From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. As editor McBain admits in his introduction, it was a bit of a challenge to persuade 10 superstar authors (well, only nine, since he's also a contributor) to each write an original novella, with its awkward length between 10,000 and 40,000 words, for this excellent crime and suspense anthology, but he's come up with an impressive roster. One can't help wondering how a writer like Donald E. Westlake, who writes so much under several names, can fit in a jolly new story, "Walking Around Money," about his humorous burglar hero Dortmunder . And how does Anne Perry, who now writes three separate series and is probably planning another, move to a completely different period with "Hostages," a touching portrait of a woman caught up in the current Irish troubles who tries to keep her sanity by doing household chores? Walter Mosley, on the other hand, seems to be looking for new ways to get his points across: his "Archibald Lawless, Anarchist at Large: Walking the Line" might be the fuse to light a fire. McBain's own "Merely Hate" lends fresh insight into his 87th Precinct series. The remaining novellas, from the ubiquitous Joyce Carol Oates and the welcome return of Lawrence Block's hit man Keller to the diverse pleasures of Sharyn McCrumb and Stephen King, make this hefty volume pound-for-pound the best reading value of the season.
Agent, Jane Gelfman at Gelfman-Schneider Literary. $200,000 marketing budget. (May 10) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
This duet of masterfully written novellas by two respected authors belongs on your listening soundstage along with your favorite audiobook gems. Editor Ed McBain made two excellent choices with Mosley's unforgettable ARCHIBALD LAWLESS, read by Michael Boatman, and Joyce Carol Oates's outstanding CORN MAIDEN, read by Anne Twomey. Boatman effortlessly morphs from character to colorful character--whether it's the enigmatic title character, the eccentrics surrounding him, or the youthful but canny narrator--in a coming-of-age story about a black journalism student. In Oates's piece, Twomey vocally penetrates each character's layers of need and desire in a horrific tale reminiscent of LORD OF THE FLIES and THE CRUCIBLE. Don't miss this exquisitely produced effort--you'll want to play it again and share it with friends and family. D.J.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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