Kelly Ames for the Stars

  THE SCIENTIST AND THE SERIAL KILLER: THE SEARCH FOR HOUSTON’S LOST BOYS By Lise Olsen True Crime / History Publisher: Random House Pages: 464 Publication Date: April 1, 2025 SYNOPSIS The Scientist and the Serial Killer is the gripping, upside-down detective story of a Texas forensic anthropologist named Sharon Derrick who, determined to close the cases of the notorious 1970s Houston-area serial killer Dean Corll, painstakingly deploys the latest science to identify victims who had become known as the Lost Boys of Houston. This is an unforgettable narrative of forensic science, missing persons, and unsolved crimes by award-winning investigative journalist Lise Olsen. CLICK TO PURCHASE Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lise Olsen is a senior investigative reporter and editor whose work has appeared in the Texas Observer, Inside Climate News, and the Houston Chronicle , as well as in documentaries on Netflix, CNN, A&E, and Paramount+. WEBSITE ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ X...

  RICHARD COKE: TEXAN By Rosser Coke Newton, Sr. History / Biography Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing Pages: 300 Publication Date: November 4, 2024 SYNOPSIS Richard Coke played one of the most crucial roles in Texas history. His leadership of his beloved Texas still resonates today—150 years after he became governor. Richard Coke: Texan weaves a rich mosaic of real people and events, immersing the reader in the life and times of Richard Coke. Coke brought Texas out of Reconstruction following the Civil War and is often credited with restoring democracy to the state after this perilous time. Richard Coke: Texan tells the story of a young Virginia lawyer who emigrated to a Texas frontier village and changed history. It follows Coke as he starts a new life in Waco, Texas, serves in the Civil War, endures the hardships of Reconstruction, and is called to serve as governor to rebuild the state and restore rights to local government and the people of Texas. The story of Coke and his le...

  PINTSIZED PIONEERS: Taming the Frontier,  One Chore at a Time By Preston Lewis & Harriet Kocher Lewis Young Adult / Nonfiction / History Publisher: Bariso Press Pages: 184 Publication Date: September 24, 2024 SYNOPSIS Children tread lightly through the pages of Old West history. Pintsized Pioneers: Taming the Frontier, One Chore at a Time gives frontier children their due for all the work they did to help their families survive. Even at early ages, the youngsters helped families make ends meet and handled chores that today seem unbelievable. Written for today’s young adults, Pintsized Pioneers offers lessons on frontier history and on the value of work for contemporary youth. In 1850 adolescents 16 and under accounted for 46 percent of the national population, making them an important labor force in settling the country. Pintsized Pioneers examines their tasks and toils starting with the chores on the trail west. Children assisted in providing fuel and water on the t...