Bøger udgivet af Down & Out Books

Answering the summons of his old Black Ops mentor to assist in bringing to an end a Mexican cartel preying on the people they smuggle over the border, Joe Hunter is happy to oblige. But he should have guessed there was more to Walter Hayes Conrad's agenda than first believed. For decades, Walter has kept a secret, even from those closest to him: a family he has protected from his enemies through denial of their existence. But now the secret is about to explode. His great-grandson Benjamin has been abducted, snatched by Jorge Carrillo Molina, head of one of Mexico's most dangerous drug cartels, and Walter is as desperate to rescue the boy as his mother Kirstie is. There's only one man Walter trusts to bring the boy home, so how can Hunter refuse? There is a huge complication-Molina happens to be Benjamin's father and he won't give him up without a fight. ..".rockets along like a thundering rollercoaster...a torrentially fast flowing story...a shot of pulse-pounding escapism." -Crimesquad.com, 5-star review "A very quick read, the action remains at the forefront of the novel and doesn't let up until the dramatic conclusion. It's the high octane page turning and explosive confrontations that gives Hunter his longevity. A likeable character who is both moralistic and deadly, a heady combination, Hunter takes no prisoners as he sets about handing out his own brand of justice." -Milo's Rambles

When ex-soldier Joe Hunter agrees to protect grieving mother, Billie Womack, on behalf of a DEA contact, it's a pledge he will come to regret. Her husband, Richard, was a thief. In a desperate attempt to escape his pursuers, Richard apparently died in a car crash, along with their daughter, Nicole. But the violent people chasing Richard think he escaped the plunge into the river canyon that killed Nicole: they want him...and the thirty million dollars he stole from them. And they think Billie knows where he is and that Richard will return for the money. Soon Joe and Billie become fugitives, chased by relentless killers. Joe has no idea who he can really trust, but he'll do everything in his power to save an innocent life. Richard's fate means nothing to him, but protecting the grieving woman is a no-brainer for Joe Hunter, even if it means taking a bullet meant for her. It's a price he'll pay, and come to regret, when he learns that killers shaped on the Devil's anvil come in unexpected ways. ***Praise for THE DEVIL'S ANVIL*** "There's plenty of heart-in-the-mouth action, smart dialogue and convincing extras...give me Joe Hunter over Reacher any day." -Crimereview.co.uk "To sum up, 'The Devil's Anvil' is a fantastic novel which is a welcome addition to an excellent series. 5/5." -Crimesquad.com "Fast paced, entertaining and very readable the story moves along at a frenetic pace...another great read." -Milorambles.com

Craig McIntyre, ex-military turned bodyguard, has a powerful and uncontrollable affliction: his mere presence can transform people's darkest thoughts into action. While guarding a high-profile asset in Iraq, McIntyre finds himself at the center of an event that leaves the asset dead. Sent back to America, McIntyre has no idea what happened but others suspect he is responsible. A ruthless US senator, the head of a deep black ops agency, thinks McIntyre has a unique ability that can bring out the very worst in people, sending them into a killing rage. The senator is intent on harnessing this dark talent to further his own ambitions. But when the black op agency kills McIntyre's wife, Craig's darkest thoughts turn to bloody revenge. He vows to kill the senator but has to act fast as the agency now have orders to hunt him down and bring him back: dead or alive. Praise for DARKEST THOUGHTS: "Grabs you by the throat on page one and never lets go. This is thriller writing at its no nonsense best." --Douglas Skelton, author of Thunder Bay "Has movie potential written all over it." --Daily Record "This atmospheric and gripping book had me gripped from the start." --Crime Review "A fast-paced international thriller built on a stunning premise that builds to a dramatic climax." --Crime Book Junkie

Welcome to San Diego, where the perpetual sunshine blurs the line between good and evil, and sin and redemption are two sides of the same golden coin. Killin' Time in San Diego is a gripping anthology edited by Holly West, featuring twenty of today's best crime and mystery writers. Published in conjunction with Bouchercon 2023, this new anthology peels back the postcard-perfect image of San Diego to expose its darker side. With contributions from #1 New York Times bestseller C.J. Box and the Edgar-award-winning author Naomi Hirahara, plus a new story from Ann Cleeves OBE, published for the first time in the U.S., Killin' Time in San Diego showcases an impressive lineup of writers, including Mary Keenan, C.W. Blackwell, J.R. Sanders, John M. Floyd, Kathy A. Norris, Kathleen L. Asay, L.H. Dillman, Richie Narvaez, Wesley Browne, Désirée Zamorano, James Thorpe, Kim Keeline, Victoria Weisfeld, Anne-Marie Campbell, Jennifer Berg, Tim P. Walker, and Emilya Naymark. From the haunted hallways of the Hotel del Coronado to the tranquil gardens of Balboa Park, from the opulent estates of La Jolla to the bustling Gaslamp Quarter, Killin' Time in San Diego is your ticket to the hidden side of "America's Finest City." Critical Acclaim for KILLIN' TIME IN SAN DIEGO "Killin' Time in San Diego is a knock-it-out-of-the-park grand slam. A must-have anthology for mystery readers everywhere." -Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Sleepless City "Anguished characters and desperate situations coil through this collection of uniquely creative plots-a fabulous anthology." -Joe Ricker, author of Some Awful Cunning "Another worthy addition to the Bouchercon legacy. Top writers on top of their game." -Colin Campbell, author of the Jim Grant Thrillers "Holly West helms another fine anthology, proving once again that short crime fiction is alive and well...and living in San Diego." -Josh Pachter, editor of Paranoia Blues "It's not enough that San Diego has great beaches, natural attractions, the world's best climate, and great food and nightlife. No, now San Diego also has this terrific anthology of canny crime fiction by some of the best authors in the business." -Albert Tucher, author of Blood Like Rain "A lively, varied and well-written collection distinguished by sharp characterizations. Revenge and survival, sly cozies and twisty plots all confirm that fabulous weather is no barrier to bad behavior and successful sleuthing in Killin' Time in San Diego." -Janice Law, author of the Francis Bacon mysteries "Killin' Time in San Diego, a collection of short crime fiction, continues a decade-long tradition of absorbing annual anthologies celebrating the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention." -J.L. Abramo, Shamus Award-winning author of Circling the Runway and Gravesend "Bookended by two of the strongest stories I've read in a long time, this collection is thoroughly fantastic. Seen through these eyes, San Diego is both more appealing and threatening now." -Ryan Sayles, author of Like Whitewashed Tombs

Duffy is back! After almost a decade our social working, pro boxing, Schlitz drinking, basset hound loving, bleeding heart tough guy has no idea what he's in for. His world literally blows up with a new gig, a career shift, another hound and, though he's still spending most of the time in AJ's, now it is from the other side of the bar. Duffy's buddy and owner of his drinking haunt dies suddenly and before he knows it, Duffy is in the tavern business. AJ's cryptic note left to Duffy asks him to look into his demise and when a thick necked goon comes around to scare Duff off, well, we know our man decides to go all in. Now, Duffy is up against the Chicago mob, a dirty drug business preying on the addicted, and his hometown's worst street gang. It's a good thing Al, the basset hound is on his side. Critical acclaim for THE COMEBACK: "In The Comeback, Tom Schreck's good-guy Duffy Dombrowski continues his journey of helping those who can't help themselves. He even helps them after they're dead. Readers who are addicted to Lee Child's Jack Reacher protag will appreciate Duffy, who is tougher than the violent bad guys he faces down. A fun, muscular read." -G. Miki Hayden, author of Writing the Mystery and Dry Bones, out in spring 2024 "Duffy Dombrowski, the hero of Tom Schreck's The Comeback, is the kind of guy you can count on if your car breaks down at 3am, you need a last-minute sparring partner at the gym, or you're a few dollars short for your next whiskey. I'm glad I got to hang out with him." -Tim O'Mara, author of the Raymond Donne series and creator of "Murder in Halifax"

Cade Samson has left his past behind as an enforcer for the local mob in rural East Texas. After promising his dying mother he would protect his younger brother from the world he was a part of, he went on a final, brutal spree, eliminating any competition for the Blackshear family. It was his ticket out, and for years now, he's been laying low with his brother in peace. But when Waylon Blackshear's son Ash shows up at his house, putting a gun to his head and taking his little brother hostage, Cade is suddenly thrust back into the life, his mission to take out his old partner on the force whose about to turn state's evidence against the family. Left with no choice, he arms up, prepared for a double-cross he's sure is coming, and does the job. With the Feds involved, it would be a suicide mission for anyone else. But the Devil knows how to roll his dice. On the run from the police and the Blackshears after turning the tables on them, Cade sets in motion a plan to get his brother back and bring down all those who stand in his way of the peaceful life he's come to appreciate. Heads will roll, lives will be cut short, and the Devil will have his due. After all, when you dance with the Devil, you don't get to pick the tune. Critical Acclaim for WAKING UP THE DEVIL: "Chris Miller is one of the best kept secrets in crime fiction. But he won't be a secret anymore once readers get ahold of this masterful new offering." -Andy Rausch, author of Hell To Pay "A knuckleduster of a racing-against-the-clock thriller, with loads of balls to the wall action. Miller's Cade Samson makes most tough-guy protagonists look as menacing as Dylan Mulvaney slurping on a Bud Light. To quote from the book: 'Forget rock and roll; it's time for heavy metal.'" -Michael Bruce Blackwell, author of Wildlife on the Serengeti

Once a police detective in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rushmore McKenzie became an unlikely millionaire and an occasional unlicensed private investigator, doing favors for friends. But this time, he finds himself in dire need of working on his own behalf. His dear friend and first love Shelby Dunston attends a public reading by a psychic medium with the hope of connecting with her grandfather one final time. Instead, she hears McKenzie's name spoken by the psychic in connection with a huge sum of stolen-and missing-money. Caught in a world of psychic mediums, with a man from his past with a stake in the future, and more than one party willing to go to great and deadly lengths to get involved, McKenzie must figure out just how much he's willing to believe-like his life depends on it-before everything takes a much darker turn. Praise for From the Grave: "Fun, fast-moving... A psychic medium channels a dark presence who calls for McKenzie's death before it will reveal the location of a large sum of money... McKenzie is soon caught up in the world of psychics, not so reality TV, and very real physical threats by those seeking the lost treasure. The appealing McKenzie and his cohorts engage in amusing banter as they attempt to locate the pilfered cash before someone sends Mac off to the great beyond. Housewright leaves it tantalizingly ambiguous whether Leland's spirit is real. Readers will be entertained either way." -Publishers Weekly "This witty and wonderful St. Paul author has been entertaining readers with the Rushmore 'Mac' McKenzie crime-solving series since 2004. Yet after 17 episodes, we still can't get enough of this St. Paul cop-turned-private eye and the rich characters that surround him... Readers will delight in the antics and dialogue in this crime mystery. Housewright stays above grisly details that other writers thrive on, making him a relaxing and thoroughly entertaining read without the heaviness of a dark plot... If you're a Housewright first-timer, you can pick up nearly any installment in the series and feel right at home." -Minneapolis Star Tribune "The colorful characters follow the unpredictable plot in a chilly Minnesota setting that's so evocative we can practically see our breath in the air. Another of Housewright's strengths is how vividly he paints the picture of St. Paul, making it just as compelling and murky a locale as New York City or L.A. If you've never met McKenzie before, From the Grave is a stellar starting point in the series. Sure, there are allusions to previous cases. And there are plenty of tidbits that reward longtime readers. But this installment, like the others, stands perfectly well on its own merits and would appeal to fans of paranormal mysteries, noir, and plucky P.I.s. It's a fast-paced read with an unexpectedly happy ending, and should absolutely be added to your quarantine read pile." -Criminal Element "Series fans will have a great time here, as Housewright offers readers a new side of the usually superconfident McKenzie, showing a man with all the answers forced to examine not just clues but also his own vulnerability." -Booklist

School is back in session in Penns River, which means it's football season in Western Pennsylvania. The Penns River team is loaded after a few substandard campaigns and the town is so revved up a new gambling ring opens to allow PR supporters to put their money where their hearts are. The "entrepreneur" responsible has no idea how to set point spreads and nowhere to look for help; it's not like Vegas handles small town high school football games. The vast majority of money put down is on the locals-who bets against their own kid, or the one next door?-and the team covers all the spreads; the cash paid to winners far exceeds what the operation takes in. Only organized crime offers loans to cover the shortfall, which opens the door to a whole new world of problems, including murder. If only this was the only problem facing detective Ben "Doc" Dougherty and his fellow police officers but ¿ A motorcycle gang is solidifying its position in town. ¿ A civilian ride-along sparks controversy and an official complaint that re-opens an old wound for the department. ¿ A baby shower turns violent. ¿ A routine investigation leads to signs of possible police corruption. ¿ Doc's cousin, Chicago-based private investigator Nick Forte-a man not prone to leaving things as he found them-comes to town to visit his parents. Welcome to Penns River, where incomes rarely increase and crime rarely decreases. This would be bad enough if it were the same old crimes, but the changing criminal landscape constantly demands more from a police department in transition. Critical Acclaim for The Spread: "Dana King writes in a gritty crime noir style with a modern flair all his own. His books grab you from the first page and don't let you go." -Terrence McCauley, award-winning author of thrillers, crime and westerns "Readers who like police procedurals will love Dana King's The Spread-the latest in his Penns River Crime series-and they will have to know, page after page, what happens next! " -G. Miki Hayden, Writers Digest mystery and thriller writing instructor and author of the how-to Writing the Mystery "If Joseph Wambaugh and Ed McBain adopted a child and raised him in the 87th Precinct, that kid would grow up to be Dana King. The Spread is a joy for people who love to watch police work and hear cops talk." -Tim O'Mara, author of the Raymond Donne series and creator of "Murder in Halifax" "Dana King is an attentive student of the crime novel who knows the formula: how to end a chapter with a cliff hanger, how to write snappy, wise-cracking dialogue, when to introduce intriguing and quirky characters, and to surprise the reader with a plot twist. If you enjoy crime fiction, but want something a bit more challenging and, in my opinion, much more inventive and artful, this is the novel for you. The Spread will broaden your notion of what a crime novel can do." -Ron Cooper, author of All My Sins Remembered "Plot is king in The Spread. Sharp, crisp characters, and dialogue that snaps to a snare-drum cadence move the reader through this hard-rushing police procedural." -Joe Ricker, author of All the Good in Evil

Diamond. One name for a woman who is faking it until she makes it. And she will make it. At least that's what she's telling herself. Dr. Robin Ransom is a therapist to first responders, cops, and spies. She has a problem. She is being blackmailed via email by a nameless, faceless crook. Her neighbor Murali Devi, is an IT wizard who said he'd take care of the problem for her. Now he's dead. And there's a hot British guy after her for information she swears she doesn't have. Before Diamond was a widow, she was a CIA agent with lethal skills. Skills she nearly used on herself. An intervention puts her on Dr. Ransom's couch and squarely in the middle of a high-stakes game of blackmail, kidnapping, and murder. From a video gaming Beastmaster in Michigan, to a suicide bomber in Virginia, to a psychiatric conference in the south of France, Diamond jumps in with her usual flair for chaos and destruction. But Fate isn't satisfied, pushing Diamond into a position where it is either her or the person she cares for most. Critical Acclaim for PSYCHO THERAPY: "A fun addition to Wolff's Diamond series. Fast-paced and chock-full of enough hard-boiled humor to make Raymond Chandler jealous. With a chapter title like 'Naked Man Surfing and Other Odd Hobbies' and a line like 'Being dead isn't as much fun as I thought it would be'-how can a reader go wrong?" -Michael Bruce Blackwell, author of Wildlife on the Serengeti "Salty, sarcastic, tough as they come, Diamond is a woman you want by your side, not in your rearview mirror. TG Wolff proves she is on top of her game with her latest Diamond Mystery." -Stephen Burdick, author of Yesterday Rising and The Gray Detective

Southern California. Home to sandy beaches, waving palm trees, balmy weather. Also home to the rich and famous, those barely hanging on, and everyone else. Add in murder, embezzlement, stalking, burglary, and every crime under the sun. In Crime Under the Sun, the second anthology offered by Partners in Crime, the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime, fifteen stories capture the hopes and dreams of characters trying to live the idyllic SoCal life. Instead, they bump up against greed, treachery, corruption, and death. These stories will thrill readers with unexpected twists and turns and surprise endings. In the words of Catriona McPherson in our foreword, "...the best mystery anthologies should embrace the whole of our beloved genre and Crime Under the Sun has nailed it." Welcome to the seamy underbelly of Southern California. Edited by Matt Coyle, Naomi Hirahara and Tammy Kaehler with stories by Sarah Bresniker, Lynne Bronstein, Shelley Burbank, Wrona Gall, B.J. Graf, C.C. Guthrie, A.P. Jamison, Kathy Kingson, Kathy Krevat, Axel Milens, John Edward Mullen, Kathy Norris, Michelle Rodenborn, Wendall Thomas, and James Thorpe. Critical Acclaim for Crime Under the Sun: "It may be a cliché to say an anthology has something for all readers, but Crime Under the Sun delivers in full. From cozy and quirky to gimlet-eyed and hard-boiled and with more than a couple of sides of tense and chilling. Story to story, I was delighted, thrilled, amused, and amazed." -Art Taylor, Edgar Award-winning author of The Adventure of the Castle Thief and Other Expeditions and Indiscretions "The Golden State has a dark underside in Crime Under the Sun, a lively and varied compendium of murder, mayhem, bad choices, and bad dreams. Seedy noir to whimsical cozy, and caper plot to psychological drama, the anthology offers an assortment of vengeful malcontents, ingenious professionals and hapless wannabes, plus few decent souls. Sharp characterization, smooth prose, and some echoes of old time Hollywood's tarnished glamor complete an entertaining package." -Janice Law, author of the Francis Bacon mysteries "Whoever wrote 'there's nothing new under the sun' obviously hasn't read Crime Under the Sun, in which the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime offers up fifteen stories that are not only new but noteworthy. Readers may not be familiar with all of the contributors, some of whom are early in their writing careers-but you're sure to be seeing more of them!" -Josh Pachter, editor of the Anthony Award finalist Paranoia Blues: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Paul Simon "A lovely collection of criminous tales, delightfully diverse in style, featuring work by some of the best writers producing short fiction today." -Tom Mead, author of Death and the Conjuror and The Murder Wheel "Crime Under the Sun features a collection of twists, jagged edges, one-two punches and crisp storytelling from sunny California. With endearing protagonists, villains you love to hate, some cool characters coming off the page and murder mysteries galore, this collection showcases great talent." -Ryan Sayles, author of Like Whitewashed Tombs "A scorching selection of crime stori

One night, helping out a friend, Jake Micallef does a little breaking-and-entering and stumbles upon a plot to assassinate his estranged brother, who just happens to be the Mayor of New York City. As Jake wrestles with that bombshell, another one walks straight into his life: Marcie Yates. Marcie eerily resembles Jake's old girlfriend, the woman who helped his brother tear his world apart. Jake desperately latches onto Marcie, hoping she can fix his shattered life, and allow him to let go of all that hate and forgive his brother. But when thugs kidnap Marcie to keep Jake from interfering in the assassination plot, he has no choice but to track down the conspirators, only to discover he's fallen right into their trap. In the end, Jake must risk everything to save Marcie and stop the bullet headed for his brother.

Louise Wykoff is arguably the most recognizable woman living in Minnesota, known for her presence in over one hundred paintings by the late and brilliant Randolph McInnis. Louise, known better as "That Wykoff Woman," was just a young apprentice when her intimate representation and the fact of the McInnis's marriage caused rumors to fly-and Louise to hide away for decades. All of McInnis's paintings are in museums or known private collections, until Louise confesses to having three more that no one has ever heard of-and now they've been stolen. Rushmore McKenzie, an occasional unlicensed private investigator, agrees to look into the theft. As he investigates, following clues that appear far too straightforward, he finds himself on the wrong side of the bars wondering if the trail might be deeper and darker than he's been led to believe. Hours away from St. Paul, deep in the nature of Grand Marais, the truth seems murkier-and deadlier-than usual. Praise for Dead Man's Mistress: "Edgar winner Housewright's enjoyable 16th novel.... Cursed with a Midwestern charm to match his nonstop patter, McKenzie is an appealing hero who comfortably operates within the hardboiled detective tradition." -Publishers Weekly "Smooth, professional work whose mounting complications... are kept under admirable control right up to the double-barreled denouement." -Kirkus Reviews "The drama is unending, with not-so-clean and not-so-smart small-town deputies investigating a local man's suicide (or it is murder?), a rich family battling for rights to the stolen artwork, and the dogged film crew intent on capitalizing on the scandalous story. It's all painted against a backdrop of greed and deceit-in short, all of the quirky antagonists and character flaws that Housewright has so much fun exploiting for his audience. If Housewright is an acquired taste, I acquired it after the first chapter of my first McKenzie novel..." -Minneapolis Star Tribune "If you are an inspiring writer, then I suggest you read David Housewright's novels. He's one of the best authors in the mystery genre... It is very fast paced. Somehow, the author condenses a four-hundred-page novel into only three-hundred pages without affecting the reader's suspension of disbelief... With its baffling mystery, intriguing plot, human drama, and unique setting, Dead Man's Mistress is highly recommended for seasoned fans as well as for new ones." -Gumshoe Review "This is a nifty little caper... Dead Man's Mistress has lots of snappy dialog in the tried and true gumshoe tradition... it has a nicely realized sense of place... I liked McKenzie, and as I was reading, I kept trying to recall who he reminded me of. Then I remembered: Robert B. Parker's Spenser, of blessed memory." -Books to the Ceiling

Backed with campaign funds from the owner of the local strip club, ex-state trooper and recovering alcoholic Henry Malone's running for sheriff. But because he can't say no to a bad idea, he also agrees to look for a pregnant woman's missing ex-con boyfriend. With his well-armed AA sponsor Woody in tow, Henry's search for the boyfriend soon connects with a homicide investigation run by Lt. Jackie Hall-probably the last cop in West Virginia who still likes Henry. A violent confrontation leaves Jackie near-death and Henry determined to find justice. Except vengeance isn't simple for Henry, especially when an old enemy appears out of nowhere, more bodies stack up, and a series of betrayals and double crosses climax with a morning assault on a farm house that pits Henry and Woody against a deadly band of criminals with nothing to lose. Critical Acclaim for Because the Night: "Henry Malone deserves to be up there with Matt Scudder and Harry Hole among our best, funniest, toughest detectives, and James D. F. Hannah is among our best chroniclers of America's sketchy underside." -Nick Kolakowski, author of Love & Bullets and Boise Longpig Hunting Club "James D.F. Hannah delivers another dose of heart, humor, and haymakers to the Henry Malone series with Because the Night, leaving us clawing at the pages, and proving why he's one of the best writers working today." -Eryk Pruitt, author of Something Bad Wrong "Private eye Henry Malone is a worthy descendant of both Robert B. Parker's Spenser and Elmore Leonard's Raylan Givens, and he carries on the family tradition in style in Because the Night. James D.F. Hannah delivers a backwoods barroom brawl of a novel that will leave you bloodied and ready for more." -Scott Von Doviak, author of Lowdown Road and Charlesgate Confidential "James D.F. Hannah solidified himself among the greats of mystery fiction long ago. With Because the Night he sets himself apart. It's a well written page turner reminiscent of Dave Robicheaux but has a smart-assery that will keep you laughing." -Mark Westmoreland, author of A Violent Gospel and A Mourning Song "Quick-witted and light on its feet. If Ace Atkins and Chris Offutt had a child it would be James D.F. Hannah." -Colin Campbell, acclaimed author of the Jim Grant thrillers

Lena Madadhi is desperate, a middle-aged arts teacher in Los Angeles whose teen daughter has been abducted. When seeking help from a private investigator, Joe Delancey, she finds he is out on a case at a Central Valley truck stop, deep undercover among truckers, prostitutes and nomads-entrenched in a doomsday sect called Gallows Dome. The further Lena digs to find Joe, the deeper she submerges into The Dome's hellscape, spiraling closer toward her daughter's whereabouts than she could ever imagine. An unflinching look at the dark side of family and faith, Nolan Knight's Gallows Dome tackles a current American landscape whose thoughts and prayers help flap its flags at half-mast-teetering on the brink of total collapse. Critical Acclaim for Gallows Dome: "Poet Vincente Huidobro said that the writer's job is quite simple: Invent new worlds and be careful what you say. That's exactly what Nolan Knight does, and does wonderfully." -James Sallis, author of Drive and Sarah Jane "This no-holds-barred noir from a writer to watch will grab readers' attention, and regardless of the graphically described violence, it's fun." -Library Journal "Forget the glitz and glam of Hollywood, Knight gives us a ride in the real California crime machine rolling beyond the freeway off ramps." -Tom Pitts, author of Coldwater and Hustle "Beyond Knight's mastery of setting are his characters, as he draws complicated heroes & villains-fathers, mothers & misfits alike-that feel absolutely heartachingly real. Gallows Dome is pure, uncut L.A. crime." -Peter Farris, author of Last Call for the Living "The gripping and entertaining tale Knight splashes on the page here is definitely worth the ride." -CrimeFictionCritic.com "If you like your writing with dirt under its nails, then let me introduce you to Nolan Knight...your new favorite writer." -Tony O'Neill, author of Sick City "Knight has a wild, degenerate charm on the line level that brings its own doomsday." -Joshua Mohr, author of Model Citizen "Intoxicating and rattling, Gallows Dome is a raw nerved journey into a subterranean realm where a determined woman out of her depth must prevail or perish all hope." -Gary Phillips, author of One-Shot Harry "Compulsively readable, Gallows Dome will leave you gasping for breath." --Patrick H. Moore, author of 27 Days "An atmospheric, contemporary, gritty noir tale replete with damsels in distress, a down and out detective, a hoedown, a showdown, an angel, and the devil incarnate-what more could you ask for?" -Steven Max Russo, acclaimed author of The Dead Don't Sleep "This noir thriller drops you into a hellish world of drugs, desperation, and deranged cultism. You will be riveted to the fiery end." -Mark Troy, author of the Ava Rome private detective series "Gallows Dome has it all. Missing children, desperate parents, drug dealers, psycho killers, private investigators, cult members, truck stop cuties, y

Gary Chance is an ex-Australian army driver and nightclub bouncer turned professional thief and in need of a job. An offer comes from a former employer, once notorious Melbourne social identity, now aging owner of a failing S&M club, Vera Leigh. A shadowy real estate developer is trying to squeeze Leigh out of a rapidly gentrifying city. But she has a rescue plan that involves one of Australia's biggest heists, Melbourne's Great Bookie Robbery. On April 21, 1976, a well organised gang stole as much as three million dollars, a fortune at the time, from a Melbourne bookmakers club. The money was never recovered. No one was ever charged. And everyone associated with the crime has since died, either by natural causes or violently. Leigh maintains that money was not the only thing stolen that day. So was a stash of uncut South African diamonds. And she wants Chance's help to retrieve them. Problem is, they are not the only ones looking. The heist always goes wrong and the consequences, even half a century later, can be deadly. Critical Acclaim for Orphan Road: "Orphan Road is a breakneck tale of robbery and vengeance, as lyrical and gritty as a Bad Seeds tune. Superb." -Sam Wiebe, award-winning author of Sunset and Jericho and Invisible Dead "Orphan Road hits Mr Inbetween levels of brilliance. Stylish writing and whip-smart dialogue, this is noir done right." -David Whish-Wilson, author of Line of Sight and The Sawdust House "I have been waiting for another Gary Chance book. Orphan Road is grimy, twisty and fast. Absolutely worth the wait." -Iain Ryan, author of Four Days and The Student "A multi-continental heist romp, Nette's Orphan Road is in direct lineage with Westlake/Stark's Parker series and Thompson's The Getaway. Filled with pulpy goodness, this crime caper scratches your thieving itch. For fans of Barry Gifford's Black Lizard catalog, this one's a guaranteed delight." -Nolan Knight, author of The Neon Lights Are Veins and Gallows Dome "Some people will do anything for money...or in this case diamonds. Gary Chance is one of those people and in Orphan Road, Andrew Nette gifts us with a good, old-fashioned hard-boiled thriller that moves at a machine-gun-like pace leaving the reader gasping for air." -Charles Salzberg, multiple Shamus Award-nominated author

After a bad breakup, hapless medical student Edwin Greenstick nurses his broken heart with one drink too many, only to wake up with his right hand in a cast, fifteen hundred dollars drained from his bank account, and no memory of the night before. Edwin hits the streets of Manhattan, determined to piece together what happened to his hand and his money, using only his wits and medical acumen. Regrettably, Edwin is lacking in both. After his initial efforts go awry, Edwin decides to quit playing detective and call it a day. That is, until he meets Annie, a streetwise redhead who makes him forget all about his ex. But Annie's only interested in her share of the winnings from a bet she claims they placed together the previous evening. Unfortunately, the bookie-a recent witness to a gangland execution-has gone missing and the FBI ties Edwin to his disappearance. What's more, a trio of wannabe wiseguys accuse Edwin of stealing two hundred grand in mob money. Will Edwin solve the mystery of the missing bookie, stay one step ahead of the mafia, and maybe get the girl in the process? Or will he end up wishing he had just stayed in bed? Praise for THE GREENSTICK FRACTURE: "Lean, fun, accessible and fast-paced, The Greenstick Fracture is a delight to read. Witty and carefully considered, Marten takes you on a switchback ride to reclaim Edwin Greenstick's missing time, money, love life, peace of mind, manhood and favorite flannel shirt. All while navigating a gritty cast of misfits and troublemakers. Hard to not read in one sitting." -William Dylan Powell, author of Untimely Demise "The Greenstick Fracture is a comical mystery romp that will leave fans of The Hangover and Dude, Where's My Car? begging for more." -Joel Shulkin, MD, Amazon #1 bestselling author of Adverse Effects "Imagine having the Friday night from Hell. Only the mob knows what happened to you. And they're not happy about it. Neither's the FBI or a girl with a nose for fixed fights. For those of us who've ever woken up to a broken hand and the rent missing from their bank account, Edwin Greenstick is our hero. Not a very good hero, but then that's the fun part." -Jim Winter, author of The Dogs of Beaumont Heights and Holland Bay

Once a police detective in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rushmore McKenzie has become an unlikely millionaire and an occasional unlicensed private investigator, doing favors for friends. The favor, this time, is for a friend of a friend-Erin Peterson, a local business person and owner of a growing food company called Salsa Girl. Someone seems to have a beef with her: the outside locks on her factory having been systematically filled with superglue. But for some reason, Erin doesn't want to report this harassment to the police. As a favor to his poker buddy and hockey teammate Ian, McKenzie agrees to stop by and chat with Erin. At first Erin denies there's anything going on and then, when the harassment escalates and threatens her business, she also asks for McKenzie's help. The further McKenzie digs into the situation, the more complicated-and deadly-it becomes. And somewhere, in the middle of it all, is Erin, playing all sides against the middle, leading McKenzie to wonder if you ever really know who your friends are. Praise for Like To Die: "This is the fifteenth in the series, and it's just as fresh as the first. Housewright makes telling a cracking-good mystery look effortless, and that means fans are in store for another thoroughly enjoyable read." -Booklist "A fast-moving, dialogue-driven tale so effortlessly and irresistibly spun..." -Kirkus Reviews "In this intriguing 15th novel... McKenzie proves an able protector of life, limb, and the deep dark secrets that...people want hidden in an entry sure to please old and new fans alike." -Publisher's Weekly "Although this series has been described as noir, and Mac certainly gets beat up and shot periodically, there's a wry vibe in these novels that offers humor along with a firecracker plot... Teaser: This story opens with six pages of guy talk during a poker game that is one of the funniest scenes you'll read this season." -St. Paul Pioneer Press "There's so much fun to be had in a David Housewright novel... Few think 'Minnesota' when they hear the phrase 'neo-noir,' yet by the last chapter with McKenzie, you're a believer... Like To Die is satisfyingly twisty, meaty, and action-packed. Housewright takes just enough time to set his scenes-amps up the tension to just the right level-before bringing down the hammer. And, by the final page, all of the threads have been unknotted and tied into a gratifying bow." -Criminal Element "Award-winning Twin Cities author David Housewright delivers another charmer in his latest McKenzie light-crime franchise with Like To Die... As is his signature, Housewright strikes a tone that is light on crime and grit but loaded with lighthearted exploits and peppered with local references to keep us connected. A pleasure to read." -Minneapolis Star Tribune

Fresh out of graduate school, CIA psychologist, Trace Curran works his dream job providing trauma-based psychotherapy and researching the threat level of Antifa-based organizations. While domestic terror escalates, Trace's world is rocked, when an agent on his caseload commits a murder-suicide. Then, the death of his father and the split with his fiancé, leave him dealing with a breakdown. On leave from CIA duties, Trace returns home to bartend at the family's tavern. The daily duties serve as a reminder of just how much life has unraveled, and he barely keeps the will to go on. The start of a new relationship sheds some light into his existence but the continued escalation of Antifa-related domestic terror keeps Trace connected to the CIA. When he's called back to debrief, his supervisor's questions leave him suspicious. It becomes clear that the terrorism is not what it appears and that someone could be manipulating events, to not only blame Antifa, but to profit from a reeling market. When Trace realizes his fears are justified, the terror turns towards him. Now, he must face his fears and save everything that is important to him-including himself.

Seventy-five years following the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry, an elderly Nisei hires Ava Rome to find out how his best friend, a Japanese-American Buddhist priest, died in the Tule Lake Internment Camp. In the course of her investigation she uncovers another cold case, the rape and murder of a Japanese-American teenager on the eve of the Pearl Harbor attack. Was the same person responsible for both crimes? Ava suspects so. She travels to the Tule Lake site in Northern California where an attack on her life proves that the cold cases are deadly hot. Other people close to the case are murdered on orders from a powerful individual, whose reach stretches from Hawaii to halfway across the continental United States, and who will kill to keep the past secret. Returning to Honolulu, Ava experiences a devastating act of betrayal before solving the murders and revealing a seven decades-long history of evil. Praise for SPLINTERED LOYALTY: "What happened decades ago that WH Global will kill to cover up? Former Army MP Ava Rome is determined to find out. A non-stop thriller with a strong back story of people caught up in the World War II internment of Americans of Japanese descent in Hawaii." -Terry Shames, Macavity Award-winning author of the Samuel Craddock mysteries "Splintered Loyalty is an exhilarating plunge into a dark past. Mark Troy's heroine, Ava Rome, is tough, talented and tenacious and riveting to watch! Bravo!" -Matt Coyle, author of the Shamus, Anthony and Lefty Award-winning Rick Cahill crime series "Long one of my favorite short-story writers, Mark Troy proves himself equally deft as a novelist. Splintered Loyalty, the latest in the Ava Rome private eye series, finds Rome digging deep into the past to investigate the death of a Buddhist priest during WWII. The tension slowly builds as Rome uncovers long-hidden secrets that lead to an explosive conclusion. I highly recommend Splintered Loyalty." -Michael Bracken, Anthony-, Edgar-, and Shamus-Award nominee "Ava Rome is a great protagonist-hard-boiled and humane-who tackles historical injustice with style in this multifaceted thriller. A gripping and satisfying read." -Tom Mead, author of Death and the Conjuror "Mark Troy's Splintered Loyalty is one part Cold Case Files mixed with two parts Magnum, PI. Ava Rome is sexy, tough and enjoys a good vodka (or three.) If I'm ever in trouble in Honolulu, she's my first phone call." -Tim O'Mara, author of the Raymond Donne series "Ultra-tough protector of the weak, Ava Rome works out of the island of Oahu where during World War II, a Japanese priest died in an incarceration camp. Ava promises to look into how the man died 77 years before. She doesn't know what to expect, but it isn't exactly what she finds, nor is it what she anticipates being of such current importance. Author Mark Troy surprises his readers and makes a true heroine of his smart and powerful protagonist." -G. Miki Hayden, teaching Writing the Thriller and Writing the Mystery at Writer's Digest University online

"Mr. Dynamite," "Soul Brother No. 1," "The Godfather of Soul," deadbeat dad, convicted spousal abuser... James Brown was all those things and so much more. Yet it can't be denied his music impacted a generation of fans and influenced a grip of musicians who came after him-from David Bowie, Janelle Monae to Usher just to name three. In the tradition then of other Down & Out Books music-themed anthologies such as Murder-A-Go-Go's: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of the Go-Go's and The Great Filling Station Holdup: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Jimmy Buffett, this all-original set of fourteen stories follows in that stead. The idea expressed to the writers was not literal interpretations of any given song by Mr. Brown. Rather to use that title or lyric and the ofttimes edginess behind such efforts as "King Heroin" and "The Payback," or the fun in "Make it Funky," as a prompt, a starting point for the story the contributor wanted to tell. Covers the Godfather of Soul did of others' songs could have also been tapped. While the majority of stories in the collection are prose, there is a comics style one and more than one of the text versions have an illustration or two to accompany the story. The collection includes stories by six-time Bram Stoker Award winner Lisa Morton; Anthony, Barry and Macavity Awards winner James Ziskin; Jim Fusilli, former Rock & Pop critic for the Wall Street Journal; and HBO Max Doom Patrol staff writer and comics creator Ezra Claytan Daniels. Other contributors include Shamus Award winner Gar Anthony Haywood; Mysti Berry, five-time Derringer and Golden Derringer Award winner John M. Floyd; Lise McClendon, writer of the Bennett Sisters mysteries; cultural critic and short story writer Michael Gonzales; novelist and former Miami Vice showrunner and writer-producer on Hill Street Blues Robert Ward; Fabrice Sapolsky, comics creator of FairSquare Comics' Intertwined and Marvel Comics' Spider-Man Noir; filmmaker and pioneer of Hip Hop horror Jeff Carroll; crime fiction novelist and Dark Yonder editor Katy Munger; and hardboiled novelist and co-producer on Snowfall, Gary Phillips.

Once a police detective in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rushmore McKenzie has become not only an unlikely millionaire, but an occasional unlicensed private investigator, doing favors for friends and people in need. When his stepdaughter Erica asks him for just such a favor, McKenzie doesn't have it in him to refuse. Even though it sounds like a very bad idea right from the start. The father of Malcolm Harris, a college friend of Erica's, was found murdered a year ago in a park in New Brighton, a town just outside the Twin Cities. With no real clues and all the obvious suspects with concrete alibis, the case has long since gone cold. As McKenzie begins poking around, he soon discovers another unsolved murder that's tangentially related to this one. And all connections seem to lead back to a group of friends the victim was close with. But all McKenzie has is a series of odd, even suspicious, coincidences until someone decides to make it all that more serious and personal. Praise for What the Dead Leave Behind: "Unlicensed PI Rushmore 'Mac' McKenzie tackles perhaps his most complex case yet in Edgar-winner Housewright's witty 14th Minnesota-based mystery...Housewright is such a pro at plot and character development that it's nearly impossible to put this entry down." -Publishers Weekly "It's a distinct pleasure to follow McKenzie as he uncovers layer upon layer of corporate corruption, from sexual harassment to industrial espionage, while every second woman in the cast comes on to him. The hero emerges with his virtue intact and a brace of new heads for his trophy wall. The surprising number of malefactors at the company isn't a strength of the tale, but they're all well worth your cathartic scorn." -Kirkus Reviews

"You do know this whole cops and donuts things is a fiction, right?" Larry Unger gave his technical advisor a sideways glance. "Is this where you tell me that John Wayne Syndrome's not about liking westerns?" Vince McNulty returned the look. "It's not about John Wayne either. The donuts. That's an American thing not a cop thing." "You remember what they said in Liberty Valance?" "Yeah. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." "Well, donuts is the legend." Corona, Riverside County

The Sixties were a time of great cultural upheaval, when long-established social norms were challenged and everything changed: from music to fashion to social mores. And the Leave It to Beaver households in Middle America didn't know what to make of it all. In the midst of this, private eyes tried to understand and bridge the generational divide while providing their clients with legal and extra-legal detecting services. From old-school private eyes with their flat-tops, off-the-rack suits, and well-worn brogues to the new breed of private eyes with their shoulder-length hair, bell-bottoms, and hemp sandals, the shamuses in More Groovy Gumshoes-a follow-up to the far-out original Groovy Gumshoes-take readers on another rollicking romp through the Sixties. Contributors include: Michael Chandos, Wil A. Emerson, Jeff Esterholm, John M. Floyd, Nils Gilbertson, Wendy Harrison, Dave H. Hendrickson, gay toltl kinman, Lynn Maples, Jarrett Mazza, John McFetridge, Robert Petyo, Graham Powell, Bev Vincent, Joseph S. Walker, and Stacy Woodson.

In a cold, windswept field on the outskirts of Edinburgh, lies the brutally mutilated body of a young woman. As DI Rob Brennan looks at the tangled mass of limbs and blood, he feels his heart freeze. Like Fiona Gow five years earlier, this girl has been strangled with her own stockings, sexually mutilated and her eyes have been gouged out. Is this the work of an Edinburgh Ripper? The press certainly think so. Rob Brennan is determined to uncover the truth - however painful that might be. But truth is hard to come by in a world of police rivalries, media hysteria and copycat crime. Praise for Books by Tony Black "Tony Black is one of those excellent perpetrators of Scottish noir...a compelling and convincing portrayer of raw emotions in a vicious milieu." -The Times "If you're a fan of the Ian Rankins, Denise Minas and Irvine Welshes of this world, this is most certainly one for you." -Scotsman "Black renders his nicotine-stained domain in a hardboiled slang that fizzles with vicious verisimilitude." -The Guardian "Ripping, gutsy prose and a witty wreck of a protagonist makes this another exceptionally compelling, bright and even original thriller." -The Mirror "This up-and-coming crime writer isn't portraying the Edinburgh in the Visit Scotland tourism ads." -The Sun "Comparisons with Rebus will be obvious. But that would be too easy...Black has put his defiant, kick-ass stamp on his leading man, creating a character that deftly carries the story through every razor-sharp twist and harrowing turn." -Daily Record

