Orca Book Publishers is excited to introduce our new imprint Raven Books and Rapid Reads, a new line of short, “easy-read” books for adult readers. In our increasingly fast-paced world we believe there is a market for well-written, well-told novels that can be read in one sitting. Raven Books will also appeal to those struggling with literacy challenges. Raven Books will feature titles from some of Canada’s best authors – great writing, great storytelling in a small package.

Introducing

Love You to Death by Gail Bowen

Charlie D is the host of a successful late-night radio call-in show. His listeners have a particularly intimate relationship with him and often reveal much about themselves, confident that he will honor their trust and that he can save them. In their minds, he is perfect: one of life’s winners. But Charlie feels he’s something of a fake. His easy confidence on-air belies the reality for a man born with a wine-colored birthmark that covers half his face.

Love You to Death covers one hour on “The World According to Charlie D”—an hour during which he must both discover the long-time listener who is killing the people who trust him and attempt to come to terms with the man behind the birthmark.

Gail Bowen’s bestselling mystery series featuring Joanne Kilbourn will number an even dozen titles with the publication of The Nesting Dolls in August 2010. The first six books in the series have appeared as made-for-television movies with world-wide distribution. Winner of both the Arthur Ellis Best Novel Award and the Derrick Murdoch Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Crime Writers of Canada, in 2008 Bowen was named “Canada’s Best Mystery Novelist” by Reader’s Digest.

Click HERE to read a sample chapter from this book

The Barrio Kings by William Kowalski

Rosario Gomez gave up gang life after his brother was killed in a street fight. Now all he wants to do is finish night school, be a good father and work hard enough at his job at the supermarket to get promoted. But when an old friend shows up to ask him why he left the gang, Rosario realizes he was fooling himself if he thought his violent past would just go away. When his pregnant girlfriend is hit in a drive-by shooting, Rosario has to make some hard choices. Revenge means a return to his old ways, something he swore he would never do. But unless he takes action, his enemies will not rest until they’ve settled the score against him.

William Kowalski is the award-winning author of four previous novels, including the international bestseller Eddie’s Bastard. He also teaches communications skills to adult learners at Nova Scotia Community College. He lives on the South Shore of Nova Scotia with his wife and children.

Click HERE to read a sample chapter from this book

The Middle Ground by Zoe Whittall

Missy Turner thinks of herself as the most ordinary woman in the world. She has a lot to be thankful for—a great kid, a loving husband, a job she enjoys and the security of living in the small town where she was born. Then one day everything gets turned upside down—she loses her job, catches her husband making out with the neighbor and is briefly taken hostage by a young man who robs the local café. With her world rapidly falling apart, Missy finds herself questioning the certainties she’s lived with her whole life.

Zoe Whittall is the author of five books, most recently the critically acclaimed Holding Still For As Long As Possible and Bottle Rocket Hearts, a Globe and Mail Best Book of 2007. She has a master’s degree from the University of Guelph. Originally from Quebec, she has lived in Toronto since 1997.

The Spider Bites by Medora Sale

When detective Rick Montoya returns to the city to try to clear his name after being accused of taking a bribe, he discovers someone is living in his apartment. Before he can find out who it is, the apartment house goes up in flames. Rick watches covertly as the police remove two bodies. Was the firebombing meant for him? Who exactly was killed in the fire? And why? What was his landlady Cheryl doing at home in the middle of the afternoon? And why is her daughter Susanna acting strangely? Then his estranged wife arrives at the scene of the fire. The questions mount up, along with the suspects.

Mystery writer Caroline Medora Sale Roe is the author of fourteen novels. As Medora Sale, she has written six police procedurals, including Murder on the Run, winner of an Arthur Ellis Award for best first novel. The author is a past president of both the international organization Sisters in Crime and the Crime Writers of Canada. She lives with her husband in Toronto.