to Cincinnati after a routine business trip, he discovers that his home has become a crime scene for a brutal murder. The victim in his basement is an acquaintance from a previous corporate investigation--and endured bullets to both of his ankles, knees and elbows before the final shot to his forehead put him out of his misery. No one has seen an "IRA six pack" victim since The Troubles in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. Now the primary "person of interest" in the murder, Seamus must use his talent for logic and hard work to prove his innocence. Soon he uncovers a trail that leads back to his Boston roots--and a poisonous family feud dating from the divorce of Boston's Irish mafia and the Provisional IRA in the 1970s. Driven by the chilling realization that there was more behind the death of his policeman father than he ever knew, Seamus ignores warnings from the police, friends, and enemies as he continues to dig for the truth. As the body count climbs, all trails seem to lead back to him, and Seamus is forced to go underground to find out who is framing him--and why--before he becomes the next victim.

Bad Policy

Jackson, James M.

Mace Brown wasn't his real name. He used to be one of the deadliest gunfighters in the Southwest, but eventually he grew tired of the "kill or be killed" lifestyle, rode off into the desert-and simply disappeared. When Boston archeologist Dr. Jemima Carstairs arrives in Oneida, Texas to survey and study ancient Indian ruins in the Palo Duro Canyon, Mace reluctantly agrees to lead the expedition. Unaware that a gang of outlaws is dogging their heels, and a Comanche war chief and his band of renegades are also roaming the plains south of Oneida, Mace and his crew set off with the archeologists into Palo Duro country. Their scholarly quest for Native American artifacts will quickly become a struggle for survival.

The Treasure of Peta Nocona

Pierce, Lee

After Trina’s beloved dog dies, she swears she’ll never get another one. But then she learns about service dogs, and realizes that if she becomes a puppy raiser, she could train puppy after puppy and never worry about them dying. But like all great ideas, this one has a serious flaw: her first service puppy must be returned to his kennel at the end of their week-long summer vacation. And saying goodbye to Sydney is going to be much tougher than she ever imagined. 
Trina’s last week with Sydney is made that much harder by her newly strained friendship with her best friend, Sarah, who’s become so over-the-top boy crazy that she’s almost like a stranger. Sarah is determined to have them hang out with every boy at the beach, but when a boy named Chase takes an interest in Sydney and Trina, it puts an even bigger strain on the friendship. 
It’s hard enough to deal with loosing Sydney, but now she may lose her best friend, too. And even if she manages to patch things up with Sarah—and figures out what to do about Chase—she still must face a daunting decision: is she strong enough to take on another service puppy? 
"Author Sheri S. Levy deftly taps adolescent themes of love, loss and friendship through the added lens of a service dog’s life-changing effects on her young trainer. A fresh twist on the familiar coming-of-age tale. Well done!" — Jennifer Leeper, author, Padre: The Narrowing Path 
“Trina’s foray into the world of boys, friendship, and fashion while focusing on the important task of training service dogs strikes just the right balance. This canine-inspired coming-of-age tale is a poignant but fun summertime story.” — Val Muller, author, the Corgi Capers series and The Scarred Letter

Seven Days to Goodbye: A Trina Ryan Novel

Teen & Young Adult

Levy, Sheri S.

Trina Ryan’s challenging summer starts off with a puppy-fueled energy burst as she takes on another service dog for training—an eight-week-old black Labrador named Colton. And to help explore another dream, she’s taken a job at the barn next door in exchange for riding lessons with the barn’s schooling horse. Before long, Trina butts heads with Morgan Hart, an ill-tempered but skilled rider with a gorgeous thoroughbred named Knight. Adding to the list of frustrations is the difficulty in maintaining a long-distance relationship with Chase, her first boyfriend from last summer, while trying to deal with unwanted attention from a new boy in her puppy training class. At least best friend Sarah still has her back, but as Trina wearies of Morgan’s constant insults and her heartless treatment of Knight, she decides to use her dog training skills to look underneath Morgan’s hostile attitude and develop a sense of trust. Slowly, Morgan’s angry shield cracks enough to where she’s able to share a troubling family secret. Can Trina help Morgan confront her family problems and make a fresh start?

Starting Over: A Trina Ryan Novel

Financial crimes investigator Seamus McCree returns in this thrilling sequel to "Bad Policy." With his house in Cincinnati in ruins, Seamus retreats to the family cabin for some well-earned rest and relaxation. But his plans for a quiet, contemplative winter in the wilds of Michigan's Upper Peninsula are thrown out the window when he discovers a naked woman on his porch during a blizzard. The mystery woman is suffering from hypothermia, frostbite, high fevers, amnesia-and rope burns on her wrists and ankles. Snowbound at the cabin, without transportation or phone coverage, Seamus struggles to keep the woman alive and find a way to get an SOS message out. What he doesn't know is that a domestic paramilitary organization is hunting for an escaped female prisoner-and closing in on his isolated refuge.

Cabin Fever

Denying the past proves deadly for BK Hartshaw and Trevor Mayhew in this gripping noir novel where nothing is as it seems. BK is a rising star at a public relations firm, and tonight's charity ball should be a high point in her career. But a closely guarded secret threatens to destroy her chance for happiness with the only man she's ever loved... a man who is also hiding a deadly secret. Trevor has tried to put the past behind him, pretending it never happened. But the conniving father he's been running from for years has finally found him--and is determined to settle the score once and for all. BK and Trevor's deeply buried secrets are about to catch up with them--and everyone they know and love. Who will pay the ultimate price for their dangerous denials?

Dangerous Denial

Ray, Amy

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Barking Rain Press publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Barking Rain Press