The Highway Kind

by Patrick Millikin

Thrilling crime stories about cars, driving, and the road from the world's bestselling and critically acclaimed writers.

Like fiction, cars take us into a different from the tony enclaves of upper crust society to the lowliest barrio; from muscle car-driving con men to hardscrabble kids on the road during the Great Depression; from a psychotic traveling salesman to a Mexican drug lord who drives a tricked-out VW Bus. We all share the roads, and our cars link us together.

Including entirely new stories from Michael Connelly, C.J. Box, George Pelecanos, Diana Gabaldon, James Sallis, Ace Atkins, Luis Alberto Urrea, Sara Gran, Ben H. Winters, and Joe Lansdale, The Highway Kind is a street-level look at modern America, as seen through one of its national obsessions.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Anthologies, Audiobook, Noir

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2016

About the author

Patrick Millikin is a bookseller at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale. As a freelance writer, his articles, interviews, and reviews have appeared in Publishers Weekly, Firsts Magazine, Paradoxa, Yourflesh Quarterly, and other publications. Millikin currently lives in central Phoenix.

Reviews

[James Thane · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2009, Patrick Millikin edited a great collection of short stories published as Phoenix Noir, which remains one of the best entries in the Noir series from Akashic. Millikin now returns with an excellent new collection of stories in The Highway Kind.

As was the case with Phoenix Noir, Millikin has recruited an all-star cast of writers, including Michael Connelly, Ace Atkins, George Pelecanos, C.J. Box, Gary Phillips, Wallace Stroby, Joe R. Lansdale and others. There's even a contribution from Patterson Hood, who is perhaps better known as a founding member of Drive-By Truckers, and whose contribution to this collection is a very noirish story featuring a Chevy Chevelle SS.

Millikin, who is currently restoring a 1960 Cadillac, notes in the preface that "Over the years, the automobile has come to represent not just our freedom, but our isolation.... When we're not checking our e-mail or text-messaging with our friends, we're driving and we're thinking.... Our cars facilitate our secret lives."

The vehicles featured in these stories are as wide-ranging as the authors who produced them. Perhaps not surprisingly, Michael Connelly's story, "Burnt Matches," takes place in Mickey Haller's Lincoln. C.J. Box's contribution, "Power Wagon," centers on a 1948 Dodge Power Wagon. George Pelecanos picks a 1970 E-body Plymouth Barracuda for his entry, "The Triple Black 'Cuda." Ace Atkins chose a vintage Ford Bronco, perfectly restored with a new Cleveland 321 engine and jacked up with a Pro Comp lift kit, Pro Comp wheels and big, chunky Goodrich tires. Luis Alberto Urrea, who won an Edgar for his story in Phoenix Noir, returns here with "The Pleasure of God," which features a tricked-out yellow VW van.

The vehicles are all interesting and the stories are all top-notch, as one would expect from a group of writers this talented. It's a collection that will appeal to anyone who loves excellent crime fiction, great cars and the open road. And with that combination, you can't possibly go wrong.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the years, the automobile has come to represent not just our freedom, but our isolation. For many Americans, driving is the closest we'll get to a meditative state. When we're not checking our e-mail or text-messaging with our friends, we're driving and we're thinking. We silently plot crimes, decide to quit drinking, sneak cigarettes, muster the courage to leave our husbands or wives, binge on fast food at anonymous drive-ins. Our cars facilitate our secret lives.*

I've never been a huge fan of the automobile. My dreams are not filled with flashy sports cars, sturdy pickup trucks, or even rides in stretch limos. In my life, cars are a necessary evil - a thing to get you from point A to point B. And yet, there are times when even I have to admit . . . there's just something special about being behind the wheel.

The highlights from this collection include Runs Good by Kelly Braffet, The Kill Switch by Willy Vlautin, The Pleasure of God by Luis Alberto Urrea, and, of course, Driving to Geronimo's Grave by Joe R. Lansdale. A few of the stories, including entries by Diana Gabaldon, Ace Atkins, and Gary Phillips - I just couldn't get into at all.

But, there were more that I loved than didn't, so four stars is my rating. Your mileage may vary; always buckle up for safety.

To read a much better, and more comprehensive review, turn here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

AND - put the pedal to the metal - there's a giveaway that ends March 3rd:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

*from Preface by Patrick Millikin

[Karl]

ix - Preface - Patrick Millikin
003 - "Test Dreve" - Ben H. Winters
017 - "Power Wagon" - C. J. Box
049 - "Burnt Maches" - Michael Connelly
060 - "Runs Good" -Kelly Braffet
086 - "Night Run" - Wallace Stroby
104 - "What You Were Fighting For" - James Sallis
114 - "The Triple Black 'Cuda" - George Pelecanos
138 - "Fogmeister" - Diana Gabaldon
171 - "Whipperwill and Back" - Paterson Hood
186 - "Driving To Geronimo's Grave" -Joe R. Lansdale
223 - " Hanna Martinez" - Sara Green
230 - "Apache Youth" -Ace Atkins
250 - "The Two Falcons" - Gary Phillips
271 - "The Kill Switch" Willy Vlautin
300 - "The Pleasure Of God" - Luis Alberto Urrea
327 - Acknowledgments
329 - Contributors
337 - Copyright Acknowledgments
339 - About The Editor

All stories appear to be copyrighted 2016.

[Alondra Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Won this on GR Giveaway*

4 Stars

Rated this for consistency throughout this book of short stories. Each one quite different than the next. All about drivers and roads and where that all leads us. Some stories are darker than others, but tell a great tale.

[hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never knew I would love writings about cars. This book takes me into a different world, totally intriguing. Few that I personally love:

Test Drive (Ben H. Winters)-- The starting was good. It driven my curiosity and attention, I know that something was not right, twist was expected though I was a bit puzzled and judging Steve as some psychos but when I thought nothing was related to Roegenberger and Steve was wrong the writer then gave me with the unexpected. Very nerve-racking. Love the idea and way it was narrated.

Power Wagon (C. J. Box)-- Suspense and gripping. Love how the writer twinning the story with emotions and action. That searching on wagon scene was my favorite part, some action and revenge, expected twist of Wade and Pingston but glad ending was a (quite) happy one.

Night Run (Wallace Stroby)-- Sort of revenge out of fear but somehow it turns to something psychotic. Think Kirwan got the wrong guy but still, Harley and Volvo shouldn't have met.

Hannah Martinez (Sara Gran)-- I don't know why but think this was cute. A very short story of a woman's life, love the narrator. A rambling of this and that, Cadillac and Ford, and life goes on. Like the ending.

Driving to Geronimo's Grave (Joe R. Lansdale)-- Saving the best for last. My most favorite with an interesting first paragraph-- nice story telling and plot. Love all the characters in it. An adventurous journey to Oklahoma for a dead uncle's body and bring that dude home for a proper burial-- such intriguing and super crazy horror thrilled. Chauncey and Terri such a great duo and loving the sidekick Ford.

For the rest, it was okay and I like that some having twist and unexpected ending. Love the dark crime/action thriller stuff for some, and honestly all were written well. Entertaining and fit the theme.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Highway Kind is a collection of short stories of varying lengths by an all-star cast of writers including such famed authors as Michael Connelly, George Pelecanos, and Wil Vilharo. The theme of these stories is the fuel-infected powerful rides that some men spend their whole lives working on and perfecting.

Even what seem like the tamest stories about test driving a "dadmobile" are not tame, but at a certain point become emotionally out of control (winters' Test Drive). Other stories are hard crime stories but are almost hauntingly beautiful tales of isolated farmhouses and what comes out of the cold wintry night (Box's Power Wagon). Connelly's Burnt Matches draws on familiar characters from his Lincoln Lawyer series. There are stories about desperation and others about road rage ( Stroby's Night Run). Atkins' Apache Youth takes us on a road through a reservation.

