Treacherous: Grifters, Ruffians And Killers

In this collection, you’ll find double crossers getting crossed, two-bit hucksters out to make that one last con, a long-gone revolutionary’s fraught homecoming, a heist gone sideways, a dying hitman with explosive secrets, a square john taking a big step out of line, and… zombies crawling from the grave lusting for cocaine.

“Treacherous: Grifters, Ruffians and Killers by Gary Phillips isn’t a book you’d want to give to your best friend who loves cozies, as the subtitle indicates. In fact, Maureen Corrigan said on NPR that some of these stories ‘would make Nancy Drew faint facedown into her cucumber tea sandwiches.’ I didn’t know that Ms. Drew was into cucumber tea. Or maybe I’m reading the sentence wrong. At any rate, this is a collection full of the real hardboiled thing.” — Bill Crider, Mystery Scene Magazine

“Phillips obviously loves his anti-heroes, as the stories’ major characters are all, as the subtitle promises, grifters, ruffians and killers. You may not be on their side, but you can’t help but be fascinated by their escapades… Phillips’ unfaltering ear for contemporary urban dialogue and patois, relentless pacing that grabs you from the opening sentence—oh, and plenty of sex and violence, too.” — Alan Cranis, Bookgasm

“Those looking for a fun romp amid crime and killers will be satisfied.” — Publishers Weekly