Reviews

The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021 by Steph Cha, Alafair Burke

beeloquacious's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

verumsolum's review

4.0

Before reading this year’s edition, I was not a fan of this series. After either my first or second year reading it, I gave up on it. I felt like the definition that the series editor was using didn’t fit what I look for from mysteries: I think his definition would work better for an anthology with “crime fiction” in its title. I don’t know why he has moved on and the series has a revised title this year, but the stories really clicked with me! I don’t know how much is the tweaked definition and how much is this year’s guest editor, but I expect I’ll be giving this one a try again in 2022 to find out!

theretiredlibrarian's review

5.0

This is a collection of short stories published in various outlets last year. This annual anthology began publishing in 1997. This year’s volume has a new series editor in Steph Cha and has expanded to add suspense to it’s title. Best selling author Alafair Burke is this year’s guest editor.

The collection offers a wide range of stories from best selling veteran authors such as Lisa Unger, Laura Lippman, and Gar Anthony Haywood to bright new voices in crime fiction including Gabino Iglesias, Alex Segura, and Jenny Bhatt. The stories offer something for every crime fiction fan. Christopher Bollen’s story SWAJ was inspired by reading the book Jaws during the pandemic. Nikki Dolosn’s story looks at a picture perfect neighborhood torn apart after a new couple moves in. Aya de León’s contribution examines the risks a mother takes to get her child into a better school and at what cost.

The stories are timely, diverse, and thought-provoking. They run the gambit of crime fiction from jealousy, revenge, and murder for hire, to blackmail, and desperate choices that have to be made. There’s something here for every mystery and suspense fan to enjoy. This anthology is a great way to discover new to you authors and short fiction from old favorites.

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for the digital ARC.

sadiereadthat's review

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

herwitchiness's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0