Powers Of Detection: Stories of Mystery and Fantasy

Rating:
Summary: Great short stories centered on fantasy and mystery!
Review: I loved this short-story collection full of writers that mix mystery with fantasy. The twelve stories in Powers of Detection are fresh, imaginative and original. You will read about vampires, werewolves, fairies and other supernatural creatures with just the right touch of suspense without overloading the stories with too much plotline. My favorites are Anne Bishop's "The Price," Donna Andrews's "Cold Spell," John Staley's "Lovely" (the goriest in the book), Michael Armstrong's "The Boy Who Chased Seagulls," and my favorite one, Charlaine Harris's "Fairy Dust," which is taken from the Sookie Stackhouse series.

There are stories that focus on the fantasy/paranormal aspects while others lean more toward mystery. There are also those that come across as too Harry Potter-like for my taste while others have a lot of gore. But my favorite of all, as said earlier, is Charlaine Harris's effort. I love the Sookie Stackhouse series and Harris didn't let me down with her contribution to this book. All in all, this is a great short-story collection. Perfect for Halloween! If you like mysteries with fantasy as the subgenre (or vice versa), then don't hesitate to pick up Powers of Detection.

Rating:
Summary: mayhem in a whimsical fantasy setting
Review: This twelve story collection anthology combines elements of the mystery and fantasy genres into a fantastic rewarding experience. Each tale is top rate and several include popular characters such as Sookie Stackhouse and known locales like Nightside. The contributors are top players from in their own genre, but had no problem placing a foot in the area they normally do not frequent. Each author insured that the magical elements seemed real drawing the reader into becoming a believer for the moment yet did not crimp on the mystery components whether it is an investigation of a murder by mythological creatures, magical Alaskan charmers, a school to rival Potter's alma mater, or a legal thriller with quite a jury of ones peers. The crossing of the two genres works on all levels so that the audience of either will appreciate mayhem in a whimsical setting.

Harriet Klausner