“I am Shanghai Pierce, Webster in Cattle, by God, Sir.” And, in truth, he was. Part rascal, part gentleman, part poseur, part just himself—of all the colorful Texas figures following the Civil War none was as loud, garish, and funny as Shanghai Pierce, who left Rhode Island penniless and became one of the Big Pasture Men of southern Texas. At six foot, four, Shanghai Pierce was big, rich, and selfish, but he could also be kind. His cunning was seldom matched, and business, whether it involved a quarter-million-dollar loan or a twenty-five cent pair of socks, was his lifeblood. In recreating the life of Abel Head (“Shanghai”) Pierce, Chris Emmett unfolds the entire dramatic spectacle of the time and place in which Pierce lived. An arresting figure, Pierce was a symbol of his era. His statue, which he himself erected in Hawley, Texas, is still a perfect memorial to, and a reminder of, westward-moving America. Shanghai Pierce was a man who pulled up his roots and fled to the West, where he found there was ample room and opportunity. First published in 1953, Shanghai Pierce: A Fair Likeness won the 1953 Summerfield G. Roberts award of the Texas Institute of Letters for the best book on the Republic of Texas.
Revised and updated with new information, this Jane Adams award winner is an in-depth examination of the Emmett Till murder case, a catalyst of the Civil Rights Movement. The kidnapping and violent murder of fourteen-year-old Emmett Till in 1955 was and is a uniquely American tragedy. Till, a black teenager from Chicago, was visiting family in a small town in Mississippi, when he allegedly whistled at a white woman. Three days later, his brutally beaten body was found floating in the Tallahatchie River. In clear, vivid detail Chris Crowe investigates the before-and-aftermath of Till's murder, as well as the dramatic trial and speedy acquittal of his white murderers, situating both in the context of the nascent Civil Rights Movement. Newly reissued with a new chapter of additional material--including recently uncovered details about Till's accuser's testimony--this book grants eye-opening insight to the legacy of Emmett Till.
In 1970 Hong Kong was the fastest expanding city in the world, a city that lived on three levels: the expatriates, nearly always British who lived in almost complete isolation; the vast mass of Chinese residents struggling to get by and improve their lot; and, finally, the criminal and corrupt underside which not only fought among itself, but also affected the lives of everyone else in the Crown Colony through fear and corruption. Fighting to hold this in check—and by and large succeeding—were the Hong Kong police force. At the officer level, many were British. Into this heady and dangerous mix steps a young Merseyside policeman, Chris Emmett. His account of those times brings vividly to life the crime, prostitution, drugs, triad street gangs, and corruption that was an important part of the fabric of Hong Kong of that time.
A strong mystery that clearly shows some secrets, like a few bodies, can't stay buried." -Kirkus Reviews After a kidnap-for-hire plot results in the death of a young boy, Burr police chief Emmett Hardy blames himself and has an alcohol-fueled breakdown. His life at a crossroads, Hardy checks into the hospital for treatment, only to discover upon his release that he's been suspended from duty. When a dying prisoner contacts him about a long-forgotten unsolved case, Emmett-temporarily at loose ends-begins an informal investigation. Soon he becomes a target of violence himself, as his investigation becomes a murder probe implicating the most powerful men in town. Hardy is forced to relive one of the most traumatic events of his childhood, and faces the possibility that members of his own family may have been involved in the crime. Ultimately, with Emmett's tenuous grasp on sobriety slipping and his moral foundation shifting beneath his feet, the answer to the question, "Who do I trust?" becomes a matter of life and death.
Poignant and funny, studded with characters who haunt your imagination long after you've read the final page." -Anne Hillerman, New York Times bestselling author of The Way of the Bear on Kelsey's Where the Hurt Is Burr, Oklahoma, summer, 1976: On the eve of America's Bicentennial celebration, a notorious local politician is assassinated at a campaign rally. The case seems open and shut; the killer-a young, anonymous homeless woman-is shot by police at the scene. With the death of the assassin, the lead investigator is content to write off the crime as a random act. Burr's Chief of Police, Emmett Hardy, isn't so sure. Hardy becomes convinced the killing is the culmination of something deeper and darker-a violent conspiracy that not only makes a mockery of justice but ultimately threatens his life and those around him. A tale of murder, revenge, and intrigue, Blond Hair, Blue Eyes is Emmett Hardy's most difficult and exciting case yet.
As the fiftieth anniversary approaches, there's a renewed interest in this infamous 1955 murder case, which made a lasting mark on American culture, as well as the future Civil Rights Movement. Chris Crowe's IRA Award-winning novel and his gripping, photo-illustrated nonfiction work are currently the only books on the teenager's murder written for young adults.
Poignant and funny, studded with characters who haunt your imagination long after you've read the final page." -Anne Hillerman, New York Times bestselling author of Cave of Bones When everyone would prefer to look the other way, can one man cut through fear and prejudice to unmask a killer? Oklahoma, 1965. Emmett Hardy is focused on drinking his failures away. And despite his general enthusiasm for the social reforms sweeping the country, the disillusioned police chief isn't surprised by his community's ongoing casual racism. But he's still shocked when he discovers the body of a Black woman with a slashed throat dumped by the railroad tracks. When the state authorities offer only a lazy investigation and arrest an unlikely suspect, Hardy puts down the bottle and swears to uncover the real murderer. But with resistance from his all-white neighbors and the clues leading to the small town's most powerful citizen, the upstanding cop may be heading straight into danger. Will Hardy's unrelenting race to find the truth destroy his life? Where the Hurt Is is the complex first book in the Emmett Hardy Novel crime fiction series. If you like tortured heroes, tense twists, and authentic settings, then you'll love Chris Kelsey's poignant novel.
