Book Review: CRIME SPELLS anthology

By pghhead -

here’s the Goodreads synopsis of Crime Spells . . . . .

 

Crime Spells

by Martin H. Greenberg (Editor), Loren L. Coleman (Editor), Joe Edwards(Contributor), Devon Monk (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Jason Schmetzer (Contributor), Randall N. Bills (Contributor), Robert T. Jeschonek (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Peter Orullian (Goodreads Author)(Contributor)
 3.44  ·   Rating details ·  82 Ratings  ·  12 Reviews
Sixteen original stories about magic-fueled crimes and those who investigate them

When magic is used for criminal purposes, all sorts of ethical and logistical questions arise beyond the realm of everyday law and order.

Now, sixteen top tale-tellers offer fascinating new stories of those who commit magic crimes, those who investigate them, and those who prosecute them. From a young woman who uses out-of-body excursions to research paranormal crimes to a bookie who?s been paying for hex protection against magical interference to an artist who does divination through his sketched visions which may lead to a murderer?s undoing, here are powerful tales of magical crimes and punishments.

and here’s my review of the book . . . . .

23024615
Michael J.'s review 
Oct 30, 2017  ·  edit

 
liked it
bookshelves: crime-fiction, magic, short-stories 
 

Crime Spells is a collection of short stories with a similar theme = magical crimes.
This paperback has been in my car for approximately six months. I would pull it out to read anytime I found myself waiting in a parking lot, etc. It's light-hearted fare that makes it easy to return to after long lapses in-between and still pick up where you left off. 
While I enjoyed all the stories, there are only five that really stand out and are deserving of multiple readings. 
I'm not going to give away the plot lines to any of these. I just want to point out the stories worth reading. The best story in the collection is "Eye Opening" by Jason Schmetzer. 
The other above-average tales are "Second Sight" by Ilsa J Bick; "The Sweet Smell Of Cherries" by Devon Monk; "Faiths Curse" by Randall N. Bills; and "RPG Reunion" by Peter Orullian.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Robert Kirkman: Invincible, Walking Dead, Wolf-Man

By -
Image
I wasn't actually a huge fan of Robert Kirkman when I first started reading his books.  He was competent, sure, but I didn't see the appeal-- The Irredeemable Ant-Man was a boring side story in the middle of  Civil War and  The Initiative (although I've since changed my mind about this), and his  Ultimate X-Men run was, in many places, a mixed bag (although I did very much enjoy his "Phoenix?" storyline).  And  Marvel Zombies  just seemed like a ridiculous idea--not that I bothered to try it at the time. Now, though?  I've completely reevaluated my opinion on his work, and when his name is attached to a project, I'm far more likely to give it a look.  I don't know if I'd classify him as a master storyteller or a comics icon--but he's very skilled, he has an incredible knack for dialog, and he writes stories that, no matter how ridiculous, seem real .  In a medium where characters frequently violate the rules of physics, that's not alway
Read more

more random readings from May 2009

By pghhead -
Image
What else did I finish reading last month?  Here’s a cross-section of various titles . . . . . . . . . WITCHBLADE #126 “War Of The Witchblade Part 2” by Ron Marz and Stejepan Sejic  (Top Cow/Image) Preface:  Now here’s an interesting concept! = In order to attract new readers to its’ titles Top Cow is giving out free books each month as part of it’s Let Us Win You Over project.  ( www.topcow.com/freecomics )  Every month it’s a different title. And they work through different comics shops each month as well.  In April the title was Witchblade #126 and one of the participating dealers was Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, DE (my preferred supplier) so voila! - - - I find a copy in my hands. Since the last time I explored the Witchblade series the mythology has expanded to a battle between the forces of light and dark with each side choosing its agents on Earth, hence the Darkness vs. the Witchblade.  I’m still not overly interested in this type of fare on a regular basis, but
Read more

Best descriptive 2013 title: Vampire Vixens of the Wehrmacht

By pghhead -
Image
VAMPIRE VIXENS OF THE WEHRMACHT “If You Want Blood” one-shot (Bump and Grind Comics, August 2013, second printing with foreword by film maker Paul Campion) Writers: The Emperor + Alex Ronald.  Artist: Alex Ronald.  Letterer: Jim Campbell. Original Concept: Alex Ronald.  (Parental Advisory, Adult Content)  Limited print run, but digital copies are available from http://www.vampirevixens.co.uk/           If you can’t figure out what this comic is about from that title, then I’m guessing you’ve been living for decades in a cave without a DVD player and no access to cable television.   VAMPIRE VIXENS OF THE WEHRMACHT is a fast-paced horror comic driven by action, rooted in World War II history, and dripping with blood, gore and tantalizing sexual imagery.  What makes it work is a light-hearted approach to the subject matter, all in fun but never silly or stupid.  You may find yourself laughing at several of the scenarios or chuckling at the devilish dialogue.           VAMPIRE VIXENS O
Read more