CRIME SCENES

David Dean has called Joseph S. Walker “arguably the best short crime fiction writer on the scene today,” and in Crime Scenes, the first collection of his stories, you’ll find ample evidence of why.

In the Edgar-nominated “Etta at the End of the World,” a woman on the run after killing her abusive husband discovers an unexpected chance for redemption on a Florida beach. She’s just the first of many remarkable characters in these twenty stories—stories which have also been finalists for Thriller, Derringer, and Shamus awards, won two Al Blanchard Awards, and been featured in multiple editions of The Best Mystery Stories of the Year. There’s the therapist who takes a desperate step to resolve the conflict her client can’t get past. The retired pitcher coping with a bizarre ransom demand when his wife is abducted. The young pickpocket struggling to protect her aging mentor. The mob boss whose niece just might make the Olympics, if he can stay out of her way. The assassin whose latest assignment makes him a little too curious for his own good.

All of them will keep you turning the pages, eager to see what’s coming next. As Janet Hutchings, longtime editor of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, writes, “The styles of this author’s stories vary; when he’s in classic noir mode, he could rival Chandler for similes that hit the mark and stay in the brain. Every fan of short crime fiction will find something to enjoy in this volume!”

. . .

“If you’ve not read Joseph S. Walker’s short fiction before, you’re in for a treat. These twenty stories of crime and deception—they range from bars to ballparks to back alleys to movie sets—will grab you right away and hold you until the end, with no wasted words and no dull moments. Walker’s style is both fast-paced and easy to read, and is only one of the reasons he’s among the best crime/suspense writers working today. I truly enjoyed this book!” 

~ John M. Floyd, Edgar-nominee and Shamus Award-winner

“Sure, you’ll come for the twisty plots and wonderfully drawn characters in Crime Scenes, but you’ll stay for the heart and humanity. Joseph S. Walker is a short story pro’s pro!” 

~ Alan Orloff

“Joseph S. Walker does for the short story what Jeff Beck did for the guitar. He is a master of technique but never uses it to show off. He uses it to pull his readers into the action and experience it along with the characters. He’s a true virtuoso, and every time I pick up one of his stories, I learn something new.” 

~ Steve Liskow, Edgar and Shamus Award-finalist, 

two-time winner of the Black Orchid Novella Award