INHERIT THE DEAD

Lee Child. John Connolly. Charlaine Harris. Mary Higgins Clark. Lawrence Block.These are only a handful of the names that make up the all-star lineup of authors behindInherit the Dead, a captivating serial novel with all the elements of an unforgettable mystery -- vengeance, unrelenting greed, ruined love, and, most importantly, a breathtaking twist.

Perseus “Perry” Christo is a PI with a past. A one-time NYPD homicide cop, his career was ruined when a cops-on-the-take scandal ripped through the department. Though innocent, Perry had no way to prove it, and when he lost his job it was the last nail in the coffin of a strained marriage – his wife left him and took their young daughter with her. In order to drown his anger and grief, Perry throws himself into mindless work as a private investigator for petty crimes. But one day, a call from an Upper East Side matron, Julia Drusilla, throws his world upside down.

Julia needs Perry to track down her stunningly beautiful yet hopelessly aimless daughter, Angelina, who has disappeared. Her 21st birthday is around the corner and she is set to inherit her grandfather's considerable wealth. But as Perry digs deeper into the case, into one suspect after another, he discovers that Angelina may have more to her story than anyone may have realized, and that the person who has threatened her life is now coming after him.

In this innovative storytelling approach, each of these twenty bestselling writers brings his/her distinctive voice to a chapter of the narrative, building the tension to a shocking, explosive finale. Inherit the Dead is a thrilling, page-turning accomplishment that only America’s very best authors could achieve. In addition, proceeds will be donated to Safe Horizon, a charity that provides victims of domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, rape, and sexual assault, as well as homeless youth and families of homicide victims, with a wide range of comprehensive support.

With contributions from:

Mark Billingham, bestselling UK author of the Tom Thorne novels.
Lawrence Block, multi-award-winning & bestselling author of the Matt Scudder series.
CJ Box, bestselling author of the Joe Pickett series.
Ken Bruen, Irish writer of hard-boiled and noir crime fiction.
Alafair Burke, daughter of famed author James Lee Burke, and bestselling author.
Stephen L. Carter, American law professor, columnist, and bestselling author of The Emperor of Ocean Park.
Lee Child, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series.
Mary Higgins Clark, bestselling & award-winning mystery writer.
Marcia Clark, famed American prosecutor (head prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case) and crime fiction author.
Max Allan Collins, crime fiction, screenwriter, and author of the graphic novel, Road to Perdition.
John Connolly, bestselling Irish writer known for his series of novels starring PI Charlie Parke.
James Grady, bestselling crime fiction writer and screenwriter, Six Days of the Condor.
Heather Graham, bestselling mystery writer.
Bryan Gruley, journalist and author of the Starvation Lake series.
Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse vampire mysteries.
Val McDermid, Scottish crime writer, best known for a series of suspense novels starring Dr. Tony Hill.
SJ Rozan, multi-award-winning crime fiction writer of the PI Lydia Chin and Bill Smith series.
Dana Stabenow, bestselling author of mystery, science fiction, and suspense thrillers.
Lisa Unger, bestselling mystery author, Beautiful Lies.
Sarah Weinman, mystery writer and critic.

BIG TIME AUTHORS WITH COMBINED SALES OF MILLIONS OF COPIES: INHERIT THE DEAD is written by some of the most popular mystery writers in the English speaking world today, including an introduction by Lee Child and chapters by bestselling authors like Lawrence Block, CJ Box, Mary Higgins Clark, and Lisa Unger. Famous figures like Marcia Clark (head prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case) and Charlaine Harris, whose Sookie Stackhouse fanbase are always eager for material, will also ensure robust sales of this collection.

BRILLIANT STORYTELLING: In addition to the fun premise of the book -- each author adds a chapter and passes it on -- INHERIT THE DEAD is a masterfully crafted piece of storytelling. These twenty authors have created a dark and twisted world in which a deeply flawed, yet relentless private investigator must uncover the shocking secrets of a family in the upper echelons of America's elite, as they wrestle with the consequences of a massive inheritance. While each chapter brings a unique voice, the book is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

Editor Jonathan Santlofer is the award-winning crime fiction author of The Death Artist and Anatomy of Fear, and the editor of The Dark End of the Street and LA Noire: The Collected Stories. He also contributed to Touchstone's previous serial novel, No Rest for the Dead. Santlofer is a highly respected artist whose work has been written about and reviewed in the New York Times, Art in America, Artforum, and Arts, and appears in many public, private, and corporate collections. He is also the Crime Fiction Director for the Center for Fiction. Santlofer lives and works in New York City.