Witnesses For The Dead: Stories

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How does witnessing a crime change a person? This powerful collection of stories by a star-studded roster of contributors examines this question, with proceeds benefiting the Alliance for Safe Traffic Stops. Inspired by recent true events, the all-original narratives are set in motion by the act of witnessing. The characters are not the perpetrators but grapple with their choices—whether to take action or retreat into the shadows—resulting in profound changes to their lives. In “Envy,” a shy wallflower witnesses a horrific event in his neighborhood, revealing dark truths about himself. Agatha Award-winner Richie Narvaez’s story features a Puertorriqueña college student on the run from the FBI due to her accidental involvement in a “terrorist” plot. Anthony Award-winner Gary Phillips tackles police corruption, while Sarah M. Chen’s protagonist investigates a stranger’s murder, prompting her to question Taiwan’s political structure. Other narratives explore themes involving a brothel, the film industry, immigrant detention centers at the Mexico-US border, World War II–torn France, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These incisive, unflinching, and sometimes terrifying stories compel readers to reflect: If I saw what they saw, what would I do?