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Unsettled : how the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy failed the victims of the American overdose crisis / by Hampton, Ryan,author.; Aron, Hillel,author.; Foster, Claire Rudy,author.;
A shocking inside account of reckless capitalism and injustice in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy case. In September 2019, Purdue Pharma--the maker of OxyContin and a company controlled by the infamous billionaire Sackler family--filed for bankruptcy to protect itself from 2,600 lawsuits for its role in fueling the U.S. overdose crisis. Author and activist Ryan Hampton served as co-chair of the official creditors committee that acted as a watchdog during the process, one of only four victims appointed among representatives of big insurance companies, hospitals, and pharmacies. He entered the case believing that exposing the Sacklers and mobilizing against Purdue would be enough to right the scales of justice. But he soon learned that behind closed doors, justice had plenty of other competition-and it came with a hefty price tag. Unsettled is the inside story of Purdue's excruciating Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, the company's eventual restructuring, and the Sackler family's evasion of any true accountability. It's also the untold story of how a group of determined ordinary people tried to see justice done against the odds-and in the face of brutal opposition from powerful institutions and even government representatives. Although America was envisioned as an equitable place, where the vulnerable are protected from the greed of the powerful, the corporate-bankruptcy process betrays those values. In its heart of hearts, this system is built to shield the ultra-wealthy, exploit loopholes for political power, promote gross wealth inequality, and allow companies such as Purdue Pharma to run amok. The real story of the Purdue bankruptcy wasn't that the billion-dollar corporation was a villain, a serial federal offender. No matter what the media said, Purdue didn't do this alone. They were aided and abetted by the very systems and institutions that were supposed to protect Americans. Even on-your-side elected officials worked against Purdue's victims-maintaining the status quo at all costs. Americans deserve to know exactly who is responsible for failing to protect people over profits-and what a human life is worth to corporations, billionaires, and lawmakers. Unsettled is what happened behind closed doors-the story of a sick, broken system that destroyed millions of lives and let the Sacklers off almost scot-free.
Subjects: Purdue Pharma L.P.; Bankruptcy; Opioid abuse; Pharmaceutical industry;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Lone wolf [sound recording] / by Hurwitz, Gregg,author.; Brick, Scott,narrator.; Macmillan Audio (Firm),publisher.;
Read by Scott Brick."Once a black book government assassin known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak left the program, went deep underground, and reinvented himself as someone who will go anywhere, and risk everything to help the truly desperate who have nowhere else to turn. Since then, Evan has fought international crime syndicates and drug cartels, faced down the most powerful people in the world and even brought down a President. Struggling with an unexpected personal crisis, Evan goes back to the very basics of his mission - and this time, the truly desperate is a little girl who wants him to find her missing dog. Not his usual mission, and not one Evan embraces with enthusiasm, but this unlikely, tiny job quickly explodes into his biggest mission yet. one that finds him battered between twisted AI technocrat billionaires, a mysterious female assassin who seems a mirror of himself, and personal stakes so gut-wrenching he can scarcely make sense of them. Evan's mission pushes him to his limit - he must find and take down the assassin known only as the Wolf, before she succeeds in completing her mission and killing the people who can identify her - a teenaged daughter of her last target, and Evan himself. Matched skill for skill, instinct for instinct, Evan must outwit an opponent who will literally stop at nothing if he is to survive"--
Subjects: Audiobooks.; Novels.; Thrillers (Fiction); Smoak, Evan (Fictitious character); Assassins; Espionage; Female assassins;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Glass houses / by Ashby, Madeline,author.;
"A masterful near future whodunit for fans of Glass Onion and Black Mirror; join a stranded start-up team led by a terrifyingly realistic charismatic billionaire, a deserted tropical island, and a mysterious AI-driven mansion--as the remaining members disappear one by one. A group of employees and their CEO, celebrating the sale of their remarkable emotion-mapping-AI-algorithm, crash onto a not-quite-deserted tropical island. Luckily, those who survived have found a beautiful, fully-stocked private palace, with all the latest technological updates (though one without connection to the outside world). The house, however, has more secrets than anyone might have guessed, and a much darker reason for having been built and left behind. Kristen, the hyper-competent "chief emotional manager" (i.e., the eccentric boyish billionaire-CEO Sumter's idea of an HR department) is trying to keep her colleagues stable throughout this new challenge, but staying sane seems to be as much of a challenge as staying alive. Being a woman in technology has always meant having to be smarter than anyone expects ... .and Kristen's survival skills are more impressive than anyone knows"--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Novels.; Artificial intelligence; Employees; Islands; Mansions; Secrecy; Survival; Women;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The Wild Side A Gripping Novel of Suspense [electronic resource] : by Michaels, Fern.aut; cloudLibrary;
With an irresistible blend of adventure, suspense, and superb storytelling, this page-turning novel from the acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author will delight fans of Nora Roberts, James Patterson, and Rachel Caine.   For Melanie Drake, school guidance counselor in a small Virginia town, the day’s challenges typically involve a playground scuffle or a student skipping school. It’s worlds away from her previous career as a vital part of the Office of Special Investigations. There, she devoted herself heart and soul to covert operations, the riskier the better.   Since leaving, Melanie has cherished her peaceful, calm existence, with her two beloved retired service dogs for company. Then a call comes from her former supervisor, Rich Patterson. He needs her back for a highly specialized assignment. An international group of billionaires is known to meet regularly for decadent dinners, and they always hire high-class escorts for the occasion. Only the most elegant, well-educated, and sophisticated women will do. Infiltrating those meetings could yield information vital to national security.   Melanie’s loyalty is indisputable. She’s willing to pose as an escort and glean every scrap of intel that she can. But these men aren’t just wealthy and powerful, they’re also exceptionally ruthless. One slip, and they won’t hesitate to eliminate Melanie, by any means necessary. . . .General adult.
Subjects: Electronic books.; Psychological; Suspense;
© 2024., Zebra Books,
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Kingdom of lies : unnerving adventures in the world of cybercrime / by Fazzini, Kate,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index.In the tradition of Michael Lewis and Tom Wolfe, a fascinating and frightening behind-the-scenes look at the interconnected cultures of hackers, security specialists, and law enforcement. A 19-year-old Romanian student stumbles into a criminal ransomware ring in her village. Soon she is extorting Silicon Valley billionaires for millions--without knowing the first thing about computers. A veteran cybersecurity specialist has built a deep network of top notch hackers in one of the world's largest banks. But then the bank brings in a cadre of ex-military personnel to "help." A cynical Russian only leaves his tiny New Jersey apartment to hack sports cars at a high performance shop in Newark. But he opens his door to a consultant who needs his help. A hotel doorman in China once served in the People's Army, stealing intellectual property from American companies. Now he uses his skills to build up a private side-business selling the data he takes from travelers to Shanghai's commercial center. Kingdom of Lies follows the intertwined stories of cybercriminals and ethical hackers as they jump from criminal trend to criminal trend, crisis to crisis. A cybersecurity professional turned journalist, Kate Fazzini illuminates the many lies companies and governments tell us about our security, the lies criminals tell to get ahead, and the lies security leaders tell to make us think they are better at their jobs than they are.
Subjects: True crime stories.; Computer crimes.; Hackers.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The almightier : how money became God, greed became virtue, and debt became sin / by Vigna, Paul,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The complete story of how we came to worship money, and how we can stop greed from destroying everything. The pursuit of wealth is considered an essential function of human nature, and greed is an unspoken civic virtue. Many of us revere billionaires and Wall Street rain-makers, then complain about "the system" being rigged, and wonder why the country doesn't seem to work for the little guy anymore. Some blame the Deep State for income inequality and corruption, and others blame capitalism, but the truth is that these issues have much deeper roots: our devotion to money is a manmade invention that has transformed over thousands of years to replace religion as the foundation of our society, and it is tearing civilization apart. In The Almightier, journalist Paul Vigna uncovers the forgotten history of money, tracing the uneasy and often accidental alliance between wealth and religion as it developed from ancient city-states to today's secular world, where religious devotion has receded and greed has stepped in to fill the void. Through engaging anecdotes, original research, and fresh perspectives on the causes of the many challenges we face today, Vigna makes a compelling argument that money has no power apart from the power we give it. We can build a better future, where we don't need to choose between helping others and getting ahead. But we can't repair the damage that greed has done until we understand how it took over our world in the first place"--
Subjects: Avarice.; Money; Money; Money; Wealth;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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The chaos agent / by Greaney, Mark,author.;
"Artificial intelligence leads to shockingly real danger for the Gray Man in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. A car accident in Japan. A drowning in Seoul. A home invasion in Boston. Someone is killing the world's leading experts on robotics and artificial intelligence. Is it a tech company trying to eliminate the competition or is it something even more sinister? After all, artificial intelligence may be the deadliest battlefield gamechanger since the creation of gunpowder. The first nation to field weapons that can act at the speed of computer commands will rule the battlefield. It's an irresistible lure for most, but not for the Gray Man. His quest for a quiet life has led him to Central America where he and his lover, Zoya Zakharova, have assumed new identities. With a list of enemies that includes billionaires, terrorists, and governments, they need to keep a low profile, but the world's deadliest assassin can't expect to hide out forever. Eventually, they're tracked down and offered a job by an old acquaintance of Zoya's. He needs their help extracting a Russian scientist who is on the kill list. They reject the offer, but just being seen with him is enough to put assassins on their trail. Now, they're back on the run, but no matter which way they turn, it's clear that whoever's tracking them is always going to be one step ahead. Since flight's no longer possible, fight is the only option left, and no one fights dirtier than the Gray Man"--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Spy fiction.; Novels.; Artificial intelligence; Assassins; Intelligence officers; Man-woman relationships;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 2
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Sufferance : a novel / by King, Thomas,1943-author.;
