FaceOff

April 7, 2014
A clever concept distinguishes this anthology sponsored by the International Thriller Writers. Each of the 11 stories pairs well-known series characters created by different authors, sometimes in adversarial but more often in collegial ways, and almost always effectively. Complementary heroes include John Lescroart’s Wyatt Hunt and T. Jefferson Parker’s Joe Trona, who share adventure in “Silent Hunt.” Others are far-from-obvious matches, like Jeffery Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme and John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport, who join forces in the longest entry, “Rhymes with Prey.” Steve Martini’s prosecutor Paul Madriani and Linda Fairstein’s defense attorney cross swords in “Surfing the Panther,” but end up wielding their weapons for the same cause. The strangest pairing is in “Gaslighted,” featuring R.L. Stine’s ventriloquist dummy, Slappy, and Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s FBI agent, Aloysius Pendergast. Other notable duos include Lee Child’s Jack Reacher with Joseph Finder’s Nick Heller in “Good and Valuable Consideration”; M.J. Rose’s Malachai Samuels and Lisa Gardner’s D.D. Warren in “The Laughing Buddha”; and Ian Rankin’s John Rebus with Peter James’s Roy Grace in “In the Nick of Time.” This idea is so good it demands a sequel, perhaps one that reaches beyond the U.S., the U.K., and Canada for contributors. Agent: Dan Conaway, Writers House.

July 28, 2014
This anthology, in which members of the International Thriller Writers society double up on 11 short mysteries featuring their famous protagonists in tandem, is both gimmicky and intriguing—and surprisingly testosterone-soaked. All but two of the tales feature male bonding. Dennis Boutsikaris’s tough, verging-on-cynical voice stands in for the lion’s share of the protagonists, including Jeffrey Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme and John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport, in the longest, and most entertaining, entry, “Rhymes with Prey.” Narrator Dylan Baker scores with two fantasy-mystery duets, adding Southern-tinged sarcasm to “Infernal Night,” in which F. Paul Wilson’s Repairman Jack and Heather Graham’s Michael Quinn meet in a New Orleans cemetery, then using a suspenseful whisper for “Gaslighted,” a nightmarish thriller with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s Aloysius Pendergast and Slappy, R.L. Stine’s ventriloquist’s dummy—by far the anthology’s oddest coupling. Narrator January LaVoy easily handles the women protagonists; she adds a thick Boston accent to Det. D.D. Warren and a brittle, energetic pacing for a N.Y.C. prosecutor. A Simon & Schuster hardcover.

This latest anthology from the International Thriller Writers is a feast for both fans of the genre and audiobooks in general. Twenty-two of the form's most prominent authors pair their best known lead characters to create 11 unique short stories showcasing the strengths of each. The impressive cast of accomplished narrators will be familiar to audio buffs, and the broad range of accents and vocal quality they bring to the performances lets each of their distinctive personalities shine. David Baldacci's introductions add helpful insight and background on the authors and their alter egos. Whether listeners proceed through the selections as they're presented or dip in to choose favorites as from a box of assorted treats, this satisfying collection should not be missed. M.O.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine