Jane Stanton Hitchcock Libri

Jo Slater, una delle donne piu' in vista dell'alta societa' newyorkese, conduce una vita semplicemente perfetta: sposata con un miliardario, abita in un appartamento a Manhattan, passa le vacanze nei favolosi Hamptons e influenza la 'creme' della citta' con il suo gusto per l'arte del diciottesimo secolo. Durante una festa conosce l'affascinante contessa francese Monique de Passy, ne diventa amica e la introduce nella sua casa. Ma quando il marito e' stroncato da un attacco cardiaco, lasciando l'intero patrimonio alla nobildonna europea, a Jo non rimane che riprendersi dallo choc e meditare la vendetta. Un romanzo brillante, che delinea con sapiente tratto ironico una ricca galleria di personaggi e intriga il lettore con i dialoghi affilati

A socialite embarks on a daring investigation into the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy art collector, blending elements of suspense and intrigue. The narrative unfolds with twists and turns, showcasing the protagonist's determination as she navigates the complexities of high society. Jane Stanton Hitchcock, known for her sophisticated thrillers, weaves a captivating tale that explores themes of wealth, power, and the hidden dangers lurking beneath the glamorous surface of elite circles.

The stage adaptation highlights the character of Undine Spragg, a beautiful yet ruthless woman navigating the cutthroat New York social scene. Driven by a relentless pursuit of power and status, she manipulates the men in her life, discarding them at will. Hitchcock skillfully distills Wharton's expansive narrative into a concise theatrical experience, maintaining the original's satirical edge while offering a vivid portrayal of Undine against a backdrop of rigid class structures and societal prejudices.

Awarded the 2019 Dashiell Hammett Prize, this novel showcases exceptional crime writing with a gripping narrative. It delves into complex themes of morality and justice, weaving a compelling story that challenges perceptions of right and wrong. The characters are intricately developed, each playing a crucial role in the unfolding mystery. With a blend of suspense and literary depth, this book stands out in the crime genre, offering readers a thought-provoking experience alongside thrilling twists.

For Faith Cromwell, trompe l'oeil artist, it is the commission of a lifetime: painting the famed ballroom of an opulent Long Island estate. But her new patron has a macabre fixation on a daughter brutally murdered in the house a decade earlierone so intense that it jeopardizes Faith's own sense of mind. And as she pieces together the details of the grisly crime scene that shadows the house, Faith slowly discovers that she herself plays the starring role in a bizarre and dangerous charade.Sophisticated and exquisitely frightening, Trick of the Eye explores a world where evil tarnishes privilege, and nothing is what it appears to be.

"When Jo Slater, one of the grandest of New York's grande dames and great patron of the arts, befriends a young French countess, trouble begins. Ignoring warnings from friends, Jo abruptly discovers the truth about her mysterious guest. But it is too late. Jo is knocked off her pedestal and the young woman takes her place in society. Dethroned and dispossessed in the world where she once reigned, she sets out to recoup her fortune and reclaim her throne. Using her knowledge of the eighteenth century, she concocts an ingenious scheme based on the greatest historical swindle of all time, a true story involving Marie Antoinette. In order for the scheme to work, however, she must resort to the most desperate of all measures: murder."--Jacket

Reven Lynch navigates the opulent social scene of Georgetown while assisting Detective Gunner with a murder investigation linked to her jogging route. As she delves into the lives of the elite, she uncovers a web of deception, particularly surrounding the ambitious Cynthia Rinehart, who will stop at nothing to secure a wealthy husband. Amidst the glitz of embassy dinners and symphony balls, Reven faces the unraveling of her social circle, testing friendships and revealing scandalous secrets in a world where appearances are deceiving.

As the internet makes the world more accessible it also increases the possibility of cyber-bullying and stalking. Internet crime is a growing problem in our society. Hitchcock addresses how to prevent this unfortunate reality and crime by exploring the responses from the public, criminal justice system, and victims.

A respected surgeon and rare book collector is brutally murdered in his elegant Manhattan home, just hours after showing a book dealer the fifteenth-century manual of black magic a grimoire he'd received from a grateful patient. Now the healer's blood is everywhere and only the priceless grimoire is missing. The horrific death of her beloved father has shattered Beatrice O'Connell's quiet, sane, and orderly world. Only by tracking down the vanished malevolent tome with its dark spell and salacious illustrations can she hope to put things right. But the search is leading Beatrice, her ex-husband, and a mysterious occultist into an expanding labyrinth of powerful evils, a tangled web that reaches as far as the Vatican itself. What coveted secrets are hidden in the missing volume that threaten to turn Beatrice into precisely what her unseen and unrelenting enemies are determined to destroy?"

Název tohoto románu - Kladivo na čarodějnice - je zároveň názvem traktátu (latinksy Malleus Maleficarium), vydaného v roce 1475 v Německu. Tento traktát byl sepsán dvěma fanatickými dominikány a představuje závaznou příručku, která přesně popisuje, jak poznat čarodějnice a dostat je před soud (inkviziční proces). Zdálo by se, že v dnešní době jde již o dílo zastaralé a zapomenuté, ale v Románu J. S. Hitchcock, situovaném do současných Spojených států a několika evropských zemí, hraje hlavní roli. Hrdinkou příběhu je dcera slavného chirurga a sběratele starých knih Dr. O. Connella - Beatrice, pojmenovaná po Danteho průvodkyni v Božské komedii. Po rozvodu se vrací do domu svého otce. Příběh začíná vraždou Dr. O. Connella, při níž zmizí jeden z jeho vzácných tisků - kniha černé magie ze 17. století, kterou Dr. O. Connell zrovna získal. Je to jediná věc, která se z celého domu ztratila, zdá se proto, že nebyla ukradena pro peníze. Policie nenajde jedinou stopu, a tak se Beatrice rozhodne, že vraha svého otce vypátrá sama...