by Jeff Abbott
First published 2006
Love turns lethal in this collection where passion meets murder. Eighteen acclaimed mystery authors craft tales of relationships gone wrong, where wedding vows become death sentences and intimate bonds hide deadly secrets. Harlan Coben reveals how trust can kill. Lee Child shows love's violent edge. R.L. Stine proves romance can terrify. P.J. Parrish, Ridley Pearson, Jim Fusilli, Jeff Abbott, Charles Todd, and Tom Savage join other top writers in exploring the dark side of human connection. Each story peels back the facade of domestic bliss to expose the jealousy, betrayal, and rage simmering beneath. Marriages crumble under the weight of secrets. Affairs spiral into violence. Partners become predators. The collection moves through bedrooms and kitchens, honeymoon suites and divorce courts, where ordinary people discover extraordinary capacity for murder. These are not stories of random violence but intimate betrayals where the killer shares your bed, knows your weaknesses, and strikes when you are most vulnerable.
Genres: short-stories, romance, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: domestic-thriller, intimate-betrayal
Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company
Content warnings: murder, violence