Over on the Dry Side by Louis L'Amour

Over on the Dry Side by Louis L'Amour – 164 p.

Owen Chantry arrives at his brother Clive's ranch to find him murdered and two squatters occupying his cabin. The unlikely trio—along with a mysterious woman and a crusty mountaineer--soon find themselves in a deadly feud with Clive's killers, the Mowatt gang, who return in search of Clive's rumored buried treasure.

L'Amour tosses bits of history, poetry, and philosophy into a great “stranger comes to town” Western yarn.

Ebook available on Libby.

Somebody Owes Me Money by Donald E. Westlake

Somebody Owes Me Money by Donald E. Westlake – 254 p.

This early Westlake crime caper introduces New York cabbie Chester (call me Chet, please!), who loves (lives) to gamble. Chet gets a major tip on a long shot horse that comes in a winner. But when he pops over to his bookie for the payout, the bookie has been shot dead and Chet finds himself running for his life, the target of rival gangs, crooked police and an angry wife. Dated and a bit less polished than later books but still a fun read. Ebook available on Libby.

Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: an insider’s look at the world of flea markets, antiques, and collecting by Maureen Stanton

Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: an insider’s look at the world of flea markets, antiques, and collecting by Maureen Stanton - 326 pages

If you don’t miss an episode of Antiques Roadshow and American Pickers, if you check Craigslist and eBay with your first cup of coffee each morning, if you can’t pass up a yard sale, flea market or antique store, you will devour this book. It is stuffed with tips on spotting faked age (e.g., glass dust is rubbed on bottles for instant antiquing and parts from several old chairs are Frankensteined together and passed off as original), new reproductions, and what items are the hottest.

The book offers insight into the world of antique dealers and buyers, who can earn – or lose – thousands of dollars on a single purchase. Since no one can know everything about a particular antique, even the most knowledgeable dealers and collectors are regularly duped into buying what they consider junk. But the thrill of the hunt, the possibility of finding “the” treasure in the trash, keeps these folks online, on the road, and chasing down the score of a lifetime.