Richard Paolinelli has 10 audiobooks on Listento.it, narrated by 5 narrators. The most-rated is When the Gods Fell.
Holmes Away from Home: Adventures from the Great Hiatus Volume II: 1893-1894
Summary
Sherlock Holmes! The very name of the world's greatest detective conjures up images of Victorian London, gaslit streets, hansom cabs, and dense fogs. But there was a time, a dark three-year period, when London had to make do without Sherlock Holmes. From 1891 to 1894, he was presumed dead, having perished during the epic struggle with that infamous Napoleon of crime, Professor Moriarty, atop the Reichenbach Falls. But unknown to most, even his friend Dr. Watson, Holmes survived. During those three years, he roamed the world, acting as an agent for the British Government and using his very special skills along the way. Holmes Away from Home, Volume II: 1893-1894 contains a collection of new traditional Holmes adventures, namely: "The Adventure of the Old Brownstone", "The Adventure of the Flaked Breakfast Cereal", "For Want of a Sword", "The Case of the Fragrant Blackmailer", "A Case of Juris Imprudence", "A Most Careful, Strategic, and Logical Mind", "The Aviator's Murder", "The French Affair", "The Woman Returns", "The Adventure of the Melting Man", and "The Adventure of the Empty House".
©2016 Belanger Books (P)2018 Belanger Books
Betrayals
Summary
A compelling political conspiracy mystery thriller heralds the return of FBI star agent Jack Del Rio, who is perhaps the only man in America who can stop the strings of assassinations and conspiracies that threaten to topple the entire government administration and bring the United States under the thumb of evil dictatorship.
Unable to trust even his closest friends and allies in the Bureau, Jack must first survive multiple attempts on his own life then sort out the evildoers who have wormed their way into top positions and do this in time to save the President of the United States - who may just be one of the conspirators himself. It's a race to the finish and the devil takes the hindmost.
©2017 Richard Paolinelli (P)2018 Richard Paolinelli
Planetary Anthology Series: Pluto
Summary
Pluto, the Roman god of death and wealth, ruled the underworld far away from all of the other gods. So it was only fitting when, in 1930 and working on a theorized ninth planet proposed by Percival Lowell, Clyde Tombaugh used the telescope at Lowell Observatory to locate the ninth planet in our solar system, far, far away from its brothers and sister. Then came that day in July of 2015. Like the Romans when they found themselves within Pluto’s realm and discovered it was nothing like the desolate fires of damnation assigned to his Greek counterpart, Hades, those of us in modern time discovered that Pluto was nothing like we had imagined since 1930. That iconic photo of Pluto, with the heart-shaped plain later named Tombaugh Regio, told us that there was so much more to the planet. First, it was not blue and not just solid ice as so many had expected it to be. Just like Pluto’s mythological domain, the planet displayed a variety of features and composition. In this volume, what you will find in the sections that follow are twenty-one amazing stories of death and wealth set around a wandering cousin far out in the cold edges of our solar system. You will find Vikings, knights, warriors defending home and hearth, of triumph and tragedy, and, yes, even the god himself. You will listen to tales of great courage and great loss. Of sacrifice for a greater good and of justice delivered to the overly greedy. You will even find the aforementioned Walt Disney himself. Full list of authors includes: Allen Goodner, Andy Pluto, Arlan Andrews, Jim Ryals, Corey McCleery, Jake Freivald and Christine Chase.
©2019 Tuscany Bay Books (P)2020 Tuscany Bay Books
Space Force
Summary
Tenere Altum. Hold the High Ground. These are the stories of the first 100 years of the United States Space Force created by then US President Donald J. Trump. Within this new anthology of military sci-fi short stories, you will find stories of service and incredible sacrifice. Stories of the one sacrificing a few to save the many, and of the one sacrificing himself for all. But mostly these are tales of the men and women to come, who will patrol the harsh, cold blackness of space. Those that willingly place themselves in harm's way to protect a solitary blue marble and all that call it home. Tenere Altum!
