NOTE: When buying from this site via the PayPal links, please check here for shipping information.   WALKING THE PERFECT SQUARE Reed Farrel Coleman new foreword by Megan Abbott new afterword by Reed Farrel Coleman June 2008 Price: $13, trade paperback ISBN: 978-0-9792709-5-6 Back in print, the first book in Reed's two-time Edgar Award-nominated Moe Prager series. Recently retired due to a freak accident, NYPD officer Moe Prager is lost. In pain and without the job he loves, Moe relunctantly settles on the notion of going into the wine business with his brother. When a suburban college student vanishes off the streets of Manhattan, Prager's universe is turned upside down and his life changed forever. Hired by the student's desperate family, Moe plunges deep into the world of New York's punk underground, sex clubs, and biker bars. Politicians, journalists, and crooked cops seem hell-bent on stopping him in his tracks. Set on the gritty city streets of the late seventies and the present day, Walking the Perfect Square is a unique mystery that delivers a compelling look at one person's efforts to find a man who was never really there and to protect his family from an unbearable truth. "Among the undying conventions of detective fiction is the one that requires every retired cop to have a case that still haunts him. Reed Farrel Coleman blows the dust off that cliche in Walking the Perfect Square with a mystery that would get under anyone's skin."    —Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review "Reed Farrel Coleman is one of the more original voices to emerge from the crime fiction field in the last ten years. For the uninitiated, Walking the Perfect Square is the place to start."    —George Pelecanos Read an excerpt from Walking the Perfect Square here.   NOBLESSE OBLIGE Cynthia Smith February 2008 Price: $13, trade paperback ISBN: 978-0-9792709-4-9 Originally published in 1996, now back in print! With her impeccable manners, a wardrobe to die for, and the perfect combination of beauty and brains, no one can confuse Emma Rhodes with a run-of-the-mill private investigator. She prefers to think of herself as a "Private Resolver," a person the rich and famous can turn to when a problem needs to be resolved quickly and quietly. All it takes is $20,000 and two weeks' time for Emma to prove her worth. So far her record is perfect. But when Emma thwarts the kidnapping of one of Belgium's royal family, she becomes the unlikely target of Middle Eastern zealots. And suddenly two weeks seems too long trying to survive assassination attempts. "Cool, sardonic, and unflappable Emma Rhodes sparkles diamond bright in Cynthia Smith's clever, twisty tales. This highly original series has panache. A winning hand from Busted Flush Press."    —Carolyn Hart "Fast . . . clever . . . charming."    —Publishers Weekly "Brash, beautiful and smart as hell, Cynthia Smith's heroine will hook you from page one."    —Leann Sweeney, author of Pushing Up Bluebonnets "Emma Rhodes, 'private resolver,' professional skeptic, and social globetrotter is in a class by herself. Armed with an acerbic wit, supreme confidence, and a take-no-prisoners attitude, Emma's trek through Europe and her encounters with Eurotrash, EuroRoyals, and the Mossad (plus one sexy and sophisticated gendarme) make for a great escapist mystery—fast, fun, and a perfect snapshot of the late 20th century."    —Harley Jane Kozak, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-winning author of Dead Ex   REDEMPTION STREET Reed Farrel Coleman Available December 2007 Price $13, trade paperback ISBN: 978-0-9792709-0-1 First time in paperback! The Brooklyn P.I. travels to the Catskills to investigate a decades-old hotel fire. (Reed's 2nd Moe Prager novel) "Reed Farrel Coleman makes claim to a unique corner of the private detective genre with Redemption Street. With great poignancy and passion he constructs a tale that fittingly underlines how we are all captives of the past."    —Michael Connelly, New York Times best-selling author of The Overlook "Moe Prager is a family man who can find the humanity in almost everyone he meets; he is a far from perfect hero, but an utterly appealing one. Let's hope that his soft heart and lively mind continue to lure him out of his wine shop for many, many more cases."    —Laura Lippman, New York Times best-selling author of Another Thing to Fall "What a pleasure to have the second Moe Prager novel finally in paperback. In a field crowded with blowhards and phony tough guys, Reed Farrel Coleman's hero stands out for his plainspoken honesty, his straight-no-chaser humor and his essential humanity. Without a doubt, he has a right to occupy the barstool Matt Scudder left behind years ago. In fact, in his quiet unassuming way, Moe is one of the most engaging private eyes around."    —Peter Blauner, Edgar Award-winning author of Slipping into Darkness and Slow Motion Riot "Coleman is a born writer. His books are among the best the detective genre has to offer at the moment; no, wait. Now that I think about it they're in the top rank of any kind of fiction currently published. Pick up this book, damn it."    —Scott Phillips, award-winning author of The Ice Harvest and Cottonwood "Moe Prager is the thinking person's P.I. And what he thinks about—love, loyalty, faith, betrayal—are complex and vital issues, and beautifully handled."    —S. J. Rozan, Edgar Award-winning author of In This Rain "Reed Farrel Coleman goes right to the darkest corners of the human heart—to the obsessions, the tragedies, the buried secrets from the past. Through it all he maintains such a pure humanity in Moe Prager—the character is as alive to me as an old friend. I flat out loved the first Prager book, but somehow he's made this one even better."    —Steve Hamilton, Edgar Award-winning author of Night Work "One of the most daring writers around. . . . He freely admits his love of poetry and it resonates in his novels like the best song you'll ever hear. Plus, he has a thread of compassion that breaks your heart to smithereens . . . He writes the books we all aspire to."    —Ken Bruen, Shamus Award-winning author of Cross and Ammunition "Coleman may be one of the mystery genre's best-kept secrets."    —Sun-Sentinel "Coleman writes in a way that seems absolutely right. Interesting, honest and worth reading."    —The Mystery Review "The author makes us care about his characters and what happens to them, conveying a real sense of human absurdity and tragedy . . . a first-rate mystery. Moe is a fine sleuth. Coleman is an excellent writer."    —Publishers Weekly "Among the undying conventions of detective fiction is the one that requires every retired cop to have a case that still haunts him. Reed Farrel Coleman blows the dust off that cliche."    —New York Times Book Review   MIAMI PURITY Vicki Hendricks MAY 2007 Foreword by Ken Bruen; afterword by Megan Abbott Price $16, trade paperback ISBN: 978-0-9792709-3-2 Hot and scrappy Sherri Parlay gives up her life of depravity, and with best intentions, finds a respectable job as a dry cleaner in hopes for a decent future. But nature and nurture plot against her when she meets the beautiful, tortured, and rich young Payne, who tempts her with the love and life she never thought possible. Even Brenda, Payne's domineering mother, can't keep the lovers apart when Sherri's animal passions take control. Unfortunately, Payne is not only a different kind of man from those in Sherri's past, he's worse than any on her list of sordid affairs. Twisted psychology and a pure heart lead her into the dark realm of disillusionment and crime, where she reaches into her deepest reserves for the strength to survive. This contemporary noir novel is reminiscent of James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice with a heavy dose of sexual realism that Cain might have enjoyed if his times would have allowed. "Sex and murder, sunny places and shady people—Miami Purity is a modern noir masterpiece."    —Michael Connelly "One of my top ten all time reads. Hotter than Miami in August."    —Charlie Stella "Shocking and supercharged, both reverent and original, this is the novel that amped up a new generation of noir writers."    —George Pelecanos "The authentic heir to James M. Cain, Vicki Hendricks is the high priestess of neo-noir. A fierce and fearless talent."    —Dennis Lehane "Miami Purity is as sleek as a well-oiled weasel and tight as the Gordian knot. One of the best of its kind from a very fine writer."    —Joe R. Lansdale "Miami Purity might make you think of James M. Cain's ultra-noir The Postman Always Rings Twice—but Vicki Hendricks is a lot sexier."    —Barbara Parker "Vicki Hendricks is a true original. She is undoubtedly one of the most important noir writers of the past twenty years, and Miami Purity is one of the best crime novels I've ever read, period."    —Jason Starr "Miami Purity is the toughest, sexiest, most original debut noir novel ever written, and instantly rockets Hendricks into the list of all-time great noir authors. Gripping, super-sexy, and unforgettably raw."    —Lauren Henderson "Sherri Parlay is modelled on Frank Chambers from James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice, and offers a modern, highly-sexed take on the classic hardboiled noir. A high-wire balancing act between an amoral femme fatale and a poor gal just trying to make her way in a rich man's world, Sherri is a compelling character, boasting more cojones that most male characters in crime fiction combined.... Republished by Busted Flush Press, with a foreword by Ken Bruen, Miami Purity is a must-read for all fans of neo-noir."    —Declan Burke (author of The Big O) "Miami Purity is one of our all-time favorites. It is that type of dark, doomed noir that was all too rare when the book came out in 1995. Now more common, Vicki Hendricks' debut stood out for it's raw and lurid power—a power is retains—and we've bemoaned for years that it wasn't available for sale. If you appreciate unrelenting crime writing, you gotta read Miami Purity."    —The Staff of the Seattle Mystery Bookshop   THE MAN WHO WOULD BE F. SCOTT FITZGERALD / THE WOMAN WHO FELL FROM GRACE David Handler Available December 2007 by Edgar Award winner David Handler. New introduction by award-winning mystery writer Dean James. Price $26, hardback. ISBN: 978-0-9792709-2-5 Price $18, trade paperback. ISBN: 978-0-9792709-1-8 The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald 1991 Edgar Award winner for Best Paperback Original! Wildly bestselling first-time novelist Cam Noyes writes with a lyrical voice like F. Scott Fitzgerald and looks like he leapt right out of a Ralph Lauren ad. The media's latest darling, he's having a ball running with the brat pack, posing for magazines, rolling in and out of beds, brawling in bars, swigging tequila, and snorting cocaine. But with such a busy schedule, Cam simply can't find the time to write his long-overdue second book. Enter Stewart "Hoagy" Hoag-ghostwriter of celebrity memoirs and reluctant amateur detective-to tackle Cam's tell-all expose of the dirty business behind megabuck book deals. But "cutthroat" takes on a whole new meaning as the bodies start piling up faster than the pages of the manuscript. If Hoagy doesn't act fast, there'll be no one left in publishing to tell the tale. The Woman Who Fell from Grace Ghostwriter Stewart "Hoagy" Hoag has been chosen to write the sequel to the Southern epic Oh, Shenandoah. And as much as Hoagy wants the book to succeed, someone else is willing to kill to keep it from being published. "One of my all-time favorite series!"    —Harlan Coben "A wonderful series—fresh and fun and as good as mystery writing gets. Hoagy and Lulu are the best comic pairing since Fred and Ethel (and a darn sight better looking). If you're a fan of the genre, and even if you aren't, these are 'must reads' for any lazy afternoon."    —Mark Schweizer, author of The Alto Wore Tweed "Some books deserve to go quietly into that good night, but the works of David Handler are not among them. Busted Flush Press has brought back to print a master of the mystery genre. Stewart Hoagy, amateur private eye, has smarts and intelligence. Handler brings his characters to life instantly—the voices are original and real. Best of all, though, Handler treats his audience with respect. He doesn't write down. And Lulu will steal your heart."    —Carolyn Haines, author of Ham Bones and Revenant "Hoagy and Lulu tickle your funnybone and touch your heart. Hooray for the return of this appealing and clever series."    —Carolyn Hart, New York Times best-selling author of the "Death on Demand" mysteries   THE MAN WHO DIED LAUGHING / THE MAN WHO LIVED BY NIGHT David Handler Volume I; October 2006 by Edgar Award winner David Handler. New introduction by the author. Price $26, hardback ISBN: 0-9767157-8-3 Price $18, trade paperback. ISBN: 0-9767157-9-1 The first two mysteries starring celebrity ghostwriter Stewart Hoag & his neurotic basset hound, Lulu—in one volume! The hardback is the first hb appearance of these books! Featuring original cover art by award-winning crime novelist Colin Cotterill (The Coroner's Lunch) The Man Who Died Laughing With his cat food-eating dog, Lulu, and haunted by his ex-movie star wife, ghostwriter Hoagy finds himself ghosting the memoirs of the rich, the famous and the not-so-nice. Sometimes, the project dies on the vines. Sometimes, the client does. The Man Who Lived by Night Hoagy, a ghostwriter/reluctant amateur detective, and his catfood-eating hound, Lulu, return as Hoagy pens the memoirs of an infamous rock and roll star. He expected the assignment to be hot—but not quite as dangerous or deadly as it actually was.   A FIFTH OF BRUEN Ken Bruen May 2006 Introduction by Allan Guthrie. Price $18, trade paperback. ISBN: 0-9767157-2-4 Ken Bruen is one of the most important novelists of the new millenium, and this is a collection of his early works, showcasing the immense talent of the Edgar Award nominee & Shamus Award winner. Includes: Funeral: Tales of Irish Morbidities Shades of Grace Martyrs Sherry: And Other Stories Time of Serena-May / Upon the Third Cross All the Old Songs and Nothing to Lose Read a review here. SPECIAL! Zippo lighter with the cover of the book! $36, plus shipping. You can order by emailing David or contacting Murder By The Book. "[A] beautiful book... [T]his is a must have for all [Bruen's] fans."    —Jon Jordan, Crimespree Magazine "If you love complex, thought-provoking work, then you'll find something in this collection to intrigue you. If you love Bruen, there's no doubt, you'll already have cracked the spine."    —Russel McLean, Crime Scene Scotland "[Funeral] is the novel Samuel Beckett might have written, if he'd been a Galway Arms regular... A Fifth Of Bruen is a must for all true Bruen fans."    —Kernan Andrews, The Galway Advertiser (read the full review)   STONE CITY Mitchell Smith postponed (Our apologies for the delay... But it'll be worth the wait!) Reprint of the classic 1990 prison crime novel. Introduction by New York Times best-seller Phillip Margolin. Price $18, trade paperback ISBN: 0-9767157-7-5 Please notify me when this is available. A giant state prison. Peopled by men making their own laws of survival, their own sexual code, their own macabre morality. But none of them was prepared for what was happening in their hellhole now. Murder. It was up to one inmate, Bauman, an ex-college professor, to unmask the serial slayer. There was just one way for Bauman to do it. He had to become more vicious than the killer he was hunting through the inhuman labyrinth of STONE CITY. Read best-selling novelist Phillip Margolin's review of STONE CITY here. "A work of pure genius. Stone City is an all-consuming experience—a harrowing, nail-biting novel that's a thriller, but much, much more, rising stylistically and in story-telling to the highest ranks of modern fiction."    —Jeffery Deaver "Mitchell Smith's Stone City is a literary tour de force, as well as a novel that delivers an emotional wallop nearly unparalleled in my experience. Dark, disturbing, multi-layered, and nothing short of brilliant, this book belongs at or near the top of any list of the best crime novels of all time."    —John Lescroart "Stone City might be the best novel of its kind ever written. This republication of Mitchell Smith's stunning work, long out of print, is a cause for celebration."    —George Pelecanos "Both a gritty suspense thriller and a towering father to prison epics such HBO's Oz, Stone City combines social realism, high drama, nimble character study and sweeping grand guignol violence. The result is harrowing and relentless."    —Megan Abbott "After reading Stone City, I want to burn every frame of Oz and start all over again."    —Tom Fontana, Homicide: Life on the Street, Oz "This gripping novel is many things. On one level it is a page-turning murder mystery. On another it is almost a sociological study of prison life, its rites and rituals, its racial antagonisms and its power ploys, its intimidations and its deprivations. On another level, a large unnamed Midwestern prison serves as a metaphor for contemporary America, festering with evils and dreaming of innocence. In that prison two inmates have been murdered and a former history professor, jailed for killing a girl in a drunken driving accident, is forced by the different coercive pressures of the prison authorities and the inmate kingpin to find out who is the killer. Graphic and searing, an unflinching, harrowing vision of hell, this is a fine novel with strong best-seller potential."    —Library Journal "Stone cold masterpiece."    —Ken Bruen "Stone City blew my doors off. While reading this lost masterpiece, I tried to conjure up other instances where I was so thoroughly placed within a foreign world so perfectly, awfully, brilliantly evoked and could think of only two — Catch-22 and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Violent, passionate, brutal, frightening — yet oddly seductive and redemptive, Stone City, for me, is the be-all, end-all novel about life in a modern American penitentiary. Praise be to Busted Flush for rescuing this perfect, bloody gem."    —C. J. Box "Mitchell Smith's Stone City is a big book: big in size, big in ambition, big in accomplishment. It's a vividly imagined, powerful crime novel about life in a maximum security prison, and Mitchell gives you its sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. There's a huge cast of killers, conmen, and other assorted criminals, all creating lives for themselves in the dangerously violent Stone City of the title. Gripping reading from the start to the shattering ending."    —Bill Crider "Stone City is the cold light of day. Writing as sharp and raw as a shiv. Mitchell Smith nails the surreal reality of prison life and just keeps going deeper. This one is scary—you'll keep looking over your shoulder and steering clear of wire clothes hangers. There's no higher praise than that."    —Anthony Neil Smith "Stone City is a true buried treasure. [A]n unremittingly grim story [and] an unrelentingly honest and powerful work of fiction whose coda should be illumination through pain."    —Robert Ferrigno "Stone City is a deeply involving work, menacing, disturbing and spectacularly well done. [A] brilliant tour de force, and I don't think that I'll ever forget it."    —Maddy Van Hertbruggen, ReviewingTheEvidence.com "Stone City is a dark trip into a world where violence lurks behind every word, where any action can be misinterpreted and where life is cheap. But it comes so close to our own world, that sometimes, when you re-emerge from the pages, you have to wonder whether you can't hear a guard somewhere crying, 'Fingers!' as the gates roll across cells packed tightly together in this manufactured hell where the guilty ultimately punish themselves."    —Russel McLean, Crime Scene Scotland "Dense, authoritative, and written with a rare ferocity and grace, Stone City is undoubtedly one of the the great crime novels in contemporary literature."    —Thomas H. Cook "Not just a riveting crime novel or an unflinching meditation on captivity, Stone City is nothing less than an illustration of the hope and horror and beauty and filth of the wider world. Smith is a black magician of a stylist, relentlessly honest in conjuring both the sparkling instants and dark stains of the human psyche, and his book is not to be missed."    —Marcus Sakey, author of The Blade Itself