Thirty-one thought-provoking mystery stories by acclaimed author Stephen D. Rogers, all set in the cities and small towns of his native New England
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More About the Author
Stephen D. Rogers is the co-author of A MISCELLANY OF MURDER and the author of A DICTIONARY OF MADE-UP LANGUAGES, SHOT TO DEATH, THREE-MINUTE MYSTERIES, and more than 700 shorter pieces. His website, www.StephenDRogers.com, includes a list of new and upcoming titles as well as other timely information.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true master of the short story!,
By BJScott "BJScott" (Northeast USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Shot to Death (Paperback)
Shot to Death is a totally tantalizing collection of 31 cleverly thought-out and well written short stories by revered author Stephen D. Rogers. Each story is fresh and original, set against a New England backdrop, and includes colorful characters from diverse walks of life. Each plot twists and turns to its totally surprising and unpredictable ending.
One of the most unforgettable characters was the unnamed private investigator from "Sidework" who was originally hired to investigate his client's cheating wife. The entire plan is unraveled, after all of the main players either commits suicide or murder, and his now dead client's adulterous wife suffers a nervous breakdown brought on by too much alcohol consumption. The unnamed PI comments that, "Just as accidents seem to unfold in slow motion, I watched in dismay as one possible revenue stream after another was lost to me." He continues," And as if that wasn't bad enough, it didn't look like the case was going to generate any referrals either." I simply love the irony that this story evokes! Rogers' complex, multifaceted characters provide the reader with a look into the human psyche. In "BOGO in Aisle Three," "Puzzling," "Inn," and "Tenant at Will," Rogers masterfully describes just what a human being is capable of doing when subjected to years of abuse and controlling behavior. In "Sidework," "Itching for Scratch," and "Raising the Bar," the main characters are so completely self-absorbed that nothing else matters. "Fill it with the Cheapest," "Appearances to the Contrary," "The Big Store," "Pipe Dreams," and "Smoking Gun" all touch on the idea that looks can be incredibly deceiving, and "Unweaving the Rainbow," "Custody Battle at Red Creek," and "Death Buys a Burger" are classic stories of revenge. All are creatively entertaining and make you think long after you've read the last sentence!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Variety is the Spice of Death,
By LitTeacher (Newington, CT USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Shot to Death (Paperback)
The stories in this collection touch all the bases from comic to noir to hard-boiled to literary, and Stephen D. Rogers hits all those bases with equal skill and ease. Most of the stories are only six to eight pages, but still provoke thought and offer insights into what it means to take one wrong step. His characters run the gamut from hardened criminals to well-meaning average guys with bills to pay and girls to love, and his voice is assured in all of them.
If the book has a weakness, it's that Rogers makes it all look so easy that many people will overlook the craft and skill he packs between the covers. No two stories are alike in tone, subject, or style, and every one of them is an object lesson in how to write solid fiction. Even when he's being ambiguous, he does it decisively.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewing: "Shot To Death" by Stephen D. Rogers,
By
This review is from: Shot to Death (Paperback)
Reviewing anthologies and collections is always tough. A novel can lag in spots providing an uneven and yet enjoyable read. That same effect can happen in an anthology or collection where not every story is going to work well for a particular person. Then there is the fact that space limitations often prevent the reviewer from ever going into any depth on all the stories. These situations and others make reviewing such books problematic.
At the same time, readers are asking more and more for anthologies and collections. Subsequently, the last couple of years there has been a surge in publication of anthologies and collections. Most collections and anthologies pass pass right on by due to time constraints. However, when this was made available for review by Stephen D. Rogers it seemed like one that should be a good book. My expectations were met with a few personal favorites being: "C.O.D." points out that damaging a mailbox is both a federal crime and a personal offense with repercussions for all in the area. "Fill It with the Cheapest" isn't just about the gas, the road trip, or the unnamed driver in a story that isn't clear until the very end. Twists are guaranteed in this book and that certainly is also the case in "Last Call." Training the new employee can come back to get you in not so obvious ways. "One-Eyed Jacks" blends a unique drinking game, several friends with secrets, and a need for final justice. Justice along with making things right are the twin themes of "Smoking Gun" where a mother simply has no more choices. While the New England settings of these tales is often vague or not defined at all, meaning the tales could be located anywhere, the sense of desperation comes through clearly in each one. Whether told from the perspective of the good cop, the bad cop, the petty thief, the hard working parent, or the many other character choices the author uses in each story, the sense of immense desperation comes through in every single case. Often the reader is left with the feeling that characters involved never had a chance because everything always had been and always would be stacked against him or her. While bodies and crimes abound in the collection, that sense of desperation makes this a good book that is not easy reading. These are stories that nestle under your skin like chiggers and don't go away easily. The fact that they linger is a basic part of what makes a good writer and a good book. Review copy provided by the author in exchange for my objective review. Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2010
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