I really love reading mystery stories without getting into a whole book, so this anthology was perfect for me! I liked the variety of authors and themes presented in the stories.

I really enjoyed all these short stories, some more than others. There is a discipline in short stories that requires immediate stage setting and character development, This collection has some excellent examples by good authors, some with predictable endings. Its nice to start a story and not have to commit to may days of reading.

Slices of the darkest side of the US.
Lauren Groff’s The Wind, written during the pandemic and reflecting the domestic danger of the time, is a standout.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2022.

I'm pretty happy to say this was a surprise (and delight!) to read!

In these types of collections, I usually only like a story or two, but what a shock to discover most of these stories were fun and enjoyable..

They were suspenseful, mysterious, filled with diverse characters with ulterior motives, some good, some bad, and some in-between.

There's murder, mayhem, blood, double crosses, revenge, and friendships, some all in the same story.

Mystery and suspense fans will enjoy this!

Steph Cha’s forward and Jess Walter’s introduction nicely set the tone for the anthology. Walter shares the story of seeing a dead body as a rookie reporter, as well as his admiration for Patricia Highsmith and footnotes. He also specified how each of the chosen stories snapped his interest. The contributors’s notes provide a cool insight into each tale. I am super excited for the direction of this series with Steph Cha as Series Editor.

My favorites are as follows:

“La Chingona” by Hector Acosta: A woman dons a persona to solicit “donations” from online admirers to help save up for a new place to live, but a better money making opportunity arises. The vastly different power dynamics between Veronica and Trevor ramp up the tension and make her course of action both inevitable and understandable.

“An Ache So Divine” by S. A. Cosby: Hattie Mae toils in her dad’s bar and dreams of the future. On one fateful night, her desire to protect the one she loves causes her to forsake “the gentle angels of her better nature.” This story provides a master class on setting, managing backstory, pacing, character development, incorporating a cool twist, managing a large cast, and creating a supremely satisfying ending.

“Here’s to New Friends” by Jacqueline Freimor: A young woman on a train is targeted by a predator. This perfectly paced story provides a primer on gaining a potential victim’s trust.

“A Career Spent Disappointing People” by Tod Goldberg: Shane’s having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Even though he’s broke, injured, and jilted, and his car just died, he’s certain the solution to all his problems starts with karaoke. The story of Shane’s troubles slowly unravels with a healthy dose of dark humor.

“No Man’s Land” by James D. F. Hannah: On the verge of being dethroned, the Real Estate King of Long Island lands a new client with mob connections. The image of bleeding mashed potatoes and the comparison of bruised and bloodied flesh to a Pollack painting lingered long after reading. Hannah’s phenomenal pacing and punchy prose make this story a stunner.

“Stingers” by LaToya Jovena: A sister seeks vengeance against a quartet of brothers. Artemis lives up to her namesake, the goddess of the hunt, as she baits her prey with a sexy ensemble and humongous amounts of Hennessy. The story, which promises and delivers a chemical reaction, is told via a reverse chronology.

“A Bostonian (in Cambridge)” by Dennis Lehane: Nathaniel, quirky book seller and collector of rejection letters, is offered the chance to purchase a letter that will provide closure of a most personal nature. Lehane expertly builds Nathaniel’s character and world. I can’t stop thinking about the painting of Walden Pond.

“Remediation” by Kristen Lepionka: Carson, an addict who finds work handing out flyers for the Radon King, makes a fascinating new friend in Deidra, a perspective radon remediation client. Lepionka paints a realistic portrayal of a character dealing with addiction who measures her work in the number of pills she can earn. Seeing Deidra through the eyes of two different characters was a treat.

“Long Live the Girl Detective” by Megan Pillow: A story (with embedded hermit crab-style micro fiction) that illustrates the challenges of being a daughter, wife, mother, friend, heroine, victim, ghost, sleuth who constantly needs to resurrect herself. I am beyond thrilled that this story was chosen for inclusion. Last year, I shared the link for it multiple times on social media, because I adored the story. “Long Live the Girl Detective” triggered nostalgia for the Nancy Drew novels I devoured as a child while showing the character through a modern, empowering lens.

“Turning Heart” by David Heska Wanbli Weiden: Virgil Wounded Horse, the protagonist of WINTER COUNTS, agrees to reclaim the lost property of the little sister of his deceased friend. I liked how the story deals with grief, obligation, and family, and how Virgil struggles with giving up his job as an enforcer. The story also tackles the problem of abandoned dogs on the reservation and dog fighting.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers LLC for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.