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Hard Blows: Short Stories of Mystery, Crime and Suspense
“A spine-tingler right to the final sentence.” Dick Stodghill
Sixteen thrilling short stories (15 brand new) from an award-winning author of mystery and
“Hard Blows”—A prosecutor must deal with an ex-con coming after his family.
“The Killers (Allison’s Version)”—Lawyer Allison Culbertson encounters ruthless killers in a diner.
“Stranger in a Strange Band”— A man with a horrible secret tries to start over under a new name in another city but finds he can’t run from his past.
“Why the Hearse Horse Snickers”—A killer stalks a sleazy divorce lawyer who deserves what’s coming to him.
“The Bullet Fee”—Lawyer Wyatt Blake hopes his beautiful client is innocent of using a deadly butterfly hairpin as a murder weapon.
“Must Be Murder”—A college professor who witnesses a murder while teaching her online class discovers no one believes her.
“The Planted Gun”—A planted gun implicates an innocent (but dead) man. Is it too late for the cop who killed him to clear the man’s name?
“The Spy in the Suitcase”—A “honey trap” leads to a dead spy in a suitcase.
“Inquest for a D.A.”—District Attorney Wyatt Blake faces an inquest into the suspicious death of his wife.
“The Secret Legacy”—A chilling secret hidden in a safe deposit box is worth going to jail over.
“No Such Thing as Free”—No Country For Old Men meets Home Alone.
“Epic Parkour Fail”—A teenage boy practicing parkour in an abandoned shoe factory witnesses something he was never meant to see.
“The Un-Dead”—A detective present for an autopsy watches in horror as a murder victim tears himself out of a body bag.
“The Hanging Tree”—A boy visiting the “hanging tree” at midnight finds his life in peril.
“The Death Warrant”—A new constitutional amendment requires law enforcement in each county to kill one criminal per year without trial or conviction. What could possibly go wrong?
“Son of a Slain Cop”—A boy whose cop dad was gunned down gets a chance years later to solve his father’s cold case.
Praise For Swingle’s
“Morley Swingle’s “Hard Blows” dramatizes the challenges prosecutors encounter, even when the defendants they charge are in fact guilty. Consistently high quality.” Publisher’s Weekly
“Morley Swingle delivers a well-planned twist.” Kirkus Reviews
“Swingle’s ‘Hard Blows’ is a hard gut-punch, where an ex-con takes final, fitting revenge on the man who put him in jail.” Linnea Dodson, Reviewing The Evidence
“Hard Blows” earns Honorable Mention in Best American Mystery Stories of 2010.
Sixteen thrilling short stories (15 brand new) from an award-winning author of mystery and
“Hard Blows”—A prosecutor must deal with an ex-con coming after his family.
“The Killers (Allison’s Version)”—Lawyer Allison Culbertson encounters ruthless killers in a diner.
“Stranger in a Strange Band”— A man with a horrible secret tries to start over under a new name in another city but finds he can’t run from his past.
“Why the Hearse Horse Snickers”—A killer stalks a sleazy divorce lawyer who deserves what’s coming to him.
“The Bullet Fee”—Lawyer Wyatt Blake hopes his beautiful client is innocent of using a deadly butterfly hairpin as a murder weapon.
“Must Be Murder”—A college professor who witnesses a murder while teaching her online class discovers no one believes her.
“The Planted Gun”—A planted gun implicates an innocent (but dead) man. Is it too late for the cop who killed him to clear the man’s name?
“The Spy in the Suitcase”—A “honey trap” leads to a dead spy in a suitcase.
“Inquest for a D.A.”—District Attorney Wyatt Blake faces an inquest into the suspicious death of his wife.
“The Secret Legacy”—A chilling secret hidden in a safe deposit box is worth going to jail over.
“No Such Thing as Free”—No Country For Old Men meets Home Alone.
“Epic Parkour Fail”—A teenage boy practicing parkour in an abandoned shoe factory witnesses something he was never meant to see.
“The Un-Dead”—A detective present for an autopsy watches in horror as a murder victim tears himself out of a body bag.
“The Hanging Tree”—A boy visiting the “hanging tree” at midnight finds his life in peril.
“The Death Warrant”—A new constitutional amendment requires law enforcement in each county to kill one criminal per year without trial or conviction. What could possibly go wrong?
“Son of a Slain Cop”—A boy whose cop dad was gunned down gets a chance years later to solve his father’s cold case.
Praise For Swingle’s
“Morley Swingle’s “Hard Blows” dramatizes the challenges prosecutors encounter, even when the defendants they charge are in fact guilty. Consistently high quality.” Publisher’s Weekly
“Morley Swingle delivers a well-planned twist.” Kirkus Reviews
“Swingle’s ‘Hard Blows’ is a hard gut-punch, where an ex-con takes final, fitting revenge on the man who put him in jail.” Linnea Dodson, Reviewing The Evidence
“Hard Blows” earns Honorable Mention in Best American Mystery Stories of 2010.
- GenresEbooks
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2024
48 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Morley Swingle
21 books25 followersMorley Swingle is a former prosecutor now writing mystery/thrillers and law books. As both a state and federal prosecutor, he personally prosecuted 111 homicide cases and tried 178 jury trials. His cases have been featured on Dateline, Forensic Files and Oprah. His historical mystery thrillers include The Gold of Cape Girardeau (praised as absorbing courtroom drama by Elmore Leonard) and Bootheel Man (finalist for the 2008 William Rockhill Nelson Award for fiction). His true crime memoir Scoundrels to the Hoosegow was called “engrossing” and “highly recommended” by Vincent Bugliosi. His short story “Hard Blows” in the Mystery Writers of America anthology The Prosecution Rests was singled out by Publisher’s Weekly as “dramatizing the challenges prosecutors encounter.” His collection of 16 short stories won the 2024 Firebird Award for Crime Fiction. His law books teach search and seizure law and evidence with a dose of humor. Although relatively well-liked for a prosecutor, he occasionally found it necessary to wear a bullet-proof vest.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 27, 2024
Hard Blows kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to read more. It had me from the prologue, when it said it was “a collection of losers”. I firmly believe that you don’t lose, you learn. Although each story is a crime/thriller, they are all very unique. This is a great book for those of us that don’t have long hours to read. My favorites: Epic Parkour Fail and The Secret Legacy!
May 4, 2024
Wasn’t a fan of crime and suspense until Hard Blows. Gripping stories that take reader on a wild ride of twists and turns. Morley Swingle delivers.
March 29, 2024
As I finished the first in a series of short short stories in Hard Blows I couldn’t help but think of the old Lays potato chip commercial; I’ll bet you can eat just one. Substitute eat for read and you too may be up until 3 a.m. reading just one more story before calling it a night. Which is why I was up at 4 in the morning writing this review. Hard Blows is a book to put in your night stand with a cautionary warning. Reading may be hazardous to your sleep. Read at your own risk. You may not be able to put it down.
May 9, 2024
MH
All of the short stories were very interesting. I have read all of his previous books and all were very good. This book of short stories will hold your interest for a long read or a short read of just one story at a time. Morely Swingle is a very experienced retired prosecuting attorney and although all the stories are fiction it’s obvious that some are based on experiences he had during his career. I whole heartedly recommend this book to all readers. You will not be disappointed.
All of the short stories were very interesting. I have read all of his previous books and all were very good. This book of short stories will hold your interest for a long read or a short read of just one story at a time. Morely Swingle is a very experienced retired prosecuting attorney and although all the stories are fiction it’s obvious that some are based on experiences he had during his career. I whole heartedly recommend this book to all readers. You will not be disappointed.
May 5, 2024
Terrific Story Telling
Mystery, suspense, and legal thrillers are my jam. And these stories do not disappoint. How can you not like a book with a story called "When the Hearse Horse Snickers"
Mystery, suspense, and legal thrillers are my jam. And these stories do not disappoint. How can you not like a book with a story called "When the Hearse Horse Snickers"
May 1, 2024
Great Quick Reads
The short stories make for great quick reads. I like that the bad guys get it in the end almost every time.
The short stories make for great quick reads. I like that the bad guys get it in the end almost every time.
May 4, 2024
Mary you will enjoy these
Great stories. I couldn't stop reading them gotta go now I have lots of work to do!
Have fun reading
Great stories. I couldn't stop reading them gotta go now I have lots of work to do!
Have fun reading
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews