A review by girlwiththepinkskimask
Killer Women by Erin Kelly, Helen Smith, Alex Marwood, Jane Casey, Melanie McGrath, Louise Millar, Louise Voss, Val McDermid, Tammy Cohen, Colette McBeth
3.0
One sentence review: A rollercoaster in regards to quality and comprehension LOL
SYNOPSIS
An anthology of crime stories by leading female crime fiction writers.
MY OPINION
As you may have seen, I've been on a bit of a short story bender. I find heavy-handed prose more tolerable in these micro doses LOL. I downloaded this because 1) it's free with Kindle Unlimited and 2) Jane Casey, a fave of mine, wrote a story in this collection. Obviously the title is a bit of a spoiler: you know that all the killers are women. This is less about leaving you shook with twists and more about symbolism and storytelling. I did enjoy the lil author interviews at the end as well. It was interesting to learn about their backgrounds.
Since this was a real mixed bag, I decided to break down each story with the rating and a short review:
1. The Window Man by Louise Millar: 5 stars because WTF. I would love to see this as a movie. Very creepy. The twist was expertly foreshadowed.
2. On the Undercliff by Alex Marwood: 3 stars. There was mad potential with the simmering tension between a couple in their early days on holiday. Only the strongest couples can survive an off-resort vacay LOL. The ending was giving me Fred Flinstone.
3. The Previous Tenant by Tammy Cohen. 3.5 stars. Cool concept; I do often wonder who moves into a murder apartment/home but the MC's psyche needed to be flushed out more.
4. Schiaparelli Pink Bikini by Melanie McGrath. 4 stars. I went through a real rollercoaster of emotions during this lil ride. The MC is one you hate and have trouble sympathizing with despite the unfortunate events she experienced. However, Melanie made her point, and I have to respect that.
5. The Edge by Colette McBeth. 5 stars. One of the more complex stories. Intelligently written and executed. I liked this approach of unmasking Mr. Nice Guy.
6. The Rat Trap by Jane Casey. 3.5 stars. Creepy but too open-ended. The big reveal had me pulling out a calculator because it just wasn't adding up???? I've only read her police procedurals so this citizens gone rogue story was a first for me.
7. Don't Know Where, Don't Know When by Erin Kelly. 5 stars. Wonderfully executed dual timelines. Showing vs telling was on pizzzoint. What's fact? What's fiction? All I know is don't fk with June!!!
8. El Lloron Borrego by Sarah Hilary. 2 stars. Maybe I missed something? I read the author's inspo for the story but it seemed she forgot to add some thoughts to the plot LOL. Motive? Never heard of her.
9. Stop the Pigeon by Louise Voss. 2.5 stars. I'm sensing a theme here: interesting premise that falls short because the psychological motivations of the MC are nowhere to be seen. I did like the POV of Ashley. She wrote a great douchebag.
10. Day of the Dead by Alison Joseph. 3 stars. Very meh. Much meh.
11. The Secret Ingredient by Helen Smith. 1 star. Could barely get through it, and that's saying something given the length. Also this quote had me like ???? why did you choose this simile??? "She attacked the compost heap with the determination of a land girl looking for a Nazi paratrooper hidden in a haystack during the Second World War." tbh I think. the adverb "ferociously" would've sufficed in this case but... go off I guess??
12. Witch by Kate Medina. 1 star. Without the author's note and the title the whole witch thing would'e flown right over my head. Thought it was just a bum ass mom.
13. Stevie by D.E. Meredith. 2.5 stars. FFS not a corrupt law enforcement twist in a short story. It could've been solid af but she had to sprinkle a lil 007 nonsense in there. BYE.
14. Chance by Laura Wilson. 1 star. Absolute ass. One of the longest stories which sucked because it was undoubtedly the worst. Dislocated my jaw yawning.
