Reader, I Buried Them & Other Stories

by Peter Lovesey

I have long been a fan of Peter Lovesey’s Peter Diamond mysteries. I started with the first, The Last Detective, many years ago and am about to read the twentieth, Diamond and the Eye. I was first attracted to these novels by their setting in Bath and have grown to love the irascible Diamond and those around him. I have not yet read the Bertie mysteries but am sure that one day I will.

Cause for celebration is that Lovesey has written his 100th (!) short story. A number of these have been compiled into this collection by Lovesey himself. Lovesey begins with an introduction, where he notes that his first short story is from almost fifty years ago. Much to his surprise, Ruth Rendell complimented it. He has written so many since then. Lovesey describes short story writing as a gift that he gives to himself between his longer works.

Readers will enjoy seeing which stories are included here. I am glad to report that there is one Peter Diamond story, A Three Pie Problem.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this collection. All opinions are my own.

Other opinions:

“Lovesey delivers crisp dialogue, effortless narration, appealing characters, ingenious plots, and effervescent whimsy . . . A thoroughly entertaining compendium of the best of the best by one of the best.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“A celebratory display of the many things an accomplished veteran can do with the short mystery.”
—Kirkus Reviews