I recently finished reading the rest of the short stories in the generous Noir at the Salad Bar anthology. As William Cowper stated in a poem back in 1785, "Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor." This anthology is perfectly seasoned. Antipastadead by Lorraine Sharma Nelson is a traditional locked room mystery. Or nearly locked. The suspects are women of privilege who have their retreat at an English estate shattered by murder. The detectives leave each evening while the women remain at the estate. Set in 1970, the story has an added layer of interest as Detective Chief Inspector Molly "Mo" Marbury struggles to prove herself as a female detective. I enjoyed trying to puzzle out the clues to reach a solution before the big reveal at the end. Many of the stories in this anthology follow the pattern of the traditional mystery, each taking different tactics and engaging different storytelling styles to reach that end. Others are a departure from what I would expect in a mystery anthology. Beef Stew by E L Johnson is a mystery wrapped inside a fantasy tale. Ogblud the Ogre doesn't like the taste of human, and in fact has never killed one of the small two-legged pink creatures. He secretly takes cooking lessons from the humans. When he tries to introduce his family to the delights of beef stew, he learns why he is so different from his proper human-eating brothers. A Murder of Crows by Mara Buck opens with John, who doesn't enjoy butchering crows for a pie. As a cook in a specialty game restaurant, he goes along with his orders. There is a murder mystery at the center of this tale, wrapped inside a crust of horror. There is great variety in how the anthology authors deal with the theme of food. For some, a restaurant or other dining service is the setting. For others, food is involved with the murder. The next two stories contrast feast and famine. Fed Up by Louise Taylor set me up with an expectation for a predictable ending, then turned the tables on me. Mindy marries Daryl for his money. They have more in common than expected, as both come from impoverished childhoods. Neither is a particularly likable person, but I found myself rooting for Daryl because Mindy was such a heartless witch. She sets about killing her husband by satisfying his gluttonous appetite. Food descriptions fill this story. The twists and turns began early. The ending was a delight. Playing Games by Elaine Togneri presents the opposite approach to the theme. Mai is an unwilling immigrant, abducted from Vietnam to work in a Chinese restaurant on the West Coast. She starves herself to stay skinny in order to avoid being sent to a whorehouse. One bleak night, the doors to the laborers' dormitory burst open, and she's hustled away. This is an interesting tale with a satisfying layer of complexity. Noir at the Salad Bar is packed with variety, containing thirty short stories. There is certain to be a tale to please every mystery reader.
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8/28/2018 0 Comments Back in the Saddle8/22/2018 0 Comments Karen's Killer Book BenchI appeared on Karen's Killer Book Bench this Sunday. Then a business trip dragged me away before I had tome to post the news. Here it is: http://www.karendocter.com/karens-killer-book-bench-ink-or-swim-secrets-of-the-castleton-manor-library-series-by-catherine-dilts.html Noir at the Salad Bar - Culinary Tales with a Bite edited by Verena Rose, Harriette Sackler and Shawn Reilly Simmons. Thirty stories are contained in this generous anthology. Many tales involve murder via food. Others use a restaurant, bar, or alternative food service as the setting. The stories varied from solidly noir to historical, traditional mystery, and even horror. "Noir" is a style of crime fiction that portrays a cynical view of the world. Characters are deeply flawed, and the endings are bleak. In the strict definition of noir, not every story in this anthology fits that style. That suits me just fine. In Noir at the Salad Bar, there are stories for every taste. The first tale is Cole Slaughter by Sheila Connolly. What an ending! This story fits the definition of noir, as a disgruntled woman seeks revenge for past wounds. The Lobster Tank by E. A. Aymar also has the brooding darkness of noir. A hitman with a blossoming conscience has qualms when a jerk hires him to kill his wife. Noir at the Salad Bar contains historical mysteries with Harvey House by Joyce Ann Brown and Family Business by Harriette Sackler. Harvey House is told through the point of view of a Navajo waitress working in a railroad restaurant in the American West. Family Business follows a Jewish immigrant in 1898 New York who sells blintzes to make ends meet. I was genuinely horrified, in a good way, by Martin Edwards' Consuming Passion. Two men meet to hash out their contentious history over fine wine and a gourmet meal. Is it noir, or is it horror? Does it matter? It was a solidly written story. The same goes for The Hearts of Men by Karen Cantwell. Short and not sweet at all, the story of Junie Harken and her pickles was hair raising. Several stories are what I classify as traditional mysteries. There is a problem that must be solved, a puzzle worked out. Smoked by Michael Bracken is action packed as I was drawn into Beau's world of pit barbeque. Beau is content with obscurity, until a faithful customer puts the spotlight on him by steering a magazine reviewer his way. His minor fame dredges up consequences from his shady past. Jason Half creatively set his story at a baseball stadium. Bases Looted gathers together food concessionaires who are accused of stealing a diamond encrusted tournament prize. Was it the taco vendor, the girl selling soda pop, the peanut guy, or even a fellow pushing "new wave gourmet fare." The characters in Bases Looted were distinctly drawn with clever descriptions like "The guard switched from German shepherd to Australian cattle dog, herding me and my metal steamer full of franks and buns down the corridor." Another traditional mystery in an unusual setting is Togas and Toques by Alan Orloff. A reality TV cooking contest turns deadly as chefs compete for a twenty five thousand dollar prize. And the character names were clever, too - Baker and Cook are the investigating officers. This is just a sampling of the stories in this collection. I recommend Noir at the Salad Bar if you're looking for a nice variety of mystery stories sharing a common theme. From various settings, situations, and tones, there is something for everyone at this fictional buffet. 7/16/2018 0 Comments Cozy or Noir - Pick Your PoisonI like to think I'm a versatile writer, able to tackle fiction projects with differing requirements. This month, I took that a step or two further. On July 10, my dark (for me) short story Do-Over appeared in Blood and Gasoline. A few days later, I received my author copies of Ink or Swim, a gentle cozy mystery in the Secrets of the Castleton Manor series. I enjoy reading a variety of styles of fiction. I do prefer uplifting stories. Make everything work out in the end. Give me a happy ending. What's your preference? 7/9/2018 1 Comment Summer CampingWe took a much needed short vacation to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Our eldest granddaughter accompanied us. Her parents and siblings met up with us in Yellowstone, followed a day later by our youngest daughter. We had all been to Yellowstone numerous times in the past, so we knew three days was not enough time to see the entire park. We concentrated on areas close to our campsite at Canyon Campground. Despite one day of rain we hiked, seeing geysers and wildlife off the beaten path. Slideshow below. The online magazine King's River Life recently began offering free podcasts of mystery short stories. I just listened to Joan Leotta's The Dead Lady's Coat. I enjoyed listening to a story for a change. I recommend checking out this new feature. KRL plans to present short stories and first chapters. A story by Peter DiChellis appeared in the Mystery Weekly Magazine July issue. Locked Tight is a locked room mystery, with the room being a jail cell. I enjoyed the small town Southern characters, especially Sheriff Weemly, a man with OCD style quirks, and Miz Lucille, a busybody mystery fan who offers not-so-helpful helpful advice to find a killer. Catherine, thank you for the generous opportunity to visit your blog. Resorts Come In All Varieties I’m Avery Daniels, author of the Resort to Murder mystery series. My amateur sleuth, Julienne, works in a luxury resort and the plan is to have each book based in or around a resort. When I was developing the idea for my cozy mystery series, I thought writing about resorts would be fun for both myself as the writer and for the readers. Perhaps some will remember the old television series “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” which lasted eleven seasons and fed our thirst for living vicariously through the lives of those who live extravagantly. That was my initial thought with Resort to Murder series, providing a vicarious thrill at various resorts in each book. I knew I would love such a concept myself and crossed my fingers that others felt the same way. Friends would jokingly say the research was why I picked the theme for the books, but I had no idea what all was involved with resorts. I ended up getting a textbook on Resort Management. Then I realized there were many classifications of resort types, which added to the research equation before ever traveling to a single resort. For many of us, we immediately think of a tropical beach or island location when you say the word Resort. Oh no, there are many more types that can even have a combination of the classifications in one resort. Here is a quick listing of the types or classifications of resorts around the world to consider: Beach Resorts, Golf Resorts, Island Resorts, Luxury Resorts, Lake, Mountain, Ski, Spa, Pet-Friendly, Theme Park, Historical, Dude Ranch, Singles, Couples, Adult-Only, Family, Eco-Tourism, Clothing-Optional, Casino and All Inclusive Resorts. The primary home-base resort that Julienne works at is a