Enjoy For Free Thriller 2: Stories You Just Cant Put Down Illustrated By Clive Cussler Presented In Multimedia Book

good, bad amp ugly, but worth reading and finding new authors to maybe read sometime, great collection and introduction to many talented writers, Great short storys from some authors I have never encountered before, The one by R. L. Stine creeped me out, I will never, ever trust a monkey angin for the rest of my life.
. . I love short stories. I've often felt the mark of great writing is felt to greatest effect when an author catches the reader's attention and transports them in the brief passage of a few pages.
Thrillers, in particular, sets ones pulse to racing, tempting readers to skip ahead to that final paragraph, I haven't read the first Thriller anthology, but if this collection is anything to judge by I'll be seeking it out soon enough.
Thie book is nothing more than an advertisement for other books by other authors with short xcerpts from them.
A total waste of my time! After reading the first Thriller, I was eager for more stories by awesome writers and was not disappointed at all.
It took me a long time to get through the book only because I misplaced it, I highly recommend it for any and all who love a well designed thriller but do not always have the time for a novel.
I read every story. Some of them aren't going to be favorites, and some endings are a bit abrupt! Thrillerwas a lot of fun, I did find a few stories that were interesting, but from my perspective/opinion they didn't feel like a thriller type story.
They were good stories from the beginning of the book till the end and held my attention, Infact is was a very quick read and I recommend these Thriller books big time, Although, I recommend the editors of these titles take a little more time proof reading as there were lots of boo boos here and there.
This is a wonderful collection of short thrillers, Each is a true gem,
I thought the little story of the author and their tale which precedes each was a nice touch, allowing the reader's brain to clear for the next dose.
Whoever came up with that, it was a stroke of genius,
I have a few more names added to my usual searches, So many books, little enough time, . . A few of the stories in this book were excellent, Most were mediocre. Some were just plain bad, It's apparently really difficult to write a short story that doesn't feel like you just rushed to an ending.
I found a couple of new authors whose work I'll probably check out, which was my goal in reading a short story anthology.
But man, this was difficult to get through at times, Based upon my ratings my actual tally is, . being a lover of short stories and getting much enjoyment from this series I would call it,were that an option. I love collections like this because you get a chance to aquaint yourself with some established thriller writers whom you might not have heard of or read otherwise.
It also gives you a chance to see how many of these gifted authors are able to bridge the gap from full length features, and try thier hands at the often neglected and under appreciated art of short stories.
It is amazing how many authors neglect this field of thier art and it has always boggled my mind how many people start thier reviews by saying I don't really like short stories.
To me they are brilliant ways to express oneself, and as a reader to find quick literary fixes.
Oh well to each their own, There are some very brilliant reads, some so so reads, and some that left me totally disappointed, and although no where near the best anthology I have read it was still very rewarding to me as a reader!

The Weapon by Jeffery Deaverstars
Deaver continues to impress me with his short stories, and in truth I will say that I enjoy them much more than his full length novels although I enjoy them as well!.
He has recently joined Stephen King and jeffery archer as my favorite authors of short stories on a consistant basis.
In this installment he deals with the triple edged sword of national security, and opens up the can of worms as to how far we are justifiable in going to protect that freedom and security in defense of a nation.
In this installment a covert government orginization gets news of a new weapon that is destined to be used against us.
In trying to protect our freedom these agents and interagators go to a variety of lengths to induce information out of their lone suspect.
. . only to find it is a clever ruse to ferret out just these types of actions, A very intriguing read!

Remaking by Blake Crouch,stars
I have never heard of this author before, but am likely to at the very least check him out again before the year is over.
In this story I was not necesarily overly enamored with the authors prose and narrative, yet the plot sucked me in completely.
At first I thought I was reading a horrific tale of a potential kidnapper and/or pedophile, . . what I got instead was a clever twist of a heartbroken man, seeking an end to his pain albeit in a socially unacceptable manner.


Iced by Harry Hunsickerstars
Never heard of Hunsicker before, and I am unlikely to get any better aquainted than I am now.
This was not really a horrible story or anything, . . it just didn't do anything for me, A couple of junkies in a torid affair seek revenge on a blackmailer, . . and then they

go on a killing spree looking for that big score along the way, The action gets it the, but outside of that the charcters were unlikeable and since it was hard to care what happened to them.
. . it was hard to care about the whole story,

Justice Served by Mariah Stewartstars
I have never heard of stewart, and even though this story did not wow me I will still probably check her out in the future.
I loved her narative style of telling this story, I could feel the cowardice, the regret, the desire for vigilante justice and if not for such a disappointing ending I may even have gonestars.


The Circles by David Hewsonstar
Wow, I have not heard of hewson and certainly hope that his full length novels are more entertaining than this was.
. . it is doubtful that i will ever find that information out first hand, I find it unlikely that I will engage this author again, This story just did not connct with me on any level,

A Roomful of Witnesses by R, L. Stinestars
I love the narrative way this story is told, I love R. L Stine both his tween and ya work including some short stories, . . this was my first encounter with him on an adult based level I assume that is what this was, at least as evidenced by some graphic language that is not in his other works.
This was a cool story aboutex cons, who are working in a retirement home of sorts, . . simply blown away when I found out on what level, A humerous mystery ensues with a gruesome climax followed by a roomful of witneses!

The House on Pine Terrace by Phillip Margolinstars
Never heard of margolin but would be intrigued enough to try something else of his.
What this story lacked in action, suspense and thrills it made up for in brilliant narrative and nice character development with a couple of plot twists thrown in along the way.
I thought I was reading a story about a prostitute and a john, . . then a crime story then a romance. . what I finally got was a blend of all three brilliantly crafted in intricate layers of deception that all tie together neatly at the end!

The Desert Here and The Desrert Far Away by Marcus Sakey.
stars
I have never even heard of Sakey prior to this, and even though I only rated it.
I would be open to try out some more of his work, The plot never enticed me in this story, however I loved the narrative manner in which this story is told.
. . That probably raised it fromto,for me. A boxer turned soldier, suffers from PTDS and makes some unrational decisions, . . Again I liked the writing style, the manner in which the story was told, I just never connected with characters and the plot did not resonate with me.


On The Run by Carla Neggersstars
I have never heard of Neggers and this story did not prompt to delve into her other books very much.
I did like the narrative style of the story, it had an interesting premise with a fugitive and a mistaken Identity of a NOT Federal Marshall The fugitive thinks he is, a long time past death and hidden treasure.
. the sad part was the plot didn't develop an interest in me that increased,

Can You Help Me Out Here by Robert Ferrigno
Never heard of Ferrigno, and not familiar with his work.
This was not bad, but I still don't think I will be searching him out, I again enjoyed the manner in which this story was told, and found it eerily similar to the previous story.
The plot developed nicely with an abduction, a forced journey to find a journal a double cross, . . The problem was I did not care, . . I did like the twist of an ending and that raised it fromtostars,

Crossed Double by Joe Hartlaubstars
Never heard of Heartlaub and not likely to get better aquainted with him either.
A story about a father and son having a conversation, about the sons problems with some criminal elements.
. . pennt ante criminals, two bit hoods, experienced underworld figures, . . the problem was I wasn't interested in the outcome, the plot wasn't exciting and the characters unlikeable,

The Lamented by Lawrence Lightstar
I seldom gostar, . . I have never heard of Light, . . and will not venture this road again without a gun to my head, . . I love short stories, but I couldn't believe how long this was, I had been reading for hours and hours and flipped the pages to see how many more were left, and when I saw that it wasI almost died.
. . So I read for several more hours and flipped again assuming the end must be nearing, and behold there werepages left.
So I read for a few more days and KNEW the end was on the horizon when to my bewilderment there werepages remaining!!!!!! I know, I just know that I have read full length novels in less time than this, and text books on typewriter maintenance that were more enthralling.
In truth the story was onlypages long, but it seemed as though it would not end!

