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[Malice Domestic 7] is maybe the first collection of murder mystery short stories I have read. This collection of 13 stories plus the editor's intro featured a range of authors and settings in the USA, UK, and Australia, from the early nineteenth century to present day (well, at least to 1998, the publication year). It felt like speed dating--just enough to get a sense of the author's style and an introduction to their protagonists if they happen to have a series in progress (more than half of these stories featured their main characters in a little one-off situation).
I have discovered these are not for me. I enjoy the mystery genre quite a bit, mostly historical but some contemporary. The problem with short stories is lack of space. Presenting the protagonist, the context, the murder, the potential suspects, and the solution in 7500 words or less doesn't really allow for much development of character, plot, the accumulation of clues, or narrative arc. What I found in these stories was pretty much the protagonist, the murder, and the solution, with maybe a clue or two thrown in. Often presented as the narrator witnessing the death, engaging in some serious cogitation, solving it, and that's it.--or maybe it's a past murder brought to light and resolved in present day with no action to be taken as a result. No process of discovery, no hints or red herrings, no exploration of the various possibilities. Just jump from crime to solution with not much in between. Sometimes it starts with the body, and sometimes ends with it. Sometimes the narrator decided whether to tell someone what happened. Or the story is the context and the murder and its consequences from the murderer's perspective.
I've learned to enjoy speculative fiction short stories and have amassed quite a few anthologies, but I just don't see that happening for mysteries. Yet clearly it works for plenty of other readers. After all, this is the seventh installment in the series. And I have greatly enjoyed every book from Sharyn McCrumb that I've read. I expect it was her name as editor that inspired to pick up this book in the first place. My ultimate reaction: meh. Another book that's not a keeper. ( )
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I have discovered these are not for me. I enjoy the mystery genre quite a bit, mostly historical but some contemporary. The problem with short stories is lack of space. Presenting the protagonist, the context, the murder, the potential suspects, and the solution in 7500 words or less doesn't really allow for much development of character, plot, the accumulation of clues, or narrative arc. What I found in these stories was pretty much the protagonist, the murder, and the solution, with maybe a clue or two thrown in. Often presented as the narrator witnessing the death, engaging in some serious cogitation, solving it, and that's it.--or maybe it's a past murder brought to light and resolved in present day with no action to be taken as a result. No process of discovery, no hints or red herrings, no exploration of the various possibilities. Just jump from crime to solution with not much in between. Sometimes it starts with the body, and sometimes ends with it. Sometimes the narrator decided whether to tell someone what happened. Or the story is the context and the murder and its consequences from the murderer's perspective.
I've learned to enjoy speculative fiction short stories and have amassed quite a few anthologies, but I just don't see that happening for mysteries. Yet clearly it works for plenty of other readers. After all, this is the seventh installment in the series. And I have greatly enjoyed every book from Sharyn McCrumb that I've read. I expect it was her name as editor that inspired to pick up this book in the first place. My ultimate reaction: meh. Another book that's not a keeper. (