Bøker av Lee Martin

The follow-up to Pulitzer Prize finalist The Bright Forever, The Evening Shades tells the story of two lonely people in a small Midwestern town slowly revealing their secrets to themselves, and each other . . .One afternoon in the autumn of 1972, a lonely widow in Mt. Gilead, Illinois, makes the impromptu decision to rent out a room in her house to a socially awkward man, a stranger who has come to town. It is risky—she doesn’t know anything about him. But Edith Green can no longer bear a life lived alone. And Henry Dees, haunted by the past he carries with him from Tower Hill, Indiana, is plagued by a tremendous guilt about things he did and didn’t do that led to the death of a little girl back home. How can he face the rest of his life?The Evening Shades is as moving and suspenseful as its predecessor, Pulitzer finalist The Bright Forever. But it is a story that stands alone: a story of love found in middle age and the joy it promises, but not without serious complications. There is the bereaved family of the little girl, who are holding their own secrets about the mysterious disappearances of both the man who killed their daughter and Henry Dees.The Evening Shades is a poignant story of accommodation, resilience, forgiveness, and love in the face of all that threatens the splendor of our ordinary lives.

Congratulations on finding this book. If you are reading this book, you are fortunate and blessed. After hundreds, perhaps a thousand years or more, the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is revealed.The truth of the gospel has been stolen and perverted by the devil. In these last days, the gospel has now been revealed as it was intended when it was first written.NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF ALL CHRISTIANS ARE GOING TO HELL. This book is written to start a fire in God's church. The church today is spiritually dead. Your worship is in vain, and your prayers are unheard. Your soul is lost. Woe to you.

Tom Huxley, owner and CEO of a large accounting firm in the town of Jasmine, South Carolina, is on his way to the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when he is assaulted at a rest area near the Georgia border. His wife, Amanda, is notified by the Anderson County Sheriff that Tom was transported to a local hospital and currently in a coma. Within a matter of hours, she and her daughter Brie travel across the state to take up their vigil in the ICU waiting room, praying for him to awaken. The good news is that a day later he does regain consciousness; however, they then discover he has lost memory of the last twenty years of his life. While convalescing the following week in the hospital, he is horrified to find that he is a thirteen-year-old in a thirty-three-year-old man's body. Even weeks later at home, both he and Amanda are trying to cope with the reality that a teenager in an adult body who doesn't know his own family is incapable of being a husband and father. So how long will his amnesia last? Or is it actually real? And what was it Amanda found in Tom's car that poses an even bigger threat to their marriage? Retrogame contains all the ingredients that excites readers...mystery, suspense, surprise, secrets, action, murder, romance, deception and on top of it all, betrayal. Be electrified all the way up to the surprise ending.

When young deputy Ben Cross learns that Harry Lassiter-the hired gun who beat him into to running away at the age of twelve-is not his father, and that his real father is Tom Landry-a possibly innocent man just out of prison and headed for revenge at Hang Town-he is determined to arrive in time to save Landry from being shot down. Hang Town, Montana Territory, is controlled by rancher Jed Creighton and his gun hands. Creighton's niece Leslie suffers with her nasty gunfighter husband, Lassiter, and both believe Ben drowned when he ran away. Approaching Hang Town, Tom Landry is unaware he has a son with Leslie. Along with Higgins, an old timer, and the protective overgrown Matlock, Ben will face more than the truth as they ride into a series of violent confrontations. Meanwhile, after someone hangs the sheriff of Hang Town in a canyon, his daughter Suellen, a good shot, fights with everyone, including Ben. All roads are leading to Hang Town, where secrets are revealed and justice prevails in blasts of gunfire.(my script for this novel is under option for a movie. I have 3 movies now, Shadow on the Mesa, Last Shoot Out (The Siege at Rhyker's Station) and (The) Desperate Riders, all from my scripts and novels.)

Bronco Wade and his older friend Curly hightail it out of Texas when the Sladek family of the Trigger Bar Ranch go on a rampage. Three of the Sladek brothers have been murdered, and if Bronco and Curly are caught, they'll hang. Fifteen years later, the two friends are following a herd of cattle when they discover that the animals belong to the land-hungry Sladeks, who have been moving most of their stock to the free grass in Montana Territory. Bronco and Curly plan a stealthy getaway, knowing that to be captured by the Sladeks means certain death. But all of that changes when they learn that Curly's long-lost daughter, Charity, has been reared with the Sladeks and is riding with the herd. A stampede, dangerous trail hands, and marauding Arapaho stand in the way of the rescue of young Charity. Ultimately, the trail leads them back to the Trigger Bar, where only Bronco's skill with a gun can possibly save their lives.

It's the spring of 1876, and for the last eight years, Will Tanner has been tracking down the Grissom Gang in order to avenge the murder of his wife and son. Will has left six dead men in his wake and another in prison, but still, he cannot rest... because Grissom himself-along with four of his men-is still alive. Will suspects the gang's gone north to Colorado Territory, and his search takes him through the town of McBride where he meets a spunky widow named Darcie. He's tipped off there that the gang may be holed up in Walkersville-a notorious hangout for killers. As a known bounty hunter, Will quickly becomes the target of every wanted man in the valley. With the help of Darcie and her family, he continues his relentless and dangerous pursuit of every last member of the gang. But when Will discovers that all along the gang's been after Confederate gold, he knows there's one chance in a thousand that he'll come out of this alive...

After a short stint in Cheyenne, Wyoming, as a delegate for statehood, Matt Landry soon discovers he'd rather be riding a horse on the open plains than sitting behind a desk. As he prepares to marry lovely Adrian Driscroll, daughter of the man who runs the huge Target Cattle Company, Matt can only hope that Adrian will understand that he must return to his old ways. Riding through the northern Wyoming Territory, Matt witnesses a couple being ambushed by masked riders. He quickly comes to the aid of the survivor, Bonnie McClain, who tells him the attackers were from Target. Matt is appalled to learn that the company will trample anyone or anything in its path. And now both he and Bonnie, as witnesses to her husband's murder, are in immediate danger. When rampant lawlessness ensues, Matt must take up a badge, all the while torn between two beautiful women. Trouble escalates in the valley, and Matt must choose sides as he goes down fighting for law and order...

Mike Raddigan rides north to Montana Territory to claim the land left to him by his estranged father, who had been murdered because of a connection with the deadly Commager gang. This region is a Northern stronghold, and anyone who has fought for the South is in real danger. Mike discovers that he has inherited land that is vast and highly coveted. He seeks out his father's killer among the dangerous, greedy neighbors, the citizens of the unfriendly town, and the vengeful Jones family. The beautiful Nevada Jones is about to marry the powerful Colonel Grey, a Union war hero, and it isn't long before Mike discovers someone in the Jones family is lying. Unable to trust anyone, Mike becomes a constant target. While a steady stream of bullets and fists ricochets across his path, there's little Mike can do but fight back, praying he will live long enough to learn the truth...

Zach Lassiter, lawman in the Montana Territory town of Lock's Ferry, hands in his badge after reading about his brother Ricky's hanging as a rustler in the New Mexico Territory. The quest to discover the circumstances surrounding his brother's death takes Zach across Scofield land, and there he finds himself staring straight into the green eyes of the unforgettable Sally Scofield. Zach must also face Ricky's widow-his own former love-Emily. But Emily's story doesn't quite add up. As he tracks down a murderer, Zach alone must unravel the mystery that ultimately threatens the life of The Lone Rider.

Tyler Sinclair has lived too hard and long to be sentimental. But when he hears about the brave exploits of one Ethan Mandell, he just has to ride up to Sweetwater Pass and see for himself. Ethan Mandell could be Tyler's father, who left long before Tyler was born and may not even know he has a son. There is a strong family resemblance-a quick hand with a gun, and a respect for the law. The law doesn't get much respect up in Sweetwater though, with the Rollins and the Crocker freight companies at war with each other. U.S. deputy marshal Ethan Mandell, as the town's official tamer, plans to change all that, but rumor has it that Crocker's men are after him, too. Tyler doesn't know which side he's on until he is caught off guard by the stunning Celia Rollins, who recently lost her brother and her pa to Crocker bullets. Tyler teams up with Ethan, aiming to learn about his past, but the man isn't offering any information for free. As Sweetwater's new deputy sheriff, Tyler may have to pay a high price for his peace of mind.

