Duane Swierczynski is a cult star in mystery circles. He is the author of three very dark, very funny, marvelously written crime novels set in Philadelphia. The first, The Wheelman, is the story of a robbery gone bad, the second, The Bonde, is about a scientific experiment run amok. I loved both books, both were small print runs so collectors take note. Severance Package is Mr. Swiercznski's newest book. An office in the intelligence community is being shut down and the employees are informed in a meeting that they are targeted for death. What follows is a madcapped day that pits the employees against each other in kill or be killed situations. Swiercznski's narrative is fast, smooth and brilliantly paced, his characters memorable and his plotting, like his first two mysteries, is dark, violent, funny and crazy. Swiercznski is a fine example of new writing talent in mysteries.

Richard