From: The Blue Religion ed. Michael Connelly. Little Brown and Company, 2008.
Novelist and comic book writer Rucka delivers his trademark authenticity and white-knuckle action in this story of three female Portland, Oregon police officers who serve their own justice on a misogynistic partner after the system fails them. From a brand new collection of nineteen stories on "cops, criminals, and the chase."
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
NBS Special: Jen Jordan Chat Transcript
In my capacity as DetecToday moderator, I chatted with Expletive Deleted editor Jen Jordan. Author Sean Chercover also attended.
NBS Special Report: This Day in History
On April 20, 1841, the first detective story was published, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe. Many of the story's elements would be adopted by later authors as the genre developed: the genius detective, the first-person narrating sidekick, the red herring... "Rue Morgue" is also known as the first "locked room" mystery.
The story's opening paragraphs, distinguishing analysis from ingenuity, are still inspiring.
More background from Wikipedia. The full text of the story is available here.
The story's opening paragraphs, distinguishing analysis from ingenuity, are still inspiring.
More background from Wikipedia. The full text of the story is available here.
"Find Me" by Anthony Neil Smith
From: Expletive Deleted. Ed. Jen Jordan. Bleak House Books, 2007.
After picking up a college girl at a bar, Louisiana P.I. Hopper Garland agrees to look for her missing roommate, Cynthia. Garland goes on to have sex with multiple partners in the course of his investigation, and the act of sex goes from being something Garland uses to a way he is used and humiliated. Like all of Smith's crime fiction, this is a dark, no-nonsense tale of substance.
After picking up a college girl at a bar, Louisiana P.I. Hopper Garland agrees to look for her missing roommate, Cynthia. Garland goes on to have sex with multiple partners in the course of his investigation, and the act of sex goes from being something Garland uses to a way he is used and humiliated. Like all of Smith's crime fiction, this is a dark, no-nonsense tale of substance.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
"Souls Burning" by Bill Pronzini
Available in Spadework by Bill Pronzini, Crippen and Landru, 1996.
For Pronzini's birthday, a review of one of his darker Nameless Detective stories. Nameless agrees to meet Eddie Quinlan, a small-time crook six months out of Folsom prison, at the seedy Hotel Majestic in a bad neighborhood. Eddie is fed up with the state of the world, visible right outside his window, and itching to do something about it. Nameless can't begin to tell him what that might be. Tiring of Eddie's ruminations, Nameless takes his leave. Eddie ends up committing a horrific crime, and Nameless must come to grips with the fact he could have done nothing to stop it. A master of the pared-down, efficient mystery story, Pronzini is equally adept at image-rich stories like this one.
For Pronzini's birthday, a review of one of his darker Nameless Detective stories. Nameless agrees to meet Eddie Quinlan, a small-time crook six months out of Folsom prison, at the seedy Hotel Majestic in a bad neighborhood. Eddie is fed up with the state of the world, visible right outside his window, and itching to do something about it. Nameless can't begin to tell him what that might be. Tiring of Eddie's ruminations, Nameless takes his leave. Eddie ends up committing a horrific crime, and Nameless must come to grips with the fact he could have done nothing to stop it. A master of the pared-down, efficient mystery story, Pronzini is equally adept at image-rich stories like this one.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
"Nobody's Ring" by Terence Faherty
From: The Shamus Game ed. Robert J. Randisi. Signet, 2000.
In 1951 Hollywood, P.I. Scott Elliott finds an ostentatious sapphire ring left in the bathroom during a dinner party. No one at the party claims the ring, so Elliott visits local jewelers until one identifies the ring as his handiwork and tells Elliott who ordered it.
Elliott calls the jeweler's client to give the ring back, and the client requests they meet at a more private location. Soon after Elliott arrives there, he finds the client shot dead and is brought in by the police. Faherty keeps this long short story moving with many more twists. Well worth a read.
In 1951 Hollywood, P.I. Scott Elliott finds an ostentatious sapphire ring left in the bathroom during a dinner party. No one at the party claims the ring, so Elliott visits local jewelers until one identifies the ring as his handiwork and tells Elliott who ordered it.
Elliott calls the jeweler's client to give the ring back, and the client requests they meet at a more private location. Soon after Elliott arrives there, he finds the client shot dead and is brought in by the police. Faherty keeps this long short story moving with many more twists. Well worth a read.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
NBS Special Report: 2008 SMFS Derringer Finalists
As posted to Shortmystery today:
Best Story 1,000 words or less:
Keri Clark, "Saved" (Mysterical-E, Fall 2007)
BV Lawson, "Dreaming of a Spite Christmas" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Winter 2007)
Jillian Berg, "A Woman Scorned" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Autumn 2007)
Keri Clark, "Your New Fan" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Winter 2007)
Patricia Abbott, "My Hero" (D Z Allen's Muzzle Flash, 2007)
Best Story 1,001 to 4,000 words:
Beverle Graves Myers, "Brimstone P.I." (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, May 2007)
Hugh Lessig, "We All Come From Splattertown" (Thuglit, Issue 17, July 2007)
Rick Noetzel, "Joyride" (Shred of Evidence, Dec., 2007)
Jack Hardway, "Handful of Stars" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Issue 5, Autumn 2007)
John Weagly, "In the Shadows of Wrigley Field" (The Back Alley, Vol. I, Nov 2007)
Camille LaGuire, "The Promise" (Future's Mysterious Anthology Magazine, March-April 2007)
Best Story 4,001 to 8,000 words:
Twist Phelan, "A Trader's Lot" (Wall Street Noir, Akashic Books, June, 2007)
John Schroeder, "Devil's Lake" (Futures Anthology Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007)
Herschel Cozine, "A Private Hanging" (Mysterical-E, Summer, 2007)
Kate Flora, "Mr. McGregor's Garden" (Still Waters, Level Best Books, 2007)
Rosemary Harris, "Growing Up is For Losers" (Still Waters, Level Best Books, 2007)
Richard Helms, "The Gospel According to Gordon Black" (The Thrilling Detective, Fall 2007)
Best Story 8,001 to 17,500 words:
Beverle Graves Myers, "The Bookworm's Demise"(Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Dec. 2007)
Eric Shane, "Paper Walls / Glass Houses" (The Back Alley Vol. 1, June 2007)
John Burdett, "The Enlightenment of Magnus McKay" (Wall Street Noir, June 2007)
Mike Wiecek, "Wasting Assets" (Alfred Hitchcock Sept., 2007)
Clifford Royal Johns, "Forget Me Not" (Mysterical-E, Fall 2007)
The finalists are put before Short Mystery Fiction Society members voting April 1-30 to determine the winner in each category. Congrats and good luck to all.
Best Story 1,000 words or less:
Keri Clark, "Saved" (Mysterical-E, Fall 2007)
BV Lawson, "Dreaming of a Spite Christmas" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Winter 2007)
Jillian Berg, "A Woman Scorned" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Autumn 2007)
Keri Clark, "Your New Fan" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Winter 2007)
Patricia Abbott, "My Hero" (D Z Allen's Muzzle Flash, 2007)
Best Story 1,001 to 4,000 words:
Beverle Graves Myers, "Brimstone P.I." (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, May 2007)
Hugh Lessig, "We All Come From Splattertown" (Thuglit, Issue 17, July 2007)
Rick Noetzel, "Joyride" (Shred of Evidence, Dec., 2007)
Jack Hardway, "Handful of Stars" (Mouth Full of Bullets, Issue 5, Autumn 2007)
John Weagly, "In the Shadows of Wrigley Field" (The Back Alley, Vol. I, Nov 2007)
Camille LaGuire, "The Promise" (Future's Mysterious Anthology Magazine, March-April 2007)
Best Story 4,001 to 8,000 words:
Twist Phelan, "A Trader's Lot" (Wall Street Noir, Akashic Books, June, 2007)
John Schroeder, "Devil's Lake" (Futures Anthology Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007)
Herschel Cozine, "A Private Hanging" (Mysterical-E, Summer, 2007)
Kate Flora, "Mr. McGregor's Garden" (Still Waters, Level Best Books, 2007)
Rosemary Harris, "Growing Up is For Losers" (Still Waters, Level Best Books, 2007)
Richard Helms, "The Gospel According to Gordon Black" (The Thrilling Detective, Fall 2007)
Best Story 8,001 to 17,500 words:
Beverle Graves Myers, "The Bookworm's Demise"(Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Dec. 2007)
Eric Shane, "Paper Walls / Glass Houses" (The Back Alley Vol. 1, June 2007)
John Burdett, "The Enlightenment of Magnus McKay" (Wall Street Noir, June 2007)
Mike Wiecek, "Wasting Assets" (Alfred Hitchcock Sept., 2007)
Clifford Royal Johns, "Forget Me Not" (Mysterical-E, Fall 2007)
The finalists are put before Short Mystery Fiction Society members voting April 1-30 to determine the winner in each category. Congrats and good luck to all.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
"Hardly Knew Her" by Laura Lippman
From: Dead Man's Hand: Crime Fiction at the Poker Table, ed. Otto Penzler. Harcourt, 2007.
This Edgar-nominated story set in 1975 suburban Maryland effectively portrays a father's gambling addiction as he heartlessly sells his children's presents and pets to cover his debts. When he cuts the strings on his daughter's guitar to get at the heirloom necklace hidden inside, she resolves to follow him and do whatever it takes to get the necklace back.
While the father's inability to change dooms him, his daughter's embrace of change leads her from fear to confidence.
This Edgar-nominated story set in 1975 suburban Maryland effectively portrays a father's gambling addiction as he heartlessly sells his children's presents and pets to cover his debts. When he cuts the strings on his daughter's guitar to get at the heirloom necklace hidden inside, she resolves to follow him and do whatever it takes to get the necklace back.
While the father's inability to change dooms him, his daughter's embrace of change leads her from fear to confidence.
Friday, March 28, 2008
"Cookies" by Molly MacRae and Stephen Johnston
From: Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 2008.
Co-written by the current vice president and president of The Short Mystery Fiction Society, this story opens with Sam, an FBI computer tech, lamenting his wife Claire's suicide. In her suicide note, Claire alleged that Sam no longer loved her, that he was having an affair with Delia, a handwriting expert working out of the same headquarters as Sam. Within weeks of Claire's death, Delia's husband Carmichael also commits suicide.
For his part, Sam says he just fixed Delia's computer, that had lunch a few times, but nothing beyond that until after Claire's and Carmichael's deaths. Sam's tone made me wonder for much of the story whether he was really innocent. Readers may see one twist coming, but MacRae and Johnston play it up for added suspense.
A good mix of high technology and old-fashioned seduction.
Co-written by the current vice president and president of The Short Mystery Fiction Society, this story opens with Sam, an FBI computer tech, lamenting his wife Claire's suicide. In her suicide note, Claire alleged that Sam no longer loved her, that he was having an affair with Delia, a handwriting expert working out of the same headquarters as Sam. Within weeks of Claire's death, Delia's husband Carmichael also commits suicide.
For his part, Sam says he just fixed Delia's computer, that had lunch a few times, but nothing beyond that until after Claire's and Carmichael's deaths. Sam's tone made me wonder for much of the story whether he was really innocent. Readers may see one twist coming, but MacRae and Johnston play it up for added suspense.
A good mix of high technology and old-fashioned seduction.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
"Fluff" by Otis Twelve
From: Expletive Deleted. Ed. Jen Jordan. Bleak House Books, 2007.
From the first sentence to the last, this story is difficult yet compelling and definitely noir. Ginny is an HIV-positive ex-porn industry worker struggling to do right by her ill infant son. Hopeless as she is, Ginny's narrative voice is engaging and funny without going into parody. Cutting briskly between scenes of Ginny watching over her son and the actions she takes to help him, Otis Twelve sets up a satisfying twist ending as well.
From the first sentence to the last, this story is difficult yet compelling and definitely noir. Ginny is an HIV-positive ex-porn industry worker struggling to do right by her ill infant son. Hopeless as she is, Ginny's narrative voice is engaging and funny without going into parody. Cutting briskly between scenes of Ginny watching over her son and the actions she takes to help him, Otis Twelve sets up a satisfying twist ending as well.
Monday, March 17, 2008
"One Serving of Bad Luck" by Sean Chercover
From: Killer Year ed. Lee Child. St. Martin's, 2008.
