While I was reading a story collection by some of Britain’s foremost mystery authors, Kevin Tipple shared a collection by “Minnesota’s Premiere Mystery Writers”, The Silence of the Loons. The book came out quite a while ago, so it’s about time we talked about it. Thank you, Kevin.
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. 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. I’m not going to ruin the clue list by
explaining it here, but it’s 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 elsewhere contributes “A Winter’s
Tale.” For the recluse, the snowstorm is bad enough but he really doesn’t 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 Housewright’s tale “A Domestic Matter.” Jack is convinced his wife wants
him dead. Reporter Dan Thorn doesn’t believe his old friend at first and then follows the
reporter’s credo to take lots of notes as it’s 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 it is the cold. Maybe it is 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.
I have no idea now how I got this book. It has been 18 years. I think that probably Carl Brookins
sent it my way. But, that is just a guess.
Minnesota really seems to be a nexus for writers. I think John Sanford really started it, but now there’s a whole bunch of them. David Housewright books are very difficult to find around here, for some reason.
I haven’t read David Housewright, Glen, but so many people like him that I’m surprised his books are hard to find.
As a warm weather person, I could read about Minnesota, but wouldn’t want to live there.
I don’t know but this sounds very appealing to me. Guess I like the that region and mysteries there.
It’s an excellent collection of authors, Diane. Kevin liked it very much.