Customer Reviews (2)

Multi-Authors
The only reason I bought this book is because my favorite Western Author, Elmer Kelton was listed as one of the key authors, as well as John Jakes, whose series on America I enjoyed reading. Whereas these two authors made a good contribution, they were not signigicant enough to hold a complete thread on just who was Tanner Moody, a ficticious name. In summary, I think we had too many authors to make this book a good read.

AN EXCELLENT WESTERN ANTHOLOGY -A MUST READ
A reporter on his way to New York for a job possibilty stops at The White Elephant Saloon in Ft. Worth for a meal. Inquiring as to why so many folks were gathered the reporter was surprised to hear the crowd had gathered for a funeral and wake. The funeral of Tanner Moody. So he decides to write a series of articles about Moody, gathering his information from the stories told by those in attendence. Marthayan Pelegrimas in her magnificent tale Poor Ole Moody tells of Tanner's early life, the young girl who always loved him, the death of Moody's stepmother and how he protected Ellie. Love And Bullets is an exciting story by Peter Brandvold of how Tanner became involved with a beautiful Mexican girl and her thirst for revenge against her father that led Moody down the owlhoot trail. Now Tanner Moody despite his reputation as an owlhoot was also a badge toter as James Reasoner relates to us in his stirring tale Tanner Moody And The Prophet Mountains. You'll find that Tanner Moody was also at one time a bounty hunter as you read Livia Washburn's thrilling story of how Moody rescued a group of abandoned boys out on the western plains while bringing in an old acquiantance who just happened to be an escaped prisoner. Kerry Newcomb, who once his story The Man Who Let The Devil Out, gets out to readers and publishers alike will be selling books faster than he can write them. This is an intriguing tale of a man from Tanner's past who with unexpected help from Moody, was able to rediscover his courage. Then there is the well crafed story Three-Handed Winner by Robert J. Randisi about a poker game Moody had with some well known westerners that had a deadly ending for some would be robbers. With additional stories by Elmer Kelton and John Jakes, THE FUNERAL OF TANNER MOODY IS A MUST READ and an OUTSTADING book that is very well edited by Robert J. Randisi. I would hope Mr. Randisi does other books like this in the future.

Les ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enjoyable western by a master professional
The protagonist is Lancaster ,a hired gunman who makes a clear moral distinction between that andbeing a killer for hire and so rejects a generous fee offered by a Big Bend ,Kansas "businesssman",Hannibal Kane to kill a man .The intended victim does not know this and confronts Lancaster and is killed in the resultant shootout.Unfortunately ,so too is a small girl caught in the crossfire .Lancaster is haunted by her death and in particular her startlingly blue eyes .He is wracked by guilt for the accodent and embarks upon a downward spiral which sees him workingin a saloon in Dunworthy ,Texas and earning a reputation as the town drunk.
One morning he witnesses the arrival of the new teacher and her small daughter Alicia who reminds hin so forcefully of the dead child that he becomes obsessed with her and with preventing a malign fate befalling her.The teacher and Alicia are fleeing her husband/father an abusive millionare namedDelaware who has engaged the services of a professional tracker Josiah Alton to track them down .Lancaster is too late to save the life of the mother but kills Alston and goes on the run with Alicia pursued by a posse headed by Delaware ,two of his hirelings ,and a reluctant contingent of townsman from Dunworthy ,including its sheriff .
Lancaster becomes fixated on the idea of taking the child to Big Bend and uniting the bereaved nother and the bereaved child in a kind of instant family .
The narrative cuts between Lancaster and Alicia between whom a real bond is forming and their pursuersmany of whom cordially detest their employer.The chase takes in encounters with ladies of the night and a wagon train of pilgrims heading West and matters climax in Big Bend where Lancaster must deall with Delaware and a hired gunman set upon him by Kane .
This is a propulsively told Western with just a faint hint of the supernatural and a strongly redemptive theme as Lancaster is seeking atonement for his involvement in the death of the child in Kansas amnd it is implied that it may have become a life quest ,one going beyond even the circumstances of the present case.It also brings out the role of women in the Western as most are either soiled doves or teachers but it is made clear that even the roughest and most mercenary of men will not tolerate an abuser of woman in the society of the west
It is briskly told in snappy dialogue heavy prose and is thoroughly professional in its telling and is recommended to all -not simply genre devotees -who enjoy a brisk tale well told ... Read more

Book Description

Having lost a wife to violence and a son to retribution, onetime Texas sheriff Daniel Shaye has brought what remains of his shattered family -- two grown boys fiercely devoted to their father and justice -- to Vengeance Creek, Arizona. In a lawless town, they become the law, grieving for their slain loved ones while looking to start a new life free of further bloodshed. But destiny has other plans for the Shayes.

Book Description
Joe Keough, a former New York City police detective, moved to St. Louis to get away from the bloodshed of the Big Apple and start fresh. But five minutes into Keoughs new life, four-year-old Brady Sanders walked into his St. Louis police station, leaving behind a trail of bloody footprints. "Each of Randisis novels is better than its entertaining predecessor."-BOOKLIST

That was only the beginning of a twisted trail of darkness and fear, from Brady's missing parents and their blood soaked house, to the kidnapping of beautiful mothers and their small children. Were these hideous acts a series of unrelated coincidences, or was there a serial killer on the loose, stalking and killing the citizens of St. Louis? It wasnt long before Keough was forced to realize that death in the Midwest is no different from death in New York. Terror is terror, no matter where you live. "Randisi successfully combines dry humor and suspense to come up with one heckuva read. This man knows how people talk and think and it shows." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Related or Illiterate
Skip this one.Anyone who finds any part of this book even remotely believable is either related to the author or cannot read.His bumbling St. Louis police force is ridiculous.

In the shadow of Joe's amazing hunches.
The main character, Joe Keough, does very little (if any) actual detective work in this rather tepid novel.

Amazingly, both the multiple murder investigation and the events surrounding little Brady Sanders manage to solve themselves with minimal input from Detective Keough.Joe is simply there to act on his outlandish hunches and pick up all the credit.This comes even at the cost of a fellow officer.But hey, it was the one detective on the force that all the men and women didn't really care for anyway, so what's the big deal, right?

In reality, all Joe Keough has in this story are his hunches.He even goes so far as to tell this to his superiors and the FBI.

The supporting cast of officers are ineffectual, as is the story's villain.It is for these reasons that I cannot in good conscience recommend this novel.

Enjoyable read
I grabbed this book from a limited selection at an airport newsstand, notbeing terribly familiar with the author, but needing something to helpdistract me from a four-hour flight.The author manages to integrateseveral story lines and does a nice job of mixing mystery, a littleromance, as well as some humor.It was one of those "have to finishit" books as opposed to the many half-read titles on my book shelf. It was easy to picture the people and places in my mind - almost likereading the script of a screenplay.

Was it the best book I've ever read? Nope.But it was entertaining and will probably be enjoyed by others aswell.

Major disappointment after Alone With the Dead
In this sequel to Alone With the Dead, Detective Keogh relocates to St. Louis.Now, I don't live in St. Louis but even as an east-coaster and a former New Yorker I found Randisi's characterization of St. Louis prettyinsulting.If I lived there I would be truly offended.His portrayal ofthe police force paints them as being as competent as Barney in MayberryRFD.For example, when Keough walks out of a crime scene he explains he istrying to reconstruct the crime.A fellow officer asks him how he doesthat. Puh-lease....No one but Keough not only knows *any* policeprocedure (if you're a regular mystery reader you know more than these St.Louis cops do) but no one else possesses any common sense either.And ofcourse Keough comes up with all of the patterns and motives of the criminalout of thin air and anticipates his moves with the accuracy of a psychic.

This was a truly ridiculous book.

Simply outstanding
Brooklyn native and former police detective Joe Keough flees the rough edge of the Big Apple to what he expects to be a more tranquil lifestyle in St. Louis.Within minutes of reporting to his new Midwest assignment, a bloodied little child enters the station (and ultimately Joe's heart).Joe accompanies the child back to his home to find an even bloodier scene, but no signs of the lad's parents.

Joe is also assigned a second case.Mothers with infants are being kidnapped.The children are always found alive, but the mothers are typically murdered.Joe begins to investigate both cases, wondering if his new city is just a microsm of his former residence.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE ARCH is a well-written police procedural that deserves full attention from fans of the sub-genre.Joe is a great character, who learns the ultimate lesson for a cop, namely that murder knows no geography. Using the mall as a setting for a nightmare adds a chilling depth to a terrific tale.This reviewer recommends this book and the first Keough novel (ALONE WITH THE DEAD) for two entertaining but hard boiled detective stories.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Book Description
Loaded with tension, charged with uncertainty, these four taut tales by New York Times bestselling authors bring their unsuspecting or hunted and fearful targets into the deadly sights of a hired killer's gun. Contents include: "Keller's Karma" by Lawrence Block read by Stefan Rudnicki, "The Catch" by James W. Hall read by John Rubinstein, "A Trip Home" by Ed Gorman read by Gabrielle de Cuir and "Snow, Snow, Snow" by John Harvey read by Maxwell Caulfield.

Maxwell Caulfield has co-starred on and off Broadway with Geraldine Page and Jessica Tandy. Gabrielle de Cuir is a multiple recipient of AudioFile's Earphones Award. Stefan Rudnicki is an Audie award-winning narrator and Grammy award-winning audio producer.Actor/composer/director John Rubinstein won a Tony for his starring role in Broadway's Children of a Lesser God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

ENJOYABLE and FUN
Legend is a wonderfully enjoyable story that will give you tears from every possible mood you can be in.Why it is listed in Amazon with Loren D. Estleman's name first is beyond me, he did not put this book together. I think it was Robert J. Randisi.At any rate, in my opinion all of the authors put in their best work.A book to be read again.

"Western anthologys are on the rise..." ReadWest.com
Another great anthology from some of the best western writers ever, and this is just a beginning. We can look forward to more great fiction from the new Western Writers of America anthology to be released next year.Great news for the genre! Meanwhile, read LEGEND!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND LEGEND!!!
I just recently finished Legend and throughly enjoyed it. I admit that I read "most" of the part about Speaks first love. Overall this was a very enjoyable western that kept me turning pages to see what wouldhappen next. I have already passed it on to my neighbors father who enjoyswesterns.

LEGEND - a great book!
I just recently finished Legend and throughly enjoyed it. I admit that I read "most" of the part about Speaks first love. Overall this was a very enjoyable western that kept me turning pages to see what wouldhappen next. I have already passed it on to my neighbors father who enjoyswesterns. Can we look for other colaborative westerns like this? Any way,for what it"s worth, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND LEGEND!!! ... Read more

Book Description
The third volume in this "indispensable" (Publishers Weekly) series offers more of our favorite fictional detectives' inaugural cases--and includes two never-before-published stories!From classic to contemporary, from hard-boiled to cozy, this wide-ranging collection includes a tale for every taste.

Praise for the First Cases series:

"[A] smashing concept." -- Mystery News

"A mystery fan's fantasy."-- St. Louis Dispatch ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent Overview of Contemporary Mysteries
Robert Randisi has succeeded masterfully in pulling together a single volume of works that provides his reader with a brief, thorough, and excellent overview of contemporary mysteries.The stories in this collection feature the "first" cases of many of today's leading sleuths.Unlike many short story anthologies, there is a great range in tone and subject matter in this FIRST CASES volume.Some stories are cozies while others are hardboiled.All fit somewhere across our genre's spectrum.

I was pointed to this short story collection by my favorite mystery bookseller.I told her I needed a fresh text for this upcoming semester's course on writing mystery short stories that I regularly teach in the California State University system.Students in that class usually have a wide range of writing interests, and FIRST CASES--VOLUME 3 provides models that can apply to their varying literary efforts.It features stories by Tony Hillerman, Gar Anthony Haywood, Laura Lippman, Lawrence Block, Maxine O'Callaghan, and Anne Perry, among others.There is even a Talmage Powell story dating from the mystery genre's pulp fiction years.I am quite pleased with this collection, and it is now among my course's required texts when this semester's course begins soon.

it was allright
i thought it was not very good

Late-night Snacks That Add No Pounds
These morsels are ideal for bedtime delectation.To quote "Death of the Mallory Queen" narrator Chip Harrison,the `Archie' of Lawrence Block's laugh-out-loud take-off on Nero Wolfe and assorted generic conventions: "Ifthis were novel length I'd say whateach of them was wearing and whoscowled and who looked interested, but Haig says there's not enough plothere for a novel and that you have to be more concise in short stories ...." Lack of complexity and lightning-quick resolutions aside,pleasures are many. First published in 1949, Talmage Powell's "Her DaggerBefore Me" reads like a picture postcard of the era come to life on thepage. "Chee's Witch" spread lore. In "Snow," a new story,StuartKaminsky'sPorfiry Petrovich Rostnikov is a uniformed police whose futuredepends on his ability to woo his damaged left leg. Storiesare arranged by age, from masters to the "new breed,"the former beingprimarily male [with the exception of Maxine O'Callaghan, creator ofDelilah West,according the editor, the first modern female P.I.] and thelatter being women.The modern female sleuths -- Shugak, Matelli,Plum,Monaghan -- are fearless about defining for themselves the meaning of guiltand justice.

Excellent
This book is just as the name suggests, new, classic tales of detection. It fulfills your need and desire for such stories. It is a must for mystery lovers. ... Read more

Book Description
Eight all-new stories of high-rolling intrigue from today's best authors make up this unique collection that looks at the chances we take, the laws that we break, and the fortunes we hope to make... ... Read more

Amazon.com
There's something very old-fashioned about Robert J. Randisi's Eastof the Arch. While its serial-killer plot certainly offers some grippingmoments, the characters--from the edge-treading lead cop to its self-absorbedpoliticians--are straight out of the How to Write Police Procedurals manual. Andits principal perpetrator bears not even a hint of a redeeming quality. ThatRandisi nonetheless manages to keep one reading attests to the time-oiled easeof his prose.

Joe Keough (introduced in 1995's Alone with the Dead) is aformer New York City homicide detective, now living in St. Louis and doingmind-numbing security work for that city's mayor. But East of the Archfinds his expertise in solving serial slayings needed across the Mississippi, inthe bad-rep Illinois burg of East St. Louis, where two women have been murderedduring the forcible removal of their unborn children. Struggling to avoid myriaddistractions, including a job offer in Washington, D.C., and rumors of abusewithin the prospective foster family of a boy he helped more than a year before(see In the Shadow of theArch), the instinct-driven Keough and an eager young local detectivesearch for a sociopathic misogynist who is already nurturing his nextvictim--"his crowning achievement."

Though Randisi's history as an administrative assistant with the NYPD informshis storytelling, East of the Arch is too predictable, with a rapidsumming-up that wastes the tension it had been progressively building. The40-year-old Keough, an unsettled diabetic-in-denial, has all the makings of athoroughbred series figure, but this novel doesn't give him the challenge heneeds to show his strengths. --J. Kingston PierceBook Description
serial killer is preying on pregnant women in East St. Louis, Illinois.At the Mayors request, Detective Joe Keough helps Detective Jeter with the investigation. The two men work frantically to discover the perpetrator of these increasingly sick and twisted crimes, before another young woman and her unborn baby are killed in this riveting murder mystery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A FAST PACED , FIRST RATE MUST READ STORY!!!
EAST OF THE ARCH is the third installment in the Joe Keough detective series from master story teller Robert J Randisi. Considering moving on in his career, Joe's mind is changed when he is loaned out by his boss, the mayor of St. Louis, to investigate a serial killing spree that is occuring there. Keough has assigned to him a "task force" consisting of a young Mark Twain quoting dective, Marc Jeter( who I would like to see teamed up with Keough again) and their "girl Friday" Jenny Sykes. The three begin the investigation of a serial killer who is killing pregnant women. Also showing up from Joe's past is Valerie Speck and the boy Brady who were involve in Keough's first case in St. Louis and the IA detectives Mason & Gail who are still out to get Keough any way they can. Add a seperate murder to the mix and once again Randisi weaves a first rate mystery. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EAST OF THE ARCH and hope there are many more Randisi Joe Keough books coming out.

excellent police procedural
Detective Joe Keough is a St. Louis Detective who is the mayor's "top cop" which means he is little more than a bodyguard.He misses working in the field. Joe is actually thinking of leaving and moving on to someplace where he can do some actual police work when the mayor of East St. Louis in Illinois asks the mayor of St. Louis to loan him a police officer who has had experience in apprehending serial killers.

Joe is the logical choice and he jumps at the chance to find out who is killing pregnant women and ripping out their fetuses.When Joe sets up his new office there are two such killings and he knows it is only a matter of time before there is a third.He is paired off with police officer Marc Jeeter, an idealistic man who badly wants catch this maniac and put him and put him in a cage but that won't be an easy take because there are political forces at work with a different agenda.

Robert J. Randisi is an author who knows how to write an excellent police procedural.He shows a step-by-step investigation in progress and the reader gets so caught up in it that he can't put the book down until he learns how it all turns out.Part of the book is told by the viewpoint of the villain. This is exciting and horrifying at the same time.EAST OF THE ARCH is a fantastic installment in this long running series.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great anthology with plenty of favorite authors!
Ok- so this is a fun collection with many favorite mystery authors contributing. This one is much better than the follow up Deadly ALlies II- so pick up this one!

Listing of contents:
Contents:

* Easy Go by Lia Matera
* Summary Judgment by Jeremiah Healy
* A Little Missionary Work by Sue Grafton
* A Good Judge of Character by Susan Dunlap
* Sex and Violence by Nancy Pickard
* Mary, Mary, Shut the Door by Benjamin M. Schutz
* Role Model by Michael Collins
* Invitation by Sarah Andrews
* Nothing Ventured by Carolyn G. Hart
* Whatever Has to Be Done by Jan Grape
* Louise by Max Allan Collins
* Strung Out by Sara Paretsky
* Like Father, Like Daughter by Sandra Scoppettone
* Turnabout by Robert J. Randisi
* Before You Leap by John Lutz
* Hangnail by Margaret B. Maron
* Silk Strands by Julie Smith
* Safe House by Loren D. Estleman
* Unfinished Business by Rob Kantner
* Reunion by Marilyn Wallace ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Serial Killers Of Children In Midwest
Veteran detective Joe Keough and his partner Harriet Connors are recruited into the FSK to help solve the serial murders of young boys and girls in St. Louis and Chicago. The task force is an FBI offshot to find serial killers and consequently they meet resistance from the local police who want to protect their own turf and freeze them out of the information loop.The investigation is aided by an interesting FBI profiler Nicole Busby. It turns out that there were two killers involved and that they were twins that had been separated at birth who fell into the same pattern.Good solid read with a few unique twists.

SO GOOD
Joe Keough is back with his partner Harriet.This time, they are dealing with a/or moreserial killer(s).Killing of little children are happening in St-Louis and Chicago with strange coincidences.

I LOVE the character of Joe Keough.This book is not chock full of action, but the author manages to describe the murder scenes with a vivid accuracy (without too much gore) and lets you feel as though you are seeing it yourself.

The character of Keough is far from perfect and is, in fact, loaded with confusion. HIs heart is in the right place though and all he knows is that he needs to find the killer(s).

As I said, there isn't a ton of action on every page, but Keough will walk you through these murders with a sharp eye and very interesting twists.

This is a smart thriller and is absolutely worth the price of the book.

Buy it. ... Read more

Book Description
This new Western anthology includes tales of Butch Cassidy, Ned Christie, Sam Bass, and other historical villains from America's Wild West-from the top names in Western fiction: Matt Braun, Donald Hamilton, Ed Gorman, Troy Smith, and others. ... Read more