No Rest for the Dead

I've always thought that if you have 5 or more authors writing a book - it will make it fast paced... exciting... gripping ... unpredictable BUT this book -as a lot of the other reviewers say - SLOW and PREDICTABLE.

I've read all of Sandra Brown's work ( adore her ! ) and this one .... let's just say - she should just stick to writing by herself.

The concept of so many multiple writers raised doubt in my mind as to whether
there would be a coherent plot. However, many of the writers were my favorite mystery authors so I took a leap of faith.
I was not disappointed ! The story held me all the way and was a most enjoyable read. I highly recommend it. You can't miss with this one if you really are a mystery lover.

This was okay but certainly did not live up to my expectations. It was disjointed from chapter to chapter and the characters were one-dimensional. I like to get to know the characters and care about them. I expected a lot more from such bestselling authors.

26 Authors wrote this book and it couldn't have been more fun reading, each chapter by a different Author which is intriguing in itself, I really enjoyed the book , every chapter fun to read, P. Stevens

The story could have gone another direction completely, but instead took the road most traveled. The story was very good until the final handful of chapters, which read like a dozen Hollywood movies with the same premiss. The only reason I gave it four stars is because it was short ... If I had to read a single extra chapter to get the end, three stars would have been my max.

This book was okay. Though I am a big fan of several of the authors involved in this novel. I was just a little disappointed. Maybe a bit disjointed, due to the several different author's styles, etc.

I was looking forward to reading No Rest for the Dead....what a waste of time and money. It was choppy, disjointed and boring as all get out. There was no surprises and no suspense. I hated the way it switched from first to third person and not knowing who was doing the talking. To many characters that were left incomplete, I'd already forgotten them if and when they were mentioned again. It was hard for me to stay on track and it took me 10 times longer to finish it then it should have. I certainly would never recommend it to anyone else.

So so..to much emphases on scenery, instead of story... Too much jumping around with characters... Story dragged out... Not their best work.. Had possibilities.. But they wasted them on trees and cars..

It was not the kind of suspense story that had me staying up late at night to finish the book. It kept things moving along, but not to the extent that I would keep reading. I had figured out who had commited the murder about half way through the book.

The book does flow pretty well for the number of authors, however, the story was one dimensional. It did not have many twists and turns. In fact, there was not any suspense the whole novel. I am an avid thriller reader and this was not one. This story basically is a book that expanded on the characters not the plot. I kept waiting for it to get good...it never did. Disappointment.

I`m only into the second chapter, and the book is very good so far, but the print is so small it hurts my eyes after awhile, and that`s with my reading glasses on. If the print were larger, I would be enjoying the book more, but I can`t read for longer than 20 minutes before my head starts to hurt!

After reading several good reviews of this novel, I was anxious to begin reading it. But, It seemed to me, that it was all about the authors trying to best one another & not in writing a fluent storyline. Thanks, but no thanks, I'll take my authors one at a time.

Doesn't even deserve one star! I am tempted to call the store and demand a refund. What a waste of money. Horrible, I can't even get involved in reading it. The sample was good and then I bought it. Don't be fooled. As soon as you get to the real book you will be disappointed. Amazing that so many good authors can write such crap.

I had high hopes, but this story is disjointed, switches persona, has mismatched ideas (or flawed ideas), and just was too much bother to finish. Although I DID finish........I was tempted many times to just throw out the book....since I read this on Kindle, I was limited.....so, I just put it in read and hope I forget where it is....... Collaborators should collaborate, not try to outdo each other.

I am one of those overly devoted reader types -- I see Sandra Brown, I buy it. No questions, don't even need to read the jacket. Where to start with the let-downs? The sale of this book is a little misleading, as it lists Sandra Brown as the author...unless you read the description (devoted fan here, don't flip past her name). The formatting is choppy, the ending is a no-brainer and the transitions flow like the magnetic story board that my 4-year-old put together on the fridge today. The only positive thing I can say is that within each author's section the writing is enjoyable. I mean no disrespect, I think all of the contributing authors are very talented and it shows in their chapters. However, that doesn't mean that I could decorate my living room with a Picasso and a Monet side by side and pull it off. If you do buy this book I can give you some consolation -- it appears that some of the proceeds are given to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which is awesome. Shame on me, I will have to check how much of the book Ms. Brown writes before I ever complete another blind purchase.

I am struggling trying to finish this book. I believe if you start it you finish it, but boy what a drag. Also, it is so distracting with the authors name on each chapter. Instead of just reading the book you are always looking for the difference, which there is and it can be seen easily. Put the authors, with the chapters at the beginning of the book and leave the rest alone.

If you are thinking of buying this, think again.

Described as a `once-in-a-generation collaboration of New York Times bestselling authors', NO REST FOR THE DEAD brings together the talents of 26 of the top mystery/thriller writers working today to create an intriguing mystery.

The job of putting this novel together, and handling all the many egos that go along with it, go to the brother-and-sister editing team of Andrew and Lamia Gulli. More importantly, all of the proceeds of this effort (excluding contributor expenses) will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

OK --- the novel has a philanthropic purpose and an introduction written by the great David Baldacci --- I'm already hooked. The end result is an interesting mystery that deftly weaves the contributions of these great authors into a surprisingly cogent and surprising mystery. Jonathan Santlofer provides the prologue that is sent 10 years in the past. We are inside Valley State Prison for Women where the convicted murderess, Rosemary Thomas, is about to be put to death. There to witness the final moments of her life is the man primarily responsible for putting her there, Detective Joe Nunn. The only trouble is that Nunn has had serious second thoughts about Rosemary's guilt and believes, deep inside, that he is about to witness an innocent woman put to death because of the evidence he provided at her trial.

Joe Nunn's conscience provides a good deal of the novel as several chapters are devoted to his diary (the first written by Andrew F. Gulli, himself). The murder that Rosemary was convicted of was that of her husband, Christopher Thomas. A ruthless museum curator based in San Francisco, Christopher was capable of double-dealing and perhaps more. At the time of his murder, he was estranged from his wife Rosemary as she was in the process of seeking a divorce from her unscrupulous and adulterous husband. When his body turns up inside an ancient torture device --- an iron maiden --- Rosemary is the number one suspect as many people saw them arguing the night Christopher disappeared.

NO REST FOR THE DEAD mainly takes place after Rosemary's execution as Detective Joe Nunn relentlessly pursues all of the previous leads and unanswered questions he turned up in the initial investigation. This time, he is on a personal mission to find out what actually happened to Christopher Thomas and hopefully vindicate the memory of Rosemary Thomas (and clear his own conscience in the process). What Nunn uncovers is a finely woven web of deceit where no one can be trusted and the circumstances of Christopher Thomas' murder are turned upside down --- with the truth hiding beneath the surface waiting for Nunn to grasp it.

Serial novels like NO REST FOR THE DEAD, featuring over 31 Chapters, are sometimes challenged to sustain the tension since the various writing styles of the different writers involved can sometimes bring things to a crashing halt. Thankfully, that does not occur here. The only criticism I have is that a few of the chapters are ultra-short (one in particular, is only a few paragraphs in length). I find that to be an awful waste of the author's talent. Some of the stand-out chapters for me were written by: Matthew Pearl, Michael Palmer, Peter James, Tess Gerritsen and Jeffery Deaver. Of special interest are the Forensic Police Reports composed by Kathy Reichs, which give a real investigative feel to the murderous proceedings of the novel.

