A dig in a remote site uncovers demonic killings & buried secrets that shatter archeologist Michael Rempart’s world in this sweeping supernatural thriller that crosses time and space from the present to the last days of the Russian Tsars.When Michael unexpectedly receives a recent picture of a long-lost love, a woman he thought was dead, he gives up everything to search for her and to find answers to questions that have plagued him through the years. Instead, he uncovers more mysteries as he’s drawn deeper into the occult and the ancient power of alchemy.Michael’s search takes him from St. Petersburg, Russia to an archeological dig site in Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountains—a desolate area where medieval knights once roamed, and where horrifying secrets are buried—and at the same time it creates a mystical connection to the riches and debauchery of the court of Nicholas and Alexandra and the “mad monk” Rasputin.As Michael’s quest continues, he soon finds that while he hunts, he is also being hunted. Will he find all that he’s looking for before it’s too late?Join the many fans of the Ancient Secrets novels. Each can be read as a stand-alone work. All are available as ebook, print, and large print editions as well as audiobooks.

As culinary queen Angie Amalfi-Smith starts a new phase of her life with a husband and a home to call her own, one long-time problem still plagues her: finding a job, or business, or service, or anything that will make her feel as if her days are productive as well as rewarding. When she stumbles upon a fresh idea for a livelihood with her best friend, Connie Rogers, her culinary prospects begin looking up. But no sooner does she think that, than her exciting new career takes a dangerous turn. Someone is obsessed with destroying it. And now, with Satanic revelers, snarky sisters, suspicious friends, and possibly a serial killer on the loose, Angie wonders if, this time, her goose may be cooked … for good. NOTE: For original Angie Amalfi mystery readers, this is a major rewrite (including "whodunnit" although some scenes will be familiar) of the mystery previously published as BELL, COOK & CANDLE. "Angie Amalfi is the Queen of the Culinary Sleuths"--RT Book Reviews

San Francisco Homicide Inspector Rebecca Mayfield has vowed to have nothing more to do with mystery man Richie Amalfi, but when he tells her about the strange deaths of clients of a local psychic medium, her decision changes. Rebecca has always been intrigued by the paranormal and, despite her logical and practical nature, she can't resist looking into the deaths.A handsome medium, a tormented ghost, and the FBI lurking around because of their interest in Richie and some stolen ancient artifacts, show Rebecca that the dead don't always stay dead and buried. And her emotions can't be buried, no matter how hard she might try. But following both just might lead Rebecca straight to the Great Beyond ... permanently.

Past and present collide in this spellbinding tale by USA Today bestselling author Joanne Pence. Over two hundred years ago, a covert expedition shadowing Lewis and Clark disappeared into the wilderness of Central Idaho. Now, seven anthropology students and their professor vanish in the same area. The key to finding them lies in an ancient secret, one involving alchemy, gold, and immortality...a secret that men throughout history have sought to unveil.Michael Rempart is a brilliant archeologist whose colorful and controversial career has earned him admiring fans and implacable foes, but he is plagued by a troubling sense of the supernatural and a mysterious spiritual intuitiveness. Joining Rempart in this adventure are a CIA consultant on paranormal phenomena, a washed-up local sheriff, and a former scholar of Egyptology. All must overcome their personal demons as they attempt to save the students and, ultimately, the world. From the Journal of Francis Masterson, 1806-- All hope is gone. Evil is victorious. In the time I have remaining I will, herewith, impart a tale so filled with Dread and Terror that my heart overflows with immeasurable Sorrow to tell it. It began with the highest of Good Will and Promise and, on my part, great Excitement. I can only trust to Providence that one day this small account which I leave in a land of unimaginable desolation and Wildness, may be discovered, and that it will serve to warn others of the wickedness that may ensnare Good men. Ours was to be a Secret Expedition... “Joanne Pence's highly enjoyable paranormal novel...narrates a story of occult secrets centuries old and mortally dangerous to explore, all focusing on the granite wildness of central Idaho [and] confronting the coldest of all mysteries--Death itself. “An intriguing blend of history, action-adventure, religious speculation, alchemy (theoretical, philosophical, and practical), and horror, with occasional touches of psychological thriller and romance, Ancient Echoes is a well-crafted tale designed to entertain and perhaps even enlighten. Highly recommended.” --Hellnotes “Ancient Echoes engages the reader as it explores greed, deception, love, betrayal, and the human condition through the search for the one thing it seems every generation longs to find: immortality.” --Reviews with TLC What readers are saying: “Lost Horizons meets Indiana Jones...suspend your disbelief and enjoy this tale of heroes, villains and creepy crawlies.” “Right up there with Lincoln and Child.” “This is a mind bender, watch the characters closely.” “An adventure book for the historical. There was a good pace set through the whole story, hard to put down.” “Wouldn't this be a great movie? … I would definitely recommend this for the intelligent suspense reader.” “This book grabbed my interest from page one. The book takes the reader from Mongolia, to NYC, Jerusalem, Paris, DC, Beijing and Idaho.” ”Before anything else, the style and beauty of this book is remarkable.” “The amount of research that had to be done to write this book staggers the imagination: alchemy; Nicholas Flamel; The Book of Abraham the Jew.” “This romance/adventure reads like an Indiana Jones movie. I could hardly put it down.” “This would make a blockbuster movie.” “I will never think of Idaho the same way again.” “Very unique.” “A historical and supernatural theme while being a thriller, mystery, and dealing with romance under one cover.…I highly recommend this book for all readers who enjoy a well written adventure.” “What a great book....it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The story was so interesting and I loved the descriptions of the Idaho wilderness!... this thriller was truly amazing.”

Angie Amalfi’s wedding—her Big Day—is on the verge of becoming a Big Mess. She had planned every detail of the day with the utmost care, wanting everything to be perfect. But now people across the city are dying to put the wedding on hold. A crazed killer here, a bumped off bride there. In her mind, nothing less than a criminal conspiracy must be at work to keep her wedding from being where and when she wants it. Angie’s fiancé, San Francisco Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith, the entire SFPD Homicide Squad, her friends and family all jump into the fray to help save her wedding plans. But as dangers and catastrophes grow faster than yeast-overloaded bread dough, Angie can’t help but wonder if her Big Day will turn into her Biggest Disaster ever.

One by one, a horror film director, a judge, and a newspaper publisher meet brutal deaths. A link exists between them, and the deaths have only begun …. Archeologist Michael Rempart finds himself pitted against ancient demons and modern conspirators when a dying priest gives him a powerful artifact--a pearl said to have granted Genghis Khan the power, eight centuries ago, to lead his Mongol warriors across the steppes to the gates of Vienna. The artifact has set off centuries of war and destruction as it conjures demons to play upon men’s strongest ambitions and cruelest desires. Michael realizes the so-called pearl is a philosopher's stone, the prime agent of alchemy. As much as he would like to ignore the artifact, when he sees horrific deaths and experiences, first-hand, diabolical possession and affliction, he has no choice but to act. The dark legends are true. To stop the artifact's evil Michael must follow a path along the Old Silk Road to a land that time forgot, and to somehow find a place that may no longer exist in the world as he knows it. "Ancient Shadows is a very creative mixture between suspense, horror and a little drama. The research, logic and authority the book was written with never leaves the reader in any doubt....From the first page through to the last, Pence shows a confidence in her ability and her story. Readers who like more suspense and action rather than blood and gore will love Ancient Shadows....It's pure quality from start to finish." -- Horror Palace "A thrill ride cross between Indiana Jones and Michael Crichton. Exciting, evocative and impossible to put down." --Cayocosta72 Book Reviews "What's both rare and engaging is not things that go bump in the night. It's people's reactions to those bumps that makes a great horror tale—both the characters in the story and the reader who cannot put the book down. I started reading Ancient Shadows after doing the supper dishes, thinking I would read for an hour before retiring for the night. Next thing I knew, I had finished the entire book." --Gerald M. Weinberg, author "Ancient Shadows creates worlds within worlds and leaves the reader unsure who is trustworthy and what is real keeping the reader on edge looking for the next mirage to be exposed and the next demon to be revealed putting the characters in ever increasing danger." -- T.L. Cooper, author and poet "I had a lot of fun with this book. The interweaving of history and myth gave it a very nice depth....Fun read!" --Andrew Michael Schwarz, author What readers are saying: "I recommend this to anyone looking for a suspenseful ride mixed with fascinating history and superb writing." "A thrilling page turner...great descriptions and characterization." "This is one of the freshest novels I have read in quite some time." "Conspiracies, thrillers, spies, and archaology are my go to escape reading. Pence satisfies my late night reading desires." "Joanne Pence is a master with her writing...A definite must read....5 star rated." "A journey that takes the reader to exotic locales along the fabled Silk Road traveled centuries ago by Marco Polo." "Suspenseful, the book draws you in right away, with its vivid descriptions, wonderful atmosphere, and action-packed drama, with a dark, broody feel. We travel to many different places on Rempart’s quest, and at each stop I can vividly see what Pence is describing, smell the smells, and feel the eeriness."

