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The Apex Predator
In this exclusive short story from New York Times bestselling author Michael Koryta, a crime boss and his trusted enforce encounter their most dangerous adversary yet: innocence.
Dainius Belov had enjoyed an unprecedented run at the top of the city’s crime empire since arriving from Russia in the spring of 1991. He was smart, he was ruthless, he was cautious, and he was protected by a man named Thor.
In their 22 years together, rivals had risen and fallen on a regular basis, and most often at Thor’s hand. There was a time, maybe, when this role as primary enforcer would have bothered Thor. That time was hard for him to recall, though, and after enough years he was no longer certain it had ever existed. The craft of killing came to him in stages. First had been the obvious — kill or be killed. It was important to be skilled in a violent world. In a place alive with predators, the apex predator lived the longest...
Dainius Belov had enjoyed an unprecedented run at the top of the city’s crime empire since arriving from Russia in the spring of 1991. He was smart, he was ruthless, he was cautious, and he was protected by a man named Thor.
In their 22 years together, rivals had risen and fallen on a regular basis, and most often at Thor’s hand. There was a time, maybe, when this role as primary enforcer would have bothered Thor. That time was hard for him to recall, though, and after enough years he was no longer certain it had ever existed. The craft of killing came to him in stages. First had been the obvious — kill or be killed. It was important to be skilled in a violent world. In a place alive with predators, the apex predator lived the longest...
29 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2013
12 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Michael Koryta
54 books2,538 followersMichael Koryta (pronounced Ko-ree-ta) is a New York Times-bestselling author whose work has been lauded by Stephen King, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Lisa Unger, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, and David Baldacci, among many others, and has been translated into more than 20 languages. His books have won or been nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Edgar® Award, Shamus Award, and many others.
Michael worked as a private investigator and newspaper reporter. His first novel, the Edgar-nominated Tonight I Said Goodbye, was accepted for publication when he was 20 years old.
Michael has written for the screen in both feature film and television. Those Who Wish Me Dead was released in 2021, starring Angelina Jolie, Nicholas Hoult, Tyler Perry, Jon Bernthal and Aidan Gillen, directed by Taylor Sheridan.
He also writes bestselling supernatural thrillers under the pen name Scott Carson.
Michael was raised in Bloomington, Indiana, where he graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
He lives in Camden, Maine, and Bloomington, home of the undefeated national champion Indiana Hoosiers football team, a fact that still strikes him as surreal.
Michael worked as a private investigator and newspaper reporter. His first novel, the Edgar-nominated Tonight I Said Goodbye, was accepted for publication when he was 20 years old.
Michael has written for the screen in both feature film and television. Those Who Wish Me Dead was released in 2021, starring Angelina Jolie, Nicholas Hoult, Tyler Perry, Jon Bernthal and Aidan Gillen, directed by Taylor Sheridan.
He also writes bestselling supernatural thrillers under the pen name Scott Carson.
Michael was raised in Bloomington, Indiana, where he graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
He lives in Camden, Maine, and Bloomington, home of the undefeated national champion Indiana Hoosiers football team, a fact that still strikes him as surreal.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 19, 2015
A Great, Fresh Short Story
Loved this short from Koryta. Looking forward to reading more of his works. Pacing was perfect and the moral of the story hits home.
Loved this short from Koryta. Looking forward to reading more of his works. Pacing was perfect and the moral of the story hits home.
December 2, 2013
Amazon.com Review: In this offshoot of his popular Lincoln Perry series, Michael Koryta explores a sad, sordid world in which tigers, trust, and organized crime all vie for center stage. Thor -- the story's protagonist and arguably the apex predator of its title -- is a seasoned hit man whose evolution as a killer developed from survival ("kill or be killed") to sustenance ("money promised things, or at least told lovely lies") to a kind of social value specific to mob life, until his code of honor is tested by the discovery of an exotic animal racket run by his boss. For all its violence, Koryta's story features a tone that hovers between sanguine and bloodless, but Thor, Perry, and the big cats nevertheless act out a tale of chilling moral ambivalence. (More straightforwardly, Koryta will donate a portion of the proceeds from
The Apex Predator
to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center and Tigers in America.) --Jason Kirk
March 9, 2015
I haven't read any of Michael Koryta's series about Lincoln Perry. I mention that because this is an offshoot of that. (But don't worry, it's not a requirement to enjoy this.)
I definitely do want to start because I have to say, I really like this
guy, Thor. (Which is probably a pretty scary thing to admit to because he's a ruthless character, not unlike Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men.)
I don't want to say too much about the plot because that's spoiling, but suffice it to say that this is an incredibly chilling story about someone who seemingly has no conscience discovering that maybe there's a line he's not willing to cross after all.
Highly recommended.
I definitely do want to start because I have to say, I really like this
guy, Thor. (Which is probably a pretty scary thing to admit to because he's a ruthless character, not unlike Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men.)
I don't want to say too much about the plot because that's spoiling, but suffice it to say that this is an incredibly chilling story about someone who seemingly has no conscience discovering that maybe there's a line he's not willing to cross after all.
Highly recommended.
November 21, 2015
The Apex Predator by Michael Koryta: Dainius Belov was at the top of the Cleveland crime empire and Thor, his trusted enforcer, had protected him and taken care of problematic situations for 22 years. They worked well together and prospered in their relationship. It was not a friendship, but it was a beneficial relationship. Thor was an efficient, careful, reliable and loyal professional killer, which was exactly what Belov needed. Unfortunately, Belov’s association with another predator changed their relationship forever. I enjoyed this excellent short story very much.
July 14, 2014
Oh damn. Now I am going to have to read ALL this guy's work!
September 18, 2016
A great short story!!
If you liked LeHane's The Drop, you'll love The Apex Predator. Koryta knows his characters and, as violent as they are known, he fills them with humanity.
If you liked LeHane's The Drop, you'll love The Apex Predator. Koryta knows his characters and, as violent as they are known, he fills them with humanity.
June 6, 2018
Wow
Have never had feelings for a killer but Thor is, well, different. What a tragic, thought provoking tale. Animals and kids....perfect in any story!
Have never had feelings for a killer but Thor is, well, different. What a tragic, thought provoking tale. Animals and kids....perfect in any story!
October 23, 2015
Michael loves big kitties
If you've visited Mr Koryta's website, you know that one of his passions is exotic feline rescue. (See http://www.exoticfelinerescuecenter.o...).
This short story about senseless killing of beautiful tigers for sport, and the cold blooded assassin that can't leave that unchallenged, is compelling and well done.
If you've visited Mr Koryta's website, you know that one of his passions is exotic feline rescue. (See http://www.exoticfelinerescuecenter.o...).
This short story about senseless killing of beautiful tigers for sport, and the cold blooded assassin that can't leave that unchallenged, is compelling and well done.
August 17, 2016
In the dark underbelly of the Cleveland crime world, Dainius Belov and his enforcer Thor are at the top of the heap. In this somewhat morally ambiguous tale, we see what innocence can do to even the most fearsome predator. This short story is a good introduction to Michael Koryta's writing if you're hesitating to commit yourself to a full length novel.
August 29, 2015
I had a short plane flight and was looking for something to read that would be just the right length. I've read many of Michael Koryta's novels and enjoy his writing style, so this seemed perfect. It didn't disappoint.
January 8, 2014
A free Kindle short story from Amazon.
September 15, 2014
This is a very short story that shows Thor's humanity. Though it connects with the Lincoln Perry series, it actually stands well on its own.
January 31, 2016
Enjoyable. I was looking for a short diversion from some of the less useful offerings in the Kindle Store, and this yarn did the trick.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews