Books published by Blackbird Books

Part mystery, part hospital soap opera, and part social commentary, Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1914 novel, K., is a look at a vanished world, a social artifact from the early 20th century, complete with rowdy, old-school roadhouses, forlorn lovers, and themes of revenge, altruism, and pride, not to mention a mysterious stranger known only as K.Recent dramatic series, like The Knick, Mr. Selfridge, and Downton Abbey, have sought to give us a clear-eyed look at things as they were a century ago, but K. is the real McCoy, a time capsule taking us directly into that period and showing us life as it was before the Great War, before penicillin, before the vast changes in social norms that we now take for granted.One of the first romantic mysteries, it is also a window in on medicine as it was practiced a hundred years ago, and, as such, provides the perfect backdrop to delve into the mysteries of the human heart as well as the mysteries of our own past.

"As a guest gift for the wonderful wine, I will eat you last," yawns Polyphemus the Cyclops, in Joanne Keegan's wonderous, phantasmagoric comedy based on Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey.Laying down a comedic play for school-age students on a classical substrate may seem ambitious for some, but for others, it is an opportunity to expand the imagination.The result is more than just a clever piece of drama-it is an inspired work of art in its own right, a wild ride to open up students' dramatic talents and expose them to an age-old classic.The Odyssey provides age-appropriate and accessible material, parts for over twenty students, and strong roles for both male and female actors, all while retaining the flavor of Homer's classic in the context of an original and imaginative play, with adventure, humor, and, of course, a cast of colorful characters!

Dawn breaks, and Emily Williams awakens, hungover and alone in an unfamiliar park. A crazy night with too much to drink and not enough self-control. But, as she soon discovers, she's not quite alone.A drunken hookup . . .A night in the park . . .And now he's dead, and she can't remember.What's a girl to do?

Donald Westlake's nearly forgotten pulp sleaze classic, Man Hungry, is actually one of his first published novels, a 1959 literary take on the genre, complete with lesbians, prostitutes, a swinging college campus, and a washed-up writer-turned-writing professor who's been unable to reprise the success of his bestselling first novel. And, oh yeah, a certain salacious young college junior who's hungry for more than just an education.Apart from its steamy content, Man Hungry is actually a fine novel and a fascinating glimpse into the development of one of our most prolific and talented writers. It's all there-hints of his dark style, flawed and wanton characters, and the old familiar haunts, including the first appearance of the fictional Monequois College in the equally made-up town of Monequois, New York, which subsequently appears in at least a half dozen Westlake novels under at least four of his pen names.If you're a Westlake fan, a fan of the genre, or just looking for a great vintage read, this new edition of Man Hungry from Blackbird Books will satisfy your appetite!

New York, 1960 . . .Take one lesbian editor, well-done, add one sexually curious intern, and one all-man co-editor. Mix thoroughly at a posh Park Avenue women's magazine, and you have another Donald Westlake classic. Cast in the mold of Mad Men with Madison Avenue advertising swapped out for New York's "smart publishing set," this new edition from Blackbird Books sports its original Robert Maguire cover and will take you back to that arousing time and place.

The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart's classic tale of murder and intrigue in a pre-World War I mansion, is evocative yet strangely modern, a sort of CSI: Downton Abbey, with butlers and maids sprinkled in amongst the bodies and evidence.With elements of romance, white collar crime, class, race, poverty, and privilege, it's a story told with such a deft hand that it will keep you guessing right to the end, all the while keeping you entertained with the trappings of the gilded age and a hint of the supernatural.Sporting its famous 1952 Mapback jacket with original cover painting by Robert Stanley, this new edition from Blackbird Books is a must for all mystery readers.

A Wall Street felon serving his sentence at New York's Rikers Island Prison, Sterling Walsh desperately needs to set his life straight. But he gets more than he bargained for when he accepts an FBI offer to infiltrate a Muslim sleeper cell.Set in the dark corners of New York City's five boroughs, Hart Island is a soul-stirring tale of revenge and redemption.

MY NAME'S MARK TAGGERT . . .I'm a drifter, a bum, a nobody. No job, no money, no future. I'm on the Thruway with a laundry bag over my shoulder and my thumb stuck out in the air.Then the most beautiful girl in the world picks me up. She falls in love with me. I fall in love with her.Nice? Yeah, sure.I'm still Mark Taggert-a drifter, a bum, a nobody. And she's Elaine Rice-a Park Avenue playgirl with more gold than Fort Knox.So where do I go from here?No one but Sheldon Lord could have written this book, probing so deeply into the inner reaches of human relations. This is a novel you won't be able to put down!