Double Homicide

Two novellas, two settings, two victims, two pairs of detectives, two writing styles--there's plenty for two readers to work with here. John Rubinstein reads IN THE LAND OF THE GIANTS, in which Boston detectives investigate the death of a college basketball star after an on-court incident. Rubenstein narrates in mostly angry tones that reflect the rough worlds of competitive sports and city police work. Lou Diamond Phillips gives smoother treatment to STILL LIFE, set in the artsy world of Santa Fe, where an unpopular art dealer has been killed. Detectives Two Moons and Katz emerge as distinct personalities as they sort out suspects and clues. There is no clue, however, to the authorship or location of each title in the packaging or on the discs. That quibble aside, this production delivers a double dose of suspenseful listening. J.B.G. 2005 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

September 6, 2004
Those who admire risk, take note: two authors at the top of their game have done something quite new. Those who fear change, take heart: the results are just fine. Faye and Jonathan Kellerman, each with a slew of bestsellers, have collaborated on a volume comprising two mystery novellas. Each stands on its own, with separate settings (Santa Fe and Boston) and separate pairs of homicide detectives. To further heighten the distinction, the book has two front covers, with the authors alternating first billing and a "flip" format. It's intriguing to imagine how these two pros went about writing together, but it's even more fun just to jump in and enjoy. The characters are all new, and so are the locales; that in itself is worthy of admiration. Surprisingly, the two novellas are uneven in quality. The Boston piece, about the mysterious death of a young basketball star, suffers from wordiness and a somewhat murky plot, troubles that short works can ill afford. But the strong Santa Fe story more than compensates, with its fully rounded characters and evocative sense of place. The final scene, haunting and heartbreaking, shows the assured hand of a master. (One-day laydown Oct. 5)

Forecast:
With a 300,000-copy first printing and the unusual husband-wife pairing, expect plenty of media attention and a run on bestseller lists.

May 1, 2005
"Double Homicide" consists of two novellas written jointly by this popular husband and wife. In "Land of the Giants," an opposing team member shoots a star college basketball player during his team's victory celebration at a local bar. There are many witnesses, and the man who pulled the trigger is easily identified and found, but he is not the killer. Detectives Michael MacCain and Doris Sylvestor uncover the true murderer. In "Still Life," detectives Steve Katz and Darryl Two Moons discover the unlikely murderer of a hated art dealer. Although fans of previous Kellerman novels will miss the familiar characters and the more satisfying plots, they will still enjoy these two stories. Excellent readings by John Rubinstein and Lou Diamond Phillips bring out the individual personalities of the various players. Recommended for public libraries. -Ilka Gordon, Medical Lib., Fairview General Hosp., Cleveland

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