Nice collection with the King and Stabenow standing out for me. ( )

A book full of supernatural mysteries, and some of them were even fun. A few I just skimmed, but overall they were enjoyable. I like reading this type of book because I find new authors to search out to read their full-length books--no great luck this time (the stories I really enjoyed were by authors I already read), but at least it didn't suck. The Sookie Stackhouse story is fun and I like that it's not necessary to read this story; it's enough of a side-plot to the main books that I wouldn't have missed any important plot issues (as has happened with some other short stories in anthologies). ( )

This was a fun, if somewhat uneven anthology. There was only one story I gave up on, and several I enjoyed a lot. ( )

Another uneven anthology. I still have it in my hands, so I'll try to hit each story briefly."Lucky" by Charlaine Harris - Sookie is much easier to take in short form. I can't help it, the woman grates on me (in the TV show even worse than in the books). The other characters keep me reading."Bogieman" by Carole Nelson Douglas - Delilah Street does more than grate on my nerves in long form. She's more palatable in short form, too, but there are reminders of why I don't intend to read more in that series."Looks are Deceiving" by Michael A. Stackpole - If I've read any of Stackpole's work before, it's been in anthologies, and I don't remember it. I did wonder if this short story is set in a universe he uses in longer works, though. It wasn't bad at all."The House of Seven Spirits" by Sharon Shinn - I loved this story! And how often do you say that about a haunted house tale? I must track down and read some of Shinn's novels. Any suggestions?"Glamour" by Mike Doogan - The Peasantry Anti-Defamation League might be after Doogan if he isn't careful (at least, representatives of the male peasantry). The story was cute, and it did make me laugh."Spellbound" by Donna Andrews - This is another author whose books are going on my (groaning) to-read shelf. The story hit a few clichés, but was fun enough to get away with them."The Duh Vice" by Michael Armstrong - Ugh. A little too preachy, and way too much anti-fat prejudice."Weight of the World" by John Straley - Where does Santa Claus go in the off-season? That's the biggest question answered in this piece. The "mystery" was "solved" nearly as soon as it was discovered."Illumination" by Laura Anne Gilman - Bonnie's back story! I think a bit of this story is used in the first chapter of Gilman's first PUPI novel, but I'll know more when I get my hands on it. It's a must-read for fans of the Cosa Nostradamus universe, though."The House" by Laurie R. King - could we maybe call a hiatus on the abused-kid stories? Maybe I'm hypersensitive, but I'm tired of them."Appetite for Murder" by Simon R. Green - another dark Nightside story. I don't think I'll ever need to read more in that universe."A Woman's Work" by Dana Stabenow - I'm an unabashed Stabenow fangirl. Despite that, I wasn't sure how she'd do in a fantasy setting. She proved herself, certainly. I can only hope that we'll see longer fantasy works from her in print at some juncture. ( )

Sequel to Powers of Detection, these are twelve more fantasy and sci-fi mysteries. While not individually so spectacular, they were quite enjoyable as a whole.

Lucky by Charlaine Harris – This has successfully convinced me not to read the Sookie Stackhouse series. A bit too silly, too much clothes, hair, and makeup talk. **

Bogieman by Carole Nelson Douglas – A Humphrey Bogart simulation is killed in a Las Vegas resort. Somewhat interesting. ***

Looks Are Deceiving by Michael A. Stackpole – A wizard helps save the life of a duke from his own family. Fast-paced. ***

The House of Seven Spirits by Sharon Shinn – A divorcee moves into a haunted house. Cute, though the mystery was lacking. ****

Glamour by Mike Doogan – A peasant finds himself unwittingly dealing with magic and its costs. Good idea, but the writing was a little too affected for my tastes. ***

Spellbound by Donna Andrews – An apprentice must help her tutor discover who killed a professor at the school. I quite enjoyed this second story set in the Westmarch College of Magical Studies and will seek more out. ****

The Duh Vice by Michael Armstrong – Strange story about an semi-apocalyptic future and an energy device. Entertaining though quite weird. ***

Weight of the World by John Straley – Santa Claus investigates the murder of an elf. Really, really werid. **

Illumination by Laura Anne Gilman – A girl must use her magical abilities to find her father. Quite interesting with good dialog. ****

The House by Laurie R. King – A group of friends investigate a house rumored to be haunted. Really quite spooky and very good. *****

Appetite for Murder by Simon R. Green – Set in his Nightside universe, a detective is on the trail of a serial killer. Mediocre. ***

A Woman’s Work by Dana Stabenow – A seer and swordsman must sit in judgment of a woman accused of infanticide in a male-dominated society. Entertaining, though I wonder if this series might work better in longer form. ****