Customer Reviews

Rainbow's End and Other Stories

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Floyd is a master of the short story. Like any master, he is both specialized and versatile. "Rainbow's End" is a perfect example of his skill at storytelling.

A handsomely bound hard-cover book, "Rainbow's End" is full of satisfying short tales. Some are deadly serious, others are comedy. All have the element of the unexpected in them. Despite being quite familiar with Floyd's breadth of work, several of the stories "got" me with the twist at the end, leaving me with a satisfied grin. Anyone who hasn't read dozens of his tales already will almost surely be "gotten" by every story.

I've always been a fan of the darker tales and there are a few in this collection that I really enjoyed for that reason. But Floyd has sprinkled in whodunits and cozies in equal proportion, so there is something for every type of mystery reader. For instance, the stories include a series of recurring characters (a retired school teacher and a Sheriff) that are hilarious.

The settings for the stories in this collection vary in both time and location, which makes every new story a radically different adventure.

Short story collections generally come in two kinds -- themed collections by different authors and single author collections (like this one). However, "Rainbow's End" has a theme, and it is this: excellent storytelling.

Highly recommended.

John M. Floyd writes a great story. This book is full of short stories displaying John M Floyd's ability to take an ordinary idea and turn it into a simple story that packs a wallop at the end. His stories all end in a way the reader least expects them to. He has a flair for realistic dialog, smooth plots, good settings and satisfying endings. Great reading.

If you enjoy meeting new characters without investing large chunks of time, you will really enjoy this book. John Floyd has a knack for fully developing interesting casts of characters in the space of a few short pages. This book belongs on your desk for coffee (and thinking) breaks, or any other suitable location where your time is limited and you want a quick and satisfying read.

This book is a handsome hardcover that looks and feels nicer than just about any other hardcover book I own. Considering that it is a collection of 30 of the 'best of the best' short stories by John M. Floyd, I'm really pleased to own this book. You may have first learned about John M. Floyd after purchasing one of his many Amazon Shorts ([...]) or you may have been introduced to him by one of several leading national magazines that continue to print his work today. Regardless of where you first heard about him, you'll want to own "Rainbow's End". I recently started reading the stories in this book, and so far I've been very impressed -- so much so that I've gone ahead and ordered a copy for each of my siblings, because I'm sure they'll enjoy it. This book would be the perfect book to have out on the coffee table so that friends and family alike can enjoy it.

Now, I'll review a few stories in "Rainbow's End" that I've already read, just to whet your curiosity. From time to time, I'll come back and add reviews of other stories within this book, as I savor them all.

BATTLEGROUND
This is the story that first got me hooked on Floyd's writing: Willard Martin, the chairman and CEO of one of the largest mining conglomerates in the world, has invited his wife, Jenny, and his employee, Drew, out into the desert to look at some old archaeological sites. Willard wants to make some rough sketches for a follow up expedition. Jenny and Drew have other plans for this trip, though. The story starts out with Jenny asking "Do you think he knows?" A little bit later Drew would be asking "Any regrets?" The funny thing is, Willard has his own plans and they don't include making sketches. I don't want to give away too much with this story; because it's the kind you want to read without knowing a lot in advance. Let me just say this, though: You'll love this story! At the end, you'll be saying "Dang!"

THE BLUE WOLF
This story reminds me a little bit of "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell. However, in "The Blue Wolf" the island's owner, Colonel Hanson McDade, has been collecting rare animals from all over the world and hording them on this island that isn't on any map. Jason Plumm is one of the best insurance investigators in the business, and he has been hired to find out what has happened to the rare blue wolf that has been stolen from the St. Louis zoo. Jason Plumm doesn't know it yet, but he's in for a lot more than he bargained for and you will be too.

LINDY'S LUCK
Sam Rollins had just met Lindy and was walking her to his car when Lindy ran into a friend she hadn't seen in a long time. Lindy and the friend, Mary Nell, did some catching up, and then Lindy noticed that Sam was looking at his watch. "I guess we should be going," Lindy said sadly. It turns out that Sam was an off duty Detective that had just taken Lindy into custody after she had tried to rob one of the nicest jewelry stores in the city. He was gracious enough to not put Lindy in handcuffs, so when Lindy was able to meet her old friend Mary Nell without looking like a criminal, she was very appreciative. But not too appreciative, because... well, you'll see why when you read this fun story. There's a couple of a twists that comes into play. I will say this, though; you'll probably want to make this one of the first short stories you read after you've purchased "Rainbow's End".

THE BOMB SQUAD
Unlike the other threats and tip offs that the police had received since the bomber's latest attack, this one looked like it might be the real McCoy. An anonymous caller had said that Remington Tower's top floor was the new target. Sure enough, the lights on the top floor of the darkened building lit up, as if on queue. Officer Ed Timmons and Sergeant Tom Becker were the first ones to notice the lights. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to come up with much of a plan before they needed to spring into action. Fortunately, the building only had two possible methods for the bomber to escape -- stairs and an elevator -- which the officers (aided by another pair of nearby officers) were able to secure. From there, the stakes go up exponentially. The suspect is able to get the upper hand on one of the other police officers. Timmons and Becker will have to think fast to figure out what is going on in time, because it won't be long before the bomber's explosion may well occur. Will the bomb squad make it in time?

Well, that's all the stories I'll be reviewing today. Check back soon for more reviews. A friend told me that "The Early Death of Pinto Bishop" is a real good story, so that'll probably be one of the next ones that I read. "Rainbow's End" is a collection of Floyd's very best. So instead of waiting for me to add more to my review of this book, why not go ahead and treat yourself to your own copy? You'll thank me later.

Floyd's work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Derringer Award, which should tell you that you're in for some real reading satisfaction with "Rainbow's End". Highly Recommended!

In addition to six wonderful short mysteries featuring retired teacher Angela Potts (my favorite of John's characters), there are also many ingenious plots in a variety of settings. Several provide a last-minute plot twist that caught me by surprise. It was a delighful read. I read it all in one sitting, and I was sorry to see it end. I look forward to more of John's work.

Short stories often get short shrift in the public mind. This is unfortunate - a well-done short story is as satisfying and artistic as a well-written novel.

This collection of stories by Mississippi writer John Floyd is an excellent introduction to the art of the short story. The subject matter ranges from light to serious, and Floyd writes with with clarity, his characters are believable, interesting people, and his plots twist and turn right up to the surprising conclusion. The stories in here are all treats, whether savored one-per-day, or gobbled all at once. Give them a try.