Lots of good stuff here. And too many stories to describe them all even briefly.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3 STARS
2016; Mullholland Books/Hachette Book Group
(Review Not on Blog)

I mostly read this for Michael Connelly's story as it contained his character, Mickey Haller. I also looked forward to reading Diana Gabaldon's story. There were a few other authors I have heard and the rest were new to me. Like any anthology, there are some great stories and some not so great. I found only a couple were good, but it is a good way to get a taste of some authors you may want to try.

***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice selection of stories involving cars.

[Tom Donaghey · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE HIGHWAY KIND, edited by Patrick Millikin, is a collection of 15 short stories centered around cars and driving, written by some of the finest of todays mystery/suspense authors. Unlike many collections I have read in the past few years, this stands out for the sheer consistent excellence of the stories. They go from the very good to great in their description of character, setting, mood, and motivation. I especially liked Driving to Geronimo's Grave by Joe R. Lansdale for it's graphic morbidness. The picture of those two youths driving around depression era Oklahoma with that thing in the backseat sent chills up my spine.
Michael Connelly, Diana Gabaldon (OUTLANDER), Ace Atkins, and C.J.Box are represented here along with a handful of authors both familiar and brand new to me. Each story is a revelation, be it about Triple Black 'Cudas, meeting up with wild Apache youth on the reservation, a certain Lincoln Lawyer facing a gun barrel or a car salesman confronting the wrath of an angry customer.
It's always nice to try a sampler, to test out new things but not be committed to a long term relationship. It is even better when every sampled item is a winner.
I won this book through GoodReads.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid anthology of short stories by some of my favorite authors, as well as some newly-discovered gems. Dark, gritty stories, leaning heavily toward noir/psychological works, rather than straight suspense. Audiobook features a variety of excellent voice actors.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cool idea-- assemble a bunch of talented authors and ask each to write a short story that somehow involves a car. Being a "car-guy," I was happy to find a copy in the library, and from it's pristine condition, I'd guess few before me had discovered this interesting book.
The good: several stories grabbed me from start to finish, notably the entries from Ben Winters, C. J. Box, Wallace Stroby and Patterson Hood. The first two were probably the best.
The bad: after a bit, there was a sense of sameness (though these were all distinct stories), and a feeling of wanting more -- a more complex or complete story -- due to the limits of short (very short) stories herein. One author that I read quite often and always enjoy, Michael Connelly, was a disappointment. His entry read like a chapter in one of his Lincoln Lawyer series, and almost seemed like he "mailed it in. " Oh well, in a collection such as this, they won't all be winners, but it's an enjoyable read anyway. Car-guy mentality not required.

[Jk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reading copy edition of this book via the Goodreads Giveaways program and would like to thank everyone involved with making that possible.

This was more like 4.5 stars rounded up! I am not a big (or even a little!) car fanatic so I was a little wary of this one but given the impressive list of contributors went ahead and entered the giveaway anyway. I am so glad that I gave this one a chance! These stories are a hell of a lot of fun. They lead down some very dark roads and are laden with action and violence. There were a couple that didn't really blow my skirt up but overall the collection is excellent! My absolute favorite story was "Driving to Geronimo's Grave" by Joe R. Lansdale but "Test Drive" by Ben H. Winters, "Power Wagon" by C.J. Box, "Night Run" by Wallace Stroby and "The Kill Switch" by Willy Vlautin were all 5-star stories as well.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went through a phase a while back of reading American 'grit lit', including Willy Vlautin (featured here) and crime novels including Sallis and Pelecanos (ditto) and reading this reminded me that I'd like to read more of it. I must say that the undoubted highlight for me was Benjamin H. Winters' story, which opens the collection and is excellent.

