Rees Literary Agency

Published Books (Fiction)

The Art Forger (Algonquin) by B. A. Shapiro

"Precise and exciting . . . Readers seeking an engaging novel about artists and art scandals will find “The Art Forger” rewarding for its skillful balance of brisk plotting, significant emotional depth and a multi-layered narration rich with a sense of moral consequence.”— The Washington Post

Busy Monsters (W.W. Norton) by William Giraldi

"William Giraldi's Busy Monsters is rammed with life. A kind of elegiac intensity, remarkable for so young a man, pervades its harmonies."  - Harold Bloom

"Only Barry Hannah and early Martin Amis can match Giraldi at the level of the distressed but truthful sentence.  Busy Monsters wails with the urgency of rock and roll." -- Steve Almond

Pitch Dark (St. Martin's Press) by Steven Sidor

"Pitch Dark is a propulsive, layered, and brutal read. Sidor reminds you of the terrible violence of which we are capable and the heart that must be called upon to endure. A reader can't hope for more than to discover a writer possessed of both true talent and true passion. Discover Steven Sidor. —Michael Koryta, author of The Cypress House

You Know When the Men Are Gone (Amy Einhorn Books) by Siobhan Fallon

"Fallon, the wife of an officer, writes with understatement about the divide between those who go and those who stay... Whether or not characters agree to the unwritten pact of secrecy between soldier and civilian, war marks them as surely as medals on a uniform." -Bethanne Patrick, O, The Oprah Magazine 

"Siobhan Fallon tells gripping, straight-up, no-nonsense stories about American soldiers and their families. It's clear from her tender yet tough-minded first book, 'You Know When the Men Are Gone,' that she knows this world very well." -Janet Maslin, New York Times

"Fallon writes with both grit and grace: her depiction of military life is enlivened by telling details, from the early morning sound of boots stomping down the stairs to the large sign that tallies automobile fatalities of troops returned from Iraq. Significant both as war stories and love stories, this collection certifies Fallon as an indisputable talent." -Publishers Weekly

Death Drops (Simon & Schuster) by Chrystle Fieldler

"Death Drops is a gem! Entertaining, informative, and with a mystery that had me completely baffled!" — Gayle Trent, author of Killer Sweet Tooth

The Trials of Zion (Grand Central Publishing) by Alan Dershowitz

"Trials of Zion is an exceptional, action-packed book with the perfect mix of drama, romance, and political insight. Addressing the difficult situation in the Middle East with the rare ability of evenhandedness, Dershowitz proves, once again, his mastery of whatever job he decides to tackle." -Woodbury Magazine 

"Dershowitz has constructed a thriller based on current events that combines exciting action with courtroom drama and a lesson in the history and politics of the Middle East. A thought-provoking page-turner." -Booklist

Travel Writing (Harcourt) by Pete Ferry

"The book is totally captivating and page-turning on one level, completely soulful and honest on another level, beautifully written and in touch with the good living of life (in a Hemingway sort of way) on another level still, and all the while it raises all kinds of fascinating questions about fiction and fact and the writing process (without ever being too clever or coy)." -Dave Eggers, author of What Is the What

Day of Small Things (Bantam) by Vicki Lane

"Vicki Lane is a born storyteller in the finest tradition of Sharyn McCrumb." -Carolyn Hart, award-winning author of Dare to Die 

A Hatred for Tulips (St. Martins) by Richard Lourie

"Dark and fascinating...Lourie's prose is spare and evocative, the plot compelling." -The Wall Street Journal

"Enthralling...deeply thoughtful and hugely entertaining." -The Boston Globe

"Really fine fiction." -Time

Girl Most Likely To (Red Dress Ink) by Poonam Sharma

"Sharma's debut novel features engaging characters as her heroine grapples with what is expected of her versus what she herself desires." -Kristine Huntley, Booklist

All Eyes On Her (Red Dress Ink) by Poonam Sharma

"Oftentimes in chick lit the resolution is apparent by page 10; it's not so in Sharma's second outing. Readers won't be able to predict how Monica's happy ending will unfold, which will keep them turning the pages of this charming novel." -Kristine Huntley, Booklist

The Mirror's Edge (St. Martin ’s Press)by Steve Sidor

Claire Fontaine: Crime Fighter (St. Martin’s Press) by Tracey Enright

"Matches the staccato pace and quick rhythms of the finest detective novels...spices up the genre with sharp commentary on the fashions and home decor of L.A.'s trendy, wealthy denizens. Claire's a bankable character; her most endearing quality is her ability to rebound from disappointment... Crisp writing and clever characters make this updated debut crime novel a winner." -Kirkus Reviews

