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Ninth and Nowhere
Seven strangers. Two hours. One tragic moment of violence that changes everything.
In this electrifying short story by New York Times bestselling author of The Never Game Jeffery Deaver, the destinies of seven strangers intersect in ways no one sees coming. It looks like just another gray March morning in the tough urban district nicknamed Nowhere when seven lives a young man intent on buying a gun; the gangbanger who cuts him a deal; a by-the-book police officer on a last patrol; an advertising executive keeping secrets from her husband; a veteran haunted by a combat death; a single dad in a bitter custody battle; and a sharp-looking businessman en route to a new job he desperately needs. Any one of them could have a dark motive. Any one of them could be walking into a trap. When the fog lifts, it will all be much clearer—that a single, shattering act of violence has marked each of them forever.
In this electrifying short story by New York Times bestselling author of The Never Game Jeffery Deaver, the destinies of seven strangers intersect in ways no one sees coming. It looks like just another gray March morning in the tough urban district nicknamed Nowhere when seven lives a young man intent on buying a gun; the gangbanger who cuts him a deal; a by-the-book police officer on a last patrol; an advertising executive keeping secrets from her husband; a veteran haunted by a combat death; a single dad in a bitter custody battle; and a sharp-looking businessman en route to a new job he desperately needs. Any one of them could have a dark motive. Any one of them could be walking into a trap. When the fog lifts, it will all be much clearer—that a single, shattering act of violence has marked each of them forever.
60 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2019
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1911 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
512 books11.8k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews
February 6, 2019
We all do it. Jump to conclusions, make a snap decision, rush to judgment. Don't do that here or you will be all kinds of wrong. Heroes and miscreants. Beggars and thieves. A maddening buzz of wasps. Trying to keep things on the down low and failing miserably. It's not a good idea to be wandering around in the vicinity of Nowhere & Ninth. Anything could happen.
February 14, 2019
Fate can be a killer when you're headed to NINTH AND NOWHERE.
52 pages - Seven characters - Assess each one - Solve the mystery......if you can.
Remember....Sometimes all is not what it seems! Good Luck!
March 4, 2019
Not bad
Whereas his novels are pretty much a guaranteed good read, the short stories can be a bit hit and miss.
This was not bad, although I was wondering where it was going at first, as each of the 7 characters had there own story. All a bit disjointed, however it all came together in the end. Just shows how we make snap decisions and jump to conclusions that may or may not be the correct one.
4 stars.
Whereas his novels are pretty much a guaranteed good read, the short stories can be a bit hit and miss.
This was not bad, although I was wondering where it was going at first, as each of the 7 characters had there own story. All a bit disjointed, however it all came together in the end. Just shows how we make snap decisions and jump to conclusions that may or may not be the correct one.
4 stars.
February 17, 2021
Jamal Davis is a young man buying a gun from a local gangbanger. Adam Rangel is an alcoholic vet with suicidal tendencies. Arthur Fromm is the cliched old cop just weeks away from retirement. Lanie Stone is a married woman with a secret fella. Carlos Sanchez is a man with something valuable in a bag. Brett Abbott is a family man deep in debt and eager to perform well on his probation for his new boss. All their lives will converge at once on Ninth and Nowhere, Pulp Fiction-style, but how - and what will happen?
Ninth & Nowhere is another brilliant short story by Jeffery Deaver who really seems to shine in this medium. He jumps from the life of one character to the next and instantly draws you into each person’s minds and plans for the day, as well as pull you along an increasingly compelling narrative without revealing to you what the story is (though, assuming Deaver follows Chekhov’s rule about guns in stories, you can kinda guess one thing that’ll happen).
Like his more recent short story, Turning Point, when you reach the end of Ninth & Nowhere and look back, the finale and what the story was about is a bit underwhelming and overfamiliar - it’s not that memorable or creative, which is the only real critique I have for this one. But, also like Turning Point, what makes the story so good is its execution - Deaver tells his story in such a masterfully tense way that it feels fresh and exciting. I even forgave the stereotypical characters - black gangbanger, old cop, army vet with PTSD - because Deaver brings them to life so convincingly. Deaver proves that it’s how you tell a story that counts, not necessarily the originality of its content.
The story starts slow - the opening chapter on Jamal felt a bit too macho and try-hard - but it gets going quickly after that and I was hooked straight through. Though somewhat forgettable in the end, while you’re reading it Ninth & Nowhere will definitely hold your attention and keep you guessing as to what’s going on. Superbly written and well-conceived, this is another gripping short story from a great storyteller.
Ninth & Nowhere is another brilliant short story by Jeffery Deaver who really seems to shine in this medium. He jumps from the life of one character to the next and instantly draws you into each person’s minds and plans for the day, as well as pull you along an increasingly compelling narrative without revealing to you what the story is (though, assuming Deaver follows Chekhov’s rule about guns in stories, you can kinda guess one thing that’ll happen).
Like his more recent short story, Turning Point, when you reach the end of Ninth & Nowhere and look back, the finale and what the story was about is a bit underwhelming and overfamiliar - it’s not that memorable or creative, which is the only real critique I have for this one. But, also like Turning Point, what makes the story so good is its execution - Deaver tells his story in such a masterfully tense way that it feels fresh and exciting. I even forgave the stereotypical characters - black gangbanger, old cop, army vet with PTSD - because Deaver brings them to life so convincingly. Deaver proves that it’s how you tell a story that counts, not necessarily the originality of its content.
The story starts slow - the opening chapter on Jamal felt a bit too macho and try-hard - but it gets going quickly after that and I was hooked straight through. Though somewhat forgettable in the end, while you’re reading it Ninth & Nowhere will definitely hold your attention and keep you guessing as to what’s going on. Superbly written and well-conceived, this is another gripping short story from a great storyteller.
May 4, 2019
This is a short story by author Jeffery Deaver.
This is a decent short story that tells of the destinies of seven strangers whose lives come together. In a tough urban district nicknamed Nowhere seven lives converge; a young man intent on buying a gun; the gangbanger who cuts him a deal; a by-the-book police officer on a last patrol; an advertising executive keeping secrets from her husband; a veteran haunted by a combat death; a single dad in a bitter custody battle; and a sharp-looking businessman en route to a new job he desperately needs. Any one of them could have a dark motive. Any one of them could be walking into a trap. When the fog lifts, it will all be much clearer—that a single, shattering act of violence has marked each of them forever.
This book is better than a many of short stories in that it contains a lot of information, action and a fair number of characters. 3 stars does not do the review justice as it was better than that, but when you only have 5 stars to chose from, what can you do.
A good quick read.
This is a decent short story that tells of the destinies of seven strangers whose lives come together. In a tough urban district nicknamed Nowhere seven lives converge; a young man intent on buying a gun; the gangbanger who cuts him a deal; a by-the-book police officer on a last patrol; an advertising executive keeping secrets from her husband; a veteran haunted by a combat death; a single dad in a bitter custody battle; and a sharp-looking businessman en route to a new job he desperately needs. Any one of them could have a dark motive. Any one of them could be walking into a trap. When the fog lifts, it will all be much clearer—that a single, shattering act of violence has marked each of them forever.
This book is better than a many of short stories in that it contains a lot of information, action and a fair number of characters. 3 stars does not do the review justice as it was better than that, but when you only have 5 stars to chose from, what can you do.
A good quick read.
July 25, 2021
Strangers and the day their lives intertwined in both tragedy and changed lives. The narrator of this audio book was excellent.
October 2, 2025
* A one-hour feel-good short story *
If you only have an hour to spend reading, this is a satisfying way to use it. Jeffrey Deaver frequently misleads his readers, and this time he does it by giving us brief glances of three characters, without explaining the motivations behind their actions. There is Jamal Davis, buying a gun from a local gangbanger, Lanie Stone, a married woman secretly corresponding with a man other than her husband, and Brett Abbott, a family man in debt and eager to perform well for a new boss. These three, plus four others, converge at Ninth and Nowhere, where there is mayhem, death, bravery, and an eventual upbeat ending.
Top-level Deaver in only a few pages.
February 2, 2019
While Jeffery Deaver's novels are usually very well written his short stories are a bit hit & miss. Ninth and Nowhere is a decent entry, though not a classic. Deaver builds up some good characters, each of them heading to a fateful location. The set up is good, while the conclusion doesn't quite pay off.
December 4, 2020
Another great short story by Jeffery Deaver!!
Seven strangers are hurled together one morning, they are about to unleash events with devastating consecuences ..
You have also an hero willing to sacrifice his life!!..
And you have a drama full of suspense and an engrossing read!!
In top of this the story flows smoothly and the characters feels so real that you will be pondering over them long after having finish the story..
All in all a wonderful thriller, a quick but satisfying reading!!
I did enjoy it very much indeed!!
And I do fully recommend this one to all my friends!!
Dean;)
Seven strangers are hurled together one morning, they are about to unleash events with devastating consecuences ..
You have also an hero willing to sacrifice his life!!..
And you have a drama full of suspense and an engrossing read!!
In top of this the story flows smoothly and the characters feels so real that you will be pondering over them long after having finish the story..
All in all a wonderful thriller, a quick but satisfying reading!!
I did enjoy it very much indeed!!
And I do fully recommend this one to all my friends!!
Dean;)
February 19, 2019
What a wonderful short story full of invention and a casual eye for detail. The incidents related here all take place in a couple of hours and centre on a this tough urban district, the corner of Ninth and Nowhere.
Seven disparate individuals seem to be destined to meet this morning at or near a convenience store. The first part of this tense story details these different people and you learn just enough to guess something is going down. You feel death will embrace at least one, maybe more from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The beauty of Deaver’s writing is that he does not introduce each in the same manner. The story flows and each pen portrait is drawn by a number of devices and skills of an accomplished writer.
The first chapter would be a great read for a fledgling author to learn how to build character without effort.
As these folk converge more observation by the characters noticing each other fleshes each one out further. You consciously will each to avoid stepping across the threshold into the shop.
But then it goes down.
Absolutely brilliant. This is an art form. Not just in the assumptions the reader forms about the seven but the judgements we make about their actions this morning. Usually there is a plot twist in a short story, here there are six or seven but who’s counting. In the end you have one of the best short stories you could hope to read in the realm of crime thriller.
Seven disparate individuals seem to be destined to meet this morning at or near a convenience store. The first part of this tense story details these different people and you learn just enough to guess something is going down. You feel death will embrace at least one, maybe more from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The beauty of Deaver’s writing is that he does not introduce each in the same manner. The story flows and each pen portrait is drawn by a number of devices and skills of an accomplished writer.
The first chapter would be a great read for a fledgling author to learn how to build character without effort.
As these folk converge more observation by the characters noticing each other fleshes each one out further. You consciously will each to avoid stepping across the threshold into the shop.
But then it goes down.
Absolutely brilliant. This is an art form. Not just in the assumptions the reader forms about the seven but the judgements we make about their actions this morning. Usually there is a plot twist in a short story, here there are six or seven but who’s counting. In the end you have one of the best short stories you could hope to read in the realm of crime thriller.
August 4, 2022
Ensemble Suspense
Review of the Amazon Original audiobook edition released simultaneously with the Amazon Original Kindle eBook (January 29, 2019)
The 7-character ensemble suspense drama Ninth and Nowhere reminded me of several movies where seemingly separate story lines converge at one single event in the finale scene. It was well constructed in this regard and kept you guessing throughout as to what was going to happen. Predictions along stereotypical storylines will find a great twist in the final reveal when all the characters come together.
I listened to Ninth and Nowhere through a recent Audible sale of titles for $1. It is part of the 6-story Jeffrey Deaver collection for Amazon Original Stories.
Review of the Amazon Original audiobook edition released simultaneously with the Amazon Original Kindle eBook (January 29, 2019)
The 7-character ensemble suspense drama Ninth and Nowhere reminded me of several movies where seemingly separate story lines converge at one single event in the finale scene. It was well constructed in this regard and kept you guessing throughout as to what was going to happen. Predictions along stereotypical storylines will find a great twist in the final reveal when all the characters come together.
I listened to Ninth and Nowhere through a recent Audible sale of titles for $1. It is part of the 6-story Jeffrey Deaver collection for Amazon Original Stories.
June 8, 2019
This was a fast enjoyable read. At first I thought the number of characters in a story this short would be a bit overwhelming, but they are all necessary to make this story work. If you're looking for a quick, thrilling read, give this one a try!
not-finished
January 31, 2019I started to listen to the audio, but didn't get very far. I could tell that it just wasn't my type of story.
February 1, 2019
If Jeffery Deaver wrote it, I want to read it. Yes, even if it's a short story - probably my least favorite form of literature (save poetry by Emily Dickinson, but that's a story for another day). It took me less than an hour from start to finish - partly because it's just 52 pages and mostly because it's totally engrossing.
The length makes it difficult to review; there's little that can be said without giving away too much. Basically, as the official description says, it's the story of seven people from very different walks of life who are "connected" in different ways - among them a near-retirement cop, a dealer of illegal firearms and a former Special Forces veteran now living on the street. That they were to meet up seemed destined from the beginning, but exactly how is threaded throughout the story but isn't fully revealed until the very end.
What happens and how it all shakes out is interesting, but what struck me the most is how willingly I bought into stereotyped perceptions of the characters. Oopsie! Bottom line? Good story. Read it.
The length makes it difficult to review; there's little that can be said without giving away too much. Basically, as the official description says, it's the story of seven people from very different walks of life who are "connected" in different ways - among them a near-retirement cop, a dealer of illegal firearms and a former Special Forces veteran now living on the street. That they were to meet up seemed destined from the beginning, but exactly how is threaded throughout the story but isn't fully revealed until the very end.
What happens and how it all shakes out is interesting, but what struck me the most is how willingly I bought into stereotyped perceptions of the characters. Oopsie! Bottom line? Good story. Read it.
February 24, 2019
5 stars
I was between books and not sure what to read next when I got an ad from Amazon for this Kindle short story by Jeffrey Deaver. I have read long ago some Jeffery Deaver novels but have not read him recently. Well, my conclusion is he still's got it for righting an intriguing story line. Numerous characters are introduced and by circumstances of fate or the universe, they come together at the same time in the same place with astonishing results. Highly recommend. I paid 99 cents on Amazon and definitely a good bang for one buck!
I was between books and not sure what to read next when I got an ad from Amazon for this Kindle short story by Jeffrey Deaver. I have read long ago some Jeffery Deaver novels but have not read him recently. Well, my conclusion is he still's got it for righting an intriguing story line. Numerous characters are introduced and by circumstances of fate or the universe, they come together at the same time in the same place with astonishing results. Highly recommend. I paid 99 cents on Amazon and definitely a good bang for one buck!
August 21, 2025
Wanting to fill my summer with a mix of novels and short stories, I came upon some stuff by Jeffrey Deaver. I have read some of his short works before and have promised to delve into the full-length stuff. For now, this short piece captured my attention. Seven strangers have their lives intersect through a single incident. A young man seeks to acquire a gun and the gangbanger who sells it to him feels it could spell trouble. From there, five others inadvertently cross paths with the man who is in possession of a new firearm. By the end of the story, the pall of evil and one violent event will shape all seven individuals forever. Deaver leaves the reader in a state of wonder as they pick up the pieces left within this story.
It was a dark March day when things would change significantly for seven individuals with no connection to one another. A young man needs a gun and there’s a gangbanger ready to sell him one. A police officer is on his final patrol and hopes it is quiet, while an advertising exec is hoping the secret she has is never leaked to her husband. A veteran has been dealing with fallout from a combat event and a single-father is trying to plot how to flip the script in his custody battle. A businessman is on his way to a job he needs to keep, unsure what today will hold. All seven will come together through a single event, violent in nature. What will happen to each is something the reader will have to discover during this short story, as Jeffrey Deaver shows his abilities once again!
I enjoy short stories that entertain and layer events that will eventually come together. Jeffrey Deaver does well with a narrative that spins seven small stories into one larger event. There is little time for character development, but Deaver does offer up a sampling of his group of seven, if only to personalise them tor this piece. The plot heats up as the pieces come together and the seven individuals connect with a single event of violence. Deaver shows his skills and let me eager for more!
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, as you impress me in new ways!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
It was a dark March day when things would change significantly for seven individuals with no connection to one another. A young man needs a gun and there’s a gangbanger ready to sell him one. A police officer is on his final patrol and hopes it is quiet, while an advertising exec is hoping the secret she has is never leaked to her husband. A veteran has been dealing with fallout from a combat event and a single-father is trying to plot how to flip the script in his custody battle. A businessman is on his way to a job he needs to keep, unsure what today will hold. All seven will come together through a single event, violent in nature. What will happen to each is something the reader will have to discover during this short story, as Jeffrey Deaver shows his abilities once again!
I enjoy short stories that entertain and layer events that will eventually come together. Jeffrey Deaver does well with a narrative that spins seven small stories into one larger event. There is little time for character development, but Deaver does offer up a sampling of his group of seven, if only to personalise them tor this piece. The plot heats up as the pieces come together and the seven individuals connect with a single event of violence. Deaver shows his skills and let me eager for more!
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, as you impress me in new ways!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 1, 2019
I really liked this one. What I liked best about it was how much I was surprised by what really happened. With how things were laid out I totally thought I knew what was going to happen, instead I was so very wrong.
February 1, 2019
One of the best short stories I've read in quite a while. Very different from what I expected!
June 14, 2022
Ninth and Nowhere reminded me a lot of early Joseph Wambaugh. And yes, Virginia, that’s a good thing. Jeffrey Deaver tells a quick paced story but there is a lot of characterization that fleshes out the action and that is what makes this tale work.