NO REST FOR THE DEAD is far more than a novelty and I hope there are more collaborations like this in the future for fans of mystery/thrillers to relish!

Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader

Christopher Thomas feels as if he's on top of the world. He's got the looks, the smarts, the prestigious job, the dutiful wife, the ladies on the side, and most importantly, he's got the money. But, in reality, is all of that enough? Apparently not for Christopher, as he appears to also have a secret life. One that not only gives him a certain amount of exhilaration, but also brings with it a great deal of danger. On the eve of an event at his art gallery, after being seen with another woman by his wife, Christopher is never seen again. At least alive that is. Not too long later, his body is found stuffed and decaying in the Iron Maiden in a Berlin museum.

Christopher's wife, Rosemary Thomas was content with her life. She enjoyed her job, had two beautiful children, and had family money to provide well for her and her family. What she didn't have was a husband who adored her, loved her, doted on her, anymore. Yes, she knew about his little dalliances, and as long as it wasn't thrown in her face, she didn't care too much. She didn't really want to put her children through the travesty of a divorce. But when she sees a woman flirting with her husband at an event she loses it and cannot handle the public shame. She confronts him and a fight ensues. When they both leave the event, it's the last time Christopher is seen alive. Due to her being the last one seen with Christopher and some circumspect evidence, she is quickly arrested, tried, and executed for his murder. Rosemary died as she lived, with grace and dignity. Knowing in her heart what the truth was.

Now, ten years have passed since Rosemary's execution, and Jon Nunn, the lead detective on the case, is riddled with guilt and doubt. Could he possibly have sent an innocent person to her death? It's the one case he can never let go of, the one case that has chewed him up inside, the one case that has cost him everything - his wife, his job, and the life that he once knew. And when he gets a letter from Rosemary's old friend, Tony Olsen, inviting everyone to a memorial to honor her death (per the instructions in her will), he realizes that it is the perfect time to have all of the suspects assembled in once place.

As the letters arrive to each of the guests inviting them to the memorial (how tacky to celebrate the execution of a murderess!), each of those invited begins to feel a bit more uncomfortable. And some are even harassed and/or threatened to keep quiet. Will the secrets they've tried so desperately to keep hidden finally be exposed? Peter (Rosemary's brother) and Stan (a lawyer) know that there is no way their secret will be found out. Sarah (formerly married to Jon and now married to Stan) is starting to realize that her first husband just might not be so crazy after all. Belle is an artist and good friend of Rosemary's. Rosemary gave her a chance when no one else would. She has something very important to say at the memorial, and won't be scared away from doing so. Then someone is hurt and there is an attempt to rob the gallery. Are these acts a distraction to shut everyone up for good, a "simple" armed robbery, or is there something even more sinister going on? Something that no one would ever imagine?
The gathering of the suspects at the memorial will lead you to think that the big "Perry Mason" moment is coming. When they're all standing around and the killer will be revealed. Someone will say the wrong thing without realizing it, a hidden clue is found, a glance is given in the wrong direction. Instead, what you get is more twists, more turns, and more questions than you have answers for. And just when you think you've got it all figured out, think again. And then again and again and again.

When I read the preview for this book I was immediately enticed. So many great authors all in one place?! A readers dream come true. Was it possible for twenty-five different authors to write one seamless story? I would quickly find out that the answer was - Heck yeah! Each author writes a different chapter in the book, and each one begins with the name of the author penning that particular chapter. Since some of my favorite authors (Faye Kellerman, Sandra Brown, Tess Gerritsen, to name a few) took part in this fantastic endeavor, I thought I would be able to differentiate their writing, their voice, from the authors that I don't know as well. That just wasn't the case. All of these authors worked so well together that the chapters blended into one another beautifully. I'd love to know how it was done. Did one author write an outline the others worked off of? Did one author write a chapter and then pass if off to the next in line? Who decided which chapter each other would write? Did all of the authors know how it would end (by an outline), or did only the authors of the last few chapters know where the book would go? If the authors name wasn't at the beginning of each chapter, I would never have known that this book was written by so many different people. They all came together to emit one strong, fantastically woven tale.

Call me stupid but after 50 pages, I couldn't stand it anymore. Talk about boring,this one fits the definition. I have a rule - if I'm not into it by the first 50-75 pages I give it up. Sorry all you authors.

TB

This book was enjoyable, it was interesting to be able to read so many authors in one continuous story (each author writes a chapter). The beginning chapters were very gripping and I wanted to keep reading. I thought the plot was good but it did get a little slow in the middle but picked right back up once you get through that slow part. There are some bad words but it seemed like it varied by chapter/author which makes sense since there are multiple people writing. I enjoyed it but I think some of that enjoyment came from the idea that so many people got together to write this book! You could tell there were different styles playing into the story so it made the book a little harder to rate because I enjoyed some chapters more than others. Overall, I thought it was good.

The many authors who wrote this mystery didn't do the kind of collaboration that would allow the plot to flow evenly. Some of them seemed to go off on unrelated tangents. The bracelet episode and "The Shadow Knows" episode are examples of the irrelevant chapters. It is as if these two authors wanted to steer the plot in a different direction; their direction, not the overall plot's direction. Or maybe they just threw a couple of wrenches into the works to distract the readers or listeners. (I checked out the audio version.)

When museum curator Christopher Thomas is murdered, his wife Rosemary is tried, convicted, and executed as the killer even though there could have been many suspects given the cruel and manipulative nature of Thomas. However, ten years later detective Jon Dunn, who was responsible for having Rosemary convicted and has been haunted by doubt that she was guilty, receives information that leads him to believe she was indeed innocent as she contended right up to the last moments of her life. He sets out to prove that the wrong person was executed and works to find the real killer before more people involved in the case die.

This was a great story and was unique in that it was co-written by 26 top mystery writers. I wasn't sure how that would work or whether the storyline would stay intact but it did, even with so many different writing styles. There were also several characters important to the plot and the story had to fluctuate between the past and the present, but both were handled well without confusing the reader. The story itself was everything I like in a good mystery and held my interest right up to the surprise ending.

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher but the opinion of it is my own and was not solicited, nor was a positive review required.

I've read a joint venture novel like this before and it was very disjointed reading. This, however, flowed very well. The story is about a young mother who is accused of her philandering husband's murder and is tried and executed. It begins with her execution and then goes back to trace the things that took place that resulted in her being convicted. It also goes on to tell where the characters are in their lives ten years later, which is quite changed. The ten year mark is important because a service is given for her where everyone comes together and from there things heat up and the killer is unmasked.

I bought this book as itwas advertised as being written by Sandra Brown. I should have paid more attention when I clicked as there were 26 different authors. Considering how many authors there were the chapters tied together better than I expected, although, I did not enjoy Diana Gabaldon’s chapters as they did not seem to contibute much to the book. Found some new authors to read.
This is not the forst time that I have been somewhat duped when buying ‘Sandra Brown’s’ work as far as how it is advertised.

Just look at the gallery of authors on this - whew!

This story is told part in first person through Jon Nunn's diary and a couple of other characters and part in third person. Some readers may find that distracting but I enjoy the changes, even more so since there were different narrators for this audiobook.

The primary character, Jon Nunn, took a nose dive into the bottle ten years ago when he determined that his detective work helped send an innocent woman to execution. All the evidence pointed to her but it was almost too pat and by the time Rosemary was headed into the death chamber he was convinced that she had been framed. Jon lost his job as a police detective and his beautiful wife, Sarah, as a result of his depression and obsession with the case.

Ten years later there are a gallery of suspects he wants to interrogate. Jon recruits the head of the museum where Rosemary and Chris Thomas worked to host a memorial for the 10th anniversary of Rosemary's execution inviting all of the related family, friends, enemies and suspects. Although there are various reactions to the invitation, everyone is drawn for different reasons.

The story reveals early the ugly character of Chris Thomas, the victim, as a blatant womanizer and an unscrupulous thief selling stolen art. At least two of his lovers might have had motive to kill him. The partners in crime or money lenders may have had motive. Chris had already been attacked by an ex-con husband of an artist whose work was rejected after she rejected Chris' advances. And don't forget Rosemary's drunken brother who had no love for Chris but needed money. Nunn has a host of nefarious characters to sort through to try to find the true killer and put his own guilt to rest.

There is someone who is very unhappy that Nunn and an old journalist friend of Rosemary's are raising questions. Stirring the pot has apparently stir up a whole ugly hornet nest of surprises with threats and attacks.

Although a lot of the story is slower it was still interesting as the suspects were being lined up and hints of motives were developed. The tension and excitement picked up after the memorial and with the chase at the end. I enjoyed the mystery as a whole although I thought there were some unrealistic scenes in the ending.

I found it great fun to note which authors wrote each chapter and to see if I could match their styles to previous books I may have read/listened to. I enjoyed the six different narrators and the varied points of view. The narrators fittingly portrayed character emotions - depression, arrogant disdain, greed - as well as the character personae such as clingy girlfriend, arrogant assistant and low-life security guard. If you are a mystery fan I am sure you would enjoy this audio.

No Rest for the Dead is a crime fiction collaboration by 26 crime authors, some big names ( Jeffery Deaver, Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritsen, Jeff Lindsay, Alexander McCall Smith, Sandra Brown, Diana Gabaldon, Marcia Talley, Lisa Scottoline and Faye Kellerman, to name a few) included. The plot centres around Jon Nunn, a police detective whose testimony helped to convict Rosemary Thomas of the murder of her husband Thomas, leading to her execution by lethal injection. Museum curator Thomas was found, several weeks after a loud and public argument with Rosemary, inside an Iron Maiden that had been shipped back to Germany from his museum. Nunn is plagued by doubt as to Rosemary's guilt and, ten years after her execution, is intent on uncovering the truth. The narrative is split into two parts: the time of the murder (1998) and the present day, 10 years after the execution. The plot is very creative, the action fast paced and there are plenty of red herrings, enough to have the reader wondering about the possible guilt or innocence of each major character and a few minor ones. Always a fascinating exercise to give multiple authors a story to construct together, this one, as befits a crime novel, has it all: killers in disguise, art theft, instruments of torture, a hidden diary, a careless medical examiner, plastic surgery, a car chase, forensic anthropology, embezzled trust funds, a botched execution, sex, drugs, shootings, yachts, expensive cars, rich people, hookers, drug addicts, alcoholics, crooked cops, reporters and lots of blackmail. I found that, about a third of the way through, I had figured out the what, but not the who, the how or the why. Written to raise funds for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society, the reader gets their money's worth with this one. A great crime read.

What happens when twenty-six mystery and thriller writers decide to write a story? I can't imagine trying to coordinate such a massive collaboration. Who conceived this idea? How would one go about outlining it, then getting everybody to agree to contribute their little part? Whatever the process, "No Rest for the Dead" is a mulligan stew of authors that somehow pulls off a neat, little mystery.
It starts with the execution of Rosemary Thomas for the heinous murder of her art dealer husband, Christopher. We then read about the events leading up to the murder: Christopher's philandering, money problems and a systematic operation of stealing and selling expensive paintings. We see the obsessed cop bring the guilty party to justice, and then have second thoughts.
Maybe he missed something. Maybe he didn't fully investigate some of the variables. Ten years after the state of California has executed Rosemary, the cast gathers for a memorial. The now ex-cop is still on the trail of a murderer while a shadowy figure lurks in the background, threatening several individuals if the truth is revealed. Will the truth finally be told? What really happened that fateful night so long ago?
There's a little bit of suspense, a few instances of character insight, a little action, a little bit of forensics...basically, a little bit of each author's specialty, but not enough to take the story in different or confusing directions. The book reads straight with a consistent voice.
Mystery fans will enjoy this experiment with many of their favorite writers coming together to produce a fine product.

Reviewed by Stephen L. Brayton, author of "Beta" for Suspense Magazine

Twenty six authors came together in order to write an action-packed thriller and the result is No Rest for the Dead. The original idea was to create a short story collection, but since this is not an especially commercial genre and the proceeds were meant to go to charity, it has been decided that it'd be better if all of them worked together to write a novel.
If you asked me I wouldn't say that this book is something special, however it is a well-crafted book that moves at a fine pace and which manages to keep the reader's interest alive from first page to last. And it is funny, in more than one ways; especially when, let's say, author number one, decides to make the life of author number two a little bit hard, by driving the story in a completely different direction from the one at hand, and thus make him or her come up with some answers in questions that were not there in the first place. As a result there are many twists and turns and just when one thinks that he's found the solution to the riddle, something turns up that brings things upside down.
But let's take things from the start, or rather from the end; today. Following the last instructions or, maybe we should say, respecting the last wishes of Rosemary Thomas, a curator of a San Francisco Museum, her closest friends and relatives, as well as some other people who were in one way or another connected with her, meet at her workplace to celebrate the anniversary of her death. Rosemary has been tried, found guilty and executed ten years before for the murder of her husband Christopher. All the evidence at the time was overwhelmingly against her and no one, or almost no one, had any doubts that she committed the crime. Two men though were not so sure that she was guilty. The first one was Hank Zacharius, a journalist, who from the very beginning believed in her innocence and did everything he possibly could to help her, while the second was Jon Nunn, the detective who investigated the case and who was responsible at large for securing her conviction. That case has haunted his life ever since and now, as the anniversary of her death is approaching fast, he's determined more than ever to put his doubts at rest. The truth will set you free, people say, but Nunn is not that certain that that applies in this case, since it was yesterday's truths, the ones that he could sense but never dared to investigate that caused his fall. The road to redemption will prove long and painful for a lot of the characters in this unique, in a certain way, novel that travels the reader into the dark corners of some people psyches, but also to some special places in the world of art.

It's not an anthology. It is a fully formed, very entertaining,
nail-biting thriller novel. Each chapter is written by a different
author in their own voice, but I can assure you the story is fluid and
cohesive.
We follow a group of individuals who were instrumental in a case
against Rosemary Thomas who is accused of killing her philandering
husband and stuffing him in an Iron Maiden. She is convicted and she
is put to death. But even in death there is no rest, not for any of
them.
Flash forward ten years. Jon Nunn, the detective who helped put her
away is convinced she is innocent and when he decides to
re-investigate, to find redemption for himself and justice for
Rosemary. But, of course it's never easy. The journey that Nunn
goes on keeps you turning the page and wanting more right up to the
very end.
This is a thriller with mystery elements and lots of drama, reflection
and entertainment. Readers who love thrillers are going to devour
this.
You can see the list of contributing authors here-
[...]You may be amazed at who contributed to this
book! I highly recommend checking out the site, but even more, I
highly recommend reading this novel.

