Ellery Queen Presents Great Mystery Novellas (Five Star First Edition Mystery Series)

Rating:
Summary: five strong crime thrillers
Review: "Tell Me You Forgive Me by Joyce Carol Oates. Almost fifty, Dr. Mary Lynde visits her mother Elsie who shares more than the mother-daughter relationship; murder is part of their distant past.

"Blood Paths" by Clark Howard. Warden Grant and Teacher Elaine Kenner argue over the job their daughter Susie has taken. The mother wants Susie to be a teacher like her, but Susie is a chip off the old man's block.

"Piranha to Scurfy" by Ruth Rendell. Ambrose Ribbon is a pro at pointing out errors in other people's lives such as writing letters to authors. However, he receives a unique critique from a writer who holds him to his standard of nasty criticism.

"The Lost Boy" by Robert Bernard. Malcolm flees town with his son Randall leaving his wife Selena behind. His nanosecond calls to her only increase her concern for her son, but it appears there is not much she can do unless Selena chooses a drastic route outside the law.

"Out There in the Darkness" by Ed Gorman. The five friends who make up the Midwest neighborhood watch are playing cards when two intruders break into the home. They catch one and kill him, but his friend escaped. One by one he enacts vengeance on the quintet.

These five strong crime thrillers are filled with suspense and surprising endings that explain why the Ellery Queen pack proudly presents them to readers to enjoy.

Harriet Klausner