kevintipple's Full Review: The Minnesota Crime Wave - Silence of the Loons: T...
While writers of the southwest in particular write of the broiling heat of summer, writers of a Minnesota background seem to write about the brutal cold of the winter. If you have read William Kent Krueger before, for one example, you know what I am writing about as cold is always a theme. That brutal cold of the winter is certainly a factor in a number of stories here but not in all of them. The stories do share a number of clues that had to be encompassed in each story. Im not going to ruin the clue list by explaining it here but its a good one. So too are the stories in this anthology.
Carl Brookins who, among other things, wrote the excellent comedic mystery novel The Case Of The Greedy Lawyers which I have reviewed here and elsewhere contributes A Winters Tale. For the recluse, the snowstorm is bad enough but he really doesnt need to find the lost traveler nearly dead in his barn.
For Kaye Brock, her past is known by all in Take Me Out by Lori L. Lake. Being an ex-con has its burdens as does living up to expectations of others.
Then, there is David Housewrights tale A Domestic Matter. Jack is convinced his wife wants him dead. Reporter Dan Thorn doesnt believe his old friend at first and then follows the reporters credo to take lots of notes as its going to be important later.
This anthology also features stories by M.D. Lake, Mary Logue, William Kent Krueger, Judith Guest, Monica Ferris, K. J. Erickson, Ellen Hart, Deborah Woodworth, Kerri Miller, and Pat Dennis. In each of the thirteen stories, some of the clues are the same and yet each author goes in very different directions. While the stories share clues, they also share the fact that almost all of them are highly atmospheric noir style reads. Maybe its the cold. Maybe its the short daylight hours. But this is a dark read that should be savored in front of a roaring fireplace. Just make sure you can keep an eye on your surroundings while you are reading.
The Silence Of The Loons
By The Minnesota Crime Wave
Nodin Press
ISBN# 1-932472-36-3
2005
Large Trade Paperback
225 Pages
Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2006
P.S. I'm not sure if folks are rating based on length or what. I'm also not sure how to explain in any more depth what the book is about and how it works so well without taking away the reasons to read it. So, I am leaving things alone except for a word here and there. Should anyone wish to comment, please feel free to do so either here or offlist at kevin_tipple@att.net
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