Customer Reviews

A Deadly Dozen

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4 star:		(1)
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12 authors from The Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters In Crime have put together a doozy of an anthology. There's not a weak story in the batch. In FATAL TEARS, Ekaterine Nikas has crafted a wonderfully intricate tale of two sisters that will keep you guessing until the last page. TOUCH OF A VANISH'D HAND by Phil Mann is a perfect locked room mystery reminiscent of the best of Sherlock Holmes. Another favorite was MIDNIGHT by Dorothy Rellas. This story of cross and double cross features a female PI protagonist I'd love to see again. Each story is a gem that will be remembered long after you close the cover. And speaking of the cover--take a closer look. It alone, is worth the price of the book. Way to go, ladies (and gentlemen) of LA SinC. Keep 'em coming.

It seems wrong to call a group of stories about murder and mayhem fun, but that's what it is. Each story is skillfully executed and ends with a satisfying twist. My personal favorite was FATAL TEARS. I'd read an excerpt from the author's award winning DIVIDED CHILD, so wasn't surprised to be delighted by this talented author.

Bravo to a talented group of "Sisters."

I ENJOYED THIS EXCELLENT GROUP OF MYSTERIES. THEY ARE JUST THE RIGHT LENGTH TO READ BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP OR WHILE WAITING FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE STORIES ARE ENGAGING AND THE ENDINGS ARE SURPRISING AND SATISFYING. MY PARTICULAR FAVORITES WERE FATAL TEARS, SENTENCE IMPOSED, AND AI WITNESS. IN EACH CASE, THE VILLAIN GETS JUSTICE IN A WAY THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY TO HAVE READ THE STORY!

"A Deadly Dozen" is an anthology of twelve wonderful short mysteries. They're full of twists and surprises, and run the gamut from somber to funny to twisted to emotionally compelling. My favorites were Ekaterine Nikas' smashing "Fatal Tears," Joan Myers' gripping "Copycat" and Nathan Walpow's sweaty "Push Comes to Shove." These stories are perfect for when you want a short, sharp shock, and don't have a lot of time to read.

A Deadly Dozen is a compilation of short stories, naturally involving murders, written by the Sisters in Crime in Los Angeles, California. Featuring a deadly dozen stories from such authors as: Kris Neri, Cynthia Lawrence, Cory Newman, Lisa Seidman, and others, these stories provide a platform for these writers to dip their pens into stories with a twist. This group, which formed in 1986, led by Sara Paretsky, Sisters in Crime is now a respected national organization. The Los Angeles Chapter was formed by Phyllis Miller in 1989. In recent years, male writers have been welcomed into the organization. A Deadly Dozen is the second anthology published by this group.

The problem...and the thrill...of short stories is that the characters have to introduce themselves to the reader early and completely. The reader has to immediately descend into the world that the author has created, and be ready for a real jolt at the end. Kris Neri's chilling "Sentence Imposed" does just that:

"Call it fate, call it chance--either way, it'll change your life. Sometimes you just find yourself staring into a crowd, your gaze floating aimlessly over a sea of faces you won't remember the instant you look away--until one person's eyes seem to grab hold of yours and you make a connection. You can't explain it, but somehow your life and that stranger's become bound together. When I made that link, it was with a little girl."

Whatever the subject, these writers know how to pull no punches. "Wifely Duties" is a Hitchcockian tale of a wife who plots to kill her husband, and ends up as a victim herself. "Push Comes to Shove" is a wrestler's nightmare. "Fatal Tears" is a classic sibling rivalry piece. A Deadly Dozen exposure is like taking in several episodes of "Night Gallery," with cataloging students catching a murderer in "Miss Parker and the Cutter-Sanborn Tables."

Shelley Glodowski, Reviewer

A DEADLY DOZEN (TALES OF MURDER FROM LOS ANGELES ) is the third anthology following the 1997 DESSERTICIDE (DESSERTS TO DIE FOR ) and 1998 MURDER BY THIRTEEN.

The Los Angles chapter of Sisters in Crime has released a book of twelve short stories, based on murder and mayhem. I usually do not like to read short stories, but these stories were fully contained with well-crafted plots and well defined characters. My favorites were Wifely Duties, because every woman can identify with Lucy and her discontent with her marriage, but I would like to think that we would not go to the lengths that she did, and with such a startling conclusion. Cats and Jammer was another favorite, it's about a teen-age detective that finds a body and the suspects are many.

Stories included are: Sentience Imposed by Kris Neri Wifely Duties by Cory Newman Push Comes To Shove by Nathan Walpow Fatal Tears by Ekaterine Nikas Miss Parker and the Cutter Sanborn Tablets by Gay Tolti Kinman Driven To Kill by Jamie Wallace Touch Of A Vanish'd Hand by Phil Mann Ai Witness by Kate Tornton Over My Shoulder by Lisa Seidman The Cats And Jammer, by Gayle McGary Copy Cat by Joan Myers Midnight by Dorothy Rellas

This book is well worth the read.

The Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime has released a captivating short story collection centering on what else: murder and mayhem. The twelve stories are fun to read as they vary in methods, means, and motives, but share a common background: the LA area and a common theme: of entertaining the reader. Characters run the gamut from the underbelly of society to the elite, but act as culprits dispensing murder. Though this is the "sisterhood", two of the collaborators are males, but the audience would not know gender if the stories were contributed anonymously because they are all strong entries.

Fans of murder and mystery anthologies will fully relish this collection. For the most part, the authors are just starting to become known, but in some cases, this reviewer has never previously read a work by a particular contributor. That error will be corrected as each writer holds up his or her end of the book, making for a wonderful reading experience.

Harriet Klausner

Although I'm a voracious mystery fan, I tend to shy away from short stories as they never seem well developed enough. This anthology, however, has changed my mind. Each story is exceptionally well crafted with well defined characters, clever plot lines and lots of twists along the way. There is a mystery here to satisfy every taste and type. And there isn't a red herring in the bunch. Plaudits to the members of SinCLA - keep 'em coming!

I found this collection of short stories to be amazingly gripping and enjoyable. Each of the stories were well written and kept my attention from start to finish. I've not been a fan of locked room mysteries, however, I must admit that Phil Mann's "Touch Of A Vanish'd Hand" not only kept my attention but spurred me to purchase more books in this specific genre. Joan Myers' "Copycat" was another personal favorite. I tip my hat to each of these authors as well as the three editors. Thank you for such a wonderful piece of modern literature.

Although I'm a voracious mystery fan, I tend to shy away from short stories as they never seem well developed enough. This anthology, however, has changed my mind. Each story is exceptionally well crafted with well defined characters, clever plot lines and lots of twists along the way. There is a mystery here to satisfy every taste and type. And there isn't a red herring in the bunch. Plaudits to the members of SinCLA - keep 'em coming!