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Tough: Crime Stories
TOUGH. These are not your mother's crime stories. Collecting established writers as well as newcomers to the indie scene, TOUGH aims to bring readers excellent stories in a dynamite package, priced for reading.
166 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2018
47 people want to read
About the author
Rusty Barnes
47 books227 followersRusty Barnes is a 2018 Derringer finalist and author of the story collections Breaking it Down (Sunnyoutside Press 2007) , Mostly Redneck (Sunnyoutside Press 2011), and Kraj The Enforcer: Stories (Shotgun Honey 2019), as well as four novels, Reckoning (Sunnyoutside Press, 2014), Ridgerunner (Shotgun Honey/Down & Out Books, 2017), Knuckledragger (Shotgun Honey/Down & Out Books 2017) and The Last Danger (Shotgun Honey/Down & Out Books 2018), His fiction, poetry and non-fiction have appeared or are forthcoming in many journals and anthologies, like Dirty Boulevard: Crime Stories Inspired by the Songs of Lou Reed (Down & Out Books 2018), Best Small Fictions 2015, Mystery Tribune, Goliad Review, Smokelong Quarterly, Red Rock Review, Porter Gulch Review and Post Road. His poetry collections include On Broad Sound (Nixes Mates Press, 2016) and Jesus in the Ghost Room, (Nixes Mates Press 2017). He founded and edits Tough, a journal of crime fiction and occasional reviews. Find him on Twitter @rustybarnes23
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 13, 2018
This is a fantastic collection of noir and crime stories to be sure, but the most interesting part of this collection for me is that the editor Rusty Barnes, didn't shy away from stories that are more than just crime. You've got supernatural, body horror, and even a bit of near future science fiction in this anthology. The stories don't pull many punches, but they also keep a firm eye on why people sometimes do the bad things they do. Sometimes its the easy money, sometimes is for love, and well, sometimes they feel like life hasn't given them any other choice. If you like crime fiction at all and want to see what some of the best voices in that field are writing now, you want to pick up this anthology.
A few favorites include
"St. Girard's Ink Den" by Mark Rapacz. An aging tattoo artist in love with a younger woman. But what happens when an old vice rears its head? Possibly the most bittersweet with a sting of loss and longing... of what might have been and should have done.
"And They Shall Take Up Serpents" by Chris McGinley. A rural tale that blurs the real with the supernatural, this one goes deep into Appalachia and doesn't shy away from the conditions to be found.
"Love-Honor-Cherish" by J.D. Graves. No one has seen Carmen Sloane for five years, but her husband insists she's doing just fine. A horror tale of science gone wrong, and how far a man will go for love... even when the object of that love might beyond saving.
"Doubt Thou The Stars are Fire" by S.A. Cosby. A tale of love and lust gone wrong, this was a fantastic piece about emotions getting in the way of a plan... and the consequences that follow.
A few favorites include
"St. Girard's Ink Den" by Mark Rapacz. An aging tattoo artist in love with a younger woman. But what happens when an old vice rears its head? Possibly the most bittersweet with a sting of loss and longing... of what might have been and should have done.
"And They Shall Take Up Serpents" by Chris McGinley. A rural tale that blurs the real with the supernatural, this one goes deep into Appalachia and doesn't shy away from the conditions to be found.
"Love-Honor-Cherish" by J.D. Graves. No one has seen Carmen Sloane for five years, but her husband insists she's doing just fine. A horror tale of science gone wrong, and how far a man will go for love... even when the object of that love might beyond saving.
"Doubt Thou The Stars are Fire" by S.A. Cosby. A tale of love and lust gone wrong, this was a fantastic piece about emotions getting in the way of a plan... and the consequences that follow.
September 30, 2018
TOUGH: Crime Stories opens with “Texas Hot Flash” featuring police Officer Sunshine McCall. A day in the life of the officer who happens to be turning 40 with plenty to do and burdened by far too many memories.
Charlie is very much lost as “Night Drive” by JM Taylor begins. A nighttime drive to the pool at the college has gone horribly wrong. He is lost and in his wandering has come across somebody from his old high school class. She is on a street corner panhandling. She needs his help and one favor will lead to another.
Someone needing help is also a major point of the next story, “Lavina” by Richard Prosch. At one end of the duplex are Danny Parks and his girlfriend, Tammy. At the other end, there is Lavina and some guy she apparently lives with. Danny and Tammy never paid much attention to them until it became very clear Lavina need their help.
Our narrator is the owner of the oldest tattoo store in the Bay Area and lives with Megan who is a waitress. Each day is pretty much the same except for some artsy kid from the university. The kid keeps coming in to the tattoo shop more and more. Not only is he a bit different, he might be up to something in “St. Girard’s Ink Den” by Mark Rapacz.
Kachencko had spotted Jonas at the airport. That was a complication he didn’t need in “Detour” by Tom Andes. The clock is ticking and Kachenko has a mission to complete.
Francie is supposed to be marrying Nattie though, at the moment with his waving around of the gun and the white powder around his nostrils, he really isn’t displaying model behavior for a potential husband. In “Kennick” by Nelson Stanley, Kennick deals with his cousin’s future husband as best is he can.
Mantra’s dad used to talk about how a man needs to know himself. Mantra lives by that principal and does in “Working Overtime” by Matt Phillips. He would also argue that one needs to know others as well. Mantra, a cop, knows what is happening in his city as well as what is going on in a certain bungalow in Palm Springs. Things have to be dealt with one way or another.
James and Harlan had a great plan in “And they Shall Take Up Serpents” by Chris McGinley. The first part of their most excellent plan was to borrow the church van used by their preacher. The same preacher who likes to use snakes in his services. They really should have thought more about the snake issue.
Being a waiter at Shenanigans on a Friday evening as happy hour rages on into the night is not a lot of fun. Rob knows he is about to get screwed as the party of ten sits down in “run, Jennifer” by Doungjai Gam. He has dealt with the group before and they always leave a crappy tip. The only person in the group he likes is Jennifer. The usual crappy tip from the group will be the least of the problems on this night.
While nobody has seen Carmen Sloane for five years now, everyone in the neighborhood has seen her husband, Tom. He always makes a major point of talking about her. What happened to Carmen is the point of “Love-Honor- Cherish” by J. D. Graves. A husband has a duty to make his wife happy.
Chess did his time and now is back home. Amir acts like they are fine and all, but Chess senses that Amir is suspicious. Considering that Chess went to prison and kept his mouth shut, Amir should be grateful in “Doubt Thou the Stars Are Fire” by S. A. Crosby.
Stan blew up his old life and is dealing with the aftermath in “Blood Daughter” by Matthew Lyons. That includes trying to stay in touch with his daughter, Cassie, despite the interference by his ex, Melinda. He may need to move forward by replacing his family a piece at a time.
Katie knows what is coming so now all she can do is “Leave The World a Better Place” by Tom Barlow. She does. One shot at a time.
The final story is an “opening excerpt” titled “Ruby Behemoth” by Court Merrigan. Ivy was supposed to pick up Ruby Hix when she stepped out from the Women’s Penitentiary in Chowchilla, California. She didn’t. That will be dealt with latter as Ruby has errands to run and people to see.
The stories in TOUGH: Crime Stories cover a broad spectrum in crime fiction. In a couple of cases the stories tend more towards the horror genre than crime fiction. In most of the cases, the situations the characters face are extreme violence or day to day drudgery as whatever promise they had, if any, was never fulfilled. These tales don’t feature kittens, balloons, or happy time thoughts---unless serious drugs are involved. These are stories of lives coming apart at the seams or lives dying a slow death in the day to day drudgery of just getting through the day. Not an easy read and certainly not for all readers, the stories in TOUGH: Crime Stories all showcase the idea that noir can come in many different flavors.
TOUGH: Crime Stories
Editor Rusty Barnes
Redneck Press
August 2013
ISBN# 978-0692166543
Paperback Only
166 Pages
$10.95
ARC PDF supplied by Editor Rusty Barnes with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
Charlie is very much lost as “Night Drive” by JM Taylor begins. A nighttime drive to the pool at the college has gone horribly wrong. He is lost and in his wandering has come across somebody from his old high school class. She is on a street corner panhandling. She needs his help and one favor will lead to another.
Someone needing help is also a major point of the next story, “Lavina” by Richard Prosch. At one end of the duplex are Danny Parks and his girlfriend, Tammy. At the other end, there is Lavina and some guy she apparently lives with. Danny and Tammy never paid much attention to them until it became very clear Lavina need their help.
Our narrator is the owner of the oldest tattoo store in the Bay Area and lives with Megan who is a waitress. Each day is pretty much the same except for some artsy kid from the university. The kid keeps coming in to the tattoo shop more and more. Not only is he a bit different, he might be up to something in “St. Girard’s Ink Den” by Mark Rapacz.
Kachencko had spotted Jonas at the airport. That was a complication he didn’t need in “Detour” by Tom Andes. The clock is ticking and Kachenko has a mission to complete.
Francie is supposed to be marrying Nattie though, at the moment with his waving around of the gun and the white powder around his nostrils, he really isn’t displaying model behavior for a potential husband. In “Kennick” by Nelson Stanley, Kennick deals with his cousin’s future husband as best is he can.
Mantra’s dad used to talk about how a man needs to know himself. Mantra lives by that principal and does in “Working Overtime” by Matt Phillips. He would also argue that one needs to know others as well. Mantra, a cop, knows what is happening in his city as well as what is going on in a certain bungalow in Palm Springs. Things have to be dealt with one way or another.
James and Harlan had a great plan in “And they Shall Take Up Serpents” by Chris McGinley. The first part of their most excellent plan was to borrow the church van used by their preacher. The same preacher who likes to use snakes in his services. They really should have thought more about the snake issue.
Being a waiter at Shenanigans on a Friday evening as happy hour rages on into the night is not a lot of fun. Rob knows he is about to get screwed as the party of ten sits down in “run, Jennifer” by Doungjai Gam. He has dealt with the group before and they always leave a crappy tip. The only person in the group he likes is Jennifer. The usual crappy tip from the group will be the least of the problems on this night.
While nobody has seen Carmen Sloane for five years now, everyone in the neighborhood has seen her husband, Tom. He always makes a major point of talking about her. What happened to Carmen is the point of “Love-Honor- Cherish” by J. D. Graves. A husband has a duty to make his wife happy.
Chess did his time and now is back home. Amir acts like they are fine and all, but Chess senses that Amir is suspicious. Considering that Chess went to prison and kept his mouth shut, Amir should be grateful in “Doubt Thou the Stars Are Fire” by S. A. Crosby.
Stan blew up his old life and is dealing with the aftermath in “Blood Daughter” by Matthew Lyons. That includes trying to stay in touch with his daughter, Cassie, despite the interference by his ex, Melinda. He may need to move forward by replacing his family a piece at a time.
Katie knows what is coming so now all she can do is “Leave The World a Better Place” by Tom Barlow. She does. One shot at a time.
The final story is an “opening excerpt” titled “Ruby Behemoth” by Court Merrigan. Ivy was supposed to pick up Ruby Hix when she stepped out from the Women’s Penitentiary in Chowchilla, California. She didn’t. That will be dealt with latter as Ruby has errands to run and people to see.
The stories in TOUGH: Crime Stories cover a broad spectrum in crime fiction. In a couple of cases the stories tend more towards the horror genre than crime fiction. In most of the cases, the situations the characters face are extreme violence or day to day drudgery as whatever promise they had, if any, was never fulfilled. These tales don’t feature kittens, balloons, or happy time thoughts---unless serious drugs are involved. These are stories of lives coming apart at the seams or lives dying a slow death in the day to day drudgery of just getting through the day. Not an easy read and certainly not for all readers, the stories in TOUGH: Crime Stories all showcase the idea that noir can come in many different flavors.
TOUGH: Crime Stories
Editor Rusty Barnes
Redneck Press
August 2013
ISBN# 978-0692166543
Paperback Only
166 Pages
$10.95
ARC PDF supplied by Editor Rusty Barnes with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
November 22, 2018
This one hit me on two levels: as a reader I was loving the gritty takes on crime and deviance and as a writer my wheels were spinning - did I have something I could submit? See, right away I was scheming how to get a future edition of Tough on the ol' cv.
And in this case I'm going to recommend judging a book by its cover. Because you're going to get exactly what it promises: stark, unflinching fiction. In my humble opinion, this collection is a prime example that the indie crime anthology/magazine is alive and if not always well-funded in these tough publishin' times then at least well stocked with quality authors and stories. As a reader and a writer I think we really need to support publications like Tough. Buy a copy, spread the good word. You won't be disappointed.
And in this case I'm going to recommend judging a book by its cover. Because you're going to get exactly what it promises: stark, unflinching fiction. In my humble opinion, this collection is a prime example that the indie crime anthology/magazine is alive and if not always well-funded in these tough publishin' times then at least well stocked with quality authors and stories. As a reader and a writer I think we really need to support publications like Tough. Buy a copy, spread the good word. You won't be disappointed.
November 27, 2018
This is a perfectly named journal of crime fiction. Like a pummeling a speed bag, These tight, muscular street stories leave you with thoughts to chew on after you meet writers you may not have known before.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews