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A review by saraspock
The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021 by Steph Cha, Alafair Burke
5.0
The Best American Mystery and Suspense is a striking anthology of short stories, not developed around a theme, but pulled from the pages of literary magazines and other anthologies to reflect the best of the year. Steph Cha along with guest editor, Alafair Burke, certainly hit the mark with their first effort in the series. The stories selected show America at a critical time, when discussions of race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, and COVID are at the forefront of the mind, and the writers represented in these pages are able to deftly address these issues.
Gabino Iglesias’ “Everything is Going to Be Okay” hits close to the bone of the current climate, pitting those in the clutches of a failing health care system against the deadly coronavirus, showing what desperate people will do when backed into a corner. “Slow Burner” by Laura Lippman is deliciously suspenseful, building to a perfect crescendo, which seems next to impossible to do in short form. Alex Segura and Alison Gaylin will break your heart in a thousand different places with their offerings “90 Miles,” which navigates the expanse from Cuba to Key West, and “Where I belong,” addressing homelessness and mental health. Save Kristen Lepionka’s “Infinity Sky” for last if you’re hoping to end on a more humorously suspenseful note. Lepionka threads the needle between suspense and slap stick, highlighting one fateful night in the life of a former rock star.
These are just a few of the highlights that wait in the pages of The Best American Mystery and Suspense. Big thank you to the editors, the authors, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and #NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my review.
Gabino Iglesias’ “Everything is Going to Be Okay” hits close to the bone of the current climate, pitting those in the clutches of a failing health care system against the deadly coronavirus, showing what desperate people will do when backed into a corner. “Slow Burner” by Laura Lippman is deliciously suspenseful, building to a perfect crescendo, which seems next to impossible to do in short form. Alex Segura and Alison Gaylin will break your heart in a thousand different places with their offerings “90 Miles,” which navigates the expanse from Cuba to Key West, and “Where I belong,” addressing homelessness and mental health. Save Kristen Lepionka’s “Infinity Sky” for last if you’re hoping to end on a more humorously suspenseful note. Lepionka threads the needle between suspense and slap stick, highlighting one fateful night in the life of a former rock star.
These are just a few of the highlights that wait in the pages of The Best American Mystery and Suspense. Big thank you to the editors, the authors, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and #NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my review.