From the greasy spoon to the gourmet sit-in, these stories show why diners aren’t family friendly. Diners are the place where heists are plotted, bodies get dumped behind, and police are tipped off. These eateries host every crime from domestic disputes and drug deals to premeditated murder and mob mutiny. It's all fluorescent-lit, fly-riddled entertainment to the drunk, recovering, or wish-they-were.

Whether the characters are the cooks, criminals, customers, or somewhere in-between, these short works pack a gut punch on par with the saltiest, soggiest Grand Slam breakfast special. There're breakups and bruises, gambling rackets and gang warfare, butchering and familial dismemberment—even schmoes tapping into a parallel universe or two. No matter who enters or at what time, wet, weary eyes always seem to find a steaming cup of joe to cloud-gaze in—and cry.

Forewords by Nevada McPherson and Manny Torres

Short stories by LG Thomson, Stephen J. Golds, Jhon Sanchez, Paige Johnson, Michael J. Riser, Nolan Knight, David Simmons, Liv Strom, Jon Gingerich, Nathan Pettigrew, Dino Parenti, Jesse Bethea, Joseph S. Walker, Gordon Dunleavy, Karen Keeley, Meredith C. Kurz, Jim Thomsen, Margaret S. Hamilton, and Wil Dalton.