Charles Salzberg – författare

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.

This guide to coaching female athletes of all ages shows how to build a team and provides invaluable advice on the differences between coaching males and females. The authors include exercises that foster teamwork and develop essential skills. They also answer parents'' most common questions, such as how to tell if the coach is doing a good job and what to do if a child wants to quit. Filled with stories about the Olympic and World Cup championship teams, this useful handbook is infused throughout with DiCicco''s philosophy that at every level playing soccer (or any sport) is about "playing hard, playing fair, playing to win, and having fun."

Barb Goffman, one of the most acclaimed short story authors and edtiors in the mystery field, is selecting and editing a line of great modern mystery stories. This time, she has selected Charles Salzberg''s story "No Good Deed."

Charles Salzberg is the author of the Shamusnominated Swann’s Last Song, Devil in the Hole, named one of the Best Crime Novels of 2013 by Suspense Magazine, and the Shamusnominated Second Story Man, winner of the Beverly Hills Book Award. He is a founding member of New York Writers Workshop and serves on the MWANY board. Learn more at www.Charlessalzberg.com.

In True Romance: A Noir Anthology, passion isn't red roses and candlelight. Instead, it's obsession, betrayal, revenge, and the kind of desire that leaves bodies in its wake.Collected and Edited by Troy Lambert and Vincent Zandri, this dark and razor-sharp collection gathers some of the most compelling voices in crime fiction, including Reed Farrel Coleman, Charles Salzberg, Paul D. Brazill, Frank Zafiro, Scott Kikkawa, Danica Favorite, Lawrence Kelter, Rebelry Stone, Samantha Ripley, J.E. Fishman, and more.Inside these pages, you'll find:·       A philosophy professor who turns deadly revenge into an intellectual exercise.·       A society wife framed for her husband's murder in a web of mob politics and betrayal.·       Lovers whose secrets rot beneath polished exteriors.·       Criminal masterminds are undone by passion.·       Killers who mistake lust for loyalty—and pay the price.From quiet suburban rot to organized crime empires, from calculated seduction to explosive violence, these stories explore the dangerous intersection where love and darkness meet.Because in noir, love isn't salvation. It's motive.Perfect for fans of neo-noir, hardboiled crime, morally complex characters, and dark romantic suspense, True Romance proves that sometimes the most lethal weapon is the human heart.

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.

Skip tracer Henry Swann cares little about anything but money, so when a beautiful Upper East Side woman shows up in his office and hires him to find her missing husband, he smiles and takes the cash. But when this seemingly simple missing-person case turns into homicide, Swann finds himself trapped in a complex web of connections and multiple identities that takes him out of New York City and across two continents.Praise for Swann's Last Song…"e;Swann's got the smarts and hard-boiled cynicism of Sam Spade, but he's also got a wicked sense of humor that keeps things cool even when the action gets hot."e; — Brian Kilmeade, author of New York Times bestseller The Games Do Count"e;Salzberg's a hell of a writer. He delivers thrills, insight and plenty of laughs. Swann is a very cool take on the classic P.I."e; — Andrew Klavan, author of True Crime and Don't Say a Word"e;A veritable travelogue of suspense, Swann's Last Song grabs hold of the reader and doesn't let go. Salzberg's anti-hero is a soulful investigator and one of the most paradoxically endearing characters I've come across. I hope this isn't Swann's last song."e; — Joy Behar (co-host of The View)"e;Salzberg defies expectations left and right in this subtly subversive, genre-twisting page turner. Swann's Last Song is where literature meets entertainment"e; — Mark Goldblatt, author of Africa Speaks

Millionaire lawyer Carlton Phillips has lost track of his daughter Marcy. Her last known whereabouts were at her school, Syracuse University. While trying to track down Marcy and/or her geeky boyfriend Sean Loomis on a quick trip upstate, Swann follows the clues to a sorority house, a pizza joint, and the office of a literature professor who is clearly hiding something. Armed with more questions than leads Swann flies up to Boston where he narrowly avoids the arms of a seductive and secretive librarian. Finally back in New York City, Swann tries to sort out the details of the case. Is Marcy Phillips a victim? What is the nature of her relationship to the sexy and cagey Elizabeth Lawson? Is Carlton Phillips somehow involved in this story? How are all of these people connected to the rare book world, and who is really trying to get away with something?

When rare photos' a scandalous diary' and a beautiful woman all go missing at once' the stage is set for three challenging cases for Henry Swann. It begins with an offer to partner up with his slovenly' unreliable frenemy' Goldblatt. The disbarred lawyer-turned-"e;facilitator"e; would provide the leads and muscle' while Swann would do all the fancy footwork. A lost diary by a free-loving Jazz Age flapper is worth enough to someone that Swann takes a beat down on an abandoned boardwalk. Pilfered photos of Marilyn Monroe propel him deep into the past of an alcoholic shutterbug' his wife; and he's hired to search for a lonely writer's runaway girlfriend. The cases converge and collide in a finale that lifts the curtain on crucial' deadly facts of life for everyone—including Swann himself. Praise for Swann's Lake of Despair…"e;Smart, satisfying, even profound, this is exactly what every mystery reader is looking for: A terrific story, full of wit and originality, and a master class in voice. Charles Salzberg is a true talent, and his Henry Swann is a classic — complex, hilarious, and completely charming."e; — Hank Phillippi Ryan, Mary Higgins Clark award winner for The Other Woman, Agatha winner for The Wrong Girl

A friendly poker game leads Henry Swann out to Hollywood where he tries to find the man responsible for embezzling $1,000,000 from his client—Rusty Jacobs—and then bring back the dough. Swann finds Jacobs, but the mercurial wannabe film producer is involved in a "e;surefire"e; 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.

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..."e;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."e; — Tom Straw, New York Times bestselling author as Richard Castle"e;Psychics, double-crosses, missing persons—Charles Salzberg's latest Henry Swann book has it all. Swann's Down is a gritty, no-frills PI novel that brings to mind greats like Reed Farrel Coleman's Moe Prager and Michael Harvey's Michael Kelly. Whether this is your first Swann adventure or the latest, you won't want to miss the brass-knuckle punch that is Swann's Down. Trust me."e; — Alex Segura, author of Blackout and Dangerous Ends"e;Swann's Down gives readers two intriguing mysteries for the price of one, as skip tracer Henry Swann pursues a woman who might alibi a murderer and a psychic who swindled the ex-wife of Swann's partner. Swann's wry wit, quotes from authors and philosophers, genius for questioning suspects, and dark past make him a character readers will follow anywhere as he seeks his quarry. This is another thrilling addition to this excellent series."e; — Rich Zahradnik, Shamus Award-winning author of Lights Out Summer"e;Henry Swann dives in where others fear to tread in Swann's Down. Fast. Funny. And smart. This time out, Swann crosses paths with a psycho hitman, a phony psychic and Swann's mysterious partner, a disbarred lawyer. Who could ask for more? I hope we'll see a lot more of Swann in the future and that this isn't Swann's swan song."e; — Paul D. Marks, Shamus Award-winning author of White Heat and Broken Windows

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… "e;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."e; — Tim McLoughlin, editor Brooklyn Noir"e;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."e; — Kaylie Jones, author of Lies My Mother Never Told Me: A Memoir"e;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."e; — Reed Farrel Coleman, three-time Shamus Award-winning author of Gun Church"e;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."e; — Publishers Weekly"e;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."e; — Erica Ruth Neubauer, Crimespree magazine"e;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."e; — Duff Brenna, South Carolina Review

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. Hoyt follows the money. In the winter, he works down south, primarily in southern Florida and Georgia, around the Atlanta area. Summers, he moves back up north, where he plies his trade in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. One day, Charlie Floyd, brilliant, stubborn, and experienced investigator, who has recently retired from his job with the attorney general's department for the state of Connecticut, 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. As the story develops, 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. Eventually, the story climaxes in a confrontation between the three men.

"e;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."e; — Baron R. Birtcher, multi-award winning and Los Angeles Times bestselling authorMeet P.I. Pete Fortunato who spent a mysteriously short, forgettable stint as a cop in a small upstate New York town. Living paycheck to paycheck, he works out of a friend's downtown real estate office. 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 dead in the apartment of his client's young, stud lover. Fortunato thinks the case is closed until his client's check bounces and he is kidnapped by a couple of Albanian gangsters, hoping he'll lead them to a large sum of money the dead husband stole. Fortunato soon realizes he may have been set up to take the fall for the murder and theft of money.What to do? Fortunato embarks on a wild ride that takes him to Texas—searching for the client's lover who he suspects has the money and holds the key to solving the murder that's been blamed on him.If you like Elmore Leonard, Michael Mann, and Phillip Marlowe, then you'll love Charles Salzberg's Canary in the Coal Mine."e;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."e; — Tom Straw, author of the Richard Castle series (from the ABC show) and Buzz KillerWhen a murder and a major theft have been pinned on you, how would you get out of that jam?Read Canary in the Coal Mine today to find out!