Short Story Collections

NO. 1 BESTSELLING MYSTERY ANTHOLOGY "The Road to Hell" collects four stories by Paul Levine, the Edgar-nominated author of the bestselling Jake Lassiter series. Levine's heroes travel dark and dangerous paths as they confront devilish and powerful villains. The journeys are by land, by sea, and in one case, perhaps only in the mind. In "El Valiente en el Infierno," (The Brave One in Hell) , a 13-year-old Mexican boy tells his own story as he makes a treacherous midnight crossing into California in search of his father. The boy's courage is tested when he runs into two gun-toting American vigilantes, and the confrontation will change all of them forever. "Development Hell" imagines a pitch session in which a bedraggled Edgar Allan Poe squares off with a slick Hollywood producer who wants to make a cheesy slasher flick out of "The Pit and the Pendulum." Bookgasm praised the story as "going straight to the funny bone." "A Hell of a Crime" echoes with notions of "The Twilight Zone." A prosecutor prepares for a homicide trial while being pestered by his domineering mother, a famous lawyer herself. Just what role did she play in the murder? It's a mystery with a punch to the gut at the end. Two of the author's best-loved characters, Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, appear in "Solomon & Lord: To Hell and Back." The ethically-challenged Steve Solomon and the very proper Victoria Lord are mismatched Miami law partners. Steve says he's going fishing with Manuel Cruz, a sleazy con man. Victoria knows that Cruz embezzled a bundle from Steve's favorite client and is an unlikely fishing buddy. So just what is Steve up to now? Something between mischief and murder. The three of them head for deep water and dark troubles. Also included: an excerpt of "Mortal Sin," one of the award-winning Jake Lassiter novels. "Recalling the work of Carl Hiaasen, this thriller races to a smashing climax." - Library Journal Finally, there's an excerpt of "Solomon vs. Lord," the first of the series nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, and James Thurber awards. Here's what number one bestselling author Harlan Coben said about "Solomon vs. Lord." "Hiaasen meets Grisham in the court of last retort. A sexy, wacky, wonderful thriller with humor and heart." PRAISE FOR THE FICTION OF PAUL LEVINE "Mystery writing at its very, very best." - Larry King, USA TODAY "Irreverent...genuinely clever...great fun." - The New York Times Book Review "Just the remedy for those who can't get enough Spenser and miss Travis McGee terribly." - St. Petersburg Times "Genuinely chilling." - Washington Post Book World "Take one part John Grisham, two parts Carl Hiaasen, throw in a dash of John D. MacDonald, and voila!" - Tulsa World "Wildly entertaining blend of raucous humor and high adventure." - St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Cracking good action-mystery...funny, sardonic, and fast-paced." - Detroit Free Press ABOUT THE AUTHOR The author of 23 novels, Paul Levine won the John D. MacDonald fiction award and was nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, and James Thurber prizes. A former trial lawyer, he also wrote 20 episodes of the CBS military drama "JAG." THE JAKE LASSITER SERIES To Speak for the Dead Night Vision False Dawn Mortal Sin Riptide Fool Me Twice Flesh & Bones Lassiter Last Chance Lassiter State vs. Lassiter Bum Rap Bum Luck Bum Deal Cheater's Game EarlyGrave THE SOLOMON vs. LORD SERIES Solomon vs. Lord The Deep Blue Alibi Kill All the Lawyers Habeas Porpoise STAND-ALONE THRILLERS Ilegal Impact Paydirt Ballistic