Beginner's Luck

by Richard Laymon

30 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1986

About the author

Richard Laymon was born in Chicago and grew up in California. He earned a BA in English Literature from Willamette University, Oregon and an MA from Loyola University, Los Angeles. He worked as a schoolteacher, a librarian, and a report writer for a law firm, and was the author of more than thirty acclaimed novels.

He also published more than sixty short stories in magazines such as Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock, and Cavalier, and in anthologies including Modern Masters of Horror.

He died from a massive heart attack on February 14, 2001 (Valentine's Day).

Also published under the name Richard Kelly

Reviews

[Иван Величков · Rating 3 out of 5]

Забавно разказче, абсолютно нетипично за Леймън. Част е от някаква серия кримки за деца.
Джой е хлапе продало два криминални разказа на списание и успяло да помогне със залавянето на банда обирджии преди няколко месеца. Когато новият и разказ излиза и тя се мята до мол-а да си купи малко списания, се озовава в ситуация достойна за прозата и.

[S. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teenage mystery writer Joyce Walther returns to the Fastback young adult series in another entry penned by Richard Laymon. Beginner's Luck takes place roughly six months after Joyce foiled an attempted robbery in Cardiac Arrest. In Cardiac Rest, Joyce had just published her first short story; in Beginner's Luck, she is buying up copies of her second published story at the mall when she stumbles into another Fastback adventure.

[Nina constantreaderbeware · Rating 4 out of 5]

19 year old Joyce "writes mysteries", aka she has written two stories for a magazine.
She feels like she could catch criminals herself because writing two stories for a magazine makes her feel like she's a detective or a cop herself, haha.
Can't say too much about the story because it's super short and I don't want to write any spoilers.
Just don't compare it to Laymon's horror novels.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Laymon but would not recommend this book.

[Phil Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Fastback is the first of the Richard Laymon young adult stories that I have read. It short but lots of fun. The plot is simple. A young girl excited about her sale of a detective story finds her self in a real life mystery. Laymon is great here. I am surprised they pitch his novel The Cellar at the end. That is definitely not for kids.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent short story by Laymon

[Ray Palen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyce may have written a few mystery stories but that does not make her an expert. She is about to be tested on her street smarts and sense of danger in this great short read from Mr. Laymon.

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in about 15 minutes. It is a little short novelette.

[Ranjana · Rating 2 out of 5]

An average story