It's the first time Lou Crasher discovers a corpse. What hurts is the woman, Trix Rockland, was a friend. His instinct screams for him to back out of the apartment and call the law. But Lou being Lou, he hops into investigation mode. Naturally, that's when the rookie cop with the hair trigger happens on the scene. Lou now stands over a dead body and has some explaining to do. Satisfied with the onsite interview carried out by detective Tanaka, an Asian cop who's more than easy on the eyes, Crasher is free to go-temporarily. It's not long before the hot detective makes Lou an offer he should refuse-but maybe he can't. CEO George Lux of Come Get Some Records recently signed Trix to a record deal, which should be cause for celebration. But not in Lou's mind-Lux is shady. The entire band is on Lou's suspect list including a hot tempered ex-boyfriend, and a steroid swilling, Rottweiler owning freelance drummer with a small man's complex. Trix's daughter Jill, who happens to be Lou's drums student, is devastated by the loss of her mother. But the yarns she spins Lou's way make the rocker turned P.I. dizzier than three fingers of the eighteen year old Macallan he drinks. Few P.I.'s work completely alone and Lou is no different. Lou's half brother Jake, the mysterious grizzled (brawler) of few words, gives Lou a hand where he needs it, and Landlady, Violet Wiggins continues to offer priceless wisdom to Lou. The obstacles mount for Lou. In addition to a vicious Rottweiler named Killer, a Napoleonic psychotic freelance drummer, an ex-boyfriend of the deceased with a short fuse, a bass player who's obsession over the singer is off the charts, two ex-military thugs, and a mysterious woman who's presence raises the hair on Lou's neck all threaten to stop Crasher from doing what he needs to do. But if Lou's sandwich making is uninterrupted and his cocktail swilling is in check, he's a hard man to beat. The only problem is Lou needs time and time is running out! Praise for DRUMS, GUNS 'N' MONEY: "Drums, Guns 'n' Money is a jazzy up tempo mystery that kicks like a snare roll. Jonathan Brown brings his musicality to this down and dirty crime story. Loved it!" -SA Cosby, bestselling author of Razorblade Tears "The appropriately named Lou Crasher in Mr. Brown's Drums, Guns 'n' Money is an adroitly percussive unlicensed private eye who knows the staccato rhythms of the city as he moves and grooves through its warrens to get to the real. The tempo is terse, and the pace of the narrative propels the reader to keep turning the pages. A winner." -Gary Phillips, author of One-Shot Harry "Drums, Guns 'n' Money doubles as a knowing travelogue illuminating the private corners of the sometimes trashy, always intriguing L.A. music scene. But the main attractions here are Lou Crasher, an amateur sleuth you won't forget, and a propulsive, wise-cracking mystery that twists and turns around a backbeat that never quits. Like his drummer hero, Jonathan Brown can flat out rock and roll." -Howard Michael Gould, novelist, television writer, screenwriter, director, playwright, and author of the Charlie Waldo series "Good crime fiction shines in the darkness. Brown's excellent work sets the sky on fire. Read it to see the new wave of crime writers at its best!" -Terrence McCauley, award-winning, bestselling author of The Wandering Man

Slovenian-American Jericho Paich finds himself under arrest by snarling Cleveland police cop Keenan Mayo and forced to be a non-paid confidential informant, setting up friends and strangers to be hauled in for illegal drug use. He turns for help to his mother's live-in lover, ex-marine officer Laird Janiver. The two have never gotten along, but Jerry has nowhere else to turn. Janiver, a studious African American major who recalls how to kill, decides to help. That brings the two men into contact with a cruelly efficient albino drug lord, the suicidal memory of a lovely young college girl at OSU, and a beautiful woman with what might be a very dangerous past.

When Dick Moonlight PI is instructed by Homicide Detective Nick Miller at the Albany Police Department to investigate the double homicide of a pair of married lawyers up in Saratoga Springs during the thoroughbred racing season, he finds himself in the middle of a killing spree that just might get him and his sidekick, Fat Elvis, killed too. From New York Times and USA Today Thriller Award winning author Vincent Zandri.

Two close calls with death and the lingering guilt he harbors over the injury to Detective David Sizemore compounds Joe Hampton's ongoing attempt to come to terms with the passing of his wife. Persuaded to assume the role of consultant to the homicide division soon has him and Detective Carly Truffant on the trail of a serial killer who mutilates his victims. Uncovering the identity of the killer proves as difficult as understanding why rookie Detective Dani Mc Masters resents him being a part of the team. An unexpected turn of events finds Joe and McMasters trapped and fighting for their lives. Then, his dream of a peaceful getaway is shattered when he finds himself in the middle of an investigation during his visit to a small community on the coast of southwest Florida. The help of a stranger before joining forces with the lead detective doesn't keep him from the prospect of winding up in a watery grave. Upon his return home, Joe helps Detective Truffant trace the origin of human bones uncovered on a local beach. As they dig deeper, they come to realize that the skeleton may have a connection to the disappearance of an aunt that Truffant never knew. Praise for YESTERDAY RISING: "An authentic police voice. It's like going on a ride-along." -Colin Campbell, author of the Jim Grant Thrillers "For fans of TV crime shows, Stephen Burdick's Yesterday Rising is one part Bones, one part Cold Case Files, and one part Criminal Minds." -Tim O'Mara, author of the Raymond Donne series "With Yesterday Rising, Stephen Burdick delivers a riveting read full of colorful characters. Homicide detective Joe Hampton's retirement to Crimson Conch Condominiums has not gone according to plan. The old detective can't resist the pull of being back on the job. And it turns out that sunny Clearwater Beach can be nearly as gritty as the streets of Philadelphia where he once worked." -Joel W. Barrows, author of the Deep Cover thriller series "Yesterday Rising, Stephen Burdick's second set of three novellas featuring retired homicide detective Joe Hampton, is an engaging blend of murder, beautiful Florida settings, well-drawn characters, and challenging whodunits." -Debra H. Goldstein, author of the Sarah Blair mystery series