Features pairings by twenty-three best-selling suspense writers, including John Sandford, F. Paul Wilson, and R. L. Stine, who in short high-action stories pit their most popular characters against one another.

Red eye / /Dennis Lehane vs. Michael Connelly -- -- In the nick of time / / Ian Rankin vs. Peter James -- -- Gaslighted / / R.L. Stine vs. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child -- -- The laughing Buddha / M.J. Rose vs. Lisa Gardner -- -- Surfing the panther / / Steve Martini vs. Linda Fairstein -- -- Rhymes with prey / / Jeffery Deaver vs. John Sandford -- -- Infernal night / Heather Graham vs. F. Paul Wilson -- -- Pit stop / / Raymond Khoury vs. Linwood Barclay -- -- Silent hunt / / John Lescroart vs. T. Jefferson Parker -- -- The devil's bones / / Steve Berry vs. James Rollins -- -- Good and valuable consideration / / Lee Child vs. Joseph Finder.