Remaindered (Lee Goldberg)

Kevin Dangler is a best-selling author who’s gone from New York appearances with other top mystery authors to hawking and signing books at Kmart in Spokane, Washington.

His first book, Frost Bite, hit the New York Times best-seller list. His second book, Do Unto Others, tanked. Badly. Dangler's book was “remaindered to $1.99 oblivion in just six weeks." His third book, Twisted Sheets, was rejected by his publisher and seven others.

While sitting there alone amidst shoppers passing by uninterested, he meets Megan, an attractive librarian who simply adores him and asks him to autograph her first-edition copy of Frost Bite. It turns out she has a wonderful collection of autographed first-edition mysteries.

Yep, she appreciates Kevin. She REALLY appreciates him … in her home, in her bed. The problem is, after all that … “appreciation,” she wants to spread her joy with all the world, with everyone she knows.

And we-e-ell, that doesn’t sit well with Kevin. See, Kevin has a wife. And a child. So he rejects her kind offer and … uh oh … he solves his immediate problem, only to create another. A worse another. A bloody another that Megan actually helps fix.

Unfortunately, Spokane Police Department detective Bud Flaneck, catches Kevin’s mistake.

Oops.

Remaindered first appeared in the August 2001 issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. It’s now available as a digital download from Amazon.com.

Once you’re finished the story, you should go to Vimeo.com and watch Goldberg’s 20-minute movie of Remaindered. It’s nicely done, equivalent to watching a half-hour mystery story on TV. And, it’s free: http://www.vimeo.com/21005880. The password is DANGLER if you’re asked for one.

BTW, when you watch the video, see if you can catch Goldberg’s subtle self-promotion. Hint: It comes while Dangler is looking at Megan’s collection.

Remaindered is a quick, enjoyable read; you can probably figure out the ending if you paid attention to the story details. But I just wanted to enjoy and go with the flow, so that’s what I did. I wasn’t disappointed, because Goldberg never fails to deliver. Authors like him are why I love to read.

Remaindered (2011)

Lee Goldberg

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ASIN: B00571PRG2