Charles Salzberg

Josh Green has a secret. Since he was a child, Josh has had troubling visions that allow him to see into other people’s pasts due to his extrasensory perception. Frightened by this ability, he’s told no one about it, except his best friend, Tony. When Tony’s college-age stepdaughter suddenly vanishes, he asks Josh to help him find her, as well as determine the circumstances of her disappearance. For the first time, Josh is forced to embrace his psychic ability to help trace the young woman’s steps. Eventually, this leads him to not only learn why she’s missing, but where she is. Following a trail that unravels familial secrets, Josh finds himself in the middle of a very complicated web.

PI Pete Fortunato, half-Italian, half-Jewish, who suffers from anger management issues and insomnia, wakes up one morning with a bad taste in his mouth. This is never a good sign. Working out of a friend's downtown real estate office, Fortunato, who spent a mysteriously short, forgettable stint as a cop in a small upstate New York town, lives from paycheck to paycheck. So, when a beautiful woman wants to hire him to find her husband, he doesn't hesitate to say yes. Within a day, Fortunato finds the husband in the apartment of his client's young, stud lover. He's been shot once in the head. Case closed. But when his client's check bounces, and a couple of Albanian gangsters show up outside his building and kidnap him, hoping he'll lead them to a large sum of money supposedly stolen by the dead man, he begins to realize there's a good chance he's been set up to take the fall for the murder and the theft of the money. In an attempt to get himself out of a jam, Fortunato winds up on a wild ride that takes him down to Texas where he searches for his client's lover who he suspects has the money and holds the key to solving the murder. Praise for Canary in the Coal Mine "Salzberg has hit it out of the park. Love the writing style, and the story really draws you in. As with Salzberg's prior works, he has a knack for making his heroes real, which makes their jeopardy real, too. So, say hello to Pete Fortunato, a modern PI who thinks on his feet and has moves that read like the noir version of Midnight Run." -Tom Straw, author of the Richard Castle series (from the ABC show) and Buzz Killer "Salzberg writes hardboiled prose from a gritty stream of conscious. Peter Fortunato is an old school PI to be reckoned with." -Sam Wiebe, award-winning author of Invisible Dead and Never Going Back "Charles Salzberg's Canary in the Coal Mine is everything a reader wants in a great crime novel, and then some. The rat-a-tat cadence of the noir masters, seamlessly blended with the contemporary sensibilities of an author thoroughly in control of his craft. I liked this book so much I read it twice. No kidding. It's that good." -Baron R. Birtcher, multi-award winning and Los Angeles Times bestselling author "Charles Salzberg has created a fantastic literary PI: Pete Fortunato. Rash, blunt and prone to violence, you can't help but turn the page to see what Fortunato will do next. Canary in the Coal Mine is great " -James O. Born, New York Times bestselling author

Cut Loose All Those Who Drag You Down by Ross Klavan The story of what turns out to be a very, very bad night. A crooked reporter who fronts for the mob and who's been married eight times is minding his own business at home when he gets a sudden visit from his oldest friend, a disgraced and defrocked shrink. The man is in deep trouble. He needs a place to hide. The problem is, he refuses to admit to exactly what's wrong and so there begins a heated, drunken, drug-fueled discussion that runs through failed marriages, divorces, mistresses, murders, suicides, police raids that went wrong, meetings with strange women in the desert, a child with killing on his mind and more. When it's finished, the answer to what's wrong becomes horribly clear...and somebody is going to pay with his life. Beaned by Tim O'Mara Hours after successfully transporting smuggled maple syrup from Missouri to New York City, and picking up a truckload of maple-syrup related products for the return trip, Aggie and his new partners decide it's more important to help take down a sex-trafficking ring based out of Manhattan. Taking care of business first-trading the maple-syrup products for high-end coffee beans and distributing the new cargo-Aggie takes off for The Big Apple. His mission: help take down the billionaire who's funding the trafficking of under-aged children for the pleasure of other rich folks. His trip takes him to Manhattan's toney Upper East Side to a final confrontation in the US Virgin Islands. The Fifth Column by Charles Salzberg Several months after the shock of Pearl Harbor thrusts America into the war, Jake Harper, a young Connecticut reporter, gets his dream job on a New York City Newspaper. Returning to the city of his birth, Jake meets a young boy who's been bullied and savagely beaten in a schoolyard by a bunch of young toughs wearing Brown shirts and railing against Jews. Jake, who smells a possible story, suspects the resurgence of the German-American Bund on the Upper East Side. As he digs deeper, he begins to suspect that the supposedly disbanded Bund is alive and well and making plans to sabotage the American war effort.

