From: Death Do Us Part, ed. Harlan Coben. Little, Brown, and Company, 2006.
In the aftermath of the Civil War, before word of Emancipation has spread through the South, fifteen-year-old Little Mary's father John William is hanged for the crime of looking at his master's wife. Little Mary swears to kill her mistress Miz Bessie. Hatred and thoughts of revenge threaten to consume her, but after overhearing a fight between Miz Bessie and her husband, Mary turns her wrath against him.
As a child of the 1970s, it's difficult for me to read about people being treated as property. Nonetheless, this story is vividly and compellingly told, and I know if minorities before me didn't fight for equality, I would have no place in America.
Showing posts with label Death Do Us Part. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Death Do Us Part. Show all posts
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, September 29, 2007
NBS Awards Report
As announced at Bouchercon 2007 from Anchorage, Alaska:
"The Right Call" by Brendan DuBois won the Barry Award, jointly presented by Mystery News and Deadly Pleasures.
"Till Death Do Us Part" by Tim Maleeny won the Macavity Award, as chosen by members of Mystery Readers International.
"The Heart Has Reasons" by O'Neil De Noux won the Shamus Award, presented by the Private Eye Writers of America.
“My Father’s Secret” by Simon Wood won the Anthony Award, as voted on by attendees of this year's Bouchercon.
Full coverage from The Rap Sheet.
"The Right Call" by Brendan DuBois won the Barry Award, jointly presented by Mystery News and Deadly Pleasures.
"Till Death Do Us Part" by Tim Maleeny won the Macavity Award, as chosen by members of Mystery Readers International.
"The Heart Has Reasons" by O'Neil De Noux won the Shamus Award, presented by the Private Eye Writers of America.
“My Father’s Secret” by Simon Wood won the Anthony Award, as voted on by attendees of this year's Bouchercon.
Full coverage from The Rap Sheet.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
"Till Death Do Us Part" by Tim Maleeny
From: Death Do Us Part, ed. Harlan Coben. Little, Brown, and Company, 2006.
Recently nominated for a Macavity Award, this darkly comic story focuses on a chemist and botanist married sixty years. Theirs is not an ideal union. Each is fully aware of the other's indiscretions, yet divorce is unthinkable. Instead, they celebrate each anniversary by preparing innocuous-looking, yet truly deadly dishes for a multi-course meal. Up to now, the husband and wife have each managed to deduce the forms of poison before taking that fatal bite.
Recently nominated for a Macavity Award, this darkly comic story focuses on a chemist and botanist married sixty years. Theirs is not an ideal union. Each is fully aware of the other's indiscretions, yet divorce is unthinkable. Instead, they celebrate each anniversary by preparing innocuous-looking, yet truly deadly dishes for a multi-course meal. Up to now, the husband and wife have each managed to deduce the forms of poison before taking that fatal bite.
Friday, April 27, 2007
NBS Special Report: Best Short Story Edgar
Announced last night, the Mystery Writers of America's Best Short Story Award went to "The Home Front" by Charles Ardai. Congratulations, Charles.
The full list of nominees is here.
The full list of nominees is here.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
"The Home Front" by Charles Ardai
From: Death Do Us Part ed. Harlan Coben, Little, Brown, and Company, 2006.
Hired to enforce U.S. rationing laws during World War II, a P.I. tricks a garage attendant into selling him four gallons of gas instead of the allotted two. Back on the road, the well-meaning attendant cuffed beside him, the P.I. is blindsided when a car swerves into his path. The attendant dies in the resulting fire, and the P.I.'s livelihood goes to hell.
Once back on his feet, the P.I. closes his office and walks aimlessly yet uncannily finds himself back at the same garage. Against his better judgment he stays to help the attendant's mother, assuming another man's identity, hoping no more of the past catches up to him. But of course, it does.
The P.I.'s voice is classically hardboiled, driving the story at just the right pace to give its twists full impact.
Hired to enforce U.S. rationing laws during World War II, a P.I. tricks a garage attendant into selling him four gallons of gas instead of the allotted two. Back on the road, the well-meaning attendant cuffed beside him, the P.I. is blindsided when a car swerves into his path. The attendant dies in the resulting fire, and the P.I.'s livelihood goes to hell.
Once back on his feet, the P.I. closes his office and walks aimlessly yet uncannily finds himself back at the same garage. Against his better judgment he stays to help the attendant's mother, assuming another man's identity, hoping no more of the past catches up to him. But of course, it does.
The P.I.'s voice is classically hardboiled, driving the story at just the right pace to give its twists full impact.
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