Kirjahaku

A compelling and compasionate memoir about coming to terms with the unique pain of living with a sibling's mental illness In classic books such as Girl, Interrupted and When Rabbit Howls, the mentally ill depict their own harrowing worlds. In Mad House we have an account of the devastating effects of mental illness on the lives of those who share their world: the healthy siblings of those afflicted. Clea Simon was shattered when her older brother, Daniel, a freshman at Harvard, began hearing voices, making it impossible for him to function. He later committed suicide. Schizophrenia next claimed her sister, Katherine, who has moved from one institution to another after refusing any help from her family. Simon, who spoke with hundreds of other siblings of the mentally ill and with experts in the field, confronts the issues healthy siblings face, from guilt (Why do I deserve to be okay?) to fear (Will illness claim me or my children next?) to anger at being neglected by parents overwhelmed by the needs of the mad child.

The author of Mad House explores the special bond between women and cats, interviewing a wide array of female characters, from a young professional to a lion tamer, who shed light on this unique relationship. Reprint. 15,000 first printing.

"Elegant prose ... sheds new light on the father-daughter dynamic" –Boston magazine Praise for Fatherless WOMEN "If it can be said about a book on loss, Fatherless Women is a pleasure to read. Clea Simon is a warm, honest, intelligent, and trustworthy guide, not only for grieving women but for the men who support them. Simon’s insights about father-daughter relationships are profound." –Neil Chethik, author of FatherLoss "Clea Simon deepens our understanding of the complicated emotions daughters feel about fathers, both during life and especially after death. This book will help heal rifts and set stuck energies free." –Beth Witrogen McLeod, author of Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal "Unusually candid and often provocative . . . Simon’s book is immensely thought-provoking about a topic that all of us will face." –Pauline Boss, Ph.D., author of Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief There is a special bond between a father and a daughter, and when that bond is broken by death, a woman’s life can change in profound and unexpected ways. Clea Simon, critically acclaimed author of Mad House, explores this crucial meeting point of grief and growth by delving into her own experience and those of other women to paint an illuminating portrait of the father-daughter relationship and its lifelong ramifications. Filled with moving stories of real women, this poignant, comforting, and insightful book paves the way for all women to make peace with the past, with the adults they have become, and to courageously face the question: what happens next?

Three figures, shadowy against the light. That's all I remember from my past life, as I am dragged, dripping and half-drowned, from the flood. My saviour, a strange, pink-haired girl, is little help. She can barely care for herself, let alone the boy she loves. And although she has sworn to avenge the murder of her mentor, she must first escape the clutches of drug dealers, murderers and thieves. I would repay her kindness if I could. But we are alone in this blighted city - and I am a cat.The past is an enigma to Blackie, the voice of Clea Simon's dark new mystery. Combining elements of feline fantasy and cozy whodunit, The Ninth Life introduces this unusual hero and his companion, Care: two small creatures in a nightmarish urban landscape, fighting for their lives, and for the lives and memories of those they love.

The Boston rock music scene is where Tara Winton belongs; the world she's been part of for 20 years. But when one of the old gang dies in mysterious circumstances, Tara sets out to uncover the disturbing truth beneath the surface of the club scene in its heyday.

There's trouble brewing in the woods of Beauville, and the only witness isn't talking. When Pru Marlowe is called to a forest clearing to help with an illegally trapped bear, she finds a colleague passed out drunk, his pet ferret locked in his truck. When one of her old running buddies turns up dead as well and then the town's pampered pets begin to disappear, Pru can't tell if her heavy-drinking colleague is involved - or how much the ferret, a wise little creature called Frank, knows. Frank's not communicating - even to her - and for once the bad-girl animal psychic is at a loss. The offer of a job - and maybe something more - from a hunky warden only complicates Pru's life as she goes on her rounds between her small Berkshires hometown and the woods that lie beyond. And although her crotchety tabby, Wallis, would have her make some changes in what has become a familiar routine, Pru knows her special skills set her apart as the only one who can shed light on these crimes - and save the animals at risk. But as the mysteries pile up, Pru is forced to admit that even a city-hardened animal communicator can't understand everything that's going on, and that a small town may be as dangerous as the darkest woods when a predator is on the prowl.

Elegant prose ... sheds new light on the father-daughter dynamic-Boston magazine Praise for Fatherless WOMEN ""If it can be said about a book on loss, Fatherless Women is a pleasure to read. Clea Simon is a warm, honest, intelligent, and trustworthy guide, not only for grieving women but for the men who support them. Simon's insights about father-daughter relationships are profound.""-Neil Chethik, author of FatherLoss ""Clea Simon deepens our understanding of the complicated emotions daughters feel about fathers, both during life and especially after death. This book will help heal rifts and set stuck energies free.""-Beth Witrogen McLeod, author of Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal ""Unusually candid and often provocative . . . Simon's book is immensely thought-provoking about a topic that all of us will face.""-Pauline Boss, Ph.D., author of Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief There is a special bond between a father and a daughter, and when that bond is broken by death, a woman's life can change in profound and unexpected ways. Clea Simon, critically acclaimed author of Mad House, explores this crucial meeting point of grief and growth by delving into her own experience and those of other women to paint an illuminating portrait of the father-daughter relationship and its lifelong ramifications. Filled with moving stories of real women, this poignant, comforting, and insightful book paves the way for all women to make peace with the past, with the adults they have become, and to courageously face the question: what happens next?

Three figures, shadowy against the light. That's all I remember from my past life, as I am dragged, dripping and half-drowned, from the flood. My saviour, a strange, pink-haired girl, is little help. She can barely care for herself, let alone the boy she loves. And although she has sworn to avenge the murder of her mentor, she must first escape the clutches of drug dealers, murderers and thieves. I would repay her kindness if I could. But we are alone in this blighted city - and I am a cat.The past is an enigma to Blackie, the voice of Clea Simon's dark new mystery. Combining elements of feline fantasy and cozy whodunit, The Ninth Life introduces this unusual hero and his companion, Care: two small creatures in a nightmarish urban landscape, fighting for their lives, and for the lives and memories of those they love.

"Clea Simon writes with authority and affection about a lost world. Highly recommended" Catriona McPhersonThis intriguing, hardhitting, intricately-plotted mystery set in Boston's clubland marks an exciting new departure for cozy author Clea Simon. The Boston club scene may be home to a cast of outsiders and misfits, but it's where Tara Winton belongs; the world she's been part of for the past twenty years. Now, one of the old gang is dead, having fallen down the basement stairs at his home.With her journalist's instincts, Tara senses there's something not quite right about Frank's supposedly accidental death. When she asks questions, she begins to uncover some disturbing truths about the club scene in its heyday. Beneath the heady, sexually charged atmosphere lurked something darker. Twenty years ago, there was another death. Could there be a connection? Is there a killer still at large . and could Tara herself be at risk?

The reappearance of an old enemy from the past spells trouble for young private investigator, Care, and her feline companion, Blackie.Care's reputation as a private investigator is growing and clients are beating a path to her door. An elderly woman seeks her help in finding out what happened to her brother. Blackie senses he's met this woman before, some time before he became a cat. But who is she - and what is their connection?At the same time, a dockworker asks Care to find a colleague who's gone missing. But how come a poor labourer has the funds to pay for Care's services? As Blackie and Care delve further, it becomes clear that neither client has been telling the whole truth. Then a body is discovered at the waterfront, and the investigation takes a disturbing new twist .

Life and death. Music and murder. This is more than just stage fright... Gal, a talented musician, has returned to Boston to play a memorial for her late friend. But when she sees a particular face in the crowd, she freezes on stage. The next day, she learns that the man she saw has been beaten to death behind the venue - and her friend's widower Walter is being charged in connection with his murder. When Walter refuses to defend himself, Gal wonders if he is guilty. As memories of the past begin to flood back, she starts her own investigation. To uncover the truth, she must re-examine her own life, her perception of the past, and an industry with a dark underbelly.But what she discovers may prove hard to swallow... Hold Me Down is a gripping and dark tale of music, love and murder.

The new novel in Clea Simon’s spellbinding Witch Cats of Cambridge series! When two new clients seek Becca’s professional services, the fledgling witch detective is overjoyed. Finally, she can use her skills to help her magical community. But as the young witch finds the new cases intertwining, things grow more complicated. Becca’s three cats – the ones with the real power – can smell something is wrong with these clients. But not even Clara, the calico, knows what to do when a man ends up dead and a powerful and poisonous root appears – and disappears – in the case. To make matters worse, Clara and her littermates are feuding – and she can’t tell them about an unsettling interaction she’s had with one of the client’s sisters. Is it possible that some humans may have the same powers as the magical felines? What does that mean for Clara’s beloved Becca – and for the potent poison that has already taken one person’s life? In this second Witch Cats of Cambridge mystery, Clara and her sisters must learn to work together if they are to save the person they all love.

A riveting work of dark suspense from acclaimed author Clea Simon Gal, a middle-aged musician, is back in Boston to play a memorial for her late drummer/best friend, when she finds herself freezing on stage at the sight of a face in the crowd. The next day, she learns that the man she saw has been killed – beaten to death behind the venue – and her friend’s widower is being charged in connection with his death. When the friend refuses to defend himself, Gal wonders why and, as the memories of begin to flood back, she starts her own informal investigation. As she does so, she must reexamine her own wild life, her perception of the past, and an industry that monetizes dysfunction in a dark tale of love, music, and murder.

When a panicked stranger shows up at Charm and Cherish, Becca Colwin feels compelled to help. But when that stranger then disappears, leaving behind her heirloom violin the aspiring witch detective is drawn further into a web of deceit and intrigue complicated by a history that only Becca’s three magical cats truly understand.

A riveting work of dark suspense from acclaimed author Clea Simon Gal, a middle-aged musician, is back in Boston to play a memorial for her late drummer/best friend, when she finds herself freezing on stage at the sight of a face in the crowd. The next day, she learns that the man she saw has been killed - beaten to death behind the venue - and her friend's widower is being charged in connection with his death. When the friend refuses to defend himself, Gal wonders why and, as the memories of begin to flood back, she starts her own informal investigation. As she does so, she must reexamine her own wild life, her perception of the past, and an industry that monetizes dysfunction in a dark tale of love, music, and murder.

It's kitten season in Cambridge, and the results can be murder.Becca is coming home from her job at Charm and Cherish when she sees a kitten dodging cars on Mass Ave. She follows, only to see the kitten run down an alley. Becca follows when suddenly a bright light illuminates what turns out to be a dead-end. Before her, a strangely familiar body is on the ground--her ex boyfriend, Jeff. And right beside Jeff, the kitten is staring back at her. Becca scoops up the kitten and shoves her into her bag, before turning to face the police.The police received a call about a man and a woman arguing viciously, including threats of violence. Since the body is that of Becca's ex, she comes under suspicion. But more motives than jealousy soon emerge: Jeff was working on stealth software designed to record and transmit personal data - a new form of spyware that would be of interest to everyone from the police and security agencies to cybercriminals. Even as the police investigation appears to have moved on, Becca realizes she is under surveillance. And when Jeff's former friends and colleagues approach her, Becca finds the police aren't the only ones watching her. When a particularly secretive tech guru clumsily approaches, apparently trying to romance her, she enlists the aid of a contact from the local hacker group. Through him, she comes to realize that Jeff may have installed an early version of his software on her computer - and that it contains enough information for a knowledgeable IT geek to reproduce the finished result.Meanwhile, Becca is sheltering the little tortie - and her three magical cats are horrified. The tortie isn't of their lineage or their family. And yet she seems to have some powers of her own, which may help Becca discern friend from foe, solve Jeff's murder, and clear her name - with the help of her mystical feline friends.