Murder by 13- P

The LA Sisters in Crime group is a talented bunch. MURDER BY 13 is their first published collection of mystery shorts, many of them award winners. It's a potpourri of offerings that span the spectrum of the mystery genre.Angels Flight by Merks, has a hard-boiled flavor, with a hint of voodoo thrown in for fun.Everything Is a Matter of Timing by Beers, also has an edge - short and sharp with a twist.Nothing Now Can Ever Come to Any Good by Svitil, takes a more traditional approach at the whodunit, tying up loose ends concisely.LA Justice by Kris Neri, is the introduction of amateur sleuth Tracy Eaton and a lighter mystery that continued in her first full-length novel, Revenge of the Gypsy Queen.Angel of Mercy by Rosen, takes a darker turn and demonstrates that a tight, well-developed tale doesn't require a lot of words.House of Dreams by Mouchet, is a great, condensed version mystery with a surprise ending. Very satisfying.Speak No Evil by McGary, is a little more avant-garde, but no less enjoyable.The Shakedown by Gillogly, is short and sweet - justice gets a final say.Traveling On by Alam, has a Bronte flavor.Never Heard the Shot that Killed Him by Hill, is another tense, hardboiled police procedural.Dying to Exhale by Siegel, is the shortest selection, but it packs a powerful punch.Trickery by Smith, takes murder into the Rabbi's office and does it delightfully.If Thine Eye Offend Thee by Roland, rounds out the collection with another hard hitting tale of a citizen taking justice into her own hands.MURDER BY 13 is an exemplary collection - the best of the best. It offers a wide variety of lengths and styles, but all exhibit polish and skill that exceed what is often found in typical mystery magazine pages.