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Jake Lassiter #EXCERPT SS
THE ROAD TO HELL
NO. 1 BESTSELLING MYSTERY ANTHOLOGY “The Road to Hell” collects four stories by Paul Levine, the Edgar-nominated author of the bestselling Jake Lassiter series. Levine's heroes travel dark and dangerous paths as they confront devilish and powerful villains. The journeys are by land, by sea, and in one case, perhaps only in the mind. In “El Valiente en el Infierno,” (The Brave One in Hell), a 13-year-old Mexican boy tells his own story as he makes a treacherous midnight crossing into California in search of his father. The boy’s courage is tested when he runs into two gun-toting American vigilantes, and the confrontation will change all of them forever. “Development Hell” imagines a pitch session in which a bedraggled Edgar Allan Poe squares off with a slick Hollywood producer who wants to make a cheesy slasher flick out of “The Pit and the Pendulum.” Bookgasm praised the story as “going straight to the funny bone.” “A Hell of a Crime” echoes with notions of “The Twilight Zone.” A prosecutor prepares for a homicide trial while being pestered by his domineering mother, a famous lawyer herself. Just what role did she play in the murder? It’s a mystery with a punch to the gut at the end. Two of the author’s best-loved characters, Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, appear in “Solomon & To Hell and Back.” The ethically-challenged Steve Solomon and the very proper Victoria Lord are mismatched Miami law partners. Steve says he's going fishing with Manuel Cruz, a sleazy con man. Victoria knows that Cruz embezzled a bundle from Steve's favorite client and is an unlikely fishing buddy. So just what is Steve up to now? Something between mischief and murder. The three of them head for deep water and dark troubles. Also an excerpt of “Mortal Sin,” one of the award-winning Jake Lassiter novels. “Recalling the work of Carl Hiaasen, this thriller races to a smashing climax.” – Library Journal. Finally, there's an excerpt of "Solomon vs. Lord," the first of the series nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, and James Thurber awards. Here's what number one bestselling author Harlan Coben said about "Solomon vs. Lord." "Hiaasen meets Grisham in the court of last retort. A sexy, wacky, wonderful thriller with humor and heart." PRAISE FOR THE FICTION OF PAUL LEVINE “Mystery writing at its very, very best.” – Larry King, USA TODAY "Irreverent...genuinely clever...great fun." – The New York Times Book Review "Just the remedy for those who can't get enough Spenser and miss Travis McGee terribly." – St. Petersburg Times “Genuinely chilling.” – Washington Post Book World “Take one part John Grisham, two parts Carl Hiaasen, throw in a dash of John D. MacDonald, and voila!” – Tulsa World “Wildly entertaining blend of raucous humor and high adventure.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch “Cracking good action-mystery...funny, sardonic, and fast-paced.” – Detroit Free Press ABOUT THE AUTHOR The author of 17 novels, Paul Levine won the John D. MacDonald fiction award and was nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, and James Thurber prizes. A former trial lawyer, he also wrote 20 episodes of the CBS military drama “JAG.” More at THE JAKE LASSITER SERIES To Speak for the Dead Night Vision False Dawn Mortal Sin Riptide Fool Me Twice Flesh & Bones Lassiter Last Chance Lassiter THE SOLOMON vs. LORD SERIES Solomon vs. Lord The Deep Blue Alibi Kill All the Lawyers Habeas Porpoise STAND-ALONE THRILLERS Ilegal Impact Paydirt Ballistic
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First published February 8, 2011
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About the author
Paul Levine
83 books561 followersMIDNIGHT PATRIOTS
Germany wants Einstein alive. Chaplin dead. Spies, assassins, a femme fatale board the Super Chief. Destination: danger.
It's 1940. Europe is in flames. Germany occupies much of the continent, and the Blitz rains terror on London. Fritz Duquesne, a German spy straight from the history books, plots to kidnap Einstein and steal America's nuclear secrets. Enraged by Chaplin's mockery in The Great Dictator, Adolf Hitler dispatches an SS assassin to silence the man who ridiculed him. The story features Charles Lindbergh, Lena Horne, and J. Robert Oppenheimer—along with a beautiful German spy on a mission of her own. As Nazi agents and FBI operatives close in, all roads lead Einstein and Chaplin to a deadly showdown aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief as it races from Chicago to Los Angeles.