April 7, 2019
A great short story
September 6, 2020
Too many characters. Since I have a very poor memory or concentration, even though reading this in one quick session, it was lost to me. Maybe if I had a proper sleep the night before.
February 4, 2019
3.5 stars
Deaver packed a lot into such a small offering. My first impression was not a good one as it opens with the gang bangers and their street talk. Too bad the author started there. That turned me off as I avoid any crime fiction that features gangs and gun violence on the streets. I continued with it though as I was curious to see how he could craft such a short novella around 7 characters. He did it quite well actually.
Once we went from the opening gangsta scenes and were introduced to the other characters it captured my interest and brought us to a somewhat acceptable conclusion.
Deaver packed a lot into such a small offering. My first impression was not a good one as it opens with the gang bangers and their street talk. Too bad the author started there. That turned me off as I avoid any crime fiction that features gangs and gun violence on the streets. I continued with it though as I was curious to see how he could craft such a short novella around 7 characters. He did it quite well actually.
Once we went from the opening gangsta scenes and were introduced to the other characters it captured my interest and brought us to a somewhat acceptable conclusion.
March 2, 2019
This book was sort of hard to follow. The just of the story is being in the wrong place when something big was going down. The story tells you about 7 people's lives and there fate. In the convenience store at Ninth and Nowhere the store manager stops a man dressed as a business man from killing a women in the store who happens to be an eyewitness to a crime. Fate of your life is determined if you end up at the wrong place at the time of a crime scene and would you be alive afterwards or be part of the collateral damage to the cause of the crime in the first place. So much going on and you do not get invested into the characters in the story so it falls flat.
January 31, 2019
A Fast Read
This is a fast moving story. Many very different people from completely different backgrounds were immerging on one particular place in a large American city.
What happens next changes some lives forever.
This is a fast moving story. Many very different people from completely different backgrounds were immerging on one particular place in a large American city.
What happens next changes some lives forever.
May 22, 2024
Makes more sense if you know the plot before starting this one. I didn’t and just started reading the story. Lots of different characters storylines here but worth a read. Quite clever how they interconnect.
February 1, 2019
Definitely does a good job of tying together the seven characters and giving them enough depth to enjoy learning about each in such a quick read. Well done!
February 1, 2019
9-2019. A quick novelette from the redoubtable Mr. Deaver. Lots of plot threads are tossed into the air, and Deaver expertly throws them all together in a satisfying manner.
February 8, 2019
Deaver writes great short stories - cleverly constructed build up around all the characters who intersect in the final scenes of this 50-pager
March 4, 2019
Well, Deaver pulls it off again, this time in a short story. Now, I DO wish I'd been paying attention because I guess I just assumed it was a full-length novel. I wasn't paying attention, unfortunately, and banged through the book in just over a half hour. Didn't know what to do with the rest of my evening.
That said, Deaver is good nearly always and the short story was especially compelling because of the host of characters set in a run-down urban neighborhood. The characters? There are seven and they're all strangers. Some might look like hooligans or Very Dangerous People, but they don't know each other. That doesn't, however, mean they might not just feel the winds of jeopardy blow in on them. And it does when the characters quite inadvertently wind up in the same little convenience store, and violence erupts. The point, at least for me and one that probably most people need to keep ever present in their minds? Never assume by someone's appearance or demeanor who that individual might really be.
Good job, Jeffery. Meanwhile, I'd best see what else you've written (especially in the Lincoln Rhymes series) that I haven't yet read.
That said, Deaver is good nearly always and the short story was especially compelling because of the host of characters set in a run-down urban neighborhood. The characters? There are seven and they're all strangers. Some might look like hooligans or Very Dangerous People, but they don't know each other. That doesn't, however, mean they might not just feel the winds of jeopardy blow in on them. And it does when the characters quite inadvertently wind up in the same little convenience store, and violence erupts. The point, at least for me and one that probably most people need to keep ever present in their minds? Never assume by someone's appearance or demeanor who that individual might really be.
Good job, Jeffery. Meanwhile, I'd best see what else you've written (especially in the Lincoln Rhymes series) that I haven't yet read.
March 19, 2019
Interesting Audible original about how seven people from vastly different backgrounds converge at a single, violent point in time at a convenience store in a rough neighborhood.
Jeffery Deaver is a master of misdirection, and this story is no exception. In fact, after listening to it, I started back to the beginning and listened again to catch the things I missed.
3.7 stars
Free with Amazon prime
Jeffery Deaver is a master of misdirection, and this story is no exception. In fact, after listening to it, I started back to the beginning and listened again to catch the things I missed.
3.7 stars
Free with Amazon prime
Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews