1
Polis Books Rights Catalog
Polis Books 1201 Hudson Street, #211S Hoboken, NJ 07030 646-306-4865
[email protected] www.PolisBooks.com Twitter.com/PolisBooks Facebook.com/PolisBooks
Distributed by Publishers Group West Available at Booksellers and Wholesalers
Print Catalog – Page 3 Digital Catalog – Page 22
1 2 Table of Contents – Print Catalog
DEVILS AND DUST by J.D. Rhoades – Page 3
NOT EVEN PAST by Dave White – Page 4
THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB by Brenda Janowitz – Page 5
TIES THAT BLIND by Zachary Klein – Page 6
ASH by Shani Petroff and Darci Manley – Page 7
MURDER BOY by Bryon Quertermous – Page 8
THE SCARLET LETTER SOCIETY by Mary T. McCarthy – Page 9
CONCRETE ANGEL by Patricia Abbott – Page 10
NEW YORKED by Rob Hart – Page 11
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL by Terrence McCauley - Page 12
COLLECTOR OF SECRETS by Richard Goodfellow – Page 13
SWITCH and SPEAK THE DEAD by Grant McKenzie – Page 14
THE MISSHAPES: The Coming Storm by Alex Flynn – Page 15-16
OCCUPIED EARTH: Stories of Aliens, Resistance and Survival at all Costs edited by Richard Brewer and Gary Phillips – Page 17
THE PASTIME PROJECT by Derek Nikitas – Page 18
SAVAGE LANE by Jason Starr - Page 19
ORCHARD GROVE by Vincent Zandri – Page 20
2 3 DEVILS AND DUST J.D. RHOADES Fiction/Thriller Publication Date: February 24th, 2015 $24.95 • Hardcover • 304 pages • 6 x 9 ISBN: 1-978-940610-17-7• eISBN: 1-978-940610-48-1 Rights Available: World (audio to Audible)
“Rhoades belongs on the same reading list with Stephen Hunter, Lee Child, and Randy Wayne White." —Booklist
“Entertaining...Rhoades does a fine job of building the suspense and writes convincing action scenes.” —Publishers Weekly
“You bring death,” the voice said, “and Hell follows with you.”
Relentless bounty hunter Jack Keller returns in Devils and Dust, the long-awaited fourth installment of the critically acclaimed series from award-nominated author J. D. Rhoades. Keller’s been in exile, living a quiet life in the desert. Now his old friend and former employer Angela has tracked him down and needs his help. Oscar Sanchez, Angela’s husband and Keller’s best friend, has disappeared while investigating what happened to the sons he was trying to bring to America. If anyone can find Oscar, Keller can, but along the way he has to confront his own demons and his unresolved feelings for Angela — now his best friend’s wife.
Keller’s quest takes him from a corrupt Mexican border town to a prison camp in the swamps of South Carolina and pits him against human traffickers, violent drug lords, and a vicious group of white supremacists perpetuating an evil as old as civilization itself in the name of God. All of them are about to learn a hard lesson: if Jack Keller's after you, he's bringing Hell with him.
J.D. Rhoades was born and raised in North Carolina. He is the author of four Jack Keller novels, The Devil’s Right Hands, Good Day in Hell and Safe and Sound, along with two stand-alone thrillers: BREAKING COVER and BROKEN SHIELD. He lives in Carthage, NC.
3 4 NOT EVEN PAST Dave White Fiction/Mystery Publication Date: February 24th, 2015 $14.00 • Trade Paperback • 304 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-38-8 • eISBN: 1-978-940610-03-0 Rights Available: World (audio to Audible)
"White is one of a group of younger writers reimagining the P.I. novel by giving Donne solid connections to his culture (he's not alienated from his world) and a moral self-awareness I think is more interesting than the traditional P.I. code of behavior. This book flies." —Carole Barrowman, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
“Dave White is everything you hope for in a crime novelist, delivering both white-knuckle suspense and nuanced characters, propulsive action and an emotional wallop.”—Megan Abbott, author of Dare Me and The Fever
Former private investigator Jackson Donne is looking toward the future—one that involves getting married to Kate Ellison. Until an anonymous email with a link and an old picture of him on the police force shows up in his mailbox. And once Donne clicks the link, nothing else matters. Six years ago, his fiancée, Jeanne Baker died in a car accident with a drunk driver. Or so Donne thought. Because when his web browser opens, he’s taken to a streaming video of Jeanne bound to a chair, bruised and screaming, but very much alive. He starts to investigate, but quickly finds out he’s lost most of his contacts over the years. The live-stream has stopped working. The police hold a grudge that stems back to the days when he turned in his corrupt police colleagues, and neither they nor the FBI are willing to believe a dead girl’s been kidnapped. As his investigation goes down one blind alley after another, Donne’s obsession with finding Jeanne grows. Vulnerable and alone, but unable to stop looking, Donne turns to his nemesis Bill Martin—the only man to love Jeanne as much as he did—for help.
Dave White’s short story "Closure" won the Derringer Award for Best Short Mystery Story. Both When One Man Dies and The Evil That Men Do were nominated for the prestigious Shamus Award, and When One Man Dies was nominated for the Strand Critics Award for "Best First Novel". His standalone thriller, Witness To Death, was an ebook bestseller upon release and named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. He lives in Nutley, New Jersey.
4 5 THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB Brenda Janowitz Fiction/New Adult Publication Date: March 24th, 2015 $14.95 • Trade paperback • 336 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-35-1• eISBN: 1-978-940610-02-3 Rights Available: World English, Audio Other Rights: Mollie Glick, Foundry Literary Management
"(A) sweet story…The series of hard knocks Jo suffers shake her out of her all-too- comfortable rut in a way that makes her a heroine worth following. Recommended for new adult romance fans." —Library Journal
Jo Waldman lives life to her own soundtrack—working for her father by day while pursuing her music career in NYC’s clubs at night. Music is her passion, along with her boyfriend, Jesse, who shares her dreams of making it big. Jo's old band, The Lonely Hearts Club, came thisclose to getting a recording contract, and she’s just biding her time, waiting for lightning to strike twice.
So when Jo's father fires her and Jesse breaks up with her, Jo doesn’t get upset—she just wants to rage. Dusting off her computer, Jo writes an entry on the Lonely Hearts Club band’s blog, pouring her heart out about the shortcomings of love. The post goes viral, and Jo soon becomes an icon for all things “anti-love.”
There's only one problem: Max, the programmer helping Jo with her site is too damned cute! Jo's never been very good at depriving herself of anything, but if the budding relationship with Max is exposed, she'll be revealed as a total fraud and risk losing all the people who have grown to love and trust her. Jo's got some big decisions to make, and it looks like she's going to have to move one step closer to doing something she never thought she'd do--becoming a grownup.
Brenda Janowitz is the author of Jack With A Twist and Scot On The Rocks and Recipe For A Happy Life. Her work has also appeared in the New York Post , Publisher’s Weekly XOJane and Salon. You can find her at www.BrendaJanowitz.com or on Twitter at @BrendaJanowitz. She lives in Nassau County, NY.
5 6 TIES THAT BLIND Zachary Klein Fiction/Mystery Publication Date: March 24th, 2015 $14.95 • Trade Paperback • 336 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-26-9• eISBN: 1-978-940610-49-8 Rights Available: World, Audio
“Klein's private eye and his prickly prose are original.” –Boston Globe
“Matt Jacob comes across as a heartfelt creation…A refreshing character in a genre rife with male posturing and two dimensional psychology.” —The New York Times
Former social worker-turned-private investigator Matt Jacob has had his share of vices and woes. But he has always managed to stay one foot ahead of the criminals he hunts, while keeping one foot out of the grave. Now Matt is struggling to kick his addictions, put his demons under wraps and settle down with a woman who makes him happy. Then, a phone call changes everything.
Lou, the father of Matt’s dead wife, is on the line, irascible and distraught. His new girlfriend’s son has attempted suicide and Lou, for some unknown reason, refuses to get paramedics or the police involved. When Matt uncovers the truth behind this boy’s despair, everything he has worked so hard for could end in an instant: his sobriety, his relationships with loved ones, even his own life. In Ties That Blind, Zachary Klein brings back some of the most original and riveting characters in crime fiction and puts them in a story that grips from the first page to the last.
Zachary Klein is the author of three critically-acclaimed books in the Matt Jacob series: Still Among The Living (selected as a New York Times Notable Book), Two Way Toll and No Saving Grace. The fourth book in his Matt Jacob series, Ties That Blind, will be published by Polis Books, which will also be reissuing the first three books in the series. Follow him on Twitter at @zach_klein or visit him online and at zacharykleinonline.com. He lives in Jamaica Plains, MA.
6 7 ASH: a “Destined” Novel Shani Petroff & Darci Manley Young Adult/Dystopian Publication date: March 31st, 2015 $18.95 • Hardcover • 368 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-32-0• eISBN: 1-978-940610-42-9 Rights Available: World, Audio
"There's a lot of action and intrigue and, of course, some great romance for the two girls...a strong- enough first installment to get readers hooked...Ash is a crazy dystopian that will have you wanting to change your fate and choose your own destiny." —USA Today
“Petroff and Manley have created a world where fate is terrifyingly unpredictable when entrusted to the wrong hands. Addictive and fast-paced, ASH will pull readers along for the ride and leave them anxious for the next installment." —Joelle Charbonneau, author of THE TESTING Trilogy
Destiny is pre-determined. It is strictly monitored. It is unchangeable. Or is it?
Madden’s life is a whirlwind of privilege and perks. Born into the elite Purple ring, she is fated to be a Minister of the Seven. Although her position comes with the burden of great responsibility, she’s nothing if not confident in her future. After all, Destiny Specialists have determined how she will fulfill her life's purpose, and they are never wrong.
Her classmate Dax, an Ash, clings to the opposite end of the spectrum. While everyone around her knows what destiny awaits them, Dax’s fate is...missing. Isolated and ignored, she refuses to let her lack of status define her. After a stunning twist of fate, Dax and Madden’s paths intertwine in ways neither could have possibly imagined. The two are forced to question their own past, present and future as they realize who they are is not necessarily who they were meant to be.
ASH, the first book in the Destined series, is an unforgettable journey into an alternate future which will leave readers wondering just how much we can control our own fate. Destiny is calling. Will you fight for yours?
Shani Petroff is the author of the BEDEVILED series: Daddy’s Little Angel, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Dress, Careful What You Wish For, and Love Struck. Darci Manley is a Creative Director at an NYC design boutique, and has worked with clients such as Estee Lauder, American Express, M&M’S, Gucci, and Jeep. Petroff and Manley live in New York City. 7 8 MURDER BOY Bryon Quertermous Fiction/Mystery Publication date: March, 31st, 2015 $14.00 • Trade Paperback • 240 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-27-6• eISBN: 1-978-940610-46-7 Rights Available: World, Audio
“The balance of the comedic and the dramatic in his work is a rare treat, reading like a deliciously blood-soaked crime novel rewritten by Christopher Moore.” —Michael Koryta, New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Wish Me Dead
"I found Murder Boy disturbing in a GOOD way, the best possible way. I don't know of another book like it." —Laura Lippman, New York Times bestselling author of Hush Hush
Dominick Prince is out of options. He’s lived in Detroit long enough to use his experiences of crime and poverty to fuel his writing, but he’s ready to move on to bigger and better things. Dominick’s thesis advisor, the elitist Parker Farmington, refuses to let Dominick pass his class, thinking the genre of potboilers beneath him. Which means rather than becoming the next literary sensation, Dominick will spend his life asking customers if they’d like fries with that. And if that’s the only plan, kidnapping doesn’t seem like such a bad plan B.
So if Farmington won’t pass him willfully, Dominick will make him do it forcefully. And once he has Farmington’s signature, fame and fortune are within Dominick’s grasp. But while Dominick may have a devious and brilliant mind on the page, in reality he’s more Betty White than Walter White. And before he can write ’the plot thickens,’ Dominick’s plan begins to go horribly wrong. Teaming with Farmington’s jilted mistress and her loose-cannon bounty hunter brother, Dominick finds that if even the best laid plans go awry, then his doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell. And being a great writer won't matter much if he's six feet under.
Bryon Quertermous was born and raised in Michigan. His short stories have appeared in Plots With Guns, Thuglit, and Crime Factory among others, and in the anthologies Hardcore Hardboiled, The Year's Finest Crime and Mystery Stories, and Uncage Me. He was shortlisted for the Debut Dagger Award from the UK Crime Writers Association. He lives in Detroit.
8 9 THE SCARLET LETTER SOCIETY Mary T. McCarthy Fiction/Romance Publication date: May 12th, 2015 $13.95 • Trade Paperback • 272 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-39-9• eISBN: 1-978-940610-29-0 Rights Available: World, Audio Agent: Myrsini Stephanides, Carol Mann Agency
"In the tradition of Candace Bushnell and Jackie Collins, McCarthy has created a novel filled with razor-sharp social commentary and irresistibly dynamic, complex characters. At turns hilarious, scathing and seductive, The Scarlet Letter Society is not to be missed!" —Kyra Davis, New York Times bestselling author of Just One Night
Buckle up, because this is what really happens after ‘I Do’
Meet Maggie, Eva and Lisa, founders of The Scarlet Letter Society. Named as such due to their various infidelities, both physical and emotional, the ‘SLS’ is these womens’ refusal to be shamed like Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic tale of forbidden longing. Maggie is twice- divorced and juggling three lovers—one of whom is her first ex-husband. Eva is trapped in a loveless marriage and has turned to her young intern and a seductive French chef for satisfaction. Lisa dreams of one day becoming a mother, but her husband has more romantic interest in her footwear than he does in her.
Once a month, these women meet at their local bookstore to discuss love, life and literature. Through their friendships and liasons, they attempt to gain insight into the curveballs life has thrown their way, and how each of them can find emotional and sexual fulfillment. Over the course of a year these women, plus several others who look to the Scarlet Letter Society for help with their own romantic dilemmas, will find lust and love, happiness and heartbreak, in the most unexpected places.
Mary McCarthy has written for The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer and Baltimore Sun, and has blogged at katiecouric.com, appeared on The Today Show, Huffington Post Live, and ABC TV News’ Moms Get Real with JuJu Chang. She has spoken at BlogHer, BloggyCon, and the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference and she is an instructor at The Writer’s Center. She lives in Maryland with her husband and four children.
9 10 CONCRETE ANGEL Patricia Abbott Fiction/Suspense Publication date: June 9th, 2015 $14.95 • Trade Paperback • 320 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-38-2• eISBN: 1-978-940610-44-3 Rights Available: World (audio to Audible)
"With cool, compelling prose, CONCRETE ANGEL reveals the menace that lurks beneath a mother’s charming facade. An absorbing novel by an unusually fine writer.” —Meg Gardiner, Edgar Award-winning author of China Lake
“Enthralling…Those who enjoy suspenseful, atmospheric family drama will find much to love here.” –Library Journal (starred review)
The debut novel from acclaimed crime writer Patricia Abbott, in the vein of Celeste Ng and Laura Lippman, a novel of domestic suspense set in 1970's Philadelphia about a young girl who slowly begins to realize just how devious--and murderous--her mother is.
Eve Moran has always wanted “things” and has proven both inventive and tenacious in getting and keeping them. Eve lies, steals, cheats, swindles, and finally commits murder, paying little heed to the cost of her actions on those who love her. Her daughter, Christine, compelled by love, dependency, and circumstance, is caught up in her mother’s deceptions, unwilling to accept the viciousness that runs in her mother's blood. Eve’s powers of seduction are hard to resist for those who come in contact with her toxic allure. It’s only when Christine’s three-year old brother, Ryan begins to prove useful to her mother, and she sees a pattern repeating itself, that Christine finds the courage and means to bring an end to Eve’s tyranny. An unflinching novel about love, lust and greed that runs deep within our bones, Patricia Abbott cements herself as one of our very best writers of domestic suspense.
Patricia Abbott is the author of more than 100 short stories and contributed to Needle Mag, The Thrilling Detective, Plots With Guns, Spinetingler and ThugLit and many more. She won the Derringer Award for her story My Hero. She is the co-editor of Discount Noir. She makes her home in Detroit. 10 11 NEW YORKED Rob Hart Fiction/Mystery Publication date: June 9th, 2015 $14.95 • Trade Paperback • 304 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-40-5• eISBN: 1-978-940610-43-6 Rights Available: World English (audio to Audible) Other Rights: Bree Ogden, D4EO Literary Agency
“The New York of New Yorked is a place of heartbreak and murder I highly recommend you visit.” —Josh Bazell, New York Times bestselling author of Beat the Reaper
“Good action scenes, nice offbeat characters, but what lingers is the swoony dialogue... Noir with a tingle of doomed but sweet romance." –Booklist
"Most cities are nouns; New York's a verb." —John F. Kennedy, quoted in Native's Guide to New York
Ash McKenna wakes up on the floor of his apartment with a vicious hangover, no memory of the previous night, and three voicemails on his phone. The first is from Chell, the woman he loves, terrified she's being followed. The second is static and click. The third is the news that Chell has been murdered. Ash vows to track down her killer. He clashes with a drag queen crime boss, uncovers a mysterious USB jump drive, and stumbles into a live action role playing game with a hardboiled theme. Exhausted and drowning in conspiracy theories, Ash is forced to face the memories of his tumultuous relationship with Chell, his unresolved anger over his father’s murder, his feelings of displacement from the city where he was born, and the consequences of his own violent tendencies. NEW YORKED is the mesmerizing debut of a major new talent in Rob Hart, and an unforgettable new character in Ash McKenna.
Rob Hart is the associate publisher at MysteriousPress.com and the class director at LitReactor. Previously, he has been a political reporter, the communications director for a politician, and a commissioner for the city of New York. He is the author of The Last Safe Place: A Zombie Novella, and his short stories have appeared in publications like Thuglit, NEEDLE, Shotgun Honey, All Due Respect, and Helix Literary Magazine. He lives in New York City.
11 12 SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL Terrence McCauley Fiction/Thriller Publication date: July 6th, 2015 $15.95 • Trade Paperback • 352 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-34-4• eISBN: 1-978-940610-47-4 Rights available: World (audio to Audible) Agent: Doug Grad, Doug Grad Literary Agency
"A fascinating, fast-paced spy thriller for the modern age, equal parts techno- wizardry and old-school tradecraft, and featuring a terrorist plot that reads like its been ripped from the headlines." —Owen Laukkanen, author of The Professionals
"Merges the brilliant old school spycraft of Charles Cumming and John le Carré with the technology and contemporary feel of Alex Berenson.” —Library Journal
“Hard to put down…Those looking for some top-shelf adrenaline-fueled literary escapism will be rewarded.” —Publishers Weekly
OLD WAR. NEW ENEMIES. THE DEVIL HAS ARRIVED.
The University has been a clandestine organization since the days of the OSS. The University and its agents have always lived in the shadows; using its vast intelligence resources to help defeat the Nazis, end the Cold War and strike back at terrorists all over the globe. They have been at the forefront of global espionage for decades. Entrusted with running The University, James Hicks is one of the most powerful— and secretive—men alive.
But when Hick’s brilliant protege is turned by a terrorist group that has alarmingly already begun operating on U.S. soil, Hicks finds himself in a race against time to find out just how the agent has been turned and why. He must use The University’s covert global network to uncover a deadly biological plot that threatens to unleash a new era of chaos and anarchy not only on the United States, but on the entire western world. A fast-paced contemporary thriller that calls to mind classics like The Day of the Jackal and The Hunt for Red October; Terrence McCauley has crafted a riveting novel of espionage that will immediately raise him to the forefront of our very best spy novelists.
Terrence McCauley has had his stories published in Spinetingler Magazine, Thuglit, Action: Pulse Pounding Tales Vol. 1 and 2, Atomic Noir and other outlets. His short story, 'A BULLET'S ALL IT TAKES' was featured in Big Pulp's 'The Kennedy Curse' anthology and won the 2013 New Pulp 'Best Short Story' award. He is a native of the Bronx.
12 13 COLLECTOR OF SECRETS Richard Goodfellow Fiction/Thriller Publication date: August 11th, 2015 $25.95 • Hardcover • 352 pages • 6 x 9 ISBN: 1-978-940610-33-7• eISBN: 1-978-940610-45-0 Rights Available: North America Other Rights: Jennifer Weltz, Jean V. Naggar Agency
A debut thriller about an ordinary man up caught in a deadly web of Japanese and American espionage he cannot possibly fathom.
"Intelligent, engrossing, and as fast as a Bullet train, Collector of Secrets is a winner. Richard Goodfellow has given us a hero to cheer for, exotic locales, and a riveting story I devoured over a weekend. “ —Christopher Reich, New York Times bestselling author of RULES OF DECEPTION
" In COLLECTOR OF SECRETS, Richard Goodfellow makes full use of his years living and teaching in Japan in this twisty debut thriller packed with adrenaline and fear.” —Sean Chercover, bestselling author of THE TRINITY GAME
Max Travers is an American teaching English in Japan. However, when his manipulative boss, Yoko, begins swindling the unsuspecting parents of his students, Max must retrieve his passport to return home. Max sneaks into Yoko’s office in the middle of the night only to stumble upon a burglary-in- progress. Max barely escapes with his life, but accidentally takes a strange diary bound in leather and embossed with a strange seal. Little does Max know that this diary has been hidden for over half a century by Yoko’s father, a distinguished Japanese diplomat, and its secrets could topple some of Japan’s most powerful people and rewrite the history of Japan’s royal family.
Max soon finds himself on the run from everyone from tattooed Yakuza to the Japanese police and a mysterious American who has ties in the highest places, all willing to kill for the diary’s secrets. With his life in the balance, Max must decipher the diary’s secrets and put an end to the chase before his newest, gravest troubles catch up to him and stop his running for good. Collector Of Secrets marries the historical intrigue, deep research, and wide commercial appeal of the best of Dan Brown or Michael Gruber to the techno-savvy, stranger-in-a-strange-land atmosphere of Barry Eisler’s internationally bestselling John Rain series. Richard Goodfellow has used real-life conspiracy theories from the Far East in the creation of a richly detailed thriller that covers everything from World War II to Watergate.
Richard Goodfellow spent several years teaching English in Japan. He penned the majority of Collector of Secrets on airplanes and in small towns throughout Oregon, Texas, Florida, and everywhere in between.
13 14
SPEAK THE DEAD Grant McKenzie Fiction/Thriller Publication Date: September 15th, 2015 $24.95 • Hardcover • 320 pages • 6 x 9 Rights Available: World (audio to Audible) Agent: Amy Moore-Benson, AMB Literary Management ISBN: 1-978-940610-54-2• eISBN: 1-978-940610-62-7
A riveting thriller tinged with the supernatural from one of the best up-and-coming thriller writers working today.
"Speak The Dead is a powerful new addition to the thriller market. Grant McKenzie’s writing is sharp, insightful and drips with suspense, and Sally is the believable protagonist one finds in a Harlan Coben novel. Hang on. This one rockets from the start and the pages just keep turning to the thrilling end.” —Robert Dugoni, #1 New York Times bestselling author of My Sister’s Grave
"Part murder mystery, part supernatural thriller, Speak The Dead starts fast right out of the gate and keeps gaining momentum, the kind of book that grows in interest and what's truly at stake as the story unfolds.” —Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of DON’T LOOK TWICE
The dead may pass on. But for Sally Blue, their voices remain.
When Sally Blue was six years old, a gunshot woke her and subsequently ripped her world apart. Jolted awake by the blast, Sally ran to her parents’ bedroom for comfort. Instead, she found her father mysteriously missing and her mother slumped against the headboard, her nightgown shredded, her body lifeless. Climbing on the bed, Sally cradled her mother’s head, mindless of the blood and stench of death. Yet from somewhere deep within the unmoving body, Sally heard the voice of her mother warning her: “Run, Sally! Run!”
Twenty-five years later, Sally has finally stopped running. She has found a modicum of peace as the beautician in a mortuary. She has finally been able to find a respite from the voices of the dead that trailed her for years wherever she went. Yet a grisly murder reawakens her cursed ‘gift’. With nowhere to turn and no one to believe her, Sally must turn to Jersey Castle, homicide detective by day, punk rock drummer by night, and the last person Sally might expect to help her. But what Sally doesn’t know is that someone has been relentlessly hunting her all this time. They voices of the dead are all around her, and if she is unable to silence them, the next voice to join the cacophony of death will be Sally's own.
Grant McKenzie is the author of four thrillers. His story "Underbelly" appeared in the First Thrills anthology edited by Lee Child. He lives in British Columbia. 14 15 THE MISSHAPES series is Superhero-Sized fun!
THE MISSHAPES: The Coming Storm THE MISSHAPES: Annihilation Day Alex Flynn Alex Flynn Juvenile/Fantasy Juvenile/Fantasy Publication Date: September 8th, 2015 Publication Date: October 13th, 2015 $8.99 • Trade Paperback • 320 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 $16.95 • Hardcover • 304pp • 5.5 x 8.5 Rights Available: World The Coming Storm (pbk) - ISBN: 1-978-940610-41-2• eISBN: 1-978-940610-12-2 Annihilation Day (hc) - ISBN: 1-978-940610-15-3• eISBN: 1-978-940610-58-0
The acclaimed debut adventure for Young Grade readers arrives in paperback, followed by the second book in this Super Series!
“A strong debut…The book never loses its sense of wonder and excitement. Worthy of the comics it takes inspiration from.” —Publishers Weekly
"There is much here for fans of "Harry Potter" to enjoy… (an) imaginative, action-packed series opener.” —Library Journal
"A lively action story that lifts itself from similar fare with a plot that packs in surprises, romance, and a creative array of “misshapen” powers. Great for readers who enjoy plenty of bam! and pow! in their adventures." —Booklist
"Awesome... we can never get enough strong characters like the Katniss Everdeens or Tris Priors in fiction. Perhaps the next to follow in their footsteps is Sarah Robertson." —Hello Giggles
"The Misshapes is a fun book with a lot of heart and some truly interesting characters...I had a good time making my way through this book and you will too." —Middle Grade Ninja 15 16 THE COMING STORM – Coming in paperback September 2015 Hardcover – Available Now! (ISBN: 1-978-940610-31-3)
ANNIHILATION DAY - Coming in hardcover October 2015
Some people have powers. Some people do not. And some people just might change the world. Sarah Robertson is one of those people.
Sarah is no ordinary girl: she can control the weather with her emotions. But in Doolittle Falls where superheroes walk the streets (and fly over them), Sarah’s powers aren’t enough for admission to the prestigious Hero Academy. Not to mention that her mother is a notorious Supervillain and the archnemesis of America’s favorite Hero, Freedom Man. Instead of being accepted to the school of her dreams, Sarah is marked as an outcast with powers – a Misshape.
Now she’s stuck with a ragtag group of fellow Misshapes, her dreams of heroism on hold indefinitely. Yet Sarah is determined to harness her powers to win a place at Hero Academy. But the path to greatness won’t be easy. Her brother’s rebellious streak is starting to wear thin, she has an intriguing (and smoking hot) new mentor, and an unexpected romance blooms with superstar Hero Freedom Boy. And when Doolittle Falls comes under threat of annihilation, Sarah has to prove there may be more to the Misshapes than everyone thinks. And she may just kick some Supervillain butt in the process.
Alex Flynn is the pseudonym for Stuart Sherman and Elisabeth Donnelly. Donnelly is a cultural journalist who has written for the The New York Times Magazine, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Paris Review Daily, and GQ. She is currently an editor at Flavorwire. Sherman is a bioethicist, health policy analyst and a former contestant on the game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" They live in Brooklyn.
16 17 THE PASTTIME PROJECT Derek Nikitas Young Adult/Thriller Publication date: October 13th, 2015 $18.95 • Hardcover • 320 pages • 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-53-5 Rights available: World English Other Rights: Yishai Seidman, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner
“With EXTRA LIFE, Derek Nikitas gives us a weird-science thriller packed with inventive twists, dynamic action and characters we both care about and genuinely fear. Deeply satisfying.” –Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of ROT & RUIN
The first Young Adult novel from acclaimed writer Derek Nikitas, a mind-bending thriller about a control-freak teen who receives an app on his phone that allows him to "leap" twelve hours into the past in order to fix a disastrous day, only to discover that tampering with time and space introduces dangerous glitches he can't control. “Heart-rending…Nikitas' stellar first novel isn't just one of the best genre debuts of the year, it's one of the best releases.” –Chicago Tribune on Pyres “Nikitas renders his story with just the right balance of style, detail, pace, depth and humor, building a suspenseful narrative that reaches a genuinely painful level of heartache.” –San Francisco Chronicle on Pyres “Nikitas shows an interest in language and form that outpaces most other authors who write about murder, and it manifests in passages that express the characters’ internal lives in terms of what they see around them.” –The AV Club on The Long Division
Derek Nikitas is the author of the novel Pyres, nominated for an Edgar Award in 2008. His second novel, The Long Division, was a Washington Post Best Book of 2009 selection. His stories have been published in the Ontario Review, Chelsea, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, New South, and The Pedestal Magazine. He holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a PhD in creative writing from Georgia State University. He is the director of the MFA in creative writing at Eastern Kentucky University, the Bluegrass Writers Studio, and is currently a visiting assistant professor in creative writing at the University of Rhode Island. He lives in Richmond, KY. 17 18
OCCUPIED EARTH Edited by Richard Brewer and Gary Phillips Science Fiction/Anthology Publication date: October 13th, 2015 $15.95 • Trade Paperback 352 pages 5.5 x 8.5 ISBN: 1-978-940610-52-8• eISBN: 1-978-940610-57-3 Rights available: World, audio
A groundbreaking linked anthology in which we visit Earth 20 years after its conquering by an alien race, where humanity is on the brick of extermination.
For years, writers and filmmakers have speculated about the possibility of the Earth being invaded by aliens from another planet. But what if the aliens have been watching us, infiltrating us via human collaborators, or even surgically altering themselves to look human? Occupied Earth is a groundbreaking anthology that explores the idea of what the world would look like years after its conquest.
20 years after a successful invasion by the Makh-Ra, humanity still exists, only they have become subservient to a new race of occupiers who govern the devastated planet. But, as much at things continue with some sense of normalcy, something has happened in the Mahk-Ra’s empire. Earth, once considered a strategic beachhead of major importance to the Empire, has been downgraded in its value. Things are starting to degrade. Our planet is the last place any self-respecting Mahk- Ra officer wants to be assigned. Yet, despite everything, life continues. These stories bring us face to face with annihilation — and show how we can pull ourselves back from the brink. Featuring Rachel Howzell Hall, Lisa Morton, Matthew V. Clemens, Howard Hendrix, Nathan Walpow and more, OCCUPIED EARTH is coming. Stay safe. Stay strong. Survive at all costs.
Richard Brewer is the co-creator, co-editor and story contributor to the critically acclaimed Bruce Springsteen inspired anthology, MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER (Bloomsbury USA) and his latest short story, LAST TO DIE, will be published in another Springsteen inspired anthology, TROUBLE IN THE HEARTLAND (Gutter Books), in 2014. Gary Phillips is the author of many novels and short stories, and co-edited and contributed to the acclaimed Black Pulp, has short stories in the upcoming Asian Pulp and Jewish Noir, and wrote Big Water, a graphic novel about the fight for that most precious of resources.
18 19 SAVAGE LANE Jason Starr Crime/Thriller Publication Date: October 13th, 2015 $25.95 • Hardcover • 336 pages • 6 x 9 ISBN: 1-978-940610-64-1• eISBN: 1-978-940610-65-8 Rights available: World, excl. UK, Germany, Italy Audio to Tantor
"Like James M. Cain meets Tom Perrotta, Savage Lane shows, in grand style, how twisted the hearts of All-American families can be, and how those white picket fences can be dangerously sharp.” —Megan Abbott
“Jason Starr is hypnotically good.”—Lee Child
A new thriller by one of the most acclaimed crime writers working today, about secrets that threaten to destroy a neighborhood and end lives.
EVERY TOWN HAS ITS SECRETS
Karen Daily, recently divorced, lives with her two kids in a quaint suburb of New York City. She’s teaching at a nearby elementary school, starting to date again, and for the first time in years has found joy in her life. Mark Berman, Karen’s friend and neighbor, wants out of his unhappy marriage, and so does his wife, Deb, but they have been staying together for their kids.
Unbeknownst to Karen, Mark has a rich fantasy life about her which has grown into a full-blown obsession. As rumors about Karen spread and a bigger secret is uncovered she becomes a murder suspect and the target of a twisted psychopathic. Savage Lane is Jason Starr’s most accomplished novel yet—a dark, domestic thriller and an honest, searing satire of a declining marriage, suburban life, and obsessive love.
Jason Starr is the internationally bestselling author of many novels published in over a dozen languages. He has co-written several novels with Ken Bruen for Hard Case Crime and his work in comics for Marvel, D.C, Vertigo, and Boom! Studios has featured Wolverine, The Punisher, Batman, and Ant-Man. Many of his books are in development for film and TV. He is one of only several authors who have won the Anthony Award for mystery fiction multiple times. He was born in Brooklyn and lives in Manhattan.
19 20 ORCHARD GROVE Vincent Zandri Crime/Thriller Publication date: January, 12th, 2016 $25.00 • Hardcover • 336 pages • 6 x 9 ISBN: 1-978-940610-78-8• eISBN: 1-978-940610-86-3 Rights available: World, audio
"Readers will be held captive by prose that pounds as steadily as an elevated pulse...Vincent Zandri nails readers attention." —Boston Herald
"Zandri demonstrates an uncanny knack for exposition, introducing new characters and narrative possibilities with the confidence of an old pro...Zandri does a superb job creating interlocking puzzle pieces." —New York Post ‘ The subject of a recent New York Times feature, Vincent Zandri is one of the hottest up-and-coming crime writers working today, and in ORCHARD GROVE he offers a riveting tale of domestic suspense that will appeal to fans of Harlan Coben and Gillian Flynn.
Sometimes Fences Make for Nice Neighbors. Other Times They Hide the Evil Within.
Orchard Grove is a town like any other, with quiet neighborhoods and apple groves . . .though Ethan, the depressed screenplay writer, and his secretive wife, Susan, would tell you differently. So would the seductive serial killer living next door. The apple trees are fertilized with evil, and the backyard fences aren’t enough to stop the manipulative mind games and dangerous lies. The lines between good and evil are blurred, and then erased, as Ethan does what it takes to survive.
Vincent Zandri is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of more than 16 novels including The Innocent, Godchild, The Remains, Moonlight Rises, and Everything Burns. He is also the author of numerous Amazon best-selling digital shorts, Pathological, True Stories, and Moonlight Mafia among them. Recently, Zandri was the subject of a major feature by The New York Times. He has also made appearances on Bloomberg TV and FOX News. His novel Moonlight Weeps has been nominated by International Thriller Writers (ITW) for the 2015 Best Paperback Original. He is a resident of both New York and Florence, Italy.
20 21 Polis Books Digital and backlist Catalog
TOUGH LUCK, Nothing personal, panic attack, hard feelings, twisted city, the follower, lights out by Jason Starr Page 22
WHEN ONE MAN DIES, THE EVIL THAT MEN DO and WITNESS TO DEATH by Dave White Page 23
SCOT ON THE ROCKS and JACK WITH A TWIST by Brenda Janowitz Page 24
JERICHO’S RAZOR by Casey Doran Page 25
STILL AMONG THE LIVING, TWO WAY TOLL and NO SAVING GRACE by Zachary Klein Page 26
THE DEVIL’S RIGHT HAND, GOOD DAY IN HELL, SAFE AND SOUND, BREAKING COVER and BROKEN SHIELD by J.D. Rhoades Page 27
SWITCH, K.A.R.M.A. and THE FEAR IN HER EYES by Grant McKenzie Page 28
THE SEVENTH CHILD, THE STORYTELLER, GLOW, THE TALENT, THE TWELVE by Howard and Susan Kaminsky Page 28
21 22 Jason Starr – a backlist to die for!
Seven classic crime novels by two-time Anthony Award winner Jason Starr, repackaged and reissued for the first time ever in ebook!
Jason Starr is one of the most beloved and critically-acclaimed writers of crime fiction around, winner and nominee of multiple awards. Polis Books will be reissuing seven of Starr’s riveting crime thrillers, perfect for readers who have yet to discover his distinct voice, or for readers looking to complete their collection! These seven novels will be reissued digitally in late summer/early fall 2015, and then in print in 2016.
TOUGH LUCK NOTHING PERSONAL PANIC ATTACK HARD FEELINGS TWISTED CITY THE FOLLOWER LIGHTS OUT
Manuscripts available Rights: World, excepting the following territories for each title:
UK (all titles) Germany (all titles) France: (all titles) Italy: Nothing Personal, Hard Feelings, Twisted City Japan: Nothing Personal Spain: Panic Attack Poland: Hard Feelings, Nothing Personal, Tough Luck, Twisted City, Lights Out, The Follower Russia: Hard Feelings, Tough Luck
22 23
The first two acclaimed novels in the Jackson Donne series and the bestselling ebook phenomenon by multi award-nominated author Dave White.
"White manages the neat trick of respecting the genre's traditions while daring to nudge it toward something new and unexpected. And Jackson Donne is a wonderful character.”—Laura Lippman on When One Man Dies
"Stunning...fulfills the promise of his debut...the author does such a fine job of depicting the inner conflicts of his fallible but ultimately heroic protagonist." —Publishers Weekly on The Evil That Men Dies
"A terrific thriller." —The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Witness To Death
WHEN ONE MAN DIES THE EVIL THAT MEN DO WITNESS TO DEATH Dave White Rights Available: World Manuscripts available
23 24
Brenda Janowitz introduces Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller in these two witty and warm novels—they’re romance on the rocks!
"(A) rollicking debut novel...A breezy romantic comedy with plenty of laughs." —Booklist on Scot On The Rocks
“[A] laugh-out-loud debut novel.” —Kristin Harmel, author of The Sweetness of Forgetting on Scot On The Rocks
"Nothing less than stellar...What else can I say? Get this book, read it, and love it!" —Fresh Fiction on Jack With A Twist
SCOT ON THE ROCKS JACK WITH A TWIST Brenda Janowitz Fiction/Women’s Fiction Publication Date: April 2014 320 pages Rights Available: World English, Audio Other Rights: Mollie Glick, Foundry Literary Management Manuscripts available
JERICHO’S RAZOR
24 25 Casey Doran Fiction/Thriller Publication Date: April 2014 272 pages Rights Available: World, Audio MS Available
"JERICHO’S RAZOR is absolute killer of a debut. Smart, vicious, insightful and clever. Author Casey Doran has just staked his claim as a new powerhouse thriller writer." –Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of PATIENT ZERO
A riveting debut thriller from a crime writer you won't want to miss, featuring a protagonist you won't be able to forget.
Horror writer Jericho Sands has had a hell of a month. He's endured a bitter break up with his punk rocker girlfriend, learned that his lungs are blacker than a coal mine, and served time in county jail for throwing a Congressman in a dumpster. He's heartbroken, sleep deprived and suffering from a debilitating case of writer's block
Life is about to get much worse.
Somebody from Jericho's past has left a decapitated body on his doorstep. The similarity to methods used in his books, his lack of an alibi and his proximity to the victim all lead the detectives handling the case to quickly identify Jericho as the primary suspect. But being framed for murder is the least of Jericho's problems, because this killer is only getting started...
" JERICHO’S RAZOR is simply awesome. Can’t wait for Doran’s next one." —Brett Battles, USA Today bestselling author of the Jonathan Quinn series
A native of Southern California, Casey Doran learned to walk on the sands of Redondo Beach and spent his teenage years chasing the perfect wave everywhere from Baja Mexico to Washington State. He’s spent time in five star resorts, biker bars run by the Hells Angels and the occasional jail cell, and he’s left with stories from all of them. He now lives in central Illinois.
25 26
The first three novels in Zachary Klein’s acclaimed and riveting Matt Jacob series. Classic noir never dies. "Matt Jacob, a private eye from Boston makes his debut in a novel that offers rich characterizations…if he resists the impulse to turn Matt Jacob too straight too soon, the author can keep his singular detective on good cases for a long time." —The New York Times (A Notable Book Selection) on Still Among The Living
"[A] real payoff…The return of Matt’s whole entourage guarantees pleasure for fans of Klein’s first [novel]…" —Kirkus Reviews on Two Way Toll
"This is an intricately plotted, well-written mystery with a dollop of humor and a worldview that will delight those who see international conspiracies under every rock." —Booklist
STILL AMONG THE LIVING TWO WAY TOLL NO SAVING GRACE Zachary Klein Fiction/Mystery Publication Date: February 2015 288 pages Rights Available: World, Audio Manuscripts available 26 27
The first three pulse-pounding novels in J.D. Rhoades’s Jack Keller thriller series, and both books in his Tony Wolf/Tim Buckthorn series!
"Crisp dialogue and the author's deft use of local color support a narrative driven as effectively by characters as by events." —Publishers Weekly
THE DEVIL’S RIGHT HAND GOOD DAY IN HELL SAFE AND SOUND BREAKING COVER BROKEN SHIELD Fiction/Thriller Rights Available: World (audio to Audible) Manuscripts available 27 28
Three stand-alone domestic suspense novels from one of the best up-and-coming thriller writers working today.
"Outstanding... one of my favorite thrillers this vacation." —Carole Barrowman, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on The Fear In Her Eyes
“A terrific little-guy-in-big-trouble thriller moving at warp speed with the emphasis on warp.” —Lee Child on Switch
“K.A.R.M.A. is one fine piece of work” —Andrew Vachss, New York Times bestselling author
THE FEAR IN HER EYES SWITCH K.A.R.M.A. Grant McKenzie Fiction/Thriller Rights Available: World (SWITCH unavailable in Canada, UK, Germany, China, Taiwan/Hong Kong), audio Other Rights: Amy Moore-Benson, AMB Literary Management Manuscripts available
28 29 THE SEVENTH CHILD THE STORYTELLER GLOW THE TALENT THE TWELVE Howard and Susan Kaminsky Publication date: April 2015 Rights available: World English, Audio Other rights: Lukas Ortiz/Philip G. Spitzer Agency Manuscripts available
Five novels of murder, gossip and intrigue from one of our grandest literary titans.
“THE STORYTELLER is a devilish, unsettling, witty story.” –Susanna Moore, author of In The Cut
“A solid suspense story that gradually builds to a horrifying climax.” –Sidney Sheldon on The Glow
“Talent is one of those marvelous, racy, fast-paced books that keeps you guessing and turning pages.” –Barbara Taylor Bradford
“THE SEVENTH CHILD is about as satisfying as a book can be.” –Peter Straub
“I love this book.” –Mel Brooks on The Twelve
Howard Kaminsky is the author of seven books and served as the president and publisher of Warner Books, Random House, and William Morrow/Avon. The author of several screenplays, including 1972′s "Homebodies," he was a producer of the 2011 film "My Dog Tulip." He served on the Board of Directors of American Publishers and the National Book Foundation and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Kaminsky lives in New York City and Connecticut.
29