Book Review: Face Off (edited by David Baldacci) a unique collection of collaborative short stories from your favourite crime writers. Which of your favourite Crime Fition Detectives would you like to see in a 'Face Off'

This collection of collaborative short stories is crime fiction at its’ most revolutionary - Our favourite crime detectives Face Off against each other in a unique collection of 11 short stories written by 23 of the world’s best known crime fiction writer’s.

This collection stands out, not only because of the excellent  and inventive stories but because of the skilful editing by David Baldacci.  


The almost insurmountable hurdles involving the practicalities of engaging international writers each with different  publishing houses, writing styles and commitments is so worth it.  Face Off is a tribute to the mutual respect and admiration among crime writers, their versatility and their dedication as well as their ability and desire to pursue the near impossible.

The stories are fantastic but what drew me in as much as the stories was Baldacci’s description of the mechanics of ‘making each story happen’.  That brief outline before each story highlighted the issues involved in its’ creation and gave some insight into how the writers worked to pull it off. 

Amazing!  I hope we see more of these sort of collaborations that push the creative and physical boundaries and delight the reader so much.

Here are just a few examples of the treats in store for you!

Red Eye (which also got a nomination for best short story in this years Edgars) takes Michael Connolly’s Harry Bosch to Boston to pursue the cold case of a murdered child.  On a stake out Bosch’s investigation crosses paths with Dennis Lehane’s Patrick Kenzie’s current investigation into a possible child abduction. 

In, In The Nick Of Time a death bed confession unites the well- loved creations of Peter James and Ian Rankin (Roy Grace and John Rebus) who converge on Grace’s home town Brighton to solve a crime from the 60’s.

Gaslight is a skillful story involving a trio of writers, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child’s,  Aloysious Pendergast  faces off to R.L.Stine’s, Slappy The Ventriloquist Dummy in a surreal and creepy tale that left me feeling quite unsettled. 

Available on amazon kindle £2.99 or PB £6.39 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Face-Off-David-Baldacci-ebook/dp/B00GFHFZ5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1423139279&sr=1-1&keywords=face+off+david+baldacci