Reviewed By: Sarah - RAM
Tart Noir
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Stella Duffy
, Lauren Henderson
Class/Genre: Mystery [Short Stories]
OMG, what a fabulous, fabulous collection this is. Honestly, not a
lemon in the bunch. I was impressed by the authors I was expecting to
be impressed with, but the non-mystery authors *really* shone here,
for example
Karen Moline's story take on "fight or flight", with a very unexpected twist at the end;
Jenny Colgan's frantic and creepy story about what you shouldn't be finding on the London Underground;
Lisa Jewell's unbelievably funny take on the Good Neighbor Policy
Others to bring up
Sujata Massey's story (which features Rei Shimura in a supporting role) about a young Japanese girl with a most provocative mystery to solve;
Laura Lippman's creepy take on suburbian hell;
Val McDermid's "sex story" (as had been promised to me) was all that and much, much more intense...
Vicki Hendricks' actually made me root for a human/dolphin couple which was, um, really disturbing....
I LOVED Katy's story. Talk about turning the tables! Jenny Siler had a great revenge fantasy story set in the wilds of Morocco....
The co-editrices Lauren and Stella had most excellent stories as well, with Lauren offering up an original spin on classic tragic heroines
So many more, but I have to bring up KS's story. I read it, and then the ending made me sit up in total shock, so I went back and reread the story right away. Wow. I can't wait to read more of her short stories.
If you're in the UK, get your copy NOW. If you're in the US, get it from the usual suspects (those that Thalia won't kill me for at least) or wait for the US edition in October from Berkley which has a very cool cover. As does the UK one.
It's SO nice to read an anthology with consistently great stories from everybody!
Sarah - RAM
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Sarah - RAM
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