Mysterious Press
Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop
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The prompt for the story requires three elements: that it be set at Christmastime, that it involve a crime of some kind, or the suspicion of one, and that it be set at least partially in the bookstore. And from these loose structural guidelines, diverse tales took flight. The dozen tales included in this volume are among the finest to be produced in this annual tradition, sure to charm any reader looking for a holiday-themed escape.
Included herein are the ingenious "Snowflake Time" by Laura Lippman; Lyndsay Faye's tale of vengeance "A Midnight Clear"; the challenging brainteaser, "A Christmas Puzzle," by Ragnar Jónasson; "Hester's Gift," an impossible crime story by Tom Mead; the suspenseful "The Christmas Party" by Jeffery Deaver; Thomas Perry's hilarious comedy of errors, "Here We Come A-Wassailing;" and other tales appropriate for the season, collected and introduced by Otto Penzler. The result is, objectively speaking, the finest "stocking stuffer" that a mystery fan could hope to find.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781613165720
EAN:
9781613165720
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
288
Publisher:
Mysterious Press
Book arrived promptly, was well packaged, and was as described.
Fun short stories. Quick reads for when you r waiting in md office or such and small enough to jam into purse.
Brings so many memories back of Christmases in NYC and if so many hours spent at The Mysterious Bookshop on 56th Street and then Warren Street. And some pretty clever mysteries included at no added cost! A definete recommend.
Awful. Unfortunately, no other way to describe this series of short stories.. Some are written by well-known authors who should definitely have known better. Others are written by people I did not recognize, but who also should have known better.A number of the stories revolved around drunks - some barely literate, others more coherent, but all suffering from the delusion that life had treated them unfairly. They omit the part which explains their responsibility in their downfall. Some stumble around, attempting to stalk old girlfriends or murder imagined rivals. A few end their stories by dying - not silently but with some garbled explanation.Those who are not active drunks are almost as pathetic. A couple try to emulate Marlowe but who lack his integrity and moral strength. Others step into an already messy situation and succeed only in making it worse for all involved. None of them are particularly sympathetic, and none inspired me to follow up with their authors to see what else they have produced.The atmosphere of the book is grey and grubby - sunlight and a refreshing blast of cold air is desperately needed. Calling these people to life does nobody any favor, least of all the reader.Avoid this book - too many excellent short story anthologies exist to waste any time on this one.
I loved these short holiday mysteries, they were perfect for the season! I definitely recommend this book, and feel so fortunate to have found it!
