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annecrisp's review against another edition
3.0
I read the Patricia Briggs story the first time. This time, I attempted to read them all, but many didn't seem to fit the theme and weren't particularly entertaining. The only additional story I enjoyed was the one from Simon R. Green. The rest were so-so or worse, with many DNFs.
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this collection of urban fantasy short stories specifically to get my hands on the new novella by Diana Gabaldon, "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies". For anyone devoted to the works of Diana Gabaldon, this is yet another fun addition to the Lord John series -- not exactly essential, but another chance to see Lord John apply his upper-crust British military efficiency to the solving of a seemingly supernatural mystery. Gabaldon knows how to please her fans. LJ&tPoZ includes just enough of all the elements that make her readers salivate, including a reference to our favorite red-headed Scot, Lord John's attraction to every well-formed male in his vicinity, and this time around, a cameo appearance of an important (though, at least for me, much despised) character from the Outlander series.
I'm sure the rest of the stories in this collection are quite good as well, and I'll get around to them eventually. For readers like me, the Lord John piece is reason enough to pick this one up.
I'm sure the rest of the stories in this collection are quite good as well, and I'll get around to them eventually. For readers like me, the Lord John piece is reason enough to pick this one up.
misterjay's review against another edition
4.0
1 The Bastard Stepchild - George R.R. Martin
Intro.
2 Death by Dahlia - Charlaine Harris
Dahlia is a vampire charged with solving a mystery that occurs during a celebration for the new sherif. Fun, serviceable vampire fiction. 3/5
3 The Bleeding Shadow - Joe R. Lansdale
The characters presented in The Bleeding Shadow are new to me, but ones whose adventures I'd like to read more of. This story, about a deal with the devil for some blues chops, is an old one, but very well told. 5/5
4 Hungry Heart - Simon R. Green
John Taylor stories are always a good time. This one, where our hero has to find both a witch's heart and the box it's held in is vintage Green. Lots of fun. 4/5
5 Styx and Stones - Steven Saylor
What happens when a young Roman travels the ancient world and stumbles across an old temple and the goddess within? Pleasant and fun, but I didn't feel like it fit the anthology very well. 3/5
6 Pain and Suffering - S.M. Stirling
A pair of New Mexico detectives find themselves on the trail of a monster. Gripping and tightly plotted, this story has a new twist on an old idea at the end that I appreciated. 5/5
7 It's Still the Same Old Story - Carrie Vaughn
Time must feel a little different to vampires, especially when they make friends with mortals. This is a good story of a crime well past its sell-by date and the vampire who has to reflect on how it all came about. 4/5
8 The Lady is a Screamer - Conn Iggulden
Ghost stories have never been my favorite sub genre, but if there are more like this out there, I'll take them. Our hero is the real deal, a former sham psychic who finds ghosts and the relics they inhabit with the aid of three spirits: The Lady, Geronimo, and Tom. Really good. 5/5
9 Hellbender - Laurie R. King
Our hero is a part-human, part salamander p.i. who gets a case that shakes up his entire life. Lots of necessary exposition with a really interesting premise and a solid pulp story all mixed together. 4/5
10 Shadow Thieves - Glen Cook
This is the story I bought the collection for. It's Garrett, P.I. and it could be a story about Garrett hanging out with Morley and bitching at each other and I'd still give it a full five. Given that it's standard Garrett action and adventure, well, more please. 5/5
11 No Mystery, No Miracle - Melinda M. Snodgrass
Interesting take on religion and the world, with our hero being an 'old one' who has assumed multiple guises in his time on Earth, none of which matters as he steps up to the plate to stop another old one from growing even more powerful. 4/5
12 The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery - M.L.N. Hanover
Wow. This story, about an unusual consultant called in to help solve a "satanic" murder, is truly one-of-a-kind in all the best ways. Every time I thought I had a handle on where it was going, I was thrown. Really good. 5/C
13 The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle
A nice play on the classic Sherlock Holmes model only in this world, the supernatural does exist and, as such, the mysteries are that much more mysterious. 3/5
14 Lord John and the Plague of Zombies - Diana Gabaldon
Although it took me a minute to get into the archaic style, I really enjoyed this tale of zombies in colonial era Jamaica. I'm looking forward to reading more of the Lord John stories. 5/5
15 Beware the Snake - John Maddox Roberts
This story takes our detective hero and places him in ancient Rome. He uses his wits and his wife's impressive knowledge of both politics and religion to solve mysteries for Ceaser. Interesting. 3/5
16 In Red, with Pearls - Patricia Briggs
Apparently, this is one of the stories many people bought the collection for. I enjoyed it; werewolf stories are always a good time, especially when there are also zombies, witches, and lawyers, oh my. 4/5
17 The Adakian Eagle - Bradley Denton
This was fantastic. Everything from the setting to the dialog to the actual story were just very well done and the homage to Daishell Hammet was a lovely grace note.
Intro.
2 Death by Dahlia - Charlaine Harris
Dahlia is a vampire charged with solving a mystery that occurs during a celebration for the new sherif. Fun, serviceable vampire fiction. 3/5
3 The Bleeding Shadow - Joe R. Lansdale
The characters presented in The Bleeding Shadow are new to me, but ones whose adventures I'd like to read more of. This story, about a deal with the devil for some blues chops, is an old one, but very well told. 5/5
4 Hungry Heart - Simon R. Green
John Taylor stories are always a good time. This one, where our hero has to find both a witch's heart and the box it's held in is vintage Green. Lots of fun. 4/5
5 Styx and Stones - Steven Saylor
What happens when a young Roman travels the ancient world and stumbles across an old temple and the goddess within? Pleasant and fun, but I didn't feel like it fit the anthology very well. 3/5
6 Pain and Suffering - S.M. Stirling
A pair of New Mexico detectives find themselves on the trail of a monster. Gripping and tightly plotted, this story has a new twist on an old idea at the end that I appreciated. 5/5
7 It's Still the Same Old Story - Carrie Vaughn
Time must feel a little different to vampires, especially when they make friends with mortals. This is a good story of a crime well past its sell-by date and the vampire who has to reflect on how it all came about. 4/5
8 The Lady is a Screamer - Conn Iggulden
Ghost stories have never been my favorite sub genre, but if there are more like this out there, I'll take them. Our hero is the real deal, a former sham psychic who finds ghosts and the relics they inhabit with the aid of three spirits: The Lady, Geronimo, and Tom. Really good. 5/5
9 Hellbender - Laurie R. King
Our hero is a part-human, part salamander p.i. who gets a case that shakes up his entire life. Lots of necessary exposition with a really interesting premise and a solid pulp story all mixed together. 4/5
10 Shadow Thieves - Glen Cook
This is the story I bought the collection for. It's Garrett, P.I. and it could be a story about Garrett hanging out with Morley and bitching at each other and I'd still give it a full five. Given that it's standard Garrett action and adventure, well, more please. 5/5
11 No Mystery, No Miracle - Melinda M. Snodgrass
Interesting take on religion and the world, with our hero being an 'old one' who has assumed multiple guises in his time on Earth, none of which matters as he steps up to the plate to stop another old one from growing even more powerful. 4/5
12 The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery - M.L.N. Hanover
Wow. This story, about an unusual consultant called in to help solve a "satanic" murder, is truly one-of-a-kind in all the best ways. Every time I thought I had a handle on where it was going, I was thrown. Really good. 5/C
13 The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle
A nice play on the classic Sherlock Holmes model only in this world, the supernatural does exist and, as such, the mysteries are that much more mysterious. 3/5
14 Lord John and the Plague of Zombies - Diana Gabaldon
Although it took me a minute to get into the archaic style, I really enjoyed this tale of zombies in colonial era Jamaica. I'm looking forward to reading more of the Lord John stories. 5/5
15 Beware the Snake - John Maddox Roberts
This story takes our detective hero and places him in ancient Rome. He uses his wits and his wife's impressive knowledge of both politics and religion to solve mysteries for Ceaser. Interesting. 3/5
16 In Red, with Pearls - Patricia Briggs
Apparently, this is one of the stories many people bought the collection for. I enjoyed it; werewolf stories are always a good time, especially when there are also zombies, witches, and lawyers, oh my. 4/5
17 The Adakian Eagle - Bradley Denton
This was fantastic. Everything from the setting to the dialog to the actual story were just very well done and the homage to Daishell Hammet was a lovely grace note.
foxconfessor's review against another edition
3.0
This was a pretty solid collection. A couple of these stories were more 'urban fantasy adjacent' and probably belonged to a different anthology, but over all this was an enjoyable read.
rick_k's review against another edition
3.0
Set in the Aleutian Islands during World War II, Bradley Denton brings an unique setting and mysticism to his paranormal detective short story The Adakian Eagle. Our protagonist is a private in the army, stationed on Adak island which is home to both army and navy outposts. He is ordered by his lieutenant colonel to investigate an unsettling scene, high on the mountain, which appears to indicate animal sacrifice and potentially more disturbing crimes. The resulting investigation involves political intrigue, native mysticism, and tests the private’s commitment to truth and duty. The writing does not flow naturally and perhaps is trying to imitate the terse cadence of noir detective stories, but initially reduced my enjoyment. I think the choice of location and timing was an inspired decision which setup a lot of thoughtful tension and intersecting motives. The twists and turns of the investigation seemed logical and earned, and ultimately delivered a nice complex back story, character development and resolution.
bahoulie's review against another edition
3.0
I read the one story by Diana Gabaldon and really enjoyed it. I skipped the others because it's all urban fantasy, which I don't like
eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition
3.0
Like most collections, this one has a mix of good stories and less interesting stories.
jasmiinaf's review against another edition
4.0
More like 3,7, but because this is the best short story collection I've read in a while I'll give 4 stars. There was only one story I didn't like at all and that was Shadow Thieves from Glen Cook. But it was the only one.