A Dish Served Cold

From the opening paragraph, this suspenseful tale had me flipping pages, trying to solve this tantalizing mystery. Someone is seeking revenge for some long-ago crime. This information has come to light and the target is a local investor, Stephen York.

York is questioned by police detectives, who have learned of the threat of possible harm from a day laborer - someone who works for a local landscaper, the alleged avenger.

The detectives query York as to why Mr. Trotter, the landscaper, would want to harm him. The suggestion strikes York as ludicrous - unlikely, even. Besides, he doesn't even really know the man and can't think of any business dealings that might have gone awry....

Then a series of strange occurrences lead York to begin taking the possibility of harm seriously. He talks to the cops again, taking his "evidence" in for review. He hires a bodyguard. More information seemingly falls into their laps and it begins to look like evil machinations are at work here.

York searches his memory for any person or persons he might have harmed - after all, as the detectives suggested, Mr. Trotter might be a hired killer for someone else.

York's paranoia increases when one event after another occurs to increase his fear and panic.

Then, finally, something totally unexpected steers them all in a completely different direction. And it looks as though nothing untoward was happening at all.

Relaxing finally, York begins to get on with his life.

But on the other side of town, the landscaper is relishing his victory....


A Dish Served Cold is a thrilling suspense tale from the Amazon Shorts program; it satisfies even as it tantalizes.

This was my first ebook download and my first reading of this author. I was very pleasantly surprised by both. I would recommend this read. It's short, very interesting, great ending.

Deaver is one of my favorite authors, and this is a pretty good story. However, be aware that if you have his collection "More Twisted," you have already read this story. I will admit that I was expecting Amazon shorts to be unpublished stories and am a bit disappointed. It may say "previously published" somewhere on the Amazon page for the story, but it certainly isn't obvious if it does.

Great character development--I cringed experiencing the world through York's mentality. This is SO well written...dialogue really drove the story. I know it's a cliche, but I couldn't put it down. I'll say no more. Just read it.

I didn't think I would like the scant pages story, but it turned out to be brilliant.

Jeffery Deaver know how to make you read and keep reading.

A Page turner