Joan Hess Presents Malice Domestic #9

I love these anthologies! There's something for everybody in MALICE DOMESTIC 9, this collected homage to Agatha Christie. Some of the stories are based on Christie's plots, some on her characters, and some just contain references to her works. Of the 14 stories, a couple are dark, some are outright hilarious, and almost all are in the cozy tradition. Besides Christie's own "The Case of the Discontented Soldier," there are stories by Robert Barnard, Jan Burke, Kate Charles, Marjorie Eccles, Teri Holbrook, Gwen Moffat, Marcia Talley, Dorothy Cannell, Charles Todd, Ann Granger, Walter Satterthwait, Carolyn Wheat, and Susan Moody. (There is no story by Joan Hess -- just a tiny introduction.) This is a really fine collection. I've read some of these first-rate stories several times already. These anthologies are an excellent investment!

In the mood for a good Agatha Christie type story? Malice Domestic 9 gives tribute to the talented, matchless mystery author in their 14 original traditional mystery stories. Each story carries a British flavor and sports the Christie flair.Along with the other stories is a Christie's original The Case of the Discontented Soldier. Major Wilbraham finds England too tame. He has answered Parker Pyne's advertisement in hopes of drumming up some excitement, and he does. I have to say Robert Barnard's story is one of my absolute favorites. Nothing to Lose is about a complaining elderly woman who moves into a nursing home and stirs up trouble - loved the ending! Another I favored was Kate Charles story, Murder at the Vicarage, about a vicar and too many spinsters. Ms. Charles character is a mystery writer named Ms. St. James - a "monopoly" play on words maybe? You don't want to miss Gween Moffatt's The Dark Tower, which offers a brief mystery with her spinster sleuth Miss Pink. Honestly there were a couple of the stories that couldn't keep my attention, but that's ok, it only means they were meant for someone else. Did I feel that the authors captured Christie's work? Yes, I do, and what's more, their individual talents added to this pleasant read.Don't miss out on this one. It's a wonderful anthology written by Christie fans, for Christie fans. This one goes on the keeper shelf with my other eight Malice Domestic anthologies.