Killer Year: Stories to Die For...From the Hottest New Crime Writers [Paperback]

Lee Child (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 2008

Killer Year is a group of 13 debut crime/mystery/suspense authors whose books will be published in 2007. The graduating class includes such rising stars as Robert Gregory Browne, Toni McGee Causey, Marcus Sakey, Derek Nikitas, Marc Lecard, JT Ellison, Brett Battles, Jason Pinter, Bill Cameron, Sean Chercover, Patry Francis, Gregg Olsen, and David White. Each of the short stories displaying their talents are introduced by their Killer Year mentors, some of which include bestselling authors Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen and Jeffrey Deaver, with additional stories by Ken Bruen, Allison Brennan and Duane Swierczynski. Bestselling authors Laura Lippman and MJ Rose contribute insightful essays. Inside you'll read about a small time crook in over his head, a story told backwards with a heroine not to be messed with, a tale of boys and the trouble they will get into over a girl, and many more stories of the highest caliber in murder, mayhem, and sheer entertainment. This amazing anthology, edited by the grandmaster Lee Child, is sure to garner lots of attention and keep readers coming back for more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For this impressive crime anthology, bestseller Child (One Shot) has gathered 13 stories by newcomers and three by veterans. Such established writers as David Morrell, James Rollins, Gayle Lynds, Ken Bruen and Allison Brennan introduce tales by such rising stars as Marcus Sakey, Brett Battles, Robert Gregory Browne, Sean Chercover and Gregg Olsen. Some selections, like Olsen's The Crime of My Life, hit like a hard swung sap. Battles's Perfect Gentleman is more like a knife that slides in easily, then twists in the gut. Browne's Bottom Deal features a PI that would be at home in a lineup with Spade and Marlowe. Sakey's Gravity and Need lets the reader bleed out slowly, while Chercover's One Serving of Bad Luck earns a rueful smile. Not every entry is a winner, but the disturbingly good new talent showcased in this volume bodes well for the future of the genre.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of 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 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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (December 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031254524X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312545246
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #894,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Collection Of Short Stories!, January 28, 2008

By 

Melvin Hunt (Cleveland,, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Killer Year: Stories to Die For...From the Hottest New Crime Writers (Hardcover)

This novel is an excellent collection of short stories fr0m up and coming crime writers that are new to the trade. You have 13 writers who
feature a short story in this book. The novel si edited by one of my favorite authors Lee Child.
The first story that drew my attention in this collection was a "Perfect Gentleman" by Brett Battles. This is a story about murder and
revenge in a foreign country. The next story in the novel was "Killing
Justice" by Allison Brennan. After failed attempts toget child protective
laws passed a mother takes matters into her own hands. Another good story was "Time Of The Green" by Ken Bruen. A con man goes to Ireland to pull a con and gets a surprise. Another story was "Bottom Deal" by Robert Gregory Browne. A former ppoliceman discovers a porno ring linked to a
former associate. There was a short story by Bill Cameron called "Slice Of Pie". A man makes a wrong assumption.
All in all this was a very interesting book. It doesn't take long to read and you will be entertained.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stories to Savor, January 28, 2008

By 

Nona (Coeur d'Alene, ID USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killer Year: Stories to Die For...From the Hottest New Crime Writers (Hardcover)

What a fabulous collection!! I bought the book because Gregg Olsen is one of my favorite non-fiction writers. Last year he ventured into the fiction genre and therefore he was included in this anthology. This book introduced me to many other rising stars in the `thriller' arena. I will be buying more books by the authors included in this fine work.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing that they could cram all this talent into ONE book!, January 26, 2008

By 

Jessica "J.J.S.S." (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killer Year: Stories to Die For...From the Hottest New Crime Writers (Hardcover)

Nothing like getting together to promote a worthwhile cause... Books and the joy that comes from reading them. M. J. Rose states it clear as day, "For an industry losing readers to video games, movies, digital cable, blogs, and a creeping apathy about books..." there is no better book to grab your attention and reel you in than "KILLER YEAR"! The unbelievable talent within this book is amazing! I mean come on it is edited by Lee Child! Good start, right? Then you start reading and you come across authors such Brett Battles and wow! Sean Chercover with introductions and praise from well known and well loved authors such as Tess Geritsen, Ken Bruen, Allison Brennan, Jeffrey Deaver and so many others that you just cannot go wrong when you add this book to your collection!!!!! I hope you enjoy!