First Thrills: High-Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors Book

I gave it 3 stars, but my average was 2.76 which is about where I would rank it for me..just below 3, but certainly above 2. There are some very good stories in this collection and I guess those alone warrant a 3 star rating, but the second half of this collection really lagged on excitement IMHO. For me the first story by Hurwitz remains the highlight of the collection.

01 The Thief by Gregg Hurwitz- 5 stars
Other than reading a short story bu Hurwitz in another ITW inc. anthology, I am not familiar with him...and I cannot remember how I rated his other story, and am much to lazy to research that answer at the minute....perhaps later! This was brilliantly done, and is one of the most original short story thrillers I have read in some time. Told from the perspective of a mentally challanged young man (I don't enjoy the terms handicapped or retard, which are sprinkled throughout the story...although I understand the context)...simply brilliant IMHO!

02 Scutwork by C.J. Lyons- 4 stars
Never heard of Lyons to my knowledge??? This was a very enjoyable short story..I thought it was going down a path of necrophelia, and was greatly relieved that if moved quickly into another direction. Good story.

03 The Bodyguard by Lee Child- 3.5 stars
I have heard of Child prior to this, and after trying a couple full length novels I did not connect with I was not excpecting good things....perhaps this opens up the door for me to give him another chance. This was not great, but certainly entertained me.

04 The Last Supper by Rip Gerber- 2 stars
I have never heard of Gerber, and am not aquainted with any of his work. I just never really got into this story from the start, and it never picked up momentum to draw me back in.

05 After Dark by Alex Kava w/ Deb Carlin 4.5 stars
I have not heard of Carlin, and have only come across Kava in another ITW inc. anthology (again I cannot remember how I rated her story there? and remain to lazy to check ;D). I loved this story and found myself sitting at the edge of my seat. I was totally drawn into this story...The ending was not quite as good as the rest of the story, so I dropped from a 5 to a 4.5...but this was very entertaining for me.

06 Wedensday's Child by Ken Bruen- 4 stars
I have not come across Bruen, nor heard of him untill this collection. This story was very good. I found myself not excpecting very much, but quickly got sucked in. A kidnapping, a double cross and revenge....think quickly and better hope you are right!

07 Eddy May by Theo Gangi- 2 stars
Never heard of Gangi prior to this. I just couldn't get into this story at all. About the only thing I enjoyed was agreeing that New York is filled with bums...Sorry, but I hate NY, and liked this story only slightly more.

08 The Plot by Jeffery Deaver- 3 stars
Deaver has become quite a proficent and entertaining short story writer (check out Thriller & Thriller II, if you are a fan of suspense short stories). This was a decent story, but not among deaver's finer short stories by any stretch. A decent enough plot, with a solid group of characters..yet, did not really have what I call suspense...a decent mystery perhaps, but not necesarily a thriller.

09 Eye of the Storm by John Lutz w/Lise S. Baker- 3 stars
I have heard of Lutz but am not familiar with any of his work, Baker I have never heard of previously. This is a decent story, with an age old plot. An unfaitful spouse, a jilted lover, a broken heart, revenge, covering your tracks and of course nothing works out like planned.

10 The Dead Club by Michael Palmer w/ Daniel James Palmer- 4 stars
I love just about everything michael palmer does, and this is no exception. I have read another short story of his in another ITW inc. book, and his short stories are top notch as well. This is a cool spin on gambling, bad luck, keep trying...how far will you go!

11 Underbelly by Grant McKenzie- 2.5 stars
A decent little heist mystery thriller...This had IMHo a very intriguing and creative, original plot but the story never seemed to reach the potential that I initially felt.

12 The Gato Conundrum by John Lescroart- 3 stars
I have read a few of Lescroart's books and short stories and have enjoyed most...none have really blown me away to make him must read for me. although I do like Dismas Hardy and prefer his legal thrillers over his efforts. This was a decent, but not explosive, story of lust and espionage.

13. The Princess Of Felony Flats by Bill Cameron- 1.5 stars
I have never heard of Cameron, and was not inspired to rectify that in the near future (although many authors authors I like do not necesarily write great short stories as well for some reason.)...I just never got drawn in out of the gate (almost a must in a short story), and momentum never seemed to draw me in much deeper the remainder of the way...Oh well.

14 Savage Planet by Stephen Coonts- 2 stars
I have read a few Coonts books, and they have been hit or miss for me. This is my first experience w/ a short story by him and for me it was a miss. I am not really into sci-fi, and this was more sci-fi than I care for.

15 Suspended by Ryan Brown- 4 stars
I have never heard of Brown before, but after this I am interested. This was a cool ghost story of jealousy, revenge and maybe even hope or false hope..Very worthwhile.

16 Invisible by Sean Michael Bailey- 3 stars
Never heard of Bailey, prior to this. This was decent and very short/quick story even by short story standards. An interesting take, on escaping abuse.

17 When Johnny Comes Marching Home by Heather graham- 2 stars
I have liked alot of Grahams stuff, even other short stories...this was not one of my favorites of hers.

18 On The Train by Rebecca Cantrell- 3 stars
I have nevr heard of cantrell, but found this interesting. I have always been a bif wwII fiction reader, and enjoyed this spin. A very interesting take, on the death camp trains, and ones desire for both live and freedom, made more difficult by the understanding that you likely can't have both...or that one may cost you the other!

19 Children's Day by Kelli Stanley- 2 stars
I have nevr heard of Stanley prior to this reading. I just could not get into this story.

20 My Father's Eyes by Wendy Corsi Staub- 2 stars
I don't know if I am in a rut, or if this book his??? I have never heard of staub, and could not get into this story at all.

21 Program With A Happy Ending by Cynthia Robinson- 3 stars
I have never heard of Robinson prior to this. I guess it was a decent story with quite a happy ending (Not that the ending was good?! ;D), that gives a whole new meaning to the word.

22 Killing Carol Ann by J.T. Ellison- 2 stars
Perhaps a generous 2 stars? I am not familiar with Ellison and never got into this story from the start..It was almost a chore to finnish.

23 Chloe by Marc Paoletti- 2 stars
Oh my I hope this book starts getting better...It started out well (Not this story), and has hit almost a grinding halt of thrills or entertaining shorts...when sticking a pen up your fathers rectum becomes the highlight of a story, we have a ways to go!

24 Cold, Cold Heart by Karin Slaughter- 3 stars
I have read some of Karin's stuff befor and have enjoyed most of what I have I have read. I did not enjoy this quite as much. It started very slow and continued slow and methodical throughout. Finally climaxing in a decent end. Not a whole lot of action or speed, but a decent tale of betrayal, hurt and revenge.

25 Calling The Shots by Karen Dionne- 2 stars
A quick read and although the ending of the story was a nice twist the rest didnot really capture me.