Thuglit Issue Three

by Ed Kurtz, J.D. Hibbetts, John Hodgkins

Like a shotgun blast of harsh words and mean intentions right to the eyeballs, THUGLIT is back once again to fill your face with white-hot pellets of today's best crime fiction.

IN THIS ISSUE OF THUGLIT:

THE FIRST DAY OF HELL WEEK by J.D. Hibbitts
REDEMPTION by Terrence McCauley
RED EYED RICHARD by Paul Heatley
DOING THE JOB by Hector Acosta
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD by Ed Kurtz
PEEK-A-BOO by John Hodgkins
LUCKY FOR ME by Rob Brunet
WAKEY WAKE by Nathan Pettigrew

PLUS: Part III of Thuglit's exclusive first look at the upcoming novel by Todd Robinson, THE HARD BOUNCE from TYRUS BOOKS

Genres: Crime, Short Stories

142 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2012

About the author

Ed Kurtz is the author of THE RIB FROM WHICH I REMAKE THE WORLD and other novels. His short fiction has appeared in numerous collections, and has been honored in Best American Mystery Stories as well as Best Gay Stories. Kurtz lives in Minneapolis.

Reviews

[Rory Costello · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the only one of the five Thuglit issues so far that I haven't flat-out loved -- but I still like it. I'm quite impressed with Terrence McCauley, and his entry here has a neat bonus payoff if you've read his earlier work. My other particular favorites in this issue were the two that came right after McCauley's, from Paul Heatley and Hector Acosta. The others all had good things to recommend them even if they didn't strike me quite as strongly.

[Marley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going through ThugLit in chronology order. I liked the third entry, but come on. I've never read about so many unpleasant characters in one book. Of course, no one expects really sympathetic characters here.. I admit, though, that I really liked Wyatt i The First Day of Hell Week who suffers through maybe the worst father in modern literature. On to #4.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first story "The First Day of Hell Week" by J. D. Hibbitts is a right cracker and worth the price of the whole issue. Time to track down more by him. The rest of the stories are well-written but just OK. So 5 stars for the Hibbetts story.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of crime stories. Redemption by Terrence McCauley was just perfect! A young girl is having a hard time dealing with her recently widowed mother's new boyfriend. But she needn't worry. Someone is looking out for her.

[MR ALEXANDER DICKINSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good solid short stories. Like George Pelecanos warming up.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third issue of noir. Good stuff oh you like gritty crime stories about bad guys, losers and misfits. I do! Pretty good stories.