Showing results by narrator "BJ Harrison" in All Categories

In the novel Who's Who When Everyone Is Someone Else, the character "C. D. Rose" searches an unnamed middle-European city for the long-lost manuscript of a little-known writer named Maxim Guyavitch. That search was fruitless, but in The Blind Accordionist, "C. D. Rose" has found the manuscript—nine sparkling, fable-like short stories—and he presents them here with an (hilarious) introduction explaining the discovery, and an afterword providing (hilarious) critical commentary on the stories, and what they might reveal about the mysterious Guyavitch.

I'm at a wedding, watching one of my best friends tie the knot. I'm happy for him—really. I just wish things had turned out better when I'd taken that walk down the aisle. Still, those days are over. I'm on my way up to my room when I run into my ex in the elevator. It's like karma. Has to be. Only she's with some random guy, who's getting a little too handsy for my liking. I can't help myself—I have to say something. Something that ruins her night . . . and mine, too. Now, I'm sitting alone in my hotel room, when suddenly, Katy's at my door.

Nicole Westmore was my first love. The poor little rich girl stole my heart with her sweet smile, hot body, and irresistible innocence. The summer I worked for her father was the best time of my life . . . until he drove me away. Even then, I thought Nicole would wait for me. She didn't. And so, I decided to get even, opening rival hotels, slowly driving them out of business. The old man is gone now, but Nicole is still running the company that's about to collapse. All my hard work will soon pay off.

The Burning Land follows a turbulent romance through the upheavals of the Civil War and America's westward migration. Henry Overstreet, a carpenter, aims to scale the social ladder in Waldoboro, Maine, in his pursuit of Katie Nash. The lovers' path runs through America's bloodiest war—one fought to redeem the nation's soul by freeing a people. Often separated, they use quiet and devoted letters to capture each other's heart as Katie wins teaching jobs usually reserved for men and Henry fights furious battles with Maine's legendary Twentieth Regiment, rising to sergeant.

In his parable of Institutional Justice vs. Divine Judgement, we follow Aksionov through his journey of accusation and imprisonment for a murder he does not commit. After 26 years in a Siberian prison camp, he finally meets the man who put him there, and the choice of a lifetime is made.

Gismondi sits on his horse, breathing heavily and grinning, looking down at Messer Crespi, who is lying prostrate in the snow, and isn’t breathing at all. Gismondi’s next target—Duke Cesare Borgia. But what happens when the duke discovers Gismondi’s plans?

What exactly lies beyond the treacherous and previously impassable Canadian glacier? From the collection In Search of the Unknown comes a chilling tale of the things nature can do when nobody’s watching.

Why does Sherlock Holmes declare that the person he is to meet is the worst man in London? Included in the anthology of short stories, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, this story contains the first meeting of Holmes and Watson, and chronicles their first adventure together.

Cherokee has struck it rich, and he decides to make Christmas extra special for the children of a nearby town. Unfortunately, there ARE no children in the nearby town. When the appreciative townspeople try to round up some kids from the surrounding towns, they inadvertently set the stage for a Christmas miracle for Cherokee.

Henry Pifield Rice is a detective, technically. He prides himself in his disguises, which are, in truth, pretty deplorable. So when he’s detailed to follow a touring theatrical romantic comedy, his life is absolutely transformed.

Désirée and Armand’s marriage was passionate and loving. But everything changes when their baby is born, who appears to be of mixed race.

When two friends reunite after a twenty-year absence, the limits of friendship become evident. Painting two distinct portraits of people who have grown apart, O. Henry explores themes of friendship, loyalty and trust. In Mammon and the Archer, the pursuit of love, and the love of money go head-to-head for dominance in a timely engagement. Famous for his unexpected plot twists, O. Henry was not only a master at the craft of writing the short story, but explored deep themes that still resonate today.

A mysterious city. A cryptic leader. A deranged prisoner. Blind followers. A life saved. A plot thwarted. An ally gained. And still, Victor Wells is marked for death. Upon their arrival in the city to the south, Victor and team enter an environment unlike anything they’ve ever experienced—a place free from crime, strife, or division. Ville is a system of coexistence, lead by an enigmatic man known simply as “The Chairman,” whom the citizens of Ville trust and adore.

Without power, limited water and diminishing food supplies, Whittlesea lingers in chaos. The heat has killed dozens, and the law battles to meet a growing number of disturbances, including an underhanded enemy that positions itself for an invasion. The camping area at the base of Hell Ridge has become a battlefield. A spiteful attack has cost the group a life, and now Mark and Sam head back into Whittlesea with Mark’s injured dog, Mindy. But Whittlesea grows more dangerous by the moment, and with the heat and wind strengthening, mountain bushfires burn towards the township.

Jacques Futrelle created a sleuth named Professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen, known as The Thinking Machine. He’s American, and has many similarities with Sherlock Holmes. For example, he isn’t a policeman, but he works with them on occasion, and he handily summarizes his deductions once the case is solved.

A monster lurks in the Canadian forests. If the legends are to be believed, a small band of hunters is about to meet the Wendigo. The legend of the Wendigo originates from folk stories from the Plains and Great Lakes Native Americans. The creature is a malevolent spirit, known to possess and even eat humans.

George Roberts of Virginia is a captain without a ship. But when he meets his charismatic friend Ned Low, and they share a glass or two, he realizes the next day that he’s signed on as first mate for a voyage to retrieve a fortune in gold.

Anthony Trollope was a British writer of the Victorian period. He was very prolific, writing 47 novels, 42 short stories and five travel books. He is primarily known for his “Chronicles of Barsetshire” series of novels, including the books “The Warden” and “Barchester Towers”. It is held that his satiric novel, “The Way We Live Now” is his masterpiece.

Edith Nesbit wrote under the name E. Nesbit, and is most famous for her stories for children, and has influenced the likes of J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis and P.L. Travers. She wrote over 60 books, including The Railway Children, Five Children and It, and The Story of the Treasure Seekers. Her second, darker reputation was as a purveyor of horror stories, which are sublime in their elegance and simplicity.

Sharing and daring, that’s Lainie's new mantra. After keeping her life bottled up for the past 17 years, she’s ready to pop the cork. Lainie confides in her friends about the magical timepiece. At first, they can’t believe it and encourage her to have some fun trying out the magic.