Soldier of Discontent and Other Stories

A scintillating, action-packed anthology of crime throughout history.

Soldier of Discontent

When the mayor of a turn-of-the-century logging town investigates an arson blamed on an IWW agitator, she risks becoming a target herself as she uncovers a desperate scheme of seduction, revenge, and murder. 

The Horns of Hathor

The Pharaoh Akhenaten has just decreed that in place of Hathor, Isis, and all the other traditional gods of Egypt, only one divinity shall now be worshipped — him. Accordingly he directs Chenzira the Scribe to Thebes, the holiest city of the empire, to cancel the largest religious festival of the year. A mass celebration where hundreds of thousands gather to seek Hathor's blessing on next year's harvest.

Akhenaten's directive hardly incites the priests and the people to worshipful acceptance. More like murderous rage. In fact even the gods are getting into the act, since the last man the Pharaoh sent to shut down the festival got himself murdered right in the Temple of Karnak — by none other than Hathor herself

Can Chenzira and his faithful baboon Mouse survive vengeful priests, a howling mob, and of course the wrath of Hathor?

The Blue Ibis

The Blue Ibis, created by the Egyptian god Thoth, promises heaven to whoever who can read the inscription within. Two government agents, one from the Justice Department and one from the Egyptian Council of Antiquities, endure some cross-cultural snarkiness while trying to track down the mysterious statue. But an old-money sybarite and a fast-talking tech wunderkind, bitter rivals equally desperate and equally ruthless, are also hot on the trail of the blue bird. The approaching clash promises to be — cosmic.

Angry Angel

In turn-of-the-century San Francisco, Donaldina Cameron earned the name "the Chinatown Angel" for her daring rescues of Chinese girls forced into prostitution. To the tongs and brothel owners, however, she became Fahn Quai — the White Devil. They placed a price on her head, and made several attempts to collect it with bullets and dynamite.

Now Donaldina journeys to Seattle's ill-famed Restricted District to rescue another girl. Here she must recruit the help of a hard-bitten labor organizer, for the brothel they mean to invade is guarded by the tongs, the police, and a kung-fu killer.