When Homicide Inspector Rebecca Mayfield's would-be boyfriend, Richie Amalfi, is named as one of San Francisco's "most enticing bachelors," she's not amused, but she never expected it would lead to his life being threatened. As a restaurant owner, men's upscale clothing store owner, hotelier, and more--handsome bachelors all--are attacked, Rebecca realizes the danger is very real.Who's killing the city's "enticing bachelors" and why? Rebecca must answer those questions as she grapples with her own questions and feelings about Richie. Rebecca soon discovers that where there's smoke there's fire. As she gets closer to the bachelors to learn why they're in danger, she finds their happy surface images hide troubling conflagrations below. When she's forced to dive below the steamy surfaces to learn what's really going on, only Richie has the insider knowledge she needs to do it. And while she might sizzle over Richie, the more she learns about both him and the case, the more she realizes that she may have just moved from the frying pan into the fire--with equally deadly results.

Two O'Clock Heist sends San Francisco Homicide Inspector Rebecca Mayfield out of her jurisdiction and out of her depth when her inquiries into the murder of an old friend gain the attention of a gang of Russian mobsters.Richie Amalfi, who Rebecca sees as a charmer with an indifference to the fine points of the law, seems to know a little too much (or maybe a lot too much) about the people who are not only trying to stop Rebecca's investigation, but to stop her permanently. This only makes her question, even more, exactly who Richie is. But for now, he's the only one helping her in the face of threats to her life.Rebecca's interest in Richie grows as the situation takes a deadly turn. Through him, she looks beyond hard evidence to the secrets at the heart of the case, and in turn, to the secrets of her own heart. But through it all, Rebecca has to wonder if she'll end up as dead as a cold Russian winter.

A foggy night. A dog's bark. This one just turned personal ...Homicide Inspector Rebecca Mayfield hopes to come to terms with her confused emotions over alluring but troubling boyfriend Richie Amalfi, but her plans quickly change when her neighbor is viciously attacked. And it seems one of Richie's former girlfriends holds the key to the situation. As the body count grows, Rebecca's investigation takes a deadly turn when she becomes the killer's target. Rebecca and Richie find themselves on a danger-filled route from a cold and foggy Pacific Ocean beach to the chambers of City Hall to the back alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown. Between killers on-the-loose, plus new as well as old "friends" to deal with, Rebecca isn't sure which one of them might prove to be the biggest threat to her life … or to her heart. Five O'Clock Twist is the fifth book in the best-selling Inspector Rebecca Mayfield series--fast-paced mysteries with a touch of humor and a hint (or more) of romance. If you start with One O'Clock Hustle, you'll find that the hours seem to fly by ...

A long-lost diary, a rare book of ghost stories, and unrelenting nightmares combine to send archeologist Michael Rempart on a forbidden journey into the occult and his own past. When Michael returns to his family home after more than a decade-long absence, he is rocked by the emotion and intensity of the memories it awakens. His father is reclusive, secretive, and obsessed with alchemy and its secrets—secrets that Michael possesses. He believes the way to end this sudden onslaught of nightmares is to confront his disturbing past. But he soon learns he isn’t the only one under attack. Others in his life are also being tormented by demonic nightmares that turn into a deadly reality. Forces from this world and other realms threaten madness and death unless they obtain the powerful, ancient secrets in Michael’s possession. Their violence creates an urgency Michael cannot ignore. The key to defeating them seems to lie in a land of dreams inhabited by ghosts … and demons. From the windswept shores of Cape Cod to a mystical land where samurai and daimyo once walked, Michael must find a way to stop not only the demons, but his own father. Yet, doing so, he fears may unleash an ancient evil upon the world that he will be powerless to contain.

The Inspector Rebecca Mayfield mysteries, also called the “O’Clock” mysteries (for obvious reasons, as you’ll see), actually began with a Christmas novella, THE THIRTEENTH SANTA. In it, Rebecca first meets mystery man, Richie Amalfi, and the strange group of “Santas” he manages to lose in San Francisco. Trying to find them—and some Christmas cheer—brings more than a little danger to both of them. The first full-length mystery, ONE O’CLOCK HUSTLE, has Richie accused of murder. Instead of fleeing, he runs straight to “by-the-book cop” Rebecca for help. And she learns that some rules are made to be broken. In the final “hour” in this boxed set, TWO O’CLOCK HEIST, Rebecca discovers that the only person willing and able to help her find a friend’s killer is the one man she most wants to avoid—Richie Amalfi. Readers love the Inspector Rebecca Mayfield mysteries and, hopefully, you will as well. Begin with “one o’clock,” and you’ll find that the “hours” just seem to fly by.

