Kirjahaku

A POIGNANT AND TIMELY NOVEL OF RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA"Beautiful. A journey you will never forget "A TOWN DIVIDED BY RACE IS HIDING A MIRACLE AMONG ITS SECRETSTravel seventy years through the secrets of the white Thanos family and the black Taylor family, twisted like strands of yarn woven together on a loom. The wealthy, powerful Nikkos Thanos owns a woolen mill and almost everything else on the north side of Delphi, Missouri, and is the overseer of a fractured society. The brave, judicious Thaddeus "Cousin" Taylor owns a grocery store and a tavern on the south side and carries a past hauntingly shrouded in tragedy. Each man tries to shepherd his part of town through the turmoil of racism, the depression, and war. With the passage of time, those caretaker roles are filled by Evangelina, Nikkos' beautiful and strong-willed daughter, and T.J., the grandson who worshipped Cousin. Forty-five years after high school, two friends, Ab and Grady, return for the funeral of their mentor, T.J., and walk into the middle of a mystery. They unweave the black and white threads that are the town's concealed, troubled past, revealing an extraordinary tapestry of life and death, revenge and triumph. LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO "WALK WITH STRENGTH""This story is more than white and black differences. It's about what it means to be a man, to earn and give respect, to stand tall against adversity, to be a role model." More Review Praise for A PUNCTUAL PAYMASTER"If you only read one book this year, let this be the one.""An incredible debut novel."Scroll up and grab a copy today.

AN EXPLORATION OF FAMILY "---of the seeds that produce three brothers who by turns of fate and differences of motivation are set out on their own to become individuals with only memories of the time they were together." THREE BROTHERS THREE STORIES THREE SURPRISE ENDINGS REVIEW COMMENTS "A major and important new novel by a writer that demands our attention." "Infinitely intriguing." "Groat's genius is his wordsmith magic." Three brothers are separated in their youth and never see each other again. Events happening in their lives fifty years later are chronicled in the short story, "A Most Contemptible Whisper," an eerie narrative from the troubled mind of the youngest brother struggling to cope with the sudden death of his wife; the novella, "The Covert Carver," the touching story of a man who goes searching for a meaningful retirement and finds wisdom, mystery, and the middle brother in the wilderness; and the novella, "Mingaud's Cell," the quirky tale of the oldest brother fighting unwanted change forced upon him by the government. From Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer, Grady Harp, "Much of the beauty of this book comes in the subtle way Groat allows us to recover their pasts."

Beware of a man who has nothing to lose. A Navy Seal returns to St. Louis from Afghanistan suffering from PTSD and loses everything. Homeless, he wants only to find work and be left alone, but he is drawn into a group of street people who are being hunted by a serial killer and used by the local mob boss. To save himself, he must fight his way from tragedy to triumph and lead his "friends" on a journey from despair to hope. You will be reminded why no one makes eye contact with a beggar, but you will also discover that if you do it often enough, you may eventually stare into the soul of a king, for greatness is as often concealed by the robes of monarchs as it is by the rags of mendicants. Travel the gritty streets and alleys of an urban area trying to find food and shelter and safety without losing your identity. Search for a meaningful future. Walk with Gifford Ulrich as he finds himself and the promise of tomorrow. What readers are saying: - "This page-turning intense drama will keep you questioning and wondering until the very end." - "A story of deep and tragic truths." - "Profound and moving prose that you won't forget." - "Gifford is an intriguing and troubled character that makes for a fantastic read." - "Ulrich is better than Jack Reacher." - "An opening to the human soul." - "A novel you will long remember." - "I could not put it down." - "I wish I could give it 10 stars." - "You won't know how to let go once the book ends."

From the Tulsa Book Review: "This sequel to Monarchs and Mendicants is a fast-paced thriller written in a similar style as James Patterson's Alex Cross series. Readers who enjoy Lee Child's Jack Reacher, or any thriller that has more twists and turns than a roller coaster, will welcome this tale." Death follows Gifford Ulrich. He lost his fiancee to a drunken driver, his two Seal buddies to an IED in Afghanistan, and his three homeless companions to the streets of St. Louis. Now, his friend, Renee Edwards, who played piano and sang the blues in a local club, has been murdered. Hired by her father to investigate, Giff seeks help from a blind, retired homicide detective, a computer-geek neighbor, and an ex-military workmate. The team discover that other women have been killed in the same manner as Renee, and they work to find a connection despite the interference of a small-town police chief. They match wits with a ruthless serial killer and struggle to connect the dots before someone else dies. With his team in increasing danger, Giff is forced to rely on himself and his hunches in an interstate manhunt that draws him into a life-and-death trap. Pulled by his desire for both justice and revenge, he fights to uncover the unimaginable secret behind the killings. "This author of major significance has produced a page-turning intense drama that will immerse the reader in the emotions of the hunter and the prey."

A Collection of 55 Short Stories with something for everyone. Grady Harp (Amazon Hall of Fame and Top 100 Reviewer) says in his 5-Star Review, "a richly detailed series of engrossing short stories and flash fiction each of varying length, some referencing history, some commenting on philosophy, some just simply humorous. Every entry is polished and once again displays the fine talent of Dan Groat. Highly recommended - to all writers ( ) as well as of course to readers who love fine stories." Stories about coming of age, the Civil War, a return to youth, urban youth, unique families, tragedy, triumph, teaching, infidelity, abortion, wood carving and wisdom, war, work, lawyers, life paths, addiction, abduction, mental illness, mediocrity, miracles, God, dogs, funerals, birth, college, bank robbery, baseball and football, poker and pool, prison, ancestry, family secrets, homelessness, suicide, neighbors, childhood wishes, eternal life, spelling bees, floods, good and evil, love and romance, second chances, anger and fear, rebirth, parenthood, brothers, reunions, soul and spirit, gun rights, prejudice, old age and new age, victory and defeat, life and death. The shortest story can be read in one minute, the longest in ten minutes. Just enough time to laugh, cry, think, dream, remember, forget, learn fresh ideas, challenge old concepts, meet new people, recall former friends, find knowledge or wisdom or peace, escape and be entertained. Go ahead, put on someone else's shoes, walk in their footprints, see the world through their eyes, guess hidden motives, stumble into surprise endings, expand your imagination. Experience their anxiety, serenity, desire, joy, sorrow, danger, or freedom. Be selfish. Take a few moments just for you. Disconnect, drop out, change your mood, vary your day with stories about the past, the present, the future. Wander around in the author's mind for awhile. Encounter the strange, wonderful people that live there. Invite them in. Scroll up and grab a copy.