When Henry Swann is asked by his quirky partner, Goldblatt, to find a missing psychic who's swindled his ex-wife out of a small fortune, he just can't say no. Although he doesn't actually expect to get paid, he figures it might give him a chance to finally learn more about his partner's mysterious past. His search takes him into the controversial, arcane world of psychics, fortunetellers, and charlatans, while raising questions in his own mind about whether or not there is an after-life. While working his partner's case, he's approached by a former employer, attorney Paul Rudder, to track down a missing witness who might be able to provide an alibi for his client, Nicky Diamond, a notorious mob hitman who's scheduled to go on trial in a week for murder he claims he didn't commit. Swann's search for the missing witness, who happens to be the defendant's girlfriend, takes him from Brooklyn to a small beach town across the bay from Mobile, Alabama. But what does she really know and will she even come back with him to testify for her boyfriend? Praise for SWANN'S DOWN: "From Manhattan to Coney Island to the steamy shores of Alabama, Charles Salzberg delivers a top-flight mystery with his latest Henry Swann outing. Highly recommended." --Tom Straw, New York Times bestselling author as Richard Castle

Bartok's story is told by a driver for the mob, a guy who's heard it all and usually keeps his mouth shut because when he begins a trip, it's almost always one-way. "Jammed" by Tim O'Mara Aggie's back. After barely escaping with his life in "Smoked," Aggie disproves the old adage of "Once burned..." This time around he's heading from the Midwest to New York City with a sweet shipment of stolen maple syrup. He also has picked up an unwanted-and potentially dangerous-passenger; the fifteen-year-old daughter of his latest boss has hopped on for a free ride to the Big Apple and her on-line boyfriend. When they arrive in NYC, Aggie's worst fears are realized when the "boyfriend" turns out to be a group of human traffickers. Aggie knew that running one of the world's most valuable liquids across state lines was skirting the line between safety and danger, but he never knew it could get this sticky. "The Maybrick Affair" by Charles Salzberg It's a couple weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor and a young reporter, Jake Harper, who works for a small Connecticut newspaper, is assigned a routine human interest story. A reclusive, elderly woman, has quietly passed away in her small cottage upstate. Anxious for bigger stories, Jake begins his assignment by trying to find out who this woman was and what kind of life she led. As Jake investigates the old woman's death he finds that years earlier she was tried and convicted of murdering her husband in a well-publicized, lurid trial in London, England. And, after digging further, he, unearths evidence that she might have had a connection to an even more famous British serial killer and that the ramifications of this story might affect America's entry into the War.

Francis Hoyt, arrogant, athletic, brilliant, manipulative and ruthless, is a master burglar. He specializes in stealing high-end silver, breaking into homes that seem impenetrable. He's never been caught in the act, although he has spent some time in prison on a related charge, time he used to hone his craft and make valuable connections.Recently retired from his job with Connecticut's attorney general department, Charlie Floyd is a brilliant but stubborn and experienced investigator. He receives a phone call from Manny Perez, a Cuban-American Miami police detective. Perez, who's worked with Floyd previously, wants to enlist the former investigator in his efforts to put an end to Francis Hoyt's criminal career. Floyd accepts the offer and they team up to bring Hoyt to justice.Second Story Man, told in alternating chapters, representing Hoyt's, Floyd's and Perez's points-of-view, develops into a cat-and-mouse contest between the two lawmen and this master burglar. As Floyd and Perez get closer to their prey, Hoyt finds out they're after him and rather than backing down, he taunts them, daring them to bring him in. The stakes get higher and higher, and Hoyt, who is always concerned about proving he's the best at what he does, even resorts to murder. The story climaxes in a confrontation between the three men.Praise for SECOND STORY MAN: "Second Story Man is a down and dirty game of cat and mouse, only this time there are two cats and the mouse hasn't yet seen the trap that can touch him. Are two cats better than one? Read it and see." --Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of What You Break"Salzberg is a superb wordsmith, with an honest ear for dialogue, and a delight in plot twists. If you're not already a Salzberg fan, read this book; you will become one." --Michael Sears, Edgar Award nominee and Shamus Award winner for Black Fridays"With Second Story Man, Charles Salzberg works his magic on the old cat-and-mouse game: he adds an extra cat, a (Michael J) foxy mouse, and a mousetrap you won't see coming until it snaps shut." --Tim O'Mara, Barry Award-nominated author of the Raymond Donne mysteries"Traversing my old stomping grounds, from Connecticut to South Beach, I loved the local touches and flavors. But what hit me hardest is how much this plays like a re-envisioned Michael Mann's Heat. The terse dialogue, two men on opposite sides of the law but oh-so-much alike, the chess match. I would've liked to see that movie."--Joe Clifford, author of the Jay Porter thriller series"Terrific. And the riveting Second Story Man is also a master class in voice and dialogue and storytelling. This caper about three men--two cops and a burglar--reinventing themselves for the second stories of their lives is unique, textured and even hilarious. Charles Salzberg has perfected the existential crime novel--and this one will break your heart." --Hank Phillippi Ryan, Anthony, Agatha and Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author"Charlie Floyd and Manny Perez are a new and most welcome team on the investigative scene. Now that they've dispensed with master burglar Francis Hoyt--or have they?--I'm expecting, and looking forward to, more of their unique take on how to bring down evil-doers." --SJ Rozan, Edgar Award-winning author of Ghost Hero

