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Alvarez & Pescoli #7.5
MatchUp
In this incredible follow-up to the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller FaceOff, twenty-two of the world’s most popular thriller writers come together for an unforgettable anthology.
MatchUp takes the never-before-seen bestseller pairings of FaceOff and adds a delicious new twist: gender. Eleven of the world’s best female thriller writers from Diana Gabaldon to Charlaine Harris are paired with eleven of the world’s best male thriller writers, including John Sandford, C.J. Box, and Nelson DeMille. The stories are edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child and feature:
-Lee Coburn and Joe Pickett in “Honor & …” by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box
-Tony Hill and Roy Grace in “Footloose” by Val McDermid and Peter James
-Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher in “Faking a Murderer” by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child
-Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone in “Past Prologue” by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry
-Liz Sansborough and Rambo in “Rambo on Their Minds” by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell
-Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard in “Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta
-Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck in “Dig Here” by Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross
-Regan Pescoli and Virgil Flowers in “Deserves to be Dead” by Lisa Jackson and John Sandford
-Lucan Thorne and Lilliane in “Midnight Flame” by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice
-Bennie Rosato and John Corey in “Getaway” by Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille
-Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw in “Taking the Veil” by J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader
MatchUp takes the never-before-seen bestseller pairings of FaceOff and adds a delicious new twist: gender. Eleven of the world’s best female thriller writers from Diana Gabaldon to Charlaine Harris are paired with eleven of the world’s best male thriller writers, including John Sandford, C.J. Box, and Nelson DeMille. The stories are edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child and feature:
-Lee Coburn and Joe Pickett in “Honor & …” by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box
-Tony Hill and Roy Grace in “Footloose” by Val McDermid and Peter James
-Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher in “Faking a Murderer” by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child
-Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone in “Past Prologue” by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry
-Liz Sansborough and Rambo in “Rambo on Their Minds” by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell
-Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard in “Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta
-Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck in “Dig Here” by Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross
-Regan Pescoli and Virgil Flowers in “Deserves to be Dead” by Lisa Jackson and John Sandford
-Lucan Thorne and Lilliane in “Midnight Flame” by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice
-Bennie Rosato and John Corey in “Getaway” by Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille
-Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw in “Taking the Veil” by J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader
464 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2017
2989 people are currently reading
7460 people want to read
About the author
Lee Child
442 books34.2k followersLee Child was born October 29th, 1954 in Coventry, England, but spent his formative years in the nearby city of Birmingham. By coincidence he won a scholarship to the same high school that JRR Tolkien had attended. He went to law school in Sheffield, England, and after part-time work in the theater he joined Granada Television in Manchester for what turned out to be an eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV's "golden age." During his tenure his company made Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, Prime Suspect, and Cracker. But he was fired in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring. Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis and bought six dollars' worth of paper and pencils and sat down to write a book, Killing Floor, the first in the Jack Reacher series.
Killing Floor was an immediate success and launched the series which has grown in sales and impact with every new installment. The first Jack Reacher movie, based on the novel One Shot and starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike, was released in December 2012.
Lee has three homes—an apartment in Manhattan, a country house in the south of France, and whatever airplane cabin he happens to be in while traveling between the two. In the US he drives a supercharged Jaguar, which was built in Jaguar's Browns Lane plant, thirty yards from the hospital in which he was born.
Lee spends his spare time reading, listening to music, and watching the Yankees, Aston Villa, or Marseilles soccer. He is married with a grown-up daughter. He is tall and slim, despite an appalling diet and a refusal to exercise.
Killing Floor was an immediate success and launched the series which has grown in sales and impact with every new installment. The first Jack Reacher movie, based on the novel One Shot and starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike, was released in December 2012.
Lee has three homes—an apartment in Manhattan, a country house in the south of France, and whatever airplane cabin he happens to be in while traveling between the two. In the US he drives a supercharged Jaguar, which was built in Jaguar's Browns Lane plant, thirty yards from the hospital in which he was born.
Lee spends his spare time reading, listening to music, and watching the Yankees, Aston Villa, or Marseilles soccer. He is married with a grown-up daughter. He is tall and slim, despite an appalling diet and a refusal to exercise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,004 reviews
June 20, 2017
My summary to this eclectic mish mosh assortment of short stories?
CLEVER!!
22 of some of the most popular mystery writers are paired together to collaborate. Each taking one of their well known main characters and throwing them together, creating mini tales of suspense that are truly quite engaging!
I think what I enjoyed the most actually had nothing to do with any of the plot lines or suspense, even though they all held my interest. It was the witty humor and banter that was displayed between the characters (several of which that I recognized) that I found to be the most memorable stand out!
It's hard to pick a favorite, as each shorty offers their own special 'something' that makes it's plot unique.
This is truly a must read for any short story OR mystery fan that likes a strong character lead. And for those of you out there who are late to the party like I am, you might want to grab the first book Faceoff, which started this whole thing!
ARC provided by NetGalley
CLEVER!!
22 of some of the most popular mystery writers are paired together to collaborate. Each taking one of their well known main characters and throwing them together, creating mini tales of suspense that are truly quite engaging!
I think what I enjoyed the most actually had nothing to do with any of the plot lines or suspense, even though they all held my interest. It was the witty humor and banter that was displayed between the characters (several of which that I recognized) that I found to be the most memorable stand out!
It's hard to pick a favorite, as each shorty offers their own special 'something' that makes it's plot unique.
This is truly a must read for any short story OR mystery fan that likes a strong character lead. And for those of you out there who are late to the party like I am, you might want to grab the first book Faceoff, which started this whole thing!
ARC provided by NetGalley
September 24, 2025
My husband likes to read short mystery stories to me at night when I am having trouble falling asleep. (Yes, I know, I am lucky.) This is one he found a while ago at the library that I am now bringing my review to Goodreads.
But, what happened, well, sleep didn't happen with these stories! They were just too good!
So what is Matchup? CLEVER!!
They are 22 of some of the most popular mystery writers paired together (male vs female author) to collaborate on short stories.
Each story includes each author’s main character being brought together to work on a case. Sometimes actually working together (in some instances).
In this way, the paired authors are creating mini tales of suspense that are truly quite engaging!
Now you can see why I wasn’t always falling asleep!
Besides…can you even imagine Dr. Temperance Brennan (Bones fame) working together with Jack Reacher?
I think what I enjoyed the most actually had nothing to do with any of the plot lines or suspense, even though they all held my interest.
It was the witty humor and banter that was displayed between the characters (several of which I recognized) because of my long love affair with mysteries.
It's hard to pick a favorite, as each shorty offers their own special 'something' that makes its plot unique.
This is truly a must read for any short story OR mystery fan that likes a strong character lead.
As with all collections, some of the collaborations are more successful than others but the list of winners will vary from reader to reader.
As much as I enjoy catching up with “old friends”, this is also a great way to try on a new-to-you author & maybe find another series to add to your growing pile of must-read books!
Mystery fans: I bet there are at least a few authors you have also read. Look at the cover to see all the authors who collaborated together…and maybe you too will experience some of your favorite characters in this incredible Matchup!
But, what happened, well, sleep didn't happen with these stories! They were just too good!
So what is Matchup? CLEVER!!
They are 22 of some of the most popular mystery writers paired together (male vs female author) to collaborate on short stories.
Each story includes each author’s main character being brought together to work on a case. Sometimes actually working together (in some instances).
In this way, the paired authors are creating mini tales of suspense that are truly quite engaging!
Now you can see why I wasn’t always falling asleep!
Besides…can you even imagine Dr. Temperance Brennan (Bones fame) working together with Jack Reacher?
I think what I enjoyed the most actually had nothing to do with any of the plot lines or suspense, even though they all held my interest.
It was the witty humor and banter that was displayed between the characters (several of which I recognized) because of my long love affair with mysteries.
It's hard to pick a favorite, as each shorty offers their own special 'something' that makes its plot unique.
This is truly a must read for any short story OR mystery fan that likes a strong character lead.
As with all collections, some of the collaborations are more successful than others but the list of winners will vary from reader to reader.
As much as I enjoy catching up with “old friends”, this is also a great way to try on a new-to-you author & maybe find another series to add to your growing pile of must-read books!
Mystery fans: I bet there are at least a few authors you have also read. Look at the cover to see all the authors who collaborated together…and maybe you too will experience some of your favorite characters in this incredible Matchup!
June 10, 2023
When asked to take the editorial lead in the latest International Thriller Writers (ITW) anthology, Lee Child jumped at the opportunity. What might be daunting for some--herding twenty-two well-known authors together like feral cats--turned out to be a great pleasure for Child and, in the end, the reader. This compilation pits writers into teams of two to concoct a wonderful series of short stories. Each author was asked to bring their 'A' game and a favourite protagonist, in hopes that having to share the page (and the locale of each story), which ended up being a little more difficult than simply parachuting characters together. Child's other hurdle was to place a male and female author together, a 'matchup' of epic proportions, to see how they could work together. The end result saw readers treated to the 'what if' of forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan working alongside ever-travelling Jack Reacher; bibliophile Cotton Malone living history and the standing stones through which Claire Randall met her beloved in Scotland; and Philly lawyer, Bennie Rosato, crossing paths with the King of Sarcastic Comments, John Corey. Where else would you find a Minnesota cop who wants to fish in the middle of a major crime bust at a cabin in Montana, or a woman who speaks to the dead through their buried bones outside of Alexandria? Child is able not only to find the ideal matches for this anthology, but also sends the reader into a tailspin as they are presented with a number of never before thought-out possible storylines. Child is masterful, though a great deal of praise must go to all who took the time and effort to pen eleven wonderful stories. Surely something of a summer gift for the reader to enjoy poolside.
I have always enjoyed collections such as these, especially when the ITW gang comes out to play. There are so many out there and since the genre is so wide, one is never entirely sure what to expect. Child presents these stories in no particularly themed order, but the end result turns out to be something that is high octane from start to finish. While I tend to gravitate to the crime and legal thrillers, there are many that push outside of my comfort zone, though I cannot find a single story that did not captivate me, even when the narrative flirted with the paranormal. I have a large 'to be read' list, but reading these stories has left me wondering if I ought to check out some new authors and their characters, as they intrigued me, even during the brief encounter of a short story. Pitting sub-genres against one another and character professions that were sure to clash, these authors ironed out the difficulties and left the reader with a polished product, perfectly balanced and ready for easy literary consumption. While I could have read these stories for hundreds of more pages, I realise that there is a limit to the number of submissions and authors used, though I am eager to see what is next for the ITW in the years to come.
Kudos, Mr. Child, et al. for such a great anthology. I am hooked to these collections and love the cross-section of story writer that emerges from these classic matchups. Please keep sharpening your skills for the next editorial call out that is sure to arise.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I have always enjoyed collections such as these, especially when the ITW gang comes out to play. There are so many out there and since the genre is so wide, one is never entirely sure what to expect. Child presents these stories in no particularly themed order, but the end result turns out to be something that is high octane from start to finish. While I tend to gravitate to the crime and legal thrillers, there are many that push outside of my comfort zone, though I cannot find a single story that did not captivate me, even when the narrative flirted with the paranormal. I have a large 'to be read' list, but reading these stories has left me wondering if I ought to check out some new authors and their characters, as they intrigued me, even during the brief encounter of a short story. Pitting sub-genres against one another and character professions that were sure to clash, these authors ironed out the difficulties and left the reader with a polished product, perfectly balanced and ready for easy literary consumption. While I could have read these stories for hundreds of more pages, I realise that there is a limit to the number of submissions and authors used, though I am eager to see what is next for the ITW in the years to come.
Kudos, Mr. Child, et al. for such a great anthology. I am hooked to these collections and love the cross-section of story writer that emerges from these classic matchups. Please keep sharpening your skills for the next editorial call out that is sure to arise.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 25, 2017
I love these collections. Some days it’s so hard to find time to block out the rest of the world & disappear into a great book. With these shorties, you can spend 20 minutes in your favourite hiding spot & enjoy a complete story from some of the best known thriller writers.
Each is a collaboration between 2 authors & there are some interesting pairs here. There are 11 tales in all, representing a diverse range of sub genres…..contemporary, historical, paranormal, romance & pure crime. Everyone will have their personal favs so I won’t review them all. Instead, here are some random thoughts & my top 3 picks.
If you read thrillers at all you’re going to recognize these iconic characters who have become just as famous as their creators. Dr.Temperance Brennan, Cotton Malone, Reacher, Carol Jordan & Roy Grace are just a few. But I bet you didn’t expect to run across John Rambo (yes, THAT Rambo…). Even that F**kin’ Flowers puts down his fishing rod long enough to get in on the action. And for every reader who swoons when Jamie Fraser stalks by, kilt a-swinging…...well, nuff said.
My picks were “Faking a Murderer” starring Dr. Temperance Brennan & Jack Reacher; “Deserves to be Dead” featuring Virgil Flowers & Regan Pescoli; and “Short Story” with Joe Pritchard & a young Jeffrey Tolliver.
As with all collections, some of the collaborations are more successful than others but the list of winners will vary from reader to reader. As much as I enjoy catching up with “old friends”, this is also a great way to try on a new-to-you author & maybe find another series to add to your groaning TBR pile.
Each is a collaboration between 2 authors & there are some interesting pairs here. There are 11 tales in all, representing a diverse range of sub genres…..contemporary, historical, paranormal, romance & pure crime. Everyone will have their personal favs so I won’t review them all. Instead, here are some random thoughts & my top 3 picks.
If you read thrillers at all you’re going to recognize these iconic characters who have become just as famous as their creators. Dr.Temperance Brennan, Cotton Malone, Reacher, Carol Jordan & Roy Grace are just a few. But I bet you didn’t expect to run across John Rambo (yes, THAT Rambo…). Even that F**kin’ Flowers puts down his fishing rod long enough to get in on the action. And for every reader who swoons when Jamie Fraser stalks by, kilt a-swinging…...well, nuff said.
My picks were “Faking a Murderer” starring Dr. Temperance Brennan & Jack Reacher; “Deserves to be Dead” featuring Virgil Flowers & Regan Pescoli; and “Short Story” with Joe Pritchard & a young Jeffrey Tolliver.
As with all collections, some of the collaborations are more successful than others but the list of winners will vary from reader to reader. As much as I enjoy catching up with “old friends”, this is also a great way to try on a new-to-you author & maybe find another series to add to your groaning TBR pile.
Want to read
June 21, 20173.5 stars for the first story in the book.
This book caught my eye because some of the authors are my favourites. Sandra Brown, Karin Slaughter, Diana Gabaldon. Was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley and the first story in the anthology is co-written by Sandra Brown. It features Lee Coburn, the hero of her book Lethal. On finishing Lethal, I felt a bit let down as there was no real closure. Yes, we could use our imaginations and picture five years down the road but, you know me, I love an epilogue and the further down the road the better.
Yes, I got some closure. Maybe not enough, but enough to keep me happy ... for now! LOL. I am hard to please, I know.
I will dip into the book now and again.
This book caught my eye because some of the authors are my favourites. Sandra Brown, Karin Slaughter, Diana Gabaldon. Was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley and the first story in the anthology is co-written by Sandra Brown. It features Lee Coburn, the hero of her book Lethal. On finishing Lethal, I felt a bit let down as there was no real closure. Yes, we could use our imaginations and picture five years down the road but, you know me, I love an epilogue and the further down the road the better.
Yes, I got some closure. Maybe not enough, but enough to keep me happy ... for now! LOL. I am hard to please, I know.
I will dip into the book now and again.
June 9, 2017
I do not like them, Sam I am.
Short stories, that is. With few exceptions - most notably Ernest Hemingway's "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" and Guy De Maupassant's "The Necklace" - I tend to avoid them like the plague.
Well, okay, that worked until 2014, when I ran across FaceOff - a compilation of short stories, each co-written by two well-known members of International Thriller Writers, that pair up characters readers have come to know and love. That one, edited by David Baldacci, was nothing short of a gem. So imagine my excitement when I learned of this one - a follow-up that is set apart by the joining of one male and one female writer. Never thinking I'd be approved, I requested an advance copy at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. To say I was over-the-top excited to get it is an understatement.
Now I've finished. And just like its predecessor, I'm giving it a resounding 5 stars and a strong recommendation that other mystery/thriller lovers give it a go. Does that mean that every single one of the stories in this collection knocks it out of the ball park? No; although I enjoyed them all, some are better than others - and chances are, there'll be a wide variation in the picks of the litter among other readers as well. This book's greatest value in my mind is because of its uniqueness. Where else, for instance, will you see how Lee Child's rough-and-tough Jack Reacher interacts with Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan (she of the uber-scientific mind)?
Settings, time periods and concepts are all over the map, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to a castle in Scotland to ancient Alexandria. There's murder, theft and fantasy. I was delighted to find some of my favorite characters - among them Lucas Davenport, Joe Pickett and the aforementioned Reacher and Brennan - as well as a few others with whom I wasn't familiar (more's the pity, but that's been rectified now).
The whole thing is edited by Child, and at the beginning of each story is a quick peek at the writing process. Some authors knew each other beforehand; others did not. But what comes through loud and clear is that each and every one of them put considerable effort into turning out a great story - no throwing ideas or characters up against the wall to see what sticks here, folks. Every one is well thought out, intriguing and plausible (well, given the particular combination of characters). Some are deadly serious, while others serve up bits of humor. For instance, puns run rampant in “Footloose” by Val McDermid and Peter James, in which dead folks are distinguished by their feet (or the lack thereof). The victims "must be hopping mad," one character deadpans.
And then there's my personal favorite, from “Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta (the longest story in the collection, BTW): As the characters discuss the ungodly frigid weather, one quips, "...the whole witch is cold today. You know what I mean?"
Take a sec. You'll get it.
There's no real point in summarizing all the individual stories here; each has considerable merit, but my point is that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, thereby making this a significant work. Another big benefit, for me at least, is the opportunity to get acquainted with authors I've heard of but for whatever reason never read.
All that said, here's the cast of characters and authors (the whole thing is edited by Lee Childs):
"Honor &..." by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box (Lee Coburn and Joe Pickett)
"Footloose" by Val McDermid and Peter James (Tony Hill and Roy Grace)
"Faking a Murder" by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child (Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher)
"Past Prologue" by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry (Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone)
“Rambo on Their Minds” by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell (Liz Sansborough and Rambo)
“Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta (Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard)
“Dig Here” by Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross (Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck)
“Deserves to be Dead” by Lisa Jackson and John Sandford (Regan Pescoli and Lucas Davenport)
“Midnight Flame” by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice (Lucan Thorne and Lilliane)
“Getaway” by Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille (Bennie Rosato and John Corey)
“Taking the Veil” by J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader (Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw)
My final word? Don't miss this one!
Short stories, that is. With few exceptions - most notably Ernest Hemingway's "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" and Guy De Maupassant's "The Necklace" - I tend to avoid them like the plague.
Well, okay, that worked until 2014, when I ran across FaceOff - a compilation of short stories, each co-written by two well-known members of International Thriller Writers, that pair up characters readers have come to know and love. That one, edited by David Baldacci, was nothing short of a gem. So imagine my excitement when I learned of this one - a follow-up that is set apart by the joining of one male and one female writer. Never thinking I'd be approved, I requested an advance copy at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. To say I was over-the-top excited to get it is an understatement.
Now I've finished. And just like its predecessor, I'm giving it a resounding 5 stars and a strong recommendation that other mystery/thriller lovers give it a go. Does that mean that every single one of the stories in this collection knocks it out of the ball park? No; although I enjoyed them all, some are better than others - and chances are, there'll be a wide variation in the picks of the litter among other readers as well. This book's greatest value in my mind is because of its uniqueness. Where else, for instance, will you see how Lee Child's rough-and-tough Jack Reacher interacts with Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan (she of the uber-scientific mind)?
Settings, time periods and concepts are all over the map, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to a castle in Scotland to ancient Alexandria. There's murder, theft and fantasy. I was delighted to find some of my favorite characters - among them Lucas Davenport, Joe Pickett and the aforementioned Reacher and Brennan - as well as a few others with whom I wasn't familiar (more's the pity, but that's been rectified now).
The whole thing is edited by Child, and at the beginning of each story is a quick peek at the writing process. Some authors knew each other beforehand; others did not. But what comes through loud and clear is that each and every one of them put considerable effort into turning out a great story - no throwing ideas or characters up against the wall to see what sticks here, folks. Every one is well thought out, intriguing and plausible (well, given the particular combination of characters). Some are deadly serious, while others serve up bits of humor. For instance, puns run rampant in “Footloose” by Val McDermid and Peter James, in which dead folks are distinguished by their feet (or the lack thereof). The victims "must be hopping mad," one character deadpans.
And then there's my personal favorite, from “Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta (the longest story in the collection, BTW): As the characters discuss the ungodly frigid weather, one quips, "...the whole witch is cold today. You know what I mean?"
Take a sec. You'll get it.
There's no real point in summarizing all the individual stories here; each has considerable merit, but my point is that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, thereby making this a significant work. Another big benefit, for me at least, is the opportunity to get acquainted with authors I've heard of but for whatever reason never read.
All that said, here's the cast of characters and authors (the whole thing is edited by Lee Childs):
"Honor &..." by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box (Lee Coburn and Joe Pickett)
"Footloose" by Val McDermid and Peter James (Tony Hill and Roy Grace)
"Faking a Murder" by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child (Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher)
"Past Prologue" by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry (Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone)
“Rambo on Their Minds” by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell (Liz Sansborough and Rambo)
“Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta (Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard)
“Dig Here” by Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross (Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck)
“Deserves to be Dead” by Lisa Jackson and John Sandford (Regan Pescoli and Lucas Davenport)
“Midnight Flame” by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice (Lucan Thorne and Lilliane)
“Getaway” by Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille (Bennie Rosato and John Corey)
“Taking the Veil” by J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader (Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw)
My final word? Don't miss this one!
June 25, 2017
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Lee Child (editor), and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with an honest review.
When asked to take the editorial lead in the latest International Thriller Writers (ITW) anthology, Lee Child jumped at the opportunity.
22 of some of the most popular mystery writers are paired together to collaborate. Each taking one of their well known main characters and throwing them together, creating mini tales of suspense that are truly quite engaging, more so in some of the short stories, than others.
A great following from the first Face Off, and with a great introduction by Lee Childs with a little information before each story.
I believe some stories and characters came out better and more realistic than others, and have given a score for each story, it helped that some characters I had read before, and with this book do want to read some of the other authors.
Sandra Brown/CJ Box 4 stars, two great characters and want to read CJ BOX especially.
Val McDermind/Peter James 3 stars, not quite so fast paced as first.
Kathy Reich/Lee Childs 3 stars, not quite an action packed role for Reacher, but okay.
Diana Gabaldon/Steve Berry 3 stars.
Gale Lynds/Dave Morrell 3 stars
Karin Slaughter/Michael Koryta 4 stars, due to, especially Karin Slaughter humour.
Charlaine Harris/Andrew Gross 3 stars
Lisa Jackson/John Sandford 4 stars. Worked well.
Lara Adrain/Christopher Rice 2 stars, just not for me.
Lisa Scottoline/Nelson De Mille 4 stars. Two great strong characters
J.A Jance/Eric Van Lustbader 2 stars. just not for me.
When asked to take the editorial lead in the latest International Thriller Writers (ITW) anthology, Lee Child jumped at the opportunity.
22 of some of the most popular mystery writers are paired together to collaborate. Each taking one of their well known main characters and throwing them together, creating mini tales of suspense that are truly quite engaging, more so in some of the short stories, than others.
A great following from the first Face Off, and with a great introduction by Lee Childs with a little information before each story.
I believe some stories and characters came out better and more realistic than others, and have given a score for each story, it helped that some characters I had read before, and with this book do want to read some of the other authors.
Sandra Brown/CJ Box 4 stars, two great characters and want to read CJ BOX especially.
Val McDermind/Peter James 3 stars, not quite so fast paced as first.
Kathy Reich/Lee Childs 3 stars, not quite an action packed role for Reacher, but okay.
Diana Gabaldon/Steve Berry 3 stars.
Gale Lynds/Dave Morrell 3 stars
Karin Slaughter/Michael Koryta 4 stars, due to, especially Karin Slaughter humour.
Charlaine Harris/Andrew Gross 3 stars
Lisa Jackson/John Sandford 4 stars. Worked well.
Lara Adrain/Christopher Rice 2 stars, just not for me.
Lisa Scottoline/Nelson De Mille 4 stars. Two great strong characters
J.A Jance/Eric Van Lustbader 2 stars. just not for me.
August 28, 2017
Normally, I don't care much for short stories. Finally, with the exception of the 2nd and 3rd, these shorties rule. Consequently, I will be reading and adding some new authors to my repertoire. 9 of 10 stars
June 29, 2017
I generally try to read this group's books when they publish because they are such great short stories. This was no exception. The premise is to pair two authors of the same general genre and together they will write a story featuring their most beloved characters. This time, however, it proved more interesting as you had time travelers paired with hard core detectives, vampires with police detectives and beloved characters like Temperance Brennan with loner Jack Reacher. Great stuff!!
I admit that I did not read all of the stories; some simply weren't my style at all. However, the great thing about this type of book is being introduced to new writers and re-introduced to some characters you may have forgotten. That certainly was the case here. I wanted to read the book for the Reichs/Child match up but I confess that my favorite story was by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry. I've only read a few of the "Outlander" books by Gabaldon and none by Steve Berry. This was a terrific and unusual pairing! I also truly liked Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta writing together. These two could write a phone book and I would enjoy it so to say that their story is captivating is an understatement! It was fabulous! It also gives some back story to Jeffrey Tolliver for fans who have missed him since his death.
I've listed this under mysteries, thrillers, suspense and urban fantasy because it had all of these and more. It is a great book that I totally and wholeheartedly recommend. Enjoy!
I admit that I did not read all of the stories; some simply weren't my style at all. However, the great thing about this type of book is being introduced to new writers and re-introduced to some characters you may have forgotten. That certainly was the case here. I wanted to read the book for the Reichs/Child match up but I confess that my favorite story was by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry. I've only read a few of the "Outlander" books by Gabaldon and none by Steve Berry. This was a terrific and unusual pairing! I also truly liked Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta writing together. These two could write a phone book and I would enjoy it so to say that their story is captivating is an understatement! It was fabulous! It also gives some back story to Jeffrey Tolliver for fans who have missed him since his death.
I've listed this under mysteries, thrillers, suspense and urban fantasy because it had all of these and more. It is a great book that I totally and wholeheartedly recommend. Enjoy!
August 22, 2018
This follow-up to the FaceOff anthology is a thrilling battle of the sexes! Male & female authors collaborate to connect some of their most beloved characters in this collection of crime thrillers that range from westerns to the paranormal.
My favorites of the bunch? It's hard to pick just one, so I'll go with two: Short Story (Karin Slaughter & Michael Koryta) and Deserves to be Dead (Lisa Jackson and John Sandford).
I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this with several different narrators bringing life to the characters in each story. I'm ready for the next collection!
My favorites of the bunch? It's hard to pick just one, so I'll go with two: Short Story (Karin Slaughter & Michael Koryta) and Deserves to be Dead (Lisa Jackson and John Sandford).
I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this with several different narrators bringing life to the characters in each story. I'm ready for the next collection!
August 11, 2018
This is a very interesting concept, and how the authors were chosen and how they wrote their stories. In this one it was compiled as follows: 1) Lee Coburn & Joe Picket: They wrote the following "honor and......" performed by C.J. Box & Sandra Brown. 2) Tony Hill & Roy Grace, they wrote the following: "Footloose" Val McDermid and Peter James. 3) Temprance Brennan and Jack Reacher wrote about the following: "Faking a Murderer" performed by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child. 4. Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone in "Past Prologue" by Diane Gabaldon and Steve Berry. 5) Liz Sansborough and Rambo wrote about the following "Rambo on their Minds" by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell. 7. Karen Slaughter and Michael Koryta wrote about the following "Short Story" by Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard. 8. jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard in "Short Story" by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta. 9. Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross wrote about "Dig Here" by Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck. 10. Regan Pescoli and Lucas Davenport (with Virgil Flowers) in "Deserves to be Dead" by Lisa Jackson and John Sanford. 11. Regas Pescoli and Lucas Davenport (Virgil Flowers) "Deserves to be Dead" by Lisa Jackson and John Sanford. 12. Lucan Thorne and Lilliane in "Midnight Flame" Performed by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice. 13. Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille created "Getaway" with Bernie Rosato and John Corey. 14. Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw in "Taking the Veil" performed with J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader. 14.5 Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw wrote "Taking the Veil" of Christ by J. A. Vance and Eric Van Lustbader.
What a fascinating work of art. I'm extremely impressed with the thinking and Teamwork that was involved in making this happen. There are not very many authors that I don't know and makes it very interesting as well. I love it, and I love their work too. This is masterfully done. I highly recommend this pieces of work, and we get to enjoy in different levels that will make with work so well. I just love it.
What a fascinating work of art. I'm extremely impressed with the thinking and Teamwork that was involved in making this happen. There are not very many authors that I don't know and makes it very interesting as well. I love it, and I love their work too. This is masterfully done. I highly recommend this pieces of work, and we get to enjoy in different levels that will make with work so well. I just love it.
July 15, 2022
С радост започнах този сборник криминални разкази. Четях си го бавно и с наслада. Всеки разказ си беше уникален по своему. Жанрът се разпростира от типичния криминален до фентъзи елементи, паранормални случки, пътуване във времето и свръхестествени герои. Доктор Темперънс Бренан се среща с Джак Ричър, авторът на Рамбо го вмъква в един свой разказ заедно с героите на Гейл Линдс. Уникални бяха точно заради тези срещи с героите от различни книги и поредици. Насладих се на всеки разказ, макар и да имаше един по-кървав и друг засягаше криминални престъпления при децата.
Много ми допадна, че преди всеки разказ е описана срещата между двамата автори и идеите за създаването им, както и кой с какво е допринесъл за развитието му. Това беше много интересна информация за мен. Четат ми се още такива разкази. Дано да издадат и други подобни книги.
Много ми допадна, че преди всеки разказ е описана срещата между двамата автори и идеите за създаването им, както и кой с какво е допринесъл за развитието му. Това беше много интересна информация за мен. Четат ми се още такива разкази. Дано да издадат и други подобни книги.
July 13, 2018
A good set of short stories, all written by a male/female combination of thriller writers. Enjoyed them all except the vampires, I don't do vampires!
August 16, 2017
Eleven short stories in a MatchUp of fiction and thriller writers — a man and a woman pairing — revolving around a blend of the main characters in each pair of authors’ series.
The Series
”Honor &…” (Lee Coburn is a character from Lethal and Joe Pickett)
“Footloose” (Tony Hill & Carol Jordan and Roy Grace)
“Faking a Murderer” (Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher)
“Past Prologue” (Jamie Fraser from Outlander and Cotton Malone)
“Rambo on Their Minds” (Liz Sansborough and Rambo)
“Short Story” (Jeffrey Tolliver from Grant County and Joe Pritchard from Lincoln Perry)
“Dig Here” (Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck)
“Deserves to be Dead” (Regan Pescoli from To Die and Virgil Flowers)
“Midnight Flame” (Lucan Thorne from Midnight Breed and Lilliane from Desire Exchange)
“Getaway” (Bennie Rosato from Rosato and Associates and John Corey)
“Taking the Veil” (Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw)
The Stories
Sandra Brown and C.J. Box teamed up to write “Honor &…” in which park ranger, Joe Pickett, comes up against Lee Coburn in a case of mistaken identity and an undercover op with both men seeing the negative of the other…and that ending is a doozie with Coburn having to adjust his thinking. I’ve added these two to my TBR pile.
Val McDermid and Peter James teamed up to write “Footloose”, a gruesome collaboration between characters to solve a horrible crime in this British thriller. I’ve not read either of these authors, so it was confusing as to which were whose “primary characters”. And who the primary characters were!
Kathy Reichs and Lee Child teamed up to write “Faking a Murderer”, and whew…this was a pip, as a very quiet Reacher uses that deducing mind of his to clear Temperance Brennan of suspicion. It’s a nice blend of the two characters, although the situation made me think of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta. Naturally, Reacher’s charms entice Tempe where his women usually end up *grin*.
Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry teamed up to write “Past Prologue” which blends a bookseller at an auction who ends up in the past and is rescued and sent back by Jamie. Fascinating enough that I must add Berry’s Cotton Mather to my TBR.
Gayle Lynds and David Morrell teamed up to write “Rambo on Their Minds” a clever incorporation of the Rambo character into this kidnapping scheme. And the bad guys do indeed have Rambo on Their Minds, which gives Liz some ideas. This was funny in a morbid way, and I definitely want to read more about Liz.
Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta teamed up to write “Short Story” which jumps back in time to when Jeffrey Tolliver first became a detective. Boy, has this guy got women on his mind! And Joe Pritchard has just acquired a new partner: Lincoln Perry. Tolliver ends up in the middle if only because of the scam that was run on him while Pritchard and Perry are looking to take down a drug dealer. It’s an interesting blend of the two characters and another funny one that makes you shake your head at Tolliver’s idiocy and the Helen PD’s ineptitude.
Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross teamed up to write “Dig Here”, a tale of archeology and credit set in Alexandria, Egypt. It’s an intriguing push-pull between those who don’t believe in what Harper can do and Harper’s attitude, and there’s the usual disbelief that gets dispelled. I always enjoy that aspect of a story, and yet there was a rushed sense about this story. As if the two authors didn’t put a lot into meshing their characters and the story. Sad, because I really like the Harper Connelly series. And I know I want to read more about Ty Hauck.
Lisa Jackson and John Sandford teamed up to write “Deserves to be Dead” which finds Virgil sucked into an investigation with a suspicious Detective Regan Pescoli.
Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice teamed up to write “Midnight Flame” involving a vampire warrior from Boston and an immortal “superheroine” from New Orleans who reveals how she became what she is and her lack of trust in herself even as Lucan is grateful for his new mate. It was okay, and I doubt I’ll be adding these to my TBR.
Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille teamed up to write “Getaway” which is what John Corey hoped for now that he’s on “leave” and Bennie Rosato didn’t want. It’s a fun encounter with the snarky Corey and the suspicious Bennie.
J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader teamed up to write “Taking the Veil”, an odd short story with two militant religious groups battling for artifacts and getting some outside help from a sister and a cybersecurity company. I wasn’t impressed.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a bright red background with a back-to-back silhouette of a woman and a man, both holding guns. The title is in a large white font with the author pairings in a much smaller yellow font below it and the editor’s name in a bigger white at the bottom.
The title is all about the male/female author pairings, the MatchUp of bestselling thriller writers to see how their primary characters mesh in a short story.
The Series
”Honor &…” (Lee Coburn is a character from Lethal and Joe Pickett)
“Footloose” (Tony Hill & Carol Jordan and Roy Grace)
“Faking a Murderer” (Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher)
“Past Prologue” (Jamie Fraser from Outlander and Cotton Malone)
“Rambo on Their Minds” (Liz Sansborough and Rambo)
“Short Story” (Jeffrey Tolliver from Grant County and Joe Pritchard from Lincoln Perry)
“Dig Here” (Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck)
“Deserves to be Dead” (Regan Pescoli from To Die and Virgil Flowers)
“Midnight Flame” (Lucan Thorne from Midnight Breed and Lilliane from Desire Exchange)
“Getaway” (Bennie Rosato from Rosato and Associates and John Corey)
“Taking the Veil” (Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw)
The Stories
Sandra Brown and C.J. Box teamed up to write “Honor &…” in which park ranger, Joe Pickett, comes up against Lee Coburn in a case of mistaken identity and an undercover op with both men seeing the negative of the other…and that ending is a doozie with Coburn having to adjust his thinking. I’ve added these two to my TBR pile.
Val McDermid and Peter James teamed up to write “Footloose”, a gruesome collaboration between characters to solve a horrible crime in this British thriller. I’ve not read either of these authors, so it was confusing as to which were whose “primary characters”. And who the primary characters were!
Kathy Reichs and Lee Child teamed up to write “Faking a Murderer”, and whew…this was a pip, as a very quiet Reacher uses that deducing mind of his to clear Temperance Brennan of suspicion. It’s a nice blend of the two characters, although the situation made me think of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta. Naturally, Reacher’s charms entice Tempe where his women usually end up *grin*.
Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry teamed up to write “Past Prologue” which blends a bookseller at an auction who ends up in the past and is rescued and sent back by Jamie. Fascinating enough that I must add Berry’s Cotton Mather to my TBR.
Gayle Lynds and David Morrell teamed up to write “Rambo on Their Minds” a clever incorporation of the Rambo character into this kidnapping scheme. And the bad guys do indeed have Rambo on Their Minds, which gives Liz some ideas. This was funny in a morbid way, and I definitely want to read more about Liz.
Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta teamed up to write “Short Story” which jumps back in time to when Jeffrey Tolliver first became a detective. Boy, has this guy got women on his mind! And Joe Pritchard has just acquired a new partner: Lincoln Perry. Tolliver ends up in the middle if only because of the scam that was run on him while Pritchard and Perry are looking to take down a drug dealer. It’s an interesting blend of the two characters and another funny one that makes you shake your head at Tolliver’s idiocy and the Helen PD’s ineptitude.
Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross teamed up to write “Dig Here”, a tale of archeology and credit set in Alexandria, Egypt. It’s an intriguing push-pull between those who don’t believe in what Harper can do and Harper’s attitude, and there’s the usual disbelief that gets dispelled. I always enjoy that aspect of a story, and yet there was a rushed sense about this story. As if the two authors didn’t put a lot into meshing their characters and the story. Sad, because I really like the Harper Connelly series. And I know I want to read more about Ty Hauck.
Lisa Jackson and John Sandford teamed up to write “Deserves to be Dead” which finds Virgil sucked into an investigation with a suspicious Detective Regan Pescoli.
Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice teamed up to write “Midnight Flame” involving a vampire warrior from Boston and an immortal “superheroine” from New Orleans who reveals how she became what she is and her lack of trust in herself even as Lucan is grateful for his new mate. It was okay, and I doubt I’ll be adding these to my TBR.
Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille teamed up to write “Getaway” which is what John Corey hoped for now that he’s on “leave” and Bennie Rosato didn’t want. It’s a fun encounter with the snarky Corey and the suspicious Bennie.
J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader teamed up to write “Taking the Veil”, an odd short story with two militant religious groups battling for artifacts and getting some outside help from a sister and a cybersecurity company. I wasn’t impressed.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a bright red background with a back-to-back silhouette of a woman and a man, both holding guns. The title is in a large white font with the author pairings in a much smaller yellow font below it and the editor’s name in a bigger white at the bottom.
The title is all about the male/female author pairings, the MatchUp of bestselling thriller writers to see how their primary characters mesh in a short story.
May 5, 2024
Great collection of short stories!
What a fantastic pairing up of authors. Some I knew really well and others I discovered in this anthology of thrillers. Short stories are notoriously difficult to write but these work so well (even if you don’t know the protagonists from their original series).
A great book to take travelling.
What a fantastic pairing up of authors. Some I knew really well and others I discovered in this anthology of thrillers. Short stories are notoriously difficult to write but these work so well (even if you don’t know the protagonists from their original series).
A great book to take travelling.
July 20, 2017
A big thanks to Simon & Schuster for giving me permission to download a copy of this book before publication. I love the premise of this anthology and found the stories to be as enjoyable as I had anticipated. These authors are respected members of the thriller genre and write about a wide variety of characters. Putting them all in one volume is like hitting the midnight buffet on a cruise ship. Bonus!
Some of my favorite stories were "Faking a Murderer", "Rambo On Their Minds" and "Getaway" although I read each one with relish.
Reading about how the stories came together was also an enlightening piece of the package. I heartily recommend this short story collection along with the earlier "FaceOff."
Some of my favorite stories were "Faking a Murderer", "Rambo On Their Minds" and "Getaway" although I read each one with relish.
Reading about how the stories came together was also an enlightening piece of the package. I heartily recommend this short story collection along with the earlier "FaceOff."
June 14, 2018
Twenty-two of the best contemporary mystery/thriller writers teamed up to write eleven amazing short stories. Each story is written by a pair consisting of one woman and one man, and each pair brought together one of the protagonists for which they are famous. The pairings are:
-Lee Coburn and Joe Pickett in “Honor & …” by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box
-Tony Hill and Roy Grace in “Footloose” by Val McDermid and Peter James
-Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher in “Faking a Murderer” by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child
-Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone in “Past Prologue” by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry
-Liz Sansborough and Rambo in “Rambo on Their Minds” by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell
-Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard in “Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta
-Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck in “Dig Here” by Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross
-Regan Pescoli and Virgil Flowers in “Deserves to be Dead” by Lisa Jackson and John Sandford
-Lucan Thorne and Lilliane in “Midnight Flame” by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice
-Bennie Rosato and John Corey in “Getaway” by Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille
-Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw in “Taking the Veil” by J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader
There is so much good to say about this book. The introduction to each story is almost as fascinating as the story itself as it provides a look into how each team worked. Some of the authors were accustomed to writing short stories; some had never written them before. It is ever easy to see how much fun they all had writing the stories and putting this book together.
It also provides one an opportunity to read something different from authors one may already love, but also be introduced to authors of which one has never read. Each of the stories is wonderfully done, even the one which may make some rather uncomfortable.
"Matchup" is a delightful break from the ordinary and a perfect books to read when one only has a few minutes here and there.
MATCHUP (Anthology-Various-Various-Contemp) – VG+
Child, Lee and Sandra Brown (eds)
Simon & Schuster – June 2017
-Lee Coburn and Joe Pickett in “Honor & …” by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box
-Tony Hill and Roy Grace in “Footloose” by Val McDermid and Peter James
-Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher in “Faking a Murderer” by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child
-Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone in “Past Prologue” by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry
-Liz Sansborough and Rambo in “Rambo on Their Minds” by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell
-Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard in “Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta
-Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck in “Dig Here” by Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross
-Regan Pescoli and Virgil Flowers in “Deserves to be Dead” by Lisa Jackson and John Sandford
-Lucan Thorne and Lilliane in “Midnight Flame” by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice
-Bennie Rosato and John Corey in “Getaway” by Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille
-Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw in “Taking the Veil” by J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader
There is so much good to say about this book. The introduction to each story is almost as fascinating as the story itself as it provides a look into how each team worked. Some of the authors were accustomed to writing short stories; some had never written them before. It is ever easy to see how much fun they all had writing the stories and putting this book together.
It also provides one an opportunity to read something different from authors one may already love, but also be introduced to authors of which one has never read. Each of the stories is wonderfully done, even the one which may make some rather uncomfortable.
"Matchup" is a delightful break from the ordinary and a perfect books to read when one only has a few minutes here and there.
MATCHUP (Anthology-Various-Various-Contemp) – VG+
Child, Lee and Sandra Brown (eds)
Simon & Schuster – June 2017
November 25, 2017
-Lee Coburn and Joe Pickett in “Honor & …” by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box – 5 stars
-Tony Hill and Roy Grace in “Footloose” by Val McDermid and Peter James – 4 stars
-Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher in “Faking a Murderer” by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child – 5 stars
-Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone in “Past Prologue” by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry – 3 stars
-Liz Sansborough and Rambo in “Rambo on Their Minds” by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell – 3 stars
-Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard in “Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta – DNF
-Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck in “Dig Here” by Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross – 5 stars loved it
-Regan Pescoli and Virgil Flowers in “Deserves to be Dead” by Lisa Jackson and John Sandford – 5 stars
-Lucan Thorne and Lilliane in “Midnight Flame” by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice – 4 stars
-Bennie Rosato and John Corey in “Getaway” by Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille – 5 stars
-Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw in “Taking the Veil” by J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader – 5 stars
This audio book was very well done. It was read by nine different people and that definitely helps you to transition through the different stories.
-Tony Hill and Roy Grace in “Footloose” by Val McDermid and Peter James – 4 stars
-Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher in “Faking a Murderer” by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child – 5 stars
-Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone in “Past Prologue” by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry – 3 stars
-Liz Sansborough and Rambo in “Rambo on Their Minds” by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell – 3 stars
-Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard in “Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta – DNF
-Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck in “Dig Here” by Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross – 5 stars loved it
-Regan Pescoli and Virgil Flowers in “Deserves to be Dead” by Lisa Jackson and John Sandford – 5 stars
-Lucan Thorne and Lilliane in “Midnight Flame” by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice – 4 stars
-Bennie Rosato and John Corey in “Getaway” by Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille – 5 stars
-Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw in “Taking the Veil” by J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader – 5 stars
This audio book was very well done. It was read by nine different people and that definitely helps you to transition through the different stories.
June 26, 2017
What a clever collection and collaboration. Not only did I get to see my favourite author/character stories, but I was introduced to some lovely new authors and characters.
This book matches a female thriller writer with a male thriller writer and puts them to work together on a story that combines their most loved characters. Who could ever have imagined Temperance Brennan in the same world as Jack Reacher, working together to uncover the truth? As far as I can tell, every story stayed true to it's characters and just keeps you reading and exploring.
I loved it! I am now looking forward to going back and reading the previous collaboration in Face Off. Thank you to The International Thriller Writers for making this book possible.
This book matches a female thriller writer with a male thriller writer and puts them to work together on a story that combines their most loved characters. Who could ever have imagined Temperance Brennan in the same world as Jack Reacher, working together to uncover the truth? As far as I can tell, every story stayed true to it's characters and just keeps you reading and exploring.
I loved it! I am now looking forward to going back and reading the previous collaboration in Face Off. Thank you to The International Thriller Writers for making this book possible.
June 9, 2017
Lee Child took 22 well known authors paired two of them together. Each other bringing their out style of writing and merging it with another author. Bring together the most amazing anthology I have read in a long time. Either authors voice was over powering the authors voice and in fact I couldn't tell you where one ended and one began with each new story.
The Match up has something for everyone From Historical to paranormal from Thriller to Crime the authors work so well together you are not sure where one begins and one ends. This Anthology gives readers a chance to try out a new set of authors, stories and genre to find something a little different.
Can I pick just one story out of the out of the collection that I enjoyed more than the others?
The ones that I enjoyed the most were Lee Child and Kathy Reichs brings together Jack Reacher and Dr.Temperance Brennan in Faking a Murder and Lisa Jackson and John Sandford in Deserves to be dead.
Each story brings characters together in unexpected ways. into a story together. What could be better than that?
In a nut shell this series is the perfect beach read you get every genre you are looking for an a more to try out.
Thank you to Netgalley for the Advance Copy.
The Match up has something for everyone From Historical to paranormal from Thriller to Crime the authors work so well together you are not sure where one begins and one ends. This Anthology gives readers a chance to try out a new set of authors, stories and genre to find something a little different.
Can I pick just one story out of the out of the collection that I enjoyed more than the others?
The ones that I enjoyed the most were Lee Child and Kathy Reichs brings together Jack Reacher and Dr.Temperance Brennan in Faking a Murder and Lisa Jackson and John Sandford in Deserves to be dead.
Each story brings characters together in unexpected ways. into a story together. What could be better than that?
In a nut shell this series is the perfect beach read you get every genre you are looking for an a more to try out.
Thank you to Netgalley for the Advance Copy.
October 11, 2018
I like short stories. I like that I can finish one while waiting for the doctor, dentist, barber or whoever finally has thought ”Maybe he has waited long enough so he won’t be too pissed off.” I’ve been seeing a lot of those characters lately by the way. For the most part these were just OK. I give 3 excellent, 3 sorry and the rest, well ho hum. Therefore my 3 stars. You can read them and make your own opinions, if you want to that is.
October 25, 2018
This collection of short stories is a follow-up to one called “Face Off”, which I haven’t read. In this collection one male and one female crime writer are paired off to create a short story featuring their respective heroes and heroines.
An interesting concept although, I must confess, with a few notable exceptions (e.g. Conan-Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes”) I’m not a huge fan of the short story format. It hardly allows for enough time to fully develop characters and create the intricate plots I most enjoy. Reading short stories compared to a full-length novel is rather like eating a collection of bland snacks rather than having a full-course tasty meal.
Quite a few of the authors in this compilation were unknown to me. And, judging from their efforts here, most I can happily ignore in the future.
