Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down by Clive Cussler (editor)

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Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down by Clive Cussler (editor)

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Buy Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down by Clive Cussler (editor) at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Category: Short Stories
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Reviewed by Sue Magee
Summary: Twenty three short stories which deliver something for everyone and with none really missing the mark. If you enjoy thrillers and want something to dip into then this is the book for you.
Buy? Yes Borrow? Yes
Pages: 512 Date: September 2009
Publisher: MIRA
ISBN: 978-0778303206

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If you enjoy thrillers or short stories then you might find this book a treat. If you enjoy them both then it's a treasure trove. Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down is edited by best-selling author Clive Cussler (although none of his work is included) and includes work by some authors who are the top of their game. There are twenty three stories in all, each about twenty pages long and they're perfect for those moments when you just want to dip into something short and satisfying.

Most of the stories are from American authors but there's an excellent story from the UK's David Hewson which takes a frightening look at the question of terrorism in London in the wake of the London bombings. There's a twist there that I certainly didn't see coming – and one that could be scarily true.

We're more used to R L Stine delivering those Rotten School books which we wish that the kids didn't love so much, but his story for the grown ups - A Roomful of Witnesses - set in a very humid Louisiana has a novel twist which might surprise you. Mariah Stewart takes a look at revenge in Justice Served when a young woman takes her revenge in a way that the rest of us only think about in our darkest moments.

We had our reservations about Javier Sierra's The Last Supper but he seemed to hit the mark with The Fifth World where murder meets mysticism. If this is the type of story which appeals to you then you might well think that this is the best of the book. The big name which opens is Geoffrey Deaver's The Weapon which looks at the limitations of torture. The ending will blow you away.

Lisa Jackson is known for her ability to mine into the complex relationships within families and I did wonder if she would be able to do it successfully within the confines of a short story but I needn't have worried. In Vintage Death she's on form with plenty of suspense and even a little romance.

As with any mixture of short stories there are some that are better than others, but none that I could say missed the mark completely. There's a good mixture of stories too with more than a few that will appeal to most tastes. The stories are original so you won’t have the disappointment as with so many similar books of finding that you've read a good few of them elsewhere.

I've mentioned several authors but there are also stories by Kathleen Antrim, Sean Chercover, Robert Ferrigno, Gary Goshgarian, Joe Hartlaub, Harry Hunsicker, Joan Johnson, Jon Land, Lawrence Light, Tim Maleeny, Phillip Margolin, David J Montgomery, Carla Neggers, Ridley Pearson, Marcus Sakey and Simon Wood.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

If this type of book appeals then we think that you might also enjoy Killer Year edited by Lee Child.

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Buy Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down by Clive Cussler (editor) at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down by Clive Cussler (editor) at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
Buy Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down by Clive Cussler (editor) at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down by Clive Cussler (editor) at Amazon.com.

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