"The Laughing Buddha" by M.J. Rose and Lisa Gardner

Since 2006 the International Thriller Writers has been penning and releasing original publications and anthologies to support the group. For thriller fans, it's true candy to supplement the ever-growing craving for more and more thrillers!

This year, the group has put together a truly novel collection in FaceOff. Edited by David Baldacci, the collection features pair ups of some of the most popular thriller writers out there, with their most famous characters facing off (pun intended) together in fabulous original stories! Some of the pair ups include R. L. Stine's Slappy vs Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's Pendergast in "Gaslighted," Heather Graham's Michael Quinn vs F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack in "Infernal Night," and Lee Child's Jack Reacher vs Joseph Finder's Nick Heller in "Good and Valuable Consideration." And of course, M.J. Rose's Malachai Samuels vs Lisa Gardner's D. D. Warren in "The Laughing Buddha."

When an antique dealer is discovered gunned down in his Beach Street shop, Boston sergeant detective D. D. Warren and her partners are called to the scene. At first it appears nothing has been taken but further inspection reveals that a large jade Buddha has gone missing from the dead man's office. The investigation soon leads Warren to Malachai Samuels, of the Phoenix Foundation. Samuels is known for his work with past-life regression. He's also known for his run ins with the law. And while he's never been convicted of anything, it doesn't make him an innocent man - but is he responsible for the antique dealer's death? And what's the significance of the jade Buddha?

"The Laughing Buddha" certainly isn't necessary to either the Reincarnationist or D. D. Warren series but fans of either or both will love this little bonus cross over story. Many an investigator has tried to bring down Samuels but I'll leave it to you to discover whether in D. D. he has finally met his match!