The Rise by Ian Rankin

 

First Line: Gish arrived at The Rise on her mountain bike, so had no trouble parking.

 

The Rise is the newest residential tower that stands on some of London's most prestigious real estate. Only multi-millionaires need apply for one of the sumptuous apartments in this building that looms over Hyde Park.

 

When the night concierge is found murdered in The Rise's lobby, its elite residents come under police scrutiny-- something they definitely are not accustomed to.

 

Continually obstructed by locked doors, the rules of diplomatic immunity, and an apparent lack of motive, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Gish has her work cut out for her to find the killer.

 

 

 

~

 

 

Ian Rankin's The Rise is a deftly written, swiftly paced story that has a lot to say about the London property market and the types of people who live in exclusive buildings. The cast of suspects is varied and interesting, and I did like DS Gish. 

 

The bottom line? This story was fun to read but altogether too easy to figure out.

The Rise by Ian Rankin

eISBN: 9781662515347

Amazon Original Stories © 2023

eBook, 86 pages

Short Story

Rating: B

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose

 

First Line: My gran loved all holidays, but her favorite by far was Christmas.

 

The first few Christmases without her beloved grandmother were tough for Molly Gray. Her grandmother went to great lengths to make the season merry, bright, and filled with cherished traditions. Now Molly has her boyfriend to bring the joy back to Christmas, and that's exactly what Juan Manuel is determined to do.

 

When a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Gran Hotel makes Molly wonder whom she can and cannot trust, she immediately goes to work to answer her nagging questions.

 

~

 

The Mistletoe Mystery is a perfect Christmas story, filled with traditions and more than a bit of magic. I loved the Advent calendar Molly's grandmother made from a discarded library card catalog and the handmade vest that is Molly's favorite piece of clothing. This story is guaranteed to remind readers of their own special holiday traditions.

 

Molly's grandmother always helped Molly with her social ineptness and inability to read facial expressions, and Molly could certainly use her help in The Mistletoe Mystery. Molly is such a special character whom I first met in Nita Prose's The Maid. She's a character who stays with you, and as I read, I not only felt compassion for her as she misinterprets Juan Manuel's behavior but joy as well because I could interpret the signs Molly couldn't.

This is a nice little mystery filled with holiday spirit. I love spending time with Molly.

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose

eISBN: 9780593875452

Ballantine Books © 2024

eBook, 128 pages

 

Short Story, #2.5 Molly Gray

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

The Tasting Menu by Stuart MacBride

 

First Line: A scream ripped free as lightning tore the night apart-- light strobing across the bleak landscape, casting it in harsh shades of black and white.

 

Three friends go on a Highland foodie road trip to an exclusive hotel and restaurant on an island in Loch Broom. They're celebrating one member's retirement, and they fully expect stunning scenery, great food, and fine wines, all backed up with plenty of memories about the good old days. They are convinced this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

But all is not what it seems. One of the three friends is a killer, one is a liar, and one will do whatever it takes to survive. 

 

~

 

I was a great fan of Stuart MacBride's Logan McRae series until he introduced a character that I loathed. Unfortunately, she became a fan favorite, and when she featured more and more in subsequent books, I stopped reading them. But I miss this man's writing. I read his first novel, halfhead, with mixed emotions, and I've been MacBride-less ever since. Then I found this short story on Amazon, and I just had to read it. 

 

The three main characters are quite the combination. Michael Harris is a bestselling author who's pining for his former glory. After reading his latest manuscript, his publicist tells him, "Nobody wants gangster novels anymore; everyone's obsessed with cosy crime. Could you... tweak it maybe?" He was my favorite character; I loved his voice and enjoyed the pointed references to the world of publishing. Victor McAllister has been Michael's friend for years. Formerly a gangster, he's a bit of a Jack the Lad and is the one responsible for booking this foodie experience. The third character, recently retired Detective Inspector Alex Raith, is too much like the character who made me stop reading the Logan McRae books, so I have to admit that, if any one character had to die, I hoped it would be her.

Although I found the plot gave me a bit of indigestion, I did enjoy experiencing MacBride's humor again. He's got another series. I know I'll be giving it a try soon.

The Tasting Menu by Stuart MacBride

eISBN: 9781662518232

Amazon Original Stories © 2024

eBook, 127 pages

Short Story, Standalone

Rating C

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

The Man in Black & Other Stories by Elly Griffiths

 

First Line (from The Man in Black): Ruth loves the bookshop at Jarrolds.

 

There is truly something for everyone in Elly Griffiths' The Man in Black & Other Stories, especially if you're already a fan of her books featuring Ruth Galloway, Max Mephisto, Justice Jones, and Harbinder Kaur. 

Readers will get to experience Harbinder Kaur's first day on the job, Justice Jones as a 21-year-old private detective in London, and a few featuring Ruth and Nelson. There's even a story from the point of view of Ruth's cat, Flint.

The nineteen stories feature Scandinavian traditions, psychological suspense, love and loss, mini cozy mysteries, and some spine-tingling ghost stories. I think I read most of this book with a smile on my face.

My favorite stories? The very first one in the book, The Man in Black. I was enchanted by the very first line: "Ruth loves the bookshop at Jarrolds" and it got even better from there. A nameless forensic archaeologist made me smile in Articulation, and Flint's Fireside Tale was a treat.

If you're already an Elly Griffiths fan, this book is a must-read. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading one of her books, this may be the perfect introduction. She's one of the best writers of crime fiction today, so don't miss out!

The Man in Black & Other Stories by Elly Griffiths

ISBN: 9781529420494

Quercus © 2024

Hardcover, 320 pages

 

Short Story Collection

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon UK.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King

 

Containing the novellas Mr. Harrigan's Phone, The Life of Chuck, If It Bleeds, and Rat.

 

Of the four novellas in this collection, my favorites are If It Bleeds and Mr. Harrigan's Phone. In Mr. Harrigan's Phone, we're told "A reader is a carrier, not a creator," which is true-- and I've been carrying around an appreciation of Holly Gibney ever since reading Mr. Mercedes, so it was a pleasure to see her in action once again. 

Mr. Harrigan's Phone is a spooky little number that made me smile, and if you like finding out how an author gets his ideas for the stories he writes, don't miss the Afterward. 

All in all, If It Bleeds is an enjoyable ramble through the mind of Stephen King.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King

eISBN: 9781982137991

Scribner © 2020

eBook, 448 pages

 

Short Story/Novella

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries

 

From the Introduction: Miss Jane Marple, literature's preeminent amateur detective and one of Agatha Christie's finest creations, first appeared in print in December 1927 in a short story called "The Tuesday Night Club."

 

For the first time in forty-five years, one of the best sleuths in all of crime fiction returns to investigate twelve new cases in Marple. Twelve authors put their own personal spin on beloved elderly spinster Jane Marple, making this quite enjoyable to read.

 

Readers get to revisit the vicarage, Gossington Hall, and other places in England, but they also get to see Jane solve crimes on Broadway in New York City, on Cape Cod, in Hong Kong, and on the Amalfi Coast in Italy-- mostly thanks to her nephew the novelist. 

All the stories are winners, and I have to admit that I do like how Miss Marple was "updated" by showing her help a young Chinese woman and an interracial couple. Even faces familiar to Marple fans are seen in a different light.

It was obvious to me that all the authors had fun writing their stories, but some seemed to have a bit more fun than others, and their stories really shone. Which ones? Val McDermid with her "The Second Murder at the Vicarage"; Elly Griffiths' "Murder at the Villa Rosa"; Karen M. McManus' "The Murdering Sort"; and Leigh Berdugo's "The Disappearance". These were my particular favorites although-- as I said-- all the stories are good.

 

This anthology breathes some life into Miss Jane Marple. Her deductive capabilities shine, and the authors made me laugh several times, especially when one mentioned the fact that all of Miss Marple's relatives could be assured of receiving one of her knitted blankets at one time or another. 

Fans of Miss Marple should enjoy this anthology, and I wouldn't be surprised if she gains new devotees who experience her talents for the first time.

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries

by Lucy Foley, Val McDermid, Alyssa Cole, Natalie Haynes,Ruth Ware, Naomi Alderman, Jean Kwok, Dreda Say Mitchell, Elly Griffiths, Karen M. McManus, Kate Mosse & Leigh Bardugo

ISBN: 9780063136052

William Morrow © 2022

Hardcover, 384 pages

 

Short Story Anthology

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from The Poisoned Pen.

A Cow Hunter's Lament & Other Stories by Larry D. Sweazy

 

Larry Sweazy's done it again with this collection of eleven stories that run the gamut of Western life. Normally in any short story anthology, there are one or two stories that are weaker than the rest, but there are none of those to be found in this collection.

 

These stories teach as well as entertain. I learned that cattle ranching was a big part of life in Florida just as it has been in more well-known places like Texas. I'd also never heard of the Indiana Territorial Rangers, an organization that accepted women, so "The Buffalo Trace" was of particular interest to me. 

 

Other stories show Texas Rangers in relentless pursuit of outlaws, an ex-con wanting a quiet life, what happened to some of the children packed aboard the Orphan Trains, a shoot-out with Bonnie and Clyde, and more. 

 

There are stories about Native Americans, about Southerners whose lives were ruined during the Civil War, even one with a rather vampirical edge. They are narrated by both men and women. These stories are tough and tender and so Western that you can hear spurs jingling, cattle bawling, and the click of a hammer being pulled back on a pistol.

 

This is a collection that should be read by everyone with an interest, not only in the Western United States, but in well-drawn characters and fine storytelling. If you find yourself wanting to read more by this author-- and I think you will-- I highly recommend his Marjorie Trumaine mysteries set in 1960s North Dakota as well as his Sonny Burton mysteries set in Depression Era Texas. 

 

 

A Cow Hunter's Lament & Other Stories: A Western Collection 

by Larry D. Sweazy

ISBN: 9781432897857

Gale © 2023

Paperback, 258 pages

 

Short Story Anthology

Rating: A

Source: The author in exchange for an honest review.

Nairobi Noir edited by Peter Kimani

 

First Line from Introduction: Nairobi, shamba la mawe-- Nairobi, the stone garden-- is a pithy formulation intimating the city as a place of pleasures and perils.

 

I continue to enjoy Akashic's series of short story anthologies that are set in locations around the world. The fourteen stories in Nairobi Noir are an excellent collection that had me moving from neighborhood to neighborhood within that city. As I moved from place to place, I met Somali refugees and Kenya Cowboys; I confronted life, death, poverty, and love, side by side with people from all walks of life.

 

There's not a single bad story in the entire collection, but I have to admit that two made a profound impression on me. "She Dug Two Graves" by Winfred Kionga is centered on a proverb about revenge, and it's one that I shall never forget: "When seeking revenge, dig two graves-- one for yourself." The second story is Kinyanjui Kombaru's "Andaki." This incredibly powerful story tells readers just what mothers will do to save and to protect their sons who have been falsely accused of crimes. Wow. 

 

More than some of the other anthologies in this series, Nairobi Noir drew me into life in this city in Kenya-- an example of armchair travel at its very best. I look forward to my next trip with Akashic, and if you haven't tried any of the books in this series, I highly recommend that you do so.

 

Nairobi Noir edited by Peter Kimani

eISBN: 9781617757754

Akashic Books © 2020

eBook, 224 pages

 

Short Story Anthology

Rating: A-

Source: Purchased from Amazon. 

Tehran Noir edited by Salar Abdoh

 

From the Introduction: Back in the day, so my mother tells me, on the rare occasions when my father took her along to one of the cabarets of old Tehran, the tough guys-- the lutis-- the bosses, the knife brawlers, and the traditional wrestlers, would lay out their suits and jackets on the floor of the place for my mother to walk on. It was a gesture of supreme respect for one of their own.

This collection of fifteen short stories by Iranian authors may not always be easy to read, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is that Tehran Noir is not only a solid collection of crime stories, but it's also an illuminating depiction of day-to-day life in Iran complete with its religious, political, and racial tensions. 

In Iran, the number thirteen is considered to be so unlucky that if that's your house number, it's shown as 12+1. Political tensions run so high that, if your loved one dies on the wrong side of the border, you can hire a "corpse fixer" to find the body and bring it to you for a proper burial. Afghans and Armenians are Iranians' choice for menial jobs, and the participants in a woman's stoning take photos with their cell phones in between sessions of rock throwing.

The stories also show us a bank robbery and what led to it; Qesas, the brutal "eye for an eye" of Islamic law; two men in love with the same woman; investigative reporters; and what mothers will do to protect their children.

This is a culture that's very different from my comfortable existence here in the United States. I enjoy the Akashic Noir series because I love crime fiction, and there are plenty of solid crime-fueled stories to be found here, but what I've also found to be true is that the series also provides a look into other cultures, other customs, other points of view. This added insight is worth its weight in gold, above and beyond the talent shown in the collected short stories.

Tehran Noir edited by Salar Abdoh

eISBN: 9781617753343

Akashic Books © 2022

eBook, 334 pages

 

Short Story Anthology

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Many Deadly Returns edited by Martin Edwards

 

First Line from the Introduction: Many Deadly Returns celebrates the twenty-first birthday of Murder Squad and showcases the range of our fiction.

 

Many Deadly Returns contains twenty-one short stories written by nine past and present members of Murder Squad, a group of midlist crime writers based in the north of England.

Several of the writers showcased in this anthology were familiar to me: Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, John Baker, Stuart Pawson, and Cath Staincliffe. Others, like Chris Simms, Margaret Murphy, and Chaz Brenchley, I met for the first time. That's something every good anthology should do: give you more of the familiar yet introduce you to the new.

The stories run the gamut from sly and humorous to grim and heartbreaking. Three of my favorites? Chris Simms' "Skeleton Crew" is set in a garbage dump and features a man who doesn't know how to leave well enough alone. Kate Ellis' "The Confessions of Edward Prime" is about a young man who likes to come into the police station to confess to each new crime as it's reported. And Margaret Murphy's "Still Life" is about a man with locked-in syndrome and the young girl who's repulsed by him. 

There's not a bad'un in the bunch; there's something to be enjoyed in each of these short stories. From great turns of phrase ("He was more simian than sapiens.") to O. Henry-like twists and other feats of plotting and characterization, Many Deadly Returns is a pleasure to read. Not only did I enjoy reading the ones by my favorite authors, but I also found new authors to read. Pardon me while I go look up their books...

 

Many Deadly Returns edited by Martin Edwards

eISBN: 9781448305575

Severn House © 2021

eBook, 194 pages

Short Story Anthology

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

 

First Line: A catalpa can give two brown girls in western Kansas a green umbrella from the sun.

 

Seventeen of Aimee Nezhukumatathil's twenty-two students had never seen-- or even heard of-- fireflies. Instead of exploring the world around them, they spend their free time indoors in front of the screens of televisions, computers, and phones. This series of essays tells of Aimee's love of the natural world, how it has sustained her and inspired her throughout the years. 

 

The author has lived in a variety of places in the United States: on the grounds of a mental institution in Kansas, in the mountains of Arizona, and in the colder climes of Ohio and western New York. Daughter of a Filipino mother and an Indian father, Aimee and her sister often lived in areas where there were extremely few people of color, and people could be hurtful. Many is the time that something in the natural world, be it a tree, an insect or any other living thing, sustained Aimee and helped her cope.

 

Having explored the natural world and become acquainted with its balm and solace, I enjoyed this series of essays, in particular one entitled "Questions While Searching for Birds with My Two Half-White Sons, Aged Six and Nine, National Audubon Bird Count Day, Oxford, MS." While simple in form, this essay was so vivid that I could easily picture it and enjoy all it had to say.

If you would like to spend an afternoon in the natural world learning about some of its wonders and becoming acquainted with a very talented writer, pick up a copy of World of Wonders. Afterward, go outside to appreciate the flowers, the sky, and the birdsong.

World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments

by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

eISBN: 9781571319593

Milkweed Editions © 2020

eBook, 184 pages

 

Short Stories/Essays

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting edited by Ann Hood

First Line: When I picked up knitting needles for the first time in October 2002, I had no idea that I was jumping on a hot trend that had started to sweep the country after 9/11.

 

In Knitting Yarns, twenty-seven writers share how knitting healed, challenged, or helped them grow. There are twenty-six short stories, one poem, and five original patterns in this book, and I enjoyed almost every single one. They run the gamut from serious to light-hearted, and it's certainly possible to cry while reading one story only to laugh at the next. 

 

My favorites? Sue Grafton's "Teaching a Child to Knit," Elinor Lipman's "I Bought This Pattern Book Last Spring," "The Clothes Make the Dog" by Taylor M. Polites, and "Knitted Goods: Notes from a Nervous Knitter" by Elizabeth Searles. 

 

As a solitary knitter, I felt connected to these writers as I read their various relationships with yarn and needles. I also came away with several quotes that touched me, like this one from Andre Dubus III's "Blood, Root, Knit, Purl": "...I felt joined to all the men and women across cultures down through the ages who'd done something useful with their hands." 

 

In the case of previous generations of women in my family, making things-- whether it be by sewing, crocheting, or knitting-- was often a matter of have to, not want to. But these busy women who cooked, cleaned, washed, ironed, birthed and raised children, and helped their husbands farm the land often found time to make something that's main purpose was purely decorative. They needed something pretty in their lives. Reading the stories in Knitting Yarns reconnected me with my roots and made me feel satisfied with the work of my own hands.

This is a good anthology for those who love to make things, and for those who don't who just might want to know what the fascination is all about.

Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting edited by Ann Hood

ISBN: 9780393349870

W.W. Norton & Company © 2014

Paperback, 304 pages

 

Short Story Anthology

Rating: A-

Source: Paperback Swap

Rendezvous by Nelson DeMille

First Line: As I learned in high school biology, the female of the species is often more dangerous than the male.

 

Nostalgia led me to read this short story, simply because my mother read many Nelson DeMille novels. Now I know why she did.

 

DeMille was an infantry platoon leader in Vietnam who earned a Bronze Star, and his story about soldiers going out on a patrol through enemy territory during their last month of service put me right in the elephant grass and napalm-bombed areas with them.

The soldiers' objective is to report back on enemy troop movements and locations, but they lose both radio operators and radios to sniper fire. Readers soon learn that a Vietnamese female is the person who's picking them off one by one, and the soldiers have no alternative but to head for a pickup point and, hopefully, safety. 

The cat-and-mouse game this woman plays with these men kept me glued to the pages of this swiftly moving story, and its ending is honest even though it may exasperate those who insist that their reading has absolutely no loose ends.

Now I'm going to have to choose one of DeMille's novels to read. Thanks, Mom. Even from the grave, you're adding to my to-be-read pile!

Rendezvous by Nelson DeMille

eISBN: 9781477855010

Thomas & Mercer © 2012

eBook, 30 pages

Short Story, Standalone

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

A Hanging at Dawn by Charles Todd

 

First Line: Who is this man, Simon Brandon, and why has his past been a blank to those who think they know him best?

 

Like other readers I know, I never used to like short stories, but I've learned to appreciate them in the past few years-- especially when they can illuminate the backstory of characters in long-running favorite series of mine. Not all story ideas are worth a full-length novel, but that doesn't mean they're not worth writing. Such is the case with Charles Todd's short story, A Hanging at Dawn.

A Hanging at Dawn is all about the mysterious Simon Brandon, Colonel Crawford's right-hand man, and Bess Crawford's savior in Todd's series featuring a nurse during World War I. The story is told through the older Crawfords (Aunt Melissa, Colonel Crawford, and the colonel's wife, Clarissa) as well as Bess herself, and I certainly enjoyed learning more about these characters.

 

Most of all, I really appreciated learning more about Simon Brandon himself through incidents that occurred during his and the Crawfords' time in India. What I found absolutely amazing is that the writing team of Charles Todd made this tale so suspenseful that I was worried about the outcome-- even though I'm an avid reader of the Bess Crawford series and know he survives! I don't know about you, but I consider that to be the mark of some excellent writing.

 

If you're a fan of the Bess Crawford historical mystery series as am I, I don't think you should pass up the opportunity to learn more about Simon Brandon and the other more mature characters who've stayed in the background. It's going to add to your appreciation of the series. If you haven't read any of the Bess Crawford mysteries, you'll probably find A Hanging at Dawn to be a fine tale about the British in India; you just won't be as invested in the characters. But who knows? You may find yourself wanting to know more about them, and you'll know right where to go. (The first book in the series is A Duty to the Dead.)

A Hanging at Dawn by Charles Todd

eISBN: 9780063048560

Witness Impulse © 2020

eBook, 176 pages

 

Short Story/Historical Mystery, #11.5 Bess Crawford mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Phoenix Noir edited by Patrick Millikin

First Line: Phoenix is a young city, even by Arizona standards.

Akashic Books has become known for its series of short story anthologies set in locations around the globe, and since I'm a resident of Phoenix, picking up a copy of Phoenix Noir (from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore where editor Patrick Millikin works no less) was a no-brainer. 

This collection of sixteen stories is a good one. There's only one story that I refused to finish, and that was due more to my mood than the writer's ability. Readers are taken from Phoenix in the 1940s (Jon Talton's Bull) to the here and now with characters from all walks of life.

My favorites in this collection were Lee Child's Public Transportation which had a lovely little twist at the end, Laura Tohe's Tom Snag that tells of a Native American who picks up the wrong woman at the Flying Eagle Bar, Others of My Kind by James Sallis, and Don Winslow's Whiteout on Van Buren which teaches a hitman why no one should visit Phoenix in August.

Diana Gabaldon's Dirty Scottsdale wins the prize for memorable phrases. When explaining why she was delayed in coming to the door, a woman says, "Sorry. I was drowning squirrels in the garage" (!) and then there's a perfect description of the Phoenix heat: "Yeah, it's a dry heat. Meaning that instead of being poached when you walk outside, you're flash-fried."

Phoenix Noir isn't my first Akashic short story anthology, and it won't be my last. It's tough to beat this publisher's one-two punch of prime location and prime storytelling.

 

Phoenix Noir edited by Patrick Millikin

ISBN: 9781933354859

Akashic Books © 2009

Paperback, 304 pages

 

Short Story Anthology

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore.

Christmas Is Murder by Val McDermid

 

If you like a little despair, revenge, justice, and humor along with your Christmas cakes and cookies, pick up a copy of Val McDermid's short story anthology Christmas Is Murder.

McDermid covers a lot of ground in a series of twelve stories. From St. Petersburg to Sarajevo to the highlands of Scotland and beyond, readers meet a variety of people.

From Sherlock Holmes in "Holmes for Christmas" when he and Watson search for the true king of Scotland to a Carol Jordan and Tony Hill story in "Happy Holidays," readers find themselves in many different situations and feeling many differing emotions.

There's not a weak story in the bunch. Among my favorites is the humorous "The Girl Who Killed Santa Claus" when an eight-year-old girl thinks a burglar is stealing her Christmas presents.

There are interesting tidbits to be learned in these stories, too. (I'll have to remember the item about birch trees.) If you're a crime fiction fan who's in the mood to be enlightened and entertained, Christmas Is Murder is a fine way to spend a few hours by a holiday fire.

Christmas Is Murder by Val McDermid

ISBN: 9780751581775

Sphere © 2020

Hardcover, 250 pages

 

Short Story Anthology, Standalone

Rating: A-

Source: Purchased from The Poisoned Pen.

A Six Pack of Christie

I've found that I like to dabble in Agatha Christie's short story collection from time to time, usually after I've read a spate of books with "too much middle" as Barbara Peters would say. Having experienced that, it was time to join the Queen of Crime, and I read six of her short stories, written in 1924 and 1925. The following are short "impressions" that I had about each one.

~

Philomel Cottage
A nice little gem from the Queen of Crime. Alix has had a drab life, but things begin to look up when she inherits a little money. Then her long-time boyfriend gets cold feet. Out of the blue, Alix falls head over heels for Gerald Martin, marries him, and buys the perfect Philomel Cottage to move into. She begins to worry when she is plagued by a recurring dream that shows her former boyfriend standing over her husband's dead body. What follows has the trademark Christie misdirection that didn't lead me very far down the garden path, but I enjoyed it all the same. (B+)

The Mystery of the Blue Jar
I loved this one! Jack Hartington is a twenty-four-year-old golf fanatic whose job interferes with lowering his handicap. He gets up very early every morning to get in a few rounds of golf, but when he starts hearing a woman's voice shouting murder and calling for help, he begins to panic. Is he going mad? No one else hears it! He definitely needs assistance. This is one of those stories that you really can't say anything about in order not to give anything away; however, it is one of the few things written by Christie that I've read so far which made me crow with delight when I turned the last page. (A+)

Jane in Search of  a Job
Jane Cleveland applies for, and gets, a job that pays a very large sum of money for a few days work as a double for a grand duchess whose life is in danger. Jane keeps telling herself that there must be a catch, but she can't afford to pass up the money. Your enjoyment of the story will hinge on how much you like the twist at the end. Me? I was moderately amused. Wasn't it P.T. Barnum who said there's a sucker born every minute? Poor Jane Cleveland... (B-)

The Mystery of the Spanish Shawl
Anthony Eastwood has the perfect title for a mystery: "The Mystery of the Second Cucumber." Problem is, he simply can't follow up his perfect title with the perfect plot. That might change now that he's recuperating from a phone call and its aftermath. Christie certainly has fun with the gullible, but I found this offering to be a bit run-of-the-mill. (C+)

The Red Signal
Here Dame Agatha gets to play with seances, unrequited love, otherworldly messages of danger, and murder. Unfortunately, I didn't find this to be one of her best. (D+)

The Witness for the Prosecution
A short story from a master that has a nice little twist at the end. Is Leonard Vole innocent or guilty of murdering a rich old woman? This story makes me think of a Shakespeare quote: "What's in a name?" Christie basically gives it away with the names she uses for the alleged murderer and his wife. (A)

The Certificate by Priscilla Masters

First Line: The idea came to me one warm July day as I was watching a doctor fill one in.

When you're a Plain Jane, you get used to being one of two things: being denigrated or being completely overlooked. Jane Ziegler has been a district nurse her entire working life, and she's reached the end of her tether. That's when she starts wondering if anyone would notice a missing blank certificate from a very important book. Once she finds out, she then discovers that a learning curve means some changes to her plans.

Several years ago, I read Priscilla Master's River Deep, her first Martha Gunn mystery featuring a coroner in Shrewsbury, England. I really enjoyed it and have always meant to read more in the series. Finding "The Certificate" definitely reminded me of my good intentions.

Jane Ziegler is the type of character who makes you feel mixed emotions. Mixed because while so many of us can empathize with her and her life experiences, we still feel that she's creepy and we don't want to turn our backs on her. Hopefully, readers will also pause to reflect on how they treat others-- especially those they take for granted. The fast pace of this story made the ending arrive much faster than I wanted it to, and-- an added bonus-- it didn't end quite the way I thought it would. The Author's Note at the end made me laugh.

Yes, indeed. After reading "The Certificate," I really need to read Priscilla Masters' next Martha Gunn mystery, Slip Knot!

The Certificate by Priscilla Masters

ASIN: B01GQI3A4M

Lume Books © 2018

eBook, 100 pages

 

Short Story, Standalone

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Far From Home by Walter Tevis

First Line (from "The Apotheosis of Myra"): Out beyond the French windows during the day's second sunset the grass began singing.

Three of Walter Tevis' six novels (The Hustler, The Color of Money, and The Man Who Fell to Earth) were adapted into major films, but he was also known for his short stories. I was in the mood for short stories and a bit of science fiction, so I picked up Far From Home.

This collection of thirteen stories reads fast. They are all well-written, and many of them gave me food for thought because of the subjects the author touched upon. Of the thirteen, five garnered most of my attention: "Rent Control," which shows the importance of a rent-controlled apartment in New York City; "The Apotheosis of Myra," about a husband who wants to get rid of his wife (but I enjoyed it for Tevis' vision of life on another planet); what a man tries to do to his past in "Sitting in Limbo"; to what lengths governments and engineers will go in order to be rid of a small obstruction in the path of a proposed monorail in "The Goldbrick"; and "The Ifth of Oofth," a cautionary tale about messing with the fifth dimension.

This is a solid short story collection that should please anyone who enjoys well-written science fiction.
  

Far From Home by Walter Tevis

eISBN: 9780795342875

RosettaBooks LLC © 2014

Originally published in 1983.

eBook, 150 pages

Short Story Collection

Rating: B

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

 

Bookscout by John Dunning

First Line: His name was Joel Beer, but even that was partly made up.

I have to admit that I read this short story about a man who spends six days a week hunting for books in Denver simply because I miss John Dunning's books. A lot of the things I learned about the value of first editions, etc., I learned from reading Dunning's superb Cliff Janeway mysteries, and if you haven't read them, I do hope you'll give them a try. (The first one is Booked to Die.)

Joel Beer could make a good living as a bookscout if he were the only one in Denver, but he's not. He's got stiff competition, especially from Popeye Lamonica. But when Joel and his partner Lacy-- a slow-witted vagrant-- are facing eviction, Joel is determined to find that elusive book that will pay all the bills and set them up.

What happens is all about truth, the human spirit, and the magic of books. As a rule, I am not a re-reader, but I may have to make an exception for John Dunning. The man is Good.

"Bookscout" by John Dunning

eISBN: 9781480456396

Open Road Integrated Media © 2013

Originally published in 1984.

eBook, 35 pages

Short Story, Standalone

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.