Equally I should point out that I might not have heard of this volume were it not for the fact that it features a story by the co-founder of my favourite band, the Drive-By Truckers: Patterson Hood (his first as a published writer of fiction). It, too, is great - a classic slice of American Psycho-style unreliable narrator - and fulfils the long held suspicion that just as Vlautin's was, his talent for lyric-writing would be transferable to the page.

[Steph Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short story collections can be hit or miss, but The Highway Kind knocks it out of the park. This collection of stories from crime fiction authors- from big names to small- explores our relationship with cars and the road in unexpected ways and I was surprised to get so much emotion from the stories. Standouts include Willy Vlautin's "The Kill Switch" and Joe Lansdale's "Driving to Geronimo's Grave," but really every story carried its weight and the collection rounds out well as a whole. I wouldn't limit "The Highway Kinds" readership to those only interested in cars or crime writing. These stories go far beyond those limitations and I think any reader would find something to love in this collection. Highly recommended!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pleasure of reading this anthology was that I found some new authors to try --Ben Winters, Willy Vlautin, Luis Urrea and one to give a second chance -- C J Box and unfortunately, some to steer well clear of -- Diana Gabaldon, Sara Green, Ace Atkins. Then there are the very good but really dark/morbid/noir -- Wallace Stroby, George Pelecanos. Overall, I give it four stars because Joe Lansdale's entry alone was worth the price of the book!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection of short stories. All different takes on the theme.of cars and the open road. Two of my favorite subjects, and a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Passing it on to my dad, who taught me to love these two subjects.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! I loved it!

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Thrilling crime stories about cars, driving, and the road from the world's bestselling and critically acclaimed writers.
Like fiction, cars take us into a different world: from the tony enclaves of upper crust society to the lowliest barrio; from muscle car-driving con men to hardscrabble kids on the road during the Great Depression; from a psychotic traveling salesman to a Mexican drug lord who drives a tricked-out VW Bus. We all share the roads, and our cars link us together.
Including entirely new stories from Michael Connelly, C.J. Box, George Pelecanos, Diana Gabaldon, James Sallis, Ace Atkins, Luis Alberto Urrea, Sara Gran, Ben H. Winters, and Joe Lansdale, THE HIGHWAY KIND is a street-level look at modern America, as seen through one of its national obsessions.

I was very interested in reading this collection of stories - featuring some of my favourite authors, I thought this was a no-brainer. But, as is always the case with anthologies, some of the stories really worked for me - others just didn't. And that is to be expected - if every story or author was the same (or told the same story), we wouldn't need more than one author.

My highlights from this were:

"Power Wagon" by C. J. Box
"The Triple Black 'Cuda" by George Pelecanos
"Driving To Geronimo's Grave" by Joe R. Lansdale (of course!)
"Hanna Martinez" by Sara Green
"The Pleasure Of God" by Luis Alberto Urrea


Paul
ARH

[Tanweer Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant, eclectic mix of short stories in which the car is either the star, or it plays a very important supporting role. There are road trips and night drives and rare finds to keep every kind of car and driving enthusiast happy.

There is a decent amount of tension in drama in almost every story, too. If you like thrillers, and collections of short ones, then this is for you even if you're not particularly into cars.

Aside from the oddball drug-lord owned VW van or ancient Dodge Power Wagon, there is very much an American Muscle vein running through this collection. But this is definitely more than just an ode to Americana and motoring. The most compelling aspects of these stories is the very human characters who are as relatable as they are sometimes shocking. The early story 'Test Drive' (featuring a Honda Odyssey rather than any sort of classic American muscle car) is very much testament to this.

Themes of loss, depression, abuse, insanity and family permeate the patina of the cars which grace this tome. A seriously decent collection; well worth reading.

[ML Downie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal but wonderful read even if you're not a car fanatic. Some of the stories are outstanding.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these short stories of many different kinds of cars.For anyone who either has loved or hated a car or know someone who is obsessed with their car these stories make sense.They are all different and intriquing in their own ways.The first story Test Drive sucked me right in and it was hard putting down the book to do necessary things.Two of my co-workers were very interested when I had it at work with me.One of them never reads but said "They are short stories right.Maybe I would like them."She is the first one to get it.I love to promote reading and hearing that made my day.Thanks to Patrick Millikin for getting such interesting authors ideas into one book.

[Hijacking Of · Rating 4 out of 5]

As is often the case with short story collections, some of the writers are very good, i.e., Michael Connelly and others not so much. The automotive thread was interesting. The advantage to anthologies is each short story stands alone; the book can easily be picked up for a quick read. Great for summer reading

[Brucie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consistently entertaining thriller stories from the bookseller's favorite authors.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories about cars. Loved it. It reminded me of the Alfred Hitchcock stories.

[Ross Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "Highway Kind:Tales of Fast Cars, Desperate Drivers and Dark Roads" is a collection of short stories, all, as you can guess by the title, are car or driving related. I was initially drawn to this collection as some of my favourite writers, such as Michael Connelly, George Pelacanos, Wallace Stroby, Ace Atkins, Joe R. Lansdale and Willy Vlautin all contribute stories. There are also contributions from writers I've not read before and even a story from Patterson Hood, the main songwriter of one of my favourite bands, Drive by Truckers.
The stories are mainly contemporary but Diane Gabaldon's, Fogmeister is set in pre-WW2 Nazi Germany and is based on real events. I also particularly enjoyed Joe R. Lansdale's, 'Driving to Geronimo's Grave', which is a depression era treasure hunt, with a rather smart mouthed youngster called Terri and Luis Albert Urrea's, 'The Pleasure of God', where an old Mexican prison guard seek's revenge on a young Narco.
Like all good short stories there is mainly a resolution to the dilemma or circumstances that the protagonist finds themselves in but the stories also leave you with a feeling of wanting to know more about these people and their lives, beyond the confines of the story.
This collection is edited by Patrick Millikin who has also compiled another collection of stories, 'Phoenix Noir' which I now plan to read as I throughly enjoyed this collection.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors of these different stories are all well-known and have made each story an interesting tale around the vehicle that is being used to describe the action that is happening. The different authors which I have read most at one time or another keep the stories entertaining like other ones that I have read from there’s. The difference is the vehicle in each story and the description of each one. Anyone who loves cars or even the Dodge power wagon will be happy with each story. I was and I am glad I took the time to read this book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Amie Newberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of short stories all centered around cars. Who would have thought I’d be into cars?! But it was really a collection of stories about humans getting into and out of complex life situations. It was bey compelling. I found myself saying, ‘I’ll put the book down after this story.’ I did that repeatedly until I was half way through the book. It was recommended by the editor himself, Patrick Millikin, when we stumbled into The Poisoned Pen in Phoenix, AZ. What a great experience—I highly recommend the book, the bookseller’s opinion on which books to buy, and the establishment!

[Shivakumar Srinivasan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, thats an interesting genre of a very niche themed short stories. In this fantastic volume of short stories, the common thread are Cars; American Cars to be more precise. Set across time spans, each of these stories captures the essence of the era gone by, where muscle cars rules the highways, there was glamour to certain cars and american life was defined by fast cars and highways. A variety of writers put together a fantastic compilation of high octane car and crime where their love for automobiles and the era of american life gone by shines through.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another partial read of a collection of short stories to which Michael Connelly contributed. The theme is cars: all the contributions centered around or heavily involved cars, driving, roads, etc. Of the 15 stories, I only read three: Power Wagon (CJ Box), Burnt Matches (Michael Connelly), The Kill Switch (Willy Vlautin). The Kill Switch was the best by far; the other two were only okay. I liked Power Wagon until the too-abrupt and unsatisfying ending. The Connelly story was too short to be of much lasting interest, although it's always fun to check in with Mickey Haller and Cisco.