When an old flame sends for Wes Caron, he can't help but wonder why. He soon finds out: It's the lady's dad, Mr. Hollis, who needs him. The ruthless, land-grubbing Gruber clan own a ranch nearby and they're eager to augment their holdings-even if it means killing everyone in the territory. Hollis hadn't liked Wes before, and he isn't sure about him now, but when Wes takes on some of the Grubers's most infamous hired guns, Hollis quickly comes around. And he isn't alone: Cindy Taylor, daughter of another terrorized rancher, had been leery of Wes's trail-wise ways, but then Wes saves Cindy's skin more than once, and she'll stand beside him in any fight. Unfortunately, their support may not be enough. The Grubers are on a bloodthirsty rampage, and Wes must fend off an army of mercenary sharpshooters. With only his fast gun and a handful of ranchers to help him, Wes knows the Gruber clan could make this battle the last in a very short-and deadly-war...

When an old flame sends for Wes Caron, he can't help but wonder why. He soon finds out: It's the lady's dad, Mr. Hollis, who needs him. The ruthless, land-grubbing Gruber clan own a ranch nearby and they're eager to augment their holdings-even if it means killing everyone in the territory. Hollis hadn't liked Wes before, and he isn't sure about him now, but when Wes takes on some of the Grubers's most infamous hired guns, Hollis quickly comes around. And he isn't alone: Cindy Taylor, daughter of another terrorized rancher, had been leery of Wes's trail-wise ways, but then Wes saves Cindy's skin more than once, and she'll stand beside him in any fight. Unfortunately, their support may not be enough. The Grubers are on a bloodthirsty rampage, and Wes must fend off an army of mercenary sharpshooters. With only his fast gun and a handful of ranchers to help him, Wes knows the Gruber clan could make this battle the last in a very short-and deadly-war...

Sam Darringer isn't about to settle down just yet, so he's happy to accept the challenge when he's asked to ride herd to the Montana Territory. Rad Pierson is moving his cattle and his home base north to keep his daughter out of the nasty clutches of outlaw Russ Wilder, and he could use a Darringer fast gun on the trail to protect the flirtatious Angela.But Mr. Pierson has two daughters. Lisa, the younger, is wearing men's clothing and riding with the cowboys. Sam, against his better judgment, is captivated, especially when she proves her mettle in a stampede-and in a gunfight with some of Wilder's men. Lisa won't let Sam get to know her, however, which may be just as well. There's a band of renegades looking to test Sam's draw. Besides, Sam yearns to "see the elephant." For a restless spirit, the trail is never too long. But for the first time Sam has to wonder: What might he be leaving behind?

Finding his cousin, friend, and mentor Marshal Bob Harrington hanging dead from a cottonwood tree is a cruel blow for Deputy U.S. Marshal Hank Darringer. He'd like nothing better than to exact a bitter and swift revenge, but as a lawman, he knows his duty: capture the vicious murderers and haul them to justice-legally.But seeking justice is tougher than obstructing it in Prospect, Colorado, a bounty hunter's paradise. Being on the side of the law won't shield Hank from the flying bullets. And though it looks like he's closer to getting his man than he thought, now someone is mighty interested in seeing Hank dead. He has to keep one eye on his fast gun and one eye on his back, because in this lawless town full of villains and informants, no one-not even the breathtaking Rosalee Carter-is what he or she seems...

Clay Darringer should have known from the start that Katherine Turner would be trouble. Any fool could have told him he'd be better off walking away when he found the beautiful, dazed young woman wandering in the desert unescorted. Katherine is the sole survivor of an outlaw attack, and once the killers find out she is still alive, her life won't be worth a plugged nickel. But the Darringers never seem able to stay out of other people's problems...By the time Clay and Katherine reach their destination of Castle Creek, they have added a teenage boy to their entourage-and have fought off some deadly Apache along the way. With his charges safely delivered, Clay intends to be on his way. But less than an hour after they reach town, he finds himself in the middle of a gunfight, and he realizes he can't leave Katherine unprotected-her valuable ranch land is about to trigger an all-out war!

A wanderin' man, Jess Darringer is on the trail, taking it easy after helping his brother Ben win a spring range war. But his younger sibling Sam disturbs Jess's peace when he rides in with grim news: The woman Jess had loved and left behind was murdered by five ruthless thugs. Jess is driven to avenge her death-but before he can, he has to find the outlaws and enough evidence to prove them guilty.His best lead to the identity of the killers is a receipt made out to a member of the Colby ranching clan. When Jess and Sam sign on with Colby as gunhands after rescuing his beautiful daughter, Lorena, from kidnappers, they know they're asking for trouble, but it's the only way they know to get the information they need. Riding the fence between suspected murderers and kidnapping cattle rustlers is more dangerous than they'd reckoned, especially when Jess realizes that the sights set on him don't all belong to criminals!

On the day that the delicately beautiful Elena Barker arrives to secure his release from prison, Ben Darringer unwillingly concedes that the very skills that put him in jail are the only ones that can save his life. Elena offers Ben a bargain: a pardon for killing her brother... IF he can save her father's ranch from ruthless encroachers.As a hired gun in the midst of an all-out range war, Ben is forced to take justice into his own hands. The unscrupulous thieves terrorizing the Barker Ranch will stop at nothing to get what they want-and some of them want more than grassland... Elena is in grave danger!To further their evil cause, the greedy cattlemen have recruited the sinister gunslinger known as Zevala to eliminate Ben, and a confrontation is unavoidable. Ben has always been a quick draw, but does he stand a chance against the fiercest and fastest gun in the territory?

Author is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and winner ofthe Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction, recipient of an NEA Fellowship andOhio Arts Council FellowshipTwo previous Dzanc titles, Late OneNight and The Mutual UFO Network, were wellreviewedAuthor has strong connections to universities,booksellers, and review outlets across the Midwest, with access to the book'sintended readersBased on a true crime in the 1840s. Betsey Reedwas hanged in Lawrenceville,Illinois, for the murder of her husband?the first woman in the USexecuted by hangingWell-known author with strong connections to theregional and national writing community, a long history of successful events,and good pull with booksellers and festival organizersNational galley mailing, with an emphasis on majornational review outlets that have previously covered Lee's workFestival and conference appearances, includingAWP, the Ohioana Book Festival, and MIBA eventsOutreach to MIBA and GLIBA, with nominations aimedat a Midwest Connections and Great Lakes Great Reads pickTargeted galley mailing and outreach to author'slocal papers, including The Columbus Dispatch, The Sumner Press, TheLawrenceville Daily Record, The Olney Daily Mail, The VincennesSun-Commercial, andColumbus AliveTargeted bookstore mailing concentrated on theGreat Lakes and Midwest regionsTargeted galley mailing to review outlets thatpreviously covered Lee's work and have strong connections to the press,including PopMatters, Alternating Current, Crazyhorse, The CoachellaReview, Electric Lit, Lit Hub, Poets & Writers, Largehearted Boy, TheMedium, Brooklyn Rail, The Rumpus, Ploughshares, Kenyon Review, Barrelhouse,Shelf AwarenessBook club outreachUniversity reading series promotion and courseadoption pushMajor awards pushElectronic galleys available on Edelweiss

A dark, harrowing novel about a nine-year-old girl's disappearance and the lasting impact it has on her close-knit communityOn an evening like any other, nine-year-old Katie Mackey, daughter of the most affluent family in a small town on the plains of Indiana, sets out on her bicycle to return some library books. This simple act is at the heart of The Bright Forever, a deeply affecting novel about the choices people make that change their lives forever. Fact, speculation, and contradiction play off one another as the details about Katie's disappearance--and about the townspeople--unfold, creating a fast-paced story that is as gripping as it is richly human. A nuanced portrayal of the complicated give and take among people struggling to maintain their humanity in the shadow of a loss, The Bright Forever is a compelling and emotional tale about the human need to know even the hardest truth.

A Lure to a Kill is the most exciting and compelling Bruce McGowan novel yet. The ninth offering in the series by acclaimed author Lee Martin.