"An entertaining trip...As first novels go, this is a keeper." -Library Journal 

Mew is for Murder (Poisoned Pen Press) by Clea Simon

"Simon is poised to join the ranks of the more established authors of the cat-centric mystery." -Boston Globe

"Journalist Simon (The Feline Mystique) makes an auspicious fiction debut with a well-plotted cat mystery that's not your usual four-footed cozy caper." -Publishers Weekly

The Unwelcome Child (Kensington) by Terese Pampellonne

"The most chilling study of motherhood since Rosemary's Baby." -Scott Nicholson

"Sharp and smart, impossible to put down, The Unwelcome Child is a genuine chiller of a ghost story." -Tamara Thorne

Skin River (St. Martin’s Press) by Steven Sidor

"Hard-nosed, soft-hearted Buddy is irresistible, and Sidor supports him with bang-bang storytelling and a sharply drawn cast. Take note, and you may see a star in the making." -Kirkus Reviews

"With an eye for gritty detail and a predilection for metaphor, Sidor paints a morbid picture of deviance and death in the small Wisconsin town of Gunnar in his fast-paced crime debut." -Publishers Weekly

"Sidor's debut novel maintains the tension throughout as the serial killer continues to thwart and taunt investigators. Exquisitely plotted, with a well-realized main character." -Booklist

The Autobiography of Joseph Stalin: A Novel (Counterpoint) by Richard Lourie

"A ferociously absorbing account of the making of a monster...conveys the savagery in a way that biography simply cannot." -Newsday

"A grimly comic, historically enthralling book, deeply thoughtful and hugely entertaining." -Boston Globe

"Dark and fascinating...Lourie's prose is spare and evocative, the plot compelling even if the end is well-known, and the story surprisingly funny at times." -Wall Street Journal

Murder at The B-School (Mysterious Press) by Jeffrey Cruikshank

"Cruikshank's debut mystery novel is impressive... engagingly entertaining." -Barbara Jacobs, Booklist 

More Than You Know (Agate Publishing) by Rosalyn Story

"Lyrical and lovely; how rare it is for a book to transport me to another time and place the way this novel does." -David Haynes, author of Somebody Else's Mama and The Full Matilda

"[Rosalyn Story] gives us the intricacies of jazz - music and metaphor - in a way that turns each chapter into a verse of the song that teaches us what is costs to be a full human being." -Maxine Clair, author of Rattlebone and October Suite

The Mentor (Bantam) by Sebastian Stuart

"The Mentor deserves to find a place on the bestseller list." -Chicago Tribune, Review

"Fans of established thriller writers as William Goldman or Ira Levin will recognize in Stuart's first novel the subtly eerie atmosphere, the characters with dark shadows flickering in their eyes, the sense of something about to happen... It's fresh, stylish, full of interesting details" -David Pitt, Booklist

Slow Walk in a Sad Rain (Warner Books) by John McAfee

"A solid sensitive work filled with a wild collection of loons, goons, and heroes. McAfee writes the way many of us thought in the darkest hours of those days back in Vietnam." -Dale Dye, author of Platoon 

Fire on Dark Water (Berkeley) by Wendy Perriman

“Perriman’s realistic portrait of Blackbeard and his women is stark in its grittiness and fascinating in all its darkness …. this tale will entice readers interested in strong women making it in a man’s world.” -Kathe Robin,
RT Book Reviews

(Fiction Series)

by Mark Pryor

The Bookseller: The First Hugo Marston Novel (Seventh Street) by Mark Pryor

"VERDICT: Pryor's steady and engrossing debut combines Sherlockian puzzle solving with Eric Ambler-like spy intrigue. With a cast of characters you want to know better and a storyline cloaked in World War II betrayals (think Nazi collaborators), the author winningly blends contemporary crime with historical topics." - Library Journal, Debut of the Month Starred review!

by Mark Russinovich

Zero Day (St. Martin's Press)

"Mark came to Microsoft in 2006 to help advance the state of the art of Windows, and now in his latest compelling creation he is raising awareness of the all-too-real threat of cyberterrorism." - Bill Gates

Trojan Horse (St. Martin's Press) by Mark Russinovich

“Russinovich works for Microsoft and understands the world of computer software. He’s able to convey complex technical information in easy-to-understand terms. Thrills and strong characters add to the fun. Fans of Daniel Suarez and other technothriller scribes should add Russinovich to their reading lists.” —Booklist

by Anna Salter: 

Shiny Water (Pocket Books)

"Fascinating reading...Salter introduces a heroine whose wit and courage shine through." -Tess Gerritsen, author of Harvest and Life Support

Fault Lines (Pocket Books)

"A crackling, suspenseful mystery" -Andrew Vachss

White Lies (Pocket Books)

"Dr. Michael Stone is sure to take her place beside the major characters in crime fiction." -Andrew Vachss

by Sharon Kahn: 

Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver (Scribner)

"Sharon Kahn's 'kosher kozies' have a charm all their own." -Publishers Weekly

Don’t Cry For Me, Hot Pastrami (Scribner)

"A fast-paced mystery, a cast of quirky characters, humor and wit...make this a delightful addition to the series." -Publishers Weekly

Fax Me a Bagel (Scribner)

"Effectively combines humor with crime." -Booklist

Hold the Cream Cheese; Kill the Lox (Scribner)

"Chicken soup for the funny bone." -Publishers Weekly

Never Nosh a Matzo Ball (Scribner)

"Kahn helps readers to a full serving of Judaic wit and wisdom." -Publishers Weekly

by Elise Title:

Chain Reaction (Warner Books)

Killing Time (St. Martin’s Mystery)

Conviction (St. Martin’s Mystery)

"Those who think women can't write tough prose should meet the star of this series debut." -Publishers Weekly on Killing Time

by Gregory Bean:

Grave Victory (St. Martin ’s Press)

No Comfort in Victory (St. Martin ’s Press)

Long Shadows in Victory (St. Martin’s Press)

A Death in Victory (St. Martin ’s Press)

"In this solid series, Harry Starbranch rings true as the fiercely independent westerner who stands by his friends and does the right thing, no matter what the cost to himself." - Publishers Weekly

"Nail-biting suspense...and a mystery plot that is unsettling and surprising. Starbaranch is a modern knight-errant." - Booklist

by Carol Carr:  

India Black: A Madam of Espionage Mystery (Berkley) 

“A delightful debut with an unconventional heroine and mysterious hero … A fascinating and amazing cast of characters will keep you turning pages.” -Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder on Lexington Avenue

India Black and the Widow of Windsor (Berkley)

A national bestseller.

by Clay and Susan Griffith: 

Vampire Empire: The Greyfrier (Pyr)

 “I love this book. It’s epic and lovely, heartbreakingly romantic (in every sense of the word), and an incredibly satisfying read, both for the characters and for the richness of the world.”  -Marjorie M. Liu, New York Times bestselling author of the Hunter Kiss and Dirk & Steele series.

Vampire Empire: The Rift Walker (Pyr)

“Phenomenal … from start to finish. Amazing vampire mythology, a chilling alternate history, and a poignant romance that grips your whole heart and refuses to let go.” -All Things Urban Fantasy

Vampire Empire: The Kingmakers (Pyr)

"Vampire Empire is one of the best fantasy series I've read, set in a unique postapocalyptic world. The landscapes, the peoples, and the incredible gizmos will attack your senses. Their unforgettable characters will stay with you as the tale unwinds." - RT Book Reviews

by Vicki Lane: 

Signs in the Blood (Bantam Dell)

"[A] well-crafted, dramatic tale of murder, miracles and midlife romance... Lane utilizes exotic religions to intensify the book's dark-toned suspense, while resisting oversimplification and insult. Her heroine's open-minded fascination with beliefs not her own should appeal to an unusually wide readership." -Publishers Weekly

Art’s Blood (Bantam Dell)

"Lane's sharp eye for detail gets put to good use in this second installment of her Appalachian series... The dialogue sparkles with authenticity, and Lane generates suspense without sacrificing the charm and mystique of her mountain community." -Publishers Weekly

Old Wounds (Bantam)

In a Dark Season (Bantam)

Under the Skin (Bantam)

"A Master at creating authentic details while building suspense." -Asheville Citizen-Times

(Poetry)

by Hal Sirowitz 

Before, During & After (Soft Skull Press)

Father Said (Poems) (Soft Skull Press)

"Hal Sirowitz is the bard of the deadpan delivery. His poems are like a mad combination of the haiku and the Borscht Belt - they make me laugh and smile with happiness at the pain of being alive." -Jonathan Ames

"Hal Sirowitz's poems are indelible because they're incredibly funny, totally genuine, and because they're rooted in a complicated sympathy for the ambitions of the American family." -Rick Moody