by Jess Walter; Steph Cha
Every year I look forward to the new edition of this excellent anthology series that offers its audience the opportunity to read some of the best mystery stories written in the past year. There are authors that I know in these pages, as for example, S.A. Cosby, Lauren Groff, Gar Anthony Haywood, Leslie James and Kristin Lepionka among others. However, joyfully, there were lots of new writers (to me) to get to know as well.
Steph Cha introduces this collection with some tough reality; at the time of her writing we were still struggling with Covid and what, to many, has been a bleak political landscape. She notes that one way that people cope is to look to fiction, and readers will do exactly that as they pick stories to read from the choices in these pages.
The introduction is excellent and detailed. The information on individual authors and their stories will help readers know where to begin, if one does not want to read in order. Walter also urges fans of the genre to also look to the honorable mentions for more good reads.
This title is one that lovers of mysteries will want to view. They will leave with an appreciation of those who write stories for us.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date 01 Nov 2022
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 