Thriller: V. 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
Based upon my ratings my actual tally is 3.179 stars....being a lover of short stories and getting much enjoyment from this series I would call it 3.5 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! 01 The Weapon by Jeffery Deaver- 4 starsDeaver 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!02 Remaking by Blake Crouch- 3.5 starsI 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.03 Iced by Harry Hunsicker- 2 starsNever 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 stars, 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.04 Justice Served by Mariah Stewart- 3 starsI 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 gone 4 stars.05 The Circles by David Hewson- 1 starWow, 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.06 A Roomful of Witnesses by R.L. Stine- 4 starsI 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 about 2 ex 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!07 The House on Pine Terrace by Phillip Margolin- 4 starsNever 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!08 The Desert Here and The Desrert Far Away by Marcus Sakey- 2.5 starsI have never even heard of Sakey prior to this, and even though I only rated it 2.5 stars 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 from 2 to 2.5 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.09 On The Run by Carla Neggers- 2 starsI 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.10 Can You Help Me Out Here? by Robert Ferrigno- 3 stars 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 from 2 to 3 stars.11 Crossed Double by Joe Hartlaub- 2 starsNever 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.12 The Lamented by Lawrence Light- 1 starI seldom go 1 star...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 was 51 I almost died...So I read for several more hours and flipped again assuming the end must be nearing, and behold there were 87 pages left....So I read for a few more days and KNEW the end was on the horizon when to my bewilderment there were 111 pages 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 only 21 pages long, but it seemed as though it would not end!13 Vintage Death by Lisa Jackson- 3.5 starsI 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.14 Suspension of Disbelief by Tim Maleeny- 4 starsI 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 the 20-30 minutes it takes to read!15 A Calculated Risk by Sean Chercover- 4 starsWow, 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.16 The 5th World by Javier Sierra- 2.5 starsWell I was debating between 3.5 and 4 stars midway through this story, then it ended badly (for me) and I could almost go 2 stars. it started with an intriguing 2 seemingly unrelated murders, that quickly spliced together. The mystery connecting the 2 seemed to be generating steam..and then it turned into a sci-fi, appocolypse, multi-dimensional, varying planes of existance and ultimately man becoming god..I am not into sci-fi so it fell apart for me, whereas fans of sci-fi and those who tolerate it better than me may enjoy this, as I said the first half was a very enjoyable murder mystery!17 Ghost Writer by Gary Braver- 4 starsNever 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.18 Through A Veil Darkly by Kathleen Antrim- 3. 5 starsNever 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!19 Bedtime For Mr. Li by David J. Montgomery- 3 starsNever 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!20 Protecting The Innocent by Simon Wood- 4 starsNever 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!21 Watch Out For My Girl by Joan Johnston- 4starsnever 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!22 Killing Time by Jon Land- 3.5 starsnever 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.23 Boldt's Broken Angel by Ridley Pearson- 5 starsI 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. A wonderfully thrilling collection of short fiction from some of today's best mystery writers, Thriller 2 is every bit as good as its predecessor. The best stories are the ones written by Ridley Pearson, Sean Chercover, Harry Hunsicker, Phillip Margolin, Joe Hartlaub & Joan Johnston. the biggest disappointment was easily the story "Bedtime for Mr. Li" by David J. Montgomery. I won't ruin it completely, but the whole story follows an assassin who is about to kill an incompetent Chinese spy, and then...well, I said I wouldn't ruin the story, but the ending, needless to say, was terrible. Not in a frustrating "I did not see that coming" but more of a "that's it???" kind of way. All in all, this will keep most fans of the genre happy.
What do You think about Thriller: V. 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down (2000)?
This was the first book I read under the "thriller" genre, and I guess it's just not for me
—Alisha_T123
Wonderful original short stories that are all thrillers. What fun!
—April
Some of the stories are B plus, however, most are ho hum.
—leraelur
