A Motive for Murder

Roy Glenn returns with another action-packed saga in the Mike Black universe, which launched over two decades ago.

The war with the Troka Clan, an Albanian mafia organization, is over. Still, Shy is convinced that the gang’s American partner, Daniel Beason, is responsible for the murder of her friend, Reeva Duckworth. Despite her promise to hang up her guns, and her husband’s pleas for her not to get involved because the Albanians are dangerous, Shy is determined to find Beason and ensure he gets what he deserves. Knowing that the boss’s wife can’t be in the streets unprotected, Shy enlists the help of her lifelong BFF, Ryder, the acting captain of Carter Garrison’s crew.

Ryder has problems of her own to deal with. She’s involved in an escalating dispute with Rodney Mack, AKA Truck, one of Kojo’s top drug lieutenants. Their war of words has pushed the already fragile peace between The Family and Kojo’s organization to its breaking point. In addition to the rising tensions with The Family, Kojo has Detective Marita Bautista and her Strike Team coming hard at him, racking up big bust after big bust. Kojo is sure that Bautista has an informant inside of his organization and sends his lieutenants to find the snitch inside his house.

With the Albanians on one side and Kojo on the other, all Shy and Ryder have to do is solve Reeva Duckworth’s murder without starting a war in the process.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs