Like a Charm [Hardcover]

In Like a Charm, the cream of British and American crime writers combine for a tempting collection of linked short stories. From nineteenth-century Georgia to wartime Leeds, on a steam train across Europe, in the violent back streets of 1980s Scotland, present-day London, a Manhattan taxi, the Mojave desert and back to Georgia, each writer delivers a characteristic story of murder, betrayal and intrigue. And with such stellar contributors as Peter Robinson (writing about 1940s Leeds), Fidelis Morgan, Lynda La Plante (1970s Britain), Val McDermid (1980s Scotland) and flavour-of-the month Mark Billingham tackling contemporary London, some impressive writing is guaranteed. Like a Charm is the first collection of crime fiction to have one specific subject as the focus of every story and to take a geographical approach to storytelling.

With each crime writer picking up the story in their usual locale, each of the authors tell a gripping story of murder, betrayal and intrigue. Running through each story is a charm bracelet which brings bad luck wherever it's found. Set in locations ranging from nineteenth-century Georgia to wartime Leeds, the book features stories from contributors such as Peter Robinson (writing about 1940s Leeds), Fidelis Morgan, Lynda La Plante (1970s Britain), Val McDermid (1980s Scotland) and Mark Billingham tackling contemporary London.

The editor, Karin Slaughter, is the author of the international bestsellers Blindsighted, Kisscut , A Faint Cold Fear and the forthcoming Indelible. She lives in Atlanta.