combination of luxury, mountain, historical, and golf resort. I loosely based the Colorado Springs Resort of the series on The Broadmoor Resort (https://www.broadmoor.com/) for the first and third books so far. Incidentally, the Broadmoor is celebrating it’s 100th year of business this year. The second book was a luxury, ski, and mountain resort in Vail loosely based on the Sonnenalp (https://sonnenalp.com/). For the fourth book, that I am gathering ideas for even as I write the third book, I am considering locating the story at an Eco-Tourism Resort. What is that you ask? Well, it is an environmentally friendly resort that may incorporate a combination of the following: renewable energy sources, recycling, eco-friendly toiletries, energy efficient lighting and heating, water conservation program, perhaps organic linens and towels, locally sourced food, possibly provide activities in nature to educate guests on local plants, animals, and even indigenous culture to appreciate local customs. Eco-tourism resorts have become more and more popular over the decades and there are some quite luxurious resorts that are equally environmentally conscientious. More people specifically look for Eco-friendly accommodations when planning vacations now. Eco-lodges are a little more rustic and will provide activities more centered on getting into nature. There is GreenGlobalTravel.com as just one of many sites to find Eco-tourism resorts anywhere you are planning to travel. I look forward to writing about all the different Resort types to share with readers. What is your favorite type of resort from those listed? Would you consider an Eco-tourism resort or lodge? Buy links for first in Resort to Murder series, ICED: .99 sale Amazon https://www.amazon.com/ICED-Resort-Mystery-Avery-Daniels-ebook/dp/B071LFD6JV Barnes and Noble https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/iced-avery-daniels/1126467939 IndieBound https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780999031803 Audio book: https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Iced-A-Resort-to-Murder-Mystery-Audiobook/B074FC3T1G Social Links: Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/c2DgfT Website: http://www.Avery-Daniels.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AveryDanielsAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/My_AveryDaniels BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/avery-daniels Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16863152.Avery_Daniels 6/27/2018 0 Comments Short Story ReviewsEach story I review today contains a twist. This is not a spoiler alert. I won't reveal the clever way each author turns expectation on its head. The July / August 2018 issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine features a variety of stories, beginning with Homework by Rebecca Cantrell. A Tiffany's heist comes off like a well-rehearsed theatrical performance, which includes a dog. The aftermath doesn't go as well, as distrust and suspicion tears the team apart. The ending contains a clever twist, and a great closing line. The Movie Lover by Kevin Egan features Nouri, a coffee kiosk attendant and aspiring screen writer. Ray, the blind coffee shop owner, recruits Foxx, a courthouse security guard, to bust whoever has been ripping him off. The fun aspect of this story is how justice plays out in an unexpected way. Blue Moon by Eve Fisher is a short tale following a creepy young stalker. Scorned by his high school sweetheart, he decides if he can't have Ina, nobody can. I Pray the Lord My Soul to Take by David Edgerley Gates follows an action packed bank heist. Police Officer Jean Weinstock places herself in a hostage situation in an attempt to free bank employees and patrons, one of whom is her mother. The Iceman, as the bank robber is nicknamed, is not interested in negotiation or mercy. AHMM never fails to contain variety. I'm less than a third of the way through this issue, and looking forward to finishing every story. 6/26/2018 5 Comments Donkey Derby Days 2018Donkey Derby Days is an 87 year tradition in the Colorado mountain town Cripple Creek. I attended Sunday with my granddaughter. We enjoyed meeting dozens of donkeys, watching the races, and viewing the Outlaws and Law Men Museum. Two donkeys are prominent characters in my Rock Shop Mystery series, so I was particularly interested in seeing how this semi-wild donkey herd coexists with the town of Cripple Creek. The donkeys are "owned" by the town, but wander freely. A nice surprise was the Outlaws and Law Men Museum. We wandered around the historic jail, entering cells and reading about people who had been incarcerated. Murderers, thieves, ladies of ill repute, and even children occupied the jail. My granddaughter donned striped clothing and posed inside a cell. She also entered us in the donkey race. Names were drawn for teams to run with the donkeys down the main street, gathering bags of pretend ore. We didn't make it this year. Maybe next time! More photos in the slideshow: |
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