The Road to Hell

✍ Scribed by Paul Levine

• Publisher: NITTANY VALLEY PRODUCTIONS, INC.
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 152 KB
• Category: Fiction

✦ Synopsis

“The Road to Hell” collects four stories by Paul Levine, the Edgar-nominated author of the bestselling Jake Lassiter series. Levine's heroes travel dark and dangerous paths as they confront devilish and powerful villains. The journeys are by land, by sea, and in one case, perhaps only in the mind.

In “El Valiente en el Infierno,” (The Brave One in Hell), a 13-year-old Mexican boy tells his own story as he makes a treacherous midnight crossing into California in search of his father. The boy’s courage is tested when he runs into two gun-toting American vigilantes, and the confrontation will change all of them forever. “El Valiente” makes its debut in this collection.

“Development Hell” is a well-known Hollywood term symbolizing the purgatory where projects are stuck in “development,” rather than being made into films. The story imagines a pitch session in which a bedraggled Poe squares off with a slick Hollywood producer who wants to make a cheesy slasher flick out of “The Pit and the Pendulum.” Bookgasm praised the story as “going straight to the funny bone.”

“A Hell of a Crime” echoes with notions of “The Twilight Zone.” A prosecutor prepares for a homicide trial while being pestered by his domineering mother, a famous lawyer herself. Just what role did she play in the murder? And how is the prosecutor’s enigmatic wife involved in the case? It’s a mystery with a punch to the gut at the end.

Two of the author’s best-loved characters, Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, appear in “Solomon & Lord: To Hell and Back.” The ethically-challenged Steve Solomon and the very proper Victoria Lord are mismatched Miami law partners. Steve says he's going fishing with Manuel Cruz, a sleazy con man. Victoria knows that Cruz embezzled a bundle from Steve's favorite client and is an unlikely fishing buddy. So just what is Steve up to now? Something between mischief and murder, Victoria figures. To protect Steve from himself – and Cruz – she hops aboard the boat, and the three of them head for deep water and dark troubles.

The "Solomon and Lord" novels have been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity and International Thriller Awards, as well as the James Thurber Humor Prize. “Remarkably fresh and original with characters you can't help loving and sparkling dialogue that echoes the Hepburn-Tracy screwball comedies. A hilarious, touching and entertaining twist on the legal thriller." – Chicago Sun-Times

An excerpt of “Mortal Sin,” one of the award-winning Jake Lassiter novels, is also included in the collection. This time, the linebacker-turned-lawyer has a dangerous conflict of interest. He’s sleeping with Nicky Florio’s wife...and defending the mob-connected millionaire in court. Florio has hatched a scheme deep in the Florida Everglades that oozes corruption, blood, and money. One false move, and Jake will be gator bait. “Recalling the work of Carl Hiaasen, this thriller races to a smashing climax.” – Library Journal.

PRAISE FOR THE FICTION OF PAUL LEVINE

“Mystery writing at its very, very best.” – Larry King, USA TODAY

"Irreverent...genuinely clever...great fun." – The New York Times Book Review

"Just the remedy for those who can't get enough Spenser and miss Travis McGee terribly." – St. Petersburg Times

“Genuinely chilling.” – Washington Post Book World

“Take one part John Grisham, two parts Carl Hiaasen, throw in a dash of John D. MacDonald, and voila!” – Tulsa Sun

“Wildly entertaining blend of raucous humor and high adventure.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Cracking good action-mystery...funny, sardonic, and fast-paced.” – Detroit Free Press