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Backshot
Only one gig had gone bad in Royce's twenty-year career, but it had ended just about as badly as possible, with his back broken and him in jail.
A specialist said it would be a year before he'd walk again, if then. Royce took this news as a personal challenge and let his concentration begin to harden. He fixed his will and figured he'd be on his feet in six months. He set a clock inside his head and started the countdown.
At night, when everyone else was asleep, Royce practiced with the two-inch blade he had smuggled in with him. He'd always been good with a knife.
Now Royce just had to get back on his feet and stay alive, and then he could have his revenge...
A specialist said it would be a year before he'd walk again, if then. Royce took this news as a personal challenge and let his concentration begin to harden. He fixed his will and figured he'd be on his feet in six months. He set a clock inside his head and started the countdown.
At night, when everyone else was asleep, Royce practiced with the two-inch blade he had smuggled in with him. He'd always been good with a knife.
Now Royce just had to get back on his feet and stay alive, and then he could have his revenge...
108 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2015
About the author
Tom Piccirilli
186 books390 followersThomas Piccirilli (May 27, 1965 – July 11, 2015) was an American novelist and short story writer.
Piccirilli sold over 150 stories in the mystery, thriller, horror, erotica, and science fiction fields. He was a two-time winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for "Best Paperback Original" (2008, 2010). He was a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award. He was also a finalist for the 2009 Edgar Allan Poe Award given by the Mystery Writers of America, a final nominee for the Fantasy Award, and the winner of the first Bram Stoker Award given in the category of "Best Poetry Collection".
Piccirilli sold over 150 stories in the mystery, thriller, horror, erotica, and science fiction fields. He was a two-time winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for "Best Paperback Original" (2008, 2010). He was a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award. He was also a finalist for the 2009 Edgar Allan Poe Award given by the Mystery Writers of America, a final nominee for the Fantasy Award, and the winner of the first Bram Stoker Award given in the category of "Best Poetry Collection".
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Want to Read
February 22, 2016This is one of 750 copies initialed by Tom Piccirilli.
March 23, 2016
An excellent short noir-revenge novella.
February 1, 2017
Like so many Piccirilli stories, Backshot is about the way the past haunts and drives us and how we struggle (and often fail) to kick free of its influence. It features the terse style of many of his later novels, and the criminal characters he found fascinating. A fast, affecting read.
February 12, 2020
A nice story, with a little twist.
June 29, 2020
Fast. Brutal. Very satisfying.
I highly recommend this novella.
I highly recommend this novella.
January 1, 2016
Nothing needs to be said bout this book other than it is another great short novel from the always great Tom Piccirilli.
April 17, 2016
Another great piece of modern noir from the late great Tom Piccirilli. Fits very nicely with backshot 1903 yet is a wonderful read on its own.
June 2, 2016
A few decades after the first book, this once picks up with the grandson. Who is in jail for robbery and was shot in the back by a guy who worked with him. Go figure.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews