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Tim Rackley
Dirty Weather
Experience a heart-pumping and thrilling tale of suspense!
Originally published in THRILLER (2006),edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author James Patterson.
In this intense Thriller Short, New York Times bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz once again explores justice versus the law. Here his research for his deputy US marshal character, Tim Rackley from The Kill Clause and Troubleshooter, comes into full focus.
Laura Hillman runs a bar near a prison, and she is also quite lonely. When Brian Dyer arrives to have a drink, she’s enamored with his charm and sense of honor. An attempted robbery puts a bullet in Brian’s foot, but he’s able to force the thief to flee. But from all appearances, the thief is going to come back, and this time lives will be on the line.
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James Penney’s New Identity by Lee Child Operation Northwoods by James Grippando Epitaph by J. A. Konrath The Face in the Window by Heather Graham Kowalski’s in Love by James Rollins The Hunt for Dmitri by Gayle Lynds Disfigured by Michael Palmer and Daniel Palmer The Abelard Sanction by David Morrell Falling by Chris Mooney Success of a Mission by Dennis Lynds The Portal by John Lescroart and M. J. Rose The Double Dealer by David Liss Dirty Weather by Gregg Hurwitz Spirit Walker by David Dun At the Drop of a Hat by Denise Hamilton The Other Side of the Mirror by Eric Van Lustbader Man Catch by Christopher Rice Goodnight, Sweet Mother by Alex Kava Sacrificial Lion by Grant Blackwood Interlude at Duane’s by F. Paul Wilson The Powder Monkey by Ted Bell Surviving Toronto by M. Diane Vogt Assassins by Christopher Reich The Athens Solution by Brad Thor Diplomatic Constraints by Raelynn Hillhouse Kill Zone by Robert Liparulo The Devils’ Due by Steve Berry The Tuesday Club by Katherine Neville Gone Fishing by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Originally published in THRILLER (2006),edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author James Patterson.
In this intense Thriller Short, New York Times bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz once again explores justice versus the law. Here his research for his deputy US marshal character, Tim Rackley from The Kill Clause and Troubleshooter, comes into full focus.
Laura Hillman runs a bar near a prison, and she is also quite lonely. When Brian Dyer arrives to have a drink, she’s enamored with his charm and sense of honor. An attempted robbery puts a bullet in Brian’s foot, but he’s able to force the thief to flee. But from all appearances, the thief is going to come back, and this time lives will be on the line.
Don’t miss any of these exciting Thriller
James Penney’s New Identity by Lee Child Operation Northwoods by James Grippando Epitaph by J. A. Konrath The Face in the Window by Heather Graham Kowalski’s in Love by James Rollins The Hunt for Dmitri by Gayle Lynds Disfigured by Michael Palmer and Daniel Palmer The Abelard Sanction by David Morrell Falling by Chris Mooney Success of a Mission by Dennis Lynds The Portal by John Lescroart and M. J. Rose The Double Dealer by David Liss Dirty Weather by Gregg Hurwitz Spirit Walker by David Dun At the Drop of a Hat by Denise Hamilton The Other Side of the Mirror by Eric Van Lustbader Man Catch by Christopher Rice Goodnight, Sweet Mother by Alex Kava Sacrificial Lion by Grant Blackwood Interlude at Duane’s by F. Paul Wilson The Powder Monkey by Ted Bell Surviving Toronto by M. Diane Vogt Assassins by Christopher Reich The Athens Solution by Brad Thor Diplomatic Constraints by Raelynn Hillhouse Kill Zone by Robert Liparulo The Devils’ Due by Steve Berry The Tuesday Club by Katherine Neville Gone Fishing by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
- GenresThriller
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2015
About the author
Gregg Hurwitz
294 books7,281 followersGREGG HURWITZ is the New York Times #1 internationally bestselling author of over 25 thriller novels, including the Orphan X series. His novels have won numerous literary awards and have been published in 33 languages. Gregg currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW). Additionally, he’s written screenplays and television scripts for many of the major studios and networks, poetry, and is an award-winning documentary producer. Gregg has also written comics for AWA (including the critically acclaimed anthology NewThink), DC, and Marvel. Currently, Gregg is working against polarization in politics and culture. To that end, he's penned dozens of op eds and pieces for The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Bulwark, Salon, and others, and pieces of creative content which have won numerous industry awards and achieved several hundred million views on digital TV platforms. He also helped write the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 1, 2026
A tasty little portion of action by Greg Hurwitz. It is worth the time spent to read.
September 23, 2026
Laura Hillman runs a lonely bar located near a prison. A charming man named Brian Dyer, a new guard at the prison, comes into the bar for a drink. Laura quickly becomes enamored with him and his honor. Brian intercedes to stop an attempted robbery at the bar, but is shot in the foot. Despite his injury, Brian bravely forces the thief to run away, while escaping out the back with Laura and her life's savings. But, they must negotiate a roadblock. Not enough happens in the very short story to satisfy most readers. 1.5 stars.
April 29, 2022
Dirty Weather was a short read that didn't work for me as well as the author's newer work.
Laura Hillman runs a small-town bar that's near the local prison. When Brian Dyer, someone new in town, comes in for a drink, Laura is immediately pulled in by his charm. After someone attempts to rob the bar, Brian is able to drive them off but not before he's injured. With the robber still lingering outside, Laura and Brian will need to make a run for it. But all is not as it seems and if Laura's not careful, she may not make it through the night.
Dirty Weather was an incredibly quick read that suffers somewhat due to its' length. With very little time to expand upon the premise, Dirty Weather feels rushed and the characters fall a bit flat. We do get a bit of background on Laura but not enough to make me care about her character. Ultimately I wasn't a big fan of this story as it wasn't very thrilling despite being marketed as such. I will say I didn't see the ending coming so the twist was good but unfortunately everything leading up to that point wasn't great.
Overall Dirty Weather didn't work for me and I will definitely be sticking to the author's Orphan X series which is much better.
Laura Hillman runs a small-town bar that's near the local prison. When Brian Dyer, someone new in town, comes in for a drink, Laura is immediately pulled in by his charm. After someone attempts to rob the bar, Brian is able to drive them off but not before he's injured. With the robber still lingering outside, Laura and Brian will need to make a run for it. But all is not as it seems and if Laura's not careful, she may not make it through the night.
Dirty Weather was an incredibly quick read that suffers somewhat due to its' length. With very little time to expand upon the premise, Dirty Weather feels rushed and the characters fall a bit flat. We do get a bit of background on Laura but not enough to make me care about her character. Ultimately I wasn't a big fan of this story as it wasn't very thrilling despite being marketed as such. I will say I didn't see the ending coming so the twist was good but unfortunately everything leading up to that point wasn't great.
Overall Dirty Weather didn't work for me and I will definitely be sticking to the author's Orphan X series which is much better.
January 7, 2019
Did not see that coming!
Loved the ending. Caught me off guard. I really like these short thrillers. I plan to read several more of them.
Loved the ending. Caught me off guard. I really like these short thrillers. I plan to read several more of them.
June 2, 2021
Dirty Weather by Gregg Hurwitz is a dark and brutal short story said to be a pre study for his Tim Rackley series. I don't care if it is. It's a great fast little read anyhow.
July 1, 2023
Quick read about a prison escape.
September 27, 2021
A super quick story which I wouldn't really categorize as a thriller. It just wasn't long enough to get very thrilling. I still love Gregg Andrew Hurwitz and barely tolerate James Patterson only when one of my favorite authors for whatever reason feel the need to collaborate with him. They are so much better with out him.
January 19, 2019
Pretty shit...
April 11, 2019
DIRTY WEATHER By Gregg Hurwitz
MY REVIEW TWO STARS**
I have been interested in the works of this writer for quite a while now, specifically his ORPHAN X Series. Our county library system did not carry any of his works, and I put in a request probably last year for them to consider acquiring at least a novel or two by this author.
Recently I was pleased by a note from the library system to let me know that something was available by Gregg Hurwitz. I was happy, then let down that it was a short story. I think the only reason they had it was the fact it was a compilation stories edited by James Patterson.
Anyway, I have been trying to decide whether this short story has saved me money or not. I don't know if I would have rolled the dice and spent the money buying the introductory novel of his. I have done it before. On the other hand, I did not like this story.
The novel and the short story are two different mediums that are well, to me kind of like charcoal sketching and oil painting. Because a person can draw does not mean he can paint, or vice versa. Deaver is probably the best in the short story genre, a master of misdirection. Even when you know you've been "had" by Deaver, you don't feel well, sad or depressed.
In DIRTY WEATHER, Hurwitz failed to successfully misdirect. I knew the score from the moment the robber crashed into the bar. It was easy for any short story reader to guess. That negative was compounded by the ending. It sucked.
The only thing I liked about this tale, a good entry for the iconic TALES FROM THE CRYPT actually...is that it MIGHT have saved me some coins.
MY REVIEW TWO STARS**
I have been interested in the works of this writer for quite a while now, specifically his ORPHAN X Series. Our county library system did not carry any of his works, and I put in a request probably last year for them to consider acquiring at least a novel or two by this author.
Recently I was pleased by a note from the library system to let me know that something was available by Gregg Hurwitz. I was happy, then let down that it was a short story. I think the only reason they had it was the fact it was a compilation stories edited by James Patterson.
Anyway, I have been trying to decide whether this short story has saved me money or not. I don't know if I would have rolled the dice and spent the money buying the introductory novel of his. I have done it before. On the other hand, I did not like this story.
The novel and the short story are two different mediums that are well, to me kind of like charcoal sketching and oil painting. Because a person can draw does not mean he can paint, or vice versa. Deaver is probably the best in the short story genre, a master of misdirection. Even when you know you've been "had" by Deaver, you don't feel well, sad or depressed.
In DIRTY WEATHER, Hurwitz failed to successfully misdirect. I knew the score from the moment the robber crashed into the bar. It was easy for any short story reader to guess. That negative was compounded by the ending. It sucked.
The only thing I liked about this tale, a good entry for the iconic TALES FROM THE CRYPT actually...is that it MIGHT have saved me some coins.
August 16, 2022
The author had some good recommendations recently, but this book is not the one to start with. It was just a few pages as a short (really short) story, with no character development and not much of a plot. I'm not sure why this book exists. I started a longer thriller by Hurwitz and it is much better, so don't take this review to avoid the author.
July 2, 2025
Hurwitz for the win.....again
I've read many of Gregg Hurwitz' books and loved them all. Even flexing his skills with a short story, he's written a thriller full of tension and twists
I've read many of Gregg Hurwitz' books and loved them all. Even flexing his skills with a short story, he's written a thriller full of tension and twists
January 2, 2018
It's Dwelish
Work...
It's like those very well predictable movies... we know that this is going to happen and it happens.
Work...
It's like those very well predictable movies... we know that this is going to happen and it happens.
February 12, 2018
Nice, tight little sucker punch of a short story. The worst thing about it is the title.
August 7, 2020
Good story
The trouble with short stories is that they are too short. I would have enjoyed reading much more. Mr. Hurwitz is an exceptional writer.
The trouble with short stories is that they are too short. I would have enjoyed reading much more. Mr. Hurwitz is an exceptional writer.
September 30, 2020
Short story with a great ending, but the story was hard to initially get into and it was only 20 pages long.
March 5, 2021
Obvious
October 29, 2021
fun short
Buy the book Thriller instead of story by story. So much cheaper that way. Worth reading. I’m pretty sure I read it when it came out b
Buy the book Thriller instead of story by story. So much cheaper that way. Worth reading. I’m pretty sure I read it when it came out b
March 12, 2022
NICEEEEEEEEEEE!
March 6, 2023
not where i thought that was going!
Brief but fast and easy to read - a good idea of what Orphan X became. Probably barely worth a read for us all.
Brief but fast and easy to read - a good idea of what Orphan X became. Probably barely worth a read for us all.
July 19, 2023
A short review for a short story. So much to take in, in just twenty-odd pages. An ingenious and clever plot, a definite 'ta-da' moment worthy of an "Elementary, my dear Watson".
January 14, 2025
A well-paced short story with an extraordinary twist.
April 9, 2025
Extremely disappointing. It took about 10 minutes to read, predictable ending, no character development whatsoever. Not worth the 99 cents or the time.
April 16, 2025
Brian walks into the bar near the prison and convinces Laura that he is a new CO. Little does she realize that he's an escapee.
February 4, 2026
:-(. Very sad.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews