If you don’t read Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, you probably haven’t read the four stories collected in Charlaine Harris’ new anthology, Small Kingdoms & Other Stories. I’m a fan of Harris’ Lily Bard mysteries, and the Midnight, Texas series. The books are a little dark. So are the stories in this collection.
Meet Anne DeWitt, a high school principal in a small town in North Carolina. She’s only been principal for two years, but she’s doing her best to make Travis High School the best it can be. However, the baseball coach, Holt Halsey, seems to know her true identity. He also knows she killed a man in her house before coming to school one morning. It was the first time in three years that someone had tried to kill her.
I’m not going to give away Anne’s background. It’s part of the enjoyable discoveries in this collection. I will say that Harris reveals a little more about the mysterious woman with each introduction to the four stories. We learn a little about her past. We discover she hates to be ridiculed. And, readers learn just what Anne DeWitt is capable of doing.
If you like an accomplished woman who can take care of herself and keep secrets, a proud woman determined to make a high school the best it can be, meet Anne DeWitt. She just won’t be exactly the type of high school principal you expect.
(Note: I always find anthologies difficult to review. The stories are short, and I certainly don’t want to ruin them. So, instead of a review, I consider this a teaser. If you’re intrigued, pick up Small Kingdoms & Other Stories.)
Charaine Harris’ website is www.charlaineharris.com
Small Kingdoms & Other Stories by Charlaine Harris. JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc., 2019. ISBN 9781625673787 (paperback), 164p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
Amen! I read most of these in EQMM but was happy to read them again one after the other (one or two a day). I'm also a fan of her Lily Bard and other darker stories (Aurora Teagarden was too cosy for me).
Charlaine Harris is hit or miss for me but my library is getting this so I’ll give it a try since I do like her Lilly Bard series.
Jeff, Despite the fact that I'm a librarian, and like cozy mysteries, Aurora Teagarden just didn't do it for me, either. Loved Lily Bard, though, and really admire Anne DeWitt.
She is for me, too, Sandy. As I said, loved Lily Bard, and the Midnight, Texas books. Not into her latest series, though.
Seeing a reference to the Elery Queen Mystery Magazine made my day. Sometimes I think I'm the only one still reading that one and a few other like the Alfred Hitchcock one, the Asimov one, etc. I have discovered some really good writers via those little collections and I look forward to them despite the fact that they eat up a lot of my valuable reading time.
I was a subscriber to EQMM for many years, but not now…I just put this one on hold at my library. Thanks.
Our library subscribes, Sam. I should because I enjoy mystery short stories, but I just don't know when I'd have time to read them.
You're welcome, Gram. Jeff & I both liked Anne DeWitt. I hope you enjoy the stories!