Unloaded Volume Two - a collection of short stories, a worthy perusal for all crime thriller fiction fans..

I loved this collection of short stories, there's something for everyone. Great to dip into when you have a few minutes to spare. I think it would benefit from a good proofread, though, as there were lots of silly, avoidable and typographical mistakes. Great concept too.

An eclectic collection of crime short stories without guns mentioned. Crime non the less. For me, a book to dip in and out of rather than read cover to cover.
I would recommend it, if like me, you have a strong aversion to guns.
Personally I prefer a single author with a single plot rather than a collection.

I chose this book because of the idea behind it - proceeds go towards States United To Prevent Gun Violence. It is the second collection. The premise is that it is possible to tell a solid thriller without including a gun. 22 of the stories are fictional. The last one is true, and has an editor’s note explaining why. I have read more than my share of thrillers, and felt this was right in my wheelhouse.

Honestly, this collection scared the hell out of me. The last story in particular stayed with me for days. It is a very dark collection. The stories take place in a variety of settings. The common theme through most of them is that violence and murder can happen anywhere, at anytime. Sometimes it is planned. Others are crimes in the heat of the moment. Some are even accidental. But regardless, the ramifications of those acts are deeply felt by others.

The collection also comes at the idea of violence from different angles. In one story the victim is an abusive spouse. Another story doesn’t have a stated perpetrator or victim, but instead explores the idea of not reporting a crime. Some of the stories are very quick reads - dynamic dashes of words. I don’t want to use the word “enjoyed”, but I did think most were well-written. I also found a few authors whose back catalogue might be worth exploring.

But not right now. Right now I will just be thankful for all that I have. I do recommend the collection, but in small doses. It did take me longer than usual to finish, as I had to stop frequently. I am glad I am now aware of the charity, but this may not have been the best route for me to take. And as the editor states in the foreward, hopefully there will not be a need for a third installment. But unfortunately there is a large part of me that doubts that to be true.

Unloaded 2 provides a feast of reading in the form of a nicely weighted collection of short stories.

In turn we visit:

a forgery story and a boy who saves Christmas.

a primate escaping from the zoo who spots a hedge cutter and fantasises about chopping off the mean giraffe's tail.

an abused wife whose husband likes to soak in bubbles.

a boxer reflecting on scam in a casino and a hooker who hits hard.

a brother who likes to play hide-and-seek can never be forgotten.

the search for a missing cat which reveals more than fur and paws.

money collectors.

revenge and tattoos.

a baby needing a new home.

prison killings.

the mystery of a soccer team's suicides.

the writer who gives robots their personalities.

a father attempting to reconnect with his disabled son.

a truly amazing disappearing trick.

a first night as a punk rocker.

a man and his lover waiting for her husband to come home.

a lighthouse with a gruesome past.

a restaurant critic serving up a meal of his own.

a cop straying from the straight and narrow.

a prison nightmare with remote control planes.

and, finally, a story with guns.

The range of styles and voices is broad, but they have in common quality writing and the ability to forge a world within only a few pages.

As with any anthology, I have my own favourites, but I think it would do you no favours to name them here. Instead, I'd urge you to read this yourself and pick your own.

My guarantee is that you're in for a treat with this collection. There are some great twists and turns, some really powerful emotions, genuinely nail-biting journeys and enough swift blows to keep you interested throughout.

The final piece underlines why gun law needs to be seriously re-considered. It's a work of non-fiction that ties the project up perfectly.

Unloaded 2 proves beyond doubt that guns aren't necessary to create amazing crime fiction. It delivers enough of the starters, the main courses, desserts and drinks for even the most voracious reader to have their fill.

Eric Beetner and Down & Out Books have returned with a second volume of short stories; their first outing was nominated for an Anthony at Bouchercon for Best Anthology/Collection in 2017. Beetner has corralled two dozen of today’s top and rising writers of crime fiction to donate a story to benefit States United To Prevent Gun Violence. The concept is a crime story in which no guns are used.

Anthologies are a tasting sampler – and almost all the writers in this volume have their work on Amazon. Each story can be read in one sitting, and you can appreciate sardonic humor, the stark landscapes, punk music in LA, and all kinds of creepy situations from the minds of these writers. Some highlights. There’s a schemer and a fugitive bonobo in James Ziskin’s Pan and Paniscus. A dim dad and bright son during the holiday season inhabit the pages of Chris Holm’s Con Season. A dying and nostalgic serial killer informs Laura McHugh’s Endgame. Bill Crider penned a postmodernist tale about a search for a missing cat. Two authors, Sanders and Shames, depict marriages gone sideways. In A Vanishing Story from Michael Kardos, there’s a brilliant mix of crime and horror. Nick Kolakowski’s story Amanda: A Confession is a real head-trip. Lori Rader-Day renders a tale with a white-trash vibe that includes a game of riddley-ree and a young girl who is smarter than her parents. There’s a little bit of darkness, in every conceivable possibility, for fans of crime fiction here, and for readers in search of new authors.

Closing notes: The story Poo-Poo (name of the cat) is especially poignant since Mr. Crider was fond of cats and he passed away in February 2018. The final piece from E.A. Aymar isn’t a short story, but an essay about a wayward bullet that struck his son’s daycare. Nobody was hurt, but the anxiety and fear is palpable, as it’s every parent’s nightmare and a stark reminder how the random and tragic can happen without warning.

If you are a fan of short stories, mysteries and thrillers, this book will not disappoint. The short stories in Unloaded 2 do not involve any deaths by gunfire. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any fatalities. Death is presented in a number of ways. Some fairly traditional and others are inventive and unusual – to say the least!

I applaud the authors, some well-known and popular writers while others are making their writing debuts, for giving their time and talent to such a worthy cause. The increase in gun violence in our country is well-documented. Proceeds from the sales of Unloaded will benefit the nonprofit States United To Prevent Gun Violence; an organization that supports reasonable gun laws.

This is not an anti-gun book. Rather, it is a collection of crime stories that are told without the mention of a gun. The stories are entertaining, original and while you may recognize some favorite authors, you’ll also be introduced to some new names. It’s a great opportunity to discover new authors and also reconnect with some old favorites.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review

Great group of stories. My favorite thing about anthologies is getting stories by favorite authors, and discovering new authors. Powerful and important stories. We need more books like this.

“Unloaded 2” is the second volume of short stories, humorous, horrifying, and all accomplished without guns. Eric Beetner has assembled this collection of stories with all the crime and suspense mystery readers have come to expect, animals, invalids, neighbors, and magic, however, the tragedy, murder, and mayhem all happen without guns.
These stories contain all thrilling action and suspense that readers know and love about crime stories, but doing this without guns results in some creative leaps from writers. The tales are scary, thought provoking, questioning, and downright creepy. If you are not afraid of farmland, rivers, zoo animals, everything Vegas, your neighbors, your relatives, and Christmas, you will be by the time you are finished reading.
The advantage of an anthology such as “Unloaded 2” is that I can finish an entire story in one sitting, while waiting for an appointment, or when I just need a quick break from the stress of the day. Be advised however, just like “Unloaded Volume 1,” these are not cute little “feel-good” stories; they compelling and scary. Once you start one, you will not be able to stop until you are finished. It is a good thing they are short.
I received a copy of “Unloaded” (volume 2) from Down and Out Books, Eric Beetner, and NetGalley. I love these collections, and I hope there will be more.

There might not be any guns, but there is plenty of death...

Down and Out Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published July 16th.

Here's a list of authors:
Chris Holm, Laura McHugh, James Ziskin, Steve Cavanaugh, Terry Shames, Dave White, Bill Crider, Alex Segura, Dana King, James R. Tuck, Kris Calvin, Andrew Case, Jay Stringer, Jon McGoran, Lori Rader-Day, Michael Kardos, Josh Stallings, John Rector, Lili White, Nick Kolakowski, Scott Loring Sanders, E.A. Amar, Sara Paretsky, and Eric Beetner.
These are mean stories of power and greed grinding out the weak. Spouses and lovers die with no remorse. Those who fail their jobs don't get another chance. This is a dog eat dog world.

There is no happy ever after here. Some of the victims were pathetic, some deserved what they got.

I was glad to reach the end and gather my breath. This not a fun read, you're warned.

As good as the first collection. Down and Out books should make Unloaded an annual tradition.
My review of volume one applies perfectly again in this one.

A more than important collection of shorts that takes on the issues about gun violence.

A very refreshing way to show that writing without guns is as good, even better, than your traditional clichéed crime novel where everything is settled with a bullet or two.

Will definitely recommand to everyone who's into crime stories.

This anthology doesn't match the quality of the first Unloaded. Still, there are some really good stories. I make the same recommendation as I did for Unloaded. Skip the introduction until after you read the stories. The stories are worth reading regardless of the political rhetoric. People have bullied, injured, tortured and murdered long before the invention of guns. These stories reflect that.