Killer Year: Stories to Die For--from the Hottest New Crime Writers - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312374704 ISBN 13: 9780312374709

Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2008

Synopsis

Some of the rising stars in the crime, suspense, and mystery genres reveal their talents in a spinetingling anthology of short stories, each of which is introduced by such mentors as Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, and Lee Child, accompanied by additional tales and essays by Laura Lippman, MJ Rose, Allison Brennan, Ken Bruen, and Duane Swierczynski. 25,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

Sixteen shades of noir, all interesting, some compelling.Three of Child's contributors--Ken Bruen, Allison Brennan and Duane Swierczynski--are seasoned pros, but the collection's gems come from the 13 members of the younger set. Derek Nikitas's "Runaway," for instance, is a superbly ambiguous chiller about an adolescent girl who may or may not be a real runaway, or for that matter real. In Toni McGee Causey's artfully composed "A Failure to Communicate" introduces the indomitable and irresistible Bobbie Faye Sumrall, a steel magnolia whose steel will cause three lowlifes to rue the day they took her hostage. "Perfect Gentleman" by Brett Battles and "Bottom Deal" by Robert Gregory Browne are both lean and taut, expertly crafted in the good old hard-boiled tradition. In Marc Lecard's sly "Teardown," a hapless loser arrives in the wrong place at what turns out to be exactly the right time. Gregg Olson's autobiographical "Crime of My Life" features a surprise ending that actually surprises. The quality is less consistent among the other entries, but, remarkably for a collection this ample, there's no sign of a clinker. An anthology so worthwhile that it comes within an eyelash of deserving the hyperbole Child ("Bad Luck and Trouble," 2007, etc.) heaps on it in his introduction. - Kirkus Reviews Who doesn't like a good treasure hunt? Who doesn't like discovering new talent on the rise? Both will be found within the covers of KILLER YEAR, an anthology of spanking new talent doing what they do best: getting your blood pumping and holding you breathless on the razor's edge of suspense. Each story is a brilliant, perfectly cut gem--just be careful of those sharp edges. They cut deep to thebone." --James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of MAP OF BONES and THE JUDAS STRAIN "I'm for anything that increases writers' odds of enjoying long and successful careers. Let's hope KILLER YEAR does just that, for these writers and generations of writers to come." --Laura Lippman

"The disturbingly good new talent showcased in this volume bodes well for the future of the genre." -- "Publishers Weekly"

"The mentors' introductions to these stories, plus brief biographies at the end, should entice readers to longer works by these promising new authors. Even amid a recent rash of anthologies in the genre, this one is well worth a look." -- "Library Journal"

"Gems come from the 13 [Killer Year] members.... Remarkably for a collection this ample, there's no sign of a clinker." -- "Kirkus Reviews"

Sixteen shades of noir, all interesting, some compelling.Three of Child's contributors--Ken Bruen, Allison Brennan and Duane Swierczynski--are seasoned pros, but the collection's gems come from the 13 members of the younger set. Derek Nikitas's "Runaway," for instance, is a superbly ambiguous chiller about an adolescent girl who may or may not be a real runaway, or for that matter real. In Toni McGee Causey's artfully composed "A Failure to Communicate" introduces the indomitable and irresistible Bobbie Faye Sumrall, a steel magnolia whose steel will cause three lowlifes to rue the day they took her hostage. "Perfect Gentleman" by Brett Battles and "Bottom Deal" by Robert Gregory Browne are both lean and taut, expertly crafted in the good old hard-boiled tradition. In Marc Lecard's sly "Teardown," a hapless loser arrives in the wrong place at what turns out to be exactly the right time. Gregg Olson's autobiographical "Crime of My Life" features a surprise ending that actually surprises. The quality is less consistent among the other entries, but, remarkably for a collection this ample, there's no sign of a clinker. An anthology so worthwhile that it comes within an eyelash of deserving the hyperbole Child ("Bad Luck and Trouble," 2007, etc.) heaps on it in his introduction. - Kirkus Reviews Who doesn't like a good treasure hunt? Who doesn't like discovering new talent on the rise? Both will be found within the covers of KILLER YEAR, an anthology of spanking new talent doing what they do best: getting your blood pumping and holding you breathless on the razor's edge of suspense. Each story is a brilliant, perfectly cut gem--just be careful of those sharp edges. They cut deep to the bone." --James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of MAP OF BONES and THE JUDAS STRAIN "I'm for anything that increases writers' odds of enjoying long and successful careers. Let's hope KILLER YEAR does just that, for these writers and generations of writers to come." --Laura Li

Sixteen shades of noir, all interesting, some compelling.Three of Child s contributors Ken Bruen, Allison Brennan and Duane Swierczynski are seasoned pros, but the collection s gems come from the 13 members of the younger set. Derek Nikitas s Runaway, for instance, is a superbly ambiguous chiller about an adolescent girl who may or may not be a real runaway, or for that matter real. In Toni McGee Causey s artfully composed A Failure to Communicate introduces the indomitable and irresistible Bobbie Faye Sumrall, a steel magnolia whose steel will cause three lowlifes to rue the day they took her hostage. Perfect Gentleman by Brett Battles and Bottom Deal by Robert Gregory Browne are both lean and taut, expertly crafted in the good old hard-boiled tradition. In Marc Lecard s sly Teardown, a hapless loser arrives in the wrong place at what turns out to be exactly the right time. Gregg Olson s autobiographical Crime of My Life features a surprise ending that actually surprises. The quality is less consistent among the other entries, but, remarkably for a collection this ample, there s no sign of a clinker. An anthology so worthwhile that it comes within an eyelash of deserving the hyperbole Child (Bad Luck and Trouble, 2007, etc.) heaps on it in his introduction. "Kirkus Reviews"

Who doesn't like a good treasure hunt? Who doesn't like discovering new talent on the rise? Both will be found within the covers of KILLER YEAR, an anthology of spanking new talent doing what they do best: getting your blood pumping and holding you breathless on the razor's edge of suspense. Each story is a brilliant, perfectly cut gem--just be careful of those sharp edges. They cut deep to the bone. "James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of MAP OF BONES and THE JUDAS STRAIN"

I'm for anything that increases writers' odds of enjoying long and successful careers. Let's hope KILLER YEAR does just that, for these writers and generations of writers to come. "Laura Lippman"

The disturbingly good new talent showcased in this volume bodes well for the future of the genre. "Publishers Weekly"

The mentors' introductions to these stories, plus brief biographies at the end, should entice readers to longer works by these promising new authors. Even amid a recent rash of anthologies in the genre, this one is well worth a look. "Library Journal"

Gems come from the 13 [Killer Year] members . Remarkably for a collection this ample, there's no sign of a clinker. "Kirkus Reviews""

"Sixteen shades of noir, all interesting, some compelling.Three of Child's contributors--Ken Bruen, Allison Brennan and Duane Swierczynski--are seasoned pros, but the collection's gems come from the 13 members of the younger set. Derek Nikitas's "Runaway," for instance, is a superbly ambiguous chiller about an adolescent girl who may or may not be a real runaway, or for that matter real. In Toni McGee Causey's artfully composed "A Failure to Communicate" introduces the indomitable and irresistible Bobbie Faye Sumrall, a steel magnolia whose steel will cause three lowlifes to rue the day they took her hostage. "Perfect Gentleman" by Brett Battles and "Bottom Deal" by Robert Gregory Browne are both lean and taut, expertly crafted in the good old hard-boiled tradition. In Marc Lecard's sly "Teardown," a hapless loser arrives in the wrong place at what turns out to be exactly the right time. Gregg Olson's autobiographical "Crime of My Life" features a surprise ending that actually surprises. The quality is less consistent among the other entries, but, remarkably for a collection this ample, there's no sign of a clinker. An anthology so worthwhile that it comes within an eyelash of deserving the hyperbole Child (Bad Luck and Trouble, 2007, etc.) heaps on it in his introduction." --Kirkus Reviews

"Who doesn't like a good treasure hunt? Who doesn't like discovering new talent on the rise? Both will be found within the covers of KILLER YEAR, an anthology of spanking new talent doing what they do best: getting your blood pumping and holding you breathless on the razor's edge of suspense. Each story is a brilliant, perfectly cut gem--just be careful of those sharp edges. They cut deep to the bone." --James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of MAP OF BONES and THE JUDAS STRAIN

"I'm for anything that increases writers' odds of enjoying long and successful careers. Let's hope KILLER YEAR does just that, for these writers and generations of writers to come." --Laura Lippman

"The disturbingly good new talent showcased in this volume bodes well for the future of the genre." --Publishers Weekly

"The mentors' introductions to these stories, plus brief biographies at the end, should entice readers to longer works by these promising new authors. Even amid a recent rash of anthologies in the genre, this one is well worth a look." --Library Journal

"Gems come from the 13 [Killer Year] members.... Remarkably for a collection this ample, there's no sign of a clinker." --Kirkus Reviews

"Who doesn't like a good treasure hunt? Who doesn't like discovering new talent on the rise? Both will be found within the covers of KILLER YEAR, an anthology of spanking new talent doing what they do best: getting your blood pumping and holding you breathless on the razor's edge of suspense. Each story is a brilliant, perfectly cut gem--just be careful of those sharp edges. They cut deep to the bone." --James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of MAP OF BONES and THE JUDAS STRAIN

"I'm for anything that increases writers' odds of enjoying long and successful careers. Let's hope KILLER YEAR does just that, for these writers and generations of writers to come." --Laura Lippman

"The disturbingly good new talent showcased in this volume bodes well for the future of the genre." --Publishers Weekly

"The mentors' introductions to these stories, plus brief biographies at the end, should entice readers to longer works by these promising new authors. Even amid a recent rash of anthologies in the genre, this one is well worth a look." --Library Journal

"Gems come from the 13 [Killer Year] members.... Remarkably for a collection this ample, there's no sign of a clinker." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author:

LEE CHILD, the editor of Killer Year, is the number-one internationally bestselling author of the Jack Reacher thrillers, including the New York Times bestsellers The Enemy, One Shot, The Hard Way, and the number-one bestselling novels Bad Luck and Trouble and Nothing to Lose. His debut, Killing Floor, won both the Anthony and the Barry Awards for Best First Mystery, and The Enemy won both the Barry and the Nero Awards for Best Novel. Child, a native of England and a former television director, lives in New York City.

About this edition

• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0312374704
• ISBN 13: 9780312374709
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 281
• Editor: Child Lee