An eerie discovery brings danger and painful reminders of a tragic past ...When some workmen dig up a skeleton, Homicide Inspector Rebecca Mayfield finds herself investigating a death that took place years earlier. She never imagines that it will have major repercussions on the lives of people she now cares deeply about, or that it will put each of them in danger.Despite the bitter memories resurrected, as a cop, Rebecca has no choice but to pursue the inquiry wherever it might lead. But that doesn't make it easier, especially when it's clear that the special man in her life, Richie Amalfi, wants her to stop.Dangers abound, moving quickly from warnings to out-and-out attacks. The past is shrouded in mystery, but as the truth begins to emerge, it becomes apparent that one or more people are willing to kill to keep it buried. Yet, Rebecca refuses to abandon the case because the dead, although silent, do speak. And it's her job to listen.This is a mystery you won't want to miss.Join the growing number of Inspector Rebecca Mayfield fans, as the books proceed from One O’Clock Hustle, to Two O’Clock Heist, Three O’Clock Séance, and so on. Once you start them, you’ll find the hours just seem to fly by…

Culinary queen Angie Amalfi has put aside her gourmet utensils to concentrate on planning her upcoming wedding to San Francisco homicide detective Paavo Smith. What could possibly go wrong?Instead of the answer to her heart's dreams, she scrambles to deal with wedding planners with bizarre ideas, wedding dresses that don't flatter, squabbling relatives with hurt feelings, a long-suffering groom, and worries over where she and Paavo will live after the wedding. But all of that pales when Angie finds the perfect house for them, except for one little problem--the house may be haunted.Many years ago, the newlyweds who lived in the house were murdered, and the case was never solved. While Angie pursues what happened to the couple who now may be haunting the house, Paavo obsesses over his own case involving the murder of unlikely lovers. The trail leads to ghosts, murders, unhappy families, and enough obnoxious wedding buttinskis to fill a graveyard. But when eerie happenings turn deadly, Angie fears she may be spirited away for good!"Pence's tongue-in-cheek humor keeps us grinning." --San Francisco Chronicle"A tasty treat for all mystery and suspense lovers who like food for thought, murder and a stab at romance." --The Armchair Detective

When opposites attract, the results can be deadly … Rebecca Mayfield has been a by-the-book cop until Richie Amalfi enters her life. He’s accused of murder and runs to Rebecca to help him prove his innocence. The more she learns about the case, the more convinced she becomes that he's not guilty. He’s more than a little shady, but as dangers lurk and more deaths happen, Rebecca discovers there's a lot more to Richie than she thought and a lot more to like than she imagined. Soon, she fears not only for her life, but also her heart. For mysteries with a touch of humor and romance, join the growing number of Inspector Rebecca Mayfield fans, as the books proceed from One O’Clock Hustle, to Two O’Clock Heist, Three O’Clock Séance, and so on. Once you start them, you’ll find the hours just seem to fly by. "Joanne Pence is a master of the mystery genre. She pulls the reader in and sets the roller coaster in motion."--Carolyn Haines, USA Today bestselling author "Joanne Pence provides laughter, love, and cold chills." --Carolyn Hart, NY Times bestselling author What readers are saying:"Not a police procedural at all, but a fun, romantic, humorous whodunit. Pure pleasure."   "Richie's and Rebecca's relationship is priceless and a lot of fun. For that reason as well as the solid mystery, I loved this book!""Rebecca Mayfield would not last a day as a real life "investigator." With that being stated, that is what makes this book an enjoyable read. She is quirky, likable, and of course, looking for love in all the wrong places. The carefree and whimsical tone that permeates this murder mystery novel makes it unique. Unrealistic? Yes. Enjoyable and an easy read? Yes.""The fact that Richie is someone from Rebecca's past makes this is a fun, fast, sometimes laugh out read.""Joanne Pence plays with the cop-cozy dynamic in One O'Clock Hustle by making the cop a woman and the damsel-in-distress a dude-in-distress in a way that works really well.""Although the Inspector would never get away with the things she does on and off the job, it's all in good fun. And the romantic twist adds to the flavor of the story. A nice read and a good start for the series.""Saying a detective wouldn't break the rules, is a little shortsighted. It does remind me a little of Remington Steele, suave, debonair, full of surprises. But this book is so much more. Enjoy!""I enjoyed the wild ride.""A "by the book" homicide inspector and an attractive, though probably "connected", male provide numerous opportunities for watching the sparks fly. Enjoy!""If you have to love the bad guy, you will definitely love Richie. A little unbelievable .. really a lot unbelievable... where the detective and suspect are concerned but it is a story and not true crime." "I was immediately pulled into this story and learned to love Rebecca and understandable the pull between the heart and common sense."North American Book Award recipient - Mystery Category