Vintage Death by Lisa Jackson.
stars
I have at least heard of Jackson, but am not real familiar with her works, I did however enjoy this story very much, I enjoyed again the narrative style very much several tales in this collection have used that format, and I felt like someone was telling me a story.
An old murder, rape, a new murder, abuse, deception, lies, fugitives this book had it all, Not great, but very enjoyable,

Suspension of Disbelief by Tim Maleenystars
I have never heard of maleeny before but after this delightfully wicked story I may seek him out.
Many of us have wished we could be a famous author, after reading this it may be better to sit in obscurity, We all know the publishing industry is a cutthroat buisiness, . . but not this bad I always wondered where some thriller writers come up with their horrifc ideas, . perhaps this story opens a window into that Well worth theminutes it takes to read!

A Calculated Risk by Sean Chercoverstars
Wow, this was a hidden gem! I have never herd of Chercover before, but hope that I come across his work again.
This started out slow and mysterious, but the ploting, suspense and calculated risk in the story were worth watching them unfold.


Theth World by Javier Sierra,stars
Well I was debating between,andmidway through this story, then it ended badly for me and I could almost gostars.
it started with an intriguingseemingly unrelated murders, that quickly spliced together, The mystery connecting theseemed to be generating steam, . and then it turned into a scifi, appocolypse, multidimensional, varying planes of existance and ultimately man becoming god.
. I am not into scifi so it fell apart for me, whereas fans of scifi and those who tolerate it better than me may enjoy this, as I said the first half was a very enjoyable murder mystery!

Ghost Writer by Gary Braverstars
Never even heard of Braver, but after reading this would be more interested in checking out more of his work.
This was a cool story about a writer who has lived past his prime and run out of ideas and inspiration.
He is solicited as a ghostwriter, and although he is abohered at the idea desperation leads him to acept.
What follows is a story that merges with hsi past, and guilt and fear drive him to a dreadful decision.
I am not big on supernatural and although this has elements of it, I am not sure it could be rightly called that either.


Through A Veil Darkly by Kathleen Antrim,stars
Never heard of Antrim maybe I don't read as much as I thought I do, I don't seem to know anyone! but this was cool.
At first I thought it would be a tiresome fear of militant Islamic extremists taking over the US.
It turned into a story that mirriored that with a brillian scheme of deception, what followed was a case of delusion, personality disorders and the like, The ending was not quite what I excpected or even wanted, but entertaining nonetheless!

Bedtime For Mr.
Li by David J. Montgomerystars
Never heard of montgomery but this was cool, A likeable hitman, and a unlikeable or at least unethical/immoral spy, . . This does not quite down like it should, but hey, . . it works!

Protecting The Innocent by Simon Woodstars
Never heard of wood but this was so smooth and easy to read, that hopefully I will encounter more of his work.
A man in love discovers an overprotective and overbearing brother, . . a love interest who is constantly being kilted and left by her lovers, . . but nothing is quite what it seems, A cool ending as well!

Watch Out For My Girl by Joan Johnstonstars
never heard of Johnston, but would be very interested in reading more of her work.
This was a coolstory with a brother pledged to make sure no one messes with his brothers girl.
In the line of his protective pledge he is the one who oversteps the bounds of his own pledge.
Both are racked with guilt and enter a psychotic couple into the mix and everything spirals out of control.
Very cool!

Killing Time by Jon Land,stars
never heard of Land but this was very cool, What happens when a group of terrosits, launch a mission unaware of an equally deadly hitman, . . what ensues is a somewhat predictable but wild ride,

Boldt's Broken Angel by Ridley Pearsonstars
I love just about anything by Pearson, and his Lou Boldt/Daphane Matthews series ranks alongside of Michael Connely's Harry Bosch series as the personaly most entertaining of the crime/suspense genre.
This story for me was the highlight of this anthology, although I am not sure it qualifies as a short story or novella or what the differentiating factors are.
If you are a Pearson/Boldt fan this is a shorter faster paced version of what you are already used to.
If you are new to Boldt, I would recommend getting aquainted with him through the seriies first, . . although personal I think it fares well as a stand alone story, it may not resonate with those not as attached to the characters.
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