by Joe Lansdale
First published 2019
This anthology cannot be summarized with a single protagonist or narrative thread, as it presents multiple standalone crime stories from different authors. Joe R. Lansdale joins forces with Richard Chizmar, Richard Christian Matheson, Max Allan Collins, John A. Russo, and Stewart O'Nan to deliver short, brutal tales that cut straight to violence and its aftermath. Each story operates independently, yet together they form a deliberate homage to classic crime anthologies. The collection strips away pretense to focus on raw criminal acts and their consequences. Characters face moral choices in desperate circumstances, where survival often demands crossing lines they never imagined crossing. The stories explore how ordinary people become capable of extraordinary brutality when pushed beyond their limits. This assembly of seasoned crime writers creates a reading experience that captures the essence of vintage anthology collections while delivering contemporary edge and psychological insight.
Genres: fiction, short-stories, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: moral-choices, ordinary-people-extraordinary-brutality
266 pages · Paperback · Independently published
Content warnings: graphic-violence, violence