Ray Dudgeon, the P.I. from Chercover's debut novel, Big City, Bad Blood, is hired by the lawyer for Sarah Shipman, who lost her legs in a car accident shortly after having her tires rotated at an auto repair chain. With the chain offering to settle for $600,000, Sarah's lawyer wants to pad that figure, but he needs a statement from George Garcia, the man who worked on Sarah's car, a man who's conveniently disappeared.
In his introduction to the story, Ken Bruen praises Ray Dudgeon's humanity. I was most impressed with Chercover's handling of the secondary characters. Instead of feeling forced to establish Dudgeon's voice, Chercover allowed the other characters' voices to come through. As Dudgeon felt for them, so did I.
Ray Dudgeon, the P.I. from Chercover's debut novel, Big City, Bad Blood, is hired by the lawyer for Sarah Shipman, who lost her legs in a car accident shortly after having her tires rotated at an auto repair chain. With the chain offering to settle for $600,000, Sarah's lawyer wants to pad that figure, but he needs a statement from George Garcia, the man who worked on Sarah's car, a man who's conveniently disappeared.
In his introduction to the story, Ken Bruen praises Ray Dudgeon's humanity. I was most impressed with Chercover's handling of the secondary characters. Instead of feeling forced to establish Dudgeon's voice, Chercover allowed the other characters' voices to come through. As Dudgeon felt for them, so did I.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
"Prodigal Me" by JT Ellison
From: Killer Year ed. Lee Child. St. Martin's, 2008.
This is the story of a husband and wife who've come to accept long periods of silence between them. The wife narrates with enough wry wit to keep readers engaged but all the while wondering, Where's the crime?
The reveal is subtle but, having bought into the setup fully, I appreciated it.
This is the story of a husband and wife who've come to accept long periods of silence between them. The wife narrates with enough wry wit to keep readers engaged but all the while wondering, Where's the crime?
The reveal is subtle but, having bought into the setup fully, I appreciated it.
Monday, March 03, 2008
"Scrap" by Max Allan Collins
Originally appeared in The Black Lizard Anthology of Crime Fiction ed. Ed Gorman, 1987.
Reprinted in Chicago Blues ed. Libby Fischer Hellman. Bleak House Books, 2007.
In honor of Collins's 60th birthday, this review of a Nate Heller story. In 1939 Chicago, Nate is hired by the treasurer of a garbage workers union to shadow a former union member who may be a spy for the mob. Heller picks up the man's trail in time to hear him shot by the union president.
In the aftermath, Nate is asked to play along as the union and the victim concoct a story to give the police. Heller is the classic, smooth, tough-guy P.I. and like all of Collins's stories, "Scrap" is well researched and period pitch-perfect.
Reprinted in Chicago Blues ed. Libby Fischer Hellman. Bleak House Books, 2007.
In honor of Collins's 60th birthday, this review of a Nate Heller story. In 1939 Chicago, Nate is hired by the treasurer of a garbage workers union to shadow a former union member who may be a spy for the mob. Heller picks up the man's trail in time to hear him shot by the union president.
In the aftermath, Nate is asked to play along as the union and the victim concoct a story to give the police. Heller is the classic, smooth, tough-guy P.I. and like all of Collins's stories, "Scrap" is well researched and period pitch-perfect.
Friday, February 29, 2008
"A Long Time To Die" by Dave Zeltserman
Originally appeared in New Mystery Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 2. (1992)
In honor of this year's longer February, a review of Dave Zeltserman's first published story. The protag, Nick, covered up his brother Brendon's role in a hit-and-run accident to save Brendon's promising law career. Sentenced to join the military, Nick was sent to Vietnam and returned a shell of himself. As the story begins, the brothers are reunited after Brendon hired a detective to find Nick. Brendon offers to get Nick back on the right track, but as one might expect from the noirish Zeltserman, that's not how things work out.
"A Long Time To Die" was recently made available as the MP3 podcast "A Long To Die", read by Alan Vogel of Lit103.3.
In honor of this year's longer February, a review of Dave Zeltserman's first published story. The protag, Nick, covered up his brother Brendon's role in a hit-and-run accident to save Brendon's promising law career. Sentenced to join the military, Nick was sent to Vietnam and returned a shell of himself. As the story begins, the brothers are reunited after Brendon hired a detective to find Nick. Brendon offers to get Nick back on the right track, but as one might expect from the noirish Zeltserman, that's not how things work out.
"A Long Time To Die" was recently made available as the MP3 podcast "A Long To Die", read by Alan Vogel of Lit103.3.
Monday, February 25, 2008
"Thoroughly Yours" by Kieran Shea
From: Plots with Guns 1 (February 2008).
After a three-plus-year absence, Neil Smith's respected contemporary noir ezine relaunched last week. The first sentence of Kieran Shea's story reads, "On his 42nd birthday, Boris Rugova jackhammered into Skip Matthews' loaded $72,000 Sport Coup Lexus at twenty-one miles per hour."
Rugova politely offers to pay the damages, but irate lawyer Matthews threatens to sue him. Rugova leaves multiple messages at Matthews' firm, visits the firm trying to make amends, but Matthews will have none of it.
Finally, Rugova approaches Matthews away from the office and gets down on his knees begging Matthews to let him work off the repairs, and Matthews says he'll think about it.
You might have guessed this is a setup for more. Shea drops enough clues and keeps a brisk pace while leaving enough in the dark to maintain surprise. The requisite gun appears, and fans of unvarnished violence get the whack of a hammer against bone.
The new PWG website features easily readable text paired with eye-grabbing photography by Peter Kim.
After a three-plus-year absence, Neil Smith's respected contemporary noir ezine relaunched last week. The first sentence of Kieran Shea's story reads, "On his 42nd birthday, Boris Rugova jackhammered into Skip Matthews' loaded $72,000 Sport Coup Lexus at twenty-one miles per hour."
Rugova politely offers to pay the damages, but irate lawyer Matthews threatens to sue him. Rugova leaves multiple messages at Matthews' firm, visits the firm trying to make amends, but Matthews will have none of it.
Finally, Rugova approaches Matthews away from the office and gets down on his knees begging Matthews to let him work off the repairs, and Matthews says he'll think about it.
You might have guessed this is a setup for more. Shea drops enough clues and keeps a brisk pace while leaving enough in the dark to maintain surprise. The requisite gun appears, and fans of unvarnished violence get the whack of a hammer against bone.
The new PWG website features easily readable text paired with eye-grabbing photography by Peter Kim.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
What Friends Are For by Russel McLean
The current issue of AHMM carries a literary treat. "What Friends Are For" is a story in Russel McLean's series of shorts concerning a Dundee PI named Sam. Sam used to be part of the police force, but now he fights for justice...literally. The series is one of my favorite short story series, ranking up there for me with G. Miki Hayden's Miriam and IJ Parker's Akitada series. Russel's stories are filled with rounded, human characters - no cartoon characters, just people who love and hate and care. It's what I love about the stories. This story does not disappoint.
In it, Sam's friend from his time on the police force has been arrested - a witness says he beat someone up, but the story doesn't convince Sam. He thinks his friend is being framed and he prowls about town trying to find the truth of the matter...and if it means stepping on someone's crotch to get the info he needs, he's the man to do it. But can he figure out the truth before his friend is brought before a judge, kicked off the force, sent to prison? In short, before the friend's life is ruined which is the apparent goal of someone in the shadows?
Take a look at the story. It is worth the price of the AHMM issue which, by the way, seems to have gone up a full dollar to $4.99. I'm hoping this is a special price to offset the huge rush of demand for an issue with a Russel McLean story and the price will go back down in the next issue...
In it, Sam's friend from his time on the police force has been arrested - a witness says he beat someone up, but the story doesn't convince Sam. He thinks his friend is being framed and he prowls about town trying to find the truth of the matter...and if it means stepping on someone's crotch to get the info he needs, he's the man to do it. But can he figure out the truth before his friend is brought before a judge, kicked off the force, sent to prison? In short, before the friend's life is ruined which is the apparent goal of someone in the shadows?
Take a look at the story. It is worth the price of the AHMM issue which, by the way, seems to have gone up a full dollar to $4.99. I'm hoping this is a special price to offset the huge rush of demand for an issue with a Russel McLean story and the price will go back down in the next issue...
Thursday, February 14, 2008
NBS Special - Love Hurts: A Valentine's Blog Event
On January 17, Patricia Abbott invited readers of her blog to write stories 750 words or less on the theme of love and crime, to be posted today.
Sixteen writers responded, including Graham and myself. Enjoy.
Patricia Abbott, "Tongues"
Stephen Allan, "The Many Forms of Love"
Patrick Shawn Bagley, "Leaving Rachel"
Cormac Brown, "Warmer"
Aldo Calcagno, "Love on the Rocks"
Clair Dickson, "Cupid's Bullet"
Sophie Littlefield, "Rival Passions"
Todd Mason, "Afterward"
John McAuley, "Since I've Been Loving You"
Christa M. Miller, "Beautiful Trouble"
Graham Powell, "The Last Time"
Bryon Quertermous, "Stand Up on Blow Pops"
r2, "Doctor, Doctor"
Sandra Seamans, "Bye, Bye Love"
Gerald So, "Connect the Dots"
WellesFan, "A Day Late"
Sixteen writers responded, including Graham and myself. Enjoy.
Patricia Abbott, "Tongues"
Stephen Allan, "The Many Forms of Love"
Patrick Shawn Bagley, "Leaving Rachel"
Cormac Brown, "Warmer"
Aldo Calcagno, "Love on the Rocks"
Clair Dickson, "Cupid's Bullet"
Sophie Littlefield, "Rival Passions"
Todd Mason, "Afterward"
John McAuley, "Since I've Been Loving You"
Christa M. Miller, "Beautiful Trouble"
Graham Powell, "The Last Time"
Bryon Quertermous, "Stand Up on Blow Pops"
r2, "Doctor, Doctor"
Sandra Seamans, "Bye, Bye Love"
Gerald So, "Connect the Dots"
WellesFan, "A Day Late"
"Cherish" by Alison Gaylin
From: A Hell of a Woman: An Anthology of Female Noir. Ed. Megan Abbott. Busted Flush Press, 2007.
25-year-old movie theater usher Myra Jane Wurtz is so infatuated with leading man Deacon Blaine, she believes he speaks to her through the silver screen. This secret communication grows into dream-like visits from Deacon, and soon Myra believes Deacon wants her to kill his mistress, Grace Ryan.
An engrossing, darkly funny story from the author of Hide Your Eyes, You Kill Me, and Trashed.
25-year-old movie theater usher Myra Jane Wurtz is so infatuated with leading man Deacon Blaine, she believes he speaks to her through the silver screen. This secret communication grows into dream-like visits from Deacon, and soon Myra believes Deacon wants her to kill his mistress, Grace Ryan.
An engrossing, darkly funny story from the author of Hide Your Eyes, You Kill Me, and Trashed.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
"Slice of Pie" by Bill Cameron
From: Killer Year ed. Lee Child. St. Martin's, 2008.
Not long after his father's death, Raymond is in the bathroom at his parents' house when he overhears a man ask his mother for money. His mother explains that the rumpled-looking man, Mr. Franklin, locked himself out of his car and needs $20 for a blacksmith, but Ray is convinced the man is conning her.
Using the confines of first person to their best effect, Cameron lets readers feel Ray's frustration dealing with a strong-willed mother who still treats him like a child. Ray drives by his mother's neighborhood the next few days, subconsciously looking for Mr. Franklin. He remains convinced Franklin is a conman, tempting readers to believe the same, keeping them on the hook until the final word.
In her introduction to the story, Anne Frasier remarks on the realism of Cameron's work. As a fan of realism, I concur.
Not long after his father's death, Raymond is in the bathroom at his parents' house when he overhears a man ask his mother for money. His mother explains that the rumpled-looking man, Mr. Franklin, locked himself out of his car and needs $20 for a blacksmith, but Ray is convinced the man is conning her.
Using the confines of first person to their best effect, Cameron lets readers feel Ray's frustration dealing with a strong-willed mother who still treats him like a child. Ray drives by his mother's neighborhood the next few days, subconsciously looking for Mr. Franklin. He remains convinced Franklin is a conman, tempting readers to believe the same, keeping them on the hook until the final word.
In her introduction to the story, Anne Frasier remarks on the realism of Cameron's work. As a fan of realism, I concur.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
"Part Light, Part Memory" by Bonnie Hearn Hill
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.
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.
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