short stories

Jul 2019 6

The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk: Review/Giveaway

2019 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa
& Judy Penz Sheluk

Are you a fan of assortments? Do you like packages of treats with its variety of flavors, styles, or types? Popsicles? Cookies? Donuts? Ok, food seems to be my most popular way to pick up assortments. It's such a great way to try something new. But, how about books or short stories? I personally love getting the collection sets that include work from various authors, new-to-me especially. Case in point: The Best Laid Plans: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense.

Oct 2017 14

Witch and Treat A Collection of Paranormal Cozy Shorts: Review/Giveaway

2017 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

No matter what they call it: Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, Samhain; no matter who they are: witches, ghosts, druids, talented or amateur, good or evil. These short stories are exciting and great entertainment. Like most short stories, these are little adventure snippets with your favorite characters from your favorite authors, and some totally new. Although background and character connections are not revisited like in full-length books, it’s not required for the fan’s and newbie’s enjoyment because a summary is provided to set up enough details to get you off to a good start.

Jul 2017 22

From Hay to Eternity Ten Devilish Tales of Crime & Deception By Sandra Murphy

2017 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Doward Wilson

Ten Devilish Tales of Crime and Deception is a good start on describing this book of short stories. The characters are pleasant, unassuming people quietly carrying on with their lives. They rarely register in your daily life, but it's the "Quiet Ones" you should watch out for because everyone is someone, and they all have an agenda.

Oct 2016 8

Midnight Mysteries: Halloween Mystery Anthology

2016 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by LynDee Walker

Cooler breezes, shorter days, and pumpkin spice everything naturally gets mystery readers thinking about Halloween—but nine bestselling cozy authors have had jack-o’-lanterns on the brain since spring when they cooked up the idea for a Halloween mystery anthology.

Dec 2015 26

Flash and Bang, A Short Mystery Fiction Group Anthology: Review/Giveaway

2015 Articles, Diana Hockley, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Diana Hockley

Margo Power, publisher of Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine founded a Short Story Mystery Fiction Society in 1996. The magazine, Mysterical-e was a spin-off from this and resulted in the Derringer Awards for stories up to twenty thousand words. The society has now grown to around one thousand six hundred members.

Aug 2015 15

Puffs of Smoke—Stories that Linger By Maria Ruiz

2015 Articles, Books & Tales, Marilyn Meredith

by Marilyn Meredith

This is a most unusual group of stories that will give you insights into different cultures and times. "Angelina," the first one, is about a young girl wounded during World War II.

Mar 2015 21

My Troubles: Ten Cozy Tales of Mystery & Murder By Molly MacRae

2015 Articles, Cynthia Chow, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Cynthia Chow

The characters who were introduced in the full-length novel, Lawn Order, actually have been appearing in short stories since 1990, and here readers will have the fun in this collection that perfectly captures the rather dysfunctional relationship between fifty-something sisters Margaret and Bitsy.

Nov 2014 22

The Anthology of Cozy-Noir Edited by Andrew MacRae

2014 Articles, Cynthia Chow, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Cynthia Chow

While the term “cozy-noir” may seem contradictory, it does make perfect sense in this collection of thirteen stories that embrace the mix of dark moodiness within familiar suburban settings. While the stories often take place in the small communities familiar to most cozy mysteries, often simmering just beneath the surface is a sense of menace and betrayal that edges them over to the noir side of fiction.

Oct 2014 11

Shifting Shadows By Patricia Briggs

2014 Articles, Fantasy & Fangs

by Mary Anne Barker

Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs is a group of short stories set in the Mercy Thompson world. Some of them have been published before and others are brand new, but it’s nice to have all of the short stories together in one collection. I’ve been waiting eagerly for this book.

Dec 2012 22

Four Of A Kind: Four Tales of Mystery and Suspense: Book Review/Guest Blog/Giveaway

2012 Articles, Cynthia Chow, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Cynthia Chow
& The authors of 4 Of A Kind

Poker is a game that revolves around skill, guile, and perhaps most of all, luck. In these four novella-length stories all play a factor in influencing the fate of their main characters, many of whom are often as deceptive as their opponents. While the successfulness of their heroes may vary, all the stories share a noir tone and enough twists and turns to surprise the canniest of mystery readers.