Afbeelding auteur
33+ Werken 52 Leden 8 Besprekingen

Over de Auteur

Bevat de naam: Michael Bracken

Werken van Michael Bracken

Bad Girls (2000) 3 exemplaren
All White Girls (2002) 3 exemplaren
House Of Seven Inches 2 exemplaren
Secrets 2 exemplaren
Tough 2: Crime Stories (2019) 2 exemplaren
Groovy Gumshoes: Private Eyes in the Psychedelic Sixties (2022) — Medewerker; Redacteur — 2 exemplaren
Fedora (2001) 2 exemplaren
Canvas Bleeding (2002) 2 exemplaren

Gerelateerde werken

The Best American Mystery Stories 2018 (2018) — Medewerker — 97 exemplaren
Midnight (1985) — Medewerker — 46 exemplaren
Strange Bedfellows (2004) — Medewerker — 39 exemplaren
Country Boys: Wild Gay Erotica (2007) — Medewerker — 37 exemplaren
Cowboy Lust: Erotic Romance for Women (2012) — Medewerker — 32 exemplaren
Best Gay Romance 2010 (2009) — Medewerker — 23 exemplaren
Beautiful Boys: Gay Erotic Stories (2010) — Medewerker — 21 exemplaren
Muscle Men: Rock Hard Gay Erotica (2010) — Medewerker — 20 exemplaren
D.O.A.: Extreme Horror Anthology (2011) — Medewerker — 19 exemplaren
Best Gay Romance 2013 (2013) — Medewerker — 19 exemplaren
Big Man on Campus: Fresh Gay Erotica (2013) — Medewerker — 15 exemplaren
Active Duty: Gay Military Erotic Romance (2014) — Medewerker — 12 exemplaren
Best Gay Romance 2015 (2015) — Medewerker — 11 exemplaren
Best Gay Erotica 2013 (2012) — Medewerker — 9 exemplaren
Show-Offs: Gay Erotic Stories (2013) — Medewerker — 9 exemplaren
Dark Desires: Love That's Out of This World (2011) — Medewerker — 8 exemplaren
Fifty Shades of Grey Fedora (2015) — Medewerker — 6 exemplaren
When a Man Loves a Man: A collection of gay erotic stories (2011) — Medewerker — 3 exemplaren
Men in Love: M/M Romance (2016) — Medewerker — 3 exemplaren
Passionate Hearts (Anthology 16-in-1) (2010) — Medewerker — 2 exemplaren
Techno-Noir (2005) — Medewerker — 2 exemplaren
Weirdbook #38 (2018) — Medewerker — 2 exemplaren

Tagged

Algemene kennis

Leden

Besprekingen

Reviewing an anthology is not easy. One wants to mention every story and not give away any spoilers. The result is that on some stories I go into a little more detail than others. One can see that below and it does not mean anything regarding the merits of the story, my preferences, or anything else. Some were just easier to comment on than others.

Murder Neat: A SleuthSayers Anthology is a highly entertaining read from Level Short, a new imprint of Level Best Books. Edited by Michel Bracken and Barb Goffman, the read features twenty-four mystery tales by twenty-four authors that are all part of the SleuthSayers blog gamily. If you are not reading their various columns at website, you really should be as there is a lot of good stuff there.

After a short introduction by Robert Lopresti in which he explains the background of the site and how this anthology came to be, it is on to the stories. The tales involved vary in location and time period, but they all have one thing in common – bars.

The book opens with “Lyrics And Music” by Mark Thielman. Jimmy West is locked in to performing at a certain bar as he signed a contract with Mathew long ago. There is no escape for the faded star. Or, is there?

We move to a bar in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The place was an Irish Mob hangout in the day. All these years later when he comes back after getting out of prison, the place has radically changed in “The Atonement Of Michael Darcy” by David Dean. He has a lot to atone for and the score is not yet settled.

Leopard Longshanks, known as “Shanks” to most folks, was looking forward to lunch with Connor Davins in “Shank’s Sunbeam” by Robert Lopresti. The place Shanks selected is in Greenwich Village and they serve great food. The problem is Proctor Ade has spotted them and wants to join for lunch. That wasn’t the plan at all.

He can be counted on to show up at a certain tavern in “The Colonel” by Janice Law. His routine, in and outside of the place, never changes. That predictability means he has a ready made alibi for his plan.

In “Bourbon And Water” by John M. Floyd, maybe it was all a dream. At least, Sue Ellen thinks it was all a strange dream. But, was it?

Thomas Nest has his usual seat at the place in “When Lilacs Last In The Dooryard Bled” by Jospeh D’ Agnese. Among other things, he is a people watcher and draws people. His current subject is the theatre critic, Ponder, as he sits across the room from him. The same theatre critic person who dies at his table in Manhattan in1859.

Leon came across a river side baptism as “Bad Whiskey” by Jim Winter begins. He decided on the spur of the moment to be baptized. Did it take? Or is he what he is and he can’t be saved from her and the power of her tarot cards?

Elizabeth Zelvin takes reads to a bar in a village in the Alpes-Maritimes by way of her story, “A Friendly Glass.” The place is where Eleanor, Julie, and others hang out every night. It is also the place to keep an eye on others and gossip. It is also where a married woman has suddenly died. The situation is complicated by culture, language, and more, and Julie could find herself in serious trouble if she is not extremely careful.

The barely dressed woman claims that her name is “Crystal.” Sandy, one of two sisters that own and run the bar, is sure she is going to get far more than she is looking for thanks to the way she is dressed. Crystal claims otherwise in “When You Walk Into The Room” by Steve Liskow. It is certainly going to be a memorable evening.

Mickey is supposed to keep Gerry Tyrone safe from harm in “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” by David Edgerly. When the boss of the Irish mob on the West Side gives you a job, you do it and you do what you are told. They have a train to catch up in Hudson, just south of Albany, and Tyronne has to be put on it, alive and well.

Donnie Brewster wants to get his drunk on, but that isn’t going to happen in “Bar None” by Michael Bracken. His brother, Johnny Brewster, owns the place and sets the rules. That means Donnie is cutoff. For Tim, the guy running the place, it is going to be rough few days in more ways than one.

The place has not changed over the years. In “The Mob, The Model, And The College Reunion” by Melodie Campbell, what has changed is the brainpower of those who would rob the place and the patrons inside of it. In the old days, this would have never happened. Good thing she is there to handle business and everything else.

It is a Tuesday night in November,1999. Tim is at an old wooden table in a place that is a fixture in this part of London. He has his knife. He is ready in “Room Of Ice” by Stephen Ross.

Sandra wants more from Wylie. Possibly more than he can offer in “Two For One” by Art Taylor. Wylie is an accountant and tallies everything into credits and debits. His ledger is going negative in her mind and she wants more out of him.

He staggered into the place out of the storm. It was a rough night out there and not just because of the weather. He has been shot, Anna is alone, and things are going to get worse in “Flesh Wounds” by O’Neil De Noux.

A lot is going on in “Not Yo Mama’s IPA” by Kristin Kisska. A tale that follows Lynn, Jack, their individual plans leading up to, and including, their anniversary.

An aging rocker, Mosh, these days runs a winery in Tennessee. He has summoned his manager, Freilich, there in “Noble Rot” by Robert Mangeot. It is October, cold, and Frelich isn’t his only guest this night.

Barney is closing the place in “Razing The Bar” by Leigh Lundin. Just about everyone is gone. That is except the one customer who has a different agenda than calling it a night and going home.

The band members took a break to drink at the bar across the street. Nothing different than normal in doing that. But, it made them all suspects in ‘The Catherine wheel” by Brian Thornton. The tale also reminds readers to make sure the tattoo is correct before it is applied to your body.

Up in a certain town in South Dakota, a certain bar is known as the oldest. A recently released con just might be a problem in “Bad Influence” by Eva Fister. Josh Dahlberg is back home, hanging out at the bar, and pretty much unwanted by all.

The bar is old and not much to look at in “The Bar” by R. I. Lawton. It isn’t a safe place and it is one that even law enforcement avoids, due to the reputation of the place. It is a place where it is best to not ask the questions when things happen. Things certainly do happen in this tale.

Youngman Fennel is just trying to go the bathroom in peace as “Deep Time” by Lawrence Maddox begins. The man wearing headphones won’t let him. The guy might be crazy. He might be telling the truth. Regardless, he is blocking the exit.

He just got fired from the company he started and made successful. Mr. Dorrett plans to make one heck of an exit in “Golden Parachute” by Travis Richardson. It was one heck of an exit. The aftermath of what he did makes life difficult in the following hours for Dorrett,

In the final story, it is March 1989, and Tamara is hanging out in a bar in “Near Have I Ever” by Barb Goffman. She is drinking with friends, but can’t stop thinking about Dustin. She met him in this same bar two months ago just after the semester started. That meeting changed everything in so many ways.

Brief bios of the contributors, editors, and listings of books written and/or edited by the editors, brings this enjoyable anthology to a close.

Murder, Neat: A SleuthSayers Anthology is a highly entertaining mix of crime fiction. Some are noirish while others are a bit lighter in tone. The stories take readers to a variety of locations across many time periods. Some are revenge orientated while others are a cautionary tales of lives lived to excess.

The common denominator, beyond bar settings, is the fact that each and every short story is a solidly good read. Each one pulls you deep into an intoxicating tale. There is not a bad read in the bunch.

Murder, Neat: A SleuthSayers Anthology is strongly recommended and very well worth your time.

My reading copy was a digital ARC by way of one of the contributors. There was no expectation of a review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
kevinrtipple | Feb 25, 2024 |
Anthology of recent short stories set in the 1960s. Like most anthologies the stories vary in quality.
 
Gemarkeerd
ritaer | Jan 2, 2024 |
Double Feature Volume Two: Hallmarks of the Job / Aloha Boys

Hallmarks of the job by Frank Zafiro:
A Stanley Melvin Story

Meet a new PI on his first recorded case. He is a bit quirky and by the book – his book – but seems able to get the job done. In this case he is tasked by Alan Thorpe to provide proof that his wife Adara is cheating. So, off Stanley goes to find out what is what and earn some money.

As the story progresses, we meet his neighbor Rudy, read his list of what doesn’t happen to real private investigators, and follow him as he sleuths. To say he is not the typical PI is an understatement. He seems to rub people the wrong way, bumbles a bit, is very literal, and a bit of a magnet for disaster.

Intrepid, inspired, and influenced by what he has read and seen about fictional characters he is a character that is unlike any other and one I would like to read more about in the future.

Aloha Boys by Michael Bracken

Morris Ronald “Moe Ron” Boyette is a man that I liked. He is capable, charming, focused, and has experience. He dabbles with odd jobs from time to time and has an interesting landlord that comes in handy from time to time. I am not sure if he has a series of his own but he should.

In this short story we see Boyette tasked with finding a missing half-brother. The trail leads to a college campus, questionable roommates in Hawaiian shirt “uniforms”, a flirty female lawyer that provides work for Boyette, a group that skirts the law but is perhaps on friendly terms with Boyette, some sleuthing, and insights into the main and other characters.

Boyette has skills, mad skills…and he has friends that are able to provide backup when he needs it. This man is not mild mannered…well…he is…until more is required. I liked the hopeful ending to the story and would gladly read more about this character and other stories written by this author.

Did I enjoy these two stories? Yes
Would I read more by these authors? Yes

Thank you to the authors for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
CathyGeha | Aug 17, 2021 |
Mickey Finn Vol. 1: 21st Century Noir, edited by Michael Bracken, is a dark read as one would expect. After all, as the title makes abundantly clear, this is an anthology of noir style short stories so one does not expect sweetness and light with sunshine and flowers with flying unicorns and rainbow kisses. That being said, some of these stories are very dark and disturbing. The kind of tales where you finish the story and you need to take a break for awhile before getting back to the read.

After a very short introduction by Editor Michael Bracken, Ben Vincent opens things up with “Reflections of the Past.” Greg is out of jail and back in his childhood home. The house is paid for and it makes sense for Greg to live there with his mom spending her last days in a nursing home. Being back in the house is a testimony to his failures as well as a chance for a fresh start. It also made it easy for Monica Hicks to find him. It also makes it easy for the local cops.

Next up is “Getting Violated” by David Haggerty where Rolls Royce has yet to make it out of his cell and that has caused issues. The assembly line system to feed the inmates is going to need to find a new cog as Ritchie, aka Rolls Royce, is very much dead in his cell. Not only is there a mess to clean up, his fellow trustee, Andrew Viggoth, is an easy fall guy for the murder.

He's on the hunt for a scumbag that is known as “Little Johnny.” It is professional as well as deeply personal. The hunt has led him to a really bad motel in a very bad place. More than one horror lurks in the shadows outside and as well as inside the building in “Motel at the End of the World: 3 a.m.” by Trey A. Barker.

The job had some question marks, but Mathew was desperate. So, the ex-con took the gig in “One Way or the Other” by J. L. Abramo. Simon and Amanda had a fairly decent plan and the pay was decent. Not that those who are about to be homeless, which would result in an automatic return to prison, have very many options.

Somewhere a little north of Martinsville, he knew for sure they had a tail in “The Mailman” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins. The woman and her child were supposed to bring nothing personal with them. He already, knew they had blown that when the daughter brought a stuffed animal. He had checked her purse, but apparently Mom brought her cell phone. Now they have a tail and that creates multiple problems.

“Red Nocturne” by Anna Aptaker features a man facing a hard choice. Do his job as a cop and arrest her for murder or run away with her. He is head over heels in love with a killer.

Fleeing to the ledge on the outside of the building was not the brightest decision he ever made in “Better Not Look Down” by Josh Pachter. He panicked and now he is five floors above the street on a narrow ledge with cops closing in from the left and the right. How he got to this predicament is told by way of multiple flash backs.