©2020 Richard Paolinelli (P)2021 Richard Paolinelli
Planetary Anthology Series: Uranus
Summary
These are the stories of Uranus. Stories of new beginnings and creation. Stories of the mysterious seventh planet in our solar system and of the God of the sky that it was named after: "The Rising of Michael Reid", by Constantine Nakos - Michael Reid wasted his life. Now he has been given the chance to make amends. Every day he wakes up in the grave where he was buried and sets off for wherever Providence guides him. "Serendi-bunny", by Julie Frost - Alex Jarrett may be a mad scientist, but he's a mad scientist on a mission to cure cancer. When he buys a pair of robot bunnies from the internet to help him accelerate his research, he gets more than he bargained for when they turn out to be assassin-bots sent from the future. "Forty-Two Years of Summer", by Karina Fabian - "Forty-Two Years of Summer" is a love story, an old woman’s reminiscing, and a peek at what the future could be. It reminds us that whatever the challenges, even the coming 42 years of Uranus winter, there is love and joy and the 42 years of summer. "Weather Witch of the West", by Ben Wheeler - Uranus is controlled by the Weather Witches. From their floating sky-palaces, they manipulate the weather, change the seasons and hold the lives and deaths of the countless inhabitants of the gas giants in their calculations. "Muddification", by Clint Hale - When human-like creatures are produced by advanced technology, they have no soul. They are a mere shell. What happens when mankind attempts to fuse the human soul and intellect with one of these uninhabited bodies? Is the body only a vessel, or does it also have some impact on who and what a person is? "The Last Human", by Richard Paolinelli - Anne Fontana needed a getaway, a vacation all to herself. But some vacations are just too short. The world has changed, and when she returns, she discovers that she alone holds the power to save humanity, or change it irrevocably. "Blue Ring Beginning", by Bokerah Brumley - Archibald wants a new start. A former detective, he lands on the Uranus station, desperate for work. Will a last-second offer from the station's commanding officer give him the fresh start he needs, or dredge up the past he wants to forget? "Two Households, None Alike", by A.M. Freeman - Two worlds collide with an inharmonious clash at a ceremony meant to unite. The Princess of Uranus, full of pride for her society's progress, must marry the Prince of Mars - and become queen of a rough and foreign land. "Creativity", by Arlan Andrews Sr. - Arlan was once criticized by a supervisor for being “too creative”. This is a wish fulfillment revenge story. “Sometimes management should not try to screw over a truly creative person.” (And never, never irritate a science-fiction writer). "Kashika's Empty Nest", by Sarah Byrne - As the newly widowed dowager queen of an ancient kingdom, Kashika is looking forward to a life of retirement and freedom from her royal duties when she finds herself arrested for the murder of the late king. Only her young and inexperienced son, now king in his own right, believes in her innocence. "The Long Dream", by Caroline Furlong - The USS Andrew Jackson discovers an abandoned cryo-pod in orbit over Uranus, prompting questions about the first manned mission to the seventh planet in the Solar System - questions someone does not want answered. "The Morrigan", by Christopher Wilson - Civilization is dying, society falling apart, anarchic reavers and hungry gangs taking control now that no one is left to stop them. But an aging scout pilot, driving an old relic from a bygone era, may finally have an answer. "Cold Heart of Ouranos", by J.D. Cowan - Underneath Ouranos lies a hidden evil forgotten by those who live in the frozen wastes and the heated city. Mysteries from the past have revealed themselves once more. "Room to Breathe", by Marina Fontaine - Home. Family. Friends. Daniel knows those words used to mean something special. But not anymore. Not for him.
©2020 Tuscany Bay Books (P)2020 Tuscany Bay Books
Reservations
Summary
Reservations, a mystery/thriller, is set near Gallup, New Mexico where the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni reservations are adjacent.
Three tribal leaders have been murdered - murdered in a fashion that suggests the deeds were carried out by the COYOTE, a legendary evil trickster feared by many Native Americans. The tribal president contacts his old friend in the FBI for assistance in solving the crimes and preventing more murders.
The FBI selects its star agent, Jack Del Rio, and dispatches him to New Mexico. Del Rio finds a situation tangled in political intrigue, and must work through those issues on his way to solving the mystery. Assisting him in his quest is Officer Lucy Chee. A romantic interest develops between the two. Del Rio identifies the murderer, but not without further bloodshed and loss.
Richard Paolinelli is an author and award-winning sportswriter and editor. His first fiction credit, working on the 1986 graphic novel series, Seadragon, preceded a 25-year newspaper career. After retiring, Richard has returned to fiction writing with two short stories, "Legacy of Death" and "The Invited", as well as a science fiction novel, Maelstrom. When not writing, he and his wife are usually spoiling their grandchild. You can visit him at www.richardpaolinelli.com
©2017 Richard Paolinelli (P)2018 Richard Paolinelli
Maelstrom
Summary
Dr. Steven Collins has devoted his life to one cause: finding a way to prevent a catastrophic collision between Earth and an asteroid, like the one that killed off the dinosaurs millions of years ago. Collins spends years developing a shield - a device that uses the Earth’s own magnetic field - and finally reaches the point where he is ready to test it. But when Collins turns on his creation, he rips open a hole in time and space itself that hurls him forward in time, where he discovers to his horror that the device he created has caused the very global Armageddon he was trying to prevent. Collins now must try to undo the damage he has done as best he can. But the few surviving members of the human race are slowly dying off, a century of living under the shield taking its toll, and they cannot leave the planet to try to build a new civilization elsewhere. For just beyond the shield lurks a madman who seeks to dominate the human race or exterminate it.
©2014 Richard Paolinelli (P)2021 Richard Paolinelli
Escaping Infinity
Summary
Thousands have checked into the Infinity Hotel over the years. None of them have ever checked out. Peter Childress and Charlie Womack are successful engineers on their way to Phoenix for an important presentation. But one of Charlie's infamous shortcuts has gotten them good and lost once again. As night falls, the pair stumble across the Infinity Hotel and the promise of a meal, fuel and a good night's sleep before starting off fresh in the morning is too good to pass up. But while Charlie immediately takes to the hotel's amazing amenities, Peter begins to uncover some of the hotel's dark secrets, a seemingly unlimited number of floors, guests that appear out of time and place and a next morning that never seems to come. Worse still, the entrance to the Infinity has disappeared and no other apparent exit back to the outside world is in sight. Now, under the watchful eyes of the hotel's manager and front desk clerk, Peter searches for a way back out and uncovers the horrible truth behind the mystery of the Infinity Hotel. Richard Paolinelli's award-winning sci-fi thriller is expertly brought to life by narrator A.W. Miller.
©2017 Richard Paolinelli (P)2018 Richard Paolinelli
Endgames
Summary
In the thrilling conclusion to the Jack Del Rio series, Endgames, the former FBI special agent has fallen off the grid and is content to let the rest of the world believe him dead. He has taken the name John Rivers and lives a secluded life on the Navajo Reservation.
But the shades of his past are not yet done with him yet. Surviving elements of his enemies from London and Washington D.C. want to see him actually filling out a grave and are coming for him. Compounding matters, a newspaper reporter from Phoenix is also on his trail and a former flame is coming from England and is bringing news that will change everything for Del Rio.
A pair of deadly ambushes just outside his new home proves to be the last straw and Del Rio returns to the fight with a vengeance. By the time he is done he will dispatch enemies on U.S. and foreign soil and be named an international terrorist. But even as the world turns against him, Del Rio uncovers one last gasp effort by the conspiracy he has fought for so many years to overthrow the U.S. government.
As his final battle draws to a close, Del Rio makes his final moves in an endgame no one will see coming.
©2017 Richard Paolinelli (P)2019 Richard Paolinelli
When the Gods Fell
Summary
In the year 2041 mankind has finally stepped onto the surface of Mars. The crew of the Seeker set about their mission of laying down the foundation for a new base while two of the crew are sent out to recover old Earth probes.
But instead of probes, the pair discover a mysterious woman who calls herself Oracle Delphi, and she has an incredible tale to tell them. A tale of a Mars over 65 million years in the past. Of a world that was once covered in seas and lakes, icecaps and deserts, plains and forests. When it was a world called Olympus, inhabited by the race of advanced immortals that called the planet home.
Back then, all were led by Lord Zeus, head of the ruling family of Caste Olympus. But other Castes chafe under the Olympian rule. Lord Odin, of Caste Norse, and Lord Anu, of Caste Paga, have set their eyes upon the throne of Olympus. Even as the jubilee celebration of Zeus’ rule draws near, Odin and Anu recruit the leaders of the other Castes - Dine, Asiac, Afrikans, and Hindi - to their cause against the mighty Zeus.
Only Caste Zion, led by Lord Yahweh, remains loyal to the throne. A loyalty proven two centuries before when Yahweh exiled his own son, Lucifer, after a failed coup attempt. But Lucifer’s treachery will not die. He waits for the rebellious Castes to strike against his father and set him free from his prison on Gaia, the third planet in Olympus’ solar system.
As the plotters move against the throne, Zeus sees the extinction of all life on Olympus as the only possible result of the looming civil war. He is left with only one terrible solution. Zeus turns to the only person he can trust to carry out his last order as ruler of Olympus.
What impact will Zeus' final order have on the future of Olympus? And what can be learned of the long-ago origins of life on Earth?
©2018 Richard Paolinelli (P)2018 Richard Paolinelli