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MIDNIGHT BURNING
Award-winning author Paul Levine weaves historical figures into a gripping, true-to-life plot to overthrow the U.S. government in this sizzling historical thriller.
Named "Historical Thriller of the Year" by Best Thrillers Book Review and one of the "Favorite Books of 2025" by Bookreporter.
“Ingeniously pairs real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin on a roller coaster ride to save America from a fascist threat within its borders.” – Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs series.
It's 1937 and clouds of war gather over Europe, and American fascists march at home. While the FBI chases suspected communists, Nazi agents plot an armed insurrection. When the world’s two most famous men–Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin–uncover the scheme, which includes the assassination of Hollywood’s biggest stars, they fight back with nothing but their ingenuity, raw courage, and the fierce resolve of Georgia Ann Robinson, LAPD’s first Black female officer.
Levine—praised by The New York Times for his “realistic, gritty, and fun” novels—delivers a breathtaking thriller laced with humor and a larger-than-life cast, including Charles Lindbergh, Douglas Fairbanks, William Randolph Hearst, and Joseph Goebbels.
"This could be Levine's masterpiece." - Lee Goldberg, New York Times #1 Bestselling Author
ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE.
ORDER FROM BARNES & NOBLE HERE.
ORDER FROM BOOKSHOP HERE.
**********************************************;
Jake Lassiter tackles high school football and becomes the most hated man in Miami in EARLY GRAVE, Paul Levine's sizzling legal thriller.
Named PenCraft "Book of the Year" and the third best legal thriller of the 21st Century by Best Thrillers Book Review.
"An extraordinary hero stars in a legal tale as believable as it is riveting." - Kirkus Reviews
"Levine scores with this complex and witty legal thriller. This winner works even for those new to the series." - Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)
When his godson suffers a catastrophic injury in a high school football game, lawyer Jake Lassiter sues to abolish the sport and becomes Public Enemy Number One. The former NFL linebacker also battles CTE, the fatal brain disease caused by repetitive head injuries. His personal life, too, hits a rocky patch. He's in couple's therapy with fiancée Dr. Melissa Gold and vows to live long enough to fix his relationship and achieve justice for his godson.
Germany wants Einstein alive. Chaplin dead. Spies, assassins, a femme fatale board the Super Chief. Destination: danger.
It's 1940. Europe is in flames. Germany occupies much of the continent, and the Blitz rains terror on London. Fritz Duquesne, a German spy straight from the history books, plots to kidnap Einstein and steal America's nuclear secrets. Enraged by Chaplin's mockery in The Great Dictator, Adolf Hitler dispatches an SS assassin to silence the man who ridiculed him. The story features Charles Lindbergh, Lena Horne, and J. Robert Oppenheimer—along with a beautiful German spy on a mission of her own. As Nazi agents and FBI operatives close in, all roads lead Einstein and Chaplin to a deadly showdown aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief as it races from Chicago to Los Angeles.
ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE
MIDNIGHT BURNING
Award-winning author Paul Levine weaves historical figures into a gripping, true-to-life plot to overthrow the U.S. government in this sizzling historical thriller.
Named "Historical Thriller of the Year" by Best Thrillers Book Review and one of the "Favorite Books of 2025" by Bookreporter.
“Ingeniously pairs real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin on a roller coaster ride to save America from a fascist threat within its borders.” – Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs series.
It's 1937 and clouds of war gather over Europe, and American fascists march at home. While the FBI chases suspected communists, Nazi agents plot an armed insurrection. When the world’s two most famous men–Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin–uncover the scheme, which includes the assassination of Hollywood’s biggest stars, they fight back with nothing but their ingenuity, raw courage, and the fierce resolve of Georgia Ann Robinson, LAPD’s first Black female officer.
Levine—praised by The New York Times for his “realistic, gritty, and fun” novels—delivers a breathtaking thriller laced with humor and a larger-than-life cast, including Charles Lindbergh, Douglas Fairbanks, William Randolph Hearst, and Joseph Goebbels.
"This could be Levine's masterpiece." - Lee Goldberg, New York Times #1 Bestselling Author
ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE.
ORDER FROM BARNES & NOBLE HERE.
