Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library.
Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language."
The Ladies' Lunch RC 39939
Forlorn River RC 39959
by Zane Grey
read by Gregory Ricks
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Story of the lawless days of cattle thieves and the exciting
pursuit and capture of wild horses. A courageous loner must
rescue his woman and clear his name in a trumped-up charge of
cattle rustling. 1927.
Legacy: Journeys of the Stranger, Book 1 RC 39963
by Al Lacy
read by Ellen Frost
2 cassettes
Visiting nurse Breanna Baylor is saved from a stampede by a
mysterious, scripture-quoting man named John, who explains that
his vocation is helping people. Troubled by her feelings for
him, Breanna sends him away but then realizes her mistake. As
Breanna searches for John, he fulfils his promise to watch over
her by saving her from a gang of outlaws but slips away before
she sees him. Some violence. 1994.
Coming through the Rye RC 39964
by Grace Livingston Hill
read by Ellen Frost
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Romayne Ransom is thrilled when her widowed father is finally
able to afford some nice things for the family. But one day she
comes home to find members of a league staked out in her house
waiting to arrest her father and brother for selling liquor.
Young attorney Evan Sherwood, head of the league, feels sorry
for Romayne, who knew nothing of the activity. But she holds him
responsible for ruining her family. 1926.
Christmas Carol RC 39966
by Flora Speer
read by Anne Mullen
2 cassettes
After her bankrupt father kills himself, a bitter Carol takes a
job in London as a paid companion to miserly Lady Augusta. When
Augusta dies five years later at Christmas, her ghost appears
and explains to Carol that for penance she is to make sure Carol
doesn't waste her life, too. Augusta and Carol experience a
past, present, and future Christmas, and Carol falls in love
each time, with the same man. Explicit descriptions of sex and
some strong language. 1994.
The Zoo Where You're Fed to God RC 39974
by Michael Ventura
read by June Carter
2 cassettes
James Abbey, a fifty-year-old surgeon, has spent his life
fighting his fears. His marriage crumbles, then his defenses. At
the zoo, he hears voices and develops obsessions with the
animals and with a young woman he meets. Realizing that his
estranged adolescent son is fighting his own fears and
obsessions, Abbey finally learns from the animals how to be more
human. Some strong language. 1994.
Show Me No Mercy: A Compelling Story of Remarkable Courage
RC 39982
by Robert Perske
read by Phil Regensdorf
1 cassette
Andy and Maggie Banks and their teenage twins, Ben and Beth, are
a close-knit family. When a car accident leaves Maggie and Beth
dead and Andy paralyzed, an aunt decides that Ben, who has
Down's syndrome, must be institutionalized. But feisty Ben is
helping Andy recover, and he doesn't mind upsetting expectations
at the institute. For junior and senior high readers. 1984.
Sharing Sam RC 39994
by Katherine Applegate
read by Jeanne Evans
1 cassette
Alison, a junior, is fascinated by the new boy at school, Sam
Cody. But shortly after they meet, her best friend, Izzy, is
diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor. Realizing that Izzy is
attracted to Sam, too, Alison decides to put her own budding
relationship on hold and convince Sam to devote himself to Izzy
during the girl's last few months. Some strong language. For
junior and senior high readers. 1995.
Stouthearted Men: A Cole Ryerson Novel RC 39995
by R.C. House
read by Don Emmick
2 cassettes
When Bad-Face Ike Bodene breaks out of jail, U.S. Marshal Cole
Ryerson calls together a posse of stouthearted men made up of
his most trusted and expert friends. Bodene has vowed to kill
Ryerson if he comes after him, but that makes the marshal even
more determined. Ryerson encounters a surprise along the way: a
woman with as stout a heart as any of his posse. Strong language
and violence. 1995.
Driver's Ed RC 39997
by Caroline B. Cooney
read by Jeanne Evans
1 cassette
Remy and Morgan pay more attention to each other than they do to
the teacher of their driver's ed class, unless they get a chance
to drive. Some people in this class play tricks, like switching
name tags, and one night they decide to steal stop signs. But
disaster strikes and a young mother is left dead. Now the
teenagers must deal with their thoughtless act, their deceit,
and their guilt. For high school and older readers. 1994.
Wish You Were Here RC 39999
by Barbara Shoup
read by Gregory Ricks
2 cassettes
Jackson was supposed to get an apartment with his best friend,
Brady, for their senior year of high school, but Brady runs away
instead. Now Jax can't benefit from Brady's humorous advice. Jax
must cope with issues like his mother's marriage to Ted; Ted's
two young daughters; Jax's father's latest relationship; and his
own desire for female companionship. Strong language. For high
school and older readers. 1994.
Some Girls RC 40619
by Kristin McCloy
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
To the dismay of her rancher lover and her family,
twenty-three-year-old Claire leaves New Mexico to live in New
York City where she knows no one and works for a temp agency.
Her exotic neighbor Jade intrigues her, and eventually the two
women become friends. When the friendship turns sexual one
drunken night, Claire, shocked, avoids Jade while trying to sort
out her feelings. Strong language and some explicit descriptions
of sex. 1994.
Zero Coupon RC 40638
by Paul Erdman
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
William F. Saxon has spent three years and a day in prison for
misconduct in the investment business. Now he is free and, with
his $74-million stash in Liechtenstein and some help from former
accomplices, he plans to reestablish himself. He sets up an
operation at a high-tech ranch in the Napa Valley, and
everything is going smoothly until he sells some bogus bonds.
Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1993.
Cha Cha Cha RC 40669
by Jane Heller
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Alison Koff, thirty-five, lives in an extravagant house and
writes about celebrities for the local paper part-time. Then the
stock market crashes, her husband leaves her for his first wife,
and she is forced to take a job as a maid for visiting writer,
hateful Melanie Moloney. Adjusting to her poor lifestyle and a
new boyfriend, Alison is shocked to be accused of murdering
Moloney. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1994.
The One-Room Schoolhouse: Stories about the Boys RC
40675
by Jim Heynen
read by Michael Kramer
1 cassette
More than one hundred miniature stories about midwestern boys
growing up on the farm. The stories often bear earthy titles,
such as "Hog Calls" or "One Dead Chicken,"
about subjects appropriate to rural life. And the unnamed
boys--brothers and their friends--capture moments of death,
cruelty, innocence, tenderness, mystery, and revelation, but it
is "the youngest boy" who steals the show. 1993.
Barrel Fever: Stories and Essays RC 40676
by David Sedaris
read by Ray Hagen
2 cassettes
Darkly humorous stories include "Parade," in which the
protagonist claims homosexual affairs with such celebrities as
Mike Tyson and Bruce Springsteen, and "Music for
Lovers," in which a tight-fisted man's homemade casts cause
his daughter to lose her feet. Originally broadcast on NPR, the
essay "SantaLand Diaries" relates Sedaris's most
frightening occupation: Christmas elf at Macy's. Strong language
and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1994.
The Discoveries of Mrs. Christopher Columbus: His Wife's
Version RC 40682
by Paula DiPerna
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
DiPerna imagines what would have happened if Columbus's wife had
accompanied him on his voyage to the New World. Frustrated in
her desire to be more of a partner in his life, Felipa keeps a
diary. While recording political struggles in Spain, rigors of
the voyage, and wonders of discovery, she explores her own
emotions as well. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1994.
Traveling On into the Light and Other Stories RC
40824
by Martha Brooks
read by Chuck Young
1 cassette
Eleven stories by the author of Paradise Cafe (RC 33408).
In the title story, a girl visits her father and the man for
whom he left her mother. In "The Kindness of
Strangers," an old man befriends a runaway youth who has
been betrayed by his mother. The final stories form a trilogy
about Sidonie and Kieran, teenagers who have each lost a parent.
Some strong language. For high school and older readers. 1994.
Wall of Fire: The Appomattox Saga, Book 7 RC 41585
by Gilbert Morris
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Mark Rocklin is dying, and there is something he must do before
he goes. Years ago he fell in love with a woman named Beth but
did not marry her, and now he has learned they share a daughter.
Allyn is located and brought to Gracefield, but it will take
some time for her and Mark to become close, and even longer for
her to accept his plans for her future. Sequel to The Shadow
of His Wings (RC 41584). 1995.
The Shawnee Trail: Trail Drive Series, Book 6 RC
42480
by Ralph Compton
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
As payment for his ride on the California Trail (RC
42479), Long John Coons now has his own herd of longhorns.
With trouble brewing over states' rights, Coons jumps quickly to
drive the cattle to St. Louis. His crew of misfits is almost as
dangerous as the Comanches along the trail ahead. Strong
language and violence. 1994.
The Virginia City Trail: Trail Drive Series, Book 7 RC
42481
by Ralph Compton
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
Nelson Story has money from his gold claim but is a marked man.
The Plummer gang is after him for hanging the outlaw sheriff,
Henry Plummer. So Story and his partners go to Fort Worth, buy
cattle, and head for Illinois markets, but poor grass and high
tolls turn them toward Montana and dangerous Sioux lands.
Violence and strong language. 1994.
The Horses at the Gate: Earthsong Trilogy, Volume 2 RC
42880
by Mary Mackey
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
In this sequel to The Year the Horses Came (RC 42879),
Marrah and converted Hansi warrior Stavan struggle on to Shara,
a prehistoric city in the Ukranian steppes. Their plight
continues as the Hansi seek out the renegade Stavan. Violence
and explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.
Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God RC 42938
by Joe Coomer
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Three women share life aboard an ocean yacht in New Hampshire.
The recently widowed Charlotte has fled her Kentucky in-laws and
lands on a boat belonging to Grace, an elderly widow. Already
aboard is Chloe, a sweet, plump teenage dropout with an abusive
boyfriend. The beleaguered women escape to Nova Scotia across
open ocean. 1995.
Pay Dirt; or, Adventures at Ash Lawn RC 42960
by Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
The tiny town of Crozet, Virginia, is abuzz with strange
happenings. A wild, leather-clad biker is found murdered just
after he arrives in town, and a computer virus causes a
two-million-dollar shortfall at the local bank. A sagacious team
of house pets untangles the mysteries of murder and money.
Strong language. 1995.
The Secret Life of Laszlo, Count Dracula RC 43169
by Roderick Anscombe
read by Jamie Horton
3 cassettes
A psychiatrist offers this fictional diary recounting a man's
reluctant, horrified surrender to perversion. Though not a real
vampire, this Dracula gradually develops a taste for the blood
of young girls, even as he tries to live a respectable life.
Violence and descriptions of sex. 1994.
Outsider in Amsterdam RC 43181
by Janwillem van de Wetering
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Detective Grijpstra and Sergeant De Gier of the Amsterdam police
investigate the apparent suicide of a shady restaurant owner.
But as new evidence surfaces, the case turns into a puzzling
mystery with a surfeit of suspects. 1975.
The Blond Baboon RC 43182
by Janwillem van de Wetering
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes (Reissue)
In this sequel to Outsider in Amsterdam (RC 43181),
detectives Grijpstra and De Gier are called to the scene of a
middle-aged woman's death--an apparent accident. But factors,
such as the dead woman's wealth and an ex-lover called
"Blond Baboon," cause the pair of sleuths to suspect
murder. 1978.
The Thor Conspiracy: The Seventy-Hour Countdown to Disaster
RC 43187
by Larry Burkett
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
In this sequel to The Illuminati (RC 43186), set in the
near future, the U.S. government is controlled by
environmentalists. When documents are found to indicate a
political cover-up in the THOR nuclear testing project, three
patriots combine their talents to thwart the corrupt regime.
1995.
Red Death RC 43221
by P.N. Elrod
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
In pre-Revolutionary War America, Jonathan Barrett's mad
loyalist mother ships him off to England's Cambridge University.
There Jonathan meets Nora Jones, who enjoys drinking blood
during lovemaking. Later when he is killed while defending the
Tory cause, he rises as a vampire. Prequel to Death and the
Maiden (RC 43222). Some strong language and some
descriptions of sex. 1993.
The Rio Grande: Rivers West RC 43279
by Jory Sherman
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Matthew Caine, an agent of the U.S. government and a friend to
the Shoshone and Arapaho Indians, has spent his life along the
Rio Grande. This big, powerful man is known as "El
Gigante" by the Spanish, who fear he is a spy planning to
help take away their land. As war rages between the nations,
Caine, who has come to love a Shoshone woman, will find his life
endangered along the banks of his beloved river. Strong language
and some violence. 1994.
Executive Orders RC 43316
by Tom Clancy
read by David Hartley-Margolin
9 cassettes
In this sequel to Debt of Honor (RC 38875), Jack Ryan
accedes to the presidency following a massive terrorist attack
on the Capitol. Amid the devastation and turmoil, Ryan endeavors
to restore a functioning government even as foreign and domestic
forces move to exploit the crisis for their own ends. Strong
language and violence. Bestseller 1996.
Drums of Autumn RC 43320
by Diana Gabaldon
read by Barbara Caruso
8 cassettes
In this sequel to Voyager (RC 38591), time travelers
Claire and Jamie Fraser find themselves in South Carolina in
1767. Realizing that the clouds of revolution are forming, they
join a remote community of Scottish immigrants and confront the
perils of the wilderness. Strong language, violence, and
descriptions of sex. 1997.
Hidden Jewel RC 43329
by V.C. Andrews
read by Mary Woods
2 cassettes
In this sequel to All That Glitters (RC 43328), Ruby and
Beau's daughter, Pearl, graduates from high school and plans to
become a doctor. But before the summer is over, one of Pearl's
brothers dies and his twin becomes catatonic. To set things
straight, Ruby turns to Cajun voodoo and disappears into the
bayou. Beau is too distraught to go after Ruby, so Pearl goes.
Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller
1995.
The Venus Throw RC 43363
by Steven Saylor
read by Richard Davidson
3 cassettes
In this sequel to Catilina's Riddle (RC 39565), Gordianus
the Finder is visited by his old teacher, Dio, who is now
Egyptian ambassador to Rome and who fears assassination. Dio is
killed that very night, and Gordianus becomes enmeshed in a
contentious trial involving political conspiracy and public
scandal. Strong language. 1995.
Panama RC 43372
by Eric Zencey
read by Gary Telles
3 cassettes
The year is 1892, and historian Henry Adams is researching a
book in France, where he meets artist Miriam Talbott. Adams soon
learns of Talbott's reported death--but the body turns out not
to be hers. Adams pursues the trail of the missing artist and is
drawn into an intrigue involving the failed Panama Canal plan.
1995.
Rasero RC 43373
by Francisco Rebolledo
read by Peter Gil
5 cassettes
Fausto Rasero, mysteriously bald since birth, is a Spaniard
living in eighteenth-century Paris. Clairvoyant upon orgasm and
yearning for wisdom, he struggles to reconcile the optimism of
the Enlightenment with the horrific prophecies of his visions,
which include the Holocaust and the atomic bomb. Some strong
language and descriptions of sex. Winner of the 1994 Pegasus
Prize for Latin American literature. 1995.
Animal Acts RC 43378
by Rhoda Lerman
read by Nanette Savard
2 cassettes
Suburban housewife Linda Morris sneaks away from her rich, kind
husband and her dangerous lover to visit her husband's
Rent-A-Pet gorilla, Moses, at Coney Island. When Moses kills his
keeper in self-defense, Linda sets off with the fugitive ape to
Florida and freedom. En route they forge a rare bond. Strong
language. 1994.
Slot Machine RC 43380
by Chris Lynch
read by Terence Aselford
1 cassette
Elvin, his two best friends, and other incoming male freshmen of
a Christian high school spend three weeks at summer camp. The
goal is to find an athletic slot for each boy. Unfortunately, as
overweight Elvin sarcastically explains in letters to his
mother, he's not the athletic type. Some strong language. For
junior and senior high readers. 1995.
The Island of the Day Before RC 43382
by Umberto Eco
read by Peter Gil
3 cassettes
Roberto della Griva, a shipwrecked spy in the South Pacific in
1643, rescues himself by climbing aboard an abandoned though
well-stocked ship. He eventually discovers a companion on board,
Father Caspar, who understands advanced concepts in time and
distance--the very ideas Roberto was hired to steal. Together
they conduct experiments and attempt to reach land. 1995.
The Bubble Reputation RC 43387
by Cathie Pelletier
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
Grieving Rosemary O'Neal is just emerging from isolation after
the suicide of her lover when her oddball family and friends
move in and complicate her recovery. Rosemary retreats into a
backyard tent for privacy until a troubling turn of events
brings her back into the family circle. Strong language. 1993.
A Charmed Circle RC 43392
by Anna Kavan
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
The story of a dysfunctional family in an English manufacturing
town in the 1920s. Two daughters run away from their oppressive
home to establish independent lives. But, over time, neither
woman proves able to dissociate herself from the home she left,
and both are drawn back into the family circle. 1929.
Bullet Heart RC 43393
by Michael Doane
read by Rick Rohan
3 cassettes
When golf course developers in South Dakota unearth a pioneer
burial ground in 1972, they reinter the bones of the white
settlers, but keep those of an Indian girl for public display as
"artifacts." After failed attempts to recover the
bones, the Indians resort to force, leading to a shootout with
FBI agents. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1994.
The Blood of the Lamb RC 43399
by Thomas F. Monteleone
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
A young parish priest with supernatural powers is summoned to
the Vatican and informed that he was cloned from blood found on
the Shroud of Turin. The new Messiah uses his powers to preach
an ecumenical faith and becomes a target of the religious
establishment. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of
sex. 1992.
Nine Coaches Waiting RC 43401
by Mary Stewart
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes (Reissue)
In an isolated chfteau in the French Alps, Linda Martin,
governess to the orphaned comte de Valmy, discovers her pupil is
the object of a murder plot involving his crippled uncle and the
latter's son, whom Linda loves. 1958.
When the Bough Breaks RC 43402
by Mercedes Lackey and Holly Lisle
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Elves and humans combine around Amanda, a sexually abused girl
who is endowed with Psi, a powerful telekinetic ability. Amanda
harbors multiple personalities, as well as the spirit of an
ancient witch, Cethlenn, who manages to rescue Amanda and punish
her abuser. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex.
1993.
Cradle of Splendor RC 43404
by Patricia Anthony
read by Ilona Dulaski
2 cassettes
In this near-future tale, Brazil is on the verge of becoming a
world power in space. When a troubled launch inexplicably
achieves orbit, the United States thinks Brazil has seized a UFO
and plans to invade. As agents uncover the mystery, the ensuing
turmoil leads to tragedy. Strong language and descriptions of
sex. 1996.
The Dodge City Trail: Trail Drive Series, Book 8 RC
43450
by Ralph Compton
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
With the railroad reaching Dodge City, a new market for cattle
opens up. In Texas, Dan Ember and his fellow ranchers are
desperate to move their livestock out of reach of the corrupt
tax collector. The cattlemen strike out on a treacherous drive
north. Violence and strong language. 1995.
Dina's Book RC 43458
by Herbjørg Wassmo
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
In this story set in 1840s Norway, young Dina has felt guilty
since age five for having caused the death of her mother. Now
sixteen, Dina captivates and marries a man her father's age, who
teaches her the joys of sensuality before his untimely death.
Dina is alone and obsessed by her life's tragedies until she
once again discovers love. Strong language and descriptions of
sex. 1996.
Vendetta: Lucky's Revenge RC 43478
by Jackie Collins
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Sicilians never forget someone who causes them trouble, and
Donna Bonnatti Landsman has plans for Lucky Santangelo, who now
owns Panther Studios. Donna's determination to take over the
company leads to murder and revenge. Sequel to Lady Boss (RC
31989). Strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, and
some violence. Bestseller 1997.
The Age of Consent RC 43481
by Geoffrey Wolff
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Ted and Maisie are brought up in upstate New York in an idyllic
utopian community, which their parents joined in the 1960s. At
age fifteen, Maisie leaps from a rock into a shallow pool,
causing permanent injuries. Distraught, Ted struggles to find
the reason for his sister's act and gradually discovers dark
secrets of incest and sexual abuse. Strong language and
descriptions of sex. 1995.
The Green Isle of the Great Deep RC 43482
by Neil Gunn
read by Vanessa Maroney
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Young Art and Old Hector (RC 44406),
the old man and the little boy accidentally fall into a pond and
discover the Green Isle deep beneath the water. In this secret
world, a seemingly perfect and orderly society is achieved.
However, it is at the expense of human individuality and
spiritual freedom. 1975.
Waking the Moon RC 43484
by Elizabeth Hand
read by Mary Kane
4 cassettes
At a Washington, D.C., university, six freshmen explore the
limits of freedom, friendship, and sex--until one makes a
terrible discovery. The university is a haven of the Benandanti,
an order that secretly controls the world through ancient magic.
The students come to understand that their own lives and fates
are enmeshed with the order. Strong language and descriptions of
sex. 1995.
A Wild Justice RC 43494
by Craig Thomas
read by Ken Kliban
3 cassettes
A posh birthday party in Washington, D.C., culminates in the
brutal murders of businessman Billy Grainger and his wife, Beth.
Beth's brother, ex-CIA agent John Lock, delves into the crime,
uncovers Grainger's drug-smuggling ring, and follows the trail
to Siberia. Violence. 1995.
Death Throes RC 43495
by Clive Egleton
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
In this sequel to A Killing in Moscow (RC 39539), Her
Majesty's agent Peter Ashton is in Bulgaria on the trail of a
mysterious Russian agent code-named Valentin. When a prominent
neo-Nazi is shot in Germany and the assassin is linked to
Valentin, Ashton goes undercover on a perilous mission to
Moscow. Violence and some strong language. 1994.
Done Wrong: A Marti MacAlister Mystery RC 43521
by Eleanor Taylor Bland
read by Dani Carr
2 cassettes
It's been three years since Chicago narc Johnny MacAlister's
supposed suicide. His widow, Marti, has moved with her two
children to quiet Lincoln Prairie, where she works as a cop, and
they struggle to get on with their lives. Now another Chicago
policeman dies, and his widow suggests a connection to Johnny's
death. Some strong language. 1995.
Escapade RC 43522
by Walter Satterthwait
read by Christopher Walker
3 cassettes
In 1921 Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini are among the
guests summoned for a seance at a stately Devon manor house.
Pinkerton agent Phil Beaumont is hired to protect Houdini from
Chin Soo, a rival magician. Ghost sightings, attempted murder,
and an apparent suicide make a plot in which suspects and
secrets abound. 1995.
Commonwealth Avenue RC 43523
by Linda Nevins
read by Nanette Savard
3 cassettes
After a decade away, Hollywood insider Zoe Hillyard is called
home to Boston for her grandmother's funeral. At risk to her
career, she extends her visit in the family mansion and
discovers her great-grandmother's long-hidden diary. The diary
provides her with a means to rescue her dysfunctional family and
to achieve her own happiness. 1996.
Rosemary Remembered RC 43524
by Susan Wittig Albert
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
When China Bayles finds CPA Rosemary Robbins murdered, the
suspects include a wife-killer, a boyfriend, and angry clients.
China's lover goes off in pursuit of the wrong suspect, leaving
the imperiled China to solve the crime with the aid of spiritual
forces. 1995.
The Phoenix Guards RC 43532
by Steven Brust
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
In this prequel to Five Hundred Years After (RC 43533),
four young warriors set out to join the emperor's elite guards.
The quartet become enmeshed in sorcery, intrigue, and a plot to
overthrow the monarch. Their fast wits, adroit swordplay, and
blind luck see them through. Violence. 1991.
The Plan RC 43561
by Stephen J. Cannell
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
A Mafia capo feels threatened by the new anticrime laws and
decides to put his own puppet in the White House to change the
odds. The plan is discovered by Ryan Bolt, who is hired to do a
documentary on the sham candidate. Bolt finds himself in a
ruthless power game and must fight to save himself and his
country. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1995.
Dreams of the Centaur RC 43565
by Montserrat Fontes
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
3 cassettes
In this prequel to First Confession (RC 34291),
José Durcal is killed and his eldest son, Alejo, avenges
the death with terrible results that take him to prison, war,
and a brush with the slave trade. His special bond with his
mother, Felipa, prevails throughout, even as Alejo risks
personal danger to avert a massacre of the Yaqui Indians. Strong
language and violence. 1996.
High Flight RC 43567
by David Hagberg
read by Roy Avers
5 cassettes
Guerin Airline Company hires ex-CIA officer Kirk McGarvey to
investigate a spate of mysterious accidents. With the aid of his
former Russian foes, Kirk uncovers a Japanese plot to sabotage
U.S. planes and depress Guerin stocks. When U.S. terrorists
exploit the plot for their own purposes, international turmoil
ensues. Strong language. 1995.
The Sharpshooter Blues RC 43569
by Lewis Nordan
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
When two out-of-towners are shot in the general store of a
sleepy Southern town, folks assume it was Morgan, the
Texas-trained sharpshooter. In truth, it was the slow-witted
Hydro. But the tragedy transforms several of the town's
idiosyncratic characters. Some violence and some strong
language. 1995.
Manhattan Transfer RC 43573
by John E. Stith
read by James DeLotel
3 cassettes
Without warning, all of Manhattan is swept into space by an
alien force and encased in a giant bubble. The trapped humans
soon discover that their city is but one of many that have been
kidnapped. A small group devises a way to escape and attempts to
communicate with people in other bubbles. Some strong language.
