Mystery Writers of America Presents The Rich and the Dead [Hardcover]

Inc. Mystery Writers of America (Author), Nelson DeMille (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2, 2011

The truly wealthy live in another world. From their multi-national businesses to their palatial mansions to their exotic vacations at glamorous places all around the world, they do everything in a big way. And sometimes, that even includes crime. In this anthology, you'll read about a wealthy writer who plots murder his hopeless agent, an aging actress who clings to her past of wealth and fame, and a spoiled rich boy who steps into dangerous territory with his mean antics, among others. THE RICH AND THE DEAD features mystery and crime stories set among the upper crust of society, going behind the scenes of the lifestyles of the two percent of the world that controls sixty percent of its riches--and just how far they'll go to stay on top.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nelson DeMille is the author of fourteen novels. He lives on Long Island, New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (May 2, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446555878
• ISBN-13: 978-0446555876
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A collective wealth of talent and imagination, May 11, 2011

By 

Bookreporter (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mystery Writers of America Presents The Rich and the Dead (Hardcover)

The premise of the original short story anthology THE RICH AND THE DEAD, commissioned by the venerable Mystery Writers of America organization, is a simple one: each story deals with a crime occasioned and/or motivated by great wealth --- either keeping it or acquiring it. The 20 stories selected by editor Nelson DeMille in turn demonstrate a collective wealth of talent and imagination, one that transcends the mystery genre. DeMille, possibly by accident but probably by design, balanced his selections almost equally by authors who are known to the reading public and those who should and will be. The result is a volume full of surprises, both expected and unexpected.

It is wonderfully and joyously difficult to pick one story in THE RICH AND THE DEAD over another. The best one? It's close, but I would have to give the nod to "The Pirate of Palm Beach" by Ted Bell. This tale of a gossip columnist crossing swords with a rakish and wealthy con man features unforgettable characters, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and more twists than you would expect in less than 30 pages. It has "Best Short Story" written all over it.

As will occur with the best of anthologies, my favorite keeps changing, but the nod would have to go to "Bling, Bling" by David DeLee, who, despite being a native New Yorker and living in New Hampshire, somehow captures my hometown of Columbus, Ohio, perfectly in this story about a wealthy but streetwise rapper who may be at the end of his game.

Every story has something to recommend it. Harley Jane Kozak's "Lamborghini Mommy" points up the painful differences between the rich and the super-rich. The story is quite wonderfully told through the voice of a divorced mom who --- horrors! --- has to work and must contend with a false murder rap on top of her fall from grace. The closing sentence of the story, by the way, is one of the best I have read in a long time. The venerable David Morrell is here as well with "The Controller," an instructive tale that teaches, among other things, the difference between a "bodyguard" and a "protective agent." It also features an interesting mystery, one with layers to it, wrapped in the trappings of a thriller.

Of course, when one thinks of a rich criminal these days, Bernie Madoff immediately comes to mind, and Twist Phelan comes up with an extremely well-done variation on that theme with "Happiness," an in-the-room look at what occurs as a family gathers one last time, among the spoils of ill-gotten gain, before their patriarch reports to prison. The author isn't the only twist associated with the story, as various members of the household jockey for positions while U.S. Marshals look on very carefully.

Not all of the stories deal with rich crooks, however, or at least entirely so. Jonathan Santlofer is represented with "Richie and the Rich Bitch," in which the Richie of the tale is a thief for hire who gets ripped off after doing an art heist and decides to do some ripping back. "Richie," which is dark, gritty and has a surprise ending, reminds me of a celluloid feature that Alfred Hitchcock would have loved to direct.

I could keep going. Peter Blauner makes a most welcome return with "Thank God for Charlie," about a fading Hollywood actress who uses and is used. Carolyn Mullen's "Poetic Justice" is a very literary historical tale about a wealthy and abusive factory owner who gets his comeuppance, as does the reader. And I haven't even talked about the stories by Lee Child, Michael Connelly (a Harry Bosch tale, no less!), S. J. Rozan, Nelson DeMille, and a host of others whom I feel badly about failing to mention by name and deserve to be. What higher praise for THE RICH AND THE DEAD can I give than to tell you that you will be richer for having read it?

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great anthology, April 23, 2011

By 

S. A. Mears (Jefferson City, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mystery Writers of America Presents The Rich and the Dead (Hardcover)

I really love this book. It is chance to read some of the best mystery writing today. The writers range from the well-known to the unknown and I enjoyed them all, especially the story written by new author, Karen Catalona. I predict she has a great writing career ahead of her.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong collection, April 25, 2011

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mystery Writers of America Presents The Rich and the Dead (Hardcover)

The premise of this anthology is that the ultra Rich can obtain anything they want but also can be the target of others who envy their affluence. The all new twenty contributions are well written and though adhere to the general theme provide a wide diversity. Harry Bosch stars in Michael Connelly's terrific "Blood Washes Off while Connecticut widower Detective Meigs visits vacationing in dreaded Key West in Roberta Isleib's "The Itinerary". Cholly the odious poison pen columnist learns what being a victim is in Ted Bell's "The Pirate of Palm Beach". Trip sees Dizz but this is no high school reunion in the "Precipice" by Daniel J. Hale and Frank Cook's "The Gift" will remind readers of O'Henry. The strong collection closes with a wonderful tale starring the queen of Greenwich Village, "Daphne, Unrequited" and her former husband (written by Angela Zeman). With writers like Harley Jane Kozak, Lee Child and S.J. Rozan, readers will enjoy this fine compilation by the MWA.