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A review by clak5686
Footsteps in the Dark by Z.A. Maxfield, L.B. Gregg, Josh Lanyon, Dal Maclean, Meg Perry, C.S. Poe, S.C. Wynne, Nicole Kimberling
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was an opportunity to read short stories by authors I had not read before and to read short stories from familiar authors.
Stranger in the House by Josh Lanyon was up to the high standards expected from this author. Miles Tuesday inherits a home in Montreal from his deceased mother's best friend. He spent summers there when he was younger and is excited to move there. He is a teacher who now has the opportunity to pursue his love of painting. He reconnects with Linley Palmer, the son of the woman who owned the house. He had a crush on Linley when he was younger. There is mystery and romance with a little steam. A great short.
Dal Maclean's A Country for old men was heartbreaking and lovely. Callum goes home to his hometown to work for the small town policy. He's trying to bury his past and deny who he is. He is forced to work with his former lover, Adam. He is afraid to come out because he doesn't think his parents will accept it. But, finding out some information about the past lets him move on with a future with Adam. I re-read the story twice before moving on to the next.
C.S. Poe's Lights, Camera, Murder was the first I've read by this author. PI Rory Byrne goes undercover on a historical romance set. He realizes he's not the man he wants to be when he meets actor, Marion Roosevelt. This had an interesting mystery, personal growth in the characters and a good love story.
Z.A. Maxfield's Pepper the Crime Lab was an interesting story with interesting characters. I enjoyed Rick and Lonnie and the mystery. I really loved that Rick knew what he wanted and wouldn't settle for less. Lonnie was fairly pathetic when the story started but he learned a lot about himself and what he wanted.
L.B. Gregg's Blind Man's Bluff was my least favorite of the stories included in the anthology which is strange because I am a big fan. I just couldn't connect with the setting of the story. Adult friends are playing capture the flag in an abandoned mall when things get ugly. Two of the friends want to be more which happens in the story but I just didn't feel connected.
C.S. Wynne's Reality Bites was the first story I have read by the author and I will definitely read more. Jax Thornburn produces a reality show where someone is murdered. Detective Decker is assigned the case. He's surprised at what a great guy Jax is. The mystery is good. The development of the relationship is really good.
Meg Perry's Twelve Seconds was my first read by this author. I really enjoyed the story. Both main characters were interesting and really good together. The setting of the space industry was also really cool. I will read more by Ms. Perry.
Nicole Kimberling's Entree to Murder was another first read by the author for me. I enjoyed the characters and the story which was fairly gritty. I loved Mac and Drew. I enjoyed Mac's protectiveness. The side characters were also great. Another author on my TBR list.
Overall, a very good book.
Stranger in the House by Josh Lanyon was up to the high standards expected from this author. Miles Tuesday inherits a home in Montreal from his deceased mother's best friend. He spent summers there when he was younger and is excited to move there. He is a teacher who now has the opportunity to pursue his love of painting. He reconnects with Linley Palmer, the son of the woman who owned the house. He had a crush on Linley when he was younger. There is mystery and romance with a little steam. A great short.
Dal Maclean's A Country for old men was heartbreaking and lovely. Callum goes home to his hometown to work for the small town policy. He's trying to bury his past and deny who he is. He is forced to work with his former lover, Adam. He is afraid to come out because he doesn't think his parents will accept it. But, finding out some information about the past lets him move on with a future with Adam. I re-read the story twice before moving on to the next.
C.S. Poe's Lights, Camera, Murder was the first I've read by this author. PI Rory Byrne goes undercover on a historical romance set. He realizes he's not the man he wants to be when he meets actor, Marion Roosevelt. This had an interesting mystery, personal growth in the characters and a good love story.
Z.A. Maxfield's Pepper the Crime Lab was an interesting story with interesting characters. I enjoyed Rick and Lonnie and the mystery. I really loved that Rick knew what he wanted and wouldn't settle for less. Lonnie was fairly pathetic when the story started but he learned a lot about himself and what he wanted.
L.B. Gregg's Blind Man's Bluff was my least favorite of the stories included in the anthology which is strange because I am a big fan. I just couldn't connect with the setting of the story. Adult friends are playing capture the flag in an abandoned mall when things get ugly. Two of the friends want to be more which happens in the story but I just didn't feel connected.
C.S. Wynne's Reality Bites was the first story I have read by the author and I will definitely read more. Jax Thornburn produces a reality show where someone is murdered. Detective Decker is assigned the case. He's surprised at what a great guy Jax is. The mystery is good. The development of the relationship is really good.
Meg Perry's Twelve Seconds was my first read by this author. I really enjoyed the story. Both main characters were interesting and really good together. The setting of the space industry was also really cool. I will read more by Ms. Perry.
Nicole Kimberling's Entree to Murder was another first read by the author for me. I enjoyed the characters and the story which was fairly gritty. I loved Mac and Drew. I enjoyed Mac's protectiveness. The side characters were also great. Another author on my TBR list.
Overall, a very good book.