Double Homicide

Two cities. Two murders. Two masters.

Faye and Jonathan Kellerman. Wife and husband. Each a bestselling author on her and his own. Now these masters of the crime novel are writing together for the first time, thrilling us with two riveting tales of murder and suspense.

DOUBLE HOMICIDE: Boston

Basketball is an obsession in Beantown, producing emotions that run hot even in the coldest winter. This time, a flagrant foul during a college match leads to a fatal shooting. With the life of its star forward cut short, the entire city is putting pressure on Detectives Dorothy Breton and Michael McCain to find the perpetrator.

For Dorothy, who's raising two teenage boys on her own, the case hits close to home. She knows the victim's mother; their sons played on the same team. To Mickey, who's given up the fight against his bulging waistline, the investigation is poor consolation for being alone this holiday season. Together, they're looking to make an open-and-shut case — until startling evidence comes to light. Now two experienced cops can either keep it simple...or do what's right.

DOUBLE HOMICIDE: Santa Fe

It's Christmastime, and police officers Darrel Two Moons and Steve Katz are expecting the usual gang assaults, feuding spouses, and alcohol-related misdemeanors. Then the call comes in from the Historic District: the reported death of an art gallery owner whose bludgeoned body stretches across a bleached pine floor like a big, nasty still life.

When he was in the NYPD, Katz saw more homicides weekly than he's seen in Santa Fe in three years. Two Moons, an Army brat and ex-Marine, is discovering his roots among local Indian potters. But everything personal goes by the wayside as they unearth the victim's enemies and follow a trail of motives that lies buried like layers of paint. As biting winds blow through town, Two Moons and Katz enter a dangerous world where murder has been perfected to an art form.

"Those who admire risk, take note: two authors at the top of their game have done something quite new. Those who fear change, take heart: the results are just fine. Faye and Jonathan Kellerman, each with a slew of bestsellers, have collaborated on a volume comprising two mystery novellas. Each stands on its own, with separate settings (Santa Fe and Boston) and separate pairs of homicide detectives. To further heighten the distinction, the book has two front covers, with the authors alternating first billing and a 'flip' format. It's intriguing to imagine how these two pros went about writing together, but it's even more fun just to jump in and enjoy. The characters are all new, and so are the locales; that in itself is worthy of admiration. Surprisingly, the two novellas are uneven in quality. The Boston piece, about the mysterious death of a young basketball star, suffers from wordiness and a somewhat murky plot, troubles that short works can ill afford. But the strong Santa Fe story more than compensates, with its fully rounded characters and evocative sense of place. The final scene, haunting and heartbreaking, shows the assured hand of a master. (One-day laydown Oct. 5) Forecast: With a 300,000-copy first printing and the unusual husband-wife pairing, expect plenty of media attention and a run on bestseller lists." Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"[A] pair of crisp, smart novellas. Writing as a team for the first time, the Kellermans get it just right: pacing, plotting, even the prose....[N]othing fancy here, but oh-so-refreshingly readable." Kirkus Reviews

"[A] two-for-one bonanza....In both stories, the cops' personal lives add welcome texture to the fairly routine if still wholly entertaining plots. A diversion for the Kellermans but sure to be of interest to their respective fans." Booklist

"How good an idea is the Kellermans' double-your-fun format? Good enough to start a franchise....But the half-a-book length for each story is the tricky part. It's long for a novella, not long enough for a serious mystery plot." Janet Maslin, The New York Times

"Each [half] is a fairly uninspired police procedural....The plots, characters or themes don't intersect or even refer to each other. It's no collaboration, and that's the real crime here....Kellerman fans deserve better." Detroit Free Press

"In both novels, the Kellermans' collaborative writing style drives home gritty drama, compelling dialog, and believable characters. Highly recommended." Library Journal

This book will be printed as a reversible volume with two different covers — one featuring Santa Fe "Still Life," the reversible side featuring Boston "In the Land of Giants." Faye and Jonathan Kellerman each receive alternate top billing on these two covers.

Jonathan and Faye Kellerman live with their children in Southern California.