<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best mystery anthologies I have ever seen
Review: MYSTERIOUS PRESS deserves to be sued by people like me for publishing this anthology, though it is superb reading. How dare the editors remind this reviewer that a quarter of a century has passed since I first read one of their novels. Like Steely Dan, "I guess I'm just getting old."The contributors are some of the best writers around today, who seem to really care about this anniversary collection more than usually seen in an anthology. The authors turn the celebration golden with their eighteen strong tales that run the genre's gamut. Each story is well written and fans of mystery will know that the tales hold up with the better anthologies regardless of genre. Here's to Mysterious Press for a wonderful short story collection, twenty-five great years of powerful books, and to reviewing their fiftieth year of excellent literature aggregation. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: An Entertaining Collection of 18 Short Stories
Review: The prophet Amos compares a calamitous time to a man who runs from a lion and is met by a bear, or goes into a house and leans a hand against the wall, and a snake bites him. Perhaps Joe R. Lansdale had this passage in mind when he wrote "The Mule Rustlers," a tragicomic tale about two petty thieves who steal an aging mule and get more than they bargained for. The end of this shocking story is improbable, but it gets my vote as the best short story in this collection. Other favorites in this anthology are: o Ed McBain's "Activity in the Flood Plain." An artist wants to build a studio on the back of his newly purchased home but is thwarted by bureaucratic red tape. Then he discovers the real reason for the harassment. o Archer Mayor's "Instinct." A prime suspect turns out to be innocent of a murder--at least so far. The last line reveals the protagonist's keen insight into human psychology: "But I knew it was just a matter of time." o Margaret Maron's "What's in a Name?" A story about a jilted lover--a con man whose spiteful scheme goes awry. A cursory knowledge of Shakespeare will help you "see this one coming." The other 14 entries, all written expressly for this collection, are: M.C. Beaton, Charlotte Carter, Jerome Charyn, James Crumley, Lindsey Davis, Loren D. Estleman, Joe Gores, Robert Greer, Stuart M. Kaminsky, Peter Lovesley, William Marshall, Marcia Muller, Beth Saulnier, and Donald E. Westlake. Several of the stories might be described by a line from Lindsey Davis's "Body Zone": "the struggle of true spectacle and real technical skill [trying] to defeat a banal vision and an ill-conceived narrative." "The Body Zone" is not one of the losers. In the Introduction, editors Sara Ann Freed and William Malloy look forward to continuing to publish "the brightest of dark literature" over the next 25 years. Dark literature? Well, maybe. But several of the stories in this collection are light-hearted and humorous rather than sinister.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Fine Collection
Review: This book would make a wonderful gift for your favorite mystery buff. The quality is high, the big boys (and girls!) are represented, and there is all the variety one could wish. Comedy, whodunit, cozy, wild, psychological thriller-there is something for everyone. James Crumley's "Coming Round the Mountain" transcends the genre. It is a story of dignified despair and is immensely moving. I am going to try and find some other works by this author. Joe Landsdale isn't satisfied with giving us a good chuckle or two over "The Mule Rustlers." He has to scare and shock us while we insist, "this cannot be happening." Peter Lovesey's intricate little piece of misdirection "The Usual Table" is very well done. Archer Mayor's "Instinct" is a perfect portrait of the psychology of guilt. Mr. Mayor is another author of whom I must read more. Stuart Kaminsky's "Sometimes Something Goes Wrong" reads like the nightmare you wish you had never had. He is compelling and his characterizations are excellent. I had a fine time with this anthology. I read one and put the book down; then when I picked it up again, I read them all, one after another. I am sure you will show better discipline. All types of readers, even if they only enjoy an occasional mystery (I suppose there are people like that!), will get pleasure from this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Fine Collection
Review: This book would make a wonderful gift for your favorite mystery buff. The quality is high, the big boys (and girls!) are represented, and there is all the variety one could wish. Comedy, whodunit, cozy, wild, psychological thriller-there is something for everyone. James Crumley's "Coming Round the Mountain" transcends the genre. It is a story of dignified despair and is immensely moving. I am going to try and find some other works by this author. Joe Landsdale isn't satisfied with giving us a good chuckle or two over "The Mule Rustlers." He has to scare and shock us while we insist, "this cannot be happening." Peter Lovesey's intricate little piece of misdirection "The Usual Table" is very well done. Archer Mayor's "Instinct" is a perfect portrait of the psychology of guilt. Mr. Mayor is another author of whom I must read more. Stuart Kaminsky's "Sometimes Something Goes Wrong" reads like the nightmare you wish you had never had. He is compelling and his characterizations are excellent. I had a fine time with this anthology. I read one and put the book down; then when I picked it up again, I read them all, one after another. I am sure you will show better discipline. All types of readers, even if they only enjoy an occasional mystery (I suppose there are people like that!), will get pleasure from this book.
Rating: 
Summary: New Stories by Some Past Masters
Review: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Mysterious Press, the first publishing house dedicated solely to mystery writing, the editors of the company asked their distiguished authors to each contribute a short story each to an anniversary volume. In the process, not only did they collect some excellent writing, but they helped give a boost to that sadly sagging art form: the short story. Not all of the stories included are first rate, but enough of them are to make this anthology well worth owning. The highlights include the always dependable Loren Estleman with an Amos Walker P.I. story, appropriately titled "The Anniversaary Waltz;" Stuart M. Kaminisky's grim, gritty caper drama "Sometimes Something Goes Wrong;" Archer Mayor's brutal "Instinct;" Marcia Muller's playful "The Imposter;" and Robert Greer's "Revision." There are 18 stories included in all that run the gamut from cozies to hard-boiled. Mysterious Press founder Otto Penzler provides the introduction. Overall, a very good anthology that includes stories for every type of mystery fan.
<< 1 >>
| 
