Jess Walter Knihy

Rok 1962. V rybárskej dedinke na pobreží Ligúrskeho mora žije mladý Talian Pasquale so svojou matkou a hašterivou tetou. Dedičstvo po otcovi, chátrajúci hotel a azúrové oči, ho vedú k snu o turistickej destinácii pre Američanov. Jedného dňa do zátoky dorazí loď s americkou herečkou, ktorá sa cíti na pokraji smrti. Pasquale, očarený jej krásou, sa snaží zabezpečiť jej pohodlie a dokonca cestuje do Ríma, aby presvedčil muža, ktorý ju opustil, aby sa o ňu postaral. S herečkou prichádza do Porto Vergogna nový život a večne pijúci Richard Burton. O päťdesiat rokov neskôr sa v Hollywoode objaví starý Talian, ktorý pátra po tajomnej žene. Jess Walter majstrovsky prepletá osudy nezabudnuteľných postáv: romantického Pasqualea, sklamanej herečky Dee Moray, filmového producenta bojujúceho so starobou, jeho mladú asistentku, vojnového veterána píšuceho neexistujúci román a Richarda Burtona, ktorý opúšťa svoje filmové lásky. Ich cesty za snami ich obrali o ilúzie, až na konci zostali len „krásne trosky“. Walter patrí medzi popredných amerických spisovateľov, jeho dielo bolo preložené do 28 jazykov a získalo mnohé ocenenia vrátane Pulitzerovej ceny.

Beginning his witness-protection job at a doughnut restaurant in the week before the 1980 presidential election, small-time thief Vince Camden finds himself unwittingly embroiled in a local politician's troubles.

Hořce komická existenciální satira Finanční životy básníků vychází z jednoduché úvodní situace: Co se stane, když se druhořadý novinář Matthew Prior rozhodne splnit si svůj americký sen, odejít ze zaměstnání a vsadit vše na jedinou donkichotskou kartu – webovou stránku věnovanou finančnímu zpravodajství psanému ve verších? Počin samozřejmě nikoli neočekávaně vybouchne a Matt se zničehonic ocitne v situaci, již dle jeho finančního poradce nelze nazvat ničím jiným než fiskální ebolou: bez práce, po uši v dluzích a s vystěhováním na krku. Kromě toho musí Matt živit stále senilnějšího otce, hradit předražené školné dvěma synům a přimět manželku, aby ho neopustila kvůli úspěšnému bývalému příteli, s nímž po večerech flirtuje na internetu. Karta se začne obracet ve chvíli, kdy zoufalý Matt během půlnoční výpravy do místního supermarketu potká několik kuřáků marihuany a usmyslí si, že se z bezvýchodného postavení dostane pomocí svého dosud nejtroufalejšího a nejšílenějšího plánu: bude prodávat „trávu“ svým kamarádům z byznysu.

Moments of transformation define this collection, where a diverse ensemble of characters navigates life-altering experiences across settings from Italy to Idaho. Each story explores themes of self-discovery and inspiration, highlighting how unexpected encounters can lead to significant change—whether positive, negative, or absurd. The narrative delves into the complexities of identity and the human experience, showcasing the author's signature storytelling style.

The narrative unfolds as Caroline Mabry, a fatigued Spokane police detective, interacts with a charming yet unstable derelict who wishes to confess in writing. Over the next forty-eight hours, he reveals a complex story that intertwines themes of obsession, revenge, and the connections between two men's lives, offering a haunting reflection on both youth and adulthood. This unique confession blurs the lines between crime and personal history, drawing Caroline deeper into a web of intrigue and emotional depth.

“The most comprehensive, even-handed and best written account of Ruby Ridge currently in print.” —  Washington Times From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jess Walter, here is the story of what happened on Ruby the tragic and unlikely series of events that destroyed a family, brought down the number-two man in the FBI, and left in its wake a nation increasingly attuned to the dangers of unchecked federal power. On the last hot day of summer in 1992, gunfire cracked over a rocky knob in northern Idaho, just south of the Canadian border. By the next day three people were dead, and a small war was joined, pitting the full might of federal law enforcement against one well-armed family. Drawing on extensive interviews with Randy Weaver's family, government insiders, and others, Walter traces the paths that led the Weavers to their confrontation with federal agents and led the government to treat a family like a gang of criminals.

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins and The Cold Millions comes a stunning collection about those moments when everything changes--for the better, for the worse, for the outrageous--as a diverse cast of characters bounces from Italy to Idaho, questioning their roles in life and finding inspiration in the unlikeliest places"-- Provided by publisher

"These twelve stories -- originally published in Harper’s, The Best American Short Stories, McSweeney’s, Playboy, and other publications -- veer from comic tales of love to social satire to suspenseful crime fiction, from hip Portland to once-hip Seattle to never-hip Spokane, from a condemned casino in Las Vegas to a bottomless lake in the dark woods of Idaho. This is a world of lost fathers and redemptive conmen, of meth tweakers on desperate odysseys and men committing suicide by fishing." -- From Amazon.com

In Over Tumbled Graves, Jess Walter, National Book Award finalist and author of Citizen Vince and The Zero, confronts our fascination with pathology and murder. A thriller of extraordinary depth and dimension, Over Tumbled Graves follows Caroline Mabry, a Spokane police detective searching for a serial murderer.

A collection of the year's best mystery and suspense short fiction selected by #1 New York Times bestselling author and guest editor Jess Walter and series editor Steph Cha. New York Times bestselling author and "superb storyteller" (Boston Globe), Jess Walter flexes his genre chops and selects twenty short stories that represent the best examples of the form published the previous year.