"Jeremiah Camp, aka The Forecaster, can look into the heart of humanity and see the patterns that create opportunities and profits for the rich and powerful. Problem is, Camp has looked one too many times, has seen what he hadn't expected to see, has come away from the abyss with no hope for himself or for the future. So, he does what any intelligent, sensitive person would do. He runs away. Goes into hiding in a small town, at an old residential school on an even smaller Indian reserve, with no phone, no internet, no television. The windows shut, the door locked, the mailbox removed to discourage any connection with the world, he feels safe at last. Except nobody told the locals that they were to leave Jeremiah alone. And then his past comes calling. Ash Locken, the head of the Locken Group, the multi-national consortium that Jeremiah has fled, arrives on his doorstep with a simple proposition. She wants our hero to formulate one more forecast, and she's not about to take no for an answer. Before he left the Locken empire, Jeremiah had created a list of twelve names for Ash's father, Thomas Locken. Billionaires, every one. The problem is, the people on the list are dying, at an alarming and unnatural rate. And Ash Locken wants to know why. A sly and satiric look at the fractures in modern existence, Sufferance is a bold and provocative novel about the social and political consequences of the inequality created by privilege and power -- and what we might do about it."--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Psychological fiction.; Visions; Precognition; Rich people; Indigenous reservations;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 2
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The chaos agent [text (large print)] / by Greaney, Mark,author.;
"Artificial intelligence leads to shockingly real danger for the Gray Man in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. A car accident in Japan. A drowning in Seoul. A home invasion in Boston. Someone is killing the world's leading experts on robotics and artificial intelligence. Is it a tech company trying to eliminate the competition or is it something even more sinister? After all, artificial intelligence may be the deadliest battlefield gamechanger since the creation of gunpowder. The first nation to field weapons that can act at the speed of computer commands will rule the battlefield. It's an irresistible lure for most, but not for the Gray Man. His quest for a quiet life has led him to Central America where he and his lover, Zoya Zakharova, have assumed new identities. With a list of enemies that includes billionaires, terrorists, and governments, they need to keep a low profile, but the world's deadliest assassin can't expect to hide out forever. Eventually, they're tracked down and offered a job by an old acquaintance of Zoya's. He needs their help extracting a Russian scientist who is on the kill list. They reject the offer, but just being seen with him is enough to put assassins on their trail. Now, they're back on the run, but no matter which way they turn, it's clear that whoever's tracking them is always going to be one step ahead. Since flight's no longer possible, fight is the only option left, and no one fights dirtier than the Gray Man"--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Large print books.; Spy fiction.; Novels.; Artificial intelligence; Assassins; Intelligence officers; Man-woman relationships;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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You can trust me : a novel / by Heard, Wendy,author.;
"Two best friends grift their way through the California elite, until a scam goes awry-with devastating consequences-in this gripping, stylish thriller. Summer and Leo would do anything for each other. Inspired by the way each has had to carve her place in a hostile and unforgiving world, and united by the call of the open road, they travel around sunny California in Summer's tricked-out Land Cruiser. It's not a glamorous life, but it gives them the freedom they crave-from family, expectations, and the painful pasts they've left behind. But even free spirits have bills to pay. Luckily, Summer is a skilled pickpocket, small-time thief, and con artist-and Leo, determined to pay her way, has learned a trick or two from Summer. Eager for a big score, Leo sets her crosshairs on Michael Forrester, self-made billionaire and philanthropist. When her charm wins him over, she's rewarded with an invite to his private island off the coast of Los Angeles for a night of fabulous excess. She eagerly anticipates returning with photos that can be sold to the paparazzi, jewelry that can be liquidated, and endless stories to share with Summer. Instead, Leo disappears. The police assure Summer that her friend probably just ditched her. After all, who would believe a philanthropic billionaire could be up to no good? On her own for the first time in years, Summer decides to infiltrate Michael's island and find out what really happened. As Summer searches for Leo, she stumbles upon hidden secrets buried deep beneath the secluded island's heavily guarded walls-secrets worth killing for-and realizes she may have met her match. Michael Forrester is used to getting what he wants. But then again, so is Summer"--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Psychological fiction.; Novels.; Female friendship; Islands; Missing persons; Swindlers and swindling;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Results 241 to 250 of 263 | « previous |