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The Bibliophile

Many readers prefer short bursts of creativity in short story form. This summer, enjoy these selections.

Reader, I Buried Them & Other Stories, by Peter Lovesey, 384 pages, Soho Crime paperback, 2023

Murder most efficient is the theme of this superb anthology by an octogenarian award-winning mystery writer. Follow along as each crime is solved with speed and panache.

Sixteen stories and two bonus articles portray murderers as victims and heroes motivated by lust, greed, honor and love. The plots are as clean and swift as a knife dispatched to the jugular vein. No room for meandering and character development; just a short thrust, and the deed is done.

Best of all, the killer is disclosed in a few short pages. The perpetrator may come as a surprise, but you needn’t read through hundreds of pages to get to the heart of the matter. Nary a trickle of blood, gore and guts — just a masterful writer plying his trade.

Reader is Lovesey’s sixth collection of short stories. The prolific, popular writer has also published 43 novels. He has been honored with the Cartier Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement by the British Crime Writers’ Association and named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.

Hotel California: An Anthology of New Mystery Short Stories, edited by Don Bruns, 236 pages, Blackstone Publishing paperback, 2023

These murder mysteries are crafted by eight highly skilled authors who manage to grab your attention. Each spins a yarn of suspense and death in short story format.

The settings span the entire country, from D.C. to the beaches of Hawaii. Suspects include Mob hitmen, hired assassins, former service members gone astray, lovers, brothers, abductors, drifters, and even a highly regarded member of Congress.

Cold cases are revived, vendettas of old fester unabated, and greed never strays far from the plot line. Human nature at its nadir is examined.

However, readers are also introduced to more lofty idealistic characters. Be amazed by the altruism of some, the resourcefulness of others, and the duplicity of many.

Jack Reacher, the protagonist in a series of crime novels, appears in the opening story of Hotel California. The last story, whose title is the same as the anthology, intersperses the lyrics of the hit song by the band The Eagles with a tale of ambition, penance and wild imaginings.

Enjoy the smorgasbord of delights, but keep your doors locked and lights on. If you venture to read it outdoors, keep your belongings close by, and make sure your phone is fully charged.

Short biographies of each of the authors are included at the end of the volume. They allow readers to learn about the writer’s careers and pursue their favorite authors in book length.

After the Water Level Rose: Seven Short Stories, by Joan Gil, 285 pages, Joan Gil paperback, 2022

Seven novellas will keep readers enthralled as they plumb their own emotions, attitudes and prejudices. Follow the lives of people on the margins of society in various times and places. The author writes these stories with a masterful touch; the surprise endings are reminiscent of O. Henry.

Several of the protagonists are older people who live alone. They are widowers who live independently, are able to withstand the pressures of society and do what is right and just.

Other stories touch upon individuals who are inhibited introverts, those with disabilities, and people born in difficult straits. Some succeed and others fail in their search for companionship.

The settings are diverse, including 22^nd-century America, 19^th-century Germany, and Barcelona of 1939. The issues in these stories are universal. Trekkies will enjoy the final story — a visit from Namuhs in their spaceship from many light-years away. Their observations of life on Earth are profound.

Octogenarian Joan Gil is a retired physician who resides in Bethesda. He was born in Barcelona where the Catalan-language masculine name Joan is still in use.