| Title | : | Midnight Hour: A Chilling Anthology of Crime Fiction from 20 Authors of Color |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1666548359 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781666548358 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Audio CD |
| Number of Pages | : | 1 |
| Publication | : | First published November 9, 2021 |
| Awards | : | Anthony Award Best Short Story for "The Search for Eric Garcia," "The Vermeer Conspiracy," "Lucky Thirteen" and "Doc's at Midnight" and for Best Anthology (2022) |
Welcome to Midnight Hour...
Jennifer Chow: "Midnight Escapade"
After years of silence, two women decide to meet up in a unique escape room but get trapped in a deadly game from which there may be no escape.
Tracy Clark: "Lucky Thirteen"
A gun. A last meal. And only one survivor. Sometimes the stars align - but only for the lucky one - as predator and prey come face-to-face one fateful New Year's Eve.
H. C. Chan: "Murderer's Feast"
Techpreneur John Manley left a trail of duped investors and damaged women in his wake. What happens when two hundred of his closest enemies gather for a five-day gourmet retreat?
Christopher Chambers: "In the Matter of Mabel and Bobby Jefferson"
It's almost midnight, it's snowing, and a bored call center worker catches a customer inquiry that smells of murder. Is he a knight rescuing the intended victim or someone else's pawn?
Plus, stories by Ritchie Narvaez, Frankie Bailey, E.A. Aymar, Faye Snowden, Tina Kashian, and many more.
Midnight Hour: A Chilling Anthology of Crime Fiction from 20 Authors of Color Reviews
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Prolific author Abby L Vandiver (aka Abby Collette) leads this compilation of short stories by twenty authors of colour. Having not had previous experience of any of the authors, there is a mixture of stories including murder, mystery, horror and thriller genres. It would be highly unlikely not to find a favourite given the level of tension and darkness of the stories. So, if you like variety and a gripping diversity of tales, this is a must-read three-and-a-half-star rating. With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and are made without fear or favour.
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You know I love short story collections. It's nice little taste test especially anthologies from different authors. I had never heard of any of the authors in this book, so I had no clue what to expect. But as you can see from my rating I really enjoyed it.
Obviously it was all great but I really only didn't like 6 stories out of 20. I think that's a pretty good average.
My least favorite stories were:
Skin by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
Doc's at Midnight by Richie Narvaez
Murderers Feast by H-C Chan
Change of Plans by Elizabeth Wilkerson
The Black Widow of Oshogo by Stella Oni
The Night the Internet Died by Rhonda Crowder
All these stories had 1 thing in common...they were anticlimactic.
My favorite stories were:
Lucky Thirteen by Tracy Clark - originally gave it 4.5 stars but I'm upping it to 5.
Nighthawks by Frankie Y Bailey- I want more!!! 5 stars
The Search for Eric Garcia by E. A. Aymar - If you love feeling depressed this is for you. 4.5 stars
The Diamond Vanishes by Gigi Pandian - I need this to be adapted. 5 stars
The rest were all either 3 or 4 star reads and I'm so happy I picked this book up. I wish I remembered which one of my Goodreads friends brought this book to my attention because Im so happy I discovered this collection. The stories in this collection cover so many cultures African American, African, Asian, Indigenous...I'm forgetting some but if you are a person of color than there is probably a story for you. Some of the stories made the culture of the characters important but in most of the stories these were just crime stories with people who happened to be people of color.
I want to read more crime collections by people of color in the future and I'd also like horror collections by people of color.
If you love crime fiction, you can't go wrong with Midnight Hour.
I highly recommend this book! -
Midnight Hour is a fun crime fiction anthology where each entry spotlights a dastardly deed that occurs around the witching hour. Like most anthologies, this one is a mixed bag of both tricks and treats. Fortunately, the haul presented within mostly contained full-sized Almond Joy and the three-pack Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Yes, there were a few sour apple Jolly Ranchers along with the occasional single stick of gum. And JuicyFruit at that. C’mon… who only gives out single sticks of gum at Halloween?
Hey, everyone’s taste in fiction runs as varied as the colors of M&Ms. Some stick with the classic milk chocolate. Others dig the peanuts. Members of Van Halen only jammed to the green ones. As assorted as these records are in this anthology, there certainly has to be someone who enjoyed the account about the conflict in the stationary store. Or the one written in second person. You know, the one you thought was a joke when you were reading it. Before you skipped to the next chapter. Right.
Stories within Midnight Hour are mostly the standard setup-jump-twist format. A number conclude too soon - or too conveniently, which is always the bane of short stories. A few go too deep with characters, and names, and specifics that weigh down what should be tidy. And then there are those that truly stand out. The sparkle within a cluster of shadows. Tracy Clark’s Lucky Thirteen, about an suspecting serial killer and his unsuspecting guest. Skin by David Heska Wanbli Weiden that tells of a quest of Native Americans trying to right a long-dead wrong.
There are tales of vengeance. With women playing the antagonist; posing as the punisher. Perhaps even a redeemer. Jennifer Chow’s Midnight Escapade features revenge birthed from that most awful period in everyone’s lives: high school. There are tales of murder, justified or not, in The Bridge by Abby Vandiver and Callie Browning’s Dead Men Tell No Tales.
VM Burns brings a touch of action in The Vermeer Conspiracy where an art detective rounds up stolen pieces. Dark humor is subtlety breached In The Matter Of Mabel And Bobby Jefferson; a story by Christopher Chambers uniquely set in that most fearful of environments: help desk support.
The grand scheme behind Abby Vandiver’s Midnight Hour was a gathering of fiction writers of color. One would think by 2021 such a distinction would not be important. That writers are writers and their work should be held in high regard no matter color, creed, or gender. But this being 2021, such a collection is absolutely important. And necessary.
I am glad this was compiled and I enjoyed the stories within.
One final mention. Cape May Murders, by Tina Kashian, is a paint-by-numbers murder mystery that takes place in a Victorian B-and-B down in the famous South Jersey shore resort. As I type this review, I am sitting on a long-backed rocker out on a wooden deck. The sun is hitting my face. The sound of the waves is not far away; nor is the light smell of salt. And I look out onto the narrow road of Perry Street. That leads directly to the beach. In beautiful Cape May.
For more stories within - and reviews of stories, and maybe even some good times in Cape May - check out
Read @ Joe's. -
Many of these stories didn’t keep my interest, but I appreciate this for what it is: a collection of crime stories by Black and Brown people.
Some standouts include:
“Skin” by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
“The Bridge” by Abby L. Vandiver
“The Search for Eric Garcia” by E.A Aymar (by far my favorite)
“The Witching Hour” by Marla Bradeen -
*3.75 stars
Midnight Hour is a grisly collection of short stories, all tied together by the common theme of crimes committed during the hour after midnight. There are twenty stories in total; I enjoyed some far more than others, so I decided to rate them all separately and use my average rating as the final result.
The second half of the anthology definitely had more content that appealed to me than the first, and engrossed me in reading until I suddenly found myself staring at the Author Biography page. From fake séances gone wrong to suspicious life insurance company policyholders, from cybercrime to homicide: this collection has a story for everyone, and I was not an exception. It was really fascinating to see how a number of different authors were given a genre and a theme, and ended up writing such vastly different stories. With characters and settings from all around the world, and crimes to match every personality, I can say with certainty that I had a good time reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC of this anthology in exchange for an honest review. -
Favorite Stories:
Lucky Thirteen by Tracy Clarke
The Bridge by Abby L. Vandiver
Dead Men Tell No Tales by Callie Browning
The Diamond Vanishes by Gigi Pandian
The Black Widow of Oshogbo by Stella One
The Witching Hour by Marlie Badeen -
Midnight Hour Earns 5/5 Leave-the-Lights-On Entertainment!
Let’s Do It…Together! From holiday-themed or clever detectives to romantic highlanders or thrilling mysteries, anthologies are my favorite way to enjoy authors I already read often while at the same time being introduced to work from authors I have yet to experience.
Abby L. Vandiver, author of two of my favorite series Logan Dickerson and Romaine Wilder, gathered together twenty authors from Crime Writers of Color challenging them to put their best “pen” forward and create a “chilling crime” short perfect for the dark, “midnight hour.” Each short tale included is set near the midnight hour offering an entertaining, sometimes chilling, drama. Revenge, greed, power, self-defense, or in some cases, defense of others has spurred on the characters’ motives, and with midnight providing the perfect cover, Karma can often be found waiting in the shadows. The authors have varied takes on crime fiction: some center around a female lead, others male; some are urban, others on a country road, some in the States, others far away, some planned mayhem, others crimes of opportunity, and some nail-biting tension, others tear-jerking reactions. Each author possesses an entertaining style with descriptive language illustrating the environment and mood and dialogue providing quick insight into diverse personalities. The book was excellent, entertaining drama and perspectives, moving well between each compelling tale, and keeping me engaged and… sleeping with the lights on.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Crooked Lane Books thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments. -
Midnight Hour is a collection of twenty short mystery and suspense stories by authors of color. All of the stories have something to do with Midnight. Of course in an anthology like this, there will always be stories I like better than others. However, overall I found this to be an entertaining collection. Two standouts for me were The Cape May Murders by Tina Kashian, a cute cozy murder mystery, and Gigi Pandian's The Diamond Vanishes, about a seance gone wrong. I also enjoyed the humor in Elizabeth Wilkerson’s story about a yearly planner and the clever way in which E.A. Aymar told a melancholy story.
Other favorites included a couple in which I found myself rooting for the villains, such as an elderly serial killer in Tracy Clark’s story, a female police detective on the take in a story by Delia C. Pitts, as well as the V.M. Burns tale about an art thief. It's all relative and in these stories, the characters who could be considered villains aren't necessarily in the wrong.
I was already familiar with a couple of the authors who contributed to this collection, but I really enjoyed the opportunity to be introduced to some new authors through their short stories. Fans of mysteries and short stories should find several stories to their liking in this diverse collection.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased. -
I was looking forward to this because I like to diversify my reading perspectives, but the stories in this are just not good. Some of them are fine, but none of these have any kind of literary merit. These were like stories I would have read in my college creative writing classes. All of them were very "tell instead of show." The writing was extremely simplistic. "She walked to the door. She felt sad. She opened the door and it was dark outside. It reminded her of when she was scared of the dark as a child. She closed the door and went to make dinner." The stories often read like a list of actions rather than a scene or story. Also full of clichés. Some of the stories had fun twists, but nothing I've never read before. I don't know, this just wasn't my style.
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MIDNIGHT HOUR – An Anthology Of Crime Fiction From Twenty Authors Of Color – Edited by Abby Vandiver
Highly Recommend!
‘Welcome to Midnight Hour...’
The Following Are My Favorites:
‘Lucky Thirteen’ – by Tracy Clark – As an avid fan of Horror, I must say, That. Was. Awesome!
‘Skin’ - by David Heska Wanbli Weiden – My Heart!
‘The Bridge’ - by Abby L. Vandiver
‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ – by Callie Browning – That Was Awesome! I Love the ending!
‘Doc’s At Midnight’ – by Richie Narvaez – My Heart!
‘Nighthawks’ – by Frankie Y. Bailey – That Was Good!
‘The Search For Eric Garcia’ – by E. A. Aymar – My Heart!
‘The Vermeer Conspiracy’ – by V. M. Burns – I Love This One!
‘Midnight Confidential’ – by Delia C. Pitts – That Was Good!
‘Midnight Escapade’ – by Jennifer Chow – That Was Creepy Good!
‘The Diamond Vanishes’ – by Gigi Pandian – My Heart! I Love This One!
‘Cape May Murders’ – by Tina Kashian
‘The Black Widow Of Oshogbo’ – by Stella Oni
‘The Witching Hour’ – by Marla Bradeen – Love This One!
‘In The Matter Of Mabel And Bobby Jefferson’ - by Christopher Chambers – That Was Good!! I love the last line—relatable.
‘The Night The Internet Died’ – by Rhonda Crowder – That Was Good! I love the last line.
Thank You, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an eBook of MIDNIGHT HOUR at the request of an honest review. -
Midnight Hour is an anthology of crime stories authored by people of color. This anthology was right on time for the Halloween season. What impressed me the most was that because the authorship was so diverse, it bled into the storyline and characters. The crime stories incorporated different cultures and backgrounds that added so much depth to the stories. There wasn't a lot of wow factors, but the stories were engaging and at times suspenseful. If I had to choose a favorite, it would be The Bridge by Abby L. Vandiver.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC in exchange for my review. -
This is a nice collection of short stories which all take place around midnight. Each story ends with a twist or funny punchline, or an aha moment. 3.5 stars.
-
Most of the short stories in this anthology are memorable and thrilling. There were some I could have done without. Overall, a good book....mixture of mystery and thrillers.
-
I really, really enjoyed this collection of stories- from noir to horror. There were a few stories that were maybe closer to 4 stars, but I can honestly say that this is the best anthology I've read in quite awhile, and I think it's going to make my top 10 or 15 list of 2021. While I was familiar with some of the authors already, I'm excited for a few new to me authors too.
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3.5 stars. Some were better than others but overall a big fan of the concept
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Anthologies are a mixed bag, this one is better than most.
It was fabulous how the authors presented stories with unique and interesting interpretations of the book's title 'Midnight Hour', many with POC characters and female protagonists. -
I love anthologies. They can really pull me out of a reading funk/slump and keep me enjoying. Most are filled with satisfying, quick reads that are full of quirky characters, fast plots and funny lines. This one was a great addition to the many out there. I liked the limit of 20 stories, knowing how quickly they would fly. I loved the level of unique stories - from murder and mayhem to journal planning and art theft. Each story had a fascinating character and varied stories. There were definitely some stand outs that I'd love to read as longer stories.
Great set, I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. -
2.5 stars. I love the idea of this book and initially thought I would enjoy it. The short stories ended up being too...short. 🤦♀️I know that was the intent behind this but I found myself wanting more after the stories were completed.
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I have given this anthology a 3-star rating, because it is the average of all of the stories I have read. This is definitely not a bad score and I would recommend this book to anyone. I rate stories based on a feeling, so this is a very personal opinion. I took short notes on my thoughts while reading the stories. They are as followed:
Story 1 'Lucky 13':
At the 4.6% mark it says "I'm apologize", I am not sure if this has been corrected yet, but should be corrected before publication. Great plottwist, but ending was a little anti-climactic for me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
Story 2 'Skin'
Moraly gray main character. Love.
Nice happy ending, but not very thrilling.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
Story 3 'the bridge'
Nice plottwist / ending. Not neatly wrapped and tied with a bow.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
Story 4 'Dead Man Tell No Tales'
An expected outcome. It felt a little rushed, but I liked the writing style very much.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Story 5 'Doc's At Midnight'
I am so confused.
Too many jumps in time-line for a short story.
⭐⭐ 2 stars
Story 6 'Nighthawks'
Constantly wondering: what happens next? But there is also a casualty about it. It gives me a full length story feel.
Dialogue is a bit awkward.
At 31.2% it says 'or' instead of 'for'. Again please check if this is corrected.
There was a little too much explaining at the end.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Story 7 'The search for Eric Garcia'
Read this in 1 breath. Fun idea with the choices all ending with the same result. Ending was shocking. But this is one of the few stories that actually stuck with me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
Story 8 'The Vermeer Conspiracy'
I literally wrote down: 'Yeah! Dutch history' :)
I liked the story, not much to comment on.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
Story 9 'Midnight Confidential'
Cleverly written. It took me a couple of pages to get into it. But I ended up liking it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
Story 10 'Chefs'
WTF!?!!
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Story 11 'Midnight Escapade'
Nice plottwist, even though I saw it coming. I really enjoyed reading this story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
Story 12 'murderers feast'
Too many names for a short story. Nice plot revelation. Weird ending.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Story 13 'The diamond vanishes'
Loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
Story 14 'Cape May Murders'
They were asked by police to stay a couple of weeks? Is that regulation? Police just blindly follows suspects instructions, without explanation or reason.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Story 15 'Change of plans'
I am hella confused
⭐⭐ 2 stars
Story 16 'The Black Widow of Oshogbo'
Too many characters for a short story. Loved the story. Could have been a wonderful full-length standalone book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
Story 17 'The witching hour'
A little predictable, but a lovely story.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Story 18 'In The Matter of Mabel and Bobby Jefferson'
Very long title. Nice plottwist, but somehow I was not very invested in the characters + plot.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Story 19 'The night the internet died'
It had the promise of a great story, but the ending fell flat for me.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Story 20 'Mata Hambre'
A little too much Spanish for me. Some words I had to look up and it took my attention away from the story. Since I am Dutch I already have to translate all the English in my head, so it was a bit much. This is a very personal thing though.
The ending was a bit strange. Especially since not a lot of characters seem to react appropriately to what just happened.
⭐⭐ 2 stars -
Originally posted on my blog:
Nonstop Reader.
Midnight Hour is a well curated anthology of crime fiction and light horror curated and edited by
Abby L. Vandiver. Released 9th Nov 2021 by
Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a nice collection of varied short crime and light horror fiction from 2021 and all are by authors of color. There are several nominees here from mystery and crime awards such as the Edgar from the MWA (2 stories).
The stories are varied, there were (as always) some which didn't grab me personally, but all were well written and competently plotted. They were mostly in the 4 star range(ish) with a smattering of really standout stories. This is a well curated solid anthology of stories in the 3-5 star range. There are 20 stories in the anthology and all are previously unpublished fiction from very well known and some new-to-me authors. It shouldn't be noteworthy, but it is; not only are these authors all persons of color, but women are heavily represented here as well (16/20 by my count).
One reason I prefer collections and anthologies is that short fiction is really challenging. It's spare and the author doesn't have a wealth of wordage to develop characters or the plotting. Well written short fiction is a delight. I also love collections because if one story doesn't really grab me, there's another story just a few pages away. I can only recall a few times where I've read a collection (or anthology) straight through from cover to cover as I did this one.
Four stars on average. It's a diverting read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. -
Midnight Hour is a collection of 20 short stories by authors of color. The authors follow a prompt of the action taking place around midnight, but the themes range from crime, mystery and thriller.
What I liked: None of the stories were super scary or gory - a plus for me! I liked that each story was different and feel there really is something for everyone in this collection (if you’re into mysteries and thrillers). Personally, I’m loving short stories for the ease of stopping and starting. Sometimes all we have is ten minutes to read.
Some of my favorites:
Skin - A man is hired to steal a book made from human skin - creepy concept but then can he actually pull off the heist.
Dead Men Tell No Tales - Not only written by one of my favorite people on bookstagram, but I enjoyed the political intrigue/whats going to happen plot line.
Nighthawks - In my story notes, I put I liked this one a lot as my rating (super specific I know). This one is about a robbery gone wrong.
The Search for Eric Garcia - I liked the author had the character actively making choices and the reader saw what they were choosing between.
These are just a few I singled out in my
Notes app, I would suggest reading other reviews on Goodreads, a few rate each story and we didn’t always agree on favorites.
What didn’t work for me: I’ve said this before about other short story collections but there will always be stories I connect with less. There were a few stories that I felt could have benefited from being longer to give the reader more details or backstory.
One I enjoyed but wish was longer was Cape May Murders. It gave me Christie vibes/old school who done it and I could easily see this one being reworked into a full length novel where the reader is given more time to get to know the characters and motives.
Who should read it: mystery/thriller fans check this one out to get a taste of a variety of authors. -
Midnight Hour is a compilation of short crime fiction stories written by authors of color. My rating is an average of all of the stories combined and despite preferring some to others, overall it was a diverse, enjoyable anthology.
The stories in “Midnight Hour” give readers everything from cyber crime to horror to cozy mysteries and noir. While totally diverse in plot and characters, one common theme in all of them is a midnight crime. I had two favorites of the batch by far. First was “Lucky Thirteen” by Tracy Clark. It’s a grisly, twisty horror about a home burglary attempted on the wrong person. I also enjoyed “The Bridge” by Abby L Vandiver which is about a woman trying to sway a stranger she meets one night into knocking off her husband. I tend to enjoy scarier and darker crime fiction in the thriller, horror aspects and so the first half of the book was more enjoyable for me personally, as the second half had more of the lighter stories, cyber crime and cozy mystery options. This is a solid anthology and crime fictions fans will enjoy the unique mix of stories it contains.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for my copy of this book. -
Midnight Hour by Abby L. Vandiver.
Welcome to Midnight Hour...
Jennifer Chow: "Midnight Escapade"
After years of silence, two women decide to meet up in a unique escape room but get trapped in a deadly game from which there may be no escape.
Tracy Clark: "Lucky Thirteen"
A gun. A last meal. And only one survivor. Sometimes the stars align--but only for the lucky one--as predator and prey come face-to-face one fateful New Year's Eve.
H. C. Chan: "Murderer's Feast"
Techpreneur John Manley left a trail of duped investors and damaged women in his wake. What happens when two hundred of his closest enemies gather for a five-day gourmet retreat?
Christopher Chambers: "In the Matter of Mabel and Bobby Jefferson"
It's almost midnight, it's snowing, and a bored call center worker catches a customer inquiry that smells of murder. Is he a knight rescuing the intended victim or someone else's pawn?
Plus, stories by Richie Narvaez, Frankie Bailey, E. A. Aymar, Faye Snowden, Tina Kashian, and many more.
This collection was a great read. Each story was different. I had my favourite. 4*. -
Midnight Hour: An Anthology
Ed Abby L. Vandiver
If you enjoy the noire mystery genre, then this anthology is for you. This collection of twenty contemporary short stories of mystery and suspense is tied together by a central theme: the midnight witching hour is when the proverbial “stuff” hits the fan. Like any anthology, there is a bit of unevenness to the stories. There are some I found to be adequate but just ho-hum. Others I found riveting, primarily because of good stage setting and unpredictable twists. As with any noir story, the hero or shero is flawed, so it’s hard to root for them as they seek vengeance for perceived or actual wrongs. You could say several of the protagonists exemplified the outcome of untreated or unsupervised mental illness. This is a good book for spooky read-aloud story time, and many stories could spark good conversation among noire aficionados. Overall, an enjoyable collection. I thank NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review. -
"Midnight Hour" offers a compelling anthology of crime fiction short stories curated by Abby L. Vandiver, showcasing talented authors of color. While some stories may resonate more with me than others, overall, this collection provides a diverse and enjoyable reading experience. Personally, I found the crime stories more captivating than the horror ones.
The significance of exploring literature from authors of color in crime fiction cannot be overstated. As a criminal justice professor, I understand the importance of diverse perspectives in understanding crime, justice, and society. Reading works by authors of color in this genre broadens our understanding of crime's complexities, introduces unique cultural insights, and fosters inclusivity within the field of criminal justice. "Midnight Hour" serves as a testament to the value of embracing diverse voices in crime fiction, enriching our understanding of criminal behavior and the justice system while providing readers like me with a more comprehensive and inclusive literary experience. -
Abby Vandiver provides a double handful of crime tales written by an interesting assortment of authors of color. You have urban crime gone wrong (Lucky Thirteen), book stealing (Skin), magic (The Witching Hour), computer crime (The Night the Internet Died), and crime of passion (Mata Hambre) along with many others. Each story is self-contained, but often has the reader wanting more for this universe. In other words, the writers really sunk their hooks in the reader. So set back, grab your favorite beverage and be sure to leave a light on while you read this book!
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this anthology! -
This is such an entertaining collection of short fiction! I enjoyed each and every story and I now have a new list of authors to keep an eye out for. Each story was unique and found its own way to incorporate the midnight hour theme. Every story is good, but if you read just one, make it "Change of Plans" by Elizabeth Wilkerson. Anything I say may spoil it, other than you know that you know someone just like the lead character in this. If not, then it might be you... But honestly, don't stop there. It's a great collection and I look forward to reading more of these authors.
Gratitude to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
