Short Crime Thriller

Five thrilling tales of mystery, mayhem, and murder from an exceptional quintet of Edgar, CWA Dagger, and National Book Award winners.

It starts with a few near-accidents: A car almost swipes Mike Hammer when he’s crossing the street. A junkie robs the notoriously hardboiled detective at knifepoint. A fight on a subway platform comes close to pushing him in front of a train. While any one of these could be a coincidence, together they make a conspiracy—one that Hammer will have to end in order to survive. And when it comes to finishing something—or someone—nobody does it better than Hammer.

Steve wants to leave his old life behind, the life of killing and waiting to be killed. But when it's the family business, it can be a hard habit to break.

Mystery writer Anthony Eastwood is lured to the crime scene of a faked murder, where two individuals masquerading as police officers arrest him and charge him with murder. As the phony police officers escort Mr. Eastwood home, the true goal of the masquerade becomes apparent.

Tommy and Tuppence Beresford wait anxiously for a letter from Russia that may contain information of international importance hidden beneath the stamp. The letter is anticipated by more than just the Beresfords, and they must fight to keep the information from getting into the wrong hands.

A short read cozy mystery with a twist... Dive into a twisty whodunit cozy mystery set in Cloverville on St. Patrick’s Day! Come join the town’s thrilling annual hunt for the hidden Leprechaun Emeralds, only this year, the joy turns to dread when renowned jeweler Liam O'Brien is found murdered in his shop. Step into the shoes of Detective Annie Murphy and unravel clues while interrogating quirky suspects like Liam’s mysterious brother Seamus, his struggling business partner Maggie, and rival jeweler Sean. It’s your chance to crack the case! Can you solve the St. Patrick’s Day ...

Seventeen-year-old Amish boy Noah Kline is struck by a car as he walks alongside a dark country road late one night in Painters Mill. Seriously injured, he lapses into a coma. Initially, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder believes it’s a straightforward hit-and-run, a driver that panicked and fled. But evidence soon emerges that the incident wasn’t accidental at all - and Kate uncovers a story of teenage passion and jealousy that may have led to attempted murder.

What marks life in Addis Ababa are the starkly different realities coexisting in one place. It's a growing city taking shape beneath the fraught weight of history, myth, and memory. It is a heady mix. It can also be disorienting, and it is in this space that the stories of Addis Ababa Noir reside....

When he manages to sell his martial arts studio in New York, Gregory Grantham is handed the chance to start a new life. He selects the small city of Poplar Bluff, Missouri as his temporary new home in order to care for his Aunt Vera who needs help after undergoing an operation. Rather than being a sleepy part of the state, southeastern Missouri torments Greg with a series of knife attacks by bank robbers, political activists and insane stalkers. Greg will need every ounce of his fighting skills to survive each violent ordeal. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Donald W. Desaulniers is a retired Canadian ...

We think of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, but far more seductive is the pairing of Holmes and Professor James Moriarty, 'the Napoleon of crime' - a rivalry unparalleled in the world of crime fiction. Fiercely intelligent and a relentless schemer, Moriarty is the super-villain as megastar.

It started with a brutal stabbing on the beach under a lifeguard tower. But when Attorney Jordan meets the accused, he sees his client’s demeanor doesn’t match up to the gruesome nature of the crime. Listening to his client’s story during the initial interview at the jail, Jordan confronts his own biases as a criminal defense lawyer. Despite a time constraint, Jordan’s curiosity compels him to absorb more of the story as he formulates a defense. But talk of Nazis and white power triggers concerns about his father’s war experience and the moral ambiguities of his profession.

Earl “Winks” Martin is used to being the predator. Not the prey. As Seattle’s most feared enforcer, he’s got a reputation for cold-blooded efficiency—and a body count to prove it. He doesn’t believe in anything except easy money and instant violence. That is, until Christmas Eve, when he’s literally netted off the street by a flying sleigh. Dragged to the North Pole by a very real, very pissed-off Santa Claus, Earl is given a choice. Wait—no, scratch that. He’s given a sentence. Santa knows exactly who’s been naughty. And for Earl, there’s no parole, no second chances,...

Arriving at his friend’s funeral, Bryce had in his pocket the envelope with a single key delivered to his office the day before, send by dead now James. A random act of violence; his friend was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shot as he was driving across the Potomac. Bryce tries to understand what happened to James and his own role in this story. He finds more and more data about what his dead friend was involved in and clearly sees that his life is now in danger too. Unwillingly he pulling into this story his new girlfriend. This is the time to confront the situation. This is book...

Movie star Mary Marvell consults with Hercule Poirot after receiving threatening letters that warn her to return her diamond, the famous "Western Star", to its rightful owner. But who does own the diamond, and is it even the genuine article?

A retelling of the Christmas Story in a way you've never heard it before.... The fable of a donkey who carries a mother and child safely to Egypt.... The tale of a widow who dislikes people until she meets a stranger.... From the most popular writer of all time comes a treasured collection of short stories and poems celebrating the holiday season. This special edition also contains a wealth of Agatha Christie rarities - not only all the stories, poems, and illustrations from her long out-of-print book Star over Bethlehem (1965) but also a reproduction of all her rare poetry.

Troy Triton was on a mission. His mission was to find a special pair of shoes. The shoes that held the answers to a scared little boy who saw his parents gunned down in cold blood. He would never stop until he found the pair of brown leather Brogue boots with golden tips. Every day he stared at shoes until one day, out of the blue the shoes appeared in a pair of surprising hands. Join Troy Triton on his quest to avenge his parents' deaths.

Criminals will be criminals. Blood soaks the streets. These murderers must be caught before they find their next victim. Deadly skin-walkers, determined vigilantes, dastardly vampires, and many more will leave you on the edge of your seat. Featuring thirty-two stories by Stuart Stromin, Daryl Marcus, Theric Jepson, Stephen A. Roddewig, S.J. Walker, Terry Grimwood, Mario Caric, James Blakey, Tilia Klebenov Jacobs, Steve Liskow, Richard Zaric, Kelly Barker, Barend Nieuwstraten III, Ed Teja, Devin James Leonard, Gregory Scott Matics, Rob Nisbet, J. Aquino, Cassandra Jones, Elliot LeGrange, ...

Montalbano's First Case and Other Stories is a brilliant collection of short stories, personally chosen by Andrea Camilleri, following Inspector Montalbano from his very first case in Vigàta, in which he stumbles upon a young girl lurking outside a courthouse with a pistol in her handbag. When she is taken in for questioning and won't utter a single word, Montalbano must find another way to learn whom she is trying to kill and why.

A girls’ trip to Peru sounds like the perfect escape for Samantha Moon—just her kids, best friend, and a promise to play tourist instead of vampire detective. But Machu Picchu isn’t just a breathtaking ruin. It’s a powder keg of ancient magic waiting to blow. When Sam and Tammy sense something dark stirring among the Incan stones, they realize their mere presence is awakening a centuries-old anchored curse. If left unchecked, it will open a gateway to something monstrous—hungry for human souls. By night, they return to the ruins, battling ghostly warrior spirits, navigating ...

She's a socialite with a target on her back. He's the enforcer who once broke her heart. Celeste Navarro spent three years running from a monster who's determined to own her—in every way possible. When she resurfaces to retrieve her father's ledger, she never expected to find Rafe Moretti waiting for her, the man who shattered her world and walked away without a word. “This doesn’t change anything,” she gasped as his mouth blazed a trail along her collarbone. “I still hate you.” He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his eyes nearly black with desire. “It changes ...