It’s surprising how much can be told in so little — 420 characters, the amount of space allowed in a Facebook status update. While this might sound like just some sort of literary gimmick, it’s quite effective in Beach’s capable hands. A flash of emotion, a quick peek of a moment in time, all this and more is evident in each miniaturized tale. Just as you settle in to reading the story, the last line can often deliver a zinger that upsets everything you thought about what you were reading.

The author of the very popular Artemis Fowl series for teens takes a shot at a grown-up crime thriller. Well, lots of shots, actually. Former Irish Army/UN peacekeeper Daniel McEvoy is living the lowlife as a door bouncer at a seedy New Jersey casino. His female companion of the moment gets murdered, and he finds a hit man in the office of the guy who (illegally) did his hair transplants. As one reviewer says, “Outrageous characters...uproariously funny plot twists, and brutal, nonstop action make this a sure-fire winner.”