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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
There are 16 short stories with a common theme of mystery and private detectives, whether the individual story is of fantasy or reality, well, that's up to the individual author.
I suspect Martin and Dozois are including Martin's introduction, "The Bastard Stepchild" as part of the story count. I do suggest reading it as it sheds light on the theme of the stories to come.
Series:
"Death by Dahlia" (Sookieverse)
"Hungry Heart" (Nightside, 1.5)
"Styx and Stones" (Roma Sub Rosa, 0.5a)
"Pain and Suffering" (Shadowspawn, 2.5)
"It's Still the Same Old Story" (Kitty Norville, xx.5)
"Shadow Thieves" (Garret, P.I., xx.5)
"No Mystery, No Miracle" (Edge, 2.5??)
"Lord John and the Plague of Zombies (Lord John Grey, 3.5)
"Beware the Snake" (SPQR, XII.V)
"In Red, with Pearls" (Mercy Thompson, 6.5)
The Stories
Charlaine Harris' "Death by Dahlia" loosely follows the hierarchical concept for vampires introduced in the Sookie Stackhouse series with a brief cameo from Diantha, but that's as close as it comes to a Sookie Stackhouse short.
You'll enjoy the story more if you aren't wondering where Eric, Pam, or Sookie are… An unexpected death while celebrating the new sheriff in town forces Dahlia to quickly investigate.
Joe R. Lansdale's "The Bleeding Shadow" is an amazing story combining horror with mystery when Alma May gets worried about her jazz-playing brother and asks an old friend to investigate. It's set in a 1930-ish Texas. Excellent and CREEPY!!
Simon R. Green's "Hungry Heart" finds John Taylor hired to find a witch's heart that she claims has been stolen. Hey, it's the Nightside, everybody lies. Another pip from Green.
Steven Saylor's "Styx and Stones" just goes to show that tourism and vandalism are universal when Antipater and Gordianus visit Babylon to see what's left of the famous Hanging Gardens only to encounter a lemur, a ghost, who kills...bwah-ha-ha… I must pick the first in this series, Roman Blood, unless I can find the prequel, Seven Wonders.
S.M. Stirling's "Pain and Suffering" finds Eric Salvador, a Santa Fe police detective, investigating an arson case with his partner, Cesar Martinez. An interesting blend of detection and horror with characters I found intriguing.
I thought Stirling had created an excellent first step in what could be a terrifying war, and I want to read more of the Shadowspan series. Then I discovered this is actually 2.5 in the chronology. I definitely have to get serious about reading Stirling!
NOTE: Now that I've read Shadowspawn 1 & 2, I've discovered that this simply takes bits and pieces from 1 & 2, focusing on the detectives investigating the fire trap Adrienne set in Ellen's apartment.
Carrie Vaughn's "It's Still the Same Old Story" is a tale about Rick and a woman he met sixty-some years ago. A woman he could have loved and chose to protect. It's a snapshot into Rick's long life with insight into how he thinks, how he loves. And I just wanna cry...
Conn Iggulden's "The Lady is a Screamer" is actually pretty funny about this con artist who suddenly discovers he's not. I enjoyed reading about the "partners" he picked up along the way and how very useful they were...
Laurie R. King's "Hellbender" is a story of bigotry and one in which the government actually lives up to its promise, much to the missings' dismay. A small group of people are targeted and only one person is still free to point out the connection. A good one, if a bit vague on some points.
Glen Cook's "Shadow Thieves" is my very least favorite, mostly due to being so incomprehensible. Cook dropped us in and didn't worry whether we swam or sank. Nothing about how the world, all we learn about the characters is as a play in progress---and his characters make no sense either. If this is typical of his writing, I ain't reading any more.
Melinda M. Snodgrass' "No Mystery, No Miracle" is fascinating. It's another of those drop-us-in sort of stories, but Snodgrass provides a background---I suspect it's the start of the Dust Bowl years---and motives we can immediately understand, even if the characters are not human. She certainly does a unique twist on religious figures! I couldn't help but laugh at? with? Cross as he fervently stated that he did believe. I want to read more about these characters if only to confirm my guess!
M.L.N. Hanover's "The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery" is in one word---eeek! It starts out seeming enlightened with the police chief okaying an exorcist. A nice, somewhat innocuous guy. But it descends quickly at the end, leaving me with questions. Not very nice questions. Hanover seems like such a mild writer...don't you believe it!
Lisa Tuttle's "The Curious Affair of the Deodand" was quite clever and a more modern version of a Sherlock Holmes-type detective with his female Watson. I must look Tuttle up and pick up some of her books.
Diana Gabaldon's "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies" touches down in Jamaica about the time that Jamie and Claire are there, and I kept turning the pages, expecting to encounter them. Mrs. Abernathy is still alive at Rose Hall and has just killed her husband, so maybe I'm still a bit early?? Then again, maybe she's not the woman I'm thinking of as Claire described this iteration of Gellis as incredibly fat which Gabaldon does not say in this short story.
Anyway, it was good with a breath of fresh air in terms of Lord John being a decent sort and not the typical English jerk of the times. He's Lieutenant Colonel Grey now, and I enjoyed "getting to know" Major Fettes and Captain Cherry while Lord John is very careful in determining the truth and playing fair.
John Maddox Roberts' "Beware the Snake" and I ain't sure which "snake" he's referring to in this title---the one that slithers on the ground or the one who walks upright. I very much liked Decius Caecilius and his sense of humor. It was fun to read an ancient Roman mystery with DC's contemporary-sounding snark! Cynicism and stupidity are certainly timeless and universal. Julius Caeser needs DC to investigate the theft of a revered snake, and you will crack up at DC's questions and musings about the whole affair. I loved how well he pulled us into the scene. I've already put my order in for The King's Gambit.
Patricia Briggs' "In Red, with Pearls" is a side story off the Mercy Thompson series and focuses on Warren and Kyle Brooks. Warren has recently come to work at Kyle's law firm as a private detective. And a good thing too when someone sends an assassin with nothing more to lose.
Bradley Denton's "The Adakian Eagle" was excellent, although he drove me a bit nuts with wondering who Pop was until he put me out of my misery. An intriguing little story in which we pop into the middle of events and done very well with a distinct beginning, middle, and end---although not in the order one would expect!
The Cover
The cover is definitely urban with the alley and garage door tucked into the corner of high-rise buildings, vents, and puddles. The fantasy is evoked with the pillar of smoke rising up behind the miniskirted woman in her high-heeled pumps and leather jacket standing in partnership with the on-alert male in jeans, boots, and his own motorcycle jacket, gun dangling at his side.
The title is a reference to Martin's statement referring to urban fantasy as "the offspring of two older genres": horror and mystery, the noir type of mystery and Chandler's statement regarding "down these mean streets", and that is where we go, exploring Down These Strange Streets.
I suspect Martin and Dozois are including Martin's introduction, "The Bastard Stepchild" as part of the story count. I do suggest reading it as it sheds light on the theme of the stories to come.
Series:
"Death by Dahlia" (Sookieverse)
"Hungry Heart" (Nightside, 1.5)
"Styx and Stones" (Roma Sub Rosa, 0.5a)
"Pain and Suffering" (Shadowspawn, 2.5)
"It's Still the Same Old Story" (Kitty Norville, xx.5)
"Shadow Thieves" (Garret, P.I., xx.5)
"No Mystery, No Miracle" (Edge, 2.5??)
"Lord John and the Plague of Zombies (Lord John Grey, 3.5)
"Beware the Snake" (SPQR, XII.V)
"In Red, with Pearls" (Mercy Thompson, 6.5)
The Stories
Charlaine Harris' "Death by Dahlia" loosely follows the hierarchical concept for vampires introduced in the Sookie Stackhouse series with a brief cameo from Diantha, but that's as close as it comes to a Sookie Stackhouse short.
You'll enjoy the story more if you aren't wondering where Eric, Pam, or Sookie are… An unexpected death while celebrating the new sheriff in town forces Dahlia to quickly investigate.
Joe R. Lansdale's "The Bleeding Shadow" is an amazing story combining horror with mystery when Alma May gets worried about her jazz-playing brother and asks an old friend to investigate. It's set in a 1930-ish Texas. Excellent and CREEPY!!
Simon R. Green's "Hungry Heart" finds John Taylor hired to find a witch's heart that she claims has been stolen. Hey, it's the Nightside, everybody lies. Another pip from Green.
Steven Saylor's "Styx and Stones" just goes to show that tourism and vandalism are universal when Antipater and Gordianus visit Babylon to see what's left of the famous Hanging Gardens only to encounter a lemur, a ghost, who kills...bwah-ha-ha… I must pick the first in this series, Roman Blood, unless I can find the prequel, Seven Wonders.
S.M. Stirling's "Pain and Suffering" finds Eric Salvador, a Santa Fe police detective, investigating an arson case with his partner, Cesar Martinez. An interesting blend of detection and horror with characters I found intriguing.
I thought Stirling had created an excellent first step in what could be a terrifying war, and I want to read more of the Shadowspan series. Then I discovered this is actually 2.5 in the chronology. I definitely have to get serious about reading Stirling!
NOTE: Now that I've read Shadowspawn 1 & 2, I've discovered that this simply takes bits and pieces from 1 & 2, focusing on the detectives investigating the fire trap Adrienne set in Ellen's apartment.
Carrie Vaughn's "It's Still the Same Old Story" is a tale about Rick and a woman he met sixty-some years ago. A woman he could have loved and chose to protect. It's a snapshot into Rick's long life with insight into how he thinks, how he loves. And I just wanna cry...
Conn Iggulden's "The Lady is a Screamer" is actually pretty funny about this con artist who suddenly discovers he's not. I enjoyed reading about the "partners" he picked up along the way and how very useful they were...
Laurie R. King's "Hellbender" is a story of bigotry and one in which the government actually lives up to its promise, much to the missings' dismay. A small group of people are targeted and only one person is still free to point out the connection. A good one, if a bit vague on some points.
Glen Cook's "Shadow Thieves" is my very least favorite, mostly due to being so incomprehensible. Cook dropped us in and didn't worry whether we swam or sank. Nothing about how the world, all we learn about the characters is as a play in progress---and his characters make no sense either. If this is typical of his writing, I ain't reading any more.
Melinda M. Snodgrass' "No Mystery, No Miracle" is fascinating. It's another of those drop-us-in sort of stories, but Snodgrass provides a background---I suspect it's the start of the Dust Bowl years---and motives we can immediately understand, even if the characters are not human. She certainly does a unique twist on religious figures! I couldn't help but laugh at? with? Cross as he fervently stated that he did believe. I want to read more about these characters if only to confirm my guess!
M.L.N. Hanover's "The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery" is in one word---eeek! It starts out seeming enlightened with the police chief okaying an exorcist. A nice, somewhat innocuous guy. But it descends quickly at the end, leaving me with questions. Not very nice questions. Hanover seems like such a mild writer...don't you believe it!
Lisa Tuttle's "The Curious Affair of the Deodand" was quite clever and a more modern version of a Sherlock Holmes-type detective with his female Watson. I must look Tuttle up and pick up some of her books.
Diana Gabaldon's "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies" touches down in Jamaica about the time that Jamie and Claire are there, and I kept turning the pages, expecting to encounter them. Mrs. Abernathy is still alive at Rose Hall and has just killed her husband, so maybe I'm still a bit early?? Then again, maybe she's not the woman I'm thinking of as Claire described this iteration of Gellis as incredibly fat which Gabaldon does not say in this short story.
Anyway, it was good with a breath of fresh air in terms of Lord John being a decent sort and not the typical English jerk of the times. He's Lieutenant Colonel Grey now, and I enjoyed "getting to know" Major Fettes and Captain Cherry while Lord John is very careful in determining the truth and playing fair.
John Maddox Roberts' "Beware the Snake" and I ain't sure which "snake" he's referring to in this title---the one that slithers on the ground or the one who walks upright. I very much liked Decius Caecilius and his sense of humor. It was fun to read an ancient Roman mystery with DC's contemporary-sounding snark! Cynicism and stupidity are certainly timeless and universal. Julius Caeser needs DC to investigate the theft of a revered snake, and you will crack up at DC's questions and musings about the whole affair. I loved how well he pulled us into the scene. I've already put my order in for The King's Gambit.
Patricia Briggs' "In Red, with Pearls" is a side story off the Mercy Thompson series and focuses on Warren and Kyle Brooks. Warren has recently come to work at Kyle's law firm as a private detective. And a good thing too when someone sends an assassin with nothing more to lose.
Bradley Denton's "The Adakian Eagle" was excellent, although he drove me a bit nuts with wondering who Pop was until he put me out of my misery. An intriguing little story in which we pop into the middle of events and done very well with a distinct beginning, middle, and end---although not in the order one would expect!
The Cover
The cover is definitely urban with the alley and garage door tucked into the corner of high-rise buildings, vents, and puddles. The fantasy is evoked with the pillar of smoke rising up behind the miniskirted woman in her high-heeled pumps and leather jacket standing in partnership with the on-alert male in jeans, boots, and his own motorcycle jacket, gun dangling at his side.
The title is a reference to Martin's statement referring to urban fantasy as "the offspring of two older genres": horror and mystery, the noir type of mystery and Chandler's statement regarding "down these mean streets", and that is where we go, exploring Down These Strange Streets.
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.