I read this book for two reasons. The first to see if 26 authors could write a mystery serial novel that made sense, was entertaining, and remained true to the mystery genre. The second was to expose myself to a variety of mystery writers that I have not read.

I was very satisfied with the compilation put together to create one serial novel. Yes there were differences in writing style. However, the story was concise and continuous. Is this a 5 star mystery? Not really - my first thoughts on the rating was 4 stars. It is that good. I read the afterword where I learned that all revenue, minus the various author fees and printing costs, go to the leukemia research charity. A noble purpose to be sure.

I now have a longer list of writers to read. This book exposed me to many new names and I look forward to reading them.

First of all, this book is interesting because twenty-six authors collaborated to write this story. You would think with this many authors (with different writing styles) the story would not flow well and would equal disaster. That is not the case with this book.

The prologue really drew me into this book. It was gripping and a very strong start. As the story continued, it took many twists and turns and had me changing my "who-did-it" list over and over. It wasn't until page 199 (out of 256)that I truly had it figured out.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery-thriller read that keeps you guessing!

One last thing that I thought was very special about this book is that all the proceeds (after author compensation) is donated to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Book Hollow
[...]

Really wanted to like this. The approach is really fun...you'd think this great group of writers would really push each other to dig deep and be creative. But in my opinion it never gelled. Maybe because the premise was so strained. (Rich female executed in California in less than two years from when the crime was committed? Seriously?) Maybe because good editing was missing...there really was no need for different writers to plow the same ground in different chapters...the reader got it the first time. (Nunn became a drunk and screwed up his life after the execution of someone he helped convict) Oh...and about that...how is it credible that it was just one policeman who was responsible for the guilty verdict? Really? Or that an autopsy report on an autopsy done in Germany would have never been translated to english let alone redone by at least one expert for the defense. Seriously....maybe before all the crime dramas, maybe before court tv, maybe before OJ and other high profile murder cases the reader might have bought some of that....but not any more. If you still want to read it....borrow it. Save your money.

I bought the audio book at the local library "book" sale for 50 cents and STILL feel cheated! I liked the concept... a group of (talented?) authors each write a continuing chapter... So far so good, except that the book does not flow, as in life some folks are better story tellers than others. The "author" Sandra Brown in particular was weak, the writing in her chapter was juvenile and redundant. The book is about a murder and a woman wrongly executed for the crime... She's young, beautiful, rich and from a privileged family - in California, and we are to believe that she was executed two years from the commission of the crime! REALLY? There is some guy now on death row for the past 31 YEARS, and this woman gets the needle in less than two years from conviction of her husband's murder, REALLY? The autopsy of the "dead" husband is conducted in Germany, and the "defense" apparently never has it translated to English or reviewed by a COMPETENT medical examiner, REALLY? Did I mention that the suspect is RICH, BEAUTIFUL and YOUNG? Did she have a lawyer? This would have been dumb even if the authors had her defend herself! The lead detective on the case collects the evidence that ultimately gets her the death penalty, but apparently doesn't believe his own investigation and leaves the force to pursue a career as a drunk, losing his wife, but at story end "redeems" himself by playing "has been" cop and solving the "murder" (you know the husband is still alive and faked his death as they describe the condition of the body in the Iron Maiden). Finally, there is a ridiculous car chase through the city parks, around trees, on the sidewalk around pedestrians, on one way streets against six lanes of oncoming traffic... and FINALLY shots fired and a huge wreck on the Bay Bridge! Just how many people do you think would have been killed in that "rousing " conclusion? REAL crap... Totally unrealistic nonsense! Shame on these so called talented authors for being involved with this garbage! PS - Did I mention that the dead husband is alive?

I thought the concept of No Rest for the Dead was a unique one; twenty-six authors write a chapter our two telling a story. I also thought that it would be a little disjointed, but these mystery writers ended up writing a great book.

The story revolves around the tenth anniversary of the execution of Rosemary Thomas, who was convicted of murdering her husband. Even ten years later, the investigation officer has doubts that she was guilty.

Although each author took a chapter or scene, the book flowed evenly and if you are a fan of one or all of these authors you could tell their writing style (although each chapter has a heading with the author's name). They kept the story going as with the action, and keeps reader (me) absorbed in the story.

Ten years ago, Rosemary Thomas is found guilty of murdering her husband, Thomas. It was said that Thomas's body was found encased within an iron maiden trap. His body was decayed and so decomposed that it was almost impossible to identify his body. The only thing that the police were able to use was a small, piece of a tooth.

Jon Nunn was the lead detective on the case. Present day. To this day the image of Rosemary's execution still haunts Jon. Jon decides to reinvestigate the case for closure. What Jon finds instead is a web of lies and deceit.

What do you get when you mix some of the best (twenty-six mystery writers to be exact) and ask them to collaborate on one mystery novel? You just get one of the best books of 2011! The book is...No Rest for the Dead.

Ah, as if you could not already guess but I really, loved this book. I started this book on my lunch hour and by the time my hour was up, it was hard to go back to work and concentrate. I finished this book later that afternoon. There were no mis-steps in this book. It flowed and read like one author had written the book. One of my favorite parts was when author Kathy Reichs contributed her chapters. She didn't so much write a chapter but instead wrote the forensic reports. I have read a few of her books and she was middle of the road to me but after reading her parts, I think I will try her again. I met many new authors to me that I will be checking out. I kept trying to figure out who the killer was and the motive before the story was over. I wanted to see if I could beat the authors but sadly, I did not figure it out until I was suppose to but this did keep the book interesting. Mystery/suspense fans you have got to pick up a copy of this book. Besides, you will be helping a great cause by purchasing a copy of this book. Editing brother and sister team, Andrew and Lamia Gulli are donating their portion of the proceeds to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Writing is usually a solitary experience, and many readers can recognize a writer's style from a sample. In a break from that consistency, Andrew Gulli assembled over two dozen writers to contribute chapters to a mystery titled, No Rest for the Dead. The result is something like improv: the pleasure of a unique voice, riffing with other voices and assembling a shared piece of art that brings enjoyment. I sampled some chapters trying to guess the writer before seeing his or her name, and I had a lot of lucky guesses. For most readers, then, this may be a chance to see the work of many favorite writers in a single book. The mystery itself was pretty good, and considering the challenges of multiple writers, wrapped up in a satisfying way.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

While it is said that too many chefs spoil the broth, this novel demonstrates that twenty-six writers can put together an eminently readable, entertaining novel. The book itself flows seamlessly, although some of the chapters are quite short.

The book opens on Death Row. Rosemary Thomas, a wealthy, cultured socialite, is awaiting lethal injection for the brutal murder of her husand Christopher. Handsome and debonair, Christopher uses his wife's wealth and position to gain stature in the art world. His considerable charm masks his avarice. He is involved in high stakes art theft and fraud and adultery. Rosemary learns of the adultery and can no longer tolerate the humiliation. So when christopher disappears and a decomposed body is found in an ancient torture deviced loaned to Rosemary
s division of the museum they both work at, her nightmare begins. Fast forward ten years. At a memorial of Rosemary's death, all the suspects, friends and foes are gathered together and the mystery unravels.

Despite excellent prose and apromising start, my enjoyment was compromised by a predictable storyline(perhaps I watch too much CSI but figured it out at manner of death) and two many non-essential characters. there is the alcoholic brother, venture capitalist friend, the cop who realizes too late that it was a set up, the cop's wife, the sleazy lawyer, the other woman, the crooked cop, Rosemary's sullen kids, the beautiful friend, the beautiful friend's husband,and so it goes. The ending was predictable.

This is a fun summer read, more interesting than reruns. It is fine as long as you keep your belief suspended. suspended. Does anyone really think a wealthy, connected woman would be on death row? Does anyone think that a competent legal team would notchallenge every element of proof? But then again, the proceeds go to charity and like hot dogs and popsicles, best enjoyed without detailed examination.

The badly decayed corpse of San Francisco's McFall Art Museum curator Christopher Thomas is found in an iron maiden in the German Historical Museum of Berlin. All the evidence found by Police Detective Jon Nunn points at his wife Rosemary, whose fingerprints for instance were on the iron maiden. Convicted during a political election year, in 2000 Rosemary is executed by the state of California.

Over the next decade, Jon became convinced the wrong person was executed for the homicide. He began to find betrayal and lies amidst the Thomas circle in which others could have easily killed the ruthless Christopher. Feeling guilt for his role in the State sanctioned murder of Rosemary, Jon and one of the real victim's two friends Belle McGuire team up trying to prove an innocent woman was executed though politicians, the media and those in the Thomas inner sanction a decade ago want the pair stopped.

No Rest for the Dead is a super collaborative investigative thriller in which twenty-five authors contribute entries to this strong novel. The story line is fast-paced with a great late stunning twist as obsessed ex cop Jon and still loyal Belle investigate who murdered Christopher Thomas.

Harriet Klausner

Over 25 years ago, movie critic Roger Ebert coined the term "idiot plot" to describe movies in which the plot only works if every character behaves like an idiot. No Rest for the Dead is the kind of story he meant.

The problems start in the introduction, in which David Baldacci, who wrote no other part of the book, raves about how brilliant are the various authors who did write chapters. This raises the reader's expectations so high it would take a vastly better book than this one to satisfy them. By the way, I hope nobody buys this book because of Diana Gabaldon's name displayed so prominently on the cover. She contributed barely two pages to this padded story. What a rip-off!

The padding starts with the prologues, of which there are two. The first prologue briefly describes the murder with which the book is concerned, that of Christopher Thomas; the second prologue details the last hours and execution of Rosemary, his widow and alleged killer.

The premise of the novel is that Rosemary was innocent and wrongly executed. However, the reader doesn't need to be told that, as the "evidence" that supposedly garnered her a lethal injection is so obviously contrived that a mentally deficient slug would feel compelled to proclaim her innocence by spelling it out with its slime trail.

Briefly, both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas worked at the same museum as curators. Rosemary was in charge of the medieval European artifacts, including the iron maiden in which was found a badly decomposed body alleged to be her husband's. Christopher was a chronic adulterer, and the day before he disappeared, he and Rosemary had a fight about that, which just happened to be in front of a bunch of witnesses at a museum reception. When he went missing, she of course was the chief suspect.

Here the plot really veers into idiocy. When the police come to question her, Rosemary speaks to them without a lawyer, *after* telling them she's glad her husband's gone, and she hopes never to see him again. That's bad enough, but when you read this next series of stupidities, keep in mind that Rosemary is so wealthy, Christopher married her for her money. In fact, the museum they both worked in was created and financed by her specifically to give him a place to work.

The first stupidity concerns the murder victim's alleged body. When a corpse thought to be her husband's turns up about a month after his disappearance, in the very iron maiden that had been part of the display she'd been in charge of, Rosemary just accepts the identification of the body as her late husband's. She doesn't hire her own experts to do another autopsy to confirm the ID. This is despite the following facts: (1) the body is too badly decomposed for a visual ID; (2) no DNA testing is done to confirm ID; (3) the examination takes place in Germany (where the iron maiden was borrowed from, and where the body is discovered), and the examiner is an ordinary pathologist, not a forensic anthropologist (i.e., it is someone untrained and inexperienced in dealing with corpses in such an advanced state of decomposition); (4) the crowns of the teeth have been knocked off and the fingers cut off to prevent ID: (5) despite that, the body just happens to have Christopher's driver's license stuck in one pocket, one of his teeth in another pocket, and one of his fingers stuck into his hip. Anyone with an IQ above the room temperature of a walk-in freezer knows what all that means.

The second stupidity is that neither Rosemary nor her lawyers hire private detectives to find out if anyone else wanted Christopher dead, although there is overwhelming evidence he was involved in drug smuggling, art forgery, and international art theft and smuggling. He also had a conga line of jilted ex-girlfriends who might have killed him. But no, when Rosemary is arrested, it apparently doesn't occur either to her or her lawyers that somebody besides her might, just possibly, have offed her sleazy scumbag of a husband. Judge Judy may not have "STUPID" written on her forehead, but Rosemary and her lawyers certainly do.

Did I mention Rosemary is independently wealthy? (I know I did; I'm being sarcastic.) The authors apparently think their story is so absorbing readers will overlook their third stupidity and forget all about the real life cases of Robert Blake and O. J. Simpson, who beat murder raps despite being obviously guilty. If these rich men could hire slick lawyers to get them off regardless of the overwhelming evidence against them, only the most moronic of readers could believe Rosemary incapable of doing the same. That's not even to consider that this is a wronged wife accused of killing an utterly despicable man, who was tried in the ultraliberal city of San Francisco, a place it would be hard to get a death sentence even if the accused had been videotaped raping and butchering little kids.

That's all idiotic enough, but it actually gets worse. Stupidity Number Four is that Rosemary gets only two years of appeals before her death sentence is carried out. Two years?! In the last thirty or forty years, I have NEVER heard of an execution carried out sooner than ten years after the sentence has been passed, except in the cases of prisoners who chose to waive their appeals and go ahead with their death sentences.

This book should be called No Rest for the Head, because that's what I kept banging against my desk when confronted by this Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade of dimwitted contrivances. It's not as bad as the hideous serial novel Naked Came the Manatee, but that's damning with the faintest of praise. After wasting my time on these two trashworks, I'll avoid serial novels with the same assiduousness I exercise in avoiding serial killers.

No Rest for the Dead begins with a present day diary notation written by former Detective Jon Nunn as he reviews the murder of art museum curator Christopher Thomas, the trial and conviction of Thomas' wife Rosemary for his death, and the later belief everyone may have gotten it all wrong.

Next is the vivid execution of Rosemary Thomas, her thoughts throughout the process as well as her history with her husband.

The story then goes back ten years to Christopher's story. He was an egotistical, arrogant curator, world traveler, and unabashed womanizer. He was also the unfaithful husband of wife Rosemary with an eye on his wife's trust fund.

When his body was found in an iron maiden in Germany, Rosemary became the chief suspect, and as noted above, executed for his murder.

Ten years later, Detective Nunn was still haunted by the case and decided to dig a little further, with shocking results.

No Rest for the Dead is a unique thriller for several reasons. Not only is it a fascinating read, but it is written by twenty-six of the top authors in the mystery genre who took turns writing their particular chapter(s).

This is one of the most deeply disturbing novels I've ever read. The telling of the execution alone will leave many readers shaken. But at the same time, it is a compelling read as we get involved with the rest of the story leading to Rosemary's arrest, conviction, and death.

The novel flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter with each writer telling their portion of the tale. It's amazing that twenty-six writers could stay focused on the theme to the extent they did. There is not a weak chapter in the whole book.

No Rest for the Dead

See summmaries above.
With some of my favorite authors as Deaver, Khoury, Margolin, and Lynds, I knew I would get top notch reading. In fact all the authors did a great job on this collaboration. I'm not normally a mystery reader but with the talent in these pages I couldn't help but have to. Good characters and good continuity with a mystery that will surprise. If there was anything slightly negative I would have to say that some of the chapters were a little short.

How good No Rest for the Dead is depends on what you are expecting. If you're hoping for a genuinely exciting crime thriller made brilliant by the sheer power the authors working on it, then you may be disappointed. While the 26 creators of this piece pen together a justifiable novel, but between the disjointed style, the cheese factor to the power of 26 and the challenge of keeping a story coherent with so many voices the overall book does not shine.

However if you are looking for a gimmicky show-case of a couple of dozen authors and a study in the differences in their style then this book is perfect.

I summary: An interesting idea leading to a mediocre story.

This book is based on an intriguing idea: get a bunch of best-selling mystery writers to contribute a chapter each to a mystery novel. Unfortunately, the gimmick just doesn't work. The transitions from chapter to chapter are just too choppy and jarring. Some of the chapters are pure padding that does nothing to advance the plot. Minor characters are introduced suddenly, the story is told from their viewpoint, and then they disappear just as suddenly. You never really get to know or like any of the main characters, and Christopher Thomas in particular is such a caricature of pure evil, he is laughable. The story shows promise in its early stages but the resolution of the mystery is weak and unsatisfactory. The whole thing was a disappointment for me.

I was intrigued by this idea and after reading awhile you could not tell when there was a switch in writers, in my opinion.
Although I have to say I guessed the bad guy fairly early in the story. It seemed there were almost as many "bad guys" as there were writers.
Congrats to the mastermind for putting this together and of course each writer that contributed some of which are my favorites.

Jon Nunn, the detective who thought he got the right person ten years ago, is now having second thoughts. When an anniversary of Rosemary's death is being held, a memorial so to speak, Nunn figures now is the perfect time to re-evaluate the case of Christopher Thomas. Rosemary's Will stipulated that everyone who was present on the night of her husband's murder be invited to the memorial.

He just isn't sure that Rosemary really killed her husband all of those years ago and it doesn't sit right with him. Surely he can get a clue from those attending the memorial and mayhap, the real killer will expose himself. But nothing is ever that easy, and No Rest For The Dead will keep you riveted with the plot twists, turns and unexpected surprises.

Each chapter is written by a different best-selling suspense author, but the chapters just mesh together into a first-rate, thrilling mystery that will keep you gripped in it's entirety. If you love mysteries that aren't easy to figure out, yet are entertaining and written superbly, you won't want to miss No Rest For The Dead!

I expected the many authors to make for a choppy, disconnected novel with lots of internal contradictions. It did not happen.
The twists and turns mentioned by another reviewer make for exciting, suspenseful reading.
A joy.No Rest for the Dead (Thorndike Press Large Print Mystery Series)

I went to Boucher.con, which is the biggest annual mystery writers convention each year, and ended up with a copy of the teaser chapter book --- which got me totally hooked. It took many moths until the book was finally published. But it was well worth the wait! i wasn't sure what to expect with so many chefs on the one dinner, but they pulled it off very handsomely and I definitely didn't see the ending coming.

This book is about a broken-down cop who feels horribly guilty because he believes he's helped convict and execute an innocent woman, accused of having murdered her husband, Christopher Thomas. The first seven chapters are a flashback about the villain of the novel, said Christopher Thomas. The following 20 chapters take place 12 years later, and turn around a meeting where all suspects will be together, so that the cop can find out who is responsible for the death of Thomas and, more importantly, who wanted to see the innocent woman executed. Told like this, it doesn't sound so bad. But wait.

Attention: there follow SPOILERS. Do you care for motivation in a thriller? Then this book is not for you. Most of the situations just happen, and are not caused by anything. Just to produce a few examples, a diary of the main victim is produced from within a painting. Why was it hidden there? Just because. The lady who put it there was the same that retrieved it. She could have kept it at home. (By the way, the diary does not add up anything to the novel and is mere decoration.) A second example: in that very same night, a huge robbery is planned. It will take place while there is a reception with dozens of people. Why specifically that night, where it will be so much more difficult to carry it out? Because it is more spectacular. There is no other discernible reason.

Care for a believable atmosphere, such as Baltimore in "The Wire" or the West Coast in Dashiell Hammet's works? You won't be interested in this book. The authors do not seem to have ever been to San Francisco, or to have any notion of social contradictions. Yet the problem is not their lack of realism. This is fiction alright. The problem is how superficial the whole geography of the novel is - how blurred, sloppy, utterly uninteresting.

Do you enjoy tight plots? Then this book is not for you. In the first few chapters, authors try hard to give some kind of intrigue to the lame story-line. To this effect, they produce a number of suspects, all of them clichés: a rough fake-art dealer, someone from the mafia who wants his money back, etc. Yet it is obvious that none of these characters has any possibility of being the real responsible; actually, on page 2, the protagonist clearly states that ALL suspects will be present at a reception, and these guys from the mafia are not invited and won't be there (they are never suspicious at all). Moreover, in ch. 1 the bad guys sets out to steal a painting. But afterwards the whole thing is forgotten, as it had never happened. It is admittedly decoration. And believe me, this is no red herring, but purely and simply an amateurish mistake.
The worry about lack of intrigue is also apparent in three "transitional passages" by J. Santlofer, inserted into chapters by other authors. They are about a "mysterious" watcher. The existence of the watcher is caused by the lack of real intrigue; the novel was so static they have to add bits and piece to give the impression that it was moving. (And guess what? It makes no sense that that particular person should be about "watching"! He just do it because it is so fitting for the intrigue!).

You care for original fiction? Then you'll be disappointed. The main plot-point of the book (a decomposed corpse is found; fingerprints are barely to be recovered; someone else is missing; everyone, including the reader, is led to believe that the corpse is that of the missing person) seems to be identical to that in a great novel by Michael Connelly, "The Black Ice" (1993). I don't have anything against good ideas migrating from one book to another. I do have something against turning a good idea into a lamentable narration.

Do you care for psychology in thrillers? Then please keep away from this book. The bad guy is really bad; he is Evil Itself. The Good Guy is an ex-drunkard, as there are so many in crime fiction, only he is politically correct, and he does some mischief just like a toddler; he is bi-dimensional from beginning to end. The judge who convicted Rosemary did so because last time she had left a rapist walk (cliché); the DA accused Rosemary so hard because she, as a rich woman, was dangerous, and he defended equality (superficial). The victim (Rosemary) is also as superficial as you may wish; she finds it terrible that she has lost her looks, and that her husband has so many lovers. Even characters who are described as "lovable" are merely DESCRIBED as lovable; the reader is never shown WHY they are lovable. The authors only want the reader to believe they are, but they make no effort at showing this with at least one image.

Do you enjoy humour? Then don't read this book. There is no sense of humour, no sense or sensibility, no capacity at making images, no plot-talent, no research, no gripping characters, in one word, nothing of what makes a book great. All humour is involuntary. David Baldacci, in his introduction, which is laudatory to the extent it makes the reader uncomfortable (just how hard can he try to sell the book?), states "you can tell [...] you figured it out in the last three pages", as though it were difficult to figure the denouement out! Yet what is tragically ironical, is that on page 203 (of 252) it is stated, almost in as many words, what the whole mystery is about. Even the dullest reader will know it way before the last three pages; indeed, in the last 50 pages there is no mystery whatever, just action. So, after having read also the great many factual mistakes in Baldacci's introduction, one cannot help but wonder whether he's read the novel at all. (He says, for instance, "Everyone knows she [Rosemary] has done it", which is absurd; on the contrary, from page 1 the reader knows for a fact that she has not, I repeat, HAS NOT done it.)

Still, I give the book two stars, instead of one (or zero, which in many ways it deserve) because it is easy to read, and so basic in every respect that you can read it even if you are half asleep, or in a subway full of people. Also, because I feel sympathy for a number of talented authors, who must have got an e-mail from the editors and found out they were embarked in this disastrous enterprise, while it was already to late to withdraw from the project; whereas the editors are perhaps not to blame either, since it is certainly bad luck that so many authors, some of them simply good, could not write anything better, or at least less dry, than this book. In short, more than a disappointment, this book is a spectacular failure. As such, it may certainly be interesting.

I would recommend this book as it delivers different aspects to a storyline that you don't get with just one writer. However, I didn't feel that the storyline flowed as well as it should have. It took me several chapters to feel the characters and peak my interest. At that point I finished the book in one sitting. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

I was looking forward to reading this book. I've read some of the authors and enjoy their solo work. I thought I knew what the ending was going to be after reading for only about an hour. Hoping I was wrong, I finished the book. Unfortunately I was right. I was really hoping to be surprised.

To sum this book up in a nutshell: disappointing. I read it with high hopes, but the story got somewhat frustrating for me. The tone of the writing change, it changed from 3rd person perspective to 1st person perspective several times. What's more annoying is, when it started to be written in 1st person, you had to figure out who's that person telling the story in 1st person perspective- it changes each time, each chapter! The writers obviously did not gather together to decide and agree upon a point of view this story was going to be written in.
Also, the plot seems way too ambitious: a man thought to be Chris Thomas is found in an iron maiden, and a very unprofessional forensic pathologist who ID'ed the victim based his findings on one finger and one teeth- really? The story took place in 2010- is that even plausible today- why did the courts which convicted Rose Thomas not find this evidence as invalid, given the countless amounts of times it was told she tried to appeal- surely her lawyers should've looked closer at the reports. But if we accept such mistakes in forensics to occur, I would expect it to come from a remote, country forensic institute- not from Berlin, Germany.
Thirdly, and this isn't entirely the fault of the writers (since 20 writers contributed to this), but the character development seemed far too out of place. Jon Nunn seems to be the obvious heroof this story, but there wasn't anything of him worth admiring at the end- the writers didn't delve enough into his life to make us feel sufficient sympathy- yes, his wife was taken from him, but a scene to epitomise this pain he felt, where perhaps his wife walked out on him when he was deep in depression would've helped?

I found the concept of the book fascinating but didn't know what to expect. Having this many blue chip mystery writers each contribute a chapter. How would it flow? Would it be cohesive and build to a proper conclusion that you would expect from a lineup this strong?

Answers: Yes, yes and yes, without question. I'm not sure how it got done, but this is a magnificent murder mystery that will absolutely keep you guessing until the end. I had a possible piece of it figured out, but it became more of a red herring than I expected.

This is an absolutely amazing piece of writing and editing. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when the editors and writers discussed how this was going to be done. Should be the stuff of writer's workshops and seminars.

No Rest For The Dead is both an excellent mystery novel on it's own merit. But it's also an amazing example of collaborative writing that shouldn't be missed. You're in for a treat on many levels. Perfect summer page-turner.

It's a cute idea, having a bunch of authors each write a part of a story. People who like to namedrop or brag about reading New York Times bestselling authors may like this book because it gives them bragging rights. If, on the other hand, you are just interested in being entertains, this book won't do it.
While I like some of the authors and read everything they put out(Baldacchi and Palmer), there are several that are far too whiney for my tastes. Well, as you might expect, parts of the book are well written and parts are just plain painful. Since the authors each are putting their mark on the same story, there is a lot of redundancy.
Not a good use of your time.

Just happened upon this while on vacation. Interesting concept. Coud definitely tell difference btwn authors. Story line maintained throughout. I don't think I would indulge agin, if this idea repeated. Once was enough

What a great collaboration by these writers, their chapters run seamlessly into the next but you are still able to identify each author. Great story line, action, suspense, twists and turns I will not try to summarise the story but will say the whole book is a great read and I finished it in one sitting - a good sign it is a great book.

This book is about a broken-down cop who feels horribly guilty because he believes, poor soul, he's helped convict and execute an innocent woman.

Do you care for motivation in a thriller? Then this book is not for you. Most of the situations just happen, and are not caused by anything. Just to produce a few examples (attention: there follow SPOILERS), a diary of the main victim is produced from within a painting. Why was it hidden there? Just because. The lady who put it there was the same that retrieved it. She could have kept it at home. (By the way, the diary does not add up anything to the novel and is mere decoration.) A second example: in that very same night, a huge robbery is planned. It will take place while there is a reception with dozens of people. Why specifically that night, where it will be so much more difficult to carry it out? Because it is more spectacular. There is no other discernible reason.

Care for a believable atmosphere, such as Baltimore in "The Wire" or the West Coast in Dashiell Hammet's works? You won't be interested in this book. The authors do not seem to have ever been to San Francisco, or to have any notion of social contradictions. Yet the problem is not their lack of realism. This is fiction alright. The problem is how superficial the whole geography of the novel is - how blurred, sloppy, utterly uninteresting.

Do you enjoy tight plots? Then this book is not for you. In the first few chapters, authors try hard to give some kind of intrigue to the lame story-line. To this effect, they produce a number of suspects, all of them clichés: a rough fake-art dealer, someone from the mafia who wants his money back, etc. Yet it is obvious that none of these characters has any possibility of being the real responsible; actually, on page 2, the protagonist clearly states that ALL suspects will be present at a reception, and these guys from the mafia are not invited and won't be there (they are never suspicious at all). Moreover, in ch. 1 the bad guys sets out to steal a painting. But afterwards the whole thing is forgotten, as it had never happened. It is admittedly decoration. And believe me, this is no red herring, but purely and simply an amateurish mistake.
The worry about lack of intrigue is also apparent in three "transitional passages" by J. Santlofer, inserted into chapters by other authors. They are about a "mysterious" watcher. The existence of the watcher is caused by the lack of real intrigue; the novel was so static they have to add bits and piece to give the impression that it was moving. (And guess what? It makes no sense that that particular person should be about "watching"! He just do it because it is so fitting for the intrigue!).

You care for original fiction? Then you'll be disappointed. The main plot-point of the book (a decomposed corpse is found; fingerprints are barely to be recovered; someone else is missing; everyone, including the reader, is led to believe that the corpse is that of the missing person) seems to be identical to that in a great novel by Michael Connelly, "The Black Ice" (1993). I don't have anything against good ideas migrating from one book to another. I do have something against turning a good idea into a lamentable narration.

Do you care for psychology in thrillers? Then please keep away from this book. The bad guy is really bad; he is Evil Itself. The Good Guy is an ex-drunkard, as there are so many in crime fiction, only he is politically correct, and he does some mischief just like a toddler; he is bi-dimensional from beginning to end. The judge who convicted Rosemary did so because last time she had left a rapist walk (cliché); the DA accused Rosemary so hard because she, as a rich woman, was dangerous, and he defended equality (superficial). The victim (Rosemary) is also as superficial as you may wish; she finds it terrible that she has lost her looks, and that her husband has so many lovers. Even characters who are described as "lovable" are merely DESCRIBED as lovable; the reader is never shown WHY they are lovable. The authors only want the reader to believe they are, but they make no effort at showing this with at least one image.

Do you enjoy humour? Then don't read this book. There is no sense of humour, no sense or sensibility, no capacity at making images, no plot-talent, no research, no gripping characters, in one word, nothing of what makes a book great. All humour is involuntary. David Baldacci, in his introduction, which is laudatory to the extent it makes the reader uncomfortable (just how hard can he try to sell the book?), states "you can tell [...] you figured it out in the last three pages", as though it were difficult to figure the denouement out! Yet what is tragically ironical, is that on page 203 (of 252) it is stated, almost in as many words, what the whole mystery is about. Even the dullest reader will know it way before the last three pages; indeed, in the last 50 pages there is no mystery whatever, just action. So, after having read also the great many factual mistakes in Baldacci's introduction, one cannot help but wonder whether he's read the novel at all. (He says, for instance, "Everyone knows she [Rosemary] has done it", which is absurd; on the contrary, from page 1 the reader knows for a fact that she has not, I repeat, HAS NOT done it.)

Still, I give the book two stars, instead of one (or zero, which in many ways it deserve) because it is easy to read, and so basic in every respect that you can read it even if you are half asleep, or in a subway full of people. Also, because I feel sympathy for a number of talented authors, who must have got an e-mail from the editors and found out they were embarked in this disastrous enterprise, while it was already to late to withdraw from the project; whereas the editors are perhaps not to blame either, since it is certainly bad luck that so many authors, some of them simply good, could not write anything better, or at least less dry, than this book. In short, more than a disappointment, this book is a spectacular failure. As such, it may certainly be interesting.

I have never written a review before, but felt I needed to share my thoughts on No Rest for the Dead. It is a wonderful read and I would highly recommend it.

The work that must have gone into coordinating all these extraordinary authors must have been a labor of love. It shows in the execution and continuity of the story. What really held my interest was to see how each author applied their trademark to each chapter assigned to them. This took an already interesting story of itself and transformed it into a compelling novel. This unique approach drew me into the story line and characters.

Add to that the donation of all proceeds from the sale of this book after production costs to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and this book becomes an attractive addition to any literary collection.

Thank you, Andrew F. Gulli and Lamia J. Gulli, for sharing this with us.

I had hopes for this book as many of my favorite authors are included. How unfortunate that it was dull and had zero depth. I cared nothing for the characters. I think the major problem is while the idea is unique, having 26 authors try to develop a story will never allow the story to move along.

I will always love these authors but please do not waste your time reading this predicatable boring book. Patterson, who is the king of no depth, writes better than this hodgepodge.

I first thought the book was written only by Sandra Brown. When I received the book, I realized it was written by a bunch of authors. I loved the way the book flowed from one author to the next, seamlessly! I've never read a book written in this form, but with these authors, I'm sure I'd read another.

If you're a mystery fan, you don't want to miss No Rest for the Dead.

Hardly seeming like a story written by 26 different authors, this seamless thriller will keep you guessing till the end. Yet, the unique format delivers all of the richness you'd expect from these best sellers with a breadth and depth of style you wouldn't get from a lone author.

A great mix of a cerebral who-dunnit and an action-packed adventure, No Rest for the Dead is a definite must-read.

I was a bit skeptical about a book written by several authors. Even several well-known authors. What a good surprise! Nothing like the disconnected 1970's "Naked Came the Stranger," this is a true page-turner. A great read. Treat yourself to this well-written, well-edited, surprise-ending mystery.

I was looking so forward to this book when I found out the background on it. I have read ALL of David Baldachi's books, as he became one of my favorite spy thriller novelists.. But, this book does not even come close to a D.B. novel. There is no flow between writers.. It is choppy and the writing styles used, including #9's smutty language and F bombs, none of which D.B. uses or needs to use in his books, really took the book to tasteless points..It is full of over-discriptions, example; 3 pages on the light in the room..UHG!!! Makes you want to scream, JUST GET ON WITH IT, THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE NOVEL!!!! What an incredible disappointment... Waste of time and money..

David Baldachi, this is not worth your name... shame shame... You should have had more input in the writing styles..

Ugh....twenty-six accomplished authors write a terribly mundane, by the books, implausible novel. That's not the tagline but it might have well been. The idea of different authors tackling different chapters is interesting but the problem here is that you couldn't tell one author's voice from another. They all are "stuck" with the same bland cast and idiotic storyline. Overall, its just a very bad result for an intriguing idea.

This is a very unusual book, comprising "chapters" written by differing authors. At no point is one writer's style overtly present, as they all seemed to have followed the same style.
This is a MUST READ book for anyone who likes forensics!

I really thought this book would be much better than it turned out to be. Especially since it was written by so many top-notch authors. But it was a slow-moving book, & I had to make myself keep reading, since I was pretty bored with it through the entire story.

A host of successful authors does not a successful story make. Collectvely it doesn't work, and shouldn't. Each writer has his or her own voice. The babble coming through should be accompanied by a tower. I'm giving three stars for the idea only.
JMHO.

No Rest for the Dead is one of the best thrillers I've ever read. Great plot, gripping action, characters who jump out of the page and a twist that shocked me! Contributions by some of the world's finest thriller writers from Sandra Brown, Lisa Scottoline, Michael Palmer, John Lescroart, Jeffery Deaver, Diana Gabaldon, Jeff Abbott, and Tess Gerritsen made this a book I couldn't put down. This is not your run-of-the mill thriller, instead it's complex yet easy to read, entertaining yet something that will give you pause to think at the end. Read it, enjoy it, and tell a friend!

This was a phenomenal book that was nearly impossible to put down. Although it was a brilliant collaboration of some of my favorite authors, I was unsure how it would flow, and whether the continuity of the story would be jeopardized. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the chapters flowed seamlessly into one another, and were all extremely well written, combining to create a thrilling and suspenseful novel full of unanticipated twists and turns. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a thought provoking yet entertaining read.

When I first realized this book was written by 26 authors I expected to be disappointed. How could so many authors put together a book that would be cohesive and seem like a book by one author.

Was I surprised to read an interesting, complex plot and well done book. I have to say the authors did a first rate job. I highly recommend this book. It will keep you up until the wee hours trying to figure out how it ends.

Having been a Strand Magazine collector since 1987 (starting with the July 1891 issue containing the first S. Holmes story published by the Strand Magazine), and being a dedicated admirer of Sir A. Conal Doyle and his cohort, S. Holmes, the collaboration that took place on this book was not only fascinating, but a "work of art" in and of itself - this book is the exception to the rule "there are too many cooks (writers) in the kitchen (book)!" Congratulations and best success with the book.

I, too, was intrigued that 26 authors could write a readable mystery. Let me tell you they did! Please start at the beginning - David Baldacci's introduction and read straight to the end. No cheating or you'll ruin a fine tale of murder and mayhem!

I was very disappointed in No Rest For The Dead. I did not find the story line easy to follow (I read for enjoyment)nor interesting. I have read other books by mutiple authors and enjoyed those reads, but this book was a waste of my reading time - which is very precious to me.

A really good read!! More importantly, the brother & sister editing team is donating their proceeds to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! LLS is an amazing organization......Thank you Andrew & Lamia Gulli!