A friendly poker game leads Henry Swann out to Hollywood where he tries to find the man, Rusty Jacobs, responsible for embezzling $1,000,000 from his client, and then bring back the dough. Swann finds Jacobs, but the mercurial wannabe film producer is involved in a "surefire" movie project aimed at the growing Christian market. And the money? Well, it seems to have vanished into thin air. At the same time, thanks to his irrepressible partner, Goldblatt, Swann finds himself knee-deep in the New York City art world, as he tries to get justice for another client who's possibly been defrauded on the purchase of a valuable painting that may or may not be a fake. As if this isn't enough to keep him busy, in the midst of these two troubling cases, Swann finds that the teenage son whom he hasn't seen in a dozen years has run away from his grandparent's Minnesota home and, chasing after a girl, has possibly become involved with a cult. And so, a guilt-ridden Swann has to take time out from his paying cases to find his son.

In the ballroom of a sparsely furnished Connecticut mansion, police find a shocking sight: four bodies lined up next to each other, three teenagers and a middle-aged woman, each lying on a blanket, each shot once in the head. In an upstairs bedroom: an elderly woman and the family dog, both of them shot as well. The only person missing is the husband, father, son, and prime suspect, John Hartman, who's got a three-week jump on the police. Through the eyes of almost two dozen characters, including the neighbor who reports the crime, Hartman's mistress, a dogged state investigator, the family minister, and some of the characters Hartman meets on his escape route, we piece together not only what happened and how these shocking murders affect the community, but how John Hartman evades capture, where he's headed, and maybe even why he committed this gruesome crime in the first place. Based on the notorious John List murders and already compared to works by Norman Mailer and Russell Banks, DEVIL IN THE HOLE is gripping, literate, and haunting. Praise for DEVIL IN THE HOLE ... "DEVIL IN THE HOLE is powerful stuff. Drawing on real events, Salzberg has crafted a mesmerizing tale in many voices. He masterfully drip-feeds the compelling story, funneling moments from disparate, scattered lives to define the personality of a madman. The overall effect is like slowly opening a beautifully wrapped box of poisoned chocolates." - Tim McLoughlin, editor Brooklyn Noir. "Salzberg masterfully weaves together dozens of voices, including the killer's, in an effort to find out why a man would murder his entire family and then disappear. DEVIL IN THE HOLE is a haunting meditation on the thin, wavering line between sense and senselessness." - Kaylie Jones, author Lies My Mother Never Told Me: A Memoir, and Speak Now "The devil isn't in the details, but in a tony Connecticut town. Charles Salzberg's DEVIL IN THE HOLE is a fine piece of crime writing and a hell of a fun read." - Reed Farrel Coleman, three-time Shamus Award-winning author of Gun Church In this smartly constructed crime novel, Salzberg uses multiple viewpoints to portray an unlikely killer who methodically slaughters his family ... an intriguing collage of impressions and personal perspectives for the reader to ponder. - Publishers Weekly "Salzberg does an ingenious job of weaving together the various voices - each distinct in its own right - and giving us the story as told by the people who experienced it. It paints a psychological picture of a murderer, while also telling the story of those left in the aftermath and how they were affected as well. Brilliant and captivating storytelling." - Erica Ruth Neubauer, Crimespree magazine "Salzberg has taken a true crime tale and made it into a compelling work of fiction that attempts to imagine the mind of a killer, not only through his own mind, but through the minds of many others. This is a novel which few readers will want to put down, turning pages mostly, I think, to find out how in the world the author pulls it off. 'How, ' I kept asking myself, 'how can he finish this story' The buildup becomes more and more absorbing because Charles Salzberg has a lot to say about human nature that is thought-provokingly wise and penetrating." - Duff Brenna, South Carolina Review "I am typically not a fan of books written in this manner but Salzberg masterfully uses this technique to create a novel that is different in an extremely good way. The author effortlessly blends the different perspectives, viewpoints, and impressions of each character into a brilliant tapestry that envelops the reader, while peaking interest and the desire for more information about the crime. DEVIL IN THE HOLE is one of the best books that I have read this year and I most highly recommend it." - Robin Thomas, New Mystery Review

To err is human. To really screw up requires team effort. Everyone cheers the clubs that win pennants, but what about the doormats who made their triumphs possible? It's time to give baseball's lousiest teams their due. Here they are: The 1904 Washington Senators, whose only good player, a thirty-five-year-old star hitter, took a dive (fatally, into Niagara Falls); the 1935 Boston Braves, who set the National League standard for losing percentage despite featuring three Hall of Famers—including Yankee exile Babe Ruth; the 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates, Joe Garagiola's cellar-dwelling team that was so bad, he quipped, "they wouldn't put our pictures on bubble gum cards"; and the 1962 New York Mets, maybe not the worst team ever but definitely the funniest in modern baseball history. You'll get the stats, the scores, the scandals, and the secrets in this no-holds-barred account. When the survivors of these diamond trainwrecks include such legends as Marv Throneberry, Ralph Kiner, Cal Ripken Jr., Roger Craig, and Joe Garagiola, you can be sure that the book (unlike its subjects) is a winner.