On May 5, 1993, second-graders Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore disappeared from their West Memphis, Arkansas, homes. The following afternoon, their nude, beaten, and bound bodies were discovered in a drainage ditch less than a mile away.

After a troublesome confession, three local teenagers, later dubbed the "West Memphis Three," were arrested, tried, and convicted in early 1994. Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley received life sentences, while ringleader Damien Echols went to death row. Three years later, the documentary film "Paradise Lost" premiered on HBO, and the effect on viewers was dramatic. Many became skeptical of the verdicts and also felt one of the fathers of the victims was a better suspect-John Mark Byers.

In "Untying the Knot," author Greg Day tells the true story of John Mark Byers and the about-face he made to free the men convicted of the crime. Day exposes the propaganda campaign used to convince a gullible public that Byers was complicit in the deaths of his wife and son. Based on court transcripts and hours of personal interviews, "Untying the Knot" explores all the case evidence while interweaving dialogues and statements. It traces the life of Byers from his roots in rural Arkansas, to his son's murder and the death of his wife, to his ultimate imprisonment in 1999. It reveals a man redeemed by prison and whose change of heart changed his life.

"Day has captured the essence of a towering personality engulfed by an impossible situation. John Mark Byers is an immensely complex character, and Untying the Knot pulls no punches in revealing the man in all his seeming contradictions."

-John Douglas, "Mindhunter"

In this story based on true events, author Nelson Rodriguez explores the effects of an online game called Mobster on its players. Rodriguez examines how people interact with others when they are involved-or even obsessed-with online gaming, delving into the relationships that are built through the game-sometimes with others who live a completely different part of the world For Sam, the game Mobster became an extremely personal and real experience; he began acting out his crimes in real life, without giving any thought to the law or the lines that he was crossing. To "win," he did everything in his power, regardless of the consequence-making bribes and intimidating anyone he perceived was in his way. But would he take to ultimate step and actually kill someone? Mark was committed to his job as a police officer, and so he never imagined that one day he would have to engage in the very acts that he had sworn to fight. It seemed that destiny had a different path for him-a life he never imagined for himself. Despite their strong personal relationships, once these players get caught up in the game, all that matters to them is the game-and everything they cared about before is in jeopardy.

"Peter and I stared at each other, digesting the shocking news. What was this misguided loose cannon of a prosecutor doing? Would he really take the risk of ruining our lives without any evidence of a crime? The answer was obviously yes.The thought of being arrested! The very idea pierced my heart. My mind raced at hyper speed. I had never committed a single criminal act. I was a wife, a mother, and a hard-working professional in the field of real estate development. After many years of faithful service, my bosses, Peter Durkee and Jack Wood, made me an equity partner in Durkee Development Group, a developer of golf course communities in Naples. Now I was being accused of being a partner in crime, a corrupt individual, an influence peddler, who had sought to bring illegal pressure on government authorities with respect to a golf course development called Colisseum Golf.My life had just spun totally out of control."

History is filled with stories of the famous crashing to earth, whether through an ill-judged statement, an overweening arrogance, a lust for power or money, or simply a stroke of bad luck. Today, more than ever, the world of the successful is littered with 'banana skins' lying in wait for the unwary, as film stars, politicians, soldiers, scientists, business tycoons, royalty, criminals, sports idols and others make that fatal decision, gaffe or slip. It covers 220 fascinating entries. Packed in a gift size, it is highly illustrated in colour. It is ideal travel and present book. It tells the stories behind the stories. "The Hidden Secrets" - this beautifully illustrated book charts the hidden secrets behind some of the biggest 'banana skins' of all time - the riveting stories of 200 figures who fell from grace - some for ever, some for a while, some evoke sympathy, a great many do not.

During her career, Julie Grace worked for several political icons, including Paul Simon, Alan Dixon, Joseph Kennedy, Walter Mondale, and Jimmy Carter. In 1991, she accepted a job with "TIME" magazine, where she specialized in social issues and was touted as one of "TIME"'s best human drama reporters.

Although Julie appeared to have a solid career, her world began to crumble when the stresses of her job became more than she could handle. In order to cope, she turned to alcohol. Eventually her addiction cost her the job. It was then that she sought help in an alcohol rehabilitation program. There, she met George Thompson, and they soon developed an extremely close relationship.

Unfortunately, the relationship was rocky and George physically abused Julie on numerous occasions. Tragically, on May 20, 2003, the abuse ended when Julie died three days after one of their abusive encounters. George initially confessed to her murder but when his case went to trial, he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter rather than first degree homicide.

Ruth Grace, Julie's mother, was shocked. She blamed the Illinois judicial system for miscarriage of justice. Now, with the help of author Nancy Hoff man, she examines her daughter's case in detail. Read the witnesses testimonies and judge for yourself-"Was Justice Served?"

A charming, original and uncommonly sensitive portrait of Picasso and his beloved dachshund, Lump

One spring morning in 1957, veteran photojournalist David Douglas Duncan paid a visit to his friend and frequent photographic subject Pablo Picasso, at the artist's home near Cannes. As a co-pilot alongside Duncan in his Mercedes Gullwing 300 SL was the photographer's pet dachsund, Lump. Photographer and dog were close companions, but Duncan's nomadic lifestyle and his other dog - a giant jealous Afghan hound who had tormented Lump - made their life in Rome difficult. When they arrived at Picasso's Villa La Californie that historic day, Lump decided that he had found paradise on earth, and that he would move in with Picasso, whether the artist welcomed him or not.

This is the background for a totally original book that offers an uncommonly sensitive portrait of Picasso. Lump was immortalized in a Picasso portrait painted on a plate the day they met, but that was just the beginning. In a suite of forty-five paintings reinterpreting Velasquez’s masterpiece ‘Las Meninas’, Picasso replaced the impassive hound in the foreground with jaunty renderings of Lump.

Today, as a gift from the artist to his hometown as a youth, all of those historic canvases are now the centerpiece exhibition in the Picasso Museum of Barcelona. Fourteen of the paintings are reproduced here in full colour, juxtaposed with Duncan’s dramatic and intimate black-and-white photographs of Picasso and Lump, bringing full circle the odyssey of a lucky dachshund who found his way to becoming a furry, super-stretched icon of modern art.

Jump aboard and travel along on this unsettling journey through trials, convictions, incarcerations and finally that point of no return. Partner with a desperate father as he decides to take revenge on the person he holds responsible for a series of crimes that tear his life apart.

Compare your actions to those of this man and see how they affect you. What would you do? As I put this together I tried to figure what I would do and I must admit I was shocked at my reaction at times. Whatever your final decision I am sure you will have as many questions at the end as you did in the beginning.

The strange situation that I found myself in was how willing I was to accept this mans solution. I guess we all see things through our own filter and in many cases we are able to justify even the unsavory acts if they are couched in the right set of circumstances.

Good reading.

On April 15, 1920, five bandits robbed and killed a paymaster and his guard in a Boston suburb. The police charged Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti with the crime. They were local immigrant workers associated with a detested anarchist group. A year later, a jury convicted Sacco and Vanzetti of murder during a period of anti-communist hysteria in America. They were executed after six years of failed appeals, despite proven misconduct by prosecutors and the judge and a confessed participant in the crime who swore that the two Italians were not involved. Worldwide protests erupted. Millions claimed the two were framed and executed for their political beliefs.Author Ted Grippo takes the reader through the trial, disclosing and examining new documents and other recently discovered evidence supporting a conspiracy to frame Sacco and Vanzetti. While the debate over their guilt may continue for some, "With Malice Aforethought" will end the argument for many.* * * *"A comprehensive history of shocking abuses of the criminal justice system that resulted in the conviction and execution of Sacco and Vanzetti." -Greg Jones, former First Assistant US Attorney"An important story revealing the treatment of Italian immigrants in 1920s America."-Bill Dal Cerro, President, Italic Institute of America.

It was Christmas 1942 when eleven young women boarded the troopship Strathaird and braved the attentions of U-Boats in the deep Atlantic. Borrowing a cricketing phrase, they called themselves the First Eleven. But they were not the first to arrive at the Special Operations Executive's secret North African base near Algiers. Code-named Massingham, it was formed by SOE to spearhead subversion and sabotage in what Winston Churchill called 'the soft underbelly' of Europe. Massingham was hidden away at the Club des Pins, a former luxury resort nestling among pines next to a Mediterranean beach. By the time SOE had got to work, there was little luxury left. Setting the Med Ablaze tells the true stories of the men and women of Churchill's secret base. Its life was short. Less than two years after its formation, its job was done. But Massingham played a key role in the Allied offensive in the Mediterranean islands, Italy and France. If you enjoy historical nonfiction, this book is for you.