1993.
Storm Flight RC 43575
by Mark Berent
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
In this sequel to Eagle Station (RC 42374), American
fliers languish in a secret Vietnamese prison, their names
removed from official records. When U.S. officials discover a
Soviet KGB scheme to exploit the prisoners, they direct a daring
raid behind enemy lines. Strong language and violence. 1993.
Happy Never After RC 43578
by Kathy Hogan Trocheck
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Sometime-sleuth Callahan Garrity takes time from her
housecleaning business to look for a missing member of the
VelvetTeens, a 1960s music group planning a comeback. Then
Stuart Hightower, the group's hated former producer, is found
dead. VelvetTeen Rita Fontaine lies drunk nearby, the murder
weapon in her hand. Strong language. 1995.
Fire: A Novel of Hawaii RC 43579
by Armine Von Tempski
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
In 1927 a girl visits her uncle in Hawaii. Though betrothed to a
proper young man in Washington, D.C., she is taken with a
dashing Hawaiian cowboy, whom she later marries. Caught between
cultures, the two cope with adversity, but their love holds
fast. Companion to Hula: A Romance of Hawaii (RC 30708).
1929.
The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith RC 43581
by Peter Carey
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Set in the fictitious nation of Efica, this picaresque story
traces the childhood of Tristan, a hideously deformed dwarf and
son of a famous actress. Tristan's life is a process of losing
his mother, searching for his father, and seeking
self-acceptance and a place in the world. Strong language and
descriptions of sex. 1994.
A White Bird Flying RC 43586
by Bess Streeter Aldrich
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Laura Deal's grandmother has died, but Laura still holds on to
the dream they shared "to write lovely things." In
this sequel to A Lantern in Her Hand (RC 24820), Laura
attends the University of Nebraska, dreaming of a literary
career, but in the end recognizes the stronger claim of love.
1931.
The Brimstone Wedding RC 43587
by Barbara Vine
read by Ann Hodapp
2 cassettes
Elderly Stella Newland, dying of cancer, is confined to
Middleton Hall, a home for well-off old folks. Genevieve Warner,
thirty and a caregiver there, is very fond of Stella. She
confides about her loveless marriage, even though she doesn't
think Stella will understand. But Stella knows all too well the
disaster that lurks behind the revelations. 1995.
To Fear the Light RC 43588
by Ben Bova and A.J. Austin
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
In this sequel to To Save the Sun (RC 38739), Adela
emerges from two centuries of cold sleep to resume her project
to save the Earth's dying sun. Finding her new world in conflict
and dissolution, she joins a voyage to a distant planet and
encounters a new life form. 1994.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn RC 43591
by Mark Twain
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
A comprehensive edition of Twain's 1885 tale about a boy who
runs away from home and floats down the Mississippi on a raft
with an escaping slave. Includes four episodes originally
deleted from the first edition, an introduction by Twain
biographer Justin Kaplan, and an addendum of explanatory and
interpretive notes. Strong language. 1996.
Smoke RC 43592
by Donald E. Westlake
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
Freddie Noon, twenty-nine, is a thief. When he breaks into the
apartment of two doctors doing research for the tobacco
industry, they convince Freddie to sample a drug they are
creating. Freddie becomes invisible! Not such a bad thing for a
thief, or is it? Strong language. 1995.
Daybreak: Of Saints and Sinners, Volume 2 RC 43594
by Harold Fickett
read by Tom Martin
2 cassettes
In 1765, Abram and Sarah have been married for some time, but
the inability to have children has brought discord into their
marriage. Sarah now spends much of her time in Boston, where she
develops an interest in John Singleton Copley, the painter.
Abram, who stays behind in Newburyport, develops an interest of
his own. Sequel to First Light (RC 40431). 1995.
Scarlet Plume: The Buckskin Man Tales, Volume 3 RC
43595
by Frederick Manfred
read by J.P. Linton
3 cassettes
A fictional account based on the 1862 Sioux Uprising in
Minnesota. Despite the atrocities she witnesses and suffers,
captive Judith Raveling falls passionately in love with the
mysterious Scarlet Plume. Sequel to Lord Grizzly (RC
42917). Violence and explicit descriptions of sex. 1964.
Dust and Ashes: The Arbat Trilogy, Volume 3 RC 43598
by Anatoli Rybakov
read by Ken Kliban
4 cassettes
In this sequel to Fear (RC 37477), Sasha Pankratov
emerges from exile in 1937 to join the Russian army tank corps,
which is preparing to oppose the Nazi juggernaut. Sasha fights
valiantly in battle, achieves personal redemption, and is
reunited with his true love, Varya. Some violence. 1996.
A Son at the Front: With an Introduction by Shari Benstock
RC 43601
by Edith Wharton
read by Christopher Hurt
2 cassettes
Story about American painter John Compton, whose only child,
George, is called to duty in World War I. As Compton and his
ex-wife bicker about protecting their son, George transfers to
the front lines and is killed in battle. His parents are
devastated, but artist Compton experiences an epiphany in his
view of war. 1995.
Tremor RC 43602
by Winston Graham
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
A disparate cast of characters comes together at a resort hotel
in Agadir, Morocco, during the 1960 earthquake. On the guest
list are a novelist on the make, a thief on the lam, a movie
actress on a shoot, three prostitutes on the run, and others.
The final disaster affects them all. 1995.
Blue Mars RC 43603
by Kim Stanley Robinson
read by John Stratton
5 cassettes
In this sequel to Green Mars (RC 42050), the red planet
has become green with seas and settlements, while Earth is in
peril. Settlers on Mars are drawn into a fierce struggle between
the Reds, who want to preserve Mars as desert, and the Green
terraformers, who want to cultivate it. The battle plunges Mars
into an ice age and threatens Earth's future. 1996.
What Is Told RC 43605
by Askold Melnyczuk
read by Ken Kliban
1 cassette
Ukranian professor Zenon Zabobon weds a peasant girl, Natalka,
on the day Archduke Ferdinand is shot in Sarajevo. The family
survives the upheavals of two world wars, then migrates to New
Jersey in 1950 only to face "the subtle sabotages of
peacetime suburbia." Strong language and descriptions of
sex. 1994.
Retribution RC 43607
by Michael Grant
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
After a series of personal setbacks, rogue cop Michael Devlin
quits the NYPD for a "plum" job as security director
at a New York City office tower. He soon discovers that a killer
is targeting company executives, the building is subject to
sabotage, and he must match wits with a world-class assassin.
Strong language and violence. 1995.
Extreme Denial RC 43611
by David Morrell
read by Nick Sullivan
3 cassettes
Antiterrorist agent Steve Decker took the fall for a botched
covert operation in Rome and has retired to New Mexico. Then he
meets gorgeous widow Beth Dwyer and disaster strikes. Decker's
home is attacked and an explosion rocks Beth's. The stakes are
high as Decker matches wits with his violent enemies. Strong
language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.
Shadow of a Hero RC 43618
by Peter Dickinson
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
With the rise of ethnic nationalism in postcommunist Eastern
Europe, English-born Letta and her grandfather, Restaur Vax,
return to his native Varina, a fictional Balkan state. But
officials there fear that Vax, the nation's last democratic
leader, might spur Varian nationalism, and his family is plunged
into perilous intrigue. For junior and senior high readers.
1994.
Mrs. Ted Bliss RC 43626
by Stanley Elkin
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
Mrs. Ted Bliss is an elderly Jewish widow who lives in a Miami
condo. Until now her entire life has been centered on her
husband and children. Gradually, she comes to terms with the
death of her husband and son and with her own identity--as
Dorothy Bliss. When Hurricane Andrew bears down on Miami, she
braces for the storm. 1995.
The Informer RC 43629
by Liam O'Flaherty
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
A melodrama set in Dublin in the 1920s just after the Irish
rebellion. Francis McPhillip, who has killed a man and been in
hiding for six months, has returned to Dublin to see his family.
He is betrayed to the police by Gypo Nolan, and when surrounded,
Francis shoots himself. Hunted by members of the revoluntionary
organization, Gypo finds Mrs. McPhillip, Francis's mother, in
church, and begs her forgiveness. 1925.
Blackwater RC 43630
by Kerstin Ekman
read by Catherine Byers
3 cassettes
Annie Raft and her six-year-old daughter, Mia, stumble upon two
corpses in the forests of northern Sweden. Eighteen years later,
Annie recognizes Mia's lover as the boy she had seen fleeing the
murder scene of the unsolved crime. Some strong language and
some descriptions of sex. 1996.
