Nancy Drew investigates two cases, one in which her father is kidnapped, and the other involving a missing will.

Nancy Drew investigates two cases, one in which her father is kidnapped, and the other involving a missing will.

More information to be announced soon on this forthcoming title from Penguin USA

The definitive guide to classic films from one of America's most trusted film critics Thanks to Netflix and cable television, classic films are more accessible than ever. Now co-branded with Turner Classic Movies, Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide covers films from Hollywood and around the world, from the silent era through 1965, and from The Maltese Falcon to Singin’ in the Rain and Godzilla, King of the Monsters! Thoroughly revised and updated, and featuring expanded indexes, a list of Maltin’s personal recommendations, and three hundred new entries—including many offbeat and obscure films—this new edition is a must-have companion for every movie lover. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Abate examines how board books, coloring books, bedtime stories, and series detective fiction written and published specifically for adults question the boundaries of genre and challenge the assumption that adulthood and childhood are mutually exclusive.

A Companion to American Gothic features a collection of original essays that explore America’s gothic literary tradition. The largest collection of essays in the field of American Gothic Contributions from a wide variety of scholars from around the world The most complete coverage of theory, major authors, popular culture and non-print media available

Watching the screen version of a classic mystery novel can be disappointing. By necessity or artistic license (or possibly just ego) changes are often made by the filmmakers--many of them ineffective or even detrimental. This book focuses on the screen adaptations of 65 famous mysteries and examines how the filmmakers either succeeded or failed in the telling of the story. Interviews with several famous mystery writers are included, with their comments on how filmmakers treated their work.

Given the long-standing belief that children ought to be shielded from disturbing life events, it is surprising to see how many stories for kids involve killing. Bloody Murder is the first full-length critical study of this pervasive theme of murder in children’s literature. Through rereadings of well-known works, such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, and The Outsiders, Michelle Ann Abate explores how acts of homicide connect these works with an array of previously unforeseen literary, social, political, and cultural issues. Topics range from changes in the America criminal justice system, the rise of forensic science, and shifting attitudes about crime and punishment to changing cultural conceptions about the nature of evil and the different ways that murder has been popularly presented and socially interpreted. Bloody Murder adds to the body of inquiry into America's ongoing fascination with violent crime. Abate argues that when narratives for children are considered along with other representations of homicide in the United States, they not only provide a more accurate portrait of the range, depth, and variety of crime literature, they also alter existing ideas about the meaning of violence, the emotional appeal of fear, and the cultural construction of death and dying.

The latest version of this bestselling guide has more than 20,000 capsule movie reviews--including over 300 new entries--with ratings and running times. Also featured is information on videos and laser discs and a newly updated Index of leading performers.

Traces the development of series fiction, looks at five of the most popular mystery series, and explains how Edward Stratemeyer created his successful publishing syndicate

The author of the annual Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide presents a detailed overview of classic films, with capsule reviews of more than seven thousand movies, along with a complete listing of classic movies on DVD, a series of Top Ten lists, and a star and director index. Original.

With more than 300 new entries, 1,000 more videocassette and laser-disc listings, and an enlarged index of leading performers and directors, the 1998 edition of this perennial bestseller continues to be a "must" for every movie buff's bookshelf. "Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide" has long been acclaimed because of its factual authority and sheer depth of information.

Contains updated and revised sketches on nearly 800 of the most widely read authors and illustrators appearing in Gale's Something about the author series.

This exciting new bind-up features all three of Leslie Margolis's pitch-perfect Maggie Brooklyn Mystery novels in one sleek package! In Girl's Best Friend, dogs are disappearing in Maggie Brooklyn Sinclair's neighborhood, and she knows all about it. After all, she has a semi-secret after-school gig as a professional (okay, amateur) dog walker. Maggie may have a lot of leads, but she never suspected her crush Milo could be involved In Vanishing Acts, a movie starring the young heartthrob Seth Ryan starts filming in Maggie's neighborhood, and everyone has movie mania. Maggie manages to capture Seth's attention, but then he disappears! Everyone thinks he's been kidnapped, but Maggie knows better. In Secrets at the Chocolate Mansion, someone is out to sabotage the new sweet shop in the neighborhood. Maggie's on the case, but her new babysitting gig has her and her twin brother Finn hanging out in what they fear may be a real haunted mansion. And it's hard to solve real life mysteries when you think you're seeing ghosts!

Journalist Helene Cooper examines the violent past of her home country Liberia and the effects of its 1980 military coup in this deeply personal memoir and finalist for the 2008 National Book Critics Circle Award. Helene Cooper is “Congo,” a descendant of two Liberian dynasties—traced back to the first ship of freemen that set sail from New York in 1820 to found Monrovia. Helene grew up at Sugar Beach, a twenty-two-room mansion by the sea. Her childhood was filled with servants, flashy cars, a villa in Spain, and a farmhouse up-country. It was also an African childhood, filled with knock foot games and hot pepper soup, heartmen and neegee. When Helene was eight, the Coopers took in a foster child—a common custom among the Liberian elite. Eunice, a Bassa girl, suddenly became known as “Mrs. Cooper’s daughter.” For years the Cooper daughters—Helene, her sister Marlene, and Eunice—blissfully enjoyed the trappings of wealth and advantage. But Liberia was like an unwatched pot of water left boiling on the stove. And on April 12, 1980, a group of soldiers staged a coup d'état, assassinating President William Tolbert and executing his cabinet. The Coopers and the entire Congo class were now the hunted, being imprisoned, shot, tortured, and raped. After a brutal daylight attack by a ragtag crew of soldiers, Helene, Marlene, and their mother fled Sugar Beach, and then Liberia, for America. They left Eunice behind. A world away, Helene tried to assimilate as an American teenager. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she found her passion in journalism, eventually becoming a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. She reported from every part of the globe—except Africa—as Liberia descended into war-torn, third-world hell. In 2003, a near-death experience in Iraq convinced Helene that Liberia—and Eunice—could wait no longer. At once a deeply personal memoir and an examination of a violent and stratified country, The House at Sugar Beach tells of tragedy, forgiveness, and transcendence with unflinching honesty and a survivor's gentle humor. And at its heart, it is a story of Helene Cooper’s long voyage home.

Simon Kirby-Jones Mysteries #3 From the New York Times bestselling author of the Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series, a traditional British village cozy mystery series...with a twist! “A well-crafted mystery combines with whimsical characters to create an imaginative spoof on the classic locked-room mystery.” —Publishers Weekly “A delightful English village whodunit filled with some of the most eccentric characters you’ll ever run across in a mystery novel.” —The Denver Post The typically quiet British village of Snupperton Mumsley is bustling over the arrival of Zeke Harwood, the insufferable star of a popular TV decorating show. The Snupperton episode is supposed to feature the redecorating of Lady Prunella Blitherington’s drawing room, but Zeke plans to paint the room a garish red—and he and Lady Prunella are caught on tape in the midst of a dreadful argument. When Zeke is found murdered—and covered in red paint!—Lady Prunella becomes the chief suspect. But Simon Kirby-Jones, part-time amateur sleuth and full-time gay vampire, unearths plenty of other motives among the guests, villagers...and even the butler! Meanwhile, Simon is stumped as to why he suddenly has urges to nibble some necks— A symptom his medication is supposed to suppress! A charming and refreshing take on the classic locked-room mystery, Decorated to Death is sure to endear fans of the cozy mystery genre.