Review: The Zafiro selections alone make this an incredible bargain
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 25, 2014
Thrilling Thirteen is a pretty amazing collection that features something for just about any reader who enjoys crime stories and suspense novels.  I was pleased to discover that the collection includes "The Last Horseman" and "In the Shadows of El Paso" by Frank Zafiro.  "The Last Horseman" is a fast-paced, tightly plotted novel about a hit man operating in the seemingly quiet small city Spokane, Washington who is forced to take one last job before he retires.  "In the Shadow of El Paso" shows a different side of Zafiro as he explores themes of love, loss and justice in a story that is almost a Western."The Last Horseman" may remind readers of the movie "Gross Pointe Blank" and F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack novels.  The protagonist Sandy Banks is incredibly wily and resourceful as he tries to complete the assignment while trying to stay at least one step ahead of the bad guys and the FBI.  It soon becomes clear that he has some kind of intelligence background in addition to being a former police officer because of the almost Jason Bourne-like way he picks up on subtle clues and responds appropriately.  People who are familiar with Spokane may be surprised that Zafiro used the city as his setting instead of somewhere bigger and more cosmopolitan such as New York or Chicago, but he makes it work in a way that will leave readers wanting more.  Speaking as a Spokane resident, the Lilac City is oddly in denial about all the violent crime and other nasty things that happen on its streets and in seemingly boring neighborhoods.  That makes the idea of a hit man quietly living there seem quite plausible.  "The Last Horseman" is a fantastic read and I have recommended the book many times to friends, acquaintances and pretty much anybody who didn't walk away from me quickly enough."In the Shadow of El Paso" is a quieter and more thoughtful tale that combines romance with police procedural elements.  It is actually two related stories about a deputy named Carl who works in a small Texas town near the Mexico border.  After Carl falls for the beautiful Isabella, he finds himself caught up in his adopted town's darkest secrets as he tries to see justice done.  Without spoiling the plot, suffice it to say that the two stories are satisfying examinations of everything from small town corruption to what love should really be all about.These two selections would be a steal at only $.99 (the Kindle edition of "The Last Horseman" usually costs a few dollars more).  But then you get eleven more stories to read?  This is an incredible deal for anyone looking to discover some new authors.