Filled with clues from NPR's popular news quiz show,Wait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me!, this collection features 80 new crossword puzzles, perfect for every fan who's been itching to put their own trivia powers to the test! * BRAND-NEW PUZZLES FORWAIT, WAIT FANS: The 80 all-new puzzles in this book include content featured on the last several years of the show, ranging from pop culture to current events. * THERE'S TRIVIA TOO: The book also includes six pages of specialty trivia, perfect for hardcoreWait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me! * A GREAT GIFT FOR THE PUZZLER IN YOUR LIFE: Buy this crossword collection for trivia nerds, pop-culture fanatics, word-game lovers, and public radio enthusiasts.
Incidents Growing Up Around an Attempt by the War Department of the United States to Foster an Uninterrupted Flow of Commerce Through Texas by the Use of Camels
Incidents Growing Up Around an Attempt by the War Department of the United States to Foster an Uninterrupted Flow of Commerce Through Texas by the Use of Camels
Hong Kong in 1970 was the fastest expanding city in the world, a city that lived on three levels - the expatriates, nearly always British who lived in almost complete isolation; the vast mass of Chinese residents struggling to get by and improve their lot; and finally the criminal and corrupt underside which not only fought among itself but also affected the life of everyone else in the Crown Colony through fear and corruption. Fighting to hold this in check - and by and large succeeding - were the Hong Kong police force. At the officer level, many were British. Into this heady and dangerous mix steps a young Merseyside policeman, Chris Emmett. His account of those times brings vividly to life the crime, prostitution, drugs, triad street gangs and corruption that was an important part of the fabric of Hong Kong of those days.
From the author of the award-winning crime thriller, Where the Hurt Is. “This top-notch suspense thriller will seize your attention, and you’ll be enthralled by the characters and the author’s witty and appealing style.” –Sublime Book Review The residents of tiny Butcherville, Oklahoma love their God-given freedoms so much, they refuse to hire their own police force. When they need a cop, they just call Emmett Hardy, police chief of Burr, the closest neighboring town. Whether it’s to break up a fight, dissuade an angry good ol’ boy from hunting rabbits with an M-16, or eject an unruly patron from Butcherville’s combination strip joint/bookstore, Emmett’s always glad to oblige … that is, until a local business owner’s lust for money and power results in a deadly shootout and multiple kidnappings. Suddenly, Emmett’s good intentions are fraught with dangerous consequences. Besieged by friend and foe alike, and sabotaged by a fondness for drink that’s starting to affect his work, Emmett is the last man standing between a community of honest people trying to do their best with what little they have, and an evil that threatens not only their jobs and homes, but their very lives.
Chris Kelsey hits another home-run with this fast-paced and enthralling mystery starring Emmett Hardy." –Sublime Book Review It's August 1974. The oil-producing states of the Middle East refuse to sell their oil to the United States, igniting a worldwide economic crisis. What's a catastrophe for some is, for the residents of at least one small town, an opportunity: Burr, Oklahoma sits atop a sea of oil. The embargo sparks an increase in local drilling, resulting in an economic boom. Of course, the newfound prosperity comes with a price; Burr begins to experience problems once almost exclusively associated with big cities: illegal drugs, sexual assault, and a skyrocketing murder rate. When a disabled young man is found shot to death in the back row of a drive-in movie theater, Burr's police chief, Emmett Hardy, considers it an isolated act of depravity. As the dominos fall, however, Emmett realizes he might be searching for a type of killer who, in 1974, had yet to be named-someone who kills repeatedly, savagely, and seemingly at random. Hardy searches for the culprit even as old habits cloud his mind and clues to the killer's identity go unnoticed. The trail circles back and becomes a noose. It's up to Emmett to cut himself down before it's too late.
As Cynthia Wright's marriage implodes, she is forced to raise her teenage son, Isaiah, alone. The pressure of providing for them through her salon is a full-time job in itself. When Cynthia sees Isaiah pulling away and escaping into video games, tensions rise and prayers feel unanswered. Angry and hurt, Isaiah starts acting like the father who abandoned him, and Cynthia gives him an ultimatum while turning to her twin sister, Elizabeth Jordan, for support. Elizabeth enlists a seasoned prayer warrior who challenges Cynthia to pray boldly and believe God for the impossible. Caught in the middle, Isaiah longs for respect, but sees no clear path to becoming a good man. Desperate for a job, he wanders into Moore Fitness, Inc. and encounters the owner, Joshua Moore, who introduces him to the concept of working for a coach rather than a boss. Needing the work, Isaiah reluctantly begins his mentoring process with Joshua. While Cynthia clings to hope, no one sees the coming storms brewing at the company and in Isaiah's heart. The Forge is about the power of prayer, the transformation only God can achieve, and the lasting influence one person can have on others.
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