Murder in the Rough: Original Tales of Bad Shots, Terrible Lies, and Other Deadly Handicaps from Today's Great Writers

by Otto Penzler

This the fourth title in a sports mystery series edited by Otto Penzler. Lawrence Block, Simon Brett, HRF Keating, Ian Rankin and many others deliver up an ace anthology of original short stories that mix murder and mystery on the fairway. This collection is sure to appeal to sports fans and those eager to read stories by the most celebrated authors in the mystery genre.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories

416 pages, Hardcover

First published June 21, 2006

About the author

Otto Penzler is an editor of mystery fiction in the United States, and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, where he lives.

Otto Penzler founded The Mysteriour Press in 1975 and was the publisher of The Armchair Detective, the Edgar-winning quarterly journal devoted to the study of mystery and suspense fiction, for seventeen years.

Penzler has won two Edgar Awards, for The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection in 1977, and The Lineup in 2010. The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the prestigious Ellery Queen Award in 1994, and the Raven--the group's highest non-writing award--in 2003.

Reviews

[Joshua Tjakra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, Murder in the Rough, because it is a thrilling book that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through the end of the book. The main character, Jack Scott, is a detective, and he is leading an investigation at a high class golf tournament. The author was able to take the tranquility of the golf course and blend it with the thrilling actions of a mysterious investigation. Jack is determined to move this investigation forward with any piece of evidence he finds. The investigation takes unanticipated twists and turns with puzzling golfers and side characters who bring out complexity in the story. Moreover, the setting of the golf course is brought to life in the book by the characters. The author helped me better imagine the setting. I was able to fully immerse myself within the book as well as to feel like I was assisting in the investigation that Jack was leading. Will Jack ever crack the mystery and get to the bottom of his investigation? This book is not only for the avid golfers, but anybody who loves to read about mysteries is bound to appreciate the book. The drama, suspense, and crime make this a unique book that can be enjoyed by a large variety of people.

[Thad Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a golf fan nor do I golf. I do like short story collections and I do like a good number of the authors in this book. Over half of the stories are really good. Several were okay and one or two did not really do it for me. Those may be the ones you enjoy the most. If you like short stories I think you will enjoy this book.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Golf enthusiasts, short story fans, and avid mystery readers alike will be delighted with Murder In the Rough, Otto Penzler's hilarious collection of twisted tales about the sport and the dark characters who make it their pastime. Contributors range from industry veterans to the up-and-coming, and there is something for everyone, regardless of how little or how much you care to know about golfing.

To the casual observer, golf is seemingly dominated by men, yet the most clever (albeit disturbing) entry in this anthology comes from Laura Lippman. In A Good **** Spoiled, Charlie only pretends to play golf to carry on an extramarital affair. When his mistress asks him to choose between her and his wife, he spends his free time (formerly spent cheating) acquiring a taste for golf, and in effect, the sport prevails over his lover. Lawrence Block's Welcome to the Real World provides a cunning portrayal of the fine line between forces of sports appreciation and competition, when retiree Kramer, who spent time at the driving range primarily for exercise and fresh air, one day crosses paths with a former business rival and makes it his new mission in life to beat him at the game.

In Graduation Day from Ian Rankin, mob henchman Mickey escorts his boss to his daughter's college, the grounds of which are better known as mecca for golfers, where he is introduced to her new boyfriend, who happens to be the son of another crime family boss - also attending the graduation, and eager to tee off against his nemesis. Less comedic, more grisly, but just as satisfying is suspense master John Sanford's Lucy Had a List, where the title character avenges her father's mysterious death by quietly wreaking havoc on the lives of the members of the Rattlesnake Golf Club, where she works as an instructor.

Murder In the Rough provides the reader with several laugh-out-loud moments, and is an ideal opportunity for fans to check in with some of their favorite authors, as well as discover some new ones - all the while becoming better acquainted with a sport that most of us otherwise wouldn't equate with the literary thriller genre.

[Tuxlie]

Lawrence Block, Simon Brett, Ken Bruen, Christopher Coake, Stephen Collins, Tom Franklin, Jonathan Gash, Steve Hamilton, H.R.F. Keating, Laura Lippman, Bradford Morrow, Ian Rankin, John Sandford, William G. Tapply, and John Westermann, along with introductory comments by Otto Penzler, deliver up an ace anthology of original short stories that mix murder and mystery on the fairway. This collection is sure to appeal to sports fans and those eager to read stories by the most celebrated authors in the mystery genre.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

808.83 Short Story collection - 15 original short stories by top suspense writers. Each story features golf in some way; the writers interpretation of the theme varies widely. Authors include: Lawrence Block, Steve Hamilton, Laura Lippman, Ian Rankin, John Sandford, William G. Tapply, and John Westermann.

[Jinie Shirey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read two of the stories in this because it featured two of my favorite authors, J Sandford and S Hamilton...but I liked both stories even if they were both a little corny :)