Short Stories/Novellas

"True Stories" is one of Vincent Zandri's most anthologized short stories. Based on the true story of Zandri having tackled and apprehended a car thief who was rampaging through his upstate New York neighborhood, this literary thriller begins with a 'seed of truth' around which grow invented circumstances - the result being a clever mesh of truth and creation.

DON'T MESS WITH BINGO NIGHT!!!! When two losers working for a floral supply outfit get it into their heads that they can rob the creepy old home for the elderly which is located directly across the street from their place of employment on Bingo Night, it sounds like an easy score. Too easy. Because what they don't realize is that just because people are old, doesn't mean they still don't have some fight left in them. In fact, in the case of Bingo Night, these elderly people have more than fight in them. They are barbarians. Originally published in Pulp Metal Magazine in two parts, Bingo Night is a fun, hard-boiled, if not sick little tasty piece of pulp fiction to read on the way to work in the morning, or just before bed. For lovers of Charlie Huston, James Ellroy, Don Winslow and more, this new short by New York Times and USA Today ITW Thriller Award and PWA Shamus Award Winning Bestselling author Vincent Zandri, is sure to make you laugh, cry, and cringe. Also with this short, you get a big sample chunk of the ITW Thriller Award and PWA Shamus Award Winning novel, MOONLIGHT WEEPS. Grab your thrilling copy now!!!

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU PLAY A PRACTICAL JOKE ON. IT COULD COST YOU YOUR LIFE. When a drunken man named Chuck (aka Chuckles) decides to play a joke on his barfly buddy, Timmy (aka Buddha), by drawing a rather accurate rendering of the male anatomy on Buddha's dusty black BMW, all hell breaks loose. You see, it only takes a couple of minutes for Chuckles to realize he's created the stunning artwork on the wrong car. In fact, the car belongs to an underworld executioner known only as Rod Last Name Not Known. What follows is Chuckles and his buddy, Jones, being kidnapped by Rod and made to endure unspeakable torture. But will the two have their revenge on the mafia thug? Read on and find out. For fans of Charlie Huston, Don Winslow, Jim Crumley, Robert B. Parker and more, this is yet another raw, hard-boiled, noir, suspense-filled short read from Thriller Award and Shamus Award bestselling author, Vincent Zandri. Also look for a long bonus sample of the ITW Thriller Award and PWA Shamus Award winning novel, MOONLIGHT WEEPS, inside this read. “Sensational...Masterful...Brilliant.” —New York Post “The action never wanes.” —Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel “Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting.” —Harlan Coben, bestselling author of Six Years “Tough, stylish, heartbreaking.” —Don Winslow, bestselling author of Savages “Non-stop action.” —I Love a Mystery “Vincent Zandri nails reader’s attention.” —Boston Herald

A COLLECTION OF NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING THRILLER AWARD WINNER, VINCENT ZANDRI'S, MOST POPULAR SHORT PULP READS FOR READERS WHO WANT TO GET THEIR THRILL ON!

LOVE NETFLIX'S "MIND HUNTER?" THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE TERRORIZED THE TUSCAN REGION FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS. NOW NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING THRILLER AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, VINCENT ZANDRI, BRINGS YOU A HORRIFYING STORY WRITTEN FROM THE KILLER'S POINT OF VIEW. IT IS ALSO BASED ON THE TRUTH. Will the Monster of Florence ever be found? To this day his (or her or their) identity remains a frustrating mystery to both Italian law enforcement and INTERPOL. But here's what they know: the Monster, who was once the inspiration for Thomas Harris's cannibalistic serial killer, Hannibal Lector, not only needed to kill his victims, he also felt the need to brutally mutilate them. This story, which is graphic in nature, explores the mind of the Monster, and is written from the 1st person POV. It also explores what is largely regarding as his final kill which occurred in 1985. Will the Monster ever reemerge and kill again? Or has he died, his identity being revealed only to the devil. No one really knows, and that in itself is a very scary thing. From Thriller Award winning and 2019 Derringer Award nominated author, Vincent Zandri, comes a short horror read that should not be read during the dark of night. It is the stuff of nightmares. For readers of Stephen King, JA Konrath, Thomas Harris, Scott Nicholson and more, this story is as unputdownable as it is frightening. For lovers of dark, horror short fiction and true crime everywhere. Scroll up and grab your copy today. What the critics are saying: A hugely successful series. Vincent Zandri’s The Guilty is a gripping combination of old-school hardboiled detective yarn and a 80s high-octane action movie. Immensely enjoyable.- Paul D. Brazill, Pulp Metal Magazine ***** Tough, stylish, heartbreaking. - Don Winslow, bestselling author of Savages ***** A riveting story..oh, what a story it is: grisly, surprising, and page-turningly suspenseful. A terrific old-school thriller. - Booklist (starred review) *****

The Finalist for the Derringer Award for Best Novelete! EX-CON JIMMY CONWAY DOESN'T DO THINGS THE WRONG WAY. HE DOES THEM THE CONWAY! Meet Jimmy Conway, part-time crook, part-time con man, part-time Daddy's boy, full-time loser. But when his old man kicks the bucket and leaves the family jewelry store to him, Jimmy's sister and her greedy "round-fat" husband have a fit. Now, with Jimmy in the care of the family's crown jewels so to speak, his immediate family is the least of his worries with a black car operated by two thieves constantly scoping the joint. Knowing it's inevitable they're gonna make a play for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of diamonds he's got locked up in a vault, he feels the urgent need to protect himself. But he's an ex-con and no way in hell is "woke" New York State about to grant him a pistol permit. Jimmy has no choice but to rely on his wits to fend off his sister, her husband, and the two crooks. But if only he could get himself a gun. For readers of Charlie Huston, Don Winslow, Brett Battles and more, New York Times bestselling Thriller Award winning author Vincent Zandri brings you another short, but thrilling, Derringer Award Nominated read. Grab your action-packed thriller now. "Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting." --Harlan Coben on THE INNOCENT ★★★★★ "Zandri demonstrates an uncanny knack for exposition, introducing newcharacters and narrative possibilities with the confidence of an oldpro...Zandri does a superb job creating interlocking puzzle pieces." --New York Post ★★★★★ "Readers will be held captive by prose that pounds as steadily as an elevated pulse...Vincent Zandri nails readers attention." --Boston Herald ★★★★★"

HOW DO ALL NIGHTMARES BEGIN? BY SOMETHING THAT GOES BUMP IN THE NIGHT! It's the restless summer of 2020... When a gang of ruthless black clad thugs systematically terrorize a suburban neighborhood, a wife and husband team decide to take the law in their own hands and fight back. Two thugs in particular will wish they never broke into a home with the intention to destroy it and terrify its occupants. From New York Times bestselling Thriller and Shamus Award winning author comes a short thriller that's not only perfect for the times we live in, but that will keep you on the edge of your seat. For readers of Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Diane Capri, Vince Flynn, and more. Scroll up and buy now! Praise for Vincent Zandri: “Sensational . . . masterful . . . brilliant.” —New York Post “(A) chilling tale of obsessive love from Thriller Award–winner Zandri (Moonlight Weeps)…Riveting.” --Publishers Weekly “…Oh, what a story it is…Riveting…A terrific old school thriller.” --Booklist “Starred Review” “I very highly recommend this book . . . It's a great crime drama that is full of action and intense suspense, along with some great twists . . . Vincent Zandri has become a huge name and just keeps pouring out one best seller after another.” —Life in Review “(The Innocent) is a thriller that has depth and substance, wickedness and compassion.” —The Times-Union (Albany) "The action never wanes." --Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting." --Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of Six Years "Tough, stylish, heartbreaking." --Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of Savages and Cartel. “A tightly crafted, smart, disturbing, elegantly crafted complex thriller…I dare you to start it and not keep reading.” --MJ Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Halo Effect and Closure “A classic slice of raw pulp noir…” --William Landay, New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN AUTONOMOUSLY CONTROLLED VEHICLE KIDNAPS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FOR A HIGH SPEED RIDE THAT CAN LEAD TO THEIR DESTRUCTION?! All his life, sci-fi writer, Kenny Donovan hated cars. Turns out he had a phobia about riding in cars. But when his wife suggests they purchase a new autonomously powered Mercedes-Benz, Kenny reluctantly agrees. But when the car's AI controlled driving system hijacks them both, he quickly realizes what a mistake he's made. From New York Times and USA Today bestselling Thriller Award winning author, Vincent Zandri comes an explosive short thriller that will both entertain and frighten you. For readers of Blake Crouch, Dean Koontz, Charlie Houston, and more. Scroll up and buy this killer of a story now! PRAISE FOR VINCENT ZANDRI “Sensational . . . masterful . . . brilliant.” —New York Post “(A) chilling tale of obsessive love from Thriller Award–winner Zandri (Moonlight Weeps) . . . Riveting.” —Publishers Weekly “. . . Oh, what a story it is . . . Riveting . . . A terrific old-school thriller.” —Booklist “Starred Review” “Zandri does a fantastic job with this story. Not only does he scare the reader, but the horror show he presents also scares the man who is the definition of the word “tough.” —Suspense Magazine “I very highly recommend this book . . . It's a great crime drama that is full of action and intense suspense, along with some great twists . . . Vincent Zandri has become a huge name and just keeps pouring out one best seller after another.” —Life in Review “(The Innocent) is a thriller that has depth and substance, wickedness and compassion.” —The Times-Union (Albany) "The action never wanes." —Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting." —Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of Six Years "Tough, stylish, heartbreaking." —Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of Savages and Cartel. “A tightly crafted, smart, disturbing, elegantly crafted complex thriller . . . I dare you to start it and not keep reading.” —MJ Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Halo Effect and Closure “A classic slice of raw pulp noir . . .” —William Landay, New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob

HE'S NOT SICK! HE'S DELUSIONAL! A victim of Morgellons Disease and mental illness, Harry is convinced his body is not only crawling with insects, worms, and germs, but he believes they are living and thriving inside his pores. When he begs for help from his reluctant and remarried ex-wife to come to his aid, he threatens to kill himself if she doesn't show up. From New York Times and USA Today bestselling ITW Thriller and PWA Shamus Award winning author, Vincent Zandri comes another spine tingling (literally) short thriller you can savor in one sitting. For fans of Blake Crouch, Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, and more. Scroll up and grab your thrilling copy now!!!! “Sensational . . . masterful . . . brilliant.” —New York Post “(A) chilling tale of obsessive love from Thriller Award–winner Zandri (Moonlight Weeps) . . . Riveting.” —Publishers Weekly “. . . Oh, what a story it is . . . Riveting . . . A terrific old school thriller.” —Booklist “Starred Review” “Zandri does a fantastic job with this story. Not only does he scare the reader, but the horror Show he presents also scares the man who is the definition of the word “tough.” —Suspense Magazine

Could You Make $300 Grand in 72 Hours if Your Life Depended On It? Or What if You had $300 Grand in an Online Wallet, but Can't Remember Your Password, Even With a Gun to Your Head? Failed writer and gambleaholic, George Custer, has just been released from a three year stint in county jail after holding up a bodega with an Airsoft pistol. You would think he’d be happy as a clam, but when he just happens to run into Francesco "Frank" Tassi, a local crime boss whom he still owes a ton of money to, George finds himself slapped with an ultimatum he can’t refuse. Come up with the cash in 72 hours, or face the Grim Reaper! From New York Times Bestselling Thriller and Shamus Award winning author, Vincent Zandri, comes another short thriller you can read in one or two sittings that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat. For fans of Don Winslow, Charlie Houston, Brett Battles, and more, this is a must read thriller. Scroll up and grab your thrilling copy now!!! "The action never wanes." —Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting." —Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of Six Years "Tough, stylish, heartbreaking." —Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of Savages and Cartel. “A tightly crafted, smart, disturbing, elegantly crafted complex thriller . . . I dare you to start it and not keep reading.” —MJ Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Halo Effect and Closure “A classic slice of raw pulp noir . . .” —William Landay, New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob

SOMETIMES THE GIRL YOU'RE FALLING IN LOVE WITH IN THE WINDOW SHOULD STAY BEHIND THE WINDOW! When a writer who also collects rare art keeps seeing an attractive young lady in the window that belongs to the top floor of the building next door, he becomes obsessed. When she and her live in boyfriend get into a violent fight one night, the writer decides to take decisive action. He's going to save the girl in the window from sure harm. But what he gets instead is far from anything he expected. From New York Times and USA Today ITW Thriller Award and PWA Shamus Award winning author, Vincent Zandri, comes yet another short thriller that you can devour in one or two sittings. For fans of Michael Connelly, JR Rain, Brett Battles, Diane Capri, and more, this is a thriller you'll want to read more than once. Scroll up and grab your thrilling copy now! "The action never wanes." —Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting." —Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of Six Years "Tough, stylish, heartbreaking." —Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of Savages and Cartel. “A tightly crafted, smart, disturbing, elegantly crafted complex thriller . . . I dare you to start it and not keep reading.” —MJ Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Halo Effect and Closure “A classic slice of raw pulp noir . . .” —William Landay, New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob

"EVERYONE HAS A PLAN UNTIL THEY PUNCHED IN THE FACE!" When ex-con, Timmy Duva, nearly T-bones a Range Rover that happens to be driven by a man named, Dave Hart who, once upon a time, was the grade school bully, it’s like decades haven’t passed. Hart is entirely pissed off and is looking for a fight. Not wanting to destroy his parole, the very muscular Timmy backs off. Until he finds out that while he was suffering through a seven year stretch in the joint for killing a barroom sucker-puncher with a far too perfectly-executed left hook, Dave and his wife were hooking up. That’s when Duva’s famous left hook really comes in handy. For fans of Don Winslow, Charlie Houston, Ace Atkins, JR Rain, and more, comes another short thriller you can consume in one sitting. It will also keep you riveted from beginning to its powerful, punchy ending. Grab all the short thrillers from New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Overall Number 1 bestselling ITW Thriller and PWA Shamus Award winning author, Vincent Zandri. Scroll up and grab this short thriller now.

THERE IS NO MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A COP THAN A DOMESTIC DISPUTE! When a dispirited Albany Police Detective is called upon to answer a violent domestic dispute complaint going down in the projects, he's made to team up not with a fellow cop, but instead a young, female social worker. Insisting that guns are not required when it comes to domestic disputes but instead, understanding and talk, the detective warns the idealistic social worker that she might not only be eating her words soon, but she might be fighting for her life. What follows is an action-packed short thriller full of the explosive action that can only come when you combine highly charged emotions with drugs, booze, guns and a pervasive and dangerous atmosphere of "defund the police." For readers of Robert B. Parker, Charlie Houston, Don Winslow, Michael Connelly, JR Rain, and more comes another hotshot thriller from New York Times bestselling Thriller and Shamus Award winning writer, Vincent Zandri. Grab your thrilling copy now!!! Praise for Vincent Zandri “Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting.” —Harlan Coben, New York Times best-selling author “Tough, stylish, heartbreaking.” —Don Winslow, New York Times best-selling author “. . . Oh, what a story it is . . . Riveting . . . A terrific old school thriller.” — Booklist (Starred Review) “Vincent Zandri hails from the future.” — The New York Times “Sensational . . . masterful . . . brilliant.” — New York Post

They say you can't go home again. But you can go back in time. However, it's a deadly thing to do! When a brokenhearted ad writer decides he can't take any more of his wife's open affair with a famous mystery author, he decides to escape with a road-trip. Little does he know, but the road he chooses doesn't lead to happiness. Instead, it leads to a time that existed long ago. From New York Times and USA Today bestselling Thriller Award winning author, Vincent Zandri, comes a thriller that's worthy of The Twilight Zone series. Scroll up and grab your thrilling copy now!

Maybe You've Been Dead for a While, but You Just Don't Know It! After a writer's significant other breaks up with him unexpectedly while dropping him off at the JFK International airport for a flight to Rome, he goes into absolute free-fall. But so does his plane when they hit bad weather. What happens next is entirely out of this world, and just might make you believe in the presence of ghosts. From New York Times Thriller Award winning author, Vincent Zandri, comes a new Twilight Zone-like, serial thriller. Scroll up and grab your exciting copy now!

BABY DOLLS AREN'T ALIVE. OR ARE THEY? Writer John Simpson gets more than he bargains for when he purchases the newest, most high-tech doll for his daughter. The living doll became his mortal enemy. From New York Times bestselling Thriller Award winning author Vincent Zandri comes a sci-fi/horror thriller that's right out of the Twilight Zone. Scroll up and grab your thrilling copy now.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. ESEPCIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE END OF THE WORLD! Inspired by the Twilight Zone, this story is about a writer, Lynn Meredith, who just wants to be left alone. That said, he moves to a remote mountaintop in far upstate New York. When a war breaks out between Russian and NATO, and nuclear war seems a certainty, the writer is almost giddy about it. Until the nuclear war actually happens and Meredith truly finds himself all alone. From New York Times and USA Today bestselling Thriller and Shamus Award winning author, Vincent Zandri. Scroll up and grab your exciting copy now!

THINK TWICE ABOUT WHO YOU DO NOT MURDER! From a hospital bed, a middle-aged woman recalls taking back her mystery writer husband after twelve years of divorce and how all went swimmingly well. At first, anyway. But soon she began to feel empty inside and her unhappiness led to her cheating on him like she did the first time they were together. Only this time, she and the man she's sleeping with have big plans for the writer. They want the mystery man dead. From ITW Thriller Award winner, Vincent Zandri comes an explosive new thriller. Grab this killer thriller now!!! "Non-stop action." --I Love a Mystery ★★★★★ "Vincent Zandri nails reader's attention." --Boston Herald ★★★★★ "(Zandri) demonstrates an uncanny knack for exposition, introducing new characters and narrative possibilities with the confidence of an old pro...Zandri does a superb job interlocking puzzle pieces." --The San Diego Union-Tribune ★★★★★ "Zandri has brought back that wonderful 'quest' story that keeps the reader alert and pinging with anticipation from beginning to end. His 'Chase Baker' character is cocky, smart, and multi-talented, but with that brotherly quality that reminds you of a best friend in school. These are the types of characters we remember and follow, and Zandri does them with flair, along with non-stop action and a surprise ending. What thriller reader could not love that? ... THE SHROUD KEY is well worth every minute." -- SUSPENSE MAGAZINE ★★★★★

Dear God, Forgive Me, for I am About to Kill Again! When a hired assassin and ex-priest, is asked to kill the wife of his Russian gangster boss, he swears this will be his final job. Not only is he sick and tired of all the killing, but he's never before killed a woman. But what the killer doesn't realize is that his boss has something nefarious in store for him. A trap is being set that will get the assassin killed at worst or put in prison at best. From NY Times bestselling Thriller Award winner Vincent Zandri. Scroll up and nab your exciting copy now. --The New York Times “Sensational . . . masterful . . . brilliant.” --New York Post "Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting." --Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of Six Years "Tough, stylish, heartbreaking."