However, several of the authors featured were big favourites of mine, such as Val McDermid. Two other favourites, Lee Child (who edited the series) and Kathy Reichs brought together their main protagonists: supersize superhero Jack Reacher comes to the assistance of Doctor Temperance Brennan. I think I liked this story most of all ; probably because I was already well acquainted with Reacher and Dr. Brennan.
Two more writers I greatly admire who worked together were Michael Koryta and Karin Slaughter. Michael brought along his main protagonist, Cleveland detective Joe Pritchard; alas, Karin brought her first one, Jeffrey Tolliver rather than the far more interesting Will Trent.
In all, I suspect the authors had far more fun creating these stories than I had reading them. Still, I suppose they would do well for light holiday reading.
An interesting concept although, I must confess, with a few notable exceptions (e.g. Conan-Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes”) I’m not a huge fan of the short story format. It hardly allows for enough time to fully develop characters and create the intricate plots I most enjoy. Reading short stories compared to a full-length novel is rather like eating a collection of bland snacks rather than having a full-course tasty meal.
Quite a few of the authors in this compilation were unknown to me. And, judging from their efforts here, most I can happily ignore in the future.
However, several of the authors featured were big favourites of mine, such as Val McDermid. Two other favourites, Lee Child (who edited the series) and Kathy Reichs brought together their main protagonists: supersize superhero Jack Reacher comes to the assistance of Doctor Temperance Brennan. I think I liked this story most of all ; probably because I was already well acquainted with Reacher and Dr. Brennan.
Two more writers I greatly admire who worked together were Michael Koryta and Karin Slaughter. Michael brought along his main protagonist, Cleveland detective Joe Pritchard; alas, Karin brought her first one, Jeffrey Tolliver rather than the far more interesting Will Trent.
In all, I suspect the authors had far more fun creating these stories than I had reading them. Still, I suppose they would do well for light holiday reading.
April 27, 2023
Match Up is an anthology of eleven short stories written by twenty-two authors. Lee Child edited, wrote the forward and also contributed to one of the stories. All the authors are published (no novices here) and most are well-known. But not all are experienced in writing short stories, or in collaborating with other authors. Each story is prefaced by some commentary about how the collaboration worked, and there is an author biography for each one at the end.
It’s an interesting concept, to match up eleven male/female authors and get them to create a story that brings together characters for whom they are each well known. Thus we have Ty Hauck investigating with Harper Connelly in a story which, sadly, sees Tolliver Lang take a back seat. Jeffrey Tolliver teams up with Joe Pritchard and Lincoln Perry, Tempe Brennan gets a much-needed hand from Jack Reacher, Cotton Malone finds himself in 18th Century Scotland meeting a certain Jamie Fraser, and so on. Some are straight up crime fiction, but there are a few with paranormal elements, and there’s plenty of humour.
For die-hard fans of the authors featured, this will be a little extra dose of their favourite characters; for readers unfamiliar with the authors, this provides a taste of the author’s work, maybe giving them an idea of what the fuss is about. They are all short stories, so not much time investment is needed, most are excellent and some even add a little to the character’s back story. Quite enjoyable.
It’s an interesting concept, to match up eleven male/female authors and get them to create a story that brings together characters for whom they are each well known. Thus we have Ty Hauck investigating with Harper Connelly in a story which, sadly, sees Tolliver Lang take a back seat. Jeffrey Tolliver teams up with Joe Pritchard and Lincoln Perry, Tempe Brennan gets a much-needed hand from Jack Reacher, Cotton Malone finds himself in 18th Century Scotland meeting a certain Jamie Fraser, and so on. Some are straight up crime fiction, but there are a few with paranormal elements, and there’s plenty of humour.
For die-hard fans of the authors featured, this will be a little extra dose of their favourite characters; for readers unfamiliar with the authors, this provides a taste of the author’s work, maybe giving them an idea of what the fuss is about. They are all short stories, so not much time investment is needed, most are excellent and some even add a little to the character’s back story. Quite enjoyable.
August 11, 2018
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as Faceoff, but it was still enjoyable. The International Thriller Writers don't charge dues, but support their organization by publishing these short story books. 22 authors created 11 short stories with their characters paired - usually. A notable exception in this case was Morrell's Rambo, unfortunately. The story was still pretty good, but not as good as it could have been.
A few of the stories were really good, none were awful. Many could have used some tightening. There were some lapses in motives & timing that were irritating, but Child certainly isn't the one to catch them. Still, all the authors were pros & did a creditable job. It was more amazing considering just how different so many of the characters were. I never would have thought that urban fantasy authors equated in any way with prosaic mystery detectives, but they are all thrillers & it worked out pretty well.
Very well narrated & definitely recommended, especially if you've read any of these authors.
A few of the stories were really good, none were awful. Many could have used some tightening. There were some lapses in motives & timing that were irritating, but Child certainly isn't the one to catch them. Still, all the authors were pros & did a creditable job. It was more amazing considering just how different so many of the characters were. I never would have thought that urban fantasy authors equated in any way with prosaic mystery detectives, but they are all thrillers & it worked out pretty well.
Very well narrated & definitely recommended, especially if you've read any of these authors.
August 28, 2021
Some were good, some not. And then there was Virgie bring the Johnson Johnson with :) so I added a star :)
September 13, 2017
Fun team up book. It was nice reading the introductions to the stories and for the most part they were all fun short stories, a medium that doesn't get enough love.
June 27, 2017
FANTASTIC.
IOU a THOROUGH review if each story...all are at least 4-star quality, imo therefore, I'm giving away one of my stingy and strictly guarded "5-*" ratings to this excellent anthology collection.
more details when I'm able...
cheers! Lisa
IOU a THOROUGH review if each story...all are at least 4-star quality, imo therefore, I'm giving away one of my stingy and strictly guarded "5-*" ratings to this excellent anthology collection.
more details when I'm able...
cheers! Lisa
April 26, 2018
Only 1 dud, which is good for an anthology, but nothing that stood out either. It was a good way to sample authors I'd heard of but not read and to see again characters I enjoy from authors I read. The narration was good; all of the narrators did a good job.
October 2, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down because although a couple collaborations were exceptional overall this collection was just above average imo
Technically most of the writing was good no matter the pairing but overall few of the stories really captured my imagination
Technically most of the writing was good no matter the pairing but overall few of the stories really captured my imagination
July 25, 2017
In this very different short story writing, we have a pairing up of twenty-two mystery writers of today as they tell a short story tale of intrigue, mystery, and thrillers. In each tale two authors, one male and one female, are paired and each puts their spin on a story ofttimes involving the characters for which they are known for. Mr Child provides an intro to each story and sets up the reader for the how and why of the pairings, many times providing for the reader, an introduction to the authors for those who are not familiar with their work.
This concept was different and did provide an interesting read for those who do like the short story way of writing, especially those in the thriller realm. However, in many cases, the writing did seem a bit rushed and although I did not know all the authors in this anthology, the ones I did know were not up to their usual standards.
This concept was different and did provide an interesting read for those who do like the short story way of writing, especially those in the thriller realm. However, in many cases, the writing did seem a bit rushed and although I did not know all the authors in this anthology, the ones I did know were not up to their usual standards.
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