ORDER FROM BOOKSHOP HERE.
**********************************************;
Jake Lassiter tackles high school football and becomes the most hated man in Miami in EARLY GRAVE, Paul Levine's sizzling legal thriller.
Named PenCraft "Book of the Year" and the third best legal thriller of the 21st Century by Best Thrillers Book Review.
"An extraordinary hero stars in a legal tale as believable as it is riveting." - Kirkus Reviews
"Levine scores with this complex and witty legal thriller. This winner works even for those new to the series." - Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)
When his godson suffers a catastrophic injury in a high school football game, lawyer Jake Lassiter sues to abolish the sport and becomes Public Enemy Number One. The former NFL linebacker also battles CTE, the fatal brain disease caused by repetitive head injuries. His personal life, too, hits a rocky patch. He's in couple's therapy with fiancée Dr. Melissa Gold and vows to live long enough to fix his relationship and achieve justice for his godson.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 28, 2014
ROAD TO HELL is a collection of four stories (and a heck of a lot of preview material):
El Valiente en el Infierno -- I love the idea of a story told from the perspective of a young illegal immigrant, but the ending is a bit too "We Are the World" for me.
A Hell of a Crime -- Attempts to entertain solely on the basis of several corny plot twists.
Development Hell -- I quite liked this one, though the idea was far from groundbreaking (who knew that movie studio execs care more about money than they do about art?). The story postulates what might happen if Edgar Allen Poe met with a modern Hollywood producer.
To Hell and Back -- A dull story about a pair of lawyers who take the law into their own hands, and just happen to catch a lucky break.
El Valiente en el Infierno -- I love the idea of a story told from the perspective of a young illegal immigrant, but the ending is a bit too "We Are the World" for me.
A Hell of a Crime -- Attempts to entertain solely on the basis of several corny plot twists.
Development Hell -- I quite liked this one, though the idea was far from groundbreaking (who knew that movie studio execs care more about money than they do about art?). The story postulates what might happen if Edgar Allen Poe met with a modern Hollywood producer.
To Hell and Back -- A dull story about a pair of lawyers who take the law into their own hands, and just happen to catch a lucky break.
August 29, 2017
I enjoyed each one of these stories. Short but good reads.
April 5, 2022
Hold your horses
If you have read Paul Levine before these seem to be short stories that he has expanded on. I like this author I read him.
If you have read Paul Levine before these seem to be short stories that he has expanded on. I like this author I read him.
July 23, 2012
Four short stories with Hell in the title.
1: El Valiente en el Infierno(The Brave One In Hell)- a young Mexican boy crossing the border to find his father faces off against two gun-toting vigilantes and all their lives are changed because of it.
2: Development Hell: a poor writer named Edgar Allan Poe pitches his story The Pit and The Pendulum to a Hollywood producer and his values are challenged.
3: A Hell of A Crime: a lawyer preparing to prosecute a husband for murder has his mother, another lawyer, stepping in to question his reasons.
4: To Hell and Back: a short story featuring the author's book characters Solomon and Lord as they try to get a beloved old woman's money, embezzled by a former Cuban official by whatever means, legal or otherwise, they can.
1: El Valiente en el Infierno(The Brave One In Hell)- a young Mexican boy crossing the border to find his father faces off against two gun-toting vigilantes and all their lives are changed because of it.
2: Development Hell: a poor writer named Edgar Allan Poe pitches his story The Pit and The Pendulum to a Hollywood producer and his values are challenged.
3: A Hell of A Crime: a lawyer preparing to prosecute a husband for murder has his mother, another lawyer, stepping in to question his reasons.
4: To Hell and Back: a short story featuring the author's book characters Solomon and Lord as they try to get a beloved old woman's money, embezzled by a former Cuban official by whatever means, legal or otherwise, they can.
January 8, 2014
Four short stories by Levine on themes lawyer-ly, but they lack the verve of the Lassiter series that has me reading Levine's stuff. It is escapism and I don't feel guilty for the occasional escape.
April 2, 2015
This was 3 stories together which I didn't know. It was something about your hell on earth. They were ok for short stories.
February 28, 2015
A couple of the short stories I enjoyed but the other 2 were not so enthralling to me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews