A review by willac
Weird Detectives: Recent Investigations by Paula Guran
4.0
"Weird Detectives" is an anthology of short paranormal mystery stories. As in most anthologies, some of the stories were great, while there were a few that I wasn't interested in. Also, many of the stories were reprints that have appeared in other anthologies, so if you're buying the book for a particular author's story, check and be sure you haven't already read it.
The standouts for me were:
The Key, by Ilsa J. Bick. A story about a detective trying to figure out who killed a little boy found by a jogger in the park. I loved this one. Full of Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, demons and angels. I would love to read a whole novel about Jason Saunders, the detective. The story caused me to look for more by Ms. Black, which, for me, is one of the more important reasons for reading an anthology--to discover new authors.
Love Hurts, by Jim Butcher. A story set in Harry Dresden's (The Dresden Files) world. I've read most of The Dresden Files books, so am familiar with the world and the characters. I had read this story before, but it was worth reading again. Harry and Karrin Murphy investigate a case involving three couples, each of whom apparently killed themselves in a suicide pact. And Harry and Murphy almost get caught up in it themselves.
Protective Coloration, by Elizabeth Bear. Three college girls discover that their professor, Dr. Matthew Szczegielniak ("Dr. S.") has another life as a mage.
Star of David, by Patricia Briggs. Stella Christiansen runs an agency that places foster children. When one of those foster children is accused of wrecking his foster parents' home, Stella thinks there must be something else involved. To find out what, she enlists the help of her estranged father, a werewolf.
Signatures of the Dead, by Faith Hunter. Set in the world of Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skin walker, this story has Jane and her friend Molly Everhart Trueblood investigating the killing of a family, apparently by vampires. Also involved in the investigation are Molly's husband Evan and a sheriff's detective.
Imposters, by Sarah Monette. Two detectives with the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation look into a rash of suicides.
Deal Breaker, by Justin Gustainis. A story about a man who sold his soul to the Devil for a decade of good luck. The decade is coming to a close, and he comes to investigator Quincy Morris to find a way to get out of the deal.
Death by Dahlia, by Charlaine Harris. Another reprint, this time set in the Sookie Stackhouse "Southern Vampire" universe. A great story about what happens when vampires investigate one of their own. Sookie doesn't appear, but Dahlia has appeared in several of the Sookie books.
Like Part of the Family, by Jonathan Maberry. PI Sam Hunter is hired by a woman who claims that her husband has threatened to kill her. Hunter turns out to be more than he appeared at first glance.
See Me, by Tanya Huff. Tony Foster--the young wizard who first appeared in Huff's "Blood" series, and now in his own series, "Smoke"--and his boyfriend Lee get involved with a prostitute who has been at the scene of two deaths. Tony is one of the directors of a vampire detective television show, and Lee plays the detective on the show. Despite the fact that neither of them are detectives, the wizard and the actor contrive to solve the mystery.
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
The standouts for me were:
The Key, by Ilsa J. Bick. A story about a detective trying to figure out who killed a little boy found by a jogger in the park. I loved this one. Full of Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, demons and angels. I would love to read a whole novel about Jason Saunders, the detective. The story caused me to look for more by Ms. Black, which, for me, is one of the more important reasons for reading an anthology--to discover new authors.
Love Hurts, by Jim Butcher. A story set in Harry Dresden's (The Dresden Files) world. I've read most of The Dresden Files books, so am familiar with the world and the characters. I had read this story before, but it was worth reading again. Harry and Karrin Murphy investigate a case involving three couples, each of whom apparently killed themselves in a suicide pact. And Harry and Murphy almost get caught up in it themselves.
Protective Coloration, by Elizabeth Bear. Three college girls discover that their professor, Dr. Matthew Szczegielniak ("Dr. S.") has another life as a mage.
Star of David, by Patricia Briggs. Stella Christiansen runs an agency that places foster children. When one of those foster children is accused of wrecking his foster parents' home, Stella thinks there must be something else involved. To find out what, she enlists the help of her estranged father, a werewolf.
Signatures of the Dead, by Faith Hunter. Set in the world of Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skin walker, this story has Jane and her friend Molly Everhart Trueblood investigating the killing of a family, apparently by vampires. Also involved in the investigation are Molly's husband Evan and a sheriff's detective.
Imposters, by Sarah Monette. Two detectives with the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation look into a rash of suicides.
Deal Breaker, by Justin Gustainis. A story about a man who sold his soul to the Devil for a decade of good luck. The decade is coming to a close, and he comes to investigator Quincy Morris to find a way to get out of the deal.
Death by Dahlia, by Charlaine Harris. Another reprint, this time set in the Sookie Stackhouse "Southern Vampire" universe. A great story about what happens when vampires investigate one of their own. Sookie doesn't appear, but Dahlia has appeared in several of the Sookie books.
Like Part of the Family, by Jonathan Maberry. PI Sam Hunter is hired by a woman who claims that her husband has threatened to kill her. Hunter turns out to be more than he appeared at first glance.
See Me, by Tanya Huff. Tony Foster--the young wizard who first appeared in Huff's "Blood" series, and now in his own series, "Smoke"--and his boyfriend Lee get involved with a prostitute who has been at the scene of two deaths. Tony is one of the directors of a vampire detective television show, and Lee plays the detective on the show. Despite the fact that neither of them are detectives, the wizard and the actor contrive to solve the mystery.
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.