Publisher's Weekly Review
Revenge propels each of the 21 all-original stories in this high-quality anthology mixing headliners such as Dennis Lehane and Michael Connelly with lower-profile talent such as C.E. Lawrence and Adam Meyer. Given this common motive, readers will have little trouble anticipating the final resolution as a rule, but the writing is top-notch, especially in Lehane's "The Consumers," in which the abused wife of a white-collar criminal turns to a professional to eliminate her spouse. Brendan DuBois's especially satisfying "The Final Ballot" features an unsophisticated woman's quest for justice when a powerful politician with national ambitions victimizes her daughter. Lawrence's "Silent Justice" presents a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest with a moral dilemma after a young man confesses committing a murder to him. But Meyer delivers the biggest jaw-dropper in "Blood and Sunshine," about an evil five-year-old boy who torments everyone around him. As with other such theme anthologies, readers will best enjoy these stories a few at a time. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Characters take the law into their own hands to achieve vengeance in this collection of 21 stories matching well-loved writers like Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Alafair Burke, and Dennis Lehane with rising stars of the genre. Editor Child supervised story selection and provides an introduction explaining his process. Other contributors include Mike Cooper, Brendan DuBois, Jim Fusilli, Michelle Gagnon, Darrell James, C.E. Lawrence, Steve Liskow, Rick -McMahan, and Adam Meyer. VERDICT Workable narrations alternated by Angela Dawe and Jeff Cummings neither add much nor detract. This anthology offers something for everyone with a taste for mysteries and short stories. Recommended.-Kristen L. Smith, Loras Coll. Lib., Dubuque, IA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
