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Books published by publisher Mind Spark Press

  • Bad Games: Malevolent - A Dark Psychological Thriller

    Jeff Menapace

    eBook (Mind Mess Press, Aug. 16, 2017)
    After years of silence, the game is back on… Widower Allan Brown is hosting a support group in his home for the bereaved. One of the guests in attendance will be Amy Lambert, this week marking the five-year anniversary of her family’s horrifying ordeal at Crescent Lake. Of course it’s hardly cause for celebration. Still, some unwanted guests plan on attending the support group to help Amy celebrate all the same.In this terrifying fourth installment in the acclaimed Bad Games series, Bad Games: Malevolent will test the absolute limits of human endurance, and remind us all that evil never truly rests.What readers are saying about Jeff Menapace and the Bad Games series: "Will scare you to death...Menapace will become a household name along with Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Richard Laymon." ★★★★★"Outstanding...I have read horror before like John Saul, Dean Koontz and Stephen King, and they never bothered me as Bad Games did." ★★★★★"Jeffery Deaver look out...this guy plays with your head." ★★★★★"I have been a lifetime reader of Dean Koontz, Stephen King, James Patterson, Lisa Gardner, and various other suspense and horror authors...I have found a new author to add to my list of greats." ★★★★★"I love the Prey series by John Sandford, and the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson. If any of these appeal to you, I strongly suggest reading this RIGHT NOW!!” ★★★★★"If you like Stephen King, Blake Crouch, or Dean Koontz, then you'll love Jeff Menapace. ★★★★★"I had to keep reading even though I knew it was going to get more twisted. Jeff Menapace is right up there with Stephen King." ★★★★★"If you love J.A. Konrath, Jack Kilborn, and Blake Crouch, you'll love Jeff Menapace." ★★★★★ "Compares to my favorite writers Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul." ★★★★★"A great page-turner with shades of Konrath and King!" ★★★★★ I hope you enjoy the Bad Games series, my friends. This series is ideal for fans of authors across several different blends of dark fiction! Authors like: Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner, Jeffery Deaver, John Sandford, L.T. Vargus, Tim McBain, Jack Ketchum, Richard Laymon, John Saul, J. A. Konrath, Blake Crouch, Darcy Coates, Patrick Logan, Willow Rose, and many more. Happy Reading!
  • Peter and the Crown: The Phantom of New York, Volume I

    A. L. Janney, Sparkle Press

    Audiobook (Sparkle Press, Dec. 19, 2017)
    When 12-year-old Peter Constantine wakes up in the Crown Hotel with a new identity, life is over as he knows it. But perhaps that’s not such a bad thing.... A dangerous man Peter only knows as The Client is after his family, so they’ve relocated to New York City. With help from unlikely friends living at the glamorous hotel, including the ghost on the 10th floor, life begins again. However, Peter soon learns of a plot to destroy his new home, a plot only the Phantom can foil. Peter and the Crown is the first book in the Phantom of New York series, an adventure for listeners age 10 and up. If you like smart, funny characters and can't-pause escapades, then you'll love Alan Janney’s Phantom of New York series.
  • The Ransom of Red Chief: Mandarin Companion Graded Readers: Level 1, Simplified Chinese Edition

    O. Henry, Xumei Liu, John Pasden, Sishuang Chen, Jared Turner

    eBook (Mind Spark Press LLC, Dec. 5, 2018)
    Trying to make some fast cash, two small-time crooks devise a plan to kidnap the son of a wealthy family in a village and hold him for ransom. When the kidnapped boy pulls out his Hong Hou (“Red Monkey”) costume, the two burglars realize they may be in for more than they planned. As their ransom notes remain unanswered and their scheme starts to drag on, the two crooks find out for themselves how a child's imagination can spell disaster for two inexperienced criminal minds.Mandarin Companion is a series of easy-to-read novels in Chinese that are fun to read and proven to accelerate language learning. Every book in the Mandarin Companion series is carefully written to use characters, words, and grammar that a learner is likely to know.Level 1 is written using approximately 300 unique Chinese characters and intended for Chinese learners at an upper-elementary level. Most learners will be able to approach this book after one to two years of formal study, depending on the learner and program. This series is designed to combine simplicity of characters with an easy-to-understand storyline that helps beginners grow their vocabulary and language comprehension abilities.Visit www.MandarinCompanion.com for the latest updates on new titles.
  • Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Curly Haired Company: Mandarin Companion Graded Readers: Level 1, Simplified Chinese Edition

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, John Pasden, Renjun Yang, Cui Yu, Jared Turner

    eBook (Mind Spark Press LLC, Dec. 17, 2013)
    Mr. Xie was recently hired by the Curly Haired Company. For a significant weekly allowance, he was required to sit in an office and copy articles from a book, while in the meantime his assistant looked after his shop. He had answered an advertisement in the paper and although hundreds of people applied, he was the only one selected because of his very curly hair. When the company unexpectedly closes, Mr. Xie visits Gao Ming (Sherlock Holmes) with his strange story. Gao Ming is certain something is not right, but will he solve the mystery in time?Mandarin Companion is a series of easy-to-read novels in Chinese that are fun to read and proven to accelerate language learning. Every book in the Mandarin Companion series is carefully written to use characters, words, and grammar that a learner is likely to know.Level 1 is written using approximately 300 unique Chinese characters and intended for Chinese learners at an upper-elementary level. Most learners will be able to approach this book after one to two years of formal study, depending on the learner and program. This series is designed to combine simplicity of characters with an easy-to-understand storyline that helps beginners grow their vocabulary and language comprehension abilities.Visit www.MandarinCompanion.com for the latest updates on new titles.
  • Hair of the Bitch: A Dark Psychological Thriller

    Jeff Menapace, Jeff Hays, Mind Mess Press

    Audible Audiobook (Mind Mess Press, April 9, 2015)
    From Jeff Menapace, best-selling author of the Bad Games trilogy, comes Hair of the Bitch, a disturbing psychological thriller with tongue firmly planted in cheek...until it's ripped out. Calvin Court is a massage therapist with a few secrets. He battles depression. He medicates with too much booze. And he's got the hots for one of his clients. She claims the feeling is mutual...until she frames Calvin for murder and blackmails him. The price? Not much. Calvin just has to do her bidding in a black-market industry catering to the very rich and the oh-so-very disturbed. Maybe he's just better off at the bar. Jeff Menapace is the winner of the 2011 Red Adept Reviews Indie Award for horror.
  • Chinese Grammar Wiki BOOK

    John Pasden, David Moser

    Paperback (Mind Spark Press, July 17, 2017)
    The Chinese Grammar Wiki began in 2012 as a modest website with a bold vision: to record all of the grammar structures in the Chinese language, categorize them by difficulty level, explain each one in clear, jargon-free English, and link them all together. Initially the wiki was a resource exclusively for the clients of AllSet Learning’s Shanghai-based learning consultancy. But five years later, its popularity among learners has exploded, and the Chinese Grammar Wiki has become the #1 online resource for Chinese grammar among independent learners and college students alike.This book is the first of several volumes that, together, will comprise the most complete single resource on Chinese grammar in print. This volume features:- 40 A1 (Beginner) grammar points- 95 A2 (Elementary) grammar points- 245 separate grammar structures- 1,700+ examples (with pinyin and English translation)- Extensive interlinking of similar grammar points- Bilingual glossary of grammar terms- Learner-centric design
  • Chinese Grammar Wiki BOOK: Just the Basics

    John Pasden

    Paperback (Mind Spark Press, March 8, 2018)
    These are the basic 26 grammar points a beginner needs to master in order to start using and comprehending Mandarin Chinese. The AllSet Learning Grammar Wiki BOOK series brings to ebook format everything that made the online wiki the internet's #1 reference for Mandarin Chinese grammar: - Beginner's Guide introduction provided as a starting point - Each of 26 grammar points has been carefully selected for beginners - Each grammar point is explained in plain language, dropping technical grammatical terms whenever possible - At least 10 clear, useful example sentences for each grammar point, accompanied with pinyin and English translations - Common mistakes with corrections provided where relevant - Related grammar points are all interlinked, allowing learners to form connections between similar grammar points - The book's content was produced by the AllSet Learning staff in Shanghai, representing dozens of contributors (both native speakers of Chinese and leaners of Chinese) - Foreword by linguist Dr. David Moser, author of the well-known "Why Chinese is So Damn Hard" - All content edited by John Pasden, seasoned expert in Chinese learning The 26 grammar points contained in this book are also contained in the longer "Elementary" book; this book is intended as a shorter introduction for beginners who are just looking for a taste in the Chinese Grammar Wiki's friendly format.
  • WARPED: A Collection of Short Horror, Thriller, and Suspense Fiction

    Jeff Menapace

    eBook (Mind Mess Press, Sept. 9, 2014)
    From award-winning tales of horror, to heart-stopping stories of crime and suspense, WARPED is the short-story lover's dream companion.Acclaimed stories like: “The Straw Man and a Murder” - Hiding from his abusive father, a young boy finds solace in the arms of a scarecrow. “Sugar Daddy” - A wealthy slice of suburbia holds a deadly supernatural secret. “Torment” - Four friends on vacation encounter a mythical evil said to roam the woods of Northern Minnesota. “Princess” - For one unfortunate teenage boy, prom night becomes the most disturbing evening he will ever know. And many, many more... Eleven pulse-pounding stories in all for hours and hours of entertainment. Praise for Jeff Menapace-Winner of the 2011 Red Adept Reviews Indie Award for Horror"Psychological thrillers that take you to extremities of fear and suspense. An absolute MUST HAVE collection." - John Dixon, two-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author"Jeff Menapace is one of the rising stars of the horror thriller genre...he can scare the daylights out of the best of them." - J. Chambers, Amazon Hall of Fame, Top 10 Reviewer"This trilogy will scare you to death...Jeff Menapace will become a household name along with Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Richard Laymon." - Amazon Five-Star Review"If you like Stephen King, Blake Crouch, or Dean Koontz, then you'll love Jeff Menapace. A MUST READ for anyone who likes dark psychological thrillers." - Amazon Five-Star Review"The best horror novel I've read in a long time...If you are a King, Koontz fan, this ranks right up there."- Amazon Five-Star ReviewWARPED: A Collection of Short Horror, Thriller, and Suspense Fiction eBook categories: Horror Suspense Thriller Crime Fiction Serial Killers Murder Vigilante JusticeSuspense Horror KidnappingScaryPsychological ThrillerDarkDisturbingVengefulPsychological HorrorShape ShifterOccult Supernatural HorrorParanormalSupernatural ShifterVampires and Werewolves Mythology and Folklore
  • Chinese Grammar Wiki BOOK: Intermediate

    John Pasden, David Moser

    Paperback (Mind Spark Press, Dec. 10, 2018)
    The Chinese Grammar Wiki began in 2012 as a modest website with a bold vision: to record all of the grammar structures in the Chinese language, categorize them by difficulty level, explain each one in clear, jargon-free English, and link them all together. Initially the wiki was a resource exclusively for the clients of AllSet Learning’s Shanghai-based learning consultancy. But five years later, its popularity among learners has exploded, and the Chinese Grammar Wiki has become the #1 online resource for Chinese grammar among independent learners and college students alike.This book is the second major volume, covering all essential grammar points that an intermediate learner needs to master. Together with the Elementary and Upper Intermediate volumes, the series will comprise the most complete single resource on Chinese grammar in print. This volume features:- 145 B1 (Intermediate) grammar points- 200+ separate grammar structures- 1,500+ examples (with pinyin and English translation)- Extensive interlinking of similar grammar points- Bilingual glossary of grammar terms- Learner-centric design
  • HSK 3 Chinese Grammar

    John Pasden, David Moser

    Paperback (Mind Spark Press, Aug. 6, 2019)
    Part of the larger Chinese Grammar Wiki book series, this volume focuses specifically on the grammar points required for the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) Level 3 standard test of Mandarin Chinese proficiency.This book includes:• 84 grammar points aligned with the HSK 3 test• Over 900 simple example sentences illustrating the grammar points• Pinyin and English translation for all word and sentences• Simple grammar explanations that any learner can understand• Extensive interlinking of similar grammar points• Full keyword index (with pinyin)• Learner-centric designNote that many of these grammar points are also contained in our Chinese Grammar Wiki BOOK: Elementary or Intermediate books, but these have been reorganized specifically according to the HSK standard.
  • Bad Games: Malevolent: Bad Games Series, Book 4

    Jeff Menapace, Gary Tiedemann, Mind Mess Press

    Audible Audiobook (Mind Mess Press, Sept. 12, 2017)
    After years of silence, the game is back on.... Widower Allan Brown is hosting a support group in his home for the bereaved. One of the guests in attendance will be Amy Lambert, this week marking the five-year anniversary of her family's horrifying ordeal at Crescent Lake. Of course it's hardly a cause for celebration. Still, some unwanted guests plan on attending the support group to help Amy celebrate all the same. In this terrifying fourth installment in the acclaimed Bad Games series, Bad Games: Malevolent will test the absolute limits of human endurance, and remind us all that evil never truly rests.
  • Emma: Mandarin Companion Graded Readers: Level 1, Simplified Chinese Edition

    Jane Austen, Shishuang Chen, John Pasden, Jared Turner

    eBook (Mind Spark Press LLC, Dec. 4, 2018)
    Clever, rich, and single, the beautiful Ān Mò (Emma Woodhouse) is focused on her career as fashion designer in the glamor of 21st-century Shanghai. She sees no need for romance in her life, but when she tries to find a boyfriend for her new friend Fangfang (Harriet), her carefully laid plans being to unravel. As she ignores the warnings of her good friend Shi Wenzheng (Mr. Knightley), her decisions bring consequences that she never expected. With its witty and charming characters, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen’s most flawless work.Mandarin Companion is a series of easy-to-read novels in Chinese that are fun to read and proven to accelerate language learning. Every book in the Mandarin Companion series is carefully written to use characters, words, and grammar that a learner is likely to know.Level 1 is written using approximately 300 unique Chinese characters and intended for Chinese learners at an upper-elementary level. Most learners will be able to approach this book after one to two years of formal study, depending on the learner and program. This series is designed to combine simplicity of characters with an easy-to-understand storyline that helps beginners grow their vocabulary and language comprehension abilities.Visit www.MandarinCompanion.com for the latest updates on new titles.