by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to win a copy of this book, along with a link to purchase it where a portion goes to help support KRL and indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy.

Summer is the time for travel, but sadly not everyone has the privilege of whisking off across the country and escaping everyday life. That’s why we’re grateful for this anthology of nine short stories that take readers to Oahu, Venice Beach, and—well, New Jersey. Murder is, of course, involved, but it’s a footnote in these highly entertaining and often very funny short tales.

Morin makes crime a family affair in her first two delightful tales. Absolutely charming is “Bark Mitzvah Murder in Mizpah,” in which an incredibly diverse group of New Jersey partygoers celebrate the Jewish rite of passage for a poodle. Too bad it ends with a poisoning, but that’s just as much fun as the first story in this anthology, “Pizza Man Murder.”

The author twists it up with “Psychic Spies,” which follows a 1979 program training agents to use unconventional methods. Humor is back in “Harry and Penny,” as two senior sibling private investigators wield their unique form of communication to foil a scheme that could have forced an early retirement.

My two favorite stories are “A Hui Hou Kakou” and “Love Shack,” which take place on the island of Oahu and feature two very different interpretations of love. The first is a haunting narration by a nearly drowned young woman who struggles to repair her memory, while the latter is a far lighter tale of a relationship gone awry.

The light-hearted tone of these stories definitely lives up to its cozy title, but the final entry also displays a deeper sentiment that shows off the author’s deft hand with character development. “The Ferry” is nearly a novella of a woman following her sister’s final wish and learning far more than she ever expected.

Confetti is a tightly written anthology, and its length is a sign of exemplary editing ensuring that each entry is more than strong enough to stand on its own.

To enter to win a copy of Confetti, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Confetti,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 30, 2015. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

Click on this link to purchase this book and a portion goes to help support KRL and Mysterious Galaxy:

Confetti: A Collection of Cozy Crimes

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).