Shot To Death: 31 Crime Stories
All Due Respect, an imprint of Down & Out Books
From the publisher:
Thirty-one bullets that will leave you gasping for breath…
From hardboiled to noir to just plain human, these stories allow you to experience lives you escaped, and to do so with dignity, humor, and an eye toward tomorrow.
What other people are saying:
Spinetingler Award Best Short Story Collection - Nominee
http://www.spinetinglermag.com/2011/03/31/2011-spinetingler-award-best-short-story-collection- nominees/
The sometime EQMM poet is so smoothly readable, explores such a variety of inventive situations, and is so ambitious in structure and theme, even the stories that don't quite hit the mark make enjoyable reading. Especially good ones include "A Dog Named Mule," "A Friendly Game," "Discharged," and "Last Call." Offbeat pure crime stories appear alongside unconventional private eye tales like "Sidework," with its black-comedy punch line.
-Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Terse tales of cops and robbers, private eyes and bad guys, with an authentic New England setting.
- Linda Barnes, Anthony Award winner and author of the Carlotta Carlyle series
Put yourself in the hands of a master as you travel this world of the dishonest, dysfunctional, and disappeared. Rogers is the real deal--real writer, real story teller, real tour guide to the dark side.
- Kate Flora, author of the Edgar-nominated Finding Amy and the Thea Kozak mysteries
Stephen D. Rogers' collection Shot to Death provides a riveting reminder that the short story form is the foundation of the mystery/thriller genre. There's something in this assemblage of New England noir to suit every aficionado. Highly recommended!
- Richard Helms, editor and publisher, The Back Alley Webzine
What sets those particular stories apart is their ability to catch the browns and grays of the characters quickly, subtly and persuasively.
- Barnstable Patriot
Plenty goes wrong for the characters in Rogers' first collection of stories.
- Cape Cod Times
A bite or two of a truly tasty short story is often more satisfying than a five-course meal of been-there-read-that novel.
- Naomi Johnson, The Drowning Machine
Each story is fresh and original, set against a New England backdrop, and includes colorful characters from diverse walks of life. Each plot twists and turns to its totally surprising and unpredictable ending.
- Brenda Scott, Examiner
If you enjoy crime short stories with a twist, try Stephen D. Rogers' Shot to Death, an escape from reality, into the 'back alleys and back yards of New England.'
- Lesa Holstine, Lesa's Book Critiques
A delightful collection.
- LibraryThing
'C.O.D.' is typical of the stories in this entertaining collection, written by an author who clearly knows his craft and, more importantly, his audience.
- Mystery Books
This is the perfect bedside book if you like a shot of mayhem before bed. Thirty-one little gems.
- Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader
If you're one of those readers who shy away from short stories in favor of novels...You don't know what you're missing!"
- Cherie Jung, Over My Dead Body!
These are stories that nestle under your skin like chiggers and don’t go away easily.
- Kevin Tipple, Kevin's Corner
While the title and cover would leave one to believe they all have a murder as a central motif [the stories are actually] much broader in their scope, their actions, their plots, and their resolutions.
- Tina Branco, Tutu's Two Cents