...And the Dying is Easy (Paperback)

by Various (Author), Joseph Pittman (Editor), Annette Riffle (Editor) "The woman mounted the bar stool as if it were a saddled horse..." (more)
Key Phrases: sixth juror, margarita salt, Brother Ross, Sister Corb, Lake Chutzpah (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This enticing anthology features a mix of established and new crime solvers who attempt to "get away from it all" in locations as diverse as Alaska and the island of Aruba. In "Porridge and Bess," Tamar Myers's Mennonite innkeeper-turned-crime solver, Magdalena Yoder, takes her first vacation in Charleston S.C., only to have Monty, her tour guide from hell, turn up dead. What follows is an investigation spiced with both Magdalena's delicious humor and a recipe for a Southern favorite, Shrimp 'n' Grits. JoAnna Carl's "The Chocolate Kidnapping Clue" introduces Lee McKinney, a teenager who spends her summer vacation working in her uncle's chocolate shop and investigating mysterious goings-on around Lake Michigan. This satisfying appetizer will leave fans hungering for the main course Carl's upcoming novel The Chocolate Cat Caper. Dana Stabenow, Max Allan Collins and Peter Tremayne are just a few of the authors included in this anthology; out of the 20 pieces here, only one seems to be a misfit: with its sexually charged content, Lydia Adamson's "A Case of Feline Psychopathology" contrasts sharply with the other cozies. All in all, though, this volume is a mystery-reader's banquet at a fast-food price.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Twenty of today's best mystery writers-from award-winners to fan favorites to soon-to-be-discovered talent-take their series sleuths on holiday. Also includes stories by: Selma Eichler € Peter Tremayne € k.j.a. Wishnia € Edie Claire Judith Van Gieson € Lydia Adamson € Hazel Holt € John Lantigua € Matt Witten € Jeff Abbot and more

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Signet (June 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451203291
• ISBN-13: 978-0451203298
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #604,470 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Collection, July 25, 2001

By	Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is a collection of mysteries set during the summer or on vacations (or both) from 20 of Signet's mystery writers. Ranging from well known to new authors, the list includes the following: Jeff Abbott, Lydia Adamson, Ann Campbell, JoAnna Carl, Edie Claire, Max Allan Collins, Selma Eichler, Hazel Holt, Peter King, John Lantigua, Sam McCarver, Tamar Myers, Dana Stabenow, Andy Straka, Denise Swanson, Peter Trenayne, Judith Van Gieson, k.j.a. Wishnia, Matt Witten, and Wayne Worcester. Most of the authors write stories using their series sleuths, but a few take the opportunity to introduce a new character from a new series.

With only a couple exceptions, I enjoyed the 20 stories presented here. This book confirmed my opinion of several authors I had already read and introduced me to several new authors I'm looking forward to trying. I will be watching anxiously for the new series introduced here.

This is a great way to get a feel for many different authors. If you like cozy mysteries, this book is fun summer reading and will introduce you to some new friends.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Anthology, July 28, 2001

By	Kent Braithwaite (Palm Desert, CA) - See all my reviews

Being a mystery writer with my first novel in its initial release, I have met many (and know well some) of the authors featured in this collection. I freely admit to this bias, but I still assert AND THE DYING IS EASY provides an excellent introduction to contemporary mystery short fiction. Some big names are featured--Dana Stabenow, Max Allan Collins and Tamar Myers among them. Some reasonably new authors are also featured. There is a wide variety of story types in this collection--some as cozy as cozies get while others reach the level of gritty to the extreme. Various authors use historical and contemporary settings. I particularly enjoyed Matt Witten's, Andy Straka's, Sam McCarver's, and k.j.a. Wishnia's tales. AND THE DYING EASY is such a fine introduction to short form mysteries that I, in my role as university professor, have made this book part of the assigned reading for my writing short mystery fiction course this fall at California State University.