Book Review: FaceOff edited by David Baldacci

Posted by Susan C.

In a one-of-a-kind short story anthology, FaceOff (edited by David Baldacci) is eleven stories featuring twenty-two authors—members of International Thriller Writers—who pair-off to present their characters together in the same story. 

Since 2006, the ITW has published multiple anthologies and audio books to become self-supporting (Thriller edited by James Patterson, Love is Murder edited by Sandra Brown).  As part of this member-driven effort, FaceOff  joins two authors’ characters in mysteries, a courtroom drama, a deathbed confession, abduction, edge of your seat fast paced thrillers, and more, with rip-roaring success.

Lee Child’s Jack Reacher meets up with Joseph Heller’s Nick Heller to tag-team an interception with disaster while watching baseball in a bar.   Dennis LaHayne’s Patrick Kenzie joins Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosh on a cold case in Boston. In the story written by R.L.Stine, with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Slappy the Ventriloquist Dummy is pitted against Aloysius Pendergast in a disturbing psychological thriller. Steve Martini writes with Linda Fairstein to unite Paul Madriani and Alexandra Cooper in a drama about a stolen statue.

VERDICT: This concept for an anthology is unique, and readers familiar with the characters will jump right into the stories like meeting a familiar friend. New readers will find the main players quickly defined and presented in full character. Recommended for all!