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Dead Ends
A devious collection of short stories from the master of misdirection, featuring appearances from Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw.Amongst the dead ends …
A murder at a crime writers' conference. The method is entirely literary, the motive seems obvious – but can the detective who was first on scene puzzle out what's between the lines?
Amongst the misdirections …
An intelligence analyst has the chance to get out from behind the desk and do some real spy work. But as he enters the field, he begins to realise just how out of his depth he is …
Somewhere lies the truth.
A brilliant sleuth, obsessed with Sherlock Holmes’s mysteries, turns his attention to a serial killer targeting women in New York's Central Park. But as his deductions bring him closer to his prey he starts to wonder who is doing the hunting …
A murder at a crime writers' conference. The method is entirely literary, the motive seems obvious – but can the detective who was first on scene puzzle out what's between the lines?
Amongst the misdirections …
An intelligence analyst has the chance to get out from behind the desk and do some real spy work. But as he enters the field, he begins to realise just how out of his depth he is …
Somewhere lies the truth.
A brilliant sleuth, obsessed with Sherlock Holmes’s mysteries, turns his attention to a serial killer targeting women in New York's Central Park. But as his deductions bring him closer to his prey he starts to wonder who is doing the hunting …
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2024
80 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
509 books11.7k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 26, 2025
Dead Ends is a volume of thirteen short stories by best-selling American author, Jeffery Deaver.
The Babysitter: when hidden cams show that the seventeen-year-old babysitter might have seen something incriminating in their home, something that could ruin their grand plans if it gets out, the wife organises a hit, even though the husband is against the idea. A devious twist at the end. 4/5
Forgotten: Colter Shaw is convinced to come to Ohio by a desperate father offering a meagre reward to whoever can prove his son’s innocence. The young man was seen with a gun in his hand at the murder scene of a notorious drug dealer. Will Shaw’s focus on facts and percentages help prove he was wrongly imprisoned? 4.5/5
Hard To Get: Because he is fluent in Polish and Russian, a poly sci professor turned intelligence analyst for the CIA is asked to fill in for an injured spy on a mission in Poland. He has to infiltrate the Cincinnati network whose members, disaffected US citizens and foreign nationals, try to destabilise the US by whatever means they can. His cover is a twice-divorced alcoholic businessman, an ideal candidate for the network. Loud and drunk in the hotel bar, he certainly attracts the attention of the Russian agents, but does he have the guts and bravado to pull it off? A laugh-out-loud twist to this one. 5++/5
The Writers’ Conference: despite his proclaimed interest in serial killers, his boss won’t let Deputy Jim Handle onto the Bennet murder case. Instead, he is assigned to the security detail for a crime writers’ conference. He encounters a literary agent who fills him in on the trade and the goss on the writers up for the award. It might have all been tedious, but then there’s a murder… a bit of a cheap trick before the final twist. 3/5
A Matter of Blood: a very original take on Jack the Ripper’s identity and motives. Cleverly done. 4/5
An Acceptable Sacrifice: the cop from DC teams up with his Mexican counterpart to try to prevent a savage attack on a tourist bus, tipped to happen soon, ordered by “Cuchillo”, the boss of the Hermosillo drug Cartel. Even though they have no solid proof the man is actually a drug baron, Washington has ordered the boss be taken out, reasoning his lieutenants won’t carry out the attack with him gone. But Cuchillo has caught wind of a plot to kill him, and isn’t leaving his secure compound. Data mining has revealed one vulnerability they might use: an addictive acquisition of rare books. The plan the cops devise seems a bit too simple, but is all as it seems? 4/5
The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman: To combat his depressive withdrawal from real life, the young man’s therapist urges him to put his fascination with Conan Doyle’s protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, to practical use. He applies his considerable observational skills to the murders by the Upper East Side Slasher. He is so far ahead of the police, his observations so insightful that the case detective comes to him for opinions on the cases. A chilling twist. 5/5
A Significant Find: at an archaeology conference in France, a husband and wife team without a significant find to their names gets wind of an undiscovered cave of Stone Age paintings from an attendee who is frustrated to have searched for it unsuccessfully. It doesn’t take them long, when their own search is fruitful, to decide to keep the find, and the credit and fame that will follow, for themselves. But might they regret that selfishness? Don your disbelief suspenders for the twist. 3/5
Where The Evidence Lies: after lecturing at a conference in Florida, Lincoln Rhyme is asked to look at the death of a local businessman whose private jet went down into the Puerto Rico Trench – not recoverable – mechanical failure or sabotage? They have only the secondary scene, where the jet was parked for a few hours outside the hangar, since rained upon – nothing to see here. Rhyme is left to interrogate witnesses, a wholly unreliable source, in his opinion, and yet, he manages to solve the case. 5/5
A Woman Of Mystery: the Milan Detective Inspector leads a team that includes Scientific Police, Flying Squad, Homicide Investigators and Carabinieri, who are trying to solve the case of the Sunday Killer. Four victims so far, linked by forensics, but the killer leaves virtually no physical evidence; killed in their homes on a Sunday. Will this Sunday produce another victim? Then a young woman comes to the Questura claiming to know who the next victim will be. Very clever! 5/5
Ninth and Nowhere: A young black man who has just bought a gun; the neighbourhood crime boss who sold it to him; a suicidal veteran of the Afghan war plagued by PTSD; an ageing cop sent on patrol into the grim Riverside district; an ad exec about to meet a man not her husband; a man about to hand over a wad of cash for a dubious purpose; and a man on his first day in a new job. What brings them to the Quick Mart? And what tragedy will take place there? Prebook a chiropractic appointment for the turns in this one. 4/5
Unlikely Partners: at a convention centre, a Secret Service Special Agent is on the protection detail for a Governor who is now a minor candidate for President. There have been assassination threats from certain groups in response to his harsh statements (shades of Trump). And there does seem to be an assassin making preparations to do the job. Quite a good twist, and a pity DJT’s career didn’t follow this path. 4/5
Selfie: when the young man sees a bunch of purple flowers on his girlfriend’s doorstep, it doesn’t sit right: he’s seen them before, but where. At the end of his workday, he’s checking on her social media and has his answer. Now he just needs to save her from harm. Quite a twist and a very dark ending. 4/5
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.
The Babysitter: when hidden cams show that the seventeen-year-old babysitter might have seen something incriminating in their home, something that could ruin their grand plans if it gets out, the wife organises a hit, even though the husband is against the idea. A devious twist at the end. 4/5
Forgotten: Colter Shaw is convinced to come to Ohio by a desperate father offering a meagre reward to whoever can prove his son’s innocence. The young man was seen with a gun in his hand at the murder scene of a notorious drug dealer. Will Shaw’s focus on facts and percentages help prove he was wrongly imprisoned? 4.5/5
Hard To Get: Because he is fluent in Polish and Russian, a poly sci professor turned intelligence analyst for the CIA is asked to fill in for an injured spy on a mission in Poland. He has to infiltrate the Cincinnati network whose members, disaffected US citizens and foreign nationals, try to destabilise the US by whatever means they can. His cover is a twice-divorced alcoholic businessman, an ideal candidate for the network. Loud and drunk in the hotel bar, he certainly attracts the attention of the Russian agents, but does he have the guts and bravado to pull it off? A laugh-out-loud twist to this one. 5++/5
The Writers’ Conference: despite his proclaimed interest in serial killers, his boss won’t let Deputy Jim Handle onto the Bennet murder case. Instead, he is assigned to the security detail for a crime writers’ conference. He encounters a literary agent who fills him in on the trade and the goss on the writers up for the award. It might have all been tedious, but then there’s a murder… a bit of a cheap trick before the final twist. 3/5
A Matter of Blood: a very original take on Jack the Ripper’s identity and motives. Cleverly done. 4/5
An Acceptable Sacrifice: the cop from DC teams up with his Mexican counterpart to try to prevent a savage attack on a tourist bus, tipped to happen soon, ordered by “Cuchillo”, the boss of the Hermosillo drug Cartel. Even though they have no solid proof the man is actually a drug baron, Washington has ordered the boss be taken out, reasoning his lieutenants won’t carry out the attack with him gone. But Cuchillo has caught wind of a plot to kill him, and isn’t leaving his secure compound. Data mining has revealed one vulnerability they might use: an addictive acquisition of rare books. The plan the cops devise seems a bit too simple, but is all as it seems? 4/5
The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman: To combat his depressive withdrawal from real life, the young man’s therapist urges him to put his fascination with Conan Doyle’s protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, to practical use. He applies his considerable observational skills to the murders by the Upper East Side Slasher. He is so far ahead of the police, his observations so insightful that the case detective comes to him for opinions on the cases. A chilling twist. 5/5
A Significant Find: at an archaeology conference in France, a husband and wife team without a significant find to their names gets wind of an undiscovered cave of Stone Age paintings from an attendee who is frustrated to have searched for it unsuccessfully. It doesn’t take them long, when their own search is fruitful, to decide to keep the find, and the credit and fame that will follow, for themselves. But might they regret that selfishness? Don your disbelief suspenders for the twist. 3/5
Where The Evidence Lies: after lecturing at a conference in Florida, Lincoln Rhyme is asked to look at the death of a local businessman whose private jet went down into the Puerto Rico Trench – not recoverable – mechanical failure or sabotage? They have only the secondary scene, where the jet was parked for a few hours outside the hangar, since rained upon – nothing to see here. Rhyme is left to interrogate witnesses, a wholly unreliable source, in his opinion, and yet, he manages to solve the case. 5/5
A Woman Of Mystery: the Milan Detective Inspector leads a team that includes Scientific Police, Flying Squad, Homicide Investigators and Carabinieri, who are trying to solve the case of the Sunday Killer. Four victims so far, linked by forensics, but the killer leaves virtually no physical evidence; killed in their homes on a Sunday. Will this Sunday produce another victim? Then a young woman comes to the Questura claiming to know who the next victim will be. Very clever! 5/5
Ninth and Nowhere: A young black man who has just bought a gun; the neighbourhood crime boss who sold it to him; a suicidal veteran of the Afghan war plagued by PTSD; an ageing cop sent on patrol into the grim Riverside district; an ad exec about to meet a man not her husband; a man about to hand over a wad of cash for a dubious purpose; and a man on his first day in a new job. What brings them to the Quick Mart? And what tragedy will take place there? Prebook a chiropractic appointment for the turns in this one. 4/5
Unlikely Partners: at a convention centre, a Secret Service Special Agent is on the protection detail for a Governor who is now a minor candidate for President. There have been assassination threats from certain groups in response to his harsh statements (shades of Trump). And there does seem to be an assassin making preparations to do the job. Quite a good twist, and a pity DJT’s career didn’t follow this path. 4/5
Selfie: when the young man sees a bunch of purple flowers on his girlfriend’s doorstep, it doesn’t sit right: he’s seen them before, but where. At the end of his workday, he’s checking on her social media and has his answer. Now he just needs to save her from harm. Quite a twist and a very dark ending. 4/5
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.
September 5, 2024
I like Jeffery Deaver's books and short stories. In the past, I read "Ninth and Nowhere" from this collection, but it was good to reread it.
It is a remarkable talent to write a short story in a way that makes it very intriguing and with an unexpected end and Jeffery Deaver is the master of such a thing.
It is a remarkable talent to write a short story in a way that makes it very intriguing and with an unexpected end and Jeffery Deaver is the master of such a thing.
September 23, 2024
Jeffrey Deaver is a favorite author of mine. I chose this because I am a fan of his earlier collection, Twisted. This one is also a collection of short stories all written with Deaver's usual flair. There will be something for everyone in these pages.
August 13, 2024
Dead Ends is an interesting set of short stories from master storyteller Jeffery Deaver. I'm not usually a big fan of short stories, but some of these were really good.
I'd only read the Colter Shaw story before as previously published as Forgotten 2,5 in the Colter Shaw series.
There's a good Lincoln Rhyme short story too and some other great short stories amongst. If you have read some of his short stories and enjoyed them, you should check this out and it does tell you at the back where they have been published previously (if this is the case).
A big thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the advance copy of this ebook.
I'd only read the Colter Shaw story before as previously published as Forgotten 2,5 in the Colter Shaw series.
There's a good Lincoln Rhyme short story too and some other great short stories amongst. If you have read some of his short stories and enjoyed them, you should check this out and it does tell you at the back where they have been published previously (if this is the case).
A big thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the advance copy of this ebook.
November 22, 2024
A variety pack…
There are thirteen stories in this collection from the author of the hugely successful Lincoln Rhyme series, and more recently the excellent Colter Shaw thrillers. As with all collections the standard varies but is remarkably high overall, with some real standout stories. Deaver gives us murder and spies, stalkers and serial killers, heroes and villains, twists galore and quite a lot of humour. His admiration for the Holmes stories comes through in a couple of the stories where he lightly pastiches the master or references the originals. Of course there’s the obligatory take on a novel solution to the Jack the Ripper case – is there any crime writer worth his salt who hasn’t had a go at that? Deaver’s version is very good and quite original, although his attempts at Victorian English are inadvertently full of Americanisms which made me laugh at unintended points. Some of the stories are short, relying on a simple twist for their effect and can occasionally feel a bit insubstantial, but others are long enough to allow for some excellent scene-setting and characterisation. Oddly, the stories involving Rhyme and Shaw – one apiece – were amongst the weakest in the collection for me; perhaps both these characters need more room to work their magic.
As always, here’s a brief idea of some of my favourites…
Hard to Get – When a secret agent has an accident just before a crucial mission, the normally desk-bound Lessing is sent in his place, tasked with making contact with a Russian spymaster in Poland. Lessing has visions of himself as the new James Bond (the American version) but things don’t go quite according to plan. Lots of fun and humour in this one and a couple of good twists – very enjoyable.
The Writers’ Conference – Cop Jim Handle is detailed to look after security at a writers’ conference – cue lots of humour about crime writers, their egos and idiosyncrasies, and the desperate competition among them to win awards. When one of the writers is murdered, Jim has to work out whodunit and why. There’s a major twist in the tail of this one which, even though I kinda saw it coming, still makes it highly entertaining.
A Significant Find – An archaeologist couple want what is known in the trade as a ‘significant find’, which would boost their profile and their earning potential. They’re at a conference in Lascaux when the husband is approached by a man who tells him he’s heard a rumour of an undiscovered cave, complete with paintings. The couple set off to find the cave… This is a great little story, full of twists, revenge and moral ambiguity, and the ending means this one wouldn’t be out of place in a horror anthology!
Selfie – This one is so twisty it would be too easy to give spoilers, so briefly – a man is concerned when he sees someone has left a bunch of flowers at his girlfriend’s door. He’s spotted a man before in the background of several selfies she’s posted to Facebook and he thinks someone may be stalking her. All I’ll say is, all is not as it seems. A dark story with quite a creepy end.
Ninth and Nowhere – One of the most substantial stories and, for me, the star of the show. It takes the form of seven short chapters introducing seven separate and seemingly unconnected characters and then culminates with their lives all intersecting for one moment during a violent crime at a local Quik Mart. Each character is brilliantly developed in a short space – a boy buying a gun from a gangster, a man planning to bribe a witness in a court case, a woman going to meet her lover, a vet trying to beg money for wine, etc. Each of their lives will be changed in some way by the central event, and happily the good guys win and the bad guys lose, making it a very satisfying story for those of us who love that feeling of everything turning out right in the end.
So lots of variety and range, all the way from lighthearted and feel-good to dark and twisted. Of the thirteen stories, I gave eight the full five-stars and no story rated lower than 2½, which makes this a very highly rated collection overall. A treat for Deaver fans, but because only two of the stories involve characters from his novels, it would be just as enjoyable for newcomers to his work.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www. fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
There are thirteen stories in this collection from the author of the hugely successful Lincoln Rhyme series, and more recently the excellent Colter Shaw thrillers. As with all collections the standard varies but is remarkably high overall, with some real standout stories. Deaver gives us murder and spies, stalkers and serial killers, heroes and villains, twists galore and quite a lot of humour. His admiration for the Holmes stories comes through in a couple of the stories where he lightly pastiches the master or references the originals. Of course there’s the obligatory take on a novel solution to the Jack the Ripper case – is there any crime writer worth his salt who hasn’t had a go at that? Deaver’s version is very good and quite original, although his attempts at Victorian English are inadvertently full of Americanisms which made me laugh at unintended points. Some of the stories are short, relying on a simple twist for their effect and can occasionally feel a bit insubstantial, but others are long enough to allow for some excellent scene-setting and characterisation. Oddly, the stories involving Rhyme and Shaw – one apiece – were amongst the weakest in the collection for me; perhaps both these characters need more room to work their magic.
As always, here’s a brief idea of some of my favourites…
Hard to Get – When a secret agent has an accident just before a crucial mission, the normally desk-bound Lessing is sent in his place, tasked with making contact with a Russian spymaster in Poland. Lessing has visions of himself as the new James Bond (the American version) but things don’t go quite according to plan. Lots of fun and humour in this one and a couple of good twists – very enjoyable.
The Writers’ Conference – Cop Jim Handle is detailed to look after security at a writers’ conference – cue lots of humour about crime writers, their egos and idiosyncrasies, and the desperate competition among them to win awards. When one of the writers is murdered, Jim has to work out whodunit and why. There’s a major twist in the tail of this one which, even though I kinda saw it coming, still makes it highly entertaining.
A Significant Find – An archaeologist couple want what is known in the trade as a ‘significant find’, which would boost their profile and their earning potential. They’re at a conference in Lascaux when the husband is approached by a man who tells him he’s heard a rumour of an undiscovered cave, complete with paintings. The couple set off to find the cave… This is a great little story, full of twists, revenge and moral ambiguity, and the ending means this one wouldn’t be out of place in a horror anthology!
Selfie – This one is so twisty it would be too easy to give spoilers, so briefly – a man is concerned when he sees someone has left a bunch of flowers at his girlfriend’s door. He’s spotted a man before in the background of several selfies she’s posted to Facebook and he thinks someone may be stalking her. All I’ll say is, all is not as it seems. A dark story with quite a creepy end.
Ninth and Nowhere – One of the most substantial stories and, for me, the star of the show. It takes the form of seven short chapters introducing seven separate and seemingly unconnected characters and then culminates with their lives all intersecting for one moment during a violent crime at a local Quik Mart. Each character is brilliantly developed in a short space – a boy buying a gun from a gangster, a man planning to bribe a witness in a court case, a woman going to meet her lover, a vet trying to beg money for wine, etc. Each of their lives will be changed in some way by the central event, and happily the good guys win and the bad guys lose, making it a very satisfying story for those of us who love that feeling of everything turning out right in the end.
So lots of variety and range, all the way from lighthearted and feel-good to dark and twisted. Of the thirteen stories, I gave eight the full five-stars and no story rated lower than 2½, which makes this a very highly rated collection overall. A treat for Deaver fans, but because only two of the stories involve characters from his novels, it would be just as enjoyable for newcomers to his work.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www. fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
October 19, 2024
Having read and liked both Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw series, and with both these characters featuring in this collection of short stories, I had to give it a try.
The short stories are great, full of misdirection and twists, that Deaver is known for. There is a variety of interesting plots, and characters involved in each story. The modern-day Sherlock Holmes story in particular was very good with unexpected twists.
I’m generally not a massive short story fan, however it was an enjoyable read, with each story offering something different.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
4 Stars.
The short stories are great, full of misdirection and twists, that Deaver is known for. There is a variety of interesting plots, and characters involved in each story. The modern-day Sherlock Holmes story in particular was very good with unexpected twists.
I’m generally not a massive short story fan, however it was an enjoyable read, with each story offering something different.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
4 Stars.
September 16, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
its full of short stories and novellas from this author and though i am not a lover of them this one isnt so bad...there are a few goods one in there....
happy reading
its full of short stories and novellas from this author and though i am not a lover of them this one isnt so bad...there are a few goods one in there....
happy reading
September 29, 2024
3.94 average - overall a strong collection of crime/mystery/thriller short stories.
October 16, 2024
Cool collection of short stories. Honorable mentions are An Acceptable Sacrifice and Ninth and Nowhere. The Lincoln Rhyme story was a bit of a let down.
September 26, 2025
Dead Ends is a volume of thirteen short stories by best-selling American author, Jeffery Deaver. The audio version is narrated by Jeff Harding.
The Babysitter: when hidden cams show that the seventeen-year-old babysitter might have seen something incriminating in their home, something that could ruin their grand plans if it gets out, the wife organises a hit, even though the husband is against the idea. A devious twist at the end. 4/5
Forgotten: Colter Shaw is convinced to come to Ohio by a desperate father offering a meagre reward to whoever can prove his son’s innocence. The young man was seen with a gun in his hand at the murder scene of a notorious drug dealer. Will Shaw’s focus on facts and percentages help prove he was wrongly imprisoned? 4.5/5
Hard To Get: Because he is fluent in Polish and Russian, a poly sci professor turned intelligence analyst for the CIA is asked to fill in for an injured spy on a mission in Poland. He has to infiltrate the Cincinnati network whose members, disaffected US citizens and foreign nationals, try to destabilise the US by whatever means they can. His cover is a twice-divorced alcoholic businessman, an ideal candidate for the network. Loud and drunk in the hotel bar, he certainly attracts the attention of the Russian agents, but does he have the guts and bravado to pull it off? A laugh-out-loud twist to this one. 5++/5
The Writers’ Conference: despite his proclaimed interest in serial killers, his boss won’t let Deputy Jim Handle onto the Bennet murder case. Instead, he is assigned to the security detail for a crime writers’ conference. He encounters a literary agent who fills him in on the trade and the goss on the writers up for the award. It might have all been tedious, but then there’s a murder… a bit of a cheap trick before the final twist. 3/5
A Matter of Blood: a very original take on Jack the Ripper’s identity and motives. Cleverly done. 4/5
An Acceptable Sacrifice: the cop from DC teams up with his Mexican counterpart to try to prevent a savage attack on a tourist bus, tipped to happen soon, ordered by “Cuchillo”, the boss of the Hermosillo drug Cartel. Even though they have no solid proof the man is actually a drug baron, Washington has ordered the boss be taken out, reasoning his lieutenants won’t carry out the attack with him gone. But Cuchillo has caught wind of a plot to kill him, and isn’t leaving his secure compound. Data mining has revealed one vulnerability they might use: an addictive acquisition of rare books. The plan the cops devise seems a bit too simple, but is all as it seems? 4/5
The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman: To combat his depressive withdrawal from real life, the young man’s therapist urges him to put his fascination with Conan Doyle’s protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, to practical use. He applies his considerable observational skills to the murders by the Upper East Side Slasher. He is so far ahead of the police, his observations so insightful that the case detective comes to him for opinions on the cases. A chilling twist. 5/5
A Significant Find: at an archaeology conference in France, a husband and wife team without a significant find to their names gets wind of an undiscovered cave of Stone Age paintings from an attendee who is frustrated to have searched for it unsuccessfully. It doesn’t take them long, when their own search is fruitful, to decide to keep the find, and the credit and fame that will follow, for themselves. But might they regret that selfishness? Don your disbelief suspenders for the twist. 3/5
Where The Evidence Lies: after lecturing at a conference in Florida, Lincoln Rhyme is asked to look at the death of a local businessman whose private jet went down into the Puerto Rico Trench – not recoverable – mechanical failure or sabotage? They have only the secondary scene, where the jet was parked for a few hours outside the hangar, since rained upon – nothing to see here. Rhyme is left to interrogate witnesses, a wholly unreliable source, in his opinion, and yet, he manages to solve the case. 5/5
A Woman Of Mystery: the Milan Detective Inspector leads a team that includes Scientific Police, Flying Squad, Homicide Investigators and Carabinieri, who are trying to solve the case of the Sunday Killer. Four victims so far, linked by forensics, but the killer leaves virtually no physical evidence; killed in their homes on a Sunday. Will this Sunday produce another victim? Then a young woman comes to the Questura claiming to know who the next victim will be. Very clever! 5/5
Ninth and Nowhere: A young black man who has just bought a gun; the neighbourhood crime boss who sold it to him; a suicidal veteran of the Afghan war plagued by PTSD; an ageing cop sent on patrol into the grim Riverside district; an ad exec about to meet a man not her husband; a man about to hand over a wad of cash for a dubious purpose; and a man on his first day in a new job. What brings them to the Quick Mart? And what tragedy will take place there? Prebook a chiropractic appointment for the turns in this one. 4/5
Unlikely Partners: at a convention centre, a Secret Service Special Agent is on the protection detail for a Governor who is now a minor candidate for President. There have been assassination threats from certain groups in response to his harsh statements (shades of Trump). And there does seem to be an assassin making preparations to do the job. Quite a good twist, and a pity DJT’s career didn’t follow this path. 4/5
Selfie: when the young man sees a bunch of purple flowers on his girlfriend’s doorstep, it doesn’t sit right: he’s seen them before, but where. At the end of his workday, he’s checking on her social media and has his answer. Now he just needs to save her from harm. Quite a twist and a very dark ending. 4/5
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.
The Babysitter: when hidden cams show that the seventeen-year-old babysitter might have seen something incriminating in their home, something that could ruin their grand plans if it gets out, the wife organises a hit, even though the husband is against the idea. A devious twist at the end. 4/5
Forgotten: Colter Shaw is convinced to come to Ohio by a desperate father offering a meagre reward to whoever can prove his son’s innocence. The young man was seen with a gun in his hand at the murder scene of a notorious drug dealer. Will Shaw’s focus on facts and percentages help prove he was wrongly imprisoned? 4.5/5
Hard To Get: Because he is fluent in Polish and Russian, a poly sci professor turned intelligence analyst for the CIA is asked to fill in for an injured spy on a mission in Poland. He has to infiltrate the Cincinnati network whose members, disaffected US citizens and foreign nationals, try to destabilise the US by whatever means they can. His cover is a twice-divorced alcoholic businessman, an ideal candidate for the network. Loud and drunk in the hotel bar, he certainly attracts the attention of the Russian agents, but does he have the guts and bravado to pull it off? A laugh-out-loud twist to this one. 5++/5
The Writers’ Conference: despite his proclaimed interest in serial killers, his boss won’t let Deputy Jim Handle onto the Bennet murder case. Instead, he is assigned to the security detail for a crime writers’ conference. He encounters a literary agent who fills him in on the trade and the goss on the writers up for the award. It might have all been tedious, but then there’s a murder… a bit of a cheap trick before the final twist. 3/5
A Matter of Blood: a very original take on Jack the Ripper’s identity and motives. Cleverly done. 4/5
An Acceptable Sacrifice: the cop from DC teams up with his Mexican counterpart to try to prevent a savage attack on a tourist bus, tipped to happen soon, ordered by “Cuchillo”, the boss of the Hermosillo drug Cartel. Even though they have no solid proof the man is actually a drug baron, Washington has ordered the boss be taken out, reasoning his lieutenants won’t carry out the attack with him gone. But Cuchillo has caught wind of a plot to kill him, and isn’t leaving his secure compound. Data mining has revealed one vulnerability they might use: an addictive acquisition of rare books. The plan the cops devise seems a bit too simple, but is all as it seems? 4/5
The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman: To combat his depressive withdrawal from real life, the young man’s therapist urges him to put his fascination with Conan Doyle’s protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, to practical use. He applies his considerable observational skills to the murders by the Upper East Side Slasher. He is so far ahead of the police, his observations so insightful that the case detective comes to him for opinions on the cases. A chilling twist. 5/5
A Significant Find: at an archaeology conference in France, a husband and wife team without a significant find to their names gets wind of an undiscovered cave of Stone Age paintings from an attendee who is frustrated to have searched for it unsuccessfully. It doesn’t take them long, when their own search is fruitful, to decide to keep the find, and the credit and fame that will follow, for themselves. But might they regret that selfishness? Don your disbelief suspenders for the twist. 3/5
Where The Evidence Lies: after lecturing at a conference in Florida, Lincoln Rhyme is asked to look at the death of a local businessman whose private jet went down into the Puerto Rico Trench – not recoverable – mechanical failure or sabotage? They have only the secondary scene, where the jet was parked for a few hours outside the hangar, since rained upon – nothing to see here. Rhyme is left to interrogate witnesses, a wholly unreliable source, in his opinion, and yet, he manages to solve the case. 5/5
A Woman Of Mystery: the Milan Detective Inspector leads a team that includes Scientific Police, Flying Squad, Homicide Investigators and Carabinieri, who are trying to solve the case of the Sunday Killer. Four victims so far, linked by forensics, but the killer leaves virtually no physical evidence; killed in their homes on a Sunday. Will this Sunday produce another victim? Then a young woman comes to the Questura claiming to know who the next victim will be. Very clever! 5/5
Ninth and Nowhere: A young black man who has just bought a gun; the neighbourhood crime boss who sold it to him; a suicidal veteran of the Afghan war plagued by PTSD; an ageing cop sent on patrol into the grim Riverside district; an ad exec about to meet a man not her husband; a man about to hand over a wad of cash for a dubious purpose; and a man on his first day in a new job. What brings them to the Quick Mart? And what tragedy will take place there? Prebook a chiropractic appointment for the turns in this one. 4/5
Unlikely Partners: at a convention centre, a Secret Service Special Agent is on the protection detail for a Governor who is now a minor candidate for President. There have been assassination threats from certain groups in response to his harsh statements (shades of Trump). And there does seem to be an assassin making preparations to do the job. Quite a good twist, and a pity DJT’s career didn’t follow this path. 4/5
Selfie: when the young man sees a bunch of purple flowers on his girlfriend’s doorstep, it doesn’t sit right: he’s seen them before, but where. At the end of his workday, he’s checking on her social media and has his answer. Now he just needs to save her from harm. Quite a twist and a very dark ending. 4/5
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.
July 25, 2024
Reviewing short story collections is tricky, because the usual synoptic approach can’t be done, so headlines only here to give a flavour of the range:
A babysitter is the target of a hitman; Colter Shaw is hired to save a prisoner’s life; CIA desk-jockey gets the chance to go undercover; Californian Deputy Sheriff assigned to a Crime Writer’s Conference; Another solution to the mystery of Jack The Ripper; Suspected Mexican cartel boss is target for a hit; Genius level New Yorker performs ‘Holmesian’ deduction; Husband and wife team search for French archaeological site; Lincoln Rhyme has to solve a crime with no forensics; Hunt for serial killer in Milan; Seven characters in search of a Quick Mart; Attempted assassination of Presidential candidate; Man strives to save his girlfriend from a murderer.
The first eleven have been previously published individually, the last is new. The only thing they have in common is that they are Deaverishly constructed. The art of the short story is to lead the reader towards a conclusion and then pull off a twist they couldn’t foresee. The art here is to mislead the reader towards at least two conclusions, then twist them at least a couple of times. The writing is strong and consistent, with the author’s stylistic language always evident, which includes a tendency towards literary references (and a possible fondness for Starbuck’s). They are all at least 4/5, at least half – based on the surprise level of the final twist – are 5/5 star. That gives an average of 4.5 stars, rounding to 5 overall.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
A babysitter is the target of a hitman; Colter Shaw is hired to save a prisoner’s life; CIA desk-jockey gets the chance to go undercover; Californian Deputy Sheriff assigned to a Crime Writer’s Conference; Another solution to the mystery of Jack The Ripper; Suspected Mexican cartel boss is target for a hit; Genius level New Yorker performs ‘Holmesian’ deduction; Husband and wife team search for French archaeological site; Lincoln Rhyme has to solve a crime with no forensics; Hunt for serial killer in Milan; Seven characters in search of a Quick Mart; Attempted assassination of Presidential candidate; Man strives to save his girlfriend from a murderer.
The first eleven have been previously published individually, the last is new. The only thing they have in common is that they are Deaverishly constructed. The art of the short story is to lead the reader towards a conclusion and then pull off a twist they couldn’t foresee. The art here is to mislead the reader towards at least two conclusions, then twist them at least a couple of times. The writing is strong and consistent, with the author’s stylistic language always evident, which includes a tendency towards literary references (and a possible fondness for Starbuck’s). They are all at least 4/5, at least half – based on the surprise level of the final twist – are 5/5 star. That gives an average of 4.5 stars, rounding to 5 overall.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
August 1, 2024
A collection of devious short stories from Jeffrey Deaver, including appearances by Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw. Amongst the mysteries we have a murder at a crime writer's convention, an intelligence analyst sent out to do some on the ground spy work, and a Sherlock Holmes super fan turning his deductions to helping police find a serial killer.
I traditionally avoid short story collections because I find they can often be hit and miss with a few dud stories in the mix. This one was definitely not like that though, I enjoyed all of the stories in the book, with some of them being stand outs.
I haven't read any of Deaver's Colter Shaw series as yet, but enjoyed Forgotten so much that I now want to read the full series - I've already got the audiobooks queued up ready to go.
Ninth and Nowhere was another favourite. I particularly liked the style of this one, with us seeing several characters seemingly on their own trajectories all come together for the key event. There was a lot of misdirection in this one and many of the characters didn't turn out to be who you initially thought.
Others that stood out were The Writer's Conference, Unlikely Partners and Selfie, but as I said all of the stories in this collection were enjoyable.
If you are a fan of Jeffery Deaver then you will definitely appreciate this short story collection. If you are new to his writing, but enjoy well constructed crime thrillers then this would be a great starting point to get a taste of his style before you dive in to one of his full lengh books. Either way it's worth adding to your reading list.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I traditionally avoid short story collections because I find they can often be hit and miss with a few dud stories in the mix. This one was definitely not like that though, I enjoyed all of the stories in the book, with some of them being stand outs.
I haven't read any of Deaver's Colter Shaw series as yet, but enjoyed Forgotten so much that I now want to read the full series - I've already got the audiobooks queued up ready to go.
Ninth and Nowhere was another favourite. I particularly liked the style of this one, with us seeing several characters seemingly on their own trajectories all come together for the key event. There was a lot of misdirection in this one and many of the characters didn't turn out to be who you initially thought.
Others that stood out were The Writer's Conference, Unlikely Partners and Selfie, but as I said all of the stories in this collection were enjoyable.
If you are a fan of Jeffery Deaver then you will definitely appreciate this short story collection. If you are new to his writing, but enjoy well constructed crime thrillers then this would be a great starting point to get a taste of his style before you dive in to one of his full lengh books. Either way it's worth adding to your reading list.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2025
Here's the link to my original review on NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/3267...
Jeffery Deaver is a brilliant storyteller, irrespective of the length of the story, and Dead Ends, a collection of Deaver's thirteen short stories, is a testament to his prodigious talent. Set in diverse periods and locations, each of these stories has crisply etched characters, racing plots, and, for the most part, satisfactory endings.
Ninth and Nowhere has several intriguing characters, each with its own backstory, converging towards a tense climax. Hard to Get is an espionage story that is as amusing as thrilling. The Writers' Conference, Selfie, Unlikely Partners, and A Significant Find have clever turns at the end and are a lot of fun. Forgotten and Where the Evidence Lies, featuring Colter Shaw and Lincoln Rhyme, respectively, are in the same vein as the series of novels featuring the two of Deaver’s exceptional creations. A Matter of Blood, set in Victorian London, is dark, gritty, and engrossing. An Acceptable Sacrifice, an assassination tale set in Mexico, is cleverly plotted and entertaining. Deaver pays homage to the Sherlock Holmes series with The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman – but with a twist. The Babysitter and A Woman of Mystery feel somewhat unsatisfactory despite being engaging.
I had a terrific time savouring these delectable pieces of fiction by the master and am grateful to HarperCollins UK for the Digital Review Copy of Dead Ends through NetGalley.
Jeffery Deaver is a brilliant storyteller, irrespective of the length of the story, and Dead Ends, a collection of Deaver's thirteen short stories, is a testament to his prodigious talent. Set in diverse periods and locations, each of these stories has crisply etched characters, racing plots, and, for the most part, satisfactory endings.
Ninth and Nowhere has several intriguing characters, each with its own backstory, converging towards a tense climax. Hard to Get is an espionage story that is as amusing as thrilling. The Writers' Conference, Selfie, Unlikely Partners, and A Significant Find have clever turns at the end and are a lot of fun. Forgotten and Where the Evidence Lies, featuring Colter Shaw and Lincoln Rhyme, respectively, are in the same vein as the series of novels featuring the two of Deaver’s exceptional creations. A Matter of Blood, set in Victorian London, is dark, gritty, and engrossing. An Acceptable Sacrifice, an assassination tale set in Mexico, is cleverly plotted and entertaining. Deaver pays homage to the Sherlock Holmes series with The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman – but with a twist. The Babysitter and A Woman of Mystery feel somewhat unsatisfactory despite being engaging.
I had a terrific time savouring these delectable pieces of fiction by the master and am grateful to HarperCollins UK for the Digital Review Copy of Dead Ends through NetGalley.
August 27, 2024
There are, what could be considered to be, an unlucky thirteen short stories in this collection from HarperCollins. Unlucky, I think, only for the various victims in the stories. Certainly not for us as readers as we are treated to the real breadth of mysteries that Mr Deaver is capable of delivering. From short stories featuring series favourites Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw, to historical fiction and a story set in a world that Mr D knows very well - the competitive landscape of a 'Writer's Conference", there really is a little bit of something for everyone, whether you are a fan of brain teasing puzzles, or more intense action. Heck, there is even a case where the good guy comes goo more by luck than judgment, a story that really did make me smile by it's conclusion, even if at one stage I thought our poor hero was toast.
I loved how Jeffery Deaver is always capable of delivering the unexpected. Even in the world of short stories he can switch up the story, so much so that the bad guy, or gal, is often hidden in plain sight. A good example of this would be The Babysitter, a story which grows in intensity and threat as quickly as you turn each page but which, by its conclusion, had me smiling and nodding in appreciation. Not what I was expecting, but absolutely the ending I never knew I wanted. And in both The Writer's Conference and A Woman of Mystery he proves that the pen is mightier than the sword - at least when it comes as an inspiration for murder.
Many of the stories i could easily see being turned into a series of TV mini specials, a kind of murder mystery collective, because the author is so adept at scene setting that whether in New York or Milan, you feel you are there with the characters in the heart of teh action. Not an easy thing to do in a fraction of the words of a longer length novel without losing the impetus of the story, but barely seeming a challenge for this particular author. There is a good reason he sells so many books.
This is the perfect collection to fit in around work lunch breaks, or even where you have a few moments to kill of an evening or weekend. Of varying length, some take a little longer to finish than others but none really longer than an hour, with some of the longer ones being broken down into mini chapters or scenes making it easy to leave and pick up where you left off. If you like short stories and love a varied collection of crimes, this will be the perfect book for you. Definitely recommended.
I loved how Jeffery Deaver is always capable of delivering the unexpected. Even in the world of short stories he can switch up the story, so much so that the bad guy, or gal, is often hidden in plain sight. A good example of this would be The Babysitter, a story which grows in intensity and threat as quickly as you turn each page but which, by its conclusion, had me smiling and nodding in appreciation. Not what I was expecting, but absolutely the ending I never knew I wanted. And in both The Writer's Conference and A Woman of Mystery he proves that the pen is mightier than the sword - at least when it comes as an inspiration for murder.
Many of the stories i could easily see being turned into a series of TV mini specials, a kind of murder mystery collective, because the author is so adept at scene setting that whether in New York or Milan, you feel you are there with the characters in the heart of teh action. Not an easy thing to do in a fraction of the words of a longer length novel without losing the impetus of the story, but barely seeming a challenge for this particular author. There is a good reason he sells so many books.
This is the perfect collection to fit in around work lunch breaks, or even where you have a few moments to kill of an evening or weekend. Of varying length, some take a little longer to finish than others but none really longer than an hour, with some of the longer ones being broken down into mini chapters or scenes making it easy to leave and pick up where you left off. If you like short stories and love a varied collection of crimes, this will be the perfect book for you. Definitely recommended.
July 26, 2024
4.5⭐
Dead Ends is a collection of short stories by the master crime writer Jeffery Deaver and a great way to be introduced to a new author. Especially one as prolific as JD. Who has written over forty novels including the long running Lincoln Rhyme series as well as the Colter Shaw and brilliant Kathryn Dance series.
And this collection offers a little bit of everything with appearances from the aforementioned Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw. As well as hitmen, bodyguards, serial killers and stalkers.
And whilst only two of the stories are new new. All of the stories were new to me, and I enjoyed them immensely. As they offered a lot of variety and I can clearly see where JD drew his inspiration from Jack the Ripper and one of my favourite detectives Sherlock Holmes. And honestly there wasn't one story I didn't enjoy. Although some were certainly more compelling than others.
But overall this is a cracking collection from a cracking crime writer. Who really knows how to deliver a series of short stories.
I would happily recommend to all. 😊
My thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Dead Ends. 😊
Dead Ends is a collection of short stories by the master crime writer Jeffery Deaver and a great way to be introduced to a new author. Especially one as prolific as JD. Who has written over forty novels including the long running Lincoln Rhyme series as well as the Colter Shaw and brilliant Kathryn Dance series.
And this collection offers a little bit of everything with appearances from the aforementioned Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw. As well as hitmen, bodyguards, serial killers and stalkers.
And whilst only two of the stories are new new. All of the stories were new to me, and I enjoyed them immensely. As they offered a lot of variety and I can clearly see where JD drew his inspiration from Jack the Ripper and one of my favourite detectives Sherlock Holmes. And honestly there wasn't one story I didn't enjoy. Although some were certainly more compelling than others.
But overall this is a cracking collection from a cracking crime writer. Who really knows how to deliver a series of short stories.
I would happily recommend to all. 😊
My thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Dead Ends. 😊
July 8, 2024
I read and loved The Bone Collector, I went on to read most of the Lincoln Rhyme series. I tried other books by Jeffery Deaver but was still chasing that Bone Collector buzz.
Thirteen short stories, 400 pages, two are brand new and the others have been previously published in a variety of anthologies and publications. This collection came at exactly the right time to reconnect with Jeffery Denver’s writing.
There’s a huge variety of themes, hitmen, bodyguards, serial kill*rs, stalkers and much much more, so many original plot ideas that I’ve never read before. The writing is precise and sharp, set the scene, build the characters, start the rollercoaster, watch out for those twists! There’s rarely a dull moment.
I won’t pick favourites, too many to mention, and only two didn’t quite hit for me.
Probably the best single author short thriller anthology I’ve ever read. Very highly recommended and an absolute must for fans of Jeffery Deaver.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction
Thirteen short stories, 400 pages, two are brand new and the others have been previously published in a variety of anthologies and publications. This collection came at exactly the right time to reconnect with Jeffery Denver’s writing.
There’s a huge variety of themes, hitmen, bodyguards, serial kill*rs, stalkers and much much more, so many original plot ideas that I’ve never read before. The writing is precise and sharp, set the scene, build the characters, start the rollercoaster, watch out for those twists! There’s rarely a dull moment.
I won’t pick favourites, too many to mention, and only two didn’t quite hit for me.
Probably the best single author short thriller anthology I’ve ever read. Very highly recommended and an absolute must for fans of Jeffery Deaver.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction
August 9, 2024
As a fan of crime fiction I’ve been pretty amiss until recently in omitting to read any of Jeffery Deaver's work.My only previous experience of his writing had been through enjoying the feature film ‘The Bone Collector’,from back in 1999,and then the recent television series ‘Tracker’.
In this new short story collection ‘Dead Ends’ both of the main characters from these adaptations feature in tales.Namely Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw ,for those wanting to picture the leads in their mind's eye.
Only a short while ago I enjoyed reading Deavers ‘The Broken Doll’ collection of short stories by Amazon Original Stories , so I felt it was time to check out this newly published batch.
For me the standouts in this book were ‘The Babysitter’,’Hard to Get’,‘The Writers’ Conference’,and ‘A Matter of Blood’.’Ninth and Nowhere’ was an incredibly compelling interwoven story that is simply stunning, and in my opinion the
best of the lot.
As in most collections some tales fail to hit the peak thrills of some personal favourites,due probably to individual taste,but overall a more than worthy way of spending some twisting hours in the company of a superb storyteller
In this new short story collection ‘Dead Ends’ both of the main characters from these adaptations feature in tales.Namely Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw ,for those wanting to picture the leads in their mind's eye.
Only a short while ago I enjoyed reading Deavers ‘The Broken Doll’ collection of short stories by Amazon Original Stories , so I felt it was time to check out this newly published batch.
For me the standouts in this book were ‘The Babysitter’,’Hard to Get’,‘The Writers’ Conference’,and ‘A Matter of Blood’.’Ninth and Nowhere’ was an incredibly compelling interwoven story that is simply stunning, and in my opinion the
best of the lot.
As in most collections some tales fail to hit the peak thrills of some personal favourites,due probably to individual taste,but overall a more than worthy way of spending some twisting hours in the company of a superb storyteller
July 30, 2024
Well... I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but I am a big fan of Jeffrey Deaver, especially his Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw series - both of which have shorts included in this book - so it was a no brainer that I would jump all over this...
And I have to say that I was incredibly impressed. I enjoyed every single story contained herein. The twists were sublime, the characters real and well created. Containing everything I'd want from a full length story but contained in just a few pages...
Obviously my favourites included the Shaw and Rhyme stories, but I must also single out the Writers' Conference, the one set around the Quick Mart, the Presidential Candidate Assassination Attempt, and his own take on Jack the Ripper...
If you are into shorts, get this collection. If you are into Deaver, get this collection. If neither then download the sample... worth a look at least!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
And I have to say that I was incredibly impressed. I enjoyed every single story contained herein. The twists were sublime, the characters real and well created. Containing everything I'd want from a full length story but contained in just a few pages...
Obviously my favourites included the Shaw and Rhyme stories, but I must also single out the Writers' Conference, the one set around the Quick Mart, the Presidential Candidate Assassination Attempt, and his own take on Jack the Ripper...
If you are into shorts, get this collection. If you are into Deaver, get this collection. If neither then download the sample... worth a look at least!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
July 23, 2024
This is a collection of short stories from the established and popular crime and mystery writer, Jeffery Deaver, some of which you may already have read previously as they have been published before. It features his specialist, Colter Shaw, with his mobile home, and Lincoln Rhymes, operating outside of his home territory. There is a baby sitter, tales that draw inspiration from Jack the Ripper, and Sherlock Holmes. There are murderous goings on at a writer's conference, a book lover in Mexico, and a Sunday serial killer in Milan. My favourites included complicated, longer, and multiple character stories that grip and where nothing is as it first appears. As might be expected with a short story collection, some stories are likely to appeal more than others. However, this is Deaver, so a collection that I recommend! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
August 5, 2024
Dead Ends is a collection of Thirteen short stories from Jeffery Deaver and,as you'd expect,there's not a dull one amongst them. Deaver exercises his imagination with a very diverse collection , from his take on Jack the Ripper to a lowly Intelligence Operative who finds himself an accidental hero ,an inquisitive Baysitter who finds herself in peril and many more,every one is a gem, As usual with Jeffery Deaver readers will be looking for the inevitable twist,and as always he completely wrong-foots those who are smugly thinking, " Ah,I've worked it out,obvious really".
This is a great collection, including appearances by Colter Shaw and an extremely cerebral piece of detection by Lincoln Rhyme ,many of which have been published before in various publications but as an avid Deaver reader all new to me. The stories are often funny,always original and very clever.
This is a great collection, including appearances by Colter Shaw and an extremely cerebral piece of detection by Lincoln Rhyme ,many of which have been published before in various publications but as an avid Deaver reader all new to me. The stories are often funny,always original and very clever.
September 8, 2024
A collection of short stories by author Jeffery Deaver.
Jeffery Deaver is one of the best at writing short stories, a great storyteller who manages to fit so much detail and substance into fewer pages. This book contains thirteen stories with some featuring familiar characters from the authors other novels. In my opinion it was quite a mixed bag, some very clever, some interesting and others just ok. I tend to read a book in one or two sittings so I found it difficult to engage in this book for a large amount of time so dipped in and out. Well written as you would expect from Jeffery Deaver and plenty of twists.
I much prefer full length novels so perhaps I am not the best to judge this book. An entertaining read in small bite size chunks.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jeffery Deaver is one of the best at writing short stories, a great storyteller who manages to fit so much detail and substance into fewer pages. This book contains thirteen stories with some featuring familiar characters from the authors other novels. In my opinion it was quite a mixed bag, some very clever, some interesting and others just ok. I tend to read a book in one or two sittings so I found it difficult to engage in this book for a large amount of time so dipped in and out. Well written as you would expect from Jeffery Deaver and plenty of twists.
I much prefer full length novels so perhaps I am not the best to judge this book. An entertaining read in small bite size chunks.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2024
Some were good, some great, and some were not so memorable.
A collection of short stories from popular crime and mystery writer Jeffery Deaver, some of which you have been published before. The anthology features his specialist, Colter Shaw, with his mobile home and a Deaver stalwart, Lincoln Rhymes. Some of the stories draw inspiration from Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes, and others allude to literary characters I didn't know as well. From murder at a writer's conference to a serial killer in Milan, the settings were varied and vast.
I loved the more complex, multiple-character stories with unexpected twists (but then that is my preferred genre). Hats off to anyone who can write short stories—they must be the most complex of all storytelling genres, and Deaver is outstanding.
Like any short story collection, some stories are likely to appeal more than others.
A collection of short stories from popular crime and mystery writer Jeffery Deaver, some of which you have been published before. The anthology features his specialist, Colter Shaw, with his mobile home and a Deaver stalwart, Lincoln Rhymes. Some of the stories draw inspiration from Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes, and others allude to literary characters I didn't know as well. From murder at a writer's conference to a serial killer in Milan, the settings were varied and vast.
I loved the more complex, multiple-character stories with unexpected twists (but then that is my preferred genre). Hats off to anyone who can write short stories—they must be the most complex of all storytelling genres, and Deaver is outstanding.
Like any short story collection, some stories are likely to appeal more than others.
March 17, 2025
Goodreads Review, ‘Dead Ends’ by Jeffrey Deaver.
My first ever Jeffrey Deaver book and it happens to be an entertaining and enjoyable collection of thirteen tales of weirdness and mystery. Highly entertaining read and perfect for the non Deaver reader like myself. A really engaging and quick reading experience. I know nothing about Deaver and went through the 13 stories like a whirlwind. Totally captures a precise mood of mystery. My favourite story was Story Number Seven, ‘The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman’. Great stuff. For the non-reader and hesitant reader at large. Enjoyable, entertaining and a fun read. Found at Seven Ways Garden Library, Denistone East. Enjoy.
My first ever Jeffrey Deaver book and it happens to be an entertaining and enjoyable collection of thirteen tales of weirdness and mystery. Highly entertaining read and perfect for the non Deaver reader like myself. A really engaging and quick reading experience. I know nothing about Deaver and went through the 13 stories like a whirlwind. Totally captures a precise mood of mystery. My favourite story was Story Number Seven, ‘The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman’. Great stuff. For the non-reader and hesitant reader at large. Enjoyable, entertaining and a fun read. Found at Seven Ways Garden Library, Denistone East. Enjoy.
August 21, 2024
Dead Ends by Jeffery Deaver is a brilliant collection of thirteen short stories from the master of misdirection, and featuring appearances from Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw. This book was just what I needed to a long train journey - Brilliant short stories with great twists and turn in each one that will keep me entertained and a great start to my holiday back to my home town.
I loved it. Jeffery Deaver's books never disappoint.
Big thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the advance copy of this ebook.
I loved it. Jeffery Deaver's books never disappoint.
Big thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the advance copy of this ebook.
August 24, 2024
I like "Jack the Ripper" most. The language in that story sounds really nostalgic. The pacing is also well balanced, unlike most other pieces in the book. Next favorite is the one on Moriarty, only that I wish it didn't just stop there. I would love to see him outsmart himself and got caught in the end. The one about the Quick Mart is interesting too, having a nice buildup before the climax. The rest stories are either too dramatic/convenient thus unbelievable in the making or too rushed to the end. Maybe short stories is not my cup of tea...
September 19, 2024
#DeadEnds #NetGalley I love Jeffrey Deaver books so was excited to read this collection of short stories by him. I loved the stories featuring Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw but the others not as much. Maybe because I knew so much of the background to the Rhyme and Shaw stories, it made them more enjoyable, because, for me, there was too much description and not enough action in the other stories ,although I do appreciate the need to give a decent explanation as to what is happening! Nevertheless a good read and I look forward to more by this author.
July 6, 2024
Dead Ends by Jeffery Deaver is a collection of short stories by the master of storytelling. All of the stories are excellent and some are very clever and devious.
Even as a short story all of the collection are of a very high calibre and are stories which are all completely different.
I have enjoyed reading this collection of stories from the master storyteller that is Jeffery Deaver.
Highly recommended
Even as a short story all of the collection are of a very high calibre and are stories which are all completely different.
I have enjoyed reading this collection of stories from the master storyteller that is Jeffery Deaver.
Highly recommended
July 28, 2024
Nice collection of short stories from Jeffrey Deaver, couple of stories including his most popular characters - Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw. All the stories had different themes and were very well written, as can be expected from Jeffrey Deaver. Overall I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it,
Thank you HarperCollins UK for an advanced copy of this ebook and giving me a chance to review this book!
Thank you HarperCollins UK for an advanced copy of this ebook and giving me a chance to review this book!
August 5, 2024
I enjoyed this really varied collection of stories from Jeffery Deaver and found it ideal holiday reading. Featuring a Lincoln Rhyme story and a new take on the Whitechapel murders, each individual story contains entertaining twists. Each story has its own satisfying ending which left me eager to read the next one and sad when I had finished the book. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read such an entertaining book.
June 6, 2025
Well this is a collection of squeamish stories filled with murder, mystery, serial killers, obsession, crime, secrets and police procedural. All the stories are gripping and suspenseful. There are thirteen short stories. If you love crime thriller or horror stories, you are going to love them.
🫶I loved these stories.
A matter of blood
Where the evidence lies
Forgotten, A Colter Shaw Story
4.5/5
Thanks to the Publisher
🫶I loved these stories.
A matter of blood
Where the evidence lies
Forgotten, A Colter Shaw Story
4.5/5
Thanks to the Publisher
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