15. Natural Justice by Kate Rhodes. 4 stars. The theme is so straightforward it'll slap ya in the face, but I liked it. He got what he deserved. Just sayin.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: a variety of stories; no two tales were alike
Cons: a variety of quality. motives were as MIA as my dad's support... I mean..... as a Nazi stormtrooper who landed in a haystack??? halp
SYNOPSIS
An anthology of crime stories by leading female crime fiction writers.
MY OPINION
As you may have seen, I've been on a bit of a short story bender. I find heavy-handed prose more tolerable in these micro doses LOL. I downloaded this because 1) it's free with Kindle Unlimited and 2) Jane Casey, a fave of mine, wrote a story in this collection. Obviously the title is a bit of a spoiler: you know that all the killers are women. This is less about leaving you shook with twists and more about symbolism and storytelling. I did enjoy the lil author interviews at the end as well. It was interesting to learn about their backgrounds.
Since this was a real mixed bag, I decided to break down each story with the rating and a short review:
1. The Window Man by Louise Millar: 5 stars because WTF. I would love to see this as a movie. Very creepy. The twist was expertly foreshadowed.
2. On the Undercliff by Alex Marwood: 3 stars. There was mad potential with the simmering tension between a couple in their early days on holiday. Only the strongest couples can survive an off-resort vacay LOL. The ending was giving me Fred Flinstone.
3. The Previous Tenant by Tammy Cohen. 3.5 stars. Cool concept; I do often wonder who moves into a murder apartment/home but the MC's psyche needed to be flushed out more.
4. Schiaparelli Pink Bikini by Melanie McGrath. 4 stars. I went through a real rollercoaster of emotions during this lil ride. The MC is one you hate and have trouble sympathizing with despite the unfortunate events she experienced. However, Melanie made her point, and I have to respect that.
5. The Edge by Colette McBeth. 5 stars. One of the more complex stories. Intelligently written and executed. I liked this approach of unmasking Mr. Nice Guy.
6. The Rat Trap by Jane Casey. 3.5 stars. Creepy but too open-ended. The big reveal had me pulling out a calculator because it just wasn't adding up???? I've only read her police procedurals so this citizens gone rogue story was a first for me.
7. Don't Know Where, Don't Know When by Erin Kelly. 5 stars. Wonderfully executed dual timelines. Showing vs telling was on pizzzoint. What's fact? What's fiction? All I know is don't fk with June!!!
8. El Lloron Borrego by Sarah Hilary. 2 stars. Maybe I missed something? I read the author's inspo for the story but it seemed she forgot to add some thoughts to the plot LOL. Motive? Never heard of her.
9. Stop the Pigeon by Louise Voss. 2.5 stars. I'm sensing a theme here: interesting premise that falls short because the psychological motivations of the MC are nowhere to be seen. I did like the POV of Ashley. She wrote a great douchebag.
10. Day of the Dead by Alison Joseph. 3 stars. Very meh. Much meh.
11. The Secret Ingredient by Helen Smith. 1 star. Could barely get through it, and that's saying something given the length. Also this quote had me like ???? why did you choose this simile??? "She attacked the compost heap with the determination of a land girl looking for a Nazi paratrooper hidden in a haystack during the Second World War." tbh I think. the adverb "ferociously" would've sufficed in this case but... go off I guess??
12. Witch by Kate Medina. 1 star. Without the author's note and the title the whole witch thing would'e flown right over my head. Thought it was just a bum ass mom.
13. Stevie by D.E. Meredith. 2.5 stars. FFS not a corrupt law enforcement twist in a short story. It could've been solid af but she had to sprinkle a lil 007 nonsense in there. BYE.
14. Chance by Laura Wilson. 1 star. Absolute ass. One of the longest stories which sucked because it was undoubtedly the worst. Dislocated my jaw yawning.
15. Natural Justice by Kate Rhodes. 4 stars. The theme is so straightforward it'll slap ya in the face, but I liked it. He got what he deserved. Just sayin.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: a variety of stories; no two tales were alike
Cons: a variety of quality. motives were as MIA as my dad's support... I mean..... as a Nazi stormtrooper who landed in a haystack??? halp