The Good Negress RC 43632
by A.J. Verdelle
read by Connie Winston
2 cassettes
In 1963 Denise Palms is caught between two worlds. She struggles
with caring for her mother's newborn and looking out for her
irresponsible brother, and with her desire to fulfill her
educational ambitions, motivated by her inspiring teacher. Some
descriptions of sex. 1995.
My Other Life RC 43635
by Paul Theroux
read by John Stratton
4 cassettes
The author's "story of a life I could have lived had things
been different." His imaginary memoir includes stints as
teacher at an African leper colony and as writer in Singapore
and London. He relates a series of encounters with eccentrics
and seductive women. Strong language and descriptions of sex.
1996.
The Fox in the Field: a WWII Novel of India RC 43636
by Maynard Allington
read by Andrew Seear
2 cassettes
A roguish gambler is pressed by British intelligence to uncover
a 1944 German plot to foment anti-British unrest in India. His
espionage involves Kama Sutra interludes with a half-caste
lovely and tense encounters with a ruthless Nazi intelligence
agent. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1994.
The Blue Woman and Other Stories RC 43638
by Mary Flanagan
read by Barbara Caruso
2 cassettes
A series of diverse tales about the lives of women, ranging from
an abused and frightened girl to an old woman in a nursing home.
In the title story a British couple uncovers their mutual
hostility while on holiday in Greece. The stories share a theme
of women's caring and empathy for others. Some strong language.
1994.
Tek Money RC 43639
by William Shatner
read by J.P. Linton
2 cassettes
Old friend and Tek addict Peter Traynor appears one night at
Jake Cardigan's door in a demented state, then suddenly dies. It
seems that he was done in with a Tek "sizzler"--a chip
implanted in his brain. Jake's efforts to solve the crime
involve him in an illegal weapons ring, high stakes, and
personal risk. Strong language. 1995.
The Between RC 43640
by Tananarive Due
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
As a child, Hilton James was rescued from drowning by his
grandmother, who perished to save him. Now a family man of
almost forty, he begins to think his borrowed time is running
out. Haunted by dreams of death and threatened by a psychotic
who stalks his family, Hilton finds his grip on reality
slipping. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1995.
Don't Die before You're Dead RC 43643
by Yevgeny Yevtushenko
read by Ken Kliban
3 cassettes
A fictionalized chronicle of the three-day attempted coup in the
Soviet Union in 1991. Depicts citizens struggling for freedom
yet still insecure from their long subjugation to Communism.
Blends autobiography, political suspense, and love stories to
dramatize the historic event. Strong language. 1995.
Morning Is a Long Time Coming RC 43661
by Bette Greene
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
2 cassettes (Reissue)
En route to Germany in search of the mother's love she has never
known, eighteen-year-old Patty Bergen lingers in Paris and
experiences her first love affair. Sequel to Summer of My
German Soldier (RC 36625). Some strong language. For junior
and senior high readers. 1978.
The Hammer: The General, Book 2 RC 43662
by S.M. Stirling and David Drake
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
In this sequel to The Forge (RC 43242), General Raj
Whitehall, guided by his computer, attempts to reunite the Holy
Federation and rebuild the planet's civilization. Opposing his
efforts, however, are barbarian forces, suspicious government
officials, and resistance from his own men. Strong language and
violence. 1992.
The Fire Duke: Keepers of the Hidden Ways, Book One RC
43668
by Joel Rosenberg
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
Torrie Thorsen takes friends Maggie and Ian home to North Dakota
for college spring break. Suddenly werewolves attack the town
and carry Torrie's mother and Maggie underground to Tir Na Nog,
realm of the Fire Duke. Torrie and his father follow to rescue
them from the secret city. Some strong language. 1995.
Silent Honor RC 43683
by Danielle Steel
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Hiroko's father is a man ahead of his time, while her mother is
steeped in Japanese traditions. At eighteen, Hiroko bows to her
father's wishes and travels to California to stay with cousins
and attend college. It is 1941, and Hiroko soon finds herself an
enemy in a foreign land. Some strong language and some
descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.
Witch RC 43688
by Barbara Michaels
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Hoping to put a failed marriage behind her and begin a new life,
Ellen, with her teenage daughter, moves into an old house in the
Virginia backcountry, only to find it may be haunted by an
eighteenth-century witch. 1973.
Hilda and Pearl RC 43696
by Alice Mattison
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Preadolescent Frances, growing up in 1950s Brooklyn, is confused
by her complex family and world. When she finds a hidden pair of
baby shoes cherished by her mother, Hilda, Frances unravels a
series of tragic secrets involving her parents, Aunt Pearl, and
her uncle. In time, Frances comes to realize the special bond
that Hilda and Pearl share. Descriptions of sex. 1995.
Choosers of the Slain RC 43698
by James H. Cobb
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes
In the year 2006, Argentina storms a British research station in
Antarctica, a first step toward taking over the frigid
continent. The destroyer USS Cunningham is ordered to
interdict an Argentine supply convoy and unsheathes high-tech
firepower as she encounters extensive enemy air and sea forces.
Strong language. 1996.
American Eyes: New Asian-American Short Stories for Young
Adults RC 43701
edited by Lori M. Carlson
read by Annie Wauters
1 cassette
Ten short stories that address aspects of the Asian American
experience and touch upon such themes as alienation, cultural
identity, and generational differences. In "Blonde" an
Asian American girl yearns to be blonde like her Barbie doll.
For junior and senior high readers. 1994.
Summer of Rescue RC 43703
by Barbara Nelson
read by Ilona Dulaski
2 cassettes
The summer of Clare's fortieth year is stressful. Her teenage
daughter has discovered love and sex, while Clare finds herself
the object of a younger man's fancy. An end-of-summer family
reunion at the lake where her son drowned provides Clare with
the insight she needs to cope. 1994.
Highways to a War RC 43707
by Christopher J. Koch
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Asia, 1976. Australian photojournalist Mike Langford, missing in
war-torn Cambodia, is presumed killed or captured. An old friend
obtains the taped diaries that Langford kept until he
disappeared. They reveal a story of duty, courage, and love
through a decade of strife in Indochina. Strong language and
violence. 1995.
The Drowning Room RC 43712
by Michael Pye
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
Recreates the adventurous life of Gretje Reyniers, a
seventeenth-century Dutch woman. Orphaned at twelve, she resorts
to begging, prostitution, and an unappealing marriage. Then she
absconds with her sailor lover to New Amsterdam, where she
amasses wealth and her lover eventually dies. Strong language,
violence, and descriptions of sex. 1995.
The Diablo Grant RC 43723
by James M. Reasoner
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
In this sequel to Stark's Justice (RC 39036), Juan
Espina, the town drunk of a New Mexico territory settlement,
claims historical rights to nearby ranch property and has an
ancient land grant to prove it. The dispute goes before Judge
Stark, who rules for Espina, thus unleashing chaos in the
frontier town. 1994.
Blue Lonesome RC 43724
by Bill Pronzini
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
Every evening Jim Messenger dines alone in the Harmony Cafe,
where Janet Mitchell, another lonely soul, catches his fancy.
When she commits suicide, Jim sets out to discover her story.
His hunt leads him to a bleak Nevada town, where he learns
Janet's terrible secret. Strong language. 1995.
Hearts and Bones RC 43725
by Margaret Lawrence
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Discovery of a woman's beaten, raped body by midwife Hannah
Trevor shocks the town of Rufford, Maine, in 1786. There is also
a letter of accusation, naming Hannah's lover, penned by the
victim just before her death. Joining in the investigation,
Hannah follows a sinuous trail of clues to the murderer.
Violence and descriptions of sex. 1996.
Solar Storms RC 43726
by Linda Hogan
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Seventeen-year-old Angela Jensen returns from her Oklahoma
foster home to her birthplace, a desolate Indian village in
northern Minnesota. There she joins with four generations of
Native American women on a canoe voyage to their ancestral
homeland, which is threatened by a hydroelectric dam project.
1995.
Couplings RC 43732
by Peter Schneider
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Eduard, a biologist in West Berlin, determines the longevity of
human love affairs to be three and one-half years. He wagers
with two friends that the three of them will not be with their
current partners one year hence. Over the course of the year,
each of the three men's relationships falls victim to fate.
Strong language. 1996.
Somebody Else's Mama RC 43734
by David Haynes
read by Camille McCurty Ali
3 cassettes
Al and Paula Johnson live with their twin sons in an African
American town in northern Missouri. Paula cares not only for her
sons, but also for her feisty and cantankerous mother-in-law,
Miss Kezee, whom Paula invited to stay after Ms. Kezee became a
widow. Paula struggles to unify her household while Al runs for
mayor. Some strong language. 1995.
A Simple Heart RC 43738
by Gustave Flaubert
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
The story of a French housemaid in the mid-1800s who embraces
life in spite of her harsh circumstances. With faith and an
inner strength, she endures a wretched childhood, a failed love,
the tragic death of a nephew, and the loss of her beloved pet
bird. Her end is sad, yet dignified. 1924.
Airframe RC 43760
by Michael Crichton
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
The flight of a Norton jet from Hong Kong to Denver ends badly:
three dead and more than fifty others injured. Casey Singleton,
Norton's quality assurance rep, must determine what caused the
mid-air accident before the press crucifies the company and a
huge contract is jeopardized. Strong language. Bestseller 1996.
Silent Witness RC 43767
by Richard North Patterson
read by Chuck Benson
4 cassettes
When he was a teenager, Tony Lord was falsely accused of
murdering his girlfriend, Alison. Now a successful attorney,
Tony learns his best friend from that time, Sam, is in a similar
situation. Determined to save Sam, Tony returns to his now hated
hometown. Strong language, some violence, and some explicit
descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.
The Laws of Our Fathers RC 43768
by Scott Turow
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
5 cassettes
A probation officer is arrested after his mother is killed in a
drive-by shooting. The confusing case comes before Judge Sonny
Klonsky, who knows the victim, the accused, and the defense
attorney from her college days. As the trial progresses, Sonny
also becomes reacquainted with an old beau. Strong language,
some violence, and some descriptions of sex. 1996.
Anything Considered RC 43770
by Peter Mayle
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
English expatriate Bennett tenders his services to a business
magnate with a secret formula for cultivating truffles in a
scheme to dominate the world market. When gangsters steal the
formula, Bennett snatches it back and enjoys a sybaritic holiday
while being pursued across the south of France. Bestseller 1996.
Traitors Gate RC 43771
by Anne Perry
read by Terry Hayes Sales
3 cassettes
Thomas Pitt, now promoted to superintendent, is at home when his
long-time friend Matthew Desmond comes to call. Desmond's father
has died from an overdose of laudanum, and Desmond suspects foul
play. So does Pitt when he learns that Sir Arthur Desmond was a
member of the covert Inner Circle. Pitt, with the help of his
wife, Charlotte, begins an investigation that uncovers betrayal
in the Colonial Office and a second murder. 1995.
The Rough Rider: The House of Winslow, Book 18 RC
43774
by Gilbert Morris
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Teddy Roosevelt is forming his Rough Riders, and Lewis Winslow
joins up. His older brother Aaron enlists to keep an eye on
Lewis and to act as a war correspondent for William Randolph
Hearst. Also enlisting are Dr. David Burns and Gail Summers, his
assistant. As war rages, Gail's affections shift from David to
Aaron. Sequel to The Yukon Queen (RC 42190). 1995.
Peace on Earth RC 43781
by Stanislaw Lem
read by James DeLotel
2 cassettes
Earth's governments have agreed to export the arms race to the
moon, where highly intelligent, self-evolving weaponry battle
each other without human carnage. Nevertheless, the Lunar Agency
dispatches Ijon Tichy, of Memoirs of a Space Traveler (RC
19264), to investigate. Tichy returns to Earth profoundly
altered. 1994.
Geis of the Gargoyle RC 43783
by Piers Anthony
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
In this fantasy saga, Gary Gar must find a spell powerful enough
to preserve the purity of the Swan Knee River, which flows into
Xanth. The Good Magician Humfrey dispatches Gary to tutor an
unruly girl whose magic can locate the fabled philtre and
restore the river to a pristine state. For junior and senior
high readers. 1995.
Small Town Girl RC 43784
by LaVyrle Spencer
read by Sharon Murray
3 cassettes
Country-music star Tess McPhail returns home to care for her
mother, who had hip surgery. But all Tess can think about is the
month she's wasting while so much work is waiting in Nashville.
To make matters worse, Kenny Kronek, the boy-next-door she
taunted throughout school, has become her mother's best friend.
Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller
1997.
Clean Break: A Kate Brannigan Mystery RC 43787
by Val McDermid
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
The Manchester P.I. investigates two crimes. First a Monet is
stolen from an estate that is using Kate's security system, and
Kate feels responsible. Then Trevor Kerr hires Kate to find out
who is trying to blackmail him by sabotaging his Kerrchem
industrial cleaners business. Some strong language. 1995.
Jesse James: Death of a Legend RC 43788
by Will Henry
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
A fictionalized account of the life of the infamous outlaw.
Traces his youth in post-Civil War Missouri, where he joined the
Confederate guerillas, his adult years as a ruthless renegade
and robber of banks and trains, and his death at the hands of
his comrades in 1882. Violence and some strong language. 1954.
John's Wife RC 43792
by Robert Coover
read by Fred Major
4 cassettes
John is a wealthy and prominent builder in middle America, and
his wife is the "coveted object, elusive mystery, beloved
ideal, hated rival, princess, saint, or social asset" of
almost everyone in town. The story views John's wife through the
eyes of the characters who are obsessed with her. Strong
language and descriptions of sex. 1996.
Autumn Lover RC 43798
by Elizabeth Lowell
read by Sharon Murray
3 cassettes
Elyssa Sutton, twenty, is startled when Hunter Maxwell offers
his services as a ramrod who can handle a gun. Together they
rally against the Culpeppers, a family of raiders who are
stripping the Ladder S ranch of cattle. Strong language,
explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller
1996.
Galatea 2.2 RC 43800
by Richard Powers
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Humanist author Richard Powers is recruited by cognitive
neurologist Philip Lentz to train a computer neural net to pass
a university comprehensive exam in English literature. The team
succeeds in developing their highbrow processor, which not only
meets expectations, but begins thinking for itself. 1995.
Memoir from Antproof Case RC 43802
by Mark Helprin
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Fictional autobiography of an American octagenarian who resides
with his much younger wife and son in Brazil. As a Harvard grad,
World War II fighter pilot, and investment banker, he epitomizes
success in the twentieth century. Yet his deep aversion for
coffee has brought him trouble and anguish. Strong language.
1995.
Chancy RC 43804
by Louis L'Amour
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Nineteen-year-old Otis Chancy, a drifter without prospects,
struggles against corrupt lawmen, ruthless outlaws, and hostile
Indians as he makes his way to manhood and forms his own cattle
gang. 1968.
After Rain RC 43805
by William Trevor
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Stories that portray characters who experience setbacks,
emotional collapse, new insights, and life's renewal. In the
title story, a woman revisits the Italian pension where her
family vacationed during her childhood. There she realizes that
she herself has been the cause of her failed romances and other
problems. 1996.
Suspects RC 43807
by Thomas Berger
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
When Donna Howland and her young daughter are found bludgeoned,
Donna's unfaithful husband is fingered as the killer. But as the
circle of bizarre suspects widens, the bungling police force is
stretched to solve the case amid the lunacy. Strong language,
violence, and descriptions of sex. 1996.
River of Sky RC 43808
by Karen Harper
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
In 1835 widowed, impoverished Kate Craig befriends Blue Wing,
her husband's other wife, and together they set out for the
Mandan tribe up the Missouri River, where Kate hopes to set up a
fur trade. Also on the riverboat is Rand, a part-Indian man bent
on saving the Mandans from corrupt traders. Descriptions of sex.
1994.
San Juan Hill RC 43813
by Will Henry
read by David Palmer
2 cassettes
A story of the assault on San Juan Hill by Teddy Roosevelt's
Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Recounts
the war preparations as seen through the eyes of the soldiers
and describes the brutal conflict and its bitter aftermath.
Strong language and violence. 1962.
Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America and All the Ships at Sea
RC 43817
by Richard Bausch
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
This humorous story set in 1964 Washington, D.C., follows the
antics of Walter Marshall, a naive and devout student of
journalism. Walter believes that his ultimate destiny is the
presidency, and his hapless forays toward manhood leave him
sadder but wiser about the ways of a fast-changing world. Strong
language. 1996.
Angel of the Outback: Land of the Far Horizon, Book 2 RC
43827
by Patricia Hickman
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
In 1793 Rachel Langley finishes her seven-year transportation
sentence in Australia and begins to make a life for herself
while searching for the killer of her best friend, Betsy. When
Rachel finds work with the Prentices on their struggling
plantation, her desire to find Betsy's assassin almost destroys
them. Sequel to Voyage of the Exiles (RC 43445). 1995.
Belgarath the Sorcerer RC 43837
by David and Leigh Eddings
read by Roy Avers
5 cassettes
In this prequel to the Belgariad and the Malloreon series,
Belgarath the Sorcerer is encouraged by his grandson, Garion, to
explain how the evil god Torak split the world apart, and how
Aldur set it right again with Belgarath's help. 1994.
The Bear Paw Horses RC 43838
by Will Henry
read by John Polk
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux makes a dying request that his
people locate a secret herd of four hundred horses. Con Jenkins,
a cunning outlaw, joins an elderly medicine man and a
white-hating Indian girl in a desperate effort to recover the
hidden herd and save the Sioux people. Violence. 1973.
Seeing Calvin Coolidge in a Dream RC 43850
by John Derbyshire
read by Ed Blake
2 cassettes
Chai is living the good life with his wife, Ding, and daughter,
Hetty, in suburban New York, having survived a difficult time as
a Red Guard in China during the Great Cultural Revolution. Chai
undergoes a midlife crisis, however, when a former lover
reappears, and Ding must scheme to bring back her wayward
husband. 1996.
The Wedding Dress: Stories from the Dakota Plains RC
43856
by Carrie Young
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
In the title story, Ildri, a seamstress of Norwegian descent, is
asked to model an intricately made wedding dress. Upon leaving
her position, Ildri buys the dress and lends it to a succession
of brides in her homesteading community before finding her own
bittersweet use for it. The collection's other entries are also
peopled with Norwegian Americans on the Dakota plains. Some
strong language. 1992.
The Pioneers: An American Family Portrait, Book 5 RC
43858
by Jack Cavanaugh
read by John Stratton
2 cassettes
Jesse Morgan, twenty, lives in the lower east side tenements of
1890s New York. He dreams of a better life, knowing God will
help him. But Morgan encounters tragedy when he thinks he let
someone die. He flees to the West, followed by several
people--including Emily, who wants to be his wife. Sequel to
The Adversaries (RC 41795). 1996.
Some Love, Some Pain, Sometime RC 43868
by J. California Cooper
read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona
2 cassettes
Ten stories of women who seek love, contend with the risks of
romance, and eventually find happiness. In the initial story, a
country-bred young woman moves to the city in search of a
husband who will make her feel like a "femme fatale."
Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1995.
Decision at Doona RC 43871
by Anne McCaffrey
read by Mary Woods
2 cassettes
Seeking to escape an overcrowded and stagnant Earth, human
colonists travel to a new planet called Doona. They discover
that a sentient race of cat-like beings already inhabits the
planet, and the colonists must make a painful decision between
abandoning their new home or learning to coexist with the alien
race. Followed by Crisis at Doona (RC 43872). 1969.
The King of Babylon Shall Not Come against You RC
43875
by George Garrett
read by Christopher Walker
3 cassettes
Novel set in 1993. Reporter Billy Tone returns to Paradise
Springs, Florida, to research crimes that took place there
during the week civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was
assassinated. The tale is told through the voices--sometimes
cynical--of participants and witnesses. Strong language,
violence, and descriptions of sex. 1996.
Hunter's Moon RC 43887
by Karen Robards
read by Ilona Dulaski
2 cassettes
FBI agent Will Lyman stakes out a Kentucky stable to prove
suspected race-fixing. When groom Molly Ballard takes money left
as bait and Lyman's source kills himself, Lyman insists Molly go
undercover for him, and he poses as her boyfriend. Strong
language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.
The Ugly Duckling RC 43888
by Iris Johansen
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Mousy, plain-faced Nell Calder is attending a party on a Greek
island when her husband and daughter are killed and she is badly
mutilated. But why? Nicholas Tanek investigates as Nell emerges
with a gorgeous new face and a new reason to live--revenge.
Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex.
1996.
The Empress of One RC 43889
by Faith Sullivan
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Young Sally Wheeler's life is overshadowed by her mother's
chronic depression. Sally struggles to forge a stable life, but
the strain affects her behavior and grades at school. Blessed
with a talent for drama, she writes and stages a play in which
she expresses her feelings. 1996.
Errands RC 43896
by Judith Guest
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
When her husband of seventeen years dies of a brain tumor, Annie
Browner is grief-stricken and frantic to find a job that will
provide for her three children. The Detroit family's troubles
intensify until each member performs an errand of love for the
others. Strong language. 1997.
The Animals' Waltz RC 43899
by Cary Fagan
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Quirky Sheila Hersh leads a double life. By day she writes ads
for her father's Toronto mattress store. By night she is part of
the art scene, where she stars in an underground film. Intrigued
with an Austrian book of poems, Sheila goes to romantic Vienna
where she makes some surprising discoveries. Strong language and
some descriptions of sex. 1994.
Evolution's Shore RC 43900
by Ian McDonald
read by Mary Woods
3 cassettes
A meteor strikes Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2002. Soon the
"Chaga," an alien plant form, spreads across Africa,
transforming all life in its path. Reporter Gaby McAslan
struggles to uncover the truth about government secrecy, missing
persons, and "research camps." Some strong language
and some descriptions of sex. 1995.
Wooden Fish Songs RC 43902
by Ruthanne Lum McCunn
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Three women recount stories about the life of Chinese immigrant
and botanist Lue Gim Gong, whose 1870s experiments in
hybridization boosted the Florida citrus industry. Recounts his
life of privation prior to emigrating, his education in America,
and the alienation that he felt in spite of his professional
success. 1995.
Familiar Acts RC 43910
by June Barraclough
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
As a child growing up in Victorian England, Hetty Coppen always
sensed that her mother favored Hetty's younger sister. When
Hetty discovers that she is a stepchild, she vows to uncover her
family's past. On a trip in Italy, Hetty encounters intrigue and
romance as she assembles her family history. 1993.
Two Crowns for America RC 43911
by Katherine Kurtz
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
In 1775 George Washington falls from his horse and, while
unconscious, has a vision of a Masonic ceremony involving a
woman. The author of Washington's vision is the ageless Masonic
master, whose aim is to seat Bonnie Prince Charlie on the throne
of America. Washington's vision comes to pass, while the
master's is foiled. 1996.
The Middle Heart RC 43912
by Bette Bao Lord
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
During the turbulent 1930s in China, three outcasts form a bond
that lasts a lifetime. Steel Hope, an undesired second son of a
fallen family, is assigned a tutor, Mountain Pine, whose leg is
malformed. They join with Firecrackers, an orphaned girl, in
decades of struggle to survive under the Communist regime. Some
strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex.
1996.
Everlasting Love RC 43918
by Jayne Ann Krentz and others
read by Mary Woods
2 cassettes
Collection of short stories about love from five romance
authors. In Krentz's story, a young woman in Washington state
pretends to be the fiancée of a private investigator she
has hired. In Linda Miller's tale, set in Montana territory in
1888, a woman's husband returns after seven years--just as she
is planning to marry again. Explicit descriptions of sex.
Bestseller 1995.
Breakheart Hill RC 43922
by Thomas H. Cook
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
A tale of young romance, racism, and tragedy in 1962 rural
Alabama. The town doctor, at the time a high school senior,
recounts events that led to the murder of his first love, a girl
who aroused public passions by embracing the civil rights cause.
Strong language and violence. 1995.
Outer Dark RC 43924
by Cormac McCarthy
read by Pam Ward
2 cassettes
A bleak tale of incest set in Appalachia around 1900. After
fathering his sister's baby, a man abandons the infant in the
woods and flees. As the frantic mother sets out on a relentless
search for the child, she is pursued through the forest by three
mysterious strangers. Strong language and violence. 1968.
Arrow to the Heart RC 43926
by Jennifer Blake
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Giles Castlereagh knows he is dying and wants to be sure he has
an heir to inherit Arcadia, his Louisiana plantation, but
Katrine is still a virgin because their marriage remains
unconsummated. Giles has arranged a tournament to pick a
suitable mate for Katrine. But when Rowan de Blanc wins the
honor, neither he nor Katrine are willing to obey Giles's
orders, until they are locked in the tower together. Some strong
language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1993.
Dead Man's Walk RC 43928
by Larry McMurtry
read by Bob Askey
3 cassettes
This prequel to Lonesome Dove (RC 22959) recounts the
early days of Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call. Not yet twenty, they
enlist as members of the Texas Rangers under the command of
Caleb Cobb. Traveling with the Rangers is Matilda Roberts, a
hefty whore who occasionally provides comfort to the men as they
head for Santa Fe across the Jornada Del Muerto. Violence,
strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1995.
Maggie Cassidy RC 43932
by Jack Kerouac
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
A story of high school life and love in a New England mill town
in 1939. Evokes the exuberance and anguish of adolescent
romance, the joys of competitive sports, and the thrill of
youthful adventures. Strong language. 1959.
Dream Man RC 43933
by Linda Howard
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Six years after a brutal incident, Marlie Keen is hopeful that
her psychic abilities are gone for good. Then she is overcome
with the knowledge that a man is committing a savage murder.
Police detective Dane Hollister doesn't believe her until he
investigates her past. But he does know he's wildly attracted to
her from the start--even while he considers her a suspect.
Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex.
Bestseller 1994.
The Insult RC 43935
by Rupert Thomson
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Martin Blom is blinded by a stray bullet in a parking lot. When
he discovers that he has been gifted with night vision, he sets
out on a nocturnal urban odyssey. Blom's journey leads to a
startling discovery of his own past in a remote mountain
village. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex.
1996.
Sierra: A Novel of the California Gold Rush RC 43937
by Richard S. Wheeler
read by Chuck Benson
3 cassettes
In 1849 young Ulysses McQueen heads for the California gold
field, leaving his pregnant wife in Iowa. That same year, former
soldier Stephen Jarvis strikes gold and makes his fortune. The
two men become partners in a farming venture, just as McQueen's
wife arrives to join him. 1996.
1812 RC 43939
by David Nevin
read by Bob Askey
4 cassettes
This sequel to Dream West (RC 20213) follows the lives of
national figures James and Dolley Madison, Andrew Jackson, and
Winfield Scott. As the new republic is drawn into conflict with
England, regional divisions at first beset America's war effort.
The tide turns, and in 1815 Jackson wins the Battle of New
Orleans. Strong language and violence. 1996.
Total Control RC 43947
by David Baldacci
read by L.J. Ganser
3 cassettes
Jason Archer tells his attorney wife, Sidney, that he is flying
to Los Angeles for a job interview when in fact he is traveling
to Seattle to hand over company secrets. When the L.A. plane
that Jason was supposed to be on blows up, Sidney and FBI agent
Lee Sawyer try to determine what actually happened to Jason.
Strong language, violence, and some descriptions of sex.
Bestseller 1997.
Because They Wanted To: Stories RC 44015
by Mary Gaitskill
read by Manya LaBruja
2 cassettes
Stories about women, some bisexual, and the secrets, lies,
misunderstandings, and betrayals in their love relationships.
"The Dentist" tells of a woman's perverse obsession
with her stodgy dentist, who resists her sexual advances. Strong
language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller
1997.
Mirage RC 44020
by F. Paul Wilson and Matthew J. Costello
read by Nona Pipes
2 cassettes
Medical scientist Julie Gordon has pioneered a computer scanner
that visually records memories from a patient's brain. When her
twin sister, Sam, falls into a coma, Julie employs the device to
explore Sam's mindscape and relives the emotional traumas of
their childhood. Violence and descriptions of sex. Bestseller
1996.
Greygallows RC 44023
by Barbara Michaels
read by Vanessa Maroney
2 cassettes
Born in 1826, heiress Lucy Cartwright is soon orphaned and grows
up in an English boarding school. At sixteen she is surprised by
a proposal from mysterious Baron Clare and reluctantly accepts.
He takes Lucy to Greygallows, his estate, but doesn't share her
bedroom and soon begins to mistreat her. Meanwhile, she
discovers the Greygallows ghost. 1972.
Lucky Town RC 44031
by James Brown
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
A boy's coming-of-age escapade with his shiftless, ex-con father
and a former prostitute. When they reach Las Vegas, where they
scheme to strike it rich, their ventures lead to disaster for
the father and a fresh view on life for the boy. Strong
language, violence, and descriptions of sex. 1994.
The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition RC 44033
by Ira Steven Behr
read by James DeLotel
1 cassette
The guiding principles that have made the Ferengi the most
successful, if unscrupulous, businessmen in the galaxy include
such gems as "greed is eternal," "never place
friendship above profit," "once you have their money .
. . you never give it back," and "keep your lies
consistent." Seventy of these adages are offered by Quark,
the profit-motivated Ferengi barkeep of Deep Space Nine.
A Star Trek: Deep Space Nine treatise. 1995.
The Clinic RC 44038
by Jonathan Kellerman
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
When Hope Devane, psychology professor and author of a
controversial book, is murdered, police detective Milo Sturgis
asks his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, to help with the
case. Delaware searches for clues by interviewing the troubled
students who came before Devane's Conduct Committee. Strong
language and some violence. Bestseller 1996.
The Cat Who Tailed a Thief RC 44143
by Lilian Jackson Braun
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
A rash of petty thievery, newcomers in Pickax, a wedding, and a
couple of murders Down Below keep Qwilleran, who has bought a
condo for the winter, and his cats, KoKo and Yum Yum, busy
during the holiday season. Bestseller 1997.
Sole Survivor RC 44144
by Dean Koontz
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
Los Angeles journalist Joe Carpenter is devastated by the loss
of his wife and two daughters, who died in a plane crash. A year
later, Carpenter is shocked to meet a mysterious woman who
claims to have been on that flight. She appears to bring great
joy to the crash victims' loved ones, but then they each
inexplicably kill themselves. Violence. Bestseller 1997.
Lovers and Liars RC 44182
by Sally Beauman
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
5 cassettes
London reporter Gini Hunter is surprised to be assigned a story
with French photojournalist Pascal Lamartine, the man she had
loved at fifteen. The assignment is to verify a tip that the
U.S. ambassador has unusual sex habits. What Gini and Pascal
don't realize is that the odd anonymous packages they receive
the day they get the job are clues that they are pawns in a
carefully orchestrated game. Strong language, violence, and
descriptions of sex. 1994.
The List RC 44207
by Steve Martini
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Lawyer-turned-novelist Abby Chandlis has penned a sure
bestseller, but the market for women authors is tight. When she
attributes authorship to a cute male model, things go awry and
her scam turns sour--then lethal. Strong language, violence, and
descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1997.
Guided Tours of Hell RC 44270
by Francine Prose
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Two novellas about traveling Americans who are transformed as
they confront the historic tragedies of the French Revolution
and the Holocaust. In the title story, a second-rate writer
dreams of Kafka while touring a concentration camp. In
"Three Pigs in Five Days," a travel writer seeks to
rekindle a waning romance with her editor while on a "death
tour" of Paris. Strong language. Bestseller 1997.
The Heiress RC 44289
by Jude Deveraux
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
In 1572 English knight Jamie Montgomery is assigned to escort
the Maidenhall heiress, who is joining her fiancé.
Because Jamie's family is now impoverished, his sisters convince
Jamie to try to make the heiress fall in love with him. When
Jamie mistakes the heiress's cousin for her and confides his
plan to the heiress, she decides not to reveal her identity.
Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language.
Bestseller 1995.
Acts of Love RC 44307
by Judith Michael
read by Barbara Pinolini
3 cassettes
As theater director Lucas Cameron is closing his grandmother's
villa in Italy, he comes across a box of letters from her
protégé, Jessica Fontaine. Jessica and his
grandmother were great actresses, but now his grandmother is
dead, and Jessica has not been seen on stage for years. Although
Lucas never liked Jessica, something about her letters compels
him to seek her out. Some strong language. Bestseller 1997.
The Unlikely Spy RC 44315
by Daniel Silva
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
4 cassettes
History professor and Winston Churchill confidant Alfred Vicary
is enjoying success as head of England's counterintelligence
unit during World War II. On the eve of the Normandy invasion,
he learns that a Nazi "sleeper" spy has been activated
in London to discover the location of the planned D-Day
campaign. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex.
Bestseller 1996.
Van Gogh's Bad Café: A Love Story RC 44317
by Frederic Tuten
read by Ed Blake
1 cassette
Dream-like tale of a young morphine-addicted woman who becomes
Vincent van Gogh's lover. She steps through a wall and forward
in time to explore the alien world of late-twentieth-century New
York. But a lingering concern about van Gogh returns her to him.
Strong language and violence. Bestseller 1997.
The Rapture of Canaan RC 44391
by Sheri Reynolds
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Ninah Huff's Grandpa Herman, minister of the Church of Fire and
Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind, maintains control
over the entire community in an isolated part of South Carolina.
But Ninah, fourteen, finds herself pregnant by her prayer
partner James, fifteen, because they believe they are following
God's command. Some strong language. Bestseller 1995.
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