Eric Beetner

When Samantha awakes she is half buried in bricks and the smoke still swirls in the air. The car bomb didn’t killed her—small miracle. Her unfocused eyes see a figure coming nearer. A shape she recognizes somehow. As the person passes by the orange glow from the car fire’s light, she sees the face. Her face. But how? The other Samantha stands over her and regards her twin. Something is off about this new face. It is her, sure, but harder somehow. The new Sam turns and walks away, back toward the building she came out of before her car exploded. Back to see the two drug kingpins in the top floor offices. And somehow Samantha knows—back to take the deal she just turned down. Samantha Whelan is a DEA agent, and not always a straight and narrow one. She’s been taking bribes and doing favors for Calder and Rizzo—twin brothers and big players in narco traffic in southern California—for years. She turned down a deal that night, a deal to make her millions, but it meant killing her fiancé, an assistant district attorney building a case against Calder and Rizzo. And it meant betraying her DEA brethren more deeply than she had so far. It was too much. So Calder and Rizzo tried to blow her up. What happened then…she split. Samantha became Samantha and Sam. Two halves of the same person. The good side and the bad side. The two opposing forces living within her for so long were now free to fight it out to see who will win control. So begins a nightmarish rocket ride for Samantha to save her life and the lives of everyone she holds dear before Sam, her bad half, can burn it to the ground. Praise for TWO IN THE HEAD: “Two In the Head is a straight shot between the eyes. A gangbusters plot, punch-drunk pace, and gut-punch action propel this black hearted thriller from Eric Beetner.” —J. Todd Scott, author of The Far Empty and Lost River

Two in the Head

Kaye George

Jack Bates

Nigel Bird

BV Lawson

Patricia Abbott

Loren Eaton

Blu Gilliand

Seana Graham

Eirek Gumeny

R.L. Kelstrom

Evan Lewis

B. Nagel

Sean Patrick Reardon

Sandra Seamans

Absolutely Kate

GRIMM TALES is a collection of stories by some of the top names in online crime fiction, all based on classic fairy tales. As novelist Ken Bruen writes in his introduction, "Ever imagined what would have come down the dark pike if The Brothers Grimm were more Brothers Coen and wrote mystery?" The collection is edited by John Kenyon, editor of Grift magazine, and contains 17 stories by Patricia Abbott, Absolutely*Kate, Jack Bates, Eric Beetner, Nigel Bird, Loren Eaton, Kaye George, Blu Gilliand, Seana Graham, Eirik Gumeny, R.L. Kelstrom, John Kenyon, BV Lawson, Evan Lewis, B. Nagel, Sean Patrick Reardon and Sandra Seamans.

Grimm Tales

Mick Farren

Christopher Grant

Chad Eagleton

Matthew Funk

Pile your hair high, shine your leather jacket, pop the switchblade, and turn on the devil's music! Get ready to roar down the desolate American highway with eight tales of hoods, hot rods, and hellcats! "The 1950s are recreated one more time, but here it's with a savage, razor-honed edge you'll never find in Grease, Happy Days, or American Graffiti," from the introduction by the legendary Mick Farren. Hoods, Hot Rods, and Hellcats features brand new fiction from Eric Beetner, Chad Eagleton, Christopher Grant, Matthew Funk, David James Keaton, Nik Korpon, Heath Lowrance, and Thomas Pluck.

Hoods, Hot Rods, and Hellcats

For the first time in print two novellas in the pulp paperback tradition of fast and no-punches-pulled noir. In White Hot Pistol Jacy needs to get out of town and away from her stepfather, Brian. The only one she can turn to is her estranged brother, Nash. But getting away won’t be easy. Throw in a bag of cash, dark family secrets and a town cop who doesn’t want them to leave—who also happens to be the very man they’re trying to escape—and you’ve got a pulpy ride down the dark alleys of Noir. First time in paperback. In Blood on Their Hands Garret and his friends get more than they bargained for with a teenage prank gone wrong. Now killers are after them and the one man who could help them can never know. Friendships will be tested and these young men will see what they’re really made of and if they’ll even make it out of their teen years alive. It’s a violent coming-of-age story and pulp fiction at its action-packed best. Never before published. Praise for Eric Beetner: “If Beetner had been around in the 1950s, he could’ve had a nice career writing for Gold Medal or Dell First Editions, and that’s a high compliment from me.” —Bill Crider, author of the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series “Eric Beetner is the standard by which all current hardboiled and noir writers should be judged.” —Paul Bishop, author of Lie Catchers “Beetner is an old school talent, a crime writer’s crime writer like Gil Brewer (although, in my humble opinion, he’s better than Brewer), who writes stuff that is fast and funny and dark all at once.” —Jake Hinkson, author of Hell on Church St. and No Tomorrow “Few contemporary writers do justice to the noir tradition the way Eric Beetner does. Others try to emulate and mimic; Beetner just takes the form and cuts his own jagged, raw and utterly readable path.” —Gar Anthony Haywood, author of Assume Nothing, Cemetery Road and the Aaron Gunner series

Two Noir Novellas

Dark Duet

David Housewright

Duane Swierczynski

Stuart Neville

Gary Phillips

William Kent Krueger

Nick Petrie

Randy Wayne White

Michael Stanley

Jenny Milchman

Lissa Marie Redmond

Jess Lourey

Michael Bracken

Michael A. Black

Reed Farrel Coleman

Lois Greiman

Scott Adlerberg

Jen Conley

Libby Fischer Hellmann

John Gaspard

Kristi Belcamino

Jessie Chandler

Michael Allan Mallory

Terrence McCauley

Don Bruns

Gary R. Bush

Austin Camacho

Dave Case

Case Younggren

Edited by Rick Ollerman. Alphabetical list of contributors: Scott Adlerberg, Eric Beetner, Kristi Belcamino, Michael A. Black, Michael Bracken, Don Bruns, Gary R. Bush, Austin Camacho, Dave Case, Jessie Chandler, Reed Farrel Coleman, Jen Conley, John Gaspard, Lois Greiman, Libby Fischer Hellmann, David Housewright, William Kent Krueger, Jess Lourey, Michael Allan Mallory, Terrence McCauley, Jenny Milchman, Stuart Neville, Rick Ollerman, Nick Petrie, Gary Phillips, Lissa Marie Redmond, Michael Stanley, Duane Swierczynski, Randy Wayne White, and Case Younggren. Many of today’s top writers get together to celebrate the themes of books and bookstores (and even a tuba or two!) As we celebrate the life of Mystery Writers of America Raven Award-winning Gary Shulze, long-time owner of the legendary Once Upon a Crime bookstore in Minneapolis. Gary left an indelible mark on the crime fiction community across the world before he passed away in 2016 due to complications from leukemia. Join as Duane Swierczynski, William Kent Krueger, Randy Wayne White, Jess Lourey, Stuart Neville and more come together in this tribute to a man whose legacy will not be forgotten.

Blood Work

A year after the pulse-pounding action of Split Decision, Jimmy Wyler is back in Chicago trying to put his life back together. Working a job washing dishes in a late night diner, Jimmy vows to never get into a boxing ring again. But then, someone needs him. Leo, a teenaged boy who fights hard against the city every day, could use a man like Jimmy. To help save him from his alcoholic father, and to save his only sister from a pimp bent on turning her out. Jimmy must fight again. Fight for the ones who can?t fight for themselves. It will take him from fistfights in back alleys to no rules bouts with crowds screaming for blood and all the way back to the orphanage where he grew up. Along the way, blood will be spilled and knuckles will be bruised. More white-knuckle action and epic fights from the Fightcard series. Praise for Split Decision:?It was unpredictable; it put its main protagonist through the ringer; and didn?t take the soft option for the resolution. It?s that kind of story. I finished it in one sitting. It?s that entertaining. Highly recommended.?Permission To Kill ?Split Decision is a prime example of the sort of variety and adventurous storytelling we can expect from the Fight Card series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended.?James Reasoner, author of Dust Devils and The Blood Mesa ?Split Decision hooked me. Allow enough time to read the whole thing at one sitting, you're not going to want to put it down.?Mike Faricy, author of Russian Roulette and Finders Keepers

A Mouth Full of Blood

J. B. Kohl

Kansas City, 1939. One story from two points of view: the hunter and the hunted. Ray Ward - seeking revenge for his brother's death in the boxing ring. Detective Dean Fokoli - hot on a killer's trail.Ray's hunt takes him underground into Kansas City's criminal nightlife. Dean Fokoli lives there full time but he's on the run from his own troubles. Two men racing forward to collide like a knockout punch.A razor-edged story of revenge, redemption and what happens when you confront the ghosts of the past.

One Too Many Blows to the Head

Frank Zafiro

A Bricks & Cam Job #1 When the mob finds itself on hard times and has to lay people off, the boss decides to give two different hitters separate lists of "overdue accounts" - a backlist - to see who distinguishes themselves enough to remain on the payroll. The sharp-tongued Bricks and the hapless, eager to please Cam find themselves faced with challenges they never imagined when they got into the business. But there's no other choice than to settle out the names on... The Backlist.

The Backlist

To save her, and to save himself, he must make it... ALL THE WAY DOWN, a thriller by Eric Beetner.

All the Way Down

Hilary Davidson

Lori Rader-Day

Susanna Calkins

Diane Vallere

Nadine Nettmann

Lisa Brackmann

Thomas Pluck

The Go-Go’s made music on their own terms and gave voice to a generation caught between the bra-burning irreverence of the seventies and the me-first decadence of the eighties. Anthems like “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” and “Vacation” are an indelible part of our collective soundtrack, but more than that, they speak to the power and possibility of youth. Inspired by punk but not yoked to it, the Go-Go’s broke important musical ground by combining cheeky lyrics, clever hooks, and catchy melodies, perfectly capturing what it feels like to be young and female in the process. But beyond the Go-Go’s effervescent sound and cheerful pop stylings, a darkness underlies many of their lyrics and melodies, hinting at the heartache and frustration inherent in growing up. In other words, plenty to inspire murder and mayhem. Net proceeds from Murder-a-Go-Go’s benefit Planned Parenthood, a crucial provider of women’s affordable reproductive healthcare. With a foreword by Go-Go’s co-founder Jane Wiedlin and original stories by twenty-five kick-ass authors, editor Holly West has put together an all-star crime fiction anthology inspired by one of the most iconic bands of the eighties and beyond. Praise for MURDER-A-GO-GO’S: “I always suspected that twinkle in the Go-Gos’ eyes was a coded invitation to a darker world. In the hands of these 25 stellar crime fiction writers, ‘We Got the Beat’ and ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’ become evil little gems. A totally rad read.” —Alan Hunter, Original MTV VJ, SiriusXM Host “Shock and awe, that sums up my reaction to Murder-A-Go-Go’s. Shock to live in times when ‘The Whole World Lost Its Head’ and awe at the response of these gifted writers. Buckle up for a ride that will leave ‘Skidmarks on Your Heart.’” —Sara Paretsky, bestselling author of the V.I. Warshawski crime series “Who knew those happy songs by one of all-time favorite bands, the Go-Go’s could inspire such dark, noir, spine-tingling stories?!! It’s a collection of tales of distinctly female rage—the murderous kind and otherwise—to keep you up at night!” —Alison Arngrim, TV’s Nellie Oleson and author of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch “This is the music-driven anthology you didn’t know you needed, but after you read it, you’ll realize your bookshelf was lacking without it. This is a killer line-up of writers, and under Holly’s steady hand, they don’t play a single false note. Murder-A-Go-Go’s has got the beat.” —Rob Hart, author of The Warehouse “Like the songs these writers used for muses, each story contains the energy of a pop group and the rawness of a punk band, with some of the darkness and vulnerability that underscores the Go-Go’s themselves thrown in for good measure.” —Steph Post, author of Miraculum “The Go-Go’s spun some of the brightest, catchiest all-girl pop back in the day. But they always carried more weight than your average pop band: the burden of trailblazing and pioneering; the bad kids in the back of the class breaking all the rules and looking damn cool doing it. This collection commandingly captures that sweet subversion.” —Joe Clifford, author of The One That Got Away “Beneath the pop stylings and sensibilities of the Go-Go’s pulsed the heart of a punk band. In this eye-opening anthology, some of the sharpest voices of contemporary short crime fiction tease out the aches and anxieties echoing through the groundbreaking group’s music: the dark sides of desire, the missed opportunities, the tangled regrets. These stories—they got the beat.” —Art Taylor, award-winning author of On the Road with Del & Louise: A Novel in Stories “Holly West (editor)’s Murder-A-Go-Go’s is murderous fun from the first story to the last. Each masterful tale is distinctive, but this collection is so much more than the sum of its parts, infused with all the talent and skill of some of the best short story writers working in crime fiction today.” —Jennifer Hillier, author of Creep and Jar of Hearts

Murder-a-Go-Go's

Dale is a crooked cop. It started slow, but grew like a cancer and now he can’t get out from under the thumb of Tat, a would-be kingpin in every vice he can turn a profit with. And now Dale’s number is up—the top brass knows. But instead of getting busted, Dale gets an offer. The mayor’s daughter is being held by Tat in his fortress built from an abandoned office tower. They want her back but if they storm the gates, Lauren is as good as dead. So they’re sending Dale on what could very likely be a suicide mission: infiltrate Tat’s fortress and bring her out alive. If the Mayor even really wants her alive… Floor by floor Dale and Lauren have to fight off an increasingly difficult and dangerous set of obstacles. Meanwhile, Dale’s wife has her own troubles and some of the drug kingpin’s goons are only adding to an already rough day. The clock is ticking down along with the floors of the building and escape is looking less and less likely. But to save her, and to save himself, he must make it all the way down. Praise for ALL THE WAY DOWN: “Last chances, double crosses, and a cop who has to shoot his way out of a fortified skyscraper—what’s not to love? All The Way Down rips. It’s fast and fierce, like a guitar solo that hits all the sharpest notes.” —Meg Gardiner, author of Into the Black Nowhere “Eric Beetner’s All the Way Down is everything a reader could want from an action thriller—fast, suspenseful, and the right kind of outrageous. The stakes ratchet up with each harrowing surprise for crooked cop Dale and reporter Lauren, as they work together to escape the urban fortress of the city’s maniacal kingpin. If every suicide mission was this much fun, we’d all sign on.” —Glen Erik Hamilton, author of the Van Shaw thrillers “Beetner’s Dale Burnett is a dirty cop trying to rescue someone from the clutches of the ruthless criminal he’s been accepting money from...and fifteen floors of non-stop action follows! Beetner is a master at throwing more and more trouble at his heroes, and in All the Way Down, Dale gets hit with everything imaginable. No, check that—you will not have imagined what happens on a couple of these floors. This book is an absolute blast.” —Frank Zafiro, creator and editor of A Grifter’s Song “Relentless.” —Rob Hart, author of the Ash McKenna series

Joe Clifford

Sean Lynch

Sarah M. Chen

Nick Kolakowski

Alec Cizak

Paul D. Brazill

Eryk Pruitt

Anonymous-9

Will Viharo

Chris Rhatigan

Ron Earl Phillips

Preston Lang

Rob Pierce

Sean Craven

S.W. Lauden

Renee Asher Pickup

Todd Morr

Travis Richardson

Greg Barth

C. Mack Lewis

Deadlines is a tribute anthology dedicated to the memory of writer and crime fiction enthusiast, William E. Wallace. A career journalist, Wallace got a first-hand look at the darker side of humanity working at various papers in California before settling at the San Francisco Chronicle. Upon retiring, Wallace engaged fully into the crime fiction community connecting with writers and readers not only to promote his own writing, but to promote other writers he enjoyed. It is through William E. Wallace’s career and his stories that the contributors to this anthology take inspiration. These stories are presented with appreciation to his unselfish contribution to our community and our publications. All proceeds of this publication will be donated to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in the name of William E. Wallace. Learn more about the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at cbldf.org. And read William E. Wallace’s blog at PulpHackConfessions.com. Thank you to those who contributed their time and stories: Preston Lang, Jen Conley, Joe Clifford, Will Viharo, Paul D. Brazill, Patricia Abbott, Rob Pierce, Sean Craven, Eric Beetner, Sarah M. Chen, Nick Kolakowski, S.W. Lauden, Scott Adlerberg, Gary Phillips, Renee Asher Pickup, Eryk Pruitt, Todd Morr, Travis Richardson, Anonymous-9, Sean Lynch, Alec Cizak, Greg Barth, C. Mack Lewis. A joint publication of Shotgun Honey and All Due Respect.

Deadlines: A Tribute to William E. Wallace

For the last seventeen years, Lars—a hitman for an East Coast crime family—has been on the hunt for Mitch the Snitch. Mitch, an accountant who turned on Lars’s employer, is living in witness protection and has been evading Lars for almost two decades. In comes Trent, a young gun who has been sent to replace the aging gun for hire. With his old boss gone, Lars realizes he has lost the desire to kill his long-time target. When things come to a head with Trent, Lars finds himself on the run with Mitch’s teenage daughter Shaine, trying to stay one step ahead of angry mobsters and the FBI, as they make their way from New Mexico to California. Praise for THE DEVIL DOESN’T WANT ME: “The Devil Doesn’t Want Me is a runaway train of violence and mayhem, packed full with a collection of one-of-a-kind characters all speeding toward an explosive and inevitable end. Beetner is a maestro with his action scenes, filling the novel with cinematic set pieces, but the real heart of his story is Lars, an aging hit man forced to confront his own morality as the world goes to hell around him. A great read.” —Owen Laukkanen, author of The Professionals and Criminal Element “Eric Beetner is quickly becoming one of my favorite new crime writers, and The Devil Doesn’t Want Me is a perfect example of why. If you’re a fan of fast paced, well-written hardboiled crime fiction, you’re going to love this book. Beetner is the real deal, and I can only hope this is just the start of what we can expect from him in the future.” —John Rector, author of The Cold Kiss and Already Gone “Told with heart, humor, and sizzling cinematic prose, Eric Beetner’s The Devil Doesn’t Want Me is crime fiction at its most entertaining and marks the arrival of a bold new talent.” —Peter Farris, author of Last Call for the Living “This book is like if you took Lawrence Block’s famous hitman, Keller, and made him the lovechild of Elmore Leonard and Quentin Tarantino.” —Criminal Element “I found the story awesome, with characters you will love to hate and hate to love.” —Bookloons reviews “In the wrong hands this story could have been a cliché-ridden minefield. Author Eric Beetner, however, is incredibly adept at crafting characters who defy their expected roles. An incredibly enjoyable story that has more depth than your typical hitman/mob shoot-em-up.” —Book Reviews by Elizabeth A. White “Read this and you find yourself knee deep in a tightly woven web that shocks with static electricity at touch. I’m ready to read more from Eric Beetner and you should too after you have bought this book.” —Lurid Lit reviews “Eric Beetner is a writer to watch—and to read. With sharp wit and interesting insight—and a huge dose of skill—Beetner takes you on rare literary trips, introducing you to a world of criminals, lost souls and losers. With The Devil Doesn’t Want Me, he delivers in spades with a fun, fast-paced and action-packed tale of a badass who might be losing his touch. With blossoming characters and a storyline you can’t predict, The Devil Doesn’t Want Me is a true delight.” —Greg Bardsley, author of Cash Out “Eric Beetner’s The Devil Doesn’t Want Me is a hardboiled thrill ride that is a fantastic addition to the pulp/noir genre. His plot line buzzes along like an electric razor and keeps the reader not only on the edge of their seat, but also guessing at every turn and waiting for the next twist. Each character is well thought out and their behaviors are perfectly executed by Beetner. One often forgets that the protagonist they’re rooting for is a professional killer. Even the antagonist becomes someone you love to hate. The pulp/noir genre should be absolutely thrilled to have such a great voice added to their team. If you’re a fan of the genre, The Devil Doesn’t Want Me is right up your alley.” —Josh K. Stevens, author of Bullets Are My Business “Hell of a crime novel and highly recommended.” —Spinetingler Magazine “The Devil Doesn’t Want Me has all the elements that one needs for a great commercial thriller, but it has rare ingredients that make it a work of its own. Unique characters thrown into a nice linear plot that takes plenty of sharp turns and keeps you guessing. I thought I know where this baby was going when it started, but I had no idea.” —Tom Pitts, author of Piggyback

The Devil Doesn't Want Me

In the aftermath of a mega-church scandal, Sam and Rachel take advantage of its adoption program shutting down, working a con with the desperate parents who just saw their opportunity to adopt a child fade away. Posing as an evangelical couple, the grifters quickly run afoul of a local religious order and a vengeful deacon.

The Sound of Breaking Bones

Eric Beetner

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