Many Deadly Returns: 21 Stories Celebrating 21 Years of Murder Squad is one of the best story collections I’ve read recently. While almost all the stories were good, more than several were excellent. Some were a little creepy, but it does say “deadly” in the title.
Margaret Murphy wrote the foreword for the book, relating the history of the Murder Squad. In 2000, she was a midlist author, getting excellent reviews, but the readers and sales didn’t result from the reviews. So, she contacted a small group of other “brilliant – but unknown writers”, and together they formed the Murder Squad. The group of British northern writers hoped to gain a wider audience for their work. I’d say they have. According to Murphy, “Between us we have garnered 22 prizes including Daggers, Edgars, Macavity, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, RTS and Agatha Awards and honorary degrees. And in 2020, Martin Edwards became the second member of the squad, after Ann Cleeves, to be awarded the Crime Writers Association’s highest honour – the Diamond Dagger.”
There are biographical sketches of the authors at the end of the book. Current members are Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Margaret Murphy, Cath Staincliff, and Chris Simms. John Baker and Chaz Benchley have left the group, and Stuart Powson died. However, all the members, past and present, are represented in this collection. Baker and Benchley each contributed one story. Powson’s widow gave them permission to use one of his. The current members all supplied three stories to the collection so they total twenty-one for the 21st year.
My favorite stories in the book were Ann Cleeves’. “Wild Swimming” features a fan favorite, Vera Stanhope. One features Inspector Ramsay, another series character. But, I loved “The Queen of Mystery”, a short story set at Malice Domestic, familiar to mystery readers as a conference for fans of traditional mysteries. Cleeves has the setting and atmosphere of a mystery conference down pat in this clever story.
I had several other favorites. Martin Edwards’ “The Other Life” tells what happens when someone tries to take advantage of an elderly woman. Any fan of Kate Ellis’ will recognize her style with “The Fox and the Hens”. I think any reader will find a story or two to enjoy in this collection.
Many Deadly Returns is a better than average story collection. Those who appreciate mystery short stories might want to try this one.
The Murder Squad’s website is https://murdersquad.co.uk/
Many Deadly Returns: 21 Stories Celebrating 21 Years of Murder Squad, edited by Martin Edwards. Severn House, 2021. ISBN 9780727890931 (hardcover), 240p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a copy through NetGalley to review for a journal.
This sounds like a great collection, Lesa. I will plan to get a copy, possibly as a Christmas present to myself.
It was very good, Tracy. As Jeff says below, the Ann Cleeves stories stand out.
I read their first collection, BEST EATEN COLD, a few weeks ago, and it was pretty good. Again, the Ann Cleeves stories were the best, I’ll be looking for this one too.
I like the variety in this collection, Jeff. And, you’re right. Ann Cleeves’ were the best.
While Dallas has BEST EATEN COLD (just put a hold on it and thank you Jeff!) they do not have this one. $15 bucks for a eBook is a bit much. Hope they get the new one in.
By the way, NetGalley would not let me create a new account and start over. Instead, they reactivated the very old account they never could make work and admitted such more than once. So, going back and trying again may be an utter waste of time for me. We shall see.
What a mess with NetGalley, Kevin. Have you tried Edelweiss: Above the Tree Line? I could never make it work for me, but Scott may be able to get it set up for you.
No, I have not tried them.
After initially reading mention of this here, Lesa, I got Best Eaten Cold and read it. I have the second Murder Squad anthology, The Starlings and Other Stories which is subtitled “12 stories inspired by David Wilson photographs, A Murder Squad & Accomplices Anthology”. I plan on reading that one in November, and then getting this one. I’m especially looking forward to the Cleeves stories.
Jeff knows what he’s doing reading short stories, Rick. I can get into a variety of them. I hope it works for you!
Thanks to this comment, I now have this one on the way in Dallas. Thanks, Rick!