Short Story, Art, Poetry, Cartoon, Mystery Magazine - Futures MYSTERY Anthology Magazine

January - April 2004 - Catherine's Reviews of

The Amber Room - Steve Berry
Cat in a Leopard Spot - Carole Nelson Douglas
Crimewave 7: The Last Sunset - edited by Andy Cox
The Distant Echo - Val McDermid
Down These Dark Streets: Stories of Crime and Criminals - edited by Thomas Deja
In the Outposts of Beyond - edited by Tyree Campbell
Milo & I - Antony Mann
Pawns - Michael S. McGowan
Saying Uncle - Greg F. Gifune

THE AMBER ROOM
Steve Berry
Ballantine, September 2003, $24.95, 389 pp.
ISBN 0345460030

THE AMBER ROOM is an intriguing action-thriller based on a real-life mystery: the disappearance of an eighteenth century room, made entirely of amber, from Russia's Catherine Palace. This room was dismantled and stolen by invading German troops during World War II and has never been recovered.

THE AMBER ROOM is a fictionalized version of what may have become of the real Amber Room. The scenario depicted in the story has some plausibility, but also invokes quite a bit of Hollywood-style action to make the story an exciting read.

Atlanta judge Rachel Cutler and her ex-husband Paul Culter, a probate lawyer, are drawn into a treacherous world of high stakes when Rachel's father, Karol Borya, dies suddenly. Before immigrating to the US, Karol worked as an investigator for a Russian organization, locating artwork and other treasures stolen during the war.

Prompted by a news story about an American treasure hunter who planned to excavate old tunnels in a familiar mountain range in Germany, Karol was revisiting notes he'd made about the Amber Room on the night he died. Although Karol had always told his daughter he'd never found the Amber Room, someone believes he or his former colleague, Danya Chapaev, may still have information vital to the search.

As Rachel tries to unravel the mystery of her father's fascination with the Amber Room, she travels to Germany, pursued by two "acquisitors." Christian Knoll and Suzanne Danzer are each working for wealthy employers who are intent on being the first to obtain the Amber Room. In true action-adventure fashion, the acquisitors compete to outwit each other and reach the prize. Beneath the action and suspense there is a romantic thread as Rachel's ex-husband Paul follows her to Germany out of concern for her safety.

Many of the events in THE AMBER ROOM take place in Germany and the Czech Republic. The scenery descriptions are vibrant, filled with rich and colorful details, especially when it comes to art and architecture. The author uses short chapters and plenty of activity to keep the story moving forward. Because locales and time zones often shift quickly in this fast-paced story, location, date and time are frequently stated at the beginning of a chapter to orient the reader.

The information relayed in this book shows that the history of the Amber Room has been thoroughly researched. The real mystery of what became of the Amber Room is fascinating in its own right, but this fictional tale is also worth reading. Mystery and history fans alike will enjoy this suspenseful thriller.

Catherine Chant

CAT IN A LEOPARD SPOT
Carole Nelson Douglas
Forge, May 2002, $6.99, 416 pp.
ISBN 0-812-57022-7

In this thirteenth book from the Midnight Louie series, public relations woman Temple Barr once again teams up with her feline sleuth, Midnight Louie, to solve a mystery. This time it's the murder of Cyrus Van Burkleo, owner of Rancho Exotica, a canned hunt resort that caters to wealthy trophy seekers. Van Burkleo may or may not have been killed by a stolen leopard named Osiris, who belongs to the Cloaked Conjuror, a Las Vegas magician with connections to Temple's love interest, Max Kinsella. A strong theme of animal rights permeates the story, but is never preachy.

For newcomers to the series, a three-page summary of characters at the start of the book, told from Midnight Louie's point of view, recaps the human (and feline) connections established in the earlier books. The summary also explains how the titles in the series advance alphabetically, based on color, starting with the letter B. Previous titles include CAT ON A BLUE MONDAY, CAT IN A CRIMSON HAZE and CAT IN A KIWI CON. Midnight Louie debuted in the first two books CATNAP and PUSSYFOOT and decided to skip the letter A.

Although CAT IN A LEOPARD SPOT contains a large number of central characters and multiple subplots, as well as some obscure references to past cases and personal histories (Temple's stolen engagement ring, for instance), this information is woven into the present story enough to avoid distracting a new reader. If anything, it may inspire you to read the previous Midnight Louie books.

The chapters in CAT IN A LEOPARD SPOT alternate between the human points of view and those of the animals. A sans-serif typeface is cleverly used as a visual cue to show when a chapter is written from the feline detective's perspective, and italicized text is used when the events are seen through the eyes of the starring leopard. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the book is the quick-witted banter between Midnight Louie and his cohorts: Miss Midnight Louise and the two Yorkshire terrier sidekicks Golda and Groucho.

The author uses ingenious word play to create entertaining scenes and a lively tone. While the actual mystery seems secondary to the ongoing personal struggles of the main characters, CAT IN A LEOPARD SPOT is a fun book to read. Midnight Louie is a delight.

Catherine Chant

CRIMEWAVE 7: THE LAST SUNSET
Andy Cox, Editor
TTA Press, 2003, $12, 178 pp.
ISBN: 0952694786

When you first pick up CRIMEWAVE 7: THE LAST SUNSET, you will be struck by the high quality construction of this publication. The wrap-around color photograph on the matte laminated cover immediately evokes a sense of eeriness and stillness, prompting you to turn the page. Inside awaits a superb collection of thirteen mystery & crime short stories and two book excerpts from a diverse group of very talented and award-winning writers.

CRIMEWAVE 7: THE LAST SUNSET is not your average short fiction magazine. Each and every story in this collection is a suspenseful page-turner with settings and characters drawn so vividly you will feel you have fallen into the pages each time you finish one.

A business venture in South America holds some startling developments for an English accountant in “The Missing Man” by Gary Couzens while “You Can Jump” by Mat Coward, a story of friendship and murder, adeptly depicts the punk rock phenomenon of 1977 London.

Like a witty tale of jealousy and murder? Don’t miss “Tails” by John Grant. “Alcatraz” by Debbie Moon is a clever con caper, and “Esther Gordon Framlingham” by Antony Mann is a humorous story every aspiring mystery writer should read.

In “School Gate Mums,” Muriel Gray takes the age-old debate of stay-at-home mother vs. working mother to a delightful and chilling new level, while in “American Waitress” by Christopher Fowler waitress Molly has more to worry about than tired feet and bad tips when a disturbing customer shows up at one of her tables.

Other short stories in this issue include “Indicator” by Stephen Volk, “Foldouts” by Steve Mohn, “Madeleine” by Marion Arnott, “Your New Career” by James Sallis, “Catch” by Ray Nayler and “Squeamish” by Tim Casson.

You can read the first paragraph from each of these stories at the TTA Press Crimewave web site: http://www.ttapress.com/publCWcurrent.html

CRIMEWAVE 7: THE LAST SUNSET also includes two book excerpts, DEAD ALONE by Gay Longworth and THE DISTANT ECHO by Val McDermid. Both excerpts involve you in their respective stories so quickly and so completely that it’s nearly impossible not to want to read the full novel after experiencing this “teaser.”

The back cover of CRIMEWAVE 7: THE LAST SUNSET states, “We don’t do cosy. We don’t do hardboiled. We don’t do noir. What we do is something entirely different to anything you’ve ever read before.” That about says it all. A quality magazine like this is a bargain at only $40/yr (US) for 4 issues.

CRIMEWAVE 7: THE LAST SUNSET is a must-have for all fans of the mystery & crime genre.

Catherine Chant

THE DISTANT ECHO
Val McDermid
St. Martin's Minotaur, Sept. 2003, $24.95, 404pp.
ISBN 0-312-30199-5

THE DISTANT ECHO centers around the 1978 murder of nineteen-year-old barmaid Rosie Duff. Rosie's dying body is discovered in a Pictish cemetery in St. Andrews, Scotland by four college friends walking home from a party. Covered in Rosie's blood as a result of trying save her, the four are quickly considered suspects, but lack of evidence prevents the boys from being charged with murder. Twenty-five years later, advances in forensic science inspire the Fife police department to establish a cold-case review. Top of the list is the Rosie Duff case. Someone, however, thinks the police are moving too slowly and starts dishing out his own brand of justice. Two of the four college friends die under suspicious circumstances. The remaining two must work together to prove their innocence before they become the next victims.

THE DISTANT ECHO is written in two parts. Part one takes place in 1978 and focuses on how the four young men, friends since childhood, deal with the horror of stumbling upon Rosie's body, and then how they cope with the accusations from those quick to label them guilty. Part two takes place twenty-five years later as the cold-case review is underway and focuses on the police department's efforts to solve Rosie Duff's murder. Re-opening her case has repercussions for everyone involved in the original investigation, particularly the four college friends who have since tried to get on with their lives and put this tragedy behind them. While part one can be described as mainly character-focused, introducing all the players in vivid and interesting detail, part two is more action-oriented as events unfold that lead to the identity of Rosie's killer.

THE DISTANT ECHO is a taut, suspenseful story that is hard to put down. After reading the excerpt printed in CRIMEWAVE 7: THE LAST SUNSET, previously reviewed on this site, this reviewer felt compelled to read the entire novel. From the first page, the details, the imagery, and the quartet of likeable lead characters draw you in.

THE DISTANT ECHO is highly recommended for anyone seeking a clever murder mystery with an ending you won't see coming, but one that makes perfect sense once you know how all the pieces fit together.

Catherine Chant

DOWN THESE DARK STREETS:
STORIES OF CRIME AND CRIMINALS
Edited by Thomas Deja
Cyber-Pulp Houston\USA eBook Publishing, June 2003, $4.99, 213pp.

DOWN THESE DARK STREETS is an anthology of fourteen mystery/crime stories. They range from the darkly humorous "Don’t Be Cruel," where writer Morris Levy is caught between two groups of warring "Elvis Presley Lives" fanatics and forced to help them search for the elusive King, to our own Babs Lakey’s "Red Blood Saloon"–an eerie tale set around a slaughterhouse, vivid enough to make even a diehard burger lover consider going vegetarian by the end.

This diverse assortment of stories will hold you rapt from start to finish wondering, ‘What happened to Gemma?’ in "Hope for the Dead. Or ‘Is someone trying to drive Jim "the Jet" Jenkins crazy to get at his money?’ in "Voices." Or ‘Will Frank’s trip to Turkey reveal the whereabouts of his client’s missing sister or something more crooked?’ in "Didymus."

Each story is a taut, suspenseful read. Surprise twists and unexpected outcomes abound. A truly delightful collection of dark tales.

DOWN THESE DARK STREETS contains the following superb stories:

"Don’t Be Cruel" by Charles Ardai

"Voices" by Nick Andreychuk

"The Prophecies of Marnie Koob" by John Weagley

"Didymus" by Ed Lynsky

"My Name is Bridget Blue" by Kevin James Miller

"Down By The Song Saigon" by I. Van Laningham

"Rags" by Joe Elsass

"Smalltown Stiff" by Edward Teja

"Sole Source" by Stephen D. Rogers

"The Lucky Feeling" by Dave Skorupa

"A Pretty Face" by Joan Boswell

"The Farmer" by Tim Wohlforth

"Red Blood Saloon" by Babs Lakey

"Hope For The Dead" by Allan Guthrie

Catherine Chant

IN THE OUTPOSTS OF THE BEYOND
Tyree Campbell, Editor
Sam's Dot Publishing, 2003, $14.95, 252 pp.
ISBN 1-930847-48-3

Three men walk into a bar…they each leave with a different story to tell. Such is the premise of IN THE OUTPOSTS OF BEYOND, a loosely-themed anthology of science fiction/fantasy tales involving the popular tavern/bar/trading post setting. The volume includes twenty-three short stories, eight poems and one very clever advertisement for an intergalactic dating service. The stunning cover art is the work of Marcia A. Borell, a frequent contributor to FMAM.

These stories, from a variety of writers, contain a vast array of creatures and distant worlds: beings not eager to give too much of themselves away (often preferring to sit facing the door at all times), characters who enjoy multiple exit routes, and others who enter the building with unbelievable tales to tell. All of this will keep you turning pages until the last word is read.

This reviewer's personal three favorites in the volume are "The Walking Man" by Ralan Conley, "Celestial Round-up" by Tao Rae Tasmaine and "A Nice Girl Like You" by Tyree Campbell, but there is something here for every sci-fi/fantasy fan. That so many stories are packed into one volume is a treat for all readers.

Catherine Chant

MILO & I
Antony Mann
Elastic Press, November 2003, £5.00, 115 pp.
ISBN 0-9543747-4-6

MILO & I is a single-author anthology filled with twelve fantastic tales of crime, suspense and dark humor from award winning author Antony Mann. Mann is described on the back of this publication as "The freshest purveyor of weird crime…," a statement that couldn't be more accurate. The stories found in MILO & I are original, thought-provoking page-turners with a delightful hint of humor mixed in. Mann's sharp attention to detail plants you firmly in his characters' worlds. You won't want to put these tales down until you reach the end.

Antony Mann's fiction has won the 1999 UK Crime Writers' Association Short Story Dagger Award and Honorable Mentions in Ellen Datlow/Terry Windling's Year's Best Fantasy & Horror series. In 2000, the story "Gunned Down," which can be found in MILO & I, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 for their New Writers' Week, one of only five stories selected for this honor.

MILO & I includes the following twelve stories:

• Milo and I - A seasoned detective in need of a fresh perspective tackles a murder investigation with a new partner: 13-month-old Milo. He may have just learned how to walk and talk, but Milo sure has an eye for clues.

• Green - Neighbor after neighbor in this pristine sea of green lawns tries to comprehend why our hero refuses to clean up his weed-infested lot, the lone blemish in their nauseatingly perfect community. He appears to have money, certainly has the time. What is he hiding?

• The Oedipus Variation - A chess player looking to improve his game consults a new tutor who has a "different" approach to betterment.

• Pigs - Neil and Marnie learn that some people just love their pets waaaaaay too much!

• Shopping - A hilarious and truly unique tale of love gone wrong told through one man's shopping list over a three month period. A definite must-read!

• Esther Gordon Framlingham - What's an author to do when it seems every variation of sleuth has been claimed by someone else? As mentioned in the previous review for CRIMEWAVE 7, this story is a gem--a must-read for any aspiring mystery writers.

• Things Are All Right, Now - For Nick Sykes, overdue retribution comes in an unexpected form.

• Taking Care of Frank - The media machine knows a celebrity is worth more dead than alive. What will they do when the celebrity just won't die?

• The Deal - Two friends, joined by family tragedy, come to heads over whether or not to allow the media to exploit their loss.

• Billy, Cutter and the Cadillac - A simple wager between friends takes a drastic turn.

• Preston's Move - Preston believes he's figured out the secret to winning every game of chess.

• Gunned Down - Your father's killer becomes a celebrity. What's the best way to even the score?

This wonderful collection of short fiction is a bargain at only £5.00 (approximately $8.25 US). If you like the type of stories you find in CRIMEWAVE (previously reviewed on this site), you will love MILO & I. Many of the tales included in MILO & I have appeared in past issues of CRIMEWAVE.

For more information about purchasing MILO & I, visit the publisher's web site at http://www.elasticpress.com/

Catherine Chant

PAWNS
Michael S. McGowan
Quiet Storm Publishing, October 2003, $25.95, 239pp.
ISBN 0-9728-8198-0

PAWNS tells the story of a group of people who have a rare gift to see into the future. As a child, best-selling author John Paulsen foresees his father's death, but no one takes him seriously and his father subsequently dies. The inability to prevent the tragedy haunts John into adulthood. At the height of his success, John considers suicide and finds himself sentenced to a mental hospital for a year. While in the hospital, he foresees a bombing at the Seattle Space Needle, but again, no one believes him. He is, after all, a mental patient. When the event actually happens, everyone in the hospital treats him like a pariah. However, his attempt to warn people of the event does attract someone's interest.

Upon his release, through an intricate cat and mouse game, John meets the delightfully unpredictable Amy Olivia Taussig, a woman with the same ability to see the future. However, while John tries to prevent disasters from happening, Amy has a completely different agenda. Amy firmly believes that the future is set and no amount of warning will change the events she and John have the power to see. Amy doesn't help people unless she has something to gain from it. She warns John that when you tell people you have this gift, they'll only start asking you to help them profit from gambling or the stock market. That is how you become a "pawn." Amy will never be anyone's pawn. She lives her life on her own terms. She's a powerhouse of passion and ambition when she sets her mind on something.

Through Amy, John meets two other men who have this ability to see the future. The four form a sort of "club." The three men don't seem to know what to make of Amy, but her authority commands their attention. When Amy gets the crazy notion to make an unknown stand-up comedian the next state governor because she's disgusted with the political situation in their state, the men find themselves drawn in. Amy is confident that they can make this happen despite the insurmountable odds. Once the other two candidates see that Amy's campaign is serious, the quartet find themselves involved in a dangerous game of political intrigue. At the same time, John receives visions linked to a serial arsonist loose in the city. He struggles with his desire to prevent the loss of life against the possibility that Amy is right about the future being unchangeable. The divergent sub-plots come together in a dramatic finale that will have you glued to the final pages of the book.

PAWNS is an intriguing and unpredictable thriller filled with rich details, witty metaphors, and dynamic characters. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Catherine Chant

SAYING UNCLE
Greg F. Gifune
December Girl Press, 2003, $15.99, 143 pp.
ISBN 1-929653-51-4

Based on an original short story by the same name previously published in The Roswell Literary Review, SAYING UNCLE is the story of a man struggling to understand tragic childhood events that changed his family forever. Andy DeMarco tried to escape the horror by moving away after high school, but the memories remained strong. Now, twenty years later, the death of Andy's uncle brings him back to his hometown to face the past. SAYING UNCLE opens with the unsolved murder of Uncle Paulie, but the real mystery for Andy is who was Uncle Paulie?

SAYING UNCLE is written in the first person and reads much like a memoir. Andy struggles with complex feelings for his mother, his sister, his absent father, and especially his uncle-a man that Andy and his younger sister Angela idolized. Since their father had abandoned their family when they were small, Uncle Paulie was their only father figure, their hero, and their protector. However, the events from one fatal summer twenty years ago shattered Andy's illusions about his uncle and forced him to question his own character as well.

SAYING UNCLE reads like a short story, proceeding at a fast pace, with present time events all taking place in one day. Each chapter starts in the present and then moves into an extended flashback that builds upon previous flashbacks to reveal the full story behind Andy's pain. Because each chapter handles the time shifts in a consistent manner, the story is easy to follow.

SAYING UNCLE is a hard book to put down. Every scene ends with an effective hook to draw you into the next chapter as the suspense builds. Because the chapters are fairly short, you'll tell yourself, "Just one more chapter tonight," and before you know it you've finished the book.

SAYING UNCLE is an exciting, dramatic and emotional tale of a family forced to make extraordinary choices. Beautifully written with vivid imagery and distinct characters, you will find yourself thinking about this book long after you finish the last page.

Catherine Chant

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