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tracey_s's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Quirk Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC e-book in exchange for my honest review.
Manhattan Mayhem is a collection of short stories by the members of the Crime Writers of America. Each writer creates a crime story based around a specific neighbourhood or public area of Manhattan. There is a selection of authors, some more well known than others, and as expected there are some great hits and some duds in this collection. However as a whole this book is very enjoyable and really gives the reader a fantastic sense of being in New York throughout multiple time periods and in very differing circumstances.
If you’re interested in my thoughts on each individual story, please visit my blog: http://flamingoreads.blogspot.co.uk
Manhattan Mayhem is a collection of short stories by the members of the Crime Writers of America. Each writer creates a crime story based around a specific neighbourhood or public area of Manhattan. There is a selection of authors, some more well known than others, and as expected there are some great hits and some duds in this collection. However as a whole this book is very enjoyable and really gives the reader a fantastic sense of being in New York throughout multiple time periods and in very differing circumstances.
If you’re interested in my thoughts on each individual story, please visit my blog: http://flamingoreads.blogspot.co.uk
northerly_heart_reads's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.25
sdreader's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sarahlillianbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Mystery isn't really my genre, there was a few short stories that I liked but weren't mind blowing or anything. I'll probably be unhauling it shortly.
dtaylorbooks's review against another edition
5.0
A bunch of mystery/thrillers set in New York during various decades? Yes, please. Anthologies can end up being a mixed bag (no pun intended) and you never know how many of the stories you’re going to end up liking, if any. Most of the writers pitching in to this one I’ve never read so I was going in blind. New York was what drew me, coupled with mysteries.
Luckily MANHATTAN MAYHEM didn’t disappoint at all. It was wonderful, actually. There wasn’t one story in this book that I didn’t like, and that doesn’t happen all that often. None of them were overly long and, in fact, most were rather poignant and didn’t give me a lot of fat to wade through. A lot of them ended rather abruptly with some eye-popping, oh snap! endings that made me a little giddy. Endings that are just like you’re walking along in the story, soaking up the details, and then BOOM. Revelation. End. I was never pissed that that happened (and I sometimes can be) because none of the stories that did end like that ever felt unfinished.
‘The Five Dollar Dress’ by Mary Higgins Clark, the first story in the book, was phenomenal. Short, sweet, to the point and with one of those BOOM endings that with one tiny piece of evidence it said everything it needed to say. ‘Red-Headed Stepchild’ by Margaret Maron was another good one. The BOOM ending was a bit more subdued but it was devious and exquisitely deceptive that I couldn’t help but laugh.’Dizzy and Gillespie’ by Persia Walker was a sad one. I don’t believe it had a BOOM ending but it all wove together like a finely honed blanket and really touched my heart. ‘The Baker of Bleecker Street’ by Jeffrey Deaver was a more classic spy tale from WWII-era New York that had you trying to sift through the details to find out who the double agent was. I was surprised by the ending, of course.
Another great thing about the book was that each story was set in a different Manhattan neighborhood. From Harlem to Hell’s Kitchen, Alphabet City to Wall Street, it covered a good scope of New York and allowed you to read about a wide variety of people all across the island. For a place so small it always amazes me how a few blocks completely changes everything.
An excellent compendium of stories written by some fantastic writers, I highly recommend MANHATTAN MAYHEM to anyone even remotely interested in a good mystery. Or someone looking for a new author to read but doesn’t know who to choose. You have a whole slew of them right here!
5
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Luckily MANHATTAN MAYHEM didn’t disappoint at all. It was wonderful, actually. There wasn’t one story in this book that I didn’t like, and that doesn’t happen all that often. None of them were overly long and, in fact, most were rather poignant and didn’t give me a lot of fat to wade through. A lot of them ended rather abruptly with some eye-popping, oh snap! endings that made me a little giddy. Endings that are just like you’re walking along in the story, soaking up the details, and then BOOM. Revelation. End. I was never pissed that that happened (and I sometimes can be) because none of the stories that did end like that ever felt unfinished.
‘The Five Dollar Dress’ by Mary Higgins Clark, the first story in the book, was phenomenal. Short, sweet, to the point and with one of those BOOM endings that with one tiny piece of evidence it said everything it needed to say. ‘Red-Headed Stepchild’ by Margaret Maron was another good one. The BOOM ending was a bit more subdued but it was devious and exquisitely deceptive that I couldn’t help but laugh.’Dizzy and Gillespie’ by Persia Walker was a sad one. I don’t believe it had a BOOM ending but it all wove together like a finely honed blanket and really touched my heart. ‘The Baker of Bleecker Street’ by Jeffrey Deaver was a more classic spy tale from WWII-era New York that had you trying to sift through the details to find out who the double agent was. I was surprised by the ending, of course.
Another great thing about the book was that each story was set in a different Manhattan neighborhood. From Harlem to Hell’s Kitchen, Alphabet City to Wall Street, it covered a good scope of New York and allowed you to read about a wide variety of people all across the island. For a place so small it always amazes me how a few blocks completely changes everything.
An excellent compendium of stories written by some fantastic writers, I highly recommend MANHATTAN MAYHEM to anyone even remotely interested in a good mystery. Or someone looking for a new author to read but doesn’t know who to choose. You have a whole slew of them right here!
5
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
mnmama3's review against another edition
4.0
There are some excellent short stories in this book. Also some complete duds. Was debating between three and four stars, but decided that the good parts were good enough for it to have four stars.
oddandbookish's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book for free through BookLikes' Giveaways.
I really enjoyed this anthology of short stories. I loved the concept of each story taking place in a different part of New York City. I thought that was really fun and creative. I especially loved how there was a tiny little map of the area at the top of each story.
I liked some stories more than others. My favorites were "The Five-Dollar Dress," "White Rabbit," "Serial Benefactor," and "Trapped!"
I really enjoyed this anthology of short stories. I loved the concept of each story taking place in a different part of New York City. I thought that was really fun and creative. I especially loved how there was a tiny little map of the area at the top of each story.
I liked some stories more than others. My favorites were "The Five-Dollar Dress," "White Rabbit," "Serial Benefactor," and "Trapped!"
whitney210's review against another edition
4.0
I love a good short story book... it feels like you can take mini breaks throughout the day without feeling the need to read one more chapter.