Andrew Vachss is an author whose extensive experience across diverse fields—from investigating sexually transmitted diseases and working as a social caseworker to directing a maximum-security prison for aggressive youth—informs his literary output. His fiction delves into the darker aspects of society and human psychology, characterized by a sharp, precise style. Vachss confronts complex themes and moral quandaries with an unflinching urgency. His writing offers readers a deeply insightful and often unsettling perspective.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this edition features a refreshed look and additional insights into the impact of the work over the years. It invites readers to explore the themes and characters that have resonated through generations, offering a deeper understanding of its significance in literature. Special features may include author interviews, essays, and reflections that highlight its enduring relevance and the evolution of its interpretation.
Dell, a former mercenary turned assassin, is determined to protect his wife, Dolly, a former battlefield nurse, after she becomes embroiled in a neighborhood dispute and faces a threat. As he reverts to his old guerrilla tactics, he targets George Byron Benton, a local figure with a mysterious agenda. Dell's mission involves uncovering Benton's true intentions while devising a plan to restore Dolly's sense of safety, leading him back into a world of cold calculations and lethal execution.
Even the deadliest gangs in Chicagoland fear the Cross Crew and carefully avoid their cinderblock bunker headquarters: Red 71 is well known as the last place you'd want to go . . . unless you’re willing to risk it being the last place you'll ever go. The Crew is notorious for its ruthless efficiency and cold-blooded cunning. Why, then, would anyone be foolhardy enough to threaten them–and even more dangerous–their loved ones? As Cross catches the scent of a far-reaching conspiracy, he realizes that it all connects to an unexplained event in his past: a massacre from which he emerged inexplicably unscathed, save for the blue mark on his face that pulses when danger is near. That scar has been throbbing more frequently of late. . . . If he's reading the signs accurately, Cross might find himself again facing a terrible menace that is not altogether human. * MEMO FROM: Captain Nathan Lancaster, Chief, Gang Surveillance Unit TO: All Precincts, Focus Near-North ALERT: Incoming Threats to Cross Crew, Situation Highly Unstable DETAILS: “Cross” and known associates clearly organizing response to perceived pattern of threats. Gang Intelligence indicates high probability of pre-emptive strikes. Report any suspicious and/or unusual activity in Badlands area immediately, gang violence alert level RED.
Dell, a former mercenary, and his wife, Dolly, once a battlefield nurse, believe they have finally found peace in a deceptively idyllic town on the Oregon coast. Until early one morning, when a body washes up on the town's pristine beach. But this no accidental drowning--the corpse is covered with neo-Nazi tattoos . . . and the skull has been fractured with a spike. Eager to close the case before it can hurt tourism, the jumpy D.A. arrests Homer, a harmless schizophrenic whose wristwatch--a gift from God, he says--is engraved with a symbol that exactly matches one of the dead man's tattoos. Mack, the director and sole employee of the local mental-health outreach program, is outraged but helpless. He confides in Dolly, who, with her local connections and her husband's ruthless skills, is anything but. As the search for the real killer pulls them deeper into the world of hate groups, Dell and Mack together discover the treasonous fog of evil that hovers not only above their town but also above America itself. With this latest installment in his new Aftershock series, Andrew Vachss reminds us once again--in his inimitable, visceral prose-that for some, peace comes at a very high price.
Chicago--the reigning #1 city in homicides--has no shortage of deadly gangs. And all those gangs know well that the Cross crew occupies a cinderblock bunker called Red 71 . . . the last place you want to go, unless you're willing to risk it being the last place you go. The crew is notorious for its deadly efficiency and its disinterest in anything but money. So why has it turned from seller to buyer, grabbing up houses on a decaying block where only a few holdouts remain? Both the cops and the underworld are watching closely . . . but are they the only ones?
FIRST IN A NEW SERIESDell, an ex-Legionnaire was working as a mercenary when he first saw Dolly, a nurse with Médecins Sans Frontières. When they later married, Dell abandoned his work, and Dolly shed her identity. But not her calling—she became a teacher, confidant, and defender of dozens of teenagers in their Coastal Oregon village. When the star softball pitcher guns down a popular boy on the last day of school, Dolly knows this is no "school shooting". She goes all-in to protect "Mighty Mary" McCoy, even to the extent of unleashing her lethal husband.As Dolly uses her contacts to gain access to medical secrets, Dell returns to his no-boundaries past. Using guile, extortion, shadow networks--and, finally, an act of terrorism—he uncovers the secret MaryLou was willing to sacrifice her own life to protect . . . a soul-killing rite of passage demanded of the town’s most vulnerable girls, with her baby sister next on that list.
The story revolves around Esau Till, an assassin on death row who writes his life story to protect his brother, Tory. Despite his crippled body, Esau possesses a genius intellect, while Tory, though slow-minded, has extraordinary strength. Esau's love for Tory drives him to become an indispensable figure in the local mob scene, leading to a life of crime. As execution approaches, he devises a final, deadly plan to ensure Tory's safety, showcasing the lengths he will go for family and the moral complexities of his choices.
Set against a backdrop of intrigue and deception, this Vintage Crime/Black Lizard original weaves a gripping tale filled with complex characters and unexpected twists. The narrative explores themes of morality, justice, and the darker sides of human nature, drawing readers into a world where nothing is as it seems. With a sharp focus on suspense and a richly developed plot, it promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.
Set against the backdrop of Chicago, this narrative delves into the complexities of urban life and the diverse experiences of its inhabitants. The story weaves together multiple perspectives, highlighting themes of community, resilience, and the challenges faced in a bustling city. Through rich character development, it explores the intersection of personal struggles and broader societal issues, offering a poignant reflection on what it means to live in a vibrant yet often harsh environment.
Before Burke, Andrew Vachss created Wesley, the ultimate ice-man. A Bomb Built in Hell is Wesley’s story. While doing time for manslaughter, Wesley meets prison boss Carmine Trentoni, an Old School gangster who no longer believes in the blood-oath he took years ago. Carmine’s triple life sentence hasn't cut him off from all his outside sources—he has waited with the patience of stone for someone capable of absorbing his knowledge . . . and carrying out his sworn vengeance. Wesley emerges from prison as the perfect hit man: calculating, deadly, and ice-cold. He follows Carmine’s instructions: locate “the last of us,” one “Mr. Petraglia,” then assassinate a Chinatown gang boss and a Mafia chief—both had overstepped their bounds. But then Wesley finds his own mission: As he begins to see the root of all he has learned to hate, he and a youth just out of reform school, known only as The Kid, begin to take out political targets. In a final burst of understanding, Wesley decides to leave The Kid behind. But not before he writes his own suicide note . . . in dynamite.
