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From the serial murders of Jack the Ripper to the Great Train Robbery, the real-life crimes documented by Scotland Yard rival the thorniest cases of such resourceful fictional detectives as Sherlock Holmes, Jane Marple, and Hercule Poirot. Gathering together a dazzling array of true crime stories, this fascinating history of the world's most famous police department presents detailed portraits of the colorful characters who have left their mark on British law enforcement: magistrate Henry Fielding and his Bow Street Runners; Charles Rowan and Richard Mayne, the architects of England's new police force; and a rogues' gallery of notorious criminals--from Constance Kent, the 16-year-old child killer whose ingenious coverup almost fooled Victorian detectives, to a raft of modern-day terrorists including foreign extremists, IRA gunmen, and drug overlords. Elegantly written and filled with intriguing information, this book is a fitting tribute to those staunch upholders of British justice, the "sharp-eyed blokes'' of Scotland Yard. --Publisher description

What is it about the allure of a good cigar, its smokey flavor, its lingering aroma, that has caused it to leave such a lasting impression on American culture and society? Why are cigars back again with cigar tastings, cigar bars, and cigar-friendly restaurants suddenly appearing everywhere? In "The Good Cigar, two lifelong cigar lovers explore the cigar phenomenon and trace it through history, from the discovery of tobacco in America to its place in society today. Throughout these pages, you'll read about famous cigar smokers, the cigar in literature and the arts, and the story behind cigar bands and boxes. You'll also learn about how cigars are made, what to look for in a cigar, how to light and smoke a cigar, advice on accessories such as humidors and cutters, and a handy ratings chart of over 150 of the top cigar brands. For the connoisseur and novice alike, "The Good Cigar will enhance an evening at fireside with a good cigar.

A colorful city -- eighth largest in the country -- reduced to rubble by a massive earthquake and then consumed by flames... In this vivid, fast-paced chronicle of what has been called the worst peacetime disaster to ever befall America, veteran journalist and author H. Paul Jeffers provides a gripping account of the nightmarish days in April 1906 when earthquake and fire devastated San Francisco. Drawing on a wide range of eyewitness material, Jeffers follows a variety of individuals as they come to terms with an unthinkable event. Celebrities like Enrico Caruso and John Barrymore; the civil and military authorities who tried to bring order out of the chaos; merchants who struggled heroically to save their shops and goods from the ruins and the flames; the suddenly homeless ordinary men and women who composed messages on scraps of paper and sticks of wood (all of which, incredibly, the postal service actually delivered) to tell of their survival: from all these and many other perspectives Jeffers creates a riveting mosaic of catastrophe and its aftermath. With the one-hundredth anniversary of the quake approaching, this skillful and engrossing narrative will be of keen interest to readers from west coast to east. Book jacket.

"When best-selling author Jonathon Dodge was found dead in an abandoned boathouse in upstate New York, there was no lack of suspects for his murder. A prominent author of espionage and true crime books, Dodge was roundly disliked by nearly everyone with whom he came in contact. On the night of his murder, however, Dodge had attended the Mystery Writers of America's annual Edgar Allan Poe Award banquet - at which he was honored with their Grandmaster Award - and spent the evening surrounded by the luminaries of the mystery-writing field." "Harvey Goldstein, the mystery-loving New York City Chief of Detectives, and his aide-de-camp Sergeant John Bogdanovic must sort through a slew of suspects, who are all well practiced in the art of murder, to find out who finally killed the unlikable writer."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Relates the story of Santa Claus from his historic origins to his current incarnation, discussing Saint Nicholas, the Americanizing of Santa, his commercialization, and his treatment in songs and movies.

Who had the biggest I told you so in history? Find out in this comprehensive compendium of American history's fools and sages. Armchair historians will revel in this collection of the ill advised and ill-timed decisions our greatest leaders have made, notwithstanding the availability of plenty of advice to the contrary.

In this diverse and vigorous mix of stories by newcomers and luminaries, writers offer their takes on what life might hold for us in the next few years. The resulting visions of war, oppression, and daily struggle are sometimes humorous, sometimes terrifying (and occasionally both), but always thought-provoking.

Chronicles the life and military career of Joseph "Lightning Joe" Lawton Collins, and details his efforts in the planning of D-Day, during the attack on Utah Beach on June, 6th, the Battle of the Bulge, and more in order to secure an Allied victory in World War II.