Editor Michael Bracken is up next with his tale, “Final Reunion.” It has been quite a few years, but Mertz, Texas, looks pretty much the same to Gavin Wilcox as he rolls into town. Mom is less than thrilled to see him, but will feed him and let him sleep at the old house. He is in town to do a job and then he can be gone again. Mon is not the only one that wants him to go away.

When Connie loses it, as she has every so often since she was eight, the outcome for others is never good. In “Riptish Reds” by Joseph S. Walker, she is an adult, on parole, and doing her best not to unleash her rage on others when provoked. Some folks seem oblivious to her struggle and seem determined to flip her switch.

He knows how to shake money loose from folks in Lincoln City, Oregon. He can find you a high stakes companion for a fun time. He can hook you up with a serious card game for high stakes if you are interested. If you want the combo of the female companion and the card game, that is even better in “Sneaker Wave” by David H. Hendrickson.

Paula is drunk. That is a frequent occurrence and one of several frustrations for Davis. In 'Rough Justice” by Steve Rasnic Tem, Davis needs a break. Good thing his drug dealer is on the way as they have business to conduct.

A visit to the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville is never fun. It certainly is not in July 2018 in “Hard Luck Case” by James. A. Hearne. Seeing Robert Earl Stone, aka “Bobby,” on his birthday is always very hard. He made a promise to Alex Stone and he knows he failed his friend or his friend’s son would not be in prison.

Eddie has tracked down, Ray, his brother, as “Second Chance” by Barb Goffman begins. Separated in the foster care system many years ago, Eddie had a far better situation. Now he wants to make things better for Ray.

It has been a long time since Bobby Lyon was a Hollywood star. The former action hero is seen as a joke by many. He is seen as a target to rip off by others. That includes the two home invaders in “Clickbait” by Mark. R. Kehl.

Mick does not know the latest arrival at the club. But, he is sure the guy is trouble in “Kicks” by Steve Liskow. He isn't the only one concerned about the guy. The stranger also seems to have an unhealthy interest in the female dancer everyone knows as Baby Blue.

The sushi is always good and he likes the place in “Killer Sushi” by Stacy Woodson. He can vent and enjoy the food at the same time as can his military buddies. It is not like they have a lot of options in Fayetteville, North Caroline and the beer is good.

Being in a psychiatric place is not good in “Blood Brothers” by Mikal Trimm. Dr. Kerchoff is sort of like somebody’s Mom, but does not really understand where he is coming from on anything. At least Shane, his best friend, comes by on a fairly regular schedule. So too does one of the orderlies, but that late night visit is not one anyone wants.

Hope Hall is a crummy place, but it is a free place to live in “Rent Due” by Alan Orloff. The landlady, Lana Coreen, lets him live there rent free in exchange for doing an occasional odd job. Arno Woodley has a less than stellar background so Lana is sure he can do the job no problem.

He did the job and now Mr. Berry wants him to hide out at a certain place. He does so in “Last Exit Before Toll” by Hugh Lessig. Hiding out works great if no one knows where you are. Mr. Berry knows and he isn't the only one.

The family is on the run and the little girl is growing up too fast in “We Live Here” by Jarrett Kaufman. They are on the run for a very good reason. Now they have been found. This story has an ending I never saw coming and packs a powerful punch. It also the final story in this well-done anthology.

Author bios and then short previews of Rattlesnake Rodeo by Nick Kolakowski, Don't Shoot the Drummer by Jonathan Brown, and Below the Line by Steve Jankowski complete the eBook.

A dark and occasionally disturbing read, Mickey Finn Vol. 1: 21st Century Noir, edited by Michael Bracken, is not for all readers. These tales are very dark ones, as expected, and feature characters that are living on the edge in many different ways. A good read that showcases a number of talented crime fiction writers, it leaves the reader shaken and stirred.

Mickey Finn Vol. 1: 21st Century Noir
Editor Michael Bracken
http://www.crimefictionwriter.com/
Down & Out Books
https://downandoutbooks.com/bookstore/bracken-mickey-finn-v1/
ASIN: B08PL7DPH5
December 2020
Book (also available in paperback)
291 Pages

I picked this up back in December 2020 using funds in my Amazon Associate account.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2021
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
kevinrtipple | Jul 19, 2021 |

Prijzen

Misschien vindt je deze ook leuk

Gerelateerde auteurs

Statistieken

Werken
33
Ook door
26
Leden
52
Populariteit
#307,430
Waardering
½ 3.3
Besprekingen
8
ISBNs
22

Tabellen & Grafieken